WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.780
 Do be seated. Turn if you will in John 1. It's very hot isn't it? If you feel you need to get up and wander around, get a bit of fresh, well it's not particularly fresh is it? But get a glass of water. Please don't, well you don't have to faint is what I'm saying.

00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:33.600
 And we're going to meet this evening at 6 o'clock and Sinclair Ferguson is preaching. He does pulpit supply around the place. I felt we needed to have him. So, you know, I know it's a big disappointment Ruben and I aren't on, but Sinclair will be preaching tonight.

00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:57.780
 I want us to look tonight, this morning, at John 1. And I'm aware that you need to exercise great discretion when you talk about your heroes. You can be guilty, can't you, of elevating a man or a woman. You can be guilty of talking too much about a particular person.

00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:09.859
 But it's good to have heroes. We were made to have heroes. Godly heroes, wholesome heroes, well chosen heroes. And once in a while it's good to talk about them and to commend them.

00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:26.159
 There's a man among others, one man probably who's had a profound shaping life, shaping influence on my life. He's now 98. I can see him probably kind of once a month. We talk about church life, we talk about preaching and various things.

00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:41.140
 I feel something more than respect for him. There's clearly that, but there's something more than respect. Something more than admiration. There's clearly admiration.

00:01:42.479 --> 00:01:49.179
 In as far as it's appropriate to stand in awe of a human being, that's what I feel about this old man.

00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:58.220
 And the amazing thing is, as I've known him over the last 30 years, is what he's done consistently is he has said to me,

00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:00.900
 Levy, stop thinking about yourself, which is a very, very good thing.

00:02:02.380 --> 00:02:07.360
 But he said to me, stop thinking about yourself and get into God's word and think about God.

00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:09.800
 Don't look at me, look at God.

00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:17.219
 And when I look at John 1, I think John the Apostle stands in awe of John the Baptist.

00:02:18.320 --> 00:02:20.420
 I think we can see that in the way that it's written.

00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:24.840
 Still, after all these years, after all the time that's passed,

00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:30.439
 in John chapter 1, 50 years later, John sits down to write his gospel.

00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:37.479
 And in all those ensuing years, John knew sense, as he writes about this guy, John the Baptist, he knew,

00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:38.960
 he stands in awe of him.

00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:44.539
 It's very likely, I think, that John, the Apostle who wrote the gospel,

00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:47.740
 was one of John the Baptist's followers, disciples.

00:02:48.079 --> 00:02:52.020
 It's very likely that he is one of the two mentioned in verse 35.

00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:54.699
 John stands in awe of this man.

00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:59.179
 He's seen his strange appearance.

00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:01.939
 He's experienced his authority.

00:03:02.339 --> 00:03:06.959
 He's felt the weight of God's voice in this man.

00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.519
 And so his awe for John the Baptist, you can still sense it.

00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:16.299
 And it grows out of his first-hand experience of John the Baptist.

00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:25.060
 First, nothing could deter this man from his purpose.

00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:28.800
 John the Baptist already told us, isn't he, last week,

00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:32.219
 John the Apostle has told us what John the Baptist's role is.

00:03:32.260 --> 00:03:32.920
 Look at verse 6.

00:03:34.040 --> 00:03:35.280
 Back in verse 6, he says,

00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:37.300
 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:41.800
 He came as a witness to the light,

00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:44.520
 to bear witness about the light,

00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.360
 that all might believe through him.

00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.680
 He wasn't the light,

00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:50.700
 but he came to bear witness to the light.

00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:51.219
 Do you hear that?

00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:55.719
 There was a man called John who was sent from God.

00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:59.780
 And his purpose was to call witness,

00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:01.760
 to bear witness to someone else,

00:04:02.220 --> 00:04:04.060
 to call attention to someone else,

00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:07.300
 to point people's eyes and hearts to someone else.

00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:08.939
 And again, you see it in verse 15.

00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:09.580
 Have a look there.

00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:13.300
 John bore witness about him

00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:15.800
 and cried out,

00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:18.920
 This was he of whom I said,

00:04:19.020 --> 00:04:21.020
 he who comes after me ranks before me

00:04:21.020 --> 00:04:22.480
 because he was before me.

00:04:25.020 --> 00:04:26.360
 So listen up for a moment.

00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:28.100
 John's purpose

00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:31.759
 in writing about John's Baptist ministry

00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:33.220
 can be summarized in three words.

00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:34.600
 So when you start off as a preacher,

00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:36.800
 they say, put your sermon into one sentence.

00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.639
 All good sermons are put into one sentence.

00:04:40.900 --> 00:04:43.579
 Great sermons are put into three words.

00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:44.199
 All right?

00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:47.120
 Amazing sermons are put into one word.

00:04:47.340 --> 00:04:48.420
 I'm speaking ironically.

00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:48.759
 All right?

00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:50.139
 Three words.

00:04:50.400 --> 00:04:50.600
 Okay?

00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:51.500
 So children,

00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:52.720
 what are the three words?

00:04:52.780 --> 00:04:53.160
 Do you remember?

00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:54.939
 Not me,

00:04:55.460 --> 00:04:55.699
 him.

00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:56.420
 What are they?

00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:58.080
 Not me,

00:04:58.519 --> 00:04:58.740
 him.

00:04:58.960 --> 00:04:59.240
 There you go.

00:04:59.240 --> 00:04:59.740
 You've got the sermon.

00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:01.060
 Not me,

00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:01.259
 him.

00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:01.780
 Now,

00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:03.800
 because the sermon is so good,

00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.180
 you can put it into one word.

00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:06.879
 Him.

00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:09.220
 Somebody says to you,

00:05:09.579 --> 00:05:11.120
 what was the sermon about on Sunday morning?

00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:13.000
 Not me,

00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:13.740
 him.

00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:15.280
 Or him.

00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:17.600
 That's John's life,

00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:18.100
 John the Baptist.

00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.379
 And as we look at these verses,

00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:23.560
 we see all the ways in which John bears witness to Christ.

00:05:23.960 --> 00:05:24.900
 Not me,

00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:25.560
 him,

00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:26.240
 he says.

00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.100
 In verse 19,

00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:29.139
 this is the witness,

00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:30.840
 this is the testimony of John.

00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:34.159
 And we see all the different ways that John accomplished that.

00:05:34.599 --> 00:05:35.859
 Pointing to Christ.

00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:39.719
 And it begins with this interaction with the Jewish leaders.

00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:41.739
 The Jewish leaders,

00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:42.519
 they're very,

00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:43.939
 very important people in Jerusalem.

00:05:44.979 --> 00:05:50.679
 They've sent a delegation to investigate what is going up on in Galilee.

00:05:51.019 --> 00:05:52.279
 There's this great buzz.

00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:53.679
 There's this great stir.

00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:56.579
 There's a man eating honey and locusts,

00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:58.059
 dressed in camel skin.

00:05:58.479 --> 00:06:00.000
 The people are going wild for him.

00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.420
 He lives in the wilderness.

00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:04.220
 They go out to him and he baptizes them.

00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:06.540
 John is the phenomenon of his day.

00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:10.120
 His ministry has caused a great stir.

00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:13.100
 His preaching has had an impact on people's lives.

00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:14.240
 Years,

00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:18.000
 after years and years and decades and centuries of silence,

00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:20.699
 God is now speaking.

00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:23.079
 Once again,

00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:26.019
 there's a prophetic voice that was being heard in Israel.

00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:27.360
 And so now they come.

00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:29.240
 You can imagine the film crews are there, aren't they?

00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.400
 The TV are there.

00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:32.439
 The radio are there.

00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:35.000
 It's disturbing the religious authorities.

00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:36.060
 They're troubled.

00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:40.920
 They're bothered by this outlier and John's independence.

00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:45.139
 Here is this rogue Levite preacher

00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:47.879
 with no real theological education,

00:06:48.019 --> 00:06:49.579
 attracting all this attention,

00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:51.160
 and people follow him.

00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:52.720
 And the religious establishment,

00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:54.259
 it's a big problem to them.

00:06:54.259 --> 00:07:00.800
 Because even though he was clearly unorthodox in his manner,

00:07:01.159 --> 00:07:03.740
 there's something unmistakable of God about him.

00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:08.539
 He's unorthodox in his manner and in his preaching,

00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:12.120
 and yet there's something unmistakably of God about him.

00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:15.980
 There's a power and authority in his words.

00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:18.740
 And so here they come.

00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:19.639
 They come thinking,

00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:20.860
 who does he think he is?

00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:22.740
 Presenting himself as the Messiah.

00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:24.620
 So they come from Jerusalem.

00:07:26.019 --> 00:07:28.899
 And despite the success of John the Baptist's ministry,

00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:32.000
 he is totally unaffected by his success.

00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:37.259
 He knows that compared to the effects of the ministry

00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:38.639
 of the one who is to come,

00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.699
 the effects of his ministry are like nothing.

00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.779
 He knows who the one is to come,

00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:50.920
 and he knows what the one who is coming will accomplish.

00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:53.920
 And so the delegation arrived,

00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:55.800
 the TV crews, they're all there,

00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:57.180
 and look at the interaction.

00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:58.120
 It's brilliant.

00:07:59.060 --> 00:07:59.759
 Verse 20,

00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.259
 the first reporter says,

00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:03.779
 who are you?

00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:05.279
 Everyone's talking about you.

00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:06.659
 They puff him up a little bit.

00:08:08.159 --> 00:08:08.860
 Verse 20,

00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:10.199
 he confessed and did not deny,

00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:10.899
 but confessed,

00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:11.659
 here it is,

00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:15.180
 I am not the Christ.

00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:17.939
 Verse 21,

00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:18.800
 they asked him,

00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.879
 what then,

00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.800
 are you Elijah?

00:08:22.599 --> 00:08:23.959
 Another reporter has a go,

00:08:24.099 --> 00:08:24.879
 and says,

00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:25.139
 well,

00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:26.779
 are you Elijah?

00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:28.120
 You know the prophet from long ago.

00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:28.819
 Is it you?

00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:30.019
 He said,

00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:31.540
 I'm not.

00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:34.939
 Third reporter,

00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:36.319
 getting slightly nervous,

00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:37.419
 says,

00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:37.600
 well,

00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:39.840
 are you the prophet?

00:08:40.179 --> 00:08:40.879
 And he answered,

00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:42.159
 no.

00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:45.179
 So they said,

00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:45.419
 well,

00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:46.319
 who are you?

00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:48.200
 We need to give an answer to those who sent us.

00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:49.539
 What do you say about yourself?

00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:51.519
 The director in the year piece is saying,

00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:52.740
 keep going,

00:08:52.899 --> 00:08:53.779
 ask for more.

00:08:53.779 --> 00:08:55.039
 And he says,

00:08:55.319 --> 00:08:58.019
 I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

00:08:58.279 --> 00:08:59.519
 make straight the way of the Lord,

00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:00.919
 as the prophet Isaiah said.

00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:03.959
 And we'll cut back to the studio on that point.

00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:12.819
 Jesus is the great I am,

00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:13.079
 isn't it?

00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:15.039
 It's been said that John is the great I am not.

00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.939
 I am not.

00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:18.599
 No.

00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:21.360
 Who are you?

00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:22.079
 John says,

00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:22.519
 listen to me,

00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:23.259
 I'm a voice.

00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:26.579
 I'm a voice of one crying in the wilderness.

00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:30.179
 I'm just an announcer.

00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.439
 I'm just the warm-up guy.

00:09:34.459 --> 00:09:35.299
 And that's all I am.

00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:36.279
 So don't inquire about me.

00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:37.539
 There's nothing here for you to discover.

00:09:37.699 --> 00:09:39.759
 There's nothing more you're going to find out about me.

00:09:39.959 --> 00:09:40.740
 It's not important.

00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:41.579
 Just listen.

00:09:42.020 --> 00:09:43.960
 Just listen to what I'm saying.

00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:44.940
 I'm just a voice.

00:09:46.540 --> 00:09:48.280
 Listen to what John says in verse 25.

00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:52.360
 He says there,

00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:52.800
 doesn't he?

00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:53.820
 They asked him,

00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:55.160
 then why are you baptizing

00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:56.220
 if you are neither the Christ,

00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:56.780
 nor Elijah,

00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.360
 nor the prophet?

00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:58.300
 And John answered them,

00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:59.520
 I baptize with water.

00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.600
 But among you stands one

00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.060
 you do not know.

00:10:04.580 --> 00:10:05.720
 You don't even know him.

00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:09.200
 even he who comes after me,

00:10:09.300 --> 00:10:11.100
 the strap of whose sandal

00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.060
 I am not worthy to untie.

00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.240
 These things took place in Bethany

00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:16.960
 across the Jordan

00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.139
 where John was baptizing.

00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:19.800
 The next day,

00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:21.420
 he saw Jesus coming towards him

00:10:21.420 --> 00:10:22.560
 and he says,

00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:22.920
 behold,

00:10:23.180 --> 00:10:24.200
 stop what you're doing.

00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:25.820
 Shut up and look.

00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:27.220
 The Lamb of God

00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:30.000
 who takes away the sin of the world.

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:34.700
 This is he of whom I said after me,

00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:36.039
 comes a man who ranks before me

00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:36.799
 because he was before me.

00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:38.039
 I myself did not know him,

00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.139
 but for this purpose

00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:40.679
 I came baptizing with water

00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:42.200
 that he might be revealed to Israel.

00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:43.919
 And John bore witness.

00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.399
 I saw the Spirit

00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:47.580
 descend from heaven like a dove

00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.779
 and it remained on him.

00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.100
 I myself did not know him,

00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:52.200
 but he who sent me to baptize with water

00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:52.779
 said to me,

00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:54.220
 he on whom you see the Spirit

00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:54.960
 descend and remain,

00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:56.580
 this is he who baptizes

00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:57.399
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.279
 And I've seen

00:10:58.279 --> 00:10:59.340
 and I've borne witness

00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.759
 that this is the Son of God.

00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:01.899
 Look at all the ways

00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:03.059
 that John bears witness

00:11:03.059 --> 00:11:04.120
 and points to Jesus.

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.199
 His preaching

00:11:07.199 --> 00:11:08.179
 prepares the way

00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:09.279
 for Christ's preaching.

00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.480
 His baptism

00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:11.720
 prepares the way

00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:13.120
 for a far greater baptism

00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.059
 that Christ will bring.

00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:16.480
 His theological description

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.799
 exalts and magnifies Christ.

00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:20.759
 His direct references

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.079
 called people's attention

00:11:22.079 --> 00:11:22.819
 to what he was doing.

00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:24.299
 Look there, he says.

00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:25.019
 There he is.

00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:26.919
 Look at him.

00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:27.719
 He's the one.

00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:31.819
 And then very deliberately

00:11:31.819 --> 00:11:33.620
 he takes his own disciples,

00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:35.120
 his own followers

00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.759
 and he says to them,

00:11:36.839 --> 00:11:37.579
 this is remarkable,

00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.299
 he says,

00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:40.459
 you don't want to follow me.

00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:42.500
 Don't waste your time

00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.339
 following me.

00:11:44.339 --> 00:11:45.259
 Follow him.

00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:48.059
 It's an amazing,

00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:49.959
 flabbergasting pattern

00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:51.360
 for Christian leaders, isn't it?

00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:52.500
 Don't follow me.

00:11:53.339 --> 00:11:54.779
 Don't lean on me.

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.799
 Don't waste your time

00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.319
 following me.

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.379
 Follow him.

00:11:59.579 --> 00:12:00.500
 And then,

00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.179
 John,

00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.319
 very deliberately,

00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:02.759
 doesn't he,

00:12:02.819 --> 00:12:04.120
 encourages the transfer

00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:05.240
 of their allegiance

00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:05.860
 to Jesus.

00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:08.299
 And so in all those ways,

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.980
 John bore witness to Christ.

00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:13.199
 Not me,

00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:13.860
 him.

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.659
 Three words.

00:12:17.439 --> 00:12:18.179
 Not me,

00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:18.779
 him.

00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:20.059
 That's my life's mission.

00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:22.939
 And so these verses

00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:23.479
 in chapter one,

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:23.979
 they sell out

00:12:23.979 --> 00:12:25.219
 several different ways,

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.500
 don't they?

00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:27.459
 That John spells out

00:12:27.459 --> 00:12:28.219
 the supremacy

00:12:28.219 --> 00:12:29.139
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:32.479
 These verses

00:12:32.479 --> 00:12:33.239
 really emphasize

00:12:33.239 --> 00:12:34.479
 how John went

00:12:34.479 --> 00:12:35.219
 about doing it.

00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.339
 How faithfully

00:12:36.339 --> 00:12:37.379
 John was.

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:39.740
 But the real question

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.559
 that we need to get to

00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.179
 this morning

00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:42.200
 is the why.

00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.639
 Why did John do this?

00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:45.919
 Why was John

00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.620
 willing to call

00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:47.639
 all attention

00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:49.360
 to the Lord Jesus?

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.899
 What is it about

00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.700
 the Christ

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.700
 that makes it

00:12:52.700 --> 00:12:53.939
 so important to John

00:12:53.939 --> 00:12:55.460
 that he is

00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.299
 resolutely

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.539
 refusing to be

00:12:57.539 --> 00:12:58.539
 deterred from his mission?

00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.519
 Why is he

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.240
 pointing to Christ?

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.340
 There's three things.

00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:05.799
 Number one,

00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:06.360
 I think this.

00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:08.340
 John the Baptist

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.240
 knew the identity

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:09.720
 of Jesus.

00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.940
 John the Baptist

00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:13.279
 knew the identity

00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:13.960
 of Jesus.

00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:15.279
 He knew who Jesus was.

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.300
 John comprehended.

00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:19.600
 He had grasped

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.320
 something of the

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.080
 majestic

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.820
 divine identity

00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:23.300
 of Jesus.

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.379
 Look at verse 30.

00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:26.300
 It's a remarkable verse.

00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:27.720
 He says,

00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:29.379
 after me

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.300
 comes a man

00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:31.740
 who ranks before me

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.399
 because he was

00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.000
 before me.

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:33.639
 You got that?

00:13:35.420 --> 00:13:36.279
 After me,

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.139
 comes a man

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.899
 who ranks before me.

00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:39.379
 He's more important

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:39.940
 than I am

00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:41.659
 because he was

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.500
 before me.

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.480
 Now,

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.259
 I don't know how familiar

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:45.899
 you are with your Bible,

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:46.740
 but do you remember

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.120
 they were related

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:48.680
 to one another?

00:13:49.680 --> 00:13:50.419
 John the Baptist

00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:51.220
 and the Lord Jesus.

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.039
 John's mother,

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:54.700
 Elizabeth,

00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:58.560
 is Jesus' mother,

00:13:59.060 --> 00:13:59.800
 Mary's cousin.

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.620
 I think I've got that right.

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:02.600
 Elizabeth and Mary

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.080
 were cousins,

00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:03.799
 the two mothers.

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.259
 And so,

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.179
 John and Jesus

00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:06.960
 are related.

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.340
 And in human terms

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.060
 of chronology,

00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:11.320
 the human chronology

00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:11.820
 when you read

00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:12.440
 the other Gospels

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.360
 is that John

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.879
 is older than Jesus.

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.220
 By about six months

00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:16.820
 we probably think.

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:18.700
 And yet,

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.200
 he says,

00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:19.820
 can you see it?

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.500
 Verse 30,

00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.720
 he was before me.

00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:25.060
 So that,

00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.259
 so what in the world

00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:27.899
 is John saying?

00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:28.720
 He's saying to Jesus,

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:30.100
 I know who you are.

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.500
 I know who you are.

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.600
 What has John understood?

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.360
 John has understood

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.080
 chapter 1,

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.480
 verse 1,

00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:35.980
 in the beginning

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.560
 was the Word

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:36.899
 and the Word

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.580
 was with God

00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.000
 and the Word

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.740
 was God.

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.100
 And he was

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.920
 in the beginning

00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:42.220
 with God.

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.519
 And he understood

00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:45.720
 that that Word

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:47.440
 had become flesh

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.340
 and there,

00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.320
 his cousin,

00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:52.260
 Jesus is the

00:14:52.260 --> 00:14:53.060
 incarnate Word.

00:14:55.660 --> 00:14:56.640
 He points to

00:14:56.640 --> 00:14:57.900
 an ordinary looking

00:14:57.900 --> 00:14:59.220
 Jewish carpenter

00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:03.020
 in his late 20s

00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:03.520
 and he says,

00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.960
 I'm not unworthy

00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.480
 to untie the straps

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:08.460
 of that guy's sandals.

00:15:08.520 --> 00:15:09.040
 And they say to him,

00:15:09.060 --> 00:15:09.700
 isn't he your cousin?

00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:10.120
 And he said,

00:15:10.160 --> 00:15:10.320
 yeah.

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:14.200
 And he is the Word.

00:15:16.020 --> 00:15:17.020
 And he is God.

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:19.539
 That's why he says

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.419
 in verse 34,

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.120
 can you see there?

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.559
 And I have seen

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.679
 and borne witness

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:26.159
 that this is

00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.860
 the Son of God.

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.639
 This is the Word made flesh,

00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.419
 very God,

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.139
 a very God,

00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:34.059
 one with the Father,

00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:35.279
 identical in essence

00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.240
 with the Father

00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:37.980
 in whom the fullness

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.259
 of God now dwells

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.199
 in bodily form.

00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:41.819
 And so the first reason

00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:43.100
 why John points to Jesus

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.819
 is because John the Baptist

00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:46.259
 understands who he is,

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:47.279
 that he is the Word

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.220
 made flesh

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.059
 and that he is

00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:49.679
 from the beginning.

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.120
 Here's the second reason

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.879
 why John points to Jesus.

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.919
 Because Jesus is the one

00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:58.980
 in whom there is

00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.580
 complete forgiveness of sin.

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.819
 Jesus is the one

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.559
 in whom there is

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.819
 complete forgiveness

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.279
 of sin.

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.799
 Look very slowly

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:10.519
 and very carefully

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.659
 at verse 29.

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:16.519
 The next day,

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:18.019
 John saw Jesus

00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:19.379
 coming towards him

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:19.899
 and said,

00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:20.620
 Behold,

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:23.000
 the Lamb of God

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.939
 who takes away

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:27.639
 the sin of the world.

00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:30.899
 And when John uses

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.480
 that language,

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.059
 that image,

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:32.759
 that metaphor,

00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.319
 the Lamb of God,

00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:38.160
 there are images,

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.600
 background images,

00:16:39.760 --> 00:16:40.900
 there are flashbacks

00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:41.800
 to the Old Testament.

00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:44.220
 And as some people

00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:44.860
 would no doubt

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.500
 have thought back

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.379
 to Genesis 22

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.460
 and the story of Abraham

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.740
 about the sacrifice

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.860
 of his son

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.600
 on the mountain

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:53.080
 and God stops him

00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.379
 and says,

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.260
 Look behind you

00:16:54.260 --> 00:16:55.660
 and God provides

00:16:55.660 --> 00:16:56.160
 a lamb.

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.020
 Some of them

00:16:58.020 --> 00:16:58.280
 would have been

00:16:58.280 --> 00:16:58.900
 thinking of that.

00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.380
 Many of them

00:17:00.380 --> 00:17:00.700
 would have been

00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:01.960
 thinking of Isaiah 53

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:03.080
 where the prophet says

00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.759
 there's going to be

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.720
 a lamb who's going

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.079
 to bear the sins

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.720
 of many

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.539
 who will suffer

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.440
 on our behalf.

00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:10.940
 But I think

00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:11.799
 most of the people

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.579
 who heard that

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.140
 would have been

00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:13.640
 thinking,

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.660
 because they celebrated

00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:16.400
 it every year,

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:16.880
 they would have been

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.799
 thinking of the Passover

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.519
 lamb.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.240
 They would have been

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:20.880
 thinking about that

00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:22.700
 sacrifice for covering,

00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:24.700
 a sacrifice for atoning,

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.819
 a sacrifice for forgiveness.

00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.120
 And with that meaning

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:31.039
 in their minds

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.599
 that God had rescued

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.339
 them through the blood

00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:33.879
 of a lamb,

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.220
 John now points

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.819
 to Jesus

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:37.000
 and he says,

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.159
 Behold the Lamb of God

00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:41.139
 who takes away

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.099
 the sin of the world.

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.200
 I'm not sure

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:48.019
 how fully aware

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.759
 John the Baptist

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.079
 was of the implications

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.019
 of what he was saying.

00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:53.579
 I think John the Baptist

00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:55.359
 speaks here

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.680
 more than he realises.

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.539
 But 50 years later

00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:00.220
 when the apostle John

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.900
 is writing this gospel,

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.420
 reflecting on these words

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.500
 of John the Baptist

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.759
 right back at the beginning,

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.720
 he's seen

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:10.880
 the sinless life,

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.200
 he's seen the sacrificial

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.100
 death of Christ,

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.380
 he's experienced

00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:15.680
 in his own soul

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:17.539
 the purifying effects

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.500
 of the death of Jesus.

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.480
 And as he sits

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.700
 and writes and records,

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.680
 you can just imagine

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.640
 John the apostle,

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.120
 can't you,

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.440
 with his pen in his hand

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.640
 recounting that moment

00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:28.180
 when John the Baptist

00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.140
 said those words?

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.460
 Recounting the gospel

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.680
 in all its fullness

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:37.660
 of the sinless life

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.780
 and the substitutionary

00:18:38.780 --> 00:18:39.800
 death of Jesus.

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:42.200
 John the Baptist

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.080
 points to Jesus

00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:44.180
 because in him

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.380
 this morning,

00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:46.880
 right now,

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:49.340
 there is complete

00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:50.180
 forgiveness of sin.

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:53.200
 It's so simple,

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.539
 isn't it,

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.920
 that Jesus came

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.080
 to take away

00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.860
 our sin

00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.519
 and our rebellion

00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.820
 and your guilt.

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.600
 Look again

00:19:03.600 --> 00:19:04.259
 at verse 29,

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.240
 just notice

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.019
 that word

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.600
 away.

00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:09.960
 He's taking it away.

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:12.940
 the Lamb of God,

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.299
 behold,

00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:13.980
 look at him,

00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.860
 think on him,

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.620
 observe him,

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.319
 the Lamb of God

00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.900
 who takes away

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:22.039
 the sin of the world.

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:25.059
 Listen to these words

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.779
 from Bruce Mill,

00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.799
 he's a great preacher

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.900
 in Canada,

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.559
 a Scottish guy,

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:30.059
 listen closely to this

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.759
 because I suspect

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.200
 that maybe,

00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:33.319
 you may be sitting here

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.660
 this morning

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.539
 and you need to hear

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.160
 these words.

00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.700
 It's what Bruce Mill

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.000
 says,

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.299
 he says,

00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.419
 few aspects

00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:40.279
 of the gospel

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:42.639
 need greater

00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:44.079
 or more frequent

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.960
 affirmation

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.859
 than this one.

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.559
 How many people

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.000
 struggle for survival

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.399
 beneath crushing

00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.700
 burdens of guilt

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:54.399
 but Christ,

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.759
 the Lamb of God,

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:57.240
 really has

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.240
 borne it all

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.759
 for us.

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.399
 He says to us today,

00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:02.019
 son,

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:02.879
 daughter,

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.379
 your sins

00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:05.139
 are forgiven,

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:06.940
 your sins,

00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:08.039
 your sinful

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.579
 deeds,

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.399
 I will remember

00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:10.940
 no more.

00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:13.720
 Behold the Lamb

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.139
 of God.

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.819
 Not me,

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:18.859
 him.

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.619
 John points us

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.000
 to Jesus

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.899
 because in him

00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:24.019
 and only in him

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.720
 is found

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.579
 complete forgiveness

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.619
 for our sins.

00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.759
 One more reason

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.779
 John points us

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.139
 to Jesus

00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:32.240
 is because

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.879
 in Jesus

00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.839
 there's new life.

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:36.859
 in Jesus

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:38.059
 you can be

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.839
 born again

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.679
 into new life.

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.179
 John points us

00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:42.519
 to Jesus

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.139
 because he

00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:44.019
 is life.

00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.659
 Look at verse

00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:46.339
 31.

00:20:48.699 --> 00:20:49.639
 I myself

00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.679
 did not

00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:51.159
 know him

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.559
 but for this

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:52.839
 purpose

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.299
 I came

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.759
 baptizing

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.480
 with water

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.399
 that he

00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:55.919
 might be

00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:56.579
 revealed to

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:56.919
 Israel.

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:58.759
 John bore

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.059
 witness,

00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.819
 I saw the spirit

00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.599
 descend from heaven

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.199
 like a dove

00:21:01.199 --> 00:21:02.059
 and it remained

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.679
 on him.

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.960
 I myself

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.279
 did not

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.659
 know him

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.000
 but he

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.419
 who sent

00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:06.700
 me to

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.099
 baptize

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.519
 with water

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.079
 said to me

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.039
 he on whom

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.619
 you see

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.000
 the spirit

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.500
 descend

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.460
 and remain

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.319
 that is

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:12.759
 he who

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.539
 baptizes

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.339
 with

00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:15.659
 the Holy

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.079
 Spirit.

00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.799
 Why is

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.259
 John

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.079
 using

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.740
 baptism

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.379
 language?

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.220
 And it is

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.819
 because baptism

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.480
 is pointing

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.099
 you to something.

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.839
 It is an

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.720
 initiatory

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.700
 experience.

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.359
 Baptism

00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:32.199
 speaks to

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:32.839
 you of

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.639
 being brought

00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:34.679
 into something

00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:35.179
 new.

00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:37.500
 It points

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.219
 us to new

00:21:38.219 --> 00:21:38.439
 life.

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.939
 That new

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.599
 life can

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.459
 only be

00:21:40.459 --> 00:21:41.199
 found in

00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.519
 the Lord

00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.039
 Jesus Christ.

00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.319
 That is

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.559
 what it

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:42.879
 says to

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.099
 Lily.

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:44.799
 It says

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.159
 to Lily

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:45.879
 her baptism

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.539
 speaks to

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:46.679
 her and

00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.059
 it speaks

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.279
 to you

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.579
 by saying

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.159
 new

00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:48.579
 life,

00:21:48.919 --> 00:21:49.439
 the washing

00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:49.819
 of your

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.379
 sin can

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:50.839
 only be

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.259
 found in

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.099
 Christ and

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.839
 new life

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:53.099
 in the

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.659
 Holy Spirit

00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.539
 can only

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:54.939
 be found

00:21:54.939 --> 00:21:55.500
 in Christ.

00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:58.979
 It is one

00:21:58.979 --> 00:21:59.339
 thing isn't

00:21:59.339 --> 00:21:59.599
 it to have

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.000
 your sins

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.359
 forgiven.

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.419
 But if

00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:04.439
 all it is

00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:05.299
 that your

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:05.719
 sins are

00:22:05.719 --> 00:22:05.859
 forgiven,

00:22:05.939 --> 00:22:06.240
 all that

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.500
 does is

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.019
 bring you

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.259
 up to

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.559
 zero.

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.699
 You've

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.000
 been in

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.379
 the hole

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:10.659
 and now

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:10.819
 you've

00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.119
 been brought

00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.359
 out of

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:11.719
 the hole.

00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:13.679
 You're

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.000
 just at

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.359
 zero.

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.159
 But Jesus

00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:15.679
 came not

00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:16.099
 just to

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:17.339
 forgive your

00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:18.059
 sins.

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:19.839
 Listen to

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.199
 this children

00:22:20.199 --> 00:22:20.459
 and young

00:22:20.459 --> 00:22:20.659
 people.

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.199
 Jesus came

00:22:21.199 --> 00:22:21.599
 not just

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:21.939
 to forgive

00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:22.279
 your sins,

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.619
 he came

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:22.919
 to give

00:22:22.919 --> 00:22:23.359
 you new

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:23.859
 life.

00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.039
 New

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.879
 life in

00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.199
 God's

00:22:27.199 --> 00:22:27.480
 Spirit.

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:30.220
 And so

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.120
 Jesus came

00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:31.940
 not just

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.360
 to forgive

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:32.720
 but to

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.099
 give new

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.440
 life and

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.319
 he baptises

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.700
 with the

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.259
 Holy Spirit.

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.680
 The language

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.339
 of baptising

00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:39.519
 with the

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:39.839
 Holy Spirit

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.500
 it is the

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.160
 language of

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.660
 new

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.360
 spiritual

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.799
 life.

00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.380
 So you

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:43.700
 think of

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.220
 Adam in

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:44.620
 the Garden

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.099
 of Eden

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:45.980
 and God

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.900
 breathed

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.360
 into him

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:47.839
 his Spirit

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:49.839
 and gave

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.420
 him life.

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.140
 C.S. Lewis

00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.079
 he picks it

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.339
 up doesn't

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.079
 he with

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.880
 Aslan.

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.480
 Aslan

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.480
 breathes on

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:56.920
 the stony

00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.339
 figures.

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:57.579
 Do you

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:57.879
 remember?

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.299
 And they

00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.599
 come to

00:22:59.599 --> 00:22:59.859
 life.

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.480
 And so

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.159
 Christ

00:23:03.159 --> 00:23:04.099
 breathes

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.439
 the Holy

00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:04.639
 Spirit.

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.299
 He gives

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.639
 the Holy

00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:05.859
 Spirit.

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.059
 He causes

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.639
 us to be

00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.519
 born again

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.159
 into new

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.599
 spiritual

00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.079
 life.

00:23:11.399 --> 00:23:11.859
 Just look at

00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.279
 chapter 3

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.839
 in verse 3

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.279
 flick over

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.539
 as we

00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:13.819
 finish.

00:23:16.199 --> 00:23:16.639
 Jesus

00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.220
 answered

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.679
 Nicodemus

00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:18.039
 this kind

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.519
 of religious

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.099
 man

00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:19.759
 religious

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.159
 leader

00:23:20.159 --> 00:23:20.740
 truly truly

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.099
 I say

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.279
 to you

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.639
 unless one

00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.220
 is born

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:22.919
 again

00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:23.980
 he cannot

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.359
 see the

00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:24.559
 kingdom

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.139
 of God.

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:27.560
 Nicodemus

00:23:27.560 --> 00:23:27.759
 said to

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:27.840
 him

00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.200
 what do

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.259
 you

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.360
 want

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.500
 about

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:28.759
 how can

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.020
 a man

00:23:29.020 --> 00:23:29.460
 be born

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:29.680
 when he's

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:29.800
 old

00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:30.060
 can he

00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:30.400
 enter a

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:30.759
 second time

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.000
 into his

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.259
 mother's

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.420
 temple

00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:31.620
 and be

00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:31.880
 born?

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:33.400
 Jesus

00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.700
 answered

00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.320
 truly truly

00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:34.920
 I say

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.100
 to you

00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:35.520
 unless one

00:23:35.520 --> 00:23:35.900
 is born

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.160
 of water

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.640
 that's the

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.120
 natural

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.640
 birth

00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:42.280
 and the

00:23:42.280 --> 00:23:42.780
 spirit

00:23:42.780 --> 00:23:44.880
 he cannot

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.280
 enter the

00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:45.460
 kingdom

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.000
 of God

00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.840
 that which

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.160
 is born

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.400
 of the

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:48.600
 flesh

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.020
 is flesh

00:23:49.020 --> 00:23:49.280
 and that

00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:49.540
 which is

00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:49.700
 born

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:49.920
 of the

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.280
 spirit

00:23:50.280 --> 00:23:51.640
 is spirit

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:56.560
 God's

00:23:56.560 --> 00:23:57.020
 desire

00:23:57.020 --> 00:23:59.660
 from the

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.020
 beginning

00:24:00.020 --> 00:24:00.540
 for us

00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:01.000
 to have

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.420
 life

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:03.160
 which we

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:03.420
 have

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.140
 forfeited

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.600
 through our

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.020
 rebellion

00:24:05.020 --> 00:24:05.400
 of saying

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:05.940
 God I do

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.259
 not want

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.540
 you to be

00:24:06.540 --> 00:24:06.960
 in control

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.420
 I am

00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:07.940
 in control

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:09.000
 our rebellion

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.019
 against Christ

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.920
 and now

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.960
 God offers

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.460
 to us

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.779
 in the

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.279
 Lord Jesus

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.340
 new life

00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:16.440
 Jesus

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.360
 baptises

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:17.860
 with the

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.080
 spirit

00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:18.539
 he gives

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.180
 life to

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.559
 us by

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:19.940
 his spirit

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.539
 there is

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.380
 life in

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.759
 him

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.519
 and he

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:22.779
 gives

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.299
 freely

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.799
 to all

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.059
 who will

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.460
 turn to

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:24.700
 him

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:27.500
 and that's

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:27.820
 why John

00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.420
 points to him

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.980
 let me finish

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.299
 it's really

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:30.680
 hot isn't

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:30.799
 it

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.240
 let me

00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.620
 call your

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:32.940
 attention

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.920
 one last

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.240
 time

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.700
 to verses

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.320
 34 and

00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:35.820
 35

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:38.439
 chapter 1

00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.039
 verse 34

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.480
 and 35

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.859
 just look

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.839
 at it

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:42.799
 John says

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.379
 I've seen

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:43.740
 and have

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.200
 borne witness

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.819
 that this

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.460
 is the

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.779
 son of

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.039
 God

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:49.220
 the next

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.659
 day

00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:52.039
 again

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.559
 John was

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.019
 standing with

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.419
 two of his

00:24:53.419 --> 00:24:53.799
 disciples

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.299
 and he

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:54.720
 looked

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.659
 at Jesus

00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:56.139
 as he

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:56.779
 walked by

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.379
 and said

00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:58.279
 behold

00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.480
 the

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.799
 lamb

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.379
 of God

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:02.560
 the

00:25:02.560 --> 00:25:02.740
 two

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.200
 disciples

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.820
 heard him

00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:04.440
 say this

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:04.860
 and they

00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.540
 followed

00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:06.220
 Jesus

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:09.100
 just

00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.620
 imagine

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.060
 the scene

00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:10.340
 for a

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:10.480
 moment

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:10.940
 he's

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.360
 already

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:11.820
 announced

00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:12.260
 very

00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:12.740
 broadly

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.260
 very

00:25:13.260 --> 00:25:13.840
 publicly

00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.800
 behold

00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.020
 the

00:25:15.020 --> 00:25:15.180
 lamb

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:15.340
 of

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:15.640
 God

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:17.920
 and now

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.300
 it appears

00:25:18.300 --> 00:25:18.660
 that John

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.240
 is standing

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:19.620
 with two

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:19.820
 of his

00:25:19.820 --> 00:25:20.240
 disciples

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.520
 one of

00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:20.660
 them is

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.040
 likely to

00:25:21.040 --> 00:25:21.240
 be the

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.480
 guy who

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.540
 has

00:25:21.540 --> 00:25:21.760
 actually

00:25:21.760 --> 00:25:22.020
 written

00:25:22.020 --> 00:25:22.240
 this

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.580
 gospel

00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:23.880
 and

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.220
 Jesus

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.780
 walks

00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.200
 by

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:27.120
 John

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.260
 the

00:25:27.260 --> 00:25:27.540
 Baptist

00:25:27.540 --> 00:25:28.420
 just

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.020
 turns to

00:25:29.020 --> 00:25:29.400
 them

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.120
 his own

00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:30.540
 followers

00:25:30.540 --> 00:25:31.280
 and says

00:25:31.280 --> 00:25:31.640
 there he

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:31.920
 is

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.560
 behold

00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:34.000
 the

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.180
 lamb

00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:34.340
 of

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.720
 God

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.160
 and look

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.320
 what

00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:35.660
 happens

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.100
 it's

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.200
 an

00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.840
 amazing

00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.400
 thing

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:39.000
 so

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.440
 undramatic

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.140
 verse 37

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.420
 the two

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:40.780
 disciples

00:25:40.780 --> 00:25:41.080
 heard him

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.540
 say this

00:25:41.540 --> 00:25:42.759
 they

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.040
 followed

00:25:43.040 --> 00:25:43.560
 Jesus

00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:45.700
 and clearly

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.200
 John

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.460
 as we're

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.620
 going to

00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:47.000
 see again

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.220
 and again

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.600
 is writing

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:47.920
 on two

00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.360
 levels

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:50.300
 yes

00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:50.560
 the

00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.780
 disciples

00:25:51.780 --> 00:25:52.420
 physically

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.240
 started

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.820
 walking

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.460
 after Jesus

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.920
 but more

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.580
 significantly

00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:57.160
 they're

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.500
 taking

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.259
 their first

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.580
 steps

00:25:58.580 --> 00:25:58.759
 aren't

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:58.980
 there

00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.779
 into

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.019
 a

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.460
 new

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.579
 life

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:03.620
 and that's

00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:03.880
 John's

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.220
 purpose

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.980
 that's

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.099
 why

00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.360
 John

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:06.539
 wrote

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:06.700
 his

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.000
 gospel

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.319
 that's

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:07.420
 why

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:07.599
 we're

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:07.860
 preaching

00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.140
 it

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.839
 that

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.339
 you

00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:10.680
 might

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:10.940
 know

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.140
 that

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:11.360
 new

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:11.759
 life

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:16.120
 just

00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:16.259
 come

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.480
 with me

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.660
 sorry

00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.019
 I told

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.160
 you it

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:17.319
 was the

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.500
 last

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.819
 reference

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.140
 but

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.519
 that's

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:18.660
 not

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:18.819
 true

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.220
 chapter

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.480
 3

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:19.660
 verse

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.140
 25

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:23.660
 as a

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.060
 discussion

00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:24.740
 arose

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:29.320
 between

00:26:29.320 --> 00:26:29.840
 some

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:29.940
 of

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.220
 John's

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.600
 disciples

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.020
 and

00:26:31.020 --> 00:26:31.620
 Jews

00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:31.780
 over

00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:32.360
 purification

00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:34.140
 and they

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.400
 came to

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:34.720
 John and

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.020
 said to him

00:26:35.020 --> 00:26:35.320
 Rabbi

00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:35.920
 John the

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.160
 Baptist

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.400
 he was

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.680
 with you

00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.100
 across the

00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:38.300
 Jordan

00:26:38.300 --> 00:26:38.520
 to whom

00:26:38.520 --> 00:26:38.800
 you bore

00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:39.060
 witness

00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:39.280
 look

00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:39.800
 he's

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.259
 baptizing

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.520
 people

00:26:40.520 --> 00:26:41.000
 and all

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.259
 are going

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.660
 after him

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:41.800
 you're

00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:42.040
 losing

00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:42.560
 followers

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:45.460
 John

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.759
 answered

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.200
 a person

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.500
 cannot

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:46.839
 receive

00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:47.059
 even

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.279
 one

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.500
 thing

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:47.720
 unless

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:47.919
 it's

00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:48.079
 given

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.279
 to him

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.440
 from

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:48.639
 heaven

00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:48.839
 you

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.299
 yourselves

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.599
 bear me

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:49.899
 witness

00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:51.039
 that I

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.379
 said I'm

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:51.720
 not the

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.119
 Christ

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.019
 but I've

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.259
 been sent

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.740
 before him

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.579
 the one

00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:54.879
 who has

00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:55.339
 the bride

00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:55.619
 is the

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:56.119
 bridegroom

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.940
 the friend

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.179
 of the

00:26:57.179 --> 00:26:57.700
 bridegroom

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.259
 well he

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.619
 stands

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:58.859
 and he

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.119
 hears

00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.240
 him

00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.440
 and he

00:26:59.440 --> 00:26:59.899
 rejoices

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.240
 greatly

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.500
 at the

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.940
 bridegroom's

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.179
 voice

00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:01.659
 therefore

00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.159
 this joy

00:27:02.159 --> 00:27:02.480
 of mine

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:02.779
 is now

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.179
 complete

00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:05.919
 why

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.799
 he

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.220
 must

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:09.539
 increase

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.299
 but I

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.460
 must

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:10.919
 decrease

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:14.920
 not

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.720
 me

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.640
 him

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:19.080
 and it

00:27:19.080 --> 00:27:19.340
 might be

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.759
 really

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.279
 tempting

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.700
 and maybe

00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:20.920
 I've

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.100
 preached

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.279
 this

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.600
 wrongly

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:21.759
 this

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.000
 morning

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.279
 you

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.900
 might

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:23.360
 think

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.019
 that my

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.400
 message

00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:24.680
 is

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.360
 be like

00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:25.600
 John

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:25.779
 the

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.100
 Baptist

00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:27.200
 and point

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.480
 others

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:27.980
 to Jesus

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.700
 and that's

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.100
 a very

00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:30.880
 good

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.240
 message

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.600
 but it

00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:31.820
 isn't

00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:31.940
 the

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.200
 message

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.420
 of

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:32.620
 John

00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:32.900
 1

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:36.900
 it

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.100
 isn't

00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:37.200
 the

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.460
 message

00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:37.660
 of

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:37.840
 John

00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:38.039
 1

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.360
 because

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:38.779
 we

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:38.920
 are

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.120
 not

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.340
 being

00:27:39.340 --> 00:27:39.660
 called

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:39.860
 to

00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.100
 follow

00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:40.519
 John's

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.920
 example

00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.299
 and point

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.559
 others

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:41.740
 to

00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:41.960
 Christ

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.180
 that we

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:42.359
 should

00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:42.539
 do

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:42.839
 that

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.279
 the

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:43.639
 message

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:43.879
 in

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:44.079
 John

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.359
 1

00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.779
 the

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.059
 main

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.299
 thing

00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.579
 here

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:45.839
 is

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.299
 follow

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.799
 John's

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.279
 eyes

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.599
 and

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:47.879
 follow

00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.279
 John's

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.639
 finger

00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:50.160
 and

00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.420
 follow

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:50.779
 John's

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.119
 voice

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:55.180
 the

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.440
 reason

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:55.940
 why God

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.160
 had

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:56.339
 John

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.480
 the

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:56.759
 apostle

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.079
 write

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.279
 this

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:57.440
 was

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:57.619
 not

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:57.799
 so

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:57.940
 that

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.139
 you

00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:58.339
 should

00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:58.639
 follow

00:27:58.639 --> 00:27:58.879
 John

00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.019
 the

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.339
 Baptist

00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.119
 but

00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.319
 so

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:00.480
 that

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:00.680
 you

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:00.859
 would

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.180
 hear

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.400
 and

00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:01.720
 believe

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:01.980
 the

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.319
 truth

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.839
 spoken

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.059
 by

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.240
 John

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.359
 the

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.660
 Baptist

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:05.480
 and

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:05.819
 follow

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.319
 Christ

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:06.680
 and that

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:06.779
 we

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:06.940
 would

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.180
 know

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.640
 Christ

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:07.860
 and

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:07.960
 we

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.140
 would

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.420
 know

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.440
 forgiveness

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.680
 of sins

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.120
 in

00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:11.500
 Christ

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.860
 and

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.279
 new

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.759
 life

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.160
 in

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.680
 spirit

00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:16.000
 that

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.080
 we

00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:16.200
 would

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.320
 have

00:28:16.320 --> 00:28:16.600
 life

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:16.759
 in

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:16.960
 him

00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:18.440
 and

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.539
 we

00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:18.880
 follow

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.360
 Christ

00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.480
 and

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:20.720
 live

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:20.900
 for

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.240
 Christ

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.799
 all

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.120
 the

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.519
 days

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:22.640
 of

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:22.820
 our

00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:23.220
 lives

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.320
 and

00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:24.480
 live

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:24.600
 to

00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:24.740
 his

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.039
 glory

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.120
 let's

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.320
 pray