WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.100 Thanks very much, Rachel and Margot. 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.200 And good morning, everyone. 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:06.179 Good to see you if you're in the church here. 00:00:06.259 --> 00:00:09.040 Good to know there are lots more watching us online. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:12.439 It will be helpful if you've got a Bible in front of you 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:14.919 or an electronic device you can read the chapter on 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:18.000 because, as Rachel said, we're only able to read part of it 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.879 and we will be referring to the whole chapter as we go along. 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:27.620 I can say with some confidence that John chapter 7 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:32.020 is the chapter of the Gospel that most of us are least familiar with. 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:34.240 Let's just think about that. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:36.600 I realise this won't resonate with everyone, 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:39.320 but let's think through the chapter of John's Gospel up to now. 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.840 Chapter 1, we have the Word and the Lamb of God. 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:44.920 Chapter 2, we have the wedding at Cana. 00:00:45.480 --> 00:00:46.920 Chapter 3, we have Nicodemus. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:49.500 Chapter 4, we have the woman at the well in Samaria. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:53.079 Chapter 5, we have the lame man who was healed on the Sabbath. 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:56.079 Chapter 6, we have the feeding of the 5,000. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:58.479 And we could go on from Chapter 8 onwards. 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:01.100 But Chapter 7, what's it about? 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:05.079 Well, we've probably not got that much idea. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.379 Most of us, it's not a chapter that immediately resonates. 00:01:08.679 --> 00:01:13.319 It's quite hard work and we have to think about it as we go through. 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:17.739 So my job this morning is hopefully to make John Chapter 7 00:01:17.739 --> 00:01:19.759 a little bit more memorable for you, 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:24.840 but also to think about what its relevance is for us today. 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:29.579 And I think there are some very practical things that we can take from it. 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:32.799 So we've got a lot to cover in quite a short time. 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:33.740 So here's the plan. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:36.820 We're going to think a bit about the context of John 7. 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:40.000 Context is always important when we study the Bible, 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:42.560 perhaps particularly so in this chapter. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:48.060 We're then going to walk through it and see how we can navigate our way through the chapter. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:53.180 Please do read it all when you get home and certainly before your small group this week. 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:55.840 We're going to think about five questions, 00:01:56.219 --> 00:02:01.520 which I hope will help us see the practical significance of John 7 today. 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:04.760 And then we're going to end with a rock music legend 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:07.540 and we'll find out about that when we come to it. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:09.800 But let's begin with context. 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.360 John's Gospel, as I'm sure you know, 00:02:13.540 --> 00:02:17.460 the key verse for context is at the end of Chapter 20, 00:02:18.140 --> 00:02:23.920 when John says that he's written so that we will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:26.080 the Son of God. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:31.000 And everything in John's Gospel is working towards that aim. 00:02:31.580 --> 00:02:34.800 Every incident, every saying of the Lord Jesus, 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:40.840 every conversation that's recorded is to help us to understand who Jesus is, 00:02:41.160 --> 00:02:43.860 that he's the Messiah, the Son of God. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:45.780 And John 7 is no different from that. 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:50.000 In fact, it's very important in the flow of the Gospel. 00:02:51.260 --> 00:02:53.740 If we come to the more immediate context, 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:57.120 between John 5 and John 10, 00:02:57.220 --> 00:02:59.380 which makes a little subsection of the book, 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:05.639 there are a number of incidents which all happen around the time of Jewish feasts or festivals. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:09.219 John 5, it doesn't say what the specific festival was, 00:03:09.299 --> 00:03:11.079 but Jesus was in Jerusalem for a festival 00:03:11.079 --> 00:03:13.199 and their discussion about the Sabbath, 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:15.620 which is, in a sense, a weekly festival. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:19.359 John 6 takes place around the festival of the Passover. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:24.139 John 7 to 9, around the festival of tabernacles. 00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:29.039 And then John 10, around the festival of commitment, 00:03:29.179 --> 00:03:31.500 or what we would these days call Hanukkah. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:35.959 And all of these festivals do a number of things for us. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:38.879 The first is they help position where Jesus is. 00:03:39.779 --> 00:03:41.379 As we go through the Gospels, 00:03:41.679 --> 00:03:44.459 some of what Jesus does we see is in Galilee, 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:47.500 and some is in Jerusalem and Judea. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.000 And if an incident takes place, 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:52.639 or a meeting takes place in Jerusalem, 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.000 you can be confident that it's because Jesus is there 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.019 for one of the feasts of the Jews. 00:03:58.239 --> 00:04:00.419 So we're in Jerusalem again today. 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:02.899 Perhaps more importantly, 00:04:03.559 --> 00:04:05.939 these festivals give us a bit of a countdown 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:08.099 to the cross of the Lord Jesus. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:12.279 They draw us nearer and nearer to Calvary. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:14.119 So chapter 6 is the Passover, 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:16.899 a year before Jesus was crucified. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.240 The Feast of Tabernacles that we're thinking about today, 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:23.259 that took place in September, October. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.920 So that was six months before the crucifixion. 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:29.660 Hanukkah, you may know, is in December. 00:04:29.780 --> 00:04:32.720 So that was about three months before the Lord died. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:34.740 So we've got a bit of a countdown. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:38.980 The Lord is getting closer and closer to his crucifixion 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:41.500 as we go through the Gospel. 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:44.439 But perhaps most important of all, 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:46.720 in terms of the significance of the feasts, 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:49.300 is if we look at what Jesus says 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:51.060 and the things that happen, 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:53.400 they are very much tied in 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:56.340 to the meaning of these festivals. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:00.240 Passover, Hanukkah, we could look at, 00:05:00.640 --> 00:05:05.120 but particularly when we come to the Festival of Tabernacles, 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:09.460 it is very much the backdrop to what Jesus is saying. 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:11.099 So I'm going to take just a couple of minutes 00:05:11.099 --> 00:05:13.219 and we're going to think about what happened 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:15.459 at the Festival of Tabernacles. 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:17.639 What was it all about? 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:22.180 Well, the thing that was most striking about this festival 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:24.079 is that for a week, 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:27.899 people in Jerusalem lived in temporary dwellings, 00:05:27.979 --> 00:05:31.719 in kind of tents that were covered with branches. 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:34.039 And that was looking back 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:36.280 to when the Israelites were in the wilderness 00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:39.520 and they had temporary dwellings. 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:42.840 And this was quite an exciting week for the Jews. 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:43.960 Think of all the festivals, 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:46.040 it was the most joyful. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:48.460 We could think perhaps of young people 00:05:48.460 --> 00:05:49.680 going to camp these days, 00:05:49.760 --> 00:05:50.800 getting away from home, 00:05:51.080 --> 00:05:52.340 going somewhere different, 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.740 doing something different with different people. 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:57.400 That was very much what it was all about, 00:05:57.480 --> 00:06:00.460 a time of rejoicing and celebration. 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:04.439 And it had three particular aspects to it. 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:05.879 It looked backward, 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:07.899 it looked at the present, 00:06:08.359 --> 00:06:09.779 and it looked forward. 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:11.939 You may see echoes of all of these 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.560 in John chapter 7, 00:06:13.659 --> 00:06:15.799 indeed in chapters 8 and 9. 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:18.479 So as I said, it looked backwards. 00:06:19.179 --> 00:06:20.240 It remembered the time 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.240 when the Israelites had left Egypt 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:24.379 and they were going through the wilderness 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:26.779 and would ultimately end up in Canaan 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:28.359 in the Promised Land. 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:31.520 And it thought about how in that period 00:06:31.520 --> 00:06:34.920 God had provided for all their needs. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:36.660 He provided water, 00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:38.000 he provided food, 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:39.400 everything they needed, 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:41.280 even though there were nomadic people 00:06:41.280 --> 00:06:42.280 traveling around, 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:45.560 God gave them everything that they needed. 00:06:46.980 --> 00:06:48.280 In the present, 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:50.480 the Feast of Tabernacles, 00:06:50.699 --> 00:06:51.939 or Saccot as it was called, 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:53.900 was the Harvest Thanksgiving. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.300 So that's a familiar concept to us 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:57.560 when we come together 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:59.460 and we give God thanks 00:06:59.460 --> 00:07:02.500 for his current provision for us. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:05.100 So the festival took place 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:07.079 at the time of the harvest, 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:08.720 particularly bringing in grapes perhaps 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:09.960 and fruit from trees, 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.000 and people gave thanks for that. 00:07:12.259 --> 00:07:13.360 It was a celebration 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.720 of God's present goodness 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.139 to his people. 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:19.300 But it also looked forward 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.360 to the coming of the Messiah. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.040 And that's why in John 7 particularly, 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:25.720 Messiah is mentioned time 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:27.520 and time again. 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:29.500 The Jews were looking forward 00:07:29.500 --> 00:07:30.560 to the one who would be 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.600 the liberator of their nation. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:33.819 Now they had a different idea 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:34.639 for what we might 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:35.939 of what the liberator 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:37.300 of the Messiah would be, 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:38.900 but they were very much 00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:39.740 looking forward 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:41.100 to his coming. 00:07:42.340 --> 00:07:43.199 And a key chapter 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.280 for understanding 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:46.960 how the Festival of Tabernacles works 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:50.180 is the prophecy of Zechariah chapter 14. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:50.959 And one of the things 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.159 that prophecy says 00:07:52.159 --> 00:07:54.279 is that when the Messiah comes 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.979 and tabernacles with his people, 00:07:57.659 --> 00:07:59.199 people from all nations 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:00.699 will gather around him 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:02.859 at the Festival of Tabernacles 00:08:02.859 --> 00:08:05.419 and will worship him. 00:08:06.039 --> 00:08:06.979 So there's very much 00:08:06.979 --> 00:08:08.439 a forward-looking aspect 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:11.159 to the festival as well. 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:13.259 And we see some fulfillment 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:15.399 of that in the Lord Jesus 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:17.339 when he came the first time. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.500 It will be completely fulfilled 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:21.539 when the Lord Jesus comes again 00:08:21.539 --> 00:08:24.739 and indeed every knee bows before him. 00:08:25.099 --> 00:08:26.899 He is recognized as the Messiah, 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.560 as the Son of God. 00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:31.079 So it's the past, 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:33.459 the present and the future. 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:36.199 And there were two particular themes 00:08:36.199 --> 00:08:39.399 around the Festival of Tabernacles. 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.500 One was light. 00:08:42.199 --> 00:08:43.620 I said it was September, October. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:46.600 It was around the time of the equinox. 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:48.740 And the Jews were aware 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:49.840 the nights were beginning 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:52.279 to get longer and darker. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.419 And one of the things 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:56.240 that the festival celebrated 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.740 is the light that God gives us. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.700 Every day, 16 huge bowls 00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:04.460 were lit up in one of the courtyards 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:05.159 of the temple. 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:07.120 And apparently you could see 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:07.960 throughout the city, 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.480 you could see the light 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.740 that came from these. 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:11.980 No street lamps, of course, 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:13.300 in those days. 00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:14.700 So light was very important. 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:16.120 And as we look at chapters 8 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:17.000 and chapter 9 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.560 in the next few weeks, 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:20.379 we'll very much be coming back 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:21.360 to that. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:23.680 The second thing that was important 00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:24.960 was water. 00:09:25.560 --> 00:09:27.159 This was the dry season. 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:29.840 Often it was a time of drought. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.440 And so as the people came together 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:33.420 for this festival, 00:09:33.920 --> 00:09:35.899 they were aware of God's provision 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:38.680 of water and their need of that. 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:40.000 Now I'll go into more detail 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.299 about that in a few minutes. 00:09:41.739 --> 00:09:44.159 There's again a ritual involved in it 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:45.120 that will help us. 00:09:45.959 --> 00:09:48.539 But this is a great, joyous festival 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:51.559 with lots of different meanings to it. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:53.699 And I hope we'll see some of them 00:09:53.699 --> 00:09:57.279 as today we think through this chapter. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:10:00.139 Okay, that's enough for context. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.679 Let's move on now 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:03.019 and think about 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:06.159 how we can break down the chapter. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:09.339 John very helpfully 00:10:09.339 --> 00:10:11.579 gives us some timings for this. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.159 And I think they're the easiest way 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.299 to look at the chapter. 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:17.779 The first few verses 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:19.939 are the start of the festival. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:21.459 There's a bit of discussion 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:23.639 about whether Jesus is going or not. 00:10:23.699 --> 00:10:24.699 And his brothers say he should. 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.139 And he says he's not going just now. 00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:27.339 But it's all about 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:28.639 the start of the festival. 00:10:29.579 --> 00:10:30.779 And I think the key word 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:32.740 to hang on to here is delay. 00:10:34.059 --> 00:10:35.579 That Jesus' brothers say, 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:37.320 you should be going to Jerusalem. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:38.800 Look, you're doing all these things 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:39.560 in Galilee, 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.160 but this is a backwater. 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:43.220 Who's interested in what happens here? 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:45.100 You need to go to Jerusalem 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:46.440 and do all the things there 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:48.240 and be seen in public. 00:10:49.280 --> 00:10:50.580 John tells us it was because 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.660 they didn't believe in him 00:10:51.660 --> 00:10:52.520 that they took this view. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:53.900 It's a slightly cynical view, 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.200 I think. 00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:56.720 But Jesus says, 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:58.300 no, I'm not going now. 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:01.540 My time hasn't come yet. 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:03.500 And so he doesn't immediately 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.740 go up to the festival, 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.579 but he's still the talk of the town, 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:10.139 even though he's not there. 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:11.699 People are saying, 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:12.459 well, where is he? 00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:14.259 We know about this Jesus. 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:15.980 Why hasn't he come? 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:17.279 And they're saying, 00:11:17.339 --> 00:11:17.860 well, who is he? 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:18.539 Some people are saying, 00:11:18.599 --> 00:11:19.779 well, he must be a good man. 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:21.399 All the things he does. 00:11:22.059 --> 00:11:23.120 And other people saying, 00:11:23.199 --> 00:11:25.299 no, he's just a deceiver. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:27.579 But all that they were doing 00:11:27.579 --> 00:11:28.480 kind of whispering, 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.879 because they knew the Jewish leaders 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.680 were opposed to Jesus. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.960 So that's the start of the festival, 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:38.240 the delay that Jesus introduces. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.940 From verse 14, 00:11:41.180 --> 00:11:43.960 we have the middle of the festival. 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.740 The passage Rachel read to us says, 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:48.779 not until halfway through the festival 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:51.060 did Jesus go up to the temple courts 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:53.080 and begin to teach. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.800 And the key theme of the next 20 or so verses 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.379 up to verse 36 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:01.919 is this debate about who Jesus is 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.039 and what he is doing. 00:12:04.979 --> 00:12:07.099 And lots of different views 00:12:07.099 --> 00:12:09.279 and different arguments. 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.899 Some of the people thinking, 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:14.299 yes, he must be the Messiah. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:15.639 Look at the way he speaks. 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.459 He's not been trained. 00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:20.240 He's not been taught in our synagogues 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.039 or by our leaders. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:24.079 And yet he says these wonderful things. 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:27.440 Surely he must be the Messiah. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:29.960 And then Jesus talks about 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:32.160 why he's able to speak as he does. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.500 It's because he comes from God. 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:37.100 And if people are obedient to God, 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.759 they will recognize that 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:41.860 and they will be obedient to his teaching. 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:44.520 He then comes on 00:12:44.520 --> 00:12:47.259 and he talks about the miracle in chapter 5. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:48.759 Remember in chapter 5, 00:12:49.020 --> 00:12:51.200 where the lame man who is beside the pool, 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:53.100 Jesus heals him on the Sabbath 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:55.100 and he causes uproar 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:56.860 among the religious leaders. 00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:59.100 And he comes back to that 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:01.180 and he makes a very important point. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:02.940 He says, 00:13:04.140 --> 00:13:05.420 you got on of me 00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:07.100 because I healed a man on the Sabbath, 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.580 but you will quite happily 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:11.879 circumcise someone on the Sabbath. 00:13:12.020 --> 00:13:12.920 What's the difference? 00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:15.040 Why is that acceptable 00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:18.420 and it's not acceptable for me to heal? 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:21.879 Get your judgments right. 00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:25.339 And then again, 00:13:25.459 --> 00:13:26.559 we have this question, 00:13:26.719 --> 00:13:28.819 some people concluding that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.059 some not. 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:33.159 The authority is very much against him. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:36.120 And then he talks about 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:37.860 his authority a bit more. 00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.579 He talks about the fact 00:13:39.579 --> 00:13:41.579 that people don't recognize Jesus 00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:43.699 because they don't recognize 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:47.459 that his authority comes from God the Father. 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:49.220 and again, 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.480 the authorities are trying to seize him. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.840 We read that in verse 31. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:55.460 But the crowd are still thinking, 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:57.480 this is someone really special. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.379 How can he do these miracles 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:02.540 if he's not from God? 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:04.220 And then finally, 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:06.000 in the latter part of this section, 00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:08.519 Jesus talks about him going away. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:08.940 And again, 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.200 that causes some confusion. 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:10.700 People think, 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:11.500 well, where is he going to? 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:12.759 Is he going to the Gentiles? 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.840 Jesus, of course, 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:14.940 is talking about the fact 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:15.879 that he's going to heaven. 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.360 He's going to his father 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.519 by way of the cross. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.500 So lots of discussion, 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.399 lots of debate in the middle. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:25.460 We could go into a lot of detail about it, 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.059 but we don't have time this morning. 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:30.240 And then finally, 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.559 we have the end of the festival. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:34.600 I've called that decision 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.700 because this is the time 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.919 when people have to nail 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:38.179 their colors to the mast. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:42.379 What do you really think about Jesus? 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:44.240 We have, 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:44.899 first of all, 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:46.039 and we'll come back to it, 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.320 that Jesus stands up 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.159 and he says, 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.600 let anyone who is thirsty 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.519 come to me and drink. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.600 And we'll come back 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.879 and look at that wee subsection. 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:56.000 It's very important. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.080 We'll look at it 00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:57.919 in a couple of minutes. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:00.480 And some of the people then say, 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.759 well, he must be a prophet. 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:03.179 Others say, 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.439 well, he must be the Messiah. 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:06.139 And then other people say, 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.919 no, he can't be. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:09.259 We know that he comes from Galilee. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.559 The prophet, 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.279 the Messiah, 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.620 doesn't come from Galilee. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.980 It can't be Jesus. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.299 And again, 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:17.139 we have a hardening 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.399 of the Jewish leaders 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.240 against him 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:21.100 and we have the people divided. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.500 Not sure many of them 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.179 what's happening, 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.740 but a good number believing. 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:28.500 So as you go through the chapter, 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.159 if you get a chance 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.360 to do it in more detail later, 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.580 hopefully that gives you 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:32.379 a bit of a structure. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:34.659 Delay the first section, 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.159 debate in the second, 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.240 and decisions to be made 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.480 in the third. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.199 But I want to spend 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:42.199 the rest of the time 00:15:42.199 --> 00:15:45.000 thinking through five questions. 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:47.259 Five questions, I think, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:49.699 come at us from the chapter 00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:51.779 and that are really important 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:53.639 as we want to apply it 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.279 and think what its relevance 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.879 is today. 00:15:57.699 --> 00:15:59.019 So there's when, why, 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.899 where, what, and who. 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.120 So the first is a question 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.320 of when. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.840 And the issue is, 00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.080 what do we mean 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.700 by Jesus' time? 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.820 Jesus says, 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:14.240 my time has not come, 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.679 as in verses six and eight, 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:17.419 if you're following along. 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.820 In that context, 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.879 he's thinking of his time 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.700 to go and very publicly 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:23.759 show himself in Jerusalem. 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:26.139 Now when that time came, 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.639 around six months later, 00:16:28.060 --> 00:16:29.240 the Lord Jesus rode 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.879 into Jerusalem on the donkey 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.899 and he received the praises 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.559 of his people. 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.879 And I think that is 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.759 the reference the Lord 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.600 is making there 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.740 to his time 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.820 not having yet come. 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.600 But if we go down 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.799 to verse 30, 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.299 John tells us 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.720 that the Lord Jesus, 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.500 our, 00:16:49.939 --> 00:16:51.500 hadn't come yet. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.679 That he hadn't yet 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:54.899 come to the point 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:57.100 when people could seize him 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:59.240 and could judge him. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:01.680 his hour hadn't come 00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.700 so the people, 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.580 the authorities, 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:05.559 weren't able to touch him. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.259 And so the hour 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.799 that they're talking about there 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.279 is Jesus' death 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.160 on the cross for us. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:14.500 His crucifixion at Calvary, 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:15.940 which was the time 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.279 that his whole life 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.559 had been building up to. 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.460 Right as far back 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.759 as chapter two in John, 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:24.140 Jesus says to, 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:24.880 in this case, 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.740 to his mother Mary, 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.640 my time, 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.299 my hour has not yet come. 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.639 And as we follow 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.399 through the gospel, 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.299 it's building up 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.059 to the point where 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.639 John says in chapter 12, 00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:35.019 or Jesus says rather, 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:38.019 now my hour is come. 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.700 Why is that significant for us? 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.299 Because it tells us 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:44.200 that the whole of Jesus' life 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:46.079 was directed towards 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.139 his death on the cross. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.259 It was no accident 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.899 that he went to Calvary 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:53.419 and died for us. 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.700 He knew from the start 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:57.200 what was going to happen 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.759 and he was building towards it 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.600 in everything that he did 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:03.480 in his ministry. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.380 Jesus' time, 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.500 the time that he came 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.019 into the world, 00:18:07.080 --> 00:18:08.140 the purpose that he came 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:09.220 into the world for, 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.840 was to go to the cross 00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:11.559 at Calvary 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.120 to take our place 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:15.440 and to die for us. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.039 And as we read 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.960 through Jesus' life, 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.660 it's important 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.480 that we recognize 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.220 it's all building up 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.100 to that climax. 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:25.079 And as John takes us through 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.500 and tries to persuade us 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.699 of the fact that 00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:29.339 Jesus is the Messiah, 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.500 he's also doing that 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.599 knowing that the ultimate evidence 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.359 will come through the cross 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.039 and through the resurrection 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.279 of the Lord Jesus. 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:41.179 So Jesus' time 00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:42.959 refers to his death 00:18:42.959 --> 00:18:45.480 for us on the cross. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.059 Second question then, 00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:51.199 why did Jesus have authority? 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:53.359 It's very clear 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.219 from this chapter 00:18:54.219 --> 00:18:55.399 that Jesus preached 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:57.079 with real authority. 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:59.119 The people listened to him 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:01.199 and they were amazed. 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.159 And they were a bit confused 00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:03.740 because they knew 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.839 their leaders were opposed 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:05.419 to Jesus 00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:07.319 and yet here was someone 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:07.799 who was saying 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.379 such wonderful things 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:10.759 and more than that 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:13.240 was doing such wonderful miracles. 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:16.859 Where did that come from? 00:19:17.719 --> 00:19:18.539 And of course, 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:20.539 Jesus says his authority 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:22.180 comes from God, 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.879 the Father himself. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:26.039 The words he speaks 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:28.359 are not his own words he says. 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.539 They're the words 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.259 that the Father 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.759 has given to him. 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:35.859 That's in verses 16 and 18 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.639 particularly. 00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:39.119 And the point he makes 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.180 is that what he's saying 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:42.000 is not so that he can come across 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.680 as this wonderful preacher, 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.519 but so that his Father 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:47.059 will be glorified. 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:49.779 He also says 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.220 that he was sent by God. 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.740 That's in verse 29. 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.000 I know him 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.799 because I am from him 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.579 and he sent me. 00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:00.099 So the authority 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:01.279 that Jesus has 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.399 is authority 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:03.960 that has been given to him 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.059 by God, 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:05.980 the Father. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.419 And that's the same authority 00:20:08.419 --> 00:20:10.659 that Jesus still has today. 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.019 Do you remember 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.619 at the end of Matthew's Gospel 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.799 we have the great commission 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.220 of the Lord Jesus 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.119 to his disciples 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:19.319 and he begins by saying 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.619 all authority 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:22.240 has been given to me, 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:22.940 given by whom? 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.879 By God the Father 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.960 in heaven 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.980 and on earth. 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:29.500 And John is bringing out for us 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:31.740 that Jesus has total authority, 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.500 authority to teach, 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:35.220 authority to heal, 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.759 authority to tell others 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.339 what their faults are 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:41.480 and to expose their hypocrisy. 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.099 And that authority 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:44.940 comes from God. 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.200 It's the same authority 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:48.380 that he still has. 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:49.980 Question three, 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:52.819 where did Jesus come from? 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.019 That's the big question 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.180 that seems to come back to 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:55.960 again and again 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:57.240 in the passage. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.380 It's the thing 00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.819 that's confusing the people 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:01.319 because they're looking at him 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.759 and thinking, 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.299 yes, this is someone important, 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:05.220 but he's from Galilee. 00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:07.799 Galilee is a little backwater, 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.279 quite a distance away 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.980 from Jerusalem. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:12.240 Jerusalem is not the kind of place 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:14.160 that important people come from. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.680 And it's certainly not the place 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:19.160 where the Messiah comes from. 00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.599 Now, it has to be said 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.880 that people were a little bit confused 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:23.500 about where the Messiah comes from. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.799 Verse 27, 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:26.599 they say his origins are unknown. 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:29.079 And then a bit later in verse 41, 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.160 they say he's going to come from Bethlehem, 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.120 which is true. 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.339 But one thing they knew 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:37.019 was he wouldn't come from Galilee. 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.740 And of course, 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.220 they just weren't realising 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.980 the Lord Jesus 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:42.180 originally was from Bethlehem. 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:44.119 But more important than that, 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.900 as the Messiah, 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:47.559 he had come from God himself. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.299 Yes, Galilee was his home. 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.859 It was where he'd lived 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:53.200 most of his life. 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.759 But he was born, 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:56.319 as the scripture prophesied, 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.799 in Bethlehem. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.579 And he had come ultimately 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:01.460 from the presence of God 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.740 because he was 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:05.460 the eternal son of God. 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:08.460 The people thought 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:10.720 he can't be important 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:12.440 if he comes from Galilee. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.680 Perhaps people today think, 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.819 first century Israel, 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:17.539 how can someone important, 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.680 someone who's a saviour, 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.180 come from there? 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.819 Well, the fact is, 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.100 Jesus did come from there. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.779 The Messiah was born there, 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:27.140 but he came from God ultimately, 00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:30.100 and we need to recognise that too. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.980 Question four, 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.900 what does Jesus offer? 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.060 We're going to come back now 00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:35.800 to three verses 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:36.880 that we didn't read earlier, 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.220 but I do want to read them now. 00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:39.180 They're really important 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.620 in this chapter. 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.240 So it says, 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:42.880 on the last, 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.620 and this is verses 37 onwards, 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:46.019 on the last and greatest day 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.740 of the festival, 00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.420 Jesus stood and said 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.440 in a loud voice, 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:51.720 let anyone who is thirsty 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.100 come to me and drink. 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:55.360 Whoever believes in me, 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.540 as scripture has said, 00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:58.480 rivers of living water 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.380 will flow from within them. 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:03.000 By this he meant the Spirit, 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:05.260 whom those who believed in him 00:23:05.260 --> 00:23:06.620 were later to receive. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.500 Up to that time, 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:10.080 the Spirit had not been given, 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:13.660 since Jesus had not been glorified. 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.140 I said one of the key themes 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.520 of the Festival of Tabernacles 00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:18.680 was water. 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.500 And what happened was 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.380 that every day, 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.820 a procession of priests 00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.920 went down the hill 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.600 to the Pool of Siloam, 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:28.040 and they drew some water from it, 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.740 and then they processed back 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.039 up the hill to the altar, 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.879 and they poured the water 00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:34.240 onto the altar. 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.240 Meanwhile, 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:35.819 the people, 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.159 the normal people, 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.319 were joined with them 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.399 and were singing, 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.099 singing verses 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.200 from the Old Testament 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.599 and celebrating 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:44.759 what was happening. 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.119 And then on the last day, 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.720 the eighth day, 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.819 it was an eight-day feast, 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:50.420 on the last day of the festival, 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:53.039 this happened seven times. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.240 Down the hill, 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.639 collect some water 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:57.020 in urns, 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.200 back up the hill, 00:23:58.580 --> 00:24:00.240 pour it on the altar. 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.460 And it appears that it was 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.880 while this was happening 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:06.259 that Jesus shouts out, 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:06.960 here. 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.880 The one who had, 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.720 at the beginning, 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:11.480 not wanted to go to the festival, 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:13.120 not be seen to be 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.980 drawing attention to himself, 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.900 now he is ready 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.480 to draw attention to himself, 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.759 and as this ritual goes on, 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.220 he shouts out, 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:24.860 and he gives a spiritual application 00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:27.100 to what's being done. 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.740 Now again, 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.420 if we look back 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.460 at the Old Testament, 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.620 there's significance 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.360 in the water, 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.839 and the water came from the rock 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.220 as the Israelites 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.299 were going through 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.960 the wilderness. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.539 There's significance, 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.200 we said earlier, 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.440 in the present for them 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.740 in terms of needing water 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.640 in time of drought. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.779 And if we go back 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.880 to Zechariah 14, 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.059 again, 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.059 the living water is there. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:51.339 It talks about water flowing out 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.659 from Jerusalem 00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.879 to the nation. 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.619 I'm sure Jesus had that in mind 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:57.539 when he was speaking. 00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.839 But Jesus says, 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.619 let anyone who is thirsty 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:03.039 come to me 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.659 and drink. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.419 Back in chapter 4, 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:08.039 Jesus met a Samaritan woman, 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.139 and he says, 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.159 if you drink the water 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:11.200 I give you, 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.460 you'll never thirst again. 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.579 So it's picking up again 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:16.220 the same theme. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:18.920 If we want 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.279 real sustenance, 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.620 real meaning 00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:23.220 in our life, 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.799 that comes to 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.779 drinking in 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.319 from Jesus. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.279 The water that 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.299 he will give us 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:30.299 is the water 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.500 that is life-giving, 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.339 that frees us 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.339 to do 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.539 what is right. 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:37.220 And John identifies 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.579 that what he particularly 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.140 means 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:40.339 is that those 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.920 who believe in Jesus 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:43.200 will receive 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.100 the Holy Spirit, 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.940 and the Holy Spirit 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.620 makes all the difference 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:49.220 in our present life. 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.980 When we trust in Jesus, 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.799 when we confess our sins 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:54.279 and believe in his death 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.680 for us on the cross, 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.220 we have eternal life. 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.140 We can look forward 00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:59.259 with confidence 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.440 to heaven. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.519 But we also have 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.380 in this life 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.480 the Holy Spirit 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.820 who is given to us 00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:07.160 to be our guide, 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.120 our helper, 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.700 our friend, 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:11.559 our gift giver, 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.460 the one who 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:14.539 changes our lives. 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:16.420 and Jesus is saying, 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.839 if anyone trusts in me, 00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.920 they will get this 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:20.000 wonderful blessing 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:22.599 of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:25.059 But notice he says 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.099 more than that. 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:27.759 He says, 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.119 yes, 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.559 come and drink, 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.539 drink of me, 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.599 and you will receive 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.819 the Holy Spirit. 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:35.319 but from you, 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:37.599 rivers of living water 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:39.539 will flow out. 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.619 Not entirely clear 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.259 what the Scripture 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.419 being referred to there 00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:44.000 is. 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.000 It may well be 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.879 Zechariah 14 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:47.500 that I mentioned earlier. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.279 But the point is, 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.859 if we have the Spirit, 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.220 if we have the Holy Spirit, 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.639 that is a great blessing 00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:54.299 to us, 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:56.059 but it should also 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:57.159 be a great blessing 00:26:57.159 --> 00:26:58.759 to everyone else. 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.220 When we have God 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.099 working in us 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.000 through the Spirit, 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.559 it's not just 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.480 for our benefit. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.920 It's so that 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.200 we can serve him 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.819 and so that others 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.759 will benefit 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:12.099 from it. 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.140 And I think 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:14.019 there's a real challenge 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:15.059 for many of us there. 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.519 If you believe 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.339 in the Lord Jesus, 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.700 if you call yourself 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.500 a Christian, 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:21.220 what difference 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.180 does your life 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.579 make to others? 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.839 When people meet you, 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.839 do they go away 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.940 feeling refreshed, 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.860 feeling there's 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:30.000 something different here, 00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:30.500 there's something 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.660 that's really helped me 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:33.259 and benefited me? 00:27:34.320 --> 00:27:35.460 Or do they see you 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.019 just as being 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.100 like anyone else 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:38.920 and there's no difference 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.680 from the fact 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:41.340 that you would call yourself 00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.340 a Christian? 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:44.779 If we have the Spirit, 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:46.019 the Spirit working 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.700 in our lives, 00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:48.019 changing our character, 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.160 guiding us 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.299 to do what is right, 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.420 should make us 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.600 visibly different 00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.600 to others. 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.200 As is the case 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.740 with Jesus, 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.580 not all of them 00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:57.480 will welcome it 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.660 or will think 00:27:58.660 --> 00:28:00.140 this is a good thing. 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.579 We should be 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.860 distinctive as Christians. 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.900 We shouldn't just be 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.920 blending in 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.500 with the world 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.319 around about us. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.240 We have the Spirit 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.460 and the Spirit 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.620 is given to us 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:11.299 so that we can bless others, 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.160 so we can build up 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.200 others in the church, 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:14.559 but also so that 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.559 we can bless others 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:17.019 who are not yet Christians 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.240 and help them 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.140 to understand 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.019 truths 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.519 about the Lord Jesus. 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.680 So what does Jesus offer? 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:26.100 He offers us water 00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:27.360 that satisfies 00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:28.640 but also 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.299 that overflows 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:32.400 and blesses others 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.420 as we have 00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:34.360 the Spirit. 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.519 And then finally, 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.700 the key question, 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.460 who is Jesus? 00:28:39.560 --> 00:28:40.320 And that's what really 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:41.860 is all through this chapter. 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.840 People wrestling 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.840 with this thought, 00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:44.799 who is Jesus? 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:46.019 Who is this person 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.820 who is here, 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:47.740 who is doing 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.920 these wonderful things 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.360 and saying these wonderful, 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.360 sometimes controversial, 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.079 things? 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:54.259 Who is he really? 00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.219 And I think there are 00:28:57.219 --> 00:28:59.359 four different reactions 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.059 to Jesus 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.740 in this passage. 00:29:02.479 --> 00:29:03.479 The first is that 00:29:03.479 --> 00:29:04.500 some people are very 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.179 confused by him. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.839 They're confused 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.599 at his learning. 00:29:08.699 --> 00:29:09.859 How can he know so much 00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:10.579 when he's not had 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.699 a formal education? 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.519 They're confused 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:15.299 about his origin. 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:17.639 Where did he come from? 00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:18.899 They're confused 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.719 about his plans 00:29:19.719 --> 00:29:20.379 for the future 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.560 and he says he's going away. 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.400 What does he mean? 00:29:22.760 --> 00:29:24.400 Where is he going to? 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:26.820 They just can't make sense 00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.940 of Jesus. 00:29:29.540 --> 00:29:30.120 Perhaps that's where 00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.240 some people here today 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:31.840 are too. 00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.600 Yes, you've heard 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.380 the story of Jesus. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.440 Perhaps you've marveled 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.240 at some of the things 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.040 that he said 00:29:37.040 --> 00:29:37.960 and the things 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.900 that are written about 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.020 him in the Bible. 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.140 But you're still confused. 00:29:42.520 --> 00:29:44.720 You still can't quite understand 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:46.060 is he the Messiah? 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.320 Is he someone 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.260 who you should have 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.400 a relationship with 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.440 or not? 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:53.119 If you're in that position, 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.819 I suggest the best thing 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.480 you can do 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.740 is to get a gospel 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.220 by John. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.039 We can provide one 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.640 if you'd like. 00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.900 Read through it 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.099 and see whether 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:02.279 what John says, 00:30:02.379 --> 00:30:03.160 what John writes 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.859 about Jesus 00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:05.220 makes sense, 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.339 whether he does 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.059 make the case 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.519 that Jesus 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.619 is the Messiah, 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.839 the Son of God. 00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.140 Great to take 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.619 the gospel 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.400 of you the time 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.200 and just to read 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.000 through it in a sitting 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.019 and just immerse yourself 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.960 in what John says 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.599 about Jesus 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:19.900 and then, 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:21.339 as God directs 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:21.940 your thoughts, 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.240 come to a conclusion 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.680 about who Jesus 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:26.259 really is. 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.920 If you're confused, 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:29.319 don't remain confused. 00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:31.039 Look what the Bible says. 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:33.279 Try to understand it. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.460 Second group of people 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:37.000 weren't so much confused 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.339 as in denial. 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.759 Again, 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.380 they were seeing 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:42.039 everything that Jesus said, 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.460 but they kept coming up 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:43.900 with reasons. 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:45.519 how can it be? 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:45.920 Particularly 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:47.740 where he came from question. 00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.400 How can he really be 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.440 the Messiah? 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.519 Despite everything, 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.600 despite all they saw 00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.640 and heard, 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.940 yet they had this 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.860 stumbling block, 00:30:58.100 --> 00:31:00.519 I can't quite believe it. 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.720 And I guess that's true 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.180 of many people today as well. 00:31:05.280 --> 00:31:06.180 Aware of Jesus, 00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:08.600 aware of what is written 00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:10.560 about him in the Gospels, 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:12.080 and yet saying, 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:13.099 how can someone 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:15.099 who lived 2,000 years ago 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.699 in a part of the world 00:31:16.699 --> 00:31:18.000 far away from us 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:20.019 who died a criminal's death, 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:23.419 how can he be God with us? 00:31:23.699 --> 00:31:25.659 How can he make any difference 00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:27.779 in my life now? 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.480 Now, again, 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.359 if you're in that position, 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.740 reading John's Gospel 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.699 or any part of the Bible 00:31:32.699 --> 00:31:33.480 is really helpful. 00:31:33.939 --> 00:31:35.039 But if you have questions, 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:36.579 if you can't understand things, 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.859 do speak to one of us, 00:31:37.899 --> 00:31:38.419 someone who's been 00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.419 on the platform today 00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:40.419 or one of the staff team 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.039 in the church, 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.400 do speak to us 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:44.340 and we can try to help you 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:46.039 understand perhaps 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.660 some of the stumbling blocks 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:48.779 and maybe be able 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.420 to overcome them. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.860 Third group of people, 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:54.060 they weren't confused, 00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:56.019 they weren't in denial, 00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:58.039 they were just opposed 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.880 to Jesus. 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.900 This is the religious leaders, 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.720 the Pharisees, 00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.680 the chief priests, 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.900 they just said, 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.880 he's ruining everything 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.860 we've built up, 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.580 he's exposing us, 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:10.259 speaking against us, 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:12.819 we need to get rid of him. 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:15.559 They even sent soldiers 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:17.079 to go and arrest him. 00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:18.759 Slightly amusing 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:20.119 because the soldiers go back 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:20.659 and they say, 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.919 we can't arrest him, 00:32:21.939 --> 00:32:22.960 we've never heard anyone 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.659 who spoke like this. 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.339 And that just riled 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:28.139 the leaders even more. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:31.039 They were totally opposed 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.759 to Jesus. 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.879 One exception is mentioned 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.799 then in the chapter, 00:32:34.179 --> 00:32:35.299 look out for Nicodemus, 00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:36.679 who we saw previously 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:38.580 in chapter 3. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.820 And again today, 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.940 there are many people 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.880 who are put off 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.860 by Jesus, 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.980 who don't want 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.700 the challenges 00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.820 that he brings, 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:49.420 who don't want him 00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.279 to disturb them 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.320 out of their comfort 00:32:51.320 --> 00:32:53.259 and the life they lead 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.640 and aren't willing 00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:56.640 to listen to him. 00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.420 Hope no one is here 00:32:58.420 --> 00:33:00.700 today in that position. 00:33:01.320 --> 00:33:02.620 If you are again, 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.940 I would urge you, 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.460 don't have the closed minds 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.200 of the Jewish leaders. 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.799 Look at God's word, 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.920 think about it, 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:12.220 and see that Jesus 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:14.160 really is the Messiah. 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.340 Then the fourth group, 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:18.140 they weren't confused, 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.279 they weren't in denial, 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.680 they weren't hostile, 00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:23.920 they believed in Jesus. 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.380 Whether it's through 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:27.779 what he did in verse 31, 00:33:28.340 --> 00:33:29.340 or whether it's through 00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:32.019 what he said in verses 40 to 41, 00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:32.920 when they talk about him 00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:34.299 being the prophet or the Messiah, 00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:37.599 they realized what he said 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:38.720 was what he was. 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.319 He was the genuine article, 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.559 he was the one 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:42.419 who people had been 00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:43.579 looking forward to 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:46.440 from Old Testament times. 00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:49.539 Again, if you're not yet 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.279 in that position, 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:52.159 do think about Jesus 00:33:52.159 --> 00:33:53.319 and who he is 00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:55.680 and of what he has done 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:58.059 and come to the response 00:33:58.059 --> 00:34:00.079 directed by God's Spirit 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:02.240 of believing in him. 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:04.120 Jesus is the only hope 00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.680 we have for forgiveness 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:07.120 for all the wrong we've done 00:34:07.120 --> 00:34:08.500 and for a future 00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:10.519 that goes well beyond death 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:12.019 and that brings us 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.219 to something much greater 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:15.579 when we leave this world. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.039 Don't be confused, 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.280 don't be in denial, 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.880 don't oppose Jesus, 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:23.539 come and believe in him. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.559 I said it'd end 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.659 with a rock music legend, 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.599 so let's do that. 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.320 It's Bono, 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:30.739 the lead singer of U2. 00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:32.859 In 2004, 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.139 there was a terrible 00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:36.879 terrorist attack in Madrid 00:34:36.879 --> 00:34:38.759 on the Spanish trains. 00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:41.819 193 people were killed. 00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:43.699 Shortly after that, 00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:45.139 Bono did an interview 00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:47.239 with a French journalist. 00:34:47.899 --> 00:34:48.679 I think they got around 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.399 to talking about 00:34:49.399 --> 00:34:50.039 how can people 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:51.019 who claim to be religious 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:52.739 do such things. 00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:54.599 Bono said, 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.859 it's not our own good works 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:57.799 that gets us 00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:59.419 through the gates of heaven. 00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.200 I hope we can all 00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:01.579 agree with that. 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:03.639 The Jews replied to him, 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:05.280 such great hope 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.079 is wonderful, 00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:08.400 but it's close to lunacy. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.519 In my view, 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.720 Christ has his rank 00:35:11.720 --> 00:35:12.599 among the world's 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.440 great thinkers, 00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:15.220 but Son of God 00:35:15.220 --> 00:35:17.820 isn't that far-fetched. 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.500 That's very much 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.220 the attitude of some 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:19.740 of the people 00:35:19.740 --> 00:35:21.019 in John 7. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:23.079 And here's what Bono said, 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.119 I've condensed this slightly. 00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:25.180 He said, 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:25.519 no, 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:27.819 it's not far-fetched to me. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:29.039 Look, 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.179 the secular response 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:31.159 to the Christ story 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:32.679 always goes like this. 00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.679 He was a great prophet, 00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:37.579 obviously a very interesting guy, 00:35:38.299 --> 00:35:39.319 had a lot to say 00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:40.039 along the lines 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:41.239 of other great prophets, 00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:42.659 be they Muhammad, 00:35:43.299 --> 00:35:43.679 Buddha, 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.239 or Confucius. 00:35:46.339 --> 00:35:47.559 But actually, 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:50.259 Christ doesn't allow you that. 00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:55.180 Christ says, 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.080 no, 00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:57.600 I'm not saying 00:35:57.600 --> 00:35:58.080 I'm a teacher. 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:59.140 Don't call me a teacher. 00:35:59.260 --> 00:35:59.760 I'm not saying 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:00.300 I'm a prophet. 00:36:00.640 --> 00:36:01.460 I'm saying 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.620 I'm the Messiah. 00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.140 I'm saying 00:36:04.140 --> 00:36:05.640 I am God incarnate. 00:36:06.540 --> 00:36:07.300 And people say, 00:36:07.600 --> 00:36:08.040 no, no, 00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:09.260 please just be a prophet. 00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:11.040 We can take a prophet, 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.800 but don't mention 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.840 the M word. 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.260 And Bono says, 00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:16.860 he goes, 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:17.940 actually, 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:19.800 I am the Messiah. 00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:22.360 So what you're left with 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:24.320 is either Christ was 00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:25.480 who he said he was, 00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.380 the Messiah, 00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.400 or a complete nutcase. 00:36:29.080 --> 00:36:30.440 I'm not joking here. 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.440 The idea that 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.480 the entire course 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.380 of civilization 00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:36.420 for over half the globe 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.940 could have his fate changed 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:39.300 and turned upside down 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:40.540 by a nutcase. 00:36:41.060 --> 00:36:41.840 For me, 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:43.800 that's far-fetched. 00:36:45.140 --> 00:36:46.000 So I'd urge you, 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.840 so would Bodo, 00:36:47.160 --> 00:36:47.980 think today 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.220 about Jesus. 00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:49.419 Jesus. 00:36:50.459 --> 00:36:51.339 Recognize in him 00:36:51.339 --> 00:36:52.039 the Messiah, 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:53.599 the one sent from God. 00:36:54.319 --> 00:36:55.599 If you've trusted him, 00:36:55.759 --> 00:36:56.419 follow him. 00:36:57.299 --> 00:36:58.259 Use the gift 00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:58.879 of the Spirit 00:36:58.879 --> 00:36:59.559 he's given you 00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.899 to bless others. 00:37:01.459 --> 00:37:03.039 If you don't yet know him, 00:37:03.439 --> 00:37:04.399 prayerfully consider 00:37:04.399 --> 00:37:05.500 who he is 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.619 and come to put 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.259 your trust 00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.139 in him. 00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.480 Let's pray together. 00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:12.460 Father, 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:12.860 we thank you 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:13.240 for your word 00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:13.920 to us this morning. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.360 We thank you 00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:15.079 for this long 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:15.719 and in some ways 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.719 difficult chapter, 00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:18.360 but yet which clearly 00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:19.579 presents the Lord Jesus 00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.579 as the Messiah, 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.119 the Son of God, 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.159 with us. 00:37:23.860 --> 00:37:24.659 We thank you 00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.900 for his words, 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:27.360 for the great teaching 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.760 that he gives us. 00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:29.619 We thank you 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.240 for his works, 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.619 for these wonderful miracles 00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:33.059 that we read about. 00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:34.480 But we thank you 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.920 especially for his cross, 00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:37.539 for his death for us 00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:38.779 on the cross at Calvary, 00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.500 and that he's alive 00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:43.039 and at your right hand today. 00:37:43.699 --> 00:37:44.500 Help all of us 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.519 to believe that, 00:37:45.779 --> 00:37:46.759 to trust him 00:37:46.759 --> 00:37:47.639 as the Messiah, 00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:49.519 and to follow him 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:50.679 as our Lord. 00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:51.699 Thank you 00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:52.480 for our time together. 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:52.880 Thank you 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.460 for the opportunity 00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.739 to meet and to worship. 00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:55.980 We commit ourselves 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:56.500 to you 00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.759 in Jesus' name. 00:37:58.539 --> 00:37:58.880 Amen. 00:37:58.880 --> 00:37:58.980 Amen.