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The Journey of Faith and the First Words of Jesus · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn together to the gospel according to Luke chapter 2 and we can read at verse 49.
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! Luke chapter 2 at verse 49.
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And he, that is Jesus, he said to them,
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Why were you looking for me?
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Do you not know that I must be in my father's house?
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And so on.
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Of course it's interesting to read the beginning of this gospel,
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especially because of the particular way in which Luke draws together to us the story of the coming of Jesus into the world.
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And when we connect that with all that God has said in the Old Testament,
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we see the way in which there are great promises spoken by God right down from the book of Genesis
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right into the book of Malachi in the Old Testament.
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Promises that are waiting to be fulfilled.
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And we consider also that from the days of Malachi,
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who wrote 430 years before Jesus was born,
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it was a long time of waiting for God to fulfill his promises.
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And just as God had promised he would do,
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God came suddenly to the world and to the temple to announce the coming of John the Baptist
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and then to announce the birth of the Lord Jesus.
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And we read through these stories and we see the connection between the two of them
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and the way in which they, particularly in themselves,
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were the fulfillment of God's promise,
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with John the Baptist being the one who came to prepare the way
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and Jesus was the one who came to be our saviour.
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And through the story up until now,
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we are developing a portrait of who Jesus was
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and how he grew up and the things that his parents did with him.
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And one of these portraits is this last section that we have in this chapter
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that speaks to us of another part of the story.
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And as we reflect upon life and reflect upon the story,
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we know that life is a journey.
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They were joining up to Jerusalem because of the time of year,
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but we are ourselves on a journey.
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William Hague, the former leader of the Tory party,
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wrote in the Times this week and he spoke about the way in which
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we must prepare for the next calendar year.
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And we must prepare for a world that is dramatically better
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or catastrophically worse.
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In other words, we don't know what's going to happen,
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but we need to be prepared.
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And in the midst of all the changes that we see in our world,
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we need to seek to have the journey through the coming year
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that will bring us to where God wants us to be
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and perhaps will reverse us in our thinking
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and in the journey that we are on,
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a change of direction to bring us where we must be.
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We're on a journey,
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and where will that journey take us?
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And today I want us to consider
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the journey of faith
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and the first words of Jesus.
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First of all,
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I want us to think of the mistake
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that is to be avoided.
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And the mistake that is to be avoided
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took place in the life of the community of faith
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in the close family religion of Mary and Joseph.
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And that's where we have the story here.
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In verse 41,
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His parents went up to Jerusalem every year
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at the feast of the Passover.
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They were godly people.
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They were religious people.
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They followed the Bible.
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And they understood the significance of the Passover.
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It is the Passover and the Exodus from Egypt
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that made up their origin as the people of God.
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They have come from there.
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And down through the journey of the Old Testament,
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the people of God,
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time after time,
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remembered the Passover,
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celebrated the Passover
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to remind them that God had redeemed them
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and taken them out of Egypt.
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And we read the directions given for that
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in the book of Leviticus
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and the book of Exodus
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on the first month,
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on the 40th day of the month,
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they were to celebrate the Passover.
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And then from the 15th of the month,
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for seven days,
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the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
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It was a case of,
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let's remember what God has done for us
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to make us who we are.
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And for the next seven days,
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let's remember what God wants us to be like.
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That is a life without sin.
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So for that whole eight days of gathering,
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it was a celebration of what God had done.
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And it was, in a sense,
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a commitment
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to what God wanted them to be
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and what they should be
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in the light of God's word.
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And we read multiple times
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in the book of Psalms,
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the way in which the people of God
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joyed going up to the house of God.
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They celebrated,
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they sang their psalms,
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they rejoiced because of where they were going.
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And they had done their own thing
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throughout the past year
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and now it's time
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to gather together
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and to once more
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make their journey up to Jerusalem
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to celebrate this event
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that established them
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as the people of God.
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And here on this occasion,
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the devoted parents
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took Jesus up with them
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when he was 12 years of age.
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And in the Jewish household of the day,
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the son of the family
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would become the son of the covenant,
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the bar mitzvah,
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become the son of the covenant
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at 13 years of age.
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And so just like we take our children
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to the church
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to learn about the story of the Bible,
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so parents will take their sons
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up to Jerusalem
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at least two years
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before they reach the age of bar mitzvah
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or the son of the covenant
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to learn what the things
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that happened at the Passover,
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to learn about the faith,
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to come to understand
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why the family lived the way that they do.
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And so when they come to
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the age of being sons of the covenant,
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when they take pressure
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and responsibility
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for keeping the covenant
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and for the word of God,
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they will understand
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what they are doing.
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They are doing the right thing.
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They are doing the godly family thing.
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They are following the pattern
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that we see down
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through the Old Testament.
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This is what the people of God do.
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And we read in Exodus
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and in Leviticus
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the ways in which
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the fathers would sit with their children
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teaching them what the Passover means.
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It was a Q&A session,
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a question and answer session,
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where the children would ask,
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what does this mean?
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And an opportunity was given
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to explain
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what the Passover was about.
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the Passover lamb,
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the blood that was shed,
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the angel of death,
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the safety under the blood.
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It was an opportunity
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to tell the story.
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And here was a family
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to be admired
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because they did the things of God.
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They did them faithfully.
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They did them joyfully.
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And they did them repeatedly.
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And for ourselves
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as a covenant community
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and as Christian families
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belonging to the church of Christ,
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we are doing the godly thing
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that the Bible requires of us.
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We are doing a thing
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that God is pleased with.
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Coming to do it
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for the right reasons.
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Remembering that we're here
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to reflect upon,
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to celebrate
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what God has done for us.
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The family
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doing the right thing.
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A godly family.
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A religious family.
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But we see that
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the mistake to be avoided
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takes place
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right in the midst
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of the admirable way
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in which they are living
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their lives.
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They have celebrated
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the Passover
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and then we read
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in verse number 43.
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When the feast was ended,
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they had kept the Passover.
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They had kept the feast
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of unleavened bread.
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When the feast was ended,
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as they were returning,
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the boy Jesus
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stayed behind
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in Jerusalem.
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The feast is over.
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It is time
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to return home.
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And it's when
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that time came
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that Mary and Joseph
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went separate ways
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to Jesus.
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They retraced their steps
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back to Nazareth
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while he stayed
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in the house of God.
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And as we,
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as we read on,
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his parents did not know it.
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It's a knowledge
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that speaks of experience.
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Of learning from the things
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that are happening around us.
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that the parents
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did not feel
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in any way
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that Jesus
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was not with them.
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They were with the crowd
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coming up to Jerusalem
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and now they're with the crowd
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going back home
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to Nazareth.
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And they had no thought
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that Jesus
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was not with them.
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Not only did they have
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no thought
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that he wasn't there,
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but we also read
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that they supposed
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him to be
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in the group.
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They took it
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for granted.
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They took it
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for granted
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without any knowledge,
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without any experience,
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without any facts
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to back up
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their supposition.
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They supposed,
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they took it
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for granted
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that he was
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in the group.
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Jesus
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was absent.
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They had travelled
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these days' journey
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as a community
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going back
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to Nazareth
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with young people
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walking together
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and older people
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walking together
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and people walking
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together with their friends,
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a large group
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travelling back
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to Nazareth
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and then
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at the end
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of
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the first day,
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as will be the case
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at the end
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of every day,
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it was time
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to check in
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for the evening.
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It was time
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to ensure
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that everyone
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was there
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that should be there.
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And when Mary
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and Joseph
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came to
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do their check-in
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for their family,
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they discovered
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that Jesus
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was not
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with them.
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and today,
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that's
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the mistake
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that you and I
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want to avoid.
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It's to be
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busy
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in the things
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of God,
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to be busy
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in the life
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of the church
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of Jesus Christ,
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to be busy
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even in the worship
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of God
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and to take it
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for granted
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that Jesus
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is with us
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and to
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suppose
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that he's there
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without any
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facts,
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to confirm
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that without
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anything in
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their hearts
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that would
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tell us
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that,
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to take it
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for granted
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that he is
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there and
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to carry on
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with our
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journey
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without him.
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And God
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wants you
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and I
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today to
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ask ourselves
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is Jesus
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with us
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or not?
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Could it be
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the case
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that we are
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mistaken in
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thinking that
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he is?
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Could we
12:45
have left
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him behind
12:46
whether it's
12:47
at Christmas
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Day or
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Easter Sunday
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or any
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other time
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of the year?
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Is it
12:52
the case
12:52
that we
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came,
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we read,
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we heard,
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we saw
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and we
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left him
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behind?
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God
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today wants
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you and
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I
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to check
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in
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and to
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ask that
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simple
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question.
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Is the
13:13
Lord Jesus
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our Savior,
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our Friend,
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our Shepherd,
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our Companion?
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Is he
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with us
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on this
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last Lord's
13:21
Day of
13:21
this year?
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Check in
13:25
and see
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if Jesus
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is there
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or if
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Jesus
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perhaps
13:30
is not
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there.
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There's a
13:33
mistake
13:33
that's to
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be
13:35
avoided.
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Secondly,
13:38
there is
13:41
a
13:42
ministry
13:42
that's
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to be
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appreciated.
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And we
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see the
13:48
family
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searching
13:50
urgently
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for
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Jesus.
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How did
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they respond
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to
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discovering
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that he's
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not there?
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There is
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distress,
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there is
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perhaps an
13:59
element of
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panic,
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what they
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took for
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granted
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simply
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wasn't
14:04
true.
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And so
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in verse
14:06
44,
14:07
suddenly
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the
14:20
absence
14:21
of
14:21
Jesus
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overrode
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everything
14:23
else in
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their lives.
14:25
They had
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gone the
14:26
whole of
14:27
that day's
14:27
journey
14:27
with their
14:28
friends,
14:29
with their
14:30
families,
14:31
talking about
14:32
everything that
14:32
happened in
14:33
Jerusalem,
14:34
and they
14:34
had thought
14:35
Jesus was
14:35
there.
14:36
perhaps never
14:39
crossed their
14:39
minds that
14:40
Jesus was
14:41
not there.
14:42
They took
14:42
it for
14:42
granted that
14:43
he was,
14:43
but now
14:44
they discover
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he is
14:47
not,
14:49
and finding
14:50
him becomes
14:51
the most
14:52
important
14:53
thing in
14:54
life.
14:56
And so
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it is for
14:57
you and
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for me
14:58
today.
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If you
15:01
have checked
15:02
in to see
15:02
if Jesus
15:03
is there
15:03
and he's
15:04
not there,
15:05
then you
15:06
response to
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that should
15:07
be exactly
15:07
what Mary
15:08
and Joseph
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did.
15:09
Your
15:10
response must
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be to
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leave
15:12
everything,
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to leave
15:13
everyone,
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to stop
15:14
everything,
15:15
and to
15:16
return,
15:17
to retrace
15:18
your steps,
15:18
and to see
15:19
where you are,
15:20
to find the
15:21
Jesus that
15:22
you thought
15:23
was there.
15:24
and that
15:28
diligence
15:28
may take
15:31
you to
15:31
retrace
15:32
steps,
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not to
15:33
yesterday
15:33
or the
15:34
day before,
15:35
maybe
15:35
retrace
15:36
your steps
15:36
to a
15:37
long time
15:37
in your
15:38
past
15:38
when Jesus
15:39
was there
15:40
and Jesus
15:41
was close
15:42
to you
15:43
and Jesus
15:43
was speaking
15:44
to you
15:45
and you
15:46
knew it
15:46
was Jesus
15:46
speaking to
15:47
you and
15:48
that's
15:48
now lost
15:49
to you
15:49
and today
15:52
you have
15:54
to return
15:56
and retrace
15:57
these steps.
15:58
Where did
15:59
you go
15:59
from there
16:00
to where
16:01
you are
16:02
today
16:02
without
16:03
Jesus?
16:05
And when
16:05
you ask
16:06
yourself
16:06
that question
16:07
God will
16:08
help you
16:08
to see
16:09
the different
16:10
points on
16:11
your journey
16:11
where you
16:12
diverged
16:13
and departed
16:14
from where
16:14
you should
16:15
be and
16:16
when you
16:16
and the
16:17
Lord Jesus
16:17
went to
16:18
your
16:18
separate
16:19
ways
16:19
because
16:21
you
16:21
did not
16:22
have him
16:23
as the
16:24
priority
16:24
in your
16:25
life.
16:27
The urgent
16:28
searching
16:29
for Jesus
16:30
the retracing
16:32
of steps
16:33
and
16:34
it is in
16:36
retracing
16:37
the steps
16:37
that after
16:40
three days
16:41
they found
16:42
him in the
16:43
temple
16:43
sitting among
16:44
the teachers
16:45
listening to
16:46
them and
16:47
asking them
16:47
questions
16:48
and all
16:49
who heard
16:49
him were
16:49
amazed
16:50
at his
16:51
understanding
16:52
and his
16:53
answer.
16:56
They found
16:56
him in
16:58
the temple
16:59
the place
17:01
where in
17:03
their world
17:03
heaven meets
17:05
the world
17:06
the place
17:07
where God
17:07
is to be
17:08
found.
17:09
They found
17:09
him in
17:10
the temple
17:11
courts.
17:12
they found
17:13
him there
17:14
as the
17:15
son of
17:15
the
17:15
covenant
17:15
as the
17:16
person
17:16
who is
17:16
preparing
17:17
to take
17:18
responsibility
17:19
for himself
17:20
in the
17:20
journey of
17:21
faith.
17:21
they found
17:22
him in
17:23
the temple.
17:25
And it
17:26
is there
17:26
that we
17:27
read the
17:27
way in
17:28
which he
17:28
was with
17:29
the teachers.
17:31
He was
17:31
answering
17:32
their
17:32
questions
17:33
as he
17:33
was
17:34
questioning
17:34
them.
17:37
And we
17:37
come to
17:38
find Jesus
17:39
in the
17:39
temple
17:40
with those
17:42
who are
17:43
the teachers
17:43
in the
17:44
temple.
17:44
And all
17:45
of a sudden
17:46
there is
17:46
our own
17:47
reversal
17:47
because
17:48
the
17:48
son of
17:49
the
17:49
covenant
17:49
this
17:50
child
17:51
Jesus
17:51
the
17:53
son of
17:53
Mary
17:53
and
17:53
Joseph
17:54
he
17:55
knows
17:55
more
17:55
than
17:56
they
17:56
do.
17:58
His
17:58
understanding
17:59
is greater
18:00
than their
18:00
understanding.
18:03
And instead
18:03
of him
18:04
sitting at
18:04
their feet
18:05
for him
18:06
to be
18:07
taught by
18:07
them
18:07
he
18:09
becomes
18:09
their
18:10
equal
18:10
in the
18:10
teaching
18:11
arena.
18:12
He is
18:12
sitting
18:12
with them
18:13
in their
18:13
midst.
18:15
They are
18:15
exchanging
18:16
their
18:16
questions.
18:17
they are
18:17
exchanging
18:18
answers.
18:20
And Jesus
18:21
astonishes
18:23
them
18:23
because of
18:25
the answers
18:26
which he
18:28
is giving
18:28
to them.
18:32
And when
18:32
his parents
18:33
saw him
18:33
they were
18:34
astonished
18:35
themselves.
18:38
His answers
18:39
blew them
18:40
out of the
18:41
water.
18:42
He was
18:42
there as
18:43
the pupil
18:44
becoming
18:45
the teacher.
18:47
and those
18:48
who were
18:48
with him
18:49
appreciated
18:50
the message
18:51
and the
18:52
answers that
18:53
he gave.
18:54
They are
18:54
here to
18:55
celebrate the
18:55
Passover
18:56
that speaks
18:57
of their
18:58
origin as
18:58
the people
18:59
of God.
19:01
Who
19:02
understands
19:03
the Passover
19:03
better than
19:06
the one
19:06
concerning whom
19:07
John said
19:07
behold the
19:08
Lamb of
19:09
God
19:09
takes away
19:09
the sin
19:10
of the
19:10
world.
19:11
who
19:13
understands
19:14
the Passover
19:14
better than
19:15
the person
19:16
that Paul
19:17
describes in
19:17
writing to
19:18
the Corinthians
19:18
that Christ
19:20
our Passover
19:20
Lamb
19:21
sacrificed
19:21
for us.
19:24
How much
19:25
his mind
19:25
was filled
19:27
with the
19:27
truths of
19:28
the Old
19:28
Testament
19:28
that overflowed
19:30
out to them
19:31
as he taught
19:32
them things
19:33
that they
19:34
hadn't heard
19:34
before.
19:35
astonished
19:37
at the
19:38
depths
19:38
into which
19:40
he entered
19:41
and explaining
19:42
to them
19:43
the things
19:44
of God.
19:46
They were
19:47
astonished.
19:50
There was
19:50
a process
19:51
taking place.
19:54
He was
19:54
teaching
19:55
the
19:56
teachers
19:56
and for
20:01
the rabbis
20:02
in that
20:03
teaching
20:04
environment
20:05
there were
20:06
three
20:07
particular
20:07
things
20:08
that were
20:09
really
20:09
important
20:09
for the
20:11
teaching
20:11
experience
20:12
to be
20:12
effective.
20:14
There was
20:15
of course
20:15
the subject
20:17
to be
20:17
taught.
20:18
There was
20:20
the knowledge
20:21
of the
20:22
teacher
20:22
and there
20:25
is
20:25
the
20:27
willingness
20:27
of the
20:28
pupil
20:29
to be
20:30
taught.
20:32
And once
20:33
these three
20:33
things are
20:34
in place
20:35
then the
20:36
teaching
20:36
becomes
20:37
transformational.
20:40
The
20:40
curriculum
20:41
bears its
20:41
fruit.
20:44
The
20:44
child is
20:45
instructed
20:45
and grows
20:46
in
20:47
intelligence
20:47
and
20:47
understanding.
20:51
And as
20:51
those who
20:52
were taught
20:53
by the
20:53
rabbis
20:53
would learn
20:54
from the
20:55
example of
20:55
the rabbis
20:56
also,
20:57
so those
20:58
who are
20:58
learning from
20:58
the teaching
20:59
of Jesus
20:59
will learn
21:00
from his
21:01
example
21:01
also.
21:04
It's the
21:04
appreciation
21:05
of the
21:06
ministry of
21:06
Jesus,
21:07
of his
21:07
teaching.
21:10
It's having
21:11
the openness
21:12
of mind
21:13
to grasp
21:14
and to
21:15
bring
21:16
together
21:17
and to
21:17
pull
21:17
together
21:18
the facts
21:19
of what
21:19
is being
21:20
taught to
21:20
them.
21:21
Jesus
21:22
was here
21:22
instructed
21:23
by them
21:24
and he
21:26
had the
21:26
ability
21:26
to take
21:27
all that
21:28
they taught
21:28
him
21:29
and to
21:30
fill that
21:31
out with
21:31
his own
21:32
understanding
21:33
of why
21:34
he was
21:34
here and
21:34
of what
21:35
the word
21:35
of God
21:36
said.
21:39
And for
21:39
you and
21:40
for me
21:41
today,
21:43
we must
21:44
be like
21:44
those who
21:45
are astonished
21:46
in the
21:47
temple
21:47
listening to
21:48
Jesus.
21:49
We must
21:49
be like
21:50
Mary and
21:50
Joseph
21:51
astonished
21:52
at what
21:54
Jesus has
21:55
to say
21:55
to us
21:56
and that
21:58
astonishment
21:59
is dependent
22:02
on your
22:03
willingness
22:04
to accept
22:05
and to
22:06
receive
22:06
and to
22:07
my
22:07
willingness
22:08
to accept
22:09
and receive
22:09
the very
22:10
things that
22:11
God has
22:12
to say
22:13
to us.
22:15
And as
22:16
we
22:16
journey on
22:19
through life
22:20
that
22:22
is key
22:22
to our
22:24
journey of
22:24
faith
22:25
being a
22:26
journey which
22:27
takes us
22:28
to the
22:29
place of
22:29
safety and
22:30
of security
22:31
and of
22:32
salvation.
22:35
There must
22:36
not be any
22:37
roadblocks
22:38
in our
22:39
listening to
22:40
what God
22:40
has to say
22:41
today.
22:42
We must
22:43
not be on
22:43
our narrow
22:44
streets with
22:45
the obstacles
22:46
of the high
22:47
buildings blocking
22:48
our reception
22:49
of what God
22:49
has to say.
22:50
we must
22:51
live our
22:52
lives in
22:52
the open
22:53
space
22:54
where the
22:55
obstacles are
22:56
removed and
22:57
where there is
22:58
a direct
22:58
signal from
22:59
God through
23:00
his word to
23:01
inform our
23:02
thinking and
23:03
to enable us
23:03
to live as
23:04
the children of
23:05
God in this
23:06
world.
23:08
To enable us
23:09
to do so
23:10
as children and
23:11
families and as
23:12
parents and
23:13
families.
23:14
To enable us to
23:15
do so in
23:16
school and
23:17
our teaching
23:18
instruction and
23:22
friends and
23:23
with our
23:23
fellow pupils.
23:26
To appreciate,
23:27
to receive,
23:28
to be ready
23:29
wherever we
23:30
spend life and
23:31
work or in
23:31
learning,
23:33
whatever we
23:34
are doing,
23:36
that the
23:36
obstacles aren't
23:38
there.
23:39
And if they
23:40
are there,
23:41
and if these
23:42
obstacles are
23:43
the means of
23:44
Jesus and
23:46
you going a
23:48
separate path
23:48
in life,
23:50
then it's
23:50
time to
23:51
move.
23:53
Retracing your
23:54
steps must be
23:55
going to that
23:56
place where
23:57
the obstacles
23:58
are gone.
24:01
And where,
24:02
as Peter
24:04
said on the
24:05
Mount of
24:05
Transfiguration,
24:06
when God
24:07
said to him,
24:08
there's my
24:08
beloved son,
24:11
listen to him
24:11
alone.
24:12
they saw
24:14
Jesus only.
24:16
We can be
24:17
in the
24:18
crowd,
24:19
but if we
24:19
have faith,
24:21
the willingness
24:22
to receive,
24:23
we can be in
24:24
the crowd and
24:25
see no one but
24:25
Jesus only.
24:28
He becomes
24:28
the priority.
24:30
There is a
24:32
ministry to
24:33
be appreciated.
24:36
And that
24:36
appreciation
24:37
depends on
24:38
your heart
24:39
and on
24:39
mine.
24:40
and your
24:41
readiness,
24:43
your
24:43
willingness to
24:44
receive,
24:46
or perhaps
24:46
a resistance
24:47
today to
24:49
accept the
24:50
very truths
24:51
that God
24:52
is speaking
24:52
to us and
24:54
that Jesus
24:54
is speaking
24:55
to us from
24:56
his word.
24:59
So there's
24:59
a mistake to
25:00
be avoided,
25:01
there's a
25:02
ministry to
25:02
be appreciated,
25:04
and thirdly,
25:07
there's a
25:07
mission to
25:08
be accepted.
25:10
we could
25:12
ask the
25:12
question,
25:13
who does
25:14
Jesus think
25:15
he is?
25:18
It's a
25:18
question of
25:19
respect,
25:21
and the
25:22
answer is
25:22
clear from
25:23
this passage,
25:24
he knows
25:25
that he is
25:26
the son of
25:27
God.
25:28
And that's
25:29
what I come
25:29
to understand,
25:30
that there is
25:31
a mission that
25:32
is known to
25:32
Jesus,
25:34
that he speaks
25:34
of here,
25:35
that we must
25:36
accept.
25:36
and as we
25:38
see his
25:39
parents coming
25:40
to them in
25:40
their astonishment,
25:43
what is it
25:44
that they
25:44
actually do?
25:47
They find
25:48
fault with
25:49
Jesus.
25:52
Have you
25:52
ever done
25:53
that?
25:55
When things
25:55
aren't happening
25:56
the way that
25:57
you expect,
25:58
when God
25:59
is not doing
26:00
what you
26:00
expected him
26:01
to do,
26:02
or when God
26:02
is doing
26:03
what you
26:03
find
26:05
unacceptable,
26:08
have you
26:09
ever blamed
26:10
God?
26:12
That's what
26:13
Mary is
26:14
doing here.
26:15
Why
26:16
did you
26:17
treat us
26:18
like the
26:19
son?
26:19
Why have
26:20
you treated
26:20
us so?
26:21
Behold,
26:21
your father
26:22
and I have
26:22
been searching
26:23
for you in
26:24
great distress.
26:26
They are
26:27
struggling to
26:27
cope with a
26:28
new thing
26:28
in the life
26:29
of Jesus,
26:30
and because
26:31
of not being
26:32
able to
26:33
understand what
26:34
is happening,
26:35
their defense
26:35
mechanism is
26:36
to blame
26:37
Jesus for
26:38
letting them
26:39
down.
26:42
And
26:43
sometimes
26:43
you and
26:44
I can do
26:45
that.
26:47
God does
26:48
new things
26:49
for us all
26:50
the time.
26:52
God does
26:53
things that
26:54
change things
26:56
for the
26:56
better,
26:58
as we
26:58
noted from
26:58
William Hague.
26:59
God can
27:00
do things
27:00
that can
27:02
be catastrophically
27:03
worse,
27:05
but do
27:07
we blame
27:08
God because
27:09
of the
27:10
new thing
27:11
that we
27:12
cannot
27:12
understand?
27:15
The
27:15
blaming of
27:16
God that
27:17
blocks the
27:18
channel of
27:19
communication,
27:21
that stops
27:22
my appreciation
27:23
of the
27:24
word of
27:24
God.
27:26
I need to
27:27
ensure that
27:29
when things
27:30
do go
27:30
wrong,
27:31
that my
27:32
response to
27:32
that is
27:33
to look
27:34
to myself
27:34
and to
27:35
hear what
27:36
Jesus is
27:36
saying,
27:37
so that
27:38
what is
27:39
new becomes
27:40
accessible to
27:41
me,
27:42
and what is
27:43
new becomes
27:43
the very
27:44
thing that
27:45
is at the
27:45
center of
27:46
my life.
27:48
And what
27:48
does that
27:48
news thing,
27:49
what does
27:49
Jesus say
27:50
to them?
27:50
why were
27:53
you looking
27:54
for me?
27:56
As if
27:56
Jesus
27:57
himself were
27:57
astonished
27:58
that they
28:00
didn't
28:00
understand that
28:02
this is where
28:02
he should
28:02
be.
28:03
Why were
28:04
you looking
28:04
for me?
28:05
Did you
28:06
not know
28:08
that I
28:09
must be
28:09
in my
28:10
father's
28:12
house?
28:12
there are
28:15
two things
28:16
in the
28:16
words that
28:17
Jesus
28:17
speaks here
28:18
that remind
28:19
us of
28:20
the mission
28:22
of God.
28:23
Did you
28:24
not know
28:25
that I
28:25
must?
28:27
When I
28:28
read the
28:28
word must
28:29
in the
28:29
gospels,
28:31
it speaks
28:32
to me of
28:32
a necessity
28:33
that's
28:34
bound up
28:35
entirely
28:36
with what
28:37
God has
28:37
purposed
28:38
to do.
28:39
Jesus
28:39
must do
28:40
this
28:41
because
28:42
he came
28:42
to do
28:43
the will
28:43
of God
28:44
and God
28:45
in sending
28:46
him has
28:47
said to
28:47
him,
28:48
this is
28:48
what you
28:48
shall do.
28:50
There is
28:50
a necessity
28:51
that arises
28:52
from the
28:53
way in which
28:53
God has
28:54
designed
28:55
that Jesus
28:56
would work
28:56
in the
28:57
world.
28:57
There is
28:58
the must
28:59
of the
28:59
necessity
29:00
of the
29:01
will
29:01
of God.
29:04
And
29:04
everything
29:04
that Jesus
29:05
did from
29:06
the time
29:06
in which
29:06
he was
29:07
born,
29:08
growing up
29:09
his life
29:09
here in
29:09
the temple
29:10
here,
29:10
I must
29:10
be here,
29:12
I must
29:13
go this
29:14
day and
29:14
the next
29:15
day and
29:15
then go
29:15
to Jerusalem.
29:17
The
29:17
Son of
29:18
Man must
29:18
suffer many
29:19
things.
29:20
It's all
29:21
about fulfilling
29:22
the word
29:23
of God.
29:24
The
29:24
Son of
29:25
Man must
29:25
enter into
29:26
glory.
29:27
The
29:27
Son of
29:27
Man must
29:28
sit at
29:28
the right
29:28
hand of
29:30
God in
29:31
heaven.
29:32
There's
29:33
a necessity
29:34
that belongs
29:35
to his
29:35
journey as
29:37
someone who's
29:37
here to
29:38
do the
29:39
will of
29:39
God.
29:41
And that
29:42
necessity
29:42
is entirely
29:43
built up
29:44
with the
29:47
family
29:47
business,
29:49
the family
29:50
plan,
29:52
the family
29:53
project,
29:55
what God
29:56
the Father
29:56
has purpose
29:57
to do.
29:59
I must
29:59
be in
30:02
my
30:03
father's
30:04
house.
30:04
house.
30:06
Your
30:06
father and
30:07
I,
30:08
says Mary,
30:10
were
30:10
distressed
30:11
because we
30:12
could not
30:13
find you.
30:15
But Jesus
30:16
makes it
30:17
quite clear
30:18
how he
30:18
sees
30:18
himself.
30:20
I must
30:21
be about
30:21
the business
30:23
of my
30:24
father's
30:25
house.
30:27
And that
30:28
business
30:28
is the
30:30
business
30:30
which he
30:31
came to
30:33
complete.
30:35
When he
30:35
came into
30:36
this world
30:37
to die
30:38
for the
30:38
sins of
30:39
the world,
30:41
it was,
30:42
says Isaiah
30:43
and Isaiah
30:44
53,
30:45
it was the
30:46
will of the
30:46
Lord to
30:46
crush him.
30:50
And Jesus
30:50
in the
30:51
garden going
30:52
to fulfill
30:52
the mission
30:53
of God.
30:55
And in
30:56
this pictorial
30:57
way,
30:57
God placing
30:58
the cup
30:59
of wrath
31:00
into his
31:00
hand,
31:01
take this
31:01
cup from
31:02
me.
31:03
Nevertheless,
31:03
not my
31:04
will,
31:05
but yours
31:06
be done.
31:07
The
31:07
mission of
31:07
God is
31:08
such that
31:09
I must
31:09
drink this
31:10
cup and
31:11
drink it
31:11
to the
31:11
dregs.
31:14
And in
31:15
his commitment
31:16
to the
31:16
will of
31:17
God,
31:17
he arises
31:18
from the
31:18
garden.
31:19
The cup
31:19
that the
31:20
father has
31:20
given to
31:21
me,
31:22
surely I
31:22
will drink
31:23
it.
31:24
And he
31:24
goes off
31:25
purposefully
31:26
to Calvary's
31:28
cross.
31:28
This cup
31:31
is a
31:32
new covenant
31:32
in my
31:33
blood.
31:35
And so
31:35
he gives
31:36
his life
31:37
as a
31:38
ransom
31:38
for many.
31:42
It's
31:43
a mission
31:45
that we
31:47
must accept.
31:49
The
31:50
journey of
31:51
faith
31:51
is not
31:53
complete.
31:55
And
31:55
indeed,
31:55
the journey
31:56
of faith
31:56
in the
31:57
sense of
31:58
the genuine
31:58
faith of
31:59
the Bible,
32:00
the journey
32:01
of faith
32:01
has not
32:02
yet
32:03
commenced
32:03
until we
32:06
embrace
32:06
Jesus
32:08
Christ,
32:10
the child
32:11
in the
32:11
manger,
32:12
the Son
32:12
of God,
32:13
until we
32:14
embrace
32:14
him
32:15
as the
32:16
one who
32:17
has fulfilled
32:18
the commission
32:19
of the
32:19
Father,
32:21
who said
32:21
on the
32:22
cross,
32:22
it is
32:23
finished.
32:23
and with
32:25
a loud
32:25
voice,
32:27
he gave
32:28
up his
32:29
life,
32:30
his spirit
32:30
to God.
32:32
That's
32:33
where we
32:33
must close
32:34
this year.
32:36
We must
32:37
check out
32:39
of 2025
32:40
and check
32:43
into
32:43
2026
32:44
and ensure
32:45
that as
32:47
we check
32:47
out of
32:48
this year,
32:49
Jesus
32:49
is with
32:50
us as
32:51
our
32:51
personal
32:52
saviour.
32:53
And so
32:53
as we
32:54
check into
32:55
the next
32:56
year,
32:57
if in
32:58
God's
32:58
good
32:58
providence
32:59
we see
32:59
it,
32:59
as we
33:00
check
33:00
into it,
33:01
we will
33:02
know
33:02
that we
33:03
will be
33:03
safe
33:04
and we
33:04
will be
33:04
secure
33:05
because
33:06
the Lord
33:06
is our
33:07
shepherd.
33:08
He will
33:08
be our
33:09
guide.
33:10
No matter
33:10
where life
33:11
will take
33:12
us,
33:12
though we
33:13
walk through
33:13
the valley
33:14
of the
33:14
shadow
33:14
of death,
33:16
we will
33:16
fear no
33:17
evil because
33:19
he is
33:19
with us.
33:21
And so
33:22
today let's
33:22
hear what
33:23
God is
33:23
saying.
33:24
Let's
33:24
ensure we
33:25
take note
33:26
of the
33:26
mistake
33:27
that's to
33:28
be avoided.
33:30
Let's
33:30
ensure that
33:31
we go on
33:31
a life
33:32
appreciating
33:34
the ministry
33:34
of the
33:35
gospel where
33:35
we learn
33:36
about Jesus
33:36
and let's
33:37
ensure
33:38
that we
33:40
don't stop
33:40
short of
33:41
embracing in
33:42
our hearts
33:43
that Jesus
33:44
who loved
33:45
me and
33:46
gave himself
33:46
for me
33:47
and let's
33:48
ensure that
33:48
we go
33:48
forward
33:49
confident in
33:50
our faith
33:51
and on
33:51
our journey
33:52
of faith
33:52
that our
33:53
faith is
33:54
in him
33:54
and that
33:55
by faith
33:56
we have
33:56
peace with
33:57
God
33:57
and that
33:58
we enter
33:59
in to
34:00
that grace
34:01
of Christ
34:01
in which
34:02
God has
34:03
made us
34:03
able to
34:04
stand.
34:05
May God
34:06
bless his
34:06
word to us.
34:07
Let us
34:07
pray.
34:07
most
34:09
gracious
34:09
God
34:10
we
34:10
rejoice
34:11
in you
34:12
and in
34:13
your
34:13
care
34:13
of us.
34:15
We are
34:15
thankful to
34:16
you that
34:16
we have
34:17
your promise
34:18
that you
34:18
will never
34:18
leave us
34:19
or forsake
34:20
us.
34:21
We read
34:22
through your
34:22
word and
34:23
we are
34:23
reminded
34:24
in different
34:25
places that
34:26
we are a
34:28
people who
34:28
tend to go
34:29
astray
34:29
from you.
34:31
But we are
34:31
thankful to
34:32
you that
34:32
you are the
34:32
shepherd who
34:33
rescues and
34:34
who recovers
34:35
and who
34:35
restores.
34:37
And we are
34:37
thankful today
34:38
for every way
34:39
in which you
34:39
have done so
34:40
in the past.
34:42
And help us
34:42
today to
34:43
know something
34:44
more of your
34:45
restoring power
34:45
and grace.
34:47
And help us
34:47
to sense
34:48
that you are
34:49
with us.
34:50
And help us
34:50
to feel
34:51
your love
34:53
and your
34:54
power and
34:55
your grace
34:55
in our hearts
34:56
and our lives
34:56
as we journey
34:57
on to the
34:58
rest of this
34:59
day and
35:00
in your good
35:00
providence as
35:01
we draw to
35:01
the close
35:02
of this year.
35:03
So hear our
35:04
prayer and
35:04
accept us.
35:05
Having mercy
35:05
we pray for
35:06
Jesus' sake.
35:07
Amen.
35:08
Amen.
35:13
The Holy
35:13
Psalm is
35:14
Psalm number
35:14
84.
35:16
And we're
35:17
singing at
35:17
verse number
35:18
5.
35:22
And
35:23
the Psalms
35:23
on page
35:24
112.
35:27
It's a
35:28
psalm about
35:28
the people
35:29
of God
35:29
journey to
35:30
the house
35:30
of God
35:31
and longing
35:32
for the
35:32
peace that
35:33
they find
35:33
in the
35:34
house of
35:34
God.
35:34
We're
35:35
singing at
35:35
verse 5
35:36
down to
35:36
verse 10.
35:38
Blessed are
35:38
those whose
35:39
strength is
35:39
in you,
35:40
those who
35:41
have a
35:41
pilgrim's
35:42
mind.
35:43
Pools from
35:43
autumn,
35:44
rains,
35:44
refresh them,
35:45
springs and
35:46
bakers,
35:47
veil they
35:48
find.
35:49
We're
35:49
standing at
35:49
verse 5 to
35:50
verse 10 to
35:51
God's praise.
35:52
akeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeakeake
36:22
Strength increasing, sigh onward, they go on their way to God.
36:39
Hear my prayer, O God Almighty, and receive the plea I make.
36:53
Listen to me, God of Jehovah, hear me for your mercy's sake.
37:07
Look how a father, a shield and a ring, they are to your chosen King.
37:23
One day in your course is better than a thousand days elsewhere.
37:36
Let me stay in my old temple, let me be adorned there.
37:50
Adorned by the Lord, in the depths of wickedness.
38:07
I'll go to the main door after the benediction.
38:11
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all now and forevermore.
38:19
Amen.
38:19
Amen.
38:49
Amen.