WEBVTT

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 in our series in Mark tonight.

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 For those of you who haven't met, my name's Nick.

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 I'm one of the pastors here.

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 This academic year, actually,

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 we're looking at the Gospel of Mark.

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 We're coming up in the second half of it.

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 This spring, we're gonna look

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 at basically Mark 8 through 16.

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 We're gonna finish Mark by Easter,

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 which seems kind of like a daring feat,

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 but we're gonna do it by God's grace.

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 So turn with me to Mark chapter 8.

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 It's page 843 in the Black Pew Bible,

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 if you wanna turn there.

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 We'll put this passage on the screen,

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 but it's good to have it open.

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 If you can turn there, that way,

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 if we jump around, you can follow me.

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 Mark chapter 8, we'll look at verses 1 through 26.

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 Let me read this for us.

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 So Mark 8, verse 1.

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 In those days when a great crowd had gathered

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 and they had nothing to eat,

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 he called his disciples to him and said to them,

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 I have compassion on the crowd

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 because they have been with me now three days

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 and have nothing to eat.

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 And if I send them away hungry to their homes,

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 they will faint on the way.

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 And some of them have come from far away.

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 And his disciples answered him,

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 how can one feed these people with bread

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 here in this desolate place?

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 And he asked them, how many loaves do you have?

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 They said, seven.

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 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground

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 and he took the seven loaves

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 and having given thanks,

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 he broke them

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 and gave them to his disciples

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 to set before the people.

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 And they set them before the crowd

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 and they had a few small fish

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 and having blessed them,

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 he said that those also should be set before them.

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 And they ate

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 and were satisfied.

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 And they took up the broken pieces

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 left over seven baskets full.

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 And there were about 4,000 people.

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 And he sent them away

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 and immediately got into the boat

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 with his disciples

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 and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

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 And then, the Pharisees came

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 and began to argue with him,

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 seeking from him a sign from heaven

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 to test him.

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 And he sighed deeply in his spirit

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 and said,

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 why does this generation seek a sign?

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 Truly I say to you,

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 no sign will be given to this generation.

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 And he left them,

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 got into the boat again

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 and went to the other side.

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 Now they had forgotten to bring bread

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 and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

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 And he cautioned them saying,

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 watch out,

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 beware of the leaven of the Pharisees

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 and the leaven of Herod.

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 And they began discussing with one another

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 the fact that they had no bread.

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 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them,

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 why are you discussing the fact

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 that you have no bread?

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 Do you not yet perceive or understand?

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 Are your hearts hardened?

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 Having eyes, do you not see?

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 And having ears, do you not hear?

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 And do you not remember?

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 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000,

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 how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?

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 They said to him,

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 12.

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 And the seven for the 4,000,

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 how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?

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 And they said to him,

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 seven.

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 And he said to them,

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 do you not yet understand?

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 And they came to Bethsaida.

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 And some people brought to him a blind man

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 and begged him to touch him.

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 And he took the blind man by the hand

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 and led him out of the village.

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 And when he had spit on his eyes

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 and laid his hands on him,

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 he asked him,

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 do you see anything?

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 And he looked up and said,

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 I see men,

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 but they look like trees walking.

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 Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again,

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 and he opened his eyes.

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 His sight was restored.

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 And he saw everything clearly.

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 And he sent him to his home,

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 saying,

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 do not even enter the village.

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 Well, I wonder if you've ever been in a situation

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 where someone is trying really hard

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 to teach you something

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 and you just can't seem to get it.

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 If you've ever tried learning a foreign language,

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 maybe you've had that experience.

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 I remember when I was in divinity school,

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 I was learning Hebrew,

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 and I had that experience a lot, actually,

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 learning biblical Hebrew.

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 The first time I encountered it

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 was when I was learning,

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 it was like chapter three of our grammar.

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 And you have to realize

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 that in the Hebrew language,

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 every single word just about

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 comes from a three-consonant root.

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 Every word, three consonants.

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 It's completely baffling.

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 I remember our teacher

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 trying so hard

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 to get us to understand

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 how these three-letter roots work.

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 Because you see, the thing is,

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 like any language,

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 it doesn't always play by the rules, right?

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 Some consonants drop out,

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 some combine with others,

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 and some just mysteriously disappear.

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 And here we were,

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 sitting through our Hebrew class,

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 utterly baffled,

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 staring at the page of our grammar,

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 just not getting it.

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 And it was only week three of the course.

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 We were in trouble.

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 Now, maybe that hasn't happened

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 to you learning another language,

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 maybe learning a new skill,

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 or learning some new idea.

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 To be honest with you,

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 the New Haven public bus system,

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 how that thing works

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 is still a bit baffling to me.

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 Those of you who are able

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 to ride that thing and get around,

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 I have a lot of respect for you

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 because I would be utterly confused

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 where that thing was taking me.

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 But it's like that

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 with a lot of things, isn't it?

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 Riding a bike,

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 learning how to swim.

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 You try and you try and you try,

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 and it seems like you just can't get it.

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 But then one day,

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 something happens, right?

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 One day when I was studying Hebrew,

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 despairing,

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 it clicked.

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 Suddenly it made sense.

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 The lights came on

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 and I finally started to understand

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 how these crazy three-letter roots

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 actually worked.

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 And the best way to describe it,

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 I think,

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 was that I could finally see it.

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 I could see it.

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 Have you had that experience

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 from not understanding

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 to understanding,

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 from not seeing it

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 to seeing it?

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 Our text tonight

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 is all about

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 responding

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 to Jesus Christ.

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 Of understanding

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 and seeing

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 who He is.

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 We've come to chapter 8

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 of Mark's Gospel,

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 as I mentioned.

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 And you see,

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 chapter 8 is really

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 the turning point

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 of the whole book.

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 The whole book really pivots

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 on this chapter.

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 Everything leading up

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 to this point,

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 almost,

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 has been to show us

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 who Jesus is.

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 Mark has been taking pains

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 to describe to us

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 Jesus' person,

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 His identity.

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 And from this chapter onward,

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 things are going to turn,

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 things are going to shift,

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 and Mark's going to begin

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 showing us

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 why Jesus came,

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 what He came to do,

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 His purpose,

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 His mission.

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 But running underneath

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 both of these questions

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 and both of these halves

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 is another question.

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 And it's the question

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 of how should we respond?

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 What does it mean

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 to believe

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 and to follow

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 this Jesus?

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 So as Mark brings

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 this first half

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 of his Gospel

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 to a head,

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 we're confronted

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 with this pressing question

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 from Jesus Himself

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 in verse 21.

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 Do you not yet

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 understand?

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 Do you see Him?

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 Do you know Him?

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 Do you understand

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 who He is?

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 Now rewind

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 to the beginning

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 of our passage,

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 the feeding of the 4,000.

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 If you've been with us

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 in our Mark series,

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 this passage probably

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 sounds kind of familiar.

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 Do you remember

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 back in chapter 6

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 where Jesus did

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 something incredibly similar?

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 Back there

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 with just five loaves

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 and two fish,

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 He fed a crowd

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 of 5,000 men

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 plus women and children

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 and there were 12 baskets

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 of bread left over.

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 And now

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 in our passage tonight

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 with just seven loaves

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 and a few small fish,

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 He feeds over 4,000 people

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 and there are seven baskets

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 left over.

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 Jesus is at it again.

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 And you have to ask,

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 reading Mark's gospel,

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 what are we supposed

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 to learn from this miracle

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 that we didn't learn

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 from the first miracle?

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 After all,

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 think about it.

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 Presumably,

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 Mark,

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 the writer of this gospel,

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 didn't include everything

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 that he knew about Jesus

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 into it.

00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:17.780
 All of the gospel writers

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 are being selective.

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 They're all presenting to us

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 what they feel to be

00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:22.800
 the most important things,

00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:24.740
 the things that we need to know

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 to really understand

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 Jesus rightly.

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 So why does Mark include

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 two miraculous feedings?

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 Well, many commentators

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 point out,

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 and I think they're right,

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 that one of the primary

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 differences is this.

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 You see,

00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:39.080
 the first feeding,

00:08:39.180 --> 00:08:39.980
 if you go back there

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 and read,

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 took place

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 in Jewish territory.

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 Jesus was among

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 His own people,

00:08:47.180 --> 00:08:48.060
 among the people of Israel,

00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:48.899
 the people of God.

00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.799
 But in chapter 8,

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 He's actually now transitioned,

00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:53.919
 not,

00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.699
 no longer in Jewish territory,

00:08:55.699 --> 00:08:57.559
 but He's in a Gentile region.

00:08:58.579 --> 00:08:59.579
 If you have your Bible open,

00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:00.819
 look back at chapter 7,

00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:01.579
 verse 31.

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 We see there that Jesus

00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:03.879
 is in the region

00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:05.199
 of the Decapolis,

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 which is a Gentile region

00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.860
 on the far side

00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:10.259
 of the Sea of Galilee.

00:09:12.099 --> 00:09:13.059
 And that means Jesus

00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:14.159
 is among outsiders.

00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.079
 He's among people

00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:18.059
 that weren't necessarily

00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:19.500
 born to the right family.

00:09:20.079 --> 00:09:21.219
 He's among the pagans

00:09:21.219 --> 00:09:22.139
 and the irreligious.

00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:24.159
 Those who didn't have

00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:25.279
 the spiritual privileges

00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:26.360
 of being brought up

00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:27.199
 as an Israelite.

00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:28.159
 These are the people

00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:29.460
 who probably don't know much

00:09:29.460 --> 00:09:30.360
 about God's Word.

00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:31.399
 They don't know much

00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:32.819
 about God's covenant promises.

00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:34.500
 And yet,

00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:36.139
 here is Jesus

00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:38.539
 going to the outsiders

00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:41.299
 and satisfying their needs,

00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:41.840
 too.

00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:43.679
 Teaching them

00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:45.360
 and then feeding them.

00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.659
 You see,

00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.779
 Jesus is showing us

00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:49.519
 and Mark wants us

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.879
 to hear it loud and clear

00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:52.100
 that the kingdom

00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:54.639
 Jesus has come to bring

00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:56.539
 is for everyone.

00:09:58.259 --> 00:10:00.039
 For rich and for poor,

00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.360
 for young and for old,

00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:02.440
 for Jew and for Gentile,

00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.639
 for male and for female,

00:10:03.779 --> 00:10:04.879
 for insiders and outsiders,

00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:06.060
 for religious people

00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:07.139
 and irreligious people.

00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:08.740
 He's come for them all.

00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:14.120
 And all can come to him

00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:15.960
 and be satisfied.

00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:18.240
 Did you notice

00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.180
 that wonderful line

00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:20.240
 in verse 8?

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.759
 And they all ate

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.580
 and were satisfied.

00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:25.980
 Mark tells us the same thing

00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:26.779
 the first time around

00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:27.419
 in chapter 6,

00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:28.039
 verse 42.

00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.120
 And they all ate

00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.740
 and were satisfied.

00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:33.960
 Jesus is the satisfier

00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.500
 of souls.

00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:37.399
 And that goes for you

00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:38.960
 and that goes for me.

00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.740
 There is one

00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.019
 that satisfies

00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:43.679
 and it is Jesus.

00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:47.419
 He's showing them

00:10:47.419 --> 00:10:48.399
 with bread

00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:50.440
 a truth about who he is

00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:51.960
 and what he's come to do.

00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.740
 A truth about his kingdom

00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:55.879
 that in Jesus

00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:57.340
 God has come

00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:59.220
 to bring satisfaction

00:10:59.220 --> 00:10:59.960
 to weary

00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:01.440
 and hungry souls

00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.720
 and he's come to do it

00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.000
 for all people.

00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:07.840
 Now that's what we learn

00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:08.399
 about Jesus

00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.840
 in this passage.

00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:12.179
 But I think Mark

00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:13.279
 also wants to show us

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.399
 something about the disciples.

00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.720
 And by implication

00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.419
 he wants to show us

00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.220
 something about us

00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:19.039
 and what it means

00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.039
 to respond to Jesus.

00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:21.120
 Now put yourself

00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.080
 in the disciples' shoes

00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:22.659
 for a second

00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:23.580
 in this story.

00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:25.259
 You're in a deserted place.

00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.360
 Jesus is teaching

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.080
 large crowds.

00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.360
 People are getting hungry.

00:11:31.299 --> 00:11:32.240
 There's not enough food.

00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.740
 And this all sounds

00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:36.019
 and feels very familiar

00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:36.500
 to you.

00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:37.060
 You're thinking

00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:38.759
 we were in this situation

00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:39.700
 not so long ago.

00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:41.360
 And Jesus says to you

00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:41.940
 I have compassion

00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:42.379
 on these people

00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.200
 because they've been with me.

00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:43.879
 They're getting hungry

00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:45.360
 and I can't send them away.

00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:47.860
 Now,

00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:49.220
 as readers of the Gospel

00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:49.720
 of Mark

00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:51.120
 what do you want

00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.120
 the disciples to say?

00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:54.419
 Jesus,

00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:55.820
 you can feed them?

00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:57.440
 We've seen you do it

00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:58.560
 just two chapters ago.

00:11:59.180 --> 00:11:59.680
 Of course they wouldn't

00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:00.399
 have said two chapters.

00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.360
 Maybe it was a few months.

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.220
 Maybe even a year ago.

00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:04.240
 We know you can feed them.

00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:05.200
 We trust you.

00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.240
 Just tell us what to do.

00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:07.000
 We're ready.

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:07.759
 We're expectant.

00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:08.300
 Come on, Jesus.

00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:08.840
 Do it again.

00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:12.039
 But that's not how

00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.600
 they respond.

00:12:13.940 --> 00:12:14.700
 Instead they say

00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:16.980
 who's going to feed

00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:17.620
 all these people

00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.600
 with bread

00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.800
 in this desolate place?

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.480
 And of course

00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.379
 we as readers think

00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.320
 oh,

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.960
 how obtuse

00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.340
 can these disciples be?

00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.019
 I mean,

00:12:29.060 --> 00:12:29.600
 come on.

00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.139
 how could they not

00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:32.340
 put the pieces together?

00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:36.379
 But you know,

00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:36.980
 when we stop

00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:37.940
 and think about it,

00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:39.460
 aren't you and I

00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.360
 often the same?

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:43.300
 How many of us

00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:44.620
 have seen the Lord

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:46.000
 work in our lives

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.500
 in very clear ways?

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.100
 But then a little

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.040
 further down the road

00:12:50.040 --> 00:12:51.379
 a new situation arises

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:53.159
 and instead of our faith

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.000
 being stronger

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.700
 and responding

00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.480
 in deeper trust

00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:56.040
 to the Lord,

00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.480
 it's like we've

00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.420
 completely forgotten.

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.279
 And we respond

00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:01.779
 the same way

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.500
 we did the first time

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.039
 with questions

00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:03.740
 and doubt

00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.480
 and fear.

00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:05.779
 Is God really there?

00:13:06.060 --> 00:13:07.039
 Does He care for me?

00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.200
 Is He in control?

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.240
 One writer reflecting

00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:12.860
 on this passage

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.480
 put it this way.

00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:13.800
 He said,

00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:15.700
 Mark is showing us

00:13:15.700 --> 00:13:16.920
 how great

00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:19.180
 is human spiritual blindness.

00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:20.899
 The disciples

00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:22.360
 continually fail

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.120
 to apply

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:23.779
 what they know

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.220
 of Jesus

00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:25.399
 to new situations

00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:27.360
 and that

00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.699
 is the definition

00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:30.379
 of unbelief.

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.360
 Failing to apply

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.439
 what they know

00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:35.079
 of Jesus

00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:36.899
 in new situations.

00:13:39.579 --> 00:13:40.079
 Friends,

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:40.679
 if you're here tonight

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.319
 and you're a Christian,

00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:42.360
 you need to be aware

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.879
 that your heart

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:44.779
 will constantly

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.419
 be tempted

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.919
 to doubt Jesus

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.879
 again and again

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.240
 and again.

00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.220
 You know He's

00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:50.460
 the satisfier of your soul.

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.379
 You know He's

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:51.980
 the good shepherd

00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.319
 who cares for the sheep

00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:54.720
 and yet there will be times

00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:55.860
 when you and I

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.160
 are thrown into situations,

00:13:57.280 --> 00:13:57.940
 maybe situations

00:13:57.940 --> 00:13:59.620
 just like you've been in before

00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:00.320
 and your heart

00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.160
 will start to doubt

00:14:01.160 --> 00:14:01.860
 His love

00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:02.640
 and His power

00:14:02.640 --> 00:14:03.760
 and His care for you

00:14:03.760 --> 00:14:05.100
 and you won't expect Him

00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:05.420
 to work

00:14:05.420 --> 00:14:06.000
 and you'll wonder

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.960
 whether He's even there

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.300
 and in that moment

00:14:08.300 --> 00:14:09.700
 here's what you need to do.

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:12.960
 Not trust your heart

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.480
 and not trust

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.500
 your doubts

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.420
 and fears.

00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.860
 This is a sign

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.779
 of spiritual maturity

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:23.960
 when we see

00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:24.759
 that our hearts

00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:26.039
 are prone to doubt

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:27.539
 and prone to forget

00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:29.080
 and instead of listening

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.820
 to those doubts

00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.399
 and fears

00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:32.519
 we instead work hard

00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:34.060
 to remember

00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:35.279
 what He's done

00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.419
 and to view

00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:38.899
 our current situation

00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:39.700
 in light

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:41.180
 of what we know

00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.360
 to be true

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.300
 about Him.

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.480
 Now this theme

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:48.860
 of unbelief

00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:51.000
 or of partial belief

00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.399
 you probably picked it up

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:52.960
 it continues

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.480
 through the rest

00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.100
 of the passage

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.600
 doesn't it?

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.200
 And each part

00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:57.700
 is sort of instructing us

00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:59.460
 how we ought to respond

00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.539
 to Jesus.

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:01.940
 First Jesus gets out

00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.279
 of the boat

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.980
 and the first thing

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:03.360
 that happens

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:04.220
 is that the Pharisees

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.759
 come to Him

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.620
 and they confront Him

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.340
 and Mark says

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.539
 they argue with Him

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.680
 seeking from Him

00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:10.820
 a sign from Heaven

00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:12.100
 to test Him.

00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:15.100
 And Jesus' response

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.740
 is to sigh deeply

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:18.879
 and says

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.820
 in essence

00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:21.180
 no sign

00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:22.519
 is going to be given you.

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.039
 Of course

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:25.820
 there's a bit of an irony

00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.600
 here isn't it?

00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.019
 Isn't there?

00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:29.360
 Jesus has been doing

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.440
 incredible things

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.519
 His whole ministry.

00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:32.960
 He's just fed

00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:34.259
 4,000 people

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.399
 with seven loaves of bread.

00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.259
 So what exactly

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.879
 are the Pharisees

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.600
 looking for

00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.899
 and why won't Jesus

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.759
 give it to them?

00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:43.980
 Well in answer

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.519
 to the first question

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.639
 it seems that the Pharisees

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:47.340
 want Jesus to give them

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.960
 some sort of extreme

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.460
 supernatural proof

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.639
 a sign from Heaven

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.439
 that He is indeed

00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:53.980
 the Messiah.

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.120
 But you have to see

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.639
 a little deeper

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.500
 under what's going on here.

00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.080
 You have to see

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.699
 that they're only

00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:00.519
 asking Him this

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.379
 right as Mark says

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.559
 to test Him.

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.519
 You see they've already

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.340
 made up their minds

00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:05.899
 about Jesus.

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:08.080
 They think He's a fraud

00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.580
 or they think

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.299
 He's demon possessed

00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.100
 or whatever

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:12.059
 and now they think

00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.939
 they're going to ask Him

00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:13.840
 to jump through a hoop

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.920
 so high

00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:15.879
 that He's bound

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.399
 to fail

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.680
 or at least

00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.440
 that's what they think.

00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.680
 But Jesus refuses

00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.480
 to play their game.

00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:24.540
 Why?

00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:27.060
 Could He have done

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.240
 something amazingly

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.980
 supernatural?

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.920
 Of course.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.480
 He just calmed

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.480
 an entire storm

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.340
 a few chapters ago.

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.280
 Why doesn't Jesus

00:16:39.280 --> 00:16:39.860
 do something

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.920
 amazingly supernatural?

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:44.139
 You see because

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.079
 Jesus knows

00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:46.620
 that no amount

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.939
 of external evidence

00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.639
 even miraculous evidence

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.620
 can break through

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.719
 some kinds

00:16:52.719 --> 00:16:54.439
 of spiritual blindness.

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.620
 Remember

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.819
 this section

00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.559
 is all about

00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.740
 seeing Jesus

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.919
 and responding

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.360
 to Him.

00:17:03.319 --> 00:17:04.619
 I mean after all

00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:05.940
 Jesus had been doing

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.960
 remarkable things.

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.099
 He had been doing

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.980
 signs of a certain

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.740
 kind, right?

00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:11.059
 Healing the sick,

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.240
 feeding the hungry,

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.360
 causing the blind

00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:13.740
 to see,

00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.579
 comforting the outcasts,

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.220
 seeking out sinners

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.980
 and calling them

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.559
 to repentance

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.980
 and fellowship

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.640
 with God.

00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.220
 But you see

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.819
 that's not

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.539
 the kind

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.460
 of Messiah

00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.799
 that the Pharisees

00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.420
 wanted.

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.700
 That kind of Messiah

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.500
 didn't fit

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.079
 their grid.

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.000
 They wanted

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.360
 a Messiah

00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:34.819
 that would keep

00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:35.480
 all the traditions

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.160
 that they kept

00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:36.980
 and they wanted

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.120
 a king

00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:38.540
 that would be

00:17:38.540 --> 00:17:39.300
 scrupulous

00:17:39.300 --> 00:17:40.300
 about ceremonial

00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:40.759
 purity

00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.500
 just as they

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.259
 defined it.

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.720
 But you see

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.279
 God's kingdom

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.640
 as Jesus defines it

00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.080
 and as it is

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:48.519
 truly

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:50.460
 is for everyone.

00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:51.740
 As we've said

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.580
 Jew and Gentile

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.600
 clean and unclean

00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:54.800
 it's for everyone

00:17:54.800 --> 00:17:56.060
 who stops trusting

00:17:56.060 --> 00:17:56.880
 in their own

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.640
 moral performance

00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.240
 and their own

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:58.820
 cleanliness

00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.519
 and trusts

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.759
 in Jesus alone.

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:05.940
 So Jesus refuses

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.420
 to give them

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:06.819
 a sign

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.279
 because he knows

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:08.879
 their hearts.

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.879
 Now does that

00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:13.339
 mean that Jesus

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.079
 doesn't encourage

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.640
 us today

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.140
 as seekers

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.000
 to look at

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.559
 the evidence

00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.839
 and to seek

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.500
 for the truth

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.980
 and even to ask

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.680
 questions along

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.000
 the way

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.559
 and to try

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.420
 this thing out

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.359
 to see whether

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.099
 it holds water?

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.480
 Is Jesus saying

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.160
 no, don't do

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.539
 any of that?

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.359
 Of course not,

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:27.700
 right?

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:28.920
 Throughout the

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.519
 gospels he's

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.299
 encouraging people

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.099
 to come to him

00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.179
 and look at him

00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:33.639
 and test him out.

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.399
 You see,

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.059
 here's something

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.679
 that we often

00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:39.459
 get confused about.

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.240
 We often think

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.759
 that faith

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.279
 is some kind

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.279
 of leap in the dark

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.839
 and in fact

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.259
 reading a lot

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.899
 of commentators

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:45.559
 on this chapter

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.099
 this week,

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.240
 that's basically

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.659
 what a lot

00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:48.179
 of commentators

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.699
 said that Jesus

00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:49.199
 was doing here.

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.039
 He's saying

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.379
 that no,

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.139
 faith is sort of

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:51.539
 you just have

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.219
 to take a leap.

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.139
 Friends,

00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:53.659
 that's not at all

00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.000
 what Jesus

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.659
 is saying here.

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.819
 He's saying

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.519
 that faith

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.419
 involves

00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:00.699
 something more

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.840
 than just

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.259
 evidence.

00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.160
 Does it look

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.700
 at the evidence

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.380
 and investigate

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:05.360
 it and move

00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:05.819
 on the basis

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.100
 of it?

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.680
 Yes.

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.000
 But faith

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.779
 also involves

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.420
 your heart.

00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:13.400
 And if our

00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:14.539
 heart is filled

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.380
 with all sorts

00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:16.100
 of biases

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.940
 and presuppositions

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:19.299
 and if we've

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.019
 already made

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.799
 up our mind,

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.100
 then friends,

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.660
 no amount

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.160
 of evidence

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.640
 is going to

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.279
 overcome it.

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.720
 faith.

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.200
 Because you see,

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.879
 faith is more

00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.759
 than acknowledging

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.420
 the truth

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.319
 of a fact.

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.059
 Faith is

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.700
 commitment

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:33.019
 to a person.

00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:35.160
 And if there's

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.920
 no openness

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.799
 to that sort

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.339
 of commitment,

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:37.980
 if that door

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.519
 has already

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.119
 been shut,

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.779
 and if like

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.420
 the Pharisees

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.339
 were simply

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.200
 looking for ways

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.079
 to debunk

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.420
 Jesus'

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.180
 claims,

00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:48.440
 then Jesus

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.000
 knows that

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.879
 signs are

00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:50.259
 pointless.

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:55.039
 You see,

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:55.319
 the problem

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:55.940
 with the Pharisees

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.279
 is that they

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.940
 were determining

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.039
 the definition

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.680
 of the Messiah

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.259
 themselves,

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.259
 and they were

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:00.660
 putting up

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.019
 their own

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:02.460
 criteria that

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:02.920
 this Messiah

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.559
 had to fit,

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.700
 and then,

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.000
 of course,

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.299
 they took

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.640
 their own

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.180
 standards and

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.480
 their own

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:06.940
 criteria,

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.480
 and Jesus

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.079
 fell short.

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.660
 And when Jesus

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.160
 gets into the

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.480
 boat with

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.039
 his disciples,

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:14.460
 what does

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:14.839
 he say?

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.400
 He says,

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.140
 watch out for

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.640
 that sort of

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:17.940
 thinking.

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.220
 He says,

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.539
 it's like

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:20.940
 leaven.

00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.000
 It's like

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.180
 yeast that

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.160
 spreads everywhere

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.180
 and affects

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:25.720
 everything.

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.140
 Because don't

00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.660
 we often do

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.339
 the same thing?

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.180
 How often do

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.660
 we have similar

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.220
 thoughts run

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.519
 through our

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:32.859
 minds?

00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.619
 God, if you

00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.319
 loved me,

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.000
 then you would

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.619
 do this.

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.359
 You'd show me

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:38.819
 a sign.

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.220
 You'd solve

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.700
 this problem

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.400
 in my life.

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.359
 You'd get me

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:42.980
 that job.

00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.700
 You'd bring me

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.319
 a spouse.

00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.420
 Jesus, if you

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.079
 were really God,

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.720
 then you'd fix

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.559
 this or that.

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.900
 You'd stop the

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.579
 pain I'm feeling.

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.420
 Etc.

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:51.980
 Etc.

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.740
 You see how

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.460
 easy it is to

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.059
 fall into this

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.480
 trap?

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.000
 But it can be

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.640
 like yeast.

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.980
 It starts to

00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.379
 spread.

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.700
 And suddenly,

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.379
 we're calling

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:04.980
 the shots,

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.000
 and we're setting

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.480
 the standards

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.319
 that God has

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:07.660
 to meet.

00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:08.359
 And if God

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:08.779
 doesn't jump

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.420
 through our

00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:09.900
 hopes,

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:12.400
 then we start

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.000
 to turn away.

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:16.000
 God wants

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.640
 to come to

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.400
 Him and

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.900
 pour out our

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.359
 hearts to

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:22.619
 Him.

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.460
 But as soon

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:24.759
 as these

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.339
 desires of

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:25.680
 our hearts

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.180
 become the

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.819
 criteria,

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.000
 the test,

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:28.880
 that God

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.279
 has to

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.700
 meet,

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:30.839
 friends,

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:31.140
 then our

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.440
 hearts are

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.660
 in a

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.019
 dangerous

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.559
 place.

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.420
 Instead,

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.880
 let Him

00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.380
 define the

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:38.840
 criteria.

00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.360
 And have

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:42.840
 your eyes

00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:43.160
 open to

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.440
 what He's

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.560
 already done

00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:45.840
 to demonstrate

00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:46.620
 His love

00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.200
 and His

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.240
 power toward

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:48.560
 you.

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:52.339
 Now, of

00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:52.559
 course, all

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:52.879
 this talk

00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.379
 about leaven

00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:53.819
 and about

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.740
 yeast makes

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.220
 the disciples

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.639
 think that

00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.059
 Jesus is

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.639
 talking about

00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.419
 physical bread.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.000
 And they

00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.440
 start to think

00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.759
 that Jesus

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.339
 is correcting

00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.200
 them because

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.659
 they forgot

00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:02.139
 to pick up

00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:02.639
 some lunch

00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.059
 before they

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.359
 got into

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:03.799
 the boat.

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.559
 And Jesus

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:06.839
 says,

00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:07.179
 don't you

00:22:07.179 --> 00:22:07.579
 get it?

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:08.980
 Don't you

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.359
 get it?

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.359
 It's not

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.200
 about bread.

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.399
 It's about

00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:13.299
 who I am.

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:14.519
 And then He

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.220
 reminds them of

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.559
 what they have

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.460
 just experienced,

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.619
 12 baskets

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.379
 left over from

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.140
 5,000.

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.620
 Seven baskets

00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.260
 left over from

00:22:21.260 --> 00:22:22.040
 4,000.

00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:23.480
 Imagine what that

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:23.940
 must have felt

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.460
 like in their

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:24.880
 minds.

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.140
 Twelve disciples,

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:26.980
 you feed a

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.860
 crowd of 5,000

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.780
 people with

00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:30.740
 tiny amounts

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.200
 of food,

00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:31.920
 and at the

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.400
 end you're

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.020
 all standing

00:22:33.020 --> 00:22:33.560
 there with a

00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:34.300
 basket full

00:22:34.300 --> 00:22:34.740
 of bread.

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.120
 In your arms

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:38.040
 the evidence

00:22:38.040 --> 00:22:39.140
 that Christ

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.820
 is no mere

00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:40.220
 man.

00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:42.900
 And then

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.320
 weeks or

00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:43.900
 months later

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.560
 you've got

00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:45.600
 seven loaves

00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.780
 for 4,000

00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:47.220
 people,

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.319
 and at

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.579
 the end

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:48.799
 of that

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.339
 experience

00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:49.579
 you're

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:49.799
 holding

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.299
 seven

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.900
 baskets,

00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:51.500
 each one

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:51.839
 of those

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.319
 loaves

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.160
 having turned

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:53.519
 into an

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.019
 abundance.

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:54.740
 The Greek

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.140
 word there

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.640
 actually,

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.860
 one translator

00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:57.460
 translates it

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.180
 a hamper,

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.759
 a hamper

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.220
 full of

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:00.559
 bread.

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.819
 Adela Collins

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.259
 actually from

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.620
 the Divinity

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.299
 School translates

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:06.759
 it as a

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.799
 hamper full

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.420
 of bread.

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.500
 It's a lot

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.759
 of bread.

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:12.099
 Jesus says,

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.420
 don't you

00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:12.879
 see who I

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.259
 am?

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.980
 I'm trying

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.480
 to show

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:15.819
 you.

00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:19.240
 What is it

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.799
 that's going

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.240
 to turn the

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.759
 lights on?

00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.319
 If Jesus

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.119
 is the

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.920
 satisfier of

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.519
 our souls,

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.180
 if he's

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.779
 God come

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.440
 down to

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.539
 us to

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.000
 bring us

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.420
 back to

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:28.900
 himself,

00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:30.839
 how do

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.119
 we come

00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.539
 to believe

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:31.799
 it?

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:35.619
 And that

00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:35.919
 brings us

00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:36.099
 to the

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.500
 last section

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:36.759
 of our

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.079
 passage

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.460
 tonight.

00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.059
 This very

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.659
 unique,

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.960
 two-stage

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.240
 healing of

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.819
 this blind

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.779
 man at

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.299
 Bethsaida.

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.720
 Now,

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.119
 Jesus is

00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:47.399
 giving,

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:47.859
 obviously,

00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.039
 his disciples

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.759
 an object

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.339
 lesson here.

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:51.639
 Certainly,

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.220
 Jesus could

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.599
 have healed

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.019
 this man

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.720
 all at once.

00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:54.599
 At this

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:54.919
 point in

00:23:54.919 --> 00:23:55.119
 Jesus'

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.579
 ministry,

00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:55.980
 in Mark's

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.359
 gospel,

00:23:57.399 --> 00:23:57.779
 I mean,

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.079
 he's done

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.419
 incredible

00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:58.799
 things,

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:58.980
 right?

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.519
 He's calmed

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.139
 storms and

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:00.619
 cast out

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.220
 legions of

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.740
 demons and

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.480
 fed thousands

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.160
 of people

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:03.799
 and made

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.740
 blind people

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.339
 to see

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.359
 and mute

00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:06.859
 people to

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.480
 speak and

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.059
 lame people

00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.779
 to dance.

00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.059
 With just

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.500
 a word,

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:10.740
 he could

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.240
 have opened

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.839
 this man's

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.099
 eyes,

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.880
 but instead,

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.319
 he's teaching

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:14.960
 us a lesson.

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.660
 You see,

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.240
 the disciples

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.500
 had begun

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:21.980
 to see.

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.940
 They'd begun

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.579
 to have their

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.140
 eyes open

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.740
 to who Jesus

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.279
 is,

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.299
 and yet,

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.720
 they didn't

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.400
 see it all

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:29.799
 clearly.

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:32.019
 They were

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.379
 kind of like

00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:32.879
 this man.

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:33.839
 You know,

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.359
 at one stage

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:34.779
 of the healing,

00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:35.299
 he could see

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:35.599
 people,

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.159
 sort of,

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.659
 but it was

00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.000
 all a bit

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.359
 blurry,

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.480
 like trees

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.180
 walking around,

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.599
 he says,

00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:39.980
 which is a

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.299
 great little

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:40.680
 detail.

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.079
 And the

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.700
 disciples in

00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.240
 Mark's gospel

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.879
 see Jesus,

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.500
 and they kind

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:45.879
 of begin to

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.379
 understand who

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:46.779
 he is,

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.720
 but it's not

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.339
 totally clear

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.619
 yet.

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.200
 And next

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.399
 week,

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:50.859
 we'll see

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.500
 that even

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.059
 when Peter

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.480
 makes his

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.279
 great declaration

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.980
 at the heart

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.419
 of Mark's

00:24:54.419 --> 00:24:54.680
 gospel,

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:54.740
 people,

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.400
 that you,

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:55.740
 Jesus,

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.740
 are the

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.019
 Christ,

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:57.460
 you are

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.060
 the Messiah,

00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.360
 immediately

00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.200
 find out

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.200
 that his

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.620
 vision is

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.120
 still a bit

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.460
 blurry.

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.680
 But then,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.960
 comes a

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.700
 second stage.

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.299
 Jesus lays

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.779
 his hands

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.039
 on his

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.640
 eyes again,

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:13.820
 and his

00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:14.220
 vision is

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.640
 completely

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.160
 restored,

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.100
 and he

00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:16.500
 finally

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.060
 sees.

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.000
 You see,

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.180
 friends,

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.440
 the point

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.740
 is this,

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.340
 Jesus isn't

00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:22.779
 just the

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.600
 satisfier of

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.279
 our souls.

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.340
 But he

00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:25.840
 is the

00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:26.500
 opener of

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.080
 our eyes.

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.299
 He's the

00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:29.660
 one who

00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.420
 grants us

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.180
 the sight

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.660
 to see

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.480
 him and

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:32.920
 know him.

00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.299
 And that

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.700
 means three

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.299
 things as we

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.840
 close tonight.

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.279
 First,

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.180
 if we're

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.519
 going to

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:38.980
 approach

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.880
 Jesus at

00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:40.380
 all,

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.160
 if we're

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.420
 going to

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:41.960
 make any

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.340
 spiritual

00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:42.940
 progress,

00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.500
 if our

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:43.940
 searching

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.560
 after God

00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:44.799
 is going

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.060
 to make

00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:45.480
 any

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.039
 headway,

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.080
 then there

00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:47.660
 has to

00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.039
 be

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.779
 humility.

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:49.980
 We have

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.539
 to admit

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.120
 that our

00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:51.799
 vision is

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.160
 skewed,

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.460
 that we

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.019
 don't see

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.660
 things clearly,

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.120
 and that we

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.539
 need to

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:54.879
 have our

00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.839
 eyes opened,

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.579
 that we

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.420
 bring with

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.379
 us all

00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:58.940
 sorts of

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.759
 biases and

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.740
 presuppositions that

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.500
 may be right or

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.339
 may be wrong,

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.159
 and we have to

00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:03.519
 be ready,

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.279
 unlike the

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.899
 Pharisees,

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.200
 to let those

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.519
 things be

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.720
 questioned and

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.599
 challenged in

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.920
 the light of

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.420
 who God has

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.180
 revealed himself to

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.859
 be in Christ.

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.539
 Second,

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:17.139
 if Jesus is the

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.159
 opener of our

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:18.700
 eyes,

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.759
 it means that

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.159
 being a

00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:21.640
 Christian,

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.180
 friends,

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.860
 is all

00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.720
 of grace.

00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:24.940
 You and

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.400
 I cannot

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.400
 take credit

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.320
 for believing

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:28.120
 in Jesus as

00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.680
 if that somehow

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.420
 makes us better

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:29.800
 than other

00:26:29.800 --> 00:26:30.120
 folk.

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.060
 It makes us

00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:32.900
 incredibly humble

00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.480
 people to

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.100
 know that it

00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:35.900
 was Christ who

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.300
 opened our

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:37.340
 eyes, not

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.940
 me who pulled

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:39.140
 myself up by

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.680
 my smarty

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.800
 bootstraps and

00:26:40.800 --> 00:26:41.480
 figured it out.

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:43.980
 But doesn't

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.500
 that also make

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.080
 us very hopeful,

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.480
 people?

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.819
 that if Jesus

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.640
 is the eye

00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.660
 opener, and

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.099
 if he can

00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.279
 open my

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:54.140
 dull eyes,

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.960
 then surely

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.539
 he can do it

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.539
 for anyone

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:57.960
 else.

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.440
 And that

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:01.839
 brings us to

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.180
 the third

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.480
 point.

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.120
 And the

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.640
 third point is

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:05.940
 that it's

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.299
 Jesus.

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.299
 Our passage

00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:09.880
 begins with

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.420
 Jesus saying,

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:10.700
 I have

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.599
 compassion on

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.120
 the crowds.

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.339
 And don't

00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:14.660
 you see that

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.400
 his compassion

00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.040
 for us is

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:17.700
 so great that

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.460
 he not only

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.920
 feeds our

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.360
 souls, but

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.920
 opens our

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.300
 eyes.

00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:21.280
 He not just

00:27:21.280 --> 00:27:21.940
 gives bread to

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.460
 the weary, but

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.920
 he gives a

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.860
 sight so we

00:27:23.860 --> 00:27:24.780
 can see it and

00:27:24.780 --> 00:27:25.180
 so we can

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.759
 take it.

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:27.780
 In other

00:27:27.780 --> 00:27:28.220
 words, friend,

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.540
 the picture of

00:27:29.540 --> 00:27:30.180
 Jesus that we

00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.240
 have here is

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.800
 that he is an

00:27:31.800 --> 00:27:34.040
 utterly complete

00:27:34.040 --> 00:27:34.680
 savior.

00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:36.880
 That he

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.940
 accomplishes our

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:39.800
 salvation, and

00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:40.620
 he applies it,

00:27:40.820 --> 00:27:41.580
 and he brings it

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.100
 to us.

00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:43.360
 That what he's

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.220
 done for us on

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.900
 the cross,

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:45.940
 he doesn't

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.560
 just leave

00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:47.620
 there for

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.180
 anyone who's

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:49.000
 sort of strong

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.480
 enough to go

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.880
 get it, but

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.560
 he brings it

00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:52.160
 to us and

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.780
 opens up our

00:27:52.780 --> 00:27:53.160
 eyes so that

00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:53.720
 we can take

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.259
 it and take

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.580
 him.

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.040
 Friends, you

00:27:58.040 --> 00:27:58.540
 want to see

00:27:58.540 --> 00:27:58.960
 tonight?

00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:01.640
 Then you have

00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.220
 to come to the

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.700
 sight giver.

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.040
 You have to

00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:04.700
 come to Jesus.

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.240
 Tonight, are you

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.080
 struggling to

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:08.180
 trust him and

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.060
 to believe him?

00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.640
 And brothers and

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.400
 sisters, instead of

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.860
 demanding a sign to

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:15.000
 test him, humbly

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.339
 ask him to open

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.899
 your eyes to

00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:18.639
 see what's really

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.259
 going on.

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.939
 And that kind of

00:28:21.939 --> 00:28:22.399
 prayer, he will

00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.659
 always answer, and

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.279
 he will not turn

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.699
 you away.

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:26.879
 Let's pray.

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:32.819
 Jesus, you know

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.659
 our hearts tonight.

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.500
 Lord, you know that

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.339
 some of us here are

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.399
 feeling weary and

00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:37.799
 hungry.

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.579
 God, we've been

00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:40.579
 searching for

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.740
 satisfaction in

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.299
 things.

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.500
 Lord, in coming up

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:44.879
 empty.

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.700
 God, we've been

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.819
 looking for it in

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:49.379
 friends and in

00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:49.759
 work.

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:51.740
 God, we've been

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.740
 looking for it in

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:55.799
 pleasures and in

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.659
 experiments.

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:01.419
 God, tonight, as we

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:02.180
 look into our hearts,

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.740
 we see that it's

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.039
 empty.

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.039
 And Lord, we need

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.700
 the bread that only

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.359
 you can give.

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.259
 So God, for those

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:09.920
 here tonight who are

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.519
 in that position, I

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.079
 pray that they would

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.839
 come to you and

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.460
 find you.

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.819
 Lord, that you would

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:16.559
 grant them the

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.839
 sight to see, that

00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.599
 you can satisfy

00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.339
 their souls, that

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.119
 what you've done for

00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.899
 them on the cross

00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:22.319
 and in the

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.920
 resurrection is

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:25.220
 enough for them for

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.839
 all eternity.

00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.119
 God, grant them the

00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:29.000
 vision to see you

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.319
 clearly.

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.700
 And God, for those

00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.299
 who are here tonight

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.180
 who are wrestling with

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.200
 their circumstances, who

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.819
 are wrestling to

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:37.059
 trust you, God, would

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.799
 you too give them

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:41.200
 vision to see, to

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.839
 see your presence

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:44.399
 with them, to see

00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.379
 that you have loved

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:45.839
 them with an

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:48.480
 everlasting love, that

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.480
 on the cross you have

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.659
 demonstrated your love

00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:52.379
 in fullest degree for

00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.220
 all who come and

00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.779
 receive it.

00:29:57.179 --> 00:29:58.299
 God, help us to be a

00:29:58.299 --> 00:30:00.899
 people who are deeply

00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:02.159
 dependent on you.

00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:03.540
 God, increase our

00:30:03.540 --> 00:30:05.540
 faith for your

00:30:05.540 --> 00:30:06.040
 name's sake.

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.420
 Amen.