Hi, this is John Eldridge, and welcome to the Ransomed Heart podcast. What we are doing over this series is

exploring the personality of Jesus from my new book, Beautiful Outlaw.

There is absolutely no one and nothing that is more captivating than Jesus when you can see him as he really is.

And to know Jesus as he really is is to fall in love with him.

So what we're doing in this series, I am reading some excerpts from a new book called

Beautiful Outlaw, discovering the playful, extravagant disruptive personality

of Jesus.

And so let's explore Jesus together.

A scandalous freedom.

Early on in the fanfare of his public appearances,

Jesus gives what will become known as the famous sermon on the mount.

This is a big moment for Jesus.

He has laid out in detail his understanding of a life that pleases God.

He has, so to speak, driven a stake in the ground. His

star is ascending, crowds are growing, and the religious leaders are watching his every move.

Watch what Jesus does next. are watching his every move.

Watch what Jesus does next.

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountain side.

Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him.

Lord, the man said, if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.

Jesus reached out and touched him. I am willing. He said, be healed. And instantly the

leprosy disappeared, Matthew 8, one through three. Now it sounds like a very nice Bible story.

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