Beyond the Boundaries // Bread Bath and Beyond // Feb 1 2026

``What are the lessons God wants us to hear and learn from? So then I started wondering what boundaries does Jesus set? And then I realized the real question is what boundaries does Jesus ignore? Because it really seems most of the time Jesus is constantly crossing boundaries that everyone's telling him, well, you can't do that. You're not supposed to do that. You're doing that in the wrong day. You're doing that to the wrong people. Jesus, you can't do that. [00:21:35] (38 seconds)  #JesusCrossesBoundaries

But as we think about this, these are internal boundaries we set up and things that we see people are struggling with, but I think there are times when whole groups of us start having problems with unclean spirits of some sort or another affecting whole groups of people. If we look at history, we've got witch trials, we have inquisitions, we have crusades, we have lynching mobs, we have riots, And we can look through history and see politicians and leaders that have set certain groups against other groups of people and separated people. We even have a phrase for it, divide and conquer. Make people feel different from each other. Create boundaries. [00:16:31] (49 seconds)  #BreakTheDivide

Sometimes we say it's mental health. Sometimes I think there might still be demons around. I have certainly had an experience where I was with someone who was thrashing and screaming and spitting and biting and doing terrible things, and my husband was there with me, and we were trying to figure out something to do, and we ran out of ideas. And I hate to say this is the last thing we tried, but we decided to pray in the name of Jesus. If all else fails, use Jesus. And the minute we said Jesus name, this person started thrashing and making sounds that, to be honest, didn't sound human. But they calmed down. [00:14:58] (40 seconds)  #PrayerHeals

But I started reading this book last night and it says the boundary between life and death. And all I could think of was, boy, that's a boundary we don't like thinking about very much. And as I was thinking about boundaries for today's message, there's a lot of boundaries that we set up in our lives. Now the boundary of life and death is one that we will all face at some time, but most of the time, we live our days without thinking about it. [00:05:24] (33 seconds)  #FacingMortality

As I was reading this story this week, I tried to think about being in the synagogue when Jesus is there reading and teaching. We hear that the people were amazed at the authority that Jesus had as he was talking to them at the synagogue. Amazed. Now in Deuteronomy, we read about how the people asked for God to send someone to lead us and teach us, send a prophet who knows something and can help us out. And God sends Jesus, and then they're like, wow. This guy knows stuff. Well, you asked for someone who knew stuff, and god came through. [00:08:55] (42 seconds)  #AmazedByJesus

And one of the guys, he had a really nice conversation with. And while hanging on the cross, that criminal said, Jesus, I believe. And what did Jesus say? Well, I've got this boundary issue. No. Jesus says, today, you will be with me in paradise. [00:25:08] (23 seconds)  #GraceAtTheCross

What if when the holy spirit comes upon us during this meal through the presence of Jesus in the cup and the bread, what if we bring that and cross every boundary we have ever set up in our lives so all can know the grace of Jesus in their lives? Amen. [00:29:17] (24 seconds)  #TableWithoutBoundaries

And then we get this guy coming in with an unclean spirit or filled with evil spirits or demonic depending on which translation you're looking at. This guy recognizes Jesus, and the spirits in him call out Jesus as the holy one of God. Now the people of Israel, God's chosen people, they don't recognize who Jesus is, But the demons in this disruptive neighbor who shows up and start yelling, they know exactly who Jesus is. [00:10:41] (34 seconds)  #EvenDemonsKnowJesus