WEBVTT

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 Welcome to another time of worship here in Beclough. I'm James Ross, the minister here.

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 We're about to begin six weeks in Luke's Gospel, thinking about the great truth that Jesus changes

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 everything. We're going to see it as he encounters different women in Luke's Gospel. And to help us

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 to think about that, I want to begin with some words from Luke chapter 7, which is where we'll

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 be. At verse 20, we read,

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 When the men came to Jesus, they said, John the Baptist sent us to you to ask,

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 are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else? At that very time,

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 Jesus cured many who had diseases, illnesses and evil spirits and gave sight to many who were blind.

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 So he replied to the messengers, go back and report to John what you have seen and heard.

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 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear,

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 the dead are raised and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. I'm going to think about how good the

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 good news is in just a few moments. But before we do that, let's pray together briefly. Our Father,

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 thank you for another opportunity that we have to open your words together to think about the person

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 work of your son, the Lord Jesus. And we thank you for all that we discover of his character,

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 of his power, of his love in the Gospels, that as he announces good news to the poor,

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 as he brings hope, as he brings life. Lord, may you help us to be drawn closer to Jesus,

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 so that we would worship him, that we would trust him, that we would have a sense of his ongoing power

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 and work, his desire to work his good in us and for us, his desire to continue to build his kingdom,

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 to continue to give hope. And I pray that as we spend these weeks together in Luke's Gospel,

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 you would cause us again to see how powerful and glorious our God and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ

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 truly is. Lord, as we come to read your word and then to reflect on it, may you work its truth deep

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 into our hearts. May you change us by your grace. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 So we're going to read the first 17 verses of Luke chapter 7, and we're going to focus on the second story

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 that we'll be reading, where Jesus raises a widow's son. So let's hear God's word together.

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 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum.

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 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was ill and about to die.

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 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

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 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him,

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 This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.

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 So Jesus went with them.

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 He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him,

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 Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

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 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.

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 But say the word and my servant will be healed.

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 For I myself am a man under authority with soldiers under me.

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 I tell this one, go, and he goes, and that one, come, and he comes.

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 I say to my servant, do this, and he does it.

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 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said,

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 I tell you, I have not found such great faith, even in Israel.

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 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

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 Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.

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 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

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 And a large crowd from the town was with her.

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 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said, don't cry.

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 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearer stood still.

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 He said, young man, I say to you, get up.

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 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

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 They were all filled with awe and praised God.

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 A great prophet has appeared among us, they said.

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 God has come to help his people.

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 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

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 Jesus changes everything.

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 That's our theme for the next six weeks.

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 And by way of introducing our new series, let me just explain why we're going to be thinking about this topic.

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 It really came initially from an article I read by Rebecca McLaughlin, who wrote the excellent book Confronting Christianity.

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 She had an article titled, Jesus Changed Everything for Women.

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 And one phrase really stood out for me.

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 She said, if we could read the Gospels through first century eyes, Jesus' treatment of women would knock us to our knees.

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 Jesus repeatedly welcomed women, his contemporaries despised.

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 And I thought that's so helpful for our cultural moment.

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 You know, we live in the Me Too movement, where we remember, and the nation remembered, sort of the tragedy that happened to Sarah Everard.

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 There is a real need for us, always to recognise the honour that Jesus gave to women,

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 and that we as God's people, we as the church ought to then do.

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 But then as I began sort of reading these encounters between Jesus and a variety of women in the Gospels,

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 I was led to sort of think, what if we really, as Christians, what if we really believed this was still true?

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 You know, more than, yes, I believe Jesus healed and honoured and transformed and gave life then.

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 But what if I really believed that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,

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 and that he still has that same mercy and power and love and forgiveness for me and for you,

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 for my family, for my friends, for my community, for my city, for our world.

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 What difference would that make?

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 What difference would it make to our prayers?

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 What difference would it make to our witness if we really believed that Jesus still is powerful and loving and kind?

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 And so my hope is we have these six weeks where we think about the reality that Jesus changes everything,

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 that it would stir up faith in us, stir up hope and joy and worship.

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 And so we begin, and we begin with a mourning woman whose life was utterly transformed.

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 We're going to work our way through this text and we're going to see four different scenes together.

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 The first scene is found in verses 11 and 12, where we see two crowds.

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 Luke, as it were, has his wide angle lens on and he sees two very different crowds who are moving in opposite directions,

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 but moving towards each other.

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 And now let me just place this text in the wider unit that it's a part of.

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 So from the beginning of chapter 7 to verse 21 of chapter 8, the theme there, the focus is on good news.

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 So we read that in chapter 7, verse 22.

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 Jesus said the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

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 Chapter 8, verse 1.

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 After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.

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 So the question is, how good is this good news?

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 And our answer today is that the kingdom of God brings life in the place of death.

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 Truly it is good news.

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 So we see two crowds, as we were saying.

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 Verse 11.

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 Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Nain and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.

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 So for this crowd, I want us in our imagination, perhaps to think of the Six Nations rugby crowd.

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 So imagine the Scottish fans spilling out of Murrayfield after a big win.

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 The joy and the excitement.

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 Think of a football team after a cup final victory.

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 So there's joy, there's excitement.

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 So here's the disciples, here's a large crowd and Jesus is at the head.

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 And we're told that it's after this.

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 So we need to think what has just happened.

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 Jesus has been teaching on the kingdom of God.

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 And also, chapter 6, verse 19, we read,

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 So this crowd are full of excitement and full of expectation.

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 There are some in this crowd whose lives have been utterly transformed by encountering the power of Jesus.

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 His friends are there, his followers are there, those who are trusting in him and who are eager to see more of what God in the flesh, Jesus the king, will do.

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 They are led by the king of life.

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 So there's one crowd.

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 But there's a second crowd.

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 And our focus switches from life to death.

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 Verse 12.

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 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out, the only son of his mother.

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 And she was a widow and a large crowd from the town was with her.

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 So perhaps it would be helpful for us here to think of a funeral procession that you have seen or that you have been part of.

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 You imagine the mourners being led by a hearse.

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 Mourners lining the way to a grave.

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 A coffin being carried to be placed in the ground.

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 Here a crowd has come to mourn, to show support for this mother.

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 And at the head of this crowd is the young man being carried who has died.

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 Two crowds come together.

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 Spurgeon, the great preacher from a previous generation, he picks up on this rich symbolism.

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 And he imagines, helps us to imagine two kingdoms represented here, lining up in battle, as it were.

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 Here is Jesus representing life.

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 And here is this coffin representing death.

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 And the good news, how good is the good news?

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 The good news is that Jesus is stronger than death.

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 And we'll see that there is really no context when the author of life comes to confront the force of death.

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 Martin Luther, the reformer, he gave sage advice, wise advice.

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 He said every time we hear of death, every time we see a coffin, every time we attend a funeral, we should think of death.

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 We should think of our own mortality in those moments.

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 And he said we should also think of the cause, to trace it back all the way to the beginning, to recognise that it's sin that leads to death.

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 Sin and death are great enemies.

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 But we should also, as Christians, we should also think of the gospel.

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 We should think of Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life.

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 He is the king who brings eternal life.

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 He is the king who has come to defeat sin and death.

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 So that as Christians, we would both hold on to that hope for ourselves as we encounter death and suffering.

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 But we would also hold out that hope to others, to those who have yet have not come to discover Jesus' resurrection hope for themselves.

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 So we move then, Luke moves us from these two crowds and he zooms in to draw attention to a mourning mother.

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 And at the same time, to take our focus on the compassion of Jesus.

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 I read this week a photo essay from Time magazine, which was called Below the Line Portraits of American Poverty.

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 And so this photo essay by a Danish photojournalist featured a wide variety of people.

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 There were migrant farmers.

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 There were hurricane victims.

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 There were Native American communities.

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 There were military veterans.

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 There were

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 people in the same way that they were

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 in many cases.

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 The pain, the sadness, the despair etched on people's faces.

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 Poverty is a reality that has many human faces.

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 And here in our gospel, Luke is drawing a particular portrait of poverty for us.

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 As he draws our attention to this woman.

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 Here is someone who is without a protector.

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 She is a widow.

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 She has no husband and now she has lost her son.

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 She has no provider.

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 She is now vulnerable and will struggle to survive.

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 She has no family and no family line.

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 She will be suffering from a depth of loneliness and sorrow.

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 One of the weakest in society.

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 Full of misery.

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 And it's to this woman that Jesus comes.

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 Chris Wright, who has written a lot of books on Old Testament law and ethics.

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 He speaks of the warm heart of Old Testament laws.

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 And we maybe don't think about it in that way.

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 But there are so many of the laws of the Bible that are geared towards providing for the poor

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 and the vulnerable and the least of these in Old Testament society.

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 And those principles to be carried forward by the church.

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 Well, here, Jesus, the lawgiver, presents his warm heart.

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 This is the warm heart of compassion of Jesus that we see.

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 Not only does Luke focus shift to the woman, so too does the focus of Jesus.

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 Verse 13.

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 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said to her, don't cry.

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 Jesus' heart went out to the woman.

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 If we feel a measure of pain and sadness when we consider a story like this

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 or when we look at photo essays, when we see the hurt and the misery of the people around us,

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 I don't know how much more is that true of Jesus?

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 Jesus, who is the perfect human as well as being perfectly God.

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 His compassion goes out and moves towards this woman.

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 When we think about ourselves, I imagine we recognise that our compassion comes with limits.

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 There's always that temptation for us to keep our distance.

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 Always that question, I just don't know what to say.

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 And so we take a step back.

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 Sometimes we're so full of our own problems that we just don't have capacity for the problems of someone else.

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 We're afraid of feeling awkward or saying the wrong thing.

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 And so we move away rather than moving towards.

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 By contrast, as Joni Erikson says, Jesus fully and selflessly enters into someone else's suffering.

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 What a wonderful saviour we have.

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 And what about his commands as he says to the mourning mother, don't cry.

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 Wouldn't this be such a cruel and heartless thing to say to someone if we were to walk up to someone in the depths of pain and say, stop crying.

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 So cruel unless he is going to follow it with action.

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 Turning tears to joyful reunion.

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 Which of course is what he will do.

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 Now as we consider the compassion of Jesus entering into this woman's story, here's my question.

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 What if we today really believed that this was still true?

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 That Jesus has more mercy and compassion than we could ever think to ask him for?

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 Imagine the difference it would make for our prayers, for ourselves and for others.

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 To know that here is a God who enters in.

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 Here is Jesus who can extend sympathy.

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 That we could sing and believe what a friend we have in Jesus.

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 All our sins and griefs to bear.

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 That your pain, your tears, your loneliness, your fears.

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 He sees them.

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 He cares for you in them.

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 So that we would trust him.

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 And receive his compassion and comfort.

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 And that we would pray that that would also be true for others.

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 How would it change the way that we live?

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 Jesus is our saviour.

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 He's also our model, isn't he?

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 So what would it mean to be like Jesus?

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 It would mean that we would see and be drawn towards those who suffer.

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 That we would make room.

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 We would make time.

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 We would give energy.

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 Longing to bring God's comfort and God's hope.

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 By being present.

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 By praying.

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 By bringing God's word.

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 And God's comfort.

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 And think about the difference it would make for our mission as well.

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 Because here is a reminder that Jesus' compassion and grace are powerful.

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 That he can bring lasting change.

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 He transforms lives.

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 He can bring hope.

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 He does bring restoration.

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 There is no darkness so deep that Jesus cannot find a person and rescue.

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 And cause his light to shine where there is darkness.

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 How good is our good news?

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 Well if only we could ask this mother after meeting Jesus.

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 We would be reminded in her praise and her wonder.

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 That Jesus gives her a good news of life beyond death.

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 Of hope beyond despair.

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 Scene three in our short story takes us to focus on the young man.

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 And the resurrection power of Jesus.

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 Now it's interesting to notice commentators make the point that verse 13 is the first time.

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 In Luke's gospel that Jesus is called the Lord.

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 When the Lord saw her.

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 And that makes sense in life what's about to come.

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 Here is Jesus showing that he's Lord even over death itself.

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 That great enemy.

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 That one that causes such fear in our hearts.

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 And here in verses 14 and 15 we have this incredible miracle don't we?

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 A signpost to Jesus' resurrection power.

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 Here is the great test and the great evidence of his being Lord.

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:11.940
 Of his being good.

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:15.680
 Has he got power even over death itself?

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:17.359
 Can he bring?

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.119
 Is he the resurrection and the life?

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.859
 Well let's look at our text.

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.680
 Verse 14.

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:32.279
 Jesus went up and touched the beer or the coffin they were carrying the man on.

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.820
 And the bearers stood still.

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:40.120
 So the procession would be carrying an open coffin as was the custom.

00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:45.679
 And so when Jesus touched the beer that the man is on there is a sense of shock.

00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.699
 So they stop in the first time.

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.679
 It's like this is new.

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.459
 What do we do?

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:52.000
 But here's the shock.

00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:57.599
 Jesus by touching the dead body should be unclean.

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.079
 Ritually, religiously.

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:05.399
 But instead the greater power of Jesus means he will remove that uncleanness.

00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:10.019
 He will give life in the place of death.

00:22:11.159 --> 00:22:16.139
 And then as if they weren't surprised enough by the touch that is the second command of Jesus.

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:19.019
 Young man I say to you get up.

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:23.799
 Here is the creator and the sustainer of life.

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:27.399
 The one who breathed life into Adam.

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:32.200
 Now restoring breath and life to this young man.

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:36.779
 He sits up and he is alive again.

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:44.579
 Sometimes we're so familiar with the gospels that we lose a sense of this wonder.

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.399
 Of this power.

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.059
 Of this life giving power of Jesus.

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:50.919
 The dead man sat up and began to talk.

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:53.279
 The dead man sat up and began to talk.

00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.899
 And why did Jesus do it?

00:22:57.500 --> 00:23:00.200
 Notice at the end of verse 15 Jesus gave him back to his mother.

00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:06.579
 Jesus uses his power not to serve himself but to humbly serve this desperately sad lady that he met on the road.

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.200
 Isn't Jesus a perfect king?

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:11.099
 He's not self-serving.

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.740
 He's not power hungry.

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:16.419
 He's not indifferent to our needs.

00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:20.299
 And remember that Jesus in heaven, his heart is unchanged.

00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.359
 He's not selfish.

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:26.079
 This little scene helps us I think in two different ways.

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:31.519
 Helps us as we look ahead to the rest of the gospel story.

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:34.839
 It anticipates the crucial events in the gospel.

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:38.759
 Because remember Jesus who enters in.

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:44.859
 At the cross, Jesus won't just touch death at a distance.

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:49.160
 He will in his own body take death.

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:57.480
 As our substitute and as our sacrifice for us and for our sin.

00:23:58.420 --> 00:24:04.360
 Taking the wages of sin, the penalty due to sin, which is death, which is separation.

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.720
 He will do that for us.

00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:09.720
 Death cannot contain death.

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:12.600
 And then three days later he will take up his life again.

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.799
 Death cannot contain.

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:16.579
 Death cannot defeat Jesus.

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:21.660
 So here is a little signpost to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:27.660
 And in that there is hope of eternal life for us all as we look to Jesus in faith.

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:31.400
 And so it anticipates those gospel events.

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:33.420
 But it also points to gospel hope.

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:40.180
 Because this Jesus who called to the dead man here is still calling today.

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:43.779
 His voice is still being heard to the ends of the earth.

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:46.960
 He is still calling to those who are spiritually dead.

00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:51.400
 To those who are lost in the misery of sin and despair.

00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:54.040
 And he is calling to bring new life.

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:56.680
 As king he is commanding people.

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:59.500
 To hear and to respond in faith.

00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:04.799
 And to give by his grace resurrection power.

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:08.980
 Have you heard his voice?

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:13.680
 Have you responded to his call with faith?

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:21.940
 With gratefully receiving this wonderful announcement that in Jesus there is life?

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.820
 Do you believe this?

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:26.220
 Do I believe this?

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:32.680
 So I hope that what Jesus did then, what Jesus has done for me, Jesus can do for others.

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:42.960
 Do you remember that every testimony, every person who is a Christian has a testimony to the miracle of resurrection power?

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:52.860
 Of Jesus working in us, of bringing life where there was death, of bringing light where there was darkness.

00:25:52.859 --> 00:26:02.419
 And if he has saved you, he is also strong to save others.

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:03.420
 So pray with faith.

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:05.140
 So pray with faith.

00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:07.980
 Love with purpose.

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:10.620
 Speak with hope.

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:14.380
 Knowing that Jesus changes everything.

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:17.480
 Not that we can raise the dead spiritually.

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:21.600
 But we are trusting in the Jesus who can.

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:27.599
 And that we are trusting in the Jesus.

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.599
 Let's do it.

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.599
 Let's do it.

00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:29.619
 Let's do it.

00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:33.559
 Let's do it.

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:44.679
 takes us back again to the crowds and to the worship of Jesus. I wonder if you were surprised,

00:26:44.679 --> 00:26:52.359
 perhaps glad in a sense, that with the news of the passing of Prince Philip, the

00:26:52.359 --> 00:27:00.759
 TV broadcasters and global leaders and sporting schedules all sought to pay their respects.

00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:14.440
 It seems a fitting response to show honour to this public figure who'd been central to the royal family.

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:24.920
 Well that being the case, how much more then should Jesus receive honour and worship in light of his

00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:31.000
 kingdom, his compassion, his power, his love. And so what Luke does now is he zooms back out

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:38.759
 to focus again on the crowds and what's their response. Well this is where we can see two

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:46.120
 different attitudes and two different expressions, responses that we can learn from. First in verse 16,

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:52.679
 they were all filled with awe. There's a sense of honour, a sense of wonder. They're in the presence of

00:27:52.679 --> 00:28:01.000
 a greatness, recognising no one else could do this. No other figure comes close to Jesus. No one else is

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:12.439
 strong and mighty to save and to raise the dead. And so awe is natural. And they praised God. And again,

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:17.480
 think about it, in light of the personal work of Jesus, what else would we do? What else should we do?

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:23.000
 He has the power to give life. Here is a love that stoops to help. Here is a compassion that enters in.

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:31.320
 Here is a resurrection power that promises eternal life. Worship makes sense. Worship actually is what

00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:37.559
 we were made for. We were made to know and enjoy and glorify our God. And as we read the Bible, as we read

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:44.279
 the gospels, we're never short of reasons for doing that. And look at what they say, these crowds.

00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:51.079
 And what they say speaks more than they ever intended, I think. Verse 16, a great prophet has

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:57.720
 appeared among us. Probably thinking back to Elijah and Elisha and their miraculous powers given by God.

00:28:57.720 --> 00:29:03.079
 But here is one who is greater than Elijah and Elisha. He has power in himself to raise the dead. He is

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:08.599
 one who, when he speaks, he speaks for God. Yes, but he speaks as God. And he brings life-giving truth with

00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:17.079
 a unique power beyond any of the prophets before. And then they said, God has come to help his people.

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:25.399
 Yes, he has. Because here is Jesus, God in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. And he has come to help.

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:33.960
 He has come to rescue and save. And this resurrection is a glimpse into that greater work of Jesus. In his

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:40.519
 death and resurrection, he can work resurrection life in our hearts and lives, giving us hope, not just now,

00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:43.000
 but for all eternity.

00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:53.400
 And so as we have considered this Jesus, this Jesus who changes everything for this, a woman, for this family,

00:29:53.400 --> 00:30:03.720
 will we join our voices with that of the crowds to worship our great king. Jesus changes everything for this woman.

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:11.880
 What will we take away from this today? What will our response be? What change will Jesus make for us?

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:23.160
 Perhaps it will be an increased sense of wonder, as we have seen again the heart of Jesus and the power of Jesus.

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:29.400
 As we've seen his transforming work and as we've come to know that he is still the same.

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:39.640
 And that that wonder would then send us out into a new week, ready to live with hope and with joy, with expectation.

00:30:42.360 --> 00:30:49.400
 So maybe wonder and praise will be our response, but maybe hope and faith is going to be our response,

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:57.160
 that we'd be so encouraged as Christians to lean on this Jesus, the one who is the resurrection and the life,

00:30:57.160 --> 00:31:05.160
 to have faith in his mercy. As we see perhaps people in our circle who have desperate needs,

00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:12.200
 who have pain and sadness, that we would both pray and act in his name,

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:21.960
 fully confident that he is not sitting back indifferent. Jesus is not like the Buddha who

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:30.519
 sort of would say to us, don't feel too much, who stands sort of impassive. Jesus has entered in and

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:37.160
 Jesus fully feels and fully sympathises and is able to bring compassion and comfort and hope.

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:41.160
 And so we pray and act in his name with faith.

00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:50.600
 Perhaps the response will be trust, maybe fresh trust or maybe for the first time we'll put our trust in Jesus as Saviour,

00:31:50.600 --> 00:32:01.560
 that you'll hear the call of your Creator, your Saviour, your King, that as you have seen that he has entered into our world in order to show love,

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:11.879
 that you would ask him by his grace to give you that new life because you've come to see that Jesus has the power to change everything.

00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:14.200
 Let's pray.

00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:24.440
 Lord our God, we thank you that in this short story we see so much of the good news.

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:36.840
 We see that Jesus has come to set up his kingdom and it's a kingdom and that speaks life, that brings life, that we have seen that Jesus is full of compassion.

00:32:37.320 --> 00:32:47.440
 He doesn't stand with his arms folded at a distance, but he has come and he's entered in and he is still strong and mighty to save and to help and to heal and to restore.

00:32:47.440 --> 00:33:03.100
 We thank you that we have seen the power of Jesus and we pray to know that power in our life and in our family and among our friends and with our colleagues and our community because the world needs the resurrection power of Jesus.

00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:15.220
 Lord we pray that you would make us worshippers today and this week as we consider, as we ponder as to how good Jesus is.

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:17.640
 We pray in his name. Amen.

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:23.220
 To close our time, we'll sing.

00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:27.259
 First of all, my worth is not in what I own.

00:33:27.640 --> 00:33:31.960
 And then we'll sing a section of Psalm 139.

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:48.680
 My worth is not in what I own.

00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:54.380
 Not in the strength of flesh and bone.

00:33:54.380 --> 00:34:00.380
 But in the costly wounds of love.

00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:04.460
 At the cross.

00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:12.700
 My worth is not in skill or name.

00:34:12.700 --> 00:34:18.700
 In weight or losing pride or shame.

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:28.699
 But in the blood of Christ that flowed at the cross.

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:36.699
 I rejoice in my Redeemer.

00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:39.699
 The greatest treasure.

00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:42.699
 Wellspring of my soul.

00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:44.699
 I will trust in him.

00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.699
 I will trust in him.

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:48.699
 No other.

00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:54.699
 My soul is satisfied in him alone.

00:34:54.699 --> 00:35:04.699
 As summer's flowers we fade and die.

00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:10.699
 Fame, youth and beauty hurry by.

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:16.699
 But life eternal calls to us.

00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:22.699
 At the cross.

00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:28.699
 I will not boast in wealth or might.

00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:34.699
 Or human wisdom's fleeting light.

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:40.699
 But I will boast in knowing Christ at the cross.

00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:42.699
 At the cross.

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:48.699
 I rejoice in my Redeemer.

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:52.699
 Rejoice in my Redeemer.

00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:54.699
 Greatest treasure.

00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:58.699
 Wellspring of my soul.

00:35:58.699 --> 00:36:04.699
 I will trust in him no other.

00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:10.699
 My soul is satisfied in him alone.

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:18.699
 To wonder see that I confess.

00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:24.699
 My worth and my unworthiness.

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.699
 My value fixed.

00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:27.699
 My value fixed.

00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:30.699
 My rights are paid.

00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:32.699
 At the cross.

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:34.699
 I rejoice in my Redeemer.

00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:36.699
 Greatest treasure.

00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:38.699
 Wellspring of my soul.

00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:42.699
 I will trust in him no other.

00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:48.699
 My soul is satisfied in him alone.

00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:54.699
 I will trust in him no other.

00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:58.699
 My soul is satisfied in him alone.

00:36:58.699 --> 00:37:00.699
 I will trust in him no other.

00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:06.699
 PROFESSION DEPUTY.

00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:10.699
 I will trust in him no other.

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.699
 Now желestion doens Compantle.

00:37:11.699 --> 00:37:17.699
 I obey and I will trust in him no other.

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:20.699
 However, my self is satisfied in him alone.

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:22.699
 He will trust in him no other.

00:37:22.699 --> 00:37:25.699
 Whatever, nor in yourself.

00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:27.699
 And also traditional ejemplo.

00:37:27.699 --> 00:37:29.699
 I will trust in him no other.

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:59.679
 For you created me

00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:04.099
 And gave me life

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:11.379
 Within my mother's womb

00:38:11.379 --> 00:38:15.359
 You fashioned me

00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:19.579
 I'm fearfully

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:27.460
 And wonderfully made

00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:30.980
 I praise you

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:35.380
 As your mighty works

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:38.460
 I see

00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:45.460
 My frame could not be

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:50.920
 Hidden from your sight

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:56.400
 When I was made

00:38:56.400 --> 00:39:02.980
 Within a secret place

00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:08.059
 When I was woven

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:14.340
 In the depths of earth

00:39:14.340 --> 00:39:19.300
 My unformed body

00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:26.360
 Was before your face

00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:43.800
 Your eyes beheld me

00:39:43.800 --> 00:39:48.360
 In my unborn state

00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:54.960
 And all the days

00:39:54.960 --> 00:40:00.360
 That you ordained for me

00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:08.440
 Were written in the book

00:40:08.440 --> 00:40:12.360
 That you had made

00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:18.539
 Before a single day

00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:23.360
 Had come to be

00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:32.019
 How precious are your thoughts

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:34.400
 To me, O God

00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:40.960
 There some is vast

00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:46.400
 And far beyond my view

00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:54.500
 To count them is like

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:58.400
 Counting rains of sand

00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:05.579
 When I awake from sleep

00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:11.400
 I'm still with you

00:41:11.400 --> 00:41:25.360
 For now

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:26.639
ush Taran