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<v SPEAKER_00>Welcome back, my friends, to the Spray UMC Podcast.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is Hoyt, and I'm so glad you're here.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today we continue our walk through the Apostles' Creed, a confession that has carried the church for nearly 2,000 years.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So far, we've looked at God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today we move deeper into the mystery of Jesus, his coming into the world, his humanity, his suffering, and his mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today we focus on three lines that move us from Christ's birth to his suffering and his purpose.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate.

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<v SPEAKER_00>These lines take us from the cradle to the cross, from divine glory to human pain, and show us a Savior who enters every part of our experience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let's walk through them one at a time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One, conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is fully God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This line tells us that the story of Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem, it began in eternity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Holy Spirit overshadows Mary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The eternal word of God becomes flesh.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Creator steps into creation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Think about that for just a moment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one who spoke light into existence entered the darkness of this world.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one who measured the oceans became an infant held in his mother's arms.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one who created humanity chose to become one of us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That is not weakness, that is love.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is not myth, not symbolism, not poetic language.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It is the bold Christian claim that God Himself entered the human story.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If Jesus is not conceived by the Holy Spirit, then he is just another teacher, just another prophet, just another moral voice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But because he is conceived by the Holy Spirit, he carries the authority, the power, and the very nature of God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Salvation is possible because Jesus is fully divine.

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<v SPEAKER_00>two, born of the Virgin Mary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is fully human.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just as the first line guards his divinity, this one guards his humanity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus did not float above the world.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He was born into it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He had a mother, he had a childhood, he knew hunger, thirst, fatigue, joy, and grief, everything we face.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God did not save us from a distance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He stepped into our skin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He walked our roads, he felt our pain.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Whatever you've carried, Jesus understands.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you've wept, he's wept.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you've been rejected, he was rejected.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you've been exhausted, he grew weary too.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We never pray to a Savior who cannot understand.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He became like us so that we could become like him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because he is born of Mary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He stands beside us, fully God and fully man.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Suffered number three, suffered under Pontius Pilate.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus came with a purpose.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This line anchors the gospel in history.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pontius Pilate was a real Roman governor with real political power in a real moment of history.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Creed refuses to let us treat Jesus as legend.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His suffering happened under a real authority in a real courtroom with real consequences.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why does the creed highlight suffering?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because the mission of Jesus was not simply to teach or heal, but to save.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The salvation required suffering, not accidental suffering, but intentional suffering.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Suffering he walked toward, suffering he chose.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No one forced Jesus to the cross.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He could have walked away, but love held him there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Love for his father, love for the world, love for you, and love for me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Under Pilate, Jesus is rejected by earthly power and accepted by divine purpose.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He suffers not because he is weak, but because his love is strong.

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<v SPEAKER_00>These three lines protect the heart of the gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is fully God, able to save.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is fully human, able to represent us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus suffers, able to redeem us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is Christianity in one movement.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God lowers Himself to lift us up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He enters our world to bring us into His.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He suffers injustice to bring us justice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He bears our sin to give us His righteousness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The story of Jesus is not simply inspirational, it is transformal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let us pray.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord Jesus, conceived by the Spirit, born of Mary, and faithful even unto suffering, thank you for stepping into our world and taking on our flesh.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for choosing the path of love, not comfort, the path of obedience, not self-protection, the path of the cross, not the path of ease.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Help us follow you with gratitude, with trust, and with courage.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for joining me today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you do not have a church home, we would love to have you worship with us at Spray United Methodist Church, located at 803 Morgan Road in Eden, North Carolina.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We are a loving church where we love God and love people, all people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Until next time, may the grace of God rise before you and keep you safe.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Goodbye.