1 00:00:01,100 --> 00:00:04,100 Good morning Crossing Church. How are you doing today? 2 00:00:05,100 --> 00:00:07,800 It is so good to be with you to be in the house. 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,600 The Lord with the people of the Lord, surviving the Thanksgiving 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,300 that we just experienced and I hope you'd you're getting 5 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:19,700 through all of that. We had a great time at our house 6 00:00:19,700 --> 00:00:23,200 and you know, really there's so much to be thankful for isn't 7 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:24,600 there? I mean, there's so many things 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,700 that that can just Cloud our minds and push us away from 9 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:32,700 that, but we need to have those Times of Thanksgiving and I've 10 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:36,600 been thankful for this series in the Book of John just kind of 11 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:39,800 reboots us, you know, into these Timeless truths. 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,700 That John relays to us. I'm excited about the series 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,900 that's coming up. It's called the gift I need. 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,700 And if you want to get into the spirit of that next series, use 15 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:58,000 your phone, get on that QR code. And on there there's a place 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:04,000 where you can record the worst. You ever got and people can 17 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,400 share in that and that can lighten your mood and help you 18 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,900 to enjoy this season. That's coming up even more. 19 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:16,700 And also on that QR code are of all of our locations are the 20 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:18,900 dates of all of our Christmas Eve services. 21 00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:23,400 This is that rare year happens. Once every seven years that 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:28,200 Christmas falls on Sunday. So once you to be taking a look 23 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,700 at that all of our different locations, you can, Can see what 24 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:34,900 we're offering probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 00:01:34,900 --> 00:01:39,900 40 plus services. So I want to welcome all of you 26 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:42,900 that are joining at all of our locations, all of them across 27 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:45,100 this region. If you're inside her online, 28 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:51,700 we're thankful for you as well. And last week, I was talking 29 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:56,400 about what Jesus did to pay for our sins when he died on the 30 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,700 cross. And we got to hear that from the 31 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:04,800 only new Rider, that was himself an eyewitness John. 32 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:08,199 He was there. You know, I wasn't there, you 33 00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:13,100 weren't there, but he was there and so he's able to share with 34 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:15,400 you, what he saw with his own eyes. 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:20,500 What he heard with his own ears? Of course, there's a lot of 36 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:24,400 reflection that happens when we think about the cross, but it 37 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,800 wasn't just the cross, you know, last week was only half the 38 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,500 story and I'm excited this week to give View the rest of the 39 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:34,000 story that happened after the cross. 40 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,600 Because John didn't write what he wrote. 41 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:39,400 So that you would understand the death of Jesus. 42 00:02:40,300 --> 00:02:44,400 He wrote them so in his words that you might believe and then 43 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,300 have life in his name and that comes with an understanding, not 44 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:54,000 only of the crucifixion but also of the resurrection and I find 45 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,000 it really interesting of all the gospels. 46 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,000 John. He doesn't waste a single 47 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,500 sentence on the mechanics of the Resurrection. 48 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,600 You know, all the rest of them, they talk about exactly what 49 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,500 happened in the the garden. You know the where the tomb was 50 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:12,300 and and the stone being rolled away, what happened with the 51 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:15,200 guards and what happened with the angels coming down on all 52 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,100 that John doesn't even talk about that. 53 00:03:17,900 --> 00:03:23,100 Instead he reveals the impact that the resurrection that the 54 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:29,000 resurrection had and he zeroes in on three individuals and 55 00:03:29,008 --> 00:03:30,600 that's kind of how it is with Jesus. 56 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:33,400 Right? He's not just about the masses. 57 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,600 He's about the individual just like he's about you and these 58 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,900 three individuals and their stories, the portraits. 59 00:03:40,900 --> 00:03:43,400 That, that that John paints of them. 60 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:47,600 I think he's just so helpful and so enlightening for us and I'm 61 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,000 going to call him the denier, the disbeliever and the devotee, 62 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:54,400 okay? The denier, the disbeliever and 63 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,100 the devotee and that would be Simon Peter Thomas and Mary 64 00:03:58,100 --> 00:04:01,000 Magdalene. And I want to begin with Mary, 65 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:06,300 the devotee. See, Mary is this picture of 66 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:10,900 utter devotion. And you'll make sense to me that 67 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:16,500 she would be as devoted as she was because she had been saved 68 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:20,000 from something unimaginable to us. 69 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,700 The Bible says, in 2 different places that she was demon 70 00:04:24,700 --> 00:04:28,500 possessed, and she was not only demon-possessed, she was demon 71 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:33,900 possessed by seven demons. She was a condo for demons. 72 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,900 I can't imagine what that would have made her life. 73 00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:42,100 Like now, the number 7 in the Bible numbers have particular 74 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:45,700 meanings in the Bible and the number 7 in the Bible is the 75 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:48,300 number of perfection or completion. 76 00:04:49,300 --> 00:04:52,400 And and so, you know, we can be very literal and say they were 77 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,400 seven particular demons. But one thing I pull from that 78 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,600 is that she was completely utterly controlled completely 79 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,500 under the control of these evil spirits inside of her. 80 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:07,600 And that would have meant that she was completely hopeless. 81 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,600 Like her life wasn't hers anymore. 82 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,300 There wasn't a decision that she was making anymore. 83 00:05:13,300 --> 00:05:17,300 She was under this other controls whole just horrible, 84 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:20,400 right? And then Jesus steps into her 85 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,500 life. And exercises. 86 00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:26,600 Those demons out of her. She's in her right mind. 87 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:31,300 What a gift would have been what our Incredible Gift to be 88 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:34,200 liberated and experience the freedom. 89 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:37,200 That only Jesus could provide listen to me. 90 00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:41,100 Jesus didn't have to rise from the dead for her to be devoted. 91 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,400 Because he had saved her from that. 92 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:54,200 It's incredible and she was the first one to go to the tomb. 93 00:05:55,900 --> 00:05:59,700 When we hear about what happened with Jesus in the resurrection 94 00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:03,100 and we read in John chapter 20 starting in verse 11 and says 95 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:05,000 now, Mary, stood outside the tomb. 96 00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:10,200 Crying and as she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and 97 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,400 saw two angels in white seated, where Jesus body had been one at 98 00:06:14,407 --> 00:06:16,700 the head and the other at the foot. 99 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:20,000 And they asked her woman. Why are you crying? 100 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,100 They've taken my Lord away. She said and I don't know where 101 00:06:25,100 --> 00:06:28,400 they have put him. At this, she turned around and 102 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,900 saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was 103 00:06:32,900 --> 00:06:37,100 Jesus. Now contextualize what you just 104 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:40,900 read with me? Mary comes at night. 105 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,000 She comes before the sun rises and I want you to think about 106 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,700 that. I mean, that would be a 107 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:51,400 frightening thing to to walk through the streets of 108 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,100 Jerusalem. Not really a familiar place to 109 00:06:54,100 --> 00:06:57,500 her and find the cemetery at night. 110 00:06:58,700 --> 00:07:04,300 To go honor the body of Jesus. So she comes at night and she 111 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:08,300 has no plan to do what she wants to do. 112 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,100 Because it was customary, that people would would honor the 113 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:17,000 dead by doing things with their body, like, putting spices on 114 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,800 their body. By, you know, anointing them by 115 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,400 ministering to them, because of what nature would nature would 116 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,500 take its course. And so she wanted to serve, she 117 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:29,700 wanted to do this thing. Thing, but she had absolutely no 118 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:32,500 plan. She was there when Jesus died on 119 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:34,600 the cross. When he was laid in the Tomb, 120 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,000 she was an eyewitness. And so she would have known 121 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,100 where the tomb was. She would have known that. 122 00:07:41,100 --> 00:07:43,100 A stone was rolled in front of it. 123 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:44,600 She may or may not have known that. 124 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,600 There was a Roman Detachment of soldiers. 125 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,900 She may have or may have not have known that there was a seal 126 00:07:49,900 --> 00:07:53,400 placed in front of the Tomb. I mean either she didn't know 127 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,300 that or she didn't think about that because she had no plan, 128 00:07:57,300 --> 00:07:59,600 how am Am I going to move a stone away? 129 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,400 How am I going to break a seal? How am I going to get around? 130 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,300 These soldiers? To do what I want to do? 131 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:07,500 She had no plan. And actually, I really admire 132 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:12,500 that about her. Because I wouldn't have been 133 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:15,900 that person. I would have been the person who 134 00:08:15,900 --> 00:08:18,500 had to have a detailed plan. How many of you would have had 135 00:08:18,500 --> 00:08:21,700 to have a detailed plan? I mean, I need to know what to 136 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:24,600 bring and how many people and what time and when do we meet 137 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,300 and how do we? Yeah, I would have had to have 138 00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:29,400 all that to handle all of the potential. 139 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:35,400 Pitfalls, not her. She just went, she just went And 140 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,200 I think it's amazing. Did you read that that her 141 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:43,500 devotion and her the pain that she's experienced blinds her 142 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,900 from realizing that there are two angels sitting in this tomb. 143 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:49,500 May there's two men wearing why going? 144 00:08:49,500 --> 00:08:53,300 Why are you crying? And it just completely, she can 145 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:56,200 just completely lost by, she doesn't even think about that. 146 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,500 Because of the grief that she's experiencing. 147 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,100 And it also tells you this that she did not have Resurrection 148 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:07,200 hopes. She wasn't thinking, well, maybe 149 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:12,200 he rose from the dead. Quite the contrary, look at 15. 150 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:17,100 And 16 says this, he asked her. Now this is Jesus that he, she 151 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:19,900 doesn't recognize him woman. Why are you crying? 152 00:09:20,300 --> 00:09:22,700 Who is it? You're looking for thinking. 153 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:25,400 He was the gardener. She said, sir, if you have 154 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:30,800 carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get 155 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,000 him like she was going to be able to get a body and put it 156 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,500 back in the Tomb. So amazing Jesus said to her, 157 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:44,400 Mary. and she turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic rabboni 158 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:51,000 which means teacher How does Jesus meet Mary Magdalene? 159 00:09:52,100 --> 00:09:54,700 I think he is savoring the moment. 160 00:09:55,500 --> 00:09:59,800 I think he is loving this moment that he was going to be able to 161 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,900 reveal himself to her in this way because of the strength of 162 00:10:03,900 --> 00:10:08,300 her faith and her devotion. I think he waited for her in the 163 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:11,000 garden. He could have done a lot of 164 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,200 other things, you could have shown himself to a lot of other 165 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,900 people, but he chose her and he chose that moment at Daybreak. 166 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:23,000 And he asked her this question. I mean, it's such a silly 167 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,000 question. Why are you crying? 168 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,900 But why would anybody be crying in a cemetery? 169 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,900 Why are you crying? But it's a really important 170 00:10:32,900 --> 00:10:34,500 question. Even though it sounds like a 171 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:39,700 silly one, because the reality in her mind is she has great 172 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:45,500 reason to be crying. But Jesus being there means that 173 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:48,900 everything that every reason she would have to cry, has been 174 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:53,700 completely undone. Today. 175 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:59,500 Right now, some of you may have great reasons for crying. 176 00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:03,100 Maybe there's something going on in your life. 177 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,300 Maybe these holidays dredge up memories that are not as great 178 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:11,600 as you wish and maybe you're just trying to get through them 179 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,100 rather than enjoying them. Hard to be thankful when this 180 00:11:16,100 --> 00:11:19,000 happened, or when that's happening right now. 181 00:11:20,500 --> 00:11:22,800 Maybe you're crying, but have you thought? 182 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:27,200 That maybe you're not realizing what Jesus has already done. 183 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:34,400 Maybe you're a little like her. That you see the finality of 184 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,100 certain things, someone who's not at the table this year, or 185 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:40,600 something along those lines. But you don't realize what Jesus 186 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:45,600 is already done for you and everyone else and in spite of 187 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,000 what might be happening in your life right now, in your lower 188 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,800 story. Right now, there is so much to 189 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,700 be thankful for because we have Jesus to be thankful. 190 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,200 And then I love the word she uses. 191 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:01,600 And I don't think that John put this word in by accident, the 192 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,700 word rabboni. Now, the word rabona in the word 193 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:09,900 Rabbi are the same words and the word Rabbi means teacher. 194 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:14,700 Rabona is the same word, except it's in the formal instead of 195 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:17,400 the familiar. And I think that's important 196 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,200 because, you know, there are people that have come up with 197 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,300 these narratives that Jesus and Mary had this kind of a thing 198 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:26,200 going on. People have written novels about 199 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,700 it. But these words that John 200 00:12:28,700 --> 00:12:30,700 records as an eyewitness are proof. 201 00:12:30,700 --> 00:12:36,400 That that's not true that she respected him deeply as her 202 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:42,300 teacher and followed him. As a mentor as a guide and as a 203 00:12:42,308 --> 00:12:46,100 teacher and that's why she used that word oh there's a lot we 204 00:12:46,100 --> 00:12:49,900 can learn from this portrait of Mary but let's just stop with 205 00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:54,100 her for a minute and go to the next one we all remember this 206 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,300 portrait because of this man's reputation and that would be 207 00:12:58,300 --> 00:13:02,000 Thomas and when we talk about Thomas we use a word with him 208 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,900 usually. And what is that word? 209 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:08,500 Yeah doubting Thomas. And I look at Thomas and I 210 00:13:08,508 --> 00:13:13,900 consider him the disbeliever or the realest because that's 211 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:15,700 really just a part of who he was. 212 00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:21,000 That's how he was wired by God. That he is, this realist kind of 213 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,400 person. Look at John 11:16, then Thomas 214 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:29,100 also known as didymus, this means twin, he was a twin of 215 00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:32,600 somebody, I don't know what we don't know who said to the rest 216 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:36,800 of the disciples let us also go that we may die with him. 217 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,600 So Jesus has just told his disciples, he's going to 218 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,900 Jerusalem and the disciples know that people are looking for 219 00:13:44,900 --> 00:13:47,900 Jesus to kill him, and if they're going to want to kill 220 00:13:47,900 --> 00:13:50,400 Jesus, their own want to kill his followers to. 221 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:55,200 So, I mean, it's a serious thing for Jesus to go to Jerusalem for 222 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,300 Passover. Now, you can look at this, a 223 00:13:57,308 --> 00:14:00,900 couple of different ways you can look at Thomas and go, did he 224 00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:04,000 say that? Let's just go with him so we can 225 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,800 die with him. Did he say that sarcastically 226 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,800 where he would say? Well then, let's go with him so 227 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,200 we can die with him. Or do you think that he was 228 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,800 looking at it and saying it realistically? 229 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:19,700 Okay, let's go with him so we can die with him. 230 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:23,300 I don't know if it's one or the other. 231 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,200 I think it's both of them because I think this is kind of 232 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:32,100 how Thomas is wired, a little of both, It plays out later in the 233 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:35,400 upper room, Jesus is giving these incredible words. 234 00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:39,600 I mean incredible, incredible words in my father's house are 235 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,500 many mansions. if it were not, so I would have told you I go to 236 00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:46,800 prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I 237 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,000 will come again and receive you to myself that where I am, there 238 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,000 you may be also whether you go, I go, you know, in the way, you 239 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:59,400 know, and then John 14, 5 Thomas said to him, of course, it was 240 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,300 Thomas Lord, we don't know where you're going. 241 00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:06,600 So how can we know the way, you know how Jesus answered that? 242 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:10,200 I am the way the truth and the life. 243 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,700 No one comes to the father but by me yeah we may know the 244 00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:18,500 answer to that but I love the way that Thomas just asks this 245 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:22,100 obvious question and he's looking for a concrete answer. 246 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,300 Where are you going? I don't know this way you're 247 00:15:28,300 --> 00:15:32,500 talking about. He is a realist. 248 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:38,700 And then John 20, 24 to 25 when we get on this side of the 249 00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:41,900 Resurrection. Now, Thomas, also known as 250 00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:44,600 didymus. One of the twelve was not with 251 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,000 the disciples when Jesus came. So Jesus is already appeared to 252 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,800 the disciples, but Thomas wasn't there. 253 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:57,000 So the other disciples told him we have seen the Lord. 254 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:04,100 But he Thomas said to them, unless I see the nail marks in 255 00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:07,300 his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my 256 00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:11,400 hand into his side. Look at these four words. 257 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:18,500 I will not believe. Well, that's pretty strong 258 00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:23,000 language. And I think his doubt about the 259 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,600 validity of Jesus, resurrection is an honest doubt. 260 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,600 However, his empirical thinking, you know, I mean the less I can 261 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:33,300 see it here at taste. It touch it. 262 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:35,300 Smell, you know, that kind of thing. 263 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:39,400 I think that somehow shows that there's something darker going 264 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:44,000 on something even cynical that's going on inside a Thomas because 265 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,300 he doesn't ask a question. He makes a declarative 266 00:16:47,300 --> 00:16:53,800 statement. I will not believe So I don't 267 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,400 think the word out is really that good of a description about 268 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:02,100 his attitude because it's more of a rejection of the testimony 269 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:05,900 of his fellow apostles, then it is a questioning. 270 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:10,900 And then what happens Jesus appears in the room. 271 00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:16,599 How does Jesus meet Thomas? We've discussed how he met Mary 272 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:18,599 Magdalene. How does he meet Thomas? 273 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:23,400 John 20 26 to 29 a week later. His disciples were in the house 274 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,400 again and Thomas was with them though the doors were locked 275 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,400 Jesus came and stood among them and said peace be with you. 276 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:34,200 Don't you think that Jesus was kind of looking over Thomas over 277 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,100 there in the corner? Peace be with you. 278 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:44,900 Because he speaks to him. Put your finger here. 279 00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:49,000 See my hands, reach out your hand, and put it into my side, 280 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:54,400 stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him, my Lord and 281 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,600 my God. Did Jesus told him? 282 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:59,700 Because you have seen me. You have believed? 283 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:01,600 Blessed are those who have not seen? 284 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:05,500 And yet have believed? Hmm. 285 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:11,100 See, I don't think we recognize this and Thomas. 286 00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:14,600 Certainly, didn't that even when Jesus wasn't appearing in the 287 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,600 room? He was in the room. 288 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,800 So when Thomas was saying that stuff, Jesus was hearing it 289 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,700 because he was repeating it back to him. 290 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:31,900 Right. Jesus knows Thomas, he 291 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:36,900 understands Thomas, he knows that he's a realist and he meets 292 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:42,200 him, where he is even calls him a doubter which I think is 293 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,700 grace-filled because he's more of a denier than a doubter. 294 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:49,500 He's more of a disbeliever than a doubter and yet Jesus gives 295 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:53,900 him that Grace and do you know why Jesus leans into Thomas? 296 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:56,500 Do you know why he doesn't lean away? 297 00:18:57,900 --> 00:18:59,700 It's because he knows his potential. 298 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:06,800 The potential Thomas would have if he was convinced now seeing 299 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,300 is not faith and Jesus makes that clear. 300 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:14,100 It's a lack of faith but that was what Thomas needed in that 301 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:21,500 moment to unlock his potential. And with that statement My Lord 302 00:19:21,500 --> 00:19:27,600 and my God the realest Thomas has full confidence in who Jesus 303 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,200 is and what he has done and he never deviates from that. 304 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,300 You know, that understanding that happened in that moment 305 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:40,100 between Thomas and Jesus took him further than any other 306 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:42,900 Apostle would ever go. You remember, Jesus says later 307 00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:47,600 on you'll be my Witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea Samaria to the 308 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,600 ends of the Earth and I'm sure a lot. 309 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:51,000 All those Apostles would have thought. 310 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,300 Yeah, you know, eventually it'll get to the ends of the Earth 311 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,600 Thomas, didn't wait for future generations. 312 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,800 To take the message of Jesus, to the ends of the Earth. 313 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,500 He did that himself. You know how? 314 00:20:02,500 --> 00:20:06,500 I know that because he died in Chennai, India, which is the 315 00:20:06,500 --> 00:20:11,900 point as far as you can go, he literally went to the ends of 316 00:20:11,900 --> 00:20:16,900 the Earth and he was javelins, while being in prayer on his 317 00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:22,800 knees. Wow, learn a lot from Mary 318 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:28,300 Magdalene. you can learn a lot from Thomas on this side of the 319 00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:33,800 Resurrection, but maybe the most poignant story of all Is the one 320 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,600 that John saves to last the denier. 321 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:43,000 Simon, Peter, how would you describe Simon, describe Simon 322 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,800 Peter? I would use words like 323 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:49,100 enthusiastic strong-willed, impulsive brash. 324 00:20:50,100 --> 00:20:54,200 He was definitely a natural born leader, but he definitely has a 325 00:20:54,208 --> 00:21:01,000 dark side to his personality. So let's start with that in John 326 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:05,500 21, three and four. Now, this is a weird place to 327 00:21:05,500 --> 00:21:06,900 start. I'm going out to fish. 328 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:11,200 Well, here's what Simon had done, Simon Peter had left 329 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,700 Jerusalem and he gone back up to Galilee not a short Journey 330 00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:20,500 about 90 Miles by foot gone. Back up to Galileo, Galileo, 331 00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:24,400 Galilee where he was raised going back to fishing. 332 00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:27,800 I'm going out to fish Simon. Peter told them and they said 333 00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:30,200 we'll go with you because he obviously took some of his 334 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,900 Apostles with him. He is a natural-born leader. 335 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:37,400 So they went out and got into the boat, but that night, they 336 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:42,000 caught nothing early in the morning, Jesus stood on the 337 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,800 shore. But the disciples did not 338 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,800 realize that it was Jesus. There could not have been a 339 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:54,000 better seen a better setup than Jesus creates In This Moment. 340 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,200 It's awesome. Because it's exactly the same 341 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,500 scene as it was in Luke Chapter 5. 342 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:05,800 If you go back to Luke 5, because Jesus is teaching, these 343 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,800 guys have been fishing all night Peter, Andrew James and John. 344 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:13,000 So Peters, one of them, they're washing their Nets because it's 345 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,400 been a complete bust. Haven't caught anything all 346 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,700 night. Jesus gets done and he says, 347 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:21,200 hey, why don't you throw out your nets for a catch? 348 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,600 You know, and Simon Peter says, hey dude, we've been fishing all 349 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,400 night long. We haven't caught anything, you 350 00:22:27,408 --> 00:22:30,100 know, stay in your lane Jesus. We're professional fisherman. 351 00:22:30,100 --> 00:22:35,100 You Preach. Will fish kind of deal. but if 352 00:22:35,100 --> 00:22:40,300 you say so, And so they dirty their Nets again and they throw 353 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:42,900 them out in the water. And of course, the story is 354 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:47,800 every fish in that Lake went into that, net till they were 355 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,800 break, the Nets were breaking and they couldn't haul them in. 356 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,300 And in that moment Jesus was speaking Simon Peters language. 357 00:22:55,500 --> 00:23:00,300 The language of fishing And Simon Peter realized he was in 358 00:23:00,300 --> 00:23:02,900 the boat with him, not just a teacher. 359 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:10,300 But God. And that's when when Peter said 360 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:12,900 depart from me because I'm a sinful man, you know what he's 361 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:14,800 saying? You're looking into my heart. 362 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:19,200 You know me. And Jesus says don't worry, 363 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,200 Simon from now on, you're going to be catching people. 364 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:27,200 Beautiful story. And here Jesus, weaves the same 365 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:32,500 story again, just like, it was when Simon Peter was called into 366 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:35,000 Ministry with Jesus. He does it again on the same 367 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:39,400 Lake in the same place and they haven't caught anything off 368 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:44,100 tonight. And then Simon Peter. 369 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:50,300 Has this experience. I want you to think about the 370 00:23:50,300 --> 00:23:53,200 demons that Simon Peter is fighting, why is he up there? 371 00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:58,500 He knows what he's done. He knows when he, you know, 372 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:01,000 Simon Peter. This British guy pulls a, his 373 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,900 sword in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus is 374 00:24:03,900 --> 00:24:07,100 arrested and he met names, one of the servants, right? 375 00:24:07,100 --> 00:24:09,200 Cuts in ear off to surgery to die. 376 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:13,300 He'd already told Jesus, you know, deny you I would die for 377 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:15,500 you. Jesus is already told him, you 378 00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:17,600 know, he's gonna deny him three times. 379 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:24,300 And when they arrested, Jesus, Peter follows doesn't go into 380 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:26,800 the house but stays out on the courtyard while he's out in the 381 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,300 courtyard, people start accusing him and pointing their finger at 382 00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:33,200 him and say, aren't you a Galilean weren't you with Jesus? 383 00:24:33,300 --> 00:24:36,200 Aren't you one of his disciples that he denies and denies and 384 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:42,900 denies and eventually curses And denies and then went out and 385 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:47,300 wept bitterly. He knows what he's done. 386 00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:53,300 What a hypocrite. He is what a poser. 387 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,700 He is what a poser he has been. Don't you? 388 00:24:57,708 --> 00:25:00,800 Imagine that there are demons inside of him that he's 389 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:02,800 fighting? That are saying those things to 390 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,500 him. How fake is your faith? 391 00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:11,000 Really Simon Peter? And I bet you, he kept his shame 392 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,300 from everybody else. I don't think he went to the 393 00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:16,300 other Apostles that he was fishing with and said, hey guess 394 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:21,600 what I did, because they weren't around So, the like continues 395 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:26,700 inside of him. And so he goes to Galilee, why? 396 00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:29,900 Because he's wanting to escape those feelings, he wants to go 397 00:25:29,900 --> 00:25:33,400 back to an abandoned life because that's what he deserves. 398 00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:40,700 Until Jesus steps into the picture just like you did with 399 00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:43,800 Mary just like he did with Thomas, he steps into the 400 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:48,900 picture with Simon Peter. You know what it's time to face 401 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:54,700 the music. John 21 verse 7, then the 402 00:25:54,708 --> 00:25:57,700 disciple whom Jesus loved. That's John said to Peter. 403 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,700 It is the Lord. And as soon as Simon Peter heard 404 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:04,700 him say it is the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around 405 00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:07,700 him, for he taking it off and jumped into the water. 406 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:11,900 He makes his way to shore because he is going to face the 407 00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:13,600 music. You know what it's time for. 408 00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:16,600 It's time to have a little walk with Jesus. 409 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:24,100 Some of you right now. Today, this moment it's time to 410 00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:28,900 have a little walk with Jesus. And have a talk with him. 411 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:35,200 It's time to confront those demons. but if you're taking a 412 00:26:35,208 --> 00:26:39,800 walk with Jesus, You don't have to confront those demons alone, 413 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:44,000 he'll be right there with you. John records. 414 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:48,200 Those next moments and as painful as those next moments 415 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,700 were for Simon Peter in that confrontation in that 416 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:57,500 conversation, the result of it was better than the removal of 417 00:26:57,500 --> 00:27:02,900 those regrets and Demons Inside. Am it was reconciliation. 418 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,400 The same words that John records. 419 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,900 Jesus. Crying out from the cross even 420 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:11,000 though Simon Peter. Wasn't there to hear it? 421 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,600 It is finished. Now applies to Simon Peter 422 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:20,700 because what he did in denying him Has been overcome by the 423 00:27:20,700 --> 00:27:24,600 grace of his Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ. 424 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,900 These people in their stories are so completely different and 425 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:35,000 yet Jesus meets them right where they are and ministers to them. 426 00:27:35,100 --> 00:27:38,100 If he can do that with them. Can he do that with you? 427 00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:41,500 Is he available to do that right now? 428 00:27:41,500 --> 00:27:44,000 Does he desire to do that right now? 429 00:27:44,300 --> 00:27:47,300 I love the fact that Jesus didn't assemble people who were 430 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:51,500 just like him. He put people together that were 431 00:27:51,500 --> 00:27:55,600 so completely different because he's the greatest of leaders and 432 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:59,700 Jesus has this ability to meet you right where you are and then 433 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:03,000 leads you to the place that he intended for you, if you'll just 434 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:09,000 follow him. so now the question gets personal, Which one are 435 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:12,800 you? Are you the devotee? 436 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:16,800 Are you the disbeliever? Are you the denier or you 437 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,600 something different than all of those? 438 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:22,400 Maybe you're facing something right now. 439 00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:26,800 Maybe you're connecting with the feelings of these three that 440 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,600 John shares with you and maybe you're feeling and experiencing 441 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:35,000 something completely different. God knows I don't Maybe you're 442 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,200 looking for a different outcome than the one you have. 443 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,800 Right now, maybe you're looking for the release of a 444 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,900 circumstance. Maybe you're looking for 445 00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:44,500 forgiveness from what you cannot take back. 446 00:28:44,900 --> 00:28:48,900 Maybe you're saying to God and your silence is you sit there. 447 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:51,600 Why are you letting this happen to me? 448 00:28:56,100 --> 00:28:59,800 I got a call a few weeks ago from my oldest sister. 449 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:05,700 Carolyn telling me that. My second oldest sister, Arlene 450 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:08,000 was in the hospital and she wasn't doing well. 451 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:13,900 Arlene. 17 years older than me. Carolyn's 19 years older. 452 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:17,500 Man the baby, the family. They wanted me to pray. 453 00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:20,800 I end up driving down there and spending some time with her. 454 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,800 I mean, she's the most one of the most, if not the most 455 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:27,400 intelligent person, our family, incredible follower of Jesus 456 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,400 Christ. Knows the scriptures. 457 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:36,800 Like you would not believe. And yet she was struggling. 458 00:29:37,900 --> 00:29:41,500 And she's had a rough few weeks, she's in the hospital. 459 00:29:42,500 --> 00:29:44,800 They tried to get things under control to the number of 460 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,500 procedures that made her a lot weaker that she went to wheat 461 00:29:47,500 --> 00:29:50,600 rehab. She did a week in rehab, got her 462 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:54,300 a little bit stronger went back home, wasn't there 24 hours 463 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,300 before more issues back to the hospital? 464 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:01,600 They're going undergoing. A bunch more tests and difficult 465 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,800 procedures making her even weaker and now she's in skilled 466 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:09,500 care. And I don't care how strong you 467 00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:13,200 are in the Lord or in his word, those things can be really 468 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:20,000 daunting. and for her, she was struggling with discouragement. 469 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,200 Am I next oldest living sister? My sister Kathy's closest? 470 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:29,300 To me, also been in the conversation via text and 471 00:30:29,300 --> 00:30:34,900 whatever she sent, Arlene, a message that she had seen in red 472 00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:39,100 and thought it would give her some encouragement and Arling 473 00:30:39,100 --> 00:30:43,700 responded, how just encouraging it really was because what Kathy 474 00:30:43,700 --> 00:30:47,400 gave her and what she shared was a whole new point of view and I 475 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:52,100 would like what we have been experiences as a family And that 476 00:30:52,100 --> 00:30:56,300 encouragement to flow over you today. 477 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:58,700 So, I'm going to share that with you. 478 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,700 The first reference in it is a reference to Joseph in the Old 479 00:31:02,700 --> 00:31:05,900 Testament. The one with the mini, the coat 480 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:10,800 of many colors and this is what Kathy sent to Arlene. 481 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:17,600 I would have pulled Joseph out. Out of that prison out of that 482 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,900 pain. And I would have cheated Nations 483 00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:24,600 out of the one. God would use to deliver them 484 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:29,200 from famine. I would have pulled David out 485 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:33,800 out of Saul's spear-throwing presence out of the caves. 486 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:38,100 He hid away in out of the pain of rejection and I would have 487 00:31:38,100 --> 00:31:41,200 cheated Israel, out of a god hearted King. 488 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,900 I would have pulled Esther out. Out of being snatched from her 489 00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:49,700 only family out of being placed in a position. 490 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:53,600 She never asked for out of the path of a vicious power-hungry 491 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:56,900 fo, and I would have cheated a people out of a woman. 492 00:31:56,900 --> 00:32:02,000 God would use to say their very lives And I would have pulled 493 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,800 Jesus off. Off of that cross. 494 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:10,700 Off of the road that led to suffering and pain off of the 495 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:12,800 path. That would mean nakedness and 496 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:18,400 beatings nails and thorns and I would have cheated the entire 497 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:22,100 world out of a savior out of salvation. 498 00:32:23,700 --> 00:32:27,300 Out of an eternity filled with no more suffering and no more 499 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:29,600 pain. And no. 500 00:32:31,300 --> 00:32:36,400 I want to pull you out. I want to change your path, I 501 00:32:36,408 --> 00:32:40,600 want to stop your pain but right now I know I would be wrong. 502 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:46,000 I would be out of line. I would be cheating you and 503 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,700 cheating the world out of so much good because God knows. 504 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,600 He knows the good this pain will produce. 505 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,200 He knows the beauty. This hardship will grow. 506 00:32:56,500 --> 00:33:00,000 He's watching over you and keeping you even in the midst of 507 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:04,100 this and he's promising, you that you can trust him, even 508 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:07,800 when it all feels like more than you can bear. 509 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:14,200 So, instead of pulling you out, I'm lifting you up, I'm kneeling 510 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:19,300 before the father and I'm asking him to give you strength to give 511 00:33:19,300 --> 00:33:22,700 you hope. I'm asking him to protect you 512 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:25,500 and to move you when the time is, right? 513 00:33:26,300 --> 00:33:30,000 I'm asking him to help you. Stay prayerful and Discerning, 514 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:33,800 I'm asking him how I can best love you and be a help to you 515 00:33:33,900 --> 00:33:39,300 and I'm believing he's going to use your life in powerful and in 516 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:44,800 beautiful ways ways that leave your heart grateful and humbly 517 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:57,700 thankful for this road, you've been on Me tell you, it's it's 518 00:33:57,700 --> 00:34:02,200 good to have a family like that. Where we can rest in the grace 519 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:06,200 and the goodness, the love of God, even when we can't see it, 520 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,699 we can't feel it. And it doesn't make sense to us. 521 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:16,199 And I know that at times like this in the Years, some of us we 522 00:34:16,199 --> 00:34:21,800 let the lower story take over. But it's time to raise our eyes, 523 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:26,900 to lift up our eyes, and realize that the upper stories there as 524 00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:30,699 well. And that God loves you. 525 00:34:31,699 --> 00:34:35,600 That he has a plan for your life that Jesus died for you, and 526 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,500 he's coming back for you someday. 527 00:34:38,500 --> 00:34:40,600 Would you reflect on that? As we move to a time of 528 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:51,100 decision, so, What's getting in the way? 529 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:57,000 In your life right now. What's keeping you from being 530 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,100 able to focus on the goodness of God and being thankful? 531 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:07,000 and these other things that are coming into your heart and into 532 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:16,800 your mind, it's hard, isn't it? You know, a lot of you, I'm 533 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,100 sharing that story about my family and you connect with 534 00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:23,700 that, you're connecting with it right now, different names, 535 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:27,400 different circumstances but a lot of the same emotions. 536 00:35:29,300 --> 00:35:35,100 Right. I think this is a place where we 537 00:35:35,100 --> 00:35:41,000 understand each other. But if we could just not think 538 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,700 so much. About the things that are 539 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:50,400 happening in the Earth. So much about, you know, I can 540 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,900 be thankful because of all the things I've received. 541 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:59,400 From a human Earthly. Perspective. 542 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:06,000 But instead, to see something greater of what I have received 543 00:36:06,300 --> 00:36:08,000 that. I could never earn a knife could 544 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,500 never deserve. There's some of you here today 545 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,400 that have never stepped into an intimate personal relationship 546 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:19,600 with Jesus Christ. And he has come all this way. 547 00:36:21,900 --> 00:36:26,200 And I said to you, he was in the room when Thomas was saying, 548 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,000 what are you saying Thomas? Couldn't see him, but he was 549 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,400 there and he's in this room right now and he knows the 550 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:33,600 argument, you're having in your own head right now. 551 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:36,800 He knows all the stuff that you're thinking right now, but 552 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:41,200 he's still here right now. And he's here for you right now 553 00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:45,600 and he sees your potential, he knows what he what you're 554 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:48,000 capable of because he made you that way. 555 00:36:49,900 --> 00:36:52,400 And he's looking for your heart to say yes to him. 556 00:36:53,700 --> 00:36:57,100 And if you have never said, yes to an intimate personal 557 00:36:57,100 --> 00:37:01,300 relationship with Jesus Christ, you can do that today, you can 558 00:37:01,300 --> 00:37:03,200 do that right now. There's going to be somebody 559 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:06,800 standing over there by that baptistry that would love 560 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,100 nothing more than to talk to you that pray with you. 561 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,200 And to help you. On a journey that somebody help 562 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:19,800 them find. All the way to the Gates of 563 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:25,900 Heaven. And Jesus saying, welcome home. 564 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:31,300 Well done. This is what I prepared for you. 565 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:38,300 Many of you are here today, and you made a decision for Christ. 566 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:42,000 You're walking in that relationship, and that's great. 567 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:46,100 But, you know, that stuff gets in the way. 568 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,800 And sometimes this world and the cares and the burdens and the 569 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,800 challenges, the circumstances that you face, they can become 570 00:37:56,800 --> 00:38:01,700 overwhelming and overpowering. And that's why we need time. 571 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:04,900 That's why these steps are up here in front of you because 572 00:38:05,500 --> 00:38:08,700 just takes some time before the Lord. 573 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:17,500 Because he changes everything. For Mary. 574 00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:22,700 It was rabona. It was, I don't have a reason to 575 00:38:22,700 --> 00:38:29,200 cry anymore. For Thomas, it was I've stop 576 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:33,700 doubting and now I'm believing and I'm going to act on that. 577 00:38:34,300 --> 00:38:42,500 I'm putting my skepticism away. and for Peter, I can look you in 578 00:38:42,500 --> 00:38:45,800 the eyes. Again, I can face you because 579 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:50,900 you've taken away my shame. For you. 580 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:58,400 God knows. Jesus knows, it may be today. 581 00:38:59,900 --> 00:39:05,100 You can admit that to him. And feel his strong hands 582 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:11,000 holding you and lifting you back up to face a world, but never 583 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:15,400 alone. But you stand with me. 584 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:20,800 And let's pray together. Heavenly father in Jesus name we 585 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:26,300 come to you because we have the name of Jesus to speak and 586 00:39:26,300 --> 00:39:29,600 because of him we have confidence to approach your 587 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:34,300 throne and we ask you father that today. 588 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:42,000 We're not asking you to move. We need to move closer to you. 589 00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:48,300 Whatever form that takes today. I pray that we would listen to 590 00:39:48,300 --> 00:39:52,300 your spirit at work in our hearts and move in your 591 00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:57,100 direction. In Jesus name, amen.