Welcome to 00:00:23.32\00:00:23.79 Timeless Healing Insights. 00:00:23.95\00:00:24.99 I'm Dr. David DeRose. 00:00:24.99\00:00:27.29 The parables of Jesus, do 00:00:27.29\00:00:29.46 they have healing power for us 00:00:29.46\00:00:31.26 today? 00:00:31.26\00:00:32.43 That's the question 00:00:32.73\00:00:33.56 that we'll look at in 00:00:33.56\00:00:34.30 today's episode 00:00:34.30\00:00:35.43 as we continue our series, 00:00:35.43\00:00:37.67 Healing Insights 00:00:37.77\00:00:39.07 from the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:39.07\00:00:40.47 Father in Heaven, 00:00:42.44\00:00:43.14 we thank You so much 00:00:43.14\00:00:44.21 that we can trust You 00:00:44.21\00:00:45.27 to open Your Word to our minds. 00:00:45.27\00:00:48.78 Please do that for the preacher 00:00:48.78\00:00:50.38 and for all who hear. 00:00:50.38\00:00:51.98 For we ask it in 00:00:51.98\00:00:52.78 Jesus name, Amen. 00:00:52.78\00:00:54.92 Many, many years ago, 00:00:57.95\00:01:00.56 before the problems 00:01:00.56\00:01:03.09 with cigarette smoking 00:01:03.09\00:01:04.43 were so widely appreciated, 00:01:04.43\00:01:06.49 there was going to be 00:01:06.83\00:01:07.93 a large conference 00:01:07.93\00:01:09.63 for the public, 00:01:09.63\00:01:10.73 with medical experts 00:01:10.73\00:01:12.20 sharing the dangers 00:01:12.20\00:01:13.84 of tobacco smoking. 00:01:13.84\00:01:16.10 The organizers 00:01:16.10\00:01:17.67 made an interesting decision. 00:01:17.67\00:01:19.81 They invited an actor 00:01:19.81\00:01:22.44 to be the host 00:01:22.44\00:01:23.41 of the proceedings 00:01:23.41\00:01:24.95 and this particular emcee, 00:01:24.95\00:01:26.75 who we?call 00:01:26.75\00:01:27.52 Henry, 00:01:27.52\00:01:28.62 had an 00:01:28.62\00:01:28.95 interesting characteristic 00:01:29.25\00:01:31.72 in that he himself 00:01:31.72\00:01:33.49 was a cigarette smoker. 00:01:33.49\00:01:35.36 It was an extensive conference. 00:01:36.66\00:01:38.73 And as the presentations 00:01:39.06\00:01:40.56 went on, 00:01:40.56\00:01:41.00 they were talking about 00:01:41.10\00:01:42.03 lung cancer 00:01:42.03\00:01:43.26 and heart disease and stroke. 00:01:43.26\00:01:45.70 But finally, 00:01:46.07\00:01:48.20 a physician came to the stage. 00:01:48.24\00:01:50.61 As I recall, 00:01:51.14\00:01:51.87 it was a dermatologist, 00:01:51.87\00:01:54.28 to share 00:01:54.34\00:01:55.08 about a particular danger 00:01:55.08\00:01:58.01 of smoking that apparently 00:01:58.28\00:02:00.65 was not on Henry's 00:02:00.65\00:02:01.82 radar screen. 00:02:01.82\00:02:03.72 He was visibly shaken 00:02:03.72\00:02:06.49 when that presenter 00:02:06.55\00:02:07.92 explained how cigarette smoking 00:02:07.92\00:02:10.76 hastened aging of the skin. 00:02:10.93\00:02:14.10 And when Henry next came up 00:02:15.46\00:02:17.60 to the podium, 00:02:17.60\00:02:19.33 he said, 00:02:19.57\00:02:21.00 Wow, that was really scary. 00:02:21.10\00:02:23.51 I think I'm going to have to 00:02:23.51\00:02:25.07 consider stopping smoking. 00:02:25.07\00:02:27.84 Now, some of you smile 00:02:27.84\00:02:28.91 and you say, Oh, wait a minute, 00:02:28.91\00:02:30.35 They've been talking about what 00:02:30.35\00:02:32.05 lung cancer and heart 00:02:32.05\00:02:34.12 disease and stroke 00:02:34.12\00:02:35.82 and what was it 00:02:35.82\00:02:36.65 that got him thinking about his 00:02:36.65\00:02:38.32 need to quit ? 00:02:38.32\00:02:40.69 It was his skin. 00:02:40.79\00:02:41.79 You know, it's interesting. 00:02:42.99\00:02:45.06 In studying health behaviors, 00:02:45.06\00:02:47.03 we learned 00:02:47.03\00:02:48.30 that many people 00:02:48.30\00:02:49.23 are more motivated by things 00:02:49.23\00:02:51.03 that affect how they look, 00:02:51.03\00:02:52.80 feel or function, 00:02:52.80\00:02:54.34 than things 00:02:54.34\00:02:54.77 that affect their life span. 00:02:55.00\00:02:56.30 Isn?hat interesting? 00:02:56.30\00:02:58.11 And so it was with Henry. 00:02:58.11\00:03:00.24 Now, I tell you that story 00:03:00.24\00:03:02.01 because a lot of information 00:03:02.01\00:03:04.35 was coming at Henry, 00:03:04.35\00:03:05.25 but it wasn't 00:03:05.25\00:03:05.88 connecting with him. 00:03:05.88\00:03:07.45 He wasn't 00:03:07.45\00:03:08.28 sensing his need to change 00:03:08.28\00:03:10.32 until something spoke to him 00:03:10.45\00:03:12.62 in a meaningful way. 00:03:12.82\00:03:14.82 And I like to suggest to you 00:03:14.82\00:03:17.16 that this is a common problem 00:03:17.63\00:03:19.39 that we have, the very things 00:03:19.39\00:03:20.66 we most need to hear, 00:03:20.66\00:03:22.33 sometimes we have barriers up. 00:03:22.33\00:03:24.67 We just don't hear them. 00:03:24.67\00:03:25.83 They don't register. 00:03:25.83\00:03:26.84 People don't want to talk 00:03:26.84\00:03:28.07 with us about them. 00:03:28.07\00:03:29.04 Just think about this scenario. 00:03:29.04\00:03:30.71 Let's say you have a friend 00:03:30.71\00:03:31.77 who enjoys motorcycling. 00:03:31.77\00:03:33.17 How likely is it that you're 00:03:34.21\00:03:35.74 going to give him a present, 00:03:35.74\00:03:37.78 a book 00:03:37.78\00:03:38.75 entitled The Dangers of Biking? 00:03:38.98\00:03:41.52 Is that very likely? 00:03:41.58\00:03:43.49 Or let's say 00:03:43.49\00:03:44.09 you're of Chinese ancestry. 00:03:44.15\00:03:46.02 Is it likely 00:03:46.02\00:03:46.82 that as you're walking 00:03:46.82\00:03:47.69 through Barnes and Noble, 00:03:47.69\00:03:48.96 if you see a book entitled 00:03:48.96\00:03:50.53 The Hazards of Chinese Cooking, 00:03:50.53\00:03:52.56 that that will immediately 00:03:52.56\00:03:53.63 be the first book 00:03:53.63\00:03:54.30 that you pick up? 00:03:54.30\00:03:55.46 You you're following 00:03:55.46\00:03:56.00 along with me, right? 00:03:56.00\00:03:57.97 So what's so interesting about 00:03:57.97\00:03:59.43 this is the same thing 00:03:59.43\00:04:00.57 is true in the spiritual realm. 00:04:00.57\00:04:02.54 Often 00:04:02.54\00:04:02.97 the things that we most need 00:04:03.20\00:04:04.34 to hear we? 00:04:04.34\00:04:05.27 resistant to hearing. 00:04:05.27\00:04:06.94 And to bring spiritual truths 00:04:06.94\00:04:10.41 to us, 00:04:10.41\00:04:11.98 Jesus used 00:04:11.98\00:04:12.98 a very interesting method. 00:04:12.98\00:04:14.78 Some people have referred to it 00:04:14.78\00:04:16.45 as object lessons. 00:04:16.45\00:04:18.99 More simply, parables. 00:04:19.62\00:04:21.96 In Mark 4, 00:04:24.16\00:04:25.83 where we are at in our journey, 00:04:25.83\00:04:27.50 it actually begins 00:04:27.50\00:04:29.03 with Jesus teaching by the sea. 00:04:29.03\00:04:31.50 The account reads this way. 00:04:31.53\00:04:34.10 A very large 00:04:34.17\00:04:35.40 crowd gathered about Him, 00:04:35.40\00:04:37.01 we're speaking of Jesus, 00:04:37.01\00:04:38.41 so that He got into a boat 00:04:38.41\00:04:39.84 and sat in it on the sea. 00:04:39.84\00:04:42.44 And the whole crowd 00:04:42.44\00:04:43.78 was beside the sea on the land. 00:04:43.78\00:04:45.95 And He was teaching 00:04:46.05\00:04:47.22 them many things in parables. 00:04:47.22\00:04:51.42 We've been 00:04:52.65\00:04:53.05 going through 00:04:53.05\00:04:53.72 something interesting, 00:04:53.72\00:04:54.66 and I want you to notice 00:04:54.66\00:04:55.69 something. 00:04:55.69\00:04:56.16 Jesus?cus in His teaching, 00:04:56.42\00:04:58.46 according to Mark's 00:04:58.46\00:05:00.53 telling of the story, 00:05:00.53\00:05:01.80 seems to be changing. 00:05:01.80\00:05:03.37 His focus now 00:05:03.37\00:05:04.37 is on teaching in parables. 00:05:04.37\00:05:06.03 Now, this is not new in 00:05:06.03\00:05:07.50 Mark's Gospel. 00:05:07.50\00:05:09.30 We as we've been walking 00:05:09.64\00:05:11.11 through the first few chapters 00:05:11.11\00:05:12.47 of the Gospel of Mark, 00:05:12.47\00:05:13.41 we've seen that parables 00:05:13.41\00:05:14.54 have already been part 00:05:14.54\00:05:15.74 and parcel of Mark's 00:05:15.74\00:05:17.71 telling of the story. 00:05:17.71\00:05:19.25 And I want to remind you 00:05:19.25\00:05:20.28 of something 00:05:20.28\00:05:20.75 we looked at in our last study. 00:05:20.98\00:05:22.25 It's one of the 00:05:22.25\00:05:22.65 classic definitions of 00:05:22.78\00:05:24.39 just what a parable is. 00:05:24.39\00:05:26.52 It's from C.H. Dodd years ago. 00:05:26.52\00:05:28.42 He wrote this in his book, 00:05:28.42\00:05:29.52 The Parables of the Kingdom. 00:05:29.52\00:05:30.99 And I recommend it 00:05:30.99\00:05:32.33 for your consideration 00:05:32.33\00:05:33.50 again now. 00:05:33.50\00:05:34.36 At its simplest, 00:05:34.36\00:05:35.93 the parable is a metaphor 00:05:35.93\00:05:37.97 or simile drawn 00:05:37.97\00:05:39.50 from nature or common life, 00:05:39.50\00:05:41.60 arresting the hearer 00:05:41.87\00:05:43.51 by its vividness 00:05:43.51\00:05:45.54 or strangeness, 00:05:45.54\00:05:47.31 and leaving the mind 00:05:47.31\00:05:48.38 in sufficient doubt 00:05:48.38\00:05:49.84 to its precise application 00:05:49.84\00:05:52.05 as to 00:05:52.05\00:05:52.58 tease the mind 00:05:52.58\00:05:54.15 into active thought. 00:05:54.15\00:05:56.62 Now, you might say, Well, 00:05:56.62\00:05:57.92 there's better 00:05:57.92\00:05:58.42 definitions of parables, 00:05:58.52\00:05:59.69 but I think this helps us 00:05:59.69\00:06:00.82 to focus on this aspect 00:06:00.82\00:06:02.96 that Jesus, 00:06:02.96\00:06:04.73 as He starts 00:06:04.73\00:06:05.99 to transition 00:06:05.99\00:06:07.10 to a different style, 00:06:07.10\00:06:08.46 as His primary 00:06:08.46\00:06:09.50 method of teaching. 00:06:09.50\00:06:11.17 There's a special 00:06:11.17\00:06:11.93 reason for His doing so. 00:06:11.93\00:06:13.57 We've seen parables 00:06:14.84\00:06:15.87 already, as I mentioned, 00:06:15.87\00:06:18.07 when we looked at 00:06:18.07\00:06:18.87 some of the things 00:06:18.87\00:06:19.54 Jesus was being 00:06:19.54\00:06:20.54 accused of earlier 00:06:20.54\00:06:21.91 in the Gospel of Mark. 00:06:21.91\00:06:23.11 You'll remember that 00:06:23.11\00:06:23.85 one of the accusations was 00:06:23.85\00:06:25.48 that Jesus 00:06:25.48\00:06:26.28 ?sciples were not fasting. 00:06:26.28\00:06:29.32 And instead of Jesus 00:06:29.32\00:06:31.35 really directly attacking this 00:06:31.35\00:06:34.42 false charge, 00:06:34.42\00:06:36.02 Jesus responded 00:06:36.02\00:06:37.03 with three parables. 00:06:37.03\00:06:38.19 I'll just remind you 00:06:38.19\00:06:39.03 of the three parables, 00:06:39.03\00:06:39.96 because I think it's important 00:06:39.96\00:06:41.16 for our context 00:06:41.16\00:06:42.20 when we come to Mark 4. 00:06:42.20\00:06:44.23 Here's the parables 00:06:44.33\00:06:45.67 that Jesus gave in Mark 2. 00:06:45.67\00:06:47.87 Can the wedding guests fast 00:06:47.97\00:06:50.11 while the bridegroom 00:06:50.14\00:06:50.94 is with them? 00:06:50.94\00:06:51.94 As long as they have 00:06:51.94\00:06:53.04 the bridegroom with them, 00:06:53.04\00:06:54.61 they cannot fast. 00:06:54.61\00:06:56.11 The days will come 00:06:56.11\00:06:57.18 when the bridegroom 00:06:57.18\00:06:57.91 is taken away from them 00:06:57.91\00:06:59.88 and then they will fast 00:06:59.88\00:07:01.82 in that day. 00:07:01.82\00:07:03.32 Three parables, I said. 00:07:03.32\00:07:05.59 Here's the second. 00:07:05.79\00:07:07.36 No one. 00:07:07.36\00:07:08.56 No one sews 00:07:08.56\00:07:09.69 a piece of unshrunk cloth 00:07:09.69\00:07:11.73 on an old garment. 00:07:11.73\00:07:12.83 If he does, the patch tears 00:07:12.83\00:07:14.30 away from it, 00:07:14.30\00:07:15.86 the new from the old, 00:07:15.86\00:07:17.60 and a worse tear is made. 00:07:17.60\00:07:19.77 And then the third parable. 00:07:21.04\00:07:22.97 No one puts new wine 00:07:22.97\00:07:24.54 into old wineskins. 00:07:24.54\00:07:25.81 If he does, 00:07:25.81\00:07:26.64 the wine will burst the skins. 00:07:26.64\00:07:28.71 Not only do you lose the wine, 00:07:29.14\00:07:31.21 but you lose the skins as well. 00:07:31.21\00:07:33.31 New wine 00:07:33.31\00:07:34.45 is for fresh wineskins. 00:07:34.45\00:07:36.02 Why? 00:07:36.02\00:07:37.35 Why does Jesus 00:07:37.35\00:07:38.49 respond this way? 00:07:38.49\00:07:39.32 And why does He respond 00:07:39.32\00:07:40.29 in parables? 00:07:40.29\00:07:42.02 Jesus is basically saying early 00:07:42.22\00:07:44.53 in the Gospel of Mark, 00:07:44.53\00:07:45.66 as you see Him 00:07:45.66\00:07:46.33 working His miracles, 00:07:46.33\00:07:47.40 His kingdom is here. 00:07:47.40\00:07:48.93 There are people 00:07:48.93\00:07:49.83 that are receiving 00:07:49.83\00:07:50.83 that kingdom joyfully, 00:07:50.83\00:07:52.30 just like 00:07:52.30\00:07:54.17 the bridal guests 00:07:54.27\00:07:55.20 would receive the bridegroom. 00:07:55.20\00:07:57.74 But there's other people 00:07:57.74\00:07:59.01 that are outside the wedding. 00:07:59.01\00:08:00.88 They're not coming 00:08:00.88\00:08:01.64 into the feast. 00:08:01.64\00:08:03.11 If you want to come to Jesus, 00:08:03.11\00:08:04.88 we have to abandon 00:08:04.88\00:08:06.08 also the old ways, 00:08:06.08\00:08:07.42 the old obstacles 00:08:07.42\00:08:08.62 that keep us 00:08:08.62\00:08:09.52 from coming to Jesus. 00:08:09.52\00:08:11.25 So what we're seeing is that 00:08:11.25\00:08:12.95 Jesus is giving illustrations 00:08:12.95\00:08:15.06 to try to make that which 00:08:15.06\00:08:17.19 has been resisted 00:08:17.76\00:08:18.96 something that is 00:08:20.96\00:08:21.53 actually considered. 00:08:21.53\00:08:23.73 Mark 3, there's 00:08:23.87\00:08:25.00 another attack there 00:08:25.00\00:08:26.10 and then another parable. 00:08:26.10\00:08:27.37 This time 00:08:27.37\00:08:27.87 Jesus is being accused 00:08:27.87\00:08:29.67 of casting out demons 00:08:29.67\00:08:32.07 by the prince 00:08:32.64\00:08:33.17 of the demons, Satan, 00:08:33.17\00:08:34.38 or as they refer to him in Mark 00:08:34.38\00:08:36.51 3, Beelzebub. 00:08:36.51\00:08:37.98 Is that what Jesus was doing? 00:08:37.98\00:08:40.28 Well, Jesus again, doesn't 00:08:40.28\00:08:41.88 tackle this directly. 00:08:41.88\00:08:43.72 He, well, Mark 00:08:43.72\00:08:45.05 even uses the word. 00:08:45.05\00:08:46.55 It says, 00:08:46.55\00:08:47.09 He calls them to Himself 00:08:47.16\00:08:49.16 and He says to them 00:08:49.16\00:08:50.66 in parables. 00:08:50.66\00:08:52.33 What are the parables 00:08:52.33\00:08:53.33 He says in this context? 00:08:53.33\00:08:55.80 How can Satan cast out Satan 00:08:55.80\00:08:57.90 if a kingdom is divided 00:08:58.20\00:08:59.37 against itself, 00:08:59.37\00:09:00.67 that kingdom cannot stand. 00:09:00.67\00:09:02.37 No one can enter 00:09:02.37\00:09:03.51 into a strong man's house 00:09:03.51\00:09:05.41 and plunder his goods 00:09:05.41\00:09:06.74 unless he first binds 00:09:06.74\00:09:09.08 the strong man, 00:09:09.14\00:09:10.38 and then he will plunder 00:09:10.38\00:09:12.18 his house. 00:09:12.18\00:09:13.31 Two parables. 00:09:13.31\00:09:15.35 There's some key aspects 00:09:16.48\00:09:17.79 of these parables right? 00:09:17.79\00:09:19.19 Jesus?ghty deeds show 00:09:19.19\00:09:21.39 His kingdom has arrived, okay? 00:09:21.39\00:09:23.79 We might say 00:09:24.03\00:09:25.13 in today's language, 00:09:25.13\00:09:26.43 Jesus is talking about 00:09:26.43\00:09:27.60 the great controversy. 00:09:27.60\00:09:28.73 There's a battle 00:09:28.73\00:09:29.90 and Jesus is showing 00:09:29.90\00:09:31.10 that I'm coming on 00:09:31.10\00:09:32.13 to planet earth in person 00:09:32.13\00:09:34.00 and I am gaining the victory. 00:09:34.00\00:09:35.97 I'm healing. 00:09:35.97\00:09:37.31 I'm casting out demons. 00:09:37.31\00:09:39.57 I am teaching. 00:09:39.84\00:09:41.74 I am forgiving sin. 00:09:41.74\00:09:42.94 We've seen 00:09:42.94\00:09:43.35 all these things right 00:09:43.48\00:09:44.31 at the very beginning 00:09:44.31\00:09:45.18 of Mark's gospel. 00:09:45.18\00:09:46.38 People are resisting it 00:09:46.38\00:09:48.15 and Jesus is saying, Wait, 00:09:48.15\00:09:49.92 there's only two sides 00:09:49.92\00:09:52.49 and you've got to choose 00:09:52.62\00:09:53.36 which side side you're on. 00:09:53.36\00:09:54.89 You can't just call 00:09:54.89\00:09:56.32 what I'm doing 00:09:56.32\00:09:57.43 the work of Satan. 00:09:57.43\00:09:58.66 It doesn't make sense. 00:09:58.66\00:10:01.56 Now, some of you had a question 00:10:01.56\00:10:04.23 about what 00:10:04.23\00:10:04.73 we touched on 00:10:04.73\00:10:05.40 in our last study, 00:10:05.40\00:10:06.27 because in this context, 00:10:06.27\00:10:07.50 in this parable 00:10:07.50\00:10:08.47 context in Mark 3, 00:10:08.47\00:10:10.47 Jesus speaks about 00:10:10.47\00:10:12.51 what is sometimes 00:10:12.51\00:10:13.34 called the sin 00:10:13.34\00:10:13.98 against the Holy Spirit 00:10:13.98\00:10:14.88 or blasphemy 00:10:14.88\00:10:15.74 against the Holy Spirit. 00:10:15.74\00:10:17.08 And I want to take a minute 00:10:17.08\00:10:18.05 with it, 00:10:18.05\00:10:18.65 a minute 00:10:18.65\00:10:19.21 with this 00:10:19.21\00:10:20.25 explanation, 00:10:20.25\00:10:21.05 because it 00:10:21.05\00:10:22.08 flew by pretty quickly. 00:10:22.08\00:10:23.69 And I want to back up 00:10:23.69\00:10:25.22 because I'm listening to you 00:10:25.22\00:10:26.89 and some of you said 00:10:26.89\00:10:27.52 no, slow that down 00:10:27.52\00:10:29.46 because I still got 00:10:29.46\00:10:30.19 some questions about it. 00:10:30.19\00:10:31.13 So let's 00:10:31.13\00:10:31.39 see if we can make this 00:10:31.69\00:10:32.16 a little bit 00:10:32.16\00:10:32.49 more understandable 00:10:32.69\00:10:33.56 in the context of parables. 00:10:33.56\00:10:35.13 So back to Jesus?rds 00:10:35.13\00:10:36.70 in Mark 3:28 and 30. 00:10:36.70\00:10:39.00 He just told those two parables 00:10:39.00\00:10:40.50 about Satan 00:10:41.50\00:10:42.54 can't cast out Satan. 00:10:42.54\00:10:44.07 And if you're going to conquer 00:10:44.07\00:10:45.51 a strong man, 00:10:45.51\00:10:46.14 you've got to 00:10:46.14\00:10:46.41 bind him up first. 00:10:46.64\00:10:47.44 If you're going to 00:10:47.44\00:10:47.81 get his goods. 00:10:47.81\00:10:48.84 Now, here's what He says. 00:10:48.84\00:10:50.51 Assuredly, I say to you, 00:10:50.51\00:10:52.81 all sins 00:10:52.81\00:10:54.42 will be forgiven 00:10:54.42\00:10:55.22 the sons of men, 00:10:55.22\00:10:56.28 and whatever 00:10:56.28\00:10:57.25 blasphemies they may utter; 00:10:57.25\00:10:58.79 So let's just stop right here. 00:10:58.79\00:11:00.96 Jesus is first saying 00:11:00.96\00:11:02.39 there is no sin. 00:11:02.39\00:11:03.59 There's no category of sin 00:11:03.59\00:11:05.73 that cannot be forgiven. 00:11:06.06\00:11:07.60 Is that clear 00:11:07.60\00:11:08.40 what He just said there? 00:11:08.40\00:11:09.40 No category of sin. 00:11:09.40\00:11:10.43 All sins will be forgiven. 00:11:10.43\00:11:12.30 I mean, of course, the, He's 00:11:12.30\00:11:13.47 not going through 00:11:13.47\00:11:14.07 the whole plan 00:11:14.07\00:11:14.64 of salvation here, 00:11:14.64\00:11:15.50 but we need to be convicted 00:11:15.50\00:11:17.04 of the sin. We need to repent. 00:11:17.04\00:11:18.47 We need to walk away from it. 00:11:18.47\00:11:20.21 But the point is, 00:11:20.21\00:11:21.34 there is no category of sin 00:11:21.34\00:11:22.74 that can't be forgiven. 00:11:22.74\00:11:23.85 But then you say, 00:11:23.85\00:11:24.41 but wait a minute. 00:11:24.41\00:11:25.21 But then He says, 00:11:25.21\00:11:25.85 but he who blasphemes 00:11:25.85\00:11:27.15 against the Holy Spirit 00:11:27.15\00:11:28.95 never has forgiveness, 00:11:28.95\00:11:31.05 but is subject to 00:11:31.29\00:11:32.22 eternal condemnation. 00:11:32.22\00:11:33.59 Now, on the surface, it 00:11:35.29\00:11:36.93 seems like 00:11:36.93\00:11:37.36 a contradiction, doesn't it? 00:11:37.59\00:11:38.89 If He says, first, He says, 00:11:38.89\00:11:40.36 whatever blasphemies 00:11:40.36\00:11:42.40 are uttered, they what? 00:11:42.40\00:11:44.50 Will be forgiven? 00:11:44.50\00:11:46.77 And then He says, 00:11:46.77\00:11:47.57 But there's blasphemy 00:11:47.57\00:11:48.54 that won't be forgiven. 00:11:48.54\00:11:49.50 Well, 00:11:49.50\00:11:49.80 how do you make sense of this? 00:11:50.17\00:11:52.64 Mark explains it 00:11:52.71\00:11:54.11 in the words 00:11:54.11\00:11:54.61 that I've highlighted, 00:11:54.61\00:11:56.08 because they said, 00:11:56.08\00:11:58.48 “He has an unclean spirit.” 00:11:58.71\00:12:01.62 The essence of the blasphemy 00:12:01.62\00:12:04.69 against the Holy Spirit. 00:12:04.69\00:12:05.92 The essence of the, quote, 00:12:05.92\00:12:07.36 unpardonable sin, 00:12:07.36\00:12:09.12 is when we're attributing 00:12:09.12\00:12:11.19 to God the work of Satan. 00:12:11.19\00:12:13.70 Been reading through 00:12:19.33\00:12:19.87 a number of commentaries 00:12:19.93\00:12:21.20 or referring to them, 00:12:21.20\00:12:22.47 I shouldn't say 00:12:22.47\00:12:23.00 reading through, 00:12:23.00\00:12:24.14 as we go 00:12:24.14\00:12:24.67 through our journey on Mark. 00:12:24.81\00:12:26.61 It doesn't mean 00:12:26.61\00:12:27.08 they're inspired, 00:12:27.08\00:12:27.81 but it's nice to to hear 00:12:27.81\00:12:29.21 what other people have 00:12:29.21\00:12:30.71 have wrestled with and 00:12:30.71\00:12:32.35 and studied. 00:12:32.35\00:12:33.42 The Word, 00:12:33.42\00:12:34.92 yes, interprets itself. 00:12:34.92\00:12:36.82 But God values preaching. 00:12:36.82\00:12:38.82 And so 00:12:38.82\00:12:39.12 commentaries are a form of 00:12:39.45\00:12:40.42 written preaching, right? 00:12:40.42\00:12:42.69 And so 00:12:42.76\00:12:44.19 I like how Garland put it. 00:12:44.19\00:12:46.53 It's not a single action. 00:12:46.53\00:12:48.63 We're speaking about the sin 00:12:48.76\00:12:49.80 against the Holy Spirit. 00:12:49.80\00:12:51.37 It is not a single action, 00:12:51.37\00:12:52.90 but a continual state 00:12:52.90\00:12:55.10 of spurning the Spirit's work. 00:12:55.10\00:12:57.74 He goes on, he says this, 00:13:00.84\00:13:03.11 If one understands 00:13:03.21\00:13:05.01 the so-called unforgivable sin 00:13:05.01\00:13:07.65 as deliberately scorning 00:13:08.08\00:13:10.05 the power 00:13:10.05\00:13:10.59 and forgiveness of God, 00:13:10.59\00:13:12.32 one can perhaps 00:13:12.32\00:13:13.52 help those in the church 00:13:13.52\00:13:15.06 who become worried 00:13:15.06\00:13:16.09 or even terror 00:13:16.09\00:13:16.93 stricken 00:13:16.93\00:13:17.69 that they have committed 00:13:17.69\00:13:18.66 some sin that is unpardonable. 00:13:18.66\00:13:20.66 His point is it's 00:13:20.93\00:13:21.70 not a type of sin, 00:13:21.70\00:13:22.86 this unpardonable. 00:13:22.86\00:13:24.00 It's this persistent 00:13:24.00\00:13:25.63 rebellion, the persistent act 00:13:25.63\00:13:28.47 of attributing the works of God 00:13:28.87\00:13:30.77 to Satan. 00:13:30.77\00:13:31.57 The Holy Spirit 00:13:31.57\00:13:32.34 is speaking to your heart, 00:13:32.34\00:13:33.07 He?aying, 00:13:33.07\00:13:33.51 Walk away from this; leave - 00:13:33.74\00:13:35.21 No, no, that's not. 00:13:35.21\00:13:36.08 That's not God speaking to me. 00:13:36.08\00:13:38.28 No, I need to keep 00:13:38.48\00:13:39.38 doing this sin. 00:13:39.38\00:13:40.98 It's perfectly fine. 00:13:40.98\00:13:42.05 It's fine for me to do this. 00:13:42.05\00:13:43.22 The Holy Spirit says no. 00:13:43.22\00:13:44.42 Walk away from that. 00:13:44.42\00:13:45.42 Break free. 00:13:45.42\00:13:46.12 I'll give you the power 00:13:46.12\00:13:47.09 to break free. 00:13:47.09\00:13:48.06 No, no, that's not God. 00:13:48.06\00:13:49.29 Do you see the pattern? 00:13:49.29\00:13:50.76 God will always 00:13:50.76\00:13:51.99 accept the repentant. 00:13:51.99\00:13:53.43 But if you refuse 00:13:53.43\00:13:54.56 the Holy Spirit's work in you, 00:13:54.56\00:13:56.53 which includes 00:13:56.53\00:13:57.30 calling us to repent, 00:13:57.30\00:13:59.43 then we can't be 00:13:59.43\00:14:00.40 convicted of sin. 00:14:00.40\00:14:01.50 We can't repent. Right? 00:14:01.50\00:14:03.17 The Holy Spirit is 00:14:03.17\00:14:04.24 is working on your heart. 00:14:04.24\00:14:05.77 You say, No, no, no. 00:14:05.77\00:14:06.74 I don't want to hear 00:14:06.74\00:14:07.31 the Holy Spirit. 00:14:07.31\00:14:07.81 I'm not going to allow 00:14:07.81\00:14:08.38 the Holy Spirit to work. 00:14:08.38\00:14:09.71 That is the essence of this sin 00:14:09.71\00:14:11.95 against the Holy Spirit. 00:14:12.08\00:14:13.01 Let me just 00:14:13.01\00:14:13.38 clarify the issues for you. 00:14:13.68\00:14:14.58 We could have a whole 00:14:14.58\00:14:15.38 Bible study on this, 00:14:15.38\00:14:16.35 but we're trying to 00:14:16.35\00:14:17.32 to put it 00:14:17.32\00:14:17.75 in the context of the parables 00:14:17.99\00:14:19.15 and why Jesus gives 00:14:19.15\00:14:20.19 these illustrations. 00:14:20.19\00:14:21.56 He's trying to 00:14:21.56\00:14:22.02 make these things 00:14:22.02\00:14:22.96 especially practical for us. 00:14:22.96\00:14:25.36 And Jesus says this 00:14:25.36\00:14:26.56 about His willingness 00:14:26.56\00:14:27.83 to forgive 00:14:27.83\00:14:28.33 if there's any question 00:14:28.33\00:14:29.33 about that 00:14:29.33\00:14:29.83 multiple Bible verses. 00:14:29.83\00:14:31.30 But here's one in John 6:37, 00:14:31.30\00:14:33.44 The one who comes to Me, 00:14:33.54\00:14:35.57 I will what? 00:14:35.57\00:14:36.67 In no means cast out. 00:14:36.67\00:14:38.74 So right now 00:14:38.81\00:14:39.61 you can take this verse 00:14:39.61\00:14:40.48 to the bank. 00:14:40.48\00:14:40.94 It doesn't matter 00:14:40.94\00:14:41.51 what you've done in your past, 00:14:41.61\00:14:43.41 you can come to Jesus 00:14:43.41\00:14:44.61 just as you are. 00:14:44.61\00:14:45.48 And what does He say? 00:14:45.48\00:14:47.02 He says, I'll no wise 00:14:47.02\00:14:48.18 cast you out. You can come. 00:14:48.18\00:14:50.25 But. 00:14:51.29\00:14:52.62 But 00:14:52.62\00:14:53.79 we got to be very careful 00:14:55.39\00:14:56.49 if we're pushing 00:14:56.49\00:14:57.33 away from the Holy Spirit. 00:14:57.33\00:14:59.26 Jesus said 00:14:59.26\00:15:00.10 this of the Holy Spirit 00:15:00.10\00:15:01.03 in John 16, 00:15:01.03\00:15:01.96 and there's other places 00:15:01.96\00:15:02.76 that speak of this 00:15:02.76\00:15:03.67 work, of the Spirit. 00:15:03.67\00:15:04.97 He says, I will send Him [the 00:15:04.97\00:15:06.17 Holy Spirit] to you. 00:15:06.17\00:15:07.24 When He has come, 00:15:07.24\00:15:08.57 He will do what? 00:15:08.57\00:15:10.17 He'll convict the world of sin, 00:15:10.17\00:15:13.54 and of righteousness, 00:15:13.61\00:15:14.84 and of judgment. 00:15:14.84\00:15:15.84 He is the convicting agency. 00:15:15.84\00:15:18.05 So if I don't allow the 00:15:18.35\00:15:19.31 Holy Spirit to work, 00:15:19.31\00:15:20.38 I can't be convicted, 00:15:20.38\00:15:22.38 I won't repent, 00:15:22.38\00:15:23.85 I won't come to Jesus. 00:15:23.85\00:15:25.59 So in essence, 00:15:25.59\00:15:26.42 the sin that can't be forgiven 00:15:26.42\00:15:28.56 is the sin that doesn't 00:15:28.56\00:15:30.23 ask for forgiveness, okay? 00:15:30.23\00:15:32.79 Does that make it 00:15:32.86\00:15:34.03 a little bit 00:15:34.03\00:15:34.56 more understandable? 00:15:34.56\00:15:36.56 So with that background, 00:15:38.10\00:15:39.43 I want you to step back now 00:15:39.43\00:15:40.77 and look, we've 00:15:40.77\00:15:41.27 looked at the parable 00:15:41.34\00:15:42.24 so far 00:15:42.24\00:15:42.67 that have come up in Mark 00:15:42.87\00:15:43.64 2 and 3. 00:15:43.64\00:15:44.47 Mark 4 is a concentrated 00:15:44.47\00:15:46.37 focus on Jesus 00:15:46.37\00:15:47.31 ?aching and parables. 00:15:47.31\00:15:48.54 And I want you to notice this 00:15:48.54\00:15:49.64 in chapters 2 00:15:49.64\00:15:50.58 and 3 of the Gospel of Mark. 00:15:50.58\00:15:52.75 We have seen 00:15:52.85\00:15:53.55 a few common denominators. 00:15:53.55\00:15:55.28 The first one is 00:15:55.28\00:15:56.42 we've come 00:15:56.42\00:15:57.79 basically to hear 00:15:58.02\00:15:58.99 Jesus telling us 00:15:58.99\00:16:00.26 that I personally 00:16:00.26\00:16:01.42 that you collectively 00:16:01.42\00:16:02.72 have to accept the work 00:16:02.72\00:16:03.83 of the Holy Spirit 00:16:03.83\00:16:04.83 and His invitation 00:16:04.83\00:16:06.96 to come with Jesus 00:16:06.96\00:16:08.10 to come 00:16:08.10\00:16:09.26 into the marriage supper. 00:16:09.26\00:16:10.50 He's inviting you to come. 00:16:10.50\00:16:12.27 And the second thing, 00:16:12.27\00:16:13.54 we have to let go 00:16:13.54\00:16:14.97 of our old sinful ways. 00:16:14.97\00:16:16.64 We have to reject 00:16:16.64\00:16:17.91 the working 00:16:17.91\00:16:18.41 of Satan in our lives. 00:16:18.41\00:16:19.71 That's what these parables 00:16:19.71\00:16:20.68 are telling us. 00:16:20.68\00:16:21.94 And so with that background, 00:16:21.94\00:16:23.21 the stage is set for Mark 4. 00:16:23.21\00:16:24.95 And in Mark 4, 00:16:24.95\00:16:26.65 we're going to see that 00:16:26.65\00:16:27.38 there's a decided change. 00:16:27.38\00:16:29.25 There's a swing 00:16:29.25\00:16:30.62 in Mark's Gospel 00:16:30.62\00:16:32.02 where the focus becomes 00:16:32.02\00:16:34.39 parable teaching, 00:16:34.39\00:16:35.66 and we see that 00:16:35.66\00:16:36.59 very graphically in chapter 4. 00:16:36.59\00:16:38.79 One of the books 00:16:38.86\00:16:39.63 that I think so 00:16:39.63\00:16:40.16 eloquently speaks about 00:16:40.16\00:16:41.66 this is one 00:16:41.66\00:16:42.20 that may be on your bookshelf, 00:16:42.33\00:16:43.70 if you're really interested 00:16:43.70\00:16:44.73 in studying the 00:16:44.73\00:16:45.77 parables, I would encourage you 00:16:45.90\00:16:47.87 to pull it off the bookshelf. 00:16:47.87\00:16:49.10 If you've never heard 00:16:49.10\00:16:49.84 of Christ's Object Lessons, 00:16:49.84\00:16:51.87 pick up a copy. 00:16:52.11\00:16:53.58 It goes into detail 00:16:53.58\00:16:55.11 about parables 00:16:55.11\00:16:56.38 and Jesus?rable teaching. 00:16:56.38\00:16:57.98 Let me just 00:16:57.98\00:16:58.61 share a little bit 00:16:58.61\00:16:59.35 from that book. 00:16:59.35\00:17:00.15 This is from page 17. 00:17:00.15\00:17:01.98 In Christ's parable teaching, 00:17:01.98\00:17:04.19 the same principle is seen 00:17:04.39\00:17:06.52 as in His own mission 00:17:06.52\00:17:08.26 to the world. 00:17:08.26\00:17:08.92 That we might become acquainted 00:17:08.92\00:17:10.66 with His divine character 00:17:10.66\00:17:12.13 and life, 00:17:12.13\00:17:12.89 Christ took our nature 00:17:12.89\00:17:14.73 and dwelt among us. 00:17:14.73\00:17:16.10 Divinity was revealed 00:17:16.10\00:17:17.47 in humanity, 00:17:17.47\00:17:18.63 the invisible glory 00:17:18.63\00:17:20.44 in the visible human form. 00:17:20.44\00:17:22.07 So we're talking 00:17:22.07\00:17:22.67 about this theme, 00:17:22.67\00:17:23.81 whether it's a lecture 00:17:23.81\00:17:25.31 on the dangers of smoking 00:17:25.31\00:17:26.98 or whether it's Jesus 00:17:26.98\00:17:28.41 teaching His Word, 00:17:28.41\00:17:30.15 we tend to be resistant. 00:17:30.15\00:17:32.55 We don't hear things. 00:17:32.55\00:17:33.45 And so Jesus, 00:17:33.45\00:17:34.92 instead of 00:17:34.92\00:17:35.65 coming down 00:17:35.65\00:17:36.55 in this blaze of glory, 00:17:36.55\00:17:37.99 He comes down as a human 00:17:37.99\00:17:40.09 and He tries to illustrate 00:17:40.09\00:17:41.86 these spiritual truths 00:17:41.86\00:17:44.29 in simple illustrations. 00:17:44.29\00:17:47.30 Men could learn of the unknown 00:17:47.40\00:17:49.60 through the known; 00:17:49.60\00:17:50.97 heavenly things were revealed 00:17:50.97\00:17:53.03 through the earthly; 00:17:53.03\00:17:54.47 God was made manifest 00:17:54.47\00:17:55.94 in the likeness of men. 00:17:55.94\00:17:58.41 So it was in Christ's teaching: 00:17:58.77\00:18:01.01 the unknown was illustrated 00:18:01.18\00:18:02.78 by the known; 00:18:02.78\00:18:03.91 divine truths by earthly things 00:18:03.91\00:18:06.68 with which the people 00:18:06.82\00:18:08.18 were most familiar. 00:18:08.18\00:18:09.45 So let's take a 00:18:11.55\00:18:12.72 look at what Jesus 00:18:12.72\00:18:14.66 has this laser focus on. 00:18:14.66\00:18:16.46 But 00:18:16.46\00:18:17.19 it comes in Mark 4. 00:18:18.13\00:18:19.96 And if you've been 00:18:19.96\00:18:20.40 following along, 00:18:20.40\00:18:21.76 I think it's 00:18:21.76\00:18:22.43 especially interesting 00:18:22.43\00:18:24.07 that we see this emphasis 00:18:24.07\00:18:25.83 on parable 00:18:25.83\00:18:26.50 teaching at that point. 00:18:26.50\00:18:29.64 Notice something with me 00:18:29.64\00:18:31.54 from the Apostle Paul. 00:18:31.54\00:18:33.27 Paul tells us that 00:18:33.27\00:18:34.54 there is an amazing light 00:18:34.54\00:18:36.81 that is shined 00:18:36.81\00:18:38.91 on our path, okay? 00:18:38.91\00:18:41.02 It is shining right now. 00:18:41.08\00:18:42.42 It is shown in the past. 00:18:42.42\00:18:43.92 This light is 00:18:43.92\00:18:46.05 one place seen in creation. 00:18:47.16\00:18:49.36 Romans 1:20 says it this way. 00:18:49.46\00:18:52.39 For His invisible attributes, 00:18:52.59\00:18:54.63 namely, His eternal power 00:18:54.63\00:18:56.53 and divine 00:18:56.53\00:18:57.07 nature have been what 00:18:57.07\00:18:58.87 clearly perceived, 00:18:58.87\00:19:00.97 ever since 00:19:01.04\00:19:01.64 the creation of the world 00:19:01.64\00:19:03.07 in the things 00:19:03.07\00:19:03.57 that have been made. 00:19:03.57\00:19:04.51 So what Paul is saying 00:19:04.51\00:19:05.87 is one way 00:19:05.87\00:19:07.61 we connect 00:19:07.61\00:19:08.54 with the God of heaven. 00:19:08.54\00:19:09.58 No, nature is not a 00:19:09.58\00:19:10.68 perfect revelation. 00:19:10.68\00:19:12.08 The Bible gives us 00:19:13.05\00:19:14.28 a perfect revelation. 00:19:14.28\00:19:15.38 We see it in Jesus 00:19:15.38\00:19:16.38 ?fe and ministry, 00:19:16.38\00:19:17.62 but nature actually sheds 00:19:17.62\00:19:19.85 light on God's character. 00:19:19.85\00:19:21.32 And what is Jesus 00:19:21.32\00:19:22.26 doing in His parables? 00:19:22.26\00:19:23.49 Many of the parables 00:19:23.49\00:19:24.53 are focused on what? 00:19:24.53\00:19:25.96 On nature, okay? 00:19:25.96\00:19:28.03 Jesus points to creation. 00:19:28.10\00:19:30.30 Often 00:19:30.57\00:19:31.17 it is parables, 00:19:31.17\00:19:31.93 and we'll see it in 00:19:31.93\00:19:32.77 multiple examples in Mark 4. 00:19:32.77\00:19:35.00 He's using illustrations 00:19:35.10\00:19:36.50 that everyone could relate to. 00:19:36.50\00:19:38.14 And if someone's 00:19:38.14\00:19:38.81 telling you a story 00:19:38.81\00:19:40.24 about a sower 00:19:40.24\00:19:41.44 or a plant growing, 00:19:41.44\00:19:42.84 how many of you are thinking 00:19:42.84\00:19:43.85 about your bad habits? 00:19:43.85\00:19:46.15 Or how many of you are thinking 00:19:46.15\00:19:47.25 about great spiritual truths? 00:19:47.25\00:19:49.08 I mean, it's very disarming, 00:19:49.08\00:19:50.55 isn't it? 00:19:50.55\00:19:51.05 Jesus is just going 00:19:51.05\00:19:51.75 to tell you a story. 00:19:51.75\00:19:52.82 I don't know 00:19:52.82\00:19:53.15 if you've ever noticed this, 00:19:53.49\00:19:55.16 but if you're looking around 00:19:55.16\00:19:56.16 at the congregation 00:19:56.16\00:19:57.43 and the Pastor 00:19:57.43\00:19:58.26 ?eaching from the Bible 00:19:58.26\00:19:59.19 and putting these scripture 00:19:59.19\00:20:00.13 texts up 00:20:00.13\00:20:01.03 and you might see people 00:20:01.03\00:20:02.20 dozing off 00:20:02.20\00:20:03.37 and, you know, 00:20:03.37\00:20:04.00 some people talking 00:20:04.00\00:20:05.07 among themselves and, 00:20:05.07\00:20:06.43 you know, 00:20:06.43\00:20:07.27 maybe someone else, 00:20:07.34\00:20:08.30 you're looking at the ceiling. 00:20:08.30\00:20:09.64 But the minute 00:20:09.64\00:20:10.74 someone starts to tell a story, 00:20:10.74\00:20:12.77 have you noticed? 00:20:13.01\00:20:13.98 Things change, okay? 00:20:13.98\00:20:16.04 And some of you are helping me 00:20:16.11\00:20:17.15 illustrate this right now. 00:20:17.15\00:20:18.35 You're saying 00:20:18.35\00:20:18.61 you're not telling a story, 00:20:19.01\00:20:19.55 so I'm going to fall asleep. 00:20:19.68\00:20:20.75 But the point is it 00:20:21.75\00:20:23.05 also cause you 00:20:23.05\00:20:23.92 to drop your defenses, right? 00:20:23.92\00:20:25.09 You're just 00:20:25.09\00:20:25.45 you're just drawn 00:20:25.59\00:20:26.15 into the story. 00:20:26.15\00:20:26.92 What's going to happen? 00:20:26.92\00:20:28.76 Jesus desired 00:20:28.76\00:20:29.79 to awaken inquiry. 00:20:29.79\00:20:31.93 He sought to arouse 00:20:32.16\00:20:33.06 the careless, and impress 00:20:33.06\00:20:34.46 truth upon the heart. 00:20:34.46\00:20:35.76 Parable teaching was popular, 00:20:35.76\00:20:37.73 it commanded the respect 00:20:37.73\00:20:39.13 and attention 00:20:39.13\00:20:39.97 not only of the Jews, 00:20:39.97\00:20:41.04 but people of other nations. 00:20:41.04\00:20:42.54 So Jesus, 00:20:42.54\00:20:43.51 who's coming for all 00:20:43.51\00:20:44.57 nations, He's going to do what? 00:20:44.57\00:20:46.41 He is going to teach 00:20:46.41\00:20:48.28 in parables. 00:20:48.28\00:20:50.08 He had truths 00:20:50.08\00:20:51.25 that people were not ready 00:20:51.25\00:20:52.58 to accept or understand. 00:20:52.58\00:20:54.58 And He connects his teaching 00:20:55.18\00:20:57.09 with nature, 00:20:57.09\00:20:58.32 with the scenes of life, 00:20:58.32\00:21:00.32 with experience. 00:21:00.32\00:21:02.02 And this way, He's driving home 00:21:02.02\00:21:04.69 His lessons. 00:21:04.86\00:21:05.83 What's the value of this? 00:21:05.83\00:21:07.50 Not only do they listen, 00:21:07.50\00:21:09.73 but then when 00:21:09.73\00:21:10.50 you're out walking 00:21:10.50\00:21:12.37 and you see some 00:21:12.37\00:21:13.44 of those scenes, 00:21:13.44\00:21:14.87 what do you call to mind? 00:21:14.87\00:21:16.71 The very things 00:21:16.71\00:21:17.97 that Jesus shared. 00:21:17.97\00:21:20.98 These are some 00:21:21.04\00:21:22.31 profound insights, 00:21:22.31\00:21:24.48 but there's other reasons 00:21:24.75\00:21:26.18 why Jesus shared what He did. 00:21:26.18\00:21:28.65 Other reasons why 00:21:28.65\00:21:29.62 Jesus shared what He did. 00:21:29.62\00:21:31.55 And there were people, 00:21:31.55\00:21:33.32 as we've seen in Mark 3. 00:21:33.32\00:21:35.46 Let's go back there 00:21:35.46\00:21:36.19 just for a minute. 00:21:36.19\00:21:36.89 For some of you 00:21:36.89\00:21:37.39 who've not been 00:21:37.39\00:21:37.99 with us from the beginning, 00:21:38.06\00:21:38.86 I just want you to see this. 00:21:38.86\00:21:40.13 Because in Mark 3, 00:21:40.13\00:21:41.46 Jesus has been working, 00:21:41.46\00:21:43.60 doing these acts of mercy, 00:21:43.60\00:21:45.10 acts of healing, acts of power. 00:21:45.10\00:21:47.44 The kingdom is here, 00:21:47.57\00:21:48.67 His acts are declaring. 00:21:48.67\00:21:50.67 And when Jesus works a miracle 00:21:50.67\00:21:53.51 in the synagogue 00:21:53.51\00:21:54.48 on the Sabbath day, 00:21:54.48\00:21:55.98 it says in Mark 3:6, 00:21:55.98\00:21:58.95 Then the Pharisees went out 00:21:59.01\00:22:01.28 and immediately 00:22:01.48\00:22:03.02 plotted with the Herodians 00:22:03.02\00:22:04.92 against Him, 00:22:04.92\00:22:06.15 how they might do what? 00:22:06.15\00:22:08.22 Destroy Him. 00:22:08.22\00:22:10.23 So what's going on here? 00:22:10.23\00:22:11.83 There's spies following Jesus. 00:22:11.83\00:22:13.86 They're watching Him 00:22:14.46\00:22:15.16 wherever He goes. 00:22:15.16\00:22:16.50 Jesus understood this, 00:22:16.50\00:22:18.17 and now He's going to start 00:22:18.17\00:22:19.17 presenting His lessons 00:22:19.17\00:22:21.20 in ways 00:22:21.20\00:22:21.60 that they can't 00:22:21.60\00:22:22.07 so easily attack. 00:22:22.07\00:22:23.77 He's going to present it 00:22:23.77\00:22:24.87 in story form, story form. 00:22:24.87\00:22:28.08 Let me point out one 00:22:30.48\00:22:31.78 last thing for you 00:22:31.78\00:22:32.95 that I think is important 00:22:32.95\00:22:33.95 in understanding the context. 00:22:33.95\00:22:36.48 If you look at Mark 2 00:22:36.79\00:22:38.22 and 3, 00:22:38.22\00:22:38.82 and we just looked 00:22:38.82\00:22:39.49 at the beginning of Mark 00:22:39.49\00:22:40.36 3, and I mentioned to you 00:22:40.36\00:22:42.09 this was in the context 00:22:42.09\00:22:43.66 of Jesus 00:22:43.66\00:22:44.49 being Lord of the Sabbath. 00:22:44.49\00:22:46.03 You see this theme 00:22:46.03\00:22:46.96 beginning in Mark 2:23. 00:22:46.96\00:22:49.96 There are a number 00:22:50.07\00:22:50.87 of criticisms 00:22:50.87\00:22:51.90 that are leveled at Jesus 00:22:51.90\00:22:53.70 about what 00:22:53.70\00:22:54.80 He or His disciples 00:22:54.80\00:22:56.17 were doing on the Sabbath day. 00:22:56.17\00:22:58.61 So now look at this 00:22:58.61\00:22:59.91 very insightful commentary 00:22:59.91\00:23:02.48 in the book 00:23:02.58\00:23:03.01 Christ Object Lessons. 00:23:03.11\00:23:04.91 Christ's purpose 00:23:04.91\00:23:06.35 in parable 00:23:06.35\00:23:07.08 teaching was in direct line 00:23:07.08\00:23:09.48 with the purpose 00:23:09.62\00:23:10.52 of the Sabbath. 00:23:10.52\00:23:11.49 So think about this. 00:23:11.49\00:23:12.25 So the context as we're 00:23:12.25\00:23:13.32 coming to Mark 4 00:23:13.32\00:23:14.99 is Jesus is working miracles. 00:23:14.99\00:23:16.79 He's doing miracles 00:23:16.79\00:23:17.79 on the Sabbath, 00:23:17.79\00:23:19.03 on the day 00:23:19.03\00:23:19.56 that is to point back 00:23:19.56\00:23:21.63 to the Creator at this point 00:23:22.26\00:23:25.47 in time, right? 00:23:25.47\00:23:26.23 The Sabbath was set up 00:23:26.23\00:23:27.27 from the beginning 00:23:27.27\00:23:28.00 before there ever was a Jew. 00:23:28.00\00:23:29.97 Genesis 1, 2, 00:23:29.97\00:23:31.77 you read those chapters 00:23:31.77\00:23:33.78 of the creation 00:23:33.78\00:23:34.48 God sets aside that day. 00:23:34.48\00:23:36.21 He sanctifies the Sabbath. 00:23:36.21\00:23:38.41 And what is He doing? 00:23:38.41\00:23:39.68 He's healing on the Sabbath. 00:23:39.68\00:23:41.25 He's showing that 00:23:41.25\00:23:41.88 it's appropriate 00:23:41.88\00:23:42.65 to heal, to minister 00:23:42.65\00:23:43.92 to needs on the Sabbath, 00:23:43.92\00:23:45.22 and His enemies 00:23:45.22\00:23:46.35 are pushing against that. 00:23:46.35\00:23:48.42 And so Jesus can't openly teach 00:23:48.42\00:23:52.26 and do all that 00:23:52.26\00:23:53.46 He wants to do on the Sabbath. 00:23:53.46\00:23:55.00 And there's other references 00:23:55.00\00:23:56.10 in the Bible 00:23:56.10\00:23:56.63 that illustrate this. 00:23:56.63\00:23:57.87 So what He begins to do 00:23:57.87\00:24:00.04 is He calls attention 00:24:00.04\00:24:02.97 to His lordship over creation 00:24:02.97\00:24:05.24 through the parables. 00:24:05.47\00:24:06.84 Yes, the Sabbath bids us 00:24:06.84\00:24:09.08 remember our Creator, 00:24:09.08\00:24:10.48 but so do Jesus?rables. 00:24:10.48\00:24:12.95 And so we'll see that 00:24:12.95\00:24:13.68 He's going to draw 00:24:13.68\00:24:14.32 especially 00:24:14.32\00:24:15.55 from the things of nature 00:24:15.55\00:24:17.59 as we look 00:24:17.59\00:24:18.62 at these powerful lessons. 00:24:18.62\00:24:20.72 One other important point, 00:24:21.12\00:24:23.32 one other important point. 00:24:23.49\00:24:25.03 It wasn't just 00:24:25.03\00:24:26.49 nature that Jesus drew from. 00:24:26.49\00:24:29.23 Christ has linked His teaching, 00:24:29.30\00:24:31.43 not only with the day of rest, 00:24:31.50\00:24:33.57 but with the week of toil. 00:24:33.57\00:24:35.57 He has wisdom for him 00:24:35.84\00:24:37.74 who drives the plow 00:24:37.74\00:24:39.37 and sows 00:24:39.37\00:24:40.58 the seed 00:24:40.58\00:24:41.48 in every line of useful labor 00:24:41.48\00:24:42.98 in every association of life, 00:24:42.98\00:24:44.61 He desires us to find 00:24:44.61\00:24:45.78 a lesson of divine truth. 00:24:45.78\00:24:47.85 Then our daily toil 00:24:47.85\00:24:49.35 will no longer 00:24:49.35\00:24:50.09 absorb our attention 00:24:50.09\00:24:51.72 and lead us to forget God; 00:24:51.72\00:24:53.62 It will continually remind us 00:24:53.62\00:24:55.72 of our Creator and Redeemer. 00:24:55.72\00:24:57.03 So here's the lesson 00:24:57.03\00:24:57.79 I want you to take, 00:24:57.79\00:24:58.29 because we're going to 00:24:58.29\00:24:58.79 look at some stories 00:24:58.79\00:25:00.20 that may not be relevant to 00:25:00.20\00:25:01.86 you today. 00:25:01.86\00:25:02.63 You may say, Well, 00:25:02.63\00:25:03.13 I'm an auto mechanic. 00:25:03.20\00:25:04.17 I mean, what is 00:25:04.17\00:25:04.87 what is sowing 00:25:04.87\00:25:05.80 have to do with me? 00:25:05.80\00:25:07.17 Or, you know, 00:25:07.17\00:25:08.70 what is this stuff about, 00:25:08.70\00:25:10.24 you know, wineskins and stuff? 00:25:10.24\00:25:11.71 I don't drink wine. 00:25:11.71\00:25:13.14 I mean, 00:25:13.14\00:25:13.34 how does that relate to me? 00:25:13.81\00:25:15.44 Think in terms 00:25:15.44\00:25:16.58 of the things in your life 00:25:16.58\00:25:18.45 and how do you see parallels 00:25:18.45\00:25:20.28 with how God's working. 00:25:20.28\00:25:21.78 So that in every line of life 00:25:21.78\00:25:24.69 you connect with the Savior. 00:25:24.89\00:25:26.82 Jesus is wanting to do that. 00:25:26.82\00:25:28.26 He's wanting to infuse His life 00:25:28.26\00:25:31.26 into your life story. 00:25:31.56\00:25:33.73 He's wanting you to 00:25:33.90\00:25:34.93 make those connections. 00:25:34.93\00:25:36.90 Now I want you 00:25:38.27\00:25:39.90 to see one last thing 00:25:39.90\00:25:42.27 as we 00:25:42.27\00:25:43.54 finish this portion 00:25:43.54\00:25:44.81 of the message. 00:25:44.81\00:25:45.84 Turn your Bibles 00:25:45.84\00:25:47.51 back to chapter 4 00:25:47.51\00:25:50.31 of the Gospel of Mark. 00:25:50.31\00:25:53.01 I want you to notice that 00:25:53.95\00:25:55.35 in spite 00:25:55.35\00:25:56.69 of all the opposition 00:25:56.69\00:25:58.85 that Jesus has been facing, 00:25:59.02\00:26:01.06 it says, 00:26:01.06\00:26:01.99 a great 00:26:01.99\00:26:03.36 multitude was gathered to Him. 00:26:03.36\00:26:06.06 And I would suggest to you, 00:26:06.13\00:26:07.83 if you don't let the things 00:26:07.83\00:26:08.96 of this world 00:26:08.96\00:26:10.30 eclipse your vision 00:26:10.30\00:26:12.13 as you engage 00:26:12.13\00:26:13.17 with Jesus in His Word, 00:26:13.17\00:26:14.64 you too will be drawn to Him 00:26:14.64\00:26:16.71 and a great crowd 00:26:16.81\00:26:18.91 will be drawn to Jesus 00:26:18.91\00:26:20.71 and His amazing teaching. 00:26:20.71\00:26:22.84 Jesus used 00:26:26.21\00:26:27.05 the practical things of life 00:26:27.05\00:26:29.28 to illustrate our great need, 00:26:29.28\00:26:30.92 our great need of Him. 00:26:30.92\00:26:32.65 We're also here at Timeless 00:26:32.65\00:26:34.06 Healing Insights to help you 00:26:34.06\00:26:35.26 with your great needs in life. 00:26:35.26\00:26:37.56 Visit our website 00:26:37.56\00:26:38.79 for special tools to help you 00:26:38.79\00:26:40.93 with your health. 00:26:41.16\00:26:42.26 Check out our 30 Days 00:26:42.26\00:26:44.10 to Better Health 00:26:44.10\00:26:45.37 Lifestyle Program, 00:26:45.37\00:26:46.74 a free lifestyle 00:26:46.74\00:26:47.57 program to aid you 00:26:47.57\00:26:48.97 on your journey to health. 00:26:48.97\00:26:50.74 Let's pray together. 00:26:50.74\00:26:52.24 Father in heaven, 00:26:52.24\00:26:53.04 thank You for Your Word. 00:26:53.04\00:26:54.48 Thank You 00:26:54.48\00:26:54.88 for the practical nature 00:26:55.08\00:26:56.75 of the Scriptures. 00:26:56.75\00:26:58.08 Please help us to engage 00:26:58.08\00:26:59.75 on a daily basis 00:26:59.75\00:27:01.28 with those healing words. 00:27:01.28\00:27:03.15 May Your Spirit drive 00:27:03.15\00:27:04.49 us to the Word 00:27:04.49\00:27:05.75 and give us insights 00:27:05.75\00:27:07.16 that change our lives. 00:27:07.16\00:27:08.26 We ask in Jesus name, Amen. 00:27:08.26\00:27:10.73 Timeless Healing Insights 00:27:13.73\00:27:15.03 is here for you 00:27:15.03\00:27:16.23 and for your whole person 00:27:16.23\00:27:17.37 health. 00:27:17.37\00:27:18.03 With that in mind, 00:27:18.10\00:27:18.87 we invite you to go 00:27:18.87\00:27:19.70 to our website, 00:27:19.70\00:27:22.97 www.TimelessHealingInsights.org. 00:27:22.97\00:27:25.91 There you will find a free 00:27:26.01\00:27:28.14 30 day lifestyle program. 00:27:28.14\00:27:29.94 Sign up for it 00:27:29.94\00:27:30.88 and you'll get daily 00:27:30.88\00:27:32.71 email reminders for 30 days. 00:27:32.71\00:27:34.82 Links to short videos 00:27:35.02\00:27:36.79 to give you pointers 00:27:36.79\00:27:38.12 on a healthier lifestyle. 00:27:38.12\00:27:40.06 On our website 00:27:40.06\00:27:41.06 you can also find information 00:27:41.06\00:27:43.56 about this broadcast. 00:27:43.56\00:27:44.79 You can connect 00:27:44.79\00:27:45.56 with our handouts. 00:27:45.56\00:27:46.76 You can review archives 00:27:46.76\00:27:48.06 from episodes of Timeless 00:27:48.06\00:27:49.60 Healing Insights, TV 00:27:49.60\00:27:51.60 that you have missed. 00:27:51.60\00:27:53.20 Continued success to you. 00:27:53.20\00:27:54.74 I'll see you at 00:27:54.74\00:27:55.54 TimelessHealingInsights.org. 00:27:55.54\00:27:58.04