From the campus of
Andrews University,
00:00:06.06\00:00:08.79
this is New Perception,
with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson.
00:00:08.82\00:00:13.52
This is my desire
00:00:29.37\00:00:35.21
To honor you
00:00:35.24\00:00:42.23
Lord, with all my heart
00:00:42.26\00:00:46.48
I worship you
00:00:46.51\00:00:50.34
All I have within me
00:00:54.66\00:01:00.63
I give You praise
00:01:00.66\00:01:07.24
All that I adore Is in you
00:01:07.27\00:01:15.24
Lord, I give you my heart
00:01:20.27\00:01:24.20
I give you my soul
00:01:24.23\00:01:28.51
I live for You alone
00:01:28.54\00:01:32.87
Ev'ry breath that I take
00:01:32.90\00:01:36.36
Ev'ry moment I'm awake
00:01:36.39\00:01:41.08
Lord, have Your way in me
00:01:41.11\00:01:45.46
Lord, I give You my heart
00:01:45.49\00:01:49.08
I give You my soul
00:01:49.11\00:01:53.61
I live for You alone
00:01:53.64\00:01:57.74
Ev'ry breath that I take
00:01:57.77\00:02:01.46
Ev'ry moment I'm awake
00:02:01.49\00:02:06.10
Lord, have Your way in me
00:02:06.13\00:02:11.86
I have a Maker
00:02:41.25\00:02:47.62
He formed my heart
00:02:47.65\00:02:53.89
Before even time began
00:02:53.92\00:02:59.14
My life was in His hand
00:02:59.17\00:03:06.79
He knows my name
00:03:06.82\00:03:13.11
He knows my every thought
00:03:13.14\00:03:19.49
He sees each tear that falls
00:03:19.52\00:03:24.75
And hears me when I call
00:03:24.78\00:03:32.20
I have a Father
00:03:32.23\00:03:38.50
He calls me His own
00:03:38.53\00:03:44.88
He'll never leave me
00:03:44.91\00:03:50.10
No matter where I go
00:03:50.13\00:03:57.56
He knows my name
00:03:57.59\00:04:04.01
He knows my every thought
00:04:04.04\00:04:10.29
He sees each tear that falls
00:04:10.32\00:04:15.51
And hears me when I call
00:04:15.54\00:04:22.90
He knows my name
00:04:22.93\00:04:29.27
He knows my every thought
00:04:29.30\00:04:35.69
He sees each tear that falls
00:04:35.72\00:04:40.78
And hears me when I call
00:04:40.81\00:04:47.34
And hears me when I call
00:04:47.37\00:04:53.92
In a couple of the
gospels there's a story,
00:04:56.92\00:04:59.71
Jesus on the mountain, He
has a crowd all around Him
00:04:59.74\00:05:02.74
and He asked the disciples,
00:05:02.77\00:05:04.14
we should
probably feed these people.
00:05:04.17\00:05:07.24
And so they go and
they're trying to figure out
00:05:07.27\00:05:09.42
how to do this,
you know, they respond.
00:05:09.45\00:05:11.57
Well, how could we
feed all these people?
00:05:11.60\00:05:13.14
Just send them home.
00:05:13.17\00:05:15.39
But they find a lad,
that's the word that's used.
00:05:15.42\00:05:18.63
They find a lad and he
has five loaves and two fish.
00:05:18.66\00:05:22.34
Five loaves and two fish and--
00:05:22.37\00:05:24.29
and I remember
the questions asked
00:05:24.32\00:05:25.64
but what is that in
the midst of this crowd?
00:05:25.67\00:05:29.42
What is that for these people,
just five loaves and two fish?
00:05:29.45\00:05:31.97
Maybe you can eat,
Jesus, maybe we could
00:05:32.00\00:05:33.78
have a few scraps.
00:05:33.81\00:05:35.02
But Jesus takes those
five loaves and two fish,
00:05:35.05\00:05:38.44
He blesses them
and all of a sudden
00:05:38.47\00:05:40.81
it's more, more than
enough for everybody there.
00:05:40.84\00:05:45.14
There's baskets
that are leftover.
00:05:45.17\00:05:49.61
What's the
beautiful thing is that
00:05:49.64\00:05:51.58
however unworthy we may
feel, when we give it to Him,
00:05:51.61\00:05:55.06
it all of a sudden
becomes more than enough.
00:05:55.09\00:05:59.03
Whatever it is that Jesus
has in His creative power,
00:05:59.06\00:06:03.44
He can take the
simple, sincerest things
00:06:03.47\00:06:07.40
that perhaps in
our measurements,
00:06:07.43\00:06:08.89
in our value
aren't quite good enough.
00:06:08.92\00:06:10.76
Don't quite measure up.
00:06:10.79\00:06:11.85
But when He receives
them because He is worthy,
00:06:11.88\00:06:16.04
they then become worthy.
00:06:16.07\00:06:18.84
That's what it means
to have Jesus' blessing.
00:06:18.87\00:06:21.29
Let's stand as we
sing this hymn together,
00:06:21.32\00:06:23.59
"Worthy is the lamb."
00:06:23.62\00:06:25.67
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb
00:07:00.81\00:07:05.65
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb
00:07:05.68\00:07:10.33
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb
00:07:10.36\00:07:15.02
That was slain
00:07:15.05\00:07:19.77
Glory, hallelujah!
00:07:19.80\00:07:24.21
Praise Him, hallelujah!
00:07:24.24\00:07:28.69
Glory, hallelujah
00:07:28.72\00:07:33.17
To the Lamb!
00:07:33.20\00:07:39.03
Savior, let Thy kingdom come
00:07:39.06\00:07:43.88
Now the power of sin consume
00:07:43.91\00:07:48.47
Bring Thy blest millennium
00:07:48.50\00:07:53.06
Holy Lamb
00:07:53.09\00:07:58.04
Glory, hallelujah!
00:07:58.07\00:08:02.31
Praise Him, hallelujah!
00:08:02.34\00:08:06.82
Glory, hallelujah
00:08:06.85\00:08:11.56
To the Lamb!
00:08:11.59\00:08:17.75
Thus may we each moment feel
00:08:17.78\00:08:22.31
Love Him, serve
Him Praise Him still
00:08:22.34\00:08:27.06
Till we all on Zion's hill
00:08:27.09\00:08:31.39
See the Lamb
00:08:31.42\00:08:36.16
Glory, hallelujah!
00:08:36.19\00:08:40.71
Praise Him, hallelujah!
00:08:40.74\00:08:45.38
Glory, hallelujah
00:08:45.41\00:08:50.15
To the Lamb!
00:08:50.18\00:08:56.02
We shall walk in peace
00:09:16.31\00:09:24.30
We shall walk through the valley
00:09:28.34\00:09:36.34
We shall walk in peace.
00:09:36.37\00:09:41.42
We shall walk through the valley
00:09:41.45\00:09:48.48
In peace
00:09:48.51\00:09:55.28
For Jesus Himself
00:09:55.31\00:10:00.53
Will be our leader
00:10:00.56\00:10:07.00
We shall walk
00:10:10.14\00:10:15.25
Through the valley
00:10:15.28\00:10:20.39
In peace
00:10:20.42\00:10:27.57
We shall walk in peace
00:10:35.53\00:10:43.53
We will meet
00:10:49.05\00:10:52.41
Our loved ones there
00:10:52.44\00:10:57.89
We will meet
00:11:01.20\00:11:04.39
Our loved ones there
00:11:04.42\00:11:12.38
For Jesus Himself
00:11:15.37\00:11:20.18
Will be our leader
00:11:20.21\00:11:27.11
We shall walk
00:11:30.11\00:11:35.16
Through the valley
00:11:35.19\00:11:39.83
In peace
00:11:39.86\00:11:46.95
There will be
00:11:46.98\00:11:48.81
No more trials there
00:11:48.84\00:11:54.64
There will be
00:11:57.64\00:12:01.03
No more trials there
00:12:01.06\00:12:08.11
For Jesus Himself
00:12:14.06\00:12:19.95
Will be our leader
00:12:19.98\00:12:27.95
We shall walk
00:12:32.40\00:12:38.65
Through the valley
00:12:38.68\00:12:44.73
In peace
00:12:44.76\00:12:52.73
We shall walk
00:13:04.67\00:13:09.28
In peace
00:13:09.31\00:13:17.27
Let's pray together.
00:13:28.00\00:13:31.59
Oh, God, we shall walk
through the valley in peace,
00:13:31.62\00:13:33.93
Jesus will lead us.
00:13:33.96\00:13:37.93
We live in a world languishing
00:13:37.96\00:13:41.71
for that value of eternal peace,
00:13:41.74\00:13:44.11
when shall it come?
00:13:44.14\00:13:47.43
It's business to
do until you do come.
00:13:51.09\00:13:55.71
And so, Holy Father, please,
00:13:55.74\00:13:59.93
let these
moments in Holy Scripture
00:13:59.96\00:14:04.11
open not only our minds
00:14:04.14\00:14:05.65
but open our
hearts to Your teaching.
00:14:05.68\00:14:09.08
We pray in Jesus' name.
00:14:09.11\00:14:11.29
Amen.
00:14:11.32\00:14:13.64
Stephen Hawking, you've heard of
00:14:13.67\00:14:15.51
the eminent British
theoretical physicist.
00:14:15.54\00:14:20.07
Stephen Hawking
turn 70, two weeks ago.
00:14:20.10\00:14:23.37
So to celebrate that milestone,
00:14:23.40\00:14:25.75
the magazine New Scientist
00:14:25.78\00:14:27.53
interviewed this
brilliant author.
00:14:27.56\00:14:30.11
He wrote the book, A
Brief History of Time.
00:14:30.14\00:14:32.95
You've read that
book. Brilliant scientist.
00:14:32.98\00:14:37.09
They interviewed him
00:14:37.12\00:14:39.14
and as a result
of that interview
00:14:39.17\00:14:41.07
we now know the
mystery before which
00:14:41.10\00:14:44.88
even the great
Stephen Hawking bows.
00:14:44.91\00:14:49.51
When the journalist asked
him, "What do you think about
00:14:49.54\00:14:53.76
most during the day?"
00:14:53.79\00:14:56.32
Hawking replied and I put
his words on the screen for you,
00:14:56.35\00:15:00.32
"Women. They are
a complete mystery."
00:15:00.35\00:15:06.45
There you have
ladies and gentlemen,
00:15:06.48\00:15:07.61
the pronouncement of
00:15:07.64\00:15:08.67
one of the
brightest minds on earth.
00:15:08.70\00:15:10.41
We now know that mystery, women.
00:15:10.44\00:15:14.59
But women were
no mystery to Jesus.
00:15:14.62\00:15:18.96
They will remain one
half of His strategic plan
00:15:18.99\00:15:22.36
for the human race.
00:15:22.39\00:15:24.90
Case in point, our story
today, "Jesus and One Woman."
00:15:24.93\00:15:30.54
Open your Bible with me
please to the Gospel of John.
00:15:30.57\00:15:33.99
Our new semester series
entitled, "The Last Days."
00:15:34.02\00:15:37.62
Let's put the title
slide up please, The Last Days.
00:15:37.65\00:15:40.64
Not the last days of earth,
00:15:40.67\00:15:42.05
the last seven
days of Jesus' life.
00:15:42.08\00:15:44.95
One-third of all four gospels
devoted to the last seven days,
00:15:44.98\00:15:49.20
that's what counts,
the last seven days.
00:15:49.23\00:15:53.11
Title of today's teaching,
00:15:53.14\00:15:54.78
"Of Perfume, Tears
and Grumpy Old Men.
00:15:54.81\00:15:58.62
So grab your Bible.
00:15:58.65\00:15:59.68
You want to-- If you
didn't bring your Bible,
00:15:59.71\00:16:01.12
oh, this is a
narrative, it's a short
00:16:01.15\00:16:02.71
but punching narrative.
00:16:02.74\00:16:03.79
Grab the pew
Bible in front of you.
00:16:03.82\00:16:05.48
Leave that-- leave that
up on the screen, please,
00:16:05.51\00:16:08.36
because I want to
say to those of you
00:16:08.39\00:16:09.66
who are joining us right now
00:16:09.69\00:16:10.73
on television or live streaming,
00:16:10.76\00:16:12.57
we're delighted to have you.
00:16:12.60\00:16:13.63
Glad you're here.
00:16:13.66\00:16:14.69
You can go to that website,
you see that website there,
00:16:14.72\00:16:16.20
www.pmchurch.tv.
00:16:16.23\00:16:19.80
Go to the website, click on to--
00:16:19.83\00:16:21.50
this is the second
teaching in this new series.
00:16:21.53\00:16:23.78
You just heard the title,
and it will say study guide,
00:16:23.81\00:16:26.76
get that study guide.
00:16:26.79\00:16:27.83
Ushers would you make sure
00:16:27.86\00:16:29.04
that everybody
here get a study guide.
00:16:29.07\00:16:30.29
Bless you.
00:16:30.32\00:16:31.35
This is an unusual study
guide, it's for taking notes.
00:16:31.38\00:16:34.09
You'll see why in a moment.
00:16:34.12\00:16:35.35
There are no fill in the blanks
00:16:35.38\00:16:36.44
but you're going to need this.
00:16:36.47\00:16:37.50
There's one quotation I
want you to have for sure.
00:16:37.53\00:16:39.93
So hold your hand
up, I hope the choir
00:16:39.96\00:16:41.28
has the study guide, did you?
00:16:41.31\00:16:42.34
Good. Let's go.
00:16:42.37\00:16:44.41
All right, John 12.
00:16:44.44\00:16:47.05
So I am in the New
King James Version.
00:16:47.08\00:16:48.94
Let's go to John 12:1,
00:16:48.97\00:16:53.30
"Then, six days
before the Passover--"
00:16:53.33\00:16:55.91
At the end of
this week He's dead.
00:16:55.94\00:16:58.55
This is Saturday night,
00:16:58.58\00:17:00.69
six days from now
He'll be dead, Calvary.
00:17:00.72\00:17:03.73
"Then, six days
before the Passover,
00:17:03.76\00:17:05.79
Jesus came to Bethany,
00:17:05.82\00:17:07.53
where Lazarus was
who had been dead,
00:17:07.56\00:17:09.69
whom he raised from the dead."
00:17:09.72\00:17:11.70
That's where we were last week.
00:17:11.73\00:17:13.11
This is the same Lazarus.
00:17:13.14\00:17:14.21
This is last week's story now,
00:17:14.24\00:17:15.57
just providing the linkage here.
00:17:15.60\00:17:17.98
"There in that
little village of Bethany,
00:17:18.01\00:17:19.80
they made him a supper."
00:17:19.83\00:17:21.84
Jesus is the-- He
is the guest of honor.
00:17:21.87\00:17:24.94
But I need to
tell you that the--
00:17:24.97\00:17:27.59
all the uninvited
are crowded around
00:17:27.62\00:17:29.51
that banqueting hall that night
00:17:29.54\00:17:30.99
because for four days
his body was decomposing
00:17:31.02\00:17:35.06
and now he's alive
00:17:35.09\00:17:36.29
and everybody
wants to see Lazarus.
00:17:36.32\00:17:38.21
So Lazarus is
also a guest of honor.
00:17:38.24\00:17:42.46
So they made him
a supper in verse 2.
00:17:42.49\00:17:44.80
"And Martha served."
That would be Lazarus' sister.
00:17:44.83\00:17:47.36
"But Lazarus was one of those
00:17:47.39\00:17:48.76
who sat at the
table with Jesus."
00:17:48.79\00:17:50.77
Then verse 3, Mary,
00:17:50.80\00:17:53.68
that would be
Lazarus' other sister.
00:17:53.71\00:17:56.37
"Mary took a pound of
very costly oil spikenard,
00:17:56.40\00:18:01.30
anointed the feet of Jesus,
00:18:01.33\00:18:03.40
and wiped His
feet with her hair.
00:18:03.43\00:18:05.72
And the house was filled
with the fragrance of the oil."
00:18:05.75\00:18:10.90
Now by the Greek
language here in John
00:18:10.93\00:18:12.98
and the other three synoptics.
00:18:13.01\00:18:15.31
This nard plant,
here's what we know about it.
00:18:15.34\00:18:17.39
This nard plant was a
tiny but fragrant blossoms
00:18:17.42\00:18:20.65
that only grew on the hills
00:18:20.68\00:18:23.79
at the feet of
the mighty Himalayas
00:18:23.82\00:18:26.13
in northern India.
00:18:26.16\00:18:27.54
So you can
understand it was a rare
00:18:27.57\00:18:30.19
and exclusive perfume oil.
00:18:30.22\00:18:34.45
Easily it can command
an entire year of wages
00:18:34.48\00:18:39.87
for a commoner.
00:18:39.90\00:18:42.22
Scholars wonder, did
Mary somehow liquidate
00:18:42.25\00:18:44.38
her part of the
family inheritance.
00:18:44.41\00:18:46.19
We don't know.
00:18:46.22\00:18:47.26
All we know is that a
great, at great expense
00:18:47.29\00:18:50.73
she purchased a
pound of this spikenard
00:18:50.76\00:18:53.15
in a narrow alabaster flask
00:18:53.18\00:18:55.59
and quietly,
surreptitiously slipping into
00:18:55.62\00:18:58.42
the banqueting room full of men,
00:18:58.45\00:19:01.89
she broke open her
precious alabaster flask.
00:19:01.92\00:19:05.55
Read verse 3 again,
"Then Mary took a pound--"
00:19:05.58\00:19:08.85
Now these are Roman
pounds, about 12 ounces.
00:19:08.88\00:19:11.27
"Then Mary took a pound of
very costly oil of spikenard,
00:19:11.30\00:19:14.93
anointed the feet of Jesus
00:19:14.96\00:19:16.36
and wiped His
feet with her hair.
00:19:16.39\00:19:18.26
And the house was filled
with the fragrance of the oil."
00:19:18.29\00:19:24.28
You know, I can
never fool Karen.
00:19:24.31\00:19:25.73
When I come back,
shopping for a gift for her,
00:19:25.76\00:19:27.81
I never fool her,
whether it's for her birthday or
00:19:27.84\00:19:30.09
Valentines or
Christmas or whatever
00:19:30.12\00:19:33.95
because I love
to shop for perfume.
00:19:33.98\00:19:38.30
And so I go to that
department store counter,
00:19:38.33\00:19:41.47
and I am never content.
00:19:41.50\00:19:42.53
I don't know how you are
guys but I'm never content with
00:19:42.56\00:19:44.35
just getting one little sample.
00:19:44.38\00:19:46.37
Look I know they have
these little white paper sticks
00:19:46.40\00:19:48.52
you're supposed to...
and then smell the stick.
00:19:48.55\00:19:50.56
Forget it. For me
it has to be on flesh.
00:19:50.59\00:19:52.37
I have to smell it.
00:19:52.40\00:19:53.67
So I took that one finger out...
00:19:53.70\00:19:56.32
Oh, it's good.
00:19:56.35\00:19:57.38
Then I take another one
00:19:57.41\00:19:58.44
because I love to
get a lot of them.
00:19:58.47\00:19:59.50
Take the other one.
00:19:59.53\00:20:03.38
I get the third one. I
go through all the fingers.
00:20:03.41\00:20:05.05
And I see Karen do
this, so I drew on my wrist.
00:20:05.08\00:20:07.70
Oh, and it's good.
00:20:07.73\00:20:10.75
So I got to check it all
out then I make the purchase.
00:20:10.78\00:20:13.64
And every time when I
come walking through the door,
00:20:13.67\00:20:15.91
she always guesses what
I bought her for a gift.
00:20:15.94\00:20:18.47
What's up with that?
00:20:18.50\00:20:20.39
Because a perfume worth
its salt cannot be hidden.
00:20:20.42\00:20:24.31
That's what's up.
00:20:24.34\00:20:25.86
And that's
what's happening here.
00:20:25.89\00:20:27.11
Mary has
desperately tried to be discreet
00:20:27.14\00:20:30.13
and unnoticed as possible.
00:20:30.16\00:20:31.70
She timidly slips
into that room of men.
00:20:31.73\00:20:33.80
She anoints the head
and the feet of this man
00:20:33.83\00:20:35.77
who forgave her, her
past of utter lossness.
00:20:35.80\00:20:40.51
He knew all about her past.
00:20:40.54\00:20:43.24
She can hardly
restrain her tears,
00:20:43.27\00:20:46.16
such deep gratitude
for that forgiveness.
00:20:46.19\00:20:50.28
By the way she
has heard this man
00:20:50.31\00:20:52.85
seven times in tears himself,
pleading with His father,
00:20:52.88\00:20:57.25
deliver this woman from what
is holding her in the clutches.
00:20:57.28\00:21:01.64
Seven times He's
begging for her deliverance.
00:21:01.67\00:21:05.29
And I am telling you,
it's just the heart bursting
00:21:05.32\00:21:07.98
with gratitude.
00:21:08.01\00:21:09.04
And by the way,
the rumor is out,
00:21:09.07\00:21:10.29
He's going to become
the anointed Messiah King
00:21:10.32\00:21:14.18
and she wants to
have her anointing
00:21:14.21\00:21:16.25
ahead of the public one.
00:21:16.28\00:21:19.19
And so she comes
and breaks that flask
00:21:19.22\00:21:22.52
and the room becomes
00:21:22.55\00:21:23.95
a lovely department
store perfume counter.
00:21:23.98\00:21:29.88
Verse 4,
00:21:29.91\00:21:33.50
"But one of His disciples,
Judas Iscariot, Simon's son
00:21:33.53\00:21:41.46
who would betray him, said,
00:21:41.49\00:21:45.01
'Why was this fragrant oil
not sold three hundred denarii
00:21:45.04\00:21:50.53
and given to the poor?'''
00:21:50.56\00:21:52.94
This, verse 6, "This he said,
00:21:52.97\00:21:56.05
not that he care for the poor,
00:21:56.08\00:21:58.67
but because he was a
thief, and had the money box,
00:21:58.70\00:22:02.17
and he used to take
what was put in it."
00:22:02.20\00:22:06.67
Unlike the synoptics,
John intentionally IDs
00:22:06.70\00:22:13.62
two of the key
players in Jesus' story,
00:22:13.65\00:22:16.77
the protagonist,
John reveals her name
00:22:16.80\00:22:20.15
perhaps because Mary is now dead
00:22:20.18\00:22:22.09
and any embarrassment
about her checkered past
00:22:22.12\00:22:24.83
is no longer relevant.
00:22:24.86\00:22:25.99
So he IDs the protagonist
and he IDs the antagonist
00:22:26.02\00:22:30.82
because by identifying Judas
as the instigator of this cruel
00:22:30.85\00:22:35.32
and heartless public shaming,
00:22:35.35\00:22:38.53
John deftly
creates a powerful contrast
00:22:38.56\00:22:42.01
between Judas' greed and avarice
00:22:42.04\00:22:45.02
and Mary's utterly sacrificial
devotion to the Savior.
00:22:45.05\00:22:50.06
I mean, like an awful
sour thumb beside her,
00:22:50.09\00:22:54.15
Judas sticks out.
00:22:54.18\00:22:56.52
But like a fragrant blossom
beside rancid waters is Mary.
00:22:56.55\00:23:01.87
Judas by the way
was the chief instigator
00:23:05.05\00:23:07.87
but all the
disciples, all the men piled on.
00:23:07.90\00:23:13.34
Watch this, we'll go
to the Gospel of Mark now
00:23:13.37\00:23:15.38
and just get to his reading.
00:23:15.41\00:23:16.62
Mark 14:3, "While
Jesus was in Bethany
00:23:16.65\00:23:19.12
reclining at the table in
the home of Simon the Leper,
00:23:19.15\00:23:21.67
a woman came
with an alabaster jar
00:23:21.70\00:23:23.96
of very expensive perfume.
00:23:23.99\00:23:27.03
It's made of pure nard.
00:23:27.06\00:23:28.56
She broke the jar and poured
the perfume on Jesus' head.
00:23:28.59\00:23:31.81
Some of those
present were saying
00:23:31.84\00:23:34.32
indignantly to one another,
'Why this waste of perfume?
00:23:34.35\00:23:37.77
Can you believe it?
00:23:37.80\00:23:39.03
It could have been sold
for more than a year's wages
00:23:39.06\00:23:41.39
and the money
given to the poor.'
00:23:41.42\00:23:43.01
And they rebuked her harshly."
00:23:43.04\00:23:46.92
All of them rebuked her harshly.
00:23:46.95\00:23:52.02
So how does Jesus respond?
00:23:52.05\00:23:53.55
Back to your own Bible
verse 7 but Jesus said,
00:23:53.58\00:23:58.36
"Let her alone,
00:23:58.39\00:24:02.55
she has kept this
for the day of My burial.
00:24:02.58\00:24:05.59
For the poor you
have with you always,
00:24:05.62\00:24:09.01
but Me you do not have always."
00:24:09.04\00:24:16.19
Leave her alone.
00:24:16.22\00:24:21.16
I just love Jesus for that.
00:24:21.19\00:24:23.36
Now, you think
about it, come on.
00:24:23.39\00:24:26.40
Nobody speaks up in her defense,
00:24:26.43\00:24:28.79
not her brother
Lazarus, not her sister Martha,
00:24:28.82\00:24:32.25
not one of the
disciples that has tasted
00:24:32.28\00:24:35.38
and enjoyed the warmth
for that congenial hospitality
00:24:35.41\00:24:39.40
in that little Bethany
home, nobody speaks up.
00:24:39.43\00:24:43.73
But one man, leave her alone.
00:24:43.76\00:24:48.82
How could we not help
but love Jesus for this?
00:24:48.85\00:24:52.15
I tell you what, it takes hutspâ
00:24:52.18\00:24:54.46
to speak in defense of
the defenseless, doesn't it?
00:24:54.49\00:24:57.06
I mean, come on,
you think about it,
00:24:57.09\00:24:58.12
it takes moral backbone
00:24:58.15\00:24:59.87
to speak up in
defense of the minority,
00:24:59.90\00:25:02.17
the marginalized when no
one else dare say a word,
00:25:02.20\00:25:05.43
it does take
courage, doesn't it?
00:25:05.46\00:25:08.40
How can you not help
00:25:08.43\00:25:09.94
but love Jesus in
a moment like this?
00:25:09.97\00:25:12.51
I mean, look here.
00:25:12.54\00:25:13.57
He not only converses
with the Samaritan woman,
00:25:13.60\00:25:16.37
He makes a Samaritan the hero
of one of his greatest parable
00:25:16.40\00:25:19.28
so that we end
up calling that hero
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.15
the Good Samaritan, and
the Jews hated Samaritans.
00:25:21.18\00:25:26.80
Jesus not only forgives
prostitutes and tax-collectors,
00:25:26.83\00:25:29.54
another sinners,
he dines with them,
00:25:29.57\00:25:32.17
that social hutspâ in spades.
00:25:32.20\00:25:36.99
And when nobody else
has time for the children
00:25:37.02\00:25:39.68
who is this who
gathers little ones in his arms
00:25:39.71\00:25:42.13
and he hugs them
and he blesses them?
00:25:42.16\00:25:45.99
Pagan gentiles...
00:25:46.02\00:25:49.72
Now Jesus,
Syrophoenician mother,
00:25:49.75\00:25:53.00
pagan Roman centurion.
00:25:53.03\00:25:56.29
He's going to die for them all.
00:25:56.32\00:25:59.74
And women, when
the strictest Rabbis
00:25:59.77\00:26:05.22
and the most orthodox Pharisees
00:26:05.25\00:26:07.72
would never be
caught talking in public
00:26:07.75\00:26:09.67
to another woman
other than their own wife,
00:26:09.70\00:26:12.08
Jesus gratefully publicly
00:26:12.11\00:26:14.48
received the
ministry of many women, many.
00:26:14.51\00:26:18.80
Look at this, this is Calvary.
00:26:18.83\00:26:20.34
This is Mark 15, at the cross,
00:26:20.37\00:26:22.21
"There were also
there at the cross,
00:26:22.24\00:26:23.97
women looking on from afar,
00:26:24.00\00:26:26.40
among whom were
Mary Magdalene--"
00:26:26.43\00:26:28.31
And by the way, you
just met Mary Magdalene
00:26:28.34\00:26:30.25
in John 12.
00:26:30.28\00:26:31.51
"Mary the mother of
James the Less and of Joses,
00:26:31.54\00:26:34.47
and Salome who also followed him
00:26:34.50\00:26:37.72
and ministered to Him
when He was in Galilee,
00:26:37.75\00:26:39.89
and many other women
00:26:39.92\00:26:42.57
who came up with
Jesus to Jerusalem."
00:26:42.60\00:26:45.20
Isn't that amazing?
00:26:45.23\00:26:46.65
Many other women followed
Him and ministered to Him
00:26:46.68\00:26:52.71
which means this
"leave her alone"
00:26:52.74\00:26:55.12
is not some
isolated little moment
00:26:55.15\00:26:57.65
in defense of a woman.
00:26:57.68\00:27:00.22
Obviously, Jesus gladly publicly
00:27:00.25\00:27:04.00
received the
ministry of all these women.
00:27:04.03\00:27:09.65
Leave her alone.
00:27:09.68\00:27:12.32
When you think
what just happened.
00:27:12.35\00:27:13.46
Come on, think.
00:27:13.49\00:27:14.52
What has just happened when
he, in stern voice commands.
00:27:14.55\00:27:22.04
I mean, here's this woman.
00:27:22.07\00:27:25.00
She's just quietly
entered into a man's world,
00:27:25.03\00:27:28.61
has humbly brought to Christ
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.07
her own expression
of love and devotion
00:27:30.10\00:27:33.43
when suddenly noticed, for
her outer bounds expression
00:27:33.46\00:27:36.57
a certain man
leaps upon that act
00:27:36.60\00:27:38.18
and loudly declared, this
is a misguided waste of effort
00:27:38.21\00:27:41.84
and a
misappropriation of devotion.
00:27:41.87\00:27:45.18
And all-- have you noticed,
00:27:45.21\00:27:46.50
all it takes is
for one man to protest
00:27:46.53\00:27:49.32
and soon other men to
prove their male credentials
00:27:49.35\00:27:52.71
jump on the
bandwagon until all of them
00:27:52.74\00:27:56.59
would drive this
woman from their circle,
00:27:56.62\00:28:00.12
until another man
interrupts, leave her alone,
00:28:00.15\00:28:05.55
leave her alone.
00:28:05.58\00:28:09.20
And remember,
this is the same Jesus,
00:28:09.23\00:28:11.61
this is the same Mary
00:28:11.64\00:28:13.25
and from the same
little village of Bethany.
00:28:13.28\00:28:16.49
Some month earlier,
you remember the story
00:28:16.52\00:28:18.15
when Martha comes
in the living room,
00:28:18.18\00:28:19.43
just all huffing puffing,
00:28:19.46\00:28:20.71
hey, come on, Jesus,
what is up with this,
00:28:20.74\00:28:22.28
you just let my sister
sitting here with all you men
00:28:22.31\00:28:25.09
when I got work
to do in the kitchen,
00:28:25.12\00:28:26.32
would you
command her to come back
00:28:26.35\00:28:27.50
to the kitchen with me?
00:28:27.53\00:28:30.44
Remember that story?
00:28:30.47\00:28:34.28
How did Jesus respond?
00:28:34.31\00:28:37.07
Mary, Martha is right,
00:28:37.10\00:28:39.64
you need to remember
your place in this world,
00:28:39.67\00:28:41.94
it's not here with
all the men and me,
00:28:41.97\00:28:44.09
it's in the
kitchen where you belong.
00:28:44.12\00:28:45.37
Now, go, go, go, girl.
00:28:45.40\00:28:47.86
How did He respond?
00:28:47.89\00:28:48.92
Look at this, Luke 10, Luke 10,
00:28:48.95\00:28:53.19
"And Jesus
answered and said to her--"
00:28:53.22\00:28:56.42
When He repeats your name
00:28:56.45\00:28:57.49
it's because He
really-- He loves you.
00:28:57.52\00:28:59.82
"Martha, Martha,
00:28:59.85\00:29:02.58
you are worried and
troubled about many things.
00:29:02.61\00:29:05.79
But one thing is needed, girl,
00:29:05.82\00:29:08.03
and Mary has
chosen that good part,
00:29:08.06\00:29:10.46
which will not be
taken away from her."
00:29:10.49\00:29:14.04
Martha, Martha, it's
okay for Mary to be here
00:29:14.07\00:29:18.24
because she's
chosen the better part.
00:29:18.27\00:29:21.67
She's doing it
out of love for Me.
00:29:21.70\00:29:24.12
The very same observance as
that Saturday night banquet,
00:29:24.15\00:29:31.81
she's doing it
out of love for Me.
00:29:31.84\00:29:36.10
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
00:29:36.13\00:29:38.26
It makes you wonder,
where would Jesus stand today?
00:29:38.29\00:29:43.13
In a church that has opened
its doors of ministry to all
00:29:43.16\00:29:48.48
except women?
00:29:48.51\00:29:52.81
Oh, sure, there are designated
ministries in the church
00:29:52.84\00:29:55.64
that women are
applauded for doing,
00:29:55.67\00:29:58.65
but no pastoral ministry
is she allowed to perform
00:29:58.68\00:30:02.13
with the same recognition
of spiritual authority
00:30:02.16\00:30:04.70
as her male counterparts enjoy.
00:30:04.73\00:30:08.93
Namely, the sacred, an
ecclesiastical recognition
00:30:08.96\00:30:13.34
that God has already called
and gifted the individual,
00:30:13.37\00:30:18.56
a calling with
spiritual authority
00:30:18.59\00:30:20.33
and leadership
recognize universally
00:30:20.36\00:30:22.34
in the church by
something called ordination.
00:30:22.37\00:30:29.37
Ordination does
not confer giftedness.
00:30:29.40\00:30:33.38
Ordination
recognizes it's already there
00:30:33.41\00:30:37.31
and we see the fruit.
00:30:37.34\00:30:41.47
No, Mary, no, no.
00:30:41.50\00:30:43.92
For that, you need
to leave this circle,
00:30:43.95\00:30:46.30
for God's word declares
that this responsibility
00:30:46.33\00:30:49.38
of spiritual authority
belongs only to men, I'm sorry.
00:30:49.41\00:30:54.28
It does.
00:30:54.31\00:31:00.03
I just read an article,
in defense of that men only
00:31:00.06\00:31:03.83
position about ordination,
bless the writers heart.
00:31:03.86\00:31:07.40
I have to wonder.
00:31:07.43\00:31:09.15
Why, what is so
clear to me in Scripture
00:31:09.18\00:31:11.25
is not clear to the writer.
00:31:11.28\00:31:14.05
For example, the writer--
listen, the writer suggested
00:31:14.08\00:31:16.30
that when the Bible
declares that the elder
00:31:16.33\00:31:18.27
or that would be the pastor
is to be the husband of one wife
00:31:18.30\00:31:22.49
that clearly means
that only men can hold
00:31:22.52\00:31:25.30
that position of
ordain spiritual leadership.
00:31:25.33\00:31:29.59
But that's not
how I read the text.
00:31:29.62\00:31:31.75
Let's look at the text.
Let's put it on the screen.
00:31:31.78\00:31:33.69
1 Timothy 3:2, Paul
writing, "A bishop-- "
00:31:33.72\00:31:37.53
That could be an elder,
00:31:37.56\00:31:39.83
"A bishop then
must be blameless,
00:31:39.86\00:31:43.11
the husband of one
wife, temperate, sober-minded,
00:31:43.14\00:31:46.63
of good behavior,
hospitable, able to teach."
00:31:46.66\00:31:50.37
But listen, I know we'll
require that text to be read
00:31:50.40\00:31:53.22
as meaning
exclusively male then I require
00:31:53.25\00:31:56.74
Jesus instructions to His
disciple ministers to be read
00:31:56.77\00:31:59.59
as meaning exclusively
the way He phrases it.
00:31:59.62\00:32:02.81
Here's what He
says to a group of men
00:32:02.84\00:32:04.64
who have just been
ordained to the gospel ministry.
00:32:04.67\00:32:07.66
I want to see this, Matthew
10, we'll pick it up in verse 9,
00:32:07.69\00:32:11.12
He's getting ready to send them
out on their first pastorate,
00:32:11.15\00:32:13.56
"Provide-- " He said,
"Hey, provide neither gold
00:32:13.59\00:32:16.17
nor silver nor
copper in your money belts."
00:32:16.20\00:32:19.74
No, I am not thinking, man,
I got to get that wallet going
00:32:19.77\00:32:21.87
and got to find the money
bill, I am not thinking that.
00:32:21.90\00:32:24.08
Verse 10, "Nor--
" don't get a bag,
00:32:24.11\00:32:27.28
don't get a
suitcase for your journey,
00:32:27.31\00:32:29.04
you don't need two
tunics nor sandals,
00:32:29.07\00:32:32.18
just the one you
have on are all you need,
00:32:32.21\00:32:34.18
nor staff for a
worker is worthy of his food.
00:32:34.21\00:32:39.17
Now, ladies and
gentlemen, surely,
00:32:39.20\00:32:41.68
Jesus detailed
instructions to His disciples,
00:32:41.71\00:32:44.93
do not mean that today we're
not allowed to take suitcases
00:32:44.96\00:32:48.20
when we pastors travel
and we're not allowed to take
00:32:48.23\00:32:50.55
an extra change of clothes,
or an extra pair of sandals.
00:32:50.58\00:32:53.39
We should only wear sandals.
00:32:53.42\00:32:56.30
He's not saying,
you got to have a staff
00:32:56.33\00:32:58.37
or no staff, is He?
00:32:58.40\00:33:01.35
Oh, come on, Dwight, please.
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.64
Jesus is speaking to specific
man in a specific country
00:33:03.67\00:33:07.18
and culture at a specific time,
you're stretching the scripture
00:33:07.21\00:33:10.46
and making require sandals
and staffs and no suitcases
00:33:10.49\00:33:14.61
of his ministers
2000 years later,
00:33:14.64\00:33:18.46
which my friend is
precisely the point.
00:33:18.49\00:33:23.80
We listen to ancient scripture,
00:33:23.83\00:33:25.36
even the red
letter words of Jesus
00:33:25.39\00:33:27.74
and we interpret the principles
00:33:27.77\00:33:29.21
behind those
words for our living
00:33:29.24\00:33:30.80
and ministering today,
we make the application.
00:33:30.83\00:33:32.52
You know what Jesus is saying?
00:33:32.55\00:33:33.77
I believe He's
saying we have to travel,
00:33:33.80\00:33:35.26
we have to travel light,
we have to travel simply.
00:33:35.29\00:33:39.99
Which being interpreted
simply and clearly means
00:33:40.02\00:33:43.27
that the church is
to-- how did Paul put it?
00:33:43.30\00:33:47.22
He gave his
counsel about ordaining
00:33:47.25\00:33:49.52
those who are the
husband of one wife.
00:33:49.55\00:33:55.82
But what is he saying?
00:33:55.85\00:33:57.48
If he's not
admonishing the church to ordain
00:33:57.51\00:34:01.50
those who are maritally
faithful to their spouses.
00:34:01.53\00:34:06.33
Hey, look, no, no.
00:34:06.36\00:34:07.39
You say, no, no,
Dwight, you can't do that,
00:34:07.42\00:34:08.89
that has to stay literal.
00:34:08.92\00:34:09.97
Jesus is
figurative, this is literal.
00:34:10.00\00:34:12.89
Okay, let's say
it stays literal.
00:34:12.92\00:34:15.19
Think about the implications
if it remains literal.
00:34:15.22\00:34:17.65
If these words are to be a
literal command for all time,
00:34:17.68\00:34:20.35
the husband of one
wife, then there can be
00:34:20.38\00:34:23.54
no single
ministers, no single ministers.
00:34:23.57\00:34:27.24
Well, how can you be
single? You have to have a wife.
00:34:27.27\00:34:29.91
There can be no remarried
ministers, no divorce ministers
00:34:29.94\00:34:34.76
because now you have two wives.
00:34:34.79\00:34:38.02
And number three, there
can be no childless ministers
00:34:38.05\00:34:41.01
because the very next line says,
00:34:41.04\00:34:42.26
he must be very good
at raising his children.
00:34:42.29\00:34:46.24
So you can't be a
childless pastor. No, come on.
00:34:46.27\00:34:50.74
Dwight, nobody
wishes to push that
00:34:50.77\00:34:51.84
single phrase that literally.
00:34:51.87\00:34:53.31
Everybody reinterprets
to fit our society today
00:34:53.34\00:34:56.55
as we do what Jesus
command to His disciples,
00:34:56.58\00:34:58.99
but for some reason, and
I'm trying to figure this out.
00:34:59.02\00:35:02.50
For some reason,
those who do not believe
00:35:02.53\00:35:05.16
that women should be granted
the same spiritual authority
00:35:05.19\00:35:08.29
for their calling
to gospel ministry,
00:35:08.32\00:35:10.16
they allow a free interpretation
00:35:10.19\00:35:11.92
of the phrase for singles.
00:35:11.95\00:35:13.24
Oh, yeah, you can have single.
00:35:13.27\00:35:14.30
Remarried, oh, yeah.
Childless, no problem.
00:35:14.33\00:35:16.91
But inexplicably
they suddenly demand
00:35:16.94\00:35:19.81
a strict literal
interpretation for gender.
00:35:19.84\00:35:22.45
Oh, no, you have to be a man.
00:35:22.48\00:35:25.06
Three times you said
we can interpret it away,
00:35:25.09\00:35:27.67
but this one you can't.
00:35:27.70\00:35:32.06
Almost humbly,
personally disagree with them.
00:35:32.09\00:35:40.01
For I believe, I
believe that they are
00:35:40.04\00:35:44.09
inconsistently interpreting
scripture to fit their beliefs
00:35:44.12\00:35:50.06
and not allowing Holy Scripture
to dictate their beliefs.
00:35:50.09\00:35:57.12
Yeah, but come
on, Dwight, please.
00:35:57.15\00:35:59.66
Doesn't the Bible command
women to keep silent in church
00:35:59.69\00:36:01.98
and do not exercise
spiritual authority over men,
00:36:02.01\00:36:04.65
because Eve was
created second and sin first.
00:36:04.68\00:36:09.70
That's a good question.
00:36:09.73\00:36:11.48
Let's reread what God
very plainly declared to the--
00:36:11.51\00:36:15.16
to our first
parents, Adam and Eve.
00:36:15.19\00:36:17.25
After their moral melt
down in the Garden of Eden,
00:36:17.28\00:36:20.27
let's put Genesis
3 on the screen here.
00:36:20.30\00:36:22.75
"To the woman-- "
this is the Creator,
00:36:22.78\00:36:24.04
this is the
pre-incarnate Christ by the way,
00:36:24.07\00:36:26.42
the same one that
was there with Mary.
00:36:26.45\00:36:29.57
"To the woman He said,
00:36:29.60\00:36:31.93
'I will greatly multiply
your sorrow and your conception,
00:36:31.96\00:36:34.99
In pain you shall
bring forth children,
00:36:35.02\00:36:37.48
your desire shall
be for your husband,
00:36:37.51\00:36:39.64
And he shall rule over you.'"
00:36:39.67\00:36:42.64
Now, sadly many have
read God's words to mean
00:36:42.67\00:36:45.63
that all women are to
be subordinated to all men.
00:36:45.66\00:36:49.80
But that is simply
not what God is saying.
00:36:49.83\00:36:53.74
In fact, the Creator
very-- very clearly the Creator
00:36:53.77\00:36:56.66
literally in the Hebrew,
here's what he is saying.
00:36:56.69\00:36:58.61
And your desire
shall be for your man.
00:36:58.64\00:37:02.68
Another word for
husband there is Iysh.
00:37:02.71\00:37:04.97
Your desire is for your
man, which means this was never,
00:37:05.00\00:37:10.15
carte blanche
decoration that all women
00:37:10.18\00:37:12.53
would be subordinated to
all men in or out of the church.
00:37:12.56\00:37:16.99
It's not there. You
know what this says.
00:37:17.02\00:37:20.91
This is a post fall, chain
of command divine spiritual
00:37:20.94\00:37:24.93
leadership prescription
dealing with husbands and wives.
00:37:24.96\00:37:30.52
That's what it
is, which by the way
00:37:30.55\00:37:33.11
hardly diminishes the
wife's role in marriage.
00:37:33.14\00:37:35.87
I mean, let me give
you two reasons why.
00:37:35.90\00:37:37.42
If you've ever read
Proverbs 31, the ideal wife.
00:37:37.45\00:37:40.58
Oh, mercy. Look at
her financial leadership.
00:37:40.61\00:37:43.23
Look at her familial leadership.
00:37:43.26\00:37:44.92
Look at her managerial skills.
00:37:44.95\00:37:46.42
She buys and sells property
00:37:46.45\00:37:47.82
without
consultation with anybody.
00:37:47.85\00:37:50.94
You can read Proverbs 31
00:37:50.97\00:37:52.36
and say, well,
there is subjugation.
00:37:52.39\00:37:54.68
It's not about
subjugation at all.
00:37:54.71\00:37:56.86
In fact with
Proverbs 31, go ahead
00:37:56.89\00:37:58.52
and add Ephesians
6 where Paul takes
00:37:58.55\00:38:00.70
that Genesis 3 principle
and applies and he says,
00:38:00.74\00:38:03.70
listen, this is
really how it work, guys.
00:38:03.73\00:38:06.24
Both husband and wife
are to submit to each other.
00:38:06.27\00:38:10.57
He describes mutual submission.
But the husband has to--
00:38:10.60\00:38:15.16
Somebody's got to
take the first step,
00:38:15.19\00:38:16.60
so it is the
husband's responsibility
00:38:16.63\00:38:19.20
in the example of Christ self
sacrificing love at Calvary,
00:38:19.23\00:38:23.00
it's the husband's
example to initiate repentance.
00:38:23.03\00:38:26.22
I was wrong.
00:38:26.25\00:38:27.30
To offer forgiveness,
to break the log jam.
00:38:27.33\00:38:32.22
Paul is carefully,
carefully protecting
00:38:32.25\00:38:38.92
this wall that
God has placed around
00:38:38.95\00:38:41.72
husband and wife
in the human home.
00:38:41.75\00:38:46.65
But he's not making a statement.
00:38:46.68\00:38:48.84
Just as God was not about
women and men on this planet.
00:38:48.87\00:38:52.11
Now, here's that line.
00:38:52.14\00:38:55.20
You need to see the
line, that's in question.
00:38:55.23\00:38:57.99
Some people read this line
for the first time they say,
00:38:58.02\00:38:59.75
whoa, what is that?
00:38:59.78\00:39:01.39
It's Paul writing, St. Paul,
00:39:01.42\00:39:03.04
"Let a woman learn in
silence with all submission."
00:39:03.07\00:39:06.34
1 Timothy 2:11.
Here comes verse 12.
00:39:06.37\00:39:08.26
"And I do not
permit a woman to teach
00:39:08.29\00:39:10.51
or to have authority over
a man, but to be in silence."
00:39:10.54\00:39:14.83
Does that mean all women are
00:39:14.86\00:39:16.10
to be subjugated to
all men for all time?
00:39:16.13\00:39:19.08
Hardly, in the
church? Not at all.
00:39:19.11\00:39:22.34
Let me show you something.
That word for man, aner.
00:39:22.37\00:39:25.97
That word for women, gune.
00:39:26.00\00:39:28.17
Those words can be translated
00:39:28.20\00:39:29.47
either man,
husband or woman, wife,
00:39:29.50\00:39:34.72
which means Paul's
admonition can accurately read,
00:39:34.75\00:39:39.54
"Let a wife in
church learn in silence,
00:39:39.57\00:39:42.52
for I do not
permit a wife to teach
00:39:42.55\00:39:44.33
or to have
authority over her husband."
00:39:44.36\00:39:47.24
Which being interpreted means
Paul is carefully protecting
00:39:47.27\00:39:49.69
God's protective wall
around marriage and home.
00:39:49.72\00:39:51.49
He is no way declaring all women
00:39:51.52\00:39:53.26
are subordinated to
all men in the church
00:39:53.29\00:39:55.29
and only men are
allowed spiritual authority.
00:39:55.32\00:39:57.59
He is not saying that at all.
00:39:57.62\00:39:59.06
He is talking what the
Creator was talking about,
00:39:59.09\00:40:01.73
husband and wife relationship.
00:40:01.76\00:40:04.94
Post fall, somebody
has to take the initiative.
00:40:04.97\00:40:11.66
Moreover, Moreover.
00:40:11.69\00:40:16.43
The position that men,
only men are to be ordained
00:40:16.46\00:40:21.32
to the gospel ministry and thus
be granted spiritual authority
00:40:21.35\00:40:24.68
in the church which I believe
the Bible does not support.
00:40:24.71\00:40:28.91
That position is not
supported biblically.
00:40:28.94\00:40:31.86
But isn't that position
particularly incongruous
00:40:31.89\00:40:36.37
in the denomination
that was founded by a woman
00:40:36.40\00:40:43.92
and some male colleagues.
00:40:43.95\00:40:47.55
What's up with that?
00:40:47.58\00:40:49.69
The most prolific American
author of either gender.
00:40:54.58\00:40:58.72
The third most
translated human being
00:40:58.75\00:41:00.91
in the history of the earth.
00:41:00.94\00:41:03.86
A wife, a mother, a
visionary, a leader, raised up
00:41:03.89\00:41:11.56
the most expansive Protestant
educational system on earth.
00:41:11.59\00:41:15.61
She raised up the most expansive
00:41:15.64\00:41:17.30
Protestant
health system on earth.
00:41:17.33\00:41:18.93
She raised up the most expansive
00:41:18.96\00:41:20.70
Christian
missionary movement on earth.
00:41:20.73\00:41:23.40
Isn't a bit incongruous
that some within this community
00:41:23.43\00:41:29.98
of faith which recognizes
spiritual authority of
00:41:30.01\00:41:33.58
that little 5 foot 2
inch woman named Ellen White.
00:41:33.61\00:41:36.49
Isn't it incongruous that
some who revered her authority
00:41:36.52\00:41:41.03
would continue to
insist that women should not
00:41:41.06\00:41:44.02
exercise spiritual
authority over men?
00:41:44.05\00:41:47.17
To me that is just
one astounding anomaly.
00:41:47.20\00:41:51.00
How do you explain it?
00:41:51.03\00:41:56.74
And by the way, any
little comment about well,
00:41:56.77\00:42:01.35
women prophets, women who
exercise the prophetic gift
00:42:01.38\00:42:04.03
has spiritual authority
that rest of the women don't.
00:42:04.06\00:42:05.99
That's just playing war
games. Isn't it something?
00:42:06.02\00:42:13.34
Especially when, listen
to this, especially when
00:42:13.37\00:42:16.16
not a single word from her
ever prohibiting the church
00:42:16.19\00:42:21.20
from coming to a prayerful
careful biblical understanding
00:42:21.23\00:42:25.22
that is utterly consistent with
the Bible witness to conclude
00:42:25.25\00:42:28.97
that women who are called
by God today share with men
00:42:29.00\00:42:33.03
the same spiritual
authority and accountability
00:42:33.06\00:42:35.73
of gospel ministry as
recognized by ordination.
00:42:35.76\00:42:38.86
Not a single word
saying. Oh, no, no, no.
00:42:38.89\00:42:41.74
You can't go down
that path. No word.
00:42:41.77\00:42:45.40
There is not a single word
and I read widely, trust me.
00:42:45.43\00:42:50.60
There is not a
single word ever suggesting
00:42:50.63\00:42:53.84
that such a prayerful,
careful biblical decision
00:42:53.87\00:42:56.44
would be out of
harmony with God's will
00:42:56.47\00:42:58.96
for His people at
this time in history.
00:42:58.99\00:43:02.85
In fact to the contrary, I
got to share this with you.
00:43:02.88\00:43:05.77
I came across these
words in Acts of the Apostle.
00:43:05.80\00:43:08.45
While preparing my GYC
sermon on Acts 10 and 11.
00:43:08.48\00:43:12.16
You remember Acts, the
story behind Acts 10 and 11.
00:43:12.19\00:43:14.74
You remember
Cornelius, the Roman centurion.
00:43:14.77\00:43:17.78
And you remember
Peter who has never,
00:43:17.81\00:43:20.20
he has never put a
sandal in a Gentile's home.
00:43:20.23\00:43:22.95
He would never on the pain
of death he would never do it.
00:43:22.98\00:43:25.83
And you remember an
angel shows up to Cornelius
00:43:25.86\00:43:27.34
and says, hey, get a guy
name Peter, he is over in Joppa
00:43:27.37\00:43:29.63
and the Holy Spirit
chose out Peter by the way
00:43:29.66\00:43:32.19
go with these
people who have come.
00:43:32.22\00:43:33.54
You remember that story.
00:43:33.57\00:43:34.60
So Peter finds himself doing
00:43:34.63\00:43:35.84
what he has never
done in all his life,
00:43:35.87\00:43:37.39
he has put his sandals in
a Gentile's, a pagan home.
00:43:37.42\00:43:42.80
And then he begins
to preach Jesus in.
00:43:42.83\00:43:44.75
God doesn't even wait for
Peter to finish his sermon,
00:43:44.78\00:43:46.70
suddenly in the
middle of the sermon, boom,
00:43:46.73\00:43:48.60
the Holy Sprit is poured out
on these Gentle pagan seekers.
00:43:48.63\00:43:54.68
Wow. So Peter
says baptize them all.
00:43:54.71\00:44:00.25
But, oh, boy, when he
gets back to Jerusalem,
00:44:00.28\00:44:03.01
he is in hot water and
they call him on the red carpet
00:44:03.04\00:44:06.47
and they say,
what were you thinking
00:44:06.50\00:44:09.73
taking to Gentile's home.
00:44:09.76\00:44:12.22
And so in chapter 11, Peter is--
00:44:12.25\00:44:14.16
listen and he
tell to some guys, oh,
00:44:14.19\00:44:16.36
here's what happened and
he goes to the whole story.
00:44:16.39\00:44:18.67
He gets down to
the end of the story
00:44:18.70\00:44:20.42
and I want you to
listen very carefully now
00:44:20.46\00:44:22.78
to what he says to the
hierarchy in Jerusalem.
00:44:22.81\00:44:26.67
And as he says, I'm
there preaching away.
00:44:26.70\00:44:29.41
"And as I begin to speak
the Holy Spirit fell on them,
00:44:29.44\00:44:33.05
as upon us at the beginning.
00:44:33.08\00:44:37.03
If therefore God gave them
the same gift as He gave us
00:44:37.06\00:44:42.46
when we believed on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:44:42.49\00:44:44.97
who was I that I
could withstand God?"
00:44:45.00\00:44:48.53
I mean they have the same gift.
00:44:48.56\00:44:51.17
I didn't realize that
but they had the same gift.
00:44:51.20\00:44:54.54
How can I say, no, only me
with that gift counts, not you.
00:44:54.57\00:44:59.87
I couldn't do it.
Brethren, I could not do it.
00:44:59.90\00:45:05.01
The wall
separating Jews and Gentiles
00:45:05.04\00:45:08.03
began its last
crumble in that incident.
00:45:08.06\00:45:15.41
Amazing.
00:45:15.44\00:45:17.54
I mean, that's
what Peter just said
00:45:17.57\00:45:19.25
that's the question
for the church today.
00:45:19.28\00:45:21.82
If God has poured out
His spirit on young women
00:45:21.85\00:45:23.79
and not so young
women who are ministering
00:45:23.82\00:45:25.36
just as Mary did
to the Lord Jesus.
00:45:25.39\00:45:27.90
And the fruits of their
ministry are dramatically clear
00:45:27.93\00:45:30.75
to all who
observed their ministry.
00:45:30.78\00:45:33.65
If therefore God gave
them the same gift He gave us,
00:45:33.68\00:45:36.51
then who are we as
men to stand in the way.
00:45:36.54\00:45:40.89
How in the name of
Christ can we defend this wall?
00:45:47.61\00:45:51.46
When our leaders are
circumnavigating this planet
00:45:51.49\00:45:54.42
these days
begging the church of God
00:45:54.45\00:45:56.37
to plea for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:45:56.40\00:45:59.25
and I joined them and I
believe we need that outpouring
00:45:59.28\00:46:02.61
but how can we stand before
God and beg for that infilling
00:46:02.64\00:46:07.80
when there is a wall
that's separating us.
00:46:07.83\00:46:11.83
The wall will have to come down
00:46:11.86\00:46:13.91
before the spirit can come down.
00:46:13.94\00:46:17.46
You can't come down with
the wall blocking your way.
00:46:17.49\00:46:20.33
It's not my fault God
says, you have to help me.
00:46:20.36\00:46:24.38
Get this wall
down. Then I will come.
00:46:24.41\00:46:30.79
So we'll keep
praying, we'll keep praying,
00:46:30.82\00:46:36.52
but we have the answer to
our prayers in our own hands.
00:46:36.55\00:46:42.65
Now, here's that
line from Ellen White,
00:46:45.48\00:46:47.13
I want you to get this.
00:46:47.16\00:46:49.59
This is her inspired commentary.
00:46:49.62\00:46:50.97
At the moment
chapter 11 comes to an end.
00:46:51.00\00:46:54.83
Put it on the screen for
you, Acts of the Apostles.
00:46:54.86\00:46:57.40
"Thus, without controversy,
prejudice was broken down,
00:46:57.43\00:47:01.19
the exclusiveness established
00:47:01.22\00:47:02.92
by the custom of
ages was abandoned."
00:47:02.95\00:47:06.61
By the way those
italics are mine.
00:47:06.64\00:47:09.21
"The exclusiveness established
00:47:09.24\00:47:11.00
by the custom of
ages was abandoned."
00:47:11.03\00:47:15.20
We've always done it this way.
00:47:15.23\00:47:17.43
We've always through
the ages done it this way.
00:47:17.46\00:47:20.08
But when the
Holy Spirit came down,
00:47:20.11\00:47:22.36
"the exclusiveness established
00:47:22.39\00:47:24.11
by the custom of
ages was abandoned
00:47:24.14\00:47:26.56
and the way was
opened for the gospel
00:47:26.59\00:47:28.07
to be proclaimed
to the Gentiles."
00:47:28.10\00:47:30.83
Isn't that amazing?
00:47:30.86\00:47:32.84
It took that wall to come
down to open up the gospel
00:47:32.87\00:47:35.95
to be proclaimed more
widely, more effectively,
00:47:35.98\00:47:38.75
more powerfully
than ever before.
00:47:38.78\00:47:42.73
But did you guessed that line.
00:47:42.76\00:47:44.38
The exclusiveness established
00:47:44.41\00:47:46.29
by the custom of
ages was abandoned.
00:47:46.32\00:47:51.35
And ladies and gentlemen,
isn't it time for the wall
00:47:51.38\00:47:57.16
to come down in
the gospel ministry?
00:47:57.19\00:48:04.80
For how can God
possibly bless the exclusiveness
00:48:04.83\00:48:09.09
established by
the custom of ages.
00:48:09.12\00:48:15.48
Look, women might be a
mystery to Stephen Hawking,
00:48:15.51\00:48:19.79
but they are no mystery to God.
00:48:19.82\00:48:22.62
For women are one half
00:48:22.65\00:48:25.51
of His strategic
plan for the human race
00:48:25.54\00:48:28.46
and women are one half of His
will for the gospel ministry.
00:48:28.49\00:48:35.74
Amen. Let's pray.
00:48:35.77\00:48:41.59
Oh, Jesus,
defender of the defenseless,
00:48:45.90\00:48:51.30
remover of the wall,
00:48:51.33\00:48:55.40
isn't it time for the
church to become just like You.
00:48:55.43\00:49:02.70
And my head is
still bowed in prayer.
00:49:06.49\00:49:09.86
I need to make an appeal here
00:49:09.89\00:49:12.81
and this appeal is only
for the women who are here,
00:49:12.84\00:49:17.76
who're watching,
who're listening.
00:49:17.79\00:49:21.96
Three appeals.
00:49:21.99\00:49:24.10
Number one, ladies,
would you be willing
00:49:24.13\00:49:27.86
to offer your
life to Jesus like Mary
00:49:27.89\00:49:31.74
in gratitude for His
loving sacrifice on your behalf?
00:49:31.77\00:49:37.40
Would you?
00:49:37.43\00:49:38.69
I don't really know the
answer to that question.
00:49:38.72\00:49:40.81
Question two. His
appeal number two.
00:49:40.84\00:49:44.80
Would you be
willing to offer your career
00:49:44.83\00:49:48.63
as a ministry for Him?
00:49:48.66\00:49:52.39
A young woman come in to
my office after first church,
00:49:52.42\00:49:56.51
said I've taken science here.
00:49:56.54\00:50:00.13
We talked.
00:50:00.16\00:50:03.66
It doesn't matter your career,
00:50:03.69\00:50:04.96
it doesn't
matter your major here,
00:50:04.99\00:50:06.44
God has led you to
choose that, I believe.
00:50:06.47\00:50:10.51
But would you be
willing to offer that major,
00:50:10.54\00:50:13.00
that career to come or
the career you're already in,
00:50:13.03\00:50:16.64
as a lawyer,
physician, a homemaker, a wife.
00:50:16.67\00:50:22.51
Would you be willing to
offer your career to Jesus,
00:50:22.54\00:50:28.86
so that it might be a
daily ministry for Him.
00:50:28.89\00:50:34.53
And then appeal number
three. I hesitate with this one.
00:50:34.56\00:50:40.99
I hesitate to ask you to offer
your life for gospel ministry
00:50:41.02\00:50:46.91
because the truth is not many
young women are being placed.
00:50:46.94\00:50:54.05
And in some places the
door is not opened at all.
00:50:54.08\00:51:00.33
But I cannot not invite
you to respond to Christ's call
00:51:00.36\00:51:05.05
whatever the
spirit means for you.
00:51:05.08\00:51:11.39
And so with these
three appeals in your heart,
00:51:11.42\00:51:15.42
I'd like to ask
the women who are here,
00:51:15.45\00:51:18.21
if you are willing to respond
to one of these three appeals
00:51:18.24\00:51:21.73
to stand to your feet just
as Mary stepped into that room
00:51:21.76\00:51:27.95
in front of all those men,
00:51:27.98\00:51:31.54
to demonstrate
her devotion to Jesus.
00:51:31.57\00:51:33.99
I'd like to invite
you to stand to your feet
00:51:34.02\00:51:39.69
and by standing
you say to Jesus,
00:51:39.72\00:51:43.64
I am available to You.
00:51:43.67\00:51:47.56
I am available to You.
00:51:49.07\00:51:53.81
God bless you.
00:52:01.92\00:52:04.13
Oh, Jesus, they
stand before You,
00:52:04.16\00:52:08.83
You who stood up
for them long ago,
00:52:08.86\00:52:12.96
they stand up for You now.
00:52:12.99\00:52:15.00
Jesus seal her
devotion, seal her passion,
00:52:15.03\00:52:19.96
seal her calling,
seal her commitment,
00:52:19.99\00:52:24.99
and take her as
you did with Mary,
00:52:25.02\00:52:29.36
turn the world upside
down through her ministry.
00:52:29.39\00:52:36.92
Oh, Jesus, we all
would stand before You.
00:52:36.95\00:52:41.76
we all would
offer our lives to You.
00:52:41.79\00:52:45.80
And so, I wish to
stand with these women
00:52:45.83\00:52:47.83
and I invite my
brothers here if they wish
00:52:47.86\00:52:50.52
to stand with them,
to stand with me now.
00:52:50.55\00:52:54.99
So we're all standing,
00:52:55.02\00:52:56.06
the whole family
of God is standing.
00:52:56.09\00:52:58.93
We're saying
whatever You want Jesus,
00:52:58.96\00:53:02.44
use us any way You wish,
00:53:02.47\00:53:04.79
the hour has come for
the spirit to be outpoured
00:53:04.82\00:53:10.03
and we wish to be a part
00:53:10.06\00:53:15.92
of that mighty final gift.
00:53:15.95\00:53:21.94
Seal all of us Jesus.
00:53:21.97\00:53:23.80
Seal us for the journey ahead
00:53:23.83\00:53:26.05
and may You be glorified please,
00:53:26.08\00:53:29.21
may be You
glorified, in Your name we pray.
00:53:29.24\00:53:33.28
Amen.
00:53:33.31\00:53:35.55
I want to sing one stanza.
00:53:35.58\00:53:36.64
I pulled the
hymn a lot from you,
00:53:36.67\00:53:37.71
just one stanza of
this beautiful I will follow
00:53:37.74\00:53:40.78
Thee, my Savior, Wheresoe'er
Christ shall lead, it's 623.
00:53:40.81\00:53:45.38
Take the hymn
aloud, 623 just one stanza.
00:53:45.41\00:53:52.55
And then we'll leave worship
to the world that await us.
00:53:52.58\00:53:56.01
Stay Stanley.
00:53:56.04\00:53:57.46
I will follow Thee, my Savior
00:54:09.97\00:54:15.81
Wheresoe'er my lot may be
00:54:15.84\00:54:21.85
Where Thou goest I will follow
00:54:21.88\00:54:27.92
Yes, my Lord, I'll follow Thee
00:54:27.95\00:54:34.58
I will follow Thee, my Savior
00:54:34.61\00:54:40.85
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me
00:54:40.88\00:54:47.67
And though all men
should forsake Thee
00:54:47.70\00:54:53.93
By Thy grace I'll follow Thee
00:54:53.96\00:55:01.93
I want to sing that.
00:55:03.14\00:55:04.25
I want to sing that
chorus one more time.
00:55:04.28\00:55:07.14
It's such a
beautiful confession.
00:55:07.17\00:55:09.76
And it says although
all men will forsake you,
00:55:09.79\00:55:13.52
although all
people will forsake You,
00:55:13.55\00:55:16.10
oh, Jesus, I will follow You.
00:55:16.13\00:55:18.93
Let's sing it,
we'll sing it quiet now
00:55:18.96\00:55:20.56
as our prayer,
it's a beautiful prayer.
00:55:20.59\00:55:23.39
We pray this in commitment.
00:55:23.42\00:55:27.31
I will follow Thee, my Savior
00:55:27.34\00:55:34.25
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me
00:55:34.28\00:55:41.24
And though all men
should forsake Thee
00:55:41.27\00:55:48.27
By Thy grace I'll follow Thee
00:55:48.30\00:55:55.57
And now may the
love of the Father,
00:55:59.75\00:56:03.70
and the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:56:07.38\00:56:13.34
and the communion
of the Holy Spirit
00:56:13.37\00:56:17.77
abide with us all.
00:56:17.80\00:56:21.46
Amen.
00:56:21.49\00:56:24.56
It's been a pleasure to be
able to worship with you today.
00:56:35.74\00:56:38.38
I hope the spirit of
Jesus has blessed your time
00:56:38.41\00:56:41.20
with us right here at
the Pioneer Memorial Church
00:56:41.23\00:56:43.02
on the campus of
Andrews University.
00:56:43.05\00:56:45.17
Do you know
that around the world
00:56:45.20\00:56:46.26
people join us every
week for this hour of worship?
00:56:46.29\00:56:48.77
We're always looking as
a consequence for new ways
00:56:48.80\00:56:51.13
to bridge, somehow to
connect with these people
00:56:51.16\00:56:53.99
who come here to
worship via the telecast.
00:56:54.02\00:56:57.00
One of the areas
that is quickly growing
00:56:57.03\00:56:58.74
for us is our website.
00:56:58.77\00:57:00.28
We had more than a hundred
and forty thousand visitors
00:57:00.31\00:57:02.99
last year.
00:57:03.02\00:57:04.28
It's an incredible opportunity
00:57:04.31\00:57:06.07
that God has given us
to expand His kingdom.
00:57:06.10\00:57:09.03
If you would like
to help partner with us
00:57:09.06\00:57:11.05
as we seek to spread
the everlasting gospel,
00:57:11.08\00:57:13.79
I'd love to have you
call our toll free numbers.
00:57:13.82\00:57:16.28
We've got very
friendly operator standing by.
00:57:16.31\00:57:18.89
Here's the number, 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:18.92\00:57:21.99
877 and then the
two words HIS WILL.
00:57:22.02\00:57:24.06
One of the operators would
be happy to give you the details
00:57:24.09\00:57:27.35
of how you can partner
with this global ministry.
00:57:27.38\00:57:30.35
If you prefer, listen
you can do it all online.
00:57:30.38\00:57:32.57
Go to our website
please, www.pmchurch.tv.
00:57:32.60\00:57:36.96
I'd be honored to have
the privilege of partnering
00:57:36.99\00:57:38.96
with you as we
seek to spread the truth
00:57:38.99\00:57:40.78
about God for this generation.
00:57:40.81\00:57:42.90
We are living in urgent times.
00:57:42.93\00:57:46.04
Now more than ever,
we've got to go to the world
00:57:46.07\00:57:49.44
with the good
news entrusted to us.
00:57:49.47\00:57:51.03
So once here's that toll
free number, 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:51.06\00:57:55.48
Thank you in
advance for your generosity.
00:57:55.51\00:57:58.10
That blesses me and
you grow this ministry.
00:57:58.13\00:58:01.19
I pray that the
spirit of Christ will abide
00:58:01.22\00:58:03.20
with you every step of the way
00:58:03.23\00:58:05.06
and I hope you'll come
back again next time right here
00:58:05.09\00:58:08.23
as we continue our
worship journey together.
00:58:08.26\00:58:11.66