WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.620 Our Old Testament reading comes from 1 Chronicles 17, verses 20-27. 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:17.000 ! This is a section from David's prayer, so verses 20-27. 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:24.199 There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:29.800 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people 00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:36.380 for himself and to make a name for yourself and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out 00:00:36.380 --> 00:00:42.280 nations from before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt. You made your people Israel, your very 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:49.100 own, forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. And now, Lord, let the promise you have made 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:55.760 concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised so that it will be 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:02.699 established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, the Lord Almighty, 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:09.679 the God over Israel, is Israel's God, and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:15.180 You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him, 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:22.439 so your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, Lord, are God. You have promised these good 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:27.079 things to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, 00:01:27.399 --> 00:01:33.939 that it may continue forever in your sight. For you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed 00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:36.259 forever. Amen. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:46.780 Well, good evening, everyone. It's good to be with you. I've been preaching away the last four weeks in a row, 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:51.920 and while it's a pleasure to be with other congregations to encourage them and be encouraged by them, 00:01:52.579 --> 00:01:55.460 it's really good to be back with my own church family. So, 00:01:55.900 --> 00:01:57.620 a pleasure to be with you this evening. 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:03.819 We continue our series in the Gospel of John today. We took a break last week. We were back 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:08.439 looking at finishing up this high priestly prayer taken from John 17, and 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:14.180 this evening we reached this final section in verses 20 through 26. So, if you have a Bible, you can 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:19.819 turn there with me. Obviously, many of us here are familiar with the Bible, and you may be 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:24.020 familiar with different passages which speaks of Jesus going off 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:30.040 in private to pray. There's times where he may, in the morning, go off to a solitary place, or when he's in a 00:02:30.040 --> 00:02:34.200 crowded area, he retreats from the crowds in order to pray, and 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:39.060 very rarely do we actually get a look inside what Jesus is actually praying. I wonder if you ever thought, 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:42.960 what is this conversation that Jesus may be having with the Father? 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:48.620 Father. And that's what makes this passage this evening so unique and so important, because we're 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:54.680 actually given the opportunity to see and to hear what's on Jesus' heart. And here in this passage, 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.719 it really serves as kind of like a last will and testimony, because this is the last prayer that we 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:04.719 have recorded before Jesus is going to the cross. So, we hear what is on his heart. We hear what he is 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:10.700 burdened with. And the focus in this final passage of his prayer is his burden for the church. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:15.699 And it may be surprising at first, if you don't know this passage, about what he would actually 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:21.199 be praying for. He's praying for the unity of the church. And you may be thinking, well, if Jesus 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:25.439 were to be praying for the church, you may think, okay, he might pray that they have deeper faith, 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:30.519 or that they read their Bibles more, or they have more boldness in sharing the gospel. 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:36.960 But Jesus is talking about unity. And so, this is what I want us to unpack this evening. Why Jesus 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:42.100 would make this prayer? What does it mean for us? And ultimately, how does it bring glory to God? 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:46.500 So, this is our passage, John 17, starting in verse 20. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:54.080 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 00:03:54.080 --> 00:04:01.319 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:07.479 so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:14.960 that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:20.920 unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:27.620 Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:32.180 the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:38.759 Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:44.439 I have made you known to them and will continue to make them known in order that the love 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:51.219 you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. This is the word of God. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:52.839 Let's begin with prayer. 00:04:55.379 --> 00:05:01.220 Lord, we do thank you for this privilege to come together again to the preaching of your word. 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:07.879 And so we ask, Lord, that while we may come with distractions or various burdens or heavy hearts, 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:15.180 we ask, Lord, that you give us clarity of mind, that we may listen to your word and may receive it, 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:20.219 that it may sink down deep into our hearts, that we may be encouraged and corrected by it, 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:25.980 that you may receive the glory from our time together. And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:31.040 Well, as I mentioned, we've been going through this high priestly prayer, and I think it's, 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:35.680 we can kind of think about it in three parts, almost as if it's concentric circles. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:40.080 Because we started by looking at verses one through five, and it's this innermost circle 00:05:40.080 --> 00:05:44.660 where Jesus is praying for himself. He's asking God for his own glorification. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:48.300 And then we kind of move out to that second ring, verses six through 19. 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:52.520 This is Jesus praying for his own disciples, that the Father would protect them, 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.980 that he'd fill them with this full measure of joy. 00:05:56.100 --> 00:06:01.920 And we get to this outermost ring this evening, where Jesus is praying for those who will believe in me 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:07.980 through the message of the disciples. And so we need to recognize who those are in this passage. 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:12.980 It's not simply the contemporaries of the disciples. It's not simply the New Testament church 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:16.860 that is soon to come about. It's Jesus looking far into the future 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:20.160 to include all the believers down through the ages. 00:06:21.460 --> 00:06:27.620 And so if you are a follower of Jesus, Jesus is praying for you in this passage. 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:33.360 And so of course we recognize that prayer is our means of communication with God, 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:37.900 but I think the beautiful thing that we see in this passage is that Jesus is also praying for us. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:43.360 And this isn't simply just a one-time prayer that he prayed in the upper room before he went to the cross. 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:46.340 Jesus is an ongoing pattern of prayer for his people. 00:06:46.339 --> 00:06:50.239 We have to only turn to 1 John 2, where it explains this, 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:54.079 that he continues to speak to the Father in our defense. 00:06:55.479 --> 00:06:58.119 And so sometimes when you get deep into passage, you may think, 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:00.939 okay, how do I actually apply this passage to those who are hearing? 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.299 This is a really easy passage to apply, 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:06.819 because Jesus is speaking directly to us in this context. 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:09.099 And he's praying that we may have unity. 00:07:09.799 --> 00:07:13.139 And he says so three times in the first three verses. 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:16.500 And so this is what I want us to consider tonight, 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.159 this unity that Jesus prays for. 00:07:18.219 --> 00:07:19.979 And I really want us to consider in three points. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:23.079 I want us to first consider the nature of our unity, 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:25.539 the means of unity, 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:27.800 and the goal of the unity. 00:07:28.419 --> 00:07:29.039 The nature, 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:30.199 the means, 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:32.599 and the goal of this unity. 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:34.879 So let's consider this first, 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:36.580 the nature of this unity, 00:07:36.580 --> 00:07:40.160 and think about what is Jesus referring to here? 00:07:40.200 --> 00:07:41.780 What does this look like in the church? 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:45.879 And it actually may be better to ask this question in the negative at first. 00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:47.420 What is he not referring to here? 00:07:47.460 --> 00:07:47.939 Because he's not, 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:48.760 when he's speaking about unity, 00:07:48.820 --> 00:07:50.580 he's not simply talking about union, 00:07:50.840 --> 00:07:52.580 or some form of uniformity. 00:07:53.320 --> 00:07:55.300 I think oftentimes this passage can be mistaken, 00:07:55.460 --> 00:07:58.500 and you think about this big picture of the ecumenical church. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:07:59.899 We just need one big church. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:01.959 We need to do away with denominations altogether. 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:04.279 That's not what Jesus is talking about here. 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:07.100 He's not talking about organizational union. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:10.360 He's talking about relational unity. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:15.899 And so we don't have to go very far after Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:20.699 when we get this really beautiful picture of the oneness of the church that he's praying for. 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:24.540 If you think about the religious landscape before Christianity, 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:27.399 there were certainly a number of religions across the world, 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:31.719 but they were largely defined by ethnic groups and cultures. 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:34.679 And so in this case, 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:37.340 we see something very different come about 00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:39.959 when we have this New Testament church spring up, 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:43.220 because it's not defined by ethnicity any longer. 00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:48.220 Christianity is truly the first multi-ethnic religion. 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:49.539 And so it begins, 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:52.439 this message is proclaimed by this New Testament church 00:08:52.439 --> 00:08:55.439 that ethnicity is no longer a barrier. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:58.120 It no longer determines covenant access to God. 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:02.340 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 00:09:02.560 --> 00:09:03.020 Paul says. 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.480 There's neither Jew nor Gentile. 00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:09.400 We are all equals under the gospel of Jesus. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.220 And so this is what we see played out very early in the book of Acts, 00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:14.420 that this New Testament church, 00:09:14.560 --> 00:09:15.740 they're eating together, 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:16.860 they're worshiping together, 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:17.960 they share their possessions, 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:21.580 they are inviting others into this faith community. 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:24.200 We see it even expands, 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:25.320 it goes, 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:26.639 it spans across class. 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:27.860 If you think of the book of Philemon, 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:30.799 Paul is writing to this leader in the church, 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:31.320 Philemon, 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:35.279 and encouraging him to forgive and to receive back his former slave, 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:35.960 Onesimus, 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.840 not simply as a slave, 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:40.220 but as a beloved brother in Christ. 00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:42.500 And so we see in the church, 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:43.519 the rich and the poor, 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:44.920 the slave and the free, 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:50.180 all being welcomed into this fellowship that's rooted in Christ. 00:09:51.160 --> 00:09:54.340 And it's not just the joy of fellowship that's shared in this New Testament church, 00:09:54.400 --> 00:09:55.960 but also the sorrow and the hardship, 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.220 the growth of the church, 00:09:57.280 --> 00:09:59.540 it comes about through great persecution, 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:00.720 great suffering, 00:10:00.900 --> 00:10:01.639 imprisonment, 00:10:02.300 --> 00:10:03.060 executions. 00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:07.439 Yet we see the church endure by bearing each other's burden. 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:10.139 And so I think we can look at this New Testament church and think, 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:10.379 wow, 00:10:10.439 --> 00:10:14.519 this is such a beautiful picture of the unity that Jesus prayed for. 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:17.899 But I think actually when we look in this passage, 00:10:18.099 --> 00:10:21.979 Jesus is taking this idea of unity even a step further here. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:24.839 Because if you look in verse 21 again, 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:26.359 it says, 00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:29.359 I pray that all of them may be one Father, 00:10:29.359 --> 00:10:32.859 just as you are in me and I am in you. 00:10:33.439 --> 00:10:34.919 May they also be in us. 00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:43.539 And so Jesus is praying that the believers may be united to the same degree as the Father and the Son are united. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.000 And so I think it's important. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.019 Sometimes we throw around these theological terms. 00:10:48.099 --> 00:10:48.799 We talk about Father, 00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:49.039 Son, 00:10:49.079 --> 00:10:49.419 and Spirit. 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:50.359 We talk about the Trinity. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:52.959 That term Trinity is not used in the Bible. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:58.139 What we see played out in the Bible here is the Bible very clearly describes three persons of the Godhead. 00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:58.620 The Father, 00:10:58.840 --> 00:10:59.180 Son, 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:00.060 and Spirit. 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:02.759 These three persons are one God, 00:11:03.300 --> 00:11:04.420 the same in substance, 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:05.620 equal in power, 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:06.600 and glory. 00:11:07.780 --> 00:11:09.720 And so when we talk about the members of the Trinity, 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:12.100 we see they have one essence. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.800 This is what Jesus is praying for, 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:17.580 that we may have the same degree of unity as the Father and the Son. 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:19.860 But in actuality here, 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:20.440 we see the believers, 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.020 we can't literally attain, 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:26.259 you and I attain the same essence with one another that Jesus is praying for here. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:34.460 But what he's saying is he wants this perfect unity of the Godhead to serve as a model for the intimate loving bond that you and I should share together. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:39.060 And he actually goes a little bit further because not only should it be a model, 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:43.020 but it should actually serve as the foundation for our Christian unity. 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:45.559 Because look at how verse 21, 00:11:45.819 --> 00:11:45.980 well, 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.480 verse 22 begins, 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:49.899 may they be one in us. 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:54.819 And so he's highlighting unity between the Godhead. 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:57.639 He's also highlighting unity with the Godhead. 00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:03.360 And so we see this beautiful picture of oneness in this passage. 00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:06.279 That the Father is in the Son, 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.500 the Son is in the Father, 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.720 and the Son is in us. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.600 We are in the Son. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:17.960 Is there not a better picture of relational harmony that we can see? 00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:21.720 If we go to 1 Peter 1, verse 4, 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.220 it says this, 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:25.139 it says that we participate in the divine nature. 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:26.179 Now, 00:12:26.199 --> 00:12:27.559 that doesn't mean when we become Christians, 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:29.399 we become divine in any way, 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:34.059 but it's speaking about how our life becomes hidden with Christ in God. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.279 And so this is why Paul always uses this phrase, 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:38.480 the same phrase to describe Christians. 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:41.100 He always calls them as being in Christ. 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:46.139 The Father and the Son are united in the Godhead. 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:46.620 Believers, 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.600 we are united with the Godhead. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:48.940 Therefore, 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.940 we can be united with one another. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:56.020 And so this is the nature of the unity that Jesus is praying for here. 00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:58.040 And so in one sense, 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.720 I hope this gives us great comfort 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:03.680 that the all-powerful creator of the universe 00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:06.600 wants to be in intimate relationship with you and me. 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:12.000 that in an age of isolationism and loneliness, 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:19.779 we are encouraged to have unity and fellowship as a family of Christ in the church. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.379 But while it gives us comfort, 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.659 it may also bring us fear because we say this is a really high bar. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:29.120 If he's talking about the same unity as the essence of the Godhead, 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.820 how in the world are we supposed to attain this? 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.620 How is this supposed to be brought about? 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:35.480 Well, 00:13:35.520 --> 00:13:37.400 that brings us to our second point 00:13:37.400 --> 00:13:40.600 because we're going to be thinking about what is the means of this unity? 00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:45.080 How is this intimate bond brought about and how is it maintained? 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.180 I've got four kids at home. 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:51.000 And as is common, 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.879 when you have lots of kids, 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.379 lots of things break very often. 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.720 Often toys or things that they're playing with. 00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:58.780 And so oftentimes the fix is they come to me and say, 00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:58.920 well, 00:13:58.920 --> 00:13:59.820 can you fix this? 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.240 And sometimes I can. 00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:02.420 You get out your super glue, 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.060 you get your tape and you can fix something. 00:14:04.140 --> 00:14:06.660 But that doesn't mean that everything can be fixed every time. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:07.700 And so as a child, 00:14:07.760 --> 00:14:09.320 it's sometimes hard to determine, 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:09.520 well, 00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:10.580 when can something be fixed 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.660 and when can something not be fixed? 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:14.240 And sometimes there's disappointment 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.020 when they come and say, 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.800 fix this toy 00:14:15.800 --> 00:14:17.200 and there's nothing I can do. 00:14:17.260 --> 00:14:18.400 There's no amount of super glue 00:14:18.400 --> 00:14:21.180 that's going to fix this little piece on the transformer. 00:14:21.760 --> 00:14:22.580 There's no amount of tape 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:24.140 that's going to fix this badminton racket. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.220 It's going to break again in five minutes. 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:28.920 I think this is often the case 00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:30.399 when we think about the church 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.500 because we want to think about, 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.259 what is the glue? 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.560 What's the man-made glue 00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:35.320 that's going to unite the church? 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:37.740 That's going to prevent division in the church? 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.240 Ultimately, 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.060 there's not a man-made solution. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:42.399 We think about many things. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.440 We may think about structure. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.420 Presbyterians love structure. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.500 Right? 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:47.899 We've no, 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.139 have, 00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:49.500 we have elders and deacons 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.399 with very clearly defined roles. 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.779 We have different church courts 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.919 with different jurisdictions. 00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:55.860 We have committees 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:56.699 and we have boards 00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:57.879 and we have special processes 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.879 for doing things. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:14:59.679 We think, 00:14:59.799 --> 00:14:59.879 well, 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.000 that's going to bring us together. 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:03.159 All we have to do 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:04.720 is think about the history 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.100 of Presbyterianism in Scotland 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:08.179 to see the history of divisions. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:10.539 You look at those charts 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.279 and it just looks like 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.740 this massive flow chart 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:14.639 of all the different churches, 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.679 all Presbyterianism 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.519 that are broken away. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.679 The Church of Scotland, 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.259 the Free Church 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.159 and the Free Church Continuing, 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:20.100 the Free Presbyterians, 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.100 the United Presbyterians, 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.399 the Reformed Presbyterians. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.840 All the same structure, 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:26.620 but there's a lack of unity. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.159 Sometimes we may look 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.460 to something like shared interests. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:30.820 We want, 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.120 we think shared interests 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.060 are going to bring unity 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:33.860 in the church. 00:15:34.040 --> 00:15:34.659 That if it's just, 00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:36.000 I want to go to church 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.899 that people that are 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:38.519 the same age and stage as me, 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.519 that have the same interests 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.399 and the same hobbies, 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:40.779 that are, 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.379 and there may be 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.300 a similar profession 00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:44.440 of the same socioeconomic status. 00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:45.580 That's going to bring unity 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.379 within the church. 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.460 And while we may be 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.480 naturally gravitate 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.680 to those who are similar 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.599 to us or share 00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:52.699 common interests, 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.479 it's really superficial, 00:15:54.739 --> 00:15:56.139 superficial in nature. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.859 It's not going to be, 00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.239 give us the grounding 00:15:58.239 --> 00:15:58.979 or the foundation 00:15:58.979 --> 00:15:59.539 that we need 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.359 for true unity 00:16:00.359 --> 00:16:01.199 within church. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.139 Uniformity, 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:04.339 commonality, 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:05.259 those things aren't going 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.459 to be the lasting glue 00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:08.539 that bring oneness. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.939 I think oftentimes 00:16:10.939 --> 00:16:13.279 we think about doctrine, 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:13.939 doctrine, 00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:14.639 doctrine is going to be 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.959 the glue that we need. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.379 And so we can spend 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:17.939 all our time 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.819 trying to nail down 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.699 what the Bible says 00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:21.199 and fine tune our theology 00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:22.279 and hone in 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.279 on the intricacies 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.519 and details 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.139 of what God 00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:25.779 is all about. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:27.980 But if we think about it, 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.860 if we go to the book of James, 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.659 James is speaking 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.339 to the church. 00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.019 He says, 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.399 you believe in one God. 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.079 Well, that's good. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.740 But even the demons 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.579 believe in God 00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.659 and they shudder. 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:39.519 Think about it. 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:41.240 Demons have good theology. 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.139 In the book of Mark, 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.680 when Jesus is casting out demons, 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.259 he prevents them 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.940 from speaking 00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:48.240 because he knows 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.200 that they know 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:49.919 who he is. 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.060 They recognize 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:53.419 his divine identity 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.240 and authority. 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.259 So even demons 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.940 have good doctrine. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.840 And it may scare them 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.259 to death, 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.980 but it doesn't change them. 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.339 And so in the same way, 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.500 that can be true of us. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.339 But honestly, 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.039 if you look over 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.099 church history, 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:09.940 some of the most 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.160 theologically minded 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.040 people in the church 00:17:12.040 --> 00:17:12.840 have also sometimes 00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:13.700 been some of the most 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.700 divisive 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.880 because their head knowledge 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.600 doesn't actually 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:19.279 transform the heart. 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.660 And so therefore, 00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:21.800 it doesn't lead to unity. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.220 And so the reality is 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.740 that there's nothing 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.400 that we can do 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:27.040 to manufacture this unity. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.740 There's no human means 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.600 of gluing us all together. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.300 What Jesus is talking about here, 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:34.180 true means of unity 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:34.800 comes through 00:17:34.800 --> 00:17:36.060 the transforming work 00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:36.740 of the gospel. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.660 And so look at verse 20 again. 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:39.980 He says, 00:17:40.040 --> 00:17:40.880 I pray also 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.180 for those who will 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.060 believe in me 00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:44.720 through their message. 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.420 He's saying, 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.320 I'm praying for those 00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:48.220 who will come to faith 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:48.720 in the gospel 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.820 through the message 00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.779 of the disciples 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.700 that's going to be 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.600 transmitted down 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.340 through the generations. 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:55.860 And so you think about 00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:57.440 how a telegram works. 00:17:58.560 --> 00:17:59.019 Maybe some of you 00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.640 actually were around 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:00.840 and actually sent a telegram 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:02.080 or telegraph back in the day. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.500 But you'd actually go 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:05.120 to a telegraph office 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.040 to send your message 00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:07.040 and that would be relayed 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.119 via Morse code 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.139 to another office 00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:09.700 and that office 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.359 would receive it 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:10.899 and store it 00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:12.240 and then retransmit it 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.659 until it gets 00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:13.799 to its final destination. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.500 And originally, 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:17.240 the original telegraphs, 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.099 they only had a range 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.379 of about five or six miles. 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.000 And so you think about 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.519 this message, 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.399 if it had to be sent far, 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.519 it had to be retransmitted 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.500 and resent over 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.460 and over again. 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.339 I think the spread 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:27.960 of the gospel, 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:29.200 it really occurs 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.139 in a similar fashion. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.180 And so I wonder 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.579 if we really marvel at this. 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:35.099 If we think about 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:36.139 how the gospel 00:18:36.139 --> 00:18:37.579 has been transmitted 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.659 and relayed to you, 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:41.599 who told you about the gospel? 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.539 And who told them? 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.619 And who told them? 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.139 Generation after generation, 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.299 person after person, 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.579 if we were to trace this back, 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.679 would it not come 00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:52.319 from the mouths 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.500 of the apostles themselves? 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.879 This is what Jesus 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.599 is talking about, 00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.899 this apostolic message. 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:59.139 It's this unchanging good news 00:18:59.139 --> 00:19:00.199 preached by the apostles 00:19:00.199 --> 00:19:01.339 down through the generations 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.439 received by you and me. 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.919 And so this message, 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.579 we need to remember, 00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:06.460 it's not a message 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.279 of trying harder. 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.659 It's not a message 00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:11.299 of self-improvement. 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.000 It's not a message 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.099 based on legend 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.259 or made-up story. 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.240 If it was best 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.720 on those things, 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.639 it would simply 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.699 fizzle out over time. 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:21.899 But Paul tells us 00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.679 in Romans 1 00:19:22.679 --> 00:19:24.019 that the gospel 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.839 is the power of God 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:27.059 for salvation. 00:19:28.919 --> 00:19:30.079 Man was created 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.220 in the image of God 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:31.939 that we were supposed 00:19:31.939 --> 00:19:33.539 to live in perfect union 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.359 with him, 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.399 but because of the fall, 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.500 sin separated us 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:37.980 from God. 00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.119 And as a result, 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.779 we are justly deserving 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.519 of his wrath. 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.240 But it says that God 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.519 demonstrated his love 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.379 for us in that 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.720 while we were yet sinners, 00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:50.639 Christ died for us. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.000 And so this message 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.940 that Jesus wants 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:55.159 proclaimed by the apostles, 00:19:55.399 --> 00:19:56.399 it's playing out 00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.159 in real time 00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:57.920 in front of him. 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.960 Because it's only days later 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.619 that he's going to be 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:01.699 arrested and beaten 00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:02.599 and crucified 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.979 and buried. 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.419 He willingly 00:20:06.419 --> 00:20:07.319 taking the punishment 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.119 for our sins. 00:20:09.459 --> 00:20:10.759 But we know the good news 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.759 that he doesn't stay 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.259 in the grave, 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.399 that he rose from the dead 00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:14.439 conquering sin 00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:15.719 and death forever. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.199 And so some of us 00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:19.199 have been around the church 00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:19.759 our whole lives 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.779 and we've heard this message 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.359 of the gospel 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.479 over and over 00:20:22.479 --> 00:20:23.279 and over again. 00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.199 And sometimes 00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:25.839 we just become numb to it. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.719 Or sometimes 00:20:27.719 --> 00:20:28.939 we just kind of think about it 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:30.420 in the abstract or generalities. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:30.700 We've heard, 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.799 yes, God loves the world. 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:34.140 But in this prayer, 00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:35.700 Jesus is personalizing 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.360 this message. 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:39.720 Jesus loves you. 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:44.259 Jesus loves you. 00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:46.880 He's praying that we 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.860 as his people 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:49.039 will know 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:51.700 that God loves them 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.920 the same way 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:54.240 that God loves us 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.779 the same way 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:56.259 that he loves the Son. 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.960 And so this is really 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.119 an incredible reality 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:01.779 to get our heads around here 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.940 that God the Father 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.019 loves you 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.359 as much as he 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.539 loves his Son. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.640 In our sin 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.619 and in our filth, 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.420 in the depth 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.259 of our rebellion, 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.720 he has chosen 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:13.180 you and me 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:15.180 to love us, 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.379 to cleanse us, 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.039 to give us 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.779 the righteousness 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.859 of his Son, 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.559 to bring us 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.400 from death 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.359 to life 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.539 that we may be called 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.299 sons of God. 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:24.359 God. 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:28.099 We go back in time 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:30.440 to 1572. 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.319 John Knox, 00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:34.220 the Scottish reformer, 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.480 he became ill 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.139 with pneumonia 00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.680 and his condition 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.460 began to deteriorate. 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.279 And as he lay 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.980 in his deathbed, 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.139 he turned to his wife 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.740 and he said, 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.539 Go. 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.639 Go where I cast 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.480 my first anchor. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.539 And she immediately 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.480 knew what he was 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.059 talking about 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.599 and she went 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.539 and got his Bible 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.299 and she opened 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.480 it up to John 17 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.420 to this passage, 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.720 the high priestly prayer 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:59.399 and she read it 00:21:59.399 --> 00:21:59.879 over him. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.700 And after she was finished, 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.259 he commented, 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.680 Oh, 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.819 what a comfort 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.899 this chapter is. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:07.659 See, 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.299 the truth 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.639 of God's love 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.359 for him 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.639 is what was his anchor 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.259 in his life 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.779 and ministry. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.460 In the same way, 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.779 should God's love 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.399 not be our anchor? 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.780 that the love 00:22:20.780 --> 00:22:21.120 of God 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:22.040 may move us 00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:22.900 to relationship 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.500 with others, 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.480 move us 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:24.980 into deeper 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.540 relationship 00:22:25.540 --> 00:22:26.040 with him. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.680 The gospel, 00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:29.540 it's not merely 00:22:29.540 --> 00:22:30.360 good news 00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:31.240 for us to know, 00:22:31.540 --> 00:22:32.500 it's good news 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.680 for us to experience. 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.120 And so, 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.780 when God's love 00:22:35.780 --> 00:22:36.900 so permeates 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.620 our hearts, 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.440 it's going to transform 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.200 the way that we live, 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.100 it's going to transform 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.220 the way that we relate 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:41.900 to other people. 00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:43.780 So, 00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.580 think about how Paul 00:22:44.580 --> 00:22:45.460 talks about this again 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.280 in Philippians 2. 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.619 He says, 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.799 we have this encouragement 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.740 in the fact that 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:50.200 we are united to Christ. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.599 We have this comfort 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.200 in his love. 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.039 We get to share 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.740 in his spirit. 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.759 We get to experience 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.460 the tenderness 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.339 and compassion 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.399 of the Father. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:57.960 Therefore, 00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.700 we need to be like-minded. 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.200 We are called 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.220 to have the same love 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.259 and be of one spirit 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.920 and one mind. 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.960 This is the means 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.579 of unity. 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:10.440 It's rooted in Christ. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.720 So, 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.480 that then brings us 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.339 to our final point. 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:14.639 What is, 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.559 what's the purpose 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.240 of this unity? 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:18.420 Think about that 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:20.000 telegraph illustration again. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.420 I think it's really good. 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.279 It's a comfort for us 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.700 to think about 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.480 how the gospel 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.500 has been transmitted 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:26.039 generation over generation 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.019 from person to person 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.420 and how it reached us. 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.039 The illustration, 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.859 it breaks down 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.559 if we think that 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:35.019 we're the final destination, 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.079 that we're the terminus 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.839 of that message. 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.639 The gospel message 00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.599 was never meant 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.319 to end 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.839 with you and me. 00:23:43.399 --> 00:23:44.440 It's our duty. 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.180 It's our command. 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.259 It should be our pleasure 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.060 to relay it. 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.240 And so, 00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:48.940 look at what it says 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.980 in verse 21 again. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.740 Why does Jesus pray 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.160 for unity? 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.560 So that the world 00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:54.299 may believe 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.519 that you have sent me. 00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:57.940 Verse 23, 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.500 what happens 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:58.940 when believers 00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.720 are brought into unity? 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.039 Then the world 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.680 will know 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.940 that you sent me 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:04.799 and have loved them 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.840 even as you have loved me. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.680 The purpose 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.880 of our unity 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:09.100 is for others 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.779 to come 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.180 to the saving faith 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:11.900 in the person 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.840 and work 00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:13.480 of Jesus. 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.920 If we think back 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.660 of this past weekend, 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.200 I think we see 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.220 a beautiful example 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.600 of that. 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.299 And we have 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.259 our friends 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.420 from South Carolina 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.000 with us 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.120 from a church 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:24.720 that has supported 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.299 Rachel and I 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.320 for more than six years. 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:28.200 A church 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.779 that has given 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.480 to the renovation 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.799 of this church building. 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.960 They want to send 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.320 a group 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.279 to be able to see 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.220 what Christ 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.380 is doing in us 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.259 and through us 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.619 and they want 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:36.859 to be able 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.559 to participate 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.319 in that. 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.559 We see how this 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.420 played out this week. 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.000 The point 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.819 of this relationship 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.400 is not simply 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.920 so we can just 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.579 make some friends 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.299 across the ocean. 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.339 We can eat pork together. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.599 Think about this partnership. 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.359 It's so that we may 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:52.700 see people 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.079 come to know Jesus. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.500 And those of us 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.019 who were here 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.779 just yesterday 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.940 for this community 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.339 hall gross, 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.220 I hope you saw this. 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.680 I hope you saw 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.619 the unity play out 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.359 amongst us. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.879 That people just 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.819 coming off the streets 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.559 who were just curious 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.559 about what was going on 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.200 with these people 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.579 gathered in front of the church. 00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.440 People who 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:12.500 didn't maybe un-church, 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.179 maybe never even 00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:13.859 stepped foot in a church, 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.720 that were experiencing 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.399 the love of Christ 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:16.679 maybe the first time 00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:17.779 in their lives. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.619 And so what a joy it is 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.879 to see this church 00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:22.799 gather together 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.399 different ages, 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.139 different backgrounds, 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.000 different nationalities, 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:26.059 all for the sake 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.700 of the gospel. 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.159 And I think we need 00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:29.679 to recognize it. 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.240 It's wonderful 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.279 to do events like this, 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.079 but something like 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.519 a hog roast 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.240 is not the beginning 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.919 and the end 00:25:33.919 --> 00:25:34.619 of what ministry 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.539 looks like in the church. 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:38.339 I think it's good 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:39.159 to have a big picture 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.599 of the need, 00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:40.079 but oftentimes 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.500 our mind just stays here. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:41.919 We recognize, 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.159 yes, 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.059 there's darkness 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.299 in our society around us. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.179 We see this need 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.700 for the gospel. 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.819 We long for revival, 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.059 but we often fail 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:49.480 to personalize this message. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.559 Think about, 00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.599 we just had the Scottish 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:54.379 parliament elections 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.480 just a few weeks ago. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.539 We heard no shortage 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.759 of politicians 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.519 talking about 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.299 the change 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.819 that they want 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.379 to bring about. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.899 They speak in big platitudes 00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:03.359 about needing 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.619 to improve education 00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.279 or eliminate, 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.899 we need to eliminate poverty 00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:08.159 or we need to end racism. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:09.819 And again, 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.199 they're speaking 00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:11.519 on a very high level here. 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:11.859 They're saying, 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.879 this is what the government 00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:13.359 needs to do. 00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:14.139 This is the government's 00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:14.879 responsibility. 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.039 But I wonder 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.919 if we were to ask them 00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.439 individually, 00:26:18.939 --> 00:26:19.799 you want to improve education, 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.419 when was the last time 00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.439 that you tutored a student? 00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.419 You want to end poverty, 00:26:23.479 --> 00:26:24.079 when was the last time 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.299 you fed the homeless? 00:26:26.239 --> 00:26:27.399 You want to end racism, 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.119 when was the last time 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.559 you had someone 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.339 from a different race 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:29.979 inside your home 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.319 for dinner? 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.420 I think oftentimes, 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.559 this is what we see. 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:34.880 We see, 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.620 they see the need 00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:37.680 in society, 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.680 but they call on 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:40.460 government to fix it, 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.079 shirking any sense 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.500 of personal responsibility. 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.839 This is what often 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.259 plays out 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.620 when we think 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.220 about the gospel, 00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:47.480 right? 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.980 We claim that we want 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.019 to see the gospel spread, 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.440 but really, 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.740 I'd rather someone else 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:53.160 go through the hassle 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.019 of having to spread it. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.559 We talk about 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.720 the role of the church 00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.440 and the responsibility 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.120 of the church 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.919 but we don't always 00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:01.479 think about what 00:27:01.479 --> 00:27:03.000 our role in the church is. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.359 The clue is, 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.259 this is not meant 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.979 to be a place 00:27:07.979 --> 00:27:08.719 where we just kind of 00:27:08.719 --> 00:27:09.539 collect warm bodies 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.059 on a Sunday. 00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:13.079 We need men 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.919 and we need women, 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:15.139 we need children, 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.979 we need married 00:27:15.979 --> 00:27:16.399 and single, 00:27:16.479 --> 00:27:17.179 we need students 00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:17.919 and graduates, 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.979 young and old, 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.679 to be committed 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.819 to the spread 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.539 of the gospel. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.719 And Jesus says 00:27:23.719 --> 00:27:24.259 that the spread 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.679 of the gospel 00:27:24.679 --> 00:27:25.339 is going to come 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.919 when the world 00:27:25.919 --> 00:27:27.039 sees our unity. 00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:27.939 It's really hard 00:27:27.939 --> 00:27:28.439 for the world 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.140 to see our unity 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.140 when we only sit 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.700 next to each other 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.220 for two hours 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.700 on a Sunday. 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.259 The world 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.019 is going to see 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.640 our unity 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.660 when we are committed 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.759 to the gospel, 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.640 when we are willing 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.860 to sacrificially give 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.559 of our time 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.440 and our energy 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.160 and our resources 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.100 to see the love 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.660 of God 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:45.200 be spread in this community 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.019 so that the gospel 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.840 becomes so undeniable 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.980 and irresistible 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.019 to those around us. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.160 Because this is 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.220 what the ultimate vision 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.299 of what Jesus 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.080 is praying for here 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.559 when we turn 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.740 to verse 24. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.199 Father, 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.079 I want those 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.159 you have given me 00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:03.159 to be with me 00:28:03.159 --> 00:28:04.000 where I am 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.919 and to see my glory. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.839 This desire, 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.819 it's not a mere wish 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.799 that Jesus has, 00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:13.039 but it's an expression 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.379 of will 00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:15.599 founded upon 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.859 acknowledged right. 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.279 Man was created 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:20.919 to live 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:22.639 in perfect harmony 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.619 with God 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.239 and behold 00:28:24.239 --> 00:28:24.879 his glory. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.299 Sin prevented 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.119 that from happening. 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.539 But Jesus 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.559 has now come. 00:28:30.699 --> 00:28:31.000 He has, 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.559 through his completed work, 00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:33.939 he now allows 00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:34.659 for this unity 00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.479 to be found 00:28:35.479 --> 00:28:36.479 and possessed 00:28:36.479 --> 00:28:37.079 once again. 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.159 And so while we can 00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:40.079 get a glimpse 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.279 of this glory of God 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.379 in our lives now, 00:28:43.479 --> 00:28:44.179 our longing 00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:44.819 should be 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.359 for when we, 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:45.859 that day, 00:28:45.979 --> 00:28:47.139 when that veil 00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.899 has been lifted 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.839 and we can see 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:50.059 the full glory 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.799 of the Father, 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:53.220 when we may 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.379 behold the glory 00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:54.960 of Jesus 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.779 and we do so 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.599 in perfect unity. 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.579 This is what we get 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.099 when we read 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:59.099 in Revelation 7. 00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.460 It speaks of this 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.759 great multitude 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.379 that there's 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:03.440 no one can count 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.259 from every nation 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.799 and tribe 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.319 and people 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.899 and language 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:07.339 standing before the throne 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:08.099 and before the Lamb. 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.099 And they cry out 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.779 with a loud voice, 00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:12.200 salvation belongs 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.980 to our God 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.559 who sits on the throne 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.980 and to the Lamb. 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:18.759 This is a picture 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:20.120 of the church 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.579 in perfect unity 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:23.339 beholding 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.779 the perfect glory 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:26.000 of the Son. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.000 This is ultimately 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.880 what we should be 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.660 striving for 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.860 as a church. 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:34.000 That as we draw 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.400 nearer to Jesus, 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:37.019 we're drawing nearer 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.860 to one another 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:39.900 that we may behold 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:41.779 the glory of God. 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.120 That we may see it 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:45.660 and share in it. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.740 May it be so. 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.740 Let's pray. 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.599 Lord, we do thank you 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.420 for the encouragement 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.180 from this word 00:29:57.180 --> 00:30:00.059 that we know 00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:00.980 that the Son 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:02.559 is praying for us. 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.319 That he continues 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.120 to intercede 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:06.920 on our behalf. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.120 We thank you, Lord, 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.440 that in all your glory 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.240 and your might 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.980 you desire 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.140 to be an intimate 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:15.380 relationship with us. 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.580 and so may that 00:30:16.580 --> 00:30:17.340 be the foundation 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:18.220 for our unity. 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.260 Lord, we desire 00:30:20.260 --> 00:30:21.040 to be united 00:30:21.040 --> 00:30:21.740 to one another 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.600 and may it not be 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.840 just based on goodwill 00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.720 or much effort 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.960 but may it be rooted 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.680 in the gospel. 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.140 That the unity 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.960 that we display 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.680 may be seen 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.780 by an outside world. 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.440 That the gospel 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.200 may go forth 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.800 with power. 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.280 Lord, may it be 00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:39.980 our deepest 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.960 and most earnest 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.480 desire 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:44.360 that you may be glorified. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.099 And we thank you 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.700 for the opportunity 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.039 to share in that glory 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.339 as you are a united people. 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.200 And we pray this 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.920 in Jesus' name. 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.960 Amen. 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.019 Amen.