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Speaker 1: And he said unto them, if any man will come

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Speaker 1: after me, let him deny himself and take up his

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Speaker 1: cross daily and follow me. Luke nine twenty three. Dear Jesus,

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Speaker 1: it's my heart's desire to follow after you. I only

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Speaker 1: want to be where you are and where you lead.

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Speaker 1: Being in the heart of your will is the safest

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Speaker 1: place to be. I realize you may lead in ways

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Speaker 1: that are foreign to me. I may not ununderstand where

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Speaker 1: you're taking me, and I honestly may not even want

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Speaker 1: to go there. But it is in those times that

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Speaker 1: I must deny myself, pick up my cross, and crucify

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Speaker 1: my flesh so I can follow you. It is painful

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Speaker 1: to let go of my expectations of what I thought

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Speaker 1: I wanted in my life, but that's what it means

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Speaker 1: to follow you and take up my cross. As surely

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Speaker 1: as you said in the garden the night before your crucifixion,

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Speaker 1: not my will, but Thy will be done, I too

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Speaker 1: must have that steadfast perseverance to Thy will and not

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Speaker 1: my will, as I follow you. Even as Jesus was

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Speaker 1: obedient unto death, he was raised up, and you glorified

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Speaker 1: him above all others. As I pursue you into your

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Speaker 1: plan and purpose for my life. I will accomplish more

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Speaker 1: than I ever thought possible. You will lead me into

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Speaker 1: your divine destiny and reward me for my obedience in

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Speaker 1: Jesus name. Amen. Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the

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Speaker 1: greatest stories ever told from pray dot COM's podcast Heroes

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Speaker 1: in the Bible.

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Speaker 2: In Genesis, God said, I give you every seed bearing

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Speaker 2: plant on the face of the earth, and every tree

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Speaker 2: that has fruit with seed in it. They will be

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Speaker 2: yours for food. It was so blessedly simple, right, But

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Speaker 2: with the serious health issues on the rise, you have

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Speaker 2: to wonder how much is related to poor diet lacking

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Speaker 2: in fruits and vegetables. Let me encourage you to get

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Speaker 2: back to basics with Field of Greens. Each fruit and

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Speaker 2: and kidneys. Others support metabolism for healthy energy and weight loss.

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Speaker 2: Unlike the others with water down extracts, Field of Greens

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Speaker 2: uses organic whole fruits and vegetables because that's where the

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Speaker 3: Hi, I'm back to Tony Evans and I'm excited for

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Speaker 3: you to join me on Heroes in the Bible Jesus.

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Speaker 3: Please follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify to get

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Speaker 3: the latest episodes so you can continue strengthening your relationship

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Speaker 3: with Jesus. Welcome to the greatest story ever told. It

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Speaker 3: is a story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,

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Speaker 3: a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph

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Speaker 3: over death and darkness. This is a story that continues

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Speaker 3: to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the

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Speaker 3: divine heart of God right into the hearts of you

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Speaker 3: and me. In this episode, the twelve Apostles are chosen

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Speaker 3: men brought from different backgrounds, united under one common goal

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Speaker 3: following Jesus. Along the way, we will meet some pharisees

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Speaker 3: and scribes who push against Jesus's tactics that self righteousness

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Speaker 3: is placed before us. As a contrast, the heart of

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Speaker 3: Christ is to serve and set people free, while the

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Speaker 3: religious leaders would rather be served and bind people with

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Speaker 3: needless regulations. As we hear about these interactions between Jesus

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Speaker 3: and the religious leaders, we are invited to consider our

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Speaker 3: self righteous tendencies puffed ourselves up with vain religious practices.

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Speaker 3: Have we been so focused on our own morality that

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Speaker 3: we have ignored the needs of others. Perhaps some of

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Speaker 3: us need to be reminded that Jesus doesn't call the

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Speaker 3: righteous and perfect, Rather, he chooses broken and imperfect people

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Speaker 3: to display his glory. The prelude will remind us of

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Speaker 3: these truths, and we will be continually reminded of them

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Speaker 3: as the episode builds. There are many parts of this

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Speaker 3: story that intertwine and point to the same prevailing message

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Speaker 3: of grace. I will do my best to point them

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Speaker 3: out to you once the episode is over. For now,

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Speaker 3: enjoy episode six. The twelve.

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Speaker 4: Praying Lude is chapter six. Since the Fall, a deep

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Speaker 4: pride had boiled in the furnace of mankind, men would

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Speaker 4: build kingdoms and monuments to themselves, seeking to be glorified

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Speaker 4: as gods. People of Babel had once sought to ascend

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Speaker 4: into the heavens by building a large tower. Their vain

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Speaker 4: attempt at immortality was quickly thwarted by God. He sent

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Speaker 4: them scattering through the far reaches of the earth. However,

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Speaker 4: mankind always found a way to elevate themselves. They sought power, riches,

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Speaker 4: and influence above humility, integrity and charity. For all of

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Speaker 4: human history, nations rose and fell by their own arrogance.

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Speaker 4: Even the religious became great in their own minds. The

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Speaker 4: Pharisees and scribes measured their righteousness against others and created

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Speaker 4: barriers between God and people. Yet even in their hubris,

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Speaker 4: God loved them as his people fell deep into their

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Speaker 4: own greed. God was generous. When the people of Israel

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Speaker 4: were entangled by sin or captured by a foreign nation,

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Speaker 4: he would deliver them by calling men and women of courage. However,

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Speaker 4: God never chose the strong. He never chose those who

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Speaker 4: were already exalted. God often chose the weak people of

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Speaker 4: this world to go against the arrogance of mankind. He

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Speaker 4: chose the small family of Abraham to create an entire nation.

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Speaker 4: He used Gideon, the forgotten son of a weak tribe,

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Speaker 4: to conquer an army. He chose Esther, a humble peasant,

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Speaker 4: to influence a king. He chose David, a ruddy shepherd boy,

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Speaker 4: to defeat a giant. All these people were flawed, forgotten,

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Speaker 4: or fearful, Yet God moved in them to save nations

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Speaker 4: and become kings. For thousands of generations since the fall

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Speaker 4: of mankind, God has been using the weak things of

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Speaker 4: this world to thwart the strong. He continues to search

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Speaker 4: for the humble and the willing, despite their flaws, to

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Speaker 4: accomplish extraordinary works. Chapter six, the twelve Simon rested his

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Speaker 4: head against the mast of his boat, lounging in the sun.

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Speaker 4: The tide rocked the vessel back and forth as the

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Speaker 4: gentle breeze tickled his cheeks. He was supposed to be

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Speaker 4: washing his nets after a night of fishing. However, he

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Speaker 4: had labored all night with no catch, so Simon was

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Speaker 4: content to doze off while his brother Andrew tended to

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Speaker 4: the chores. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were

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Speaker 4: in the boat beside them. They hadn't caught anything either.

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Speaker 4: It was proving to be a hard time for fishermen.

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Speaker 4: Simon was weary from the evening's toil. An entire night

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Speaker 4: of labor with no fish to shh for it. It

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Speaker 4: was frustrating. Many things in Simon's life were frustrating. He

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Speaker 4: looked up at the clouds and listened to the seagulls

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Speaker 4: fly out to sea. Perhaps the birds would have better

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Speaker 4: luck than him, he sighed and began to close his

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Speaker 4: eyes and rest. Simon's brief moment of peace was quickly

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Speaker 4: interrupted as he heard a commotion approaching the shore. He

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Speaker 4: piqued his eyes open to see Jesus briskly walking away

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Speaker 4: from a large crowd of people. Thousands of people crowded

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Speaker 4: around him. Many of them wanted to touch him so

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Speaker 4: they might be healed. Others wanted to be as close

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Speaker 4: to him as possible so they could hear every word

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Speaker 4: he said. Andrew smiled at the sight of Jesus. He

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Speaker 4: was much more impressed than Simon was. Simon still had

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Speaker 4: a lingering distrust, or perhaps it was more an inner guilt.

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Speaker 4: He did not find himself particularly worthy to be near

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Speaker 4: a man like that. The crowd was overwhelming Jesus at

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Speaker 4: almost every side. He backed up to the shore, but

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Speaker 4: they were still pressing in. Jesus looked back to see

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Speaker 4: Simon laying down in his boat, casually watching Simon, Jesus exclaimed,

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Speaker 4: could I use.

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Speaker 5: Your boat to teach from? If I stay near this crowd,

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Speaker 5: there's certainly going to suffocate me.

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Speaker 4: He asked with a chuckle. Simon sat up and rubbed

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Speaker 4: his temple. He had been up all night, and now

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Speaker 4: his one moment of peace was interrupted. He was about

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Speaker 4: to say no until Andrew gave him a swift kick

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Speaker 4: in the shin. Wincing in pain, Simon gave a frustrated

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Speaker 4: smile and gestured for Jesus to climb in. Jesus boarded

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Speaker 4: the small fishing boat and sat on the bow. He

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Speaker 4: began teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. Simon began repairing

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Speaker 4: a few nets, listening to him teach. His words poured

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Speaker 4: forth like heavy rain, parched all in attendant's student silence.

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Speaker 4: Simon found himself entranced by his words. He had never

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Speaker 4: heard someone teach with so much authority, passion, and gentleness.

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Speaker 4: Jesus finished, and the crown went back to their homes.

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Speaker 4: He looked back at Simon.

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Speaker 5: Let's go out to the deep, he said, maybe we'll

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Speaker 5: catch something.

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Speaker 4: Simon buried his face in his hands. He was not

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Speaker 4: emotionally ready for yet another day. Without a catch. Teacher,

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Speaker 4: we had been toiling all night. We tried everything and

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Speaker 4: scoured every section of this lake, yet caught nothing. Simon's

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Speaker 4: heart ached from defeat. He looked up at Jesus. He

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Speaker 4: was smiling, awaiting an answer. Andrew was beside him, begging

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Speaker 4: Simon to agree. Nevertheless, Simon said, at your word, I

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Speaker 4: will take us out. So the three of them cast

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Speaker 4: out the nets. James and John launched their boat as well.

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Speaker 4: Simon was not thrilled to be out there. He was bitter.

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Speaker 4: He gazed out at the horizon, wondering if his wife

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Speaker 4: would ever forgive him for being such a failure. The

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Speaker 4: boat rocked back and forth while Jesus and Andrew watched

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Speaker 4: the nets intently. Simon thought they were foolish. He continued

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Speaker 4: to look out at the water, letting bitterness stew. We

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Speaker 4: should leave, Simon said, it's hopeless. He stood up to

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Speaker 4: begin unwrapping the sails. Then as Simon stood up, he

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Speaker 4: heard a slight tightening of rope behind him. Simon frows

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Speaker 4: His eyes widened, and he looked back slowly. The nets

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Speaker 4: were tightening at a fast pace, so fast that if

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Speaker 4: Simon did not act quickly, they would break. He'd dove

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Speaker 4: for the nets as they were being dragged off the

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Speaker 4: side of the boat. Andrew and Jesus leapt forward to

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Speaker 4: help him. Together they dragged the nets out of the water.

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Speaker 4: As they pulled, Simon could see thousands of fish being

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Speaker 4: drawn into the boat. The three of them laughed as

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Speaker 4: they continued to bring in fish. Peter yelled for James

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Speaker 4: and John to come close to them so they could

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Speaker 4: draw more in. The men were screaming with delight. Both

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Speaker 4: the boats were filled with fish. It was the most

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Speaker 4: joy Simon had felt in years. Yet his smile quickly

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Speaker 4: faded as the other men cheered. Simon looked at Jesus.

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Speaker 4: His eyes began to water, and he fell to his knees.

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Speaker 4: Depart from me, Lord Simon said. He felt so much

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Speaker 4: shame for the life he had been living. He had

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Speaker 4: so much bitterness and anger within him. He felt unworthy

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Speaker 4: to be in the presence of Jesus. I am a

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Speaker 4: sinful man, O Lord, I am not worthy. Jesus understood

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Speaker 4: Simon's heart. He bent down and met him at high level.

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Speaker 5: You have lived with a great deal of fear for.

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Speaker 4: So long, Jesus said. He placed a hand on Simon's shoulders.

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Speaker 4: You no longer have to fear. Follow me, and I

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Speaker 4: will make you a fisher of men. Simon looked up

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Speaker 4: he looked Jesus in the eyes for the first time

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Speaker 4: since they met. Simon nodded, as did Andrew, James, and John.

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Speaker 4: So the four men left their nets and followed Jesus.

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Speaker 4: The following day was the Sabbath, and Jesus entered into

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Speaker 4: the nearby synagogue to teach. The entire congregation was enthralled

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Speaker 4: with Jesus's words. The other scribes had simply recycled one

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Speaker 4: another's writings, yet Jesus spoke with a new type of

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Speaker 4: authority they had never heard before. From Jesus's mouth were

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Speaker 4: the very words of God. He cut straight through the

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Speaker 4: rough exterior of relige, his dogma, and right to the

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Speaker 4: heart of his listeners. Jesus spoke the poetic truths of God,

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Speaker 4: and a light hearted spirit of joy filled the room.

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Speaker 4: Then from the corner of the synagogue, a deep laughter emerged.

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Speaker 4: The rumbling laughter turned into a wet cackle as a

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Speaker 4: man beat his fist against the wall. The crowd stirred.

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Speaker 4: Jesus knew exactly what was happening. This man was possessed

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Speaker 4: by a demon. The man's laughter was painful. He coughed

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Speaker 4: and screamed. His neck snapped back to look at Jesus'

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Speaker 4: anger laced the surface of his eyes, yet behind them

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Speaker 4: there was deep pain. The demon pointed forward to Jesus.

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Speaker 4: What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth.

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Speaker 4: The demon lurked forward, swinging the man's body against the wall.

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Speaker 4: Blood dripped down his temple.

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Speaker 5: The demon, have you come to destroy us?

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Speaker 4: Have you? The demon was getting louder and more angry.

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Speaker 4: The people were frightened, but Jesus stood perfectly still as

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Speaker 4: the demon approached him. These people may not know who

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Speaker 4: you are, but I do.

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Speaker 5: I know who you are.

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Speaker 4: The demon paused to look around the room. He basped

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Speaker 4: in the fear of the people. He pointed at Jesus

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Speaker 4: again and said, you.

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Speaker 5: Are the Holy One, the sun of the Silent.

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Speaker 4: Jesus rebuked. His voice reverberated off the walls, and the

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Speaker 4: demon cowered back. Jesus stepped down from the platform and

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Speaker 4: walked towards the demon. With every step Jesus took forward,

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Speaker 4: the demon took a step back.

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Speaker 5: Come out of him now.

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Speaker 4: Jesus commanded. As Jesus spoke, the man's body flailed back

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Speaker 4: and hit the stone floor. A harsh scream echoed through

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Speaker 4: the entire synagogue as the man writhed in pain. The

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Speaker 4: demon jolted the man forward, then flung his body against

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Speaker 4: the wall again. Then the man slowly slid to the ground,

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Speaker 4: whindpering in pain. The demon was gone. It would torment

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Speaker 4: him no more. Jesus embraced the man and had Andrew

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Speaker 4: attend to him. Everyone was silent as Jesus left the

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Speaker 4: synagogue to care for him. Up until then, people saw

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Speaker 4: Jesus as a great teacher. They were beginning to realize

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Speaker 4: he was much more. The next morning, Jesus sat on

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Speaker 4: a stone, leaning against the side of the mountain. He

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Speaker 4: looked out overlooking the sunrise as it slowly peeked over

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Speaker 4: the horizon. His face lit up from the rising sun.

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Speaker 4: Jesus would often pull away to be alone with his father.

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Speaker 4: The two would speak of eternity and the Kingdom, entering

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Speaker 4: the hearts of men. The sun was making its way

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Speaker 4: over the green pastures below, and Jesus could hear the

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Speaker 4: stirring of people gathering at the base of the mountain.

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Speaker 4: He smiled. They were so eager to see him, hear

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Speaker 4: from him, and witness his miracles. However, they would not

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Speaker 4: always be this devoted. Jesus knew the fickle nature of people.

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Speaker 4: Despite this, he loved them. He would serve them to

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Speaker 4: the very end and ultimately lay down his life for them.

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Speaker 4: Jesus made his way down the mountain. Sure enough, the

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Speaker 4: crowd was growing larger by the minute as people rushed

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Speaker 4: out of their homes. Jesus smiled and greeted them without

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Speaker 4: saying a word. He made his way towards the city.

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Speaker 4: As Jesus in the crowd came to the out her wall,

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Speaker 4: the man emerged from the corner. He limped toward Jesus.

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Speaker 4: The right side of his face was missing a cheek,

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Speaker 4: exposing rotting muscle underneath. His eyes were faded from deterioration,

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Speaker 4: and his left hand was missing several fingers. What was

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Speaker 4: left of his body was covered in bandages, tightly holding

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Speaker 4: together his limbs. The man was stricken with leprosy. From

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Speaker 4: the looks of him, he had been slowly dying for

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Speaker 4: many years. He did not look at Jesus. Rather, he

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Speaker 4: limped towards him with his head held low. Unclean. He shouted, unclean.

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Speaker 4: The crowd jolted backwards at the sight of him. The

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Speaker 4: leper fell to his knees.

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Speaker 5: Jesus, if you are willing, you could make me clean,

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Speaker 5: he said.

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Speaker 4: Jesus was moved with compassion. He knew the pain of leprosy.

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Speaker 4: He also knew the isolation this man fell. Lepers were outcasts,

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Speaker 4: driven out to keep others safe. This man was slowly

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Speaker 4: deteriorating all alone. He knelt down beside the man. The

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Speaker 4: crowd gasped as he drew closer. Jesus tuck the man's

285
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Speaker 4: shoulders and embraced him. The leper sobbed in his arms.

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Speaker 4: It was the first human contact he had had in years.

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Speaker 4: Be clean, Jesus said, I am willing. As Jesus said this,

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Speaker 4: the man's body was restored. He looked down at his

289
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Speaker 4: hands to see all his fingers attached. He unwrapped his

290
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Speaker 4: arms and legs to see the sores gone. He felt

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Speaker 4: his cheek smooth before Jesus smiled and whispered.

292
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Speaker 5: Depart, and do not tell anyone what has happened today.

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Speaker 5: It's dead. Go worship God in the temper.

294
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Speaker 4: So the man departed from there, invigorated with new life.

295
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Speaker 4: Jesus had a heart for the sick. Their plight represented

296
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Speaker 4: the greater woes of humanity. People were sick with sin

297
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Speaker 4: and slowly dying. Jesus came so they might have life

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Speaker 4: and life more abundant. After a few days, Jesus returned

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Speaker 4: to Capernium. He remained there in the home of one

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Speaker 4: of his friends. It was not long before the home

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Speaker 4: began filling up with people desiring to hear Jesus. Every

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00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,639
Speaker 4: inch of the home was filled with people. Outside of

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00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,399
Speaker 4: the home, the three men carrying their friend. He was

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Speaker 4: completely paralyzed, unable to even speak. The men heard that

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Speaker 4: Jesus was in town and were hoping to have Jesus

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Speaker 4: heal their friend. However, they saw that people were overflowing

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Speaker 4: outside of the house. The three men looked down at

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Speaker 4: their common.

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Speaker 5: Is this small sat back really going to keep him

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Speaker 5: from being healed?

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Speaker 4: One of them thought. He turned towards the house and

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Speaker 4: scanned its surroundings. He looked down at the base of

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Speaker 4: the home, then up with the roof. A small smile

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Speaker 4: cracked on the corner of his face.

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Speaker 5: I have an idea, he said.

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Speaker 4: Jesus was teaching in the middle of the home. Hundreds

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Speaker 4: of people sat and stood around him, inching as close

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Speaker 4: to him as possible to hear. Jesus was speaking about

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Speaker 4: the coming of God's kingdom. He revealed the reason behind

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Speaker 4: God's law and the depth of his love revealed in it.

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Speaker 4: As Jesus was speaking, he felt a small piece of

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Speaker 4: plaster fall on his head. Startled, Jesus looked up to

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Speaker 4: see the roof being torn apart from the outside. Jesus

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00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,720
Speaker 4: stood to his feet and the crowd stepped back as

325
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Speaker 4: more roofing crashed onto the floor, shattering all around the room.

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Speaker 4: A bright light shone through the ceiling. Then, like an

327
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Speaker 4: angel appearing, Jesus saw a silhouette of a man on

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Speaker 4: a stretcher being lowered down by ropes. The three friends

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Speaker 4: had found a way to Jesus. The paralytic was lowered slowly.

330
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Speaker 4: Jesus went under the man and helped him to the floor.

331
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Speaker 4: The crowd stirred and shouted up with the ceiling. Jesus

332
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Speaker 4: looked up. He could see the friend's guilty smiles. Jesus

333
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Speaker 4: grinned and nodded towards them. They had done well. The

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Speaker 4: mark of a true friend is how far they are

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Speaker 4: willing to go to get them to Jesus. He looked

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00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:49,600
Speaker 4: down at the man. His face was stagnant and emotionless. However,

337
00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,959
Speaker 4: Jesus could see the longing in his eyes. He placed

338
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Speaker 4: his hand on his shoulder and said.

339
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Speaker 5: My child, your sins afgiven.

340
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Speaker 4: Blasphe A voice shouted from the corner. Jesus looked up

341
00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:08,760
Speaker 4: to see a scribe scoffing at Jesus. He stepped forward

342
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:09,960
Speaker 4: and pointed.

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Speaker 6: What authority do you have to forgive this man's sins?

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Speaker 6: For we all know he is paralyzed because God is

345
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Speaker 6: punishing him. Who do you think you are? God alone

346
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Speaker 6: has the authority to forgive sins?

347
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Speaker 4: The scrime spat on the ground, Teeming with self righteous anger.

348
00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:34,720
Speaker 4: He scanned the room looking for approving nods. Jesus looked

349
00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,760
Speaker 4: back at the paralytic. He put his hand on his

350
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Speaker 4: head and smiled.

351
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Speaker 5: Then tell me, scribe, Jesus began. What takes less authority

352
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Speaker 5: to say your sins are forgiven? Or get up and walk.

353
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Speaker 4: As Jesus said this, the paralytics toes began to twitch.

354
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Speaker 4: His eyes widened as he began to move his fingers

355
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Speaker 4: as well. Then, with the first of energy. He sat up,

356
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Speaker 4: He moved his mouth and began to mumble under his breath.

357
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Speaker 4: He looked up at Jesus, eyes beaming with hope. A

358
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,199
Speaker 4: large cheer could be heard from the ceiling as the

359
00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,760
Speaker 4: man's friends nearly fell through the hole in excitement. Jesus

360
00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,800
Speaker 4: helped the man to his feet. He looked down and

361
00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,119
Speaker 4: began hopping up and down. The two of them embraced,

362
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Speaker 4: and the man ran out to greet his friends. The

363
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Speaker 4: four of them leapt for joy, laughing and slapping each

364
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Speaker 4: other around. The scribes shrunk back into the crown, and

365
00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,320
Speaker 4: everyone applauded as the man left, walking shoulder to shoulder

366
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Speaker 4: with his companions. After these things, Jesus was making his

367
00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,640
Speaker 4: way through the city's streets. People followed at a distance

368
00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:52,800
Speaker 4: as Jesus conversed with Simon, James, and John. As they

369
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Speaker 4: made their way through the marketplace, Simon pointed out the

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Speaker 4: long line of people waiting to pay their taxes. They

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Speaker 4: yelled towards the front of the line, spitting on the floor.

372
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Speaker 6: Are you content to feed off of the suffering of

373
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Speaker 6: your own people?

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Speaker 4: Jesus looked to see the tax collector being berated by

375
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Speaker 4: the crowd. Tax collectors were considered Jewish traitors. They hoared

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Speaker 4: themselves to the Roman government and used corruption for their

377
00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:26,120
Speaker 4: own gain. Sitting at the booth was Matthew. He slumped

378
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Speaker 4: down quietly counting the coin, doing his best to block

379
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Speaker 4: out the noise. Jesus peered over to see a few

380
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:40,080
Speaker 4: tears streaming from his face. Jesus approached the booth. Matthew

381
00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,800
Speaker 4: had grown accustomed to men and women coming to the

382
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Speaker 4: tax booth to spit on him and ridicule him. Jesus

383
00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,520
Speaker 4: simply smiled and said two simple words that would change

384
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Speaker 4: Matthew's life forever. Follow me, Jesus said plainly. Simon and

385
00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,160
Speaker 4: Andrew gasped when they heard Jesus. They looked at Matthew.

386
00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,080
Speaker 4: He seemed just as shocked as they did. Jesus began

387
00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,960
Speaker 4: walking away. The choice was Matthew's to make. He had

388
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Speaker 4: made a great deal of wealth being a tax collector.

389
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Speaker 4: He had favor with Rome and coins in his purse.

390
00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,000
Speaker 4: Yet there was no favor with man or riches of

391
00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:24,960
Speaker 4: the world that could truly satisfy him. He longed for purpose,

392
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Speaker 4: He longed to be known for those he helped, not exploited.

393
00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:35,439
Speaker 4: Was Jesus worth following, Matthew looked at Jesus walking away.

394
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Speaker 1: Yes, he is worth everything.

395
00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,720
Speaker 4: He thought to himself. Matthew stood to his feet and

396
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Speaker 4: ran after Jesus.

397
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Speaker 5: My Lord, he yelled, my King.

398
00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,440
Speaker 4: Jesus turned around and laughed. The two of them embraced.

399
00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:55,520
Speaker 4: Simon and Andrew were perplexed. Why did Jesus choose a

400
00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:57,360
Speaker 4: tax collector, they thought.

401
00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:59,959
Speaker 5: To themselves, doesn't he know they are all corrupt?

402
00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:05,040
Speaker 4: Yet they did not understand what Jesus understood, that there

403
00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:09,120
Speaker 4: are none that are righteous. Jesus did not choose Matthew

404
00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,920
Speaker 4: because he was morally higher than the rest, or more talented.

405
00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,240
Speaker 4: He saw beyond what man saw, He saw the heart.

406
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,320
Speaker 4: That night, Jesus and his followers ate at Matthew's house.

407
00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:27,040
Speaker 4: More tax collectors came to eat with them. Jesus enjoyed

408
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Speaker 4: their company, enduring the glares of the Pharisees. Far off,

409
00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,800
Speaker 4: the Pharisees stood outside the house with their arms crossed.

410
00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,639
Speaker 4: They stopped one of his disciples and said.

411
00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:42,359
Speaker 7: Look how he dies with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't

412
00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,280
Speaker 7: you ashamed to follow him? The disciple paused, unsure of

413
00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:50,520
Speaker 7: how he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus

414
00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:55,160
Speaker 7: stepped outside and approached them. His eyes were piercing, filled

415
00:27:55,160 --> 00:28:00,760
Speaker 7: with deep wisdom. There was a silence between them. Although

416
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,399
Speaker 7: the Pharisees were the religious rulers of the time, Jesus

417
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,320
Speaker 7: still intimidated them. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a

418
00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:13,119
Speaker 7: doctor more, the sick or the healthy? The Pharisees said nothing,

419
00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:15,440
Speaker 7: knowing the answer was obvious.

420
00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,800
Speaker 5: You sit here praising yourselves for your good health, all

421
00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:22,040
Speaker 5: the while ignoring those who suffer around you. Had not

422
00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,480
Speaker 5: come to sit at the table of the righteous and

423
00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:28,200
Speaker 5: bask in my own glory like you do. I've come

424
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:29,760
Speaker 5: to help the sinners in need.

425
00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:34,119
Speaker 4: Jesus left with his disciple back inside. As he left,

426
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:38,160
Speaker 4: he gestured for the Pharisees to join them. They sneered

427
00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:42,720
Speaker 4: and laughed. Jesus never scoffed at the sinners. He did

428
00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:46,800
Speaker 4: not shame the prostitutes or shun the tax collectors. He

429
00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:51,400
Speaker 4: ate beside them. He laughed with them, He heard their stories.

430
00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:56,000
Speaker 4: He taught them about a life lived with God. When

431
00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,760
Speaker 4: people met Jesus, they became righteous. They did not become

432
00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:07,400
Speaker 4: righteous to meet Jesus. Not long after, Jesus and his

433
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Speaker 4: disciples were walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath.

434
00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,800
Speaker 4: They had been walking for quite some time and were

435
00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:17,520
Speaker 4: beginning to get hungry. Andrew slid his hand through the

436
00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,080
Speaker 4: grain as they sauntered beside it. Taking one in his hand,

437
00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,440
Speaker 4: he plucked the grain and tossed it to John. The

438
00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:26,880
Speaker 4: men were hungry, and the outer layer of the grain

439
00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:31,640
Speaker 4: fields were okay for eating. They continued to pluck, eat,

440
00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,240
Speaker 4: and walk until they spotted the Pharisees walking their way.

441
00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:40,200
Speaker 4: Simon quickly tossed his grain away and John scarfed his

442
00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:44,760
Speaker 4: down in his mouth. Jesus chuckled, seeing how they became

443
00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,240
Speaker 4: flustered children when the Pharisees arrived.

444
00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,640
Speaker 7: Are you going to do anything about your followers, Jesus?

445
00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:53,160
Speaker 7: They're harvesting grain on the Sabbath.

446
00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,000
Speaker 4: Jesus took a piece of grain and rolled it on

447
00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:58,440
Speaker 4: his fingers.

448
00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,680
Speaker 5: Aren't you men who know the scriptures.

449
00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:04,320
Speaker 4: Jesus asked sarcastically, do.

450
00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:07,640
Speaker 5: Not remember how David ate bread designated for the temple

451
00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,400
Speaker 5: when he was overcome with hunger.

452
00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,640
Speaker 4: The Pharisees were insulted by the insinuation that they had

453
00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:16,360
Speaker 4: not read the story. Jesus tossed a piece of grain

454
00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:17,320
Speaker 4: in his mouth.

455
00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:20,920
Speaker 5: Something greater than the Temple is here. I suggest you

456
00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,479
Speaker 5: read more and find the meaning behind the words of God.

457
00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:30,720
Speaker 5: I desire mercy over sacrifice. If you truly knew what

458
00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,800
Speaker 5: that meant, you were not come here badgering men who've

459
00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:38,120
Speaker 5: done nothing wrong. For the Messiah is Lord over the Sabbath.

460
00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:38,720
Speaker 3: Not you.

461
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:43,640
Speaker 4: Jesus continued walking toward the synagogue with his disciples behind him.

462
00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:46,920
Speaker 4: A faint laughter could be heard from them. They had

463
00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:50,200
Speaker 4: never heard anyone speak to the Pharisees that way. Before

464
00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,160
Speaker 4: Jesus entered the synagogue and sat to listen to the

465
00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:57,320
Speaker 4: word of the Lord. The Pharisees trickled in as well.

466
00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:01,000
Speaker 4: They came behind Jesus and just towards a man with

467
00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:01,880
Speaker 4: a withered hand.

468
00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,560
Speaker 7: Tell us, Jesus, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

469
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:09,160
Speaker 4: They were goading him, trying to catch him breaking more

470
00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:12,800
Speaker 4: Sabbath law in front of more people. Jesus stood to

471
00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,800
Speaker 4: his feet and walked towards the man with a withered hand.

472
00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,640
Speaker 4: He brought him before everyone. He was not ashamed.

473
00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:23,600
Speaker 5: Tell me, Pharisees, how many of you have sheep or goats?

474
00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,360
Speaker 4: A few of them nodded and raised their hand. Jesus

475
00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:31,720
Speaker 4: took the man's withered arm and examined it. Looking back

476
00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:34,240
Speaker 4: at the Pharisees, he asked, how many.

477
00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,160
Speaker 5: Of you, if your sheep fell in a pit on

478
00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:38,880
Speaker 5: the sabbath, would take hold of it and lift it out.

479
00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:43,520
Speaker 4: They did not respond, since the answer was clear, Jesus

480
00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:47,320
Speaker 4: was angry at them. They could not see past their pride.

481
00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,920
Speaker 5: Tell me who is of more value, your sheep or

482
00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:54,120
Speaker 5: this man. I will say this once to you so

483
00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,760
Speaker 5: hear me. It is lawful to do good on the sabbath,

484
00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,000
Speaker 5: for the sabbath was made for man to rest in God,

485
00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:03,800
Speaker 5: not hide in fear of judgment.

486
00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,920
Speaker 4: He turned to the man and said, stretch out your hand,

487
00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,720
Speaker 4: and the man stretched it out and it was restored

488
00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:16,880
Speaker 4: healthy like the other. The crowd awed, and the Pharisees

489
00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:22,120
Speaker 4: slipped out, conspiring how they might end him. After this,

490
00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,880
Speaker 4: Jesus took some of his followers up to a mountain.

491
00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:29,640
Speaker 4: The crowd followed them and remained at the bottom. Jesus

492
00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:33,280
Speaker 4: paused and looked out at the sea of faces. He

493
00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:37,040
Speaker 4: did not see what others saw. He saw sheep that

494
00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:41,360
Speaker 4: were without a shepherd. They need guidance, They needed to

495
00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:45,360
Speaker 4: be empowered and enlivened by God's spirit. There were a

496
00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,480
Speaker 4: few followers beside him. He looked at them and pointed

497
00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:52,600
Speaker 4: down at the crowd. Look out at them. The harvest

498
00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:56,720
Speaker 4: is plentiful. There's no shortage of people longing for hope.

499
00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,520
Speaker 4: Do not pray for the people to come, for they

500
00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:03,440
Speaker 4: are all among you. Pray for the laborers. Pray for

501
00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:06,840
Speaker 4: men and women to rise up and work in this field.

502
00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,480
Speaker 5: The harvest is plentiful, but laborers are few.

503
00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:15,600
Speaker 4: With those words, Jesus appointed twelve men to be his apostles,

504
00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:21,200
Speaker 4: chosen men they would follow Jesus everywhere. These men were

505
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:25,440
Speaker 4: not chosen for their wisdom, influence, or skill. Each of

506
00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,920
Speaker 4: them had gifts, and each of them had flaws. They

507
00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:33,520
Speaker 4: were imperfect vessels chosen by God to do mighty works.

508
00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:39,040
Speaker 4: God chose them for their hearts, but also for their weakness,

509
00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,240
Speaker 4: for in their weakness God is shown to be strong.

510
00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:48,760
Speaker 4: He chose Simon, who he would now call Peter, which

511
00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:54,000
Speaker 4: means rock. Peter was loudmouthed and made rash decisions, yet

512
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,840
Speaker 4: within him was the heart of a leader. He chose

513
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:01,640
Speaker 4: James and John, the sons of Zebd. He nicknamed them

514
00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:06,120
Speaker 4: Sons of Thunder for their fire and enthusiasm. However, it

515
00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:10,680
Speaker 4: often got the better of them. He chose Andrew, Philip

516
00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:16,360
Speaker 4: and Bartholomew, the silent and humble servants. He chose Matthew

517
00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:20,880
Speaker 4: the tax collector, and Thomas the skeptic. He chose James

518
00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:25,120
Speaker 4: and Alphaeus. One of the most unique men he chose

519
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:28,920
Speaker 4: was Simon the Zealot. He was one of the notorious

520
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:34,120
Speaker 4: dagger Men, a league of assassins trying to overthrow Roman rule. However,

521
00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:40,080
Speaker 4: Simon renounced his old ways for the sake of following Christ. Finally,

522
00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:45,720
Speaker 4: he chose Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.

523
00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:50,040
Speaker 4: He chose him and loved him, despite knowing who he

524
00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:56,160
Speaker 4: would become. This was the heart of Christ. Jesus's first

525
00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:59,239
Speaker 4: call to the twelve was for them to be with him.

526
00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,680
Speaker 4: Their closeness to Jesus would prove to be the source

527
00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:07,160
Speaker 4: of their strength. Moments sitting by the camp fire, sharing

528
00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:11,160
Speaker 4: stories and laughing would prove to be useful. They would

529
00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:14,880
Speaker 4: learn to be with God before doing anything for God,

530
00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:18,839
Speaker 4: so they too would not grow prideful like the Pharisees.

531
00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:23,880
Speaker 4: Out of that relationship, Jesus would send them out to preach, heal,

532
00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,680
Speaker 4: and cast out demons in his name. The disciples were

533
00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:31,600
Speaker 4: empowered by Jesus, and their strength grew day by day.

534
00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:37,440
Speaker 4: Jesus overlooked the crowd below. He knew many would eventually

535
00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:41,440
Speaker 4: turn on him. He turned to the twelve and said.

536
00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,239
Speaker 5: Whoever desires to come after me must first pick up

537
00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:48,799
Speaker 5: his cross and follow me. Whoever holds his life too

538
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:52,960
Speaker 5: dear to lay it down will lose his life. However,

539
00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,879
Speaker 5: whoever loses his life for my sake will truly find it.

540
00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:00,640
Speaker 5: For what does it profit a man if he gains

541
00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:03,920
Speaker 5: the world's possessions but loses his own soul.

542
00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,640
Speaker 4: Jesus called his disciples to a higher standard than the

543
00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:11,880
Speaker 4: Phariseesar's crimes. He called them to deny themselves instead of

544
00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:16,279
Speaker 4: elevate themselves. He did not call them to religious repetition

545
00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:21,800
Speaker 4: of vain practices. He called them to lay down their lives, money,

546
00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:26,920
Speaker 4: and convenience so that others may thrive. Jesus would model

547
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:32,279
Speaker 4: this himself. He would sacrifice everything so that people could

548
00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:33,040
Speaker 4: be renewed.

549
00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:42,160
Speaker 3: Follow me. Those are the words that changed history. The

550
00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:45,319
Speaker 3: people chosen to follow Jesus in this episode were used

551
00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,320
Speaker 3: by God to spread the Gospel throughout the ancient world.

552
00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:52,120
Speaker 3: These small moments had a great ripple effect into the future.

553
00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:55,680
Speaker 3: We begin with the call of Simon, who would later

554
00:36:55,760 --> 00:37:00,319
Speaker 3: be called Peter, a rough fisherman from Galilee. His to

555
00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,799
Speaker 3: catch fish all night left him grumpy and tired, but

556
00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:09,080
Speaker 3: Jesus quickly broke down his rough exterior. Andrew, Simon, James,

557
00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:12,920
Speaker 3: and John's failure to catch fish, followed by immediate success

558
00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:15,960
Speaker 3: when Jesus was with them, is a metaphor. We on

559
00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,800
Speaker 3: our own are unable to truly be effective for the

560
00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:21,799
Speaker 3: Kingdom of God. No matter how much we toil, we

561
00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:25,160
Speaker 3: are unable to succeed without the presence of Jesus leading

562
00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:28,320
Speaker 3: and empowering us. As long as he is in our boat,

563
00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:31,120
Speaker 3: we know we are on the right path. There will

564
00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:33,360
Speaker 3: be many scenes with Jesus in a boat with his

565
00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:37,040
Speaker 3: disciples in future episodes. Pay attention to those and search

566
00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:40,040
Speaker 3: for meaning when you encounter them. When the boat was

567
00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:44,800
Speaker 3: overflowing with fish, Andrew, James, and John cheered, but not Peter.

568
00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,800
Speaker 3: He fell on his knees and wept. Why wasn't he

569
00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:51,480
Speaker 3: happy about the fish? What compelled him to hide his

570
00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,799
Speaker 3: face from Jesus and say, depart from me, Lord. I

571
00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,319
Speaker 3: think it was because Simon knew he was unworthy to

572
00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:01,440
Speaker 3: receive anything from Jesus. He was a salty fisherman from

573
00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:04,920
Speaker 3: an unremarkable city. We also know he had a temper

574
00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:07,800
Speaker 3: and a tendency to run his mouth. To put it plainly,

575
00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,160
Speaker 3: Simon was a sinner. When he came face to face

576
00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,200
Speaker 3: with the goodness of Jesus, he no longer felt worthy

577
00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:16,920
Speaker 3: to be in his presence. Those who truly come in

578
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,640
Speaker 3: contact with the holiness of God feel this way and psalmate.

579
00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:23,840
Speaker 3: David looks up to the heavens and says, when I

580
00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:27,080
Speaker 3: consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon

581
00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:29,759
Speaker 3: and the stars which you have made. What is Man

582
00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,040
Speaker 3: that you are mindful of him? And the Son of

583
00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:35,279
Speaker 3: Man that you visit him. When we truly consider the

584
00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:39,160
Speaker 3: splendor of God, we feel small and insignificant. Who are

585
00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:42,120
Speaker 3: we that God would bless us and call us? The

586
00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:45,160
Speaker 3: fact that God regards us at all is humbly. I

587
00:38:45,200 --> 00:38:48,040
Speaker 3: think that is what Simon experienced on the boat that morning.

588
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:52,240
Speaker 3: He experienced the glory of God and was humble. Jesus

589
00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:55,640
Speaker 3: responded to Simon with a call with tenderness, and power.

590
00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:58,640
Speaker 3: He said, follow me, and I will make you a

591
00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:02,439
Speaker 3: fisher of men. This statement is consistent with the theme

592
00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:06,800
Speaker 3: of the episode. Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John

593
00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,759
Speaker 3: and told them he would make them fishers of men.

594
00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,160
Speaker 3: It wasn't that they were already fishers of men. Rather,

595
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,319
Speaker 3: Jesus would make them into what they were meant to be.

596
00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:20,280
Speaker 3: This is similar to the call of Abraham and Genesis twelve.

597
00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:23,759
Speaker 3: God called Abraham to follow him and said, I will

598
00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:27,160
Speaker 3: make you a great nation. I will bless you and

599
00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,200
Speaker 3: make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.

600
00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:34,000
Speaker 3: God didn't call Abraham because he was already great. He

601
00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:37,200
Speaker 3: called Abraham and made him great. In the same way,

602
00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:40,240
Speaker 3: the disciples were not called because they were already great,

603
00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:44,400
Speaker 3: but Jesus would make them great. Let this encourage you today.

604
00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:47,800
Speaker 3: Who we become when we follow Jesus is more important

605
00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:51,600
Speaker 3: than who we are when we begin following Jesus. After

606
00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:54,960
Speaker 3: the interaction with Simon in the boat, we were thrust

607
00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,240
Speaker 3: into another scene with the demon the sea. Was supposed

608
00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:00,799
Speaker 3: to scare us a little bit and remind us that

609
00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:03,719
Speaker 3: there is another spiritual realm outside the line of sight.

610
00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:07,440
Speaker 3: Jesus didn't just come to help people catch fish. He

611
00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:10,399
Speaker 3: came to wage war against the dark forces at work

612
00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:13,759
Speaker 3: in the hearts of men and women. Jesus preached great

613
00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:16,840
Speaker 3: sermons and helped many people with their physical ailments, but

614
00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:20,840
Speaker 3: he also came to establish authority over people's hearts. Jesus

615
00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,719
Speaker 3: quickly established dominance over the demon and cast him out.

616
00:40:24,440 --> 00:40:27,280
Speaker 3: This event is a small taste of the spiritual battle

617
00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:31,040
Speaker 3: waging around us. There are dark entities at work, and

618
00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:34,480
Speaker 3: we would be wise to not ignore them. Nevertheless, we

619
00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:38,120
Speaker 3: shouldn't be scared. This scene also reminds us that Jesus

620
00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:41,560
Speaker 3: has ultimate authority and power over the demons. They know

621
00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:44,759
Speaker 3: him and quake in fear of him. The scene with

622
00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:46,799
Speaker 3: the leper on the side of the road and the

623
00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:49,960
Speaker 3: paralytic lowered from the roof were both related to the

624
00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:53,520
Speaker 3: scene with the demoniac. When Jesus heals people, it is

625
00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:56,239
Speaker 3: meant to be a metaphor for the inner healing he

626
00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:58,840
Speaker 3: does in all of us. The sin that plagues our

627
00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:03,480
Speaker 3: heart decays our like leprosy. The shame of sin paralyzes

628
00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:06,240
Speaker 3: us and keeps us from walking a life of purpose.

629
00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:10,040
Speaker 3: Jesus addresses the physical needs of these men but the

630
00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:13,280
Speaker 3: greater work is the salvation and sanctification of our souls.

631
00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:17,720
Speaker 3: Jesus reminded us of this by forgiving the paralytic sins

632
00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:20,840
Speaker 3: before healing his body. We are all in need of

633
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:24,440
Speaker 3: God's forgiveness, and we are able to receive it because

634
00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:27,880
Speaker 3: of Christ's work on our behalf. The friends that lowered

635
00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:30,880
Speaker 3: the paralytic are placed in the story as a contrast

636
00:41:31,239 --> 00:41:34,319
Speaker 3: to the Pharisees and religious leaders. Think about it for

637
00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:37,200
Speaker 3: a moment. The Pharisees and scribes were meant to bring

638
00:41:37,239 --> 00:41:40,520
Speaker 3: people close to God. It was their job to teach

639
00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,040
Speaker 3: and serve people according to the law and prophets. Instead,

640
00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:47,640
Speaker 3: they created barriers between people and God. They set up

641
00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,440
Speaker 3: a system that made it difficult for others to access

642
00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:54,239
Speaker 3: the heart of God. However, the friends of this paralyzed

643
00:41:54,239 --> 00:41:57,360
Speaker 3: man did whatever they could to get their friend close

644
00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:01,399
Speaker 3: to God. They risk their safety and convenience to see

645
00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:05,279
Speaker 3: their friend heal. They are a stark contrast to the Pharisees.

646
00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:09,200
Speaker 3: Their faithfulness causes us to question the idea of friendship

647
00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:12,400
Speaker 3: and love. Do we have the same devotion as these men?

648
00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:14,799
Speaker 3: Do we lay us out our own convenience for the

649
00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:18,120
Speaker 3: sake of our friends being close to Jesus. What lengths

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00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:20,640
Speaker 3: are we willing to go to make sure those close

651
00:42:20,680 --> 00:42:23,759
Speaker 3: to us can experience freedom in Christ. So far in

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00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:27,080
Speaker 3: the story, we have seen Jesus reach out to the reject,

653
00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:30,319
Speaker 3: the lowly, and the sick. However, we have yet to

654
00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:33,520
Speaker 3: see him reach out to someone who is universally hated

655
00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:37,759
Speaker 3: among the Jews, tax collectors. Tax collectors were among the

656
00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:41,359
Speaker 3: most hated people of the time. They were called race

657
00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:45,680
Speaker 3: traders and apostates due to their loyalty to Rome. They

658
00:42:45,719 --> 00:42:50,240
Speaker 3: traded their kinship for money and actively exploited their fellow Jews.

659
00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:53,640
Speaker 3: Surely a man like this wouldn't receive any attention from

660
00:42:53,680 --> 00:42:57,960
Speaker 3: the Messiah. Right wrong. Tax collectors were often sought out

661
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:01,680
Speaker 3: by Jesus, and they often sought Jesus. He gave him

662
00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:05,480
Speaker 3: the love that the countrymen refused to give. Matthew, one

663
00:43:05,480 --> 00:43:08,720
Speaker 3: of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, was one of them.

664
00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:12,560
Speaker 3: Jesus gave him a simple call, follow me. This is

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00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:14,920
Speaker 3: the call he gives to all of us. It is

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00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:18,959
Speaker 3: an invitation to adventure, growth and glory. But the call

667
00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:22,120
Speaker 3: of Jesus comes at a cost. Those who desire to

668
00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:25,360
Speaker 3: follow him must die to their old ways and embrace

669
00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:28,799
Speaker 3: the new way of living. Matthew considered the costs and

670
00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:33,320
Speaker 3: chose to follow Christ. The Pharisees didn't understand Jesus's motives.

671
00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:38,080
Speaker 3: They questioned his righteousness because he ate with sinners. Jesus, however,

672
00:43:38,440 --> 00:43:41,800
Speaker 3: has some coarse words for them. Tell me, Jesus said,

673
00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:44,680
Speaker 3: who needs a doctor more, the sick or the healthy?

674
00:43:45,280 --> 00:43:49,040
Speaker 3: The Pharisees said nothing, knowing the answer was obvious. You

675
00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,920
Speaker 3: sit here praising yourself for your good health, all the

676
00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:55,160
Speaker 3: while ignoring those who suffer around you. I have not

677
00:43:55,239 --> 00:43:57,120
Speaker 3: come to sit at the table of the righteous or

678
00:43:57,200 --> 00:44:00,160
Speaker 3: basque in my own glory like you do. I have

679
00:44:00,239 --> 00:44:04,080
Speaker 3: come to help the sinners in need. Jesus, being God,

680
00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:08,000
Speaker 3: refused to flaunt his righteousness like a merit badge. He

681
00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:11,400
Speaker 3: knew that true righteousness was acted out in love, not

682
00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:15,240
Speaker 3: displayed to make others feel inferior. A big sticking point

683
00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:18,960
Speaker 3: between Jesus and the Pharisees was regarding the Sabbath. Many

684
00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:22,200
Speaker 3: rules and regulations were formed around the Sabbath, which was

685
00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:25,680
Speaker 3: a day designed for rest and worship. So many rules

686
00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:28,040
Speaker 3: had been formed around the Sabbath that it was basically

687
00:44:28,040 --> 00:44:30,920
Speaker 3: a job to keep them. The irony was lost on

688
00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:34,839
Speaker 3: the religious leaders, but not on Jesus. When his disciples

689
00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:38,600
Speaker 3: plucked some grain to snack on, they were angry. Jesus

690
00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:41,640
Speaker 3: have Abbit was swift to point out their hypocrisy. If

691
00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:44,560
Speaker 3: the Sabbath was a day made for rest and worship,

692
00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:47,560
Speaker 3: then what good was it to place so much burden

693
00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:51,000
Speaker 3: on people to keep it. Like many vain religious traditions,

694
00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:54,200
Speaker 3: they accomplished the opposite of what they claimed to do.

695
00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:56,960
Speaker 3: That's why Jesus made it a point to heal the

696
00:44:57,000 --> 00:44:59,879
Speaker 3: man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He wanted

697
00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:02,640
Speaker 3: to show everyone that nobody should refuse to do what

698
00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:05,840
Speaker 3: is right just because it went against some moral tradition.

699
00:45:06,680 --> 00:45:09,040
Speaker 3: This is what the apostle Paul meant when he said,

700
00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:17,360
Speaker 3: but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearons, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

701
00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:22,960
Speaker 3: and self control. Against such things, there is no law. Love, faithfulness, kindness,

702
00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:27,319
Speaker 3: trump any religious tradition. Against these things, there is no law.

703
00:45:28,040 --> 00:45:31,040
Speaker 3: This episode ended with the calling of the twelve. Their

704
00:45:31,040 --> 00:45:34,200
Speaker 3: appointment brought us back to the prelude, reminding us that

705
00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:37,640
Speaker 3: God doesn't call the brave, strong, and perfect. He chooses

706
00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:40,920
Speaker 3: the fisherman, the tax collector, and the dagger men to

707
00:45:41,040 --> 00:45:45,319
Speaker 3: display his glory. All vain displays of religiosity are put

708
00:45:45,360 --> 00:45:48,480
Speaker 3: aside as. Jesus appoints a band of sinners and makes

709
00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:51,879
Speaker 3: them sings. I enjoyed my time with you today. Our

710
00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:56,239
Speaker 3: next episode will feature Jesus's most famous sermon. He establishes

711
00:45:56,280 --> 00:46:01,839
Speaker 3: the kingdom Ethos and reminds Us that character triumphs over sanctimony.

712
00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:06,120
Speaker 3: Join us next time for episode seven, My Burden is Light.

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00:46:07,120 --> 00:46:10,760
Speaker 3: Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers

714
00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:14,080
Speaker 3: and wisdom to last the lifetime, go to pray dot com.

715
00:46:14,360 --> 00:46:17,719
Speaker 3: And to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download

716
00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:20,799
Speaker 3: the Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.

717
00:46:21,120 --> 00:46:25,120
Speaker 3: Forward slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify

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00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:28,000
Speaker 3: to get the newest episodes right as they come out,

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00:46:28,360 --> 00:46:32,240
Speaker 3: so you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus. God bless