WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.240 Oh, hello. 00:00:10.099 --> 00:00:10.439 Hello. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:14.919 I'm reading from John chapter 14, verse 1 to 14. 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:22.300 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:25.839 Believe in God, believe also in me. 00:00:26.580 --> 00:00:28.719 In my Father's house are many rooms. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:33.700 If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:39.119 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.899 that where I am you may be also. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.359 And you know the way to where I'm going. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.799 Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. 00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:52.340 How can we know the way? 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:57.579 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:00.640 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.900 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:08.759 From now on, you do know him and have seen him. 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:14.219 Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:19.640 Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:22.519 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:25.060 How can you say, show us the Father? 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:28.819 Do you not believe that I am the Father and the Father is in me? 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:31.140 I am in the Father and the Father is in me. 00:01:31.899 --> 00:01:35.560 The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, 00:01:36.140 --> 00:01:38.739 but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:43.819 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:46.719 or else believe on account of the works themselves. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:53.640 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do. 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:58.879 And greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.359 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, 00:02:02.759 --> 00:02:05.019 that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:08.479 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:13.020 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:18.600 Well, will you please pray with me as we come to God's Word. 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:25.320 Father, this is always the case, 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:31.700 but there are just amazing truths in your Word for us this morning. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:38.900 And my prayer is that each of us would hear them as coming from your mouth 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:41.140 and not from mine. 00:02:43.020 --> 00:02:46.320 So I pray that you would fill us with your Spirit and your Word. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:49.400 In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 00:02:50.900 --> 00:02:55.660 Well, I was listening to a Jordan Peterson podcast. 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:57.100 If you don't know who he is, that's fine. 00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:02.300 I found this interaction on this podcast really fascinating. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:05.600 So he had a guest on named Alex. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:14.439 Now, Alex isn't a believer, but he was pressing Jordan to explain his beliefs, 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:18.459 because this guy, he's giving lectures on the Bible. 00:03:19.359 --> 00:03:21.780 He quotes the Bible left, right and centre. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:22.900 And then Alex is saying, 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:27.860 If I went back in time with a Panasonic video camera, 00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:32.460 I'm sure there's other brands out there just for legal sake, 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:37.879 Panasonic video camera and put that camera in front of the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, 00:03:39.140 --> 00:03:45.420 would the little LCD screen show a man walk out of that tomb? 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:48.039 And Jordan replies, 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:49.619 I would suspect yes. 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:53.819 Alex says, 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:58.759 So that, to me, seems like a belief in the historical event of the resurrection, 00:03:58.899 --> 00:04:00.619 or at least of Jesus leaving the tomb, 00:04:00.799 --> 00:04:02.319 which means that when somebody says, 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:04.839 Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead? 00:04:05.359 --> 00:04:08.039 It doesn't seem clear to me why you're not able to say, 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:10.039 It would seem to me yes. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:12.179 And Jordan replies, 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:14.460 Because I have no idea what that means. 00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:17.959 And neither did the people who saw him. 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:23.340 Wow. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:30.280 We've been going through the I Am declarations of Jesus for five weeks now. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:37.540 And today, we have a passage that answers Jordan's question about, 00:04:38.540 --> 00:04:39.480 What does it all mean? 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:46.920 Jordan's claim that the people who first saw him had no idea. 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:49.139 Maybe that is initially true, 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:53.439 but John tells us why he wrote this down. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:55.360 He says in chapter 20, 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:58.860 Now Jesus did many other signs, miracles, 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.579 in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:09.120 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:11.000 the Son of God, 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:13.579 and that by believing, 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:17.079 you may have life in his name. 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:21.240 That's what it means. 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:26.220 Now, for all of you, my brothers and sisters, 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:28.860 who know what all this means, 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:34.220 can we just take a moment to remind ourselves of what John 14, 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:38.379 the original situation that the disciples were facing. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:41.660 John 14 is, you've probably heard it at many funerals, 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:44.100 and it's a great passage for funerals. 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:51.420 But the first purpose of this are to disciples whose faith, 00:05:52.640 --> 00:05:54.939 it is on the brink of failure. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:56.100 They are battered. 00:05:58.840 --> 00:06:03.500 Their expectations of success, seriously unmet. 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:06.960 One of their own would betray. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:13.939 Their leader, Peter, is going to publicly deny the faith. 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:17.879 If he can't make it through the night, 00:06:19.099 --> 00:06:21.680 what about the others? 00:06:21.979 --> 00:06:25.219 They feel abandoned to their own resources. 00:06:25.539 --> 00:06:27.259 They're battled in their faith. 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:31.500 So the original setting is these words to us. 00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:34.759 This is what Jesus says, his purpose for his words. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:39.839 I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:44.480 In the world you have tribulation, 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:48.699 but take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:56.279 So this passage shows us what it all means. 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:57.719 And if we know what it means, 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:03.759 that just clicked, that the rooster crowing is... 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:07.959 That's really fitting for Peter's denial, isn't it? 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:10.579 I did not set that up. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:11.839 Thank you, whoever did that. 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:14.879 This is an audio-visual experience. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.379 I was wondering why you were all laughing. 00:07:21.539 --> 00:07:22.639 I wasn't getting the joke. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:35.519 Whatever is battering your faith... 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.979 I think our faith is constantly battered. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:40.259 I don't think it's just certain seasons in life. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:42.959 I think it's a miracle that any of us make it to the end. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:48.099 All of us are battered by different things. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.299 Either being seduced away, 00:07:51.239 --> 00:07:54.459 Jesus just becomes smaller than he actually is, 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:56.359 or a direct challenge, 00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:58.620 or is it for me? 00:07:59.599 --> 00:08:00.419 They're great truths. 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:01.759 We're constantly battered. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.360 We see three things in this passage 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.439 that give us such peace in him. 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:13.480 There's a place for you in the Father's house. 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:17.879 You know the way. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:23.480 From now on, you know the Father. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:32.100 And in that peace, 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.560 he's calling us to great works 00:08:34.560 --> 00:08:36.279 in sharing that peace 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.620 until we get to see him. 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:42.600 So let's just go through this passage. 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.440 We saw last week in the resurrection of Lazarus 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.139 a sneak preview of the end of the age 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:54.460 when everyone who are buried 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:58.299 are going to hear the voice of the Son of God 00:08:58.299 --> 00:08:59.480 and come out of their graves. 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:02.980 Some to everlasting life. 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.100 Some to everlasting judgment. 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:09.220 Now the goal of Jesus' mission, 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:10.120 what it all means, 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.419 is to prepare a place in our Father's house. 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:14.340 It's a picture of that heaven. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.340 There's many rooms. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:20.639 I don't think we're meant to be picturing the rooms. 00:09:21.280 --> 00:09:22.620 However you want to decorate them. 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:25.080 The nature of the rooms isn't what's talked about. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:27.460 There's so much space, is his point. 00:09:27.780 --> 00:09:28.840 There's heaps of space. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:31.040 There's plenty of room. 00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:34.280 And there is a place. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:40.440 I'm looking around this auditorium 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:41.980 and we love place. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:44.440 I can almost know who's here this morning 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:46.580 by looking at certain parts of seats. 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:49.020 We love place. 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.040 We are embodied creatures. 00:09:51.680 --> 00:09:53.840 We want to worship God embodied 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:56.120 in a place. 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:00.240 And that is what Jesus came to give us. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.200 This eternal, permanent place. 00:10:04.040 --> 00:10:06.920 It is an embodied home. 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.580 It's a place for you personally. 00:10:12.140 --> 00:10:13.160 He's expecting you. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:18.159 People won't turn their eyes away from you 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:18.980 when you get in. 00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:19.980 It's just like, 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:21.399 I don't know how he made it. 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:23.379 They're just going to tolerate that. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:25.100 They're going to see you. 00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:27.539 The Father's expecting you 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:29.480 to see you at the core of your being 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.659 and delight in you. 00:10:31.819 --> 00:10:32.759 You're expected. 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:33.799 Your name's there. 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:35.819 It's a place for you. 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:38.259 He's going to prepare. 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:42.759 There's a sense in which 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:44.559 Jesus refuses to start 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:45.439 the bliss of heaven 00:10:45.439 --> 00:10:47.259 until all his people are with him. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.559 I'm pretty sure I've quoted 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:52.539 C.S. Lewis recently. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.139 I can't remember. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:54.259 I'm going to quote it again 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.120 because it's a great quote. 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:58.519 Creatures are not born with desires 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.639 unless satisfaction for those desires exists. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.519 A baby feels hunger? 00:11:04.819 --> 00:11:07.100 Well, there is such a thing as food. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:10.279 A duckling wants to swim. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:12.279 Well, there is such a thing as water. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.620 If I find in myself a desire 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:19.920 which no experience in this world can satisfy, 00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:21.320 the most probable explanation 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:23.259 is that I was made for another world. 00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:27.600 If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.220 that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:34.259 Probably earthly pleasures 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:36.840 were never meant to satisfy it. 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:39.279 But only to arouse it. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.680 To suggest the real thing. 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:49.120 I think this morning 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.940 you can know you have a place there 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:54.320 if your desires move 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.240 from the concept of place 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:57.659 to person. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:01.799 verse 3, 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:03.339 I will come again 00:12:03.339 --> 00:12:05.500 and I will take you to myself. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.039 That where I am 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:11.459 you may be also. 00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.219 If that, 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.100 I know that grows over time as a Christian, 00:12:18.439 --> 00:12:20.259 but if your concept of heaven moves 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:22.179 from place to person, 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:25.719 I think that's one indicator that 00:12:25.719 --> 00:12:29.439 you know him. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.539 You have a place. 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:33.139 So we have peace, 00:12:33.239 --> 00:12:34.239 have peace in me 00:12:34.239 --> 00:12:35.399 because there's a place for you 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.259 in my father's house 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.059 and second, 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:38.519 because you know the way. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.279 You know it. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:42.139 Now, Thomas doesn't seem to know, 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.759 but they do know 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.340 because they know him. 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:49.519 Now, 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.100 this is where we've got to take, 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.240 pay close attention 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.279 to the article. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.539 He's not saying, 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:57.600 I am a, 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.639 a way among many 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.240 to God. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.539 I am the 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:03.299 way, 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.360 the truth, 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.039 the life. 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.799 No one 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:14.860 comes 00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:16.100 to the Father 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:17.180 except through 00:13:17.180 --> 00:13:17.799 me. 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.639 Jesus is the only way 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.320 to the Father 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.700 precisely because of 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:24.379 who he is. 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.220 He is the truth 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:27.360 of God 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.159 and the life 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:30.560 of God 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:31.740 is in himself. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.860 Because of who he is, 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.259 it makes him 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.820 the only way. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:41.759 Now, 00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.600 I think we're all, 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:44.919 the idea of absolute, 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:45.820 the truth, 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:46.240 it might, 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.200 it might feel yucky 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.680 to you, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.279 I'm not sure, 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.960 but I think we're all 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.600 intolerant 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.240 when truth is staring 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.019 us in the face, 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:53.960 when there's just 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.879 reality there, 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.259 you just, 00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:56.480 you've got to deal 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:56.820 with it. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.860 An example of this, 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.820 I think it was this week, 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:02.060 the guys who are laying 00:14:02.060 --> 00:14:03.360 the floor tiles, 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.139 these squares, 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.460 they were telling me 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:08.600 that they get to the end 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.539 and then there's this 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.879 five millimetre gap. 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:13.720 That reality of a gap, 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:15.039 it shouldn't be there 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:15.960 and it's just staring 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.700 them in the face, 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:18.200 it means one of the tiles 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:19.360 somewhere that look 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:19.879 identical 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.399 is mismanufactured. 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.060 Now, 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.700 that reality, 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.300 they could have gone, 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.519 well, 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:24.879 they looked, 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.700 they looked right, 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.560 they look square, 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.119 but no, 00:14:27.579 --> 00:14:28.439 the gap was, 00:14:28.939 --> 00:14:30.099 it's reality that, 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.899 they spent ages finding 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:33.359 that one square 00:14:33.359 --> 00:14:34.459 that was out of alignment. 00:14:35.119 --> 00:14:36.000 They were intolerant 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:36.659 to their credit 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.539 and they didn't just 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.099 put up with it. 00:14:40.099 --> 00:14:41.459 When reality's there, 00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.500 even if you don't like it, 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.099 I'll give you another 00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:43.959 illustration in case 00:14:43.959 --> 00:14:44.739 that didn't work for you. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.259 If you go to the doctor 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:48.959 and you describe your symptoms 00:14:48.959 --> 00:14:50.239 and the doctor knows 00:14:50.239 --> 00:14:50.819 what you've got, 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:51.839 they've seen it 00:14:51.839 --> 00:14:52.779 hundreds of times, 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.139 all the research papers 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.339 say the same thing, 00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.160 no one disagrees 00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:57.460 and the prognosis 00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.720 is not good. 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.040 If that doctor 00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:04.139 told you a lie 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:06.120 because they didn't 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.160 want to upset you, 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.700 how would you feel 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.060 about that? 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:13.540 Would you tolerate that? 00:15:14.680 --> 00:15:15.940 I'd be pretty furious. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.759 Even when reality, 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.840 we don't like it. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.720 It's not helpful 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.480 or kind 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.659 to be flexible 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.360 with truth. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.980 How much more 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:37.080 with ultimate truth, 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.100 ultimate reality? 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.039 I think we're all 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:41.460 searching for ultimate reality. 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:48.720 I want to go back 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.560 to that podcast 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:50.120 I mentioned. 00:15:51.900 --> 00:15:52.460 Alex, 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.300 remember, 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.100 he's an unbeliever. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.879 He raises 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.960 a really 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.700 critical challenge 00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:01.440 to our society's 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.220 belief system 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:03.480 based on the truth 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:05.340 of evolution. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.600 Here's what Alex 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:08.860 says. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:11.320 he's describing 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.220 someone else's argument 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:12.960 but here's what he says. 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:14.220 What does natural 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:15.740 selection select 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.379 for? 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:19.560 Survivability. 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.240 So if you're 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.539 a materialist, 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.139 there's no such 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:24.620 thing as God, 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.879 that means 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:26.419 that the very 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.800 rational faculty 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:28.779 that you're using 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.320 right now 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.399 evolves 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.779 not to be sensitive 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.580 to truth 00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:34.840 but to survivability. 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:39.860 And if that's 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.379 the case, 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:41.040 why do you 00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:41.620 believe in the 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.120 truth 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:44.440 of evolution? 00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:46.759 This unbeliever 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.540 is putting it forward 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:47.860 as going, 00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:48.820 he doesn't answer 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.300 the question. 00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:51.840 We're all 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.600 searching for truth. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.080 We want to base 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.960 our lives on truth, 00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:58.399 don't we? 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.040 And Jesus 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:01.160 declares himself 00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:01.879 to be 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:03.280 the truth. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.639 He's not just 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.160 saying I'm 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.740 telling the 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.000 truth. 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.599 He's not just 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.619 saying I stand 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:09.079 for the truth. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.559 He's not even 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.160 saying that he's 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.059 one important 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.839 aspect among 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.559 all the true 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.259 things out there 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:15.740 in the cosmos. 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.859 He's saying 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:19.759 he's ultimate 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.440 reality 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.059 in human form. 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:27.659 He's saying 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:28.179 that everything 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:28.859 else that's 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:29.240 true 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.539 relies upon 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.700 him. 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:35.399 That the 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.700 divine revelation 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.279 of God 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.899 became 00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:39.299 flesh, 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:39.960 meat, 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.779 as we saw 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.319 in week one. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.519 It's not 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.639 doctrinal 00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.899 propositions 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.599 at the heart 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.299 of the universe. 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:52.059 it's a 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:52.379 beating 00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:52.960 heart. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.019 Ultimate 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.519 reality 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.259 is a 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.559 beating 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.079 heart. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.240 He's 00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.659 saying 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.759 I'm it. 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.079 I'm 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:04.419 the truth 00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:05.039 of God. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.399 And he's 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:08.899 saying he 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.539 is the 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.220 life. 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.220 Not only 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:12.519 that he 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.419 gives life, 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.139 but that's 00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:14.500 a radical 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:14.899 claim. 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:18.900 he's 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.500 saying in 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:19.900 him 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:22.180 was life, 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.140 says John. 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.160 That he 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:25.980 himself is 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.120 vigorously, 00:18:27.340 --> 00:18:28.460 fully alive. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.320 He is 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:30.280 eternal life. 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.600 He doesn't 00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:32.060 just give 00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:32.560 eternal life. 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.519 He is 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.080 life. 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.240 If you're 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.759 struggling to 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.000 wrap your 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.340 head around 00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:39.640 this, 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:41.660 join the 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:41.880 club. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:44.340 all of 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:44.900 us want 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.860 life to 00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:46.280 the full 00:18:46.280 --> 00:18:46.740 and he's 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:49.100 saying he 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:49.560 is it. 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.460 We heard 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.040 last week 00:18:55.040 --> 00:18:55.760 that amazing 00:18:55.760 --> 00:18:56.720 promise in 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.600 raising Lazarus, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.900 everyone who 00:18:58.900 --> 00:18:59.860 lives in 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:02.100 me and 00:19:02.100 --> 00:19:03.000 believes in 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.820 me shall 00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.900 never die. 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:10.800 If you're 00:19:10.800 --> 00:19:11.380 living in 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:11.640 him, 00:19:11.780 --> 00:19:12.300 when I 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:12.920 close my 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.220 eyes for 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.920 that final 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.480 time, 00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:17.180 maybe in 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.580 a hospital 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:17.920 bed, 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.460 there won't 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.200 be even a 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.680 millisecond of 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:24.800 death because 00:19:24.800 --> 00:19:25.200 I've already 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.780 entered that 00:19:25.780 --> 00:19:26.640 eternal life. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.980 I just get 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.520 more of it. 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:28.639 life. 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.099 He describes 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:41.000 eternal life 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.579 this way in 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.160 John 17 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.000 when he's 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.299 praying, 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:43.740 this is 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.400 eternal life 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:44.700 that they 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.359 know you, 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:46.579 the only 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.240 true God 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.700 and Jesus 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.420 Christ whom 00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:48.740 you have 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.019 sent. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.720 He is 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.519 the way 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:51.980 because of 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.259 who he 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.500 is. 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.359 He's the 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:53.839 beating 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.460 heart at 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.740 the centre 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:54.960 of the 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.339 universe 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:55.900 and in 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.500 him is 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.059 life. 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.079 If you 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.859 want life, 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:02.700 it's found 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.099 in him. 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:13.399 Isn't 00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:14.179 Philip an 00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:14.740 encouraging 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.480 disciple? 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.480 Whenever you 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:17.899 meet him, 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:19.659 he always 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.319 seems out 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:20.559 of his 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:20.939 depth. 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.659 When the 00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.199 crowd of 00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:25.199 5,000 are 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:25.679 around and 00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:26.139 they're hungry, 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.879 here's 00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.379 Philip's 00:20:28.379 --> 00:20:28.879 contribution. 00:20:29.959 --> 00:20:30.359 If we 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:30.980 spend almost 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:31.519 a year's 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:31.879 wages, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.359 200 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:32.799 genari, 00:20:32.979 --> 00:20:33.659 all on 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:33.979 bread, 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.399 Jesus, 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.259 actually, 00:20:36.959 --> 00:20:37.779 we still 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.240 wouldn't have 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.279 enough to 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.740 give everyone 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.419 just a taste. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:41.919 That's his 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.979 solution to 00:20:42.979 --> 00:20:43.379 the problem. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.579 When some 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.399 non-Jews want 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.039 to come see 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.479 Jesus, 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:49.979 Philip's 00:20:49.979 --> 00:20:50.179 like, 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:50.879 can you 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.219 bring them? 00:20:52.439 --> 00:20:52.979 Can you 00:20:52.979 --> 00:20:53.279 turn them 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.559 away? 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.240 He's not 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.459 sure. 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.259 Andrew, 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:55.579 what do 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:55.859 we do? 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.919 And here, 00:20:59.199 --> 00:20:59.779 he is out 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.019 of his 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:00.339 depth. 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:04.519 Lord, 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.159 show us 00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:06.319 the 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:06.619 Father. 00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:08.859 That's 00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.299 enough for 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.500 us. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.339 Now, 00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:10.719 to his 00:21:10.719 --> 00:21:11.019 credit, 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.279 this is a 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.859 bold request. 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.539 No one 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:14.959 has ever 00:21:14.959 --> 00:21:15.619 seen God. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.039 Even 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.699 Moses only 00:21:16.699 --> 00:21:17.039 saw the 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.419 back of 00:21:17.419 --> 00:21:17.639 God. 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.419 Show us 00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:19.599 the 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:19.859 Father. 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:20.839 And he's 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.000 saying, 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.259 that's 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.639 enough. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.259 We're 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.699 troubled, 00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.019 but if I 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.740 just saw 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.519 God 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.099 himself, 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:27.740 I could 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.699 keep going. 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.059 We could 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.599 keep going. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.599 It's a 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.500 bold request. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.459 But notice 00:21:33.459 --> 00:21:33.839 Jesus' 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.559 reply. 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.139 It seems 00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.539 to be 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.099 tinged 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:36.299 with 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:36.819 sadness. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.419 Have I 00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:40.839 been with 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.240 you so 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.759 long? 00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.079 And you 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.639 still do 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.119 not know 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:45.379 me, 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:45.719 Philip. 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:49.139 Here I 00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.439 am. 00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.579 Is that 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.119 enough for 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.279 you, 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:53.519 Philip? 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:53.599 Philip, 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:53.619 Philip, 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:53.659 Philip, 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:53.679 Philip, 00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:53.719 Philip, 00:21:53.719 --> 00:21:55.659 Philip, 00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:59.579 Philip, 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.039 ? 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:02.579 No one 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:02.720 has 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:02.960 ever 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.279 seen 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.740 God, 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:06.419 the 00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:06.919 only 00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:07.480 God, 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.099 who 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:08.319 is at 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.439 the 00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:08.879 Father's 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.220 side. 00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:09.579 He 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:09.839 has 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.139 made 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.319 him 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.779 known. 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.299 He 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.579 is the 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:13.759 only 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.000 way 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.099 to 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.299 God 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.559 because 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:14.859 of 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.000 who 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.179 he 00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.500 is. 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.119 He 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.419 is the 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:18.779 only 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.339 door 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.980 for the 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.199 sheep 00:22:20.199 --> 00:22:20.980 because 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.119 of 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.240 who 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.379 he 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.639 is. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.039 Now 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:35.879 Now, a human being that declares these things, like, surely Jesus is a fruitcake. 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:42.000 Surely he's deranged. 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.420 He's a liar. 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:48.619 He's possessed by a demon, his contemporaries conclude. 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:57.119 Why would you listen to a single word, someone saying, I am ultimate reality, I am life? 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:06.000 You've got to treat him as a fruitcake or you've got to worship him. 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:14.139 For those of us who believe, we have peace. 00:23:14.719 --> 00:23:16.179 How much peace is there? 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:16.879 We know him. 00:23:16.979 --> 00:23:17.559 We know the way. 00:23:19.739 --> 00:23:24.779 There's a place for us in the Father's house and you know the way because you know him. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:36.059 And we have peace because all this is ours because of what he's done. 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:45.179 Now, this is where I want to hone in on what does Jesus being the way mean? 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:51.799 Again, I'm going to use that podcast. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:56.160 It was such a fascinating podcast of what people believe out in the world. 00:23:58.060 --> 00:24:02.420 Jordan, again, is pressed for a definition of a Christian. 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:08.519 And Jordan, he's a quick thinker and he pauses, I don't know, 10 seconds. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:11.100 It's the longest pause I've ever heard him have. 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:14.279 And then, I won't tell you the whole quote. 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:18.139 Okay, so I'm oversimplifying this if you want to go listen to yourself. 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:22.299 But he basically says, this is one of his things he says, 00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:26.659 I think the essence of the Christian faith is the imitation of Christ. 00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:35.899 Jesus is saying so much more than that. 00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:46.220 He's saying so much more than that. 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.060 I'm the supreme example to imitate. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:56.080 If you use Jesus as your example to imitate, obviously we should, 00:24:56.200 --> 00:25:00.759 but as the basis of Christian faith, if you do that, I don't know about you, 00:25:00.780 --> 00:25:01.820 but that's going to crush me. 00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:03.240 I'm going to fail. 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.259 I'm going to fail. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:08.980 Consider the timing of these words. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:11.060 Remember when these words were said. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:14.200 This is the night before he dies. 00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:19.340 In just a few hours, not one of his disciples are going to follow him. 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.840 Not one are going to follow this way. 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:25.100 They're going to abandon him. 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:27.060 And he's saying, I am the way. 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:35.720 In a few hours, the lies of the enemies are going to get victory over this truth. 00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:41.559 His corpse is going to hang limp. 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:45.759 He's going to be pale and pierced. 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:48.200 And he's saying, I am the life. 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:55.880 To the world, this just sounds ridiculous. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.700 But it's not in spite of this, but it's because of this, 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:10.019 that we see the Father most clearly when Jesus is on that cross. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:19.299 He says in verse 7, from now on, because he's going to that cross, 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:23.440 from now on, you do know the Father. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:31.000 When he says he's going to prepare a place, he's not busy with carpentry. 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:33.100 He means he's going to the cross. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.160 It's prepared. 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:40.360 That our good shepherd would lay down his life for his sheep. 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:47.819 Hebrews 10, 20 says, 00:26:48.579 --> 00:27:08.919 The way isn't Peter going, I'm ready to die for you, Jesus. 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.560 That's not the way. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:14.039 The way is, believe me. 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.019 Have peace in me. 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.220 I prepare the way. 00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:28.600 From now on, we know God as our Father. 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.980 Do not let your hearts be troubled. 00:27:35.580 --> 00:27:36.420 Believe in God. 00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:37.580 Believe also in me. 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:40.460 A place for you in my Father's house. 00:27:41.199 --> 00:27:41.960 You're expected. 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.740 You know the way. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.659 Because of who I am. 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:51.939 And he's done it all. 00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:56.199 At the cross, we know the Father. 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:01.139 That's what all this means. 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:05.200 There's so much peace in him. 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:14.740 But in this peace, he's also preparing his disciples for great purpose. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:19.980 I wonder if you believe verses 12 to 14. 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.980 If you've got your Bibles there. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:25.420 Let me read just a bit of it. 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:39.560 Truly, truly, truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do and greater works than these will he do because I'm going to the Father. 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:44.700 That's hard to believe, isn't it? 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:46.700 Is this? 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.500 Is this? 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:56.460 Like, even the apostles going to do greater works than Jesus raising Lazarus? 00:28:56.460 --> 00:29:03.759 Is this just about the apostles doing miracles in the Acts of the Year? 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.759 I don't know. 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.620 Possibly. 00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:07.620 I suppose it's possible. 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:12.779 But verse 12, it seems wider than that. 00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.180 Verse 12. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.799 Whoever believes. 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:17.140 Whoever believes in me. 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:25.640 So I agree with Bishop J.C. Ryle. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:30.380 What greater work is there than the conversion of the human soul? 00:29:32.060 --> 00:29:39.480 When at Pentecost, the church was just like 120 about now, and then 3,000 come. 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:48.360 The truth and the life invading every nation, every heart, so many hearts. 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:53.480 And he's using Philip, people like Philip. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.900 Ordinary, out of his depth, Philip. 00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:59.720 Ordinary, out of his depth, David. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:05.160 Ordinary, out of our depth, Grace Evangelical. 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:10.180 He's using our witness. 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:13.440 I don't even know why he's crediting his disciples. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.380 Surely it's him doing this conversion. 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:18.640 And yet, it's him working through us. 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:24.820 He's using us as the means to bear witness to the truth and life we've found in him. 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:28.880 To convert people, to bring people into the Father's house. 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:30.019 What greater work. 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.220 He gives us peace. 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.339 Peace. 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:37.779 And in that peace, he just, he pushes us into such great purpose. 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:51.100 We've had an encouraging mission month, but are we going to fan that passion into flame? 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:53.559 Not just go, yes, we've done that in August. 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:59.440 Is our witness going to grow individually and as a church? 00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:06.339 The world does not count this as important, but greater works. 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:10.599 To share the peace that we've found. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.359 What a privilege. 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:20.819 I would even go as far as to say, whatever's battering your faith at the moment, he's not just offering us peace. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:28.679 I think those times when we're battered, which is all the time, whatever's battering you is an opportunity to bear witness. 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:31.439 That problem at work. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:34.579 Are you going to fight like the world does? 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:37.879 Or are you going to show that, no, I've got peace. 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.319 I've got peace in Jesus. 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:41.139 I want to bear witness to him. 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.639 Whatever's battering your faith. 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:53.679 I think it's an opportunity to show we've found truth and life, the way, in him. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.299 Will you pray with me? 00:31:59.460 --> 00:31:59.779 Let's pray. 00:31:59.779 --> 00:31:59.819 Let's pray. 00:31:59.819 --> 00:31:59.839 Let's pray. 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:22.639 Lord, forgive us for not dwelling on that permanent home that we'll have with you nearly as much as we should. 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:27.399 I think I can pray for all of us. 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.439 Let me pray for myself. 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:41.580 Lord, I set my goals on such smaller things when we step back at these ultimate truths and your grace in promising a place for us. 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:51.640 Lord, forgive us and help us to dwell on all that you've given us and the peace that we have in him. 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:55.759 Lord, stir us up to share that peace with others. 00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.680 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:58.480 Let's pray.