WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.939 Please turn in your Bibles to Mark chapter 2 verses 13 through 17. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:15.540 Again, that's Mark chapter 2 verses 13 through 17. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:20.019 Good morning. My name is Kirk Miller. 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:26.379 I believe I was here, I can't remember exactly when it was, maybe around a year ago or so. 00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:29.460 So some of you look familiar to me and maybe I look familiar to you. 00:00:30.060 --> 00:00:36.820 But as Zach said, I'm one of the pastors on staff at Crossway Milwaukee, Crossway Community Church. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:39.820 So our church and your church have something in common. 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:46.260 We were both started or planted, sent out by Crossway Community Church in Bristol, Wisconsin. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:49.679 That's where our church gets its name from. 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:52.500 So we are, in that way, sister churches, I guess. 00:00:52.980 --> 00:00:58.820 And I'm friends with Mike. Mike, Silvati, and I, we help out with the, 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:02.980 Simeon Trust workshops at Bristol. 00:01:03.219 --> 00:01:05.099 And I've been getting to know Zach a little bit more. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:11.060 So it's great to be able to be here this morning and to help you guys out as Mike is on sabbatical. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:15.939 And so we pray that Mike and his family enjoy that time and it's refreshing to him. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.680 He's able to come back and serve well as a result. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:22.500 Let's begin this morning by reading our passage. 00:01:23.580 --> 00:01:28.120 Again, Mark chapter 2, verses 13 through 17. 00:01:29.520 --> 00:01:32.420 I'm not sure if it's your tradition to stand when you read scripture, 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:34.680 but maybe to play it safe. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:35.300 That's what we do. 00:01:35.380 --> 00:01:36.360 I'll have you guys do it. 00:01:36.440 --> 00:01:38.620 Better to have you stand than not stand, I suppose. 00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:45.200 Mark chapter 2, verses 13 through 17. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:51.640 Jesus went out again beside the sea. 00:01:52.600 --> 00:01:56.560 And all the crowd was coming to him and he was teaching them. 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:02.540 And as he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:06.020 He said to him, follow me. 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:10.420 And Levi rose and followed Jesus. 00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:19.699 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:22.599 For there were many who followed him. 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:31.560 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:35.719 why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:46.340 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:52.079 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:53.800 Let us pray. 00:02:53.800 --> 00:03:07.740 God, we thank you for your precious word this morning, that your word reveals to us truth about ourselves, about this world, about our sinful condition, our need for your grace. 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:11.480 But not only so, it reveals to us that you have supplied that grace. 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:15.760 And it reveals to us that you have done so in the person and work of Christ. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:22.080 We pray this morning that we would further encounter your truth, your gospel in Jesus. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.520 Show us a vision of Jesus. 00:03:24.700 --> 00:03:26.120 Open up our ears to see him. 00:03:26.920 --> 00:03:29.760 Open up our ears to hear him and our eyes to see him. 00:03:30.540 --> 00:03:33.220 We ask that you work through the preaching of your word this morning. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:34.000 Give me clarity. 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:35.340 Give me wisdom. 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:37.680 May I not say anything that I ought not. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:39.760 May I stay close to your word. 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:45.580 But work through this church as the word goes forth, that you would build them up to your glory. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:46.060 Amen. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:46.160 Amen. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:52.020 Yes, you can be seated. 00:03:54.500 --> 00:04:00.340 Sinners faced with their sin often have one of two responses. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:04.120 The first response may be despair. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:07.280 We think I'm too far gone. 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:09.280 It's hopeless. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:14.680 We're overwhelmed by our sin and our brokenness. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:20.819 Or the second response is self-righteousness. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:25.060 We try to ignore or explain away our sin. 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:28.000 We pretend that it's not actually there. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:30.220 Or at least it's not actually all that bad. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:36.780 And maybe you find yourself here today tending to one of either of those. 00:04:36.880 --> 00:04:41.040 Or maybe at times even both of those responses in one way or another. 00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:43.520 Despair or self-righteousness. 00:04:44.220 --> 00:04:48.500 The thing is, neither of those ends up satisfying us. 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:55.880 Either we are honest with ourselves about how broken we actually are, but then we are left without hope. 00:04:55.879 --> 00:05:04.800 Or we're dishonest with ourselves about how broken we are in order to maintain some sort of false hope. 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:11.519 But as we'll see in today's passage, and even as we've been singing in many of these songs, 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.879 Christ offers us an escape from this predicament. 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:23.899 Jesus allows us to be both completely honest with ourselves about how broken we are. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:30.959 And in precisely so doing, we actually find hope in Jesus. 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:35.019 Our passage today as we read it, and as you hopefully saw, 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:38.540 there's sort of two scenes that show up in this passage, 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:41.860 showcasing Jesus' mission to pursue sinners. 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:49.639 The first scene, verses 13 and 14, we see Jesus calling a sinner, namely Levi. 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:56.340 And in the second scene, verses 15 to 17, Jesus then has table fellowship with sinners. 00:05:56.460 --> 00:05:59.259 So he calls a sinner, and then he has table fellowship with sinners. 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:06.439 The first scene gives us a particular example of Jesus pursuing a sinner. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:14.199 And the second scene, we see Jesus defending these actions against those who challenge him. 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:18.720 And our passage today, we could summarize this way. 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:22.720 If we were to take the whole sermon and put it into a sentence, it would be this. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:28.779 Jesus has come, not for those who think they are well, 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:33.620 but for those who know that they are sick with sin. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:37.240 Jesus has come, not for those who think they are well, 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:40.819 but for those who know they are sick with sin. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:47.300 Let's begin with the first scene here, looking specifically at the character of Levi. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:53.840 Our passage today tells us of the story of when Jesus called Levi, 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:58.939 or Matthew, as you may know him, one of Jesus' disciples. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:05.480 Now, Levi was a tax collector, and tax collectors in the Roman Empire system, 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:09.620 tax collection was full of corruption. 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:15.939 A tax collector like Levi made his living by agreeing to collect money for Rome, 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:22.379 but then he would extract above and beyond that amount in order to keep some for himself. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:27.939 And so extortion was rampant in the tax collection industry. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:36.480 In doing this, Levi was not only extorting, but he was also then a traitor to his own people. 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:44.439 He saw an opportunity to make good money, but he did so at the expense of his fellow Jews. 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:53.040 He made wealth by essentially becoming a henchman for the oppressive Roman Empire, 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:54.279 siding with the enemy. 00:07:54.279 --> 00:08:00.239 Needless to say, tax collectors like Levi were not well-liked by their fellow Jews. 00:08:01.059 --> 00:08:04.819 Not only were they corrupt, stealing from their own people, 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:12.459 but they also then served as a tangible, constant reminder of Roman domination. 00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:20.699 In fact, tax collectors were so despised that the Jewish oral law at that time said 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:25.099 that tax collectors were not allowed to serve as judges or witnesses in court. 00:08:25.859 --> 00:08:30.120 They were automatically expelled from the synagogue by being a tax collector, 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:33.139 and they were deemed as a public disgrace to their families. 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:41.019 In fact, even if they were to enter a house, it was said to make the house automatically, ritually unclean. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:47.980 Fellow Jews were not allowed even to receive money and alms from tax collectors 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:50.960 since that money was considered stolen. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:57.439 They were even allowed to lie, the oral law allowed them to lie to tax collectors 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:01.380 in order to protect themselves against what was deemed as theft. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:07.700 Tax collectors belonged to a class of people known as sinners. 00:09:08.680 --> 00:09:12.580 You'll notice that's how Jesus actually describes them in verse 16. 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:14.040 Look at verse 16. 00:09:14.140 --> 00:09:19.580 It says that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.080 Those two go hand in hand. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:27.720 In other words, tax collectors belongs to this group of people known for living in sin, 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:31.060 known as not being Torah observant. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:38.200 People like thieves and murderers and prostitutes and tax collectors. 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:43.220 Ordinary Jews would have nothing to do with tax collectors then. 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:46.200 You may recall Matthew 18, 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:51.560 this popular passage that teaches us sort of the instructions for church discipline. 00:09:51.680 --> 00:09:54.220 If someone sins against you and eventually if they don't listen, 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:58.640 it may reach the point where they're actually expelled and removed from the church. 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:01.940 And Jesus says when you remove someone from the church, 00:10:02.040 --> 00:10:03.420 you are to treat them as what? 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:08.360 A Gentile and a tax collector. 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:13.060 Jesus can say this because everyone would have known what it meant 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:15.420 to be treated as a tax collector. 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.960 That people kept separate from you. 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:19.180 There was this distance. 00:10:20.400 --> 00:10:22.020 Therefore, when Jesus came, 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:24.560 as we see in the book of Mark, 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:29.500 he enters into his ministry proclaiming the kingdom of God, 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.759 the arrival of God's reign. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.759 No one would have expected that it would be for someone like Levi. 00:10:39.040 --> 00:10:41.060 He's too far gone, they'd say. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:46.859 They likely would have thought that God's kingdom was for who? 00:10:46.959 --> 00:10:47.579 The righteous. 00:10:48.859 --> 00:10:50.899 Not someone like Levi. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.879 But one day as Jesus was traveling through Capernaum, 00:10:56.839 --> 00:10:59.039 he came by Levi's tax booth. 00:10:59.979 --> 00:11:02.039 And to everyone's great surprise, 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:04.159 Jesus looks at Levi 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:06.819 and he calls, of all people, 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:09.559 Levi to be one of his disciples. 00:11:10.839 --> 00:11:14.339 Later, Jesus even went to his house and ate with him 00:11:14.339 --> 00:11:18.699 along with other tax collectors and publicly known sinners. 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:23.100 As the kingdom of God arrived, 00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:27.780 who were to be expected among its citizens? 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:34.379 Who were expected to receive the invitation to the messianic banquet? 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:39.299 Certainly, it was not folks like Levi. 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:41.939 But here they were, 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:45.419 banqueting with that Messiah. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:47.720 And as Jesus explained, 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:49.120 this was no accident. 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:54.600 In fact, Jesus came for people just like Levi 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:59.379 in order to invite them into God's salvation. 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:01.720 As Jesus says in verse 17, 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:06.399 those who are well have no need of a physician, 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:08.519 but those who are sick. 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:12.660 I came not to call the righteous, 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.680 but sinners, Jesus says. 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:18.279 Those who receive salvation then 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:21.019 are not those who think they've earned it, 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:23.740 but precisely those who recognize 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:26.060 that they don't deserve it. 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:29.620 It's those who recognize their need. 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:32.360 The second scene, 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:36.639 we see Jesus again as he is at the house 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.820 with these tax collectors and sinners, 00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:41.240 but new characters are now introduced. 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:44.759 And this is where we see a conflict emerge. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.159 And out of this conflict, 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:47.740 Jesus explains himself. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:51.259 These additional characters are scribes 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.940 who belong to the religious party 00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:54.299 known as the Pharisees. 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:57.799 Now, scribes would have been experts in the Torah 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.319 or the oral law, 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:02.559 these sort of additional laws 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:04.519 that the Jewish people created at that time 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:06.399 to sort of create an additional fence, 00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:08.939 a further barrier around God's law. 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.439 So that's the scribes. 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.399 They're experts in the law. 00:13:11.719 --> 00:13:13.399 And the Pharisees were, 00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:15.219 like today we have political parties. 00:13:15.599 --> 00:13:17.299 These were kind of like religious parties. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:20.639 You had Sadducees and the Zealots, 00:13:20.819 --> 00:13:21.799 and you have the Essenes. 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.199 You also have the Pharisees. 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:28.120 The Pharisees were a very conservative group, 00:13:28.219 --> 00:13:29.479 theologically and ethically, 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:32.639 and they were very concerned with moral purity. 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:35.159 You think about this as post-exile, right? 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:37.799 Before Israel and Judah go into exile, 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:38.959 when you read your Old Testament, 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.779 you see Israel and Judah 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:45.500 getting heavily involved in things like idolatry, right? 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:46.759 When you think of Israel in the Old Testament, 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:50.019 you probably think of idolatry, unfortunately, right? 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:53.279 Now, after they returned from exile, though, 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.539 the Jewish people developed various responses. 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:58.659 They don't want to go through exile again 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.079 due to their idolatry. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:03.480 And one of the responses was that of the Pharisees, 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:03.899 who said, 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:06.679 let's follow God's law to a T. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.399 Let's add all these extra rules and demands 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.759 in order to create a sense of purity, 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:16.519 and thereby, by being pure enough, 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:18.620 we will achieve God's kingdom 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:20.939 and avoid anything like exile again. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:23.259 You might consider them 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:27.600 sort of your conservative, Bible-believing God follower. 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:30.639 Now, table fellowship, 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:33.220 which is what Jesus is engaged in here, 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.139 in the ancient world, 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.840 eating meals together 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:40.939 expressed intimate association with others. 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:45.280 Moreover, the Jews had strict dietary laws 00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:48.040 in order to avoid eating anything 00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:50.080 that would be deemed unclean 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:53.500 or with anyone that would be deemed unclean. 00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:57.280 And so they would have been incredibly opposed 00:14:57.280 --> 00:15:00.280 to entering into a tax collector's house 00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:02.320 to have table fellowship with him. 00:15:02.380 --> 00:15:03.760 That would make you unclean. 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:05.360 It would go against everything 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.560 that the Pharisees were about. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.520 And so the scribes of this Pharisee party, 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:12.659 they were absolutely infuriated with Jesus. 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:15.159 Who does this rabbi think he is? 00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:16.919 This guy that everyone's looking to, 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:19.120 that he's gaining popularity with the people, 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.019 and then he goes and he does something 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.220 as ridiculous as this, 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.799 as if to show that this is okay? 00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:27.679 For those like the scribes, 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.279 Jesus' pursuit of sinners was scandalous. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.740 You see, a works-based mindset 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:38.560 that says that I'm accepted and worthy 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:40.580 based on my performance, 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.820 my moral purity, 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.820 how well I keep my moral standards, 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:50.899 if I live as a good person. 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:52.860 You see, this mindset, 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:57.139 it sees grace as something scandalous 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.940 and even offensive. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:01.460 Like Jonah, who's offended 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:04.019 by God showing the Ninevites grace. 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:07.160 When we have this mindset, 00:16:07.400 --> 00:16:08.820 we feel like we've done 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:11.480 what it takes to earn recognition 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:13.139 and God's blessing. 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:16.340 And so we are scandalized and offended 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:18.460 when folks who we think 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:21.120 clearly don't deserve that blessing 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:24.600 receive favor and God's acceptance. 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:27.899 But of course, when we think this way, 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.399 we're failing to realize 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.080 that in fact, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.120 none of us is deserving, right? 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:35.759 That all of us are actually debtors 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.980 to God's grace. 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:40.480 Which is what Jesus explains in verse 17. 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.940 Again, Jesus, 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.820 when he hears their complaint, 00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:45.000 he said to them, 00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:47.500 those who are well 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.920 have no need of a physician, 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:52.080 but those who are sick, 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.680 I came not to call the righteous, 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.900 but the sinner. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.120 Doctors don't exist 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.080 to provide healing 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:02.940 to those who don't need healing, right? 00:17:03.520 --> 00:17:05.059 Of course, we have our annual checkups, 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.400 but that's preventative even. 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:09.620 Doctors exist to address 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:12.259 the need of sickness and disease. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.299 And Jesus is saying, 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.860 I didn't show up 00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:17.500 to call those who are all fine and dandy. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.519 My ministry is precisely 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.259 for those who are sick. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.419 Why is it a surprise to you 00:17:23.419 --> 00:17:25.139 that I go after the sick then? 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:27.199 A doctor is no good 00:17:27.199 --> 00:17:28.259 if he stays aloof 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.639 from those who are sick. 00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:32.039 He has to actually meet them 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.899 and encounter them. 00:17:34.199 --> 00:17:34.799 Now to be clear, 00:17:34.899 --> 00:17:35.779 this isn't saying 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:37.359 that there are some 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.799 who are in fact righteous 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.159 and don't need healing. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.279 But Jesus is, I think, 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.759 indicating that there are some 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.039 who think of themselves 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.759 as righteous 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:49.579 and not in need of saving. 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:52.500 You see, Jesus has come 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.179 not for those who think 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:55.079 that they are well, 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:57.079 but precisely for those 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.799 who know that they are sick. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:01.099 Sick with sin. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.220 Jesus has come 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.779 not to separate himself 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.500 from sinners, 00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:08.500 but to save sinners. 00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:11.399 Throughout the book of Mark, 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:13.319 Mark presents Jesus 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:16.139 as the authoritative king 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:18.380 of God's arriving kingdom. 00:18:19.800 --> 00:18:21.300 Jesus says at the very beginning 00:18:21.300 --> 00:18:21.759 of the book, 00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:22.980 verses 14 and 15, 00:18:23.060 --> 00:18:23.300 behold, 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.720 the kingdom of God 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.259 is at hand. 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:27.180 Repent and believe the gospel. 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.640 And then as the book goes on, 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.900 we see that the kingdom 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:30.620 is arriving 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:32.360 through a king, 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.800 which is Jesus. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:36.640 Now when a king arrives, 00:18:37.300 --> 00:18:38.520 who do they invite 00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:39.640 into their entourage? 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:42.240 Who do people with authority 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.460 often spend their time with? 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.040 Oftentimes, 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:48.440 it's the most important people, 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.900 the most respected. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:51.640 They don't invite people 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.560 who are from the bottom 00:18:52.560 --> 00:18:54.020 of the barrel, usually. 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.480 For example, 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:57.420 if a president is elected 00:18:57.420 --> 00:18:59.000 and they are selecting people 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.360 to be a part of their cabinet, 00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:02.540 it would be ridiculous 00:19:02.540 --> 00:19:04.900 if he chose people 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:06.400 who had committed treason 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.320 against the state 00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:09.240 or picking the worst of the worst, 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.000 the criminals, 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:12.579 the outlaws of society, right? 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:14.000 That's not what we would 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.700 expect them to do. 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.500 We would expect them 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.279 to sort of draw on those 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.180 who are seen with a lot 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.920 of prestige and acceptance. 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.380 But this is exactly 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:23.319 what Jesus does. 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.799 When he comes as the king 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.680 and he puts his entourage together, 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.400 he chooses people 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.519 like Levi, 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.740 a tax collector. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.599 You see, 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:36.240 Jesus is an unexpected king 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.599 of an upside-down kingdom. 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.539 He doesn't operate 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.920 by this world's standards, 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.960 the way that this world 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.779 does things. 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.799 Jesus is the king 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.420 who comes for sinners 00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:50.000 like you and me. 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:51.559 Jesus has come 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.700 not for those who think 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.259 they are well, 00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.759 but precisely for those 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.460 who know 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.500 that they are sick 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.359 with sin. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.720 And this unexpected king 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:01.160 accomplishes his 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.460 unexpected mission 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.400 fully by heading 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.160 to the cross. 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:07.160 You remember when 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:09.100 Jesus asks his disciples 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:10.200 in chapter 8 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:11.640 at the turning point 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.019 of the book, 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:12.340 he says, 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.000 who do people say 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.620 that I am? 00:20:14.040 --> 00:20:14.720 And they answer 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.680 all sorts of things, 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.180 but he says, 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.840 what about you? 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.300 Peter says that you 00:20:18.300 --> 00:20:19.120 are the Christ. 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.640 Blessed are you, 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:22.800 Peter. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:23.880 Flesh and blood 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:25.160 hasn't revealed that to you, 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.800 but my Father 00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:26.680 from heaven has. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.820 But then when Jesus 00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:28.920 goes on and explains 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.840 what it means 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.800 for him to be the Christ, 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.100 you see, 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.840 Peter understood 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.079 that Jesus was the Christ, 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:35.019 but his conception 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.459 of what the Christ was, 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.220 this king, 00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.939 it was off. 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.399 When Jesus goes on 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:41.919 to explain that he 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.899 must suffer and die 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:43.459 in Jerusalem, 00:20:43.959 --> 00:20:45.179 Peter rebukes him, 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.439 and Jesus returns 00:20:46.439 --> 00:20:47.359 by rebuking him, 00:20:47.459 --> 00:20:48.539 get behind me, Satan. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.899 You see, 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:52.619 Jesus' kingship 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:54.079 came to fruition 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.480 in an unexpected way. 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.720 He's an unexpected king 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:01.000 who actually reigns 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.079 from a cross. 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.079 He is the king 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.279 who comes not to be served 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.160 like we would typically 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.120 think a king would do, 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.980 but what does he say 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.100 in Mark 10, 45? 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.920 He came to serve. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.460 He's a king 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.600 who shows his kingship 00:21:14.600 --> 00:21:15.460 by servanthood, 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.039 by love, 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.980 by self-sacrifice, 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:21.779 to serve and give his life 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.880 as a ransom for many. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.900 That our king reigns 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.140 and he achieves his kingdom 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:28.360 by actually bearing 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:30.380 our sins on himself 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.600 so that all those 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:33.320 who trust in Christ, 00:21:33.540 --> 00:21:34.700 who turn from their sin 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.560 and they look to Christ, 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.540 they don't look to themselves, 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.680 they don't look to anything 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.640 that they can do, 00:21:39.020 --> 00:21:40.360 any way that they can 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.500 earn acceptance with God, 00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:42.800 but they look solely to Christ, 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.200 they lean solely on him, 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.500 they are saved 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.460 through what he has done. 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.259 As we think about 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.520 how we respond then 00:21:51.520 --> 00:21:52.380 to this message, 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.100 first let's consider 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:55.420 how this changes, 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:57.279 how we view ourselves. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.840 None of us 00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:02.860 is in fact righteous 00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:03.500 and well. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.920 We are all 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.840 of the sick 00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.640 according to this passage. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.240 We all fit that category 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.200 of being sick. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.759 So my question to you 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:17.420 is do you know yourself 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:18.180 to be sick? 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.880 Or do you think of yourself 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.519 as well? 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:24.639 And if you can agree 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:26.259 with that at least theoretically, 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.920 yes I know I'm sick, 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.759 I know I'm not well, 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.759 do you nonetheless 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.859 believe it on a functional level 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.059 in your heart? 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.559 You see we like to pretend 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.700 that we are well. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:40.299 In fact it's quite common today 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.279 in our society 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.980 to actually label 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.460 things that are sickness, 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.559 things that are sin, 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.019 we actually label them 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.480 as health. 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:51.259 But Jesus 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:53.079 is of no aid 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.700 to the person 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.360 who thinks 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.819 that they are well. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.640 The person who denies 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.380 that they have anything 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.160 wrong with them 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:00.079 is never going to go 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.819 to the doctor 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.960 and therefore 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.660 they're never going 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.440 to get the help 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:03.980 they need. 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.259 So the first step 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.740 in receiving healing 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:08.400 is recognizing 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.360 that we need Jesus. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:11.880 Is recognizing 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:13.240 that we need healing, 00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:14.259 that we are sick. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:16.480 But for those 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.039 who know 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.859 that they are sick 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.359 with sin, 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.619 Jesus welcomes us 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:22.480 as that perfect physician. 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.759 And so if you are here today 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.379 and you are deeply aware 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.220 that you are sick 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:27.720 with sin, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.819 know that your sin 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:31.559 is actually not a barrier 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:34.140 to you coming to Christ. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.599 If anything, 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.420 it actually makes you 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:37.619 all the more eligible 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.119 for Christ. 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:41.339 Christianity is not 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.240 for those 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.519 who have it all together. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.279 or we should say 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.879 who think 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:46.299 they have it all together. 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.299 You see, 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.319 the message of Christianity 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.339 is not one of self-improvement. 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:52.000 Jesus is not just 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.099 some moral teacher 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.920 who teaches us 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.839 how to clean up 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.839 our lives. 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.980 No, Jesus describes himself 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:00.119 in terms of a physician. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.059 The gospel isn't a command 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.420 to make ourselves better, 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.379 but it is a promise 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:08.099 that he will heal us 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:09.059 of our sin. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.000 And so put your trust 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.740 in the physician. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:16.000 Sometimes folks 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.680 will complain 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.400 that church 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:20.039 is full of sin. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:22.180 It's full of hypocrites. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.460 Well, yes, 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.339 which is why 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.200 we will all 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.160 fit in 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.379 quite easily, right? 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.119 The church 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:31.400 is not a museum 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.059 of saints, 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:33.079 as some have said, 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.920 but it is a hospital 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:36.460 for sinners. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:36.660 sinners. 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.500 In the church, 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.799 there are no 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:41.960 perfect people allowed, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.420 except for Jesus, 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.559 I guess, right? 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.620 The church, 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.039 what though, 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.160 is a family 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:49.299 of saved sinners. 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.880 And so that means 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.819 it's okay 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.799 not to be okay. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.799 You don't have to put 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.500 on a front 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:59.299 when you come to church, 00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.980 when you get together 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.960 with other church members. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.460 You don't have to pretend 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.680 to have it all together. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.059 In fact, 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.680 you shouldn't. 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.400 We should be open 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.360 and honest with each other. 00:25:08.600 --> 00:25:09.279 The church should be 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.759 a place 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.039 where we can be 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.400 transparent with one another 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.299 about our sin 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:13.960 and our struggles. 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.620 Now, 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.340 if you're like me, 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.240 you don't like 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.100 having your sin 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:20.019 pointed out, though. 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:20.860 Or, 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.940 you don't like people 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.120 knowing about your sin. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.140 It's humbling, 00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:25.980 and we tend 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.860 to be prideful. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.340 We want to be self-righteous 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:29.120 like the Pharisees. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.259 We want to be right. 00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:32.619 We want to be seen 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.279 as good. 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.779 But the gospel 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.559 enables us 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.139 to be honest 00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:37.859 with ourselves 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:39.179 and to be honest 00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:39.719 with our sin. 00:25:40.699 --> 00:25:41.539 The gospel 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.979 already shows 00:25:42.979 --> 00:25:43.779 that we are sinners. 00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.379 That means 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.559 we cannot confess 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.799 to anything worse 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.079 than the gospel 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.219 has already said 00:25:50.219 --> 00:25:50.779 about us. 00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:52.339 That we are utter 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.079 sinners 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.339 in need of God's grace. 00:25:55.179 --> 00:25:55.959 But the gospel 00:25:55.959 --> 00:25:57.019 also tells us 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.379 that we have 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.119 complete forgiveness. 00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.519 So, 00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:00.659 if we are believers, 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.099 that means 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.919 there's nothing, 00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:04.000 there's no sin 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.839 that we confess 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.459 that the gospel 00:26:05.459 --> 00:26:06.639 hasn't already 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.819 declared as forgiven. 00:26:09.239 --> 00:26:10.399 That it hasn't 00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.359 already declared 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.419 as paid for. 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.659 I can't confess 00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:15.000 and make you known, 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.199 make you know 00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:16.799 about anything 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.399 that the gospel 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.199 hasn't already 00:26:18.199 --> 00:26:18.959 made known 00:26:18.959 --> 00:26:20.519 and already forgiven. 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:22.940 we're no longer 00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.559 enslaved 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.279 than to needing 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.980 to establish 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:26.220 our own righteousness 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.920 in our own eyes, 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.759 in the eyes of God 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.480 or in the eyes 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.000 of each other. 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.559 We are freed 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.319 to be honest 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.099 about our sin 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:34.440 and to seek healing 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.139 and Jesus 00:26:35.139 --> 00:26:37.059 among his people, 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.660 the church. 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.660 But Christ also 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.539 doesn't leave us 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.259 in our sin. 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.039 He not only 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.339 welcomes the sinner, 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:46.920 but you'll notice 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.480 our passage 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.420 describes him 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.420 as a physician. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.880 And so he heals 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.000 us of our sickness. 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.900 He actually 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:55.680 transforms us. 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.319 I think of 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:58.740 Ephesians 4.20 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:00.259 where Paul talks about 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.440 like, 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.700 are you to continue 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.299 living in sin? 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.059 That's not the way 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.579 you've learned Christ. 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.220 That's not what 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.860 you've learned 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.500 about Christ. 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.120 What he does, 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.140 he makes us 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.120 a new humanity 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.680 in him. 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.440 Or in John 8 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.059 when Jesus 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.640 interacts with the woman 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.360 caught in adultery, 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.220 he says to her, 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.160 go and sin 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.259 no more. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.860 He not only forgives, 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.540 but he heals. 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.880 He transforms. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:25.920 Secondly, 00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:27.000 let's consider now 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.000 how this changes 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.920 how we view others. 00:27:29.040 --> 00:27:29.500 We've looked at 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.320 how it changes 00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.220 how we view ourselves, 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.880 but how does a message 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.300 like this, 00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:34.120 a passage like this, 00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.600 change how we view others? 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.180 As we consider 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:39.019 our posture 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:41.940 to the surrounding culture, 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:43.000 maybe our friends, 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.860 our neighbors, 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.820 our coworkers, 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:48.039 do we look down 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:50.480 our nose 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.700 at others in judgment, 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.539 particularly those 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:54.039 who are not believers? 00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:58.079 Do we talk about them 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.379 with disdain 00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.339 and ridicule? 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.839 Or does our speech 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.099 reflect our own need 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.799 for grace, 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.139 reflect our own 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.939 indebtedness 00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:08.799 to grace? 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:12.019 We live 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:13.519 acknowledging 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.759 that we too 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.559 are debtors 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.440 to God's grace. 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.899 One of my favorite 00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:18.819 verses in the Bible, 00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:19.819 if I had a life verse, 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.440 this would probably 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.119 be it, 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:23.879 is 1 Corinthians 15.10. 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.220 Where, 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:25.980 like Paul, 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:27.059 we ought to have 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.220 this sort of reflex, 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:30.059 this sort of instinct, 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.980 this impulse, 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:32.000 where we say, 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.099 by the grace of God, 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.619 I am what I am. 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.660 We don't think of ourselves 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.900 as better than others 00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:39.420 by somehow 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:41.079 something we've done 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.220 or we've merited 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.380 or we've produced. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.319 But anything 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.500 that I am today, 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.420 any ounce 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.339 of transformation, 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.279 the fact that I 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.779 can even see 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:52.059 Jesus in the gospel 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.920 and believe in Jesus, 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.220 it's only by the grace 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.839 of God 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.880 that I am who I am. 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.720 I have no reason 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.099 to boast, 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.680 no reason to look down 00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.400 at someone else 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:01.079 in comparison to myself. 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.379 So pride, 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.339 disdain, 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.519 self-righteousness 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.679 and judgmentalism, 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.559 any sense of animosity, 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.679 they have no place, 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.839 they have to go out the window. 00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.939 We only are 00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.819 who we are 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:15.460 by the grace of God. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.639 Our debt to God's grace 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:19.259 should make us humble 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.500 and gentle 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.460 and sympathetic. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.859 Our interactions 00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:25.720 with others then 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.559 should be dripping 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:28.359 with this sense of grace. 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:31.659 If Jesus pursued sinners, 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:34.759 then so should we as well. 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.839 As Jesus says 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:38.319 in Matthew 10, 24, 00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:39.559 a disciple is not 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.740 above his teacher 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:42.099 nor a servant 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.259 above his master. 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.740 And certainly 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.419 there are ways 00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:45.079 in which Jesus 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.779 is going to be 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.719 quite different than us, 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:46.919 right? 00:29:46.939 --> 00:29:48.339 That we aren't like Jesus. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.399 But Jesus nonetheless 00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.439 presents himself 00:29:51.439 --> 00:29:52.259 in his ministry 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.019 as a model 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.619 for our own lifestyle. 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:58.039 And so if Jesus pursued 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:59.539 those who are sick, 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.139 shouldn't we? 00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:04.179 Do we pursue those 00:30:04.179 --> 00:30:05.599 who are sick with sin? 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:08.079 Are there certain people 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:11.339 that we keep our distance from? 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.779 Maybe you're like me 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.819 and you feel some sort of 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.579 inner resistance 00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.500 and hesitation 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.619 to this idea 00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.879 because embracing 00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:20.019 those who are sick 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.539 can mean 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.679 sacrificing 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.700 a more comfortable 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.799 and convenient 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.720 Christianity? 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.500 As churches, 00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:30.539 we should ask ourselves, 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.900 who are the sort of people 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:33.539 that we attract 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.420 in our gatherings? 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.500 Is it those 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.600 who have their lives 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:38.080 together? 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.759 Those who sort of 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.640 fit the mold 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.360 of a comfortable, 00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.660 convenient Christianity? 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:45.720 Or does it look like 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.980 sinners are welcome here? 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:49.640 the sick? 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.200 Those who are 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.059 clearly broken? 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.500 Are there any 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.420 subtle or unspoken 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.299 expectations 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.660 about the sort of people 00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.380 that are welcome 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.200 in our churches? 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.120 Of the sort of people 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.579 that make up our churches? 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.299 Of who our churches 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.339 are for? 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.680 We should strive 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.559 to be churches 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.440 where the most broken, 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.099 the most unwanted, 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.339 the most destitute 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:14.460 can look at our church 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.819 and say, 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.240 yes, 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.380 that's a place 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.779 precisely for me. 00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.480 For those of us here 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.240 who are parents, 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.339 I imagine 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.000 that many of us 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.319 would want our kids 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.079 to feel like 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:27.160 they could turn to us 00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:28.500 if they ever found 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.380 themselves in a time 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:29.819 of trouble. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.180 Maybe even a trouble 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.180 of their own making. 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.099 Unfortunately, 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.420 though, 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.460 many kids don't have 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.400 their experience. 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.960 Maybe when you were a kid, 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.539 you didn't have 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.259 this experience. 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.920 That your parents 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.099 maybe were the last 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.980 people that you would 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.960 turn to if you got 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.880 yourself into trouble. 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.960 because you're afraid 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.059 of how your parents 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.519 would react. 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.420 And likewise, 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.880 I'm afraid that for many, 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.740 the church in America 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:56.059 has gained a similar 00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:57.120 reputation. 00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.680 That it's actually 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.640 the last place 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.220 that someone would 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.839 turn to 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:02.099 if they were caught 00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.660 in sin. 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.359 Because they're afraid 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.599 of how we respond 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.779 to their sin. 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.180 Rather, 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.099 we should make it 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.819 our aim 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.519 to gain 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.700 reputations 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.680 in our community 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:14.519 as the first place 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.400 that people 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:16.200 turn to 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:17.740 in sin. 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.299 That we are churches 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:21.140 precisely for 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.340 broken people. 00:32:24.340 --> 00:32:25.259 No one 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:25.900 is beyond 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.860 the gospel's reach. 00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.620 Maybe we feel 00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:30.700 that some people 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.740 are just simply 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:33.480 too far gone. 00:32:34.320 --> 00:32:35.500 They're too sinful 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.700 to come to Christ. 00:32:37.060 --> 00:32:37.740 Maybe it's a 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.180 co-worker, 00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:38.900 a friend, 00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:40.620 or a family member. 00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:41.759 Maybe you're tempted 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.500 to feel this way 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.039 as a parent 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.819 about a child 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.500 who has walked 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.739 away from the faith. 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:48.500 Or maybe you're here today 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.299 and this is what you're 00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.399 thinking about yourself, 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:52.339 that I'm too far gone. 00:32:53.739 --> 00:32:55.219 But if Christ came 00:32:55.219 --> 00:32:57.079 precisely for those 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:57.979 who are sick 00:32:57.979 --> 00:32:58.599 in their sin, 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.500 then our sin, 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.559 far from making us 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.739 ineligible, 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:06.359 actually makes us 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.619 perfect candidates 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:09.500 for this physician's 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:09.779 healing. 00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.799 It is not 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.959 those who are well 00:33:12.959 --> 00:33:14.319 who need a physician. 00:33:15.439 --> 00:33:16.939 No, because Christ 00:33:16.939 --> 00:33:19.279 is in the business 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.139 of healing 00:33:20.139 --> 00:33:20.899 sinners. 00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:23.239 Such are the very 00:33:23.239 --> 00:33:23.719 people 00:33:23.719 --> 00:33:24.719 that Christ 00:33:24.719 --> 00:33:25.439 came to save. 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:26.839 Let's pray. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:31.419 God, we thank you 00:33:31.419 --> 00:33:32.219 that this, 00:33:32.479 --> 00:33:32.899 in fact, 00:33:32.959 --> 00:33:33.579 is true. 00:33:34.179 --> 00:33:35.299 That we see 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:35.699 a Jesus 00:33:35.699 --> 00:33:36.959 who when he shows up 00:33:36.959 --> 00:33:38.579 on earth 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.359 and conducts 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:39.879 his ministry, 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:40.960 he is pursuing 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:42.600 after the unexpected. 00:33:44.300 --> 00:33:45.180 He's pursuing 00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:45.960 after people 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.540 like Levi, 00:33:46.800 --> 00:33:47.160 Matthew, 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.220 tax collectors. 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.580 Those who are 00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:50.580 rejected by others, 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.960 Jesus goes out 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.420 of his way 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:52.920 to pursue. 00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:54.880 He leaves the 99 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:56.040 to go after the one. 00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:57.940 And Jesus, 00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:58.640 we recognize 00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.140 before you, 00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.760 we confess 00:33:59.760 --> 00:34:00.280 before you 00:34:00.280 --> 00:34:01.160 that we ourselves 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:02.060 are the unexpected. 00:34:02.760 --> 00:34:03.720 We ourselves 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.980 are the same 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:06.220 as someone 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:06.819 like Levi, 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:08.019 the unexpected 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.800 one that you 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.360 have called 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.920 and have said, 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.179 follow me. 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.500 May we see 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.159 ourselves 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.500 more accurately 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.740 this week 00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:18.240 as those 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:19.199 who have received 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.920 your grace, 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.579 as those 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.679 whose sin, 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.159 although, 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:22.940 of course, 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.840 we want to turn 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.280 from it, 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.820 is not a barrier 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:27.400 of your love, 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.019 but the very 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:29.039 reason that 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.679 in your love 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.280 you came 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.460 to save us. 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:33.300 and help us 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:34.280 to view others 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:36.579 as a result 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.760 of this truth. 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:39.340 That we would 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.260 deeply sense 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:41.019 our indebtedness 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.460 to grace 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.119 in all of our 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.639 interactions 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.159 with others, 00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.659 whether fellow 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.099 believers 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.920 or non-believers 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.280 alike, 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.039 that we would 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.780 deeply sense 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:48.800 our indebtedness 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.559 to your grace 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.900 and therefore 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:53.019 reciprocate that grace 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:53.980 as we respond 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.619 to others. 00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.199 And help us 00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:57.380 to pursue the loss 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:58.320 just as you 00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:59.380 are doing it. 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:00.760 Use us 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:01.740 as the vehicles 00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.760 of your message 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:03.740 of reconciliation. 00:35:04.100 --> 00:35:04.660 As Paul says 00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:06.020 in 2 Corinthians 5, 00:35:06.520 --> 00:35:07.240 that you are 00:35:07.240 --> 00:35:07.940 making 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:09.940 your appeal 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.980 through us 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:13.160 to be 00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:14.080 reconciled 00:35:14.080 --> 00:35:14.480 to you. 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:16.100 That you are 00:35:16.100 --> 00:35:17.020 working in this 00:35:17.020 --> 00:35:17.560 world right now 00:35:17.560 --> 00:35:18.380 to reconcile 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:19.140 the world 00:35:19.140 --> 00:35:19.780 to yourself. 00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.340 You have done 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.060 so in Christ 00:35:21.060 --> 00:35:21.760 and now through 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.340 the church 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.520 empowered by the 00:35:23.520 --> 00:35:24.080 spirit to the 00:35:24.080 --> 00:35:24.700 ends of the earth. 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.880 You are spreading 00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.020 this message 00:35:27.020 --> 00:35:27.780 of the cross 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.840 of reconciliation 00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.860 to you 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.340 through the son. 00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:30.720 And we ask 00:35:30.720 --> 00:35:31.000 that you would 00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:31.600 empower us 00:35:31.600 --> 00:35:32.019 to do that. 00:35:32.100 --> 00:35:32.380 Give us 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.240 opportunities 00:35:33.240 --> 00:35:33.760 to share 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:34.140 the gospel 00:35:34.140 --> 00:35:34.579 this week 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:35.579 and open 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:36.140 our eyes 00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:36.780 to see them 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:37.200 when they 00:35:37.200 --> 00:35:38.000 come about. 00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:38.579 Amen.