WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask again that you would pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, gently but deeply

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 pour out your Holy Spirit upon us.

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 Father, you know the things that we're afraid of, you know the things that we should be

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 afraid of, you know the things that we're anxious about.

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 We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would come upon us, that your Holy Spirit would

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 still and quiet and calm our mind and heart and will so that we might know more of you

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 and that your Son Jesus would have a deeper role and place in our lives.

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 So Father, draw us to Jesus.

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 In this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior.

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 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 The last I heard, it was 148 people who were killed in Peshawar, I hope I'm pronouncing that

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 correctly, Pakistan earlier this week.

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 148 was the number that I heard.

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 The overwhelming majority of them were children.

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 And as one person said in the paper the other day, we see in what happened in Pakistan pure

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 evil.

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 Whether or not it was pure evil, but it's probably as close to pure evil as we're about to see

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 on this, on this, on the earth.

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 Part of what made it such pure evil was that these men who came to the school in Pakistan,

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 the majority of the children that were shot, were shot by a single gunshot to the head.

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 So it wasn't just indiscriminate killing, but that as each child probably begging for mercy,

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 some gunmen would come and look at them and shoot them in the head.

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 And then we'll go and do another child and another child and another child.

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 Until almost 140 children and 148 in total were killed.

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 And I think we all have to agree that if that is not pure evil, it's so close to pure evil,

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 we don't want to get any closer to pure evil.

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 It was a completely and utterly horrendous, dark, evil act.

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 And it happened just this week.

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 I didn't...

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 It's also been a week where, I mean, we could...

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 You know, the events that took place with the woman who killed the nine children and the fellow in Sydney.

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 You know, we could say in those cases that there maybe was some type of mental illness and instability,

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 but you can't say that about what happened in Pakistan.

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 Now, some of you might say, boy, I'm so glad I came to church.

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 George is talking about pleasant, uplifting things.

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 You know, George, isn't Christmas time and it's just a few days before Christmas?

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 Isn't Christmas supposed to be when we talk about things like kindness and generosity

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 and the good parts of human nature?

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 And that is, I think, largely how most Canadians understand Christmas.

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 But, you know, for Christians, the Christmas story,

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 God, as he tells us the Christmas story through his word,

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 he wants us to spend some time reflecting on darkness and the darkness in the world.

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 And so if you have your Bibles, turn in them to John chapter 1.

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 If you don't have Bibles with you, there's Bibles up at the front always,

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 and you're always welcome to take one, to use it, to keep it if you want as a gift.

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 This Sunday, like the last couple of Sundays, we're actually going to be saying a lot of the scripture over and over and over again,

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 because we're going to really reflect primarily upon two verses.

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 But you might have heard me read the gospel text a few moments ago,

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 and you know that it culminates in John 1, verse 14, which is one of the great Christmas passages.

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 The word became flesh and dwelt among us.

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 The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

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 Glory is the only son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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 But before it gets to this great acclamation of Christmas,

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 it has a profound sentence on darkness and evil.

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 So God wants us to reflect upon darkness in the context of reflecting upon the birth of his son.

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 So John 1, verse 1, let's just sort of get the context up until we get to verse 5.

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 Verse 1,

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 Here are the two verses which we're going to primarily focus on this morning,

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 although we'll look at the three verses that follow as well.

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 But here's the two verses that we're going to really focus on.

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 Verse 4,

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 Last week we talked about verses 1 to 3,

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 and primarily it was a little bit about how God, Jesus, is the word,

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 and the word has been with God from all eternity,

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 and God has created all things.

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 And some of you might have wondered,

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 if I say that God, if the Bible teaches,

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 and it's not what it says here, it says it very, you know, verse 3,

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 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

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 All things were made through him,

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 and without him was not anything made that was made.

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 Does that mean that God created evil?

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 In fact, I was going to talk about it last week,

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 but then I thought, no, I'm going to wait to this week,

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 because I realize this is the better week to talk about it.

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 Is the Bible saying that God created evil?

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 I just had a conversation with somebody this week who said that God created evil,

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 and we had a bit of a conversation about it.

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 I don't know if I did a very good job in helping to understand what the Bible teaches,

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 but when it says here that God makes all things, does that mean he makes evil?

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 Well, Andrew, if you could put up the first scripture text, verses 4 and 5,

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 could you read this with me?

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 Verse 4 and 5,

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 I should have written down my verse.

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 I'm going to have trouble reading it.

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 I'm going to have to say it, and you folks will just have to read it.

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 So here's the first thing,

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 and the first point about this passage of scripture,

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 and all of it we're talking about is this,

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 something about God.

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 God is light,

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 and in him is no darkness at all.

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 That's the first point,

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 and if you're wondering if that sounds familiar,

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 St. George, that's a very clever way to put it.

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 Andrew, if you could put up the first point.

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 It's not that I thought of it.

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 It's actually in 1 John.

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 It's chapter 1, the second part of verse 5.

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 God is light,

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 and in him is no darkness at all.

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 When the text is saying,

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 in the beginning was the Word,

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 and the Word was with God,

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 and the Word was God,

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 he was in the beginning with God,

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 all things were made through him,

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 and without him was not any other.

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 Anything made that was made.

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 In him was life,

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 and the life was the light of men.

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 The light shines on in the darkness,

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 and the darkness has not mastered it.

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 When the Bible is saying this,

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 it's making an affirmation

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 that God is light,

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 and in him is no darkness at all.

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 In fact, it's very, very interesting.

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 When it says in verse 4,

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 in him was life,

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 what the text is saying

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 is it's saying that God,

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 the Son of God,

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 the second person of the Trinity,

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 who we'll see in a moment,

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 takes on flesh,

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 that he doesn't have life.

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 He is life.

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 He doesn't have life.

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 You and I have life.

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 But God,

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 the Son of God,

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 is life.

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 That's who and what he is.

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 And then when it says that this life

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 is also light,

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 you know,

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 we might have,

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 you can say that we can see

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 sort of the light of the intellect,

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 you know,

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 the light of conscience

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 that we might have.

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 when you talk to somebody,

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 you can see,

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 oh, you know,

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 they have a gleam in their eye,

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 you know,

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 they have some joy,

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 they have some happiness,

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 they,

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 you can see the spark of intelligence.

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 We use these different analogies

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 for light to talk about things

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 of conscience or creativity

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 or goodness,

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 you know,

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 or intelligence or wit.

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 And these are things that we have,

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 but the Bible is saying

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 that God doesn't have them.

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 He is light,

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 and he is life.

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 And just as if you have

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 a room which is completely light,

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 there can't be any darkness in it.

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 And if God is life,

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 there can't really be death in him

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 in a sense,

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 where darkness,

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 if he is life,

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 then the Bible is making this

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 very,

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 very strong claim

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 that God is light

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 and in him

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 is no darkness at all.

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 So,

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 the Bible is saying

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 that if,

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 there's certain things

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 you have to understand about God

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 that,

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 in fact,

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 you know,

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 what the Bible is doing

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 is it's struggling

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 with a sort of a thing

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 that missionaries

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 have to struggle with.

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 all of the time

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 is that if,

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 you know,

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 if you go to be a missionary

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 in a remote part of China,

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 or if you go to be a missionary

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 in a place like Kazakhstan,

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 or you go to be a missionary,

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 you know,

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 in some place

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 that only knows

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 a particular tribal religion,

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 you have to use the words

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 that the culture knows,

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 but over time,

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 you have to try to help them

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 to understand the words

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 in different ways.

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 And so,

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 in our culture,

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 when people think about God

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 and his relationship

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 to good and evil,

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 there's many people

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 in our culture

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 who will say that God

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 is above good and evil,

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 that good and evil

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 don't really apply to God,

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 that he's above them,

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 that good and evil

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 is just something

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 that we think

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 or we understand,

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 but God is neither,

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 he's above them.

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 And some believe

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 that,

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 in fact,

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 that there's two principles

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 at work in the world,

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 that there's a good principle

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 and a bad principle,

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 and that these principles

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 are always at work,

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 and you have to choose

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 which principle it is

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 that you're following.

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 And some people say

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 that God just merely decides

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 that certain things are good

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 and certain things are evil,

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 and he just sort of

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 makes these decisions up

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 just out of his head

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 one day as he's sitting around,

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 and it's just merely

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 a matter of God

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 just declaring

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 that certain things are good

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 or certain things are bad.

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 And there's other people

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 who think that,

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 in fact,

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 good and evil

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 are both in God,

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 and that he has to struggle

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 with these things himself.

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 And these are the very,

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 very common views

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 in our culture.

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 And so even when people think,

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 you know,

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 when you use the word God

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 to somebody,

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 and in their mind,

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 they're thinking,

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 oh yeah,

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 God is above good and evil,

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 or God is beneath good and evil,

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 or God,

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 good and evil doesn't apply to God,

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 or whatever.

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 And the Bible here

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 is trying to clarify

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 that when,

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 all the way through

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 the Gospel of John,

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 when you read

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 and see the word God,

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 it wants us to understand

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 that it's saying

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 that God is light,

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 and in him

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 is no darkness at all,

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 that he is God of light

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 who is light,

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 that he is the God of life

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 who is life,

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 that that's who

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 we are talking about.

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 So some of you might say,

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 hey George,

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 that's very interesting,

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 but you didn't answer

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 the question.

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 You're doing

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 what politicians do.

00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:51.920
 Sorry,

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 I didn't mean to put down

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 politicians.

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 Actually,

00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:56.200
 this is true.

00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:56.840
 You know,

00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.480
 a few years ago,

00:11:58.560 --> 00:11:59.379
 I had to be interviewed

00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:00.279
 in the paper a lot

00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:01.440
 about a controversial issue,

00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.039
 and I got interviewed

00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.340
 on TV and radio,

00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:05.360
 and so I had some media training,

00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:06.320
 and one of the things

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.360
 they tell you in media training,

00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:08.220
 so this is how you have

00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:09.639
 to understand politicians

00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.659
 when they're at their best,

00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:12.259
 is that what they tell you

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.039
 in media training

00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:13.840
 is that you have

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.940
 two or three or four things

00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:16.779
 that you want to say,

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.399
 and whenever the questioner

00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:19.460
 asks you a question,

00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.820
 you just pick

00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:22.000
 one of the four things

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.860
 that you want to say

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.280
 that's closest to the question,

00:12:24.420 --> 00:12:25.540
 and you ignore the question,

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.220
 and you just say

00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:26.900
 what you want to say

00:12:26.900 --> 00:12:28.259
 over and over and over again,

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.440
 and so it's a little bit

00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:31.180
 of a challenge.

00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:32.500
 The reporter keeps trying

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.460
 to break you

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.180
 from just saying

00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:34.960
 the four things

00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.820
 that you want to say,

00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:38.840
 and you're just trying

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.340
 to just stick

00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.360
 with the four things,

00:12:41.060 --> 00:12:41.860
 and anyway,

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:44.100
 so I'm not doing that.

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.180
 So the question was,

00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:45.560
 George,

00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:46.120
 does God,

00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.600
 if God creates all things,

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:47.860
 okay,

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.920
 granted that God

00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.839
 okay,

00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:50.539
 you're saying

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:54.159
 that God is light,

00:12:54.319 --> 00:12:55.360
 he's only good,

00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:57.759
 and you're also saying

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.159
 that God created all things,

00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:00.679
 and I'm not sure

00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:01.199
 what that means,

00:13:01.339 --> 00:13:01.519
 George,

00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:02.299
 aren't you still,

00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.059
 does God create evil,

00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:06.099
 or is it a matter

00:13:06.099 --> 00:13:06.939
 that God sort of

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.819
 created things,

00:13:07.819 --> 00:13:09.179
 and then that was

00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:09.759
 like a long,

00:13:09.839 --> 00:13:10.019
 long,

00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:10.979
 long time ago,

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.319
 you know,

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.199
 like the Big Bang

00:13:12.199 --> 00:13:13.879
 was billions of years ago,

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.699
 and sort of God

00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:16.719
 is now really distant,

00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:17.500
 he has other things

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.099
 on his mind,

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.040
 he's not preoccupied

00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:19.740
 with what's going on

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.060
 on earth,

00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:20.840
 or he's powerless

00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:21.659
 to deal with things

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.060
 on earth,

00:13:22.180 --> 00:13:23.279
 because God is distant,

00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.379
 is that what you're saying,

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:24.700
 George,

00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.420
 is that what the Bible

00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:25.820
 is saying?

00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:26.759
 Well,

00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:27.720
 let's say verses

00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.720
 four and five again,

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.680
 if you could put them up,

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:30.940
 God,

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.639
 in him was life,

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.000
 and the life

00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:35.980
 was life in the night,

00:13:36.540 --> 00:13:37.139
 and the light

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:39.159
 shines on the darkness,

00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.500
 and the darkness

00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:43.019
 has not mastered it.

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:44.039
 That's the text

00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:44.860
 that we're thinking about,

00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.740
 and what this text

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.720
 is saying here,

00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:50.139
 and Andrew,

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:50.639
 if you could put up

00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.220
 the next point,

00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.019
 sorry,

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.539
 the true and living God

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:56.600
 created all things good.

00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.879
 He did not create evil.

00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:01.460
 Evil is a blinding,

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.340
 breaking,

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:03.480
 bending,

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.679
 hiding,

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.019
 blurring,

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.019
 emptying of the good.

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:10.460
 That's what the Bible

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.179
 is telling us.

00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.659
 It's going to maintain,

00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:14.179
 if you read Genesis,

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:15.179
 if you read the Bible,

00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:15.699
 you're going to see

00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:16.120
 it's a very,

00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.819
 very consistent understanding

00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:19.000
 of the biblical worldview,

00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:20.879
 that God is light,

00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:21.379
 and in him

00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.659
 is no darkness at all.

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.840
 God is never evil,

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.639
 and he never does evil.

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.179
 That's why anybody

00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:31.240
 who says that part

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.419
 of their spiritual growth

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:34.259
 means forgiving God,

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.079
 they haven't understood

00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:35.819
 who God is,

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.759
 because God has never

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:38.000
 done anything evil to them.

00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:41.399
 That's what the Bible claims.

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.699
 And the Bible says

00:14:42.699 --> 00:14:43.500
 that God has created

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.299
 all things,

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.279
 he creates all things good,

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:50.179
 he did not create evil,

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.960
 and therefore,

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.639
 evil in a sense

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.939
 is always a breaking

00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:56.319
 or a misuse

00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:57.559
 or an emptying

00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:58.699
 or a blurring

00:14:58.699 --> 00:14:59.980
 or a hiding

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:02.000
 or an exaggerating

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.100
 or of some good thing,

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:08.080
 and by the emptying,

00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:09.920
 emptying,

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:10.800
 removing,

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:11.580
 bending,

00:15:11.920 --> 00:15:12.320
 breaking,

00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:13.279
 blurring,

00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:14.139
 darkening

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:16.240
 of that which is good,

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:17.980
 that is what evil is.

00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.259
 That's what Christians believe.

00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:21.420
 That's what this text

00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:21.820
 is saying

00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:22.899
 when it says,

00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:23.840
 in him was life

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.560
 and the life

00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:25.840
 was the light

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.720
 of humankind.

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:27.759
 The light

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.759
 shines on

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:31.060
 in the darkness,

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.500
 but the darkness

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.960
 has not mastered it.

00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:35.160
 That's what the text

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.639
 is saying.

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.559
 It's saying

00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:39.379
 that evil

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.600
 is real,

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.559
 it's not an illusion.

00:15:42.839 --> 00:15:43.539
 That's another thing

00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:44.519
 that many people believe

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.120
 is that evil

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.100
 is just an illusion.

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.860
 It's not real.

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.579
 Peshawar was real,

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.159
 wasn't it?

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:54.919
 Was it,

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.179
 I think,

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.779
 it was the president

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.419
 of Pakistan

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.319
 said it was a very,

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.740
 I thought it was

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:59.100
 a very, very wise thing.

00:15:59.319 --> 00:15:59.819
 I hope I get

00:15:59.819 --> 00:16:00.480
 the quote right.

00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:03.120
 The lightest casket

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.759
 is the heaviest burden

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.500
 to carry.

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.940
 The lightest casket

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:10.000
 is the heaviest burden

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.919
 to carry.

00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.759
 And I know that

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.360
 even as I,

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.519
 as we look at this text

00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:14.960
 this morning

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.600
 that there's people

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.179
 in the congregation

00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:17.139
 who've been raped,

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.539
 who have been victims

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.600
 of sexual abuse,

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.360
 who've witnessed genocide.

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.179
 Some of us

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.740
 might have lived

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.139
 relatively safe

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.580
 and protected lives,

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.139
 but there are

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.860
 some,

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.440
 maybe many,

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:30.180
 in our congregation

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.559
 who know that evil

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.799
 is never an illusion,

00:16:33.739 --> 00:16:34.739
 that evil is real,

00:16:35.859 --> 00:16:37.159
 that darkness is real.

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.299
 And the Bible

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.219
 affirms that,

00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:41.359
 but it affirms

00:16:41.359 --> 00:16:42.259
 that it's always

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.959
 a bending,

00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:43.620
 breaking,

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:44.459
 distorting,

00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:45.599
 misuse of that

00:16:45.599 --> 00:16:46.019
 which is good.

00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.239
 I mean,

00:16:46.239 --> 00:16:46.899
 even think of this

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.399
 terrible thing

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:47.979
 in Peshawar.

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.439
 You know,

00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:51.319
 the fact that the men

00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:52.839
 had ability to plan

00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:54.240
 is a good thing.

00:16:54.359 --> 00:16:55.199
 The fact that men

00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:56.059
 had strength

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.639
 and health

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:58.219
 and all of those things,

00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.759
 those are good things.

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:00.319
 You know,

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.519
 we pray for those things

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.159
 in our kids,

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:02.559
 don't we?

00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.479
 That they can plan,

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:06.159
 that they can be strong

00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:07.460
 and that they can be healthy

00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.859
 and that they can accomplish

00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.819
 their plans,

00:17:09.919 --> 00:17:10.359
 that they can have

00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:10.899
 determination

00:17:10.899 --> 00:17:12.639
 and will.

00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:13.359
 And yet,

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.240
 all these things

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:14.799
 that are good

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.740
 are completely

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:17.000
 and utterly misused

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.700
 and we wonder

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.500
 what on earth

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.240
 goes on

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.859
 in their souls,

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.819
 in their minds,

00:17:21.919 --> 00:17:22.619
 in their hearts.

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:22.919
 Like,

00:17:23.179 --> 00:17:24.419
 what did they put

00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:25.339
 to death?

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:26.980
 What did they

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.200
 cancel out?

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:30.519
 What did they exaggerate?

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.960
 How could they possibly

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.120
 take the normal,

00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:35.620
 good human concern

00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:37.360
 for your group,

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.480
 which is a good thing

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.220
 to have a concern

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.120
 for your family

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:40.960
 or your group?

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.059
 That's not a bad thing

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:42.779
 to have a concern

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.160
 for that,

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.299
 but how is it

00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:46.180
 that they so exaggerated

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.180
 that concern

00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:48.840
 and put to death

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:50.220
 anything to do

00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.940
 with human compassion

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.100
 and how could they

00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:53.920
 exaggerate

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.920
 and darken

00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:55.920
 and remove

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.140
 and bend

00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:57.740
 and misuse

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:59.039
 so that the good things

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.580
 in them

00:17:59.580 --> 00:18:00.180
 were used

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.279
 to create something

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.860
 which is,

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:03.380
 if not pure evil,

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.559
 really close to it.

00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.420
 And that's what

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.340
 the Bible claims.

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.519
 That's what the Bible

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.019
 claims.

00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:13.900
 In God,

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.279
 there is no darkness.

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:16.840
 In God,

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.080
 he is only light.

00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.519
 He is only life.

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.319
 To walk towards

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:22.559
 the true and living God

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.000
 is to walk towards light.

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.319
 To walk towards

00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:26.460
 the true and living God

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.839
 is to walk towards life.

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:29.500
 To walk towards Jesus

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:32.440
 is to walk towards life.

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:33.839
 Always.

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.059
 And the darkness,

00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:37.940
 which is real,

00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:38.879
 not an illusion,

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.200
 is a bending,

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:40.799
 breaking,

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.639
 distorting,

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.379
 misuse,

00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.139
 emptying,

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:43.839
 blurring

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.879
 of good things.

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:48.099
 And that's why it is,

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.859
 on one hand,

00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.099
 we have this sense

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:51.319
 that surely

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.279
 if there is a God

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.079
 that does exist,

00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:54.059
 he must be good.

00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.399
 We have problems

00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:56.659
 as to why these things happen.

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.799
 I'm not going to talk about that

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.740
 very much in the sermon.

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.299
 But we have these

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.559
 dual senses

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.819
 that that is evil

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:04.639
 and that there is

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.719
 this thing which is good

00:19:05.719 --> 00:19:07.579
 and that to be human

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:09.839
 is to choose goodness.

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.399
 To be human

00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:14.279
 is to try to move

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.979
 towards goodness.

00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.779
 And we believe that.

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.799
 the Bible teaches,

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.019
 in fact,

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:20.420
 I would say that only the Bible,

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.879
 the biblical worldview,

00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:24.200
 properly articulates

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:25.460
 in both ideas

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.740
 and grand narrative

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:28.859
 that fundamental

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.019
 human

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.579
 sense

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:33.940
 that,

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.220
 you know,

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.980
 many of you,

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.559
 maybe some of,

00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:39.420
 maybe only a few of you

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.059
 know that for me

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.920
 when I was on my,

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.119
 in my early,

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.960
 I became a Christian

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.619
 in grade 12

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:45.759
 and I had many,

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.819
 I've had times of doubt

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:49.039
 throughout the years

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.719
 but most of my,

00:19:49.739 --> 00:19:50.439
 my real doubts

00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:51.479
 were when I was at university

00:19:51.479 --> 00:19:53.079
 and then in my two different times

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.039
 in graduate school.

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:55.979
 And,

00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:56.419
 but,

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:56.659
 you know,

00:19:56.719 --> 00:19:57.279
 for me,

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.019
 as I was struggling

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.799
 with different things

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.979
 about whether the Christian faith

00:20:00.979 --> 00:20:01.479
 was true,

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.199
 for me there was

00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:03.119
 sort of always a bit

00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.939
 of a touchstone

00:20:03.939 --> 00:20:04.599
 early on

00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:06.099
 and that was a statement

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.139
 by Dostoevsky

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:08.259
 that if God is dead,

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:09.559
 all things are permissible.

00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:11.740
 If God is dead,

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.980
 all things are permissible.

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.319
 And I,

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.099
 I actually think

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:16.379
 that outside of the Christian faith

00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:17.679
 that's unanswerable.

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.819
 I think it's unanswerable.

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:22.480
 And,

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:22.859
 um,

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.779
 if God is dead,

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.919
 all things are permissible.

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.019
 And,

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:26.379
 um,

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:29.079
 and that was always part of the thing

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:30.759
 that helped me to frame it

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.720
 that other systems of thought

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.179
 weren't really wrestling with this

00:20:34.179 --> 00:20:35.619
 that amongst other things,

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:35.839
 whether,

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.059
 whether I was just dealing

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.319
 with the claims of science

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.539
 or,

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.039
 because I,

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.899
 I did sociology,

00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:41.099
 social science backgrounds,

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.859
 which as you know

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.319
 have a,

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.899
 a leeching effect

00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.500
 of taking away

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.159
 the Christian faith.

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:47.039
 There are far fewer sociologists

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.819
 or psychologists

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.500
 who are Christians

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.299
 than physicists.

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:50.960
 Um,

00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:52.559
 that's a whole other topic

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.339
 of conversation

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.359
 as to why that would be.

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.059
 There's a physicist

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.539
 in the room.

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.559
 You might want to talk to him

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:56.839
 after,

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.799
 after the service,

00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:59.019
 get his thoughts about it.

00:20:59.599 --> 00:20:59.919
 But,

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.399
 um,

00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.480
 but if God is dead,

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.639
 all things are permissible.

00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:05.339
 But how could what happened

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.099
 in Peshawar

00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.359
 be permissible?

00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:11.599
 How can it not be the case

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.500
 that that is wrong?

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:15.200
 How could it not be?

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.419
 So some of you might say,

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:21.119
 okay, George,

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:23.039
 so you reject evil

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.000
 as an illusion.

00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:25.240
 Um,

00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:26.759
 and you're really also saying

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.419
 that the idea

00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:28.819
 that evil is just an opinion,

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.319
 that it's a social construct,

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.799
 that it's just somebody's view.

00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.599
 You think it's evil,

00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.279
 but other people

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.200
 don't think it's evil.

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:35.680
 That things like Peshawar

00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:37.019
 show that that's not the case.

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:37.920
 But, George,

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:39.380
 don't you sort of maybe think

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:39.660
 that,

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.360
 um,

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.319
 you need to have

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.940
 some evil and darkness

00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.460
 in the world

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.460
 so that you can understand

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:44.980
 what's good?

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.400
 Um,

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.299
 a couple of weeks ago

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.100
 I saw on DVD

00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:49.000
 the movie The Giver.

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.819
 And, um,

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.759
 and part of that,

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.160
 in fact,

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.779
 is, uh,

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:54.000
 that's actually part of the dialogue

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.600
 in the movie.

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:56.059
 It's a very, very common thing.

00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.240
 I've heard many people

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.519
 say it to me in coffee shops,

00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.580
 I've seen it in many movies,

00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:00.400
 that, uh,

00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.539
 the reason there's darkness,

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.720
 the reason there's evil,

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.140
 is because you need this

00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:05.319
 to be able to see

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.019
 and understand,

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.880
 uh, the light.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.980
 You need it to be able to see

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.059
 and understand goodness.

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.319
 Is,

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.539
 is that sort of what

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.539
 the Bible is saying here?

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:12.440
 Is that why there's sort of

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.059
 evil in the world?

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.960
 Well, let's say verses

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.960
 four and five again,

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.900
 if you could put that up.

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.779
 There we go.

00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.620
 Say it with me.

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.759
 In him was life,

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.779
 and the life was the light

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.779
 of humankind.

00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.059
 The light shines on

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.920
 in the darkness,

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.339
 but the darkness

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:28.860
 has not mastered it.

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.980
 That's the verse

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.900
 which we're looking at.

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.660
 And, um,

00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.740
 so first of all,

00:22:33.040 --> 00:22:33.340
 um,

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.360
 you'd see that if God,

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:34.780
 if,

00:22:34.780 --> 00:22:37.000
 if God is good

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.080
 in and of himself,

00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:39.340
 then he doesn't need evil

00:22:39.340 --> 00:22:40.860
 to be able to understand him.

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.480
 Um,

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.160
 and if God is light,

00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:45.120
 like,

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.180
 you can understand light

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.380
 without there being darkness.

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.019
 You can understand that,

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:49.200
 but,

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.640
 but the Bible's gonna actually

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.400
 say something,

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:51.980
 uh,

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.240
 far more profound.

00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.840
 It's going to say,

00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:56.060
 and if you could put this up,

00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:56.400
 Andrew,

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.200
 evil is real,

00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:00.700
 but it cannot master

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.920
 the uncreated light

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.380
 which shines on.

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.040
 Evil is real,

00:23:07.540 --> 00:23:09.320
 but it cannot master

00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:11.340
 the uncreated light

00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:13.040
 which shines on.

00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.120
 You know,

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.340
 you look at verse four,

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.640
 in him was life,

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.140
 and the life was the light

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.600
 of men.

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:21.500
 It's saying

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:24.459
 that Jesus,

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.339
 God,

00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:26.359
 the son of God,

00:23:26.699 --> 00:23:28.539
 is uncreated life,

00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:31.980
 and that he is

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:34.539
 uncreated light.

00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.559
 Unless some of us

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.459
 have had some type

00:23:38.459 --> 00:23:39.419
 of a mystical vision

00:23:39.419 --> 00:23:40.019
 of God,

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.859
 all we see

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.779
 is created light.

00:23:44.699 --> 00:23:45.679
 But there is

00:23:45.679 --> 00:23:47.039
 an uncreated light

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.359
 behind all light,

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:50.219
 and an uncreated life

00:23:50.219 --> 00:23:51.519
 behind all life.

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.039
 And in Jesus,

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.959
 that's what we see.

00:23:57.159 --> 00:23:57.980
 We see

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.480
 uncreated life

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.159
 and uncreated light.

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:02.399
 And in,

00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:03.579
 in verse five,

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.819
 actually,

00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:05.059
 Andrew,

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:05.579
 could you put up

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.519
 verse four and five again?

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.319
 Could you say it

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:07.819
 with me again?

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.659
 In him was life,

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.899
 and the life

00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.719
 was the light

00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.500
 of humankind.

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.939
 The light

00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:16.000
 shines on

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.799
 in the darkness,

00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:18.119
 and the darkness

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:19.759
 has not mastered it.

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.379
 The Bible here

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:21.919
 is saying

00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:23.559
 that evil is real,

00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:24.159
 but it cannot

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.339
 master the uncreated

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.939
 light which shines on.

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.259
 And in some

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.859
 of your Bible

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.500
 translations,

00:24:29.739 --> 00:24:30.279
 probably none

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.819
 of your Bible

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.500
 translations

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.339
 uses the word

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:32.879
 mastered.

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.639
 Most of your

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.759
 Bible translations

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.579
 probably either use

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.579
 that the word

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:38.899
 can,

00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:40.459
 that the evil,

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.000
 darkness,

00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:41.659
 has not

00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.599
 overcome it,

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.639
 or it says

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.139
 that darkness

00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.379
 has not understood it.

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.800
 And this is a very

00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:48.440
 interesting thing.

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.640
 In the original language,

00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.940
 the word that John chose

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:54.060
 means one of those

00:24:54.060 --> 00:24:54.820
 two things.

00:24:55.540 --> 00:24:56.160
 And it means

00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.740
 both of those

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.340
 two things.

00:24:57.820 --> 00:24:58.760
 And most scholars

00:24:58.760 --> 00:24:59.660
 believe that John

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.700
 chose the word

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.800
 precisely,

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.120
 and phrasing it

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:04.620
 in this precise way

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.540
 to try to communicate

00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:06.560
 these two ideas

00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:07.460
 at the same time.

00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.900
 And that's exactly

00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.800
 what John intended

00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:11.060
 to do.

00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.300
 But because in English,

00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:13.900
 generally speaking,

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:15.620
 you can't do it

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.540
 until actually

00:25:16.540 --> 00:25:17.320
 just a translation

00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:17.840
 just written

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.840
 a couple of years ago

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:20.160
 suggested that

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.080
 mastered it

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:23.240
 captures it better

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.300
 because you can talk

00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:24.900
 about mastering

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.460
 a subject

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.060
 in terms of

00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:26.500
 knowing it,

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.200
 and you talk

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.900
 about mastering

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.900
 something in terms

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.540
 of overcoming it,

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:30.759
 you know,

00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:31.480
 that you mastered

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.080
 your opponent

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.759
 or you mastered

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.360
 your subject.

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.300
 It's still not

00:25:34.300 --> 00:25:35.040
 perfect because

00:25:35.040 --> 00:25:35.840
 the word means

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.840
 both understand

00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.860
 and overcome.

00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.480
 And the first

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.120
 thing it's saying

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.960
 is that darkness

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.200
 can never

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.900
 understand light,

00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:46.440
 that evil

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:48.519
 cannot understand

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.400
 goodness.

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.200
 It just can't.

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.299
 Like,

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.360
 do you think

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.980
 that those men

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.960
 who killed

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:59.840
 those 148 people,

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.539
 do you think

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.500
 they could understand

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.180
 Mother Teresa?

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.299
 I mean,

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.860
 let's be honest,

00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.460
 most of us

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.240
 couldn't understand

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.900
 Mother Teresa,

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.200
 and we're not

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.039
 nearly as wicked

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.299
 as them.

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.339
 You know,

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:14.940
 and you just

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.519
 think about it

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.019
 in general.

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.420
 Like,

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:18.000
 can a man

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:20.259
 who's captivated

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.079
 and consumed

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.819
 with lust

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.960
 in pornography,

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.819
 while he is

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.619
 consumed with

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.019
 the lust

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.879
 and the pornography,

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:29.099
 can he

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.899
 appreciate

00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:30.559
 the goodness?

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.200
 Can he create,

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.240
 can he at that

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.000
 moment understand

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.500
 the goodness

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.399
 of sex

00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:38.019
 in its proper

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.519
 place,

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.240
 or the goodness

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.759
 of a woman?

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.420
 when one

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:42.859
 of us

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.899
 is consumed

00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:46.059
 with anger,

00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:48.639
 when we're

00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.759
 just so angry

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.680
 and maybe

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.539
 storming around

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.039
 the house

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.619
 and yelling,

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.440
 at those moments

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:55.940
 that we are

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.980
 filled with anger,

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.460
 do we understand

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.539
 peace or quiet?

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.039
 Do we understand

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.659
 turning the other

00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.099
 cheek?

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.119
 Do we understand

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:05.960
 stillness and

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.759
 self-possession?

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:06.839
 sobriety?

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.720
 In fact,

00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.940
 you know,

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.079
 when a person

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.740
 is completely

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.279
 drunk,

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.480
 do they understand

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.940
 sobriety at that

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.240
 moment?

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.240
 Like,

00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:16.839
 if you think

00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.460
 about it for a

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:17.640
 second,

00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:19.379
 isn't all evil,

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.299
 isn't all

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.960
 darkness,

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.220
 do something

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.140
 which stops

00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.160
 the human being

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.879
 from being able

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.879
 to understand

00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:26.680
 that which is

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.579
 virtue or good?

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:29.919
 And that's

00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:30.619
 what the Bible

00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.279
 is saying here.

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.359
 The light shines

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.220
 on in the

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.679
 darkness,

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.339
 but the darkness

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.659
 has not understood

00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:36.980
 it.

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.720
 And it's also

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.220
 saying,

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.559
 and it's here,

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.699
 scholars think

00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:42.619
 that John is

00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:43.179
 in some ways

00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:43.980
 already pointing

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.539
 to what's going

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.059
 to happen at the

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.419
 end of the

00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:45.759
 gospel,

00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.439
 the fact that

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.379
 the God,

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.179
 the Son of God,

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.879
 the uncreated

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.240
 light,

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.879
 the uncreated

00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:50.639
 life will come

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.059
 and walk

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.599
 amongst us,

00:27:51.679 --> 00:27:52.119
 he'll die

00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:52.939
 upon the cross,

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.759
 and that

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.200
 that moment

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.100
 that would

00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:57.059
 for darkness

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.880
 seem as if it

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.860
 was darkness's

00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.980
 greatest victory

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:01.240
 with God,

00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.259
 the Son of God

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:03.360
 dying upon the

00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:03.940
 cross,

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.259
 is in fact

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.100
 the moment

00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:06.860
 that darkness

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.740
 is completely

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.480
 and utterly

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.160
 defeated.

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.380
 It doesn't

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:12.240
 understand that

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.259
 the wrong thing

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.019
 to do was to

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.779
 put Jesus on

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.400
 the cross

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.440
 to kill him.

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.279
 And that it's

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.200
 moment of appearing

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.400
 to overcome

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.200
 God,

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.019
 the Son of God

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.640
 is the moment

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:22.980
 that it's

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.380
 defeated,

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:23.900
 and that

00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.340
 Jesus,

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.600
 tasting all

00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.040
 there is to

00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.500
 taste of

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:26.820
 death,

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.400
 after he's

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:27.960
 tasted all

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.380
 there is to

00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:28.840
 taste of

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.360
 sin and

00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:29.860
 evil and

00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.200
 hostile

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.720
 spiritual

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.259
 powers,

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.220
 rises

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.960
 triumphant

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.680
 over sin

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.040
 and death

00:28:34.040 --> 00:28:34.520
 and all

00:28:34.520 --> 00:28:35.040
 hostile

00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:35.580
 spiritual

00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.220
 powers in

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.380
 his

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:36.880
 resurrection,

00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:38.300
 because the

00:28:38.300 --> 00:28:38.720
 darkness

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.759
 has not

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.580
 overcome it.

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.200
 And that's

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.980
 why it says

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.660
 the light

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.880
 shines on.

00:28:45.560 --> 00:28:45.920
 I chose

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.259
 the net

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.740
 version of

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.100
 the Bible

00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:47.580
 because it

00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:48.420
 emphasizes that

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:48.740
 the light

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:50.040
 shines and

00:28:50.040 --> 00:28:50.320
 that it

00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:51.060
 shines on.

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.299
 You see,

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:52.799
 friends,

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.419
 this is the

00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:55.440
 reason that

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.419
 as texts

00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:56.940
 like this

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.559
 enter into

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.000
 our heads,

00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:59.099
 that's why

00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.859
 it is,

00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:00.639
 in confidence

00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.500
 of this text,

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.440
 that we can

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.339
 walk towards

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:03.919
 darkness.

00:29:04.139 --> 00:29:05.059
 Not walk

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:06.059
 towards darkness

00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.059
 so that the

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.740
 darkness will

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.639
 overwhelm us.

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.519
 The darkness

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.359
 will claim

00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.319
 that it has

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.899
 to always

00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:12.259
 exist.

00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:12.859
 The darkness

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:13.500
 will claim

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.159
 that it's

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:15.099
 necessary for

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.379
 us to

00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.079
 understand the

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.240
 good.

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:16.859
 darkness

00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.579
 will claim

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.220
 that we

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.599
 have to

00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:18.980
 make our

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.680
 peace with

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:19.819
 it,

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.319
 that we

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:20.620
 have to

00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:20.980
 make our

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.500
 peace with

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.460
 our alcoholism

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:22.920
 or with

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.660
 our addictions

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.440
 or with

00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.700
 pornography or

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.220
 we have to

00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:26.779
 make peace

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.779
 with prostitution

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.900
 or all

00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.460
 sorts of other

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:29.900
 things that we

00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:30.599
 need to make

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.160
 peace with

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.620
 this because

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.259
 these things

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.740
 are somehow

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.380
 necessary,

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.039
 that we

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.460
 need to

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.019
 make peace

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.259
 with people

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:36.680
 who will

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:39.180
 butcher 148

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.079
 innocent people

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:41.039
 and evil

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.640
 and darkness

00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.620
 will always say

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.099
 that it is

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.980
 necessary and

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.599
 this text

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.319
 says that the

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.200
 light shines

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.559
 on and

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.220
 that we

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.859
 are to

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.799
 walk towards

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.599
 the darkness

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.759
 to shine

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.279
 light,

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:52.939
 that the

00:29:52.939 --> 00:29:53.500
 darkness

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.859
 will be

00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:56.159
 no more.

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.839
 We understand

00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.159
 that the

00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.539
 darkness,

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.559
 that that final

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.279
 overcoming the

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.839
 darkness will

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:02.539
 only happen

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.039
 when Jesus

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.899
 returns in

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.939
 his second

00:30:04.939 --> 00:30:05.519
 coming and

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.819
 the new

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.220
 heaven and

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.460
 the new

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:06.799
 earth are

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.240
 brought in,

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:07.879
 but on

00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:08.559
 this side

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:08.879
 of the

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.799
 grave still

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.960
 we walk

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.720
 towards the

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.519
 darkness in

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:12.839
 our own

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.099
 life.

00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:13.619
 No,

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.259
 I do not

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:14.679
 have to

00:30:14.679 --> 00:30:15.200
 make peace

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.620
 with my

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.019
 addiction.

00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:16.819
 No,

00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.420
 I do not

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:17.880
 have to

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.460
 make peace

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.140
 with these

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.620
 memories

00:30:19.620 --> 00:30:20.580
 that completely

00:30:20.580 --> 00:30:21.440
 torment me.

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:21.920
 No,

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.480
 I do not

00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:22.860
 have to

00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:23.319
 make peace

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:23.660
 with the

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.019
 voice of

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.720
 accusation

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.000
 in my

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.180
 head.

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:25.660
 No,

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.259
 we do not

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.680
 have to

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.100
 make peace

00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.759
 with darkness

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.100
 in the

00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:28.259
 world.

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.299
 We can

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.880
 walk

00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.539
 towards it

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.400
 because the

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.360
 light shines

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:33.519
 on and the

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.640
 darkness has

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.440
 not mastered

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.279
 it and never

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:36.580
 will.

00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.240
 It is the

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.900
 basis to

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.720
 walk towards

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.180
 evil,

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.380
 evil,

00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:45.299
 to humbly

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.700
 walk towards

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.259
 evil,

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.860
 to resist

00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.100
 it,

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:49.740
 to say

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.060
 no,

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.980
 to shine

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.320
 light,

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:51.980
 the light

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.600
 of life,

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.160
 the light

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:53.720
 of truth,

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.320
 the light

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:54.900
 of goodness,

00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.460
 the light

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.039
 of mercy,

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.759
 the light

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.259
 of peace,

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:57.920
 the light

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.720
 of justice.

00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:02.519
 So some

00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:02.720
 of you

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.120
 might say,

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.360
 oh,

00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:03.980
 George,

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:06.100
 now you

00:31:06.100 --> 00:31:06.660
 just all

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.120
 of a sudden,

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.420
 George,

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:07.799
 I thought

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.240
 you said

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.539
 that you

00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:08.839
 were a

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.380
 marsh wiggle.

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.240
 All of a

00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.480
 sudden,

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:10.940
 you sound

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.400
 like some

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:11.819
 blind

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.759
 optimist.

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.180
 Good grief,

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:15.680
 George.

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.400
 What happened

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.200
 to George,

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:19.039
 my marsh wiggle

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.759
 puddle glum

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.519
 friend at the

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:20.880
 front?

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.839
 All of a

00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.100
 sudden,

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.720
 the evil

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.600
 is not the

00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.440
 final word

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:27.860
 and the

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:28.500
 words of

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.859
 Winston

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.339
 Churchill.

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:29.759
 We will

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.339
 fight it

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:30.980
 on the

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.319
 beaches.

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:31.740
 We will

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.140
 fight it

00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:32.380
 in the

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:32.740
 fields.

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.099
 We will

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.680
 fight it

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.599
 street to

00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:34.859
 street.

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.160
 We will

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.559
 fight it

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:35.839
 in our

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.180
 hearts.

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:37.400
 Well,

00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:38.700
 you see,

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.339
 the fact

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:39.640
 is,

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.579
 let's look

00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:41.839
 at the

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.460
 text and

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.039
 then let's

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.339
 look at

00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.220
 what happens

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.799
 just after

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.420
 verses 4

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.900
 and 5.

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:46.539
 I wonder

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:46.779
 if you

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.099
 could put

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.680
 verses 4

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:47.960
 to 8

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.279
 up there

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:48.559
 on the

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:48.880
 screen

00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.680
 and let's

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.000
 read it

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.400
 together.

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.319
 There we

00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:53.519
 go.

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:54.799
 Please read

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.059
 it with

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.259
 me.

00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.119
 In him

00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:57.039
 was life

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.859
 and the

00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:58.579
 life was

00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.159
 the light

00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:00.119
 of humankind.

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.359
 The light

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.459
 shines on

00:32:02.459 --> 00:32:02.879
 in the

00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.339
 darkness,

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.279
 but the

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.719
 darkness

00:32:04.719 --> 00:32:05.500
 has not

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.319
 mastered it.

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.439
 There was

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.399
 a man sent

00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:09.199
 from God

00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:10.059
 whose name

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.799
 was John.

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:11.979
 He came

00:32:11.979 --> 00:32:12.819
 as a witness

00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:14.039
 to bear witness

00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.699
 about the

00:32:14.699 --> 00:32:15.699
 light that

00:32:15.699 --> 00:32:16.359
 all might

00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:17.199
 believe through

00:32:17.199 --> 00:32:17.599
 him.

00:32:18.219 --> 00:32:19.019
 He was not

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.599
 the light,

00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.599
 but came

00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:21.079
 to bear

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:22.179
 witness about

00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:22.699
 the light.

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.680
 all of

00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.140
 a sudden

00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:26.299
 it goes

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:26.840
 in verses

00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:28.240
 1 to 5

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.920
 of these

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.640
 profound

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:31.180
 philosophical,

00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.180
 theological,

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.000
 spiritual

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.980
 categories and

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.519
 ideas,

00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:36.039
 and all of

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.600
 a sudden

00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:38.140
 it shifts

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:39.340
 to history.

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.039
 Notice that?

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.519
 There was a

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.039
 man sent

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.640
 from God

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.440
 whose name

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.000
 was John.

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.000
 John.

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:47.000
 There was

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.019
 a man sent

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.640
 from God

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.420
 whose name

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.039
 was John.

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.799
 And now

00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.440
 John is

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:52.859
 starting to

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.420
 narrow it,

00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:53.980
 the gospel

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.299
 is starting

00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:54.740
 to narrow

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.079
 it as

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.259
 he's

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:55.720
 introducing

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.500
 Jesus to

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.039
 talk about

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.079
 Jesus of

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.539
 Nazareth.

00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:58.940
 In fact,

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.299
 if you could

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.579
 put up

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.319
 verse 14,

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:00.680
 Andrew,

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.279
 you folks

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:02.640
 could say

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.039
 that with

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.279
 me.

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.019
 And the

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.859
 word became

00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.960
 flesh and

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.579
 dwelt among

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.019
 us,

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.140
 and we have

00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:09.759
 seen his

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.299
 glory,

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.839
 glory as of

00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.759
 the only son

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.220
 from the

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:13.619
 father,

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.819
 full of

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.519
 grace and

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:15.979
 truth.

00:33:17.639 --> 00:33:18.459
 See, the

00:33:18.459 --> 00:33:18.959
 Bible is

00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.699
 saying a

00:33:19.699 --> 00:33:20.379
 most profound

00:33:20.379 --> 00:33:20.779
 thing.

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.359
 John wants

00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:22.939
 to introduce

00:33:22.939 --> 00:33:23.399
 Jesus.

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.279
 He wants

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.819
 to say,

00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.899
 here's

00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:26.379
 Jesus.

00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:26.939
 Who's

00:33:26.939 --> 00:33:27.439
 Jesus?

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.159
 And John

00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:29.839
 chooses to

00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:30.259
 introduce

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.079
 Jesus in

00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:32.299
 these grand

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.799
 narrative,

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.299
 in these

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:34.139
 grand

00:33:34.139 --> 00:33:34.939
 philosophical,

00:33:35.199 --> 00:33:35.699
 theological,

00:33:35.939 --> 00:33:37.000
 spiritual ideas,

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:37.979
 and he's

00:33:37.979 --> 00:33:38.319
 saying,

00:33:38.939 --> 00:33:39.379
 if you could

00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:39.779
 put up the

00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.039
 point,

00:33:40.139 --> 00:33:40.439
 Andrew,

00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:41.959
 that Jesus,

00:33:42.219 --> 00:33:42.879
 Jesus of

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.399
 Nazareth,

00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:44.059
 in a sense,

00:33:44.159 --> 00:33:44.519
 is the

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.339
 uncreated

00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.539
 light made

00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.059
 flesh.

00:33:47.719 --> 00:33:48.399
 He walked

00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:49.419
 among us

00:33:49.419 --> 00:33:50.719
 where darkness

00:33:50.719 --> 00:33:51.639
 is.

00:33:54.719 --> 00:33:55.399
 That's what

00:33:55.399 --> 00:33:55.779
 the Bible

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.259
 is saying.

00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:57.019
 That's how

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.559
 John is

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.039
 introducing

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.539
 Jesus.

00:33:58.699 --> 00:33:59.039
 Who is

00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.419
 Jesus?

00:33:59.979 --> 00:34:00.519
 How should

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:00.939
 I talk

00:34:00.939 --> 00:34:01.179
 about

00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:01.559
 Jesus?

00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.259
 Jesus is

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.579
 real.

00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.639
 He was a

00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:05.319
 person in

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.759
 history.

00:34:06.879 --> 00:34:07.879
 He had an

00:34:07.879 --> 00:34:08.719
 adopted father,

00:34:08.819 --> 00:34:09.059
 he had

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.359
 mother,

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:09.719
 he had

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.440
 brothers and

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:10.839
 sisters.

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:10.960
 brothers.

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.340
 We don't

00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:12.559
 know,

00:34:12.640 --> 00:34:12.880
 but if

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.120
 you went

00:34:13.120 --> 00:34:13.559
 back in

00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:13.840
 time,

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.180
 you'd be

00:34:14.180 --> 00:34:14.480
 able to

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:14.900
 find out

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.320
 that he

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:15.620
 probably

00:34:15.620 --> 00:34:16.079
 thought his

00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.500
 mom's

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:16.980
 homus was

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.360
 the best

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:17.860
 homus in

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.280
 the world.

00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:20.360
 Just like

00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.539
 probably most

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.160
 Jewish boys

00:34:22.160 --> 00:34:22.660
 thought their

00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:23.180
 mother's

00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:23.760
 homus was

00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:24.200
 the best

00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:24.760
 homus in

00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.120
 the world

00:34:25.120 --> 00:34:26.380
 back then.

00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:26.880
 I don't

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:26.960
 know,

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.440
 maybe still,

00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:27.760
 I don't

00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:27.940
 know.

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.579
 And all

00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:30.960
 of a sudden

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.460
 it comes to

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:31.860
 history.

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:33.320
 But this

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.260
 person,

00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:36.260
 born in

00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:38.440
 Bethlehem,

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.579
 but known

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.059
 as Jesus

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.900
 of Nazareth,

00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.579
 he really

00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:43.519
 is the

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.360
 uncreated

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.300
 light made

00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:45.860
 flesh,

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.059
 and he

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.660
 walked among

00:34:47.660 --> 00:34:48.599
 us where

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.860
 darkness is.

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:51.620
 I mean,

00:34:51.660 --> 00:34:52.120
 we remember

00:34:52.120 --> 00:34:52.460
 the Roman

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.079
 Empire for

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.400
 its many

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.099
 great things,

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:54.680
 but we also

00:34:54.680 --> 00:34:55.019
 have to

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.640
 remember that

00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:56.059
 it was a

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.559
 place that

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.680
 one-third

00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:58.640
 of the people

00:34:58.640 --> 00:34:59.039
 who lived

00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.280
 in the

00:34:59.280 --> 00:34:59.820
 Roman Empire

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:00.700
 were slaves.

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:02.000
 One-third.

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.339
 One-third.

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:04.879
 Isn't that

00:35:04.879 --> 00:35:05.599
 mind-boggling?

00:35:05.779 --> 00:35:06.299
 One-third.

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.199
 And he

00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.759
 walked among

00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:10.119
 us.

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:15.579
 And that's

00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.139
 why you see

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:16.759
 that John

00:35:16.759 --> 00:35:17.379
 is going to

00:35:17.379 --> 00:35:17.719
 actually,

00:35:17.899 --> 00:35:18.399
 as all of

00:35:18.399 --> 00:35:18.899
 the gospel

00:35:18.899 --> 00:35:19.619
 writers and

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:19.980
 all of the

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.739
 gospel witnesses,

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.279
 they'll make

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:21.939
 claims that

00:35:21.939 --> 00:35:23.480
 Jesus really

00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.179
 did exist,

00:35:24.399 --> 00:35:25.239
 that you

00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:25.819
 read the

00:35:25.819 --> 00:35:26.639
 gospels and

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.279
 you read the

00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.179
 other early

00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:29.239
 Christian witnesses

00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.239
 and they get

00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:30.939
 the historical

00:35:30.939 --> 00:35:31.539
 details.

00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.099
 They try to

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.459
 get them

00:35:32.459 --> 00:35:33.119
 right and

00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.459
 they do

00:35:33.459 --> 00:35:33.959
 get them

00:35:33.959 --> 00:35:34.279
 right.

00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:35.379
 And they

00:35:35.379 --> 00:35:39.399
 get the

00:35:39.399 --> 00:35:40.379
 details right

00:35:40.379 --> 00:35:40.639
 and they

00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.000
 tell the

00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:41.859
 story right

00:35:41.859 --> 00:35:42.119
 and they

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:42.399
 want to

00:35:42.399 --> 00:35:42.799
 communicate

00:35:42.799 --> 00:35:43.279
 that this

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:43.839
 guy actually

00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:44.319
 did walk

00:35:44.319 --> 00:35:44.819
 amongst us

00:35:44.819 --> 00:35:45.079
 and he had

00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.579
 a three-year

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.179
 ministry and

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:46.359
 that he

00:35:46.359 --> 00:35:46.839
 really did

00:35:46.839 --> 00:35:47.500
 perform these

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.539
 miracles and

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:48.919
 that here

00:35:48.919 --> 00:35:49.339
 we're giving

00:35:49.339 --> 00:35:49.959
 you a copy

00:35:49.959 --> 00:35:50.519
 of the things

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:50.739
 that he

00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:51.479
 actually said

00:35:51.479 --> 00:35:52.519
 and they're

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:52.719
 going to

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.919
 culminate with

00:35:53.919 --> 00:35:54.979
 this other

00:35:54.979 --> 00:35:56.179
 massive historical

00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:57.779
 claim that he

00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:58.639
 really did die

00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.459
 upon the cross,

00:35:59.460 --> 00:35:59.920
 that he was

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.500
 sentenced upon

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:00.720
 death,

00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.139
 that he died

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.840
 upon the cross,

00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:02.220
 that he was

00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:02.880
 buried in a

00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.960
 particular tomb

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:05.220
 on the outskirts

00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:06.400
 of Jerusalem on

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.320
 a particular day

00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:08.340
 of the week and

00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:08.880
 that on another

00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.940
 particular day of

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.460
 the week that

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:11.159
 there were women

00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:12.000
 who went to go

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.699
 and anoint the

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:15.500
 body as a sign

00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.280
 of respect and

00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:17.000
 the body was

00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:18.019
 gone and other

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.619
 people went and

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.260
 the body was

00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:20.260
 gone and the

00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:21.039
 stone was rolled

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:22.119
 away and many

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.720
 people could have

00:36:22.720 --> 00:36:23.440
 gone to see that

00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.179
 the body was

00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:24.980
 gone and then

00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.860
 people claim that

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.519
 they'd seen him

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.760
 alive and not

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.920
 alive as a person

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.380
 who'd been

00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:29.900
 crucified.

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:31.200
 In fact, in all

00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:31.940
 of Roman history,

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:32.840
 in all of Roman

00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:34.460
 history, there were

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.200
 thousands and

00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:36.000
 thousands, hundreds

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.940
 of thousands of

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:38.220
 crucifixions in all

00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:39.000
 of human history.

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.940
 There is only one

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:41.900
 record, one record

00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:43.320
 of one man who

00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:44.400
 ever survived

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:46.659
 crucifixion and

00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:47.980
 that was with

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.800
 crucifixion

00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:50.440
 interrupted and

00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:51.180
 medical help

00:36:51.180 --> 00:36:52.860
 immediately there to

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.800
 try to care for

00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:55.559
 him and he

00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.860
 barely survived.

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:59.440
 all of history,

00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:01.480
 one survival of

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:03.240
 crucifixion and

00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:04.860
 it is undeniably

00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:05.920
 historically the

00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:06.320
 case.

00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.860
 Mentioned in Roman

00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:08.440
 and other

00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.340
 historians that

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:11.440
 Jesus died upon

00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:13.880
 the cross and

00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:14.740
 John and others

00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:15.620
 want you to say

00:37:15.620 --> 00:37:16.980
 and understand that

00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:18.220
 this same Jesus of

00:37:18.220 --> 00:37:19.660
 Nazareth predicted

00:37:19.660 --> 00:37:20.559
 that he would die

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:21.400
 upon the cross,

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.680
 predicted that he

00:37:22.680 --> 00:37:23.500
 would rise from

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:25.240
 the dead, that the

00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.919
 tomb was empty, that

00:37:26.919 --> 00:37:28.059
 the historical records

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:29.539
 show it, that there's

00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:30.739
 historical records that

00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:32.559
 he appeared alive,

00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.859
 fully, completely,

00:37:34.219 --> 00:37:35.479
 massively alive to

00:37:35.479 --> 00:37:36.599
 many people in many

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:38.359
 locations in over

00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:40.859
 40 days and that the

00:37:40.859 --> 00:37:41.759
 resurrection of

00:37:41.759 --> 00:37:44.539
 Jesus vindicates the

00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.759
 person and the

00:37:45.759 --> 00:37:47.139
 message of Jesus,

00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.679
 that Jesus was

00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:51.259
 uncreated light,

00:37:51.779 --> 00:37:53.639
 made flesh, who

00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:54.679
 walked among us

00:37:54.679 --> 00:37:56.339
 where darkness is.

00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:00.579
 Now, this week I've

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.759
 had two conversations

00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.199
 about God and

00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:03.539
 evil.

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.199
 The first one was

00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:07.779
 with a person, I

00:38:07.779 --> 00:38:08.199
 won't say anything

00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:10.679
 more, but she

00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:11.839
 shared with me that

00:38:11.839 --> 00:38:13.579
 any time she starts

00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:14.500
 to feel getting a

00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.420
 little bit drawn

00:38:15.420 --> 00:38:16.519
 towards the

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.219
 Christian faith or

00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:18.019
 some other religion,

00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.139
 she goes to

00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:20.359
 Netflix and she

00:38:20.359 --> 00:38:21.199
 watches the movie

00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:21.819
 Frailty.

00:38:22.819 --> 00:38:23.759
 I haven't seen it

00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:24.500
 yet, it's on my

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:26.179
 to-do list, but I

00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:27.159
 read the Wikipedia

00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:29.000
 summary, it's about

00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:30.519
 a man who comes and

00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:31.699
 tells his two boys

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:33.019
 that God has told

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.539
 him to start

00:38:33.539 --> 00:38:34.379
 murdering people.

00:38:35.799 --> 00:38:36.799
 And the movie then

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:38.419
 is about the man,

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:40.039
 with or without the

00:38:40.039 --> 00:38:41.039
 help of his sons,

00:38:41.839 --> 00:38:42.679
 murdering people

00:38:42.679 --> 00:38:43.399
 because that's what

00:38:43.399 --> 00:38:44.239
 God has told him to

00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:44.419
 do.

00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:46.799
 And my friend said

00:38:46.799 --> 00:38:47.899
 that any time she

00:38:47.899 --> 00:38:48.759
 starts to feel that

00:38:48.759 --> 00:38:49.960
 she's getting close to

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:50.920
 accepting something

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:51.800
 to do with

00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:52.659
 spirituality or

00:38:52.659 --> 00:38:54.440
 religion, to

00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:55.320
 cleanse her mind,

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.179
 she watches that

00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:56.519
 movie.

00:38:58.860 --> 00:38:59.940
 And a fellow just

00:38:59.940 --> 00:39:00.860
 told me, we had a

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:01.760
 long talk in a

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:02.559
 coffee shop just

00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:03.960
 yesterday, just

00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:04.720
 before I started to

00:39:04.720 --> 00:39:05.820
 work on this, finish

00:39:05.820 --> 00:39:07.900
 up the sermon, and

00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:09.019
 he was talking about

00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.800
 what just went on in

00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:11.360
 Peshawar, and he

00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:12.780
 was saying, George,

00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:13.720
 that's what religion

00:39:13.720 --> 00:39:14.480
 and that's what

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.780
 spirituality does.

00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:17.599
 It creates within

00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.920
 you that I'm right,

00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:19.860
 that we're right,

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:21.019
 that our tribe is

00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:22.039
 right, everybody

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:23.059
 else is wrong,

00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:24.800
 therefore we can

00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:26.059
 go and kill and

00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:26.760
 do whatever we

00:39:26.760 --> 00:39:27.619
 want because we

00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:28.760
 have some divine

00:39:28.760 --> 00:39:30.480
 special place.

00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:31.599
 And he said it

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.380
 justifies evil, it

00:39:33.380 --> 00:39:34.800
 justifies cruelty, it

00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:35.940
 justifies wickedness,

00:39:36.220 --> 00:39:37.260
 it's justified in

00:39:37.260 --> 00:39:38.200
 Christianity, it

00:39:38.200 --> 00:39:39.519
 justifies in Islam,

00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:41.659
 in Buddhism, in

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:43.079
 every religion.

00:39:43.300 --> 00:39:44.039
 That's what it does,

00:39:44.180 --> 00:39:44.460
 George.

00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:50.900
 Let's read the

00:39:50.900 --> 00:39:51.619
 text again, if you

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.199
 could put up verses

00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:52.820
 four to eight.

00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:54.900
 Could you read this

00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:55.320
 with me?

00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:58.400
 In him was life, and

00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:59.400
 the life was the

00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:00.500
 light of humankind.

00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:02.880
 The light shines on

00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:04.500
 in the darkness, but

00:40:04.500 --> 00:40:05.820
 the darkness has not

00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.619
 mastered it.

00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:08.599
 There was a man sent

00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:10.000
 from God whose name

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.699
 was John.

00:40:11.300 --> 00:40:12.380
 He came as a

00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:13.480
 witness to bear

00:40:13.480 --> 00:40:14.639
 witness about the

00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:15.900
 light, that all

00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.000
 might believe through

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.400
 him.

00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:19.079
 He was not the

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:20.659
 light, but came to

00:40:20.659 --> 00:40:21.880
 bear witness about

00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:22.539
 the light.

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:25.179
 What I said to my

00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:26.780
 friends are a

00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:27.460
 little bit different

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.880
 than what this text

00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:30.199
 is similar, but I

00:40:30.199 --> 00:40:31.000
 said to the first

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:34.719
 one that Christians

00:40:34.719 --> 00:40:35.760
 should never feel

00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:36.679
 that they're special,

00:40:37.780 --> 00:40:38.539
 and Christians should

00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:39.300
 never feel that

00:40:39.300 --> 00:40:40.719
 somehow their ideas

00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:42.159
 or their sacred

00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:42.719
 text,

00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:42.779
 text,

00:40:43.419 --> 00:40:44.419
 or their poetry

00:40:44.419 --> 00:40:44.779
 or their

00:40:44.779 --> 00:40:45.379
 philosophy,

00:40:46.139 --> 00:40:46.579
 that if a

00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:47.179
 Christian doesn't

00:40:47.179 --> 00:40:47.859
 understand that

00:40:47.859 --> 00:40:48.559
 they're a beggar

00:40:48.559 --> 00:40:49.639
 who's received

00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:50.659
 something from God

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:52.179
 completely undeserved,

00:40:52.879 --> 00:40:53.239
 they haven't

00:40:53.239 --> 00:40:53.799
 understood the

00:40:53.799 --> 00:40:54.399
 Christian faith.

00:40:55.279 --> 00:40:57.319
 I told her, I am

00:40:57.319 --> 00:40:58.619
 one beggar telling

00:40:58.619 --> 00:40:59.679
 another beggar where

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.299
 to find bread.

00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:02.039
 people who are a

00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:02.960
 Christian faith in the

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:03.300
 world.

00:41:03.300 --> 00:41:03.880
 I said to my

00:41:03.880 --> 00:41:04.880
 other friend that

00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:07.600
 the problem of evil

00:41:07.600 --> 00:41:10.080
 and the problem of

00:41:10.080 --> 00:41:13.100
 murder is not a

00:41:13.100 --> 00:41:14.160
 religious problem, it's

00:41:14.160 --> 00:41:17.120
 a human problem, and

00:41:17.120 --> 00:41:18.820
 that's why the

00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:19.680
 countries that he

00:41:19.680 --> 00:41:21.420
 posits or points to

00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.680
 as being spiritual but

00:41:22.680 --> 00:41:23.580
 not religious, high

00:41:23.580 --> 00:41:24.360
 percentage of people

00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:25.160
 saying that that's what

00:41:25.160 --> 00:41:26.180
 they are or that they

00:41:26.180 --> 00:41:26.760
 don't believe in any

00:41:26.760 --> 00:41:29.020
 God, that one of

00:41:29.020 --> 00:41:30.080
 those nations that is

00:41:30.080 --> 00:41:30.940
 very high and that is

00:41:30.940 --> 00:41:31.940
 China, which is one of

00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:32.960
 the worst abusers of

00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:33.860
 human rights on the

00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:34.180
 planet.

00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:36.280
 Another one is North

00:41:36.280 --> 00:41:37.660
 Korea, the worst abuser

00:41:37.660 --> 00:41:38.500
 of human rights on the

00:41:38.500 --> 00:41:38.740
 planet.

00:41:40.100 --> 00:41:41.400
 And I said that the

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:42.620
 atheistic states that

00:41:42.620 --> 00:41:43.500
 have existed like the

00:41:43.500 --> 00:41:46.260
 Union of USSR, terrible

00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:48.580
 abusers of human rights.

00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:51.059
 And I said the issue

00:41:51.059 --> 00:41:52.599
 isn't whether or not

00:41:52.599 --> 00:41:55.319
 evil happens, but

00:41:55.319 --> 00:41:56.819
 whether your philosophy

00:41:56.819 --> 00:41:58.599
 and your worldview can

00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:59.940
 understand it and has

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:01.159
 the resources and the

00:42:01.159 --> 00:42:02.139
 help to deal with it.

00:42:04.799 --> 00:42:06.599
 See, here's the thing to

00:42:06.599 --> 00:42:07.759
 understand with all of

00:42:07.759 --> 00:42:08.159
 these things.

00:42:08.279 --> 00:42:09.420
 You know, so far I've

00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:10.460
 said that God is light

00:42:10.460 --> 00:42:11.299
 and in him there is no

00:42:11.299 --> 00:42:12.039
 darkness at all.

00:42:12.099 --> 00:42:13.119
 I've said that the true

00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:14.380
 and living God created all

00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:15.759
 things good.

00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:16.900
 He did not create evil.

00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:18.079
 Evil is a blinding,

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:18.980
 breaking, bending,

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:20.219
 hiding, blurring,

00:42:20.340 --> 00:42:21.159
 emptying of the good.

00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:22.559
 And that evil is real,

00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:23.759
 but it cannot master the

00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:24.759
 uncreated light which

00:42:24.759 --> 00:42:25.539
 shines on.

00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:26.619
 And that Jesus is the

00:42:26.619 --> 00:42:27.539
 uncreated light made

00:42:27.539 --> 00:42:27.880
 flesh.

00:42:27.960 --> 00:42:28.920
 He walked among us where

00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:30.219
 darkness is.

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:32.880
 And here's the thing we

00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.500
 have to understand when

00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:34.219
 we hear this.

00:42:35.059 --> 00:42:36.079
 The fifth point.

00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:38.199
 The dividing line between

00:42:38.199 --> 00:42:40.380
 light and darkness, good

00:42:40.380 --> 00:42:42.679
 and evil, is not between

00:42:42.679 --> 00:42:43.239
 people.

00:42:44.039 --> 00:42:46.059
 It is a line within every

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:46.559
 person.

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:49.980
 The dividing line between

00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:51.699
 light and darkness, good

00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:53.920
 and evil, is not between

00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:54.380
 people.

00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:57.380
 It is a line within every

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:57.920
 person.

00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:01.199
 If you leave here thinking

00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:02.699
 we are the people of light

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:04.079
 and out there is darkness,

00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:05.279
 you've misheard the

00:43:05.279 --> 00:43:05.619
 scripture.

00:43:07.239 --> 00:43:08.880
 If you go away from here

00:43:08.880 --> 00:43:10.259
 thinking that Canada is the

00:43:10.259 --> 00:43:11.460
 place of light and the rest

00:43:11.460 --> 00:43:12.500
 of the world is darkness,

00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:13.880
 you've misheard the

00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:14.199
 scripture.

00:43:14.199 --> 00:43:16.839
 If you go away thinking

00:43:16.839 --> 00:43:18.000
 that all Christians are

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:19.619
 light and the rest of the

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:20.599
 world who are not

00:43:20.599 --> 00:43:21.779
 Christians are darkness, you

00:43:21.779 --> 00:43:22.960
 have misheard the

00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:23.319
 scripture.

00:43:25.299 --> 00:43:26.519
 The scripture wants to

00:43:26.519 --> 00:43:27.719
 understand that Jesus

00:43:27.719 --> 00:43:29.319
 walked amongst, walked

00:43:29.319 --> 00:43:30.379
 among us where darkness

00:43:30.379 --> 00:43:34.199
 is and that he looks you

00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:35.619
 and me in the eyes and he

00:43:35.619 --> 00:43:36.960
 sees that the dividing line

00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:38.799
 between good and evil runs

00:43:38.799 --> 00:43:40.039
 right down the center of who

00:43:40.039 --> 00:43:40.400
 we are.

00:43:43.719 --> 00:43:45.420
 That part of us is darkness

00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:46.679
 and part of us loves

00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:47.179
 darkness.

00:43:49.159 --> 00:43:50.500
 And in fact that there is

00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:51.679
 something within us which is

00:43:51.679 --> 00:43:53.940
 good and beautiful and whole

00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:57.019
 and that the line between them

00:43:57.019 --> 00:43:58.599
 is often very blurred and

00:43:58.599 --> 00:44:00.340
 confused and we are often very

00:44:00.340 --> 00:44:02.099
 blurred and confused in terms of

00:44:02.099 --> 00:44:02.820
 what we want.

00:44:02.820 --> 00:44:08.240
 because the line between light

00:44:08.240 --> 00:44:10.000
 and darkness runs down the

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:11.820
 center of every single person

00:44:11.820 --> 00:44:12.539
 who is here.

00:44:17.160 --> 00:44:18.720
 See in fact the Bible is trying

00:44:18.720 --> 00:44:22.080
 to tell us that if God is light

00:44:22.080 --> 00:44:23.900
 and in him is no darkness at all

00:44:23.900 --> 00:44:27.260
 how can we come to God when

00:44:27.260 --> 00:44:31.500
 darkness clings to me and darkness

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:34.500
 darkness clings to you and you

00:44:34.500 --> 00:44:38.599
 cannot shake the darkness and you

00:44:38.599 --> 00:44:41.840
 never can shake the darkness and

00:44:41.840 --> 00:44:44.539
 even in great moments of moral

00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:47.519
 triumph you often can end up being

00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:51.599
 proud of your moral triumph and so

00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:53.079
 the darkness rears its head.

00:44:56.599 --> 00:44:58.059
 We're not going to read the text.

00:44:58.219 --> 00:45:00.340
 Just listen to me as I read part of

00:45:00.340 --> 00:45:00.880
 the text.

00:45:02.320 --> 00:45:04.220
 In verse 7 it said he came as a

00:45:04.220 --> 00:45:05.680
 witness to bear witness about the

00:45:05.680 --> 00:45:08.600
 light that all might believe through

00:45:08.600 --> 00:45:09.019
 him.

00:45:09.579 --> 00:45:11.559
 He was not the light, that's John the

00:45:11.559 --> 00:45:13.660
 Baptist, but came to bear witness

00:45:13.660 --> 00:45:14.480
 about the light.

00:45:15.440 --> 00:45:17.039
 And in verse 7 when it says the word

00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:20.240
 believe it says it gives us the most

00:45:20.240 --> 00:45:23.780
 important verb in the book of John.

00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:29.740
 The word believe will occur 98 times.

00:45:30.340 --> 00:45:32.680
 It sort of gives you an idea that

00:45:32.680 --> 00:45:36.800
 that's what John wants us to do is to

00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:37.760
 believe in Jesus.

00:45:38.760 --> 00:45:40.240
 In fact, if you could put up the final

00:45:40.240 --> 00:45:40.900
 point, Andrew.

00:45:42.920 --> 00:45:45.120
 The Bible is teaching us that Jesus of

00:45:45.120 --> 00:45:47.780
 Nazareth did it all in his life and in

00:45:47.780 --> 00:45:49.120
 his death upon the cross.

00:45:49.740 --> 00:45:53.820
 And when I believe in him, I receive it

00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:54.380
 all.

00:45:54.380 --> 00:46:07.220
 See, that's what the text says.

00:46:07.640 --> 00:46:10.220
 It's pointing to why Jesus comes, that

00:46:10.220 --> 00:46:12.720
 Jesus in whom there is no darkness takes

00:46:13.440 --> 00:46:15.720
 upon himself my darkness and your

00:46:15.720 --> 00:46:16.160
 darkness.

00:46:16.159 --> 00:46:19.219
 That Jesus in whom there is no darkness

00:46:19.219 --> 00:46:22.519
 and evil takes upon himself the

00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:24.440
 consequences of our darkness, the

00:46:24.440 --> 00:46:26.399
 punishment that our darkness deserves.

00:46:26.619 --> 00:46:29.719
 He takes that upon himself when he dies

00:46:29.719 --> 00:46:32.619
 upon the cross in our stead.

00:46:33.099 --> 00:46:35.719
 And he goes into the place of death, into

00:46:35.719 --> 00:46:37.759
 the place of darkness, into the place of

00:46:37.759 --> 00:46:38.139
 sin.

00:46:38.420 --> 00:46:40.460
 He tastes all there is to taste of that

00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:41.699
 with nothing left over.

00:46:41.699 --> 00:46:45.319
 And he does that in my stead and in your

00:46:45.319 --> 00:46:47.139
 stead, in our place.

00:46:47.399 --> 00:46:49.239
 And then he rises from the dead,

00:46:50.119 --> 00:46:52.079
 triumphant over sin and death and all

00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:53.839
 hostile spiritual powers in his

00:46:53.839 --> 00:46:54.359
 resurrection.

00:46:55.319 --> 00:46:58.179
 And when we put our trust in him, believe

00:46:58.179 --> 00:47:02.799
 him, receive him, we receive all that he

00:47:02.799 --> 00:47:04.139
 does for us.

00:47:05.859 --> 00:47:07.039
 That's what we receive.

00:47:07.539 --> 00:47:08.379
 He does it all.

00:47:08.519 --> 00:47:09.500
 You know, in fact, which is very

00:47:09.500 --> 00:47:11.679
 interesting in the Gospel of John, there's

00:47:11.679 --> 00:47:14.960
 98 times where the verb believe happens, and

00:47:14.960 --> 00:47:17.819
 not once is there an adjective or an

00:47:17.819 --> 00:47:18.659
 adverb with it.

00:47:19.579 --> 00:47:22.739
 What that means in simple English is that

00:47:22.739 --> 00:47:25.559
 it never says strong belief, pure belief,

00:47:25.879 --> 00:47:28.739
 deep belief, full belief.

00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:30.559
 It never qualifies it.

00:47:30.960 --> 00:47:33.839
 Because, you see, if John qualified it, then

00:47:33.839 --> 00:47:36.199
 it would be a type of work that we have to

00:47:36.199 --> 00:47:38.079
 add to what Jesus does for us on the

00:47:38.079 --> 00:47:38.419
 cross.

00:47:39.239 --> 00:47:41.259
 That I have to have my discipleship in

00:47:41.260 --> 00:47:41.560
 order.

00:47:41.560 --> 00:47:43.120
 I have to be exemplary.

00:47:43.540 --> 00:47:45.020
 I have to have the right psychological

00:47:45.020 --> 00:47:45.940
 condition.

00:47:46.120 --> 00:47:47.880
 I have to have the right type of emotional

00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:48.620
 experience.

00:47:49.180 --> 00:47:50.920
 I have to have the right type of life.

00:47:51.020 --> 00:47:52.540
 I have to get the right types of things

00:47:52.540 --> 00:47:54.660
 organized in my life because I have to

00:47:54.660 --> 00:47:56.280
 add these things to belief.

00:47:56.680 --> 00:47:59.180
 But the Bible is telling us that we are to

00:47:59.180 --> 00:48:02.260
 understand ourselves as beggars who can

00:48:02.260 --> 00:48:05.440
 only stand empty-handed and say to the

00:48:05.440 --> 00:48:08.700
 Father, Father, darkness clings to me.

00:48:08.699 --> 00:48:13.119
 There is a darkness which is in within me,

00:48:13.219 --> 00:48:15.839
 which I am powerless to overcome and to

00:48:15.839 --> 00:48:16.899
 rid myself of.

00:48:18.079 --> 00:48:22.099
 And I thank you that uncreated life came and

00:48:22.099 --> 00:48:25.000
 walked amongst us and died upon the cross.

00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:29.260
 And that in his death upon the cross and

00:48:29.260 --> 00:48:31.739
 resurrection, that he accomplishes something

00:48:31.739 --> 00:48:34.320
 that I cannot accomplish by myself.

00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:36.800
 And so, Father, I come to Jesus.

00:48:36.980 --> 00:48:38.760
 I invite him to come into my life.

00:48:38.860 --> 00:48:40.940
 I give him permission to be in my life.

00:48:41.480 --> 00:48:44.260
 And all I can do is ask that I can receive that

00:48:44.260 --> 00:48:47.039
 which only Jesus can do and has done for me.

00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:54.099
 All I can do is receive Jesus.

00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:57.000
 All I can do.

00:48:58.900 --> 00:49:04.039
 And as I receive Jesus alone, he changes me.

00:49:05.039 --> 00:49:06.440
 He leads me to change us.

00:49:06.500 --> 00:49:07.679
 We're gripped by the gospel.

00:49:07.679 --> 00:49:11.359
 We realize that we can walk towards the evil in

00:49:11.359 --> 00:49:13.559
 our culture and walk towards the evil in

00:49:13.559 --> 00:49:14.299
 our society.

00:49:14.859 --> 00:49:16.659
 That we can walk towards the evil in

00:49:16.659 --> 00:49:17.219
 ourselves.

00:49:17.719 --> 00:49:19.879
 That we can walk towards it to deal with it.

00:49:20.179 --> 00:49:23.480
 Because the idea that Jesus walked amongst

00:49:23.480 --> 00:49:26.019
 us and that the uncreated life will never be

00:49:26.019 --> 00:49:29.099
 mastered by darkness is not now just an

00:49:29.099 --> 00:49:32.559
 abstract, optimistic truth, but a real lived

00:49:32.559 --> 00:49:35.419
 experience as the gospel grips us.

00:49:35.420 --> 00:49:39.019
 That I might not have the power to overcome the

00:49:39.019 --> 00:49:42.680
 darkness, but I am carried by the one who has

00:49:42.680 --> 00:49:44.539
 overcome all darkness.

00:49:45.400 --> 00:49:49.159
 And so, as I am carried by him, I can walk towards

00:49:49.159 --> 00:49:51.659
 darkness to shine light.

00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:54.820
 Darkness outside and darkness within.

00:49:55.280 --> 00:49:55.960
 Please stand.

00:49:55.960 --> 00:49:56.019
 Thank you.

00:49:56.019 --> 00:50:07.320
 Just bow our heads in prayer.

00:50:15.739 --> 00:50:19.800
 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you see us

00:50:19.800 --> 00:50:21.579
 perfectly and still you love us.

00:50:21.579 --> 00:50:24.299
 We give you thanks and praise, Father, that you

00:50:24.299 --> 00:50:27.619
 have known us from the moment of our conception to

00:50:27.619 --> 00:50:28.539
 this very moment.

00:50:29.380 --> 00:50:31.920
 And, Father, since all things are present for you, you

00:50:31.920 --> 00:50:34.539
 even know, well, Father, you know whether I'm going to

00:50:34.539 --> 00:50:37.759
 live another day or live another 50 years.

00:50:38.360 --> 00:50:40.639
 And, Father, you know me from the moment of my

00:50:40.639 --> 00:50:42.420
 conception to the moment of my death.

00:50:42.460 --> 00:50:43.739
 And you know me perfectly.

00:50:43.980 --> 00:50:46.199
 Father, you know the dreams I have at night that I do not

00:50:46.199 --> 00:50:47.340
 remember when I wake up.

00:50:47.340 --> 00:50:49.780
 You see every mask that I wear.

00:50:50.200 --> 00:50:53.120
 You see every how I move from mask to mask.

00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:55.600
 Father, you see everything there is to see about me.

00:50:56.019 --> 00:50:57.760
 You know, Father, the darkness in me.

00:50:57.820 --> 00:50:59.620
 You know the darkness that clings to me.

00:50:59.940 --> 00:51:02.760
 You know the darkness, Father, which I am blind to and

00:51:02.760 --> 00:51:03.740
 which I'm afraid of.

00:51:03.760 --> 00:51:05.460
 And you know the darkness I delight in.

00:51:05.800 --> 00:51:09.180
 And still you love me, seeing me so perfectly.

00:51:09.420 --> 00:51:11.000
 Still you love me.

00:51:11.320 --> 00:51:15.420
 And still your Son, knowing who I am and knowing who we are,

00:51:15.420 --> 00:51:17.460
 died on the cross for us.

00:51:18.500 --> 00:51:24.880
 Uncreated light dying for us who have darkness within and

00:51:24.880 --> 00:51:25.800
 clinging to us.

00:51:26.380 --> 00:51:29.900
 Father, we thank you that you know us so perfectly and that

00:51:29.900 --> 00:51:33.500
 your Son still came to rescue us and to deliver us.

00:51:33.500 --> 00:51:37.880
 We thank you for his sinless life, his mighty miracles, his

00:51:37.880 --> 00:51:38.579
 mighty teaching.

00:51:39.119 --> 00:51:42.300
 And most of all, we thank you for his death upon the cross on

00:51:42.300 --> 00:51:44.260
 our behalf and his mighty resurrection.

00:51:44.260 --> 00:51:49.500
 Father, instill within us, grow within us, a simple belief and

00:51:49.500 --> 00:51:51.140
 trust in Jesus.

00:51:52.060 --> 00:51:57.060
 May we be disciples of Jesus, gripped by the gospel, who now live for

00:51:57.060 --> 00:51:57.580
 his glory.

00:51:57.940 --> 00:52:01.240
 And this we ask in Jesus' name, your Son and our Savior.

00:52:01.580 --> 00:52:01.820
 Amen.

00:52:01.820 --> 00:52:01.940
 Amen.

00:52:01.940 --> 00:52:01.960
 Amen.

00:52:01.960 --> 00:52:02.000
 Amen.

00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:02.020
 Amen.

00:52:02.020 --> 00:52:02.040
 Amen.

00:52:02.040 --> 00:52:02.080
 Amen.