WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.700
 Thank you, Peter. If you were here last week, you'll know that we're starting a new series.

00:00:08.700 --> 00:00:19.120
 We've just started a new series, looking at how the Apostle John paints a picture of genuine Christian faith,

00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:23.719
 of belief in Jesus Christ throughout his gospel.

00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:27.400
 And today the message is pretty simple, really. It's pretty straightforward.

00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:34.140
 It is that true believing is receiving Jesus Christ.

00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:39.519
 True believing is receiving Jesus Christ.

00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:44.399
 The section that we've just heard from John's gospel is what's known as the prologue.

00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:47.840
 It's the opening section of the book.

00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:54.840
 And the climax of the prologue is actually in the middle, in verses 12 and 13.

00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:56.659
 Look at verse 12.

00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:04.659
 To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:14.640
 Do you see what John does there? He parallels, doesn't he, belief in Jesus with receiving Jesus.

00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:22.019
 This belief is like a homecoming scene, isn't it, if you can imagine it.

00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:27.579
 It's like a reunion scene. Maybe a close member of the family has gone away for a while.

00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:31.379
 And suddenly they reappear at the front door.

00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:34.500
 And there they are, and they come in.

00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:39.480
 And someone puts the kettle on, and there's a banner in the dining room,

00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:40.660
 Welcome Home.

00:01:41.740 --> 00:01:46.460
 When Jesus comes knocking, when he comes to you,

00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:52.340
 it is not just seeing him through the letterbox and knowing who he is.

00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:56.820
 This believing is receiving Jesus.

00:01:57.820 --> 00:02:02.659
 It is opening up the door and receiving him into every place of your life,

00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:05.239
 into every room of the house.

00:02:06.399 --> 00:02:10.759
 And you'd use the word receiving to talk about hospitality, actually.

00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:16.740
 Believing is to receive Jesus as an honoured guest in your life.

00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:21.360
 Picture the scene of this homecoming, John says.

00:02:21.460 --> 00:02:27.219
 He says it all starts with the arrival of the guest, doesn't it?

00:02:27.260 --> 00:02:29.200
 It starts with the arrival, verse 9.

00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:34.080
 The true light comes into the world.

00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:37.360
 The true light comes into the world.

00:02:39.020 --> 00:02:42.340
 You know, the Bible's idea of true belief,

00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:45.180
 belief of Christian faith,

00:02:45.700 --> 00:02:48.700
 always starts in the same way.

00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:53.960
 It always starts when God appears.

00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:58.539
 When God comes and visits people.

00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:01.740
 Whether it's Adam, or Abraham,

00:03:02.420 --> 00:03:05.460
 or Moses, or Samuel, or the prophets,

00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:07.400
 or Mary and Joseph.

00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:13.080
 Belief does not start when we travel our way to God

00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:14.680
 with our thoughts,

00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:16.540
 and our meditations,

00:03:17.540 --> 00:03:18.560
 and our religion,

00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:20.259
 and our imaginations.

00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.099
 But God travels to us

00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:24.599
 and visits us.

00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:27.920
 Belief in Jesus starts in this way,

00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:29.520
 with a move of God

00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:31.740
 into the world.

00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.280
 John uses another way to describe Jesus,

00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:35.800
 doesn't he?

00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:38.420
 He calls him the true light.

00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:40.939
 This light, he says,

00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:43.719
 was coming into the world.

00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:46.500
 He was in the world,

00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:47.300
 verse 10.

00:03:48.540 --> 00:03:49.540
 John tells us, doesn't he,

00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:50.640
 earlier in this introduction,

00:03:50.820 --> 00:03:53.040
 that before he makes this journey,

00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:55.200
 he was in another place.

00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:56.820
 He was with God.

00:03:57.580 --> 00:03:58.439
 He was God,

00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.120
 in verse 1.

00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.240
 And then he makes this huge leap

00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:06.340
 from this transcendent place,

00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:08.980
 out from and above of this world,

00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:10.580
 if you can imagine such a place,

00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:13.099
 into this world.

00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:15.819
 It's as if, isn't it,

00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:18.180
 humanity lives in a place

00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:19.780
 that is utterly distinct

00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:22.519
 from where God is,

00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:24.040
 in one sense.

00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.540
 It's as if humanity lives

00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:27.960
 in this kind of box.

00:04:29.020 --> 00:04:31.600
 And it's a beautifully ornate box.

00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:33.640
 It's like a treasure box.

00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:36.320
 And much about the box

00:04:36.320 --> 00:04:37.120
 that we live in,

00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:38.060
 in this creation,

00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:39.040
 tells us

00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:40.560
 that there is a maker

00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:41.640
 of the box.

00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:43.980
 The apostle Paul says

00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:47.060
 that God's invisible characteristics,

00:04:47.340 --> 00:04:47.980
 his attributes,

00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:48.620
 namely,

00:04:49.140 --> 00:04:50.480
 his eternal power,

00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:51.620
 his divine nature,

00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:53.120
 are clearly seen,

00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:54.459
 they're clearly perceived,

00:04:54.899 --> 00:04:55.459
 how,

00:04:55.899 --> 00:04:57.519
 in the things that are made

00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:58.420
 around us,

00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:00.959
 in the creation of the world.

00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:02.680
 Someone asks you,

00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:04.160
 how do you know God exists?

00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:05.740
 One answer is to say,

00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:06.899
 well, look at creation.

00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:08.519
 Look at the world.

00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:10.340
 Look at this finely tuned,

00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:12.939
 beautiful, ornate world

00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:13.759
 in which we live.

00:05:13.840 --> 00:05:14.579
 This creation.

00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:17.040
 The stars above us

00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.540
 speak of the majesty

00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:19.780
 of their maker.

00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:22.559
 Just as a piece of artwork

00:05:22.559 --> 00:05:24.199
 isn't just there

00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:25.359
 by chance, is it?

00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:27.159
 It speaks of

00:05:27.159 --> 00:05:28.079
 there being an artist

00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:29.099
 behind it.

00:05:30.539 --> 00:05:31.599
 But for John,

00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:32.799
 that knowledge,

00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:33.879
 whilst it's good,

00:05:33.979 --> 00:05:34.979
 the knowledge that we get

00:05:34.979 --> 00:05:36.579
 of God inside the box,

00:05:37.039 --> 00:05:38.039
 isn't enough

00:05:38.039 --> 00:05:39.219
 for this belief

00:05:39.219 --> 00:05:41.179
 which leads to life.

00:05:42.479 --> 00:05:44.059
 God must come

00:05:44.059 --> 00:05:45.119
 into the box.

00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:47.179
 The creator

00:05:47.179 --> 00:05:48.500
 must come into

00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:49.319
 the creation.

00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:51.819
 And the little

00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:52.759
 two-letter word

00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:53.560
 in verse 10

00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:54.620
 is really crucial.

00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.120
 That little word there,

00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:57.060
 in.

00:05:58.720 --> 00:05:59.720
 He was in

00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:00.459
 the world.

00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:03.100
 John doesn't just say,

00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:03.439
 does he,

00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:05.060
 that he was near

00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:05.639
 the world,

00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.639
 or that he hovered

00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:08.459
 above the world,

00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:09.579
 or he glanced

00:06:09.579 --> 00:06:10.019
 the world

00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:10.480
 and touched

00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:11.000
 the world.

00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:12.939
 He doesn't just

00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:13.839
 pay a quick visit,

00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:15.120
 make a cameo appearance,

00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:15.879
 and then disappear.

00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:16.259
 No,

00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.279
 he was in it.

00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:20.959
 He was amongst it.

00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.240
 In Jesus,

00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:24.500
 the sun

00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:25.500
 that warms us

00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:25.819
 today,

00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:26.899
 is the same sun

00:06:26.899 --> 00:06:27.839
 that warmed

00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:28.800
 God's face.

00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:30.980
 He breathed

00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:31.980
 the same air

00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:34.100
 that we breathe.

00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:36.319
 His appearing

00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:37.719
 is an involvement

00:06:37.719 --> 00:06:39.899
 in the world,

00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:41.040
 and he comes

00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:41.420
 to us

00:06:41.420 --> 00:06:42.620
 in such a way

00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:43.759
 so that he

00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.800
 is accessible

00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:45.759
 to us.

00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:47.840
 He doesn't come

00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:48.899
 merely as a vision,

00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.620
 or as a messenger.

00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:52.319
 He,

00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:53.019
 himself,

00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:53.899
 the message,

00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:55.180
 comes into the world.

00:06:55.660 --> 00:06:56.639
 So that every

00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:57.540
 human being

00:06:57.540 --> 00:06:58.259
 can come

00:06:58.259 --> 00:06:59.019
 within reach

00:06:59.019 --> 00:06:59.780
 of him.

00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:01.959
 Not some third party,

00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:02.500
 not merely

00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:03.720
 a prophet of God,

00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:05.360
 but God himself.

00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:06.120
 He comes right

00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:07.340
 to the front door

00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:08.639
 of the world

00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.240
 so that we

00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:11.139
 can believe.

00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:12.459
 he comes

00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:12.919
 knocking.

00:07:14.479 --> 00:07:15.599
 Life-saving

00:07:15.599 --> 00:07:16.300
 belief,

00:07:16.479 --> 00:07:17.379
 Christian faith,

00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:18.399
 happens when

00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:19.079
 God comes

00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:19.919
 into the box

00:07:19.919 --> 00:07:20.819
 in the arrival.

00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:22.199
 The light

00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:22.839
 comes into

00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:23.500
 the world.

00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:25.259
 But then,

00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:25.919
 reading along

00:07:25.919 --> 00:07:26.500
 with John

00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:27.259
 in this

00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:28.879
 reunion scene,

00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:29.959
 the light

00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:30.399
 comes into

00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:30.680
 the world,

00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:31.120
 but then

00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:31.519
 there's a

00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:32.379
 cold reception,

00:07:32.539 --> 00:07:32.919
 isn't there?

00:07:33.979 --> 00:07:34.579
 Because,

00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:35.180
 secondly,

00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:35.919
 the world

00:07:35.919 --> 00:07:36.699
 is blind

00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:37.659
 to the light.

00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:39.000
 The world

00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:39.459
 is blind

00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:40.139
 to the light.

00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:41.839
 The story

00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:42.319
 goes of

00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:43.159
 some tourists,

00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:44.300
 and the story

00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:45.219
 is just better

00:07:45.219 --> 00:07:45.819
 when you know

00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:46.379
 that they were

00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.459
 American tourists.

00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:48.579
 No offence

00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:49.379
 if you're American,

00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:50.620
 but you'll get

00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:52.360
 why it's important.

00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:53.719
 These American

00:07:53.719 --> 00:07:54.060
 tourists,

00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:55.180
 they were on a

00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.079
 trip round

00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:57.759
 the British Isles,

00:07:57.919 --> 00:07:58.479
 and they spent

00:07:58.479 --> 00:07:59.060
 a bit of time

00:07:59.060 --> 00:07:59.740
 in the grounds

00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:01.000
 of Balmoral Castle,

00:08:01.979 --> 00:08:02.539
 the Queen's

00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:03.120
 holiday home

00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:03.620
 in Scotland.

00:08:03.979 --> 00:08:04.360
 And they were

00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:05.039
 walking around

00:08:05.039 --> 00:08:05.919
 hoping to catch

00:08:05.919 --> 00:08:06.899
 a glimpse of her.

00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:09.000
 On that

00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:09.620
 particular day,

00:08:09.699 --> 00:08:10.279
 Her Majesty

00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:10.819
 had gone

00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:11.639
 for a walk

00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:12.599
 dressed in

00:08:12.599 --> 00:08:13.459
 tweeds

00:08:13.459 --> 00:08:14.539
 and a headscarf,

00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:15.979
 and unwittingly

00:08:15.979 --> 00:08:16.799
 these tourists

00:08:16.799 --> 00:08:17.659
 met her

00:08:17.659 --> 00:08:18.479
 on the road

00:08:18.479 --> 00:08:20.000
 and asked,

00:08:20.599 --> 00:08:21.219
 do you live

00:08:21.219 --> 00:08:21.739
 round here?

00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:22.719
 Imagine the

00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:23.219
 conversation

00:08:23.219 --> 00:08:24.639
 with Balmoral

00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:25.019
 Castle

00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:25.779
 as the backdrop.

00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:27.399
 She kind of

00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:27.959
 played along

00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:28.339
 with it and

00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:28.519
 said,

00:08:28.599 --> 00:08:28.779
 well,

00:08:28.859 --> 00:08:29.379
 I've got a

00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:29.959
 house nearby.

00:08:31.039 --> 00:08:31.659
 They asked her,

00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:32.279
 have you ever

00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:32.919
 met the Queen?

00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:34.919
 And she points

00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:35.759
 to her bodyguard

00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:36.240
 and says,

00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:36.579
 well,

00:08:36.699 --> 00:08:36.959
 no,

00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:37.860
 but he has.

00:08:38.819 --> 00:08:39.699
 It's a weird

00:08:39.699 --> 00:08:41.939
 moment where

00:08:41.939 --> 00:08:43.019
 the one they

00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:43.539
 were looking

00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:44.659
 for was hidden

00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:45.279
 from their

00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:45.799
 eyes.

00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:47.759
 They didn't

00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.299
 recognise the

00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:49.740
 one who was

00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:50.299
 right in front

00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:50.759
 of them.

00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:52.559
 They were kept

00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:53.579
 from seeing her.

00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:54.439
 Now,

00:08:54.459 --> 00:08:54.919
 that's a silly

00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:55.379
 story,

00:08:55.459 --> 00:08:55.699
 isn't it?

00:08:55.719 --> 00:08:56.479
 But it illustrates

00:08:56.479 --> 00:08:57.240
 something of what

00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:57.959
 is going on in

00:08:57.959 --> 00:08:58.659
 verse 10.

00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:00.779
 He was in

00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:01.639
 the world,

00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:02.480
 and the world

00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:02.879
 was made

00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:03.300
 through him,

00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:04.220
 yet the world

00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:05.620
 did not

00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:06.480
 know him.

00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:08.899
 The light

00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:10.019
 comes into

00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:10.399
 the world

00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:11.159
 in the most

00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:12.560
 accessible way

00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:13.240
 possible.

00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:14.539
 He comes as

00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:15.560
 a human being,

00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:16.840
 two human

00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:17.440
 beings,

00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:19.940
 yet in some

00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:21.259
 mysterious way

00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:21.800
 the world

00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:22.639
 does not know

00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:22.920
 him.

00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:25.159
 And it's an

00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:26.519
 absolute mystery

00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:27.300
 for John.

00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:29.659
 It's unfathomable

00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:32.039
 how you can't

00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:33.159
 recognise royalty

00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:33.639
 when they're

00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:34.240
 right in front

00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:34.679
 of you.

00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:36.559
 He says,

00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:37.500
 even though,

00:09:37.579 --> 00:09:38.559
 even though the

00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:39.699
 world was made

00:09:39.699 --> 00:09:40.740
 through him,

00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:41.799
 the world

00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:42.360
 doesn't know

00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:42.639
 him.

00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:44.919
 The world

00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:45.939
 is strangely

00:09:45.939 --> 00:09:47.000
 unable to

00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:47.899
 recognise its

00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:48.360
 maker.

00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:50.579
 It is blind

00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:51.379
 to his

00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:51.879
 light.

00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:54.159
 For John,

00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:55.339
 this is an

00:09:55.339 --> 00:09:55.939
 enigma

00:09:55.939 --> 00:09:57.740
 wrapped in a

00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.039
 riddle.

00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:58.799
 He just

00:09:58.799 --> 00:09:59.439
 doesn't get

00:09:59.439 --> 00:09:59.939
 this.

00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:02.539
 That human

00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:03.279
 beings do

00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.379
 not recognise

00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:05.919
 Jesus for

00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:06.579
 who he is,

00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:07.339
 as the God

00:10:07.339 --> 00:10:07.659
 of the

00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.019
 universe,

00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:08.519
 as the God

00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:08.979
 who made

00:10:08.979 --> 00:10:09.240
 them.

00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:11.139
 Now we

00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:11.539
 think that's

00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:12.099
 pretty normal,

00:10:12.199 --> 00:10:12.579
 don't we?

00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:14.000
 Thousands and

00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.500
 thousands of

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.039
 people don't

00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.639
 believe that.

00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:17.179
 They don't

00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:17.819
 believe that

00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:18.719
 Jesus is

00:10:18.719 --> 00:10:19.159
 God.

00:10:19.439 --> 00:10:19.759
 They don't

00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:20.299
 believe that

00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:21.299
 he is the

00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:21.719
 one that they

00:10:21.719 --> 00:10:22.099
 need to

00:10:22.099 --> 00:10:22.959
 receive and

00:10:22.959 --> 00:10:23.679
 receive life

00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:24.019
 from.

00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:24.439
 That is

00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.199
 pretty normal.

00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:25.420
 all.

00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:27.340
 But John

00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:27.860
 is saying

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.120
 here,

00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:28.480
 no, no,

00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:29.280
 that is

00:10:29.280 --> 00:10:30.660
 really weird.

00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:32.600
 It is

00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:33.280
 warped.

00:10:33.400 --> 00:10:33.680
 It is

00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:34.400
 deeply

00:10:34.400 --> 00:10:35.080
 worrying

00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:36.460
 that the

00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:36.860
 world does

00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:37.460
 not recognise

00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.040
 this.

00:10:39.160 --> 00:10:39.580
 That the

00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:40.000
 world does

00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:40.720
 not know

00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:41.080
 what it

00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:41.720
 should know

00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:42.220
 of Jesus.

00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:45.340
 Just as

00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:45.820
 the Syrian

00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:46.480
 war broke

00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:46.740
 out,

00:10:46.920 --> 00:10:47.460
 you hear

00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:47.980
 stories,

00:10:48.060 --> 00:10:48.360
 don't you,

00:10:48.420 --> 00:10:49.060
 of families

00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:50.520
 separated in

00:10:50.520 --> 00:10:51.080
 the refugee

00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:51.840
 crisis.

00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:52.420
 Awful.

00:10:54.020 --> 00:10:54.520
 And just

00:10:54.520 --> 00:10:54.940
 recently,

00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:55.480
 there have

00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:55.880
 been more

00:10:55.880 --> 00:10:56.560
 stories of

00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:57.900
 reunifications

00:10:57.900 --> 00:10:59.040
 of families

00:10:59.040 --> 00:10:59.620
 that were

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.720
 split apart.

00:11:01.660 --> 00:11:02.300
 I watched

00:11:02.300 --> 00:11:03.620
 one clip

00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.140
 of a video

00:11:04.140 --> 00:11:05.100
 of two

00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:05.740
 children

00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:07.500
 being reunited

00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:08.080
 with their

00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:08.540
 mother and

00:11:08.540 --> 00:11:08.960
 father.

00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:11.020
 And you'd

00:11:11.020 --> 00:11:11.600
 expect,

00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:12.160
 wouldn't you,

00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:12.540
 for it to

00:11:12.540 --> 00:11:13.260
 be a moment

00:11:13.260 --> 00:11:14.400
 of joy

00:11:14.400 --> 00:11:15.740
 and of

00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:16.260
 relief.

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.220
 But

00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:18.940
 something is

00:11:18.940 --> 00:11:20.040
 deeply wrong

00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:20.700
 as they

00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.580
 meet together.

00:11:22.660 --> 00:11:23.260
 Because

00:11:23.260 --> 00:11:23.900
 after the

00:11:23.900 --> 00:11:24.640
 arrival of

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.319
 the parents

00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:25.720
 in the

00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:26.159
 airport

00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.139
 foyer,

00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.139
 the child

00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:29.960
 does not

00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.899
 recognise

00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.100
 his own

00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:32.679
 parents.

00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:35.139
 The father

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:35.879
 comes to

00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.639
 embrace the

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.100
 child,

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.740
 but the

00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:39.639
 child turns

00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.059
 away.

00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:41.500
 I don't

00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:42.039
 know you.

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.019
 As a

00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.319
 parent,

00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:45.080
 it's deeply

00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:45.899
 disturbing to

00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:46.299
 watch.

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.039
 It's quite

00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:48.519
 upsetting.

00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:50.480
 when it

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.059
 should be a

00:11:51.059 --> 00:11:51.539
 moment of

00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.740
 great relief

00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:54.059
 for this

00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:54.679
 confused,

00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.519
 lost child,

00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:57.079
 but it

00:11:57.079 --> 00:11:57.879
 is spoilt

00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:58.899
 by a deep

00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:00.079
 inability to

00:12:00.079 --> 00:12:00.720
 recognise.

00:12:03.079 --> 00:12:03.500
 John is

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.079
 saying that

00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:04.899
 happens when

00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:05.620
 the light of

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.179
 the world,

00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.039
 the creator,

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:08.879
 comes into

00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.620
 the world.

00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.319
 That's where

00:12:11.319 --> 00:12:12.600
 belief starts,

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:13.079
 but the

00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.379
 arrival is not

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:15.079
 enough in

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:15.680
 itself.

00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:17.259
 The

00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:18.340
 appearance of

00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:18.920
 God in

00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:19.680
 Jesus Christ

00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:20.680
 does not

00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.700
 guarantee this

00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:22.780
 receiving of

00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:23.100
 him.

00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:25.540
 You can be

00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:26.560
 blind to

00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.200
 this light.

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:28.820
 You can

00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:29.680
 shield yourself

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.200
 from it.

00:12:30.280 --> 00:12:30.560
 You can

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.240
 stay in the

00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:31.740
 dark.

00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:34.440
 John shows

00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:34.740
 us that

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.300
 actually there's

00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:35.879
 a sinister

00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.620
 side to

00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:36.980
 this,

00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:37.680
 because it's

00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.200
 not just a

00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:38.540
 case of

00:12:38.540 --> 00:12:39.100
 mistaken

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:39.820
 identity.

00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.879
 there is

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.340
 something

00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:42.980
 deeply

00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.820
 defiant

00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:44.500
 about this

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:44.980
 blindness.

00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.180
 It is a

00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:47.620
 willing

00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:48.340
 blindness.

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.440
 The world

00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.160
 doesn't know

00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:51.960
 him and

00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:52.940
 they don't

00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:54.520
 receive him.

00:12:55.400 --> 00:12:56.080
 The maker

00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:56.700
 comes into

00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.160
 the world

00:12:57.160 --> 00:12:57.640
 and the

00:12:57.640 --> 00:12:58.200
 door is

00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:58.720
 actively

00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.520
 slammed in

00:12:59.520 --> 00:13:00.160
 his face.

00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.379
 The world

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.240
 willingly

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.500
 chooses not

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.260
 to be able

00:13:05.260 --> 00:13:06.240
 to receive

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:06.580
 him.

00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:08.680
 Somebody

00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:09.379
 described it

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:09.839
 like this,

00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:10.500
 the world

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.259
 is hostile

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.939
 towards the

00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:13.919
 protagonist of

00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:14.459
 creation.

00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:15.779
 Such a

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.359
 helpful line.

00:13:16.459 --> 00:13:16.939
 The world

00:13:16.939 --> 00:13:18.120
 is hostile

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.899
 towards the

00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.859
 protagonist of

00:13:19.859 --> 00:13:20.419
 creation.

00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:22.579
 The protagonist

00:13:22.579 --> 00:13:23.959
 is the main

00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:24.799
 good character

00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:25.559
 in a story,

00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.019
 isn't it?

00:13:27.459 --> 00:13:28.039
 It's as if

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:28.479
 the world

00:13:28.479 --> 00:13:29.079
 is hating

00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:29.759
 the main

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.599
 good character

00:13:30.599 --> 00:13:31.319
 of the story

00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:32.079
 of creation.

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.079
 If you go

00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:34.539
 and watch a

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:34.719
 film,

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.079
 if you go

00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:35.399
 and watch

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:35.879
 Lord of the

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.059
 Rings,

00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:36.740
 imagine you

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:37.379
 get to the

00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:37.740
 end of it

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.139
 and the

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.620
 hobbits

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.460
 have rescued

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.159
 the world.

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.440
 They've done

00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:41.980
 away with

00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.960
 Sauron and

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:43.460
 they are the

00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.159
 heroes.

00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:45.799
 As the

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.539
 credits roll

00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:46.960
 up at the

00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:47.399
 end of the

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:47.899
 last of the

00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.500
 three films,

00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.340
 someone next

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.899
 to you turns

00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.220
 to you and

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:50.379
 says,

00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:50.620
 you know

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:50.820
 what,

00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.460
 I can't

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:51.899
 stand that

00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:52.340
 Frodo.

00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.560
 I just

00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:54.220
 cannot stand

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:54.480
 him.

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.139
 It's just

00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:56.620
 weird,

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.159
 isn't it?

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:58.700
 It's like

00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.480
 watching a

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.039
 film and

00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:00.659
 then hating

00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.440
 all of the

00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:01.740
 goodies.

00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.740
 The weirdness

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.180
 of it is,

00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:05.960
 the tragedy

00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:06.480
 of it is,

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:06.960
 for John,

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.259
 he maxes

00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:08.600
 it out

00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.240
 even more,

00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:09.580
 doesn't he?

00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.420
 When John

00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:10.879
 adds in

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.940
 verse 10,

00:14:12.060 --> 00:14:13.180
 he came to

00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:14.080
 his own,

00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:15.680
 came to

00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:16.240
 his own

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:16.759
 people.

00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:18.080
 He's referring

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:18.460
 there to

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.139
 God's people,

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:19.840
 the Israelites.

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.660
 See how

00:14:22.660 --> 00:14:23.600
 deeply the

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.220
 blindness

00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:26.160
 goes to

00:14:26.160 --> 00:14:26.639
 who Jesus

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.080
 is.

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.160
 It is so

00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:29.940
 deep that it

00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:30.980
 affects even

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.680
 the people

00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:32.639
 who are

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.420
 looking for

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:33.800
 him to

00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:34.320
 arrive.

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.260
 the whole

00:14:36.260 --> 00:14:36.500
 of the

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.020
 Old Testament

00:14:37.020 --> 00:14:37.400
 has been

00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:37.920
 leading up

00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:38.200
 to this

00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.480
 point,

00:14:38.540 --> 00:14:39.000
 hasn't it?

00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:40.140
 Where God's

00:14:40.140 --> 00:14:40.600
 people are

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.460
 waiting and

00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.280
 waiting for

00:14:42.280 --> 00:14:42.680
 him to

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.060
 appear,

00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:43.860
 but it's

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.580
 the irony

00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:46.020
 of rejecting

00:14:46.020 --> 00:14:46.460
 the one

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:46.820
 that you're

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.720
 waiting for,

00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:49.800
 of slamming

00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:50.460
 the door on

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:50.760
 the one

00:14:50.760 --> 00:14:51.140
 that you're

00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:51.860
 preparing to

00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:52.540
 receive.

00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:55.060
 The light

00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:55.800
 comes into

00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:56.200
 the world

00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:56.500
 in the

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:56.940
 arrival,

00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.379
 but there's

00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:57.900
 a cold

00:14:57.900 --> 00:14:58.400
 reception.

00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:58.920
 The world

00:14:58.920 --> 00:14:59.540
 is blind

00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:00.100
 to the

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:00.460
 light.

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:02.800
 So thirdly

00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:03.300
 and lastly,

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.940
 God must

00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:05.740
 give new

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.480
 sight in

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:07.800
 a new

00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:08.160
 birth.

00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:08.740
 God must

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.300
 give new

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:09.820
 sight in

00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:10.100
 a new

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:10.460
 birth.

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:12.900
 John

00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:13.820
 tells us

00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:14.540
 that there

00:15:14.540 --> 00:15:14.800
 is a

00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:15.220
 general

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:16.860
 pattern in

00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.519
 the world.

00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.340
 The world

00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:20.300
 is kind

00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:21.820
 of shorthand

00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:23.060
 for humanity

00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:24.759
 in John's

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.160
 Gospel.

00:15:26.400 --> 00:15:27.019
 Human

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:27.560
 beings

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:28.620
 universally

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.440
 are like

00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:29.759
 this,

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.320
 he's saying,

00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:30.900
 a pattern

00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:31.320
 that when

00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.139
 you boil

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.660
 it down,

00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:33.080
 it is

00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:33.920
 grossly

00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:34.460
 negative

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.040
 towards

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:35.400
 Jesus

00:15:35.400 --> 00:15:35.960
 Christ.

00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:39.019
 Up until

00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:39.400
 now,

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.040
 he uses

00:15:40.040 --> 00:15:40.800
 words to

00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.259
 describe

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:41.660
 the world,

00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:42.160
 doesn't he?

00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:43.620
 Darkness,

00:15:44.420 --> 00:15:45.259
 verse 5.

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.040
 There's this

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:47.720
 ignorance,

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:48.379
 the world

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:48.940
 did not

00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:49.580
 know him,

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.379
 verse 10.

00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:50.800
 There's this

00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:52.379
 hatred of

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:52.660
 Jesus,

00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:53.100
 the world

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.500
 did not

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.240
 receive him.

00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:54.820
 But then

00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:56.180
 comes this

00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:57.180
 ray of

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.600
 light,

00:15:58.540 --> 00:15:59.200
 because it

00:15:59.200 --> 00:15:59.800
 turns out

00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:00.120
 that there

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.000
 are some

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.000
 people who

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.819
 are marked

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.519
 out as

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.159
 ones who

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:05.959
 go against

00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:06.699
 this pattern

00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:07.000
 of the

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.419
 world.

00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.659
 Verse 12,

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:12.120
 but to

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.879
 all who

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.759
 did receive

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.139
 him,

00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:15.359
 he gave

00:16:15.359 --> 00:16:15.719
 the right

00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:16.120
 to become

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.659
 children of

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:16.959
 God.

00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:17.919
 There are

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.879
 some who

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:20.959
 do recognize

00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:21.639
 who Jesus

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.120
 is,

00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:23.779
 and who

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.620
 do open

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.139
 the door

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:25.919
 to him,

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.720
 and host

00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.120
 him,

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:28.500
 if you

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:28.779
 like,

00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.000
 and receive

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.379
 him.

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.519
 It's

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.500
 unfathomable,

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.179
 John says,

00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.820
 that despite

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:35.840
 being made

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.639
 by Jesus,

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.279
 the world

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:37.799
 does not

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.399
 know him.

00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.940
 But this

00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:42.480
 is even

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.240
 more of a

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.820
 surprise,

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.940
 that despite

00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:47.240
 being blind,

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.200
 some people

00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:49.700
 do

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:51.340
 believe.

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.759
 that is

00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.420
 a miracle.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.519
 Because

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:56.920
 true

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.480
 Christian

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.160
 belief

00:16:58.160 --> 00:16:58.899
 has got

00:16:58.899 --> 00:16:59.980
 nothing to

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.660
 do with

00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:01.180
 human

00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:01.780
 potential.

00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:03.720
 Actually,

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.140
 it's got

00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:04.799
 very little

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.200
 to do

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:05.840
 with you,

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.400
 and your

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:07.779
 family

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.360
 connections,

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:08.940
 and your

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.559
 ethnicity.

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.160
 He says,

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.500
 doesn't he,

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.980
 those who

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.019
 received him,

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:13.799
 it wasn't

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.240
 because of

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:14.700
 blood,

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.160
 or the

00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.559
 will of

00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.279
 the flesh,

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:17.799
 or the

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.460
 will of

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.319
 man.

00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.000
 this

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.799
 belief,

00:17:21.919 --> 00:17:22.059
 this

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.639
 incredible

00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:23.359
 miracle of

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.639
 belief,

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.359
 happens not

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.059
 because some

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.879
 people might

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.720
 fall back on

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.220
 their better

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.759
 nature,

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.559
 or have

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.659
 more spiritual

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.779
 potential than

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.460
 other people,

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.039
 or they've

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.720
 got a

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.099
 religious

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:34.839
 gene.

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.179
 The miracle

00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:37.720
 happens,

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.099
 do you see,

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.500
 at the end

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.079
 of verse

00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:39.579
 13,

00:17:39.679 --> 00:17:40.179
 because they

00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:40.919
 are born

00:17:40.919 --> 00:17:42.379
 of God.

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.659
 It is when

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:46.019
 God causes

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.899
 something in

00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.119
 them,

00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:47.559
 it is when

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.240
 God causes

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.680
 a deep

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.319
 change,

00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:49.579
 it is

00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:50.279
 like being

00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.920
 born,

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.620
 he says,

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:52.960
 and born

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.460
 again,

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.620
 so that

00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.420
 the blind

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.980
 can recognise

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.440
 Jesus,

00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:00.019
 and receive

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.220
 him,

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:00.640
 and trust

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:00.960
 in him,

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:01.240
 and have

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.680
 life in

00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.220
 his name.

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.559
 And without

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.380
 doing that,

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.099
 without God

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.740
 doing that,

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.400
 Jesus may

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.160
 even be at

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.519
 the very

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.140
 door of

00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:08.880
 your life,

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.380
 but actually

00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:10.920
 you'd rather

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.480
 he left

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:11.920
 his coat

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.240
 on,

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.799
 you'd rather

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:14.180
 he didn't

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.620
 get too

00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.079
 comfortable,

00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:16.839
 you'd rather

00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.259
 he didn't

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:17.660
 stay for

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.299
 too long.

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.160
 Let me

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.579
 say that

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.039
 if you're

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.480
 here and

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.240
 you're not

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.660
 a believer,

00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.200
 you're not

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.680
 a Christian,

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.640
 and you

00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.140
 know that,

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.940
 it's really

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.480
 good that

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:29.799
 you are

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.059
 here,

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.579
 we are

00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:31.019
 delighted

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.420
 that you

00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:31.879
 are here,

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:33.819
 and if

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.259
 you wonder

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.180
 why that

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:35.640
 is,

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.240
 maybe you

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.680
 kind of look

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.000
 at others

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.220
 and you

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.339
 think,

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:38.980
 I wish I

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.279
 could have

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:39.859
 their faith,

00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:40.460
 something like

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:40.720
 that.

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.559
 John knows

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:43.980
 why.

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.419
 He knows

00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:47.119
 why you

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.539
 don't

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.200
 believe.

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.339
 It is

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.099
 because even

00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:52.220
 despite your

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.179
 best efforts,

00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:54.419
 you just

00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:54.960
 cannot

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.899
 recognise who

00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:56.579
 Jesus is

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:56.980
 on your

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.339
 own.

00:18:59.319 --> 00:18:59.899
 John is

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.399
 showing us,

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:00.700
 isn't he,

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.179
 that this

00:19:01.179 --> 00:19:02.220
 whole belief

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.819
 thing,

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.299
 whilst it

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.000
 is a simple

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.359
 thing,

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.139
 it is actually

00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:07.179
 much harder

00:19:07.179 --> 00:19:07.859
 than we

00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.519
 imagined,

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.179
 than we

00:19:09.179 --> 00:19:09.599
 thought.

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:11.839
 Until you

00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.720
 are born of

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.059
 God,

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.440
 it is

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.100
 impossible

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:14.559
 to

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.120
 believe.

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.420
 Yet,

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:17.740
 if you

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:17.940
 were here

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.500
 last week,

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.620
 John's

00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.200
 aim at

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:20.460
 the end

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.640
 of the

00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.160
 gospel is

00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.559
 that we

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.380
 may believe,

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:22.799
 isn't it?

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.380
 He wants

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:24.720
 us to

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.200
 believe.

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.700
 He tells

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.100
 us we

00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:28.059
 can't do

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.299
 it,

00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:28.640
 and yet

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.059
 he wants

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.339
 us to

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:29.759
 do it.

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.140
 What is

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:30.559
 going on

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:30.900
 there?

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.460
 Well,

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:32.880
 that's the

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.299
 thing,

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:35.680
 because by

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.420
 knowing that

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.720
 it is

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.480
 something that

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.799
 you cannot

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.500
 do in

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.100
 yourself,

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.339
 therein

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.000
 lies the

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.640
 key of

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.340
 doing it.

00:19:44.780 --> 00:19:45.800
 We cannot

00:19:45.800 --> 00:19:46.560
 fall back

00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:47.220
 on something

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:47.940
 within ourselves,

00:19:48.040 --> 00:19:48.360
 on our

00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:49.180
 better nature.

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.440
 All we

00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.300
 can do is

00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:51.940
 see our

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.100
 radical blindness

00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:53.600
 to who

00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.300
 Jesus is.

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.340
 And just

00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:56.980
 as we need

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.720
 God to

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.740
 intervene and

00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.360
 come into

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.000
 creation,

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.640
 to come into

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.080
 the box,

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.060
 we also need

00:20:02.060 --> 00:20:03.020
 him to

00:20:03.020 --> 00:20:03.340
 give us

00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:03.920
 eyes to

00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.340
 see who

00:20:04.340 --> 00:20:04.940
 he is.

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.540
 So true

00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:08.420
 belief is

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.160
 actually all

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.980
 about God,

00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:10.460
 isn't it?

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.960
 what he

00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.440
 does,

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:14.000
 what he

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.400
 does for

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:14.799
 us.

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:17.259
 And so we

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.759
 need to

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.420
 pray for

00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.079
 his help

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:20.480
 with this.

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.759
 Let us do

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.579
 that now.

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.019


00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:24.419
 tell you

00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:24.699
 a little

00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:24.699


00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:24.699


00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:24.699


00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:24.699


00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:24.699


00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:24.699


00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:25.099
 a little

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.819
 a little

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:25.819


00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.879
 a little

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.500
 a little

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:27.500


00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:27.500


00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.240
 a little

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.599
 a little

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.199
 a little

00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:29.199


00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:29.199


00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:29.199


00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:31.679
 a little

00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679


00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.679