WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.320 Now, as we look at this short passage this afternoon, I just want to ask one question, which is a question that a lot of people ask. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:21.820 It's the question that's on the front of your sheet this afternoon, and it's the question, if God is supposed to be a God of love, why does he let his son die? 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:37.520 If God is supposed to be a loving God, yet 2,000 years ago, a man the Bible claims was God's son, Jesus Christ, the exact representation of God himself as a human being, was killed. 00:00:38.879 --> 00:00:40.920 And God let that happen. 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:46.460 And I want us to see why those two things are joined together. 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:50.260 How can God be a loving God and yet his son died? 00:00:51.199 --> 00:00:58.939 Because it could be, couldn't it, that God is a loving God, but Jesus died a tragic death. 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:03.659 That somehow the plan, whatever it was, went awfully wrong. 00:01:04.539 --> 00:01:06.959 God is a loving God, but Jesus died. 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:09.159 It was a tragic mistake. 00:01:10.539 --> 00:01:14.400 Or it could be that God is not at all loving. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:20.359 Jesus trusted God with all of his heart, but Jesus got killed. 00:01:21.180 --> 00:01:22.860 And God, his father, failed him. 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:28.380 Because on the face of it, those two things don't seem to match at all, do they? 00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:34.500 If I allowed my three-year-old son to die, and I could have stopped it, 00:01:35.160 --> 00:01:38.680 you wouldn't think that I was a loving father at all, would you? 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:41.800 I would probably be arrested and put in prison. 00:01:43.160 --> 00:01:47.660 And that is sometimes what people think happened when Jesus Christ died on the cross. 00:01:48.660 --> 00:01:52.200 In a book that was written a few years ago, it's quite a while ago now, 00:01:52.300 --> 00:01:59.380 a writer caused a bit of a storm by suggesting that Jesus' death had a very sinister motive behind it. 00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:05.000 This writer says that the way Christians have understood Jesus' death 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:09.180 sounds like a form of cosmic child abuse. 00:02:10.019 --> 00:02:15.759 That God was a vengeful father, punishing his son for an offence he'd never committed. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:21.719 If God is all-loving and all-powerful, then it's either a huge error, isn't it? 00:02:22.019 --> 00:02:25.439 Or God the Father really is a cosmic child abuser. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:31.199 But what sort of God reveals himself to us in the Bible? 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:38.859 I want to say to you this afternoon, it isn't God is loving, but Jesus died. 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:46.039 It is, actually, God is loving, so Jesus is killed, Jesus dies. 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:51.120 But I don't want you to just listen to my words, I want you to listen to Jesus' words. 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:54.879 And we hear Jesus' words here, don't we, in John's Gospel. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:02.939 And in this passage, in John's book, John's eyewitness account of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:07.900 Jesus here is speaking to a local religious leader called Nicodemus. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:10.919 And he is an expert on the Jewish religion. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:16.639 And in this conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus about his mission, 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:20.000 about the purpose of his life. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:28.139 And strangely, Jesus turns the conversation to speak about his own death. 00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:32.059 If you look at verse 14 at the top there, 00:03:32.619 --> 00:03:33.379 Jesus says, 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:36.319 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:39.519 so must the Son of Man be lifted up. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:42.520 Now, in kind of Bible language, 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:45.740 Jesus there is using an illustration, 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:48.700 based on a story in the Old Testament. 00:03:49.760 --> 00:03:52.900 And he's using an illustration to describe his own death. 00:03:54.160 --> 00:03:58.500 And so, first off, Jesus knowingly speaks here, doesn't he, 00:03:58.820 --> 00:04:00.020 about his death. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.020 That he must be lifted up on a cross. 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:08.840 And so, his death is intentional. 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:11.719 Jesus' death is planned. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:13.160 It's intentional. 00:04:13.600 --> 00:04:15.320 His death is not a blunder. 00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:17.240 It's not a failure in the plan. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:19.680 Oh, the result of God's vengefulness. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:25.900 Jesus himself speaks about it as something that he knows is going to happen. 00:04:26.019 --> 00:04:26.720 And it's planned. 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:29.600 And there is an intention behind it. 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:32.900 Jesus knows that he has come to die. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:37.079 A little bit later on in John's Gospel, 00:04:37.239 --> 00:04:40.719 he records Jesus talking about himself like a shepherd. 00:04:41.099 --> 00:04:42.399 In another famous passage. 00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:44.519 Looking after his people. 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:45.579 And Jesus says, 00:04:45.679 --> 00:04:46.739 I am the good shepherd. 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:48.060 Why? 00:04:48.219 --> 00:04:51.799 Because I lay my life down for my sheep. 00:04:52.679 --> 00:04:55.239 No one takes my life from me, he says. 00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:56.839 But I lay it down. 00:04:58.359 --> 00:04:59.120 Jesus says, 00:04:59.239 --> 00:05:02.859 My purpose on this earth is to be a shepherd for my people. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:05.519 And I am going to do that by dying. 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:07.939 That is the plan. 00:05:08.659 --> 00:05:10.639 Jesus' death, it's intentional. 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:14.219 In another Gospel, Luke's Gospel, 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:16.939 it's another compilation of evidence about Jesus Christ. 00:05:17.039 --> 00:05:17.899 In Luke 9, 00:05:18.579 --> 00:05:20.399 Jesus says many, many times, 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.339 The Son of Man must suffer. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:26.000 And be rejected and be killed. 00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:27.539 And on the third day rise. 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:28.840 You see, Jesus understood. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.660 This was his great mission in his life. 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:34.420 Was his death. 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:37.240 And all through the Gospel accounts, 00:05:37.340 --> 00:05:40.360 we read about Jesus being convinced about this. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.720 About this mission. 00:05:41.840 --> 00:05:45.800 There are several moments where he could have easily avoided death, actually. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.300 Jesus didn't, for example, 00:05:48.460 --> 00:05:50.579 stay in the north part of Israel, 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:51.560 up in Galilee, 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.340 where he could have hid out in the country, couldn't he? 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:57.879 No, he resolutely goes to Jerusalem, 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.020 where he knows all of the threat is. 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.080 And when people give him the option 00:06:04.080 --> 00:06:05.840 to avoid death, 00:06:05.900 --> 00:06:07.139 he tells them off. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:08.259 And he says, 00:06:08.340 --> 00:06:08.740 Don't. 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:09.080 Don't. 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:09.379 Don't. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:10.759 Don't think that way. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:15.180 No, he lays his own life down of his own accord. 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:16.860 He's not a victim. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:22.240 Jesus' death was intended by Jesus himself. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:26.659 God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:28.539 plans his death together. 00:06:29.599 --> 00:06:31.939 It was a violent death, wasn't it? 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:35.519 But it wasn't an abusive, unplanned death. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:37.159 It was a voluntary death. 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:41.820 God is loving, but Jesus died? 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:43.360 No, it was intentional. 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:45.020 But secondly, 00:06:45.280 --> 00:06:47.300 Jesus' death was 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:49.280 a loving thing 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:51.800 for the Father to allow. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.440 It was a loving thing 00:06:54.440 --> 00:06:55.540 to do. 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:57.760 Looking back at the passage 00:06:57.760 --> 00:06:59.520 in John's Gospel here, 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:01.040 just notice the connection 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:04.440 between Jesus' death 00:07:04.440 --> 00:07:06.700 and God's love. 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:10.060 It is probably one of the most famous verses 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:11.180 in the Bible, isn't it? 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:12.900 John 3, 16. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.200 God so loved the world 00:07:15.200 --> 00:07:18.020 that he gave his one and only Son. 00:07:18.140 --> 00:07:19.840 You see, love, 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:21.840 not vengeance, 00:07:22.700 --> 00:07:23.580 not hate, 00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:25.500 not abuse, 00:07:26.340 --> 00:07:28.940 is the motivation for this plan. 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:32.740 God so loved the world. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:36.460 I don't know if you've seen on Sky TV 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:37.819 the Discovery Channel. 00:07:38.039 --> 00:07:39.639 It's a channel all about 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:40.959 the world of nature. 00:07:41.799 --> 00:07:42.879 And the Discovery Channel, 00:07:42.979 --> 00:07:44.120 they launched an ad 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:45.139 a couple of years ago 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:46.000 to kind of get people 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:46.899 to sign up to there, 00:07:46.979 --> 00:07:48.259 to subscribe to their channel. 00:07:48.479 --> 00:07:50.659 And the tagline, 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.519 the kind of phrase 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:52.539 that they kept saying 00:07:52.539 --> 00:07:53.519 through this ad was, 00:07:53.919 --> 00:07:56.199 the world is just awesome, 00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:56.879 said. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:07:58.620 And the advert 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:00.439 kind of had images 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:01.459 going across jungles 00:08:02.219 --> 00:08:03.019 and deserts 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:03.579 and the kind of thing 00:08:03.579 --> 00:08:04.139 you can imagine 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:05.300 on the Discovery Channel. 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:06.560 And it had a song 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:07.839 and it went like this. 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:09.019 I love the mountains, 00:08:09.419 --> 00:08:10.860 I love the clear blue skies, 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:12.719 I love the oceans, 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:14.120 I love the world, 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:15.819 I love all of its sights 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:16.500 and sounds, 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:17.939 I love giant squids, 00:08:18.039 --> 00:08:19.199 I love it when the air is thin, 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:20.719 I love the whole world, 00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:22.159 it's such a wonderful place. 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:24.939 It's a wonderful world, 00:08:24.979 --> 00:08:25.259 isn't it, 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:26.459 according to Louis Armstrong. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.500 There is a lot 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:29.819 to love about the world. 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:32.379 But the thing is, 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:33.600 when we read this passage 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.659 in John 3.16, 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:35.659 we've kind of got 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:37.279 Discovery Channel mode 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:38.879 in our minds 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:39.939 when we read 00:08:39.939 --> 00:08:41.559 that God so loved the world. 00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:42.879 And that maybe 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:43.580 doesn't seem like 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:44.519 a surprise to us, 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:44.899 does it? 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:46.799 That is how we expect 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:48.340 God to feel about the world, 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:49.539 if we're watching 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:51.120 the Discovery Channel, 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:52.559 and it's how we expect 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.059 God to feel about us. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:57.360 We are good people, 00:08:57.419 --> 00:08:57.759 aren't we? 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.720 We're nice. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:02.139 We're good people, 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:03.379 we're lovable people. 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:05.519 That's how we expect 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:06.720 God to feel about us, 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:07.740 and that's how we expect 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.759 other people to feel 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:09.299 about us, 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:09.759 isn't it? 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:13.039 But can I ask you 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.480 that if people knew 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.519 all there was 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:16.460 to know about you 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.059 this afternoon, 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:18.600 would you still expect 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:19.500 them to love you? 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:22.220 If people knew 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:23.799 every single thought 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:24.659 that you'd had 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:25.500 about them, 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:27.220 and everything 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:28.320 that you've said 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:28.960 in private 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:29.779 about them, 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:31.740 if they could see 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:32.500 every moment 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:33.220 of anger, 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.620 every hidden thing 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:36.179 of your life 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:37.299 was somehow recorded 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:37.919 and played 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:38.799 on a big screen 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:39.720 behind us, 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:41.559 would you still 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.179 expect them 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:43.059 to love you then? 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:44.940 You know, 00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:45.840 speaking personally, 00:09:46.100 --> 00:09:47.320 love is the last 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:48.120 thing I'd expect 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.200 you to feel for me. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:51.060 Actually, 00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:52.220 when you strip away 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:52.879 the veneer, 00:09:53.020 --> 00:09:54.420 I am pretty unlovable 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:55.920 underneath it all. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:57.980 The real me 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:58.840 actually makes me 00:09:58.840 --> 00:09:59.780 feel pretty ashamed. 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:02.220 And so, 00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:03.240 it is amazing, 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:03.600 really, 00:10:03.680 --> 00:10:03.940 isn't it, 00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:05.100 how if we feel 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:05.660 like that with 00:10:05.660 --> 00:10:06.200 other people, 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:06.960 with the real me, 00:10:07.020 --> 00:10:07.660 we can imagine 00:10:07.660 --> 00:10:08.480 that God would 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:09.360 love us 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.340 with all that 00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:12.500 he knows about us. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:14.379 So, 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:15.340 do you see the shock 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:15.940 of what Jesus 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:16.720 is saying here? 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:18.060 Jesus' death 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:19.920 is motivated 00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:21.440 by God's love, 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:22.480 not of the lovable 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:22.860 you, 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:23.440 but of the 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:24.460 unlovable you, 00:10:25.660 --> 00:10:26.460 and of the real 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:26.899 you. 00:10:28.180 --> 00:10:29.080 God loves 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:29.960 the unlovable, 00:10:30.920 --> 00:10:31.860 and that is the 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:32.759 motivation behind 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:33.440 this plan. 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:35.420 Now, 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:35.860 you might be 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:36.100 thinking, 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:36.300 well, 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.120 if God does 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:37.480 love me, 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:38.040 he's got a bit 00:10:38.040 --> 00:10:38.660 of a funny way 00:10:38.660 --> 00:10:39.259 of showing it, 00:10:39.300 --> 00:10:39.720 hasn't he? 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.379 It is not the 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.160 most romantic 00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:42.600 thing, 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:42.840 is it, 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.660 to declare your 00:10:43.660 --> 00:10:44.320 love for somebody 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:45.000 and then just 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.980 kind of die for 00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:46.300 them. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:47.639 If I say to 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:48.019 my wife, 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:48.680 I love you, 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:49.220 and then I just 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:49.920 run in front of 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:50.320 a bus, 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:50.960 it makes no 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:51.940 sense at all. 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:54.500 Jesus' death 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.800 was intentional, 00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:57.680 and it was 00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:58.120 loving, 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.139 but thirdly and 00:10:59.139 --> 00:10:59.560 crucially, 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:00.600 it was loving 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:01.240 because it was 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:02.000 necessary. 00:11:03.420 --> 00:11:03.940 His death 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:04.759 was necessary. 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:06.000 Just look at 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.060 verse 14 again. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.899 Jesus says, 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.680 so must 00:11:12.680 --> 00:11:14.279 the Son of 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:14.940 Man be 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:15.660 lifted up. 00:11:15.659 --> 00:11:16.939 that whoever 00:11:16.939 --> 00:11:17.559 believes in 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:17.939 him may 00:11:17.939 --> 00:11:18.879 have life. 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.419 Verse 17, 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:21.120 in order that 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:21.719 the world 00:11:21.719 --> 00:11:22.259 might be 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.000 saved through 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:23.439 him. 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.299 John is 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:26.860 saying quite 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:27.519 clearly here, 00:11:27.579 --> 00:11:27.819 isn't he, 00:11:27.839 --> 00:11:28.659 that because 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:30.039 Jesus dies, 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:31.899 people who 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:32.459 believe in 00:11:32.459 --> 00:11:33.139 him can have 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:33.719 life. 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.500 But unless 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.679 Jesus dies, 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.699 there is no 00:11:39.699 --> 00:11:40.159 life. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:42.839 unless Jesus 00:11:42.839 --> 00:11:43.539 dies, 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:44.899 actually we 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.360 are in 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.199 great danger, 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:47.439 and we 00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:48.579 need saving, 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:49.259 is the word 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:49.860 he uses. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.019 Jesus' death 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:52.759 is loving 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:53.879 because somehow 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:54.959 it is absolutely 00:11:54.959 --> 00:11:56.120 necessary for 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:56.500 us. 00:11:57.079 --> 00:11:57.500 And I think 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:57.959 we get a 00:11:57.959 --> 00:11:58.480 clue about 00:11:58.480 --> 00:11:59.519 why that is 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.879 in verse 18. 00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:01.679 If you look 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.079 down, 00:12:02.939 --> 00:12:03.480 he says, 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:04.399 whoever believes 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.199 in him is not 00:12:05.199 --> 00:12:05.799 condemned, 00:12:06.579 --> 00:12:07.100 but whoever 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:08.019 does not believe 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:08.939 is condemned 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.740 already, 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.199 because he's 00:12:11.199 --> 00:12:11.840 not believed 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.419 in the name 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:13.019 of the only 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:13.759 Son of God. 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.620 There's a TV 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.899 show on 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.519 iPlayer, 00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.399 BBC iPlayer 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:19.899 at the moment, 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:20.960 that follows 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:21.840 the life of 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.500 prisoners on 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.340 death row. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:24.939 It's interesting, 00:12:25.199 --> 00:12:25.759 it's slightly 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.360 morbid, 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:27.799 in a prison 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:28.699 in America. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.480 And many of 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.019 these inmates, 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:31.519 many of them 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.000 are there for 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:32.460 years, 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:33.720 sometimes decades, 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.939 but in the 00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:36.340 end their 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:37.319 fate is always 00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:37.779 clear. 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:38.299 They know 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:38.679 where they're 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:38.960 heading. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:40.779 But what is 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:41.600 truly bizarre 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.159 about this 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:43.019 place is that 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:44.319 prisoners can 00:12:44.319 --> 00:12:45.139 kind of get on 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:46.100 with something 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.699 of a normal 00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.319 life. 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:49.379 Outside, 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:49.960 the prisoners 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:51.100 can while away 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:51.659 their time 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.579 playing basketball. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.639 They can have 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.039 a game of 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:55.840 cards with 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:56.480 other inmates. 00:12:57.439 --> 00:12:58.240 They can chat, 00:12:58.319 --> 00:12:58.899 they can enjoy 00:12:58.899 --> 00:12:59.579 sports. 00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:00.860 It is a truly 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:02.179 bizarre scene 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.340 where you can 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.039 see these guys 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:04.919 playing basketball 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.500 outside, 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.179 knowing that 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:06.620 there is a 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.340 day not far 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:08.480 away than 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:08.920 when they 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:09.300 will meet 00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:09.920 their fate. 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.120 But while 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:12.840 there is some 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.620 semblance of 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.100 life in the 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:14.320 prison, 00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:14.720 they are 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.420 constantly 00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.240 reminded of 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:16.660 where they 00:13:16.660 --> 00:13:17.280 are going. 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:18.960 Because to 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:19.800 get back into 00:13:19.800 --> 00:13:20.280 the building, 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:20.800 back into 00:13:20.800 --> 00:13:21.280 their cells, 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:21.860 they have to 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:22.660 walk past the 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:23.340 sign that 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:23.759 says, 00:13:24.280 --> 00:13:24.820 condemned 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.440 unit. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:27.500 There are 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.139 signs around 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:28.720 the basketball 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.519 saying, 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.399 condemned 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.720 exercise yard. 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:33.279 And then 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:33.540 in the 00:13:33.540 --> 00:13:33.980 corridors, 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:34.360 as they 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:34.740 walk to 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:34.960 their 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:35.399 cells, 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:35.860 there is 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.259 a sign 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.680 saying, 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.399 condemned 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:38.080 row. 00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.040 And no 00:13:40.040 --> 00:13:40.480 matter how 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:41.259 much basketball 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.040 they play, 00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:42.580 and how many 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.220 card games 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:43.600 they play, 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:44.019 they can 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:44.940 never forget 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:45.480 where they 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:45.940 are heading. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:48.460 They know 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:48.879 they are 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.420 condemned 00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:49.940 men. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.620 They are 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.080 condemned 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.680 to die. 00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:54.160 They are 00:13:54.160 --> 00:13:54.639 condemned to 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.300 death already. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.340 And you see, 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:58.160 that is a poor 00:13:58.160 --> 00:13:59.000 illustration really, 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.860 but that is 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:01.559 why John 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:02.379 says Jesus' 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.299 mission to 00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.019 die was 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.840 necessary. 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:07.460 Because there 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:08.279 is a God 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:09.019 who made 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.820 this world, 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.580 and whilst 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.299 he is a God 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:12.820 of love, 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.620 he does not 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.279 love all 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.860 things. 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.299 This God 00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:17.700 of love, 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:18.279 he does not 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:18.980 love murder. 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:20.679 And he 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:21.259 doesn't love 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.919 rape. 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:23.879 He doesn't 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.700 love the kind 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:25.360 of things that 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.039 people get 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.820 put in prison 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:27.299 for. 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:29.240 He is a 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:29.859 loving God, 00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:30.120 but he 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:30.559 doesn't love 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:31.159 all things. 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.000 He hates 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.799 some things, 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.379 and that is 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:33.639 good, 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:34.039 isn't it? 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.679 It is not 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.339 loving to 00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:36.539 say, 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:36.819 well, 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.159 there is 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:37.779 child abuse 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.759 in the world, 00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:39.059 but I'm 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:39.359 not all 00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:39.759 that bothered 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:40.179 actually. 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:41.039 Actually, 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.699 he is a 00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.299 loving God 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.279 because he 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:43.919 doesn't love 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.719 all things. 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:46.939 He hates 00:14:46.939 --> 00:14:47.799 wrong things, 00:14:47.859 --> 00:14:48.419 and he hates 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:48.939 evil. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.679 And he does 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.620 something about 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.559 wrong things. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.000 He condemns 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.479 it to 00:14:56.479 --> 00:14:56.879 judgment. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.919 He sets 00:14:58.919 --> 00:14:59.279 a date 00:14:59.279 --> 00:14:59.919 when all 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.699 wrong things 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:01.059 will be 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:01.759 put right. 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:03.740 And actually, 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.599 wrong things 00:15:04.599 --> 00:15:05.279 will be put 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.179 to death 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.240 forever, 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.019 to make a 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.379 world that 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:09.779 is only 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:10.199 good. 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:12.979 And the 00:15:12.979 --> 00:15:13.319 more we 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:13.719 look at 00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:14.159 ourselves, 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:14.779 that sounds 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.219 like good 00:15:15.219 --> 00:15:15.519 news, 00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:15.879 doesn't it? 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.139 But the 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.459 more we 00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:16.759 look at 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.139 ourselves, 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:17.719 the more 00:15:17.719 --> 00:15:18.299 we realise 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:18.919 that we 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.799 ourselves 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.479 are part 00:15:20.479 --> 00:15:20.939 of those 00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.459 condemned 00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:22.120 things. 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:24.259 Yes, 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:24.620 he is a 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:24.919 God of 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:25.120 love, 00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:25.399 but he 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:25.879 doesn't love 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.600 all things. 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.299 He doesn't 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.120 love pride. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:30.740 He doesn't 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.860 love selfishness. 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.179 He doesn't 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.820 love anger. 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:34.240 He doesn't 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.139 love envy. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:36.919 And as you 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.299 go through 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:37.639 the list, 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:37.980 it gets 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.639 really close 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.039 to home, 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.559 doesn't it? 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.620 And the 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.019 more I'm 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.539 honest with 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:41.960 myself, 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:42.639 I realise 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.279 that this 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.399 truly loving 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:44.899 God, 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:45.720 if he really 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.519 is loving, 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:47.700 then he 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.299 should 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:48.939 condemn 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:49.439 me. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:52.880 problem 00:15:52.880 --> 00:15:53.200 is, 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:53.600 isn't it, 00:15:53.660 --> 00:15:54.000 that we 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:54.460 believe that 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.020 when Jesus 00:15:55.020 --> 00:15:55.480 comes, 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:56.180 we are in 00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:56.680 some way 00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:57.140 morally 00:15:57.140 --> 00:15:57.800 neutral, 00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.160 or we're 00:15:59.160 --> 00:15:59.380 kind of 00:15:59.380 --> 00:15:59.880 just good 00:15:59.880 --> 00:16:00.400 people. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.220 But John 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:02.500 says, 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:02.700 no, 00:16:02.760 --> 00:16:03.320 the verdict 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.080 has already 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.800 been given 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:06.240 even before 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.220 Jesus came. 00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:08.800 He is a 00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:09.100 God of 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.540 love because 00:16:09.540 --> 00:16:10.080 he doesn't 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.700 love all 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.040 things, 00:16:11.140 --> 00:16:11.440 and he 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.120 condemns 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.000 some things, 00:16:13.260 --> 00:16:13.680 and he 00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.260 condemns 00:16:14.260 --> 00:16:14.860 evil, 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.720 and so that 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.160 means as 00:16:17.160 --> 00:16:17.540 well as 00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:18.740 those great 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.399 big crimes 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:19.840 we hear 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.180 of that 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:20.620 people go 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.159 to prison 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:21.620 for, 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:22.440 I am 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.080 also in 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.500 danger. 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.159 Jesus 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.620 comes 00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.560 intentionally, 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.600 and lovingly, 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.659 and necessarily 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:32.779 to bear the 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.560 weight of 00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.860 my condemnation, 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.860 so that 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.799 all of my 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.600 wrongdoing 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.440 might be 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.080 condemned 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.100 to death, 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.000 whilst I 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.500 can still 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:43.860 live. 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.860 It's what 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.399 John says, 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:46.779 isn't it, 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.659 verse 17, 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.419 in order, 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.600 that the 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.519 world might 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.180 be saved 00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:51.940 through him. 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:52.899 And just 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.820 notice how 00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:54.560 there is no 00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.139 other way 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.600 that God 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.019 can do 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.440 this. 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:57.759 There is 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.399 no other 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.100 way of us 00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:00.080 avoiding the 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.860 condemnation 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.220 that we 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:01.720 deserve. 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.379 See, 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.139 God gives 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.120 his only 00:17:04.120 --> 00:17:05.779 son that 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.099 we should 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:06.559 be saved 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.160 through him. 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.740 So it's 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.180 less, 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.660 isn't it, 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.059 God is a 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.620 loving God 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:13.339 but Jesus 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:13.779 died. 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.359 Actually, 00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.039 it is, 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.339 God is 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:17.680 a loving 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.059 God, 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.379 so Jesus 00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.379 dies 00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.659 and Jesus 00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.159 is killed. 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:22.619 It was 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.180 intentional, 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:23.680 it was 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.099 planned, 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:24.599 and it 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.899 was the 00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:26.700 most loving 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.139 thing that 00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:28.599 God could 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.299 do for 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:29.720 us, 00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:31.279 to do 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.659 what was 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:32.700 necessary for 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.279 condemned 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.019 people like 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.359 you and 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:34.799 for me. 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.859 We're going 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:37.200 to close 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.460 now. 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:38.819 Really, 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:39.480 you've got to 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:39.940 think about 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.799 the options, 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.180 haven't you? 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:41.660 How do 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.180 you respond 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.620 to this 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:43.120 message? 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.259 Because the 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:45.759 one thing 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.220 that you 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.779 can't do 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.120 is just 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:47.700 sit on the 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.200 fence with 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.400 this, 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:48.680 isn't it? 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.259 You can't 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.940 be indifferent 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.620 to this 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.140 message. 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.799 Your response 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.480 will either 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.080 say, 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.519 this is all 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.039 just make 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.440 believe, 00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:58.240 none of it 00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:58.680 is true, 00:17:58.840 --> 00:17:59.320 and Jesus 00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:00.180 really hasn't 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:00.820 got anything 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:01.420 to do with 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:01.580 me, 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:02.039 and I don't 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.500 want anything 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.039 to do with 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.320 him. 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.720 Or, 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.259 you can 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.340 admit that 00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.360 Jesus shows 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:09.080 us a God 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:09.539 who is 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.500 everything to 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:10.820 do with 00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:11.100 me. 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:13.039 And, 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:13.759 he is a 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.180 God who 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.580 is your 00:18:14.580 --> 00:18:15.560 only hope 00:18:15.560 --> 00:18:15.900 in the 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.320 face of 00:18:16.320 --> 00:18:17.140 condemnation, 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.980 the condemnation 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.560 that really 00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:19.120 you know 00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:19.880 you deserve. 00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:21.960 And if 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.279 you can 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.980 admit that, 00:18:23.080 --> 00:18:23.600 then John 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.200 says quite 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:24.720 simply, 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.320 what you 00:18:25.320 --> 00:18:25.680 need to 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.820 do is 00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.660 believe, 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.580 isn't it? 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.700 That whoever 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.039 believes in 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.420 him should 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.120 not perish, 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.299 but have 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.160 eternal life. 00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:37.940 That your 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.960 condemnation is 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.500 laid upon 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:39.820 Jesus, 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.059 and it's 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.500 put to 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:41.899 death, 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:42.980 that you 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.480 might live 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:43.919 forever. 00:18:45.659 --> 00:18:46.159 And so I'm 00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:46.700 going to pray 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:48.000 now to ask 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.700 God to help 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.059 us to do 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.099 this.