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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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We are in an amazing series,
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Themes in the Gospel of John.
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It has been such a blessing.
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If you've missed any, go to our website,
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hopetv.org/hopess, or Google us,
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Hope Sabbath School,
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go to our YouTube channel.
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You can watch all of the past episodes
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in this series, Themes
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in the Gospel of John,
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today, Blessed Are Those Who Believe.
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We are going to look at some characters
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in the gospel story, but it's
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also a declaration for us
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that we are blessed when we believe.
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So welcome, we're glad you joined us
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for Hope Sabbath School.
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Welcome to the team.
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Take a look at each other and wave.
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We're glad you're all here today.
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You notice I'm particularly excited today
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because Sabina's going to be teaching,
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and we always are blessed
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when our team teachers share
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the Word of God.
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We've got some great team members
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joining us, too, remotely.
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And we're happy to welcome Zandile,
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good to see you with us today.
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And, Cory, great to have you back with us
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as we study the Word of God.
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And we're glad you're with us.
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You say, "Derek, I raise my hand sometimes
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when I want to make a comment."
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Write it down, send it to us,
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sshope@hopetv.org, share with us.
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It's an an in-depth, interactive study,
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not just here, but around the world.
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We're also happy when you write to us,
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because it lets us know
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that God's working, right?
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That's why we do what we do.
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So, here is Ndele who writes from Zambia.
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Do we have a lot
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of Hope Sabbath School members in Zambia?
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Ndele writes and says,
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"Hope Sabbath School is a winning team..."
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) "...sharing the message of hope
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and salvation all the way."
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Well, Ndele, I would remind you
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that you're part of the team,
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that we're all part of the team, right,
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because it's a global family,
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not just those of us in the studio.
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Many are downloading the outline
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and teaching interactive Bible studies
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where they live.
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We're all part of the team together.
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Thanks for writing.
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Winston writes to us from Australia.
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Winston says, "Hello,
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Hope Sabbath School."
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(Team) Hello.
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(Derek) I think they know that we'll wave
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if they say that.
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"I was home today, wasn't able
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to go to church, but I watched online,
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and then I started to watch
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Hope Sabbath School,
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and I really enjoyed the program.
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God bless you all."
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Well, some people have a sickness
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or something happens, they can't get out.
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Wherever you are, tell your friends.
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Tell people who maybe can't get to church.
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Tell them to go to Hope Sabbath School
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and study the Word of God with us.
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Here's a short, hand-written note
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from the state of Kansas
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in the United States of America,
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and a donor writes, "Please accept
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this gift in support
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of Hope Sabbath School.
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I've been watching since it started."
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I think we read one who said, "I've been
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watching since last month," right?
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One said 10 years; this donor says,
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"I've been watching since it started.
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In fact, one of your team even came
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to my Bible class and told me about it."
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Well, it's someone who's not here today.
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It's our team member Stephanie.
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Some of you know Stephanie
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who actually went to this person's church
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and told them about Hope Sabbath School.
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And a donation of 100 dollars.
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(Team) Praise God.
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(Derek) Thank you, Donor from Kansas,
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for being part of the miracle.
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We're all working together.
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And thank you to each one of you
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for being part of this mission.
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You can go to our website,
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hopetv.org/hopess, click
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on that little yellow Donate button.
0:04:09.113,0:04:11.135
Or get an address and write to us,
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send a gift, say, "Derek, I want
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to be part of sharing
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the immeasurable, unfailing love of God,"
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a message of saving hope as we prepare
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for the soon-coming of Jesus.
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Thank you for your support.
0:04:23.279,0:04:27.303
One last note, from Lil, Lil writes
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and says, "Since God
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brought me back to Him
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after over 25 years away from Him,
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one of the first Bible studies I found[br]was...," you want to guess?
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(Team) Hope Sabbath School.
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(Derek) "...Hope Sabbath School.
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I've been watching every week
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and taking notes, transcribing
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and using the study guide to facilitate
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a Bible class, both for adults
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and also for youth and for people
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who are new to the faith."
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(Team) Wow. Amen.
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(Derek) Lil, you have become
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an evangelist, right?
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Isn't that what Jesus wants
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for all of us, right?
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Blessed Are Those Who Believe.
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"I've gotten so much insight," Lil writes,
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"and other perspectives
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I didn't think about, and it has enhanced
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my love for the Scriptures
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and my love for God..."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "...so much more that now
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I can share that every week."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) I tell you, I want to meet Lil.
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I'm guessing Lil is an abbreviation
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for the English name Lillian, Lillian,
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but I suppose it could be a nickname.
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Write to us and tell us, Lil,
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sshope@hopetv.org.
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"Thank you for the dedication
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and love for Christ that you share.
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God bless you all."
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Well, I think we'd say "God bless you,[br]too, Lil,"
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wouldn't you say that?
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(Team) Yes.
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(Derek) She's teaching adults,
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youth, new believers.
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After 25 years away,
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Jesus brought you home.
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Well, we're glad that you're all part
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of our Hope Sabbath School family.
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That's why we do what we do,
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sharing a message of eternal hope.
0:06:23.810,0:06:26.970
And have you downloaded the gift yet,
0:06:26.970,0:06:29.719
the six Trilogy Scripture Songs
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from the words of Jesus,
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four from the Gospel of John,
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two from the book of Revelation?
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I sing them all the time.
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It's a great way to hide the words
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of Jesus in your heart.
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Just go to our website,
0:06:40.589,0:06:42.050
click on the Free Gift tab.
0:06:42.050,0:06:46.190
You know our website: hopetv.org/hopess.
0:06:46.190,0:06:48.218
Click on the Free Gift tab, and it will
0:06:48.218,0:06:49.364
show you how to download
0:06:49.364,0:06:51.241
those six Trilogy Scripture Songs.
0:06:51.241,0:06:52.849
I want to thank my wife
0:06:52.849,0:06:54.492
for making those available to us
0:06:54.492,0:06:56.413
as a gift to you so that you can
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hide God's Word in your heart.
0:06:57.885,0:06:59.848
And when you're there at the website,
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you can download our theme song
0:07:01.600,0:07:03.971
for this quarter, Behold! The Lamb of God.
0:07:03.971,0:07:05.227
Do you like that song?
0:07:05.227,0:07:07.724
That's a testimony of John the Baptist.
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Let's sing it together.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) When Jesus comes,
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the dead in Christ rise, and the redeemed
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are all gathered, caught up
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to meet Him in the air, I'm going
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to be looking for John
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the Baptist, Sabina.
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I'm going to thank him for that testimony.
0:09:41.548,0:09:42.832
I'm going to start singing,
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and he says, "I don't know that song."
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And I'll tell him, "Let me
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teach you the song,
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but thank you for your testimony."
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And God bless you as you teach us today.
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(Sabina) Amen. Let's behold
0:09:53.401,0:09:55.636
a little bit more of the Lamb of God
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as we study together.
0:09:57.758,0:10:00.310
But let's start with a prayer.
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Dear Jesus, our Lord, our Savior,
0:10:04.382,0:10:05.762
we are so thankful to be able
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to behold these words here.
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And as we learn
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about the different witnesses[br][testimonies]
0:10:11.702,0:10:14.522
that were given by all sorts of people
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that You touched
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during Your ministry on this earth,
0:10:17.898,0:10:19.943
we are also moved to grow
0:10:19.943,0:10:21.938
into Your likeness.
0:10:21.938,0:10:24.640
So, as we join together here,
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we ask that Your Holy Spirit,
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just like It rested upon You,
0:10:28.110,0:10:30.080
It will rest upon us also,
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will speak to our hearts
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and impress our minds with truth,
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with the truth that You
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are the Son of God that takes away
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the sin from the world.
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I pray in a special way for every person
0:10:43.160,0:10:44.858
who will be watching this,
0:10:44.858,0:10:47.104
that they will also come to witness
0:10:47.104,0:10:49.265
about Jesus in their lives.
0:10:49.265,0:10:51.209
In Your name we pray. Amen.
0:10:51.209,0:10:52.523
(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:10:52.523,0:10:54.080
(Sabina) Okay, so as we continue
0:10:54.080,0:10:55.912
this series of studies
0:10:55.912,0:10:58.192
on the book of John, I love
0:10:58.192,0:11:00.201
specifically the first [and second verses]
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of the book of John that says,
0:11:01.914,0:11:05.203
"In the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with God,
0:11:07.286,0:11:09.253
and the Word was God.
0:11:09.253,0:11:12.421
He was in the beginning with God."
0:11:12.421,0:11:14.181
That gives us the clarity
0:11:14.181,0:11:17.447
that Jesus' testimony and His work
0:11:17.447,0:11:19.770
had not just started when He was
0:11:19.770,0:11:23.665
first seen in Galilee or in Nazareth
0:11:23.665,0:11:26.699
or in Jerusalem, but He had been working
0:11:26.699,0:11:29.491
since the beginning of the world.
0:11:29.491,0:11:31.385
And we are going to start our study
0:11:31.385,0:11:33.224
looking at the witness of a person
0:11:33.224,0:11:34.709
who has not had the privilege
0:11:34.709,0:11:36.734
of seeing Jesus walking
0:11:36.734,0:11:38.986
and ministering on this earth,
0:11:38.986,0:11:41.685
but who has had a prophetic witness
0:11:41.685,0:11:44.307
of the work of Jesus that was happening
0:11:44.307,0:11:47.186
and that was about to happen
0:11:47.186,0:11:50.708
in the future as well, and that's Abraham.
0:11:50.708,0:11:52.900
And so, maybe, Travis, if you'll
0:11:52.900,0:11:55.271
start us off in the study
0:11:55.271,0:11:59.187
by taking us to John 8:56,
0:11:59.187,0:12:00.914
and we are going to see what it was
0:12:00.914,0:12:02.936
that Jesus talked about
0:12:02.936,0:12:04.613
regarding the witness of Abraham
0:12:04.613,0:12:06.421
or the revelation that was given
0:12:06.421,0:12:09.138
to Abraham about Him.
0:12:09.138,0:12:10.470
(Travis) And I'll be reading
0:12:10.470,0:12:12.425
from the New King James Version:
0:12:19.704,0:12:20.880
(Derek) Praise God.
0:12:20.880,0:12:22.797
(Sabina) So, what was the testimony
0:12:22.797,0:12:25.289
of Jesus regarding the revelation that was
0:12:25.289,0:12:30.653
given to Abraham? Anyone. Yes, Gladys.
0:12:30.653,0:12:32.465
(Gladys) That the Messiah would come.
0:12:32.465,0:12:34.247
That revelation was given to Abraham,
0:12:34.247,0:12:37.088
and just imagining that, he was glad.
0:12:37.088,0:12:38.123
(Sabina) He was glad;
0:12:38.123,0:12:40.227
he would rejoice. Yes, Puia.
0:12:40.227,0:12:42.190
(Puia) I believe there was also the story
0:12:42.190,0:12:43.463
where God asked Abraham
0:12:43.463,0:12:45.928
to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
0:12:45.928,0:12:48.570
Just before he sacrificed Isaac,
0:12:48.570,0:12:50.737
the angel stopped him, and God
0:12:50.737,0:12:53.709
provided a ram in the place of Isaac.
0:12:53.709,0:12:57.285
And I believe God let Abraham understand
0:12:57.285,0:12:59.499
at that point in time that in the future
0:12:59.499,0:13:01.980
there would come a Savior, the Messiah,
0:13:01.980,0:13:04.610
who would be sacrificed on behalf
0:13:04.610,0:13:05.947
of the people of this world.
0:13:05.947,0:13:10.142
And so Abraham foresaw Jesus' day.
0:13:10.142,0:13:11.990
(Sabina) Okay, so we are seeing here
0:13:11.990,0:13:14.550
that Jesus made this testimony
0:13:14.550,0:13:17.271
about the revelation that Abraham had,
0:13:17.271,0:13:19.312
and it seemed like that one of the moments
0:13:19.312,0:13:20.898
where Jesus (and God) was
0:13:20.898,0:13:23.489
unveiling Himself to Abraham
0:13:23.489,0:13:25.149
was, for instance, in this episode
0:13:25.149,0:13:26.939
that you are now reading, right?
0:13:26.939,0:13:28.968
So we do have some passages here
0:13:28.968,0:13:30.682
that we are going to look at today
0:13:30.682,0:13:32.930
in the Old Testament, in Genesis,
0:13:32.930,0:13:35.355
the very first book of the Bible,
0:13:35.355,0:13:38.639
that will give us evidence of the ways
0:13:38.639,0:13:40.758
in which Jesus was already revealing
0:13:40.758,0:13:42.424
Himself to Abraham,
0:13:42.424,0:13:43.822
and not only to Abraham
0:13:43.822,0:13:46.995
but all the nations around him
0:13:46.995,0:13:49.560
who were to be blessed by this testimony.
0:13:49.560,0:13:51.720
Okay, so maybe, Puia, since you
0:13:51.720,0:13:54.695
already initiated us with some
0:13:54.695,0:13:56.990
of those stories, if you'll take us
0:13:56.990,0:13:59.758
to Genesis 12:3.
0:13:59.758,0:14:01.322
(Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading
0:14:01.322,0:14:03.187
from the New King James Version,
0:14:03.187,0:14:05.439
Genesis, chapter 12, verse 3:
0:14:17.240,0:14:18.991
(Sabina) So we see here especially
0:14:18.991,0:14:20.309
that what was happening was
0:14:20.309,0:14:22.643
the call of Abraham.
0:14:22.643,0:14:25.531
And already in this call of Abraham,
0:14:25.531,0:14:28.331
there was a promise, and it was a promise
0:14:28.331,0:14:31.140
that was pointing to Jesus.
0:14:31.140,0:14:34.100
Maybe, Joshua, can you take us
0:14:34.100,0:14:38.617
to Genesis 18, verses 17 and 18.
0:14:38.617,0:14:40.425
(Joshua) Of course. I'll be reading
0:14:40.425,0:14:42.411
from the New King James Version:
0:14:57.225,0:15:00.643
(Sabina) Okay, so, is that revelation
0:15:00.643,0:15:02.610
also happening here in this event?
0:15:02.610,0:15:03.566
Which event is that?
0:15:03.566,0:15:04.792
Do you have any thoughts?
0:15:04.792,0:15:06.919
Can you see the revelation of Jesus
0:15:06.919,0:15:09.762
occurring here also? Yes, Travis.
0:15:09.762,0:15:11.062
(Travis) It is occurring
0:15:11.062,0:15:14.767
through his son Isaac, because Jesus
0:15:14.767,0:15:15.809
would end up coming
0:15:15.809,0:15:18.837
through the lineage of Abraham.
0:15:18.837,0:15:20.047
(Sabina) In fact, that is
0:15:20.047,0:15:21.455
a very important event
0:15:21.455,0:15:24.994
of the revelation of God to Abraham
0:15:24.994,0:15:26.023
and to us as well.
0:15:26.023,0:15:27.416
I think that's also mentioned
0:15:27.416,0:15:28.438
in the New Testament.
0:15:28.438,0:15:30.273
We are eventually going to get there,
0:15:30.273,0:15:31.684
but there is one more passage
0:15:31.684,0:15:34.472
in the Old Testament that we can look at
0:15:34.472,0:15:38.295
in chapter 22, verses 13 to 18,
0:15:38.295,0:15:41.654
and maybe let's have Cory take us there.
0:15:41.654,0:15:44.660
And that's just another passage
0:15:44.660,0:15:48.261
where we can see the revelation of Jesus
0:15:48.261,0:15:50.417
already in the time
0:15:50.417,0:15:53.307
of the Old Testament. Cory.
0:15:53.307,0:15:57.567
(Cory) Yes, Genesis 22:13-18,
0:15:57.567,0:15:59.168
in the New King James:
0:17:08.772,0:17:10.312
(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:17:10.312,0:17:12.672
(Sabina) So we see here not once,
0:17:12.672,0:17:14.931
not twice, but at least three times
0:17:14.931,0:17:16.584
in which this promise
0:17:16.584,0:17:19.038
of the coming special blessing
0:17:19.038,0:17:21.460
through the seed of Abraham was going
0:17:21.460,0:17:24.524
to be revealed in Jesus. Yes, Travis.
0:17:24.524,0:17:26.323
(Travis) I just want to make a point.
0:17:26.323,0:17:29.953
In verse 8, Abraham says, "My son,
0:17:29.953,0:17:31.189
the Lord will provide
0:17:31.189,0:17:33.298
a burnt offering Himself."
0:17:33.298,0:17:34.936
Many scholars believe
0:17:34.936,0:17:36.388
that there should be a comma,
0:17:36.388,0:17:38.579
"The Lord will provide Himself,
0:17:38.579,0:17:40.710
a burnt offering," and I agree with that.
0:17:40.710,0:17:43.227
I think it was revealed to him that God
0:17:43.227,0:17:45.235
would provide Himself,
0:17:45.235,0:17:46.923
the Lamb to be slain, as we've been
0:17:46.923,0:17:49.201
talking about with John the Baptist.
0:17:49.201,0:17:50.211
(Sabina) Those are
0:17:50.211,0:17:51.451
very interesting thoughts.
0:17:51.451,0:17:52.593
Indeed, we know for sure
0:17:52.593,0:17:55.033
that it was His provision of Himself
0:17:55.033,0:17:56.585
that granted us to have
0:17:56.585,0:17:58.485
this blessing in Christ.
0:17:58.485,0:18:00.240
So we are going to be looking now
0:18:00.240,0:18:02.285
at a couple of verses in the New Testament
0:18:02.285,0:18:04.020
that confirm this truth.
0:18:04.020,0:18:07.230
Can we please turn to the book of Matthew,
0:18:07.230,0:18:09.454
and I'm going to ask Viara,
0:18:09.454,0:18:10.788
Viara, if you'll lead us
0:18:10.788,0:18:13.503
to the first chapter of Matthew,
0:18:13.503,0:18:15.621
and it's going to be verse 1.
0:18:15.621,0:18:17.885
And we are going to be looking here
0:18:17.885,0:18:20.900
at a New Testament writing that confirms
0:18:20.900,0:18:22.338
the revelation that was given
0:18:22.338,0:18:24.857
to Abraham about Jesus.
0:18:24.857,0:18:25.777
(Viara) I'm reading
0:18:25.777,0:18:27.566
from the New Living Translation:
0:18:36.140,0:18:38.011
(Sabina) Okay, and do we
0:18:38.011,0:18:39.362
have any thoughts here
0:18:39.362,0:18:41.976
about this particular verse? Yes, Puia.
0:18:41.976,0:18:43.678
(Puia) For us, I believe we take it
0:18:43.678,0:18:46.319
for granted that Matthew started
0:18:46.319,0:18:48.138
his account of the story of Jesus
0:18:48.138,0:18:50.849
with the genealogy because we just read it
0:18:50.849,0:18:52.566
like, "Oh, it's just another story."
0:18:52.566,0:18:55.556
But the Jews at that point in time
0:18:55.556,0:18:57.780
had been expecting the Messiah to come
0:18:57.780,0:19:00.587
from the lineage of Abraham and David.
0:19:00.587,0:19:04.261
And so Matthew intentionally starting
0:19:04.261,0:19:06.411
the story of Jesus by pointing them
0:19:06.411,0:19:08.692
back to Abraham should remind them
0:19:08.692,0:19:12.576
of that promise that this Jesus, indeed,
0:19:12.576,0:19:15.851
is that promised blessing from Abraham.
0:19:15.851,0:19:17.024
(Sabina) That's awesome.
0:19:17.024,0:19:18.733
I think it's so beautiful, the ways
0:19:18.733,0:19:20.557
in which the Holy Spirit has impressed
0:19:20.557,0:19:22.879
the different writers to give the witness
0:19:22.879,0:19:24.592
that was important in their context.
0:19:24.592,0:19:26.776
Because we see that for Matthew
0:19:26.776,0:19:29.958
it was so important to refer to Abraham,
0:19:29.958,0:19:32.120
while for John, he decided to even go
0:19:32.120,0:19:34.070
back to Genesis, right?
0:19:34.070,0:19:39.894
So let's look also at Acts 3:25,26,
0:19:39.894,0:19:41.324
and maybe, Jason, if you could
0:19:41.324,0:19:43.154
read that text for us.
0:19:43.154,0:19:44.873
(Jason) Alright, and I'll be reading
0:19:44.873,0:19:46.474
from the New King James Version,
0:19:46.474,0:19:51.417
Acts, chapter 3, verses 25 and 26:
0:20:01.392,0:20:02.754
Verse 26:
0:20:13.681,0:20:15.254
(Sabina) Yes, that's awesome.
0:20:15.254,0:20:19.086
So we can see that God has preached
0:20:19.086,0:20:23.374
the gospel through type and promise.
0:20:23.374,0:20:25.853
You know, these prophecies that we see,
0:20:25.853,0:20:28.243
even in the time of Abraham
0:20:28.243,0:20:29.981
were already giving evidence
0:20:29.981,0:20:31.525
of God's love and presence
0:20:31.525,0:20:33.241
to them back in that day.
0:20:33.241,0:20:35.787
So it's important that we keep in mind
0:20:35.787,0:20:37.747
that the witness that is given to Jesus
0:20:37.747,0:20:39.927
is not just about the stories that we read
0:20:39.927,0:20:41.234
in the New Testament,
0:20:41.234,0:20:43.443
but also all throughout eternity.
0:20:43.443,0:20:46.226
From eternity to eternity, there are
0:20:46.226,0:20:47.949
a lot of witnesses that we are going
0:20:47.949,0:20:49.777
to hear about Jesus. Yes, Travis.
0:20:49.777,0:20:51.666
(Travis) If I may, I would like to read
0:20:51.666,0:20:52.862
from the book of Hebrews,
0:20:52.862,0:20:54.652
because it wasn't just the writings
0:20:54.652,0:20:56.185
about Abraham that confirmed;
0:20:56.185,0:20:59.424
it was his life that confirmed it.
0:20:59.424,0:21:04.436
Hebrews, chapter 11, verses 9 and 10,
0:21:04.436,0:21:06.094
if I could read that.
0:21:06.094,0:21:08.427
Hebrews, chapter 11:9,10, says:
0:21:24.533,0:21:26.809
He did not just believe
0:21:26.809,0:21:28.152
that the Messiah would come,
0:21:28.152,0:21:29.262
he believed His mission
0:21:29.262,0:21:30.380
would be successful.
0:21:30.380,0:21:31.727
(Sabina) That's wonderful,
0:21:31.727,0:21:32.970
thank you so much, Travis.
0:21:32.970,0:21:34.393
And it's awesome to also see,
0:21:34.393,0:21:35.946
just like as we witnessed
0:21:35.946,0:21:38.360
in our previous studies, how God
0:21:38.360,0:21:41.070
has this way of revealing Himself.
0:21:41.070,0:21:42.588
You know, little by little,
0:21:42.588,0:21:44.223
He puts the seed.
0:21:44.223,0:21:46.226
He explores an experience of a person.
0:21:46.226,0:21:49.640
Altogether, He brings us to see HIs work
0:21:49.640,0:21:52.295
all throughout history. Yes, Viara.
0:21:52.295,0:21:53.861
(Viara) And I guess His plan was
0:21:53.861,0:21:56.980
not to just be a God of the generation
0:21:56.980,0:21:59.354
of Abraham by blood, but all
0:21:59.354,0:22:01.689
that spiritually would accept Jesus.
0:22:01.689,0:22:03.600
And how awesome it will be if one day
0:22:03.600,0:22:06.358
it says, "And He was the God of Jacob,
0:22:06.358,0:22:09.012
the God of Abraham, the God of Viara."
0:22:09.012,0:22:10.966
That's what I want to hear one day.
0:22:10.966,0:22:12.882
(Sabina) Yes. Isn't it in Galatians,
0:22:12.882,0:22:15.128
I think it's Galatians 3:8,
0:22:15.128,0:22:17.119
if I'm not mistaken, but if it's not,
0:22:17.119,0:22:21.612
we will find it, that actually the Bible
0:22:21.612,0:22:24.586
says that even Abraham was justified
0:22:24.586,0:22:26.757
by faith in Christ, right?
0:22:26.757,0:22:28.450
So there is no such person
0:22:28.450,0:22:31.430
that has existed or that will exist
0:22:31.430,0:22:33.554
that would not require the sacrifice
0:22:33.554,0:22:37.059
of Jesus as the source of their salvation.
0:22:37.059,0:22:38.984
Okay, so, I sometimes hear people
0:22:38.984,0:22:40.860
[ask] this question, "What happened
0:22:40.860,0:22:43.414
to those that came before Jesus?
0:22:43.414,0:22:46.780
Would they be able to benefit
0:22:46.780,0:22:47.789
[from] the blessing
0:22:47.789,0:22:49.554
of the sacrifice of Jesus?"
0:22:49.554,0:22:50.660
And what is the answer?
0:22:50.660,0:22:51.580
(Derek) Absolutely.
0:22:51.580,0:22:52.530
(Sabina) Of course.
0:22:52.530,0:22:54.147
There would be no other way.
0:22:54.147,0:22:56.970
There was no plan A and now plan B
0:22:56.970,0:22:58.681
or plan Z, so the plan has
0:22:58.681,0:23:01.396
always been the same from eternity
0:23:01.396,0:23:02.767
through eternity. Amen?
0:23:02.767,0:23:03.710
(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:23:03.710,0:23:04.720
(Sabina) We are going
0:23:04.720,0:23:06.256
to be looking now at the witness
0:23:06.256,0:23:08.402
of a beautiful, beautiful story here
0:23:08.402,0:23:10.108
that was left in the book of John.
0:23:10.108,0:23:12.122
It's the witness of Mary.
0:23:12.122,0:23:14.001
So we move from the prophetic witness
0:23:14.001,0:23:16.710
of Abraham to now learn about the witness
0:23:16.710,0:23:18.907
of a person that actually spent time
0:23:18.907,0:23:20.641
with Jesus and saw Jesus
0:23:20.641,0:23:22.356
right in front of her.
0:23:22.356,0:23:24.690
So maybe, Gladys, if you'll take us
0:23:24.690,0:23:26.890
to the book of John, and we are going
0:23:26.890,0:23:30.625
to start off in chapter 12,
0:23:30.625,0:23:33.322
and if you'll read verses 1 to 3.
0:23:33.322,0:23:34.424
And I would like us all
0:23:34.424,0:23:36.161
to already be considering,
0:23:36.161,0:23:39.110
why did Mary anoint the feet of Jesus
0:23:39.110,0:23:42.519
with an expensive ointment? Gladys.
0:23:42.519,0:23:43.693
(Gladys) And I'm reading
0:23:43.693,0:23:45.370
from the New International Version,
0:23:45.370,0:23:48.760
John, chapter 12, verses 1 to 3:
0:24:25.287,0:24:26.682
(Sabina) So why do you think
0:24:26.682,0:24:28.737
that Mary anointed the feet...?[br]Yes, Jason.
0:24:28.737,0:24:30.375
(Jason) We understand that it was
0:24:30.375,0:24:32.458
before His burial, you know, that He
0:24:32.458,0:24:34.466
would be anointed, but also her devotion.
0:24:34.466,0:24:36.241
I mean, this woman had been delivered
0:24:36.241,0:24:37.442
from, like, seven demons,
0:24:37.442,0:24:38.510
so her love for Jesus,
0:24:38.510,0:24:40.730
she was always at His feet, and so this is
0:24:40.730,0:24:42.624
an opportunity for her to express that
0:24:42.624,0:24:44.419
in such a loving way.
0:24:44.419,0:24:45.429
(Sabina) Yes, Derek.
0:24:45.429,0:24:47.361
(Derek) So, I can only conclude
0:24:47.361,0:24:50.120
that she was led by the Spirit to do that.
0:24:50.120,0:24:52.744
This was very intimate, I mean, pouring
0:24:52.744,0:24:58.113
and wiping with her hair.
0:24:58.113,0:24:58.993
I don't think she
0:24:58.993,0:25:00.954
thought that up by herself.
0:25:00.954,0:25:03.308
I think the Holy Spirit impressed her.
0:25:03.308,0:25:05.584
I'm not sure she even fully realized
0:25:05.584,0:25:07.801
she was anointing for His burial.
0:25:07.801,0:25:10.140
I think Jason's right; she was thinking,
0:25:10.140,0:25:11.922
"Well, I love my Savior;
0:25:11.922,0:25:13.940
He's delivered me."
0:25:13.940,0:25:17.200
But sometimes I believe the Holy Spirit
0:25:17.200,0:25:20.402
impresses us to do things, and later we
0:25:20.402,0:25:24.472
may understand the full implications
0:25:24.472,0:25:25.476
of what we're doing.
0:25:25.476,0:25:27.089
(Sabina) That's right, so she was
0:25:27.089,0:25:28.507
surely very devoted.
0:25:28.507,0:25:30.594
She had already experienced Jesus
0:25:30.594,0:25:32.027
to a point that she would do
0:25:32.027,0:25:36.308
such a pouring out of the things
0:25:36.308,0:25:37.540
that she had on hand
0:25:37.540,0:25:39.710
as an expression of her inner experience
0:25:39.710,0:25:41.274
with God. Yes, Puia.
0:25:41.274,0:25:43.924
(Puia) Some have noted that she spent
0:25:43.924,0:25:48.377
a year's wage on that anointment.
0:25:48.377,0:25:49.384
Think about that,
0:25:49.384,0:25:51.319
like one whole year's wage;
0:25:51.319,0:25:53.226
that's a lot of money.
0:25:53.226,0:25:56.086
And for her to be willing to dedicate that
0:25:56.086,0:25:58.060
to Jesus shows that she
0:25:58.060,0:25:59.874
really loved Jesus, and she was
0:25:59.874,0:26:01.933
fully surrendered to Jesus.
0:26:01.933,0:26:03.125
(Sabina) That's right.
0:26:03.125,0:26:04.541
And you know what I think is
0:26:04.541,0:26:07.087
so interesting is that Jesus is known
0:26:07.087,0:26:11.544
as the Christ or also the Messiah,
0:26:11.544,0:26:13.310
and if there is one time apart
0:26:13.310,0:26:15.525
from when we see that Jesus
0:26:15.525,0:26:17.145
was anointed in His baptism
0:26:17.145,0:26:18.832
by the Holy Spirit,
0:26:18.832,0:26:24.256
we would say that the only time
0:26:24.256,0:26:26.792
we see in the New Testament when Jesus
0:26:26.792,0:26:28.960
is actually being anointed
0:26:28.960,0:26:31.103
with oil is this event.
0:26:31.103,0:26:33.194
Have you considered that?
0:26:33.194,0:26:36.280
So, not only do we see here the testimony
0:26:36.280,0:26:39.055
of a woman who had a love for Jesus,
0:26:39.055,0:26:40.957
but God was also using her
0:26:40.957,0:26:42.123
in a very special way.
0:26:42.123,0:26:44.759
Anointings were given to kings
0:26:44.759,0:26:47.941
and to people who had a special role
0:26:47.941,0:26:52.181
to play, and God used this woman,
0:26:52.181,0:26:57.100
of all people, a person that had a heart
0:26:57.100,0:27:01.271
to pour, to do this very anointing
0:27:01.271,0:27:04.249
that was done only by the high priests
0:27:04.249,0:27:06.489
in very specific situations.
0:27:06.489,0:27:09.208
Okay, yes, Cory.
0:27:09.208,0:27:10.994
(Cory) I was just going to add to it,
0:27:10.994,0:27:12.911
and it actually goes along with what you
0:27:12.911,0:27:13.980
were saying perfectly.
0:27:13.980,0:27:15.555
If you've ever smelled spikenard,
0:27:15.555,0:27:17.692
it's very, very strong.
0:27:17.692,0:27:19.393
And so, this being done
0:27:19.393,0:27:22.395
before His crucifixion, it probably was
0:27:22.395,0:27:24.181
very strong on Him still
0:27:24.181,0:27:25.914
throughout that whole time.
0:27:25.914,0:27:27.514
So, if you think about the people
0:27:27.514,0:27:30.956
He interacted with during that time,
0:27:30.956,0:27:32.826
smelling the smell of kings,
0:27:32.826,0:27:35.397
of the wealthy, and they're crucifying
0:27:35.397,0:27:38.828
this Man who had done nothing wrong,
0:27:38.828,0:27:40.757
it's another blessing
0:27:40.757,0:27:42.916
or another aspect to think about.
0:27:42.916,0:27:44.255
(Sabina) That's right, Cory.
0:27:44.255,0:27:46.239
And not only that, but if you look
0:27:46.239,0:27:48.287
a little further in John, chapter 12,
0:27:48.287,0:27:51.407
we are going to see the Triumphal Entry
0:27:51.407,0:27:53.579
of Jesus in this last last week,
0:27:53.579,0:27:55.111
in the Passion week.
0:27:55.111,0:27:58.558
So imagine that Jesus entered Jerusalem
0:27:58.558,0:28:01.110
with that smell of a king.
0:28:01.110,0:28:03.142
Right, think about this.
0:28:03.142,0:28:05.089
So we are going to look a little further
0:28:05.089,0:28:08.115
into that story, and maybe, Tendi,
0:28:08.115,0:28:10.839
if you will read for us from John,
0:28:10.839,0:28:13.653
chapter 12, from verses 4 to 8,
0:28:13.653,0:28:15.418
and we are going to see the reactions
0:28:15.418,0:28:16.767
of some of those present
0:28:16.767,0:28:18.700
to this outpouring of love from her.
0:28:18.700,0:28:20.478
What did they say, and how did
0:28:20.478,0:28:22.697
Jesus respond to them?
0:28:22.697,0:28:24.494
(Tendi) Thank you, Sabina, and I'll
0:28:24.494,0:28:27.170
be reading from the New King James:
0:29:14.926,0:29:16.019
(Sabina) Oh, wow.
0:29:16.019,0:29:17.939
So, what are some of the reactions
0:29:17.939,0:29:19.611
you see here, and how did Jesus
0:29:19.611,0:29:24.361
respond to them? Yes, Jason.
0:29:24.361,0:29:27.070
(Jason) Of course, it looked like[br]it was a waste of money.
0:29:27.070,0:29:28.650
Like, why would you even do that?
0:29:28.650,0:29:29.772
It could be better used
0:29:29.772,0:29:31.520
for something else, like the "poor."
0:29:31.520,0:29:34.125
But we understand that that wasn't[br]the motive of Judas.
0:29:34.125,0:29:36.623
(Sabina) Right, of all people, it would be
0:29:36.623,0:29:39.091
Judas who was the one criticizing
0:29:39.091,0:29:41.296
her gesture, right? Derek.
0:29:41.296,0:29:43.392
(Derek) I like how you emphasized
0:29:43.392,0:29:46.760
that that fragrance stayed with Jesus.
0:29:46.760,0:29:50.950
And I wonder if Mary looked back and said,
0:29:50.950,0:29:53.548
"That was even more significant
0:29:53.548,0:29:55.716
than I ever realized."
0:29:55.716,0:29:58.631
In fact, when Jesus said, "She anointed me
0:29:58.631,0:30:00.221
for my burial," I wonder
0:30:00.221,0:30:04.415
if she [looked wide-eyed], right?
0:30:04.415,0:30:07.404
We may think, well, no, she understood
0:30:07.404,0:30:08.861
all of that; everything was...
0:30:08.861,0:30:11.496
I imagine, back to our lives,
0:30:11.496,0:30:13.030
when the Holy Spirit guides us
0:30:13.030,0:30:17.016
to be a witness of Jesus, who He is,
0:30:17.016,0:30:20.218
that God can do miraculous things.
0:30:20.218,0:30:23.930
And we'll look back with joy and say,
0:30:23.930,0:30:28.182
"God, You're amazing!" Right?
0:30:28.182,0:30:29.654
(Sabina) That's beautiful.
0:30:29.654,0:30:31.998
And His attitude towards her
0:30:31.998,0:30:34.810
was one of acceptance, of affirmation.
0:30:34.810,0:30:38.224
It was not like Judas, of trying
0:30:38.224,0:30:43.240
to tell her to withhold from serving[br]Him in love.
0:30:43.240,0:30:45.343
But I think it's very important also
0:30:45.343,0:30:47.620
for me to highlight here that Judas
0:30:47.620,0:30:50.390
was part of the entourage of Jesus.
0:30:50.390,0:30:52.648
He had a big responsibility,
0:30:52.648,0:30:55.801
the responsibility of carrying the funds
0:30:55.801,0:30:57.880
that were to be used in their mission.
0:30:57.880,0:31:00.530
And of all people, the one
0:31:00.530,0:31:04.726
who had been entrusted with that power,
0:31:04.726,0:31:06.512
he was the one who was criticizing
0:31:06.512,0:31:08.111
the very person that God was
0:31:08.111,0:31:11.377
about to use. Yes, Travis.
0:31:11.377,0:31:15.924
(Travis) As I was reading and thinking
0:31:15.924,0:31:17.737
about this story, I was most impressed
0:31:17.737,0:31:20.085
with how Jesus responded,
0:31:20.085,0:31:21.918
and that is, "Let her alone."
0:31:21.918,0:31:22.918
(Sabina) Right.
0:31:22.918,0:31:24.356
(Travis) He's always concerned
0:31:24.356,0:31:27.697
about His people, you know.
0:31:27.697,0:31:30.298
John, chapter 10, "I have them
0:31:30.298,0:31:31.866
in My hands, and no one can
0:31:31.866,0:31:33.711
snatch them out of My hands."
0:31:33.711,0:31:36.081
Here He's coming to her aid.
0:31:36.081,0:31:37.990
She's serving Him and He says,
0:31:37.990,0:31:39.618
"Leave her alone."
0:31:39.618,0:31:41.190
I was just impressed by that.
0:31:41.190,0:31:43.174
(Sabina) That's quite outstanding, right,
0:31:43.174,0:31:45.316
especially in a context where women
0:31:45.316,0:31:48.860
were not seen or regarded in society
0:31:48.860,0:31:51.039
as having a word or being able
0:31:51.039,0:31:53.663
to [spend so much money
0:31:53.663,0:31:55.834
on something] of their own volition.
0:31:55.834,0:31:57.464
I wonder if someone was wondering,
0:31:57.464,0:32:00.299
"Oh, did she get permission from Lazarus?"
0:32:00.299,0:32:02.948
She was a sister of Lazarus.
0:32:02.948,0:32:04.720
It crosses my mind.
0:32:04.720,0:32:08.744
But now she is being defended by Jesus
0:32:08.744,0:32:10.263
who not only accepts that
0:32:10.263,0:32:11.614
but also makes sure to say,
0:32:11.614,0:32:14.277
"Let her alone; she is Mine."
0:32:14.277,0:32:17.761
So, let's make sure, when we also see
0:32:17.761,0:32:19.663
the outpouring of an expression of love
0:32:19.663,0:32:21.675
from people towards God, that we are able
0:32:21.675,0:32:24.008
to recognize it and be sensitive.
0:32:24.008,0:32:25.340
And how are some of the ways
0:32:25.340,0:32:29.424
that we, ourselves, can also express love
0:32:29.424,0:32:32.296
to Jesus as our Messiah? Yes, Viara.
0:32:32.296,0:32:34.141
(Viara) I talk to more and more people
0:32:34.141,0:32:35.960
who say, "Well, I'm saved, so there is
0:32:35.960,0:32:38.235
nothing really I can do to deserve
0:32:38.235,0:32:40.076
my salvation," or, "I can stay
0:32:40.076,0:32:42.558
the way I am, and I don't have
0:32:42.558,0:32:43.728
to do anything for God."
0:32:43.728,0:32:46.527
But I think Jesus said, "If you love Me,
0:32:46.527,0:32:48.033
you will keep My commandments."
0:32:48.033,0:32:49.658
And for me, this is like when you
0:32:49.658,0:32:50.518
are in a marriage.
0:32:50.518,0:32:52.355
You don't have to do anything, but you
0:32:52.355,0:32:54.050
do it because you love this person.
0:32:54.050,0:32:56.025
And if you never talk about your husband,
0:32:56.025,0:32:59.594
and if you never talk to him, about him,
0:32:59.594,0:33:01.425
or listen to him, then maybe you don't
0:33:01.425,0:33:03.711
have a real relationship with him.
0:33:03.711,0:33:07.850
(Sabina) Okay, so [one very important way
0:33:07.850,0:33:09.461
we can pour out love] towards God
0:33:09.461,0:33:12.723
[is to pour out love] towards people,
0:33:12.723,0:33:15.060
because this is the heart of the Law,
0:33:15.060,0:33:17.050
love for God and love for people.
0:33:17.050,0:33:20.539
We do those things because He loved us,
0:33:20.539,0:33:24.060
and so we also are invited to be loving.
0:33:24.060,0:33:26.071
Any other thoughts? Yes, Jason.
0:33:26.071,0:33:27.890
(Jason) There are a plethora of things
0:33:27.890,0:33:29.783
we can do to be able to show that love.
0:33:29.783,0:33:31.555
But what I like to do is actually go
0:33:31.555,0:33:33.275
to food pantries and help people out
0:33:33.275,0:33:34.023
because I know,
0:33:34.023,0:33:35.259
especially in this economy
0:33:35.259,0:33:37.256
things are hard, so I am able to be there
0:33:37.256,0:33:40.560
to be the feet and hands of Jesus
0:33:40.560,0:33:42.351
during those times to help people out
0:33:42.351,0:33:43.374
with an actual meal.
0:33:43.374,0:33:45.750
(Sabina) Okay, so charitable deeds also.
0:33:45.750,0:33:51.080
I also saw Zandile; you had your hand up?
0:33:51.080,0:33:53.438
(Zandile) Yes, and I wanted to say
0:33:53.438,0:33:58.271
that Judas was not of the same nature
0:33:58.271,0:34:01.030
as Jesus Christ; he was one of the twelve
0:34:01.030,0:34:02.175
when he was thinking
0:34:02.175,0:34:03.504
[of things differently]
0:34:03.504,0:34:06.215
from the nature of Jesus Christ.
0:34:06.215,0:34:08.223
And one of the [ways in which]
0:34:08.223,0:34:11.010
we can express our love to other people
0:34:11.010,0:34:13.911
is to be of the same mindset
0:34:13.911,0:34:15.344
as Jesus Christ and have
0:34:15.344,0:34:16.880
the nature of God, the kindness
0:34:16.880,0:34:19.675
of God within us, so that it flows
0:34:19.675,0:34:23.941
from within us to all those around us.
0:34:23.941,0:34:25.185
(Sabina) That's wonderful.
0:34:25.185,0:34:27.225
So, there are many things that we can do.
0:34:27.225,0:34:28.700
And I'm just going to get
0:34:28.700,0:34:30.531
Cory's comment also.
0:34:30.531,0:34:32.528
Cory, I want to hear you, and then we are
0:34:32.528,0:34:34.960
going to move to the testimony of a person
0:34:34.960,0:34:36.605
that didn't have the same type
0:34:36.605,0:34:41.453
of heart as Mary. Yes, Cory.
0:34:41.453,0:34:43.200
(Cory) I think a lot of these things
0:34:43.200,0:34:44.873
that bubble out of us can only come
0:34:44.873,0:34:46.902
from a relationship with Christ,
0:34:46.902,0:34:47.756
and that is done
0:34:47.756,0:34:49.473
by spending time with Him.
0:34:49.473,0:34:51.199
And you see couples that, when they
0:34:51.199,0:34:52.960
start dating or get married, start
0:34:52.960,0:34:54.311
looking alike because they
0:34:54.311,0:34:55.439
start acting alike.
0:34:55.439,0:34:57.626
That's how we reflect Christ
0:34:57.626,0:34:58.533
to those around us,
0:34:58.533,0:35:00.490
spend time with Him, know Him,
0:35:00.490,0:35:02.131
so that we can reflect Him.
0:35:02.131,0:35:03.701
(Sabina) That's wonderful, yeah.
0:35:03.701,0:35:05.703
I really love this testimony of Mary.
0:35:05.703,0:35:07.305
I think it's so inspiring,
0:35:07.305,0:35:09.920
Derek and friends, because we all
0:35:09.920,0:35:12.525
are also invited to pour out everything
0:35:12.525,0:35:14.540
we have to Jesus.
0:35:14.540,0:35:16.097
And I wonder if there is someone
0:35:16.097,0:35:18.190
watching us, and they have been
0:35:18.190,0:35:20.033
withholding some parts of their life
0:35:20.033,0:35:21.795
from God, maybe afraid
0:35:21.795,0:35:23.161
of what could happen.
0:35:23.161,0:35:25.400
Maybe it's something very precious to you,
0:35:25.400,0:35:28.226
right, the salary of your whole year,
0:35:28.226,0:35:29.864
or even [something much more] deep
0:35:29.864,0:35:31.656
in your heart, in your mind.
0:35:31.656,0:35:33.898
But, you know, don't withhold those things
0:35:33.898,0:35:36.324
from Jesus, because nothing you bestow,
0:35:36.324,0:35:38.595
in true worship, upon Jesus
0:35:38.595,0:35:41.342
will ever, ever be wasted.
0:35:41.342,0:35:42.638
Just look at what He did
0:35:42.638,0:35:44.632
and how He protected this woman,
0:35:44.632,0:35:47.285
and how it multiplies, as Derek
0:35:47.285,0:35:49.384
was sharing, even to the cross.
0:35:49.384,0:35:52.299
There is nothing that you pour upon Jesus
0:35:52.299,0:35:54.415
that you are not going to see Him
0:35:54.415,0:35:56.728
taking care of and multiplying it further.
0:35:56.728,0:35:58.190
(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:35:58.190,0:35:59.560
(Sabina) So, let's look here
0:35:59.560,0:36:02.970
at the witness of Pontius Pilate.
0:36:02.970,0:36:04.616
So, now we are moving from Mary,
0:36:04.616,0:36:05.647
a person that had
0:36:05.647,0:36:07.931
this generous heart towards God,
0:36:07.931,0:36:10.378
to a person that was more reluctant.
0:36:10.378,0:36:13.528
So maybe, Cory, if you will read for us;
0:36:13.528,0:36:16.270
we are still going to be reading
0:36:16.270,0:36:18.788
from the book of John, chapter 18,
0:36:18.788,0:36:24.100
verse 38, and then chapter 19, verse 4.
0:36:24.100,0:36:26.334
And then we'll be thinking of what we can
0:36:26.334,0:36:28.335
conclude from the testimony
0:36:28.335,0:36:33.625
of Pilate regarding Jesus.
0:36:33.625,0:36:36.290
(Cory) John 18:38 to start with,
0:36:36.290,0:36:38.700
out of the New King James:
0:36:55.054,0:36:58.610
And then 19, verse 4:
0:37:12.251,0:37:13.463
(Sabina) Thank you.
0:37:13.463,0:37:14.755
So, what are your thoughts?
0:37:14.755,0:37:16.081
What can we conclude
0:37:16.081,0:37:18.394
from the testimony of Pilate
0:37:18.394,0:37:21.298
regarding Jesus? Yes, Puia.
0:37:21.298,0:37:23.179
(Puia) Pilate stood
0:37:23.179,0:37:26.726
before the truth in person.
0:37:26.726,0:37:29.504
Jesus is the truth, and Jesus said,
0:37:29.504,0:37:30.720
"I came to make known
0:37:30.720,0:37:31.882
the truth to the world."
0:37:31.882,0:37:34.361
And Pilate asked what we could consider
0:37:34.361,0:37:36.228
one of the most important questions
0:37:36.228,0:37:37.662
that we could ever ask God,
0:37:37.662,0:37:38.829
"What is truth?"
0:37:38.829,0:37:43.181
But then the text said he then went away.
0:37:43.181,0:37:46.993
He didn't stay to receive
0:37:46.993,0:37:49.386
the revelation of God.
0:37:49.386,0:37:51.381
So, there is that lesson for us
0:37:51.381,0:37:54.247
to stay a little longer and allow God
0:37:54.247,0:37:55.780
to reveal Himself to us.
0:37:55.780,0:37:57.245
(Sabina) That's right, Puia.
0:37:57.245,0:37:58.992
Maybe if Pilate had stayed
0:37:58.992,0:38:00.892
a little longer, right, paid
0:38:00.892,0:38:02.193
a little more attention
0:38:02.193,0:38:05.006
to what he had right in front of his eyes,
0:38:05.006,0:38:06.740
the story could have been different,
0:38:06.740,0:38:09.600
at least for him and his family.
0:38:09.600,0:38:13.082
So, I also find it interesting that he
0:38:13.082,0:38:15.914
found no fault in Jesus,
0:38:15.914,0:38:18.607
even though he didn't resonate with Jesus.
0:38:18.607,0:38:21.606
So, in that staying a little longer,
0:38:21.606,0:38:24.271
maybe we are kind of already seeing
0:38:24.271,0:38:26.519
something happening, and it may not
0:38:26.519,0:38:28.112
always make sense to you,
0:38:28.112,0:38:30.137
because it was not making sense to Pilate.
0:38:30.137,0:38:31.640
He said, "What is truth?"
0:38:31.640,0:38:33.283
Like, it seemed like truth for him
0:38:33.283,0:38:35.062
was not something that obvious
0:38:35.062,0:38:36.635
or for Jesus it was,
0:38:36.635,0:38:39.460
and he should have taken a little longer
0:38:39.460,0:38:41.579
to maybe understand that, even if he
0:38:41.579,0:38:43.123
couldn't reconcile that,
0:38:43.123,0:38:46.407
that it was exactly what was happening.[br]Yes, Gladys.
0:38:46.407,0:38:47.836
(Gladys) At this point, Pilate
0:38:47.836,0:38:49.949
had already heard about Jesus.
0:38:49.949,0:38:51.500
He had heard about His ministry.
0:38:51.500,0:38:53.163
He had heard about the miracles.
0:38:53.163,0:38:55.311
So, even though he didn't have
0:38:55.311,0:38:57.405
the full revelation, even though he
0:38:57.405,0:38:59.716
didn't take the time to spend,
0:38:59.716,0:39:02.404
he could have at least been
0:39:02.404,0:39:05.104
a little bit more conscious towards
0:39:05.104,0:39:07.736
the Person that he was dealing with,
0:39:07.736,0:39:09.388
but he chose not to.
0:39:09.388,0:39:10.640
(Sabina) Right, and we are
0:39:10.640,0:39:13.784
going to see further, maybe if Lezlie
0:39:13.784,0:39:16.890
would take us to Matthew 27:19,
0:39:16.890,0:39:18.320
that there was more revelation
0:39:18.320,0:39:21.273
that was given to Pilate about Jesus.
0:39:21.273,0:39:24.775
So, let's read there in Matthew 27:19,
0:39:24.775,0:39:25.989
and we are going to learn
0:39:25.989,0:39:27.218
about this revelation.
0:39:27.218,0:39:28.189
(Lezlie) I'm reading
0:39:28.189,0:39:31.703
from the New Living Translation,[br]Matthew 27:19:
0:39:47.016,0:39:48.102
(Sabina) Oh, wow.
0:39:48.102,0:39:49.516
So, what special revelation
0:39:49.516,0:39:52.786
is being given here to him?
0:39:52.786,0:39:55.526
He had experienced what he saw
0:39:55.526,0:39:58.042
as his own witness, and now...Yes, Derek.
0:39:58.042,0:39:59.677
(Derek) And even if we don't know
0:39:59.677,0:40:01.450
the content of the dream,
0:40:01.450,0:40:05.115
we see the love of God, that God
0:40:05.115,0:40:07.423
loves Pilate, that Jesus wants
0:40:07.423,0:40:10.427
Pilate to be saved.
0:40:10.427,0:40:11.546
But in my favorite book
0:40:11.546,0:40:13.646
on the life of Jesus, The Desire of Ages,
0:40:13.646,0:40:15.559
it speaks about that dream given
0:40:15.559,0:40:18.145
to Pilate's wife, a revelation
0:40:18.145,0:40:20.395
of what would happen, including the coming
0:40:20.395,0:40:22.793
of Jesus in glory.
0:40:22.793,0:40:26.157
And one translation said nightmare,
0:40:26.157,0:40:27.414
mine just said a dream,
0:40:27.414,0:40:30.258
I don't know; it was troubling to her
0:40:30.258,0:40:33.397
because this innocent man
0:40:33.397,0:40:36.116
was the King of Glory.
0:40:36.116,0:40:39.268
But even if we didn't know the dream,
0:40:39.268,0:40:41.566
I see the love of God,
0:40:41.566,0:40:44.049
"What else can I do," you know,
0:40:44.049,0:40:50.041
"to reach out in a loving rescue, " right,
0:40:50.041,0:40:51.710
salvation to this person.
0:40:51.710,0:40:52.774
(Sabina) That's right.
0:40:52.774,0:40:55.293
So, He not only gave that opportunity
0:40:55.293,0:40:57.260
for him to witness for himself,
0:40:57.260,0:40:59.102
and he failed to stay a little longer,
0:40:59.102,0:41:00.246
as Puia was saying,
0:41:00.246,0:41:01.996
but He also then took the time
0:41:01.996,0:41:03.502
to communicate with the person
0:41:03.502,0:41:05.329
who was the most important person
0:41:05.329,0:41:08.150
in his life, I suppose, to see
0:41:08.150,0:41:11.257
if maybe he would listen to his wife.
0:41:11.257,0:41:13.413
Isn't that powerful, to see the ways
0:41:13.413,0:41:15.669
that God is trying to find our hearts.
0:41:15.669,0:41:19.683
So, how do you explain, then, the actions
0:41:19.683,0:41:22.450
of Pilate in light of his testimony
0:41:22.450,0:41:23.688
and special revelation
0:41:23.688,0:41:25.210
that was given to him?
0:41:25.210,0:41:27.437
How can we explain that he
0:41:27.437,0:41:31.401
still wouldn't hear that? Yes, Gladys.
0:41:31.401,0:41:33.083
(Gladys) Well, we have been talking
0:41:33.083,0:41:34.597
about how Satan just blinds us
0:41:34.597,0:41:37.415
and makes us deaf.
0:41:37.415,0:41:39.756
And obviously in his response
0:41:39.756,0:41:41.618
to the revelation he has received
0:41:41.618,0:41:43.073
and his response to the dream
0:41:43.073,0:41:44.550
that his wife had,
0:41:44.550,0:41:47.578
he still did not open his heart
0:41:47.578,0:41:50.189
to accept Jesus for whom he was seeing
0:41:50.189,0:41:52.384
that He could be.
0:41:52.384,0:41:53.830
(Sabina) Yes, Zandile, I see
0:41:53.830,0:41:57.637
you have your hand up.
0:41:57.637,0:41:59.228
(Zandile) As you were questioning
0:41:59.228,0:42:01.456
I thought of the fact that Pilate
0:42:01.456,0:42:05.649
and his wife were Romans,
0:42:05.649,0:42:09.778
but we find God revealing Himself
0:42:09.778,0:42:13.389
to the Romans, the Gentiles at that time,
0:42:13.389,0:42:14.911
people who did not have anything
0:42:14.911,0:42:16.564
to do with God, people who did not
0:42:16.564,0:42:18.257
know Him, but He comes to them.
0:42:18.257,0:42:19.649
Even Jesus, He was
0:42:19.649,0:42:22.299
about to be a sacrifice for everybody,
0:42:22.299,0:42:23.686
but God is saying,
0:42:23.686,0:42:25.123
"Hey, listen, have nothing..."
0:42:25.123,0:42:26.650
He is revealing Himself to show
0:42:26.650,0:42:29.264
that He cares for all humanity,
0:42:29.264,0:42:32.029
for everyone, not only the Jews.
0:42:32.029,0:42:33.432
But in light of the question
0:42:33.432,0:42:35.368
that you just asked, I wanted to say
0:42:35.368,0:42:38.336
that God had already said,
0:42:38.336,0:42:40.120
"I have given today
0:42:40.120,0:42:42.460
in front of you life or death.
0:42:42.460,0:42:45.233
It's up to you to, you know, choose life
0:42:45.233,0:42:46.966
or you choose death."
0:42:46.966,0:42:47.668
(Derek) Wow.
0:42:47.668,0:42:49.832
(Sabina) Yes. Puia, I see your hand up.
0:42:49.832,0:42:52.337
Would you take us to John 19,
0:42:52.337,0:42:53.779
verses 1 and 16.
0:42:53.779,0:42:54.756
We are going to see
0:42:54.756,0:42:55.913
a little bit more there,
0:42:55.913,0:42:57.305
and then maybe you can add...
0:42:57.305,0:42:59.193
(Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading
0:42:59.193,0:43:01.945
from the New King James Version,
0:43:01.945,0:43:03.366
John 19, verse 1:
0:43:07.549,0:43:09.542
And verse 16:
0:43:18.165,0:43:20.715
What I wanted to comment on, Sabina,
0:43:20.715,0:43:22.863
was that Pilate was
0:43:22.863,0:43:25.437
pressured by the crowd.
0:43:25.437,0:43:28.507
It may be easy, to kind of, blame him,
0:43:28.507,0:43:30.810
but I believe there is also danger
0:43:30.810,0:43:33.225
for us today that we, too, can
0:43:33.225,0:43:35.424
be pressured to go along
0:43:35.424,0:43:37.250
with the majority.
0:43:37.250,0:43:39.674
It's not fun to be different
0:43:39.674,0:43:43.781
from the crowd, so one reason Pilate,
0:43:43.781,0:43:46.383
while knowing that Jesus was innocent,
0:43:46.383,0:43:48.730
why did He still deliver Jesus
0:43:48.730,0:43:50.033
to be crucified?
0:43:50.033,0:43:52.457
Well, because he gave in
0:43:52.457,0:43:54.250
to the pressure of the crowd.
0:43:54.250,0:43:55.846
(Sabina) That's right, he gave in
0:43:55.846,0:43:57.261
to the pressure of the crowd.
0:43:57.261,0:43:58.443
And he also had a role,
0:43:58.443,0:44:00.264
and sometimes the pressure can even be
0:44:00.264,0:44:02.788
because of a certain profession [br]that you have.
0:44:02.788,0:44:04.872
Because he had a role to play,
0:44:04.872,0:44:07.370
and part of his role to play
0:44:07.370,0:44:09.594
was to make sure that all parts
0:44:09.594,0:44:12.699
and communities were satisfied and happy.
0:44:12.699,0:44:15.332
So one day [he had to satisfy one group]
0:44:15.332,0:44:16.858
and another day [another group],
0:44:16.858,0:44:19.829
so he had to reconcile his call
0:44:19.829,0:44:24.205
as a leader with the witness of Jesus
0:44:24.205,0:44:26.200
that was right in front of him.
0:44:26.200,0:44:29.300
And it seems like he failed. Yes, Travis.
0:44:29.300,0:44:30.874
(Travis) I was thinking of a song
0:44:30.874,0:44:32.357
that I sang as a kid, Stand up,
0:44:32.357,0:44:34.461
Stand up, for Jesus.
0:44:34.461,0:44:37.070
Jesus was going to the cross,
0:44:37.070,0:44:41.355
whether Pilate flogged Him or not,
0:44:41.355,0:44:43.752
because it was His time.
0:44:43.752,0:44:46.691
But he could have taken a stand for Jesus,
0:44:46.691,0:44:48.959
and he chose, as mentioned,
0:44:48.959,0:44:49.875
not to take a stand
0:44:49.875,0:44:51.598
because of popular opinion.
0:44:51.598,0:44:53.844
And I think there is a lesson
0:44:53.844,0:44:55.902
for us to learn, as when we're asked
0:44:55.902,0:44:57.904
to take a stand, we
0:44:57.904,0:44:59.515
might not change a situation,
0:44:59.515,0:45:01.599
but we can stand.
0:45:01.599,0:45:02.768
We can stand for Jesus.
0:45:02.768,0:45:03.815
(Sabina) Yes. So I see
0:45:03.815,0:45:06.166
many hands up, and I would love
0:45:06.166,0:45:07.717
to continue talking about that,
0:45:07.717,0:45:08.880
but we are going to move
0:45:08.880,0:45:10.040
to our next witness.
0:45:10.040,0:45:12.292
And, Cory, if you will help us there.
0:45:12.292,0:45:13.598
We are going to be looking
0:45:13.598,0:45:15.966
at the witness of Thomas,
0:45:15.966,0:45:17.947
Thomas who struggled to believe
0:45:17.947,0:45:20.319
that Jesus was risen from the dead.
0:45:20.319,0:45:22.245
So we already know, we heard
0:45:22.245,0:45:24.896
from the story of Mary and her testimony.
0:45:24.896,0:45:26.469
We've seen here in the testimony,
0:45:26.469,0:45:28.000
also, of Pilate, who was
0:45:28.000,0:45:29.960
a completely different person than Mary,
0:45:29.960,0:45:31.135
a different background,
0:45:31.135,0:45:32.142
a different response.
0:45:32.142,0:45:34.455
Now, let's look at Thomas, who was
0:45:34.455,0:45:37.669
one of those close followers of Jesus.
0:45:37.669,0:45:40.547
So, if you'll read for us from John,
0:45:40.547,0:45:46.119
chapter 20, from verses 19 to 24, Cory.
0:45:46.119,0:45:46.977
(Cory) I'm reading
0:45:46.977,0:45:48.327
from the New King James:
0:46:55.184,0:46:56.331
(Sabina) Okay, so, Cory,
0:46:56.331,0:46:58.609
just stick with us a little longer here.
0:46:58.609,0:47:00.134
I saw you had your hand up,
0:47:00.134,0:47:02.020
and you just read this text.
0:47:02.020,0:47:03.662
Why do you think that Thomas
0:47:03.662,0:47:04.976
was struggling to believe
0:47:04.976,0:47:06.684
that Jesus was risen from the dead?
0:47:06.684,0:47:08.915
What are your thoughts?
0:47:08.915,0:47:10.163
(Cory) I think some people
0:47:10.163,0:47:11.870
just need to [feel and] see things
0:47:11.870,0:47:13.385
with their own hands and eyes,
0:47:13.385,0:47:14.798
and there were so many doubts
0:47:14.798,0:47:16.356
because he really believed Jesus
0:47:16.356,0:47:19.683
was going to be a king on Earth right now.
0:47:19.683,0:47:23.200
And [with] his belief, he doubted
0:47:23.200,0:47:24.660
everything that was going on,
0:47:24.660,0:47:27.148
so he needed to see it himself.
0:47:27.148,0:47:28.722
(Sabina) Okay, thank you so much.
0:47:28.722,0:47:29.864
And we are going to look
0:47:29.864,0:47:31.213
a little further here.
0:47:31.213,0:47:32.994
Maybe, Joshua, if you'll read
0:47:32.994,0:47:37.296
for us John 20:25,26, and we are
0:47:37.296,0:47:38.275
going to be thinking
0:47:38.275,0:47:39.848
[of what more we can learn]
0:47:39.848,0:47:42.870
about Thomas from these two verses?
0:47:42.870,0:47:44.454
(Joshua) Alright, I'll be reading
0:47:44.454,0:47:49.445
from the New King James Version,[br]John 20:25-26:
0:48:18.441,0:48:19.868
(Sabina) So, what can we learn
0:48:19.868,0:48:21.448
about Thomas? Yes, Gladys.
0:48:21.448,0:48:23.880
(Gladys) I think that he is like what Cory
0:48:23.880,0:48:25.470
was saying, that he is somebody
0:48:25.470,0:48:28.261
that needs something tangible,
0:48:28.261,0:48:30.141
that needs tangible evidence
0:48:30.141,0:48:31.980
before they can believe.
0:48:31.980,0:48:35.424
But I just love that Jesus, even though He
0:48:35.424,0:48:38.874
knew that he didn't believe,
0:48:38.874,0:48:41.393
He's so loving, the love of God
0:48:41.393,0:48:43.447
is so big, that He reaches
0:48:43.447,0:48:45.151
even beyond our unbelief
0:48:45.151,0:48:48.130
and reveals Himself to us.
0:48:48.130,0:48:49.926
(Derek) I always struggled
0:48:49.926,0:48:53.390
with calling him "Thomas the Doubter."
0:48:53.390,0:48:54.648
I think he's a skeptic.
0:48:54.648,0:48:56.657
I think, like Cory said, he may need
0:48:56.657,0:48:58.970
a little more tangible evidence.
0:48:58.970,0:49:02.649
But I want us to note that he is there
0:49:02.649,0:49:05.501
in the upper room, right,
0:49:05.501,0:49:07.380
eight days later; he is there.
0:49:07.380,0:49:12.709
So, his heart is open, and I'm so thankful
0:49:12.709,0:49:13.900
for what happens next,
0:49:13.900,0:49:15.690
because while Jesus says,
0:49:15.690,0:49:17.947
"Blessed are those who believe
0:49:17.947,0:49:19.666
even though they don't see,"
0:49:19.666,0:49:23.744
He doesn't say, "Thomas, you're a loser.
0:49:23.744,0:49:26.995
Leave the room."
0:49:26.995,0:49:29.251
I see the love of Jesus there.
0:49:29.251,0:49:31.643
But I want to affirm Thomas,
0:49:31.643,0:49:34.726
even though he was struggling,
0:49:34.726,0:49:37.291
he showed up with the people of God.
0:49:37.291,0:49:38.381
(Team) Amen.
0:49:38.381,0:49:40.143
(Sabina) So, looking to that,
0:49:40.143,0:49:42.521
maybe, Jason, if you'll read for us.
0:49:42.521,0:49:44.113
We are going to look at the way
0:49:44.113,0:49:47.930
that Jesus encourages Thomas
0:49:47.930,0:49:50.220
and also how Thomas
0:49:50.220,0:49:52.847
finally responds to Jesus,
0:49:52.847,0:49:55.465
so verses 27 to 29,
0:49:55.465,0:49:56.748
if you'll read that for us.
0:49:56.748,0:49:59.177
(Jason) My pleasure, and the Bible says:
0:50:27.721,0:50:28.722
(Sabina) Thank you.
0:50:28.722,0:50:30.118
So, first of all, how did
0:50:30.118,0:50:33.480
Jesus encourage Thomas?
0:50:33.480,0:50:36.331
Do you have any thoughts about it?[br]Yes, Travis.
0:50:36.331,0:50:40.079
(Travis) I'm just really impressed, first,
0:50:40.079,0:50:43.449
by Thomas' request, and then Jesus giving
0:50:43.449,0:50:45.699
him exactly what he needs to believe.
0:50:45.699,0:50:47.388
We've been going through this study
0:50:47.388,0:50:49.193
of John, and many people were asking
0:50:49.193,0:50:52.786
for signs; Jesus didn't give them a sign.
0:50:52.786,0:50:54.575
And here now Thomas is saying,
0:50:54.575,0:50:57.184
"Unless I see this....," I think it has
0:50:57.184,0:50:59.041
to do with the condition of the heart.
0:50:59.041,0:51:00.159
I think Derek is right.
0:51:00.159,0:51:03.693
He wanted to believe,
0:51:03.693,0:51:05.416
but he wanted evidence.
0:51:05.416,0:51:07.628
And I've been in this situation
0:51:07.628,0:51:09.495
with Thomas before, and God
0:51:09.495,0:51:10.927
has revealed Himself to me
0:51:10.927,0:51:12.322
in a powerful way.
0:51:12.322,0:51:14.761
When your heart is willing and receptive,
0:51:14.761,0:51:16.295
God knows what you need, and He
0:51:16.295,0:51:18.420
will give it and reveal Himself to you.
0:51:18.420,0:51:20.660
(Sabina) Puia. I see so many hands up.
0:51:20.660,0:51:23.496
We're always stirred up with that story.[br]Yes, Puia.
0:51:23.496,0:51:25.889
(Puia) I am very encouraged by this story,
0:51:25.889,0:51:27.828
because I myself struggle with doubts
0:51:27.828,0:51:29.612
quite a lot of the time.
0:51:29.612,0:51:32.477
And there could be two types of doubters.
0:51:32.477,0:51:35.227
One group would be doubting towards faith,
0:51:35.227,0:51:36.306
and one group would be
0:51:36.306,0:51:38.600
doubting towards unbelief.
0:51:38.600,0:51:40.417
What we see from Thomas is that, yes,
0:51:40.417,0:51:41.860
he was struggling with doubts,
0:51:41.860,0:51:44.127
but he was doubting towards faith.
0:51:44.127,0:51:46.145
So, if we are struggling
0:51:46.145,0:51:47.470
with doubts today, there is
0:51:47.470,0:51:49.349
a lot of encouragement from this story,
0:51:49.349,0:51:50.810
that Jesus doesn't condemn.
0:51:50.810,0:51:53.168
Instead, the words of Jesus said,
0:51:53.168,0:51:55.194
"Blessed are those who have not
0:51:55.194,0:51:57.820
seen Me but believe."
0:51:57.820,0:51:59.453
He's talking about us.
0:51:59.453,0:52:01.409
(Sabina) Yes, so at the same time, Thomas
0:52:01.409,0:52:03.757
was encouraged by Jesus,
0:52:03.757,0:52:06.112
so Jesus listens to Thomas, He comes
0:52:06.112,0:52:07.957
towards Thomas and his needs
0:52:07.957,0:52:09.863
in that moment, but at the same time,
0:52:09.863,0:52:12.263
He uses Thomas' story
0:52:12.263,0:52:13.429
as an object lesson,
0:52:13.429,0:52:16.345
let's put it this way, for all of us.
0:52:16.345,0:52:18.545
So we that are here, and we do have
0:52:18.545,0:52:20.405
the chance right now to be like, "Oh,
0:52:20.405,0:52:22.719
Jesus, can I touch it?"
0:52:22.719,0:52:26.013
But He is going to make sure that we know
0:52:26.013,0:52:28.583
that we are more blessed than Thomas
0:52:28.583,0:52:30.785
if we are able to believe without having
0:52:30.785,0:52:33.300
that same experience that he had.
0:52:33.300,0:52:36.462
So, Gladys, just to conclude this part
0:52:36.462,0:52:38.435
about Thomas, what encouragement
0:52:38.435,0:52:40.814
do you find in this story for your life?
0:52:40.814,0:52:42.527
(Gladys) Well, I feel like the man
0:52:42.527,0:52:45.349
that Jesus asked if he believed,
0:52:45.349,0:52:46.564
and he said, "I believe,
0:52:46.564,0:52:48.762
but help my unbelief."
0:52:48.762,0:52:52.131
You know, sometimes we have this doubt,
0:52:52.131,0:52:55.587
but God finds a way to just reveal Himself
0:52:55.587,0:52:58.864
in a personal way to [move]
0:52:58.864,0:53:01.274
towards belief, like Puia was saying.
0:53:01.274,0:53:02.665
You have doubts, but, yes,
0:53:02.665,0:53:04.715
[He will] move you closer to Him
0:53:04.715,0:53:06.371
towards believing in Him.
0:53:06.371,0:53:07.862
(Sabina) Isn't He loving?
0:53:07.862,0:53:10.427
Isn't He so caring, that even if we are
0:53:10.427,0:53:13.327
in that moment of doubt, of challenges,
0:53:13.327,0:53:14.999
He is going to make sure to come
0:53:14.999,0:53:16.824
towards you because He loves you.
0:53:16.824,0:53:19.445
He is not trying to make it hard,[br]right, Gladys, for us?
0:53:19.445,0:53:20.318
(Gladys) He's not.
0:53:20.318,0:53:22.613
(Sabina) He's trying as much as He can
0:53:22.613,0:53:25.139
to attract us to Him.
0:53:25.139,0:53:27.340
Thank You, Jesus, for that.
0:53:27.340,0:53:29.679
And so, maybe, Lezlie, if you'll take us
0:53:29.679,0:53:31.487
to the final part of our study, we are
0:53:31.487,0:53:33.034
going to be looking at the way
0:53:33.034,0:53:36.527
in which John concludes his own witness
0:53:36.527,0:53:38.361
because John is also a witness
0:53:38.361,0:53:40.942
of all that, and he gives that witness
0:53:40.942,0:53:43.537
of many things that he saw
0:53:43.537,0:53:45.447
and what he thinks of Jesus.
0:53:45.447,0:53:47.292
So, if you'll take us to John,
0:53:47.292,0:53:50.955
chapter 20, verses 30 and 31, please.
0:53:50.955,0:53:52.385
(Lezlie) Okay, I'm reading
0:53:52.385,0:53:54.288
from the New Living Translation:
0:54:13.198,0:54:14.535
(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:54:14.535,0:54:15.978
(Sabina) So, what testimony
0:54:15.978,0:54:20.000
is John giving here? Yes, Travis.
0:54:20.000,0:54:21.868
(Travis) I'm going to make the argument
0:54:21.868,0:54:23.505
that that should be the last verse
0:54:23.505,0:54:24.899
of the Bible, because I think
0:54:24.899,0:54:26.595
that encapsulates all of Scripture.
0:54:26.595,0:54:27.837
I think that's the reason
0:54:27.837,0:54:30.219
all of Scripture was written.
0:54:30.219,0:54:33.296
But John wanted to be sure
0:54:33.296,0:54:36.330
that we knew that that was the reason.
0:54:36.330,0:54:38.122
As a matter of fact, now when I study
0:54:38.122,0:54:39.594
the book of John, and I
0:54:39.594,0:54:41.638
have that understanding, wow,
0:54:41.638,0:54:43.124
there's a whole new revelation.
0:54:43.124,0:54:44.900
You read the Bible in a different way
0:54:44.900,0:54:46.485
when you know that that's why
0:54:46.485,0:54:47.595
it was written.
0:54:47.595,0:54:49.605
(Sabina) Yeah, it seems like John's desire
0:54:49.605,0:54:52.413
was that you and I would believe
0:54:52.413,0:54:53.580
those things, you know?
0:54:53.580,0:54:55.431
Ultimately, [it was] all he wanted,
0:54:55.431,0:54:56.874
and through the Holy Spirit he
0:54:56.874,0:54:58.751
was inspired because he knew
0:54:58.751,0:55:01.767
that if we have the life of Jesus,
0:55:01.767,0:55:02.846
we have eternal life.
0:55:02.846,0:55:04.529
If we belong to Jesus,
0:55:04.529,0:55:05.702
we have eternal life.
0:55:05.702,0:55:07.541
And just to conclude here, do you have
0:55:07.541,0:55:09.207
a story of your own,
0:55:09.207,0:55:10.561
your testimony about Jesus?
0:55:10.561,0:55:12.423
We are going to say that in short;
0:55:12.423,0:55:14.040
we don't have much time.
0:55:14.040,0:55:15.969
Is there something that you can say here
0:55:15.969,0:55:25.480
that you are inspired to share. [br]Yes, Tendi.
0:55:25.480,0:55:27.615
(Tendi) How I came to the church,
0:55:27.615,0:55:30.271
it was a trying time for me,
0:55:30.271,0:55:33.492
but I held onto the fact that, leaving
0:55:33.492,0:55:35.590
my job to honor the Sabbath
0:55:35.590,0:55:38.450
and being unemployed for three years,
0:55:38.450,0:55:42.125
Jesus will honor my fidelity one day.
0:55:42.125,0:55:44.694
I stood firm to the belief that I had
0:55:44.694,0:55:46.326
and the conviction I had.
0:55:46.326,0:55:47.275
(Team) Amen.
0:55:47.275,0:55:48.698
(Sabina) Thank you, Tendi.
0:55:48.698,0:55:50.796
I think that each one of us here
0:55:50.796,0:55:53.243
(if I start asking, we won't have time)
0:55:53.243,0:55:54.930
would have a testimony to share
0:55:54.930,0:55:56.436
of the many ways in which Jesus
0:55:56.436,0:55:58.101
has been touching our lives.
0:55:58.101,0:55:59.920
And that's my invitation also for you
0:55:59.920,0:56:02.635
who are watching us.
0:56:02.635,0:56:05.162
I'm sure that Jesus has been working
0:56:05.162,0:56:07.488
in your life even before you were alive.
0:56:07.488,0:56:08.857
He was thinking of you
0:56:08.857,0:56:10.898
when He made you and knitted you together
0:56:10.898,0:56:12.002
in your mother's womb.
0:56:12.002,0:56:13.567
He had a plan for you.
0:56:13.567,0:56:15.013
He has a desire for your life,
0:56:15.013,0:56:16.830
and that desire is that you would come
0:56:16.830,0:56:19.480
to believe in Him and have life.
0:56:19.480,0:56:22.050
So just please take this invitation
0:56:22.050,0:56:24.130
from Jesus, it's a gift,
0:56:24.130,0:56:26.390
and not only receive the witness
0:56:26.390,0:56:28.887
that we see in the Bible from Thomas
0:56:28.887,0:56:31.435
or from Mary or the prophetic witness
0:56:31.435,0:56:34.434
of Abraham or the witness of Tendi,
0:56:34.434,0:56:37.937
Puia, Derek, but also see the witness
0:56:37.937,0:56:39.619
of what the things are that Jesus
0:56:39.619,0:56:40.866
will do in your life.
0:56:40.866,0:56:43.233
I look forward to learning of the ways
0:56:43.233,0:56:45.090
in which we are witnessing His work
0:56:45.090,0:56:47.385
in you for eternity. Amen?
0:56:47.385,0:56:51.100
(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:56:51.100,0:56:53.754
(Derek) What a powerful study.
0:56:53.754,0:56:55.178
(Team) Amen.
0:56:55.178,0:56:56.658
(Derek) And, "Blessed are those
0:56:56.658,0:56:59.880
who believe," is not just those back then,
0:56:59.880,0:57:01.915
but could we testify, "We are
0:57:01.915,0:57:04.222
blessed because we believe"?
0:57:04.222,0:57:05.157
(Team) Amen.
0:57:05.157,0:57:06.324
(Derek) We believe what?
0:57:06.324,0:57:08.039
We believe that Jesus is the Christ,
0:57:08.039,0:57:11.648
the Son of God, and that by believing
0:57:11.648,0:57:13.549
we have life in His name.
0:57:13.549,0:57:15.933
Thank you, Sabina, for sharing with us.
0:57:15.933,0:57:18.484
And thank you for joining us.
0:57:18.484,0:57:20.021
I just want to appeal to you
0:57:20.021,0:57:22.201
as Sabina has; don't let this
0:57:22.201,0:57:23.520
just be information.
0:57:23.520,0:57:25.167
John said these stories
0:57:25.167,0:57:26.870
are not just to entertain you
0:57:26.870,0:57:28.384
but so you could be saved
0:57:28.384,0:57:30.351
forever in God's Kingdom.
0:57:30.351,0:57:31.334
Let's pray together.
0:57:31.334,0:57:33.870
Father in Heaven, may the testimonies
0:57:33.870,0:57:36.218
of those who believed, that we have
0:57:36.218,0:57:40.413
shared today, including present testimony,
0:57:40.413,0:57:42.760
remind us that You are not trying
0:57:42.760,0:57:45.281
to hide from us, but You want
0:57:45.281,0:57:48.461
to find us and save us and use us
0:57:48.461,0:57:50.200
to bless others with a word
0:57:50.200,0:57:52.245
of hope through You.
0:57:52.245,0:57:55.479
Thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
0:57:55.479,0:57:56.570
(Team) Amen.
0:57:56.570,0:57:57.969
(Derek) Thanks for joining us
0:57:57.969,0:57:59.944
for Hope Sabbath School - what a journey.
0:57:59.944,0:58:01.677
Take what you've learned, my friend,
0:58:01.677,0:58:03.842
go out and be a blessing[br]to those around you.
0:58:03.842,0:58:27.543
♪ theme music ♪