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Speaker 1: He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their

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Speaker 1: wounds Psalm one forty seven Three. Dearest Lord, the depth

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Speaker 1: of your wisdom cannot be fathomed. You know the number

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Speaker 1: of stars in the sky and the number of hairs

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Speaker 1: on my head. Yet you bend your ear to those

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Speaker 1: who suffer from a broken heart when the pain is

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Speaker 1: so deep, words cannot convey the comfort necessary at that moment.

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Speaker 1: It's only your divine touch that can bring comfort in

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Speaker 1: the darkest of ours.

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Speaker 2: That is when I need you most.

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Speaker 1: Father, Pour out your healing oil over the fissure in

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Speaker 1: my heart. The gaping wound of loss is wide and

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Speaker 1: deep and continues to bleed. Waves of grief wash over

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Speaker 1: me with uncontrollable tears. Mend my heart, Lord with your

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Speaker 1: love and comfort me with your warm embrace. Help me

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Speaker 1: feel your presence so I know I'm not alone in

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Speaker 1: my time of grief. Pain feels almost inconsolable. But only

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Speaker 1: you can contain my grief and bring me comfort. Teach

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Speaker 1: me to lay my head on the warmth of your

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Speaker 1: chest and feel the heartbeat of love soothing my pain.

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Speaker 1: I will cling to you in my time of loss

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Speaker 1: and ask you to fill the void that only you

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Speaker 1: can fill in Jesus' name. Amen, Stay tuned to immerse

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Speaker 1: yourself in the Greatest Stories ever Told. From pray dot

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Speaker 1: COM's podcast Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 3: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in

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Speaker 3: the Bible Jesus. If you've enjoyed this podcast so far,

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Speaker 3: please share it with your family and friends so they

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Speaker 3: can know Jesus Christ in a personal way, because knowing

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Speaker 3: Jesus is the key to understanding the Bible. Welcome to

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Speaker 3: the greatest story ever told. It is the greatest story

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Speaker 3: of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's love

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Speaker 3: for his children, and a hero's triumph over death and darkness.

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Speaker 3: This is a story that continues to shape and mold

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Speaker 3: the world around us, bringing the divine heart of God

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Speaker 3: right into the hearts of you and me. In this episode,

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Speaker 3: Jesus preaches the most famous sermon ever told. With powerful

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Speaker 3: passion and compelling prose, Jesus weaves together a beautiful tapestry

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Speaker 3: portraying the Kingdom of God. Everyone is captivated by his words,

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Speaker 3: but his sermon is also a challenge to them. Christ

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Speaker 3: did not just come to comfort us, He also came

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Speaker 3: to establish God's will in our hearts. The Sermon on

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Speaker 3: the Mount stands in opposition against the religious dogma and

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Speaker 3: coronal living that would hold us captive. You will hear

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Speaker 3: him say, you have heard it said, But I say

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Speaker 3: to you, Jesus is about to flip people's traditional ideology

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Speaker 3: on his head and bring them back to the heart

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Speaker 3: of God. This episode also gives us one of the

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Speaker 3: more compelling moments in scripture. A pivotal character has a

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Speaker 3: moment of loneliness and despair. Faith is tested, and he

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Speaker 3: reaches out to Jesus for answers. What comes after is

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Speaker 3: an emotional plea to the hearts of mankind to release

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Speaker 3: themselves from bondage and experienced freedom. I hope you are

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Speaker 3: gripped by the words and actions of Jesus. It is

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Speaker 3: my fervent prayer that you and I do not leave

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Speaker 3: unchanged by God's truth. May the heart of Christ and

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Speaker 3: the Word of God take hold of our hearts. Here

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Speaker 3: is episode seven. My burden is light.

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Speaker 2: Pray live to chapter seven. Joseph thumped his head against

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Speaker 2: the stone walls of his prison cell. A small sliver

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Speaker 2: of moonlight made its way through some cracks in the ceiling.

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Speaker 2: He stared at the light endlessly, listening to the rustling

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Speaker 2: of his prison mates beside him. They were fast asleep,

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Speaker 2: but not Joseph. There was no sleep for him. He

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Speaker 2: continued to thump his head against the back of the wall,

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Speaker 2: frustrated at the world, frustrated at God. He had been

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Speaker 2: the favored son of Jacob. He was loved and adorned

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Speaker 2: with endless affection from his father. He was a dreamer

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Speaker 2: and had great expectations for his future. However, his dreams

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Speaker 2: got the better of him, and jealousy caused his brothers

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Speaker 2: to sell him into slavery. Joseph was humbled and sought God.

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Speaker 2: In the midst of all his tragedy, He put his

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Speaker 2: head down to the plow and showed himself to be

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Speaker 2: a masterful organizer and diligent servant. He eventually caught the

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Speaker 2: eye of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's god. He put

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Speaker 2: him in charge of his entire household, and for a

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Speaker 2: brief moment, Joseph truly believed he was a favored son

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Speaker 2: once again. In the midst of his ascension as a slave,

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Speaker 2: he caught the eye of a certain woman, Potterfar's wife.

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Speaker 2: She demanded his attention and his body. However, Joseph would

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Speaker 2: not give it.

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Speaker 4: I could not commit this sin against my master and

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Speaker 4: my God.

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Speaker 2: Joseph retorted. Potiver's wife grabbed him and pulled him in close.

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Speaker 4: Lie with me, Joseph, she whispered.

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Speaker 2: Her voice was seductive and smooth. She smelled of berries

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Speaker 2: and spice. Joseph was a young man and not without

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Speaker 2: his carnal desires. Yet there was a deep integrity that

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Speaker 2: had formed within him since he became a slave. Pride

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Speaker 2: and arrogance had made his brothers hate him. He would

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Speaker 2: not succumb to that same arrogance again. Joseph pulled away,

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Speaker 2: ripping the piece of clothing she was holding. Joseph knew

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Speaker 2: if he did not run, he would give in, so

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Speaker 2: he fled as fast as he could. As he sprinted

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Speaker 2: down the halls, he could hear echoes of screaming. It

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Speaker 2: was at that moment what would happen. Joseph was sent

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Speaker 2: to prison for a crime he did not commit, assaulting

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Speaker 2: part of HER's wife. He rotted in a damp cell.

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Speaker 2: Because he decided to show integrity, Joseph stood to his

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Speaker 2: feet and yelled. His screams reverberated off the cold stone walls.

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Speaker 2: He fell to his knees and wept. He felt like

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Speaker 2: he was cut off from all he had prayed for.

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Speaker 2: He felt forsaken. He had dreams of being a great

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Speaker 2: inheritor of his father's land, yet he was sold into slavery.

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Speaker 2: He had dreams of being a great keeper of his

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Speaker 2: master's house, Yet here he was awaiting his inevitable death.

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Speaker 2: All he had dedicated his life too, was now hidden

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Speaker 2: from him. The sun rose, or at least Joseph thought

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Speaker 2: of it. The sun only ever peered dimly through his

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Speaker 2: forsaken so he felt the same way with God. He

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Speaker 2: only felt his presence dimly. Joseph looked around at the

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Speaker 2: other men imprisoned with him. They hated their existence. Then

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Speaker 2: Joseph saw the warden. He too seemed to hate his life.

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Speaker 2: As the warden was serving bread, Joseph approached him and helped.

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Speaker 2: As he did this, the warden's face lit up with joy.

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Speaker 2: Joseph took note of this. He took note of every

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Speaker 2: act he did in service to the gods and his

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Speaker 2: fellow prisoners. With every piece of bread served, wound bandaged,

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Speaker 2: and story told, Joseph began to feel once again the

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Speaker 2: favor of God. In everything Joseph did, God blessed him.

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Speaker 2: His bitterness melted away as he felt the love of

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Speaker 2: God extending through him. He must decrease so God might increase.

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Speaker 2: This was the solution to Joseph's pain, and it would

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Speaker 2: be the solution to rid man kind of its selfishness

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Speaker 2: for all eternity. Chapter seven, My burden is light. Jesus

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Speaker 2: hiked up a small hill overlooking the plains. The light

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Speaker 2: breeze took the edge off the harsh sun. It was

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Speaker 2: springtime and the lilies of the field were in full bloom.

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Speaker 2: Jesus sat down on the vibrant grass, soaking in the sunlight.

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Speaker 2: He scanned the crown that was waiting below. It was

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Speaker 2: a diverse crowd. There were men, women, families, sick people

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Speaker 2: who had been healed, and sick people who needed healing.

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Speaker 2: There were also enemies pharisees who were determined to strike

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Speaker 2: him down. He loved every one of them. As the

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Speaker 2: gentle winds swayed the tall grass in several directions, Jesus

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Speaker 2: began to think about Psalm twenty three.

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Speaker 4: The Lord is my shepherd. I shall need nothing. It

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Speaker 4: makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me

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Speaker 4: beside gentle waters. He restores my soul.

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Speaker 2: That is what Jesus desired to do. He desired to

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Speaker 2: lead his sheep to green pastures and still waters. He

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Speaker 2: desired to restore their weary and anxious souls. He was

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Speaker 2: their shepherd, and he loved his sheep. Jesus looked to

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Speaker 2: the people down below. The crowd was eager to hear

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Speaker 2: what Jesus had to say. He had preached many times

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Speaker 2: from the Word of God. He explained the deep truths

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Speaker 2: of scripture and fulfilled prophecies. However, this time Jesus chose

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Speaker 2: to speak about the Kingdom of God in the present.

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Speaker 2: He expounded on the culture of heaven and how it

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Speaker 2: can be seen in people. He raised his voice to them, saying.

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Speaker 4: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the

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Speaker 4: Kingdom of Heaven.

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Speaker 2: Blessed are those who mourn.

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Speaker 4: For God shall comfort them. Blessed are those who have

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Speaker 4: strength yet keep it under control. They will inherit the earth.

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Speaker 4: Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for the

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Speaker 4: righteousness of God. They will seek and be satisfied. Blessed

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Speaker 4: are those who show mercy, mercy will be shown to them.

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Speaker 4: Blessed are those with pure hearts, for they shall see

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Speaker 4: God move greatly. Blessed are the peacemakers, for people will

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Speaker 4: see them and know that they are children of God.

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Speaker 4: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the good things

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Speaker 4: that they do, for they will inherit the kingdom of God.

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Speaker 2: Jesus turned to his disciples. They were listening intently to him.

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Speaker 2: He knew the hardships they would endure for his name.

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Speaker 2: Still speaking to the crowd, he looked to them and said.

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Speaker 4: Blessed are you When others harm or persecute you on

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Speaker 4: my account, be glad, but you have a glorious reward

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Speaker 4: stored up for you in heaven. They persecuted the prophets

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Speaker 4: of old, and they will do the same to you.

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Speaker 2: Jesus took a handful of dirt in his hand and

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Speaker 2: let it blow in the wind. He looked at them

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Speaker 2: and said.

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Speaker 4: You, my dear friends, are the salt of the earth.

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Speaker 4: You give it vibrants and flavor. You are meant to

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Speaker 4: add to culture and make it better. Yet if the

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Speaker 4: salt loses its flavor, what good is it other than

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Speaker 4: being trampled under foot. You are also like the light

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Speaker 4: of the world. You, like a city set firmly on

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Speaker 4: a hill, will be a beacon for those lost and lonely.

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Speaker 4: Do not hide this light. No one takes a lantern.

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Speaker 1: And stuffs it under a basket.

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Speaker 4: No, you put it on a stand for all to see.

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Speaker 4: You must do the same with your light. Let your

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Speaker 4: light so shine before others that they see you, and

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Speaker 4: they glorify your Father in heaven.

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Speaker 2: Jesus then looked at the Pharisees glaring at him from

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Speaker 2: the back. They were waiting for any excuse to rebuke him.

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Speaker 2: He knew what they thought of him. They saw him

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Speaker 2: as a blasphemer in danger to their way of life. However,

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Speaker 2: Jesus knew that underneath their piety and moral uprightness was

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Speaker 2: a desperate need for power. He looked at them, predicting

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Speaker 2: their objections to him, and said.

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Speaker 4: Some of you think I may have come to abolish

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Speaker 4: the law and the prophets, but you could not be

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Speaker 4: even further from the truth.

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Speaker 2: Jesus saw the Pharisees stir and look at one another.

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Speaker 2: Hear me, Jesus continued, I have.

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Speaker 4: Not come to abolish the law of Moses, but to

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Speaker 4: fulfill it. The word of God is as unchangeable as

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Speaker 4: creation itself.

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Speaker 2: As Jesus said these things, the religious leaders began to

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Speaker 2: boil with frustration. What they could not see is that

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Speaker 2: the entirety of God's story from Adam until now was

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Speaker 2: leading up to this moment. Jesus was the crescendo of

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Speaker 2: human history and the embodiment of God's will. Jesus lifted

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Speaker 2: his palms up like a weighted scale, and said.

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Speaker 4: The law has told you that you shall not murder.

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Speaker 2: Jesus's right hand raised higher than the left hand.

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Speaker 4: However, I tell you that whoever harbor's deep hatred will

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Speaker 4: also be judged.

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Speaker 2: Jesus then raised his left hand to be equal with

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Speaker 2: the right. He did the same thing with his hands, again, saying, the.

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Speaker 4: Law says that you shall not commit adultery. However, I

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Speaker 4: am here to tell you that whoever lusts after a

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Speaker 4: woman an objectifies her in his mind, has already been

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Speaker 4: guilty of such things.

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Speaker 2: The men in the crowd began to look round. It

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Speaker 2: was uncomfortable to hear. However, Jesus was showcasing the importance

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Speaker 2: of the heart. The Pharisees had become masters at controlling

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Speaker 2: their actions. However, the sacrifice God truly desired was a

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Speaker 2: pure and honest heart. Jesus continued, speaking of marriage, oath,

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Speaker 2: and the fickle nature of mankind. Then Jesus's tone shifted,

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Speaker 2: and I for an eye.

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Speaker 4: How many of you have heard that you are to

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Speaker 4: repay an evil deed with equal force.

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Speaker 2: The crowd nodded.

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Speaker 4: Wars begin this way. I tell you, If anyone slaps

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Speaker 4: you on the right cheek, go ahead and turn and

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Speaker 4: give him the other cheek. If anyone desires to sue

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Speaker 4: you for your tunic, go ahead and give him your

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Speaker 4: cloak as well.

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Speaker 2: Jesus then pointed to the Roman guards that were standing nearby.

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Speaker 4: If a Roman soldier forces you to carry us things

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Speaker 4: a mile, you go ahead and carry them for two.

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Speaker 4: Go the extra mile.

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Speaker 2: Jesus made sure to emphasize the next point.

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Speaker 4: The culture of this age tells you to love your

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Speaker 4: neighbor and hate your enemy. However, I say to you,

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Speaker 4: love your enemies, love them, pray for them, serve them.

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Speaker 4: For if you only love those who love you, what

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Speaker 4: separates you from those that are corrupt? Even the most

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Speaker 4: evil among us loves their friends. Your righteousness must go

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Speaker 4: above and beyond.

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Speaker 2: Jesus's words came with a great deal of authority. These

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Speaker 2: were timeless truths that have been forgotten under layers of

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Speaker 2: moral compromise and religious tradition. Jesus did not desire to

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Speaker 2: establish another regime of pious control, but to break down

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Speaker 2: the barriers that separated people from experiencing a life honoring God.

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Speaker 4: Beware of showcasing your righteousness for all to see, Jesus born.

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Speaker 4: When some people give to the needy, they sound the

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Speaker 4: trumpets and beat the drums. They do not desire to

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Speaker 4: give to the needy. They desire to be seen giving

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Speaker 4: to the needy. They seek the approval of man. They

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Speaker 4: get it. However, that is the only reward they shall have.

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Speaker 4: When you give, do not let your left hand know

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Speaker 4: what your right is doing. Serve others with no recognition.

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Speaker 4: The same goes for your prayers. The hypocrites love to

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Speaker 4: stand and pray on the street corners or in the synagogues.

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Speaker 4: But when you pray, do so in secret. The Lord

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Speaker 4: hears you in secret, and he will bless you in secret.

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Speaker 2: One of the disciples raised his hand and asked.

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Speaker 3: Then, please Lord, teach us how to pray.

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Speaker 4: When you pray, do not add spectacle or poetry to

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Speaker 4: come off as righteous to others. Some love to stand

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Speaker 4: on the street corners and proclaim their devotion to God.

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Speaker 4: When you pray, do so just between you and the Lord.

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Speaker 4: Pray like this, Our Father, holy is your name. May

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Speaker 4: your kingdom come and your will be done here as

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Speaker 4: it is in heaven. Provide our daily needs, and forgive

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Speaker 4: us all our sins. And may we also forgive those

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Speaker 4: who have trespassed against us. Lead us away from temptation,

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Speaker 4: and deliver us from evil.

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Speaker 2: The prayer was simple yet profound, and it spoke of

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Speaker 2: the relationship man ought to have with God. Jesus placed

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Speaker 2: his hand on his stomach and smiled.

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Speaker 4: When the hypocrites fast, they are gloomy and brooding. They

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Speaker 4: make sure all can see their hunger.

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Speaker 2: Jesus then mimicked the pharisee, holding his stomach and drooping

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Speaker 2: his face. The crowd laughed, and the pharisees crossed their arms.

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Speaker 4: When you fast, wash your face and take care of

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Speaker 4: your body so that no one knows. Your father in

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Speaker 4: heaven he knows, he sees. Take heart in that the

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Speaker 4: things of this world.

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Speaker 2: Will pass Jesus exclaimed, do not.

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Speaker 4: Lay it for yourselves treasures that will rust and rot,

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Speaker 4: pursue eternal things. Lay it for yourselves treasures from heaven.

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Speaker 4: For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.

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Speaker 2: Jesus held up a finger and made sure all would

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Speaker 2: pay attention.

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Speaker 4: No one can serve two masters, Jesus warned, you will

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Speaker 4: love the one and hate the other. If you devote

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Speaker 4: yourself to money, you'll end up hating God. You cannot

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Speaker 4: serve the pursuit of riches and the pursuit of God.

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Speaker 2: It was clear that talking about money made the people uncomfortable.

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Speaker 2: The Romans had taken much from them, and money had

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Speaker 2: consumed their thoughts day and night. Jesus had compassion over them.

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Speaker 2: He knew the anxiety they felt. With a fatherly tone,

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Speaker 2: Jesus continued to encourage them, saying, do.

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Speaker 4: Not be anxious about your life. The food you eat

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Speaker 4: are the clothes on your body. Life is more than food,

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Speaker 4: and your body is more than the clothing that's on it.

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Speaker 2: Jesus looked up at the birds chirping above and pointed.

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Speaker 4: Look at these birds. Do not labor a toil, yet

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Speaker 4: their heavenly father feeds them are you not more precious

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Speaker 4: than they are? No one ever added one moment to

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Speaker 4: their life by worrying. Do not be anxious about tomorrow.

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Speaker 4: It has its own troubles. Live for today, and seek

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Speaker 4: God in every moment.

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Speaker 2: The people began to look at one another. Jesus saw

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Speaker 2: husbands looking at their wives, and sisters looking at their brothers.

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Speaker 2: The nature of humans is to look at the flaws

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Speaker 2: and one another instead of inward. Jesus knew this and

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Speaker 2: gave a stiff warning to all who were listening.

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Speaker 4: Be careful not to judge others, for you, yourself will

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Speaker 4: be judged. Why would you point out the small piece

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Speaker 4: of sawdust in someone's eye when you have a large

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Speaker 4: wooden plank stuck to your own.

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Speaker 2: There was a chuckle from among the crowd.

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Speaker 4: Jesus smiled, be mindful to understand your own flows before

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Speaker 4: then the flaws of others. You will serve them better

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Speaker 4: if you do so. Jesus desired for everyone listening to

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Speaker 4: truly understand the power they had available to them. If

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Speaker 4: they were to simply seek the face of God, he

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Speaker 4: would move mightily in them. Jesus's tone was earnest and urgent.

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Speaker 4: Seek God and he will answer, how many of you

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Speaker 4: parents would deny your child bread and instead give them

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Speaker 4: a stone, if you, being sinful, would not even do

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Speaker 4: this to your own child. Even more so, God will

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Speaker 4: happily give to those who seek his favor. Seek God

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Speaker 4: as someone who is for you.

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Speaker 2: Jesus rose to his feet. The wind began to pick

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Speaker 2: up behind him. He took a deep breath, being mindful

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Speaker 2: of every word he was about to say.

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Speaker 4: Next, treat others the way you wish to be treated.

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Speaker 4: This is the true heart behind the law of God.

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Speaker 4: And understand and this the gate to the Kingdom of

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Speaker 4: Heaven is narrow. There are many other paths that are

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Speaker 4: easy and wide open. However, it is the ease that

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Speaker 4: is deceptive. It is the way of death. The true

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Speaker 4: path of God is hard. It requires sacrifice, struggle, and humility.

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Speaker 2: This is why many will choose.

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Speaker 4: To avoid it, and ultimately they will perish.

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Speaker 2: Jesus began to walk down the hill and place his

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Speaker 2: hand in people's shoulders as he passed through the crowd.

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Speaker 4: Every healthy and good tree bears fruit the people can enjoy.

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Speaker 4: Every bad tree produces thorns and poison, the same as

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Speaker 4: with our hearts. A good heart will produce good actions. Likewise,

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Speaker 4: a bad heart will produce corrupt actions. Words are not enough.

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Speaker 4: Not everyone who declares to know God actually knows him personally.

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Speaker 4: Be mindful that you seek Him in spirit and truth.

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Speaker 2: Jesus was now behind the crowd. He looked down and

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Speaker 2: saw a stone the size of his palm on the ground.

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Speaker 2: He picked it up and held it up in the

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Speaker 2: air for all to see, and said.

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Speaker 4: Every one who hears these words of mine and acts

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Speaker 4: upon them, is like a wise person who built their

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Speaker 4: house on a firm foundation. When the rain fell and

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Speaker 4: the floods came, their house was sturdy and resilient. Yet

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Speaker 4: there will be those who do not listen and do

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Speaker 4: not do these things. They are like the people who

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Speaker 4: build their homes on wavering sand. When trouble comes, they

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Speaker 4: will be washed away.

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Speaker 2: Jesus looked at the crowd one final time, smiled, and

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Speaker 2: dropped the stone. He departed with his disciples. The crowd

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Speaker 2: simply stood there, astonished. Meanwhile, in Copernium, a Roman centurion

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Speaker 2: sat at the bedside of the sea. He had a

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Speaker 2: high fever and was talking out blood. A centurion had

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Speaker 2: toward many foreign nations. He had seen many diseases take

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Speaker 2: the body of good soldiers. However, this was unlike any

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Speaker 2: illness he had seen before. The centurion soldier dabbed his

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Speaker 2: servant's head with a wet cloth. He was shivering beyond

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Speaker 2: control and could barely keep his eyes open. I am

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Speaker 2: so sorry, the centurion whispered. Although the Centurions were known

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Speaker 2: as brutal men of war, this man adored his servants.

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Speaker 2: Every man and woman under his command was precious to him.

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Speaker 2: Saddened by the bleak state of a servant, the centurion

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Speaker 2: mounted his horse to go do rounds around the city.

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Speaker 2: He was barely paying attention, mostly riding to clear his mind. However,

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Speaker 2: he did notice a stirring among the people. Shop owners

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Speaker 2: were closing early and headed for the city entrance. Women

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Speaker 2: were gathering their children and going that way as well.

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Speaker 2: He found a shop owner who was packing up and

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Speaker 2: stopped him.

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Speaker 5: You there, why are you people leaving early? What is happening?

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Speaker 2: The shopowner was distracted, frantically trying to close.

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Speaker 5: Have you not heard Jesus of Nazareth is on his

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Speaker 5: way here. He will be here any moment now. He

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Speaker 5: commands demons to flee and heals the sick he commands

390
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Speaker 5: demons to flee. The centurion asked, by what authority? Not

391
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Speaker 5: even your Jewish priests do that.

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Speaker 2: The shopowner shrugged.

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Speaker 5: The Pharisees say his authority comes from the devil himself. However,

394
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Speaker 5: many people believe it is Elijah returning from heaven.

395
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Speaker 2: The centurion nodded for the shopowner to leave. He rode

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Speaker 2: back to his estate and gathered some of the Jewish elders.

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Speaker 5: Have you heard of Jesus of Nazareth.

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Speaker 2: He asked. The elders nodded. Every jew had heard of him.

399
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Speaker 2: He had made quite a name for himself for his

400
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Speaker 2: teaching in the synagogues, then for his miracles.

401
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Speaker 5: I am what you call a gentile. I do not

402
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Speaker 5: want to insult him by asking him a favor. However,

403
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Speaker 5: my servant is sick, and I believe this Jesus to

404
00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,760
Speaker 5: be my last hope. Would you ask Jesus to use

405
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Speaker 5: his authority to heal my servant.

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Speaker 2: The elders did as they were told and found Jesus

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Speaker 2: entering the city. A crowd had already formed around Jesus

408
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Speaker 2: as he entered Capernaum. The elders made way for themselves

409
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Speaker 2: and came in front of him. The elders paid respect

410
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Speaker 2: to him, bowing at his feet.

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Speaker 6: Jesus of Nazareth, we have come down behalf of a

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Speaker 6: centurion in need of your help. A servant who is

413
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Speaker 6: very precious to him is dying. He is a man

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Speaker 6: worthy of your help. He loves our nation, although it

415
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Speaker 6: is not his own. He even built our local synagogue.

416
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Speaker 2: Jesus waved goodbye to the crowns and went with them.

417
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Speaker 2: They weaved through the streets and approached the large estate

418
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Speaker 2: owned by the centurion. As they approached, one of the

419
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Speaker 2: soldier's friends came running towards him. The man looked like

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Speaker 2: he was also a part of nobility. He looked out

421
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Speaker 2: of place, running out of the property into the street.

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Speaker 2: My lord, the man said.

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Speaker 5: I speak on behalf of the centurion. He says, Please

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Speaker 5: do not trouble yourself by coming to me. I'm not

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Speaker 5: worthy to have you come under my roof, and I,

426
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Speaker 5: being a gentile, do not presume to enter your presence either.

427
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Speaker 5: I know that all you have to do is say

428
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Speaker 5: the word, and my servant will be healed. I am

429
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Speaker 5: also a man of authority. Whatever I command of my men,

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Speaker 5: they do it without question. My word holds power. I

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Speaker 5: know that you are a man of even greater authority

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Speaker 5: than me.

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Speaker 2: The messenger bowed and departed back into the estate. The

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Speaker 2: elders were shocked at what they had just heard. Jesus

435
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Speaker 2: seemed even more shocked than they did. He marveled at him,

436
00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:53,600
Speaker 2: astonished by his faith. This gentile, a Roman soldier, had

437
00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:57,800
Speaker 2: managed to cause the Son of God to be in awe.

438
00:26:58,040 --> 00:26:59,440
Speaker 2: Jesus's eyes widened.

439
00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,600
Speaker 4: I have never seen such faith, not even in Israel.

440
00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:10,680
Speaker 2: And with that Jesus departed. The centurion watched Jesus leave

441
00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,600
Speaker 2: through the lattice of his window. He prayed that Jesus

442
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,520
Speaker 2: would understand. He walked down the halls to where his

443
00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:22,800
Speaker 2: servant was resting. He opened the door, and, to his dismay,

444
00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,240
Speaker 2: the servant was sitting up in his bed, eyes alert

445
00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:30,760
Speaker 2: and full of life. The centurion laughed and embraced his servant.

446
00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,960
Speaker 2: The entire house rejoiced and glorified the one who had

447
00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:41,240
Speaker 2: more authority than all the resources of Rome. Jesus departed

448
00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:46,080
Speaker 2: Copernium and headed south. His disciples and a large crowd

449
00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:51,200
Speaker 2: of people followed him like ducklings. They were eagerly anticipating

450
00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:55,399
Speaker 2: Jesus's next move. Was he going to storm the temple again?

451
00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,720
Speaker 2: Was he going to cast out a demon in Jerusalem?

452
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,840
Speaker 2: Was he going to confront a religious elite and a debate.

453
00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,600
Speaker 2: Jesus never ceased to surprise the world, so they followed

454
00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:13,080
Speaker 2: him anxiously, looking around for what was going to come next. However,

455
00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,800
Speaker 2: most of them were disappointed to see Jesus leading them

456
00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:22,359
Speaker 2: to the town of Nain Nine was unremarkable, dull, and

457
00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,919
Speaker 2: devoid of any sort of excitement. The disciples lowered their

458
00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:32,480
Speaker 2: expectation as greatly. However, Jesus seemed to be alert. He

459
00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:37,920
Speaker 2: was looking for something, or perhaps if some way. They

460
00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,600
Speaker 2: approached the gate of the town, which was only two

461
00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:46,200
Speaker 2: thin wood pillars. Short fencing surrounded the city. Nane's gate

462
00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,640
Speaker 2: was a monument to its poverty. Most of the people

463
00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,120
Speaker 2: were laborers in nearby cities and could not afford much

464
00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,200
Speaker 2: going through the gate. Exiting the city was a large

465
00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:02,440
Speaker 2: funeral procession. Four men carried a man on a bier

466
00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:07,840
Speaker 2: as his mother mourned beside him. Behind them was half

467
00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,560
Speaker 2: the town. The man who died was a beloved member

468
00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,560
Speaker 2: of his community, and he had left his mother without

469
00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:19,520
Speaker 2: a husband or son to provide for her. This is

470
00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:23,200
Speaker 2: why Jesus had come. He did not wander into any

471
00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:28,920
Speaker 2: place without purpose. Every step he took was purposeful. The

472
00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:32,080
Speaker 2: spirit of God had led him here to bless this

473
00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:38,200
Speaker 2: woman and to showcase his authority over death. Jesus approached

474
00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:41,920
Speaker 2: the front of the procession. The men stopped, and the

475
00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:46,000
Speaker 2: woman looked up at him. A cracked face was swollen

476
00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:50,520
Speaker 2: from tears. Jesus placed his hand on the man lying

477
00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,720
Speaker 2: on the bier and looked at his mother. Do not weep,

478
00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:59,080
Speaker 2: little one, he said. The entire procession was completely still.

479
00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:04,920
Speaker 2: The crowd behind Jesus was silent, holding their breath. Jesus

480
00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,880
Speaker 2: turned his head towards the man and said.

481
00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,720
Speaker 4: Young man, I say to you, arise.

482
00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:17,400
Speaker 2: At first there was nothing. The silence was thick enough

483
00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:22,160
Speaker 2: to cut with a knife. Then the once pale and

484
00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,680
Speaker 2: lifeless skin of the man had its color restored. A

485
00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:29,760
Speaker 2: gasp of air broke the silence. As he sat up.

486
00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:33,280
Speaker 2: The men carrying the beard dropped it. Out of shock.

487
00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,040
Speaker 2: The man fell to the floor, groaning from the impact.

488
00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:41,800
Speaker 2: Jesus knelt down, smiled, and lifted him to his feet.

489
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,600
Speaker 2: The once dead man was in shock, looking around in confusion.

490
00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,800
Speaker 2: Then he saw his mother. Tears welled up in his face,

491
00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:56,240
Speaker 2: and the two of them embraced fear gripped the hearts

492
00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,720
Speaker 2: of everyone in attendance. There's a great prophet in Am,

493
00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:05,000
Speaker 2: they shouted, God is with us. The people cheered, and

494
00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:09,800
Speaker 2: reports spread throughout the whole country. Jesus had raised a

495
00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:13,960
Speaker 2: man from the dead. It was not a soldier, a governor,

496
00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:16,680
Speaker 2: or a priest. He did not raise a member of

497
00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:20,479
Speaker 2: the temple, a rabbi, or one of his disciples. He

498
00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:25,280
Speaker 2: raised an unknown man from an unknown place. Jesus, with

499
00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:29,240
Speaker 2: purpose in his heart, pursued him so he might come

500
00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:33,920
Speaker 2: back to life. This is the heart of God, to

501
00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:39,320
Speaker 2: pursue and give life. Word of Jesus raising the man

502
00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,160
Speaker 2: from the dead had reached every corner of the country,

503
00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:47,040
Speaker 2: even the jail cells of Herod the palace. There in

504
00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:51,080
Speaker 2: the cold dungeon underneath the palace, John the Baptist sat

505
00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,280
Speaker 2: echoes of jesus mighty deeds had reached his ears. Often

506
00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:00,240
Speaker 2: as he rotted away in his cell, he thought the

507
00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,120
Speaker 2: back of his head against the stone walls and peered

508
00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:07,719
Speaker 2: up to Heaven. A small sliver of light broke through

509
00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:11,720
Speaker 2: a crack in the prison. He had been arrested for

510
00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:16,280
Speaker 2: speaking out against Herod. He had been persecuted for proclaiming

511
00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:20,480
Speaker 2: the truth, and now he had to suffer. His own

512
00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,880
Speaker 2: words echoed through his head.

513
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:26,000
Speaker 5: I must decrease so he might increase.

514
00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:30,080
Speaker 2: This was not what he had in mind. He had

515
00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:34,400
Speaker 2: dreams of being a witness to Christ's coming salvation. Yet

516
00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:39,680
Speaker 2: here he was awaiting his inevitable death. All he had

517
00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:44,080
Speaker 2: dedicated his life to was now hidden from him. He

518
00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,400
Speaker 2: desired to see the coming kingdom, and now he was

519
00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:52,120
Speaker 2: forced to only hear whispers from the outside. Bitter thoughts

520
00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,440
Speaker 2: began to enter his mind. If Jesus was able to

521
00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,320
Speaker 2: raise the dead, then why not release him from prison?

522
00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:02,240
Speaker 2: If he truly was the Messiah, then how come his

523
00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:06,240
Speaker 2: most trusted servant was rotting away in a dark dungeon.

524
00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:11,840
Speaker 2: John stood to his feet and yelled. His screams reverberated

525
00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:16,400
Speaker 2: off the cold stone walls. He fell to his knees

526
00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:20,760
Speaker 2: and wept. He felt like he was cut off from

527
00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:26,400
Speaker 2: all he had prayed for. He felt for sake. Still

528
00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:31,280
Speaker 2: able to send messages, John reached out to Jesus. His

529
00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:37,240
Speaker 2: question was simple, yet behind it with deep pain. His

530
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:38,640
Speaker 2: message asked.

531
00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,760
Speaker 5: Are you the one or should we look for another?

532
00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:48,760
Speaker 2: Jesus winced, hearing John's question. He knew the pain John

533
00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:54,840
Speaker 2: had endured. Yet John's life was but a foreshadowing. His

534
00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:58,400
Speaker 2: suffering did not come close to what Jesus would soon

535
00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:04,200
Speaker 2: endure on his behalf. Jesus knew that John only needed

536
00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:07,280
Speaker 2: to be reminded of what they had dreamed of for

537
00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,279
Speaker 2: so long. He looked at the messenger and said.

538
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:13,880
Speaker 4: Go and tell John all that you have heard me.

539
00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:14,080
Speaker 2: Do.

540
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,240
Speaker 4: Tell him that the blind had been given their sight,

541
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,760
Speaker 4: the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, had given purpose,

542
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:23,880
Speaker 4: the deaf can hear, and the dead have been raised

543
00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,480
Speaker 4: up again. The poor have good news given to them.

544
00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,240
Speaker 4: And blessed be anyone who is not offended by my purpose.

545
00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:36,400
Speaker 2: John's messengers departed. Jesus could hear a mumbling from the crowd.

546
00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:41,360
Speaker 2: They mocked John under their breath for doubting Jesus. This

547
00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:43,080
Speaker 2: irked Jesus.

548
00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,080
Speaker 4: What did you expect when you went into the wilderness

549
00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:49,680
Speaker 4: to listen to John? Did you expect a pampered prince

550
00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,360
Speaker 4: or a prophet of God? He is the prophet Malachi

551
00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,520
Speaker 4: spoke of when he said, behold, I send my messenger

552
00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,239
Speaker 4: to prepare your way before you.

553
00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:03,160
Speaker 2: The people were silent. They could sense Jesus's passion rising.

554
00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:07,200
Speaker 2: He spoke louder for all to hear, saying, there is

555
00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:08,960
Speaker 2: no greater.

556
00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:10,880
Speaker 4: Man than John the baptism.

557
00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:13,680
Speaker 6: The Madman baptized sinners.

558
00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:18,960
Speaker 2: The Pharisees shouted. Jesus turned his head swiftly, his eyes

559
00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:24,000
Speaker 2: filled with fire. The tax collectors, soldiers, and prostitutes all

560
00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,240
Speaker 2: felt the need to be baptized by John. They knew

561
00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:32,000
Speaker 2: the value of repentance. Yet the Pharisees still could not understand.

562
00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:34,440
Speaker 4: How shall I compare your.

563
00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:36,440
Speaker 2: Generation, Jesus asked the Pharisees.

564
00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:39,759
Speaker 4: You are like children sitting in the market place with

565
00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,040
Speaker 4: their music, saying, we played a happy song and you

566
00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,040
Speaker 4: didn't dance, and we played a sad song and you

567
00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:46,920
Speaker 4: did not try.

568
00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:48,680
Speaker 2: The rest of the crown laughed.

569
00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,800
Speaker 4: John came vowing to never drink wine or eat bread,

570
00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,319
Speaker 4: So you call him a madman for not partaking in

571
00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:58,160
Speaker 4: those pleasures. Now I come, and I eat bread and

572
00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,319
Speaker 4: I drink wine. Yet you call me a glutton and

573
00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,320
Speaker 4: a drunk. You criticize us both for doing the opposite

574
00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:05,839
Speaker 4: of each other.

575
00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:10,520
Speaker 2: Jesus raised his arms, inviting a response yet they were silent.

576
00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:12,600
Speaker 2: He shook his head.

577
00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:16,400
Speaker 4: Wisdom is justified by actions.

578
00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:20,720
Speaker 2: Jesus paste for a moment, looking at the sea of faces.

579
00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:25,080
Speaker 2: They were confused at the tension between the Pharisees and himself.

580
00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:29,399
Speaker 2: They had followed the Pharisees for so long and saw

581
00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:33,000
Speaker 2: them as the authority on how to pursue God. He

582
00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:35,760
Speaker 2: looked at them, then raised his head to heaven.

583
00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:39,840
Speaker 4: I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and Earth, that

584
00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:42,840
Speaker 4: you have hidden deep truths from the pompous, but have

585
00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:44,600
Speaker 4: revealed it to little children.

586
00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:47,279
Speaker 2: He then turned to the crowd and said.

587
00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:50,040
Speaker 4: All things have been given to me by the Father.

588
00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:54,520
Speaker 4: Are you weary? Are you heavy laden? Are you filled

589
00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:59,080
Speaker 4: with burdens? Come to me. Come to me all you

590
00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,440
Speaker 4: labor and are weary, and I will give you rest.

591
00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:07,000
Speaker 4: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. I

592
00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:10,040
Speaker 4: am gentle and humble of heart. Come to me, and

593
00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:13,720
Speaker 4: you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke

594
00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:16,319
Speaker 4: is easy and my burden is light.

595
00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,520
Speaker 2: Jesus offered a peace that was not offered by the

596
00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:24,799
Speaker 2: religious system of the day. The Pharisees brought nothing but

597
00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:29,279
Speaker 2: false holiness and added to God's law. The people were

598
00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:33,200
Speaker 2: not just oppressed by Rome. They were oppressed by men

599
00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:36,440
Speaker 2: who were supposed to lead them into a good relationship

600
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:41,560
Speaker 2: with God. The people were weary. They needed to be delivered.

601
00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:45,480
Speaker 2: They needed a shepherd to make them lie down in

602
00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:50,040
Speaker 2: green pastures. They needed a shepherd to lead them beside

603
00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:56,160
Speaker 2: still waters. They needed someone to restore their souls.

604
00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:00,520
Speaker 3: What you and I just wish And this was the

605
00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:03,239
Speaker 3: greatest sermon of a priest. The Sermon on the Mount

606
00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,960
Speaker 3: is a foundational passage for Christians, as it lays out

607
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:10,319
Speaker 3: the culture of God's kingdom. It was Jesus's desire to

608
00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:13,839
Speaker 3: communicate clearly what citizens of the Kingdom of God looked

609
00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:16,759
Speaker 3: like and how they should act. Some of the things

610
00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,760
Speaker 3: Jesus said don't come as a surprise to us. Truths

611
00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,080
Speaker 3: like treat others the way you want to be treated,

612
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,800
Speaker 3: and judge not unless you be judged, or common sayings. However,

613
00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:28,400
Speaker 3: there were a few things Jesus said that can be

614
00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:32,520
Speaker 3: jarring to listeners, things like whoever harbor's hatred for his

615
00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:35,560
Speaker 3: brother will be judged as murderers, or whoever lust after

616
00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,400
Speaker 3: someone in their hearts is committing adulterial All much harder

617
00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:41,280
Speaker 3: to year, and even harder to live out in real life.

618
00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:44,000
Speaker 3: The Sermon on the Mount was this glorious blend of

619
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,920
Speaker 3: relief and restraint. It relieves us from some of the

620
00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:50,080
Speaker 3: burdens we put on ourselves, while also restraining us from

621
00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:53,560
Speaker 3: letting our hearts wonder. It is Christ's gold to remind

622
00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:56,719
Speaker 3: his disciples and us that sin begins and ends in

623
00:38:56,760 --> 00:39:00,600
Speaker 3: the heart. We shouldn't merely stop at not killing someone.

624
00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:04,360
Speaker 3: We should aim to not hate anyone either, since that

625
00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:07,759
Speaker 3: is where it all begins. We should merely measure our

626
00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:10,600
Speaker 3: fidelity to our spouses based on whether we commit adultery

627
00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:13,200
Speaker 3: or not, but we should cleanse our minds of any

628
00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:17,319
Speaker 3: lustful thoughts toward another. Many people think Jesus lowered the

629
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:19,920
Speaker 3: standards of sin, but that wasn't the case at all.

630
00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:22,920
Speaker 3: He knew that sin began in the heart. Religions can

631
00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:25,399
Speaker 3: try to change your actions, but if you are caught

632
00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:28,080
Speaker 3: up in bitterness and captured by us, then you are

633
00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:30,960
Speaker 3: bound to sin sooner or later. The Kingdom of God

634
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,040
Speaker 3: needs to be established in our hearts before it can

635
00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:37,400
Speaker 3: be established in culture. Whatever hatred, lust, bitterness, or anxiety

636
00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,080
Speaker 3: that enslaves our lives must be dealt with before we

637
00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:44,040
Speaker 3: can change the world around us. Jesus raised the standard

638
00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:46,520
Speaker 3: for how we treat people as well. The culture of

639
00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:48,799
Speaker 3: this age tells you to love your neighbor and hate

640
00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:52,160
Speaker 3: your enemies. However, I say to you, love your enemies,

641
00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:55,920
Speaker 3: love them, pray for them, and serve them. And if

642
00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:58,360
Speaker 3: you only love those who love you, what separates you

643
00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:01,480
Speaker 3: from those who are corrupt? Even the most evil among

644
00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,359
Speaker 3: us love their friends. Your righteousness must go above and

645
00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:10,319
Speaker 3: beyond our prayers. Patience and partiality should not just be

646
00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:13,520
Speaker 3: given to our people, but to all people. Even our

647
00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:16,160
Speaker 3: enemies are made in the image of God, meaning even

648
00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:20,280
Speaker 3: they deserve some semblance of dignity and honor. This virtue

649
00:40:20,719 --> 00:40:23,520
Speaker 3: was acted out in our prelude by Joseph, who suffered

650
00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:26,560
Speaker 3: greatly because he gave his service to those who caused

651
00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:29,680
Speaker 3: his suffering. God was gracious to us when we were

652
00:40:29,719 --> 00:40:32,359
Speaker 3: his enemies, so it stands to reason that those who

653
00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:35,080
Speaker 3: bear his name should do the same. This is what

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00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:38,000
Speaker 3: I meant when I said some of Jesus's words were challenging.

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00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:41,680
Speaker 3: It is important for us to remember that Jesus didn't

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00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,600
Speaker 3: just come to forgive us of our sins, but he

657
00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:47,080
Speaker 3: also came to empower us to live a holier and

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00:40:47,120 --> 00:40:51,279
Speaker 3: more fulfilling life. Towards the end of Jesus's sermon, he

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00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:54,319
Speaker 3: says that whoever listens to his words and does them

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00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:56,799
Speaker 3: as like a wise person who built his house on

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00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:00,440
Speaker 3: a firm foundation. But whoever hears his words and refuses

662
00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:03,000
Speaker 3: to do them is like someone who built their house

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00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:05,880
Speaker 3: on sand. This reminds us of a common theme in

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00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:08,880
Speaker 3: the teachings of Jesus. Although some of his words are

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00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,920
Speaker 3: hard to hear, they are ultimately meant to strengthen us

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00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:15,520
Speaker 3: and make us better. The Gospel tells us this. You

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00:41:15,560 --> 00:41:19,520
Speaker 3: are abundantly and unconditionally loved, and there is more potential

668
00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,359
Speaker 3: that can be drawn out of you. The world will

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00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:24,759
Speaker 3: tell you that you are perfect the way you are,

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00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:27,520
Speaker 3: but that is not the gospel. You are loved the

671
00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:29,960
Speaker 3: way you are, and it is Christ's love that compels

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00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:33,440
Speaker 3: us to be better every day. The sermon ends and

673
00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:36,799
Speaker 3: we immediately meet a new person who needs Jesus. This

674
00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:40,040
Speaker 3: person is not a blind beggar, crippled child, or outcast.

675
00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:45,719
Speaker 3: He is a powerful, influential and respected centurion. Centurions were

676
00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:48,640
Speaker 3: enforcers and peacemakers in the city on behalf of Rome.

677
00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:52,880
Speaker 3: Most were feared and few were loved. This particular centurion

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00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:55,879
Speaker 3: was convinced that Jesus was the only one who could

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00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:58,960
Speaker 3: help his sick servant. He sent someone to find Jesus

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00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,600
Speaker 3: and asks for his help. But when Jesus approached, something

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00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:06,359
Speaker 3: ought happened. The centurion showed sensitivity to Jesus's culture while

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00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:10,000
Speaker 3: also acknowledging his power. He said, please, do not trouble

683
00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:13,080
Speaker 3: yourself by coming to me. I am not worthy to

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00:42:13,160 --> 00:42:16,960
Speaker 3: have you come under my roof, But I, being a gentile,

685
00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,799
Speaker 3: do not presume to enter your presence either. I know

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00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:23,080
Speaker 3: that all you have to do is say the word,

687
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,799
Speaker 3: and my servant will be healed. I am a man

688
00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:28,880
Speaker 3: of authority. Whatever I command of my men, they do

689
00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:32,799
Speaker 3: it without question. My word holds power. I know that

690
00:42:32,840 --> 00:42:35,200
Speaker 3: you are a man of even greater authority than me.

691
00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:39,720
Speaker 3: Jesus's reaction is only found twice in scripture. It says

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00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:43,440
Speaker 3: that he marveled at the centurion's faith. You can imagine

693
00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,480
Speaker 3: that it would probably take a lot to surprise Jesus

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00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:49,640
Speaker 3: or lead him to be astonished in any way. The

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00:42:49,719 --> 00:42:52,880
Speaker 3: only other time Jesus marvels is that the unbelief of

696
00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:57,480
Speaker 3: his kinsmen in Nazareth. The episode reaches a compelling conclusion

697
00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:00,879
Speaker 3: with John the Baptist in prison. He leans his head

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00:43:00,920 --> 00:43:03,840
Speaker 3: against the prison cell and we're immediately taken back to

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00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:07,800
Speaker 3: the prelude of Joseph. Much like Joseph, John suffered for

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00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:10,920
Speaker 3: doing the right thing. There's a special type of grief

701
00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:14,360
Speaker 3: when we suffer after having done what's right. Our relationship

702
00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:16,759
Speaker 3: with God can come into question because we thought we

703
00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:20,360
Speaker 3: will owe something for our faithfulness. John's doubt and grief

704
00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:24,279
Speaker 3: are understandable and certainly relatable. In some ways. It is

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00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:27,600
Speaker 3: comforting to see John Russell with his belief. If somebody

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00:43:27,680 --> 00:43:30,560
Speaker 3: like him struggles with doubt, then we don't feel as

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00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:34,440
Speaker 3: bad when we have moments of disbelief. John's question that

708
00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,080
Speaker 3: Jesus was honest and came from a place of suffering.

709
00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:40,160
Speaker 3: Are you the one or should we look for another?

710
00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:44,120
Speaker 3: He asked. Jesus sent John an honest answer. The work.

711
00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:47,960
Speaker 3: John so desperately wanted to see what's happening and blessed

712
00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:51,160
Speaker 3: to those who aren't stumbling by it. Thank you for

713
00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:55,480
Speaker 3: listening to today's episode of Heroes in the Bible Jesus.

714
00:43:55,880 --> 00:43:59,680
Speaker 3: For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last

715
00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:02,719
Speaker 3: the life time. Go to pray dot com. And to

716
00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:06,560
Speaker 3: expand your heroes in the Bible journey, download the Heroes

717
00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:10,800
Speaker 3: of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes.

718
00:44:11,320 --> 00:44:14,520
Speaker 3: Share this podcast with a family member or friend so

719
00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:17,080
Speaker 3: that they can know Jesus Christ in a personal way.

720
00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:20,520
Speaker 3: You never know how great of an impact the Bible

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00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:24,280
Speaker 3: and this podcast can have on someone's life. God bless