WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.820 Well, good morning to you. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 1. 00:00:08.820 --> 00:00:14.700 Last week I introduced the Gospel according to John to you. I developed some of its themes with selected text. 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:20.260 Today we're going to look at John chapter 1 verses 1 through 5. 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:26.699 And I have a pretty good feeling this will be part 1 of 2 of our look at this text. 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:32.859 These days are distracted days. 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:43.840 According to a 2015 study released by none other than Microsoft, the average attention span of an American is 8.25 seconds. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:47.159 Less than that of a goldfish. 00:00:48.379 --> 00:00:55.239 I didn't take the time, really care too much, to understand their definition of attention span. 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:57.600 I don't really know what they meant. 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:02.460 But we are undoubtedly distracted people. 00:01:03.660 --> 00:01:08.359 The issue affects young and old alike. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:16.939 Older folks, which I'm starting to count myself one of, like to look at younger generations and point out all the problems with them. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.760 But it doesn't just lie with young folks. 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:26.760 I was having blood work done a couple of weeks ago, as older people do. 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:42.620 And as I waited there, there were 20-something, 60 to 70-somethings, and every single one of them, every single one of them, was staring and scrolling on a phone screen. 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:43.620 It was shocking. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:44.200 It was shocking. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:49.840 So I decided that day to be a rebel young guy and sat there and did nothing. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:53.620 I just stared at the wall in rebellion against them. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:00.260 You need to think about how you can be less distracted. 00:02:01.240 --> 00:02:06.240 The church needs to think about how we can help. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:15.740 The church shouldn't attempt to coddle this problem, but should rather push back against it. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:25.560 The majority way, I believe, we can help one another is to gather earnestly to fix our attention heavenward. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:31.959 We also live in very self-centered days. 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:41.860 New technology and all the marketing that comes to us through it places you at the very center of the universe. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:49.819 It seeks to cater to your every whim when you demand it. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.060 We don't watch TV on a schedule anymore, if you think about that. 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:57.980 When I was a child, you saw the show or you didn't see the show. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:05.419 Maybe someday they would syndicate it and they'd come back around, but you had to schedule your life around their schedule. 00:03:05.959 --> 00:03:08.259 We don't do that any longer. 00:03:09.019 --> 00:03:13.939 I was listening to a podcast, and I'll add, at my convenience and on demand, 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:20.479 and one of the guys speaking pointed out that even when we pull up maps these days, 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:25.299 we don't look at a map and then locate ourselves on the map, 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:29.639 but the map locates us at the center of it all the time. 00:03:29.739 --> 00:03:31.620 I never had considered that, right? 00:03:31.859 --> 00:03:35.019 My map puts me at the middle of everything. 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:38.879 This is a problem. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:41.079 This is a problem. 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:45.620 Everything at our fingertips on demand. 00:03:45.620 --> 00:03:50.060 The church should most certainly push back at this point also. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:54.719 You are not the center of the universe, 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:59.719 and very little in reality revolves around you. 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:09.340 We gather to worship the one who is, in fact, at the center of everything. 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:12.319 Now, I didn't live in John's day. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:20.019 I'm only living in mine, and I can make commentary on our distractedness and our self-centeredness, 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.680 but have no idea the general mentality of John's early readers. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:32.159 However, if I were to guess, I suggest to you that they also needed their attention fixed beyond themselves 00:04:32.159 --> 00:04:35.439 and the den of the world in which they lived. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:46.920 I would guess that John means to grab their attention and ours in the way that he opens his gospel account. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:53.240 It's rather striking the way he begins this account of Jesus' life. 00:04:53.240 --> 00:05:02.000 Let's push back this morning together against distraction and against self-centered tendencies 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:11.379 in order to behold the Lord Jesus Christ in John chapter 1, verses 1 through 5. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:17.400 Before I read it, beloved, I want to remind you that this is God's word to us. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:21.319 John wrote it with an original audience in mind as he wrote it, 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:30.599 But God worked in him supernaturally as a word to us, written for his glory and our good, 00:05:31.219 --> 00:05:38.500 that we might believe its promises, obey its commands, and have affection for its author. 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:43.100 May we hear it and respond accordingly to it. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:45.180 I'll begin reading in verse 1. 00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:53.480 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:56.280 He was in the beginning with God. 00:05:57.160 --> 00:06:02.340 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:07.079 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:13.480 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:26.560 In the first five verses, John introduces to us Jesus without using his Hebrew name in the following five ways. 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:29.160 We see Jesus as the Word. 00:06:29.280 --> 00:06:32.319 We see that Jesus is pre-existent. 00:06:32.700 --> 00:06:35.140 We see that Jesus is the Creator. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:39.379 We see Jesus is self-existent. 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:44.259 And we see Jesus is the unquenchable light. 00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:47.819 And I believe that this is the point that I'll bring up. 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:52.759 I'll save it until next Lord's Day as we consider the resurrection together. 00:06:54.039 --> 00:06:56.459 The Puritan John Owen wrote in his book entitled, 00:06:56.599 --> 00:06:59.139 The Glory of Christ, which I really commend to you. 00:06:59.219 --> 00:07:01.219 It's a difficult read, but it's a great read. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:04.780 The Glory of Christ, the following, and I quote, 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:12.280 The revelation made of Christ in the blessed gospel is far more excellent, more glorious, 00:07:12.660 --> 00:07:18.880 more filled with rays of divine wisdom and goodness than the whole creation. 00:07:19.460 --> 00:07:24.160 And the just comprehension of it, if attainable, can contain or afford. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:29.960 Without this knowledge, the mind of man, priding itself in other inventions and discoveries, 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:33.020 is wrapped up in darkness and confusion. 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:38.060 This, therefore, he's talking about Jesus Christ, the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:43.180 This, therefore, deserves the severest of our thoughts, 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:49.000 the best of our meditations, and our utmost diligence in them. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:55.300 For if our future blessedness shall consist in living where he is and beholding his glory, 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:58.839 what better preparation can there be for it 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:05.579 than a constant previous contemplation of that glory as revealed in the gospel, 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:12.819 that by a view of it we may gradually be transformed into the same glory. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:19.099 The Christian eternity will be filled with the wonderment of Christ. 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:25.279 So, Owen is arguing, we should seek to know him now, 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:29.819 that he might be exalted in our minds and in our lives. 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:38.960 Perhaps in some small measure, the Lord will use this time to bless us to that wonderful end. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:45.040 Let's look first that Jesus is introduced as the Word. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:47.920 John says in the beginning was the Word, 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:52.879 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:09:01.800 The Word, Word, was an interesting choice for John to make as an introductory title for Jesus. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:10.319 The Greek word logos was packed full of meaning for John's Gentile readers. 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:18.939 Greek philosophers used this word to refer to the abstract principle of reason and order in the universe. 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:22.779 With something out there kind of a furial, the logos, 00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:28.659 the source from which all of this comes is the way they used that word. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:35.120 It was an unknown source of creation and wisdom. 00:09:36.199 --> 00:09:44.740 So, John, in this opening verse, presents Jesus as the personification of creative power and reason. 00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:52.139 He's about to say, this logos that you use in your thinking can, in fact, be known. 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:59.580 John's Jewish readers would have also understood this word to be packed full of meaning. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:05.939 They knew that God spoke the world into existence with mighty words. 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:09.080 That He made covenants with His people with words, 00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:11.179 gave them wisdom through the written law, 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:13.620 counseled prophets and kings, 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:16.519 and revealed the Scripture, the Old Testament Scripture, 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:19.879 through spoken words. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:23.439 So, to John's first century Jewish readers, 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:32.059 John introduces Jesus as the incarnation of divine power and revelation. 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:39.279 I would have loved to have sat with a Gentile believer who had just read this opening phrase, 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.639 and a Jewish believer who had just read this opening phrase, 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.240 and hear them talk about all that it meant to them 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:48.159 as they think about Jesus as the word, 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:51.799 the logos of God. 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.759 John, in introducing Jesus as the word, 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.919 draws straight lines to His divinity, 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.500 but lest anyone might be confused, 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:07.039 he tells us that He was with God in the beginning, 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.399 and that He is God. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:17.360 I won't take the time this morning to plumb the depths of Trinitarian theology. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:22.299 John's going to give us plenty of chances for that in the coming months together. 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:26.279 However, for now, I want you to see that Jesus, 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:30.000 before time as we know it and understand it, 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:35.220 dwelt as God in Trinitarian unity. 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:40.820 The author of Hebrews says in chapter 1 and verse 3 of Hebrews, 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:44.360 He is the radiance of the glory of God 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:49.060 and the exact imprint of His nature. 00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:50.860 The exact imprint. 00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:54.080 He is God Himself. 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:59.460 It is a great wonder that Jesus should humble Himself 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:03.860 to take the form of a man in order to suffer His Father's wrath 00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:05.139 for our sin. 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:09.399 We ought to think and think and think 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:13.139 about the innate nature of Christ. 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:18.879 Charles Wesley gives us some hint of this wonder in his song, 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.480 And Can It Be That I Should Gain, 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:23.620 that I'm about to read to you. 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:25.360 It's verse 2, I believe. 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:26.659 It's on the back of your bulletin 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:29.240 with a rather unfortunate typo, 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:31.320 but I'll read it without the typo. 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:35.300 Charles Wesley wrote this, 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:38.500 He left his Father's throne above, 00:12:38.640 --> 00:12:41.680 so free, so infinite, His grace, 00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:45.060 emptied himself of all but love, 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:48.480 and bled for Adam's helpless race. 00:12:49.260 --> 00:12:52.420 Tis mercy all, immense and free, 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:56.140 for, oh my God, it found out me. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:59.519 Amazing love, how can it be 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.799 that thou, my God, should die for me? 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:07.759 Jesus is the Word. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:13.259 The personification of creative power and reason. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:17.939 The incarnation of divine power and revelation. 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:21.220 Jesus is God. 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:24.560 Secondly, and it follows, 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:27.320 that Jesus is preexistent. 00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:30.600 We see at the very beginning of verse 1, 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.080 John tells us, 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:36.660 As God, Jesus was in the beginning. 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:39.960 And then he repeats it again in verse 2. 00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:41.580 Do not be confused. 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.779 He was in the beginning, 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:46.100 and He was in the beginning, 00:13:46.420 --> 00:13:47.560 is what John does. 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:52.479 The Greek word for beginning means source or origin. 00:13:53.339 --> 00:13:58.259 It's meant to draw our minds back to Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1. 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:01.639 In the beginning God created, 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:08.059 it's referring to the time before the universe began. 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:12.559 The verb was in the imperfect tense 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:16.859 describes continual action in the past. 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:19.460 And so we could render, 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.480 verse 2, 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:27.300 He was always being in the beginning with God. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.000 These two verses in no way suggest 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.320 that Jesus was created. 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:34.980 And if anybody tells you otherwise, 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:38.960 you should stop listening to the following things they say. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:41.300 Jesus was not created. 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.860 He was. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:47.620 Jesus just is. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:50.419 Marcus Dodds, 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:52.320 in the Expositors Bible Commentary, 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:53.500 says this, 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:53.919 quote, 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:57.279 The word did not then begin to be, 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:01.019 but at that point at which all else began to be, 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.639 He already was. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.320 In the beginning, 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.720 place it where you may, 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:08.460 the word already existed. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:10.280 In other words, 00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:11.300 the logos, 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:13.580 before time, 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.000 eternal. 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:19.500 Paul writes in the first part of Colossians chapter 1, 00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:20.340 verse 17, 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:26.700 Jesus is before all things. 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:32.180 He preexisted everything we know to be as God. 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:37.139 The third thing that we see John introduce Jesus as 00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:40.519 is the Creator in verse 3. 00:15:41.719 --> 00:15:42.479 He says here, 00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:45.179 All things were made through Him, 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:50.379 and without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.779 And I love, 00:15:51.859 --> 00:15:54.179 there's a carefulness, 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:56.679 there's an economy of words going on here, 00:15:56.759 --> 00:16:01.139 but he repeats things that seem to matter so very much. 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.539 Right? 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.799 He's not going to leave us unclear at this point. 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:05.059 All things made through Him, 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:06.000 and without Him, 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.779 not anything made that was made. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.340 All of it, 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.139 every bit of it, 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:12.319 made by Jesus. 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:17.740 Travel with me at this point over to Colossians chapter 1. 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:21.620 I think you'll appreciate seeing a few things I'd like to mention here. 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:25.539 I just read the beginning of verse 17. 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:32.779 I think the text that those words are set in will serve us well at this point. 00:16:32.839 --> 00:16:36.879 A bit of an expansion on what John is communicating here. 00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:38.919 Colossians 1, 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.539 verse 16 and 17. 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:44.839 For by Him, 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.579 Paul writes, 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:45.959 Christ, 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:48.259 for by Him all things were created, 00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.799 in heaven and on earth, 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:51.159 visible and invisible, 00:16:51.339 --> 00:16:54.459 whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:58.139 all things were created through Him. 00:16:58.219 --> 00:16:59.779 So a bit of an expansion on the idea. 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:02.559 Less economic in his use of words. 00:17:02.939 --> 00:17:04.920 All things created through Him, 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.240 and then at the end of verse 16, 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:08.859 and for Him. 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:12.459 And He is before all things, 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:17.399 and in Him all things hold together. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.500 Jesus Christ, 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.479 Paul and John tell us, 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:26.759 is the Creator and the Sustainer of all things. 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:29.019 Everything that we can see, 00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:31.059 and everything that we cannot see, 00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:36.379 were created by Jesus and for Jesus. 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:40.580 This is a magnificent thought. 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:42.700 This is a thought, 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:45.000 I think an undistracted person 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.760 would spend a lot of time considering. 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:51.360 It should absolutely capture our minds. 00:17:52.020 --> 00:17:56.280 Everything made by Him and for Him. 00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:59.020 The entire universe was created 00:17:59.020 --> 00:18:01.060 to what end? 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.419 To what end? 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:05.500 To the end of His praise. 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.539 To the end of His praise. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.500 Maybe the reason that we are so tempted 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:13.019 to worship paltry things 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.240 is that we don't... 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.700 Verse 1, 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:17.279 The heavens declare the glory of God, 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:22.139 and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:26.279 Lift your eyes up from your screen. 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.940 This is a novel idea. 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.379 Go outside when it's dark. 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:33.880 Pay attention to all that has been created 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.640 and be in awe. 00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:40.960 This universe was made by Christ 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:42.860 and it was made for Him. 00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:45.400 Paul goes on to tell us 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:47.320 that He's the Sustainer of all things. 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:48.900 He says at the end of verse 17, 00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:53.300 And in Him all things hold together. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:56.700 The author of Hebrews says in chapter 1, verse 3, 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:58.960 He upholds the universe 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.240 by the word of His power. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.740 And if sometime you want to 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:06.559 muse entertainingly with me, 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.859 ask me about Jonathan Edwards 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:10.519 and his theory of continual creation. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.139 I'd love to talk with you about it. 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.759 It's fascinating. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:17.500 Not only were all things created by Jesus Christ 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:19.539 and set into motion by Him, 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:24.019 but all things are also sustained by Him. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.180 Everything goes until He says, 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.079 Stop. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.559 And everything stops until He says, 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.460 Go. 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:34.900 It's all happening by His command. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:37.820 Now, everything in the universe 00:19:37.820 --> 00:19:39.620 is made of atoms. 00:19:40.280 --> 00:19:42.720 Protons, electrons, neutrons. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.680 If you've not learned this yet, you will. 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.560 If you've learned it, 00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:47.500 you've probably long forgotten it. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:48.860 It's incredible. 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:51.860 Everything is made of atoms. 00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:56.000 Scientists have labored over the past century 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.320 to explain away the existence of God. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.720 It sometimes seems like the whole point of science these days 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:03.340 is to explain away God. 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:04.820 But they have failed to explain 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:08.859 how it is that the atom remains in its orbital state. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:11.119 How does an atom remain an atom? 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.720 Carl K. Darula, physicist, 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.480 is cited in a book entitled 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.200 The Atom Speaks 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:21.059 in reference to what scientists are calling 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:25.000 the strong nuclear force. 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.240 This is what they call that power 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.500 that holds an atom together. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:31.200 The strong nuclear force. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.099 He says this, quote, 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:35.779 Do you grasp what this implies? 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.339 It implies that all the nuclei 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:41.399 have no right to be alive at all. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:44.439 Indeed, they should never have been created. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.579 And if created, 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:47.639 they should have blown up instantly. 00:20:48.699 --> 00:20:50.839 Yet, here they all are. 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:53.599 Some inflexible inhibition 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.199 is holding them relentlessly together. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:58.480 The nature of the inhibition 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.900 is also a secret. 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:02.100 One thus far reserved 00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:04.840 by nature herself. 00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:06.720 What he's saying is, 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.720 we don't have any scientific reason 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.220 to understand why it is 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.640 that anything holds together. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.779 Why do I hold together? 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.680 Why does anything you're viewing right now 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:18.180 stay in the shape that it's in 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:20.960 and not just burst into atoms 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:23.200 flying everywhere? 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:26.000 It's a secret, he says, 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:28.279 one thus far reserved 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:31.660 by nature herself. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.559 Science hasn't answered this question, 00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:36.519 but the Bible has. 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.080 If you'll allow, 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.940 the strong nuclear force 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.779 is Jesus Christ 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:44.640 and the word of his power. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.900 Jesus is the creator 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:50.500 and he is the sustainer 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:52.720 of all things. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.759 Back in John 1, verse 3, 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.580 all things made through him 00:21:57.580 --> 00:21:58.500 and without him 00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:00.680 was not anything made 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.280 that was made. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.440 Ah. 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:05.280 We should stand in awe 00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:06.120 of this truth. 00:22:08.280 --> 00:22:08.960 Fourthly, 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:13.360 Jesus is self-existent. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.079 self-existent. 00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.699 We see this in the first part 00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:19.979 of verse 4. 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:24.399 In him was life. 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.519 In him. 00:22:25.719 --> 00:22:28.259 He possessed life. 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:31.339 Ontology is the study 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:33.859 of the nature of being. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.959 The beginning of verse 4 00:22:35.959 --> 00:22:40.000 is a brilliant ontological statement. 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.740 In him was life. 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.740 The word translated life 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:46.079 is used all throughout 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.879 John's gospel 00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:48.319 and always refers 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.619 to spiritual 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:52.500 and eternal life. 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.679 Jesus possesses 00:22:54.679 --> 00:22:56.399 within himself 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:58.039 life. 00:22:59.179 --> 00:22:59.779 This is something 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.839 often referred to 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.339 as 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.539 auseity. 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:03.639 His auseity. 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.379 Jesus is 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:05.139 ause, 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.099 which is from the Latin. 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:06.699 It just means 00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:07.559 of 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.979 self. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.500 And it's 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.259 an incredibly 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.059 important doctrine 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:11.980 and a doctrine 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.940 that is constantly 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.339 under attack. 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:16.200 You want to be discerning 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.960 as you listen 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.880 and read 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.819 all of the wonderful 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.940 resources that are out there. 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.259 If people are attacking 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.819 the auseity of God, 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:25.039 his self-existence, 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:26.400 you should be very cautious 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.120 about what follows. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.839 Everything 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:31.380 that has been created 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.240 needs 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.000 some 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.319 power source 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.660 to sustain it. 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:37.460 the plant 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:37.920 needs 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.800 nutrients 00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:39.880 and water 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.960 and sunlight. 00:23:42.040 --> 00:23:42.740 Our cars 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.060 need 00:23:43.060 --> 00:23:44.080 fuel 00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:45.060 and tragically 00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:45.519 expensive 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:45.960 maintenance. 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.700 We need 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.200 food 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:48.820 and water 00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:49.560 and shelter 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.920 and some of us 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.240 need 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.620 tragically expensive 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.019 maintenance. 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:55.580 I could go on 00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:55.840 and on 00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:56.080 and on, 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:56.700 but I hope 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.340 that you see 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.340 the point. 00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.140 Everything 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:00.279 created, 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.400 all of it, 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.820 cannot sustain 00:24:02.820 --> 00:24:03.740 itself. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.860 It tends 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.619 toward 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.459 entropy. 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:06.879 It needs 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:07.659 something to 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:08.799 input into it 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.319 for it to 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.839 continue 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.859 on. 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.319 Not so 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.479 with Jesus. 00:24:14.679 --> 00:24:15.099 He is 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:17.079 self-existent. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.519 His divine 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.659 nature needs 00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.679 no inputs 00:24:20.679 --> 00:24:21.559 to go on. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.379 No fuel, 00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:23.899 no energy 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:24.379 input, 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.059 always 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.219 existing, 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:28.319 never 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.399 created. 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.279 He 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.359 just 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.939 is. 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:35.080 everything 00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:35.660 created 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.019 is in 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.360 some 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.180 form 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.480 of 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.420 process. 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:39.980 And 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.600 very 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.340 tragically, 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.500 there are 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.539 theologians 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.360 today that 00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:44.759 have invented 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.140 a thing 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.460 called 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.940 process 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.500 theology 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:46.720 that 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.100 suggests 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.360 that 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:47.759 God 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.120 is 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:49.059 responding 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.600 to us 00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:49.960 and that 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.160 his 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.660 very 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.539 nature 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.500 is at 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.039 change. 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:53.680 Does 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:53.840 God 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.120 respond 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.420 to us? 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:54.799 Of course 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.200 he does. 00:24:55.320 --> 00:24:55.600 But is 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.420 who he 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.019 is 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.900 responding 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:58.500 to us? 00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.400 No, 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.259 not 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.200 ever. 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.039 Once 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.339 again, 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.759 be very 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.119 careful 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.720 if anybody 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.420 seems to 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:04.960 be promoting 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.240 process 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.480 theology. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.519 John 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.140 tells us 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:09.779 in no 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.140 uncertain 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.599 terms, 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.259 Jesus 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.359 is. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:12.839 He 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.519 exists. 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:13.980 In 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.500 him 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.819 was 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:17.160 life. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.079 Later 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.480 in John, 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.140 John records 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.579 these 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.420 astounding 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.059 words. 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.319 This is 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:22.960 John 8 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.480 and verse 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.660 58. 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:25.759 Jesus 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.740 says this, 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.339 Truly, 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.000 truly, 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.700 I say 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.240 to you, 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.200 before 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.859 Abraham 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.960 was, 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:32.859 I 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:34.279 am. 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:35.920 This 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.119 is a 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.400 reference 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:36.720 to 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.240 Exodus 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.960 3.14 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.440 where God 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.039 responds to 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.460 a fearful 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.160 question that 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.839 Moses asked 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:40.940 him. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.220 He says, 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.079 Who shall 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.519 I say 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:42.900 sent 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.160 me? 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.599 And God 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.119 says to 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.519 Moses, 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.200 I am 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.900 who 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.799 I 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.119 am. 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:50.720 And he 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:50.940 said, 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.500 Say this 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:51.720 to the 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.079 people of 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.359 Israel, 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:52.920 I 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.680 am 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.339 has 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:54.599 sent 00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:54.940 me 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.819 to 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.119 you. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:56.640 This 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:56.920 is this 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.400 idea 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.940 of 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.980 aseity. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.000 I 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.380 need 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.540 not 00:26:00.540 --> 00:26:00.840 appeal 00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:00.980 to 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.140 some 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.380 other 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.780 authority. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.080 Tell 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:02.259 them 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.460 my 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.820 name 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:03.160 is 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:03.600 I 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.280 exist. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.160 I 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.820 am. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.640 Nothing 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.280 changes 00:26:07.280 --> 00:26:07.800 me. 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.280 I 00:26:08.280 --> 00:26:08.759 am 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.420 who 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:09.960 I 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:11.200 am. 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.200 This 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.460 is an 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:13.920 astonishing 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.519 thing for 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.980 Jesus to 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.660 say because 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.920 he rightly 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.100 was claiming 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.100 to be 00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:19.560 God. 00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:20.840 Unchanging, 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.160 immovable 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.480 God. 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.880 Everything 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.280 in the 00:26:25.280 --> 00:26:25.660 universe 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.600 is 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.120 becoming 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.979 moving from 00:26:28.979 --> 00:26:29.639 one state 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.699 to another. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.339 If you 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:31.979 can recognize 00:26:31.979 --> 00:26:32.539 this about 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.299 yourself, 00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:33.919 you will be 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.539 so glad 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.000 to know 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.679 that Jesus 00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:37.239 is. 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:39.479 John 00:26:39.479 --> 00:26:39.819 goes on 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.199 to say, 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:41.779 Jesus 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.259 possesses 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.679 life and 00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:42.919 he says, 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.639 the life 00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:44.759 was the 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.159 light 00:26:45.159 --> 00:26:46.359 of men. 00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:46.639 And we'll 00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:47.119 pick up 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.459 more of 00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:47.739 this, 00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.179 I think, 00:26:48.239 --> 00:26:48.839 next week. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.679 But the 00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.079 themes of 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.679 life and 00:26:50.679 --> 00:26:51.299 light are 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.799 prominent 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:53.099 in John's 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.480 gospel. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:54.779 Here we 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.139 see the 00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.500 two 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.460 clearly 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.099 connected 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.519 in a 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:57.819 metaphor 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:59.240 that speaks 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.539 to the 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.039 contrast 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.779 of Jesus 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.279 against 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:01.980 all 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.639 that is 00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.000 evil 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.700 in the 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:03.980 world. 00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.700 We, 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.259 I think, 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.379 take 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.119 light for 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.460 granted. 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.220 We have 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.659 light in 00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.139 abundance. 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:11.899 It is 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.419 everywhere. 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:13.759 But if you 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.079 lived in a 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.619 time when 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:14.960 the only 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.519 source of 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.000 light was 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.599 from a 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.200 flame, 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.960 oil, 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.840 wood, 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.200 you had 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:21.860 to produce, 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.200 this 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.720 metaphor would 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.319 likely have 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:24.900 had a 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.880 more felt 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.200 impact on 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.720 you. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:29.539 Just a 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:29.880 couple weeks 00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.259 ago, I 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.759 took my 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.519 middle son, 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.259 Judah, on 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.400 his ride 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.080 of passage 00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:34.640 trip. 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.059 He turned 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.779 13 this 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.019 year. 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.019 And he 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.319 wanted to 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.620 go to the 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.200 Okefenokee 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.059 swamp and 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.620 camp out 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:39.900 in the 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.180 swamp. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.600 And so 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:41.140 the first 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.519 night we 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:41.960 paddled 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.160 some 10 00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:43.840 miles to 00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:44.279 an island 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.620 called 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.120 Floyd's 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:46.200 Island and 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.140 had 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.420 the 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.380 noisiest 00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:48.800 night of 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:49.259 camping I 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.580 have ever 00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.100 experienced. 00:27:50.280 --> 00:27:51.860 There are 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.360 a lot of 00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.060 critters in 00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:53.520 the woods, 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.920 in the 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.300 swamp. 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:55.980 I am 00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:57.320 fairly 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:58.000 confident that 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.640 an orangutan 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.160 lives out 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.660 there somewhere. 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.280 It was 00:28:01.280 --> 00:28:02.759 loud. 00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:04.460 And we 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:04.759 were in a 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.100 tent and we 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:05.320 had the 00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:06.020 rain fly on 00:28:06.020 --> 00:28:06.300 and there 00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:06.680 were noises 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.080 I just 00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.340 would have 00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.820 loved to 00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:08.140 have seen 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.500 what in 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.100 the world 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.900 they were. 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.360 And I 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.960 wasn't terribly 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.400 frightened, 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:13.880 but I will 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:15.180 admit there 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.360 are some 00:28:15.360 --> 00:28:15.680 noises I 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:15.900 would have 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.540 really liked 00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:16.900 to know. 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.440 what they 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.740 were. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.540 But just 00:28:19.540 --> 00:28:19.860 before we 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.120 went to 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.320 bed, 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.960 one of the 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.680 things reported, 00:28:21.800 --> 00:28:22.700 as a caution 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.360 to put your 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:24.300 food up safely 00:28:24.300 --> 00:28:25.000 because bears 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.480 do make it 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.900 out onto 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.340 this island. 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.040 Somehow they 00:28:27.040 --> 00:28:27.400 travel through 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:27.900 the swamp and 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.220 they make it 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.540 out onto 00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:28.920 this island. 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.000 And so you 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.240 want to be 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.640 mindful of 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:30.920 that kind 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.180 of thing. 00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:31.720 And something 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.940 large came 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.440 through the 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:33.740 woods. 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.320 And I've 00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:35.960 done a lot 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.300 of camping, 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:36.960 I've done 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.380 a lot of 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:37.740 hunting, 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:38.780 you know, 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.540 there's the 00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:40.220 squirrel pouncing 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.620 around, 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.160 makes a lot 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.600 of noise. 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:43.040 This was not 00:28:43.040 --> 00:28:43.480 a squirrel. 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:44.320 It was 00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:45.860 large. 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.579 And Judah 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.139 and I both 00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:48.159 were very glad 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:48.740 for all the 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.439 lights that we 00:28:49.439 --> 00:28:50.399 had on us. 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:50.939 We were able 00:28:50.939 --> 00:28:52.419 to illuminate 00:28:52.419 --> 00:28:52.899 the woods 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:53.319 which noise 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.679 was coming 00:28:53.679 --> 00:28:54.139 from and 00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:54.799 never saw 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.019 what was 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.419 making the 00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:55.699 noise. 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.139 But boy, 00:28:56.199 --> 00:28:56.779 were we glad 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.079 that we 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.579 weren't huddled 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.019 around a 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.579 campfire, 00:28:58.939 --> 00:28:59.619 wondering what 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.199 was coming 00:29:00.199 --> 00:29:01.779 through the 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:03.039 woods our 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.459 way. 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.420 I think we 00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.000 take light 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.299 for granted. 00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:07.299 And this 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:08.180 idea of 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.720 the life 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.180 that's in 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.019 Jesus being 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.740 the light 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.420 of men 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.160 may take 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:14.680 a little 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.759 more careful 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.440 thoughtfulness 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:17.860 on our 00:29:17.860 --> 00:29:18.240 part. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:19.880 Light 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:21.500 scatters 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.200 the unseen. 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.900 Light 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.660 brings 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:26.079 security. 00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:27.900 The themes 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.500 of life 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.140 and light 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:30.259 are seen 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.740 connected 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.759 elsewhere in 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.740 the Bible. 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.640 Psalm 36 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.700 verse 9 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:36.099 For with you 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.920 is the fountain 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:38.440 of life. 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.740 In your 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.980 light do we 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:43.180 see light. 00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:44.879 In Corinthians 00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.480 chapter 4 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.220 and verse 4 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.240 there Paul 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:47.680 talks about 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.319 the light 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.299 of the gospel 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.220 of the glory 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.059 of Christ 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.900 who is 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.819 the image 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:54.079 of God. 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.559 And then 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.039 Jesus in 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.839 John chapter 8 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.420 verse 12 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.720 says I am 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.339 the light 00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:01.039 of the world. 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.019 whoever 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.659 follows me 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:03.220 will not 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:03.759 walk in 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.099 darkness 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.619 but will 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.079 have 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.359 the light 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:08.079 of life. 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.519 So 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.039 Jesus 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.220 is 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.019 self 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.720 existent 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.279 and we're 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.700 going to see 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.680 next week 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.220 that the 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.019 light that he 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.500 brings 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:18.680 most certainly 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.039 was not 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.440 conquered 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:19.980 by 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.460 the darkness. 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.099 Jesus 00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:23.420 is the 00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:23.960 word. 00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:24.500 Jesus 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:24.799 is 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.000 preexistent. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:26.299 Jesus 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.259 is the 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.819 creator 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.519 and Jesus 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.279 is 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.660 self 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:32.519 existent. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.779 So what? 00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.299 What do we 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:36.500 do? 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:36.940 Jesus 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.180 is just 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.359 being 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.639 introduced 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.119 to us. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:38.740 Let's 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.119 move on. 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.259 Let's 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.579 get quickly 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:39.839 to the 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.279 application. 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:40.680 There's 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.339 so much 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:41.720 to be 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.059 considered 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.720 here though. 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.839 First, 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.200 if you 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.619 have not 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.099 placed 00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.559 faith 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:45.799 in 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.440 Christ's 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.879 person 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:48.000 and 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.339 work, 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.660 if you 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.019 dwell 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.200 in 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.639 darkness, 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:51.539 if you 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.019 understand 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.700 the weight 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:52.960 of your 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.359 sin, 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:53.579 your 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.000 offense 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.299 against 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:54.440 the 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.660 holy 00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.079 God, 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.359 repent and 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:56.740 believe. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.940 Turn 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.579 by faith 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:58.819 in 00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.099 Christ. 00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.259 The 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.420 whole 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.019 point 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.240 of 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.359 the 00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:00.799 book 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.099 of 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.700 John 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:01.839 is 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:01.960 that 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.079 you 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.259 might 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.799 believe 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.039 that 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.339 Jesus 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:03.720 is 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:03.900 the 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.319 Christ 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.099 and 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:05.279 have 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.599 eternal 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.079 life 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.259 in 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.539 him. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.420 If 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:09.519 you 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:09.740 have 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:09.960 placed 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.279 faith 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.660 in 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.180 Christ's 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.500 person 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:11.819 and 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.120 his 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.319 work, 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.059 worship. 00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.519 Worship. 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.579 Praise 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:18.859 him. 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.680 Beloved, 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.099 what we 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.319 think about 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:22.799 the most 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.620 and talk 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:23.980 about the 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.319 most 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:24.880 and spend 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.380 our money 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.720 and our 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.039 energy 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.359 on, 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.240 says a 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.879 lot 00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:29.119 about what 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.279 we 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.619 worship. 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:30.919 And we 00:31:30.919 --> 00:31:31.299 ought to 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.779 take the 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.899 time to 00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:33.459 think about 00:31:33.459 --> 00:31:33.799 our week. 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.279 Just think 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.119 about last 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.479 week. 00:31:35.639 --> 00:31:36.299 Start at 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.639 Monday and 00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:38.359 go through 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:40.179 now and 00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:40.619 think about 00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.500 how you 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:43.039 spent the 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.379 things you 00:31:43.379 --> 00:31:43.740 have, the 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.379 resources you 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:44.599 have. 00:31:44.939 --> 00:31:45.519 What did 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.240 you spend 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:48.119 them on? 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.500 It may 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.059 communicate 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.879 much to 00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:52.139 you that 00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.419 needs to 00:31:52.419 --> 00:31:53.579 be repented 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:53.919 of. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.559 Our minds 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.159 should be 00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.819 full of 00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.379 the glories 00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.379 of Christ. 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:00.819 I think 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.759 John intends 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.440 to really 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.579 capture us 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:04.419 in these 00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:04.819 opening 00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.500 verses, 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.579 to work 00:32:06.579 --> 00:32:07.179 to that 00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:08.619 very end 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:09.119 before he 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.779 gets biographical 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.859 at all. 00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:13.659 Because of 00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:14.059 who Jesus 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:15.659 is, we 00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:16.059 can cast 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.379 all our 00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:16.899 anxieties, 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.619 our fears, 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.240 our doubts, 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.839 our troubles, 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.319 our depressions 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:22.139 on him. 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.700 There's no 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.659 situation that 00:32:24.659 --> 00:32:25.240 escapes his 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.079 attention or 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.679 his power. 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.480 There is no 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.399 circumstance that 00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:29.460 surprises him or 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.539 evades his 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.339 providential 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.519 control. 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.720 He is our 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.720 confidence in 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:38.139 life and 00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.659 in death. 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.599 The reality of 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.039 who Jesus 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.720 is makes 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:44.659 sure all 00:32:44.659 --> 00:32:45.519 the promises 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:47.099 of God to 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:47.720 those of us 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.279 who have 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.720 believed in 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:48.920 him. 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.519 We should 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:50.900 worship. 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.640 And as part 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:52.839 of that 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.720 worship, we 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:55.519 should share. 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.579 He is 00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.759 the reason 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.660 we boldly 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.200 share the 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.799 good news 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.839 of his 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.180 kingdom. 00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.200 If our 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.940 affections are 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.740 rightly turned 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.460 toward him, 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.839 we will want 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.880 to talk 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.579 about him. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.460 We will look 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.860 for every 00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.819 opportunity we 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.900 have to tell 00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.600 people about 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:13.600 this Christ, 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.880 this Lord 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:15.660 and Savior 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.620 of our 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.100 souls. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.120 Maybe we 00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:18.380 be a 00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:18.920 people who 00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:19.220 are told 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.579 to shut 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:19.839 up. 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:20.819 They don't 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.100 want to hear 00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:21.600 this anymore. 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:21.920 We should 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.360 be talking 00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:23.220 that much 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.519 about this 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.400 person that 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:26.100 we love 00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:28.019 so dearly. 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.360 The reality 00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:29.980 of who Jesus 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.319 is demands 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.819 our affections 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.819 and it 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:35.380 demands our 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:35.839 obedience. 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.079 Let's pray 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.360 together.