rec0526-113244<\/a><\/p>\n \n Introduction<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n A brutal but engrossing story, “Redemption” is an interesting and “mostly true” story.\u00a0 After it’s discovered that Jean Baptiste (played well by David H. Stephens) has been robbing the dead of their burial clothing, he’s branded, his ears are cropped and he’s sentenced to basically die on Antelope Island without food and surrounded by water that he can’t drink.<\/p>\n Henry Heath (played by John Freeman), the town sheriff and the father of a little girl who died of fever, is angry at God and at himself for mistakes he believes cost him his child. His bitter rage is pushing him away from his wife and preventing him from healing from his loss.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, he’s pained to see decent people behave so heartlessly toward a fellow being, so he brings Baptiste a little food and water when he can.<\/p>\n Although Baptiste seemingly has no redeemable qualities in the beginning, as the story progresses one cannot help but feel for “the ghoul on the island” as he scrabbles for sustenance.<\/p>\n An odd sort of friendship develops between Heath and Baptiste.<\/p>\n At the same time, townsfolk who feel their dead were desecrated cannot bear that he’s “getting away with it” and start to harrass and torment him even further.<\/p>\n Here is a story of loss, indignity, perseverance, compassion and healing.<\/p>\n As Baptiste struggles to survive, Heath learns a lesson in tolerance and is actually taught some things about life after death by this skinny, crazy man.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sheriff Heath makes a statement that rings true for all of us:<\/p>\n \u201cWe all have a history\u201d\u00a6Lord knows we do\u201d.<\/p>\n We ALL need redemption!<\/p>\n As far as I know, none of us have robbed a grave to dress ourselves this morning.\u00a0 But, before a holy God, we ALL\u201d\u201dwhatever the gory details of our own sin might be\u201d\u201dneed forgiveness for the unforgivable!<\/p>\n We all need a redemption that we can\u201d\u2122t buy!<\/p>\n The Good News is that there IS redemption through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n And the Gospel of Mark is written to introduce us to our Redeemer and to convince us that Jesus has accomplished our redemption!<\/p>\n The key verse in Mark\u201d\u2122s Gospel is\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n Mark 10:45 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 45\u00a0<\/sup>For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom<\/span><\/em><\/strong> for many.\u201d<\/p>\n Ransom is the means, according to Mark, by which Jesus achieved redemption; a ransom paid with his own life, a life of suffering service for the world that led to His sin-atoning death on the cross that was vindicated by His resurrection from the dead. Jesus paid the price required for our freedom from sin\u201d\u2122s penalty and power!\u00a0 Jesus \u201cbought us back\u201d from slavery to sin.<\/p>\n What makes Jesus qualified to be our Ransom, our Redeemer?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Why would the death of this man be so different that it would be a ransom payment to set many free?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Mark 1:1-15<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mark 1:1-15 <\/strong>(NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 1<\/sup>\u00a0This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n THIS is who Jesus is!<\/p>\n Straight up, right from the beginning of his account, Mark makes it plain just who he\u201d\u2122s talking about\u201d\u201dJesus the Messiah, the Son of God.<\/p>\n The rest of his Gospel will prove this claim.<\/p>\n You see, if Jesus is NOT \u201cthe Messiah, the Son of God\u201d, then He\u201d\u2122s not worthy of being followed and He\u201d\u2122s not able to redeem us\u201d\u201dHe doesn\u201d\u2122t have \u201csufficient funds\u201d to pay our ransom!<\/p>\n But Jesus IS an Able Redeemer, because Jesus is \u201cthe Messiah, the Son of God\u201d.<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mark gets right to the business of proving his claim in the next verse.\u00a0 And you can almost hear an elderly, but still fiery, Peter in the background spitting out these proofs rapid-fire, one right after another, to make his point.\u00a0 I suppose Mark and his quill could hardly keep up!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy<\/span><\/strong> (2-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n It began 2\u00a0<\/sup>just as the prophet Isaiah had written:<\/p>\n \u201cLook, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, I don\u201d\u2122t know about you, but 800 year old prophecies being fulfilled to the letter give me confidence on God\u201d\u2122s Word!<\/p>\n And that\u201d\u2122s just what happened when John the Baptist and Jesus showed up in Palestine!<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus was Foretold by John<\/span><\/strong> (4-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cJohn was God\u201d\u2122s bulldozer to build that highway.\u201d (Steadman)<\/p>\n 4\u00a0<\/sup>This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5\u00a0<\/sup>All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6\u00a0<\/sup>His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 7\u00a0<\/sup>John announced: \u201cSomeone is coming soon who is greater than I am\u201d\u201dso much greater that I\u201d\u2122m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8\u00a0<\/sup>I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!\u201d<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus was Favored by the Father<\/span><\/strong> (9-11)<\/strong><\/p>\n 9\u00a0<\/sup>One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10\u00a0<\/sup>As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11\u00a0<\/sup>And a voice from heaven said, \u201cYou are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.\u201d<\/p>\n Father, Son and Holy Spirit all make an appearance here, revealing very clearly that Jesus is not just a man\u201d\u201dHe is God in skin!<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus Faced the Devil<\/span><\/strong> (12-13)<\/strong><\/p>\n 12\u00a0<\/sup>The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13\u00a0<\/sup>where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.<\/p>\n Jesus faced the devil\u201d\u00a6and won!<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus Forced the Issue of God\u201d\u2122s Kingdom<\/span><\/strong> (14-15)<\/strong><\/p>\n 14\u00a0<\/sup>Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God\u201d\u2122s Good News. 15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThe time promised by God has come at last!\u201d he announced. \u201cThe Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!\u201d<\/p>\n The Message:<\/p>\n 14-15\u00a0<\/sup>After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: \u201cTime\u201d\u2122s up! God\u201d\u2122s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus\u201d\u2122 whole life was about this reality\u201d\u201dGod\u201d\u2122s kingdom has come to those who could have never found it on their own.\u00a0 Because of His crazy love for us, God has come to redeem those who have made themselves His enemies.\u00a0 All it takes is simply trusting that Jesus is an able Redeemer for you!<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/em><\/p>\n Sheriff Heath:\u00a0 \u201cWe all have a history\u201d\u00a6Lord knows we do\u201d.<\/p>\n But no matter our history, no matter our sin and failure\u201d\u00a6there is forgiveness for the unforgivable!\u00a0\u00a0 There is redemption for the unthinkable!<\/p>\n Jesus is able to redeem ANY one who will simply rest in His ransom, paid on the cross with the currency of His own life!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Mark 10:45 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 45\u00a0<\/sup>For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom<\/span><\/em><\/strong> for many.\u201d<\/p>\n You can be sure that Jesus has fully redeemed you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Message by Chad Kelly rec0526-113244 Introduction \u00a0 A brutal but engrossing story, “Redemption” is an interesting and “mostly true” story.\u00a0 After it’s discovered that Jean Baptiste (played well by David H. Stephens) has been robbing the dead of their burial … Continue reading An Able Redeemer<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n
\nand he will prepare your way.
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
\n\u201d\u02dcPrepare the way for the Lord\u201d\u2122s coming!
\nClear the road for him!\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n