Well, do open your Bibles to John 1. It's a new series that hopefully is going to take us through this academic year. John chapter 1.
We're looking at the first 18 verses. We could be here until Christmas, at least, in these verses, but I thought it would be good to get a kind of overview and to kind of really get into it.
Last month, there were 55 beached whales on a beach in Scotland. I don't know if you saw that news story.
There was one washed up in County Down yesterday afternoon, without wishing to be kind of like news round, but it's a tragedy, isn't it, when whales are washed up on the beach?
Beautiful things that thrive in the depth of the ocean. Magnificent, so powerful beings.
And yet on the beach, they're reduced to kind of wheezing, limp, cold, massive, rotting flesh.
A beached whale is a dying and dead whale. A whale thrives in the water, in the deep, but out of its natural environment, it dies.
And as we begin a new series in John's Gospel, John tells us his purpose for writing.
His purpose for writing, it's all about life and death. It's all about Jesus' life and his death.
He doesn't leave you in any doubt as to why he's written his Gospel.
John 20, verse 30, listen to what he says.
These things are written so that you, you are reading it, you are listening to it preached, may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing, you may have life in his name.
That's John's purpose. Life in Jesus' name.
Life, I think, is the major theme of John's Gospel.
It comes up 37 times as a word, but many more times as a concept.
And having life is what John's Gospel is all about.
And what John shows you and I is that life is not what we often think it's about.
He shows us that life is actually all about knowing God.
Just before, in chapter 20, a few chapters before that,
John gives to us the words of the Lord Jesus.
In John 17, verse 3, we kind of eavesdrop, listen in on his prayer, and he prays this.
He says, this is eternal life, that you may know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you've sent.
So back to the whales for a moment.
The Bible teaches us, well, life teaches us, that those whales were made for the ocean.
And just like the whales, you and I as human beings, we were made for a relationship with God.
You and I were made to know God.
Human beings were made, the most important thing we can do in life is to glorify and enjoy God.
You were made to know God.
You were made to know that purpose that comes from knowing God.
That is the reason for your existence.
That's the reason you've been put on this planet.
It's the environment for which you were made.
Like a whale is made for the ocean,
you were made to have a relationship with your maker, to know God.
And that life is not just physical life that lasts in this world.
But the life that John's Gospel is offering you through the Lord Jesus
is a life that goes on into eternity in relationship with your creator.
The tragedy is this, isn't it?
If you're familiar with your Bible, you'll know this.
That is not the way life is now.
We were made for this relationship,
but actually what we've done, every single one of us,
is we've turned away from God.
We thought it was a burst for freedom.
We actually thought that to get God out of our lives
and for us to take control actually would be a removal of the shackles.
But what it actually is, is a beaching of ourselves,
apart from God.
The God for whom we were made.
And that is our world today.
A city that looks so alive
and so vibrant in so many ways,
in reality is desperate.
Gasping.
Gasping and in the throes of death.
Isaiah the prophet tells us
that we live in a world that is under the shadow of death.
In fact, biblically speaking,
we are all, by nature,
the moment we are born dead.
It's often said, well, like cut flowers.
You know, you get cut flowers.
And you give flowers to someone.
Outwardly, those cut flowers,
they look alive, don't they?
They look vibrant.
You see the colors, so beautiful.
Outwardly full of life.
But then they begin to droop.
They flourish,
and then they begin to decay
and rot.
And things begin to fall off them.
Outwardly full of life.
But in reality, they're cut off, aren't they,
those flowers,
from the source of life.
And that's what we're like.
Outwardly full of life.
Outwardly flourishing, maybe.
Outwardly very beautiful.
But the rot has set in.
You're about to decay.
Things might drop off.
Think about Adam and Eve in the garden.
God's curse on them.
Do you remember what God said to them?
God said to them,
on the day that you eat of it,
what was forbidden, that fruit,
on that day you will surely die.
And they did die as soon as they ate it,
but they were alive.
Because they died in the fact that they were cut off.
They were separate from God.
They were out of a relationship with God.
They didn't know God,
and therefore they were alive but dead.
Biblically, theologically, truly dead.
And that's our world.
That's our city.
A city that is beached.
A city that was made for something greater.
A city that is gasping for breath.
And that's where Jesus Christ comes in.
This is the great message of John's Gospel.
That Jesus has come into our world
to bring us back to life.
To give us life,
which is a relationship with God
that only comes in him and through him.
And in him alone.
That's what John's Gospel is all about.
It's about coming to know the Lord Jesus,
the giver of life.
Some of you, I hope, through this series,
as we go through it over this winter,
will come to know that for the first time.
That you will receive the life
that you desperately need.
But for most of us here,
who gather Sunday by Sunday,
we have this glorious life, isn't it?
And what I hope is that John's Gospel
will help you and I
to understand it more deeply
and more profoundly.
And we'll experience more richly
what we've been so graciously given
by the Lord Jesus Christ
that we may have life.
That is the purpose of this book.
Life that comes through Jesus Christ.
And that is where John begins
his account with Jesus.
It's an introduction.
It's an epic introduction.
It's more than that.
It's a prologue,
but it's greater than that.
It's an overture.
And it picks up the themes
that are touched on
at the start of John 1,
but will be filled out through the Gospel.
So what I want to do is draw that out.
Three headings
to help us understand
what John is saying about Jesus.
First of all,
Jesus' identity.
The question there is,
who is he?
His identity, who is he?
And then there's Jesus' mission.
Why has he come?
And then thirdly,
the response.
Our response.
How should we receive him?
So number one,
Jesus' identity.
Who actually is he?
Who is this Jesus?
And the answer is mind-blowing.
It's extraordinary.
Look at verse one.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God.
And the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
And if you're into English literature,
you will recognize
that this is a literary masterpiece
in the way that John writes.
Notice Jesus isn't actually named,
is he,
until verse 17.
And so what happens is
there's this extraordinary build-up.
And finally,
there's this unveiling
of who the Word is.
This incredible character.
And so in the first three verses,
so much is packed in.
So much of what we know
about who Jesus is.
Just into a few words,
let me point out a few things.
First of all,
we learn that this Word is eternal.
He is eternal.
He starts off, doesn't he,
his Gospel,
in the beginning.
And that phrase
deliberately picks up,
it deliberately echoes
the first words of the Bible,
Genesis 1.1.
In the beginning.
In the beginning,
God created the heavens
and the earth.
And what John is saying
was that in the beginning,
the Word,
this Word,
was there.
In the beginning
was the Word.
He was in the beginning
with God.
And so before there was anything,
before time itself,
before anything
came into existence,
while there was nothing,
God was there.
and so was this Word.
This Word is eternal.
He doesn't belong
in this world.
The Word exists
outside and beyond.
First, He's eternal.
Secondly,
He is divine.
Look at verse 1.
The Word was
with God
and the Word
was
God.
He's not some
lesser being,
a kind of
few inches
below God.
He's not a
subservient
angel.
He's not a
divinish
creature.
He's not a
creature made
by God
to do His bidding,
like the cults
tell you.
But the Bible
is very clear
that the Word
was God.
He's a person
distinct
from God,
yes,
but 100%
God.
An eternal
and divine
being.
Eternal,
divine,
but can you see
verse 2?
He's also
the creator.
All things
were made
through Him.
As John
so often
does
when we get
familiar with
the way that
he writes
as we study
his gospel,
he cuts off
any other
possibilities.
I love it
how John
writes.
He writes
the necessary
negatives.
It's written
for dummies
like me.
And so if I
was going to
say to you,
I'm going to
meet you at
the clock
at Waterloo,
you get to
Waterloo,
how many clocks
are there?
There's loads,
isn't it?
Which clock?
I love to
say to you,
not the
clock at
Platform 2,
not the
clock at
Platform 21,
the clock in
the middle
of the
concourse.
And so you
have to know
the necessary
negatives.
And John
gives that
all the
time,
we'll see
it.
People like
me need
the negative
explained to
them.
You sit
here,
not there,
but here.
Can you
see what it
says?
All things
were made
through Him
and without
Him,
nothing was
made.
there was
nothing that's
been made
that has not
been made
by Him.
Without Him
nothing was
made.
It was the
Word who was
with God
in the
beginning,
who spoke
life into
existence.
everything
from the
stars in
the sky
all the
way down
to the
depths of
the ocean.
And so
every person
in this
room,
every person
who has
ever existed,
who has
ever lived,
has come
through the
creative work
of this
Word.
He is
eternal,
He is
divine,
He is
the Creator,
but He's
also,
verse 4,
the source
of all
life.
Can you
see that?
In Him
was life.
And what
John is
saying is
not only
did He
bring all
things into
existence,
He is
the source
of all
life.
He is
the source
of all
life in
the beginning,
but He's
also the
sustaining
source of
life.
He's not
like my
watch,
I've got a
wind-up
watch,
I wind
it up in
the morning
and I
don't have
to do
anything
to it.
It just
ticks again
and then I
have to
wind it
up again.
God is
not like
that with
our world.
It's not
that He
is the
source and
then just
lets it
go.
No,
He is
the
sustaining
source of
our lives.
So this
says to
you,
you are,
whether you
like to
admit it
or not,
a dependent
being.
You
actually
know that.
You
cannot
exist in
and of
yourself.
We
depend on
others to
keep us
going,
but ultimately
we are a
dependent
creature because
we've been
made by
the God
who is the
source of
all things.
you and
I are
dependent
creatures,
but not
so this
word.
This
word of
John 1,
He is
self-sustaining.
He doesn't
need you
to exist.
He doesn't
depend on us
or anything
else.
All physical
life, all
spiritual life
comes from
Him.
He is
eternal,
He is
divine,
He is the
creator,
He is the
source of
all life.
And did
you see
verse 4,
He is the
source of
all light.
Verse 4,
in Him was
life and
the life
was the
light of
man.
The light
shines in
the darkness
and the
darkness has
not overcome
it.
He is
getting
light.
I noticed
this morning
sunrise at
6.15am.
It's
pitch black.
And then
you look
out,
don't you,
and you
see the
sun just
peeping
its head
over the
horizon.
And then
very quickly
the darkness
is dispelled,
it is
overcome,
and the
light
triumphs.
Here we
get in
John's
Gospel,
the first
hint that
everything is
not right
with our
world.
This
theme comes
up again
and again
in John's
Gospel.
It is this
theme that
the world
is in
darkness.
Light
and darkness.
And the
darkness here
speaks of
evil and
of ignorance.
Just flick
over the
page with
me to
John 3
in verse
19.
So what
John writes,
this is
the judgment
that light
has come
into the
world
and people
loved the
darkness
rather than
the light
because their
words,
because their
deeds
are evil.
Their
works were
evil.
And so
here's the
truth,
the world
is not
neutral when
it comes
to God.
It's a
world that
has many,
many good
things but
the characteristic
of this
world is
that it
is evil.
It's a
world that
is deliberately
and culpably
ignorant.
But then
comes the
word, the
word that
opposes the
darkness.
The light
shines in the
darkness and
the darkness
has not
overcome it,
not smothered
it.
Well,
these are
epic verses,
aren't they?
Who is
he?
And the
answer is
he is the
word, but
so much is
packed into
that.
He is the
eternal divine
creator, the
source of all
life and the
source of all
light.
But did you
see verse
14?
It's not
just that he's
the eternal
word,
he is,
verse 14,
the word
made flesh.
The word
became flesh.
John's gospel
is divided in
two, it's a
bit of a
rough division
really, but
if you think
of John's
gospel in
verses,
chapter 1
verses 1
to 18,
you've got the
introduction.
And then from
then on to
chapter 10,
you've got God
the Son coming
all the way
down, he is the
word from the
Father.
And then from
chapter 11 to
chapter 20,
it's the return
of the Son to
the Father,
with chapter 21
as the
conclusion.
And so that
first movement,
which we're
going to see
this term,
is all about
his coming
into the
world and
becoming
flesh.
John, the
writer,
introduces John
the Baptist
to us in
verse 6.
Did you see
him?
We'll find
out more
about him
next week.
But in
introducing
John the
Baptist to
us,
Jesus'
cousin,
John,
the author,
begins to
take us
from eternity
past,
and he brings
us right into
time,
into space,
and this
world.
And that
movement into
our world is
picked up on
in verse 9,
who was
coming into
the world.
And then
verse 10,
he was in
the world.
Verse 11,
he came to
his own
people.
And then
this epic
statement that
John zeroes
in on,
in verse 14.
This word,
this eternal,
divine,
supreme being,
is the one
who became
flesh.
I need to
dwell to
man.
He
dwelt
among us.
And we,
that's the
eyewitnesses,
have seen
his glory,
glory as
the only
son from
the father
full of
grace and
truth.
And in
those few
words,
John is
summarizing
the stupendous
truth of the
incarnation,
that God
became man,
that the
word took
on flesh.
The word
became flesh.
What John
is saying to
you there is
that he
took on a
human nature.
He became
one of us.
The eternal,
divine,
the creator
of all
things,
the one who
flung stars
into space,
came down,
down,
down into
our world.
And so at
one point he
is the size
of a tiny
seed in his
mother's womb.
At another
point he
is the size
for strawberry
that you'll
eat for
dessert.
At another
point you
could have
held the
eternal
word in
your arms
if he'd
been there.
Let me
read to you
these incredible
words from
Thomas Watson.
He was
poor that
he might
make us
rich.
He was
born of
a virgin
that we
might be
born of
God.
He took
our flesh
that he
might give
us his
spirit.
He lay
in the
manger
that we
may lay
in
paradise.
He came
down from
heaven that
he might
bring us
to heaven
that the
ancient of
days should
be born
that he
who thunders
in the
heavens should
cry in the
cradle that
he who rules
the stars
should suck
the breast
that a
virgin should
conceive
that Christ
should be
made of a
woman and
of that
woman which
he himself
made that
the branch
should bear
the vine that
the mother
should be
younger than
the child
she bore
and the
child in the
womb bigger
than the
mother but
the human
nature should
not be
God yet
one with
God.
The miracle
that the
word became
flesh.
It's not
that there was
like a divine
mixture.
It's not like
when you kind
of mix water
and flour
and it
becomes
I think the
technical word
is sludge
but this
baby
is 100%
man
and 100%
God
at the same
time.
The Athanasian
creed says
that our
Lord Jesus
Christ the
Son of God
is God
and man
God of the
substance of
the Father
begotten
before the
worlds
and man of
the substance
of his
mother
born in
the world
completely
God
completely
man.
And though
he is God
and man
he is not
two
but he is
one Christ.
And if you're
sitting here
scratching your
head
you're doing
the right
thing
because it
is beyond
our human
understanding.
our small
little
creaturely
minds
cannot
comprehend
it
but it
is true
and it
is glorious
and we
will see
it on the
pages of
John's
Gospel.
One who
has the
almighty
power of
God
who can
turn water
into wine
as we'll
see in a
couple of
chapters
who is
able to
be raised
from the
dead
and yet
at the
same time
a man
who suffers
and bleeds
and dies
for his
people.
The eternal
word
taking on
flesh.
Flesh is a
word that
speaks of
his humanity
but also
in John's
Gospel
it's got
echoes of
something more
humble
than that.
It's kind
of got
connotations
of him
stooping
down to
our level
taking
on our
weak and
fragile
humanity
becoming
one
with us.
I've
told you
this before
but in
1863
the
Catholic
priest
Father
Joseph
Damien
he was
inspired
by the
example
of the
Lord
Jesus
to go
and help
lepers
in a
leper
colony
on one
of the
islands
of Hawaii.
The story
is that
these
lepers
they'd
been
banished
from the
main
island
and the
community
because of
their
condition.
no one
would help
them
but
Father
Damien
came to
live with
them.
He buried
their dead
he helped
cleanse their
water system
he built
them homes
he set up
a school
and a
hospital
and two
churches.
And after
22 years
of working
amongst those
people in
1885
one morning
the lepers
were stunned
as he stood
up to begin
his sermon
and he
said
we
lepers
because he
too had
become one
of them.
he'd
stooped
down
he'd
stooped
so low
that he
became
one of
them.
The word
became
flesh
the one
who made
everything
came into
our broken
world
and he
took on
our weak
human
flesh
and he
was able
and he
is able
to say
to us
now
enthroned
in heaven
this morning
we humans
the word
became
flesh
and dwelt
amongst us
literally the word
is tabernacled
and so
if you're
familiar with
the old
testament
there's
echoes
aren't there
here
in exodus
29
God
promised
to come
and tabernacle
to be
with his
people
to come
and dwell
among his
people
it's what
happened
all those
years ago
but if you
get to the
end of
exodus
it's a
distant
impersonal
way
he dwelt
with his
people
from a
tent
but now
it's more
profound
and close
and personal
and intimate
he came
to us
and he
dwelt
with us
and think
about it
for a moment
the man
who wrote
this gospel
John
he was
an eyewitness
and he says
in verse 14
we've seen
his glory
I saw
with my
own eyes
and the
disciples
and many
many others
saw
the word
became
flesh
and dwelt
amongst us
and verse 14
we have
seen his
glory
as of the
only son
from the
father
full of
grace
and truth
he's
describing
the brilliance
of God
Moses
he asked
to see
God's
glory
didn't he
in Exodus
33
do you
remember
God
put Moses
in the
cleft
of a
rock
and he
passed
by him
so that
Moses
could only
see the
back
of God
because
nobody
can see
God's
face
and live
and as
he passed
by
God
spoke
to him
and he
spoke
about
his
character
and he
revealed
it to
Moses
and he
said
the
Lord
the
Lord
a
God
merciful
and
gracious
slow
to
anger
abounding
in steadfast
love
and
faithfulness
it's a
glory
which speaks
of
the
godness
of God
of his
brilliance
his majesty
as a
creator
his
power
above
all
powers
but
even
Moses
wasn't
permitted
to
see
him
otherwise
he
would
die
but
at the
same
time
it
speaks
of
his
goodness
that
his
character
is one
that is
full of
grace
and truth
and he's
abounding
in steadfast
love
and that
glory
the
godness
of
god
the
goodness
of
god
is
seen
in
that
one
person
Jesus
Christ
and that's
who we
have
the glory
of the
only son
from the
father
who for
the first
time in
history
could be
seen
the light
who came
into the
world
lit up
the
darkness
the
character
of god
who is
overflowing
with grace
and overflowing
with truth
in a world
of lies
and John
has seen
his glory
and his
aim in
writing this
book is
so that
you would
see it
I think
John's
intention is
to blow
us away
really
with these
themes
and ideas
that in
this chapter
they come
to us
with such
an impact
that they'll
have to be
expanded
through the
rest of
the book
but the
first
application
is this
isn't it
we need
to step
back
and be
in awe
of who
Jesus
is
if you've
been a
Christian
like I
have for
some time
there is a
risk
isn't it
that you
like I
have become
far too
over familiar
with him
but here
John begins
his gospel
and he
stops us
and he
slows you
down
and he
says do
you realise
do you
quite realise
who you
have in
Jesus
that this
is not
just
Jesus
meek
and
mild
he's
not
Jesus
the
swear word
he is
Jesus
the eternal
word
who became
flesh
and so
be in
awe
the identity
of Jesus
who he is
he's the
word made
flesh
but secondly
what's his
mission
the last
two points
are quick
what is his
mission
why did he
come all the
way from the
glory of
heaven into
our world
well John
20 verse 31
gives us that
clue doesn't
it
and we've
been saying
that right
from the
beginning
so that by
believing you
might have
life in his
name
and that makes
sense doesn't
it because look at
verse 4
in him was
life
he's the source
of life
he's come to
give life
he gives us
life a
relationship with
God and in
verse 12 to
13 we get a
little bit more
colour of what
that means
but to all
who did
receive him
who believed
in his
name he
gave the
right to
become
children of
God
what is
his mission
so that we
might enter
the family
of God
you might
have seen
the famous
photograph of
JFK
Jr
if you haven't
seen it's a
total waste of
time telling
this story but
anyway I
should have
put the
photograph here
but JFK
Jr he's the
son of
President
JF Kennedy
is in the
Oval Office
the office of
the President
of the USA
it's the most
important room
isn't it in
terms of
politics
and power
in the world
certainly at
that time
and JFK
is sitting
behind his
desk as the
President of
the US
but at his
feet
underneath the
desk is a
little boy
cheekily
playing and
messing around
under his
father's
desk
he's the
President of
the USA
the most
important man
in the world
in many ways
but his
son is at
his feet
messing about
under the
desk
because as
the son of
the President
as the son
of the
father he
had a right
to be there
didn't he
he had an
authority
to be there
no one
else
could have
been messing
about
under the
desk
of the
President
but JFK
Jr.
could be
relaxed
because he
was secure
in the love
and acceptance
of his
father who
was the
President
do you see
what John
is saying
here
John is
saying
that this
is what
Jesus
has come
to bring
he's come
to bring
life
which means
being a
child of
God
that you
can come
to the
eternal
God
and call
him
our
father
in heaven
you can
live in
his presence
with the
assurance
of his
love
knowing
that you
have been
accepted
as his
child
and you
don't have
the right
to do
that
and neither
do I
by nature
Jesus is
the only
natural
son of
God
isn't it
we become
sons and
daughters of
God
through
adoption
through his
death
which we'll
learn more
about in
these pages
to come
and that
is something
that happens
to us
rather than
something that
we achieve
for ourselves
did you see
that in
verse 13
it comes
through birth
or rebirth
You can't
give yourself
to it
you can't
try and
force yourself
into God's
family
it's impossible
and that's
what's being
said in
those verses
it's not
of born
of blood
which means
not becoming
a child of
God because
you belong
to a certain
race of
people
in this
case the
Jewish
people
not because
of the
will of
the
flesh
it's not
something to
do with
your own
strength
and ability
as a human
being
not by the
will of
man
it's not
something that
other people
can do for
you
I can't
do it for
you
but it's
from God
life that
comes
from God
not from the
ground up
but from
God and
his grace
coming down
and giving
you the
life that
you need
we touch
on the
identity
of Jesus
who he
is
he's
the
word
made
flesh
we've
touched
on his
mission
that he
came to
give you
life and
relationship
with God
to become
a child
of God
and finally
he shows you
the right
response
and interestingly
again John
shows you the
right response
by showing you
the wrong
response
look at verse
10
he was in
the world
and the world
was made
through him
and yet the
world did
not
know him
I wonder
if you know
the story
of Jesse
Owens
Jesse
Owens
was the
star of
the 1936
Berlin Olympics
history records
that he
embarrassed
Hitler
he beat
all
Hitler's
athletes
in the
long jump
and the
sprints
much to
Hitler's
disappointment
there's a
reel that
you can see
on the
internet
of Hitler
storming out
of the
stadium
when Jesse
Owens
won one
of the
sprints
in disgust
that Jesse
Owens
had become
so prolific
that a
black man
could beat
Hitler's
athletes
Jesse
Owens
after the
Olympics
went back
to Atlanta
in the
deep south
to his
hometown
and there
was a
huge civic
dinner
that was
put on
in his
honour
all the
good and
the great
of Atlanta
Georgia
were there
in their
white ties
and at
that
dinner
Jesse
Owens
was
presented
with his
award
he was
given a
standing
ovation
by a
huge
crowd
but as
soon as
the
formalities
were over
Jesse
Owens
was sent
out of
the
room
he was
made to
eat
dinner
out of
the
room
on his
own
in the
cold
because
the
officials
did
not
want
to be
seen
eating
dinner
with
a
black
man
the
man
who
was
the
reason
for
the
whole
thing
was
shunned
by
those
who
should
have
received
him
as we
read that
it makes
us sad
it makes
us angry
doesn't
it
that's
such a
tragedy
but it's
a far
greater
tragedy
that the
one who
made all
things
who came
into this
world
instead of
being received
was rejected
and that's
what's meant
by John
here he says
he came
into his
own
into the
world
but the
world
did not
know
him
it's
not a
neutral
ignorance
and what
John is
saying is
the world
did not
want to
know
him
did not
want to
have a
relationship
with him
the one
who is
the reason
for everything
is sent
out of the
room
in fact
far worse
he's
killed
our world
did not
know him
he came
to his
own
people
the
Jewish
people
and one
of the
great
tragedies
is that
his own
people
did not
receive
him
and so
as we
close this
morning
right at
the beginning
of the
gospel
can you see
the right
response there
in verse
12
but to
all who
did
receive
him
who
believed
in his
name
he gave
the right
to become
children of
God
that's the
right
response
it's not a
doing
it's not a
trying hard
eye
it's not
gritting
your teeth
it's not
doing your
best
it's receiving
isn't it
it's what you
do with a
gift
receiving
welcoming
believing
it's not
difficult
it's
entrusting
our life
into his
hands
if you're
caught in a
fire in
your house
or your
school
you don't
just believe
that a
fireman
is there
in theory
you don't
just believe
that the
fireman
who's turned
up
well he's
a good
guy
thank you
for coming
what you're
doing is
really helpful
I can see
that there's
a fire
and then you
sit down
and carry
on with
your dinner
you don't
do that
it's one
type of
belief
isn't it
I suppose
it's
theoretical
but the
kind of
belief
that John
is speaking
about
is
receiving
it is
putting
your
life
into the
fireman's
hands
into the
rescuer's
hands
and that's
what John
will expand
on in this
gospel
the right
response
the coming
of the
source of
all life
it's to
embrace him
and receive
him
and to
give your
whole life
and put it
into his
hands
and there's
so much
more to
see even
in these
verses
that we've
not touched
on
but to
know Jesus
Christ
to know
that those
who believe
him and
receive him
and enjoy
you what he
has come
to bring
and so my
prayer
that this
series will
mean that we
are more
compelled by
him
that we as
a congregation
would be
more
enamoured
and amazed
by him
and that we
would receive
him
and make
him known
let's pray