WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.160 So I'm going to read our passage today which is on the sheets that were on your chairs. It's from John, John's Gospel, John chapter 8, beginning at verse 30. 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:15.400 Now let's hear God's word. 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:21.039 As he was saying these things, many believed in him. 00:00:21.940 --> 00:00:28.800 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:32.939 And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:39.460 They answered him, we are offspring of Abraham and we've never been enslaved to anyone. 00:00:39.939 --> 00:00:42.520 How is it that you say you will become free? 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:51.320 Jesus answered them, truly, truly I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:56.659 The slave does not remain in the house forever, the son remains forever. 00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:00.259 So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 00:01:01.259 --> 00:01:08.539 I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:14.579 I speak of what I have seen with my father and you do what you've heard from your father. 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:18.519 They answered him, Abraham is our father. 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:25.420 Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you'd be doing the works Abraham did. 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:31.119 But now you seek to kill me, a man who's told you the truth that I heard from God. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.799 This is not what Abraham did. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:37.280 You are doing the works your father did. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:41.840 They said to him, we were not born of sexual immorality. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:45.340 We have one father, even God. 00:01:46.579 --> 00:01:50.780 Jesus said to them, if God were your father, you would love me. 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:53.820 For I came from God and I am here. 00:01:54.800 --> 00:01:57.840 I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:00.780 Why do you not understand what I say? 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.700 It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:07.719 You are of your father, the devil. 00:02:08.640 --> 00:02:10.920 And your will is to do your father's desires. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:18.340 He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:22.439 When he lies, he speaks out of his own character. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:25.319 For he is a liar and the father of lies. 00:02:26.420 --> 00:02:29.159 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 00:02:30.180 --> 00:02:32.140 Which one of you convicts me of sin? 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:35.439 If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 00:02:36.359 --> 00:02:38.859 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. 00:02:39.559 --> 00:02:43.519 The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. 00:02:45.259 --> 00:02:47.879 Let's join in a short prayer before we look at this together. 00:02:50.239 --> 00:03:00.219 Great God of heaven and earth, we thank you that you reveal yourself to us in your word through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:00.219 --> 00:03:05.419 And we pray for your help now to be able to hear what you are saying to us. 00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:07.319 Help us not to harden our hearts. 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:10.479 Today we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:18.859 If you have been around these lunchtime talks over the last six months or so, you will know that we were going through John's Gospel. 00:03:19.019 --> 00:03:24.959 We took a break for five months and I thought we would come back to John's Gospel for a while. 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:32.259 And I want to talk to you this afternoon about the offer that Jesus Christ gives in this reading here. 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:37.039 Jesus Christ offers you freedom. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:42.060 As he speaks to his audience here, do you remember what he says? 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:50.120 If you abide in my words, you are really my disciples, then you'll know the truth and the truth will set you free. 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:51.659 He offers freedom. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:58.280 But I want us to see three things about this freedom offer that Jesus gives us this afternoon. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:03.620 The first thing that I want us to see is that it's an unwanted freedom. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:06.039 It's an unwanted freedom. 00:04:06.579 --> 00:04:10.599 The freedom that Jesus offers is not wanted. 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:20.860 The story goes of a street that was very concerned at the sound of a man crying for help in one of the houses on that street. 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:24.560 This man was clearly in a great deal of pain. 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:27.420 It was a kind of shrieking sound. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:34.560 A desperate cry for help came from his window in the top of his house. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:40.180 So the neighbours around him immediately phoned 999 and they got the police round. 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:42.780 The quick response unit came round. 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:43.879 They heard the crying. 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.620 So they had to smash down the front door to get to this man. 00:04:48.459 --> 00:04:54.899 Only to find that the distressed man was actually in the shower singing the Beatles classic, 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:55.379 Help! 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:57.879 He was just a really bad singer. 00:04:58.259 --> 00:04:59.720 Help! I need somebody! 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:01.779 Help! Just anybody! 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:03.560 You know I need someone! 00:05:03.899 --> 00:05:04.240 Help! 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:05.220 Help! 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:10.160 The embarrassed man, the Paul McCartney wannabe, 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:14.000 he sheepishly had to turn away the rescuers. 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:18.399 I am so sorry officers, it was a false alarm. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.240 I don't need rescuing after all. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:23.959 It was an unwanted rescue. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:27.100 Now that's a really corny story isn't it? 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:33.699 But, in a way, it illustrates how Jesus' audience received this offer. 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:37.399 Do you remember what they say in verse 33? 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:40.199 We've never been slaves of anyone. 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:44.879 How can you say, Jesus, that we shall be set free? 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:49.420 In other words, sorry Jesus, false alarm. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:54.560 Actually, we don't need rescuing from anything or from anyone. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:55.960 We're fine as we are. 00:05:55.959 --> 00:06:01.759 And as you hear this offer, maybe you're hearing it for the first time today, 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:04.120 maybe you might think along the same lines. 00:06:04.919 --> 00:06:07.199 Sounds like a great offer, doesn't it, freedom? 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:11.420 But the first response might be, oh, sorry Jesus. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:16.360 Thank you so much for coming, but actually, I don't need you. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:22.019 I definitely don't need Jesus to make me into a free person. 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:24.379 I do what I like. 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.399 I live my life in the way that I choose. 00:06:28.099 --> 00:06:29.299 I don't live in prison. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:31.479 I'm not a slave to anyone or anything. 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:33.319 I'm quite free enough. 00:06:34.099 --> 00:06:36.639 So, thank you, Jesus, but no thank you. 00:06:37.539 --> 00:06:38.279 False alarm. 00:06:40.139 --> 00:06:43.199 They say, we don't need your help, don't they? 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:45.740 And maybe for us, that would be crazy. 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:47.319 But what about them? 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:53.560 Because actually, when you look at the audience in this passage, 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:55.259 they could be right. 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:59.240 Did you notice who these people are? 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.399 Who is the audience that Jesus is speaking to? 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.259 Look at verse 31. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:10.539 These are people, John tells us, who had already believed in Jesus. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:16.079 They were, verse 33, offspring of Abraham. 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:21.800 So, hang on a minute, maybe they don't need a rescue from Jesus. 00:07:23.599 --> 00:07:27.819 Not everybody can claim the things that they can claim about themselves. 00:07:28.099 --> 00:07:29.860 Such a typhal offspring of Abraham. 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:35.959 They were part of God's chosen, rescued people. 00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:41.180 And actually, to be children of Abraham, by definition, 00:07:41.899 --> 00:07:45.379 meant that you'd already experienced a kind of rescue. 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:48.000 That's what happened, isn't it? 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:49.399 A rescue from Egypt. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:54.500 We all know the story of how the Israelites were rescued from slavery. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:57.620 That is what defined the children of Abraham. 00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:01.040 They were rescued people, weren't they? 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:06.939 And so, maybe this is an unnecessary rescue that Jesus offers. 00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:10.060 It is not wanted, because actually it's not needed. 00:08:11.339 --> 00:08:14.060 Maybe Jesus needs to rescue somebody else. 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:17.719 Jesus says to them, you need my freedom. 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:20.720 But they say, oh Jesus, we're different. 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:25.720 We're already part of God's rescued people. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:29.379 We've got connections with the church, don't you know? 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:33.179 We've got the signs of rescue, circumcision. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:39.559 We've got the law given to God's rescued people, the Ten Commandments. 00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:46.439 We've got the festivals and the sacrifices that remind us of that rescue from Egypt. 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:50.899 We are family of God's rescued people. 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:53.819 So we don't need your freedom, Jesus. 00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:59.419 But Jesus knows something about them here. 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:03.919 They are the religious thoroughbreds of the day, aren't they? 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:05.340 But there is a dark side. 00:09:06.819 --> 00:09:15.500 There is a dark side here in presuming upon signs and laws and festivals and family connection. 00:09:17.079 --> 00:09:18.819 Notice what Jesus says about them. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:21.800 And he gives us a clue, doesn't he, if you look at verse 31 again. 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:25.820 The author comes with this sort of caveat. 00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:31.700 If you abide in my word, and here's the bit, here's the key bit. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:35.180 You are truly my disciples. 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:38.680 You are truly my disciples. 00:09:38.680 --> 00:09:45.420 There, Jesus effectively makes a separation between two types of disciples, doesn't he? 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:49.240 A true disciple and a false disciple. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:53.819 And they fall into the second category. 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:56.559 They don't seem to oppose Jesus. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:00.639 John even says that they had believed in him. 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:05.740 And they are part of God's rescued people in some outward sense. 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:10.820 And yet, you are not truly my disciples, Jesus says. 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:20.000 Jesus' offer of freedom comes to these people because religious pedigree is not enough. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:29.879 It is not enough to have the connections that they have for them to be able to say to Jesus, we don't need you and your freedom. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:41.460 It is not enough to be able to say, I've got the ceremonies, I've got the signs, I've got the sacraments, I've got the family connections and the laws and the knowledge. 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:44.580 They are all really good things. 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:47.120 They're provisions from God for them. 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:48.879 They were good things for the Jews. 00:10:50.200 --> 00:11:00.879 But those privileges, and any privilege that we might have as believers, if we are, can so easily turn into presumption, can't it? 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:09.679 We can be steeped in religious activity and say to Jesus, thank you but no thank you because I'm different. 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:15.480 And I wonder whether that might be the greater risk for some of us. 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:24.379 It might be an unwanted freedom that Jesus offers you today because you don't feel enslaved, you're living your life and you're quite happy. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:38.320 But I wonder, for some of us, we don't think we need Jesus in a strange way because in some sense, and I want to be careful here, but in some sense we've got the trappings of Jesus. 00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:45.960 We've got the signs and the seals and the law, the Bible. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:51.060 But privilege can lead to presumption. 00:11:52.660 --> 00:11:58.540 Where disciples can merely be disciples by connection or by proxy. 00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:03.580 And we haven't actually come to Jesus and received his freedom for ourselves. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.860 We might think that religious pedigree alone is enough. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:10.400 Jesus, I'm different. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.160 And so it's an unwanted freedom. 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:15.540 It's an unwanted freedom. 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:19.839 And secondly though, Jesus says, despite that, it is a vital freedom. 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:21.959 It's a vital freedom. 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:28.599 Jesus responds to his audience here and he says, actually, you know, you've got this offer all wrong. 00:12:29.959 --> 00:12:33.659 This offer of freedom that I'm giving you, it's not an optional thing. 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:36.699 It's not for some and for others. 00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:40.620 For non-religious people and not for religious people. 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:42.339 It is vitally needed. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:45.339 And he gets to the heart of the problem. 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:47.360 Listen to what he says in verse 34. 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:56.920 Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.340 See what he does there. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.320 He generalises the issue, doesn't he? 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:06.879 It's not just religious people who need this freedom. 00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:08.800 Or non-religious. 00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:10.360 It is all people. 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:13.640 Did you notice the word everyone there? 00:13:14.900 --> 00:13:16.940 This is universal now. 00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:23.100 Here is the reason everyone needs the freedom that Jesus offers. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:36.220 And he explains that there is a slavery that everyone is under that is associated with what he calls sin here. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:40.519 That is the root cause of this slavery. 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:44.660 It is turning your back on God. 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:49.319 The chains that Jesus comes to break. 00:13:50.439 --> 00:13:56.799 Get their power and strength from this sin that he talks about. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:02.699 From turning away from God and from living as if he's not there and living for yourself. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:11.460 And the cruelty of this slavery is that its power comes from a life we think is freedom. 00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:14.340 As we turn away from God. 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:19.160 Just imagine for a moment a goldfish in a goldfish bowl. 00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:22.680 Imagine him swimming around and around. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:25.000 Goldfish, they have a two second memory, don't they? 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.500 So it's always new. 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.940 But imagine the goldfish in the bowl. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.000 Ask yourself as you see it there. 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:37.840 Is it free as it swims around in the bowl? 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.240 Imagine one day it's a very intelligent goldfish. 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:45.059 And it thinks to himself, do you know, I am sick of this bowl. 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:50.200 I'm sick of the slavery of this goldfish bowl. 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.539 I'm going to get out of here. 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:53.139 I'm going to make myself free. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:55.840 So he uses up all of his energy. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.419 And he makes an escape. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:01.120 And dives out of the bowl. 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.939 And he makes a break for freedom. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:03.939 And he's in the air. 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:06.319 And he's crying out, yes, I'm free. 00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:10.500 But then as he falls down onto the living room carpet. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:17.200 He very quickly realises that what he thought was freedom really made him into a slave. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:24.340 And his break for freedom is the power of his slavery. 00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:27.320 And he's trapped on the floor. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.840 And he's in great danger. 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:32.780 He thought that it was a bid for life. 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.920 But it brought death. 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:41.339 Jesus is saying that at the core, everyone needs freeing. 00:15:41.979 --> 00:15:44.719 Because that is what we are like in our lives. 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:54.279 The slavery we need freeing from gets its power over us from our attempts to get away from God. 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:56.839 That's what he calls sin. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:16:06.519 And when we do that, when we live that kind of life, oddly we believe, like the goldfish, that that lie, that that life is freedom. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:14.019 Any behaviour that says no to God, it feels good at first, doesn't it? 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:18.039 That's why temptation is tempting. 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:23.620 I rebel against God because at first it feels good. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:27.360 And that includes religious pride. 00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:29.199 That was their main problem. 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:33.620 But Jesus shows here that living like that is a slavery. 00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:39.000 Turning away from God, it may seem pleasant, but in the end it enslaves. 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:42.919 And this is life without God. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.139 It beckons you. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:48.220 And it calls you like a master and it says, serve me. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.319 And I'll reward you. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.740 I'll make your life fantastic without God. 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:55.460 I'll give you what you desire. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:59.840 You'll feel good about yourself if you live for yourself. 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.980 God will make you miserable. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:06.619 So give me what I want and I'll reward you. 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:07.900 Sin says. 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:12.000 But Jesus tells us the reality here. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:20.039 The only relationship, the only way that you can interact with that life is in a slavery to it. 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:27.700 The only doing of sin and of turning away from God is to be a slave of that kind of life. 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:35.400 You can't indulge sin and turn away from God and keep any ounce of freedom. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.680 Sin will take your freedom. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.960 He makes demands of you. 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:44.500 And offers you great pleasure. 00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:48.860 But actually in the end he will never deliver your heart's desire. 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.880 He is a cruel master. 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.400 Doesn't want the best for you. 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:59.840 We think naturally to live without Jesus is freedom. 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.580 To break away from him. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:04.039 That's what people think, isn't it? 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:06.039 To live for myself. 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.019 That makes me free. 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:08.920 Jesus says no. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.519 That is to enslave yourself. 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:12.460 It is to flap around on the carpet. 00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:14.379 To be in great danger. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:20.259 So the unwanted rescue is actually a vital rescue for everyone. 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.059 Religious people included. 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:25.039 And thirdly and lastly. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:27.460 It seems like a contradictory rescue. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:30.519 It seems like a contradictory rescue. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:35.619 The way that Jesus brings this freedom. 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.839 That he claims to be able to give us. 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:41.000 Actually is totally upside down. 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:45.259 It's the opposite of what we expect. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:53.139 Freedom, he offers, comes in a way that actually seems on the face of it quite off-putting. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.559 How does it work? 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.819 Do you remember what he said? 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.500 In verse 31. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:19:01.299 If you abide in my word. 00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:02.799 You are really my disciples. 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.859 Then the truth. 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.259 You will know the truth. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.779 And the truth will set you free. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.859 The word abide there. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.099 In the original language that John wrote in. 00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:13.960 It has the feeling of remaining. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.659 Or holding to. 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:19.579 Or sticking with. 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.039 Jesus. 00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:24.139 So think about it. 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.940 It's weird. 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.700 Jesus is saying. 00:19:27.820 --> 00:19:29.820 A truly free person. 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:32.240 Is someone who is. 00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:33.420 Attached. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.980 To Jesus. 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.160 A liberated person. 00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:39.360 Is someone who is. 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.640 Enslaved to Jesus. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.660 And his words. 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.240 Who abides in him. 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.860 And what he says. 00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.500 So hang on a minute. 00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:50.140 The freedom that he offers here. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.800 Sounds a bit like slavery. 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.420 Doesn't it? 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:55.640 It's like being chained to him. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.960 Holding to him. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.960 Abiding in him. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.680 And his truth. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.740 Exclusively. 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:04.860 To be the slave of Jesus. 00:20:06.800 --> 00:20:08.200 And that is what turned. 00:20:08.300 --> 00:20:09.779 These so called believers. 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.620 Against Jesus. 00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:13.400 It was the exclusive claim. 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.759 That living for him. 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.140 Was the only way. 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.759 For freedom. 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.440 And that was the line. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.580 That they just weren't prepared. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.259 To cross. 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:23.480 And that was what was so unexpected. 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.259 About the offer. 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.199 So contradictory. 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:25.839 About it. 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.199 Because. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.839 Holding to Jesus. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.579 Being his slave. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.220 Will free you. 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.720 Being held by Jesus alone. 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.899 Captive to him. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.699 Being constrained by him. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.659 Will set you free. 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:43.259 I was reading the story. 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:44.460 Of August. 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.620 August. 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.000 Cyprus. 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.759 Cyprus. 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.880 I can't say his name right. 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.360 August. 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:50.480 Cyprus. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.880 Cyprus. 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:53.440 He. 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:54.700 Survived. 00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:56.779 A massive volcano eruption. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.600 In the town of. 00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:58.519 Saint Pierre. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.800 In 1902. 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.340 You might have heard the story. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.940 Mount Pelé. 00:21:03.060 --> 00:21:03.880 Was the volcano. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.920 In that town. 00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:06.420 And. 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.519 It erupted. 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.799 In 1902. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.599 And it killed. 00:21:09.879 --> 00:21:10.379 An estimated. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.720 40,000 people. 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.279 In that town. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.339 It was devastating. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.259 But. 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.099 Cyprus. 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.079 Survived. 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.599 Cyprus. 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.359 Lived. 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:20.839 Because. 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.900 During the eruption. 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.379 He wasn't a free man. 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.339 He was a slave. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.440 Cyprus. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.240 Was locked. 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.420 In the underground. 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.220 Cells. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.139 Of Saint Pierre. 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.740 Jail. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.279 And when the immense. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:34.720 Heat. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.619 Of the volcano. 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.619 Reached him. 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.639 He was protected. 00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.819 By the thick stone walls. 00:21:39.899 --> 00:21:40.459 Of the prison. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.719 It's really ironic. 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.219 Isn't it? 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.000 The very thing. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.979 That he felt. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.919 To be a prison. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.739 To him. 00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.439 Freed him. 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:51.399 And gave him life. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.979 For many people. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.419 The Christian life. 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.699 Seems the oddest. 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.119 Of all. 00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:58.559 Doesn't it? 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.539 It seems the most. 00:22:00.979 --> 00:22:01.459 Constraining. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.299 Of all lives. 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.539 The most. 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.539 Exclusive. 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.759 The most. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.420 Close. 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:06.960 Of all. 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.059 To be the slave. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:10.079 Of one Lord. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.879 And one master. 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.720 Jesus Christ. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.819 But he is a. 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.460 A master. 00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.619 Who frees you. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.599 In every. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.799 Conceivable way. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.599 To be imprisoned. 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.399 To Jesus. 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.559 Is to be liberated. 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:27.619 The volcano. 00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:28.440 Illustration. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.339 Is a really bad. 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:29.960 Illustration. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.740 Because actually. 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.779 What frees you. 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.600 Is not knowing. 00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.079 Sort of. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.500 In an inanimate object. 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.279 Like a prison. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.700 It is knowing. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.400 A person. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.140 Jesus says. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.880 The truth. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.579 Will set you. 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:41.920 Free. 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.279 And that. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.019 That is Jesus. 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.840 Code language. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.620 For talking about. 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.180 Himself. 00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:47.120 Not. 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.019 Not just a body. 00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:48.600 Of data. 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.620 But. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.340 But a person. 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:52.000 The truth. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.259 Has. 00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.980 Has come down. 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.500 From heaven. 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.180 To reveal. 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:55.559 What. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.559 What God is like. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.779 To human beings. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.819 To show you. 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:01.000 Who you were made for. 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.440 And the only. 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.200 Way. 00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:06.059 To be free. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.079 From the slavery. 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.660 Of our. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.059 Our. 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.799 Our sinful. 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.539 Appetites. 00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.559 Is to know. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.139 Somebody. 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:12.859 Far more. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.599 Satisfying. 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.019 Somebody. 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.700 Even more. 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.160 Pleasant. 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.359 Somebody. 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.059 More wonderful. 00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.019 Someone who can. 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:19.599 Free you. 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.619 Augustine. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.859 Puts it really. 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.339 Well. 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:24.839 On this. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.480 Strange. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:25.839 Thing. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.519 Of a. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.639 Of a. 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:27.920 Of a. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.340 Slavery. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.200 That frees. 00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:30.080 With Jesus. 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:31.460 He says. 00:23:31.560 --> 00:23:32.060 Any other. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.759 Burden. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.400 Oppresses. 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.180 And crushes. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.460 You. 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.080 But Christ. 00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:36.780 Actually. 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.580 Takes weight. 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.100 Off you. 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.060 Any other. 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.540 Burden. 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.120 Weighs you. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:41.580 Down. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.100 But Christ. 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:43.780 Gives you. 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.340 Wings. 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.100 All of that. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.680 If you take. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.280 A bird's. 00:23:47.280 --> 00:23:47.560 Wings. 00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:47.920 Away. 00:23:48.020 --> 00:23:48.460 He says. 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.180 You might. 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:49.740 Seem to be. 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:50.560 Taking weight. 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.520 Off the birds. 00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:52.840 But the more. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.259 Weight. 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.140 You take off. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.680 The more. 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.440 You tie it. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:55.759 Down. 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.520 To the earth. 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:58.660 There it is. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.299 On the ground. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.359 And you wanted to. 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.000 Relieve it. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.599 Of weight. 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.420 Give it back. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:04.960 The weight. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.740 Of its wings. 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.559 And you will see. 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.420 How it flies. 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.940 That is the Christian life. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.339 To be. 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.019 A slave. 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.660 Of Jesus. 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.660 To be weighed. 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.019 Down. 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.619 By Jesus. 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:22.559 To be held. 00:24:22.739 --> 00:24:23.099 Captive. 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.719 By him. 00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.319 And if you. 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:26.919 Feel like. 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.759 That is going to be. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.379 A burden. 00:24:28.719 --> 00:24:29.339 For your life. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.439 Then. 00:24:31.699 --> 00:24:32.299 I just want to say. 00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:33.079 You don't know. 00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:33.859 The real Jesus. 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.039 You don't know. 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.439 The Jesus. 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.059 Of the Bible. 00:24:36.739 --> 00:24:37.379 And you need. 00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:37.979 To meet him. 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:41.459 Let me finish. 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:41.859 As we. 00:24:41.979 --> 00:24:43.000 As we leave this room. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.659 In a few minutes. 00:24:43.739 --> 00:24:44.139 There is really. 00:24:44.219 --> 00:24:45.019 Only one or two. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.059 Things that we can do. 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.779 With this offer. 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.399 Of freedom. 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.019 Isn't there. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.960 You could. 00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:50.600 Pretend. 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.800 You don't need it. 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:54.100 And say to Jesus. 00:24:54.280 --> 00:24:55.040 It's okay. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.019 False alarm. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.660 I'm different. 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.900 And it is really. 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.800 Really easy. 00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:01.380 To do that. 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:01.980 This afternoon. 00:25:03.300 --> 00:25:04.480 To look at your life. 00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:04.840 And think. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.620 I'm not a slave. 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.200 To anyone. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:06.960 I'm not a slave. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.480 To anything. 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.280 Especially. 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.640 If I call myself. 00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.259 Religious. 00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:14.420 It would be so easy. 00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:15.340 To do that today. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:18.280 Or. 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.400 You could listen. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.259 To Jesus here. 00:25:21.300 --> 00:25:22.300 Who would not. 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.920 Have offered you. 00:25:23.040 --> 00:25:23.480 This freedom. 00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:24.200 If it weren't. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.759 Absolutely vital. 00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.080 And you could. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.620 Turn away. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.660 From living for yourself. 00:25:29.800 --> 00:25:31.080 And hold on to him. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.960 And be held captive. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.600 By him. 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.500 And if you do that. 00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.360 You will discover. 00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:38.980 That Christ gives you wings. 00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:41.540 To be a slave. 00:25:41.540 --> 00:25:42.200 Of Jesus. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:44.720 Is to be truly free. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:47.140 Let us pray.