WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.820 Well, if you are not already there, please open your Bible to John chapter 1. 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:12.660 John chapter 1. John's the fourth gospel, fourth book in the New Testament. 00:00:13.780 --> 00:00:20.320 And so we're going to be looking at the first five verses of John chapter 1. 00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:25.160 Well, growing up, I was always a good student. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:31.019 It was one of those things, I was just good at school, and so that's why I liked it, because I was good at it. 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:34.000 Except for one subject, math. 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:36.939 Anyone else with me? 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:41.219 I was not the greatest math student. 00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:49.000 I have vivid memories, in fact, of staying up late with my dad at the kitchen table in eighth grade, agonizing over algebra. 00:00:49.879 --> 00:00:52.179 I just kept saying, Dad, I just don't get it. 00:00:52.519 --> 00:00:53.659 This is supposed to be math. 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:54.900 Why are there letters? 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:58.419 What's with the X, Y, and the Z? 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.119 But because I was a good student, I kept trying. 00:01:03.059 --> 00:01:09.000 But my relationship with my math classes was never very affectionate, and it was always rather complicated. 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:15.299 And then I went to college, and I became a history major, hoping I would not have to take any math classes, 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:17.439 but I did have to take one, and it was calculus. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:21.439 I was not looking forward to it. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:27.280 But on the first day of calculus class, something was different. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:29.259 It was my professor. 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:34.180 Dr. Piston made calculus real to me. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:35.180 He was patient. 00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:36.340 He was patient. 00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:37.860 He used real-life examples. 00:01:37.860 --> 00:01:44.900 And not only did he make math understandable to me, but he began to unlock the wonder of it to me. 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:51.880 He showed me the beauty of God's world through the language of mathematics, and I actually started to enjoy it. 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:57.399 In short, Dr. Piston made math known to me. 00:01:57.399 --> 00:02:00.319 He warmly introduced me to it. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:07.419 And ironically enough, my experience with calculus is very much what Christmas is all about. 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.239 For many of us, God is a bit like math. 00:02:12.299 --> 00:02:17.139 He seems distant, maybe boring, cold, unknowable. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:24.819 Perhaps he's kind of mysterious, kind of out there, not close, maybe even vaguely threatening. 00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:37.159 Even for those of us who know him and have been in a relationship with him for years, there are seasons when he seems particularly absent or distant or not very real. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:42.519 I'm sure most everyone in this room has felt that way at one time or another about God. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:45.699 And the Bible explains why that's the case. 00:02:46.859 --> 00:02:52.180 Each of us is born with a heart that's naturally opposed to God. 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:58.540 Because we were born with a nature bent toward ourselves, not toward God and his way. 00:02:58.640 --> 00:03:08.080 So even if you know about God, maybe you were raised in the church your whole life, it's easy to think about God as distant or unknown, maybe even threatening. 00:03:09.040 --> 00:03:11.000 A guy who kind of frowns on us a lot. 00:03:12.700 --> 00:03:14.659 All this is a perspective problem. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:22.800 We have a bent and fractured understanding of who God is because of our bent and fractured sinful hearts. 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:30.939 So if our perspective is so shattered, how do we begin to know God? 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:41.500 How can we not just begin to understand him as he truly is, but begin to wonder at him, to enjoy him as he truly is? 00:03:42.079 --> 00:03:43.460 Well, we need a Dr. Piston. 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:49.939 We need someone to introduce us to him, to make him known to us. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.919 And in John 1, we're introduced to just such a person. 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:57.399 Someone who's able to show us exactly who God is. 00:03:57.959 --> 00:04:03.459 Not only so that we can understand some facts about him, but that we can know him personally. 00:04:04.179 --> 00:04:07.599 And have a life-giving relationship with him. 00:04:08.799 --> 00:04:18.620 And what the Apostle John is going to tell us is that we can only know God through the unique person of Jesus Christ, the Word. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:23.439 We can only know him through the unique person of Jesus. 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:31.399 So for the next few Sundays during Advent, we're going to explore the first 18 verses of John's Gospel together. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:37.759 We're going to mine its depths to understand who this Word person is. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.079 His person, which I'm going to talk about today. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:41.079 Next week, his mission. 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:43.180 And the week after that, his glory. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:46.620 This morning, let's look at the first part of this passage. 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:51.800 Verses 1 to 5 to discover who this Word is, who is a person. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:05:02.040 And here, we're going to discover that John makes four claims about this unique person of the Word who makes God known to us. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:02.780 Four claims. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:03.959 Let's start with the first one. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.800 It's found, the very first phrase, it's this claim. 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:12.740 He is God's perfect self-expression. 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:18.019 The Word is God's perfect self-expression. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.660 In the beginning was the Word. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:23.699 The Word. 00:05:24.340 --> 00:05:26.379 Why start with the Word? 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:35.100 Well, not all, but many of John's original readers would have had some familiarity with who Jesus of Nazareth was. 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:44.300 He seems to have written his gospel to kind of a wide audience, but maybe particularly for believers who already knew and trusted in Jesus, 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:48.040 and maybe folks who were curious about who this Jesus was. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:55.939 So most folks who read this gospel would be coming to these words with an assumption that this book is about Jesus of Nazareth. 00:05:55.939 --> 00:06:03.860 So it's a little curious why John starts with, in the beginning was the Word. 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:05.240 It's a little curious. 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.100 He doesn't actually mention Jesus by name until verse 17. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:11.319 But he starts with the Word. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:13.420 Well, it's not really curious. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:14.420 Actually, it's brilliant. 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:25.860 Pretend for a moment that you couldn't write or speak or sign or communicate with anyone in any way at all. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:28.779 Now, people could see you. 00:06:29.339 --> 00:06:31.639 They could observe your patterns of behavior. 00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:33.779 They could study your daily rhythms. 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:36.660 They could discover a lot of things about you. 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:40.939 But even if they were with you 24-7, would they know you? 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:42.459 No. 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:43.339 Of course not. 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:44.899 We're known by our words. 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:48.240 We know others by their words. 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:54.480 It's the way we express our feelings, our values, our priorities, who we are. 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:56.480 And it's the same with God. 00:06:57.100 --> 00:07:00.900 God, from the very beginning, has been a talking God. 00:07:01.900 --> 00:07:05.000 And amazingly, he's not talking in some heavenly language. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:08.759 No, he's speaking in human languages that we can actually understand. 00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:10.920 He wants to be known by us. 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.980 He wants us to understand him. 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:27.240 And he has given us his recorded word written down in human history and preserved through the centuries so that we might understand and have a personal relationship with him. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:42.100 In the Old Testament, God's word is seen to be the way he expresses himself personally and powerfully to his people, particularly as their creator, as their ruler, and their rescuer. 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:47.320 By his word, God creates something out of nothing. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:48.420 That's how the Bible begins. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:55.060 By his word, God speaks so that his people know how to live well under his rule. 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.240 He tells Adam and Eve, enjoy the garden. 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:58.580 Don't eat from that tree. 00:07:58.960 --> 00:08:01.060 He rules over them by his word. 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:07.839 But also by his word, God rescues his people again and again from their own foolishness and sinfulness. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:09.040 Just read the prophets. 00:08:09.459 --> 00:08:12.220 God's speaking his rescuing words to his people. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:20.340 So it's by his word that God expresses himself personally to his people as their creator, their ruler, and their rescuer. 00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:30.060 So it's no surprise that John then chooses the word as the title for the one who is God's mirror image. 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:34.120 As our creator, ruler, and rescuer. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:37.600 He is God's perfect self-expression. 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:46.580 If you drive up the road a little bit north to the Milwaukee Art Museum, you will probably find some examples of human self-expression. 00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:51.799 Through creative mediums like painting or sculpture, photography. 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:54.879 You might even find really odd self-expressions. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:09:02.720 It's like the banana duct taped to a wall that sold for $120,000 this last week at an art gallery in Miami. 00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:04.759 Self-expression. 00:09:06.439 --> 00:09:11.840 But human self-expressions are only partial and they're often corrupt. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:28.480 But this word, this self-expression of God is the one and only pure, full, undiluted, walking and talking expression of who God is. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:36.100 Later on in John's Gospel in chapter 14, one of Jesus' disciples, Philip, he says to Jesus, 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:39.180 Show us the Father and it's enough for us. 00:09:40.060 --> 00:09:46.480 And Jesus responds by saying, Philip, have I been with you so long and you still don't know me? 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:50.860 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:57.060 So when we look at Jesus, we see exactly who God is like. 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:59.759 Not partially, perfectly. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.720 Three-dimensionally. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:03.360 From every angle. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:09.120 Jesus is God's perfect self-expression in a person. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:11.740 Look down at verse 18. 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:14.840 No one has ever seen God. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:18.259 The only God who is at the Father's side. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.500 He has made him known. 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:27.759 So John is not just saying that Jesus is a qualified messenger on God's behalf. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:34.539 Rather, he is the full and final revealing of who God is in a body. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:43.679 What is utterly astounding about this word, who is a person, is that this word became human. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:44.960 Look at verse 14. 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:49.720 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:10:51.319 --> 00:10:56.240 Someone else has said, he is everything that God wanted to say to us in a person. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.500 That's why John starts with the word. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:09.560 He wants us to have very clearly in our minds that Jesus of Nazareth was God's perfect self-expression. 00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:12.860 That if we want to know God, we must know Jesus. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.740 He's our Dr. Piston. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.080 He's going to introduce us to God personally. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:27.879 He is going to help us not only understand who God is, but begin to wonder at who he is and enjoy him through the person of the word. 00:11:28.040 --> 00:11:30.280 And it is that word that is the infant in the manger. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.700 He is God's perfect self-expression. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:42.040 And at Christmas time, we tend to focus on the baby that was born, but we must not separate the baby from the man. 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:48.299 All that he said and did was a mirror image of the mind and will and heart of God. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:57.839 And yet, even as a baby in the manger, not being able to speak or do anything, we see God's perfect self-expression of grace and truth, 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:01.039 as God says later on in verse, or as John says in verse 17. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:10.139 The simple fact of the incarnation, of the mind-numbing thought of God becoming human, 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:18.079 is enough to fully express the mercy and faithfulness, the grace and truth of God in the person of Jesus. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:21.480 So that's, first of all, who he is. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:24.799 He is God's perfect self-expression, the word. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:25.879 That's the first claim. 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:34.080 Well, if we keep reading verses 1 and 2, we'll see John's second claim about the unique person of the word. 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:35.500 It's this. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:40.279 He has the closest possible relationship with God. 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:45.500 He has the closest possible relationship with God. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:52.799 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:57.379 He was in the beginning with God. 00:12:58.359 --> 00:13:00.479 Well, John doesn't really mess around here. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:02.740 He just throws us right into the deep end. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.299 He doesn't start us off in the shallows. 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:08.500 With very simple words and just two short sentences, 00:13:09.199 --> 00:13:16.159 John paints a beautiful and complex picture about this word's intimate relationship to God. 00:13:16.959 --> 00:13:19.099 Look at that first phrase in verse 1. 00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.740 In the beginning. 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:24.500 It reminds us of another chapter 1, verse 1, doesn't it? 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.580 Genesis 1, 1. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:30.500 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:35.539 But here, it's in the beginning, the word was. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:42.000 It doesn't say the word has existed since the beginning or from the beginning, 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.200 implying that he had some origin. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.240 It's just rather, in the beginning, he was there. 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:53.220 Putting him pretty close to God, the creator of all things. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.240 And that's where John goes next. 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.440 Look at the middle part of the verse. 00:13:57.100 --> 00:14:00.139 With the, and the word was with God. 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:11.199 That word translated with isn't the standard word for with that the New Testament uses in its original language. 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:18.259 The word that John uses here not only implies alongside and in the same space as, 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:23.200 but nearness, intimacy, closeness. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:30.080 We could assume that from his previous statement that the word was in the beginning, 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:34.840 we could assume that that was true, that the word had to be in some sort of close relationship with God. 00:14:34.900 --> 00:14:36.640 But John's making it really explicit here. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:42.900 He wants us to see an intimacy of relationship between the word, God's own self-expression, and God himself. 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:48.699 But not only that, since the word is in close relationship to God, 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:53.840 this also implies that the word is therefore distinct from God. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.360 We don't have relationship with ourselves. 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:03.799 We have relationship with people who are other from us, distinct from us. 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:09.419 So here we see that the word is somehow other from God, somehow distinct, 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:16.539 having a distinct personhood that is in relationship, close relationship to God. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.240 But then John drops a bomb with the next statement. 00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:22.599 The word was God. 00:15:24.579 --> 00:15:27.199 If we've been picking up what John's laying down so far, 00:15:27.339 --> 00:15:30.259 the word has always existed in close relationship with God, 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:33.659 then we're all, they're probably thinking, okay, that's a little weird, 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:37.639 perhaps, maybe this word is some kind of elevated angel 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:42.799 or lesser kind of divine being that is in close relationship with God. 00:15:42.859 --> 00:15:45.759 But no, John is making this astounding claim. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:48.579 The word, who is God's perfect self-expression, 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:53.120 is not only eternally existing, not only in close relationship with God, 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.279 but this word shares God's very being. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:16:01.879 This word is, by nature, God. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:04.860 He shares in God's godness. 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:10.519 And yet, yet, this word is also distinct from God. 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.559 He's his own person. 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:16.080 And it doesn't just say that the word was somehow partially divine 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:18.120 or had divine qualities about him, 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:20.960 but that Jesus, the word, is fully God. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:24.820 There's no other way to translate the phrase. 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:28.660 Jehovah's Witnesses might want to try to convince us otherwise, 00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:30.860 like, oh, he's kind of a God. 00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:32.720 No, there's no other way to translate it. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.620 The word was God. 00:16:36.640 --> 00:16:38.640 Well, I told you that John throws us right into the deep end. 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:43.740 In verse 2, John restates the same claims, just in a different order. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:46.780 It's as if he's saying, yes, you didn't misunderstand me. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.160 I did just say that. 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.900 That's what I'm claiming about this word. 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:53.980 The one who is God, has eternally existed with God, 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.659 and close relationship with God, 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.819 and he does share God's very being while being his own person at the same time. 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:03.539 It's almost like you can see the smile on John's face 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:05.720 as he's trying to see us work it out. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.799 What a person. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.319 What a unique person. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:15.000 Listen, there's just no other person like this. 00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:19.519 There is no one who has eternally existed in relationship with God 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.099 as God's perfect self-expression, 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:23.779 and shared God's very being as God, 00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:25.379 and then become a human. 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:30.179 This unique person is the baby in the manger. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:34.240 Don't be fooled by the sentimentality of the season. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.819 The baby that Mary birthed is the God-man. 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:43.319 Divinity united with humanity in a person. 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:46.740 There is no halo around him, 00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:52.220 no soft glow emanating off his person to mark his uniqueness, 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:55.439 but John is helping us see exactly who he is. 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:58.960 The one whose birthday we celebrate this month 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:02.299 is the one who had no origin, no beginning. 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:04.960 In fact, he existed before the universe existed, 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.859 before time began. 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:08.959 And people, ever since the first century, 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.740 ever since Jesus first showed up, 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.919 we're trying to nail this down. 00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:15.979 How is this possible that God and man 00:18:15.979 --> 00:18:18.459 could be together in the same person? 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:22.899 We kind of want to write a recipe for this mystery, 00:18:23.199 --> 00:18:23.959 figure it out. 00:18:24.439 --> 00:18:26.299 But the fact is, we're in the deep end of the pool. 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:28.879 There's no way we can swim to the bottom 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.659 and fully explore how this works. 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.319 It is beyond us. 00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:33.639 John doesn't explain it for us. 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.740 God doesn't want us to go there. 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.820 We can't. 00:18:37.820 --> 00:18:41.200 He just wants us to behold it and be in awe. 00:18:42.580 --> 00:18:44.680 God's perfect self-expression, 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:48.700 eternally existing in the closest possible relationship with God, 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:50.580 sharing God's very being, 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:52.360 became a human. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:55.420 And we're just supposed to have mouths open. 00:18:55.420 --> 00:19:02.360 This great mystery must lead us not only to the end of our intellectual understanding, 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.960 but also to our knees. 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:10.800 One cannot celebrate Christmas flippantly if this is what Christmas is about. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.940 If we do, we dishonor the God-man. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:18.519 If we do not obey the Christmas hymn's words, 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.259 Oh, come, let us adore him, 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:26.680 then we fail to acknowledge the most momentous event in human history, 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:29.099 when God, the author of creation, 00:19:29.419 --> 00:19:32.200 wrote himself into his own story and became human 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:34.899 to show us who he is and to bring us back to him. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:37.660 And if that weren't enough, 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:40.019 if our brains can still handle it, 00:19:40.560 --> 00:19:41.680 let's look at the third claim. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:46.880 John makes another claim about the unique person of this word. 00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:50.660 He is responsible for the creation of all things. 00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:55.259 He is responsible for the creation of all things. 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:56.040 Look at verse 3. 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:58.720 All things were made through him, 00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:02.500 and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:07.000 Apart from the person of the word, 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:09.039 we would not exist. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.460 Nothing would exist. 00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:14.440 Notice how the apostle states it positively, 00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:16.019 and then just to make sure we get the point, 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.059 he puts it negatively. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:19.240 All things were made through him, 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.399 then negatively. 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.700 Without him, 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.879 not anything, 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:26.019 not one thing would be made. 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:31.099 So that means that dragonflies exist 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:33.399 because of and through Jesus. 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:39.319 Spiral galaxies exist because of and through Jesus. 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:45.139 Music exists because of and through Jesus. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:50.079 Gravity exists because of and through Jesus. 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:54.879 Tyrannosaurus rex exists because of and through Jesus. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:59.940 Your next door neighbor exists because of and through Jesus. 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.540 Jesus. 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:04.400 Your spouse exists because of and through Jesus. 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:07.680 You, your life, your body, your thoughts, 00:21:07.780 --> 00:21:09.340 your past, your present, your future, 00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:13.020 you exist because of and through Jesus. 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:16.339 And then later on in Colossians 1, 00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:18.660 Paul will add another preposition to that mix. 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:22.599 Not only do all things exist because of and through Jesus, 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:24.299 but they exist for him. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:29.900 Not only do all things exist because of him, 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.400 they exist for him. 00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.579 All of creation, 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:35.700 from blue whales to Jupiter to hummingbirds, 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.559 it all exists for him. 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:39.200 For his glory, 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.680 for his purposes, 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.080 for his pleasure. 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:47.519 He's the one that gives creation its meaning and its purpose. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:51.319 If we see our own existence as existing somehow apart from him, 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:54.500 we're missing the very thing that gives meaning and purpose to our life 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:59.299 because we were and all things were created through him. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.059 But like this, 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.680 is Paul, 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.660 is John just kind of making this up out of thin air? 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:05.839 No. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.279 He's just putting his knowledge of the Old Testament 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:11.920 together with his knowledge of who Jesus revealed himself to be. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:12.880 You see, 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:15.720 the Bible is kind of like a curtain on a stage. 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.420 It's slowly and steadily pulled back, 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:23.579 revealing more and more detail about what has been previously said. 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.799 So on the first page of Scripture, 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:29.759 we learn that God created everything through his word. 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.599 By speaking, 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.980 let there be light. 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.059 And there was light. 00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:37.259 Psalm 33, 6 says something similar. 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:38.919 By the word of Yahweh, 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.299 the heavens were made. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:45.199 So we already know that God created all things through his word. 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.500 But now, 00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:48.899 John has given that curtain rope an extra tug, 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:52.199 revealing that the word by which God created the universe 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.740 is actually a person. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:57.440 So this means that the Father and the Son 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.960 were in divine partnership 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:01.420 in the creation of the world. 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.340 And maybe you're wondering, 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.059 how? 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.740 How did that work? 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:07.500 Give me some more specifics here. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.940 But he just doesn't go there. 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.420 And honestly, 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.319 the rest of Scripture doesn't go that far either. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:16.379 because there are things that the human mind simply can't understand. 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.460 Again, 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.779 we're in the deep end of the pool here. 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:21.460 We can't swim to the bottom. 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:22.899 That's okay. 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:26.559 Who would want to worship something that you completely understood? 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.099 It's right and good for us to come to this and say, 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.480 I don't know how exactly this works, 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.519 but I see it. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.599 And then John, 00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.519 in the rest of his gospel, 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:39.700 he demonstrates this powerfully about Jesus. 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:43.019 Only the co-creator of the world 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:45.519 could transform the chemical properties of water 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:47.379 into delicious wine 00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:48.619 just with his word. 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.940 Only the one through whom all things were made 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:53.019 could take a boy's lunch 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.559 and feed a vast multitude 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.940 till they were stuffed. 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:58.379 Only the author of life 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.440 could speak a word 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:01.720 to a man who was dead for four days 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:05.059 and revitalize every decomposing cell in his body 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:07.720 so that he walked out of the tomb perfectly whole. 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:11.240 And so it is this awe-inspiring word 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:13.139 through whom God made all things 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:15.019 who is lying in the manger. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.059 He's the co-author of life. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.960 He's the co-architect of the universe. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:25.160 He is the co-creator of every living thing. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:26.819 Without him, 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:29.340 we would not only know or experience 00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:30.740 any good thing in this life, 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.180 we wouldn't even exist. 00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:37.039 We owe him our existence. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.480 But John's not done. 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.579 He has one claim left. 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.680 It's highly related to this last one, 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:46.460 but it gets at something even more marvelous 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.620 about this word 00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.880 who is a person 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:50.920 who is making God known to us. 00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:52.560 Here's the fourth thing 00:24:52.560 --> 00:24:54.240 he wants us to know. 00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:55.900 His life 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.540 is our light 00:24:57.540 --> 00:24:58.420 in the darkness. 00:24:59.280 --> 00:25:00.280 His life 00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:01.640 is our light 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.700 in the darkness. 00:25:02.840 --> 00:25:03.880 It's right there in verse four. 00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:05.700 In him was life 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.840 and the life 00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:07.740 was the light 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.820 of men. 00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:10.640 Verse five, 00:25:10.760 --> 00:25:11.700 the light shines 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.280 in the darkness 00:25:12.280 --> 00:25:13.080 and the darkness 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:13.880 has not 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:15.000 overcome it. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:18.000 So because all things 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.819 came into being 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.460 through him, 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.759 the first part of verse four 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.960 is just not surprising, right? 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.079 In him was life. 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.299 So this absolutely unique person 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.960 of the word 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.880 through whom God 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.640 made the universe 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:31.420 who shares God's very being 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.859 and nature, 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.880 he has life 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.799 in him. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.079 Now we shouldn't think 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.259 of a Genesis 2 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.180 kind of life. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.160 Of God breathing 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:41.220 the breath of life 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.400 into a lump of dust 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.119 called Adam 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:44.139 and making him 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.879 a living being. 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:46.179 Not that kind of life. 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.000 Because that kind of life 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.099 is a completely different 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.019 kind of life 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.919 that the person 00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.519 of the word 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.899 is said to have here. 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.959 Our kind of life 00:25:54.959 --> 00:25:56.879 is a created life. 00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:59.419 It's a dependent life. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.439 It comes from a source. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.519 Our life is dependent 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:05.279 on other things 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.359 for existence. 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:08.419 Not only upon food 00:26:08.419 --> 00:26:09.000 and air 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.639 and water, 00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.219 but ultimately 00:26:11.219 --> 00:26:12.699 upon God himself. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.419 who is the giver 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:14.919 of life. 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.619 But the one 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.259 through whom 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.419 all things were made 00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.259 does not have 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.879 that kind 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:21.000 of dependent life. 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.479 The life 00:26:22.479 --> 00:26:24.000 in him 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.039 is not from 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.719 anything. 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.339 The word 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:29.279 has uncreated 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.399 life 00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:32.279 that he shares 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.819 with the father. 00:26:32.959 --> 00:26:33.439 Later on 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:34.559 in John chapter 5 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.299 Jesus will say 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.559 as the father 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.319 has life 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.019 in himself 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.439 so he has granted 00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.239 to the son 00:26:40.239 --> 00:26:41.319 to have life 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.639 in himself. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:45.419 That's the son 00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.039 has the same 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.559 kind of 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.500 in himself 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.299 life 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.839 that the father 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.079 has. 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:50.579 A self-existent 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.199 life. 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.659 It's life 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.259 that comes 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.879 from nowhere. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.339 It's uncreated. 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.339 It's resident 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.579 in his very person. 00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.379 Theologians 00:26:59.379 --> 00:26:59.919 from an older 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.419 generation 00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:01.059 called this 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.919 kind of 00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:03.199 self-existence 00:27:03.199 --> 00:27:04.259 God's 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:04.939 aseity. 00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:05.859 It basically 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.259 means 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.479 God's 00:27:07.479 --> 00:27:08.879 from himself-ness. 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:10.920 and the son 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.540 shares that 00:27:11.540 --> 00:27:12.680 same kind 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.400 of self-existing 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:13.880 life. 00:27:14.760 --> 00:27:15.320 He always 00:27:15.320 --> 00:27:15.740 has 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.700 and he always 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.000 will. 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.100 What does 00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:19.560 John say 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:19.980 about this 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.520 unique 00:27:20.520 --> 00:27:21.560 self-existing 00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:22.180 life that the 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.620 word has? 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.340 Look at verse 4. 00:27:23.760 --> 00:27:24.360 That life 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.220 was the light 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.880 of men. 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:28.360 Well 00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.120 typical of the 00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.840 apostle John 00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.880 there's a 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.580 surface level 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.240 meaning here 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.240 and then there's 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.820 a deeper 00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:34.220 meaning. 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.960 On the surface 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.760 it seems that 00:27:36.760 --> 00:27:37.200 John 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.120 is just saying 00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.819 that unless 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.620 we recognize 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.220 that God 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.660 the word 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.259 is the source 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:41.759 of all things 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.299 we can't 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.720 understand 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.400 our reality. 00:27:45.580 --> 00:27:46.340 We don't 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:46.840 have the 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.279 light of 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.860 understanding 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.720 if we don't 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.660 recognize him 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.480 as the author 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.019 of life. 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.980 So Psalm 36 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.580 states something 00:27:53.580 --> 00:27:54.059 like this 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.700 with you 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.380 God 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:56.980 is the 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.319 fountain 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.980 of life. 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.600 In your 00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.019 light 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.960 do we 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.440 see 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.180 light. 00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:04.440 God 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.360 being the 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:05.759 abundant 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.460 source of 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:06.840 life 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.319 is like 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:07.959 a fountain 00:28:07.959 --> 00:28:09.019 ceaselessly 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.419 flowing 00:28:09.419 --> 00:28:10.019 with water 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.279 and it 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.720 is in 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.240 the light 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.919 of acknowledging 00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.599 that he 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:13.959 is the 00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:14.359 creator 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:14.759 and the 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.000 source 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.500 of life 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:17.159 do we 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:17.500 actually 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.079 understand 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.099 what it 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.579 means for 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:19.939 us to 00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:20.939 be his 00:28:20.939 --> 00:28:21.319 creatures. 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:22.839 To understand 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.639 reality as 00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.019 it truly 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.459 is. 00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:25.459 And unless 00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:25.799 we begin 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.259 to see it 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.619 that way 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:26.819 we're 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.279 deceived. 00:28:29.439 --> 00:28:29.919 Otherwise 00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.299 we begin 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.759 thinking our 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.179 life comes 00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:31.839 from ourselves 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.579 and we 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.099 start going 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:33.980 off depending 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.819 upon ourselves. 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:36.359 only by 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:36.960 believing the 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.500 truth that 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.319 all life 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.000 originated 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.839 with and 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.559 is sustained 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.179 by God 00:28:41.179 --> 00:28:42.279 himself can 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.799 we actually 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.740 understand what's 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.419 around us. 00:28:46.439 --> 00:28:46.819 And so all 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.259 that John is 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:47.659 doing in 00:28:47.659 --> 00:28:48.319 verse 4 is 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.179 just tying that 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:50.139 biblical truth to 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:50.539 the word, 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.119 to the son. 00:28:51.939 --> 00:28:52.500 We must 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.159 understand that 00:28:53.159 --> 00:28:53.960 everything we see 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.679 around us came 00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:55.299 into being 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.159 through the 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:56.720 person of the 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:56.939 word, 00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:57.759 Jesus Christ. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:58.939 He's the 00:28:58.939 --> 00:28:59.639 light we walk 00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.259 around in. 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.779 Everything around 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.379 us has the 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:03.539 phrase created 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.720 by the 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.279 father through 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.220 the son written 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.680 on it. 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:08.899 Everything from 00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:10.079 supernovas to 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:11.079 snails to 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.859 shoulder joints, 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.299 it all proclaims 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.839 the glory of 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.779 Jesus, the 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.299 wisdom of 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.019 Jesus, the 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.519 beauty of 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.099 Jesus, the 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:18.839 creativity of 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.399 Jesus, the 00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:20.259 centrality of 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.519 Jesus. 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:21.940 So in one 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.420 sense that's 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:22.859 basically what 00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.599 John is saying 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:23.759 here. 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:24.879 He's saying 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.779 unless we 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.420 recognize him 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:26.879 as a source 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.379 of our life 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:27.920 we don't have 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.200 light. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.379 We can't see. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:29.720 We don't 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.339 understand our 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:30.740 reality. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.160 But I think 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.660 John is also 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.119 saying something 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.440 a little bit 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:34.859 deeper about 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.299 this light. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.039 Look at 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.500 verse 5. 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.259 The light 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.099 shines in 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:39.480 the darkness 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.559 and the 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.119 darkness has 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:41.799 not overcome 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.059 it. 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.220 And then we 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.680 get further 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.319 clues that 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.379 John's not 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:45.920 done talking 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.399 about this 00:29:46.399 --> 00:29:47.000 light. 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:47.819 He keeps 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.319 talking about 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.639 the light 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:48.960 in verses 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.779 6-13. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.240 In verse 7 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.079 this light 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:52.660 is borne 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.420 witness to 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:53.980 by John 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.420 the Baptist 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.279 so that 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.899 everyone might 00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:56.920 believe in 00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.500 this light. 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.539 And then in 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.099 verse 9 00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.940 we see that 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.399 this light 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:01.980 was coming 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.380 into the 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:02.800 world to 00:30:02.800 --> 00:30:03.320 give light 00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:04.000 to everyone. 00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:05.380 And he 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:05.840 came to a 00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:06.160 world in 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.580 darkness. 00:30:07.280 --> 00:30:07.860 A world 00:30:07.860 --> 00:30:08.140 that was 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:08.540 made through 00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:08.980 him and a 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.420 world that 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.400 rejected him. 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:11.840 So we 00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:12.240 begin to see 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.620 this isn't 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.220 just about 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:15.060 God's 00:30:15.060 --> 00:30:16.160 the sun's 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.280 life being 00:30:17.280 --> 00:30:17.740 our light 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.280 understanding 00:30:18.280 --> 00:30:18.800 who we are 00:30:18.800 --> 00:30:19.280 as creatures. 00:30:20.060 --> 00:30:20.780 It's about 00:30:20.780 --> 00:30:21.960 he's invading 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.519 the darkness 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.840 to bring us 00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:24.759 light again. 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:28.019 yes he is 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.720 responsible for 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.259 our existence 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.740 and in that 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.339 way yes he's 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:30.720 our light 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.680 but the 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.140 plain fact 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.460 of it is 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.039 we rejected 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.599 that light. 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.740 All of us 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:38.640 from way back 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.119 in the beginning 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:39.539 with Adam 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:39.920 and Eve 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:41.019 to right here 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.539 with us 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:43.099 we ignore 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.519 the fact that 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.160 we are 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:46.000 creatures 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.039 dependent upon 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:47.519 God. 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:48.859 Adam and 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:49.759 Eve freely 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.359 ate from 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:50.879 the tree 00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:51.559 of life. 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:53.220 they were 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.659 enjoying 00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:54.059 God's 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.480 gracious 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.119 gift of 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.579 life 00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:56.599 and existence. 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.259 They walked 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.779 in the light 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.099 of his 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.539 life 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.359 enjoying 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.019 the direct 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:01.059 and unshielded 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.599 glory of 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.279 his presence 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.819 as we were 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.259 meant to. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.980 They enjoyed 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.919 him through 00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:07.440 his good 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:07.919 gifts 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:09.319 they walked 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.779 in his 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.179 light 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:11.359 but then they 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:11.740 listened to 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.220 the one who 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.799 can disguise 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.599 himself as 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.059 an angel 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.519 of light. 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.679 He promised 00:31:16.679 --> 00:31:17.119 that they 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:17.759 didn't need 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.480 God's light 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:18.839 they could 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.339 create their 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:19.599 own. 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.460 Satan's 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.000 dismal 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.379 lie 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:23.899 tells us 00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:24.179 that we 00:31:24.179 --> 00:31:24.819 don't need 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.240 the one 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.859 from whom 00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.619 all life 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.079 and light 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:27.440 come. 00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:29.679 We can be 00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:30.019 our own 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.379 life 00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:31.480 we can be 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.839 our own 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:32.139 light 00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:33.079 we can 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:33.559 create our 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.240 own reality 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.740 where we 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.259 are like 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:35.700 God 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:37.519 but that 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:37.960 is like 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.500 telling a 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:38.980 branch 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.740 that it 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.079 can cut 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:40.419 itself 00:31:40.419 --> 00:31:40.940 off from 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.460 the trunk 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.500 and plant 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.899 itself 00:31:42.899 --> 00:31:43.240 as its 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.419 own 00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:43.759 tree. 00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:45.399 It is a 00:31:45.399 --> 00:31:46.359 self-inflicted 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.119 sentence of 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:47.460 death 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:49.799 and so we 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.579 became creatures 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.259 of darkness 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:53.420 as Paul 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:53.799 says in 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.319 Romans 1 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:56.039 our foolish 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.599 hearts were 00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.140 darkened 00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:58.079 as we 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.720 declared our 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.279 independence 00:31:59.279 --> 00:31:59.879 from our 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.460 source of 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.140 life and 00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:01.559 light and 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:01.879 we no 00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:02.400 longer knew 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:02.660 him. 00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.359 Like a 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:04.859 rebellious 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.440 planet 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.579 breaking free 00:32:06.579 --> 00:32:07.059 from its 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.740 orbit around 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.319 its life 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.160 giving sun 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.339 we hurtled 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.200 into the 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:11.940 outer darkness 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.579 of cold 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:12.980 and empty 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.619 space 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.660 where only 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.160 death and 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:15.660 destruction 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.200 lurk. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:18.940 But just 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.579 as God 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.000 in the 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.379 beginning 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:21.180 expressed 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.600 himself 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.240 through 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:22.520 his 00:32:22.520 --> 00:32:22.980 word 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.880 and gave 00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.300 light 00:32:24.300 --> 00:32:24.960 to banish 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.140 the 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:25.480 darkness 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:27.980 he expressed 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.320 himself 00:32:28.320 --> 00:32:28.880 again in 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:29.460 the person 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:29.860 of his 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.200 word 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.360 to be 00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:31.920 our light 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:32.260 and to 00:32:32.260 --> 00:32:32.600 shine 00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.240 again in 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:33.600 the midst 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:33.960 of our 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.300 darkness. 00:32:36.300 --> 00:32:36.900 Jesus' 00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:37.540 birth was 00:32:37.540 --> 00:32:38.060 the dawning 00:32:38.060 --> 00:32:38.580 of another 00:32:38.580 --> 00:32:39.140 creation 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.500 work 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.980 a new 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.520 creation 00:32:40.520 --> 00:32:42.160 the light 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.640 and life 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.380 giving sun 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.100 drew near 00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:44.540 to its 00:32:44.540 --> 00:32:45.160 rebellious 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:45.600 planet 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:47.139 the 00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:47.740 uncreated 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.199 life 00:32:48.199 --> 00:32:48.639 and light 00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:48.939 of the 00:32:48.939 --> 00:32:49.159 word 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.579 is not 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:49.899 only 00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:50.079 our 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.359 only 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.699 source 00:32:50.699 --> 00:32:50.859 of 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.319 existence 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.779 but also 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.139 our 00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:53.740 only hope 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:54.379 of redemption 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.419 and renewed 00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:55.980 relationship 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.599 with God. 00:32:58.399 --> 00:32:59.159 As Jesus 00:32:59.159 --> 00:32:59.559 would later 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.099 say in the 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.619 gospel of 00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:00.879 John 00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.899 I am 00:33:01.899 --> 00:33:02.379 the light 00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:02.819 of the 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.240 world 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.659 all those 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.119 who follow 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.559 me will 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.199 not walk 00:33:06.199 --> 00:33:06.619 in darkness 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.139 but have 00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:07.740 the light 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.779 of life. 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.659 Look down 00:33:10.659 --> 00:33:10.919 at verses 00:33:10.919 --> 00:33:11.419 12 and 00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:11.859 13 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.719 to all 00:33:13.719 --> 00:33:14.119 who did 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.699 receive him 00:33:14.699 --> 00:33:15.459 who recognized 00:33:15.459 --> 00:33:16.000 the light 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.139 and who 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.719 believed in 00:33:17.719 --> 00:33:18.259 his name 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.959 he gave 00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.399 the right 00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:19.939 to become 00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:20.539 children of 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:20.879 God 00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:21.879 who were 00:33:21.879 --> 00:33:22.319 born 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.259 not of 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.599 blood 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.039 nor of 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.299 the will 00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.539 of the 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:24.839 flesh 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.199 nor the 00:33:25.199 --> 00:33:25.339 will 00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:25.719 of man 00:33:25.719 --> 00:33:26.059 but of 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.399 God. 00:33:28.199 --> 00:33:28.459 Only 00:33:28.459 --> 00:33:28.899 those who 00:33:28.899 --> 00:33:29.379 receive 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.139 and embrace 00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:30.659 the light 00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:30.979 of the 00:33:30.979 --> 00:33:31.339 unique 00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:31.759 person 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.399 of the 00:33:32.399 --> 00:33:32.819 word 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.979 by faith 00:33:33.979 --> 00:33:34.819 can be 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.259 restored 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:35.839 to a 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.279 new 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.059 kind 00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:37.299 of 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:37.740 existence 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.959 a new 00:33:38.959 --> 00:33:39.419 birth 00:33:39.419 --> 00:33:40.679 born again 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:41.159 into a 00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:41.839 new life 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.720 that only 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.179 the word 00:33:43.179 --> 00:33:43.740 can bring. 00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:46.000 And that 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.480 light started 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.079 shining into 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.500 the darkness 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:47.919 and it 00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:48.319 created a 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.779 conflict. 00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:50.599 The darkness 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.119 would try 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:51.619 its best 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.259 to overcome 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.799 the light 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.099 of the 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.399 person 00:33:53.399 --> 00:33:53.679 of the 00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:53.939 word. 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.159 Even as a 00:33:56.159 --> 00:33:56.559 baby his 00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:56.959 life was 00:33:56.959 --> 00:33:57.740 plotted against 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.839 by Herod. 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.519 Satan brought 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.179 out custom 00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:02.139 made temptations 00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:02.779 to bring him 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.359 down in the 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:03.639 desert. 00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:05.480 Religious 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.179 leaders planned 00:34:06.179 --> 00:34:06.919 his downfall 00:34:06.919 --> 00:34:08.440 that eventually 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:10.000 they succeeded 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.739 in doing. 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.539 The light 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:12.740 of the 00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.140 world was 00:34:13.140 --> 00:34:13.740 extinguished 00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.360 in shame 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.700 and in 00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.079 despair 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:15.460 on a 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.720 Roman 00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.500 crucifixion 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:16.940 stake. 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.220 Darkness 00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:18.960 had succeeded. 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:20.920 But in 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.400 the end 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:21.860 the only 00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.340 thing that 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:22.620 darkness 00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.220 had succeeded 00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:23.640 in doing 00:34:23.640 --> 00:34:24.160 was sealing 00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:24.660 its doom. 00:34:26.140 --> 00:34:26.720 For the 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.140 light that 00:34:27.140 --> 00:34:27.660 it had 00:34:27.660 --> 00:34:28.360 extinguished 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.000 exploded 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.820 again into 00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:30.480 a blaze 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.440 of resurrection 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.200 brilliance 00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:32.840 that would 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.720 never go 00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:34.140 out. 00:34:35.140 --> 00:34:35.700 And that 00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:36.440 light still 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.320 shines in 00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:37.700 the darkness. 00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:37.879 darkness 00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:39.059 because the 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.659 word that 00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:40.039 was made 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.460 flesh, 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.259 the word 00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.659 that gave 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.099 life, 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.039 it's his 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:43.460 life for 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:43.899 his own, 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:44.319 is the 00:34:44.319 --> 00:34:44.679 word that 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.259 rose bodily 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:45.679 from the 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.939 grave and 00:34:46.939 --> 00:34:47.219 who can 00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.719 never die 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.139 again. 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.199 All those 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:50.939 who recognize 00:34:50.939 --> 00:34:51.500 his light, 00:34:52.259 --> 00:34:52.759 who see 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.259 Jesus for 00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:53.539 who he 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.179 truly is, 00:34:54.899 --> 00:34:55.199 and who 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.739 embrace him 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.359 by faith, 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.419 who draw 00:34:57.419 --> 00:34:58.359 near to the 00:34:58.359 --> 00:34:59.039 light and 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.619 walk in it, 00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.419 they have the 00:35:00.419 --> 00:35:01.039 promise of 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.639 eternal life. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:04.779 So this is 00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:05.279 the baby in 00:35:05.279 --> 00:35:05.599 the manger. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.980 He is our 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.079 only hope of 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.739 light and 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:10.079 life. 00:35:12.279 --> 00:35:13.059 He is the 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.500 person of 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:13.859 the word. 00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:15.819 He is the 00:35:15.819 --> 00:35:16.480 one who has 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:16.859 made the 00:35:16.859 --> 00:35:17.440 father known. 00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.319 He's our 00:35:19.319 --> 00:35:19.960 doctor piston. 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:22.719 He has 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.239 introduced us 00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:24.859 to God long 00:35:24.859 --> 00:35:25.400 after we have 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.000 forgotten him. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.980 He is God's 00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.639 perfect self 00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.400 expression to 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.160 us because 00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:34.720 he not only 00:35:34.720 --> 00:35:35.220 was with 00:35:35.220 --> 00:35:35.700 God in the 00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.160 beginning but 00:35:36.160 --> 00:35:36.660 he shares 00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:37.220 God's very 00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:37.619 being. 00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:38.960 And he is 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.420 the creator 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:39.900 himself. 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.320 He is the 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:40.660 one through 00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.099 whom all 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:41.740 things came 00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.220 into being. 00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:43.920 He is our 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:45.160 life, the 00:35:45.160 --> 00:35:45.700 light who not 00:35:45.700 --> 00:35:46.320 only gave us 00:35:46.320 --> 00:35:47.300 created life but 00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:47.820 offers us 00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:49.260 eternal life in 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:49.820 the light that 00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:50.380 continues to 00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:51.380 shine unconquered 00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:52.019 in the 00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:52.300 darkness. 00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.240 So how do 00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:54.860 we respond to 00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:55.099 this? 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:58.139 We must 00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:58.900 recognize him 00:35:58.900 --> 00:35:59.980 first of all. 00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:01.619 We must 00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:02.240 recognize that 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.699 there is no 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:03.119 one like 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.319 him. 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.359 He is the 00:36:05.359 --> 00:36:05.839 one and 00:36:05.839 --> 00:36:06.479 only true 00:36:06.479 --> 00:36:06.879 word of 00:36:06.879 --> 00:36:07.599 God, God's 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:07.939 perfect 00:36:07.939 --> 00:36:09.439 communication to 00:36:09.439 --> 00:36:10.059 us in a 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.399 person. 00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:11.859 He is the 00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:12.439 God man. 00:36:13.299 --> 00:36:13.819 He is the 00:36:13.819 --> 00:36:14.599 only way we 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.639 can truly know 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.359 God and be 00:36:16.359 --> 00:36:17.939 rescued from 00:36:17.939 --> 00:36:18.559 the darkness of 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.000 our sin. 00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:20.739 Everything 00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:21.619 revolves around 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:21.879 him. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.279 So do you 00:36:23.279 --> 00:36:24.059 recognize him 00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:24.419 today? 00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.720 God's 00:36:25.720 --> 00:36:26.059 God. 00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.300 You cannot 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:28.220 recognize him 00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:28.639 and receive 00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:29.360 him with a 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:29.800 yawn. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.059 He demands 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.780 our full and 00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.300 undivided 00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:33.700 attention. 00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.300 There is no 00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:34.920 one like him. 00:36:35.700 --> 00:36:36.059 You must 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:37.220 either acknowledge 00:36:37.220 --> 00:36:38.039 him fully or 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.659 reject him 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:39.400 utterly but you 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.559 can't ignore 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:40.840 him. 00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:44.220 Secondly, we 00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:45.039 must embrace 00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.860 him by faith. 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:51.099 it doesn't matter whether you've heard about Jesus all your life 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:52.200 or for the first time 00:36:52.200 --> 00:36:55.500 once you recognize him your only hope 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:57.800 is to embrace him fully by faith 00:36:57.800 --> 00:37:01.800 at the end of John's gospel we read the reason he wrote it 00:37:01.800 --> 00:37:04.200 he writes 00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:08.760 I wrote these things down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ 00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:11.760 the son of God and by believing you may have life in his name 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:15.200 there is no life apart from embracing 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:17.799 this unique person by faith 00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:22.139 the one who became human as God 00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:24.939 to die for your sins so that you could have life 00:37:24.939 --> 00:37:29.039 if you have not embraced Jesus by faith 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:31.219 move toward him today 00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:34.099 talk to somebody here 00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:37.139 whether it's an elder or pastor down here at front at the end of the service 00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:39.539 or someone next to you but respond 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:42.399 he's your only hope of light and life 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:46.139 and for the Christians in the room let me remind you 00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:48.500 that that life that we receive in his name 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:50.340 it's not just a future hope 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:52.039 it is a present reality 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:56.840 it's a dynamic relationship with God 00:37:56.840 --> 00:37:58.320 in Christ 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:01.420 through the spirit's powerful presence at work in us 00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:03.860 I don't know about you but 00:38:03.860 --> 00:38:05.660 it's really easy for me 00:38:05.660 --> 00:38:06.700 to get up in the morning 00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:09.679 and to start thinking about God as if he's math class 00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:11.539 distant 00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:12.500 boring 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.500 unknowable 00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.919 maybe even threatening 00:38:14.919 --> 00:38:17.539 just this last week I had this happen 00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:19.599 and honestly it was this passage that God used 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:20.779 to pull me out of it 00:38:20.779 --> 00:38:21.319 to behold 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:24.839 the fresh wonder of who God has revealed himself to be 00:38:24.839 --> 00:38:25.500 in the person 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:26.939 the unique person 00:38:26.939 --> 00:38:27.699 of his son 00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:31.659 so dwell on the person in the manger this week 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:33.359 remind yourself 00:38:33.359 --> 00:38:35.879 of who became flesh for you 00:38:35.879 --> 00:38:39.059 remind yourself of your utter dependence upon him 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.699 for life 00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.779 and for light 00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:43.619 that is how we continue to embrace 00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:45.159 this unique person 00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:46.619 who is our light in our life 00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:47.539 now 00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:49.639 and he will be forever 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:51.480 and lastly 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:54.219 we must not only recognize him 00:38:54.219 --> 00:38:57.239 not only embrace him by faith 00:38:57.239 --> 00:38:59.259 but we must adore him 00:38:59.259 --> 00:39:01.319 this is 00:39:01.319 --> 00:39:04.119 this isn't much different from embracing him by faith 00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:06.039 because faith leads to adoration 00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:09.139 behold him in the manger 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:11.259 as the incarnated word 00:39:11.259 --> 00:39:14.279 behold him as the God man 00:39:14.279 --> 00:39:16.839 God's perfect self-expression 00:39:16.839 --> 00:39:17.979 when we see him 00:39:17.979 --> 00:39:19.519 we see God 00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:21.379 so we must behold him 00:39:21.379 --> 00:39:23.219 and be in awe of him 00:39:23.219 --> 00:39:26.539 behold him not only in the manger 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:28.920 but also in his work on the cross 00:39:28.920 --> 00:39:29.779 in the empty tomb 00:39:29.779 --> 00:39:32.739 the light who gave himself for us 00:39:32.739 --> 00:39:34.380 and rose again to shine forever 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:36.500 as our only hope of life 00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:38.139 so behold him too 00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:39.900 as your only true future hope 00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:41.960 he's the thing we count on 00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.440 church 00:39:42.440 --> 00:39:44.860 in the heavenly city 00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:45.619 there's no sun 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:46.420 there's no moon 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:48.619 the lamb himself 00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:49.400 is our light 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:51.179 both now 00:39:51.179 --> 00:39:52.219 and forever 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:53.019 so come 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.820 let us adore him 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:56.280 let's pray 00:39:56.280 --> 00:40:03.160 father 00:40:03.160 --> 00:40:06.760 you revealed yourself to us 00:40:06.760 --> 00:40:08.640 you made yourself known to us 00:40:08.640 --> 00:40:09.340 through the person 00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:10.900 of the word 00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:11.800 Jesus Christ 00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:14.840 father would you fill our eyes 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:16.100 fresh with faith 00:40:16.100 --> 00:40:18.519 help us to see again 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:21.640 help us not only to recognize him 00:40:21.639 --> 00:40:22.759 but to embrace him 00:40:22.759 --> 00:40:25.339 to have life in his name 00:40:25.339 --> 00:40:27.699 to depend upon him 00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:28.539 throughout the week 00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:29.339 as our life 00:40:29.339 --> 00:40:30.039 and our light 00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:31.679 help us Lord 00:40:31.679 --> 00:40:33.599 not to walk in darkness 00:40:33.599 --> 00:40:35.359 but to walk in the light of life 00:40:35.359 --> 00:40:37.619 help us Lord 00:40:37.619 --> 00:40:38.119 to see 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:39.279 so we may adore you 00:40:39.279 --> 00:40:40.299 and have joy in you 00:40:40.299 --> 00:40:42.799 in Christ's name we pray 00:40:42.799 --> 00:40:43.299 Amen 00:40:43.300 --> 00:40:44.960 haste 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.280 Have a nice day 00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:46.800 moment 00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:47.760 flowers 00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:48.760 we pray 00:40:48.760 --> 00:40:49.260 for God 00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:51.920 who parece 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:54.039 to see 00:40:54.039 --> 00:40:54.280 God 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.200 who loves you 00:40:56.600 --> 00:40:57.280 and how 00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:57.539 are we 00:40:57.539 --> 00:40:58.880 our light 00:40:58.880 --> 00:40:59.080 Good 00:40:59.140 --> 00:41:01.280 we pray 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:01.380 we pray 00:41:01.900 --> 00:41:02.120 them 00:41:02.120 --> 00:41:02.740 our 00:41:02.740 --> 00:41:03.160 hope 00:41:03.160 --> 00:41:03.580 we pray 00:41:03.580 --> 00:41:04.120 thank you 00:41:04.120 --> 00:41:04.760 for being 00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:05.620 helpful 00:41:05.620 --> 00:41:05.720 folks 00:41:05.740 --> 00:41:06.120 isches 00:41:06.140 --> 00:41:06.700 Do me 00:41:06.700 --> 00:41:07.300 this 00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:08.260 we pray 00:41:08.260 --> 00:41:08.340 we pray 00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.340 good 00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:10.880 ma 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:10.980 państwo