1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:08,100 Mark chapter 6, Our brother prayed with thankful for that. 2 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:13,700 But let's pray again, shall we? Heavenly Father. 3 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:21,100 You are our refuge our Shield, our strength. 4 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:27,900 Well, we ask that you would show Yourself Strong through this 5 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:32,000 passage, help us see the glories and the infinite beauty of your 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,300 son Jesus. Soften our hearts Lord you 7 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:39,400 alone, know the hearts of all men, you know, exactly what is 8 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,200 happening though, man. May not perceive it. 9 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,100 We pray that you would help us be the very people. 10 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:49,600 You have redeemed us to be law. We submit to you in reverence 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,300 and in awe of who you are and we trust Lord, that you will speak 12 00:00:53,300 --> 00:00:56,000 to us, we hunger and thirst for righteousness. 13 00:00:56,300 --> 00:00:59,200 And you promise that, for those who hunger for such things will 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,800 be filled and we ask that we would be filled today in Jesus 15 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:08,400 name, amen? Then Mark 6, are you there verse 16 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,400 1? Follow with me as we read the 17 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,500 words of almighty God. He went away from there and came 18 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:20,300 to his hometown and his disciples followed him and on 19 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:21,900 the Sabbath. He began to teach in the 20 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:25,000 synagogue and many who heard him were astonished saying. 21 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:27,500 Where did this man? Get these things. 22 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,800 What is the wisdom given to him? How are such Mighty Works done 23 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:38,000 by his hands is not this. The carpenter the son of Mary, 24 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,300 and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon. 25 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,800 And are not his sister's here with us, and they took offense 26 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,800 at him and Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor, 27 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:57,500 except in his hometown and among his relatives, and in his own 28 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:02,400 household, and he could do no Mighty work there, except that 29 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,900 he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 30 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:12,800 And he marveled because of their unbelief and He went about Among 31 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,700 The Villages teaching. This new chapter in our journey 32 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:21,700 through the gospel of Mark, opens up to us with the 33 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:27,500 announcement that Jesus arrived at his home town and that is no 34 00:02:27,500 --> 00:02:31,000 small detail concerning the Lord's itinerary. 35 00:02:31,900 --> 00:02:35,400 The fact that we see that this is taking place in the setting 36 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:40,800 of Nazareth adds, a critical element to the dimension of the 37 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,900 exchange that Jesus will have with this particular audience 38 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:46,000 and it's also going to be the frame. 39 00:02:46,100 --> 00:02:49,700 I work where you and I were are going to discover unique truths 40 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,800 that will indeed challenge us to disconnect Nazareth. 41 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,600 Jesus Hometown from this context would be a great disservice to 42 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,400 what it is that the Holy Spirit intends to teach us. 43 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,200 And so we must understand the geographical location of Jesus. 44 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,700 At this particular time. He is there visiting where he 45 00:03:09,700 --> 00:03:14,800 grew up and you would expect that as Jesus arrives to his 46 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:19,500 friendly neighborhood that he Would be welcomed with unusual 47 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:25,100 Hospitality or extravagant warmth, but that is not the case 48 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,000 that will not be the case. Instead what you and I are going 49 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,600 to see is that the Holy Spirit testifies that the residents of 50 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,700 Nazareth are actually going to be among some of the most 51 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:43,400 hostile communities and people to resist the message and the 52 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,600 ministry of Jesus Christ. You are going to see something 53 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,600 that perhaps will also make you Marvel, maybe not but in deed 54 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,400 and made Jesus Marvel. We are not unfamiliar with the 55 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,500 concept that Christ during his days on Earth was this honor in 56 00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:03,900 that Christ. Today is continually being 57 00:04:03,900 --> 00:04:06,800 Dishonored. But what makes this hard 58 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:12,000 heartedness especially grieving, is that this kind of rejection 59 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:17,200 is coming from those who are the most familiar with him. 60 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,900 The most familiar with him. There is a danger with 61 00:04:23,900 --> 00:04:28,700 familiarity. and I thought about how to title this message 62 00:04:28,700 --> 00:04:33,400 because sometimes it helps to get a message within the title, 63 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,200 The Message. Growing up with Jesus. 64 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,500 Growing up with Jesus. It can be a blessing. 65 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,900 Sometimes it can be dangerous. When we examine this particular 66 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:52,500 case of rejection, unfortunately, one of many 67 00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:56,300 during the Life of Christ, I want us to consider three simple 68 00:04:56,300 --> 00:04:59,500 things. I want us to First, consider the 69 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:03,900 region of the rejection you. And I read it in verse 1. 70 00:05:04,300 --> 00:05:07,800 He went away from there and came to his hometown. 71 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,200 Now this is important because it says here and his disciples 72 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,700 followed him. The fact that we were told the 73 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:16,900 disciples follow Jesus to his hometown. 74 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:20,700 Suggests and prepares us to know that this is not some private 75 00:05:20,700 --> 00:05:23,600 visit, but it is for the purpose of public Ministry. 76 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,600 Jesus coming to Nazareth to preach and to teach. 77 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,300 And the fact that the Lord, our Lord is willing to go to a town 78 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:36,000 like this says, much about him as of servant of God, which Mark 79 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:37,800 wants to highlight. That's the theme of The Gospel 80 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,700 of Mark the perfect servant of God and I want your heart to be 81 00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:45,100 ministered to as you realize what kind of Minister Jesus was 82 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:50,500 When Nathaniel heard from his friend Philip that apparently 83 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:55,900 the Messiah had been identified. We are told in John 146, can 84 00:05:55,900 --> 00:06:01,000 anything good? Come out of Nazareth. 85 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:08,900 That question of content. Already tells us that Nazareth 86 00:06:08,900 --> 00:06:15,000 was not a town of good repute. It was obscure, it was a poor 87 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,000 reputation. And though there isn't much said 88 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,400 about Nazareth, The Silence of the Old Testament concerning it 89 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:25,300 again. Might suggest that this was a 90 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:32,600 small irrelevant. Something on the Wayside, a 91 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,900 place held in low esteem. And when you add to that 92 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:39,900 silence, Nathaniel's comment, you get the impression that it 93 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:42,400 probably wasn't a very pleasant place to be either. 94 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:48,100 So, Jesus is going there. We are not told plainly why? 95 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:51,300 Nazareth was such a place. We don't know why exactly why I 96 00:06:51,308 --> 00:06:54,900 was held in derision but it's enough for us to know from 97 00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:58,700 whatever is told about Nazareth that it's not a place that you 98 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:04,300 would willingly want to be But Jesus goes there. 99 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:12,000 Jesus willingly takes the time to come to this community and to 100 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:17,000 preach the gospel to them. You see, when you look at the 101 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,000 Lord. You know, that our master was 102 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,800 the most captivating preacher, the most profound teacher, who 103 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,600 had unmatched Authority, concerning miracles. 104 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,200 But the same teacher, the same Minister, the same traveling 105 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:38,300 rabbi did not shun insignificant and meager places to serve. 106 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:45,900 We see here that this Jesus did not determine where he would be 107 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:48,100 based on how many people would be present. 108 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,900 He didn't look at opportunities to serve as a potential stepping 109 00:07:54,900 --> 00:07:57,400 stone for a greater promotion or opportunity. 110 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,800 He loved people and when he saw that there was a need, he was 111 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:04,000 willing to be there. When he saw that. 112 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,800 They were Souls, that could be potentially saved, he would be 113 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,600 there. He did not disqualify, even 114 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,700 though of a place that was disqualified, he was not moved 115 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:16,700 by popularity. He was not moved by the 116 00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:19,700 platform. He was not motivated by the 117 00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:25,700 honorarium, He saw the value of a human soul and that was enough 118 00:08:25,700 --> 00:08:28,200 for him to go where men would not go. 119 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:30,700 Your call to follow. Jesus. 120 00:08:30,700 --> 00:08:33,400 Are you not? I'm called to follow Jesus and 121 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,600 this will minister to the ones who want to minister in any 122 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,600 capacity. Can I ask you this afternoon? 123 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,299 What is it, my brother? What is it? 124 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:43,200 My sister that motivates you to serve God's people or God's 125 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,900 purpose is on the Earth? What is it? 126 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,900 That inspires you? You have some people who will 127 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:56,800 not give their gifts. If the thing is too small, if 128 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:01,900 there isn't promised promotion, if there isn't recognition. 129 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:10,300 If there isn't potential. Fame, or any kind of 130 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:13,700 recognition. And yet Jesus could care less 131 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:17,000 about those things. If there is, anyone who should 132 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,700 have been very selective where where he would Minister it was 133 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:23,700 Jesus and yet you find him in neighborhoods like Nazareth. 134 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:30,100 I want to be like Jesus. I don't want to automatically 135 00:09:30,500 --> 00:09:33,800 dismiss opportunities just because they're not flashy or 136 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:39,700 attractive or impressive. I don't want to come to a place 137 00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:43,400 and see it barely attended but knowing that God had called me 138 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,500 there. Be discouraged because a fleshly 139 00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:51,800 reasonings. If Jesus could have a following 140 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:56,300 of 12 and Jesus could come to a place like Nazareth to preach. 141 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,500 Then you and I should be more than willing to go where he 142 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:04,200 calls us to go though. You live and die, and no one 143 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,800 mentions your name as a man or a woman of God. 144 00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:12,200 If you think that's inspiring, it only gets more inspiring why? 145 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:15,900 Because this is not the only time Jesus went to Nazareth. 146 00:10:16,500 --> 00:10:20,500 This is, in fact, the second recorded time that Jesus made 147 00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:24,200 his way to his hometown and you might be thinking. 148 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,100 Why is that important to know? Because we've been given the 149 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:32,400 detailed account when Jesus initially went to Nazareth. 150 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:37,100 And it's found in Luke chapter 4 shortly after his 40-day 151 00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:41,500 Wilderness experience. And when you see what happened 152 00:10:41,500 --> 00:10:45,500 to Jesus, when he went to Nazareth the first time, it will 153 00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:48,500 make you wonder why he would ever go back again. 154 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,900 Can I show that to you will meet me in Luke chapter 4 quickly? 155 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:59,000 Matthew Mark, Luke. The right side of your book. 156 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,900 Luke 4. And notice this with me as we 157 00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:08,100 just skip over some of these verses. 158 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:13,700 Verse 16. At the beginning of his 159 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:17,600 preaching Ministry, we were told and he came to Nazareth where he 160 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,000 had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went 161 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:25,200 to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and he stood up to read and 162 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,300 he reads out of Isaiah 61. And then you look at the initial 163 00:11:29,300 --> 00:11:35,300 response of the people verse 22 and all spoke well of him and 164 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:37,400 marveled. At the gracious words that were 165 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,300 coming from his mouth and they said is not this Joseph's son. 166 00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:45,200 One. So the people were impressed, 167 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:49,800 they were moved their hearts were ministered to but whatever 168 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,900 endearment that they enjoyed and that they shared to Jesus and 169 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:59,900 with Jesus was quickly intercepted by disdain It didn't 170 00:11:59,900 --> 00:12:03,300 take very long for these people to have difficulty to reconcile 171 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:07,800 this. How can little Jesus Son of 172 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,300 Joseph. How can this Carpenter? 173 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,500 Claimed to be the Messiah that we've been waiting for. 174 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:19,500 And they couldn't grasp it. They couldn't fathom. 175 00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:22,700 And they couldn't solve that equation. 176 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,400 And we don't have time to read how Jesus responds to their 177 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:26,900 unbelief, but let's summarize it with this. 178 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:31,000 He rebukes them. He rebukes them friends and 179 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,300 family that have known him since he was a little boy. 180 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,500 He was not afraid to confront them for their sin. 181 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,200 And when he does call them out for their lack of faith. 182 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:46,900 Despite so much evidence. What do you think they did to 183 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:50,100 him? We don't have to guess look down 184 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:53,700 at verse 29. And they rose up and drove him 185 00:12:53,700 --> 00:12:58,500 out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which 186 00:12:58,700 --> 00:13:02,600 their town was built so that they could throw him down the 187 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:08,300 cliff. But passing through their midst, 188 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:11,200 he went away, you know, the people Jesus read their minds. 189 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,000 They wanted some kind of a show of a miracle and in some 190 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,600 indirect way he did, I would love to have known what that 191 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,500 look like for a crowd to push Jesus to the edge of a cliff. 192 00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:21,900 And then we are told that he passed through their midst. 193 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:25,400 Perhaps they were just paralyzed in that place and he just 194 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,600 casually walked by with a grin on his face. 195 00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:34,800 They wanted to kill him. The same Jesus that would be 196 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,000 playing and running around in their streets and be called home 197 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:43,100 for dinner from Mary, the same Jesus that was being trained by. 198 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:48,200 Joseph to know how to cut wood and fashion Stone. 199 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:54,100 That same Jesus was ready to be launched off a hill because of 200 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:59,200 his message. And according to Mark, despite 201 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,700 such deadly aggression, despite such Evil. 202 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:09,300 Jesus later on in his ministry, makes his way back to Nazareth. 203 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:17,400 To teach again. You might be thinking why that's 204 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,000 Unthinkable to me? Why would Jesus do such a thing? 205 00:14:22,700 --> 00:14:24,800 And I could not get past one simple truth. 206 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,700 Perhaps it's the same truth that your Listening to in your own 207 00:14:28,700 --> 00:14:30,300 heart. Concerning who Jesus is. 208 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:35,100 He's gracious. That's why he is Grace. 209 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,900 Doesn't make sense. It's abundant, it's overflowing, 210 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,000 it's scandalous. Yes, this Jesus is willing to go 211 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:48,900 back to the same place and give these people a second chance. 212 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,700 I think to myself Lord not only do I want to be like you in 213 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:58,500 terms of where I go and who I minister to but oh Lord this 214 00:14:58,500 --> 00:15:03,300 kind of this kind of Mercy. This kind of Grace and 215 00:15:03,300 --> 00:15:07,100 forgiveness and willingness this kind of throbbing of the heart 216 00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:09,500 that's willing to continue to extend the hand, to those who 217 00:15:09,500 --> 00:15:11,900 swatted away and not just want to swat it away. 218 00:15:11,900 --> 00:15:17,000 Want to cut it off. I feel so small. 219 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:23,900 I feel so weak. I feel so powerless. 220 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,600 And that's what happens when you come to the gospels and you face 221 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,900 this Jesus, he humbles you. Any kind of boats that you would 222 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:36,900 have in your character, your consistency always just smashed 223 00:15:36,900 --> 00:15:39,900 as it is under the weight of his glory. 224 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:45,600 Jesus, going back to Nazareth. You have some people who won't 225 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,500 come back to church of the pastor forgets to shake their 226 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:51,100 hand. And yet Jesus is willing to go 227 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:52,900 back to the people who wanted to kill him. 228 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:01,800 This is our Jesus, the region of the rejection says something 229 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,200 about the redeeming love. Of this rabbi. 230 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,400 But we go from the region of the rejection to the reason for the 231 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,100 rejection. Come back to Mark six and let's 232 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:18,900 read their questioning. Well, you would think maybe 233 00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:21,200 something would change in the hearts of these nazarenes. 234 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:25,500 Since the first time Jesus came, you would think that between the 235 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:30,100 first and second visit that because Jesus message and power 236 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:35,000 spread like wildfire to the farthest parts of Israel that 237 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:38,000 the nazarenes would have heard the headlines. 238 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,800 This man is doing Miracles. He's cleansing lepers. 239 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,100 He's delivering from demons. He just he just raise little 240 00:16:44,100 --> 00:16:49,600 girl from the dead. You would think that after all 241 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,300 of that, how they treated him and the reports about him that 242 00:16:53,300 --> 00:16:57,800 they would be regretful, they would be humbled, maybe you 243 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,600 would think that they would hope to God that there would be a 244 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:06,000 second chance for Jesus to come back and to offer himself again 245 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,400 and we would be different in how we hear him. 246 00:17:10,099 --> 00:17:12,500 And the fact that again, Jesus is willing to go back should 247 00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:17,700 Inspire us and what way that it's possible, it's possible. 248 00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:20,599 I'm not saying it happened but it's possible for people to 249 00:17:20,608 --> 00:17:25,000 change. It's possible and we should be 250 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,000 open to the prospect that people who were once hardened soil can 251 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,800 become over time, fertile, ground. 252 00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:37,300 That people who once rejected Christ and were indifferent to 253 00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:40,300 Christ and were unmoved by the gospel. 254 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:46,100 Can at some point be fervent for Christ. 255 00:17:46,100 --> 00:17:49,700 Faithful obedient loving surrendered to him. 256 00:17:51,100 --> 00:17:53,700 And if you need biblical evidence of that, you know, the 257 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:58,000 different examples of the Bible that tell us of how even cities 258 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:02,300 and the most unlikely candidates can become the most glorious 259 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:05,100 trophies of his grace. Remember those Samaritans? 260 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:07,900 When Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem and he wanted to pass 261 00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:09,100 through. So he sends a couple of 262 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:12,700 disciples and they reject them, you're not even allowed to come 263 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:14,700 through these doors and they wanted to call fire down from 264 00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:19,100 heaven and Jesus rebuked them because Jesus had something else 265 00:18:19,100 --> 00:18:20,700 in mind, he want to send something else. 266 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,700 Us from Heaven on the Samaritans and you find that in Acts 267 00:18:23,700 --> 00:18:28,200 chapter 8, when Philip the Evangelist goes and he preaches. 268 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,300 And when he preaches, there's Revival in Samaria. 269 00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:36,300 What do you think about the classic example of Saul of 270 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:38,900 Tarsus who became the great Apostle Paul? 271 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Yes, people can change. And I know that sounds like a 272 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,800 cliche. I know that's something that we 273 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,400 always here, but let it let it bless you and let it inspire you 274 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,900 to believe that people who have once resented. 275 00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:52,400 The truth can accept the Savior at some point. 276 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,300 Is that the case for this story is that's going to happen with 277 00:18:57,300 --> 00:18:59,200 the nazarenes. Unfortunately not. 278 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:04,400 The rejection will be the same and listen, the rejection will 279 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,000 be the same. The only difference is they're 280 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:07,900 not going to try to kill him because I realized I didn't work 281 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:13,600 the first time. Why did they reject him again? 282 00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:16,700 Why did they reject them at all? Pay attention to this? 283 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:22,100 It comes down to one reason. Familiarity. 284 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:29,000 Familiarity. They were familiar with Jesus. 285 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:35,500 Bewildered by his unmatched delivery, they were astonished 286 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:37,900 by how he was preaching and what he was preaching. 287 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:42,300 But again, just like the first time something of an obstacle 288 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:47,700 arose in their hearts, And the rhetorical questions are clear. 289 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,800 And it's worth visiting again. Where did this man? 290 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,200 Get these things? They're not actually wondering, 291 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:59,000 they're kind of criticizing. What is the wisdom given to him? 292 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,600 How are such Mighty Works done by his hands. 293 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,000 Here's what they're essentially saying. 294 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,900 We know that Jesus was a carpenter from for many years of 295 00:20:06,900 --> 00:20:10,400 his life. And so how is it that this man 296 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:15,600 with no theological training or background can come and teach in 297 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,000 such a way? And claimed to have truths to 298 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,900 give to us. And then they continued by 299 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:28,000 saying How is it that he is the son of Mary? 300 00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:33,400 So they went from, we can't understand how our local 301 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:38,600 handyman can be the claim, the Messiah to them that I just 302 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,700 bothered them. They could not accept that. 303 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,300 That this is the anointed one. But then they said, here is not 304 00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:50,000 this in verse 3, the carpenter the son of Mary, the son of Mary 305 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,600 That's not just to identify Jesus among different. 306 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,800 Jesus. This is a derogatory term. 307 00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:03,200 This is a slur. This is them resurfacing and 308 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,800 retelling the Scandal Around Jesus birth. 309 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,900 The Jews even, the religious leaders, believe, he was an 310 00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:14,400 illegitimate son. You read that in the Gospel of 311 00:21:14,408 --> 00:21:18,400 John and so by bringing up Jesus, being the son of Mary. 312 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:26,000 they are trying to refer to his Strange history, and background. 313 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:33,300 And then they go on to say after naming his siblings are not his 314 00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:36,400 sister's with us. Again, this is not just to 315 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,100 identify who he is, they're trying to make a statement. 316 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:42,600 And the statement is this, if this is really the profit, if 317 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:48,100 this is really the God sent then how is it that even his own 318 00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:49,600 siblings? Don't believe in him. 319 00:21:51,100 --> 00:21:54,900 Are not his sister's. They say our Nia sisters with 320 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:56,300 us. Why aren't they with him? 321 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,700 And so they think of all these reasons to disqualify Jesus 322 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:09,000 claims and identification. And here is the main Crux of the 323 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,700 matter. This is really the heart behind 324 00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:14,400 what they're saying. Jesus, you can't fool us. 325 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,700 You can't fool us. Oh sure. 326 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:21,300 You can say what you're saying, and sure it's powerful, and 327 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:22,500 sure. There's some kind of evidence 328 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:27,500 behind your Miracles, but we know who you really are, we've 329 00:22:27,500 --> 00:22:31,700 watched you with our own eyes. We've seen you grow up and so 330 00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:36,600 don't don't pretend to be like you are something that came from 331 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,200 heaven and that you are the one that we've been awaiting. 332 00:22:39,300 --> 00:22:41,700 You can fool the ones in Capernaum but not us from 333 00:22:41,700 --> 00:22:45,800 Nazareth. There's no way. 334 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,600 You are who you say you are. What foolishness? 335 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,500 This confidence will be there condemnation and do you know why 336 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,000 they can be? So sure of their biographical 337 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,600 assessment of who Jesus is? You ready for this? 338 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:05,500 It's because the nazarenes had some history with Jesus. 339 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:13,600 They grew up around him, they observed him, they were over the 340 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:18,400 years, able to accumulate some database about his person and 341 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,900 they thought that they you ready for this. 342 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:25,300 They thought that they really knew him They didn't. 343 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,500 And here's the point for us to consider this Sunday, afternoon 344 00:23:30,500 --> 00:23:34,400 and light of this having history growing up around. 345 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,200 Jesus does not mean you really know Jesus. 346 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,400 Having history growing up around? 347 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,800 Jesus does not mean sorry to sting you with this truth. 348 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:49,000 Does not mean you really know Jesus. 349 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,000 And I'm sure some of you can relate to that. 350 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,400 I'm sure many of you can recall, what it was like to have Jesus 351 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,300 in your home. I'm sure some of, you know, what 352 00:23:59,300 --> 00:24:02,000 it's like to have Jesus in your car. 353 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,200 When your mother, or your father played songs about the savior 354 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:10,700 I'm sure some of you remember, visiting Jesus. 355 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,900 Like a distant relative once a week for a couple of hours. 356 00:24:14,900 --> 00:24:17,400 Not because you were excited to see him but because he did some 357 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,500 good things for you and your family, you just want to pay 358 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:23,000 some respect. Some of you might be doing that 359 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:30,800 this very afternoon. And because of that kind of 360 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:35,400 environment, people develop a false sense of confidence, that 361 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,500 they know all that they need to know about this. 362 00:24:38,500 --> 00:24:45,200 Jesus, when in fact, they don't really know him In reality, he 363 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,000 was everywhere around you, except in your heart. 364 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,300 Isn't that the testimony of so many in this place today? 365 00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:58,800 I grew up around Jesus. I saw him from a distance. 366 00:24:59,100 --> 00:25:03,300 I'm familiar with his words. I'm familiar what he has done. 367 00:25:06,500 --> 00:25:08,300 But that doesn't mean, you know, him. 368 00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:12,500 And I remember that being my testimony. 369 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,700 And I remember where it all changed, if you were to ask me 370 00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:21,500 at 18, do you know Jesus, I wouldn't bat an eye and say, I 371 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:25,700 know Jesus. And all of that was altered when 372 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:31,000 my limited profile of his person was challenged by the true and 373 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,900 full presentation of who he really was and what he truly 374 00:25:34,900 --> 00:25:41,800 demanded of me. And it could be very well that 375 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,800 some who are listening. Today, are under that accursed 376 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,800 confidence. Accursed confidence. 377 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,300 Why? Because it all feels right. 378 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,800 It feels right because Jesus was a neighbor to you for so long. 379 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,800 He lived in and through your mommy. 380 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:05,300 And your granddaddy. And maybe your older brother 381 00:26:05,300 --> 00:26:10,100 your younger sister or you just happen to be in a Christian 382 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:13,100 household. So you have naturally believing 383 00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:17,300 friends. And so, you're familiar with the 384 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:19,700 events that you have to go to on some weekends and the 385 00:26:19,708 --> 00:26:22,700 conference's that you went to kicking and screaming and the 386 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,100 only comfort you had was that there would be some games or 387 00:26:25,100 --> 00:26:30,900 food. And so you feel like you know, 388 00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:34,300 him because you've been around him, you're accustomed to his 389 00:26:34,300 --> 00:26:37,400 name, you're accustomed to his word, your custom maybe even 390 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:41,300 with some of his works but like the nazarenes of Jesus day, you 391 00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:47,200 did not wholly Embrace him. You did not Embrace him. 392 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,700 He's something, but he's not everything. 393 00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:57,200 He exists to you but he's not extravagant to you. 394 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:04,300 You don't have this perception of his Holiness and his other 395 00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:08,600 worldliness, and his wonder and his power and his presence in 396 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:09,600 your life. Daily. 397 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:16,400 He's just ordinary. Jesus. 398 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,500 You need to be saved. Young person. 399 00:27:26,500 --> 00:27:29,600 Listen to me. I can speak boldly to you 400 00:27:30,100 --> 00:27:32,300 because I know what it's like to be in that pew. 401 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:38,200 And have the fragrance of Jesus around me, but not on me. 402 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:44,000 You don't have to wait till you get to college and mess up more 403 00:27:44,100 --> 00:27:47,400 before you realize that the world is lying to you. 404 00:27:48,300 --> 00:27:52,200 And that what you did hear from a distance was actually true all 405 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,300 along. Give up now. 406 00:27:56,700 --> 00:28:03,000 You'll never regret it. These people had a strange 407 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:08,100 comfort in their analysis of Jesus, and they can judge him 408 00:28:08,300 --> 00:28:11,500 though, it was Judge wrongly because they were familiar with 409 00:28:11,500 --> 00:28:15,300 him. And I want to encourage parents 410 00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:19,700 not to be afraid for your children to be accustomed to 411 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:23,900 Jesus from a young age. All I asked you to do is give 412 00:28:23,900 --> 00:28:28,100 them the whole Jesus. Make sure that they are plugged 413 00:28:28,100 --> 00:28:30,400 into a church. That preaches, the whole Jesus. 414 00:28:32,300 --> 00:28:36,000 Remind them in sit with them and tell them the truth of what it 415 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,800 means to really follow Jesus. I think a lot of the mistakes 416 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,500 that people make concerning their children is that they are 417 00:28:43,500 --> 00:28:46,000 confident in a little prayer that they prayed at one point 418 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,600 and there's no discipleship following disciple them. 419 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:54,200 Sit with them, have honest conversations with them and more 420 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,500 importantly by the grace of God through his holy spirit, live it 421 00:28:57,500 --> 00:29:03,900 before them live it before them, and trust that their familiarity 422 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:07,100 with Jesus can actually be their rescue. 423 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:13,100 These people were familiar with Jesus but a limited Jesus. 424 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:19,200 Not the deified, Jesus. Not the son of God. 425 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:24,600 So they got themselves in trouble. and so we look at here, 426 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:30,100 the reason for The rejection and now we look at finally the 427 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:32,100 response. We looked at the region of the 428 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:34,200 rejection. We look that the reason for the 429 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,600 direct projection. Now, we come to the response of 430 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:40,300 the rejection or to the rejection verse 4. 431 00:29:40,300 --> 00:29:44,000 And Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor, 432 00:29:44,500 --> 00:29:48,000 except in his hometown and among his relatives, and in his own 433 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,100 household. This is a this is a proverbial 434 00:29:52,100 --> 00:29:55,700 expression, it's sad. It's something that we know. 435 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,300 But you can imagine Jesus saying this with some level of pain in 436 00:29:59,300 --> 00:30:03,000 his heart. A prophet is not without honor, 437 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,400 except in three places, According To Jesus. 438 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,000 Number one, his hometown which can speak of his companions and 439 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,900 close friends. Number two, among his relatives, 440 00:30:12,900 --> 00:30:17,300 with can speak primarily about distant relatives and lastly, in 441 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:21,200 his own household, your immediate loved ones and though 442 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,400 these are different spheres. They all have one thing in 443 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,700 common. They are accustomed to you. 444 00:30:27,500 --> 00:30:30,400 And so Jesus is really confirming what we just finished 445 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,400 explaining. The way we can translate. 446 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,900 What Jesus is saying here is with the common adage that we 447 00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:41,400 know familiarity breeds contempt that the more familiar you 448 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,600 become with something or someone. 449 00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:46,900 The tendency there is for you to become relaxed and more than 450 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:51,900 just relax dishonoring. And Jesus saying that's what 451 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:56,300 happens to messengers of God. That's what happens generally 452 00:30:56,300 --> 00:31:00,500 with messengers of God, that the ones who are closest to him, 453 00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:04,700 tend to not appreciate and value them, or see them for who they 454 00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:10,000 really are overtime. And when Jesus says this, we 455 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,600 have to understand that it applies beyond the unbeliever 456 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:17,200 not believing in the true Jesus because they grew up being 457 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,700 familiar with. Jesus know, there are those who 458 00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:21,500 are saved and I pray that's all of you. 459 00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:24,900 There are those who are saved who have to understand that we 460 00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:28,400 as Christians who have made confession in Christ are not 461 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:32,500 immune to the Fatal danger of familiarity. 462 00:31:33,500 --> 00:31:35,800 I don't have to do, I don't really have to spend the next 10 463 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:37,200 minutes explaining how that could be true. 464 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,800 I think you and I are fully convinced that our hearts are 465 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:44,300 susceptible of becoming indifferent and casual and 466 00:31:44,300 --> 00:31:48,000 distracted concerning who Jesus is right? 467 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,500 But I want to offer you a solution that you can hold on to 468 00:31:51,500 --> 00:31:55,500 for the rest of your days, one of the best, and most effective 469 00:31:55,800 --> 00:32:00,500 things that you can do to assure that your feelings for Christ, 470 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:05,500 and your pursuit of Christ does not grow, stale and crusty and 471 00:32:05,500 --> 00:32:09,500 sits on some shelf in your mind. We're just gathers dust while 472 00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:13,900 you're playing with other things in life that are significantly 473 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:17,200 less important than Christ is to do this. 474 00:32:17,300 --> 00:32:21,600 Can I tell you what to do? Would you ever keep this truth 475 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:23,800 before you for the rest of your life? 476 00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:26,800 That no matter what kind of exposure you've had to the 477 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:30,300 glories of Jesus? There is yet more Beauty, more 478 00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:33,100 wisdom, more power yet to be discovered. 479 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:40,100 If you have that conviction before you, you allow it to rest 480 00:32:40,100 --> 00:32:44,600 on your heart day and night. It will be like, do that will 481 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:51,600 keep your faith fresh and alive. Everything that you have seen 482 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,500 everything that you've heard, everything that you think you 483 00:32:54,500 --> 00:33:01,100 have mastered. is nothing in comparison to all that Christ is 484 00:33:02,900 --> 00:33:04,900 I shared this on Friday. So forgive me. 485 00:33:04,900 --> 00:33:08,300 Friday Bible students. If I repeat this reference. 486 00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:13,700 But I read it earlier this week and I can't shake it off because 487 00:33:13,700 --> 00:33:19,400 it inspired me in a new way. It woke me up in a new way and 488 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,800 the Book of Job will do that to you in many ways. 489 00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:26,700 And the reference that I'm speaking of is in job 26, 14 job 490 00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:30,000 finishes in that chapter rehearsing, the absolute power 491 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:33,400 and Majesty of God, the Grandeur of who he is and all of 492 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:37,300 creation, how he and his power, sustains the universe and all 493 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:40,800 the details there in At the end of the matter, when he gives 494 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,500 this wonderful speech of just, how Sovereign God is he ends up 495 00:33:44,500 --> 00:33:48,300 saying this behold. These are, but the outskirt of 496 00:33:48,300 --> 00:33:53,600 his ways, And how small a whisper, do we hear of him? 497 00:33:57,500 --> 00:33:59,900 But the Thunder of his power who can understand. 498 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,100 This is what job is saying, after describing the glories of 499 00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:07,600 God in all of creation, and all of his acts, all of the things 500 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,100 that you've perceived, all of the things that have taken your 501 00:34:10,100 --> 00:34:12,199 breath away. All of the things that we get 502 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:14,500 updates on the news, about concerning the universe and 503 00:34:14,500 --> 00:34:17,199 pictures and discoveries. All of those things, listen 504 00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:24,800 carefully are, but a sigh of his might They're just a whisper. 505 00:34:26,199 --> 00:34:30,699 His wisdom. It's just a peek at his power 506 00:34:32,100 --> 00:34:36,600 and if we have just entertained the edges of his natural 507 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:42,500 Revelation, what awaits you and I, when we come into the power 508 00:34:42,500 --> 00:34:47,900 of God unto salvation, what is ready to blow our minds when we 509 00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:50,500 dig deeper concerning his incarnation? 510 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:55,699 Concerning his death, his burial, his resurrection, his 511 00:34:55,699 --> 00:34:59,300 Ascension, his high Priestly ministry, right now, in heaven, 512 00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:03,700 his return, and his restoration of all things his life as you. 513 00:35:03,700 --> 00:35:06,500 And I are looking through, through the gospel of Mark, what 514 00:35:06,500 --> 00:35:09,100 is it? That awaits us to know. 515 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:15,800 If we just, but pursue it. Someone massively said this that 516 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:19,400 one of the paradoxes of Christian growth is that the 517 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,700 more you grow in your knowledge of God and his word, the more 518 00:35:22,700 --> 00:35:30,800 you realize how little grass you have of it. and so, when I, when 519 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:37,400 I thought about that, this is what I realized that your Wonder 520 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:41,900 of who God is, will cease the moment you stop pursuing it. 521 00:35:43,900 --> 00:35:46,200 So what do you mean, brother? What I'm saying is this, if that 522 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:50,100 Paradox is true, that the more I discover, who Christ is the more 523 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:53,200 I see his promises, the more I see his acts, the more, I see 524 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:55,700 what he is capable of what he has done, what he will do, what 525 00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:58,700 he can do today. The more I learned these things, 526 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:03,400 if it's true that the more I realized man, I don't even know. 527 00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:08,400 It will humble you will cause you to worship it will cause you 528 00:36:08,408 --> 00:36:10,600 realize your creature and that he's the Creator. 529 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:17,100 That kind of Amazement will stop due to one thing you stopped. 530 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:23,100 Pursuing him. That's the power of this thing. 531 00:36:23,100 --> 00:36:24,300 This is why this is Supernatural. 532 00:36:24,300 --> 00:36:27,600 It's amazing. The more I eat physically, the 533 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:29,700 more full I get is that not true? 534 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,000 But it's not true. Spiritually, what happened? 535 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,400 Spiritually is the more you eat spiritually, the hungrier you 536 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:41,900 get, And so if you've come to a place where you're just stale 537 00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:45,000 and cool, and yeah, Jesus ordinary Jesus. 538 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,500 Yeah. I think I figured him out. 539 00:36:46,500 --> 00:36:49,100 Can I tell you something? You obviously, at some point 540 00:36:49,100 --> 00:36:52,600 stop pursuing him. Because that is not the attitude 541 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,700 of someone. Who's tilling, the ground of the 542 00:36:55,700 --> 00:36:59,600 word of God and seeing greater gems and jewels of his glory. 543 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,600 But the person who is coming and does discipline themselves, 544 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:07,800 whether they feel like it or not, knowing what truth is, oh 545 00:37:07,900 --> 00:37:10,800 the more they are stimulated and kept alive concerning their 546 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,800 praise and their astonishment of who he is. 547 00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:20,800 So listen, God is not going to put on a show from you for you, 548 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:25,000 from time to time to get you to understand how good he is. 549 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:30,000 It's the glory of God to conceal a matter and the Glory of Kings 550 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:35,400 to search them out. God is too precious and 551 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:40,100 valuable. He has given us enough for us to 552 00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:42,100 be invited to seek Him and know him. 553 00:37:42,100 --> 00:37:48,100 And when you do he promises to give you samples of who he is. 554 00:37:48,100 --> 00:37:50,700 That will keep you alive more than you can imagine. 555 00:37:51,300 --> 00:37:54,500 And unfortunately for these nazarenes they could not see 556 00:37:54,500 --> 00:37:58,500 past the carpenter Jesus. They could not see past teenager 557 00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:01,000 Jesus. They could not see past the son 558 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:05,900 of Mary son of Joseph. So, they stayed exactly where 559 00:38:05,900 --> 00:38:09,000 they were and unbelief and spiritual death. 560 00:38:11,500 --> 00:38:16,000 And Jesus has a response more than what he had just said 561 00:38:16,300 --> 00:38:19,500 because of that. There are three things that 562 00:38:19,500 --> 00:38:22,600 happened would Jesus after this one has to do with Miracles. 563 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:24,500 The other one has to do with Marvel. 564 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:26,900 The last thing has to do with him moving about. 565 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:31,600 Look at the miracle aspect here in verse 5 and he could not do 566 00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:34,700 Mighty work there. He could not do no Mighty work 567 00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:37,000 there except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and 568 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:42,300 healed them. He could not do. don't think for 569 00:38:42,300 --> 00:38:47,300 a moment that unbelief of people can limit Jesus from exercising, 570 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:52,600 his power Do not believe for a moment that Christ cannot move 571 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:56,600 about in full capacity because there is a lack of currency of 572 00:38:56,600 --> 00:39:03,700 faith. Nothing nor anyone can tie Jesus 573 00:39:03,700 --> 00:39:07,000 hands down. He Sovereign, he can do whatever 574 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:11,500 he pleases at any time, at any point with this, infers, the 575 00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:16,400 context suggest this, though, that Jesus chose not to do 576 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:21,700 miracles, Jesus chose not to do Miracles because the miracles of 577 00:39:21,700 --> 00:39:26,200 Jesus have a purpose, they are not vain stunts, they're not 578 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:28,500 empty presentations of his power. 579 00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:32,400 The miracles of Jesus seek to validate his message and his 580 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:34,700 identity. But what do you have here? 581 00:39:34,700 --> 00:39:37,900 You have a people who have already written off his message 582 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:39,500 and I've already written off his identity. 583 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,600 So here's the natural equation. Why do Miracles what's the 584 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:44,800 point? The verdict has already been 585 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:48,000 made and so, he refrains from doing the very thing. 586 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:52,400 That they have already concluded in their minds, we don't believe 587 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:53,700 in you. We don't want anything to do 588 00:39:53,700 --> 00:39:57,700 with you then, fine. There will be no miracles for 589 00:39:57,700 --> 00:40:02,500 you and if that is the case, it's good to understand that 590 00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:05,400 Jesus chose not to. But here's the broader. 591 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,800 Meaning for this for us. When we put the pieces together, 592 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:13,300 here's what we conclude that Christ choice not to manifest 593 00:40:13,300 --> 00:40:18,600 his power and might was in correlation to what the people's 594 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:20,500 lack of humility and hunger for him. 595 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:25,800 Jesus chose not to do these things. 596 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,200 For one main reason they didn't want it. 597 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,700 They didn't honor him, they didn't see their desperate need 598 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:36,000 of him. And so, he reserved it. 599 00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:40,500 And if that is true, then let me say this Christ, then and Christ 600 00:40:40,500 --> 00:40:43,400 today. He observes. 601 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:48,000 And he looks and he considers the honor that men give him or 602 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:52,200 refused to give him and that can in some way determine how we 603 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:58,300 experience him. Back in some way, determine how 604 00:40:58,300 --> 00:41:02,100 we experience him. So, yeah, let the world be the 605 00:41:02,100 --> 00:41:03,900 world, but let the church to be the church. 606 00:41:04,300 --> 00:41:07,200 And here's what I have to say to you may we never lose our Wonder 607 00:41:07,500 --> 00:41:11,500 or of who he is. I hope that every single time 608 00:41:11,500 --> 00:41:16,100 you and I gather as Christians as the church, that we would be 609 00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:21,100 absolutely stunned of who we are singing too. 610 00:41:22,100 --> 00:41:26,000 Of who we are hearing from of who it is that is demanding a 611 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:29,300 commanding and revealing and that there would be this 612 00:41:29,300 --> 00:41:32,500 trembling within because he's worthy of such honour and God 613 00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:34,400 looks at the honor that we give him. 614 00:41:34,700 --> 00:41:36,600 I'm sure you remind of Malachi chapter 1. 615 00:41:37,900 --> 00:41:39,900 You call me this. Where is this? 616 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,600 If you refer to me as father if you where's my honor then. 617 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:48,200 So the Lord wants to see where is my honor and based on that 618 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:51,200 it's clearly lacking here. He says, well then you're not 619 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:52,900 going to have what I can give you. 620 00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:57,400 Because he is worthy. And so here's what you and I 621 00:41:57,408 --> 00:42:02,300 have to do, be aware of offending, the Lord of hosts. 622 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:05,800 And realize that you need him Moment by moment. 623 00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:10,100 Second by second. And he will bless you for 624 00:42:10,100 --> 00:42:14,200 recognizing him as such everything you need. 625 00:42:16,300 --> 00:42:21,000 So he did not do Miracles there. But we see here, the marveling 626 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,400 verse six, and he marveled because of their unbelief. 627 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:28,300 there's a lot of marbling in the gospels, the, not much from 628 00:42:28,300 --> 00:42:31,700 Jesus, you see a lot of marveling from people, you see a 629 00:42:31,707 --> 00:42:37,500 lot of marveling from Miracles and teachings, But for Jesus to 630 00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:40,600 Marvel, as someone said is a Marvel in itself. 631 00:42:41,700 --> 00:42:45,000 In all of the gospels. We are explicitly told twice 632 00:42:45,500 --> 00:42:49,200 only twice in all of the gospels were Jesus marveled. 633 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:56,000 Marvel to me to wonder at, The first is what we see here, but 634 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:58,500 in the other place is with the faith of the Centurion. 635 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:02,100 And Luke chapter 7 verse 9. When the Centurion said, you 636 00:43:02,100 --> 00:43:04,200 don't need to come to my house. All you need to do is say the 637 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:06,100 word and my servant will be healed. 638 00:43:06,100 --> 00:43:08,500 As says they, that Jesus marveled at him. 639 00:43:09,300 --> 00:43:10,900 He marveled at him and he turned. 640 00:43:10,900 --> 00:43:13,300 And he said to the rest that in all of Israel, he has not seen 641 00:43:13,300 --> 00:43:18,000 such faith. And so the two places where we 642 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:21,900 are told that Jesus marveled both of them had to do with the 643 00:43:21,900 --> 00:43:29,600 response of man concerning who he was. and according to these 644 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,400 two references, we learned something about the Lord. 645 00:43:34,700 --> 00:43:39,600 Don't hear Jesus marveling. As though Jesus can be surprised 646 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:42,100 by something and taking it back by something. 647 00:43:42,100 --> 00:43:46,100 He did not expect necessarily understand that it reveals that 648 00:43:46,100 --> 00:43:50,700 man's response to the revelation of who he is, can stir the heart 649 00:43:50,700 --> 00:43:53,400 of Christ and his sincere and striking way. 650 00:43:55,600 --> 00:44:00,400 It's to reveal his personhood. And here's what I see. 651 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:05,000 Okay, Lord, if you marveled at someone's faith. 652 00:44:05,900 --> 00:44:10,200 And the second and only places where you marveled as at someone 653 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:14,200 or some people's unbelief. Then what makes the Lord? 654 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:18,700 Marvel is one of two things. First is the absolute trust that 655 00:44:18,700 --> 00:44:22,600 someone places in Jesus during very challenging times. 656 00:44:23,700 --> 00:44:28,200 Or to the indifference that someone will show Jesus despite 657 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:30,100 all the exposure they had to him. 658 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:39,600 Let me say this way. When there was present faith. 659 00:44:40,500 --> 00:44:46,400 Where it was least expected. Jesus was amazed And when there 660 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:50,700 was the absence of Faith where there should have been Faith, 661 00:44:51,700 --> 00:44:57,200 Jesus was equally amazed. Wow. 662 00:44:59,100 --> 00:45:02,400 That's faith. The other time. 663 00:45:02,900 --> 00:45:06,500 Wow. You can't believe. 664 00:45:10,900 --> 00:45:14,300 I thought to myself if it's possible for the Lord to wonder 665 00:45:14,300 --> 00:45:18,500 at something from those that He created in his own image, may it 666 00:45:18,500 --> 00:45:21,500 never be said of anyone. Here, look at all the Bible 667 00:45:21,500 --> 00:45:26,600 teaching they receive. Look at the wonderful loving 668 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:29,200 Fellowship that I've provided him. 669 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:34,900 Look at all the Daily Grace has that I shower on his life and 670 00:45:34,900 --> 00:45:39,700 yet still with all of these things, he still wants nothing 671 00:45:39,700 --> 00:45:42,500 to do with me. That's amazing. 672 00:45:44,700 --> 00:45:50,200 That's amazing. Instead, may it be said of us 673 00:45:50,900 --> 00:45:53,800 despite the Temptations all around. 674 00:45:54,900 --> 00:45:58,500 Despite the corruption and the lukewarmness that surrounds 675 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:03,900 despite the personal challenges that might exhaust. 676 00:46:04,700 --> 00:46:11,500 And buff it. The soul he believes He believes 677 00:46:12,300 --> 00:46:17,800 and like job who testified of his faithfulness to God despite 678 00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:20,200 losing everything within a minute. 679 00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:24,800 God could say, before the sons of God and the host of heaven, 680 00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:28,900 and even demons, he still holds fast his integrity. 681 00:46:30,600 --> 00:46:32,600 He still holds fast to his integrity. 682 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:40,900 And so, in some way, We can Amaze Jesus in one of two ways. 683 00:46:42,300 --> 00:46:44,400 And I think what we are in danger of more than anything 684 00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:48,600 else here in the west is having so much before us and yet, 685 00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:53,400 giving so little of what Christ deserves to potentially cause 686 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:59,000 him to look down in 2023 on a specific population that is more 687 00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:01,400 truth access than any time of History. 688 00:47:01,700 --> 00:47:04,600 More Bible, teaching more Bible preaching, more local churches 689 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:07,500 on streets than any part of the world to say. 690 00:47:07,500 --> 00:47:14,100 Wow, after all of that, still wants nothing to do with me. 691 00:47:15,300 --> 00:47:21,400 Does not prioritize me. It's a scary truth and I hope to 692 00:47:21,400 --> 00:47:24,500 move the heart of Christ not to gain his favor but to bless him 693 00:47:24,800 --> 00:47:27,300 but that is not the way that I want him to be marveled. 694 00:47:28,200 --> 00:47:32,700 For sure, Lord help us. Lastly, we see. 695 00:47:32,700 --> 00:47:36,400 Jesus moving on the second part of verse 6 and he marveled 696 00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:39,400 because of their unbelief and he went about Among The Villages 697 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:43,200 teaching like many times, the people said we want nothing to 698 00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:45,800 do with you, they scorned him they'd belittled him. 699 00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:48,000 And so the Lord said, okay I'm not welcome here so I'm moving 700 00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:51,500 on so he does move on to other towns that were more receptive 701 00:47:51,500 --> 00:47:53,700 to his message and his power and he moved there. 702 00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:57,600 And there was some in Nazareth as we were told that were humble 703 00:47:57,600 --> 00:47:58,800 enough. That weren't part of the 704 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:01,500 majority says, oh Lord. Please I believe in you. 705 00:48:01,700 --> 00:48:03,200 Can you heal me? Can you touch me? 706 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:08,200 And he did just so gracious. But he moves on and when he 707 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:11,300 moves on from his hometown, I praise God that the Holy Spirit 708 00:48:11,300 --> 00:48:15,000 included that statement before, moving on to the next scene, you 709 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:18,200 know why, because it presents a model for those who really want 710 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:22,500 to serve the Lord. and for those who experienced, the 711 00:48:24,100 --> 00:48:28,700 Discouraging events and seasons of serving the lord. 712 00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:33,700 Here's what happens. Your own friends and your own 713 00:48:33,700 --> 00:48:35,300 family want. Nothing to do with you. 714 00:48:37,700 --> 00:48:42,000 And it can be discouraging to stand alone in your family. to 715 00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:46,200 be the only person in your family, who loves the Lord where 716 00:48:46,200 --> 00:48:49,200 they all actually stand against the Lord, and for the world and, 717 00:48:49,400 --> 00:48:53,800 and you, you want it so badly, were maybe just one sibling, 718 00:48:54,500 --> 00:48:57,600 just one like, one, one of my brother, okay, I'll settle for a 719 00:48:57,607 --> 00:49:02,900 cousin to just when I go to Thanksgiving, at least we can 720 00:49:02,900 --> 00:49:06,700 talk of the Lord and they don't have to awkwardly, ask me to 721 00:49:06,700 --> 00:49:08,500 pray only to laugh at me when I pray. 722 00:49:10,100 --> 00:49:13,400 Some kind of Fellowship in Christ with someone from my 723 00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:16,300 family. And yet Jesus, at this point did 724 00:49:16,300 --> 00:49:20,000 not have such things. Can argue Mari, did sure. 725 00:49:21,300 --> 00:49:25,400 But his brothers and his sisters, his relatives, his 726 00:49:25,400 --> 00:49:28,600 school friends that he studied with such people. 727 00:49:30,400 --> 00:49:34,700 Stood against him. That can be a very overwhelming 728 00:49:34,700 --> 00:49:38,500 thing to live through. And it can also be disheartening 729 00:49:38,500 --> 00:49:42,300 when you see unbelief and familiarity in a place where you 730 00:49:42,300 --> 00:49:46,500 would think there would be passion and devotion and 731 00:49:46,500 --> 00:49:50,800 seriousness for God. I can't tell you the amount of 732 00:49:50,800 --> 00:49:53,300 messages I've gone from people in different local churches 733 00:49:53,300 --> 00:49:58,400 Across the Nation. Talking about how miserable it 734 00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:01,600 is to go to church because of the worldliness. 735 00:50:03,800 --> 00:50:06,700 Because people have settled to barely make it through a sermon, 736 00:50:06,700 --> 00:50:10,100 and call that Christianity when there is no evidence of 737 00:50:10,100 --> 00:50:12,500 worshiping him serving him and loving him, apart from that hour 738 00:50:12,500 --> 00:50:15,000 and a half on a Sunday, I can't tell you the grief. 739 00:50:16,000 --> 00:50:19,400 That Christians feel because of so many in their context that 740 00:50:19,400 --> 00:50:24,700 are overly familiar with Jesus. And they're fighting for their 741 00:50:24,700 --> 00:50:31,100 life for a fervent faith. Jesus knows what that's like. 742 00:50:32,100 --> 00:50:36,200 To expect a certain acknowledgement of God of 743 00:50:36,200 --> 00:50:42,000 worship of God when it actually isn't there. and how painful is 744 00:50:42,000 --> 00:50:45,600 it, that way, no matter what kind of example of 745 00:50:45,600 --> 00:50:49,500 christlikeness you demonstrate before people, No matter what 746 00:50:49,500 --> 00:50:53,100 kind of character and by God's grace, the consistency of your 747 00:50:53,100 --> 00:50:57,100 convictions, being lived out before others, love and service, 748 00:50:57,100 --> 00:51:01,100 and compassion, gentleness, kindness, they can still find a 749 00:51:01,100 --> 00:51:05,100 way to despise you. And mock you. 750 00:51:06,300 --> 00:51:11,200 And be offended at you, like Jesus was offended or offensive 751 00:51:11,200 --> 00:51:15,800 to to them. Christ knows that's that's what 752 00:51:15,800 --> 00:51:18,600 I take from this. He understands he he invites us 753 00:51:18,600 --> 00:51:20,600 to Fellowship in that kind of a suffering. 754 00:51:21,400 --> 00:51:25,100 He is fully aware. But look at his example. 755 00:51:25,100 --> 00:51:28,200 As much as you can take those burdens to the Lord and say Lord 756 00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:30,200 this is where I'm at with my family Lord. 757 00:51:30,300 --> 00:51:32,500 This is where I'm at with my Ministry. 758 00:51:34,500 --> 00:51:37,400 It's like pulling teeth to get people to serve the Lord. 759 00:51:38,500 --> 00:51:41,300 Lord, this is where I'm at with my witness to the world, it's 760 00:51:41,300 --> 00:51:44,600 like no matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter how 761 00:51:44,600 --> 00:51:49,200 much I give people still can't see what you have done and me 762 00:51:49,200 --> 00:51:54,200 and how worthy you are. Jesus knows it. 763 00:51:54,200 --> 00:51:56,900 Jesus experienced it, but Jesus didn't sulk. 764 00:51:59,700 --> 00:52:06,100 They Don't Love Me. In sit down with the disciples 765 00:52:06,100 --> 00:52:09,500 and have 10 counseling sessions about why the family didn't 766 00:52:09,500 --> 00:52:12,500 receive him, and why Ministry is really, really, really 767 00:52:12,500 --> 00:52:14,700 difficult. And in his hometown, none of 768 00:52:14,700 --> 00:52:16,800 that, you know what he does. All right, fine, we're going 769 00:52:16,800 --> 00:52:17,700 over here. See ya. 770 00:52:20,900 --> 00:52:22,500 He continued to serve the father. 771 00:52:23,800 --> 00:52:27,800 He did not skip a beat, I'm not downplaying opening your heart 772 00:52:27,800 --> 00:52:30,300 and Brokenness. And in difficult times, I'm not 773 00:52:30,300 --> 00:52:34,200 saying that, but you can't stay there, you can't afford to give 774 00:52:34,200 --> 00:52:36,700 up. You can't hang up the towel, 775 00:52:37,500 --> 00:52:39,900 why? Because when everything fails 776 00:52:39,900 --> 00:52:43,100 before you, and when so many disappointments are there. 777 00:52:43,500 --> 00:52:46,300 Despite your efforts. Remember why you're doing this? 778 00:52:46,600 --> 00:52:49,600 It's for his glory. It's for his pleasure, as for 779 00:52:49,600 --> 00:52:51,100 his Delight. It's for his honor. 780 00:52:53,200 --> 00:52:58,100 And if you will be a flower that glistens in a swamp, just for 781 00:52:58,100 --> 00:53:00,000 God, the Father to be pleased by that site. 782 00:53:00,000 --> 00:53:03,100 So be it. So be it. 783 00:53:05,900 --> 00:53:09,900 Jesus moves on and he continues to serve his father. 784 00:53:10,500 --> 00:53:15,800 He stays the course, I'm sure this was a lesson for the 785 00:53:15,800 --> 00:53:20,000 disciples. I'm sure Jesus was coming to 786 00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:23,800 Nazareth anticipating what was going to happen and we heard 787 00:53:23,800 --> 00:53:27,500 from verse 1, that the disciples followed him because he wants 788 00:53:27,500 --> 00:53:30,300 his disciples to understand that lesson. 789 00:53:31,400 --> 00:53:34,100 In preparation for Ministry saying really. 790 00:53:34,100 --> 00:53:36,400 Yeah, really because look what happens in verse 7 quickly. 791 00:53:37,400 --> 00:53:39,700 And he called the twelve and began to send them out, two by 792 00:53:39,700 --> 00:53:42,200 two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 793 00:53:42,300 --> 00:53:45,500 In other words, he's about the commission, his disciples to 794 00:53:45,500 --> 00:53:47,200 preach, and teach in different areas. 795 00:53:48,800 --> 00:53:52,600 And I think it is purposefully done that before commissioning 796 00:53:52,600 --> 00:53:54,700 them. He gives them a first-hand 797 00:53:54,700 --> 00:53:56,200 experience of what you can expect. 798 00:53:56,200 --> 00:54:00,000 If you're going to serve God, and one of the things you might 799 00:54:00,100 --> 00:54:06,200 experience, it's rejection. The stain. 800 00:54:08,300 --> 00:54:13,400 Mockery indifference. Familiarity. 801 00:54:15,600 --> 00:54:17,800 And so, the disciples needed to hear and see. 802 00:54:18,200 --> 00:54:20,700 All right? This is real. 803 00:54:22,400 --> 00:54:24,500 It's not always Applause and big crowds. 804 00:54:25,500 --> 00:54:28,300 It's not always praise and awesome testimonies. 805 00:54:29,100 --> 00:54:32,700 There will be some kind of rejection and the Lord brings 806 00:54:32,700 --> 00:54:37,000 them to get an example of that. And oftentimes that rejection 807 00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:39,100 can come from those that you least expect it from. 808 00:54:41,000 --> 00:54:41,600 Okay. Disciples. 809 00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:42,800 Did you just see what happened to me? 810 00:54:42,800 --> 00:54:44,900 I'm from Nazareth. The, you understand all of that? 811 00:54:44,900 --> 00:54:46,500 Yeah, we saw it. Can't believe it happened. 812 00:54:46,600 --> 00:54:47,500 Alright. Now go. 813 00:54:50,800 --> 00:54:52,400 Believer. I'm talking to the True 814 00:54:52,400 --> 00:54:54,100 Believer. I'm talking to the servant of 815 00:54:54,100 --> 00:54:55,500 God. I'm talking to the person who's 816 00:54:55,500 --> 00:54:58,400 serious about living their life for his glory, do not give up. 817 00:54:59,600 --> 00:55:03,300 Don't throw in the towel. Your master as j.c. 818 00:55:03,300 --> 00:55:06,300 Ryle said drank from the same cup that you're drinking from. 819 00:55:07,400 --> 00:55:11,300 Don't throw your ministry away. Don't stop praying. 820 00:55:11,300 --> 00:55:16,000 Don't stop serving. Honor him, love him and when it 821 00:55:16,008 --> 00:55:18,900 gets really difficult to do so because of so much that's 822 00:55:18,900 --> 00:55:20,900 happening before you that you don't want to see. 823 00:55:22,900 --> 00:55:25,200 Remember that you can come to him and fellowship with him in 824 00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:31,500 this suffering. I end with this. if you're 825 00:55:31,500 --> 00:55:36,000 familiar with Jesus, do you really know him? 826 00:55:38,600 --> 00:55:42,100 You can name off stats about Jesus, like the nazarenes did 827 00:55:42,900 --> 00:55:44,900 and at the same time be offended by him. 828 00:55:45,600 --> 00:55:47,600 When you hear the true gospel when you hear what it means to 829 00:55:47,600 --> 00:55:50,200 follow him. Oh, I pray that this message 830 00:55:50,200 --> 00:55:52,400 would have comforted the servant of God and would have shaken 831 00:55:52,400 --> 00:55:54,900 those who have grown up with Jesus, but don't really know 832 00:55:54,900 --> 00:55:57,700 Jesus. You can know him today. 833 00:55:59,100 --> 00:56:02,400 Because just like he gave Nazareth a second chance. 834 00:56:02,400 --> 00:56:05,500 He'll give you one. He'll give you one and maybe 835 00:56:05,500 --> 00:56:10,400 today is that chance. Can we prepare our hearts as we 836 00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:27,700 partake today? Lord, we thank you from the 837 00:56:27,700 --> 00:56:32,900 bottom of our hearts. That you humbled yourself. 838 00:56:34,100 --> 00:56:39,200 As not just Jesus. The God, man, but Jesus of 839 00:56:39,200 --> 00:56:42,400 Nazareth. You were willing to identify 840 00:56:42,400 --> 00:56:46,800 with such a lowly place and even minister to such a lowly people. 841 00:56:48,000 --> 00:56:50,900 though, we are humbled because with all the lessons that we've 842 00:56:50,900 --> 00:56:54,100 learned, we are reminded now of what you have done on the cross 843 00:56:54,100 --> 00:57:01,400 for us that our performance Has no value to our Salvation. 844 00:57:02,900 --> 00:57:06,700 Lord, we thank you that you came into this world to live 845 00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:10,700 Perfection on our behalf. and then, to transfer that 846 00:57:10,700 --> 00:57:15,700 perfection, And you die to death that we deserve, so that you can 847 00:57:15,700 --> 00:57:19,200 transfer. That substitution. 848 00:57:21,700 --> 00:57:25,300 And you set us free. Lord, we come to your table 849 00:57:25,300 --> 00:57:29,200 today to be reminded that we are saved by your grace. 850 00:57:30,700 --> 00:57:36,000 And to be also reminded that we are members of this body. and so 851 00:57:36,000 --> 00:57:39,500 Lord we just pray that you would help us reflect if we are really 852 00:57:39,500 --> 00:57:44,600 living under that lordship that you call us to live for And we 853 00:57:44,600 --> 00:57:47,700 ask that you would help us analyze if our relationships, 854 00:57:47,700 --> 00:57:50,300 truly testified, the Oneness of your church. 855 00:57:51,300 --> 00:57:54,900 Well, we do not want to come informality or familiarity to 856 00:57:54,900 --> 00:57:56,800 your table. We want to give you the honor 857 00:57:57,200 --> 00:58:00,700 and the reverence that you deserve. 858 00:58:02,100 --> 00:58:05,000 And so, Lord, open our eyes, open our hearts and help us 859 00:58:05,000 --> 00:58:07,900 again. See the glories of your table 860 00:58:08,600 --> 00:58:12,000 for. This is your Institution for us, 861 00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:14,900 and we are glad that you invite us to it. 862 00:58:15,800 --> 00:58:18,000 In Jesus name we pray. Amen.