Latest / Dwelling Place: The Bible for Moms / #196. Jesus Understands the Exhaustion of Motherhood: Lessons From Matthew 3, Mark 1 & Luke 3

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#196. Jesus Understands the Exhaustion of Motherhood: Lessons From Matthew 3, Mark 1 & Luke 3 · Dwelling Place: The Bible for Moms

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  Speaker 80: This is The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.
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  Speaker 80: I'm Stephanie Hickox.
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  Speaker 80: Today we'll be covering three chapters from three different gospels: Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3.
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  Speaker 80: This might seem like an obvious thing to say, but more than any other man or leader that we've studied in scripture, Jesus' life is the one that's the most obvious model for our motherhood.
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  Speaker 80: He was continually serving and sacrificing.
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  Speaker 80: He provided for people's physical needs and guided them spiritually, and he was always surrounded with the people he ministered to.
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  Speaker 80: Whenever he tried to get a break, people would find him anyway.
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  Speaker 80: So if you're feeling weary from the constant demands of motherhood, I hope today you're encouraged that your endless serving, instructing, and teaching are an opportunity for you to model Jesus Christ to your family we'll focus much of our
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  Speaker 80: time in Mark because he covers most of the content that Matthew and Luke cover in the chapters we're studying today.
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  Speaker 80: But I'll just mention a few things about Luke chapter 3.
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  Speaker 80: First, 3:23 tells us Jesus began his ministry when he was about 30 years of age, and then we're provided with Luke's genealogy of Jesus, and it's different than the one we read in Matthew Because Luke's focus is on
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  Speaker 80: Jesus being the Savior of all mankind, including Gentiles, not just the Jewish race, his genealogy goes all the way back to Adam.
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  Speaker 80: And if you really study it, you're gonna notice that Nathan, the son of David, is mentioned instead of Solomon this is probably the legal bloodline through Mary that follows from Nathan to David and gives Jesus the legal right
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  Speaker 80: to rule on the throne of David In turning to Mark's Gospel, we'll notice a focus on Jesus as the suffering servant It's believed this gospel was written in Italy, probably in Rome, and to Gentiles, specifically to Romans.
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  Speaker 80: It has a quick pace, and the key word you'll notice is immediately.
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  Speaker 80: It comes up nine times in chapter one alone.
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  Speaker 80: And this might give you a little bit of a chuckle when you realize that Mark wasn't a disciple.
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  Speaker 80: How did he get all of his information?
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  Speaker 80: Well, he was informed by one of my favorite eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus, the Apostle Peter In First, in 1 Peter 5:13, Peter refers to Mark as his son.
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  Speaker 80: We have multiple church fathers that recognized John as Peter's translator.
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  Speaker 80: This includes Papias, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr We know Peter to be a fast-moving, quick-talking, dare we say, impulsive figure.
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  Speaker 80: But when he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he became an incredible force for the Lord.
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  Speaker 80: He was on a mission to preach the gospel regardless of the consequences, and it eventually cost him his life.
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  Speaker 80: I kind of picture him briskly walking down the path, and Mark trying to catch up with him, asking questions about what he experienced with Jesus Wait, when did that happen?
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  Speaker 80: Immediately after.
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  Speaker 80: And I'm prone to believe that Peter was the perfect person to minister to John Mark.
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  Speaker 80: You see, in Acts 15, there is a sharp disagreement between Barnabas and Paul.
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  Speaker 80: Barnabas, ever the encourager, wants to believe the best about John Mark and bring him along on a missionary journey.
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  Speaker 80: But Paul says, "We are not taking him.
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  Speaker 80: Last time he abandoned us."
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  Speaker 80: Barnabas and Paul disagree so strongly that they go their separate ways Thankfully, later Mark matures, and eventually Paul recognizes him as someone incredibly useful for ministry But ever since I've learned this, I've wondered if perhaps this is the
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  Speaker 80: reason that he and Peter found such companionship.
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  Speaker 80: Maybe Peter said to him, "Look, I failed horribly too.
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  Speaker 80: I abandoned the Lord, but that doesn't have to be your defining moment.
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  Speaker 80: You can keep serving him now."
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  Speaker 80: maybe this mentorship is just what Mark needed to serve the apostles and to write this gospel It also seems to fit Peter's personality that Mark's gospel focuses much more on what Jesus did over what he said.
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  Speaker 80: The way Jesus served people and sacrificed for them is highlighted And more than any other gospel, Mark displays Jesus' human flesh, including His emotions and even the limitations that Jesus submitted Himself to in becoming fully human, though He
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  Speaker 80: remained fully God.
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  Speaker 80: The early church in Jerusalem often met in John Mark's mom's house.
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  Speaker 80: This is where Peter went when he was released from prison in Acts 12.
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  Speaker 80: and what I truly love is that as Peter recollected on his time with Christ, he presents himself in a very humble light.
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  Speaker 80: He actually includes detailed accounts of his failings and rarely presents himself in a positive light I think that's further evidence of the Holy Spirit refining this disciple our reading today is going to be Mark chapter one, as it
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  Speaker 80: covers the pivotal moments of the beginning of Jesus' ministry I'll read it in its entirety, but you can be listening for those nine immediatelies
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  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"
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  John appeared baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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  And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
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  Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
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  And he preached saying, After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
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  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
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  In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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  And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
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  And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son.
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  With you, I am well pleased."
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  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan, and he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him Now after John was arrested,
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  Jesus came into Galilee Proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.
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  Repent and believe in the gospel."
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  Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
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  And Jesus said to them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
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  And immediately they left their nets and followed him And going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.
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  And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
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  And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.
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  And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority and not as the scribes.
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  And immediately there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
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  Have you come to destroy us?
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  I know who you are, the Holy One of God."
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  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent and come out of him."
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  And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
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  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this?
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  A new teaching with authority.
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  He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."
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  And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
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  And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
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  Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
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  And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.
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  And the fever left her and she began to serve them That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.
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  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
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  And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, and he would not permit the demons to speak because they knew him.
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  And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
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  And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, Everyone is looking for you."
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  And he said to them, Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out."
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  And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
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  And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, If you will, you can make me clean."
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  Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, I will.
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  Be clean."
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  And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
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  And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof
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  to them."
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  But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every
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  Did you appreciate all of those immediatelies and the quick transitions?
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  Probably feels like the pace of your life What really is fascinating is that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was virtually anonymous for most of His life.
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  There's actually a book entitled Anonymous that discusses Jesus' hidden years and what God can do in our hearts in those times.
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  Perhaps if you're in that season feeling that you have giftings and a calling that you're not able to carry out, maybe because you're at home changing diapers and attending to midnight feedings, this might be an encouraging read for
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  you to convince you that God does not waste these hidden years Obviously, we want to begin focusing on John the Baptist recognizing Jesus as Messiah and baptizing Him.
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  Guys, I got to be straight with you and just admit I'm kind of with John the Baptist when he says, "No, Jesus, I shouldn't be baptizing you," because even after researching it, I don't feel like I fully grasp
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  it.
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  But that's okay.
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  I obviously know Jesus did exactly what He should have.
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  I just thought you might appreciate hearing me say that sometimes I'm reading commentaries and I'm jumping for joy, And sometimes I'm like, "Okay, I'll keep trying to understand So I get part of it, but just to be clear,
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  I'm gonna read you a snippet from the MacArthur commentary of four great reasons why Jesus was baptized He writes, "This act of baptism is a necessary part of the righteousness He secured for sinners.
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  This first public event of His ministry is also rich in meaning.
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  Number one, it pictures His death and resurrection.
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  Number two, it therefore prefigures the significance of Christian baptism.
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  Number three, it marks His first public identification with those whose sins He would bear.
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  And number four, it affirms His Messiahship publicly by testimony directly from heaven."
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  Okay, it helps when I'm looking at the reasons But I can certainly recognize how incredible it is that the Trinity is present at Jesus' baptism.
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  You have Jesus the Son there in the water, the Spirit descending like a dove on top of him, and you have the voice of the Heavenly Father saying, "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased."
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  That phrase would've triggered in their minds two particular Old Testament verses First is Psalm chapter 2 verse 7, which is a Messianic Psalm talking about the reign of the Lord's anointed And Isaiah 42 verse one in talking about
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  the suffering that the Messiah would endure,
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  Speaker 81: God's declaration of His pleasure with Jesus helped reveal multiple things about the role He would fulfill immediately after this baptism and public declaration Jesus is tempted in the wilderness for 40 days by Satan We're gonna study this story
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  Speaker 81: more in depth in the days to come.
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  Speaker 81: But Mark provides a detail the other Gospels don't, that Jesus was surrounded by wild animals But thankfully, he was also being ministered to by angels next Jesus begins calling his disciples.
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  Speaker 81: We'll have plenty of time to walk with these 12 men that had the honor of following Jesus Christ.
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  Speaker 81: And more often than not, they're probably gonna remind you of things that your kids do The following scene occurs when Jesus is teaching in the synagogue.
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  Speaker 81: Remember in the intertestamental episode where I said that when the Jews were taken away into Babylon, they were so far from the temple, and since Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the temple, one of the solutions was to build these synagogues,
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  Speaker 81: which were places of worship and teaching.
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  Speaker 81: These were set up in Israel and then also in some of the lands where the people were exiled.
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  Speaker 81: It might not be our everyday occurrence, but there is a demon-possessed man sitting in the synagogue service.
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  Speaker 81: He understands right away that Jesus Christ is the Holy One of God.
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  Speaker 81: This is acknowledging that Jesus is sinless and also that He is divine But Jesus doesn't need a demon proclaiming who He is.
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  Speaker 81: His followers will do that when He says it's the right time.
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  Speaker 81: he silences this demonic force The people watching marvel at Jesus' authority.
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  Speaker 81: Capernaum, he enters the house of Simon and Andrew.
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  Speaker 81: If you've ever heard that Peter was married, this is the story that confirms that, Peter's mother-in-law has a fever.
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  Speaker 81: This is the Sabbath, and they weren't allowed to carry stretchers or take anyone to get medical help on the Sabbath.
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  Speaker 81: That's not a problem because Jesus heals her quickly.
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  Speaker 81: And what a beautiful attitude she has, because she hops right up and serves them But these occurrences are causing Jesus' reputation to spread.
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  Speaker 81: People who are physically and spiritually sick come to him for healing and wholeness This very night many came to him that were looking to be freed from demonic oppression and physically healed.
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  Speaker 81: But Jesus did not allow any of the demons to declare who he was He ministered late into the night, but verse 35 tells us, "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and
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  Speaker 81: went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."
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  Speaker 81: Jesus was probably the most interrupted person that has ever lived.
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  Speaker 81: People were constantly pressing in upon him, begging for his intervention.
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  Speaker 81: Their needs often were life and death matters.
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  Speaker 81: When he wasn't facing that, he was being questioned by Pharisees and Sadducees And when he wasn't healing and being trapped in questions, He was training and teaching.
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  Speaker 81: Whenever you are weary, overwhelmed, or longing for a moment of solitude, look no further than Jesus Christ.
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  Speaker 81: He knows exactly how you're feeling, and He longs for you to draw near to Him in the midst of the chaos and in moments of solitude, ask for His Spirit to fill you so you can be faithful and
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  Speaker 81: glorify Him even when you're at the end of your flesh, because in our weakness, He is strong.
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  Speaker 81: I hope you know I'm not saying that we shouldn't have boundaries or limitations, but my hope and prayer is that we make time to get alone with our Savior, regardless of the load that we carry.
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  Speaker 81: Because without Him, our service tends to be without joy, And our toil goes beyond tiring And lastly, in Mark 1, Jesus tenderly and fearlessly heals a leper, another person that would've been cast off by society, but Jesus has
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  Speaker 81: compassion on him It makes me think about those moments where our kids throw up in the night, and they look up at you covered in vomit, and the smell is awful, but they say, Mommy hold you?"
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  Speaker 81: And you do.
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  Speaker 81: You take care of them.
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  Speaker 81: Those little acts of love, even in the middle of the night when no one can see you.
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  Speaker 81: You are providing security for a child that helps them believe in the goodness of a God they cannot see.
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  Speaker 81: You are making love tangible, and because they have known the sacrificial love of a mother, I believe it paves the way in their heart to someday understand that Jesus Christ also sacrificed for them.
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  Speaker 81: What an honor that we can point to the suffering Savior each and every day with our families Heavenly Father, we rejoice in the perfection of your Son.
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  Speaker 81: Reading the name of Jesus is a breath of fresh air.
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  Speaker 81: We thank you that we are able to serve a God that came down to us And we're reminded that in you we can find both healing for our bodies, for our souls, and for our spirits We thank you
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  Speaker 81: that you are the God that has power over every type of wounds.
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  Speaker 81: And today, I specifically ask that you would help us to break free from any wounds that we carry, particularly for those who have experienced deep trauma in their past.
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  Speaker 81: I pray for thorough and lasting healing to come upon these moms.
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  Speaker 81: Free them up and release them that they could start a new line in their own families, and cast off any examples that did not glorify you Jesus, give us wisdom when we are needed endlessly and we just long
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  Speaker 81: for a moment alone with you.
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  Speaker 81: Would you protect our time and teach us when and how we can seek you and be renewed by your goodness.
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  Speaker 81: Jesus, we rejoice in your example, And it's an honor to serve for your glory.
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  Speaker 81: In your name we pray, amen