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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 1: Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 2: Hi, I'm doct to Tony Evans, and I'm excited for

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Speaker 2: you to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Jesus.

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

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Speaker 2: the latest episodes so you can continue strengthening your relationship

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Speaker 2: with Jesus. Welcome to the greatest story ever told. It

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

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

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Speaker 2: over death and darkness. This is a story that continues

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Speaker 2: to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the

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Speaker 2: divine heart of God right into the hearts of you

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Speaker 2: and me. This episode gives us a side of the

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Speaker 2: Savior we don't usually see. Angry Jesus. I do not

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Speaker 2: mean to give him this title in a demeaning way,

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Speaker 2: but once you listen to this episode, you will understand

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Speaker 2: what I mean. Jesus seems to be on a war

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Speaker 2: path in this episode, literally and figuratively flipping tables over.

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Speaker 2: It would seem that he is trying to burn away

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Speaker 2: as much as he can before marching up to the cross,

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Speaker 2: so that a new work can grow from the ashes

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Speaker 2: where he rises again. Jesus is on fire, passionately prodding

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Speaker 2: at the pious priest and Pharisees. As much as I

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Speaker 2: love it when Jesus puts the religious leaders in their place,

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Speaker 2: we must all take heed lest we stumble. The words

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Speaker 2: pointed at the priest can easily be pointed at you

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Speaker 2: and me. Surely there have been times when we have

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Speaker 2: been self righteous and antagonistic. Take Jesus's words seriously so

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Speaker 2: your souls may be satisfied. We will begin this story

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Speaker 2: with the prelude, a story captured from a different time

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Speaker 2: and space. Our prelude today is a reminder of what

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Speaker 2: just happened, a commentary on what's passed, and a vision

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Speaker 2: for what's ahead. My prayer for you today is that

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Speaker 2: the coarse words of Jesus would smooth your souls like

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Speaker 2: sandpaper to wood. I pray that the passion of Jesus

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Speaker 2: would enliven your hearts and inspire you to walk righteously

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Speaker 2: in all you do. Here is episode fifteen Dinner Thieves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: it required a listening ear and tender heart. They praised

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: as their new king hung, bloodied and beaten on a

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Speaker 3: wooden globe. Nails would be his scepter and thorns would

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Speaker 3: be his crown. Their psalms of glee would be silenced

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Speaker 3: as the thunder above would roll over Boghof. The people

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Speaker 3: would stand in complete train as their conquering messiah cried

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Speaker 3: out to the heavens and breathed his last. The kings

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Speaker 3: of Earth, as mighty and great as they may be,

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Speaker 3: ultimately got to live and rule from a golden throne.

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Speaker 3: Yet the son of David, the Messiah would conquer the

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Speaker 3: earth from a rugged cross. Chapter fifteen, Din of Thieves.

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Speaker 3: The morning fire crackled over wood and stone. Its flames

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Speaker 3: cut through the crisp, moaning air, like a hot blade

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Speaker 3: through ice. Jesus warmed his hands by the fire, waiting

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Speaker 3: for his disciples to wake. He watched them all rise

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Speaker 3: to their feet, stretching their arms and rubbing their eyes.

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Speaker 3: As they began to compose themselves, Jesus caught a glimpse

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Speaker 3: of a fig tree blooming in the distance. It was

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Speaker 3: not the season for figs, so the tree stood peculiarly,

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Speaker 3: like a sore thumb amidst many dead trees. Jesus held

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Speaker 3: his stomach it growled incessantly. He rose to his feet

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Speaker 3: and walked towards the tree. As he approached the tree,

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Speaker 3: he examined that, despite its lush blooms, there was no

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Speaker 3: fruit growing from its leaves. The leaves were vibrant and green,

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Speaker 3: yet no figs hung from its branches. Jesus touched the

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Speaker 3: tree and paused for a long moment. A few of

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Speaker 3: the disciples could see Jesus pondering. He plucked one of

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Speaker 3: the leaves and baled it in his fist. He furrowed

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Speaker 3: his brow and cursed at the tree.

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Speaker 4: May no one ever eat fruit from you again, he whispered.

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Speaker 3: Jesus turned from the tree and stormed off. The disciples

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Speaker 3: watched Jesus sit back at the fire. Then they turned

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Speaker 3: to the tree. Its leaves rustled lightly in the breeze.

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Speaker 3: They could not quite understand what about this tree warranted

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Speaker 3: such a curse. Jesus and his disciples weaved through the

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Speaker 3: busy city streets, making their way towards the temple. Merchants

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Speaker 3: and beggars laced the alleyways, grabbing the attention of visitors.

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Speaker 3: Jesus passed through the busy streets and entered through the

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Speaker 3: archways into the temple courtyards. In the middle of the

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Speaker 3: courtyard were stairs leading up to the inner place, where

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Speaker 3: sacrifices were made unto God. Surrounding the stairs and the

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Speaker 3: walkways were temple merchants selling sacrifices. The money changes were

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Speaker 3: there as well, exchanging temple currency. Jesus could hear nothing

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Speaker 3: but the clatteral coins against stone tables and haggling of

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Speaker 3: sheep and goats to temple visitors. The disciples trailed Jesus

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Speaker 3: at a safe distance, anticipating what was to come. Jesus

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Speaker 3: approached a large slab of stone prop upright as a table.

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Speaker 3: Weights and scales rested on it, with gold and silver

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Speaker 3: coins spilling forth from leather pouches. Behind the table was

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Speaker 3: a man counting need temple coin. The man asked, without

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Speaker 3: looking up, Jesus said nothing. Instead, he bent his knees

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Speaker 3: down up the bottom of the stone and flipped the table.

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Speaker 3: Coins spilled everywhere, colliding with the dust below. Jesus set

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Speaker 3: his gaze on the cages of doves and pigeons and

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Speaker 3: released them into the air. He darted to the other

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Speaker 3: stone tables and one by one flipped them over. The

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Speaker 3: commotion was beginning to stir as people watched Jesus cleanse

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Speaker 3: the temple of greed and corruption. He broke open cages,

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Speaker 3: released animals, and drove out merchants. It didn't take long

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Speaker 3: for the priests and scribes to come bolting out into

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Speaker 3: the courtyard.

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Speaker 4: What is the meaning of this, they yelled, what have

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Speaker 4: you done?

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: face them.

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Speaker 4: It is written my house shall be called a house

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Speaker 4: of prayer.

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: coins to trickle out one by one.

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

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Speaker 4: den of thieves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 4: speak with him?

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

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Speaker 3: the groom to meet Jesus. Master.

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

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

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Speaker 4: bring them to you.

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

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

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Speaker 3: to his disciples and said.

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

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

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Speaker 4: and glorified.

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: arms and said.

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 4: sake will gain eternal life.

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: head to and spoke loudly, saying.

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

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

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

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Speaker 4: I have come.

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: with his arms raised to heaven.

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Speaker 4: Saying, Father, glorify your name.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 4: to me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

263
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Speaker 3: Jesus turned his head towards the hills outside the city.

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 4: He turned to the crowd, Understand, the light is among

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Speaker 4: you for a little while. Longer walk in the light

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Speaker 4: as long as you have it, for those who walk

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Speaker 4: in darkness will stumble, and those who believe in the

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Speaker 4: light will become sons of the light.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 5: Oh, Lord, who has believed what he heard from us?

285
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Speaker 5: And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

286
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Speaker 5: Their eyes were blinded, their hearts were hardened, so they

287
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Speaker 5: will not see or turn their hearts to be healed.

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

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

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

291
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Speaker 3: knowing that God himself was in their midst. It broke

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

293
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Speaker 3: real purpose of his coming. There were many people in

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

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

296
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Speaker 3: from mankind rather than the glory revealed by God. He

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

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

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

300
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Speaker 3: Although so many had rejected him, he would still serve them.

301
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Speaker 3: He would still pray for them, bless them, and walk

302
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Speaker 3: with them despite their failure understand, despite their stubbornness, and

303
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Speaker 3: despite their pride, he would march up to the place

304
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Speaker 3: of the skull to make the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus blared

305
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Speaker 3: his sermon into the city. As people walked by, they

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Speaker 3: could hear him proclaiming from the hills.

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Speaker 4: Whoever sees me sees him. I have come into the

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Speaker 4: world as light, so that whoever believes in me would

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Speaker 4: not remain in a bit of despair and darkness.

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: at the people below.

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker 3: walked along the road, the disciples noticed a withered fig tree.

320
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Speaker 3: Peter saw it and knew it was the one Jesus cursed.

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Speaker 3: Its branches were rotted and its leaves had died and fallen.

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Speaker 3: Its roots had shriveled up and ceased their clinging to

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Speaker 3: the earth, making the tree bow into the dust. Peter

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Speaker 3: took notice of the tree. Its blighted frame sent chills

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Speaker 3: down his spine. With a single word, Jesus was able

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Speaker 3: to remove the life from this tree. Lord, look, Peter said,

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Speaker 3: the fig tree you cursed has died. Jesus looked back

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

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Speaker 3: Jesus answered, if you say to a.

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Speaker 4: Mountain, be gone and cast into the sea, with faith

331
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Speaker 4: in your heart and no doubt, it will be done

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Speaker 4: for you whatever you ask him. Prayer, believe truly and

333
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Speaker 4: it will be given. And be sure not to harbor

334
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Speaker 4: unforgiveness in your heart. Forgive others while you pray, so

335
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Speaker 4: that the Father may forgive you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

343
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Speaker 3: they pounced, by.

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Speaker 6: Whose authority do you walk in such a way?

345
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Speaker 3: The priests said, you.

346
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Speaker 6: Saunter in here and dictate how we should worship, but

347
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Speaker 6: you still have not told us where you get such authority.

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

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

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

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

352
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Speaker 4: from heaven or from man?

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

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

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

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

357
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Speaker 3: they stared blankly at Jesus a while before replying, we

358
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Speaker 3: cannot say. Jesus nodded his head and shrugged.

359
00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,440
Speaker 4: Well, then, neither will I tell you by what authority

360
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Speaker 4: I do these things.

361
00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,200
Speaker 3: By this point a crowd had gathered around them, making

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

363
00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,480
Speaker 3: fearful of what Jesus would say. Next, the son of

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Speaker 3: Man grinned and looked at the priests.

365
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Speaker 4: What do you think of this parable A man had

366
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Speaker 4: two sons. He went to the first son and asked

367
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Speaker 4: him to work in the vineyard. At first then refused,

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

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Speaker 4: second son was asked to work, and he immediately stood

370
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Speaker 4: to his feet and said, yes, I will go father. However,

371
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Speaker 4: he did not go like he said, so which son

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

373
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Speaker 3: The priests paused again, fearful that their response would expose them.

374
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Speaker 3: They lifted their heads and said the first son. Jesus nodded, you.

375
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Speaker 4: Scoff and lift up your noses to the tax collectors

376
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Speaker 4: and prostitutes. Yet they will inherit the kingdom of Heaven

377
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Speaker 4: before you, For you were told of the righteousness of

378
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Speaker 4: God far before they were. When John proclaimed repentance, they

379
00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,040
Speaker 4: turned from their ways and honored God. However, you stood

380
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Speaker 4: there and did nothing.

381
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Speaker 3: The priests and Pharisees snarled at Jesus, but the crowns

382
00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,880
Speaker 3: were growing in number and they could not lash out

383
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Speaker 3: at him. Jesus walked around the priests. They had made

384
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Speaker 3: the mis say, thinking Jesus was a guest in their temple. However,

385
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:09,840
Speaker 3: the opposite was true. It was Jesus's temple, his house.

386
00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:15,240
Speaker 3: Jesus planted his feet and continued to teach them a lesson, saying.

387
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Speaker 4: Here's another parable for you. There was a landowner who

388
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Speaker 4: planted a large vineyard. He planted the vines, put up

389
00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,320
Speaker 4: the fence, and dug the wine press. During the winter,

390
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Speaker 4: he leased his property to tenants, and the season for

391
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Speaker 4: fruit drew near. The owner of the land sent three

392
00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,800
Speaker 4: servants to go and get the fruit from the vineyard. However,

393
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Speaker 4: the tenants beat one servant, killed another, and stoned the third.

394
00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:40,040
Speaker 4: So the owner said more servants, but the tenants killed

395
00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:44,080
Speaker 4: them as well. Finally, the owner sent his only son,

396
00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,320
Speaker 4: thinking the tenants would listen to him. However, they took

397
00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,520
Speaker 4: him and they killed him as well.

398
00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,400
Speaker 3: Jesus opened his hands and looked at the religious leaders.

399
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,440
Speaker 4: Answer me this, what fate do you think awaits the tenants?

400
00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:59,960
Speaker 4: What shall the owner do to them.

401
00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,520
Speaker 3: The priests pondered for a moment and then responded, the

402
00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:04,960
Speaker 3: tenants are clearly wretchous.

403
00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,679
Speaker 6: The landowners should put them to a miserable death and

404
00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,600
Speaker 6: give the venue to other tenants.

405
00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:14,919
Speaker 3: Jesus raised an eyebrow and nodded. He continued to pace

406
00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:16,120
Speaker 3: around the priests.

407
00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,080
Speaker 4: Have you not read the scriptures that speak of this?

408
00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:24,679
Speaker 4: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. Therefore,

409
00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,280
Speaker 4: I tell you the Kingdom of God will be taken

410
00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,639
Speaker 4: away from you and given to those who did not

411
00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:31,159
Speaker 4: reject me.

412
00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:36,160
Speaker 3: The priests and verses knew Jesus was speaking about them.

413
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,400
Speaker 3: They boiled with rage against him. However, they could do

414
00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:44,560
Speaker 3: nothing since the crowd was too enthralled with Jesus. They

415
00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:50,439
Speaker 3: shrunk back, Still trapped in Jesus's current of parables, Jesus

416
00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,879
Speaker 3: kept his gaze firmly locked on his adversaries.

417
00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,680
Speaker 4: The kingdom of Heaven is compared to a great king

418
00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,560
Speaker 4: who threw a waiting feast for his son. He sent

419
00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,080
Speaker 4: out his servants into the city to call all those

420
00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,840
Speaker 4: who were invited. Some of them rejected the invitation they

421
00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,920
Speaker 4: were too busy. Others shrugged at the invitation. They did

422
00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,119
Speaker 4: not care. Others beat the servants who invited them, for

423
00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,760
Speaker 4: they hated the king. Filled with rage, the king lifted

424
00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,159
Speaker 4: his hands and said to his servants, those who I

425
00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,760
Speaker 4: invited were not worthy. Instead, go into the streets and

426
00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,800
Speaker 4: invite as many people as you can find. So the

427
00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:29,679
Speaker 4: servants invited everyone in the streets, beggars, merchants, sinners, slaves.

428
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,040
Speaker 4: The king clothed them in wedding garments and allowed them

429
00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,000
Speaker 4: to enjoy the feast. The wedding feast was filled with

430
00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,600
Speaker 4: guests enjoying good food and laughter. One of them came

431
00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,800
Speaker 4: in and rejected the wedding garment. This guest was cast

432
00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,359
Speaker 4: out into darkness, never to see the light of day again.

433
00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,520
Speaker 4: For he was willing to enjoy the good food offered

434
00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,760
Speaker 4: by the king, but he refused his covering of grace.

435
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:57,399
Speaker 3: Jesus stepped closer to the priests than pharisees. He leaned

436
00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:58,840
Speaker 3: in and whispered.

437
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,000
Speaker 4: For many are called, but few are chosen.

438
00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:06,880
Speaker 3: With those words, Jesus departed from the temple with his disciples.

439
00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,359
Speaker 3: It would not belong until the religious leaders would have

440
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:15,280
Speaker 3: their revenge on Jesus. However, even then they would be

441
00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:19,879
Speaker 3: mere tools in the greater work of God. The evil

442
00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:24,959
Speaker 3: intentions of mankind were no match for God's cosmic rescue mission.

443
00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,399
Speaker 3: He would bring in all those who had been cast

444
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,399
Speaker 3: out into the streets and invite them into his grand

445
00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:37,160
Speaker 3: wedding feast. He would clothe them with grace and call

446
00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:43,440
Speaker 3: them beloved. The beggars, sinners, slaves, and outcasts would all

447
00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,959
Speaker 3: find a home in the loving embrace of God. Jesus

448
00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,480
Speaker 3: left the temple more resolute in his mission to seek

449
00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:53,920
Speaker 3: out and save the lost.

450
00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,600
Speaker 2: The prelude brought us back to our last episode, when

451
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,920
Speaker 2: the people were praising Jesus with passion and joy. Why

452
00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:08,200
Speaker 2: do we need the constant reminder that people's expectations were misinformed?

453
00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,640
Speaker 2: The answer isn't pretty. To put it simply, it is

454
00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,240
Speaker 2: because they represent us. You and I continually project our

455
00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,360
Speaker 2: desires onto God and praise him in light of those projections.

456
00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,080
Speaker 2: Can I give you a common example? Oftentimes people talk

457
00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,880
Speaker 2: about God's provision as if financial prosperity is promised to believers,

458
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,800
Speaker 2: even though it isn't so. When a dollar comes their way,

459
00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,760
Speaker 2: praise goes up. But what happens when the dollars stopped coming?

460
00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,080
Speaker 2: When the dollars stopped coming, so do the praises. This

461
00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,240
Speaker 2: same crowd that was praising Jesus will end up cursing him.

462
00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,160
Speaker 2: He didn't meet their expectations, so people turn their backs

463
00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,520
Speaker 2: on him. May we not fall under this same trap,

464
00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:49,200
Speaker 2: brothers and sisters. May we continually be looking to God's

465
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,000
Speaker 2: word to inform us of his will, and may we

466
00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:54,520
Speaker 2: eagerly wait on him to fulfill it. If I were

467
00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:58,160
Speaker 2: to pinpoint a theme of this episode, it would be hypocrisy.

468
00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:01,840
Speaker 2: The episode began with the fear tree. Jesus saw its

469
00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,800
Speaker 2: flowers blooming, signaling that there should be fruit right for

470
00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:09,080
Speaker 2: the picking. However, there was no fruit to be found.

471
00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,800
Speaker 2: The tree had the appearance of fruitfulness, but no fruit

472
00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,800
Speaker 2: at all. This fig tree is a graand metaphor for

473
00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,080
Speaker 2: the Pharisees, priest and religious system of the age. For

474
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,320
Speaker 2: all the religious festivals, ceremonies, and laws, there was no substance,

475
00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:26,320
Speaker 2: just like the fig tree with flowers but no fruit.

476
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,760
Speaker 2: The system had all the religious frills without any of

477
00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,480
Speaker 2: the fruitfulness. Jesus cursed the tree so it wouldn't bear

478
00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:37,320
Speaker 2: any fruit, which seemed harsh. However, it is better not

479
00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,680
Speaker 2: to bear fruit than falsely advertised you bear fruit. That

480
00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,280
Speaker 2: was the meaning behind one of the parables Jesus taught

481
00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:46,000
Speaker 2: to the priest, What do you think of this parable?

482
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,760
Speaker 2: A man had two sons. He went to the first

483
00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,000
Speaker 2: son and asked him to work in the vineyard. At

484
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,400
Speaker 2: first the son refused, but later changed his mind and

485
00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,600
Speaker 2: obeyed his father. The second summer was asked to work,

486
00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,400
Speaker 2: and he immediately stood to his feet and said, yes,

487
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,840
Speaker 2: I will go. Father. However, he did not go like

488
00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,720
Speaker 2: he said, which son approved and did the will of

489
00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,760
Speaker 2: his father. The fig tree was like the second son.

490
00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,040
Speaker 2: Jesus through his parable and the fig tree is giving

491
00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,200
Speaker 2: us a commentary on what he thinks about hypocrisy. In

492
00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,200
Speaker 2: Jesus's eyes, it is better for someone to sin and

493
00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,160
Speaker 2: repent than claim to have never sinned in the first place.

494
00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,160
Speaker 2: John would eventually go on to say this in one

495
00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,600
Speaker 2: of his letters. If we say we have fellowship with

496
00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,280
Speaker 2: him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do

497
00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,800
Speaker 2: not practice the truth. And if we say we have

498
00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,720
Speaker 2: no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not

499
00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,840
Speaker 2: in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful

500
00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,840
Speaker 2: injustice forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from

501
00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,840
Speaker 2: all and righteousness. If we say we have not sinned,

502
00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:48,280
Speaker 2: we make him a liar, and his word is not

503
00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,360
Speaker 2: in us. It is better to acknowledge our mistakes and

504
00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:54,920
Speaker 2: repent than deceive ourselves by claiming we have never sinned.

505
00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,600
Speaker 2: The religious structure in Venea, built around the temple riled

506
00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,840
Speaker 2: Jesus up to the point of answer, I would like

507
00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:03,680
Speaker 2: to spend a good portion of our time here together

508
00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,800
Speaker 2: talking about why he was so angry. There were many

509
00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,440
Speaker 2: layers of corruption happening in the scene. First off, they

510
00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:13,880
Speaker 2: had created a barrier between gentiles and God. This was

511
00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,360
Speaker 2: the only part of the temple where gentiles were allowed

512
00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,520
Speaker 2: to come to worship. By filling it with a marketplace,

513
00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:23,520
Speaker 2: they kept the gentiles from worshiping God. Second, they created

514
00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,520
Speaker 2: a barrier between the poor and God. The temple leaders

515
00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:30,880
Speaker 2: were only accepting pre approved animals for sacrifice. People could

516
00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,360
Speaker 2: buy those animals, but only with the temple carency, which

517
00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:38,520
Speaker 2: had an outrageous exchange rate. The poor therefore were unable

518
00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,280
Speaker 2: to come to worship God as well. This alone was

519
00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:44,760
Speaker 2: reason enough to make Jesus angry. When we get angry,

520
00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,360
Speaker 2: it is often because something we cherish was threatened our comfort,

521
00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:51,960
Speaker 2: our ego, or maybe something more precious like our spouse

522
00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:55,080
Speaker 2: or children. So when it comes to God displaying anger,

523
00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,760
Speaker 2: he is protecting something precious as well. In this case,

524
00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:03,280
Speaker 2: he was protecting his purpose for humanity. Scripture was very

525
00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,960
Speaker 2: clear that the outcasts and foreigner should have access to God.

526
00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,600
Speaker 2: It has always been God's desire to bring all nations

527
00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,760
Speaker 2: to himself, and it has always been his desire to

528
00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,240
Speaker 2: create avenues for people to speak with Him, to worship him,

529
00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,280
Speaker 2: to be with him, and to walk with him. What

530
00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:23,800
Speaker 2: we see Jesus doing here is violently driving out that

531
00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,720
Speaker 2: which is separating the people from experiencing ennimacy with God.

532
00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:30,200
Speaker 2: It is a picture of what Jesus would do on

533
00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:33,840
Speaker 2: the cross. The Cross was the most violent upheaval of

534
00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:37,479
Speaker 2: sin this world has ever seen. So just as Jesus

535
00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:41,360
Speaker 2: violently flipped the tables that were separating people from experiencing

536
00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:45,200
Speaker 2: unity with God, he violently crucifies the very sins keeping

537
00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:48,160
Speaker 2: you from Him. The entire narrative of Scripture is that

538
00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,640
Speaker 2: we have so many barriers keeping us from a life

539
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,160
Speaker 2: of peace with God, and that God will stop at

540
00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,160
Speaker 2: nothing until all those barriers are flipped over and dealt

541
00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,960
Speaker 2: away with Romans eight thirty eight and thirty nine says,

542
00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,080
Speaker 2: for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels,

543
00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:07,920
Speaker 2: nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

544
00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:11,560
Speaker 2: nor height nor depth, nor any other created things shall

545
00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:13,640
Speaker 2: be able to separate us from the love of God,

546
00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:17,719
Speaker 2: which is in Christ. Jesus, our Lord, Jesus removed all

547
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,200
Speaker 2: barriers between us and God. On the cross, he flipped

548
00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,480
Speaker 2: our tables. This theme of welcoming the outcast has been

549
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,719
Speaker 2: visited quite a bit during this series. Jesus gave the

550
00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:31,359
Speaker 2: parable about the wedding feast to reaffirm that theme. All

551
00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:35,200
Speaker 2: the invited guests rejected their invitation, so the king invited

552
00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:39,399
Speaker 2: people would appreciate the invitation law. He clothed them, fed them,

553
00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,719
Speaker 2: and accepted them. This is what Jesus did to you

554
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:47,400
Speaker 2: and me. We are the vagabonds, outcasts, beggars, and blind.

555
00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:50,400
Speaker 2: We were far from God, but because of his grace

556
00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:53,239
Speaker 2: we have been brought into his presence. I would like

557
00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:57,000
Speaker 2: to end our time today by talking about prayer. Jesus,

558
00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,399
Speaker 2: after flipping the table, said it is written, how shall

559
00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,560
Speaker 2: be called a house of prayer? But you chosen priests

560
00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,920
Speaker 2: of Aaron have made it a dinner fees. This grand

561
00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,920
Speaker 2: table flipping where Christ did on the cross, allowed for

562
00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:13,120
Speaker 2: prayer to have its full and unhindered effect in our lives.

563
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,520
Speaker 2: Jeremiah twenty nine thirteen says, you will seek me and

564
00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:19,640
Speaker 2: find me when you seek Me with all your heart.

565
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,120
Speaker 2: There is no actual impact we are able to make

566
00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:26,800
Speaker 2: as Christians without stepping into unity with God in prayer.

567
00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:31,040
Speaker 2: Seeking Him corporately and personally in prayer is how God

568
00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,920
Speaker 2: desires his house to be used. He has made a

569
00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:37,400
Speaker 2: way for us to access him. May our churches and

570
00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,799
Speaker 2: homes never be houses for merely preaching and learning, but

571
00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:44,600
Speaker 2: places where we take advantage of the unity provided us

572
00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,040
Speaker 2: through the shedding of Christ's blood. Because Jesus has made

573
00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,479
Speaker 2: a way, we can make prayer a priority. Our next

574
00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:57,040
Speaker 2: episode will feature love, service, sacrament, and betrayal. Join us

575
00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:01,239
Speaker 2: next time for episode sixteen, The Last Supper. Thanks again

576
00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:05,240
Speaker 2: for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom

577
00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:08,680
Speaker 2: to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com, and

578
00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:12,880
Speaker 2: to expand your heroes in the Bible journey, download the

579
00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:17,040
Speaker 2: Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org. Forward

580
00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:21,560
Speaker 2: slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify to

581
00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,359
Speaker 2: get the newest episodes right as they come out, so

582
00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,800
Speaker 2: you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus, God bless