WEBVTT

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 So let me pray for us as we start.

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 Oh Lord, we thank you for your word.

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 Lord, we thank you for the message

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 and the greatness of Christ.

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 We thank you for his glorious role

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 in the world and in our salvation, Lord.

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 And Lord, we pray that as we just come into your word,

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 Lord, I pray that we would hear your words, Lord.

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 Lord, I pray that I would be faithful

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 to present your word as it is, Lord.

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 Lord, I pray that your spirit would move among us

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 encouraging us and convicting us

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 and changing hearts and lives today, Lord.

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 We pray that people would leave here

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 touched and changed by you.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 So I'm not Sean, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

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 But no one knows that reference.

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 All right, that's fine.

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 So for those of you that don't know,

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 and I haven't talked a lot about this yet,

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 but I've recently started writing

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 for a video game criticism site.

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 And so criticism in the sense of, like,

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 a movie critic or an art critic.

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 And I feel like this is just

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 my subliminal self-justification

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 for wasting all the hours I did as a kid

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 playing video games.

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 Now I'm doing something useful with it.

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 So it's like, I feel better now.

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 No, seriously, it's part of a Christian ministry

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 that's specifically targeted towards gamers.

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 And I'd love to talk to you about it at some point,

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 but that's not what I'm talking about this for right now.

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 What I'm talking about it for is that

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 in doing this,

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 I've learned a lot about art and entertainment criticism.

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 You kind of read critics.

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 You know, you go and you look at Rotten Tomatoes

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 or Metacritic,

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 and you look at the movie reviews,

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 and you say whether it's good or not.

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 Do I want to go see this?

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 And kind of the picture you have of this is,

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 you know, someone sits down and watches a movie

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 or looks at a piece of art and says,

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 okay, this, you know,

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 they put it against this, like,

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 invisible framework of this is what

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 the perfect movie or art piece is.

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 And, okay, so this is good,

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 and this is bad,

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 and this is what I like about it,

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 and this is what I don't,

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 and that's it.

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 And that's kind of the impression I had

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 about art criticism going into it.

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 And as I've done it

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 and as I've read more about it,

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 I've learned that that's absolutely not the case.

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 The role of the critic is not to sit there

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 and just judge the art,

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 and the role of the art is not just to be judged.

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 Actually, one of the most famous critics of our time,

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 A.O. Scott,

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 who writes for the New York Times

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 and has given enough leeway,

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 he's famous enough that he actually said

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 that the Avengers movie was awful,

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 which I disagree with.

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 And then he got into a fight with Samuel L. Jackson

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 about why it was awful,

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 and he just,

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 so he,

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 and paper didn't fire him,

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 so he's definitely in an empowered position.

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 He's one of the top critics of our time

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 and most respected.

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 And what he says about criticism is this.

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 You must become the person

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 who is willing to change your life

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 based on the exhortations of art.

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 You must become the person

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 who is willing to change your life

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 based on the exhortations of art.

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 And he talks about it,

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 that the role of the critic

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 is not to sit there necessarily

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 and say,

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 I like this,

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 I don't like this,

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 that's it.

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 The role of the critic

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 is to sit there

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 and receive what the art is saying.

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 And almost,

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 in a sense,

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 the art's role

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 is to judge the critic first

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 because a person

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 has invested their time

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 and their life into that,

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 and then the critic

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 stands and sees

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 and witnesses to

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 what good things

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 or what bad things

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 that art has.

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 And so this,

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 the position that we have

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 before Jesus

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 and the position

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 that sometimes we think

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 we have before Jesus

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 is kind of similar.

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 And that's,

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 I think we're talking about

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 the role that we have

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 and the role that Jesus has

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 in this passage a lot.

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 And John the Baptist

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 and John the author

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 of this gospel

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 discuss that role

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 that we have

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 and the role that Jesus has.

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 I think the point

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 of this passage

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 is that our role in life

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 is to believe in Jesus

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 and to witness

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 to his glorious role.

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 And so our role in life

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 is to believe in Jesus

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 and witness to his glorious role.

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 And so I've picked

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 some peculiar words

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 in this phrase

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 that we don't usually use.

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 I just roll,

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 witness,

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 and glorious.

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 And I'm going to discuss

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 why I've picked

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 those words specifically

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 because I think they

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 describe well

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 what's going on

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 in this passage.

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 So at the beginning

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 of the passage

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 we see John the Baptist's role.

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 his role in all of this

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 is to witness to Jesus.

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 And that's kind of

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 what the first part

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 of this passage is about.

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 And so looking at

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 verse 22,

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 verse 22 through 24

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 set the context for this.

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 It says,

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 After this,

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 Jesus and his disciples

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 went into the Judean countryside

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 and he remained there

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 with them

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 and was baptizing.

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 And John the Baptist

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 was also baptizing

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 Anon near Selim

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 because water

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 was plentiful there

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 and people were coming

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 and being baptized

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 for John had not yet

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 been put in prison.

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 And so in the discussion here

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 we see Jesus is kind of

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 moving out of the city area

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 where he was talking

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 with Nicodemus previously.

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 He's moving out

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 to a more rural area

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 where there's water

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 and space to baptize.

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 And the interesting point

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 is that it says

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 John has not yet

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 been thrown in prison.

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 And we learn from

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 the other Gospels,

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 particularly Mark,

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 that Jesus is,

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 the bulk of Jesus' ministry

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 started after John

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 got thrown in prison.

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 So we're kind of

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 in a transitory period here.

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 John was sent,

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 John the Baptist

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 was sent to prepare

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 the way for the Lord,

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 to get people ready

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 for Jesus to come.

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 And so Jesus has come

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 and he's not quite

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 into full gear ministry yet.

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 And so there's sort of

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 this transition going on

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 where John is starting

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 to step down

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 and Jesus is coming

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 and stepping up

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 into his full ministry.

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 And so that's important

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 as we look at this passage,

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 just seeing,

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 just the phrase in John 2

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 is that Jesus says,

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 my time has not yet come,

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 right before he changes

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 the water into wine,

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 he kind of gives

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 some kick back there

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 before he does that miracle.

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 And he's just kind of

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 indicating,

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 no, I'm not,

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 my full ministry

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 isn't quite here yet.

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 I'm still being prepared.

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 And so with that context,

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 we see in verse 25,

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 a discussion arose

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 between some of John's disciples

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 and a Jew

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 over purification.

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 And so the rest of the passage

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 is about John baptizing

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 versus Jesus baptizing,

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 but this is apparently

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 where the discussion came from.

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 We don't know

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 what the debate's over.

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 It's probably don't know

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 because it's not that,

00:06:06.899 --> 00:06:08.560
 it's not relevant to the story

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 in the sense that

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 we don't need to know

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 exactly what they were

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 talking about,

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 but it got John's disciples

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 fired up.

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 They were debating

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 with a Jew,

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 you know,

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 Jewish baptism

00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:17.740
 was very different

00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:18.639
 than what John was doing.

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 Jewish baptism

00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.120
 was often for ritual purification

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 and would happen

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 multiple times.

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 And John was doing it

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 as for repentance,

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 saying, you know,

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 turn from your sins

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 and believe.

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 And he was doing it

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 one time for people.

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 So regardless of what

00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:33.199
 that discussion was,

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 I picture John's disciples

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 coming back,

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 a little fired up from that.

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 Maybe the Jew took a jab at him

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 and said,

00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:38.200
 hey, you know,

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 you've been baptizing

00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:39.800
 but this Jesus guy,

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 you know,

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 he's been baptizing

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 more people all of a sudden.

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 What's going on there?

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 And so they come back

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 and, you know,

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 it says in verse 26,

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 they came to John

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 and said to him,

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 Rabbi,

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 he who is with you

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 across the Jordan

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 to whom you bore witness,

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 look,

00:06:51.580 --> 00:06:52.439
 he's baptizing

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 and all are going to him.

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 And this is actually

00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:56.560
 a strong statement

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 and I think we can glaze

00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:58.080
 over it a little bit,

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 but it's kind of dramatic

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 and resentful.

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 The word look

00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.180
 is kind of like

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 lo and behold

00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:05.800
 or like we don't say

00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:06.319
 that anymore.

00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:08.079
 It might be like yelling,

00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:09.240
 hey, what's the deal?

00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:09.819
 You know,

00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:10.300
 look,

00:07:11.019 --> 00:07:12.019
 he's baptizing

00:07:12.019 --> 00:07:13.279
 and all are going to him.

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 And I think it's clear

00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:16.579
 that these are resentful words

00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:17.439
 and not just a statement

00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.199
 because not everyone

00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:19.920
 is going to Jesus

00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:20.699
 to be baptized yet.

00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:22.079
 Clearly John is still baptizing

00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:22.660
 in this passage.

00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.100
 Some people are going to John.

00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:24.860
 Probably more people

00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:25.439
 are going to Jesus

00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:26.060
 at this point.

00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:28.680
 And so there's some sort

00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:29.879
 of resentfulness of,

00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:30.339
 man,

00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:31.019
 we've been doing this

00:07:31.019 --> 00:07:31.600
 for a while,

00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:32.100
 you know,

00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:32.879
 baptizing people

00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:33.500
 and now Jesus

00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:34.459
 is getting the baptisms.

00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:35.319
 What's the deal with this?

00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:36.780
 It feels kind of pouty

00:07:36.780 --> 00:07:38.199
 like the kid that's like,

00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:39.300
 my friend got the ice cream.

00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.560
 Why don't I get the ice cream?

00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:41.040
 Or, you know,

00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.480
 my friend got to stay up late.

00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.680
 Why don't I get to stay up late?

00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:45.699
 It feels kind of unfair.

00:07:45.860 --> 00:07:46.500
 That's what they're saying.

00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:48.840
 I think maybe something

00:07:48.840 --> 00:07:49.639
 that those of us

00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:50.279
 that are older

00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:50.879
 can relate with

00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:52.420
 is that it's kind of

00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:53.319
 like a group project

00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:53.879
 for school

00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:54.579
 or when you're part

00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:55.560
 of like a volunteer board

00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:56.040
 for something.

00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:56.699
 And you all have

00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:57.639
 this one thing to accomplish.

00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.240
 And there's that one person

00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:00.300
 that really isn't doing

00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:00.680
 that much

00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:01.339
 or pulling their weight.

00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:02.199
 And so somebody else

00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:03.420
 has to pull their weight

00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:03.920
 for them.

00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:05.100
 And if you've never

00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:05.899
 experienced this before,

00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:06.699
 you might be that person

00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:07.519
 that's not pulling your weight.

00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:09.620
 You never know.

00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:11.860
 And so, you know,

00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:12.660
 at the end of it,

00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:13.480
 everyone probably gets

00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:14.120
 the same grade

00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.019
 or the thing's accomplished

00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:16.399
 and someone is kind of,

00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:17.060
 it feels like someone's

00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:17.759
 freeloading along

00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:18.220
 and you've done

00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:18.899
 most of the work.

00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:21.239
 But that's,

00:08:21.239 --> 00:08:23.079
 I think,

00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:24.060
 an even closer parallel

00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:24.899
 maybe from something,

00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:25.939
 a story that I think of

00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:26.799
 from my life

00:08:26.799 --> 00:08:27.899
 is that I did

00:08:27.899 --> 00:08:29.779
 a Shakespeare scene contest

00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:30.219
 for a while

00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:31.239
 because I was a nerd

00:08:31.239 --> 00:08:31.719
 and still am.

00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:33.759
 And so what we would do

00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:34.279
 is we would do

00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:35.360
 one scene from Shakespeare

00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.379
 and act about five minutes

00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.519
 of it and prep for it

00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:37.819
 and then there was

00:08:37.819 --> 00:08:38.279
 a competition.

00:08:39.319 --> 00:08:40.159
 And so one of the guys

00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:40.840
 that I did the scene

00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:41.779
 with every single year

00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:43.659
 would not memorize his lines

00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:44.500
 until the day

00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:45.179
 of the competition.

00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:46.399
 And so, like,

00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.039
 we would all have them

00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:47.839
 memorized, like, you know,

00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.519
 a few weeks before

00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:49.079
 and be practicing

00:08:49.079 --> 00:08:49.859
 and he'd be pulling out

00:08:49.859 --> 00:08:50.359
 his lines like,

00:08:50.479 --> 00:08:51.059
 oh, shoot,

00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:51.599
 what was I supposed

00:08:51.599 --> 00:08:52.179
 to say again?

00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:53.199
 And it would really,

00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:53.419
 you know,

00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:53.939
 it'd break the flow

00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:54.699
 of practice or whatever.

00:08:54.739 --> 00:08:55.199
 It doesn't feel

00:08:55.199 --> 00:08:56.179
 as natural at that point.

00:08:57.959 --> 00:08:59.039
 But when the day

00:08:59.039 --> 00:08:59.559
 of the competition

00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:00.079
 would come,

00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:01.519
 not only would he have

00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.139
 his lines memorized,

00:09:02.339 --> 00:09:03.479
 but he was the best actor

00:09:03.479 --> 00:09:04.879
 on stage every single time.

00:09:05.079 --> 00:09:06.099
 And he would pull out

00:09:06.099 --> 00:09:07.239
 things that would surprise us.

00:09:07.299 --> 00:09:07.620
 He would pull out

00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:08.379
 things that would surprise me.

00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:08.599
 I'm like,

00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:09.120
 oh, I never thought

00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:09.859
 about that that way before.

00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:10.859
 Now I was doing it this way.

00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:13.039
 And so that was, like,

00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.059
 I think that's part

00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:14.919
 of the aggravation of, like,

00:09:14.939 --> 00:09:15.860
 oh, I've been prepping for this.

00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:16.659
 I've been working for this.

00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:17.899
 And then this other guy

00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:18.599
 just comes and gets

00:09:18.599 --> 00:09:19.620
 all the glory for it.

00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:21.799
 And I think that's

00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:22.259
 what they're saying.

00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:22.819
 You know, look,

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.419
 we've been doing this

00:09:23.419 --> 00:09:23.839
 for a while

00:09:23.839 --> 00:09:24.939
 and now Jesus just, you know,

00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:26.039
 gets to baptize people.

00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:27.599
 And John,

00:09:27.719 --> 00:09:28.539
 so John answers them.

00:09:28.599 --> 00:09:29.319
 He really confronts him

00:09:29.319 --> 00:09:29.659
 on this.

00:09:29.719 --> 00:09:30.319
 And he starts out

00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:31.360
 by saying in verse 27,

00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.360
 a person cannot receive

00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.860
 even one thing

00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.179
 unless it is given him

00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:36.779
 from heaven.

00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:39.079
 And so John just kind of

00:09:39.079 --> 00:09:40.219
 sets the framework here.

00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:40.939
 He's like, look, guys,

00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:42.740
 the reason that we even

00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:43.519
 have this ministry

00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.879
 is because God gave it to us

00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:45.600
 in the first place.

00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.680
 And so God has empowered us

00:09:48.680 --> 00:09:50.000
 to do what we're doing.

00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.799
 This is a humble answer

00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:53.680
 and an affirmation

00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:54.440
 of God's greatness.

00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:56.700
 And generally it's true.

00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:57.000
 You know,

00:09:57.139 --> 00:09:58.940
 we receive what we get

00:09:58.940 --> 00:09:59.899
 from heaven.

00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:02.279
 And for them to sit there

00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:02.820
 and say, you know,

00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:03.820
 I really want to be doing

00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.320
 what Jesus is doing

00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:05.659
 at this point.

00:10:05.680 --> 00:10:06.419
 I don't want to be fulfilling

00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:07.519
 this role of preparing

00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.240
 the way for Jesus.

00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:08.360
 Jesus,

00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:11.200
 they're basically starting

00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.120
 to take this place

00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:12.659
 of God there

00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:13.100
 and say, you know,

00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:13.840
 I get to decide

00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:14.379
 what's important

00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:15.000
 and what's not.

00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:16.639
 And so John's kind of

00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:17.360
 kicking it back a notch

00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:17.779
 and saying, look,

00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:19.519
 we get this straight from God

00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:20.220
 what we're doing here.

00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.019
 And then in verse 28,

00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:22.460
 he says,

00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:23.440
 you yourselves

00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:24.740
 bear me witness

00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:25.620
 that I said

00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:26.700
 I am not the Christ,

00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:27.840
 but I have been sent

00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.379
 before him.

00:10:29.180 --> 00:10:30.259
 And this is kind of the,

00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.539
 I think he's bringing out

00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:32.159
 a little bit of irony

00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:32.720
 in their statement.

00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:33.560
 He's like, look,

00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:34.440
 you just said

00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:35.419
 that I bear witness

00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:35.879
 to Jesus.

00:10:36.579 --> 00:10:36.699
 You know,

00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:37.879
 you witness to the fact

00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:38.979
 that I witness to Jesus.

00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.059
 This is the whole point

00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:40.539
 that I'm here.

00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:41.319
 It's like, guys,

00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:43.159
 this was the goal.

00:10:43.719 --> 00:10:45.099
 Like, I was not sent

00:10:45.099 --> 00:10:45.799
 to be Christ,

00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.379
 but I was sent

00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:47.939
 to prepare the way for him.

00:10:49.479 --> 00:10:49.919
 It's like,

00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.559
 this is exactly

00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:51.259
 what we're expecting

00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:51.599
 to happen.

00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:52.839
 We're expecting more people

00:10:52.839 --> 00:10:53.559
 to go to Jesus.

00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:56.139
 And something that

00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:56.860
 we'll keep looking at here

00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:58.599
 is that John is content

00:10:58.599 --> 00:10:59.559
 with his role

00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:00.480
 as a witness.

00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:01.599
 He's content

00:11:01.599 --> 00:11:02.559
 not being the one

00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:03.360
 that gets the glory

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:03.899
 and the attention

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.559
 and the affirmation,

00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:05.399
 but directing that

00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:06.000
 towards Jesus.

00:11:06.719 --> 00:11:07.359
 And I think that

00:11:07.359 --> 00:11:07.919
 this is a good time

00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.119
 to talk about

00:11:10.119 --> 00:11:10.559
 what it means

00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.439
 to be a witness.

00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.399
 And I think that

00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.279
 in verse 31

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.299
 what we'll look at later,

00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.119
 a little bit later,

00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:17.419
 it says that

00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:19.519
 Jesus,

00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.759
 talking about Jesus

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.319
 as a witness,

00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:21.939
 it says,

00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.000
 Jesus testifies

00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:24.899
 to what he has seen

00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:25.479
 and heard.

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.479
 And I think that's

00:11:27.479 --> 00:11:29.259
 a good definition

00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:29.679
 of a witness.

00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:30.559
 Someone who tells

00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:31.259
 what they have seen

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.299
 and heard about something.

00:11:32.299 --> 00:11:34.240
 And the word witness

00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.059
 or testimony

00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:35.659
 or testify

00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:36.779
 or witnessing

00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.979
 is used throughout

00:11:37.979 --> 00:11:39.000
 John's gospel a lot.

00:11:39.339 --> 00:11:40.659
 And a great example

00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:41.359
 of it being used

00:11:41.359 --> 00:11:42.079
 is actually at the end

00:11:42.079 --> 00:11:42.539
 of the gospel

00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:43.299
 when John,

00:11:43.439 --> 00:11:43.839
 the writer,

00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:46.120
 kind of signs the book

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:46.459
 and says,

00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:46.699
 you know,

00:11:46.979 --> 00:11:47.899
 this is the disciple

00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:48.620
 in verse,

00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:49.579
 it's chapter 21,

00:11:49.659 --> 00:11:50.199
 verse 24.

00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:51.159
 John says,

00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.859
 this is the disciple

00:11:51.859 --> 00:11:53.079
 who is bearing witness

00:11:53.079 --> 00:11:54.459
 about these things

00:11:54.459 --> 00:11:55.759
 and who has written

00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.240
 these things,

00:11:56.339 --> 00:11:56.659
 the book,

00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.099
 and we know

00:11:58.099 --> 00:11:58.740
 that his testimony

00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.299
 is true.

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.099
 So John says,

00:12:01.459 --> 00:12:01.639
 you know,

00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.279
 this whole book,

00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:03.139
 everything we've heard

00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:03.979
 about Jesus so far

00:12:03.979 --> 00:12:04.459
 and everything we're

00:12:04.459 --> 00:12:04.839
 going to hear

00:12:04.839 --> 00:12:05.559
 throughout this series

00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:07.159
 is a witness to Jesus.

00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:08.039
 It's John telling

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:08.699
 what he's seen

00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.740
 and heard about Jesus.

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.459
 And in this case,

00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:12.719
 because,

00:12:12.839 --> 00:12:13.079
 you know,

00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:14.319
 a regular witness,

00:12:14.479 --> 00:12:14.899
 we think of like

00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:15.299
 a courtroom

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:16.079
 or something like that,

00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:17.359
 it could be for good

00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:17.979
 or for worse.

00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.219
 But in the case of Jesus,

00:12:19.359 --> 00:12:20.079
 because he's God

00:12:20.079 --> 00:12:20.919
 and because he's perfect,

00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:22.000
 the witness to Jesus

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.259
 is always to his greatness

00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:24.379
 and how good that he is.

00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:26.899
 And so I think

00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:27.759
 an example of that

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.059
 that makes sense

00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:29.500
 in our time

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.120
 and also made sense

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:30.679
 in John's time

00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:31.659
 because he brings it up next

00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:32.659
 is the idea

00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:33.559
 of kind of a best man

00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:33.960
 in a wedding.

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.220
 And, you know,

00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:37.039
 I've been part of a few

00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.779
 bridal parties

00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:41.340
 and one of the aspects

00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:41.740
 of that is,

00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:41.899
 you know,

00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:43.240
 they're not the people

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:44.000
 standing up front,

00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:44.740
 they're the people

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.360
 to the side

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.279
 and they're dressed

00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.220
 in coordinated clothing

00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.139
 and they all face

00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.139
 towards the bride and groom.

00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.200
 And the whole point

00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:51.019
 of them being there

00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.220
 is to, you know,

00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:53.200
 make the wedding

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:53.899
 look better basically,

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.699
 to be a witness

00:12:54.699 --> 00:12:56.259
 to the bride and groom.

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.199
 And even, you know,

00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:57.699
 the best man

00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:58.279
 and the maid of honor

00:12:58.279 --> 00:12:59.360
 get to share a statement

00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:01.340
 witnessing to their appreciation

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:01.899
 for the bride

00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.759
 and for the groom.

00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:05.459
 And so John brings it up

00:13:05.459 --> 00:13:06.039
 in verse 29,

00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:06.519
 he says,

00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:07.959
 the one who has the bride

00:13:07.959 --> 00:13:08.819
 is the bridegroom.

00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:10.639
 The friend of the bridegroom

00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:12.179
 who stands and hears him

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:13.439
 rejoices greatly

00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:14.579
 at the bridegroom's voice.

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:15.579
 Therefore,

00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:16.480
 this joy of mine

00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:17.439
 is now complete.

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.480
 And I think the friend

00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.279
 who attends here,

00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:21.360
 so this is like

00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:21.919
 our equivalent

00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:22.620
 of the best man,

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.620
 but the best man

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.080
 back then

00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:24.860
 did a lot of stuff.

00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:25.720
 He was like the best man

00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:26.460
 and the maid of honor

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.320
 and like the parents

00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:27.879
 and all together

00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:28.560
 because he was the one

00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:29.379
 that actually organized

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.340
 and coordinated the wedding.

00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:31.879
 So a lot of roles

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.679
 fell onto him.

00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:35.240
 And so, you know,

00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:35.960
 his joy,

00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:36.320
 you know,

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:36.620
 when it says,

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.779
 when he hears the,

00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.360
 when he hears great,

00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:40.340
 when he rejoices greatly

00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:41.220
 at the bridegroom's voice,

00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:41.960
 it's kind of a semblance

00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.200
 of the end of the wedding.

00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:44.299
 The wedding has gone well.

00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:45.940
 Maybe that's the,

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.200
 you know,

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.159
 I pronounce you husband

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.259
 and wife equivalent today.

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.799
 He rejoices

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:50.939
 when that's,

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.919
 when that is completed.

00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:53.139
 And John says,

00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:53.539
 therefore,

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.379
 this joy of mine

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.059
 is now complete.

00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:57.000
 And in the illustration

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.039
 he's looking at here,

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.179
 John is the friend

00:13:59.179 --> 00:13:59.700
 of the bridegroom,

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:00.360
 the best man.

00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:03.720
 And Jesus is the groom.

00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:05.159
 And he's saying,

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:05.899
 my joy is complete

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.980
 because Jesus has come.

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:08.779
 And the bride in this example

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.980
 is the people of God

00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.240
 that he's come back for.

00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:12.600
 And this is something

00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:13.319
 that's used a lot

00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:13.939
 through the Old Testament,

00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:15.200
 just a symbol of

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.420
 how Jesus comes

00:14:16.420 --> 00:14:17.440
 to save his people.

00:14:18.900 --> 00:14:19.740
 He's like a groom

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.300
 coming back

00:14:20.300 --> 00:14:21.320
 to claim his bride.

00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:22.800
 And one of the passages

00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:24.660
 that he might be thinking

00:14:24.660 --> 00:14:25.560
 of or referencing here

00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:26.560
 is Isaiah 62,

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.600
 four through five.

00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.400
 And there it says,

00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.580
 you shall no more

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.820
 be termed forsaken

00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:33.180
 and your land

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:33.920
 shall no more

00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:34.860
 be termed desolate.

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.480
 But you shall be called,

00:14:36.660 --> 00:14:37.720
 my delight is in her

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:39.480
 and your land married.

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.840
 For the Lord

00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.780
 delights in you

00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:42.960
 and your land

00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:43.580
 shall be married.

00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:45.400
 For as a young man

00:14:45.400 --> 00:14:46.200
 marries a young woman,

00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:47.560
 so shall your sons

00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.139
 marry you.

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:50.040
 And as the bridegroom

00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:51.639
 rejoices over the bride,

00:14:52.160 --> 00:14:53.259
 so shall your God

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.700
 rejoice over you.

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.360
 And so John's saying,

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.540
 this is it.

00:14:57.780 --> 00:14:58.120
 Israel,

00:14:58.280 --> 00:14:59.220
 the people of God,

00:14:59.400 --> 00:15:00.600
 the Jews have been waiting

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.759
 for God to come back

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.700
 and rescue them from,

00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:04.460
 in this case,

00:15:04.520 --> 00:15:05.160
 their mindset was,

00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.320
 you know,

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:05.960
 Roman rule,

00:15:06.280 --> 00:15:07.379
 that Israel wasn't

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:08.460
 its own independent nation.

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.420
 It was subjugated to Rome.

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.379
 They didn't have freedom

00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.240
 to practice their religion

00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.040
 necessarily in the way

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.779
 that they wanted to.

00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:17.599
 And John's explicitly saying,

00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:18.319
 you know,

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.860
 this is God coming back

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.519
 in Jesus.

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.259
 He's coming back

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.879
 for his people

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.019
 to rescue them.

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.159
 And so he kind of concludes

00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.099
 this whole section

00:15:27.099 --> 00:15:28.099
 by saying,

00:15:28.199 --> 00:15:28.259
 you know,

00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.159
 he must increase,

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.819
 talking about Jesus,

00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:31.240
 but I must decrease.

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.339
 And so John,

00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:35.199
 in this,

00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.179
 fully realizes

00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:36.819
 that his role

00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:37.799
 is not to make himself

00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.319
 look good,

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.559
 but to make Jesus

00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.120
 look great.

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:42.379
 And our role

00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.519
 is not directly John's.

00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:43.799
 Like,

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.019
 we're not specifically called,

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.340
 we're not around

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:46.740
 in the time

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.320
 of the first coming

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.039
 of Jesus here.

00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:48.840
 We're not specifically

00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:49.419
 called to go out

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:49.919
 into the desert

00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.700
 and eat locusts

00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.620
 and baptize people

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.860
 in water like that.

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.419
 But our role

00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.360
 is very similar though.

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.080
 It's to believe in Jesus

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.940
 and to witness

00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:58.560
 to his goodness.

00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:02.539
 And so I think

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.039
 that intellectually

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:04.759
 that settles well,

00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:05.219
 but when it comes

00:16:05.219 --> 00:16:05.779
 down to it,

00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:08.000
 that we enjoy

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.939
 getting credit for things

00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:09.559
 and we enjoy

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.059
 making ourselves

00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:10.519
 look good.

00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.399
 And I think the way

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.199
 that we phrase this

00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.319
 in America often

00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:14.459
 is kind of like

00:16:14.459 --> 00:16:15.139
 the American dream,

00:16:15.439 --> 00:16:16.299
 like finding success.

00:16:17.359 --> 00:16:18.879
 And I'm not against

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.479
 many aspects

00:16:19.479 --> 00:16:20.199
 of the American dream,

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.519
 like the hard work

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:21.919
 is good.

00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:24.259
 Getting rewarded

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:24.779
 for hard work

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.399
 I think is good

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.479
 and even biblical

00:16:26.479 --> 00:16:27.179
 from what we see.

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.439
 But there's an aspect

00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:29.439
 to the American dream

00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.620
 that it's all about

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.399
 making myself look great.

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.620
 And so often

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.259
 when we talk about

00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.059
 things that people

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.899
 aspire to,

00:16:36.979 --> 00:16:38.039
 it's to start up

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.620
 and succeed

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:40.079
 in your own business

00:16:40.079 --> 00:16:41.659
 or to own

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.000
 your own cool house

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.299
 or a better car

00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:44.859
 or better,

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.959
 whatever it might be.

00:16:46.359 --> 00:16:46.939
 It might be something

00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:47.519
 like selling

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.500
 your own product,

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.500
 like your own artwork.

00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:52.620
 Having the corporate

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.179
 ladder climb,

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.939
 the whole goal of that

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.759
 is to be in charge

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.240
 of more people

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.719
 so more people

00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:56.699
 have to listen to us.

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:59.739
 for us to be respected

00:16:59.739 --> 00:17:00.879
 by others

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.599
 for fitness

00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:02.439
 or intelligence

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.259
 or hard work

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.579
 or charisma

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.559
 or whatever it might be.

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.079
 And I think that

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.399
 if our role in life

00:17:09.399 --> 00:17:11.319
 is purely to witness

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.240
 to how good we are,

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.599
 to see and hear

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.220
 how awesome I am,

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.519
 we are going

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.119
 to be disappointed.

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:17.659
 I particularly

00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.279
 will be disappointed.

00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:21.379
 We're going to live

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:22.220
 restless lives

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.419
 because we don't

00:17:23.419 --> 00:17:24.099
 always succeed

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.679
 and we will

00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:27.000
 never succeed enough.

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:27.880
 We will never

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.960
 find enough satisfaction

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.240
 in seeking

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.860
 our own greatness.

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:31.960
 You know,

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.600
 what's interesting

00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:33.700
 is that there is

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:35.080
 a particular joy

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:35.820
 in making somebody

00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:36.600
 else look good,

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:36.840
 though,

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.240
 that is unique

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:38.759
 and different

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.740
 than trying to make

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.460
 ourselves look good.

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.860
 And actually,

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.060
 the example of my friend

00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:43.960
 that I acted with,

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.580
 maybe, you know,

00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:46.940
 I would get frustrated

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:47.759
 sometimes with him,

00:17:47.820 --> 00:17:48.700
 but when it would come

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.380
 to acting day,

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.720
 the reason we were good,

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.519
 whoever was working

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:51.799
 with him,

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:53.400
 was because he was good.

00:17:53.800 --> 00:17:54.540
 And any success

00:17:54.540 --> 00:17:55.560
 that we enjoyed there

00:17:55.560 --> 00:17:56.620
 was because we helped

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.160
 him look good

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.120
 in that instance

00:17:58.120 --> 00:17:58.980
 and played off of him

00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.019
 and saw his new ideas

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.820
 and worked with him.

00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:02.240
 And so that became,

00:18:02.540 --> 00:18:03.420
 it went from,

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:03.880
 like, oh,

00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.160
 he doesn't have

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.720
 his lines memorized

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.560
 to I'm really hyped

00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:06.759
 for the day of the play

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.180
 when he's going

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.980
 to be totally on fire

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.259
 and we're going

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.100
 to see some great things.

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:10.920
 And it was,

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.600
 like,

00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.660
 a legitimate contest.

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:13.600
 Like,

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.500
 actual people who

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.259
 were trying to act

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:15.740
 professionally

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.740
 would participate in it.

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.600
 And we,

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.240
 who were just doing it

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:18.580
 for fun,

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.560
 still somehow managed

00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:20.340
 to swing a couple

00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:21.080
 honorable awards

00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.740
 at different points.

00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:22.839
 And I honestly think

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.399
 it was because

00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.279
 he was so good.

00:18:25.179 --> 00:18:26.099
 And so there was

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.759
 that excitement

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.000
 of seeing that.

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.279
 And so,

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:30.539
 you know,

00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.319
 if our role is to witness

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.119
 to our own greatness,

00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.539
 we're never going

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.740
 to be satisfied enough.

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.259
 But,

00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:36.799
 if our role is to witness

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.259
 to Jesus' greatness

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:40.199
 and show how great he is,

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.699
 then I think we can be satisfied

00:18:42.699 --> 00:18:44.339
 because Jesus has perfectly

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.699
 fulfilled his role.

00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:47.599
 And that's what John

00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.519
 talks about in,

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.179
 John,

00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:49.980
 the author,

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.100
 steps back

00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:51.860
 and says basically,

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.140
 you know,

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.560
 so John the Baptist says,

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:53.759
 you know,

00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.799
 he must increase,

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.799
 I must decrease.

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.960
 And so John the author

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.880
 kind of takes an aside

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.820
 here in the next few verses

00:18:58.820 --> 00:18:59.279
 and says,

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.680
 why is Jesus worthy

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.779
 of being witness to?

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:04.100
 Why do we witness to him?

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.320
 What is the role

00:19:05.320 --> 00:19:06.039
 that he's completed

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.539
 and fulfilled?

00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:07.980
 So,

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:08.799
 in verse 31,

00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:09.880
 we kind of,

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.160
 there's two Johns here,

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.980
 so I try to be clear,

00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.180
 but,

00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.340
 you know,

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.620
 switch back to John the author's

00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.180
 writing now,

00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.259
 commenting on the story.

00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:15.980
 He says,

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.120
 he who comes from above

00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:18.200
 is above all.

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:20.140
 He who is of the earth

00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:21.319
 belongs to the earth

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:23.100
 and speaks in an earthly way.

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.779
 He who comes from heaven

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.100
 is above all.

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:29.019
 And so the first reason

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.140
 that Jesus is worthy

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:30.700
 of increasing

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.980
 and the first reason

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.840
 that he is great

00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:34.940
 and has fulfilled his role

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.980
 is that he is the one

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.539
 from above.

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.559
 And this actually goes back

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:40.039
 to verse 27,

00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:40.680
 I think it is,

00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:42.160
 where John says,

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.360
 you know,

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.519
 we don't receive anything

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.900
 unless it comes from heaven.

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:45.880
 Well,

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.580
 Jesus is the one in heaven

00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:48.480
 who comes from above

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.519
 and he is the one

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:51.040
 giving out the good things

00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:52.180
 and giving out authority

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:54.220
 and making these decisions.

00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.019
 He is great.

00:19:55.800 --> 00:19:56.140
 And so,

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:56.840
 when it says,

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.019
 it's a play on words there

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.600
 of the above

00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.100
 and the above,

00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.340
 you know,

00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:01.160
 he who is from above,

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.820
 like heaven,

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.680
 spatially,

00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:04.540
 is above everyone

00:20:04.540 --> 00:20:05.380
 in authority.

00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:07.820
 And so,

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:10.240
 I use the word glorious

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.900
 kind of to describe this

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.200
 because,

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:12.900
 you know,

00:20:13.020 --> 00:20:14.380
 above doesn't quite

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:14.980
 ring in our heads

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.900
 the same way it does

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.840
 of what the scripture

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.680
 is getting across here.

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.140
 Glorious in the sense

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.040
 of like weightiness

00:20:21.040 --> 00:20:22.840
 that God,

00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.200
 God's greatness,

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:27.160
 that he's the one

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:29.000
 that gives authority

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.480
 and gifts

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.340
 and has authority

00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.260
 over all things

00:20:31.260 --> 00:20:32.380
 and that those

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.160
 who are on the earth

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.000
 talking about us,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.559
 probably specifically

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.079
 talking about

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.980
 John the Baptist here.

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:37.759
 It says,

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:37.920
 you know,

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.859
 they belong to the earth

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.079
 and speak in an earthly way.

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.880
 I don't think that,

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.079
 I don't think this is about

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.099
 people being bad.

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.059
 I think this is just about

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.759
 the fact that

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.440
 God is so different

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.220
 from man

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.880
 and,

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.059
 you know,

00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.660
 John the Baptist

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.460
 fulfills the role

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.180
 of an earthly man.

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.599
 He speaks of Christ

00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.740
 and Jesus speaks

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.480
 is something far greater.

00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:57.619
 And so,

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.880
 in verse 32 and 33

00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.420
 he continues,

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.240
 says,

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.079
 he bears witness

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.039
 to what he has seen

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.359
 and heard,

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.319
 talking about Jesus,

00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.379
 yet no one

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.339
 receives his testimony

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.659
 but whoever

00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.679
 receives his testimony

00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.980
 sets his seal to this,

00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.399
 that God is true.

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.159
 And so,

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.319
 we testify

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.539
 to what we have seen

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.339
 and heard of Jesus

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.439
 and John testified

00:21:16.439 --> 00:21:17.279
 to what he had seen

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.899
 and heard of Jesus

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:19.019
 and what does Jesus

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.599
 witness to?

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.259
 And the answer

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.700
 seems to be

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.559
 that Jesus witnesses

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:24.000
 to actually seeing

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.939
 God himself,

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.939
 God the Father in heaven

00:21:25.939 --> 00:21:27.079
 and testifies to that.

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.799
 And to us,

00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.480
 I think that

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.439
 we can kind of

00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.339
 just slip over that

00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:32.859
 and slip past that

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.219
 pretty easily

00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:33.599
 and not think

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.179
 about it too hard.

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.979
 But in the context

00:21:35.979 --> 00:21:37.259
 of Jesus' time,

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.000
 particularly in the

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.459
 Old Testament,

00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.539
 God is often portrayed

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.819
 as unapproachably holy,

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:44.240
 that to be near him

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.259
 is to risk death.

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.579
 There's a story

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.299
 in 2 Samuel

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:50.279
 of King David

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.799
 goes back

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.819
 and claims the ark

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:53.759
 from an opposing nation.

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.359
 The ark is where

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.519
 God's presence presided

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.359
 and what represented

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.000
 God's presence

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.500
 in Israel.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:00.779
 And so they loaded

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.599
 it onto an oxen cart

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.079
 the right way

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.819
 using some poles

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.519
 that slide into

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.079
 the side of it.

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.119
 And so the ox

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.859
 are kind of lumbering

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.920
 back towards Israel

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.099
 and they hit a bump

00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:08.579
 in the road

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.400
 and the ark

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.000
 begins to tip.

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:10.859
 So the presence

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.460
 of God is about

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.319
 to fall into the mud,

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:12.619
 right,

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:14.220
 symbolically here.

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.900
 And so the guy

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.440
 who's next to it

00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:16.980
 reaches out

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.779
 and holds it up

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.359
 to stop it

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.799
 from falling

00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.779
 and he's struck

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.559
 dead on the spot

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.680
 just for touching it.

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.420
 And I think to us,

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:24.660
 we're like,

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.460
 dude,

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:25.940
 what's the deal?

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.160
 Like,

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.380
 why is he dead?

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.920
 And it feels

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.980
 to us

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.299
 maybe malicious

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.539
 or arbitrary up front

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:32.980
 that something

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.799
 like that would happen.

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.600
 And I think of it

00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:37.039
 as a comparison

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.579
 is like,

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:39.519
 if a boulder falls on me,

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:41.120
 it's not the boulder's choice

00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:41.860
 whether to squish me

00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:42.500
 or not necessarily

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.200
 at that point.

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:43.440
 You know,

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.100
 it's not like the boulder's

00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:44.180
 saying,

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:44.259
 oh,

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.840
 I'm going to hold back

00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:45.360
 at this point.

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:45.779
 No,

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.559
 the weight of the boulder

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.420
 would just crush me

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.900
 entirely.

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.420
 And I think that

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.700
 God,

00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:51.380
 one,

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.940
 he is so great

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.140
 and we are so frail

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.800
 that experiencing him

00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:56.640
 in that direct way

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.460
 is just,

00:22:57.540 --> 00:22:58.300
 it's overwhelming.

00:22:58.960 --> 00:22:59.340
 And two,

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:01.180
 God has made the choice

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.860
 to reveal himself

00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:03.780
 directly to us

00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:04.440
 in Jesus

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.860
 in a way that we can handle

00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.880
 and in a way that is

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.880
 full and honest

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.400
 and true.

00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:10.420
 And I think that's why

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:10.660
 it says,

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.620
 whoever receives

00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.540
 his testimony

00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:14.900
 witnesses God's truth

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:16.180
 firsthand now.

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.880
 And it says,

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.040
 like,

00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:18.780
 they set their seal

00:23:18.780 --> 00:23:19.140
 to this,

00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.740
 that God is true.

00:23:19.780 --> 00:23:20.400
 It's like an absolute

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:20.940
 confirmation,

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:21.980
 like signing your name

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.620
 to a document.

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:25.539
 And we say it that way

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:27.079
 because we have now

00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.959
 seen and heard God

00:23:27.959 --> 00:23:28.639
 through Jesus.

00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:29.859
 And so we're able

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.739
 to confirm that God

00:23:30.739 --> 00:23:31.559
 is true through that.

00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:34.079
 Verse 34,

00:23:34.239 --> 00:23:35.699
 for he whom God has sent

00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.839
 utters the words of God

00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:38.219
 for he gives the spirit

00:23:38.219 --> 00:23:38.879
 without measure.

00:23:39.719 --> 00:23:41.079
 And so the words of God

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.759
 here kind of are

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.599
 the truth of God

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.139
 that we're hearing.

00:23:43.699 --> 00:23:45.299
 It's why we value

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.059
 the scripture here.

00:23:46.479 --> 00:23:47.059
 It's why the,

00:23:47.459 --> 00:23:47.619
 you know,

00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.179
 week after week

00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:48.919
 Sean comes up here

00:23:48.919 --> 00:23:50.639
 and teaches us

00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.659
 from the word.

00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.400
 Um,

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.880
 it's why we don't,

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.440
 he doesn't come up

00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.220
 necessarily and share

00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.940
 his good opinions.

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.060
 That's not the main focus.

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.440
 It's not,

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.759
 we don't have a group

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.440
 discussion time

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.140
 during this time.

00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.779
 I think all those

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.580
 things are really good.

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.180
 Um,

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.000
 but the main focus

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.759
 of the worship

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.560
 of God

00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:04.140
 is to hear from

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:05.120
 his word specifically

00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:06.080
 because this reveals

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:06.779
 his truth.

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:07.820
 Um,

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.220
 and then it also says,

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.400
 you know,

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.600
 for he gives the spirit

00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.259
 without measure.

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.340
 Um,

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.080
 and it's,

00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:14.200
 it's cool how it's not

00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.040
 at this point,

00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.320
 it's like,

00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:15.600
 yes,

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.500
 we need God's word,

00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.519
 but we also need

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.500
 his spirit

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.259
 to understand

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.220
 and proclaim his word.

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.259
 And in this instance,

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.000
 we,

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:22.920
 all Christians,

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.880
 have the spirit

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:24.620
 and are filled

00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:25.140
 with the spirit,

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:25.920
 um,

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.100
 and can experience

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.960
 fillings with the spirit.

00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.759
 Uh,

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.559
 but in this case,

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.180
 it's as Jesus

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:31.180
 has received the spirit

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.720
 without measure.

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.319
 This is past

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.140
 what the prophets knew.

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.720
 This is past

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.279
 what we know.

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.460
 This is an unlimited,

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:37.319
 just outpouring

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.880
 of the spirit,

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.500
 just a large overflow.

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.440
 Um,

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.000
 and that,

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.259
 that empowering

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.759
 of the spirit

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.920
 worked with Jesus

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.660
 as he proclaimed

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.160
 the word

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.779
 to teach God's truth.

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.480
 And I think

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:47.980
 that that's why

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.720
 we as a church,

00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.139
 you know,

00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:49.660
 we spend time

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.259
 praying together

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.680
 in the service.

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.399
 We have a Friday night

00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:51.819
 prayer time

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.420
 because we realize

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.180
 we need the spirit.

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.980
 We need to pray

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.720
 to God

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.299
 to give more

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:55.759
 of the spirit

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.139
 to,

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.579
 to empower us.

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.480
 Um,

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.079
 and in this verse,

00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.279
 you know,

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.660
 we've been talking

00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.299
 about God's greatness,

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:01.920
 his truth,

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:02.500
 uh,

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.059
 his power,

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.660
 his majesty.

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.759
 And then this next verse,

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.619
 um,

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.420
 just hits home.

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.720
 It really,

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.700
 it really stops us.

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.039
 It says,

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.799
 the father loves the son

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.960
 and has given

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.660
 all things

00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.420
 into his hand.

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.820
 Um,

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.200
 and it just,

00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:17.500
 it hits that this is not just,

00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:17.800
 you know,

00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.259
 God is great,

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.019
 um,

00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:20.560
 he's powerful,

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.100
 but he's all,

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.840
 he's loving.

00:25:22.320 --> 00:25:22.500
 Um,

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.600
 he's choosing to,

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:25.200
 to love his people.

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.800
 In this instance,

00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:26.120
 it says,

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.400
 the father loves the son.

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.600
 Um,

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.600
 and we as redeemed people,

00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.160
 we as,

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.920
 as Christians,

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.620
 experience that love

00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:35.620
 that the father shares

00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.080
 with the son,

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.640
 a love that,

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.460
 that gives all things

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.700
 to the son generously.

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:40.820
 Um,

00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.240
 and so we're brought

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.000
 into that love

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.859
 through Jesus.

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:44.779
 And so,

00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.960
 verse 36 kind of,

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.000
 kind of culminates

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.859
 the entire passage,

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.480
 uh,

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.299
 kind of hits the,

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:49.940
 the point that our,

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.099
 you know,

00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.839
 our role in life

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.900
 is to believe in Jesus

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.960
 and witness to his

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.680
 glorious role.

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.079
 In verse 36,

00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:55.359
 it says,

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.700
 whoever believes in the son

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.759
 has eternal life,

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:59.099
 and whoever does not

00:25:59.099 --> 00:25:59.859
 obey the son

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:01.099
 shall not see life,

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.480
 but the wrath of God

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.420
 remains on him.

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.720
 So,

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.059
 this is a strong contrast

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.700
 here at the end.

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:07.559
 Um,

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.480
 those that believe

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.980
 have eternal life.

00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.740
 And I think this is

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.460
 referencing back to that

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.619
 overflow of the love

00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:13.219
 between the father

00:26:13.219 --> 00:26:13.679
 and the son.

00:26:14.199 --> 00:26:14.839
 And this is something

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:16.099
 that we have right now.

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.119
 We usually talk about,

00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:18.539
 just in Christianese,

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.599
 eternal life usually references,

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:19.899
 oh,

00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:20.079
 well,

00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.559
 when I die,

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.299
 I'll go to spend

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.179
 eternity with God.

00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.000
 Um,

00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:23.579
 but it says,

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:23.739
 you know,

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.819
 whoever believes in the son

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:26.979
 has eternal life right now,

00:26:26.979 --> 00:26:28.219
 is experiencing

00:26:28.219 --> 00:26:29.859
 the love of the father,

00:26:30.219 --> 00:26:30.579
 um,

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:32.199
 is empowered by God

00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:33.159
 and by the spirit.

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.139
 Um,

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:36.099
 and it's a strong contrast

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.339
 to this,

00:26:36.459 --> 00:26:36.659
 you know,

00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.519
 those that do not,

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.919
 those who don't obey,

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:39.640
 um,

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.360
 and I think belief

00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.620
 and obey are pretty similar here

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.300
 and I'll look at that

00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:42.680
 in a second.

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.440
 Uh,

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.620
 it's not even that they won't

00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.340
 have eternal life,

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.519
 they won't even see life

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.840
 and the wrath of God

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.720
 remains upon them.

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:49.660
 Um,

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:50.940
 and so this,

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.360
 this jostles a little bit

00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.560
 against our cultural sensibility

00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:53.960
 of,

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.279
 you know,

00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.140
 in our culture,

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.600
 tolerance and inclusivity

00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.660
 are very big virtues.

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.400
 Uh,

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.800
 you know,

00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.539
 I'll do my thing,

00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.200
 you do your thing

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.360
 as long as we don't hurt each other.

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.200
 Um,

00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:03.440
 it's kind of the,

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.140
 the go-to.

00:27:04.300 --> 00:27:05.019
 And so to hear something

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.960
 very strong like this,

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.480
 to hear like,

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:06.720
 you know,

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.840
 you believe in Jesus,

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.959
 get this,

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.740
 don't believe in Jesus,

00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:10.539
 receive this.

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.419
 Um,

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:13.019
 and I think that,

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.619
 uh,

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.559
 what I wrestle through

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.559
 with this is a couple things.

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.419
 Um,

00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:17.879
 is that we are all,

00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:19.139
 we like to pretend

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:19.819
 that we're tolerant

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.299
 and inclusive

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.419
 but we are all exclusive

00:27:21.419 --> 00:27:22.019
 to a point.

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:22.859
 Um,

00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:23.579
 we all,

00:27:23.699 --> 00:27:23.959
 if you,

00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:25.299
 I don't want to start anything

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.279
 but if you listen to

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.539
 the rhetoric that comes up

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.459
 around this election season

00:27:28.459 --> 00:27:29.599
 or any election season,

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.279
 um,

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.439
 there is an exclusivity

00:27:31.439 --> 00:27:32.099
 to the rhetoric

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.559
 that the person who is voting

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.599
 for not your candidate

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:36.399
 is obviously wrong

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.099
 and in the wrong

00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:37.819
 and doing a wrong

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.179
 thing

00:27:38.179 --> 00:27:39.480
 and that's very exclusive

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.419
 language that is used

00:27:40.419 --> 00:27:41.039
 in that sense.

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:41.839
 Um,

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.700
 every religion

00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:44.659
 and even non-religious people

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.539
 are exclusive to a sense.

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:45.960
 They'll say,

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.220
 okay,

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.500
 well,

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.019
 you know,

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:48.279
 it's okay if you believe

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.740
 these things

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:48.939
 but,

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.200
 you know,

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.759
 if you're an atheist

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.240
 or agnostic,

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.700
 you're going to say,

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:51.839
 no,

00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.859
 Jesus is not God.

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.480
 You know,

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.339
 he might have been a real person

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.039
 but he wasn't God.

00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.059
 You're exclusive to that.

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.179
 That idea is exclusive

00:27:57.179 --> 00:27:57.839
 outside of you.

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.779
 Um,

00:27:59.460 --> 00:27:59.679
 you know,

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.480
 if you're a Muslim

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.460
 you would claim similarly,

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:01.700
 you know,

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.599
 Jesus is not God

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.899
 because Allah is God

00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.559
 and Allah is one.

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:05.399
 Um,

00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:05.799
 and so,

00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:06.960
 there are these hard

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.619
 exclusivities

00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:09.619
 within everyone's belief system,

00:28:09.659 --> 00:28:10.859
 within what everybody thinks.

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:11.740
 And so,

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:13.079
 the question is not so much,

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:13.839
 um,

00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:15.700
 who is inclusive

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.440
 because no one truly is.

00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.659
 The question is,

00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:20.139
 who is most gracious?

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:22.319
 Who handles the exclusivity best?

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.960
 Uh,

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.960
 as you look and consider.

00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:24.279
 So,

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:24.859
 um,

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:26.059
 if you're not a Christian here today

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.599
 or you're not sure

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.399
 what you think about faith

00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:27.960
 or you're not sure

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.500
 where you are,

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.319
 um,

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.059
 I would encourage you

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.619
 to think about that.

00:28:30.679 --> 00:28:31.039
 Just the,

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:31.379
 the,

00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.960
 everyone has exclusivity

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.519
 to a point.

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.259
 Um,

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.799
 and you want to look

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:36.259
 and see who handles that best,

00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.519
 who handles it most graciously.

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.399
 Um,

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.799
 and for me,

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.339
 uh,

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.980
 I have come to the conclusion

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.359
 that it's,

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.099
 it's Christianity,

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:43.919
 um,

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.119
 and that God leaves

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:45.720
 open the door

00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.279
 for anyone

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.720
 to,

00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:47.879
 to believe in him,

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:48.879
 um,

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.759
 and to experience

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.619
 that eternal life.

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.240
 Uh,

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.879
 and I think also,

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.220
 too,

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:52.579
 that,

00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.879
 you know,

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.839
 from the perspective

00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.399
 of Christianity,

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:54.799
 if,

00:28:54.919 --> 00:28:55.659
 if God is true,

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.059
 like what he says is right,

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:59.119
 and God is truly God,

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.480
 he is in charge of everything

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.319
 and the greatest being,

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.259
 um,

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.319
 then it makes sense

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.579
 that worship should be directed

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.460
 towards him alone,

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.339
 uh,

00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:07.419
 that eternal life

00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:08.399
 comes through him alone.

00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:09.379
 Um,

00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:11.419
 and so the call to belief here

00:29:11.419 --> 00:29:12.099
 that we look at

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.759
 is not,

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.200
 you know,

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.839
 we kind of talk about,

00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:14.019
 oh,

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.139
 okay,

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.639
 just believe,

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.419
 we use the phrase

00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:16.599
 believe in Jesus sometimes

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.579
 and you'll be saved.

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.359
 And it's kind of like,

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:18.460
 well,

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.159
 what does that mean?

00:29:19.659 --> 00:29:20.019
 Um,

00:29:20.159 --> 00:29:21.839
 and I think it's an affirmation

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.799
 of everything we've heard

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.839
 about Jesus from this passage.

00:29:24.199 --> 00:29:24.399
 You know,

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.279
 when you,

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:25.759
 when you,

00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.819
 we say we believe in Jesus,

00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.519
 we say we believe

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.339
 that he has authority

00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:29.019
 over everything,

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.000
 um,

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.179
 which often means that

00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:32.959
 we relinquish our control

00:29:32.959 --> 00:29:33.619
 and our ideas

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.599
 of how things should be.

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.319
 Uh,

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:35.579
 you know,

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.379
 and we believe in Jesus

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.599
 that he speaks the truth,

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.679
 which means that

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:40.419
 he might confront opinions

00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:41.359
 or thoughts that I have

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.419
 that feel comfortable to me,

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.439
 but I read in the scripture

00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.359
 that they're not true.

00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:45.279
 Um,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.039
 and so I have to,

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.240
 to submit to that.

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:47.959
 Um,

00:29:48.439 --> 00:29:48.699
 we,

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.519
 believing in Jesus says,

00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:50.799
 you know,

00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:52.039
 our role is to proclaim

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.919
 his greatness,

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:53.579
 uh,

00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.259
 not our own.

00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.459
 And so there are times

00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.500
 that when I would seek

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.199
 for my own greatness

00:29:57.199 --> 00:29:58.019
 that I'm called to instead

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.899
 step aside,

00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.819
 um,

00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:01.139
 and not do that

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:01.439
 and,

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:03.000
 and point people to Jesus.

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.000
 Um,

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.899
 and so do hear,

00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:06.479
 you know,

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.019
 this is,

00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.479
 do hear what Jesus is offering

00:30:08.479 --> 00:30:09.459
 to those who believe in him.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.359
 Um,

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.359
 it's honestly,

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.539
 I think one of the biggest things

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.839
 from this passage is the ability

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.619
 to have satisfaction

00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.599
 in any circumstance,

00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.759
 um,

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.759
 when we make our lives

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:21.240
 about making Jesus great.

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.139
 Um,

00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.839
 and I think that,

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.559
 uh,

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.440
 I think a good explanation

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.639
 of this that comes to my mind

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.639
 is that everyone,

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:28.819
 we talk about like existential crises,

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.279
 like a midlife crisis

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.420
 where someone goes

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.639
 and,

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.099
 you know,

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.539
 they decide,

00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:32.740
 oh,

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.379
 what have I been doing

00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.799
 with my life?

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.420
 This is miserable.

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:34.779
 And so,

00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:34.980
 you know,

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.139
 they,

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.579
 you know,

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.399
 in the dramatic example,

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:38.159
 they change their career path

00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:39.559
 and they get a divorce

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.139
 and they buy a new fancy car

00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:42.019
 or whatever it might be

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.139
 and they move to the Bahamas

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:43.440
 and,

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:43.920
 you know,

00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.859
 so I don't,

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.420
 I,

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.519
 I'm sure there are people out there

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.639
 that take dramatic steps like that.

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.039
 I don't know too many people that have.

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:49.819
 Um,

00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.299
 but I think that we all have,

00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:53.279
 have existential crises like this

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.259
 and we handle it different ways.

00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:54.500
 You know,

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.779
 when you're younger,

00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.700
 if you move schools

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:59.599
 or if you move from one area to another

00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.639
 or you lose some friends

00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.220
 for some reason,

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.559
 the question becomes,

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.059
 you know,

00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:05.359
 will I ever have as good of friends

00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.039
 as I had before?

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.319
 Will I ever have that experience

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.319
 that I was having before?

00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.279
 Um,

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.279
 it can really hurt when that happens.

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.579
 You know,

00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:13.139
 if you're older than me

00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:14.740
 and worked,

00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.099
 you know,

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:16.019
 a longer career

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.899
 or raised a family

00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:18.480
 or in the process of raising a family,

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.460
 um,

00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.440
 you might sit there and say,

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:20.619
 you know,

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:20.899
 I'm,

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.059
 you just stop and like,

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.399
 you know,

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:24.440
 when I was Steve's age,

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.160
 um,

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:27.440
 I thought things were going to turn out differently.

00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.339
 I don't know how to say this politely.

00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.079
 I'm always bad with this.

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:31.539
 I thought things were going to turn out differently.

00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.839
 I had these pictures of,

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.420
 in my mind,

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:33.599
 but,

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:33.779
 you know,

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:35.619
 I spent most of my life changing diapers

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:36.440
 or working really hard

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.339
 to provide for my family

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:37.519
 and,

00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:37.700
 you know,

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.119
 now I'm,

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:38.920
 now I'm sitting here

00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:40.000
 and where's the time gone?

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:40.880
 Um,

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.259
 you know,

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.500
 if you're my age

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.060
 and you're a millennial,

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.940
 then you're always restless

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.900
 and having crises,

00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:45.700
 um,

00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:47.480
 because that's our generation.

00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.100
 Um,

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.880
 and I will,

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.940
 I will freely admit,

00:31:50.060 --> 00:31:50.220
 you know,

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:52.160
 I spent seven years doing,

00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:54.000
 studying for full-time ministry.

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:54.759
 Um,

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.880
 at two or three different points,

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.740
 I thought I was going to go do full-time ministry

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:59.180
 and work with youth at a camp

00:31:59.180 --> 00:31:59.980
 or something like that.

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:00.700
 Um,

00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:02.200
 and I now find myself in Cambridge.

00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:02.860
 Uh,

00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.180
 I don't,

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.680
 never liked the city growing up.

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.279
 Um,

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.900
 working for a technology company,

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:08.460
 which is something I've never studied for before.

00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.320
 Um,

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.600
 and part of a church plant,

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:12.200
 which is something I just did not expect at all.

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:12.960
 Um,

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.820
 and so I definitely have those moments

00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.680
 where I sit there and I'm like,

00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:16.960
 God,

00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:17.700
 what are you doing?

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:17.880
 Like,

00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.560
 this is not what I was,

00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:20.060
 this is not what I visualized at all.

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:20.840
 Um,

00:32:21.040 --> 00:32:22.280
 and I think that I'm not,

00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.660
 I think all those experiences

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.880
 are legitimate to some point.

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.100
 Like,

00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:26.160
 I'm not here to critique you

00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.180
 if you're going through something like that.

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.380
 I'd rather talk with you about it and hear.

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.280
 Um,

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:29.920
 but,

00:32:30.280 --> 00:32:30.940
 you know,

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:32.019
 in my case particularly,

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:35.180
 my satisfaction when I worry about that is,

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.279
 is,

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.320
 um,

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:40.140
 is this about what I want?

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.380
 Am I picturing my own greatness?

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.220
 This is about reaching my goals specifically.

00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:45.580
 And the thing about making Christ great,

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:47.539
 about seeing him increase and me decrease,

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.519
 that can happen at any point in life.

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:51.080
 It does not matter where you are.

00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:53.320
 It does not matter whether your personal goals

00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:54.080
 have been achieved.

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:54.799
 Uh,

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.759
 it doesn't matter how you're feeling at that point

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:58.720
 that making Christ great

00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.820
 can happen wherever you are.

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.539
 Um,

00:33:02.060 --> 00:33:04.759
 so let me pray for us in closing.

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.539
 Um,

00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:10.880
 Lord,

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.400
 I thank you,

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:11.860
 um,

00:33:13.080 --> 00:33:14.320
 that making you great

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:16.080
 is the greatest joy we can have.

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.539
 Lord,

00:33:17.580 --> 00:33:19.039
 I pray that our joy would be complete

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:20.680
 as John the Baptist's joy was complete,

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.620
 uh,

00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:23.100
 in seeing you exalted

00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:23.539
 and,

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.960
 in telling others about you

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.320
 and living our lives in such a way

00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:27.759
 that they represent you well,

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:27.960
 Lord.

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:28.960
 Um,

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.080
 Lord,

00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:30.240
 I pray as we continue the service,

00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:31.799
 as we go into a time of corporate prayer

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.980
 and of communion,

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:33.279
 Lord,

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.500
 Lord,

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:34.440
 I pray that you would

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.559
 truly commune with us,

00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:35.740
 Lord,

00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.079
 I pray that you would hear our prayers,

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.019
 uh,

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.240
 and I pray that your spirit

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.059
 would be here with us.

00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:40.779
 In Jesus' name,

00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.079
 Amen.

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:41.200
 Amen.

00:33:41.200 --> 00:34:11.179
 Thank you.