WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:04.139 Well, you've got to be careful what you throw away, haven't you? 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:07.100 Lest you throw away more than you thought you had. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:10.000 The story goes of a couple in Las Vegas 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.500 who were queuing for too long 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:15.880 so they unwittingly tore up the winning lottery ticket 00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:15.980 ! 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:19.080 and bought an instant scratch card instead. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.940 The ticket would have been worth $900,000. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:27.080 And then a cleaner who was working in a modern art gallery 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:31.719 came across an art installation by the modern artist Paul Branca. 00:00:32.420 --> 00:00:35.960 It looked like a couple of dustbins in the corner of the room. 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:37.879 That's no comment on modern art. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:40.539 But she assumed it was literal rubbish 00:00:40.539 --> 00:00:42.159 and got rid of it. 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:44.640 And it would have been worth an absolute fortune. 00:00:45.700 --> 00:00:49.039 Or then there's the person who took an old computer 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:51.799 they found in their attic, took it to the local dump 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:53.859 and threw it in a skip. 00:00:53.859 --> 00:00:58.920 They later discovered that it was one of Apple Corporation's originals 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:01.600 made by Steve Jobs himself. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:04.180 And it was worth at least $200,000. 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:07.980 You have got to be careful what you throw away 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:09.280 and what you discard. 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:12.719 Lest you throw away more than you thought you had. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:16.099 And in this passage that we read today 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:22.599 Jesus is concerned that his listeners do not make the same mistake with him 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:24.339 and with his message 00:01:24.339 --> 00:01:29.000 of throwing away somebody who is worth more than they know. 00:01:30.199 --> 00:01:32.519 In this section in John 12 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:36.659 we're in between the two main parts of John's Gospel. 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:39.399 It's separated into two halves. 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:43.359 And this is the interval in between those two halves. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:47.739 The first half deals with the three years of Jesus' public ministry. 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:51.760 The second half deals with the last four days of his life. 00:01:53.019 --> 00:01:54.659 And we're told, aren't we, in the interval 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:59.039 that Jesus' listeners have thrown him out. 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:00.180 They've rejected him. 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:04.700 And so Jesus here, he wants to make one last 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:06.660 proclamation to them. 00:02:07.740 --> 00:02:11.240 These are Jesus' last parting words 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:14.400 before he removes himself from them 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:15.879 in his public ministry. 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:19.280 John tells us in verse 44 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:21.100 he cries out 00:02:21.100 --> 00:02:23.740 to the people who've rejected him. 00:02:24.760 --> 00:02:26.860 It just shows his patience, doesn't it? 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:27.840 And his compassion 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:31.160 for people who have turned their backs on him 00:02:31.160 --> 00:02:35.280 who reject his wonderful message and his work. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:37.560 That he doesn't finish the relationship 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:39.880 with one last jab at them 00:02:39.880 --> 00:02:42.120 with a witty retort 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.040 that have put them in their place. 00:02:45.040 --> 00:02:46.900 He is still, even now, 00:02:47.060 --> 00:02:50.160 seeking to give skeptics one last chance 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:53.579 not to make the mistake of throwing him away 00:02:53.579 --> 00:02:54.520 and his message. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:58.180 And in these six verses here 00:02:58.180 --> 00:03:00.759 he sets out, really, a summary. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:03.500 It's his final sermon to them 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:05.340 of what he is about 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:09.259 and why skeptics should believe in him. 00:03:09.519 --> 00:03:11.759 And really, they are the core elements 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:12.960 of his message 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.280 and of what Jesus is about. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.740 And it's a really dense passage. 00:03:17.740 --> 00:03:19.920 It's difficult to know what to leave out. 00:03:19.980 --> 00:03:20.920 But I just want to highlight 00:03:20.920 --> 00:03:22.540 three positive things 00:03:22.540 --> 00:03:24.680 that Jesus tells them here. 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:27.420 And we need to think as well, don't we, 00:03:27.480 --> 00:03:29.460 what Jesus is saying to us 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:31.900 lest we throw out 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:33.760 more than we thought we had in Jesus. 00:03:35.200 --> 00:03:36.520 So he says to them, 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:38.180 don't reject me 00:03:38.180 --> 00:03:40.439 because to receive me, 00:03:40.540 --> 00:03:42.020 to believe in me 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:45.219 is to believe in the one who sent me. 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:46.300 That's the first thing. 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:47.680 To believe in Jesus 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:48.820 is to believe in the one 00:03:48.820 --> 00:03:50.320 who sent Jesus. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:53.660 Now most leaders we've seen in the world 00:03:53.660 --> 00:03:55.520 are people who appeal to us 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:57.380 and they want our trust 00:03:57.380 --> 00:03:59.020 and they want our belief 00:03:59.020 --> 00:04:00.860 on the basis of their qualities, 00:04:00.980 --> 00:04:01.380 aren't they? 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:03.820 They are better at this 00:04:03.820 --> 00:04:05.080 and they're good at that. 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:07.080 They've got more YouTube subscribers 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:07.880 or whatever. 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:09.840 They are the reason 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:12.480 to talk themselves up, aren't they? 00:04:12.480 --> 00:04:13.560 For our trust. 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:15.599 But oddly, 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:18.000 Jesus' appeal for belief and trust 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.600 comes not in himself 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.759 but in his relationship 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.500 to somebody else. 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:28.540 Did you see who that other person was? 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:30.720 If you look at verse 44 again, 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:33.220 whoever believes in me 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:35.340 believes not in me 00:04:35.340 --> 00:04:38.240 but in him who sent me. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:41.040 It's very, very humble, isn't it? 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:44.019 Jesus is not like many of the leaders. 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:47.000 He's not in it for his own ego. 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:48.680 He says, 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:49.900 come to me 00:04:49.900 --> 00:04:51.460 and look at me 00:04:51.460 --> 00:04:53.800 so that you can find 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:55.199 somebody else. 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:58.600 He's not in it to build popularity 00:04:58.600 --> 00:04:59.540 for himself. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:01.540 Actually, he says, 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:02.300 I am here 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:03.620 so that you might know 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.899 and believe in somebody else as well. 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:07.560 Namely, 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:08.480 in the one 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:09.720 who sent him. 00:05:11.139 --> 00:05:11.980 He's saying, isn't it, 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:13.600 that you need to receive 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:14.180 Jesus, 00:05:14.340 --> 00:05:15.540 you need to trust in me 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:17.280 because when you're doing that 00:05:17.280 --> 00:05:18.639 you're not just dealing 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:19.899 with just me. 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:22.620 I am not a man 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:23.540 that you can take 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:24.199 or leave 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:25.100 in isolation. 00:05:26.420 --> 00:05:27.660 You don't deal with me 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:28.560 simply as a man 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.280 who knows a lot. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:32.139 I'm not simply 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:33.039 an expert 00:05:33.039 --> 00:05:34.099 in the Jewish law. 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:34.959 I'm not simply 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:36.419 a wise and loving 00:05:36.419 --> 00:05:37.699 compassionate person. 00:05:38.059 --> 00:05:38.839 I'm not simply 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:39.579 a good preacher 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:40.559 or a good teacher. 00:05:41.179 --> 00:05:42.279 You're not even dealing 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:43.519 with simply a man. 00:05:44.599 --> 00:05:45.500 But a man 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:47.079 who has been sent 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.619 by God 00:05:48.619 --> 00:05:49.399 the Father. 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:51.500 And so you need 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:52.359 to come to me 00:05:52.359 --> 00:05:53.759 because of my relationship 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:54.679 to him, 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:55.579 Jesus says. 00:05:57.019 --> 00:05:58.079 Now to use an illustration 00:05:58.079 --> 00:05:59.039 you might think of it 00:05:59.039 --> 00:05:59.839 a bit like 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:01.039 a king 00:06:01.039 --> 00:06:02.279 sending an envoy 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:03.759 to a different country 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:04.560 or a land 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:05.939 or sending 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:07.219 an ambassador. 00:06:08.539 --> 00:06:09.060 And the way 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:09.739 you treat 00:06:09.739 --> 00:06:10.619 the ambassador 00:06:10.619 --> 00:06:11.560 is the way 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:12.179 you treat 00:06:12.179 --> 00:06:13.159 the sending king, 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:13.620 isn't it? 00:06:14.099 --> 00:06:15.259 When you receive 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:16.000 the ambassador 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:17.719 you receive 00:06:17.719 --> 00:06:18.319 the sovereign 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:19.639 that he represents. 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:22.079 And so Jesus 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:22.620 is making 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:24.019 a unique claim. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:25.739 He is saying 00:06:25.739 --> 00:06:26.459 that I 00:06:26.459 --> 00:06:27.439 and my Father 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:27.939 in heaven 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:29.339 are so united 00:06:29.339 --> 00:06:30.779 and so closely 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:31.279 related 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:32.579 that when you 00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:33.800 treat one of us 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:34.660 one way 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:36.139 then the other one 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:37.100 feels it too. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:39.199 When you believe 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:39.600 in me 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.579 and when you receive 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:41.139 in me 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:42.480 you receive 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:43.199 not just me 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:43.959 but my Father 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:45.019 in heaven as well. 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:47.259 Now that has 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:48.439 implications for us 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:48.959 doesn't it? 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.339 Just imagine 00:06:51.339 --> 00:06:52.319 for a second 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:53.040 if you can 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:53.600 and the person 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:54.520 who is searching 00:06:54.520 --> 00:06:55.439 for God 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.319 and for meaning 00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:58.060 in life 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:00.240 perhaps it's a person 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:00.920 who wants to get 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:01.500 to know their 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:02.480 spiritual side 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:03.340 I've got friends 00:07:03.340 --> 00:07:04.120 like that. 00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:05.820 A person 00:07:05.820 --> 00:07:06.820 asking the big 00:07:06.820 --> 00:07:07.500 questions 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:09.300 like is there 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:09.700 a God 00:07:09.700 --> 00:07:10.340 out there? 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:12.560 And you can look 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:13.200 into the world 00:07:13.200 --> 00:07:13.740 can't you 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:14.100 and there are 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:14.720 all sorts of 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:15.720 answers around 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.160 all sorts of 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:17.600 cultures 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:18.460 and religions 00:07:18.460 --> 00:07:20.200 that dress 00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:20.780 God up 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:21.339 in different 00:07:21.339 --> 00:07:22.079 costumes 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:23.479 and give 00:07:23.479 --> 00:07:24.239 different answers 00:07:24.239 --> 00:07:25.299 to the questions 00:07:25.299 --> 00:07:26.539 that people 00:07:26.539 --> 00:07:27.479 worship different 00:07:27.479 --> 00:07:28.199 kinds of gods 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:28.799 don't they? 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:30.659 Some people 00:07:30.659 --> 00:07:31.619 worship the sun 00:07:31.619 --> 00:07:32.839 or stars 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:34.619 or ancestors 00:07:34.619 --> 00:07:36.079 or Allah 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:36.719 or Buddha 00:07:36.719 --> 00:07:38.359 or they worship 00:07:38.359 --> 00:07:39.500 no gods at all. 00:07:40.779 --> 00:07:41.399 And so on your 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:42.279 search for God 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:42.859 you might go 00:07:42.859 --> 00:07:43.399 into the world 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:44.079 you might travel 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:44.519 the world 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:45.000 you might go 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:45.579 to China 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:46.259 or India 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.799 to visit some 00:07:47.799 --> 00:07:48.219 temples 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:48.799 or you might 00:07:48.799 --> 00:07:49.239 go to the 00:07:49.239 --> 00:07:49.899 Wailing Wall 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:50.559 in Jerusalem 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:51.560 to find out 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:52.079 who this 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:52.959 God is 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.019 who is out 00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:54.759 there somewhere. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:56.920 But the 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:58.040 audacious claim 00:07:58.040 --> 00:07:58.579 that Jesus 00:07:58.579 --> 00:07:59.360 makes is that 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:00.060 you don't need 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:00.699 to do any 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:01.199 of that 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:02.800 and you don't 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:03.480 need to listen 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:04.220 to any of that 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:04.959 at all 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:07.279 to know God. 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:09.259 Notice what 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:09.800 he says in 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:10.620 verse 45 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:12.199 Whoever 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:13.560 sees me 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:15.199 sees him 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:16.060 who sent me. 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:17.980 So actually 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:18.540 the illustration 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:19.540 of the ambassador 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:20.060 is a bit 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:20.860 weak really 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.580 because Jesus 00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:23.260 is claiming 00:08:23.260 --> 00:08:23.819 here to be 00:08:23.819 --> 00:08:24.560 much much 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:25.100 more than 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:25.560 just the 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:26.360 messenger boy. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:28.400 He is saying 00:08:28.400 --> 00:08:29.360 I am the 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:30.220 embodiment 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:31.100 of this God. 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:32.779 The God 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:33.180 that you 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:34.360 cannot ordinarily 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.019 see 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:36.680 is now made 00:08:36.680 --> 00:08:37.779 visible to you 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:38.779 in me. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:40.560 I am more 00:08:40.560 --> 00:08:41.060 than just a 00:08:41.060 --> 00:08:41.820 messenger boy. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.100 I am the 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:43.720 one who 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:44.759 allows you 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:45.320 to see 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:46.200 the unseeable 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:46.680 God. 00:08:48.780 --> 00:08:49.440 But just 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:49.980 pause to 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:50.960 ask what 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:51.460 that actually 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:52.020 means. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.080 I received 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:53.800 a note in 00:08:53.800 --> 00:08:54.180 the post 00:08:54.180 --> 00:08:54.820 a while ago 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:55.200 it was a 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:56.120 sales leaflet 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:57.980 advertising 00:08:57.980 --> 00:08:59.240 a statue 00:08:59.240 --> 00:08:59.820 of Jesus 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:00.700 Christ that 00:09:00.700 --> 00:09:01.120 they wanted 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:01.700 me to buy 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:02.160 and put on 00:09:02.160 --> 00:09:02.780 my shelf 00:09:02.780 --> 00:09:03.260 at home. 00:09:03.800 --> 00:09:04.160 And the 00:09:04.160 --> 00:09:04.680 company that 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:05.180 was selling 00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:06.040 these statues 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:07.500 thought they 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:07.960 had worked 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:08.520 out what 00:09:08.520 --> 00:09:09.160 Jesus of 00:09:09.160 --> 00:09:09.580 Nazareth 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.500 looked like 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.500 using 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:12.760 records and 00:09:12.760 --> 00:09:13.380 things. 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:14.240 And so 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.740 they made 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:15.639 a representation 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:16.419 out of 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:18.019 stone so 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:18.399 that I 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.080 could see 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:19.559 Jesus' 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:20.720 face and 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.259 kind of be 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:22.379 inspired by 00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:22.679 it. 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:24.939 Now is that 00:09:24.939 --> 00:09:25.639 what Jesus 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:26.399 means when 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:26.939 he says 00:09:26.939 --> 00:09:27.820 when you 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:28.679 see me 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:29.659 you see 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:30.220 the Father? 00:09:31.539 --> 00:09:32.120 I don't 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:32.500 think it 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:32.879 is. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:34.320 Because the 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:34.740 way that 00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:35.879 Jesus reveals 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:36.740 himself is 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:37.259 not through 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:38.580 pictures and 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:39.360 images and 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:41.299 statues but 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:42.379 through words. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.820 John ends 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:45.379 his gospel 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:45.919 doesn't he 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:46.500 not by 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:47.840 saying these 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.659 things are 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:50.159 painted or 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.100 drawn or 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:53.220 sculptured but 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:53.799 he says these 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:54.220 things are 00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:55.799 written that 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:56.679 you may believe 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.360 in Jesus. 00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:58.740 And actually 00:09:58.740 --> 00:09:59.379 the whole 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.519 Bible is 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:01.480 written so 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:02.120 that we can 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:03.139 see who 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.159 Jesus is. 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:05.779 That we can 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:06.740 see what 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:07.279 he is like 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.159 as a person. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:09.720 We can learn 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:10.139 about his 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:11.779 character and 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:12.580 his ways. 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:13.939 His 00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:14.899 sovereignty, 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:15.419 his 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.039 compassion, 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:16.960 his 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:17.659 justice. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:19.659 He wants 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.159 us to do 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:20.799 more than 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.279 simply 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.439 recognise a 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:24.139 picture but 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:24.779 to get to 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:25.279 know a 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:25.879 person. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:27.759 And as we 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:28.439 do that, as 00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:29.159 we see him 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:29.659 and get to 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:30.220 know him in 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:30.740 the scripture, 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:31.620 in the Bible, 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:32.980 we are getting 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:33.960 to know this 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.620 God who is 00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:36.500 behind everything. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:38.700 As the saying 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:39.440 goes, like 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:40.960 father, like 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:41.340 son. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:42.340 God, like 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:42.519 man. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:42.740 So you 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:43.200 don't need to 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:43.700 travel the 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:44.280 world on a 00:10:44.280 --> 00:10:45.060 pilgrimage or 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:46.040 read endless 00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:46.759 books on the 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:47.300 religions of 00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:47.879 the world. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:49.000 You can come 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:49.840 to know this 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.040 God right now 00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:51.600 in Ealing. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:53.800 As you see 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:54.600 Jesus in the 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:55.320 pages of the 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:55.940 Bible, you 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:56.840 will find this 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.240 God. 00:10:58.040 --> 00:10:59.399 The one true 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:00.460 spiritual God 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.139 who is behind 00:11:01.139 --> 00:11:01.860 everything. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.120 And so if you 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:04.720 throw away 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:05.660 Jesus, you are 00:11:05.660 --> 00:11:06.400 throwing him 00:11:06.400 --> 00:11:08.220 away more than 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:08.620 you thought 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:09.180 you had. 00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:11.500 It would be 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:12.720 to throw away 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:14.060 the only way 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:15.000 of knowing the 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:15.860 glory and 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:16.940 wonder of the 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:17.720 God who made 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.500 the universe. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.759 It is to 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.460 receive the 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:22.340 one who sent 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:22.680 him. 00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:24.779 So to believe 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.460 in Jesus is 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:26.680 to receive the 00:11:26.680 --> 00:11:27.379 father, to 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:28.100 receive the 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.220 God who sent 00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:29.540 him. 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:31.180 But secondly, 00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:32.000 to believe in 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:32.720 Jesus is to 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.600 have light. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:34.700 This is the 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:35.420 second thing he 00:11:35.420 --> 00:11:36.420 says to the 00:11:36.420 --> 00:11:36.940 skeptics. 00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:37.520 Look at verse 00:11:37.520 --> 00:11:38.220 46. 00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:40.100 I have come 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:40.500 into the 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.140 world as 00:11:41.140 --> 00:11:43.060 light so 00:11:43.060 --> 00:11:43.600 that whoever 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.400 believes in 00:11:44.400 --> 00:11:45.120 me may not 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.860 remain in 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:46.420 darkness. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:47.960 Now it's 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:48.780 similar to 00:11:48.780 --> 00:11:49.440 something that 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.240 he said earlier 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.280 in John 8 00:11:51.280 --> 00:11:52.380 where he says 00:11:52.380 --> 00:11:52.780 I am the 00:11:52.780 --> 00:11:53.400 light of the 00:11:53.400 --> 00:11:53.920 world. 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:55.020 Whoever 00:11:55.020 --> 00:11:56.120 follows me 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:56.660 will not 00:11:56.660 --> 00:11:57.160 walk in 00:11:57.160 --> 00:11:57.880 darkness but 00:11:57.880 --> 00:11:58.240 will have 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:58.700 the light 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.340 of life. 00:12:01.420 --> 00:12:01.980 As you 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.780 get to know 00:12:02.780 --> 00:12:03.260 me, Jesus 00:12:03.260 --> 00:12:03.840 says, you 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.560 will get to 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:05.600 know God 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:07.279 and it 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:07.600 will be 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.180 like a 00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:08.820 light 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.399 shining on 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.120 your life. 00:12:12.180 --> 00:12:12.879 A light 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.600 that enables 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.399 you to do 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:14.940 what you're 00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.680 meant to 00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:16.220 do as a 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.040 human being 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:18.340 and to 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:19.720 not walk 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:20.580 in darkness. 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.139 The idea 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:21.779 there is of 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.300 everyday living 00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:23.759 and of 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.180 walking, 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:25.399 being a 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:25.680 human. 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:28.100 You'll 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.560 know that 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.000 we've got a 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.740 seven-month-old 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.480 at home at 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:30.759 the moment. 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:31.420 He's getting 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:32.000 pretty good at 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:32.660 night but he'll 00:12:32.660 --> 00:12:34.379 wake up and 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:34.919 quite often 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:35.600 it falls for 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.559 me to try 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:36.939 and calm 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:37.460 him down. 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:38.539 So I'll 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:38.939 go in the 00:12:38.939 --> 00:12:39.360 room where 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.019 he is and 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.840 get his 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:42.120 teddy, put 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:42.500 his dummy 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.179 in, move 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:43.539 him around 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.080 a bit, try 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:44.340 and make 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:44.620 him feel 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:44.899 better. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.100 The only 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.720 problem is 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.179 when I go 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:47.419 in the 00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:47.759 room it's 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.720 always dark. 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:49.659 We've got 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.179 those black 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.139 out blinds so 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.120 it's pitch 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:52.840 black in 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.139 there. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:54.500 And if I 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.360 try and do 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:55.759 what I'm 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.419 supposed to 00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.899 do in the 00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:58.460 dark it 00:12:58.460 --> 00:12:59.139 always goes 00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.879 very, very 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:00.320 badly. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:01.799 I'll kick 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:02.759 a toy and 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.259 it'll make a 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.240 noise, stub 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:04.879 my toe on 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.279 the chair 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.560 leg, shove 00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:07.100 the dummy 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:07.480 in his 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:09.340 eye and 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:09.680 I'll just 00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:10.299 be fumbling 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:10.879 around. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.180 See when it 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:14.120 is dark we 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.180 cannot act 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:17.360 confidently or 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.440 appropriately can 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.259 we in what 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:19.720 we're supposed 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:20.460 to be doing. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.580 And Jesus is 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:23.159 saying here the 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.240 same goes for 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:24.840 life in 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.340 general. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:26.919 Where of 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:27.360 course in 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.440 John darkness 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:29.940 darkness for 00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:31.080 him is 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:31.600 synonymous 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:32.220 with things 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:32.520 that are 00:13:32.520 --> 00:13:33.080 much more 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:33.920 sinister than 00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:34.640 what goes 00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:35.300 on in my 00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:35.940 living room 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:36.400 at night. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.760 That darkness 00:13:38.760 --> 00:13:40.960 is what we 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.160 experience before 00:13:42.160 --> 00:13:42.800 we get to 00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:43.420 know Jesus. 00:13:43.760 --> 00:13:44.500 It is our 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.480 confusion and 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.260 blindness 00:13:47.260 --> 00:13:48.020 morally. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:49.860 It is our 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.980 proneness to 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.940 living in a 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:52.420 way that is 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:54.120 muddled and 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.160 inappropriate and 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:55.960 that has many 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:57.580 many falls in 00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:58.180 the dark. 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.019 As if we 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:00.900 were living as 00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:02.000 blind people 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.820 needing to 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:05.300 know where 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:05.920 to go but 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:06.680 not being able 00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:07.280 to find the 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:07.639 way. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.280 And we're 00:14:09.280 --> 00:14:09.780 full of 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:10.860 anxieties of 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.460 things that we 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.440 can't see in 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.000 the darkness. 00:14:14.280 --> 00:14:14.700 And we're 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.940 morally confused 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.580 as to what is 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:17.220 right and to 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.920 what is wrong. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:19.720 And as we 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.620 look at society 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.340 that is a 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:21.940 really accurate 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:22.580 picture isn't 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:22.840 it? 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:24.980 But then when 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:25.700 we come to 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.500 meet Jesus 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.580 it's as if 00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:28.280 this great big 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:29.420 floodlight is 00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:30.200 switched on in 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:30.940 the living room 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:32.340 and we begin 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.040 to see the 00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:34.020 obstacles and 00:14:34.020 --> 00:14:34.920 the dangers and 00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:35.500 the things to 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.400 avoid in life. 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:38.080 And we begin 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.060 to see what is 00:14:39.060 --> 00:14:39.720 right and what 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.259 is wrong. 00:14:41.040 --> 00:14:41.540 And what is 00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:42.580 deceitful and 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.420 what is true and 00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:44.100 what is good. 00:14:45.020 --> 00:14:46.020 And we become 00:14:46.020 --> 00:14:47.240 morally cited. 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.040 And so he is 00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:50.800 the person who 00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:51.780 claims to bring 00:14:51.780 --> 00:14:52.600 us to God 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.200 and to give us 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:55.400 true enlightenment 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.340 to our 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.240 questions and 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:57.519 to our 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.319 speculations. 00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:00.120 And he will 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:00.879 keep us from 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.019 falling over in 00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:02.559 the darkest 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.539 places in our 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.059 lives. 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:06.179 To believe in 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.079 him is to 00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:07.539 have the 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:08.139 father, to 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.500 believe the 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.740 father and 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.360 it's to have 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.679 this light, the 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.539 light of life. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:14.980 But thirdly and 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.019 lastly the third 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:16.779 thing he says is 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.860 that to believe in 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.819 Jesus, to believe 00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.720 in me is to 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.360 have life. 00:15:22.199 --> 00:15:22.819 It's to have the 00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:23.640 father, to have 00:15:23.640 --> 00:15:25.180 light, it is to 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:25.920 have life. 00:15:26.140 --> 00:15:26.760 Just drop your 00:15:26.760 --> 00:15:27.620 eye to verse 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:29.060 49, just at the 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:29.379 bottom. 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.240 He says, for I 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.000 have not spoken 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.620 on my own 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.420 authority, but 00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:34.180 the father who 00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:35.820 sent me has 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:36.640 himself given 00:15:36.640 --> 00:15:37.680 me a commandment, 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:38.520 what to say and 00:15:38.520 --> 00:15:39.240 what to speak. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.780 And I know that 00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.960 his commandment 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:43.480 is eternal 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.540 life. 00:15:46.140 --> 00:15:47.480 Now, again, we 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.100 see, don't we, 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:49.220 the link between 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:50.220 the person of 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:52.600 Jesus and his 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.639 father in heaven. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.600 That not only in 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.759 his works, but in 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:58.920 his words, Jesus' 00:15:59.160 --> 00:16:00.220 message isn't 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:01.200 stuff that he's 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:03.060 just made up, or 00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:03.759 things that he 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.519 wants to say. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.680 No, he's been 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.660 given what to say, 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.540 hasn't he, by the 00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:07.980 father. 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:10.019 It's very humble 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.700 again, isn't it, 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.540 that the last thing 00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:12.420 that he says to 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:13.340 people in his 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.279 public ministry is 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.440 to discredit any 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.399 claim that he is 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.340 only speaking for 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.879 himself. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.740 He says, no, no, 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.399 it's not my 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.040 message, it's my 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:23.879 father's message 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.480 that I'm giving 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.019 to you. 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.220 But what is, what 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.220 is the foundational 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.420 word that the 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.519 father speaks 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.960 through him? 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.279 Well, we see this 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.080 word coming up 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.180 twice, don't we, 00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:38.440 in the words that 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.279 Jesus speaks. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.639 And it says, he 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.580 says there that the 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:44.040 father has given 00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:45.779 him a commandment. 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.300 See, once in 00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:48.639 verse 49, and 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.460 then in verse 50, 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.879 he has come to 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.879 give his father's 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.819 commandment. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.980 And what is that 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.799 commandment? 00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.299 Verse 50, 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:01.840 eternal life. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.240 Now, that is 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.980 strange, isn't it? 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.819 What is strange 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.500 about the way that 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:09.079 he describes this 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.759 life? 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.960 Jesus says, I've 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.720 come that people 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.700 might have life, 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:15.580 but notice he 00:17:15.580 --> 00:17:17.360 doesn't say, the 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.440 father has sent 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.319 me to give the 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.360 promise of eternal 00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:22.340 life, or the 00:17:22.340 --> 00:17:23.299 offer of eternal 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:23.840 life. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:26.100 But he's given me 00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:28.360 a commandment, the 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.180 commandment of 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.120 eternal life. 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.960 And what Jesus is 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.960 doing here is he is 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:35.240 showing us a God 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.880 who is so concerned 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:37.700 for his listeners 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.640 and for people, 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.480 that he doesn't 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.500 send Jesus to 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.860 merely suggest the 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:44.920 way to life, or 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.780 to offer the way 00:17:45.780 --> 00:17:48.640 to life, but to 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.960 command that we 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.920 believe in Jesus 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.180 and receive life in 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:53.780 his name. 00:17:54.520 --> 00:17:55.540 That is the most 00:17:55.540 --> 00:17:56.540 loving thing to do, 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:56.860 isn't it? 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.860 When God the 00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:58.700 Father knows what 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.280 we need. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.859 This is the 00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:02.519 message of God 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.660 the Father, I 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:05.519 command you to 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.339 trust in Jesus 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.299 and to receive 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:07.920 life in his 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.339 name. 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.220 They are the 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.899 words of a God 00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:11.660 who loves us 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.899 enough to 00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:14.839 command what is 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:16.660 best for us, to 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:17.420 command life. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.500 And so Jesus, in 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.519 his humility, he 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:23.039 is being extremely 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.940 positive, isn't 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.460 he, with these 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.099 people who have 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:25.920 rejected him. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.119 He is humble and 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:29.739 gentle and 00:18:29.739 --> 00:18:30.199 compassionate. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.259 He gives people 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.359 another chance. 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.379 He even says, 00:18:34.459 --> 00:18:35.179 doesn't he, I've 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:35.779 not come to 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.539 judge you. 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.739 I've come to 00:18:38.739 --> 00:18:40.319 save you, people 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.319 who have 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.079 rejected me. 00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:44.799 But, I think 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.459 there is a note 00:18:45.459 --> 00:18:46.279 of warning that 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.099 we need to see 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:48.079 before we finish, 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.399 before we close. 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.279 For there is a 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.059 warning for those 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.299 who still don't 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.519 receive him, 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.239 isn't there? 00:18:56.239 --> 00:18:56.979 And he speaks 00:18:56.979 --> 00:18:57.819 to a person who 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.079 still rejects. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.599 Jesus, if you 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.359 look at verse 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:03.879 48, there's 00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:04.599 the person, the 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.879 one who rejects 00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.279 me and does 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.239 not receive my 00:19:08.239 --> 00:19:09.500 words, has a 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:09.899 judge. 00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.879 The word that I 00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.879 have spoken will 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.659 judge him on the 00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.299 last day. 00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:17.199 One of my old 00:19:17.199 --> 00:19:18.199 tutors at college 00:19:18.199 --> 00:19:19.559 pictures the scene 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.179 in heaven. 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:20.919 I think it 00:19:20.919 --> 00:19:21.619 describes this 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.379 really well. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.159 He says, imagine 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.119 the person who 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.539 comes before God 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.539 says, I'm not 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.180 going to 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.539 judge him on 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:28.500 judgment day. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.519 And God says 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.480 to him, why 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.000 haven't you 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.619 believed in 00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:32.960 Jesus? 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.379 And the person 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.079 says, well I 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.920 didn't want to 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.619 stop doing the 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.220 things that I 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.920 wanted to do in 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.639 my life, I 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.200 just wanted to 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.019 live for myself. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.180 And God will 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:44.639 reply, well did 00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:46.500 you hear the 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.519 command that I 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.279 gave through 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.859 Jesus for 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.819 eternal life? 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:52.799 And the man 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.460 said, well I 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.220 did hear it, but 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.740 I wanted to 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.460 spend my money 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.139 and my time 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:57.740 and my life 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.559 my own way. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.200 And God 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.859 says to him, 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.799 you mean to 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.399 say that you 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:04.439 chose death and 00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:05.119 have rejected 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.960 the glorious 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.619 message of 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.200 Jesus for 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:07.960 those stupid 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.679 reasons? 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.159 And the man 00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:11.119 says, yes I 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.379 did. 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.339 And God 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.639 replies, well 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:16.059 the message 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.639 that you have 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.519 heard stands 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.119 as witness 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.819 against you 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.259 today. 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.960 And so to 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.000 throw Jesus 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.879 out may not 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.559 feel like much 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:24.919 of a big 00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:26.579 deal, but 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.059 there will 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:27.839 come a day 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.179 when we will 00:20:29.179 --> 00:20:30.159 realise just 00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:30.899 how valuable 00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.639 he and his 00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.460 message is to 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:32.819 us. 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.240 And how 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.099 wonderful his 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:35.859 message is. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.859 And that we've 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.799 thrown out much 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.439 more than we 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:40.079 knew we had 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.639 in him. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.980 And so God's 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.159 command to us 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:45.460 today, through 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.220 Jesus, is that 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.000 we do not get 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.779 to that point. 00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.599 And that we 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.799 receive him, 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:52.519 the only way 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.519 to God, and 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.700 to light in 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.619 our lives, and 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.359 to eternal 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.119 life forever 00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:58.740 with God. 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:00.679 And so let 00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.259 us do that, 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.059 shall we, in a 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.919 prayer as we 00:21:02.919 --> 00:21:03.319 close. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.019 That's great. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.079 Amen.