WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:06.980 Thanks very much, Olivia. Good morning, everyone. Great to have you with us, whether you're here in the building or watching online. 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:13.500 Let's start with a question, and our question this morning is, who wants to be a goat? 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:18.640 That may sound a rather strange question and say, well, why would anyone want to be a goat? 00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:22.740 But actually, there are lots of people who might want to be considered a goat. 00:00:22.739 --> 00:00:31.119 Here's four possibilities. Who is the male tennis goat? Is it Lever, Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic? 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:37.619 Or who's the football goat? Do you think Pele, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, maybe someone else? 00:00:39.099 --> 00:00:43.179 Or the female singer goat? Rita, Whitney, Beyoncé, Taylor? 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:48.140 You can probably add half a dozen names, depending on your age and your musical tastes. 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:54.759 In case you're not aware of it, goat is an acronym for greatest of all time. 00:00:55.700 --> 00:01:03.740 And these people I put on the screen, to a greater or lesser extent, would have a claim to be the greatest of all time in their field. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:08.219 But here's the thing. If you went up to one of these people and said to them, 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:11.060 do you consider yourself the greatest of all time? 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:16.060 They would probably kind of smile modestly and say, well, I try not to compare myself to others. 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:20.200 I do my best. It's great when I win trophies or awards. 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:23.019 But I'm really not thinking like that. 00:01:23.980 --> 00:01:28.060 If you went to one of their fans, one of their followers, and asked the question, 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:34.800 you would immediately get 20 reasons why this person is the goat, the greatest of all time. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:41.719 If you want to start an argument with me, you'd come to me and suggest that Djokovic is greater than Federer, 00:01:42.179 --> 00:01:45.819 or that Maradona is greater than Pele, and I have quite strong views on these, 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:48.539 and I'm sure a lot of people do as well. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.959 And that's what we're looking at, I think, in our passage this morning. 00:01:53.039 --> 00:01:55.920 The question is, who is the greatest? 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:00.659 We have John, and we have Jesus. 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.280 And John's disciples are saying to him, 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:09.319 this fellow, this fellow who is with us across the world, don't even give Jesus a name. 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:12.099 He's doing all the things that you're doing, John. 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:15.479 He's baptizing, he's drawing lots of people to him. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:18.960 And there's almost, John, you need to do something about this. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:20.900 You're the greatest, you're the Baptist. 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:27.659 Why is this other person doing the things that really belong to you? 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:30.540 Because they thought John was the greatest. 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:34.659 And we won't talk about, obviously, the greatness of Jesus, 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:38.140 but let's just recognize the greatness of John for a second. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:41.620 Jesus said, among those born of woman, 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:47.219 there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:51.979 In other words, John does have a claim to be the greatest of all time. 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:56.039 Mind you, Jesus then qualifies it by saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:58.460 is greater than John. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:02.300 But John is very clear here with his disciples, 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.419 and previously in John, 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.139 that Jesus is much greater than he is. 00:03:08.180 --> 00:03:10.039 So if you cast your mind back to chapter 1, 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:11.120 John said, 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:17.120 He who comes before me has surpassed me because he was before me. 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:20.340 And the passage we're looking at today, 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:24.379 as John presents the greatness of Jesus, 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:27.039 and then there's a commentary on it, 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:29.560 which I think is by John, the writer of the gospel, 00:03:30.379 --> 00:03:35.259 what comes across is actually there's no question at all. 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:40.860 Jesus is much, much, much greater than John the Baptist 00:03:40.860 --> 00:03:44.419 or than anyone who's ever lived. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:47.319 And what I hope we'll go away with this morning 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:53.179 is recognizing that Jesus is way, way above anyone else, 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:57.619 that he is the one who deserves our praise and our worship, 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:01.479 that he is the one we should be following. 00:04:03.339 --> 00:04:06.599 Let's start, though, with a little bit of background. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:09.119 I think it's always helpful to try and orientate ourselves 00:04:09.119 --> 00:04:10.719 as we go through books of the Bible. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.560 And it's very easy in John to say we go from one incident 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:14.840 to another incident to another incident 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:17.939 and perhaps lose a bit of track of the big picture. 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:22.000 So the big picture in John is that John is trying to convince us, 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.339 to help us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:27.540 the Son of God. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:32.060 And everything we read in John's gospel has that purpose. 00:04:32.779 --> 00:04:35.060 It's not just a series of random incidents 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:36.480 in the life of the Lord Jesus. 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:41.020 Every one of them, John wants us to understand a bit more 00:04:41.020 --> 00:04:46.000 about the greatness of Jesus and that he is God's Son. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:48.920 And so in this particular section of John's gospel 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:50.580 we're looking at over these few weeks, 00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:52.960 we have a number of conversations, 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:55.560 a number of encounters between people. 00:04:55.640 --> 00:04:57.060 We saw Nicodemus last week. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.160 Next week we'll look at a woman at a well. 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:02.020 And then there's a royal official. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.740 There's a series of people who have conversations with Jesus 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:12.680 and gain from that the understanding of how great Jesus is. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:16.140 But in the middle we have this slightly peculiar instance. 00:05:16.320 --> 00:05:18.920 Jesus isn't in this conversation. 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:23.460 It's a conversation between John and his disciples. 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:30.279 And yet it does fit within the flow of what John is doing at this point in his gospel. 00:05:31.099 --> 00:05:37.019 He's presenting Jesus as the Son of God through a series of conversations. 00:05:37.219 --> 00:05:41.459 And in chapter 3 of John is conversations with religious leaders. 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:44.219 So last week or two weeks ago, 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:47.000 we thought about his conversation with Nicodemus, 00:05:47.039 --> 00:05:50.639 who is the leader of the religious establishment, if you like. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:54.120 This week the person who's in the forefront is John the Baptist, 00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:01.579 who's the maverick religious leader working outside the formal constraints of Judaism. 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:05.279 And I think in each of these two incidents, 00:06:05.659 --> 00:06:07.860 John has a pattern in the way he develops it. 00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:12.939 So he starts with the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus to begin with, 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:15.379 and then between John and his disciples. 00:06:16.139 --> 00:06:20.199 And then we have some commentary from John, the gospel writer. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:24.039 So verses 1 to 15 are Jesus and Nicodemus. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:30.019 Verses 16 to 21, I believe, are John the writer's commentary on that. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:31.879 Now, if you disagree with me, please talk to me afterwards. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:33.839 There are lots of different views on this. 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:37.180 But it makes sense to me that the first part, verses 1 to 15, 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.180 is a conversation of Jesus and Nicodemus. 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:44.659 Verses 16 to 21 are John the gospel writer's commentary on that. 00:06:44.660 --> 00:06:49.980 And then similarly, verses 22 to 30, we have the conversation between John and his disciples. 00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:56.240 And then we have from verse 31 on, John the gospel writer's commentary on that. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:58.400 So John is saying, here's what happened. 00:06:58.780 --> 00:07:00.680 Here's the conversation that took place. 00:07:00.940 --> 00:07:02.460 And here's what it means. 00:07:02.840 --> 00:07:04.360 Here's the significance of it. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:08.800 Here's how it shows how great Jesus is. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:13.600 So with that in mind, let's look at the passage this morning. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:18.280 So we've got a situation where Jesus has been in Jerusalem, talking to Nicodemus, 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:19.660 been at the feast before that. 00:07:20.020 --> 00:07:24.780 And he goes out into the Judean countryside, the area around the River Jordan. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:28.580 And he is baptizing people. 00:07:29.080 --> 00:07:32.720 Now, if we read next week, we'll see it wasn't actually Jesus who was baptizing people, 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:36.360 his disciples, but they were doing it on Jesus' behalf. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:41.060 Now, the baptism we're talking about here is a little bit different from the baptism 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:45.620 that Graham was talking about, or those who may be baptized in the next month or so. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:49.280 It is very much similar to the baptism of John. 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:51.620 It is a baptism of repentance. 00:07:52.520 --> 00:07:56.199 So it doesn't have the full significance that we would attach to Christian baptism, 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:59.879 of identifying with Jesus, being buried with him, and so on. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:02.800 It is the baptism of repentance. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.020 At the start of the account today, there's some Jew, and he's not really named, 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:12.800 and he comes and has a discussion with John's disciples about purification. 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:16.199 Now, we don't really know what that discussion was, 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:19.360 but perhaps the Jewish leader or whoever it was was saying, 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:23.800 well, why do you need to baptize Jews when we've got all our own purification rituals? 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.920 Baptism is for Gentiles who want to come into the Jewish faith. 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:29.460 It's not for Jews. 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:31.479 And maybe that's what it was. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:33.639 It doesn't really matter. 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:38.919 What matters is that this seemed to have prompted something in John's disciples' minds, 00:08:39.199 --> 00:08:44.019 and they thought, well, we really need to talk to John about this fellow who's baptizing 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:46.220 and drawing all the people away from us. 00:08:46.699 --> 00:08:50.419 It's really not right that he is doing that. 00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:56.519 And so they come to John, and they say, what's going on here? 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.599 Why is this person baptizing? 00:08:58.719 --> 00:09:00.860 Why is he taking people away from you? 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:03.159 That shouldn't be happening. 00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:09.620 And John reminds them of what he has said from the start. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:13.259 And John reminds them of the perspective that he has. 00:09:13.339 --> 00:09:17.000 It's verses 27 and 28, if you're following along. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:23.580 John says, I've made it very clear that I'm not the Messiah. 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:27.659 I have my job to do. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.500 I've been given my job from heaven. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.840 And I've done it, and he's done it faithfully. 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:36.360 But he says, I'm not the Christ. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:40.480 I am only the one who is sent to prepare the way for him. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:44.700 In other words, don't put me on a pedestal. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:47.080 I'm nothing extra special. 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:51.200 I'm just a guy who's been chosen by God to do a particular work. 00:09:51.520 --> 00:09:53.560 And I've done it the best I can. 00:09:53.920 --> 00:09:56.980 And then I will step aside afterwards. 00:09:58.280 --> 00:10:01.820 There's no place, says John, for me to be jealous of Jesus 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:05.140 and the fact that he is attracting people more than I am 00:10:05.140 --> 00:10:07.240 because he is greater than me. 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:08.340 He's the Christ. 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:11.140 I am only the forerunner. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:15.819 Great lesson there for us if we ever are tempted to get proud 00:10:15.819 --> 00:10:18.340 in our ministry for the Lord Jesus. 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:22.639 To think I'm someone special because I can preach 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:24.360 or because I can talk to other people about Jesus 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:26.659 or because I can do this because I can do that. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.899 None of us are that special. 00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:33.399 We're only messengers for God, serving him the best we can, 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:38.919 but recognizing that Jesus sits way, way above where we ever could. 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:42.419 There was a famous missionary, I'm sure most of you have heard of him, 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:43.459 called Hudson Taylor. 00:10:44.099 --> 00:10:47.959 Hudson Taylor was a real pioneer missionary in China. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.599 It was said of him that since the Apostle Paul, 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.719 no one had had a wider vision for missionary work 00:10:54.719 --> 00:10:57.519 or carried out a more systemized plan 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:02.259 of evangelizing a wide geographic area than he had. 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:05.079 In other words, if you're looking at great missionaries, 00:11:05.079 --> 00:11:08.439 you're going to have Hudson Taylor on that list. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:12.719 One time Hudson Taylor went to a report meeting as missionaries do, 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:15.339 and as sometimes happens at these meetings, 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:19.339 the chairman went a bit overboard in talking about him. 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:22.860 We've got this great man, this great missionary with us here today, 00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:24.379 doing a great work in China. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:27.039 He's the founder of the Great China Inland Mission, 00:11:27.479 --> 00:11:31.539 and it's a real privilege to have him come and speak to us today. 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:35.219 Hudson Taylor stood up and very quietly said, 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:41.759 Dear friends, I'm the little servant of an illustrious master. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.220 That's a great description, and that's how we should feel as well. 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:49.980 Little servants of an illustrious master. 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:53.580 Anything we can do for Jesus is great, 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:56.940 but let's not build ourselves up, let's do it for his glory 00:11:56.940 --> 00:12:00.780 and recognizing that he is the one who is great, 00:12:01.280 --> 00:12:02.580 not us. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.020 We need a right perspective. 00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:10.660 Then John says we need to have right priorities. 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:13.940 He has this lovely picture of a wedding. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:16.640 Now, Jewish weddings were a little bit different 00:12:16.640 --> 00:12:18.520 from weddings that we would have today, 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:20.480 but there were some common features. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.639 One of the common features was there was someone 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:24.620 who we'd call the best man. 00:12:25.300 --> 00:12:29.460 What is the purpose of the friend of the bridegroom? 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.279 Well, the friend of the bridegroom, 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.879 the best man in our terms, 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.759 he's there to reassure the bridegroom, 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:37.240 to make things run smoothly, 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.200 to give a funny speech, and so on. 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:44.379 But he's not there to be the main person. 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:48.180 His job is to do the work that he's been given 00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:51.939 and then to step aside and to leave the bridegroom 00:12:51.939 --> 00:12:53.839 with his bride. 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:58.059 It says in the passage that the friend of the bridegroom 00:12:58.059 --> 00:13:00.359 rejoices when he hears the bridegroom's voice. 00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:02.179 I'm not sure if that is maybe a reference 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.519 to the kind of vows you would have. 00:13:03.599 --> 00:13:07.139 As the best man hears the vows of the bridegroom, 00:13:07.479 --> 00:13:09.719 he can say, that's great, we've got to this point. 00:13:10.099 --> 00:13:12.379 In a sense, I've done the main part of my job 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:15.519 and now I can step to one side. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.120 And John the Baptist says, 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:20.000 that's my position. 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:23.600 I was here to prepare things for Jesus, 00:13:24.179 --> 00:13:27.240 but I'm not the bridegroom, he is. 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.500 And now it's my turn to leave. 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:35.639 He must become greater, I must become less. 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:38.759 The description Jesus gives of John the Baptist 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:41.799 later in John as a burning lamp. 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:44.439 Someone who came into a dark place 00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:46.779 and brought light to it. 00:13:48.099 --> 00:13:49.740 But the light that John brought 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:51.759 is the light of the lamp. 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:53.979 The light that Jesus brings 00:13:53.979 --> 00:13:55.620 is the light of the sun. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:56.740 And if you've got the sun, 00:13:56.959 --> 00:13:59.000 you don't need the lamp. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.339 And that is what John is saying. 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:02.799 Someone much greater than me is here. 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:05.179 I've done my job. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.399 I'll move on. 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.879 Sadly, John was moving to prison and to martyrdom. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:10.139 I'll move on. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.779 I need to leave the stage 00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:13.480 so that he can become greater 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.519 and I can become less. 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:21.360 And again, let us learn the lessons from John. 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:22.580 We are here. 00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:25.200 We're given a job by Jesus to do. 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:27.159 Let's do that to the best of our ability. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:30.259 Let's serve in the church and elsewhere. 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:34.379 But our priority must be to raise Jesus up 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.840 that he may become more 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:39.740 and we may become less. 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:42.039 Let's move on then 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:43.659 and move to the part of the passage 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:45.200 that I'm suggesting was John, 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.899 the Gospel writer's commentary 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:50.059 on what John the Baptist has said. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:55.299 And we're looking at the greatness of Jesus. 00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:59.519 I think John says three main things about Jesus 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.719 that make it very clear 00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:04.599 how much greater he is than any of us, 00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:08.479 than anyone else who has ever lived in this world. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:13.839 And the first thing is that Jesus is sent from God. 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:17.139 The word sent occurs more in John's Gospel 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:19.319 than in any other book of the Bible. 00:15:19.479 --> 00:15:22.439 And 40 times it's used of the Lord Jesus, 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:27.420 God's Son, being sent by God into the world. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:31.060 And so John is saying here 00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:35.040 that Jesus is the one who has come from above, 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.220 who's been sent from God, 00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:40.020 who is above all. 00:15:40.900 --> 00:15:42.020 We said earlier in the Gospel 00:15:42.020 --> 00:15:45.480 that John the Baptist was a man sent from God. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.900 But he wasn't sent from heaven. 00:15:48.520 --> 00:15:50.200 He was a man who grew up, 00:15:50.280 --> 00:15:51.800 who was born at a normal birth, 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:52.620 grew up, 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.819 and then God said, 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.759 here's your mission, 00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:57.379 this is what you have to do. 00:15:58.219 --> 00:16:00.839 The Lord Jesus was with God 00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:03.479 from before the beginning of time. 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:06.279 He's the one through whom the universe 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:09.419 was created and hold together. 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:13.620 His rightful place was at God's right hand 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:16.679 as a member of the God's head, 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.699 the Trinity. 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:20.820 But he was sent and he chose to come 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:22.460 into our world 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:26.020 to be the saviour of the world. 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:29.220 The one who comes from heaven, 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.420 from above, 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:33.879 is above all. 00:16:35.280 --> 00:16:37.780 Jesus had come very differently 00:16:37.780 --> 00:16:38.900 from any of us. 00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:42.680 He was God from eternity past 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:45.539 and he chose to take the humble form 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.679 of a man 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:48.979 and to live among us. 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:50.199 But uniquely, 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:52.159 he came from God, 00:16:52.239 --> 00:16:52.919 from heaven, 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:54.419 sent by God 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:56.559 to be our saviour. 00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:00.719 The second thing about Jesus 00:17:00.719 --> 00:17:02.359 that we read about in these verses 00:17:02.359 --> 00:17:04.519 is that he was speaking 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:06.639 for God. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:09.020 So that's from verse 32 00:17:09.020 --> 00:17:10.640 through to verse 34. 00:17:11.340 --> 00:17:11.480 It says, 00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:12.600 He bears witness 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:15.720 to what he has seen and heard. 00:17:16.520 --> 00:17:18.320 Whoever receives his testimony 00:17:18.320 --> 00:17:20.060 says the seal to this 00:17:20.060 --> 00:17:22.960 that God is true. 00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:27.600 Jesus uniquely speaks for God. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.400 Everything he says 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:33.620 is God speaking to us. 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:35.519 What he has received 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.239 from the Father, 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:36.879 he says, 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.519 he passes on to us. 00:17:38.679 --> 00:17:40.119 He has received it 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:42.819 directly from God. 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.399 And therefore, 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:46.259 he comes with a special authority 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:49.559 that no one else can have. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.899 But later this month, 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:52.879 we're going to have a budget, 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.199 at least a financial statement 00:17:54.199 --> 00:17:55.319 from the Chancellor 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.239 and he'll stand up 00:17:56.239 --> 00:17:57.699 in the House of Commons 00:17:57.699 --> 00:17:59.059 and he will speak 00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.959 with the authority 00:17:59.959 --> 00:18:00.719 of the government, 00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:01.459 with the support 00:18:01.459 --> 00:18:02.319 of the Prime Minister 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.979 and so on. 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.519 We'll be hearing directly 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.140 from someone 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.039 who is involved 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.839 in constructing the budget 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.660 and thinking about 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.579 the nation's finances. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.839 If previous budgets 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.980 are anything to go by, 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:14.700 in the papers 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.099 in the weeks before that, 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.160 we'll read things 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:17.980 that are attributed 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.819 to sources 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.259 close to the Prime Minister 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.680 or senior members 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.380 of the government, 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.620 always unnamed, 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.940 which are largely speculation 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.779 about what will happen. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.860 Sometimes right, 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.779 quite often right, 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.559 sometimes not right. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:33.259 But there's a difference there, 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:33.839 can you see? 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.740 If you hear it directly 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.480 from the Chancellor 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.240 of the Exchequer, 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.579 you know that is 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.980 the government's policy. 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:42.000 If you read it in the paper 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.579 attributed to someone anonymous 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.700 and you're not terribly sure 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.399 who it is, 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.740 well, it's not got 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.779 that same authority, 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.960 has it? 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:50.879 So what John is saying 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:51.720 to us here 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.919 is all of us, 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.599 John the Baptist, 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.579 and all of us 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:57.460 can talk about the Lord Jesus, 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.859 can talk about God, 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.579 and can do it with authority 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.879 if we do it from the Scripture. 00:19:02.479 --> 00:19:04.799 But Jesus had that special authority 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.659 that he'd been with the Father, 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:08.059 he'd seen everything 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.879 that was happening, 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.859 he knew the Father's will, 00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:12.199 and he was able 00:19:12.199 --> 00:19:14.579 to pass it on perfectly. 00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.519 And none of us 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:18.579 can claim to do that. 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.479 Remember at the start 00:19:20.479 --> 00:19:21.799 of the book of Hebrews, 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.179 the writer says, 00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:24.359 in the past, 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:26.000 God spoke to our ancestors 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.839 through the prophets 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.819 at many times 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.159 and in various ways. 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:29.859 And that was wonderful, 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.519 great to read the Old Testament 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.879 and see what God said 00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:34.099 through the prophets. 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.980 But, says the writer, 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:37.279 in these last days 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.899 he has spoken to us 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.839 by his Son, 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.379 whom he appointed 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:42.720 heir of all things, 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:44.939 and through whom also 00:19:44.939 --> 00:19:47.199 he made the universe. 00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:48.699 Do you see again 00:19:48.699 --> 00:19:49.319 the difference? 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.679 Prophets who God 00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.740 has spoken through 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.220 and they got God's word 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.299 and they passed it on 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:55.220 faithfully. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.960 The Son, 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.019 who is the heir 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.720 of everything, 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.160 through whom the universe 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.779 was made, 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:02.019 who has been with God 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:03.920 from before the start 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.519 of time, 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.779 he comes 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.059 and he speaks 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.960 with the authority 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.440 of God, 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:10.519 he speaks for God. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.140 There's a little phrase 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:16.759 at the end of verse 34 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:18.640 where it says, 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.400 he gives the Spirit 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.579 without measure. 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:23.140 Now it's not entirely clear 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:23.819 what that means, 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:25.039 but I think the most likely 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.279 explanation of it is 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:28.119 that God gives the Spirit 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:29.119 to Jesus 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:31.240 without measure. 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:32.759 Now all of us, 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:34.359 if our trust is in the Lord Jesus, 00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:35.939 we have the Holy Spirit 00:20:35.939 --> 00:20:36.659 within us, 00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.619 guiding us 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.599 and helping us 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:40.559 and directing us. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.799 But our lives 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:43.119 are not fully directed 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:43.899 by the Spirit 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.419 because we have 00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:45.299 our sinful nature 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.019 and we like to go 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.679 our own way 00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:48.619 a lot of the time. 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:50.879 people who wrote 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.359 the Bible, 00:20:51.459 --> 00:20:52.559 the men who were responsible 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.579 for the various books 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.279 in the Bible, 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.739 they received 00:20:55.739 --> 00:20:57.099 a special filling 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.779 of the Spirit 00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.939 for that 00:20:58.939 --> 00:21:00.500 in that the words 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.159 they wrote 00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.539 are the Word of God 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.699 and are absolutely 00:21:03.699 --> 00:21:04.759 trustworthy. 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.919 And they for a period 00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:09.000 had that inspiration. 00:21:09.979 --> 00:21:11.059 But at other times, 00:21:11.479 --> 00:21:12.879 they were just like us 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:14.299 and although they would have 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.579 had the Spirit in them, 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.019 they didn't always 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.739 walk in line 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.359 with the Spirit, 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.559 they didn't always do 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.539 what the Spirit 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.819 would have wanted. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.400 Jesus was different 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.700 in that he had 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.460 God's Spirit 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.579 in him 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:29.579 in the fullest measure 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:31.940 and everything he said 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:33.779 was God's Word. 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.940 If you see the words 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:37.220 of Jesus in the Bible, 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.640 you know that what 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:40.000 you're reading is true 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.120 and is something 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.859 you really need 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:42.680 to think about 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:44.680 and let affect 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.779 your life. 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.799 a lot of the older 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.059 Bible, 00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:48.839 I think some of the 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.859 modern apps 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:50.619 have the words 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.940 of Jesus in red 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.799 and I think in some ways 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:54.099 that's quite helpful. 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.700 Not that the rest 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.099 of Scripture 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.980 isn't inspired, 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.180 but there is something 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.139 special about 00:21:59.139 --> 00:22:00.460 the words that came 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:02.799 out of Jesus' mouth. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.539 He was speaking 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.440 uniquely 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.839 always 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.859 for God 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.500 and that makes 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.319 him much greater 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.980 than anybody 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:12.079 else. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:15.199 And then finally 00:22:15.199 --> 00:22:16.399 in verses 35 00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:17.099 and 36 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.579 it tells us 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.059 that Jesus 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.399 was sanctioned 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:21.059 by God. 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.579 Now sanction is 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:21.980 one of these 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.859 funny English words 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.399 that has almost 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.139 opposite meanings 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:25.079 depending on 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.879 his context. 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.720 So we're not 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.119 talking about 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.599 the kind of 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.220 sanctions that 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.879 might be imposed 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.319 on Russia 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.980 or North Korea 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.779 or whatever here 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.419 which are 00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.019 restrictions. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.299 We're talking 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.699 about the 00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:34.419 sanctioning 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:35.119 which is 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.139 authorizing 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:37.339 approving 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:37.960 someone 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.159 in the work 00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:39.960 that they're 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.559 doing. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.139 They've been 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:41.799 sanctioned 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.519 by some 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.159 higher 00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:44.139 authority. 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.559 And so 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:45.919 Jesus 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.480 it says 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:46.819 here 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.419 has been 00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:48.299 sanctioned 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.599 by God. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.159 The Father 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:51.220 loves the Son 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.460 and has 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:52.899 given 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:54.399 all things 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.839 into his 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.759 hand. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.460 There's a great 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.240 study to be done 00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.480 and we've 00:22:59.480 --> 00:22:59.980 not got time 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.579 to even scratch 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.099 the surface 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.659 of it this 00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:02.059 morning 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.879 of the 00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.460 authority 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.700 of Jesus. 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.179 Of what 00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:06.759 God has 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.599 handed over 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.240 to Jesus 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.500 as the one 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.079 who is in 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.559 ultimate 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.299 control 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.339 in our 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.240 world. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.019 The one 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.659 under whose 00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:15.059 feet 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:15.939 God has 00:23:15.939 --> 00:23:16.439 placed 00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.379 everyone. 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.419 The one 00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:18.839 who is able 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.279 to say 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.599 to his 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.079 disciples 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.559 as an 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.039 encouragement 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.500 as he 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:21.939 sent them 00:23:21.939 --> 00:23:22.220 out 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:22.819 to be 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.019 his 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.500 witnesses 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.639 all 00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.240 authority 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.439 has been 00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:27.019 given to 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.359 me 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.339 in heaven 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.619 and on 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.539 earth. 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.919 God the 00:23:31.919 --> 00:23:32.519 Father is 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.240 pleased with 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.740 God the 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.039 Son 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.039 and he 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.480 has given 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:35.679 them 00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.220 authority 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.939 over 00:23:36.939 --> 00:23:38.119 everything. 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:40.019 And in 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.259 our 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.699 world 00:23:40.699 --> 00:23:41.359 although 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:41.839 there is 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.139 much 00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.579 evil 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:42.919 there is 00:23:42.919 --> 00:23:43.119 much 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.439 goes 00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:43.759 on 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:43.959 that 00:23:43.959 --> 00:23:44.159 is 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.739 grieving 00:23:44.739 --> 00:23:45.099 to 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:45.439 God 00:23:45.439 --> 00:23:45.619 and 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:45.739 to 00:23:45.739 --> 00:23:45.919 the 00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:46.119 Lord 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:46.500 Jesus 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.779 ultimately 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.319 the Lord 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.619 Jesus 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.339 is in 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:49.879 control 00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.739 and will 00:23:50.739 --> 00:23:51.219 be seen 00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:51.599 to be 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:51.799 in 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.319 control 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.079 when he 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.539 returns 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.219 in glory 00:23:54.219 --> 00:23:55.159 and he 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.539 rules 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.019 over 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.739 our 00:23:56.739 --> 00:23:57.219 world. 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:57.679 He is 00:23:57.679 --> 00:23:58.000 the one 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.319 who has 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:58.539 been 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.199 sanctioned 00:23:59.199 --> 00:23:59.439 who has 00:23:59.439 --> 00:23:59.659 been 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.179 authorized 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:01.119 who has 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.459 been 00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:02.379 approved 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.080 by 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:03.580 God. 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.080 Who is 00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:05.280 the 00:24:05.280 --> 00:24:05.640 greatest? 00:24:06.520 --> 00:24:07.140 There is 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.600 no 00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:08.480 question. 00:24:09.520 --> 00:24:09.860 It's 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:10.460 not like 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.040 a discussion 00:24:11.040 --> 00:24:11.760 about whether 00:24:11.760 --> 00:24:12.460 Nadal or 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.000 Federer is 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.460 the greatest 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.160 tennis player 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.440 and there's 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.080 arguments on 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.800 both sides. 00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:17.140 When you 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.580 look at the 00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.280 evidence as 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:19.120 John presents 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:19.700 it here 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.500 there is 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.280 one person 00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:21.720 who sits 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.680 way way 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.100 above 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:23.660 any of 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.000 us. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.160 Jesus 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.740 is the 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.080 greatest. 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:26.700 Jesus 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.180 is the 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.560 one who 00:24:27.560 --> 00:24:28.040 was sent 00:24:28.040 --> 00:24:28.420 from 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:28.920 God 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:29.940 who spoke 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.860 for God 00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:31.740 who was 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.539 sanctioned 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.200 by 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.220 God. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.440 And so 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.039 says John 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.480 in verse 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.299 36 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.599 our 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.500 ultimate 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.519 destiny 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:42.000 depends on 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.900 our attitude 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:44.140 towards 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:44.920 Jesus. 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.240 Whoever 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.120 believes in 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.539 the Son 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.259 has eternal 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.819 life. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:49.819 Whoever 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.519 does not 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.039 obey the 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.599 Son shall 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.120 not see 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.400 life but 00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:53.940 the wrath 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.599 of God 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.599 remains 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.359 on 00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.099 him. 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:59.000 Ultimately 00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.559 the thing 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.240 that matters 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.700 the most 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.359 of all 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.099 in our 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.500 world 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.019 and for 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.259 each 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.799 of us 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:05.119 is what 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:05.500 do we 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.219 make of 00:25:06.219 --> 00:25:06.679 Jesus? 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.159 Do we 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.699 recognize 00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:09.419 him as 00:25:09.419 --> 00:25:09.959 the greatest 00:25:09.959 --> 00:25:10.859 person who 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.519 has ever 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.079 lived as 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.479 the Son 00:25:12.479 --> 00:25:13.119 of God 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.879 who came 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.379 into our 00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:14.839 world? 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:15.939 Do we 00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:16.359 see him 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:16.659 as the 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.039 one who 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.539 died on 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.099 a cross 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.779 to take 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.439 the punishment 00:25:19.439 --> 00:25:20.699 for sin? 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.719 And do we 00:25:22.719 --> 00:25:23.219 commit our 00:25:23.219 --> 00:25:23.719 lives to 00:25:23.719 --> 00:25:24.439 him recognizing 00:25:24.439 --> 00:25:25.159 we can only 00:25:25.159 --> 00:25:26.000 have forgiveness 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.319 through him 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.519 and the only 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:28.959 way to 00:25:28.959 --> 00:25:30.439 avoid God's 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.000 wrath 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.980 the punishment 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.420 that we 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.160 deserve for 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.519 all the 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.000 wrong we've 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.340 done 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:35.380 is through 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.620 faith in 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.200 the Lord 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.039 Jesus. 00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:40.059 And 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.820 ultimately 00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:41.700 that's what 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.160 we would 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.039 really wish 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.080 for everyone 00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:45.340 here today 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:45.720 that we 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.420 know Jesus 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.420 as the 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:47.900 one who 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.600 is God's 00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:48.940 Son 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.779 as the 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.160 greatest 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.880 person who 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.340 has ever 00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:51.820 lived 00:25:51.820 --> 00:25:52.960 but more 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.420 than that 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:53.799 that we 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.200 know him 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.860 as our 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.460 saviour 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.220 that we 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.579 have a 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.100 personal 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.180 relationship 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.500 with him. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.039 As we 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.380 go away 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.819 let's go 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.620 rejoicing 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.519 in the 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:03.960 greatness 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.039 of the 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.259 Lord 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.660 Jesus 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:07.220 but let's 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.720 also go 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.400 making sure 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:08.759 that we 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.120 have a 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.539 personal 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.299 relationship 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.440 with him 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.779 and that 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.059 we have 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.759 the confidence 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.180 that in 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.960 him we 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.500 have 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.460 eternal 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.400 life. 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.200 Let's 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.640 join together 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.059 in prayer. 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:24.240 Our 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.579 Father we 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:24.879 thank you 00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:25.159 for your 00:26:25.159 --> 00:26:25.519 word to 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:25.839 us today. 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.019 We 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.440 thank you 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:26.759 for the 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.339 way John 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.059 presents 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.759 the 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.399 ultimate 00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:30.000 greatness 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.299 of Jesus. 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:32.779 For the 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.460 insight John 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.019 the Baptist 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.819 had of how 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.700 Jesus is 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.539 so much 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:36.919 greater 00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.980 than he 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.319 is. 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.819 But then 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.500 the reminder 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.619 that Jesus 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.079 is the 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.839 only one 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.579 who came 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.179 from heaven. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.779 He's the 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.440 only one 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:46.980 who speaks 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.720 completely 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:49.179 for God. 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.619 He's the 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.339 only one 00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:51.720 who has 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.139 been given 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.759 authority 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.559 by God 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.679 over all 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:55.200 things. 00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.319 And we 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.679 thank you 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.119 too that 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:57.639 he is the 00:26:57.639 --> 00:26:58.379 only one 00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:59.079 who is 00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.480 able to 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.039 take our 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.359 place and 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:01.740 to die 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.039 on the 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.559 cross for 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:02.700 us. 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.119 We thank 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:03.339 you that 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.659 he did 00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:05.000 that and 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.440 that through 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.460 that we 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.539 have life 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.440 in him. 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:08.940 May each 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.319 of us 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:09.819 have our 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.399 trust in 00:27:10.399 --> 00:27:10.619 him, 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.859 receive the 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.740 son into 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.460 our lives 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.500 and then 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.159 live lives 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.940 of service 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.960 and of 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.500 humility 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.639 for him. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.279 We give 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.740 you thanks 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.759 to be 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.200 with us 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:21.680 as those 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:21.980 in the 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.400 building 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.200 shared 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.599 together 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:23.839 in a 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.039 time 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.539 remembering 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:24.759 the 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:24.940 Lord 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.259 Jesus 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.180 in 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:26.539 communion. 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.039 For those 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.380 who are 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.180 leaving us 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:28.400 now, 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.740 we pray 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.059 that you 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.460 will be 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:29.859 with them 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.240 and bless 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.559 them 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.180 through the 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.420 coming 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:31.799 week. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.620 We give 00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.140 our thanks 00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.640 in Jesus' 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.059 name. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.180 Amen.