Matthew 11
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Mat 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Mat 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
Mat 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
That is what men are doing today. They have began to “look for another”.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
The world has gotten another Jesus. The churches have gotten another Jesus. Many Christians have gotten another Jesus.
But me and you know that this isn’t the same Jesus. Because he is our friend.
He wrote me 66 letters telling me all about him. So I know the counterfeit when I see it. And they don’t have the same Jesus.
We know that if it is the same Jesus Christ that he would do things just like he did in these 66 letters.
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
He doesn’t change. 2,000 years later “this same Jesus” is coming in like manner as they seen him go.
2,000 years have past and he’s still “the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever.”
If you have familiarized yourself with the scriptures than you know you friend. You can spot a counterfeit when you see one.
And a tribulation saint will know that the antichrist isn’t “this same JESUS”. Because that fake Jesus won’t “come in like manner”.
The fake friend we see in churches today isn’t operating “in like manner” as our FRIEND that we read about in the scriptures.
What kind of FRIEND is JESUS?
A FRIEND WITH PROOF
John is in prison and he is starting to get “offended”. Maybe even wrestling with a little bit of doubt. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus “art thou he that should come or do we look for another?”
Mat 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Go and “shew John again”. He’ll do it again for you, he’s the SAME NOW AS THEN! It’s the same Jesus.
Jesus performs these signs in front of John’s disciples. He knows the “jews require a sign” before 1 Corinthians 1:22 has even been written.
He says…
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Jesus Christ is a friend with proof. He is the messiah with scripture to back it.
Jesus does these miracles to prove to the Jews that he is the promised one that is fulfilling the scriptures.
Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Jesus Christ is pretty much letting John know that he is who he says he is. He has sympathy on him because he is suffering persecution for his name sake.
He doesn’t want John to be offended because of the situation he is in, so he says…
Mat 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Every Christian will eventually be offended! John was. Paul was.
2Co 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
So John was in prison for preaching against Herod having his brother’s wife.
But Jesus Christ is…
A FRIEND IN PRISON
John came preaching the kingdom of heaven. He was looking forward to the kingdom, not the CROSS!
He was expecting JESUS CHRIST to TAKE OVER and set up the kingdom on earth.
Now he is in prison and JESUS CHRIST and his followers are being persecuted by the religious crowd.
John was getting a little impatient. He’s trying to hurry up the process.
But the whole time , The LORD was with him even in prison.
The apostle Paul counted it an honour to be called “a prisoner of Jesus Christ”.
Phm 1:9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
The LORD will be with you in prison just like he is at home. Don’t be offended if you suffer persecution for his name. Be happy about it.
Richard Wurmbrand preached JESUS in prison. He said “if you were caught preaching in prison than you received a severe beating. “ He decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching. It was a deal. “We preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.”
Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Your friend will go with you to prison.
Gen 39:20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph
The LORD is not only with you “IN PRISON” but he took your hell on the cross, which is called PRISON!
When he was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights he “preached to the spirits IN PRISON!”
Mat 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Notice that Jesus Christ doesn’t bash his preacher friend John the Baptist even though he is in prison.
He doesn’t have anything negative to say about John, even though John asked the question “should we look for another?”
John wasn’t a “reed shaken with the wind”. He wasn’t going to say he was sorry for preaching Jesus Christ even though he was in prison.
Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
John didn’t have “soft raiment”. He had on a leather girdle and camel’s hair.
He wasn’t getting the best dressed award. Half the preachers wouldn’t let him preach because he didn’t even own a suit and a tie.
Luk 7:25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
The LORD not only doesn’t bash John while he’s in prison, but he COMPLIMENTS HIM! That is a true friend.
He describes how much of a rough character that John is.
Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
John was “more than a prophet”. He wasn’t just any prophet. He was the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
He wasn’t just any prophet, he would have been the second coming of Elijah if Israel would have received JESUS CHRIST.
Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
John is the one “of whom it is written” in…
Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
John is much more than “just a prophet”. The LORD speaks highly of believers even during times of their weakness. (If you interpret John as doubting here) (I’m not exactly sure of John’s feelings in this moment, just kind of speculating.)
Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Imagine having the LORD say this about you specifically. He’s not just any prophet. Among those “born of women” there hath not risen a “greater than John the Baptist.”
But if your born again, your new nature isn’t “born of women”, you are “born of God” and are a “son of God.”
John wasn’t “born again”. He wasn’t a “son of God”. He was a “friend of the bridegroom”(JESUS)
Your “new man” is greater than John the Baptist because it has the “righteousness of Jesus Christ”.
Those in the future “kingdom of heaven” on earth are “greater than he”. That should tell you what it’s going to be like in the millennium.
They will have the law wrote in their hearts in mind. They will see the glorified LORD Jesus on the throne. They won’t be having to preach and be persecuted at the same time.
There will be no doubt about who Jesus is when you can go to JERUSALEM and see him on the throne.
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
This shows you the “kingdom of heaven” Is a physical kingdom that you can see.
Because the “violent take it by force” and it “suffereth violence”.
Remember the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom that you can’t see.
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Sometimes the kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven are mentioned interchangeably. This isn’t because they are the same. It is because our best FRIEND is the king of both kingdoms.
When he is on this earth both kingdoms are present. When we go into the millennium both kingdoms will merge.
Jesus will reign over a physical kingdom on earth, there is your kingdom of heaven. And there will be millions of born again believers of the body of Christ on earth reigning with him. That is your kingdom of God.
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Jesus Christ is a friend with proof. He is a friend in prison. He is also..
A FRIEND DURING PROPHECY UNFOLDING
The LORD is about to explain how John will fulfill prophecies about Elijah coming back, IF the Jews will receive Jesus Christ and his kingdom.
Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
This marks an obvious division in scripture. For all of those who do not believe that there are divisions, here is an obvious one.
Here are plain divisions that can be concluded just from this verse.
It says “and the law prophesied until John”. Well we know that there was a time BEFORE THE LAW.
Because…
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
- You have a time BEFORE THE LAW. That is a plain division.
- You have a time during the law. There is another plain division.
- All the prophets and the law prophesied UNTIL JOHN. There is another division. The time of John the Baptist & Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry seems to be its own little dispensation.
- Then we know the New Testament doesn’t official start until JESUS dies on the cross. (Hebrews 9:16) This is where the way to get into the body of CHRIST was made possible.
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
- You have a time of transition after the cross in the book of Acts. This is where Israel gets one final shot at accepting Jesus Christ. Of course, they reject Stephen’s message in Acts 7. So the CHURCH AGE becomes an official thing after that fact. This doesn’t mean the body of Christ started in Acts 7, but the option was open for the church age to never take place up until Acts 7.
- Since the Jews rejected, the kingdom is postponed, and this gives us a parenthetical period of time called “the church age”. During this time Israel is “blind in part”.
- When the body of Christ is complete, you’ll have the rapture of the church and in comes “Daniel’s 70th week” where God will once again deal with Israel.
- After this you have the MILLENNIUM.
- Then the ages of ages and eternity.
Those are just some of the more obvious divisions in the scriptures.
Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Our friend JESUS CHRIST is a “prophet like unto Moses”. He is our friend in prophecy unfolding.
He never skipped out on any of the prophecies. All of the Old Testament prophecies about him came to pass.
All of the prophecies he gives during his earthly ministry will come to pass.
And he says if they will RECEIVE IT, receive the kingdom.(vs12) Than John the Baptist IS ELIJAH!
But they didn’t receive it! Therefore ELIJAH has to come back in the tribulation time period before the coming and dreadful day of the LORD. And you read about him in Revelation 11 as one of the two witnesses.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
This is one of the reasons I don’t believe the 3 1/2 years of JESUS earthly ministry fulfilled the first part of Daniels 70th week. The things that would have been fulfilled by the Jews accepting JESUS as messiah, didn’t get fulfilled. Even though they were in place to be fulfilled, like John being ELIJAH!
So they must be fulfilled during that future time period.
Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
If you have a really good friend in this life, when he talks, YOU LISTEN! When our best FRIEND talks, the LORD JESUS, you need to pay ATTENTION!
Jesus is a Friend. He is…
A Friend With PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!
Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
A “feller” is someone who chopped down trees. It’s someone who “Hews or knocks down”. So when they hung out I guess they called each other “feller”.
In the south a lot of times people don’t refer to me by my name…they just say “that little feller over there”. The saying came from the Bible.
Then I guess it turned into “fellows”.
Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Mat 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
He’s saying the generation is CHILDISH! They are like children “sitting in the markets”.
Mad at people for not dancing as they PIPED. And mad at the people for not lamenting as they mourned.
As believers we don’t get EXCITED and DANCE at the things the world does. We don’t get mournful and lament over the same things they do.
They have DIFFERENT PRIORITIES!
And if you hang around the devil’s friends more than you do JESUS friends than your priorities will get crooked.
For example…
I get 1,000x more excited over a brand new wide margin Bible than I would going to an NFL game. Now, the world wouldn’t understand that.
I get a lot more grieved over the death of a lost sinner, that I don’t even know,..than I would about my own pet dying. The world doesn’t look at things like that.
Hang around JESUS and you’ll wind up with better priorities. Your mind will begin to think ETERNALLY and not TEMPORALLY!
Jesus is a FRIEND OF PUBLICANS AND SINNERS!
You know how I’m high school some people wouldn’t be associated with you because you didn’t have the right clothes, the right car, the right family?
Jesus isn’t like that. He will eat with anybody. He would be so lenient about who he ate with that the cool kids made fun of him. The Pharisees.
They would accuse him of sinning and participating in sinful activities because the publicans and sinners sat down with him and he didn’t get up and move.
Just because your eating with somebody doesn’t mean your doing what they are doing. Just because you knock on a drug dealers door doesn’t mean your getting drugs.
The Pharisees made fun of John and falsely accused him as well. His ministry was a bit different than Jesus. He was more ultra separated. He didn’t eat with publicans and sinners, since he was like Elijah he probably didn’t really eat with anybody.
He probably ate out there in the wilderness and the ravens probably brought him locusts dipped in honey.
But this is what John and the LORD’s accusers said about them…
Mat 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
The first thing your going to notice is that ACCUSERS LIE! Do you know what the devil is called in Revelation 12:10? The “accuser of the BRETHREN!”
Just because someone said something doesn’t make it true. Just because someone said something in the Bible, doesn’t mean God approves of what they said.
For example, when the serpent said to Eve “thou shalt not surely die”, the Bible recorded it but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a LIE! The Bible is the TRUTH! But it also records the things that sinful men say and what the father of lie’s says.
When they said John “hath a devil”, that was a LIE! The Holy Spirit gave you the truth of what John the Baptist was filled with…The Holy Spirit told you in Luke 1:15 that “he was filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb”.
That is the statement concerning John from the Holy Spirit. Who should we believe, the Spirit or the Pharisees?
Now, what did they say about Jesus?
Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
When Jesus came “eating and drinking” this doesn’t mean he came DRINKING FERMENTED ALCOHOL! That is just what his ACCUSERS SAID…
What did they say?
“Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners”.
You say “why would they call him a winebibber if he wasn’t drinking strong drink?”
Well why would they call him “gluttonous” then? If these things are true about JESUS CHRIST than the Bible is in error and he wasn’t sinless.
And if these things are true than he would have been stoned under the law.
Deu 21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
When Jesus came “eating and drinking” with publicans and sinners this doesn’t mean he was drinking “strong drink”. Why would he do that when the scriptures forbid it?
Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Solomon wrote that. You know something about our friend is that when he came on the scene he said “a GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE”.
Solomon had enough wisdom to know strong drink is wrong. So the LORD has enough wisdom and understanding to know it’s WRONG and NOT TO DO IT!
So if your one of these people going around saying “Jesus drank alcohol” to justify yourself drinking it than your way off.
Not to mention there are two kinds of wine in the Bible, old wine and new wine. Isaiah 65:8 says “new wine is found in the cluster”. It is grape juice.
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
New wine is grape juice. It can’t be fermented when it bursts out of the presses.
Jesus did eat with PUBLICANS AND SINNERS. Do you know who Jesus came to save? Sinners.
The ones accusing him didn’t really believe they were sinners.
Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
You can look at people who are drunks, druggies, fornicators, and look really bad in the flesh. Most times they receive a message of truth a lot better than the religious crowd like the Pharisees.
He’s a “friend of Publicans and sinners.”
A FRIEND WHO PREACHES AT ME
Everybody has a friend that always gives them advice or try’s to tell them how to fix things in their life.
Most times that is the person that cares about you more than anybody else.
And many times you’ll say “ok I get it, now quit preaching at ME!”
Jesus Christ should be your MAIN FRIEND who PREACHES AT YOU!
And preaches at ME!
When I read the Bible, Jesus is PREACHING AT ME!
Mat 11:20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
He is “upbraiding” the cities. That means to charge with something WRONG or disgraceful.
And you as a sinner are eventually going to do something wrong or disgraceful.
Jesus went through doing all these mighty works and still they REPENTED NOT in these cities.
Many times a lost person can have numerous miracles and close calls and still “the goodness of God” didn’t “lead them to repentance”. They just kept on in unbelief.
Many times a saint can get out in the world and the LORD keeps whipping him, long-suffering with him, and still HE REPENTS NOT! He never gets back in fellowship.
All I can say is “woe unto you”.
That is what our friend says as he is PREACHING AT YOU!
Mat 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
If Tyre and Sidon would have had JESUS CHRIST preaching and healing all over the place, they would have repented along time ago.
Mat 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
Once again we see there are going to be different degrees of punishment given out at the judgment. This could be apply to the “judgment of the nations”, in terms of locations being judged, which takes places right before JESUS sets up his kingdom. Or could also be referring to the great white throne judgment which takes place after the millennium for individuals.
Since Chorazin and Bethsaida had the preaching and mighty works of JESUS before their eyes, it won’t be very tolerable for them at the judgment.
Mat 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Capernaum had “exalted” themselves. That is what the devil did in Isaiah 14. He said “I will exalt myself.” Yet he will be “brought down to hell to the sides of the pit”.
Even Sodom would have gotten right if they saw the mighty works of the LORD.
Mat 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
More tolerable for a bunch of violent sex perverts than for a bunch of religious hypocrites who see Jesus Christ work miracles and still reject him.
Jesus never ceased to preach hell, the truth, and judgment. No holding back.
A FRIEND OF PLAIN MEN
Mar 12:37 And the common people heard him gladly.
The plain, common, ordinary, average, every day person that you run into would hear Jesus gladly.
It was the worldly wise, smart, philosophying, geniuses who didn’t like the LORD.
You’ll find that the best preachers are common men who don’t try to sound smart.
Paul said…
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
God wants it so simple that a child can get it. Sure he throws some deep stuff in the scriptures that causes you to study. But the COMMON MAN can study and learn the deep stuff.
It isn’t made in a way that you have to be a genius to grasp it.
The LORD JESUS is glad that things had been hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes.
If you open the Bible, read it, and believe it than you are going to be a lot smarter and wiser than the college professors.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Mat 11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Without Jesus Christ you can’t know the father. If you deny the father than you don’t know the son.
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Unless JESUS CHRIST reveals it to you, you don’t know the father. Without Jesus Christ, you can’t know God.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
A FRIEND WHO PERSUADES
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
People are “heavy laden” because “the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:5).
People are “heavy laden” because they haven’t “laid aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, “ (Hebrews 12:1)
So our friend says “COME UNTO ME”. He can take the weight off of you.
It’s nothing for him, he will carry the “government on his shoulders”.
He’s so strong and powerful that one of the only things he can’t do is “make a rock so heavy that he can’t lift it”. Because that would be LOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE!
So he says “come unto me all ye that labour”.
One of the LORD’s favorite words is COME! He is giving you an invitation. Our friend PERSUADES you because he wants every man to come to repentance.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
When Noah finished the ark in Genesis 7:1 the LORD said..COME!
Gen 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
At the rapture the LORD will say “COME UP HITHER!”
We have a friend who persuades. He says…
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
He wants you to take his yoke on you. The yoke is shaped like a cross.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The LORD wants hard workers. But the LORD’s hard workers have “rest for their SOULS!” Revelation 14:11 shows there is no rest for the souls of evil workers.
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Our friend is persuading you to come and work with him. His YOKE IS EASY because when you can’t pull anymore he starts pulling all the weight. His burden is light because he carries it all on his back.
It’s like when you help a few strong people carry a couch, they are really doing all the heavy lifting..you just have your hands under it.
