WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:08.759 Well, great to see you this morning, folks. My name's Graham. If we haven't met, I'm the pastor here of the church, and it's just brilliant to get into God's word this morning. 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:16.859 I cannot help be moved every time we sing that song, I cannot tell, because of this line, and I just googled it before I came up. 00:00:16.859 --> 00:00:32.320 But this I know, he heals the brokenhearted, and he stays our sin, and he calms our lurking fear, and he lifts the burden from the heavy laden, for still the saviour, saviour of the world is here. 00:00:32.379 --> 00:00:38.420 And that's an invitation to us all today, to come to this passage and have our souls satisfied by Christ. 00:00:38.539 --> 00:00:46.000 This is what we need today. Whatever's going on in your life, whatever burdens you're bringing in here today, we need him. 00:00:46.859 --> 00:00:51.259 And he's here. So come with me to John chapter 1 and to these verses. 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:56.019 Now, as a preacher, you always start the week thinking, looking at the passage, thinking, what am I going to say about that? 00:00:56.859 --> 00:01:00.679 You always end the week thinking, in the time that I have, what am I going to say? 00:01:01.019 --> 00:01:06.460 Because there's so much that goes on in this passage. So come with me, and let's get into this passage together. 00:01:06.539 --> 00:01:10.659 There's so much to teach us. Here's a saying, though, as we begin and get into this. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:14.460 A saying that we use in our culture all the time, and I think it's wildly off the mark. 00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:18.739 I think I'm going to offend at least eight people in this room by saying it, okay? 00:01:19.479 --> 00:01:20.899 But bear with me. It goes like this. 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:27.619 Those who can, do. And those who can't, teach. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:31.439 You having that? You having that? 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:34.899 I think it's nonsense, right? 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:37.300 Here's why I think it's nonsense. 00:01:37.580 --> 00:01:44.920 Because I reckon that for most of us here today, the people that have made the biggest impact on our lives over the years, 00:01:45.020 --> 00:01:53.120 those who have left a massive stamp in terms of shaping the direction of our lives, those people are teachers. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:53.600 Yeah? 00:01:55.540 --> 00:02:01.280 So whether it was at school, whether it was at university, maybe it is at university, whether it was at college, 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:03.020 maybe it was when you were learning your trade. 00:02:04.080 --> 00:02:09.680 When we think about it, I guarantee you that you can still remember the faces and the names of the teachers 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.659 that have made an impact on your life over the years. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:14.520 I can. I can remember exactly what they look like. 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:16.120 I can hear their voices now in my ear. 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:23.939 But it just goes to show, doesn't it, that far from being a career and afterthought, teaching is a huge responsibility. 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:29.180 Teaching is a massive thing that goes on in our lives day to day. 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:30.960 So here's what I want to do. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:33.240 I want to take you from that established truth. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:40.800 I want to zoom out and go big picture on you for a minute and ask you the question that comes at us today from this passage. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:42.140 And it goes like this, okay? 00:02:42.139 --> 00:02:53.419 In the age that we live today, of social media influencers, of TED Talks, of Netflix binges, of fake news, 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:57.959 where our minds are constantly saturated with information coming from every direction. 00:02:59.079 --> 00:03:06.239 As we think about our lives today, who are the people that are currently informing and shaping the way that you and I understand ourselves 00:03:06.239 --> 00:03:10.859 and the way that you and I understand the world in which we live? 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:12.580 Who are those teachers? 00:03:12.700 --> 00:03:13.640 Here's a thought for you. 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:16.920 Everyone's being taught by someone. 00:03:18.220 --> 00:03:26.880 And everyone's looking to something to help them make sense of a purpose for their lives. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:29.500 Everyone's got teachers. 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:34.860 To paraphrase Christian writer Glenn Scrivener, 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:39.340 and I always do this just so you can click and maybe do this in your own time, 00:03:39.440 --> 00:03:41.880 these people that are really worth reading. 00:03:42.600 --> 00:03:45.140 In his wonderful little book, The Air We Breathe, 00:03:46.140 --> 00:03:47.860 to paraphrase what he says, he says this, 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:49.040 we're like goldfish. 00:03:49.980 --> 00:03:53.900 If someone from outside the tank were to ask us if we like the water that we're swimming in, 00:03:53.980 --> 00:03:56.920 well, we'd simply reply, what's water? 00:03:57.620 --> 00:03:58.680 Now think about that image for a minute. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:03:59.420 I think that's quite cool. 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:00.919 What's water? 00:04:01.679 --> 00:04:05.759 In other words, aren't we just so blissfully unaware of the ideas that we're absorbing 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:11.560 and the truths we are assuming simply because we happen to live in the day in which we do? 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:16.620 Always amazes me when we think about how different we are as a generation to that generation 10 years ago. 00:04:17.599 --> 00:04:21.779 And what did you think that generation 10 years ago thought about the previous generation of 10 years ago? 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:26.379 And you can keep on going back to the fact that culture changes. 00:04:27.779 --> 00:04:29.699 We're all swimming in cultural waters. 00:04:31.239 --> 00:04:32.839 Everyone's being taught by someone. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:35.979 Everyone's pursuing some version of the good life. 00:04:36.059 --> 00:04:37.379 Now I had a night of my own last night. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:40.319 I was flicking through the channels, happened to watch BBC One. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:41.079 Better well watch that. 00:04:41.179 --> 00:04:43.099 Dermot O'Leary interviewing Robbie Williams. 00:04:43.719 --> 00:04:44.339 Anyone see that? 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:45.699 No? Just me? 00:04:45.899 --> 00:04:47.059 Lonely Saturday night for one. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:47.459 Okay? 00:04:49.039 --> 00:04:50.839 Robbie Williams is reflecting on his life. 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:53.239 The greatest pop singer I think we've ever produced in the UK. 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:55.219 You can argue about that afterwards if you want. 00:04:55.359 --> 00:04:55.500 Okay? 00:04:56.919 --> 00:04:58.139 Certainly in terms of successes. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:01.799 And he talks about how he was pursuing this good life that he thought was there. 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:06.039 As he watched boy bands in the States get all the glory and all the fame. 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:07.039 He thought, I wanted it. 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:07.759 I want it. 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:09.299 And so he keeps pursuing it. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:14.219 And they're watching clips of him performing at Wembley in front of thousands of people. 00:05:14.339 --> 00:05:19.159 And he remarks as he's doing his thing on stage that I was in the zone. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:22.620 But behind the scenes, I was crumbling. 00:05:23.260 --> 00:05:25.980 I was right on that stage having an existential crisis. 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:27.160 What is my life about? 00:05:27.260 --> 00:05:30.760 And in his own words, he was like, I was in the middle of a mental breakdown. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:32.440 And nobody had a clue. 00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:36.360 And of course, what are all those thousands of people doing as they're watching him? 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:37.660 Thinking about the good life. 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:39.720 That he's got it. 00:05:40.620 --> 00:05:41.780 It's interesting, isn't it, friends? 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:47.739 And once we get there, the things that we think are going to satisfy our souls never, ever do. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:50.739 And what we need, if we can go back to the goldfish for a minute. 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:56.899 Okay, what we need then as human beings swimming in this tank is somebody from outside the tank to speak in. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:05:58.239 Yeah? 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:00.759 Somebody from outside the tank to speak in. 00:06:01.119 --> 00:06:02.199 We need the eternal. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:04.779 C.S. Lewis had this phrase that everything is not eternal. 00:06:04.919 --> 00:06:06.359 It's eternally out of date. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:10.319 Okay, that's exactly what John's been telling us in his gospel. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:13.340 Jesus is the voice from outside the tank. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:18.199 If you've got it there, verse 18 of chapter 1, here's what he's been telling us, right? 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.819 Verse 18 of chapter 1. 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:29.660 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:32.379 That word there, he is face to face with God. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.360 He has made him known. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:41.699 In other words, Christ Jesus, as he steps onto the pages of human history, is that voice from outside the tank. 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:48.120 And so with that set up, here's the key word that's right at the heart of the passage today. 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:51.120 Here's the key word that's the invitation of this passage today. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:54.439 And four times we get it in these verses. 00:06:55.020 --> 00:06:56.860 You probably noticed it as we read through. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:59.199 It's the word follow. 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:01.080 Follow. 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:08.740 Concept that's right at the heart of the Bible's understanding of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:11.899 It's to be a follower. 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:14.519 Let's do a little bit of work on that word. 00:07:15.659 --> 00:07:20.159 To follow is to do more than tail. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:23.439 This is not tailing we're talking about. 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:27.000 This is not like when you go out with your friends and someone shouts everyone back to my place. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.660 You say, I don't know where I'm going. 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:29.260 I don't know the way. 00:07:29.340 --> 00:07:31.700 They say, I'll hop in the car in front and you just follow me. 00:07:31.820 --> 00:07:34.880 And just blindly, you just follow. 00:07:35.320 --> 00:07:36.340 That's tailing. 00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:43.080 But to follow in the Bible is an invitation to become a pursuer of Jesus. 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:49.599 It's an invitation to become a lifelong learner of Jesus. 00:07:50.979 --> 00:07:54.779 As Jesus says to us, come and watch what I do. 00:07:55.939 --> 00:07:57.519 Come and learn from me. 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:01.199 Listen to and absorb what I say. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:04.560 Plant yourself in my promises. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:08.199 And as it were, water my words as they took root in your soul. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:14.639 And allow me through my Holy Spirit, through the Holy Spirit, to shape you more into my likeness. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:17.160 And that's what God is doing in our lives as we pursue Jesus. 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:20.819 Our lives are becoming more like his. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:25.379 So when Jesus says, follow me. 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:30.220 He's saying, come and let me be your teacher. 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.080 Come and learn from me. 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:41.180 Now in the context of John, you might remember back in chapter 1, John had introduced us to the tragedy. 00:08:41.520 --> 00:08:43.480 And you get it in verse 11 if you want to look there. 00:08:43.660 --> 00:08:44.160 Verse 11. 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:45.000 Here's the tragedy. 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:51.440 The tragedy is that the voice from outside the tank, the creator, stepped into this creation. 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:54.759 And the world did not receive him. 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:55.900 Do you see that word, receive him? 00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:59.420 The world did not want to know as Jesus steps in. 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:04.799 But he also talked about those who would believe in his name. 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:07.120 Those who would receive him. 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:11.120 And so says John from verse 35. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.179 Let me tell you about four people who received him. 00:09:14.179 --> 00:09:21.819 And so let's listen, friends, to four men tell us their stories. 00:09:23.099 --> 00:09:23.359 Okay. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:27.899 Now as John tells us about these first disciples, these men who would become, 00:09:29.459 --> 00:09:32.419 because they'd been with Jesus, the pillars of the early church, 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.019 he's clearly establishing their credibility in the minds of the first readers. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:43.139 The section, if you notice it, and again, just look at it, it's full of eyewitness details. 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:46.279 Little details that you might just skip over when you first read it. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:46.879 Okay. 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:48.720 See if you can spot them as we go through this. 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:51.159 John tells you what time of day it was. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:52.360 Okay. 00:09:52.439 --> 00:09:53.600 Where on the map we are. 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:54.919 He's interested in geography. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:56.019 I think that's why we'd get on. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:56.639 Love geography. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:57.539 Love looking at maps. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:09:57.779 Right. 00:09:57.819 --> 00:09:59.439 He's telling us about the names of people. 00:09:59.819 --> 00:10:01.620 He's telling us that someone saw something. 00:10:01.699 --> 00:10:03.840 He's telling us that somebody heard something. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:09.580 And it's always good to remember at this point that the Bible doesn't belong in the fiction section of Waterstones. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:10.840 Right. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:14.540 You won't find it in the self-improvement section of Amazon. 00:10:15.420 --> 00:10:19.139 What we're dealing with here is historical testimony. 00:10:19.800 --> 00:10:23.460 Which is why I'd recommend if you want to be, if you want to research it, 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.300 but also if you just want your faith to be furnished by that truth. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:30.420 Can I recommend this wonderful little book called Can We Trust the Gospels by a guy called Pete Williams. 00:10:31.420 --> 00:10:31.560 Right. 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:33.540 One of the smartest men I think I've ever come across. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:38.839 He's the principal of Tyndale House down in Cambridge, interacting with academics all over the place. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:42.219 And he's written this book called Can We Trust the Gospels? 00:10:42.219 --> 00:10:48.419 And he's looking at this exact thing and why we can stake our lives on what it says about Jesus here. 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:57.259 But in addition to that, each of these four individuals in their own unique way are telling us something about Jesus. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.599 So let's just quickly get through them. 00:10:59.599 --> 00:11:01.519 We get Andrew at verse 40. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:07.159 And Andrew's story is that Jesus invited me. 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:08.860 Okay. 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:09.980 Now just look at the text. 00:11:10.199 --> 00:11:12.199 What was Andrew doing before he met Jesus? 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:14.840 Verse 35. 00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:16.819 He was a disciple of John the Baptist. 00:11:16.939 --> 00:11:17.439 Do you see that? 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:25.760 And he hears John declare, when John sees Jesus, behold the Lamb of God. 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:26.840 Now we heard about that last week. 00:11:26.920 --> 00:11:30.200 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:11:30.380 --> 00:11:30.780 Behold. 00:11:30.900 --> 00:11:33.760 That just means get your eyes up and look at him. 00:11:35.020 --> 00:11:36.060 Behold the Lamb of God. 00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:38.179 Oh friends, I love John's heart here. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.659 He's not in the business of keeping people. 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.019 Right? 00:11:43.079 --> 00:11:45.659 He's not in the business of building brand JTB. 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.099 Is he? 00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:47.799 He's not hoarding people. 00:11:47.979 --> 00:11:48.659 What is he doing? 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:51.159 He's giving them away. 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:55.179 How tempting would that have been for him to hoard people? 00:11:55.239 --> 00:11:56.339 Who doesn't love disciples? 00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.039 Right? 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.399 Imagine these guys following you around trying to learn from you. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.799 What's going to do for your ego and self-confidence? 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:02.219 Right? 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:08.839 But he gives away people because he's in the business of being the pointer to the Lamb of God. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:10.819 And again, you get into the text. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.120 Okay? 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:17.919 The fact that these guys respond so quickly shows us that John has been preparing them for his coming. 00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:19.339 Doesn't it? 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.439 Discussing with them God's salvation plan. 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:31.240 Meditating with them on the fact that God is going to send a sin-bearing Savior who's going to deliver us from our greatest problem in life. 00:12:32.660 --> 00:12:38.380 And so when John says, there's the Lamb of God, there's an awful lot of background to that that the disciples are calling upon. 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:43.960 Look at him, draw on that knowledge and think, that's where I'm going to spend my life, following him. 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:50.080 And verse 38, Jesus invites them to come and see where he's staying. 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:51.720 Love that. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:54.540 But do you know what bugged me this week? 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:57.400 Because I'm by nature a cat. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:12:59.080 Right? 00:12:59.160 --> 00:13:02.220 And curiosity always gets the better of me with these things. 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.300 We're told, do you see that? 00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:07.080 Again, the eyewitness detail in the text. 00:13:08.400 --> 00:13:11.020 That they saw where Jesus was staying. 00:13:11.660 --> 00:13:12.240 Do you see it? 00:13:14.140 --> 00:13:16.100 But would you not love to know what they saw? 00:13:17.760 --> 00:13:20.720 Would you not love to know where they went? 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:20.920 What? 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:26.520 I often think that the Lord doesn't tell us these details because if he did. 00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:30.100 Do you not think that somebody would have turned that into a tourist site? 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:31.260 Genuinely? 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.300 Right? 00:13:33.380 --> 00:13:33.860 For $50? 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:35.680 Pounds? 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.720 Come and sit round the fire where they talked? 00:13:37.780 --> 00:13:39.460 Become a Capernaum club card holder? 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:41.240 Have a cup of tea from the kettle that they used? 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.120 Do we not have a fine way as human beings? 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:48.259 Have having all the facts but completely missing the point? 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:52.819 I think that's exactly what we would have done if we would have known exactly where they went. 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.519 Come and see. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:54.379 Come and see. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:14:03.559 But the point is, I think, that these disciples, Andrew's mind was so full of truth about what God would do. 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:11.219 He was so overjoyed when he met the Lamb that the cost of following him, as he looked at where Jesus was staying. 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:13.859 And let's be clear, it's not the Ritz Hotel, right? 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:22.379 As he looked at it and as he contemplated the fact that the shape of Jesus' life was now going to become the shape of his life as he followed his rabbi, his teacher. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:31.740 That was nowhere near enough from stopping them from following him because they had found the greatest treasure in life. 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:37.639 Do you not love the way that the Bible describes, Jesus describes what it is to find him. 00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:42.779 That one verse parable we get in Matthew that it's like a man who found treasure in a field. 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:48.960 And he went and he hid the treasure and he sold everything that he had so that he could buy the field. 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:51.759 Because the treasure was there. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:55.200 And Jesus says, that's exactly what it is to find and follow me. 00:14:57.899 --> 00:15:00.939 Friends, we've got to ask ourselves at this point, is he the greatest treasure of our lives? 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.200 Do we love him? Do we want to know him more? 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:13.220 Oh friends, Andrew's saying Jesus invited me. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.419 Love what he does next. 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:19.039 The invited becomes the inviter. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:19.939 Do you see it? 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:23.680 Verse 41, Andrew goes and finds his brother Simon. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.480 And he brings Simon to Jesus. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:29.460 And there's something wonderfully childlike about that, is there not? 00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:32.800 My kids always do that when they run in from the garden. 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:34.560 They did it this morning, just before we came out. 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:37.320 Daddy, daddy, daddy, we're blowing bubbles. 00:15:38.760 --> 00:15:41.180 Like I'd never seen one in my life before, right? 00:15:41.260 --> 00:15:42.440 Daddy, we're blowing bubbles. 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.880 But they want me to come and share in their excitement, don't they? 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:47.980 Come and share in this. 00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:52.840 Oh friends, how true is it in life that no one needs to teach us to talk about the things that excite us? 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:58.060 How often we overcomplicate evangelism. 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:02.500 At his heart, is it not just this? 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:08.879 Is it not just the overflow of what excites us? 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:14.459 Christ, what we found in him, it excites us. 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.659 That's what's going on with Andrew here. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:20.659 The joy in Andrew's heart, it bursts over into invitation. 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:21.799 And what does he say? 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:22.899 Come and see. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.980 Here's Peter's story. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.439 Andrew says, Jesus invited me. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:28.799 Peter says, Jesus changed me. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:33.699 I love that Peter, as John records it, if you notice it in the details here in the text. 00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:36.819 Peter doesn't say a word. 00:16:38.219 --> 00:16:39.600 Do you see that in the text? 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.679 He does not say a word. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:44.439 Which is quite striking, is it not? 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:49.740 Given the fact that from this point on, this man will go on to say a lot of words. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.100 Peter doesn't say a word. 00:16:54.140 --> 00:16:55.240 But Jesus does. 00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:57.580 Verse 42. 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:58.900 What does he say? 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.860 You will now be called Cephas. 00:17:03.140 --> 00:17:05.620 Imagine Peter's thought process at this point. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.080 Right? 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:06.539 Rock. 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.660 That's what Cephas means. 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:10.480 You'll see probably an asterisk in your Bible if you've got it there at the bottom. 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:11.920 It means rock. 00:17:13.080 --> 00:17:14.380 Peter's hearing this rock. 00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:14.779 What? 00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:16.480 Gray, boring, inanimate object? 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:20.220 Peter doesn't have a clue what's going on here. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:23.000 He doesn't have a clue how much his life's going to change from this point on. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:35.120 But Jesus, as the one who knows the end from the beginning, knows exactly what he has in mind for this man's life as he flips it upside down. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:41.779 And this fisherman from Bethsaida, who Jesus says, come and fish for men and follow me. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:53.200 Because Peter's confession, as he soon declares it, as he gets Jesus' true identity, the first one to get it, will become the rock on which the church will be built. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:55.440 That confession that Jesus is Lord. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.340 You're the Messiah. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.940 That's going to be the rock in which the church is built. 00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:03.960 And it reminded me at this point, it reminded me of two things. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:06.059 Actually, one was to keep praying for my brothers. 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.000 Right? 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:08.980 These guys are brothers. 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:13.859 Friends, all of us in here have got family who, friends who don't know the Lord, particularly family. 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:16.880 But I think this encourages us to keep on praying. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:19.400 Use every opportunity to speak. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:23.599 It was a burden for my two brothers, younger than me, don't know the Lord. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.579 Just keep on praying. 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.619 Let's help one another with that. 00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:28.180 You come to the Zoom prayer meeting tomorrow night. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:31.579 A great thing to do with that is just to bring the names of people that we can pray for. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:42.679 The first thing that it reminded me of, but the second thing is the fact that I should stop second guessing about which people God will save. 00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:48.240 I stopped trying to second guess what God might have in store for people's life. 00:18:48.659 --> 00:18:52.359 Our job is not to second guess the kind of people who God will use in his service. 00:18:53.439 --> 00:18:55.399 You know, I know a guy called Dez in Glasgow. 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.639 Before he was a Christian, do you know what he was doing? 00:18:59.639 --> 00:19:01.279 He was a bouncer at a nightclub. 00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:03.559 Central Glasgow. 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.519 Bouncer at a nightclub. 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.939 And his now wife befriends him. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:10.659 And she invites him to come on an Alpha course exploring the things of the Christian faith. 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:13.220 To ask him big questions about life, to explore it. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.399 And he hears about Jesus. 00:19:16.179 --> 00:19:17.379 And he believes in him. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:22.859 And I think roughly 15 or so years later, Dez has graduated from Bible college. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:26.319 He's been the head of Alpha Scotland for a season of his life. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.419 And he's now, I just saw the other day, taken up a role, developing Alpha. 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:33.100 But as it continues to develop across Europe. 00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:36.100 Guy was a bouncer in Glasgow. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.900 And somebody spoke. 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:41.700 And all of a sudden, he didn't have a clue what was going on. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:47.320 All of a sudden, God just turned on the fire on his heart, the lights in his brain. 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.559 All of a sudden, he understands. 00:19:48.679 --> 00:19:50.799 And that direction of his life is completely different. 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:53.000 Dez, bouncer in a nightclub. 00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:55.079 Peter, a fisherman in Bethsaida. 00:19:56.220 --> 00:20:01.139 Neither with a scooby what Jesus is going to do in their lives, let alone heard of him. 00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:05.340 And yet, Jesus transforms lives. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:10.800 Peter's story is that Jesus changed me. 00:20:12.800 --> 00:20:14.320 And the sun sets on that day. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.940 And the sun rises, verse 43, a new day. 00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:18.780 Again, eyewitness detail. 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:21.579 And we meet Philip. 00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:22.539 Right? 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:27.339 And Philip's story is really simply and quickly that Jesus found me. 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:28.559 Right? 00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:29.339 Have a look at it there. 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:33.639 It's explicit in the text at verse 43 of chapter 1. 00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:37.500 Jesus found Philip. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:39.160 Love the simplicity of that. 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.099 Jesus came looking for me. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.319 Not a chance encounter. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:46.240 Not like you bump into a friend in the middle isle of Aldi and you think, 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:48.759 Oh, I happen to be here at the same time. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.179 It's great. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:49.659 No, no, no. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:53.740 There's a divine and a determined purpose to what Jesus does here. 00:20:54.899 --> 00:21:00.799 As he seeks out this man, Philip, who he knows since before the foundation of the world, 00:21:00.939 --> 00:21:04.619 as he seeks him out and in this moment calls him to be a follower. 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:08.619 And this is exactly what Philip would say. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:10.240 You ask Philip how he becomes a Christian, 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:12.420 and this guy plays a big role in the Gospels from this point on. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.359 How did you become a Christian? 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.720 Really simply, Jesus found me. 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.380 I didn't go look for him. 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:20.180 Jesus found me. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:24.140 And Philip goes, verse 45, and he finds Nathanael. 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:25.059 Right? 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:30.220 Verse 45, Nathanael's story is that Jesus knew me. 00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.960 We found the one, Philip says. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.559 Track with me. 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:36.079 The one that Moses and the prophets spoke about. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:39.660 I love the fact that these two were meeting up daily and talking about the Bible. 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.140 It's great. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:40.880 Right? 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:47.420 But the mention of the word Nazareth seems to kick it off in Nathanael's mind. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.240 What good can come out of Nazareth? 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:50.799 Do you see that? 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.859 I love that that's recorded. 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:54.460 What good can come out of Nazareth? 00:21:55.120 --> 00:22:00.980 Clearly there's a little bit of local town pride and maybe even a bit of prejudice that's going on in Nathanael's heart here. 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:03.079 As he hears about the town down the road. 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.779 Delighted him very much. 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:11.799 And there's an evangelistic lesson here for us as well. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:15.960 Because Philip at this point doesn't engage in philosophical discussion. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:19.079 Nor does he engage in theological debate. 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:21.139 Now there's nothing wrong with those things. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:24.519 And Christianity does have answers to the big questions of life. 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.619 It's not what I'm saying. 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:30.779 But ultimately how is Nathanael going to be convinced that something good has come out of Nazareth? 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.779 Philip needs to get him to Jesus. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:40.079 It's always the case in our discussions with non-Christian friends, isn't it? 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:44.059 We want to love people well and listen to people and their struggles in life. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:48.259 And lovingly listen to their big questions about life. 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:52.000 But friends, we need to get him to Jesus. 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.119 I always love that. 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.680 The barber shop, people ask what I do. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.980 Just go for it. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:59.019 Always aware that someone's got scissors in their hand. 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.200 I'm sitting down. 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:03.180 But friends, let me just ask you. 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:05.399 When was the last time you dropped Jesus into conversation? 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:07.319 Right? 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.799 So it's one thing to talk about God. 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:11.920 But when you start talking about Jesus, do you find the conversation narrowing? 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.519 Philip, sorry. 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:19.420 Philip needs to get Jesus to... 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:21.879 Philip needs to get Nathanael to Jesus. 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:28.779 And Jesus, when he sees Nathanael coming, he replies, probably, I think, with his own little jibe. 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.879 Right? 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:34.399 Ah, look, here's coming an Israelite in whom there's no deceit. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.680 It probably may be code for, here comes no sin Nathanael. 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:40.420 Here comes the guy who thinks he's got life sorted. 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.080 Right? 00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:45.560 And Nathanael asks, how do you know me? 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:49.980 And Jesus replies, I love this, friends. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:53.259 I saw you when you were under the fig tree. 00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:57.359 Again, an eyewitness detail there of what has happened. 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:57.720 Right? 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.059 And it's not like Jesus is saying. 00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.919 This is not what's going on. 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:02.819 Jesus is not saying, I've seen you around town. 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.960 I recognize your face from somewhere. 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.460 I follow you on Facebook. 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.740 And I've seen all your photos. 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.099 Okay? 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:09.579 That's not what Jesus is saying. 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:15.319 Here is Jesus saying to Nathanael as he demonstrates his divine and perfect knowledge. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.220 Nathanael, I know everything about you. 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.000 Wow. 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:30.139 Friends, you know, the more I go on life, the more I realize I don't think I know myself as well as I think I do. 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.799 You find yourself waking up and thinking that. 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:44.220 How often in the last couple of weeks I find I wake up and I've got no idea whether today is going to be a day that I'm really excited about. 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:48.200 Or I've got no idea whether I wake up and I'm just feeling really low. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.779 I can't explain it. 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:57.659 But it's only is that the days get shorter and as life gets colder and as the pressures of life keep mounting, 00:24:57.960 --> 00:25:01.980 I just don't know how I'm going to wake up tomorrow and feel. 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:04.539 I don't know if you click with that. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:08.000 I don't think I know myself as well as I think I do. 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:11.299 I can't predict how I'm going to react in certain situations. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.599 And yet the wonderful truth of this passage, 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:19.319 I sometimes don't think I know myself that well, but Jesus knows everything about me. 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.120 And he knows everything about each of us here today. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.519 Nothing surprises him. 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.259 He knows us. 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.799 Every detail. 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.400 Every hope. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.700 Every worry. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.420 Every regret. 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.539 Every depth. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:39.059 Every angle of my life. 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:42.799 He knows that we get tired in our day-to-day lives. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:46.920 He knows that we struggle to comprehend as we live our lives in this world. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:51.620 Struggle to comprehend what the hope is that he's called us to. 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:56.400 He knows that we struggle as we think about those that we need to care for in our lives. 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.079 Parents. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:57.860 Children. 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:57.939 Children. 00:25:58.479 --> 00:26:00.659 He knows what it is to be at university. 00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:02.719 And we're struggling with course mates who don't want to know. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.919 All these things. 00:26:05.419 --> 00:26:06.539 He knows us. 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:10.279 And none of it put him off. 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:12.119 saving us. 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:22.019 I'm profoundly heartened in knowing that notwithstanding all my sin, all my depth, all my complexity, 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:25.299 that Jesus loves me. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:28.419 And he's going nowhere. 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:30.759 Isn't that amazing? 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:34.460 That somebody would know us that deeply. 00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.240 He would know. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:37.200 The Bible would talk about even the hairs on our head. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:39.579 He knows all that and he loves me. 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.339 And he goes to the cross. 00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:42.639 That's where this gospel is heading. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.559 He goes to the cross to win me. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:48.919 The words of that song we often sing. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.799 I have a maker. 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:51.220 He formed my heart. 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:54.980 Before even time began, my life was in his hands. 00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:59.220 Jesus here personifying the words of the psalmist. 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:01.519 Go home and read this in your own time if you want. 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.940 The words of the psalmist. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.500 Psalm 139. 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:08.480 Your eyes saw my unformed body. 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:13.400 All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:17.079 Oh, and such knowledge it just overwhelms Nathaniel. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.819 Oh, what comfort there is, friends, in knowing that Jesus knows us and loves us. 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:27.099 And Nathaniel declares, verse 49, you are the son of God. 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.839 You are the king of Israel. 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:33.000 Oh, friends, I love thinking about the fact this week. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:40.619 That I'm only following him because he first pursued me. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:46.960 I'm only following him because all four of these things are true for me. 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:53.759 As we pursue Jesus, friends, we always have to do so in the knowledge that he first loved us. 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:56.299 That he first pursued us. 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:58.000 That Jesus invited us. 00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:00.819 That Jesus changed us. 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.779 That Jesus found us. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:06.019 That Jesus knew us. 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:12.180 Oh, these four men who are telling us something wonderful about Christ. 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:16.839 As we begin, as readers in this gospel, to put together a wonderful picture of who he truly is. 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:20.839 And from there, really quickly, let's listen to one man make his claim. 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:28.419 Jesus says to Nathaniel, I said I saw you under the fig tree and that blew your mind. 00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:33.319 Effectively, boy, you ain't seen nothing yet. 00:28:34.919 --> 00:28:35.899 Verse 51. 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:39.280 Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven open. 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.860 Get the language here. 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:44.640 And the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:53.200 Now, Jesus is referring here to an episode that we get in Genesis 28 involving a man called Jacob. 00:28:54.020 --> 00:28:58.220 And in the encounter, Jacob falls asleep. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:58.620 Right? 00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:02.740 And in his dream, he sees a stairway between heaven and earth. 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.540 Effectively. 00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:05.100 A ladder between heaven and earth. 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:10.899 And he sees angels ascending and descending on it. 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:13.980 There's a bridge between heaven and earth. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:17.199 There's a touching point between heaven and earth. 00:29:17.939 --> 00:29:18.939 The bridge. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.259 God's presence. 00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:21.259 The doors of heaven. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:24.779 Almost in the Bible story that have been closed since Genesis 3. 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.219 Because of our sin. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.679 Those doors that have been closed. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:33.900 Here is Jacob getting a vision of the fact that one day something's going to happen to fling those doors wide open. 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:37.519 And there's going to be a touching point between heaven and earth. 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:44.480 And what Jacob sees in dream form, God is almost saying there, I'm still committed to making this a reality. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:48.080 Making a way again. 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:50.180 His covenant promise of blessing the world. 00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:52.460 The one that will come through this line. 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:54.960 He's still committed to making good on that. 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.539 And he will. 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:55.779 He will. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.880 And so Jesus, as he quotes this here. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.000 He's saying, I am that ladder. 00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.960 I am that ladder. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.000 On me. 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:11.799 And what I will do as I go to the cross and die for your sin. 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.480 On me. 00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:15.279 Friends, you can ascend to the Father's presence. 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:20.380 Because I am God. 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.640 Come down. 00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:25.019 And so Nathaniel. 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:28.879 As you contemplate who I am and learn more about me. 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.480 That's exactly what you're going to see. 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.779 That I am the ladder. 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.619 And the lamb. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.319 The ladder and the lamb. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:42.339 Do you see how this episode opens by John the Baptist saying, behold the lamb. 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:46.720 And this episode ends with Jesus saying, I am the ladder. 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:49.519 The two biggest problems that we have. 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:51.299 Imagine if he was a lamb, but there was no ladder. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:54.439 Imagine if there was a ladder, but no one had dealt with our sin. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:59.079 Friends, Jesus is saying, I am the lamb and I am the ladder to take you to the Father's presence. 00:30:59.339 --> 00:31:01.879 And of course, this is an invitation for John's readers. 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:03.099 To read on. 00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:04.779 To read on. 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.759 And he's inviting them in. 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:09.839 To see, come and see more of who this man Jesus is. 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.799 Because the truth is. 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.839 We're all being taught by someone. 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:18.559 We're all being taught by someone. 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:22.379 And John is saying, come and follow this man Jesus. 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.819 Friends, just as we close. 00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:27.480 And as we think about the application of this. 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:30.200 Do you want to hear about one of my neighbours? 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:33.740 First, her name is Vivian. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.279 Right? 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:35.920 And we see her. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.640 She lives just around the corner from us. 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:39.799 We see her every morning when we're walking to school. 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.380 Just about. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.120 Vivian. 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.799 There she is. 00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:45.660 And I met Vivian for the first time when I was on sabbatical. 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:49.980 She goes to Chalmers Church down the road to where we went when we were in Edinburgh. 00:31:50.840 --> 00:31:51.819 Vivian's an older lady. 00:31:52.080 --> 00:31:54.500 I don't want to speculate on that, but we'll leave that one there. 00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.759 Vivian's a legend. 00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:59.840 I can't tell you how much the Lord encouraged me through Vivian. 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:04.799 Because one of the things I love most when I get to know someone from an older generation. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.199 I love listening to their stories. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:11.879 And that's why we do this cross-age thing at Brunsford. 00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:16.379 We encourage this because there is so much life experience to be passed on. 00:32:16.459 --> 00:32:18.419 And to learn about if you're young here this morning. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:20.159 And wondering what life is all about, friends. 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:25.079 There is a wealth of experience here in the Christian life that you can tap into. 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:29.000 So I love listening to people's stories. 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:32.619 Because an older generation have been through so much in life. 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.940 You realize that we are generation snowflake. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:38.039 When you think about some of the things an older generation have gone through. 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.319 Live through wars. 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.519 Death of friends. 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.700 Losing a spouse. 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.519 Raising children. 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.680 Dealing with unemployment. 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.779 Dealing with loss. 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:55.079 I always love listening to somebody explain to me what life has taught them at their age. 00:32:55.079 --> 00:33:00.759 And so I'm asking this exact same question as I sit down one Sunday morning at Chalmers Church. 00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.759 Sit next to Vivian. 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:03.119 We exchange pleasantries. 00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.939 The service starts. 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.639 I'm asking the same question. 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:09.480 What has life taught Vivian at her age? 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:13.500 And I watched as we went through the service. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:15.799 It comes to just before about the sermon when we're doing the reading. 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:17.460 And Vivian reaches into her handbag. 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:22.640 And she brings out a tattered, dog-eared ESV study Bible. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.480 It's fallen apart. 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:27.940 I can see that she's scribbled all over it. 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:35.360 And I think there is something in the truth to the statement that a Bible that's falling apart is normally owned by a Christian who isn't. 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:37.579 There is a kernel of truth in there if you look hard enough. 00:33:38.340 --> 00:33:39.700 Vivian's got this Bible out. 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:44.039 And I can see that she's devoured it over the months that she's had it. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:47.400 And soon enough when the sermon starts, she brings out a pen out of her handbag. 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:50.039 And she's sitting there, eyes up, scribbling away. 00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:53.080 I thought, Vivian, you're a legend. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:56.160 Because what has life taught you? 00:33:57.360 --> 00:34:00.160 At your age, going through all these things that you've been through in life. 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:05.080 Life has taught you that you need the words of your teacher. 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:08.139 You need him. 00:34:08.319 --> 00:34:13.539 Your soul longs to sit under and be satisfied by his words. 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.860 Oh, friend, I love that. 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:18.860 Because Vivian inspired me as I looked at her and I thought to myself, 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:22.219 no, following Jesus is a lifelong pursuit. 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.420 Right? 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.739 It's not a young man's game. 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.940 It's not an old person's club. 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:30.659 It is a lifelong pursuit of following our King and our Saviour. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:34.079 Oh, friends, how often the Lord teaches us things. 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:38.539 As we look at other Christians further on in the Christian life, 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:42.219 everyone's being taught by someone. 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:45.980 And so the invitation this morning as we wrap this up is to come and follow this man. 00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.420 Come and investigate. 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:49.819 Maybe that's something you've never done in your life before. 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:51.340 Maybe at your university something like that. 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:53.639 You've never ever thought about the claims of the Christian faith. 00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:57.259 Friends, there are people here who would be so game for reading the Bible with you 00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.980 and lovingly walking through life with you. 00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.299 Come and explore him. 00:35:01.299 --> 00:35:02.239 Come and follow him. 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:02.699 Come and follow him. 00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.139 Come and follow him. 00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:03.699 Come and follow him. 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:03.799 Come and follow him. 00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.699 Come and follow him. 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.179 Come and follow him. 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.799 Let's pray. 00:35:09.399 --> 00:35:12.719 And so, Father, we're just so thankful this morning, Lord, for your word. 00:35:13.979 --> 00:35:19.399 Thank you, Father, that you are a God who has revealed yourself in the pages of Scripture. 00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:29.000 Father, I pray for those here this morning who are struggling, who are perhaps doubting, who are hurting. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.079 Amen. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:37.320 Oh, Father, thank you that Jesus is the one who's come to reveal the Father to us, is the one who's come to draw us to himself. 00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:45.820 Thank you that he says, come all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. 00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:52.460 Oh, Father, help us this week to be fully satisfied in the words of our teacher. 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:54.400 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.500 Amen. 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:55.639 Amen. 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:55.659 Amen.