1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Let us pray, And when they could not come nigh 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: he was, and when they had broken it up, they 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:22,159 Speaker 1: lay Mark two. For as I ponder and meditate on 6 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: Mark two and Matthew nine, I stand in awe of 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: how the two stories connect. In the same way that 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: the friends got to Jesus in unconventional ways, so too 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: did the outcasts, misfits, and tax collectors get to Jesus 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: in unconventional ways. Jesus made this story and your life 11 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: serve as a reminder that you came to heal all 12 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: that are lost and in need of healing, both physically 13 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: and more importantly, spiritually, no matter what their condition. I 14 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: am committing my life to be able to be a 15 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 1: helping hand to those in need of your forgiveness and grace. 16 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: I will not look to title or economic standing to 17 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: determine the passion of my pursuit. I will rip a 18 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,839 Speaker 1: hole through the roof, push through a crowd, or sit 19 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: with those forgotten if it means they receive their breakthrough 20 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: and healing. Thank you in advance for using me to 21 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: lend a helping hand to people that are hurting in 22 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: Jesus name. Amen, thanks for making prayer a priority in 23 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,559 Speaker 1: your life. To hear the Bible come to life. Stay 24 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: tuned for the Bible in a Year brought to you 25 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot com. 26 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: It's time to take back freedom over your health care. 27 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: This open enrollment learn more about out how Christian Healthcare Ministries, 28 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: a faith based alternative to health insurance, empowers you with 29 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: choice as you make medical decisions. Discover flexibility to pick 30 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 2: your providers with programs as low as ninety two dollars 31 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: per month. Plus. When you prep ahead, you can have 32 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: the peace of mind as you're surrounded in spiritual support. 33 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 2: So what are you waiting for? Start saving today? Enroll 34 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: at Chministries dot org. Slash prey. 35 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: A hole in the roof. In our last story, Jesus 36 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 3: climbed a small hill and preached to thousands of people 37 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 3: about the Kingdom of God. He spoke about the backwards 38 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 3: economy of God's blessings, that the poor in spirit, meek 39 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 3: and mourning are the ones to inherit ultimate blessing from God. 40 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 3: He spoke of loving your enemies, not harboring hatred in 41 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 3: your heart, and removing judgment from your mind. All these 42 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 3: things caused awe and wonder in those listening. Now we 43 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 3: witness the faithful devotion of a few friends. They truly 44 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: act out the Kingdom of God by doing whatever it 45 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 3: takes to get their friend to the feet of Jesus. 46 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 3: They even risk vandalism and arrest to make sure their 47 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 3: loved one is healed. Inspired by the Gospels. 48 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 4: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 49 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year. Once again, we are so happy 50 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 4: about the over twenty million people who have joined us 51 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 4: on this podcast, and I would encourage you right now 52 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 4: to pass this podcast along to others let them know 53 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 4: because we want to get the word of God to 54 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 4: as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. So 55 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 4: let's pick up where we left off the last time 56 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 4: we heard Jesus teaching the Sermon on the Mount. In 57 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 4: our last episode, he laid out God's standard for true 58 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 4: righteousness and made it clear that righteousness is not self righteousness, 59 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 4: but righteousness in Christ that is a matter of the heart, 60 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 4: not just words or actions. Ultimately, Jesus was making a 61 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 4: clear case for our need of a savior, our desperate 62 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 4: need for his salvation. Today we'll hear of a man 63 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 4: and his friends who demonstrated great faith and friendship as 64 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 4: they went to extraordinary link to help their friend receive 65 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 4: the healing he needed from Jesus. We'll also hear how 66 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 4: Jesus called Matthew, a hated tax collector, to be one 67 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 4: of his twelve disciples. In both stories, the religious elite 68 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 4: become angry at Jesus' words and deeds as they failed 69 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 4: to see who this man who heals and forgives really is, 70 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 4: The Lord of life, the Lord of all. Let's listen 71 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 4: now to the reading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 72 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 3: The three friends stood outside the crowded house. Hundreds of 73 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 3: people surrounded the property so they could hear Jesis teach. 74 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 3: Two of them stood, the other one laid on a stretcher. 75 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: The man laying down was completely paralyzed from the neck down. 76 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,239 Speaker 3: His friends had brought him to the house in hopes 77 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 3: that Jesus would be able to heal him. However, the 78 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 3: house was overflowing with so many people, almost all hope 79 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 3: of seeing Jesus was lost. The two men looked down 80 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 3: at their friend, trying to hold back their tears. Then 81 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 3: one of them looked at the house again. His eyes 82 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 3: scanned the property. He smiled and looked at the others. 83 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 3: I have an idea, he said. Jesus was teaching in 84 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 3: the middle of the home. Hundreds of people sat and 85 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 3: stood around him, hanging on every word he said. Jesus 86 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 3: was speaking of the Kingdom of God. He spoke of 87 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 3: God's law, his love, and his forgiveness. As Jesus was speaking, 88 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 3: he felt a small piece of plaster fall on his head. Startled, 89 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 3: Jesus looked up to the ceiling to see the roof 90 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 3: being torn apart from the outside. Jesus stood to his 91 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 3: and the crowd stepped back as more roofing fell from 92 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 3: the ceiling on to the floor. A bright light shone 93 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 3: through the ceiling. Then, all of the sudden, Jesus saw 94 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 3: a silhouette of a man on a stretcher being lowered 95 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 3: down by ropes. The two friends had found a way 96 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 3: to Jesus. Although it was unconventional and perhaps illegal, they 97 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 3: were willing to do whatever it took. The paralytic was 98 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 3: lowered slowly. Jesus went under the man and helped him 99 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 3: to the floor. Jesus looked up at the hole in 100 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 3: the ceiling. He could see the friend's guilty smiles. Jesus 101 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 3: grinned and looked down at the man. He placed his 102 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 3: hand on his shoulder and said, my child, your sins 103 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 3: are forgiven. As Jesus said this, a scribe in the 104 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 3: crowd scoffed, his sins are forgiven? What authority do you 105 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 3: have to forgive sins? God alone has the power to 106 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 3: forgive sins. The scribes spat on the ground, angry at 107 00:06:55,880 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 3: Jesus's words. Jesus looked at the man with compassion. He 108 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:04,479 Speaker 3: knew the scribe was questioning his words. Jesus smiled and 109 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 3: answered him, tell me which is easier to say your 110 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 3: sins are forgiven? 111 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: Or get up and walk? 112 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 3: And immediately as Jesus said this, the man's legs began 113 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 3: to move. The paralytic's eyes widened as he lifted himself upright. 114 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 3: Jesus stood up and helped the man to his feet. 115 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 3: The two of them embraced, and the man picked up 116 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 3: his bed and walked out. The crowd parted to make 117 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: way for the man, and Jesus could see his two 118 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 3: friends standing outside, hugging him. And leaping for joy. Standing 119 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 3: shoulder to shoulder, The three men walked away back to 120 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 3: their homes. After these things, Jesus went out and sat 121 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 3: by the sea. The waves crashed gently on the shore. 122 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: The breeze whistled to the left, and Jesus watched as 123 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 3: crowds began to approach him. Their needs were endless, but 124 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 3: so was his love for them. To his right, Jesus 125 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 3: saw a man named Matthew. He was a tax collector 126 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 3: and hated among his Jewish kin. Tax collectors were considered 127 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 3: Jewish traitors. They hoared themselves to the Roman government and 128 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 3: used corruption for their own gain. Matthew, however, felt the 129 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 3: weight of his sins. He sat at his booth with 130 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: his head held low, ashamed of who he had become. 131 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 3: Jesus approached the booth. Matthew had grown accustomed to men 132 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 3: and women coming to the tax booth to spit on 133 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 3: him and ridicule him. However, Jesus simply smiled and said 134 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 3: two simple words that would change Matthew's life forever. Follow me, 135 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: Jesus said plainly. Then he began to walk off. Matthew 136 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 3: paused for a moment and looked at the pile of 137 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 3: coins and paper at his desk. Was he truly willing 138 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 3: to sacrifice wealth and favor with Rome to follow Jesus? 139 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 3: Was Jesus worth it? Matthew looked at Jesus walking away. Yes, 140 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: it is worth everything, he thought to himself. Matthew stood 141 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 3: to his feet and ran after Jesus. The two of 142 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 3: them connected, and Matthew hosted Jesus and his followers at 143 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 3: his home. They laughed and shared stories. However, not all 144 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 3: were amused. The Pharisees stood outside the house with their 145 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 3: arms crossed. They stopped one of his disciples and said, 146 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 3: look how he dines with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't 147 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 3: you ashamed to follow him? The disciple paused, unsure of 148 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 3: how he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus 149 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 3: stepped outside and approached them. His eyes were piercing, filled 150 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 3: with deep wisdom. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a doctor? 151 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: Moore the sick or the healthy. I have not come 152 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 3: to sit at the table of the righteous, but to 153 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 3: help sinners in need. Jesus left with his disciple back inside. 154 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 3: As he left, he gestured for the Pharisees to join him. 155 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 3: They sneered and left. 156 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 4: As we began the story of Jesus today, we find 157 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 4: him teaching in a very crowd house. People are squeezed 158 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 4: in from wall to wall and spilling out of the 159 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 4: door as they listened to the wise words of this teacher, Jesus, 160 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,680 Speaker 4: who was unlike anyone they had ever heard before. We 161 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 4: then discovered that some men had heard that Jesus would 162 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 4: be nearby, and they had known of his healing ministry. 163 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 4: Perhaps they'd seen some of the miracles happen, but for 164 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 4: whatever reason, they knew that this was an opportunity to 165 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 4: help a dear friend, a man who was paralyzed and helpless. 166 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 4: They wanted to get their friend to Jesus. He would 167 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 4: not have the ability to get to Jesus on his own, 168 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 4: immobile as he was, but these friends demonstrated true love 169 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 4: and compassion as they carried the man to the home 170 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:49,359 Speaker 4: where Jesus was speaking. When they arrived, it seemed impossible 171 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 4: to get to Jesus. There were so many people around, 172 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 4: and apparently no one else cared for the paralyzed man 173 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 4: and wouldn't let him through. But these four friends were 174 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 4: undeterred and undaunted. They climbed up on the roof and 175 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 4: dug out a hole so that they could lower the 176 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 4: man to Jesus. Talk about determination and dedication, compassion and 177 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 4: cooperation is all here. They could have easily packed up 178 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 4: and left heads hanging low, defeated, sad because their friend 179 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 4: would remain crippled. But that's not what they did. They 180 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 4: insisted on seeking after Jesus and the promise of healing 181 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 4: they believe he could give to their friend. What a 182 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 4: great reminder this is that we should have compassion upon 183 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 4: people that we love and care about. That we should 184 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 4: do everything possible to spend and be spent in order 185 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 4: to bring our friends and even people we don't know 186 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 4: to Jesus. Are we willing to push through every obstacle 187 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 4: to search for every possible way to connect those who 188 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 4: need the Lord to the one and the only one 189 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 4: who can make a difference in their lives? Or do 190 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 4: we just give a half hearted attempt and turn away 191 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 4: at the slightest setback. Pray that God would give you 192 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 4: and me strong determination and devotion to get our friends 193 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 4: to Jesus. These men show us the valuable lesson that 194 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 4: Jesus taught about asking and seeking and knocking and never 195 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 4: giving up because the answer will come. When Jesus saw 196 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 4: the man coming down from the ceiling, he went into action, 197 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 4: going to the man in speaking to him. Here is 198 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 4: what he said in Luke five, verse twenty. When Jesus 199 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 4: saw their faith, he said, friend, your sins are forgiven. First, 200 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 4: Notice that Jesus was not speaking of this man's faith, 201 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 4: the crippled man's faith, but the faith of his friends. 202 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 4: It was their faith that brought the man to Jesus. 203 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,439 Speaker 4: Our actions, when done in faith believing God, have significant 204 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 4: impact on the lives of others. Our faith moves from 205 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 4: faith to faith. Notice that Jesus doesn't immediately heal the 206 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 4: man's body. His first words are words of forgiveness. The crowd, 207 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 4: and especially the Pharisees and the teachers of the law 208 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 4: take note of This is offensive and shocking to them 209 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,199 Speaker 4: that Jesus would claim to be able to forgive sins. 210 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 4: That's something only God can do. But Jesus shocked them 211 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 4: again as he spoke to reveal their hidden thoughts. He 212 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 4: asked if it would be easier to say the man's 213 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 4: sins were forgiven, or to tell the man to get 214 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 4: up and walk. Clearly, it would be easier to just 215 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 4: say his sins were forgiven because there would be no 216 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 4: visual proof of this having worked or not. So he 217 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 4: turned to the man and told him to take up 218 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 4: his mat and go home. Immediately the man was healed. 219 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 4: He stood up from his cot and began praising God. 220 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 4: With those words, Jesus showed that he has the power 221 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 4: to both heal, but most importantly, to heal the soul 222 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 4: to forgive sins. Everyone praised God in amazement for what 223 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 4: they saw Jesus do We then see Jesus calling another disciple. 224 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 4: This time it was a man named Matthew. He was 225 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 4: a tax collector, which means the Jewish people saw him 226 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 4: as a traitor and a servant of the invading Roman government. 227 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 4: Tax Collectors were not respected or revered members of Jewish society. 228 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 4: They were just included with all the other sinners. So 229 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 4: when the religious crowd saw Jesus with tax collectors, they 230 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 4: once again sneered and scoffed that this man would stoop 231 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 4: so low as to associate with outcasts and sinners. How 232 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 4: could anyone follow such a man, they thought, And once 233 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 4: more Jesus called them out for their hypocrisy. He had 234 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 4: come to heal the sick, to help sinners, not the righteous. 235 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 4: They could not understand that the purpose of Christ's coming 236 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 4: was to save sinful people. The righteousness of the Pharisees 237 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 4: and the religious crowd was only skin deep, and that 238 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 4: they needed healing sole healing, just as much as the 239 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 4: tax collectors and the sinners. Christ came in into the 240 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 4: world to save sinners like you and me. Jesus was 241 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 4: ready and willing for all to follow him, but so 242 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 4: many rejected him, especially those who were very religious. And 243 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 4: yet he kept on helping people, loving people, and would 244 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 4: one day go to a cross to lay down his 245 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 4: life so that our sins could be forgiven. Dear God, 246 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 4: we thank you for the four faithful friends who go 247 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 4: to great lengths to show your love and compassion to 248 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 4: their friend. For the healing and the power of Jesus 249 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 4: to save. Help us Lord, to be friends like these 250 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 4: to people we know, and to do whatever it takes 251 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 4: to bring people to the loving, saving arms of Christ. 252 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 4: In Jesus's name, we pray Amen. Thank you for listening 253 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 4: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 254 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 4: from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray dot Com 255 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 4: app and make prayer a priority in your life, just 256 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 4: like over twenty million people have done to this date. 257 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 4: If you enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you 258 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 4: know and love, because by sharing this message of the 259 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 4: Word of God, you can make an eternal difference in 260 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 4: someone's life. And I want to encourage you to go 261 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 4: to Jack Graham dot org. That's me at Jack Graham 262 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 4: dot org. God bless you and we look forward to 263 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 4: joining you again the next time.