WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:07.660 I don't know about you folks, but I get excited when we can sing a hymn that's almost 400 years old. 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:12.620 I just think that's so wonderful. St. Francis of Assisi wrote that, you know, not the music, but the words. 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:21.440 And I sing it and I think, wow, it's just so great to be part of a church that just extends back in time 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:27.940 and is ultimately founded by Jesus Christ, who isn't just a dead person, 00:00:27.940 --> 00:00:34.380 whose teaching we admire, but as the banner on the outside of our church says, Jesus is alive. 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:39.920 And we believe that he's present amongst us today and that we can know him personally. 00:00:41.020 --> 00:00:54.480 Today, we're going to be looking at what happens when Jesus meets a grumpy, dull, superstitious, backstabbing, ungrateful person. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:59.779 So, we're going to see what happens when Jesus meets somebody like this. 00:01:00.519 --> 00:01:03.379 And, you know, it's one of the funny things about the Bible. 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:05.239 I talked about this a little bit last week. 00:01:05.759 --> 00:01:08.700 But in our culture, it's as if we're schizophrenic. 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:10.479 Or no, I guess it wouldn't be schizophrenic. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.000 Well, we are schizophrenic. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:15.120 But we're sort of more like bipolar in our culture. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:25.080 And that it's as if, on one hand, the Bible is this toxic document that is filled with all types of evil things that oppress people. 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:31.920 Or if we don't sort of think of it as being this toxic document, we think of it as being this pious document. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:39.400 And, you know, as if it's going to be more similar to a hallmark greeting card, very syrupy and filled with syrupy thoughts. 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:52.400 And it's because we're sort of locked in this bipolar type of mood that we can't sort of see that the Bible, the Gospels tell us, the Gospels say, you know what? 00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:00.380 The Messiah of God, God's very Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, He walked amongst us. 00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:09.099 And He walked amongst grumpy people, angry people, arrogant people, poor people, rich people. 00:02:09.359 --> 00:02:12.659 He walked amongst ordinary people like you and us. 00:02:12.939 --> 00:02:13.599 What happened? 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:16.079 And the Gospels tell us what happened. 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:27.960 And the Gospels constantly are inviting us to respond, even though, in a sense, we come to Jesus as a grumpy person or an arrogant person or a kind person or a religious person 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:32.420 or a thoroughgoing, violence-loving person. 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:36.719 The Bible says these are the way these types of people come to Jesus. 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:41.120 And Jesus' desire for you and me is that we come to Him and be changed. 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:43.280 And that we come to Him. 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:51.879 And no matter where we've come from, that we might know Jesus and know His healing power, know His saving power, and be changed. 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:56.420 And so turn with me in your Bibles to page 922. 00:02:56.419 --> 00:03:02.199 I, like Dave, I'm using a different version today, and I'll make that clear why I'm doing that in a few moments. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:09.099 And I specifically asked Dave to read the Gospel text using a version other than the Pew Bible. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.379 And it's page 922. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:15.359 If you're using your Pew Bibles, most of the time you'll be able to follow along quite simply. 00:03:15.899 --> 00:03:23.419 I'm using the Today's New International Version, the TNIV, is what I'm using as I read. 00:03:23.959 --> 00:03:25.139 And we're going to read along. 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:26.539 You should be able to follow. 00:03:26.739 --> 00:03:31.699 And the first place where you have a bit of a, you know, things just don't seem to match, 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:37.399 I'll pause there and comment on why there seems to be a difference between my Bible and yours. 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:40.199 And here's how the story begins. 00:03:40.839 --> 00:03:45.339 Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:51.500 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda, 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:55.420 and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:04:02.020 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed. 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:05.360 Now just sort of pause there for a second with your Bibles. 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:10.900 In your Pew Bibles, those of you who are using it, you'll notice that I didn't read the same words as you. 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:15.500 The first verse and the second verse, well, you know, they used different slight words, 00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:17.000 but it's obviously clearly the same. 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:21.500 But all of a sudden, you're reading along, and you have a whole extra verse than I do, 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:23.980 and you might be wondering a little bit about why that is. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:26.519 And maybe it worries you a little bit. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:32.439 It should excite you that your version is a little bit different than mine. 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:34.960 It should be, whoa, that's fantastic. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:36.219 And here's why. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:42.459 One of the things about the Gospels, the New Testament, which is so amazing is this. 00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:48.939 There is no book that we hold in our, there is no ancient book that we can hold in our hands 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:53.240 that has more ancient versions than the Bible. 00:04:53.859 --> 00:04:58.819 That, you know, any old text, there can be questions about what the wording of that text is, 00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:04.159 but in the case of the New Testament, there are literally thousands and thousands of ancient manuscripts 00:05:04.159 --> 00:05:10.240 in many languages, in Latin and in Greek and in Coptic, in a variety of languages. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:13.959 And, in fact, you know, one of the things which is so cool, 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.779 I can't remember if it's in Cambridge or Oxford, but there's a library in England, 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:20.939 and they have part of John's Gospel. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.399 And by carbon dating and other methods, 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:29.560 they're able to know that that piece of the document is from 110 A.D., 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:34.839 like maybe 20 years after John first penned his Gospel. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.799 We have a fragment that goes that far back. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:40.539 And lots of other ancient texts that we have, 00:05:40.919 --> 00:05:42.859 there's hundreds and hundreds of years gap, 00:05:43.159 --> 00:05:47.139 but because there are literally thousands of versions, 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:50.199 old, old, centuries and centuries and centuries, 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.500 these millennium, over-millennium-old versions of the Bible, 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.039 there's a whole school of scientific study 00:05:57.039 --> 00:06:00.159 where the scholars can look at all of these different manuscripts 00:06:00.159 --> 00:06:02.959 and trace them back and trace them back and trace them back 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:06.899 so that today, when we read the most modern version of the Bible, 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:10.399 you can be 99.999% sure 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:12.240 that what you're holding in your hand 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:15.219 is a translation of what John wrote 00:06:15.219 --> 00:06:16.819 or what Matthew wrote 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:17.860 or what Mark wrote 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:18.740 or what Luke wrote. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.079 And because of that, 00:06:22.339 --> 00:06:24.879 they're always getting this better and better and better and better. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:26.839 And so sometimes versions of the Bible, 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:29.620 which maybe were translated 100 years ago 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:31.079 or 500 years ago, 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:34.879 their knowledge of what that original text 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:35.740 that John wrote 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:37.680 wasn't quite as complete. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:40.079 They maybe only were 99% sure. 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:43.860 We can be 99.9999% sure. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:46.520 And so what that means is that, 00:06:46.840 --> 00:06:48.600 you know, we can, you know, 00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:51.400 we shouldn't be afraid of scholarship or learning 00:06:51.400 --> 00:06:52.639 or the study of the Bible 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:54.280 because when the Bible is studied, 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:56.860 even scientifically and honestly, 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:59.639 and when you look at archaeology, 00:06:59.780 --> 00:07:01.220 time after time after time, 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:02.340 the New Testament is shown 00:07:02.340 --> 00:07:04.300 to be completely and utterly truthful. 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:05.500 That it really was something 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:08.139 that John really was an eyewitness 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:09.979 to what Jesus did. 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:11.439 And he really did write, 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:12.519 you know, 00:07:12.599 --> 00:07:14.000 it was John who wrote it. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:15.060 And we can trust 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:18.000 that this is what John actually wrote. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:18.879 We can trust that. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:19.599 And the other thing 00:07:19.599 --> 00:07:20.800 which is so amazing 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:22.259 about the Christian faith is this. 00:07:23.159 --> 00:07:23.319 You know, 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:24.860 I said that there's some little differences 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:26.399 in the text 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:27.199 that maybe, 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:27.439 you know, 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.819 when the King James Version was written, 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.419 it was only 98% sure 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:31.919 that what they translated 00:07:31.919 --> 00:07:33.039 was actually what John wrote. 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:34.079 And today it's 100%. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:34.240 Well, 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.379 what happened with that 2%? 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:36.920 The thing which is so neat 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:38.600 about the providence of God 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:41.120 is that no doctrine 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:44.600 was based on any of those parts 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:45.860 that we got wrong. 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:46.879 Like, 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:47.639 that's really cool. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:48.899 You know, 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:49.480 it's not like, 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.800 oh gosh, 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:51.620 here I am believing 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:52.819 in the divinity of Jesus 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:54.319 and it shows that those are parts 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.199 that John didn't write 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:57.339 but were added by some half-crazed monk 00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:58.860 400 years later. 00:07:58.980 --> 00:07:59.060 Or, 00:07:59.120 --> 00:07:59.680 oh gosh, 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:00.579 I was believing this 00:08:00.579 --> 00:08:01.800 and now I see that it wasn't. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.399 As scientists 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:05.879 and as scholars 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:07.399 get more and more accurate 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:09.060 as to what John actually wrote, 00:08:09.139 --> 00:08:10.599 we see that no doctrine 00:08:10.599 --> 00:08:11.500 of the Christian faith 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:12.679 was based on something 00:08:12.679 --> 00:08:13.919 that shouldn't be there. 00:08:14.779 --> 00:08:14.939 And, 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:15.299 you know, 00:08:15.299 --> 00:08:15.979 all you can say for that 00:08:15.979 --> 00:08:16.779 is praise God. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:17.079 I mean, 00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:18.019 we just have something 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:19.219 which is so dependable 00:08:19.219 --> 00:08:21.699 and we don't have to be afraid 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:23.939 of a scholarly study 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:24.659 or examination 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:26.019 because the word of God 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:26.799 stands true. 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:28.579 And so this little part 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:30.039 that my version didn't have 00:08:30.039 --> 00:08:30.899 and that your version has, 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:31.839 that's based on something 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:32.740 that was probably added 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:34.699 by some scribe 00:08:34.699 --> 00:08:35.620 200 years 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:36.620 or something 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:38.319 after John wrote it. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:40.019 And so the most modern versions 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:40.500 of the Bible 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:41.539 have just omitted it, 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:42.419 maybe with a little bit 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:42.839 of a note, 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:44.039 but it's omitted it. 00:08:44.699 --> 00:08:45.379 So now that I've had 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:46.459 this long aside 00:08:46.459 --> 00:08:48.139 on why you can trust the Bible, 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:49.620 let's start reading the story 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:51.059 again from verse 5. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:52.860 So remember, 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:54.039 he's here at number, 00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:54.579 verse 4, 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:55.439 here a great number 00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:56.439 of disabled people 00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:56.980 used to lie, 00:08:57.059 --> 00:08:57.419 the blind, 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:57.839 the lame, 00:08:57.879 --> 00:08:58.439 and the paralyzed. 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:00.580 One who was there 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:01.180 had been there 00:09:01.180 --> 00:09:03.020 an invalid for 38 years. 00:09:03.540 --> 00:09:04.540 When Jesus saw him 00:09:04.540 --> 00:09:05.160 lying there 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:06.280 and learned that he had been 00:09:06.280 --> 00:09:06.900 in this condition 00:09:06.900 --> 00:09:07.800 for a long time, 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:09.140 he asked the man, 00:09:09.560 --> 00:09:10.580 do you want to get well? 00:09:12.280 --> 00:09:12.720 Sir, 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:14.000 the invalid replied, 00:09:14.160 --> 00:09:14.900 I have no one 00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:16.240 to help me into the pool 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.500 when the water is stirred. 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:18.800 While I am trying 00:09:18.800 --> 00:09:19.440 to get in, 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:20.360 someone else 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.820 goes down ahead of me. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:23.620 Now just sort of pause 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:24.440 there with your Bible 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:25.160 for a second. 00:09:26.660 --> 00:09:27.700 I'm sort of cheating 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.300 a little bit. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:29.980 You did hear 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:30.900 the whole story 00:09:30.900 --> 00:09:32.320 when David read it 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.120 just a few minutes ago. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:36.220 If you look 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:37.200 at the whole story 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:37.860 as a total, 00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:38.560 you realize 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:39.200 that the man's 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:40.200 not being polite. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.260 And in fact, 00:09:42.380 --> 00:09:43.320 in the original text, 00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:45.020 in the original language, 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:46.940 there's a curtness. 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:48.060 He is, 00:09:48.900 --> 00:09:49.160 okay, 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:50.240 it's an old word, 00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:50.980 dour. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.180 You know, 00:09:53.280 --> 00:09:55.000 I have university degrees. 00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:55.600 Occasionally, 00:09:55.640 --> 00:09:56.240 I have to use 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:57.240 an obscure word 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:58.040 just to sort of, 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:58.320 you know, 00:09:58.440 --> 00:09:59.980 justify the tens 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.040 of thousands of dollars 00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:02.420 I blew in my education. 00:10:02.420 --> 00:10:04.360 And this guy 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:05.420 is dour. 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:07.140 He is grumpy. 00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:09.960 He is short-tempered. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:12.280 His answer is as if, 00:10:14.060 --> 00:10:15.200 I'm not very, 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:15.580 you know, 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:16.600 he's acting as if, 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.020 you know, 00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:18.180 I'm in sort of a bad mood 00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:18.820 and somebody 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:19.820 who I don't think 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:20.580 is very bright 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:22.600 asks me an obvious question, 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:23.080 like, 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:24.759 are you standing in the pulpit? 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:25.540 And you go, 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.940 yeah, 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:27.259 I'm, 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:27.620 yes, 00:10:27.660 --> 00:10:28.759 I'm standing in the pulpit. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:29.020 Like, 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:29.300 I mean, 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:29.520 it's, 00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:31.160 the man gives an answer 00:10:31.160 --> 00:10:31.820 as if, 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:32.240 well, 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:32.680 Jesus, 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:33.580 like, 00:10:33.660 --> 00:10:34.480 I'm paralyzed 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.860 and I can't get in the water 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:37.920 because I don't have anybody 00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:38.780 to help me 00:10:38.780 --> 00:10:40.480 and if I had somebody 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.040 to help me 00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:41.560 to get in the water, 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:41.759 I mean, 00:10:41.800 --> 00:10:42.300 why do you think 00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:42.800 I'm here, 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:43.259 Jesus? 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.759 Of course I want to get well 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:45.500 and I'm just hoping 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.840 that maybe someday I'm here 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:48.620 and nobody else shows up 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:50.639 and I can crawl in by myself 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.899 and finally get healed 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:52.919 and the man is sort of 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:53.960 impatient with Jesus 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:55.860 and all the way through the story 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:57.340 you see that this man, 00:10:57.819 --> 00:10:58.059 I mean, 00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:59.240 what's he like? 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:01.500 When the Jewish officials 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:01.980 get a bit, 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.600 get crossed with Jesus, 00:11:03.819 --> 00:11:04.480 with the man 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:06.259 for doing something, 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:07.620 the man doesn't say, 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:07.840 well, 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:08.600 listen here, 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.080 guys, 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:09.319 like, 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:10.700 why are you so uptight? 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:12.000 Jesus healed me, 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:12.939 you should be excited. 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:14.179 And rather than having 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:15.319 any type of backbone 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:16.559 in defending Jesus, 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:19.460 he says to the religious officials, 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:19.879 hey, 00:11:19.939 --> 00:11:20.600 don't get mad at me, 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.679 it's all his fault. 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:22.720 And the guy is, 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:23.100 in a sense, 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:23.939 so clueless 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:25.319 that even though he's healed, 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.220 he's so clueless 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:28.059 and ungrateful 00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:29.460 that after Jesus heals him, 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.580 he never even says to Jesus, 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.179 by the way, 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:31.679 like, 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:32.200 who are you? 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.080 So I can thank you, 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:33.220 like, 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:33.720 what's your name? 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.159 So he never asks Jesus' name. 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:37.799 When the people start to give 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:39.659 the man a little bit of grief, 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:40.340 he says, 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.200 it's not my fault, 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.519 he turns it all on Jesus 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.879 and then later on, 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.039 when he finally finds out 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:47.419 what Jesus' name is, 00:11:47.699 --> 00:11:49.819 to curry favor with the officials, 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:51.039 he seeks them out 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:53.340 and tells them that it's Jesus 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:54.860 so they can get mad at Jesus. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:57.460 He's not a nice guy. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:00.559 And you see, 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.659 here's the very first thing 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:02.740 that we have to understand. 00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:05.379 Everything about this miracle 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:06.679 is it shows that Jesus 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:07.639 takes the initiative. 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.419 And here's the wonderful news. 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:09.720 I mean, 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:11.319 the wonderful news is this, 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:13.139 that nothing that we can do 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:14.840 can stop Jesus being Jesus. 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:17.220 That nothing can stop 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.399 Jesus being kind. 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:19.480 Like, 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:19.759 nothing. 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:21.519 I can be grumpy, 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.779 I can be angry, 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:24.240 I can be undeserving. 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:24.779 In fact, 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.139 I am undeserving. 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.600 I am undeserving. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.240 And Jesus doesn't relate to me 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.059 in terms of how 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:32.720 I deserve to be treated. 00:12:33.319 --> 00:12:35.159 Jesus comes to me 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:36.839 only with kindness. 00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:38.100 In fact, 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:39.279 if you read through 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.100 John's Gospel, 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.439 John's Gospel wants us 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:42.299 to understand that 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:44.379 Jesus is the Lamb of God 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.139 who takes away 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:45.860 the sin of the world. 00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:48.039 That Jesus is the Messiah 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:50.199 promised for centuries 00:12:50.199 --> 00:12:51.240 by God himself. 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.399 That he is the one 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.939 who has come to deliver us. 00:12:54.219 --> 00:12:55.000 That he is the one 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.059 who has come to deliver us 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:57.819 when we cannot deliver ourselves. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.279 That he is the one 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.019 who has come 00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:01.419 to bear our sins 00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:02.279 in his body 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:03.799 that we might be able 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:05.079 to be born from above. 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:06.579 Born by the Holy Spirit. 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.539 That Jesus is the one 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:09.659 seeing our need, 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:11.439 does not despise us 00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:12.480 or mock us 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.399 or hate us 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:14.620 or annihilate us, 00:13:14.699 --> 00:13:16.139 but he instead comes 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.179 to be the Lamb of God 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:17.719 who takes away 00:13:17.719 --> 00:13:18.319 the sin of the world. 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.459 And that is not just something 00:13:19.459 --> 00:13:20.579 which is just some 00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:21.719 theological truth 00:13:21.719 --> 00:13:23.179 at the end of Jesus' life. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.500 It is all the way 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.059 through Jesus. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:26.839 Jesus' DNA 00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:28.419 is kind. 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:31.339 Jesus' DNA 00:13:31.339 --> 00:13:33.279 is merciful and loving. 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:35.579 And Jesus responds 00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:36.299 to no one 00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:37.039 according to how 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:37.659 we deserve 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.659 to be treated. 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.459 He only responds 00:13:40.459 --> 00:13:41.459 to us with kindness. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.240 That is such 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.720 a comforting thought, folks. 00:13:45.699 --> 00:13:46.959 Nothing can stop 00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:48.220 Jesus from being kind. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:50.199 Even this 00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:50.959 grumpy, 00:13:51.459 --> 00:13:52.399 superstitious, 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.240 backstabbing, 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.799 ungrateful individual, 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.179 Jesus is kind to him. 00:13:57.179 --> 00:14:00.120 And folks, 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.019 day by day, 00:14:02.099 --> 00:14:02.959 I need the kindness 00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:03.599 of Jesus. 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:06.259 Let's continue on 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:06.979 with the story. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.039 Verse 8. 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.979 Then Jesus said to him, 00:14:11.099 --> 00:14:11.439 get up, 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.699 pick up your mat, 00:14:12.859 --> 00:14:13.620 and walk. 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.259 So even though 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:15.819 the guy's been 00:14:15.819 --> 00:14:16.659 a dour, 00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:18.239 grumpy guy, 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.519 Jesus doesn't say, 00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:19.639 well, 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:20.219 I'm going to pass 00:14:20.219 --> 00:14:20.859 this guy by 00:14:20.859 --> 00:14:21.620 and pick somebody 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.759 that I like a lot better. 00:14:23.099 --> 00:14:23.679 He says, 00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.240 get up, 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:25.319 pick up your mat, 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.099 and walk. 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:27.340 At once, 00:14:27.420 --> 00:14:28.500 the man was cured. 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:29.860 He picked up his mat 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.259 and walked. 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.019 You know, friends, 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:31.519 one of the things 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.720 you see time after time 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:33.920 after time in the Gospels 00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.259 is that Jesus can heal. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:38.080 And this healing of Jesus 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.519 is a deep healing. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:40.800 The text says 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:42.279 that he's had this problem 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.700 for 38 years. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.000 And so it's not something 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.200 which is psychosomatic. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.600 And it's something 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.600 which involves 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:51.000 not him just sort of 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.019 vaguely getting better 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.240 so he can crawl better. 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.879 It means that he's healed enough 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.519 that he can actually 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.879 stand up and walk 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.039 and carry his mat. 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.360 And it means 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.240 just to be as outrageous 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:03.039 as we possibly can 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.679 because science helps us 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:05.319 to know now 00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:07.199 how deep the healing is. 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.639 If this is a real healing, 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.939 it's a deep healing 00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:11.319 because it means 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:12.579 that atrophied muscles 00:15:12.579 --> 00:15:13.259 have grown. 00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:15.139 It means that muscle memory 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:16.299 which has been lost 00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:17.539 has been restored. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:18.740 It means that there's 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.659 a whole range 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:21.199 of nervous healing. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:21.539 I mean, 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.919 healing of the nervous system, 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:23.919 healing of the mind, 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.840 healing of the muscles. 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:26.780 This is a deep healing. 00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:29.399 And, you know, 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:31.800 the wonderful thing 00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:32.580 about science 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:34.759 is that as we learn 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.300 more and more 00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:36.300 and more science, 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:38.379 it means that we have a choice 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:39.540 when we read the Gospels. 00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:41.280 We can either say, 00:15:42.280 --> 00:15:42.680 wow, 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:45.879 or we can just sort of 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.600 disbelieve it. 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.120 I mean, 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.900 science helps to increase 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:51.360 the wow factor 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.779 of reading the Gospels. 00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:53.860 Wow, 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.720 Jesus can really heal. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.539 Jesus can really heal. 00:15:59.079 --> 00:15:59.919 And all the way 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.559 through the Gospels, 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:01.259 you take healing 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.059 out of the Gospels, 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.059 you take healing 00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.980 out of Jesus' life, 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.179 you have no Jesus left. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:06.939 He's not, 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:08.399 he's not just a teacher. 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.039 So, 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.120 verse 9, 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.480 once the man was cured, 00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:13.480 he picked up his mat 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:13.919 and walked. 00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.620 To the day on which 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.340 this took place 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.019 was a Sabbath. 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.679 And so the Jewish leaders 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.279 said to the man 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:18.899 who had been healed, 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.720 it is the Sabbath. 00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.519 The law forbids you 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.679 to carry your mat. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.220 Now, 00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:25.299 by the way, 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:25.720 friends, 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.819 that's not true. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.579 The man 00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:30.379 hasn't broken 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.819 a single Old Testament law. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:32.639 You know what 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.579 he's breaking? 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.059 They've taken 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:37.579 one of the Ten Commandments, 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.539 you shall do no work 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.079 on the Sabbath, 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.259 and they've invented 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:42.539 39 categories 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:44.179 of human action 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:46.179 that describe that. 00:16:46.839 --> 00:16:48.299 And the man is not, 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.739 Jesus didn't tell the man 00:16:49.739 --> 00:16:51.079 to break the Ten Commandments, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.919 and the man is not 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:53.159 breaking the Ten Commandments, 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.339 the man is breaking 00:16:54.339 --> 00:16:55.539 human rules. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.479 And just as, 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:57.899 I mean, 00:16:57.979 --> 00:16:58.979 we're a congregation 00:16:58.979 --> 00:16:59.419 that are trying 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:00.519 to be biblically faithful, 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.039 and this is, 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.399 in a sense, 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.359 a warning to us 00:17:02.359 --> 00:17:03.259 that, 00:17:03.319 --> 00:17:03.699 you know, 00:17:03.719 --> 00:17:04.839 we might sort of 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:06.079 try to pride ourselves 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.299 in looking down 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.000 our noses. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.980 Not that we do that, 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.579 but there's always 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.379 this temptation 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:11.259 that we can sort of 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.279 look down our noses 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.679 at people who take away 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.519 texts of the Bible 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.340 and deny the Bible 00:17:15.340 --> 00:17:16.299 and despise the Bible, 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.680 and we should never 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.400 deny the Bible 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.420 or despise the Bible 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.180 or any of those things, 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.440 but the Bible says 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.420 just as much, 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:22.700 in fact, 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.799 maybe even more, 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.660 about the human problem 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.240 of adding to the Word of God 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.640 and mistaking our thoughts 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:31.519 and our rules 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.299 for what God 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.140 has actually said. 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:36.080 And so the text warns us 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.279 the conflict 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.480 which Jesus is having here 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.640 is Jesus is not doing 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.259 anything against 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.299 the Old Testament law. 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.299 He is doing something 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:45.259 against religious rules. 00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:49.000 So verse 11, 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.139 the man replied, 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.539 the man, 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.279 you see what he passes the buck, 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.639 the man who made me well 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:54.899 said, 00:17:55.159 --> 00:17:56.119 pick up your mat and walk. 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.399 So they asked him, 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.859 who is this fellow 00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.879 who told you 00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.940 to pick it up and walk? 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.240 And friends, 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.099 here's where we're going 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.859 to end the text 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.619 because remember I said 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.399 that the text, 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.579 the text, 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.879 the whole gospel say, 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.140 the Lamb of God 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:10.720 who takes away 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.460 the sin of the world 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.400 walked among us. 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.340 God's Son 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.400 walked among us. 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:17.140 The Messiah of God 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.220 walks among us. 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.640 And the question really 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.900 is not who is he 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:23.780 but how do ordinary people 00:18:23.780 --> 00:18:24.800 like us relate to him? 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.380 And here we see 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:26.960 the danger 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.100 of a religious spirit. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.340 You know, 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:28.940 one of the problems 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.580 with religion, 00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:30.080 friends, 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.200 is that religion 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.480 can immunize us 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.220 against God. 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.460 That religion 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.700 and a religious spirit 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.000 can immunize us 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.759 against God 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.580 and what God 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:41.019 is doing in our lives 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.860 and wants to do 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:42.580 in our lives. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.779 So you think about it 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.299 for a second. 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:45.580 The men, 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.500 these religious leaders, 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.080 they meet this guy 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:50.400 and they get mad 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:50.940 at him first. 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.019 They have a conversation, 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.120 obviously more than 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.019 just recorded here 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.519 in the text. 00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.580 And as a result 00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:56.539 of this conversation, 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.180 they find out 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.740 that this guy 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.519 has been healed 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.660 after being ill, 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.500 having some type 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.039 of paralysis 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.160 for 38 years. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.140 Okay, 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:03.920 now, 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.600 here's the choice. 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.600 They could have said, 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.840 wow, 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:10.240 that's fantastic. 00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:11.559 Praise God. 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.299 Hallelujah. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.740 He healed you. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.880 You should be 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.880 so fantastic. 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.720 Do you have family 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.279 you can tell? 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.440 Wow! 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.400 Could have been 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.220 their response. 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.759 And their response 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.460 is, 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.620 he's breaking 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.299 our rules. 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:29.059 That's their response. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.200 You see, 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.240 the choice is there. 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.400 Do we say, 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.200 he's breaking 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:35.860 our rules 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.979 or do we say, 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:37.959 wow! 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.399 And religion 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:42.139 can sometimes 00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:44.159 so harden us, 00:19:44.719 --> 00:19:45.500 bend us, 00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:47.299 deform us, 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.379 make us 00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.459 like fossils, 00:19:49.719 --> 00:19:50.439 make us something 00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:51.759 that's like a mushroom 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.059 dark and buried 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.859 in the ground 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.939 and make us 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:56.219 in the midst 00:19:56.219 --> 00:19:56.799 of us thinking 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.259 that we are 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.359 so self-righteous 00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:59.539 and so spiritual, 00:19:59.719 --> 00:20:01.079 but all our religion 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.579 is doing 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.479 is hardening us 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.299 and hardening us 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.200 and hardening us 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:06.880 from the action 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.460 of God 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.700 and so the choice 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.220 before us 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.000 is always this. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.259 Do we hold on 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.839 to our rules 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.380 and our way 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:14.079 or do we say 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.500 to God, 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:14.920 God, 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.180 help my life 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.839 to be one 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.599 wow 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.880 to your working, 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.460 open to your working. 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.140 Let's pray. 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:30.000 Father, 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:33.420 we acknowledge 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.440 before you 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.100 that it could 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:37.000 have been our hands 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.840 who put the crown 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.360 of thorns 00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.600 upon Jesus' head, 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.200 that it could 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:43.360 have been our hands 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:43.980 that nailed 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.960 your son 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.660 to the cross, 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.520 that it could 00:20:47.520 --> 00:20:48.240 have been us 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.440 who asked 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.559 these 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.900 anger-driven 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:54.440 religious-spirited 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.160 questions 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.279 of your son. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.279 Loving Father, 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:58.960 we acknowledge 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.720 before you 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.299 that we are 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.180 just as prone 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.779 to a religious spirit, 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.740 to adding 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.559 to your word, 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.559 to hardness 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.299 of heart, 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.880 to hatred 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.579 and envy, 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.000 to grumpiness 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.279 and backstabbing, 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.859 that Father, 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.440 we are just as prone 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.319 and live with 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.039 just as much 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.480 of this 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.940 as the people 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.900 who are talked 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.320 about here 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:18.920 in the gospel. 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:19.300 Father, 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.980 we acknowledge 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.640 before you 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.340 that the people 00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:21.880 in the gospel 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.540 are us. 00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:23.980 Father, 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:25.200 may your Holy Spirit 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.280 fall with fresh 00:21:26.280 --> 00:21:27.519 power upon us 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.259 that we might trust 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.380 in the kindness 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.180 of your son, 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.700 that we might trust 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.980 in his healing power, 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.519 that we might trust 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:37.019 in his saving authority, 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.420 that we might be 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.160 delivered from 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.240 hardness of heart, 00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.980 from a religious spirit, 00:21:42.540 --> 00:21:43.240 from vanity 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.980 and pride. 00:21:44.540 --> 00:21:45.220 Loving Father, 00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:46.460 we cannot do this 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.440 by our own power. 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:49.080 We cry out to you 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.680 for mercy, 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.400 that your Holy Spirit 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.620 would deliver us 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.640 from such great 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.820 spiritual dangers, 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.540 that our hearts 00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:57.560 would be softened 00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.340 to be turned 00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:59.240 towards your son, 00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.040 Jesus Christ, 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.880 and may your word 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:03.380 so penetrate our lives 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.480 and your Holy Spirit 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.660 so move and work 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.240 within us, 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.019 that everything 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.060 that is about us 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:10.100 might be one yes 00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:10.560 to you. 00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:12.160 This we ask 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.560 in the name of Jesus, 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.640 your son, 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.620 and our savior. 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.740 Amen. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.180 Amen. 00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:18.840 Amen. 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.980 Amen. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:20.620 Amen. 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:20.920 Amen. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.100 Amen. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.740 Amen. 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.220 Amen. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.800 Amen. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.820 Amen. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.500 Amen. 00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:27.880 Amen. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.140 Amen. 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:28.800 Amen. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.560 Amen. 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:29.780 Amen. 00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:29.980 Amen. 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.100 Amen. 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.200 Amen. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.220 Amen. 00:22:35.320 --> 00:22:35.580 Amen. 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.680 Amen. 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.720 Amen. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.740 Amen. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:38.780 Amen. 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:38.820 Amen. 00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:39.140 Amen. 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.300 Amen. 00:22:39.300 --> 00:22:40.060 Amen. 00:22:40.060 --> 00:22:41.040 Amen. 00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:42.860 Amen. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.259 Amen. 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.300 Amen. 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:43.840 Amen. 00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:43.960 Amen. 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.160 Amen. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.259 Amen. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:45.960 Amen.