1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. There are two things I know to be 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: true about God. 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 2: Number one, he loves gardens, and number two, he loves redemption. 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: Let's talk about it. 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 2: Hello, Hello, Hello, ladies and gents, and welcome to this 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 2: week's episode of the Bottom Beloved Podcast. As always, it's 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 2: your girl, Kirby. 8 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Kelly back at it again. 9 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 2: And would you believe me if I told you that 10 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: this is the third time one two three, the third 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: time that I've sat and tried to record this, I've 12 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 2: had lights, cameras, basically everything about the audio go crazy 13 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: on me. 14 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: So we are gonna get this done. 15 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: We are going to spread this good news gospel word 16 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: because the whole purpose of today's episode is talking about 17 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 2: how throughout the entire Bible, the entire meta narrative of 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 2: the Bible, we can see God's redemption play out through 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 2: a telling and a series of gardens. And I just 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: think it's so beautiful that we serve a God who 21 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: loves the imagery of the garden, and that we can 22 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: look at the garden time and time again from this 23 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: place in Genesis all the way to Revelation and see 24 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 2: his redemption woven all throughout from Old Testament to New 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: testament of seeing how he wants to be in communion 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 2: with his people. 27 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it so much. 28 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: But before I dive into that, I actually did a 29 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: whole sermon on this a couple of weeks ago at 30 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 2: the Rest Yourself Women's Retreat. I've preached there like five. 31 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: Times now, and they are incredible. I love them. 32 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: And I talked about this because in my book that 33 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: came out in April, The Fabric of Hope, I have 34 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: a section within it called from Garden to Garden where 35 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 2: I talk about this, and their whole theme for their 36 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: event was gardens. And I feel like gardens have just 37 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: kind of been like a theme in my life. Recently, 38 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: my mother in law and my father in law came 39 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: down and stayed with my husband and I for three 40 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: weeks just to help us as we were adjusting to 41 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: new life, being new parents with my sweet baby. 42 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: Girl, Lily. Lily gardens. 43 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: You see how it's just this repetitive thing in my life. 44 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: And while they were with us and just helping us 45 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 2: just to this new life and me postpartum and taking 46 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,239 Speaker 2: care of Lily, my mother in law on the side 47 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 2: was also starting up a little garden in My husband 48 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: and I backyard, and now we have all sorts of plants. 49 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: We have basil plants, tomato plants, we have different you know, 50 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: zucchini and peppers, and a tangerine tree. We had lettuce 51 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: emphasis on the word had because Texas has been hot 52 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: this summer. Okay, it got scorched. That's the one thing 53 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: I forgot to water. But everything else I've actually been 54 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: doing a pretty good job of upkeeping, which is amazing 55 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: because with the limited time sleep and brain cells I have, 56 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: I'm surprised that I even remember to water my plants 57 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, right Like I'm just 58 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: the things that are on my mind are feed my baby, 59 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: burnt my baby, change my baby, play and love my baby, 60 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,839 Speaker 2: put my baby down to sleep, pick back up, put 61 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: her back down again, pick her back up again, put 62 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 2: her back down again. 63 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: And water my zucchini. 64 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: Like that is my life right now. And ministry whenever 65 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 2: I get the chance to podcast and preach and all 66 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: of those things, which now I'm starting to do again, 67 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 2: which is exciting. But all of that to say, gardens 68 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 2: haven't been not only a big part of my life 69 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 2: in this season, but it is just a big part 70 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 2: of life for the Christian as you read through scripture, 71 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: and I just love that we can see God's redemption 72 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 2: play out through the gardens. So, whether you are a 73 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: Christian who is seasoned in your walk with the Lord 74 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: and you've studied Scripture, I hope that this is just 75 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: a refreshing look about how God tells the story of 76 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 2: his love and pursuit of us through a series of gardens, 77 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 2: or if you are newer to the faith, that this 78 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 2: just gives you something super exciting to look forward to 79 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 2: as we look at Genesis and all the way, it's 80 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: revelation how God is revealing his love, his desire, his 81 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: heart to dwell with humanity through a series of gardens. 82 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: And wherever you were finding. 83 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: Yourself today, whether you are in a season right now 84 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 2: that feels like it is blossoming and blooming, or if 85 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: you feel like you were in a place that is 86 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 2: just hopeless and withered, that you would be encouraged that 87 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 2: God is always weaving redemption in the places where we 88 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: least expect it, in the middle of our brokenness and 89 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 2: even before we realize that we need his redemption. So, 90 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 2: without further ado, for the third time, like I said 91 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: recording this, I want to start by looking in Eden, 92 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 2: in the very beginning, the garden of Creation, where God's 93 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: design for humanity and the world and his relationship with 94 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 2: humanity begins. Now, it says in Genesis two eight, now 95 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, 96 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: in Eden, and there he put demand he had formed. 97 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 2: This is where God's story with humanity begins. Right, perfect fellowship, purpose, presence, provision. 98 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: Adam and Eve are walking in unhindered relationship with God. 99 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: And this is important for us to remember because it 100 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,159 Speaker 2: reminds us looking at the original. 101 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: Design for the world. 102 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 2: It reminds us that pain was never a part of 103 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 2: God's original design. Separation was never a part of God's 104 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 2: original design. Sin was never a part of God's original design. 105 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: What was a. 106 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: Part of God's original design for creation was communion, was fellowship, 107 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 2: was belonging. And I know that some of us might 108 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 2: be in seasons today where it feels like, Hey, the 109 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 2: place I am in does not feel like a blossoming, blooming, 110 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: communion filled, fellowship filled garden. In fact, I feel like 111 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: I'm in a desert. In fact, I feel like I 112 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: have been deserted because of what I'm going through I 113 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 2: have no rest for my weary soul. I feel like 114 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 2: I am scorched by the sun right now. I feel 115 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: like my tears are being dried up by the scorched 116 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 2: sun before they even hit the ground. 117 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: Maybe that's just the place that you were in. 118 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: But the Garden of Eden and the very beginning displays 119 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 2: the heart of God. It's not to desert his people 120 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: when they're in desperation. No, it is to dwell among 121 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: his people. It is to delight in his people. It 122 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: is to deliver his people out of despair. We see 123 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 2: this all throughout Genesis. This we see this throughout the 124 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 2: whole biblical meta narrative. But you might be at your 125 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: breaking point today and believing these lies that God has 126 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: abandoned you, that he has forsaken you, that He is 127 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: nowhere near you and he doesn't want to be. But 128 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: those are the same lies that Adam and Eve believed 129 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 2: when they fell, when they hid from God. And I 130 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,799 Speaker 2: am here to remind you today that when we look 131 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: back at the garden in the very beginning, the heart 132 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 2: of God is revealed that he desires to be in 133 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: relationship with us, that he desires for us to dwell 134 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: in his presence, and He has made a way through 135 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: Christ that we can dwell and abide in Him. Once again, 136 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 2: every ache that we feel today because of the broken 137 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: world that we are living in is proof, is evidence 138 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: that our hearts are longing for Eden, for this restoration, 139 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: for this redeemed relationship with God, where there is order 140 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 2: in our life, peace in our life, plans laid out 141 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 2: for our life right. God had everything established for Adam 142 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: and Eve, and it is when they stepped outside of 143 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: the will of God that all this disorder and chaos happened. 144 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 2: When they decided to go about their own will and 145 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: way and not submit to God's will and way. 146 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: But we'll get to that here in a second. 147 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 2: Maybe you're at your breaking point today, you know, and 148 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: you desire communion with God. You desire restoration with God. 149 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: And the beautiful news is that you. 150 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: Can have that in your life. 151 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: You can have order, restoration, peace, and relationship with God. 152 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 2: Every tear, every life longing that we feel for things 153 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: to be made right, every wrong made right is it 154 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 2: points us back to the reality that we were created 155 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: for the garden to be garden people dwelling with the 156 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: capital g gardener, God himself, who cultivates, who sustains, who prunes, 157 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: who allows for there to be blossoming and blooming I 158 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 2: mean divine in the branches, like this language of gardening, and. 159 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: It's just all throughout the Bible. It's so cool. 160 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: But there is good news that we can get back 161 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: to this restoration and redemption with God where we feel 162 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 2: like there might be lack not only in our own life, 163 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 2: but maybe in your relationship and your connection with God. 164 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: But before we get to that good news, we do 165 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: need to recognize the bad news, which I already alluded to, 166 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: and it's that within the same garden where God's goodness 167 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 2: is revealed, eden in that same garden, the place of 168 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: humanity's rebellion is revealed through their disobedience, through choosing to 169 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 2: sin and step outside of the will of God and 170 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 2: define good and evil by themselves through eating of the 171 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: tree of knowledge of good and evil. We see this 172 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 2: and we read this in Genesis three. Sin enters the 173 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 2: world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and immediately 174 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 2: shame replaces intimacy, fear replaces the or sorry, Shame replaces innocence, 175 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: Fear replaces intimacy, blame replaces unity, death enters creation, and 176 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 2: if we're honest, we're still living within that fallout today. 177 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: Maybe your shame doesn't look like Adam and Eve hiding 178 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: behind fig leaves, but you've hidden parts of your story 179 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 2: because you are ashamed of your past. Or maybe the 180 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 2: fear that you're facing doesn't look like hiding from God, 181 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: but maybe you have fear about him abandoning you, hiding 182 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: his face from you. 183 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:49,719 Speaker 1: Or maybe the. 184 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 2: Blame that you are experiencing your life doesn't look like 185 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 2: Adam pointing the finger at Eve, but maybe you're pointing 186 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 2: the finger at everybody else, or your circumstance, or God himself, 187 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: wondering why have you allowed me to go through this thing? 188 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: When really it's just the effects and the consequences of 189 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: the broken world that we live in and that we 190 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: are affected by, and that sometimes we even bring upon ourselves. 191 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 2: The reality of Genesis three is that it's not just 192 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 2: an Adam and Eve issue. It is a humanity issue 193 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 2: that we are still experiencing to this day. Because we've 194 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 2: all wandered, we've all sinned, we've all tried to live 195 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 2: life our own way by our own terms. We've all 196 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 2: experiences experienced the consequences of living in a broken world, 197 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 2: and maybe you're carrying the weight of that today, the brokenness, 198 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 2: the mistakes that you've made. You are weighed down by that. 199 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: Maybe you're grieving something that you've done, or you're waiting 200 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: for things to go back to the way that they 201 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 2: once were and that's not really happening. Maybe you're wondering 202 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: even if God can really redeem all this stuff that 203 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 2: you feel like you have ruined. And I imagine that 204 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: Adam and Eve probably felt the same way, because think 205 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: about it, they were the first ones to mess up, 206 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 2: to make a mistake, like think about how they must 207 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 2: have felt. But if you're looking at parts of your 208 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 2: life today and you're wondering, you know, what good can 209 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: come from this? Can this really be redeemed? Am I 210 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 2: too far gone? If you're questioning those things based off 211 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 2: of the decisions that you have made that have led 212 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 2: to the downfall in your life, or decisions other people 213 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 2: have made that have affected you in your life. I 214 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 2: want you to know this truth about God, and it's 215 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: that before Adam and Eve left the garden, God was 216 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 2: already planting the promise of redemption in their life, but 217 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: in the life of all humanity for the story of 218 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: all humanity. 219 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: When we look at. 220 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: Genesis three, verse fifteen, it contains what theologians call the 221 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 2: proto Evangelium, aka the First Gospel. And this is after 222 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 2: the fall happens, and God speaks directly to Satan in 223 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: this moment, the serpent, and he says to him, he 224 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 2: will rush your head and you will strike his heel. 225 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 2: This is Messianic scripture. This is about Jesus. He will 226 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 2: crush your head and you will strike his heel. In 227 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 2: other words, he is testifying of a coming savior. 228 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: This is the. 229 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 2: Gospel right here. The enemy would wound him through the cross, 230 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 2: but Jesus would win and overcome through the cross. The 231 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 2: thing that was meant to crush Jesus was actually the 232 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 2: means by which he would save humanity, that he would 233 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: conquer sin and death. The thing that was meant to 234 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 2: crush Jesus was actually the thing that led to conquering. 235 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 2: And I love that picture that that is what the 236 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,599 Speaker 2: cross ended up representing in the end, because if you 237 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: know anything about just Roman history and what the cross 238 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 2: represented to people at that time, it wasn't some fancy 239 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 2: piece of jewelry that you wear or some aesthetic thing 240 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 2: that you put, you know, in your Instagram bio, the 241 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 2: little cross emoji that we have now no like that 242 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 2: was a symbol of death. That was a symbol of 243 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: the worst punishment reserved for the worst criminals. And yet 244 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 2: because of Christ, not only was there redemption secured by 245 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,599 Speaker 2: our own salvation, but the picture by which death was 246 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 2: known as was redeemed to be this simple for life 247 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: for us, like we wear across now. People were nailed 248 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: to that thing, you know what I mean. It's crazy anyways, 249 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 2: I'm getting ahead of myself, but I don't want you 250 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 2: to miss this thing. That the first thing that God 251 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 2: does when humanity falls isn't abandoned them. It's plant promises 252 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 2: of redemption for them through this proclamation of a coming 253 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 2: savior that would redeem all these things. Before Adam and 254 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: Eve could even see it, God was already weaving together 255 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: the threads of their rescue. And we need to cling 256 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 2: onto that hope today for ourselves, that in the areas 257 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 2: where we have fallen and made mistakes or intentionally sinned, 258 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 2: God can redeem evil, That even the greatest mistakes that 259 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 2: we have made unintentionally and intentionally, that when we genuinely 260 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: and truly repent and turn to Him and seek communion 261 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: and restoration with him. He will not only redeem that 262 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 2: relationship and our connection with Him, but He can redeem 263 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 2: even the outcome, even the consequences. Right like the consequences 264 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 2: of sin is death, but the free gift of God 265 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: is eternal life through Christ Jesus. That is redemption right there. 266 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 2: Just because you can't see the redemption yet doesn't mean 267 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: that God isn't already weaving it together. 268 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: That was true for Adam and Eve. They didn't see 269 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: it yet that would come. 270 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 2: To fruition thousands of years later through Jesus. But that 271 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 2: promise and that proclamation of the Gospel was made in 272 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 2: the very beginning the third chapter of our Bible. How 273 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 2: incredible is that one of the most beautiful truths of 274 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: Scripture is that God begins working our redemption and working 275 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 2: on redemption before we even hit the ground from our fall. 276 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: How cool is that that God I'd already had a 277 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 2: plan in motion and in mind with the decision that 278 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 2: Adam and Eve made through their sin. We can hope 279 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 2: for this too, that God can redeem our stories as well. 280 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: If He can redeem the. 281 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 2: Fall the sin that started all sins. He redeemed that 282 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 2: through Jesus. How much more can he continue redemption in 283 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 2: our life? 284 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: You know what I mean? 285 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 2: Like think about that, But that brings me a couple 286 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 2: thousand years into the future, speaking of Jesus the garden 287 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 2: of Gisseemini. Thousands of years later, another garden appears in scripture. 288 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 2: In It'schssemone in Matthew twenty six thirty six through thirty nine. 289 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: It says, then Jesus went with his disciples to a 290 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: place called Gistemine, and he said to them, sit here 291 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 2: while I go over there and pray. He took Peter 292 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: and the two sins of Zebedee along with him, and 293 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 294 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: Then he said to. 295 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 2: Them, my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point 296 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 2: of death. Stay here with me, Stay here and keep 297 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: watch with me. Going a little farther, he with his 298 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 2: face to the ground and prayed, my father, if it 299 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 2: is possible, may this cup be. 300 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: Taken from me? 301 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 2: Yet not as I will, but as you will. Gusseemine 302 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 2: was the turning point for redemption. 303 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: It happens. 304 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 2: It begins in this garden. And what's interesting is that 305 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: when we read the gospels, and when we specifically read 306 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 2: the epistles, the ones that Paul wrote, if we're getting 307 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 2: into more specifics, we have the Jesus is known as 308 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: the second atom. We have the first atom, which is 309 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: Adam Adam meaning man in the garden in which the 310 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 2: fall came. But Christ is alluded to and known as 311 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 2: the second atom, because being fully God and fully man, 312 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: he brought about redemption. Where where the first atom brought 313 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: the fall, Jesus brought the restoration. Where the first atom 314 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 2: said my will, the second atom said, thy will be 315 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: done on earth as it is in heaven. Right your will, Father, 316 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: not my will, but your will be done. Even though 317 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,159 Speaker 2: Jesus prayed, let this cut pass from me, if it 318 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 2: is possible, if you can spare me from the suffering 319 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 2: of the cross that I'm about to go through, and 320 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 2: the betrayal and death and separation and the full wrath 321 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: of God. If you will spare me from this, please do. 322 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: If there is another way. Yet, if there is not, 323 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 2: your will be done. Your will, not mine your will. 324 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 2: Where Adam the first Adam brought death, Jesus, the second 325 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 2: atom brought life. In Gestemine, Jesus saw the full weight 326 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 2: of what was to come right, like I said, the betrayal, 327 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 2: the suffering, the cross, and he still chose obedience. He 328 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 2: still chose to be obedient to the point of death. 329 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 2: Why because of redemption, of how important it was to 330 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 2: secure redemption, and not just redemption being worth it, but 331 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: us being worth it, redeeming us unto himself. Like do 332 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 2: you realize that from the very beginning all God has 333 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 2: ever wanted was to dwell with his people, delight in 334 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 2: his people, and deliver his people. 335 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 1: And the Cross is proof of that. 336 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 2: That this was to make every wrong right so that 337 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: we could be in right relationship with him, so we 338 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 2: could take on the righteousness of Christ because he took 339 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 2: on the wrath and the full weight of our sin. 340 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 2: God really wants to be in relationship with us. He 341 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 2: really wants to be in relationship. And another thing about 342 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 2: Gasseemine that is revealed to us is that sometimes renewal 343 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 2: and redemption begins with surrender, surrender to the will of God, 344 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: even if it requires crushing, even if it calls for 345 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 2: something that we don't expect, Like I think sometimes we 346 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,479 Speaker 2: can just expect if God is in it, then it's 347 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 2: going to be comfortable and it's going to be this 348 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 2: soft and beautiful thing. But the cross was gruesome, yet 349 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 2: it brought about redemption. It was the most gruesome thing, 350 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 2: but it brought about the most beautiful thing. And sometimes 351 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 2: God allows us to go through things that we wouldn't 352 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 2: detail as beautiful, but in the end and in hindsight 353 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 2: looking back, the most beauty came from that place. Like 354 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 2: we don't think that pruning is a beautiful process when 355 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: we're thinking about the garden and planting, but it's through 356 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: pruning that life can go to the places where life 357 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,239 Speaker 2: is most essential in the plant to bring about the 358 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: most fruit. And the same can be true for our life. 359 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 2: That you know, the pruning and the crushing and the 360 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 2: pressing and all these things, they're intense, but they bring 361 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 2: about the most life. They bring about the most outpour. 362 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 2: And that's the thing about Gossemoni is that gussemone is known. 363 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 2: I actually went to it back in twenty eighteen in Israel. 364 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: And the thing about Gissemoni I'm pulling it up here 365 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: is that it literally translates to oil press or the 366 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 2: place of the olive press. It's a grove full of 367 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 2: these olive trees, and you. 368 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: Can go there today. 369 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 2: It's run and kept by these monks. But the thing 370 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 2: about Gassemoni is that the place of the olive press, 371 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 2: where Jesus went and was literally sweating blood as he 372 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 2: was petitioning and praying and preparing himself for the cross, 373 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 2: reminds us that God so often does his deepest work 374 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 2: through the pressing, before the pouring, through the pressing before 375 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 2: the pouring. Gasthemini reminds us that God's first response isn't 376 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 2: always to remove the pressure. Sometimes he meets us in 377 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 2: the pressing, and that's where the anointing flows out. That's 378 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 2: where the blessing, that's where the favor, that's where he 379 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 2: dwells is in that place where there might be pressure 380 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 2: and intensity, that's where it comes from. So what if 381 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 2: the crushing and the pressing that you might be going 382 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 2: through today, the goathemone that you might be in today 383 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 2: is evidence that God has not left you. It's actually 384 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 2: evidence that He's preparing you for something where His glory 385 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 2: is all over it, his redemption is all in it. 386 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 2: He just because you're going through something intense and hard, 387 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 2: does not mean that he has abandoned you, forsaken, you've 388 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 2: forgotten you. No, it could be a part of his 389 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 2: divine and orderly plan to bring about something that is 390 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 2: so anointed and. 391 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: Pure for his sake. 392 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 2: I just I think Gysemone has so much too it. 393 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: It reminds us that some of God's greatest victories begin 394 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 2: in these places of anguish, that our tears can be 395 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: the very thing that water the earth to bring about 396 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 2: real fruit, real plants, real fruit, real cultivation. It's in 397 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 2: these places of pain that we become well acquainted with 398 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 2: God as our comforter, not just our confidence. But after 399 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,880 Speaker 2: the cross, another garden appears. So we have Gasemone, which 400 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 2: then leads to the cross, and then a garden appears, 401 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 2: a garden tomb, specifically where Hope bloss And in John 402 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 2: nineteen forty one through forty two, this is what it 403 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 2: says at the place where Jesus was crucified aka Goglfa, 404 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 2: And you can see Goglfa, the place Jesus was crucified 405 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 2: from the garden tomb. There was a garden, and in 406 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 2: the garden a new tomb in which no one had 407 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 2: ever been laid, because it was the Jewish day of preparation, 408 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 2: and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. 409 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 2: What I love most about the scene of the garden 410 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 2: tomb is who shows up to the garden three days later? 411 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 2: The women hey O, but specifically Mary Magdalene, And she 412 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 2: didn't arrive celebrating. Think about it, like she was grieving her, 413 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 2: her Messiah, the one that she followed, the one that 414 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 2: she cared for and loved died, died. And I don't 415 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 2: say loved in the sense of like they had this relationship, 416 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:52,719 Speaker 2: because I know that some people think that Mary Magdalen 417 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 2: and Jesus had a relationship. Literally, No, no, get your 418 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 2: mind out of the Gnostic Gospels and the or whatever. Okay, No, 419 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,120 Speaker 2: she she cared for him, she followed him like all 420 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 2: these other women and the disciples did. She cared, and 421 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 2: she shows up and she's grieving and she's carrying confusion 422 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 2: and disappointment. And maybe that's you today, where it's like 423 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 2: I was expecting you to do something different here, Jesus, 424 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: Like I don't think a lot of people, I even 425 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: think of Judas, like he had this expectation of who 426 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: Jesus was, being a zealot himself, and Jesus was not 427 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,439 Speaker 2: this political figure who came and overthrew Rome like he expected. 428 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 2: And it's like, what, like he had this expectation for 429 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 2: who Jesus would be and how Jesus would play out 430 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 2: the turn of events, and then he ends up dying 431 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 2: on the cross. What like a lot of the disciples 432 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 2: and a lot of the followers of Christ kind of 433 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 2: lost hope when Jesus died. And maybe you've lost hope 434 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 2: because the situation that you were in today did not 435 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 2: pan out the way that you expected. Where it's like, Jesus, 436 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 2: you were supposed to do this thing, And it's like, 437 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 2: did I say that, Was I supposed to do this thing? 438 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 2: Or am I doing something new? Am I doing something different? 439 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 2: Am I doing something kingdom? Because kingdom is so different 440 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 2: than this world, Like the Cross shows us that the 441 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 2: kingdom is so different than what we expect, and the 442 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 2: Resurrection shows us that too. But anyways, everything that she 443 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 2: thought was going to happen seemed to have fallen apart. 444 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 2: And that's probably why I love Mary so much because 445 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: I relate. 446 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 1: Like Mary. 447 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 2: I think some of us can look at the garden 448 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 2: of our life and it looks more like a garden tomb, 449 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 2: and we're thinking this is all over, it's over, it's done. 450 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: But redemption, but God. 451 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 2: But here's what Mary didn't know is that while she 452 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 2: was mourning what she thought was dead, who she thought 453 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 2: was dead, Resurrection, the Resurrection himself, should I say, was 454 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,200 Speaker 2: literally standing right in front of her, was standing right 455 00:24:58,200 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 2: in front of her. She thought that she was st 456 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 2: in a cemetery, She was actually standing in a miracle, 457 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,719 Speaker 2: all right. And I wonder how many of us are 458 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 2: doing the same thing today, where we are looking at 459 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 2: our circumstance and we are concluding, hope is gone, It'll 460 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 2: never get better. This is all that there is to it, 461 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 2: like joy is gone, restoration is gone, Redemption is gone. Meanwhile, 462 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 2: Jesus is literally closer than we think. She even confused 463 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 2: him for a gardener. I think that's so funny. In 464 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 2: John twenty fifteen, it says he asked her, Jesus asked her, woman, 465 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,400 Speaker 2: why are you crying? Who is it that you're looking for? 466 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: Thinking he was the gardener, she said, sir, if you 467 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 2: have carried him away, tell me where you put him. 468 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 1: I will get him. And honestly, she wasn't that far 469 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: off okay. 470 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 2: Because like he is the capital g gardener, all right. 471 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,479 Speaker 2: He is the one who who entered the broken soil 472 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 2: of this world to reverse the curse of sin. 473 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: Period. He's the one who. 474 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,120 Speaker 2: Takes dead things and cultivates them. 475 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: To be brought back to life. 476 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 2: He specializes in restoration, cultivation, all these things. He causes 477 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: things to bloom and blossom where it felt scorched and 478 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 2: withered once. The resurrection is God's declaration that brokenness does not. 479 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 1: Get the final word. It doesn't get the final word. 480 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 2: Your grief doesn't get the final word. Your heart ache, 481 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 2: the diagnosis, the bad news, the loss, the unanswered prayer. 482 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 2: That doesn't get the final word. Jesus gets the final 483 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 2: word redemption. Resurrection gets the final word. Jesus was buried 484 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 2: in a garden, but he also rose in a garden. 485 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: He didn't stay dead in a garden. He came to 486 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:45,479 Speaker 1: life in a garden. 487 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 2: Don't forget that the empty tomb reminds us that God's 488 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 2: redemption is not merely possible, It's guaranteed. Redemption is like 489 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 2: the Christian narrative, that is the life we get to 490 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: live on his terms. In the way in which he 491 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,199 Speaker 2: is going to unravel it in our life, but it 492 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 2: will unravel. It will unravel in the best way in 493 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 2: your unraveling. The re stitching of redemption. 494 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: Will unravel in your life. Does that make sense? 495 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 2: But that brings me to where the Bible ends. The 496 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 2: Bible ends where it begins in a garden, specifically a 497 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 2: garden city. This is how it is described in Revelation 498 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 2: twenty two one through five. It says, then the Angel 499 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,400 Speaker 2: showed me the river of the water of life, as 500 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 2: clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and 501 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 2: of the Lamb. Down the middle of the great street 502 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 2: of the city. On each side of the river stood 503 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 2: the tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding 504 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 2: its fruit every month, And the leaves of the trees 505 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 2: are for the healing of the nations. No longer will 506 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 2: there be any curse. The throne of Godden of the 507 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 2: Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will 508 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: serve him. They will see his face, and his name 509 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. 510 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: They will not need light of a lamp or the 511 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 2: light of the sun, for the Lord God will give 512 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 2: them light, and they will rain forever and ever so 513 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:20,199 Speaker 2: the Tree of Life appears once again. The curse is removed. 514 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 2: God dwells with his people forever. This is the Garden City. 515 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 2: There's no more tears, no more mourning, no more death, 516 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 2: no more grief, no more pain. 517 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:31,440 Speaker 1: Everything that was. 518 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: Lost in Eden is restored. Everything that Jesus purchased is fulfilled. 519 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 2: And one of the most beautiful things, or one of 520 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 2: the most beautiful truths in scripture, is that God does 521 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 2: not just replace what's broken. He redeems it. He buys 522 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 2: it back, and he restores it and transforms it. Like 523 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 2: think about Jesus after the Resurrection. He could have appeared 524 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 2: with no scars, right, no evidence of the cross, no 525 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 2: nails in his hands, or a pierced side or anything 526 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 2: like that. Yet when Jesus rose from the dead, the 527 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 2: scars remained. 528 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: Why why do you think that is? 529 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 2: I think it's because what was once a symbol of 530 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 2: suffering became a symbol of victory. It became proof of 531 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 2: his providence as Lord of all that death cannot hold him, 532 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 2: that he is the Lord of all, He's the author 533 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: of all life and creation. What once looked like defeat, 534 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 2: think about it, like the nails that were pierced in 535 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 2: his hands. What once testified of defeat actually became proof 536 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 2: of redemption, proof of victory. And I think that's important 537 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 2: because so many of us spend our lives asking God, 538 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 2: will you erase these scars? Will you just remove every 539 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 2: reminder of pain, everything that I've gone through, you know, 540 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 2: the trauma from my childhood and the brokenness with my family, 541 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 2: or the years that I was waiting for this thing 542 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 2: to happen and it never happened, like whatever. It could 543 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 2: be the miscarriage, the divorce, the years that you spent 544 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 2: praying for someone and they never came through. 545 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: Whatever. 546 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 2: I don't know, But what if God's plan is not 547 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 2: always to erase the pain and the scars, specifically the scars. 548 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 2: What if his plan is to redeem it. What if 549 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 2: his plan is to redeem the scars that you have. 550 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 2: That's what he did with Jesus. Because there is a 551 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 2: difference between a wound and a scar. Right, a wound 552 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 2: is still bleeding, but a scar testifies of healing, a 553 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 2: healing took place. I literally just had a c section, y'all, 554 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 2: seven layers deep, and that scar testifies not just of healing, 555 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 2: but of life, literal life that came out of my body. 556 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 2: That's crazy, and think about it. Mary went back to 557 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 2: the garden tomb. The reason why some of us today 558 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 2: are not healed is because we are refusing to revisit 559 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 2: the place of pain. Mary went back to the place 560 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 2: of pain. She went back to the tomb of the Messiah, 561 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 2: like she went back to the place where Jesus was 562 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 2: declared dead, only to be met with Jesus the risen 563 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 2: savior life. The area of your life that you were 564 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 2: declaring as dead might actually have life waiting for it 565 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 2: if you would dare to go to that place. If 566 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 2: that's where Jesus is calling you, to revisit the scars, 567 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 2: the story, the painful past, the wounds. Maybe it's the 568 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 2: scar of a difficult childhood or church hurt or I 569 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 2: don't know, postprim depression and anxiety. That's what I'm walking 570 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: through right now, if I'm being completely candid with you. 571 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 2: The enemy wants you to look at those scars and 572 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 2: see evidence of what you lost. But God looks at 573 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 2: those scars and he sees evidence of where his faithfulness 574 00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 2: can infiltrate and bring real healing, real real transformation. He 575 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 2: can carry you and sustain you, and heal you and 576 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 2: work out good in your story. Because the cross didn't 577 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 2: have the final word. 578 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: Jesus diad. He walked out of that too. He didn't 579 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 1: stay buried. Okay. 580 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 2: Our God is so good that he doesn't even waste 581 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 2: our pain. I love that about him. He takes the 582 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 2: very things that the enemy meant to destroy us and 583 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 2: he turns it into testimonies of his grace and his goodness. 584 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 2: The story that you wish didn't happen. That's what redemption does. 585 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 2: It doesn't pretend that the pain never existed. It transforms. 586 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 2: It takes the ashes and creates beauty. It takes death 587 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 2: and brings about life. It takes graves and turns them 588 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 2: into gardens. 589 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 1: Gardens. 590 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 2: This is the life that we get to live with 591 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 2: Jesus and with God as the gardener in our life. 592 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 2: I mentioned that I wrote about this in my book earlier, 593 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 2: The Fabric of Hope, and in it, the tagline that 594 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 2: I have for it is how God weaves redemption into 595 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 2: every season. And I chose that tagline specifically because there's 596 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 2: just so much biblical imagery and the idea of a tapestry, 597 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 2: and when you're looking on one side of a tapestry, 598 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 2: the backside specifically, it's like there's all these colors and 599 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 2: all these threads and everything's kind of like unraveling and 600 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 2: like all over the place, and it looks kind of 601 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 2: chaotic and it doesn't make sense. But when you walk 602 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 2: onto the other side, or when you look at the 603 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 2: front of the tapestry, what's front facing. 604 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: It's beautiful. It's a work of art. It's a masterpiece. 605 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 2: And I think some of us are living on the 606 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 2: back side of the tapestry right now, and we're like, God, 607 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 2: what good can come from what you are weaving in 608 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 2: my life? And it's like, if only you will trust, 609 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 2: if only you will wait a little longer and yield 610 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 2: to God and the redemption that He has in store 611 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: for you and your story, because you're in between two 612 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 2: gardens right now, right from Eden to Revelation, from Genesis 613 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 2: to Revelation. 614 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: We are in between that. 615 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 2: Right now, waiting for the fullness of redemption right when 616 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 2: we are in heaven, when we are in the garden city. 617 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,480 Speaker 2: But we can also experience redemption right here, right now today. 618 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 2: We just need to be patient, We just need to 619 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 2: trust the process. We just need to allow God to 620 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 2: be the gardener, to be the weaver, to be God, 621 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 2: and trust his plan even with our pain, to trust 622 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 2: his goodness even with our suffering, to trust his redemption 623 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 2: even with what feels ruined, because He can do something 624 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 2: so much better, so much greater. And we see this 625 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 2: from the very beginning all the way to the end 626 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,359 Speaker 2: with scripture. From what has already happened and with what 627 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 2: is to come, we can have hope in the redemption 628 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 2: of our God in our own life. And I think 629 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,760 Speaker 2: that's beautiful that the same God who walked with Adam 630 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 2: and Eve in the garden, who met Jesus in Gsseemine, 631 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:53,279 Speaker 2: who rolled away the stone in the garden tomb, and 632 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 2: who will one day welcome us into the garden city, 633 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:00,440 Speaker 2: is still weaving and working our stories together culti, and 634 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:04,360 Speaker 2: allowing something beautiful to blossom there. So if you're weary, 635 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 2: don't give up. 636 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 1: If you are wounded, don't lose hope. 637 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 2: If you are grieving, don't lose heart. And if you 638 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:16,960 Speaker 2: are waiting, keep waiting, because no thread in your story 639 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 2: is wasted, and God can do something really beautiful with 640 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 2: the barren ground that you might be living on right now. 641 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 2: He can bring a garden to the place that feels 642 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,319 Speaker 2: like a deserted desert. He can bring real life where 643 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 2: it feels like there was once death. And I hope 644 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:33,840 Speaker 2: that you were encouraged by that that the God of 645 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 2: the first garden is still working until the final garden arrives. 646 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 2: So yeah, that is the word that I want to 647 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 2: encourage you all with today. 648 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:43,799 Speaker 1: I pray that it blessed you. I'm glad that we 649 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:46,879 Speaker 1: got through this. It took me three times. God is good. 650 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 2: Three is also a biblical number, so maybe we needed 651 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:53,880 Speaker 2: to get to that. But I pray this encouraged you. 652 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 2: I love you, guys, and I will see you here 653 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 2: next week for another episode of the Bottom Beloved podcast. 654 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 2: Until then, tune in to all the other episodes that 655 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,719 Speaker 2: I have recorded in the past. You can follow me 656 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 2: on socials at Kirby as a Boss. 657 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 1: I will also link my book down below if you 658 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: want to. 659 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 2: Check that out and read more about redemption. If this 660 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 2: episode spoke to you, and yeah, I'll have more things 661 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:15,720 Speaker 2: linked down below. 662 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:16,879 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys next week. 663 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:21,440 Speaker 2: Love you bye. For more life giving, faith based podcast 664 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 2: just like this one, check out lifeaudio dot com. A 665 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 2: proud partner of the Botton Beloved podcast