WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.799 John chapter 13, starting at verse 31 of John chapter 13. 00:00:07.500 --> 00:00:11.620 When he had gone out, Jesus said, 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:19.260 Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 00:00:19.260 --> 00:00:28.760 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:33.359 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:38.240 You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:41.259 Where I am going, you cannot come. 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:47.039 A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:52.179 Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:57.379 By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, 00:00:57.380 --> 00:01:00.840 if you have love for one another. 00:01:02.980 --> 00:01:04.379 Simon Peter said to him, 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.000 Lord, where are you going? 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:09.640 Jesus answered him, 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:16.320 Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:18.460 Peter said to him, 00:01:18.859 --> 00:01:22.500 Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:24.340 Jesus answered, 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:26.579 Will you lay down your own life for me? 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:28.760 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:32.400 The rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:37.439 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:39.579 Believe in God. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:42.099 Believe also in me. 00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:46.539 In my Father's house are many rooms. 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:52.160 If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 00:01:53.100 --> 00:01:55.520 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 00:01:55.780 --> 00:01:58.640 I will come again and will take you to myself, 00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:01.020 that where I am, you may be also. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:04.880 And you know the way to where I am going. 00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:07.700 Thomas said to him, 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:09.819 Lord, we do not know where you are going. 00:02:09.920 --> 00:02:10.900 How can we know the way? 00:02:10.900 --> 00:02:13.599 Jesus said to him, 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:15.900 I am the way, 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:17.900 and the truth, 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:19.200 and the life. 00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:22.460 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:02:23.700 --> 00:02:24.879 If you had known me, 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:26.560 you would have known my Father also. 00:02:27.540 --> 00:02:29.259 From now on you do know him, 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:30.879 and have seen him. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:34.140 Philip said to him, 00:02:34.140 --> 00:02:35.140 Lord, 00:02:35.139 --> 00:02:36.019 Lord, 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:43.699 show us the Father, 00:02:44.059 --> 00:02:45.319 and it is enough for us. 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:47.539 Jesus said to him, 00:02:48.019 --> 00:02:50.279 have I been with you so long, 00:02:50.679 --> 00:02:52.919 and you still do not know me, Philip? 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:56.579 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 00:02:57.019 --> 00:02:57.839 How can you say, 00:02:57.959 --> 00:02:58.839 show us the Father? 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:02.399 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, 00:03:02.399 --> 00:03:03.739 and the Father is in me? 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:05.939 The words that I say to you, 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:07.580 I do not speak on my own authority, 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:10.120 but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 00:03:10.640 --> 00:03:12.240 Believe me that I am in the Father, 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:13.439 and the Father is in me, 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:16.659 or else believe me on account of the works themselves. 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:19.920 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:22.320 whoever believes in me 00:03:22.320 --> 00:03:24.600 will also do the works that I do, 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:27.560 and greater works than these will he do, 00:03:27.640 --> 00:03:29.219 because I am going to the Father. 00:03:30.420 --> 00:03:31.879 Whatever you ask in my name, 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:32.719 this I will do, 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.039 that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:39.060 If you ask me anything in my name, 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:40.340 I will do it. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:41.879 That's the word of the Lord. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:46.560 Yeah, you take that, thanks. 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:46.900 Thank you. 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:50.759 All right, good morning. 00:03:55.539 --> 00:03:58.979 Axolotls are humanity's great hope of regeneration. 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:01.639 Did you know that? 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:04.939 Axolotls are humanity's great hope of regeneration. 00:04:05.299 --> 00:04:08.599 In fact, scientists have been cutting them up for centuries, 00:04:08.859 --> 00:04:09.060 you know, 00:04:09.399 --> 00:04:12.120 chopping limbs off and watching them grow back perfectly, 00:04:12.519 --> 00:04:13.379 chopping it off again, 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:14.799 watching it grow back perfectly. 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:18.800 And even before modern science got a hold of them, 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:20.500 well, 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:23.360 healers from all different groups 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.800 actually got a hold of them too, 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:25.860 and they thought they were magical 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:27.560 because they could actually regenerate, 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:28.939 not just heal, 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:30.520 like if you chop one of our limbs off, 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:31.680 we end up with a healed up stump, 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.580 but they would actually grow the whole limb back. 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:35.000 And they thought they were magical. 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:35.879 And so, 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:38.160 before modern science, 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:40.900 healers have been rubbing some kind of axolotl smooch, 00:04:41.139 --> 00:04:42.000 I don't know how they made it, 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:43.860 but they've been rubbing that into wounds 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:46.120 in the hope that that would actually cure people. 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:48.160 It didn't work. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:49.920 Quite painful, 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:50.620 the axolotls. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:53.160 But what I want to suggest to you 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:55.300 is that we see something in the axolotls 00:04:55.300 --> 00:04:56.480 that we crave. 00:04:57.339 --> 00:04:57.939 If we've, 00:04:58.360 --> 00:04:58.939 as a humanity, 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:01.939 have been looking at them for thousands of years 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:04.120 and envying something in them, 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:07.779 there's something in them that we crave. 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:11.139 that ability to regenerate, 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:12.779 to repair perfectly, 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:16.439 to seemingly live forever. 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:19.639 And we want to live. 00:05:19.739 --> 00:05:20.579 We want to live. 00:05:21.059 --> 00:05:22.439 Our hopes and dreams 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:24.739 form around our living, 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:25.500 not our dying. 00:05:26.579 --> 00:05:28.219 Our efforts in this 00:05:28.219 --> 00:05:29.879 are actually focused on this world, 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:31.019 here and now. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:34.959 Our moods are deeply affected 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:37.259 by what happens here and now. 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:41.899 we get upset when we're disappointed. 00:05:42.679 --> 00:05:44.339 We feel irritated with people 00:05:44.339 --> 00:05:45.979 who block our goals 00:05:45.979 --> 00:05:47.779 or don't deliver on what we want. 00:05:49.299 --> 00:05:50.619 We're critical of them. 00:05:51.799 --> 00:05:53.759 We struggle when life doesn't turn out 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:55.319 the way that we want it to. 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.059 We put so much effort in 00:05:57.059 --> 00:05:58.699 trying to engineer the circumstances 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:00.000 so life does turn out 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.139 the way we want it to 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:02.739 and it does deliver the things 00:06:02.739 --> 00:06:03.399 that we want it to. 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:03.959 We're talking about it. 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:04.399 We're talking about it. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:05.399 We're talking about it. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:06.399 We're talking about it. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:06.419 We're talking about it. 00:06:06.419 --> 00:06:06.899 We're talking about it. 00:06:06.899 --> 00:06:07.639 Well, the disciples 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:09.599 that Jesus is speaking to 00:06:09.599 --> 00:06:10.219 in this chapter 00:06:10.219 --> 00:06:11.579 were no different. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:13.179 They had a plan 00:06:13.179 --> 00:06:13.959 and an expectation 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:15.319 of what Jesus would do, 00:06:16.099 --> 00:06:17.639 how he would be glorified, 00:06:18.039 --> 00:06:19.239 how he would rule, 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:21.359 how they would benefit 00:06:21.359 --> 00:06:25.060 as his sidekicks, 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:27.139 as his co-regents in a way. 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:31.419 Their hopes were fully in him 00:06:31.419 --> 00:06:33.579 and what he could deliver to them 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:35.620 right there and then. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.180 Not by going away, 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:41.079 as he keeps saying, 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:45.699 but by changing the here and the now. 00:06:47.539 --> 00:06:48.979 So Jesus' foot washing 00:06:48.979 --> 00:06:52.560 in the beginning of chapter 13, 00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:54.159 that was really disturbing to them. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:55.599 That was kind of turning things around 00:06:55.599 --> 00:06:56.000 on their heads. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.240 That wasn't what they were expecting. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:59.360 Jesus talking about going away 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.180 and even dying 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:01.759 was certainly not part of the plan. 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:06.680 His talk of them abandoning, 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:08.379 or him abandoning them, 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.040 because that's how they interpret it, 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:13.839 was devastating 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:14.860 and even more so 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:15.339 when he said 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:16.699 they were going to abandon him. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:19.639 Mentally, 00:07:20.339 --> 00:07:21.839 they were seriously confused. 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:22.699 Emotionally, 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:23.779 they were in turmoil. 00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:26.239 They knew what they wanted. 00:07:26.359 --> 00:07:27.639 They knew what their hopes were. 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:29.419 And they weren't actually 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:31.299 the direction that Jesus was going in. 00:07:31.559 --> 00:07:32.679 There was this conflict. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.139 The more and more they trusted in Jesus 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:36.279 and the more they listened to him, 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:37.739 the more they realized 00:07:37.739 --> 00:07:40.579 that the way that he was viewing life 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:41.639 in the world 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:44.759 was so different from theirs. 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.980 they were in turmoil. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:50.579 And Jesus 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:52.279 stops at this point. 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:54.319 He stops after saying to Peter, 00:07:54.420 --> 00:07:56.139 hey, you're going to abandon me 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:57.980 in no time. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:07:58.939 Tonight, 00:07:59.219 --> 00:07:59.980 you're going to abandon me. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:00.639 Three times, 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:01.139 you're going to say, 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:02.139 I don't know you. 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:05.459 Jesus stops at this point, 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.819 recognizes the turmoil of their hearts 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:09.659 and addresses it directly. 00:08:10.099 --> 00:08:10.879 And that's what we see 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:11.920 in John 14, 1. 00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:14.759 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:08:16.659 --> 00:08:18.560 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.699 And then he lays out three reasons 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:25.500 why their hearts shouldn't be troubled. 00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:28.379 And each one of those three reasons 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:31.860 is linked to the need for Jesus 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:33.700 to go away to make it possible. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.340 So let's look at those three reasons. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:37.680 They're actually on the back of your bulletin. 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:39.379 You can follow through with that. 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:40.759 If you don't have Bibles, 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:42.080 you don't know how to look through Bibles, 00:08:42.180 --> 00:08:43.300 then you'll actually get the Bible verses 00:08:43.300 --> 00:08:44.600 up on the screen. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.360 So you can follow that way if you prefer. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:48.940 But the first thing Jesus says to them is, 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:51.680 trust me as I prepare the way. 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:54.300 Let not your hearts be troubled, 00:08:54.920 --> 00:08:55.480 he says. 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:58.120 Here is the time for trust. 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:00.379 And here's the things you need to trust in. 00:09:00.780 --> 00:09:03.200 Trust me as I prepare the way. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:05.759 Now, as I speak about trust, 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:09.779 I want you to understand that the Bible, 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:13.240 the original Greek has one word, 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.019 which can be translated believe or trust. 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:17.659 So some of your Bibles will have believe 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:18.700 and some will have trust. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.419 I'm going to use them interchangeably, 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:21.700 just so you're aware of that up front. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:24.799 So remember that? 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:25.720 Believe equals trust. 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:27.879 So why trust? 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.419 Well, I think this is a principle 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:31.819 that we should all be aware of. 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:32.660 And if we're not, 00:09:32.760 --> 00:09:34.200 then we should be now, 00:09:34.280 --> 00:09:36.540 that trouble is the time for us to trust. 00:09:36.920 --> 00:09:38.320 Trouble is the crucible 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.200 in which our trust is actually purified 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:41.760 and developed. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:45.200 And so trust is the thing 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:46.760 that they need right now at the most 00:09:46.760 --> 00:09:47.900 when they really don't understand 00:09:47.900 --> 00:09:48.760 what's going on. 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:52.720 What are we to trust in? 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:55.179 Well, Jesus goes on to say 00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:56.299 in the second half of this verse, 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.700 trust in God, 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:00.980 trust also in me. 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:04.200 Now, they're all over the concept 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:05.019 of trusting in God. 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:05.879 They understand that. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:06.379 They've understood. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:08.480 They've lived within the concept, 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:11.179 been raised as another generation 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:12.580 in the context of a religion 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:14.819 that has been pursuing trusting God 00:10:14.819 --> 00:10:16.039 for thousands of years. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:17.519 They understand that. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:18.959 And they know how God works too 00:10:18.959 --> 00:10:20.759 in the sense that his plan 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.059 has gradually unfolded 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:23.480 bit by bit by bit. 00:10:23.599 --> 00:10:24.879 And this promise is becoming 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:26.019 more and more real to them 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.259 and more and more desperate 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:29.179 in their own hearts 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:30.139 for it to be realized. 00:10:31.579 --> 00:10:32.939 They understand what it means 00:10:32.939 --> 00:10:33.919 to trust in God. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.839 So what Jesus says here 00:10:37.839 --> 00:10:40.679 is actually really, really challenging. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.360 He says, 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:43.299 trust in me. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:46.219 Trust Jesus personally. 00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:48.899 After three years, 00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:49.939 you think of after three years 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.500 of living with Jesus 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.419 and traveling with him, 00:10:52.599 --> 00:10:53.539 they've got a sense of 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:54.379 who Jesus is like 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:55.459 and how trustworthy he is. 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:57.259 But Jesus is saying more than that. 00:10:57.959 --> 00:11:00.079 He's stacking their trust of God 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:03.740 alongside their trust of him. 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:07.359 So whether the coming storms, 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:09.459 the challenges that are going 00:11:09.459 --> 00:11:11.000 to defy their expectations 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.620 of how God's kingdom will unfold, 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.340 they actually need to see Jesus 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.299 for who he is. 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:18.740 Not just another king, 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.039 but the king of kings. 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:25.419 And it's not just trust in Jesus, 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.700 but he goes on to explain 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:28.879 that it's actually to trust in Jesus 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.840 to prepare the way for them. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.580 He goes on to say in verse 2, 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:35.620 In my Father's house are many rooms. 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.600 If it were not so, 00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:37.300 would I have told you 00:11:37.300 --> 00:11:38.800 that I go to prepare a place for you? 00:11:39.780 --> 00:11:41.820 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:43.000 I will come again 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.280 and I will take you to myself 00:11:44.280 --> 00:11:45.620 that where I am, 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.720 you may be also. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.460 There's a bit of a picture 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:53.940 of movement going on there. 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:55.560 Jesus talks about going. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.460 And where he's going here 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:58.280 is to heaven, 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.400 where the Father is, 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.920 via the cross. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.799 We've got to remember at this point, 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:05.459 for us, 00:12:05.479 --> 00:12:06.299 we look back on this, 00:12:06.339 --> 00:12:07.539 we recognize that Jesus 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:08.459 has already died on the cross. 00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:09.579 That's his history for us. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:10.319 But for them, 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:10.899 it was future. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:13.500 So when he's saying going here, 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:14.539 he's actually referring to him 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:16.159 going to heaven via the cross. 00:12:17.079 --> 00:12:19.339 And his going to heaven 00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:19.919 via the cross 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.639 is to prepare a place for us 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:22.919 in heaven 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:24.799 through the cross. 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:27.980 And then he speaks about 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:28.819 coming again 00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:31.279 to take us to himself. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:34.979 What is he talking about here? 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:36.639 These people are troubled. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:38.299 His closest disciples are troubled. 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:40.059 They're deeply distressed. 00:12:40.959 --> 00:12:42.319 And so he starts to speak 00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:43.019 about heaven. 00:12:43.959 --> 00:12:44.799 You could say the new heaven, 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:45.219 the new earth, 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:46.360 I'm keeping it down just to heaven 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:48.099 for the sake of simplicity 00:12:48.099 --> 00:12:48.759 of expression. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.159 But what Jesus does 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:52.000 to comfort them 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.259 is he stops at this point 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.319 and starts to describe 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.500 heaven itself. 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:59.259 and how his going 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:00.799 actually prepares 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.059 their way into heaven. 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.299 Now, 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.379 I'm going to suggest to you 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.600 that when we think about heaven, 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.740 there are a bunch of different ways 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.559 we think about it. 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:12.539 Rod's actually shared a few. 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:13.899 There's a wedding feast, 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:14.940 there's all kinds of different things. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.080 But I would say 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.100 that the top three 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.340 most common things spoken 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:20.100 that people speak to me about 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:20.840 that they're looking 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:22.460 in terms of looking forward 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.500 to heaven are these things. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:25.000 not necessarily in this order either, 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:26.779 but to be reunited 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:27.779 with my loved ones. 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:29.940 This is a common thing 00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:31.039 that people talk about. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.799 Looking forward to being in heaven 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.860 to be reunited 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:35.080 with my loved ones. 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:36.500 Whether it be my husband, 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.659 my wife, 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:38.259 my parents, 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:38.919 my children. 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.860 Some of us know the tragedy 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:42.879 of seeing our children die. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:48.000 To be reunited with them 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.519 is just such an attractive thought. 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:53.740 Or perhaps, 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:54.899 for you, 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:57.340 it's to have an end 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:58.079 to suffering. 00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.919 Whether it be personally 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.879 within your own bodies 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.379 and the promise 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.179 that that body 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:04.079 will be renewed 00:14:04.079 --> 00:14:05.500 into a body 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.039 that will run 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.799 and not grow weary, 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.480 that will walk 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:08.139 and never faint. 00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.399 That concept of actually 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.500 being renewed in that way 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:12.779 is a relief to you 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.659 because you suffer 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.259 in your body. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.379 You're seeing the ravages 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:18.500 of time 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.100 or disease 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.819 affecting it. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.419 I know I'm, 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:22.659 you know, 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.819 some of you who are older 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.120 will say, 00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:24.379 you know, 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:26.340 I feel like I'm getting older 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:26.919 and some of you 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.659 who are older than me 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.039 will say, 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.019 you have no idea, 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:29.579 you're spring chicken. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:31.279 But I feel like I'm getting older 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:32.559 and I've shared with you before 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.299 that I'd gotten to the stage 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:35.139 a few years ago 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.600 where I could go to bed 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.259 feeling fine 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:38.199 and I would wake up 00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:38.960 with an injury 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:39.860 just from sleeping 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:40.740 like a stiff neck 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.539 or a sore back 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.840 or my knee was aching. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.460 I can tell you now, 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:45.939 a few years on, 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.600 getting to sleep, 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:48.919 I actually have to find 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:49.459 the position 00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:51.240 where I don't feel discomfort. 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.419 This is from a time 00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:56.699 when I can remember 00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:58.159 falling asleep, 00:14:58.219 --> 00:14:58.360 well, 00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.059 I can remember 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.059 because my parents tell me, 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:01.299 I fell asleep 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.319 standing up 00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:03.620 in the doctor's surgery 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.479 while my mum was waiting 00:15:04.479 --> 00:15:04.959 in the waiting room 00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:05.439 to go in. 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.799 I fell asleep standing up. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.279 Not only that, 00:15:08.339 --> 00:15:09.299 I fell asleep on parade 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.199 in the Army Reserves 00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:11.360 and I actually staggered 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.179 into the guy in front of me 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:12.959 and he held me up 00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:13.919 until the sergeant 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.539 woke me up 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.360 and got me back 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.000 to my position. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:17.919 I used to know 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.079 how to sleep standing up 00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:19.779 and now, 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.480 what's going on 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:21.899 with my body? 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:22.839 This concept of actually 00:15:22.839 --> 00:15:23.620 having a renewed body 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.360 is really attractive 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.639 and if it's not that, 00:15:26.959 --> 00:15:27.719 if it's not the seeing 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:28.459 my loved ones 00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:30.339 or the end of suffering, 00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.240 whether it be internally 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.860 or what the world 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.559 inflicts on me 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:34.299 from outside, 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:36.579 it's the concept 00:15:36.579 --> 00:15:38.079 of living in paradise. 00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.779 Yes, there is something 00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.719 better than Newcastle 00:15:42.719 --> 00:15:43.219 out there, 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:46.100 the idea 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.340 of living in paradise 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.940 and again, 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:50.060 as Rod opened up, 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.620 there are a variety 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.259 of different views 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.480 on what that paradise 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.460 should look like. 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.040 Culturally, 00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:56.340 each culture 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.220 has its own expression 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:59.040 of what luxury looks like. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.120 Maybe it's for you. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.660 When we went to Tasmania, 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.720 we sat in a nice hotel, 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.200 Joe and I, 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.740 it was great. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.860 Every time we went out 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.180 the room, 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.300 it seemed that they would 00:16:10.300 --> 00:16:10.840 come back in 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.879 and the bed would be made, 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.820 everything would be tidied up, 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.640 there would be more chocolates 00:16:13.640 --> 00:16:14.160 on the pillow, 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.180 more than we could eat. 00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:15.900 They only give you them 00:16:15.900 --> 00:16:16.620 one at a time, 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.620 but after a while, 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.660 you can have enough of those. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:20.720 What is luxury for you? 00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:21.900 Being provided with meals, 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:24.220 being in a luxurious setting, 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.100 a widescreen TV 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.740 in the bedroom? 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:27.780 Joe? 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:28.920 No? 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:31.219 Things like that. 00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:35.419 What I'm going to suggest to you 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.459 is that all of these things, 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:36.819 well, 00:16:37.099 --> 00:16:38.339 not the widescreen TV 00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:38.839 in the bedroom, 00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:39.939 that's not necessarily 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:40.959 what's going to happen in heaven, 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:43.759 but heaven will not be disappointing 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.159 in terms of paradise. 00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:47.579 We will not be thinking of heaven 00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:48.479 and being disappointed 00:16:48.479 --> 00:16:49.939 by the state that will be in there. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.319 But if we focus on these things, 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:58.440 we're missing the point of heaven 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:00.080 that Jesus is trying to get across here. 00:17:01.760 --> 00:17:04.100 The focal point of this place 00:17:04.100 --> 00:17:06.779 is not the quality of the place, 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:10.320 but the presence of our God. 00:17:13.320 --> 00:17:15.400 And until we understand that, 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:18.779 and until we own that in our hearts 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.200 as our ultimate value, 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:23.180 to be in the presence of God, 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.860 we're going to struggle 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:26.819 and struggle 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.019 and struggle again 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.340 with what he delivers 00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:30.319 for us in life. 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:35.400 But let me suggest it to you 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.500 in these terms. 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.059 Joe's a good cook. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.600 I love her cooking. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.900 Not so pleased that she's 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:43.880 no longer milk and dairy, 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:46.380 sorry, dairy and gluten intolerant, 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.660 sorry, that she's dairy 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.319 and gluten intolerant, 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.600 but I love her cooking. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:52.840 Now, I could list a whole bunch 00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.440 of different things 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.460 that I love about Joe, 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:57.059 all the different things 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.000 I'm benefiting from 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.600 as her husband. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.120 But if they were the sum total 00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:02.980 of our relationship, 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:06.220 what would that be? 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.680 How would you judge me? 00:18:09.840 --> 00:18:11.340 A consumer of her. 00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:16.259 But to delight in her personally, 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:20.100 that's what God is calling us to. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:22.299 He's calling us to a relationship 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:24.080 where he delights in us personally 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:25.420 and he invites us 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.240 to do the same. 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:29.480 The focal point of this place 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.200 that Jesus is preparing for us 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.580 is not the quality of the place, 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:36.519 but the presence of our God there. 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:40.420 So as we read these words, 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.100 Jesus is saying, 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:46.480 trust me as I prepare the way for you 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.559 into the presence of God. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.980 The God who's trappings you love, 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:54.359 but who is far greater 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:57.059 and more worthy of your love 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:59.000 than anything he's provided for you. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.599 Jesus goes on. 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.559 His lesson isn't finished here. 00:19:06.679 --> 00:19:07.619 He goes on and says, 00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:09.259 don't just trust me 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.399 as I prepare the way, 00:19:11.239 --> 00:19:12.500 but trust me 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:14.839 because of who I am. 00:19:17.239 --> 00:19:18.679 Because of who I am. 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.919 Now just understand here 00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:23.139 that when Jesus talks about himself 00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:23.759 being the way, 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.859 he's talking about himself 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:26.059 as the way, 00:19:26.659 --> 00:19:28.219 him personally being the way 00:19:28.219 --> 00:19:29.059 for us 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.619 to come into relationship 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:31.859 with God again. 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:35.319 And as he talks about himself 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.039 being the way, 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.979 we discover that there are 00:19:37.979 --> 00:19:38.919 two misunderstandings. 00:19:38.979 --> 00:19:39.779 It comes in the context 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.899 of two misunderstandings. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.219 Firstly, Thomas and then Philip. 00:19:42.699 --> 00:19:46.979 And if you have the ESV Bible app, 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.979 then I'd encourage you 00:19:47.979 --> 00:19:49.479 to look up Thomas and Philip 00:19:49.479 --> 00:19:50.740 and look at how they're portrayed 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.379 in the Gospel of John. 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.240 They're not portrayed 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.659 as the brightest people. 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.599 They're not portrayed 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:00.899 as the most enthusiastically 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.960 trusting people. 00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:05.040 But I'm going to suggest to you 00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:06.120 that both Thomas and John 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:06.820 ask questions 00:20:06.820 --> 00:20:08.480 that we need the answers to. 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:10.019 So praise God for them. 00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:12.580 Perhaps you're that person 00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.420 in your small group 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:15.620 or in your friendship circle. 00:20:15.820 --> 00:20:17.000 You ask the questions 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.880 that seem stupid 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.720 to everybody else, 00:20:18.780 --> 00:20:20.280 but even the intelligent people 00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:21.620 actually need to engage 00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.519 with the answers of. 00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:24.300 And let's look at Thomas. 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:24.860 Thomas, 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.640 he's straight away, 00:20:26.800 --> 00:20:27.860 as Jesus is talking about 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.019 going and preparing a place. 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.080 Thomas comes straight up 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.500 with his question 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.000 in verse 5, 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.500 and he says to him, 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.000 Lord, we do not know 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.859 where you are going. 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.359 How can we know the way? 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.819 Thomas has a literal 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.019 interpretation here. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.500 He doesn't know 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.299 the destination 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.440 or the way, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.099 so we can tell 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.940 that he's sort of existing 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.099 on this literal level. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.980 He's existing, 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.859 he's thinking in the here and now. 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.960 How is God engaging 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.240 with my here and now? 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.819 There's a saying we have, 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.180 isn't there? 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.140 Too heavenly minded 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:57.700 to be of any earthly good. 00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:00.160 Well, perhaps Tom, 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.640 you could say, 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:00.860 was, 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:01.900 Tom, 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.880 that friends here, 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.340 Thomas, 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:06.440 was too earthly minded 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.920 to be of any good. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.900 Jesus sees this 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.920 and responds to him. 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.240 He says in verse 6, 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:37.980 Look what Jesus says here. 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.779 I am the way, 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.259 the truth, 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.740 and the life. 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.599 not the way 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:42.000 in the sense of a signpost 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.900 or a Google map search 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.700 directions 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.900 or simply the speaker 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.720 of truth 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.620 in a world 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.880 where lies are so common 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:53.720 or even the life 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.519 in the sense of being 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.160 an example 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.359 of a good and moral 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.700 and upright life. 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.920 Jesus says 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:03.339 he is these things. 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.500 Jesus is the way. 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.259 He doesn't simply 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.039 show the way. 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.259 He came from the Father, 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:11.059 a place Jesus told Peter 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.319 that he couldn't go to yet. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.259 And then by trusting 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.960 in Jesus 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:17.120 who died for us, 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.900 we are now able 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.799 to go with him 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.400 back 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.960 to the Father's presence. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:25.019 Jesus is the way. 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:29.160 And Jesus is the truth. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:31.099 He is the word of God 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.059 in human form. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.539 Not simply a messenger, 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.640 but God personally 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.819 declaring himself, 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.900 revealing himself. 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:42.820 revealing himself to us 00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:44.580 and showing us 00:22:44.580 --> 00:22:45.600 to ourselves 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.560 at the same time. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.240 Jesus is the way, 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:51.060 he's the truth, 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.680 and he is the life. 00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.300 Jesus, 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:56.060 what Jesus is saying here is, 00:22:56.320 --> 00:22:58.300 I have life within me. 00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:00.380 It's not something 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.480 that can come and go. 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.940 He's saying, 00:23:03.060 --> 00:23:04.480 I'm the source of life. 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.280 Life flows outward 00:23:06.280 --> 00:23:07.120 from Jesus, 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:08.319 richly and abundantly 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.879 from him 00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:10.139 into everything else 00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:10.879 that exists. 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:15.000 Jesus is the way, 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:15.719 the truth, 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.619 and the life. 00:23:18.459 --> 00:23:19.339 When he comes, 00:23:19.479 --> 00:23:20.559 when he encounters Thomas 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.439 and he's very earthly thinking, 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:24.939 the way that he sees 00:23:24.939 --> 00:23:26.079 of breaking that mold, 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:27.399 of breaking that mold 00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:27.899 of thinking, 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:30.460 is to lift him out 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:32.360 into a bigger understanding 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:33.340 of what's going on 00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:34.660 by understanding 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.519 who he is. 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.420 And he continues that 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:37.780 with Philip 00:23:37.780 --> 00:23:38.360 because Philip 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.759 has an issue as well. 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.140 And Philip's kind of grappling 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:41.720 with these things 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.300 and hearing them 00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:42.860 and he's just going, 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.240 oh man, 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:44.820 this is just too hard. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.220 Like I said, 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.480 you look him up in John 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.060 and you'll discover 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:49.600 that he's like a 00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:51.500 remedial learner, 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.160 shall we say. 00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:54.100 And he said, 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.540 oh look, 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.880 show us the Father 00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:57.000 and it is enough for us. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.860 Do you know that sense 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.640 of wanting more? 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.140 As simple as Philip is 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.580 in his asking this question, 00:24:08.580 --> 00:24:09.440 do you know that sense 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.160 of wanting more? 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:11.240 When things happen 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.900 and you just think, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.140 man, 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.080 what is going on? 00:24:13.300 --> 00:24:14.540 How is Jesus real 00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:15.620 if this is happening 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.140 in the world? 00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:17.100 How is this, 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.380 how is Jesus, 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.380 my saviour, 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.460 if this is what he's 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.540 letting happen in my life? 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.759 I could put up with it 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.140 if I just got to see 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.680 more of him. 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.940 If I got to see something 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:29.259 that convinced me, 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.460 that just overwhelmed me 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.040 and convinced me 00:24:31.040 --> 00:24:31.640 to carry on. 00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.480 Here's a man 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.480 who is wanting more. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.860 But in the context, 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.019 the context that he's saying 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.440 that is, 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.820 he's wanting more 00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.400 than Jesus. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.040 Jesus responds, 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:50.660 he says to him, 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:52.240 have I been with you 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.779 so long 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.519 and you still do not 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:53.800 know me, 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.060 Philip? 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.279 Whoever has seen me 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.380 has seen the Father. 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:01.800 In verse 9. 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.240 For Jesus to prepare 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.960 their troubled hearts 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.720 for what's to come, 00:25:08.540 --> 00:25:09.720 they need to understand 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.540 what he is doing. 00:25:12.040 --> 00:25:13.080 And more than that, 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.779 they need to be clear 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.960 about who he is. 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.240 Jesus said, 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:20.899 I am the way, 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.319 the truth, 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:21.740 and the life. 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:23.500 No one comes to the Father 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.879 except through me. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:27.680 That's an exclusive statement 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.700 because the personal God 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.960 has come personally 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:33.759 to rescue us 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.920 back into 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:37.399 a close personal relationship 00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:37.960 with him. 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:40.620 There aren't other ways. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.680 There is only one. 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.759 And he's there 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.980 right before them, 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.120 urging them 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.220 to trust in him. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.559 So Jesus says, 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.100 trust in me 00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:57.019 as I prepare the way. 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.940 Trust in me 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.920 because of who I am. 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.759 And he goes on 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.960 and finishes 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.559 by saying, 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.440 trust in me 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:06.380 as you continue 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.020 my work. 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.180 Each of these 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.640 points up to this point 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.160 have actually been 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.360 focusing on 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:15.100 trusting in who Jesus is 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.960 and what he's doing. 00:26:16.760 --> 00:26:17.860 At this point, 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.120 we start to see 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:19.960 how who Jesus is 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.620 and what he's doing 00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.700 has a direct impact 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.300 on us now. 00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.060 These truths 00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:24.020 aren't just simply 00:26:24.020 --> 00:26:26.060 propositional truths. 00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.640 They're not just things 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.500 we hold in our heads 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:29.760 and they make us 00:26:29.760 --> 00:26:30.500 feel warm and fuzzy. 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.100 These are truths 00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.780 that actually shape 00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:32.380 how we live, 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.080 how we act. 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.320 That's what we see here 00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:38.380 and the word work 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.300 is something that's worth 00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:41.100 understanding here 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:41.800 and bearing in mind 00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:43.260 because even in these verses, 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.440 these last few verses 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.080 of this section, 00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:46.900 we actually get a bit 00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:47.400 of an understanding 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.300 of what work is. 00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:49.160 So I'll give you 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.180 a definition of work. 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.680 In its broader sense, 00:26:52.280 --> 00:26:53.680 is doing the Father's will 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:55.460 that the Father 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.420 be glorified. 00:26:57.520 --> 00:26:58.760 So when work comes up 00:26:58.760 --> 00:26:59.400 in these verses, 00:26:59.760 --> 00:27:00.840 doing the Father's will 00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:01.480 that the Father 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.320 be glorified. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.080 Let me have a look 00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:04.800 at what Jesus says 00:27:04.800 --> 00:27:05.660 in terms of continuing 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.300 his work. 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.440 In verse 12, 00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:10.519 Jesus says, 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.759 Truly, truly, 00:27:12.540 --> 00:27:13.600 I say to you, 00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:19.740 whoever believes in me 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:22.320 will also do the works 00:27:22.320 --> 00:27:22.960 that I do 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:25.500 and greater works 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:27.460 than these will he do 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.440 because I'm going 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.019 to the Father. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.920 Jesus' work 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:34.019 is doing the Father's will 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.600 that the Father 00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:35.480 be glorified 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.759 and we're actually 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.839 invited into that, 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.440 into the same, 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.339 to continue that. 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.339 So everything 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.039 from the words 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.720 that he says 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.720 to the things 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.180 that he does, 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.120 we read here. 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.460 Everything 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.220 from the words 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.740 that he says 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.360 to the things 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:50.920 that he does, 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.579 including miracles. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.980 Now that obviously 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.200 raises a question for us. 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.279 Does that mean 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:57.740 that we should all 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.420 be doing these kind 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:58.700 of things, 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.660 including miracles? 00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.759 So when we take on 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.140 the works 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.279 that Jesus was doing, 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.640 do we get to do 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.280 miracles too? 00:28:05.820 --> 00:28:06.540 I'm going to say 00:28:06.540 --> 00:28:08.660 that's a possible 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.380 application 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.840 of what's being said here. 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.740 It's possible 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:15.120 that what Jesus 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.920 is saying is 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.700 an outworking of this, 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.759 as you do my work, 00:28:19.280 --> 00:28:20.240 that you will do miracles. 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.300 But what he is 00:28:24.300 --> 00:28:25.840 definitely saying is 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:28.139 that you 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:29.619 will be doing 00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:31.039 the Father's will 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.720 that the Father 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.659 be glorified. 00:28:35.699 --> 00:28:37.279 We focus so easily 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.759 and readily 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.779 on the miracle aspect 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.299 and that becomes 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:40.819 such a point of focus 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.119 for us 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.599 because we're concerned 00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.579 about the here and now. 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.740 We're not seeing things 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.819 the way that God does. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.779 I don't want to 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.220 write them 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.679 totally out of the picture, 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.179 but I do want to say 00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:53.619 to you 00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.879 that each point 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:56.239 in which Jesus 00:28:56.239 --> 00:28:57.539 refers to his miracles 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.579 as his works, 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.259 those works 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.939 have a purpose 00:29:00.939 --> 00:29:01.679 and that is 00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:02.759 that people might believe 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.239 that Jesus 00:29:03.239 --> 00:29:03.739 is the one 00:29:03.739 --> 00:29:04.419 the Father sent. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.819 So they have a purpose 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.459 in themselves. 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.839 They point to Jesus. 00:29:09.699 --> 00:29:10.239 You don't actually 00:29:10.239 --> 00:29:11.259 have to do miracles 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.479 in order to do that work. 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:14.099 It's just one of the ways 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.699 that that happens. 00:29:15.979 --> 00:29:17.459 May God choose 00:29:17.459 --> 00:29:18.619 to use that again? 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:19.939 Possibly. 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:22.400 But definitely 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:24.980 we get a sense 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:27.299 of what it actually means 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.440 to do the Father's will, 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.920 that the Father be glorified 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.920 as we look into 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.660 what works are 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.900 because Jesus goes, 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.160 he actually says here, 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.940 greater works than these. 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.059 How can there be 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.860 something greater 00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:41.120 than what Jesus has done? 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.200 How can there possibly 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.880 be something greater 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.279 than that? 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:47.720 Let's have a look 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.799 at how Jesus speaks 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.139 of doing work. 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.559 And in chapter 4, 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.160 verse 31, 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.420 Jesus tells his disciples 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.279 to do the work 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.859 of gathering 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.759 in the harvest. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.059 In John 6, 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:59.160 verse 28 to 29, 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:00.799 when the crowds 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.440 that he just fed 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.359 actually ask him 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:03.319 what work should we be doing, 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.619 he tells the crowd 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.279 to do the work 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.539 of believing in him. 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:10.359 In John 5, 21, 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.660 Jesus tells his disciples 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.539 that the Father's 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.399 greater work 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:15.720 is to raise the dead 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:17.440 and to give them life. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.660 If we kind of just 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.580 sort of bring 00:30:20.580 --> 00:30:21.540 all those things together, 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:23.720 what we get is 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.680 that the works 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.759 that Jesus is talking about, 00:30:25.800 --> 00:30:26.800 these works are greater 00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:29.420 because from now on, 00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:31.040 they will actually be pointing 00:30:31.040 --> 00:30:32.500 to the completed work 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.040 of Christ. 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.200 Jesus' work 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:37.500 will be completed. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.800 So when they talk 00:30:38.800 --> 00:30:39.340 about Jesus 00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:40.420 and they witness to him, 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.280 they're witnessing 00:30:41.280 --> 00:30:43.080 to a completed package. 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:45.060 that place 00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:45.940 is prepared 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.960 in heaven for us. 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:49.000 He's not going 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.480 to do it. 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.440 It is prepared. 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.800 It's done. 00:30:52.040 --> 00:30:52.780 It's not like Jesus 00:30:52.780 --> 00:30:54.060 has taken 2,000 years 00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:54.900 to build your room. 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:03.420 The works are greater 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:05.340 because from now on, 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.259 they're pointing 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.680 to a completed work. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:10.380 When Judas left the meal 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:11.600 to betray Jesus, 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.539 he set that final act 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.060 in motion. 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.519 And Jesus acknowledges 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:17.259 that in John 13, 32 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.820 where he says, 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.700 Now is the Son of Man 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.440 glorified 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:22.580 and God glorified in him. 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.480 Judas left 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.740 and set in motion 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:27.279 the acts of that night 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.759 which would lead 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.840 to both his betrayal, 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:30.960 his sentencing, 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:32.560 and ultimately his death. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:35.859 witnessing to Jesus 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:37.440 finish work 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:39.220 is the greater work 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:39.740 that we're actually 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.379 involved in. 00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:44.200 And just as we 00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:45.940 close up on this passage, 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.539 I think it's really 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.740 important to look 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.339 at where Jesus 00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.200 lands us 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.099 when he finishes 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.759 what he's saying. 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.240 He says, 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.440 he goes into 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.819 instruction on prayer 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.440 at this point. 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.319 And it's important 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.099 that we understand this 00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.159 because doing Jesus' work 00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:00.939 is only possible 00:32:00.939 --> 00:32:01.939 in Jesus' strength. 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:04.019 He says in verse 13, 00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.199 Whatever you ask 00:32:05.199 --> 00:32:05.899 in my name, 00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:07.079 this I will do, 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.439 that the Father 00:32:08.439 --> 00:32:09.259 may be glorified 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.819 in the Son. 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.699 If you ask me 00:32:11.699 --> 00:32:12.899 anything in my name, 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:14.759 I will do it. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.939 I'm going to suggest 00:32:18.939 --> 00:32:19.519 to you that 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:21.459 the way that we 00:32:21.459 --> 00:32:22.599 read these verses 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:25.659 shows that 00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:27.759 there's a problem 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.740 in our hearts 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.599 in terms of 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.680 our own expectations. 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.559 I'll give you 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.279 a few different ways 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.900 we can read them 00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:35.599 that demonstrate 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.140 a problem. 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.500 Firstly, 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:38.759 we can read them 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.120 and think, 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:39.819 hey, great, 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.640 a blank check. 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.160 I can ask 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.960 for whatever I want. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.519 It's like, 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.299 think Aladdin 00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:45.220 and the lamp. 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.120 Just rub that lamp 00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:46.859 and I'm already 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.400 starting to think, 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.000 okay, so what am I 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.339 going to spend 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.039 my wishes on? 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.200 We can read them 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:54.539 and think, 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.359 blank check. 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.319 But for any of you 00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:58.019 who have existed 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.240 in that thought 00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.879 process, 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.039 even for long 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.740 enough to form 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.319 a prayer, 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.819 you will know 00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:04.779 the second thing 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.779 that we react 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.440 to these verses 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:06.839 like, 00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:08.119 and that is, 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.119 it doesn't work. 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.579 It's a great 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.599 promise on paper, 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:14.000 but it doesn't work. 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.059 I've tried it 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.740 and I didn't get 00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.259 the answer. 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:21.940 It's because we're 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.480 thinking like the 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.220 scientist with the 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.740 axolotl, 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.519 chopping it off 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.079 and watching it 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.480 grow back, 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:25.960 chopping it off, 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.200 wanting to find a way 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.099 of actually improving 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:30.140 our current existence. 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.619 Are we asking 00:33:32.619 --> 00:33:34.180 that the Father 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.980 be glorified? 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.700 Are we asking 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.660 in the Son's name? 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:43.720 I'm going to suggest 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.400 to you another way 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.740 and this is probably 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.259 the way that, 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.720 we're kind of a 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.600 conservative evangelical 00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:48.900 church, 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.720 I think this is one 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.440 of the ways that we 00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:51.420 actually really struggle 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.640 and that is this, 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.420 I don't dare ask. 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.140 We're thinking, 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:57.500 okay, 00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.680 whatever you ask 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.320 in my name, 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.400 this I will do, 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.019 the Father may be 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.800 glorified in the Son, 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.140 okay. 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:03.920 Yep, 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.140 okay, 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.000 that's got to be true, 00:34:05.080 --> 00:34:05.880 it's there in the Bible, 00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.820 I trust the Bible, 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:10.059 but I'm not ready 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:11.559 to trust the Bible 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.659 in action 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.880 so I don't ask. 00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.219 Some things seem 00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:17.219 too big for me 00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:17.719 to ask, 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.779 some things seem 00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:19.980 too presumptuous. 00:34:22.299 --> 00:34:23.199 We may even 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.920 convince ourselves 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.920 it's an act of humility 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:26.159 that we don't ask. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.460 How sad is that? 00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:35.279 Friends, 00:34:35.319 --> 00:34:36.000 we need to be thinking 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.000 like people 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.519 who are learning 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.440 to trust in God 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.420 just like the disciples 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:39.780 were. 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.179 Thinking like people 00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:41.940 who that trust 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:42.820 is actually beginning 00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:44.699 to develop in our lives. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.860 Thinking like people 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:48.619 who just long, 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:50.179 love to see 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.980 who Jesus is 00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.599 in his word, 00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:53.059 how God reveals 00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.940 himself to be 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:55.480 and look at, 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.320 take those promises 00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.940 that he makes 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.860 for us seriously 00:34:57.860 --> 00:35:00.380 and start to 00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:02.639 want to see 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.119 those things 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.039 happen. 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.900 I think we need 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.279 to pray 00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:08.219 accordingly. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.719 We need to pray 00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.599 big prayers. 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.639 Let God 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.179 sort out 00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:15.599 how he's going 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.239 to deal with it. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.699 There's no prayer 00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.539 that gets no answer. 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.199 Every prayer 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.900 gets an answer. 00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.480 It may not be the answer 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.460 that you've envisaged, 00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:26.539 but pray big prayers. 00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:26.820 Friends, 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:27.360 don't shrink 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.280 this promise down. 00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:30.380 Don't empty 00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:34.079 of the extravagance 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:34.820 of the invitation. 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:36.900 Ask. 00:35:38.180 --> 00:35:39.360 And be reshaped 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:40.260 by whatever answer 00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:40.660 you get. 00:35:40.720 --> 00:35:41.559 Ask again. 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.019 Let me say 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.480 in conclusion 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:47.800 that 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:50.200 if you look 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:50.760 at these verses, 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.420 they're a call 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:51.880 to trust 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.539 in the context 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:54.779 of troubled minds, 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.779 troubled hearts. 00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.119 Our hearts, 00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:58.259 when they expect 00:35:58.259 --> 00:35:59.219 something in this world 00:35:59.219 --> 00:35:59.920 and they don't get 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.639 what we hope for, 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.259 our hearts 00:36:02.259 --> 00:36:02.900 as they're gradually 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:03.800 being transformed 00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.619 to expect 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:06.099 and not only expect, 00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:06.960 but to actually 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.599 treasure 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:09.039 what God says 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.219 we should be hoping for. 00:36:13.219 --> 00:36:14.259 Hearts that value 00:36:14.259 --> 00:36:14.739 the fact 00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.360 that Jesus 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:17.639 had to go away 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.679 to prepare 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:19.519 a place for us. 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:21.360 and that path 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:21.900 took him 00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:23.159 to the cross 00:36:23.159 --> 00:36:23.980 and through the cross 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.420 to heaven. 00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:27.719 That he had to go 00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.980 to become 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.219 the way for us. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.599 That he had to go 00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:33.119 to provide 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:33.900 the greater works 00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:34.759 for us to be doing 00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:35.300 even now. 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:39.039 And friends, 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.559 when you feel 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.099 that conflict 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.699 in your hearts 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.440 and that life 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.259 is just not turning out 00:36:42.259 --> 00:36:42.820 how it should, 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.460 recognize 00:36:44.460 --> 00:36:45.659 that troubled heart 00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:48.259 as the point 00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:49.740 at which you can 00:36:49.740 --> 00:36:50.760 learn more deeply 00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.560 these truths. 00:36:52.640 --> 00:36:53.560 Learn more deeply 00:36:53.560 --> 00:36:54.680 to trust in Jesus. 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:56.440 To lean on him 00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:57.300 instead of the kingdoms 00:36:57.300 --> 00:36:57.840 we're so 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:59.400 busily building. 00:37:00.520 --> 00:37:01.640 To see the opportunities 00:37:01.640 --> 00:37:02.800 to do his work 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:04.840 rather than our own. 00:37:07.100 --> 00:37:08.900 To learn to long for 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:11.120 the joy 00:37:11.120 --> 00:37:13.220 of being in his presence 00:37:13.220 --> 00:37:15.440 when our work 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.240 is finally finished. 00:37:18.260 --> 00:37:19.460 Let me pray. 00:37:24.140 --> 00:37:24.820 Father God, 00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.500 I've got to confess 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:25.660 that 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:33.540 I can't value enough 00:37:33.540 --> 00:37:34.920 what you've done. 00:37:35.020 --> 00:37:35.940 I can't appreciate it 00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:36.740 the way that I should 00:37:36.740 --> 00:37:38.980 because I am so conflicted. 00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:40.460 We are. 00:37:40.560 --> 00:37:41.180 We know 00:37:41.180 --> 00:37:42.560 life in this world. 00:37:42.640 --> 00:37:43.200 There's so many 00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:44.540 good things about 00:37:44.540 --> 00:37:45.400 the world that you've made 00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:46.420 and we just keep 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.079 tripping up 00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:48.000 and making those things 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.559 a main thing 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:49.820 and forgetting 00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:52.900 the goodness of you, 00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.740 the one who provided 00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.400 all things. 00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:57.059 Lord, 00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.559 we pray 00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:59.720 that you would show us 00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:00.579 the points of conflict 00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.320 in our lives 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:02.559 where perhaps we're not 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.559 even seeing any conflict 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:03.980 whatsoever. 00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:04.880 We're just easily 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:05.760 just giving ourselves 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.619 over to building 00:38:06.619 --> 00:38:07.220 our own kingdoms. 00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:09.740 Lord, 00:38:09.820 --> 00:38:10.420 bring us back 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.800 to building your kingdom. 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:15.460 bring us back 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:17.180 through the sure knowledge 00:38:17.180 --> 00:38:18.820 that you loved us 00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:19.480 so much 00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:21.300 that you brought us 00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.700 into your kingdom 00:38:22.700 --> 00:38:24.519 even though we are 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:24.940 as ignorant 00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:25.780 as we are now. 00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.360 Lord, 00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:28.840 we thank you 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:29.340 and praise you 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:29.780 and we long 00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:30.519 for your return 00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:32.600 and in the meantime, 00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:32.880 Lord, 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.560 grow us 00:38:33.560 --> 00:38:34.240 in appreciation 00:38:34.240 --> 00:38:35.100 of who you are. 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.260 Amen. 00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:36.360 Amen. 00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:36.420 Amen. 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:36.440 Amen. 00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:36.460 Amen. 00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.800 Amen.