WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.200 Paul writes in Philippians chapter 2 that Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:13.000 But instead he made himself nothing. 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:20.920 He took on the form of a servant and he was born in the likeness of men. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:27.140 This is Paul's version of the word became flesh. 00:00:28.019 --> 00:00:29.400 That's how he describes it. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.740 Of course this is amazing, astonishing, mysterious news. 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:43.880 The Christian belief that God became a human being. 00:00:45.620 --> 00:00:48.260 The incarnation is the fancy word we use. 00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:51.159 This belief is phenomenal. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:59.980 It's full of wonder and mystery and it's impossible to fully kind of wrap our minds around. 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:01.439 What this means. 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:04.979 But it's true. 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:13.000 And at the same time as we imagine this truth that God became a human being. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:14.640 That the word became flesh. 00:01:14.800 --> 00:01:16.780 It just begs the question doesn't it? 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:20.180 Why in the world would God do that? 00:01:21.219 --> 00:01:22.320 Why would he come? 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:34.919 Why did the eternal son forever in glorious relationship with his father become the human Jesus of Nazareth? 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:35.420 Why? 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:35.480 Why? 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:35.920 Why? 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:36.920 Why? 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:37.920 Why? 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:41.599 Well the goal of this morning's time is to answer that why. 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:46.439 See the word became flesh on purpose. 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:47.439 God has. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:53.079 This was a highly calculated and aimed incarnation. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:58.359 God has a mission in entering his creation. 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:01.879 Here it is. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.219 Here's why God came. 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:11.500 God became a man so that man can know God. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:17.139 God became a man so that man can know God. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:24.139 The word became flesh so that you and I could truly know who God is. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:30.119 And by knowing God receive eternal life. 00:02:32.379 --> 00:02:34.799 God became a man so that man can know God. 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.479 So that's the short answer. 00:02:39.579 --> 00:02:43.579 Now we get to explore that together from John chapter 1 this morning. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:46.459 If you haven't opened a Bible yet I'd invite you there. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.459 If the black hardcover ESV is in the pews. 00:02:49.579 --> 00:02:51.319 You can find it I think on 1052. 00:02:51.899 --> 00:02:52.579 Is the page number? 00:02:54.139 --> 00:02:57.239 We'll be looking at what David just read for us. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:03.839 We're going to proceed by looking at three aspects this morning of this mission of Jesus. 00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:06.019 Three aspects. 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:06.619 The backdrop. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:08.859 The essence. 00:03:09.679 --> 00:03:10.259 And the climax. 00:03:13.679 --> 00:03:14.979 First the backdrop. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.519 Before we get too far into this mission. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:21.219 We need to see what John is doing. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:26.340 He's setting the stage for us in chapter 1 of his gospel. 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:29.280 And he's making at least two. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:30.439 There's more we could say. 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:31.879 But two that I want to focus on. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:33.960 Two humongous truth claims. 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:38.419 Two audacious, bold, emphatic claims. 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:41.939 That set everything else in motion from here. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.919 The first is that there's a hero. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:48.019 He's introduced right in the first verse. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:51.699 And Billy talked about who this person was last week. 00:03:51.839 --> 00:03:52.539 The word. 00:03:54.179 --> 00:03:57.079 But then the second truth claim is there's a problem. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:04:03.599 There's a really, really, really big, fundamental, universal human problem. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:08.280 So John identifies who the hero is. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:12.159 And he identifies the problem that the hero has come to solve. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:18.560 This hero, right from the beginning of John's gospel, we see all kinds of amazing things. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:20.719 He's in the beginning. 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:24.899 He's in the beginning with God. 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:27.799 Because he is God. 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:34.539 Everything that was created was created through the word. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:36.919 Through this hero of our story. 00:04:37.259 --> 00:04:43.219 And he has this intimate and unique and personal loving relationship with the father. 00:04:43.679 --> 00:04:44.120 Forever. 00:04:46.479 --> 00:04:49.439 This word in verse 4 we see has life in himself. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:55.139 He doesn't need anybody to give him life because he himself possesses life. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.819 Self-sustaining existence forever and ever and ever. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:03.139 And we see Jesus making these claims throughout the book. 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:04.779 I am the bread of life, he says. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:06.620 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:10.300 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:13.000 John chapter 14 verse 6. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:18.800 But not just what the word was like then, but verse 14. 00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:20.740 He became flesh. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:22.980 And has dwelt among us. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:24.439 The word comes down. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.259 He enters into the creation that he created. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:31.100 And not just comes down, he was sent. 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:34.279 Purposely by the father. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:39.459 So we're in the season of Advent. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:39.539 Advent. 00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:43.379 This time when we reflect on the baby in the manger. 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.319 That we reflect on the word made flesh. 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:50.099 And we do this year after year after year. 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:52.240 And if you've been in church a while, you know. 00:05:52.539 --> 00:05:55.159 Come December, you can guarantee a couple things. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:56.719 Christmas music on the radio. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:59.500 And in church, you're going to learn about the baby in the manger. 00:06:00.679 --> 00:06:05.560 So how do we approach this season year after year after year? 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:07.620 And have it be fresh. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:13.759 How can we keep this from being just the thing that we do this time of year? 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:19.319 Because there's something so beautiful and wonderful that year by year, 00:06:19.459 --> 00:06:24.840 we have this opportunity to remember this in a fresh and wonderful and exciting way. 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:33.039 So let me just offer a suggestion about how each of us can do this. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:39.080 I'm stealing an answer from our life group on Thursday night. 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:41.060 Because we were talking about something different. 00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:47.400 But the help that I received is, I want to pass it on in this same regard. 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:49.840 We talked about slowing down. 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:55.860 We talked about when we're dealing with discouragement or just difficulties in life, 00:06:55.860 --> 00:07:01.500 that one of the ways that we can kind of snap ourselves out of it is by just slowing down. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:06.040 Kind of putting the phone on silent, stepping away from life, 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:10.180 you know, maybe cutting a thing or two out of the calendar and just slowing down. 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:15.120 I think in this season of Advent, that's exactly what each of us need to do 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:22.360 in order to have this season fresh and exciting and wonderful. 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:26.160 Let me just encourage all of us this morning to do that. 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:30.579 Take some time where you leave your phone in a drawer 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:34.139 and maybe instead of going through the drive-thru of Starbucks, 00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:37.939 you go inside and you find a place to sit and just open to John 1. 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:39.959 And just pray. 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:46.839 All you need to do is pray for the Holy Spirit to help you see how wonderful and good Jesus is. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:54.060 There is, I cannot remember a single time when I prayed that, that God didn't answer that prayer. 00:07:54.419 --> 00:07:58.459 Because He wants us to know His Son. 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:03.259 He wants us to know Jesus in this season of Advent. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:12.019 And marvel anew at the baby in the manger, who is Emmanuel, who is the Savior of the world. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:15.459 So that's the hero. 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:18.120 That's the person that John is introducing us to. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:21.019 But the other part of the backdrop that I want to make sure we see 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:26.079 is that John introduces this fundamental and universal human problem. 00:08:26.719 --> 00:08:28.819 No one's exempt from this problem. 00:08:29.099 --> 00:08:30.759 All of us are facing this problem. 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:35.559 And John's way of putting it is, we do not know God. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:38.360 We don't know who He is. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:43.819 And John just kind of lays this on over and over and over again. 00:08:43.939 --> 00:08:47.360 If you look at chapter 1, look in verse 5. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:50.879 John talks about darkness. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:56.860 And he doesn't just mean, oh, we need a light switch to kind of see where we're going in the dark. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:03.919 But he introduces darkness as the spiritual reality, this evil that's against the purposes of God. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:06.480 And Jesus, being the light, shines into that. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:09.980 And the darkness does not overcome the true light. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.399 There's a problem. 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:13.259 We're blind. 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:14.180 We're in the dark. 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:15.060 We don't know God. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:17.159 We can't understand who He is. 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:22.879 On in verse 10, John continues. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:28.179 He says that this Word created the world. 00:09:29.139 --> 00:09:30.199 And He was in the world. 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:32.399 And the world didn't know Him. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:40.220 It says that Jesus came and kind of knocked the world upside its head. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:42.500 And the world didn't know Him. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.679 And not just that in verse 11, we see that He came to His own people. 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.639 And His own people. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:54.899 Those who most clearly should have understood who He was and why He was coming, 00:09:55.699 --> 00:09:56.779 they did not receive Him. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:10:01.659 And John's raising all of this to show the problem. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.319 He keeps going. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:14.079 In verse 13, he says that flesh and blood, human will, have no help in becoming children of God. 00:10:14.079 --> 00:10:21.500 So, contrary to popular opinion, we don't start out God's children and then just kind of get to heaven 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:23.379 simply because we're born into this world. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:29.200 In fact, we have no ability to become God's children, John says in verse 13. 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:35.559 And this whole thing climaxes in verse 18 where John says, 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:38.700 no one has ever seen God. 00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:43.360 In one sense, he just means God's invisible. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:43.919 He's spirit. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.139 We can't see Him. 00:10:45.139 --> 00:10:53.600 But we see at the end of that verse that there is one, the only God who is at the Father's side, 00:10:53.699 --> 00:10:54.720 who has made Him known. 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:57.319 So, it's not just simply that God's invisible. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:00.220 He's not known. 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:01.379 He's not comprehended. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.360 He's not understood. 00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:07.240 And this, according to John, is the fundamental human problem. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:09.620 We don't know God. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:19.100 This plays out over and over again in John's Gospel. 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:24.799 We see a man in chapter 3 named Nicodemus, who's one of the religious leaders of Israel, 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:26.139 come to Jesus at night. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:33.720 Jesus says, unless you're born again, you can't see the kingdom of God. 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:41.440 In chapter 14, Jesus says, nobody comes to the Father except through me. 00:11:45.040 --> 00:11:53.600 He goes on to repeatedly explain that the reason why people reject Him is that they don't know the Father. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.019 They don't know God, so they reject Jesus. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:58.940 Over and over in John's Gospel, we see this. 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:05.760 One of the clearest places is in chapter 16, verse 2, where Jesus says, 00:12:06.640 --> 00:12:07.560 hey, a time's coming. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:12.640 He's talking to His disciples the week before He dies, and He says, 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:18.320 the time's coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:24.580 And they'll do these things because they have not known the Father nor Me. 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:29.740 This adds flavor to our problem, doesn't it? 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:32.400 There's something not just that God has to come, 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:36.580 but there's something preventing us from understanding who He is. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:43.020 This light that comes into the world, this Word made flesh, is offensive. 00:12:44.800 --> 00:12:48.060 That's why His own people don't just not receive Him, they crucify Him. 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.379 Because He's so offensive to them. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:55.439 And yet, John says, the problem is we don't know God. 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.299 And He comes, and we don't know Him, and we reject Him. 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.759 Over and over again, that's the problem that John presents. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:08.519 Elsewhere in our Bibles, we might see it as talking about, like in Paul, 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.240 that we're dead in trespasses and sins. 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:13.759 There's this sin problem that we have. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:18.679 I'm not denying any of that, but the way John couches it and explores it 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:19.719 is through this relationship. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:22.459 It's broken, it's non-existent, we don't know God. 00:13:22.739 --> 00:13:24.179 That's why we're in the mess we're in. 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:33.299 Well, you can probably guess what Jesus' mission is then, right? 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:36.739 I mean, this is, I feel like I don't even have to say it, 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:38.819 but I want to, just so we're all on the same page, right? 00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:42.779 The essence of Jesus' mission, this is point two, 00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:46.799 the essence of Jesus' mission is so that man can know God. 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:51.699 That's why Jesus came, to make God known. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.259 To reveal the Father. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.019 And to mend what is broken by sin. 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:05.459 The baby in a manger is making the invisible visible. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:09.459 The unknown, known. 00:14:09.839 --> 00:14:12.279 The unknowable, knowable. 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:17.439 Jesus' mission is to solve our greatest problem. 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:19.799 We do not know God. 00:14:21.079 --> 00:14:22.399 But Jesus makes him known. 00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:27.959 In the prologue of John that we're looking at, 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:31.399 chapter 1, 1 to 18, John says it in a few different ways. 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:34.759 One, in verse 9, he says that the true light 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.860 that enlightens everyone, 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.819 that gives light to everyone, 00:14:39.959 --> 00:14:40.939 is coming, right? 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:43.800 Jesus is illuminating the spiritual realities 00:14:43.800 --> 00:14:45.160 about who God is 00:14:45.160 --> 00:14:48.000 and about the condition of our own lives and hearts 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.000 apart from him. 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.960 In verse 12, it says that Jesus alone, 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.000 not flesh and blood, 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.080 not the will of man, 00:14:55.160 --> 00:14:57.860 but Jesus alone gives the right 00:14:57.860 --> 00:15:00.880 to become children of God. 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.480 So apart from Jesus, 00:15:02.640 --> 00:15:05.360 we're not children of God, it says. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:05.440 Jesus. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.860 And then in verse 18 again, 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:12.960 it's that Jesus makes God known. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:19.440 Jesus makes God known. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.399 And John is very clear. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.320 Jesus isn't one of many people 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:26.500 who makes God known. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.480 He's not one of many ways to know God, 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:32.519 but he is the way to know God. 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.480 And apart from him, 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:35.000 we cannot know God. 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.699 This is one of the major reasons 00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:44.559 why John records these seven statements of Jesus 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.500 about who he is. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.199 Jesus, over and over through John's gospel, 00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:52.000 one of his main ways of describing his mission is, 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.699 this is who I am. 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:58.520 These are exclusive claims. 00:15:59.220 --> 00:15:59.759 Jesus saying, 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:02.860 I am the only way to come to a knowledge of 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:06.340 and enter into a relationship with God. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.700 I'm the bread of life. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.580 I'm the light of the world. 00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:14.220 I am the door for the sheep. 00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:16.460 I am the good shepherd. 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:20.040 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:24.480 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:27.139 I am the true vine. 00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:30.059 And as a bonus, 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.860 in chapter 8, 00:16:32.599 --> 00:16:34.059 before Abraham was, 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:35.740 I am. 00:16:40.219 --> 00:16:41.699 And these statements of Jesus 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:43.179 come with this call 00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:46.620 to receive him as he is 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:48.819 and as he claims to be. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:51.260 to believe that Jesus, 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.500 when he makes the claim 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:55.240 that he is the only way to know God, 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:55.879 to say, 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.800 I believe that 00:16:56.800 --> 00:17:01.140 and I want to know everything I can about Jesus 00:17:01.140 --> 00:17:02.200 because to know Jesus 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:02.900 is to know God 00:17:02.900 --> 00:17:04.279 because Jesus is God. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.880 He alone can make God known. 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:12.140 And along with this call 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:13.940 to respond in that way, 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.580 to put our faith and our trust in Jesus, 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:17.460 to believe in him for eternal life, 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:20.140 is this accompanying promise 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:22.019 that all who believe 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.759 will not perish 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:24.420 but have everlasting life. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.960 We see it played out again 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.840 in these same statements. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.039 If you eat the bread of life, 00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:31.860 you will not die. 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.200 If you follow the light of the world, 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.380 you will have the light of life. 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.500 If you enter by the door, 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.440 you will be saved 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.400 and find pasture 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:43.840 because the good shepherd 00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:45.160 lays down his life 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.140 for the sheep, 00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.340 for their lives. 00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.840 If you believe the resurrection 00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:50.400 and the life, 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.360 you will never die. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.980 He is the way, 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.680 the truth, 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.380 and the life 00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.360 and if you come to him, 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.900 you will come to the Father. 00:18:01.040 --> 00:18:02.200 And in chapter 15, 00:18:02.280 --> 00:18:02.540 he says, 00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.380 I'm the true vine. 00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:05.400 If you abide in me 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.200 and I in you, 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:09.840 you will have life 00:18:09.840 --> 00:18:10.600 for apart from me, 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.300 you can do nothing. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:15.140 Jesus is the only one 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.300 who can make God known 00:18:16.300 --> 00:18:18.640 because he is God 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:21.040 and he has come in human flesh 00:18:21.040 --> 00:18:22.759 to make God known. 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.140 That's his mission. 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:24.980 That's his purpose 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.420 in taking on flesh. 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.860 All other people 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:30.620 and religions 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.540 and everyone else 00:18:31.540 --> 00:18:32.820 who claims that they have 00:18:32.820 --> 00:18:33.800 another way to know God, 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.779 they are either thieves 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.839 or liars. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:37.579 Only Jesus 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.899 makes God known. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.740 John says that, right? 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:41.379 No one has ever seen God. 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.359 No one. 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.980 But the only God 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.000 who is at the Father's side, 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.559 he has made him known. 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.279 You can know God 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.019 through Jesus. 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.639 That's the claim of John. 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.799 It's the claim of this book 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.460 called the Bible. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.000 The Word became flesh. 00:18:59.139 --> 00:19:00.099 God became a man 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:01.500 so that man can know God. 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.500 So church, 00:19:04.659 --> 00:19:06.619 let's keep delighting 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:07.759 in this truth, 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.960 this Advent season. 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:12.159 We can truly know 00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:13.019 and understand 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.319 and be in relationship 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.139 with God 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:16.700 because Jesus 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.740 has made him known. 00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.639 But we know 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:23.000 the story doesn't end there 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.240 with his birth. 00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:27.899 Though the incarnation 00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.159 of God, 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.599 the Word becoming flesh, 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.119 was certainly costly, 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.279 certainly amazing 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.919 and wonderful 00:19:34.919 --> 00:19:35.459 and a truth 00:19:35.459 --> 00:19:36.659 that we need to declare 00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:38.959 and celebrate, 00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.719 it was only a piece 00:19:41.719 --> 00:19:42.319 of his mission. 00:19:45.419 --> 00:19:47.379 We must always remember 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:50.039 where Jesus is going. 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.439 Where his mission 00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.579 climaxes. 00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:59.219 Jesus' mission 00:19:59.219 --> 00:20:00.079 to make God known 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.359 climaxes at the cross. 00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:05.979 when the Son of God 00:20:05.979 --> 00:20:06.859 was crucified 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:09.099 in the place of sinners. 00:20:10.699 --> 00:20:11.579 This seems like 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.000 such a bizarre statement 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.899 on the surface. 00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:16.099 If you think about it. 00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:21.279 How in the world 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:24.339 can God's Savior 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:26.579 be killed 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.819 on a cross? 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:29.480 how does that 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.460 save anybody? 00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:33.839 How can a crucified man 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.779 be the Messiah, 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:36.220 the Savior of the world? 00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:40.419 But John's been preparing us 00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.439 for this all along. 00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:42.899 That he's shown 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:44.119 so many examples 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.839 in this gospel 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.299 of people 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.980 who just misunderstand Jesus. 00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.619 That we should get 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.259 to this point 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:52.240 where the full revelation 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.799 of God 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.720 at the cross 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:55.079 comes into full view 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.599 in the gospel 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.119 and we should go 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.939 I don't need to be 00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:59.859 I don't need to misunderstand. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.079 I can know 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.159 that this is truly 00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:03.259 who God is. 00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:06.259 Unlike Nicodemus 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.599 who sits there 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.339 scratching his head 00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:08.519 saying 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.459 how can I be 00:21:09.459 --> 00:21:11.000 how can I crawl back 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.939 into my mom's womb 00:21:11.939 --> 00:21:12.819 and be born again? 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.879 Or the Samaritan woman 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.299 at the well 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:16.759 saying sir 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.799 how can you give me 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.779 this water of life 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.980 you don't even have a bucket 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.680 to drop into the well? 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.400 Crowds of disciples 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.620 hearing Jesus say 00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.819 I'm the bread of life 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:28.519 saying 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.559 how can this man 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.960 give us his flesh to eat? 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:31.940 Right? 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.559 All these people 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.059 over and over 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.799 who misunderstand God. 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.299 And Paul says 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.500 that the word of the cross 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.319 is folly 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.339 to those who are perishing. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:41.579 Right? 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:43.660 How does this make sense? 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:46.539 That God would die? 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:50.539 And yet that's exactly 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:52.220 what happens. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:56.420 And it's this very claim 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:58.259 in chapter 8 verse 28 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.680 that Jesus highlights 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.839 and points out 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.799 for his disciples. 00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.220 And for those listening 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.220 who will end up 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.519 crucifying him 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.299 he says this 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:09.559 when you have lifted up 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.460 the son of man 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:13.039 so in that same way 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.940 he's talking about himself 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:15.240 and he's talking about the cross 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.519 when you have lifted up 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.119 the son of man 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.420 when you've hung me 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.460 on the cross 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:21.400 then you will know 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.059 that I am 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:25.160 and that I do nothing 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.099 on my own authority 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.099 but speak just as 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.379 the father taught me. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.160 The cross 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.720 validates 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.839 everything that Jesus 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.940 said about himself 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:40.519 and if we reduce that down 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.139 the cross 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:42.180 is the place 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.819 and the conclusion 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:45.759 that Jesus makes God known. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:52.900 as Nicodemus 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.879 scratches his head 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:54.859 Jesus tells him 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.799 truly truly 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.519 I say to you 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:58.639 it was necessary 00:22:58.639 --> 00:23:00.960 that the son of man 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.799 be lifted up 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:04.759 that whoever believes in him 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.440 may have eternal life. 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.720 It's because the problem 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.660 goes so deep 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.379 friends. 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:14.880 see the picture 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.680 that John paints 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.240 is not 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.260 of these 00:23:17.260 --> 00:23:18.420 really God-fearing 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:18.960 individuals 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.840 kind of just sitting 00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.460 going oh 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.200 if God would just 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.760 show up 00:23:21.760 --> 00:23:22.660 and reveal himself 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:24.740 we'd love to follow him. 00:23:28.280 --> 00:23:29.520 History continues 00:23:29.520 --> 00:23:30.520 to repeat itself 00:23:30.520 --> 00:23:31.440 that God sends 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.060 messengers 00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:32.500 and says 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.800 this is what I'm like. 00:23:35.780 --> 00:23:36.600 People kill 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:37.220 his prophets 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.880 they crucify his son 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.460 and they continue 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.640 to martyr his bride. 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.180 Because the problem 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.000 goes so deep 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.940 and yet 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:49.340 Jesus is the only way 00:23:49.340 --> 00:23:50.440 that we can know God. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.460 In an intimate 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.759 gathering of disciples 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:58.660 chapter 14 00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.360 one of them 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.240 Philip says 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:02.000 kind of please 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.039 he pleads with Jesus 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.279 he says 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.240 just show us the Father 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.860 and it's going to be 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.679 enough for us. 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.339 And Jesus says 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.339 Philip 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.219 have I been with you 00:24:12.219 --> 00:24:12.859 so long? 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.719 If you've seen me 00:24:14.719 --> 00:24:15.699 you've seen the Father. 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:18.079 Do you not believe 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.319 that I am in the Father 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.939 and the Father 00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.799 is in me? 00:24:24.939 --> 00:24:25.779 The Son of Man 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.899 must be lifted up 00:24:26.899 --> 00:24:29.719 to divine necessity 00:24:29.719 --> 00:24:31.319 to crucify Jesus. 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.539 To cast out 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:35.960 the ruler 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.700 of this world 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.319 to defeat 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.019 the problem 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.619 of evil 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:40.159 and sin 00:24:40.159 --> 00:24:40.779 and death 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:43.519 put all people 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.259 on notice. 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.519 Believe 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.899 in God's Messiah 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:49.240 or perish 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.259 in your sins. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.980 To showcase 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.119 God's righteousness 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.180 in his holy 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.960 hatred 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.899 for sin. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.940 And to teach 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.359 sinners 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.200 how far 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.639 reaching 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.500 his love 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.480 is. 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:07.359 For God 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.059 so loved 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.500 the world 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:10.180 that he gave 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.899 his only Son 00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:12.240 that whoever 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.039 believes in him 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.019 would not perish 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.720 but have 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.059 everlasting life. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.659 That's the mission 00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.159 of Jesus 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:21.599 isn't it? 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.339 To secure 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.279 eternal life 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.399 for all who believe. 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.200 And what is 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.259 this eternal life? 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.319 eternal life? 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.079 John 17 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.660 verse 3 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:34.180 And this is 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:34.940 eternal life 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:37.059 that they know 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.400 you 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:39.099 the only 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.079 true God 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.559 and Jesus 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.059 Christ 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.579 whom you have 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:42.839 sent. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.379 Eternal life 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.299 is knowing God. 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:46.799 You see how 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.180 this all 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.819 connects? 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.559 Jesus' mission 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.379 he came 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.220 to make God 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.720 known. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.460 Knowing God 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.160 is eternal 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.700 life. 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:58.940 God 00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.759 became a man 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.259 and died 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.259 on a cross 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.960 so that man 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.819 could know God 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:06.140 and find 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:07.039 eternal life. 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:11.220 All who believe 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.539 in this 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.480 will not perish 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.380 in their sin 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:14.400 but have eternal 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:14.700 life. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.420 They will know 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.259 the one true 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.860 God 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:18.360 because they 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:18.880 know Jesus 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.299 Christ 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:19.720 the one 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.240 God 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.799 sent. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:24.419 Jesus says 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.019 I and the 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.319 Father 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.059 am one. 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:27.440 I'm in the 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:27.700 Father 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.119 the Father 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.500 is in me 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.879 if you've 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.200 seen me 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.619 you've seen 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.119 the Father. 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.799 Jesus alone 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.359 makes God 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:32.559 known 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.180 because Jesus 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.099 alone is God 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:35.099 and he's come 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.819 to make 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.700 God known. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.159 That's his 00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:38.480 mission. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.839 That's why 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.319 he came. 00:26:45.639 --> 00:26:46.440 So how do we 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:46.980 respond? 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.799 I just want to 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:51.440 offer two ways 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.000 for us to 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.639 respond to 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:52.940 this. 00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:56.200 First way 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.519 is to 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.919 celebrate 00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:57.440 him. 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.379 Celebrate 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.000 this unique 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.599 person 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:03.220 who alone 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.839 is able to 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.460 offer eternal 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:04.759 life. 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.579 Who alone 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.839 is able to 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.839 help us 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.099 know God 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.940 truly. 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.720 So we 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.279 worship and 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.000 adore him 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.899 this season 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.419 of Advent 00:27:16.419 --> 00:27:17.399 and every 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:17.859 season. 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:21.019 I recognize 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.279 in that 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.579 it requires 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.139 different 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:23.839 strategies 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.980 and procedures 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.139 for different 00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.299 folks in the 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.519 room. 00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:27.759 Right? 00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:30.339 If you're in 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:30.579 the room 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:30.919 today and 00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.259 you don't 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.819 know Jesus 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.940 you can't 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.639 celebrate him 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.059 until you 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.539 come to 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:36.339 him and 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.940 receive his 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.379 offer of 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.059 eternal life 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.559 and forgiveness 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.039 of your 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.319 sins. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.659 He offers 00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.319 this freely. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.919 It's why he 00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.619 came as a 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:47.379 mission that 00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:48.000 he had from 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.519 the beginning. 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:50.980 But you 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.559 must come to 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.160 him and 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.619 believe in 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:52.839 him. 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.680 He's the 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.259 only way you 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.599 can know 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:55.940 God. 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:56.799 And any 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.200 other way 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.460 that you're 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.880 trying to 00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.359 know God 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.279 will fail. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.759 No one's 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.339 seen God. 00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.640 The only 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.140 God at the 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.759 Father's side 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.200 has made 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.720 him known. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:08.660 But then 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.200 for the rest 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.680 of us to 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.400 celebrate Jesus 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.140 means we've 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:11.720 got to get 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.180 him before 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.900 our face. 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:15.119 We've got to 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.799 understand who 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.240 he is and 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.180 we've got to 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:17.480 get him 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.200 before our 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.740 eyes. 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.519 The way 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:21.980 this has been 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.460 looking for 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.839 me this 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:26.740 week, I 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.200 have this 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:28.440 fantastic 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.279 ability to 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.799 take all of 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.539 my problems 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:32.460 and put them 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.819 under a 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.980 microscope and 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.859 magnify them 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:36.099 and just stare 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:37.079 through the lens 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.799 of this microscope 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.579 and just stare 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.279 at my problems. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.779 Oh, the problem 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.720 is so terrible. 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:45.480 I'm guessing 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:47.059 some of you 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.680 can relate to 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:47.960 this. 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.440 But that's 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.420 never going to 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:51.880 get me to 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:52.860 celebrate Jesus 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.920 today or any 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.559 day, is it? 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.700 I've got to 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.740 get my eye 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.680 from squinting 00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.339 into this 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.019 little teeny 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.660 microscopic 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:02.920 device and 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.120 step back and 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.880 lift my gaze 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.680 up and see 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.900 this delightful, 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.980 glorious, 00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.160 wonderful Savior 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.080 who dwarfs 00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:11.279 every problem 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.160 I have. 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.720 That's the 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.340 fight of faith 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:17.100 I'm engaged 00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:17.900 in to celebrate 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:18.540 him now. 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.880 So that's 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.200 the first 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.519 response, 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.320 celebrate him. 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.259 The second 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.800 way that we 00:29:27.800 --> 00:29:28.560 respond to 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:30.420 this mission 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.960 of Jesus 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.779 is to join 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.040 him. 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.560 After Jesus 00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:37.519 is resurrected 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.500 in chapter 20 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.160 verse 21, 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.380 he says this 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.680 to his 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.079 disciples, 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.700 As the 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.359 Father has 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:42.920 sent me, 00:29:43.619 --> 00:29:44.460 even so I 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:44.960 am sending 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.279 you. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:47.940 See, the 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.380 mission of 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:49.019 Jesus doesn't 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.599 stop when 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.180 Jesus goes 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.480 up to 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:50.680 heaven. 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.759 Certainly 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.160 he has 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:53.680 died and 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.279 been raised 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.700 to offer 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.519 eternal life 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.299 and salvation 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:58.359 and his 00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.480 mission continues 00:29:59.480 --> 00:29:59.980 through his 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.359 people. 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.240 To gather 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.920 his sheep, 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.119 those who 00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:04.539 will hear 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.180 his voice 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.880 and respond 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:06.380 to him 00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.000 and come 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.539 in and find 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.259 pasture in 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.639 life. 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.399 That mission 00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.059 to continue 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.879 uniting a 00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.559 people in 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.159 his name 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:14.759 for his 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.220 glory. 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.940 He sent 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:19.079 us into 00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.720 this time, 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.359 to this 00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:20.740 place, 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.559 for his 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:21.960 glory, 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.579 to be on 00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.119 mission with 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:24.339 him. 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.379 The season 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:28.960 of Advent, 00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:29.700 when we 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.299 ponder the 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.859 baby in the 00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:31.139 manger, 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:32.700 is such a 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.460 good time 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.700 to either 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.019 for the 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.519 first time 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.059 kindle, 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.259 or for 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.180 the 50th 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:38.400 time, 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.160 rekindle 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.759 joining 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.600 Jesus on 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:40.819 this 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.120 mission. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.740 Chapter 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.019 1, 00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.819 verse 14 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:47.640 doesn't 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:47.940 say, 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:48.279 the word 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:48.640 became 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.319 flesh and 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.600 dwelt 00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:50.559 nearby us. 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.140 The word 00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:53.799 became flesh 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.259 and dwelt 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.160 among us. 00:30:58.580 --> 00:30:59.240 Let us 00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.580 be like 00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:00.200 that too. 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.680 Though we 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.559 acknowledge that 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:03.960 mission is 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.679 hard, it 00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.000 can be 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.819 messy and 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.259 scary. 00:31:07.179 --> 00:31:07.500 I was just 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.139 talking about 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:08.519 it before 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:08.980 service. 00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:10.200 There was a 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.579 way we were 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:10.899 trying to 00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.460 help somebody 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.679 and it 00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:13.019 didn't work 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.419 out so 00:31:13.419 --> 00:31:13.619 well. 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:16.039 But it 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.419 requires 00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:17.339 proximity, it 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.339 requires risk 00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.359 taking, that 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.179 face-to-face 00:31:20.179 --> 00:31:21.079 relationship that 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:21.740 Jesus makes 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.139 God known 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.619 because he's 00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.119 among the 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.480 people. 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.899 We have 00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:27.319 one such 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:27.839 opportunity 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.579 coming up on 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.220 Christmas Eve 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.899 that Mike 00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:30.720 announced earlier. 00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:32.079 We're going to 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.899 gather in this 00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:33.539 building as a 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:33.859 church and 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.759 we're going to 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:36.119 prepare food and 00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:36.480 we're going to 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.440 feed a 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.079 community of 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:38.720 anybody who 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.480 wants to 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:39.779 come. 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.859 But more than 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.619 that, we want 00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.460 to join together 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.379 to be God's 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.079 sent ones who 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.619 are on mission 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.839 to say, Jesus 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:48.139 is the only way 00:31:48.139 --> 00:31:49.019 to God. 00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:50.839 He's the only 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.319 way you can 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:51.859 know him. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.779 And if you 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.319 know him, then 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.099 you truly do 00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.879 know God and 00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:55.619 you have eternal 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.519 life in him. 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.960 Let's not just 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.859 aim all of our 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.599 energy at that 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.259 one event and 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:03.579 that one 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:04.139 time, right? 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.179 Let's commit 00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:07.899 as a church, 00:32:08.199 --> 00:32:08.679 wherever we're 00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:09.059 at, whether 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:09.579 we've been 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.279 doing this and 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.539 you're like, 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.079 okay, here we 00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.779 go again, or 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:13.379 you need this 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.419 encouragement and 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:14.959 this push. 00:32:15.459 --> 00:32:16.240 Let's continue 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.419 joining Jesus in 00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:18.079 this season and 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:18.799 every single 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.219 season. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.879 Joining his 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.559 mission to 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.159 make God 00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:23.659 known by 00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:24.359 making Jesus 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:24.740 known. 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.159 Declaring to 00:32:27.159 --> 00:32:27.759 our friends, 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.519 our neighbors, 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.459 our family, 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.360 our coworkers, 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.059 this glorious 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:34.420 news that God 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:36.279 became a man so 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.920 that man can 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:37.440 know God. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.440 Let's pray. 00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.460 Father God, I 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.100 just thank and 00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:48.700 praise you for 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.200 your word. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.759 Spirit, would 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:54.180 you help us 00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:56.460 grasp this 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:58.039 incredible news 00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:59.900 that Jesus 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:01.400 reveals the 00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.360 Father because 00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:03.680 the Father is in 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:05.840 Jesus and 00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:06.560 Jesus is in the 00:33:06.560 --> 00:33:06.860 Father. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.060 Help us to 00:33:10.060 --> 00:33:11.400 celebrate our 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.160 Lord and Savior 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.960 this Advent 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.880 season and help 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.820 us to join him 00:33:14.820 --> 00:33:15.480 in this mission. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.320 God, accomplish 00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:18.620 much through our 00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.299 efforts and be 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.080 glorified through 00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:20.799 our celebration. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.299 I give you all 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.539 the thanks, all 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.500 the praise, all 00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:26.099 the glory, praying 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.940 only through 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:28.519 Jesus, our 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.460 Lord, our 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:29.819 God. 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:30.519 Amen.