WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.600 Please open up your Bibles to John chapter 5 this morning. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:09.439 We've been working our way through John's Gospel. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:12.019 We've made our way to the end of chapter 5. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:17.460 And this morning we'll read from verse 30 through the end of the chapter, verse 47. 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:20.960 So if you would, Bibles open, follow along with me as I read. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:26.019 Jesus says, 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:27.800 I can do nothing on my own. 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:31.719 As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.579 because I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:40.659 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 00:00:41.460 --> 00:00:43.579 There is another who bears witness about me, 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:46.840 and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 00:00:47.579 --> 00:00:51.060 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:54.260 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, 00:00:54.260 --> 00:00:57.760 but I say these things so that you may be saved. 00:00:58.419 --> 00:01:00.140 He was a burning and shining lamp, 00:01:00.339 --> 00:01:03.059 and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.599 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:09.679 For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:11.920 the very works that I am doing, 00:01:12.039 --> 00:01:14.599 bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.939 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:21.219 His voice you have never heard, 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:22.819 his form you have never seen, 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:26.059 and you do not have his word abiding in you, 00:01:26.279 --> 00:01:28.899 for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 00:01:29.619 --> 00:01:30.839 You search the scriptures, 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:33.479 because you think that in them you have eternal life, 00:01:33.539 --> 00:01:36.099 and it is they that bear witness about me. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:39.280 Yet you refuse to come to me, 00:01:39.539 --> 00:01:40.519 that you may have life. 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.819 I do not receive glory from people, 00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:46.939 but I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:49.099 I have come in my Father's name, 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:50.420 and you do not receive me. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:52.519 If another comes in his own name, 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:53.799 you will receive him. 00:01:54.479 --> 00:01:57.340 How can you believe when you receive glory from one another, 00:01:57.399 --> 00:02:00.479 and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 00:02:01.099 --> 00:02:03.340 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:05.479 There is one who accuses you, 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:06.359 Moses, 00:02:06.820 --> 00:02:08.539 on whom you have set your hope. 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:10.900 For if you believed Moses, 00:02:11.140 --> 00:02:12.460 you would believe me, 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:14.020 for he wrote of me. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:16.340 But if you do not believe his writings, 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:19.319 how will you believe my words? 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:21.719 This is the word of God. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:23.300 Let's pray once more. 00:02:25.980 --> 00:02:28.460 Lord, we ask again that you would speak, 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:29.120 O Lord, 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:30.680 as we open up your word, 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:32.560 and as we seek you in it, 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:34.280 we pray that you would speak to our hearts. 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:35.280 We ask in Christ's name. 00:02:36.139 --> 00:02:36.439 Amen. 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:41.299 We ended last week with a quote from C.S. Lewis, 00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:45.639 and we're going to begin this week with another quote from C.S. Lewis. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:49.879 This one is from one of his collections of essays called God and the Dock. 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:53.859 Mr. Lewis is giving us an image of a courtroom scene. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:56.299 You can have that image in your mind. 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:57.759 A courtroom scene. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:02.579 With God himself seated in the place where the accused party sits, 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:06.540 and the man in the seat of the judge. 00:03:07.040 --> 00:03:07.840 Here's what he says. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:08.520 He says, 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.600 The ancient man approached God, or even the gods, 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:14.900 as the accused person approaches his judge. 00:03:15.140 --> 00:03:18.360 For the modern man, the roles are quite reversed. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:20.020 He is the judge. 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:21.760 God is in the dock. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:24.100 He is quite a kindly judge. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:29.900 If God should have a reasonable defense for being the God who permits war, poverty, and disease, 00:03:30.019 --> 00:03:31.180 he's ready to listen to it. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.120 The trial may even end in God's acquittal. 00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:37.599 But the important thing is that man is on the bench, 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:40.340 and God is in the dock. 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:45.799 It is an absurd thought, isn't it? 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:50.599 That the judge of all the universe, the creator of all things, 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:57.060 would ever have to give a defense of himself before man, before his creation. 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:02.519 But that is exactly the scenario that we find ourselves in here in John chapter 5. 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:05.639 Jesus Christ is a man accused. 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:08.119 He has just run in with the Pharisees. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:10.239 He's been accused of breaking the Sabbath. 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:13.119 But now, an even bigger offense, a greater offense, 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:18.060 he's being accused of blasphemy, of making himself equal with God. 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:20.639 You might remember last week, his defense, he said, 00:04:20.740 --> 00:04:24.360 The Father is working until now, and I am working. 00:04:25.219 --> 00:04:31.360 He's claimed total equality with God the Father in all of his actions. 00:04:31.599 --> 00:04:33.779 So much so that he says in verse 30, 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:35.799 I can do nothing on my own. 00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:39.179 As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:44.079 because I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:47.759 Jesus is claiming that every one of his thoughts, 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:51.639 every one of his actions, every one of his steps that he takes, 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.059 is in sync, is united. 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:55.519 It comes from the Father. 00:04:55.659 --> 00:04:58.179 He can do nothing on his own. 00:04:58.180 --> 00:05:03.519 Now this, we have to understand, is an incredibly bold claim. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:04.500 But there's an issue here. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:06.819 Jesus himself acknowledges it. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:07.920 Verse 31, look there. 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.000 He says, 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:11.699 If I alone bear witness about myself, 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:15.259 then my testimony is not true. 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:18.939 In other words, if you make a claim like this, 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:22.000 if you make a claim, something this big, this grand, 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:24.879 you had better be ready to back it up. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.699 And that's exactly what we see Jesus do here in John chapter 5. 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:31.980 He does just that by providing witnesses. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:35.839 And here's what I want us to see this morning from this passage. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:43.279 That God, in his abundant mercy towards blind sinners like us, 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:51.420 has provided an overwhelming flood of evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:56.560 He's provided witness after witness after witness after witness, 00:05:56.699 --> 00:06:01.180 confirming the identity and the truth and the worth of Christ. 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:05.379 And this is such a wonderful grace of God for sinners like us, 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.060 because if you're like me, we so often, if we're honest, 00:06:09.220 --> 00:06:12.060 we so often waver in our belief. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:13.780 We so often waver. 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:15.480 We ebb and flow in our confidence. 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.840 But evidence strengthens confidence. 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:23.279 And we ought to rejoice, because passages like this, Christians, 00:06:23.419 --> 00:06:26.619 show us that our faith is not blind. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:30.179 Our belief, what we profess to believe as Christians, 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:31.779 it's not unsupported. 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:34.199 John, we've seen over and over again, 00:06:34.299 --> 00:06:38.659 he's written these things that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:06:39.239 --> 00:06:42.659 and that by believing, we might have life in his name. 00:06:42.739 --> 00:06:44.579 Our faith is strengthened. 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:46.120 It's bolstered. 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:49.859 It's supported by many witnesses to Christ. 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:52.800 Our witness, as we go and share the gospel, 00:06:52.919 --> 00:06:53.620 is strengthened. 00:06:53.859 --> 00:06:54.439 It's encouraged. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:57.779 It's supported by many witnesses to Christ. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:07:03.819 So Jesus here, he calls up to the stand four witnesses to back up his claim. 00:07:04.659 --> 00:07:08.759 We see four witnesses here to the identity of Christ. 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:11.159 If you're a note taker, I encourage you to take notes. 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:12.319 It helps you follow along. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:17.279 These are our outlines here, four witnesses to the identity of Christ. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.939 Witness number one is John the Baptist. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.060 John the Baptist. 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:23.079 Look there to verse 33. 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:25.040 He says, 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:28.480 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:31.480 Not that the testimony that I received is from man, 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:35.100 but I say these things so that you may be saved. 00:07:35.579 --> 00:07:37.519 He was a burning and shining lamp, 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:41.459 and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:44.519 See, John the Baptist, we saw from chapter one, 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:45.680 he was a witness. 00:07:45.979 --> 00:07:47.339 He was a forerunner. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.120 He came preparing the way for the Messiah, 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:52.719 proclaiming the glory of Christ. 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:54.719 Do you remember how chapter one described him? 00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:57.479 You might even just flip back there just for a moment. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:00.240 Chapter one, verse six, it tells us, 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:03.340 there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:05.860 He came as a witness, 00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:08.379 bearing witness about the light 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:11.079 that all might believe through him. 00:08:11.340 --> 00:08:12.280 He was not the light, 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:14.740 but he came to bear witness about the light. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:17.720 This was the mission and purpose of John. 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:21.240 He was sent by God to bear witness to Christ. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:22.620 Verse 15, chapter one. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:23.220 It says, 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:25.700 John bore witness about him and cried out, 00:08:25.820 --> 00:08:27.100 this is he of whom I said, 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:29.120 he who comes after me ranks before me 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.300 because he was before me. 00:08:31.340 --> 00:08:33.399 Again, in verse 32, it says, 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:35.200 and John bore witness. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:38.899 I saw the spirit descend from heaven like a dove, 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:40.279 and it remained on him. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:42.840 I myself did not know him, 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.600 but he who sent me, that is God, 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:47.220 he who sent me to baptize with water, 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:48.080 said to me, 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.580 he on whom you see the spirit descend and remain, 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:54.620 this is he who baptized us with the Holy Spirit, 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:58.040 and I have seen and have borne witness 00:08:58.040 --> 00:09:01.200 that this is the Son of God. 00:09:01.280 --> 00:09:02.800 See, every time you see John the Baptist, 00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:03.759 this is what he's doing, 00:09:04.420 --> 00:09:06.320 that he is bearing witness. 00:09:06.540 --> 00:09:08.680 He's testifying, he's proclaiming, 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.680 he's witnessing to the identity of Christ. 00:09:11.780 --> 00:09:13.740 He's calling us to repent and to prepare, 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:14.660 to prepare ourselves. 00:09:14.780 --> 00:09:15.900 The Messiah is coming. 00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.860 The kingdom of heaven is near. 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:20.460 Prepare yourselves and get ready. 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:23.259 He's witnessing to the coming Christ. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:23.920 And it says, 00:09:24.680 --> 00:09:27.000 people were generally willing to rejoice 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.240 for a while in his light. 00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:31.160 Now, of course, we know some grumbled, 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:32.080 some questioned, 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.980 many objected to his teaching, 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:38.180 but many were coming to him to be baptized. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.900 Many were coming and hearing his message. 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:45.840 But despite that temporary revival and attention 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:47.420 that came with the ministry of John, 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:51.839 these Pharisees were not able to see clearly 00:09:51.839 --> 00:09:54.559 the message of his ministry. 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:55.879 Do you remember what his message was? 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:57.399 Don't look at me. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:09:59.319 Don't look at me. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:01.039 Look at Christ. 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:03.000 Behold the Lamb of God. 00:10:03.079 --> 00:10:04.120 Behold the Lamb of God 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:05.759 who comes to take away the sin of the world. 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:06.959 He must increase. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:08.979 I must decrease. 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:12.199 Now, you might remember from our time 00:10:12.199 --> 00:10:13.980 discussing John the Baptist, 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:18.139 we mentioned that part of John the Apostle's purpose 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:19.759 in writing this gospel, 00:10:20.300 --> 00:10:23.080 part of his purpose in including these accounts 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:25.820 of John the Baptist in this story of Jesus 00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:30.139 is to root these claims about Christ 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:32.259 in human history. 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.580 So he says there was a man. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.460 He's a real man. 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:37.320 His name was John. 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:38.360 He was sent for this purpose. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.180 Here's what he said. 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.340 Here's how he was received. 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:43.580 The things that we're reading about here in this gospel, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:46.519 they took place in human history. 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:50.000 We need to remember these are not fairy tales. 00:10:50.660 --> 00:10:51.720 They're not legends. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.580 They are time stamped. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:56.720 Jesus lived and he breathed just like we do. 00:10:56.800 --> 00:10:58.360 He ate and he drank just like we do. 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:02.100 He walked on the earth and lived in human history. 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:05.940 And John the Baptist is just one of many 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:09.960 human witnesses to the glory of Christ. 00:11:11.160 --> 00:11:13.380 You might think through the Old Testament. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:17.200 Every single one of the Old Testament prophets 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.740 from Moses to Isaiah to Jeremiah, 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.960 they all bore witness to the coming Messiah. 00:11:24.640 --> 00:11:26.440 They all looked ahead and bore witness 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:29.040 to the Messiah who was to come. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.540 They bore witness to Christ. 00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:33.920 And now John, the last of the Old Testament prophets, 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:36.459 he sort of serves as the hinge between the Old 00:11:36.459 --> 00:11:37.519 and the New Testaments. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:40.759 He lays eyes on Christ and says, this is him. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.439 This is the one that we've been waiting for. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.659 But that human witness to the person of Christ, 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.839 it didn't stop with John, did it? 00:11:49.599 --> 00:11:52.519 Continued on through the disciples of Jesus. 00:11:53.339 --> 00:11:55.860 As they laid eyes on him, they saw who he was. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.539 They bore witness to his glory. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.799 And that witness carried on to the witness of the church. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:05.219 From Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria, 00:12:05.219 --> 00:12:06.819 all the way down to us here. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.339 In all and all, in the low country, 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:14.059 men and women of all ages, from all backgrounds, 00:12:14.219 --> 00:12:17.039 in all different countries, speaking different languages, 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.240 the church is incredibly diverse, 00:12:20.479 --> 00:12:22.359 but we're united in one thing. 00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:22.939 What is it? 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:26.759 Our witness to the glory of Christ. 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:34.500 You know, if you should ever grow weary in your faith, 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:37.220 one thing I'd encourage you to do 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:42.779 is to consider the human historical witness to Christ. 00:12:43.939 --> 00:12:47.439 Consider the powerful witness of the church 00:12:47.439 --> 00:12:49.179 to Christ throughout the ages. 00:12:49.319 --> 00:12:51.779 I'd encourage you, read up on your church history. 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:55.519 Read through the gospel, through the book of Acts. 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:57.879 The gospel of Luke, into the book of Acts. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:13:00.519 Read up on how the apostles lived and died, 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.600 professing that Jesus is the Christ. 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.620 Read up on the ways the church fathers 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:07.240 carefully defended the faith from heresy. 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:11.779 Read up on the ways the reformers and the Puritans 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:14.819 just wrote and gushed about the glory of Christ. 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.860 Read up on missionaries who are going to the ends of the earth, 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.460 giving up everything they have, 00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:21.980 selling all that they have, 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:24.399 giving everything, risking it all 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:27.000 to profess and proclaim and bear witness 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.519 that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:31.060 You know, I've often found that 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:33.039 when my faith is weak, 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:36.560 that those embers of faith 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:38.360 are fanned into flame 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:41.320 by reading the witness of other believers. 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:45.019 Witness number one is John the Baptist 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:47.539 and with him the historical witness of the church, 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.279 but he says, 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:52.439 the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. 00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:55.860 For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.980 the very works that I am doing, 00:13:58.199 --> 00:13:59.939 bear witness about me, 00:14:00.219 --> 00:14:02.459 that the Father has sent me. 00:14:02.599 --> 00:14:03.480 Witness number two, 00:14:04.339 --> 00:14:05.519 the works of Christ. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:08.819 The works of Christ. 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:12.480 One witness is what others say about Christ, 00:14:12.579 --> 00:14:13.419 but he says another, 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:17.120 a greater witness is what Christ himself has done. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:19.319 It is one thing for someone to say 00:14:19.319 --> 00:14:21.399 that you are the strongest man in the world. 00:14:21.839 --> 00:14:23.980 It is another thing for you to actually pick up something 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.240 above your head and lift it 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:26.779 and demonstrate that strength. 00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:29.659 So consider what Jesus has done 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:31.279 to this point in the Gospel of John. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.599 We're only five chapters in, 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.620 but he's already turned the water into wine. 00:14:36.459 --> 00:14:38.399 He has cleared the temple. 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:40.759 He's prophesied his death and his resurrection. 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.539 He's seen into the needy hearts of Nicodemus 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.679 and the woman from Samaria. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:48.939 He's healed the sick boy from 20 miles away. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:50.720 He's healed the invalid man 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.840 with just the words of his mouth. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:57.000 He is demonstrating the glory of his identity. 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.879 Jesus says his activity proves his identity. 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:05.299 What he does shows who he is 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.840 that we might believe. 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:10.759 Now this is what Jesus says in John 14, verse 11. 00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:12.019 He says, 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:13.620 Believe me that I am in the Father 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.960 and the Father is in me, 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:19.700 or else believe on account of the works themselves. 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:23.560 See, Jesus didn't only declare his identity, 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.780 he proved it. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:27.460 He demonstrated it by his works. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.360 He displayed his divinity for us to see 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:32.639 and to witness by healing the sick, 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.860 by casting out demons, 00:15:34.040 --> 00:15:36.060 by multiplying bread and fish, 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.919 by calming the waves and the sea. 00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:39.179 But of course, 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.739 we know that his greatest work was yet to come. 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:46.159 We know the end of the story, don't we? 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:48.759 We have the advantage of having read the whole book. 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:51.699 The greatest work of Christ 00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:55.479 that proves without a doubt that he is God 00:15:55.479 --> 00:15:58.219 is his resurrection from the grave. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:01.799 His resurrection from the grave. 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:05.759 I wonder if we realize the significance of this work. 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:12.299 If Jesus rose from the grave just as he prophesied, 00:16:12.959 --> 00:16:15.179 just as the church bears witness to, 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:18.479 then who can he be but God in the flesh? 00:16:19.599 --> 00:16:22.199 And if he didn't rise from the grave, 00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:27.139 then nothing else that he said or did matters at all. 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:32.139 The resurrection of Christ is the defining work of Jesus. 00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:33.259 If you take this away, 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:35.860 Christianity just crumbles to the ground. 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:41.039 It's worthless, meaningless morality or inspiration, 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.279 but it can't save you. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.659 All that Christ said and did is worthless 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:49.199 apart from the resurrection from the dead. 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:51.120 There's no deliverance from death 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.019 without the defeat of death. 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:56.419 There's no offer of eternal life 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:59.659 without the security of resurrection life. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:01.419 There's no forgiveness of sins 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:03.379 without proof that Christ's sacrifice 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:05.900 has been accepted by God the Father. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.879 Everything hinges on this work of Christ. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:14.579 This is what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.940 one of my favorite passages. 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.460 He says, 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:19.180 If Christ has not been raised, 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:21.059 your faith is futile 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:23.319 and you are still in your sins. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:24.880 But in fact, 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.640 Christ has been raised from the dead, 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.920 the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:31.620 For as by a man came death, 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.740 by a man has come also 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:36.640 the resurrection of the dead. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:41.579 I wonder if the resurrection 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:43.120 is a part of your gospel. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:48.239 When we talk about Jesus, 00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:49.299 let me encourage you, 00:17:50.459 --> 00:17:52.179 don't stop at the cross. 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:56.259 Don't stop at the cross. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.099 When we think about what Jesus has done, 00:17:59.159 --> 00:18:01.000 when we share Jesus' work with others, 00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:03.099 don't stop at the cross. 00:18:03.219 --> 00:18:06.119 The cross of Christ is massively good news. 00:18:06.239 --> 00:18:08.259 It is good news to say to your neighbor, 00:18:08.719 --> 00:18:09.500 to your co-worker, 00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.159 to your friend, 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.899 to your family member, 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:13.900 Jesus died for you, 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:17.019 but not if he stays in the grave. 00:18:17.780 --> 00:18:19.820 Don't stop at the cross. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:22.259 Make your way to the empty tomb. 00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:24.360 This work is something 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:26.600 that the world has to give an answer for. 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.420 Even his opponents, 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.180 even those who killed him, 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:32.180 they acknowledge that his body is not there. 00:18:32.300 --> 00:18:33.200 But no one, 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:35.140 and no other religious figure, 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.220 and no other religious leader, 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.900 no other individual, 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.420 has ever risen from the grave, 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.380 never to die again. 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.240 Now, you can go visit the tomb of Muhammad. 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.380 His body is still there. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.839 But you go visit the tomb of Christ. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.759 You can't find his body. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.220 He is risen. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.880 The tomb is empty. 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.600 And this work, 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.100 above all others, 00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:02.400 bears witness that he is God. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:05.540 But there's a third witness here. 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.620 Witness number three. 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.840 God the Father. 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:11.300 God the Father. 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:13.160 If you're going to call anyone up to the stand 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.840 to back up your claim, 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.620 this is a good one. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.100 He says, 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.040 God the Father. 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.320 There in verse 32, 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:18.800 he says, 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:21.480 there's another who bears witness about me, 00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:23.200 and I know that the testimony 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:25.240 that he bears about me is true. 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.540 And now we get to see 00:19:26.540 --> 00:19:28.380 who that other witness is. 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.640 Look again to verse 36. 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:32.100 He says, 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.160 the works that the Father 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.440 has given me to accomplish, 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:36.420 the very works that I am doing, 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:38.080 bear witness about me 00:19:38.080 --> 00:19:40.280 that the Father has sent me. 00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:43.200 And the Father who sent me 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.980 has himself bore witness about me. 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:48.200 His voice you have never heard, 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:49.680 his form you have never seen, 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:52.520 and you do not have his word abiding in you, 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:54.160 for you do not believe 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:56.180 the one whom he has sent. 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:57.920 He says, 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.240 the Father himself, 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:02.840 has borne witness about the Son. 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.180 How? 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.920 How does God the Father 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:08.360 bear witness to God the Son? 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:10.580 It could be a reference to his baptism. 00:20:10.780 --> 00:20:12.500 We just saw already 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:14.540 that God revealed to John the Baptist 00:20:14.540 --> 00:20:16.640 that whoever he saw the Spirit 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.180 descend and remain upon 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.880 at the baptism, 00:20:19.020 --> 00:20:20.340 someone like a dove, 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:22.620 that that individual was the Christ, 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:24.200 that individual was the Messiah, 00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:26.000 and John saw and bore witness 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.000 that at the baptism of Christ, 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.480 the Spirit, 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:28.920 the Spirit, in fact, 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.559 did descend on Christ. 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.700 Luke chapter 3 tells us 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.779 when Jesus had also been baptized 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.700 and was praying, 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.160 the heavens were opened 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:39.220 and the Holy Spirit descended on him 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.740 in bodily form like a dove, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.299 and a voice came from heaven. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.539 You are my beloved Son, 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.559 with whom I am well pleased. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:48.899 It could be a reference to his baptism. 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:51.200 There are two other, 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.839 and only two other times, 00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.619 that God the Father 00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:55.799 audibly speaks in the Gospels, 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:57.299 once at the Transfiguration, 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.919 Mark chapter 9, 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:01.980 and the other just before his crucifixion, 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.839 we'll see in John chapter 12. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:06.240 But neither of these have happened yet 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.899 at this point in Jesus' ministry. 00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:09.759 And so we're left asking, 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:13.679 how does the Father bear witness to the Son? 00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:18.099 Well, he does so in the works of creation 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.980 and redemption. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:24.379 The works of creation and redemption. 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:28.319 Creation itself is a witness 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:31.700 to the identity and glory of Christ. 00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:34.480 Colossians 1.16 says, 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:36.639 For by him, by Christ, 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:40.220 all things were created in heaven and on earth, 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.579 visible and invisible, 00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.799 whether thrones or dominions 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.220 or rulers or authorities, 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:48.179 all things were created through him 00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:50.480 and for him. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:55.079 Creation, which we are all a part of, 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:56.220 we are all creation, 00:21:56.439 --> 00:21:58.000 and we live in creation, 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.640 we experience creation every single day, 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:04.079 all of it bears witness to Christ. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:05.779 Paul says, 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:08.460 All things were created through him. 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:11.259 His fingerprints are all over all of it. 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.980 In its complexity, 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.180 in its beauty, 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.279 in its unity, 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.240 in its vastness, 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.160 all of it was made through him. 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.160 But we also see, 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:22.640 all things were created for him. 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:26.880 The purpose of every created thing 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.880 is the glory of Christ. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.900 If any part of creation is great, 00:22:32.020 --> 00:22:33.860 how much greater is the one who made it? 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.540 If any part of creation is beautiful, 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.080 how much more beautiful is the one who made it? 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:42.120 If any part of creation is awe-inspiring and impressive, 00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:46.740 how much more awe-inspiring is the one who made it? 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.420 Dear church, 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:49.160 if we had eyes to see it, 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:53.779 we would walk outside and see Christ over every inch of creation. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:57.059 We would see Christ in every blade of grass, 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:57.839 and one day, 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.259 we will see it. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.640 One day, 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:05.519 the creation will speak more clearly than is ever spoken about the glory of Christ, 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:09.140 and we will have eyes to see it more clearly than we ever have. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:12.020 All of it bears witness to him. 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.700 But not only the work of creation, 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:19.500 we see the work of redemption bears witness to the identity of Christ. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:20.620 You know, 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:23.259 the work of redemption didn't begin with the birth of Christ. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.360 The work of redemption didn't begin with his incarnation. 00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:29.340 From the very beginning, 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.220 God has been tilling soil and planting seed 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:38.080 that in the fullness of time has blossomed forth in the work of Jesus. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:40.740 The whole story of redemption, 00:23:40.939 --> 00:23:42.419 from beginning to end, 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:44.839 it bears witness to the person of Christ. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:48.379 Christ is the promised seed of the woman 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:50.199 coming to crush the head of the serpent. 00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:53.220 Christ is the new and better Adam 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:55.339 who obeyed and never failed. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:59.139 Christ is the true deliverer from slavery to sin, 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:01.299 not just the exodus from Egypt. 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:05.299 Christ is the true and faithful better King of David, 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.299 Son of David, 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.359 who would reign forever. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.419 Christ is the one who secures every promise of the new covenant. 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:15.240 For God to put his own spirit in our hearts 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.719 to replace our heart of flesh, 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:19.199 a heart of stone with a heart of flesh, 00:24:19.419 --> 00:24:22.879 all of it bore witness to Christ. 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.240 Are we listening? 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:29.419 Are we listening to the voice of God in creation? 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:34.000 Are we listening to the voice of God in redemption? 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.240 Apparently, 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:40.140 despite all of this wealth of evidence, 00:24:40.300 --> 00:24:42.920 the Pharisees were not listening. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.500 Jesus says in verse 37, 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:45.900 He says, 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.519 His voice you have never heard, 00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:49.220 His form you have never seen, 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:53.120 and you do not have His word abiding in you, 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:57.179 for you do not believe the one whom He has sent. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:01.799 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:06.000 and it is they that bear witness about me. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.740 This is witness number four. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.559 It's the scriptures. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:13.539 Witness number four is the scriptures. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:18.400 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:22.540 and it is they that bear witness about me. 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:24.860 Yet you refuse to come to me, 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:27.019 that you may have life. 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:32.900 Church, the Pharisees were not biblically illiterate. 00:25:34.060 --> 00:25:37.120 They knew the word of God inside and out, 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.100 backwards and forwards. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:41.060 They outpaced modern Christians by a hundred miles 00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:42.640 in their devotion to the word. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:46.259 They knew and loved the word of God. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:48.859 They meditated on His word day and night. 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:51.339 They were zealous to obey the word of God. 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:53.279 They would ace any quiz, any test. 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.960 They would graduate from most seminaries with honors, 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:57.900 specializing in the Old Testament. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.980 But what went wrong? 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:03.740 They were not biblically illiterate, 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:06.279 but for all their knowledge, 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:08.039 they were biblically ignorant. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:12.480 They did not get the message. 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.980 And Jesus tells us fundamentally why. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.860 Do you see it here? 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.519 He says, 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:21.140 They were more concerned with man's approval 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.980 than God's approval. 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.360 Look there to verse 41. 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.380 Jesus says, 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:29.099 I don't receive glory from people, 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:33.180 but I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.700 I have come in my Father's name, 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:37.039 and you do not receive me. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:39.380 If another comes in his own name, 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:41.240 you will receive him. 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:45.120 How can you believe when you receive glory from one another 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:49.240 and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.839 Do you see the problem? 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:56.079 They are seeking the praise of man. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:59.960 They are more concerned with human praise, 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.659 more concerned with worldly gain, 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:05.139 more concerned with peer acceptance and peer influence, 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:08.399 more concerned with people seeing and knowing them 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:11.139 than they are with seeing and knowing God. 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.740 And so they missed it. 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:16.960 The whole message of the scriptures from beginning to end is Christ. 00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:19.899 The message of the law is Christ. 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.300 He says, 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.019 Moses, 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.300 if you believed Moses, 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:25.040 you would believe me because he wrote about me, 00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:25.900 but they missed it. 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.480 And if they missed that, 00:27:27.540 --> 00:27:30.680 then how will they hear and receive the word of Christ? 00:27:32.780 --> 00:27:35.540 There's a word for us here, 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.259 I believe, 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:36.780 church, 00:27:37.340 --> 00:27:42.300 by way of application for how we ought to approach the scriptures. 00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:44.800 Do you read them like the Pharisees did, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:48.980 or do you read them as Christ intends, 00:27:49.419 --> 00:27:50.720 as a witness to him? 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:55.159 I want to give us just a few applications here as we close 00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:58.259 and think about how we approach the scriptures. 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:01.500 When you sit down tomorrow morning 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:04.919 and open up your Bibles and begin to read, 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:10.779 do not read the Bible as an end in itself. 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:13.259 The end is Christ. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.379 Christ. 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:17.559 The end of Bible reading is Christ. 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.319 It's to know him. 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.379 It's to see him. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.839 It's to behold him. 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.019 It's to be made like him. 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.140 It's to enjoy him. 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.339 It's to delight in him. 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.900 Not just to read it. 00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:29.299 And not just to check it off your list. 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:32.220 And when we gather here and hear the word preached, 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:35.400 the goal is not just to hear a sermon and go be on our way. 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:38.339 The goal is to meet with the living God. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:40.379 That he might be worshipped. 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:45.260 That we might see him as he is so that we can honor him as he deserves. 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.960 Don't come here just to hear a sermon. 00:28:47.760 --> 00:28:50.780 Don't come here just so others might see you here at church 00:28:50.780 --> 00:28:53.060 and praise you and pat you on the back. 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:58.179 Come here that you might hear the word of God and meet with him. 00:28:58.180 --> 00:29:02.640 When you sit down tomorrow morning and open up your Bibles, 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:05.480 do not read the word for the praise of man. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:10.000 If you want glory from other people, 00:29:10.560 --> 00:29:13.539 if you want praise from other man, 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:15.720 if you want them to speak highly of you, 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:19.019 you can have that and that is all you will have. 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:23.460 Do not seek praise from man. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.960 Seek not the glory that comes from man, 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:28.139 but that comes from the only God. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.759 Not from others puffing you up, 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:32.619 but from God himself building you up 00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:34.599 as you come to him in the word. 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:38.379 Come to the word that you might be strengthened in your faith 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:41.859 and molded more and more and more into the image of Christ. 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.819 Come to the word for that. 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:48.720 When you sit down tomorrow morning and open up your Bibles, 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:54.359 do not read the word for your own self-justification. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:57.099 Do you know what that word means? 00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:00.960 To make yourself right before God 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:04.359 and to make yourself presentable to God. 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:08.799 You can read the word every day. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.859 Memorize it. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.639 Love it. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:14.380 Even seek to obey it. 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:16.420 Be very zealous for the word of God 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:18.920 and come away condemned by it 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:22.100 if you think that simply by coming 00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:24.200 you are made right with God. 00:30:25.060 --> 00:30:27.680 That's what the Pharisees believed, isn't it? 00:30:28.540 --> 00:30:30.480 This was the mistake that they made. 00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:31.180 But Jesus says, 00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:33.259 Do not think I will accuse you to the Father. 00:30:33.360 --> 00:30:34.840 There is one who accuses you. 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.420 Moses. 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:38.100 Moses that you read every day. 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.880 Moses that you memorize. 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:42.060 Moses whose law you delight in. 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:44.119 Moses whose law you're so zealous about. 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:45.480 But you miss it. 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:48.039 Because you try to be justified by Moses. 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:49.940 When Moses spoke about me. 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:54.919 There is one way to be justified before the Father. 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.039 It's not by our doing. 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.740 Not by our reading. 00:30:57.919 --> 00:30:58.799 Not by our working. 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:03.139 But by hearing and believing the word of Christ. 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:06.379 To which all the scriptures bear witness. 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:15.660 Church, the world is filled with evidence of the glory of Christ. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:19.520 The church has borne him witness throughout the ages. 00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.780 His works bear him witness. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:26.160 The Father himself and the works of creation and redemption bear him witness. 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:29.000 And the word of God from beginning to end. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:32.960 It all bears witness to the person and the worth of this man. 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:35.079 That Jesus is the Christ. 00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:38.380 That there is sufficient evidence in all the world. 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:41.720 For all the world to believe that Jesus is who he says he is. 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:44.859 If that was all it took. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:48.299 But evidence alone is not enough. 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:52.119 Learn from the Pharisees. 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:54.819 They saw the lamp. 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.399 But not the light. 00:31:57.459 --> 00:31:58.679 They saw the works. 00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:00.019 But not the message. 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:01.659 They claimed to honor the Father. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:03.259 But did not honor the Son. 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.319 They knew the scriptures. 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:06.919 But did not perceive their testimony. 00:32:07.639 --> 00:32:10.579 Evidence alone is not enough. 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:14.639 The Spirit must give life. 00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:19.579 He's pleased to do it through many witnesses. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:21.019 But apart from him. 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:23.480 Their testimony lies flat. 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.839 It's the Spirit who gives life. 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:27.940 The flesh is no help at all. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:30.779 And when we look at this mountain of evidence. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.259 With fleshly eyes. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:34.200 We cannot see Christ. 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:36.359 And we're condemned by our blindness. 00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:37.180 But. 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:39.440 When the Spirit comes. 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:43.019 He comes and opens up your eyes. 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:46.579 You begin to see the person and work of Christ. 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.900 Everywhere. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.740 So church. 00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:53.220 We must pray. 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:56.160 We must pray. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:59.519 We must pray for the Spirit to give us eyes to see. 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:04.139 We must pray for the Spirit to empower our preaching. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.619 And our teaching here in this place. 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:10.200 We must pray for the Spirit to clarify. 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:11.460 And to confirm. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:14.039 And to convict as we read God's word. 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:18.799 We must pray for the Spirit to open up ears and eyes and hearts. 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:28.180 We must pray that the Spirit would bear fruit for the glory of God as we go and bear witness to Christ. 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.659 Let's pray. 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:34.800 Lord, this is what we ask now. 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:38.139 That your Spirit would take your word. 00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:41.079 And give us life by it. 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:47.059 That through your Spirit, Lord, you would open our eyes to see the many evidences. 00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:49.619 The many witnesses to the glory of Christ. 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.199 All throughout creation. 00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:53.479 And especially here in your word. 00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:55.639 And God, as we go. 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:58.859 We pray that we wouldn't just take these things and keep them to ourselves. 00:33:58.939 --> 00:34:00.679 But Lord, open our mouths. 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:03.919 And through the faithful proclamation of the gospel. 00:34:04.159 --> 00:34:07.639 We pray that you would bring others from death to life. 00:34:07.879 --> 00:34:09.099 We ask this in Christ's name. 00:34:09.799 --> 00:34:10.099 Amen. 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.219 Amen.