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Speaker 1: And he taught saying unto them, is it not written

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Speaker 1: my house shall be called of all nations the House

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Speaker 1: of prayer, But ye have made it a den of thieves.

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Speaker 1: Mark eleven seventeen. As the truth of Mark eleven and

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Speaker 1: twelve hits my soul. May it serve as a reminder

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Speaker 1: to never allow my life to be as a fake tree.

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Speaker 1: Never allow my life to have the appearance of godliness

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Speaker 1: and the appearance of obedience, when in reality there is

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Speaker 1: no fruit of it in my life. At this moment,

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Speaker 1: I am making the conscious choice to allow my words

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Speaker 1: and my actions to remain in alignment. Give me the

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Speaker 1: boldness to stand up for righteousness like Jesus in the

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Speaker 1: temple court yard, to oppose anything and everything that is

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Speaker 1: counter cultural to the word of God. Let me speak

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Speaker 1: with the authority of Heaven behind me, Let me speak

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Speaker 1: with the love of Jesus within me, and let me

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Speaker 1: speak with a caring heart to restore people back to

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Speaker 1: the rightful place. With you, God, I decree and declare

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Speaker 1: that I will not be intimidated nor silenced by those

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Speaker 1: who give the appearance that they are in power, but

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Speaker 1: who are corrupt in heart and deed. From this moment on,

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Speaker 1: I will live with a full assurance that whatever I

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Speaker 1: speak in your name, I will be able to receive it,

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Speaker 1: because I live in direct obedience to you and your

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Speaker 1: word in Jesus name. Amen, stay tuned to immerse yourself

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Speaker 1: in the Greatest Stories Ever Told from pray dot COM's

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Speaker 1: podcast Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 2: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, and I'm excited for you

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Speaker 2: to join me when Heroes in the Bible Jesus. Please

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Speaker 2: follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the

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Speaker 2: latest episodes so you can continue strengthening your relationship with Jesus.

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Speaker 2: Welcome to the greatest story ever told. It is a

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Speaker 2: story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's

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Speaker 2: love for his children, and a hero's triumph over death

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Speaker 2: and darkness. This is a story that continues to shape

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Speaker 2: and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart

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Speaker 2: of God right into the hearts of you and me.

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Speaker 2: This episode gives us a side of the Savior we

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Speaker 2: don't usually see. Angry Jesus. I do not mean to

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Speaker 2: give him this title in a demeaning way, but once

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Speaker 2: you listen to this episode, you will understand what I mean.

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Speaker 2: Jesus seems to be on a war path in this episode,

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Speaker 2: literally and figuratively flipping tables over. It would seem that

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Speaker 2: he is trying to burn away as much as he

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Speaker 2: can before marching up to the cross, so that a

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Speaker 2: new work can grow from the ashes where he rises again.

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Speaker 2: Jesus is on fire, passionately prodding at the pious priest

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Speaker 2: and Pharisees. As much as I love it when Jesus

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Speaker 2: puts the religious leaders in their place, we must all

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Speaker 2: take heed lest we stumble. The words pointed at the

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Speaker 2: priest can easily be pointed at you and me. Surely

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Speaker 2: there have been times when we have been self righteous

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Speaker 2: and antagonistic. Take Jesus's words seriously so your souls may

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Speaker 2: be satisfied. We will begin this story with a prelude,

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Speaker 2: a story captured from a different time and space. Our

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Speaker 2: prelude today is a reminder of what just happened, a

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Speaker 2: commentary on what's passed, and a vision for what's ahead.

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Speaker 2: My prayer for you today is that the coarse words

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Speaker 2: of Jesus would smooth your souls like sandpaper to wood.

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Speaker 2: I pray that the passion of Jesus would enliven your

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Speaker 2: hearts and inspire you to walk righteously in all you do.

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Speaker 2: Here is episode fifteen Dinner Thieves.

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Speaker 3: Prelude to Chapter fifteen. With arms up to heaven, they

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Speaker 3: shouted his name, Hosanna to the son of David, they

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Speaker 3: cried out with cheers. The people of Israel lavished praise

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Speaker 3: upon Jesus as he rode into the city of Jerusalem

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Speaker 3: on a donkey. Their worship echoed forth from a time

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Speaker 3: long ago when King David walked those same streets. David's

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Speaker 3: sword had defended Israel from turmoil, his leadership had provided

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Speaker 3: the time of unprecedented power, and his heart had helped

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Speaker 3: connect them to their creator. Now, fourteen generations later, a

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Speaker 3: descendant of David himself walked into the great city of Jerusalem.

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Speaker 3: Prophecies of old had foretold his coming. It was said

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Speaker 3: that the Messiah would spring up from the stump of Jesse,

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Speaker 3: and salvation would pour forth from the city of David.

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Speaker 3: Yet this was not the Messiah people had envisioned. David

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Speaker 3: was a man of bloodshed. With his sling, sword and shield,

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Speaker 3: he tore through the ancient enemies of Israel. Now, as

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Speaker 3: Israel sat under the boot of yet another enemy. They

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Speaker 3: expected the son of David to ride forth with a

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Speaker 3: glorious army of angels behind him. They looked for lightning

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Speaker 3: to pierce through the heavens and strike down Rome. They

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Speaker 3: did not get the conquering warrior they expected. Instead, they

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Speaker 3: found a man who knelt down to change the bandages

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Speaker 3: of lepers. They found a teacher content to mingle in

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Speaker 3: the city's streets with tax collectors and prostitutes. His vision

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Speaker 3: of a reformed nation did not require the overthrowing of

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Speaker 3: a government or the usurping of a throne. To Jesus,

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Speaker 3: it required a listening ear and tenderhood. They praised him now.

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Speaker 3: They threw their coats to clear a path for him.

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Speaker 3: They sang and danced as he entered the gates. Yet

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Speaker 3: their praises would soon disappear into the quiet night as

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Speaker 3: their new king hung, bloodied and beaten on a wooden hill.

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Speaker 3: Nails would be his scepter and thorns would be his crown.

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Speaker 3: Their psalms of glee would be silenced as the thunder

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Speaker 3: above would roll over Boco. The people would stand in

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Speaker 3: complete train as their conquering messiah cried out to the

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Speaker 3: heavens and breathed his last. The kings of Earth, as

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Speaker 3: mighty and great as they may be, ultimately got to

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Speaker 3: live and rule from a golden throne. Yet the son

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Speaker 3: of David, the Messiah would conquer the earth from a

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Speaker 3: rugged cross. Chapter fifteen, Den of Thieves. The morning fire

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Speaker 3: crackled over wood and stone. Its flames cut through the crisp,

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Speaker 3: moaning air, like a hot blade through ice. Jesus warmed

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Speaker 3: his hands by the fire, waiting for his disciples to wake.

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Speaker 3: He watched them all rise to their feet, stretching their

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Speaker 3: arms and rubbing their eyes. As they began to compose themselves,

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Speaker 3: Jesus caught a glimpse of a fig tree blooming in

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Speaker 3: the distance. It was not the season for figs, so

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Speaker 3: the tree stood peculiarly, like a sore thumb amidst many

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Speaker 3: dead trees. Jesus held his stomach it growled incessantly. He

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Speaker 3: rose to his feet and walked towards the tree. As

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Speaker 3: he approached the tree, he examined that, despite its lush blooms,

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Speaker 3: there was no fruit growing from its leaves. The leaves

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Speaker 3: were vibrant and green, yet no figs hung from its branches.

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Speaker 3: Jesus touched the tree and paused for a long moment.

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Speaker 3: A few of the disciples could see Jesus pondering. He

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Speaker 3: plucked one of the leaves and balded in his fist.

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Speaker 3: He furrowed his brow and cursed at the tree.

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Speaker 4: May no one ever eat fruit from.

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Speaker 3: You again, he whispered. Jesus turned from the tree and

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Speaker 3: stormed off. The disciples watched Jesus sit back at the fire.

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Speaker 3: Then they turned to the tree. Its leaves rustled lightly

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Speaker 3: in the breeze. They could not quite understand what about

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Speaker 3: this tree warranted such a curse. Jesus and his disciples

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Speaker 3: weaved through the busy city streets, making their way towards

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Speaker 3: the temple. Merchants and beggars laced the alleyways, grabbing the

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Speaker 3: attention of visitors. Jesus passed through the busy streets and

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Speaker 3: entered through the archways into the temple courtyards. In the

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Speaker 3: middle of the courtyard were stairs leading up to the

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Speaker 3: inner place, where sacrifices were made unto God. Surrounding the

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Speaker 3: stairs and the walkways were temple merchants selling sacrifices. The

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Speaker 3: money changes were there as well, exchanging temple currency. Jesus

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Speaker 3: could hear nothing but the clatteral coins against stone tables

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Speaker 3: and haggling of sheep and goats to temple visitors. The

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Speaker 3: disciples trailed Jesus at a safe distance, anticipating what was

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Speaker 3: to come. Jesus approached a large slab of stone propped

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Speaker 3: upright as a table. Weights and scales rested on it,

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Speaker 3: with gold and silver coins spilling forth from leather pouches.

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Speaker 3: Behind the table was a man counting need temple coin.

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Speaker 3: The man asked, without looking up, Jesus said nothing. Instead,

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Speaker 3: he bent his knees down, ground the bottom of the

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Speaker 3: stone and flipped the table. Coins spilled everywhere, colliding with

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Speaker 3: the dust below. Jesus set his gaze on the cages

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Speaker 3: of doves and pigeons and released them into the air.

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Speaker 3: He darted to the other stone tables and one by

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Speaker 3: one flipped them over. A commotion was beginning to stir

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Speaker 3: as people watched Jesus cleanse the temple of greed and corruption.

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Speaker 3: He broke open cages, released animals, and drove out merchants.

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Speaker 3: It didn't take long for the priests and scribes to

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Speaker 3: come bolting out into the courtyard.

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Speaker 5: What is the meaning of this, they yelled, what have

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Speaker 5: you done?

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Speaker 3: The crowd was silent, standing at a distance from Jesus

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Speaker 3: on every end. Jesus flipped his last table, breathing heavily

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Speaker 3: from the strain of lifting stone. He turned around to

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Speaker 3: look at the priests standing above him on the stairway.

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Speaker 3: His eyes portrayed righteous anger. He planted his feet and

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Speaker 3: face them.

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Speaker 5: It is written my house shall be called a house of.

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Speaker 3: Prayer, Jesus said, gesturing to the temple. Jesus picked up

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Speaker 3: a sack of coins lying on the ground and lifted

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Speaker 3: it up to the priests. He tipped it over, allowing

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Speaker 3: the coins to triple out one by one.

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Speaker 4: But you chosen priests of Erin, have made it a

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Speaker 4: den of thieves.

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Speaker 3: Jesus released the rest of the coins and threw the

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Speaker 3: sack onto the ground. The priests and scribes glared at

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Speaker 3: Jesus for a long while. The crowd began to surround him,

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Speaker 3: asking him to teach them more. As the crowd pressed

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Speaker 3: into Jesus, the temple guard unsheathed their swords to arrest him.

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Speaker 3: The priests stopped him. Jesus was too popular with the

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Speaker 3: crowd to touch if they arrested him. Now their reputation

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Speaker 3: would be ruined. They needed to wait for the perfect moment.

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Speaker 3: They perused the group of disciples following closely behind Jesus.

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Speaker 3: One of them met their eyes with a look of curiosity.

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Speaker 3: Judas met their gaze, then turned back to Jesus. The

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Speaker 3: high priest Caiaphas tilted his head and smirked. Perhaps he

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Speaker 3: had found a chink in the armor. Jesus and the

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Speaker 3: disciples left the temple. On the outskirts of the walls

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Speaker 3: were pathways filled with people visiting for the Passover festival.

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Speaker 3: Families from Macedonia, Samaria, Greece, and Rome had filled the

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Speaker 3: streets to celebrate. Venders fanned their freshly baked bread into

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Speaker 3: the streets, giving off a sweet smelling aroma. As the

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Speaker 3: group passed through. Philip and Andrew walked behind the group,

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Speaker 3: assuring that the temple guards were not trailing them. It

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Speaker 3: was a contentious time to meander around the city. Jesus

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Speaker 3: was sure to draw attention wherever he went. Philip spotted

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Speaker 3: a few Greek men trailing them. He looked back, concerned

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Speaker 3: about their intentions. Philip nudged Andrew and gestured to the

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Speaker 3: men behind them. The two of them placed their hands

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Speaker 3: on their hips, daggers tucked under their robes. However, as

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Speaker 3: the two men walked closer, there were smiles on their faces.

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Speaker 3: Philip and Andrew sighed in relief. As the two men

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Speaker 3: approached kind Sirs, they shouted, we would love.

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Speaker 4: The opportunity to meet Jesus. We've heard that he holds

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Speaker 4: the secrets of the world tucked away in Hebrew texts,

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Speaker 4: and he could restore sight to blind men.

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Speaker 5: Might we speak with him?

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Speaker 3: Philip and Andrew smiled and went to the front of

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Speaker 3: the groom to meet Jesus.

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Speaker 5: Master.

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Speaker 4: There are a few Greek gentiles who wish to speak

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Speaker 4: with you, Philip said, Shall we turn them away or

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Speaker 4: bring them to you.

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Speaker 3: Jesus looked back to the two Greeks standing at attention

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Speaker 3: a dozen feet away, nod to them, and smiled. He

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Speaker 3: looked to his disciples and said.

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Speaker 4: The gentiles are searching for hope. The hour has surely

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Speaker 4: come for the son of Man to be given up

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Speaker 4: and glorified.

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Speaker 3: Jesus raised his voice for the Greek men to hear

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Speaker 3: as well, beckoning them forward. The small crowd began to

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Speaker 3: form around Jesus. As he spoke, he opened up his

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Speaker 3: arms and said.

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Speaker 4: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of

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Speaker 4: wheat falls and dies, it cannot grow in the earth

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Speaker 4: and bear fruit. Whoever holds his life dear to him

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Speaker 4: will surely lose it. But whoever forsakes it for my

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Speaker 4: sake will gain eternal life.

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Speaker 3: The clouds began to roll in over the city, and

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Speaker 3: the wind was awakened from the east. The crowd watched

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Speaker 3: as Jesus looked to the skies. He breathed in the

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Speaker 3: crisp air rolling in from the hills. He tilted his

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Speaker 3: head to and spoke loudly, saying.

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Speaker 4: My soul is indeed troubled. But how shall I respond?

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Speaker 4: Shall I ask God to save me from what is

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Speaker 4: to come? Surely not? It is for this very purpose

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Speaker 4: I have come.

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Speaker 3: The storm clouds marched in from the horizon, yet no

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Speaker 3: rain fell. The darkened skies lo loomed over the Holy

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Speaker 3: city like an army of giants. Jesus lifted his voice again,

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Speaker 3: with his arms raised to heaven.

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Speaker 4: Saying, Father, glorify your name.

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Speaker 3: As Jesus said this, a flash of lightning whipped forth

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Speaker 3: from the heavens, followed by thunder. The boom was strong

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Speaker 3: enough to shake the earth below them. The crowd gasped

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Speaker 3: in fear. They heard a voice bellowing out from the thunder, saying,

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Speaker 3: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.

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Speaker 3: The people stared at one another, asking if they had

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Speaker 3: also heard of voice in the thunder. They bickered and

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Speaker 3: questioned each other as to whether it was thunder or

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Speaker 3: a voice. The clouds continued to rage in a chaotic dance,

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Speaker 3: yet no more lightning or thunder broke free from the skies.

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Speaker 3: The people gazed up in awe, infused at what they

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Speaker 3: had just heard. Jesus looked at them with compassion and said.

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Speaker 4: This voice has trumpeted from heaven, so you might understand.

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Speaker 4: Now is the time when the judgment of the universe

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Speaker 4: will pour forth from heaven on the son of Man.

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Speaker 4: The enemy of this world will be cast aside, and

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Speaker 4: I will be delivered up to death and draw people

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Speaker 4: to me.

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Speaker 3: The people looked at the skies for a little while longer,

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Speaker 3: then looked down to Jesus. It was difficult for them

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Speaker 3: to comprehend the glory of the Messiah coming in the

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Speaker 3: form of a humble carpenter. Not only this, but they

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Speaker 3: thought that Messiah was supposed to be immortal, but Jesus

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Speaker 3: kept speaking of his death. Teacher. The crowd said, it

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Speaker 3: is prophesied that Christ will live forever. How can you

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Speaker 3: say that the son of man will be given up

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Speaker 3: to die? Who is the son of man? They asked.

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Speaker 3: Jesus turned his head towards the hills outside the city.

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Speaker 3: A small peak could be seen resting slightly above the

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Speaker 3: city walls. It was Goncartha, the place of the skull.

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Speaker 3: He sighed, there was no use explaining it further. The

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Speaker 3: time for preaching was drawing to a close. The time

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Speaker 3: was coming for him to turn towards Calvary. He turned

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Speaker 3: to the.

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Speaker 6: Crowd, Understand, the light is among you for a little while.

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Speaker 6: Longer walk in the light as long as you have it,

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Speaker 6: for those who walk in darkness will stumble, and those

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Speaker 6: who believe in the light will become sons of the light.

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Speaker 3: After saying these things, Jesus departed. The disciples desired to

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Speaker 3: follow him, but he had to be alone. Jesus walked

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Speaker 3: the roads leading out of the busy areas and sat

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Speaker 3: on a small hill. He gazed into the heavens, watching

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Speaker 3: the clouds. Choreograph their final march. It was as if

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Speaker 3: the earth itself was preparing for what was going to

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Speaker 3: happen next. Jesus closed his eyes and felt the favor

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Speaker 3: of God fall upon him. Many had seen him perform

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Speaker 3: signs and wonders, but still did not believe this was

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Speaker 3: foretold by Isaiah. Jesus whispered his words, saying.

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Speaker 7: Oh, Lord, who has believed what he heard from us?

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Speaker 7: And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

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Speaker 7: Their eyes were blinded, their hearts were hardened, so they

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Speaker 7: will not see or turn their hearts to be healed.

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Speaker 3: Jesus looked down at the market place resting below the hill.

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Speaker 3: He looked at the busy streets filled with people walking

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Speaker 3: towards the temple. They had come to worship God, not

290
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Speaker 3: knowing that God himself was in their midst It broke

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Speaker 3: Jesus's heart, knowing that so many people would miss the

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Speaker 3: real purpose of his coming. There were many people in

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Speaker 3: power who believed men like Nicodemus, but they feared the

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Speaker 3: backlash of the Pharisees. They loved the glory that came

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Speaker 3: from mankind rather than the glory revealed by God. He

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Speaker 3: set his sights on the temple. He stood to his

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Speaker 3: feet and lifted his arms high. It was the heart

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Speaker 3: of a shepherd that compelled him to continue his work.

299
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Speaker 3: Although so many had rejected him, he would still serve them.

300
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Speaker 3: He would still pray for them, bless them, and walk

301
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Speaker 3: with them, despite their failure to understand, despite their stubbornness,

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Speaker 3: and despite their pride, he would march up to the

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Speaker 3: place of the skull to make the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus

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Speaker 3: blared his sermon into the city. As people walked by,

305
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Speaker 3: they could hear him proclaiming from the hills.

306
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Speaker 5: Whoever sees me sees him.

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Speaker 4: I have come into the world as light, so that

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Speaker 4: whoever believes in me would not remain in a pit

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Speaker 4: of despair and darkness.

310
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Speaker 3: Jesus yelled. He dropped his hands and fell to his knees.

311
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Speaker 3: The breeze made the tall grass beside him dance. A

312
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Speaker 3: few tears fell down his face as he looked longingly

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Speaker 3: at the people below.

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Speaker 4: To those who hear my words and still fail, no height,

315
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Speaker 4: do not judge you. I did not come to judge

316
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Speaker 4: the world, but to save it.

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Speaker 3: The knight had come and gone, and Jesus rose early

318
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Speaker 3: with his dear disciples to return to the city. As

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Speaker 3: they walked along the road, the disciples noticed a withered

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Speaker 3: fig tree. Peter saw it and knew it was the

321
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Speaker 3: one Jesus cursed. Its branches were rotted and its leaves

322
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Speaker 3: had died and fallen. Its roots had shriveled up and

323
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Speaker 3: ceased their clinging to the earth, making the tree bow

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Speaker 3: into the dust. Peter took notice of the tree. Its

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Speaker 3: blighted frame sent chills down his spine. With a single word,

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Speaker 3: Jesus was able to remove the life from this tree. Lord, look,

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Speaker 3: Peter said, the fig tree, your cursed has died. Jesus

328
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Speaker 3: looked back at the tree and nodded, have faith in God, Peter.

329
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Speaker 3: Jesus answered, if.

330
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Speaker 4: You say to a mountain, be gone and cast into

331
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Speaker 4: the sea, with faith in your heart and no doubt,

332
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Speaker 4: it will be done for you. Whatever you ask in prayer,

333
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Speaker 4: believe truly and it will be given. And be sure

334
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Speaker 4: not to harbor unforgiveness in your heart. Forgive others while

335
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Speaker 4: you pray, so that the Father may forgive you.

336
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Speaker 3: The group continued to follow Jesus, looking back at the tree.

337
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Speaker 3: It had once given the appearance of bearing fruit, but

338
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Speaker 3: bore no fruit. At least now it was exposed for

339
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Speaker 3: what it truly was dead. They entered the temple a

340
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Speaker 3: second time, and the chief priests and pharisees were waiting

341
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Speaker 3: for them like a pack of wolves. The moment Jesus's

342
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Speaker 3: face was seen walking from the shadows of the gates,

343
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Speaker 3: they pounced.

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Speaker 8: By whose authority do you walk in such a way?

345
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Speaker 8: The priests said, you saunter in here and dictate how

346
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Speaker 8: we should worship, But you still have not told us

347
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Speaker 8: where you get such authority.

348
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Speaker 3: Their barrage of questions did not fluster Jesus. He grew

349
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Speaker 3: tired of their constant toiling. Their hearts were far too

350
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Speaker 3: callous to listen. Answer me this question, Jesus replied.

351
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Speaker 4: By what authority did John baptize the masses? Was it

352
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Speaker 4: from heaven or from man?

353
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Speaker 3: The priests looked at one another. They were trapped. If

354
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Speaker 3: they answered from heaven, Jesus could claim the same authority.

355
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Speaker 3: If they answered from man, the crowd would be angry

356
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Speaker 3: with them, since they believed John was a prophet. So

357
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Speaker 3: they stared blankly at Jesus awhile before replying, we cannot say.

358
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Speaker 3: Jesus nodded his head and shrugged.

359
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Speaker 4: Well, then, neither will I tell you by what authority

360
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Speaker 4: I do these things.

361
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Speaker 3: By this point a crowd had gathered around them, making

362
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Speaker 3: an arena for Jesus and the religious leaders. They looked around,

363
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Speaker 3: fearful of what Jesus would say. Next, the son of

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Speaker 3: Man grinned and looked at the priests, what.

365
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Speaker 4: Do you think of this parable? A man had two sons.

366
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Speaker 4: He went to the first son and asked him to

367
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Speaker 4: work in the vineyard. At first the son refused, but

368
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Speaker 4: later changed his mind and obeyed the father. The second

369
00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,159
Speaker 4: son was asked to work, and he immediately stood to

370
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Speaker 4: his feet and said, yes.

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Speaker 5: I will go. Father.

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Speaker 4: However, he did not go like he said, so which

373
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Speaker 4: son approved and did the will of his father.

374
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Speaker 3: The priests paused again, fearful that their response would expose them.

375
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Speaker 3: They lifted their heads and said the first son. Jesus nodded, you.

376
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Speaker 4: Scoff and lift up your noses to the tax collectors

377
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Speaker 4: and prostitutes. Yet they will inherit the kingdom of Heaven

378
00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,720
Speaker 4: before you, for you were told of the righteousness of

379
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Speaker 4: God far before they were. When John proclaimed repentance, they

380
00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,000
Speaker 4: turned from their ways and honored God. However, you stood

381
00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:48,919
Speaker 4: there and did nothing.

382
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Speaker 3: The priests and pharisees snarled at Jesus, but the crowns

383
00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,840
Speaker 3: were growing in number and they could not lash out

384
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Speaker 3: at him. Jesus walked around the priests. They had made

385
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Speaker 3: the misas, thinking Jesus was a guest in their temple. However,

386
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:09,800
Speaker 3: the opposite was true. It was Jesus's temple, his house.

387
00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:15,200
Speaker 3: Jesus planted his feet and continued to teach them a lesson, saying.

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Speaker 4: Here's another parable for you. There was a landowner who

389
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Speaker 4: planted a large vineyard. He planted the vines, put up

390
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Speaker 4: the fence, and dug the wine press. During the winter,

391
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Speaker 4: he leased his property to tenants, and the season for

392
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Speaker 4: fruit drew near. The owner of the land sent three

393
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Speaker 4: servants to go and get the fruit from the vineyard. However,

394
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Speaker 4: the tenants beat one servant, killed another, and stoned the third.

395
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Speaker 4: So the owner sent more servants, but the tenants killed

396
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Speaker 4: them as well. Finally, the owner sent his only son,

397
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Speaker 4: thinking the tenants would listen to him. However, they took

398
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Speaker 4: him and they killed him as well.

399
00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:53,359
Speaker 3: Jesus opened his hands and looked at the religious leaders.

400
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Speaker 4: Answer me this, what fate do you think awaits the tenants.

401
00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:59,480
Speaker 4: What shall the owner do to them?

402
00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,360
Speaker 3: Priests pondered for a moment, and then responded.

403
00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,080
Speaker 8: The tenants are clearly wretchous. The land owners should put

404
00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,520
Speaker 8: them to a miserable death and give the venue to

405
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Speaker 8: other tenants.

406
00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:14,879
Speaker 3: Jesus raised an eyebrow and nodded. He continued to pace

407
00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:16,080
Speaker 3: around the priests.

408
00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,040
Speaker 4: Have you not read the scriptures that speak of this?

409
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Speaker 4: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. Therefore,

410
00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,240
Speaker 4: I tell you the Kingdom of God will be taken

411
00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:29,639
Speaker 4: away from you and given to those who did not

412
00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:31,119
Speaker 4: reject me.

413
00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:36,120
Speaker 3: The priests and verses knew Jesus was speaking about them.

414
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,359
Speaker 3: They boiled with rage against him. However, they could do

415
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,520
Speaker 3: nothing since the crowd was too enthralled with Jesus. They

416
00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:50,439
Speaker 3: shrunk back, still trapped in Jesus's current of parables. Jesus

417
00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,840
Speaker 3: kept his gaze firmly locked on his adversaries.

418
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Speaker 4: The kingdom of Heaven is compared to a great king

419
00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,520
Speaker 4: who threw a waiting feast for his son. He sent

420
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Speaker 4: out his ervants into the city to call all those

421
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Speaker 4: who were invited. Some of them rejected the invitation. They

422
00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,920
Speaker 4: were too busy. Others shrugged at the invitation. They did

423
00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,119
Speaker 4: not care. Others beat the servants who invited them, for

424
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,719
Speaker 4: they hated the king. Filled with rage, the king lifted

425
00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,159
Speaker 4: his hands and said to his servants, those who I

426
00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:21,679
Speaker 4: invited were not worthy. Instead, go into the streets and

427
00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:24,760
Speaker 4: invite as many people as you can find. So the

428
00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:29,639
Speaker 4: servants invited everyone in the streets, beggars, merchants, sinners, slaves.

429
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,000
Speaker 4: The king clothed them in wedding garments and allowed them

430
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Speaker 4: to enjoy the feast. The wedding feast was filled with

431
00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,600
Speaker 4: guests enjoying good food and laughter. One of them came

432
00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,760
Speaker 4: in and rejected the wedding garment. This guest was cast

433
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Speaker 4: out into darkness, never to see the light of day again.

434
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Speaker 5: For he was willing to enjoy the good food offered

435
00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:50,160
Speaker 5: by the king.

436
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Speaker 4: But he refused his covering of grace.

437
00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:57,359
Speaker 3: Jesus stepped closer to the priests than pharises. He leaned

438
00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:02,000
Speaker 3: in and whispered, for many are called, but few are chosen.

439
00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,840
Speaker 3: With those words, Jesus departed from the temple with his disciples.

440
00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,320
Speaker 3: It would not belong until the religious leaders would have

441
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:15,240
Speaker 3: their revenge on Jesus. However, even then they would be

442
00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:19,840
Speaker 3: mere tools in the greater work of God. The evil

443
00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:24,919
Speaker 3: intentions of mankind were no match for God's cosmic rescue mission.

444
00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,399
Speaker 3: He would bring in all those who had been cast

445
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,399
Speaker 3: out into the streets and invite them into his grand

446
00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:38,040
Speaker 3: wedding feast. He would clothe them with grace and calm them. Beloved.

447
00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,960
Speaker 3: The beggars, sinners, slaves, and outcasts would all find a

448
00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:49,360
Speaker 3: home in the loving embrace of God. Jesus left the

449
00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,040
Speaker 3: temple more resolute in his mission to seek out and

450
00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:53,920
Speaker 3: save the lost.

451
00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,600
Speaker 2: The prelude brought us back to our last episode, when

452
00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,880
Speaker 2: the people were praising Jesus with passion and joy. Why

453
00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:08,200
Speaker 2: do we need the constant reminder that people's expectations were misinformed?

454
00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,600
Speaker 2: The answer isn't pretty. To put it simply, it is

455
00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,200
Speaker 2: because they represent us. You and I continually project our

456
00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,320
Speaker 2: desires onto God and praise him in light of those projections.

457
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,040
Speaker 2: Can I give you a common example? Oftentimes people talk

458
00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:25,880
Speaker 2: about God's provision as if financial prosperity is promised to believers,

459
00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,760
Speaker 2: even though it isn't so. When a dollar comes their way,

460
00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,720
Speaker 2: praise goes up. But what happens when the dollars stop coming.

461
00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:36,080
Speaker 2: When the dollars stopped coming, so do the praises. This

462
00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,240
Speaker 2: same crowd that was praising Jesus will end up cursing him.

463
00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,120
Speaker 2: He didn't meet their expectations, so people turn their backs

464
00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,480
Speaker 2: on him. May we not fall under this same trap,

465
00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:49,120
Speaker 2: brothers and sisters. May we continually be looking to God's

466
00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,000
Speaker 2: word to inform us of his will, and may we

467
00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,520
Speaker 2: eagerly wait on Him to fulfill it. If I were

468
00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,600
Speaker 2: to pinpoint a theme of this episode, it would be hypocrisy.

469
00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:01,800
Speaker 2: The episode began with the figar tree. Jesus saw its

470
00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,760
Speaker 2: flowers blooming, signaling that there should be fruit ripe for

471
00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,040
Speaker 2: the picking. However, there was no fruit to be found.

472
00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,840
Speaker 2: The tree had the appearance of fruitfulness, but no fruit

473
00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,800
Speaker 2: at all. This fig tree is a grad metaphor for

474
00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:19,040
Speaker 2: the Pharisees, priest and religious system of the age. For

475
00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:23,280
Speaker 2: all the religious festivals, ceremonies, and laws, there was no substance,

476
00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,280
Speaker 2: just like the fig tree with flowers but no fruit.

477
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,720
Speaker 2: The system had all the religious frills without any of

478
00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:33,480
Speaker 2: the fruitfulness. Jesus cursed the tree so it wouldn't bear

479
00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:37,280
Speaker 2: any fruit, which seemed harsh. However, it is better not

480
00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,640
Speaker 2: to bear fruit and falsely advertise you bear fruit. That

481
00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,280
Speaker 2: was the meaning behind one of the parables Jesus taught

482
00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,960
Speaker 2: to the priest, What do you think of this parable?

483
00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:48,720
Speaker 2: A man had two sons. He went to the first

484
00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:50,960
Speaker 2: son and asked him to work in the vineyard. At

485
00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,360
Speaker 2: first the son refused, but later changed his mind and

486
00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,560
Speaker 2: obeyed his father. The second summer was asked to work,

487
00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,360
Speaker 2: and he immediately stood to his feet and said, yes,

488
00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,800
Speaker 2: I will go. Father. However, he did not go like

489
00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,680
Speaker 2: he said, which son approved and did the will of

490
00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,720
Speaker 2: his father. The fig tree was like the second son.

491
00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,000
Speaker 2: Jesus through his parable and the fig tree is giving

492
00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,160
Speaker 2: us a commentary on what he thinks about hypocrisy. In

493
00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,160
Speaker 2: Jesus's eyes, it is better for someone to sin and

494
00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,160
Speaker 2: repent than claim to have never sinned in the first place.

495
00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,120
Speaker 2: John would eventually go on to say this in one

496
00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,560
Speaker 2: of his letters. If we say we have fellowship with

497
00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,280
Speaker 2: him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do

498
00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,760
Speaker 2: not practice the truth. And if we say we have

499
00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,720
Speaker 2: no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not

500
00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,800
Speaker 2: in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful

501
00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,800
Speaker 2: injustice forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from

502
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,960
Speaker 2: all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we

503
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,800
Speaker 2: make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

504
00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:52,360
Speaker 2: It is better to acknowledge our mistakes and repent than

505
00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,920
Speaker 2: deceive ourselves by claiming we have never sinned. The religious

506
00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:59,200
Speaker 2: structure in Venea, built around the temple, riled Jesus up

507
00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,360
Speaker 2: to the point of anger. I would like to spend

508
00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,400
Speaker 2: a good portion of our time here together talking about

509
00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,360
Speaker 2: why he was so angry. There were many layers of

510
00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:10,920
Speaker 2: corruption happening in the scene. First off, they had created

511
00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,320
Speaker 2: a barrier between gentiles and God. This was the only

512
00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,640
Speaker 2: part of the temple where gentiles were allowed to come

513
00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:20,080
Speaker 2: to worship. By filling it with a marketplace, they kept

514
00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:23,920
Speaker 2: the gentiles from worshiping God. Second, they created a barrier

515
00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:27,000
Speaker 2: between the poor and God. The temple leaders were only

516
00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:32,040
Speaker 2: accepting pre approved animals for sacrifice. People could buy those animals,

517
00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:35,240
Speaker 2: but only with the temple carency, which had an outrageous

518
00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,920
Speaker 2: exchange rate. The poor therefore were unable to come to

519
00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:42,240
Speaker 2: worship God as well. This alone was reason enough to

520
00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,360
Speaker 2: make Jesus angry. When we get angry, it is often

521
00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,280
Speaker 2: because something we cherish was threatened our comfort, our ego,

522
00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:52,800
Speaker 2: or maybe something more precious like our spouse or children.

523
00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,760
Speaker 2: So when it comes to God displaying anger, he is

524
00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,040
Speaker 2: protecting something precious as well. In this case, he was

525
00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:03,800
Speaker 2: protecting his purpose for humanity. Scripture was very clear that

526
00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:07,360
Speaker 2: the outcasts and foreigner should have access to God. It

527
00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:11,200
Speaker 2: has always been God's desire to bring all nations to himself,

528
00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:14,760
Speaker 2: and it has always been his desire to create avenues

529
00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,560
Speaker 2: for people to speak with Him, to worship him, to

530
00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,440
Speaker 2: be with him, and to walk with him. What we

531
00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:24,080
Speaker 2: see Jesus doing here is violently driving out that which

532
00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:28,280
Speaker 2: is separating the people from experiencing intimacy with God. It

533
00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,800
Speaker 2: is a picture of what Jesus would do on the cross.

534
00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:34,480
Speaker 2: The Cross was the most violent upheaval of sin this

535
00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:38,400
Speaker 2: world has ever seen. So just as Jesus violently flipped

536
00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:42,200
Speaker 2: the tables that were separating people from experiencing unity with God,

537
00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:45,920
Speaker 2: he violently crucifies the very sins keeping you from Him.

538
00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:48,680
Speaker 2: The entire narrative of Scripture is that we have so

539
00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:51,560
Speaker 2: many barriers keeping us from a life of peace with God,

540
00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:54,280
Speaker 2: and that God will stop at nothing until all those

541
00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:57,960
Speaker 2: barriers are flipped over and det away with Romans eight

542
00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:01,440
Speaker 2: thirty eight and thirty nine says, for I am persuaded

543
00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:05,680
Speaker 2: that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,

544
00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:09,480
Speaker 2: nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth,

545
00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:12,520
Speaker 2: nor any other created things shall be able to separate

546
00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,400
Speaker 2: us from the love of God, which is in Christ. Jesus,

547
00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:19,480
Speaker 2: our Lord, Jesus, removed all barriers between us and God.

548
00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:20,200
Speaker 4: On the cross.

549
00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:24,000
Speaker 2: He flipped our tables. This theme of welcoming the outcast

550
00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:27,320
Speaker 2: has been visited quite a bit during this series. Jesus

551
00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,480
Speaker 2: gave the parable about the wedding feast to reaffirm that theme.

552
00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:34,719
Speaker 2: All the invited guests rejected their invitation, so the king

553
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,640
Speaker 2: invited people would appreciate the invitation. Law He clothed them,

554
00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,279
Speaker 2: fed them, and accepted them. This is what Jesus did

555
00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:46,719
Speaker 2: to you and me. We are the vagabonds, outcasts, beggars,

556
00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:49,840
Speaker 2: and blind. We were far from God, but because of

557
00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,840
Speaker 2: his grace we have been brought into his presence. I

558
00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:56,960
Speaker 2: would like to end our time today by talking about prayer. Jesus,

559
00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,399
Speaker 2: after flipping the table, said it is written, how shall

560
00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,520
Speaker 2: be called a house of prayer? But you chosen. Priests

561
00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,880
Speaker 2: of Aaron have made it a dinner fees. This grand

562
00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,920
Speaker 2: table flipping where Christ did on the cross, allowed for

563
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,080
Speaker 2: prayer to have its full and unhindered effect in our lives.

564
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,480
Speaker 2: Jeremiah twenty nine thirteen says, you will seek me and

565
00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:19,600
Speaker 2: find me when you seek Me with all your heart.

566
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,120
Speaker 2: There is no actual impact we are able to make

567
00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:26,760
Speaker 2: as Christians without stepping into unity with God in prayer.

568
00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:31,000
Speaker 2: Seeking Him corporately and personally in prayer is how God

569
00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:33,920
Speaker 2: desires his house to be used. He has made a

570
00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,360
Speaker 2: way for us to access him. May Our churches and

571
00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:40,759
Speaker 2: homes never be houses for merely preaching and learning, but

572
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:44,560
Speaker 2: places where we take advantage of the unity provided us

573
00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:48,040
Speaker 2: through the shedding of Christ's blood. Because Jesus has made

574
00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:51,480
Speaker 2: a way, we can make prayer a priority. Our next

575
00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:57,040
Speaker 2: episode will feature love, service, sacrament, and betrayal. Join us

576
00:35:57,040 --> 00:36:01,200
Speaker 2: next time for episode sixteen, The Last Supper. Thanks again

577
00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:05,200
Speaker 2: for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom

578
00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:08,640
Speaker 2: to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com and

579
00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:12,840
Speaker 2: to expand your heroes in the Bible journey, download the

580
00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:17,000
Speaker 2: Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org Forward

581
00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:21,520
Speaker 2: Slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify to

582
00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:24,359
Speaker 2: get the newest episodes right as they come out, so

583
00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:27,800
Speaker 2: you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus, God bless