WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.379 Is the Bible hate literature? 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:09.380 It's a serious question. 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:13.460 Is the Bible, in particular the Gospels, 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:15.480 in particular the Gospel of John, 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.820 is it an example of anti-Semitic literature 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:21.019 and therefore hate literature? 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:26.140 The official body of the Anglican Church 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:27.640 in the United States of America 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:29.379 at their official convention 00:00:29.379 --> 00:00:31.859 their highest governing body 00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:32.960 in their meeting in June 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:35.560 declared that the Bible was anti-Semitic 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:37.280 or that parts of it were anti-Semitic. 00:00:37.339 --> 00:00:38.420 In fact, they were declaring 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:40.439 that the Bible was hate literature. 00:00:41.519 --> 00:00:43.759 I have heard priests in this diocese 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:46.439 tell us just very casually 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:48.759 that the Gospel of John in particular 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:50.140 is anti-Semitic. 00:00:50.599 --> 00:00:52.039 In other words, that it's hate literature. 00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:56.159 I think if you're a Christian 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:59.140 just to even hear that somebody would say that 00:00:59.140 --> 00:01:00.520 that would claim to be a Christian 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:03.200 to say that the Bible is anti-Semitic 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:05.420 would make you very upset. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:06.719 It makes me upset. 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:08.640 But that is, in fact, 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:10.680 what the Anglican Church in the United States 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.579 has declared at its governing body. 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:15.519 The text today, 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:17.960 the Gospel text that we look at today, 00:01:17.960 --> 00:01:21.519 brings this question as to whether or not 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.500 the Bible is the Gospel in particular 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:25.280 is hate literature. 00:01:25.479 --> 00:01:26.739 It brings it right to the fore. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.759 And some of you who've been here 00:01:30.759 --> 00:01:31.939 these last couple of weeks, 00:01:32.039 --> 00:01:33.239 I've been challenging us 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:35.459 about how our culture, in fact, 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:37.899 is sort of bipolar 00:01:37.899 --> 00:01:39.199 when it comes to the Bible. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:39.939 On one level, 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:41.599 it wants to treat the Bible 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:42.859 like it's a pious book 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:44.140 and has problems with it 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:46.679 because the Bible's not pious all the time. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:48.000 And on the other hand, 00:01:48.039 --> 00:01:49.000 there's those in our culture 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:50.959 who would gladly agree with what the, 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:52.959 in fact, see what Cusa just did 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:54.299 in the States as being heroic, 00:01:54.459 --> 00:01:56.400 to recognize that it's hate literature 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:57.900 and our culture is schizoid. 00:01:58.359 --> 00:01:59.939 And today we're going to look at the text 00:01:59.939 --> 00:02:02.939 and see whether or not this is true. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:04.140 In fact, I would suggest, 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:05.140 as you would well imagine, 00:02:05.260 --> 00:02:07.099 that it's not the Bible 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:08.180 that has the problem, 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.099 but that it's us, 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:12.120 that we have a hard time 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:14.520 accepting the full claims of Jesus. 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:18.040 If what Jesus says is, 00:02:18.920 --> 00:02:20.540 what Jesus says today 00:02:20.540 --> 00:02:22.140 in this passage in the Gospel, 00:02:22.700 --> 00:02:25.000 just as Athanasius pointed out 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.840 in the 300s, 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:30.439 17 centuries ago, 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:34.580 if what Jesus says is true, 00:02:35.140 --> 00:02:37.580 he can only possibly be God. 00:02:37.760 --> 00:02:40.280 And if Jesus is not actually God 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:41.900 and he says the things that he says he is, 00:02:41.900 --> 00:02:43.099 then he's either insane 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:45.780 or he's either a terrible charlatan 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:48.780 because Jesus makes the deepest claims 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:50.620 about himself today. 00:02:50.860 --> 00:02:52.240 So let's please turn in your Bibles 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:53.500 to page 923. 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:56.960 And we're looking at John 16, 00:02:57.140 --> 00:02:58.819 John chapter 5, verse 16. 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:03.340 And those of you who know the Bible well, 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.379 or those of you who were here last week, 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:06.520 know that last week, 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:08.580 Jesus did the healing of the man at Bethesda, 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:09.580 the pool at Bethesda. 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:14.240 And it ends up with the religious leaders 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.580 and authorities being very upset with Jesus 00:03:16.580 --> 00:03:19.260 because he healed somebody on the Sabbath 00:03:19.260 --> 00:03:22.020 and told the man as a sign of his healing 00:03:22.020 --> 00:03:24.700 that he was to walk and carry his mat. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:26.480 And this got them all very upset. 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:29.220 And so verse 16 continues on 00:03:29.220 --> 00:03:31.920 with this conflict with the religious leaders. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:35.839 For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus 00:03:35.839 --> 00:03:37.599 and sought to kill him 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:40.159 because he had done these things on the Sabbath. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:42.219 But Jesus answered them, 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:45.039 My father has been working until now 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:46.339 and I have been working. 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.579 Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill him 00:03:50.579 --> 00:03:53.359 because he not only broke the Sabbath, 00:03:53.859 --> 00:03:56.560 but also said that God was his father, 00:03:57.279 --> 00:03:59.659 making himself equal with God. 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:02.240 I just want to pause here. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:04.460 Just notice this amazing claim. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:05.659 Verse 17, 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.219 My father has been working until now 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:09.340 and I have been working. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:12.620 Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill him 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:14.620 because he not only broke the Sabbath, 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:16.980 but also said that God was his father, 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:19.759 making himself equal with God. 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:23.639 Jesus here is making a claim 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:25.139 that he is by very nature, 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:27.060 his fundamental nature is God. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:29.879 Some of you who have been here for a while 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:34.879 know that Lake Lisa is pregnant. 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:38.540 Her baby will be coming within a couple of weeks. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:40.379 Anne is with us this morning. 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:41.000 She's pregnant. 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:42.759 Her baby will be coming in a couple of weeks. 00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:45.000 One's due date is the 5th of October. 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:46.500 The other is the 7th of October. 00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:49.699 Janine, I think your due date's March, is it? 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:50.240 Yes. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.240 And so we have three people here who, 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:54.579 at least three that I know of, 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:55.919 who are expecting babies. 00:04:56.659 --> 00:04:58.560 And, you know, we can wonder 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:00.120 whether it's going to be a boy or a girl, 00:05:00.379 --> 00:05:02.939 but nobody wonders whether it will be a pussycat 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:05.560 or a dog or a little pony 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:07.699 that will come out of any of these three women. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.399 That human beings give birth to human beings, 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:14.120 dogs give birth to dogs, 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:16.180 cats to cats, fish to fish. 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:19.379 And that's the way the world works. 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:21.900 There's no doubt about that in any of our minds, 00:05:21.900 --> 00:05:25.040 about what will emerge from the wombs 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:26.139 of these three women. 00:05:26.860 --> 00:05:29.699 And so when Jesus is saying that God is his father, 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.600 the way that he says it to the religious leaders, 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.439 they understand that he is claiming 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.960 to be, in a sense, begotten by God, not made. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.779 That he is of the same kind. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:48.379 Just as when Louise and I come together 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:50.599 and have sexually known each other 00:05:50.599 --> 00:05:52.319 and Louise gets pregnant, 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:54.099 she will give birth. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:57.639 She will, I begat these sons and daughters 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:00.000 and she bore these sons and daughters. 00:06:00.299 --> 00:06:01.639 They share of the same nature. 00:06:02.699 --> 00:06:05.620 And what the claim is here being made 00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:10.040 is that Jesus is of the same nature as God. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:12.800 And as I said last week, 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:15.480 the way to understand the gospel of John is this. 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:20.139 John bears witness that God, the Son of God, 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.800 took on flesh of the Virgin Mary 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:24.379 and walked among us. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:27.660 That God, the Son of God, walked among us. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:30.740 And that not only was he God, the Son of God, 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:34.560 the man, Jesus, but he was also the Messiah, 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.399 the mighty deliverer that had been promised 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:38.939 by the scriptures for hundreds and hundreds 00:06:38.939 --> 00:06:40.100 and hundreds of years. 00:06:40.459 --> 00:06:43.180 The promises of God, of a mighty deliverer, 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:44.740 walked among us. 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:47.000 And that, in fact, the Lamb of God 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.060 who takes away the sin of the world 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:50.560 walked among us. 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:54.100 And John is describing what it is like 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:56.740 when the Lamb of God, God, the Son of God, 00:06:56.840 --> 00:06:59.019 the Messiah, walks among us. 00:06:59.019 --> 00:07:01.099 And how do human beings react 00:07:01.099 --> 00:07:06.099 to this unbelievably momentous truth 00:07:06.099 --> 00:07:09.299 if, like me, you believe that it is true? 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:10.659 And John does. 00:07:11.479 --> 00:07:13.139 John staked his life, 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:16.079 his entire future, on this witness. 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:20.959 And so here we see this very, very great claim 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:25.399 that Jesus is the Son of the Father. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:27.979 And the reaction of the religious leaders 00:07:27.979 --> 00:07:29.639 is that they want to kill him. 00:07:30.359 --> 00:07:32.399 And in the next five verses, 00:07:32.599 --> 00:07:35.279 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, is that five? 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:36.019 Yes, five. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.799 Jesus, in a sense, makes the claim even deeper. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:41.379 Like, rather than saying, 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:43.120 no, no, no, no, no, no, you didn't understand me, 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:44.399 I was just using an analogy, 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:45.519 I was using a metaphor, 00:07:45.799 --> 00:07:47.519 it was a simile, it's a bit poetic, 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:50.120 you know, come on, guys, get a life. 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:53.240 Rather than doing any of those little dodges, 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:55.699 Jesus drives the point home 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:57.519 in each of the following verses. 00:07:58.040 --> 00:07:58.840 Verse 19, 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:01.240 Then Jesus answered and said to them, 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:03.899 and in the version that many of you are using, 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:05.199 it says, most assuredly. 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:06.500 It can be translated, 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:07.819 if you're using the King James Version, 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:09.100 it says, verily, verily. 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:11.280 It means, amen, amen. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.699 Whenever you see this in the Gospel of John, 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:15.759 it means the following things 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.620 should all be written in capital letters 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:21.000 and in red letters or pink or yellow or something 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:22.480 to make sure you really hear them. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:24.259 And Jesus says, 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:25.780 verily, verily, I say to you, 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:27.780 the Son can do nothing of himself 00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:29.959 but what he sees the Father do, 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:34.560 for whatever he does, 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:37.000 the Son also does in like manner. 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.740 Verily, verily, I say to you, 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:41.419 the Son can do nothing of himself 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:43.299 but what he sees the Father do, 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:45.360 for whatever he does, 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.419 the Son also does in like manner. 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:49.060 What's Jesus saying here? 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:50.980 One of the things, first of all, 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:52.139 that Jesus is saying here 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:54.799 is that the religious leaders knew 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.560 that God couldn't keep the Sabbath 00:08:56.560 --> 00:08:59.279 in the way that they wanted human beings 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.080 to keep the Sabbath. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.519 They knew that God had to work on the Sabbath. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:03.799 Why did they know that? 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:05.299 Because it rained on the Sabbath 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:07.919 and gravity still worked on the Sabbath 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:10.000 and prayers were answered on the Sabbath 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.299 and all of these things happened on the Sabbath 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:15.019 so God obviously had to be active on the Sabbath 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:18.379 and Jesus, remember last week I said 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:20.139 that Jesus in fact isn't breaking anything 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:20.960 in the Sabbath law, 00:09:21.059 --> 00:09:23.699 he's breaking human interpretation of Sabbath law 00:09:23.699 --> 00:09:25.939 and Jesus doesn't take this route. 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:27.319 He says, okay you folks, 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.179 whatever arguments and whatever passages 00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:32.500 in the Bible you use to understand 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:34.460 that God the Father works on the Sabbath, 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.399 every one of those arguments apply to me. 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:42.120 It is a very, very strong claim 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:43.620 that Jesus is making 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:45.559 and he's also making the claim 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:47.279 that the Father reveals 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.399 in complete and utter fullness 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.299 everything that is in his heart 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:53.100 and everything that is in his will. 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:55.360 He reveals fully and completely 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.419 everything to the Son, to Jesus 00:09:57.419 --> 00:10:01.620 and that Jesus has just as much power as God 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:03.699 because whatever the Father reveals 00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:05.480 and asks the Son to do, 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:07.680 the Son does it with no exception. 00:10:08.660 --> 00:10:09.960 That there is no difference 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:11.340 between the Father's power 00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:12.920 and the Son's power. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:16.879 Verse 20, for the Father, 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:18.360 and by the way in this text 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:20.920 there's a series of four fours 00:10:20.920 --> 00:10:22.840 which all link this, 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:25.020 this spectacular claim 00:10:25.020 --> 00:10:26.520 that Jesus in a sense, 00:10:27.040 --> 00:10:27.879 not in a sense, 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:30.800 that Jesus is the Son of God 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.279 and there are linked four fours, 00:10:33.359 --> 00:10:34.099 F-O-Rs, 00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:35.639 that link this argument together. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:36.279 Verse 20, 00:10:36.699 --> 00:10:38.240 for the Father loves the Son 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:40.000 and shows him all things 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:41.620 that he himself does 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.039 and he will show him 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:44.299 greater works than these 00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:46.199 that you may marvel. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:49.659 And what this is saying here 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:52.319 is that not only is Jesus 00:10:52.319 --> 00:10:54.339 equal by nature, 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:57.479 I am just as human 00:10:57.479 --> 00:10:58.959 as my son Tosh 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.560 and as my daughter Victoria, 00:11:01.160 --> 00:11:03.139 we are all equally human. 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:06.160 And Jesus is not only claiming here 00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:07.980 that he is just as equally God 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:09.320 as his Father is, 00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:10.740 he is also saying 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:12.240 that what characterizes 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.259 their equality 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:15.820 is loving union. 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:18.120 I mean, this is really important 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:18.639 because, you know, 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:19.500 in our culture 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.860 and as part of human nature, 00:11:21.400 --> 00:11:22.560 when do I most want 00:11:22.560 --> 00:11:23.540 to claim equality? 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.100 When I want to be independent 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:28.180 and out from somebody's power. 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:30.799 If I was to say to the bishop, 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:32.159 Bishop, I am just as, 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.620 I am equal to you. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:34.839 I am in a sense trying to say 00:11:34.839 --> 00:11:36.219 I'm going to be independent to you. 00:11:36.319 --> 00:11:37.079 If I, you know, 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:39.219 if anybody is making 00:11:39.219 --> 00:11:40.079 that type of claim, 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.279 it's very easy for us 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.379 humanly speaking 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.579 to think they are claiming 00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:46.719 to be like almost like a rival 00:11:46.719 --> 00:11:47.759 and they can be completely 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.779 and utterly independent. 00:11:49.459 --> 00:11:50.799 And Jesus here says, 00:11:51.339 --> 00:11:52.159 yes, by nature, 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:53.579 I am just as much God 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:55.500 as the Father is. 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.620 Yet what characterizes 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.620 our relationship 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:02.480 is the purest possible intimacy 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.080 and loving union. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.740 There is no desire 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:08.340 for separateness 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.500 or independence 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:11.700 that at the very, very heart 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:13.060 of the created order, 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.020 that that which in effect 00:12:15.020 --> 00:12:17.379 created the entire created order, 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:18.900 the very, very heart, 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:20.279 is the relationship 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.079 of most profound, 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:26.159 pure, deep, unbroken love 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:27.740 of the Father for the Son 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:29.519 and the Son for the Father. 00:12:30.459 --> 00:12:31.539 Verse 21, 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:34.899 for as the Father raises the dead 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:36.199 and gives life to them, 00:12:36.819 --> 00:12:38.860 even so the Son gives life 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:40.059 to whom he will. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.980 And here we see 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:43.159 that just as the Father 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:44.299 is the only one 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.340 who can give life, 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:47.120 so it is that the Son 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.960 also has that power 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.399 which only God has 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:51.560 to give life, 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:52.779 the power of life. 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.720 Verses 22 and 23, 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.299 for the Father judges no one 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.159 but has committed 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.600 all judgment to the Son 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:00.500 that all should honor the Son 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:02.000 just as they honor the Father. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:04.100 He who does not honor the Son 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.399 does not honor the Father 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:06.500 who sent him. 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:07.980 And here we see 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.500 the Bible constantly says 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:11.440 that judgment is something 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.100 which only God can truly have, 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:14.480 that he is the final judge. 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:15.159 And we see here 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:16.740 that all of that power 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.279 of judging 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.139 has been bestowed 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.919 upon the Son. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.459 Jesus is making 00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:21.879 the strongest claim 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:23.819 that he is God, 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.079 the Son of God. 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:27.039 And he who does not honor 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:27.579 the Son 00:13:27.579 --> 00:13:29.219 does not honor 00:13:29.219 --> 00:13:29.759 the Father 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.860 who sent him. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:33.199 Now, here we get back 00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:33.839 to the question 00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:34.459 of whether or not 00:13:34.459 --> 00:13:34.980 the Bible 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.579 is anti-Semitic. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:40.899 You know, it's funny. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.759 The Bible has, 00:13:41.939 --> 00:13:42.779 the Gospel of John 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:43.740 has the strongest 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.899 possible statements 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.059 of the Jewishness 00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:46.899 of Jewish, 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.279 of Jesus. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.360 In John chapter 4, 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:53.019 Jesus to the Samaritan woman 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:54.659 says to the Samaritan woman, 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.779 salvation is from the Jews. 00:13:57.199 --> 00:13:59.620 The strongest possible statement 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:01.240 of the fact 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.600 that the Jewish people 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.279 were God's chosen people. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.559 All the way through 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:06.480 the Gospel of John, 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.240 Jesus is constantly shown 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.159 as a devout 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:10.360 and observant Jew. 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.399 Jesus goes to the Passover, 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.879 he keeps the festivals, 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:17.120 he is a devout 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.759 and observant Jew. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.860 And so, John, 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.220 who wrote this Gospel, 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.320 is also Jewish. 00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.340 All of the disciples 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:24.879 of Jesus 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:26.039 are shown to be Jewish. 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.539 And so, 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.279 it's because of that 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:29.980 that when we see 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:30.539 the phrase 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.300 all the way through 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.600 the Gospel of John, 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:33.360 the Jews, 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:35.080 Jesus can't, 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.960 John isn't possibly 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.259 meaning that there's 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.259 something defective 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.279 with the Jewish people. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.840 He can't possibly mean that. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:43.100 I mean, 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.700 he's already said 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.259 that salvation 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.700 is from the Jews. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.820 He's shown that 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:48.000 Jesus is Jewish. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.379 He's shown that 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.740 the God of the Old Testament 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.639 is the Father of Jesus 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.960 and that Jesus 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:55.680 is the Son of the Father. 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:56.720 And so, 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.700 all the way through 00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.500 John's Gospel, 00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.700 the Gospel is inviting us 00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:00.940 to understand the Jews 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:02.919 as being a short form 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:04.820 for a spiritual 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:06.480 and human reality. 00:15:07.779 --> 00:15:08.779 Completely separate 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.519 from those people 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:09.860 that we know 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.759 as Jewish people. 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.740 And we see 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.639 that the Jews 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.480 are used to understand, 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:17.740 they are, 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.259 they in a sense 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:18.819 represent, 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.860 the religious 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.579 and spiritual world 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:24.100 in rebellion 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:24.960 against God. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.220 That's why 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.399 any one of us 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.199 can be the Jews. 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:31.740 Any one of us 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.539 can be the Jews. 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.480 Time after time 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.399 in John's Gospel, 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:35.740 in fact, 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:36.259 last week, 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.159 we looked at the Gospel 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.679 and we saw how 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.259 one of the things 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.259 that Jesus was warning 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.219 against was the power 00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:41.399 of a religious spirit. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.539 The fact that there 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:44.000 is a way of being religious 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.199 that in effect 00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.480 creates a force field 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.079 around us 00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:48.219 and actually keeps 00:15:48.219 --> 00:15:48.899 God distant. 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.980 That there's a way 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:50.779 of being religious 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.579 and a way of being 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:52.299 spiritual 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.439 that in effect 00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:54.699 immunizes us 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.639 against God. 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.519 And that these are 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.799 constant spiritual 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.639 temptations. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.759 And so time 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.399 after time 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.000 after time 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.819 that the Scriptures 00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:02.740 are inviting us 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.120 to say, 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:03.820 not when we read 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.340 these things, 00:16:04.680 --> 00:16:05.860 not how bad 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.659 are these people, 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.039 but to say to God, 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.700 Father, 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.740 may this not be 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.539 true of me. 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:12.940 May I not listen 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:14.180 to those supposed 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.379 spiritual truths 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.500 and those supposed 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.740 spiritual practices, 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:18.840 those supposed 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.840 religious truths 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.759 and those supposed 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.840 religious practices 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.539 that if I adopt them, 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.600 it means that I am 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.639 building a force field 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.320 against you. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.519 May it not be 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.379 true of me. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.440 Lord, 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.139 deliver me. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.799 Have mercy upon me. 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:34.240 The Bible, 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.359 time after time, 00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:36.559 using this phrase 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.399 is inviting us 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:37.979 to repent. 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.099 And it's also 00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:40.639 inviting us 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.919 to understand 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:43.719 and to recognize 00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:44.799 when we see 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.979 such a spiritual 00:16:45.979 --> 00:16:46.979 agenda 00:16:46.979 --> 00:16:47.779 and such 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.219 a religious agenda, 00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:50.240 even when it 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.120 comes to us 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.299 in the guise 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:55.120 that is culturally 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.679 acceptable 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.199 and we wouldn't 00:16:56.199 --> 00:16:57.359 normally recognize it. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:58.359 Okay. 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.219 In Canadian culture, 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.579 it would be easy 00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:02.120 to think 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.820 that this 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.900 spiritual 00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:05.120 and religious 00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:06.160 world 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.840 that in effect 00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:07.759 immunizes us 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.400 against God. 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.240 It would be easy 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:09.840 for us to maybe 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:10.880 see it in the 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.319 worst televangelists 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.940 or the kookiest 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:16.000 fundamentalist types 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.740 in the states. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.600 But the hard part 00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:21.360 is to recognize it 00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:22.400 when we see it 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.779 praised and extolled 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.200 by the CBC 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.200 or by the National Post 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.400 or by the Citizen 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.700 or by Maclean's. 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.900 Listen to the end 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:32.060 of verse 23 again. 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.820 He who does not 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:33.580 honor the Son 00:17:33.580 --> 00:17:34.300 does not honor 00:17:34.300 --> 00:17:34.880 the Father 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.940 who sent him. 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.200 I don't know 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.680 how many of you 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.300 last week 00:17:38.300 --> 00:17:39.180 read The Citizen 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.860 on Sunday. 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.300 Somebody asked me 00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:42.019 about this art 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.560 interview with 00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.360 Karen Armstrong 00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:44.120 and The Citizen 00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.660 last Sunday. 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:44.900 I don't know 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.360 how many of you 00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:45.660 read it. 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.200 And Karen Armstrong 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.600 is a celebrated writer 00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.060 who wrote 00:17:49.060 --> 00:17:50.100 a celebrated book 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:50.780 called The History 00:17:50.780 --> 00:17:51.340 of God 00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.580 a couple of years ago. 00:17:53.080 --> 00:17:53.519 I don't know 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.259 how many copies 00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:54.700 it sold, 00:17:54.820 --> 00:17:55.080 but it was 00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:55.860 a celebrated book. 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.459 One of those things 00:17:56.459 --> 00:17:57.000 that's reviewed 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.719 by everybody 00:17:57.719 --> 00:17:58.279 as to how many 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.859 people read it, 00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.839 that's another question. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.439 But reviewers love it 00:18:01.439 --> 00:18:03.439 and it was a highly, 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.679 highly praised book. 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:05.839 And there's an interview 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.719 with her in The Citizen 00:18:06.719 --> 00:18:07.459 last week 00:18:07.459 --> 00:18:09.019 whereby she says 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.059 that really religion 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.459 is just a product 00:18:11.459 --> 00:18:12.939 of the human imagination, 00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.379 that it's all about 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.719 keeping, 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:16.779 you know, 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.359 that religions 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:18.659 are basically the same, 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.399 that in fact 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:20.279 they're all ultimately 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.779 about the golden rule 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.519 and about trying 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.259 to be good 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.660 and about the certain 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.599 types of toxic 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.700 religious belief 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.160 and on and on 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.879 and on and on. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.059 And at the end 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.440 of the day, 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.240 all of the things 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.960 that she said, 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:33.960 and I'm not maybe 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.119 portraying it very well, 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.220 but it was all 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.220 just very culturally 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.819 accepted. 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.599 The sort of things 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.279 that if you said it 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.720 at the Starbucks 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.539 or at a religion faculty 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.119 at the University 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:44.779 of Ottawa 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:47.099 or in the average 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:48.220 Anglican church, 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.200 people would just 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.819 nod and say 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.099 yes, 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.359 yes, 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:50.660 yes, 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:50.980 yes. 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:52.680 But her entire 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:54.079 religious system, 00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:56.880 her entire spiritual system 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:58.480 was a denial 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.180 of what Jesus 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:00.940 has just claimed 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.599 about himself. 00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.779 It is, 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.860 even though it is 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.660 couched 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:07.579 in spiritual language, 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.559 in culturally 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.720 acceptable language, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.759 and even though 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.200 it is highly praised, 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.279 if you listen 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.200 to her thought, 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.360 then what Jesus 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.059 has just said 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.779 about himself 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.640 is completely 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.720 and utterly impossible. 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:23.620 she is the Jews. 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.440 Icusa 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.700 is the Jews. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.240 Lord, 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.160 may it not be true 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.019 that you and I 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.880 develop a series 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:35.380 of religious beliefs 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:36.920 and spiritual practices 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.279 which lead us 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.079 to the point 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:40.720 where we do not 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.740 honor the Son 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:44.039 and do not receive 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:44.480 the Son 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.880 for all whom he is. 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:48.020 is the Jews. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:48.660 Briefly, 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.320 just two more things 00:19:50.320 --> 00:19:51.100 about this text. 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.860 Let's just continue 00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:53.020 reading verse 24 00:19:53.020 --> 00:19:53.660 because Jesus 00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.320 says something 00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.780 unbelievably astounding 00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:56.740 in the next verse. 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.180 Verily, 00:19:58.300 --> 00:19:58.740 verily, 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.160 I say to you, 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:02.780 it says most assuredly, 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:03.380 but gosh, 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.100 that's one of the things 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:05.060 the King James Version 00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:05.600 does well. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.080 Isn't there something 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:06.900 about verily, 00:20:07.020 --> 00:20:07.400 verily? 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.680 Verily, 00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:09.140 verily, 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.040 I say to you, 00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:10.960 he who hears 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.020 my word 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.259 and believes 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.839 in him 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.779 who sent me 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.000 has everlasting life 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.879 and shall not come 00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.759 into judgment 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.579 but has passed 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.539 from death 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.379 into life. 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:24.759 Just, 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.299 isn't that, 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.579 just read that again. 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.539 Verily, 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:27.920 verily, 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.759 I say to you, 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:30.019 he who hears 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.059 my word 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:32.279 and believes 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:32.980 in him 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.259 who sent me 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:36.980 has everlasting life 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.319 and shall not 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.139 come into judgment. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.240 That actually means 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.559 shall not be judged 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:43.539 adversely 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:45.500 but has passed 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.519 from death 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.419 into life. 00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:50.000 Just shared that 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.500 Janine and Anne 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:53.000 and Lisa 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.679 are pregnant 00:20:53.679 --> 00:20:55.220 and here's another 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.079 simple lesson 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.319 from the natural world, 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.740 folks. 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.639 You can't be 00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.440 half pregnant. 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:02.099 It's completely impossible. 00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:03.379 You're either pregnant 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.159 or you're not pregnant. 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.859 You can't be 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:06.119 half pregnant 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:08.240 and it's exactly 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.000 that idea 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.119 which is at work here. 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:12.179 Jesus has just said 00:21:12.179 --> 00:21:14.500 the most astounding thing. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.479 He has said 00:21:15.479 --> 00:21:16.759 to you and me 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.819 that if you, 00:21:17.939 --> 00:21:18.459 there is a way 00:21:18.459 --> 00:21:19.919 of hearing his word 00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:22.239 and believing in God 00:21:22.239 --> 00:21:23.719 who has sent Jesus, 00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:24.959 there is a way 00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:26.299 of hearing the word 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.819 of Jesus 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:28.819 and believing in God 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:30.479 who has sent Jesus 00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:31.979 that to do this 00:21:31.979 --> 00:21:33.559 we receive 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.939 everlasting life, 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.179 that we will not 00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:37.639 be judged adversely, 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:39.600 and that we have passed 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.640 from death 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.660 into life 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:43.700 with no middle ground. 00:21:45.280 --> 00:21:48.060 That is dynamite. 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.860 And over the next 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.520 couple of weeks 00:21:52.520 --> 00:21:53.300 we're going to continue 00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:54.060 to look in verse, 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.040 in chapter 6, 00:21:55.540 --> 00:21:56.480 Jesus is going to 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.600 talk more about 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.140 what it means 00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:58.780 to believe. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:00.360 But the thing for us 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:00.720 is right, 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.180 here's the invitation 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.300 to you folks right now. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:07.399 And God is so cool, 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.220 he loves this. 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.159 There's an invitation 00:22:10.159 --> 00:22:10.819 for you and me 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.740 right now to say this, 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.059 Father, 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:12.960 whatever on earth 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.480 that means, 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.519 may it be true in me. 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.859 Whatever that means, 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.819 I want that 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.700 to be true of me. 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.299 I mean, 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.000 if you say that 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.960 prayer to the Father, 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.659 he hears it 00:22:22.659 --> 00:22:23.259 and honors it. 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:24.819 And to say, 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.059 Father, 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.579 I want to know 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.099 more and more 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.240 about what that means. 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.579 I want that to be 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.059 more and more 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.619 true of me, 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.139 but Father, 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:31.500 whatever that means 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.559 in verse 24, 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.919 make it true in me. 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:35.619 Make it true in me. 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.500 Help me to hear 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.579 the words of your Son 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.519 and help me to believe 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.619 in you who sent Jesus 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:45.399 so that the final word 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:47.599 about me is not judgment, 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.220 but is, 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.179 well done, 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.579 now good and faithful servant, 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.819 come into my kingdom. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.220 That the final word 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.179 about me is not 00:22:55.179 --> 00:22:56.179 that I am partial 00:22:56.179 --> 00:22:56.779 and finite, 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:58.179 but that I have 00:22:58.179 --> 00:22:59.319 everlasting life. 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.599 That the final word 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.240 about me, 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.500 me who aid 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:02.900 switches 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:04.779 and who can get sick 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.619 and is finite, 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.680 that the final word 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.079 about me is not death, 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.079 but life. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.480 May it be true of me. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.380 Jesus goes on 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.380 and talks about 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:16.980 other things. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.299 In fact, 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:17.660 there's another 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.740 very strong claim 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.660 to divinity there 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.279 later on 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.400 where it talked 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.400 in verse 26 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.460 about having life 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.079 in himself. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.900 The three words 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.839 could be hyphenated, 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.480 life in himself, 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:29.279 which is a powerful claim 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.819 once again 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:31.059 to the divinity of Jesus. 00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.599 And it goes on then 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.220 to talk about 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.960 the different types 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.599 of witnesses 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.399 to Jesus 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.759 that exist. 00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.440 And at the heart 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.059 of all of these 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.779 different claims 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.220 is this, 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.200 that if God actually 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.859 is your witness, 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.440 why do you need 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.240 any human witness 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.779 ultimately? 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.519 If God has said 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.319 you're the one, 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.399 then what does it 00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:46.899 really matter 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.660 whether there's a vote 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.440 on the planet Earth 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.240 and what the vote is 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.799 because you've got 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.859 the key vote 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.960 by having God say 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.660 that you're the one 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.980 who is my son 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.519 that has come 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.440 to be the Lamb of God 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.079 who takes away 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.799 the sin of the world. 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.420 But just one final thing 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:59.440 just before we close. 00:23:59.619 --> 00:23:59.879 Turn, 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.279 look at verse 39 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.200 and 40. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.180 And this is part 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:04.839 of this Jesus 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.700 talking about 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.359 witnesses to him. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.759 And I just want 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.599 to draw your attention 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.059 to this. 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.759 you search the scriptures, 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.079 verse 39, 00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.359 for in them 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.059 you think 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.440 you have eternal life 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.240 and these are they 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.819 which testify of me 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:21.460 but you are not willing 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.639 to come to me 00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:24.039 that you may have life. 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.220 I'm going to read it again. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.619 You search the scriptures 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.480 for in them 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.099 you think 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.740 you have eternal life 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:32.259 and these are they 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.619 which testify of me 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:35.059 but you are not willing 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.240 to come to me 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.740 that you may have life. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:42.240 what this is warning us of friends 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:44.740 is that there is a way of reading the scriptures 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:47.880 that completely and utterly misses the point 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:51.680 that the scriptures have a point 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:55.240 six times in fact in John's gospel 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:57.460 this similar claim is made by Jesus 00:24:57.460 --> 00:25:00.359 six different times in six different places 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:03.700 it's the same claim that's made in a variety of ways 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:05.039 in Matthew, Mark and Luke 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.980 and that in every one of these cases 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:11.880 the claim is that the point of what we call the Old Testament 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:15.400 the point of that entire body of revelation 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:17.259 is to point to Jesus 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:20.740 and the entire point of all of that 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:24.059 is to point to Jesus so that we might believe in him 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:27.900 and it is possible for us to read the scriptures 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:30.559 and read the scriptures and know the scriptures 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:33.120 but completely and utterly miss the point 00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:35.319 you know one of the things that was really hard for me 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:37.819 when I was in my equivalent of seminary 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:40.980 is gosh you know I'd be 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:43.519 there's this there'd be these professors up front 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:46.619 and they'd speak like six languages 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:48.059 they could just go from 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:49.460 oh yeah this is the Greek 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.899 and oh yeah by the way this is the Hebrew 00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:52.799 and then they could say oh yeah and this is Akkadian 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.039 you know and this is this and this is this 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.679 and they could do all of these things 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:58.240 and they were nicer than me 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.599 their IQ was probably double my IQ 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:03.139 they were probably ten times nicer than me 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:05.019 and and all of these things 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.759 but the problem is 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.959 that I would listen to them 00:26:08.959 --> 00:26:10.799 and they would deny Christ 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:14.059 and if you listen to their teaching 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:19.679 it would mean that the that Jesus wasn't who he said he was 00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:21.839 that he was some type of an example 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.339 or something that would allow 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:27.059 he was some type of being or person or story 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:29.779 that would fit within their religious and spiritual system 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:32.359 and you know it can be very very 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:34.139 I'm speaking here especially to you students 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:35.519 it can be very very intimidating 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.759 in the face of somebody 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.839 who's obviously so much smarter than you 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:41.599 and knows so many more languages than you 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.799 and and and seems to be nicer 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:45.039 and more together than you 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.619 and all of those types of things 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:48.159 but the fact of the matter is 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:49.119 is that they are teaching 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.980 and reading the Bible in such a way 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:53.919 that misses the entire point of the Bible 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:55.759 which is to believe in Jesus 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.620 and to know him 00:26:57.620 --> 00:27:00.440 in fact one of the great tragedies 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:03.400 of the of the statement made by the Anglicans 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:05.440 in the south to United States 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:08.740 is that to say that the Bible is hate literature 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:11.740 how could one possibly want to go to it 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.200 and read it in such a way 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.880 that they might have eternal life 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:19.620 it in effect is a way to shut the door on Jesus 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:23.619 Lord have mercy upon them 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:25.879 and Lord have mercy upon us 00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:29.459 I encourage you folks to read the word of God 00:27:29.459 --> 00:27:30.579 to read the scriptures 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:32.479 to read it humbly 00:27:32.479 --> 00:27:33.819 intelligently 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:35.039 systematically 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.539 to read it 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:38.000 and every day you read it 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.239 to open it up and say 00:27:39.239 --> 00:27:39.939 dear father 00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:41.579 may you show me your son 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:43.039 and what it means to know 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.179 and follow your son 00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:45.599 as I read your word 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.699 let's bow our heads in prayer 00:27:47.700 --> 00:28:03.120 loving father 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:03.500 we 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:06.819 we acknowledge before you 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.900 that it is very easy 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:09.000 to see a 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.600 speck in somebody else's eye 00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:13.420 and to miss the log in our own eye 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:17.779 we ask loving father 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:19.500 that you might deliver us 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:22.300 from systems of religion and spirituality 00:28:22.300 --> 00:28:24.120 that in effect 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.880 immunize us against you 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:27.539 from religion 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.120 systems of religion 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:30.000 or liturgy 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.920 or spirituality 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:33.360 which create a force field against you 00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:35.580 from systems 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:38.840 that end up making us feel superior to you 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:40.340 dear father 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:41.660 we acknowledge before you 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:43.700 that we can become blind to these processes 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.600 in our own lives 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.680 our own lives 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:47.900 and we ask that your Holy Spirit 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.960 would move with power 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.500 that your Holy Word 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:52.060 would move with power in us 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:53.720 delivering us from these things 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:55.620 that you might grant us 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.660 humble 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.800 yearning 00:28:57.800 --> 00:28:59.540 open hearts 00:28:59.540 --> 00:29:00.640 and minds 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.660 hearts and minds 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:04.240 which are humble before you 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.360 and yearn for you 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:06.300 and long for you 00:29:06.300 --> 00:29:08.040 and father 00:29:08.040 --> 00:29:09.759 we ask that you might so guide us 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.900 in the reading of your word 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:13.240 that more and more and more 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.599 our whole lives 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:16.339 all that is us 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:17.660 is a yes to you 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:19.940 this we ask in the name of Jesus 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.519 your son and our savior 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.279 amen 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:24.319 you 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:35.799 thank you 00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:37.740 thank you 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:37.799 for tuning in 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.720 this 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:38.799 is