WEBVTT

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 If you're like me and you grew up in Sunday school classes in the glory days of flannel graph especially, you will be familiar without a doubt with this story.

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 I actually looked up this week, believe it or not, when I was thinking about this, I looked up to see if I could find a flannel graph board that actually portrayed this story.

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 And we could have used it as an object lesson today for our class and I couldn't find one that reflected this one especially.

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 But I remember learning it so often growing up as a kid.

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 I feel like I hear about it less as an adult, but as a kid I was so familiar with this story.

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 It's a favorite story for many people and for good reason.

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 It contains all of the elements of a great story.

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 All of them are at play in this particular story.

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 There's a need, a desperate need.

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 There's a problem that has to be met.

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 There is opposition to the one that can actually help the problem.

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 There's evil here.

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 There's wickedness here.

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 There is determination.

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 There's perseverance in this story.

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 And then there, of course, is great victory in this story.

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 All the things that make for a great story are included.

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 And I assume that's probably why it's deployed so often in children's classes.

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 But we must be careful that our love for great stories doesn't inadvertently lead us to miss the message,

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 to miss the point for why God has actually given these stories to us.

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 We need to remember that this is not a fictional narrative.

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 All we read in the Bible is not fiction.

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 It is not myth.

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 It is historical accounts.

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 This is a real thing.

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 These were real people.

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 This was a real moment in history.

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 There is plenty of eyewitnesses gathered, as we have just read, to verify its validity.

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 And so far as we can tell, all throughout history and early church history,

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 none of the people that were gathered there ever popped up and said,

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 you know what, it didn't quite happen the way that you're saying that it has happened.

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 It's amazing how that works, isn't it?

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 All of the people that witnessed these things that we study in the Gospels,

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 all of them gave credit in that time to what they saw and what they heard and what they experienced.

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 It only takes a few hundred years for us to finally decide that we're going to deny the truthfulness

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 of whatever actually took place.

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 This isn't fiction.

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 This is real life.

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 And its purpose in this particular instance is not simply to communicate the persistence of good friends

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 or the intellectual triumph of Jesus over the Pharisees and the scribes.

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 That's probably one of my favorite parts of this story.

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 The way that Jesus handled the scribes and the Pharisees is awesome.

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 It's not really about that.

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 And it's not so much about the excitement that comes once again with seeing the healing power of Jesus.

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 All of those things are important.

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 All of those things are a part of the story.

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 All of those things we need to examine and we need to learn from.

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 But they're all there to support the main point,

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 which is to proclaim that Jesus is God and that he alone can forgive sin.

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 That's the point of this story.

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 What's the point of Jesus' message that he's preaching?

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 Well, it's that point.

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 It's the same point that all the gospel authors have.

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 What's the point of Mark bringing out this question in the hearts of the scribes and the Pharisees?

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 Who can forgive sins but God alone?

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 Well, his point in bringing out that question is that's the point of the passage.

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 Only Jesus can do that.

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 And what does the miracle do?

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 Proves that Jesus is actually the one that can forgive sin.

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 Jesus says as much when he gets to the end.

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 He says, here's the point of all of this.

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 He looks at the Pharisees.

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 They didn't say a word.

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 He read their minds.

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 And after reading their minds and understanding their hearts,

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 he says, tell me what's easier?

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 To say, your sins are forgiven?

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 Or to say, arise and take up your bed and go thy way?

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 And then he tells the Pharisees,

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 this is happening in order that you may know,

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 certainly, definitively,

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 that I have power to forgive sin.

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 And then he turns away from the Pharisees and he looks at the paralytic and he says,

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 arise, take up your bed and go your way.

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 And what happens?

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 The man immediately gets up.

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 Immediately he's healed of his paralysis.

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 Immediately he picks up the pallet or the bed or the mattress or the pillow,

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 whatever it is he's been carried on.

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 He picks it up and he goes home.

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 And what's that all about?

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 It's not really about the man being healed of his paralysis.

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 It's about seeing through that to see what Jesus said.

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 This is happening in order that you may know that I indeed have power to forgive sin.

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 It's a fantastic story.

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 Not just for its ability to convey excitement and adventure and victory and triumph,

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 but because as believers we can come to this and we see clearly what this is for.

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 We see clearly what it's about.

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 This is about a savior.

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 This is about a redeemer.

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 This is about God forgiving sins.

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 And all that's taking place is just giving proof of the fact that Jesus is that savior.

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 He is that God.

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 And we can look at that just briefly and just understand the basic structure of a story like this.

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 Basic point of why this is given.

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 And that should bring joy and excitement.

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 Yes.

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 You ever have those moments when you're reading your Bible and it's just like something clicks with you.

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 The spirit opens your mind to something and you piece something together maybe for the first time

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 or you really begin to understand it in a deeper way.

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 And it's one of those like it's real moments.

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 Not that you ever doubted before that it was real necessarily,

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 but every now and then the Lord helps us just to have a moment where we are just filled with joy

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 and excitement over the truth of God's word.

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 This story gives us that if we're looking at it with the right view.

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 If we're seeing it for what it is and for the purpose that it gives us.

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 And indeed that's the case with all of scripture.

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 We look at it for its purpose.

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 And all of the purpose of the scripture is ultimately to point us to Jesus,

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 which fills us with such joy and excitement.

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 Well, let's look here at the setting.

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 In the first couple of verses we see what's happening.

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 We're told in verse 1 that Jesus has come back to Capernaum and he was in the house.

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 Now Capernaum seems to have been the headquarters for Jesus's ministry during the time that he was in Galilee.

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 But he had left the city and you remember that when we were studying in chapter 1.

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 In fact, look with me back up at verse 38 of chapter 1.

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 Remember Jesus had this 24-hour period where he was teaching in the synagogue

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 and then they brought all of these people to Peter's house to be healed

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 and then he was out praying in the wilderness.

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 And then in verse 38,

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 And he said unto them, that is his disciples,

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 Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also.

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 For therefore came I forth.

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 And so we saw in chapter 1,

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 despite the popularity that was growing for Jesus in Capernaum,

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 he had a priority of purpose.

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 And his priority of purpose was to preach the word.

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 And so he left Capernaum and he has spent some time.

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 We don't know how much time,

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 but some time is what Mark tells us here in verse 1.

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 And he has now come back to Capernaum.

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 And he is in the house, we're told.

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 And we assume here that the house that it's speaking of is Peter's house once again.

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 In fact, I think it's safe for us to assume that whenever Jesus is in a house in Capernaum,

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 unless the scripture specifically notes it as otherwise,

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 I think it's safe for us to assume that it's probably Peter's house.

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 Because of the success of his business, he certainly had a large enough place.

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 What they believed to be Peter's house, even still today,

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 and what they found in the ruins of Capernaum,

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 indicates that it would have been sufficient to house not only Peter and Andrew

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 and Peter's family and Peter's mother-in-law,

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 but certainly would have had space for Jesus as well.

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 And so as they come back to Capernaum,

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 they find their place again at Peter's house,

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 where we see other things taking place in the gospel events as well.

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 And as you might expect,

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 it didn't take very long for word to get out that Jesus was back.

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 Look with me at verse 2.

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 Immediately, Mark says,

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 many were gathered together in so much

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 that there was no more room to receive them,

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 not even near the door.

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 Now imagine you're Jesus or Peter or Andrew or James or John.

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 At this point in Mark's account,

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 these are the four that we know of

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 that are actually following Jesus closely.

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 You've left Capernaum,

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 and you left Capernaum probably a little bit tired.

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 You're running on a little bit of adrenaline

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 because this amazing night

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 where all of these people are being brought,

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 and you immediately adventure out.

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 You leave Capernaum,

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 and you're traveling.

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 You're going from town to town

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 and from village to village in Galilee,

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 and you're following Jesus.

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 And everywhere you go,

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 there's crowds of people.

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 It's hard to have any kind of privacy.

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 It's hard to have any kind of rest

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 because all the people that are coming,

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 now they perhaps,

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 maybe even snuck their way into Capernaum.

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 They find their place at Peter's house,

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 and maybe they're just looking for a little bit of rest.

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 They're looking for a place

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 where they can just relax for just a bit

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 to have any kind of respite from the crowds,

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 any kind of respite from the ministry

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 that they're involved with,

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 and then it just doesn't take very long.

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 It's not very long, and word gets out.

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 Now remember, when they left Capernaum,

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 they were leaving a crowd of people

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 that were desperately searching for Jesus.

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 So they were awaiting Jesus' potential return to the town,

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 and as soon as word gets out,

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 what are those same people doing?

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 He's back.

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 Let's go.

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 They know where he probably is.

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 Peter's house.

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 So they make their way to Peter's house,

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 and immediately the house is full of people.

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 The courtyard is full of people,

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 and Mark tells us,

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 you couldn't even get near the door of the house.

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 There were so many people that had begun to gather.

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 And what's amazing about this

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 is that we see once again Jesus was always willing

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 to sacrifice his own comfort for others.

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 Isn't that amazing?

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 Anytime, and we see it over and over in the Gospels,

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 don't we?

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 Anytime he'll send the disciples off,

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 or he'll try to make his way to the mountains

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 to have some time to prayer,

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 or he'll try to get alone,

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 and when the people press on him,

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 what does Jesus do?

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 He expends himself for them.

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 And that's exactly what he does here.

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 He could have said, no way.

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 Could have kept the door shut.

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 But he didn't do that.

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 He welcomed them.

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 Why?

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 Because he had a purpose.

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 He had a purpose for why he was there.

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 And that purpose is given to us once again

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 at the end of verse two.

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 Look with me again.

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 Immediately they were gathered together.

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 There was no room to receive him.

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 Couldn't even get near the door.

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 And what did Jesus do?

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 He preached the word to them.

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 What?

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 That's not gonna build his popularity.

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 What did they come there to see?

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 It was probably a mixed crowd, actually.

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 There probably were a few people that were gathered

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 that had become disciples of Jesus at this point.

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 At least they were in the realm of Peter,

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 and Andrew, and James, and John,

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 where they were beginning to believe this message,

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 and they wanted to hear more of this message,

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 and they maybe legitimately wanted to hear

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 what Jesus had to say.

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 Perhaps there were people in the crowd

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 that were like that.

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 We know that there were Pharisees and scribes there, too.

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 Luke tells us that they came from every town

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 and village in Galilee.

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 They were all looking for Jesus,

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 except they weren't looking to hear Jesus.

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 They were looking to entrap Jesus in some way.

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 The critical eyes were in the crowd.

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 Of course, there was the curious crowd,

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 the curious ones that were just there.

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 It's not that they believed Christ.

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 It's not, they just wanted to see

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 what this was all about,

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 because that's what happens, right?

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 You could be walking down,

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 didn't even know that Jesus was there,

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 and you see a massive crowd gathered somewhere.

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 What is your instinct?

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 I'm gonna go see what this crowd is all gathered for.

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 You ever been to New York City before?

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 Julie and I, we enjoy going, we enjoy visiting,

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 going to watch a baseball game,

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 or spending time with friends.

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 And if you've ever been,

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 and you've gone to Times Square,

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 you'll see from time to time,

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 you'll just happen upon masses of people,

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 large crowds of people gathered in one place.

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 And what's your first instinct?

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 It's not just to pass on by.

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 Typically, if you're like me,

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 your first instinct is to join the crowd,

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 because you want to see what's going on.

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 No doubt there's people in the crowd that are that way.

00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:13.559
 They're walking by.

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.919
 This is right next to the Sea of Galilee.

00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.840
 This is right by the synagogue.

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.799
 So we know that people are there.

00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.220
 They're passing by, and they see a crowd,

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.740
 and they want to go see what Jesus is up to.

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.039
 And of course, there were people that did hear

00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.079
 that Jesus was there,

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:29.480
 and they gathered just to see another sign.

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.699
 It's a mixed crowd.

00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:33.960
 But Jesus doesn't give them what they want.

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.720
 What does he do?

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.540
 He preached the word.

00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.460
 He preached the word.

00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.020
 He did what he always did.

00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:44.460
 He had a priority of purpose,

00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:48.400
 and his priority of purpose was to preach the gospel.

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.700
 And we immediately see this pattern continue

00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:54.780
 in Jesus's life and ministry.

00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:59.419
 But what exactly was it that Jesus was preaching?

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.779
 Mark tells us in chapter 1.

00:14:01.839 --> 00:14:02.399
 You may remember it.

00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:03.919
 In fact, just flip back to it.

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:06.259
 Verse 14, Mark chapter 1.

00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:08.959
 Now, after John was put in prison,

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.199
 Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel

00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:13.199
 of the kingdom of God.

00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:15.100
 And here was the summary of his message,

00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:16.120
 saying,

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:18.159
 The time is fulfilled.

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.120
 The kingdom of God is at hand.

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:21.840
 It's near.

00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:26.480
 Repent and believe the gospel.

00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.560
 Repent and believe the gospel.

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:34.379
 Jesus's message was a declaration

00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.879
 that the kingdom of God was near.

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.279
 And by this, of course,

00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:40.680
 he was referring to himself.

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.740
 At hand in that passage,

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:46.340
 or the kingdom of God is near or at hand

00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:48.759
 is a reference to space, not time.

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:52.680
 He didn't mean that the time frame,

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.600
 chronologically,

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.899
 of what was going to take place

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:56.220
 with the kingdom was near.

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.620
 That's not what he meant by that.

00:14:57.659 --> 00:15:00.279
 What he meant was in space, physically.

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:02.360
 The kingdom is near you.

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.680
 In other words, he was saying,

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.159
 I am the representative and fulfillment

00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.480
 of this kingdom

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:10.560
 that the Jews have been long awaiting.

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.840
 What was this message doing?

00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:15.000
 It was pointing their eyes to himself,

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:16.740
 pointing their eyes to Jesus,

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:18.300
 because when they saw Jesus,

00:15:18.540 --> 00:15:19.820
 they saw the kingdom.

00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:21.240
 When they saw Jesus,

00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:22.740
 they saw the Christ.

00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.080
 When they saw Jesus,

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.580
 they saw God in the flesh.

00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.500
 And then after he pointed their attention

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.560
 to see himself,

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:31.560
 the kingdom of God is near you.

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:33.940
 It is close to you in me.

00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:35.480
 What did he say?

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:39.080
 Repent and believe it.

00:15:40.160 --> 00:15:42.620
 Repent and believe the gospel.

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:44.220
 The good news.

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:46.620
 That's what Jesus preached everywhere he went.

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.780
 Now, what I love so much

00:15:48.780 --> 00:15:52.200
 about chapter two and verse two

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:55.560
 is that Mark reminds us

00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:58.120
 that Jesus preached this message

00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:01.139
 of the kingdom from the word.

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:03.460
 What's it tell us in verse two?

00:16:03.660 --> 00:16:06.100
 He preached the word unto them.

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.040
 Same thing that Paul tells Timothy

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:09.539
 to do in his letters.

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:11.379
 Preach the word,

00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.159
 Timothy.

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.459
 Preach the word.

00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:16.339
 Well, what was Jesus doing?

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.399
 He was preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.659
 How was he doing it?

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:21.419
 By pointing people to the scripture.

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:24.019
 Here is what the scripture says.

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.079
 Now repent and believe the gospel

00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:27.219
 because the kingdom is here.

00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:28.919
 I am representative of it.

00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:32.699
 Jesus placed such a priority on the Bible.

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.240
 How much more should we be concerned to do so?

00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:41.860
 It almost sounds silly to say it

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.179
 on a Sunday morning.

00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:45.339
 A church like ours,

00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:47.699
 I believe is faithful people

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:49.279
 that love the Lord and love the word.

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:52.879
 But how surprised are we

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:55.519
 when we find out how many people

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.439
 profess to know Christ,

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.539
 profess to be Christians,

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.259
 yet have such little disregard

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.899
 for the word.

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:07.480
 Yet the message that Jesus preached

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:11.200
 was founded in the scriptures.

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.440
 And if Jesus,

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.440
 the very word of God,

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:16.360
 thought that to be important,

00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:18.279
 how much more should we?

00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:21.940
 The gospel message pervaded

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:25.940
 everything that Jesus said and did.

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.420
 And that should be true of his church as well.

00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:31.460
 The things that we do as a church,

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.799
 it's the gospel message,

00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.900
 it's the scriptures

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:36.900
 that should pervade all of it.

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.259
 When we gather for worship on a Sunday,

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:42.259
 what is it that is to pervade our worship?

00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.400
 It's the word of God,

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:45.259
 the message of the gospel in the word.

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.539
 That's why we have so many readings.

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.920
 That's why we open with a call to worship

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:50.200
 that's rooted in the scripture.

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.779
 That's why we have times

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:55.379
 where we just read the Bible together

00:17:55.379 --> 00:17:56.000
 in the service.

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.559
 That's why we close with benedictions

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:59.039
 that are for the most part

00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.180
 based in the scripture.

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.960
 That's why we give so much time every week

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:04.079
 to an exposition of the scripture

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.720
 because everything we do as the church

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.240
 should be engrossed in,

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.559
 the permeated by,

00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.839
 the scripture, the word of God.

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.200
 Now you need to keep that message in mind

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.700
 because as we study this story

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.759
 over the next two Sundays,

00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:19.720
 it's important for us to understand

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.500
 this is what Jesus was doing

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:23.319
 when these men showed up.

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.160
 So everybody there,

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.799
 even the man that's being lowered down

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.440
 into the house,

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.400
 everybody there had fresh on their mind

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:31.860
 the gospel of the kingdom,

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:34.059
 the word of God being preached to them.

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:36.399
 It's all in the context of their reactions

00:18:36.399 --> 00:18:38.279
 and we'll see that as we go through.

00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.940
 In the course of our study

00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:42.440
 and our exposition to help structure it,

00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.159
 we'll look at the narrative

00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:47.240
 through five groups of people

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:49.299
 or five characters in the story

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:51.799
 maybe you would like to say it.

00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.619
 And to begin with today,

00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:55.539
 we'll look at the four friends.

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:57.039
 In fact, if you're keeping notes for this

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.960
 as we go through,

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.019
 that would be your first point.

00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:00.399
 The four friends.

00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.240
 The four friends.

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.859
 Now look with me at verse three.

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.539
 And they came unto him,

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:11.299
 bringing one sick of the palsy,

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.640
 which was born of four,

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.259
 four friends perhaps.

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.220
 And when they could not come nigh unto him

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.099
 for the press,

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:21.539
 they uncovered the roof where he was.

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.779
 And when they had broken it up,

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.259
 they let down the bed

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:27.779
 wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.680
 The first group of people

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:31.380
 to which our attention is turned

00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:34.900
 consists of four individuals

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:38.740
 who brought this disabled man to Jesus.

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.259
 And nothing biographical

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:43.440
 is given to us about these men.

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.380
 Luke's account tells us

00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.340
 that they were men,

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:48.100
 which is why I refer to them that way.

00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:50.019
 And we assume

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.160
 that they were at least

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.779
 friends of this man.

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:55.700
 But what's interesting

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.420
 is that the text

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.740
 doesn't actually tell us.

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.639
 No biographies are given.

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.799
 No biographical sketches.

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.920
 All we know is that

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.799
 these four men

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:06.480
 brought this paralyzed man

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.000
 to Jesus.

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.259
 We don't know exactly

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.079
 what their relationship

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.240
 to the man was.

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.579
 But it's abundantly clear here

00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:14.399
 that they were determined

00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:15.980
 to get the man

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.139
 to Jesus.

00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:19.819
 Their focus was set

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:21.279
 on the man being healed

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.819
 of his paralysis.

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.839
 And they were desperate

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.940
 to get him to Jesus

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.879
 because Jesus was the one

00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.859
 whom they believed

00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:31.420
 was actually capable

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:33.460
 of meeting the man's need.

00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:35.059
 And so that's what

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.099
 begins to unfold.

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.839
 We see the determination

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:39.700
 of these men

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.240
 to get their friend

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.359
 to Jesus.

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.879
 The only one

00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.099
 who could help him.

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.139
 Of course we see

00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:47.660
 in these men

00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.299
 a passion

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.379
 that should exist

00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:51.119
 in the heart

00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.979
 of every person

00:20:52.979 --> 00:20:54.099
 who knows

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.679
 the power

00:20:54.679 --> 00:20:55.619
 of Christ.

00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.819
 A passion

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:59.539
 to get others

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.779
 to Jesus

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:02.500
 so that he too

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.459
 may meet

00:21:03.459 --> 00:21:04.239
 their need.

00:21:05.219 --> 00:21:05.619
 Of course

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.419
 the focus

00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:07.039
 of these men

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.159
 was not on the man's

00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:09.019
 spiritual well-being.

00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:09.739
 That's not why

00:21:09.739 --> 00:21:10.579
 they were bringing him

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.000
 to Jesus.

00:21:11.239 --> 00:21:12.219
 They didn't understand

00:21:12.219 --> 00:21:13.979
 exactly who Jesus was yet.

00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.879
 Their understanding

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.979
 wasn't made complete.

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.199
 It wasn't even made complete

00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:18.819
 at this point

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.919
 for the disciples.

00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.740
 There was still much

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.300
 they were learning

00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:21.920
 about Jesus

00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.660
 and much that they

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.300
 wouldn't understand

00:21:23.300 --> 00:21:25.120
 until his crucifixion

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:25.759
 and resurrection

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.580
 were accomplished.

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.340
 They were bringing

00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:28.900
 the man

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.920
 specifically so that

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.720
 Jesus would meet

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.960
 his physical need.

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:35.640
 but we have a greater

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.420
 knowledge

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.920
 of how Jesus

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.660
 can meet

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.819
 the spiritual

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.620
 needs

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:42.360
 of those around us.

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.420
 You know

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:45.160
 a much greater work

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:46.539
 that Christ can do

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.480
 in the hearts

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:47.860
 of others

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.660
 and we should have

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.220
 at least

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.420
 the same amount

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.140
 of passion

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.579
 if not

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:53.120
 more passion

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:54.860
 to get people

00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.440
 to Jesus

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.220
 for the purpose

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.600
 of forgiveness

00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:59.079
 as these men

00:21:59.079 --> 00:21:59.480
 had

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.279
 in getting

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.840
 this man

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.319
 to Jesus

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.139
 for the purpose

00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:03.299
 of healing.

00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.019
 Let's just take

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.339
 a moment

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.879
 this morning

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:06.679
 to consider

00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:08.019
 what we learn

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.839
 about these men

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.240
 here

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.259
 what was going

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.199
 on in their lives

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:12.519
 and how we

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.819
 can apply that

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.879
 even to our own

00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:16.240
 evangelistic efforts

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.000
 as believers.

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.000
 The first thing

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.459
 we see

00:22:18.459 --> 00:22:19.379
 is that they

00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.299
 were compassionate.

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.980
 These men

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:23.619
 were compassionate

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.500
 men.

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.659
 Again verse 3

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.680
 and they came

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.180
 unto him

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.540
 bringing one sick

00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:29.560
 of the palsy

00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:31.140
 which was born

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:32.380
 of four.

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.660
 There's no way

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.300
 that this event

00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:36.720
 would have ever

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.480
 even happened

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.140
 if it weren't

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.200
 for these four men

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:42.040
 having a compassionate

00:22:42.040 --> 00:22:42.600
 heart.

00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:43.980
 It would have

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.340
 never even

00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:45.080
 taken place.

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:46.700
 Compassion

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.660
 was the prerequisite

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.080
 here.

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.180
 Now it's likely

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.759
 that they knew

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.620
 the man personally.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.000
 They could have

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.400
 been friends

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:52.779
 of his.

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.160
 They could have

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.160
 been colleagues.

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.100
 Maybe this was

00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:55.680
 a brother

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:57.080
 or a father

00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:57.900
 or a son

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.320
 to one of them

00:22:59.320 --> 00:23:00.519
 that they probably

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.640
 knew in that way

00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:02.180
 but the text

00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.940
 doesn't actually

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:04.200
 tell us that.

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.779
 Maybe he was

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.240
 a friend.

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.320
 Maybe he was

00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:07.840
 a beggar.

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.660
 Maybe he's just

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.279
 a man that they

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.220
 passed on the street

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:13.200
 from day to day

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.940
 who was just

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:15.019
 hoping that

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.759
 someone would

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.759
 show a little

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.580
 pity toward his

00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:18.060
 plight.

00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:19.880
 The point is

00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:21.060
 it doesn't matter

00:23:21.060 --> 00:23:21.860
 how they knew him.

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.000
 It doesn't

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.539
 matter what

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.200
 their relationship

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.119
 to this man

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.180
 was.

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.980
 What matters

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.720
 is the compassion

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.200
 that they felt

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:32.920
 for the man

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.819
 and how that

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.740
 compassion

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:36.559
 encouraged them

00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.500
 to bring the man

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.519
 to Jesus.

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:41.140
 Without compassion

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.980
 their actions

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.420
 would have never

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.299
 taken place.

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.720
 The man

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.640
 would have remained

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.799
 deprived

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.539
 physically

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.599
 and spiritually

00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.019
 and we wouldn't

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.839
 have this incredible

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.119
 lesson to learn

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.759
 about Jesus

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.619
 and his identity

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.419
 and his purpose.

00:23:56.639 --> 00:23:57.059
 What does it

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.759
 all begin with?

00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.639
 Four men

00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.519
 who looked with

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.359
 compassion on

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:01.819
 somebody

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:03.019
 with a great

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.199
 need.

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.299
 Bringing people

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:06.919
 to Jesus

00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:08.359
 begins

00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.939
 with recognizing

00:24:09.939 --> 00:24:11.039
 that others

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.579
 have a need

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.279
 for Christ

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:14.099
 and having

00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.039
 compassion

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.939
 towards that

00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:17.899
 need.

00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:20.240
 if we don't

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.440
 look compassionately

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.600
 at our friends

00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:23.460
 and our family

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.580
 and our colleagues

00:24:24.580 --> 00:24:25.580
 and our community

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:27.240
 how will they

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.160
 ever have their

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.900
 need met

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.280
 by Christ?

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.359
 Christ.

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.240
 Now

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.259
 I believe

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.639
 that God

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.220
 will accomplish

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.859
 his work

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.720
 in one way

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.039
 or another

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.559
 this scripture

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.160
 is clear

00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:39.960
 but it's also

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.839
 clear that we

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.660
 are his instruments

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.480
 of grace

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.920
 that he uses

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.180
 to accomplish

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.539
 his work.

00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:48.319
 Remember Romans

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.039
 chapter 10

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.759
 we all know

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.539
 verse 13

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.599
 whosoever shall

00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.259
 call upon the

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.599
 name of the

00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:52.839
 Lord

00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:54.220
 shall be saved.

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.960
 Your salvation

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.660
 is based

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.559
 on the grace

00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.079
 of God

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.519
 through

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.660
 the justification

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.700
 by faith

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.559
 alone.

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.220
 But what does

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.359
 verse 14 say?

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.799
 Paul writes

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.639
 how then

00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.240
 shall they

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.079
 call

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.079
 on him

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.500
 whom they

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.059
 have not

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.960
 believed?

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.420
 And how

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:10.839
 are they

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.379
 to believe

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:11.960
 in him

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.579
 of whom

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:12.900
 they have

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.639
 never heard?

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.480
 And how

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.759
 are they

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.279
 to hear

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:15.599
 without

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.259
 somebody

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.000
 preaching

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.160
 telling them

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.759
 the gospel?

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.680
 And how

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:19.920
 are they

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.420
 to preach

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:20.779
 unless

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.379
 they're

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:21.900
 sent?

00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.079
 As it's

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.279
 written

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.920
 how beautiful

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.519
 are the feet

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:24.900
 of those

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.720
 who preach

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.579
 the good news.

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.879
 salvation

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.240
 is the

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.639
 work of

00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:28.960
 God's

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.279
 grace.

00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:29.460
 It's

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:29.799
 not in

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:29.960
 us

00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.220
 to do

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.359
 it

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:30.859
 but we

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.339
 are his

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.859
 instruments

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.439
 of grace

00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:33.119
 for others.

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.619
 And what

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.199
 that begins

00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:35.539
 with is

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:35.819
 just

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.659
 compassion.

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.519
 Looking at

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:38.899
 the world

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.779
 around us

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.500
 with some

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.279
 compassion

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.139
 toward their

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.819
 condition.

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.359
 Not their

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.839
 condition

00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.599
 financially.

00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:46.960
 Not the

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.639
 condition of

00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.359
 their employment.

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.720
 Not the

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:51.000
 condition of

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.619
 their family

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.220
 per se.

00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:52.939
 But something

00:25:52.939 --> 00:25:53.799
 deeper than

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.079
 that.

00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:54.359
 Their

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.159
 condition and

00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:55.819
 their sin.

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.579
 And show

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:56.899
 some

00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.740
 compassion

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.639
 towards the

00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.639
 gospel message

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.220
 that God

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.659
 has given

00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:00.939
 you,

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.679
 blessed you

00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:01.859
 with,

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.220
 and then

00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.819
 entrusted

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:04.179
 you with.

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:04.759
 It all

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.179
 starts with

00:26:05.179 --> 00:26:05.720
 compassion.

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.559
 That's how

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:06.899
 it began

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:07.299
 with these

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.579
 men.

00:26:07.919 --> 00:26:08.279
 If we're

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.480
 to be

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:08.879
 effective

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.200
 in our

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.539
 witness,

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.259
 that's how

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.439
 it'll

00:26:10.439 --> 00:26:10.679
 begin

00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.079
 with us

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.519
 as well.

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:11.980
 So they

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.099
 were

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.599
 compassionate.

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.359
 Secondly,

00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.200
 we see that

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.539
 they were

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.079
 relentless.

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.039
 They were

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.500
 relentless.

00:26:18.939 --> 00:26:19.339
 In fact,

00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:19.960
 the next three

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.200
 of these

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.720
 characteristics

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.259
 all come

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.700
 from verse

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.259
 four in our

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.919
 understanding of

00:26:22.919 --> 00:26:23.200
 what they

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.839
 actually did.

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.439
 Let's read

00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:24.579
 it.

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:24.939
 And when

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.259
 they could

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.679
 not come

00:26:25.679 --> 00:26:26.740
 nigh unto

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.199
 him for

00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:27.859
 the press,

00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.019
 they uncovered

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.500
 the roof

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:29.819
 where he

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.220
 was.

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.159
 And when

00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:31.419
 they had

00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:31.899
 broken it

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.179
 up,

00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:33.139
 they let

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.519
 down the

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.099
 bed wherein

00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:34.579
 the sick

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:34.819
 of the

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:36.339
 palsy lay.

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:39.099
 you know,

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.659
 perhaps that

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.259
 day when

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.919
 Jesus was

00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.259
 leaving

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.980
 Capernaum,

00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:43.759
 remember

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.379
 that morning

00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.199
 he'd gotten

00:26:45.199 --> 00:26:45.779
 up a great

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.240
 while before

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.539
 day,

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.059
 everyone else

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.720
 was asleep,

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.759
 and he

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.119
 went out

00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.559
 into a

00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:49.919
 solitary

00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.539
 place,

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.439
 and he

00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:51.839
 prayed,

00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:53.079
 and he

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.539
 was seeking

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.299
 the will

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.559
 of the

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:55.899
 Father,

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.279
 and that

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.579
 is what

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.099
 is directing

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.419
 him in

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:57.919
 those moments,

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.139
 right?

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.919
 The disciples

00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.740
 finally find

00:26:59.740 --> 00:26:59.919
 him,

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.339
 but Mark

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.819
 tells us

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.000
 that it

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.559
 wasn't only

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.159
 the disciples

00:27:03.159 --> 00:27:03.480
 that were

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:03.980
 looking for

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.139
 him.

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.320
 Peter speaks

00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:05.700
 up when he

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.140
 finds Jesus,

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:06.480
 he says,

00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:06.920
 everybody's

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.300
 looking for

00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:07.460
 you,

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:07.940
 it's not

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.320
 just us,

00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:08.660
 everyone.

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.080
 There's a

00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:10.800
 mad search

00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:11.100
 right now

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.620
 in Capernaum

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.040
 to find

00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:12.520
 Jesus of

00:27:12.520 --> 00:27:12.980
 Nazareth,

00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:14.020
 and Jesus

00:27:14.020 --> 00:27:14.360
 says,

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.620
 well,

00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.520
 we're going

00:27:15.520 --> 00:27:15.660
 to hit

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:15.980
 the road

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.259
 now,

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:16.980
 because I

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.140
 got to

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.480
 go preach

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:17.660
 other

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.100
 places,

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.460
 that's

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.740
 why I

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.040
 came.

00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:20.800
 Perhaps

00:27:20.800 --> 00:27:21.320
 this man

00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:21.759
 laying on

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.220
 his bed,

00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:22.580
 perhaps

00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:23.080
 these four

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.520
 friends had

00:27:23.520 --> 00:27:23.900
 picked up

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.200
 the man

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.680
 that morning.

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.020
 They had

00:27:26.020 --> 00:27:26.420
 heard about

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.700
 what had

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:26.920
 happened

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.340
 with Jesus

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:27.720
 in the

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.000
 synagogue

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.460
 the morning

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:28.840
 before.

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.320
 They'd

00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:29.680
 heard about

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.220
 what Jesus

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.680
 had done

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.259
 late into

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.640
 the night

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.299
 as masses

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.120
 of sick

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:33.660
 people and

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.279
 lepers and

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.880
 demon-possessed

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.200
 people were

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.539
 being brought

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.039
 to Jesus,

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.600
 and he

00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.200
 healed every

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.580
 one of

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:37.740
 them.

00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:38.920
 Perhaps

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.480
 that morning

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.000
 they find

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.259
 out,

00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:40.480
 and they

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:40.759
 get up

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:40.940
 and they

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.299
 go find

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.700
 their buddy,

00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:41.940
 and they

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.340
 pick up

00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.100
 each corner

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.340
 of his

00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:43.620
 bed,

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:43.840
 and they're

00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:44.240
 trying to

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.759
 find Jesus

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.200
 desperately,

00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:45.539
 but they

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.000
 can't find

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.299
 him because

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.680
 he's left

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:46.940
 out.

00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:48.720
 Jesus

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.080
 left,

00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:49.340
 and this

00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.340
 man was

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:50.620
 still in

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.180
 his condition.

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.100
 There's

00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:52.440
 probably a

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:52.680
 lot of

00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.060
 people that

00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:53.460
 that happened

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:53.660
 to.

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.160
 Now that

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.799
 they hear

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.480
 what's

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.099
 going on,

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.740
 nothing's

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:57.919
 going to

00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.399
 stop them

00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:58.720
 from getting

00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.019
 the man

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.440
 to Jesus,

00:27:59.539 --> 00:27:59.740
 right?

00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:00.700
 And so

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.000
 they hear

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.639
 Jesus is

00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:01.980
 back,

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.180
 and they

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.419
 go and

00:28:02.419 --> 00:28:02.639
 they get

00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.039
 their buddy,

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.220
 and they

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.500
 pick up

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.899
 his bed,

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.180
 and they

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.799
 head over

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.379
 to Peter's

00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:05.579
 house,

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:05.879
 that's where

00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:06.379
 they assume

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.259
 that Jesus

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.659
 is,

00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.000
 or at least

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.319
 that's what

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.539
 they've

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.440
 heard he

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:09.680
 is,

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:09.940
 and as

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.220
 soon as

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.500
 they get

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.659
 there,

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:10.819
 they're

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.200
 immediately

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.579
 met with

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.039
 a massive

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.519
 obstacle.

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.639
 The obstacle

00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.359
 is a crowd.

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.000
 They can't

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.339
 get to

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:15.659
 Jesus.

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.220
 The house

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.799
 is full.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:18.960
 Not only

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.200
 is the

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.799
 house full,

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.399
 they can't

00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:20.680
 even get

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:20.980
 to the

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.480
 door.

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:22.759
 There's

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.159
 just people

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.680
 everywhere,

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.399
 and no one

00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:25.819
 else in the

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.299
 crowd was

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.940
 compassionate

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.559
 enough to

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.259
 see that

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.599
 there's a

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.159
 healer in

00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:29.659
 the house,

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.240
 and there's

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.779
 a man

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.279
 that's sick

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.500
 of the

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.059
 palsy with

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.700
 the paralysis

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.220
 out here.

00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:33.799
 We gotta

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.220
 get this

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.559
 man to

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:34.779
 Jesus.

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.000
 No,

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.279
 nobody

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.659
 cared to

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.079
 do that.

00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:37.500
 They wanted

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:37.879
 their own

00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.379
 place in

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:38.680
 line.

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.139
 No

00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:40.500
 cutting

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:40.960
 today.

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.299
 We gotta

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:42.700
 make sure

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.079
 we get

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.399
 to him

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:43.839
 first.

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.879
 There's

00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.500
 no compassion

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:45.919
 in them,

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.480
 but there's

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.079
 some compassion

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.319
 in these

00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.539
 men,

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:47.779
 and this

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.980
 compassion led

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.299
 to a

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:49.700
 relentless

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.399
 determination

00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:50.940
 to get

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.359
 this man

00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:51.919
 to Jesus.

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.579
 Most of

00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:54.740
 us,

00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.099
 at least

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:55.399
 if you're

00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:55.859
 like me,

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.480
 I shouldn't

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:56.919
 say most

00:28:56.919 --> 00:28:57.139
 of us,

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.299
 because maybe

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:58.639
 you're not

00:28:58.639 --> 00:28:59.039
 quite like

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.339
 this,

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.759
 but this

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.000
 is the

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.519
 point where

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.079
 I might

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.559
 have

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.539
 accepted

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:05.019
 the prospect

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.559
 of getting

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:05.879
 the man

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.299
 to Jesus

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.159
 was impossible.

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.339
 Sorry,

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:10.539
 man,

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.399
 we did

00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:11.659
 all we

00:29:11.659 --> 00:29:12.079
 could do.

00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:13.960
 We tried

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.299
 to get you

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.539
 here as

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:14.759
 soon as

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.180
 we can.

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.319
 There's

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.720
 just people

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.000
 everywhere.

00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.419
 We can't

00:29:17.419 --> 00:29:17.720
 get there.

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.079
 We can't

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.379
 even get

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:18.819
 close enough

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.039
 to the

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.480
 house to

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:19.859
 signal

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:20.379
 someone

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.639
 that

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:22.079
 could help

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.519
 us,

00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.500
 and we

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.639
 just give

00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:24.859
 up.

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.279
 We get

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.200
 discouraged.

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.759
 Not these

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:27.980
 men.

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.879
 They were

00:29:29.879 --> 00:29:30.500
 relentlessly

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.980
 determined to

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.599
 get this man

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.099
 to Jesus,

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.680
 and what was

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:34.940
 that?

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.500
 It was the

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:38.059
 overflow of

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.740
 their compassionate

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.139
 heart.

00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:39.920
 You see how it

00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:40.579
 starts to build?

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.180
 The more

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.940
 compassion they

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.500
 felt for that

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.879
 man, the more

00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.759
 determination they

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.440
 had to get that

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.059
 man to Jesus.

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.819
 the more

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.740
 compassion we

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:51.019
 feel for our

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.359
 colleagues, the

00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:53.399
 more compassion we

00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:53.899
 feel for our

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.019
 community, the

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:56.079
 more compassion we

00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.019
 feel for our

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.599
 friends, the

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.919
 more compassion we

00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.559
 feel for our

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.659
 family, the more

00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.759
 determined we will

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.799
 be to get the

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.740
 gospel to

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.700
 them.

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.859
 As God helps

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:10.159
 us to develop a

00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:11.220
 genuine compassion,

00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.960
 we will indeed

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.579
 develop this

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.039
 relentless

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:15.919
 determination.

00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:18.699
 But Christians

00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.480
 should live with

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.220
 an attitude of

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:22.059
 determination that

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.659
 is rooted in

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:24.579
 trusting the

00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.419
 sovereign work of

00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:25.799
 God.

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.299
 The problem

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.019
 sometimes with our

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:32.119
 evangelism is we

00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:33.279
 think that it all

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.779
 relies on us.

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.639
 That if I just

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:39.159
 learn to say the

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:40.379
 right things, or if

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.480
 I learn to bring the

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.399
 conversation to this

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:42.879
 way, and that's

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.720
 helpful, but that's

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.980
 not the end, it's

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.740
 just a means.

00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.319
 And when we

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.920
 witness and we

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.579
 witness and we

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.180
 witness and we

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.759
 share and we

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.220
 share and we

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:52.700
 share and we

00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.500
 pray and we pray

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.259
 and we pray and

00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.100
 nothing seems to

00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.620
 happen and we

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.360
 leave discouraged

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.740
 because of, am I

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.400
 not doing this

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:58.720
 right?

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.259
 But we need to

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:05.519
 remember, only God

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.259
 can save.

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.839
 The task has not

00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.960
 been given to us

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.259
 to save a

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:12.640
 person.

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:14.200
 We can't do it

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.799
 no matter how

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.460
 hard we try.

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.440
 The task that's

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:19.220
 given to us is

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.059
 just to share the

00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:20.500
 gospel.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.319
 Alistair Begg says

00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:24.039
 all the time, I

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.599
 don't know if it's

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.400
 original to him, it

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.579
 may be to someone

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.000
 else.

00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.460
 We are responsible

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.579
 for faithfulness.

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.140
 God is responsible

00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:32.000
 for fruitfulness.

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.900
 Paul said this,

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.180
 there was infighting

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.079
 in the church of

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.099
 Corinth about

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:40.299
 divisions.

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:42.399
 Some proclaim that

00:31:42.399 --> 00:31:43.519
 they were on

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.219
 Paul's team.

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.579
 Others claim that

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.199
 they were on

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:47.179
 Apollos' team.

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.000
 The super spiritual

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.819
 said, well, we're on

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.659
 Jesus' team.

00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.059
 And what did Paul

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.359
 write?

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:55.059
 I planted, Apollos

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:56.559
 watered, but it's

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.259
 God that gives the

00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.659
 growth.

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.139
 And what did he go

00:31:59.139 --> 00:31:59.579
 on to say?

00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:01.179
 So he that plants is

00:32:01.179 --> 00:32:01.480
 nothing.

00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.939
 He that waters is

00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:04.439
 nothing.

00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:06.360
 But only God who

00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:08.820
 gives the growth, the

00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.440
 increase.

00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:11.920
 So don't get

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.019
 discouraged in your

00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.080
 witness if there's not

00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:14.820
 a lot happening.

00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.860
 We are relentlessly

00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:18.940
 determined to share

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.700
 our compassionate

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:21.380
 hearts as we preach

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.860
 the gospel, but we do

00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:25.120
 so fully trusting that

00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:26.320
 God will do his work

00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:27.580
 the way that he is

00:32:27.580 --> 00:32:28.519
 determined to do his

00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:28.880
 work.

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:31.000
 And so trust him.

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.480
 Be faithful to the

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:34.240
 task and trust the

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.539
 Lord.

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.819
 Thirdly, they were

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.339
 creative.

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.160
 They were creative.

00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.839
 They're compassionate.

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.299
 They're relentless.

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.220
 Now we see that

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.160
 they're creative.

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.400
 And this is our

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.799
 favorite part, isn't

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.000
 it?

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.200
 To see what these

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.759
 men did.

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:51.059
 And it all is

00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.000
 continuing to build.

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.059
 It starts with this

00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:54.059
 compassion and they've

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.500
 developed the

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.240
 compassion for the

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.440
 man that led to a

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.339
 relentless determination

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.220
 to get the man to

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.539
 Jesus.

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.880
 And born out of that

00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:00.779
 relentless determination

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:02.160
 is this creativity

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.800
 to find any way,

00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:05.480
 just some way,

00:33:05.900 --> 00:33:07.779
 to get the man to

00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.279
 Jesus.

00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:10.640
 When faced with what

00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:11.360
 seemed like an

00:33:11.360 --> 00:33:12.620
 impossible situation,

00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:14.320
 they started to think

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.300
 outside of the box,

00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:16.580
 which sometimes is

00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:17.420
 important for us to

00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:17.720
 do.

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:20.460
 Now, houses in Israel

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.380
 in this day, from what

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:22.160
 I understand and from

00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:23.820
 what I've read, were

00:33:23.820 --> 00:33:24.900
 single-story houses

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:26.300
 with flat roofs.

00:33:27.040 --> 00:33:27.660
 And when they would

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.720
 construct these roofs,

00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:29.920
 they started with large

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.840
 wooden beams that

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.879
 they would run in one

00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.959
 particular direction.

00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.379
 And then laying across

00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:35.879
 those beams was a

00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:37.819
 mixture of sticks and

00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:39.579
 thatch and other things

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.159
 that they would mix

00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:41.299
 together and they would

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:43.559
 fill in the gaps in the

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.299
 roof itself.

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.579
 And they would continue

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.720
 to do that until it was

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:48.139
 about two feet thick.

00:33:48.959 --> 00:33:50.059
 Once it was about two

00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.319
 feet thick, it would

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:51.859
 harden.

00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:53.459
 All of the mixture that

00:33:53.459 --> 00:33:54.419
 they put together would

00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:54.899
 then harden.

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.599
 And then once it was

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.839
 hard enough and it was

00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.799
 stable enough, they would

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:59.639
 lay tiles on the top of

00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.799
 this thatch and these

00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.799
 sticks and this wood that

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.859
 they had all mixed

00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:04.500
 together on the house.

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:06.359
 And that made it safe for

00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:07.180
 someone to go up on the

00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:08.059
 roof and they could walk

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.599
 on the roof.

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.300
 They could have easy

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:12.059
 access through probably

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:14.139
 an outdoor stairwell that

00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.340
 was either connected to

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.559
 their own home or maybe a

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.519
 home that was connected

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.179
 to their home.

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:19.159
 And they could walk

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.440
 across the roofs quite

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.139
 literally.

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.960
 So the men come to Jesus

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.239
 and they're trying to get

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:25.199
 to him and they can't get

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:25.440
 there.

00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.800
 And then they look and

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.940
 they notice a stairwell

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:30.659
 and they immediately head

00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:32.099
 up the stairwell.

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.840
 They go to the roof.

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:36.519
 They find and pinpoint the

00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:38.019
 location of Jesus in the

00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.320
 building.

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.740
 And then they quite

00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:41.760
 literally dug a hole.

00:34:42.720 --> 00:34:45.280
 They dug a hole in the

00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:45.619
 roof.

00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:47.679
 This isn't shingles.

00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:48.720
 This isn't like something

00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:49.599
 they're peeling away.

00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.940
 This isn't just like a

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:53.800
 thick layer of thatch.

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.679
 This is thick.

00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:56.000
 This was time consuming.

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.059
 This was distracting.

00:34:59.279 --> 00:35:00.399
 But they were creative.

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.279
 They were relentless.

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.839
 They just wanted to get the

00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:04.079
 man to Jesus.

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.039
 It's just amazing what they

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.299
 did.

00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:07.579
 We look back on these

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:07.940
 actions.

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.000
 We read this story and this

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.779
 is what we love, right?

00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.699
 When we're kids in the

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.619
 Sunday school class and we

00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:12.619
 see the flannel graph and

00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:13.500
 this is what's so cool.

00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:15.559
 Oh man, they tore the roof

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.559
 apart because we all want to

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.839
 as kids, we want to tear

00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.359
 roofs apart.

00:35:18.419 --> 00:35:19.039
 We want to tear everything

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.379
 apart.

00:35:20.859 --> 00:35:21.779
 And they start to tear it

00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.440
 and we love it.

00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:24.019
 Well, even as adults, we

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.059
 look back at what they did

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.099
 and even as I'm doing right

00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:27.599
 now in this sermon, we are

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:30.099
 esteeming these men for what

00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:30.539
 they did.

00:35:30.720 --> 00:35:32.400
 What determination, what

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.380
 creativity.

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.639
 They did what no one else

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.840
 would do in order to get this

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.539
 man to Jesus.

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:40.159
 But how often are we actually

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:42.159
 guilty of condemning similar

00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:43.720
 actions in others?

00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:48.519
 Think about the distraction

00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.559
 this must have been to the

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:49.959
 service.

00:35:53.879 --> 00:35:55.500
 We get frustrated if a baby

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:57.719
 cries or a kid has to go to

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.219
 the bathroom.

00:35:59.419 --> 00:36:00.419
 Imagine you're sitting there

00:36:00.419 --> 00:36:01.619
 listening to Jesus on this

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:01.859
 day.

00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:03.739
 And it's not just that

00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:04.980
 someone's fiddling around on

00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.359
 the roof.

00:36:06.319 --> 00:36:07.399
 It's that for quite a bit of

00:36:07.399 --> 00:36:08.480
 time, somebody's up there

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.679
 with a shovel or whatever they

00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.839
 had and they're digging a

00:36:10.839 --> 00:36:11.759
 hole in the roof.

00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:14.740
 Talk about distraction.

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.240
 You're crunched in.

00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:20.040
 There's no social distancing

00:36:20.040 --> 00:36:21.160
 happening in this house.

00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:23.280
 They've got as many people in

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:24.160
 there as they can get.

00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:26.000
 You're shoulder to shoulder

00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:27.000
 touching people you don't want

00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.700
 to touch anyways.

00:36:28.680 --> 00:36:30.920
 And now the debris is

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.620
 starting to fall.

00:36:33.020 --> 00:36:34.480
 It's getting on you and it's

00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:36.040
 aggravating and you can't hear

00:36:36.040 --> 00:36:37.600
 and there's distractions and

00:36:37.600 --> 00:36:39.640
 you're frustrated because this

00:36:39.640 --> 00:36:40.360
 is inconvenient.

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:42.680
 And this is bothering me.

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:45.059
 And how many of the people in

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.019
 that house looked at those men

00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:47.800
 and thought, wow, what

00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:49.620
 creative genius is that?

00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:50.920
 Oh, they probably were

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.640
 irritated.

00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:53.400
 Just like we would be

00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:55.059
 irritated if right now

00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:55.940
 somebody just starts coming

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.579
 through the roof.

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.019
 Who won the world?

00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.960
 What about Peter?

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:04.200
 We believe this is probably

00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:04.720
 his house.

00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:08.019
 He and his brother and James

00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:09.079
 and John are sitting there.

00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:11.179
 Somebody had to help this man

00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:12.280
 get through the hole, right?

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:13.719
 His four friends are on the top.

00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:16.039
 I doubt they came armed with

00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:16.380
 rope.

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:19.079
 They just got to dig it up the

00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:20.300
 best they can and get the man

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:20.759
 down.

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.699
 Somebody in the house had to

00:37:22.699 --> 00:37:24.880
 receive him on the other end,

00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.179
 right?

00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.759
 Jesus didn't just miraculously

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:29.119
 cause the man to levitate and

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:30.360
 come down like an elevator in the

00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:30.559
 room.

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.539
 That's not what happens.

00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:34.000
 Perhaps Jesus even looks at Peter

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.739
 and says, why don't you help

00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:35.399
 these guys out?

00:37:35.939 --> 00:37:37.419
 Imagine if Peter was just

00:37:37.419 --> 00:37:39.719
 ticked off that somebody's

00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:40.719
 tearing his house apart.

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:44.579
 And instead of trying to help

00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.979
 the man get down, he's just

00:37:45.979 --> 00:37:47.659
 fussing about all of this mess

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.879
 and who's going to pay for this?

00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.899
 This is just a mess.

00:37:52.779 --> 00:37:54.279
 There are a lot of reasons for

00:37:54.279 --> 00:37:55.739
 people to be irritated by these

00:37:55.739 --> 00:37:56.000
 men.

00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:59.239
 But Jesus never rebuked them.

00:37:59.239 --> 00:38:03.519
 He never said, I wish y'all would

00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:05.639
 just sit down and be quiet for a

00:38:05.639 --> 00:38:05.719
 minute.

00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:06.279
 I'm not done.

00:38:09.319 --> 00:38:11.079
 He seems to be thrilled with what

00:38:11.079 --> 00:38:11.819
 they did actually.

00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:16.379
 Because it's when he looked on

00:38:16.379 --> 00:38:17.879
 them and saw their faith that he

00:38:17.879 --> 00:38:19.419
 responds to the man that they had

00:38:19.419 --> 00:38:19.659
 brought.

00:38:22.699 --> 00:38:24.619
 The question for us has to do with

00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:26.339
 which side of this equation do we

00:38:26.339 --> 00:38:28.039
 find ourselves on most often?

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.259
 Are we creatively searching for

00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:34.059
 ways to get people to Jesus and

00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:34.819
 hear the gospel?

00:38:35.859 --> 00:38:37.759
 Or are we more prone to condemn

00:38:37.759 --> 00:38:40.000
 the efforts of others and point

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.239
 out all the ways that they're doing

00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:41.619
 it wrong?

00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.819
 I'd like to think that I would

00:38:45.819 --> 00:38:46.899
 have been with these four men on

00:38:46.899 --> 00:38:47.239
 this.

00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:52.579
 But the reality is that most often

00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:54.679
 it's a spirit of criticism that

00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:55.699
 pervades my heart.

00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:59.480
 But I can't help but see the

00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.639
 reaction of Jesus here.

00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:02.179
 It's convicting isn't it?

00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:07.899
 I understand my own nature is to be

00:39:07.899 --> 00:39:10.939
 irritated when it doesn't go the way

00:39:10.939 --> 00:39:12.059
 that I want it to go.

00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:15.399
 And yet Jesus isn't irritated at all.

00:39:16.399 --> 00:39:17.799
 I had a friend, he pastors in

00:39:17.799 --> 00:39:18.980
 Connecticut just a couple of weeks

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.139
 ago.

00:39:19.219 --> 00:39:20.939
 He just made a great statement that

00:39:20.939 --> 00:39:21.939
 helped me at a good time.

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:24.539
 And he said, he said this, he said,

00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:27.159
 if God is pleased, then we don't

00:39:27.159 --> 00:39:28.840
 need to worry about who isn't.

00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:33.420
 If God is pleased, we don't need to

00:39:33.420 --> 00:39:34.420
 worry about who isn't.

00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:38.619
 There's a house and courtyard full of

00:39:38.619 --> 00:39:40.800
 people irritated with these men.

00:39:41.639 --> 00:39:42.380
 They didn't care.

00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:44.220
 They just try and get the man to

00:39:44.220 --> 00:39:44.519
 Jesus.

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:47.480
 Now that's not to say that Jesus is

00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:49.119
 pleased with every method that's ever

00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.159
 employed by churches.

00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:52.200
 There certainly are ways that churches

00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:54.639
 and individuals do this and actually

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:56.260
 end up sinning against the Lord in the

00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:56.639
 process.

00:39:57.700 --> 00:39:59.599
 It's not to say that God is pleased with

00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.320
 every method.

00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:05.539
 But our offense most often has to do

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:07.180
 with our own displeasure rather than

00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:07.860
 the Lord's.

00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:12.160
 If we're going to do anything for the

00:40:12.160 --> 00:40:14.900
 Lord as a church, we're going to have

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:17.320
 to stop thinking, how's this going to

00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:18.840
 be perceived by everyone else?

00:40:21.180 --> 00:40:23.400
 How's this going to be perceived by

00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:23.980
 our community?

00:40:24.780 --> 00:40:27.240
 How is this going to be perceived by

00:40:27.240 --> 00:40:28.000
 the other churches?

00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:31.000
 How is this going to be perceived by

00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:32.099
 others?

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.820
 And we're going to have to start

00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:36.280
 thinking more about what's actually

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:37.179
 going to please the Lord.

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:41.340
 What's going to please what he's told

00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.559
 us to do in the word.

00:40:43.739 --> 00:40:45.000
 And so long as our creative,

00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:47.980
 relentless determination and

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:50.440
 compassion isn't going against the

00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:52.940
 clear teaching of the scripture, why

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:55.539
 not do everything we can to get the

00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:57.840
 gospel where it needs to go and to get

00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:59.860
 people where they need to be to hear

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.079
 it.

00:41:01.240 --> 00:41:02.260
 They're compassionate.

00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:03.559
 They're relentless.

00:41:04.380 --> 00:41:05.300
 They're creative.

00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:08.000
 Finally, they're sacrificial.

00:41:09.700 --> 00:41:10.500
 Sacrificial men.

00:41:12.680 --> 00:41:15.539
 Everything they did was sacrificial in

00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:15.820
 nature.

00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:18.960
 They got nothing from this.

00:41:18.960 --> 00:41:21.740
 And the best we can tell, they were

00:41:21.740 --> 00:41:23.599
 seeking nothing for themselves.

00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:29.159
 They sacrificed their own needs in

00:41:29.159 --> 00:41:30.840
 order to put first the needs of their

00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:31.159
 friend.

00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:34.400
 I'm sure they had needs that could be

00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:34.599
 met.

00:41:34.820 --> 00:41:36.300
 Maybe they had already seen Jesus at

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:36.599
 some point.

00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:38.000
 Maybe that's why they wanted to bring

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:39.659
 this man to them.

00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:40.900
 Maybe their need had already been

00:41:40.900 --> 00:41:41.139
 met.

00:41:41.740 --> 00:41:44.099
 But in either case, they prioritize

00:41:44.099 --> 00:41:44.820
 their friend.

00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:49.140
 They sacrificed their time to actually

00:41:49.140 --> 00:41:51.120
 take the man to Jesus and ensure he

00:41:51.120 --> 00:41:52.019
 was able to meet him.

00:41:53.220 --> 00:41:54.220
 That took time.

00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:56.180
 How many of us, we struggle with this

00:41:56.180 --> 00:41:57.700
 in our lives because it's just hard to

00:41:57.700 --> 00:41:58.300
 find the time.

00:41:59.380 --> 00:42:01.400
 It's hard to make the time.

00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:03.559
 It's hard to sacrifice the time.

00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:08.260
 Their choice to tear open the roof, that

00:42:08.260 --> 00:42:09.600
 was a calculated sacrifice.

00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:12.619
 I don't think they went there that day

00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:13.420
 planning to do that.

00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:17.599
 But surely somebody in these five men

00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:19.179
 stopped before they did it and said,

00:42:19.539 --> 00:42:20.239
 okay, wait a minute.

00:42:20.339 --> 00:42:21.319
 Who's going to pay for this?

00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:23.500
 Somebody's got to pay for it.

00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:26.159
 Peter's not just going to say, yeah,

00:42:26.279 --> 00:42:27.179
 tear the whole place down.

00:42:27.259 --> 00:42:28.019
 I'll take care of it.

00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:29.619
 Somebody's going to have to.

00:42:29.799 --> 00:42:32.819
 They sacrificed for this.

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:37.219
 They sacrificed their pride as they

00:42:37.219 --> 00:42:40.719
 risked the danger of being ostracized

00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:42.419
 by the people who disagreed with them.

00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:44.139
 They're a minute of sacrifice.

00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:48.079
 So are those who give themselves to

00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:50.000
 bring people to Jesus for spiritual

00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:50.379
 healing.

00:42:51.459 --> 00:42:52.939
 They're sacrificial in nature.

00:42:54.659 --> 00:42:56.980
 They sacrifice their time to teach

00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:57.939
 and share the gospel.

00:42:58.980 --> 00:43:01.319
 They sacrifice their finances to

00:43:01.319 --> 00:43:02.959
 support the church and its gospel

00:43:02.959 --> 00:43:03.459
 efforts.

00:43:04.259 --> 00:43:07.079
 They sacrifice their reputation when

00:43:07.079 --> 00:43:08.759
 they risk being mocked and persecuted

00:43:08.759 --> 00:43:09.679
 for their beliefs.

00:43:10.199 --> 00:43:11.980
 They sacrifice their pride when

00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:13.360
 they're opposed by those who only

00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:13.980
 want to criticize.

00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:16.420
 But why do they sacrifice so much?

00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:19.699
 Because they want others to experience

00:43:19.699 --> 00:43:21.539
 the grace that they've experienced.

00:43:22.860 --> 00:43:24.420
 They want others to know the

00:43:24.420 --> 00:43:25.799
 forgiveness that they know.

00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:29.279
 And there's no sacrifice that would

00:43:29.279 --> 00:43:30.380
 keep them from doing that.

00:43:30.380 --> 00:43:31.860
 We hope.

00:43:33.860 --> 00:43:35.039
 But yet often

00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:37.119
 we're not willing.

00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:41.660
 The narrative is not about these

00:43:41.660 --> 00:43:42.320
 four men.

00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:46.240
 They're playing supporting roles here

00:43:46.240 --> 00:43:46.800
 in this story.

00:43:49.380 --> 00:43:50.619
 The point is

00:43:50.619 --> 00:43:52.340
 that these 12 verses

00:43:52.340 --> 00:43:54.559
 emphasize that Jesus is God

00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:56.280
 and only he can forgive sin.

00:43:56.280 --> 00:43:59.780
 But we can't ignore

00:43:59.780 --> 00:44:00.780
 or diminish the role

00:44:00.780 --> 00:44:01.780
 that these men played

00:44:01.780 --> 00:44:02.760
 in this process.

00:44:04.640 --> 00:44:05.600
 They didn't understand

00:44:05.600 --> 00:44:06.760
 fully who Jesus was

00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:07.680
 or even what Jesus was

00:44:07.680 --> 00:44:08.060
 going to do.

00:44:08.160 --> 00:44:08.460
 In fact,

00:44:08.680 --> 00:44:09.840
 Jesus' first response

00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:10.660
 would have been a surprise

00:44:10.660 --> 00:44:11.280
 to all of them.

00:44:11.820 --> 00:44:12.980
 But they were convinced

00:44:12.980 --> 00:44:14.100
 that he was the only way

00:44:14.100 --> 00:44:15.280
 that their friend could be helped.

00:44:16.500 --> 00:44:18.120
 The question for us is

00:44:18.120 --> 00:44:20.620
 do we believe that Jesus

00:44:20.620 --> 00:44:21.640
 is the only way

00:44:21.640 --> 00:44:23.120
 that the people in our lives

00:44:23.120 --> 00:44:24.420
 can actually be helped?

00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:26.220
 And if so,

00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:27.840
 are we committed

00:44:27.840 --> 00:44:28.680
 to bringing people

00:44:28.680 --> 00:44:30.159
 to Jesus compassionately,

00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:33.099
 relentlessly,

00:44:34.340 --> 00:44:34.880
 creatively,

00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.420
 sacrificially?

00:44:38.700 --> 00:44:39.880
 We dedicate our lives

00:44:39.880 --> 00:44:40.940
 to all kinds of things.

00:44:41.579 --> 00:44:42.559
 All kinds of things.

00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:44.019
 Noble things.

00:44:45.639 --> 00:44:46.860
 I thought about this morning

00:44:46.860 --> 00:44:47.500
 and I actually wrote it

00:44:47.500 --> 00:44:48.039
 in my notes.

00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:49.720
 The statement by C.T. Studd

00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:51.340
 who was a missionary to China

00:44:51.340 --> 00:44:52.079
 and then to Africa

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:55.179
 and I think the Congo maybe.

00:44:55.319 --> 00:44:56.460
 There were various places

00:44:56.460 --> 00:44:57.039
 that he served.

00:44:57.259 --> 00:44:58.319
 But what is it that he said?

00:44:58.400 --> 00:45:00.039
 Only one life will soon be passed.

00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:01.099
 This was a poem that he wrote.

00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:02.900
 Only what's done for Christ

00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:03.579
 will last.

00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:07.840
 I'm not saying that you give up

00:45:07.840 --> 00:45:08.739
 everything in your life

00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:09.340
 for this.

00:45:10.659 --> 00:45:11.980
 But this should be a priority

00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:12.799
 for all of us.

00:45:13.799 --> 00:45:16.500
 If Jesus is who we believe he is,

00:45:17.079 --> 00:45:18.539
 we have no other choice

00:45:18.539 --> 00:45:20.039
 but to give our lives

00:45:20.039 --> 00:45:21.400
 telling others about him.

00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:21.400


00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:21.400


00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:21.400


00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:21.400


00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:21.400


00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:21.400