Shawn Moynihan – Mary of Nazareth – Class 3 – Mary’s Mission

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This is day three of the 2025
Palm Springs Bible School.

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Our first period teacher is
Brother Sean Moynihan.

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His general subject is Mary of
Nazareth.

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Today’s topic is Mary’s
community.

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Good morning brothers and
sisters.

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Today we’re going to take a
look, God willing, at 4 scenes

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of Community.
The first scene is Mary’s

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interaction with Elizabeth.
We talked about Mary’s song

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yesterday, but now we’re going
to really focus in on on the

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amazing blessing that we have in
each other, in community, in

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God’s family.
The second scene of community is

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when Mary comes back to Nazareth
visibly pregnant, and we’re

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going to see how Mary responds
when her community does not

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understand her.
The third scene in community is

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the wedding at Cana.
And there we’re going to see

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Mary’s example of how to help in
community, how to solve problems

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in community.
And the last example is Jesus

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being rejected to the synagogue
in Nazareth.

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And from there, we’re going to
learn how to respond when we’re

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hurt by community.
So let’s start by looking at the

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biblical principles of God’s
community.

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Well, first of all, and our
brother did a great job last

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night talking on this.
It’s a family.

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It’s not an organization.
It’s not a club.

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We read in John.
But as many as received him to

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them he gave the right to become
children of God to those who

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believe in his name, who were
born not of blood, nor the will

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of the flesh, nor the will of
man, but of God.

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God chooses and arranges the
members of his family according

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to His plan and purpose.
First Corinthians 12/18 in the

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Mount translation.
God arranged the members and the

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body, every one of them, just as
he chose.

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So as we look around this room,
we’re strengthened by the fact

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that God has chosen each one of
us.

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As we work in our cliches, we
see brothers and sisters that

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God has chosen just as he’s
chosen us, and he’s arranged

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them as he sees fit.
Another principle is that

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through our relationship and
community, our discipleship is

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made manifest.
As Jesus says in John 13, By

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this all will know that you are
my disciples if you have loved

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one for another.
And so Mary’s community in

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Nazareth was was filled with
interconnected family and

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friends.
We see that from passages like

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2, like Luke 242 and we can see
that that God chose the members

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of the synagogue at Nazareth,
that that community purposefully

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just as he does now.
And we will see that people in

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Nazareth demonstrated their
faith by their actions towards

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each other, sometimes to God’s
glory and sometimes, sadly not.

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Brother Thomas provides another
helpful touchstone here.

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See, I thought it’d be tricky
with this PowerPoint slide, and

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now it’s just taking up time.
I was frankly intimidated by

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Brother Luke’s really impressive
graphics, so this is as good as

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I can.
So, Brother Thomas writes, the

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Eternal Spirit intended to
enthrone himself on the earth,

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and in so doing develop a divine
family from among men, everyone

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of whom shall be Spirit, because
born of the Spirit, and that

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this family shall be large
enough to fill the whole earth.

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So let’s take a refresher of
Nazareth, Mary’s community.

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Well, we know that God
specifically chosen Nazareth as

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the community in which to raise
Jesus.

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We know in Matthew 2 that they
thought to resettle as they

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returned from Egypt in Judea,
and they were commanded to go

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north to Nazareth so that it
might be fulfilled.

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He shall be called a Nazarene.
We saw on our first day that the

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community was Bible focused and
it had a strong sense of Jewish

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identity and nationalism.
Now I bring this up because I

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think it’s relevant for us who
are are blessed in in North

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America with economic
prosperity.

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In the Galilee there was
economic prosperity far above

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what which is in Judea.
Eidersheim writes a 1st century

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rabbinical proverb stated if you
wish to be rich, go to Galilee.

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If you wish to be wise, go to
Judea.

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Completely unbiased statement
from those in Judea.

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Now there were three big drivers
of economic prosperity from

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Galilee in the time of of Mary.
The first was massive

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infrastructure projects that
Herod the Great and and son

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Herod, Herod Antipas engaged in.
Many folks, as I know they’ve

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mentioned it to me, have been to
Sephres.

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And so that would be one of the
examples of the great building

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projects, the great
infrastructure projects that

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were undertaken, and that would
of course have benefited folks

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like Joseph and Jesus who are
tectons.

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The second great driver of
economic prosperity was

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agriculture.
And Josephus writes, the

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Galilee’s soil was universally
rich and fruitful and full of

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the plantations of trees of all
sorts in so much that it invites

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the most slothful to take pains
and its cultivation by its

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fruitfulness.
Accordingly, it is all

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cultivated by its inhabitants,
and no part of it lies idle.

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So the third driver of economic
prosperity was the Sea of

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Galilee fishery.
We know from historical records

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like Strabo that the salted fish
from the Sea of Galilee went

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throughout the Roman Empire.
And we also know that it was

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integral to the development of
this thing called garam.

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Do you know what garam is?
It’s ketchup, right?

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It’s the it’s the Roman
equivalent of sriracha.

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It’s a fish sauce that was
ubiquitous in the Roman Empire.

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You could not sit down to a meal
in a Roman household without a

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dish of garam.
So we know from historical

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records against straw bone folks
like that, that the Sea of

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Galilee fishery was instrumental
in developing this widely prized

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commodity.
We saw in the first class as

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well that Mary thrived in
Galilee’s religious setting.

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Ben Witherington and talking
about the setting that Mary

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would have grown up in, some
women were able to become

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learned in both oral and written
law and tradition, and we can

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see from our first two days that
Mary was one of those folks.

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So how did Mary’s community view
her before she arose and went

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with haste to Elizabeth?
Well, she must have been a model

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young person, don’t you think?
Someone who just brought

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brightness and joy of God’s word
with her.

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It seems like, you know, we
talked the other day yesterday

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about her being an orphan and,
and we know what that’s like in

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in our communities, right, Where
someone who maybe doesn’t have

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those family connections.
We do a really good job of

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reaching out, right?
And I know this from personal

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experience.
My grandparents raised me.

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And so I mean, when I went to
when I went to youth conferences

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and gatherings and stuff like
that, someone always made sure I

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had a ride.
Someone always made sure that I

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was included.
You know, they always warned me

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to stay away from that Jeff
Jelineau guy.

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He seems a little bit sketchy.
Just kidding.

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Actually, it was the other way
around, to be fair.

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So it’s safe to say that Mary
would have been very highly

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regarded, right?
And I think there’s a parallel

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to her and Ruth, of course, she
connects with Ruth about the

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Handmaid and Bethlehem,
etcetera.

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So I think we can say that all
the people of my town know that

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you are a virtuous woman, a
woman of Kyle.

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So I think too that they would
have been in, in community

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celebrating the marriage of
these two godly young people.

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And we know that he who finds a
wife finds a good thing and

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obtains favour from the Lord.
And again in our collision

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Cambridge, we have so many young
couples and it’s it, it just

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lifts everybody up when you see
young people who love God and

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love each other.
So even though Mary had lots of

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support in Nazareth, she had a
problem that she needed to go to

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the extended community for help
with.

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And so we’re so blessed with
aunties and uncles and, you

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know, people that can help us.
I tease my wife’s sister Kathy,

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that she’s entered her Auntie
Kathy stage and she’s just

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embracing it.
But we’re so blessed to have

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those people that we can go to.
And so Mary goes to Elizabeth.

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We read in Luke 1.
Now Indeed, Elizabeth your

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relative has also conceived a
son in her old age and this is

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now the 6th month for her who is
called barren, forgot.

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With God nothing will be
impossible.

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So brother Thomas suggests that
that he lie married who is

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Mary’s father, married the
sister of Elizabeth’s father.

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So that’s how those things
connected.

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So that’s an interesting
suggestion.

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So how are Mary and Elizabeth
related?

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They would have been related in
such a way that that Jesus and

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John the Baptist would have been
second cousins.

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So we read that Mary arose and
went with haste.

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Now we know that that’s a phrase
arose that’s significant in the

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Bible.
These are women of Israel who

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arose Deborah, Naomi, Ruth,
Hannah, and the virtuous woman

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in Proverbs 31.
Now it’s interesting.

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Gabriel doesn’t tell Mary to go
to Elizabeth.

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So what makes Mary think that
she needs to go to Elizabeth?

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Well, I think it’s this.
For God, nothing will be

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impossible.
So that’s a quote from Genesis

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18 we read picking up in verse
13.

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The Lord said to Abraham, why
did Sarah laugh and say, will I

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really have a child when I am
old?

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Is there anything impossible for
the Lord?

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I will return to you when the
season comes round again and

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Sarah will have a son.
So I think that that triggered,

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because Mary’s mind was so
biblical, it triggered her to

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think of Sarah and a
prototypical mother figure.

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So, so Mary did not have a
mother.

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And I think it’s safe to infer
that over many years, Elizabeth

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had developed kind of a mother
relationship with Mary.

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And, you know, Sarah is the
prototypical mother in Israel.

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We read in Isaiah 51.
Look to Abraham, your father,

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and to Sarah who bore you.
Now, this is a really important

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thing.
We know and we read in Titus

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that older women are teachers of
good things.

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And I’m just going to throw this
quote out again by Brother

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Roberts.
You can no more suppress a wise

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woman’s influence and a wise
woman’s voice then you can

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suppress the law of gravitation.
And we know that, right?

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And ecclesias that thrive, godly
sisters are are working in the

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background and and working with
each other, maintaining those

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relationships.
It’s very powerful.

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Naomi and Ruth are a model, I
think, for what would have

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happened with the conversation
that Elizabeth had with Mary.

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If you recall in Ruth three and
four, Naomi and Ruth develop a

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plan.
So Naomi lays it out.

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You’re going to do this.
Ruth says, yeah, we’re going to

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do that.
Takes a risk with Boaz trusting

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in Boaz that he is a just man
and a faithful man and will act

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as a kinsman Redeemer.
And then they debrief the plan.

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So I think this is exactly the
conversation that Mary and

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Elizabeth would have had.
OK, you’re pregnant.

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You’re going to go back to
Nazareth.

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You’re going to be visibly
pregnant when you go back.

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What’s the plan?
And I think the plan was to

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trust in God and trust that a
just man would act justly.

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Now, I love this quote by only
now.

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And he says the visit of
Elizabeth and Mary is one of the

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Bible’s most beautiful
expressions of what it means to

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form community, to be together,
gathered around a promise,

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affirming that something is
really happening.

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See, God’s placed us in
community, and we wait for the

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return of his Son in community.
And as we wait, we must affirm

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the power and truth of God’s
promises.

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Elizabeth and Mary would have
reaffirmed in each other that,

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of course, what God promised
will happen because he is God

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and he keeps his promises.
So Mary returns to her own house

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in Nazareth.
She goes back recognizing the

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risks and trusting God.
She’s found with child.

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We read in Matthew 118.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ

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was as follows.
After his mother was betrothed

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to Joseph before they came
together, she was found with

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child of the Holy Spirit.
So it was clear that this was

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00:14:50,640 –> 00:14:53,160
not something that had to do
with Joseph.

220
00:14:54,560 –> 00:15:01,000
So Mary, it appears to be, seems
to be, was rejected by our

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00:15:01,000 –> 00:15:07,000
community and by her betrothed.
If you had grown up with Mary,

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00:15:08,080 –> 00:15:10,760
what would you have thought when
you saw her come back from

223
00:15:10,760 –> 00:15:14,360
Elizabeth’s house?
How would you have treated her?

224
00:15:15,880 –> 00:15:20,440
What would you have said?
What consequences would you be

225
00:15:20,440 –> 00:15:26,520
calling for?
The record really indicates that

226
00:15:26,520 –> 00:15:30,560
Mary seems alone.
She returns to a community that

227
00:15:30,560 –> 00:15:32,980
knows her well and would have
been surprised by her quote UN

228
00:15:32,980 –> 00:15:36,800
quote, immorality.
Mary didn’t share the truth

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00:15:36,800 –> 00:15:39,080
broadly with her betrothed or
her community.

230
00:15:40,000 –> 00:15:42,920
I know some folks have have
suggested that she tried talking

231
00:15:42,920 –> 00:15:44,800
to Joseph, but there’s really no
record of that.

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00:15:46,120 –> 00:15:49,040
So I think that she just trusted
in God that it would be right.

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00:15:50,720 –> 00:15:52,640
So Joseph has some options,
right?

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00:15:54,600 –> 00:15:59,560
He can provide the test.
That’s in Numbers 5, the test of

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00:15:59,560 –> 00:16:03,480
the bitter, the Morrow water to
see if she’s been unfaithful.

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00:16:04,000 –> 00:16:06,400
And that’s actually what the
proto evangelism of James

237
00:16:06,400 –> 00:16:10,400
suggests happen.
So I do not believe that

238
00:16:10,400 –> 00:16:12,640
happened, but that’s the context
there.

239
00:16:13,440 –> 00:16:15,440
His second option was to divorce
her.

240
00:16:16,600 –> 00:16:21,760
The third option, which was a
real one we know from John 8 he

241
00:16:21,760 –> 00:16:23,080
could have had her stoned to
death.

242
00:16:25,280 –> 00:16:28,680
So Mary went back to Nazareth
knowing that these were the

243
00:16:28,680 –> 00:16:33,960
options and the last option
would be to forgive and protect

244
00:16:33,960 –> 00:16:37,600
her.
So Joseph, what an example.

245
00:16:38,360 –> 00:16:40,920
He is a just man acting in
community.

246
00:16:41,880 –> 00:16:44,280
We read in Matthew 119 from
Mounts.

247
00:16:44,600 –> 00:16:49,360
Her husband Joseph was a just
man and willing and unwilling to

248
00:16:49,360 –> 00:16:52,440
disgrace her in public.
He planned to release her

249
00:16:52,760 –> 00:16:56,520
quietly.
This word just is a powerful

250
00:16:56,520 –> 00:17:00,080
word.
It’s all over the New Testament.

251
00:17:00,080 –> 00:17:02,880
It’s usually translated just or
righteous.

252
00:17:05,200 –> 00:17:08,480
He was unwilling to disgrace her
in public.

253
00:17:08,920 –> 00:17:12,599
He was willing to be self
sacrificial.

254
00:17:14,280 –> 00:17:17,000
He was willing to say I don’t
care what people think about me.

255
00:17:18,640 –> 00:17:23,880
I don’t want Mary to be hurt.
This word, the great disgrace,

256
00:17:23,880 –> 00:17:27,680
is a powerful word.
The only other time it happens

257
00:17:27,680 –> 00:17:31,920
is in Hebrews 66, where it talks
about crucifying the Son of God

258
00:17:31,920 –> 00:17:34,560
afresh and holding him up to a
public shame.

259
00:17:36,880 –> 00:17:39,920
And of course, the release here
was a divorce, as as we talked

260
00:17:39,920 –> 00:17:43,440
about earlier, there were the
two cups, the cup of betrothal

261
00:17:43,760 –> 00:17:47,440
and the cup of marriage.
But the cup of betrothal started

262
00:17:47,480 –> 00:17:53,560
the legal aspect of the marriage
and then to release her quietly

263
00:17:54,440 –> 00:17:56,600
and in Greek that has the sense
of hidden.

264
00:17:57,480 –> 00:18:01,360
And so Joseph was willing to
keep these things hidden, to

265
00:18:01,360 –> 00:18:06,760
bear it himself so that Mary
would not suffer unduly.

266
00:18:09,000 –> 00:18:13,320
So we’re told that Joseph is
thinking on these things.

267
00:18:13,840 –> 00:18:18,320
And that’s an interesting word,
helps word studies, defines it

268
00:18:18,320 –> 00:18:23,080
as properly in a passionate
frame of mind, easily agitated

269
00:18:23,080 –> 00:18:27,000
or quickly moved by strong
provoking impulses.

270
00:18:28,080 –> 00:18:31,320
So Bible commentators like
Kenneth Bailey have pointed out

271
00:18:31,320 –> 00:18:34,120
that this means Joseph was
angry, you know, and

272
00:18:34,120 –> 00:18:37,320
understandably right.
If he didn’t know the real

273
00:18:37,320 –> 00:18:40,120
origin of of the conception, he
would be angry.

274
00:18:40,120 –> 00:18:45,400
He’d feel betrayed, but he keeps
searching for the right thing to

275
00:18:45,400 –> 00:18:49,720
do despite his anger.
You know, this is a powerful

276
00:18:49,720 –> 00:18:52,680
exhortation to me because one of
the things I deal with is anger.

277
00:18:53,800 –> 00:18:58,000
And, you know, Joseph here just
processes it.

278
00:18:58,320 –> 00:19:00,960
He keeps thinking about God,
thinking about God.

279
00:19:01,280 –> 00:19:03,760
And even though he’s angry, he
acts in a just way.

280
00:19:04,200 –> 00:19:09,520
And then God sends help.
We read in Matthew 1, starting

281
00:19:09,520 –> 00:19:12,280
in verse 20.
But as he pondered this, behold,

282
00:19:12,280 –> 00:19:16,000
an Angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream saying, if you’re

283
00:19:16,000 –> 00:19:18,680
paying attention to the
exhortation last night, who’s

284
00:19:18,680 –> 00:19:23,440
the unnamed Angel?
Gabriel, right?

285
00:19:23,440 –> 00:19:26,080
Because he is the Angel in
charge of all things Messiah,

286
00:19:28,000 –> 00:19:31,360
Joseph, son of David.
Do not be afraid to take Mary as

287
00:19:31,360 –> 00:19:34,840
your wife for that which has
been conceived in hers by the

288
00:19:34,840 –> 00:19:38,080
Holy Spirit, and she will bear a
son, and you were to call him

289
00:19:38,200 –> 00:19:40,880
Jesus, for he will save his
people from their sins.

290
00:19:43,320 –> 00:19:46,320
So I think one of the things
that Joseph would have thought

291
00:19:46,320 –> 00:19:50,160
about is the four female
descendants that are mentioned

292
00:19:50,160 –> 00:19:57,520
in his genealogy, Tamar and
Rahab and Ruth and Bathsheba,

293
00:19:58,080 –> 00:20:01,680
all at various times potentially
marginalized by the community.

294
00:20:03,080 –> 00:20:06,240
All with at various times a
suggestion perhaps of sexual

295
00:20:06,240 –> 00:20:10,280
impropriety, and all proved
righteous in the end.

296
00:20:11,760 –> 00:20:15,080
So I think he thought of these
things and he got, he got help

297
00:20:15,720 –> 00:20:18,040
with this dream and the angel’s
message.

298
00:20:20,240 –> 00:20:29,760
So Joseph does a powerful thing.
He stands up and removes Mary’s

299
00:20:29,760 –> 00:20:33,040
disgrace.
Kenneth Bailey writes In Jesus

300
00:20:33,040 –> 00:20:36,160
Through Middle Eastern Eyes,
Matthew presents Joseph as a

301
00:20:36,160 –> 00:20:39,080
human being of remarkable
spiritual stature.

302
00:20:39,800 –> 00:20:42,840
He possesses the boldness,
daring, courage, and strength of

303
00:20:42,840 –> 00:20:47,160
character to stand up against
his entire community and to take

304
00:20:47,160 –> 00:20:51,280
Mary as his wife.
He did so in spite of forces

305
00:20:51,280 –> 00:20:56,680
that no doubt wanted her stoned.
His vision of justice stayed his

306
00:20:56,680 –> 00:20:59,160
hand.
In short, he was able to

307
00:20:59,160 –> 00:21:07,880
reprocess his anger into grace.
I love that anger into grace.

308
00:21:09,680 –> 00:21:14,720
So Joseph protects Mary and he’s
willing to say when people ask

309
00:21:14,720 –> 00:21:17,440
him, is that your son?
Yes, that’s my son.

310
00:21:17,920 –> 00:21:21,600
Knowing that of course God was
the was the real father, but for

311
00:21:21,600 –> 00:21:26,920
the sake of of protecting Mary
and and somewhat normal

312
00:21:26,920 –> 00:21:30,000
childhood.
Joseph said, yes, that is my

313
00:21:30,000 –> 00:21:31,720
son.
And we see throughout the Gospel

314
00:21:31,720 –> 00:21:34,560
that that’s how Jesus is
referred to as the son of

315
00:21:34,560 –> 00:21:38,800
Joseph.
So Joseph protects Mary’s and

316
00:21:38,800 –> 00:21:41,600
Joseph’s actions are the
embodiment of love.

317
00:21:44,280 –> 00:21:47,440
Love does not seek its own.
Joseph was not seeking its own

318
00:21:50,080 –> 00:21:54,440
love, bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things,

319
00:21:54,760 –> 00:21:58,520
endures all things.
So on the first day, we talked

320
00:21:58,520 –> 00:22:01,560
about how Mary teaches us to
wait between the two cups.

321
00:22:02,280 –> 00:22:04,560
Well, it’s not just an
individual waiting, right?

322
00:22:05,200 –> 00:22:07,600
We wait between the two cups in
community.

323
00:22:08,440 –> 00:22:11,720
And Joseph and Mary show us how
to live in community between the

324
00:22:11,720 –> 00:22:17,240
two cups.
They teach us to trust God to

325
00:22:17,240 –> 00:22:20,000
work in the community that He
has arranged.

326
00:22:20,880 –> 00:22:23,360
Mary went back to Nazareth
knowing that things would be

327
00:22:23,360 –> 00:22:27,360
hard and also knowing that God
would make it right.

328
00:22:29,280 –> 00:22:34,120
They didn’t revile when others
reviled them.

329
00:22:35,360 –> 00:22:37,200
Think of how tempting it would
have been for Mary.

330
00:22:37,840 –> 00:22:40,120
Hey, let me tell you the real
story.

331
00:22:41,480 –> 00:22:43,880
She didn’t revile back.
Joseph didn’t revile back.

332
00:22:47,200 –> 00:22:49,960
They teach us to bear others
burdens, especially the

333
00:22:49,960 –> 00:22:56,760
marginalized.
They taught They teach us to

334
00:22:56,760 –> 00:23:01,560
demonstrate righteousness
through mercy, and to reprocess

335
00:23:01,560 –> 00:23:07,040
anger and to grace.
So Joseph and Mary are wed.

336
00:23:09,160 –> 00:23:12,240
We can infer that from 2
passages and Matthew 1 and from

337
00:23:12,240 –> 00:23:17,160
Luke 2, Luke 2 in particular
when they go to the Bethlehem

338
00:23:17,160 –> 00:23:20,840
for the census to be registered
with Mary, his betrothed wife

339
00:23:21,000 –> 00:23:25,200
who was with child patrol’s wife
is a is a weird grammatical

340
00:23:25,200 –> 00:23:28,520
construction that really
indicates that the marriage They

341
00:23:28,520 –> 00:23:31,160
had the wedding ceremony, but
the marriage had not been

342
00:23:31,160 –> 00:23:36,520
consummated yet.
David Finsey in his article of

343
00:23:36,520 –> 00:23:40,640
Wedding bells in Galilee in 2022
in Biblical Archaeological

344
00:23:40,640 –> 00:23:43,640
Review says this is what a
wedding was like in Nazareth.

345
00:23:44,280 –> 00:23:47,880
A bride was carried to the
groom’s house in a litter or

346
00:23:47,880 –> 00:23:50,320
carriage.
People applauded or played

347
00:23:50,320 –> 00:23:53,800
music, side wore a crown.
The wedding feast was given by

348
00:23:53,800 –> 00:23:57,480
the groom’s family and typically
the ceremony was a huge event

349
00:23:57,480 –> 00:23:59,440
celebrated by the entire
village.

350
00:24:00,640 –> 00:24:05,400
Have to wonder.
All the controversy around Mary

351
00:24:05,400 –> 00:24:11,360
and Joseph, if it was as big and
as joyous as this, hopefully it

352
00:24:11,360 –> 00:24:17,560
was.
So Mary and Joseph become a key

353
00:24:17,560 –> 00:24:22,600
part of Nazareth’s community.
So we, we’re going to God

354
00:24:22,600 –> 00:24:24,720
willing to talk about this
tomorrow, the birth and things

355
00:24:24,720 –> 00:24:29,800
like that.
So they, they wed, they go down

356
00:24:29,800 –> 00:24:33,600
to the census in Bethlehem, they
stay in Judea for roughly 2

357
00:24:33,600 –> 00:24:36,200
years.
They go back, they go in flight

358
00:24:36,200 –> 00:24:39,080
to Egypt, they come back, they
think they’re going to settle in

359
00:24:39,080 –> 00:24:41,480
Judea and they are directed N to
Nazareth.

360
00:24:43,320 –> 00:24:45,560
Mary is.
Enmeshed in Nazareth’s

361
00:24:45,560 –> 00:24:48,840
community.
And Luke 2 shows us that we’re

362
00:24:48,840 –> 00:24:52,600
going to talk about the account
of Jesus at age 12 tomorrow, God

363
00:24:52,600 –> 00:24:54,560
willing.
His parents went to Jerusalem

364
00:24:54,560 –> 00:24:57,400
every year at the feast of
Passover, and Joseph and his

365
00:24:57,400 –> 00:25:00,480
mother did not know it, but
supposing him to have been in

366
00:25:00,480 –> 00:25:03,960
the company, they went a day’s
journey and sought him among

367
00:25:03,960 –> 00:25:06,000
their relatives and
acquaintances.

368
00:25:06,240 –> 00:25:09,040
And so here’s this beautiful
picture of this caravan of

369
00:25:09,040 –> 00:25:12,800
people that are friends and
acquaintances, that love God,

370
00:25:12,800 –> 00:25:15,480
love each other, and that
there’s complete and total

371
00:25:15,480 –> 00:25:20,360
trust.
Think of the complete.

372
00:25:20,360 –> 00:25:23,120
And total trust that Mary would
have had in these friends and

373
00:25:23,120 –> 00:25:27,360
acquaintances to not be checking
on where the Son of God was.

374
00:25:29,760 –> 00:25:33,040
So.
Mary is completely enmeshed in

375
00:25:33,040 –> 00:25:36,560
Nazareth’s community and a
positive force developing great

376
00:25:36,560 –> 00:25:39,560
relationships.
And we know that Mary’s family

377
00:25:39,560 –> 00:25:43,320
is well known throughout Galilee
because remember the great

378
00:25:43,320 –> 00:25:47,160
discourse in the synagogue or
Capernaum, the people in the

379
00:25:47,160 –> 00:25:51,200
synagogue of Capernaum say.
Right.

380
00:25:51,200 –> 00:25:53,320
Exactly who?
Who is this guy?

381
00:25:53,640 –> 00:25:57,640
We know his mother and father.
So.

382
00:25:57,920 –> 00:26:00,440
Marriott seems to develop
relationships not just in

383
00:26:00,440 –> 00:26:02,080
Nazareth, but throughout the
Galilee.

384
00:26:04,480 –> 00:26:08,280
So let’s.
Flash forward to another wedding

385
00:26:08,280 –> 00:26:12,440
in the community 30 years later.
John had.

386
00:26:12,440 –> 00:26:16,400
Begun his preparatory work.
Jesus leaves to be baptized by

387
00:26:16,400 –> 00:26:19,800
John.
Jesus returns to Nazareth, this

388
00:26:19,800 –> 00:26:24,640
time with followers, in time for
a community event, a wedding in

389
00:26:24,640 –> 00:26:27,360
nearby Cana.
Now.

390
00:26:28,280 –> 00:26:30,200
Who doesn’t love a community
wedding?

391
00:26:31,600 –> 00:26:35,600
It’s awesome.
It’s a joyous thing, especially

392
00:26:35,600 –> 00:26:37,480
when we see a brother and sister
joined.

393
00:26:38,360 –> 00:26:41,120
It’s so spiritually deep.
It’s a time of joy.

394
00:26:41,280 –> 00:26:46,200
It’s an awesome event.
So.

395
00:26:47,400 –> 00:26:53,200
Imagine Jesus and Mary’s
conversation as they see each

396
00:26:53,200 –> 00:26:55,760
other.
At this.

397
00:26:55,760 –> 00:26:58,840
Wedding.
They must have spoken about

398
00:26:58,840 –> 00:27:02,600
Jesus being given the Holy
Spirit without measure because

399
00:27:03,160 –> 00:27:06,240
that’s the only way it makes
sense that Mary had this faith

400
00:27:06,240 –> 00:27:09,080
in Jesus ability to solve an
unsolvable problem.

401
00:27:10,080 –> 00:27:13,600
And did they talk about the next
steps in Jesus ministry?

402
00:27:14,880 –> 00:27:17,560
So this is a.
Critical time, because I’d

403
00:27:17,560 –> 00:27:20,280
submit to you that this is a
time where Jesus creates some

404
00:27:20,280 –> 00:27:22,960
separation.
And he says to his.

405
00:27:22,960 –> 00:27:25,560
Mom.
You’re not my mom.

406
00:27:25,560 –> 00:27:28,480
Anymore, you’re my disciple
first and.

407
00:27:29,640 –> 00:27:30,600
Why do we?
Think that?

408
00:27:31,360 –> 00:27:33,560
Well, it’s mentioned on the
third day.

409
00:27:34,840 –> 00:27:36,880
On the.
Third day there was a wedding in

410
00:27:36,880 –> 00:27:39,480
Cana of Galilee and the mother
of Jesus was there.

411
00:27:40,120 –> 00:27:43,800
What happened on the third day
there was the creation of

412
00:27:43,800 –> 00:27:47,000
boundaries.
And fruit was.

413
00:27:47,000 –> 00:27:51,160
Made manifest and we’re going to
see how this plays out and this

414
00:27:51,160 –> 00:27:53,920
miracle.
So.

415
00:27:54,080 –> 00:27:58,040
Mary.
Not the governor of.

416
00:27:58,040 –> 00:28:02,000
The feast solves the community
problem, we read in John 2.

417
00:28:02,000 –> 00:28:04,840
On the third day there was a
wedding in Cana of Galilee, and

418
00:28:04,840 –> 00:28:08,560
the mother of Jesus was there.
Now both Jesus and his disciples

419
00:28:08,560 –> 00:28:12,000
were invited to the wedding, and
when they ran out of wine, the

420
00:28:12,000 –> 00:28:14,720
mother of Jesus said to him,
they have no wine.

421
00:28:16,000 –> 00:28:17,960
Jesus.
Said to her woman, What does

422
00:28:17,960 –> 00:28:21,000
your concern have to do with me?
My now has not yet come, his

423
00:28:21,000 –> 00:28:24,400
mother said to the servants.
Whatever he says to you, do it.

424
00:28:26,800 –> 00:28:32,120
So.
Mary comes across here as a

425
00:28:32,120 –> 00:28:35,960
force of nature, doesn’t she?
She.

426
00:28:35,960 –> 00:28:39,760
Sees a community problem and she
addresses it.

427
00:28:40,520 –> 00:28:43,640
She identifies the problem.
They have no wine.

428
00:28:45,120 –> 00:28:47,840
And brothers and sisters, I I
really acknowledge that many

429
00:28:47,840 –> 00:28:52,960
times our our sisters are aware
of issues in the in our family,

430
00:28:53,040 –> 00:28:56,600
spiritual family that brothers
are blissfully ignorant of.

431
00:28:59,720 –> 00:29:01,960
Maybe it’s just Kathy having
much greater emotional

432
00:29:01,960 –> 00:29:04,280
intelligence than me.
Maybe I shouldn’t generalize.

433
00:29:06,680 –> 00:29:09,880
But.
Identifies the problem and she

434
00:29:09,880 –> 00:29:13,240
understands that it’s a
community problem because as we

435
00:29:13,240 –> 00:29:16,600
read in First Corinthians 12,
and if one member suffers, all

436
00:29:16,600 –> 00:29:20,760
the members suffer with it, or
if one member is honoured, all

437
00:29:20,760 –> 00:29:24,240
the members rejoice with it.
And she knows.

438
00:29:24,240 –> 00:29:28,120
That she can’t solve the
problem, only Jesus can.

439
00:29:29,520 –> 00:29:31,600
And she trusts.
The method of problem solving

440
00:29:31,600 –> 00:29:35,040
entirely to Jesus isn’t that
amazing.

441
00:29:36,040 –> 00:29:39,240
Whatever he says to you, do it.
No, I don’t know about.

442
00:29:39,240 –> 00:29:44,160
You but sometimes I not.
I don’t really want the problem

443
00:29:44,160 –> 00:29:47,120
solved, but I would like it
solved in my way.

444
00:29:49,640 –> 00:29:51,960
As I used to say.
When I coach basketball to my

445
00:29:51,960 –> 00:29:54,440
players, be reasonable.
Do it my way.

446
00:29:57,160 –> 00:29:59,280
But.
That’s not what we should do, is

447
00:29:59,280 –> 00:30:01,840
it?
And, and, and Mary exemplifies

448
00:30:01,840 –> 00:30:04,680
this.
She trusts the method of problem

449
00:30:04,680 –> 00:30:08,200
solving entirely to Jesus.
She understands.

450
00:30:08,200 –> 00:30:11,040
That Jesus will solve the
problem by working through

451
00:30:11,280 –> 00:30:16,480
community members, right?
Whatever she because she says to

452
00:30:16,480 –> 00:30:18,920
the servants, whatever he tells
you to do, do it.

453
00:30:19,240 –> 00:30:22,200
Problems are solved through
community members.

454
00:30:24,160 –> 00:30:27,680
And then of course the.
Outcome is better than anything

455
00:30:28,000 –> 00:30:31,840
that we could do on our own when
we trust God to work and solve

456
00:30:31,840 –> 00:30:35,360
our problems, the governor says.
You have kept the good wine

457
00:30:35,960 –> 00:30:44,320
until now.
Some model of problem solving in

458
00:30:44,320 –> 00:30:49,080
a community that glorifies God.
So let’s talk about Jesus and

459
00:30:49,080 –> 00:30:51,720
Mary’s relationship.
Jesus is respectful.

460
00:30:51,720 –> 00:30:55,720
This word, woman, Gune, is a
highly respectful and

461
00:30:55,720 –> 00:30:59,040
affectionate mode of address.
And when he says your.

462
00:30:59,040 –> 00:31:00,720
Concern is really better
translated.

463
00:31:00,720 –> 00:31:02,440
This doesn’t concern either of
us.

464
00:31:02,960 –> 00:31:05,480
And I would suggest to you that
Jesus here is testing.

465
00:31:06,160 –> 00:31:09,520
He’s testing his disciple Mary.
He’s pushing back.

466
00:31:09,760 –> 00:31:14,800
What is she going to do?
And she acts in faith.

467
00:31:16,520 –> 00:31:18,920
She acts in faith.
Jesus will solve this problem.

468
00:31:20,000 –> 00:31:22,440
And it’s the third day.
There’s a new boundary

469
00:31:22,440 –> 00:31:25,160
established.
Jesus separates son and mother

470
00:31:25,680 –> 00:31:27,520
and establishes Lord and
servant.

471
00:31:29,040 –> 00:31:31,480
Remember what else happened on
the third day of creation?

472
00:31:32,280 –> 00:31:36,760
Fruit was was born, and fruit
was born by this miraculous

473
00:31:36,760 –> 00:31:39,360
sign.
We read in John 211 this

474
00:31:39,360 –> 00:31:42,800
beginning of signs Jesus did in
Cana of Galilee and manifested

475
00:31:42,800 –> 00:31:47,240
his glory, and his disciples
believed in him.

476
00:31:49,600 –> 00:31:51,160
Fruit was.
Born.

477
00:31:52,760 –> 00:31:54,120
The beginning of.
Signs.

478
00:31:54,640 –> 00:31:58,120
John writes that Jesus did.
Now this word sign is a really

479
00:31:58,120 –> 00:32:01,400
important word for Mary.
It’s the word.

480
00:32:01,400 –> 00:32:04,440
Used in the Isaiah prophecy.
Therefore, the Lord Himself will

481
00:32:04,440 –> 00:32:07,400
give you a sign.
And it’s also.

482
00:32:07,400 –> 00:32:09,920
A word that Simeon directs to
her.

483
00:32:10,920 –> 00:32:12,840
Then Simeon.
Blessed them and said to Mary

484
00:32:12,840 –> 00:32:15,960
his mother, Behold, this child
is destined for the fall and

485
00:32:15,960 –> 00:32:18,800
rising of many in Israel, and
for a sign.

486
00:32:20,000 –> 00:32:21,480
Which will be.
Spoken against.

487
00:32:23,880 –> 00:32:28,960
So, Mary.
In Faith helped to bring about

488
00:32:29,480 –> 00:32:33,080
solving this community issue.
And Jesus.

489
00:32:33,080 –> 00:32:35,760
Created a sign that bore fruit
in belief.

490
00:32:38,120 –> 00:32:40,320
So.
Let’s turn to the next community

491
00:32:40,320 –> 00:32:44,680
example.
And this is Jesus being rejected

492
00:32:45,440 –> 00:32:49,200
twice in Nazareth.
There’s two accounts.

493
00:32:49,720 –> 00:32:53,560
The Luke account occurs early in
Jesus ministry.

494
00:32:53,920 –> 00:32:56,920
The Matthew and Mark account
occur later.

495
00:32:56,920 –> 00:32:59,600
They document the rejection of
of Nazareth that happened in the

496
00:32:59,600 –> 00:33:03,280
middle of Jesus ministry.
We know this because Luke’s

497
00:33:03,280 –> 00:33:06,200
Gospel is generally a
chronological gospel, and there

498
00:33:06,200 –> 00:33:08,960
are some significant differences
between the two accounts.

499
00:33:10,200 –> 00:33:12,640
There’s the Daily.
Readings from Isaiah 61 and

500
00:33:12,640 –> 00:33:14,840
Luke.
And there’s the attempted murder

501
00:33:15,080 –> 00:33:21,840
and the miraculous escape.
So let’s take a look.

502
00:33:25,520 –> 00:33:27,320
Jesus is a.
Nazareth Synagogue.

503
00:33:28,120 –> 00:33:31,880
This is in the place where he
grew and became strong in

504
00:33:31,880 –> 00:33:35,880
spirit, filled with wisdom and
the grace of God was upon him.

505
00:33:36,600 –> 00:33:39,200
It’s the place where He
increased in wisdom and in

506
00:33:39,200 –> 00:33:42,000
stature and in favor with God
and men.

507
00:33:43,240 –> 00:33:44,840
Now wisdom.
And stature.

508
00:33:45,040 –> 00:33:47,280
Stature.
Is that Luke telling us that,

509
00:33:47,280 –> 00:33:49,200
yeah, Jesus got taller as he got
older?

510
00:33:49,880 –> 00:33:53,600
No, he’s saying that he was
respected in the community.

511
00:33:55,800 –> 00:33:58,080
He went to.
Nazareth, where he hadn’t been

512
00:33:58,080 –> 00:34:00,520
brought up.
And that word brought up is

513
00:34:00,520 –> 00:34:02,920
really interesting.
It’s trifle and it’s usually

514
00:34:02,920 –> 00:34:06,440
translated as nourished or fed.
So that the.

515
00:34:06,440 –> 00:34:09,040
Synagogue was where he was
getting his food.

516
00:34:10,320 –> 00:34:12,120
It’s the.
Place where he was brought up,

517
00:34:13,159 –> 00:34:16,920
and it was his custom on the
Sabbath day to go and teach.

518
00:34:18,080 –> 00:34:21,000
And he went.
Into the synagogue and stood up

519
00:34:21,159 –> 00:34:26,159
to read.
And Mary?

520
00:34:26,159 –> 00:34:31,320
Hears Jesus exhortation.
To preach the.

521
00:34:31,320 –> 00:34:33,600
Gospel to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the

522
00:34:33,600 –> 00:34:36,480
broken hearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and

523
00:34:36,480 –> 00:34:39,960
recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are

524
00:34:39,960 –> 00:34:42,840
oppressed today.
This scripture is fulfilled in

525
00:34:42,840 –> 00:34:46,960
your hearing.
You.

526
00:34:46,960 –> 00:34:50,080
Know those of us that are
blessed to have our children

527
00:34:50,080 –> 00:34:55,199
walk in faith and to have our
sons deliver exhortations.

528
00:34:55,199 –> 00:34:56,480
I have the privilege of doing
that.

529
00:34:57,000 –> 00:35:00,040
I mean, I remember my oldest
son’s first exhortation.

530
00:35:00,200 –> 00:35:05,960
I’ll never forget it.
And I.

531
00:35:05,960 –> 00:35:08,880
Remember looking at him.
And just being.

532
00:35:08,880 –> 00:35:13,960
So thankful to God and.
It was like.

533
00:35:14,240 –> 00:35:20,800
It was like it was like time
lapse photography because I saw

534
00:35:20,800 –> 00:35:22,480
him.
I saw him as a three-year old

535
00:35:23,760 –> 00:35:27,480
and a 13 year old, and now he’s
a 30 year old.

536
00:35:29,480 –> 00:35:30,280
Such a.
Blessing.

537
00:35:32,040 –> 00:35:34,680
And so that’s what Mary would
have been feeling for sure.

538
00:35:35,800 –> 00:35:38,520
And not only.
That, but he’s hitting all the

539
00:35:38,520 –> 00:35:43,520
notes that she hits so
triumphantly in her song.

540
00:35:44,600 –> 00:35:47,680
He has scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.

541
00:35:48,040 –> 00:35:50,640
He has put down the mighty from
their Thrones and exalted the

542
00:35:50,640 –> 00:35:53,160
lowly.
He is filled the hungry with

543
00:35:53,160 –> 00:35:55,680
good things, and the rich He has
sent away empty.

544
00:35:59,560 –> 00:36:06,480
And then Jesus, family and
friends and neighbors react.

545
00:36:09,160 –> 00:36:11,080
We read, he said.
To them you will surely say this

546
00:36:11,080 –> 00:36:13,160
proverb to me, physician, heal
yourself.

547
00:36:13,480 –> 00:36:16,200
Whatever we have heard done in
Capernaum, do also here in your

548
00:36:16,200 –> 00:36:19,000
country.
And then they referred to him as

549
00:36:19,000 –> 00:36:21,800
Joseph’s son.
In the later account they

550
00:36:21,800 –> 00:36:28,480
referred to him as Mary’s.
So what happens next?

551
00:36:30,400 –> 00:36:33,120
Mary’s.
Community tried to kill her son,

552
00:36:34,920 –> 00:36:38,880
we read and Luke 4.
So all those in the synagogue,

553
00:36:39,160 –> 00:36:41,920
when they heard these things,
were filled with wrath.

554
00:36:42,760 –> 00:36:45,600
And Rose.
Up and thrust him out of the

555
00:36:45,600 –> 00:36:49,720
city, and they led him to the
brow of the hill on which their

556
00:36:49,720 –> 00:36:53,640
city was built, that they might
throw him down over the Cliff.

557
00:36:55,120 –> 00:36:56,880
Then.
Passing through the midst of

558
00:36:56,880 –> 00:37:02,560
them, he went his way.
Can you imagine?

559
00:37:02,560 –> 00:37:06,760
What Mary was feeling.
It’s.

560
00:37:06,800 –> 00:37:11,880
Undescribable.
And I think part.

561
00:37:11,880 –> 00:37:17,440
Of it was as we looked at the
first day is that many people in

562
00:37:17,440 –> 00:37:19,840
that area were descendants of
the House of David.

563
00:37:20,320 –> 00:37:23,960
And so they were especially
angered that this one person was

564
00:37:23,960 –> 00:37:27,920
claiming something special, even
though they knew Jesus, even

565
00:37:27,920 –> 00:37:31,160
though they would have seen him
grow up and and be an exemplary

566
00:37:31,160 –> 00:37:33,680
person.
Such as?

567
00:37:33,680 –> 00:37:36,600
Jealousy.
Such as jealousy.

568
00:37:38,760 –> 00:37:43,640
So how did Mary?
Forgive her friends and

569
00:37:43,640 –> 00:37:45,680
neighbors for trying to kill her
son.

570
00:37:47,640 –> 00:37:51,040
How did she?
Forgive her community for this

571
00:37:51,040 –> 00:37:56,160
hurt.
Well, we have to confess,

572
00:37:56,160 –> 00:38:00,320
brothers and sisters, that
because we are a body made-up of

573
00:38:00,320 –> 00:38:02,160
people that make mistakes and
sin.

574
00:38:02,920 –> 00:38:05,120
It’s not always sunshine and
rainbows, is it?

575
00:38:07,080 –> 00:38:08,280
We make.
Mistakes.

576
00:38:08,520 –> 00:38:13,760
We hurt each other.
I make mistakes, I hurt people.

577
00:38:15,880 –> 00:38:18,360
How do we respond to those
hurts?

578
00:38:20,160 –> 00:38:22,280
So I’m going.
To do a bit of confession time

579
00:38:22,280 –> 00:38:28,240
here, our four children were
brought up in a time when our

580
00:38:28,240 –> 00:38:30,600
community in Ontario was
undergoing quite a bit of

581
00:38:30,600 –> 00:38:32,840
internal strife.
And.

582
00:38:32,840 –> 00:38:36,480
Sadly, our two youngest were the
proverbial little ones who

583
00:38:36,480 –> 00:38:39,200
became offended at some really
negative interactions with

584
00:38:39,200 –> 00:38:42,160
brothers and sisters who made
them feel very unwelcome.

585
00:38:44,040 –> 00:38:46,360
And this has been.
A great challenge for me.

586
00:38:48,040 –> 00:38:50,120
I confess.
That one of the many sins that I

587
00:38:50,120 –> 00:38:54,120
struggle with is holding a
grudge and not forgiving.

588
00:38:56,520 –> 00:38:58,360
I think.
It’s my Irish heritage, my

589
00:38:58,360 –> 00:39:02,400
sinful flesh, but I really
embrace what Joseph Kennedy told

590
00:39:02,400 –> 00:39:04,960
his sons.
Sons, forgive your enemies, but

591
00:39:04,960 –> 00:39:12,400
always remember their names.
So that’s not forgiveness, is

592
00:39:12,400 –> 00:39:13,680
it?
So I struggle with that.

593
00:39:13,680 –> 00:39:18,480
I struggle with that big time
now.

594
00:39:21,880 –> 00:39:23,920
Sister Kathy has been a great
example to me.

595
00:39:26,960 –> 00:39:30,240
And Mary?
‘S example is just so powerful.

596
00:39:31,040 –> 00:39:32,840
Mary’s example has really helped
me.

597
00:39:34,040 –> 00:39:37,840
Her example?
Teaches me to forgive, to stay

598
00:39:37,840 –> 00:39:42,280
in community, and to love my
brothers and sisters because God

599
00:39:42,280 –> 00:39:46,560
has chosen them to be part of
His family.

600
00:39:49,240 –> 00:39:51,640
Mary taught me that.
The way to forgive hurt.

601
00:39:52,640 –> 00:39:57,960
Is to love them.
Mary did all these.

602
00:39:57,960 –> 00:40:03,280
Things love is patient and kind.
Not jealous.

603
00:40:03,280 –> 00:40:05,760
Not boastful.
Not proud, rude or selfish.

604
00:40:06,000 –> 00:40:09,400
Not easily angered.
And it keeps no.

605
00:40:09,400 –> 00:40:12,760
Record of wrongs can.
You imagine what Mary could.

606
00:40:12,760 –> 00:40:14,720
Have done Do you know who my son
is?

607
00:40:17,880 –> 00:40:20,360
Love does not.
Gloat over the other people’s

608
00:40:20,360 –> 00:40:22,560
sins, but takes its delight in
the truth.

609
00:40:23,480 –> 00:40:28,640
Love always bears up, Always
trusts, always hopes, always

610
00:40:28,880 –> 00:40:32,680
endures.
What a powerful example Mary

611
00:40:32,680 –> 00:40:37,320
provides for us, and especially
for me as I struggle with this.

612
00:40:42,160 –> 00:40:45,520
So the last.
Recorded event in Nazareth’s

613
00:40:45,520 –> 00:40:48,160
community is the second
rejection.

614
00:40:48,840 –> 00:40:52,400
So Nazareth Jesus travels from
Capernaum to his.

615
00:40:53,920 –> 00:40:56,200
Town of.
Nazareth, his own native town,

616
00:40:56,200 –> 00:40:59,760
we read in Mark 6.
In Nazareth he’s rejected for a

617
00:40:59,760 –> 00:41:03,480
second time and again.
Nazareth is contrasted with the

618
00:41:03,480 –> 00:41:07,000
faithfulness that Jesus found at
Capernaum, and this occasion he

619
00:41:07,000 –> 00:41:08,880
taught in the synagogue at
Nazareth.

620
00:41:09,960 –> 00:41:12,120
His neighbors were.
Astonished at his teaching, they

621
00:41:12,120 –> 00:41:14,960
wonder where he received such
wisdom and power.

622
00:41:15,240 –> 00:41:16,840
They don’t mention Joseph by
name.

623
00:41:16,840 –> 00:41:19,440
This time Jesus is called Mary’s
Son.

624
00:41:20,800 –> 00:41:26,640
They are offended at Jesus.
Jesus healed only a few people.

625
00:41:27,600 –> 00:41:30,400
Jesus did no mighty works there
because of their unbelief.

626
00:41:32,000 –> 00:41:35,000
And.
In kind of a a neat kind of

627
00:41:35,480 –> 00:41:40,560
juxtaposition here, a neat irony
in the earlier event, the people

628
00:41:40,560 –> 00:41:45,280
marvelled at Jesus, and now
Jesus marvels at them, at their

629
00:41:45,280 –> 00:41:53,440
unbelief.
So Nazareth ends up no longer

630
00:41:53,440 –> 00:41:58,080
being Mary’s home.
As we set at the cross, Mary is

631
00:41:58,080 –> 00:42:01,120
told by Jesus to go and live
with John, who lived in

632
00:42:01,120 –> 00:42:04,400
Capernaum, and she’s given a new
community.

633
00:42:05,120 –> 00:42:09,080
And it’s a community that’s
characterized in Acts chapter 2

634
00:42:09,880 –> 00:42:13,440
we read in verse 12.
Then they returned to Jerusalem

635
00:42:13,440 –> 00:42:17,000
from the mount called Olivet,
which is near Jerusalem, a

636
00:42:17,000 –> 00:42:19,400
Sabbath day’s journey.
And when they had entered, they

637
00:42:19,400 –> 00:42:21,240
went up into the upper room
where they were staying.

638
00:42:21,240 –> 00:42:24,680
Peter, James, John and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholemy

639
00:42:24,680 –> 00:42:27,960
and Matthew, James the son of
Alpheus, and Simon and Zealot

640
00:42:27,960 –> 00:42:31,840
and Judas the son of James,
these all continued with one

641
00:42:31,840 –> 00:42:35,640
accord and prayer and
supplication with the women, and

642
00:42:35,640 –> 00:42:39,880
Mary the mother of Jesus with
his brothers.

643
00:42:41,920 –> 00:42:44,120
Mary is named.
Here, because she was an

644
00:42:44,120 –> 00:42:48,280
integral part of the early
ecclesia, she’s an integral part

645
00:42:48,680 –> 00:42:52,120
of that community.
And that’s.

646
00:42:52,120 –> 00:42:55,320
What God does for us.
He gives.

647
00:42:55,320 –> 00:42:59,480
Us the blessing of community.
Remember Peter?

648
00:42:59,840 –> 00:43:02,240
And don’t you love Peter?
Because he says what everybody’s

649
00:43:02,240 –> 00:43:08,760
thinking, right?
He says see we have left all and

650
00:43:08,760 –> 00:43:11,560
followed you.
And Jesus.

651
00:43:11,560 –> 00:43:15,800
Responds assuredly, I say to
you, there is no one who has

652
00:43:15,800 –> 00:43:18,840
left house, or parents or
brothers or wife or children,

653
00:43:19,200 –> 00:43:22,920
for the sake of the Kingdom of
God, who shall not receive many

654
00:43:22,920 –> 00:43:29,120
times more in this present time.
And in the age to.

655
00:43:29,120 –> 00:43:32,040
Come eternal life.
In the present.

656
00:43:32,040 –> 00:43:34,280
Time.
We’re blessed now with

657
00:43:34,280 –> 00:43:36,880
community.
We’re blessed now with brothers

658
00:43:36,880 –> 00:43:39,440
and sisters who would do
anything for us.

659
00:43:41,160 –> 00:43:42,800
You know, I look.
In the audience.

660
00:43:44,360 –> 00:43:47,240
And I see.
Brothers and sisters who have

661
00:43:47,240 –> 00:43:51,040
changed my life.
Who’ve strengthened?

662
00:43:51,040 –> 00:43:55,440
Me who’ve rejoiced with me,
mourned with me.

663
00:43:57,560 –> 00:44:00,680
I see brothers and.
Sisters that together we’ve held

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tight to the exceeding great and
precious promises that unite us

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00:44:06,240 –> 00:44:11,080
into one family.
And so brothers and.

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Sisters, let’s take Mary’s
example and appreciate each

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00:44:14,320 –> 00:44:19,200
other, appreciate our family,
appreciate our community, and

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let’s build it up as we await
his son.