WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.720 Good morning to all of you. Can everybody hear me? Thanks, Justin. Good morning. My name's Tommy. I'm the rector, Church of the Advent. Delighted to be with you this morning. Delighted for the Easter season to finally be here. 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:33.060 You know, there's a sub-genre of story, often you find it in the fantasy genre, that seems to have a deep resonance with people. There are a number of great stories that have become timeless that have a common element to them. 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:43.079 So think of The Lord of the Rings, think of The Chronicles of Narnia, think of the Harry Potter series. All different stories, but they all have a common element to them. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:52.079 They all involve someone who is fairly normal and mundane, going about their normal, mundane life, and then something happens. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:01:04.500 You know, they step through a wardrobe unknowingly, or a mysterious visitor, stranger shows up, or a letter arrives in the mail. 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:15.700 But some event happens, and because of that event, they end up discovering that there's much more to the world than they previously imagined. 00:01:15.700 --> 00:01:20.260 In a sense, the truth about reality is unveiled. 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:27.219 And they begin to see things as they truly are, and then they get swept into this great adventure. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.540 And as a result of that great adventure, they are forever changed. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:36.079 Their life is never the same, and they never see things the same way again. 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:40.000 And I think there's a reason why these stories resonate. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:46.019 I think it's because deep down, these stories are speaking to something inside us. 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:52.840 A kind of longing that is ever-present, even in the most hardened skeptics. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:02:03.280 We live in a culture, post-modern West, that is dominated, more or less, by a worldview that we might simply refer to as materialism. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:08.580 A kind of baseline assumption that this is all there is. 00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:12.940 There's nothing beyond what we can see, touch, taste, hear, smell. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:17.439 And as a result of that, religion is put in this category of personal preference. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:26.260 If you choose to believe in things because they give you some comfort, they offer you some crutch to help you cope with reality, then that's fine. 00:02:26.380 --> 00:02:31.439 But everybody knows there's nothing really true behind our religious beliefs. 00:02:32.140 --> 00:02:33.700 So we live in this kind of culture. 00:02:33.699 --> 00:02:41.739 And yet I believe that most people know deep down, even if they don't identify as religious, that there has to be more. 00:02:43.399 --> 00:02:45.179 That this can't be all there is. 00:02:45.239 --> 00:02:51.319 There's a longing to pierce through the veil, to see something more. 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:58.900 And the book of Revelation comes along, and it essentially says, you're right. 00:02:59.799 --> 00:03:02.139 You should listen to that longing. 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:07.120 The word revelation actually comes from the Greek apocalypsis. 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:15.039 Apocalyptic writing is writing that reveals reality as it truly is. 00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:17.639 It reveals things as they truly are. 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:21.379 It unveils the truth about the world that we live in. 00:03:21.859 --> 00:03:30.659 And so this letter, what we call the book of Revelation, it's actually a series of letters followed by a lot of prophetic writing. 00:03:31.679 --> 00:03:34.519 This is like that letter that arrives at our door. 00:03:34.659 --> 00:03:37.159 It's like the mysterious stranger that shows up. 00:03:37.239 --> 00:03:43.579 It's like the wardrobe that we climb into and then find ourselves transported into a different world. 00:03:43.580 --> 00:03:50.560 And it confirms that sneaking suspicion we have that this world is spiritually alive. 00:03:51.720 --> 00:03:57.020 That there is much more going on than we can see or hear or touch. 00:03:57.780 --> 00:03:59.900 And our lives are full of meaning. 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:02.420 And we have a part to play in this. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:04.600 There's a greater purpose unfolding. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:07.820 And this letter invites us into that purpose. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:14.840 Beginning this Sunday and going through the season of Easter, the lectionary tracks along with the book of Revelation. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:18.519 That's what we're going to be doing between now and Pentecost. 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:23.180 And we're going to be asking the question along the way, what does it mean to see things as they truly are? 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.819 And how does that change our lives? 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:28.920 And in chapter 1, the unveiling begins. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:31.399 We see three things unveiled. 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:38.899 We see the unveiling of the King, the unveiling of the Word, and the unveiling of the Church. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:39.719 Let's pray. 00:04:41.039 --> 00:04:42.979 Lord, we thank you for your Word. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:48.759 And we thank you in this Easter season that you are a living God who has risen. 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:54.099 We thank you that because of that, we're not just here to consider human ideas, ink on paper. 00:04:54.779 --> 00:04:56.759 We are here to hear from you. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:08.980 And we pray that, Lord, even as these words are spoken, that there would be the words that you speak to your people. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.180 You know what we need to hear, and you can speak to us. 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:14.019 And, Lord, it's your voice that we seek. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:16.439 It's an encounter with you that we need. 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:20.560 We pray these things would happen by the power of the Spirit in the name of Jesus. 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:21.219 Amen. 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:21.300 Amen. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:26.700 So, first of all, chapter 1, we begin to see the unveiling of the King. 00:05:27.640 --> 00:05:36.100 The context of Revelation is that it's written by the Apostle John, who is on the Isle of Patmos, and he's living in exile. 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:38.220 Revelation 1.9 says, 00:05:38.380 --> 00:05:40.960 I, John, your brother and partner in tribulation. 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:43.800 So, he's experiencing the tribulation. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:51.060 And the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus was on the island called Patmos on account. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:52.280 So, why is he at Patmos? 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:55.020 On account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:05:55.939 --> 00:06:00.240 So, literally, it's saying he's there because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:07.540 The state is punishing him because of the things that he's been saying about Jesus and about his Word. 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:10.500 And, essentially, Patmos is a prison island. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.060 So, that's why he's there. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:18.639 And he's writing to Christians who are also suffering various forms of persecution as a result of their faith. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:22.680 Some are being ostracized by their neighbors, by their coworkers. 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:28.379 You know, they're being disregarded, marginalized, overlooked for promotions. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:33.800 Some are experiencing direct persecution by the government. 00:06:34.459 --> 00:06:39.920 Things got pretty bad for the Christians under the Roman authorities who are pretty hostile to them. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:45.759 And we could ask why and get into all of the political reasons for that. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:49.259 They did see these claims about Jesus as a political threat. 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:55.480 He was being talked about in a way that seemed as though he was a rival to Caesar's throne. 00:06:55.480 --> 00:07:03.780 But the real reason why this is happening is because human beings live in occupied territory. 00:07:03.779 --> 00:07:06.759 We live in occupied territory. 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:10.399 The world is in a state of captivity. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:16.719 In his final chapter to the letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul pulls back the veil. 00:07:17.719 --> 00:07:20.599 Tells us the true nature of the Christian life. 00:07:20.679 --> 00:07:24.359 He says, remember, we wrestle not only against flesh and blood. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:26.119 It's not just politics. 00:07:26.619 --> 00:07:27.899 It's not just social dynamics. 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:31.060 We wrestle against the devil. 00:07:31.899 --> 00:07:33.679 We wrestle against the enemy. 00:07:34.419 --> 00:07:41.319 There is a conscious, personal, spiritual evil that relentlessly aims to destroy God's people and God's world. 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:47.620 Persecution is just one tool that the enemy uses, but it's only one. 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:53.899 That same enemy sits behind everything that threatens to destroy God's people and his world. 00:07:53.899 --> 00:07:59.779 Threats from outside and threats from inside the church community. 00:08:00.739 --> 00:08:08.539 But this vision in Revelation shows us something that is vitally important for us to remember at all times. 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:13.779 Even though it sometimes appears as though things are hopeless. 00:08:14.859 --> 00:08:20.099 Even though it sometimes appears as though the government is on the verge of collapse. 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:27.040 Even though it sometimes appears as though life is nothing more than chaos and injustice. 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:31.360 Even though it sometimes appears as though our lives are so unpredictable. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:35.800 The state of our employment and our financial security is so fragile. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.820 Many of us are feeling that right now. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:39.960 And it appears as though things are hopeless. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:43.000 Even though it appears that way. 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:46.139 Jesus Christ is Lord of all. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:49.580 And Jesus Christ sits on the throne of the world. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:55.480 See, most of us when we think of Jesus, we think maybe of Jesus' incarnation. 00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:59.519 We think of a little baby lying in a manger. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:02.040 You know, gentle Jesus, meek and mild. 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:06.000 Or we think of Jesus' earthly ministry. 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:10.040 We think of this itinerant rabbi traveling around and healing. 00:09:10.540 --> 00:09:12.180 Telling people about the kingdom of God. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.420 We think of Jesus' death on the cross. 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:16.959 As John says in verse 5. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:21.919 Jesus, the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.379 Amen to that, right? 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:25.679 We think of his incarnation. 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.059 We think of his crucifixion. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:31.860 Here we see Jesus in his glory. 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:37.580 Here we see Jesus after he has risen. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:38.759 Right? 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:41.680 The description of Jesus in verses 12 through 16. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:43.580 You have, I think, the first eight verses. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.100 But we're going to look at the whole chapter. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:46.899 If you have a Bible, you can pull it out. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:47.960 Read this description. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.800 It is rich with symbolism. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:52.539 A lot of it comes from the Old Testament prophets. 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:54.320 Books like the book of Daniel. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:55.740 A lot of it comes from Daniel. 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:56.740 Some from Ezekiel. 00:09:56.740 --> 00:10:01.440 But this is even richer and fuller than what we see in the Old Testament. 00:10:03.180 --> 00:10:04.700 We see a vision of Jesus. 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:06.080 Just imagine this in your mind. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:07.080 If you don't have a Bible, it's fine. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:08.200 Just imagine this. 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:12.620 Dressed in a long robe with a golden belt or sash. 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:15.379 This is the garb of a priest. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:17.740 He's the true priest. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:20.519 He's the true mediator between God and his people. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:24.899 This Jesus has white hair like wool. 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:28.840 He's the ancient of days from Daniel's vision. 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:37.799 He's the true spotless lamb of God who sacrifices himself to atone for sin. 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:40.199 His eyes are like a flame of fire. 00:10:41.079 --> 00:10:45.019 These are eyes of piercing discernment and judgment. 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:49.000 These eyes can see through our masks. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.299 They can see through our facades. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.179 These eyes can see to the heart. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:00.019 This Jesus has bronze feet. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:04.159 Unlike the clay-footed statue in the book of Daniel, 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:07.860 which represented the human empires that will inevitably crumble, 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.460 Jesus' kingdom will never crumble. 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:11.659 It will never fade. 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.379 It has no weak spots. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:15.179 It's eternal. 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:20.239 From his mouth comes this sharp, two-edged sword. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:22.919 We'll look at that in more detail in a moment. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:26.120 He holds seven stars in his right hand. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.139 These are the seven angels over the churches. 00:11:29.359 --> 00:11:32.319 Jesus holds authority over and cares for his church. 00:11:33.339 --> 00:11:36.279 His face, this Jesus, his face is like the sun. 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.679 It's full of glory. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.099 What happens when the sun rises? 00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:46.199 That's the sign that a new day is dawning in the world. 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:52.199 He's ushering in a new age, an age of renewal and restoration and new creation. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.960 This is Jesus in his glory. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:01.700 You need to understand, the apostle John used to be very close with Jesus in his earthly ministry. 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:06.460 They would recline together when they ate supper together. 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:12.120 John is spoken about as the one who would rest his head on Jesus' chest. 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:14.860 There's a profound intimacy between them. 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:29.259 But when John sees the risen Christ in his glory, he falls to the ground in abject terror as though he's dead. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:33.379 So this is Jesus as he is now. 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:38.279 And if we don't have this portrait in our minds, we have an incomplete sense of who Jesus is. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.120 Yes, he was the baby in the manger. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:42.860 Yes, he was the itinerant rabbi who died on the cross. 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:44.600 But now he is the risen king. 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:53.120 And there is a glory to his presence that if we were to be in his presence, we, like John, would collapse on our faces. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:56.180 Because we would be so filled with fear. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.500 This is the Jesus who says, I'm the first and the last. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.820 And the living one. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.440 I died and behold, I'm alive forevermore. 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:07.120 And I have the keys of death and Hades. 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.300 One of my favorite verses. 00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:14.420 Jesus has absolute authority over time, over history. 00:13:14.419 --> 00:13:18.759 Over death, over the spiritual world, over hell itself. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:22.659 He has absolute authority over all of it. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:27.059 There is no great battle between good and evil. 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:29.159 Don't you understand? 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:33.959 Nobody's biting their nails wondering how's it all going to turn out. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.360 There's no contest. 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:39.839 Jesus is victorious. 00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:41.899 He holds the keys. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:50.379 And yet, even though this Jesus looks very different and he is terrifying and he's filled with glory, it's the same Jesus. 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.600 With the same heart. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:01.519 The same man who, at one point, encounters a leper who hadn't probably been touched in decades. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:11.100 And he reaches out his hand and he touches this man and heals him with a tenderness and a compassion that is almost unthinkable. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.759 And how do we know this? 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:17.000 Well, here we see something extremely beautiful. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.059 See, throughout Revelation, by the way, we'll see this more as the series progresses. 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:26.239 John loves to put, he loves to juxtapose two images together. 00:14:27.099 --> 00:14:33.379 And when you hold those two images together, you see something beautiful, theologically rich, profound. 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:35.699 Here's one of the first examples of this. 00:14:36.599 --> 00:14:40.459 In verse 16, Jesus holds seven stars in his right hand. 00:14:40.839 --> 00:14:43.139 As we said, the stars represent the church. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:47.319 Jesus holds the entire church firmly in his grasp. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:49.279 He's protecting the church. 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.619 He's providing for the church. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.899 He has authority over the church. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:56.220 He's managing and overseeing the church. 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.560 That's verse 16. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:08.779 Verse 17, when John falls to the ground in fear, he specifically says that Jesus reaches out with compassion and touches John with his right hand. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.220 And he says, fear not. 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:20.220 See, we often think, you know, compared with the suffering of the world, compared with what's going on, 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:26.220 overseas in this place or that place, compared with what's happening in the lives of those people I know, my friends. 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:27.940 My suffering is so silly. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:29.940 It's so lame. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:37.259 How could God possibly care about my little issues when there's so much real suffering happening in the world? 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:41.439 Don't you see what this means? 00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:47.740 Christ has the whole church firmly in his grasp. 00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:51.939 He's holding all things together across space and time. 00:15:52.819 --> 00:16:00.620 And yet, at the same time, he is still intimately involved in the daily struggles of each one of us individually. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:04.740 That is absolutely mind-blowing. 00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.460 This is Jesus. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.200 He's the Alpha. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:07.960 He's the Omega. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.139 He's the one who sits on the throne of eternity. 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:13.320 He's aware of all of those needs everywhere in the world. 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.519 He knows all of them. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:23.220 And yet, when you lie there in the middle of the night in your own sadness or your own pain or your own fear, 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.879 he is there with you. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.019 He is reaching out. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.220 He's touching you with compassion. 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:31.500 He's saying, fear not. 00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.420 Fear not. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.060 I'm with you. 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:39.019 And he does that as though you're the only one there is. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.879 As though you're the only one with any needs anywhere in the world. 00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:45.360 But he does that for each one of us individually. 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:47.800 See, only the risen Christ can do that. 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:51.560 That's the kind of king I want. 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:57.139 So here we see Jesus revealed as he truly is. 00:16:57.139 --> 00:17:05.339 Only when we see Christ, by the way, as he truly is, do we have any shot at seeing anything else as it really is. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:10.639 So this begins by us unveiling Christ, the risen Christ, in all of his glory. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.300 And then through that, we have the unveiling of his word. 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:17.440 His word. 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.560 Here's the thing. 00:17:20.520 --> 00:17:26.800 If Easter is true, if Jesus has conquered sin and death and he's the true king of the world, 00:17:27.800 --> 00:17:31.600 his words matter more than anyone else's words. 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:36.879 This is why John says in verse 3, blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.379 It's Jesus' words. 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:43.839 And blessed are those who hear and who keep what's written in it. 00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:51.599 He's saying Jesus' words are unique in that they have the power to bless those who hear and keep them. 00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:55.679 There's more to his words than our words. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:01.120 His words can confer blessing to those who hear and keep them. 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:05.039 And then in this vision, I said we'd come back to it, verse 16, 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:08.140 from his mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword. 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:12.580 In other words, Jesus' word is like a sharp blade. 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:20.460 Jesus' word uniquely has the power to divide between righteousness and sin. 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:24.720 It has the power to divide between truth and falsehood. 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:27.720 It has the power to divide between life and death. 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.660 Because he holds the keys. 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:35.960 So the word of God is extremely powerful. 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:39.700 Many people like to look at the word of God, at Jesus' word, 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:42.980 as a kind of source of advice and wisdom. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.600 I need guidance. 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:47.400 I'm trying to figure out what to do in my relationships, 00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:49.360 trying to figure out what to do with my vocation. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:52.279 I want to take everybody's advice into account. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.659 So I talk to my friend. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.599 I talk to my counselor. 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:56.299 I talk to my spiritual advisor. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.879 I go online, read some articles, and I consult the Bible. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:04.899 And it all goes into the hopper for my consideration. 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:10.159 When we do that, I mean, with all due respect, it shows our ignorance. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:16.059 We don't understand the power we are invoking 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:22.639 when we allow God's word to enter into our consideration. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.919 This tells us what we're really dealing with here. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:31.700 You know, when my kids, I'll be cooking, and I have a knife out, 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:35.299 and I'm prepping for dinner, and one of my kids will come in and say, 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:35.819 can I help? 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.659 And they'll pick up the knife. 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:38.460 And I'll immediately say, oh, be very careful. 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.159 Set that down. 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.000 Why? 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.160 Because if they don't know how to handle it, they're going to get caught. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.920 It's dangerous. 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:47.039 Sharp blades are dangerous. 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:52.180 Depending on how we respond to Jesus' word, 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:55.480 it can either be an instrument of war, a sword, 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.819 or it can be a surgical knife. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.480 It's two different kinds of blades with two very different purposes. 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.500 What's the situation? 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:09.220 Which are we going to get? 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:14.940 You know, for those who reject his word or treat it just like another source of advice, 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:18.839 it will be like a sword to us. 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:26.480 It will be an instrument of war that ultimately brings wrath, and rightfully so. 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:30.240 But for those who hear and keep his word, as this says here, 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:33.119 it won't come into our lives like a sword. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.359 It comes into our lives like a surgical blade. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:39.699 It has the power to cut out the tumor of sin. 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:46.039 It has the power to heal those who would embrace it, who hear it and keep it. 00:20:47.719 --> 00:20:49.159 The choice is really ours. 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:51.819 How do we interact with his word? 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:53.379 Which will we get? 00:20:54.639 --> 00:20:55.619 Because here's the thing. 00:20:55.699 --> 00:20:58.259 If Easter is true, if Jesus rose from death, 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.759 and if he holds the keys of death in Hades, 00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:02.779 his word stands alone. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:06.680 His word deserves our primary allegiance. 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:10.059 It doesn't mean that these other sources of advice can't be helpful, 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:12.920 but it means there's a hierarchy, 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:16.039 and it means his word is up here, 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:18.599 and everything else is ordered after that. 00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:20.180 What your parents think, 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.399 what your friends think, 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.579 what the internet thinks, 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:25.819 is you can figure out where that, 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.099 how that stacks up. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.779 I'm just telling you what needs to be at the top. 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:33.439 If Jesus rose from death, 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.819 we need to listen to every word he said. 00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:39.039 His word should always be the final word in our lives. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.899 Even when all of our advisors and the internet 00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:43.659 and everything else is going in a different direction, 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:47.199 his word is the final word. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:50.559 Now, if Jesus didn't rise from death, 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.500 then I don't know about you, 00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:56.000 but I don't really care much about anything he said. 00:21:57.900 --> 00:22:01.140 But treating Jesus simply as an advisor 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:04.960 is not an option that the Bible really leaves open to us. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:08.480 His word is either the final word, 00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:11.700 or it's maybe not even worth considering. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:15.799 John's response, I believe, is the correct response. 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:18.740 When I saw him, I fell at his feet. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:21.920 That's not someone who's just taking 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.140 Jesus' words into consideration. 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:27.019 That's someone who is falling to the ground 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.160 in submission and reverence. 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:34.960 So as we see the truth of the king revealed, unveiled, 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:38.440 then we see the truth about his word unveiled. 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:41.920 But the third thing we see in this passage 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.160 is the unveiling of the true nature of the church. 00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:49.400 Now, we already looked at the breathtaking description 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:52.640 that we have of Jesus, but there's more going on here. 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.880 If you notice in verses 12 and 13, 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:57.259 John first hears the word of Jesus. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:59.900 This is another one of those juxtaposed images. 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:03.559 He hears the word of Jesus, and then he turns, 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:06.600 and when he turns, he sees seven lampstands, 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:11.519 and then and only then does he see Jesus himself. 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:15.019 But first he sees the lampstands, 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.659 and then where is Jesus? 00:23:17.419 --> 00:23:19.839 In the midst of the lampstands. 00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:22.859 And we're told that these lampstands 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:25.099 represent the seven churches in Asia. 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.839 They represent the church. 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.059 Here's the point. 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:32.700 Now, if you want to see Jesus, 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:35.500 if you want to know Jesus, 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:38.700 I know this is going to be controversial for some of us, 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.659 look to the church. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.019 That's the point that John's making. 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:46.319 If you want to see Jesus, if you want to hear Jesus, 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.779 look to the church. 00:23:48.139 --> 00:23:50.859 In other words, Jesus wants to be seen 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:54.059 and heard and known through his church. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.539 That's what's being revealed here. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:58.519 Now, there are a lot of people these days 00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:00.579 who want nothing to do with the church, 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:04.180 but they want to hold on to their relationship with Jesus. 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:07.440 And if they were to hear me say something like that, 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.200 and maybe this is you, 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.819 they would immediately become angry. 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.339 And they would object, and they would say, 00:24:11.399 --> 00:24:12.139 I can know Jesus. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.759 I don't need some group of people. 00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:15.740 I can have a direct relationship with Jesus. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:17.639 And I would say, theologically, yeah, that's true. 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.099 You can. 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:21.480 You can have a relationship with Jesus. 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:25.579 You can pray to God and ask for forgiveness. 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:27.579 You can come to Jesus in faith and repentance, 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.119 and he will forgive you. 00:24:29.419 --> 00:24:30.859 He will pour grace into your life. 00:24:33.139 --> 00:24:35.639 And there are people who want nothing to do with the church, 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.879 and some of them have good reasons. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.460 They've been hurt. 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.220 They've been mistreated. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.059 They've been abused. 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:43.939 They've seen leaders do horrible things, 00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:46.619 and so they don't want to have anything to do with it. 00:24:47.939 --> 00:24:51.019 What we need to see here is that Revelation doesn't deny 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.399 that the church is deeply flawed. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:55.580 If you go on and you read chapters 2 and 3, 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:59.220 you see that Jesus not only recognizes all the flaws 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:01.400 and all the problems in the church, 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:03.780 but he confronts the church about it. 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.759 I mean, if you're a Christian and you go to church 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.980 and you read chapters 2 and 3, 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:09.180 the letters that he writes to the various churches, 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:11.600 not for the faint of heart. 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:15.840 I believe Jesus continues to confront his church 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:19.340 over her failures of faithfulness. 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:24.039 And yet, he is still in their midst, 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:30.740 and he still desires to be seen and known through his church. 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:36.079 The lamps, what does that tell us about the church? 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:42.799 The church is here to uphold and to shine the light of Jesus 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.059 into the world like a lamp. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:47.659 And the world is meant to come to know Jesus 00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:51.059 through his visible body, which is the church. 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:55.740 That is the primary purpose of the church in the world, 00:25:55.839 --> 00:26:00.259 to make Jesus known like a lamp shining into the darkness. 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:08.099 And if we were to look at this and to say, 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:12.039 well, that, I'm not sure it's actually making that point 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:14.759 and try to argue in another direction, 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:18.180 the connection actually becomes more clear and more explicit 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:21.640 when we understand the meaning of verse 15, 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.059 where it says, 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:24.599 his voice was like the roar of many waters. 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:27.699 You see this language in Ezekiel, 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:30.719 but you also see it more meaningfully 00:26:30.719 --> 00:26:35.480 later in the book of Revelation, chapters 14 and 19. 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:39.599 The exact same description that is used of God's voice here 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:42.759 is also used in those chapters. 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.799 But what's it describing? 00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:46.699 It's not describing the sound of Jesus' voice. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:51.439 It's describing the sound of God's saints 00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:54.000 as they sing praise to him. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:58.200 It's the same description, like the roar of many waters. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:00.559 So listen to what this is telling us. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:05.660 When Jesus speaks, what does his voice sound like? 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:08.579 It's not just one voice. 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:13.160 Revelation tells us that Jesus' voice 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:17.140 sounds like a countless multitude of saints 00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.859 singing praise to him. 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:21.079 That's what this is saying. 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:24.299 So do you want to know what the risen Christ 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:26.220 sounds like when he speaks? 00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:28.599 You know, we had a Sunday school class 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.259 our first week. 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:32.179 You're welcome to join in next week 00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:33.039 if you'd like to come 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:36.339 on a book called Hearing God by Dallas Willard. 00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:37.740 And one of the questions we asked was, 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:41.039 what would it be like to hear Jesus speak to us? 00:27:41.199 --> 00:27:42.159 This is telling us, 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:43.960 if we want to know what the risen Christ 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.699 sounds like when he speaks, 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:50.720 listen to the sound of the church praying together. 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:55.799 Listen to the sound of the church 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:58.980 confessing their faith, 00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:01.420 confessing the creeds together. 00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:05.160 All of those individual voices merging together 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:08.519 into a sound like the roaring of many waters. 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:11.960 If you want to hear the voice of Jesus, 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:14.339 listen to the church singing together. 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:18.539 The interplay of melody and harmony 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:23.019 as a multitude of voices merge into one voice, 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:26.819 like the sound of many waters, 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:30.059 that's the voice of the risen Christ speaking. 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:34.099 It's when all of the saints come together 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:36.659 and their voices merge into one. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.579 This is why there's such an emphasis on unity 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:41.599 throughout the New Testament. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:44.359 This is why Paul doesn't say 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:46.700 the church is like the body of Christ. 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.899 He says the church is the body of Christ. 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.000 Right? 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:51.919 So what is Revelation telling us? 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.639 It's saying this, 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.859 Jesus is not just with his church, 00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:57.839 he is his church. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:00.099 And they are him. 00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:02.720 We are one with him. 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.779 See, the great promise of the gospel 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:06.959 is that Jesus and his church 00:29:06.959 --> 00:29:08.459 will become one, 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:10.299 like a bride and groom. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.899 And the Apostle John says 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:15.399 that it's gonna be made even more explicit 00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:16.899 by the fact that when we meet him, 00:29:16.959 --> 00:29:18.099 we're gonna be like him 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:19.759 because we are in him. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.599 Jesus wants to be known. 00:29:24.959 --> 00:29:26.000 He wants to be seen. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.319 He wants to be heard. 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:30.159 Through his church, 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:35.220 I believe that it is almost impossible 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:38.159 to sustain a relationship with Jesus 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:40.579 that is in any way meaningful, 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.959 that is in any way intimate, 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.959 that is in any way life-giving, 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.539 that is in any way a relationship 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:48.500 in which we are growing and maturing 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:50.319 apart from the church. 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:53.019 As flawed as it may be, 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:56.400 and somebody said we were at the men's retreat 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.180 this past weekend 00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:58.519 and it was absolutely wonderful 00:29:58.519 --> 00:30:00.000 and kudos to you men 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.079 who made it back for church on Sunday 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.740 because a lot of you guys were camping out, 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.900 I think, in the rain last night. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.900 And so, but we had a great time 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.240 and it was wonderful. 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.920 And somebody said at the retreat, 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.619 they quoted, 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.019 you know, the quote that 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:16.579 if you ever find a perfect church, 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:18.619 if you ever find a perfect church, 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.639 don't go there 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:21.000 because you'll ruin it. 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.679 I love that quote. 00:30:24.739 --> 00:30:25.839 There is no perfect church. 00:30:27.719 --> 00:30:28.979 The church is deeply flawed. 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:29.899 Jesus knows that. 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.599 But that's where he is. 00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.299 And if you want to see him 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.039 and hear him and know him, 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.759 that's where he is to be found. 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:38.400 So let's pull all of this together. 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.940 Point of Revelation 1 00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.640 and really a theme 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:43.960 that traces throughout the entire book 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.420 is this. 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:47.640 Things are not as they appear to be now. 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:51.140 Things are not as they appear 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:52.960 in this present moment. 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.539 Even though it appears 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:56.680 as though the world 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:58.119 is full of chaos and injustice, 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.359 even though it appears 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.039 as though 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:06.220 life is totally unpredictable 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.180 and meaningless 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:09.859 and death is unavoidable, 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.879 the truth 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.700 is that Christ is risen. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:16.299 He sits on the throne of the world. 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.099 He holds the keys of death 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:19.279 and Hades in his hands. 00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.539 And one day, 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:22.279 every knee will bow 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.420 and every tongue confess 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.500 that he is Lord. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:27.420 Even though it appears 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.659 as though Jesus' words 00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:29.480 are no different 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:31.240 than any other source of input, 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:33.039 we might take into consideration, 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.319 the truth 00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:37.420 is that Jesus Christ 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:39.160 has the final word 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.839 on our lives 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.920 and on history. 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.059 And his word 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.120 is the only one that matters. 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.359 And even though it appears 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.279 as though the church 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.819 is hopelessly flawed 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:50.079 and divided 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:51.440 or irrelevant, 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.460 the truth 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.720 is that Jesus Christ 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:56.480 loves his bride. 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.500 And like a good husband, 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.960 he will never leave 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.860 nor forsake her. 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.220 And if you want to experience 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.340 the life of Christ, 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.400 you find that 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.120 in the church, 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.640 in his body. 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.579 So just like 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.740 all the great stories 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.640 that we talked about 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.319 at the beginning, 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.380 in all those great stories, 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.460 you see the same thing. 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.240 Once reality 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.500 has been unveiled, 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.420 once we begin 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.140 to see things 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.259 as they truly are, 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:24.039 the worst thing 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.840 we can do 00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:25.700 is to go on 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.200 pretending 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.380 as though things 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:27.980 are the way 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.799 they were before. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.500 We have to accept 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.079 the fact 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:31.940 that now that we 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.759 have seen truth, 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.720 it demands a response. 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.960 And the life of faith 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.700 is a life 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.799 of commitment. 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.160 It is a commitment 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.779 to walk in the light 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.579 of what is real 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.079 and true. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.500 Not what we would prefer, 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.360 but what is, 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.960 regardless of how 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:50.160 things may seem 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.779 in this present moment. 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.180 Let's pray. 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:56.380 Lord, 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.580 this can only be true 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:58.340 through your grace, 00:32:59.140 --> 00:32:59.860 through your mercy, 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:01.440 through the power 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.200 of your Holy Spirit. 00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:04.220 It's why you offer 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.940 yourself to us. 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.000 It's why you invite us 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.500 to come 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.720 and to share 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.860 in your body and blood. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.700 It's why you 00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.860 meet us here. 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.759 It's why we need 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.920 an encounter with you. 00:33:14.060 --> 00:33:14.740 It's why we need 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.320 to share in your life. 00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:17.720 It's because 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.799 this kind of life, 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.400 this kind of walk 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.060 is not something 00:33:21.060 --> 00:33:21.840 we can do alone. 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.659 We need one another 00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.480 and we need you. 00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:24.679 And I pray even 00:33:24.679 --> 00:33:25.259 as we come 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.439 and pray together 00:33:26.439 --> 00:33:27.819 and confess our faith together 00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:29.259 and share in the sacraments 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.779 together, Lord, 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:31.319 I pray that through 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.419 this gathering 00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:34.259 you would strengthen us 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:36.720 for a life 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:38.980 that unabashedly 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:42.339 faces reality 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:43.319 as it truly is. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.339 That we wouldn't 00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:45.059 need the crutches. 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.019 That we wouldn't need 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.819 the denial 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.559 or the minimizing. 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.019 We wouldn't need 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:51.259 the escapist fantasies. 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.099 that, Lord, 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.039 you would strengthen us 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.059 to live in the light 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.980 of what is real and true. 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.700 And that begins with you. 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.039 And we pray this 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.180 in your son's holy name, 00:33:59.259 --> 00:33:59.420 Lord. 00:33:59.700 --> 00:33:59.940 Amen.