WEBVTT

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 Father, we invite and give you permission to have your word,

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 to have Christ come even more deeply into our hearts and our lives,

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 that he will bear fruit in our lives and through our lives, all to your glory.

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 And Father, you know how hard it is for us to do this in our own strength.

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 So we ask for the help of your Holy Spirit to strengthen and focus our will

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 and our affections and our desires for Christ and his finished work upon the cross

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 and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring your word deeply home to us.

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 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Why doesn't God make himself more obvious?

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 Like, if you think about it for a second, and I've had many people ask me this,

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 like, if God, if the triune God really wants to be known,

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 like, why doesn't it just make it far more obvious to people that he exists?

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 Like, it seems as if there's lots of good evidence that he does exist,

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 and whatever evidence there is that he does exist seems very, very weak.

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 And the other thing, which is just a problematic thing for Christians,

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 for Christianity, is that some of Christianity just seems so,

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 well, partly it just seems lame, and partly it just seems ridiculous.

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 Like, you know, George, you're a born-again Christian,

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 and you say things like, you need to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord,

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 accept him as your Savior and Lord.

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 And guys like you say, you know, you accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord,

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 you go to heaven.

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 And if I say no to that, I spend eternity in hell.

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 And that just seems pretty random.

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 Like, I just have this thing that I say to Jesus,

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 and I go to heaven for the rest of my life,

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 and if I don't say it, like, I go to hell.

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 Like, it's not connected to anything that I've done or not done.

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 Like, it seems like a pretty flimsy, random type of standard.

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 Some of you might have thought some of these things,

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 and some of you have probably had conversations around some of these things.

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 And the Bible text that we're going to look at today

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 walks towards these issues and helps us to understand,

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 well, helps us to understand why it is that God seems to hide

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 and what it means to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

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 So it would be a great help if you turn in your Bibles with me

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 to Mark chapter 4, verses 1 to 20.

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 Mark chapter 4, verses 1 to 20.

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 And what's gone on just before this,

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 if you're watching online for the first time,

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 we preach through books of the Bible.

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 Generally, that's the way we do things.

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 If you've come for the last couple of weeks,

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 you've seen sort of more, you know, Christmas

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 and then the December 26th and January 2nd,

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 sort of more of one-off text.

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 But generally, we preach through books of the Bible,

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 and we're going through Mark.

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 So what just happened before our break

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 was the part just before this,

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 you can look and check up on it later as it begins.

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 We looked at a part where Jesus' mother

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 and brothers and sisters thought he was crazy,

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 and they had to do an intervention.

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 That's, I guess, what we would now call it.

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 And then it went how Jesus' betters,

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 the influencers, the intellectuals,

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 the academics, the leaders of the culture,

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 all basically came and told everybody

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 that it looked at it as if Jesus was doing good things,

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 but really he wasn't.

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 That really what was fueling everything he did

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 was the devil and that ultimately it would turn out

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 very, very bad.

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 It looked good, but actually it was demonic.

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 And then Jesus gives this very stark talk

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 about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

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 as being something that could never be forgiven.

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 And then the text ends, just before we get to this bit,

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 where once again Jesus' mother and brothers and sisters

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 are there and they sort of demand

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 that Jesus come and see them.

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 And Jesus gives this response that his real mother

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 and brothers and sisters are those who do his will.

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 So that's what's just gone on.

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 And now here the story continues.

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 And here's how it goes.

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 Again, Jesus began to teach beside the sea

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 and a very large crowd gathered about him

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 so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea.

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 And the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.

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 And Jesus was teaching them many things in parables.

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 And in his teaching, he said to them,

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 listen, behold, a sower went out to sow.

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 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path

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 and the birds came and devoured it.

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 Other seed fell on rocky ground

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 where it did not have much soil.

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 And immediately it sprang up

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 since it had no depth of soil.

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 And when the sun rose, it was scorched.

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 And since it had no root, it withered away.

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 Other seed fell among the thorns.

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 And the thorns grew up and choked it.

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 And it yielded no grain.

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 And other seeds fell into good soil

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 and produced grain, growing up and increasing

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 and yielding 30-fold and 60-fold and 100-fold.

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 And he said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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 Now, just before we go any further,

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 this is not the way you should sow.

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 Like, this doesn't make any sense.

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 And it probably is part of the reason

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 that it becomes memorable

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 because it doesn't make any sense.

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 In fact, I remember years ago,

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 I had a conversation with a fellow

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 who had been a devout Muslim

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 and he'd stopped being a Muslim.

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 And he told me that he stopped being a Muslim

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 because he said, basically,

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 everything in Islam goes back to Muhammad

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 and what he wrote in the mid-600s.

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 And life today is just so different

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 than life in the mid-600s.

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 Why on earth would anybody go back

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 to somebody like him

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 to get advice about how to live

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 in a place like Canada today?

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 So he'd walked away from Islam,

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 not into any other religion.

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 He just walked away from it.

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 And some people might hear this

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 and think this is the dumbest way

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 in the world to farm

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 or to have a crop.

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 So if Jesus can't even get something

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 simple like this right,

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 why on earth would you want to listen to him?

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 But the fact of the matter is

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 is that everybody at the time

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 that was listening to it

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 would have known

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 that this isn't the way you do things.

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 Like, this is foolish.

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 And in fact, it's actually doubly foolish

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 because on one hand,

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 nobody in their right mind just says,

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 I'm going to throw some seed on the path.

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 I'm going to see all those,

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 see all the thorns and weeds.

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 I'm going to throw some seed there.

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 And you see where all the rocks are

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 and there's hardly any,

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 I'm going to throw some seed there

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 and then I'll throw the rest there.

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 Like, not only is that not how it works,

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 but the other thing is that

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 in that culture,

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 and this we wouldn't know,

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 like, unless you have some study helps,

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 is that nobody got a return

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 on their sowing of 30, 60, or 100.

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 Like, that was unheard of.

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 A good return would have been 10 or 15.

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 And so they'd say,

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 this doesn't make any sense.

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 Jesus doesn't know anything about farming.

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 That would have been the response to many people.

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 And that probably explains a little bit

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 about what happens afterwards.

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 Because if you see in verse 10,

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 not only the 12,

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 but the other people who are hanging around,

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 who are sort of part of Jesus' bigger inner circle,

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 they all come and have some questions

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 about what's going on.

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 Look what happens in verse 10.

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 And when Jesus was alone,

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 those around him,

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 so after this,

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 all the crowds dispersed,

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 and the people who really hang around with Jesus

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 and sort of travel with him,

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 and when he was alone,

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 those around him with the 12

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 asked him about the parables.

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 I mean, they're probably saying something like,

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 Jesus, what gives?

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 We know that,

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 you know,

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 that's not how any sane person plants,

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 and we know that that,

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 you know that that's,

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 nobody gets a hundredfold return

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 from planting one seed.

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 Like, what's going on?

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 And Jesus says to them,

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 now, here's a very, very classic,

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 if you're watching this for the first time,

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 one of the things that you might not know about Jesus

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 is that regularly what he does

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 is he actually seems to make things worse.

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 Like, rather than just sort of making it

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 really easy to understand,

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 he sort of introduces new problems

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 that you hadn't even thought of

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 and seems to make it worse.

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 And that's what goes on right here.

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 So, look what happens in verse 11.

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 He said to them,

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 to you,

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 that's to the 12 and the others,

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 has been given the secret

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 of the kingdom of God.

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 But for those outside,

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 everything is in parables.

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 And just before I read the next bit

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 where it gets problematic,

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 I'm going to return to this

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 at the end of the sermon,

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 but literally,

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 it doesn't say secret.

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 Literally, it says mystery.

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 And that actually,

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 the translators made the decision

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 that it was easier for people today

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 to understand the word secret,

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 but I actually think they made a mistake.

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 I think the word mystery

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 is actually the better word to use.

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 But that's the literal word.

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 If you go and look at a literal study help,

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 it'll say literally the word is mystery.

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 So he says,

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 to you has been given the mystery

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 of the kingdom of God,

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 but for those outside,

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 everything is in parables.

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 And here's the hard part.

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 Verse 12,

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 so that they may indeed see,

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 but not perceive,

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 and may indeed hear,

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 but not understand,

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 lest they should turn and be forgiven.

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 You go, whoa, whoa,

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 did I just hear that right?

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 Like did Jesus say,

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 I'm intentionally saying things

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 so people don't understand?

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 And I'm intentionally saying things

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 not only so people don't understand,

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 but so they won't come to the triune God?

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 Like is that what he said?

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 Like that's crazy talk.

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 Like what's going on?

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 In fact, you might want to say,

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 this is why if you had your own Bibles,

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 you're going, what,

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 is that what he said?

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 And you go back and you look and says,

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 yeah, so that they may indeed see,

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 but not perceive,

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 and may indeed hear,

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 but not understand,

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 lest they should turn and be forgiven.

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 Now, what's going on here?

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 Well, he's quoting from Isaiah 6.

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 Now, one of the things

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 which is going on here

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 that you wouldn't know,

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 that's why you have to come to church

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 or read Study Helps or whatever,

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 is, well, here, sorry,

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 just a geek moment,

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 a geek moment.

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 This is,

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 for some of you guys

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 who are sort of geeks and gals,

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 you'll love this.

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 But back in the time of Jesus,

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 there was, of course,

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 the official Bible,

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 like the Bible,

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 the Hebrew,

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 which was written in Hebrew.

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 That would have been the language

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 that all of the books

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 were written in originally.

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 They would all have been written

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 in Hebrew fundamentally.

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 But what had developed

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 about the century or so

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 before the time of Jesus

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 is that two different paraphrases

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 had been developed.

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 One paraphrase was,

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 in other words,

00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:54.439
 people realized,

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 a lot of Jewish people realized

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 that if you were a Jewish person

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 living in Rome

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 or in Athens

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 or in what we now call Turkey,

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 you might not know Hebrew.

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 You only speak Greek.

00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.059
 So what they did

00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:06.519
 is they paraphrased

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.399
 the Old Testament,

00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:09.019
 the Hebrew,

00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:09.960
 into Greek.

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.580
 And for many people,

00:11:11.660 --> 00:11:12.740
 that would have been their Bible.

00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:13.360
 They would have heard

00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.560
 a paraphrase

00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:17.460
 of the Old Testament

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:17.920
 in Greek.

00:11:18.040 --> 00:11:18.980
 But there was another one

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:19.800
 not as well known,

00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.180
 and that was in Aramaic,

00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:23.560
 not Arabic.

00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.480
 Arabic as a language

00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:26.500
 would not develop

00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:27.840
 for at least another century.

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.759
 But Aramaic,

00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:31.660
 which is sort of similar

00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:32.180
 to Hebrew.

00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:33.800
 And so, for instance,

00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:35.139
 in the area

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.480
 where Jesus ministered

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.379
 at the time of this,

00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:39.580
 most Jewish people

00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:41.720
 would have spoken Aramaic,

00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:42.740
 many of them

00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.860
 would have spoken Greek.

00:11:44.520 --> 00:11:45.600
 And we know from looking

00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.759
 at the historical evidence

00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.060
 that Jesus knew Hebrew

00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:50.080
 and he knew Aramaic

00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:50.820
 and he knew Greek.

00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:52.500
 And so what he does here

00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:53.360
 in this answer

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.420
 to this thing,

00:11:54.540 --> 00:11:55.500
 this odd text,

00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:56.580
 is he actually uses

00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:58.680
 the Aramaic paraphrase.

00:11:59.520 --> 00:12:00.220
 And that's why

00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:00.940
 if you go back

00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:02.139
 and you compare this

00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.940
 to the text in Isaiah 6,

00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.960
 it doesn't look identical,

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.500
 the same.

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:06.960
 It looks a bit different

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.240
 because Jesus is using

00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.480
 the Aramaic paraphrase.

00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:12.440
 Now, here's the geeky thing.

00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.639
 I hope I didn't lose you.

00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.980
 So now to get out of the geek

00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.139
 in terms of what it means.

00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:19.580
 In the Hebrew,

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.320
 if you go back

00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:22.620
 and look in Isaiah 6,

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.980
 it's very clear

00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:24.860
 that God

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:27.200
 stops people

00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.180
 from understanding

00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:29.500
 or makes some type

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.139
 of decision

00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:31.360
 saying they don't understand.

00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.120
 But in the Aramaic paraphrase,

00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:35.440
 the emphasis,

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.460
 it's ambiguous.

00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.720
 And so listen again

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.000
 to what,

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.019
 so in a sense,

00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:40.940
 what's happening here

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:41.379
 is this.

00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:46.039
 There's a lot of people

00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:48.159
 and probably true

00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.320
 of many of us

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.220
 at different times

00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:50.759
 in our life

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.460
 and maybe before

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:52.399
 we became Christians

00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.340
 who don't want

00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.480
 Christianity to be true.

00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:57.039
 Like,

00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.259
 you know,

00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:00.000
 if I actually came

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:00.420
 to believe

00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:01.099
 that Christianity

00:13:01.099 --> 00:13:02.059
 was true,

00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:04.939
 well,

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.579
 what would happen?

00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:06.819
 If I actually came

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.579
 to believe

00:13:07.579 --> 00:13:08.039
 that Christianity

00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:08.659
 was true,

00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:09.379
 look at the end

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.059
 of verse 12.

00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:11.259
 I'd have to turn

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.120
 or repent

00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.559
 and seek forgiveness.

00:13:14.819 --> 00:13:15.919
 I'd have to say,

00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:16.139
 well,

00:13:16.219 --> 00:13:17.599
 if I actually believe

00:13:17.599 --> 00:13:18.120
 that Christianity

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.639
 is true,

00:13:18.719 --> 00:13:19.719
 the way I spend

00:13:19.719 --> 00:13:20.299
 my time

00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.219
 would have to change.

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.399
 The way I spend

00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:22.860
 my money

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.919
 would have to change.

00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:25.819
 I might actually

00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:26.679
 have some pressure

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.839
 to forgive somebody.

00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:29.939
 I might have to change

00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:31.120
 the way I view

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.360
 things on my screen.

00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:34.500
 I might have to

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.180
 stop living

00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:36.060
 with my girlfriend

00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:38.600
 if I came to believe

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.160
 that Christianity

00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:39.720
 was true.

00:13:39.880 --> 00:13:40.360
 And I don't want

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.200
 to stop doing that.

00:13:42.260 --> 00:13:43.320
 I don't want to turn

00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:46.660
 and ask for forgiveness.

00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:47.540
 Like,

00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:48.300
 I don't want to do that.

00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:50.280
 I don't want to do that.

00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:53.280
 I'm not going to do that.

00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:55.200
 Now,

00:13:55.260 --> 00:13:56.020
 people will rarely

00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:57.460
 be very public about it,

00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:58.380
 but in your heart,

00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.419
 that's what's going on.

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.220
 I'm not going to do that.

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.460
 I'm not going to do that.

00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.179
 And so,

00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.299
 in the Aramaic,

00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.299
 if you look at it,

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:05.519
 say,

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:06.259
 you see,

00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:09.480
 if they actually perceived,

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.939
 they'd have to turn

00:14:11.939 --> 00:14:12.600
 to be forgiven.

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.019
 If they actually understood,

00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.500
 they'd have to turn

00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.080
 to be forgiven.

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.320
 I don't want to turn

00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:20.220
 and be forgiven,

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.519
 so I'm not going to perceive.

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.559
 I'm not going to understand.

00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:26.539
 And that's what's

00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:27.219
 sort of going on here

00:14:27.219 --> 00:14:27.839
 in the text,

00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:29.500
 that you're dealing

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.679
 with people

00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:32.159
 who just,

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.219
 dang it all,

00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:34.579
 I don't want to do that.

00:14:36.099 --> 00:14:36.459
 Or,

00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:37.839
 if I do become a Christian,

00:14:38.339 --> 00:14:39.519
 I want to do it

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.419
 on my terms.

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.379
 And so,

00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.339
 God,

00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:42.719
 I mean,

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.019
 I'm just,

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:43.619
 obviously,

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.719
 I'm exaggerating.

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.819
 I have here a list

00:14:45.819 --> 00:14:46.799
 of demands

00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.579
 and conditions.

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.500
 Okay,

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.620
 I get to keep

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.419
 my sexuality,

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.080
 I get to keep

00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:52.700
 all of my money,

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.340
 and I get to keep

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:54.100
 all of my ambition,

00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.220
 and I'll give you

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.600
 some of the emotional stuff,

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:58.179
 because I can understand

00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:59.080
 how that would help me to,

00:14:59.159 --> 00:14:59.399
 and I,

00:14:59.440 --> 00:14:59.600
 you know,

00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:00.740
 I can sort of understand

00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.960
 I need to do some forgiveness,

00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.860
 I'd love to have some

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:04.019
 emotional peace,

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.960
 so that's fine,

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:05.419
 I'd like that,

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.740
 but these things here,

00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:07.720
 these are the conditions,

00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.539
 and if you would just

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.539
 sign off on the bottom,

00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.360
 then I'll give my life

00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.899
 to Christ.

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.159
 And that's sort of

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.139
 what Jesus is saying

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.759
 is going on here

00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.200
 in the text.

00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:18.379
 Now,

00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:18.679
 just,

00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.239
 it's a whole other

00:15:20.239 --> 00:15:21.859
 topic of conversation,

00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:24.099
 but just very briefly,

00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:24.799
 like if you look

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.479
 through the gospel,

00:15:25.599 --> 00:15:26.639
 if you look through Isaiah,

00:15:26.979 --> 00:15:27.799
 and if you look

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.659
 through the Old Testament,

00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:30.299
 there's this constant

00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.399
 interplay between

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.379
 two ideas,

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.019
 of God sovereignly

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.000
 making decisions,

00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.399
 and of human beings

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.519
 sovereignly or freely

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.519
 making decisions.

00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:43.059
 And it's a very,

00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:44.039
 very big mystery

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:44.959
 about how you actually

00:15:44.959 --> 00:15:45.839
 have free will

00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:46.819
 in a world where

00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:48.059
 your free will

00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:49.079
 causes things.

00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:50.699
 And the short form

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.279
 of the answer

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.379
 from Christians

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.859
 is that freedom

00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:54.819
 has to have

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.739
 a guarantor.

00:15:56.479 --> 00:15:57.199
 It has to have

00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:58.159
 conditions that

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.219
 allow it to happen.

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:01.019
 And so God,

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.079
 in his sovereign power,

00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:05.419
 creates a human being

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.079
 like you

00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:07.039
 to have freedom,

00:16:07.119 --> 00:16:08.379
 and he guarantees it.

00:16:09.239 --> 00:16:10.319
 And on one hand,

00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:10.599
 then,

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.819
 if he took away

00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.359
 his sovereignty,

00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:13.599
 you'd lose your freedom.

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.540
 So he never stops

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.300
 being sovereign,

00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:17.600
 but he uses his sovereignty

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.820
 to give you real freedom.

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.659
 And I'll explain why

00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.600
 in a moment.

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:23.720
 And so,

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:29.200
 well, actually,

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.820
 maybe I should go,

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.399
 so, yeah,

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:32.720
 so he gives you the,

00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.040
 he gives you this freedom,

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.920
 but at the end of the day,

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.920
 since he doesn't give up

00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:37.960
 his sovereignty,

00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:38.840
 it's as if,

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.379
 so it's as if God,

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:43.419
 so from a human point of view,

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.879
 I say to God,

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.779
 my will be done.

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:50.220
 And God woos you

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.860
 and woos you

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.460
 and woos you

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.139
 and woos you

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.820
 and woos you

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.659
 to try to get you

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.639
 to turn to him.

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.200
 And at the end,

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.159
 in a sense,

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.200
 on your deathbed

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.980
 and beyond,

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.100
 if all the way

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.320
 through your entire life

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:01.659
 you've said,

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.600
 my will be done,

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.720
 my will be done,

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.599
 my will be done,

00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.539
 my will be done,

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:06.900
 that we never say

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.720
 thy will be done,

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.759
 but my will be done.

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.019
 At the end,

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.740
 in a sense,

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.359
 what happens

00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.319
 in the day of judgment

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.859
 is a meeting of minds.

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.680
 It's almost as if

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:18.240
 at the judgment seat,

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.660
 the person still says to God,

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.960
 these are my demands,

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.240
 my will be done,

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:26.059
 you give in to them

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:29.940
 and I'll go along with you.

00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.519
 At the end of the day,

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:31.880
 God says,

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.059
 well,

00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.720
 you're not God,

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.519
 you don't get to make

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.519
 those types of things

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.620
 and so that's just

00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.240
 not possible.

00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:38.799
 You do realize

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.519
 that if you continue

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.500
 to turn your back on me,

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.379
 there's this eternal

00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.539
 separation from me

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:44.180
 with all the consequences,

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.920
 all the pain

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.539
 and the sorrow,

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.680
 you realize that

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:46.900
 and you say,

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:47.400
 no, no, no, no,

00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.519
 you're not listening to me,

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.639
 we say back to God.

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.319
 These are my demands

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.579
 and at the end,

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:55.139
 the end of the judgment,

00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.900
 I say to God,

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.940
 my will be done

00:17:57.940 --> 00:18:01.279
 and God says to me,

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.539
 thy will be done,

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.019
 which ends up meaning hell,

00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:09.180
 that there's a meeting

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.680
 of the mind right to the end,

00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:13.220
 God allows our freedom.

00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:14.559
 So,

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:16.799
 here's the problem

00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.180
 that we have.

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:21.259
 Why is it that God hides,

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.140
 appears to hide?

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.200
 Well,

00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:26.500
 part of the problem is

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:28.460
 that in our heart of hearts,

00:18:28.840 --> 00:18:31.380
 we project onto God

00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:33.240
 what we want for ourselves

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.080
 and think that God

00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:36.040
 should be like us

00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:37.380
 and what do we want?

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.200
 We want our own way,

00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:41.120
 we want applause,

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:43.040
 we want our own way,

00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:44.020
 we want recognition

00:18:44.020 --> 00:18:45.240
 and we want applause.

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.839
 I mean,

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:51.599
 that's part of the problem

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.700
 that's going on right now,

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.039
 you know,

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.640
 the dominant philosophy

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.500
 in our culture

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.680
 is that everybody

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.720
 has to get in touch

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.799
 with their own feelings

00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.440
 and desires

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.180
 and be authentic

00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.079
 to who they are

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.660
 and to be authentic

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.200
 it means that

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.299
 I have to be autonomous

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:07.220
 and I have to try

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.299
 to realize who I am

00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:11.299
 but that doesn't stop

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:11.599
 with that

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.299
 is because then

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.539
 we also want applause.

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.539
 Like,

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.400
 it's partly what's going on

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.180
 in the culture wars.

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.160
 It's not just that,

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:18.799
 you know,

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.680
 the homeschooling

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:22.660
 heterosexual mom

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:24.440
 just leave her alone

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.059
 and the gay

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.700
 or the lesbian

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.819
 or the trans person

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.039
 will just all make sure

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.559
 nobody's rights are trampled

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.819
 and we're just left alone

00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.440
 but that's not what's going on

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.960
 in the culture

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.160
 is that for many positions

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.099
 there's the demand

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:37.960
 of applause.

00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:40.700
 Not just to leave them alone

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.480
 and to make sure

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.259
 nobody hurts them

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.079
 but actually

00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.819
 a demand for applause.

00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:47.180
 It's in the very heart

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:48.240
 of our cultural moment.

00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.160
 It's actually come right out

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:49.620
 to the fore.

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.579
 That's demanded.

00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:54.019
 And so what we do

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.299
 is we project onto God

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.460
 well if I was God

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:58.319
 I'd want everybody to know

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.759
 and I'd want everybody

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.779
 to recognize it

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.960
 and I'd want applause

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:03.039
 and I'd make sure

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.000
 that happens.

00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:06.519
 But God's not like us

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.440
 thanks be to God.

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.519
 You see,

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.519
 the fact of the matter is

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.519
 is that what God wants

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.079
 is love.

00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:19.319
 And love requires freedom.

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.039
 You see,

00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:22.160
 the fact of the matter is

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.120
 is that God could

00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:23.960
 in the tiniest,

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.240
 tiniest sliver

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.660
 reveal himself

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.720
 in such a way

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.900
 that every single one

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.859
 of us would cower.

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:33.279
 We would all fall down

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.279
 or flee

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:36.839
 if God made himself

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:39.220
 just even the tiniest sliver

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.279
 of revealed himself

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.039
 in a way that was

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.120
 completely and utterly

00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.139
 undeniable.

00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.059
 It would cause us

00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:45.679
 to fear.

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.759
 It would overwhelm

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.339
 our mind,

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.559
 overwhelm our reason,

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.919
 overwhelm our will,

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.379
 and it would cause terror.

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.219
 And he could do that

00:20:53.219 --> 00:20:53.959
 effortlessly.

00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:56.699
 But God doesn't desire

00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:57.699
 to overwhelm.

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:59.199
 He desires to woo.

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.819
 W-O-O.

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.659
 To woo.

00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:04.920
 And so if God wants

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.120
 to preserve our freedom

00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:06.880
 and your freedom

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.980
 and if he wants to woo,

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.960
 then how exactly

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.360
 does he reveal himself?

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:16.719
 If God is humbler

00:21:16.719 --> 00:21:18.419
 than you and me,

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:22.379
 because you see,

00:21:22.479 --> 00:21:24.419
 part of the opposite

00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:25.039
 of humility,

00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.079
 which is pride,

00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:27.199
 is a preoccupation

00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:27.959
 with ourself

00:21:27.959 --> 00:21:28.639
 and a desire

00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.579
 for recognition.

00:21:30.719 --> 00:21:31.939
 And humility

00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:33.139
 isn't thinking

00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:34.479
 bad things about yourself,

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.899
 but an actual engagement

00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:37.039
 with the other person

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.099
 and a concern for them

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.079
 the way they really are.

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.960
 That's why humility

00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.699
 is so deeply tied to love.

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:44.079
 It's an actual caring

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.539
 for the person

00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.399
 in front of you.

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:48.939
 And if God cares for you

00:21:48.939 --> 00:21:51.220
 and loves you

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:53.039
 and actually wants

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.619
 what's best for you,

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:57.139
 well, how does he reveal himself

00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:58.579
 without overwhelming you?

00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:05.519
 And so it is that Jesus speaks

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.740
 in things like parables

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:08.240
 and other types of things.

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:10.059
 It's why on one level

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:11.220
 you can look at

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:12.039
 the created order

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.359
 and on one hand

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.440
 you can start to get

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.200
 these clues

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.180
 that there is a God

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.779
 that does exist,

00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.839
 that there is a designer,

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.940
 that there is a creator,

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:19.500
 that there's,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.120
 that there are clues

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.940
 that there must be

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.039
 something sustaining

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.779
 my freedom.

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:25.120
 There's all these clues

00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.920
 around you

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.839
 that you can

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:28.420
 potentially begin

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:28.940
 to see

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.200
 that there is a God

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.240
 like the triune God

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.920
 that does exist.

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.759
 And even in Jesus'

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.799
 teaching then,

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.700
 it never overwhelms,

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.380
 it woos.

00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:37.799
 Even when he confronts

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.319
 his sins,

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.580
 he confronts to connect.

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.580
 And you know that

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.559
 especially by the end

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.440
 of it

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.519
 where you realize

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.940
 that no matter

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.100
 how hard a thing

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:46.120
 that Jesus says,

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.140
 it dies

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.539
 in a mystery.

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:50.680
 I mean,

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.700
 so it ends in a mystery.

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:53.160
 It ends with him dying

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.039
 for you.

00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:57.080
 Like,

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.100
 how is it

00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:58.840
 that love

00:22:58.840 --> 00:22:59.720
 himself

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.860
 would die

00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:01.960
 for those

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.100
 who are definitely

00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:04.039
 not love,

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.920
 but are a mixture

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.660
 of love and hate?

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.420
 How is it

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.920
 that light itself,

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:09.579
 himself,

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.480
 would die

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.980
 for ones

00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.880
 who love light

00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.079
 and darkness?

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.500
 How is it

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.360
 that God

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:20.779
 would actually

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.360
 die

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.720
 for a human being?

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.299
 How is it

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:28.960
 that there would be

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.880
 one who would say

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.240
 to God,

00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.079
 not my will,

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.420
 but thine be done?

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.559
 Which is what happens

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.340
 just before he goes

00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:35.039
 to the cross.

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.340
 So this becomes

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:40.819
 clear

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.840
 as the New Testament

00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.880
 develops.

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.799
 So what's going on

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.460
 in this parable?

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.279
 So what's going on

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.840
 in this parable

00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.640
 actually is very,

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.620
 very deeply human.

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.140
 In a sense,

00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.960
 the invitation here

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.500
 is that if you stop

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.360
 to think to yourself,

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.380
 especially maybe

00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.759
 when you're,

00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.039
 you know,

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.879
 the people

00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.460
 who are listening

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.079
 to Jesus

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:01.420
 are people

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.339
 who've seen him

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.500
 do things

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.299
 like heal a man

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:07.019
 who was paralyzed.

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.420
 He's seen people

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.579
 heal from the distance.

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.240
 He's seen,

00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.420
 they've seen demons

00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:12.639
 being cast out by him.

00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:13.659
 They've seen all

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.319
 of these things.

00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.299
 So one of the ways

00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.059
 they could respond

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.740
 to this parable

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:19.139
 is maybe

00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:21.440
 the problem

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.420
 isn't that I think

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:24.299
 he's dumb,

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.299
 but maybe he's trying

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.940
 to communicate

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.919
 a point to me.

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.579
 Like rather than me

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:29.980
 just saying,

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.259
 oh, stupid Jesus,

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.180
 what does he know

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.779
 about farming?

00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.559
 He's an idiot.

00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:34.879
 You might say,

00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.259
 one moment,

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:35.919
 this is a guy

00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.680
 who heals

00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.799
 paralyzed people

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:39.079
 and raises the dead

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:41.240
 and heals the blind

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.460
 and casts out demons.

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.440
 Maybe if he says

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.740
 something,

00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.619
 I should listen.

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.399
 Like maybe I should

00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:47.799
 listen.

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:48.759
 Like maybe I should

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.480
 try to figure out

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.279
 what's going on.

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.299
 And actually,

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.140
 on one level,

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.980
 before we get into it,

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.140
 what Jesus says

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.720
 is actually

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.920
 quite psychologically

00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.620
 profound.

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.599
 And it's not only

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.680
 something psychologically

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.339
 profound,

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.920
 it's also something

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.420
 that we're all

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.440
 very familiar with.

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.039
 It makes up

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.180
 the constant themes

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.880
 of the novels

00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.539
 and the movies

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.380
 and the plays

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:16.480
 that we consume

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.660
 and in fact

00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.660
 our conversations

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.420
 with others.

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.019
 Like you think about it,

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.559
 what's one of the

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.380
 common themes

00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.039
 in our culture

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.519
 right now?

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.420
 One of the common

00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.259
 themes in our culture

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.000
 right now is you have

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.059
 people who are like this.

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.680
 They're going around

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.120
 like this,

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.039
 all like this,

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.039
 and you know,

00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:31.099
 maybe their wife

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.660
 or their husband

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.339
 or their kid

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.680
 says something

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.519
 and we go,

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.120
 yeah, yeah, yeah,

00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.120
 yeah, yeah, yeah,

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.079
 yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.180
 yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.400
 Right?

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.019
 Isn't that a common

00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.819
 theme in our culture?

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.740
 We're not really listening.

00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.460
 We're completely

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.279
 and utterly consumed

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.120
 with our device.

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.900
 Well, doesn't that

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.599
 sound a little bit

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.460
 like the person

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.900
 who starts to listen

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.460
 or they think

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.980
 they're listening

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.720
 but really what's

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.440
 happening is the devil

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.300
 is just taking the word

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:52.860
 away from them

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.560
 so it never actually

00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:54.460
 even makes any impact

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.860
 whatsoever.

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.740
 And I just recently

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.980
 recommended that you

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.600
 watch the movie

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.180
 Just Mercy.

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.480
 I watch all sorts of things.

00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:03.539
 I don't often recommend

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.240
 that you watch it

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.820
 but it's a very

00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:06.120
 interesting true story

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.259
 and in that

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.759
 is something

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.400
 which is a very

00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.340
 common theme

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:10.200
 in lots and lots

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.640
 of movies

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.720
 and lots of things

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.240
 in our life.

00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:13.580
 They're all excited

00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:15.320
 because evidence

00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:15.940
 comes up.

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.440
 There are people

00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.460
 who can give testimony

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.539
 and if they give testimony

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.620
 it proves beyond

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.620
 a shadow of a doubt

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.640
 that the person

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.560
 who's on death row

00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:23.380
 could not have

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.259
 committed the murder.

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.440
 He could not have

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.100
 committed the murder

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:27.420
 and they can give

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.120
 this testimony

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:29.039
 and the guy says

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.139
 okay we're going

00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:30.859
 to get you to do

00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:32.859
 a legal disposition

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.679
 or whatever it is

00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:35.059
 and that will do it

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.079
 but within the next

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.739
 24 hours

00:26:36.739 --> 00:26:37.819
 and the people

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.519
 who make the offer

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.399
 they're all excited

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.519
 and everybody's excited

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.479
 but then a day later

00:26:42.479 --> 00:26:43.619
 they realize

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:45.000
 if I do this

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.299
 there's going to be

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.339
 terrible consequences

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.099
 there might be

00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:49.119
 terrible consequences

00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.839
 to my life

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.559
 and they back away

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.259
 from doing it.

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.139
 But doesn't that

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.000
 happen all the time?

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.319
 Like haven't many

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.039
 of you seen

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.679
 in your workplace

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.259
 or others

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.000
 where people come

00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:00.519
 across an instant

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.180
 of abuse

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.340
 or injustice

00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:03.720
 and people at all

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.039
 at first

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.400
 they're going to

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:04.900
 combat it

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:06.140
 but then they're silent?

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.100
 Isn't that what happens

00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.860
 in the military

00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:09.580
 with claims of sexual abuse?

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.640
 Isn't that what happens

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.940
 with all sorts of people

00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:13.060
 who could blow the whistle

00:27:13.060 --> 00:27:13.960
 and they back off

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.759
 because they realize

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.180
 there could be

00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.320
 very bad consequences?

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.180
 Isn't that the stuff

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.620
 of life?

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.940
 And what about

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.460
 another thing

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.019
 which is a very

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.100
 very common thing?

00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:23.900
 What about the fact

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.680
 that it's a very

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:26.519
 very regular thing

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.740
 in life

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:30.220
 that maybe once again

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:32.819
 you realize

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.359
 that there's been

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.039
 something done

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.680
 which is very

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.539
 very wrong

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.700
 and at first

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.059
 you're going to

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.019
 do something about it

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.859
 but then you realize

00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.559
 that if you do

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.400
 something about it

00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.099
 it's going to affect

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.700
 not necessarily

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:42.559
 that anything bad

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.079
 is going to happen

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.559
 to you

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:45.240
 but shouldn't you

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.299
 maybe be concerned

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.339
 about the institution

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.079
 and shouldn't you

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:48.740
 be a little bit

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.400
 concerned about

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.039
 your career?

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.420
 And if you think

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:51.799
 about that

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.599
 that's every

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.619
 Michael Connolly

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.919
 Harry Bosch novel

00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:57.399
 that's one of the

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.480
 subplots of every

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.940
 one of those

00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.000
 best-selling novels

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:02.119
 the police bureaucracy

00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:02.899
 that thinks

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:03.460
 one moment

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.119
 we can't deal

00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.019
 with this wrong

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.720
 because we need

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.220
 to protect

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.079
 the institution

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.359
 and I need

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.799
 to protect

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.480
 my career

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.799
 and isn't it

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.740
 an aspect

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.319
 of almost

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.859
 every romantic

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:15.240
 movie or drama

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.019
 with romance

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.059
 of a marriage

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.839
 falling apart

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.680
 because a person

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.519
 becomes overly

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.720
 consumed with money

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:22.480
 or with pornography

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.299
 or some other

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.140
 type of thing

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.660
 that starts

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.420
 to wreck it

00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:30.120
 and isn't it

00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.680
 part of the

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.839
 normal thing

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.420
 of life

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.160
 to understand

00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.079
 that some people

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.880
 take the love

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.600
 or the justice

00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.720
 or the goodness

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.579
 or the beauty

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.440
 seriously

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.480
 and are willing

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.420
 to pay the cost

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.160
 and in hindsight

00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.799
 we see that

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.519
 they're heroes

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:44.519
 just before

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.120
 the COVID

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.680
 things all

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.960
 happened in 2019

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.860
 at the end

00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.420
 of October

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.240
 I was able to go

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.759
 because of my

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.180
 interest in

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.720
 apologetics

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.500
 I got invited

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.460
 along on a tour

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:54.480
 with Christian

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.100
 apologists

00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.759
 and some others

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.960
 of the Holy Land

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.539
 and about

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.960
 halfway through

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.380
 the tour

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.440
 we went to

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.019
 the museum

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.720
 that remembers

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.200
 the Holocaust

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.220
 and that evening

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.160
 by coincidence

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.779
 people all went

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.500
 around to share

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:07.980
 a little bit

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.440
 about what

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:10.060
 the tour

00:29:10.060 --> 00:29:10.519
 had been like

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.259
 for them so far

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:11.820
 and what they'd

00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:12.360
 really got out

00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:12.600
 of it

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.420
 and one of the

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.039
 most moving

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:15.120
 parts of the tour

00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:15.660
 was that

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.600
 this woman

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.600
 and her husband

00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:18.620
 who was on the tour

00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:20.039
 they had disappeared

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.719
 I mean we all

00:29:21.719 --> 00:29:22.239
 separated

00:29:22.239 --> 00:29:23.379
 but they shared

00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:24.219
 she shared

00:29:24.219 --> 00:29:25.299
 that some of her

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.459
 direct relatives

00:29:26.459 --> 00:29:27.259
 her aunts

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.099
 and uncles

00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:31.539
 I get worked up

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.479
 even thinking about it

00:29:32.479 --> 00:29:34.199
 they were listed

00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:35.759
 in the museum

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.779
 as part of the

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.919
 righteous Gentiles

00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:41.079
 at great cost

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.619
 and risk

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.359
 to themselves

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.379
 they had hidden

00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.859
 Jews

00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:46.699
 and so

00:29:46.699 --> 00:29:47.119
 they didn't

00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:47.919
 go on the tour

00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.559
 they just went

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.359
 to that part

00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:51.059
 to see the names

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.699
 of her relatives

00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:54.199
 and it was

00:29:54.199 --> 00:29:55.299
 the whole room

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:55.799
 just silent

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.359
 it happened to be

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.000
 at a time as well

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.299
 where there were

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.919
 many Jewish people

00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.459
 the whole room

00:29:58.459 --> 00:29:59.259
 just goes silent

00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.659
 because now

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.319
 in hindsight

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.699
 let me tell you

00:30:01.699 --> 00:30:02.439
 if you were in Holland

00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:03.139
 there's all sorts

00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.539
 of reasons

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.740
 not to protect Jews

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:08.899
 but now

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.639
 we don't look up

00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:10.279
 to the people

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.979
 who said

00:30:10.979 --> 00:30:12.139
 if I protect Jews

00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:12.699
 it's going to hurt

00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.420
 my church

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.880
 if I protect Jews

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.640
 it's going to affect

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:16.819
 my advancement

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:18.120
 if I protect Jews

00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:19.120
 I won't be able

00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.120
 to make as much money

00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:21.920
 or I can make more money

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.980
 if I betray them

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.180
 nobody remembers them

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.360
 with

00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:28.440
 Louise and I

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.420
 are watching a thing

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.759
 about Harriet Tubman

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:33.539
 there's all sorts

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.940
 of people

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.620
 who wouldn't help

00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:35.380
 the slaves

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:37.360
 have all the reasons

00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:38.120
 but those who are

00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:38.880
 gripped with love

00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.340
 and justice

00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:39.940
 and goodness

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.319
 we now go back

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.100
 and look at them

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:42.659
 and we think

00:30:42.659 --> 00:30:43.719
 of the great fruits

00:30:43.719 --> 00:30:44.459
 the good fruits

00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:45.079
 that happened

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:47.319
 so in light of that

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.379
 listen to this parable

00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:49.359
 listen to what Jesus

00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:50.779
 says in verse 13

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:52.379
 and he said to them

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:53.819
 do you not understand

00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.539
 this parable

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.339
 how then will you

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:57.279
 understand all the parables

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.759
 the sower sows the word

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.559
 I'll explain what that

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.279
 means in a moment

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.879
 and these are the ones

00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.759
 along the path

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.859
 where the word is sown

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.759
 when they hear

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:06.079
 Satan immediately comes

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.759
 and takes away

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.740
 the word that is sown

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.319
 in them

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.639
 and just sort of

00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.639
 pause here for a second

00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:11.540
 what the word

00:31:11.540 --> 00:31:11.980
 is

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.480
 is the word

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:15.740
 is the personal

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:17.120
 the person and work

00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:17.780
 of Christ

00:31:17.780 --> 00:31:19.480
 understood in the context

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.200
 of the bible

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.560
 in the bible

00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:22.160
 understood

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.200
 in the context

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.840
 of the person

00:31:23.840 --> 00:31:24.700
 and work of christ

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.800
 like you receive

00:31:25.800 --> 00:31:27.120
 christ

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.800
 and what he's done

00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.360
 for you

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.960
 as understood

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.480
 in the bible

00:31:29.520 --> 00:31:30.300
 and in a sense

00:31:30.300 --> 00:31:30.759
 you're also

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:32.180
 receiving the bible

00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:32.960
 understood in light

00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.480
 of the person

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.160
 and work of christ

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:35.860
 and that's the seed that you receive.

00:31:36.580 --> 00:31:38.460
 In a sense, what Jesus is just saying,

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:40.660
 if you understand that Jesus' parable

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:43.860
 helps to understand why it is that a lot of people

00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:46.960
 don't do that which is just or that which is faithful

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:50.220
 or that which is beautiful or that which is right,

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:54.040
 then surely you understand that in the same way,

00:31:54.040 --> 00:31:57.080
 if Jesus really is God, the Son of God,

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:59.240
 who dies as a sacrifice for sin,

00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:05.039
 if he really is light swallowing the darkness,

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:07.759
 love swallowing the hate and the indifference,

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:11.079
 if he is righteousness swallowing the unrighteousness

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:14.680
 and doing all of that for us as an act of profound sacrifice

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:16.099
 to make you right with God,

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:19.599
 if that is right, then we can still have these same responses

00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:21.480
 that turn that away,

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:23.579
 and the way that's going to be to bear fruit

00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:25.319
 is to receive what he's done.

00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:33.660
 Look at verse 16,

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:36.940
 and these are the ones sown on the rocky ground,

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.359
 the ones who when they hear the word

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.880
 immediately receive it with joy

00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:41.220
 and they have no root in themselves

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.400
 but endure for a while.

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:45.339
 Then when tribulation or persecution arises

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.420
 on account of the word,

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.960
 immediately they fall away.

00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:50.680
 And others are the ones sown among thorns.

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:52.819
 They are those who hear the word,

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:54.359
 but the cares of the world

00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:55.819
 and the deceitfulness of riches

00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:57.460
 and the desires for other things

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:59.039
 enter in and choke the word,

00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.599
 and it proves unfruitful.

00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:04.259
 But those that were sown on the good soil

00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:05.640
 are the ones who hear the word

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:07.140
 and accept it and bear fruit,

00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:10.460
 thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.759
 You see, it's a mystery.

00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.960
 You receive the mystery.

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:20.319
 If you were to go back

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:23.039
 to the time of Harriet Tubman

00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:25.660
 and just sort of changing the context

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:27.819
 and you were to say to one of the white slaveholders,

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.980
 like, in a sense,

00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:32.039
 you know, in a sense you're wearing a noose

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:32.759
 around your neck.

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:33.579
 And they say,

00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.500
 why are you wearing a noose?

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:38.039
 Well, don't you know that that black man

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.680
 that you lynched

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:40.160
 is the turning point of history

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:42.259
 and the means by which you became right God?

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:46.740
 Well, they'd mock it

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:49.740
 and say that's the dumbest, stupidest thing in the world.

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.259
 And you say, no, no, it's a mystery.

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:55.200
 You receive him

00:33:55.200 --> 00:34:00.240
 and it begins to make a difference in your life

00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:01.859
 and you start to bear fruit

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:04.099
 and the more you press into it,

00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:05.220
 the more you know it's real

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:09.480
 and the more you might have a bit of a way

00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:11.619
 to become more gentle rather than harsh

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:13.760
 and maybe to deal with some of the craziness

00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:15.099
 and the messes and the addictions

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:16.559
 and the violence in your life.

00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:21.300
 And the white slave owners would say,

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:23.800
 there is absolutely no way on God's good earth

00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:26.139
 that the turning point of all of history

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:28.619
 is that black guy that we lynched.

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:32.420
 And that's the mystery of the ancient world.

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.639
 First of all, nobody survives crucifixion.

00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:39.420
 Tens and tens and tens and tens of thousands

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.099
 were crucified.

00:34:40.279 --> 00:34:41.199
 Nobody survived.

00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:44.880
 And you're saying that this Jewish rebel

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:48.299
 who died a slave's death

00:34:48.299 --> 00:34:50.079
 by Roman imperial power,

00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:51.559
 and if you were the Jewish leaders,

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:54.159
 are you saying our scriptures say

00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.299
 that cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:59.519
 and you're saying that someone obviously cursed by God,

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:03.860
 dying under Roman power as a slave

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:04.940
 and a ne'er-do-well,

00:35:05.120 --> 00:35:08.100
 that he, receiving him

00:35:08.100 --> 00:35:10.240
 and what he did for you on the cross,

00:35:10.580 --> 00:35:12.840
 that that's the turning point of history,

00:35:13.660 --> 00:35:16.000
 that that is the end of your longings

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.860
 and your yearnings

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:18.420
 and you can be reconciled to God,

00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:20.640
 that is completely and utterly ridiculous.

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:25.340
 And you want to know how this really is a mystery?

00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:26.079
 I mean, on one level,

00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:27.380
 and it is a mystery, you know?

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.380
 I mean, on one level,

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:30.019
 mystery doesn't mean you don't know anything about it.

00:35:30.100 --> 00:35:32.920
 You know the shape of it and all.

00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:34.180
 And at the end of the day,

00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:35.120
 as we all know,

00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:37.800
 philosophers have never plumbed the depths

00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:40.039
 of what it means for Jesus to die upon the cross.

00:35:40.200 --> 00:35:42.200
 Poets have never plumbed the depths.

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:45.039
 Musicians and mystics and philosophers

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:47.100
 and theologians and ordinary people,

00:35:47.160 --> 00:35:48.480
 on one hand, you can understand,

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:52.720
 you can hear that this guy who dies on a cross

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:56.099
 has died to reconcile you with God

00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:58.480
 and that if you receive it,

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:59.119
 it will make you right.

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.959
 And you can understand it on one level.

00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:02.759
 There's a shape to the mystery,

00:36:02.879 --> 00:36:05.379
 but the heart of the mystery is still a complete...

00:36:05.379 --> 00:36:08.439
 It continues to fascinate when you're inside of it.

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.299
 And from the outside,

00:36:09.459 --> 00:36:10.599
 it's a shocking thing.

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.739
 And part of the thing,

00:36:11.779 --> 00:36:13.239
 which is even more shocking,

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:17.739
 is that even though the historical records show

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:20.959
 that to accept the crucified Jew

00:36:20.959 --> 00:36:22.519
 as your Savior and Lord

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:26.319
 is only going to put you on the outside

00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:28.399
 of pagan and Jewish society,

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:31.099
 yet somehow or another this thing grew.

00:36:32.939 --> 00:36:34.679
 And 2,000 years later,

00:36:34.879 --> 00:36:38.099
 there is not a single god or goddess

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:39.619
 of ancient Greece or Rome

00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:41.059
 who is still worshipped,

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.960
 but we are here today

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:47.619
 remembering the crucified Jew.

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.880
 And earlier today,

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:51.820
 our brothers and sisters in Nigeria

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:53.559
 and Uganda

00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:55.079
 and Kenya

00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:56.480
 and Rwanda

00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:58.980
 and in Israel

00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:00.599
 and Syria

00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:02.500
 and hidden in Iran

00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:04.259
 and hidden in China

00:37:04.259 --> 00:37:07.259
 and hidden in North Korea

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.900
 and in South Korea

00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:10.220
 have worshipped

00:37:10.220 --> 00:37:12.880
 the crucified Jew.

00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:17.820
 What a mystery!

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:27.240
 Four things very briefly in closing.

00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:32.460
 Four very brief takeaways.

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:35.500
 I apologize I don't have them up on the screen.

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.340
 The first one is

00:37:36.340 --> 00:37:38.059
 the importance of the message of the sower.

00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:43.539
 God sows the seed

00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:45.840
 to all and sundry

00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:47.960
 and all conditions of men and women.

00:37:48.780 --> 00:37:49.960
 I don't know how many of you,

00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.860
 if you haven't heard it,

00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:52.240
 go back two Sundays ago

00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:54.200
 and listen to Matt Usherwood's testimony.

00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:56.680
 And if you've heard other things about his life,

00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:57.860
 I can tell you right now

00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:59.840
 that if you were the youth pastor

00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:01.380
 there speaking to the group

00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:03.639
 and you saw Matt come in

00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.740
 and you talked to him,

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.240
 you'd think,

00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:06.199
 why this guy's been

00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:08.459
 arrested several times

00:38:08.459 --> 00:38:10.279
 and he does lots of drugs

00:38:10.279 --> 00:38:12.500
 and there is,

00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:13.579
 in fact,

00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.459
 you might have been worried

00:38:14.459 --> 00:38:15.519
 that he was present

00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:18.239
 and you almost might want to even hold back

00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:19.119
 what you want to say,

00:38:19.299 --> 00:38:20.599
 but they shared the gospel

00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.879
 and Matt became a Christian.

00:38:22.299 --> 00:38:24.419
 He was the most unlikely guy in the room.

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:28.059
 And the sower,

00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:29.320
 there are a lot of us here,

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:30.440
 if you hear this story,

00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.659
 it's very unlikely

00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:33.000
 you would ever become a Christian.

00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:35.480
 And so part of the takeaway from this

00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:38.639
 is that don't say God's no for him.

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:41.000
 Pray for unlikely people.

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.659
 If you get an opportunity

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:43.880
 to bear witness to Jesus,

00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.500
 take it.

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.300
 Don't say to yourself,

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:47.700
 well, this person is a trans activist.

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.159
 They're just going to hate me.

00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:49.740
 Don't say,

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.920
 this person is a very,

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:52.340
 very wealthy glee bite.

00:38:52.780 --> 00:38:54.680
 They're just going to look down their nose at me.

00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:55.260
 Don't say,

00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:58.440
 this person is very important in politics

00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:59.180
 or in the media.

00:38:59.320 --> 00:38:59.740
 Don't say,

00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:01.920
 this person is too broken and messed up.

00:39:02.200 --> 00:39:02.460
 Like,

00:39:02.660 --> 00:39:04.380
 how do you know who the seed is?

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:04.780
 Who's going to,

00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:05.760
 you don't know.

00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.960
 Share the gospel

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.760
 and pray for the unlikely people

00:39:10.760 --> 00:39:11.920
 that you come across,

00:39:12.180 --> 00:39:13.660
 that they will come to know Jesus

00:39:13.660 --> 00:39:14.820
 because you don't know.

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:18.260
 And the second thing is,

00:39:19.120 --> 00:39:20.280
 when you hear,

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.380
 you know,

00:39:21.380 --> 00:39:22.460
 the text in verse 20

00:39:22.460 --> 00:39:23.720
 is that they hear the word,

00:39:23.820 --> 00:39:25.280
 they receive the word.

00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:28.000
 And so it's not like,

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:30.280
 if you just happen to say the words,

00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:31.920
 Jesus is my savior and Lord,

00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:32.800
 then you go to heaven.

00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:34.099
 And if you just happen to say the,

00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:35.240
 you don't say the words,

00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:36.220
 you go to hell forever.

00:39:36.780 --> 00:39:37.140
 No.

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.500
 And it's not a matter of,

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.900
 if you just have the opinion,

00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:41.680
 you go one place.

00:39:41.740 --> 00:39:43.039
 And if you don't have that opinion,

00:39:43.140 --> 00:39:43.900
 you go another place.

00:39:44.160 --> 00:39:44.519
 No.

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.780
 What it's like,

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:46.820
 it's like a seed

00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:48.440
 being received into the soil.

00:39:50.680 --> 00:39:52.019
 You receive the person

00:39:52.019 --> 00:39:52.900
 and work of Christ.

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.580
 You receive him

00:39:53.580 --> 00:39:54.680
 as your savior and Lord.

00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:55.600
 You receive him in.

00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:58.120
 The image is like a seed

00:39:58.120 --> 00:39:59.400
 going into the ground.

00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:01.320
 And the water

00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:02.160
 and the seed

00:40:02.160 --> 00:40:04.559
 blossoms

00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:05.920
 and bursts

00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.740
 and grows.

00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:09.099
 it's more like accepting,

00:40:09.359 --> 00:40:11.179
 saying yes to a marriage proposal.

00:40:14.379 --> 00:40:15.859
 And that's what he does to you.

00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:19.879
 And he's even humbled himself

00:40:19.879 --> 00:40:21.959
 to use very old fashioned language.

00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:23.659
 He's got down on his knees

00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:26.319
 and he looks up to you

00:40:26.319 --> 00:40:27.019
 and he said,

00:40:27.799 --> 00:40:28.679
 will you take me?

00:40:29.879 --> 00:40:30.819
 Will you take me?

00:40:32.259 --> 00:40:33.339
 Will you take me?

00:40:33.340 --> 00:40:37.860
 And he's hoping and longing

00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:38.880
 that you will say yes.

00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:42.880
 And this is the third thing.

00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:44.539
 If you say to me,

00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:44.840
 George,

00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.320
 does Jesus know

00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:48.280
 how messed up my life is?

00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:49.220
 And I can say to you,

00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:49.880
 yes, he does.

00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:51.640
 Does he know

00:40:51.640 --> 00:40:52.660
 that every time

00:40:52.660 --> 00:40:54.320
 I've tried to start on something

00:40:54.320 --> 00:40:55.079
 it's ended up

00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:56.440
 either I've dropped it

00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:57.460
 or it's ended up in failure?

00:40:57.740 --> 00:40:58.519
 Yes, he knows.

00:40:59.160 --> 00:40:59.920
 Does he know

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:01.260
 that every single time

00:41:01.260 --> 00:41:02.480
 I've opened my life up

00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.280
 to a person

00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.000
 that all that's happened

00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:06.740
 is that they've hurt me

00:41:06.740 --> 00:41:07.980
 or rejected me?

00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:09.340
 Does he know that?

00:41:09.400 --> 00:41:10.620
 And all I can say to you is,

00:41:10.720 --> 00:41:11.580
 yes, he knows.

00:41:12.480 --> 00:41:13.420
 Does he know

00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.980
 how consumed I am

00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:15.740
 with drugs

00:41:15.740 --> 00:41:16.500
 or alcohol

00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:18.519
 or with sex

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.280
 or with money?

00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:20.800
 Yes, he knows.

00:41:22.120 --> 00:41:23.220
 Yes, he knows.

00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:25.320
 And he's still making

00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:26.180
 the offer to you

00:41:26.180 --> 00:41:27.460
 and he wants you to say yes.

00:41:28.220 --> 00:41:29.100
 And the fruitfulness

00:41:29.100 --> 00:41:30.820
 won't come from your effort.

00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:32.500
 the fruitfulness

00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:33.800
 comes in your own

00:41:33.800 --> 00:41:34.539
 personal life

00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:35.160
 and in the world

00:41:35.160 --> 00:41:36.140
 when you say yes.

00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.660
 He does the fruitfulness,

00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:38.260
 not you.

00:41:40.720 --> 00:41:41.960
 And the final thing

00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:44.140
 is that this parable

00:41:44.140 --> 00:41:44.620
 of the seed

00:41:44.620 --> 00:41:45.240
 is an invitation

00:41:45.240 --> 00:41:46.420
 for us to examine

00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:47.120
 our conscience.

00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:49.480
 To say to Jesus today,

00:41:49.580 --> 00:41:50.220
 is it I, Lord?

00:41:51.680 --> 00:41:53.039
 Have I become

00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:54.240
 far too consumed

00:41:54.240 --> 00:41:55.180
 with my image?

00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.220
 Have I become...

00:41:56.219 --> 00:41:58.779
 Am I worried

00:41:58.779 --> 00:42:00.119
 to say something

00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:01.559
 or do something

00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:02.659
 because I'm afraid

00:42:02.659 --> 00:42:04.159
 of the bad consequences?

00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:08.279
 Am I actually

00:42:08.279 --> 00:42:10.099
 becoming too fixated

00:42:10.099 --> 00:42:11.000
 on my career

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.879
 or my money?

00:42:13.419 --> 00:42:13.919
 Jesus,

00:42:14.059 --> 00:42:14.679
 are you talking

00:42:14.679 --> 00:42:15.859
 to me this morning?

00:42:19.159 --> 00:42:20.299
 And Jesus,

00:42:20.619 --> 00:42:21.759
 if you are,

00:42:22.179 --> 00:42:23.359
 help me to say no

00:42:23.359 --> 00:42:24.219
 to those things

00:42:24.219 --> 00:42:25.379
 and help me,

00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:26.480
 please,

00:42:26.639 --> 00:42:26.959
 Jesus,

00:42:27.239 --> 00:42:28.019
 I want to be

00:42:28.019 --> 00:42:29.199
 that fruitful soil

00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:30.779
 where you do

00:42:30.779 --> 00:42:32.039
 this miraculous work

00:42:32.039 --> 00:42:32.719
 of fruitfulness.

00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:33.799
 I want that

00:42:33.799 --> 00:42:34.519
 to be me

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:35.659
 and I know

00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:36.319
 I need your help

00:42:36.319 --> 00:42:36.839
 to say no

00:42:36.839 --> 00:42:37.839
 to those other things.

00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:39.339
 I invite you

00:42:39.339 --> 00:42:39.859
 to stand.

00:42:40.899 --> 00:42:41.599
 Please stand.

00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:47.559
 Let's just bow

00:42:47.559 --> 00:42:48.360
 our heads in prayer.

00:42:49.839 --> 00:42:50.239
 Father,

00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.159
 if there are any here

00:42:51.159 --> 00:42:52.380
 or any who are watching,

00:42:52.619 --> 00:42:53.139
 Father,

00:42:53.339 --> 00:42:54.039
 who sort of,

00:42:55.059 --> 00:42:56.839
 they feel the pressure,

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:57.299
 Father,

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:58.279
 to give their lives

00:42:58.279 --> 00:42:58.779
 to Jesus,

00:42:59.000 --> 00:42:59.400
 then Father,

00:42:59.500 --> 00:43:00.000
 I ask that you

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.699
 just help them

00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:02.759
 to turn around

00:43:02.759 --> 00:43:04.739
 and to look at you

00:43:04.739 --> 00:43:05.619
 and to accept

00:43:05.619 --> 00:43:06.980
 the offer of your Son

00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:07.839
 to be their Savior

00:43:07.839 --> 00:43:08.519
 and their Lord

00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:10.099
 and to allow Jesus

00:43:10.099 --> 00:43:11.519
 to come into their lives.

00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:13.019
 Father,

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.519
 and help them

00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:14.319
 with the words.

00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:15.900
 Help them,

00:43:16.179 --> 00:43:16.239
 Father,

00:43:16.299 --> 00:43:17.000
 to just stop

00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:17.679
 and to allow that

00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:18.159
 to happen.

00:43:19.159 --> 00:43:19.599
 And Father,

00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:20.400
 for each of us

00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:20.940
 who are here,

00:43:21.059 --> 00:43:22.259
 you know the different ways

00:43:22.259 --> 00:43:23.179
 that we are affected

00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:24.219
 by these things,

00:43:24.380 --> 00:43:25.299
 affected by

00:43:25.299 --> 00:43:27.059
 our preoccupation

00:43:27.059 --> 00:43:27.920
 with how others

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:28.599
 think of us,

00:43:28.659 --> 00:43:29.199
 our worry

00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:30.259
 about our reputation,

00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:31.500
 our pursuit

00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:32.099
 of wealth

00:43:32.099 --> 00:43:32.759
 or power

00:43:32.759 --> 00:43:33.480
 or career

00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:34.779
 or some other thing,

00:43:34.940 --> 00:43:35.199
 fitness

00:43:35.199 --> 00:43:36.279
 or some other type

00:43:36.279 --> 00:43:36.719
 of thing,

00:43:36.819 --> 00:43:37.279
 of beauty,

00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:37.819
 of looks.

00:43:38.279 --> 00:43:38.539
 Father,

00:43:38.619 --> 00:43:39.759
 you know the different ways

00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:43.000
 that we frustrate

00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:43.900
 the Word,

00:43:45.060 --> 00:43:46.280
 the person of Christ.

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:46.920
 And Father,

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:47.600
 we come to you

00:43:47.600 --> 00:43:48.900
 and we thank you so much

00:43:48.900 --> 00:43:50.080
 that you know us perfectly

00:43:50.080 --> 00:43:51.580
 and you love us perfectly.

00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:54.679
 And just we once again

00:43:54.679 --> 00:43:55.759
 recommit to you

00:43:55.759 --> 00:43:58.799
 and we once again

00:43:58.799 --> 00:43:59.860
 just come and stand

00:43:59.860 --> 00:44:00.860
 and say we thank you.

00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:02.199
 We can remember about Jesus

00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:03.539
 and have communion

00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:05.059
 and hear your Word

00:44:05.059 --> 00:44:06.519
 and we recommit to you.

00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:06.819
 Father,

00:44:07.319 --> 00:44:08.360
 make us fruitful.

00:44:09.179 --> 00:44:10.500
 Help us to accept Jesus

00:44:10.500 --> 00:44:11.480
 deep in our lives

00:44:11.480 --> 00:44:12.699
 no matter what the cost

00:44:12.699 --> 00:44:14.319
 and help us to be fruitful.

00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:15.259
 We turn to you.

00:44:15.360 --> 00:44:17.599
 We desire to be that good soil

00:44:17.599 --> 00:44:18.319
 as individuals

00:44:18.319 --> 00:44:19.420
 and as a church

00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:21.239
 that you will bring

00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:21.839
 good fruit

00:44:21.839 --> 00:44:23.299
 in our personal lives

00:44:23.299 --> 00:44:23.960
 in our church

00:44:23.960 --> 00:44:24.679
 and in the world

00:44:24.679 --> 00:44:25.579
 all to your glory.

00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:26.980
 And we ask this

00:44:26.980 --> 00:44:27.819
 in the name of Jesus,

00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:29.039
 your Son and our Savior.

00:44:29.699 --> 00:44:30.039
 Amen.