WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would come and touch our hearts to hear your written word

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 and your word proclaimed that we might trust you, walk with you more faithfully today and in the days ahead.

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 This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Yeah, George is right. We are a little bit of a moving target, but it's wonderful to be back in Canada for a season.

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 So by way of introduction, I would just simply say, first of all, thank you for many of you have prayed for me and Stella

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 as we've been gallivanting around lately in the last nine years or so in the Global South, Global South countries,

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 which has been wonderful for me as someone who tries to think about the faith in the global sense, local and global, obviously,

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 but also to learn about what God is doing around the world and something that we might try and learn here as well together.

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 The other point by way of introduction would just be, maybe I'll put it in the form of a question.

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 What is going on these days as a missionary comes back?

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 Because I'm a somewhat unconventional missionary as a spouse of a diplomat and everything,

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 but a missionary nevertheless, teaching here and there in different settings abroad.

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 What's going on when a missionary comes back?

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 Well, is it a sort of global crossing whereby the missionary leaves the mission frontier and comes back to headquarters, as it were?

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 Sort of, but not exactly.

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 Is it the reverse or the reverse so that we can say that the missionary has been sent from a place where Christianity is now thriving and blossoming and come back to a new mission frontier?

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 Well, yes, partly, but not precisely, not exactly.

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 I think part of the problem is that modern life and technology have virtually abolished that distance between places.

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 And that's an interesting thing in itself, which I won't try to explore here.

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 I'm sure some of you do better job of that than I would.

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 But if we assume that there are still boundaries to be crossed,

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 that I think it has to do with recognizing the layers that are there that exist in most places,

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 particularly in the world's urban spaces, the ones I know the best,

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 even though I'm living way out in the boondocks, which, by the way, is a word from Tagalog,

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 which I learned way back in the Philippines.

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 Modern Cairo, which we came from recently, has its cultural layers.

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 The fascinating ones that make life there rich and interesting.

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 There's the broad Islamic layer, which I'm sure you'd be aware of.

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 There's the Coptic layer, which claims an even more ancient past.

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 And there's the cosmopolitan layer that transcends those first two

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 and takes up a whole array of expats, expatriates, students, diplomats, entrepreneurs, refugees even.

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 And in the mix would be Egyptians who have a lot of international experience.

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 And that's that third layer, which we came to know the best.

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 As far as I can tell as an immigrant in Canada, you can probably tell from my accent I'm not exactly a local,

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 I think there are at least three layers here, too.

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 You can identify the largely Christian one, where you still hear echoes and catch glimpses of a landscape,

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 of a Canada that thought of the nation's identity and calling in pretty much biblical terms.

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 He shall have dominion, right, from sea to sea.

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 And then there's the layer that I encountered when I first came back in the 80s.

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 And that was the layer that promoted and celebrated multiculturalism

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 and that connects most immediately with that cosmopolitan Cairo that I described.

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 Faith there is largely privatized, right?

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 It's assumed that the important things in life lie somewhere really beyond our churches and synagogues and mosques.

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 And then there's that layer that we're trying to come to terms with today.

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 Let's call it a post-multicultural layer, if you like,

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 where individual preference appears to be sovereign, but really isn't anything like that at all.

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 In fact, there's a new public belief system that is emerging,

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 a new religion that seems to be in the making.

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 Bill C-4, which George referred to a couple of weeks back, I think,

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 a conversion therapy bill, which, as many of you know, passed unanimously

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 and which will take effect in a few days' time,

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 uses language that we'd be familiar with in our multicultural layer,

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 declaring that no particular sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression

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 is to be preferred over another.

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 It sounds multicultural.

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 It sounds multi-something.

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 In other words, we apparently celebrate our differences.

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 But then comes a massive shift that happened as we were sleeping, it seems,

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 or maybe as the ubiquitous cannabis.

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 We were inhaling that.

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 I don't know.

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 But we're apparently agreeing that if my aim is to explore a, quote,

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 integrated personal identity, then it can only happen in one direction,

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 because the law will criminalize anything or anyone that encourages me

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 to transition from any non-heterosexual identity or category to a heterosexual one.

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 Now, Egyptian society and Canadian society are, in this regard, at opposite ends.

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 The distance is palpable.

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 But in at least one way, they come together.

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 And I was discussing this with George the other day.

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 You face trouble in one way or another if you attempt to convert in the wrong direction.

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 What does all of this have to do with Jesus?

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 The word made flesh.

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 Well, I think it has to do with the question of how we get our bearings,

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 how we think of history, even.

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 Let me ask you, do you think that history has a center?

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 Given the layers that I've spoken about,

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 some people today might say that this sort of question can't really get us anywhere.

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 They might say if there's any kind of center at all,

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 well, it's behind it.

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 It wouldn't be in history, but it's behind it.

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 For all we know, history is one constant flow, they would say,

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 going nowhere in particular.

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 And what you see really is an illusion.

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 What's real is in the mind.

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 What's real is what you and I imagine to be real.

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 Others might say, no, there's a center to history,

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 and it's the place where we can feel that steady march of progress.

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 We might still have some folks around who think along these lines.

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 It's the place where we know we're making progress

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 as we make the world a better place.

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 And then others would say, no, there is a center in history,

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 but it's not there.

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 The real center is where you find people trying,

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 through natural abilities,

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 to submit to the way of a religious leader

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 who was given a final and decisive word from God

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 that supersedes all earlier words which have been corrupted.

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 Well, the problem with these three views is that they leave us stranded in the end,

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 turned in on ourselves and our own devices.

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 In the first, if history is an illusion,

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 and I'm going to try to make sense of my own life,

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 I'm left to put myself at the center of everything.

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 So the center of history is in my mind,

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 and I'm left to make up what is true and right for myself as I go along,

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 at least until it clashes with what someone else thinks is true and right.

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 In the second case, if the center of history is a steady but impersonal march of progress,

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 I'm left struggling to make it into a footnote of history.

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 I'm left secretly but desperately hoping that the book I'm writing

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 or the institution I founded or the children I raised

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 will really leave their mark

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 so that someone somewhere down the road will remember me.

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 So that it can be said,

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 in 2022, Jones had one million followers on Twitter.

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 In the third case,

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 if the center of history is in submission to God's latest revelation,

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 then I'm left to rely on my own will and wisdom

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 as I try to make myself worthy of acceptance.

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 I'm left with just one more system of self-salvation.

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 So either way, we're turned in on ourselves.

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 And here I remember what C.S. Lewis said about that.

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 Look for yourself, he said,

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 and you'll find in the long run only hatred and loneliness,

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 despair, rage, ruin, and decay.

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 But look for Christ and you will find him

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 and with him everything else thrown in.

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 As followers of Jesus,

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 we know that the center of history is found in Christ Jesus,

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 born of a virgin,

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 crucified under Pontius Pilate,

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 risen, ascended, and coming again.

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 And all this points to the fact

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 that the Bible reveals marvelous truths about history.

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 The world of space and time had a real beginning,

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 one that we didn't invent.

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 From Genesis, we know that God made the world

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 and that it was good.

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 From Romans 8,

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 we know that history has a real end,

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 not one that we've come up with,

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 but one that God is himself working out

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 through his loving, providential care.

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 Creation's wiring, if you like,

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 makes it lean into the future

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 when God's people will be revealed for who they are.

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 Just as we who are his children by grace

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 long for that full adoption

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 and resurrection by the Holy Spirit's power

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 at work in us already.

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 And at the center between creation

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 and the new creation

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 is the firstborn of all creation.

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 as Colossians 1.15 puts it.

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 We're talking, of course,

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 about the one who became flesh

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 and dwelt among us in John 1.14.

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 We're talking about Jesus.

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 Who is this Jesus?

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 Well, as we reflect on John 1,

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 1 to 14 together,

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 one thing needs to be clear.

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 The question, who is Jesus,

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 is not an academic question only.

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 In fact, it's not even that primarily.

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 It's a question that's very personal.

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 That's not to say that every person

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 makes up whatever they like

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 about the question in answer to it.

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 It's that as soon as we look into the question,

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 we find ourselves,

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 our whole identity and our whole purpose

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 bound up with the question.

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 That is, we're brought to a place of decision.

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 We're brought to a place

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 where we have to engage individually

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 the testimony of eyewitnesses

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 to his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

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 We're brought to a place

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 where we must say either,

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 yes, I will follow Jesus,

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 or no, I can't go to that banquet right now.

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 Don't trouble me now,

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 as we sang in youth group,

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 eons, or not ages ago.

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 I think 40 years ago,

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 we sang that in a youth group in Mexico City.

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 You might ask,

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 well, why do we need eyewitnesses?

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 Ever pondered that question?

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 Why do we need those eyewitnesses?

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 Can't God just tell us directly

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 without having to use human beings?

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 Seem a lot more convenient in many places.

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 Presumably God could tell us directly

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 without human eyewitnesses,

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 but is that what he's chosen to do?

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 As Christians,

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 we take as our starting point,

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 we take our starting point

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 what God has actually done,

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 not what he might have done

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 or what he should have done,

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 you know,

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 if you're thinking like us.

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 What God has seen fit to do

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 is to come among us in Jesus,

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 in history,

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 and have certain people

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 bear witness to that.

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 That's why John declared in verse 14,

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 as we read,

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 the word became flesh

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 and dwelt among us,

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 and we have seen his glory.

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 Glory as the only son from the Father,

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 full of grace and truth.

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 Now, as much as we might be tempted

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 to brush aside

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 the whole question

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 of reliable human witnesses

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 on the assumption

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 that human witnesses

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 inevitably garble things

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 and mislead us,

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 whenever we do dismiss them,

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 we make a huge mistake.

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 That's because the Bible

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 has human witnesses

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 on full display,

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 front and center,

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 if you like,

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 so that to discredit them

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 is to miss something

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 that's at the heart

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 of God's self-disclosure.

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 It's this bearing witness.

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 If I gave this talk a title,

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 it would be

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 bearing witness to Jesus.

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 Remember how Jesus himself

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 raised the matter

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 of bearing witness

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 to his identity.

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 In Matthew 16,

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 13 to 14,

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 we read,

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 when Jesus came

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 to the region

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 of Caesarea Philippi,

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 the Roman capital

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 of Judea at the time,

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 he asked his disciples,

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 who do people say

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 the Son of Man is?

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 They answered,

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 some say John the Baptist,

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 others say Elijah,

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 and others Jeremiah,

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 or one of the prophets.

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 Having heard of Jesus,

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 of his miracles,

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 and his teachings,

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 people would have naturally

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 come up with some answers.

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 They were bound to do that.

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 And Jesus isn't here

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 simply being curious.

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 What he wants,

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 in the first place,

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 is for the disciples

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 to make a report.

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 And what is their report?

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 Well, Jesus,

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 what they're saying about you

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 is this.

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 You're either John the Baptist,

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 because you're announcing

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 the coming kingdom,

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 or maybe you're Elijah,

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 because Malachi said

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 that he would come back again.

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 Or maybe you're Jeremiah,

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 because you talk about

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 a new covenant,

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 as he did.

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.419
 And what does Jesus do

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.039
 at this point?

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:46.720
 Does he say,

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:46.960
 well,

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:49.019
 let me set it straight then,

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.899
 and let me tell you

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.460
 who I am.

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.699
 No, he doesn't.

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.919
 He says then,

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.960
 so who do you say

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.039
 that I am?

00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.379
 And Peter answers,

00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.379
 you're the Christ,

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.000
 the Son of the living God.

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:06.619
 And Jesus is delighted

00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:07.940
 to hear this,

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.880
 because he says,

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.539
 blessed are you,

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.799
 Simon Barjona.

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.799
 His delight is striking.

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:17.099
 Have you wondered why

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:18.319
 he was so pleased

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.180
 to hear Peter's confession?

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.740
 Is it because he's impressed

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.660
 with Peter?

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.039
 Evidently not.

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.519
 I think he's pleased

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.640
 because he has the opportunity,

00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:32.200
 Jesus here,

00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:33.820
 has the opportunity

00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.940
 to bear witness

00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:36.420
 to what the Father is doing.

00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:39.200
 That's why he goes on

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.100
 to tell his disciples

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:41.500
 that Peter didn't

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:43.360
 come to know this

00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:45.440
 through any natural means,

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.980
 but that the Father

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.520
 revealed it to him.

00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:50.020
 So Jesus here

00:17:50.020 --> 00:17:50.920
 is bearing witness.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.380
 Let's appreciate

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.040
 the way God

00:17:53.040 --> 00:17:54.240
 makes himself known here,

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.980
 starting from the human side,

00:17:56.280 --> 00:17:57.300
 because in John 1

00:17:57.300 --> 00:17:57.940
 it's going to be

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.780
 the inverse.

00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.819
 starting from the human side,

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.579
 from below,

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.039
 among the people,

00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:04.759
 there's a kind of knowing

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:07.079
 that only gets us so far.

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.519
 Having heard of Jesus,

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.420
 of his miracles,

00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.279
 of his teaching,

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.920
 people were naturally

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.139
 going to come up

00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:14.639
 with answers.

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.079
 They were bound

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.599
 to do that

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.480
 because under Roman rule

00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:20.279
 and eager for their liberation,

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.539
 they were naturally

00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.319
 going to take an interest

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.139
 in this man

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.380
 who spoke

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.860
 of God's kingdom.

00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:28.240
 Now,

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:28.960
 and then among

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.820
 the disciples,

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.460
 Peter comes to know

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.700
 that Jesus is the Christ

00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.400
 as the Father

00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.960
 reveals it to him.

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.460
 And not just Peter,

00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:37.060
 evidently,

00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:38.040
 because Jesus

00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:39.840
 tells all the disciples

00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:41.580
 not to tell anyone

00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:42.960
 that he is the Christ.

00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.300
 What's important

00:18:45.300 --> 00:18:45.820
 is that

00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:46.940
 when Peter declares

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.580
 this truth,

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.580
 Jesus reveals

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.220
 that it's the Father's

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.100
 work in him.

00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:54.019
 And then,

00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:54.779
 as I said,

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.839
 in John 1,

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.699
 we start from God.

00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.059
 The pattern

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.379
 of witness-bearing

00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:02.740
 begins there,

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.019
 from God's side,

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:04.719
 from above.

00:19:05.219 --> 00:19:05.919
 In the beginning,

00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.099
 says John,

00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.699
 echoing the first words

00:19:08.699 --> 00:19:09.199
 of Genesis,

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.079
 in the beginning

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.859
 was the Word

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.559
 and the Word

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.500
 was with God

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.539
 and the Word

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.259
 was God.

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.439
 What do we learn

00:19:17.439 --> 00:19:18.339
 in these first

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.219
 five verses

00:19:19.219 --> 00:19:21.059
 about this God?

00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:23.219
 Well,

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.639
 first,

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.139
 we learn

00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:24.659
 that there was

00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.539
 never a time

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.599
 when God

00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:27.740
 was without Word.

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.980
 The Word

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.759
 of God

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:32.000
 always was.

00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.879
 He was in the beginning

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:36.259
 with God,

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.159
 says verse 2.

00:19:39.439 --> 00:19:40.079
 Second,

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.740
 we learn

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.480
 that God

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.599
 has made everything

00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:44.019
 through the Word.

00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:46.099
 Verse 3,

00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:47.219
 what this means

00:19:47.219 --> 00:19:47.740
 is that

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:49.259
 creation

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:51.119
 bears witness,

00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.259
 if you like,

00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:52.779
 to him.

00:19:52.939 --> 00:19:54.359
 Because David,

00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:56.480
 it will almost

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.579
 echo David's

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:59.259
 word in Psalm 19,

00:19:59.359 --> 00:19:59.559
 1,

00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:00.679
 for the heavens

00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.959
 declare

00:20:01.959 --> 00:20:03.019
 the glory

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:03.899
 of God

00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:05.059
 and the sky

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.579
 above

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.079
 proclaims

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.179
 his handiwork.

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.819
 Third,

00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:11.339
 we learn

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.059
 that our God

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.779
 doesn't remain

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.339
 aloof,

00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:14.279
 detached,

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.480
 because it's

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.299
 in his nature

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.139
 to be a God

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.299
 for us.

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.079
 How do we know this?

00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.299
 Well,

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.359
 we know it

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.339
 because his Word

00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:22.960
 is life.

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.240
 And this life

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.220
 is the light

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:26.680
 of men,

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.339
 verse 4.

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.859
 So the Father

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:30.119
 is already

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:31.480
 bearing witness

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.299
 to himself

00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.519
 through creation

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.180
 and through

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.920
 the Word

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.420
 that is

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.119
 the light

00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.799
 that shines

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.519
 in the darkness

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.819
 of the world

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:42.180
 and of our lives,

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:42.839
 verse 5.

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:44.959
 So up to this

00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:45.359
 point,

00:20:45.439 --> 00:20:46.220
 we haven't heard

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.939
 about Jesus

00:20:46.939 --> 00:20:47.939
 yet,

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:48.659
 right?

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.419
 We've heard,

00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.919
 but we do

00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:53.339
 meet him

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:55.279
 in verse 14

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.480
 as we've read,

00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.500
 and the Word

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.319
 became flesh

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.379
 and dwelt among us.

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.879
 To lead us

00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:02.000
 to this Jesus,

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.519
 God raises up

00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:03.740
 whom?

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.679
 A witness,

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.579
 John the Baptist,

00:21:07.199 --> 00:21:08.399
 who bears witness

00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.240
 to the light

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.439
 that according

00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:11.279
 to verse 9

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.359
 was coming

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.279
 into the world.

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.379
 What kind

00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:16.000
 of ministry

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.579
 must John the Baptist

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.119
 have?

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.220
 Well,

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.859
 the kind,

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.599
 first of all,

00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.480
 that simply

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.259
 bears witness

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.160
 to the light

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:24.859
 since he himself

00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:25.899
 is not the light,

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.220
 verse 8.

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.319
 Otherwise,

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.139
 John the Baptist

00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.879
 could have drawn

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.960
 attention to himself,

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.619
 said,

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:31.879
 hey,

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.220
 come follow me.

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.779
 But instead,

00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.339
 he says,

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.700
 prepare the way

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.319
 of the Lord,

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.240
 who is the Son

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.779
 of God,

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.500
 if you read

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.100
 further down,

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:42.960
 verse 34,

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.400
 and Lamb of God

00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.259
 who takes away

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.140
 the sin of the world,

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.940
 verse 29.

00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.720
 In the second place,

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.960
 John the Baptist's

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.720
 ministry had to be

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.539
 the kind that

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.600
 convicted men

00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.019
 and women

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.680
 of sin,

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.940
 of rebellion.

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.559
 The fact is,

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.620
 God's work

00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.340
 in creation

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:01.279
 is sufficient

00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.460
 to move us

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.120
 to gratitude,

00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.319
 gratitude,

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.659
 but in our

00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.519
 sinful nature,

00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:06.919
 we refuse

00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:08.439
 to do that,

00:22:08.719 --> 00:22:09.539
 to give thanks.

00:22:10.719 --> 00:22:11.199
 And so that

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:11.819
 it can be said

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.259
 of us

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.559
 in verse 10,

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.679
 the world

00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.819
 did not know him.

00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:18.359
 This is consistent

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.459
 with what Paul

00:22:19.459 --> 00:22:20.059
 has to say

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.979
 in Romans 1

00:22:20.979 --> 00:22:22.259
 about the human

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.000
 heart becoming

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.679
 darkened

00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:25.699
 through a refusal

00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:27.479
 to honor the God

00:22:27.479 --> 00:22:28.359
 who's made himself

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:28.739
 known

00:22:28.739 --> 00:22:29.919
 right there

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:30.579
 in creation.

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:33.139
 So bearing

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:34.259
 similar witness

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.359
 to that of

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.220
 John the Baptist,

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.079
 are eyewitnesses

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.159
 who can say,

00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:40.699
 and we beheld

00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:41.419
 his glory,

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.379
 verse 14.

00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.899
 Who are these

00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:45.500
 who beheld

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.119
 his glory?

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:48.159
 Because after all,

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.819
 not everyone

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.619
 perceived

00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.699
 Jesus' glory.

00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:51.539
 Not everyone

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.240
 received him

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.619
 as one full

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.139
 of grace

00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:55.819
 and truth.

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.579
 How do we know

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:57.919
 this?

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.019
 Well, it's clear

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.720
 from what Paul

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.339
 says in

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.960
 1 Corinthians 1

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.119
 about the message

00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.799
 of the cross

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:06.500
 being foolishness

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.099
 to the Greeks

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:08.400
 with their passion

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.160
 for human wisdom

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.299
 apart from grace

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:13.319
 and a stumbling block

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.099
 to the Jews

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.400
 with passion

00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:16.359
 for signs

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.879
 for their own sake.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.359
 So who perceived

00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:21.480
 Jesus' glory?

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:24.000
 Verse 12

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.139
 gives us

00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:25.980
 the answer.

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.059
 Those who received

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.359
 him,

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:30.220
 those who believed

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:30.960
 in his name.

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.359
 And who were these?

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:33.700
 Well,

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.679
 verse 13

00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:36.059
 answers that.

00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:37.179
 It's the same ones

00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:38.519
 who were born

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.879
 not of blood

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:41.379
 nor of the will

00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.099
 of the flesh

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.319
 nor of the will

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.779
 of man

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.519
 but of God.

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.599
 So you and I

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.059
 today,

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.480
 wherever we are,

00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:50.559
 picking up

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:52.079
 John's gospel

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:54.059
 and turning

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:55.099
 right to the end,

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.819
 we can hear

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.919
 God say to us

00:23:58.919 --> 00:24:00.159
 through these

00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:00.939
 early witnesses,

00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.779
 these things

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.899
 are written

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.699
 so that you

00:24:04.699 --> 00:24:05.500
 may believe

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.559
 that Jesus

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.480
 is the Christ,

00:24:07.879 --> 00:24:08.939
 the Son of God

00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:10.559
 and that by believing

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.500
 you may have life

00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.139
 in his name.

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.399
 You see the,

00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.579
 you see how

00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.740
 we have the

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.000
 God,

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:20.079
 God-bearing witness

00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:21.119
 right through

00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:21.779
 his word,

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.759
 creation

00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:24.059
 and then

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.899
 John the Baptist

00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.759
 bearing witness,

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.720
 the gospel writers

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.500
 bearing witness

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.599
 and we too

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.579
 being invited

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.179
 and called

00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:33.099
 to do the same.

00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:34.579
 So how can we

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:36.659
 turn these truths,

00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:38.000
 how can these truths

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.839
 comfort us

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.419
 today

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:40.740
 even as they

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.579
 challenge us?

00:24:42.699 --> 00:24:43.960
 Let me just make

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.639
 three brief points.

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.259
 The first word

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.799
 of comfort

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.619
 for us today

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:50.019
 is that by trusting

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.680
 in Jesus

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.980
 we come to know

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.740
 the living God.

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.579
 To receive the light

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.240
 that has come

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.980
 into the world

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.980
 in Jesus

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:59.159
 is to receive

00:24:59.159 --> 00:25:00.279
 the life of Jesus.

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.899
 It's to become

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.980
 by adoption

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.519
 what he is

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.539
 by nature.

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.119
 But here's the

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.460
 challenge,

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:07.960
 isn't it?

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.879
 And it has to do

00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.639
 with what the Bible

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:12.220
 means by knowing

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.680
 God.

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.539
 We like to

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.799
 trust the sight

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.139
 that our physical

00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:18.059
 eyes give us.

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.720
 We think that

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.740
 it's pretty reliable

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:24.319
 that to see

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.139
 is to believe.

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.879
 But what kind

00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.399
 of seeing

00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.079
 is appropriate

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.720
 to knowledge

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.279
 of God?

00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:32.220
 We have to reckon

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.700
 with John 1.18

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.879
 a little further down

00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.339
 which says

00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.740
 no man has seen

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.159
 God.

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.839
 We'd like to

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.019
 think that it

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.960
 makes no sense

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.119
 to say this

00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:42.759
 any longer

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.079
 this sight of

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.799
 the word

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.519
 made flesh.

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:47.399
 But the problem

00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:48.720
 is many see

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.599
 without seeing.

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.619
 Many people

00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.919
 cross paths

00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.539
 with Jesus

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.839
 but never had

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.319
 the spiritual

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.139
 eyes to see

00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:56.059
 that he was

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.859
 sent from God.

00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:58.659
 And that's why

00:25:58.659 --> 00:25:59.759
 John Calvin

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.919
 can say

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:02.180
 no man has

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.720
 seen God

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.399
 means that

00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:04.319
 God dwells

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.740
 in inaccessible

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.200
 light

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.440
 and therefore

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.399
 cannot be known

00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:10.099
 except in Christ

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:11.639
 who is his

00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.500
 lively image.

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.619
 knowledge.

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.099
 If we then

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.799
 ask what it

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.279
 means to

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.019
 know Jesus

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.539
 God's

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.319
 lively image

00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:18.819
 today

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.960
 the Bible

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.759
 teaches that

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.619
 this knowing

00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.619
 is a knowing

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.779
 that's oriented

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.000
 more to the

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.000
 ear than to

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.480
 the eye.

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.180
 Where do we

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.720
 see that?

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.400
 Verse 18

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.519
 tells us that

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.579
 the only God

00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.819
 who's at the

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.480
 Father's

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.039
 side

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.099
 he has

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.539
 made him

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:36.839
 known.

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.900
 Where the

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.660
 literal meaning

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.900
 of to make

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.820
 known is to

00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.279
 declare

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.519
 to narrate.

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.360
 So the glory

00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:44.940
 of Jesus

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.860
 was perceived

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.680
 by faith

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:48.019
 in the beauty

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.800
 of his whole

00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:49.340
 message

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:51.420
 his whole life

00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:51.900
 and death

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.580
 and resurrection

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.779
 in what one

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.440
 commentator

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.600
 calls the

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:57.100
 moral splendor

00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:58.000
 of his

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.000
 whole ministry.

00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:00.620
 The moral

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.560
 splendor of his

00:27:01.560 --> 00:27:02.160
 whole ministry.

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.180
 The second

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.019
 word of comfort

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.040
 this morning

00:27:06.040 --> 00:27:07.060
 is that as we

00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:07.940
 find ourselves

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.480
 in Christ

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.860
 Jesus

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.900
 we're not

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.460
 stranded

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.180
 in history.

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.860
 We're not

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.720
 left to turn

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.200
 inward

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.500
 looking for

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.180
 meaning within

00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.580
 ourselves.

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.039
 We're not

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.600
 striving desperately

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.620
 to leave

00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.400
 footprints that

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.840
 others will

00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:21.279
 admire

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.740
 after we

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.259
 move on.

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.100
 And we're

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:24.559
 not left

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.140
 trying to

00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.799
 save ourselves

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.140
 either.

00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.559
 This is

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.620
 because if

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.080
 we find

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:29.740
 ourselves in

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.340
 Christ we're

00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.559
 already at

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:31.960
 the only

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.059
 center that

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.500
 matters.

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.840
 The center

00:27:34.840 --> 00:27:35.279
 where we

00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.840
 anticipate the

00:27:36.840 --> 00:27:37.880
 resurrection of

00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:38.460
 our bodies

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.380
 and our

00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:40.320
 full adoption

00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:41.840
 as sons and

00:27:41.840 --> 00:27:42.980
 daughters as

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.460
 God has

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:43.880
 promised.

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.200
 If

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.680
 Colossians

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.660
 115 calls

00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.560
 Jesus the

00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:49.800
 firstborn of

00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:50.520
 all creation

00:27:50.520 --> 00:27:51.300
 it's not

00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:51.900
 because he's

00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.300
 the first

00:27:52.300 --> 00:27:53.200
 created being

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.140
 as some

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.560
 imagine.

00:27:56.280 --> 00:27:56.800
 It's that

00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:58.060
 if that's the

00:27:58.060 --> 00:27:59.080
 case our

00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.740
 hope is no

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.480
 hope at

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:00.760
 all.

00:28:01.540 --> 00:28:02.100
 The verses

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:02.960
 that follow

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.560
 immediately

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:05.299
 after tell

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.159
 us exactly

00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:06.960
 what the

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:08.019
 title first

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.879
 born of

00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.500
 all creation

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:09.980
 involves.

00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:10.659
 It means

00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:11.779
 all things

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.440
 were created

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.019
 in him

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:15.259
 by him

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.679
 and for

00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:15.879
 him.

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.259
 That all

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.859
 things hold

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.279
 together.

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.059
 That glorious

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.720
 passage in

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.700
 Colossians

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.419
 hold together

00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:21.759
 in him.

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.720
 That in him

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.220
 all the

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.940
 fullness of

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.940
 God was

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.480
 pleased to

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.759
 dwell.

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.500
 And that

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.079
 all things

00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.519
 are to be

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:30.279
 finally reconciled

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.859
 in him

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:32.019
 through his

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.579
 sacrificial

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.779
 death on

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.299
 the cross.

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.319
 A third

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:35.720
 word of

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.420
 comfort and

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.119
 challenge for

00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.160
 us is that

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.539
 we can

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:40.059
 experience the

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.220
 joy of

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.039
 bearing witness.

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.940
 Experience the

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.359
 joy of

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:44.940
 bearing witness.

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.559
 Here we have

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.420
 the privilege of

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.599
 commending the

00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:49.619
 faith to

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.779
 others of

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.500
 trying as

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:51.920
 Alistair

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.579
 McGrath put

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.779
 it nicely to

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.539
 allow the

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.599
 full wonder

00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.899
 and brilliance

00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:57.200
 of the

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.039
 Christian faith

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.819
 to be

00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.099
 understood and

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.719
 appreciated.

00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:03.459
 I once met

00:29:03.459 --> 00:29:04.279
 a pastor in

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:06.000
 Peru who

00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.459
 in his

00:29:06.459 --> 00:29:07.879
 university years

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:09.519
 had tried on

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.399
 for size the

00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:11.619
 various philosophies

00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:12.459
 that are there

00:29:12.459 --> 00:29:13.159
 and religions

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:15.039
 only to find

00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.599
 emptiness inside

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:18.179
 and as we

00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:18.899
 went out

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:20.539
 together doing

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.039
 something I

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.639
 don't get to do

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.419
 often enough but

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:22.859
 that we did

00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.519
 there in Peru

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.159
 and that that

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:24.980
 was to go out

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.000
 in the parks

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.480
 and town

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.319
 squares just

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.539
 preaching and

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.299
 putting on

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.079
 skits and

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.079
 drawing others

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:32.319
 to hear the

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.299
 message as

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.039
 we went out

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:36.039
 together I

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.720
 remember one

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.299
 moment when he

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.000
 turned to me and

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.199
 he said really

00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:40.279
 really full of

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.399
 joy and full of

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.939
 full of conviction

00:29:42.939 --> 00:29:44.500
 apart from the

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:46.019
 gospel what else

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:48.240
 is there it was

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.259
 as if he had

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.480
 said like Peter

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.720
 to whom shall we

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:53.579
 go you have the

00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.980
 words of eternal

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.639
 life and we

00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:58.199
 have believed and

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.819
 have come to

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.940
 know that you're

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.680
 the holy one of

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.080
 God John 6

00:30:02.080 --> 00:30:04.059
 68 to 69

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:06.319
 so how can we

00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.960
 bear witness

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:08.000
 within the layers

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.519
 that we that we

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.660
 come to know in

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.620
 different places

00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:13.580
 well I'll just

00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.420
 mention three in

00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:16.460
 closing as we

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.380
 hear of great

00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:18.420
 numbers of

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.700
 Muslims coming

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:21.000
 to Christ in

00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.660
 countries like

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:23.620
 Iran I think we

00:30:23.620 --> 00:30:24.680
 can be confident

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.920
 today that our

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.860
 message of God's

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.620
 love in Jesus

00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:29.039
 will be used by

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.660
 him to move

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:32.039
 some to put their

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:32.980
 trust in him

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:35.539
 we pray many

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.900
 the Holy Spirit

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.759
 may even be

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.380
 preparing the

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.460
 heart of someone

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.180
 that you meet

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.799
 this week so

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.560
 that when you do

00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:43.440
 speak of Jesus

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:45.140
 confidently

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:47.340
 calmly just

00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.080
 bearing witness

00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.340
 your friend will

00:30:49.340 --> 00:30:49.960
 warm to the

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:52.519
 message and it

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.180
 won't be through

00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:54.299
 your eloquence it

00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:54.960
 won't be through

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.900
 anything that you

00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:59.680
 had worked on

00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.980
 days on end to

00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:02.400
 prepare it'll just

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:02.960
 be through your

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:04.700
 quiet witness that

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.560
 this person will

00:31:05.560 --> 00:31:06.480
 seriously consider

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.100
 what you have to

00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:08.799
 say and it's a

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.759
 remarkable thing to

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.720
 see happen my

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.740
 friend a tennis

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:15.460
 buddy in Cairo he

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.539
 has not yet trusted

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:18.000
 in Jesus as far as

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:20.900
 I know but he's

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.880
 someone I was able

00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.820
 to talk to on

00:31:23.820 --> 00:31:24.720
 several occasions

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:26.320
 he was actually

00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:27.180
 praying for my

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.000
 conversion to

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.660
 Islam right and

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:32.480
 and very excited

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.720
 you know to discuss

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.300
 things with me and

00:31:35.300 --> 00:31:36.300
 so I took that as a

00:31:36.300 --> 00:31:37.400
 as a good thing he

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.020
 took this stuff

00:31:38.020 --> 00:31:39.820
 seriously and

00:31:39.820 --> 00:31:41.520
 praying for my

00:31:41.520 --> 00:31:43.040
 conversion even as

00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:44.480
 he did that I was

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.420
 I was able to

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.480
 invite him to

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:49.120
 consider how the

00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.959
 resurrection of

00:31:49.959 --> 00:31:51.239
 Jesus if true

00:31:51.239 --> 00:31:53.239
 changes everything

00:31:53.239 --> 00:31:55.039
 changes everything

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.139
 and that Jesus

00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.379
 being raised for

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.479
 our justification as

00:31:59.479 --> 00:32:00.799
 Paul says that you

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.119
 and I wouldn't

00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:04.039
 don't have to try to

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:07.299
 self-justify by our

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:09.399
 own efforts perhaps

00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:11.439
 in another space or

00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:12.579
 realm God is drawing

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.959
 someone from that

00:32:13.959 --> 00:32:15.839
 cosmopolitan world that

00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:17.379
 we know well in that

00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:18.800
 space where Cairo and

00:32:18.800 --> 00:32:20.280
 Toronto and Buenos

00:32:20.280 --> 00:32:23.740
 Aires meet where it

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.680
 seems like the most

00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.500
 important things in

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:27.000
 life revolve around

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.640
 things that I've had to

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.620
 cultivate a certain

00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:32.000
 amount of well let's

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.360
 just say I need to be

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:35.060
 ready for the the the

00:32:35.060 --> 00:32:36.360
 wine and cheeses and

00:32:36.360 --> 00:32:37.680
 and stuff around the

00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:38.960
 diplomatic life abroad

00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.380
 but where conversation

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.260
 revolves around the

00:32:42.260 --> 00:32:43.740
 wines that you import

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:45.860
 sports and leisure and

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:48.000
 so on with a bit of

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.000
 maybe philanthropy

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:51.099
 thrown in but even

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:52.859
 there we see signs of

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:54.099
 longing don't we

00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:55.519
 longing for something

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:57.459
 that only God can

00:32:57.459 --> 00:32:59.579
 satisfy and so

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:02.939
 perhaps God is in the

00:33:02.939 --> 00:33:04.079
 present in the present

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:08.559
 pandemic drawing people

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:10.699
 through this sense that

00:33:10.699 --> 00:33:13.279
 this world after all has

00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:15.660
 an expiry date and

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:19.859
 moving people to to be

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.680
 aware of their own

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:22.099
 need and that we too

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:23.559
 can be be ready to

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.859
 bear witness or

00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.859
 consider a modern

00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:28.980
 spiritual but not

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.700
 religious pagan who

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.859
 can make use of the

00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:33.599
 rights and ceremonies

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:35.619
 of whichever religion is

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:37.779
 most handy right without

00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.819
 taking any of the

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.839
 teachings too

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.859
 seriously it's common

00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:43.500
 enough this person

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:45.539
 believes that God is a

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:47.220
 great impersonal energy

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:49.539
 that flows in and

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.459
 through everything the

00:33:50.459 --> 00:33:51.599
 Christ and the cosmos

00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.839
 are basically the same

00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:55.019
 reality and that the

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.319
 road of salvation that I

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:58.319
 travel is made as I

00:33:58.319 --> 00:34:00.740
 walk it in other words

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.879
 that I have the power

00:34:01.879 --> 00:34:04.699
 within me to make my

00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:06.000
 road a good one or a

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:08.619
 bad one and to define

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.539
 what is good and right

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:12.380
 for me well consider

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:14.440
 this this is the road

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:16.679
 many of us tried to

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:18.380
 walk on until we

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:20.480
 realized that it leads

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.880
 straight into the land

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:24.199
 of self-worship and

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:26.839
 emptiness we walked

00:34:26.839 --> 00:34:28.179
 along it until someone

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:30.119
 through God's sheer

00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:33.199
 mercy bore witness that

00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.619
 Jesus Christ has done the

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:37.119
 work of laying out the

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.799
 road ahead of us so

00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:39.759
 that we don't have to

00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:42.599
 invent it so let me

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.539
 challenge you with this

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:45.319
 we've just celebrated

00:34:45.319 --> 00:34:48.159
 Christmas it's the one

00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.199
 time when people all

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.900
 over the world Cairo

00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:53.739
 Manila everywhere even

00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:54.940
 many who wouldn't claim

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:56.239
 to be Christians seeing

00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:57.579
 of the things that we've

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.859
 looked at this morning

00:34:58.859 --> 00:35:01.599
 the incarnation the

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:03.519
 coming of Emmanuel God

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:05.679
 with us it's a story

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.460
 that has become

00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:09.980
 routine and the

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.179
 wonder of it has been

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.899
 to some extent tamed

00:35:12.899 --> 00:35:16.579
 domesticated for some

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.759
 who sing it it's a

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.500
 message about

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:20.679
 humanity's nobler

00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:22.599
 qualities perhaps even

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:24.359
 about humans becoming

00:35:24.359 --> 00:35:26.559
 God or little gods

00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:28.619
 for others it's a nice

00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:29.759
 story but not to be

00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:31.779
 taken seriously as the

00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:32.819
 good news of God's

00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:34.480
 dealings with sinful

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:36.460
 humanity in real time

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:39.280
 and place and a real

00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:41.240
 place in history so to

00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:42.260
 hear the message what do

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.700
 we need to do to hear

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:45.059
 the message we have to

00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.780
 listen as it were on our

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:48.940
 knees as if for the

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:50.519
 first time we have to

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.680
 consider the awesome

00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:54.360
 paradox that's there in

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:56.260
 that remember that line

00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:57.880
 from Graham Kendrick some

00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:59.660
 years ago I'm telling you

00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:01.619
 my age again that the

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:03.500
 hands that flung stars

00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:05.359
 into space to cruel

00:36:05.359 --> 00:36:08.139
 nails surrendered and

00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:10.519
 with our whole lives we

00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.759
 have to hold on to the

00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:13.839
 glorious hope that the

00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:15.279
 same one who came into

00:36:15.279 --> 00:36:18.559
 the world and who died

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.779
 and rose again and

00:36:19.779 --> 00:36:21.759
 ascended into heaven is

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:23.259
 the one who's coming

00:36:23.259 --> 00:36:25.460
 back for all those who

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.259
 are waiting for his

00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:29.599
 appearing shall we

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:38.759
 pray father would you

00:36:38.759 --> 00:36:40.299
 take these songs we've

00:36:40.299 --> 00:36:41.599
 sung and the words we've

00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:43.699
 heard and and burn your

00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:45.440
 truth into us that we

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:47.980
 might find greater hope

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.460
 greater joy greater

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:52.319
 boldness to be salt and

00:36:52.319 --> 00:36:53.339
 light in the world that

00:36:53.339 --> 00:36:54.460
 you in the places you've

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.960
 placed us in whichever

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:59.400
 layers of society that

00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:01.240
 you call us to and give

00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:02.139
 us the opportunity to

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:04.019
 interact with we thank

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.260
 you for bringing us out

00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:06.860
 of darkness into the

00:37:06.860 --> 00:37:07.820
 marvelous light of your

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:09.639
 son and we thank you

00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:11.320
 for the health that you

00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:13.139
 give us for the the

00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:14.000
 strength that you give

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.180
 us from day to day this

00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:17.740
 we we ask and pray in

00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:18.519
 Jesus's name

00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:19.300
 amen

00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:19.460
 amen

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:19.500
 amen

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.559
 amen

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:50.539
 Thank you.