WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:06.379 I'm pleased to have a seat and a very warm welcome to you. Sorry, I've got a bit of a cold, but we'll get there, okay? 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:12.679 Great to see you this morning. My name is Graham. I work here at the church, and it's a real joy to see you, especially if this is your first time. 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:17.160 Can I encourage you to get the scriptures open in front of you? There'll be Bibles in the pews round about. 00:00:17.980 --> 00:00:21.000 Maybe you can scroll down on your iPhone or whatever it is you do to get your Bible. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:30.420 Luke chapter 8 is where we are this morning, and verses 40 to 56, those that Paul read just a little bit earlier on. 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:38.120 So let's pray, and let's ask that God, by his grace, would be with us and so kind to us this morning. Let's pray. 00:00:41.740 --> 00:00:46.939 Also, dear Father, we ask that you would be with us now as we turn to your living word. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:51.899 Lord, we ask boldly, Father, for a fresh encounter with you this morning. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:58.679 Would you be with us by your Spirit? Would he help us take our minds off of ourselves? 00:00:59.599 --> 00:01:02.459 And would he help us place them firmly on you? 00:01:03.099 --> 00:01:09.400 And in particular, would he help us place our minds and our affections on your Son, Jesus Christ? 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:15.200 And it's boldly in his name that we ask these things. Amen. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:15.340 Amen. 00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:25.140 So I remember a few weeks back, I opened my inbox, and I got an email, and the email simply read as its title, 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:28.420 How to Keep Smiling on the Bluest Day of the Year. 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:34.000 Now, I don't know if you knew this, but I had no idea what that was about, so I read it. 00:01:34.379 --> 00:01:38.800 And it turns out that January the 16th, so a few weeks ago, I don't know if you knew this, was Blue Monday. 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:40.280 Did anybody know it was Blue Monday? 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:42.560 I always thought that was a new order song. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:46.280 But that's a day. Blue Monday is a day. 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:50.219 And I read the email, and it said it's cold and dark. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:53.420 We're back to work after the Christmas holidays. 00:01:54.240 --> 00:01:56.939 Our bank balance Christmas has left desolate. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:01.939 And this is the day of the year when we feel at our most miserable. 00:02:03.679 --> 00:02:09.259 And if you believe what the experts who calculate this stuff say, if you believe what the media say, 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:16.919 then celebrity deaths, anxiety over Brexit, and fears about a new president in the Oval Office across the pond 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:22.020 made this two weeks ago Blue Monday the bluest Monday ever on record. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.060 Ever. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:30.140 And I'm sitting there reading this thing, and I'm thinking, isn't it so weird that we have created a day 00:02:30.140 --> 00:02:33.980 when we remember how rubbish sometimes the world is? 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:41.300 But I'm reading this, and I'm thinking as well, does it not show what we all know to be true, 00:02:42.260 --> 00:02:46.340 that this world isn't as it is supposed to be? 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:49.319 Now think about it in your own life for a minute. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:51.180 All of us, don't we? 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:52.280 We know Blue Mondays. 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:55.300 And we know Tragic Tuesdays. 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:59.879 And we know Hardship Wednesdays, and so on and so forth. 00:02:59.879 --> 00:03:05.020 We know what it is to be broken people, all of us broken people, 00:03:05.640 --> 00:03:07.439 living our lives in a broken world. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:15.419 Now Luke introduces us this morning to two people who know so horribly that truth. 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:20.240 And they are two very different people, but they have one massive thing in common, 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.099 and that is that they are suffering terribly. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.900 And they are two broken people living in a broken world. 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:32.460 And I think the big lesson what God would say to us through his word this morning 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:37.719 as we encounter Jesus Christ, it's that Jesus is the promised saviour 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:41.620 who has come to deal with the world's brokenness. 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:46.659 And Luke has told us this stuff not so that we would just be informed about Jesus, 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:49.939 but actually so that we would see him in his beauty, 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:53.180 and that we would put our faith in Jesus. 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:54.379 Our faith would grow. 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:57.680 And as our faith in him grows, our love for him grows. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.759 So let's pick up this narrative. 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:03.319 This is a really quick narrative. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:04.419 It is brilliant. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:06.960 Verse 40 of chapter 8, if you've got it there. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.099 Jesus and his disciples, it's all about the geography here. 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:14.400 They've previously been in the country of the Gerasenes, 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:18.319 and now they're back at the other side of the Sea of Galilee. 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:23.980 And what's waiting for them on the shore is a massive crowd. 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:24.700 Do you see that? 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:26.300 A great crowd, Luke tells us. 00:04:27.580 --> 00:04:29.640 Now here's what I want you to picture this morning. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:32.300 Picture this expecting crowd waiting for Jesus. 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:37.620 Now in this expecting crowd is a journalist for the local newspaper. 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:40.340 I'm a big fan of alliteration. 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:42.700 We'll call it the Galilean Gazette, okay? 00:04:43.080 --> 00:04:45.700 She's in this crowd, this local journalist for the newspaper. 00:04:45.840 --> 00:04:46.620 And here she is. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:48.580 She's ready to get the scoop on Jesus. 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:52.719 And phone in hand, she follows Jesus' every move, 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:56.039 and she's live tweeting these events as she sees them happen. 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:59.680 She wants to keep her public as informed and as quickly as possible. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:05.860 And so we're going to follow her as she follows and records Jesus' every move in this section, okay? 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.720 So here's her first live tweet in verse 40. 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:10.980 Jesus back in town. 00:05:12.420 --> 00:05:13.439 Jesus back in town. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:15.060 This is the great crowds. 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:19.040 If you want to flick back to the beginning of chapter 8, we think it's the same crowds. 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:23.840 There's crowds who had gathered to hear Jesus teach. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:27.060 Now it's worth for a minute just thinking about this crowd. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.239 Why are they following Jesus? 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:29.979 What are they doing? 00:05:30.139 --> 00:05:30.959 Why are they waiting for him? 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:34.679 And I think the way that Luke describes it up to this point, 00:05:34.859 --> 00:05:38.899 it's more than this crowd we're just chasing the novelty of Jesus' teaching. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.779 There was something about, as they heard him teach, 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:49.139 there was something about what he was saying that resonated deep within their souls. 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:55.939 There was something about his story that kind of made sense to their story. 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:01.579 Tim Keller, he read a book of his recently. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:03.099 He's a preacher in America. 00:06:03.219 --> 00:06:05.860 He comments on his conversion to Christianity. 00:06:05.979 --> 00:06:07.639 And he talks about how he read the Bible, 00:06:08.419 --> 00:06:12.039 and he calls it a book that he read that began to understand him. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:16.039 He was reading the Bible, but actually the Bible was reading him. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:20.560 Now, I just wonder, as we pass over this crowd this morning, 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:22.660 is that where you are? 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:27.900 As we've journeyed with Jesus over these last few months, 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:29.820 as we've heard his teaching, 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:32.160 is there something about him and what he's saying 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:34.340 and what God's word is saying to us that's hitting you? 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:39.960 Can I say, if that's true for you, then don't just pass over what's going on here. 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:42.640 Come and chat it out with somebody, but we'll talk it out. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.800 So here at verse 40, here's this crowd, 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:48.319 and they're ready to welcome Jesus back to town, hero back in town. 00:06:48.479 --> 00:06:51.579 Second live update from our roving reporter, verse 41. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:55.199 Jairus on his knees. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.639 So look what Luke says to us there. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:01.319 Enter stage left, this man Jairus. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:02.419 Do you see how we get his name? 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:06.300 We get his name as if to see Luke saying as he records this, 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:08.839 you can go to the synagogue, you can find this man called Jairus, 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.219 and you can ask him about all these things. 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:11.319 That's why he gives us his name. 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:13.099 Here's Jairus. 00:07:13.159 --> 00:07:13.659 Who is he? 00:07:13.719 --> 00:07:14.379 Verse 41. 00:07:15.099 --> 00:07:16.879 He's the ruler of the local synagogue. 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:21.719 He's responsible for the spiritual life of this local community, 00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:26.639 and he's an important and a well-respected religious man in this society. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:30.139 He's the kind of guy, if you think about it in modern terms, 00:07:30.219 --> 00:07:32.339 he's the kind of guy who would get nominated for an MBE. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:36.759 He's definitely the kind of guy who you'd want as a referee on your CV. 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:39.180 Everybody loves Jairus. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:41.160 He's well-respected. 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:43.519 But where is he as he meets Jesus in these verses? 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:44.199 Where is he? 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:46.259 He's on his knees. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:48.699 Now, why is he on his knees? 00:07:48.840 --> 00:07:52.160 Well, notice a few things that Luke tells us here about Jairus. 00:07:52.900 --> 00:07:56.079 And as we look at them together, enter into his pain. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:58.300 Verse 42. 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:00.620 His daughter is sick. 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:03.819 His daughter is sick. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.699 Now, parents, we've all been there, haven't we? 00:08:07.099 --> 00:08:10.099 Midnight trips to the sick kids just across the road there. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:13.579 Your heart pounding, your mind all over the place. 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:14.639 You can't think straight. 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:16.159 We know it to be true, don't we? 00:08:16.159 --> 00:08:19.360 The sickness of children is a massively distressing thing. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:22.939 But do you notice how Jairus' daughter isn't just sick? 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:25.199 She's dying. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:29.240 She's his only daughter. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.379 And do you notice how old she is? 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.539 She's 12 years old. 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:38.179 She's got the whole of her life in front of her. 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:41.480 She should be out playing catch with her friends in the backyard. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:42.259 But what is she doing? 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:46.220 She's sitting in the living room and she's fighting for her life. 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:51.060 And I think we identify with that sense of pain, don't we? 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.840 As we think about what we see every day on our news, 00:08:53.920 --> 00:08:56.540 as we encounter the suffering of children, 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:01.580 as we hear of stories of toddlers born with chronic symptoms, 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.840 as we hear stories of children who are facing terminal illnesses, 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:10.120 is there not something in all of us that resonates about life's tragic unfairness? 00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:12.480 This isn't how it should be. 00:09:12.540 --> 00:09:13.740 This isn't how it should be. 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:17.840 Well, here is the pain of living in a broken world, 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.240 a world that we know is not how it should be, 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.879 and here is that pain staring Jairus right in the face. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:26.659 Now, what does Jairus do? 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:31.480 Well, see how Luke tries to convey to us his sheer desperation. 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:35.000 He pleaded with Jesus. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.860 He, or your version might say, he implored Jesus. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:41.960 We get the impression that he quite literally begged Jesus to come with him. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:47.100 Such was the seriousness of the situation and the pain and anxiety in his own heart. 00:09:48.920 --> 00:09:50.300 Now, what is Jesus going to do? 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:54.740 Well, third live update from our reporter, end of verse 42. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:56.500 Jesus is on his way. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:58.840 Jesus is on his way. 00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:02.519 Now, imagine the sense of hope that Jairus has at this point. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:09.980 The only individual on the planet that he knows about who can do something about his daughter's situation is coming with him. 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:13.379 Now, that must have filled him with massive hope at this point. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:20.840 And it's worth pausing at this point in the story and thinking about Jesus as we meet him here. 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:26.659 Would you notice the sheer beauty of Jesus Christ as we meet him here? 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:35.059 Now, I remember when I became a Christian in my late teens, early 20s, and I found in Christianity a world view. 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:40.159 I found in Christianity and in the Bible things and truths that made sense. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:42.299 They made sense of me. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:46.539 They made sense of the world that I saw, the world that I lived in. 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:50.679 And they made sense and told me about a God who cared and had done something about it. 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:56.919 But far from being just a set of propositional truths at the very center of the Christian faith, 00:10:57.699 --> 00:10:59.299 I met a beautiful Christ. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:03.039 A beautiful Christ, an incomparable Jesus. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:07.439 That's what we see as we meet him here. 00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:12.199 A Christ, as John Owen famously said, a Christ who is fully fit to be our Savior. 00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:17.079 One who is full of compassion and full of power. 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:23.560 I just wonder if some of us this morning, we need to either capture for the first time, 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.280 and that would be great. 00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:27.900 Capture or recapture the sense of Christ's beauty. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:32.440 He is simply a beautiful Christ as we meet him here. 00:11:32.780 --> 00:11:34.300 Look at him as we meet him here. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.620 He gets involved in Jairus' pain. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.020 He moves towards Jairus' suffering. 00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:42.220 I mean, think about it if you take a step back for a minute. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.940 The Jesus that Luke has presented to us up until this point. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:47.820 Here is God in the flesh. 00:11:49.060 --> 00:11:50.920 Here he is, come down. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.640 Here is God in the beginning, come down. 00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:58.700 The creator and sustainer of all things, come down, stepping into our brokenness. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:05.180 And here he is reaching out to people, broken people, in their pain and in their brokenness. 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:07.500 Now that is the kind of Savior that we need. 00:12:08.540 --> 00:12:10.360 That is the kind of Savior that we need. 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:14.919 Jesus Christ is not just an unsympathetic and distant individual. 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:15.460 He's not. 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:23.139 Here is a Savior who has power to change things and has the willingness and the compassion to make it happen. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:27.779 Jesus cares deeply about this man Jairus as he meets him here. 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:30.779 And because Jesus cares, Jesus goes with him. 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:36.919 But as he goes forth, live update from our reporter, end of verse 42, what happens? 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.179 The crowds crush in. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:47.259 Jesus is on his way and he is swarmed by these people on every side, desperate to get to him. 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:51.840 And emerging from this crowd, fighting her way. 00:12:51.939 --> 00:12:56.100 I think she's a great little example of what it means to persevere. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.620 You can imagine her elbows and things. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:00.659 Here she is, this woman fighting her way towards Jesus. 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:02.460 And Luke introduces us to us. 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:05.519 And like Jairus, she's desperate as well. 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:09.059 Now look what Luke tells us about her. 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:09.919 Verse 43. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:11.840 If you have it there. 00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:13.319 He tells us about her condition. 00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:16.539 Remember Luke, doctor himself. 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:18.019 He's into these things. 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.620 He tells us about her condition. 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:23.059 She suffers badly from discharge of blood. 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.639 She suffers badly from hemorrhages. 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.319 That's what it means. 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:31.959 In this culture and under this ceremonial law, she is deemed and declared unclean. 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:37.199 She's considered a contaminating threat to all of society. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.860 If she, unclean, comes in contact with you and touches you, you're unclean too. 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:47.680 And because of that, I think she's treated as an outcast in this society. 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:51.639 Notice the second thing that Luke tells us about her. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.019 To add to that pain, the duration of her condition. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:56.759 Do you notice it there? 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:58.039 How long she's been suffering? 00:13:58.899 --> 00:13:59.899 Twelve years. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.120 Now that's a long time to suffer. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:06.860 Now just think about what you were doing twelve years ago. 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.080 I'll do the maths for you. 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.720 2004. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.700 2004, what were you doing? 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.860 Well, I looked it up this week. 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:18.899 Lance Armstrong just won his sixth consecutive Tour de France. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:21.360 Tony Blair was at number ten. 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:25.220 And the Spice Girls breaking up was still raw in the memory of many. 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.879 Do you see how twelve years is a long time? 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:31.500 A lot can change in twelve years. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:35.440 But we need to understand that nothing has changed for this woman in twelve years. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.399 Nothing has changed for you. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:39.799 She's been an outcast for twelve years. 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:43.500 Twelve years of rejection, of shame, and exclusion. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:49.500 And to add to that, do you notice how Luke tells us about the hopelessness of her condition? 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:56.659 She spent a considerable sum of money, all of her living in fact, in trying to stop her bleeding. 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.639 And she's had no success. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:07.500 She is the patient who puzzles doctors, puzzles doctors, bamboozles them at the Galilean Royal Infirmary. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:13.819 She is the person who no medical insurance company will go near because she is the incurable patient. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:26.160 And the truth is, in her heart of hearts, she's resigned herself to her living the rest of her life in exclusion, in isolation, and rejection. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.959 But here's Jesus. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.559 She's got to get to him. 00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.360 She's got to get to him. 00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:36.899 She fights her way to the front and she touches Jesus' garment. 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:40.799 And the fifth live update from a reporter, end of verse 47. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:45.059 Unclean woman made well. 00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:57.740 So this woman steps forward and with fear and trembling, she tells her quite incredible story to the watching and listening crowd of how one touch of Jesus' garment, one touch, 00:15:58.459 --> 00:16:04.500 and the source of twelve years' worth of frustration, of hurt and pain is gone in an instant. 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:07.679 And feel the drama of this moment. 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:12.240 The crowd, they see this going on, they hear her testimony, they look at Jesus. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.539 And what will he do? 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:20.120 Will he lambast her publicly for touching his garment? 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:20.940 How dare you? 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:25.600 Will he rebuke her for touching him and making him unclean? 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:32.659 Well, again, would you notice the sheer beauty of Jesus as we see him react in this moment? 00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.860 He takes an interest in this moment. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:41.139 No one is simply just a face in the crowd for Jesus. 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:44.399 No one is an awkward inconvenience for him. 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:49.460 I think there's massive application for us that would want to follow him, isn't there? 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:53.840 If you think about your week, the people that you're going to come in contact with, 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.780 how are you going to react to them? 00:16:57.139 --> 00:17:00.840 I think he sets us a marvelous example of how we treat with people, 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.940 especially those who we think, actually, we couldn't really be bothered with this right now. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.779 Jesus cares. 00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:08.640 Big lesson for us there, I think. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:13.059 We may well have expected words of judgment from Jesus' lips, 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:15.860 but instead, you see how we get words of grace. 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:17.740 What does he say? 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:22.819 He says, daughter, your faith has made you well. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:31.139 In fact, if you're on the ball, it's the exact same words as Jesus said to the sinful woman, 00:17:31.199 --> 00:17:34.179 if you want to look at it there, back at chapter 7 and verse 50. 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.259 Exact same words. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:46.319 And so I think we can understand that Jesus is telling her that she's been more than just physically healed. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:54.599 Actually, Jesus is telling her because of her faith in him, she has been forgiven of her sin completely. 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.279 Now, how does that work? 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:00.599 There's a slight tension here. 00:18:00.679 --> 00:18:05.039 As an unclean woman touches a clean man, he should be unclean. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:09.259 Her uncleanness should be transmitted to him. 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.940 And yet, instead, what do we see? 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.740 His cleanness transferred to her. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.240 And there's a wonderful picture of the gospel there, isn't there? 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.740 This isn't a cheap swap. 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:24.680 Actually, this is pointing to a costly substitution. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:30.599 As Jesus would, later on in this gospel, as he would set his face to the cross, 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:37.519 as he would go there and die and be treated as one who is unclean and cursed, 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:44.579 and take our uncleanness upon himself and give us his righteousness, his cleanness. 00:18:45.939 --> 00:18:48.619 That's what Martin Luther called the great exchange. 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.659 And what does that mean? 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.839 Well, look what he says to the woman. 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:57.899 That she is now at peace with God. 00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:02.820 You see, forgiveness from sin, dealing with sin, 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:07.180 is right at the heart of the salvation mission that Jesus has come on. 00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:09.680 Now, think about it in life. 00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:11.800 Life is full of sweet words, isn't it? 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.660 I love you. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.320 The tests were negative. 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.240 Would you like the job? 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.960 Life is full of sweet words. 00:19:21.060 --> 00:19:25.620 But here are the sweetest words that any human being could ever hear from the lips of Jesus. 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:28.279 Go in peace. 00:19:29.659 --> 00:19:33.879 A reconciled relationship with the God who created you. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.859 And everlasting life in him. 00:19:39.239 --> 00:19:41.079 Unclean woman made well. 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:45.619 And as Luke tells this story, 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.879 the camera is firmly on this woman at this point. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.939 And all of a sudden we remember that there's another guy in the background. 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:56.639 He also is suffering terribly at this point. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.819 Camera swings back to Jairus. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.879 She's been there this whole time. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.799 He's watched this whole thing unfold. 00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:05.399 He's listened to the woman's testimony. 00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:07.419 He's listened to her words of praise. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:09.779 He's heard the crowd gasp. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.220 He's seen the woman dance for joy. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:14.660 And naturally he's thrilled for her. 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:18.820 But, but, but, my daughter is dying. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:24.000 And as he sees Jesus being sidelined by all these different people, 00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:29.019 he's so aware that time is rapidly running out of sight for his little girl. 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:33.059 And Jesus is getting more and more distracted. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:36.500 His daughter's best shot at life slipping right through his fingers. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.359 In fact, it gets really bad. 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:42.299 Sixth update from our live reporter, verse 49. 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.279 Devastating news for Jairus. 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:50.920 His little girl's condition has become absolutely terminal. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:55.840 The way the Greek verb there is, the way it's written there, 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:59.960 it almost sharpens the irreversibility and finality of this news. 00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:00.920 She is dead. 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.220 She's dead. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.140 And yet, Jesus, would you see what he says here to Jairus? 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:11.060 He has the audacity to tell him that all will be well. 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:16.200 And Jesus calls him to have faith in him. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:23.619 I remember well when I first started to date my wife. 00:21:24.679 --> 00:21:27.379 She, I was living in Edinburgh at the time. 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:30.379 She was living in Dorchester, which is in the sunny south coast of England. 00:21:30.899 --> 00:21:32.519 And I used to fly down to see her. 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:35.579 And I remember one of the first times I ever went down to see her, 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:38.359 her and her friends decided that they were going cliff climbing. 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:41.419 Now, they asked me if I wanted to come. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.819 I'd never been cliff climbing in my life. 00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.679 I hate heights. 00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:47.819 But, in my mind, I needed to impress this girl. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.939 And if you want to capture the princess, you need to slay the dragon. 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.279 So, I'm there. 00:21:54.479 --> 00:21:56.979 And it comes to my shock climbing this cliff. 00:21:57.139 --> 00:22:00.719 And with all the adrenaline pumping and with an awful lot of male pride, 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:04.039 I somehow, somehow managed to scale this cliff and get to the top. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.519 And I'm so chuffed with myself. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:11.740 And then it suddenly dawns on me, I have got no idea how I'm getting down. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.019 No idea how I'm getting down. 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:17.000 I don't know why I didn't think of that at the bottom. 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:19.460 But I've got no idea how I'm getting down. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:22.480 And the guy at the bottom shouts up to me, the guy that's holding the ropes, 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:26.319 all you need to do is lean back and just walk your way down. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.759 As casually as that. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.200 That's all you need to do. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:32.640 And he said, I've got you. 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:37.039 My life literally on his word. 00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.680 Literally on his word. 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:45.640 And that is what the Bible is saying here about what real biblical Christian faith is. 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:50.500 It is placing the whole weight of your life on the word of a person. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:56.519 And Jesus is calling Jairus here to an all out trust in him. 00:22:56.859 --> 00:23:00.640 To lean the whole weight of his life on Jesus' words. 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:04.839 He's saying, Jairus, I know it doesn't make sense to you. 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:07.119 But trust me, I've got this one. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:16.779 And isn't it interesting in passing that Jesus allows Jairus to be in that place of utter hopelessness? 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:21.199 To experience probably the lowest point in his life. 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:21.859 Why? 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:26.859 Surely it's to teach Jairus something about who Jesus is. 00:23:28.199 --> 00:23:30.479 Now was there an element of doubt in Jairus' mind? 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.259 There must have been. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:35.119 Was he tempted to walk away bitter and disappointed? 00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.379 Surely he must have been. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:44.699 But while everyone else around him is laughing, Jairus trusts Jesus' words. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:49.639 And what an example of faith this man is. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:53.299 And Jairus goes with Jesus back to his house. 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:56.339 And it's a great bit of the narrative here. 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:58.179 Jairus and Jesus reach the house. 00:23:58.619 --> 00:24:00.659 They enter it with James, Peter, and John. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:02.459 And picture the scene as they get there. 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:05.719 They hear the wailing outside. 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:09.319 They see the tears of sadness. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:11.720 They are surrounded on every side with mourning. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:19.200 And Jesus then proceeds to pronounce his take on the status of this little girl. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:24.700 And that takes us to the seventh live update from our reporter, verse 52. 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.120 Jesus is having a laugh. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:32.620 Jesus' assessment is that this little girl is not dead, but asleep. 00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:35.519 Now think about his words there for a minute. 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:38.899 Because you've really got two ways of that going down, isn't there? 00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.919 Two ways of looking at it. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:43.299 Firstly, that that is massively inhumane and insensitive. 00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:49.399 I mean, has Jesus just made an awkward joke that sometimes we make in nervous situations? 00:24:49.979 --> 00:24:52.500 Has he massively misjudged this situation? 00:24:52.699 --> 00:24:54.739 And actually, he just needs to get out of there. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:25:02.220 Or, or, does he know exactly what he's talking about? 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:06.019 There's an interesting choice of phrase there, isn't it? 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.500 Asleep. 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:10.920 Now we sometimes, in our culture, we use it, don't we, to talk about people who have died. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.019 We talk about them being asleep. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.859 But here, Jesus isn't using it as a nicety. 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:17.660 Actually, it's very deliberate language. 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:21.480 Now, you don't need to look it up now, but maybe look it up later. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:33.099 Jesus is referring to the words of the prophet Daniel, who had many years previously spoken about resurrection life being given on the final day to God's people who were asleep. 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.740 So what is Jesus speaking about here? 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:38.339 He's speaking about resurrection life. 00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:43.299 He's speaking about how death is under his authority. 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:48.620 And he's speaking about how life is a power that is his alone to give. 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:52.959 And so he takes the girl by the hands. 00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:56.779 And the eighth and final live update from our reporter. 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:59.059 Dead girl lives. 00:26:00.459 --> 00:26:02.799 Dead girl lives. 00:26:03.919 --> 00:26:05.000 And she gets up. 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.619 Notice how he tells it. 00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.359 Luke tells it here. 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:10.359 She gets up and she's given something to eat. 00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.379 A funny little comment. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:15.159 But surely it's to show us that this wasn't an optical illusion. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.439 This actually happened. 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:19.460 She was hungry and he said, give her something to eat. 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:21.720 No David Blaine on the scene here. 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.779 She was hungry. 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.820 She needed something to eat. 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:25.200 There's a reality about it. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:27.620 And think about what's going on here. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:30.700 Here is the creator of the world. 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:38.240 And as it was in the beginning, here he is speaking his words and giving life. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:42.359 Unclean woman made well. 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:45.420 Dead girl lives. 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:52.000 Jesus is the promised saviour who has come to deal with the world's brokenness. 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:56.180 And the thing for us to see is that none of this has come from left field. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:58.740 It's exactly what God had promised he would do. 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:04.660 This section is, well the whole book really, but this section is full of Isaiah imagery. 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:13.300 The prophet Isaiah, God speaking through him to that generation of his people, calling them to trust him despite their suffering. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:18.680 The song that we sang at the start, Mighty to Save, that's what God is saying about himself to his people. 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:21.840 And God is saying that he will send a rescuer. 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:25.720 He will send a king who will come and put everything right again. 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:28.600 And he will come and renew the entire world. 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:31.159 And that king will bring about restoration. 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.779 And he will bring wholeness. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.240 And he will bring cleanness. 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:38.139 And he will bring forgiveness. 00:27:38.959 --> 00:27:43.659 And this king's reign will mean the end of all fear, of all death, of all sickness. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:47.899 And here is that promised king. 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:51.339 And here he is bringing his kingdom. 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:53.759 And here is a foretaste of what it will look like. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:59.240 You can think of it a little bit like a new housing estate. 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:03.119 There's tons of them going up around Edinburgh just now. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.079 But I don't know if you've ever been to see a house at a new housing estate. 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:15.839 And you go to this estate and all you can see in front of you is rubble, is concrete, is mud, is mess, is slabs, is debris. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:18.559 It's like a bombsite going on in front of you. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:23.259 But in the middle of all of this is the show house. 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:26.059 And what are you invited to do? 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:29.200 You're invited to come and see the show house. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:31.339 And the show house is perfect in every way, isn't it? 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:33.000 Perfect in every way. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:35.480 Curtains, beautiful granite tabletops. 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.740 It's a beautiful show house. 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:41.960 And the guy who's trying to sell you this plot of land where your house is going to be, 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.579 he says, I know you can't see it now. 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.259 I know you can't see it now. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:48.220 But trust me, this is what it will look like. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:53.339 Here is what it is like here. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:29:00.240 Here is a preview of the kingdom that one day Jesus will bring in its fullness. 00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:03.740 A kingdom where pain will be a distant memory. 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:07.859 A kingdom where sin no longer dogs, God's people. 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:12.599 A kingdom where death and disease are banished forever. 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:17.719 And so here are two very different people. 00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:20.799 One religious flying leader. 00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:23.959 Flying religious leader, not a, you know. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:27.059 And the other, an unclean outsider. 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:31.740 But both of them, do you notice two very different people, the same reaction. 00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.500 And you'll notice it there in the text. 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.879 How did they respond to Jesus? 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:38.379 They fell at his feet in awe and trembling. 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:43.880 Because they put their faith in him, they both join the same family of faith. 00:29:44.760 --> 00:29:50.720 And as we read this today, Luke is calling for his readers to have exactly the same reaction as these two people have. 00:29:51.580 --> 00:29:55.720 To fall at his feet and to embrace Jesus Christ as your savior. 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:59.180 To trust him and to follow him. 00:30:00.020 --> 00:30:05.260 He is the one who has all power and all authority to be the savior that we need. 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:08.559 But not only is he able to be the savior that we need. 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:12.559 Do you see here, he is willing to be that savior. 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:18.440 Jesus really is the promised savior come to deal with the world's brokenness. 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:25.119 And as we close, you know, I was thinking of Jairus and this woman this week. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.240 I was thinking about this text. 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:31.319 I was trying to imagine how they would have felt the day after this. 00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:35.000 So picture the scene in their houses, wherever they live. 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:36.720 They have a good night's sleep. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:38.839 They wake up and they think to themselves, did we dream of that? 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:42.859 Jairus, he goes through to check on his daughter. 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.579 She's there. 00:30:43.679 --> 00:30:44.439 It really happened. 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:48.299 The unclean woman, whatever she does, she thinks things have changed for me. 00:30:49.939 --> 00:30:52.480 And so they get dressed and they go out of the house. 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.700 My question of this text to me, to you. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.339 Do you think life was the same for them? 00:30:57.339 --> 00:31:03.639 Do you think they went about their business, their day, just exactly the same as they did the day before? 00:31:04.959 --> 00:31:10.659 Do you see how an encounter with Jesus has flipped, completely flipped how they view the world and they view themselves? 00:31:12.199 --> 00:31:14.579 And this is where it really hit home for me this week. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:20.179 My life as a Christian, my life as a Christian, it's not defined by Blue Monday. 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.819 It's not defined by Blue Monday. 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:27.579 Of course, as we were singing earlier, the storms of life, they hit me. 00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:29.779 Hardships come my way. 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:33.679 My emotions, they go up and down all the time. 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:38.200 My sin, I still struggle with it all the time. 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:41.200 But my life is not defined by Blue Monday. 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:45.639 My life is defined by Easter Sunday. 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:51.560 It's actually defined by the one who has the word of life. 00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:57.100 And it's held by the one who has the word of life. 00:31:57.160 --> 00:32:01.380 And it means whatever comes my way today, tomorrow, this week, this year, 00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:05.460 it means that I can trust Jesus Christ. 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:10.520 And I want to live for him because he has forgiven my sin. 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:13.140 He has dealt with my biggest problem. 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:17.920 He has ushered me into this living relationship with the God who created me. 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:19.020 And I can call him Father. 00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:22.780 He has given me fullness of joy. 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:28.060 And I celebrate the fact that my Lord has conquered the grave. 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:32.100 And so the question I want to leave you with this morning is, what defines you? 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.000 What defines you? 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:38.480 You know, maybe you're not a Christian here this morning. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:42.079 And actually this passage has, even in your head now as you're mulling it over, 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:46.059 has asked you to ask some serious questions about the way that you understand the world 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.620 and that he understands you. 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:52.039 If that's where you are this morning, then come and grab me or come and grab Paul 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:54.740 or anyone else sitting around you and we'll chat it out. 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:58.779 But if you are a Christian here this morning, let me ask you, 00:32:58.860 --> 00:33:01.099 as I ask myself from this passage this week, 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:04.119 does Christ define me? 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.699 Does he define me? 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:11.339 Here is, says Luke, here is your beautiful Savior. 00:33:11.719 --> 00:33:12.259 Here he is. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:17.240 Here is Jesus full of love and compassion. 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:21.599 Here is Jesus full of authority and power. 00:33:22.399 --> 00:33:24.939 Here is Jesus giving life. 00:33:24.939 --> 00:33:29.779 And here is Jesus mighty and willing to save. 00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:33.220 We'll finish with this Charles Spurgeon quote. 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:36.720 He was a famous Baptist preacher down in England many years ago. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.579 He wrote this, 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:42.639 We serve no inanimate, imaginary or dying God. 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:46.940 We serve our God who has immortality. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:51.779 So then, like loyal subjects, let us cry to him, 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:54.339 Long live the King of Kings. 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:55.720 Amen. 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.500 Let's pray together. 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:04.660 Oh, our dear Father, in the stillness now, 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:07.619 we bring you our thoughts 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:10.779 and we bring you our prayers, 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:15.500 knowing that you know where we are before you. 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:22.199 And we do thank you for our time together this morning. 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:28.579 And we pray that we would be people who treasure the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:33.119 We would be people who are captivated by his sheer beauty. 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:37.699 And that we would be people who are defined by having him as our Savior. 00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:44.539 So, Lord, we ask that you would help us this week to live as people who have our identity in him, 00:34:45.379 --> 00:34:46.159 by your Spirit. 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:48.319 And we pray these things in his name. 00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:49.079 Amen.