WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:04.820 So this is John chapter 3, verse 11 through 21. 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:06.600 Jesus says, 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:12.419 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:14.980 but you do not receive our testimony. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:18.620 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:22.199 how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:28.339 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:32.460 And as Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness, 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:34.980 so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:40.780 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:45.780 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:52.200 that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:56.719 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:01.539 but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:01:01.879 --> 00:01:03.859 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 00:01:04.060 --> 00:01:07.079 but whoever does not believe is condemned already. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.519 Not because he has not believed in the name, 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:15.519 condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:16.980 Verse 19. 00:01:17.239 --> 00:01:19.379 And this is the judgment. 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:21.899 The light has come into the world, 00:01:21.899 --> 00:01:26.119 and people have loved the darkness rather than the light, 00:01:26.179 --> 00:01:27.759 because their works were evil. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:32.140 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light, 00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:34.840 and does not come to the light, 00:01:35.199 --> 00:01:37.239 lest his works shall be exposed. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.120 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:47.039 so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:52.500 This is the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God. 00:01:53.020 --> 00:01:54.300 Thanks be to God. 00:01:54.600 --> 00:01:55.160 You may be seated. 00:02:00.160 --> 00:02:00.980 Let's pray. 00:02:07.160 --> 00:02:09.500 Father, we come before you once again. 00:02:12.700 --> 00:02:14.500 You know what is in man. 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:16.939 You know what we lack. 00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:19.979 You know what we need today. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:23.860 So we ask, Lord, in the words of that ancient prayer, 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:25.919 once again, as your people, 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:27.340 this little congregation, 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.080 gathered in the name of King Jesus, 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:31.319 we ask that what we know not, 00:02:31.420 --> 00:02:32.319 you will teach us. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:34.939 What we have not this morning, 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:36.439 please give us. 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:39.039 And what we are not yet, 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:40.400 make us, Lord, 00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:41.340 for your glory. 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:42.319 Amen. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:42.460 Amen. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:47.280 Well, on January 6th, 1815, 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:50.379 there was a snowy blizzard in England, 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:52.280 and there was a young man 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.760 who would normally walk to a church a bit farther away, 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.800 and he grew up in a Christian home. 00:02:58.939 --> 00:02:59.920 But this young man 00:02:59.920 --> 00:03:02.540 found himself not being able to go to his normal path, 00:03:02.600 --> 00:03:03.219 so instead, 00:03:03.760 --> 00:03:06.260 he went to this chapel that was a little bit closer. 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:08.739 And for months now, 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:10.199 he had felt so miserable. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:13.879 He was under deep conviction of his sin. 00:03:14.919 --> 00:03:18.299 He had no assurance that he was truly saved. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:21.259 And in this little chapel closer to a home 00:03:21.259 --> 00:03:22.399 that he'd never been to before, 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:23.159 there he sat. 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:25.620 Very few people showed up in that blizzardy morning. 00:03:26.419 --> 00:03:28.060 And it was actually not even the pastor. 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:29.819 It was another member of the congregation, 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:31.379 a lay man who had just prepared. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:33.439 He had one verse to preach, 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:35.620 and it was Isaiah 45, verse 22, 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:36.659 which says this, 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:39.900 Look to me and be saved, 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:41.699 all the ends of the earth, 00:03:41.819 --> 00:03:42.819 for I am God, 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.180 and there is no other. 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:49.819 And the man just kept repeating that over and over. 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:52.039 Look to me and be saved. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:53.840 This is what Jesus says to you. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:55.359 Look to me and be saved. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:58.580 And he called the young man out in front of everyone. 00:03:58.700 --> 00:03:58.960 He said, 00:03:59.660 --> 00:04:00.520 Young man, teenager, 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:01.400 you look miserable. 00:04:02.200 --> 00:04:03.080 You look miserable. 00:04:03.300 --> 00:04:04.000 Look to Christ. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:07.760 Don't live in fear of condemnation forever. 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.640 Look to Christ and have eternal life. 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:14.140 Don't believe in your worth or all your shortcomings. 00:04:14.320 --> 00:04:15.620 Don't let Satan attack you. 00:04:15.660 --> 00:04:17.520 Just look to Christ. 00:04:17.660 --> 00:04:19.100 He promises you will be saved 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:21.220 if you simply look to him. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:26.880 Well, this teenager felt the call to follow Christ. 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:28.620 Christ became Lord of his life. 00:04:28.700 --> 00:04:31.660 He started devouring his dad's and grandpa's libraries, 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:32.840 reading the old Puritans, 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.440 and he became a popular pastor in London, 00:04:36.880 --> 00:04:37.740 in the Victorian era, 00:04:37.900 --> 00:04:40.280 named Charles Haddon Spurgeon. 00:04:40.880 --> 00:04:43.100 That's how God saved Charles Spurgeon. 00:04:43.640 --> 00:04:44.760 And Charles Spurgeon said, 00:04:45.020 --> 00:04:45.780 Once a year, 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:48.220 he wants to make it his humble practice 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:51.120 to preach a sermon on John 3.16. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.240 The reason is because he says, 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:56.500 There is nothing I or any preacher can say on John 3.16 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:57.800 that has not been said already. 00:04:58.320 --> 00:05:00.140 And when, not if, but when, 00:05:00.280 --> 00:05:03.540 God moves by the power of his spirit 00:05:03.540 --> 00:05:04.760 through those words, 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:06.320 he will know, 00:05:06.520 --> 00:05:07.340 and everyone will know, 00:05:07.580 --> 00:05:09.900 it's not the ministry of the people. 00:05:10.140 --> 00:05:11.580 It's the work of Christ. 00:05:12.020 --> 00:05:13.540 It's the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:15.960 so that no man can boast or take credit. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:19.699 John 3.16 is our text for today. 00:05:21.339 --> 00:05:25.199 It's been described as an ocean of gospel truth 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.859 in a drop of words. 00:05:28.799 --> 00:05:31.620 Martin Luther called it the miniature gospel. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:33.599 And on his deathbed, 00:05:34.219 --> 00:05:36.419 Martin Luther wanted to hear John 3.16 00:05:36.419 --> 00:05:38.139 over and over and over. 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:43.319 It's the whole story of how God saves sinners in a verse. 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:47.139 There was a missionary named Henry Knott, 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:50.879 and he traveled part of William Carey's mission movement 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:52.099 from London as well. 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:55.019 He traveled to the Polynesian Islands. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:56.420 So picture going to Hawaii, 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:57.759 you're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:58.500 you go south. 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.000 That's where Polynesian Islands are. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.560 One of the islands is called Tahiti. 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:06.480 So it's basically between Hawaii and New Zealand, Australia. 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:08.279 That's where Tahiti is. 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:09.739 And this missionary, Henry Knott, 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:13.000 the first sentence he wanted to learn 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:14.539 in the language of the Tahitians 00:06:14.539 --> 00:06:16.339 was John 3.16. 00:06:16.679 --> 00:06:18.059 And as they began that project 00:06:18.059 --> 00:06:19.959 of trying to now translate verse by verse 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:22.099 into the language of the people of this island, 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:24.159 the first verse he wanted to translate 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:25.739 was John 3.16. 00:06:25.859 --> 00:06:26.559 Look in your Bible. 00:06:27.619 --> 00:06:30.299 In the ESV, John 3.16 reads like this. 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:48.180 Now, in verses 15, 16, and 18, 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:49.280 look at verse 15. 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:50.500 The phrase is, 00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:52.860 whoever believes in him. 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:54.500 You see that in verse 15? 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:56.199 Whoever believes in him. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.240 In verse 16, that's what we read. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.560 Whoever believes in him. 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:02.000 And then verse 18, it's that same promise. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:04.519 Whoever believes in him. 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:07.639 In the Greek, it's literally translated 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:10.860 anyone believing into him. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:16.060 So believing in Christ is believing into Christ. 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.360 And that's significant because through faith, 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.879 you are united to Jesus Christ. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.840 And his righteousness becomes your righteousness. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:27.519 His love with the Trinity, 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:30.379 Father, Son, and Spirit becomes your love now. 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:33.539 You get pulled in to the work of Christ 00:07:33.539 --> 00:07:34.759 by being in him, 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:37.240 by believing into Jesus. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:41.359 So church, that's really the message for today. 00:07:41.799 --> 00:07:43.359 And I want you to hear it 00:07:43.359 --> 00:07:45.399 from Jesus Christ. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:47.180 Jesus himself is the one 00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:49.180 who urges you this day. 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:51.180 Look to me and be saved. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:52.300 Look to me and be saved. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:54.720 All the ends of the earth. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.560 For I am God. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:59.120 And there is no other. 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:04.740 Believe into Christ and have eternal life. 00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:06.980 My prayer is simply that you'll understand 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:08.980 the meaning of our Lord Jesus 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:11.280 with those glorious words. 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:14.840 And I'm going to try to open this for you 00:08:14.840 --> 00:08:15.740 in just two ways. 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:19.600 The first one is the first part of the verse. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.000 For God so loved the world 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.040 that he gave his only Son. 00:08:23.280 --> 00:08:24.879 And what I want to emphasize with that 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.420 is what is true of God. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:28.680 And that's the first half. 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:30.740 The second half is what is true of you 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:33.879 that whoever believes in him 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:36.220 or into him should not perish 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:38.480 but have eternal life. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:40.580 So what is true of God first? 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:42.539 Second, what is true of you? 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:45.120 What is true of God? 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:49.519 For God so loved the world. 00:08:50.959 --> 00:08:52.559 Number one, this is true. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.799 Jesus Christ came to reveal to you 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:59.360 that God is love. 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:03.799 Jesus reveals that God is love. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:05.799 Look at verse 17 as confirmation. 00:09:06.139 --> 00:09:07.500 I'm pulling in these surrounding verses 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:09.719 as context for verse 16. 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:12.320 So verse 17 we read that God did not send 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:13.740 his Son into the world 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:15.180 to condemn the world. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.580 See, God so loved the world 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:20.060 that's why he sent his Son. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.200 The very first cause of Jesus' mission 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:23.840 is the love of God. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:25.759 And it's so significant 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.080 because of two things. 00:09:27.180 --> 00:09:30.080 Number one, the loveliness of God's love. 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:33.040 Number two, the worldliness of the world. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:35.300 Both of those things make the love of God 00:09:35.300 --> 00:09:37.740 just something that's mind-blowing. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:40.720 So first of all, the loveliness of God's love. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:44.279 Well, we're told in 1 John 4, verse 16 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:46.539 that God is love. 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:49.180 We know that God is, from his scripture, 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.519 God is eternal. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.879 So God is love and God is eternal. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:58.000 Therefore, God loves beyond measurement 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.299 of time and space. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.500 We know from the Bible that God is infinite. 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:06.240 You know what that means about God's love? 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:10.200 God's love has no limits in Christ. 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:14.080 We know that God is unchangeable. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:18.440 So he loves in an unchanging way 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:21.120 all those who are united to Christ. 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:24.399 We know from the Bible that God is powerful. 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:27.340 So God loves powerfully. 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:30.220 When he displays his saving love through Jesus, 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:32.860 it works powerfully on all those 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:34.500 who will be believing into him 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:37.700 because the Spirit's regenerating them powerfully. 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:40.659 We know that God is perfect. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:42.539 God is immeasurable. 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:45.440 And God is wise. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:49.539 So the love of God shown to you in Jesus Christ 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:50.659 is perfect. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.399 It is wise. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.440 And there's no measurement in human standards 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:57.220 of the love of God. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:59.820 Do you see how lovely the love of God is? 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.840 Now the verse says, 00:11:02.300 --> 00:11:04.340 God, this God we're talking about, 00:11:04.920 --> 00:11:06.800 so loved the world. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:11.200 Well, the connotation for the word world, 00:11:11.560 --> 00:11:13.019 in the Greek it's cosmos. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:15.440 And so you can even picture that magazine 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.040 as you're going to check out of the grocery store, 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:18.100 cosmopolitan. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.340 It really means worldly. 00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:23.080 God so loved the worldly world. 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:25.060 God so loved the cosmos. 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:27.699 It doesn't mean to emphasize how big it is. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.859 It means to emphasize how bad the world is. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.139 That's how that connotation is always used. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:33.619 So all nations, 00:11:33.739 --> 00:11:35.039 no matter what tribe you're from, 00:11:35.099 --> 00:11:36.459 Israel, Tahiti, 00:11:36.619 --> 00:11:37.519 anywhere else in the world, 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:40.159 all are part of this fallen, 00:11:40.479 --> 00:11:42.319 depraved, dark world. 00:11:42.719 --> 00:11:45.500 And it's God divinely loving, 00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:47.379 perfectly, wisely loving, 00:11:47.979 --> 00:11:50.500 this fallen, worldly world. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:52.659 To prove to you that this is 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:54.019 how that word is normally used, 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:54.720 the same author, 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:55.699 1 John, 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.079 in 1 John chapter 2, 00:11:57.779 --> 00:11:59.720 verses 15 through 17. 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.079 He writes, 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:02.360 go ahead and turn there. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:03.319 Let's turn a few pages. 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.639 1 John chapter 2, 00:12:05.319 --> 00:12:06.919 verses 15 through 17. 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:11.439 Every time I come to the word world, 00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.480 I'm going to say cosmos. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.819 So you get the picture. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:14.659 It's the same word. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:16.659 1 John 2, 15, 17. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:18.319 Here's what John wrote. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:19.659 Verse 15, 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.159 Do not love the cosmos 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:22.659 or the things of the cosmos. 00:12:23.339 --> 00:12:24.699 If anyone loves the cosmos, 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:26.600 the love of the Father is not in him. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:27.799 Do you get the picture? 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.019 The world is worldly. 00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:32.219 If you're loving the things 00:12:32.219 --> 00:12:33.740 of this fallen, depraved world, 00:12:33.839 --> 00:12:34.659 then the love of God 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.899 is clearly not in you. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.299 Those are incompatible. 00:12:37.719 --> 00:12:38.319 Verse 16, 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:40.460 For all that is in the world, 00:12:40.760 --> 00:12:42.320 the desires of the flesh, 00:12:42.660 --> 00:12:43.920 the desires of the eye, 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.080 and the pride of life 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:46.500 is not from the Father, 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.820 but is from the world. 00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:48.920 Verse 17, 00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:51.640 And the world is passing away 00:12:51.640 --> 00:12:53.280 along with its desires, 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:55.640 but whoever does the will of God 00:12:55.640 --> 00:12:56.879 abides forever. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:00.200 Now, if God is holy, 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:02.200 but yet God loves this fallen, 00:13:02.400 --> 00:13:03.600 bad, dark world, 00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:05.180 how does that even work? 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:08.620 How can it be that such a holy God 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:10.139 would love the world? 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:13.179 And that's exactly what Jesus shows us. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.799 It's only with the selfless, 00:13:15.439 --> 00:13:17.500 costly love of redemption 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:19.799 that God can love those 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:21.059 who are still in the world 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.739 and love them to save them 00:13:22.739 --> 00:13:23.579 out of the world. 00:13:24.479 --> 00:13:25.979 John Calvin put it this way, 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.939 Jesus does not say that God 00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:31.240 was moved to deliver us 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.479 because he perceived in us 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.600 something that was worthy 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.940 of so excellent a blessing, 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:40.700 but he ascribes the glory 00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:41.759 of our deliverance 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.019 entirely to God's love. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:45.659 You see why it's important 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:46.659 that this holy God 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.820 shows his love to a fallen world? 00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:50.779 It's so that none of us 00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:52.639 can boast of anything worthy in us. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.639 Why did God save me 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.840 and not the person next to me? 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.500 Why did he save my family 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.279 and not this family 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.320 on the other side of the world? 00:13:58.580 --> 00:13:59.779 It has nothing to do 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:01.000 with how good you are. 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.600 It has everything to do 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.440 with the wise, powerful, 00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:06.220 perfect love of God 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:07.740 to redeem anyone, 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:09.659 any sinner out of this fallen world 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:12.200 so that God gets all the glory. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:15.200 See, left to itself, 00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:18.139 this worldly world is in death. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:21.460 And how is it that God loves the world? 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:22.899 Well, think about it. 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:24.200 Every one of these disciples 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:27.060 and everyone who is truly united in Christ 00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:28.320 was of the world. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.700 So God loved you 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:31.240 while you were yet in the world. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:33.139 That's how he loves the world. 00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:35.519 In John 15, 19, we read, 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.960 If you were of the world, 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:39.340 the world would love you as its own. 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.139 But because you are not of the world, 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.820 but I chose you out of the world, 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:47.080 therefore the world now hates you. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.000 So they are the world. 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.940 You are the world 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:54.560 until God saves you 00:14:54.560 --> 00:14:55.740 through Jesus Christ. 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:57.060 And it's the gospel 00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:58.500 that comes first to those 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.620 in darkness, 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.279 pulling them out now 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.180 and giving them life eternal, 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:04.759 life of the age to come now. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.279 So what is true of God? 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.840 It's true that God so loved the world 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.720 that Jesus Christ came to reveal 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.720 the love of God. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.060 It's also this, 00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:16.539 that Jesus was given. 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.899 See, our verse says that 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:20.320 God in his love gave Jesus. 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.460 That's our second truth of God 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:24.139 is that Jesus Christ is sent 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:26.680 on a sacrificial mission. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.519 We can confirm this 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:30.120 with the second half of verse 17. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.200 Look at verse 17. 00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:33.320 We're told God sent his son 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:35.940 in order that the world 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:38.000 be saved through him. 00:15:38.400 --> 00:15:39.420 The mission of Jesus, 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.480 it was sacrificial, 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.720 being sent by the Father 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:43.600 so that the world 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:45.500 could be saved through him. 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:48.720 See, Jesus in the gospel of John 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.580 is on the move. 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.720 He is going and coming. 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:53.639 He's ascending and descending 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.580 and it's language of a trip. 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.120 Scholars have noted 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.220 how there are three times 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.600 where John points out 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.120 Jesus is taking a trip 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.460 up to Jerusalem. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.899 So he's singing those psalms 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.360 of ascent going up 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.180 through Jerusalem 00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:09.580 and it's really his way 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:11.740 of journeying back to his Father. 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.560 The fourth time 00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:16.019 when Jesus goes up to Jerusalem, 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:18.720 it's on his trip to the cross. 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.540 And so the cross 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.779 was one of the stations 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.419 on his trip of ascending 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:24.459 back to the Father. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:29.279 See, God gave his son. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.099 He said, 00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:33.719 Son, you go into that dark world 00:16:33.719 --> 00:16:35.740 and the way that you redeem 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.719 sinners out of it 00:16:36.719 --> 00:16:38.559 is you will go through the cross 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:40.899 and you will bring many sons 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:43.199 and daughters to glory with you. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:45.259 It was the active 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.680 and passive obedience 00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:48.320 of Jesus in the body. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:49.540 That was his mission. 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:52.640 And then through the cross, 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.100 he leads us like a parade, 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.680 ascending up to heaven 00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:57.800 to be with the Father. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.040 But before he could ascend 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:00.680 in glory, 00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:02.320 first he had to descend. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.700 This is what all the New Testament 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.600 is proclaiming. 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.680 Philippians 2.8, 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.860 being found in human form, 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.319 he humbled himself. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.960 himself. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.079 He's made low. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:12.919 He's descending 00:17:12.919 --> 00:17:14.639 by becoming obedient 00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:15.779 to the point of death, 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:18.059 even death on a cross. 00:17:18.659 --> 00:17:19.500 This is what the church 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:19.939 has called 00:17:19.939 --> 00:17:22.279 the humiliation of Christ. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.500 And Benjamin Keech's 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.099 catechism 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.839 in the 1600s, 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.859 he summarizes scripture 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.379 this way. 00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.539 Christ's humiliation 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.720 consisted in his being born. 00:17:32.939 --> 00:17:33.879 Even his incarnation 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:35.700 was him being made low. 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.379 That in a low condition, 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:39.519 made under the law. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:41.240 He was born into Israel 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.019 under this principle of works 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:44.599 that they had to merit life 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.500 in Israel. 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.879 Under the law, 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.539 undergoing the miseries 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.420 of this life. 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:52.299 Have you felt miseries 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.420 of this life this week? 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:55.319 I'm sure every single one 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.000 of us has. 00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:58.019 Jesus took on flesh 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.960 so he could be 00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.779 your representative. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.440 There's not a temptation 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.740 that you face, 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.619 you'll face this upcoming week 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:05.519 that Christ himself 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.879 has not fought 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:08.460 and conquered for you. 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:10.279 And on the cross, 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.819 he bore the wrath of God 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.880 for sin, 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:13.880 for your sin. 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.579 And the curse of death 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.259 on the cross, 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.720 and being buried, 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:18.799 and then continuing 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.220 under the power of death 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.319 for some time, 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.539 three days, 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.180 made low, 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.240 as low as can be. 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.240 So what was 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.220 the mission of Jesus? 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:29.900 Please turn to Isaiah 53. 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.960 We read, 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:34.240 in our assurance of pardon, 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.660 that by his wounds, 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.280 we have been healed 00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:39.080 from Isaiah 53 as well. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.519 So turn to Isaiah 53, 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.540 and I want to show you 00:18:42.540 --> 00:18:46.900 the covenant of redemption 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.900 in these verses. 00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:50.040 Isaiah 53, 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:54.340 looking at verse 12. 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:57.779 So in your Bible, 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.379 you can look, 00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.299 we read earlier, 00:18:59.699 --> 00:19:00.980 verse 3 through 5. 00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.279 He was despised 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:02.779 and rejected 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.939 by men made low. 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:06.119 And then verse 5, 00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:09.139 it was the chastisement 00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:09.899 of Christ 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:11.179 that brought us peace, 00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:12.679 and by his wounds 00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:13.419 we are healed. 00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:16.240 How did this fulfill 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.799 the Father's plan 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.679 and the Father's will? 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.220 Look at verse 12. 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:23.180 The Father now says, 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.240 I will divide him. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.200 So the Father 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.759 will give to the Son 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.460 a portion 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.660 with the many, 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.779 and he shall divide 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.460 the spoil 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.839 with the strong. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:36.120 So you need to understand 00:19:36.120 --> 00:19:37.000 the language Isaiah 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.839 is grabbing here 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.539 to paint this picture. 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.860 If you have a mighty emperor 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.680 with a general, 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.900 the general would be sent out 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.839 by the emperor, 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.140 you know, 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.660 by the king, 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.720 the supreme ruler, 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:49.100 send out a mighty general. 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:50.859 The general would conquer 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.959 and fulfill the mission 00:19:51.959 --> 00:19:53.399 and bring back the spoils. 00:19:53.959 --> 00:19:54.519 And the spoils 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.119 would be divided 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.879 with his soldiers 00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:56.899 and being brought back 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.859 to the empire. 00:19:58.699 --> 00:20:00.119 So that's the language 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.879 Isaiah is borrowing 00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:01.759 to say the Father 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.759 sent the Son 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.899 on a mission. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.500 He gave his Son 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.439 sacrificially 00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:08.459 so that then 00:20:08.459 --> 00:20:09.679 when the Son returns, 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.719 he ascends back 00:20:10.719 --> 00:20:11.699 to heaven victorious. 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.919 The Father rewards him. 00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:15.399 He lacked nothing, 00:20:15.459 --> 00:20:16.719 but he made himself empty 00:20:16.719 --> 00:20:18.480 so that his reward 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.680 could be you. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.519 You who believe, 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.420 you who are purchased 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.680 by the blood of Christ, 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.000 you are the reward 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.720 that the Father 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.160 gives to the Son 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:29.299 for his mission accomplished. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.360 Look at the rest 00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:31.120 of verse 12. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.440 Why? 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.400 Why can this be? 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:35.380 Because he poured out 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:37.259 his soul to death 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.980 and was numbered 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.839 with the transgressors. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.640 He put his lot 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.259 with yours. 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.640 He was humbled 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.440 and he said, 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.360 those who have offended 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.219 the mighty God, 00:20:47.439 --> 00:20:49.259 I am with them. 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.579 I'm among them 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.839 and from their midst 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.779 I will redeem them. 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.740 And now where is Jesus? 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.319 Because he bore 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:58.219 the sins of many, 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:00.819 he makes intercession 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:03.559 for the transgressors. 00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:06.979 So he loved the world 00:21:06.979 --> 00:21:09.079 and he bore the sins of, 00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:09.939 what's the next word? 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:13.160 He bore the sins 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:15.000 of many out of the world. 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.980 See, his love is wise 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.660 and not a drop 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.580 of Christ's blood 00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:21.500 is wasted 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.580 and God is powerful 00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:24.740 and when God saves, 00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:26.559 he actually saves. 00:21:27.320 --> 00:21:28.820 And now he intercedes 00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.720 and he's wise 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.380 and perfect. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.440 He doesn't waste his prayer 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.420 because when he prays, 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:33.940 it happens. 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.940 And that's what 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.740 our hymn captures. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.799 We sing, 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.140 before the throne 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:40.259 of God above, 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:42.500 I have a strong 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.440 and perfect plea. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.779 Who is it 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.000 that prays powerfully 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.099 this strong plea? 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.620 That's a perfect plea. 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.759 What Jesus prays happens. 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.660 It comes from the lips 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:54.680 of the high priest 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:57.620 whose name is love. 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.500 And like Hebrews says, 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.700 he ever lives 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:03.200 and pleads for me. 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.359 Can you find comfort 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.439 that the Father 00:22:06.439 --> 00:22:07.419 in his love 00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:08.399 gave Jesus 00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:10.179 to redeem you, 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.699 to ransom you 00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:13.879 out of the worldly world? 00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:17.319 And he gave his only son, 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.500 our verse says, 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.740 so Jesus Christ 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:22.899 is the promised son. 00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.879 And we hear son of God 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:26.000 and son of man. 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.240 Scripture uses both 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.039 to describe Jesus. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.740 Both are fulfilling prophecies. 00:22:30.199 --> 00:22:31.799 Our catechism captured that. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.379 He must be fully divine 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.679 and without sin. 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.660 And he also must be 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.740 a representative head. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.920 He must become one 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.920 with the transgressors 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:40.200 to redeem us. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.519 So one person, 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.480 the son, 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.060 according to his human 00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:45.160 and divine nature, 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.100 Jesus Christ, 00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:48.259 fully satisfying the will 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.220 and the wisdom 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.440 of the Father. 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:52.080 Verse 13, 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.600 look at that. 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.900 Jesus says, 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.340 no one has ascended 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:55.940 into heaven 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.900 except the one 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:58.299 who descended from heaven, 00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.400 the son of man. 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:02.160 He's most likely alluding 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:04.140 to Daniel chapter 7, 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.140 verse 13. 00:23:05.540 --> 00:23:06.580 Daniel has this vision. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.900 Listen how both are combined. 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.880 In Daniel's vision, 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.360 he says, 00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.140 behold, 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:12.279 with the clouds of heaven, 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:14.860 so a heavenly spiritual being 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:16.380 with the clouds of heaven, 00:23:16.800 --> 00:23:17.759 there came one 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.920 like a son of man. 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.180 See, 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.080 he's a son of man. 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.759 He's identifying 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.900 with the transgressors, 00:23:24.040 --> 00:23:25.880 but he's from the clouds 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.400 of heaven. 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.500 He's from the spiritual, 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.740 eternal realm 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.759 where God dwells. 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.680 Jesus says, 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:35.460 you can believe me. 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.980 I'm trustworthy 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.620 because I'm from heaven. 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.759 That's why I'm here. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:40.039 And he says, 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.980 no one can share with you 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.200 unless they've ascended. 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:43.519 You know, 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:45.680 you have to know God in heaven 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.500 in order to make him 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.299 revealed on earth. 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:49.140 And so to ascend to heaven 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:50.920 means that Jesus alone 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:53.200 is the pure knowledge 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:55.200 of the mysteries of God. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.220 and he is the light 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:59.380 of spiritual understanding. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.279 We know Jesus, 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.640 his permanent dwelling 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.620 is with the father 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:05.059 because Mark 16, 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:05.860 19 says, 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.880 then the Lord Jesus, 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.400 after he had spoken 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:09.380 to the disciples, 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.120 so there's again, 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.380 according to his human nature, 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.640 even after the resurrection, 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.100 speaking with them, 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.360 he shared food with them. 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.600 So Jesus, 00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:18.220 in the glorified body 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.160 with his disciples, 00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.759 so that's the son of man, 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.620 he was then taken up 00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.700 from them 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:25.220 into heaven 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:27.100 and sat down 00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:28.360 at the right hand 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:29.200 of God, 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.319 who is spirit. 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.120 See how glorious 00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:33.180 our Christ is? 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.299 Jesus' return 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.059 to the glory 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.140 that he had with the father 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.740 before the world began 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.799 was accomplished 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:41.660 by him being lifted up 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.819 on the cross. 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:45.259 And it is this exaltation now 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:47.080 that draws sinners 00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:48.200 to him. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.920 In the book of John, 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:53.019 just like in the book of Isaiah, 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.379 is the suffering servant 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.839 who's also exalted. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:58.539 It's through his humiliation 00:24:58.539 --> 00:25:00.240 that he's been lifted up 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.740 on high 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:02.720 so that all can behold him. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.180 To be lifted up 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.900 means that he's set 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.579 on display 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.680 so that all the world 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.319 can see 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.720 and believe in him. 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.720 And that's why Christ now, 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.819 from heaven, 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.920 urges you 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:14.220 this morning, church, 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.299 look to me 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.240 and be saved, 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.359 all the ends 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:17.980 of the earth, 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.460 for I am God 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:21.160 and there is no other. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.059 Believe into Christ 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:25.019 and have eternal life. 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.240 You might be thinking, 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.220 it's hard for me 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.720 to accept such glorious truth. 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:31.759 And it is, 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.960 unless the Spirit 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.680 gives you a heart 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.299 to believe. 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.559 But I want to share 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.420 with you a story 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.259 from missionaries 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.740 in the 1700s 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:40.279 of a very dark, 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.400 worldly part 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:41.960 of the world. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.500 So we could read 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.460 this verse like this, 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.940 For God so loved 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.460 the Tahitians. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.620 And this comes 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.500 from the biography 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.319 of Henry Knott 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:50.880 that I mentioned 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.579 a moment ago 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.980 called The Herald 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:54.200 of the Love of God 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.920 to Tahiti 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:56.620 by Eugene Meyer Harrison 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:58.380 written almost 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.279 a hundred years ago. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.960 There were reports 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.960 from Captain Cook 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.579 who had traveled 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.880 the Pacific Ocean 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.620 that there's a people 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.259 in Tahiti 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.680 that were a warring people. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.740 They're always at war. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:13.600 They idolized revenge. 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.219 And they had this weapon 00:26:16.219 --> 00:26:17.819 and it was specifically 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:19.139 to be used for revenge. 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.039 So we go to war, 00:26:20.139 --> 00:26:21.039 one tribe against the other. 00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.119 The losing tribe, 00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:23.679 you'd have a few that win 00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:25.059 and they flee into the mountains. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.740 They would not leave them alone. 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:28.059 They would go hunt them down. 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.619 And they made a special weapon 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:32.179 taking the tail 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:34.099 of three different stingrays 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:35.919 and they loosely attached it 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.659 to a long pole. 00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.219 And they would chase their enemy 00:26:38.219 --> 00:26:39.639 and they would spike it 00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:40.399 into their body 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.399 so that it would come 00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.439 detached from the pole. 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.059 And those stingray tails, 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.140 they have barbs on them 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:46.220 so it goes into the flesh 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:48.019 and does not come out easily. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.580 These Tahitians, 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:53.200 they had a very strong sense 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:55.140 of their own judgment 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.259 that they would receive 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.400 for their wickedness. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.600 But they did it 00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:59.799 by appeasing these gods. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.019 So they fashioned gods 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.620 out of birds, 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.140 turtles, 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.840 and sharks. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.059 And these animals, 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.580 and also the sun and the moon, 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.220 these gods 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.340 that they made idols out of, 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:10.360 they had axes and swords 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:10.979 and hammers 00:27:10.979 --> 00:27:12.419 that were used to punish you 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.799 if you did not pay them 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:15.159 for your sins. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.219 So they had that, 00:27:16.459 --> 00:27:16.699 you know, 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.259 Romans 1, 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.419 that sin was imprinted 00:27:18.419 --> 00:27:18.979 on their heart. 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:21.699 They killed two-thirds 00:27:21.699 --> 00:27:22.679 of their babies 00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:23.599 upon their birth. 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.899 They would make alcohol 00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:26.679 out of this fruit 00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:27.359 called kava. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.859 And they were said 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:31.719 to be almost universally drunk 00:27:31.719 --> 00:27:33.179 and acting more like demons 00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:34.079 than human beings. 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:35.459 There was a special, 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:35.779 like, 00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:37.559 religious class among them 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.740 that would paint their bodies 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.539 in dark charcoal 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.940 and then make their faces white. 00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:43.159 And they were terrifying. 00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:45.639 There were these two sailors, 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.339 one from Sweden, 00:27:46.419 --> 00:27:47.099 who landed there 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.519 and they were translators 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.759 because they just had to survive 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.879 and so they learned the language. 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.579 And they had made 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.419 several observations. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.079 They wrote down 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.799 that they would take 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.779 the infirmed 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.659 or the weak 00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.859 or the elderly among them 00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:59.039 and they would walk them 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.779 out to the ocean 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.179 like these beautiful beaches 00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:02.259 of Pacific Ocean, 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.619 huge palm trees, 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.419 and they'd pretend 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:05.480 like they're going to bathe them. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.319 But instead, 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.200 they had already dug out 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.059 a hole in the sand 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.100 and they would tip 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:10.220 their own family members 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.860 into that hole 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:12.220 and kill them with stones 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.880 and bury them 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.140 and leave them there 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.740 and then go back 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.920 and steal all their possessions. 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.940 Now, hold on. 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.259 We just read that God 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.860 so loved the world. 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:24.019 God loves the Tahitians? 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.059 How could this be? 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.720 They had a temple 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.960 to these idols, 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:31.080 these gods of theirs, 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:33.860 and the pillar 00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.720 of one of the temples 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.220 was made up. 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.059 I'm not going to share 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.640 more details, 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.420 but it was made up 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.660 of human sacrifices. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.480 And God loved, 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.480 somehow, 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.160 these Tahitians 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.240 and he would save them? 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.720 How could this be? 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:50.200 See, Jesus says 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.880 that this way of the cross, 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.000 going through the cross, 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.200 before he ascends 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.940 to be in the glory 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.519 of the Father, 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.740 in John chapter 12, 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.400 verse 26, 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:58.900 he says, 00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:00.220 whoever comes after me 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.840 must take up his cross 00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:03.040 and follow me. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.920 So the way of life 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.340 in Christ 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.480 is the way of the cross. 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.280 And in John chapter 20, 00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:08.960 verse 21, 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.880 Jesus says 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:11.620 to all who are his disciples, 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:13.820 as the Father sent me, 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:16.519 so I am sending you. 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.700 And there was this man 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.500 back in England 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.519 at the same time 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.900 who was a simple laborer, 00:29:23.820 --> 00:29:24.700 worked in the trades 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.820 as a bricklayer. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:27.159 And his name 00:29:27.159 --> 00:29:28.019 was Henry Knott. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.200 And he, 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.220 along with William Carey, 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.740 they were part of 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.559 a Reformed Baptist church 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.139 like this one, 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.139 the same confessions 00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:34.939 that we hold to. 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.919 And he went 00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:37.619 to be a missionary 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.779 to the Tahitians. 00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:40.439 He saw three of his friends 00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:41.659 killed by the Tahitians 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.519 the very first year 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.259 that they got there. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.579 But he did not leave. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.859 There were several times 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.439 over decades 00:29:47.439 --> 00:29:48.679 where he was the only missionary 00:29:48.679 --> 00:29:49.299 still there, 00:29:49.439 --> 00:29:49.720 somehow, 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.919 still alive. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.619 Others kept leaving 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.799 and others would arrive. 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.059 Well, finally, 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:56.700 after much prayer 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.539 and persistence 00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.460 and trying to learn 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.119 their language, 00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:02.379 on March 19th, 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.259 the Lord's Day, 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.220 it was a Sunday, 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:07.079 1797 was the year, 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.480 under the cover 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.799 of these enormous trees, 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.659 they gathered 00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.500 to have their first 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.399 public worship service. 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.099 And here's what Mr. Knott 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:20.659 started that service off. 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.159 He had a translator 00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:24.119 for the first part. 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.619 He said, 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.939 O Tahitians, 00:30:27.459 --> 00:30:29.039 I come with a message 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.819 of infinite compassion 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.859 to those in deep distress. 00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:35.159 I bring glad tidings, 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.859 glad news of salvation 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:38.199 to those who are in 00:30:38.199 --> 00:30:39.339 sin's control. 00:30:39.719 --> 00:30:41.439 I proclaim a gospel 00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:42.539 of comfort 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:45.899 to those in sorrow's gloom. 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.299 And then, 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.859 he quoted the first verse 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.859 he had translated 00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:51.819 and memorized 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:54.059 into the Tahitian language. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.799 For God so loved 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.719 the world 00:30:57.719 --> 00:30:59.599 that he gave 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:01.339 his only son 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.879 that whoever 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:05.199 believes in him 00:31:05.199 --> 00:31:07.919 should not perish 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:11.199 but have eternal life. 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:14.920 that's the truth 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.580 for you today, 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.019 church. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.640 Christ urges you 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.519 from heaven, 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.880 look to me 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.180 and be saved, 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.660 all the ends 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.440 of the earth, 00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:27.160 for I am God 00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:28.319 and there is 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.460 no other. 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.700 Believe into 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:33.039 Jesus Christ 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.440 and have 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:36.019 eternal life. 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:38.759 see how the gospel 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.599 is simply 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.559 opening up to you 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.200 what is 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.859 and always 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.720 has been true 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.559 of God. 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.799 We're going to have 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.400 to divide this 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.000 into two parts 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.579 so next week 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.119 we'll see what's 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.799 true of us. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.740 Let's pray. 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.119 Oh Father, 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.839 we believe 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.619 your promise 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.839 in Isaiah chapter 2 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.460 verse 2 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.960 that it shall 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.839 come to pass 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.779 in the latter days 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.000 that your kingdom 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.460 like a mighty mountain 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.519 where you, 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:04.879 O Lord, 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.660 dwell from 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:07.099 where you rule. 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.559 Your everlasting kingdom 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.680 shall be established 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:11.160 as the highest 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:11.960 of the mountains. 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.180 Your kingdom 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.400 shall be lifted up 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.980 and all the nations 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.759 will flow to you. 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.940 Lord, 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:21.859 I plead with Christ 00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.420 right now 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.420 that none 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.440 of our loved ones 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.139 here today 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:26.319 or around the world 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.639 will be caught 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:29.259 loving darkness, 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.500 that none 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.019 will be caught 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:33.000 choosing death 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:34.380 and despising 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.000 your precious 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.279 son Jesus Christ 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.680 whom you sent 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:38.940 because you 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.480 so loved us 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:42.200 in this sinful world. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.900 May each one 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:45.039 whom you have 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:46.380 given spiritual ears 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.059 to hear this 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.940 very moment 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:49.859 believe into 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.700 Christ 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.920 and have 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.579 eternal life. 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.400 We beg you. 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.160 Amen. 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.259 Amen. 00:32:55.259 --> 00:33:01.559 As you prepare 00:33:01.559 --> 00:33:02.359 your heart now 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.480 to proclaim 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.119 this gospel 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.700 by taking 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.460 the Lord's Supper, 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:09.539 I want to 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.359 share with you 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:11.420 what Thomas Watson, 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.319 one of the Puritans, 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.660 wrote 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:15.220 of the Lord's Supper, 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.460 that it's a visible 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.039 sermon 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.920 in his words. 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:20.200 It's a sermon 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.140 wherein Christ 00:33:21.140 --> 00:33:22.039 crucified 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:24.140 is set before us 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:26.400 it's a New Testament 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.160 sacrament 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.360 wherein our 00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.460 communion with 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:29.900 Christ 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:31.360 is signified 00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:32.500 for us 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.300 in these elements. 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.060 It's a divinely 00:33:35.060 --> 00:33:36.840 instituted sacrament 00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:38.840 wherein Christ's 00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:39.340 death 00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:41.360 is showed forth 00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:42.440 by giving 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.480 and receiving 00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.040 bread 00:33:44.040 --> 00:33:45.020 and the fruit 00:33:45.020 --> 00:33:45.560 of the vine. 00:33:46.520 --> 00:33:47.440 Now listen to this. 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.120 When you partake 00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:50.100 of Christ, 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:52.040 you receive 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:53.299 all the benefits 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:54.720 that flow 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.000 from the throne 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.119 of God's glory 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.980 to you 00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:59.519 through the mediation 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.980 of your Savior, 00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:02.279 Jesus Christ. 00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:04.180 So take a moment, 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.200 still your heart, 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.240 ask the Lord 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.180 to prepare you 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:08.719 for this celebration, 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.860 this visible sermon, 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.800 and by taking it, 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:12.119 you are proclaiming 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.639 this glorious gospel 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.659 of Jesus. 00:34:14.779 --> 00:34:15.380 When you're ready, 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:17.420 we're going to come 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.300 through this center 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.360 row right here 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.039 and we can take 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:20.579 the elements 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.420 and then after 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.039 you've taken them, 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.679 you can go around 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.460 the outsides 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.259 back to your seat 00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.960 and we'll hold on 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.559 to them and then 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.739 enjoy together 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.579 with the words 00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.239 of institution.