1
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:05,039
Speaker 1: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evan jehoasts for heroes in the Bible, Jesus.

2
00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,559
Speaker 1: If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please share it

3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:10,959
Speaker 1: with your family and friends so they can know Jesus

4
00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,280
Speaker 1: Christ in a personal way, because knowing Jesus is the

5
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,880
Speaker 1: key understanding the Bible. Welcome to the greatest story ever told.

6
00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,159
Speaker 1: It is the greatest story of a shepherd's heart for

7
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,160
Speaker 1: his sheep, a father's love for his children, and a

8
00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,680
Speaker 1: hero's triumph over death and darkness. This is a story

9
00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,280
Speaker 1: that continues to shape and mold the world around us,

10
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,480
Speaker 1: bringing the divine heart of God right into the hearts

11
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,920
Speaker 1: of you and me. In this episode, Jesus preaches the

12
00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,600
Speaker 1: most famous sermon ever told. With powerful passion and compelling prose,

13
00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:46,440
Speaker 1: Jesus weaves together a beautiful tapestry portraying the Kingdom of God.

14
00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,159
Speaker 1: Everyone is captivated by his words, but his sermon is

15
00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,200
Speaker 1: also a challenge to them. Christ did not just come

16
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,160
Speaker 1: to comfort us, He also came to establish God's will

17
00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,840
Speaker 1: in our hearts. The Sermon on the Mount stands in

18
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,320
Speaker 1: opposition against the religious dogma and conal living that would

19
00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,160
Speaker 1: hold us captive. You will hear him say. You have

20
00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,679
Speaker 1: heard it said, but I say to you, Jesus is

21
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,440
Speaker 1: about to flip people's traditional ideology on his head and

22
00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,280
Speaker 1: bring them back to the heart of God. This episode

23
00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,360
Speaker 1: also gives us one of the more compelling moments in scripture.

24
00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,720
Speaker 1: A pivotal character has a moment of loneliness and despair.

25
00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,000
Speaker 1: His faith is tested, and he reaches out to Jesus

26
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,920
Speaker 1: for answers. What comes after is an emotional plea to

27
00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,319
Speaker 1: the hearts of mankind to release themselves from bondage and

28
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,399
Speaker 1: experienced freedom. I hope you are gripped by the words

29
00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,640
Speaker 1: and actions of Jesus. It is my fervent prayer that

30
00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,840
Speaker 1: you and I do not leave unchanged by God's truth.

31
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,679
Speaker 1: May the heart of Christ and the Word of God

32
00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,320
Speaker 1: take hold of our hearts. Here is episode seven. My

33
00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:50,320
Speaker 1: burden is light.

34
00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,160
Speaker 2: Frankly, Chapter seven, Joseph thumped his head against the stone

35
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,280
Speaker 2: walls of his prison cell. A small sliver of moonlight

36
00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,000
Speaker 2: made its way through some cracks in the ceiling. He

37
00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,239
Speaker 2: stared at the light endlessly, listening to the rustling of

38
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,120
Speaker 2: his prison maids beside him. They were fast asleep, but

39
00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:23,440
Speaker 2: not Joseph. There was no sleep for him. He continued

40
00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,520
Speaker 2: to thump his head against the back of the wall,

41
00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:31,040
Speaker 2: frustrated at the world, frustrated at God. He had been

42
00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,639
Speaker 2: the favored son of Jacob. He was loved and adorned

43
00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,079
Speaker 2: with endless affection from his father. He was a dreamer

44
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:43,240
Speaker 2: and had great expectations for his future. However, his dreams

45
00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,480
Speaker 2: got the better of him, and jealousy caused his brothers

46
00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:52,200
Speaker 2: to sell him into slavery. Joseph was humbled and sought God.

47
00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,520
Speaker 2: In the midst of all his tragedy. He put his

48
00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,919
Speaker 2: head down to the plow and showed himself to be

49
00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,880
Speaker 2: a masterful organizer, and dial and servant. He eventually caught

50
00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,960
Speaker 2: the eye of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. He

51
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,000
Speaker 2: put him in charge of his entire household, and for

52
00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,280
Speaker 2: a brief moment, Joseph truly believed he was a favored son.

53
00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,360
Speaker 2: Once again. In the midst of his ascension as a slave,

54
00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,519
Speaker 2: he caught the eye of a certain woman, Potterphar's wife.

55
00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,640
Speaker 2: She demanded his attention and his body. However, Joseph would

56
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:28,200
Speaker 2: not give it.

57
00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,520
Speaker 3: I could not commit this sin against my master and

58
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:32,320
Speaker 3: my God.

59
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:37,720
Speaker 2: Joseph retorted. Potiphar's wife, grabbed him and pulled him in close.

60
00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,080
Speaker 3: Lie with me, Joseph, she whispered.

61
00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,960
Speaker 2: Her voice was seductive and smooth. She smelt of berries

62
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,120
Speaker 2: and spice. Joseph was a young man and not without

63
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,920
Speaker 2: his carnal desires. Yet there was a deep integrity that

64
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,000
Speaker 2: had formed within him since he became a slave. Pride

65
00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:03,120
Speaker 2: and arrogance made his brothers hate him. He would not

66
00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:08,520
Speaker 2: succumb to that same arrogance again. Joseph pulled away, ripping

67
00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,760
Speaker 2: the piece of clothing she was holding. Joseph knew if

68
00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,920
Speaker 2: he did not run, he would give in, so he

69
00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,520
Speaker 2: fled as fast as he could. As he sprinted down

70
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,960
Speaker 2: the halls, he could hear echoes of screaming. It was

71
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,840
Speaker 2: at that moment he knew what would happen. Joseph was

72
00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,200
Speaker 2: sent to prison for a crime he did not commit,

73
00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,880
Speaker 2: assaulting pot Offr's wife. He rotted in a damp cell.

74
00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,320
Speaker 2: Because he decided to show integrity, Joseph stood to his

75
00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:42,400
Speaker 2: feet and yelled. His screams reverberated off the cold stone walls.

76
00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,880
Speaker 2: He fell to his knees and wept. He felt like

77
00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,520
Speaker 2: he was cut off from all he had prayed for.

78
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,719
Speaker 2: He felt forsaken. He had dreams of being a great

79
00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,919
Speaker 2: inheritor of his father's land, yet he was sold into slavery.

80
00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,640
Speaker 2: He had dreams of being a great keeper of his

81
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:06,359
Speaker 2: master's house, yet here he was awaiting his inevitable death.

82
00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,599
Speaker 2: All he had dedicated his life too was now hidden

83
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,320
Speaker 2: from him. The sun rose, or at least Joseph thought

84
00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,359
Speaker 2: it it. The sun only ever peered dimly through his

85
00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,960
Speaker 2: forsaken soul. He felt the same way with God, He

86
00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,560
Speaker 2: only felt his presence dimly. Joseph looked around at the

87
00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:31,240
Speaker 2: other men imprisoned with him. They hated their existence. Then

88
00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:36,159
Speaker 2: Joseph saw the warden. He too seemed to hate his life.

89
00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,080
Speaker 2: As the warden was serving bread, Joseph approached him and helped.

90
00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,000
Speaker 2: As he did this, the warden's face lit up with joy.

91
00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,360
Speaker 2: Joseph took note of this. He took note of every

92
00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,200
Speaker 2: act he did in service to the guards and his

93
00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:57,400
Speaker 2: fellow prisoners. With every piece of bread served, wound bandaged,

94
00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:02,080
Speaker 2: and story told, Joseph began to feel once again the

95
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:07,039
Speaker 2: favor of God. In everything Joseph did, God blessed him.

96
00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,159
Speaker 2: His bitterness melted away as he felt the love of

97
00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:17,200
Speaker 2: God extending through him. He must decrease so God might increase.

98
00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,000
Speaker 2: This was the solution to Joseph Spain, and it would

99
00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,880
Speaker 2: be the solution to rid mankind of its selfishness for

100
00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:35,280
Speaker 2: all eternity. Chapter seven. My burden is light. Jesus hiked

101
00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,520
Speaker 2: up a small hill overlooking the plains. The light breeze

102
00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,640
Speaker 2: took the edge off the harsh sun. It was springtime

103
00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,440
Speaker 2: and the lilies of the field were in full bloom.

104
00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,400
Speaker 2: Jesus sat down on the vibrant grass, soaking in the sunlight.

105
00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,479
Speaker 2: He scanned the crown that was waiting below. It was

106
00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:01,320
Speaker 2: a diverse crowd. There were men, women, families, sick people

107
00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,280
Speaker 2: who had been healed, and sick people who needed healing.

108
00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,400
Speaker 2: There were also enemies, pharisees who were determined to strike

109
00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:14,440
Speaker 2: him down. He loved every one of them. As the

110
00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:19,200
Speaker 2: gentle winds swayed the tall grass in several directions, Jesus

111
00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,320
Speaker 2: began to think about Psalm twenty three.

112
00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,720
Speaker 3: The Lord is my shepherd. I shall need nothing. He

113
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,800
Speaker 3: makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me

114
00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,000
Speaker 3: beside gentle waters. He restores my soul.

115
00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,440
Speaker 2: That is what Jesus desired to do. He desired to

116
00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,640
Speaker 2: lead his sheep to green pastures and still waters. He

117
00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:47,000
Speaker 2: desired to restore their weary and anxious souls. He was

118
00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:52,320
Speaker 2: their shepherd, and he loved his sheep. Jesus looked to

119
00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,560
Speaker 2: the people down below. The crowd was eager to hear

120
00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,160
Speaker 2: what Jesus had to say. He had preached many times

121
00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:00,000
Speaker 2: from the Word of God.

122
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:00,200
Speaker 1: God.

123
00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:06,360
Speaker 2: He explained the deep truths of scripture and fulfilled prophecies. However,

124
00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,880
Speaker 2: this time Jesus chose to speak about the Kingdom of

125
00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,200
Speaker 2: God in the present. He expounded on the culture of

126
00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,920
Speaker 2: heaven and how it can be seen in people. He

127
00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,120
Speaker 2: raised his voice to them, saying.

128
00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,800
Speaker 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the

129
00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:28,360
Speaker 3: Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for God

130
00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,679
Speaker 3: shall comfort them. Blessed are those who have strength, yet

131
00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:38,120
Speaker 3: keep it under control. They will inherit the earth. Blessed

132
00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,000
Speaker 3: are those who are hungry and thirsty for the righteousness

133
00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:45,600
Speaker 3: of God. They will seek and be satisfied. Blessed are

134
00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:50,560
Speaker 3: those who show mercy, and mercy will be shown to them.

135
00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,600
Speaker 3: Blessed are those with pure hearts, for they shall see

136
00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:59,880
Speaker 3: God move greatly. Blessed are the peacemakers, for people will

137
00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,640
Speaker 3: see them and know that they are children of God.

138
00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,079
Speaker 3: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the good things

139
00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:11,320
Speaker 3: that they do, for they will inherit the kingdom of God.

140
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,840
Speaker 2: Jesus turned to his disciples. They were listening intently to him.

141
00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,840
Speaker 2: He knew the hardships they would endure for his name.

142
00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,640
Speaker 2: Still speaking to the crowd, he looked to them and said.

143
00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,560
Speaker 4: Blessed are you and others harm or persecute you on

144
00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:33,000
Speaker 4: my account, be glad, for you have a glorious reward

145
00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:34,520
Speaker 4: stored up for you in heaven.

146
00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,200
Speaker 3: They persecuted the prophets of old, and they will do

147
00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:39,199
Speaker 3: the same to you.

148
00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,160
Speaker 2: Jesus took a handful of dirt in his hand and

149
00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,319
Speaker 2: let it blow in the wind. He looked at them

150
00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:47,040
Speaker 2: and said.

151
00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,720
Speaker 3: You, my dear friends, are the salt of the earth.

152
00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,960
Speaker 3: You give it vibrants and flavor. You are meant to

153
00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,240
Speaker 3: add to culture and make it better. Yet, if the

154
00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,840
Speaker 3: salt loses its flavor, what what is it other than

155
00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,880
Speaker 3: being trampled under foot. You are also like the light

156
00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:08,040
Speaker 3: of the world. You, like a city set firmly on

157
00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,680
Speaker 3: a hill, will be a beacon for those lost and lonely.

158
00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,520
Speaker 3: Do not hide this light. No one takes a lantern

159
00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,760
Speaker 3: and stuffs it under a basket. No, you put it

160
00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,320
Speaker 3: on a stand for all to see. You must do

161
00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,439
Speaker 3: the same with your light. Let your light so shine

162
00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:29,160
Speaker 3: before others that they see you, and they glorify your

163
00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:30,240
Speaker 3: Father in heaven.

164
00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,280
Speaker 2: Jesus then looked at the Pharisees glaring at him from

165
00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,600
Speaker 2: the back. They were waiting for any excuse to rebuke him.

166
00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,560
Speaker 2: He knew what they thought of him. They saw him

167
00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,720
Speaker 2: as a blasphemer in danger to their way of life. However,

168
00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:50,199
Speaker 2: Jesus knew that underneath their piety and moral uprightness was

169
00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:54,720
Speaker 2: a desperate need for power. He looked at them, predicting

170
00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,080
Speaker 2: their objections to him, and said.

171
00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,960
Speaker 3: Some of you think I may have come to abolish

172
00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,000
Speaker 3: the law and the prophets, but you could not be

173
00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,640
Speaker 3: even further from the truth.

174
00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,080
Speaker 2: Jesus saw the Pharisee stir and look at one another.

175
00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,719
Speaker 2: Hear me, Jesus continued, I.

176
00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,480
Speaker 3: Have not come to abolish the Law of Moses, but

177
00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,120
Speaker 3: to fulfill it. The word of God is as unchangeable

178
00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,079
Speaker 3: as creation itself.

179
00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,560
Speaker 2: As Jesus said these things, the religious leaders began to

180
00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:25,719
Speaker 2: boil with frustration. What they could not see is that

181
00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:30,040
Speaker 2: the entirety of God's story from Adam until now was

182
00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:34,319
Speaker 2: leading up to this moment. Jesus was the crescendo of

183
00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,960
Speaker 2: human history and the embodiment of God's will. Jesus lifted

184
00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,319
Speaker 2: his palms up like a weighted scale, and said.

185
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,600
Speaker 3: The law has told you that you shall not murder.

186
00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,320
Speaker 2: Jesus's right hand raised higher than the left hand.

187
00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:52,280
Speaker 3: However, I tell you that whoever harbor's deep hatred will

188
00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:53,280
Speaker 3: also be judged.

189
00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,319
Speaker 2: Jesus then raised his left hand to be equal with

190
00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,360
Speaker 2: the right. He did the same thing with his hands, again, saying, the.

191
00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,600
Speaker 3: Law says that you shall not commit adultery. However, I

192
00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,400
Speaker 3: am here to tell you that whoever lusts after a

193
00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,920
Speaker 3: woman an objectifies her in his mind, has already been

194
00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:11,720
Speaker 3: guilty of such things.

195
00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,240
Speaker 2: The men in the crowd began to look around. It

196
00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,920
Speaker 2: was uncomfortable to hear. However, Jesus was showcasing the importance

197
00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,160
Speaker 2: of the heart. The Pharisees had become masters at controlling

198
00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,840
Speaker 2: their actions. However, the sacrifice God truly desired was a

199
00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:35,080
Speaker 2: pure and honest heart. Jesus continued speaking of marriage, oath

200
00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:40,320
Speaker 2: and the fickle nature of mankind. Then Jesus's tone shifted.

201
00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,960
Speaker 3: An I for an eye. How many of you have

202
00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,840
Speaker 3: heard that you are to repay an evil deed with

203
00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:46,680
Speaker 3: equal force?

204
00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:47,520
Speaker 2: The crowd nodded.

205
00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,160
Speaker 3: Wars begin this way. I tell you. If anyone slaps

206
00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,800
Speaker 3: you on the right cheek, go ahead and turn and

207
00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,959
Speaker 3: give him the other cheek. If anyone desires to sue

208
00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,719
Speaker 3: you for your tunic, go ahead and give him your

209
00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,120
Speaker 3: clothes ook as well.

210
00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,360
Speaker 2: Jesus then pointed to the Roman guards that were standing nearby.

211
00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,280
Speaker 3: If a Roman soldier forces you to carry us things

212
00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,800
Speaker 3: a mile, you go ahead and carry them for two.

213
00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:13,679
Speaker 3: Go the extra mile.

214
00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,600
Speaker 2: Jesus made sure to emphasize the next point.

215
00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,839
Speaker 3: The culture of this age tells you to love your

216
00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,920
Speaker 3: neighbor and hate your enemy. However, I say to you,

217
00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:29,120
Speaker 3: love your enemies, love them, pray for them, serve them.

218
00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,080
Speaker 3: For if you only love those who love you, what

219
00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,079
Speaker 3: separates you from those that are corrupt? Even the most

220
00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,160
Speaker 3: evil among us loves their friends. Your righteousness must go

221
00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,160
Speaker 3: above and beyond.

222
00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,760
Speaker 2: Jesus's words came with a great deal of authority. These

223
00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,680
Speaker 2: were timeless truths that had been forgotten under layers of

224
00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:56,640
Speaker 2: moral compromise and religious tradition. Jesus did not desire to

225
00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:01,200
Speaker 2: establish another regime of pious control, but to break down

226
00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:06,040
Speaker 2: the barriers that separated people from experiencing a life honoring God.

227
00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,600
Speaker 3: Beware of showcasing your righteousness for all to see, Jesus born.

228
00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,600
Speaker 3: When some people give to the needy, they sound the

229
00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,600
Speaker 3: trumpets and beat the drums. They do not desire to

230
00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,200
Speaker 3: give to the needy. They desire to be seen giving

231
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,520
Speaker 3: to the needy. They seek the approval of man, and

232
00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,720
Speaker 3: they get it. However, that is the only reward they

233
00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,200
Speaker 3: shall have. When you give, do not let your left

234
00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,680
Speaker 3: hand know what your right is doing. Serve others with

235
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,880
Speaker 3: no recognition. The same goes for your prayers. The hypocrites

236
00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,720
Speaker 3: love to stand and pray on the street corners or

237
00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,040
Speaker 3: in the synagogues. But when you pray, do so in secret.

238
00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,840
Speaker 3: The Lord hears you in secret, and he will bless

239
00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:49,880
Speaker 3: you in secret.

240
00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,160
Speaker 2: One of the disciples raised his hand and asked.

241
00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,760
Speaker 3: Then, please, Lord, teach us how to pray. When you pray,

242
00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,000
Speaker 3: do not add spectacle or poetry to come off as righteousness.

243
00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:04,000
Speaker 3: Others some love to stand on the street corners and

244
00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,720
Speaker 3: proclaim their devotion to God. When you pray, do so

245
00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:13,200
Speaker 3: just between you and the Lord. Pray like this, Our Father,

246
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,960
Speaker 3: Holy is your name. May your kingdom come and your

247
00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,960
Speaker 3: will be done here as it is in heaven. Provide

248
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,080
Speaker 3: our daily needs, and forgive us all our sins. And

249
00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,800
Speaker 3: may we also forgive those who have trespassed against us,

250
00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,560
Speaker 3: Lead us away from temptation, and deliver us from evil.

251
00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,920
Speaker 2: The prayer was simple yet profound, and it spoke of

252
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,560
Speaker 2: the relationship man ought to have with God. Jesus placed

253
00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,640
Speaker 2: his hand on his stomach and smiled.

254
00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,320
Speaker 3: When the hypocrites fast, they are gloomy and brooding. They

255
00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,800
Speaker 3: make sure all can see their hunger.

256
00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,960
Speaker 2: Jesus then mimicked the pharisee, holding his stomach and drooping

257
00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:58,480
Speaker 2: his face. The crowd laughed, and the Pharisees crossed their arms.

258
00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,600
Speaker 3: When you fast your face and take care of your

259
00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,800
Speaker 3: body so that no one knows. Your father in heaven

260
00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:09,040
Speaker 3: he knows, he sees. Take heart in that the things

261
00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:10,360
Speaker 3: of this world.

262
00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,119
Speaker 2: Will pass, Jesus exclaimed.

263
00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,640
Speaker 3: Do not lay it for yourselves treasures that will rust

264
00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,440
Speaker 3: and rot pursue eternal things. Lay it for yourselves treasures

265
00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,880
Speaker 3: from heaven, for where your treasure is, your heart will

266
00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,280
Speaker 3: be also.

267
00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,400
Speaker 2: Jesus held up a finger and made sure all would

268
00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:29,120
Speaker 2: pay attention.

269
00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,800
Speaker 3: No one can serve two masters, Jesus warned, you will

270
00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,760
Speaker 3: love the one and hate the other. If you devote

271
00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,320
Speaker 3: yourself to money, you'll end up hating God. You cannot

272
00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,760
Speaker 3: serve the pursuit of riches and the pursuit of God.

273
00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,560
Speaker 2: It was clear that talking about money made the people uncomfortable.

274
00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,680
Speaker 2: The Romans had taken much from them, and money had

275
00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:59,080
Speaker 2: consumed their thoughts day and night. Jesus had compassion over them.

276
00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:04,560
Speaker 2: He the anxiety they felt with a fatherly tone. Jesus

277
00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:07,120
Speaker 2: continued to encourage them, saying.

278
00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,320
Speaker 3: Do not be anxious about your life. The food you

279
00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,560
Speaker 3: eat are the clothes on your body. Life is more

280
00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,160
Speaker 3: than food, and your body is more than the clothing

281
00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:16,800
Speaker 3: that's on it.

282
00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,360
Speaker 2: Jesus looked up at the birds chirping above and pointed.

283
00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,960
Speaker 3: Look at these birds. They do not labor a toil,

284
00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,920
Speaker 3: yet their heavenly father feeds them. Are you not more

285
00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,159
Speaker 3: precious than they are? No one ever added one moment

286
00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:37,000
Speaker 3: to their life by worrying. Do not be anxious about tomorrow.

287
00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,159
Speaker 3: It has its own troubles, live for today, and seek

288
00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,840
Speaker 3: God in every moment.

289
00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,480
Speaker 2: The people began to look at one another. Jesus saw

290
00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,680
Speaker 2: husbands looking at their wives, and sisters looking at their brothers.

291
00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,280
Speaker 2: The nature of humans is to look at the flaws

292
00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,639
Speaker 2: and one another instead of inward. Jesus knew that and

293
00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:02,959
Speaker 2: gave a stiff warning to all who were listening.

294
00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:07,560
Speaker 3: Be careful not to judge others, for you yourself will

295
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,880
Speaker 3: be judged. Why would you point out the small piece

296
00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,160
Speaker 3: of sawdust in someone's eye when you have a large

297
00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:15,880
Speaker 3: wooden plank stuck to your own.

298
00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:21,080
Speaker 2: There was a chuckle from among the crowd. Jesus smiled, Be.

299
00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:24,280
Speaker 3: Mindful to understand your own flaws before mentioning the flaws

300
00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,199
Speaker 3: of others. You will serve them better if you do so.

301
00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,639
Speaker 2: Jesus desired for everyone listening to truly understand the power

302
00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,760
Speaker 2: they had available to them. If they were to simply

303
00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:40,800
Speaker 2: seek the face of God, he would move mightily in them.

304
00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,399
Speaker 2: Jesus's tone was earnest and urgent.

305
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:49,159
Speaker 3: Seek God and he will answer. How many of you

306
00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,040
Speaker 3: parents would deny your child bread and instead give them

307
00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:56,439
Speaker 3: a stone? If you, being sinful, would not even do

308
00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,000
Speaker 3: this to your own child. Even more so, God will

309
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,640
Speaker 3: happily give to those who seek his favor. See God

310
00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,600
Speaker 3: as someone who is for you.

311
00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,800
Speaker 2: Jesus rose to his feet. The wind began to pick

312
00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,960
Speaker 2: up behind him. He took a deep breath, being mindful

313
00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,200
Speaker 2: of every word he was about to say.

314
00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,439
Speaker 3: Next, treat others the way you wish to be treated.

315
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:20,280
Speaker 1: This is the.

316
00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:24,000
Speaker 3: True heart behind the law of God. And understand this.

317
00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,479
Speaker 3: The gate to the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow. There

318
00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,200
Speaker 3: are many other paths that are easy and wide open. However,

319
00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,719
Speaker 3: it is the ease that is deceptive. It is the

320
00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,119
Speaker 3: way of death. The true path of God is hard.

321
00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:43,960
Speaker 3: It requires sacrifice, struggle, and humility. This is why many

322
00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,840
Speaker 3: will choose to avoid it, and ultimately they will perish.

323
00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,199
Speaker 2: Jesus began to walk down the hill and place his

324
00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,480
Speaker 2: hand on people's shoulders as he passed through the crowd.

325
00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,960
Speaker 3: Every healthy and good tree bears fruit the people can enjoy.

326
00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:04,119
Speaker 3: Bad tree produces thorns and poison. The same as with

327
00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:09,200
Speaker 3: our hearts. A good heart will produce good actions. Likewise,

328
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:13,320
Speaker 3: a bad heart will produce corrupt actions. Words are not enough.

329
00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,440
Speaker 3: Not everyone who declares to know God actually knows him. Personally,

330
00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,800
Speaker 3: be mindful that you seek him in spirit and truth.

331
00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,320
Speaker 2: Jesus was now behind the crowd. He looked down and

332
00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,159
Speaker 2: saw a stone the size of his palm on the ground.

333
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,080
Speaker 2: He picked it up and held it up in the

334
00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,560
Speaker 2: air for all to see, and said.

335
00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,440
Speaker 3: Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them,

336
00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,199
Speaker 3: as like a wise person who built their house on

337
00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:45,080
Speaker 3: a firm foundation. When the rain fell and the floods came,

338
00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,800
Speaker 3: their house was sturdy and resilient. Yet there will be

339
00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,919
Speaker 3: those who do not listen and do not do these things.

340
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,080
Speaker 3: They are like the people who build their homes on

341
00:20:55,160 --> 00:21:00,160
Speaker 3: wavering sand. When trouble comes, they will be washed away.

342
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,159
Speaker 2: Jesus looked at the crowd one final time, smiled, and

343
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:09,040
Speaker 2: dropped the stone. He departed with his disciples. The crowd

344
00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:15,639
Speaker 2: simply stood there, astonished. Meanwhile, in Copernium, a Roman centurion

345
00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,159
Speaker 2: sat at the bedside of the servant. He had a

346
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,840
Speaker 2: high fever and was coughing out blood. The centurion had

347
00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:25,600
Speaker 2: toward many foreign nations, he had seen many diseases take

348
00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,080
Speaker 2: the body of good soldiers. However, this was unlike any

349
00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,520
Speaker 2: illness he had seen before. The centurion soldier dabbed his

350
00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:38,080
Speaker 2: servant's head with a wet cloth. He was shivering beyond

351
00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,600
Speaker 2: control and could barely keep his eyes open.

352
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:42,760
Speaker 5: I'm so sorry.

353
00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:47,400
Speaker 2: The centurion whispered. Although the centurions were known as brutal

354
00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:52,000
Speaker 2: men of war, this man adored his servants. Every man

355
00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:56,640
Speaker 2: and woman under his command was precious to him. Saddened

356
00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,479
Speaker 2: by the bleak state of the servant, the centurion mounted

357
00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,719
Speaker 2: his horse to go do rounds around the city. He

358
00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:07,240
Speaker 2: was barely paying attention, mostly riding to clear his mind. However,

359
00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,760
Speaker 2: he did notice a stirring among the people. Shop owners

360
00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,560
Speaker 2: were closing early and headed for the city entrance. Women

361
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,359
Speaker 2: were gathering their children and going that way as well.

362
00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,919
Speaker 2: He found a shop owner who was packing up and

363
00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:21,600
Speaker 2: stopped him.

364
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:26,040
Speaker 5: You there, why are you people leaving early? What is happening?

365
00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,479
Speaker 2: The shop owner was distracted, frantically trying to close.

366
00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,399
Speaker 5: Have you not heard Jesus of Nazareth is on his

367
00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,240
Speaker 5: way here. He will be here any moment now. He

368
00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:41,080
Speaker 5: commands demons to flee, and heals the sick. He commands

369
00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:45,199
Speaker 5: demons to flee. The centurion asked, by what authority? Not

370
00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,119
Speaker 5: even your Jewish priests do that.

371
00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:49,240
Speaker 2: The shop owner shrugged.

372
00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:53,400
Speaker 5: The Pharisees say his authority comes from the devil himself. However,

373
00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,560
Speaker 5: many people believe it is Elijah returning from heaven.

374
00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,159
Speaker 2: The centurion nodded for the shop owner to leave. He

375
00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,680
Speaker 2: rode back to his estate and gathered some of the

376
00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:03,600
Speaker 2: Jewish elders.

377
00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,680
Speaker 5: Have you heard of Jesus of Nazareth.

378
00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:11,000
Speaker 2: He asked. The elders nodded. Every Jew had heard of him.

379
00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,919
Speaker 2: He had made quite a name for himself for his

380
00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,760
Speaker 2: teaching in the synagogues, then for his miracles.

381
00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,040
Speaker 5: I am what you call a gentile. I do not

382
00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:24,680
Speaker 5: want to insult him by asking him a favor. However,

383
00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,280
Speaker 5: my servant is sick, and I believe this Jesus to

384
00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:31,280
Speaker 5: be my last hope. Would you ask Jesus to use

385
00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,040
Speaker 5: his authority to heal my servant.

386
00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,360
Speaker 2: The elders did as they were told and found Jesus

387
00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,480
Speaker 2: entering the city. A crowd had already formed around Jesus.

388
00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,399
Speaker 2: As he entered Capernaum, the elders made way for themselves

389
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,879
Speaker 2: and came in front of him. The elders paid respect

390
00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:49,639
Speaker 2: to him, bowing at his feet.

391
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:54,280
Speaker 6: Jesus of Nazareth, we have come down behalf of a centurion,

392
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,080
Speaker 6: in need of your help. A servant who is very

393
00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,199
Speaker 6: precious to him is dying. Is a man worthy of

394
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,600
Speaker 6: your health. He loves our nation, although it is not

395
00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,840
Speaker 6: his own. He even built our local synagogue.

396
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,240
Speaker 2: Jesus waved goodbye to the crowns and went with them.

397
00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,800
Speaker 2: They weaved through the streets and approached the large estate

398
00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,679
Speaker 2: owned by the centurion. As they approached one of the

399
00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,040
Speaker 2: soldier's friends in running towards them, the man looked like

400
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,080
Speaker 2: he was also a part of nobility. He looked out

401
00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,800
Speaker 2: of place, running out of the property into the street.

402
00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,080
Speaker 2: My lord, the man said.

403
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,040
Speaker 5: I speak on behalf of the centurion. He says, please

404
00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,760
Speaker 5: do not trouble yourself by coming to me. I'm not

405
00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,679
Speaker 5: worthy to have you come under my roof, and I,

406
00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,359
Speaker 5: being a gentile, do not presume to enter your presence either.

407
00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:44,800
Speaker 5: I know that all you have to do is say

408
00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,040
Speaker 5: the word, and my servant will be healed. I am

409
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,120
Speaker 5: also a man of authority. Whatever I command of my men,

410
00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,800
Speaker 5: they do it without question. My word holds power. I

411
00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,240
Speaker 5: know that you are a man of even greater authority

412
00:24:58,280 --> 00:24:59,680
Speaker 5: than me.

413
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:04,320
Speaker 2: Bowed and departed back into the estate. The elders were

414
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:08,120
Speaker 2: shocked at what they had just heard. Jesus seemed even

415
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:12,320
Speaker 2: more shocked than they did. He marveled at him, astonished

416
00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:17,520
Speaker 2: by his faith. This gentile, a Roman soldier, had managed

417
00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:21,400
Speaker 2: to cause the Son of God to be in awe.

418
00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:22,960
Speaker 2: Jesus's eyes widened.

419
00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,120
Speaker 3: I have never seen such faith, not even in Israel.

420
00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:34,160
Speaker 2: And with that Jesus departed. The centurion watched Jesus leave

421
00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:38,120
Speaker 2: through the lattice of his window. He prayed that Jesus

422
00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:42,000
Speaker 2: would understand. He walked down the halls to where his

423
00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:46,320
Speaker 2: servant was resting. He opened the door, and to his dismay,

424
00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,480
Speaker 2: the servant was sitting up in his bed, eyes alert

425
00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,280
Speaker 2: and full of life. The centurion laughed and embraced his servant.

426
00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,440
Speaker 2: The entire house rejoiced and glorified the one who had

427
00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:04,240
Speaker 2: more authority than all all the resources of Rome. Jesus

428
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:09,159
Speaker 2: departed Copernian and headed south. His disciples and a large

429
00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:13,920
Speaker 2: crowd of people followed him like ducklings. They were eagerly

430
00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:18,159
Speaker 2: anticipating Jesus's next move. Was he going to storm the

431
00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,280
Speaker 2: temple again? Was he going to cast out a demon

432
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:25,760
Speaker 2: in Jerusalem? Was he going to confront the religious elite

433
00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:30,160
Speaker 2: and a debate. Jesus never ceased to surprise them word,

434
00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:34,119
Speaker 2: so they followed him anxiously, looking around for what was

435
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:38,800
Speaker 2: going to come next. However, most of them were disappointed

436
00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,640
Speaker 2: to see Jesus leading them to the town of name.

437
00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:48,080
Speaker 2: Name was unremarkable, dull, and devoid of any sort of excitement.

438
00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:54,399
Speaker 2: The disciples lowered their expectation as greatly. However, Jesus seemed

439
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,480
Speaker 2: to be alert. He was looking for something or perhaps

440
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,360
Speaker 2: some way. They approached the gate of the town, which

441
00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:08,080
Speaker 2: was only two thin wood pillars. Short fencing surrounded the city.

442
00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:13,600
Speaker 2: Nane's Gate was a monument to its poverty. Most of

443
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,800
Speaker 2: the people were laborers in nearby cities and could not

444
00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:21,159
Speaker 2: afford much going through the gate. Exiting the city was

445
00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:25,480
Speaker 2: a large funeral procession. Four men carried a man on

446
00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:30,760
Speaker 2: a bier as his mother mourned beside him. Behind them

447
00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:34,119
Speaker 2: was half the town. The man who died was a

448
00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,159
Speaker 2: beloved member of his community, and he had left his

449
00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,680
Speaker 2: mother without a husband or son to provide for her.

450
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:46,200
Speaker 2: This is why Jesus had come. He did not wander

451
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:51,320
Speaker 2: into any place without purpose. Every step he took was purposeful.

452
00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,399
Speaker 2: The spirit of God had led him here to bless

453
00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:01,080
Speaker 2: this woman, and to showcase his authority over death. Jesus

454
00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,280
Speaker 2: approached the front of the procession. The men stopped and

455
00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:09,000
Speaker 2: the woman looked up at him. A cracked face was

456
00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:13,639
Speaker 2: swollen from tears. Jesus placed his hand on the man

457
00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,679
Speaker 2: lying on the bier and looked at his mother. Do

458
00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,600
Speaker 2: not weep, little one, he said. The entire procession was

459
00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:26,920
Speaker 2: completely still. The crowd behind Jesus was silent, holding their breath.

460
00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:32,719
Speaker 2: Jesus turned his head towards the man and said, young man,

461
00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,960
Speaker 2: I say to you you eyes. At first there was nothing.

462
00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,800
Speaker 2: The silence was thick enough to cut with a knife.

463
00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:47,200
Speaker 2: Then the once pale and lifeless skin of the man

464
00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:52,240
Speaker 2: had its color restored. A gasp of air broke the silence.

465
00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,920
Speaker 2: As he sat up, the men carrying the beard dropped

466
00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,000
Speaker 2: it out of shock. The man fell to the floor,

467
00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:04,360
Speaker 2: groaning from the impact. Jesus knelt down, smiled, and lifted

468
00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:08,080
Speaker 2: him to his feet. The once dead man was in shock,

469
00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:13,840
Speaker 2: looking around in confusion. Then he saw his mother. Tears

470
00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,120
Speaker 2: welled up in his face, and the two of them embraced.

471
00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,120
Speaker 2: Fear gripped the hearts of every one in attendance.

472
00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:25,360
Speaker 7: There's a great prophet in a midst they shouted, God

473
00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:30,080
Speaker 7: is with us. The people cheered, and reports spread throughout

474
00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:34,400
Speaker 7: the whole country. Jesus had raised a man from the dead.

475
00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,280
Speaker 7: It was not a soldier, a governor, or a priest.

476
00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,479
Speaker 7: He did not raise a member of the temple, a rabbi,

477
00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:45,440
Speaker 7: or one of his disciples. He raised an unknown man

478
00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:50,240
Speaker 7: from an unknown place. Jesus, with purpose in his heart,

479
00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,320
Speaker 7: pursued him so he might come back to life.

480
00:29:54,760 --> 00:30:00,920
Speaker 2: This is the heart of God, to pursue and give life.

481
00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:03,840
Speaker 2: Word of Jesus raising the man from the dead had

482
00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:07,560
Speaker 2: reached every corner of the country, even the jail cells

483
00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:12,080
Speaker 2: of Herod the palace. There in the cold dungeon underneath

484
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:17,800
Speaker 2: the palace, John the Baptist sat echoes of jesus mighty

485
00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:21,080
Speaker 2: deeds had reached his ears. Often as he rotted away

486
00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,480
Speaker 2: in his cell, he thumped the back of his head

487
00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,920
Speaker 2: against the stone walls and peered up to Heaven. A

488
00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,560
Speaker 2: small sliver of light broke through a crack in the prison.

489
00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:37,640
Speaker 2: He had been arrested for speaking out against Herod. He

490
00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:41,520
Speaker 2: had been persecuted for proclaiming the truth, and now he

491
00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:46,200
Speaker 2: had to suffer his own words echoed through his head.

492
00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,520
Speaker 5: I must decrease so he might increase.

493
00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,600
Speaker 2: This was not what he had in mind. He had

494
00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:57,880
Speaker 2: dreams of being a witness to Christ's coming salvation. Yet

495
00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:02,960
Speaker 2: here he was awaiting him his inevitable death. All he

496
00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:07,280
Speaker 2: had dedicated his life to was now hidden from him.

497
00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,719
Speaker 2: He desired to see the coming kingdom, and now he

498
00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:15,160
Speaker 2: was forced to only hear whispers from the outside. Bitter

499
00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,880
Speaker 2: thoughts began to enter his mind. If Jesus was able

500
00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,800
Speaker 2: to raise the dead, then why not release him from prison?

501
00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,760
Speaker 2: If he truly was the Messiah, then how come his

502
00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:29,720
Speaker 2: most trusted servant was rotting away in a dark dungeon.

503
00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:35,320
Speaker 2: John stood to his feet and yelled. His screams reverberated

504
00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:39,920
Speaker 2: off the cold stone walls. He fell to his knees

505
00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:44,280
Speaker 2: and wept. He felt like he was cut off from

506
00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:49,880
Speaker 2: all he had prayed for. He felt fors sake. Still

507
00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:54,760
Speaker 2: able to send messages, John reached out to Jesus. His

508
00:31:54,920 --> 00:32:00,720
Speaker 2: question was simple, yet behind it was deep pain. His

509
00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,160
Speaker 2: message asked.

510
00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,280
Speaker 5: Are you the one? Or should we look for another?

511
00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:12,280
Speaker 2: Jesus winced hearing John's question. He knew the pain John

512
00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:18,320
Speaker 2: had endured. Yet John's life was but a foreshadowing his

513
00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,920
Speaker 2: suffering did not come close to what Jesus would soon

514
00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:27,720
Speaker 2: endure on his behalf. Jesus knew that John only needed

515
00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,760
Speaker 2: to be reminded of what they had dreamed of for

516
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:34,720
Speaker 2: so long. He looked at the messenger and said.

517
00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:37,400
Speaker 3: Go and tell John all that you have heard me.

518
00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:37,600
Speaker 2: Do.

519
00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,720
Speaker 3: Tell him that the blind had been given their sight,

520
00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:44,280
Speaker 3: the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, had given purpose.

521
00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,360
Speaker 3: The death can hear, and the dead have been raised

522
00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:51,000
Speaker 3: up again. The poor have good news given to them.

523
00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,120
Speaker 3: And blessed be any one who is not offended by

524
00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:54,720
Speaker 3: my purpose.

525
00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:59,880
Speaker 2: John's messengers departed. Jesus could hear a mumbling from the crowd.

526
00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:04,840
Speaker 2: They mocked John under their breath for doubting Jesus. This

527
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:06,000
Speaker 2: irked Jesus.

528
00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,600
Speaker 3: What did you expect when you went into the wilderness

529
00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,160
Speaker 3: to listen to John? Did you expect a pampered prince

530
00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,800
Speaker 3: or a prophet of God? He is the prophet Malachi

531
00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:20,000
Speaker 3: spoke of when he said, behold, I send my messenger

532
00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:21,720
Speaker 3: to prepare your way before you.

533
00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,640
Speaker 2: The people were silent. They could sense Jesus's passion rising.

534
00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:31,360
Speaker 2: He spoke louder for all to hear, saying, there is no.

535
00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,400
Speaker 3: Greater man than John the baptist.

536
00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:37,160
Speaker 6: The madman baptized sinners.

537
00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:42,480
Speaker 2: The Pharisees shouted. Jesus turned his head swiftly, his eyes

538
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:47,480
Speaker 2: filled with fire. The tax collectors, soldiers, and prostitutes all

539
00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:50,720
Speaker 2: felt the need to be baptized by John. They knew

540
00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:55,520
Speaker 2: the value of repentance. Yet the Pharisees still could not understand.

541
00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:57,920
Speaker 3: How shall I compare your.

542
00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:01,080
Speaker 2: Generation, Jesus asked the Pharisees. You are like.

543
00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:04,360
Speaker 3: Children sitting in the market place with their music, saying,

544
00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,920
Speaker 3: we played a happy song and you didn't dance, And

545
00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:10,400
Speaker 3: we played a sad song and you did not cry.

546
00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:12,200
Speaker 2: The rest of the crowd laughed.

547
00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,320
Speaker 3: John came vowing to never drink wine or eat bread,

548
00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:17,799
Speaker 3: so you called him a madman for not partaking in

549
00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:21,680
Speaker 3: those pleasures. Now I come, and I eat bread and

550
00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:25,719
Speaker 3: I drink wine. Yet you called me a glutton and

551
00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,800
Speaker 3: a drunk. You criticize us both for doing the opposite

552
00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:29,319
Speaker 3: of each other.

553
00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:34,000
Speaker 2: Jesus raised his arms, inviting a response, yet they were silent.

554
00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:36,080
Speaker 2: He shook his head.

555
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:39,920
Speaker 3: Wisdom is justified by actions.

556
00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:44,320
Speaker 2: Jesus paced for a moment, looking at the sea of faces.

557
00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:48,560
Speaker 2: They were confused at the tension between the Pharisees and himself.

558
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,879
Speaker 2: They had followed the Pharisees for so long and saw

559
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,480
Speaker 2: them as the authority on how to pursue God. He

560
00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,280
Speaker 2: looked at them, then raised his head to heaven.

561
00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:03,399
Speaker 3: I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and Earth, that

562
00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:06,360
Speaker 3: you have hidden deep truths from the pompous, but have

563
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,080
Speaker 3: revealed it to little children.

564
00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,759
Speaker 2: He then turned to the crowd and said.

565
00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,520
Speaker 3: All things have been given to me by the Father.

566
00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:18,000
Speaker 3: Are you weary? Are you heavy laden? Are you filled

567
00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:22,520
Speaker 3: with burdens? Come to me. Come to me, all you

568
00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,960
Speaker 3: who labor and are weary, and I will give you rest.

569
00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:30,480
Speaker 3: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. I

570
00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:33,560
Speaker 3: am gentle and humble of heart. Come to me, and

571
00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:37,200
Speaker 3: you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke

572
00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:39,799
Speaker 3: is easy and my burden is light.

573
00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:44,000
Speaker 2: Jesus offered a peace who was not offered by the

574
00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:48,279
Speaker 2: religious system of the day. The Pharisees brought nothing but

575
00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:52,759
Speaker 2: false holiness and added to God's law. The people were

576
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:56,719
Speaker 2: not just oppressed by Rome. They were oppressed by men

577
00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:59,839
Speaker 2: who were supposed to lead them into a good relationship

578
00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:05,040
Speaker 2: with God. The people were weary. They needed to be delivered.

579
00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:09,000
Speaker 2: They needed a shepherd to make them lie down in

580
00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:13,520
Speaker 2: green pastures. They needed a shepherd to lead them beside

581
00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:20,000
Speaker 2: still waters. They needed someone to restore their souls.

582
00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,680
Speaker 1: What you and I just witnessed was the greatest sermon

583
00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:28,360
Speaker 1: ever priest. The Sermon on the Mount is a foundational

584
00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:31,160
Speaker 1: passage for Christians, as it laid out the culture of

585
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:35,440
Speaker 1: God's kingdom. It was Jesus's desire to communicate clearly what

586
00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:38,240
Speaker 1: citizens of the Kingdom of God looked like and how

587
00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:41,120
Speaker 1: they should act. Some of the things Jesus said don't

588
00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:44,160
Speaker 1: come as a surprise to us. Truths like treat others

589
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,520
Speaker 1: the way you want to be treated, and judge not

590
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:50,040
Speaker 1: unless you be judged, or common sayings. However, there were

591
00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:53,040
Speaker 1: a few things Jesus said that can be jarring to listeners,

592
00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:56,680
Speaker 1: things like whoever harbor's hatred for his brother will be

593
00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:59,680
Speaker 1: judged as murderers, or whoever lust after someone in their

594
00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:03,080
Speaker 1: hearts committing adulterial all much harder to year and even

595
00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:05,680
Speaker 1: harder to live out in real life. The Sermon on

596
00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:08,759
Speaker 1: the Mount was this glorious blend of relief and restraint.

597
00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,239
Speaker 1: It relieves us from some of the burdens we put

598
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,960
Speaker 1: on ourselves, while also restraining us from letting our hearts wonder.

599
00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,439
Speaker 1: It is Christ's gold to remind his disciples and us

600
00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:21,400
Speaker 1: that sin begins and ends in the heart. We should

601
00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:25,400
Speaker 1: merely stop at not killing someone. We should aim to

602
00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,120
Speaker 1: not hate anyone either, since that is where it all begins.

603
00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:32,959
Speaker 1: We should merely measure our fidelity to our spouses based

604
00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:35,399
Speaker 1: on whether we commit adultery or not, but we should

605
00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:39,040
Speaker 1: cleanse our minds of any lustful thoughts toward another. Many

606
00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:42,319
Speaker 1: people think Jesus lowered the standards of sin, but that

607
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:44,759
Speaker 1: wasn't the case at all. He knew that sin began

608
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:47,760
Speaker 1: in the heart. Religions can try to change your actions,

609
00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:50,240
Speaker 1: but if you are caught up in bitterness and captured

610
00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,120
Speaker 1: by us, then you are bound to sin sooner or later.

611
00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,680
Speaker 1: The Kingdom of God needs to be established in our

612
00:37:55,719 --> 00:38:00,000
Speaker 1: hearts before it can be established in culture. Whatever hatred, lust, bitterness,

613
00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:03,080
Speaker 1: or anxiety that enslaves our lives must be dealt with

614
00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:07,000
Speaker 1: before we can change the world around us. Jesus raised

615
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:09,560
Speaker 1: the standard for how we treat people as well. The

616
00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:11,880
Speaker 1: culture of this age tells you to love your neighbor,

617
00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,919
Speaker 1: and hate your enemies. However, I say to you, love

618
00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:18,640
Speaker 1: your enemies, love them, pray for them, and serve them.

619
00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,040
Speaker 1: And if you only love those who love you, what

620
00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:24,320
Speaker 1: separates you from those who are corrupt? Even the most

621
00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:28,040
Speaker 1: evil among us love their friends. Your righteousness must go

622
00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:33,480
Speaker 1: above and beyond our prayers. Patience and partiality should not

623
00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:35,960
Speaker 1: just be given to our people, but to all people.

624
00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:38,840
Speaker 1: Even our enemies are made in the image of God,

625
00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:42,360
Speaker 1: meaning even they deserve some semblance of dignity and honor.

626
00:38:43,080 --> 00:38:46,120
Speaker 1: This virtue was acted out in our prelude by Joseph,

627
00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:49,520
Speaker 1: who suffered greatly because he gave his service to those

628
00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:52,879
Speaker 1: who caused his suffering. God was gracious to us when

629
00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,440
Speaker 1: we were his enemies, so it stands to reason that

630
00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:58,279
Speaker 1: those who bear his name should do the same. This

631
00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,480
Speaker 1: is what I meant when I said some of Jesus's

632
00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:03,720
Speaker 1: words were challenging. It is important for us to remember

633
00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:07,480
Speaker 1: that Jesus didn't just come to forgive us of our sins,

634
00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:09,960
Speaker 1: but he also came to empower us to live a

635
00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,920
Speaker 1: holier and more fulfilling life. Towards the end of Jesus's sermon,

636
00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:17,640
Speaker 1: he says that whoever listens to his words and does

637
00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:20,200
Speaker 1: them as like a wise person who built his house

638
00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:23,440
Speaker 1: on a firm foundation. But whoever hears his words and

639
00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:26,239
Speaker 1: refuses to do them is like someone who built their

640
00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:29,239
Speaker 1: house on sand. This reminds us of a common theme

641
00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:32,240
Speaker 1: in the teachings of Jesus. Although some of his words

642
00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:35,200
Speaker 1: are hard to hear, they are ultimately meant to strengthen

643
00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:38,279
Speaker 1: us and make us better. The Gospel tells us this.

644
00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:42,359
Speaker 1: You are abundantly and unconditionally loved, and there is more

645
00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:45,600
Speaker 1: potential that can be drawn out of you. The world

646
00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,239
Speaker 1: will tell you that you are perfect the way you are,

647
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:51,000
Speaker 1: but that is not the Gospel. You are loved the

648
00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:53,480
Speaker 1: way you are, and it is Christ's love that compels

649
00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:56,920
Speaker 1: us to be better every day. The sermon ends and

650
00:39:56,960 --> 00:40:00,319
Speaker 1: we immediately meet a new person who needs Jesus. This

651
00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,520
Speaker 1: person is not a blind beggar, crippled child, or outcast.

652
00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:09,200
Speaker 1: He is a powerful, influential and respected centurion. Centurions were

653
00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:12,160
Speaker 1: enforcers and peacemakers in the city on behalf of Rome.

654
00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,400
Speaker 1: Most were feared and few were loved. This particular centurion

655
00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:19,399
Speaker 1: was convinced that Jesus was the only one who could

656
00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:22,440
Speaker 1: help his sick servant. He sent someone to find Jesus

657
00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:25,120
Speaker 1: and asked for his help, But when Jesus approached, something

658
00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:29,879
Speaker 1: ought happened. The centurion showed sensitivity to Jesus's culture while

659
00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:33,520
Speaker 1: also acknowledging his power. He said, please, do not trouble

660
00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:36,560
Speaker 1: yourself by coming to me. I am not worthy to

661
00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:40,480
Speaker 1: have you come under my roof. But I, being a gentile,

662
00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:44,279
Speaker 1: do not presume to enter your presence either. I know

663
00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:46,560
Speaker 1: that all you have to do is say the word,

664
00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:49,279
Speaker 1: and my servant will be healed. I am a man

665
00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:52,400
Speaker 1: of authority. Whatever I command of my men, they do

666
00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:56,200
Speaker 1: it without question. My word holds power. I know that

667
00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:58,719
Speaker 1: you are a man of even greater authority than me.

668
00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,240
Speaker 1: His reaction is only found twice in scripture. It says

669
00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:06,960
Speaker 1: that he marveled at the centurion's faith. You can imagine

670
00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:10,040
Speaker 1: that it would probably take a lot to surprise Jesus

671
00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:13,200
Speaker 1: or lead him to be astonished in any way. The

672
00:41:13,239 --> 00:41:16,400
Speaker 1: only other time Jesus marvels is that the unbelief of

673
00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:20,960
Speaker 1: his kinsmen in Nazareth. The episode reaches a compelling conclusion

674
00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:24,399
Speaker 1: with John the Baptist in prison. He leans his head

675
00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:27,319
Speaker 1: against the prison cell and We're immediately taken back to

676
00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:31,319
Speaker 1: the prelude with Joseph. Much like Joseph, John suffered for

677
00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:34,400
Speaker 1: doing the right thing. There's a special type of grief

678
00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:37,800
Speaker 1: when we suffer after having done what's right. Our relationship

679
00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:40,239
Speaker 1: with God can come into question because we thought we

680
00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:43,840
Speaker 1: will owe something for our faithfulness. John's doubt and grief

681
00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,759
Speaker 1: are understandable and certainly relatable. In some ways, it is

682
00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:51,080
Speaker 1: comforting to see John Russell with his belief. If somebody

683
00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:54,040
Speaker 1: like him struggles with doubt, then we don't feel as

684
00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:57,920
Speaker 1: bad when we have moments of disbelief. John's question of

685
00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:00,600
Speaker 1: Jesus was honest and came from a place of suffering.

686
00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,640
Speaker 1: Are you the one or should we look for another?

687
00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:07,640
Speaker 1: He asked. Jesus sent John an honest answer the work

688
00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:11,440
Speaker 1: John so desperately wanted to see what's happening and blessed

689
00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,680
Speaker 1: to those who aren't stumbling by it. Thank you for

690
00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:18,800
Speaker 1: listening to today's episode of Heroes in the Bible Jesus.

691
00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:23,240
Speaker 1: For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last

692
00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:26,720
Speaker 1: a lifetime, go to pray dot com and to expand

693
00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:30,120
Speaker 1: your Heroes in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of

694
00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:34,280
Speaker 1: the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org. Forward Slash Heroes

695
00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:38,000
Speaker 1: share this podcast with a family member or friend so

696
00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:40,600
Speaker 1: that they can know Jesus Christ in a personal way.

697
00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:44,040
Speaker 1: You never know how great of an impact the Bible

698
00:42:44,280 --> 00:43:53,600
Speaker 1: and this podcast can have on someone's life. God bless