Do you worship a weak God? Is your God a victim? A prisoner? How you view God will say a lot about how you view yourself.
Jesus enjoys a few tender moments with his disciples during Passover. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lamb of God gives himself up to wolves, but not without displaying his power.
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Today's Bible verse is Revelation 4:11 from the King James Version.
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Speaker 1: Remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said,
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Speaker 1: it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts
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Speaker 1: twenty thirty five. Dear Lord, thank you for your example
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Speaker 1: of generosity and service to others. Even though you are
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Speaker 1: God and holier than every one, you still bent down
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Speaker 1: to bless us. You continually shower us with grace, patience,
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Speaker 1: and service. Teach me to live in your ways and
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Speaker 1: leave a legacy of helping others. May I never get
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Speaker 1: too arrogant to serve people. May I never be too
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Speaker 1: busy to notice people in need. Give me open eyes
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Speaker 1: to see the needs around me, and willing hands to
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Speaker 1: bless them in Jesus name. Amen, thank you for praying
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Speaker 1: with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast, where
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Speaker 1: the gospel stories are reborn with fresh vibrancy. Don't go away.
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Speaker 1: Immerse yourself in the unfolding drama and wonder of Jesus's
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Speaker 1: journey to the cross and out from the grave. If
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Speaker 1: this podcast has brought value to your faith, we'd love
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Speaker 1: it if you left a review and shared it with
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Speaker 1: a friend. We want the story of Jesus to be
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Speaker 1: known throughout the world, because when Jesus' story is told,
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Speaker 1: lives are transformed.
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Speaker 2: Lord Caiaphas, this man claims to have information about the Nazarene.
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Speaker 1: Judas stepped out of the darkness and into the torchlight.
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Speaker 1: Caiaphas laughed, ha.
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Speaker 2: Ha ah, I know you, he sneered.
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Speaker 1: You are one of his twelve disciples. Judas ignored his
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Speaker 1: laughter and went straight to the point.
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Speaker 3: What will you give me if I deliver him to you?
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Speaker 1: He said? Quickly. Caiaphas smile disappeared. He stood to his
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Speaker 1: feet and circled Judas like a wolf does to its prey.
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Speaker 2: Tell me, Judas, what did your master do to you?
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Speaker 3: Jude warrant his betrayal.
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Speaker 1: Judas clenched his fist and shrugged.
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Speaker 3: My reasons are my own not good enough.
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Speaker 1: Caiaphus yelled, slamming his fist on the table.
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Speaker 2: Why should I trust you? M M.
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Speaker 1: Judas closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. The
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Speaker 1: slithering presence of Satan coiled around his heart, prompting him
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Speaker 1: to near madness. Although he had the choice to turn back,
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Speaker 1: he felt helpless to do anything else. He opened his
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Speaker 1: eyes and rolled his shoulders back with confidence.
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Speaker 2: He said, I have what you want, which is information
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Speaker 2: on the whereabouts.
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Speaker 3: And weaknesses of Jesus. You have what I want, which
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Speaker 3: is silver in my purse. Do you want to be
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Speaker 3: partners or not?
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Speaker 1: Caiaph a smile returned.
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Speaker 3: Oh so.
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Speaker 2: You're a simple man, he teased, Very well, thirty pieces
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Speaker 2: of silver should be more.
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Speaker 3: Than enough for your services.
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Speaker 1: He gestured for one of the priests to retrieve the
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Speaker 1: money for Judas. They handed him a sack of thirty
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Speaker 1: pieces of silver. Judas held it in his hand. The
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Speaker 1: bag was heavy, heavy enough to drag his entire soul
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Speaker 1: into darkness.
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Speaker 4: Do you worship a weak God? Is your God a victim?
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Speaker 4: A prisoner? How you view God will say a lot
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Speaker 4: about how you view yourself. If you view Jesus as
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Speaker 4: a suffering victim, you might find yourself often feeling like
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Speaker 4: a victim. But if you see Jesus for who he is,
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Speaker 4: a conqueror, a lion, a champion, you'll find confidence to
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Speaker 4: stand firm against any trial because you know He's with you.
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Speaker 4: Paul says in Romans eight thirty seven, we are more
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Speaker 4: than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast,
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Speaker 4: a year of story showcasing the depth of Christ's love
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Speaker 4: and the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach, your host
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Speaker 4: from pray dot Com, and I am so stoked to
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Speaker 4: be with you today. It's Passion Week, which means we
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Speaker 4: are preparing for the death of Jesus on Good Friday
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Speaker 4: and celebrating the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Be sure to
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Speaker 4: follow this podcast so you don't miss out on those
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Speaker 4: gripping episodes and the saga that is the gospel. Today's
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Speaker 4: story is an emotional rollercoaster, taking us from the warm
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Speaker 4: upper room where Jesus enjoys the Passover with his disciples,
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Speaker 4: the cold garden of Gasemone, where a hundred guards will
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Speaker 4: arrest Jesus. Our story today will begin with a tender
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Speaker 4: moment between Jesus and his disciples, but it's going to
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Speaker 4: end with them scattering in fear. It's going to end
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Speaker 4: with blood and betrayal. The story begins with the Passover,
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Speaker 4: the celebration that remembers God's passing over the Israelites, when
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Speaker 4: the blood of the Lamb was on their doorposts. It
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Speaker 4: was a day to remember the brutality of slavery in Egypt,
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Speaker 4: but God's redemption through it all. The Lamb that was
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Speaker 4: slain in Exodus and put on the door posts so
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Speaker 4: that the Angel would pass over them was a foreshadowing
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Speaker 4: to Jesus, whose blood would be shed for the salvation
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Speaker 4: for all mankind. He is the ultimate passover Lamb. In
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Speaker 4: this episode, we're also going to witness the arrest of Jesus. Peter,
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Speaker 4: not fathoming that Jesus didn't need his protection, draws his
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Speaker 4: sword to fight, but he's going to find out that
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Speaker 4: Jesus isn't a victim. He's not going as a prisoner.
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Speaker 4: He's going as a king. Keep these things in mind
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Speaker 4: as you listen to today's story. Be swept away in
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Speaker 4: the emotion of it all, and remember that there is
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Speaker 4: no freedom from the slavery of sin without the humble
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Speaker 4: sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
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Speaker 1: The time had come for passover, a sacred moment of
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Speaker 1: remembrance and reverence. The passover Lamb himself stood at a
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Speaker 1: slight distance from his followers. He knew the struggle and
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Speaker 1: heartache awaited them, but he would not spare them from trials.
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Speaker 1: He knew that the hardship awaiting them fulfilled a divine purpose.
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Speaker 1: His eyes glanced down at their feet filthy from weeks
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Speaker 1: of traveling to and from the city. Like their souls,
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Speaker 1: their feet needed cleansing. There was no servant in the
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Speaker 1: room to wash them, but a basin and washrags were
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Speaker 1: in the corner. Jesus filled the basin with water, moved
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Speaker 1: his garment, and wrapped a cloth around his waist. He
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Speaker 1: returned to where his disciples sat and ordered them to
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Speaker 1: sit in line. Without a word, he gently began to
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Speaker 1: wash their feet, one at a time, every moment filled
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Speaker 1: with an earthly tenderness that stirred.
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Speaker 3: Something deep within them.
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Speaker 1: The sound of trickling water echoed throughout the room as
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Speaker 1: Jesus carefully scrubbed away the dirt and dust. It was
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Speaker 1: a job for slaves, but the Son of God didn't
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Speaker 1: count at a loss to humble himself and serve. The
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Speaker 1: disciples simply remained in awe, astonished by this act of
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Speaker 1: love and humility. It was unheard of for a rabbi
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Speaker 1: or any one of prominence to wash other's feet. The
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Speaker 1: dirty water splashed on to Jesus as he scrubbed. At
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Speaker 1: that moment, he was literally covered in their filth. Soon
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Speaker 1: he would wear the filth of their sins. None dared speak,
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Speaker 1: for fear of lightning. The weight of jesus gesture at
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Speaker 1: that moment, a heavenly warmth seemed to fill the entire room,
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Speaker 1: radiating outward from his simple but powerful act of service.
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Speaker 1: Their eyes followed their master as he moved from disciple
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Speaker 1: to disciple. Jesus made his way to Judas. Their eyes
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Speaker 1: met briefly. Then Jesus knelt down to.
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Speaker 3: Wash his feet.
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Speaker 1: Despite knowing what was coming, he cast no judgment or partiality.
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Speaker 1: Only mercy and understanding shone through his countenance. That merciful
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Speaker 1: stare and tender touch made Judas flinch with remorse. The
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Speaker 1: first tinges of regret began to surface, but too much
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Speaker 1: had already been said in motion. Judas felt trapped. When
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Speaker 1: it was time for Peter's feet to be washed, he
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Speaker 1: recoiled and protested.
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Speaker 3: No, Lord, you shall never wash my feet.
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Speaker 1: Jesus smiled softly and replied.
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Speaker 3: Peter, if I do not wash you clean, you cannot
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Speaker 3: share this life with me.
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Speaker 1: Peter, still unsure of what Jesus was saying, widened his
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Speaker 1: eyes and exclaimed.
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Speaker 2: In that case, wash all of me, Lord, wash me
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Speaker 2: from head to toe.
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Speaker 1: Jesus his head and chuckled. Once Peter's feet had been
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Speaker 1: washed clean, he leaned back on to the heel of
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Speaker 1: his feet and said.
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Speaker 3: What I am doing you do not understand yet, but
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Speaker 3: trust me, soon you will. If I you lord him
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Speaker 3: willing to bend down and become dirty to bless you,
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Speaker 3: surely you should be willing to do so for one another.
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Speaker 1: His words hung over their hearts for a while. They
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Speaker 1: couldn't fully grasp how dirty Jesus was willing to get
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Speaker 1: for them, but they would understand soon enough. After having
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Speaker 1: their feet cleaned, they reclined at the table. The disciples
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Speaker 1: relaxed themselves. The soft glow of the lamp light warmed
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Speaker 1: the room. Jesus, however, was troubled. He wasn't worried, nor
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Speaker 1: was he angry. He was resolved that something terrible yet
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Speaker 1: profound was about to unfold. Interrupting the joyful banter at
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Speaker 1: the table, Jesus said.
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Speaker 3: Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will
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Speaker 3: betray me before the night is ended.
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Speaker 1: The disciples glanced at one another in confusion. They weren't
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Speaker 1: sure what Jesus meant or who among them could possibly
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Speaker 1: betray him. John, leaning close to Jesus, with an innocent gaze, asked,
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Speaker 1: with sincerity.
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Speaker 3: Lord, is it I who will betray you?
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Speaker 1: The purity of John's question revealed the humility of his heart.
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Speaker 1: Jesus smiled at John but did not respond. Each disciple
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Speaker 1: asked if it was them, with worry on their faces.
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Speaker 1: Jesus took a piece of bread and said.
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Speaker 3: It is who ever receives this morsel of bread after
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Speaker 3: I've dipped it.
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Speaker 1: Jesus dipped the bread in the broth and handed it
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Speaker 1: to Judas. The person to receive the first morsel of
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Speaker 1: dipped bread was always considered the most esteemed person at
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Speaker 1: the table. By giving Judas the bread, he was showing
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Speaker 1: him honor and love. This confused the disciples even more,
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Speaker 1: forcing them to resign themselves to mystery. Once again. They
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Speaker 1: resumed their discussion, but jesus gaze remained fixed on Judas.
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Speaker 1: Judas took the bread with shaking hands. He held it
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Speaker 1: close to his lips, barely biting into it, before setting
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Speaker 1: it back down on the table. Jesus leaned his elbows
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Speaker 1: on the table and nodded to Judas, what.
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Speaker 3: You have planned to do? Do it quickly.
00:12:51
Speaker 1: Judas's eyes widened with a mixture of guilt and hatred.
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Speaker 1: Judas looked away and rose to his feet defeat. Jesus
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Speaker 1: had just washed. Judas left, but nobody knew what he
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Speaker 1: was up to, since he was the keeper of the purse.
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Speaker 1: They thought Judas had left to go buy more food
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Speaker 1: for the feast. Peter leaned over to Jesus and said, Lord,
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Speaker 1: you know I would never deny you.
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Speaker 4: Right.
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Speaker 1: Jesus placed a firm hand on Peter's shoulder and said.
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Speaker 3: Simon, Simon, indeed, Satan has asked for you. He desires
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Speaker 3: to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you.
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Speaker 3: I have prayed that your faith would not fail. You
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Speaker 3: will run, But when you returned to me, I asked
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Speaker 3: that you strengthen your brothers and sisters.
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Speaker 2: Here they won't need you. Lord, I will not run.
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Speaker 2: I will fight for you. I would go to prison
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Speaker 2: for you. I I would even die for you.
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Speaker 1: Jesus paused and looked away from Peter and gazed out
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Speaker 1: the window. He knew his time was near. He turned
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Speaker 1: back to Peter and said.
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Speaker 3: Peter, I tell you now that before the rooster has
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Speaker 3: crewed three times, tomorrow, you will have denied. Knowing me
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Speaker 3: three times.
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Speaker 1: Peter, not quite understanding what Jesus meant, sat back and
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Speaker 1: pondered his words. He resolved never to leave jesus side.
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Speaker 1: He would be his defender, not his denial. As the
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Speaker 1: cool night settled across the land outside the window pane,
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Speaker 1: the warmth of fellowship felt like a bomb to jesus
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Speaker 1: Aching heart. Their laughter was an aroma, mingled with a
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Speaker 1: scent of freshly baked bread. Knowing that his last hour
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Speaker 1: was close, he broke the bread at the table.
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Speaker 3: Take this, he said. It is my body broken, so
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Speaker 3: you may be made whole.
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Speaker 1: His companions took it, ignorant of its meaning and the
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Speaker 1: sacrifice yet to take place. He poured wine into a
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Speaker 1: cup and had his companions pass it around the table.
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Speaker 3: This is my covenant. Take and drink of it.
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Speaker 1: He said, solemnly.
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Speaker 3: It is my blood shed for the remission of sins.
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Speaker 1: They all drank, and in doing so instituted a sacrament
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Speaker 1: that would endure throughout the generations, reminding every one of
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Speaker 1: the loving sacrifice of their king. After they ate, Jesus
00:15:46
Speaker 1: led them in a hymn. His voice led theirs in
00:15:50
Speaker 1: symphonic praise to God. It was an anthem, signaling the
00:15:55
Speaker 1: beginning of something miraculous. The singing ceased, and the Son
00:16:03
Speaker 1: of God led his followers to the mount of Olives.
00:16:09
Speaker 1: They scaled the winding path leading to the garden of Gissemone.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: The full moon lingered over the trees like a watchful eye.
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Speaker 1: The frosty air pierced the disciples lungs as they followed Jesus.
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Speaker 1: They all missed the warmth of the upper room and
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Speaker 1: wondered why he had led them here. They arrived at
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Speaker 1: the garden and paused under a wooded glen. There was
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Speaker 1: an ominous silence in the garden, as if all the
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Speaker 1: creatures of the night were watching them with bated breath.
00:16:47
Speaker 1: The wind picked up, running through the trees like wolves.
00:16:53
Speaker 1: It blew towards a far off stone underneath a break
00:16:56
Speaker 1: in the tree covering. Beckoned the Son of.
00:17:01
Speaker 3: God forward remain here and pray. He told his disciples
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Speaker 3: pray for God's will to be done.
00:17:08
Speaker 1: Jesus left his companions and retreated to be alone with
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Speaker 1: his father. He knelt beside the stone and poured his
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Speaker 1: soul out to him. Blood sprang from his pores, conveying
00:17:22
Speaker 1: the existential tragedy. He was about to endure Abbah.
00:17:27
Speaker 3: He prayed, if it is possible, let this cop pass
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Speaker 3: from before me.
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Speaker 1: Jesus pleaded, but there was no other way. The mountain
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Speaker 1: called Skull awaited him, where the wrath of God would
00:17:42
Speaker 1: be poured out. Jesus knew the will of the Father.
00:17:48
Speaker 1: Jesus knew what had to be done with determination and resolve.
00:17:56
Speaker 1: Jesus bowed and whispered, not.
00:17:58
Speaker 3: My will, but yours be done.
00:18:01
Speaker 1: He continued to pray for his disciples. He prayed that
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Speaker 1: they would be unified and ready for one lay ahead.
00:18:11
Speaker 1: He knew that intense trials awaited them. They would need
00:18:16
Speaker 1: the strength of God's spirit. Jesus breathed in deeply and
00:18:23
Speaker 1: readied his soul. His weary eyes beheld a vision of
00:18:28
Speaker 1: perfect feasts. As he gazed upward toward his father. He
00:18:34
Speaker 1: knew what had to be done with an indomitable will.
00:18:40
Speaker 1: He stood to go meet his enemies. The disciples had
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Speaker 1: fallen asleep while Jesus was praying.
00:18:49
Speaker 3: He shook his head and sighed, the spirit is willing,
00:18:53
Speaker 3: but the flesh is weak.
00:18:55
Speaker 1: He tapped Peter on the shoulder and said, wake up,
00:18:59
Speaker 1: my pursuers. Approaching the disciples, all frantically stood to their feet.
00:19:04
Speaker 1: Jesus went ahead of them. He stepped forth, intent on
00:19:08
Speaker 1: facing his enemies with meek and unwavering strength. The son
00:19:13
Speaker 1: of God didn't wait for his pursuers to find him.
00:19:16
Speaker 1: He closed the gap between himself and a group of
00:19:19
Speaker 1: soldiers hiding away in the shadows. His disciples followed him
00:19:24
Speaker 1: over the brook Kidron Crimson with the blood of animal sacrifices.
00:19:30
Speaker 1: The sound of marching, accompanied by dozens of torches, emerged
00:19:35
Speaker 1: from the trees. The small army of soldiers came from
00:19:40
Speaker 1: the shadows. Judas appeared from them like a wolf sauntering
00:19:46
Speaker 1: out of his den. And there, under the faint glow
00:19:51
Speaker 1: of the moon, the wolf and the lamb stood yards
00:19:57
Speaker 1: away from each other, hiding the cowardice behind an insincere smile.
00:20:04
Speaker 1: Judas approached his master and greeted him, Hello, Rabbi, he said,
00:20:09
Speaker 1: accompanied by a kiss. It was the signal for the
00:20:14
Speaker 1: soldiers to attack, but they refrained.
00:20:18
Speaker 3: So this is how you betray the son of.
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Speaker 1: Man, Jesus said, with a sigh. With a kiss, Jesus
00:20:24
Speaker 1: looked over Judas's shoulder and gestured to the soldiers behind.
00:20:28
Speaker 2: Him, whom do you seek Jesus of Nazareth.
00:20:32
Speaker 1: They answered, with their hands gripping their swords.
00:20:35
Speaker 3: I am he.
00:20:37
Speaker 1: He answered, and as he did something stirred among the
00:20:42
Speaker 1: heavens on the earth. Thunder rumbled, lightning streaked across the sky,
00:20:50
Speaker 1: and the mighty winds of God billowed against the soldiers
00:20:54
Speaker 1: with ferocity, pushing the men off their feet and onto
00:20:58
Speaker 1: their backs. The men were quick to recoil and sprang
00:21:02
Speaker 1: back to their feet. Flustered and confused, Jesus, still calm
00:21:09
Speaker 1: asked again, whom do you seek. The men were uncertain
00:21:13
Speaker 1: how to proceed. With nervous voices, they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
00:21:21
Speaker 1: Jesus stretched his arms and replied, I have.
00:21:24
Speaker 5: Told you already that I am he. All I ask
00:21:27
Speaker 5: is that you let my friends go. They've done nothing wrong.
00:21:31
Speaker 5: It is me you want. At that moment, Peter was
00:21:35
Speaker 5: stirred up with passion. He had promised to defend Jesus
00:21:40
Speaker 5: to the bitter end. With rage fueling him, Peter drew
00:21:44
Speaker 5: out his sword and ran toward the guards.
00:21:47
Speaker 4: You will not take him, Peter shouted.
00:21:50
Speaker 1: One of the guards, named Malchus, stepped forward and parried
00:21:54
Speaker 1: Peter's below Peter stepped back, then swung downward, aiming for
00:21:59
Speaker 1: malchus head. He missed, grazing his ear and chopping it off.
00:22:04
Speaker 1: Malchus cried out and fell to the floor, holding his
00:22:08
Speaker 1: bloodied head and writhing in pain. The guards jumped on
00:22:12
Speaker 1: to Peter. He kicked and screamed with his sword in
00:22:16
Speaker 1: his hand. Master ran, but Jesus didn't. Instead, he calmly
00:22:23
Speaker 1: walked over to Malchus. He knelt down and took malchus
00:22:27
Speaker 1: ear and placed it back on his head. He held
00:22:32
Speaker 1: his hand over his ear and shouted to the disciples.
00:22:36
Speaker 3: Peter, dropped your weapon. Those are lit by the sword.
00:22:39
Speaker 3: We die by the sword. You've seen my power? Do
00:22:42
Speaker 3: you not think I could have my father's and legions
00:22:44
Speaker 3: of angels to fight on my behalf. What is happening
00:22:48
Speaker 3: must happen the scriptures to be fulfilled.
00:22:51
Speaker 1: As Jesus said these things, he took his hand off Malchus. Miraculously,
00:22:58
Speaker 1: his ear had been put back in place. Malchus's eyes
00:23:03
Speaker 1: watered as he looked up at Jesus warm smile. Jesus
00:23:09
Speaker 1: held Malchus to his feet. The guards released Peter and
00:23:13
Speaker 1: the rest of the disciples ran away in fear for
00:23:16
Speaker 1: their lives. Jesus raised his voice to the guards, in
00:23:21
Speaker 1: complete control of the situation.
00:23:24
Speaker 5: Daily I taught in the temple, But none of your
00:23:26
Speaker 5: rested me.
00:23:26
Speaker 3: Then, why, I'll tell you this is how it must
00:23:31
Speaker 3: be for the word to be fulfilled.
00:23:34
Speaker 1: With those words. Jesus raised his hands for them to
00:23:37
Speaker 1: bind him. The Lamb of God knew he was being
00:23:42
Speaker 1: sent to slaughter, but he would not be taken as
00:23:47
Speaker 1: a victim. No, he was the victor, the hero of heaven.
00:23:55
Speaker 1: He extended his hands to be bound and his chin
00:23:59
Speaker 1: to be struck, but not as a powerless captive. He
00:24:05
Speaker 1: was marching as a conquering king.
00:24:10
Speaker 4: All right, First, let's talk about the scene at Passover.
00:24:14
Speaker 4: Then we're gonna move on to the gritty truth of
00:24:16
Speaker 4: chopping off years. There are moments in our lives when
00:24:19
Speaker 4: we feel licensed to be selfish and seek to be
00:24:22
Speaker 4: served by others. One of those moments is when we
00:24:24
Speaker 4: feel like victims. We feel entitled to selfishness, and we
00:24:28
Speaker 4: feel like we've been wronged or cheated of something. So
00:24:31
Speaker 4: maybe we deserve a little something. May we deserve to
00:24:33
Speaker 4: be indulgent? After all, if no one is going to
00:24:36
Speaker 4: look out for me, then I need to look out
00:24:37
Speaker 4: for myself right. Another time we permit ourselves to be
00:24:40
Speaker 4: selfish is when we feel morally superior to someone else.
00:24:44
Speaker 4: Sometimes we can trick ourselves into thinking our moral prowess
00:24:47
Speaker 4: makes us entitled to someone else's devotion. If anybody had
00:24:50
Speaker 4: cause to see themselves as a victim or morally superior
00:24:53
Speaker 4: to others, it was definitely Jesus. However, instead of feeling
00:24:58
Speaker 4: entitled to the service of others, he humbly served. Listen
00:25:01
Speaker 4: to this verse from Philippians two, verses one through nine.
00:25:04
Speaker 4: Paul says this, if therefore, there is any exhortation in Christ,
00:25:08
Speaker 4: if any consolation and love, if any fellowship of the spirit,
00:25:11
Speaker 4: if any tender mercies of compassion, make my joy full
00:25:14
Speaker 4: by being like minded, having the same love, being of
00:25:17
Speaker 4: one accord and of one mind, doing nothing through rivalry
00:25:21
Speaker 4: or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better
00:25:24
Speaker 4: than himself, each of you not just looking to your
00:25:27
Speaker 4: own things, but each of you also to the things
00:25:29
Speaker 4: of others. Have this in your mind, which was also
00:25:32
Speaker 4: the mind of Christ, who, existing in the form of God,
00:25:36
Speaker 4: didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped
00:25:39
Speaker 4: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. Being
00:25:42
Speaker 4: made in the likeness of men and being found in
00:25:45
Speaker 4: human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point
00:25:48
Speaker 4: of death. Yes, even death on the cross. Service to
00:25:52
Speaker 4: others is not an admission of weakness. It's an ultimate
00:25:56
Speaker 4: display of strength. Jesus, being God, saw it as an
00:26:00
Speaker 4: of power and purpose to serve the people around him.
00:26:02
Speaker 4: Opportunities to be selfish and entitled are all around us,
00:26:05
Speaker 4: but it takes a godly individual with christ like strength
00:26:09
Speaker 4: to look for the areas needing love and service. The
00:26:12
Speaker 4: Passover was a time of remembrance for the Israelites, commemorating
00:26:15
Speaker 4: their deliverance from Egypt. Jesus, the Passover Lamb, chose this
00:26:19
Speaker 4: moment to demonstrate a new kind of deliverance, a deliverance
00:26:23
Speaker 4: from sin and self centeredness. By washing the disciples feet,
00:26:26
Speaker 4: Jesus the Master and teacher embrace the role of a servant.
00:26:30
Speaker 4: This act was not just about physical cleanliness, but symbolize
00:26:34
Speaker 4: the cleansing of their lives from sin. Jesus's humility and
00:26:38
Speaker 4: service are central to his message and mission, and it's
00:26:41
Speaker 4: central to us as believers. At the table, Jesus broke
00:26:45
Speaker 4: bread and shared wine, symbolizing his body and blood. This
00:26:49
Speaker 4: was more than a ritual, this was an invitation to
00:26:51
Speaker 4: partake in his suffering and victory. The bread and wine
00:26:55
Speaker 4: became symbols of a new covenant, a promise of redemption
00:26:58
Speaker 4: and transformation based on the shedding of his blood and
00:27:01
Speaker 4: the breaking of his body. This covenant is based on grace,
00:27:04
Speaker 4: not law, inviting us into a relationship with God based
00:27:07
Speaker 4: on what Jesus has done, not our merit. By partaking
00:27:10
Speaker 4: in communion, we are acknowledging Jesus's sacrifice for us, but
00:27:14
Speaker 4: also we're accepting the new life offered to us through
00:27:17
Speaker 4: a relationship with him. It's like a marriage where we
00:27:20
Speaker 4: dedicate ourselves to living a life with him and for him.
00:27:23
Speaker 4: When you take Communion this week, ponder these things and
00:27:25
Speaker 4: consider Christ's loving proposal. In this episode, the scene goes
00:27:29
Speaker 4: from warm and fuzzy and cozy to something a little
00:27:33
Speaker 4: more dark and sinister. Let's transition to the scene at
00:27:36
Speaker 4: the garden, specifically when Jesus is arrested. There are two
00:27:40
Speaker 4: things that I want us to notice here for today.
00:27:43
Speaker 4: First is that Jesus was at the brook Kedron. This
00:27:47
Speaker 4: brook was important during the Passover. It would typically be
00:27:51
Speaker 4: read because the blood from the temple was spilt into
00:27:53
Speaker 4: the brook. Jesus is literally standing beside a river flowing
00:27:58
Speaker 4: of blood spilt from sacrifice, just hours before he's going
00:28:02
Speaker 4: to make the final sacrifice, and his blood is going
00:28:04
Speaker 4: to be shed. But this brook also has some historical
00:28:07
Speaker 4: biblical significance. It was the brook that David crossed when
00:28:11
Speaker 4: he was running away from Absalom, who was trying to
00:28:14
Speaker 4: kill him. David was fleeing into the wilderness to save
00:28:17
Speaker 4: himself from death, but Jesus, years later, the son of David,
00:28:21
Speaker 4: stepped over the brook and ran towards his enemies. David
00:28:25
Speaker 4: was running away from evil, Jesus was stepping towards it.
00:28:28
Speaker 4: Jesus actually made it easier for them to arrest him.
00:28:32
Speaker 4: This place also has some prophetic significance because this is
00:28:36
Speaker 4: also the place where Jesus, with a robe dipped in blood,
00:28:39
Speaker 4: riding atop a white horse with a sword for a tongue,
00:28:42
Speaker 4: will come in battling evil and thwarting it once and
00:28:45
Speaker 4: for all. The second thing we have to notice here
00:28:47
Speaker 4: is that Jesus went forward to them. He wasn't hiding.
00:28:51
Speaker 4: It says that Jesus, knowing what would happen to him,
00:28:53
Speaker 4: came forward. It says in Hebrews chapter twelve, for the
00:28:57
Speaker 4: joy set before him, he endured the cross. Jesus was
00:29:00
Speaker 4: not dragged there against his will. Make no mistake, he
00:29:04
Speaker 4: was not seized by anyone. He willingly laid his life down.
00:29:08
Speaker 4: Jesus said so himself. Nobody takes my life, but I,
00:29:11
Speaker 4: for my sheep, will willingly lay it down. In fact,
00:29:14
Speaker 4: when the soldiers asked for Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus says,
00:29:17
Speaker 4: I am he, every soldier falls on their backs. That's
00:29:20
Speaker 4: powerful and a reminder that Jesus was not a victim.
00:29:23
Speaker 4: He was the triumphant and conquering king. He was going
00:29:27
Speaker 4: to pursue evil once and for all. These soldiers thought
00:29:30
Speaker 4: they had power, They had no power. Jesus was marching
00:29:35
Speaker 4: on a mission to the cross. He willingly gave himself up.
00:29:39
Speaker 4: Can we just stand in awe for a moment in
00:29:41
Speaker 4: Jesus's sovereignty over the whole situation. This scene is very
00:29:45
Speaker 4: important for us to grasp that Jesus was not a victim.
00:29:48
Speaker 4: It's profoundly important for us to know that Jesus was
00:29:50
Speaker 4: not a victim of evil. Rather, he was the victor
00:29:53
Speaker 4: over it. God provides a solution for the problem of
00:29:56
Speaker 4: evil and the Cross through Jesus. He took the eternal
00:29:59
Speaker 4: sting that evil caused humanity, nailed it to the cross
00:30:02
Speaker 4: with his hands and feet, and bore the weight of evil.
00:30:05
Speaker 4: He endured it all, and he conquered over it. Evil
00:30:09
Speaker 4: was but a tool for redemption in Christ's hands. He
00:30:11
Speaker 4: was totally and completely sovereign. Jesus was not a victim
00:30:15
Speaker 4: to sin and it's evils. He is the hero that
00:30:18
Speaker 4: prevails over it, and he can because he is God.
00:30:22
Speaker 4: He alone holds the power and authority to address evil
00:30:25
Speaker 4: and to do away with it completely. And when we
00:30:27
Speaker 4: fail to recognize Christ is the hero of the story
00:30:30
Speaker 4: and begin to look at ourselves as the heroes of
00:30:32
Speaker 4: the story, we react in one of two ways or both.
00:30:36
Speaker 4: Our typical response to sin and evil as usually and
00:30:39
Speaker 4: one of these two postures one hedonism ignoring good and
00:30:43
Speaker 4: evil to pursue your own personal pleasures and bliss. If
00:30:47
Speaker 4: you see yourself as the center of the story, you're
00:30:49
Speaker 4: the protagonists of this divine tale, then you're gonna do
00:30:52
Speaker 4: whatever you want, after all, you're the main character. But
00:30:56
Speaker 4: there's another approach that people often take to the problem
00:30:58
Speaker 4: of evil, and that's moral, as they take it upon
00:31:01
Speaker 4: themselves to eradicate all the evil because they are the
00:31:03
Speaker 4: hero of the story. One person who fell victim to
00:31:06
Speaker 4: this was Peter. In the Gospel of Jona says this,
00:31:09
Speaker 4: Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and
00:31:11
Speaker 4: struck the high priest servant and cut off his right ear.
00:31:14
Speaker 4: The servant's name was Malchus. At that Jesus said to Peter,
00:31:18
Speaker 4: put away your sword. Am I not to drink the
00:31:20
Speaker 4: cup that the Father has given me. Peter, in a
00:31:23
Speaker 4: moment of indignation, aimed to kill this soldier. He aimed
00:31:26
Speaker 4: for the head, but cut off the ear. I want
00:31:28
Speaker 4: to make a side point really quick. I wonder how
00:31:31
Speaker 4: many ears Jesus has had to put back on on
00:31:34
Speaker 4: my behalf. Here's what I mean. I wonder how many
00:31:38
Speaker 4: times I've been brutal. I wonder how many times I've
00:31:40
Speaker 4: been angry or I've been indignant when thinking I'm defending Jesus.
00:31:44
Speaker 4: Maybe I've been self righteous, Maybe I've been cutting with
00:31:47
Speaker 4: my words or judgmental in my tone, and in so
00:31:50
Speaker 4: doing I've cut off someone's ear to hearing the gospel.
00:31:54
Speaker 4: I wonder how many people I have cut off from
00:31:56
Speaker 4: hearing the truth of the Gospel because of my self
00:31:58
Speaker 4: righteousness or my error against I cringe thinking about that. Sometimes,
00:32:03
Speaker 4: in moments of jealousy, anger, and self righteousness, we can
00:32:07
Speaker 4: cut off people thinking that we're combating evil, but all
00:32:10
Speaker 4: the while we're just making a mess for Jesus to
00:32:12
Speaker 4: clean up afterwards. All of us at some point have
00:32:16
Speaker 4: been victims of this behavior as well. But look at
00:32:18
Speaker 4: what Jesus does to Malchus. He takes his ear and
00:32:22
Speaker 4: puts it back on him. He heals him. I think
00:32:25
Speaker 4: I can relate to Peter in this situation because he
00:32:27
Speaker 4: was one hundred percent convinced that he was the hero
00:32:30
Speaker 4: in this scenario. He was going to be the one
00:32:32
Speaker 4: to take up arms and defend Jesus because Jesus needed
00:32:35
Speaker 4: his defending. But Jesus just sent all these soldiers flying
00:32:39
Speaker 4: on their backs. Is there any inclination in this story
00:32:42
Speaker 4: that Jesus needed Peter's defending? Is there any inclination God
00:32:46
Speaker 4: has ever given us that he needs us to take
00:32:48
Speaker 4: up arms? And defend him at all costs. It's a
00:32:51
Speaker 4: form of self righteousness to think that God somehow needs
00:32:54
Speaker 4: our defending. When we're the hero of the story, we
00:32:57
Speaker 4: can cause a lot of damage. That's why it's so
00:33:00
Speaker 4: paramount for us to put Jesus at the top. He
00:33:03
Speaker 4: is the hero of the story, and the villain is
00:33:05
Speaker 4: the enemy sin and death. When I make people the
00:33:09
Speaker 4: enemy instead of Satan and evil, that's when it can
00:33:11
Speaker 4: get dangerous. Ephesian six says this, Your enemy isn't flesh
00:33:15
Speaker 4: and blood at all. For our struggles is not against
00:33:17
Speaker 4: flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against
00:33:21
Speaker 4: powers in this dark world, and against the spiritual forces
00:33:24
Speaker 4: of evil in the heavenly realms. So when Jesus is
00:33:26
Speaker 4: met in the garden, he confronts his enemies and allows
00:33:29
Speaker 4: them to escort him to trial. In our next episode,
00:33:31
Speaker 4: the son of God is going to stand before some
00:33:33
Speaker 4: powerful men. He's going to be tried and sentenced to death.
00:33:37
Speaker 4: He may seem like a victim to some, but we
00:33:39
Speaker 4: know he's the conquering king.
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