WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.220 So here's a British actor and presenter of the TV quiz show QI, which many of you I'm sure will watch, Stephen Fry, speaking about why he doesn't believe in the God of the Bible. 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:15.060 He says this, I wonder if this is where you're at today. 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:29.859 He said, in an interview with an Irish TV channel, why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain? 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:36.299 Now that is a philosophically valid and an emotionally honest question. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:40.780 And it's one we're going to be thinking about today as we get into this chapter of the Bible. 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:45.539 Now this chapter, if you scan your eyes over it, it is 31 verses long. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:54.320 But I guarantee that every single one of us within two verses of reading this together are going to have the same question in mind. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:55.760 And it's this. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:00.239 What on earth is something like this doing in the Bible? 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:06.019 Because this is a horrendous story of the rape of a young woman. 00:01:07.100 --> 00:01:13.460 And flowing from that, the harrowing account of revenge and bloodshed. 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:21.619 Now if the British Board of Film Classification were tasked with rating this, they would, without shadow of a doubt, go for 18 plus. 00:01:23.419 --> 00:01:27.179 So here's the question I've been asking myself for the last number of weeks knowing that this is coming. 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:32.539 And asking myself as I've been prepping this series in Genesis. 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:35.020 Why don't we just skip it? 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:40.340 Now two reasons why we go towards this. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:41.719 And here's number one. 00:01:41.820 --> 00:01:42.480 It's a conviction. 00:01:42.880 --> 00:01:45.540 It's a conviction that all scripture is God breathed. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:46.640 Right? 00:01:46.740 --> 00:01:49.540 We are a church that loves its 316s. 00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:51.820 We love John 316. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.360 How God desires all people to be saved. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:00.359 We love 1 Timothy, sorry 2 Timothy 316. 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:02.459 That all scripture is God breathed. 00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:04.359 We're a church who loves its 316s. 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:10.759 Meaning that with chapter 34, it's not like the Bible translators dropped the ball with this one. 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:17.079 No, every single verse in the Bible is there because God wanted it there. 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:18.599 The first one is a conviction. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:20.300 The second one is an experience. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:26.560 Having done this, worked in this church for 11 years, here's what I know to be true. 00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:39.180 That so often God does the deepest work in our hearts when we go to what we wrestle with the hardest parts of his word. 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:44.800 Now some of us will read this as it were and we will read this from the armchair. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:45.520 Right? 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:49.820 We will be thinking exactly what Stephen Fry was saying. 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:56.879 And if that's you here today, if you're wondering, and surely this just proves the invalidity of the Christian faith, 00:02:57.079 --> 00:03:03.799 then here's the question I want to ask you to think about as we read this together in just a few minutes time. 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:07.539 Do you recognize the world of Genesis 34? 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:13.400 And the answer is, it's our world. 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:14.400 Right? 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:22.159 It's our world where it was discovered this week that Andrew Tate's been running a WhatsApp group aimed at grooming women. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:38.400 It's our world where as of this week I now find myself in a street WhatsApp group because one of our neighbors just up the road was broken into and everyone was kind of rallying together to see if we could get some CCTV of what footage of what actually went on. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:39.400 This is our world. 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:39.740 This is our world. 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:43.400 But here's where Christians respectfully disagree. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:47.500 And I'll just put it up there again with the comments of Stephen Fry. 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:49.540 Yes, God created the world. 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:54.259 But Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 tell us that God created a perfect world. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:04.019 In fact, it's only as Adam and Eve defy their creator, something that human beings have done ever since, 00:04:05.019 --> 00:04:10.659 that from Genesis 3 onward as sin enters and spoils God's perfect world, 00:04:10.739 --> 00:04:13.959 that we begin to get words in the human story. 00:04:13.960 --> 00:04:21.319 We begin to get words like shame and we begin to get words like death and we begin to get words like murder. 00:04:21.460 --> 00:04:25.480 And the thing is to see that those words were not on the scene in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. 00:04:27.460 --> 00:04:28.740 Here is life as we know it. 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:32.980 And this is a Bible phrase that people use worth thinking about. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:35.600 Here is life as we know it, east of Eden. 00:04:36.819 --> 00:04:39.660 East in the Bible is symbolic of just moving away from God. 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:46.600 So in our passage today, if you come with me to chapter 34, right, we meet this young girl called Dina. 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:52.680 And we are quickly introduced to the man who violated her at verse 2. 00:04:52.780 --> 00:04:53.660 His name is Shechem. 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:58.100 Now notice what we're told about him. 00:04:59.440 --> 00:05:05.440 We are told, do you notice, and none of this is wasted, that he's a young prince of the land. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:11.980 Now what we have to understand is that in this guy's world, might is right. 00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:14.819 He gets what he wants. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:19.920 And what he wants in this moment is that he thinks he has a right to Dina's body. 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:22.279 Hear it in his verse at verse 4, right? 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:23.339 What does he say? 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:25.420 Dad, and hear him speak. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:28.040 Get me this girl to be my wife. 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:33.839 And this is par for the course in Canaan. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:41.239 We've got to understand that this crime is not making the headlines on the Canaan 6 o'clock news. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:45.879 As far as Canaan is concerned, this is nothing. 00:05:47.979 --> 00:05:54.559 But here is the God of perfect justice saying about this young woman, 00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:00.300 this human being who he made wonderfully in his image. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:04.439 Here is he here declaring that I see you. 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:07.740 And I see what happened. 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:11.620 And it's worth parking that thought for where we're going to end this morning. 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:14.160 God is declaring here that I see you. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:23.340 Nothing escapes the attention of the three times holy, all-seeing God. 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:30.839 Others of us will be reading this, not so much from the armchair, 00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:36.299 but I am so aware we will be heartbreakingly reading this from the hospital bed. 00:06:37.919 --> 00:06:43.299 Sexual crime, revenge, this is a raw part of your life story. 00:06:43.299 --> 00:06:45.739 And hear me say that I am so deeply sorry 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:52.439 that that's been your experience. 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:57.160 And I desperately want you to hold on 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:04.439 and see the tender heart of Jesus for you. 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:09.879 So what on earth is something that they're doing in the Bible? 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:15.699 Well, here's the key, I think, that unlocks the purpose of this chapter. 00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:16.240 Okay? 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.900 See in chapter 34 who isn't mentioned. 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:21.319 Scan your eye over it. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.439 Who is not mentioned in this chapter? 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:26.900 God's not mentioned in this chapter. 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:28.900 Yeah? 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.280 Not once in 31 verses. 00:07:31.280 --> 00:07:33.060 As if the writer is saying, 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:36.240 here is what the anti-God, 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:38.860 we will do what we think is right, 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.840 human heart is capable of. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:46.799 And also see who is mentioned in this chapter. 00:07:46.919 --> 00:07:48.159 And there's a lot of people mentioned, 00:07:48.299 --> 00:07:50.359 but the camera zones in on one, 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:51.699 is Jacob. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:55.579 And as we'll see as we read this through now, 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.519 this man called Jacob is pathetically passive. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:03.099 See if, here's the challenge as we read it through. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:05.379 See if you can spot the ways 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:09.120 that Jacob so terribly fails in this chapter. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.540 Come and read this with me and let's see 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:14.139 and hear from our God this morning. 00:08:14.220 --> 00:08:14.740 Verse one. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:19.680 Now Dina, the daughter Leah had born to Jacob, 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:23.100 went out to visit the woman of the land. 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:26.840 When Shechem, son of Hamor, the Hivite, 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.280 the ruler of that area, 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:29.639 saw her, 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:31.939 he took her and raped her. 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:35.879 His heart was drawn to Dina, daughter of Jacob. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.519 He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:40.419 And Shechem said to his father, 00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:43.599 Hamor, get me this girl as my wife. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:47.679 When Jacob heard that his daughter Dina had been defiled, 00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:49.919 his sons were in the fields with his livestock. 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:53.279 So he did nothing about it until they came home. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.000 Then Shechem's father, Hamor, 00:08:56.059 --> 00:08:57.599 went out to talk with Jacob. 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:01.479 Meanwhile, Jacob's sons had come in from the fields 00:09:01.479 --> 00:09:03.399 as soon as they'd heard what had happened. 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:05.399 They were shocked and furious 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.120 because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.080 by sleeping with Jacob's daughter, 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:11.860 a thing that should not be done. 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:15.259 But Hamor said to them, 00:09:16.060 --> 00:09:18.720 my son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:21.820 Please give her to him as his wife. 00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:24.179 Intermarry with us, 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.259 give us your daughters 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:27.139 and take our daughters for yourselves. 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:28.779 You can settle among us. 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:30.120 The land is open to you. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:31.240 Live in it, trade in it 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:32.879 and acquire property in it. 00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:36.460 Then Shechem said to Dina's father and brothers, 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:39.920 let me find favor in your eyes 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:41.700 and I will give you whatever you ask. 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:43.980 Make the price for the bride 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:47.320 and the gift I am to bring as great as you like 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:49.259 and I'll pay whatever you ask me. 00:09:49.540 --> 00:09:51.940 Only give me the young woman as my wife. 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:55.920 Because their sister Dina had been defiled, 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:59.560 Jacob's sons replied deceitfully 00:09:59.560 --> 00:10:01.740 as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.600 They said to them, 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:04.840 we can't do such a thing. 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:06.340 We can't give our sister to a man 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:08.420 who's not circumcised. 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:10.600 That would be a disgrace to us. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:12.820 We will enter into an agreement with you 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:13.940 on one condition only, 00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:17.000 that you become like us 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.740 by circumcising all your males. 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:22.480 Then we will give you our daughters 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:25.139 and take your daughters for ourselves. 00:10:25.280 --> 00:10:26.280 We'll settle among you 00:10:26.280 --> 00:10:28.680 and become one people with you. 00:10:28.920 --> 00:10:31.820 But if you will not agree to be circumcised, 00:10:32.180 --> 00:10:33.800 we'll take our sister and go. 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:38.379 Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.199 The young man who was the most honoured 00:10:40.199 --> 00:10:41.879 of all his father's family 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:44.000 lost no time in doing what they said 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.839 because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter. 00:10:47.859 --> 00:10:49.679 So Hamor and his son Shechem 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.979 went to the gate of their city 00:10:50.979 --> 00:10:53.439 to speak to the men of their city. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:56.700 These men are friendly toward us, they said. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.200 Let them live in our land and trade in it. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.620 The land is plenty of room for them. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.480 We can marry their daughters 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:05.000 and they can marry ours. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.660 But the men will agree to live with us 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:10.080 as one people only in the condition 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:13.160 that our males be circumcised 00:11:13.160 --> 00:11:14.860 as they themselves are. 00:11:15.900 --> 00:11:17.400 Won't their livestock, their property 00:11:17.400 --> 00:11:19.260 and all their other animals become ours? 00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:21.159 So let us agree to their terms 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:22.939 and they will settle among us. 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:26.259 All the men who went out of the city gate 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:28.460 agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:31.740 and every male in the city was circumcised. 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:35.799 Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, 00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:39.639 two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.600 Dina's brothers, 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.080 took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.120 killing every male. 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:49.720 They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.840 and took Dina from Shechem's house and left. 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:56.320 The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.279 and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:03.039 They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.580 and everything else of theirs in the city 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:07.299 and out in the fields. 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:09.620 They carried off all their wealth 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:10.919 and all their women and children, 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:14.360 taking as plunder everything in their houses. 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:17.680 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.180 you've brought trouble on me 00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:21.740 by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:23.960 and the Perizzites, the people living in this land. 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:25.200 We are few in number 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:28.539 and if they join forces against me and attack me, 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.220 I and my household will be destroyed. 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:34.220 But they replied, 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:40.700 should he have treated our sister like a prostitute? 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:44.720 Now friends, we're going to rattle through 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.840 four ways that Jacob fails here. 00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:50.379 Here's the first of these. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:55.500 Did you notice his lack of love for his daughter? 00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:58.100 Now, when Dina, daughter of Leah, 00:12:58.160 --> 00:12:59.460 was introduced to us, 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.879 back at verse 21 of chapter 30, 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.140 you get the sense 00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:08.620 that she is simply an inconvenient footnote 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.740 in Jacob's life. 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:13.139 Right, what is she doing at verse one? 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.000 She is innocently wandering the streets 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.759 of this strange new place 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.139 where the family have found themselves called Canaan 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:22.019 and she's trying to see, 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.120 you see it at verse one, 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:24.320 the woman of the land. 00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:26.539 Now, this is kind of like my girl Chloe 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:29.620 getting on the 37 bus outside our house 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:32.639 and making her way into town on Saturday night 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.159 because all her friends are talking about 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.560 how much fun there is to be had 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:37.820 and she wants to see what all the fuss is about 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:40.040 and all the time I'm sitting there in the armchair 00:13:40.040 --> 00:13:42.100 watching her go, not caring. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:47.040 So rather than nurturing and protecting her 00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:50.000 and raising her to know, love and serve the Lord 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.360 who has protected him 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.379 and led him so graciously, 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:58.860 Jacob lets Dina just walk straight out into danger. 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:00.940 At best he didn't know, 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:04.120 at worst he didn't care. 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:09.480 He horrendously fails to protect his daughter 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.740 in this situation. 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.200 Here's the second one. 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:16.560 It's his lack of response to the tragedy. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.720 See verse five. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:21.620 He hears about what's happened 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:25.159 and rather than weeping and mourning, 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:28.740 which is fully what we would expect him to do, 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.440 what does he do? 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:33.080 He holds his peace. 00:14:34.540 --> 00:14:37.520 Which you've got to say is really strange, is it not? 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:40.540 In fact, it's Hamor, the father of Shechem, 00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:43.700 who comes toward Jacob and initiates the dialogue here. 00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:45.700 And the author seems to be shocked 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.220 that this is Jacob's response. 00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:50.820 I think that's why we're told that his sons get angry. 00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:53.320 I think it's why we're told that such a thing 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.700 should not be done in Israel. 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:56.200 The author's trying to tell us, 00:14:56.260 --> 00:14:57.640 Jacob, what are you doing? 00:14:57.639 --> 00:15:05.199 The third way he fails is his lack of leadership 00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:06.019 in the aftermath. 00:15:07.699 --> 00:15:11.080 Not only does he entertain the speech from Hamor 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:14.100 from verse eight about intermarrying, 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:18.519 a thing that God has told his people not to do, 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:21.799 the heart behind that being that because 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.639 if you intertwine your lives with theirs, 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:29.100 worshiping the gods of the Canaanites, 00:15:29.199 --> 00:15:33.360 you will gradually drift to just becoming just like them. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:35.980 And I think that's one of the big lessons 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.519 for the original readers here. 00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:42.939 Jacob lets his son hatch this deceitful plan 00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.779 to do them over. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.960 In fact, do you notice how they weaponize 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:49.019 the one thing that God has said 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:52.740 was physically meant to show that they were God's people 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:55.399 set apart for him, 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:58.340 distinct, loved, chosen. 00:15:58.579 --> 00:16:00.120 What do they manipulate? 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.340 Circumcision. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:07.720 And this only goes to show just how far from the Lord 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.980 they have wandered in their own hearts. 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:11.340 And I think that's the tragedy here. 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.199 This is God's people who are in the frame here. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.620 Now, if there's anyone who knows 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:19.580 the catastrophic effects of lying and deceit 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:22.740 and how it will always come back to haunt you, 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.700 it's Jacob. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:29.540 And yet, do you see how he, as a father, 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:32.100 he fails to say absolutely anything 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.840 to firstly his daughter 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:37.980 and then secondly his sons. 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:42.800 Fourth way he fails is in his lack of rebuke 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.759 for the revenge. 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:45.339 Right? 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:46.539 So Simeon and Levi, 00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:49.079 notice that those guys are named there. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:52.099 They are Dina's brothers. 00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:55.259 Leah's their mother. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:58.099 They are set in revenge. 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:00.039 And I think verses 25 to 29 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:02.379 are written to show us that what they do, 00:17:02.839 --> 00:17:04.339 and did you pick this up as we read it through, 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:06.859 what they do goes so far beyond 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:10.799 what we might possibly understand 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.859 as being justice. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:13.959 They just go so over the top 00:17:13.959 --> 00:17:15.319 in terms of what they do. 00:17:16.459 --> 00:17:18.039 And I think this is maybe just understanding 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.000 the Bible story, 00:17:19.919 --> 00:17:23.159 that God had enshrined in Israelite society 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.019 this law, 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:26.399 that it was an eye for an eye 00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.539 and a tooth for a tooth. 00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:30.339 Now, I'd imagine most people in our world, 00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:31.639 because we use that phrase, 00:17:31.719 --> 00:17:33.019 have heard of that concept. 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.240 And I remember for years thinking to myself, 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:37.500 well, surely that just encourages things like this. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:40.819 Does that not encourage you to take matters 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.019 into your own hands? 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.980 And then I suddenly read it in the context. 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:48.039 And it's written to ensure that justice is done 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.960 in the society, 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.920 particularly for the oppressed 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.880 who cannot get justice on their own. 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:56.320 But more than that, 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.260 as well as that, 00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:58.480 it caps it. 00:17:59.760 --> 00:18:00.620 As if to say, 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.180 justice will be done, 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.020 but it will be done 00:18:04.020 --> 00:18:05.620 on equal terms. 00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:07.920 And it means that vendettas like this 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.560 that go so far above 00:18:09.560 --> 00:18:10.980 the thing that's being capped 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.640 just should not happen 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.880 in Israelite society. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:17.940 But rather than scolding his sons 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.840 for their utter wrong, 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:20.840 do you see how Jacob is thinking primarily 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:21.880 about the impact 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:24.060 that this is going to have on them? 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.060 Did you pick that up 00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:25.740 as we read it through? 00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:27.400 Notice the repetition there 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.280 at the end 00:18:28.280 --> 00:18:30.280 of the word I 00:18:30.280 --> 00:18:32.040 or me. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:33.980 Do you see it? 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.220 You've brought trouble on me. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.920 You've made me stink 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:39.720 in the sight of my neighbours. 00:18:39.800 --> 00:18:41.100 You're going to bring trouble 00:18:41.100 --> 00:18:42.360 on my family. 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:44.719 I'm worried that they will attack me. 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.579 It's me. 00:18:46.219 --> 00:18:46.779 Me, me, me. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.899 All the way through here. 00:18:47.959 --> 00:18:48.819 Who's he thinking about 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.679 all the way through? 00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:51.199 He's thinking about himself. 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.679 And you bring those four things 00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.099 all together 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.899 and do you see 00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:56.759 how in this account 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:59.219 Jacob is pathetically passive? 00:19:01.159 --> 00:19:01.939 Now you think back 00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:03.339 to what we learned last week 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.919 as we were in chapter 33 00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:05.879 and you've got to see 00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.179 I kind of skipped out of here 00:19:07.179 --> 00:19:08.179 last week thinking 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.979 this is really good. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:12.839 In the context of Genesis 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:14.400 maybe you were optimistically 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.339 thinking that maybe 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.799 Jacob is the saviour 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.339 that God said 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.940 he'd send 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.000 to save us 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.339 to save his people 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:21.759 from their 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.980 east of Eden lives. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.980 The promised serpent crusher 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.799 of Genesis 3 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.880 maybe it's Jacob. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.079 Well that dream collapses 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.319 like a house of cards 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.279 in this chapter. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:36.259 But more than that 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:40.200 who is Jacob 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.079 in this chapter 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.079 in actual fact 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.519 like? 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.559 I've never seen this before 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.720 until studying it this week. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.119 Who does he remind you of? 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.519 He's not the serpent crusher 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.059 is he? 00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:51.660 No we see 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.420 we see him 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.379 failing to care 00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:55.039 as a father 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.700 and I think 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.319 this really should be 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:58.399 a lesson to us dads 00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:58.879 in here. 00:19:59.139 --> 00:19:59.879 We see him 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.759 sitting silently 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.460 in the background 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.480 failing to lead. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.400 presumably he's an earshot 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.839 of all these conversations. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.039 We see him 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.839 blaming others 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:09.279 failing to take responsibility. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.259 We can almost hear him 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.140 say at the end there 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.920 our God 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.339 is these sons 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.240 who you've given me 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.180 who are the problem. 00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:20.519 Who does he remind you of? 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.000 He's just like 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.160 Adam. 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.220 Isn't he? 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.500 He is just 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.579 like 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.440 Adam. 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:34.180 He is not 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:34.900 the serpent crusher 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.100 and so you've got to ask yourselves 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:37.299 let's come back to this question 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.080 what on earth 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:39.680 is something like this 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.420 doing 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:42.120 in the Bible? 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:45.200 As we see this man 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.620 who fails in so many ways 00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.120 and who is 00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:48.380 pathetically passive 00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:49.980 I take it 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.380 partly 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.400 that one of the reasons 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.680 is that we would read this 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.240 and it would make us long 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.820 for someone to come 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:59.160 from Jacob's line 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.519 who would save us 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.840 by being everything 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.279 that Jacob 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.660 and every single character 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.220 in this 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.960 is not. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.120 If Jacob is 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:08.220 pathetically passive 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.759 dear friends 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.480 we have to see 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.320 that our longing here 00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:11.340 is that someone would come 00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:14.080 who is so attractively active 00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:16.340 to save us 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:18.299 and step into that 00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.319 Genesis longing 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:22.379 comes Jesus. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.740 Now contrast him 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.859 with every single character 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:26.859 in this chapter 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.519 as it were 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.240 every male 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.619 in this chapter 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:31.439 contrast Shechem 00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:34.480 the prince of the land 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.980 who abused 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:39.079 his position 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.539 to get what he wanted 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:42.220 contrast him 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:44.159 with Jesus 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:45.439 and how is he described? 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.740 What kind of prince is he? 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:49.299 He is the prince of peace 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:52.539 who stepped into our 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.860 east of Eden world 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:55.279 and who used his power 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.640 not to be served 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.600 but to serve 00:21:58.600 --> 00:22:00.779 and to give his life 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:02.880 as a ransom for many. 00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:05.559 Contrast Levi and Simeon here 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:08.299 brimming with anger and rage 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.360 going to do whatever it takes 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:12.519 to see that justice is done 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.220 and more 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.660 contrast them 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:16.860 with Jesus 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.940 who both said 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.279 and personified 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.100 a love 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:21.140 for 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.000 your 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.640 enemies 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:25.980 and contrast 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.540 Jacob 00:22:26.540 --> 00:22:27.600 who failed his daughter 00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:28.680 in so many ways 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.400 at this point 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:31.700 contrast him 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.300 with Jesus 00:22:32.300 --> 00:22:32.880 who came 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.100 to win for himself 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:35.060 and make 00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:37.080 sons and daughters 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:39.040 of the living God. 00:22:40.540 --> 00:22:41.480 Now can I just take you 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.160 to one place 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.620 as we begin 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.519 to wrap this up 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.559 that I love 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:47.719 seeing Jesus 00:22:47.719 --> 00:22:49.339 in action 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.239 and if you've got a Bible 00:22:50.239 --> 00:22:51.079 turn with me here 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.959 and you will see him 00:22:51.959 --> 00:22:52.599 in all his beauty. 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:53.819 Here he is in 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:56.939 Mark chapter 5. 00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.059 Oh this is one of my 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.799 favorite stories 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.319 in the Bible 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.379 because you see 00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.539 both the compassion 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:05.399 and the power of Jesus 00:23:05.399 --> 00:23:06.579 on full display. 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:10.039 the context of the story 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:11.279 Mark chapter 5 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.720 as you're turning there 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.759 this man called 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.480 Jairus 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.619 has desperately 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.639 summoned Jesus 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:19.579 to come and heal 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.319 his dying 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.460 12 year old 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.079 daughter. 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.119 And as Jesus 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.059 is on the way 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.359 there 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.339 out of nowhere 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.359 into this scene 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.699 comes this 00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:29.539 woman 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:31.039 and we're given 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.379 details about this 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:32.720 woman 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.379 right? 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.660 she's been bleeding 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:36.280 for 12 years. 00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:39.140 She's been to doctor 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.000 after doctor 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.540 trying to get better 00:23:41.540 --> 00:23:42.260 and in this day 00:23:42.260 --> 00:23:43.120 we need to understand 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:43.700 that you'd get 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.800 as many good ones 00:23:44.800 --> 00:23:45.300 as you would 00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:46.340 bad ones 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:47.380 because witch doctors 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:48.040 and the likes 00:23:48.040 --> 00:23:49.180 are prevalent 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:49.960 in that day 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.640 who make a living 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.960 from fleecing people. 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.960 Perhaps that's evidence 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.760 in the third fact 00:23:55.760 --> 00:23:56.200 that we're given 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.720 about her 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.380 that she's spent 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.460 all that she has 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.280 trying to get better 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.099 all that she has 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:03.359 but she's only 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.200 gotten worse. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.480 So step into 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.319 Jesus' world 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:07.879 this woman 00:24:07.879 --> 00:24:10.519 who may well 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.019 have been 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.460 taken advantage of 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.899 who would 00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.819 certainly be 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.740 accustomed to 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.279 humiliation 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.680 and because of 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.319 her condition 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.899 she would certainly 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:21.619 know what it is 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.099 to be 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.500 an outcast. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.799 Here is a woman 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.559 on the canvas 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.139 of life 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:28.480 and in desperation 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.620 she reaches out 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.140 and touches 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.300 Jesus' robe 00:24:31.300 --> 00:24:32.300 and I love that. 00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:34.440 I love her desperation 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.560 but I love 00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.420 what Jesus does. 00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:37.420 What does Jesus do? 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.080 He doesn't just 00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:38.820 walk on by. 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.680 He stops 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:42.820 as if to say 00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:45.060 I see you. 00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.520 I see you. 00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:47.880 I know. 00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.060 And recognizing 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.660 her faith 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.540 he calls her 00:24:52.540 --> 00:24:52.960 and I've always thought 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.860 this was really strange 00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:55.460 he calls her 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.720 daughter. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.740 Always thought 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.240 that was 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.480 really weird 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.420 as I read it through 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.160 but what if 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.920 and this has recurred 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.519 to me recently 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.559 what if Mark 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:07.539 has intertwined 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.400 these two accounts 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:08.960 of people 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.420 one a 12 year old 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:11.759 daughter 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.299 one a woman 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.960 who's been suffering 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.000 for 12 years 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.100 and he's intertwined 00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:16.700 these accounts 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.380 to make to us 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.840 the point 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.740 that just 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.600 how 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.720 Jairus 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.660 feels 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.259 about 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.620 his daughter 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:26.479 how much 00:25:26.479 --> 00:25:27.039 more then 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.659 and in the same 00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:27.919 way 00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:28.539 does Jesus 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.039 feel 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.439 and now 00:25:29.439 --> 00:25:30.359 relates to 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:32.659 this woman 00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.219 as daughter 00:25:33.219 --> 00:25:36.079 you know 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.639 Sam Albury 00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.599 I heard him 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.239 recently talk 00:25:38.239 --> 00:25:38.739 about becoming 00:25:38.739 --> 00:25:39.279 a Christian 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.919 he said 00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:42.599 he came to 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.919 Christianity 00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.399 for the 00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:46.019 forgiveness 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:48.559 but he stayed 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.160 in Christianity 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:50.000 for Jesus 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.500 and this 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.160 account of him 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.539 here 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.440 it is 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.879 wonderful 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:58.059 and what makes 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.799 this more than 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.500 nice words 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.379 what makes this 00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:01.259 better than 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.859 sentiments 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.920 is that Jesus 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:04.039 goes to the cross 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.579 to win 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.639 this woman 00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:07.460 for himself 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.279 see the cross 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.099 is the only 00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:11.259 place we can go 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.240 to make sense 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.819 of what is 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.779 happening here 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:15.700 with Dina 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:17.519 it is the place 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.319 where the justice 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.259 and the grace 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.819 of God 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:21.539 meet at their 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.399 apex 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:24.099 you see the cross 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.639 of Jesus 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.740 says to you 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.319 and it says 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.039 to Dina 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.899 that what 00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:28.839 happened to 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.859 you is not 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.519 trivial 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:32.059 that what 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.799 happened to 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.579 you is 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.799 serious 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.720 so serious 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.220 in fact 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.980 that it required 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.660 the suffering 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.160 and death 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.680 of the son 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.099 of God 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:40.019 to pay 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.639 for it 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.839 we look 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.599 at the cross 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.700 and it doesn't 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.279 undermine 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.200 injustice 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.740 it underscores 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.059 it 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:49.559 hear Jesus 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.180 say 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.580 from the cross 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:52.299 that I know 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:52.900 what it is 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:54.039 to be humiliated 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:56.160 I know 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.740 what it is 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.799 to be wronged 00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:00.059 and hear 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.120 Jesus say 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:03.580 right at the 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:03.980 end of the 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.600 Bible story 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.220 that one day 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.980 he will return 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.460 to make 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:08.240 all wrongs 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.240 right 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:11.880 and his 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:12.319 heart 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.000 right now 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.839 in heaven 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.420 for his 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.759 people 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.359 his heart 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.759 right now 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.220 for you 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.859 whoever you 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.200 are here 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.460 today 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:17.980 whatever has 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.279 happened 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.900 to you 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:20.599 is exactly 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.259 the same 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.799 as it is 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.339 as we see 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:22.740 here 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:26.460 and you know 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.779 knowledge 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.519 of that day 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.620 that he will 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.299 return to make 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.980 all wrongs 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.279 right 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.220 knowledge of 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.599 it means 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.019 that we 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.900 can leave 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:35.079 justice 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.819 to God 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:39.819 it is only 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.299 the grace 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.779 of Jesus 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.759 seen perfectly 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.960 at the cross 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.519 that makes 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.339 the long 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.240 long road 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.000 of forgiveness 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.939 and change 00:27:47.939 --> 00:27:49.759 a possibility 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:51.500 and I've 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.059 seen it 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.039 in my own 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.379 life 00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:54.279 when people 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:56.139 forgive 00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.960 and I think 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.379 wow 00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:59.500 it is only 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.099 possible 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.179 when Jesus 00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:01.919 takes out 00:28:01.919 --> 00:28:02.599 the heart 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.379 that longs 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.199 for revenge 00:28:04.199 --> 00:28:04.899 and blood 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.000 and puts 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.380 in it 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:06.820 a knowledge 00:28:06.820 --> 00:28:07.280 of who 00:28:07.280 --> 00:28:08.040 he is 00:28:08.040 --> 00:28:08.660 and what 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:08.980 he's done 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.320 for us 00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:10.000 on the cross 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.759 to quote 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.340 Tim Keller 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:12.800 a God 00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:13.780 who substitutes 00:28:13.780 --> 00:28:14.500 himself for 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.000 you and 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.700 suffers so 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.040 that you 00:28:16.040 --> 00:28:16.500 might go 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:16.860 free 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.920 is a God 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.720 that you 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.680 can fully 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.600 trust 00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:24.060 so what on 00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.380 earth is 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.840 something like 00:28:24.840 --> 00:28:25.340 this doing 00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:25.840 in the Bible 00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:26.680 friends can I 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.120 just leave us 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.720 with two quick 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.080 words of 00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.720 response I 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.019 think we 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.320 need to 00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:29.600 make 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:32.360 here's the 00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:32.780 first and 00:28:32.780 --> 00:28:33.080 it's just 00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:33.540 simply the 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:34.220 word tears 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:38.000 I think 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.380 what goes 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:38.700 on here 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.120 should break 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:39.660 our hearts 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:42.079 because we 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.880 see injustice 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.680 so often in 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.079 our world 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.460 don't we 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.779 that our 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.299 hearts can 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:45.779 so often 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.680 become numb 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.620 to the 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.700 plight of 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.819 everyday human 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.380 beings 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:51.819 do we care 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.620 about and are 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.259 we willing to 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.579 be a safe 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.420 place where 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.259 we walk 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.880 with and 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.960 welcome people 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.980 in our city 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.259 people in our 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.779 lives who 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:02.019 know this 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.819 pain 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:05.480 do you 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:05.619 know it 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:05.839 was the 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.200 church's 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:06.919 response to 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:07.279 the great 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.859 plagues of 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.319 the second 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.240 century as 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.700 people were 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.679 suffering left 00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:11.119 right and 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.559 centre when 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.279 everyone else 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.059 was legging it 00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.579 out of the 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.339 cities but the 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.139 Christians stayed 00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:17.439 behind the 00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:18.659 historians reckon 00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:19.619 is the reason 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.299 behind the 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.339 explosive growth 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.000 of Christianity 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.339 in the second 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:26.000 century as 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.559 people looked 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.159 on Christians 00:29:27.159 --> 00:29:27.659 and thought 00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:29.079 they really 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:30.319 care 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:32.960 you know we 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.439 want to be a 00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:34.039 church family 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.399 and maybe 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:35.119 taking another 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.919 angle on this 00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:36.679 where we treat 00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.159 and view 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:38.439 particular members 00:29:38.439 --> 00:29:39.359 of the opposite 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:41.299 sex radically 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.919 differently 00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:44.839 you know three 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.679 of the world's 00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:46.919 top 12 most 00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:47.839 visited websites 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.919 in 2019 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:49.919 were porn 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:50.460 sites 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:52.159 the biggest 00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:52.819 site in the 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.720 UK has an 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.679 average of 42 00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:55.579 billion visits 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.259 per year 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.159 which works 00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:57.839 itself out 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.299 is 1200 clicks 00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.240 every second 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.259 maybe particularly 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.879 speaking to the 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.419 guys in the 00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:03.919 room although I 00:30:03.919 --> 00:30:04.500 recognise that 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.139 this is an issue 00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:05.899 for girls as 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:06.599 well guys if 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.199 you're in those 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:08.019 zones right now 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.679 if you've found 00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:09.439 yourself in those 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.099 circles you need 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.819 to do everything 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.679 that you can to 00:30:11.679 --> 00:30:12.059 get out 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:14.279 we want to create 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.079 a safe space 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:15.679 where we can be 00:30:15.679 --> 00:30:16.319 honest with one 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.199 another about our 00:30:17.199 --> 00:30:17.879 struggles and if 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:19.279 this is you today 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.720 you have to see 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.559 that Jesus has 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.379 saved you out of 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:23.879 that everything 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.759 that you are doing 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.559 every view 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.699 every click is 00:30:26.699 --> 00:30:27.699 funding a 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:29.000 institution that 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.920 is taking 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.539 advantage of 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:30.900 some of the 00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:32.019 most violated 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.400 people in our 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:33.960 society 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.960 not to mention 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.660 the fact that 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.299 simply it's just 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.500 not the way that 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.140 we should be 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:40.960 viewing women 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.400 particularly our 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.160 sisters in 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.680 Christ 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:45.840 can I just say 00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:46.840 as well not 00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:47.340 just to go on 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.059 the defence but 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.600 to go on the 00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.160 offence 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:51.380 guys we should 00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:52.200 be the biggest 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.440 supporters of 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.819 the flourishing of 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.600 women's ministry 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.360 in this church 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:58.559 so here's what 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:58.899 we're going to 00:30:58.899 --> 00:30:59.679 do if you're up 00:30:59.679 --> 00:31:00.219 for this on 00:31:00.219 --> 00:31:00.899 Wednesday night 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.839 when our 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.639 sisters meet 00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.079 we are going to 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:03.599 meet on zoom 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.419 just for half an 00:31:04.419 --> 00:31:05.079 hour to eight 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.679 and half eight 00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:06.699 just to pray for 00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:07.919 them because we 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.919 want them to know 00:31:08.919 --> 00:31:09.740 that we love 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.759 them and we 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.719 see them and we 00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:13.039 value everything 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.399 that they bring to 00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:15.319 our church family 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:18.479 another angle in 00:31:18.479 --> 00:31:19.339 this friends do we 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.219 see anger and 00:31:20.219 --> 00:31:20.979 bitterness in our 00:31:20.979 --> 00:31:22.659 hearts do you 00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:23.719 see that longing 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:25.059 for revenge now 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.600 it might not 00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.759 express itself to 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.539 the extent that it 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:29.279 does here but how 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.360 often is it the case 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.279 that we can destroy 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.380 people with our 00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:34.120 words we can 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.460 destroy people with 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.380 posts we can 00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.660 destroy people with 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:39.240 texts and this 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.440 calls us to be a 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.039 people who are 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.980 different with our 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.319 words and how we 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:45.860 treat other human 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.839 beings so that's the 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.880 first word tears 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:48.799 dear friends let's do 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.720 some soul searching 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.720 off the back of this 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:52.299 and I couldn't be 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.039 creative enough to 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.200 come up with another 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:55.100 word so we're just 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.559 going to go for 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:58.200 fears tears and 00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.079 fears this should 00:31:59.079 --> 00:31:59.839 move us really 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:01.019 simply as we close 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:03.460 to fear God more 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:06.759 fear the Lord come 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:08.299 back to him have 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:10.000 your eyes on him 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:12.400 the place just like 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.079 that woman that 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.279 says my only hope 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:17.140 is you Lord Jesus 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:18.059 you know just as we 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:19.920 closed you know the 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.840 earliest Christians 00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:22.940 had this saying 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.539 that they always 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.759 said and it was 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.480 just the word 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.860 Maranatha 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:29.640 Maranatha is just 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.440 taken from one of 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:31.600 the very last words 00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.920 of the Bible in 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:34.100 response to what 00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:35.539 Jesus said Jesus 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.740 says there right at 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.539 the end he says 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:39.560 behold I'm coming 00:32:39.560 --> 00:32:41.980 soon it's the very 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.039 last taste that we 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.940 get in the Bible of 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.840 what he says before 00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:46.440 he comes that longing 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.420 that should be inside 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.460 his people's hearts 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:50.240 Lord Jesus come and 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.360 make it new so what 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:53.559 Maranatha means is 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.779 just simply come Lord 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:58.380 Jesus come and make 00:32:58.380 --> 00:33:00.500 it right come and 00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:03.160 put perfect justice on 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:05.940 full display and one 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:08.920 day he will and I 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.640 take it in the words 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:12.519 of the Narnians that 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.700 this will be true and 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.400 I love the way that 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.420 C.S. Lewis captures 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:16.420 this wrong will be 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:18.140 right when Aslan 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:20.240 comes in sight and 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.240 the sound of his 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.519 roar sorrows will be 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:24.340 no more when he 00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:25.420 bears his teeth 00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:27.019 winter meets its 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:29.039 death and when he 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:31.220 shakes his mane we 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.060 shall have spring 00:33:32.060 --> 00:33:34.320 again and so it's to 00:33:34.320 --> 00:33:35.140 him that we look 00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:38.279 we're saying in just 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:40.240 a moment I want to 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.640 pray but particularly 00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.380 if there's something 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:43.120 this morning that you 00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:43.960 want to chat about or 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:45.420 pray about and we've 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.380 covered so much stuff 00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:48.539 here today but we 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.380 want to create a 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:50.259 church culture where 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:52.080 we are serious about 00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:53.279 carrying one another's 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:55.240 burdens and so if 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.160 that's you here today 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.180 any of the elders 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:58.300 Keita anyone else 00:33:58.300 --> 00:33:58.980 who's been up front 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.800 here today it would be 00:34:00.800 --> 00:34:01.880 our joy to pray and 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.580 chat to you if there's 00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.100 not something you want 00:34:03.100 --> 00:34:04.620 to do this morning our 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:06.000 email addresses are all 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.920 on the website you can 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:09.200 contact us through that 00:34:09.200 --> 00:34:10.840 but friends let's feel the 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.059 weight of the challenge 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:14.000 and I hope the height of 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.900 the comfort that's come 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.799 to us as we've heard 00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.840 God speak to us today 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:19.579 in his word let's pray 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:23.679 the words that Jesus 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.539 said there in Mark 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:26.179 chapter 5 daughter 00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:31.500 rise your faith has 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.400 made you well 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:37.380 oh Lord thank you that 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.179 there is none that 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:39.299 compares with Jesus 00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:42.779 thank you that we do 00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:43.819 not need to second 00:34:43.819 --> 00:34:45.599 guess what you are 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:48.399 like but thank you 00:34:48.399 --> 00:34:49.839 that you have spoken 00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:51.099 to us in your words 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:52.719 thank you that we see 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:54.000 you on full display 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.179 your heart your 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:57.719 purposes as we gaze 00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:59.899 at Jesus and so 00:34:59.899 --> 00:35:00.919 father I'm so conscious 00:35:00.919 --> 00:35:02.219 that I have no idea 00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:03.279 where this lands today 00:35:03.279 --> 00:35:05.559 but father thank you 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.659 that your spirit is a 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:08.059 way better pastor than 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.219 I will ever be 00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:11.039 and so Lord I pray 00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:13.079 that as he works 00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.879 through your words 00:35:13.879 --> 00:35:14.639 that's gone forth 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.759 this morning that he 00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:16.519 would be bringing 00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.559 comfort 00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:19.500 assurance 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:21.339 tenderness 00:35:21.339 --> 00:35:22.960 challenge 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:24.599 and words 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.920 of rebuke 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:27.279 father may 00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.500 we be a community 00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:29.379 that shines 00:35:29.379 --> 00:35:31.039 the light of Jesus 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.339 even more brightly 00:35:32.339 --> 00:35:33.199 in our world 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:34.279 father we thank you 00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:35.219 for your goodness 00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:36.659 and we just pray 00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.439 all of these things 00:35:37.439 --> 00:35:38.299 knowing that you hear 00:35:38.299 --> 00:35:39.980 us because we pray 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:42.399 in Jesus's worthy name 00:35:42.399 --> 00:35:43.639 amen 00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:45.079 blessings 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:45.920 for future 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:46.619 you