WEBVTT

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 We're all used to lots of symbols, aren't we? Used to a world where symbols convey so

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! much information without having to use many words. So we see a little red circle with a

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! line through the middle and we know it's the tube. We see a little silhouette of a

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 piece of fruit with a bite taken out and we know, huh, that's apple. That's expensive products

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 made by some poor person in the Far East for a big company in America. And we perhaps never

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 think to question why is there a round circle with a line through it for the tube? Why is

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 there an apple with a bite taken out of it for the apple computer company? There's a

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 chance that we don't think about it. In the same way we're all used to seeing people wearing

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 crosses around necklaces in earrings. And we know it's a symbol of Christianity but maybe

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 we don't think quite why. Where does it come from? Why is that the symbol? And maybe we

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 don't even think how bizarre it is to have a cross as a symbol. The very early Christians

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 hiding in the catechums of Rome, fearful of persecution and arrest by authorities. He's a

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 different symbol. He's the symbol of a fish. Now it wasn't primarily because Jesus hung

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 around with fishermen, although he did. It's actually because of an acronym. In Greek, the

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 words for Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour. In Greek, the initial letters spell Ichthus,

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 which is the Greek word for a fish. So the fish was like a secret code they could use for

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 each other. And perhaps a little bizarrely, we still see it on bumper stickers of cars today.

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 But that's where it comes from if you ever wanted to know. So why did the fish get replaced by

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 a cross? After all, if we saw people going around with models of electric chairs on their

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 necklaces or a hangman's guillotine, we'd think it was weird, wouldn't we? And yet the cross,

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 far more than a guillotine or a hangman's noose, was a terrible, terrible means of execution.

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 The Roman philosopher and politician, Cicero, wrote a little bit before Jesus was born, said

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 this, the very word cross should be far removed, not only from the person of a Roman citizen,

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 but from his thoughts, his eyes and his ears. So how did this disgraceful instrument of execution

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 come to be the symbol of the Christian faith? Well, as we look at it, we get to the heart of the

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 matter. We see why it's a symbol of the Christian faith, because it epitomises the message at the

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 heart of Christianity. So that's why I thought it would be good to look today at this little account,

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 this eyewitness account of Jesus' death on the cross. Written by John the disciple, the disciple

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 whom Jesus loved, the disciple who gets to care for Jesus' mother in this excerpt we read here.

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 And I want us to ask three questions as we read through this story. We're actually going to ask

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 them twice. The three questions are this, why is this happening? Who is in control? And so what?

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 So what difference does it make? And I want us to look at those twice. First time through,

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 we'll look at it very superficially, as bystanders in the crowd, just seeing what's happening.

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 But then we're going to go back again and look at them more deeply, with the clues that John,

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 who writes this, is giving us, to help us see underneath the surface what is going on.

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 So first of all, why is this happening? Well, we pick up the story in verse 16, and we read that

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 Pilate delivered Jesus over to them to be crucified. So why is Jesus being crucified? Well, if you've read

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 the story this far, you'd know why it is not happening. It's not happening because Jesus is

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 guilty of some crime. He's already had two trials, one a mock trial in front of the religious leaders.

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 But even in that, it's just across the column there, in verse 23 of chapter 18, Jesus says,

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 If what I said is wrong, bear witness about what is wrong. But if what I said is right, why do you strike me?

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 No witnesses can be brought to say what Jesus had said or done was wrong. He was innocent.

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 And then three times after his trial with the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, Pilate announces,

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 I find no guilt in him. You can see that at the end of chapter 18, verse 38. You see at the start of chapter 19,

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 verse 4, and again in verse 6, the chief priests cry, crucify him, crucify him. Pilate said to them,

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 take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him. So Jesus is not being killed because he's guilty

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 of anything. On the surface, Jesus is being killed because of political conspiracies.

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 You need to know a little bit of the historical background of the day. The Roman Empire had taken over

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 and occupied Judea. But they'd done a bit of a deal with the Jewish religious authorities.

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 So the religious authorities still had some power, some influence. They could still run their religion

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 out of the temple in Jerusalem. But it was always on a bit of a fine knife edge.

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 They had to behave themselves. And so a few chapters earlier, the leader, Caiaphas the high priest,

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 had said of the trouble Jesus was causing by attracting crowds, if we let Jesus go on like this,

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 this is chapter 11, verse 48, everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away

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 both our place, that is the temple, and our nation. If Jesus gets any more popular, we will lose our power.

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 The Romans will take it from us. And so they want to get rid of Jesus.

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 That's their political conspiracy. At the same time, Pilate, the Roman governor, had a really tricky job.

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 Judea was well known as a place where there had been lots of rebellions and uprisings in the centuries before.

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 It was always a pretty tense place. And so he had to try and keep control.

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 If not, he would lose his job. And that is why the Jewish leaders back him into a corner with their political manoeuvres.

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 If you notice, if you look up just above the section we read, they say to Pilate,

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 look, this is why Jesus is claiming to be a king.

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 So at the top of the column there, in verse 12,

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 everybody makes himself a king opposes Caesar.

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 So Pilate, if you're not getting rid of this king, then you're no friend of Caesar.

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 You will lose your job.

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 And so Pilate, although he wanted to let Jesus go,

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 because of his own self-interest, wanting to hold on to his job,

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 because of the political manoeuvrings of the Jewish authorities,

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 says, OK, crucify him. You take him, you do it.

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 And you see those political games continue.

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 Did you notice that sign that Pilate wrote to go above the cross?

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 The sign with a charge on it?

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 It's there in verse 19.

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 Pilate wrote,

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 Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.

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 What's he doing?

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 He's basically thumbing his nose at the Jewish authorities.

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 He's saying, you want a king? Well, this is your king.

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 Humiliated, dying on a cross.

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 He's a loser like you are.

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 It's Pilate playing political games again.

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 And the Jewish leaders get upset and say, no, change the sign.

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 Pilate just says, no.

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 What I've written, I have written.

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 Pilate may have lost the battle, but he's making sure they know he is really in control.

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 So why is Jesus dying?

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 Well, on the face of it, because of a political conspiracy,

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 because of human pride in politics.

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 That then leads us to the second question, doesn't it?

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 Who is in control here?

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 Well, it's not Pilate, is it?

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 He had to give up his control.

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 His writing that inscription, the king of the Jews,

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 was his last little gambit to try and show he had some power.

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 In some sense, it looks like the religious leaders are in control,

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 but even they aren't so much in control,

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 because they can't get that charge changed to something they'd be happy with.

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 Who else is there?

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 Could the soldiers be in control?

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 Well, in a sense, yes.

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 What have they done?

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 They've nailed Jesus to a cross,

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 they've hoisted it up and shoved it in the ground,

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 so it's standing up.

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 And now they're just getting on with their day,

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 gambling over his clothes.

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 It sort of looks like they're in control,

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 and there's Jesus sitting there,

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 hanging there above them,

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 looking down as his clothes are gambled for.

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 Powerless to do anything, it seems.

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 So maybe the soldiers are in control.

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 So thirdly, what difference does this make?

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 Why does this matter?

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 Is all that's happening here,

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 another innocent man,

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 unjustly dying,

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 at the hands of a tyrannical regime,

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 and at the hands of religious despots?

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 We see that kind of thing on television every night, don't we?

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 So one of my neighbours said to me recently,

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 what's so special about this case?

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 Isn't it just another innocent man

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 in a world of suffering?

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 Well, let's go back and look at those questions again.

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 But this time looking at them,

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 aware of all the information

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 that John, who's writing this,

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 is putting before us,

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 so we can try to understand

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 the true answers to these questions.

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 So first of all, why is this happening?

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 We look at verse 24 for a moment.

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 We get a clue to why it's happening here.

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 So they, that's the soldiers,

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 said to one another,

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 let us not tear it,

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 this seamless garment,

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 but cast lots for it,

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 to see whose it shall be.

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 This was to fulfil

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 what the scripture says.

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 They divided my garments among them,

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 and for my clothing they cast lots.

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 So the soldiers did these things.

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 These Roman soldiers

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 had no idea of this prophecy.

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 These were words written

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 a thousand years earlier,

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 describing, in Psalm 22,

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 describing an innocent man suffering,

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 forsaken by God,

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 oppressed by people around him,

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 yet going on to praise God

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 at the end of the psalm.

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 The soldiers had no idea

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 they were fulfilling a prophecy

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 by playing dice for Jesus' clothes,

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 and yet here we get a hint

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 of what is going on.

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 A plan is being fulfilled.

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 Promises are being fulfilled.

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 So why is it happening?

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 It's happening to fulfil

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 what God had promised

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 thousands of years earlier.

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 We see that not only here,

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 but throughout the story

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 of John's Gospel.

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 If you take one of these Gospels

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 at the end,

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 one of these accounts

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 of Jesus' life,

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 read through it.

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 You'll see throughout it

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 you get hints,

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 or even better than hints,

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 clear clues,

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 that Jesus is fulfilling a plan.

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 So for example,

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 back in chapter 10,

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 he said,

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 I am the good shepherd,

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 the good shepherd lays down

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 his life for his sheep.

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 Or even before that,

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 in John chapter 3 verse 15,

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 he'd given a clue

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 as to how he would die.

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 He said,

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 when I am lifted up,

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 whoever believes in me

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 would have eternal life.

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 In John chapter 3 verse 16,

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 the very next verse from that,

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 he gives this clear declaration

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 of why he'd come into the world,

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 what plan he was fulfilling.

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 He says this,

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 For God so loved the world

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 that he gave his only Son,

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 that whoever believes in him

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 should not perish,

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 but have eternal life.

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 For God did not send his Son

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 into the world

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 to condemn the world,

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 but in order that the world

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 might be saved through him.

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 So why is this happening?

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 Jesus is dying

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 to save a world.

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 It's not power politics.

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 Jesus isn't a victim

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 of someone else's pride and gains.

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 Jesus is willingly

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 fulfilling the mission

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 the Father gave him.

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 Now why is that?

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 He, the innocent one,

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 the one who had never

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 done anything wrong,

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 is dying to take the punishment

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 for people like me and you

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 who fail to live up

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 to our own standards,

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 let alone God's standards.

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 Who fail to treat God

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 as ruler in the world he made.

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 Who try to live

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 as if we're independent of God.

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 And why is Jesus doing it?

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 He's doing it to show us

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 two things.

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 First of all,

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 to show us God's great love.

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 That God is so loving.

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 He does not want

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 people he has made

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 to perish in hell forever.

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 But also,

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 God is so loving.

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 He cannot just ignore

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 our sin.

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 He cannot just ignore

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 our rebellion.

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 God is loving,

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 so he has to punish

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 the things we've done wrong.

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 If God didn't punish

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 the evil and the injustice

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 and the pain

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 that we cause in this world,

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 then how could we say

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 he's loving?

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 People often ask me,

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 how could a loving God

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 punish sin?

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 Let me ask you

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 a different question.

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 How could a loving God

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 just overlook sin?

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 If he did,

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 he wouldn't be loving,

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 would he?

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 He'd be indifferent,

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 which is the opposite

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 of loving.

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 See, because God is love,

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 he sends his son

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 into the world

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 so whoever believes in him

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 may not perish

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 but have eternal life.

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 He's so loving,

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 he must judge,

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 he must condemn

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 all that is wrong.

00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.039
 He's so loving,

00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:17.220
 he wants to forgive.

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.259
 And so this is where

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.639
 the rescue plan comes in.

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.819
 This is why Jesus is dying,

00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:22.299
 it's to fulfil

00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.799
 the rescue plan

00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:24.840
 that was promised

00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.740
 in the Old Testament

00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:27.240
 and unfolds in the New.

00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:29.480
 So that's what is happening.

00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:32.519
 That's why this is happening.

00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.120
 Jesus is showing us

00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:34.919
 God's love.

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:37.159
 Love to rescue us.

00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.639
 Love to condemn sin.

00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.620
 So then who's in control?

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.319
 Is it the soldiers?

00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.080
 Is it Pilate?

00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:46.840
 Is it the religious authorities?

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:48.879
 No.

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.639
 Look carefully.

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:51.840
 John gives us

00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:53.240
 three pieces of evidence

00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.899
 to show that it's really

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.559
 Jesus in control.

00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.719
 Look down to the end there,

00:13:58.799 --> 00:13:59.500
 bottom of the page,

00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.359
 verse 26.

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.439
 Here's Jesus

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.359
 hanging on the cross

00:14:02.359 --> 00:14:03.619
 and when Jesus saw

00:14:03.619 --> 00:14:04.079
 his mother

00:14:04.079 --> 00:14:04.799
 and the disciple

00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.500
 whom he loved

00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.199
 standing nearby,

00:14:06.739 --> 00:14:07.359
 he said to his mother,

00:14:07.459 --> 00:14:07.699
 women,

00:14:08.239 --> 00:14:09.039
 behold your son.

00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.359
 Then he said to the disciple,

00:14:10.459 --> 00:14:11.199
 behold your mother.

00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:12.539
 From that hour

00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:13.559
 the disciple took her

00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:14.559
 to his own home.

00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:16.259
 I don't know about you

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.239
 but when I'm in pain

00:14:17.239 --> 00:14:18.679
 I'm really bad

00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:19.079
 at looking out

00:14:19.079 --> 00:14:19.619
 for other people.

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.500
 I get very obsessed

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.979
 with what's causing me

00:14:22.979 --> 00:14:23.459
 discomfort.

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:25.040
 I get very irritable

00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:25.920
 with everybody else.

00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:27.680
 Maybe that's just me.

00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:29.940
 But what does Jesus do?

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.980
 As he dislocates

00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:33.460
 his shoulders

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.720
 every time he breathes,

00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:35.920
 as he hangs there

00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:37.080
 with nails

00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:37.660
 through his hands

00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:38.240
 and feet,

00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:40.220
 he looks out

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:41.340
 on and loves

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:41.879
 his mother

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.000
 and cares for her.

00:14:45.160 --> 00:14:45.920
 It's a sign

00:14:45.920 --> 00:14:46.460
 that he's really

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.019
 in control.

00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:49.220
 But secondly,

00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.180
 look at verse 28.

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.700
 After this,

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.640
 Jesus knowing

00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:53.500
 that all was now

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.180
 finished,

00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:55.640
 said to fulfil

00:14:55.640 --> 00:14:56.240
 the scripture,

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.520
 I thirst.

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:03.100
 He's so in control

00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.259
 that even at that moment

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.360
 as he reaches

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.259
 the end of his life,

00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:07.720
 he can do one

00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:08.540
 little detail

00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:09.340
 to fulfil another

00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:09.740
 scripture,

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.560
 to fulfil another

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:12.879
 promise laid out

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.580
 in the Old Testament.

00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:14.860
 Then the greatest

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.480
 piece of evidence,

00:15:15.540 --> 00:15:16.379
 the third piece of evidence

00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:17.320
 is there in verse 30.

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.220
 When Jesus had received

00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.040
 the sour wine,

00:15:20.520 --> 00:15:21.020
 he said,

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:23.199
 it is finished

00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:24.960
 and bowed his head

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.500
 and gave up his spirit.

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.500
 Notice the words,

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.059
 it is finished.

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.679
 Not I am finished,

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:33.079
 but it is finished.

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.779
 It's the cry of a student

00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.519
 when they get to the end

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.439
 of their final exam

00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:37.539
 or final piece of coursework,

00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.460
 it's finished!

00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.639
 It's the cry of a couple

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.679
 who for 25 years

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.699
 would pay off their mortgage

00:15:42.699 --> 00:15:44.199
 and finally it's done.

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.299
 It's finished!

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.399
 We own this place!

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.679
 It's the cry of a prisoner

00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:50.979
 who's finally let out

00:15:50.979 --> 00:15:52.059
 having served his sentence.

00:15:52.219 --> 00:15:53.379
 It is finished!

00:15:54.219 --> 00:15:55.259
 It's the cry of the

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.419
 relieved marathon runner

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.899
 who after 26.4 miles

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.539
 of agony

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:01.039
 crosses the line

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:02.539
 with joy on her face.

00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:04.620
 It is finished!

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.799
 What is finished?

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.860
 What is finished

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.460
 is the work

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.320
 God the Father

00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.240
 had given the Son

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.720
 to do.

00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:13.740
 What is finished

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.060
 is the work

00:16:15.060 --> 00:16:16.000
 of rescuing

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.240
 rebels like me

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.720
 and you.

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:20.879
 What is finished

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.620
 is fulfilling

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.440
 the promise

00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.879
 that I read earlier

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.500
 in chapter 3

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.259
 verse 16.

00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.659
 That God so loved

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.060
 the world

00:16:28.060 --> 00:16:28.480
 that he gave

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.259
 his only Son

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.960
 that whoever

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.720
 believes in him

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.659
 should not perish

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.079
 but have eternal life.

00:16:33.319 --> 00:16:34.500
 That is finished.

00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:36.059
 So that anyone

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:37.179
 who believes in him

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:39.639
 will not be judged

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.139
 themselves

00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.019
 but will have

00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.199
 eternal life instead.

00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:44.799
 So let me ask again

00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.319
 what difference

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:46.039
 does this make?

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.639
 And we rattle through

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.179
 very briefly

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.079
 five things

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:50.199
 we cannot say.

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.480
 Five things

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.319
 we cannot say.

00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.779
 We cannot say first

00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.579
 that God doesn't care

00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:55.259
 about the injustice

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:55.899
 of the world.

00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:57.480
 He does.

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:58.220
 He cares deeply.

00:16:58.699 --> 00:16:59.339
 He came down

00:16:59.339 --> 00:16:59.799
 in the presence

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.379
 of his Son

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.460
 and suffered

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:03.220
 injustice himself

00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.220
 so he could put

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.859
 an end to it all

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.339
 one day.

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.680
 Secondly we cannot say

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.660
 all religions

00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.740
 are basically the same.

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.039
 Every other religion

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:13.700
 is all about

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.599
 what human beings

00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:15.099
 have to do

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:16.180
 to impress God

00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:18.200
 or to get forgiven

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:18.759
 by God

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.759
 to earn life

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.420
 from God.

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.619
 Christianity

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:22.839
 is completely opposite.

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.759
 It's not about us

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.680
 trying to get up to God

00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:25.519
 it's about God

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.339
 come down

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.700
 to rescue us

00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.119
 in the presence

00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:28.640
 of his Son.

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:31.160
 Thirdly we cannot say

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.420
 my life isn't worth

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:32.840
 anything

00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:34.560
 no one cares about me

00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:35.460
 my life's a mess.

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.020
 If you trust in Jesus

00:17:39.020 --> 00:17:40.720
 see how much

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.700
 your life is worth

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:43.540
 that the eternal

00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:44.220
 Son of God

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:44.680
 the one

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.500
 through whom

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.380
 everything was made

00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:47.000
 as John said

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.600
 right back at the

00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.340
 start of this book

00:17:48.340 --> 00:17:50.820
 took on human flesh

00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:52.640
 lived a human life

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.740
 and died on a cross

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.220
 to rescue you.

00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:57.059
 You cannot say

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.700
 you are worthless

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:59.019
 if you put your

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.220
 trust in Jesus

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.339
 and he has paid

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.500
 a supremely

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.420
 valuable price

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.140
 for you.

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.220
 Fourthly

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.039
 you cannot say

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.019
 oh if there is a God

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.980
 I'm sure I'll be alright

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.980
 because I'm a nice person

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.180
 or I've been baptised

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.120
 or I go to church

00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:15.380
 I'm open minded

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.000
 I'm fair

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.720
 we cannot say that.

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.559
 If you can be accepted

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:23.200
 and forgiven by God

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.140
 by our own actions

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.140
 if any of us

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.720
 can be accepted

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.539
 because of what we've done

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.539
 then why would it be

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.160
 necessary

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:32.799
 for Jesus Christ

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.559
 the Son of God

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.640
 to die in our place?

00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:37.000
 So we cannot say

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.600
 I'll be alright

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.200
 on my own

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.840
 without Jesus

00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:41.319
 we cannot say

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.080
 all religions

00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:42.660
 are the same

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.680
 we cannot say

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.940
 my life is worth nothing

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:47.720
 we cannot say

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.620
 God doesn't care

00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.500
 God doesn't understand

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.779
 and the final thing

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.759
 we cannot say

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.400
 is

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.680
 oh it doesn't really matter

00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:56.019
 we cannot say

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.040
 it doesn't really matter

00:18:57.040 --> 00:18:59.540
 God has gone

00:18:59.540 --> 00:19:00.700
 to these great lengths

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:02.040
 to open a way

00:19:02.040 --> 00:19:03.080
 for people like me

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:03.840
 and you

00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.860
 to be forgiven

00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:06.519
 that we may not perish

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.640
 we may not spend

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.580
 eternity in hell

00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:09.500
 cut off from God

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.180
 but instead

00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.080
 we may have a life

00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.380
 that begins now

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:14.500
 a whole life

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.140
 the life we are

00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:16.140
 meant to have

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.220
 John

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.840
 at the end of the next chapter

00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:20.000
 will write these words

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.579
 these things about

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:22.420
 Jesus are written

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.700
 that you may believe

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.960
 that Jesus is the Christ

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.859
 the Son of God

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:27.299
 and that by believing

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.619
 you may have life

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:29.500
 in his name

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:31.259
 so you cannot say

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.140
 this doesn't matter

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.619
 because it's through

00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.380
 Jesus' death

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.460
 that we can

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.359
 have life

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.880
 so that is why

00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.460
 the cross

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.200
 is the heart

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.779
 of the matter

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.740
 it's the centre

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.720
 of the Christian message

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.720
 Christianity is not

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.539
 about what we do

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.579
 it's what God has done

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:46.039
 it's the heart

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.460
 of the matter

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.319
 because in the cross

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.339
 we see the heart

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:48.799
 of God

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.899
 his hatred

00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:51.419
 of all that is evil

00:19:51.419 --> 00:19:52.419
 all that pollutes

00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.379
 all that damages

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:55.799
 the people he's made

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.220
 and the world he's made

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:59.279
 but also we see his heart

00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.199
 in his great love

00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:01.019
 for lost people

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:02.960
 and it's the heart

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.579
 of the matter

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:05.399
 because how we respond

00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:06.500
 to the death

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.460
 of Jesus Christ

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.399
 on the cross

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:10.740
 will determine

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.399
 not just our life now

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:14.180
 but all eternity

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.840
 for us

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:17.700
 so how do you

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.960
 respond to Jesus

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.120
 let me pray

00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:20.600
 let me get a couple

00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:21.360
 of minutes for questions

00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:21.940
 if there are any