I'm really glad to be back. I missed you guys a ton.

Though I am a little disappointed, not many of you have pointed out my tan or said anything about it.

So I'm looking forward to hearing more after my teaching just about just the things you've seen and missed.

We are going to pick back up in the book of Matthew this evening continuing on in our story.

And the good news is this week will be a bit more PG and a lot more wholesome.

Now in case you missed it last week, Josh Porter was here and he taught about the tragic death of John,

the Baptist, the faithful prophet, cousin and friend of Jesus.

And no doubt John's death painted for us this really clear picture of the world in which Jesus found himself in a place

where the kingdom of God was at odds with both the political government and its leaders.

And hopefully you remember that John's rejection and ultimate death by the hands of the state

was more than just an isolated event. It would also serve as a force

shadowing for Jesus' own death. And it would reveal to us the readers both the realities and the cost

of truly following Jesus of life in the kingdom of God, all of which sets the stage for tonight's teaching.

So turn with me in your Bibles if you will to Matthew chapter 14.

Now while you're turning there so quickly because you're very big Bible scholars, I remember.

Allow me to offer you just a quick reminder about what we're getting into.

Remember that what we're reading is a biography. It's a recording of something that actually happened

and it's something that's being passed on to us. Matthew is our author and he's written in such a way

that his readers would find themselves actually in the story of Jesus and be made to ask again and

again what do I think about this man and his claims to be king. Now in the beginning of Matthew's

gospel we find Jesus doing all these really cool things, he's teaching, he's healing, he's casting out

demons, he's working with the poor and the marginalized, all very sexy and really beautiful and

...