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Jesus Has Something to Say to You · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, let's turn for a short time now to Luke chapter 7.
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! We're going to look especially at verses 36 to 50,
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I have something to say to you.
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And he answered, said, teacher.
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In many ways, we could summarize this passage by focusing on two of the questions that are asked in the process of the passage.
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In verse 44, he said to Simon, do you see this woman?
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In other words, Jesus is drawing Simon's attention to this woman, to who she is,
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but especially what she has just done in anointing the feet of Jesus and wiping them with her hair.
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And when you go to verse 49, it's a comment there by Luke when he comes to write this for us.
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He said to her, your sins are forgiven.
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And then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, who is this who even forgives sins?
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And in many ways, you can summarize the passage from both of these questions.
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Do you see this woman?
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Do you see who she is, what she's done?
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And do you see this person, this Jesus, and who he is and what he himself is able to do?
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So in other words, the first question there in verse 44, it's really a challenge to Simon, Simon the Pharisee,
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a challenge as to how he should see people, how he should view people, how he should come to an opinion about people,
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what are the characteristics of his assessment, what is right and what is wrong in making assessments of people.
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The second question is a challenge, and of course that's a challenge to us as well,
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but the second question is a challenge to us too, verse 49,
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who is this who even forgives sins?
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How do we view Jesus?
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Not just how we view other people and how we assess their lives,
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what we make of them, what we think of them,
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what our conclusions are,
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but especially what do we make of him?
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What is Jesus for?
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What have we done with him?
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Who is he to us today?
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An issue which runs right through the Bible,
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but Luke's gospel, in the framework of Luke's gospel,
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that question frequently comes up.
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Who is this man?
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Who is he?
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What is he about?
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So let's see, first of all, this woman.
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Simon, do you see this woman?
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Who was this woman?
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Well, she came to this house of Simon when Jesus was here,
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and we're told that she had something of a reputation.
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A woman of the city who was a sinner,
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when she learned that he was reclining at table,
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brought an alabaster flask of ointment.
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The word sinner, and Simon uses the word as well,
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when he thought about what Jesus had allowed this woman to do.
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If he were a prophet, he wouldn't have allowed this.
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He's saying, for she is a sinner.
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Now, that word could mean a lot of things.
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We're all sinners to some extent.
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To a great extent, we're all sinners deep down,
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and we're sinners by practice as well.
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But when this word is used in this kind of context,
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it means she was a woman who had a reputation,
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a woman who had a lifestyle that just wasn't becoming
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as it should be of a woman in society,
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or of anyone in society.
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It means she had a reputation for being prominently
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or obviously a sinner.
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She lived in a sinful lifestyle,
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possibly a sinful relationship.
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Who knows?
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Maybe she was a prostitute.
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Maybe she was somebody who lived an immoral lifestyle.
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But in any case, she was known as a sinner.
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She was known as somebody who had that sort of reputation,
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that sort of background and practice.
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And she would not be welcome in this kind of society,
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in this kind of situation, in this man's house especially.
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But she came in,
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and as she came in,
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she came to Jesus,
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and she anointed his feet with her tears
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and wiped them with the hair off her head.
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She came weeping.
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She came with his ointment.
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She came and kissed his feet.
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She came and anointed them.
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What is all that telling us?
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Well, it's telling us that she recognized in Jesus
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things which this Pharisee certainly did not.
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It tells us that she loved this Jesus,
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which this Pharisee did not.
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It tells us that despite the fact that she had this reputation,
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she came to love this person, Jesus,
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and she loved him particularly
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because he had forgiven her sins.
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It was all from her love for him
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that she did this.
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Look at verse 47,
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where Jesus says to the Pharisee,
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You didn't anoint my head with oil.
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She has anointed my feet with ointment.
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Therefore I tell you,
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her sins which are many are forgiven,
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for she loved much.
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But he who is forgiven little,
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loves little.
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Now Jesus is not saying,
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because she has done this,
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I've decided to forgive her sins.
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He's not saying,
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by virtue of what she has done,
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by virtue of her action here,
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her doings,
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she has come to be forgiven her sin.
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That's not what he's saying.
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He's saying,
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what she has done shows,
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it's evidence of the fact that her sin has been forgiven.
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She loves me because I have forgiven her sins,
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because her sins which are many are forgiven.
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Her love for Christ grew out of her knowledge of forgiveness,
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grew out of her situation where her sins had actually been covered,
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had been dealt with by the Lord.
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And that's why she loved him.
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But her love took the form of acting like a slave would act.
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When you came into a house like this,
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for a meal or on a special occasion,
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there were slaves employed to actually wash your feet.
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John chapter 13 has a very famous passage
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that uses that as a background to it,
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if you like,
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where Jesus began to wash the feet of the disciples.
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You gathered some dust when you walked through the streets
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on the way to wherever you were going,
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and slaves were employed,
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among other things,
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to wash the feet of guests
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who were invited to come to dinner
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or to come to a supper.
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And that's what this woman is really doing.
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She's acting the part of a slave.
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She's taking this position
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in the presence of Simon and his guests
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and Jesus in Simon's house.
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She's taking the lowest position.
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She's happy to do it
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because she loves this Jesus.
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Now there's a challenge in that for ourselves,
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isn't there?
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Our discipleship is not about prominence in public.
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It's not about getting for ourselves
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a position that people can talk about.
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Our discipleship is being prepared
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to take the lowest,
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the smallest,
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the most menial position
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and tasks for the Lord.
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Being able to say to the Lord,
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whatever you give me, Lord,
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whatever you ask me to do,
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whatever service I can be to you,
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I'll be happy to do it
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because it's what I owe you.
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Because it's all too little
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compared to what you have done for me.
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What is washing someone's feet
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compared to having your sins washed?
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That's the point that Jesus is making.
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When your sins are washed away,
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the least you can do for Jesus
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is something you will do most happily.
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The most you can do for Jesus,
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you will do it most happily.
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Why?
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Because you love Him
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and He's worth doing this for Him.
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After all, as we mentioned,
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John chapter 13
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has a wonderful passage
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where Jesus Himself
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acts the part of a slave
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or a bond servant.
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You remember He
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took off His outer garments.
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He wrapped a towel around Himself.
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All of these details are important.
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And He began to wash
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the feet of the disciples.
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And there's a theological symbolism
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in that in John's Gospel.
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John loves to have
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that symbolism brought out,
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especially where it relates
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to God's love and to Jesus
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and all that Jesus came to do.
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And here is Jesus demonstrating
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by way, if you like,
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of a parable in action
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rather than in words,
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where He had divested Himself
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of the glory that is His as God.
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He's still God.
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It still belongs to Him,
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but He's masked that
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by His place in the world
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as a servant of the Father.
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He's come to be,
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not to be served,
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as He put it Himself,
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but to serve
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and to give His life
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a ransom for many.
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And as He does,
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as He washes these disciples' feet,
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He's demonstrating,
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He's come into the world
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to act the part of a slave,
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the part of a servant,
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bonded to the Father
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and bonded to His people
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and being prepared
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to carry this through
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to the very end.
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And when He had finished
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washing the disciples' feet,
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He took up His place again.
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The towel had done its work.
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He sat again
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where He was to begin with.
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And there's John's symbolism for you.
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The Lord came into this world
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in the form of a servant
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and He humbled Himself
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to the death of the cross,
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as Philippians 2 put it.
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And what happened then?
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Well, He went back
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to the glory He had with the Father
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before the world was.
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But what a wonderful,
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wonderful service
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in between those two great points
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of His coming
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and His going back to the Father.
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He came to wash
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the feet of His disciples
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spiritually,
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as well as literally.
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He came
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to be the Savior of sinners.
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He came into the world
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to show the Father's love
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and to be,
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for us too,
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the example
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above all other examples
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of what it means
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to serve God
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humbly,
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willingly,
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consistently.
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So there's a challenge
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in this woman
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for ourselves.
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Are we today
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prepared
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to follow Jesus?
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To follow Him
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into the most menial tasks?
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Will we go
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wherever He sends us?
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Will we do
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whatever He requires
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of us?
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Will we say,
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Lord,
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when I think
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of what You have done,
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what You ask of me
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to do for You
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is all too little.
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But then you see
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Simon's conclusions.
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Jesus said to him,
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Do you see this woman?
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But he had concluded beforehand,
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and I think this is one of the reasons
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Jesus drew His attention again
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to this woman
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when the Pharisee,
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when He saw this woman
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doing what she'd done,
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He said,
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If this man were a prophet,
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he would have known
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who and what sort of woman
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this is
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who is touching him,
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for she is a sinner.
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What is Simon doing
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with this woman?
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What are his conclusions
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based upon?
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They're based upon
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his own ideas
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of what's right and wrong.
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He's putting her
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in a category,
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not regarding her
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as a person.
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He just says,
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This woman is a sinner.
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This man, Jesus,
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shouldn't have allowed
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this woman to touch Him.
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She's a sinner.
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She's in the category
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of being a sinner.
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He should have just
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excluded her.
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He should have put her aside.
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How do we assess people?
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Do we put them
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in categories?
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Do we say about them,
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Well, yes,
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but they're of the world
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and just ignore them?
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Or do we say,
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Oh, yeah,
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but they're not our denomination.
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They're not our congregation.
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Or do we say of them,
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They're not communicant members
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of the congregation.
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Therefore,
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it's not so important
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what they do
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or don't do
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with their life.
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We're constantly,
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aren't we,
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in the business
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of categorizing people,
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putting them
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into different categories,
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and quite often
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absolving ourselves
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of responsibilities
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concerning them.
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That's what this man
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was doing.
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She is a sinner.
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Let's leave it there.
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So Jesus shouldn't
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have touched her,
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allowed her to touch Him
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at all.
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And he's concluded
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about Jesus,
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this man can't be a prophet.
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He's a fake.
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If he were a real prophet,
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he would have known
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what sort of woman this is.
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It's really telling
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how Jesus responded.
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Here is Simon saying,
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If this man only knew
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what this woman is,
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if he really knew,
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he wouldn't have allowed her
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to do this.
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And in the response,
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what becomes obvious
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is that not only
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did Jesus know
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who this woman was,
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but he knew
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what Simon was thinking.
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You see,
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it's interesting.
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It's important,
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actually.
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Simon said
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to himself.
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He didn't say
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anything out loud.
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He said to himself,
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If this man
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were a prophet,
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he would have known
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who this woman,
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what sort of woman it is
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who's touching him.
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It's quite clear.
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In verse 39,
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the Pharisee,
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when he saw it,
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he said to himself.
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He didn't say anything
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out loud.
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He didn't say to Jesus,
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Why are you allowing
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this woman to do this?
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Don't you know
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that she's a sinner?
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It's all inside
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his own head.
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It's all in his soul.
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It's the thoughts
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of his mind.
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And all the time
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that he's saying
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about Jesus,
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if only he knew,
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he really doesn't know
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that Jesus
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knows not only
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who this woman is,
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but the very thoughts
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that he's thinking.
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Simon never spoke
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a word,
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and Jesus knew
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everything
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that was in his mind.
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And so it is
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with you and me today,
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just as truly
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as it was
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on that occasion.
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Your response
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to the gospel,
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your response
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to the call
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of the gospel,
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calling you
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to come to Christ,
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your response
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to Christ's call
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to go to serve him,
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to be his servant,
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to be openly his,
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to be willingly his,
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to do for him
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whatever he's calling
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upon you to do,
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whatever thoughts
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are in your mind
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regarding those things
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right now,
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the Lord is reading them.
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He knows them.
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He's reached
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his own conclusions.
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Whatever conclusions
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we've come to
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about him.
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But he doesn't
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condemn Simon
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outrightly.
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He doesn't come
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to rebuke him openly.
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Instead,
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you find from
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verse 41 there,
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he actually tells him
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about this moneylender.
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And he puts Simon
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to the test again
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when he goes through
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the various parts
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of that account
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about the moneylender.
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And he then
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comes to the point
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which of them
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will love him
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the most.
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And Simon
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rightly concludes,
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well,
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it's the one
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to whom most
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is forgiven.
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And that's what
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leads him again,
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leads Jesus to
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speak about this woman.
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Because Christ's concern
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is to lead
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this Pharisee
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towards the light.
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Not to leave him
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in the darkness.
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The darkness
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of his own understanding.
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The darkness
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of his own conclusions.
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The wrongness
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of his own thinking.
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He's all the time
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leading him
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towards
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considering
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the truth
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as he ought
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to consider it.
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And he's saying,
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well,
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you have judged rightly.
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And then he turned
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again to the woman
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so that he would
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focus again
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on what that woman
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had done.
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You see,
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he's drawing
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Simon's mind
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all the time
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to what he ought
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to have concluded.
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What he ought
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to have thought.
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And to what kind
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of opinion
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he should have had
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about Jesus
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himself.
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And that's how
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the gospel
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is today for you.
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The gospel
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of which Christ
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is the centerpiece.
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Where Jesus
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stands
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at the very heart
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of this gospel
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message
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of salvation
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in him.
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That's the concern
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of the Lord.
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That's what the gospel
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is concerned
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for you and I
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to do.
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To lead us
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into the light.
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Not to leave us
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in our darkness.
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Not to leave us
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to our own conclusions.
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And that's why
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you find
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through this passage
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that Christ's
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response here
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to Simon
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is to get
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his attention.
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Verse 40
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Simon
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I have something
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to say to you.
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Jesus knew
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who he was
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knew who this
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woman was
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knew the thoughts
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of Simon's heart
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now he turns
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to Simon
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and says
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Simon
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I have
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something to
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say to you.
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And he's
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saying that
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to you
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and to me
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today.
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He's reading
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your thoughts.
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He knows
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your heart.
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He knows
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what conclusions
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you've come to
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about himself
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about other
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human beings
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or about the
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church
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whatever it is
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he's reading
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your thoughts
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he knows
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your mind.
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And today
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this gospel
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or Jesus
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through the gospel
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is saying
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Simon
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I have
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something
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to say
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to you.
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He's not
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saying it
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to whoever's
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beside you
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in the pew.
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He's not
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saying this
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to somebody
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else in
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this congregation
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today.
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Yes he may
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be doing that
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but as far
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as you're
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concerned
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as far
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as I'm
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concerned
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Jesus
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is saying
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I have
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something
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to say
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to you.
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Because
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this gospel
19:21
is not
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a generalized
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presentation
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of truth
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to us.
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This gospel
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of Jesus
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and Jesus
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through the gospel
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is not
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just addressing
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us as if
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we didn't
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have individual
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needs that
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he is able
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to meet.
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He's not
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lumping us
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all together
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and saying
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here's something
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I want you
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all to consider
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and discuss
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together.
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No he's
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saying I
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have something
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to say
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to you
19:43
today.
19:44
Doesn't
19:45
matter how
19:45
you've come
19:46
here today.
19:47
What your
19:48
thoughts have
19:48
been.
19:50
What your
19:50
life has
19:51
been up to
19:51
now.
19:53
However
19:53
long you've
19:54
been on the
19:54
road of
19:55
following the
19:55
Lord.
19:55
Lord.
19:57
Or even
19:58
if you've
19:58
not yet
19:58
come to
19:59
begin to
19:59
follow him.
20:02
Jesus
20:02
today is
20:03
addressing
20:04
your soul
20:04
and saying
20:06
you put
20:07
your own
20:07
name into
20:08
it instead
20:08
of Simon.
20:10
I have
20:11
something
20:11
to say
20:13
to you.
20:17
Aren't
20:18
you thankful
20:18
today that
20:20
Jesus is not
20:21
saying I
20:22
could speak
20:22
to you but
20:23
I'd rather
20:24
that I go to
20:25
somebody else
20:25
in this
20:26
congregation
20:26
first of
20:27
all and
20:27
then I'll
20:27
come back
20:28
to you.
20:29
No he's
20:29
saying I
20:30
have something
20:30
today to
20:31
say to
20:32
you.
20:34
Wonderful
20:34
way the
20:35
gospel
20:35
directly
20:36
addresses us
20:37
as individuals
20:38
in our
20:39
individual
20:39
need in
20:40
our
20:41
individual
20:41
relationship
20:42
with God
20:42
and to
20:43
eternity
20:43
and to
20:44
the truth
20:44
of the
20:45
gospel
20:45
itself.
20:49
Thanks be
20:50
to God
20:50
that he
20:52
didn't walk
20:53
past me
20:54
in my
20:54
life.
20:55
God
20:56
and say
20:56
I'm
20:58
going to
20:58
leave you
20:59
here.
20:59
I'm
20:59
going to
20:59
speak to
21:00
someone
21:00
else.
21:05
And you're
21:05
thankful
21:06
today as a
21:06
Christian
21:07
that he
21:08
didn't
21:08
bypass you
21:09
on the
21:10
way through
21:10
life but
21:13
that he
21:13
came and
21:14
spoke directly
21:15
into your
21:15
soul and
21:16
said today
21:17
I have
21:17
something to
21:18
say to
21:18
you.
21:19
God's
21:21
and as
21:21
we're
21:22
thankful for
21:22
God's
21:22
address to
21:24
us
21:24
individually
21:25
so we're
21:26
thankful for
21:27
all that
21:27
that contains
21:28
focusing
21:30
specifically on
21:31
our need to
21:32
serve him
21:33
on our need
21:34
to humble
21:35
ourselves before
21:35
him or
21:36
our need to
21:37
be like this
21:37
woman to
21:38
take the
21:39
lowest place
21:39
to wash
21:40
his feet
21:41
spiritually
21:42
without tears
21:43
actually to
21:45
if we need
21:45
to.
21:48
She
21:49
honored Jesus
21:50
by her
21:51
actions.
21:53
And that's
21:54
what Jesus
21:54
is pointing
21:55
to speaking
21:56
this way to
21:57
Simon.
21:58
She has
21:59
honored me
21:59
Simon.
22:01
I want you
22:01
to look at
22:02
her.
22:03
I want you
22:04
to think
22:04
about her.
22:06
I want you
22:07
to consider
22:07
what I have
22:08
to say to
22:08
you about
22:10
her and
22:10
about yourself.
22:11
and so
22:14
Simon has
22:16
much to
22:17
think about.
22:20
And that's
22:21
how it is
22:21
for me
22:21
today.
22:23
I stand
22:24
in this
22:24
pulpit and
22:25
Jesus is
22:25
addressing me
22:26
and saying
22:26
you speak
22:27
to these
22:28
people about
22:28
the gospel
22:29
you speak
22:29
to them
22:30
about their
22:30
need of
22:31
Christ
22:31
what about
22:32
yourself?
22:32
I have
22:33
something to
22:33
say to
22:33
you today.
22:35
He's not
22:36
bypassing me
22:37
or any of
22:37
us who
22:38
preach the
22:38
gospel.
22:38
for all
22:41
of us
22:41
for each
22:42
of us
22:42
it's our
22:43
great privilege
22:44
to know
22:44
God speaking
22:45
to us.
22:46
God not
22:47
leaving us
22:48
to our
22:48
own
22:48
devices.
22:50
God not
22:51
telling us
22:52
I'm done
22:53
with you.
22:55
No he's
22:56
speaking
22:56
to you
22:57
and to
22:58
me
22:58
in this
22:59
building
23:00
at this
23:01
moment.
23:03
And he
23:04
needs your
23:04
response.
23:05
he needs
23:08
to know
23:09
what you're
23:09
going to
23:09
make of
23:10
what he
23:10
has to
23:10
say to
23:10
you.
23:12
He's not
23:13
just throwing
23:13
it at
23:14
you and
23:15
just leaving
23:16
it as if
23:16
it didn't
23:17
matter.
23:19
Why is
23:19
he speaking
23:20
to us
23:20
directly?
23:21
Why is
23:22
he calling
23:23
our attention
23:23
to the
23:24
Bible and
23:24
to the
23:25
teaching of
23:25
the Bible?
23:26
So that
23:27
we will
23:27
come to
23:27
know him
23:28
and know
23:29
him intimately
23:30
and know
23:31
him continually
23:32
from now
23:33
on and
23:34
know him
23:35
as the
23:35
only one
23:36
in existence
23:36
who is
23:37
able to
23:38
meet all
23:38
of our
23:39
needs in
23:40
all its
23:40
scope,
23:41
in all its
23:41
detail,
23:42
in all its
23:42
depth.
23:44
Nobody can
23:45
do for you
23:45
what Jesus
23:47
can.
23:49
And that's
23:49
why the
23:50
gospel is
23:51
concerned.
23:52
Or Christ
23:52
through the
23:53
gospel is
23:53
drawing you
23:54
to think
23:56
deeply of
23:56
this relationship
23:57
with himself.
23:59
Do you
24:00
see this
24:01
woman?
24:03
But then
24:04
you find
24:05
near the
24:05
end of
24:06
the
24:06
chapter
24:06
as we
24:06
saw
24:06
in
24:07
verse 47
24:07
who is
24:09
this
24:09
who
24:10
even
24:10
forgives
24:10
sins?
24:14
As we
24:15
said,
24:15
she loved
24:16
the Lord
24:16
because her
24:17
sins were
24:18
forgiven.
24:18
This is
24:18
what he's
24:19
saying.
24:19
I tell
24:20
you,
24:21
her sins
24:21
which are
24:21
many are
24:22
forgiven,
24:23
for she
24:24
loved much,
24:25
but to
24:25
whom little
24:27
is forgiven,
24:28
they love
24:28
little.
24:30
And he
24:30
said to
24:30
her,
24:31
your sins
24:32
are
24:32
forgiven.
24:34
And then
24:34
the question,
24:35
who is
24:36
this who
24:36
even forgives
24:37
sins?
24:37
Now this
24:37
is the
24:37
burden of
24:38
Luke's
24:39
gospel all
24:39
the way
24:40
through as
24:40
you read
24:40
it from
24:40
beginning to
24:41
end.
24:42
This is
24:42
in many
24:42
ways the
24:43
main
24:43
burden of
24:44
his
24:44
gospel as
24:44
he's
24:45
taking us
24:45
through
24:45
the
24:46
incidents
24:46
in
24:47
Christ's
24:48
life while
24:48
he was
24:49
in the
24:49
world,
24:49
through to
24:50
his death
24:50
and resurrection
24:51
and then
24:52
ascension to
24:52
glory.
24:54
Who is
24:54
this?
24:56
What is
24:56
he about?
24:57
that's the
25:00
concern of
25:00
Luke for
25:01
his readers
25:01
that they
25:02
will come
25:02
to know
25:02
who exactly
25:04
this is
25:05
and what
25:05
they need
25:06
to make
25:06
of him.
25:07
And he
25:07
says here,
25:08
who is
25:08
this who
25:09
even forgives
25:10
sins?
25:11
That's what
25:12
they said
25:12
among
25:12
themselves,
25:13
those who
25:14
are at
25:14
table with
25:14
him.
25:15
That's the
25:15
question.
25:16
Who is
25:16
this who
25:16
even forgives
25:17
sins?
25:21
Well,
25:22
only God
25:22
can forgive
25:23
sins.
25:25
No minister
25:26
can forgive
25:26
sins.
25:27
No priest
25:28
can forgive
25:28
sins.
25:30
No church
25:30
can confer
25:31
forgiveness
25:32
of sins,
25:34
wipe our
25:35
sins away.
25:38
Only God
25:39
can do it.
25:40
But you
25:40
see, the
25:40
point is,
25:41
here is
25:42
God doing
25:43
it.
25:44
Who is
25:45
this who
25:45
forgives,
25:46
even forgives
25:47
sins?
25:50
He has
25:50
the authority
25:51
to forgive
25:53
sins.
25:54
That's why
25:55
he's able
25:55
to speak
25:56
to this
25:56
woman.
25:56
your faith
25:57
has saved
25:58
you.
26:00
Your sins
26:01
are forgiven.
26:05
There's no
26:06
salvation
26:07
without
26:09
forgiveness.
26:13
We can
26:13
persuade
26:14
ourselves
26:14
that somehow
26:15
we'll make
26:16
our way
26:17
into the
26:17
kingdom of
26:18
God
26:18
without really
26:19
paying much
26:20
attention to
26:21
our sin
26:21
and our
26:21
need to
26:22
have our
26:22
sin forgiven.
26:23
It's not
26:23
like that.
26:25
There are
26:25
many voices
26:26
that will
26:26
try and
26:27
persuade you
26:27
of that.
26:28
There are
26:29
many voices
26:29
that will
26:30
tell you,
26:30
well, you
26:31
don't need
26:31
to deal
26:31
with your
26:32
sins yet.
26:33
You don't
26:34
need to be
26:34
that serious
26:35
about things
26:36
yet.
26:36
you can do
26:37
that.
26:37
You can do
26:37
that at some
26:38
later stage
26:39
in your
26:39
life.
26:40
You've got
26:41
enough to
26:41
be doing
26:42
with at
26:42
the moment.
26:44
But you
26:45
have to
26:45
realize, and
26:46
I have to
26:46
realize, that
26:47
without Jesus
26:48
we're still in
26:49
our sins.
26:51
Without faith
26:52
in Christ,
26:53
our sin is
26:54
not forgiven.
26:54
And when
26:56
our sin is
26:56
not forgiven,
26:58
we're not
26:59
right with
27:00
God.
27:02
Who is
27:03
this who
27:04
even forgives
27:05
sins?
27:09
The world
27:10
in which we
27:10
live hates
27:12
the idea of
27:13
sinfulness.
27:16
The biblical
27:17
idea of sin,
27:18
the biblical
27:18
teaching on
27:19
sin, what
27:21
sin is,
27:23
what sin
27:23
deserves.
27:26
What we
27:26
are as
27:27
sinners from
27:28
the day of
27:28
our birth
27:28
onwards, or
27:29
even prior to
27:30
that, as
27:31
Psalm 51
27:31
put us, we
27:32
are conceived
27:33
in iniquity
27:33
and sin.
27:35
And we
27:35
bring forth
27:36
sin as soon
27:36
as we're
27:36
into the
27:37
world.
27:38
The world
27:39
out there
27:39
hates that.
27:41
You don't
27:41
tell people
27:42
you're a
27:43
sinner.
27:44
You don't
27:45
tell people
27:46
you need
27:46
your life
27:46
changed,
27:47
you need
27:47
a fresh
27:48
and a new
27:48
start.
27:50
Do you
27:50
need a
27:50
relationship
27:51
with God?
27:53
The world
27:54
doesn't want
27:55
to hear
27:55
that.
27:57
As
27:57
sinners, we
27:57
don't want
27:58
to hear
27:58
that.
28:00
But our
28:00
privilege under
28:01
the gospel is
28:02
that in his
28:02
own goodness
28:04
and mercy
28:05
and grace,
28:06
God brings
28:07
us to hear
28:08
that.
28:10
God brings
28:11
us to
28:11
consider that.
28:13
And we
28:14
come to know
28:15
our need
28:15
of forgiveness
28:16
because that's
28:18
what God is
28:19
telling us.
28:19
and Jesus
28:22
says to
28:23
this woman,
28:25
your faith
28:27
has saved
28:27
you.
28:28
Go in
28:30
peace.
28:32
Now, it
28:32
doesn't mean
28:32
that her
28:33
faith was
28:33
meritorious.
28:35
It doesn't
28:36
mean that she
28:36
earned
28:37
salvation by
28:39
her faith.
28:41
But it
28:41
does mean
28:42
that her
28:43
faith had
28:44
connected her
28:45
to this
28:46
salvation,
28:47
this forgiveness,
28:48
this salvation
28:49
that Jesus
28:49
is speaking
28:50
of.
28:50
Your faith
28:51
has saved
28:52
you.
28:53
It's faith.
28:54
What is faith?
28:55
Faith,
28:55
essentially,
28:56
is our
28:57
coming to
28:57
trust in
28:59
the Lord.
29:01
To put
29:01
all our
29:02
trust in
29:02
him for
29:04
time and
29:05
for eternity,
29:06
that trust
29:07
is really
29:08
faith.
29:09
Our faith
29:09
is trust,
29:10
essentially.
29:11
There are
29:11
other things
29:12
to it as
29:12
well.
29:13
You believe
29:13
certain things
29:14
to be true,
29:15
certain things
29:15
not to be
29:16
true,
29:16
and so on.
29:17
But faith
29:17
at its
29:18
very
29:18
center
29:19
is trusting
29:20
in God.
29:22
Putting your
29:23
trust,
29:24
your confidence
29:24
in him,
29:25
handing over
29:26
your life
29:27
to him,
29:29
and saying,
29:30
Lord,
29:31
here is my
29:32
life,
29:32
the life I've
29:33
had up to
29:33
now.
29:35
It's not
29:35
been the kind
29:36
of life
29:36
that you're
29:38
pleased with.
29:40
But I hand
29:41
my life over
29:42
to you.
29:42
I know
29:44
it's right
29:45
for me
29:45
to do
29:45
it.
29:46
I know
29:47
it's what
29:47
you're
29:47
calling on
29:48
me to
29:48
do.
29:51
And this
29:52
woman here,
29:52
your faith
29:53
has saved
29:54
you.
29:58
Is there
29:58
anyone here
29:59
today who's
29:59
not yet
30:00
saved?
30:04
Anyone
30:04
who's not
30:04
come yet
30:05
to trust
30:05
in the
30:06
living
30:06
Christ?
30:09
Anyone
30:09
who knows
30:09
the gospel
30:10
as you do
30:10
so well?
30:13
But still
30:14
you're in
30:14
your sins.
30:16
And your
30:17
sins will
30:17
condemn you
30:18
if you die
30:18
like that.
30:21
And you
30:21
have Jesus
30:22
today speaking
30:23
to you.
30:24
I have
30:24
something to
30:25
say to you.
30:26
And what
30:26
he's saying
30:27
to you is,
30:28
here is
30:28
salvation.
30:30
Here is
30:30
what you
30:31
need.
30:32
Trust in
30:32
me.
30:34
And you
30:34
will have
30:35
this salvation
30:35
to enjoy
30:37
for time
30:37
and for
30:38
eternity.
30:39
No one
30:39
will be able
30:40
to take it
30:40
from you.
30:42
Nobody
30:42
can actually
30:43
change
30:43
the
30:44
circumstances,
30:45
the relationship
30:46
then that
30:48
you have
30:48
with God.
30:49
Your
30:50
faith
30:50
has saved
30:51
you.
30:53
And then
30:53
he says,
30:54
go in
30:56
peace.
30:58
And
30:58
actually
30:58
literally
30:59
what Luke
31:00
is recording
31:01
for us
31:01
here is
31:02
that Jesus
31:02
said,
31:03
go into
31:04
peace.
31:05
Really to
31:06
translate it
31:06
literally,
31:07
it's the
31:07
word into,
31:08
go into
31:09
peace.
31:10
peace.
31:10
He's not
31:11
just saying
31:11
to her,
31:12
go now
31:12
in peace
31:13
from this
31:14
place.
31:15
He's
31:15
saying,
31:15
go into
31:16
peace.
31:17
Enter
31:17
into
31:18
peace,
31:19
the peace
31:19
that you
31:20
have in
31:20
your
31:20
salvation.
31:22
Enter
31:22
into that
31:23
peace.
31:24
Enjoy
31:24
that
31:25
peace.
31:30
Do you
31:31
lack
31:31
peace in
31:32
your life?
31:34
Are you
31:35
looking for
31:35
peace?
31:36
peace?
31:37
I'm
31:38
assuming
31:38
that
31:38
everyone
31:39
here,
31:39
including
31:39
myself,
31:41
is aware
31:42
of their
31:42
need for
31:42
peace in
31:43
their life.
31:44
The world
31:44
out there
31:45
is full
31:46
of the
31:46
lack of
31:47
peace.
31:49
But you
31:49
and I
31:50
are here
31:50
under the
31:50
gospel
31:51
where peace
31:52
is being
31:52
presented to
31:53
us in
31:53
Christ.
31:56
Go
31:57
into
31:57
peace.
31:59
Enjoy
32:00
peace with
32:00
God.
32:03
Enjoy
32:03
peace as
32:05
you
32:05
anticipate
32:06
death
32:06
and
32:07
eternity.
32:08
These
32:08
things are
32:09
not
32:09
morbid
32:10
to focus
32:11
on them,
32:12
to think
32:13
about them.
32:13
The world
32:14
will tell
32:14
you,
32:15
I don't
32:15
want to
32:15
think about
32:16
these
32:16
things.
32:16
I have
32:17
far too
32:17
much to
32:17
live for.
32:18
Why should
32:19
I be
32:19
thinking of
32:19
death and
32:20
eternity and
32:21
sin and
32:21
judgment and
32:22
all that
32:22
stuff?
32:23
Here is
32:24
Jesus
32:24
saying,
32:25
if you
32:25
want peace
32:25
you've
32:26
got to
32:26
think about
32:26
them.
32:28
If you
32:28
want peace
32:29
there's only
32:29
one place
32:30
you can
32:30
find it
32:30
and that's
32:32
in Him.
32:34
Go
32:35
into
32:36
peace.
32:37
A
32:38
peace
32:38
that will
32:38
not
32:39
in any
32:40
way free
32:41
you from
32:42
all your
32:42
troubles.
32:44
It will
32:45
not inoculate
32:46
you in
32:46
such a
32:46
way that
32:47
you won't
32:47
feel any
32:48
pains or
32:49
concerns or
32:51
anxieties or
32:53
troubles anymore.
32:54
It's not like
32:55
that.
32:57
But the
32:57
big thing
32:58
is,
32:59
when you
32:59
go into
32:59
peace,
33:00
when you
33:00
place your
33:00
trust in
33:01
Christ and
33:02
He says
33:02
to you,
33:02
now go
33:03
into
33:03
peace,
33:05
what He's
33:05
saying,
33:06
you might
33:06
have
33:06
troubles,
33:07
you will
33:07
have
33:07
troubles,
33:08
but you'll
33:09
have
33:09
me.
33:11
And
33:11
because
33:12
you'll
33:12
have
33:12
me,
33:13
you'll
33:13
have
33:13
peace.
33:15
You'll
33:15
be able
33:15
to face
33:16
your
33:16
troubles
33:16
as never
33:17
before,
33:18
through the
33:19
peace that
33:20
I will
33:20
give you.
33:23
Simon,
33:23
do you
33:24
see this
33:25
woman?
33:27
Who is
33:28
this who
33:28
even
33:29
forgives
33:29
sins?
33:30
Simon,
33:33
I have
33:33
something
33:33
to say
33:35
to you
33:36
today.
33:39
Let's
33:39
pray.
33:41
Lord,
33:42
our God,
33:42
we thank
33:43
you for
33:43
the peace
33:44
of the
33:44
gospel.
33:46
We thank
33:46
you for
33:47
the way
33:47
that it
33:47
has come
33:47
about,
33:48
that you
33:48
have come
33:49
into this
33:50
world and
33:50
given of
33:51
yourself the
33:53
Prince of
33:53
Peace to
33:54
die for
33:54
our peace.
33:56
We bless
33:57
you,
33:57
Lord,
33:57
today that
33:58
that peace
33:58
is real,
33:59
that it
34:00
far exceeds
34:01
anything that
34:01
any human
34:02
being can
34:02
conceive of
34:03
by way of
34:04
peace.
34:06
Bring us,
34:06
we pray,
34:07
into that
34:08
peace,
34:08
and if we
34:08
will already
34:09
come to
34:09
know you
34:10
as peace,
34:11
O Lord,
34:12
help us to
34:12
travel onwards
34:14
in the
34:14
peace of
34:14
Christ,
34:16
and enable
34:16
us to value
34:17
that peace
34:18
in such a
34:19
way that
34:20
would treasure
34:21
it in our
34:21
own hearts,
34:23
but would
34:23
also value
34:24
sharing it
34:24
with others.
34:26
Receive our
34:26
thanks now,
34:27
we pray,
34:27
pardoning
34:28
all our
34:29
sin,
34:29
for
34:29
Jesus'
34:30
sake.
34:31
Amen.
34:36
Well,
34:36
we're going
34:36
to conclude
34:37
our worship
34:37
today singing
34:38
in Psalm
34:39
103,
34:41
from the
34:42
Scottish
34:42
Psalter,
34:43
Psalm 103,
34:45
and
34:46
verses
34:46
8 to
34:46
12.
34:50
The
34:50
Lord,
34:50
our God,
34:51
is merciful,
34:52
and he
34:52
is gracious,
34:53
long-suffering,
34:54
and slow to
34:55
wrath,
34:55
and mercy
34:55
plenteous.
34:56
He will
34:57
not chide
34:58
continually,
34:58
nor keep
34:59
his anger
34:59
still.
35:01
With us
35:01
he dealt
35:02
not as we
35:02
sinned,
35:03
nor did
35:04
requite
35:04
our ill.
35:05
For as
35:06
the heaven
35:06
and its
35:06
height,
35:07
the earth
35:07
surmounteth
35:08
far,
35:09
so great
35:09
to those
35:10
that do
35:10
him fear
35:11
his tender
35:11
mercies
35:12
are.
35:13
As far
35:14
as east,
35:14
as distant
35:15
from the
35:15
west,
35:16
so far
35:17
hath he
35:17
from us
35:18
removed
35:18
in his
35:19
love
35:19
all our
35:21
iniquity.
35:22
all these
35:24
verses
35:24
then to
35:24
God's
35:25
praise
35:25
in
35:25
Psalm 103
35:26
from
35:27
verse 8,
35:28
the Lord
35:29
our God
35:29
is merciful.
35:30
and he is
35:47
gracious,
35:49
from
35:51
suffering
35:53
and slow
35:56
to
35:57
wrath
35:58
in
35:59
mercy
36:01
plenty
36:02
of
36:03
He
36:05
will
36:06
not
36:08
continually,
36:13
nor
36:13
keep
36:14
his
36:16
anger
36:16
still.
36:18
with
36:20
us
36:21
he
36:22
can't
36:23
nor
36:24
does
36:25
we
36:25
sin
36:26
nor
36:27
give
36:28
we
36:30
quite
36:31
ado.
36:34
For
36:34
us
36:36
the
36:36
heaven
36:38
in
36:39
its
36:41
height,
36:42
the
36:42
earth
36:43
surmounted
36:45
fire.
36:47
so
36:48
great
36:49
to
36:50
those
36:51
that
36:52
do
36:53
in
36:54
fear
36:55
his
36:56
tender
36:57
mercy
36:59
side.
37:01
!
37:02
As
37:03
far
37:04
as
37:05
he
37:06
distant
37:08
from
37:09
the
37:11
west
37:12
of
37:13
the
37:14
sea,
37:15
from
37:17
us
37:18
to
37:20
us
37:21
to
37:20
us
37:21
the
37:22
of
37:23
the
37:24
and
37:25
the
37:26
Father
37:28
the
37:30
the
37:31
Lord
37:32
the
37:33
Lord
37:34
the
37:35
Lord
37:36
Lord
37:37
Father
37:38
and
37:39
the
37:40
Holy
37:41
you
37:42
evermore.
37:43
Amen.
37:44
the
37:46
of
37:47
the
37:48
of
37:49
the
37:50
the
37:51
!
37:52
holy