WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.179 Amen. Amen. Happy Easter, church. I've got to catch my breath. That was amazing. And what a wonderful day it is to praise God. Children, we are ready for Children's Church. You may make your way to the back. Thank you so much, Praistine, for leading us well in those songs as we proclaim who Jesus is. 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:37.719 Oh, what a day to celebrate. I am so glad that you are here to worship with us today. We are here to celebrate that we serve a risen Savior. Amen? Amen. We serve a risen Savior. And that is the greatest news the world has ever heard. 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:58.980 We are here to celebrate the good news that Jesus left the glory of heaven. He humbly lived a perfect life among us. He went to the cross to take your sin and my sin, to nail it to the cross. And because of that, God no longer sees us as an enemy, but He sees us as His children. 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:19.640 He no longer sees your sin. It has been thrown into the sea of His forgetfulness to be remembered no more. Because of this, we are no longer an enemy, but we are a child of God. And if this were not reason enough to celebrate today, then maybe this will get us fired up. 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:46.740 Peter in Acts 2. Amen. It was not possible for death to hold Jesus. And because of that, if you are a child of God, I have good news for you. It is not possible for death to have a grip on you either. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:55.939 This is why we celebrate. This is why we celebrate. This is the good news of the gospel. Every year at Easter, we have this focus on the resurrection. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:08.519 We celebrate with great excitement the fact that Jesus is no longer in the tomb. If you go to Israel today and you ask them to take you to the tomb of Jesus, they'll take you there. 00:02:08.519 --> 00:02:16.560 You can walk inside the tomb. And guess who's not in the tomb? Jesus. There is not a body in that tomb. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:24.900 This is what everything hinges on. This is what our hope is based on. This is the most important thing of Christianity. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.280 This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 3. He says, 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:46.780 For I deliver to you this as of first importance. In other words, although everything in the Bible is important, and everything in the Bible is completely true, not everything holds this weight. 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:54.920 For example, we may disagree on the method of baptism. We may have differences of opinion on pre-meal, post-meal, and ah-meal. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.920 We may differ on our understanding of God's sovereignty and man's free will. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:02.539 And you may care less about any of those things that I just said. 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:08.000 But the gospel is not something we waver on. 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:10.180 It is the most important. It says, 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:29.219 And that is what everything hinges on. 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:31.560 In fact, Paul goes on to say this, 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:33.780 And if Christ has not been raised, 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:34.359 He says, 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.860 Then our preaching is in vain, and our faith is in vain. 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:41.460 If Christ is not raised, then what I'm doing today is in vain. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:44.240 Then what we are building our lives on is in vain. 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:48.680 This is why Easter is such a big deal. 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:54.020 Because everything is riding on this truth. 00:03:54.020 --> 00:04:01.380 You see, Christianity stands or falls on the historical bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead. 00:04:01.700 --> 00:04:04.140 No resurrection, no Christianity. 00:04:04.980 --> 00:04:12.000 But if the tomb is empty, if this is true, then it changes everything. 00:04:12.640 --> 00:04:14.640 Then it changes everything. 00:04:15.320 --> 00:04:22.199 On this Easter Sunday, I want us to look at a passage of Scripture that is incredibly familiar. 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.599 It is probably one that many of us have heard many times. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:29.699 In fact, it may be one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.500 Or at least it contains the most familiar verse in all of Scripture. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:40.680 I want us to take a look at John 3, verses 14 through 21. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.419 And it is important to note that as we look at this passage, 00:04:44.599 --> 00:04:47.240 we are jumping into the middle of a story. 00:04:47.599 --> 00:04:50.159 We are jumping into the middle of this story. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.439 And the story may be familiar. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:57.000 It is a story that I have been thinking a lot about this week and in the past few weeks. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:03.079 As we remember this story of Nicodemus coming to meet Jesus at night. 00:05:03.579 --> 00:05:07.160 And I think it is important for us to understand who Nicodemus is 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:11.220 and the significance of this to really understand this passage. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.180 You see, Nicodemus was a Pharisee. 00:05:15.379 --> 00:05:20.699 He was a Pharisee who understood the Old Testament as good as anybody. 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:22.860 He knew it forwards and backwards. 00:05:22.860 --> 00:05:29.579 And as a Pharisee, he had most of, if not the entire Old Testament memorized. 00:05:30.219 --> 00:05:32.399 And because of his standing of who he was, 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:37.279 we can almost take it to the bank that he knew everything in the Old Testament 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:39.079 and had it memorized. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.379 Because in this passage, we're also told that Nicodemus, 00:05:43.539 --> 00:05:47.099 in addition to being a Pharisee, he was a ruler of Israel. 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:52.560 So in other words, he was probably one of the 70 members of the Sanhedrin, 00:05:52.960 --> 00:05:58.800 the rulers of Israel, who there were 70 Pharisees that made up the Sanhedrin. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.939 And he was a part of this. 00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:02.280 And so he ruled over Israel. 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:06.920 But then Jesus also tells us that he was the teacher of Israel. 00:06:07.320 --> 00:06:09.540 He says, are you not the teacher of Israel? 00:06:09.540 --> 00:06:13.860 And so Nicodemus was incredibly well-respected. 00:06:14.640 --> 00:06:19.660 Not only was he brilliant, but he was also a pillar of the Jewish community 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:23.000 who is coming to Jesus by night. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:28.000 And most likely, he's coming to Jesus by night to avoid being seen. 00:06:28.400 --> 00:06:31.920 He understands the significance of who Jesus is. 00:06:32.200 --> 00:06:35.020 And so he's coming to him to kind of test the waters. 00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:40.379 If anybody was going to be able to pick up on who the Messiah was, 00:06:40.539 --> 00:06:44.419 surely it would be Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel, 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.719 who understood the prophecies, who understood the Old Testament. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.439 And so he's coming to Jesus to try to figure out who he is. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.459 But he's not sure enough, so he wants to come to him at night. 00:06:56.979 --> 00:07:01.919 And then after a conversation about the necessity of being born again 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:07.819 and of not being able to save yourself, Jesus tells Nicodemus these words. 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:11.480 And this is where I want us to pick up today as we look at this passage. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:14.120 And so if you have a copy of God's Word with you, 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:19.900 I want to invite you to open with me to John chapter 3, starting in verse 14. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:22.020 And this is what the Word of the Lord says. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:23.379 It says, 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:53.360 It says, 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:55.519 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:58.420 but whoever does not believe is condemned already, 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:02.579 because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:04.279 And this is the judgment. 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:05.980 The light has come into the world, 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:08.740 and people love darkness rather than the light, 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:10.459 because their works were evil. 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:14.339 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light 00:08:14.339 --> 00:08:16.959 and does not come to the light, 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.879 lest his works should be exposed. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:23.240 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, 00:08:23.339 --> 00:08:29.439 so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:35.639 Again, much of this passage that we just read is very familiar to us. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:39.320 It's a story that we've heard over and over again. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:45.279 In fact, it's so familiar that there's the possibility that we may overlook the significance 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:47.860 of what is being stated here. 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:52.759 But I want us to see a progression of three truths in this passage. 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:57.279 I want us to see a progression of these three truths in this passage 00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:01.720 that I hope will help us to clearly look to Jesus and believe. 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:05.120 I want us to see this progression of looking to the cross, 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.019 of seeing God's love, 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:09.439 and believing in the gospel. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:11.440 So to begin with, 00:09:11.540 --> 00:09:14.780 this text tells us to look to the cross. 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:18.120 The text tells us to look to the cross. 00:09:18.260 --> 00:09:18.500 It says, 00:09:18.640 --> 00:09:21.000 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.980 so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 00:09:24.040 --> 00:09:28.160 that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:32.160 This may be one of my favorite parts of the conversation 00:09:32.160 --> 00:09:34.860 between Jesus and Nicodemus here. 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:39.560 After having this deep theological conversation with Nicodemus, 00:09:39.940 --> 00:09:41.220 Jesus tells him, 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:41.639 He says, 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:44.500 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:47.500 so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:52.000 that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:59.740 Again, Nicodemus knows very well this story that Jesus is telling him. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:00.379 He says, 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:02.980 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:04.980 so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:08.680 This story comes from Numbers chapter 21. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.759 And in Numbers chapter 21, 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.620 the people of Israel have left Egypt. 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:17.240 God has provided in miraculous ways for them. 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:21.259 He's provided over and over again for these people. 00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:23.899 And yet now they're coming and they're complaining. 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:27.379 They're complaining about the deliverance that God has provided. 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:28.879 And if we think back on it, 00:10:28.920 --> 00:10:31.580 God has provided in some big ways. 00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:39.180 We see the ten plagues in Egypt that God showed Pharaoh to let the people go. 00:10:39.540 --> 00:10:41.340 From the Nile turning to blood, 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:42.759 to darkness being on the land, 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.879 to the frogs, 00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:44.879 to the locusts, 00:10:44.920 --> 00:10:45.680 to the cattle, 00:10:45.780 --> 00:10:47.040 the livestock being killed, 00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:49.860 to the darkness of the land for three days, 00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:52.160 and then finally the death of the firstborn. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:55.000 And so we see God providing, 00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:57.060 but God doesn't stop providing there. 00:10:57.300 --> 00:10:59.259 He continues to provide in the wilderness. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:00.940 He continues to protect them. 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.420 He continues to lead, 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:02.960 guide, 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:03.740 and direct them. 00:11:03.880 --> 00:11:07.560 He continues to give them food and water and everything that they need. 00:11:07.760 --> 00:11:10.120 And now the people are complaining. 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:13.620 They're upset about the deliverance that God provided. 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:14.480 He saved them. 00:11:14.640 --> 00:11:18.360 And now they're complaining about the salvation that He provided. 00:11:18.540 --> 00:11:21.860 And so God sends these snakes among the people. 00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:25.660 And this is where we pick up in Numbers chapter 21. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:26.219 It says, 00:11:26.219 --> 00:11:29.659 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, 00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:33.579 and they bit the people so that many people of Israel died. 00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:36.120 And the people came to Moses and said, 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:36.959 We have sinned, 00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:39.939 for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. 00:11:40.339 --> 00:11:43.600 Pray to the Lord that He may take away the serpents from us. 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.579 So Moses prayed for the people, 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:47.100 and the Lord said to Moses, 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:49.879 Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:51.560 And everyone who is bitten, 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.840 when he sees it, 00:11:52.900 --> 00:11:53.460 shall live. 00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:56.680 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:11:58.900 And if a serpent bit anyone, 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:03.060 he would look at the bronze serpent and live. 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:05.759 Now you may recognize this symbol, 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:08.820 this picture that is being painted for us here in Numbers. 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:14.120 You may see it at the doctor's office or on a prescription or something like that 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:18.220 because this symbol of a serpent being raised up on a pole 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.920 has now made its way into the medical field 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:23.480 so that it represents this medicine, 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:24.720 these doctor's offices, 00:12:24.900 --> 00:12:25.640 this healing. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.300 And it's kind of ironic when you think about it. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:30.720 Without the context of this story, 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.700 this would be difficult for us to wrap our minds around. 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:39.140 Why would you use this as a symbol for healing? 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:44.000 And again, now in light of what Jesus is coming to do, 00:12:44.140 --> 00:12:46.600 it helps us understand it in an even greater way. 00:12:46.900 --> 00:12:49.379 Because even when you look at the story in the Old Testament, 00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:51.780 you don't get to see the fulfillment of it yet. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.680 And the story in the Old Testament is interesting. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:58.080 The people were being bitten by these snakes. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:01.140 The curse that God has sent is biting them, 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:02.520 and many people are dying. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:07.159 And then what he tells Moses to do is to take the curse, 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.100 take the serpent, 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:12.279 and put it on a pole so that when people look to the curse, 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:14.519 they will be healed from the curse. 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:18.419 And it's kind of strange for us to think about it in this context 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:20.919 until we get to the New Testament, 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:22.740 until we get to Jesus, 00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:24.860 and until we understand, 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.319 as Paul tells us, 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:29.079 that Christ redeemed us from the curse 00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:30.419 by becoming what? 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:32.959 By becoming a curse for us. 00:13:33.099 --> 00:13:36.519 He made him to be sin who knew no sin. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:40.240 He made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin. 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:43.019 And so Jesus becomes a curse for us. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.620 And so when he tells Nicodemus, 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:48.159 as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:50.599 so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 00:13:50.839 --> 00:13:53.120 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.779 He's telling him a story that he knows. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:01.019 He's telling that the people of Israel were to look and believe. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:05.000 They were to look, believe, and be healed from the curse. 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:07.100 Now Jesus is telling Nicodemus, 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:08.679 hey, remember that story? 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.980 Yeah, it was paving the way for me. 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:13.320 People must look to the cross, 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:16.220 must look to the Son of Man being lifted up, 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:18.240 who becomes a curse for the people, 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.259 who takes their sin on himself. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:22.539 They must look to the cross. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.759 And so as we think about this, 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:27.019 he brings it home for Nicodemus. 00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:29.899 So the Son of Man must be lifted up, 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:32.840 that whoever believes may have eternal life. 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:35.559 We must look to the cross. 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.279 But as we look to the cross, 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:41.299 I want us to see something very clearly today. 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:43.620 As we look to the cross, 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:46.919 I want us to see God's love. 00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:49.399 I want us to see God's love. 00:14:49.479 --> 00:14:52.179 We look to the cross and we see God's love. 00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:54.299 For God so loved the world, 00:14:54.719 --> 00:14:56.539 that he gave his only Son, 00:14:56.899 --> 00:15:00.000 that whoever believes in him should not perish, 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:01.719 but have eternal life. 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.199 For God did not send his Son into the world 00:15:04.199 --> 00:15:05.679 to condemn the world, 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:09.139 but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.399 This verse right here, 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.759 John 3.16, 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:15.139 may be the most famous, 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.480 well-known, 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:18.580 and most loved verse in the Bible. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:21.639 If a person has one verse of Scripture memorized, 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.340 there's a good chance it is John 3.16. 00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.960 It's probably the first verse 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.580 that many of us learned as children, 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.840 but this verse begins with something 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.879 that is easy for us to overlook. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.319 It begins with four. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:39.620 It shows us that verse 16 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:42.480 connects to verses 14 and 15. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:47.240 Jesus says that he must be lifted up in death, 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:50.480 and this death is a difficult truth 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.100 for us to wrap our minds around, 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:55.940 but verse 16 gives us the why. 00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:59.000 The death of Jesus was necessary 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:02.900 because God loved us. 00:16:03.640 --> 00:16:05.780 And so let's look at this verse in greater detail. 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:06.079 It says, 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:08.480 For God so loved. 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:09.679 You know, 00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:11.879 it's easy for us to read this so 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:15.179 as the amount of love that God has for us. 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:17.860 Much like I may tell my wife or kids 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:20.120 that I love you so much. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.399 And when I tell my wife or my kids 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.000 that I love you so much, 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.439 what I'm telling them is, 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:27.779 is there's a great amount of love 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.860 that I have for you. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.240 And so when they ask me, 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:32.279 Daddy, how much do you love us? 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.379 I love you so much. 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:37.919 And it begins to become really easy for us 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.759 to think of it in an amount of love. 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:42.659 And it is a true statement that God 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:46.939 has an unbelievable amount of love for us. 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:49.960 But this so is not referring to 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.899 how much God loves us, 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.200 but rather to how God loves us. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.939 The CSB translates it this way. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.179 It says, 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:01.080 For God loved the world in this way. 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:02.960 Or the ISV, 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.440 it says, 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.720 For this is how God loved. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:09.840 It is true that God loves a lot. 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:12.860 He loves you and me a tremendous amount. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:15.819 But the remarkable truth of this passage 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:18.360 is how God loves. 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:21.779 God demonstrates for His love for us 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:25.299 by laying down His life for ours. 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:27.740 Romans 5, 6 through 8, 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.240 it states, 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.379 For while we were still weak, 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.960 at the right time, 00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:34.779 Christ died for the ungodly. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.539 For one will scarcely die 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.579 for a righteous person, 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:40.180 though perhaps for a good person, 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:42.379 one would dare even to die. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.359 But God shows His love for us 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:47.759 that while we were still sinners, 00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.759 Christ died for us. 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:53.119 He died for us. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:55.000 This is how God loves, 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:56.879 by laying down His life, 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.059 by sending Jesus, 00:17:58.399 --> 00:18:00.579 who freely laid down His life. 00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:02.459 But what is equally remarkable 00:18:02.459 --> 00:18:04.000 of how God loves 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.959 is who God loves. 00:18:06.459 --> 00:18:06.919 It tells us, 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.479 For God so loved the world. 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:11.059 You know, again, 00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:12.559 a lot of times when we think of the world, 00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:13.519 our minds go to 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:16.059 how big God's love for us. 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.459 The world is big. 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.759 He is huge. 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:20.099 And so we think about God's love 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:22.419 and this vast amount of love, 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:25.019 this big love that He has for us. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.360 And His love is big. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.539 It is sufficient for my sins, 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:30.039 for your sins, 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.120 and for the sins of anyone else 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:33.460 who believes in Him. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.180 But most of the time 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.360 that world is used 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:37.580 in John's Gospel 00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:38.860 and in many other places, 00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:40.300 it is referring 00:18:40.300 --> 00:18:42.300 to the brokenness of the world. 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:44.259 We're living in this world 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.500 for this world. 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:47.300 The sinfulness of the world. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:49.680 God didn't just send Jesus to die 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.320 for people who were trying 00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:52.279 their very best. 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:54.100 He didn't just look down 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:54.299 and say, 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:54.779 You know what? 00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:56.080 Everybody's doing 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.299 a really good job. 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:59.620 They've turned things around a lot. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:01.220 They're doing pretty good. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.200 They just can't quite 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.360 make it over the hump. 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:05.380 And so everybody's trying really hard. 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:07.600 So now that they're trying really hard, 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.740 I'm going to send Jesus. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.680 That's not the picture 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.019 that we get in Scripture. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.980 What we see in Scripture 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.160 is that we were dead 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.500 in our sins and trespasses, 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:18.460 that we're following 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.839 the course of this world. 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.059 The Spirit, 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.640 the sons, 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.579 is now working 00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.779 the sons of disobedience. 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:26.380 We're following this world. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.039 We're going in the exact direction 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.980 that Satan wants us to go. 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.799 We're objects of God's wrath. 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:35.839 And that is when God sends Jesus. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.500 This is a beautiful thing. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.319 This is a beautiful picture 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.880 of who God loves. 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:45.019 God didn't just send Jesus to die 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.819 for people who were trying their very best, 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.920 who were pretty good 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:48.900 and needed a little help. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:51.839 He sent Jesus for those who hated Him, 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:54.019 for those who were His enemy, 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.639 which is all of us. 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:58.019 And then verse 17 tells us 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.960 why God loves in this manner. 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:02.000 For God did not send His Son 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.680 into the world to condemn the world, 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:05.299 but in order that the world 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:07.599 might be saved through Him. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:10.139 Why did God love in this manner? 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:12.800 Why did He love the broken? 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:15.040 So that He could provide 00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:17.160 a way of salvation. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.700 To me, 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:21.040 what is most remarkable 00:20:21.040 --> 00:20:22.580 about this display 00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:25.180 of love in Jesus' life 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:27.920 is that He died willingly. 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:30.060 He did this willingly. 00:20:30.800 --> 00:20:32.380 We've been going through Hebrews 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:34.340 on Sunday morning 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.500 for the last few months, 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.180 and soon we're going to be 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:39.200 finding our way to Hebrews chapter 12. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.559 And in Hebrews chapter 12, 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.580 verse 2, 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.880 we are told something 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.480 incredible about Jesus. 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:46.120 We're told something 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:48.940 that is remarkable about His love. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.120 And it's a passage 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:52.319 that I've read so many times, 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.720 but yet it wasn't until recently 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.640 that this verse really began 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:58.539 to come alive for me. 00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:59.480 It says this. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.080 It's talking about the joy 00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:03.720 that Christ has. 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.019 It says, 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.019 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.220 Looking to Jesus, 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.900 the founder and perfecter 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.920 of our faith, 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.799 who for the joy 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.819 that was set before Him 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:14.700 endured the cross, 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.960 despising the shame 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.960 and is seated 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.220 at the right hand 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.259 of the throne. 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:22.700 The joy that was set 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.460 before Him. 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.860 It says that Jesus 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:27.180 endured the cross 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.600 for the joy 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:30.779 that was set before Him. 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.620 And this is a passage, 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.460 a verse that's easy 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:35.180 just to read right over, 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.680 but it says 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:37.160 that He endured the cross 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.400 for the joy 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.340 that was set before Him. 00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:42.019 If you think about it 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.840 and you think about Jesus' life, 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.680 what is the one thing 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.299 that He has 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.860 on this side of the cross 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:49.460 that He didn't have 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.840 on that side of the cross? 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.720 He's always had 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.680 a perfect relationship 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.220 with the Father. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.720 He's always had 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.019 perfect communion with Him. 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.940 But what's the one thing 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.440 that He has 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.920 on this side of the cross 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.340 that He didn't have 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:02.700 on that side of the cross? 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.920 And that's a relationship 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.000 with you and me. 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.940 We're the joy 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.559 that was set before Him. 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.500 We're the reason 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:12.580 He endured the cross. 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.019 It was love 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.080 that kept Him there. 00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.680 The joy that was set 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.580 before Him. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.340 Sally Lloyd-Jones 00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:20.799 wrote an incredible 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.519 children's book 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.660 that I would encourage you 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.660 to read to your kids 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.799 and then after your kids 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.140 are grown, 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.900 keep reading it 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.539 for yourself 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:28.660 because it is a beautiful 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.700 picture of how 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:31.259 Jesus is all 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.039 throughout Scripture. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.460 It's the Jesus Storybook Bible 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.759 and when it comes 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.200 to the cross, 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.059 when it comes 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.099 to this story, 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.500 she says this. 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.359 She tells it this way. 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:40.579 She says, 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.799 they nailed Jesus 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.579 to the cross. 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.119 Father, forgive them, 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.119 Jesus gasped. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.259 They don't understand 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.139 what they're doing. 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.460 You say you've come 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.319 to rescue us, 00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.019 people shouted, 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.259 but you can't even 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.420 rescue yourself. 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.559 But they were wrong. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.720 Jesus could have 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.460 rescued Himself. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.899 A legion of angels 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.519 would have flown 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.300 to His side 00:23:02.300 --> 00:23:03.460 if He called. 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:05.600 If you're really 00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.380 the Son of God, 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.920 you could just 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.800 climb down 00:23:07.800 --> 00:23:08.759 off that cross, 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.640 they said. 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.960 And of course, 00:23:11.060 --> 00:23:11.759 they were right. 00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:13.080 Jesus could have 00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:13.720 climbed down. 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.580 Actually, 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.060 He could have 00:23:15.060 --> 00:23:15.960 just said a word 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.240 and made it all stop. 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:18.340 Like when He healed 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.160 that little girl 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:20.220 and stilled the storm 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.920 and fed 5,000 people. 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:24.400 But Jesus stayed. 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:25.920 You see, 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.740 they didn't just, 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.060 they didn't understand. 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:30.539 It wasn't the nails 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:32.000 that kept Jesus there. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.639 It wasn't the nails 00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:34.440 that kept Jesus 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.299 on the cross. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.819 It was love. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.899 Oftentimes, 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.259 we play this game 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.839 with God. 00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:42.720 You know, 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.480 like you do 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.039 when you're little 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.500 and you go out 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.919 and pick the daisies. 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.159 You know, 00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:46.819 He loves me. 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.799 He loves me not. 00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:48.980 And you go all 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.659 the way around it 00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:50.319 and a lot of times 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.259 we play this game 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:51.799 with God. 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.659 You know, 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.779 I got a promotion, 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.579 a new job. 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.519 He loves me. 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.420 I lost my job. 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.799 He loves me not. 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.900 I got married. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.019 He loves me. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.740 That marriage just crumbled. 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.420 He loves me not. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.039 And oftentimes, 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.639 we play this game 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.519 over and over again 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.059 in our minds 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.940 of God loves me. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.700 He loves me not. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.539 He loves me. 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.519 He loves me not. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.460 And it's easy for us 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.799 to look at our circumstances 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.240 and second guess 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.400 God's love for us. 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.420 I want to challenge you 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.759 to look to the cross 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:26.519 and see God's love 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.480 and let it be 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.839 what settles the issue 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:30.700 for you once and for all 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.059 if God loves you or not. 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.680 You see, 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.279 it's an argument 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.940 from the greater 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.680 to the lesser. 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.700 If leaving the glory of heaven, 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.220 if taking on the sin 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.680 of the world, 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.879 if becoming a curse, 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.940 if the mocking, 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.740 if the shame 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.200 and death on the cross 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.940 didn't keep Jesus 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.839 from loving you, 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.680 guess what? 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.559 Nothing will. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.079 If that didn't keep Him 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.799 from loving you, 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.079 then nothing will. 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.759 And that's something 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.480 you can take to the bank. 00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:57.819 My hope and prayer today 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:59.179 is that we look to the cross. 00:24:59.939 --> 00:25:01.599 We see God's love 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:04.220 and finally we believe the gospel. 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:06.299 Whoever believes in Him 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.039 is not condemned, 00:25:07.199 --> 00:25:09.259 but whoever does not believe 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.779 is condemned already 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:12.740 because he has not believed 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:16.319 in the name of the only Son of God. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.500 You see, 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:19.240 this passage clearly shows 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.159 that there is only one way 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.759 to the Father 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.000 and it is through Jesus. 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.920 We mentioned it earlier, 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.160 the beauty of God 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.200 loving the world, 00:25:27.320 --> 00:25:28.940 the sinful and broken world 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.740 in such a way 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:31.680 that He made a way 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:33.019 for people to be taken 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:35.160 from death to life. 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:37.620 This is a beautiful thing 00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:39.860 and we are reminded of this 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:42.279 in so many different ways 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:46.180 that Jesus made a way for us. 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:49.180 But we can also lose sight of it 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.460 and place that hope 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.380 on other things. 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.759 For example, 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:54.039 oftentimes there's things 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.779 that get in the way 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.799 of us seeing it clearly. 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:58.259 We think attendance will help. 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.279 Well, let me tell you, 00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:01.400 you can be born into the church. 00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:03.920 You can be on the cradle roll 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.080 from the moment 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:07.039 that you came into this world. 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:08.460 You can be dedicated to church. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:10.519 You can be baptized in the church. 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:12.259 You can put a desk in the church 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.700 and work every single day 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.839 of your life in the church. 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.200 You can get a bed 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:17.879 and you can put it in a church. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.519 We've got some rooms available 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.480 if you want to do that. 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.500 We don't have a shower, 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.900 but you can stay there if you want. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.180 You can do those things 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.819 and you can spend 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:26.099 every single night in the church, 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:27.500 spend every single waking moment. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.579 And when you die, 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.420 sometimes there's places 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.140 where you can be buried 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.579 right next to the church. 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.759 But let me tell you, 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.559 those things 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:39.440 don't get you any closer to God. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:42.920 Those things will not save you. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.779 But no matter how close you are 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.720 to religion, 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:48.200 it will not bring you closer to God. 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:50.279 There is only one substitute 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:52.539 for your sin and my sin, 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:55.420 and His name is Jesus. 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:58.279 Whether we admit it or not, 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.600 each of us are desperate. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.039 We are desperate for salvation. 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:05.880 We are desperate for acceptance. 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:09.140 We are desperate for meaning 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.160 in this life. 00:27:10.260 --> 00:27:11.120 And deep down, 00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:13.320 we know that we're sinners 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:15.780 and that we have this need. 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.800 And oftentimes, 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.460 we try over and over again 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.940 to do things to save ourselves. 00:27:20.520 --> 00:27:22.160 We try over and over again 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:25.160 to cover up this void inside of us 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.220 because we don't like 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.520 to feel this desperate. 00:27:27.760 --> 00:27:28.860 We don't like to feel 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.960 like we don't have meaning. 00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.600 We don't like to feel like 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:33.260 our lives aren't counting 00:27:33.260 --> 00:27:33.780 for something. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.500 And so we try to cover it up 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.599 over and over again with things. 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:39.460 We try to give our lives 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.240 to things that will make 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.139 ourselves feel better. 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.519 And we think, 00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:43.359 if we can just do this, 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.539 then my life will have meaning. 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:47.220 My life will have purpose 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:49.240 if I can just accomplish this. 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.259 I've heard it said this way, 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:53.639 that the loneliest moment in life 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:56.019 is when you have just achieved 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.440 that which you thought 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.559 would deliver the ultimate, 00:27:58.899 --> 00:27:59.940 and it's let you down. 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:03.100 The loneliest moment in life 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:05.039 is when you've just achieved, 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:06.360 when you've just gotten 00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:08.460 what you think is going to give 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:10.180 your life meaning and purpose, 00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:11.500 and only to find out 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:13.100 it's not enough. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.519 It's not enough. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.740 We are desperate. 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.160 We are hopeless. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.240 And oftentimes, 00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:20.559 it is hard for us to understand 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.920 this hopelessness 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:23.720 that we face apart from Jesus. 00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:26.200 And what I like to do at times 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:28.640 is to think of a real-life situation 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.340 that seems to be hopeless 00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:33.340 so we can wrap our minds around this. 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.880 You may have heard me share 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:36.019 a story similar to this, 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:38.220 or you may even remember this story 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.640 from when it was on the news. 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:42.380 This actually came from news 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.860 about 16 years ago. 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.779 Many of you will remember 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.660 watching the news, 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:48.019 and all of a sudden, 00:28:48.100 --> 00:28:50.360 the world's attention was in Chile. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.299 There were 33 miners 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.940 who were trapped in a mine 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:56.100 in the Atacama Desert in Chile. 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.559 33 miners that were trapped 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:00.880 after the mine had collapsed, 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.500 and nobody knew 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.940 if they were alive or dead, 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.340 and they were trapped 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:07.700 underneath the desert, 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:09.120 one of the driest deserts 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:09.580 in the world, 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:11.779 for 69 days. 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:15.559 The first 17 days of that entrapment 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:17.320 were without any contact 00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:18.259 to the outside world. 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.420 They didn't know if people 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.680 were going to find them. 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:23.320 They heard the mine, 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.440 they heard the drills 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.640 going all around them, 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.759 but nothing was coming 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:28.660 to the place where they were, 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:30.380 the cavern where they were trapped. 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.900 Nothing was coming to them. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.500 For 17 days, 00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:34.700 they had no idea 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.820 if people even knew 00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:37.840 they were alive or dead. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:38.920 And finally, 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.840 on the 17th day, 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:41.720 that drill bit makes its way 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.940 into the cavern where they were, 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.000 but yet again, 00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.660 they realized, 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.980 this isn't big enough 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.560 for us to get out. 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.820 Now they just know 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.740 that we're down here. 00:29:49.439 --> 00:29:51.119 And so for the next 52 days, 00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:52.839 they were completely dependent 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:54.500 on the outside world 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.480 to give them food, 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.339 to give them water, 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.619 to pump oxygen down to them. 00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:00.519 They were completely dependent 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:02.679 on others to find a way 00:30:02.679 --> 00:30:03.599 to rescue them 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.319 because they couldn't 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.279 rescue themselves. 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.740 And so finally, 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:08.619 they were able to bore 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:09.519 a big enough hole 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.460 to lower a basket down 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.539 and that one person 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.720 could come up at a time. 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:15.119 And so one person 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:16.220 would get in this basket 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:18.019 and squeeze in as tightly 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.759 as they could 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:20.920 and take the 30 minute ride 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:23.100 it took to get 2,300 feet 00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:24.819 above where they were. 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.799 30 minutes 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.940 as they're trapped in this 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.880 where all they can see 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:30.220 is rock around them, 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:30.920 bringing that, 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.900 they will make it 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.620 to the surface. 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:35.420 And this seems like 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:37.620 a hopeless state to be in. 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.640 That's one of the most 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.860 hopeless points 00:30:39.860 --> 00:30:40.860 that you can imagine 00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:42.200 yourself being in. 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.680 But here's the thing. 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.519 If the Bible is true, 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:47.000 and I believe that the Bible 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.579 is true from cover to cover, 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.740 if the Bible is true, 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.859 then those 33 miners 00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:54.180 had a better chance 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.440 of finding a spoon 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.220 and clawing their way out 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.500 2,300 feet 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.779 than you and I do 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.859 of saving ourselves. 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.400 They had a better chance 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:04.339 of saving themselves 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:06.180 out of 2,300 feet 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.059 underneath rock 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:08.480 in the driest place 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.099 on earth. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:11.319 They had a better chance 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.279 of saving themselves 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:14.539 than you and I do 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:16.440 of saving ours. 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.779 You see, 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.759 when we think about 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:20.559 this hopeless state, 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:21.899 we're reminded 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:23.019 that we need Jesus. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.319 I've heard it said like this, 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.740 there are only two kinds 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.899 of religion in the world, 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.500 the one that you carry 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:30.399 and the one that carries you. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:33.660 One tries to tell you 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.860 what you must do 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.580 to make yourself 00:31:35.580 --> 00:31:36.700 acceptable to God 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.840 and the other tells you 00:31:37.840 --> 00:31:39.680 what God has done 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.900 to make you 00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:42.700 acceptable to Him. 00:31:43.280 --> 00:31:43.780 You see, 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:45.180 our faith hinges 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.720 on the good news 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.460 of the gospel. 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.880 That verse that Paul declares 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:51.040 in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:52.539 for I delivered to you 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:54.180 of first importance 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.599 what I also received 00:31:55.599 --> 00:31:57.159 that Christ died 00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:58.000 for our sins 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.460 in accordance 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.159 with the scriptures, 00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:00.839 that He was buried 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:02.299 and that He was raised 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.259 on the third day 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.139 in accordance 00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:05.759 with the scriptures. 00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:06.740 You see, 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.299 because the tomb 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.139 is empty, 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.700 because Jesus 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.960 was resurrected, 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:14.399 anything is possible. 00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:15.599 The resurrection 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.480 tells us 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.159 that Jesus 00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:18.920 has won. 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.420 The resurrection 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.120 tells us 00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.640 that Jesus 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.460 has won. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.720 He is victorious 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.680 over death, 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.220 hell, 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:26.180 and the grave. 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.660 And if we place 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.860 our trust in Him, 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.300 His victory 00:32:30.300 --> 00:32:31.420 over death, 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:31.680 hell, 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.400 and the grave 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:34.340 becomes our victory 00:32:34.340 --> 00:32:35.259 over death, 00:32:35.560 --> 00:32:35.820 hell, 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.800 and the grave. 00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.900 Let us look 00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:39.700 to the cross. 00:32:40.300 --> 00:32:41.080 May we look 00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:41.640 to the cross 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:43.180 and we see God's love 00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.620 as we look 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.259 to the cross 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.600 and believe 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:47.539 the gospel message. 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.560 If this is something 00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.400 that you need to do, 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:50.840 today, 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:53.440 to put your faith 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.019 and your trust 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.519 in Jesus, 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:56.540 to look to the cross, 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:58.280 to see God's love 00:32:58.280 --> 00:33:00.040 and believe the gospel, 00:33:00.280 --> 00:33:01.980 then let me encourage you 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:03.860 to get that right today. 00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:05.480 What better day 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.120 than Easter 00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:07.740 to give your life 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.240 to Jesus 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.280 and go from death 00:33:09.280 --> 00:33:10.019 to life. 00:33:10.560 --> 00:33:11.460 But the thing is, 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.740 this isn't just something 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:14.400 for new believers, 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.500 for people 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.420 who aren't Christians. 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.200 This is something 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:17.800 that we give 00:33:17.800 --> 00:33:18.840 our lives to. 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.339 Maybe we need 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:21.819 to look to the cross, 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.099 see God's love, 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.539 believe the gospel, 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.179 and follow Him 00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:27.819 in believers' baptism. 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:30.000 The great news today 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.459 is in the 11 o'clock service, 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:33.240 we have four baptisms. 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:35.119 Three of the four 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.599 are adult baptisms 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:38.339 where they have 00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.379 gone through 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:40.439 the rituals before. 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.459 They've done 00:33:41.459 --> 00:33:42.259 the different things, 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.419 but now they've given 00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:44.480 their life to Jesus 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.279 and they want 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.740 to get that order right. 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:47.960 They want it to be 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:49.539 believer's baptism 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.880 where they've given 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.839 their life to Jesus 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:53.039 and they're following 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.759 in obedience 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.680 to what He's called 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.680 them to do. 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.440 Maybe for you today, 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:59.640 this seeing the cross, 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.819 this looking to the cross, 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.980 seeing God's love, 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.120 and believing the gospel 00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.000 is following 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.980 in obedience there. 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.380 But this is also 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:07.759 a message 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:09.639 for every single person. 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.699 May we every day 00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.840 look to the cross, 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.880 see God's love, 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.940 believe this gospel, 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:17.380 and live a transformed life. 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:19.140 Because if we claim 00:34:19.140 --> 00:34:20.260 to enter into 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:22.240 a life-changing relationship 00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:23.680 with a King of kings 00:34:23.680 --> 00:34:24.920 and Lord of lords, 00:34:25.200 --> 00:34:26.400 then our lives 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.780 are going to look different. 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:30.280 And may we see that clearly. 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:32.200 May we come to this passage, 00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:33.660 a very familiar passage. 00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:34.940 May we look, 00:34:35.220 --> 00:34:35.940 may we see, 00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:37.240 may we believe. 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:39.380 Father, thank You so very much 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:41.160 for who You are 00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:42.260 and all that You do for us. 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:43.420 Lord, we thank You 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.500 for the cross. 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.659 We thank You 00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.900 that You took our sin 00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.619 and our shame 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.159 and our regret 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.280 on Yourself 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:50.680 and You gave us 00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.900 new life. 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.860 But Lord, 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.320 today we also thank You 00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.079 for the victory. 00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.900 Lord, we are grateful 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.300 that You lived 00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:59.019 the perfect life, 00:34:59.180 --> 00:35:00.680 made the ultimate sacrifice, 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:02.519 and because of who You are, 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.960 it was not possible 00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:05.680 for You to be held down 00:35:05.680 --> 00:35:06.480 by death. 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.440 And Lord, 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.260 that's a truth 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:09.619 that we hold on to, 00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.980 that we cling to, 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:12.460 that because we give 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.679 our life to You, 00:35:14.240 --> 00:35:15.900 just like it was not possible 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.539 for death 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.519 to hold You down, 00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:19.440 it is no longer possible 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.420 for death 00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:21.860 to have the final say 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.800 in our life. 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.099 So Lord, 00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:24.639 may we, 00:35:25.240 --> 00:35:26.539 may we look to the cross. 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:28.099 May we see 00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:29.539 Your love 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.559 and believe 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:32.559 this gospel message. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.019 We ask all this 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:35.340 in Jesus' precious name. 00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:36.119 Amen. 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.740 We're going to invite you 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.159 to stand. 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:38.799 We're going to sing 00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.699 a song of invitation. 00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:41.199 And if God is speaking 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:41.959 to you this morning, 00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:43.139 won't you respond 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:44.000 in a way that brings 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.739 His name, 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.399 honor, 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.299 and glory?