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Speaker 1: For God so loved the world that he gave his

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Speaker 1: only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish,

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Speaker 1: but have everlasting life. John three sixteen. Thank you, Heavenly Father,

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Speaker 1: for your unfathomable love for me. No one will ever

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Speaker 1: or could ever love me with the pure and unconditional

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Speaker 1: love you have for me. You ask me to believe,

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Speaker 1: believe in your son and the price he paid out

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Speaker 1: of his love for me. I wept in gratitude when

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Speaker 1: I realized how selfish I am in comparison to his

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Speaker 1: astounding love. I left my voice in praise and sing

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Speaker 1: joy to the world. The Lord has come, and Heaven

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Speaker 1: and Nature sing. Prepare our hearts Lord to receive the

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Speaker 1: greatest gift of knowing. Jesus, fill our hearts with joy

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Speaker 1: as we sing praises for your glorious goodness.

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Speaker 2: Amen.

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Speaker 1: Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told.

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

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Speaker 3: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, jehost for Heroes in the Bible. Jesus.

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Speaker 3: If you've been enjoying this series, please write a review

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Speaker 3: and let us know how this podcast has impacted your life.

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart

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Speaker 3: of God right into the hearts of you and me.

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Speaker 3: In this episode, Jesus's heart for the outcast has put

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Speaker 3: on full display. This episode features one compelling interaction after another.

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Speaker 3: While some of the gospels put an emphasis on the

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Speaker 3: public ministry of Jesus, the Gospel of John is unique

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Speaker 3: with its greater emphasis on the one on one interactions

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Speaker 3: Jesus had with selected individuals. This episode highlights many of

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Speaker 3: those connections, reminding us that Jesus wasn't just a public figure,

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Speaker 3: but a friend and mentor. He took time for people,

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Speaker 3: noticed those on the fringe, and revealed his glory through

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Speaker 3: simple conversations. This episode introduces us to famous characters like

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Speaker 3: Nicodemus and the Woman at the Well, as well as

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Speaker 3: lesser known figures like the father with the sick son

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Speaker 3: and the invalid by the pools. All of these individuals

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Speaker 3: came face to face with Jesus and were changed forever

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Speaker 3: because of him. Nobody can truly meet Jesus and remain neutral.

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Speaker 3: Anyone who comes face to face with him must make

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Speaker 3: a decision about who he is to them. Ironically, the

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Speaker 3: religiously lead and pious leaders had a harder time accepting

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Speaker 3: him than the sick and social outcast. As it turns out,

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Speaker 3: self righteous religion can keep people from truly seeing Jesus

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Speaker 3: for who he is. In this episode, I want to

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Speaker 3: challenge all of us to see the ways in which

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Speaker 3: Jesus interacts with the outcast. How does he speak with

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Speaker 3: people who have been rejected by society? To what lengths

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Speaker 3: will Jesus go to comfort and compel people's hearts. Before

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Speaker 3: we dive into this next time in Jesus' ministry, we

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Speaker 3: will have a prelude, a story captured from another time

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Speaker 3: and space. We are introduced to David, an outcast in

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Speaker 3: his own way who became a king. His life is

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Speaker 3: an example to us all of God's heart for the

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Speaker 3: people on the fringe. The small Shepherd's boys rise to

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Speaker 3: power shows us that God prefers to use the weak

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Speaker 3: things of the world to display his strength. I hope

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Speaker 3: it encourages you today. Here is episode five The Outcast.

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Speaker 4: Prelude to Chapter five. One thousand years before the birth

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Speaker 4: of Christ, a young shepherd boy lounged under the clouds.

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Speaker 4: He watched the sheep grays and frolic while strumming the liar.

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Speaker 4: The solitude of a shepherd's life did not bother him.

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Speaker 4: His father had nearly forgotten him altogether anyways, and his

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Speaker 4: brothers were self consumed. If he was being honest, he

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Speaker 4: preferred the company of sheep. As dull as they were,

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Speaker 4: they were endearing. They needed his guidance, protection and provision.

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Speaker 4: Without him, they would surely fall off a cliff or

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Speaker 4: starve to death. The boy thought about his relationship with

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Speaker 4: God this way. He would often look at his sheep

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Speaker 4: and ponder how God was his shepherd, guiding, protecting, and

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Speaker 4: providing for him. In the solitude of the sheep pasture,

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Speaker 4: the young shepherd strummed him to the Lord. He played

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Speaker 4: passionately for an audience of one. These tender moments happened

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Speaker 4: often between him and God. He was constantly after his heart.

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Speaker 4: He knew that his sheep's while being was dependent on

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Speaker 4: its closeness to the shepherd, so The boy drew close

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Speaker 4: to the Lord daily, singing to him and meditating on

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Speaker 4: his law. As small and unassuming as he was, he

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Speaker 4: was not without courage. Wolves and lions would often prowl

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Speaker 4: on the perimeter of the pasture, looking to feast on

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Speaker 4: the helpless sheep. The shepherd boy was continually alert and

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Speaker 4: ready for battle. He had to slay a few wolves

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Speaker 4: and lions in his time. However, nobody would assume that

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Speaker 4: of the boy. He was ruddy and clearly the runt

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Speaker 4: of his family. He did not carry himself like his

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Speaker 4: brothers or his father. They were regal, sturdy, and kinglike. However,

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Speaker 4: the boy was content with his sheep. He loved that

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Speaker 4: they needed him. When the nation of Israel needed a

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Speaker 4: champion to rise up and defeat the giant Golire and

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Speaker 4: his Philistine army, no soldier forward. There were no princes, warriors,

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Speaker 4: or noblemen brave enough to fight. The prophet and Judge

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Speaker 4: of Israel, Samuel, was sent by God to find a

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Speaker 4: man worthy enough to lead the nation. He looked at

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Speaker 4: the strong, the tall, and the noble. He considered the

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Speaker 4: men who carried themselves like kings. However, the Lord had

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Speaker 4: rejected them as his chosen servant. Instead he had. Samuel

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Speaker 4: looked to the pastors, where a shepherd boy tended to

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Speaker 4: the sheep.

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Speaker 2: Man looks at the outward appearance. God told Samuel, however,

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Speaker 2: I look beyond what men say. I look at the heart.

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Speaker 2: Samuel looked at the ruddy shepherd boy. He did not

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Speaker 2: have a keenly demeanor. He was the rejected son of

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Speaker 2: his family and an outcast. However, dwelling within him was

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Speaker 2: a heart after God. The Lord called the shepherd boy

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Speaker 2: and empowered him to slay giants. He would go on

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Speaker 2: to be the greatest king Israel had ever known. The

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Speaker 2: otherwise unassuming and weak boy was a hero and God's

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Speaker 2: chosen champion, King David. These are the people God chose

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Speaker 2: to lead armies, restore nations, and proclaim his truths. He

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Speaker 2: chose the weak to showcase his strength. He chose the

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Speaker 2: homeless and gave them a home. He chose the rejective

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Speaker 2: and gave them purpose. For God chose the foolish things

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Speaker 2: of this world to put to shame all those who

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Speaker 2: felt wise or strong in their own right. God was

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Speaker 2: in the business for choosing the outcasts. Chapter five. The

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Speaker 2: Outcasts Jesus's name began to grow in popularity.

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Speaker 4: As John the Baptist faith into anonymity, more and more

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Speaker 4: people who used to follow him began to follow Jesus. However,

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Speaker 4: the true identity of Jesus was still only seen in part.

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Speaker 4: Some people called him the Messiah, but they were still

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Speaker 4: not entirely sure what that meant. Many people thought the

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Speaker 4: Messiah would be a political hero. Some thought the Messiah

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Speaker 4: would be a man of war. However, not many predicted

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Speaker 4: a carpenter from a small town. Jesus's words reflected the

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Speaker 4: prophetic description of the Messiah, but the way he carried

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Speaker 4: himself seemed almost too humble and too unassuming, So people

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Speaker 4: followed Jesus, curious as to what he would do next.

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Speaker 4: It was passover, a time when people from the entire

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Speaker 4: region would gather near the temple to worship. Millions of

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Speaker 4: people flowed in and out of the city streets, bringing

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Speaker 4: their families, sacrifices and prayers to offer up to the Lord.

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Speaker 4: It was a grand celebration of God redeeming his people

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Speaker 4: from slavery in Egypt. It was also a time of

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Speaker 4: deep contemplation. Men and women considered the depth of God's

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Speaker 4: love for them and his blessing over them as a

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Speaker 4: holy nation and chosen people. Jesus walked among the sea

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Speaker 4: of faces towards the temple. The top of the temple

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Speaker 4: could be seen in the distance. It was radiant and

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Speaker 4: a glorious image of God's presence dwelling in the middle

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Speaker 4: of the city. It was Jesus' desire that all would

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Speaker 4: experience God at the center of their own lives. His

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Speaker 4: heart was warmed as he saw Jews, Greeks, and people

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Speaker 4: of all creeds and cultures gathering to worship. The heart

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Speaker 4: of God is for all to enter in and seek

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Speaker 4: his face. Jesus walked through the temple gates, his brow

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Speaker 4: furrowed as he saw the people within. In the temple courtyard,

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Speaker 4: he found people selling sacrifices and hackling prices. Men were

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Speaker 4: bringing oxen, pigeons, goats, and sheep, claiming they were special

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Speaker 4: and therefore required to make a sacrifice. The temple officials

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Speaker 4: also had a special currency, and the exchange rate was

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Speaker 4: too steep for many people to buy a sacrifice. Jesus

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Speaker 4: watched in horror as the temple was being used as

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Speaker 4: a place to exploit people. Foreigners brought their own sacrifices

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Speaker 4: and were swiftly turned away if they could not afford

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Speaker 4: a new temple certified sacrifice. Jesus's blood boiled within him.

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Speaker 4: The courtyard he was standing in was a special place.

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Speaker 4: It was the courtyard that gentiles and foreigners were allowed

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Speaker 4: to come and worship, Yet the religious leaders used it

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Speaker 4: to grow rich. A quiet rage dwelled within the gentle

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Speaker 4: son of God, a rage so pure and so righteous

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Speaker 4: that if he wished, he could send fire down from heaven.

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Speaker 4: Jesus looked at the money changers and the swindlers haggling

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Speaker 4: near the steps. They were selling salvation. They were selling

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Speaker 4: a connection with God. Jesus would not allow it. He

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Speaker 4: looked to his left to see palm Franz laying on

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Speaker 4: the floor. He also saw some netting used the whole

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Speaker 4: animals draped over the side.

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Speaker 2: Of the steps.

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Speaker 4: Jesus gathered these things, sat down, and began to weave.

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Speaker 4: No one noticed him methodically sowing leaves and rope together.

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Speaker 4: They were too consumed with making a prophet. When God

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Speaker 4: established the nation of Israel, he commanded that they would

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Speaker 4: be a sanctuary for every nation. He commanded that they

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Speaker 4: be a safe haven for refugees and foreigners. He also

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Speaker 4: commanded that any one who desired to repent and seek

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Speaker 4: his face would not be denied blessing the people appointed

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Speaker 4: to reflect God's heart had given in to corruption. Jesus

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Speaker 4: would not allow anybody to be separated from the loving

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Speaker 4: and brace of God. He would not allow the foreigner

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Speaker 4: to be turned away. He would not allow the poor

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Speaker 4: to be put in debt because they couldn't afford a

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Speaker 4: nicer sacrifice. It was King David who said, for you

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Speaker 4: will not delight and sacrifice, or I would give it.

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Speaker 4: You would not be pleased with a burnt offering. The

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Speaker 4: sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and

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Speaker 4: contrite heart. O God, you will not despise. With these

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Speaker 4: words burning in his heart, Jesus rose to his feet.

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Speaker 4: He raised his hand high in the air to reveal

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Speaker 4: a whip of chords. Then, with a strong swing of

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Speaker 4: his hips, Jesus slashed the whip forward to hit the oxen.

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Speaker 4: The animals panicked broke free from their canters. He knocked

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Speaker 4: over the carts and sent people fleeing in a panic.

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Speaker 4: Then Jesus marched over to the money changers with the

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Speaker 4: mighty Heart of God. Jesus lifted the stone tables and

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Speaker 4: flipped them over. The heavy structures crashed to the floor,

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Speaker 4: shaking the ground. Gold and silver spilled all over the

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Speaker 4: courtyard floor, and the money changers frantically picked them up

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Speaker 4: like birds pecking it bread. Jesus stood above the temple steps,

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Speaker 4: holding the whip in one hand in a crate of

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Speaker 4: doves in another. He had single handedly destroyed the temple marketplace.

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Speaker 4: Raising the doves in the air, he smashed the crate

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Speaker 4: to the ground, releasing the doves. People stopped their panicking

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Speaker 4: for a moment to look at Jesus. Huffing, he pointed

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Speaker 4: at the pharisees and scribes watching from them.

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Speaker 5: This is where men and women are meant to seek

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Speaker 5: the face of their God. Yet you have set up

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Speaker 5: monuments to creed, you have made my father's house a

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Speaker 5: house of trade, and you have rejected the outcasts.

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Speaker 4: The scribes had heard rumors of Jesus, but this was

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Speaker 4: their first time meeting him. What gives you the right

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Speaker 4: to do these things? What signs shall you give us

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Speaker 4: to prove your authority? They retorted. The crowd was stirring.

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Speaker 4: Jesus began walking towards them. The few of the disciples

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Speaker 4: saw Jesus. They looked at the fire in his eyes.

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Speaker 4: They remembered the words of David when he prophesied about

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Speaker 4: the Messiah, saying, zeal for your house will consume me.

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Speaker 4: They watched Jesus march forward, with his strength even greater

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Speaker 4: than David's. He had a passion for the House of

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Speaker 4: God and for all those who would seek him in it.

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Speaker 4: Destroy this temple, Jesus began, and.

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Speaker 5: In three days I will raise it up. It will

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Speaker 5: stand in greater glory than therefore.

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Speaker 4: The chuckle could be heard from the crowd. One of

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Speaker 4: them scoffed at him and said, it took forty six

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Speaker 4: years to rebuild that temple, and you think you could

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Speaker 4: do so in three days. Jesus shook his head and

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Speaker 4: walked down the steps. Jesus's words confused them. However, Jesus

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Speaker 4: was speaking of his own destruction and his own resurrection

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Speaker 4: to come. His disciples did not understand these things at

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Speaker 4: the time, but they would. Jesus dropped his whip and

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Speaker 4: left the temple. No one dared to go after him.

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Speaker 4: The scribes and the Pharisees watched Jesus leave. Then a

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Speaker 4: small applause followed. They looked out at the sea of

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Speaker 4: people cheering for Jesus. They looked at one another, afraid

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Speaker 4: of what this man from Nazareth might do to their power.

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Speaker 4: Many of the scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders scoffed at

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Speaker 4: Jesus and wrote him off as a madman. There were

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Speaker 4: many zealots and radicals during that time. They pegged him

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Speaker 4: as just another voice crying out in insanity. They were wrong,

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Speaker 4: They were dangerously wrong. They had not even come close

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Speaker 4: to what Jesus's purpose really was. His display of anger

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Speaker 4: was quickly dismissed and spat at. However, not all the

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Speaker 4: religious leaders were so flippant with Jesus. One of them

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Speaker 4: in particular, was curious. Nicodemus had been teaching God's law

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Speaker 4: for many years. He had spent his entire life poring

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Speaker 4: over the scriptures and encouraging the masses that one day

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Speaker 4: the Messiah would come. So when he saw Jesus, he

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Speaker 4: could not help but wonder. It was late, and Jesus

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Speaker 4: was staying in a home before departing for Galilee. The

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Speaker 4: city streets were dark and silent, all except a single

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Speaker 4: hooded figure lurking its way towards the house. He held

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Speaker 4: a small lantern and approached the door with the utmost precaution.

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Speaker 4: Jesus heard a small knock at the door and opened it,

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Speaker 4: standing with his face slightly illuminated by the lantern. Was

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Speaker 4: Nicodemus come here? Jesus said with a smile. Jesus knew

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Speaker 4: why Nicodemus had come so late. He was afraid to

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Speaker 4: be seen with Jesus after the day's events at the temple. However,

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Speaker 4: his curiosity piqued and he had questions that needed answering.

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Speaker 4: Jesus gestured for Nicodemus to have a seat and have

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Speaker 4: a drink. A few of Jesus's disciples were sitting by

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Speaker 4: the fire.

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Speaker 5: To what do I owe this pleasure Nicodemus, Jesus asked, Surely,

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Speaker 5: a ruler of the Jews such as yourself, is busy

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Speaker 5: with many things.

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Speaker 4: Nicodemus stared at his comp for a while. Where would

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Speaker 4: he begin? For so long Nicodemus had lived with this

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Speaker 4: angst about the direction of the Pharisees. He knew that

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Speaker 4: in many ways the people had fallen further from God.

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Speaker 4: He looked up to see Jesus staring at him attentively.

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Speaker 6: Rabbi Nicodemus said, there is no doubt in my mind

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Speaker 6: that you are a brilliant teacher with a heart that

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Speaker 6: is close to God. Truly, He must have set you,

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Speaker 6: for no one can do or say the things you

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Speaker 6: do without being blessed.

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Speaker 4: Jesus nodded in agreement. He looked at the fire for

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Speaker 4: a moment to ponder what Nicodemus had just said. He

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Speaker 4: was more than just a teacher, and Nicodemus would soon

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Speaker 4: learn that Jesus saw in Nicodemus a man without answers,

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Speaker 4: yet forced to pretend he had them.

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Speaker 5: Unless one is born again, he will be unable to

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Speaker 5: truly see the Kingdom of God.

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Speaker 4: Jesus said. Nicodemus was puzzled. He looked around at the

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Speaker 4: disciples they shroud. They didn't know what Jesus was saying either.

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Speaker 4: I'm not following, Nicodemus admitted.

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Speaker 6: Are you saying that in order to inherit heaven one

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Speaker 6: must re enter his mother's womb and be born a

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Speaker 6: second time?

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Speaker 4: Nicodemus was beginning to fear Jesus actually was a madman.

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Speaker 5: Jesus laughed, no, no, you see, we're all born in flesh. Yes,

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Speaker 5: but we enter this world with our bodies from our

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Speaker 5: mother's womb.

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Speaker 4: Nicodemus nodded in agreement. Jesus continued, saying.

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Speaker 5: But you must be born a second time, not a

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Speaker 5: flesh and not through a womb, but of God's spirit.

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00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:48,520
Speaker 4: Nicodemus was still having difficulty understanding. Nicodemus was a teacher

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Speaker 4: himself and very respected among the religious elite. He was

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Speaker 4: not used to being lost in the discussion regarding philosophy.

300
00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,840
Speaker 4: Jesus sensed his confusion and leaned forward.

301
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Speaker 3: Do not be.

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Speaker 5: Perplexed, Nicodemus. The wind blows and no one can see

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Speaker 5: it except when the leaves rustle. It is the same

304
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,080
Speaker 5: with being borne by the spirit. You cannot see the

305
00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:15,359
Speaker 5: spirit itself. However, when it compels a person, it becomes obvious.

306
00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:20,880
Speaker 4: Nicodemus was beginning to understand in part. However, more questions

307
00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:21,840
Speaker 4: flooded his mind.

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Speaker 6: How can one be born again in the spirit?

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Speaker 4: He asked, you.

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Speaker 5: Are a teacher of God's word, Nicodemus.

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Speaker 4: Jesus replied, you.

312
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Speaker 5: Should understand this. What I have begun has been foretold.

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Speaker 5: The words I speak have been poured out, and the

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Speaker 5: acts I perform have become evident. Yet you and the

315
00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,439
Speaker 5: rest of the pharise you still do not see. You

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Speaker 5: are blind. How could I possibly explain heavenly matters to

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Speaker 5: you when your eyes are fixed unearthly things.

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Speaker 4: Jesus's words struck a chord with Nicodemus. He knew that greed, power,

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Speaker 4: and piety had tainted the good intentions of the religious leaders.

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Speaker 4: He was guilty of the same thing. How could he

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Speaker 4: truly see heaven if he was so focused on earthly

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Speaker 4: matters such as influence and money. Jesus discerned the shame

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Speaker 4: willing up with the Nicodemus. He could see his heart.

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Speaker 4: He was not like the others. Nicodemus truly longed to

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Speaker 4: see God move. Jesus stretched out his hands and warmed

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Speaker 4: them by the fire.

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Speaker 5: Do you remember the bronze serpent that was raised up

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Speaker 5: by Moses to heal the people of Israel in the wilderness.

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Speaker 4: Jesus asked. Nicodemus nodded. It was a well known story.

330
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Speaker 4: The people of Israel had been affected with venomous snakes,

331
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Speaker 4: so Moses erected a bronze serpent high in the air.

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Speaker 4: And all who looked upon it were healed.

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Speaker 5: It is the same thing for the Messiah. He too

334
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Speaker 5: must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him

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Speaker 5: may have eternal life.

336
00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:03,000
Speaker 4: Jesus said. Nicodemus's eyes widened. Jesus removed his gaze from

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Speaker 4: the fire and looked at him. There was a moment

338
00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,879
Speaker 4: of silence as Nicodemus processed what Jesus had just said.

339
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Speaker 4: Just as the serpent was a representation of what was

340
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Speaker 4: killing Israel, so the son of Man must be lifted

341
00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,840
Speaker 4: up as a representation of what is killing humanity. Sin

342
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Speaker 4: Jesus could see COG's turning in Nicodemus's mind.

343
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Speaker 5: It is because of love, Nicodemus, Jesus said, For God

344
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Speaker 5: so loved the world that he gave up his only son,

345
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Speaker 5: and whoever looks upon him and believes will not perish.

346
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Speaker 5: They will live, and they will have life everlasting.

347
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Speaker 4: Nicodemus's heart was beating out of his chest as he

348
00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:52,200
Speaker 4: listened to Jesus speak. All was beginning to become clear.

349
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Speaker 4: Jesus continued, God did.

350
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Speaker 5: Not send the Son to condemn the world. No, he

351
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Speaker 5: sent him so that all might be saved.

352
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Speaker 4: The fire popped and embers flew up in the air

353
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Speaker 4: next to the two men. It was joy in Jesus's voice.

354
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Speaker 4: Although not everyone in the room understood him fully, his

355
00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:18,280
Speaker 4: words were powerful. They sank deep, like a seed planted

356
00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:22,399
Speaker 4: in rich soil. Jesus leaned over, and the flickering flame

357
00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,959
Speaker 4: of the fireplace reflected in his eyes.

358
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Speaker 5: The light of God has come to the world, Jesus said.

359
00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,119
Speaker 5: Yet people love their darkness. They hight in it. The

360
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Speaker 5: sinful heart delights in the shadows. Evil hates the light

361
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Speaker 5: because light exposes all that lurks in darkness.

362
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Speaker 4: Yet there will be those that cling to the truth.

363
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Speaker 5: Those are the people that dwell in the light. They

364
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Speaker 5: will see their works blessed by God.

365
00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:55,920
Speaker 4: Nicodemus smiled and nodded. He could not quite grasp all

366
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Speaker 4: of what Jesus was saying. However, he had the feeling

367
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Speaker 4: that he had not heard the last from Jesus. Nicodemus

368
00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,480
Speaker 4: would keep a close watch on him, looking for signs

369
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Speaker 4: of God. Nicodemus stood to his feet and gestured good

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Speaker 4: bye to Jesus and the others in the room. He

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Speaker 4: thanked them and left without his hood. He did not

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Speaker 4: want to be another man dwelling in the shadows. The

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Speaker 4: next day, Jesus and his followers left Judea. The sun

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Speaker 4: was high above the skies of Samaria. Its rays scorched

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Speaker 4: the earth below, beating down relentlessly. It was around the

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Speaker 4: valley of Samaria where Jesus was traveling on his way

377
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Speaker 4: to Galilee. The Jews hated the Samaritans and held deep

378
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Speaker 4: prejudices against them. Usually, any Jewish traveler walked around Samaria,

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Speaker 4: not Jesus. He decided to travel through it. About half

380
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Speaker 4: way through their journey, some of the disciples went into

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Speaker 4: town to retrieve some food. Jesus remained on the road.

382
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Speaker 4: Seeing a small well just a few feet ahead, Jesus

383
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Speaker 4: walked towards the well. A woman was there drawing water.

384
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,359
Speaker 4: Jesus approached and sat on a small bench beside the well.

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Speaker 4: The woman noticed him, but paid no attention. Instead, she

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Speaker 4: methodically brought up the bucket and poured the water into

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Speaker 4: a basin. Jesus peered out at the sigh. Its light

388
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Speaker 4: was draining, and he found himself parched. He looked at

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Speaker 4: the woman.

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Speaker 5: Would you mind drawing me some.

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Speaker 4: Water, Jesus asked politely. The woman looked up at him.

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Speaker 4: Her eyes were glazed over and impassive. She shook her

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Speaker 4: head with apathy.

394
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Speaker 7: Now why would a Jewish man want a Samaritan woman

395
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Speaker 7: to draw him water, she asked, I seem to recall

396
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Speaker 7: your people hating my people. What do you call us again?

397
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Speaker 7: Dirty dogs?

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Speaker 4: She continued drawing water for herself earth at Jesus, sitting

399
00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:05,280
Speaker 4: across from her. Jesus leaned back slightly. Unbothered by the

400
00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:09,400
Speaker 4: woman's tone, he smiled and squinted back up with the sun.

401
00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,399
Speaker 5: If you knew who was asking you for water, you

402
00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,239
Speaker 5: wouldn't be so dismissive.

403
00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:14,680
Speaker 4: Jesus said.

404
00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,959
Speaker 5: In fact, you'd be asking me for living water.

405
00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,400
Speaker 4: The woman stopped, annoyed at Jesus's peppy tone.

406
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Speaker 7: Ah, it looks like you have been traveling jew Where

407
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Speaker 7: would you even get living water from. You have no

408
00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,639
Speaker 7: bucket to draw water with, and there is not a

409
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Speaker 7: river for miles.

410
00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,199
Speaker 4: The woman's tone was harsh. She was sweating from the

411
00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:40,280
Speaker 4: sweltering heat and wanted to be done drawing water. Normally,

412
00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:42,560
Speaker 4: the other women in the city would draw water in

413
00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:46,600
Speaker 4: the morning before the day became too hot. However, she

414
00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,800
Speaker 4: was not accepted by the other women. She was an

415
00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:54,200
Speaker 4: outcast and shamed by them. So to save herself the ridicule,

416
00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:59,280
Speaker 4: she drew her water alone. During the afternoon. Jesus stood

417
00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:03,080
Speaker 4: up and closer to the well. It took the bucket

418
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Speaker 4: and drew from the well. He poured it into the

419
00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:10,560
Speaker 4: woman's basin and smiled. You see this water, Jesus asked.

420
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Speaker 5: If you drink this water, you'll be thirsty again, and

421
00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,200
Speaker 5: then you'll need to come back, and the cycle will

422
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:21,520
Speaker 5: repeat itself. Whoever drinks this water will inevitably need more. However,

423
00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,800
Speaker 5: whoever drinks the water I give them, they'll never thirst again.

424
00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,480
Speaker 4: The woman perked up with interest. If she could get

425
00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:32,840
Speaker 4: her hands on some of that water, she wouldn't have

426
00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,640
Speaker 4: to come draw water in the middle of the day.

427
00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:38,919
Speaker 7: How can I get this water, she asked, impatiently. Drawing

428
00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,440
Speaker 7: water is difficult, and I would like to save myself

429
00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:42,280
Speaker 7: the time.

430
00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,280
Speaker 4: Jesus continued to draw water and pour it into the

431
00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:50,000
Speaker 4: woman's basin, she was so intent on Jesus's words that

432
00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:53,120
Speaker 4: she didn't notice him drawing water for her. All right,

433
00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:54,879
Speaker 4: Jesus said.

434
00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:56,960
Speaker 5: Go and call your husband, and I would tilly.

435
00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:01,000
Speaker 4: The woman's lips pursed, She shrummed and looked down at

436
00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:01,479
Speaker 4: the ground.

437
00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,120
Speaker 7: I don't really have a husband.

438
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:08,520
Speaker 5: She admitted. Jesus nodded in agreement. You are right to

439
00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,240
Speaker 5: say you have no husband. You have had five husbands

440
00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,840
Speaker 5: in your past, and the man you're sleeping with now

441
00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:16,040
Speaker 5: isn't even your husband.

442
00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,600
Speaker 4: The woman was taken aback. Her rough exterior was beginning

443
00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:24,880
Speaker 4: to crack as Jesus revealed these things about her. However,

444
00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:29,200
Speaker 4: she did her best to remain callous, holding back tears.

445
00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,640
Speaker 4: She put on a fake smile and changed the subject.

446
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,920
Speaker 7: I perceive you are a prophet.

447
00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,160
Speaker 4: She said, clearing a frog in her throat.

448
00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:42,560
Speaker 7: Then you probably know how sacred this well is. Our

449
00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:46,240
Speaker 7: forefathers worshiped on this very mountain. However, you Jews say

450
00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:48,720
Speaker 7: the temple is the correct place to worship now.

451
00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:53,440
Speaker 4: The woman's voice was hoarse, her eyes were watering. She

452
00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,960
Speaker 4: thought religious small talk would deflect what Jesus had said.

453
00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,800
Speaker 4: Jesus sat beside them woman and gestured for her to

454
00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:06,040
Speaker 4: sit as well. He could feel the anguish in her heart.

455
00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:11,640
Speaker 4: His words had struck a deep chord. Her five divorces

456
00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,720
Speaker 4: were a source of shame for her. They were the

457
00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,400
Speaker 4: reason she was an outcast in her own city. Jesus

458
00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,840
Speaker 4: looked far off into the distance, knowing that eye contact

459
00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,320
Speaker 4: would only make the woman more uncomfortable.

460
00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,960
Speaker 5: Believe me, the time is coming when people won't even

461
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,520
Speaker 5: worship on a mountain or a temple. The true worshippers

462
00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,680
Speaker 5: will worship in spirit and in truth.

463
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,880
Speaker 4: Jesus said. The woman was pleased that Jesus was playing

464
00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:43,920
Speaker 4: along with her religious small talk. She nodded, saying, yes,

465
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:45,320
Speaker 4: it is a mystery.

466
00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,560
Speaker 7: However, I am sure the Messiah will come and tell

467
00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,640
Speaker 7: us all we need to know about worship.

468
00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,760
Speaker 4: Jesus turned his gaze towards the woman. His smile was

469
00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:59,720
Speaker 4: warmer than the sun itself. Yes he will, Jesus said,

470
00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:04,560
Speaker 4: I am he. The woman turned her head swiftly. Her

471
00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,880
Speaker 4: eyes met Jesus's. The second the words came out of

472
00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,000
Speaker 4: his mouth. She knew it to be true. That is

473
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,080
Speaker 4: why he had known about the depth of her shame.

474
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,040
Speaker 4: That is why he was able to slowly crack the

475
00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:20,160
Speaker 4: walls she put between her and others. As Jesus spoke

476
00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,600
Speaker 4: to the woman, his disciples were returning with lunch. They

477
00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:27,160
Speaker 4: could see Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman and immediately

478
00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:32,800
Speaker 4: judged him. However, they said nothing. They couldn't hear their conversation. However,

479
00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,240
Speaker 4: they saw the woman leap to her feet at something

480
00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,960
Speaker 4: Jesus said and run off back to the city. The

481
00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,320
Speaker 4: woman ran fast into the city, knocking on every door

482
00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:42,960
Speaker 4: she could find.

483
00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:47,320
Speaker 7: I have found him, she yelled. Come and see for yourself.

484
00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,240
Speaker 4: People began to emerge from their homes to see the commotion.

485
00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,200
Speaker 7: You must meet this man by the well. He told

486
00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:57,600
Speaker 7: me everything about me. I believe he may be the Messiah.

487
00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:00,280
Speaker 4: So many of the Samaritans dropped with them they were

488
00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:04,040
Speaker 4: doing and came to Jesus. They sat at his feet

489
00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,920
Speaker 4: and listened as he spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven.

490
00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,800
Speaker 4: The woman was front and center, beaming from ear to

491
00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:15,120
Speaker 4: ear at every word proceeding from Jesus's mouth. She was

492
00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,719
Speaker 4: once an outcast, but in Jesus she found a sense

493
00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:24,840
Speaker 4: of belonging and hope. Many heard and believed. Then, after

494
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:30,160
Speaker 4: two days, Jesus departed to Galilee. As Jesus and his

495
00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:33,640
Speaker 4: followers came to Galilee, word had spread that he had

496
00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:38,160
Speaker 4: been preaching new truths about the Kingdom of God. Eventually

497
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,280
Speaker 4: they reached a town called Copernium. Only moments had passed

498
00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,080
Speaker 4: before Jesus heard the loud noise of a man yelling

499
00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:45,760
Speaker 4: at the distance.

500
00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:46,800
Speaker 6: Jesus.

501
00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:51,000
Speaker 4: The voice yelled, Jesus. The group looked back and saw

502
00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,320
Speaker 4: a portly man huffing his way up and inclined. He

503
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:58,080
Speaker 4: was determined to reach them. Jesus stopped as the man

504
00:31:58,160 --> 00:31:59,200
Speaker 4: fell at his feet.

505
00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:02,720
Speaker 6: Jesus Us, they said, you had come to Capernaum.

506
00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,719
Speaker 4: The man was out of breath and keeled over from running.

507
00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,280
Speaker 6: Please you must heal my son.

508
00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,160
Speaker 4: He's dying. There were many who had approached Jesus, already

509
00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:18,400
Speaker 4: asking for signs and wonders to prove himself. Jesus was

510
00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,840
Speaker 4: not interested in being their magician or proving his deity

511
00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:22,880
Speaker 4: to all who asked.

512
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,760
Speaker 5: Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not have faith.

513
00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,800
Speaker 4: Jesus said, beginning to walk away. The man was red

514
00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:33,880
Speaker 4: and could barely stand, but he was able to raise

515
00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:35,600
Speaker 4: himself and run after Jesus.

516
00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:38,640
Speaker 6: No, my Lord, please.

517
00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:42,200
Speaker 4: The man fell on his face, whimpering from the pain.

518
00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:47,280
Speaker 6: My son, Please heal my son. Please come before I

519
00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:47,960
Speaker 6: lose him.

520
00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:48,400
Speaker 2: He begged.

521
00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:53,760
Speaker 4: This was the heart Jesus desired. This man genuinely desired

522
00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:57,120
Speaker 4: for Jesus to use his power to heal, not to

523
00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,960
Speaker 4: put on a show or prove a point. Jesus knelt

524
00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:04,680
Speaker 4: down and helped the man to his feet. He brushed

525
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,800
Speaker 4: the dust off his cloak and smiled, Go, your son

526
00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:14,000
Speaker 4: is healed, Jesus said. The man nodded and laughed. That

527
00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:19,000
Speaker 4: very hour, the man's son was healed. This was the

528
00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:23,120
Speaker 4: second miracle performed by Jesus. This time it was in

529
00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:26,840
Speaker 4: response to a father's heart for his son. This was

530
00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:32,360
Speaker 4: a love Jesus knew well. Eventually, Jesus made his way

531
00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:35,600
Speaker 4: to Nazareth alone. It had been a while since he

532
00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:39,560
Speaker 4: stepped foot in his home. Jesus walked down the bumpy road,

533
00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:43,960
Speaker 4: greeting people as he passed. He passed the well where

534
00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:47,360
Speaker 4: his mother would often take him as a boy. A

535
00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,160
Speaker 4: few children came up to Jesus and climbed up on

536
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:54,840
Speaker 4: to his shoulders. Jesus was beloved in his town. He

537
00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,000
Speaker 4: and his family were craftsmen and were very much loved

538
00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:02,240
Speaker 4: by every one. He visited his mother and siblings, and

539
00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:06,920
Speaker 4: enjoining the quaint and quiet atmosphere, Jesus gazed out at

540
00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:10,560
Speaker 4: the town where he grew up. It was dusty and dull,

541
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:15,120
Speaker 4: but brimming with potential. The next day, Jesus went to

542
00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:18,920
Speaker 4: the synagogue. It was Sabbath, and it was custom for

543
00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,399
Speaker 4: one of the rabbis to stand up and read from

544
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,800
Speaker 4: the word of God. Jesus stood up among the people

545
00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:29,239
Speaker 4: he knew and loved and opened the scroll of Isaiah.

546
00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:32,360
Speaker 4: The crowd smiled, pleased to see the son of Joseph

547
00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:38,279
Speaker 4: back in their midst Jesus straightened the scroll and spoke clearly, saying.

548
00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,359
Speaker 5: The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has

549
00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,160
Speaker 5: called me to proclaim good news to those who are poor.

550
00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,120
Speaker 5: He has sent me out so I may bring liberty

551
00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:50,680
Speaker 5: to the captives, give the blind this sight, and set

552
00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:55,040
Speaker 5: free all who are oppressed. It is I who proclaimed

553
00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,240
Speaker 5: the year of the Lord's favor.

554
00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:01,080
Speaker 4: Jesus rolled up the scroll and stood before the congregation.

555
00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,759
Speaker 4: He had just read a well known prophecy about the

556
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:09,239
Speaker 4: mission of the Messiah. Jesus drew a deep breath and

557
00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:10,520
Speaker 4: opened up his arms.

558
00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:15,120
Speaker 5: Today, my friends, this scripture has been fulfilled.

559
00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:19,560
Speaker 4: The crowd stirred a little. They looked at one another, perplexed.

560
00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:22,920
Speaker 4: Did he just call himself the Messiah one of the masked.

561
00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:25,920
Speaker 4: Isn't this Joseph's son? A few of them rose to

562
00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:29,920
Speaker 4: their feet. Prove these claims to us, they shouted. The

563
00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:33,160
Speaker 4: crowd continued to bicker and laugh at Jesus for saying

564
00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,960
Speaker 4: such nonsense. They had all known him since he was

565
00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:39,279
Speaker 4: a boy. To them, he was just the carpenter's son

566
00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:43,640
Speaker 4: and nothing else. Jesus sighed, I know.

567
00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,799
Speaker 5: Many of you were looking for signs and wonders like

568
00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:50,279
Speaker 5: the ones I performed in Capernaum. However, no prophet is

569
00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:54,920
Speaker 5: accepted in his hometown. Jesus shook his head, although I

570
00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:58,640
Speaker 5: suppose it comes as no surprise. In the days of Elijah,

571
00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:02,440
Speaker 5: many people had rechecked did his works, and many gentiles

572
00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:03,400
Speaker 5: accepted them.

573
00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:07,640
Speaker 4: As Jesus said these things, the entire synagogue unleashed in

574
00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:11,880
Speaker 4: an uproar. Their objections grew violent, and they drove Jesus

575
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:15,600
Speaker 4: out of the building. Foaming with rage. The people cornered

576
00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:19,160
Speaker 4: Jesus to the brow of a hill. Jesus took a

577
00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,600
Speaker 4: step back to see he had no more room. The

578
00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:27,040
Speaker 4: hill dropped off into a gorge below. They spat and

579
00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:31,600
Speaker 4: clawed at Jesus, proclaiming deity over them. Jesus was backed

580
00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:34,759
Speaker 4: against the bluff. He looked at the steep drop right

581
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,879
Speaker 4: behind him. They were going to throw him off. Their

582
00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:42,560
Speaker 4: anger was from a deep well of insecurity. They could

583
00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:46,200
Speaker 4: not stand the thought of Jesus being elevated above them.

584
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:50,120
Speaker 4: The mob lunged at him, and the fury Jesus had

585
00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:53,200
Speaker 4: very little time to think. He jumped to the side,

586
00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:57,279
Speaker 4: avoiding their initial attack. Jesus weaved through the crowd before

587
00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:00,400
Speaker 4: any could grab him. He left Nazareth w without a

588
00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:03,839
Speaker 4: good bye. He was now an outcast in his own

589
00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:10,320
Speaker 4: town and rejected by his own people. Days had passed,

590
00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:12,920
Speaker 4: and Jesus was back in Jerusalem for the feast of

591
00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,120
Speaker 4: the Jews. By the sheep Gate, there was a pool

592
00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:20,960
Speaker 4: called Bethesda. The pool was surrounded by five roofed colonnades

593
00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:25,160
Speaker 4: that protected the water below. Jesus drew closer to see

594
00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:30,440
Speaker 4: hundreds of invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed surrounding the pools.

595
00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,720
Speaker 4: Many loved ones were slowly leading them beside the water.

596
00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,520
Speaker 4: It was believed back then that an angel would stir

597
00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:42,960
Speaker 4: up the water once a year to heal the sick, lame, blind,

598
00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:47,960
Speaker 4: and afflicted. It was a silly tradition, but Jesus admired

599
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,239
Speaker 4: the faith of those who brought their loved ones down

600
00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:55,160
Speaker 4: to the pool. Jesus walked beside the pillars, observing those

601
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:59,680
Speaker 4: who had been afflicted with disease, blindness, and other disabilities.

602
00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:04,440
Speaker 4: His compassion was stirred for them. As he was walking,

603
00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,319
Speaker 4: he stumbled upon a man sitting on the floor with

604
00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:11,120
Speaker 4: his back leaned up against a pillar. The man's brow

605
00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:14,360
Speaker 4: was furrowed and his lips were clenched as he glared

606
00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:18,400
Speaker 4: at people by the pool. Jesus could see that this

607
00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,400
Speaker 4: man was an invalid and had been for quite some time.

608
00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,560
Speaker 4: The man lay there, steaming in anger towards the crowd

609
00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:29,560
Speaker 4: of people. Jesus sat beside the man and turned to him.

610
00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:31,400
Speaker 5: Do you want to be healed?

611
00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:35,840
Speaker 4: Jesus asked. The man's body was ravaged with sickness. His

612
00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:39,320
Speaker 4: eyes were weary, and he looked at Jesus with complete disdain.

613
00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,879
Speaker 6: There is no one to drop me in the pool.

614
00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:43,440
Speaker 2: The man said.

615
00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:48,640
Speaker 4: He looked away from Jesus, longing after the pool. Jesus

616
00:38:48,719 --> 00:38:51,400
Speaker 4: could sense that there was a deep desire to be healed,

617
00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:54,239
Speaker 4: but also a desire for some one to care enough

618
00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:57,839
Speaker 4: to bring him to the pool. He was an outcast

619
00:38:58,160 --> 00:38:59,360
Speaker 4: even among the crippled.

620
00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:02,600
Speaker 6: Any time I have tried to go down to the pool.

621
00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:08,200
Speaker 6: Another cuts in front of me. Why do I even bother?

622
00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:14,920
Speaker 4: The man said, his eyes watered from pain and anguish.

623
00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,880
Speaker 4: Jesus stood to his feet. He had asked the man

624
00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:21,160
Speaker 4: if he wanted to be healed. Although the man did

625
00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:24,280
Speaker 4: not answer the question, Jesus knew the answer.

626
00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:28,480
Speaker 5: Will get up, then, gather your things, take your bed,

627
00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:29,360
Speaker 5: and walk.

628
00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:32,960
Speaker 4: The man darted his eyes up, ready to yell, but

629
00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:36,320
Speaker 4: then he felt a jolt in his abdomen and legs.

630
00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:41,040
Speaker 4: A warm sensation rose from his toes to the top

631
00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:45,040
Speaker 4: of his head. The man's eyes widened in radiant glee.

632
00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:48,040
Speaker 4: He could not believe what was happening. The man placed

633
00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:50,760
Speaker 4: his hands and knees on the floor, then slowly stood

634
00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:55,560
Speaker 4: to his feet. Tears streamed down his face. He locked

635
00:39:55,600 --> 00:40:00,400
Speaker 4: up to thank Jesus, but he was gone. Took his

636
00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:03,759
Speaker 4: bed and ran to the temple. His smile was infectious

637
00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:06,320
Speaker 4: as he danced on the temple courtyard like a child.

638
00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:09,880
Speaker 4: The religious leaders saw that he was carrying his bed

639
00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:11,040
Speaker 4: and took notice.

640
00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:14,480
Speaker 6: Who cannot carry something that large on the Sabbath?

641
00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:18,160
Speaker 4: They yelled. The man was too delighted by his freedom

642
00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:19,440
Speaker 4: to consider such things.

643
00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:23,080
Speaker 6: Ah a few moments ago, I was unable to walk.

644
00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:25,600
Speaker 1: A man came and healed.

645
00:40:25,239 --> 00:40:27,600
Speaker 6: Me, and he told me to pick up my bed

646
00:40:27,719 --> 00:40:31,200
Speaker 6: and go. So here I am with my bed in

647
00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:31,880
Speaker 6: my arms.

648
00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:36,040
Speaker 4: Unashamed, the man ran out of the temple courtyard, skipping

649
00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:39,280
Speaker 4: and humming with new life. As the man left the gates,

650
00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:42,560
Speaker 4: a figure caught his eye. It was him, the man

651
00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:46,719
Speaker 4: who healed him. The man walked towards Jesus, overjoyed to

652
00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:51,879
Speaker 4: see him again. Jesus smiled and gave him a fatherly hug.

653
00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:56,919
Speaker 5: Yes, you are well, Now go and sin no more.

654
00:40:57,440 --> 00:41:00,279
Speaker 4: The man went away and eventually told the relief jeous

655
00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:04,320
Speaker 4: leaders that it was Jesus who healed him. They scoffed

656
00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:06,560
Speaker 4: that Jesus would do such a thing on the Sabbath.

657
00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:11,040
Speaker 4: Over the years, the religious leaders had created a litany

658
00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:14,960
Speaker 4: of unnecessary laws around the Sabbath. A man could not

659
00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:17,759
Speaker 4: drag a chair across the dirt because it would be

660
00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:23,000
Speaker 4: considered plowing. So many rules, so much rigidity. The lack

661
00:41:23,080 --> 00:41:26,480
Speaker 4: of joy was choking the people of Israel, and Jesus

662
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,720
Speaker 4: was determined to return them to the heart of God.

663
00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:35,200
Speaker 4: Jesus stood before the religious leaders and said plainly, my.

664
00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,640
Speaker 5: Father is working good things in his people, so why

665
00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:39,600
Speaker 5: shall do the same.

666
00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:44,200
Speaker 4: This was the heart of Jesus. He would extend his

667
00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:48,000
Speaker 4: reach to the outcasts. He would bring people back to

668
00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:52,560
Speaker 4: a pure and simple devotion to God. Not only this,

669
00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:56,719
Speaker 4: but he would do just as Isaiah prophesied. He would

670
00:41:56,760 --> 00:42:00,640
Speaker 4: proclaim good news to the poor. He would bring liberty

671
00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:04,200
Speaker 4: to the captives, he would restore sight to the blind.

672
00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:08,560
Speaker 4: And for all who felt oppressed, rejected, or unloved, he

673
00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:13,240
Speaker 4: would pour forth his liberating spirit. It was now time

674
00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:17,080
Speaker 4: for the Lord to do a new work for his people.

675
00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:23,719
Speaker 3: God's heart is for the outcast. This was exemplified in

676
00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:27,280
Speaker 3: the very beginning with our prelude. He chose a forgotten

677
00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:30,600
Speaker 3: son of a herdsman to become king. King David's life

678
00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:33,439
Speaker 3: and rise is a reminder to us that God cares

679
00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:37,440
Speaker 3: less about regality and religiosity and more about drawing close

680
00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:40,600
Speaker 3: to the heart of his people. Jesus reflected the heart

681
00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:43,560
Speaker 3: of God in this episode, especially when he confronts the

682
00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:47,240
Speaker 3: money changes in the temple. Jesus noticed that the religious

683
00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,880
Speaker 3: leaders had created a system to exploit the outsiders and

684
00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:54,520
Speaker 3: the poor. Unless you were wealthy, established, and local, it

685
00:42:54,560 --> 00:42:56,720
Speaker 3: was very hard to make a sacrifice at the temple.

686
00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:00,560
Speaker 3: Barriers were created between people and God, and Jesus had

687
00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,480
Speaker 3: come to build bridges. It is rare when we get

688
00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:06,439
Speaker 3: to see Jesus angry, so when it happens, we must

689
00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:10,040
Speaker 3: pay attention. The exploitation of the poor and powerless drove

690
00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:14,279
Speaker 3: Jesus to rage. He flipped tables, coiled a whip, and

691
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:18,400
Speaker 3: released the animals into the streets. The scriptures concerning worship

692
00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:22,040
Speaker 3: and sacrifice were very clear. Everyone should be able to

693
00:43:22,120 --> 00:43:26,719
Speaker 3: come before God to repent. Jesus's mission was to make

694
00:43:26,760 --> 00:43:31,400
Speaker 3: God accessible to people of every culture, color, creed, and class.

695
00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:35,080
Speaker 3: Jesus violently flipping tables in the temple is a picture.

696
00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:39,360
Speaker 3: Just as Jesus destroyed these physical barriers between people and God,

697
00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:42,960
Speaker 3: he would also destroy the spiritual barriers between people and God.

698
00:43:43,480 --> 00:43:46,520
Speaker 3: The Cross of Christ was a proverbial flipping of tables,

699
00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:49,920
Speaker 3: breaking down the religious systems that kept people from a

700
00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:53,719
Speaker 3: connection with God. Jesus became a friend of the outcasts,

701
00:43:53,719 --> 00:43:57,240
Speaker 3: but an enemy of the establishment. The religious leaders questioned

702
00:43:57,280 --> 00:44:01,360
Speaker 3: Jesus authority, unable to understand what he was saying. Jesus

703
00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:04,719
Speaker 3: often confused the self righteous, those who thought they were

704
00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:09,080
Speaker 3: morally superior, struggle to understand the concept of grace. Jesus

705
00:44:09,080 --> 00:44:12,480
Speaker 3: will have an ongoing ideological battle with the religious leaders.

706
00:44:13,480 --> 00:44:16,640
Speaker 3: The tension between them represents the tension between the old

707
00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:19,760
Speaker 3: and new covenants, and the battle we all have between

708
00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:23,319
Speaker 3: our own righteousness and the righteousness given by God. Not

709
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:26,879
Speaker 3: all religious leaders hated Jesus, though one in particular found

710
00:44:26,880 --> 00:44:31,120
Speaker 3: his words and actions compelling. Nicodemus met with Jesus under

711
00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:35,680
Speaker 3: the cover of midnight, seeking answers to his questions. Jesus

712
00:44:35,719 --> 00:44:39,279
Speaker 3: was happy to oblige. The conversation with Nicodemus gave us

713
00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:43,040
Speaker 3: the famous John three point sixteen for God, Soul, love

714
00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:46,279
Speaker 3: the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that

715
00:44:46,360 --> 00:44:50,400
Speaker 3: whoever should believe in him will have everlasting life. Slowly,

716
00:44:50,440 --> 00:44:54,239
Speaker 3: but surely, Jesus is revealing to others and us who

717
00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:57,719
Speaker 3: he is. Nicodemus is astounded, but unable to make a

718
00:44:57,800 --> 00:45:01,200
Speaker 3: true commitment to Jesus. We see an important trait of

719
00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:04,680
Speaker 3: Jesus in this episode. He is always willing to engage

720
00:45:04,680 --> 00:45:08,279
Speaker 3: with the needy and the outcasts. This story highlighted three

721
00:45:08,320 --> 00:45:11,200
Speaker 3: times when Jesus was met by or went to meet

722
00:45:11,239 --> 00:45:14,000
Speaker 3: someone on the fringe. The first was the woman at

723
00:45:14,040 --> 00:45:17,359
Speaker 3: the well. The Samaritan woman was rejected by her own

724
00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:20,359
Speaker 3: people due to her several affairs. On top of that,

725
00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,960
Speaker 3: it was taboo for Jews to have any interaction with Samaritans,

726
00:45:24,040 --> 00:45:27,920
Speaker 3: let alone a Samaritian woman. Jesus's willingness to engage with

727
00:45:28,040 --> 00:45:31,799
Speaker 3: this woman tells Us at least three things. One, he

728
00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:35,200
Speaker 3: cares very little about societal norms, especially if they are

729
00:45:35,239 --> 00:45:38,759
Speaker 3: founded on prejudice. Two, he is willing to risk his

730
00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:43,120
Speaker 3: reputation in order to connect with people that need him. Three,

731
00:45:43,200 --> 00:45:47,800
Speaker 3: he desires to cross cultural boundaries to make connections. Another

732
00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:50,840
Speaker 3: thing worth mentioning about this interaction is the water in

733
00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:53,799
Speaker 3: the well. Not only does Jesus use it as a

734
00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:57,080
Speaker 3: conversation starter to talk about living water in reference to

735
00:45:57,120 --> 00:46:00,319
Speaker 3: the Holy Spirit, but the act of drawing water is

736
00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:03,560
Speaker 3: in and of itself a picture. This woman had deep

737
00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:07,360
Speaker 3: hurt within her, Like water in a well, Jesus patiently

738
00:46:07,600 --> 00:46:11,480
Speaker 3: and methodically, without her noticing, draws water out of the

739
00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:14,600
Speaker 3: well in the same way he is drawing out her

740
00:46:14,680 --> 00:46:19,120
Speaker 3: pain and pasted to refresh and renew her soul. The

741
00:46:19,160 --> 00:46:22,319
Speaker 3: next interaction Jesus had with someone in need. Was the

742
00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:25,600
Speaker 3: man whose son needed healing. Jesus showed him and his

743
00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:29,239
Speaker 3: son mercy because he too has a father's heart. Let

744
00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:31,200
Speaker 3: me pause for a moment and remind you that God

745
00:46:31,239 --> 00:46:34,000
Speaker 3: loves you like a devoted father. Some of you had

746
00:46:34,040 --> 00:46:36,640
Speaker 3: wonderful fathers, and you understand in some way the love

747
00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:39,400
Speaker 3: of Christ. However, some of you might have grown up

748
00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:42,680
Speaker 3: without the love of your father. Being courriage that God

749
00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:46,440
Speaker 3: loves you with an undying and devoted fatherly love. He

750
00:46:46,480 --> 00:46:48,560
Speaker 3: went to great lengths to tell you how much He

751
00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:52,279
Speaker 3: loves you. Jesus made sure this man wasn't asking for

752
00:46:52,360 --> 00:46:55,719
Speaker 3: a sign from him out of pettiness. The fatherly heart

753
00:46:55,719 --> 00:46:58,360
Speaker 3: of this man was drawn out, just like the broken

754
00:46:58,400 --> 00:47:01,359
Speaker 3: heart of the woman at the well. Jesus rewarded him

755
00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:04,960
Speaker 3: and his son was healed. The final interaction Jesus had

756
00:47:05,040 --> 00:47:08,040
Speaker 3: with someone on the fringe was the invalid. He said

757
00:47:08,080 --> 00:47:10,680
Speaker 3: by the pools, bitter at the world, that he couldn't

758
00:47:10,680 --> 00:47:13,960
Speaker 3: be healed. This man wasn't just on the fringe because

759
00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:17,360
Speaker 3: he wasn't invalid, but he wasn't even accepted among the

760
00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:21,040
Speaker 3: crippled community. Jesus asked him a simple question, do you

761
00:47:21,120 --> 00:47:24,400
Speaker 3: want to be healed. The answer to that question seems obvious,

762
00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:26,840
Speaker 3: doesn't it. Of course, this man wants to be healed,

763
00:47:27,239 --> 00:47:29,799
Speaker 3: But instead of giving a yes or no, the man

764
00:47:29,880 --> 00:47:33,040
Speaker 3: explains how nobody cared enough to lure him into the pool.

765
00:47:33,719 --> 00:47:36,360
Speaker 3: To him, the main reason he wasn't healed was because

766
00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:39,320
Speaker 3: nobody paid attention to him or showed him any mercy.

767
00:47:39,880 --> 00:47:43,920
Speaker 3: Jesus was happy to extend that mercy. The man walked, cheered,

768
00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:47,200
Speaker 3: and ran around proclaiming what had happened to him. I

769
00:47:47,239 --> 00:47:49,680
Speaker 3: want to point out an absurdity in this episode that

770
00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:53,160
Speaker 3: can't go unnoticed. The Pharisees, when seeing this man walking

771
00:47:53,200 --> 00:47:56,840
Speaker 3: with his bed, reprimand him for breaking the Sabbage traditions.

772
00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:00,799
Speaker 3: Regulations like these were not explicitly stated in the Law

773
00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:04,440
Speaker 3: of Moses. Rather, they were rules created by the religious

774
00:48:04,480 --> 00:48:07,160
Speaker 3: leaders on top of the law. In their attempt to

775
00:48:07,160 --> 00:48:10,799
Speaker 3: be righteous, they put undue burdens on people and kept

776
00:48:10,840 --> 00:48:14,440
Speaker 3: them from closeness with God. Conflicts around the Sabbath are

777
00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:18,080
Speaker 3: going to be a common occurrence between Jesus and the Pharisees.

778
00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:22,240
Speaker 3: Look for them as the series continues, and ask yourself

779
00:48:22,280 --> 00:48:26,080
Speaker 3: why Jesus is so passionate about pushing the boundaries around

780
00:48:26,080 --> 00:48:30,160
Speaker 3: Sabbath tradition. Also ask yourself why these men were so

781
00:48:30,320 --> 00:48:34,200
Speaker 3: passionate about the Sabbath. In future episodes, we will explore

782
00:48:34,239 --> 00:48:38,280
Speaker 3: the conflicting philosophies of Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes.

783
00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:41,000
Speaker 3: For now, I want to leave you with a thought

784
00:48:41,000 --> 00:48:44,080
Speaker 3: to ponder. If Jesus is supposed to be a greater

785
00:48:44,200 --> 00:48:47,040
Speaker 3: king than David, what do you think about his kingdom?

786
00:48:47,080 --> 00:48:47,480
Speaker 5: So far?

787
00:48:48,040 --> 00:48:51,840
Speaker 3: On the surface, it doesn't seem very grand or powerful.

788
00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:55,239
Speaker 3: If Jesus is establishing a kingdom on earth, then what

789
00:48:55,520 --> 00:48:59,240
Speaker 3: is that kingdom supposed to look like? Given jesus actions

790
00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:02,360
Speaker 3: thus far, how are we supposed to participate in building

791
00:49:02,360 --> 00:49:06,920
Speaker 3: the Kingdom of God? Where we are in our homes, churches, workplaces, schools,

792
00:49:06,960 --> 00:49:11,040
Speaker 3: and communities. Ponder these things and pray that His kingdom

793
00:49:11,040 --> 00:49:13,040
Speaker 3: would come and His will would be done on earth

794
00:49:13,080 --> 00:49:16,920
Speaker 3: as it is in heaven. Amen, thank you for joining

795
00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:21,760
Speaker 3: me for today's episode. In our next episode, Jesus's popularity grows,

796
00:49:21,840 --> 00:49:24,360
Speaker 3: and with it is need for helpers. He chooses some

797
00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:28,319
Speaker 3: men to walk alongside him, learn and perform miracles. What

798
00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:31,000
Speaker 3: war is Philosophers or noblemen do you think Jesus will

799
00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:35,200
Speaker 3: choose find out an episode six the twelve. Thanks again

800
00:49:35,239 --> 00:49:38,880
Speaker 3: for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom

801
00:49:38,880 --> 00:49:41,600
Speaker 3: to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com. And

802
00:49:41,680 --> 00:49:45,040
Speaker 3: to expand your heroes in the Bible journey, download the

803
00:49:45,160 --> 00:49:49,160
Speaker 3: Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org Forward

804
00:49:49,200 --> 00:49:52,560
Speaker 3: slash Heroes. Please write a review and let me know

805
00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:56,359
Speaker 3: how Jesus in this podcast has impacted your life. God

806
00:49:56,400 --> 00:49:56,720
Speaker 3: bless