WEBVTT

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 Well, this is a first for me.

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 I'm taking out my cell phone, and any of you who know me know my cell phone is, should I

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! say this?

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 It's possessed.

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 And I say this because it sometimes rings at the most inopportune times, and I'm trusting

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 that it won't do that.

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 I have misplaced my watch, and I'm not relying on any of you to tell me what time it is.

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 So, I'm going to rely on my cell phone to give me hints of, you know, how much beyond

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 10 after 12 I go.

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 You think I'm joking.

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 So, for me to say that I need your prayer would be something you've not heard before, and

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 it's desperately true.

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 Any and every time a man stands to preach the Word of God, it is right.

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 It is biblical in that it fits the frame and instruction of Scripture that people should

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 pray, both that their hearts are receptive to the Word of God, because I'm certain there

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 are going to be things that are said today, as is in every case where the Word is taught,

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 that there are things that affect your heart and life, and God intends for you to respond

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 to them.

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 And so there is a part of your responsibility of praying that the Word of God would have free

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 course.

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 And then it's appropriate also to pray for me that what I say is governed and controlled

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 by the Spirit, is faithful to the text, and lifts up the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 That's a burden that you have.

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 Do you understand that?

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 You have an obligation, a responsibility, and I'll say this carefully.

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 Average people praying for average pastors enable exceptional preaching.

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 Don't ever forget that.

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 Don't ever forget that.

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 So, let's turn in our Bibles to John chapter 7, verse 53.

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 Actually, I'm going to begin in my text, and this is not an original manuscript.

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 They're gone.

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 Nobody knows where they are.

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 But I'm going to be reading in the English Standard Version, and some of you may also have a little parenthetical comment.

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 I'm going to read that this morning, and it has bearing on the lesson.

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 The earliest manuscripts do not include 753 through 811.

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 They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

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 Early in the morning, he came again to the temple, and all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

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 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and placed her in the midst.

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 They said to him, Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

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 Now, in the law of Moses, in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such woman.

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 What do you say?

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 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

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 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

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 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them,

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 Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.

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 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

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 And when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.

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 And Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

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 Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they?

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 Has no one condemned you?

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 She said, No one, Lord.

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 And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you.

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 Go, and from now on, sin no more.

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 Let's pray.

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 Our Father, this morning as we take this passage of Scripture in hand,

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 we're mindful of the clear instruction and the explanation in the text,

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 not just here, but what you tell us is that we are dependent upon you working in us

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 for us to comprehend and apply the sweetness and beauty of this passage.

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 And we confess that it's fairly easy for us this morning as we are gathered together

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 to allow our minds to kind of slip over into autopilot

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 and just kind of bear with the time that lies between now and our departure.

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 Some of us perhaps speculating upon what we'll do after the service is over.

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 Others of us actually scrolling through and thinking of things that we would be tempted

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 to consider important, such as things we may want to buy or what we're trying to do on the holidays

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 and all different kinds of little thoughts that have nothing to do with eternity.

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 And so we're mindful this morning that we need your help

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 to bring every thought into captivity to the glory of Christ.

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 We need your help to hear the Word of God and apply it directly to our own lives.

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 We need your help to grow to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 that He who abides supreme would be glorified in our frail lives.

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 And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, this morning I can't think of another time where I read you a little parenthetical statement

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 at the very opening that really addressed the issue of a textual variant,

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 and there's a reason for that.

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 My general pattern of beginning a sermon is to read the passage,

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 give you a little comment, an overview, and then pray, and then off we go to the work.

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 Today, my complete confidence in the inerrancy and the preservation of Scripture

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 prompts me to spend a little extra time this morning presenting a defense

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 for my complete confidence in the authority and the reliability of the Word of God.

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 And I have no hesitation in saying to you that what 2 Timothy 3, verse 16 says is entirely true.

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 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it's reliable, it's profitable,

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 that the man of God may be completely furnished for every good work.

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 And this passage is no exception.

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 I think many of you, and I'm just curious, raise your hand,

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 if you have a Bible that notes the fact that this is one of those passages that is a little atypical.

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 How many? Wave that so I see.

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 Okay?

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 Most of you have some indication that this passage is one that doesn't appear in the earliest manuscripts.

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 And that little announcement actually tells us something important.

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 For one, it tells you that the translators of Scripture are painfully honest in mentioning what this text is

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 and how it relates to the rest of the Scriptures,

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 and they let you know the information that has governed most of the gathering

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 and the including in the canon of the Scriptures.

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 I appreciate their honesty, and I respect it a great deal.

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 And for another, the note alerts you to one of two passages in the New Testament

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 that are not as well documented in ancient Greek texts.

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 The other one, does anybody know without looking?

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 Does anybody know what the other one is?

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 You know what it is?

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 It is in what gospel?

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 Stephen?

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 Pardon?

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 No, the woman at the well is there.

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 I'm thinking about Mark chapter 16, the last couple verses.

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 And so, any of you want to speed over there and kind of take a look?

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 There's another indication of an extended passage that doesn't have documentation in the earliest texts.

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 Now, that being said, I could take time here to give you a lengthy overview of the way in which our Bible was put together

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 and the rules that governed the verses and parts that have been included that you hold in your hand.

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 And the fact of the matter is, is that our Bible that we actually have did not come, has not come to us from an original manuscript.

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 Now, what do I mean by original?

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 Case in point.

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 Paul sat down and wrote a passage, Scripture, Ephesians or whatever it is, he used in Emanuensis in many cases,

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 but that was sent directly to the…

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 No copy of Paul's…

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 I shouldn't say no copy.

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 No original of Paul's letter exists.

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 But there are countless, countless texts that are copies of the original,

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 and those recopied portions are the things from which the Scriptures have been gathered that you and I hold in hand.

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 And translators, eventually, when they got together to translate the Bible,

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 whether it was from Greek or from Hebrew into English or whatever language that they relied upon,

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 what they did was they relied upon copies and they paid very careful attention to each word.

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 Let's take, for example, they had 10 copies of Isaiah chapter 50.

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 Use that as an illustration.

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 One of the things they wanted to check was to see that each word was the same in the 10 copies,

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 so that there was a reliable accuracy across the…

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 How many of you played telephone by any chance?

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 You ever played telephone?

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 I remember when I was…

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 Steve, you're the guilty party on telephone.

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 In the Steve Rice small group, we played telephone,

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 and by the time it got…

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 We were only six or seven people around the room,

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 and by the time it got to the end of the…

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 It's just a mess.

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 Well, relying upon the complete accuracy of the translations,

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 one of the things that the people who put together the Scriptures have done

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 is they've very carefully matched up the different copies to see,

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 are these words exactly the same in each one of the various copies?

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 And that's one of the things they rely upon to guarantee the accuracy of the text.

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 And where there are wording variations,

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 and there are a couple of them, there are several,

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 one of the things that the translators have always done is, for one,

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 they give preference to the wording that comes from an earlier copy.

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 If the copy was actually made in, let's say, 100 years after the apostle wrote it,

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 it tends to be viewed as more reliable than a copy that was made 300 years later,

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 by virtue of that common expression or expectation that the further down the food chain you go

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 in playing telephone, probably the further you get from the real pieces.

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 And so, preference is generally given to those that are earlier copies.

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 Second thing that is given preference is when the wording appears to be the same

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 in most copies.

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 It only is a variant in maybe one of 100 copies.

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 Another preference is given in matching what the verse says

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 against all of the rest of the record of Scripture.

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 And that's one of the things that I'm going to rely on this morning

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 as we work our way through to understand this passage.

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 We're going to discover that what this passage teaches us about Jesus

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 is absolutely consistent with the rest of the record of Scripture.

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 I want to tell you something.

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 One of the real tests of the authenticity of a translation

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 is the doctrinal clarity with which it puts things out in front of you.

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 Whether you're reading the Scriptures in English or Hindi or Spanish or Latin,

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 whatever it is, if it is the Scripture,

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 it's going to present the same doctrine across the spectrum.

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 Does that make sense?

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 In fact, people come to me, they kind of get wigged out,

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 and, Pastor, you're not using the King James Version,

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 and it is the one version that has God's absolute reliable stamp on,

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 and my rebuttal is this.

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 Okay, so tell me, which doctrine does ESV get wrong?

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 No, it doesn't.

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 And so when people are weighing,

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 well, this John 8 passage,

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 it doesn't appear in some of the manuscripts,

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 but is it consistent with the record of Scripture

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 and the picture we have of the Lord Jesus Christ?

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 So since our passage doesn't appear in the earliest manuscripts,

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 allow me to pose several questions

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 that I gathered this week in reading one of the comments

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 that John MacArthur made.

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 He said this,

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 Do these verses teach truth that violates any other passage of Scripture?

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 And the answer is no.

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 No.

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 Second,

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 do they, in fact, corroborate other passages in Scripture

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 and substantiate it?

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 The answer is yes.

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 And keep your finger there in John

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 and turn back to John 3, verse 17.

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 We have a very interesting picture here.

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 It's not going to appear on the screen.

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 Sometimes I'll say something and people look,

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 and is that going to come up?

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 This time it's,

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 how many of you notice that I sit down here and make notes?

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 I make notes in the morning,

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 Sunday morning as I'm praying and preparing.

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 What I have in hard copy and what happens at the pulpit

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 always gets kind of amended a little bit.

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 John 3, 17.

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 Listen to it.

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 It says this,

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 For God did not send His Son into the world

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 to condemn the world,

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 but in order that the world might be saved through Him.

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 That passage gives us a picture of Jesus

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 behaving in John 8

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 in complete consistency

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 to what we read in John 3, verse 17.

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 So the question, the second question was,

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 does what happens in this passage

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 corroborate other Scripture and substantiate?

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 And we see that to be true.

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 And the third question is this,

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 is there definite and conclusive evidence

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 that this passage should be left out?

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 And the answer is no.

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 So with that said,

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 we want to dig into this passage with complete confidence,

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 believing that it tells us the truth about the Lord Jesus

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 and teaches us lessons that you and I,

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 sitting here this morning,

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 need to learn.

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 Let's look first of all, if you will,

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 going back to John 8,

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 that this passage gives us a very interesting little picture

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 of our Lord Jesus,

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 the flesh,

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 the part,

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 the word incarnate part.

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 Okay?

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 And so you look here in John 8,

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 and it says there in verse 53 of 7,

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 actually it says,

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 they went each to his own house,

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 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

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 Let me have you turn back to a passage that I do mark for you,

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 and I want you to look at Isaiah chapter 42,

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 Isaiah chapter 42,

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 verse 1 through 4.

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 Behold my servant,

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 whom I uphold,

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 my chosen,

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 in whom my soul delights,

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 I have put my spirit upon him.

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 He will bring forth justice to the nations.

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 He will not cry aloud,

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 or lift up his voice,

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 or make it heard in the street.

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 A bruised reed he will not break,

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 and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.

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 He will faithfully bring forth justice.

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 He will not grow faint,

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 or be discouraged,

00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:24.900
 till he has established justice in the earth,

00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:27.680
 and the coastlands wait for his law.

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.839
 What we find in this passage,

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.079
 going back to Isaiah,

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.039
 is a picture of the Lord Jesus

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:36.879
 that was contrary to the popular expectation

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.460
 of what the Messiah would be like.

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:39.500
 You know,

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.599
 they expected Jesus,

00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:42.559
 when he came into Jerusalem,

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.839
 if he was doing it according to their plan,

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.079
 he would have been riding on a white charger,

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.480
 he would have been strong,

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.099
 and mighty,

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.859
 and powerful,

00:17:50.179 --> 00:17:51.779
 and he would have absolutely stomped out

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.059
 those nasty Romans,

00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:55.220
 and dealt with all the sin in the world.

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:55.419
 You know,

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.039
 bang!

00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:57.480
 By the way,

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:59.940
 when he comes back the second time,

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.899
 guess what's going to happen?

00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.179
 It will happen,

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:03.779
 right?

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:06.639
 When Jesus comes back

00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:09.240
 to bring his kingdom

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:10.559
 and reign,

00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:12.500
 it is going to be glorious,

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:16.839
 and there will be no relaxed kind of,

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:18.920
 he is going to come with authority and power.

00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.000
 But this time,

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:20.799
 he came,

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.099
 how?

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.079
 On a donkey.

00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:22.799
 Slow,

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.359
 easy,

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:23.980
 gentle.

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:27.339
 And as we open up this passage,

00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.039
 we find that

00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:30.299
 after that grand and glorious announcement

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.599
 in John chapter 7,

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.139
 I am the one that you can rely on

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.240
 to give you salvation,

00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:39.259
 and also to make you a satisfier of other people,

00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:42.199
 everybody's heard the message

00:18:42.199 --> 00:18:44.039
 and they go off to go to bed.

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:49.719
 Maybe sit around the small little living room

00:18:49.719 --> 00:18:51.119
 that they had in those ancient homes,

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.519
 and it was a pretty impressive day

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.379
 that we had today,

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.459
 and Jesus was in top form.

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:59.579
 Did you notice how he made that wonderful announcement

00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.339
 and blah, blah, blah,

00:19:00.439 --> 00:19:01.259
 and eventually,

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.160
 well, good night,

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:02.900
 see you tomorrow,

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.480
 I love you,

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:03.759
 blah, blah,

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.720
 and off they went to sleep.

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.079
 What did we learn about Jesus?

00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.279
 Look there at Romans 8,

00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:13.379
 at John chapter 8, verse 1,

00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:15.900
 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.759
 The throng went home.

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.900
 What did Jesus do?

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:25.440
 It says that he went out to the Mount of Olives.

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.720
 We know from Luke

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:30.140
 that Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives.

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.519
 It was his custom,

00:19:32.620 --> 00:19:33.640
 is what Luke tells us.

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:36.880
 And we know that it was a place of prayer,

00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:40.500
 and I think it is fair for us to anticipate that,

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:42.000
 or to at least speculate,

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.940
 that one of the things that Jesus did

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:46.279
 when he retired to that quiet place

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.420
 is he spent time in prayer.

00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:50.580
 But I want you to understand also

00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:52.680
 that when Jesus went to the Mount of Olives,

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.960
 he also went there to rest

00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:55.300
 because he was very human.

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.640
 And so just imagine that

00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.960
 instead of demanding to be housed

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:03.200
 in a spectacular fashion

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.580
 because he was, after all,

00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:06.539
 the Messiah and the Lord of hosts,

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.320
 he goes up,

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:11.300
 and as would happen in that ancient culture,

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.120
 he took the heavy coat that he had,

00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:15.019
 and he laid down on the ground

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.939
 and he rested there alone.

00:20:19.179 --> 00:20:21.579
 That's a profoundly humbling picture

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:23.299
 of our Savior, isn't it?

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:26.239
 Remember what he said to his disciples

00:20:26.239 --> 00:20:26.719
 when they said,

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.799
 well, I'm going to follow you.

00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.000
 He says, let me tell you,

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.539
 foxes have holes,

00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.839
 birds have nests,

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.799
 and the Son of Man has what?

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:36.019
 Nowhere to lay his head.

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:40.479
 Profoundly humble in his ministry.

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.819
 The next morning as Jesus got up,

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:46.940
 it tells us that he came into the temple.

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.779
 Look at verse 2.

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.900
 Early in the morning,

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.299
 he came again to the temple.

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:52.000
 All the people came to him.

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:53.799
 So I want you to imagine this scene as well.

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.900
 Here is Jesus.

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.200
 He's rested for the night.

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.480
 He gets up early,

00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.259
 and he goes to the temple.

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.640
 What does he go to the temple to do?

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.099
 He goes to the temple to do that

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.259
 which was in his heart

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:08.740
 and was for the well-being of God's people.

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:11.700
 He said he came there to teach the word.

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.559
 By the way,

00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.460
 I want you to understand

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:16.400
 that it must have been very unnerving

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:19.279
 for the scribes and Pharisees

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.120
 to see Jesus arriving at the temple again

00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:24.839
 because what they knew

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:28.160
 is that people flocked to be around him

00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:30.079
 to hear his teaching.

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:33.220
 Remember in John chapter 7

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:35.519
 that when the police officers

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.920
 came back to the Sanhedrin

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.120
 and said,

00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.459
 Did you bring him?

00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.419
 No.

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:43.299
 Nobody ever spoke like he did.

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.739
 And here's Jesus in humility

00:21:46.739 --> 00:21:48.699
 coming back into the temple

00:21:48.699 --> 00:21:50.399
 just quietly,

00:21:51.719 --> 00:21:52.819
 unassuming spirit,

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.079
 and he sits down

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.419
 and he begins to teach.

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.159
 Isn't that a little different

00:21:59.159 --> 00:22:00.959
 than a lot of what we see today

00:22:00.959 --> 00:22:03.079
 in those who are the heavy lifters

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.359
 in public,

00:22:04.639 --> 00:22:05.779
 even Christian venues?

00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:08.759
 So and so will be out on stage

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.839
 in five minutes.

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:12.699
 And here's Jesus kind of wanders in

00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:13.720
 and sits down at the temple

00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:15.079
 and just begins to teach.

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.919
 You see,

00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:22.740
 you look there at John chapter 8 verse 2

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:25.059
 and what you see is Jesus doing

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.899
 what he loved to do.

00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:29.240
 He was always invested in gospel ministry.

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:31.900
 Everything was tied back

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:34.140
 to his ministry,

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.880
 to the hearts of people.

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:38.480
 That was his primary interest.

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.980
 And I've got to say something

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.759
 to you this morning.

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:44.900
 At the heart of what we are gathered together

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.980
 this morning to do,

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.039
 listen to me,

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:48.859
 is not kind of endure

00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:50.700
 sitting here temporarily

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.779
 thinking that you're going to get points

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.680
 for showing up.

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:59.160
 We are here this morning

00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:02.140
 to hear and learn

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:04.200
 about the character of our Savior

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:06.259
 so that our hearts could grow

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.799
 in our affection for him

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.080
 and that we,

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.560
 as a result in growing

00:23:10.560 --> 00:23:12.539
 in our affection for him,

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:17.299
 may be growing to be more like him.

00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:18.740
 Does that make sense?

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:20.000
 Everybody smile.

00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:21.039
 Look at me for just a second.

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.039
 Please, please,

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.120
 look up, look up.

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:27.620
 The teaching of the word of God

00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:29.480
 aims at helping you grow

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.759
 to be more like Jesus.

00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:31.380
 Isn't that right?

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.060
 What does real growth look like?

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.600
 Let me make this point.

00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:39.380
 You should be different spiritually

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:41.960
 tomorrow than you were today.

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.940
 Now, there's some of you

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.940
 that actually,

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:47.320
 if you were to put your finger on it,

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.820
 you're really just as grumpy

00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:50.259
 and as unhappy today

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.720
 as you were five years ago.

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.120
 That's not the problem

00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:54.160
 of the word of God.

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:58.160
 No reason for that.

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:02.200
 Jesus came and he taught the word

00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:03.539
 and in his teaching,

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.700
 his intent was to see

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.420
 people's hearts touched

00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.460
 by the hope

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.519
 and the sweetness

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.980
 of the gospel.

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:14.519
 So in this stage

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:20.920
 of Christ's affection for people,

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:24.980
 in come the scribes and Pharisees.

00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.720
 You can keep them,

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:25.980
 see,

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:28.420
 they're dressed well.

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.400
 How many of you remember

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.440
 how the scribes and Pharisees dressed?

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:32.980
 You know what I mean?

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:34.599
 You can kind of pick their rank

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.319
 by their dress.

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.140
 Stomping in there.

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.360
 Here they come.

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:41.839
 Look at the scene there

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.359
 in verse 3.

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.479
 The scribes and the Pharisees

00:24:44.479 --> 00:24:45.419
 brought a woman

00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:46.479
 who had been caught

00:24:46.479 --> 00:24:47.500
 in a dolpring.

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.379
 Ah,

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:51.839
 this next little piece

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.559
 is going to help us

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:54.159
 see Jesus resisting.

00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.119
 Here he was,

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:57.799
 teaching,

00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.359
 unpretentious,

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.359
 unassuming,

00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:02.559
 simple in his affection,

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.359
 and in come these arrogant

00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:06.339
 self-confidence,

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.059
 full of them.

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.319
 How many of you don't like

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.279
 people who are overly

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.179
 impressed with themselves?

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.039
 There's something in us

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.939
 that resists arrogance.

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.199
 I mean,

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.659
 would you agree?

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.879
 We struggle with it every day.

00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:17.619
 We look at it in the mirror,

00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:19.339
 but when we really see it

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.000
 front and center,

00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.359
 it's like,

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.480
 I can't take it,

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:21.779
 right?

00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:24.220
 And so here come

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.519
 the scribes and Pharisees.

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:27.419
 Example A

00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:28.639
 of how not to be.

00:25:28.699 --> 00:25:29.599
 And they walk right there

00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.240
 in front of Jesus.

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.119
 And,

00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:32.879
 by the way,

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.079
 I thought about this.

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.639
 How many of you think

00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.379
 they were leading her

00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.259
 gently by the hand?

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:40.619
 One Pharisee on one side

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.399
 and another Pharisee

00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.079
 on the other side.

00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:43.179
 Why don't you come with us?

00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:43.720
 We're going to take you

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.339
 to Jesus now.

00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:45.220
 I don't think that's

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.119
 what happened.

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.500
 In fact,

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:47.799
 kind of,

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.839
 now there's no reason

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:50.379
 for actually saying

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.619
 anything definitively here,

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.480
 but I can't imagine

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.659
 that they probably

00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:54.399
 weren't even holding

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:54.879
 on to her.

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.159
 You know,

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.460
 I mean,

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:55.899
 who,

00:25:56.159 --> 00:25:57.259
 who of a Pharisee

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.279
 would hold the hand

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.699
 of a known adulterer?

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:02.980
 By the way,

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.340
 so that there's

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.319
 some textual support

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.819
 for my cautionary thought here,

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:07.740
 you'll remember

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.660
 over in Luke chapter 7,

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.559
 I think that's where it is,

00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.220
 739.

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.720
 Remember,

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.900
 the Pharisee invites

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.720
 Jesus to dinner,

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.680
 and in comes a woman,

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.140
 and what?

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.640
 She puts her hands

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.279
 on the teacher.

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.019
 And what does,

00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:24.519
 what does that Pharisee

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.259
 think to himself?

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.380
 How many remember?

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:28.560
 if he,

00:26:29.020 --> 00:26:31.060
 if he were a prophet,

00:26:31.260 --> 00:26:32.280
 he would know

00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:33.460
 what kind of girl

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.260
 this is,

00:26:34.300 --> 00:26:34.580
 right?

00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:36.460
 Don't be touching me,

00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:37.260
 you low life.

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:40.160
 I don't know for sure,

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.700
 but they probably

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.460
 had her roped up

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.220
 and dragged in there

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.520
 because,

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.100
 you know,

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.700
 they weren't putting

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.420
 hands on her,

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.240
 but then they bring her

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.900
 in front of Jesus,

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:47.240
 and they dump her there

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.920
 in front of Jesus,

00:26:48.040 --> 00:26:48.460
 and here's what

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.080
 they have to say.

00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.260
 Teacher,

00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:52.800
 this woman

00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.880
 has been caught

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.980
 in the act

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.980
 of adultery.

00:26:56.380 --> 00:27:01.280
 Now,

00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:04.000
 in the law,

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:07.140
 Moses commanded us

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.780
 to stone such a woman,

00:27:09.100 --> 00:27:09.420
 so,

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.700
 what do you say?

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:15.120
 I can just imagine

00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:15.860
 the committee meeting

00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.400
 they had.

00:27:17.040 --> 00:27:17.980
 I'm truthfully,

00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:18.300
 you know.

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.720
 I can just imagine

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.420
 the committee meeting

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.200
 they had planning

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:23.560
 this particular

00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.300
 little trap.

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:26.419
 So,

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:26.919
 what can we do

00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:27.339
 with Jesus?

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.119
 Well,

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.839
 we've obviously

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.619
 got to catch him

00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:32.059
 some kind of

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.559
 difficult predicament

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.099
 that is going

00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.119
 to compromise

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:37.279
 the respect he has

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:39.000
 in our culture,

00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:39.440
 and so,

00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:39.819
 well,

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.539
 how can we do that?

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.399
 Oh,

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:44.460
 well,

00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:46.019
 why don't we?

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.680
 And we do know,

00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:52.680
 verse 6,

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.840
 they said this

00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.580
 to test him.

00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:54.960
 Now,

00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:55.400
 by the way,

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.400
 test is not,

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.040
 how many of you

00:27:57.040 --> 00:27:57.980
 have taken tests

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.300
 in which you really

00:27:59.300 --> 00:28:00.300
 know that the teacher

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:01.040
 is interested

00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:01.740
 in you passing?

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.859
 I suspicioned

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.279
 that that was

00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:04.819
 never the case

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.380
 in my case,

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:05.900
 but the truth

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.220
 of the matter

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.660
 is that sometimes

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.700
 I got softballs

00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.420
 and still missed them.

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:09.940
 But,

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.200
 you know,

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.559
 they were not

00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:13.120
 interested in Jesus

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.279
 passing this test.

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:14.839
 I know that went

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.420
 right over top

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:15.920
 of some of you.

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.660
 It never went

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.359
 over top of me.

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.500
 But,

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.319
 here we go.

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.279
 They were trying

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.579
 to trap Jesus.

00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:29.120
 And we know

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:30.339
 that from the passage.

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:32.099
 There are a couple

00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:32.740
 things that are

00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:34.159
 really giveaways

00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:34.679
 on this.

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.279
 For one,

00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.259
 we do know

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.159
 that they did not

00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:38.879
 bring the man.

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.319
 Now,

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.639
 I'm not going to go

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.459
 into the biological

00:28:42.459 --> 00:28:43.399
 issues of this,

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.980
 but I got to tell you

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.779
 that adultery

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.959
 is a two-party sport

00:28:46.959 --> 00:28:49.059
 or a two-party sin.

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.019
 Let me rephrase that.

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.379
 We delete that

00:28:51.379 --> 00:28:52.159
 sport word there,

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.419
 okay?

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.720
 It's a two-party sin.

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.119
 It's something

00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:57.199
 that you can't do

00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.059
 by yourself

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.959
 by definition.

00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.259
 Now,

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.740
 for another,

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.459
 these scribes

00:29:04.459 --> 00:29:05.179
 and Pharisees

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:07.839
 knew that stoning

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.859
 for adultery

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:10.480
 had not generally

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.240
 been practiced

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:11.939
 in Israel

00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:13.679
 for over a thousand

00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:14.439
 years.

00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:18.819
 Now,

00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.740
 I can't say that

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:21.159
 definitively,

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.899
 but scholars

00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:23.059
 indicate that

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.599
 adultery

00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.220
 was a fairly

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.139
 common problem

00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:26.679
 in Israel.

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:26.759
 Israel.

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.640
 And if you were

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.299
 to read back

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.120
 through the kings

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.759
 and the prophets,

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.380
 et cetera,

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.279
 you will know

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.960
 that the record

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.920
 indicates that

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.160
 Israel was

00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.340
 just about as

00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:36.980
 wicked as

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:38.519
 other groups.

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:41.059
 there was another

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.660
 little piece

00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:44.160
 that we have

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:44.859
 to recognize.

00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:46.660
 The laws

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.359
 of Rome,

00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.539
 which at this

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.059
 time were

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.180
 actually governing

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.819
 Israel,

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.480
 particularly in

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.220
 relationship to

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.059
 capital crime,

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.099
 did not

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.359
 prescribe

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.920
 execution

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.799
 for adultery.

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:58.819
 adultery.

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.899
 And so here

00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:02.440
 they were,

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:02.819
 they were

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.539
 stepping into

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.059
 the setting

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.940
 and they were

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.259
 saying,

00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:05.500
 oh,

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.200
 by the way,

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.639
 Jesus,

00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.220
 in the law

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.000
 of Moses,

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:10.220
 it says that

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.299
 those who

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:12.000
 commit adultery

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.519
 should be

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.059
 stoned.

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:14.960
 Oh,

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.359
 what do you

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.940
 have to say?

00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.279
 They knew that

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.000
 if Jesus said,

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.240
 well,

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.119
 stoned a girl,

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.500
 that he would

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.599
 have been charged

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.799
 with being the

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:24.399
 perpetrator of

00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:24.859
 the crime.

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.339
 And if he'd

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:26.519
 said,

00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.139
 not in your

00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.659
 life,

00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.160
 they would

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:28.460
 have said,

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.080
 you don't

00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:29.720
 buy Moses?

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.840
 The dilemma

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:32.480
 is interesting

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.160
 because here,

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.500
 obey Moses

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.800
 or do what

00:30:35.800 --> 00:30:36.700
 Jewish culture

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:38.480
 had been good

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.000
 doing for a

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.580
 thousand years

00:30:39.580 --> 00:30:41.080
 or overstep

00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:42.040
 Rome and

00:30:42.040 --> 00:30:42.940
 go ahead.

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.259
 It's interesting

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.820
 how Jesus

00:30:45.820 --> 00:30:46.440
 responded,

00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:46.779
 right?

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.300
 In the face

00:30:49.300 --> 00:30:49.720
 of these

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.380
 pompous,

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.660
 self-righteous,

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.420
 inflated egos,

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.900
 you can kind

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.240
 of hear them

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.980
 snorting,

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.640
 go ahead.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.100
 tell us

00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.340
 what you

00:30:58.340 --> 00:30:58.580
 think.

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.600
 They're full

00:30:59.600 --> 00:30:59.960
 of themselves.

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.620
 What does

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.160
 Jesus do?

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.120
 Did you get

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.259
 it?

00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.680
 The most

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.320
 disrespectful

00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:06.120
 thing,

00:31:07.540 --> 00:31:07.840
 he doesn't

00:31:07.840 --> 00:31:08.360
 pay attention.

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.480
 In fact,

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.460
 he gets down

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:11.820
 and writes

00:31:11.820 --> 00:31:12.440
 on the ground.

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:13.920
 I mean,

00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:14.360
 do you

00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:14.940
 understand that

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.680
 writing in the

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.340
 dust and not

00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:16.920
 even looking

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.800
 at the accuser

00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:19.259
 is a supremely

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.720
 offensive thing?

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:20.779
 thing.

00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:22.920
 It's like,

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.339
 I don't even

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:23.980
 have the time

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.140
 of day to

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.740
 pay attention

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.640
 to your

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:28.460
 super silly

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.360
 idea.

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.579
 Now,

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.799
 here's a little

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.759
 cautionary note.

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.900
 We don't know

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.420
 what Jesus

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:38.059
 wrote in the dirt.

00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:38.420
 Do you follow

00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:38.660
 that?

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:42.540
 I think it

00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.340
 was Cecil B.

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:43.920
 DeMills and

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.620
 someone can text

00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:45.160
 me later and

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.660
 let me know.

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.360
 I do have my

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:46.620
 phone.

00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:47.560
 But,

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.820
 stop.

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.360
 Okay.

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:53.240
 I got a text

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.759
 here that says,

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.619
 it's currently

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.240
 25.

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:55.799
 You go,

00:31:55.939 --> 00:31:56.159
 pastor.

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.500
 Okay,

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.779
 got it.

00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.319
 That's good.

00:31:57.939 --> 00:31:58.299
 All right.

00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:58.659
 I'm ready.

00:31:58.679 --> 00:31:58.779
 Go.

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.119
 Okay.

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.839
 Stop.

00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.299
 Here's the

00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.500
 deal.

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:04.939
 You listening?

00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.959
 We don't know

00:32:07.959 --> 00:32:08.519
 what Jesus

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.039
 wrote in the

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:09.339
 dirt.

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.740
 All God's

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.219
 people said,

00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.240
 amen.

00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:13.639
 Let that be

00:32:13.639 --> 00:32:14.379
 an instruction

00:32:14.379 --> 00:32:14.859
 to you.

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.819
 If it isn't

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.219
 clear,

00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:17.959
 don't go

00:32:17.959 --> 00:32:18.279
 there.

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.079
 And,

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.500
 determine not

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.119
 to add to

00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:23.439
 scripture.

00:32:23.959 --> 00:32:24.740
 I don't know

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.240
 if it was Cecil

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.379
 B.

00:32:25.419 --> 00:32:25.799
 DeMills or

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.339
 whoever it is,

00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:26.859
 but I remember

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.699
 seeing the movie

00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:30.639
 and the guy,

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.159
 the director,

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.959
 decided that it

00:32:31.959 --> 00:32:32.539
 would help me

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.579
 understand who

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.379
 Jesus was or

00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:34.740
 at least what

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.379
 was going on.

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:35.899
 Remember,

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.439
 if he kind of

00:32:36.439 --> 00:32:36.799
 wrote in the

00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.299
 dirt and he

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.379
 put the sins

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:38.859
 that they were

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.619
 committing and

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.359
 they were

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.459
 convicted by that.

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.659
 I'm not convinced

00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:43.399
 at all that's

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:43.979
 what happened.

00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.399
 In fact,

00:32:45.439 --> 00:32:45.839
 I'm pretty

00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.839
 certain that

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.639
 didn't happen.

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.819
 And I'll argue

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.839
 the case in just

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.199
 a moment.

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:51.679
 But my

00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:52.559
 caution to you

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:52.979
 is this,

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.659
 is that where

00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:55.759
 scripture isn't

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.240
 clear,

00:32:57.459 --> 00:32:58.139
 be careful,

00:32:59.479 --> 00:33:00.439
 be cautious,

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:02.479
 be disciplined

00:33:02.479 --> 00:33:03.139
 even in what

00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.759
 you imagine.

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:04.199
 So,

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:04.759
 now,

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.619
 notice what he

00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:05.859
 did.

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.479
 He wrote in

00:33:06.479 --> 00:33:06.779
 the dirt,

00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.339
 and then,

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.599
 as they

00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.199
 continued,

00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.899
 we find him

00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.659
 exposing sin.

00:33:13.939 --> 00:33:14.559
 As they

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.179
 continued to

00:33:15.179 --> 00:33:15.579
 ask him,

00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:16.259
 he stood up

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:16.799
 and said to

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:16.959
 them,

00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:17.599
 let him

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.519
 who is without

00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.359
 sin among you

00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.240
 be the first

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.319
 to throw a

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.480
 stone at

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:22.740
 her.

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.319
 The English

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:27.400
 translation,

00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.079
 which says

00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.640
 let,

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.940
 kind of

00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.460
 misses the

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:33.220
 thrust of

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.019
 this passage,

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:35.640
 because what

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.680
 Jesus is actually

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.539
 saying is,

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.079
 all right,

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.599
 all right,

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:41.299
 why don't we

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.819
 allow,

00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:42.880
 that's kind of

00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:43.500
 the idea of

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:43.700
 let,

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.759
 is why don't

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.519
 we allow

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:47.799
 the one

00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.579
 who is without

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.460
 sin to

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.940
 throw the

00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:50.920
 first stone.

00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:55.259
 Instead of

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.759
 falling into

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.180
 the trap

00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.680
 that these

00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:57.379
 scribes and

00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:58.039
 Pharisees had

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.079
 so carefully

00:33:59.079 --> 00:33:59.779
 put together,

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.779
 we find that

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.339
 he turns the

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:02.940
 tables on

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.359
 these men

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:03.960
 two ways.

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:05.960
 One,

00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.639
 he challenges

00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.039
 them to

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.700
 actually follow

00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.300
 the law of

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.579
 Moses and

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.519
 have the

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.400
 direct witnesses

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:11.179
!

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:13.440
 That's what

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:13.779
 he said.

00:34:14.879 --> 00:34:15.259
 He was

00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:15.460
 saying,

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:15.619
 hey,

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:15.879
 listen,

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.319
 the law

00:34:16.319 --> 00:34:16.960
 demands that

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.480
 the witnesses

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:17.919
 to the

00:34:17.919 --> 00:34:18.879
 crime be

00:34:18.879 --> 00:34:19.559
 directly

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:21.139
 involved in

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.579
 the execution.

00:34:24.859 --> 00:34:25.119
 And so

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.440
 here,

00:34:25.919 --> 00:34:26.359
 these

00:34:26.359 --> 00:34:28.319
 Pharisees and

00:34:28.319 --> 00:34:28.980
 scribes had

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.419
 brought this

00:34:29.419 --> 00:34:29.940
 woman caught

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.460
 in the act,

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:30.779
 and they're

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.379
 standing there

00:34:31.379 --> 00:34:31.699
 saying,

00:34:31.819 --> 00:34:31.940
 well,

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.159
 yeah,

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.519
 should we

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:32.919
 stone her?

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.279
 And Jesus

00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:33.519
 said,

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:33.679
 hey,

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.759
 why don't

00:34:36.759 --> 00:34:37.179
 we allow

00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:37.759
 the person

00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:38.399
 who's without

00:34:38.399 --> 00:34:39.019
 sin to

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.419
 throw the

00:34:39.419 --> 00:34:40.440
 first stone?

00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:41.599
 You do

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:41.799
 it.

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.859
 And in

00:34:44.859 --> 00:34:45.399
 the course

00:34:45.399 --> 00:34:46.379
 of the

00:34:46.379 --> 00:34:46.859
 argument,

00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:49.619
 what Moses'

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:50.940
 law clearly

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.919
 said is

00:34:51.919 --> 00:34:52.559
 that it's

00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.339
 not just

00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:53.940
 the woman

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.719
 who is

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.480
 guilty of

00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.039
 adultery

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.179
 and deserves

00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:58.079
 the penalty.

00:34:59.359 --> 00:35:00.219
 So the

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:01.179
 obvious question

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.099
 to all those

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.619
 who are sitting

00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:02.879
 around,

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.500
 where's the

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.839
 man?

00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.139
 Like I

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.500
 said,

00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:06.799
 adultery

00:35:06.799 --> 00:35:07.539
 is not a

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:09.000
 solo sin.

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.559
 Well,

00:35:12.799 --> 00:35:13.599
 they had

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.259
 to pass

00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:14.659
 on that

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:14.879
 one.

00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:15.679
 But there's

00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.139
 another thing

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:16.359
 that he

00:35:16.359 --> 00:35:16.759
 challenged

00:35:16.759 --> 00:35:17.079
 them to

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.219
 do,

00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.500
 and that

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:17.859
 was to

00:35:17.859 --> 00:35:18.219
 violate

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.559
 Roman

00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.299
 law and

00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:19.500
 put

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:19.859
 themselves

00:35:19.859 --> 00:35:20.359
 at risk.

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.839
 I've got

00:35:20.839 --> 00:35:21.119
 to tell

00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:21.359
 you,

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.519
 Rome was

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:24.639
 not very

00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.139
 passive.

00:35:26.899 --> 00:35:27.219
 They were,

00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:28.019
 they were,

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.659
 listen to me

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.139
 very carefully

00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.419
 so you

00:35:29.419 --> 00:35:30.119
 understand this.

00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:30.980
 We live

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.359
 in a day

00:35:31.359 --> 00:35:32.139
 where politicians

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:32.819
 are all good

00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.539
 about talking

00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:34.179
 about things

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:35.179
 and not doing

00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:35.960
 much that really

00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:36.659
 is of substance.

00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:37.059
 Do you follow

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.299
 that?

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.359
 I mean,

00:35:38.419 --> 00:35:38.599
 hey,

00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.299
 why don't we

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:39.700
 have another

00:35:39.700 --> 00:35:40.460
 conference about

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.019
 what to do

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:42.660
 about terrorism,

00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.019
 right?

00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.539
 Let's talk

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:44.980
 about it.

00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.400
 Rome was

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.280
 really not

00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:48.220
 good about

00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:49.140
 talking more

00:35:49.140 --> 00:35:49.780
 than single

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.200
 sentence

00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:50.700
 statements.

00:35:52.160 --> 00:35:52.820
 They would

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.280
 come up to

00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:53.840
 a city and

00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:54.120
 say,

00:35:54.560 --> 00:35:55.500
 hey guys,

00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:56.860
 would you

00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:57.539
 like us to

00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.080
 take over

00:35:58.080 --> 00:35:58.900
 your government

00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:00.880
 and allow

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.500
 you to be

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.539
 subjects of

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:02.860
 Rome?

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.220
 Question.

00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.680
 Answer was

00:36:05.680 --> 00:36:06.260
 yes,

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:06.620
 no.

00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.220
 If the answer

00:36:08.220 --> 00:36:08.640
 was no,

00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:09.019
 guess what

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:09.259
 happened

00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:09.500
 to the

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:09.719
 city?

00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:11.780
 It was,

00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.780
 the polite

00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:13.199
 word was

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:13.820
 invested.

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:16.179
 They built

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:16.519
 a moat

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:16.960
 around it

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.800
 and they

00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:18.119
 kind of

00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:18.719
 just starved

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.039
 it into

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.440
 submission

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:19.820
 and when

00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:20.099
 they were

00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:20.440
 absolutely

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.059
 close to

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.500
 absolute

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.440
 disaster,

00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:23.719
 Rome would

00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:24.139
 go in there

00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:24.699
 and slaughter

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:24.980
 them.

00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.079
 And those

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.320
 that they

00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:26.539
 didn't

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:26.820
 slaughter

00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:27.019
 would be

00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:27.219
 turned

00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:27.840
 into slaves.

00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:28.559
 And the

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.039
 rumor would

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.460
 get out

00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:29.739
 that it

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.179
 wasn't good

00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:30.519
 to mess

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:30.920
 with Rome.

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:31.259
 And so

00:36:31.259 --> 00:36:32.840
 these Jewish

00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.920
 leaders knew

00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:35.019
 that anybody

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.639
 who picked

00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.360
 up the first

00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.360
 stone and

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:38.019
 threw it at

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:38.519
 this woman

00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.400
 would be

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:41.019
 on Rome's

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.980
 hit list.

00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.559
 I'll pass.

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.739
 I'll pass.

00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.519
 So how did

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.139
 this thing

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.639
 conclude?

00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.079
 You look

00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:50.860
 there and

00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:51.199
 it says

00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:51.659
 this,

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.900
 he once

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:54.460
 more bent

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.239
 down and

00:36:55.239 --> 00:36:55.920
 wrote in

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:56.539
 the dust.

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:58.679
 Was that

00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.280
 a zinger

00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:00.079
 or not?

00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:01.119
 Hey,

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.639
 I'm done.

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:04.039
 Go for it.

00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:06.019
 And so

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.400
 here's what

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:06.900
 happens.

00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:08.300
 Nine,

00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:08.619
 and when

00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.000
 they heard

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.119
 it,

00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:09.559
 they went

00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:10.800
 away one

00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:11.380
 by one

00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:11.759
 beginning

00:37:11.759 --> 00:37:12.139
 with the

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.820
 older ones.

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.139
 Joe Halsey

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.739
 can perfectly

00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.239
 appreciate

00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:16.860
 this verse.

00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:19.940
 Joe has

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.440
 been one

00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:20.699
 of our

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:20.980
 younger

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.500
 deacons.

00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:23.920
 And one

00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:24.079
 of the

00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:24.440
 things that

00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:24.779
 goes with

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.119
 the younger

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.659
 deacon is

00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:25.900
 that he

00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:26.460
 gets asked

00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:27.139
 first many

00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:27.420
 times.

00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:27.579
 Isn't

00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:27.880
 that right,

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:28.059
 Joe?

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.500
 How many

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:29.860
 of you know

00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:30.219
 that the

00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:30.739
 Sanhedrin,

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:31.079
 when they

00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:31.800
 made decisions,

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.579
 they always

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.119
 started with

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:33.659
 the youngest.

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:34.639
 Now,

00:37:34.699 --> 00:37:34.960
 what was

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.380
 the logic

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.859
 of that?

00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:36.799
 Does anybody

00:37:36.799 --> 00:37:37.099
 have an

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:37.359
 idea?

00:37:39.259 --> 00:37:39.960
 When the

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:40.719
 gray heads

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.380
 weighed in

00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:41.900
 first,

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.380
 it kind

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.119
 of influenced

00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:44.000
 what?

00:37:45.339 --> 00:37:46.039
 The younger

00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:46.579
 guys.

00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:47.579
 And so

00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:47.960
 they would

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.359
 work up

00:37:48.359 --> 00:37:48.779
 the ladder

00:37:48.779 --> 00:37:49.400
 according to

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:49.859
 age.

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.259
 In this

00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:51.739
 case,

00:37:52.279 --> 00:37:52.980
 who got

00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.460
 the memo

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.500
 first that

00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:54.960
 they probably

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.420
 ought not

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:55.880
 be throwing

00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:56.420
 stones?

00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.539
 It was

00:37:58.539 --> 00:37:58.839
 the old

00:37:58.839 --> 00:37:59.179
 guys.

00:38:00.299 --> 00:38:01.019
 This is

00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.599
 not a

00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:01.880
 winning

00:38:01.880 --> 00:38:02.579
 proposition.

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:04.659
 And they

00:38:04.659 --> 00:38:05.099
 also

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.819
 probably,

00:38:06.299 --> 00:38:06.779
 and this is

00:38:06.779 --> 00:38:07.239
 speculation,

00:38:07.839 --> 00:38:08.119
 but they

00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:08.500
 probably

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.179
 figured out

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:09.759
 if they

00:38:09.759 --> 00:38:10.319
 had relied

00:38:10.319 --> 00:38:11.219
 upon normal

00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.940
 Sanhedrin

00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:13.059
 protocol and

00:38:13.059 --> 00:38:13.500
 let the

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.079
 rookies go

00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:14.619
 first who

00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.019
 were full

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.480
 of vinegar

00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:15.960
 at that

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.259
 moment,

00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:17.000
 they'd been

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:17.460
 picking up

00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:18.000
 stones and

00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:18.319
 the whole

00:38:18.319 --> 00:38:18.819
 mess would

00:38:18.819 --> 00:38:19.119
 have gone

00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:19.380
 through,

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:19.719
 right?

00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:20.900
 So the

00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.299
 old guys

00:38:21.299 --> 00:38:21.500
 say,

00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:21.799
 I got

00:38:21.799 --> 00:38:22.239
 that one.

00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.199
 Bye.

00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:24.339
 I'm gone.

00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.500
 I'm done.

00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:26.000
 And out

00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.480
 they walked.

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.559
 So,

00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:30.659
 I want to

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:31.039
 close with

00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:31.339
 this.

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:34.119
 I want you

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.679
 to recognize

00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:35.299
 Jesus in

00:38:35.299 --> 00:38:35.839
 something about

00:38:35.839 --> 00:38:36.619
 second chances.

00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:38.759
 How did

00:38:38.759 --> 00:38:40.279
 Jesus deal

00:38:40.279 --> 00:38:40.619
 with this

00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:40.839
 woman?

00:38:42.339 --> 00:38:43.139
 For one,

00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:44.339
 he didn't

00:38:44.339 --> 00:38:45.659
 minimize her

00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:45.940
 sin.

00:38:48.359 --> 00:38:49.019
 Nor does

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:49.480
 he overlook

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.000
 our sin.

00:38:50.859 --> 00:38:51.359
 How do we

00:38:51.359 --> 00:38:51.819
 know that to

00:38:51.819 --> 00:38:52.159
 be true?

00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.259
 There in

00:38:53.259 --> 00:38:53.819
 verse 11,

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.440
 after Jesus

00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:54.699
 says,

00:38:54.779 --> 00:38:54.920
 hey,

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.420
 where are

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:55.599
 they?

00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:55.980
 Has

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:56.259
 no one

00:38:56.259 --> 00:38:56.539
 condemned

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:56.759
 you?

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.500
 She says,

00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:57.960
 no one,

00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.219
 Lord.

00:38:58.859 --> 00:38:59.239
 He says,

00:38:59.239 --> 00:39:00.039
 neither do I

00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:00.739
 condemn you.

00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:01.460
 Go,

00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.179
 and from

00:39:02.179 --> 00:39:03.000
 now on,

00:39:03.079 --> 00:39:03.300
 what?

00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:05.340
 Don't be a

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.079
 repeat offender.

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:07.980
 Don't be a

00:39:07.980 --> 00:39:08.579
 repeat offender.

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:11.519
 And I

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:11.920
 can't help

00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:12.539
 but think of

00:39:12.539 --> 00:39:13.119
 that passage

00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:13.440
 that I

00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:14.239
 recited earlier

00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:14.659
 in John

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.199
 chapter 3,

00:39:15.259 --> 00:39:15.779
 verse 17,

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.079
 where it

00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.179
 says,

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.460
 the Son

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:16.759
 of Man

00:39:16.759 --> 00:39:17.099
 did not

00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:17.480
 come to

00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:17.860
 condemn,

00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:18.599
 but that

00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:19.099
 through him

00:39:19.099 --> 00:39:19.440
 the world

00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:19.800
 might be

00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:20.059
 saved.

00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:20.460
 Jesus

00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:20.860
 is in

00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:21.000
 the

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:21.400
 business,

00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:22.119
 listen to

00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:22.579
 me carefully,

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:23.699
 of offering

00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:24.400
 you an

00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.099
 opportunity

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:26.000
 to repent

00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:26.500
 for your

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:26.980
 sins.

00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:30.699
 But

00:39:30.699 --> 00:39:31.079
 offering

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:31.559
 you that

00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:32.139
 opportunity

00:39:32.139 --> 00:39:32.740
 to repent

00:39:32.740 --> 00:39:33.300
 is not

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:33.760
 the same

00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:33.940
 as

00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:34.639
 overlooking

00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:34.940
 your

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.179
 sin.

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.500
 Secondly,

00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:37.840
 I want

00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.019
 you to

00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:38.380
 understand

00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:38.860
 that Jesus

00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.460
 extended

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.139
 mercy to

00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:40.579
 this woman,

00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:41.179
 and he

00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:41.880
 still extends

00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.280
 mercy.

00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:43.820
 He's in

00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:44.320
 the business

00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:44.740
 of giving

00:39:44.740 --> 00:39:45.079
 you an

00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:45.559
 opportunity.

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.400
 I love

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:47.699
 what it

00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:48.099
 says in

00:39:48.099 --> 00:39:48.400
 Romans

00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.360
 chapter 2,

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:49.920
 verse 4,

00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:50.480
 and I'm

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:50.719
 just going

00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:51.079
 to recite

00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:51.599
 the passage

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.119
 just for a

00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:52.300
 moment.

00:39:52.599 --> 00:39:53.159
 Here is

00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:53.760
 the apostle

00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:54.579
 talking about

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.079
 God's

00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:56.059
 patience and

00:39:56.059 --> 00:39:56.519
 gentleness,

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:57.360
 and there's

00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:57.679
 some of

00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:58.059
 you sitting

00:39:58.059 --> 00:39:58.559
 here this

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:58.860
 morning.

00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.320
 The truth

00:39:59.320 --> 00:39:59.500
 of the

00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:00.099
 matter is

00:40:00.099 --> 00:40:01.079
 that you

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.900
 are continuing

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.539
 to draw

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:03.739
 breath even

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.679
 though you

00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:06.219
 openly resist

00:40:06.219 --> 00:40:07.139
 the sweetness

00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:08.039
 of the gospel.

00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:08.800
 And do you

00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:09.280
 know why

00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:09.659
 you're still

00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.380
 drawing breath?

00:40:11.300 --> 00:40:12.079
 I'll tell

00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:12.300
 you.

00:40:12.699 --> 00:40:13.179
 Not because

00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:13.619
 I know,

00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:14.159
 but because

00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:14.559
 the Bible

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.300
 says he

00:40:15.300 --> 00:40:15.900
 is giving

00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:16.639
 you an

00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:17.300
 opportunity

00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:18.159
 to repent.

00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:22.900
 And by

00:40:22.900 --> 00:40:23.259
 the way,

00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:24.559
 the longer

00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.320
 and more

00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:26.099
 patient he

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.799
 is in

00:40:26.799 --> 00:40:27.139
 that

00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:27.920
 opportunity,

00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:28.819
 the more

00:40:28.819 --> 00:40:29.599
 firm will

00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:30.059
 be your

00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.579
 eventual

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.440
 dealings.

00:40:40.219 --> 00:40:40.880
 And so

00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.339
 let me say

00:40:41.339 --> 00:40:41.920
 this clearly.

00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:44.739
 Christ's

00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:45.139
 mercy,

00:40:45.799 --> 00:40:46.179
 and that's

00:40:46.179 --> 00:40:46.500
 what we see

00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:46.819
 here,

00:40:48.440 --> 00:40:49.000
 calls the

00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.440
 sinner to

00:40:49.440 --> 00:40:49.940
 repent

00:40:49.940 --> 00:40:51.500
 into a

00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.039
 new life.

00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:53.559
 God's

00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:54.119
 love.

00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:54.300
 I don't

00:40:54.300 --> 00:40:54.659
 know what

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.039
 the heart

00:40:55.039 --> 00:40:55.519
 is that

00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.960
 you have.

00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:57.699
 I don't

00:40:57.699 --> 00:40:58.059
 know if

00:40:58.059 --> 00:40:58.460
 you're sitting

00:40:58.460 --> 00:40:58.940
 here this

00:40:58.940 --> 00:40:59.380
 morning and

00:40:59.380 --> 00:40:59.679
 you know

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.239
 Christ as

00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:00.699
 your Savior,

00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:01.759
 or it may

00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:02.079
 be that

00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:02.400
 you're a

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:02.960
 person who

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:03.880
 grew up

00:41:03.880 --> 00:41:04.340
 with all

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:05.019
 the vocabulary.

00:41:05.279 --> 00:41:05.360
 Do you

00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:05.579
 know what I

00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:05.800
 mean by

00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:06.219
 the vocabulary?

00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.900
 You got it

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:08.519
 down pat.

00:41:09.619 --> 00:41:10.179
 But the

00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:10.659
 truth of the

00:41:10.659 --> 00:41:11.239
 matter is,

00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:12.159
 if you were

00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:12.920
 to die today

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.320
 and God

00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:13.659
 were to say,

00:41:13.739 --> 00:41:14.159
 why should I

00:41:14.159 --> 00:41:14.599
 let you into

00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:14.800
 heaven?

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.239
 You'd say,

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:15.719
 well,

00:41:15.739 --> 00:41:16.139
 I've been a

00:41:16.139 --> 00:41:16.539
 pretty good

00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:17.019
 person.

00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:18.460
 Can I tell

00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:18.840
 you something?

00:41:18.840 --> 00:41:19.519
 It would

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:19.840
 have been

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:20.880
 squandering for

00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:21.420
 the life of

00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.120
 Christ to

00:41:22.120 --> 00:41:22.559
 die on the

00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:23.300
 cross if

00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:23.800
 you and I

00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:24.200
 could get

00:41:24.200 --> 00:41:24.600
 there by

00:41:24.600 --> 00:41:25.220
 being pretty

00:41:25.220 --> 00:41:25.640
 good.

00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:28.400
 What does

00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:28.780
 the Bible

00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:29.140
 say?

00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.620
 It says that

00:41:31.620 --> 00:41:32.200
 there is none

00:41:32.200 --> 00:41:32.640
 righteous,

00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:33.480
 no, not one.

00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:34.280
 There is none

00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:34.880
 that seeketh

00:41:34.880 --> 00:41:35.720
 after God.

00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:38.000
 And God

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:38.660
 seeing the

00:41:38.660 --> 00:41:39.519
 moral bankruptcy

00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:39.940
 and the

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.559
 darkness of

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.079
 our heart

00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:42.300
 and the ease

00:41:42.300 --> 00:41:42.980
 with which we

00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.260
 deceive ourselves

00:41:44.260 --> 00:41:46.760
 sent Christ

00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:47.380
 into the world

00:41:47.380 --> 00:41:48.120
 to convict us

00:41:48.120 --> 00:41:48.740
 of our sin.

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:50.980
 and to

00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:51.420
 bring us to

00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:51.840
 the point

00:41:51.840 --> 00:41:52.300
 like the

00:41:52.300 --> 00:41:52.780
 woman at

00:41:52.780 --> 00:41:53.240
 the well,

00:41:54.240 --> 00:41:55.360
 like Zacchaeus,

00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.120
 like the

00:41:57.120 --> 00:41:57.600
 thief on the

00:41:57.600 --> 00:41:58.059
 cross,

00:41:58.860 --> 00:41:59.940
 like the

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:00.460
 woman taken

00:42:00.460 --> 00:42:01.140
 in adultery,

00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:02.860
 we stand

00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:03.539
 exposed for

00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:03.920
 the sinners

00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:04.240
 that we

00:42:04.240 --> 00:42:04.800
 really are.

00:42:07.220 --> 00:42:07.820
 And in

00:42:07.820 --> 00:42:08.240
 the face

00:42:08.240 --> 00:42:08.760
 of that

00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:10.120
 reality,

00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:12.000
 we cry

00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:12.360
 out and

00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:12.620
 say,

00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:13.760
 I

00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:14.780
 recognize

00:42:14.780 --> 00:42:16.500
 my sin

00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:18.059
 and my

00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:18.500
 offense

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:18.860
 against

00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:19.300
 a holy

00:42:19.300 --> 00:42:19.780
 God.

00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:22.320
 And I

00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:22.619
 believe

00:42:22.619 --> 00:42:23.019
 Jesus

00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:23.679
 died in

00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:24.300
 my place

00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:25.000
 and satisfied

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.780
 my debt

00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:26.539
 and I

00:42:26.539 --> 00:42:27.139
 believe in

00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:27.719
 what he

00:42:27.719 --> 00:42:28.380
 did for

00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:28.840
 me.

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.860
 And I

00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:33.300
 claim his

00:42:33.300 --> 00:42:33.840
 promise and

00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:34.519
 his salvation

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:36.539
 and his

00:42:36.539 --> 00:42:38.400
 power to

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:38.699
 live a

00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:39.300
 different life.

00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:41.000
 Let's close

00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:41.380
 in prayer.

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:46.519
 Father God,

00:42:46.579 --> 00:42:46.980
 this morning

00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:47.599
 as we lift

00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:47.940
 up the

00:42:47.940 --> 00:42:48.240
 sweetness

00:42:48.240 --> 00:42:48.680
 of our

00:42:48.680 --> 00:42:49.260
 Savior who

00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:49.660
 came into

00:42:49.660 --> 00:42:50.099
 the world

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:50.920
 to save

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:51.420
 sinners,

00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:53.800
 we are

00:42:53.800 --> 00:42:54.340
 here this

00:42:54.340 --> 00:42:55.340
 morning in

00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:55.960
 one of two

00:42:55.960 --> 00:42:56.539
 conditions.

00:42:58.280 --> 00:42:58.940
 There are

00:42:58.940 --> 00:42:59.480
 some here

00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:00.079
 this morning

00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:01.200
 that may

00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:02.700
 have had

00:43:02.700 --> 00:43:03.059
 all the

00:43:03.059 --> 00:43:03.579
 vocabulary,

00:43:03.780 --> 00:43:04.500
 pounded home

00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:05.480
 and grown up

00:43:05.480 --> 00:43:06.059
 in that just

00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:06.579
 the perfect

00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.320
 environment and

00:43:07.320 --> 00:43:07.880
 the truth of

00:43:07.880 --> 00:43:08.280
 matter is

00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:09.180
 they've never

00:43:09.180 --> 00:43:09.640
 come to

00:43:09.640 --> 00:43:10.519
 trust Christ,

00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:13.119
 break through

00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:15.440
 the deception

00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:16.099
 of the enemy

00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:16.720
 and help them

00:43:16.720 --> 00:43:17.260
 see their

00:43:17.260 --> 00:43:18.140
 desperate need

00:43:18.140 --> 00:43:19.300
 and call upon

00:43:19.300 --> 00:43:19.780
 the name of

00:43:19.780 --> 00:43:20.280
 the Lord in

00:43:20.280 --> 00:43:20.700
 whom alone

00:43:20.700 --> 00:43:21.440
 is salvation.

00:43:23.820 --> 00:43:24.420
 There are

00:43:24.420 --> 00:43:24.960
 others of us

00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:25.539
 here that know

00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.119
 Christ,

00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:29.079
 whose hearts

00:43:29.079 --> 00:43:29.760
 have found

00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:30.500
 that freedom

00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:31.019
 and that

00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:31.519
 forgiveness

00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:32.559
 and whose

00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:33.059
 hearts have

00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:33.539
 been lifted

00:43:33.539 --> 00:43:34.099
 out of the

00:43:34.099 --> 00:43:34.960
 miry pit

00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:36.980
 for the

00:43:36.980 --> 00:43:37.619
 purpose of

00:43:37.619 --> 00:43:38.280
 the glory

00:43:38.280 --> 00:43:39.800
 of the

00:43:39.800 --> 00:43:40.280
 Lord Jesus

00:43:40.280 --> 00:43:40.920
 Christ who

00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:41.300
 is the

00:43:41.300 --> 00:43:41.780
 Savior of

00:43:41.780 --> 00:43:42.240
 the world.

00:43:43.940 --> 00:43:44.559
 Given

00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:45.539
 His mercy,

00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:47.500
 given His

00:43:47.500 --> 00:43:48.119
 kindness,

00:43:49.740 --> 00:43:50.159
 given the

00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:51.000
 abundance of

00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:51.519
 His love,

00:43:51.920 --> 00:43:52.340
 there is

00:43:52.340 --> 00:43:53.559
 nothing that

00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:54.440
 we should

00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:55.019
 live for

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:55.740
 apart from

00:43:55.740 --> 00:43:56.019
 Him.

00:43:58.019 --> 00:43:58.900
 We ask

00:43:58.900 --> 00:43:59.079
 that You

00:43:59.079 --> 00:43:59.440
 would work

00:43:59.440 --> 00:43:59.880
 in us to

00:43:59.880 --> 00:44:00.320
 make that

00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:00.639
 true.

00:44:02.179 --> 00:44:02.720
 And where

00:44:02.720 --> 00:44:03.199
 there is a

00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:03.639
 need for

00:44:03.639 --> 00:44:04.920
 repentance,

00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:06.599
 and for

00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:07.099
 a change

00:44:07.099 --> 00:44:07.720
 of direction

00:44:07.720 --> 00:44:08.360
 and affection,

00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.119
 we ask that

00:44:09.119 --> 00:44:09.539
 You would do

00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:09.960
 that to

00:44:09.960 --> 00:44:10.519
 Your glory.

00:44:11.559 --> 00:44:12.059
 And we

00:44:12.059 --> 00:44:12.599
 ask this in

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.300
 Jesus' name.

00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:14.099
 Amen.

00:44:14.639 --> 00:44:15.340
 Let's stand

00:44:15.340 --> 00:44:15.880
 together as

00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:16.460
 we close.