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Two thousand years ago this was
a thriving fishing village. Five
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of the fishermen that lived here
left this village, turned the
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world upside down and changed
the course of human history. One
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them was a very angry young man.
He and his brother were called
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the sons of thunder. But
something happened that turned
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his life around and changed
him forever. He ended up writing
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five books of the Bible. Four of
them are even named after him,
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that's more than anyone else.
And he's referred to more than
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30 times in the Bible. His name
was John and this is his story.
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It follows John from an angry
young man wanting to destroy
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his enemies by fire to becoming
one of Jesus' most influential
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disciples. John underwent a
remarkable transformation as a
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disciple, from the quick
tempered son of thunder to the
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compassionate apostle of love.
How did he do this? What made
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all the difference? What was the
secret of his transformation?
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Well stay with us to find
out. His story will encourage
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and inspire you and maybe what
enhanced and changed his life
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will do the
same for you as well.
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¤ ¤
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This is a place of miracles.
Here in the ancient fishing
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village of Bethsaida and along
the nearby northern shore of the
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sea of Galilee Jesus performed
some of his most incredible
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miracles. Here Jesus met a blind
man, he took him by the hand,
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healed him and restored his
sight. Nearby Jesus taught a
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great crowd of people. At
the end of the day when they got
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hungry and there was no food
for them to each, Jesus took the
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lunch of a young boy and
multiplied his five loaves and
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two small fish into enough food
for over 5000 people. And it was
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from here at Bethsaida that
Jesus walked on the water across
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the sea of Galilee. The
disciples left Bethsaida by boat
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to sail to the other side of
the lake. Jesus remained behind
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alone to pray. That night a wild
storm arose and the disciples
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were afraid the boat would sink
and they all would drown. But
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then they saw Jesus walking to
them on the water. After Jesus
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entered the boat the wind
stopped and they arrived safely
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at land. All of these miracles
and many more happened right
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here around Bethsaida. Yes this
surely is a place of miracles.
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In fact, this is where it
all began. Christianity started
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right here in this area. When
Jesus began his work and needed
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people to help him he called
special people, disciples, to
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join him and follow him. And
five of those first followers
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or disciples were born and lived
here in Bethsaida: Peter, Andrew
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Philip, James and John all came
from Bethsaida and worked here
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as fishermen. And so this
ancient town, Bethsaida, on the
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northern shore of the sea
of Galilee had great biblical
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importance. It's mentioned
13 times in the gospels. That's
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more than any other city with
the exception of Jerusalem and
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Capernaum. And that shouldn't
surprise us because Jesus did
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most of his work preaching,
teaching and healing in this
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area. Now archeologists
are peeling back the layers to
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unravel the history of ancient
Bethsaida and they're making
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some amazing discoveries.
This city dates back 1000 years
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before the time of Christ. The
spectacular finds here include
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the remains of a large royal
palace and the largest and best
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preserved ancient city gate in
Israel showing that it was once
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a well-fortified city.
Due to the careful work of the
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archeologists now we can
walk along the same cobblestone
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street that Jesus walked when he
was here. Among the discoveries
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is the house of a fisherman.
It was built of basalt and was
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probably two stories high and
included a paved open courtyard
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surrounded by several rooms.
They identified it as belonging
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to a fisherman because in it
they discovered an anchor, stone
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net weight, a fishhook and a
needle for repairing the nets.
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As the site continues to be
excavated there are sure to be
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more wonderful and exciting
surprises as ancient Bethsaida,
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the city of miracles comes back
to life. But perhaps what's most
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surprising of all is that
although Jesus performed so many
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miracles here and spent so
much time teaching the people of
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Bethsaida and the surrounding
towns they still rejected him
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and his teachings. This
frustrated and disappointed
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Jesus and he issued a stern
warning to them for their lack
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of faith. But in contrast
the majority of Bethsaida's
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inhabitants who rejected Jesus
five of the city's native sons,
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Peter, Andrew, Philip, James and
John responded to Christ's call
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and gave up everything to follow
him. They became part of a
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special group of 12 men that
Jesus chose to work with him and
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be his disciples. And three
of them, Peter, James and John,
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became part of a sort of inner
circle who Jesus collected to
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exclusively witness three major
events, the raising of Jairus'
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daughter from the dead, the
transfiguration of Christ on the
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Mount and Jesus' agonizing
prayer in the Garden of
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Gethsemane just before his
crucifixion. These three, Peter,
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James and John were given unique
opportunity and got closer to
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Jesus than anyone else. And
interestingly they are the only
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disciples that Jesus gave nick
names to. But there was nothing
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special about these
three disciples. They were just
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ordinary fishermen from
Bethsaida, and John, like the
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others, was far from perfect.
He was impatient, intolerant and
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bad tempered. He was an
angry young man. But something
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happened that turned him around
and changed his life forever.
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John underwent a remarkable
transformation as a disciple.
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From the quick tempered son
of thunder to the compassionate
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apostle of love. How did he do
it? What made all the difference
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What was the secret of
his transformation? Well let's
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follow his journey and find
out. Sometime after leaving his
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boat and fishing nets at
Bethsaida, John along with Jesus
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and the other disciples, headed
south to Jerusalem through
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Samaria. John was asked to make
arrangements for lodging in the
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town up ahead and he seemed glad
to be of service. He was the
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youngest of the 12 men
that Jesus had chosen to be his
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apostles, but already he'd shown
leadership qualities. John,
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accompanied by his brother James
hurried on down a rocky hill
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toward the village in fading
light determined to make the
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Master proud of him. True,
making arrangements might be a
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bit tricky. After all, this
was Samaria, a place most Jews
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avoided. There'd been bad
blood between the Jews and the
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Samaritans since long before
John was born. In fact, most
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people traveling from the sea
of Galilee down to Jerusalem as
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Jesus was, avoided the land of
Samaria altogether. They took a
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detour around through Perea, but
Jesus had chosen a direct route
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south. After entering the
village through the town gate,
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John and James asked around for
lodging. A great teacher named
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Jesus would be spending the
night. Middle eastern custom
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dictated that hospitality always
be shown the strangers. Well at
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first the Samaritans tried to
oblige, but then they heard that
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Jesus was actually on his
way to Jerusalem to celebrate a
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great feast at the temple. Well
the Samaritans folded their arms
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and pressed their lips together
sneeringly. They said that they
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had no shelter for a
party intending to honor their
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religious rival in Jerusalem.
Well John tried to reason with
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them. Did they know who this
Jesus was? Hadn't they heard of
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the great wonders he'd
performed. The Samaritans
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wouldn't budge. So John and
James had to leave town and head
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back up the hill to meet Jesus.
As John walked he grew more and
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more angry. He kept seeing those
stubborn Samaritan faces shaking
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their heads. John wasn't used
to being insulted. He'd grown
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up in a very comfortable
home in Bethsaida. His father
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operated a prosperous fishing
business here on the Galilee
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with boats and nets and large
catches, with hired servants.
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His mother was a woman of
some means. The family had
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connections with the high priest
in Jerusalem. Who did these poor
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Samaritans think they were? And
what really galled John was that
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they'd refused to shelter his
Master. Just days before this
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John had stood on the mountain
top with Jesus and watched in
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awe. Christ became a dazzling
divine figure right before his
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eyes and Moses and Elijah
appeared from heaven to honor
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Christ. John had seen his Master
shining like the sun and now
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these lowly Samaritans presumed
their wretched village too good
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for him. Incredible. By the
time John met up with Jesus his
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indignation was about to
explode. John and his brother
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quickly explained the situation
and then John's eyes caught Mt.
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Carmel in the distance behind
them, the place where Elijah had
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called down fire from God out
of heaven, the place where the
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prophets of Baal had been struck
down. Filled with zeal John
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burst out with these
words recorded in Luke chapter 9
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and verse 54:
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John wanted to demonstrate
his loyalty. He wanted those who
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dishonored his Christ to be
crushed. But Jesus looked away
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from him. He gazed down for a
moment at the cluster of houses
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barely visible in the dusk.
Then he turned back to John and
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said, again in Luke
chapter 9 verses 55 and 56:
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And then Jesus suggested
that they try the next village.
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John's Master understood him
much better than he understood
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himself. When he called John
and James to be among the 12, he
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gave them a nick name, he called
them the sons of thunder. These
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young men had plenty of fire in
their belly. They were gung ho,
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ready to go, and Jesus saw
their potential. But he also
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understood much more clearly
than they that the fire could
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burn in two different directions
and standing there looking down
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on that Samaritan village, Jesus
pointed out the two directions.
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He didn't come to destroy men's
lives but to save them. Now back
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to John's story. You know zeal
for the truth, passion for a
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just cause can drive us to
destroy those we perceive as
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our enemies. Or it can drive us
to redeem them. John hadn't been
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able to see that distinction. He
didn't know what kind of spirit
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was driving him. He thought
it was a spirit of loyalty and
00:14:02.47\00:14:06.94
fervor. He didn't see the raw
anger inside, the destructive
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anger. John was a very earnest,
sincere young man. John was
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also a very angry young man. Bad
things happen to all of us in
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this life. Bad things can happen
to us in childhood, bad things
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can happen to us as we go
through school; friends can
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betray us and spouses can
abuse us and sometimes those bad
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things seed way down deep inside
don't they. We can't forget, we
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can't forgive. The wound doesn't
heal and anger starts building
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up. We want so badly to change
that bad thing that happened
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to us. We want to fix it. We
want to get even. But we can't
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change the past so our anger
keeps seeping out in all kinds
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of ways. What can we do about
this kind of anger? What can
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replace it? How do we keep
indignation from becoming a
00:15:06.80\00:15:12.67
cloak for rage? Well let's take
a look at how Christ dealt with
00:15:12.71\00:15:16.88
this angry young man John.
Because something remarkable
00:15:16.91\00:15:21.78
happened to John, the son
of thunder. We move many months
00:15:21.82\00:15:27.56
past that run in between John
and the inhospitable Samaritan
00:15:27.59\00:15:30.96
village. The scene, an upper
room somewhere in Jerusalem that
00:15:30.99\00:15:36.53
had been reserved for the
Passover meal Christ wanted to
00:15:36.56\00:15:40.34
celebrate with his 12 apostles.
As they gathered in the
00:15:40.37\00:15:44.74
lengthening shadows of evening
these men could sense that
00:15:44.77\00:15:48.51
something significant was going
to happen. Walking up the stairs
00:15:48.54\00:15:52.55
to the upper room, they started
talking about the kingdom Christ
00:15:52.58\00:15:56.12
promised to establish and then
their eyes fell on the low table
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where the Passover meal had been
laid out. They looked down at
00:16:00.29\00:16:04.09
the pillows arranged around
three sides of the table where
00:16:04.13\00:16:07.66
they could recline. This was
a formal Passover supper. Who
00:16:07.70\00:16:12.83
would be sitting where.
Who would have the honored
00:16:12.87\00:16:15.74
positions next to Christ. Well
as human nature would have it
00:16:15.77\00:16:21.01
all 12 felt highly qualified.
All had observed Christ's
00:16:21.04\00:16:25.85
teachings, all had performed
miracles in his name, all had
00:16:25.88\00:16:29.58
proclaimed the good news in
his name. John wasn't the only
00:16:29.62\00:16:33.66
highly driven individual in this
crowd. Standing there awkwardly
00:16:33.69\00:16:39.39
these men found themselves
bickering about who would sit
00:16:39.43\00:16:43.16
where. They just couldn't help
it. The twelve had spent a long
00:16:43.20\00:16:47.60
time together, plenty of
time to acquire grudges and
00:16:47.64\00:16:50.17
resentments and each of them
wanted the top position. In the
00:16:50.21\00:16:55.21
end Judas managed to maneuver
his way to the side of Christ.
00:16:55.24\00:16:59.01
After all, as he always reminded
the rest, he was the treasurer,
00:16:59.05\00:17:05.32
and John reclined on the
other side. The others slowly
00:17:05.35\00:17:08.52
stretched out around the table
and looked daggers at Judas and
00:17:08.56\00:17:13.36
John. It was time to celebrate
the Passover, the memorial of
00:17:13.40\00:17:17.53
God's great deliverance of
Israel from Egypt. But the air
00:17:17.57\00:17:21.57
in the upper room seemed heavy
that evening. It seemed that all
00:17:21.60\00:17:26.04
the resentful words the
disciples had muttered were
00:17:26.07\00:17:30.88
still suspended there. Suddenly
Christ rose to his feet, he
00:17:30.91\00:17:36.05
stepped over to a water basin.
At first the disciples assumed
00:17:36.08\00:17:40.62
it was time for the ritual hand
washing that was part of the
00:17:40.66\00:17:45.09
Passover meal. But then Jesus
laid aside his outer garment. He
00:17:45.13\00:17:49.36
took a towel and tucked it into
his waist band, he poured water
00:17:49.40\00:17:52.97
from a pitcher into the basin
and then moved back toward his
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disciples. Kneeling down he
removed one of the man's sandals
00:17:58.21\00:18:01.08
and without a word he began to
bathe, to wash, the man's feet.
00:18:01.11\00:18:05.68
He washed the dirt and grime
of the streets of Jerusalem from
00:18:05.71\00:18:10.12
his toes. Then Jesus moved to
the next man and the next. John
00:18:10.15\00:18:15.92
watched this in awe. There
was Jesus the picture of a slave
00:18:15.96\00:18:20.70
performing this menial task. But
it wasn't something menial, this
00:18:20.73\00:18:26.03
washing of feet. It wasn't just
a dirty chore. To John it seemed
00:18:26.07\00:18:30.81
something quite glorious. He
stared at Jesus' hands as the
00:18:30.84\00:18:35.98
Master worked washing, drying
from one disciple to the next.
00:18:36.01\00:18:40.08
Those were remarkable hands.
He'd seen them at work before.
00:18:40.12\00:18:44.75
He seen them take a little
girl's pale, lifeless hand as
00:18:44.79\00:18:49.42
the family wept and wailed
around her. He'd watched as
00:18:49.46\00:18:53.66
Christ's hands had lifted the
little child from a death bed.
00:18:53.70\00:18:57.67
John had seen those hands
touch a paralyzed man staring
00:18:57.70\00:19:02.60
helplessly at the pool of
Bethesda. He'd seen the man rise
00:19:02.64\00:19:07.81
and walk. John had seen those
hands lifted in prayer before
00:19:07.84\00:19:11.01
a hungry crowd of 5000. He'd
seen those hands break a few
00:19:11.05\00:19:15.35
loaves of bread into that meal
that satisfied them all. He'd
00:19:15.38\00:19:20.32
seen those hands lifted to
defend a woman caught in the act
00:19:20.36\00:19:25.39
of adultery from those ready to
stone her. John had seen those
00:19:25.43\00:19:29.56
hands touch the eyes of a
man born blind and create sight
00:19:29.60\00:19:34.77
where none existed before. John
had seen those hands do a lot
00:19:34.80\00:19:38.57
during his time with Jesus and
it all flooded over him as he
00:19:38.61\00:19:43.85
stared at Jesus washing the
soiled feet of his disciples.
00:19:43.88\00:19:49.98
Those were powerful hands, they
were omnipotent hands. But above
00:19:50.02\00:19:54.69
all they were hands of
love. They blessed whatever they
00:19:54.72\00:20:00.00
touched. They'd come to save
not to destroy. At length Jesus
00:20:00.03\00:20:05.63
came to John and undid his
sandals. He began to wash his
00:20:05.67\00:20:09.34
feet and at that moment it
didn't seem to matter who was
00:20:09.37\00:20:14.91
sitting where at the table. It
didn't matter who would be the
00:20:14.94\00:20:18.08
most honored in the kingdom.
This incredible love was all
00:20:18.11\00:20:22.92
that mattered. And as Jesus
washed John's feet the son of
00:20:22.95\00:20:27.92
thunder felt his anger being
washed away at last. Christ's
00:20:27.96\00:20:33.26
love had finally overcome it.
Christ's love was stronger than
00:20:33.29\00:20:38.13
all the hurt, all the rage, all
the misguided zeal. Years later
00:20:38.17\00:20:45.84
John would remember this crucial
moment in his life. He would
00:20:45.87\00:20:49.74
remember how much it meant
to him. This is the way that he
00:20:49.78\00:20:53.55
himself would describe it
in John chapter 13 verses 3-5:
00:20:53.58\00:20:59.69
Jesus deserved to be exalted to
the highest place in heaven but
00:21:21.24\00:21:28.32
he had occupied the lowest place
on earth. John was overwhelmed
00:21:28.35\00:21:33.36
by the Master's glorious act.
At last he'd found something
00:21:33.39\00:21:37.03
to replace his religion of anger
It was love pure and simple.
00:21:37.06\00:21:43.47
All of Jesus' life came together
in that one beautiful act in the
00:21:43.50\00:21:48.67
upper room. As a Christian,
when I participate in the foot
00:21:48.70\00:21:59.25
washing service in my church,
I feel that love flowing through
00:21:59.28\00:22:03.52
my heart again. Friends,
Jesus had a solution for people
00:22:03.55\00:22:08.66
consumed by anger. He has
a solution for those whose
00:22:08.69\00:22:12.06
religion is
00:22:12.09\00:22:13.43
driven by anger, for those
whose restless, driving life is
00:22:13.46\00:22:18.20
motivated by anger. You can
never do enough the quench that
00:22:18.23\00:22:22.84
anger. You can never accomplish
enough to get even with the bad
00:22:22.87\00:22:26.27
things that happened. There's
always more anger left over at
00:22:26.31\00:22:30.08
the end. It's only love that can
quench our anger. It's only love
00:22:30.11\00:22:35.35
that can heal the wounds. We can
never, never, never change the
00:22:35.38\00:22:41.26
past but we can be loved in
the present. And here's how it
00:22:41.29\00:22:45.23
happens. John was transformed
in the end because he had
00:22:45.26\00:22:48.83
experienced three and a half
years of fellowship with Jesus.
00:22:48.86\00:22:54.77
Jesus is capable of pouring love
into our hearts. Here's how.
00:22:54.80\00:22:59.14
Jesus wants us to open ourselves
up to him so he can wash our
00:22:59.17\00:23:04.85
feet, so he can show us what
gracious love is all about and
00:23:04.88\00:23:09.32
wash our hearts. Jesus can wash
away our anger. He did it for
00:23:09.35\00:23:15.56
John, he transformed the fiery
son of thunder. Toward the end
00:23:15.59\00:23:20.13
of John's life we find him
in chains on the Isle of Patmos,
00:23:20.16\00:23:25.10
imprisoned for his faith. He
knows that he'll probably die
00:23:25.13\00:23:28.34
alone separated from the fellow
believers who mean everything
00:23:28.37\00:23:33.58
to him. But John doesn't rage
on that island, he doesn't call
00:23:33.61\00:23:37.35
fire down from heaven on the
Roman soldiers who guard him.
00:23:37.38\00:23:42.12
He doesn't anguish because he
won't occupy an honored position
00:23:42.15\00:23:45.02
in the kingdom at the end of his
life. No. Instead John writes.
00:23:45.05\00:23:51.29
He sends out epistles and they
are some of the most beautiful
00:23:51.33\00:23:55.26
love letters this world has
ever seen. Oh, John was still
00:23:55.30\00:23:59.93
thundering at the end. He still
had fire in his belly. He still
00:23:59.97\00:24:04.77
had plenty of passion and zeal.
But now it was love that he
00:24:04.81\00:24:09.24
thundered out. It was love that
compelled him. John had become
00:24:09.28\00:24:13.78
the apostle of love. Have
you experienced that kind of
00:24:13.82\00:24:20.32
unconditional gracious
love that transformed the son of
00:24:20.36\00:24:25.43
thunder? Are you still driven by
anger? We can try to replace our
00:24:25.46\00:24:30.17
pain and rage in countless
ways, but there's only one real
00:24:30.20\00:24:36.07
solution, only love can wash
away our anger. Let's open up
00:24:36.10\00:24:41.81
our hearts to Christ's
transforming power. Let's allow
00:24:41.84\00:24:46.05
the powerful, loving hands
of Christ wash away our anger,
00:24:46.08\00:24:50.35
to do that powerful work
in us right now as we pray.
00:24:50.39\00:24:55.69
Dear Father, we come to you
because anger is burning us out,
00:24:55.72\00:25:01.63
because everything we try
to do doesn't really fill the
00:25:01.66\00:25:05.80
emptiness inside us. We need the
hands that healed the paralytic
00:25:05.83\00:25:10.44
and the blind man. We need the
hands that raised the dead. We
00:25:10.47\00:25:15.04
confess our need for your
forgiveness and cleansing right
00:25:15.08\00:25:18.61
now. We ask that Jesus the
Savior place his gracious hands
00:25:18.65\00:25:23.75
on us right now. Please pour
out your love inside our hearts.
00:25:23.79\00:25:29.82
In the name of the Master who
washes his disciples feet, Amen.
00:25:29.86\00:25:34.93
The story of John the
apostle, who underwent a
00:25:34.96\00:25:41.27
remarkable transformation as a
disciple from the quick tempered
00:25:41.30\00:25:46.07
son of thunder to the
compassionate apostle of love,
00:25:46.11\00:25:50.91
has encouraged and inspired
people all over the world. If
00:25:50.95\00:25:53.95
you're struggling with the
challenges and stress of every
00:25:53.98\00:25:56.99
day life and would like to
experience God's unconditional
00:25:57.02\00:26:00.59
love, if you're looking for ways
to live a better life and to
00:26:00.62\00:26:04.66
find inner peace and true
happiness, if you'd like to get
00:26:04.69\00:26:07.90
closer to God, then I'd like
to recommend a free gift we have
00:26:07.93\00:26:12.07
for all our viewers today. It's
the book The Greatest Act of
00:26:12.10\00:26:18.17
Kindness. This booklet is our
gift to you and is absolutely
00:26:18.21\00:26:22.78
free. There are no costs or
obligations whatsoever. So make
00:26:22.81\00:26:27.28
the most of this wonderful
opportunity to receive the gift
00:26:27.32\00:26:30.99
we have for you today.
Here's the information you need:
00:26:31.02\00:26:36.19
Phone or text us at 0436333555
Australia or 0204222042 in
00:26:36.22\00:26:47.00
New Zealand or visit our website
www.tij.tv to request today's
00:26:47.04\00:26:53.74
free offer and we'll send it to
you totally free of charge and
00:26:53.78\00:26:57.58
with no obligation. So don't
delay. Call or text 0436333555
00:26:57.61\00:27:04.55
in Australia or 0204222042 in
New Zealand or visit our website
00:27:04.59\00:27:11.99
to request today's
offer. Write to us at:
00:27:12.03\00:27:28.14
Don't delay.
Call or text us now.
00:27:28.18\00:27:33.62
If you've enjoyed today's
journey to ancient Bethsaida
00:27:33.65\00:27:36.18
in Israel and our reflections on
the life and times of John the
00:27:36.22\00:27:40.82
apostle, then be sure to join
us again next week when we will
00:27:40.86\00:27:45.03
share another of life's journeys
together. Until then remember
00:27:45.06\00:27:50.07
the ultimate destination of
life's journey. Now I saw a new
00:27:50.10\00:27:54.04
heaven and a new earth. And God
will wipe away every tear from
00:27:54.07\00:27:57.77
their eyes. There shall be no
more death nor sorrow nor crying
00:27:57.81\00:28:02.08
There shall be no more pain for
00:28:02.11\00:28:04.91
the former
things have passed away.
00:28:04.95\00:28:07.92
¤ ¤
00:28:07.95\00:28:26.74