WEBVTT 00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:03.760 Good stuff. The song, that is. 00:00:07.259 --> 00:00:14.240 So we're in the third week of working through chapter 5 of John's Gospel, the biography of the life of Jesus. 00:00:15.200 --> 00:00:17.120 So I want to start this morning by recapping the flow. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.500 Catherine's already done that in part, so that's a really good help. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:25.160 So verses 1 to 17 of chapter 5, the most incredible miracle. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:32.780 The crowd saw before them a guy who had lain there hopelessly and pathetically for 38 years, 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:47.159 instantly brought back to full muscle tone, complete joint range movement, and neuromuscular coordination. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:54.219 In other words, the guy went from being hopeless and pathetic to actually picking up his bed and walking away. 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:59.799 The response of the Jewish leaders to that? 00:01:01.019 --> 00:01:04.739 Well, not as we might expect, delight for the man healed. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:11.739 Nor total amazement at the supernatural power of Jesus just demonstrated to them, 00:01:12.179 --> 00:01:14.939 and therefore a desire to understand them even more. 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:19.439 Now the response? 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:20.640 Rage. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:23.920 Murderous rage. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:33.019 All they could see was that once again, and he was making a habit of this, 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:37.680 once again he broke the rules regarding the Sabbath. 00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:39.099 He worked on the Sabbath. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:45.339 The rules which the Jewish religious leaders believed were essential to honouring God, 00:01:45.539 --> 00:01:48.819 essential to having acceptance and relationship with God, 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:51.060 and ultimately essential to getting to heaven. 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:56.219 But even worse than that, 00:01:57.659 --> 00:02:03.620 they knew and heard Jesus claiming to be equal with God. 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:07.379 Utter blasphemy, they thought. 00:02:07.379 --> 00:02:11.039 And then verses 19 to 29, 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:14.419 Jesus really, instead of backing off at their hatred and their rage, 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:16.259 he's really into them. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.099 He challenges their unbelief. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:21.639 He spells out in particular and in great detail 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.079 what it means for him to be equal with God. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:28.579 And he says that his total unity of nature, will, and purpose with the Father 00:02:28.579 --> 00:02:31.519 means it's impossible to honour God 00:02:31.519 --> 00:02:35.300 without also honouring the Lord Jesus. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:42.120 That would have just blown their heads out. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.620 And Jesus develops even more. 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:49.300 He said, well look, if that's hard for you to hear, listen to this. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:51.200 It's the Father. 00:02:51.320 --> 00:02:53.300 My Father has given me, says Jesus, 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:57.560 the primary role in achieving his salvation purpose. 00:02:57.820 --> 00:03:02.260 That means giving life, giving acceptance and relationship 00:03:02.259 --> 00:03:04.099 and the guarantee of heaven on the one hand 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:05.939 and on the other hand, 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:13.179 also pronouncing judgment on anybody who dares to reject me, says Jesus. 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:20.860 And so that brings us to the verses this morning, 30 to 47. 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:24.480 Jesus has just made a big thing of him being the judge. 00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:30.980 And in these verses, I believe that Jesus is becoming even more aggressive 00:03:30.980 --> 00:03:33.719 in response to these Jewish religious leaders. 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:36.080 Because he goes in these verses, I think, 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:39.280 and exposes the nature of their unbelief. 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:44.700 And verse 30 then is a bridge, like verse 18 was a bridge. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:48.260 Jesus says, I can do nothing on my own. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:51.300 As I hear, I judge. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:54.500 And my judgment is just. 00:03:54.500 --> 00:04:03.240 Jesus has just explained to these guys the role of judge 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:05.819 which his Father has given to him. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:11.979 Now, I think, Jesus begins to speak as judge to these men. 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:17.339 Jesus actually effectively now passes judgment 00:04:17.339 --> 00:04:21.000 on the unbelief of the Jewish religious leaders. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:24.660 He's restating in verse 30 his credentials as judge. 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.199 Perfectly aligned with the Father's desires. 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:30.259 You can go back and see that from verses 19 and 20. 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:35.160 Perfectly aligned with his Father's desires, purpose, and standards. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:39.920 His exposure and condemnation of their unbelief 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:43.279 that follows in these verses is perfectly just. 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:47.759 Perfectly correct. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:51.060 Perfectly beyond argument or dispute. 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:58.839 His verdict on their unbelief. 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:00.659 Well, the first two-part verdict. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:07.180 Unbelief is not due to a lack of evidence or testimony to me, says Jesus. 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:12.819 So Jesus cites four different categories of witness or testimony, 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:19.079 sources of validation to him and his ministry, his mission as God's Savior and King. 00:05:20.659 --> 00:05:22.399 Now, it's important just to stop here for a minute. 00:05:22.779 --> 00:05:27.319 It's not desperation that makes them cite these witnesses. 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.680 It's not as if Jesus is just desperately trying to make somebody believe 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:32.980 when he recognizes that nobody's really believing in him. 00:05:33.039 --> 00:05:35.539 Now, it's not desperation at all. 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:42.200 What he's doing is he's using conventional Jewish practice of establishing truth in a law court. 00:05:42.760 --> 00:05:46.520 You need two or three witnesses to establish the truth of a matter. 00:05:47.700 --> 00:05:53.360 What Jesus is doing here is he's actually showing them logically and legally 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:58.520 that they have no valid reason for their unbelief. 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.099 They stand guilty. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:04.979 Witness number one. 00:06:05.419 --> 00:06:06.339 Jesus' own testimony. 00:06:06.979 --> 00:06:07.939 Verse 31. 00:06:08.039 --> 00:06:13.060 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:19.419 Now, Jesus recognizes here, I think, that his own testimony, though quite legitimate, 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:22.500 is not going to be adequate. 00:06:24.299 --> 00:06:25.019 Why not? 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:30.839 Because the Jewish religious leaders have already deemed him to be a fraud and a liar. 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:33.459 So they're just going to dismiss anything he says. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.859 So he moves on. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:42.979 And he talks about, verse 32, there's another who bears witness about me. 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:46.219 Now, the text here is a little bit ambiguous. 00:06:46.719 --> 00:06:50.219 Most people take it to reference John the Baptist that follows. 00:06:50.919 --> 00:06:52.740 I think it's actually a bigger picture than that. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:55.500 I think the other that he's talking about here is God the Father. 00:06:56.900 --> 00:07:01.879 And God the Father bears testimony to John through three agencies. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:05.220 John the Baptist, miracles, and then the Scripture. 00:07:05.340 --> 00:07:06.840 And we'll see them as we work through them. 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:09.879 So witness number two. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:13.019 John the Baptist. 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:17.060 Now, John the Baptist was an exemplary witness. 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:23.639 He was the sort of witness you would want in a court of law because he was from a priestly family. 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:25.120 His father, Zachariah, was a priest. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:28.819 And not only that, but he was recognized as a prophet. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:32.660 Twice in the early chapters, he's described as one who was sent from God. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.019 He was a prophet or a prophetic figure. 00:07:37.019 --> 00:07:42.699 And again, quoting this or citing this exemplary witness, Jesus wants to be no illusions. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:47.339 He says, I don't need John as a witness. 00:07:47.479 --> 00:07:53.959 I'm not depending on John as a witness for validation of my ministry, says Jesus. 00:07:54.339 --> 00:08:03.319 But nevertheless, I will cite him, verse 34, as an assistance to you to believe. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:06.379 In other words, it's a concession to their unbelief. 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:10.899 Just trying to nudge them along a bit and get them over the line. 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:14.439 Give them as much reason as possible to believe. 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:23.240 And there's a concession because Jesus describes them here as a burning, shining light. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:28.139 In other words, John the Baptist is like a set of runway lights. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:34.220 So bright, illuminating the path all the way to Jesus. 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:38.940 So if anybody's going to help you believe, it will be John the Baptist. 00:08:41.060 --> 00:08:45.540 And the Jewish religious leaders recognized that John was a prophet sent by God. 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.620 In fact, initially in the early chapters, you can go back and check on it. 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:53.240 Initially, they actually went to John because they knew he was a prophet. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.460 They knew he was doing something like prophets do, something unusual. 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:00.580 And so they went to John and asked, what is your word from the Lord? 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:07.620 And from that point on, they knew jolly well that John's word from the Lord was that Jesus, 00:09:08.020 --> 00:09:11.639 the long-awaited Messiah, God's Savior and King, was now with them. 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:14.900 And it was this Jesus that they knew. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:23.460 But, says Jesus, after initial delight from these Jewish religious leaders, 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:29.379 the initial excitement that, wow, we've lived to see a fair dingham prophet sent by the Lord. 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:39.960 But after that initial delight, then the Jewish religious leaders just rejected both John and his message. 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:46.840 Choosing the darkness of their own understanding over a word from the Lord. 00:09:48.439 --> 00:09:50.059 Witness 3, verse 36. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:52.059 The works, or miracles as Jesus calls them. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:56.319 The testimony I have is greater than that of John. 00:09:56.439 --> 00:10:00.479 For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, 00:10:01.199 --> 00:10:03.879 bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:09.379 Very simply, just look around. 00:10:09.699 --> 00:10:11.559 You've just seen me heal this guy. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:17.319 Only God can do the sorts of things you've just seen me do. 00:10:17.859 --> 00:10:19.959 And that hasn't been an isolated case, says Jesus. 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:21.280 I've done other miracles. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:24.540 And every time it's the same message. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.400 Only God could do the things that you see me do. 00:10:30.660 --> 00:10:35.400 And not only that, but I think Jesus is picking up there a reference back to Isaiah. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.480 Isaiah was very, very much in the forefront of saying, 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:41.700 look, Messiah is coming. 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:43.019 Chapter 35, for instance. 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:44.320 Messiah is coming. 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:46.180 How will you recognize the age of Messiah? 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:51.199 You'll recognize it because the Messiah will come doing miraculous things. 00:10:51.479 --> 00:10:55.539 He will make the crippled to walk, the blind to see. 00:10:56.699 --> 00:11:01.079 The age of Messiah that Isaiah was talking about, says Jesus, 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.859 it's here. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:03.419 It's me. 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:03.500 It's me. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:13.580 Jesus was doing what his father loved to do and had promised he would do. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:23.639 As I said last week, move people from being spiritually dead to being life, full of life, true life. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.679 Fourth witness then. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:28.440 Verse 37, 38, and 39. 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:34.060 The witness of the father himself through his written word, the scripture. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.900 Now this would have been very confronting for the Jewish religious leaders. 00:11:41.880 --> 00:11:46.020 Because Jesus here recognizes their passion for scripture. 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:47.260 There's no question about it. 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:48.880 These guys loved the scripture. 00:11:49.020 --> 00:11:50.560 They loved memorizing it. 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:52.320 They loved quoting it. 00:11:52.400 --> 00:11:56.980 They thought they had something special that set them apart from all the other nations in the world 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:59.180 because they had God's written word. 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:01.899 And they luxuriated in it. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.620 Passionate about it, as I say. 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:12.220 And they believed that it would actually deliver them into eternal life. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:20.560 So one of the famous priests, Hillel, they taught that dutifully obeying all God's commandments, 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:26.460 all God's rules, would actually earn them acceptance and relationship with God 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:30.700 and therefore take them into the kingdom of God, which is what they were seeking, 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.340 or what we would call the heaven. 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:38.740 But more than that, they said, if you want to improve the quality of life in heaven, 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:42.660 then the way to do that is by memorizing and reciting scripture. 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:45.879 So the more you memorize and the more you're able to recite, 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:49.460 then you'll get a payback in heaven with a better quality of life. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:56.060 So you can see why they were serious about learning scripture and being familiar with it. 00:12:56.059 --> 00:13:02.639 But then Jesus' king hits them by saying, 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:05.739 listen, you guys, that's all very good, but you've missed the point. 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:10.439 You've missed the whole point of God's scripture. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.399 You've missed what's clear and obvious in God's storyline of salvation. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.039 And that is that people could never secure heaven on their own efforts. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:28.500 And that the scriptures consistently point to God's gracious provision of an alternative to performance. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:33.659 And that is the grace of Jesus and the gospel. 00:13:35.319 --> 00:13:41.779 They've missed the most fundamental point of God's storyline, God's scripture. 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.519 They did not see Jesus. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:49.399 Why? 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:52.539 Because they weren't looking for him. 00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:55.659 Why weren't they looking for him? 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:58.339 Because they didn't need him. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:04.079 They were totally committed to promoting their own agenda. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:10.799 Promoting their own pathway to salvation, which is do this, do these religious things, 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:12.139 and you will have salvation. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:15.319 Memorize God's word, and you will have not only salvation, 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:18.259 but a really top-notch quality of life in heaven. 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:24.960 They were so busy promoting that, that they didn't see Jesus. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:26.080 They didn't need Jesus. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:34.280 Even if it meant rejecting God's prophetic word, John the Baptist and all the other prophets before him. 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:40.280 Even if it meant ignoring God's demonstrated word, the miracles all around them. 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:49.299 And even if it meant distorting God's written word, the very thing they profess to love and cherish. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:56.000 They would do all of that because they're so focused on their own agenda of salvation. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:02.360 So Jesus declares, verse 37, and this is a damning comment to these Jewish religious leaders. 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:04.740 Remember, these are the cream of the cream. 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.080 Well, so-called, anyway. 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:14.039 Verse 37, Jesus declares that in spite of all their godly concerns, 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:24.500 they'd never really heard, understood, believed, or delighted in God. 00:15:26.719 --> 00:15:28.599 Now, remember who he's speaking to. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.099 These are Jewish religious leaders. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:33.839 These are the guys that everybody looked up to as the models of godliness, 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.539 the models of passion for the Lord. 00:15:35.599 --> 00:15:38.679 And Jesus says, there's nothing. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.339 You've got nothing. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:44.820 In spite of such compelling evidence or testimony, 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.379 which should have produced belief, 00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:56.879 their future remains the resurrection of judgment 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:00.340 that we spoke about last week, verse 29. 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.860 That's a sobering thought, isn't it? 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:08.019 A shocking exposure. 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.720 A shocking condemnation. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.800 They had every reason to believe, 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:16.580 but they refused to believe. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.840 They refused to believe the evidence. 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:21.019 And so, verse 29, Jesus will be declaring as judge 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:24.800 that your only thing you can consider as you look to the future 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:26.899 is this resurrection to judgment. 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:33.879 And then Jesus continues to expose their unbelief 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:35.419 with a second part of the verdict. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.559 So, unbelief is not due to a lack of evidence, 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:42.799 but unbelief now, Jesus ramps up again. 00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:46.539 Unbelief is nurtured by unbelieving hearts 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:48.939 and fixed mindset. 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:49.940 Unbelief is not due to a fact. 00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:56.360 Now, John identifies, and it's buried in here, 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.520 but I think this is an important point. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.260 You can send an email to Rob if you don't, 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.200 because my email's full up this week. 00:17:04.340 --> 00:17:07.320 So, John identifies and highlights 00:17:07.320 --> 00:17:09.799 the key distinction between Jesus 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.820 and the Jewish religious leaders. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:16.019 And it's a key distinction at the point of heart motivation. 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:27.460 Ultimately, self-interest explains their unbelief. 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.119 Let me try and demonstrate this. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.200 Look back to chapter 30. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.660 Sorry, look back to verse 30. 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.940 So, Jesus says, the second part of that verse, 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.019 which I skipped over, 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.139 Jesus says, 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:40.579 I seek not my own will, 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:43.339 but the will of him who sent me. 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:49.419 Everything Jesus does is motivated 00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:53.659 by the desire of his heart to please his Father. 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:57.639 Now, look at the sharp contrast 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.579 that John gives us with these Jewish religious leaders, 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.419 that Jesus makes with these religious leaders, 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.799 verses 43 and 44. 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.799 Verses 44, 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:23.180 See, classic distinction in motivation. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.019 These Jewish religious leaders, 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:28.220 when it was all boiled down, 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:30.240 when you get behind the facade of godliness, 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:32.180 when it was all boiled down, 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:36.859 they were motivated by desire for praise, 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:39.539 for validation from people around them. 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:42.799 They weren't ultimately driven or motivated 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.480 or desirous of pleasing the Lord. 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.740 And that means practically, 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.319 because their minds were so full of that, 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.099 that there was no room to seek God's mind, 00:18:58.099 --> 00:19:01.459 no room to find God's pathway, 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.879 because they were following their own preferences. 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:07.059 And Jesus says, not only that, 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:08.879 but you happily gather people around you. 00:19:08.939 --> 00:19:09.799 You reject me, 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:12.119 but then you'll happily gather people around you. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.099 On what basis? 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.659 People that think the same way as you think 00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:17.219 and people that will affirm you 00:19:17.219 --> 00:19:20.419 in your presumed belief. 00:19:21.959 --> 00:19:24.559 So you see, it feeds into itself, doesn't it? 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:27.119 Their unbelief feeds into unbelief. 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:34.099 Self-interest then nurtured self-love. 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:36.319 Again, look back at chapter 20. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.079 Chapter 20, verse 20. 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.459 Look back at verse 20. 00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:42.659 For the father loves the son 00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:46.379 and shows him all that he himself is doing. 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.619 And Jesus responds in love to the father. 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:57.619 There is a mutual love between the father and his son, 00:19:58.099 --> 00:20:01.479 which overflowed in Jesus' determination 00:20:01.479 --> 00:20:04.559 to honor and obey the father in all things, 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:06.219 regardless of the cost to himself, 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:08.979 even the cost that we'll see as the story unfolds, 00:20:08.979 --> 00:20:10.699 of going to the cross. 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:18.759 Again, look at the sharp contrast, verse 42. 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.539 I do not receive glory from people, 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.779 verse 42, 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:29.539 but I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:36.279 You do not have the love of God within you. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.099 Now remember again, 00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.159 who he's speaking to? 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.579 Jewish religious leaders, 00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:41.960 the top of the pile. 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:45.980 You do not have the love of God within you. 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:51.620 These religious leaders were devoid 00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:54.660 of genuine love for God 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:57.180 and his purposes. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:01.339 Their concern for scripture, 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:03.039 their concern for godliness, 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.980 their concern for honoring Moses, 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.279 Jesus effectively said, 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.799 well, it's all just an outside show. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.140 It's all show. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.759 It's all image. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.940 There's no substance to it. 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.980 There's nothing in your heart. 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.000 There's nothing in your heart. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:18.380 Because in reality, 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:20.059 they were into self-validation 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.559 through their own efforts. 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.339 Verse 43 again. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.620 I have come in my Father's name 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:30.099 and you do not receive me. 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.740 They don't need Jesus 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:35.000 because they validated themselves. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.980 They refuse to welcome Jesus 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.019 but embrace others 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.740 who think as they do 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.720 and affirm each other 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.279 in the way that they demand. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.279 Even if it's shallow, 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.599 and based on distortion 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.680 of truth and lies. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.200 So what Jesus is saying here, 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:53.480 I think, 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.539 is that their 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:57.579 unbelieving response to Jesus 00:21:57.579 --> 00:22:00.460 was very much about self-protection. 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:04.039 About avoidance of any suggestion 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.240 or appearance of being wrong. 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:05.799 Because remember, 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.140 these guys knew jolly well 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:10.200 what Jesus was saying. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.539 And the next step 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.279 in their logic was, 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:12.480 well, 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:14.380 if Jesus is saying this 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:16.559 and we're saying that, 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:18.100 we can't both be right. 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:20.259 So what are we going to do about it? 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.120 Answer? 00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.559 We get rid of Jesus. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.660 Now that's a conviction 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.340 of unbelief, 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:28.740 isn't it? 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:35.400 If Jesus was, 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.680 if what Jesus was saying 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.319 was true, 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:39.339 then what they've been teaching 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.259 could not be true. 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:43.279 So these guys, 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.259 when you dig into their unbelief, 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.779 it's about a choice 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:49.500 to protect their own traditions. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.799 It's a choice 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.299 to find validation, 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.319 to make validation 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.079 of their teaching, 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.839 their reputation, 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.659 and their authority 00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.500 before the people 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.000 more important 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.339 than evidence or truth. 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.859 So they were not really concerned 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.839 for God's honor at all. 00:23:05.179 --> 00:23:06.079 Though that was the image 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.679 they created for themselves. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:08.559 Really? 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.079 When all said and done, 00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:10.740 they were concerned 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.779 for their own position, 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.519 their own advancement. 00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:14.619 Friends, 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.099 they were caught 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:16.339 in a vicious cycle 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.879 of unbelief. 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:20.599 Their commitment 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.679 to their own thinking 00:23:21.679 --> 00:23:22.339 about what makes 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.639 a person acceptable to God 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:26.059 meant they didn't really engage 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.539 with a compelling evidence 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.599 brief for Jesus. 00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.419 In turn, 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:31.679 this fed their unbelieving attitude 00:23:31.679 --> 00:23:33.700 as they encountered Jesus. 00:23:34.659 --> 00:23:35.139 And in turn, 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.940 that allowed them 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.579 to conclude 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:38.019 that what they'd been thinking 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.440 about Jesus 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.440 all along 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.019 was correct. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.980 And in turn, 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.599 that gave them 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:50.299 an increasing freedom 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:53.019 because they were so convinced 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.720 they were right. 00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:55.799 They then felt 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.419 they had the freedom 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.879 to stop listening to God. 00:23:59.339 --> 00:23:59.859 Now notice, 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.919 they stopped listening to God, 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.519 but they didn't stop 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.720 reading the scriptures. 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.980 They still love scripture, 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.059 God's written word, 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:11.139 but instead of coming to it 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:11.980 humbly, 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.539 to be instructed 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.319 by it 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:16.559 and directed by it, 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.480 they came to it 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.180 as overlords 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.880 becoming the interpreters 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.839 of God's word 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:25.960 according to their own 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.519 understanding. 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.940 And so the desire 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.779 was to use scripture 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.900 to achieve their own ends, 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.620 their own advancement, 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.259 their own honor, 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.279 not God's honor, 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.140 God's ends. 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.900 And Jesus says to them, 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.099 look, 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.539 you guys, 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.819 you make a big thing 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.279 about Moses, 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:40.480 well, 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.059 I tell you now, 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.960 that even now, 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.659 Moses is standing up 00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:43.919 in heaven 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:45.480 screaming at you guys 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:47.159 that he does not want 00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:48.440 anything to do with you lot 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.220 because you've got 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.159 nothing really to do 00:24:50.159 --> 00:24:50.960 what he was teaching. 00:24:52.879 --> 00:24:54.119 Moses will condemn you, 00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:54.700 says Jesus. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.700 So the big question 00:24:58.700 --> 00:24:59.139 this morning, 00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.779 as I wrap up, 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:00.879 big question this morning, 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.899 if you're not yet 00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:04.119 a believer in Jesus, 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.720 that is, 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.379 if you're not yet 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.299 a believer in Jesus 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.339 for your acceptance 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:09.299 before God, 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:12.359 and your place 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:12.759 in heaven, 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.539 the big question then is, 00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:15.680 are you yourself 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:17.119 caught in a cycle, 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.559 a vicious cycle 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.419 of unbelief? 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.399 Is your commitment 00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.659 to not believing 00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.379 in Jesus 00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:28.319 controlling how you 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.259 look at the evidence 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.899 and form your conclusions? 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:35.060 There's lots of evidence 00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:35.700 and research 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:37.140 to show that the power 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.880 of existing beliefs 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:40.780 is more than adequate 00:25:40.780 --> 00:25:41.820 to do that very thing. 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.240 So for instance, 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.060 a first example 00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:44.580 I want to use, 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.340 there's research 00:25:46.340 --> 00:25:47.040 done in, 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.740 I think it was England 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.480 a few years ago, 00:25:48.800 --> 00:25:49.540 that said 00:25:49.540 --> 00:25:50.920 that men 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:52.560 will never 00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:54.380 change lines 00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.960 when they're waiting 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.740 for the supermarket 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.800 checkouts. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.680 Now that's a profound 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.339 piece of information, 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.759 isn't it? 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.139 But the reason 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.639 why the men 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.960 don't change the lines 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.759 is very informative. 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.379 That is, 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.599 men will survey 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:10.519 all the different lines 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.419 and they'll make 00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:12.899 a decision 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.759 as to which one's 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.759 moving fastest. 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.259 They'll then 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.240 get into that line 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:21.099 and regardless 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:21.940 what happens, 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.259 that is, 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.220 regardless of the evidence, 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.359 they will stick 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.899 in that line. 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.680 Now women, 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.560 by comparison, 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.980 will jump lines 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.840 more than once 00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:30.640 if they think 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.460 the line down there 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.380 is moving faster. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.400 Now what's the driver? 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.200 Well the research 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.200 showed that men 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.019 would rather suffer 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.060 the consequences 00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:40.560 of making 00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:41.600 a wrong decision 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:43.920 rather than 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.660 be embarrassed 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:46.360 to move lines 00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:47.300 and thereby admit 00:26:47.300 --> 00:26:48.240 to everybody around 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.259 that they had made 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.920 a wrong decision 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.580 in the first place. 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.780 Now that's only some men, 00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.740 it wouldn't apply to me. 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:57.680 Some men are pretty stupid. 00:26:58.800 --> 00:26:59.940 Present company accepted. 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.740 Scarcely believable, 00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:05.200 isn't it? 00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:07.160 And yet that's 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.360 this vicious cycle 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.080 of unbelief. 00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.259 I think that's how 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.000 some people deal 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.519 with Jesus. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.080 As adults, 00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:16.140 they've lived their lives 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.160 in a certain line 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.000 and now 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.860 to change lines 00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:21.860 and serve Jesus 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.540 and honour Jesus 00:27:22.540 --> 00:27:23.300 and put their trust 00:27:23.300 --> 00:27:23.580 in him 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.359 would be to admit 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:25.240 that what they've been doing 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.679 for the last 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years 00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:28.559 has been wrong 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:30.699 and some men 00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.519 would choose 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.119 to live with the consequences 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.579 of their error 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:37.339 rather than change for truth. 00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.379 Some people, 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.259 not just some men. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.379 My brother-in-law 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.379 is a good example of this. 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:48.039 He's a brilliant history teacher. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.720 He's just retired. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:51.860 He loves examining 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:53.440 historical sources 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.200 and evidence 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.500 for all sorts of 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.440 great ones in history. 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.319 I love history as well 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.339 so we have 00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.779 terrific discussions. 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:03.000 He can speak authoritatively 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.140 about pretty well 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.220 any period in history. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.720 I can't. 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.620 I'm very limited. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.620 He's a very proud man 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:11.319 and what he's done 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.839 over the years 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.900 is validated himself 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.400 through his own 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.500 learning and achievement. 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:19.299 So he refuses, 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.000 therefore, 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:22.079 to give serious effort 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.799 to examining 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:24.319 the claims of Jesus. 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.519 At that point, 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:30.240 this brilliant history teacher 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.140 has a closed 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:32.339 or fixed mindset. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.599 Why? 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.000 Because I believe 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.480 for him to admit 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:41.160 that his 60 years 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:43.539 of self-validation 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:46.659 was wrong. 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.599 Not only wrong, 00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.119 but worthless. 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.659 He would have to do that 00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:51.279 if he gave Jesus 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.299 serious consideration. 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.920 And so what he does 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.980 is he continues to use 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.399 a childhood experience. 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.460 He went to a boarding school 00:28:59.460 --> 00:28:59.920 in England 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:03.440 where it was a church 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.000 boarding school 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.220 and they beat him 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:05.899 to within an inch 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.460 of his life. 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.779 And he's bitter 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.440 about that. 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.240 And rightly so. 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.839 But he uses, 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:12.039 now this is a history teacher, 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.639 he uses that 00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:15.139 childhood experience 00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:16.420 constantly 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.519 to this very day 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.279 as his excuse 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.220 for not believing 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:20.659 in Jesus. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.339 See how it works? 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.519 It's not 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.359 logic or lack 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.319 of compelling evidence, 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.220 but his cycle 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.159 of unbelief. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.420 It's his heart 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:37.259 which is getting 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:37.700 in the way 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.440 of his unbelief. 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:41.340 teaching scripture 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:42.220 at Edwards Heights 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.920 Primary School 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.980 a few years ago. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.980 I was constantly amazed, 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.299 I always got to teach 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.640 years five and six, 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.400 sorry, 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:53.100 ten and eleven 00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:53.759 year old children. 00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:54.660 And I was always 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:56.100 constantly amazed 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:59.039 that these children 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.080 would hear, 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.980 because they didn't 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.840 have a Bible background, 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.559 and I would teach them 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.559 things from the gospel 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:07.740 and just listen 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.099 to them, 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.079 totally reject it, 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.059 and back their own 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.659 beliefs. 00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.980 That's ten year olds 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.679 and eleven year olds. 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.440 They would actually say 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:15.619 to me, 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.399 that's rubbish. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.839 The cycle 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.619 of unbelief. 00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:31.179 So I'll finish 00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.719 on this note. 00:30:32.239 --> 00:30:33.219 As you consider 00:30:33.219 --> 00:30:34.519 that cycle 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.239 of unbelief, 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.119 if you're not yet 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.799 a believer here 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.199 this morning, 00:30:37.939 --> 00:30:39.000 consider also 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:40.239 what you're going 00:30:40.239 --> 00:30:40.739 to say 00:30:40.739 --> 00:30:42.359 on that 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.279 resurrection 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.199 day of judgment. 00:30:46.899 --> 00:30:47.339 Well, 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:47.759 Lord, 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.379 I'm sorry, 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:48.979 but I 00:30:48.979 --> 00:30:50.519 simply didn't 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.259 know about Jesus. 00:30:53.699 --> 00:30:54.399 The Lord's 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:54.959 going to say to you, 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.099 well, 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:55.479 that's just 00:30:55.479 --> 00:30:56.059 nonsense. 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:59.839 I'm sorry, 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.039 Lord, 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:00.980 but the evidence 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.539 was not that 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.059 convincing. 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.240 The Lord will say, 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:05.460 well, 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.240 that's just 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.859 ridiculous. 00:31:10.419 --> 00:31:10.819 Well, 00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.099 Lord, 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.779 the evidence 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.639 was compelling, 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.319 but I didn't 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.039 want to change 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.599 lines. 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.359 It was going 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.059 to be embarrassing. 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.259 The Lord will say, 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.940 really? 00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.399 Or will you say, 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.259 I was determined 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.460 to be fair-minded 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.120 when I heard 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:28.640 about Jesus. 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.580 I realized I 00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.540 needed to read 00:31:30.540 --> 00:31:31.080 the Bible, 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.120 to hear what it 00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:32.740 says about him, 00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.920 what he claims. 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.540 I need to get it 00:31:35.540 --> 00:31:36.560 sorted out in terms 00:31:36.560 --> 00:31:37.140 of what he says 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:37.900 about my life 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:39.180 and life everlasting 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:39.880 and how to deal 00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:40.380 with my sin 00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:41.040 and be accepted 00:31:41.040 --> 00:31:41.620 by the Lord. 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.960 And as I came 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.600 to the Bible, 00:31:46.800 --> 00:31:48.259 I didn't initially 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:49.180 believe it was true, 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:50.800 but as I came to it 00:31:50.800 --> 00:31:51.920 and prepared to give 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.220 myself in fair-minded 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.380 thought to it, 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.660 Lord, 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:57.240 it just seemed 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:57.700 to open up 00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.340 before me. 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.620 That, 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.260 what started out 00:32:02.260 --> 00:32:03.100 as ill-defined, 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.600 gradually became 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.440 more clearly 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:05.860 marked, 00:32:06.560 --> 00:32:08.380 and suddenly 00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:08.920 I was led 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.480 to Jesus, 00:32:10.760 --> 00:32:12.140 and now I've 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.520 made it all 00:32:12.520 --> 00:32:12.920 the way home 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.280 to heaven. 00:32:15.060 --> 00:32:15.640 Thank you, 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:15.880 Lord, 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:16.420 for breaking 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:16.940 through my 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.500 cycle of 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.080 unbelief 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:20.559 and show 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:20.960 me the 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.539 runway lights 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.599 that brought 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.099 me all the way 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.599 home to heaven. 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.519 Let me pray. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.319 Lord, 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.000 help us to hear 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.399 your word. 00:32:29.639 --> 00:32:29.960 Genuinely 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.699 hear it. 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.019 Because in the 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.619 hearing of it, 00:32:33.699 --> 00:32:33.839 Lord, 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.139 there will be 00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:35.539 belief. 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.399 In Jesus' name 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:37.819 I pray. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.240 Amen. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.319 Amen. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:38.379 Amen. 00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:38.439 Amen. 00:32:38.439 --> 00:32:38.539 Amen. 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:40.379 Amen. 00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:40.439 Amen. 00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:40.559 Amen. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:40.579 Amen. 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:40.659 Amen. 00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:41.119 Amen. 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:41.319 Amen. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:41.599 Amen. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.220 Amen. 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:42.299 Amen. 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:42.379 Amen. 00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:42.399 Amen. 00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:42.500 Amen. 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:42.519 Amen. 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:42.559 Amen. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.000 Amen. 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.099 Amen. 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.099 Amen. 00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.579 Amen. 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:48.059 Amen.