WEBVTT

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 I think that's the effect of having two mics next to each other.

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 Thanks, Ben. That was great.

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 John, wonderful passage, a long passage.

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 And I encourage you guys to open your Bibles and follow along with me

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 because I'm going to be going throughout to explain

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 and to teach what God is seeking to communicate to us through it.

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 And this past year, last year actually, I read a book.

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 It was a New York Times bestseller called Word of Mouth Marketing

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 by a guy named Andy Cernovitz.

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 And in the book, he makes a bold claim.

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 And he says that the traditional advertising...

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 And the reason for that, he says, is the advent of the Internet

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 and the proliferation of blogs and reviews online

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 have made it very easy for the consumers to have the power

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 to shape an image of a product.

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 So in the past, you could have a really shoddy product

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 and then mask it with really good advertising, glamorous advertising.

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 But nowadays, you can't do that

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 because there will be blogs and reviews that expose that.

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 You can only have honest advertising.

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 And because of these reasons, customer service becomes a premium.

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 It becomes a must that you have, really good customer service.

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 It becomes...

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 They don't want to minimize negative word of mouth marketing.

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 And that's why I think, in part,

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 a lot of these large corporations and companies nowadays

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 try to get in on the discussion of the trending topics

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 and get involved in charity work, right?

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 Because they're trying to build their image,

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 trying to build a brand so that people talk about them in a good light.

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 And that becomes, for them, word of mouth marketing.

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 And I don't know if you guys remember from last year,

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 Starbucks attended something like this

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 in order to get into a conversation about race discussions, right?

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 They started something, a campaign called Race Together.

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 And then they encouraged their baristas

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 to start conversations with their customers

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 and write something on the cup

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 to discuss the problems about race relations in America.

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 Unfortunately, that backfired, right?

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 Because people, most of them,

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 they just wanted to pick up their quick box,

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 you know, cup of joe and go to work

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 and didn't want to have a heavy morning conversation

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 with a complete stranger at that, right?

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 So they left.

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 And because...

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 And what they were trying to do

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 was to get in on this national buzz

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 because everybody was abuzz about this

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 and wanted to talk about it.

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 So they wanted to get a slice of that publicity pie

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 and then build their image as progressive

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 and healthy and promoting the social good.

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 That's what they sought to do.

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 But people saw through it, right?

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 They saw it for what it was

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 and called it inappropriate and opportunistic.

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 And because the campaign didn't stem

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 from a settled conviction,

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 but rather from a calculated strategy,

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 a marketing strategy,

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 as soon as it became unpopular,

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 they quickly abandoned it, right?

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 Now, their ill-founded campaign

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 was this attempt to create

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 positive word-of-mouth movement.

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 And in a culture like this,

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 it was a byproduct of a culture

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 that values authenticity

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 and seeks authenticity,

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 but is inauthentic to the very core.

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 It's...

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 They're supposedly...

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 Even...

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 They care more about public perception

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 than personal conviction, right?

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 And so in that kind of society,

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 these kind of...

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 Even the word-of-mouth marketing

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 that's supposed to be authentic

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 has seemingly become a gimmick

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 and a strategy.

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 And when we see that,

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 we become cynical

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 and we begin to ask ourselves,

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 then is there anything anymore

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 that is worth truly being excited about?

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 Is there anyone anymore

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 that is really worth the hype?

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 Right?

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 There is.

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 And in John 1, 19-51,

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 we see the beginning

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 of the most successful

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 word-of-mouth movement

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 in the history of the world.

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 It begins with the few people

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 that are described in this passage

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 where they begin to talk about something,

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 someone, rather,

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 of supreme, surpassing,

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 transcendent beauty

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 and value and worth.

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 And they begin talking about it.

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 Begin telling people about it.

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 Begin in the first century,

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 and now, two millennia later,

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 it boasts 2.2 billion adherents today.

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 And by recounting this story,

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 John, the apostle,

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 Apostle John,

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 wants us to...

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 wants to invite us to this.

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 He wants us to come

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 and see the Son of God

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 who gives us access to God.

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 Come and see the Son of God

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 who gives us access to God.

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 And he's going to tell us that,

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 invite us in that,

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 by telling us about Jesus' identity,

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 Jesus' promise,

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 and finally,

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 Jesus' invitation.

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 So his identity,

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 promise,

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 and invitation.

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 So follow along with me

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 in verse 19.

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 Because we had talked

00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:04.300
 about the prologue.

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 We were in the prologue

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 of John's Gospel last week

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 where the apostle said

00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:09.660
 that John the Baptist

00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:10.520
 came as a witness.

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 He was not the Messiah.

00:05:11.700 --> 00:05:12.480
 He came as a witness.

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 And now,

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 in this verse,

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 he begins to tell us

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 exactly what the nature

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 of that witness was.

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 So verses 19 to 23.

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 Follow along with me

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 as I read it.

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 And this is the testimony of John

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 when the Jews sent priests

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 and Levites from Jerusalem

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 to ask him,

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 Who are you?

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 He confessed

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 and did not deny,

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 but confessed,

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 I am not the Christ.

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 And they asked him,

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 What then?

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 Are you Elijah?

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 He said,

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 I am not.

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 Are you the prophet?

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 And he answered,

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 No.

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 So they said to him,

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 Then who are you?

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 We need to give an answer

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 to those who sent us.

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 So what do you say

00:05:46.779 --> 00:05:47.439
 about yourself?

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 He said,

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 I am the voice of one

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 crying out in the wilderness.

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 Make straight the way

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 of the Lord,

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 as the prophet Isaiah said.

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 So we see here

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 that a delegation

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 was sent out

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 to interrogate

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 John the Baptist.

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 So we know that

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 this is probably

00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:04.560
 from the Sanhedrin,

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 which is the ruling

00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:06.959
 kind of elders

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 or judges

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 who ruled on

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 religious matters

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 that pertain to Jews

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 in the various cities.

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 And they were largely

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 controlled by the family

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 of the high priest,

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 which is why

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 they're a group

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 of Levites and priests

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 that were sent

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 to Jesus to question him.

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 And they wanted to know

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 about John the Baptist's identity.

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 That was their

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 ostensible question.

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 So who are you?

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 And in John,

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 the apostle,

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 it can get confusing,

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 so keep those straight.

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 Apostle John

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 and John the Baptist.

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 Apostle John

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 can't be more unequivocal

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 in his report

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 of John the Baptist's answer.

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 He's saying,

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 He confessed

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 and did not deny,

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 but confessed,

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 I am not the Christ.

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 That's very emphatic.

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 So John the Baptist

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 said,

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 No, definitely not him.

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 I am not the Christ.

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 I am not the Messiah.

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 He confessed,

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 he denied it.

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 Lest anyone think

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 that John the Baptist,

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 that special prophet

00:06:51.580 --> 00:06:53.060
 who seemed to have authority,

00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:53.640
 is someone

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 that they've been waiting for.

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 Lest you think

00:06:55.960 --> 00:06:56.800
 that he's the Messiah,

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 John is very clear,

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 No, he confessed it.

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 He didn't deny

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 that he's not the Christ.

00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.180
 In the same way,

00:07:02.300 --> 00:07:03.680
 if you go to a jewelry shop,

00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:05.640
 the diamond's always placed on,

00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:06.200
 I mean,

00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:07.400
 most cases placed on

00:07:07.400 --> 00:07:09.000
 a plain white cloth.

00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.240
 That's to showcase

00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:12.079
 the real brilliance

00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:13.040
 and color of the diamond.

00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:14.240
 It's a backdrop.

00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:15.300
 In the same way,

00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:15.879
 John the Baptist

00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:16.759
 functions like that

00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:19.100
 in Apostle John's gospel.

00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:20.319
 He's the backdrop.

00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:22.300
 His ministry was temporary.

00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:23.680
 It was transitory.

00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:23.879
 Yeah,

00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:25.120
 it was not permanent.

00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:26.699
 And Jesus' ministry,

00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.339
 on the other hand,

00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.019
 is ultimate.

00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:29.519
 It's significant.

00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:30.560
 It's permanent.

00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:31.600
 And for that reason,

00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:32.480
 it brings him

00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.680
 and Jesus' significance

00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:34.620
 into sharp relief

00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:35.480
 by comparing him

00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:36.200
 to John the Baptist.

00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:37.879
 So then,

00:07:38.080 --> 00:07:39.060
 given John the Baptist's

00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:39.740
 plain denial,

00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:40.759
 he's not the Christ,

00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:42.040
 the delegation continues

00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:42.860
 their interrogation.

00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:43.340
 They say,

00:07:43.580 --> 00:07:44.100
 What then?

00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:44.860
 Are you Elijah?

00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:45.800
 He said,

00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:46.300
 I am not.

00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:47.160
 Are you the prophet?

00:07:47.340 --> 00:07:47.860
 And he answered,

00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:48.500
 No.

00:07:49.420 --> 00:07:50.879
 So first century Palestine

00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.759
 was pregnant

00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:53.740
 with this Messianic expectation.

00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:54.840
 Everybody was looking

00:07:54.840 --> 00:07:55.480
 for the Messiah

00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:56.000
 and searching.

00:07:56.580 --> 00:07:57.819
 And one of the possible

00:07:57.819 --> 00:07:59.460
 people that they were expecting

00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:00.120
 was Elijah

00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:00.980
 because according to

00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:02.740
 2 Kings 2,

00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:04.439
 Elijah had never died,

00:08:04.520 --> 00:08:05.420
 but he was taken

00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:06.520
 up straight into the heavens.

00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:07.920
 And so in the end times,

00:08:08.020 --> 00:08:08.580
 they expected

00:08:08.580 --> 00:08:09.640
 that he would come back

00:08:09.640 --> 00:08:10.720
 because there was a prophecy

00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:11.780
 in Malachi that said

00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:12.840
 that Elijah would come

00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:13.540
 to prepare

00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:15.400
 for the day of the Lord.

00:08:15.640 --> 00:08:16.520
 So they were expecting

00:08:16.520 --> 00:08:17.560
 an Elijah.

00:08:18.259 --> 00:08:19.180
 But John the Baptist

00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:20.060
 says he's not the Elijah.

00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:20.780
 And similarly,

00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:21.520
 the prophet

00:08:21.520 --> 00:08:23.560
 refers to a prophecy

00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:24.580
 in Deuteronomy 18

00:08:24.580 --> 00:08:26.460
 where Moses prophesies

00:08:26.460 --> 00:08:27.700
 that someone like him,

00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:28.980
 God will send a prophet

00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:29.920
 like himself

00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.100
 to lead God's people

00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:33.440
 and to speak to them

00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.200
 about all that God

00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:34.920
 demands of them.

00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:36.339
 So people expected

00:08:36.339 --> 00:08:37.579
 a prophet like Moses

00:08:37.579 --> 00:08:38.719
 to come in the end times

00:08:38.719 --> 00:08:39.299
 to redeem.

00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:41.399
 But John answers

00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:41.919
 in the negative

00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:43.679
 for both cases.

00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:45.759
 And that's really interesting

00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:46.339
 because, well,

00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.779
 Moses, we understand

00:08:47.779 --> 00:08:49.120
 because John the Baptist

00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:49.899
 is definitely not

00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:51.000
 the prophet like Moses

00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:51.919
 because Jesus was

00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.399
 and other Gospels

00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:54.240
 make that very clear.

00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:55.719
 But Elijah,

00:08:56.319 --> 00:08:57.099
 the other Gospels

00:08:57.099 --> 00:08:57.860
 make it very clear

00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:58.779
 that John the Baptist

00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:00.059
 was in fact

00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:00.599
 the Elijah

00:09:00.599 --> 00:09:01.799
 that was supposed

00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:02.259
 to come

00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:02.959
 and make way

00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:03.500
 for the Lord

00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:04.400
 and prepare for the Lord.

00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:06.240
 But according to this passage,

00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:08.240
 John doesn't know that.

00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:09.240
 He's clueless

00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.400
 about his own

00:09:10.400 --> 00:09:11.740
 identity and call.

00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:13.280
 Even though he knew

00:09:13.280 --> 00:09:14.320
 very clearly

00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:14.920
 he was supposed

00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:15.560
 to prepare the way

00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:16.040
 for the Lord,

00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:17.500
 he self-consciously

00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:18.180
 was not aware

00:09:18.180 --> 00:09:19.519
 that he was that Elijah

00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.720
 that was prophesied about.

00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:21.920
 And that, I think,

00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:23.200
 could be an encouraging

00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:23.900
 thing for us

00:09:23.900 --> 00:09:24.460
 because, I mean,

00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:26.960
 Jesus basically

00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:28.120
 made more of his ministry

00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:28.820
 and his life

00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:29.879
 than he himself did.

00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.879
 And oftentimes

00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:31.980
 in our ministry,

00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:32.600
 in our service,

00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:33.299
 in our lives,

00:09:33.340 --> 00:09:34.340
 we can think the same way.

00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:34.639
 We can say,

00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:36.100
 well, what I do

00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:36.919
 is not significant.

00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:37.580
 You know,

00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:38.179
 what I do

00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:38.860
 is just a little

00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.679
 small thing.

00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:41.439
 But in God's

00:09:41.439 --> 00:09:42.679
 omniscient perspective,

00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:44.679
 can you imagine

00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:45.200
 John the Baptist

00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:45.740
 going to heaven

00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:46.620
 and finding out

00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:48.000
 I was the Elijah?

00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:48.960
 I mean,

00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:49.820
 talking to God.

00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:50.080
 I mean,

00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:52.019
 the work that you do,

00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:53.159
 the service that you do

00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:54.080
 in his kingdom,

00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:54.879
 you cannot,

00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:56.059
 you know,

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:57.139
 you cannot underestimate

00:09:57.139 --> 00:09:58.240
 the significance of that

00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.480
 because God only knows

00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:00.919
 and we will not know

00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:01.500
 until we get

00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:02.840
 what the implication of that,

00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:03.940
 what the effect

00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:04.700
 of all that we do

00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:06.299
 for the Lord was.

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.120
 So then John

00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:09.080
 self-consciously

00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:10.180
 does not identify

00:10:10.180 --> 00:10:10.639
 as Elijah

00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.399
 or the prophet

00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:11.899
 like Moses.

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.320
 So then,

00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:14.100
 they're still curious.

00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:14.399
 So then,

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.560
 who are you?

00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:16.000
 They ask,

00:10:16.060 --> 00:10:16.700
 verse 23.

00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:18.259
 We need to give an answer

00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:19.279
 to the people who sent us

00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:19.899
 because we're accountable.

00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:20.720
 So what do you say

00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.419
 about yourself?

00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:22.740
 And John the Baptist

00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.879
 finally gives his answer.

00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:24.180
 He says,

00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.879
 I am the voice of one

00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.039
 crying out in the wilderness,

00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:28.060
 making straight,

00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:29.299
 the way of the Lord,

00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:31.139
 as the prophet Isaiah said.

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.220
 See,

00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:33.860
 even though John

00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:34.980
 didn't identify as Elijah,

00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:35.899
 he knew that he was supposed

00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:36.680
 to prepare the way

00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:37.340
 for the Lord

00:10:37.340 --> 00:10:38.740
 and making straight

00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.519
 the way of the Lord

00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:40.560
 is a metaphorical way

00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:41.500
 of talking about,

00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:41.820
 you know,

00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.799
 basically paving the new roads,

00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:45.560
 improving the road system

00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:46.700
 for the king to come,

00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.080
 for God to come.

00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.539
 So he talks about leveling,

00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:51.060
 so he's leveling the valleys

00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:51.759
 and then,

00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:51.960
 you know,

00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:53.019
 raising down the hills

00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:54.279
 and straightening out

00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:55.220
 the curved roads

00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:56.120
 so that,

00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:57.399
 in order to make way

00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.600
 for someone to come.

00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:00.600
 Because when God Almighty comes,

00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:01.879
 when the creator comes,

00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:02.519
 the creation,

00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.720
 he's not going to bend

00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.659
 toward creation.

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:06.000
 The creation is going

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.939
 to bend for him.

00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:08.620
 The valleys are going to rise,

00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.779
 hills will be flattened,

00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:10.639
 and the curved roads

00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.539
 will be straightened out,

00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.259
 and he will walk.

00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:13.620
 That's what he's talking about.

00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:14.959
 In the spiritual sense,

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:15.819
 John the Baptist believed

00:11:15.819 --> 00:11:16.779
 that that was his call,

00:11:16.959 --> 00:11:18.139
 to prepare that way

00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.419
 for God to come.

00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:21.299
 And apparently,

00:11:21.479 --> 00:11:22.120
 even though he gives

00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:23.019
 a very good answer,

00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:24.219
 the delegation

00:11:24.219 --> 00:11:25.159
 is still not satisfied.

00:11:26.099 --> 00:11:28.679
 So now we get a closer look

00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:29.620
 at what they're really after.

00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:31.019
 Verses 24 to 28.

00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.479
 Follow along with me.

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:32.979
 It says,

00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:34.099
 Now they had been sent

00:11:34.099 --> 00:11:35.179
 from the Pharisees.

00:11:35.699 --> 00:11:36.399
 They asked him,

00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:38.079
 Then why are you baptizing

00:11:38.079 --> 00:11:39.500
 if you are neither the Christ

00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.559
 nor Elijah

00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:41.639
 nor the prophet?

00:11:42.319 --> 00:11:43.279
 John answered them,

00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:44.879
 I baptize with water,

00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:46.480
 but among you stands one

00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.259
 you do not know,

00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:49.120
 even he who comes after me,

00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:50.860
 the strap of whose sandal

00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:52.919
 I am not worthy to untie.

00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:56.340
 And we learn here

00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:57.419
 that the delegation

00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:59.419
 that was sent from the Sanhedrin

00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:01.519
 were made up primarily of Pharisees.

00:12:01.819 --> 00:12:03.019
 So they were the group

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.860
 that belonged to the theological sect

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.580
 of the Pharisees

00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:06.759
 that were very concerned

00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:08.439
 with meticulous observation

00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:09.980
 of every minute details

00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.460
 of the law.

00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.620
 And they were not satisfied

00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.220
 with John's answer.

00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:13.600
 They're asking,

00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.740
 Why are you baptizing

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:16.039
 if you're not any of these

00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.740
 eschatological figures?

00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.240
 If you're not the Christ,

00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:20.000
 you're not the Elijah,

00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:20.639
 not the prophet,

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.360
 then what right do you have?

00:12:22.459 --> 00:12:23.620
 Why do you have to baptize

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:24.120
 these people?

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.199
 But you see,

00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.139
 the problem was not

00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:27.259
 with baptism itself

00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.620
 because Jews were aware

00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:29.719
 and practiced baptism.

00:12:30.099 --> 00:12:31.639
 They practiced what they called

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.699
 proselyte baptism,

00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:34.500
 meaning that when a Gentile

00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:35.659
 decided to become a Jew,

00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:37.079
 decided to follow God,

00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:38.839
 they would baptize them.

00:12:40.339 --> 00:12:41.139
 And usually,

00:12:41.459 --> 00:12:43.439
 the baptism was self-administered.

00:12:43.439 --> 00:12:45.259
 People baptized themselves.

00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.559
 Now,

00:12:46.719 --> 00:12:47.339
 then immediately,

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.259
 you notice two things

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.019
 that are very different

00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:49.819
 about John's baptism.

00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:52.779
 John's baptizing people himself.

00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:53.939
 He's not letting people

00:12:53.939 --> 00:12:54.339
 baptize them.

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.579
 He's baptizing them

00:12:55.579 --> 00:12:57.360
 as if he's something special.

00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:59.319
 So that's why they're wondering,

00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:01.000
 why are you baptizing them yourself?

00:13:01.459 --> 00:13:02.939
 But even more controversially

00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:03.439
 than that,

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:03.959
 perhaps,

00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:04.779
 is the fact that

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:06.699
 he's baptizing Jews.

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.699
 These are Jews.

00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:10.159
 They are God's people.

00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.579
 They are not converting

00:13:11.579 --> 00:13:12.039
 to anything.

00:13:12.199 --> 00:13:12.459
 They are not,

00:13:12.579 --> 00:13:13.539
 why are you baptizing

00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.059
 these people?

00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:14.699
 What right,

00:13:14.839 --> 00:13:15.819
 what warrant do you have

00:13:15.819 --> 00:13:17.419
 to baptize these Jews?

00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:17.839
 Obviously,

00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:18.879
 John's making a statement,

00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:19.240
 right,

00:13:19.319 --> 00:13:21.339
 that repentance is for all.

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.219
 All need to come

00:13:22.219 --> 00:13:23.079
 to repentance and faith.

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:24.480
 So then,

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.159
 so John,

00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:25.799
 in essence,

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.279
 is saying,

00:13:26.599 --> 00:13:28.000
 and his response

00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.199
 is so characteristic

00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.179
 of John the Baptist.

00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.759
 He says,

00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:33.059
 well,

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.120
 you think me baptizing them,

00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:35.860
 myself,

00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:36.459
 with water,

00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:36.959
 baptizing Jews,

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:38.000
 you think that's a big deal?

00:13:38.219 --> 00:13:38.379
 Well,

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:38.819
 guess what?

00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.060
 Someone standing among you

00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:41.080
 who's going to baptize

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.780
 with the Holy Spirit,

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.760
 with fire,

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:45.220
 with the very Spirit of God,

00:13:45.260 --> 00:13:46.580
 he's going to baptize you,

00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:47.180
 right?

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:49.040
 And so John the Baptist,

00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:50.300
 this is consistent

00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:51.040
 in his pattern

00:13:51.040 --> 00:13:51.620
 in his life,

00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:51.800
 right?

00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.800
 You try to make

00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:54.020
 something about him,

00:13:54.280 --> 00:13:56.060
 and you try to ask him questions,

00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:57.480
 make him the focus of attention,

00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.420
 make a big deal

00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.400
 of what he's doing,

00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:01.260
 and it just bounces right off,

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.140
 deflects right off,

00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:03.520
 and goes directly to Jesus.

00:14:04.260 --> 00:14:04.400
 He says,

00:14:05.040 --> 00:14:05.860
 guess what he's doing?

00:14:06.140 --> 00:14:07.480
 Look at what he's up to.

00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:09.159
 Look at who he is,

00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:09.480
 right?

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.120
 And that's Apostle John's

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:11.879
 concern here as well.

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.080
 No,

00:14:12.180 --> 00:14:12.879
 John the Baptist

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.980
 is not the main character

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.440
 in the story.

00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:15.639
 Jesus is.

00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:16.820
 So look to him,

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.519
 that's precisely

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.180
 what John the Baptist

00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:18.759
 would want,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.300
 because he says this,

00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:22.120
 even he who comes after me,

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.980
 the strap of whose sandal

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:26.139
 I am not worthy to untie.

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:26.960
 I mean,

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.659
 if you understand

00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.620
 the cultural context

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.180
 of that statement,

00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:31.139
 that's a staggering statement,

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.560
 an extraordinarily humble statement,

00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:35.259
 because in that age

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.539
 when John the Baptist lived,

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.980
 the precedence

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.120
 and age,

00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:39.779
 seniority,

00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:40.779
 that was everything,

00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:41.379
 right?

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.759
 People who came before you,

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:44.279
 people that were older than you,

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.439
 people who had more experience

00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:45.839
 than you,

00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.319
 they accorded greater honor,

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:47.980
 significance,

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:50.219
 and way to all of those things.

00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.819
 So when John says,

00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.419
 he comes after me,

00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:54.480
 that's significant,

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.839
 because not only

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:56.919
 is John the Baptist older,

00:14:57.219 --> 00:14:58.419
 but he is older,

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.419
 he's been in the ministry

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.740
 far longer than Jesus has,

00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:02.799
 and Jesus comes after him,

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:03.840
 yet he says,

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.580
 of this person

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.519
 that comes after him,

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.539
 he's not worthy

00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:08.320
 to untie the strap

00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.100
 of his sandal.

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:11.580
 And in this context

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.700
 of discipleship,

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.620
 of rabbis,

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.060
 and disciples following

00:15:15.060 --> 00:15:16.000
 the rabbis,

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:18.360
 the culture believed

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.600
 that a disciple,

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.720
 a follower of a teacher,

00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:21.100
 a rabbi,

00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:22.120
 should do everything

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.120
 that a slave does

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.940
 for the master.

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:26.180
 So go fetch things for him,

00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:27.460
 go do things for him,

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.900
 go prepare,

00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:29.700
 wait on him,

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.960
 prepare food for him.

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.040
 They were supposed to do

00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:32.960
 everything that a slave

00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:34.060
 was to do,

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.200
 that they expected

00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.160
 the disciples

00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:38.259
 to do for their teachers.

00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:40.440
 Except one thing,

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:43.960
 untie the strap

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:45.400
 of the sandals

00:15:45.400 --> 00:15:46.600
 of the people.

00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:48.420
 That, they thought,

00:15:48.660 --> 00:15:49.759
 was so beneath

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.560
 the dignity

00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:53.240
 of a person

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.100
 that they believed

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.259
 that only a slave

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.860
 should do that.

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.960
 Not even the disciples

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.480
 should do that

00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:57.980
 for his teacher,

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.900
 only a slave.

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.160
 Yet John

00:16:01.160 --> 00:16:03.320
 doesn't make an exception

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.080
 even for that.

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.680
 Not only does he

00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.560
 not make an exception,

00:16:06.780 --> 00:16:07.800
 not only is he ready

00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:09.160
 to remove the sandals

00:16:09.160 --> 00:16:09.960
 off Jesus' feet,

00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:11.320
 he says he's not worthy

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.460
 to untie the straps

00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:14.759
 of Jesus' feet.

00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:16.800
 And obviously,

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:17.680
 there's a lot of things

00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.240
 we could apply

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.120
 to ourselves

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.240
 in that great example

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:20.980
 of humility, right?

00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:22.300
 It's the attitude

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:22.660
 that says,

00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.500
 I will do anything

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.100
 for the Lord.

00:16:24.180 --> 00:16:24.800
 Whatever you would

00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:25.680
 have me do, God,

00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:26.700
 I will do it.

00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.980
 Or do we have,

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:28.420
 instead,

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:28.920
 an attitude

00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.700
 of entitlement?

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:30.740
 You know,

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.820
 that I can do,

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.400
 but that,

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:34.660
 no,

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.960
 I will not stoop

00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:36.500
 to that level.

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.460
 I will not serve you

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:37.860
 in that way.

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.360
 I will preach

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:43.519
 at the pulpit

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.060
 for you,

00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:45.000
 but I will not

00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:45.740
 go downstairs

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.600
 to teach children's ministry.

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.220
 I will stand on the stage

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.740
 to lead music

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.639
 in public,

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.540
 but I will not

00:16:53.540 --> 00:16:54.920
 be in the background

00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:56.040
 preparing sound.

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.879
 Do we have

00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:00.680
 that kind of attitude

00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.060
 in time,

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.259
 or do we speak,

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.600
 or do we like John does?

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.559
 I will do anything

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.099
 for you.

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.539
 In fact,

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.180
 I'm not worthy

00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.140
 to do any of these

00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.740
 things for you.

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:13.839
 someone that walks

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.440
 into church,

00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.380
 it's easier to talk

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.500
 to a nicely kept,

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.039
 you know,

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:19.079
 a lady or a gentleman

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.680
 that walks in.

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.200
 What if a homeless person

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.700
 walked in

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.620
 disheveled,

00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:23.839
 smelly,

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.279
 right?

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.500
 Do we go up to that person

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.420
 the same love,

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.640
 speak to him,

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.680
 love that person,

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.400
 right?

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:33.240
 Are we ready to say

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.000
 what John the Baptist

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.400
 is willing to do

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:35.960
 anything that he

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.720
 tells us to do?

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.319
 Yes,

00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.160
 so John the Baptist's

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:39.900
 humility is certainly

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.619
 instructive for us,

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.920
 but as I mentioned,

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.000
 he's not the main

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.420
 character,

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:44.779
 right?

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.339
 Because what he's

00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.000
 saying is true.

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.799
 It seems amazing,

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:49.720
 relatively speaking,

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.740
 but what he's saying

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.779
 is precisely true.

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.299
 He is not worthy

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.420
 to untie the sandals

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.380
 off Jesus' feet,

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.220
 right?

00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.059
 As we were just

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.539
 singing about,

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.940
 we tread where

00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:00.460
 angels fear to tread,

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.099
 by grace alone,

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:02.460
 right?

00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:03.859
 We have no right

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.579
 to approach God.

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:05.359
 We have no right

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.259
 to serve God.

00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:06.839
 We don't even,

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.899
 we can't even bear

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:09.059
 to be near God

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.980
 because of our

00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.359
 simpleness,

00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:10.859
 because of our

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.259
 dependence.

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.279
 That's what,

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.379
 that's how actually

00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.339
 the German philosopher

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.119
 Immanuel Kant

00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.440
 defined humility.

00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.220
 He said,

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:18.220
 it's a proper

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.619
 perspective on oneself

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.679
 as a dependent

00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:22.000
 and corrupt agent,

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:22.720
 right?

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.240
 Humility is simply

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.059
 a proper view

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.579
 of ourselves.

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.039
 It's a right view

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.599
 of ourselves,

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.759
 recognizing that we

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.019
 are dependent beings,

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.839
 we have a derivative

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.559
 experience,

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:32.960
 I mean,

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.279
 existence from God

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.099
 and we owe

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.879
 everything to him

00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:37.059
 and we are sinful.

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.319
 We cannot approach him

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.779
 on our own

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.440
 and that's the position

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:40.940
 of humility

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:42.279
 that we must be in.

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:42.579
 So,

00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.819
 John simply

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:45.339
 has a correct estimation

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:45.940
 of himself.

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.579
 He knows.

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.259
 And if that's the case,

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.119
 then who then

00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.240
 is this Jesus?

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.240
 who is this man

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.740
 that is so supremely

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.220
 worthy

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:57.640
 that what John

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.440
 the Baptist says,

00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.640
 probably the greatest

00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.180
 prophet

00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:03.539
 before Christ

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.200
 to say,

00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:06.000
 I'm not unworthy

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.960
 to untie the sandals

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.339
 with his feet.

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.319
 And that's where

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.500
 John gives us

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:11.180
 these series of titles

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.680
 to describe Jesus.

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.440
 And it's great

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.220
 because it's kind of like,

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.359
 if you guys have ever

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:15.740
 seen this,

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.759
 I remember first time

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.420
 I saw a picture of Mosaic.

00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:18.859
 You guys know

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.819
 what I'm talking about?

00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:20.519
 It's a whole bunch

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.480
 of different pictures.

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.319
 They all have

00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.599
 their own images on them

00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.319
 yet together

00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.420
 they form a bigger picture.

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:27.259
 I remember being blown away

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.379
 the first time I saw that.

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.759
 And it's kind of like that.

00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.779
 John's painting

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.500
 an image here

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.740
 with all these titles

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.359
 and descriptions

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.599
 and epithets of Jesus,

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.400
 who he is,

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.240
 in order to form

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.279
 a fuller picture

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.579
 of who he is,

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.599
 what his identity is.

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.160
 And so you see

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.039
 the Lamb of God,

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.960
 verse 29, 36,

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.759
 Son of God,

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.480
 34 to 49,

00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.160
 Messiah,

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.759
 King of Israel,

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.640
 Son of Man.

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.720
 I'm not going to cover

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.720
 all of these in detail

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.800
 because John unpacks them

00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.580
 later in his Gospel

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.100
 and I want to,

00:19:54.300 --> 00:19:55.560
 but I will just cover them

00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:56.900
 briefly as we go by.

00:19:57.040 --> 00:19:57.259
 First,

00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:58.220
 verse 41,

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.180
 we learn that Jesus

00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.019
 is the Messiah.

00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.360
 When Andrew finds

00:20:01.360 --> 00:20:02.140
 his brother Simon Peter,

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.600
 he tells him,

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.779
 we have found the Messiah.

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.180
 And Apostle John

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.640
 adds the explanatory note there

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.960
 that which means Christ.

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.960
 So that's what Christ means.

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.940
 It's not Jesus' last name.

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.180
 Rather,

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:12.960
 it's a description.

00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:13.740
 It's an epithet

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.779
 that describes the fact

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:16.220
 that he's the Messiah.

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.819
 And it means literally

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.720
 anointed one.

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.119
 And in the Old Testament,

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.619
 anointing was the process

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.139
 by which you consecrated

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:25.279
 someone for God's service.

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.399
 You set them apart.

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.700
 And in the Old Testament,

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.920
 it was only the kings

00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.639
 and priests

00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.240
 and prophets

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.859
 that were,

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.660
 I mean,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.139
 not were they,

00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:34.160
 they were anointed

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.500
 with oil.

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.480
 The kings,

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:36.819
 prophets,

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.259
 and priests.

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:39.059
 The normal people,

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.940
 the people of God,

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.799
 they were not anointed.

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.340
 So when it says

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:44.259
 that Jesus is the Christ,

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.380
 then he's the,

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.779
 he's the anointed one

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.600
 par excellence,

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:47.820
 right?

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.080
 He is the ultimate

00:20:49.080 --> 00:20:49.940
 prophet,

00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:50.720
 priest,

00:20:50.820 --> 00:20:51.500
 and king.

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.920
 And the designation

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.680
 king of Israel

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.539
 also speaks to that,

00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:55.279
 his kingliness,

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.559
 right?

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:56.080
 So that's what

00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:57.259
 the Messiah refers to.

00:20:57.580 --> 00:20:58.420
 Jesus is the fulfillment

00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.140
 of all of that.

00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.960
 He's the consecrated,

00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:00.680
 anointed one.

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.660
 But not only is he

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.320
 the Messiah

00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:04.740
 that Israel's been waiting for,

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.840
 he says that he's

00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.940
 the Lamb of God,

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.799
 in verse 9,

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.720
 who takes away

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.919
 the sin of the world.

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.720
 Not just for the people

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.200
 of Israel,

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:13.659
 not just for the ethnic Jews,

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.259
 but he's the Lamb of God

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.919
 who takes away

00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:17.119
 the sins of the world.

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.339
 And that has,

00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:18.980
 in the background,

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.339
 of course,

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.579
 passages that talk about

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.720
 the sacrificial lamb,

00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:23.079
 like Isaiah 53

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.859
 or Leviticus 1 to 5.

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.119
 But chiefly,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.319
 and most importantly,

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.599
 the lamb refers

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.879
 to the Passover lamb,

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.259
 right?

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.119
 In Exodus 12,

00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:33.559
 where Israel's in captivity

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.639
 and slavery in Egypt,

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.539
 and God's promise

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.259
 to deliver them

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.259
 and the way he does that

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:39.519
 is through the Passover,

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.680
 which is the last plague

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.440
 that comes,

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.900
 where he instructs

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.339
 the Jews,

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:43.940
 his people,

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.859
 to kill a lamb

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.859
 without blemish

00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:48.599
 and then to rub its blood

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.319
 on the lintel

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.619
 and the doorposts.

00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:52.019
 And when they do that,

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.019
 the destroyer

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.799
 that God sends

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.240
 will pass over,

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:55.640
 right,

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.900
 those doors

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.779
 that were painted

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.740
 by the blood of the lamb,

00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.379
 painted with the blood

00:21:59.379 --> 00:21:59.799
 of the lamb.

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.819
 But the destroyer

00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.259
 went through,

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.480
 passed over all the doors

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.180
 of the Israelite people,

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.480
 but destroyed the firstborn

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.299
 of all the Egyptians.

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:07.419
 And that's how

00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:09.319
 they were delivered

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:11.659
 from the grip of Pharaoh.

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.559
 And that points,

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:13.919
 of course,

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.879
 to Jesus

00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:16.180
 as the lamb of God.

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.519
 He's the unblemished lamb,

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.599
 the blameless one,

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.180
 the holy one,

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.519
 the one who is without sin,

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.879
 who now dies

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:24.139
 for the sinfulness

00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:24.639
 of people.

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.839
 All those Israelites

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.399
 deserve the judgment

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.240
 of that destroyer,

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.019
 yet they were spared

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.859
 because of the blood

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.319
 of the lamb.

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.279
 In the same way,

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.579
 all people deserve

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.440
 the judgment of God

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.240
 because of our sin,

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.359
 yet we are spared,

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.720
 we are forgiven

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.140
 through the blood

00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.759
 of the lamb.

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.819
 So he's the lamb of God

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.359
 who takes away

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.259
 the sin of the world.

00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.940
 But it gets even more cosmic,

00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:45.640
 bigger than that.

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.440
 Verse 34,

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.299
 John the Baptist testifies,

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.240
 I have seen

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.940
 and borne witness

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:52.440
 that this is

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.920
 the Son of God.

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:57.500
 I want to explain

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.000
 this a little bit

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.640
 because sometimes

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.099
 the expression

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.559
 Son of God

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.259
 can be confusing

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.019
 because it's used

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.680
 differently

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.420
 throughout the Bible.

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.300
 And sometimes

00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:03.779
 it means

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:05.480
 not much more

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.100
 than this person

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.980
 is like God.

00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:07.600
 So for example,

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.120
 if you look at

00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.920
 Sermon on the Mount,

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:10.000
 Jesus says that

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.080
 peacemakers are

00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.980
 sons of God.

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.000
 That's not saying

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.700
 that they're divine.

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.620
 It's not saying

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.420
 that they're even

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.400
 believers,

00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:17.300
 followers of Christ.

00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:17.940
 It's just saying

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:19.580
 that they're like God

00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:20.100
 in a sense

00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:21.340
 that they're imitating him.

00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.840
 And that's a typical

00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:24.000
 Hebrew idiom

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.940
 because Hebrew,

00:23:25.300 --> 00:23:25.920
 the language

00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.420
 doesn't have a lot

00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.019
 of adjectives.

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.860
 So when they're

00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.460
 trying to say

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:28.900
 that something,

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:29.759
 describe something,

00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.440
 they say son

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.220
 of something.

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.700
 So example,

00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:34.460
 Psalm 89, 22.

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.860
 In order to describe

00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.220
 the wicked,

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.920
 it calls them

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.380
 a son of wickedness.

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:40.120
 Proverbs 31, 5.

00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.079
 The afflicted

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.620
 are called

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:43.079
 the sons of affliction.

00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.680
 Deuteronomy 3, 18.

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.819
 It calls courageous men

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.819
 sons of valor.

00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:48.339
 So sons of God

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.960
 could simply mean

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.160
 they're like God

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.500
 in that,

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.720
 peacemakers like God.

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:54.420
 But because it could be

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.799
 used in such varied ways,

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.360
 we have to look

00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.059
 at the context.

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.539
 And in the context

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.180
 of John,

00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.140
 son of God

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.940
 is extremely significant.

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:02.920
 It's a very,

00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:04.440
 very loaded term

00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.759
 because it's a special

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:07.460
 designation for Messiah

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.880
 referring to his kingship.

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.500
 He's going to be

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.640
 the king in the line

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.480
 of David that comes

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.420
 to redeem Israel

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:14.340
 as it was promised

00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:16.400
 in 2 Samuel 7,

00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.620
 13-14

00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:18.480
 where God says

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.259
 that he will establish

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.680
 the kingdom

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.660
 for a son

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.680
 in the line of David

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.060
 and he says,

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.900
 I will be to him

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:23.420
 a father

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.340
 and he shall be

00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.460
 to me a son.

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:27.779
 And we talked last week

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:29.220
 how John describes,

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.140
 John Apostle

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.319
 describes Jesus

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.079
 that he is

00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.559
 the only son

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.460
 from the father.

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.440
 The only son.

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:36.900
 And he says

00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:38.380
 at the end of the prologue

00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.480
 that he's the only God

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.579
 who is at the father's side

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:42.180
 who makes the father known.

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.240
 In other words,

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.200
 when he says

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.140
 that Jesus

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.019
 is the son of God,

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.559
 he's saying

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.799
 he's the son of God

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.360
 in the sense

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.440
 that no one else is.

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:51.579
 He's a unique son of God.

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:53.519
 He is the only son of God.

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.879
 The only begotten son

00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.720
 as we used to say.

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.900
 And John concludes this

00:24:57.900 --> 00:25:00.259
 that Jesus

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.900
 is the son of God

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.539
 after seeing

00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.480
 the spirit descend

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.039
 from heaven

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.539
 like a dove

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.660
 and remain on Jesus.

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.599
 And the reason for that

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:08.000
 is that's a very

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.639
 distinct proof of that

00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.859
 because in the Old Testament

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.339
 as well,

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.119
 the spirit of God

00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:13.680
 comes temporarily

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.720
 to empower

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:17.480
 his special envoys

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.720
 for a specific task

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:20.019
 and then he departs.

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.079
 That's the pattern

00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.799
 in the Old Testament.

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:23.359
 But here on Jesus,

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:23.979
 the spirit of God

00:25:23.979 --> 00:25:25.819
 comes and he remains

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:27.059
 on him.

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.199
 That's significant.

00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.199
 So Jesus,

00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:30.679
 now being that only son,

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.859
 the unique son of God,

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.519
 he will always be full

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.740
 of the spirit of God.

00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.839
 He is the second person

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.819
 of the Trinity.

00:25:38.959 --> 00:25:40.339
 He is God himself.

00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:43.279
 So that's Jesus' identity.

00:25:43.479 --> 00:25:44.740
 Not only is he

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:46.139
 the Messiah of Israel,

00:25:46.439 --> 00:25:47.240
 he's the lamb

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.679
 that takes away

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:48.619
 the sin of the whole world,

00:25:48.979 --> 00:25:51.339
 and his mission

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.199
 is for the whole world

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:53.500
 and not just that

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.319
 he's the son of God.

00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:56.160
 He is God himself,

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.740
 the second person

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.160
 of the Trinity.

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.519
 And because that's

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.519
 Jesus' identity,

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.620
 he's able to make

00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:04.600
 a unique promise.

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.380
 What's Jesus' promise?

00:26:07.580 --> 00:26:09.360
 And in verses 43 to 51,

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.240
 Jesus interacts

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.039
 with Nathaniel,

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:13.840
 who's probably Bartholomew,

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.039
 who,

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.620
 in the other lists,

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.539
 in the other Gospels.

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.460
 And Jesus amazes him

00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.180
 by commenting

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.480
 on the fact that

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.019
 Nathaniel is an Israelite

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.420
 indeed,

00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:24.379
 in whom there is no deceit.

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.659
 This doesn't seem like much

00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:27.480
 to us when you hear that.

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:27.720
 I mean,

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.200
 you could say that

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.579
 about anybody,

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.639
 but apparently

00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.299
 there was something

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.799
 about that

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.759
 that really resonated

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.420
 with Nathaniel.

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:35.119
 And that character

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.940
 assessment was correct

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.980
 because then he asks

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.039
 in surprise,

00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.420
 how do you know me?

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.799
 Because that's who he was.

00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.839
 He was an Israelite

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.379
 with no needy.

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.259
 So how do you know me?

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:44.920
 It's like,

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.819
 how did you know that?

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.559
 And Jesus further displays

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.720
 his supernatural knowledge

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.519
 by telling him,

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:49.659
 well,

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:51.039
 before Philip called you,

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:51.259
 well,

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.960
 before we met,

00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:53.599
 when you were under

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.119
 the fig tree,

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.839
 I saw you.

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.399
 I saw you

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.379
 when you were sitting

00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:58.139
 under that fig tree.

00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:00.119
 Which is particularly meaningful

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.399
 because fig tree

00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:02.099
 in the Old Testament

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.200
 can refer to Israel,

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.439
 can signify Israel.

00:27:04.879 --> 00:27:05.480
 So he's sitting

00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.000
 under the fig tree

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.240
 and Jesus somehow saw him

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.119
 even though he wasn't there.

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:10.960
 And so that convinces him

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.779
 and he says,

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:14.119
 you are the king of Israel.

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.220
 You are the son of God,

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.759
 king of Israel.

00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.559
 And Nathaniel is

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.279
 immediately convinced.

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.740
 But then Jesus tells him,

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.200
 you know what?

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.179
 What I just told you

00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:21.740
 is nothing

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.899
 compared to what

00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.980
 I'm going to show you.

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.339
 Truly,

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:25.720
 truly,

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.460
 I say to you,

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.079
 verse 51,

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.899
 follow along with me.

00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:29.799
 You will see heaven opened

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.980
 and the angels of God

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:32.099
 ascending and descending

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.179
 on the son of man.

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.899
 This is a reference

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:36.200
 to Jacob's dream

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.279
 in Genesis 28.

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:37.919
 Right?

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.900
 And it says that

00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:40.460
 when Jacob dreamed,

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.060
 behold,

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.800
 there was a ladder

00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.980
 set up on the earth

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.120
 and the top of it

00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.700
 reached to heaven

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.500
 and behold,

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.920
 the angels of God

00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.600
 were ascending,

00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.320
 angels of God

00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:48.740
 were ascending

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.580
 and descending on it.

00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:50.500
 And behold,

00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.360
 the Lord,

00:27:51.560 --> 00:27:52.600
 the Lord himself

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.759
 stood above it

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.180
 and said,

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:55.160
 I am the Lord,

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.200
 the God of Abraham,

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.019
 your father

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:58.120
 and the God of Isaac.

00:27:58.840 --> 00:27:59.920
 Jacob was so struck

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.519
 by the vision.

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.660
 He said that this is

00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:02.940
 the very house of God,

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:04.779
 the gate of heaven.

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.899
 So he named the place

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.579
 Bethel,

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:08.200
 which means house of God.

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.720
 Now,

00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.700
 then Jesus is saying

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:13.240
 something incredibly remarkable

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.379
 because he's saying

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:16.639
 that that house of God,

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:18.599
 that gate of heaven,

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:20.579
 that amazing vision

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:23.879
 that Jacob the patriarch had,

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.740
 that is me.

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.539
 You will see

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.440
 the angels ascending

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.940
 and descending

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:31.500
 on the son of man,

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.680
 who is Jesus.

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:36.000
 Jesus is the new Bethel.

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.440
 He is the son of God

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.900
 who gives us access

00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:40.140
 to God.

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.840
 And Jesus is uniquely

00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:42.480
 able to do this,

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.019
 not only because

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.620
 he's the Messiah

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.620
 and the Lamb of God

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.400
 and the son of God,

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:45.940
 but also because

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:47.100
 he's the son of man,

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.720
 as he describes himself here.

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.160
 He was the word

00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.180
 that made flesh,

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.560
 the son of God

00:28:52.560 --> 00:28:53.840
 who dwelled among us

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:55.039
 and atoned for our sins

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.840
 so we can now

00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:56.900
 be forgiven of our sins

00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.960
 and reconciled to God.

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.840
 And it's easy to think

00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:00.539
 of son of man

00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:02.100
 simply as another

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:03.079
 roundabout way

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.619
 of saying that

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.139
 I'm a man,

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:04.719
 right?

00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.279
 And it does mean

00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:06.919
 that he's a man,

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.579
 son of man,

00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:07.839
 right?

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:09.759
 But it's not just a man.

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.399
 He's not just saying

00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:11.199
 that I'm just a man.

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.779
 He doesn't say

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.119
 I'm a son of man.

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.179
 He says I am

00:29:14.179 --> 00:29:15.719
 the son of man,

00:29:15.959 --> 00:29:16.159
 right?

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:18.099
 And who is the son of man?

00:29:18.219 --> 00:29:19.419
 It's the vision

00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.379
 in Daniel 7

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.579
 where in Daniel

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.000
 the prophet

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.539
 sees a vision.

00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:22.779
 He said,

00:29:22.919 --> 00:29:23.480
 my vision at night

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.839
 I looked

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.500
 and there before me

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.839
 I saw in the clouds

00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.519
 a son of man,

00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:27.599
 a man like a son of man

00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.240
 coming down

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.459
 with the clouds of heaven.

00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:30.619
 He approached

00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.719
 the ancient of days,

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.360
 that's God,

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.460
 and was led

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.200
 into his presence

00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.180
 and the ancient of days

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.480
 gave him authority,

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.339
 glory,

00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.940
 and sovereign power.

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.940
 He says he gave

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.779
 this son of man

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.900
 a sovereign power

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:43.279
 and that all people,

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.539
 the peoples of every language

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.180
 and tongue

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:46.140
 worshipped him.

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.400
 you're not supposed

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.160
 to worship anything

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.020
 other than God,

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.700
 especially in

00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.620
 strictly monotheistic Judaism,

00:29:53.020 --> 00:29:53.880
 yet they worship

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.880
 this son of man

00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:56.340
 and God gave him

00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:56.840
 authority,

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:57.360
 glory,

00:29:57.540 --> 00:29:58.120
 sovereign power

00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.660
 and his kingdom

00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:00.000
 will never be destroyed.

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.720
 That son of man,

00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.640
 the ideal son of man,

00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:05.460
 the perfect son of man,

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.100
 the ultimate son of man

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:07.720
 that will represent

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.920
 all of humanity,

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.400
 that son of man,

00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:11.280
 that's me,

00:30:11.360 --> 00:30:11.840
 says Jesus.

00:30:12.699 --> 00:30:14.159
 That's what he's talking about.

00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:17.439
 And because he is

00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:18.319
 the son of God

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.939
 and he's the son of man,

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.039
 he's uniquely able

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:23.799
 to give us access

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.319
 to God,

00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:25.720
 which is why

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.819
 he baptizes

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:28.419
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.619
 It's similar

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.419
 with the concept

00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.039
 of anointing,

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:34.039
 which was restricted

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.779
 in the Old Testament.

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:36.700
 Spirit of God

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:38.259
 was not in all people

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.240
 in the Old Testament.

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.920
 He came at particular moments

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.720
 to empower people

00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.160
 for things.

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.700
 But in the New Testament,

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.099
 as Prophet Joel prophesied,

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.539
 the Spirit will be poured out

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.980
 on all flesh.

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:50.019
 Now because of Christ,

00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.000
 because of him,

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.859
 he who is

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.460
 the son of God

00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.019
 and son of man,

00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:55.119
 now all of his followers

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.839
 will be baptized

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:57.619
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.799
 We will have

00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.859
 the very Spirit of God

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:01.319
 dwelling in us,

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:04.000
 empowering us.

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.460
 That's the promise.

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:07.359
 It's a pretty amazing promise,

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:07.819
 isn't it?

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:11.059
 And after telling us

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.799
 about Jesus' identity

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.380
 and telling us

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.680
 about his promise,

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:14.799
 John issues

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.039
 a very simple invitation.

00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.700
 And his invitation

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.920
 is to simply come

00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.759
 and see

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.500
 the son of God

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.559
 who gives us access

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.079
 to God.

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.500
 Come and see

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.640
 and follow him.

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.720
 So the phrase

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.539
 come and see,

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.119
 those verbs

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.380
 and the word follow

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.140
 are both,

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.779
 it's a motif

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.599
 throughout this passage.

00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:33.759
 It occurs again

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.200
 and again

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.539
 and again

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.319
 if you look with me.

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.460
 Verse 39,

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.400
 Jesus invites

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.000
 the two disciples

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.599
 of John the Baptist

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.700
 who are following him

00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.660
 to come

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.700
 and you will see.

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.339
 He says that.

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.940
 Now in verse 46,

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.700
 Philip says

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.700
 to his skeptical friend

00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.240
 Nathaniel,

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.240
 come and see.

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.059
 And then similarly,

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.000
 the verb follow

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.099
 is used several times

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:52.000
 and in fact,

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.879
 in the Gospel of John,

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.680
 the word follow

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:55.379
 really is used

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.720
 almost in a technical sense

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.220
 to follow

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.279
 as the disciple.

00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:00.000
 So it implies

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.640
 a commitment.

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.500
 It implies

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.319
 an entrusting

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:02.799
 of oneself

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.639
 to this teacher,

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.379
 to this Lord.

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.019
 And it says

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.079
 in verse 37,

00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:08.039
 to the disciples

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.299
 of John,

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.319
 follow Jesus

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.059
 and Jesus saw

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.779
 them following.

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:11.539
 Verse 30,

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:13.099
 Andrew follows Jesus.

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.779
 In verse 40,

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.559
 Jesus tells Philip

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.379
 in verse 43,

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.859
 follow me.

00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:17.639
 Right?

00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:18.919
 That's the point

00:32:18.919 --> 00:32:19.519
 of this passage.

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.980
 Come and see

00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.779
 the Son of God

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.339
 who gives us

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.200
 access to God.

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.559
 Come and follow

00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:26.659
 this Son of God

00:32:26.659 --> 00:32:27.659
 who gives us

00:32:27.659 --> 00:32:28.759
 access to God.

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:30.680
 perhaps if you're

00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:31.859
 in this morning

00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.599
 and you have not

00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:33.579
 yet made a decision

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.420
 to follow Christ.

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:37.019
 And if you have not

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:37.819
 decided to become

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.319
 his disciple.

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:39.879
 If that's the case,

00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.500
 we want to thank you

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.079
 for being here

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.000
 but we want to issue

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:42.779
 this invitation

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.819
 that John has for you

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:45.099
 simply to come

00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.059
 and see.

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.819
 Stay with us

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.619
 for a little while.

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.400
 Keep coming

00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:50.859
 to our corporate

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.480
 worship services.

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.160
 Get involved

00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:52.720
 in the life

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.519
 of the church

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.299
 as we do

00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.579
 life together.

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.759
 Get to know us

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.519
 and through us

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.460
 and through God's word

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.640
 come and see

00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.740
 the Son of God.

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.940
 Get to know Jesus.

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:04.359
 He's the only one

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:04.799
 that can give us

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.839
 access to God

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.359
 the Father.

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.039
 Maybe you're skeptical.

00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:09.240
 Maybe you're like

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.740
 Nathaniel.

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.599
 Because when Philip

00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.440
 first told Nathaniel

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.460
 that Jesus of Nazareth

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.180
 is the Messiah,

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.599
 Nathaniel said to him,

00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.720
 can anything good

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.779
 come out of Nazareth?

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:21.000
 Nazareth was a measly town

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.140
 of about a thousand people.

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.720
 So the college town,

00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:25.960
 I went to Williams College

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.599
 in Western Mass.

00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.579
 It was in Williamstown

00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:28.599
 which the college

00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.459
 was the only thing there.

00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:30.579
 We had a downtown

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.099
 that was literally

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.740
 one street

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.759
 and even that town

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.719
 had 2,000 people

00:33:33.719 --> 00:33:34.980
 or a little more.

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.939
 I mean 2,000 people

00:33:35.939 --> 00:33:36.379
 in school.

00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:39.179
 But this Nazareth

00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:40.359
 is even smaller than that.

00:33:40.419 --> 00:33:40.719
 In fact,

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:42.039
 it was so bad

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.179
 that Galileans

00:33:43.179 --> 00:33:43.859
 who are mocked

00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.839
 by the Judeans,

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:45.579
 people who lived in

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.579
 Judea,

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.419
 mocked people

00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:48.379
 who lived in Galilee.

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:50.079
 The Galileans,

00:33:50.219 --> 00:33:50.759
 on the other hand,

00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.439
 mocked the people

00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:52.419
 who lived in Nazareth.

00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:53.639
 So now,

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.759
 you understand Nathaniel

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:56.019
 because the king

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:57.500
 the Messiah,

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.859
 the Son of God

00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:01.079
 from Nazareth.

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:03.000
 He's skeptical, right?

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.960
 But even though

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.700
 he was skeptical,

00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:07.460
 he came without

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.880
 a duplicitous motive.

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:11.199
 He came without deceit,

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.579
 it says in verse 47.

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.320
 Even though

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:15.219
 he was blunt

00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.880
 in his criticism,

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.400
 even though

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.079
 he was skeptical,

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.139
 he came with

00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:19.099
 the genuine desire

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.719
 to see,

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.719
 come and see

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.599
 if this was true,

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.559
 if this was really

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.119
 the Son of God.

00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:23.880
 And that's all

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.900
 we ask of you.

00:34:26.299 --> 00:34:27.340
 One commentator,

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.059
 F.F. Bruce,

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:30.699
 says this about

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.360
 this conversion

00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:31.799
 of Nathaniel.

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.059
 He says,

00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.299
 Honest inquiry

00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:34.380
 is a sovereign cure

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.059
 for prejudice.

00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:36.659
 Nazareth might be

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.739
 all that Nathaniel thought,

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.619
 but there is an exception

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.639
 to prove every rule,

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:41.179
 and what an exception

00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:42.219
 these young men

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:42.920
 had found.

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.659
 You might think

00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:45.179
 that Christians

00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:46.320
 are ill-informed

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.099
 or that

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:48.679
 Christianity itself

00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.400
 is outdated

00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.500
 and regressive.

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.760
 You might be skeptical.

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.460
 That's okay.

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.220
 We invite you.

00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.940
 But come without deceit.

00:34:55.240 --> 00:34:56.360
 Come like Nathaniel did

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.480
 to see for yourself

00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:59.059
 if this really is true,

00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:00.420
 if Jesus really is

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.480
 who he claimed to be,

00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.860
 that he is the Son of God

00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:04.340
 who gives us access to God.

00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:06.700
 And if you do,

00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:07.660
 I believe that you will be

00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:09.000
 like the thousands,

00:35:09.320 --> 00:35:09.720
 the millions,

00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.280
 the people

00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:11.519
 who have gone before you

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.519
 since Nathaniel

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.619
 and before our time

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.360
 who have come

00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:15.940
 to confess Jesus Christ

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.900
 as their Lord and Savior.

00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:18.940
 As C.S. Lewis,

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.360
 the famous Oxford professor

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:20.940
 and atheist

00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:22.260
 turned Christian said,

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.579
 I believe in Christianity

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.220
 as I believe

00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:25.380
 that the Son has risen

00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:27.220
 not only because I see it

00:35:27.220 --> 00:35:28.559
 but because by it

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:30.119
 I see everything else.

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.880
 When you come

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:34.079
 and see the Son of glory,

00:35:34.220 --> 00:35:34.960
 the Son of God,

00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.599
 you will not only see him

00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:37.400
 but you will see

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.039
 that through him

00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:38.760
 everything else

00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.579
 in and around you

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.400
 makes sense

00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:42.700
 because he is the God.

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.340
 He is the creator.

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.079
 Maybe you were born

00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.260
 into a Christian household.

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:48.400
 Maybe you were

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:49.019
 even baptized

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.539
 as an infant

00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:53.039
 or you grew up

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.780
 going to church

00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.760
 but I want to ask you

00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:56.039
 did you really have

00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.340
 a relationship with God?

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.920
 Have you come

00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:00.039
 to see this God?

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:01.119
 Do you know him?

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.539
 Not just know Jesus

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.460
 but do you love

00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:04.360
 this Jesus

00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.119
 because that's what

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:05.660
 he demands.

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.820
 We noted earlier

00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:08.599
 that John the Baptist

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:10.039
 deviated from the practice

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.539
 of the normal practice

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.000
 of the Jews

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.780
 of baptizing only

00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:13.860
 the Gentile converts.

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.619
 He baptized Jews

00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:16.880
 and he did that

00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.839
 to make a distinct

00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:18.679
 theological statement

00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:19.159
 that no,

00:36:19.259 --> 00:36:20.339
 no one is except

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.239
 doesn't matter

00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:22.019
 if you could trace

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.420
 your lineage

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.799
 back to Abraham himself.

00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:25.000
 Doesn't matter.

00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:26.059
 Doesn't matter

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:26.699
 that you're a Jew

00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:27.339
 and you grew up

00:36:27.339 --> 00:36:28.059
 observing the law

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.779
 that your parents

00:36:28.779 --> 00:36:29.259
 were Jews

00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:29.960
 that your grandparents

00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:30.500
 were Jews.

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:32.380
 You have to repent

00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.059
 yourself.

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.259
 You have to confess

00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.079
 your own sins

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:36.579
 and believe in this Jesus

00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.739
 the Son of God.

00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:39.299
 That's what John the Baptist

00:36:39.299 --> 00:36:39.920
 was trying to say

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.559
 and that applies

00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.400
 to us as well.

00:36:42.179 --> 00:36:42.880
 Doesn't matter

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.599
 that you could trace

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.059
 your lineage

00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:45.220
 to, I don't know,

00:36:45.260 --> 00:36:45.940
 seventh generation,

00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.820
 maybe Puritans,

00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:48.099
 Jonathan Edwards even.

00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.180
 It doesn't matter

00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:49.860
 how long you've been

00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.599
 going to church.

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.619
 It doesn't matter

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.240
 whether you were born

00:36:52.240 --> 00:36:52.960
 in a Christian household

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.619
 or even baptized

00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:54.860
 as an infant

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:56.300
 because that was a faith

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.220
 that you did not own.

00:36:57.680 --> 00:36:58.740
 You had not repented

00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.340
 and believed.

00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:02.260
 So you must repent

00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:03.599
 and believe yourself

00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:04.559
 and if that's you

00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.480
 then I invite you

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.059
 to do that.

00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.300
 I invite you

00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:08.260
 to consider baptism.

00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.320
 That's coming up

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:11.300
 in a few weeks,

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:12.400
 October 16th.

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:15.800
 To make a public profession

00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:16.920
 of your inward faith

00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:18.300
 saying that I have repented

00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:18.900
 and believed

00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:20.019
 and I own this faith

00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:20.619
 for myself.

00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:23.619
 And if you are

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.240
 a true believer,

00:37:25.200 --> 00:37:26.220
 you have repented

00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:28.180
 and you have believed

00:37:28.180 --> 00:37:28.840
 and been baptized

00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:30.320
 and I pray to God

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.280
 that we will never

00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:32.539
 become so familiar

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.900
 with this Jesus

00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:35.380
 that we take him

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.920
 for a grant.

00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:36.780
 You can't.

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:39.760
 Continue to behold him.

00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.840
 Continue to come

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:41.460
 and follow him.

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.740
 Continue to see him

00:37:42.740 --> 00:37:43.820
 because his riches,

00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:44.820
 his beauty,

00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:46.360
 they're inexhaustible

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:47.420
 and you will get

00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:48.320
 to know him deeper

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:48.860
 and you will come

00:37:48.860 --> 00:37:49.780
 to love him more

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:51.400
 and more as you do so.

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:55.000
 And I also want to

00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:56.420
 ask you to consider

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.460
 the implications of this

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.400
 if you are a believer

00:37:58.400 --> 00:38:00.480
 because if you are a believer,

00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:01.820
 you became a believer

00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:02.760
 because someone

00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:04.619
 in this great chain,

00:38:04.740 --> 00:38:05.260
 this movement

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:07.679
 of word of mouth evangelism,

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:09.980
 someone in that great chain

00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:11.179
 of sharing about Christ

00:38:11.179 --> 00:38:11.699
 told you,

00:38:11.779 --> 00:38:12.980
 invited you to come and see.

00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:14.339
 Someone told you

00:38:14.339 --> 00:38:14.960
 to come and see

00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:16.379
 Jesus,

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:17.199
 the Son of God.

00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:18.440
 And that's been

00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.539
 the foundational principle

00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:20.379
 of Christian expansion

00:38:20.379 --> 00:38:21.440
 from the very beginning.

00:38:21.899 --> 00:38:22.919
 New followers of Jesus

00:38:22.919 --> 00:38:24.000
 bear witness to Jesus

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.699
 to other people.

00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.960
 Those people then in turn

00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:27.199
 become followers of Jesus

00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:28.559
 and then repeat the process.

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.259
 That's how church growth

00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:30.659
 has happened

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:31.419
 throughout the centuries.

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:31.579
 Yes,

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:34.380
 there are formal means

00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:35.039
 of evangelism,

00:38:35.139 --> 00:38:36.300
 like the service

00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:37.800
 or like Bible study

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:39.260
 for evangelism,

00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:40.840
 like evangelistic Bible studies

00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:41.280
 for unbelief.

00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:41.920
 There are ways

00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.780
 we can do that as well.

00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:44.119
 But by and large,

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:45.380
 the way the church grew

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:47.220
 was through informal missionaries,

00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:49.680
 all of us ministering,

00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:50.599
 telling people,

00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:51.539
 come and see.

00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:56.599
 There's a really humorous account,

00:38:56.680 --> 00:38:57.659
 at least from my perspective,

00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:59.300
 of a,

00:38:59.680 --> 00:39:01.099
 I guess he was probably an atheist.

00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:02.099
 He was a pagan writer.

00:39:02.319 --> 00:39:03.099
 I guess he's not an atheist.

00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:03.920
 He's a pagan writer

00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.639
 from the time,

00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:06.480
 early Christianity.

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:08.019
 His name was Kelsis.

00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:11.420
 And he writes this scathing work,

00:39:11.839 --> 00:39:12.619
 satirical work,

00:39:12.799 --> 00:39:13.659
 mocking Christians.

00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:15.179
 He sounds a lot like

00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:16.759
 some of the more vociferous atheists

00:39:16.759 --> 00:39:17.599
 that we see in our day.

00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:19.079
 And he writes this.

00:39:19.139 --> 00:39:19.420
 He says,

00:39:20.059 --> 00:39:22.279
 we see in private houses

00:39:22.279 --> 00:39:23.900
 the most illiterate

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:25.299
 and bucolic yokels

00:39:25.299 --> 00:39:26.619
 who will not dare

00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.659
 to say anything at all

00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:28.480
 in front of their elders

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.799
 and more intelligent masters.

00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:31.660
 But they get hold of any

00:39:31.660 --> 00:39:32.400
 who are as ignorant

00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:33.440
 as themselves and say,

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:35.360
 we know how men ought to live.

00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:37.000
 If your children do as we say,

00:39:37.120 --> 00:39:38.100
 you will be happy yourselves

00:39:38.100 --> 00:39:39.580
 and make your home happy too.

00:39:40.700 --> 00:39:42.000
 He's mocking Christians.

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.320
 But brothers and sisters,

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:45.060
 that's nothing to be ashamed of.

00:39:46.660 --> 00:39:48.060
 Nothing to be ashamed of.

00:39:48.100 --> 00:39:49.560
 They're following the example

00:39:49.560 --> 00:39:51.440
 of the first disciples of Jesus

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:52.680
 who simply said,

00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.700
 come and see.

00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:54.519
 He said,

00:39:54.580 --> 00:39:56.480
 this is how we were taught to live.

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:58.340
 And you will see.

00:39:58.460 --> 00:40:00.059
 You will experience God for yourself.

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.300
 And you will come to see

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:02.179
 that He is the truth.

00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.079
 You will come to see

00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:04.320
 that He is the Son of God.

00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:05.179
 And you will come to see

00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:06.460
 that He is the only way

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:07.940
 to have access to God.

00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:09.380
 So out of their excitement

00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:10.179
 of having found

00:40:10.179 --> 00:40:11.440
 this greatest treasure,

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:13.099
 person most worthy

00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:14.039
 of being excited about

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:15.159
 and being shared about,

00:40:15.400 --> 00:40:16.480
 they just simply went

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.199
 and told people,

00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:17.840
 come and see.

00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:21.760
 That's what the early Christians did.

00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:23.500
 So then,

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:24.840
 I want to invite all of you

00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.900
 to do the same.

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.760
 Tell your family.

00:40:29.060 --> 00:40:29.720
 Tell your friends.

00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:30.800
 Tell your neighbors

00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:31.560
 to come and see

00:40:31.560 --> 00:40:32.220
 the Son of God

00:40:32.220 --> 00:40:33.800
 who gives us access to God.

00:40:35.100 --> 00:40:36.020
 And notice that

00:40:36.020 --> 00:40:36.960
 in the invitation

00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.780
 that you see here,

00:40:37.900 --> 00:40:38.560
 there's no sense

00:40:38.560 --> 00:40:39.180
 of desperation.

00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:41.020
 They are not,

00:40:41.380 --> 00:40:41.980
 Jesus and Philip

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.780
 are not engaging

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:44.760
 in this intense argument

00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:45.720
 trying to convince

00:40:45.720 --> 00:40:46.240
 these people

00:40:46.240 --> 00:40:47.140
 to prove to them

00:40:47.140 --> 00:40:48.260
 that Jesus is the Messiah.

00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:50.460
 There's a place for that.

00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:51.820
 Paul engages in some of that

00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:52.920
 in Acts.

00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:54.480
 But for this,

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.820
 generally speaking,

00:40:55.940 --> 00:40:56.780
 there's no elaborate

00:40:56.780 --> 00:40:57.720
 marketing strategy

00:40:57.720 --> 00:40:58.639
 or advertisements here.

00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:01.659
 Jesus twice says

00:41:01.659 --> 00:41:03.380
 confidently in verse 50 and 51,

00:41:03.740 --> 00:41:04.740
 you will see

00:41:04.740 --> 00:41:06.460
 greater things than these.

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:08.179
 You will see

00:41:08.179 --> 00:41:09.699
 heaven opened.

00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:11.159
 You will see.

00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:13.099
 So come and see.

00:41:13.280 --> 00:41:14.400
 Have confidence

00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:16.519
 that God will reveal Himself

00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.280
 to the people

00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:17.940
 that you invite.

00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:18.940
 People that you tell Him

00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:19.500
 to come and see.

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.940
 Our job is not

00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:21.900
 to make people convert.

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:22.440
 We can't do that.

00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:23.559
 That's God's work to do.

00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:24.719
 Our job simply is to say,

00:41:24.780 --> 00:41:25.519
 come and see.

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.699
 And when we do,

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:29.860
 especially as we enter

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.880
 into this public phase

00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:31.360
 of our ministry

00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:32.039
 as a church,

00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:33.480
 people will come

00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:35.019
 and see the Son of God

00:41:35.019 --> 00:41:37.320
 and get access to Him

00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.360
 the only way they can

00:41:38.360 --> 00:41:39.199
 through Jesus Christ.

00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:40.119
 So let's pray

00:41:40.119 --> 00:41:40.739
 for that together.

00:41:42.280 --> 00:41:42.719
 God,

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:44.139
 we are so grateful

00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:46.000
 that someone,

00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:47.920
 your servant,

00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:49.500
 your son and daughter,

00:41:50.300 --> 00:41:51.019
 invited us

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:51.780
 to come and see.

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:55.240
 Whether it was our parents

00:41:55.240 --> 00:41:57.800
 or our Sunday school teachers,

00:42:00.460 --> 00:42:00.700
 Lord,

00:42:00.740 --> 00:42:01.700
 we're so grateful

00:42:01.700 --> 00:42:02.559
 to know you

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:03.240
 for who you are.

00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:06.720
 And now we ask,

00:42:06.820 --> 00:42:06.880
 Lord,

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:08.840
 that you would help us

00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:11.820
 to be so captivated

00:42:11.820 --> 00:42:12.400
 by you

00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:14.180
 and so beholden

00:42:14.180 --> 00:42:15.700
 to your glory,

00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:16.960
 the glory of your son,

00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:19.780
 that we would be,

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:21.120
 that we wouldn't be able

00:42:21.120 --> 00:42:22.019
 to help ourselves,

00:42:23.420 --> 00:42:24.480
 that we wouldn't be able

00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:25.039
 to help it

00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:26.180
 but tell everyone

00:42:26.180 --> 00:42:29.440
 about how great you are

00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:31.440
 and how good you are

00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:32.440
 and tell them to come

00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:33.680
 and see for themselves.

00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:38.680
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:39.580
 Amen.

00:42:41.820 --> 00:42:42.820
 Amen.