WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:16.160 Boy, we have a lot of good reasons to look at God's Word together this morning. 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:20.519 Hope in the face of Christ. 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:26.160 We're returning this morning to our study of John's Gospel, where we're seeking to do 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:33.079 just that, to encounter the real Jesus, to know who He is and what He's about. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:40.240 John wants us, remember, to understand who Jesus really is because He wants for us to 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:40.700 believe. 00:00:41.259 --> 00:00:45.179 He wants for our friends and our neighbors to believe. 00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:49.659 He wants for us to find life in Jesus. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:57.519 This issue of who Jesus is is central to John's whole account, especially to the part we're 00:00:57.519 --> 00:00:58.319 in right now. 00:00:58.559 --> 00:01:01.039 Everyone is asking that question. 00:01:01.219 --> 00:01:02.979 Everyone's talking about Jesus. 00:01:03.739 --> 00:01:06.859 After all, they have watched Him heal all sorts of people. 00:01:06.859 --> 00:01:15.019 He has just miraculously fed 5,000 plus, and then He spoke to them about Himself. 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:18.560 He said, I am the bread of life. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:25.920 Jesus offering, fulfilling, eternal life just by believing in Him. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:30.399 But so many don't believe. 00:01:32.259 --> 00:01:34.739 Most right now are leaving Him. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.420 John told us this would happen. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:45.019 And remember chapter 1, He came to His own people, but His own did not receive Him. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:49.219 Our passage today highlights unbelief. 00:01:49.960 --> 00:01:56.260 Not merely unbelief like, I reject everything Jesus claims and don't want anything to do with 00:01:56.260 --> 00:02:03.920 Him, but the kind of unbelief struggles that all of us, church people who hang around Jesus, 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:07.799 us too, have with following Jesus. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:13.640 He's a Jesus who calls us to find life in Him. 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:17.620 Therefore, all of life in Him. 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:23.560 That's where He calls us to follow Him, is in everything living with Him and for Him. 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:28.240 So we need to pray for our hearts this morning as we hear God's Word. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:33.080 And then we'll read this next section in three different pieces as we go. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:34.200 Let's pray together. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:41.020 Father, I pray for our hearts this morning. 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:43.960 For our busy hearts. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:46.080 Our hurting hearts. 00:02:46.820 --> 00:02:48.160 Our tired hearts. 00:02:48.320 --> 00:02:49.960 Our distracted hearts. 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:52.100 Our selfish hearts. 00:02:53.980 --> 00:02:55.160 We need you. 00:02:55.640 --> 00:02:57.040 We need you to work there. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:08.500 We need you to soften and transform and comfort and enliven and inspire our hearts with the love of Jesus. 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:12.759 We ask that you would in Jesus' name. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:14.239 Amen. 00:03:14.239 --> 00:03:14.379 Amen. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:18.780 I love you. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:21.539 But not that much. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.900 Imagine you grew up loving peanut butter. 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:29.500 You wanted to eat everything peanut butter you possibly could. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:31.120 You started growing peanuts. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:35.759 You research all day the best peanut butter products imaginable. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:42.019 And then you find out that the girl you've started dating is severely allergic to peanuts. 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:46.479 She spends her whole life protecting herself from peanut products. 00:03:46.899 --> 00:03:47.639 No eating. 00:03:47.959 --> 00:03:49.000 No kissing. 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:50.379 No touching. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:53.939 I love you. 00:03:54.419 --> 00:04:00.039 But not that much is going to be said at some point to her. 00:04:00.900 --> 00:04:04.000 Or if you can imagine it, maybe to peanut butter. 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:09.139 Imagine you meet a guy in school and you become best friends. 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:10.900 And you just want to do everything together. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:12.000 You want to hang out on the weekends. 00:04:12.079 --> 00:04:14.439 You're going to start a business together and do all of life. 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:17.040 But he keeps talking smack about your mama. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:24.080 I love you, man, but not that much. 00:04:24.460 --> 00:04:25.500 Something's got to give. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:29.160 Or the ultimate struggle. 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:34.400 Imagine you grow up obsessed with Alabama football. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:40.379 From birth, your parents named you so your initials would be RTR. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:44.960 And you have now become a cheerleader for Alabama 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:49.500 who happens to have fallen in love with the Auburn quarterback. 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:55.500 Who spends his whole life working against what you love most. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:58.680 I don't know when that struggle will reach a breaking point. 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:02.139 Could be the orange and blue pom-poms he gives you for your birthday. 00:05:02.479 --> 00:05:04.819 Could be when he asks you to say War Eagle. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:08.920 Maybe it's the day of the Iron Bowl the first time. 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:14.439 But at some point, either he or Alabama will hear, 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:17.879 I love you, but not that much. 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:21.180 Those are mostly silly examples. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.759 Although if I hit a little too close to home in your marriage, 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:25.120 I'm really sorry. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:26.480 Wasn't aiming for anybody. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:31.160 But the point is serious. 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:39.700 We can't live for someone whose life works against what we love most. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:44.540 There are more serious things than those I've just said 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:47.900 that we love deep in our hearts. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:51.819 And as people in this passage encounter Jesus, 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:55.860 they're going to show their struggle with following him. 00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:00.099 John, who's always focused on belief and unbelief, 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:04.659 helps us realize that our struggles with following Jesus 00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:07.360 are at their root heart issues. 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:09.500 Sometimes we like to tell ourselves, 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:10.779 they're just in my head, 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:13.560 it's just an intellectual conundrum that I can't get around. 00:06:13.659 --> 00:06:15.659 There's just something I can't argue myself out of. 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:18.100 It's a heart issue. 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:21.900 We can't live for someone 00:06:21.900 --> 00:06:27.400 whose life works against what we love most. 00:06:28.580 --> 00:06:31.720 Listen for that as we read John 7. 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:35.080 This is now several months after the feeding of the 5,000 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:37.560 and most of Jesus' followers leaving him. 00:06:38.400 --> 00:06:41.200 Jesus has stayed close to home for a while in Galilee. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:44.939 Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us all he's been doing and teaching. 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:47.319 But he hasn't been back to Jerusalem, 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.879 which is beginning to frustrate his brothers. 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:52.860 Verse 1. 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:57.199 After this, Jesus went about in Galilee. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:58.839 He would not go about in Judea 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:00.980 because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:04.120 Now the Jews' feast of booths was at hand. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:05.839 So his brothers said to him, 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:08.000 leave here and go to Judea 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.920 that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.060 For no one works in secret 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:14.800 if he seeks to be known openly. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:16.699 If you do these things, 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.540 show yourself to the world. 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.360 For not even his brothers believed in him. 00:07:23.780 --> 00:07:24.680 Jesus said to them, 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:26.759 my time has not yet come, 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:29.579 but your time is always here. 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:31.639 The world cannot hate you, 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:32.699 but it hates me 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:34.199 because I testify about it 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:35.420 that its works are evil. 00:07:35.779 --> 00:07:36.840 You go up to the feast. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:38.759 I'm not going up to this feast 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:41.459 for my time has not yet fully come. 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:43.759 After saying this, 00:07:43.859 --> 00:07:46.419 he remained in Galilee. 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:52.379 Put yourself in James' sandals for a moment. 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:54.000 One of Jesus' brothers 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.839 that we know was later a leader 00:07:56.839 --> 00:07:58.839 in the early church. 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:03.060 You are a strong, strategic go-getter 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.560 by personality. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.079 You're sensitive to the honor 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:10.159 of the family name being so vital 00:08:10.159 --> 00:08:12.079 in Jewish culture. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.759 The best way to get ahead, 00:08:14.099 --> 00:08:16.639 to have your family be influential 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.219 and honorable, 00:08:18.479 --> 00:08:19.899 that's where it's at 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:20.819 and you know it. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:22.759 And here you find yourself 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:23.919 with an opportunity. 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:27.500 This eccentric older brother of yours 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:30.959 is doing some really amazing, cool stuff. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:34.840 There's an opportunity to capitalize on, 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:39.019 but he's got no sense of getting ahead, 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:41.360 of building a movement. 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:44.919 Almost no one is with him anymore 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:46.699 and he's spending all his time 00:08:46.699 --> 00:08:48.159 in these small towns. 00:08:49.379 --> 00:08:50.559 Religious credibility 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.600 comes from Jerusalem. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.919 The crowds gathered there, 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:56.860 the leaders of the temple. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.779 I've got some advice for you, Jesus. 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:01.360 Go to Jerusalem. 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:03.659 Do some events there. 00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:05.159 You know, showcase, 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:08.039 show off your glory a bit. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:10.100 You'll build a following. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.579 It'll be great for my, 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:12.740 I mean, your car. 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:18.000 Can you relate to feelings like that? 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:20.220 I can. 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:23.679 I'm battling these feelings right now 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:24.659 because I'm preaching 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:26.379 at Presbytery Tuesday 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:29.360 to a bunch of preachers. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:32.159 More than ever, 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:35.000 I want the people listening to me 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:38.039 to think well of what I say. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:41.120 I'm wrestling with thoughts of, 00:09:41.959 --> 00:09:43.139 maybe if I say this, 00:09:43.199 --> 00:09:45.699 it'll make this guy praise me afterwards. 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:48.199 Maybe this will impress him. 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:51.819 And what I really want 00:09:51.819 --> 00:09:54.319 is to point them to Jesus, 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:55.860 what we all need. 00:09:55.860 --> 00:10:00.899 But there's a lot else 00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:02.379 that my heart loves 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:04.759 and wants to happen then. 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:06.300 That longing 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:08.779 for worldly success 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:11.379 makes for quite a struggle 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:13.000 in following Jesus 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.419 wholeheartedly. 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:17.300 In your heart, 00:10:17.980 --> 00:10:19.720 it may feel like pride. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:21.960 In your own reputation, 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:23.280 your status, 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:25.519 wanting fame, 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.259 respect among your peers. 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:31.540 It might feel like envy 00:10:31.540 --> 00:10:33.660 of what others have. 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.060 Greed 00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:36.940 for more power, 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:38.400 more influence, 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.580 more money. 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:40.500 Loving 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:42.280 the praise of men. 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:43.700 Does it feel so good 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:45.400 to hear the wonderful things 00:10:45.400 --> 00:10:46.259 they'll say? 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:49.419 But if those feelings 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:50.259 are left unchecked 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:52.740 to flourish in your heart, 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:55.299 they'll keep you 00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:56.580 from being all in 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:57.500 with Jesus, 00:10:57.939 --> 00:10:59.059 following Jesus 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:01.120 where he calls you 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.080 to go. 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:04.360 You can be like his brothers 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.100 who see the cool things 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:06.539 he does 00:11:06.539 --> 00:11:07.220 and they don't mind 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.360 hanging around him 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:09.659 when it makes you look good, 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:11.860 but if you're in it 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:13.360 for the worldly success, 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:16.039 you don't believe 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:16.860 in Jesus. 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:19.960 That may sound harsh. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.220 I mean, 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:21.080 maybe you think, 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:21.720 like I did, 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.200 that verse 5 should read, 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:24.700 for his brothers 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:26.100 believed in him. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:26.840 I mean, 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:28.300 didn't they want people 00:11:28.300 --> 00:11:29.200 to see his miracles? 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.120 They've seen the stuff. 00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:30.879 They think he can do 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.500 more cool stuff. 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:32.759 They believed in him, right? 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:33.180 No. 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:34.519 No, they didn't. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.779 Lots of people 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:38.620 have seen his miracles 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:40.940 but not seen 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:41.600 who Jesus 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.779 was. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.259 Their hearts 00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:45.480 are for themselves, 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:46.800 not Jesus. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.639 For the praise of man, 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:51.200 not the praise of God. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:52.980 That's why Jesus 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:53.659 says to them, 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.740 the world cannot 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.879 hate you 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:57.259 because you share 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:58.159 its values, 00:11:58.680 --> 00:11:59.620 its definition 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.399 of success, 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.899 the world's pathway 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:02.919 to get there. 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:04.379 So Jesus' brothers 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.340 are clearly not 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.500 following him. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:07.420 They go on 00:12:07.420 --> 00:12:08.139 without him, 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:08.779 don't they? 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:11.440 John Piper 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:12.580 was really helpful 00:12:12.580 --> 00:12:13.100 to me 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:14.200 in this place 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:15.160 pointing out 00:12:15.160 --> 00:12:16.520 it's not a head 00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:17.060 problem 00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:18.560 for them. 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:19.520 They've seen 00:12:19.520 --> 00:12:20.320 the great works, 00:12:20.400 --> 00:12:21.620 they know we can do them, 00:12:21.900 --> 00:12:23.259 but there's a heart 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:24.379 problem going on, 00:12:24.400 --> 00:12:24.759 isn't there? 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:25.900 They love 00:12:25.900 --> 00:12:27.660 worldly success 00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:29.100 more than 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.440 the pathway 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:31.720 of Jesus. 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:33.520 Piper says, 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.919 our natural love 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:36.079 for human glory 00:12:36.079 --> 00:12:37.740 makes it impossible 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.000 to know and follow 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.659 a person 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:41.159 whose whole life 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:42.360 is bent on 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.600 emptying himself 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.699 to glorify his father 00:12:45.699 --> 00:12:47.120 and save sinners. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.899 It is impossible 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:50.179 to know him 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.639 for who he really is 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:52.980 when his whole coming, 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:53.699 living, 00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:54.500 dying, 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.639 contradicts 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:57.139 your deepest love, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:57.759 namely, 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:00.220 the love of human praise. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:03.060 Jesus seems intent 00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:04.340 on downward 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.220 mobility 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:06.519 when you're longing 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.300 to move up 00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:07.899 in the world. 00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:09.180 You want a bigger 00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:10.060 reputation, 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:11.279 a bigger house, 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.620 a bigger bank account, 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.500 and Jesus' 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:15.240 life and words 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.340 keep working 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.200 against that. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:18.660 He's humble. 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:20.519 No place 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.800 to lay his head. 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.519 Share your money 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.060 with those 00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:25.040 who have less. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:25.199 Jesus. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.299 Maybe if you're James, 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:31.459 you'd say, 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.159 I love you, 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:32.480 Jesus, 00:13:32.719 --> 00:13:34.980 but not that much. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:37.439 And his brothers 00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:37.980 are off 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:38.819 to make a name 00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.620 for themselves 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.980 in Jerusalem 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.659 lest they get 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.899 stuck in Galilee 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.279 when they grow up. 00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:48.579 One of the things 00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:49.179 I really love 00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:49.819 at this point 00:13:49.819 --> 00:13:50.559 in this story 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:51.120 is that 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.819 Jesus 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:53.439 is intent 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.779 on waiting 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:56.220 for the direction 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.179 of his father 00:13:57.179 --> 00:13:58.779 even when it makes 00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.879 no sense 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:01.839 from a human perspective. 00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:03.419 Humanly speaking, 00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.339 this is the time 00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:05.959 to act. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:07.720 Jesus is waiting 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:09.639 on his father's timing 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.860 even though his popularity 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.659 is dwindling. 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:12.919 His mission 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.199 seems to be faltering. 00:14:14.319 --> 00:14:15.120 His poll numbers 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.600 are down. 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:17.019 The next section 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.860 shows why 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.319 it was not yet time 00:14:19.319 --> 00:14:20.360 for Jesus 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.179 to join 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:22.199 the crowds 00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:23.139 of pilgrims 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.899 who surely 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.319 would have been 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.340 alongside his brothers 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.080 at the beginning 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.660 of this very popular 00:14:27.660 --> 00:14:29.320 week-long feast 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.100 in Jerusalem. 00:14:30.400 --> 00:14:31.820 It wasn't yet time 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.879 for the culmination 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.500 of Jesus' life. 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.780 Entering Jerusalem 00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:36.879 there among the crowds 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.960 almost certainly 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.920 would have led 00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:39.620 to what it did 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.640 a few months later, 00:14:41.040 --> 00:14:42.720 the triumphal entry 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:44.860 at the Passover feast. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.340 Jesus waited 00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:48.640 on his father's timing 00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:49.800 and when things 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:50.620 had calmed a bit 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.940 after the big kickoff, 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:53.820 verse 10, 00:14:55.160 --> 00:14:56.440 but after his brothers 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:57.100 had gone up 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.780 to the feast, 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:00.320 then he also went up 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.480 not publicly 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.580 but in private. 00:15:03.140 --> 00:15:03.300 Right? 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:04.120 Hear the difference? 00:15:05.280 --> 00:15:06.680 The Jews were looking 00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:07.760 for him at the feast 00:15:07.760 --> 00:15:08.180 and saying, 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.180 where is he? 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.440 And there was much 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.540 muttering about him 00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:12.340 among the people. 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.220 While some said 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.940 he's a good man, 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:14.900 others said, 00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:15.720 no, he's leading 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.840 the people astray. 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:19.000 Yet for fear 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.639 of the Jews, 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:22.100 no one spoke openly 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.440 of him. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.200 The whole city 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:26.920 is abuzz 00:15:26.920 --> 00:15:27.920 about Jesus. 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:29.379 Even before he shows up, 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.519 it's whether he's there 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.420 or not. 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.680 It's a testament 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:34.500 to Jesus' power 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.800 and his impact 00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:37.080 that no one 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:37.800 ignores him. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:39.080 Religious leaders, 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.000 the Jews, 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.580 the crowds of people, 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:42.080 they're all 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:43.540 whispering about him. 00:15:44.540 --> 00:15:45.240 I can't believe 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.300 I'm saying this right now 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:47.219 but it reminds me 00:15:47.219 --> 00:15:48.059 of the current buzz 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:49.159 about Taylor Swift. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.439 Will she come 00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.339 to the Super Bowl 00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:53.639 to cheer on her boyfriend? 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:54.459 Y'all, 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:55.859 there's more buzz, 00:15:56.099 --> 00:15:57.159 there are more articles 00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:58.419 about whether she 00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.159 will be present 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.679 next week or not 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:01.599 than any of the players 00:16:01.599 --> 00:16:02.259 on the field. 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:04.579 Everyone's talking 00:16:04.579 --> 00:16:05.240 about it. 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.719 Is Jesus coming 00:16:07.719 --> 00:16:08.579 to the feast? 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.279 Where is he? 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:12.120 Everyone has an opinion 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.120 about Jesus. 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:14.779 Good 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:16.319 or bad. 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.639 They've all 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.100 seen or at least 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:20.159 heard what he does 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.939 and what he says. 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:22.899 You can't ignore him. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.899 Imagine you're 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:25.480 a young woman 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.480 named Mary. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:27.519 You're walking 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.459 the crowded streets 00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.740 of Jerusalem that day 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.919 with your friends 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.299 and you ask, 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:32.480 hey, 00:16:32.579 --> 00:16:33.579 have you seen Jesus 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.439 here yet? 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.939 I want to see 00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.559 a miracle. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:39.199 And your friend says, 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.159 I just want to hear 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.779 him teach. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.459 I think he's so wise. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.980 But your third 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.680 buddy comes along. 00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:46.759 Come on, y'all. 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.860 He's just putting 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.540 on a show. 00:16:49.160 --> 00:16:50.060 My dad says he'll 00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:51.200 never make our lives 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.780 any better and I agree. 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:53.840 People need to focus 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.040 on working hard 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:56.120 and making life better. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:56.900 Not about some 00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:57.940 crazy revolutionary. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.820 He's getting in the way. 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.420 And you kind of 00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.100 have to agree. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.420 Yeah, I know. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.259 My parents told me 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.140 not to get too close 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:08.500 to him, 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.680 especially if any 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.980 rabbis were around. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:12.160 I don't want people 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.259 to get the wrong idea. 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.660 But I would love 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:15.120 to see him do 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:15.640 something cool. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.200 Isn't it interesting 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.640 here? 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.079 No one spoke 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.480 openly about Jesus. 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.380 Neither the ones 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:26.059 who liked him 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.000 nor the ones 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.500 who didn't. 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.640 They whispered 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.759 much muttering. 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.259 But they were afraid. 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.599 They were afraid 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.599 of the Jews. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.579 We get fearful 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.639 when our comfort 00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:42.959 is at risk, 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:43.779 don't we? 00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:46.939 Staying in just 00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:48.539 a non-committal 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.759 unbelief here. 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.299 I mean, 00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:51.119 I kind of like 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.740 Jesus stuff. 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.259 I don't mind 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.219 going to church 00:17:54.219 --> 00:17:54.839 occasionally. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.019 But nothing loud 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.179 or bold 00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:59.740 or life-altering 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.740 or uncomfortable 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.679 for me. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:03.880 like when I have 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.120 the 153rd 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.360 consecutive conversation 00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.000 with my neighbor 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.720 about football 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:10.000 and never mention 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.440 Jesus. 00:18:12.580 --> 00:18:13.440 When at church 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.360 I avoid the person 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:14.980 I know is dealing 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.640 with a really 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:17.039 messy situation 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.640 because I've got 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:18.279 a busy week 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.740 coming up 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.100 and I don't know 00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:19.799 where that'll go. 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.700 Like when I don't 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.600 share honestly 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.580 at Grace Group 00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.440 because talking 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.480 honestly about my 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.180 heart is 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.160 uncomfortable 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.800 and life's okay 00:18:29.800 --> 00:18:30.740 if I don't 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:30.980 mess, 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.820 let's not disrupt 00:18:31.820 --> 00:18:32.980 things too much, 00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.380 right? 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.000 Don't make me 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.980 talk about Jesus 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.140 and our relationship 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:37.900 openly. 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:40.040 Who might hear? 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.920 What might it cost me? 00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:42.779 How might it wreck 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.380 my week? 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:47.259 Mary might whisper, 00:18:48.300 --> 00:18:49.100 I love you Jesus 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:51.720 but not that much. 00:18:54.820 --> 00:18:55.620 But then 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.560 Jesus does show up 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.159 midweek. 00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.679 Here's Jesus 00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:00.659 and he's going 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.139 to expose 00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:01.659 the struggles 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.759 religious church 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.879 people specifically 00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:06.000 have with following 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.419 him. 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:08.039 Verse 14. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.299 About the middle 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:09.919 of the feast 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:10.859 Jesus went up 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.500 into the temple 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.480 and began teaching. 00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:14.240 The Jews therefore 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.159 marveled saying 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:16.000 how is it that 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.639 this man has 00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:17.279 learning when 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.379 he's never studied? 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:20.659 So Jesus answered 00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:20.960 them, 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:21.779 my teaching 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.839 is not mine 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:24.299 but his who sent 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.519 me. 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.200 If anyone's will 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.799 is to do 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.700 God's will 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.899 he will know 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.659 whether the teaching 00:19:29.659 --> 00:19:30.519 is from God 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.159 or whether I'm 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:31.879 speaking on my 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.559 own authority. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.059 The one who speaks 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.859 on his own authority 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:36.180 seeks his own glory 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.139 but the one who 00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:37.940 seeks the glory 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.919 of him who sent 00:19:38.919 --> 00:19:39.940 him is true 00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:40.819 and in him 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:42.200 there is no falsehood. 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.960 Has not Moses 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.980 given you the law? 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.940 Yet none of you 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.779 keeps the law. 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.019 Why do you 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.879 seek to kill me? 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.359 And the crowd 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:51.740 answered, 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:52.919 you have a demon 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.880 who's seeking 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.820 to kill you? 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.980 Jesus answered 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.160 them, 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.259 I did one deed 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:58.740 and you all 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.600 marvel at it. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.180 Moses gave you 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.960 circumcision 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.660 not that it's 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.320 from Moses 00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:04.100 but from the 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:04.480 fathers 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:06.360 and you circumcise 00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:07.039 a man on the 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.320 Sabbath. 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.180 If on the 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.860 Sabbath a man 00:20:09.860 --> 00:20:11.019 received circumcision 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.720 so that the law 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.160 of Moses 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.060 may not be broken 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:14.539 are you angry 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.580 with me 00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:16.800 because on the 00:20:16.800 --> 00:20:17.480 Sabbath I made 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.120 a man's whole 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.820 body well? 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.360 Do not judge 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:21.200 by appearances 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.460 but judge 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.200 with right 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.920 judgment. 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:26.720 John doesn't 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.880 even tell us 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.400 what Jesus 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.400 is teaching 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:29.759 yet, 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.559 that's coming 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:30.840 later, 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.819 but first 00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.460 he's dealing 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.019 with our 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.940 hearts. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.519 Imagine 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.160 Nicodemus 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.779 being there, 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:40.140 one of the 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.819 Pharisees 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.299 who had met 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.200 privately 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:43.200 with Jesus 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.380 and he'll speak 00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.019 up by the end 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.779 of this chapter. 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:47.559 Imagine you 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.440 hear Jesus 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.440 teach and your 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.720 colleague turns 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.480 to you at the 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:51.799 end, 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.980 shakes his 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.240 head, 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.400 not even a 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.460 single rabbi 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:57.019 referenced and 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.539 he didn't even 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.339 quote C.S. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.600 Lewis or Tim 00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:01.059 Keller, 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.759 John Calvin, 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.039 none of them. 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.339 Who does he 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.039 think he is? 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.620 You're still 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.299 kind of intrigued 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.299 by Jesus and 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.640 then as you're 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.579 listening you hear 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.360 he starts talking 00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:16.079 about the law 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.140 of Moses and 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.079 you hear someone 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.559 in the crowd 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:18.759 yell, 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.380 who is seeking 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.200 to kill you. 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.920 I've heard a few 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.720 discussions about 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.020 that, 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:24.460 you think? 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.100 And then Jesus 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:26.880 brings up the man 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:27.320 that he healed 00:21:27.320 --> 00:21:27.900 on the Sabbath 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.440 last year. 00:21:28.560 --> 00:21:28.820 No, 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.220 Jesus, 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.700 don't go there. 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.800 It's so clearly 00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.700 against the law. 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:33.960 Quit making things 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.900 more complicated 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.780 for me. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.020 We know what the 00:21:37.020 --> 00:21:37.960 law says and we 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.660 do it. 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.660 And if you're 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.540 doing signs 00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:41.960 and also encouraging 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.820 law breaking, 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.380 you deserve to die 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.620 as a false prophet. 00:21:45.820 --> 00:21:46.620 Now that is making 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.379 me angry. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.699 Stop it! 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.759 The love of our 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.959 heart exposed 00:21:53.959 --> 00:21:54.739 here I think 00:21:54.739 --> 00:21:55.439 is our love 00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.639 for control. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.459 Hang with me 00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:00.379 control freaks. 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.599 I am probably 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.339 worse than you. 00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:03.939 It's not easy. 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.459 What do we want? 00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.659 We want to know 00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.059 more 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.099 or do more 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.639 to control 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.259 our lives, 00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:12.739 don't we? 00:22:13.239 --> 00:22:14.239 At times, 00:22:14.419 --> 00:22:15.079 if we're honest, 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.460 to control God. 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.919 Listen to Jesus' 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.379 challenge in verse 17. 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.599 If anyone's will 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:24.339 is to do 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:25.319 God's will, 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.259 then he will know 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.179 whether the teaching, 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.039 the teaching Jesus 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.720 is giving, 00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:30.759 is from God 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.779 or whether I am 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.359 speaking 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:34.019 on my own 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.539 authority. 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.579 He's telling us 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.339 to come to him, 00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.379 to listen to him 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.799 with appropriate 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.859 humility. 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.399 He says, 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.259 if you come 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.859 to God, 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.140 actually desiring 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.660 to learn 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.339 to follow 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:48.680 God's will, 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.579 then although 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.299 it sounds 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.079 upside down 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.680 at times, 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:53.019 although it doesn't 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.980 seem comfortable 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.519 at times, 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.259 you'll find that 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.019 it's actually 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.119 what God wants 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.400 for you 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.839 and what you 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.680 were made for 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.440 if that's the way 00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.839 in which you 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.079 come to his word 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.059 and seek to 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.119 listen to Jesus. 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.579 But we like 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.400 to think we 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.500 know more. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:12.180 and crazy 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.960 as it sounds, 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.579 we like to 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.500 evaluate Jesus' 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.519 teaching on the 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.200 basis of what 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.180 we already know 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:19.099 so that we 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:20.000 stay in control. 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.119 If it sounds 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.819 like he's telling 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.359 me to love 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:23.920 the poor 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.099 sacrificially, 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.880 that can't be 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.180 right. 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.200 That's the 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.039 liberal left. 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.619 God wants my 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.420 individual freedoms, 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.259 I know that. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.440 And then I flip 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:35.640 over, 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.359 it sounds like 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.160 he's telling me 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.000 whom I can 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.500 and can't 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.440 be married to. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.500 That can't 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.000 be right. 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:41.960 That is the 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.620 fundamentalist 00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:43.300 right again. 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:44.900 God wants me 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.560 to be happy, 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.500 I know that. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.140 See how 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:51.080 either of those 00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.660 will create 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.960 a big struggle 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.900 with following 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.500 the real Jesus 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.700 who doesn't 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.420 fit in our 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:58.259 nice boxes? 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.860 But then 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.240 what really 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:02.960 gets us angry 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:04.820 is when we 00:24:04.820 --> 00:24:05.279 obey, 00:24:06.040 --> 00:24:06.680 but things 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.200 don't go 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.519 the way 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.340 we expect. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.480 Yes? 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.299 Yeah? 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:10.900 Uh-huh? 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.060 We think 00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:13.940 God's promised 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.539 us. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:15.940 And Jesus, 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.980 in the midst 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.740 of our great 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.299 obedience 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.500 and careful 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.160 law-keeping, 00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:21.200 has the gall 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.080 to tell us 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.880 that we don't 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.840 keep the law. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.160 What? 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.700 He tells us 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.019 we've been 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.720 lost in the 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.380 details and 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:29.900 forgotten 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.580 the main 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.060 thing. 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.680 The heart. 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.759 Love for God. 00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:36.160 Love for 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.820 neighbor. 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.240 See, 00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:39.600 Moses codified 00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.259 the laws 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.480 about circumcision 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:41.920 that were 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.740 given to 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.460 Abraham. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.500 Circumcised, 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:45.779 he said, 00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:46.360 on the eighth 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:46.980 day. 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:47.900 Whether it's 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.460 the Sabbath 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.279 or not, 00:24:49.540 --> 00:24:49.980 the Jews 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.120 all agreed 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.700 on that. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.100 That's what 00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:52.580 they taught. 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.160 That makes 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.600 sense, 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:53.940 right? 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:54.720 It's an 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.300 important thing 00:24:55.300 --> 00:24:55.580 to do. 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.160 But don't 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:57.740 heal someone's 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.160 whole body. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.000 You're missing 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.500 the heart 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.180 of the Sabbath, 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.500 Jesus says. 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.460 You've 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.079 missed it. 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.579 So for us, 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.160 let me push 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.559 us. 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.279 Maybe it 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.880 feels okay 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.240 for us. 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.660 Maybe it's 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.200 okay to 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.720 identify as 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.519 selfish. 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.400 My money 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:17.960 for me. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.680 To identify 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.619 as gluttonous. 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.779 My food 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.839 for me. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.839 To identify 00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:27.900 as impatient. 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.380 My schedule 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:30.119 for me. 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.039 That's okay. 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.859 But there 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.439 are some 00:25:33.439 --> 00:25:34.000 things it's 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.819 not okay 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.679 to identify 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.339 as, right? 00:25:36.459 --> 00:25:36.979 We clear? 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.599 You got me? 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.799 We know 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.399 it's acceptable. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.759 So long 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.219 as we know 00:25:44.219 --> 00:25:44.699 which things 00:25:44.699 --> 00:25:45.579 God's okay 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:45.879 with, 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.619 we can keep 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.719 the rules, 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.139 those rules. 00:25:50.439 --> 00:25:51.259 We're in 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.659 control. 00:25:53.899 --> 00:25:54.899 Jesus says, 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.859 don't assume 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.319 your authority 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.839 or control. 00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:00.139 don't come 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.559 to me 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:00.899 knowing 00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.379 more, 00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:01.959 doing 00:26:01.959 --> 00:26:02.480 more, 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.059 thinking 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:03.659 that's 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.199 the way 00:26:04.199 --> 00:26:04.919 to get 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.659 control. 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.500 When Jesus 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:06.839 says, 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.579 my whole 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.599 life screams, 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.559 Yahweh, 00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:10.819 my Father 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.539 is in 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:11.959 control. 00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:12.779 We 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.500 submit 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.339 to Him. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.059 We 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.000 rest in 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.039 His grace, 00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.039 not our 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.799 performance. 00:26:21.679 --> 00:26:22.559 When our 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.259 control is 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.619 threatened, 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.159 we are 00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:24.579 tempted, 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.299 along with 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.059 Nicodemus, 00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:26.699 to say, 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.740 I love you, 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.039 Jesus. 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:30.220 but not 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.839 that much. 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:34.439 So what do 00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:34.759 we do? 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:38.679 That's a 00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.079 mess. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.159 That's a 00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:40.559 mess in 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.079 here. 00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:42.500 I suspect 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.240 we all see 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.039 some manifestations 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.240 of unbelief, 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.039 some competing 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.759 loves of 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.079 worldly 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.959 success, 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.259 selfish 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.000 comfort, 00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:53.299 or religious 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.980 control. 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:55.980 We can see 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.500 those in our 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:56.879 hearts. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.600 perhaps 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.300 feeling like 00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:58.840 pride, 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.560 fear, 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.380 anger. 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.360 It's because 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:01.940 we can't 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.740 live for 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.840 someone whose 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.520 life works 00:27:04.520 --> 00:27:05.420 against what 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.880 we love 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.300 most, 00:27:06.300 --> 00:27:07.220 and Jesus 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.200 loves not 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.780 His own 00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:09.620 life even 00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.380 to death. 00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.440 He eschews 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.980 worldly 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.760 success, 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.180 selfish comfort, 00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:14.920 religious 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.800 control, 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.020 so following 00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:18.040 Him is a 00:27:18.040 --> 00:27:18.420 struggle. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:21.420 Christian, 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.440 Christian, 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:24.060 non-Christian, 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.820 these loves 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.560 of your 00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:28.600 heart are 00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:29.759 keeping you 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.100 from following 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:32.080 Jesus. 00:27:33.300 --> 00:27:34.220 That's what 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.560 you're experiencing. 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.620 That's what's 00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.380 going on in 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.860 your heart. 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.039 What's the 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.279 treatment for 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.160 heart issues 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:42.060 like ones we 00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.960 struggle with? 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:44.640 If it's not 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:44.940 just an 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.299 intellectual 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.640 matter, 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.100 you can't 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:47.140 merely argue 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.600 me into 00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:47.980 following 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.400 Jesus. 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.220 You can't 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.600 just give 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:49.920 me a 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.759 formula that 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.720 convinces me 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.319 that it is 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.960 worth it to 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.660 invest all 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.279 that I have 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.600 in Him, 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.319 to be all 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:55.759 in with 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.100 Jesus, 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:56.799 and that 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.480 that's really 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.340 where life 00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.140 is found. 00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:01.740 So what 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.180 do I do? 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.660 Well, 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.080 come back 00:28:05.080 --> 00:28:05.660 next week 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.040 is one 00:28:06.040 --> 00:28:06.460 answer, 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:08.620 because Jesus 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:10.100 Himself explains 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:11.100 more of who 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:11.620 He is and 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.400 how that gives 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.020 us hope, 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:13.960 and I hope 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.360 you will, 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.320 but there are 00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:15.540 a couple 00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:16.200 things already 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:17.000 pointed to 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.620 here in the 00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.560 midst of the 00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.160 many struggles 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.900 we see with 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.759 following Jesus. 00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:22.160 The treatment 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.620 for our 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.640 hearts is 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:24.820 repentance and 00:28:24.820 --> 00:28:25.300 faith. 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:26.960 See, 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:27.680 what we're 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.480 talking about 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.080 this morning 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.019 is besetting 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.599 sins in 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.379 our hearts, 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.679 right? 00:28:32.699 --> 00:28:33.419 The love of 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.159 control, 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.819 of comfort, 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.179 of success. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:37.960 These are 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:39.740 idols that 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.799 we sometimes 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:42.339 love more 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.339 than we love 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.759 Jesus. 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.419 At the end 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:45.980 of the day, 00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:46.740 it's really 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.480 the idol of 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.039 self, 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.299 isn't it? 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.399 It's all 00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:50.939 about me, 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.899 my control, 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.579 my comfort, 00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:55.119 my success, 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.099 so we 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:57.919 fight idols 00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.399 like that 00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:59.340 by pleading 00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:00.040 with God 00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:00.880 to turn 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.580 our hearts 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.700 from the 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.100 love of 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.600 self 00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:05.200 back to 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.880 Jesus 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:07.300 because some 00:29:07.300 --> 00:29:07.740 of our 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.880 great loves 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.120 have to 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.900 die. 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.160 If they 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.900 remain our 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.680 greatest loves, 00:29:13.780 --> 00:29:14.220 we will 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.280 never embrace 00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:15.759 Jesus. 00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:17.960 And so we 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.480 look back at 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:20.000 Jesus and 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.660 we realize that 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.519 he has come 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.920 to displace 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.000 these loves 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.319 by actually 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.680 loving us 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.539 more than 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:27.859 we love 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.519 ourselves. 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.319 See, 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.059 there will 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.720 be a day, 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.940 it may not 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.200 be this one 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.859 where his 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.359 brothers are 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:36.940 talking to 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.119 him, 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:37.759 but there 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.339 will be a 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.000 day when 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.900 Jesus will 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.579 make a 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.019 public 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.640 showcase 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.480 in Jerusalem 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.400 to show 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.559 himself to 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.119 the world, 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:46.160 to display 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.460 his glory, 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.819 just not in 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.319 the way his 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.180 family suggested, 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:50.500 right? 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:52.299 he will 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.720 go to the 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.420 cross. 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.799 Thankfully, 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:57.259 we now can 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.700 gaze on 00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.519 Jesus and 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.140 realize that 00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:00.500 he never got 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.079 to the point 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.680 of saying, 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.900 I love you, 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:03.839 but not that 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:04.359 much. 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:04.960 No, 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.539 that's not 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.740 what he says. 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:08.119 He instead 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:09.279 keeps going. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.240 He pursued 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.339 glory through 00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.119 suffering. 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.680 He purchased 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.079 our ultimate 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.279 comfort through 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.420 deep pain. 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.619 He put down 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.599 control of 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.460 his own life 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.259 that we 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:22.380 might live 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:23.340 forever. 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.380 Therein is 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:25.039 love, 00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:25.279 amen? 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.299 That's what 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.100 love looks 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.660 like, 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.819 John tells 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:29.160 us. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.960 Love so 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:31.819 transformative 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:33.519 that success-hungry 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.920 James sees the 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.740 most amazing 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.600 work Jesus 00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.740 ever performs 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.160 on his 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.000 behalf at 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.620 the cross 00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:40.140 and is 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.200 inspired to 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.700 give his 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.319 own life 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.840 as a 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.720 martyr for 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:45.039 that life-changing 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.900 reality of 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:46.480 that love. 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:49.299 So transformative 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.160 that comfortable 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.240 risk-averse 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.340 Mary meets 00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:52.800 the risen 00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:53.720 Jesus and 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.320 can't stop 00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:54.880 sharing with 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.460 anyone who 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.000 will listen 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.779 the good 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.380 news of 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.960 the Messiah 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.560 who brings 00:30:58.560 --> 00:30:59.660 eternal hope 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.660 and comfort 00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:01.580 in relationship 00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:02.180 with him even 00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.680 in the face 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.180 of death. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.180 So transformative 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.019 that controlling 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:09.279 religious Nicodemus 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.420 finally starts 00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.720 seeing what the 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.640 new birth that 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.660 Jesus talked 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.340 with him about 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.560 really means 00:31:15.560 --> 00:31:16.160 that the son 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:17.040 of man must 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.779 be lifted up 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.440 on the tree. 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.980 Oh I see it 00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:20.819 now Nicodemus 00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.659 says and 00:31:21.659 --> 00:31:22.440 when we 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.000 believe in 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.740 him we 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.659 find new 00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.559 and eternal 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.460 life. 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.279 He is the 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.420 one that's 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:28.859 where life 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.500 is found. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.799 Love so 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.619 transformative 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:36.059 that he dies 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:38.139 for success-hungry 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:39.859 comfort-seeking 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:41.539 control-obsessed 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.559 people like you 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:44.399 and me so 00:31:44.399 --> 00:31:44.779 that we can 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.539 even today 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:47.200 find his 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.859 love most 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:50.500 fulfilling and 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.519 his life 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.779 eternally 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.619 satisfying. 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.299 I pray we 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.579 do. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.299 Father, 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:00.659 so work in 00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:01.299 our hearts 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:05.759 that Christ 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.279 would be our 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:06.899 true treasure. 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:10.140 that knowing 00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:10.900 that he is 00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:12.259 ours and 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.560 we are his 00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:15.040 forevermore 00:32:15.040 --> 00:32:16.440 would thrill 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.420 our hearts 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:19.340 as a result 00:32:19.340 --> 00:32:20.060 would change 00:32:20.060 --> 00:32:20.800 our lives, 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.820 would free 00:32:22.820 --> 00:32:23.340 us from the 00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:24.300 idols that we 00:32:24.300 --> 00:32:25.060 cling to, 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.000 and would 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.860 inspire us to 00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:29.320 live for him. 00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:30.380 Holy Spirit, 00:32:30.560 --> 00:32:31.120 help our 00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:31.840 hearts. 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.540 Give us 00:32:34.540 --> 00:32:35.180 faith. 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.240 faith. 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.180 That believes 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:40.200 hope in 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.620 Jesus, 00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:42.480 not hope in 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:42.720 me. 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.880 That believes 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.779 glory to 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.320 come, 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.320 not glory 00:32:46.320 --> 00:32:46.880 now. 00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:48.560 That believes 00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:50.759 comfort then 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:52.120 and forever 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:54.700 even if I 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.240 don't taste 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.680 it here. 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.140 Help us, 00:32:59.400 --> 00:32:59.880 we ask, 00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:00.480 in Jesus' 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:00.860 name, 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.400 for his 00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:01.779 glory. 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:02.740 Amen. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.560 For more 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.060 information, 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.920 visit us 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:06.620 online at 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:07.400 southwood.org. 00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:08.400 Thank you. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:08.460 Thank you. 00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:08.519 Thank you.