WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.120 Amen and good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 8. 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:20.539 ! We're back in John. It's been a minute. Our text for today is verses 48 through 59. I'm very grateful this morning to be back in our study of John's Gospel. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:28.859 In fact, I'm so happy to be back in this book that I'm going to skip introductory comments and just get right to the text. 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:39.759 So let's read it beginning in verse 48, ending at the end of the chapter, and then I'll remind us a little bit where we are and set us up for our study. 00:00:39.859 --> 00:00:43.960 But first, let's pray for God's favor on our time in His Word. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:51.060 Father, as we take up Your Word together this morning, we do so humbly. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:58.179 We want to rightly understand it. We want it to have its proper effect on our hearts. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:03.799 And we recognize that we cannot do this apart from the help of Your Spirit. 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:10.780 We recognize that Your Word was written for Your glory and for our good. 00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:19.120 And so we ask that You would help us to believe its promises and obey its commands and have affection for You, its author. 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:23.379 And we pray that You'll help us to this end. Amen. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:28.140 John chapter 8, beginning in verse 48 and following. 00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:30.700 The Jews answered Him, 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:36.460 Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:38.779 Jesus answered, 00:01:38.779 --> 00:01:45.219 I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father and You dishonor me. 00:01:46.059 --> 00:01:51.639 Yet I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and He is the judge. 00:01:52.859 --> 00:01:58.839 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. 00:01:59.839 --> 00:02:01.079 The Jews said to Him, 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:03.239 Now we know that you have a demon. 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:05.839 Abraham died, as did the prophets. 00:02:06.039 --> 00:02:10.079 Yet you say, if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death. 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:15.840 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died, and the prophets died? 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:18.719 Who do you make yourself out to be? 00:02:20.079 --> 00:02:20.939 Jesus answered, 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:24.340 If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. 00:02:25.079 --> 00:02:30.039 It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say He is our God. 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:32.759 But you have not known Him. 00:02:33.459 --> 00:02:34.400 I know Him. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.819 If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. 00:02:39.239 --> 00:02:42.280 But I do know Him, and I keep His word. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:46.459 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.780 He saw it and was glad. 00:02:49.859 --> 00:02:51.159 So the Jews said to Him, 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.039 You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.479 Jesus said to them, 00:02:58.120 --> 00:02:59.739 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:03.379 Before Abraham was, I am. 00:03:04.659 --> 00:03:07.579 So they picked up stones to throw at him, 00:03:08.079 --> 00:03:11.599 but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. 00:03:13.359 --> 00:03:18.780 There are passages in Scripture where the temperature rises. 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:22.739 You can feel it even across the centuries. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:25.900 I try to read text well for you. 00:03:25.980 --> 00:03:27.060 Of course, I wasn't there. 00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:29.939 I don't know the tone in the voice. 00:03:30.020 --> 00:03:35.180 But you could read this so flatly and miss that there's a tension growing here. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:38.159 John chapter 8, the whole chapter, 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:42.939 it's a chapter where it's just the tension is building and building and building. 00:03:43.920 --> 00:03:47.360 The conversation between Jesus and the religious leaders, 00:03:47.480 --> 00:03:50.400 that's who this term, the Jews, is referring to, 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.960 has been building layer upon layer, 00:03:54.360 --> 00:03:57.900 until what we see here is not a polite disagreement, 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:00.700 but it's open hostility. 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:05.840 The tension is white hot at this point. 00:04:05.920 --> 00:04:07.460 And if you have any doubt of that, 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:11.360 the last verse affirms what I just said, right? 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:16.220 Murderous intent comes to play at the very end of the chapter. 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:18.980 But our text begins, 00:04:19.500 --> 00:04:22.460 The Jews answered him. 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:28.000 Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.680 Don't let your familiarity with the text 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:35.480 dull the shock of this moment. 00:04:36.260 --> 00:04:38.720 These are not fringe skeptics. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:42.380 These are the religious leaders. 00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:44.780 They're significant men. 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:47.719 These are men who know the scriptures, 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:49.739 who claim to represent God. 00:04:49.859 --> 00:04:53.979 And yet, when the Son of God stands before them, 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.819 they do not recognize him. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:00.379 And even worse, they slander him. 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:03.859 They don't just disagree with Jesus. 00:05:04.619 --> 00:05:06.819 They despise Jesus. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:10.259 They call him a Samaritan, 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.319 questioning his ethnic purity, 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:15.279 his orthodoxy, 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.819 his place among God's people. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:20.659 They don't know this at all. 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:21.899 Jesus is not a Samaritan. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:23.060 And they have no clue, 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:25.699 but they are using it pejoratively. 00:05:26.539 --> 00:05:27.920 And if that isn't enough, 00:05:28.039 --> 00:05:29.319 they go further. 00:05:29.779 --> 00:05:32.240 They say that he has a demon, 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:33.539 that he is possessed. 00:05:33.540 --> 00:05:37.360 They attribute the works and words 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:38.520 of the Son of God 00:05:38.520 --> 00:05:41.340 to the powers of darkness. 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:44.760 To me, all of this 00:05:44.760 --> 00:05:48.760 just seems to be taking stabs at him. 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:51.879 It's ad hominem attacks at this point. 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:54.980 Not considering his arguments any longer. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:56.060 They're listening, 00:05:56.259 --> 00:05:57.700 but it seems like they're half listening 00:05:57.700 --> 00:05:58.800 to what he has to say. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:01.759 And then just going after the man. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:03.139 You're a Samaritan. 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:05.819 You're demon-possessed. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:08.160 And what we see here 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:10.879 is not just a historical moment, 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:11.939 although it is that. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.879 It's a record of what happened. 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:16.759 But it's also a mirror 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:19.060 held up to the human heart. 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:23.460 Because, apart from grace, 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:28.199 this is how we all respond to Christ. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.439 And yet, 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:33.699 in the face of this hostility, 00:06:34.780 --> 00:06:37.020 Jesus responds with clarity, 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:38.620 with dignity, 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:40.620 and with truth. 00:06:41.520 --> 00:06:43.439 And in just a few words, 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:45.540 he reveals two realities 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:47.800 that every one of us 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:50.639 must reckon with this morning. 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:52.540 Those two are, 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:53.780 to be our outline for today. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:54.720 Number one, 00:06:54.840 --> 00:06:58.580 that Jesus is the eternal God. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:01.220 And that number two, 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:06.540 Jesus offers eternal life in himself. 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:09.439 So if you like even simpler outlines, 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:10.699 eternal God, 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:12.920 eternal life. 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:16.920 Jesus is clearly presented in this text 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:19.660 as the eternal God. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.300 And I don't want to rush into it 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:24.560 without at least taking a little moment 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.360 to define the word eternal. 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:31.300 It's an adjective that describes time. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:33.460 To say that something is eternal 00:07:33.460 --> 00:07:35.139 is to say that time 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:37.520 has no bearing on it. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:40.519 It will go on forever. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.379 Jesus is eternal. 00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:46.859 He has existed in eternity past 00:07:46.859 --> 00:07:50.839 and will exist in eternity future. 00:07:51.039 --> 00:07:54.019 No beginning and no end. 00:07:54.479 --> 00:07:55.699 And this is true 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:59.539 because Jesus is the eternal God. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:02.040 God is not merely a God, 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:05.500 but the eternal God. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:07.980 God has been presenting us 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:08.879 with a dilemma 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.680 all throughout his writing. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.700 I've lamented a couple of times 00:08:13.700 --> 00:08:15.180 this morning with a few of you 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:17.660 about how the way we preach, 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:18.480 which I commend, 00:08:18.580 --> 00:08:20.340 otherwise I would just stop doing it, 00:08:20.840 --> 00:08:23.280 taking bits of text at a time, 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:25.840 often leads us to forget 00:08:25.840 --> 00:08:27.000 the total narrative, 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:30.259 what's going on in the totality of the text. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:33.059 The sermon would be way too long 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:34.720 if I preached the entire book of John 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:36.220 on a Sunday morning. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:37.460 We need to break it down 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:39.360 and consider things bit by bit 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.240 and piece by piece, 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:42.639 but let's not lose sight 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.879 of the larger themes being developed. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.440 John's been doing this work 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.379 of presenting this dilemma. 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:53.740 What will you do with Jesus? 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:56.600 We see receiving him 00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:58.680 and we see rejecting him. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.620 We find ourselves in a chapter 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:03.560 that is all about rejection. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.799 Jesus is too audacious 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.799 to just be a good teacher. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:13.840 You must think him a liar, 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:16.240 just inventing falsehood, 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:18.560 or a lunatic. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:21.039 Perhaps he actually believed 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:22.100 what he said about himself 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:24.860 and was absolutely crazy. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:28.620 Or, and what I posit to you, 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:32.139 that what he said is true 00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:36.040 and therefore you must worship him 00:09:36.040 --> 00:09:37.560 as Lord. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.820 Maybe you've heard that trilemma structure 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:45.680 before, liar, lunatic, or Lord. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.939 In verses 39 through 47, 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.239 just preceding our text, 00:09:50.359 --> 00:09:54.739 Jesus has exposed false devotion to God. 00:09:55.099 --> 00:09:56.699 That's what they're responding to here 00:09:56.699 --> 00:09:57.759 in verse 48. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.000 He says in verse 46, 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.459 Which one of you convicts me of sin? 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:04.179 If I tell the truth, 00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:05.959 why do you not believe me? 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:09.259 Whoever is of God, 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:10.099 verse 47, 00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:12.419 hears the words of God. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.000 The reason why you do not hear them 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:18.379 is that you are not of God. 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:20.720 And it's in response to that 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:22.399 that our text begins, 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:24.799 The Jews answered him. 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:27.039 I mentioned it really briefly earlier, 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.039 but this little phrase, 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:30.080 the Jews, 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.500 most regularly in the book of John 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:34.220 is referring to these religious leaders. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:35.980 And there's some contextual evidence 00:10:35.980 --> 00:10:37.820 that that is the case. 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:40.540 That's who he's speaking to right now 00:10:40.540 --> 00:10:41.740 in the temple. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.960 Are we not right in saying 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:46.840 that you are Samaritan 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:48.460 and have a demon? 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:51.760 Notice their confidence. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.520 They're not really asking questions. 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:56.220 This is rhetorical to be sure. 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:59.260 Our punctuation puts it as a question. 00:10:59.760 --> 00:11:01.740 They're not really asking Jesus 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:04.300 to bring clarity to their thoughts about him. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:07.459 They're convinced that they are correct. 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:08.599 And yet, 00:11:08.959 --> 00:11:11.039 they're completely wrong. 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:14.459 This is one of the sobering realities 00:11:14.459 --> 00:11:16.719 that the Bible presents to us. 00:11:17.719 --> 00:11:21.679 Sincerity does not equal belief. 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.199 These men are confident 00:11:24.199 --> 00:11:27.240 and they are deaf 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:29.859 to the words of Christ. 00:11:30.479 --> 00:11:31.399 Verse 47, 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.379 whoever is of God 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.439 hears the words of God. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:35.199 The reason why you do not hear them 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:38.959 is that you are not of God. 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:43.139 Jesus has just said this to them. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.419 And instead of humbling themselves, 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:48.120 hearing this difficult thing, 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.759 asking for clarifying questions, 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:54.340 what you've said is hard to hear. 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:56.220 Help us understand what you mean. 00:11:56.319 --> 00:11:56.759 Instead, 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:00.299 they harden themselves against him. 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:03.360 This is exactly what Scripture 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.159 tells us to expect 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:08.419 apart from the work of the Spirit 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:09.259 in our lives. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.699 It comes in 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:13.100 and softens our hearts. 00:12:13.959 --> 00:12:15.000 1 Corinthians 2, 00:12:15.079 --> 00:12:15.759 in verse 14, 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:16.220 Paul says, 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:18.100 The natural person does not accept 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:19.819 the things of the Spirit of God, 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:23.340 for they are folly to him. 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:26.139 Left to ourselves, 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.720 we do not drift toward Christ. 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:32.259 We drift away. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.279 We resist him. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:37.620 We do not naturally submit. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.980 We naturally push back. 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:46.299 We sang a song just a moment ago. 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.419 First line, 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:50.579 My Lord, I did not choose you, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.620 for that could never be. 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:55.340 My heart would still refuse you 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:58.720 had you not chosen me. 00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:00.620 If you felt any objection 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:02.560 to that song, 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.000 it's derived directly from Scripture, 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:06.759 from John chapter 15, 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.560 in verse 16, 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:09.340 where Jesus says, 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.420 You did not choose me, 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.700 but I chose you 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.780 and appointed you 00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:14.240 that you should go 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.840 and bear fruit. 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:18.080 And the emphasis of that song 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.220 is that we would be humble 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:19.940 and recognize 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.240 that it's the loving kindness 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.960 of God to us in Christ 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:25.180 that has saved our souls. 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:28.320 The doctrine of divine election 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.639 in no way mitigates 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:33.680 human responsibility. 00:13:34.780 --> 00:13:37.320 The Bible teaches both. 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:38.800 And you can say, 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.040 Nathan, that is not logical, 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.000 and I will just go, 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:41.720 Well, then, okay. 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.379 The Bible says both things, 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:49.279 and we want to hold both honestly. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.039 The sovereignty of God's salvation, 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.899 divine election, 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:54.820 and human responsibility. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.340 We see this laced 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:59.019 all throughout John's gospel. 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.919 The doctrine of divine election 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:03.740 is not meant to make us 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:06.159 proud and condemning. 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.639 What it's meant to do 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.919 is rightly humble us 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:12.679 and work gratitude 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:13.980 in our hearts. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:17.860 Jesus isn't pulling punches 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.820 in chapter 8. 00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:20.300 Young people, 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:20.800 I don't know if you know 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:21.860 what pulling a punch is. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.100 You pull a punch when you swing 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.700 and you don't quite deliver the punch. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.820 It's like you resist 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:28.000 the full impact. 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.019 Maybe you've pretend 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:29.840 hit somebody before 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.480 and you don't quite make contact. 00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:32.940 That's what that phrase means. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:35.899 Jesus isn't doing that. 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.940 He is fully indicting 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.560 these men 00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:40.340 for their rejection 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.620 of the truth. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.259 While I hold 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.080 the divine election, 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.439 I hold it firmly 00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:47.679 in my closed fist. 00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:49.519 We cannot miss this. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.620 These men 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.100 are responsible 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.500 for the rejection 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:55.220 of the Lord Jesus 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.799 as the Christ. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.620 Notice Jesus' response. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.879 He answers them. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.659 Verse 49, 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:04.500 I do not have a demon, 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:07.080 but I honor my father 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:10.919 and you dishonor me. 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.480 He doesn't say, 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.159 well, of course you don't believe me. 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:18.620 Their actions are held culpable 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.779 for their actions. 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:23.480 He deals with the demonic accusation plainly. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.860 I do not have a demon. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.639 And the Samaritan accusation 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.840 by restating 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:31.320 that God is his father. 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:33.379 They're trying to diminish his purity 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:35.020 and he is raising the bar 00:15:35.020 --> 00:15:37.080 on who he is. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:39.520 The inciting incident 00:15:39.520 --> 00:15:40.240 between Jesus 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.060 and these men 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:42.900 was recorded in chapter 5 00:15:42.900 --> 00:15:44.620 where Jesus heals a man 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.200 on the Sabbath 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.260 and then states 00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:47.920 in John 5, 17, 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.980 my father is working 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:50.980 until now 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:53.600 and I am working. 00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:54.220 So again, 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:55.880 big picture contextually. 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:56.840 Go back to the beginning 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:58.100 of 5, 17. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.019 And we know 00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.639 when he says this, 00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:00.480 my father is working 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.060 until now 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:02.200 and I am working, 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.279 exactly what he meant 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.700 because John records 00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.800 their response 00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:08.279 with an explanation. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.440 Verse 18 of chapter 5, 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.259 John says, 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:13.159 this was why the Jews 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:13.680 were seeking 00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.920 all the more 00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:15.800 to kill him 00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:17.080 because not only 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:18.080 was he breaking the Sabbath, 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.519 but he was even calling God 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.560 his own father, 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.040 making himself 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.480 equal with 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.740 God. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.639 He was claiming 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.659 to be God 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.820 in doing this. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:31.720 He will continue 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.759 to make these claims 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.360 right up to today's text 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:36.100 and beyond it. 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:37.259 Now, 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.580 if you are not God, 00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:40.680 then it is a grave evil 00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:42.039 to call yourself 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.200 God. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.919 No one in this room 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.940 can make this claim. 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:47.779 No one should claim 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.299 that we are 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.940 little g gods. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.580 This is a great heresy, 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.899 a grave, 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:54.000 grave evil. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.460 If Jesus was a liar 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.279 or a lunatic, 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.919 they had every right 00:16:58.919 --> 00:16:59.820 to be angry at him. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.419 It would have been proper 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:03.100 for them to think him 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.099 blasphemous, 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.140 evil, 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.160 punishment should come, 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.299 stoning was the punishment 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.240 for blasphemy. 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.380 We should be angered. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.779 It would be righteous 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.880 to be angered 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.700 by a person 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.180 claiming to be 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:17.400 God. 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.660 However, 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.920 Jesus is God. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.519 It is good and proper 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.160 for God 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.340 to call himself 00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:26.460 God. 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.920 And John is laboring 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.340 to make this 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.320 point. 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:33.620 He begins 00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:34.740 this great work 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.880 with these words, 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.920 John chapter 1, 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.200 beginning in verse 1 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.779 and following. 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.320 In the beginning 00:17:40.320 --> 00:17:41.820 was the Word, 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.060 and the Word 00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:44.000 was with God, 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:44.900 and the Word 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:47.259 was God. 00:17:47.840 --> 00:17:48.759 He was in the beginning 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.380 with God. 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.940 All things 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.300 were made 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:51.880 through him, 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.640 and without him 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.600 was not anything 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.700 made that was made. 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:56.980 Now bring the next 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.200 verses into our context. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.280 In him 00:17:59.280 --> 00:18:00.860 was life, 00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:02.700 and the life 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.840 was the light 00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:04.260 of men. 00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:05.580 The light 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:07.040 shines in the darkness, 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.840 and the darkness 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:08.780 has not 00:18:08.780 --> 00:18:10.320 overcome it. 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.880 The introductory 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:13.120 words to this 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:13.920 gospel account 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.560 are presenting 00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:15.100 Jesus 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.380 as the Christ, 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.480 as God 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.380 himself. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:19.300 self. 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:19.880 Like, 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.320 come into the world 00:18:21.320 --> 00:18:22.520 as light 00:18:22.520 --> 00:18:23.580 to conquer 00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:25.060 darkness. 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.180 Then we can jump 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.240 down just a bit 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.280 after a bit of 00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:30.600 language about 00:18:30.600 --> 00:18:31.400 John the Baptist 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.320 to verse 9 00:18:32.320 --> 00:18:33.160 of chapter 1. 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:34.980 There John writes, 00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:35.820 the true light, 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.600 which gives light 00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:37.420 to everyone, 00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.100 was coming 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:39.100 into the world. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.060 He was in the world, 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:41.640 and the world 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.820 was made through him, 00:18:42.820 --> 00:18:44.220 yet the world 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.740 did not know him. 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.700 He came to his own. 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:49.539 And his own people 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.539 did not 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.840 receive him. 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:53.460 This is what we're 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.440 looking at right now. 00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:55.680 It's playing out. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.680 But to all who did 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.180 receive him, 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.400 who believed in his name, 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.660 he gave the right 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.340 to become 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:01.960 children 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.080 of God, 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.700 who were born 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:06.420 not of blood, 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.920 not because they 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.380 are ethnically Jewish, 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:11.039 nor of the will 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.720 of the flesh, 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.400 not because they 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:14.880 just hoped enough, 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.299 did enough, 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.519 nor of the will 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.399 of man, 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:23.619 but of God. 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.819 These men, 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.659 his own people, 00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:29.539 did not receive him. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.319 Rather, 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.359 they call him 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:34.139 demon-possessed. 00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.319 Isaiah chapter 5, 00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:37.919 verse 20, 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.200 says, 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.579 woe to those 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:41.119 who call evil good 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:43.339 and good evil. 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:46.000 I think it's important 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.879 at this point 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.439 to note 00:19:47.439 --> 00:19:48.739 that sometimes 00:19:48.739 --> 00:19:50.679 resistance to the 00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.459 words of God 00:19:51.459 --> 00:19:53.479 looks religious. 00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:55.979 Now, 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.039 notice what Jesus 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.659 says next 00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:59.779 in verse 50. 00:20:00.959 --> 00:20:01.439 He says, 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.299 yet I do not 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.360 seek my own 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:03.820 glory. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.380 There is one 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.160 who seeks it 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:06.940 and he 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.860 is 00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:09.380 the judge. 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.320 Jesus has 00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.700 no real 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.299 need 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.960 to defend 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.440 himself. 00:20:15.320 --> 00:20:16.440 His father 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.340 seeks 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:18.420 his glory 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:20.059 and will 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.519 be 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.740 the judge. 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:22.299 So he's 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.039 communicating here. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.600 This is where 00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:25.820 the indictment 00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.480 language 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.240 really 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.380 hits. 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.720 I think 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.140 our minds 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:30.540 might just 00:20:30.540 --> 00:20:31.300 bounce right 00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:31.940 past this 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.440 declaration 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.200 that God 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.680 is 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.100 the judge. 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.920 This rejection 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.400 of Jesus 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.300 as the Christ, 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.120 this malicious 00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:40.260 name-calling 00:20:40.260 --> 00:20:41.840 will be 00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:43.120 judged. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.580 And this 00:20:44.580 --> 00:20:45.300 audience would 00:20:45.300 --> 00:20:45.700 have had a 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.500 clear picture 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.160 of what Jesus 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.700 meant 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.720 by this 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.180 language. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.120 Perhaps 00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.660 a text 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.460 like Isaiah 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.340 66, 00:20:53.520 --> 00:20:54.120 verse 15 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:54.580 and 16 00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:54.880 would have 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.500 come into 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.120 their minds. 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.280 These men 00:20:57.280 --> 00:20:57.820 knew 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.519 their Old 00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:58.779 Testament 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.139 Bible. 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.000 Perhaps 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.500 this is 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:00.799 what jumped 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:00.980 in their 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.119 mind. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.460 He says, 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.559 my father 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.339 is the 00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:03.619 judge. 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.039 Listen to 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.200 it. 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.359 For behold, 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.059 the Lord 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.659 will come 00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.399 in fire 00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:08.379 and his 00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:09.039 chariots 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.460 like the 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.139 whirlwind 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:11.139 to render 00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:12.079 his anger 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.899 in fury 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.379 and his 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:13.980 rebuke 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.720 with flames 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.399 of fire. 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.460 For by 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.039 fire 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.359 will the 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.559 Lord 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.039 enter into 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.379 judgment 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.000 and by 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.779 his sword 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.500 with all 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:20.980 flesh 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.059 and those 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.919 slain by 00:21:22.919 --> 00:21:23.460 the Lord 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.480 shall be 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.259 many. 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.799 Jesus 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.279 calls 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:28.500 his 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:28.859 father 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.240 the 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:29.779 judge. 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.140 These 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.559 men 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:30.819 are 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.119 getting 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.119 whipped 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:33.019 into 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.339 a 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.799 fervor. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.859 This is 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:36.000 indicting 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.480 language. 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:38.680 They're 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.059 opposing 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.460 Jesus 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.099 and Jesus 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.680 is stating 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.440 that they 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.900 will be 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.339 judged 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.940 for their 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.960 opposition. 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:45.799 Now, 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.599 this 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:47.980 warning is 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.539 not just 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.140 for them. 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:50.740 Heed 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.759 this 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.819 warning. 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.799 Do not 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.620 reject the 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.099 claims 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.380 of Jesus 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.839 Christ. 00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:00.019 A warning 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.519 like this 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.160 isn't 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:01.640 pleasant. 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.339 It's not 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:03.940 fun to 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.380 talk about 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.140 the wrath 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:05.799 of God. 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.579 Proper, 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.359 just, 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:07.759 but it's 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.299 not fun 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.339 to talk 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:09.640 about. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.319 But a 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.859 warning for 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.700 your good 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.880 is a 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.460 warning that 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.339 should be 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.579 embraced. 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.339 If a 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.980 child is 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.279 about to 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:19.779 grab the 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.259 handle of 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.740 a pot of 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.539 boiling water 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.019 and pull 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.539 it down 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:22.839 onto 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.440 themselves, 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.500 picture that 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.180 reaching up, 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:25.879 the handle 00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.379 got left 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.059 sticking out 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.319 on the 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:27.640 stove, 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.259 and they're 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.599 about to 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.700 dump boiling 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.759 water all 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.240 over 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.980 themselves, 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.519 a loud 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:35.140 or exasperated 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.900 warning is 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.799 absolutely 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.819 appropriate. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.779 Isn't that 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.039 what we 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.519 would all 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:40.859 do? 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.039 It 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.400 wouldn't 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:43.660 be calm. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.119 It 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:45.440 wouldn't, 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:45.779 frankly, 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.759 be kind 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.960 in its 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.460 tone. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.900 We would 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.600 yell out, 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.460 stop, 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:52.440 no, 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.940 don't touch 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.280 that, 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:54.920 it's not 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.519 good for 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.080 you. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.200 A harsh 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.000 warning when 00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.280 there is 00:22:59.280 --> 00:23:00.120 grave danger 00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:02.220 is warranted. 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.280 It's 00:23:03.280 --> 00:23:04.400 loving. 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:06.960 So listen 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.320 to me. 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.800 If you 00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.620 reject Jesus 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.920 as the 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.280 Christ, 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.740 if you do 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.460 not flee to 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:13.940 him for the 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.580 salvation of 00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:15.120 your soul, 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.280 you will 00:23:16.280 --> 00:23:17.259 stand in the 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.820 judgment of 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.519 God and 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.659 be justly 00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:20.339 condemned 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:21.659 for your 00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:21.939 sin. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.039 You know 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.359 you are 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:24.700 guilty, 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.220 and God 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.799 certainly 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.500 will not 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.919 be deceived. 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.379 He is 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.299 infinitely 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.919 offended, 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.779 and he 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.480 will judge 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.799 justly. 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.339 We want 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.179 God to 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:38.700 be just. 00:23:38.939 --> 00:23:39.480 He will 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.159 judge 00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:41.819 justly. 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.439 So embrace 00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:43.859 the warning. 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.740 understand the 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.719 reality of 00:23:46.719 --> 00:23:47.879 the state of 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.379 your soul 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:49.859 if you're 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.579 not in 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:51.979 Christ. 00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.359 But don't 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.000 stop there. 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.399 We want to 00:23:57.399 --> 00:23:58.240 believe the 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.979 promise that 00:23:58.979 --> 00:23:59.679 also comes 00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.759 with this 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.099 text. 00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:01.559 And so let's 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.119 work through 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.839 verse 51, 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.179 and we're 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:03.459 actually going 00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:03.779 to go down 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.459 through 58, 00:24:04.719 --> 00:24:05.019 and I'm 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.139 going to 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.479 get into 00:24:05.479 --> 00:24:06.399 the eternal 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.279 life part 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.379 of the 00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:08.639 text, 00:24:08.719 --> 00:24:09.119 because it's 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:09.879 here in 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.500 verse 51 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.099 that the 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.659 offer is 00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:12.059 made. 00:24:12.159 --> 00:24:12.479 He says, 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.940 truly, 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:13.519 truly, 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.039 really, 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.519 really, 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.279 this is a 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.960 true thing 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.400 you should 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.059 listen to. 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.180 I say to 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.460 you, 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.200 if anyone 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.759 keeps my 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.279 word, 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:21.960 he will 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.559 never see 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:25.039 death. 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.319 Right? 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.140 This is on 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:26.620 the heels 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.200 of this 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.000 God as 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.660 judge 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:30.299 language. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:31.920 But look 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.140 at their 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.720 response. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.640 The Jews 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.000 said to 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.259 him, 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.599 now we 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.599 know that 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:37.880 you have 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.200 a demon. 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.160 Abraham 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.700 died, 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.640 as did 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:41.819 the 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.160 prophets, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:44.299 if anyone's 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.779 not going 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.140 to die, 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.380 it'd be 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:45.759 them, 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.160 but they 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.620 died, 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.059 yet you 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.400 say, 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:47.980 if anyone 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.500 keeps my 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:48.900 word, 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:49.799 he will 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.160 never 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.420 taste 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:51.880 death. 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.259 I spent 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.599 too much 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.000 time this 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.360 week trying 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:55.640 to figure 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.460 out why 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.039 Jesus says 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.500 never see 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.839 death, 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.160 and they 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.500 say never 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:58.819 taste 00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.079 death, 00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.299 thinking 00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.480 there'd 00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.579 be 00:24:59.579 --> 00:24:59.920 something 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.000 amazing 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.460 there. 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:02.799 Nope. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.000 These 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.120 are both 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.579 common 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.579 phrases used 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.220 all throughout 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.660 the scripture 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.200 to speak 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.599 about 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.000 experiencing 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.179 death. 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.279 Why 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.519 different 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:13.839 phrases? 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.699 I don't 00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:14.959 know. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:15.919 I don't 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.139 know. 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.279 Maybe they 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.459 weren't 00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.399 listening as 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:20.679 well as 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:20.959 they should 00:25:20.959 --> 00:25:21.219 have. 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.819 Maybe this 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.299 is to the 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.139 half-listening 00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:25.039 point. 00:25:25.219 --> 00:25:25.539 They couldn't 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.039 even repeat 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.339 what he 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.059 said properly. 00:25:28.199 --> 00:25:28.719 Perhaps. 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.240 That's my 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.759 imagination. 00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:32.299 Verse 53, 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.659 are you 00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.940 greater than 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.319 our father 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.940 Abraham who 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.680 died and 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.180 the prophets 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.659 died? 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.399 Who do 00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.059 you make 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.500 yourself out 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.740 to be? 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.180 You hear 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.960 that dripping 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.399 condemnation in 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.139 that question. 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:47.720 Who do you 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.319 think you 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.879 are? 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.819 Jesus 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.440 answers them, 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.399 if I glorify 00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.839 myself, my 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.339 glory is 00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:56.740 nothing. 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.220 You hear 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.399 what he's 00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:58.579 saying. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.680 He's responding 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.180 humbly. 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.320 God. 00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:01.820 He is 00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.480 God. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:03.500 He in this 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.039 moment can 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.740 call down 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.320 heaven, 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.740 condemn them 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.700 immediately in 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.299 the moment. 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.220 He says, 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.740 if I glorify 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.299 myself, my 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.700 glory is 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:10.900 nothing. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.440 It is my 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.180 father who 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.039 glorifies me 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:14.500 of whom you 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.900 say he 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:17.100 is our 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.460 God. 00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:18.680 But you 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.320 have not 00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:20.000 known him. 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.019 But you 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.560 have not 00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:22.480 known him. 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:23.039 These men's 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.680 lives were 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.180 devoted to 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.720 the worship 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.900 of Yahweh. 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.799 And Jesus 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.180 says, he is 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.860 not your 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.299 God. 00:26:30.479 --> 00:26:30.899 You say 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.519 he is, but 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.179 he is 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:33.319 not. 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.099 And he 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:34.459 says, I 00:26:34.459 --> 00:26:34.899 know him. 00:26:35.959 --> 00:26:36.519 If I 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:36.719 were to 00:26:36.719 --> 00:26:37.139 say that I 00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:37.419 do not 00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:37.819 know him, 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.079 I would 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.379 be a 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.000 liar like 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.379 you. 00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:40.459 But I 00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:40.919 do know 00:26:40.919 --> 00:26:42.639 him, and 00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:42.939 I keep 00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:43.359 his word. 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.119 Your 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.619 father 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.399 Abraham 00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.519 rejoiced 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.119 that he 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.919 would see 00:26:48.919 --> 00:26:50.099 my day. 00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:51.279 He saw 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.199 it and 00:26:52.199 --> 00:26:52.919 was 00:26:52.919 --> 00:26:54.139 glad. 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.059 Now, once 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.599 again, here's 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.339 a verse to 00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.839 think about. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:27:00.419 what does 00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:01.379 this mean? 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.399 And really, I 00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.039 don't know that 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:05.119 we can derive 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:06.119 exactly what 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.579 is meant 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.079 here. 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.439 What does 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:08.939 it mean that 00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:11.279 Abraham saw 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.639 Jesus' might 00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.500 be meant 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.839 by this? 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.119 But clearly, 00:27:16.419 --> 00:27:17.379 what Jesus is 00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.139 expressing is 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:18.839 that Abraham 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:20.339 understands 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.480 Jesus is 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.559 the Christ. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.779 He gets 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.279 this. 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:26.480 perhaps in 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.279 some glorified 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.779 state. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:28.879 Perhaps he 00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.859 has some 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.680 theophany that 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.160 we're not 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:31.879 aware of. 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.319 Perhaps we 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:33.680 got to be 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.240 better at our 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.019 biblical theology 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.740 and understand 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.940 how he beheld 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:38.160 Christ and 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:38.680 the promises. 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.460 I'm not 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.079 sure. 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.899 But nonetheless, 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.579 Abraham 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:45.240 rejoiced 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.660 to see the 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.440 day of 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.859 Christ. 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.720 We read 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.559 previously from 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.639 Hebrews chapter 00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.160 11, 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.580 expressed that 00:27:52.580 --> 00:27:53.220 Abraham was 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.920 looking forward 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.800 to a city 00:27:55.800 --> 00:27:56.720 with foundations. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.880 He saw it 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.300 and he was 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:01.779 glad. 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.259 And once again, 00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:03.880 this just feels 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.480 like such a 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.100 moment where 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:05.540 they ought to 00:28:05.540 --> 00:28:06.259 go, what do 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.040 you mean? 00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.800 What are you 00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.840 talking about? 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.120 Abraham, our 00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.940 father, rejoiced 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.800 to see your day? 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.540 He saw it? 00:28:13.580 --> 00:28:14.060 Like, tell us 00:28:14.060 --> 00:28:14.720 more. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.540 And that we 00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:15.920 would get this 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.920 beautiful explanation 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.620 of how it was 00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.240 that Abraham 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.279 saw the day 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.420 of Christ, 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:20.899 but they 00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:22.539 respond instead, 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.759 you are not 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.559 yet 50 years 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:24.980 old. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:25.920 And have you 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.819 seen Abraham? 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.339 You're not 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.119 old enough 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.519 to have seen 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.160 Abraham or 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.639 him to 00:28:31.639 --> 00:28:33.119 see you. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:35.859 And Jesus 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.720 says to them, 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.000 truly, truly, 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.339 I say to you 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.480 again, really, 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.319 really true, 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.299 before Abraham 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.859 was, 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.259 I 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.680 am. 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.440 This is a 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.279 significant 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.100 statement. 00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:51.440 He could 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.060 have said, 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.000 grammatically he 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.360 could have 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:53.680 said, 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.539 before Abraham 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.519 was, I 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.160 was. 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.140 I predate 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.180 Abraham. 00:28:59.519 --> 00:28:59.860 Isn't that 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.200 kind of a 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.580 question? 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.000 You're not 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.500 that old. 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.039 How is it 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.460 possible? 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.600 Jesus flips 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.160 the question 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.039 on its head 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.340 to say 00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.060 something much 00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.860 more significant 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:09.519 about himself. 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.620 Now, in the 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.120 book of John, 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.980 there are seven 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.600 metaphorical I 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.240 am's. 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.759 I am the 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.120 bread of 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.019 life, as 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.460 an example 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:18.859 from a 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.259 previous 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.400 chapter. 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.599 This one 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.640 is not a 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.980 metaphorical I 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.259 am. 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.519 This is 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.539 Jesus accessing 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.120 the language 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.799 of Exodus 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.579 chapter 3 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.920 and verse 14. 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.620 When Moses 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.259 meets with 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.720 God on the 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.000 mountain, 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.220 he's commissioned 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.380 to go lead 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.039 God's people 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.339 out of 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:35.720 captivity, 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.120 and he 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.440 asks, 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:37.880 who should 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.180 I tell 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.539 them sent 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.740 me? 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.140 God 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.480 says, 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.279 tell them 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.420 I am 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.480 has sent 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.700 you. 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.140 Right? 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.020 This is the 00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:45.480 Hebrew word 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.380 Yahweh. 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:49.500 The self-existent 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.140 one. 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.280 Jesus' 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.980 listeners 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.200 would have 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:54.520 entirely 00:29:54.520 --> 00:29:55.000 understood 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.380 what he 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:56.000 was communicating 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.520 to them 00:29:56.520 --> 00:29:57.360 when he 00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:57.680 says, 00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:58.700 before Abraham 00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.540 was, 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.380 I'm going 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.520 to say 00:30:00.520 --> 00:30:00.759 something 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.380 grammatically 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.160 clunky, 00:30:02.520 --> 00:30:03.100 before Abraham 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.680 was, 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.940 I am. 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.160 And we 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:07.500 know this 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:07.920 is true 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:09.120 because they 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:09.460 picked up 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.940 stones. 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:11.400 this was 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.660 the ultimate 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.400 blasphemy 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.340 in their 00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:14.820 eyes. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.400 And it 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:15.900 would be 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.640 if Jesus 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.320 is not 00:30:17.320 --> 00:30:18.380 in fact 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.820 the eternal 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.160 God. 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.000 So that's 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.400 point one. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.720 Point two. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.259 Jesus offers 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.740 eternal life 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.519 in himself. 00:30:30.080 --> 00:30:30.680 In himself. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.600 Verse 51. 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:32.660 Truly, 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:32.840 truly, 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.320 I say to 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:33.440 you, 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.019 if anyone 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:35.019 keeps my 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.559 word, 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.360 he will 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:36.940 never see 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.299 death. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.899 Now, 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.559 if Jesus 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.159 is not 00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:40.740 God, 00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:41.839 these words 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.099 are absurd. 00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:44.559 This is 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.159 crazy talk. 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.659 If he 00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.500 is God, 00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:48.299 and he 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:48.619 is, 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:49.759 then they're 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.559 everything. 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.319 John Piper 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:53.819 brought to my 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.399 attention a 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:54.879 book written 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.259 in the early 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.859 70s. 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.720 I've not 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.099 read it. 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.039 By a man 00:30:58.039 --> 00:30:58.240 named 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.619 Ernest 00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.000 Becker. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:00.839 It won 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.519 the Pulitzer 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.059 Prize in 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.799 1974. 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:03.619 The book 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.220 was entitled 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.259 The Denial 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.079 of Death. 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.599 in which 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.460 he argues, 00:31:08.699 --> 00:31:09.359 this is the 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:10.460 thesis statement, 00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.480 the idea 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.359 of death, 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.159 the fear 00:31:14.159 --> 00:31:14.559 of it, 00:31:14.939 --> 00:31:15.559 haunts the 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.259 human animal 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:17.240 like nothing 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.720 else. 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.220 It is a 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.139 mainspring 00:31:20.139 --> 00:31:20.740 of human 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.399 activity. 00:31:22.679 --> 00:31:23.299 Activity 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.119 designed largely 00:31:24.119 --> 00:31:24.799 to avoid 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.460 the fatality 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:25.980 of death, 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.899 to overcome 00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:27.899 it by denying 00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:28.819 in some way 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:30.619 that it is 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.419 the final 00:31:31.419 --> 00:31:32.139 destiny 00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:33.379 for man. 00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.279 His argument 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:35.779 is that all 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.420 human activity 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.920 is fueled 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.420 by, 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.079 it's the 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:40.299 mainspring 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.819 of a fear 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.799 of death. 00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:44.519 Interesting 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.759 thing to 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.200 think about. 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:47.879 We see this 00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:49.059 reality expressed 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:50.359 whether consciously 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:52.099 or unconsciously 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.799 in all kinds 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.319 of forms. 00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:54.720 Some good 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.000 things, 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.700 some that 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.259 aren't so 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.039 good. 00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:57.500 We do lots 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:57.980 of life 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.440 preserving 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.119 things, 00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.259 don't we? 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.900 I will 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.799 certainly 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.279 put my 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.640 seatbelt 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.160 on and 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:03.379 drive 00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:03.799 carefully 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.180 when I 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.619 go home 00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:04.940 at the 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.299 end of 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.200 today. 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.579 I hope 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:08.859 that's not 00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:09.279 feared by 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.019 fear of 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.299 death, 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.500 but perhaps 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:11.900 it is 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.200 somewhere 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.799 down 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.039 inside. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.480 Our 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:15.839 culture 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.359 has an 00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:17.059 obsession 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:18.299 with youth. 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.079 It suggests 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.379 that we 00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.460 worship 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.200 youth, 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.819 all kinds 00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.240 of health 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.879 crazes, 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.160 diet fads, 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.480 cosmetic 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.099 surgery, 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:29.279 idolatry 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.519 of 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.159 celebrities. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.519 Think about 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.019 the kinds 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.699 of celebrities 00:32:31.699 --> 00:32:32.139 that are 00:32:32.139 --> 00:32:32.519 worshipped. 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:33.159 They're so 00:32:33.159 --> 00:32:33.759 young. 00:32:34.919 --> 00:32:35.519 Even the 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:35.939 young people 00:32:35.939 --> 00:32:36.159 in our 00:32:36.159 --> 00:32:36.459 church are 00:32:36.459 --> 00:32:36.740 becoming 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.639 older than 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:37.980 the people 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.419 who are 00:32:38.419 --> 00:32:39.379 worshipped 00:32:39.379 --> 00:32:40.099 these days. 00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:42.419 The drowning 00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:43.859 and medicating 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.899 of sorrow, 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.299 the seize 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:46.839 the day 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.539 mantra 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.779 that's so 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.199 prevalent, 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.279 the way we 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.740 spend our 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.019 leisure 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.659 activity, 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.679 the numbing 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.519 of entertainment, 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:56.079 the gathering 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.559 up of 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.679 toys. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:58.919 Most of 00:32:58.919 --> 00:32:59.259 you know 00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.919 right now 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:01.159 my family 00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.619 is living 00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.619 in Buford 00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:03.379 on Linear 00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:04.240 Islands Parkway 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.619 and I 00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:06.480 just watch 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:09.759 men 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.740 pushing 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.419 back 00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:12.240 age 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.799 go up 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.079 and down 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.619 the road 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.720 in big 00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.119 dumb 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:15.500 lifted 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:15.879 trucks 00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.559 and boats. 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.599 It is 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.259 just 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.859 sad. 00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.399 Sad 00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:21.960 the way 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.179 time and 00:33:23.179 --> 00:33:23.759 energy is 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.480 being spent 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.059 and I 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.559 think there's 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.119 something to 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:26.579 this 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.119 underneath 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.759 that. 00:33:28.419 --> 00:33:28.859 We want 00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:29.899 to feel 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:30.440 young. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:30.720 We want 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.139 to feel 00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:31.779 like death 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.319 is not 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.099 impending. 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.700 But despite 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.480 all the 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.079 efforts to 00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:35.759 extend our 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.539 life or 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.319 ignore 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.399 death 00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:39.119 coming, 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.179 you and 00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:41.059 I will 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:42.559 die bodily 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.539 deaths. 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.819 It's inevitable 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.619 and unavoidable. 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.299 It's going 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:48.139 to happen. 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.279 One of the 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.980 great benefits 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.639 of old church 00:33:50.639 --> 00:33:51.339 properties was 00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:51.740 that when you 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.480 pulled on the 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:52.839 property, 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.240 you had to 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.579 think about 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:53.899 eternity 00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:54.299 because there 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.500 was a 00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.879 graveyard 00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:55.779 staring at 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.859 you as 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.279 you came 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.899 in. 00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:01.179 Maybe as 00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:01.720 we age, 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:02.759 we should 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.220 start one. 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.000 So is 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.599 Becker right? 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:06.639 Does the 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.519 idea of 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:07.899 death, 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.539 the fear 00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:08.860 of it, 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.460 haunt the 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.079 human animal 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.799 like nothing 00:34:10.799 --> 00:34:11.360 else? 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:12.920 Becker, 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.159 to my 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:13.599 understanding, 00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:14.000 not a 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.279 Christian, 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:14.759 and his 00:34:14.759 --> 00:34:15.179 book offers 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:16.059 no solutions, 00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:17.699 just observations, 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.840 but is he 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.179 right? 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:22.859 the author 00:34:22.859 --> 00:34:23.319 of Hebrews 00:34:23.319 --> 00:34:24.519 certainly 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.419 thinks so. 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.259 Wrote this 00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:27.839 way before 00:34:27.839 --> 00:34:28.559 Becker was 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:28.919 around. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:29.739 Hebrews 00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:30.299 chapter 2, 00:34:30.399 --> 00:34:30.919 verse 14 00:34:30.919 --> 00:34:31.259 and 15, 00:34:31.319 --> 00:34:31.559 listen to 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:31.719 this, 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.179 since therefore 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:32.659 the children 00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:33.319 share in 00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:33.699 flesh and 00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:34.019 blood, 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.059 he himself, 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.539 Christ, 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.239 likewise, 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.440 partook of 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:37.839 the same 00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.460 things, 00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:39.500 that through 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.259 death he 00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:41.279 might destroy 00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:42.079 the one who 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.379 has the 00:34:42.379 --> 00:34:43.059 power of 00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:43.480 death, 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.619 that is, 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.500 the devil, 00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:45.879 right? 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:46.619 So Jesus, 00:34:47.399 --> 00:34:47.879 incarnate, 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.639 became alive 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.059 so that he 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.879 could die, 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.839 and destroy 00:34:50.839 --> 00:34:51.379 the one who 00:34:51.379 --> 00:34:51.619 has the 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.379 power of 00:34:52.379 --> 00:34:52.659 death, 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.339 that is, 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.099 the devil, 00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:55.079 verse 15, 00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:56.039 and deliver 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.460 all those 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.460 who through 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.359 fear of 00:34:59.359 --> 00:35:00.599 death were 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:02.139 subject to 00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:03.019 lifelong 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:04.559 slavery. 00:35:05.839 --> 00:35:07.019 Deliver from 00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.799 death those 00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:08.239 who through 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:09.039 fear of 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.919 death were 00:35:09.919 --> 00:35:11.480 subject to 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:12.139 lifelong 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:13.859 slavery. 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.339 Certainly, 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.599 Becker agrees 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.039 with the 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:18.799 author of 00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:20.000 Hebrews. 00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:20.239 death. 00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:21.799 The fear 00:35:21.799 --> 00:35:22.279 of death 00:35:22.279 --> 00:35:23.599 controls 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:24.739 those who 00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:25.679 have reason 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:27.239 to fear 00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:28.980 death. 00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.739 Let's go 00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:31.119 back to the 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:32.119 promise offered 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.879 in verse 51. 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.399 Truly, 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:33.599 truly, 00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.099 I say to 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.319 you, 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.619 if anyone 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.559 keeps my 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.059 word, 00:35:37.299 --> 00:35:37.739 he will 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:39.659 never see 00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:41.619 death. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:42.839 Now, 00:35:42.879 --> 00:35:43.419 we're obviously 00:35:43.419 --> 00:35:43.960 not talking 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.279 about a 00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:44.899 physical death 00:35:44.899 --> 00:35:45.039 here. 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.279 We are 00:35:45.279 --> 00:35:45.899 talking about 00:35:45.899 --> 00:35:46.679 spiritual 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:48.399 death. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:48.460 death. 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.360 Here, 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.119 stated in the 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.539 negative, 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.320 we'll never 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:52.059 see death, 00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:52.680 is the 00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:53.599 offer of 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.099 eternal 00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:54.960 life. 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.260 If we're 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.500 never going 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:55.660 to see 00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:55.900 death, 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.139 then we're 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.220 going to 00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:56.740 have life 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.780 forever. 00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.639 This is a 00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.160 theme developed 00:36:00.160 --> 00:36:00.380 in the 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:00.760 teaching of 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.240 Jesus and 00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:02.440 highlighted all 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:02.980 throughout 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.840 John's 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:04.559 gospel. 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:05.639 Let me 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.000 show you a 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.340 couple of 00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:06.639 places 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.300 quickly to 00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:08.119 round out 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:09.139 this offering 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:09.860 being made 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.360 to us 00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:10.840 here. 00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:12.079 Let's 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.400 start with 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:12.820 the stated 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.920 purpose of 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.320 John's 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:14.660 writing. 00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:15.059 Turn with 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.280 me to 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:15.500 John 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:15.780 chapter 00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:16.180 20. 00:36:16.700 --> 00:36:16.940 I'll 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.079 read 00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:17.240 verse 00:36:17.240 --> 00:36:17.579 30 00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:17.780 and 00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:18.400 31. 00:36:19.180 --> 00:36:19.360 John 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.579 says, 00:36:19.660 --> 00:36:20.059 Now Jesus 00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.600 did many 00:36:20.600 --> 00:36:21.440 other signs 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:21.720 in the 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:21.980 presence 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.240 of the 00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:22.660 disciples 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.420 which are 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:23.740 not 00:36:23.740 --> 00:36:24.019 written 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.579 in this 00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:24.900 book. 00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:25.980 Jesus 00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:26.680 did lots 00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:27.220 of things. 00:36:27.620 --> 00:36:27.860 He says, 00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.660 But these 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:29.180 are written 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.700 so that you 00:36:30.700 --> 00:36:31.680 may believe 00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:32.539 that Jesus 00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.940 is the 00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:34.440 Christ, 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.519 the Son 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.120 of God, 00:36:36.620 --> 00:36:38.100 and that 00:36:38.100 --> 00:36:39.380 by believing 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.680 you may 00:36:40.680 --> 00:36:41.480 have life 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.740 in His 00:36:42.740 --> 00:36:43.099 name. 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:43.960 The total 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.780 purpose of 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.240 the book. 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.420 So here's 00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.340 this theme. 00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:47.760 It's 00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:48.480 continuing to 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:49.340 work itself 00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:50.099 out to 00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.460 the very 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:52.019 end of 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:52.360 John's 00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:52.760 writing. 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:54.220 John 00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.980 chapter 11. 00:36:55.160 --> 00:36:55.519 Turn back 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:55.760 a couple 00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:56.320 pages to 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.440 verse 25. 00:36:58.840 --> 00:36:59.420 Here Jesus 00:36:59.420 --> 00:36:59.920 is speaking 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:01.200 to Martha 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:01.860 whose brother 00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:02.860 Lazarus is 00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:04.180 at the time 00:37:04.180 --> 00:37:04.579 of speaking 00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.079 to her 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.099 presently 00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:06.780 dead 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.099 and 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:08.260 entombed. 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.380 And there 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.040 Jesus says, 00:37:10.120 --> 00:37:10.560 John 11 00:37:10.560 --> 00:37:11.340 verse 25, 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.560 I am 00:37:13.560 --> 00:37:14.300 the resurrection 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:15.780 and the 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.180 life. 00:37:17.200 --> 00:37:17.380 Whoever 00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:18.120 believes in 00:37:18.120 --> 00:37:18.500 me, 00:37:19.060 --> 00:37:19.620 though he 00:37:19.620 --> 00:37:20.240 die, 00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.900 yet shall 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:22.600 he live. 00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:23.820 And everyone 00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.540 who lives 00:37:24.540 --> 00:37:25.080 and believes 00:37:25.080 --> 00:37:25.560 in me 00:37:25.560 --> 00:37:26.860 shall never 00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:28.200 die. 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.820 You see the 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.100 way he's 00:37:29.100 --> 00:37:29.540 using this 00:37:29.540 --> 00:37:29.900 language? 00:37:30.060 --> 00:37:30.460 The physical 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.040 death and 00:37:31.040 --> 00:37:31.900 the metaphorical 00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:33.020 death or 00:37:33.020 --> 00:37:33.680 the spiritual 00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:34.480 death. 00:37:35.600 --> 00:37:36.760 Do you 00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:38.380 believe this? 00:37:39.120 --> 00:37:39.700 He asked 00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:40.020 Martha. 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.540 And John 00:37:41.540 --> 00:37:42.160 17, 00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:43.060 verse 3. 00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:43.620 This is the 00:37:43.620 --> 00:37:44.220 high priestly 00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:44.700 prayer. 00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:46.580 Jesus prays, 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.440 and this 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.920 is eternal 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:50.100 life. 00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:51.140 Oh, 00:37:51.220 --> 00:37:51.600 tell me. 00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:52.040 Tell me 00:37:52.040 --> 00:37:52.420 more. 00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:53.780 Mansions and 00:37:53.780 --> 00:37:54.340 gold streets 00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:54.960 and sea of 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.220 glad, 00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:55.980 these things. 00:37:56.260 --> 00:37:56.500 No. 00:37:57.020 --> 00:37:57.340 Somebody 00:37:57.340 --> 00:37:57.820 says, 00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:00.240 that they 00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.180 know 00:38:01.180 --> 00:38:02.280 you, 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.520 the only 00:38:03.520 --> 00:38:04.160 true God 00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:04.739 and Jesus 00:38:04.739 --> 00:38:05.319 Christ, 00:38:05.879 --> 00:38:06.440 whom you 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:08.139 have sent. 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.019 Eternal 00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:10.799 life is not 00:38:10.799 --> 00:38:11.739 just about 00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:13.000 duration, 00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:13.579 it will go 00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:14.099 on forever, 00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:14.599 but it is 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.719 about a 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:16.199 relationship. 00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:16.679 It's about 00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.779 being restored 00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:19.059 to our 00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:19.440 creator, 00:38:19.779 --> 00:38:20.059 God. 00:38:20.899 --> 00:38:21.779 Knowing him 00:38:21.779 --> 00:38:22.159 and being 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:23.539 known by 00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.659 him now 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:25.940 and forever 00:38:25.940 --> 00:38:27.480 more. 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.279 So don't 00:38:28.279 --> 00:38:29.099 miss that. 00:38:29.399 --> 00:38:30.000 If you're not 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.460 found in 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:30.980 Christ this 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.299 morning, 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.079 you're living 00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:32.519 in a state 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.259 of death, 00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:34.320 if you 00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:34.820 don't repent 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:35.259 and believe 00:38:35.259 --> 00:38:35.699 in Christ, 00:38:35.759 --> 00:38:35.940 that will 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.219 be an 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:36.699 eternal 00:38:36.699 --> 00:38:37.179 death, 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:37.639 cut off 00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:38.019 from God 00:38:38.019 --> 00:38:38.559 for forever. 00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:39.440 But if you 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.000 are in 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.519 Christ this 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:40.800 morning, 00:38:40.900 --> 00:38:41.539 how encouraging 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.300 we have 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:43.519 life now, 00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:44.280 spiritual 00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:45.219 life now, 00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:45.880 and we'll 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.759 have that 00:38:46.759 --> 00:38:47.920 life now 00:38:47.920 --> 00:38:48.980 and 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.280 forevermore. 00:38:51.380 --> 00:38:52.199 How great. 00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:53.699 How great. 00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:55.159 If anyone 00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:55.759 keeps my 00:38:55.759 --> 00:38:56.219 word, 00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:57.320 he will 00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:57.699 never 00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:59.320 see death. 00:39:00.659 --> 00:39:01.400 They accuse 00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:01.699 him, 00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:03.719 he offers 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.899 life. 00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:05.960 They 00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:06.519 dishonor 00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:06.839 him, 00:39:07.779 --> 00:39:08.480 he speaks 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.439 words, 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:11.079 salvation. 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:12.859 Paul says 00:39:12.859 --> 00:39:13.179 in Romans 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:13.679 5, 8, 00:39:13.779 --> 00:39:14.299 God shows 00:39:14.299 --> 00:39:14.639 his love 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.039 for us 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:15.399 in that 00:39:15.399 --> 00:39:16.379 while we 00:39:16.379 --> 00:39:17.239 were still 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:17.879 sinners, 00:39:18.279 --> 00:39:18.679 Christ 00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:19.859 died 00:39:19.859 --> 00:39:21.059 for us. 00:39:22.219 --> 00:39:22.919 So if we 00:39:22.919 --> 00:39:23.239 want to 00:39:23.239 --> 00:39:23.939 receive this 00:39:23.939 --> 00:39:24.639 offer of 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:25.279 eternal life, 00:39:25.379 --> 00:39:26.279 what must 00:39:26.279 --> 00:39:27.899 we do? 00:39:28.939 --> 00:39:29.319 Jesus 00:39:29.319 --> 00:39:29.659 says, 00:39:29.759 --> 00:39:30.119 if anyone 00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.699 keeps my 00:39:30.699 --> 00:39:31.119 word, 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:31.759 he will 00:39:31.759 --> 00:39:31.980 never 00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:32.480 see 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.839 death. 00:39:34.759 --> 00:39:35.239 One could 00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:36.019 easily think 00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:36.400 that Jesus 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:36.960 means that 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.219 we, 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:37.659 by our 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:37.960 own 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.380 effort, 00:39:38.500 --> 00:39:38.980 must obey 00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:39.960 everything that 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:40.299 the Bible 00:39:40.299 --> 00:39:40.859 commands, 00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:41.679 that we 00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:42.619 must earn 00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:43.460 this offer 00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:44.019 of eternal 00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:45.059 life, 00:39:45.099 --> 00:39:45.679 but this 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:47.079 is not 00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:48.339 so. 00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:50.059 That was the 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:51.099 danger of 00:39:51.099 --> 00:39:51.739 breaking text 00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:52.179 down to 00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:52.679 tiny little 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:52.880 things. 00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:53.199 You could 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.099 just take 00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:54.960 this single 00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:55.380 verse and 00:39:55.380 --> 00:39:55.539 think, 00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:55.880 okay, 00:39:56.259 --> 00:39:56.940 I've got to 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:57.819 obey everything 00:39:57.820 --> 00:39:58.620 Jesus said 00:39:58.620 --> 00:39:59.220 and that's 00:39:59.220 --> 00:39:59.519 how it 00:39:59.519 --> 00:39:59.720 is, 00:39:59.760 --> 00:40:00.059 that I'll 00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:00.380 have 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:01.320 eternal 00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:01.760 life, 00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:02.059 but we 00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:02.280 want to 00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:02.840 be students 00:40:02.840 --> 00:40:03.220 of the 00:40:03.220 --> 00:40:03.620 whole 00:40:03.620 --> 00:40:04.039 Bible. 00:40:04.660 --> 00:40:04.980 And you 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.340 don't even 00:40:05.340 --> 00:40:05.720 have to 00:40:05.720 --> 00:40:06.780 do that, 00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:07.160 you could 00:40:07.160 --> 00:40:07.700 just be a 00:40:07.700 --> 00:40:08.059 student of 00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:08.300 the book 00:40:08.300 --> 00:40:08.880 of John. 00:40:09.080 --> 00:40:10.180 John does 00:40:10.180 --> 00:40:10.900 not allow us 00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:11.480 to misunderstand 00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.200 what is being 00:40:12.200 --> 00:40:13.480 said here. 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.220 I read a 00:40:15.220 --> 00:40:15.620 couple of 00:40:15.620 --> 00:40:16.220 texts to you 00:40:16.220 --> 00:40:17.660 already that 00:40:17.660 --> 00:40:18.160 talked about 00:40:18.160 --> 00:40:19.080 belief, 00:40:19.539 --> 00:40:19.700 right, 00:40:20.080 --> 00:40:20.620 that we would 00:40:20.620 --> 00:40:21.539 believe that 00:40:21.539 --> 00:40:22.059 Jesus is the 00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.400 Christ, 00:40:22.720 --> 00:40:23.180 and that by 00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:23.980 believing we 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.280 may have 00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.860 life in 00:40:24.860 --> 00:40:25.240 his name. 00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:25.519 That's 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.120 John 20 00:40:26.120 --> 00:40:26.640 and verse 00:40:26.640 --> 00:40:27.660 31. 00:40:29.180 --> 00:40:29.940 John 11 00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:30.760 verse 25, 00:40:31.680 --> 00:40:32.000 I am the 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.340 resurrection 00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:32.640 of life. 00:40:32.720 --> 00:40:32.820 Whoever 00:40:32.820 --> 00:40:33.740 believes in 00:40:33.740 --> 00:40:34.059 me, 00:40:34.160 --> 00:40:34.620 though he 00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:35.000 die, 00:40:35.120 --> 00:40:35.800 yet shall 00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:37.539 he live. 00:40:37.620 --> 00:40:37.960 And whoever 00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.920 lives and 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:39.420 believes in 00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:39.980 me shall 00:40:39.980 --> 00:40:42.079 never die. 00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:44.200 John chapter 00:40:44.200 --> 00:40:45.059 1 verse 12 00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:45.519 and 13, 00:40:45.640 --> 00:40:45.960 but to all 00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:46.360 who did 00:40:46.360 --> 00:40:46.920 receive him, 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:47.620 who believed 00:40:47.620 --> 00:40:48.200 in his name, 00:40:48.260 --> 00:40:48.720 he gave the 00:40:48.720 --> 00:40:49.140 right to 00:40:49.140 --> 00:40:50.140 become children 00:40:50.140 --> 00:40:51.120 of God, 00:40:51.180 --> 00:40:51.380 who were 00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:51.700 born, 00:40:51.980 --> 00:40:52.240 not of 00:40:52.240 --> 00:40:52.519 blood, 00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:53.340 nor the 00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:53.579 will of 00:40:53.579 --> 00:40:54.000 the flesh, 00:40:54.440 --> 00:40:54.840 nor the 00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:55.160 will of 00:40:55.160 --> 00:40:55.480 man, 00:40:55.800 --> 00:40:57.019 but of 00:40:57.019 --> 00:40:58.160 God. 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.260 John 3 00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:01.140 and verse 36, 00:41:01.220 --> 00:41:02.120 whoever believes 00:41:02.120 --> 00:41:02.900 in the Son 00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:04.200 has eternal 00:41:04.200 --> 00:41:05.160 life. 00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:06.519 Whoever does 00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.460 not obey 00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:07.940 the Son 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.860 shall not 00:41:08.860 --> 00:41:09.380 see life, 00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.039 but the wrath 00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:10.640 of God 00:41:10.640 --> 00:41:12.840 remains on 00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.160 him. 00:41:13.640 --> 00:41:13.940 And I 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:14.519 think John 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:14.820 3, 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.840 36 makes 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.800 it most 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.400 clear that 00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:18.079 the obedience 00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:18.680 being talked 00:41:18.680 --> 00:41:19.100 about in 00:41:19.100 --> 00:41:19.940 our text 00:41:19.940 --> 00:41:20.700 is to 00:41:20.700 --> 00:41:21.900 believe 00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:22.760 in the 00:41:22.760 --> 00:41:22.980 Son, 00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:24.519 to believe 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:24.940 that the 00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:25.559 promises 00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:26.059 he made, 00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:26.480 the things 00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:26.840 he said 00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:27.500 about himself 00:41:27.500 --> 00:41:27.800 and the 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:28.139 things he 00:41:28.139 --> 00:41:28.519 said would 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:28.880 accomplish 00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.619 are in 00:41:29.619 --> 00:41:30.019 fact 00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:31.460 true. 00:41:33.219 --> 00:41:33.639 Becker 00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:33.960 may not 00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:34.400 offer us 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:35.159 any solution 00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:35.480 to the 00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:35.940 problem of 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:36.259 death, 00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:37.699 but Jesus 00:41:37.699 --> 00:41:38.920 certainly 00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:40.039 does. 00:41:41.639 --> 00:41:42.280 Jesus, 00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:43.460 God 00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:44.340 himself, 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.579 became 00:41:45.579 --> 00:41:47.099 a man, 00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:48.659 put on 00:41:48.659 --> 00:41:50.159 human flesh, 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:50.259 flesh, 00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:51.619 we call 00:41:51.619 --> 00:41:52.000 this the 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:52.659 incarnation, 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:53.819 dwelt 00:41:53.819 --> 00:41:54.759 both as 00:41:54.759 --> 00:41:55.460 God and 00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:55.839 man, 00:41:56.059 --> 00:41:56.940 fully at 00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.579 the same 00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:58.519 time. 00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:58.779 If you 00:41:58.779 --> 00:41:59.279 want to 00:41:59.279 --> 00:42:00.099 pocket up 00:42:00.099 --> 00:42:00.819 a great 00:42:00.819 --> 00:42:01.239 theological 00:42:01.239 --> 00:42:01.619 term, 00:42:01.699 --> 00:42:01.920 this is 00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:02.279 called the 00:42:02.279 --> 00:42:02.920 hypostatic 00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:03.399 union, 00:42:04.279 --> 00:42:05.019 God and 00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.599 man at 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.139 the same 00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:06.739 time, 00:42:07.279 --> 00:42:08.259 so that 00:42:08.259 --> 00:42:09.559 he could 00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:10.899 live a 00:42:10.899 --> 00:42:11.420 perfect 00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:12.460 life, 00:42:12.920 --> 00:42:13.579 never without 00:42:13.579 --> 00:42:14.219 any sin. 00:42:14.219 --> 00:42:16.219 he fulfilled 00:42:16.219 --> 00:42:16.919 all the 00:42:16.919 --> 00:42:17.679 requirements of 00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.079 the law, 00:42:18.299 --> 00:42:19.219 all of the 00:42:19.219 --> 00:42:19.759 things that 00:42:19.759 --> 00:42:20.379 are expected 00:42:20.379 --> 00:42:21.439 of us, 00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:22.500 if we're to 00:42:22.500 --> 00:42:22.879 be found 00:42:22.879 --> 00:42:23.439 perfect before 00:42:23.439 --> 00:42:23.799 God, 00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:25.359 an undestroyed 00:42:25.359 --> 00:42:25.859 relationship 00:42:25.859 --> 00:42:26.579 before God, 00:42:26.839 --> 00:42:28.379 he accomplished 00:42:28.379 --> 00:42:28.699 it. 00:42:29.239 --> 00:42:29.559 Perfect 00:42:29.559 --> 00:42:29.919 life. 00:42:31.439 --> 00:42:31.939 But not 00:42:31.939 --> 00:42:32.500 only that, 00:42:33.179 --> 00:42:34.480 he died 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:36.000 a sacrificial 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:36.439 death, 00:42:36.919 --> 00:42:37.500 a death that 00:42:37.500 --> 00:42:38.099 he did not 00:42:38.099 --> 00:42:38.519 deserve, 00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:38.919 he had 00:42:38.919 --> 00:42:39.299 committed 00:42:39.299 --> 00:42:40.399 no sin, 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:41.459 and yet, 00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:42.079 for all who 00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:42.459 believe in 00:42:42.459 --> 00:42:42.599 him, 00:42:42.659 --> 00:42:42.980 he took 00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.679 on 00:42:43.679 --> 00:42:45.179 their sin 00:42:45.179 --> 00:42:45.839 on the 00:42:45.839 --> 00:42:46.239 cross. 00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:47.059 God poured 00:42:47.059 --> 00:42:47.480 out his 00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:48.299 wrath 00:42:48.299 --> 00:42:49.759 for us 00:42:49.759 --> 00:42:50.719 onto 00:42:50.719 --> 00:42:52.079 him. 00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:54.179 This is 00:42:54.179 --> 00:42:54.460 why at 00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:54.879 the end, 00:42:55.259 --> 00:42:55.779 verse 59, 00:42:56.259 --> 00:42:56.819 we see them 00:42:56.819 --> 00:42:57.259 picking up 00:42:57.259 --> 00:42:57.879 stones to 00:42:57.879 --> 00:42:58.299 throw at 00:42:58.299 --> 00:42:58.559 him. 00:42:58.960 --> 00:42:59.460 Jesus is 00:42:59.460 --> 00:42:59.980 not being 00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:00.619 cowardly 00:43:00.619 --> 00:43:01.039 at this 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.379 point. 00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:02.639 Oh no, 00:43:02.739 --> 00:43:03.019 I better 00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:03.679 avoid the 00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:04.799 stone 00:43:04.799 --> 00:43:05.159 throwing. 00:43:05.839 --> 00:43:06.619 He hides 00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:07.119 himself and 00:43:07.119 --> 00:43:07.500 goes out 00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:07.679 of the 00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:08.159 temple because 00:43:08.159 --> 00:43:08.579 that was 00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.119 not how 00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:09.460 he was 00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:09.819 meant to 00:43:09.819 --> 00:43:10.119 die. 00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:10.940 He knew 00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:11.199 this, 00:43:11.239 --> 00:43:11.419 he knew 00:43:11.419 --> 00:43:11.639 there was 00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:12.000 a divine 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:12.539 timeline, 00:43:12.819 --> 00:43:13.379 it wasn't 00:43:13.380 --> 00:43:14.240 time yet, 00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:14.920 and so 00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:15.880 he avoids 00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:17.099 being stoned 00:43:17.099 --> 00:43:17.579 to death. 00:43:18.220 --> 00:43:18.619 Why? 00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:20.059 So that he 00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:20.260 would be 00:43:20.260 --> 00:43:20.680 lifted up 00:43:20.680 --> 00:43:20.900 on a 00:43:20.900 --> 00:43:21.360 cross. 00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:24.980 So, 00:43:25.220 --> 00:43:25.539 we have 00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:25.780 Jesus' 00:43:26.039 --> 00:43:27.280 perfect life 00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:28.460 and his 00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.559 sacrificial 00:43:29.559 --> 00:43:30.260 death, 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:31.940 so that 00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:32.760 by faith, 00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:33.440 by believing 00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:34.240 he is who 00:43:34.240 --> 00:43:34.500 he says 00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:34.880 he is, 00:43:34.940 --> 00:43:35.119 and he 00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:35.539 accomplished 00:43:35.539 --> 00:43:35.800 what he 00:43:35.800 --> 00:43:36.000 said he 00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:36.420 accomplished, 00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:37.059 his 00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:37.559 righteousness, 00:43:37.800 --> 00:43:37.940 his 00:43:37.940 --> 00:43:38.260 perfect 00:43:38.260 --> 00:43:38.740 law-keeping 00:43:38.740 --> 00:43:39.079 would be 00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:39.519 given to 00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:39.900 us, 00:43:40.039 --> 00:43:40.940 and our 00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:42.000 sin would 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:42.420 be given 00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:43.220 to him. 00:43:44.099 --> 00:43:44.619 Those two 00:43:44.619 --> 00:43:45.019 things, 00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:46.059 double 00:43:46.059 --> 00:43:46.740 imputation, 00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:48.059 get a 00:43:48.059 --> 00:43:48.539 bonus 00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:49.539 theological 00:43:49.539 --> 00:43:50.119 phrase to 00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:50.280 put in 00:43:50.280 --> 00:43:50.619 your pocket, 00:43:51.720 --> 00:43:52.360 the great 00:43:52.360 --> 00:43:52.960 exchange. 00:43:54.240 --> 00:43:55.740 But it 00:43:55.740 --> 00:43:56.380 doesn't stop 00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:56.720 there. 00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:58.460 It would 00:43:58.460 --> 00:43:58.760 be really 00:43:58.760 --> 00:43:59.380 tragic if it 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.940 stopped there, 00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:00.500 in fact you 00:44:00.500 --> 00:44:00.700 shouldn't 00:44:00.700 --> 00:44:01.240 believe it if 00:44:01.240 --> 00:44:01.720 it stops 00:44:01.720 --> 00:44:02.519 there, 00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:03.539 because the 00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:04.220 next step, 00:44:04.679 --> 00:44:04.880 Jesus' 00:44:05.099 --> 00:44:06.360 solution for 00:44:06.360 --> 00:44:06.760 the problem 00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:07.240 of death, 00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:08.059 is that he 00:44:08.059 --> 00:44:08.760 was raised. 00:44:08.760 --> 00:44:11.400 He defeats 00:44:11.400 --> 00:44:12.020 death. 00:44:12.340 --> 00:44:12.800 He declares 00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:14.040 victory over 00:44:14.040 --> 00:44:14.780 death, 00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:15.520 because he 00:44:15.520 --> 00:44:17.580 is alive, 00:44:17.940 --> 00:44:18.600 that we 00:44:18.600 --> 00:44:18.980 might have 00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:20.060 life in 00:44:20.060 --> 00:44:20.640 him. 00:44:21.160 --> 00:44:21.520 Righteousness 00:44:21.520 --> 00:44:21.700 is given 00:44:21.700 --> 00:44:22.180 to us, 00:44:22.860 --> 00:44:23.480 sacrificial 00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:24.260 death on 00:44:24.260 --> 00:44:24.860 our behalf, 00:44:25.420 --> 00:44:26.340 he is raised, 00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:27.380 he is alive, 00:44:28.600 --> 00:44:28.960 and he's 00:44:28.960 --> 00:44:29.440 ascended, 00:44:30.020 --> 00:44:31.160 he's gone to 00:44:31.160 --> 00:44:31.640 the Father, 00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:31.960 and he's 00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.540 seated at his 00:44:32.540 --> 00:44:33.040 right hand, 00:44:33.120 --> 00:44:33.340 and he 00:44:33.340 --> 00:44:34.020 intercedes for 00:44:34.020 --> 00:44:34.220 us, 00:44:34.240 --> 00:44:34.520 and he's 00:44:34.520 --> 00:44:34.820 sent to 00:44:34.820 --> 00:44:35.500 us a 00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:35.800 helper. 00:44:36.140 --> 00:44:36.420 He has 00:44:36.420 --> 00:44:36.760 given to 00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:37.120 us the 00:44:37.120 --> 00:44:37.780 church, 00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:38.500 he works 00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:39.239 mightily 00:44:39.239 --> 00:44:39.659 through 00:44:39.659 --> 00:44:40.059 his 00:44:40.059 --> 00:44:40.559 people, 00:44:40.900 --> 00:44:41.380 even 00:44:41.380 --> 00:44:42.480 now on 00:44:42.480 --> 00:44:42.960 your 00:44:42.960 --> 00:44:44.079 behalf. 00:44:45.179 --> 00:44:45.380 Like, 00:44:45.420 --> 00:44:45.639 how does 00:44:45.639 --> 00:44:46.260 this text 00:44:46.260 --> 00:44:46.800 connect to 00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:47.460 us today? 00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.039 Is that 00:44:48.039 --> 00:44:48.900 Jesus did 00:44:48.900 --> 00:44:49.340 all of 00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:49.500 this, 00:44:49.579 --> 00:44:50.119 and is 00:44:50.119 --> 00:44:50.880 now still 00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:51.760 doing it? 00:44:52.539 --> 00:44:53.079 Seated at 00:44:53.079 --> 00:44:53.340 the right 00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:53.659 hand, 00:44:54.179 --> 00:44:54.780 building his 00:44:54.780 --> 00:44:55.199 church, 00:44:55.500 --> 00:44:56.079 none of 00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:56.360 you are 00:44:56.360 --> 00:44:56.820 here by 00:44:56.820 --> 00:44:57.380 accident. 00:44:57.840 --> 00:44:58.019 If you 00:44:58.019 --> 00:44:58.280 found 00:44:58.280 --> 00:44:58.599 yourself 00:44:58.599 --> 00:44:58.880 sitting 00:44:58.880 --> 00:44:59.139 here, 00:44:59.440 --> 00:44:59.719 listening 00:44:59.719 --> 00:45:00.239 to me, 00:45:00.340 --> 00:45:01.099 at all, 00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:01.400 it's 00:45:01.400 --> 00:45:01.820 because God 00:45:01.820 --> 00:45:02.159 has 00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:02.860 intentions 00:45:02.860 --> 00:45:03.719 for your 00:45:03.719 --> 00:45:04.179 life. 00:45:06.039 --> 00:45:06.559 Don't 00:45:06.559 --> 00:45:06.860 reject 00:45:06.860 --> 00:45:08.420 Jesus as 00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:08.559 the 00:45:08.559 --> 00:45:08.920 Christ. 00:45:10.639 --> 00:45:11.119 John 00:45:11.119 --> 00:45:11.400 8, 00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:12.159 verse 00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:13.019 48-49 00:45:13.019 --> 00:45:14.340 shows us 00:45:14.340 --> 00:45:14.700 something 00:45:14.700 --> 00:45:15.480 deeply 00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:16.240 sobering 00:45:16.240 --> 00:45:16.900 and 00:45:16.900 --> 00:45:17.880 deeply 00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:19.300 hopeful. 00:45:20.300 --> 00:45:20.900 The 00:45:20.900 --> 00:45:21.180 eternal 00:45:21.180 --> 00:45:21.559 son of 00:45:21.559 --> 00:45:21.800 God 00:45:21.800 --> 00:45:22.159 stood 00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:22.480 before 00:45:22.480 --> 00:45:22.860 men 00:45:22.860 --> 00:45:23.039 and 00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:23.159 they 00:45:23.159 --> 00:45:23.400 called 00:45:23.400 --> 00:45:23.619 him 00:45:23.619 --> 00:45:24.519 a 00:45:24.519 --> 00:45:24.760 demon. 00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:26.280 And 00:45:26.280 --> 00:45:26.619 yet, 00:45:27.200 --> 00:45:27.480 that 00:45:27.480 --> 00:45:28.019 same 00:45:28.019 --> 00:45:28.559 son 00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:28.880 would 00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:29.119 go to 00:45:29.119 --> 00:45:29.240 the 00:45:29.240 --> 00:45:29.599 cross. 00:45:30.639 --> 00:45:30.840 He 00:45:30.840 --> 00:45:30.960 would 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.119 be 00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:31.659 mocked, 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:32.639 beaten, 00:45:33.579 --> 00:45:33.940 crucified. 00:45:34.579 --> 00:45:35.220 Not 00:45:35.220 --> 00:45:35.559 because he 00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:36.119 deserved it, 00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:37.159 but because 00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:37.719 we did. 00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:39.000 He was 00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:39.839 dishonored so 00:45:39.839 --> 00:45:40.039 that we 00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:40.339 might be 00:45:40.339 --> 00:45:40.699 forgiven. 00:45:41.239 --> 00:45:41.759 He was 00:45:41.759 --> 00:45:42.500 rejected so 00:45:42.500 --> 00:45:42.719 that we 00:45:42.719 --> 00:45:43.039 might be 00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:43.659 received. 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:44.779 He died 00:45:44.779 --> 00:45:45.219 so that 00:45:45.219 --> 00:45:45.819 we might 00:45:45.819 --> 00:45:47.159 live. 00:45:48.399 --> 00:45:49.079 So the 00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:49.460 question is 00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:50.119 not merely 00:45:50.119 --> 00:45:51.159 what 00:45:51.159 --> 00:45:51.519 happened 00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:52.079 then. 00:45:52.779 --> 00:45:53.379 The 00:45:53.379 --> 00:45:53.899 question is 00:45:53.899 --> 00:45:54.539 for us 00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:55.579 now. 00:45:56.339 --> 00:45:56.899 What 00:45:56.899 --> 00:45:57.539 will you 00:45:57.539 --> 00:45:58.099 do 00:45:58.099 --> 00:45:59.420 with 00:45:59.420 --> 00:45:59.819 Jesus? 00:46:00.599 --> 00:46:01.219 Because 00:46:01.219 --> 00:46:01.879 his promise 00:46:01.879 --> 00:46:02.579 still 00:46:02.579 --> 00:46:03.619 stands. 00:46:04.319 --> 00:46:04.719 Truly, 00:46:04.839 --> 00:46:05.039 truly, 00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:06.099 I say 00:46:06.099 --> 00:46:06.460 to you, 00:46:07.019 --> 00:46:07.420 if 00:46:07.420 --> 00:46:07.679 anyone 00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:08.059 keeps 00:46:08.059 --> 00:46:08.300 my 00:46:08.300 --> 00:46:08.659 word, 00:46:08.779 --> 00:46:08.880 he 00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:09.019 will 00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.420 never 00:46:09.420 --> 00:46:10.019 see 00:46:10.019 --> 00:46:11.340 death. 00:46:11.900 --> 00:46:12.420 Let's 00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:12.559 pray 00:46:12.559 --> 00:46:12.840 together. 00:46:12.840 --> 00:46:13.279 Let's 00:46:13.279 --> 00:46:12.539 pray 00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:12.840 together.