WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.560 I'm getting old enough that I need a large print Bible to preach from, so sorry about that. 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:17.640 If you want to turn with me in the pew Bibles, your program actually tells you what number it is. 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:20.379 I don't remember. Does anyone have it? Mark chapter 1. 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:25.519 We're looking at Mark chapter 1 tonight as our scripture reading. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:32.079 Mark chapter 1. We're going to begin in verse 16. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:40.719 Does anyone have a page number for us from the pew Bible? 00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:48.159 836. Thank you. 836 in the pew Bible if you're looking. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:53.059 936 in the pew Bible. 00:00:53.059 --> 00:00:59.899 Mark 1 verse 16. We're going to read a series of short stories, pictures that Mark is painting. 00:01:02.819 --> 00:01:09.900 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon's, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:15.660 And Jesus said to them, follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. 00:01:16.440 --> 00:01:19.260 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 00:01:19.580 --> 00:01:26.820 And going on a little further, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were in their boats, mending the nets. 00:01:27.380 --> 00:01:28.700 And immediately he called them. 00:01:29.660 --> 00:01:34.219 And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:37.140 And they went into Capernaum. 00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:41.640 And immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:48.739 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority and not as the scribes. 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:53.159 And immediately there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:57.780 And he cried out, what have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? 00:01:57.980 --> 00:01:59.780 Have you come to destroy us? 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.560 I know who you are, the Holy One of God. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:07.579 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, be silent and come out of him. 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:13.240 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:19.219 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, who is or what is this? 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:21.259 A new teaching with authority? 00:02:21.480 --> 00:02:24.420 He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:31.640 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout the surrounding region, throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:39.000 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:41.860 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:44.520 And immediately they told him about her. 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:48.420 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:51.340 And the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:57.980 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 00:02:58.300 --> 00:03:01.180 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:05.960 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, cast out many demons. 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:10.140 And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:17.259 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place. 00:03:17.519 --> 00:03:18.459 And there he prayed. 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:22.059 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him. 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:25.179 And they found him and said to him, everyone is looking for you. 00:03:25.279 --> 00:03:30.699 And he said to them, let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also. 00:03:31.339 --> 00:03:33.199 For that is why I came out. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:41.159 Let's pray. 00:03:44.519 --> 00:03:46.439 God, we thank you for the Bible. 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:51.060 We thank you that it's your word to us, that you have spoken clearly to us. 00:03:51.359 --> 00:03:54.139 And most of all, you have spoken to us about your son. 00:03:55.239 --> 00:03:59.339 Lord, thank you for this passage and what it tells us about Jesus. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:04.180 We pray that you would help us see who he is tonight. 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:12.500 And Lord, that as you work in our hearts, that we would respond to all that he is the way that you would want us to. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:15.300 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:16.680 Amen. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:20.500 So I have a question for you. 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:24.480 How do you respond when you encounter someone who's in real authority? 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:36.379 Just put yourself in the driver's seat of your car when those red and blue lights go on behind you and you pull over and roll down the window. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:38.259 What's your response? 00:04:38.620 --> 00:04:39.600 What's your heart response? 00:04:41.900 --> 00:04:48.920 Maybe you're an athlete and the coach says, Michael, after practice today, I want to see you in my office. 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:51.220 What's your response? 00:04:51.220 --> 00:05:01.820 Perhaps you got a phone call this week from a detective of the New Haven Police Department saying, I'd like you to come in. 00:05:01.900 --> 00:05:03.360 We'd like to ask you a few questions. 00:05:05.940 --> 00:05:18.320 Or maybe you're delivering a paper in your department and a world-renowned academic in your field shows up and slides in the back just as you begin your presentation. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:27.120 Or perhaps one of the greatest forms of authority we can imagine in our world today. 00:05:28.139 --> 00:05:32.000 Imagine the President of the United States walked in the back door and sat down. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:34.060 How do you respond? 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:41.000 What happens in your heart when you meet someone who has real authority in your life? 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:47.439 I think the reality is that we have, in fact, a love-hate relationship with authority. 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:50.160 Now, I don't know if that's what you felt. 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:55.740 Because I think often, well, I'll start with the love part because I think it's important to recognize this. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:57.939 We actually love authority sometimes. 00:05:58.279 --> 00:05:58.519 Okay? 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:06.779 If I'm getting mugged on the street corner and a cop pulls around the corner, I'm thinking, hallelujah, the authorities have arrived. 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:10.739 And I've been delivered from this circumstance. 00:06:11.659 --> 00:06:21.919 There are times when, if I'm sick and I need a doctor, I love to have an authority on my particular illness who can help me in that situation. 00:06:23.039 --> 00:06:27.879 So there are times when we recognize that there's a goodness about authority. 00:06:28.039 --> 00:06:29.419 Something that we love about it. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:36.840 But we have a very much of a love-hate relationship with authority, don't we? 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:44.920 When we're called into the coach's office or when that academic shows up, often our response is fear. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:46.740 Oh, no. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:49.139 What are they going to do to me? 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:56.459 How are they going to limit or critique or judge me? 00:06:57.719 --> 00:07:01.139 It's the question that I think we often ask in our hearts. 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:07.300 And, of course, isn't this what we would know from the very beginning of the Bible? 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:14.959 When we look back and we think the Bible begins a story of God who created a beautiful world where he provided everything in it. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:19.319 And as the authority, he set the rules about how we are to live in that world. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:21.859 And that's what Genesis 1 and 2 are all about. 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:27.459 And then in Genesis 3, humanity rebels against God. 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:30.639 It says, God, we don't want to honor you or respect your authority. 00:07:30.719 --> 00:07:32.479 We want to live independent. 00:07:32.479 --> 00:07:36.560 In fact, we want to be an authority on par with you. 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:41.759 And there were consequences of that. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:44.459 There was judgment because of that. 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:50.180 And so, of course, we would feel this fear. 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:57.359 Because as human beings, we all live in this uneasy relationship with authority. 00:07:57.359 --> 00:08:03.979 Because we are a part of this human race that is in an uneasy relationship with its creator. 00:08:05.299 --> 00:08:10.699 Let me just acknowledge, too, that some of you may have a bad reaction to authority. 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:14.879 Because you've experienced someone abusing authority in your life. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:26.560 That somehow you've seen someone, a parent, a teacher, a religious leader, a policeman, abuse that authority. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:29.259 And it's caused deep harm for you. 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:34.679 And so there's real reason to be wary or to be afraid of authority. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:37.599 Even that is an outworking. 00:08:37.599 --> 00:08:44.339 Because those are human authorities that are not using their authority for good, but using it for evil. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:50.759 But all of us have this ambivalence. 00:08:51.219 --> 00:08:54.699 This feeling two different ways about authority, don't we? 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:58.040 This brings us to our passage tonight. 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:03.560 Because our passage is the second part of the Gospel of Mark. 00:09:03.560 --> 00:09:11.160 And if you were here last week, Nick laid out for us that the Gospel of Mark is telling us who Jesus is. 00:09:11.660 --> 00:09:13.280 And how we are to respond to him. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:23.539 And if you look back in your Bible, verses 14 and 15 of chapter 1, we see Jesus coming and saying, proclaiming, the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.360 Repent and believe the good news. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:31.240 And so this sort of sets up the narrative of the whole story. 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:33.159 This first section is an introduction. 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:35.439 And it says, the kingdom is now here. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:42.240 And it begs the question, what kind of kingdom is Jesus really going to bring? 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:47.379 What kind of kingdom is Jesus talking about? 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:50.720 And immediately then Mark goes on. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.860 In his typical staccato narrative. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.919 Did you notice how many times I said immediately as I read this? 00:09:59.120 --> 00:09:59.759 He's like, and immediately. 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:00.440 And then. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.080 And then. 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:01.639 And then. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.440 And it's just a sort of breathless account. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:08.680 Where he's saying, well, here's what Jesus did. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:09.500 And here's what Jesus did. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:10.320 And here's what Jesus did. 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:11.600 And here's what Jesus did. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:20.220 And one of the remarkable things about it is to look at those surprising reactions of people. 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:21.820 Did you notice that? 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:22.460 Put yourself. 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:25.940 Maybe these stories are so familiar that you've stopped thinking about this. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:28.039 But put yourself in the position of these people. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:30.639 Look at verse 18 and verse 20. 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:33.500 According to Mark. 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.980 Mark came along and he said, Chris, follow me. 00:10:35.980 --> 00:10:37.480 And Chris got up. 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:39.360 And he left his entire family. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:41.120 He left his entire livelihood. 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:44.440 His entire well-being. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:45.800 His home. 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:47.200 And he just got up. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:49.899 And he left it all to follow this man. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:52.139 Do you see it in 18 and in 20? 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:53.159 You see it repeated. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:58.679 Why would he do that? 00:10:59.319 --> 00:11:02.740 And then you go on and you look in verses 20 and 27. 00:11:03.079 --> 00:11:05.980 The crowds who didn't know much about Jesus at this point. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:10.120 Because this is the first time we're starting to see him publicly in ministry. 00:11:10.699 --> 00:11:12.259 And what do they say about him? 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.319 They were astonished. 00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:16.679 They said, what is this? 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:20.019 I've never seen anything like it. 00:11:22.339 --> 00:11:22.779 Right? 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.559 And then, do you notice what the demon does? 00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:30.819 The demon says, what have you to do with me? 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:33.459 Which is kind of like, get out of my house. 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:34.659 This is my place. 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:36.039 What are you doing here? 00:11:36.459 --> 00:11:38.939 That's the idea that the demon is saying. 00:11:39.239 --> 00:11:42.120 And so there's this pushback by the demon. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:45.240 Because I know who you are and I know why you've come. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:45.919 Right? 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:49.799 He walks into Simon's house. 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:52.299 He walks into his mother-in-law's room. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.440 And the fever fled from him. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.379 Ran away. 00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:06.279 The healed woman stands up and immediately begins to serve him. 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:12.779 The crowds, the sick, the needy flock to him. 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:18.799 It said the whole city was sitting at his door to be healed of their sickness. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:22.299 And freed from their spiritual oppression. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:36.899 Mark is telling all of these stories to help us get how surprising and how shocking this Jesus is when he shows up in the world. 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:43.319 Because when, and this is an important interpretive key for the whole book of Mark as we're studying it. 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:48.939 When you see what Jesus does, then you will understand who he is. 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:52.240 And that's how Mark tells us about who Jesus is. 00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:59.159 Other gospels will give you more teaching and more explanatory passages to tell you more about who Jesus is. 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:07.279 But in Mark, he's stringing these things together because he thinks you can figure it out just by reading his stories with a good eye. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:14.839 You will see who Jesus is by reading these stories about what he does over and over again. 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:23.899 And I think in this section, what Mark is saying, what he's pointing out by stringing these stories together, 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:29.980 is he's saying when Jesus comes, he comes with an authority like no other. 00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.780 What did that look like? 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:38.780 What kind of authority did Jesus bring when he came? 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:49.759 Well, the first one that you see so clearly is that he had the authority to call all people everywhere to follow him. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.679 So you see it with the disciples. 00:13:51.839 --> 00:13:53.079 He just says, come, follow me. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.720 And they do. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.019 All right. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:14:03.079 Then you also see it further on when you see his ministry within the city of Capernaum had such a magnetic effect 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:05.620 that there were people streaming to him. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:11.980 The whole city, as we just saw, gathered to him. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.539 Why would this be? 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:22.340 Why would Jesus have the authority to call all people everywhere? 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:27.940 We live in a world of tolerance today where you have your religion, I have my religion, 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:30.440 and we need to figure out how to get along. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.700 And at one level, that's perfectly right. 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:35.200 It's not my job to kill you for what you believe. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:37.820 And similarly, I hope you won't do the same to me. 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.360 Right? 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.820 So that's a right thing. 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:47.159 But on a deeper level, the Jesus of the Bible expresses this authority. 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.639 How could that be? 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:53.259 Well, there are lots of different places we could see that. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:59.840 One is that you see him with power over the created world in different ways. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:05.180 You see him as the one who comes and is able to give life. 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:12.500 You think about this sick woman, and he comes and he just says, oh yeah, you see that effect of the fallen world, their sickness. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.899 But I'm the giver of life and the creator of life. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.560 I can make that fever flee. 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:19.580 I can raise her up so that she's healthy again. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.180 Watch me. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.000 I can do that. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:25.659 In doing so, he's claiming power over creation. 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:32.940 He's claiming the ability to overcome sickness in this. 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:43.380 But you know, when you look through all of scripture, one of the most remarkable places where we see what is it that Jesus, where does Jesus derive this authority? 00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:47.580 One of the great passages in all of the Bible is Acts 17. 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:49.000 You should go read it sometime. 00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:57.020 Paul the apostle walks into Athens, and he's looking around, and there's this great myriad of statues to all these gods. 00:15:57.019 --> 00:16:05.699 And he sees one that is inscribed to an unknown god, and he says to the gathered people, what you worship is unknown, I now declare to you. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.600 And he goes on to talk about God, the God of the Bible. 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.319 And he says, this God is not made in temples. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:13.579 He doesn't live in temples made by human hands. 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:15.179 He's not like one of us. 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.740 In fact, he's transcendent. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.600 He's the one who's the giver of life. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.460 In him, we live and move and have our being. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.759 He's not far off. 00:16:21.819 --> 00:16:23.259 We can actually know him. 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:34.299 And at the very end of it, Paul says, and he has now called all men, all people everywhere to repent. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:42.419 Because he has appointed a day, and he has made one man qualified to come and judge the world. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:48.059 And he has verified that man by raising him from the dead. 00:16:48.059 --> 00:17:04.819 And so Jesus, ultimately, in his authority, has power to call all men because he's the one who is able to give life because he alone rose from the dead. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:19.259 So, Jesus calls people, all people, all men, all women, everywhere to repent, to believe, which is what he said. 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:23.579 And the question is tonight, what about you? 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.639 Are you responding to that call? 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:31.879 Have you heard that call of him to come and to believe? 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:36.920 Everyone will respond to Jesus some way. 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:37.860 You will curse him. 00:17:38.020 --> 00:17:38.820 You will ignore him. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.500 You will bow your knee to him. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:43.020 But everyone will respond one way or the other. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:47.600 He lifts up this call, and he says, come, follow me. 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:50.360 So, that's one of the kinds of authority he has. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.720 He has the authority to call people to follow him. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:59.120 The second thing is that he has the authority to reverse the curse on creation. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:09.279 Now, for those of you who are from the Northeast, reverse the curse is a very, very sweet, sweet line if you're a Red Sox fan. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:14.019 Because you know that in 1918, the Red Sox won the World Series. 00:18:14.219 --> 00:18:17.459 And two years later, they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:26.500 And for the next 80 years, they didn't win the World Series until 2004. 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.500 Right? 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:30.279 And it was called the curse of the Bambino. 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:41.940 The Red Sox will never win a World Series again because they were so foolish to give up the best baseball player that's ever lived to their rivals. 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.559 Terrible, terrible. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:51.639 Jesus came to reverse a much greater curse. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:19:04.639 The rebellion against God that humanity committed meant that the whole world was now out of relationship with its creator. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:12.460 And so we have sickness and we have spiritual forces that are contrary to God. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:15.380 We have sin. 00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:19.100 We have evil in the world because of this. 00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:26.040 And we live in a world that is experiencing the effects of the curse. 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:28.780 Here, we see it in multiple places. 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.280 Right? 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:33.480 Here, we see it in the unclean spirit. 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:40.279 A Jewish audience would have known an unclean spirit is a spirit that has nothing to do with God. 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:44.660 It is outside of God's camp, of God's reign, of God's kingdom. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:47.460 It is somehow in rebellion against it. 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:50.519 The woman who is sick. 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:56.720 Even the misunderstanding of the disciples about who Jesus is. 00:19:57.059 --> 00:20:00.039 All of these things are effects of sin. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:03.480 Because we are made to know God, but we don't, do we? 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:07.139 And we are made to live in a perfectly good world, but we don't, do we? 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:11.500 Instead, we live in this world where we are constantly... 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:19.119 In fact, I think that we have only this much knowledge of how cursed, how fallen this world is. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:31.880 And the only way that I believe that this is really true is because I can taste sometimes in my soul a longing for something that's pure. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.400 For something that's right. 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.759 For something that's true. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.279 For something that's lovely. 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:44.539 Sometimes God pierces my heart with a taste of what it would look like if there were no curse in the world. 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:49.519 And then the clouds come in and it never lasts. 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:51.619 But it makes me think it's there. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.339 It's real. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.559 And if you are struggling with sickness, it's been ongoing and a trial. 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:03.059 Know that this is a part of the curse. 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:06.119 Not of your sin, but of the curse on creation. 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:09.440 The curse that happened way back in the beginning. 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:13.319 That we are now all reaping the consequences of. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.420 And Jesus comes. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.559 He just says, 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.839 No, I have authority over you. 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.559 You, unclean spirit. 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:25.720 Go. 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:29.619 And like I said, the unclean spirit was like, 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.619 What are you doing in my territory? 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:33.160 This is my field. 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.200 This is my hometown. 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:36.340 I have got dominion over this person. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.900 That's what it means when he says, 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.880 What have you to do with me, Jesus of Nazareth? 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.940 Then he goes on and he says, 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.200 I know who you are. 00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:48.039 You are the holy one. 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:49.759 You are the one sent from God. 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.759 He recognized it. 00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:56.000 The demon recognized it. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.339 And he says, 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.019 No, no, no. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.579 Now that the king has come. 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.380 Now that the kingdom is here. 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:04.099 I'm going to reclaim my territory. 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:07.019 I'm going to reverse the effects of this curse. 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:09.980 I'm going to bring this into the world. 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:16.799 But notice at the very end. 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.460 Isn't it interesting? 00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:22.220 Jesus has the power to fix it all. 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.180 It seems. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.960 He could have snapped his fingers. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.059 He could have made every sick person well. 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:29.900 Right? 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:31.380 But isn't it interesting. 00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:34.519 That in his mission on earth. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.000 Though he has this authority. 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:41.519 He doesn't use it to simply fix those things. 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:44.540 Do you see what he says at the very end of this passage? 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.180 Verse 38. 00:22:46.320 --> 00:22:47.780 Let us go on to the other town. 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:49.300 So that I may preach there. 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:52.259 For that is why I came out. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:55.140 This is really important. 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:57.920 Because when we start talking about Jesus having all the authority. 00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.259 To reverse the curse. 00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:01.379 And to overcome sin and evil in the world. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.759 We start to cry out. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.000 And we think, God, why not? 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.700 Why have you not done it yet? 00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.859 Why have you not fixed all of it? 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.920 Why is my life so hard, Jesus? 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.519 If I believe in you. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:14.180 Why can't you fix this stuff? 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:18.420 And it's not that he can't. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:22.160 But it's that he has a greater purpose for us. 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:24.759 He has a greater healing. 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.339 That he wants to work. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.700 Not only in our individual lives. 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.700 But in the world. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:34.339 And so he walks away from multitudes. 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:36.940 Who are clamoring for him to come heal. 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.680 He says, I have to go other. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.879 To proclaim. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.920 To preach. 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.220 And what is he preaching? 00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:44.500 He's preaching, the kingdom of God is near. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.819 Repent and believe the good news. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.879 We'll come back to that. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.579 As we wrap this up. 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.640 So he has the authority to call people. 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:59.079 He has the authority to reverse the curse. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.879 Finally. 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:04.279 And very oddly. 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:07.900 Verses 35 and 36. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:12.640 Mark says, oh, Jesus has all this authority. 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.779 He can do anything. 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:16.700 Like at this point, you're thinking he has the Superman cape on. 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.680 And he can do anything. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:19.920 And then he goes out into the. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.900 Away from the crowds. 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:23.299 Away from his disciples. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.360 To do what? 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.860 To be close to his father. 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.740 To pray. 00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:33.000 Why would Superman have to pray to anybody? 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.859 Well. 00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:34.920 Well. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.220 Jesus authority. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:43.000 Is derived from his fellowship with God. 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:48.460 His dependence upon God. 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:50.980 As the second person of the Trinity. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.259 Walked the earth. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:56.039 As he took on human flesh and bone. 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:59.819 He took a position of dependence upon God. 00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:01.159 The father. 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:03.139 Even as he was God himself. 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.720 In human flesh. 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:07.980 And it's a remarkable thing. 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.579 That makes us think. 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.839 This authority is not like. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.779 What I thought it would be. 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.259 Because everyone thought. 00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:17.359 That the Messiah. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.099 The king that God would raise up. 00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:20.679 The holy one that he would raise up. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.819 To come and rescue. 00:25:21.939 --> 00:25:23.500 Would be the one who would snap his fingers. 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.419 And make it all right. 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:26.579 Throw over the Roman rule. 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.199 Restore the economic. 00:25:28.199 --> 00:25:30.980 And physical prosperity of the kingdom. 00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:33.439 Expand it to the ends of the earth. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.759 And God would be worshipped. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.459 And glorified. 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:37.019 And wouldn't that be great? 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:40.659 And then we have the savior who comes. 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:43.680 And he starts showing signs of being able to do that. 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:46.420 And then he heads off in the wilderness to pray. 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:50.120 And you just think. 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:53.920 What kind of authority is this? 00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:56.960 Well. 00:25:57.460 --> 00:26:00.360 It's an authority that knows that it comes. 00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:02.440 From somewhere else. 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:05.080 Comes from God himself. 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:06.960 And. 00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:08.680 Therefore. 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.799 It is an authority that is wielded. 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.680 For God's greatest purposes. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.560 In the world. 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.080 You see. 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:18.000 Jesus came to wield his authority. 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:20.500 Not for his own victory. 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.299 And exaltation. 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:23.759 Although he did all that. 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:25.480 But he wielded his authority. 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:27.100 For the good of us. 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.240 In God's purposes. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.100 God sent him. 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:30.900 Here. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.700 With a very clear purpose. 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:33.680 And Mark. 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.960 And this is another key. 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:36.100 Into interpreting. 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:37.480 The whole gospel of Mark. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.240 Is that. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.740 We will know. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:41.539 More about what this means. 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:43.339 When we read the end of the book. 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.679 Because the interpretive key. 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.719 To understanding. 00:26:46.719 --> 00:26:47.819 Who Jesus is. 00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:49.139 And all the significance. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:50.159 Of these stories. 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:53.419 Is when we get to the end. 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.480 And we see him. 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.579 Die on the cross. 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.879 And rise again from the dead. 00:26:57.880 --> 00:27:01.320 And so here. 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.960 We see Jesus. 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.980 Wielding his authority. 00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:08.360 For the good of others. 00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:10.460 For the greatest good of others. 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.280 In John 10. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.020 18. 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.400 Jesus says this. 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.120 I have the authority. 00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.900 To lay down my life. 00:27:19.280 --> 00:27:20.600 And to take it up. 00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:21.160 Again. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:25.560 You know. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:27.000 It's an amazing thing. 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.160 Because. 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.560 No one else in the world. 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:31.240 Has ever had that authority. 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.400 We don't have that authority. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.540 We might have the authority. 00:27:37.540 --> 00:27:38.600 To lay down our life. 00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.700 We don't have the authority. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.820 To pick it up again. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.160 That's why. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.420 The resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:47.759 Changes everything. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.900 Because. 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.180 It is in that. 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.359 That we see the fullness. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.579 Of his authority. 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.900 And the purposes. 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.200 For which he did it. 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.559 You see. 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.940 When he went to the cross. 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.480 The one who had all authority. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.640 To reverse the curse. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.279 Said. 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:04.200 I will use my authority. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.599 To free you. 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.200 Ultimately. 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.220 From the curse. 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.119 Of judgment. 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.599 Upon your sin. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.700 And judgment. 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:12.180 Upon your rebellion. 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.559 Against God. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.279 Your desire. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:18.920 In all of those moments. 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.000 To rebel against. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.019 The human authorities. 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.099 That are over you. 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.539 Are just little. 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.399 Indications. 00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.420 Of how your heart. 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.660 Is constantly. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.639 Straying. 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.079 Towards. 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.160 Rebelling. 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.319 Against your creator. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.019 Himself. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.379 And Jesus says. 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.039 I'm going to come. 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.619 And use my authority. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.980 To lay down my life. 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:40.079 So that you don't have to bear. 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:41.259 The consequences. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.059 And the judgment. 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.000 Of God. 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.420 Against your rebellion. 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:46.519 I will be treated. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.740 As a rebel. 00:28:49.080 --> 00:28:50.140 Even though I was. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.180 Perfectly dependent. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.880 And perfectly submitted. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:53.600 To the father. 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:56.080 I will take my. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.440 Authority. 00:28:57.600 --> 00:28:58.400 And lay it down. 00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.820 For you. 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.740 The rebel. 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:04.060 So that you can come back. 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.980 And be forgiven. 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.019 Of that rebellion. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:08.300 So that you can be restored. 00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:09.600 To a relationship. 00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.180 With God. 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:12.019 So that you can be freed. 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.019 From the curse. 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.559 In all of its effects. 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:16.359 So that spiritual oppression. 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:18.119 Has no more power over you. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.220 So that sickness. 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:21.400 Will not be the last word. 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.660 In your life. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.279 In death. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.180 But in fact. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.359 Death will be overcome. 00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:26.579 And swallowed up. 00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:27.180 In victory. 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.779 This is the authority. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.740 Of Jesus Christ. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.019 This surprising. 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.440 I can do everything. 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.119 And yet I will. 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.420 Humble myself. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.139 And lay myself down. 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.440 For you. 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:45.360 That's not the kind of authority. 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.480 That we usually wield. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.059 In the world. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.660 Is it? 00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:50.059 But it's the kind of authority. 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.680 That comes. 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.519 In the Savior. 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.640 And it characterizes. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.820 The kingdom of God. 00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:57.160 As it comes. 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.920 Is it with power. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.539 And glory. 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.059 Yes. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.259 But a power and glory. 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:04.100 Like no other in the world. 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:06.140 The power and the glory. 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:07.320 Of sacrifice. 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.720 Of love. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:10.600 Of dying. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.720 In our place. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:13.279 And rising from the dead. 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.960 So that we might have life. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:24.420 So this is the call. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:27.700 Come believe in this one. 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:29.900 Come follow this one. 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:29.940 God. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:33.000 And if you're here tonight. 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:36.280 And you're exploring Christianity. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:39.320 I hope you'll keep hearing this call. 00:30:39.540 --> 00:30:41.940 And I hope you'll keep exploring this Jesus. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:45.580 And see how remarkable. 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:48.080 How glorious he is. 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:53.000 And if you're a believer here tonight. 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:54.759 If you've already decided. 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.960 Responded to that call. 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.460 And said yes. 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.140 I will follow you. 00:30:58.140 --> 00:31:01.080 I want to remind you. 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.620 Of one other great passage. 00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.380 In the scriptures. 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:06.720 That we see inherent in here. 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.920 When he called the disciples. 00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:08.560 He said come. 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.380 Follow me. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.380 And I will make you. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.180 Become fishers of men. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.940 And it reminded me. 00:31:15.020 --> 00:31:16.380 Of what Jesus last words. 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.759 In the gospel of Matthew were. 00:31:18.520 --> 00:31:19.920 He says all authority. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.840 On heaven and earth. 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:22.080 Is given to me. 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.840 I am the resurrected savior. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.620 I have all authority. 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:28.279 So go. 00:31:28.979 --> 00:31:30.259 And as you go. 00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:31.359 Into the world. 00:31:32.439 --> 00:31:33.199 Make disciples. 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.679 Of all nations. 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.739 Baptizing them. 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.119 And teaching them. 00:31:39.239 --> 00:31:40.619 All that I have commanded you. 00:31:40.719 --> 00:31:41.079 And lo. 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:41.799 I. 00:31:41.959 --> 00:31:43.639 I who have all authority in the world. 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.819 I am with you. 00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:46.059 In this endeavor. 00:31:46.439 --> 00:31:47.500 To the end of the age. 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:49.479 This is the call of the church. 00:31:49.959 --> 00:31:51.639 To continue Jesus' mission. 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:53.140 There are more places. 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.140 For us to go. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.960 And tell others. 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:56.759 About the glory of Christ. 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:59.800 About what an incredible savior he is. 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.500 About one who used his authority. 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.780 Not for his own. 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:05.280 Self-exaltation. 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.460 But for our good. 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:07.220 In suffering. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.180 So that he might be exalted. 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:11.320 Through winning us. 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:15.080 So this is the call. 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.920 This is the end. 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.740 That Jesus called us to. 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:19.839 To. 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.519 Will you respond. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.759 Let's pray. 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.579 And ask the Holy Spirit. 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.200 To help us. 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.720 As the music team comes up. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.480 God we. 00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:34.579 We hear your call. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.359 In our lives. 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:38.079 Jesus even tonight. 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.160 You were calling us. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.480 Calling us to repent. 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.120 And believe. 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.220 Calling us to come. 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.259 And follow you. 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.680 Calling us to take up. 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:49.339 The calling of being. 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.299 Fishers of men. 00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:50.980 To others. 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:52.980 Lord. 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:53.959 None of these things. 00:32:53.959 --> 00:32:55.099 Would make any sense. 00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:57.899 None of these things. 00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:58.759 Would be possible. 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.919 If it were not for you. 00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:02.399 And for the glory. 00:33:02.399 --> 00:33:03.619 Of who you are. 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:05.079 The authority. 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.019 That you wield. 00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.899 In this world. 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.119 And the way. 00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:09.319 That you have wielded it. 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.839 By laying down. 00:33:10.939 --> 00:33:11.859 Your life for us. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.399 God. 00:33:13.459 --> 00:33:14.019 We ask. 00:33:14.179 --> 00:33:14.500 Tonight. 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.779 By your spirit. 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.500 Lord. 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.440 Open our hearts. 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.559 To hear your call. 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.819 And enable us. 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.599 To respond. 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.379 In faith. 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.000 Repentance. 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.819 Belief. 00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:26.720 And obedience. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:28.279 We pray this. 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.019 In Jesus name. 00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.059 Amen. 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:30.159 Amen.