Allen Jackson - The Rest of the Story (Part 1)

April 28, 2026 | 27:29

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - The Rest of the Story (Part 1) | April 28, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.383
  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world people are searching
  • 00:00:01.483 --> 00:00:03.552
  • For truth, and together we're doing our very best to help them
  • 00:00:03.652 --> 00:00:06.655
  • Find it.
  • 00:00:06.755 --> 00:00:06.889
  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
  • 00:00:07.990 --> 00:00:09.925
  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
  • 00:00:09.925 --> 00:00:13.195
  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
  • 00:00:13.195 --> 00:00:15.831
  • Sharing god's word through every available channel: television,
  • 00:00:15.831 --> 00:00:19.835
  • Radio, podcast, books, bible studies, digital
  • 00:00:19.835 --> 00:00:23.238
  • Resources, conferences.
  • 00:00:23.238 --> 00:00:25.340
  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
  • 00:00:25.340 --> 00:00:28.677
  • Audiences and to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
  • 00:00:28.677 --> 00:00:32.548
  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
  • 00:00:32.548 --> 00:00:34.716
  • Together we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
  • 00:00:34.716 --> 00:00:38.620
  • Known right here at home and around the earth wherever god
  • 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:41.824
  • Opens the door.
  • 00:00:41.824 --> 00:00:43.158
  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
  • 00:00:43.158 --> 00:00:46.328
  • The day our king returns.
  • 00:00:46.328 --> 00:00:48.630
  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner at
  • 00:00:48.630 --> 00:00:52.034
  • Allenjackson.com/partner.
  • 00:00:52.034 --> 00:00:58.540
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:01.877 --> 00:01:20.262
  • Allen: i want to kind of follow up what we did for
  • 00:01:21.830 --> 00:01:24.199
  • The weekend.
  • 00:01:24.199 --> 00:01:25.534
  • I did something this easter i've never done before.
  • 00:01:25.534 --> 00:01:26.935
  • I did three separate messages for the three services we had.
  • 00:01:26.935 --> 00:01:31.240
  • But they were all built around three centurions that was all
  • 00:01:31.240 --> 00:01:34.610
  • Stuffed onto one outline.
  • 00:01:34.610 --> 00:01:36.879
  • So, if you're here friday night, you had a moment of panic
  • 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:39.081
  • Thinking, "dear lord, we'll be here for sunrise service."
  • 00:01:39.081 --> 00:01:44.753
  • But we use those three different centurions as the theme for the
  • 00:01:44.753 --> 00:01:49.158
  • Messaging over the weekend.
  • 00:01:49.158 --> 00:01:51.693
  • I wanted to come back and kind of do the rest of the story.
  • 00:01:51.693 --> 00:01:54.997
  • We introduced three ideas that really centered on the power of
  • 00:01:54.997 --> 00:01:58.500
  • God that was demonstrated in easter, the power of choice that
  • 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:02.137
  • We're given, the power of our words, the power to change.
  • 00:02:02.137 --> 00:02:06.175
  • And while i hope that, i doubt you all heard all three
  • 00:02:06.175 --> 00:02:09.411
  • Messages, but they're available to you if you want to go back
  • 00:02:09.411 --> 00:02:11.613
  • And listen, but you're familiar with the idea.
  • 00:02:11.613 --> 00:02:14.917
  • To me, it was the oddity, the absurdity, honestly, the most
  • 00:02:14.917 --> 00:02:18.620
  • Unexpected notion that these three roman centurions, the
  • 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.924
  • Occupying army in israel, the hated interlopers, the
  • 00:02:21.924 --> 00:02:25.460
  • Oppressors, all those things, these three centurions's lives
  • 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:29.598
  • Were dramatically impacted by jesus of nazareth.
  • 00:02:29.598 --> 00:02:33.869
  • And in some cases, god used their lives to make a
  • 00:02:33.869 --> 00:02:37.539
  • Significant shift in the unfolding purposes that he had
  • 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:41.310
  • In the earth.
  • 00:02:41.310 --> 00:02:43.045
  • And i'll tag just briefly the centurion story that we looked
  • 00:02:43.045 --> 00:02:46.882
  • At and then i wanna unpack with you a little bit of the rest of
  • 00:02:46.882 --> 00:02:49.985
  • The story because we couldn't do it all this weekend.
  • 00:02:49.985 --> 00:02:54.223
  • The first centurion story we looked at was in matthew 27, and
  • 00:02:54.223 --> 00:02:57.359
  • It was the centurion that was overseeing the crucifixion.
  • 00:02:57.359 --> 00:03:00.996
  • The centurion that stood at the foot of the cross, and what i
  • 00:03:00.996 --> 00:03:03.799
  • Suggested was that i don't know him.
  • 00:03:03.799 --> 00:03:06.668
  • There's very little about him in scripture as far as personal
  • 00:03:06.668 --> 00:03:09.671
  • Character, but we can say with clarity, he had a brutal job.
  • 00:03:09.671 --> 00:03:14.276
  • He's a public executioner.
  • 00:03:14.276 --> 00:03:16.745
  • He tortures people to death, that's his day job.
  • 00:03:16.745 --> 00:03:21.149
  • And for the romans, it wasn't done in private.
  • 00:03:21.149 --> 00:03:24.152
  • It was done in public.
  • 00:03:24.152 --> 00:03:25.487
  • You wanted maximum intimidation out of crucifixion.
  • 00:03:25.487 --> 00:03:28.624
  • So, crucifixions were done--the crosses were put on major
  • 00:03:28.624 --> 00:03:31.860
  • Thoroughfares, major intersections.
  • 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:34.263
  • You wanted everybody to know that rome was imposing its will,
  • 00:03:34.263 --> 00:03:38.300
  • And if that you challenged imperial rome, you could face
  • 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:44.373
  • The horrors of crucifixion.
  • 00:03:44.373 --> 00:03:47.242
  • And this centurion that we meet, we don't know his name, but then
  • 00:03:47.242 --> 00:03:50.379
  • We're introduced to, that's his day job.
  • 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:52.748
  • So, i think it's a safe assumption.
  • 00:03:52.748 --> 00:03:54.349
  • It could be erroneous, but i think it's a safe step to say
  • 00:03:54.349 --> 00:03:58.220
  • That he was a hardened character.
  • 00:03:58.220 --> 00:04:00.088
  • I don't think you could do that day in and day out, torture
  • 00:04:00.088 --> 00:04:03.125
  • People to death without having a pretty hardened self.
  • 00:04:03.125 --> 00:04:07.796
  • Is that fair?
  • 00:04:07.796 --> 00:04:09.865
  • Maximum punishment.
  • 00:04:09.865 --> 00:04:11.233
  • You know the story.
  • 00:04:11.233 --> 00:04:12.734
  • They wanted the--jesus and those crucified with him to be dead
  • 00:04:12.734 --> 00:04:16.138
  • Before sundown.
  • 00:04:16.138 --> 00:04:18.040
  • So, the message came to break their legs as if being nailed to
  • 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:23.011
  • A cross, having been beaten beforehand wasn't
  • 00:04:23.011 --> 00:04:25.814
  • Sufficient punishment.
  • 00:04:25.814 --> 00:04:27.316
  • The death on a cross came from suffocation, typically.
  • 00:04:27.316 --> 00:04:33.188
  • Jesus was beaten to such a--in such a brutal way that he died
  • 00:04:33.188 --> 00:04:38.527
  • Before the others with him, but you would push up with your feet
  • 00:04:38.527 --> 00:04:41.396
  • In order to fill your lungs with air, you couldn't pull up.
  • 00:04:41.396 --> 00:04:46.101
  • And so, if you wanted to accelerate the death, you break
  • 00:04:46.101 --> 00:04:49.538
  • The bones in their legs where they can't pull up.
  • 00:04:49.538 --> 00:04:53.008
  • So, imagine if your day job is not just torturing people to
  • 00:04:53.008 --> 00:04:55.444
  • Death, but doing it as painfully as possible.
  • 00:04:55.444 --> 00:04:58.313
  • And if you had an early dinner appointment, inflicting some
  • 00:04:58.313 --> 00:05:02.384
  • Additional pain.
  • 00:05:02.384 --> 00:05:04.920
  • So, it's safe to say i think it's a legitimate imagination
  • 00:05:04.920 --> 00:05:07.622
  • That he was a pretty brutal character.
  • 00:05:07.622 --> 00:05:10.892
  • And he watches the events surrounding jesus.
  • 00:05:10.892 --> 00:05:12.994
  • It's in your notes, "when the centurion and those with him who
  • 00:05:12.994 --> 00:05:15.030
  • Were guarding jesus saw the earthquake and all that
  • 00:05:15.030 --> 00:05:17.766
  • Happened, they were terrified."
  • 00:05:17.766 --> 00:05:20.502
  • I mean there were tombs that split open.
  • 00:05:20.502 --> 00:05:22.371
  • It doesn't tell us explicitly that he saw that, but it says
  • 00:05:22.371 --> 00:05:25.841
  • That they saw all the things that happened around
  • 00:05:25.841 --> 00:05:28.076
  • Jesus's death.
  • 00:05:28.076 --> 00:05:29.444
  • They couldn't see the curtain being torn in two in the temple.
  • 00:05:29.444 --> 00:05:31.813
  • It was a distance away and covered by buildings
  • 00:05:31.813 --> 00:05:34.316
  • And facilities.
  • 00:05:34.316 --> 00:05:35.984
  • But it's reasonable to imagine they could have seen
  • 00:05:35.984 --> 00:05:38.253
  • Tombs opened.
  • 00:05:38.253 --> 00:05:41.189
  • And they were terrified, no, duh.
  • 00:05:41.189 --> 00:05:44.960
  • "and they exclaimed, 'surely, he was the son of god!'"
  • 00:05:44.960 --> 00:05:50.198
  • The centurion, this hardened, brutal, vicious man, when he
  • 00:05:50.198 --> 00:05:57.406
  • Sees the events surrounding jesus's death, said, "this was
  • 00:05:57.406 --> 00:06:01.510
  • The son of god.'
  • 00:06:01.510 --> 00:06:03.945
  • So, if you're a roman soldier and you're assigned the task of
  • 00:06:03.945 --> 00:06:06.214
  • Guarding a prisoner, if a prisoner escapes, you'll
  • 00:06:06.214 --> 00:06:09.384
  • Be killed.
  • 00:06:09.384 --> 00:06:12.654
  • So, there's some risk for him in acknowledging that what the
  • 00:06:12.654 --> 00:06:16.625
  • Roman governor has ordered to be done was to crucify the son of
  • 00:06:16.625 --> 00:06:20.328
  • God, and he says it out loud.
  • 00:06:20.328 --> 00:06:23.832
  • I mean, there's a transformation unfolding in his heart.
  • 00:06:23.832 --> 00:06:26.935
  • And again, he's the least likely character because of the nature
  • 00:06:26.935 --> 00:06:30.005
  • Of his job, the nature of his own personality.
  • 00:06:30.005 --> 00:06:33.241
  • He isn't jewish, he has no claims on the jewish.
  • 00:06:33.241 --> 00:06:35.644
  • I mean, there's no reason that he's so impacted by the
  • 00:06:35.644 --> 00:06:39.548
  • Circumstances surrounding jesus's brutal death on the
  • 00:06:39.548 --> 00:06:42.551
  • Cross, he said, "surely, surely this man was the son of god."
  • 00:06:42.551 --> 00:06:48.056
  • He hasn't witnessed any of the miracles.
  • 00:06:48.056 --> 00:06:50.425
  • He hasn't heard any of the teaching, he just watched
  • 00:06:50.425 --> 00:06:53.228
  • Jesus die.
  • 00:06:53.228 --> 00:06:59.434
  • That's matthew 27.
  • 00:06:59.434 --> 00:07:01.670
  • Matthew 28, same author, continuity of story.
  • 00:07:01.670 --> 00:07:07.042
  • You know, every--the bible and the new testament is written by
  • 00:07:07.042 --> 00:07:11.012
  • Multiple authors.
  • 00:07:11.012 --> 00:07:12.347
  • So, sometimes when you change authors, you have to pay
  • 00:07:12.347 --> 00:07:15.083
  • Attention to definitions.
  • 00:07:15.083 --> 00:07:17.285
  • How paul uses faith and how james uses faith is different.
  • 00:07:17.285 --> 00:07:22.290
  • And you have to pay a little attention to the interface
  • 00:07:22.290 --> 00:07:25.026
  • Sometimes, but in this case, this is matthew's telling of
  • 00:07:25.026 --> 00:07:29.064
  • Jesus's story, and in matthew 27, he dies.
  • 00:07:29.064 --> 00:07:33.068
  • In matthew 28, it says, "while the women were on their way,"
  • 00:07:33.068 --> 00:07:36.438
  • They're on their way back to find the disciples.
  • 00:07:36.438 --> 00:07:38.773
  • They've gone to the tomb early on resurrection day and they
  • 00:07:38.773 --> 00:07:43.378
  • Have found the tomb empty.
  • 00:07:43.378 --> 00:07:46.381
  • And they've had some supernatural encounters and
  • 00:07:46.381 --> 00:07:48.583
  • They're back to go find the guys who didn't go to the tomb and
  • 00:07:48.583 --> 00:07:53.889
  • Tell them what's happened.
  • 00:07:53.889 --> 00:07:55.790
  • Well, "some of the guards went into the city and reported to
  • 00:07:55.790 --> 00:07:58.159
  • The chief priest everything that had happened.
  • 00:07:58.159 --> 00:08:00.996
  • And when the chief priest had met with the elders and devised
  • 00:08:00.996 --> 00:08:05.267
  • A plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling
  • 00:08:05.267 --> 00:08:09.471
  • Them, 'you are to say, 'his disciples came during the night
  • 00:08:09.471 --> 00:08:11.907
  • And stole him away while we were asleep.
  • 00:08:11.907 --> 00:08:14.943
  • And if this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him
  • 00:08:14.943 --> 00:08:18.146
  • And keep you out of trouble.'"
  • 00:08:18.146 --> 00:08:19.481
  • That's a pretty bold promise because if they allowed an
  • 00:08:19.481 --> 00:08:22.517
  • Assignment like that to be breached, they would pay for it
  • 00:08:22.517 --> 00:08:25.287
  • With their lives.
  • 00:08:25.287 --> 00:08:28.456
  • Do you understand?
  • 00:08:28.456 --> 00:08:30.191
  • They wouldn't be just demoted, they wouldn't forfeit their
  • 00:08:30.191 --> 00:08:32.394
  • Pension, they would kill them.
  • 00:08:32.394 --> 00:08:35.997
  • But the--what intrigues me with that, if you read just the plain
  • 00:08:35.997 --> 00:08:39.834
  • Language, verse 12, the chief priest met with the elders and
  • 00:08:39.834 --> 00:08:43.505
  • They devised a plan.
  • 00:08:43.505 --> 00:08:44.839
  • The message that's been brought back is there was
  • 00:08:44.839 --> 00:08:47.375
  • A resurrection.
  • 00:08:47.375 --> 00:08:49.744
  • The tomb is empty, there was an earthquake.
  • 00:08:49.744 --> 00:08:52.881
  • The stone was rolled away.
  • 00:08:52.881 --> 00:08:55.417
  • He walked out.
  • 00:08:55.417 --> 00:08:56.785
  • Remember if--i didn't--we don't have time to unpack all of the
  • 00:08:56.785 --> 00:09:00.021
  • Verses around that.
  • 00:09:00.021 --> 00:09:01.356
  • The soldiers were knocked to the ground.
  • 00:09:01.356 --> 00:09:04.626
  • The centurion that oversaw the crucifixion has declared, "he's
  • 00:09:04.626 --> 00:09:08.430
  • The son of god."
  • 00:09:08.430 --> 00:09:09.798
  • I promise you that message resonated through those troops
  • 00:09:09.798 --> 00:09:12.567
  • That have responsibility for watching over the body of jesus.
  • 00:09:12.567 --> 00:09:17.005
  • And all of this messaging is taken to the chief priest and to
  • 00:09:17.005 --> 00:09:19.874
  • The elders and their response, "well, we need a plan.
  • 00:09:19.874 --> 00:09:28.717
  • We've got to counteract this unfortunate set
  • 00:09:28.717 --> 00:09:30.885
  • Of circumstances.
  • 00:09:30.885 --> 00:09:33.321
  • We will pay you to lie.
  • 00:09:33.321 --> 00:09:37.325
  • We don't want you to tell what you know to be accurate."
  • 00:09:37.325 --> 00:09:42.664
  • Well you--i hope you can see the irony in this, the bizarre
  • 00:09:42.664 --> 00:09:47.669
  • Nature of this.
  • 00:09:47.669 --> 00:09:49.037
  • A roman centurion with the brutal heart of a public
  • 00:09:49.037 --> 00:09:51.640
  • Executioner says, "this is the son of god."
  • 00:09:51.640 --> 00:09:57.545
  • And the chief priest and the elders when confronted with the
  • 00:09:57.545 --> 00:10:01.650
  • Facts from a credible set of sources say, "oh, bother
  • 00:10:01.650 --> 00:10:07.555
  • The facts.
  • 00:10:07.555 --> 00:10:08.923
  • We need a plan to maintain our position."
  • 00:10:08.923 --> 00:10:14.863
  • That's not what you would expect.
  • 00:10:14.863 --> 00:10:18.833
  • That doesn't follow a logic thread.
  • 00:10:18.833 --> 00:10:22.504
  • They're waiting for the messiah.
  • 00:10:22.504 --> 00:10:23.972
  • They're experts on scripture.
  • 00:10:23.972 --> 00:10:25.407
  • They know the prophets, they know the jesus narrative.
  • 00:10:25.407 --> 00:10:28.643
  • They know of the miracles and the crowds and all the things,
  • 00:10:28.643 --> 00:10:32.147
  • And they stubbornly refuse to change to the point that they're
  • 00:10:32.147 --> 00:10:38.053
  • Willing to go to the roman governor with lies and deception
  • 00:10:38.053 --> 00:10:42.023
  • And manipulation, and to expend a significant amount of money to
  • 00:10:42.023 --> 00:10:45.060
  • Pay bribes to keep the narrative alive that they want kept alive.
  • 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:51.433
  • You know, we live in an age of great deception, and between
  • 00:10:51.433 --> 00:10:56.004
  • Here and the end of the age when our lord returns, there's gonna
  • 00:10:56.004 --> 00:10:59.240
  • Be the greatest falling away apostasy in the history of
  • 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:02.744
  • Our faith.
  • 00:11:02.744 --> 00:11:06.081
  • There will be false gospels and false prophets and false
  • 00:11:06.081 --> 00:11:09.384
  • Churches and all the things.
  • 00:11:09.384 --> 00:11:12.787
  • And we're gonna act as if we're appalled.
  • 00:11:12.787 --> 00:11:15.623
  • I answer lots of questions between the various places i'm
  • 00:11:15.623 --> 00:11:18.493
  • Engaged and one of the questions i get very frequently is, "you
  • 00:11:18.493 --> 00:11:20.995
  • Know, well, what will we do?
  • 00:11:20.995 --> 00:11:22.363
  • How will we--what?
  • 00:11:22.363 --> 00:11:25.200
  • Pastor."
  • 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.536
  • And i'm like, we will trust the lord.
  • 00:11:28.536 --> 00:11:35.443
  • You see, we've trusted governments and all the things,
  • 00:11:35.443 --> 00:11:38.012
  • The lord will lead us through.
  • 00:11:38.012 --> 00:11:42.684
  • The letters in the new testament paul is writing to these
  • 00:11:42.684 --> 00:11:45.086
  • Churches that he helped birth and shepherd, and he said, "you
  • 00:11:45.086 --> 00:11:48.089
  • Know, when i leave, i know that false teachers will come amongst
  • 00:11:48.089 --> 00:11:52.293
  • You like ravenous wolves."
  • 00:11:52.293 --> 00:11:55.263
  • Ravenous wolves.
  • 00:11:55.263 --> 00:11:56.631
  • Ever seen a--i haven't been around a ravenous wolf.
  • 00:11:56.631 --> 00:11:59.234
  • I've been around some mean dogs.
  • 00:11:59.234 --> 00:12:04.038
  • You know, i've had a rottweiler had my thigh in its mouth.
  • 00:12:04.038 --> 00:12:06.975
  • It's not a particularly pleasant experience.
  • 00:12:06.975 --> 00:12:12.647
  • And we're gonna have to mature a little bit, but this first
  • 00:12:12.647 --> 00:12:15.750
  • Centurion has a life changing--he chooses to declare
  • 00:12:15.750 --> 00:12:19.454
  • That jesus is the son of god, and the chief priest and the
  • 00:12:19.454 --> 00:12:23.358
  • Elders devise a plan to create further deception.
  • 00:12:23.358 --> 00:12:29.697
  • You better decide which side you're gonna be on, you have a
  • 00:12:29.697 --> 00:12:33.234
  • Choice to make.
  • 00:12:33.234 --> 00:12:35.637
  • You have a choice to make.
  • 00:12:35.637 --> 00:12:36.971
  • You can further your career, you can further your momentum of
  • 00:12:36.971 --> 00:12:40.175
  • Your whatever.
  • 00:12:40.175 --> 00:12:42.477
  • Or you can fully align yourself with the lord, i would encourage
  • 00:12:42.477 --> 00:12:45.213
  • You to do so.
  • 00:12:45.213 --> 00:12:46.915
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:46.915 --> 00:12:51.219
  • Allen: i have a childhood memory i wanna share with you.
  • 00:12:53.188 --> 00:12:55.056
  • It was our kitchen table.
  • 00:12:55.056 --> 00:12:56.424
  • I've got two younger brothers.
  • 00:12:56.424 --> 00:12:58.193
  • We gathered around the table, and my parents were
  • 00:12:58.193 --> 00:13:00.395
  • Consistently, persistently inviting guests to dinner, you
  • 00:13:00.395 --> 00:13:04.299
  • Know, practicing that notion of hospitality.
  • 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:06.835
  • My brothers and i weren't always excited about it, but i realized
  • 00:13:06.835 --> 00:13:09.704
  • That we had a front row seat for expressions of the kingdom
  • 00:13:09.704 --> 00:13:12.907
  • Of god.
  • 00:13:12.907 --> 00:13:14.242
  • We can still do the same.
  • 00:13:14.242 --> 00:13:15.610
  • Imagine your kitchen table as an expression of god's love in
  • 00:13:15.610 --> 00:13:18.746
  • This generation.
  • 00:13:18.746 --> 00:13:20.114
  • God's moving in the earth, let's join him.
  • 00:13:20.114 --> 00:13:22.717
  • Announcer: hospitality doesn't have to be complicated.
  • 00:13:22.717 --> 00:13:25.553
  • Sometimes it begins with inviting someone to your
  • 00:13:25.553 --> 00:13:27.522
  • Kitchen table.
  • 00:13:27.522 --> 00:13:29.190
  • To help you get started, we've created a tools for
  • 00:13:29.190 --> 00:13:31.559
  • Hospitality set.
  • 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:33.094
  • It includes a custom kitchen towel that reminds you sweet
  • 00:13:33.094 --> 00:13:35.697
  • Tea, pecan pie, and your god story make a difference.
  • 00:13:35.697 --> 00:13:38.933
  • It also has three favorite recipes from pastor allen and
  • 00:13:38.933 --> 00:13:42.003
  • Some tips that will help make hospitality a little bit easier.
  • 00:13:42.003 --> 00:13:45.473
  • Request the tools for hospitality set with your gift
  • 00:13:45.473 --> 00:13:47.842
  • Of $25 or more at allenjackson.com
  • 00:13:47.842 --> 00:13:51.179
  • Or call...
  • 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:53.748
  • Allen: the second centurion we looked at is the centurion in
  • 00:13:55.183 --> 00:14:00.255
  • Capernaum, it's where jesus moved to when he was ready to
  • 00:14:00.255 --> 00:14:04.092
  • Begin his public ministry, it's a little jewish fishing village.
  • 00:14:04.092 --> 00:14:08.529
  • What makes it significant is its location.
  • 00:14:08.529 --> 00:14:10.865
  • It's on the largest freshwater source in the entire region,
  • 00:14:10.865 --> 00:14:14.168
  • The sea of galilee, and because of that, it's on a major
  • 00:14:14.168 --> 00:14:17.605
  • Roman highway.
  • 00:14:17.605 --> 00:14:18.940
  • If you were gonna travel through the middle east, you're gonna
  • 00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:21.276
  • Pass capernaum.
  • 00:14:21.276 --> 00:14:22.644
  • If you're gonna move from egypt in the south to assyria or the
  • 00:14:22.644 --> 00:14:25.647
  • Babylonian areas, if you're gonna move through that fertile
  • 00:14:25.647 --> 00:14:28.516
  • Crescent, you're gonna pass through or pass near capernaum.
  • 00:14:28.516 --> 00:14:33.154
  • So, jesus made a strategic move from nazareth, a village of
  • 00:14:33.154 --> 00:14:37.292
  • Maybe 1500 people when he was there, tucked away in the hills
  • 00:14:37.292 --> 00:14:40.161
  • Of galilee to a major roman highway on a water source.
  • 00:14:40.161 --> 00:14:46.100
  • So, i'm not surprised that there's a roman centurion
  • 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:48.403
  • Quartered there.
  • 00:14:48.403 --> 00:14:49.938
  • They need security.
  • 00:14:49.938 --> 00:14:52.106
  • They're gonna have to maintain order.
  • 00:14:52.106 --> 00:14:54.242
  • In the excavations at capernaum, the romans put mile markers.
  • 00:14:54.242 --> 00:14:57.412
  • You know, we have mile markers on the interstate.
  • 00:14:57.412 --> 00:14:59.847
  • They had mile markers along the roman roads cut in stone, and
  • 00:14:59.847 --> 00:15:04.319
  • They found those mile markers there at capernaum.
  • 00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:07.055
  • So, jesus strategically relocates when it's time for his
  • 00:15:07.055 --> 00:15:10.525
  • Public ministry to unfold.
  • 00:15:10.525 --> 00:15:12.093
  • It's gonna be easier for his reputation to get established.
  • 00:15:12.093 --> 00:15:15.396
  • And in capernaum, there's a centurion asking for help.
  • 00:15:15.396 --> 00:15:20.802
  • You know this story, most of you, pretty well, they said,
  • 00:15:20.802 --> 00:15:22.804
  • "'lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed.'
  • 00:15:22.804 --> 00:15:26.841
  • And jesus said, 'i'll go and heal him.'"
  • 00:15:26.841 --> 00:15:30.778
  • It's--jesus turns away.
  • 00:15:30.778 --> 00:15:33.147
  • Remember the woman that came to jesus and said, "i need
  • 00:15:33.147 --> 00:15:35.483
  • Your help.
  • 00:15:35.483 --> 00:15:36.851
  • I have a child."
  • 00:15:36.851 --> 00:15:38.186
  • And what did jesus say? no.
  • 00:15:38.186 --> 00:15:41.656
  • No, he said it wouldn't be right to take the food that's meant
  • 00:15:41.656 --> 00:15:45.159
  • For children and give it to the dogs.
  • 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:48.997
  • There's no language thing that makes that easier.
  • 00:15:48.997 --> 00:15:51.299
  • Jesus called that woman a dog.
  • 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:54.669
  • I mean, he was rebuffing her.
  • 00:15:54.669 --> 00:15:57.705
  • And some of you remember the woman said, "well, lord, even
  • 00:15:57.705 --> 00:15:59.374
  • The dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table."
  • 00:15:59.374 --> 00:16:02.276
  • She wasn't offended, she wasn't angry, she was desperate, and
  • 00:16:02.276 --> 00:16:06.014
  • Jesus said, "you have answered very well."
  • 00:16:06.014 --> 00:16:09.984
  • Your prayer's been heard.
  • 00:16:09.984 --> 00:16:11.753
  • And this roman centurion comes and says, "i need help," and
  • 00:16:11.753 --> 00:16:15.323
  • Jesus said, "okay."
  • 00:16:15.323 --> 00:16:17.592
  • No explanation really given.
  • 00:16:17.592 --> 00:16:18.960
  • I mean, there's--but the centurion is the striking part.
  • 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:22.764
  • The centurion replied, "lord, i don't deserve to have you come
  • 00:16:22.764 --> 00:16:25.500
  • Under my roof.
  • 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.834
  • Just say the word and my servant will be healed."
  • 00:16:26.834 --> 00:16:28.703
  • And you--and you know the balance of it.
  • 00:16:28.703 --> 00:16:30.071
  • He said, "i understand authority."
  • 00:16:30.071 --> 00:16:31.472
  • He said, "i have authority.
  • 00:16:31.472 --> 00:16:32.807
  • I tell a soldier to go someplace and do something, and they do
  • 00:16:32.807 --> 00:16:36.210
  • What i tell them to do, or i tell a servant to come help me,
  • 00:16:36.210 --> 00:16:39.113
  • And they come and help me."
  • 00:16:39.113 --> 00:16:41.215
  • He said, "i recognize in you an authority that i don't have.
  • 00:16:41.215 --> 00:16:43.885
  • I command soldiers.
  • 00:16:43.885 --> 00:16:45.219
  • I command people, you command sickness and disease.
  • 00:16:45.219 --> 00:16:49.457
  • And if you'll say the word, my servant will be healed.
  • 00:16:49.457 --> 00:16:52.460
  • I don't deserve you to have you to come under my roof."
  • 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:55.129
  • Now, that's a stunning--this is the authority.
  • 00:16:55.129 --> 00:16:59.934
  • He's the expression of roman power in this community.
  • 00:16:59.934 --> 00:17:04.372
  • He doesn't bow his knee to itinerant jewish rabbis.
  • 00:17:04.372 --> 00:17:11.312
  • In fact, jesus really shouldn't be interacting with him, and he
  • 00:17:11.312 --> 00:17:14.849
  • Certainly shouldn't be humbling himself before jesus.
  • 00:17:14.849 --> 00:17:19.487
  • All the roles in this little scenario reversed.
  • 00:17:19.487 --> 00:17:23.825
  • And yet, he recognizes in jesus, an authority.
  • 00:17:23.825 --> 00:17:27.295
  • He says, "i'm a man with authority.
  • 00:17:27.295 --> 00:17:28.729
  • I have some real authority.
  • 00:17:28.729 --> 00:17:30.064
  • I got some stroke.
  • 00:17:30.064 --> 00:17:35.870
  • But you have an authority i don't have."
  • 00:17:35.870 --> 00:17:39.440
  • And jesus--it's fascinating, he says that jesus was astonished.
  • 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:44.278
  • Astonished.
  • 00:17:44.278 --> 00:17:46.147
  • He was astonished by the disciples several times.
  • 00:17:46.147 --> 00:17:48.149
  • He looked at him and said, "are you really that dull?"
  • 00:17:48.149 --> 00:17:52.987
  • If you're gonna astonish jesus, let me suggest you, astonish him
  • 00:17:52.987 --> 00:17:55.756
  • With your faith, not your lack of.
  • 00:17:55.756 --> 00:18:00.461
  • And he turned around and he said, "i haven't found faith
  • 00:18:00.461 --> 00:18:02.530
  • Like this in all of israel, not amongst my disciples, not
  • 00:18:02.530 --> 00:18:05.800
  • Amongst the chief priests.
  • 00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:07.335
  • I haven't found faith like this anywhere amongst my own people,
  • 00:18:07.335 --> 00:18:10.671
  • Those who eat kosher, those who celebrate holidays, those who go
  • 00:18:10.671 --> 00:18:14.475
  • To temple, those who offer sacrifices.
  • 00:18:14.475 --> 00:18:16.978
  • Nowhere have i found faith like this."
  • 00:18:16.978 --> 00:18:21.749
  • Which is very offensive to say to the people.
  • 00:18:21.749 --> 00:18:24.519
  • And we have no real explanation.
  • 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:26.020
  • We don't know how this centurion arrived at this insight, this
  • 00:18:26.020 --> 00:18:30.424
  • Understanding, this revelation.
  • 00:18:30.424 --> 00:18:34.729
  • And i think it's a message to us.
  • 00:18:34.729 --> 00:18:36.731
  • I find that god often works in the lives of
  • 00:18:36.731 --> 00:18:38.833
  • Unlikely characters.
  • 00:18:38.833 --> 00:18:41.369
  • I have been doing ministry for a bit and i have come to the
  • 00:18:41.369 --> 00:18:44.872
  • Realization that i can't determine the people that will
  • 00:18:44.872 --> 00:18:47.842
  • Cooperate with god and the ones who won't.
  • 00:18:47.842 --> 00:18:51.279
  • I'm often amazed the people that i think will cooperate with god
  • 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.148
  • That would be such good candidates, are more reluctant.
  • 00:18:54.148 --> 00:18:58.352
  • And sometimes, i think the people that, oh god, surely you
  • 00:18:58.352 --> 00:19:00.688
  • Wouldn't, they choose the lord with an enthusiasm, and
  • 00:19:00.688 --> 00:19:06.961
  • Transformation unfolds and god uses their lives in the most
  • 00:19:06.961 --> 00:19:09.764
  • Remarkable ways.
  • 00:19:09.764 --> 00:19:12.667
  • I wanna be in that group.
  • 00:19:12.667 --> 00:19:15.136
  • I wanna be in that group.
  • 00:19:15.136 --> 00:19:16.504
  • So, i think about these people a lot.
  • 00:19:16.504 --> 00:19:17.838
  • I wanna be more like that centurion.
  • 00:19:17.838 --> 00:19:20.841
  • Well, i wanna understand your authority.
  • 00:19:20.841 --> 00:19:24.078
  • I wanna have faith in you.
  • 00:19:24.078 --> 00:19:25.513
  • I wanna know--i wanna believe what you can do.
  • 00:19:25.513 --> 00:19:32.153
  • He receives the miracle he came asking for.
  • 00:19:32.153 --> 00:19:34.855
  • It's a stark contrast to me, to luke 13.
  • 00:19:34.855 --> 00:19:38.793
  • And i think if you--if you don't intentionally put them alongside
  • 00:19:38.793 --> 00:19:41.395
  • One another, you can lose the wonder and the majesty of what
  • 00:19:41.395 --> 00:19:46.500
  • Happened in that man's life.
  • 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:49.003
  • But, i don't know if he was on the sermon on the mount or the
  • 00:19:49.003 --> 00:19:51.305
  • Periphery of the sermon on the mount and he heard that, or
  • 00:19:51.305 --> 00:19:54.275
  • I don't know if he had somebody that he knew that had
  • 00:19:54.275 --> 00:19:56.577
  • Received him.
  • 00:19:56.577 --> 00:19:57.912
  • I don't know what--we're not told.
  • 00:19:57.912 --> 00:19:59.280
  • Luke's a physician.
  • 00:19:59.280 --> 00:20:00.615
  • I think if luke had access to the facts, he would have told
  • 00:20:00.615 --> 00:20:02.717
  • Us, but he didn't.
  • 00:20:02.717 --> 00:20:12.426
  • In luke 13 it says: "on a sabbath jesus was teaching in
  • 00:20:12.426 --> 00:20:14.962
  • One of the synagogues, and a woman was there who'd been
  • 00:20:14.962 --> 00:20:16.897
  • Crippled by a spirit for eighteen years."
  • 00:20:16.897 --> 00:20:20.835
  • That's a long time.
  • 00:20:20.835 --> 00:20:25.039
  • "and she was bent over and she couldn't straighten up.
  • 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:27.008
  • And when jesus saw her, he called her forward and he said
  • 00:20:27.008 --> 00:20:29.043
  • To her, 'woman, you're set free from your infirmity.'
  • 00:20:29.043 --> 00:20:33.381
  • And he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up
  • 00:20:33.381 --> 00:20:35.616
  • And praised god."
  • 00:20:35.616 --> 00:20:37.818
  • Yay god!
  • 00:20:37.818 --> 00:20:39.720
  • They're in a synagogue on a sabbath, that's roughly the
  • 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:43.424
  • Equivalent of--i mean, i know it's not exactly apples to
  • 00:20:43.424 --> 00:20:45.960
  • Apples, but it's the--it's the rough equivalent of being in
  • 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.263
  • A church for a worship service.
  • 00:20:49.263 --> 00:20:52.867
  • And a woman is healed and she's giving glory to god.
  • 00:20:52.867 --> 00:20:59.073
  • Good for her.
  • 00:20:59.073 --> 00:21:01.008
  • She's had a problem for 18 years and she's set free.
  • 00:21:01.008 --> 00:21:05.046
  • But verse 14, it says, "indignant because jesus had
  • 00:21:05.046 --> 00:21:10.918
  • Healed on the sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the
  • 00:21:10.918 --> 00:21:13.721
  • People," who is--who is it that's indignant?
  • 00:21:13.721 --> 00:21:17.925
  • The synagogue leader.
  • 00:21:17.925 --> 00:21:21.829
  • He's indignant.
  • 00:21:21.829 --> 00:21:25.232
  • He--and it's--luke tells us why he's indignant, because jesus
  • 00:21:25.232 --> 00:21:29.870
  • Had healed on the sabbath.
  • 00:21:29.870 --> 00:21:33.074
  • See, there's a--there's a whole host of sabbath rules.
  • 00:21:33.074 --> 00:21:36.644
  • The ten commandments says, "keep the sabbath holy."
  • 00:21:36.644 --> 00:21:38.679
  • That's all it says.
  • 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:41.482
  • So, the rabbis posed the question, the people posed the
  • 00:21:41.482 --> 00:21:43.984
  • Question: what does it mean to keep the sabbath holy?
  • 00:21:43.984 --> 00:21:46.687
  • And from that question has grown by the time jesus arrived, a
  • 00:21:46.687 --> 00:21:50.691
  • Whole body of rules about what it is to keep the sabbath holy,
  • 00:21:50.691 --> 00:21:54.795
  • According to the rabbis.
  • 00:21:54.795 --> 00:21:57.865
  • And one of the most consistent conflicts that jesus finds he
  • 00:21:57.865 --> 00:22:01.435
  • Bumps into are sabbath rules.
  • 00:22:01.435 --> 00:22:05.005
  • And he--you know, we find him saying that, you know, you've
  • 00:22:05.005 --> 00:22:07.508
  • Made rules to protect your idea of the sabbath.
  • 00:22:07.508 --> 00:22:10.344
  • They have very little to do with god.
  • 00:22:10.344 --> 00:22:14.915
  • But it's a--very much a living corpus.
  • 00:22:14.915 --> 00:22:17.385
  • It's very much a living body of regulations to the point that
  • 00:22:17.385 --> 00:22:21.288
  • This man is indignant.
  • 00:22:21.288 --> 00:22:22.623
  • A woman who is a part of his synagogue that he's known for
  • 00:22:22.623 --> 00:22:27.661
  • However long he's been there to be infirmed, and she's healed,
  • 00:22:27.661 --> 00:22:31.132
  • And he's not celebrating, he's indignant.
  • 00:22:31.132 --> 00:22:39.607
  • That's a very different response than the roman centurion.
  • 00:22:39.607 --> 00:22:43.444
  • The roman centurion says, "listen, i understand authority.
  • 00:22:43.444 --> 00:22:45.546
  • I've got some authority, but i don't have the same kind of
  • 00:22:45.546 --> 00:22:47.481
  • Authority you've got.
  • 00:22:47.481 --> 00:22:48.816
  • You've got an authority i don't even understand, but if you will
  • 00:22:48.816 --> 00:22:51.419
  • Use your authority, it'll bring great benefit to my life.
  • 00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:54.422
  • Would you please do that?
  • 00:22:54.422 --> 00:22:55.756
  • I don't deserve to have you come in my home.
  • 00:22:55.756 --> 00:22:57.625
  • I'm not worthy of having you under my roof.
  • 00:22:57.625 --> 00:23:01.695
  • I'm clearly an interloper.
  • 00:23:01.695 --> 00:23:03.164
  • I'm an outsider.
  • 00:23:03.164 --> 00:23:04.498
  • Would you please?"
  • 00:23:04.498 --> 00:23:08.035
  • And now we find a synagogue ruler who's indignant because
  • 00:23:08.035 --> 00:23:12.106
  • Someone he's charged with serving, benefits from god.
  • 00:23:12.106 --> 00:23:20.181
  • See, our words matter.
  • 00:23:20.181 --> 00:23:22.450
  • We write our futures with what we choose to believe.
  • 00:23:22.450 --> 00:23:26.420
  • Now, i know you can take that and do some goofy things
  • 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:29.156
  • With it.
  • 00:23:29.156 --> 00:23:31.859
  • I--but i wanna finish it, "indignant because jesus healed.
  • 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:34.695
  • And the synagogue ruler said to the people, "there are six days
  • 00:23:34.695 --> 00:23:36.897
  • For work, you come and be healed on those days."
  • 00:23:36.897 --> 00:23:41.035
  • What a happy, happy man. [congregation laughing]
  • 00:23:41.035 --> 00:23:46.106
  • It's a really sharp contrast with this roman centurion, this
  • 00:23:46.106 --> 00:23:49.143
  • Pagan, this godless man that we don't know that he knows
  • 00:23:49.143 --> 00:23:52.480
  • Anything about the decalogue or the books of moses or--i
  • 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:55.349
  • Mean, we don't know, he just knows that jesus has authority.
  • 00:23:55.349 --> 00:23:58.152
  • And this man, with all the things that shape his life and
  • 00:23:58.152 --> 00:24:01.055
  • His belief system, he's indeed--he said, "listen, you
  • 00:24:01.055 --> 00:24:03.524
  • Got six days, you can't get better."
  • 00:24:03.524 --> 00:24:06.193
  • She's been sick for 18 years, knucklehead.
  • 00:24:06.193 --> 00:24:13.634
  • And the lord answers him, this is intriguing to me.
  • 00:24:13.634 --> 00:24:16.804
  • Jesus answers this man, for all of you who say, you know, "jesus
  • 00:24:16.804 --> 00:24:20.107
  • Is all about love.
  • 00:24:20.107 --> 00:24:22.877
  • Group hug."
  • 00:24:22.877 --> 00:24:26.013
  • Jesus says to this man, and it seems to me from the context
  • 00:24:26.013 --> 00:24:30.150
  • He's in the synagogue, "you hypocrite!
  • 00:24:30.150 --> 00:24:35.155
  • Don't each of you on the sabbath untie your ox or your donkey
  • 00:24:35.155 --> 00:24:37.758
  • From the stall and lead it to give it water?"
  • 00:24:37.758 --> 00:24:40.427
  • The answer would be, yes, they take care of their livestock.
  • 00:24:40.427 --> 00:24:43.097
  • It's like managing your investments in an
  • 00:24:43.097 --> 00:24:45.065
  • Agricultural environment.
  • 00:24:45.065 --> 00:24:46.400
  • Your livestock is your investment.
  • 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:51.305
  • "then shouldn't this woman, a daughter of abraham, whom satan
  • 00:24:51.305 --> 00:24:53.974
  • Has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the
  • 00:24:53.974 --> 00:24:56.410
  • Sabbath from what bound her?"
  • 00:24:56.410 --> 00:24:58.779
  • His opponents are humiliated.
  • 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:02.416
  • But the people were delighted.
  • 00:25:02.416 --> 00:25:03.751
  • It doesn't say his opponents were repentant.
  • 00:25:03.751 --> 00:25:07.855
  • So, we have a roman centurion, a pagan occupying soldier.
  • 00:25:07.855 --> 00:25:14.094
  • Hated by the broad majority of the people.
  • 00:25:14.094 --> 00:25:16.897
  • With greater insight and understanding into the person
  • 00:25:16.897 --> 00:25:19.533
  • And authority of jesus than the synagogue ruler.
  • 00:25:19.533 --> 00:25:23.904
  • You need that idea tucked away in your heart.
  • 00:25:23.904 --> 00:25:27.541
  • Because as we walk towards the end of the age, when we say god
  • 00:25:27.541 --> 00:25:30.444
  • Is moving in the earth, he's going to move in ways that are
  • 00:25:30.444 --> 00:25:33.714
  • Not going to arrive from the delivery systems that we would
  • 00:25:33.714 --> 00:25:36.450
  • Have imagined.
  • 00:25:36.450 --> 00:25:38.519
  • Church history supports that.
  • 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:43.090
  • Typically revivals, awakenings, i don't like most of that
  • 00:25:43.090 --> 00:25:46.126
  • Language because they come with so many preconceptions, but when
  • 00:25:46.126 --> 00:25:49.530
  • God initiates change, it often happens on the periphery.
  • 00:25:49.530 --> 00:25:54.268
  • Because the institutional expressions of faith are so
  • 00:25:54.268 --> 00:25:57.871
  • Buttoned down with their own agendas, there's not room for
  • 00:25:57.871 --> 00:26:01.909
  • The breath of the spirit of god.
  • 00:26:01.909 --> 00:26:06.313
  • We don't want to do that.
  • 00:26:06.313 --> 00:26:09.316
  • We don't want to do that.
  • 00:26:09.316 --> 00:26:11.986
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:11.986 --> 00:26:18.359
  • Allen: you know, i've often said that what happens in the
  • 00:26:18.425 --> 00:26:20.094
  • White house is not more important than what happens in
  • 00:26:20.094 --> 00:26:22.463
  • Your house.
  • 00:26:22.463 --> 00:26:23.797
  • I have an assignment if you'll accept it.
  • 00:26:23.797 --> 00:26:25.299
  • Imagine your kitchen table as an expression of the love of god to
  • 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:28.902
  • Our generation.
  • 00:26:28.902 --> 00:26:30.237
  • Let's start to practice hospitality from the inside out,
  • 00:26:30.237 --> 00:26:32.673
  • From our kitchen table to our neighbors, our friends.
  • 00:26:32.673 --> 00:26:36.110
  • God will meet us in that place as we take those simple steps of
  • 00:26:36.110 --> 00:26:39.113
  • Obedience, honor him at our kitchen table, and we can join
  • 00:26:39.113 --> 00:26:42.549
  • With what god is doing in the earth.
  • 00:26:42.549 --> 00:26:44.485
  • Now, that is an opportunity.
  • 00:26:44.485 --> 00:26:47.354
  • Announcer: some of life's most meaningful moments happen around
  • 00:26:47.354 --> 00:26:49.823
  • A kitchen table.
  • 00:26:49.823 --> 00:26:51.158
  • That's where stories are shared and faith is passed from one
  • 00:26:51.158 --> 00:26:54.128
  • Generation to the next.
  • 00:26:54.128 --> 00:26:55.629
  • To help you welcome others for a meal, we've created a tools for
  • 00:26:55.629 --> 00:26:58.565
  • Hospitality set.
  • 00:26:58.565 --> 00:26:59.933
  • It includes a custom kitchen towel, three of pastor allen's
  • 00:26:59.933 --> 00:27:02.803
  • Favorite recipes, and some simple tips you can use to help
  • 00:27:02.803 --> 00:27:05.773
  • Your guests feel at home.
  • 00:27:05.773 --> 00:27:08.575
  • Request your tools for hospitality set with your gift
  • 00:27:08.575 --> 00:27:11.045
  • Of $25 or more at allenjackson.com.
  • 00:27:11.045 --> 00:27:16.283
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:18.585 --> 00:27:18.585