WEBVTT

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 I follow an Instagram account called Language Nerds. It's quite funny. Lots of plays on different languages and things.

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! It once posted a post about terms of endearment from different countries around the world translated into English.

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 And whilst we might use terms like darling or love or sweetheart in the UK, in France they might call each other my little flea.

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 In Japan the equivalent is my egg with eyes.

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 In Indonesia, my little elephant. In Chinese, my diving fish swooping goose.

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 Italy, they call each other my little microbe. And in Flemish, my little round thing.

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 I'm not sure how I would respond if I was called any of those.

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 But at least none of those are quite as bad as James' nickname.

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 Now James is a disciple that we are looking at today.

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 One of the twelve. One of the first four disciples called by Jesus.

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 One of two disciples called James.

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 James. Now we might distinguish between the two Jameses as James the greater and James the lesser.

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 Not to do with height or status but probably to do with worth or status but probably to do with age or height.

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 But back in Jesus' day, Jesus nicknamed James and his brother John as the sons of thunder.

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 I've often wondered why did Jesus call them the sons of thunder.

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 Was it because they had really bad anger issues?

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 Was it because they had iffy digestive systems?

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 Or perhaps more likely, it was to do with their passionate, zealous, impulsive natures.

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 As well as their sometimes stormy personalities.

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 And James is rarely seen independently from his brother John.

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 And we first encounter them whilst they're out fishing with their father Zebedee.

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 In Matthew 4, when Jesus invites them to come and follow him,

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 we read that they immediately leave behind everything.

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 Their boat, their father, and they go and follow Jesus.

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 They're compelled by the call of the Son of God.

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 They leave everything that they know behind in order to follow him, learn from him, and become more like him.

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 Throughout the gospel accounts, we learn that James is one of Jesus' inner circle.

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 One of his three best friends along with John and Peter.

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 And because of his position within the twelve, he was able to see amazing things that Jesus did.

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 Like turning water into wine.

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 Walking on water.

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 Feeding the multitudes.

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 Healing the sick.

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 Raising the dead.

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 Calming the storms.

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 But he also was witness to the transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

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 He saw him raising Jairus' daughter from the dead.

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 And he was part of the not-so-prayerful prayer crew in Gethsemane, the night before Jesus died.

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 Over three years of public ministry, James, along with the other disciples, followed Jesus as he encountered the last, the least, and the lost.

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 As he changed lives, challenged the status quo, and ultimately gave his life for the salvation of all people.

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 James got to see the incarnation of God's love in action on a daily basis.

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 And that would have been utterly life-changing.

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 But, in our first reading that Anthea read for us this morning, we hear that even in following the Prince of Peace around for three years of his public ministry,

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 James still had that fiery temper that got him nicknamed one of the Sons of Thunder.

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 And the passage tells us that Jesus knew it was nearly time for him to be crucified and go back to heaven.

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 And so he sent some messengers, probably James and John, ahead of him to go and scout out in the nearest Samaritan village, a place to get ready for him.

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 Probably some sort of lodgings for the night.

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 However, on arrival, the messengers find out they don't want Jesus there.

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 Jesus and his motley crew are not welcome because they're heading to Jerusalem.

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 Now, the Samaritans and the Jews had drama between them.

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 Because the Samaritans were this denomination of Jews where they'd intermarried with non-Jewish colonists from the north.

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 And they didn't believe that they should have to go to Jerusalem to worship Jesus.

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 They didn't believe that the prophets had been divinely inspired by God.

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 So they just stuck to the first five books of our Old Testament, the Torah.

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 So there was this judgment and animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans.

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 And this particular village had rejected Jesus and his disciples from staying there.

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 And as we read in verse 53 of our passage, the people didn't welcome him there because he was heading to Jerusalem.

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 I wonder how I would feel if I was planning to stay there but wasn't allowed to because of my beliefs.

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 A reality that is true for so many people across the world.

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 Perhaps some of us would feel some sort of sympathy with James who had this sense of injustice

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 and desire to call down fire from heaven from anyone who dared to ostracize or persecute Jesus.

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 But I wonder if Jesus knew that this was going to happen.

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 It wasn't unlike him to take a longer route around on a journey to meet people who were in need of counter with him.

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 So perhaps Jesus intentionally went out of his way on this route in order to try and bring some peace to a situation of hostility.

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 And we see that Jesus is so unfazed by the situation.

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 He's unfazed by the rejection.

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 But James and John, on the other hand, they're angry.

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 They ask, Lord, should we call fire down from heaven and destroy them?

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 Can you imagine?

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 For three years they've been following Jesus around.

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 They've seen him.

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 They've been listening to his teaching and learning from him.

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 Trying to become more like him.

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 They've seen him encounter Samaritans before with grace and truth and love.

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 They've even been told before that if a village rejects them,

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 then shake off the dust from your sandals and go to the next village.

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 What did they think Jesus was going to say?

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 Yeah, that would be great, thanks.

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 That would save me some energy from cooling fire down from heaven to destroy them.

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 No.

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 In fact, Jesus turns to them, rebukes them,

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 and then carries on to the next village.

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 And I love Eugene Patterson's translation of rebuke in the message version of the Bible.

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 He calls it exposing our rebellion.

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 Jesus' rebuke wasn't about shaming James and John,

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 but about showing them that they weren't walking in the right way yet.

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 Bringing them into alignment with his own heart.

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 Following Jesus as their rabbi was about learning from him,

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 becoming like him.

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 Calling down fire on the enemy wasn't Jesus' way.

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 But shaking off the rejection was much more his style.

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 And I think this is probably where the great Taylor Swift got her lyrical inspiration.

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 When she said,

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 haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.

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 Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake.

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 Shake it off.

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 I shake it off.

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 Woo-hoo-hoo.

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 It's no surprise then that the first parable that Jesus tells

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 after this situation is the Good Samaritan.

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 And you may or may not be familiar with the teaching story

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 where an expert in the law asked Jesus what one must do to inherit eternal life.

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 And Jesus says,

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 well, what does the law say?

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 The expert in the law says,

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 well, love the Lord your God with all your heart,

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 with all your mind,

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 with all your soul,

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 and with all your strength.

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 And love your neighbor as yourself.

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 But the expert continues to try and challenge Jesus

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 and says,

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 but who is my neighbor?

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 And Jesus launches into this parable,

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 this teaching story of a man,

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 probably a Jewish man,

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 who is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.

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 When he's attacked by bandits,

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 he strip him,

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 beat him,

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 and leave him half dead on the side of the road.

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 And as he lies there,

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 a priest comes walking by,

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 sees him,

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 and goes out of his way to walk around him.

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 Next comes a Levite,

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 who, again,

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 sees the man,

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 half dead,

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 on the side of the road,

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 sees him,

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 walks around him,

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 and walks on by.

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 These two people who are supposed to,

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 you know,

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 help people.

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 And then comes along a Samaritan,

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 a man whose people hate the Jews.

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 And this Samaritan sees the man,

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 has compassion for him,

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 and so he tends to his wounds.

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 He takes him to an inn,

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 pays for his rehabilitation on return.

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 When Jesus is telling this story,

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 he's speaking to a bunch of people

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 who are so set in their ways,

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 their rules,

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 and their social history,

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 that it might not have been surprising to them

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 that the priest and the Levite

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 walked around the guy

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 in order to stop themselves

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 from being made unclean.

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 But it certainly would have been surprising

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 that this Samaritan man cared so much

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 about the Jewish man.

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 Why?

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 Because the traditional teaching

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 had been to love your neighbour

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 and hate your enemy.

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 But Jesus was incredibly counter-cultural.

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 In fact, in the Sermon on the Mount,

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 there's a whole section that was devoted

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 to loving your enemy.

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 Jesus says,

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 you have heard that it was said,

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 love your neighbour and hate your enemies,

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 but I tell you,

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 love your enemies

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 and pray for those who persecute you.

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 That you may be children

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 of your Father in heaven.

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 He causes the sun to rise

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 on the evil and the good.

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 He sends rain on the righteous

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 and the unrighteous.

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 If you love those who love you,

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 what reward will you get?

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 Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

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 And if you greet only your own people,

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 what are you doing more than others?

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 Do not even pagans do that?

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 Be perfect, therefore,

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 as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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 In other words,

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 love everyone.

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 Even those who are difficult to love.

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 Even those that we disagree with.

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 Even those who've hurt us before.

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 Because loving all people

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 is what makes us different

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 from everybody else.

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 As Jesus said,

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 anybody can love people who love them.

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 Anyone can love their own people,

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 but when we can love those who hate us,

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 when we can love those who hurt us,

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 when we can love people

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 who make our lives miserable sometimes,

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 that's when we're doing things

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 Jesus' way.

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 And it's by this kind of love,

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 loving people no matter who

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 and no matter what,

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 that kind of love

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 is what Jesus tells us

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 will show people

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 that we belong to him.

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 Going back to the parable

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 of the Good Samaritan,

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 Jesus tells us that it's,

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 the good neighbor

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 is the one who had mercy

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 on the man.

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 Being a neighbor

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 isn't necessarily about

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 living in proximity with someone.

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 The point Jesus is making

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 is that we're all members

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 of the same home.

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 We are all each other's neighbors.

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 And we must love

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 and care for each other

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 despite differences of opinions,

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 despite beliefs,

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 despite each other's ways

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 of doing things differently

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 from our own.

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 If you're like me,

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 you may well be sitting there

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 thinking,

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 well it's easy

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 to love people

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 who love me,

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 people who treat me well,

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 people who make me feel good,

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 people who encourage me,

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 people who make life better.

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 But how are we supposed

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 to love those who hate us?

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 How are we supposed

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 to love our enemies

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 and pray for those

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 who persecute us?

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 We need an example,

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 don't we?

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 And we don't have to

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 look much further

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 for our ultimate display

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 of loving those

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 who've hurt us.

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 Jesus on the cross

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 gives us a really good example.

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 Because as Jesus hung

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 on the cross,

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 he looked upon the people

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 who mocked him

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 and spat on him.

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 People who scorned him

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 and beat him.

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 People who called

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 for his crucifixion

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 whilst they called

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 and demanded

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 for the release

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 of an unworthy criminal.

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 People who nailed

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 his hands to the cross.

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 And as Jesus hung there

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 on the cross,

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 he looked to heaven

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 and said,

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 Father, forgive them

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 for they do not know

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 what they are doing.

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 We don't always know

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 why people hurt us.

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 Maybe it's an intentional behavior,

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 but maybe it's just

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 how they've been taught

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 to behave.

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 Maybe they think

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 they're right

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 and they don't understand

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 that we see things differently.

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 Or maybe it's an overflow

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 of a heart

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 that's been hurt already.

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 An overflow

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 of something else

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 going on in their lives.

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 When I think about

00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:13.139
 some of the times

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.080
 that I've been most hurt

00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:14.700
 by people,

00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.639
 it's the not knowing

00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.500
 why they hurt me

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.539
 that hurts the most.

00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:21.259
 But someone once gave me

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.459
 some really good advice.

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:23.699
 You see,

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:24.819
 we can't help

00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:26.480
 but feel compassion

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.539
 for the people

00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:28.500
 that we pray for.

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:29.819
 So we must pray

00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.719
 for our enemies.

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.480
 Because when we pray

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.259
 for people

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:35.099
 who've hurt us,

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.740
 when we pray

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.959
 for our enemies

00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:38.019
 or whatever we want

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.860
 to call them,

00:15:40.599 --> 00:15:41.779
 there begins to be

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.519
 this connection

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.279
 between us

00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.159
 and that person.

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.480
 And by the power

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.279
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:47.079
 we can't help

00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:47.819
 but love them.

00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.259
 It doesn't diminish

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.879
 the situation.

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.480
 It doesn't make

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:53.039
 it all go away

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:53.639
 just like that.

00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:54.899
 But it does help us

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.059
 to move towards

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.679
 love,

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:57.679
 forgiveness,

00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.240
 mercy.

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.600
 And I suppose

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.379
 that's what Jesus

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:05.079
 knew when he looked

00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:05.860
 to the Father

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.919
 and asked him

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:08.799
 to forgive everybody

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:10.879
 present at his crucifixion.

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.720
 Those who,

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.480
 by the way,

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.439
 represent each

00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.180
 and every one

00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:14.800
 of us here.

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.120
 People who

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.940
 have rebelled

00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:19.740
 against God,

00:16:19.900 --> 00:16:20.880
 who've hurt him,

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.300
 whose sin

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:23.400
 Jesus bared

00:16:23.400 --> 00:16:25.240
 or on that cross.

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.780
 And when he told

00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.440
 the disciple

00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.240
 who asked him

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.000
 how many times

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.780
 he should forgive

00:16:32.780 --> 00:16:33.740
 the person

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.560
 who hurt him,

00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:35.940
 he responded

00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.560
 not seven,

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:39.580
 but 77 times.

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:41.620
 Meaning that we have

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.520
 to keep forgiving,

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.639
 forgiving,

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.439
 forgiving,

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.899
 forgiving until

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.860
 it doesn't hurt

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.340
 anymore.

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.799
 It's not about

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.500
 letting people

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.600
 walk all over us

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.419
 nor is it about

00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:52.059
 pretending that

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:52.899
 stuff doesn't hurt

00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.759
 because stuff

00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.899
 does hurt.

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.980
 But as disciples

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.480
 of Jesus

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.799
 we have an opportunity

00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:00.100
 to respond

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.819
 differently,

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.360
 to be

00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.620
 counter-cultural,

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.559
 to choose

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.559
 to repay

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.379
 hatred and

00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:07.980
 opposition

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.019
 with love

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.720
 and kindness.

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.000
 forgiveness.

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.339
 We have the chance

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.200
 to demonstrate

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.620
 God's grace

00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.740
 to people

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.600
 who very may

00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.579
 well have

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.460
 not encountered

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.100
 it before.

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.839
 We have

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.539
 the chance

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:21.980
 to forgive

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.819
 and befriend

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.519
 people who

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.339
 others might

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.140
 have rejected,

00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.480
 cancelled,

00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.740
 completely given

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.299
 up on.

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:33.779
 James didn't

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.700
 quite have

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.200
 a grip

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.720
 on this

00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.159
 when he

00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:36.799
 asked Jesus

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.339
 if he wanted

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.079
 to cool down

00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:38.960
 fire from heaven

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.839
 to destroy

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.319
 the Samaritan

00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:41.879
 village.

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.159
 But Jesus

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:44.039
 rebuked him,

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.680
 exposed his

00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.079
 rebellion

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.539
 and persevered

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:49.279
 with Jesus'

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.159
 with James'

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.440
 discipleship.

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.720
 And by the time

00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.639
 that we encounter

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.620
 James in Acts 12,

00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.400
 James was ready

00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.340
 to die for Jesus.

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:03.400
 There's an early

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.220
 church historian

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.220
 called Eusebius

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.660
 who said,

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.200
 the man who led

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.460
 James to the

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.480
 judgment seat

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.280
 for trial,

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.340
 when he saw

00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:11.940
 him bearing

00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.600
 testimony,

00:18:13.280 --> 00:18:14.060
 was moved

00:18:14.060 --> 00:18:15.100
 and confessed

00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.780
 that he himself

00:18:16.780 --> 00:18:17.500
 was also a

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:17.880
 Christian.

00:18:19.080 --> 00:18:19.720
 They were both

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.420
 therefore led

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.160
 away together

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.880
 and on the way

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.380
 he begged

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.600
 James to

00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.240
 forgive him.

00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:26.640
 And James,

00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:27.720
 after considering

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.400
 a little,

00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:28.740
 said,

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.080
 peace be with

00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:30.380
 thee,

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.300
 and kissed

00:18:31.300 --> 00:18:31.620
 him.

00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:32.620
 And thus,

00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:33.520
 they were both

00:18:33.520 --> 00:18:34.680
 beheaded at

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.560
 the same time.

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.880
 James had

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.600
 once been

00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.040
 nicknamed

00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:40.780
 one of the

00:18:40.780 --> 00:18:41.700
 sons of thunder

00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.700
 for his

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.160
 zealous,

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.700
 slightly stormy

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.420
 disposition.

00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:46.660
 He made

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.100
 mistakes.

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.580
 He wanted

00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:48.740
 to destroy

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.200
 the ones

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.740
 who rejected

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.180
 Jesus.

00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.100
 He was

00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:51.760
 rebuked

00:18:51.760 --> 00:18:52.440
 by Jesus.

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:53.840
 Like all

00:18:53.840 --> 00:18:54.240
 of us

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.760
 have probably

00:18:54.760 --> 00:18:55.320
 been at

00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:55.820
 some point

00:18:55.820 --> 00:18:56.260
 and will

00:18:56.260 --> 00:18:56.840
 be because

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.440
 God's good

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.260
 discipline is

00:18:58.260 --> 00:18:58.620
 good.

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.780
 But he

00:19:00.780 --> 00:19:01.720
 kept going.

00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:03.300
 He kept

00:19:03.300 --> 00:19:04.180
 following Jesus'

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:04.840
 example,

00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:05.600
 following his

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.040
 teaching.

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.400
 And by the

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.020
 time he was

00:19:08.020 --> 00:19:08.380
 killed,

00:19:08.520 --> 00:19:10.160
 11 years

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.660
 after Jesus,

00:19:13.020 --> 00:19:13.560
 he led

00:19:13.560 --> 00:19:14.240
 the man,

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:14.860
 the very

00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:15.520
 man who

00:19:15.520 --> 00:19:16.420
 was involved

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.420
 in killing

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:17.860
 him,

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.700
 to faith

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.280
 as well.

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:19.399
 love.

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:23.980
 So,

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.339
 James,

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.740
 loving our

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.139
 enemy.

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.819
 It's not

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.200
 easy,

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:29.639
 is it?

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.559
 We all

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.000
 know that.

00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.379
 We know

00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:31.680
 it's not

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:31.879
 easy,

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.539
 but it is

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.119
 our calling.

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.619
 It's what

00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.480
 Jesus asks

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.039
 of us.

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:36.559
 And I

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.420
 don't know

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:37.899
 what the

00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.519
 situations

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.099
 are in

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:39.559
 your lives

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.079
 right now.

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.639
 Whether you

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.000
 have your

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.019
 own personal

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.460
 enemy,

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.700
 someone who's

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.119
 making your

00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:45.619
 life really

00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:46.139
 tough,

00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.339
 someone who's

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.899
 hurt you,

00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:48.480
 someone you're

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.340
 finding it

00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:49.860
 hard to

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.200
 forgive,

00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:50.800
 perhaps.

00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:51.920
 Or maybe

00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.560
 like James,

00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:52.920
 there's a

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.800
 situation that

00:19:53.800 --> 00:19:54.180
 makes you

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.740
 feel a sense

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.480
 of injustice

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.380
 and anger,

00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.060
 politics,

00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.040
 war,

00:19:59.300 --> 00:19:59.960
 persecution,

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.620
 perhaps.

00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:03.240
 Whatever it

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.500
 is,

00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:04.820
 Jesus has

00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:05.440
 given us

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.280
 the greatest

00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:07.820
 gift of

00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:08.240
 all,

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.440
 a life

00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.120
 transforming,

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.280
 spirit

00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:12.220
 moving

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.100
 gift.

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.580
 And that's

00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:16.040
 prayer.

00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:17.519
 He gives

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:17.819
 us what

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.279
 C.S.

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:18.920
 Lewis called

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.539
 the dignity

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.559
 of causality,

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.139
 the ability

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:23.480
 to be involved

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.400
 in the unfolding

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.579
 of his plans

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.639
 in our actions,

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:28.019
 in our prayers.

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.700
 And so I

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:30.379
 guess we're

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.379
 left with the

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.180
 question today.

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.539
 Are we ready

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.420
 to get on our

00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:37.000
 knees and be

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.379
 joyful in hope,

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.500
 patient in

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.139
 affliction,

00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:41.440
 faithful in

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.839
 prayer?

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.440
 Are we ready

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.379
 to love our

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.180
 enemies and pray

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.740
 for those who

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.839
 persecute us?

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.459
 Are we

00:20:48.459 --> 00:20:49.659
 ready to

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.359
 choose the

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.220
 Jesus way,

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.539
 no matter

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.579
 what the

00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.059
 cost?

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.220
 Let's pray.

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.819
 Father God,

00:21:03.959 --> 00:21:04.799
 all of us

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.379
 here will

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:05.959
 have our

00:21:05.959 --> 00:21:06.819
 own sense

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.159
 of an

00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:07.579
 enemy,

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:10.539
 someone who's

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.099
 hurt us,

00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:12.000
 disappointed us,

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.819
 let us down,

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:15.359
 something going

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.200
 on our lives

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.639
 that is

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.939
 stealing our

00:21:17.939 --> 00:21:18.399
 joy,

00:21:19.939 --> 00:21:20.740
 making life

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.319
 tough.

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.359
 But you,

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:24.939
 Jesus,

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:25.639
 are the

00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.200
 ultimate

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:28.220
 example

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.559
 of what it

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.079
 means to

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.659
 forgive,

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:33.220
 to love

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.019
 our neighbour

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.339
 and to love

00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:35.960
 our enemies.

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:40.140
 show us

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:40.460
 what it

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.079
 looks like,

00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.340
 what it

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:43.480
 means to

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:43.880
 love our

00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:44.200
 enemy,

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:45.759
 how to

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.340
 forgive that

00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:47.059
 person and

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.600
 to keep

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.819
 on forgiving

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.420
 until it

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.039
 doesn't hurt

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.539
 anymore.

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.579
 Help us

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.160
 to choose

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.759
 your way,

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.180
 Jesus,

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.600
 because your

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.900
 way is so

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.460
 much better

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.120
 than ours.

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:02.680
 And in

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.740
 your way,

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.180
 Jesus,

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.000
 there is

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.640
 freedom,

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.059
 there is

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.720
 release.

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.279
 Thank you,

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.799
 Jesus.

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.079
 Amen.