WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.240 Father, we confess before you that your word is so clear and so precise, 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:20.879 and we confess before you, Father, that there is lots within us that do not like that type of clarity and precision. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:35.679 And we struggle, Father, with sin and with pride and with idols, and the clarity and precision of your word comes against the sin and the idols of our hearts. 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:41.500 And so, Father, we wince and then we waffle and then we forget. 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:49.820 And so, Father, we ask that just as your Holy Spirit caused your word written to be written, 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:55.240 we ask, Father, that in your kindness and in your mercy, you would pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:02.340 Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, Father, and bring your word deeply into the command center of who we are. 00:01:02.939 --> 00:01:06.859 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:08.260 Please be seated. 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:19.180 So, once again this week, just by coincidence or providence, I had the great privilege to be able to go on Parliament Hill 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:22.700 and speak to the Parliament Hill Christian Fellowship on Friday. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:28.080 They got to sort of get my early ramblings on this sermon. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:28.939 That's sort of the deal. 00:01:29.780 --> 00:01:31.560 And I'm not going to... 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:36.120 If you ever go on Parliament Hill, not like in the main entrance, but to the side, 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:41.719 where the actual Senate and some other members of Parliament, their business goes on, 00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:45.280 when you come to the security now, you're met by two... 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:48.219 But you come to the door, you're met by two security guards. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:54.640 And so, one of them asks for my ID and see if I'm on the list that will allow me to get through the first door. 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:58.000 And the other one, and I had a briefcase with me, says, 00:01:58.100 --> 00:02:00.080 Could you open your briefcase for me, sir? 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.420 And then he says, as I'm opening, he said, 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:07.039 If there's anything dangerous in there, you better warn me now as you open it. 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.659 And I said, Well, the only thing dangerous in here is a Bible. 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:12.840 I said, It's banned in about 50 countries. 00:02:13.699 --> 00:02:16.840 And he, without missing a beat, he said, 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.599 Well, it's not banned here yet. 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:21.780 You should be thankful. 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:27.120 And anyway, we chatted while we were going in. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:29.060 And anyway, so we go in. 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:29.640 This is Canada. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:32.360 It's not banned yet, according to the security guard. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:33.400 But I think he was a brother. 00:02:33.539 --> 00:02:35.140 I think he was hoping it wouldn't be banned. 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:40.460 One of my coffee shop that I went to for a long time, 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:43.259 I don't go to it anymore because the office is moved. 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:46.420 The guy who owned the coffee shop, really great guy, 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:49.360 a Palestinian Muslim from Jerusalem. 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:52.560 And he's been in Canada for quite a few years. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.640 Very, very secular Muslim. 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:56.640 And really great guy. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:57.939 I used to love talking with him. 00:02:58.019 --> 00:03:00.219 And one of the things he said to me all the time, 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.019 especially if there's something bad in the news, 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:04.839 he said, George, if you've lived where I've lived, 00:03:05.279 --> 00:03:06.419 you would say this, 00:03:06.779 --> 00:03:09.219 Canada is the greatest country in the world. 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:12.139 That's what he said to me all the time. 00:03:12.519 --> 00:03:13.659 If you've lived where I've lived, 00:03:13.839 --> 00:03:16.759 Canada is the greatest country in the world. 00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:20.079 And I say that because the text 00:03:20.079 --> 00:03:21.339 that we're going to look at in a moment, 00:03:21.819 --> 00:03:24.000 it's very, very un-Canadian. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.960 In fact, it would make just about every Canadian wince. 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:31.960 And I'm talking about Canadian Christians. 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:34.919 We wince at its clarity. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:41.099 We wince at the fact that lots and lots of Christians 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:42.460 are very comfortable with saying, 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:43.920 I have no problem with Jesus. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:45.599 It's the church I have problems with, 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:47.000 but this is Jesus speaking. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:51.520 And it just would be viewed by many, many people 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:52.539 as a very hard text. 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:54.159 In fact, I was just thinking about that. 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:57.280 It might very well be that this is the first time 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:58.520 you've ever come to a church. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:01.199 Maybe you got dragged here for some reason. 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:03.219 Maybe you're on a bit of a religious quest. 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:05.759 And the text that we're about to look at, 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:09.139 it's on one hand a very, very stark and hard text. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:11.400 It really is. 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.480 In fact, the reason that I called the sermon 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:18.480 Walking in Truth in a Post-Truth World 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:23.680 is because, partially it's the last verse, 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:26.379 but it's partially just that this truth is so clear 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:31.240 and it's so against our culture 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:34.879 and it's so against the inclination of our hearts 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:40.800 that we want to keep watering it down 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.659 or nuancing it or forgetting it 00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:46.959 or going somewhere else. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:48.699 And it's even harder 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:50.259 because we live in a post-truth world 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:53.120 and this is a very hard text. 00:04:53.159 --> 00:04:55.019 So if you're a seeker 00:04:55.019 --> 00:04:56.980 or you've just come here for some reason, 00:04:57.300 --> 00:04:59.199 just bear with me as we go through this text. 00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:00.680 I mean, one of the things you can take away, 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:03.620 hopefully you'll take a lot more away than just this, 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.060 but one of the things you can do 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:07.780 is that we don't hide anything about the Christian faith. 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:08.899 We preach through the Bible. 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:11.459 We go through the fine print, so to speak, 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:13.899 and you get to hear what Jesus himself has to say. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:15.620 So let's look at the text. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.280 Turn in your Bibles to John chapter 2 00:05:18.280 --> 00:05:20.920 and we're beginning at verse 23. 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:23.639 John chapter 2, verse 23. 00:05:23.780 --> 00:05:25.360 Last week, we looked at Jesus, 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:27.740 the miracle of turning the water into wine 00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:30.720 and Jesus driving all the money changers 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:32.540 and others out of the temple 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:36.100 because he wanted pagans to be able to know 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:38.640 about the God that he was introducing. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:42.540 And here's how the text then continues on. 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:43.720 It goes like this. 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:48.020 Now, when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, 00:05:48.840 --> 00:05:50.520 many believed in his name 00:05:50.520 --> 00:05:53.860 when they saw the signs that he was doing. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:56.420 And here the word signs means miracles. 00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:59.620 It's talking about the fact that miracles mean something. 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:03.120 It's not just conjuring tricks that God has done, 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:05.459 that conjuring tricks don't mean anything. 00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:06.840 They're just a matter of impressing. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:10.879 John is trying to emphasize that if it really is a miracle, 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:12.980 it has meaning. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:15.639 And it also shows here that, 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.139 as all of the gospel writers tell us, 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:20.060 all of the biographies of Jesus said 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:22.579 that Jesus performed lots and lots and lots of miracles. 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:24.360 They just record a few of them. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:25.840 And that's what we see here. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:28.139 Jesus has actually only performed one miracle, 00:06:28.340 --> 00:06:29.620 and it wasn't even in Jerusalem. 00:06:30.280 --> 00:06:32.340 But here we see that even in Jerusalem, 00:06:32.540 --> 00:06:33.960 he performed lots of other miracles 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:36.060 that they just aren't recorded. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:37.660 So we'll read that again. 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:38.400 Verse 23. 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:41.500 Now, when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:42.900 many believed in his name 00:06:42.900 --> 00:06:45.100 when they saw the signs that he was doing. 00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:47.720 But Jesus, on his part, 00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:51.120 did not entrust himself to them 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:54.020 because he knew all people 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:57.900 and needed no one to bear witness about human beings, 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.400 for he himself knew what was in human beings. 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:03.900 Now, did you notice this? 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:06.800 This is just the mildest little bit 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.260 of non-Canadian stuff in this text. 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:12.020 In fact, what we're going to see with this text 00:07:12.019 --> 00:07:14.919 is that Jesus keeps doubling down. 00:07:15.359 --> 00:07:17.279 We think, wow, that's very un-Canadian. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:19.180 And then he doubles down. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:20.759 He makes it even more un-Canadian. 00:07:20.899 --> 00:07:22.419 And then he makes it even more un-Canadian. 00:07:22.539 --> 00:07:23.759 And then he makes it more un-Canadian. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.279 And why is this sort of an un-Canadian thing to say? 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:29.359 Well, what is the thing that we want to say about people? 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:31.399 You know, I might want to say to my kids, 00:07:31.459 --> 00:07:32.240 I believe in you. 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:33.060 You know? 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:34.799 What do I want to maybe say to my staff? 00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:35.939 I believe in you. 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:36.500 You know? 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:37.759 I believe in you. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:39.959 But what does the text here say about Jesus? 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:42.560 Jesus says about people, 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:44.060 I don't believe in you. 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:48.180 Look, that's what it says here. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:49.480 Verse 24, 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:50.839 But Jesus, on his part, 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:52.620 did not entrust himself. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:53.439 And the word, 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:55.100 we're going to talk about this a little bit later, 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.540 but the word entrust himself 00:07:57.540 --> 00:07:59.699 is another way of translating the word 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:01.259 believe or faith. 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:05.199 It's another way. 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:06.759 It's going to be very important later on 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:07.259 that we sort of, 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:09.339 it's sort of very interesting to understand 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:11.920 that part of the meaning of having faith 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:12.939 or believing in Jesus 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:15.560 is to entrust yourself to him. 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:18.399 And so when it says here in the text, 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:20.099 but Jesus, on his part, 00:08:20.159 --> 00:08:21.779 did not entrust himself. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:22.920 He did not believe. 00:08:23.219 --> 00:08:25.920 He did not have faith in the people 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:28.159 because he knew all people. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.060 And he needed no one to bear witness 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:31.880 about human beings 00:08:31.880 --> 00:08:33.560 for he himself knew what was in man. 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.220 Sounds like a cynical thing. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:37.139 As you'll see by the end of the text 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:37.980 and what you would have seen 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:39.379 if you'd been looking at the earlier weeks, 00:08:39.420 --> 00:08:40.660 if you could put up the first point, 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:41.700 that would be very great. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.340 Because Jesus knows me, 00:08:44.420 --> 00:08:45.960 he does not believe in me. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:48.019 Because he loves me, 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:50.379 he gave himself to save me. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:53.519 See, this is what stops it 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.060 just from being a cynical text. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:57.359 Because all sorts of us 00:08:57.359 --> 00:08:58.639 don't believe in people. 00:09:00.599 --> 00:09:02.359 But it's a very Canadian thing to say. 00:09:02.459 --> 00:09:04.239 It's a very power of positive thinking. 00:09:04.339 --> 00:09:04.899 Say, I believe in you, 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:05.339 I believe in you, 00:09:05.359 --> 00:09:05.659 I believe in you. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:06.479 It's sort of a shock 00:09:06.479 --> 00:09:08.279 to see that Jesus doesn't believe in us. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:09.819 He knows us, 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:11.079 and because he knows me, 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:12.279 he doesn't believe in me. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.179 But he knows me, 00:09:14.439 --> 00:09:14.919 doesn't mean, 00:09:15.099 --> 00:09:16.559 and he does something far better 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:17.559 than believing in me. 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:19.059 He knows what's in me. 00:09:19.479 --> 00:09:21.179 He knows I have idol issues. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:22.719 He knows I have sin issues. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:24.420 He knows I have darkness issues. 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:26.759 He knows I have all sorts of things 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.120 that betray people, 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.379 that betray myself, 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:30.960 that are self-centered. 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:33.379 And so rather than believing in me, 00:09:33.560 --> 00:09:35.600 he gives himself for me 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.019 and dies for me to save me. 00:09:37.680 --> 00:09:38.460 All I can say is, 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:39.279 thanks be to God, 00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:40.259 he doesn't believe in me. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:42.379 And thanks be to God, 00:09:42.420 --> 00:09:43.259 he's not a cynic. 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:48.939 Now, 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:56.240 this is, 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.399 this is just sort of a, 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:00.700 I've taken something 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:04.000 which could be 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:06.019 very un-Canadian, 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:07.100 it's still sort of a hard thing 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.340 for us to maybe grasp. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.580 And because I've sort of told you 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:11.519 the end of the text, 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:13.019 we've sort of taken some 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:14.059 of the sting out of it. 00:10:14.579 --> 00:10:15.360 And that's going to be 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:16.079 a bit of a pattern 00:10:16.079 --> 00:10:17.299 all the way through this text 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:18.720 is if you just bear with it, 00:10:19.699 --> 00:10:20.919 it's still going to be 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:21.919 very, very stark. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:23.899 But some of the sting 00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:24.819 is taken out of it. 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:27.740 But Jesus is going to 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:29.460 keep pressing into 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:30.879 this particular issue 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.699 in very, very stark ways. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:34.720 And in fact, 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:36.079 it comes up very next 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:37.580 because although 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:39.080 he's called a Pharisee, 00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:40.740 really what you see 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.600 in the very next little bit 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.320 is Jesus meets a Canadian. 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.520 Jesus meets a Canadian 00:10:48.520 --> 00:10:49.840 professor of religion. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:52.780 He meets a Canadian journalist. 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.340 He meets a Canadian politician. 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.540 You might not realize 00:10:57.540 --> 00:10:58.360 that he meets a Canadian, 00:10:58.520 --> 00:10:59.180 but just listen 00:10:59.180 --> 00:10:59.860 and you'll see. 00:11:00.420 --> 00:11:01.080 Look at what happens 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:02.340 in chapter 3, verse 1. 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:04.379 Now there was a man 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:05.200 of the Pharisees 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.120 named Nicodemus, 00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:07.080 a ruler of the Jews. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.160 George, that doesn't sound 00:11:08.160 --> 00:11:08.780 very Canadian. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:09.460 Just wait. 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:11.360 This man came to Jesus 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.639 by night and said to him, 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:15.019 Rabbi, teacher, 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:15.660 in other words, 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:16.540 we know that you are 00:11:16.540 --> 00:11:17.960 a teacher come from God 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:19.399 for no one can do 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.600 these signs that you do 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:21.680 unless God is with them. 00:11:21.800 --> 00:11:22.639 Now just pause. 00:11:23.160 --> 00:11:24.620 That is an unbelievably 00:11:24.620 --> 00:11:26.000 Canadian statement 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.320 about Jesus. 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:29.680 If you were to say 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:30.879 at the University of Ottawa, 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:31.940 Jesus is a teacher 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:32.860 come from God. 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:34.240 They go, okay, yeah? 00:11:35.520 --> 00:11:36.720 But that turns your crank. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.340 Mohammed is a teacher 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:39.700 comes from God, you know? 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.200 Krishna, you know? 00:11:42.400 --> 00:11:43.760 You would not raise 00:11:43.760 --> 00:11:44.960 a single eyebrow 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:47.260 in any editorial room 00:11:47.260 --> 00:11:49.580 or any university faculty 00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:50.740 by making a statement 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:51.900 that Jesus is a teacher 00:11:51.900 --> 00:11:52.780 come from God. 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:54.560 Now, you know, 00:11:54.760 --> 00:11:55.820 the atheists and all 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:56.280 might say, 00:11:56.280 --> 00:11:56.860 well, yeah, yeah, 00:11:56.920 --> 00:11:58.100 blah, blah, blah, woof, woof. 00:11:58.160 --> 00:11:58.500 But, you know, 00:11:58.560 --> 00:11:59.600 basically as long as 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.800 it's an innocuous statement 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:01.520 like that, 00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:04.600 that's a completely 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:05.500 fine statement 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:07.540 in any coffee shop 00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:08.040 in Canada. 00:12:08.140 --> 00:12:08.680 It doesn't matter 00:12:08.680 --> 00:12:09.720 if it's a Bridgehead 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.520 or a Tim Hortons. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.240 It doesn't matter. 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:12.960 It's just, 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:13.580 it's a very, 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.880 very Canadian statement. 00:12:16.160 --> 00:12:17.360 Nicodemus comes to Jesus 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:17.940 and says, 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:19.300 Jesus, 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:20.400 you're a teacher. 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:21.540 You're a teacher 00:12:21.540 --> 00:12:22.500 comes from God. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.520 You do mighty things 00:12:23.520 --> 00:12:24.620 that only God can do. 00:12:25.420 --> 00:12:26.520 And we'd all say that's, 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:28.540 I mean, 00:12:28.540 --> 00:12:29.360 what could you say to that? 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.220 What does Jesus say to it? 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:34.659 Jesus, 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:36.340 well, 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:37.560 Jesus goes in a very, 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:37.820 very, 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:39.039 very odd direction. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.000 Look what he says 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.279 in response to it. 00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:43.600 And it's very interesting. 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:43.840 It says, 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.000 Jesus answered him. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.480 And you might say to yourself, 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:47.000 one moment, 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:49.820 Nicodemus didn't ask a question. 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:54.620 But what Jesus is doing 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:58.180 is answering the claim. 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.620 He's answering the claim. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:06.320 He's not answering the question. 00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:08.800 He's answering or responding 00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:10.240 to the claim, 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.140 the good Canadian claim 00:13:13.140 --> 00:13:15.840 that Jesus is a teacher 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.200 come from God. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.020 and he says, 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.259 verily, 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:20.720 verily, 00:13:20.800 --> 00:13:21.259 or truly, 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:21.620 truly, 00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.800 it's a very important statement 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:23.740 in John's gospel. 00:13:24.520 --> 00:13:25.680 It can also be translated 00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:26.460 as amen, 00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:27.000 amen. 00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:28.420 It means, 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.100 pay attention 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:30.120 to what I'm about to say. 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.460 This is the solemn truth, 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.560 the whole truth, 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.879 nothing but the truth. 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.700 This is world-changing, 00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.460 absolutely important stuff 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:38.660 that I'm about to say to you. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.379 Truly, 00:13:39.540 --> 00:13:39.720 truly, 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:40.660 I say to you, 00:13:41.020 --> 00:13:41.780 unless 00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:43.600 one is born again, 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.220 he cannot see 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.200 the kingdom of God. 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:47.840 Could you put that up 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.320 on the screen, 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:48.580 please? 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.400 That's the next point. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.840 And we need to have 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:53.500 the artwork in between 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:53.900 as well, 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.160 right? 00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:56.640 But Jesus says, 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.580 truly, 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.140 truly, 00:13:58.280 --> 00:13:58.940 unless 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.520 one is born again, 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.220 he cannot 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:04.100 see the kingdom of God. 00:14:04.180 --> 00:14:04.940 Do you sort of notice 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:06.920 that's an unbelievably, 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.580 from a Canadian point of view, 00:14:09.640 --> 00:14:10.980 that's an unbelievably 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.200 angular, 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.220 absolute, 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.220 exclusive statement. 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:18.379 Now, 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.240 those of you who come 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.779 to the church 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:21.100 more than once 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.580 know that often I'll say 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:23.980 when we come to a very 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:24.779 difficult text 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.779 that if you know 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.860 the original language, 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:28.139 the Hebrew or the Greek, 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:30.259 it gives it a bit of a 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.039 different nuance 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.800 or a flavor. 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.560 And this might be 00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:34.899 the place where I would say 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.360 that if you knew 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.300 the original language, 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:37.779 it gives it a different flavor, 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.379 but actually, 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:38.899 it's, 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.039 that's a, 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.419 if you could go back 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:41.939 to the point, 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:42.919 that's a, 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.480 that's a perfectly 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.659 accurate 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:48.659 translation 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.100 of the original language. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.659 Unless 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:54.459 one is born again, 00:14:55.339 --> 00:14:56.379 he cannot 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:58.720 see the kingdom of God. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:09.000 that's 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.980 just a very, 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:11.660 very hard 00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:12.320 stain 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:13.120 to say 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.800 in Canada. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:18.700 And 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:21.779 it's hard 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.420 for us to want 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.060 to almost keep 00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:23.860 that in our mind 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.399 when we think 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.379 about loved ones 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.840 who under 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.320 no reasonable 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.519 way or expectation 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.180 would we think 00:15:30.180 --> 00:15:30.639 that they would 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.360 be born again. 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.259 Whatever that text 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:32.600 means, 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:33.200 we probably 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:33.780 wouldn't think 00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:34.399 it was them. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.980 For maybe 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.740 our parents 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.460 or our 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:40.540 brothers or sisters 00:15:40.540 --> 00:15:41.680 or our best friends 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:42.700 or our co-workers, 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.720 for people 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.940 of different religions, 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:50.139 it's 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.980 a very, 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.320 very, 00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:52.420 very stark 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:54.280 absolute 00:15:54.280 --> 00:15:55.379 statement. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.980 unless one 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:57.620 is born again, 00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.059 he cannot 00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:58.679 see the kingdom 00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.100 of God. 00:15:59.419 --> 00:15:59.620 Now, 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.000 some of you 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.340 might say, 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.539 okay, 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:00.720 well, 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:00.960 George, 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.419 that's really 00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:01.980 interesting. 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:02.399 I mean, 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.000 that's wow, 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:03.519 whoa, 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:03.740 whoa. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.399 And that's 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:05.700 Jesus, 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.039 right? 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:06.480 That's not 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.059 like these 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:07.980 weird monks 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.439 in the Middle 00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:08.740 Ages 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.299 who got 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.659 sex-starved 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.159 and 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.620 didn't eat 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:12.960 enough 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.539 and got 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:14.159 delirious 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.559 and came 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:14.879 up with 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.200 really, 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:15.480 really 00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:15.939 kooky, 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.500 crazy 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.299 doctrines 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.720 that we 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.139 still 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.120 foolishly 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.419 believe, 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:19.860 like this 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.360 is Jesus 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:20.919 speaking. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.080 But maybe 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:22.679 this is just 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.179 the beginning 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:24.240 of a conversation 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.080 and as 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.899 the conversation 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.820 goes on, 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.139 Jesus is 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.419 going to 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.019 nuance it 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.440 in different 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:29.960 ways and 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.320 bring in 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:30.779 other ways 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.220 of looking 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.580 at it. 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:31.919 He's just 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.279 trying to 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:32.680 catch our 00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.080 attention, 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.419 George, 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:33.840 the way you 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.519 often try 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:34.860 to catch 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.240 our attention. 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:35.519 Well, 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.019 let's see 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:37.500 what he 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:37.720 does. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.279 Jesus is 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:38.620 trying to 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:38.980 catch our 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.399 attention, 00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.139 but the 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:40.659 hard part 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.139 about this 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:41.639 text, 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.139 for us 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:43.820 as Canadians, 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.779 is that 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:48.159 he keeps 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.139 doubling down. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.279 Look at 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.899 verses 4 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.519 and 5. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:54.620 Jesus says 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.159 unless one 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.480 is born 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:55.699 again, 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.159 he cannot 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.559 see the 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:56.980 kingdom of 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.319 God. 00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.139 So Nicodemus 00:16:59.139 --> 00:16:59.819 in verse 4 00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.340 says to 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:00.819 Jesus, 00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:02.139 now by the 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:02.340 way, 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.059 the word 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:03.620 born again, 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.299 it's one 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.539 of these 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.339 times when 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.720 some of 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.200 your versions 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.720 might say 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.240 born from 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.660 above. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.779 And in 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.639 the Greek, 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:12.299 the original 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:12.680 language, 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.099 it can be 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:13.759 translated either 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:13.879 way. 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.500 It has a 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.139 dual meaning, 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:15.519 a double 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:15.900 meaning. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.619 And so 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.559 Nicodemus, 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.960 rather than 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.480 taking it 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.000 that means 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.519 being born 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.339 from above, 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.720 in other 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:23.880 words, 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.400 that God 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.000 somehow 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.339 gives you 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:26.980 a birth 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.299 different 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:28.980 than your 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.240 birth that 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.720 you already 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.519 had, 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.160 Nicodemus 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.640 takes it 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:33.940 in this 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.440 born a 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.339 second time 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:35.900 sense. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.140 And, 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:39.039 you know, 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.380 it's hard 00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:39.640 to know 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.519 whether Nicodemus 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.000 is just 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.539 being a 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:41.880 little bit 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.579 picky here 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:42.920 about, 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.079 Jesus, 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.579 why are you 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.000 going off 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.279 on this 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.059 weird tangent? 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.900 Listen, 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.299 what you're 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.759 saying doesn't 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.119 really make 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:48.619 any sense. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:48.900 And that's 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:49.559 what Nicodemus 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:49.900 in effect 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:50.200 says. 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:51.160 verse 4, 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.660 Nicodemus 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.059 said to 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.380 Jesus, 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:53.960 how can 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.220 a man 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.620 be born 00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:54.880 when he 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.319 is old? 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.000 Can he 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.480 enter a 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.100 second time 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:57.380 in his 00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.140 mother's 00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:58.400 womb 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.180 and be 00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.519 born? 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.240 And at 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.600 this point 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:01.860 in time, 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.340 Jesus said, 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:02.460 yeah, 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:02.759 I'm just 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.319 joshing you. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:04.799 I don't 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.100 mean it 00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:05.539 like that, 00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:05.840 you know, 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.080 good on 00:18:07.080 --> 00:18:07.680 you for 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.180 catching it. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:08.799 What does 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.420 Jesus say? 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.160 Jesus says 00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.920 in verse 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.940 5, 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:14.460 Jesus answered, 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:15.440 verily, 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.000 verily, 00:18:16.580 --> 00:18:17.180 I say 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.620 to you, 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.460 unless one 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:19.880 is born 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.400 of water 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:20.720 and the 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.140 spirit, 00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.420 he cannot 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.380 enter 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.380 the kingdom 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.640 of God. 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.100 Notice that 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:27.360 again? 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.400 The unless 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:28.700 and the 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:28.960 cannot, 00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:29.620 he repeats 00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.120 himself. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.200 He says, 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.340 unless one 00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:34.720 is born 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.160 of water 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.460 and the 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:35.700 spirit, 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.220 he cannot 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:36.640 see the 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:36.840 kingdom 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.360 of God. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.879 Now, 00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:39.139 at this 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:39.459 point in 00:18:39.459 --> 00:18:39.639 time, 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.119 what a 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:40.419 lot of 00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:40.779 us do 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.119 is say, 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.740 George, 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.059 is that 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.519 referring to 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:42.899 baptism? 00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:44.779 Is he 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.439 saying here 00:18:45.439 --> 00:18:45.779 that, 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.579 is that like 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:46.979 are the 00:18:46.979 --> 00:18:47.500 certain 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.259 denominations 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:48.799 and churches 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.159 right, 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:49.479 that you 00:18:49.479 --> 00:18:49.719 have to 00:18:49.719 --> 00:18:49.959 be 00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:50.439 baptized 00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:52.039 and 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.719 at the 00:18:53.719 --> 00:18:53.959 same 00:18:53.959 --> 00:18:54.459 time 00:18:54.459 --> 00:18:54.959 that you're 00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:55.359 baptized, 00:18:55.679 --> 00:18:56.139 you receive 00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:56.519 the Holy 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.240 Spirit and 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.579 then you 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:57.919 see the 00:18:57.919 --> 00:18:58.119 kingdom 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.659 of God? 00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.619 Or is 00:18:59.619 --> 00:18:59.919 it just 00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:00.419 referring to 00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:00.679 the fact 00:19:00.679 --> 00:19:01.459 that water 00:19:01.459 --> 00:19:01.799 is a bit 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.000 of an 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.399 analogy 00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:03.259 for birth? 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:04.379 And, 00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:04.819 and, 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.500 I mean, 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.119 just very 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:07.619 quickly, 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.559 it can't 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:10.059 be referring 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.719 to baptism 00:19:10.719 --> 00:19:11.339 for two 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:11.719 simple 00:19:11.719 --> 00:19:12.139 reasons. 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:13.219 There's more 00:19:13.219 --> 00:19:13.539 than that, 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:13.839 but there's 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.319 two simple 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.719 reasons. 00:19:15.459 --> 00:19:16.159 In one of 00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:16.259 the, 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.519 in the 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.039 synoptic 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.519 gospels, 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:17.919 there's a 00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.719 very parallel 00:19:18.719 --> 00:19:19.299 type of 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.559 phrase, 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:19.979 identical 00:19:19.979 --> 00:19:20.339 phrase, 00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:20.599 but with 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:20.939 a different 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.159 word. 00:19:21.219 --> 00:19:21.599 Rather than 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.039 water and 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.479 the Spirit, 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.319 it says 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.939 fire and 00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:24.219 the Holy 00:19:24.219 --> 00:19:24.659 Spirit. 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.119 And no 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.799 denomination 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.379 thinks you 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:27.839 should be 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.579 sprayed with 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.559 a flamethrower 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.919 so you 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:31.319 can go to 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.579 heaven. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.059 So why 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.319 do you 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.079 take water 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.359 to mean 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:34.919 baptism, 00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:35.979 but fire 00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:36.739 to not 00:19:36.739 --> 00:19:37.019 mean 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.519 fire? 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.379 It doesn't 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:38.680 mean that. 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.079 The second 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.500 thing is 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.039 Jesus in 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.359 a moment 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:40.660 is going 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:40.879 to say 00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:41.639 to Nicodemus, 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.400 listen, 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:42.799 if you've 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.460 studied the 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:43.960 Tanakh, 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.539 what we now 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:44.859 call the 00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.339 Old Testament, 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:45.700 you should 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.359 understand what 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:46.799 I'm talking 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.099 about. 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:47.960 And if 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.480 Jesus is 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.019 referring to 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.559 baptism, 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.339 which he 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.779 doesn't 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.359 make an 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:51.839 ordinance 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.740 until after 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.000 his 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.680 resurrection, 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.519 then it 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:55.799 would be 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.240 completely 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.079 unjust for 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.420 him to 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.059 complain that 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.539 Nicodemus 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:58.839 doesn't 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.319 understand. 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.440 And Jesus 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:00.900 is never 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.460 unjust and 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.819 unfair. 00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:01.899 water. 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.059 So it's 00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.259 not 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.659 referring, 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:05.939 it's 00:20:05.939 --> 00:20:06.480 referring, 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.539 it goes 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.039 back to 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.500 different 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.079 images in 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:09.659 Isaiah and 00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.299 Ezekiel, 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.579 how water 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.559 gives life 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:13.379 and water 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.740 also cleanses. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:15.839 And unless 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.319 the Holy 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.059 Spirit comes 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.480 into our 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.019 life in a 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.299 way that 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.700 gives us 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.079 life, 00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:19.779 unless the 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.200 Holy Spirit 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:20.759 comes into 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.139 us in a 00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:21.460 way that 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.039 cleanses 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:22.419 us, 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.659 and that's 00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:25.139 something that 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:25.960 God does, 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.000 unless that 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.500 happens, 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.039 we cannot 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.439 see the 00:20:28.439 --> 00:20:28.819 kingdom of 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:29.019 God. 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:29.779 But here's 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.299 the important 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.059 reason here, 00:20:31.179 --> 00:20:31.839 here's the 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.559 big thing, 00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:34.919 here's why I 00:20:34.919 --> 00:20:35.359 called the 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.439 sermon Walking 00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:36.960 in Truth in 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.519 a Post-Truth 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:37.939 Culture. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.960 You see how 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.359 the devil 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.139 plays us? 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.480 The devil 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.079 plays us. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:45.539 How does he 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.039 play us? 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.119 In the 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.879 commentary that 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:48.639 I, one of 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.200 the commentaries 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.659 that I read to 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.139 prepare for 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.000 this, this 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:52.059 just tried to 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.359 figure out 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:52.740 whether it's 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.359 baptism or 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:53.720 not, goes 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.000 on for 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.480 about ten 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:54.939 pages. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.259 And why? 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.960 Because there's 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.960 Roman Catholic, 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:00.779 Eastern Orthodox, 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:01.940 Lutheran, 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.079 Presbyterian, 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.460 Evangelical Anglican, 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.900 Baptist, all 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.579 these different 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.220 battles around 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:07.619 this, and by 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.240 the end of 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.000 it, if I 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.619 was not 00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.200 doing my 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.680 job, by 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.059 the end of 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.319 it, I'd 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:12.700 say, so 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.460 that's why 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:13.839 the Roman 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.500 Catholics and 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:14.740 Eastern 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.599 Orthodox are 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.259 wrong, and 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:16.819 that's why 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.200 the Anglo 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.839 Catholics and 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.359 the Baptists 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.200 are wrong, and 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.879 that's why 00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:20.559 we're right. 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.079 And you know 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.400 what we've 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.799 completely 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.279 forgotten? 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.420 Unless you're 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.160 born again, you 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.900 cannot see the 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.539 kingdom of God. 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:28.799 devil will 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.220 use the 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:31.180 Bible to 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.480 get us 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:31.720 way 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.859 sidetracked so 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.200 we're no 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.000 longer sitting 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.599 under the 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.180 sting of the 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.579 text. 00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.639 And so I'm 00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:43.920 not going to 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.559 talk about what 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.079 the different 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.659 views are. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.639 I want us to 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.519 see how easy 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.099 it is to get 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:50.259 sidetracked away 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.619 from this very, 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.559 very, very 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.159 stark statement 00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:56.980 of Jesus. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.259 And then, 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:04.039 if we keep 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.480 reading the 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:04.960 text, 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.940 because you 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.419 see, often 00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:07.779 what will 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.359 happen in a 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.000 sermon is the 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.460 sermon will 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.079 stop right 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.859 there after a 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.299 long, long, 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:14.859 long sidebar on 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.659 baptism, and 00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.460 we've completely 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.440 forgotten that 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:19.039 unless we are 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.639 born again, 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.639 born from 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.440 above, born 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:22.740 of the 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.420 Holy Spirit, 00:22:23.520 --> 00:22:24.180 we cannot 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:25.540 see or 00:22:25.540 --> 00:22:26.820 enter the 00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:27.400 kingdom of 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:27.740 God. 00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:29.759 But Jesus, 00:22:30.300 --> 00:22:31.080 he doesn't 00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:31.460 get us 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:31.920 sidetracked. 00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:32.460 He keeps 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.120 going deeper 00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.420 into it. 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:33.759 He keeps 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.460 doubling down. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.280 Look at what 00:22:35.280 --> 00:22:36.060 happens immediately 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:36.720 after that. 00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:37.340 Verse 5. 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:37.700 We'll read 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.360 verse 5 again. 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.060 Truly, truly, 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.759 verily, verily, 00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:40.320 I say to you, 00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:40.900 unless one is 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:41.640 born of water 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.300 and the 00:22:42.300 --> 00:22:42.960 Holy Spirit, 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.220 he cannot 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.259 enter the 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.700 kingdom of 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:45.940 God. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.140 That which is 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.860 born of the 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.080 flesh is 00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:49.720 flesh, and 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.380 that which is 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:50.980 born of the 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.800 Holy Spirit 00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:53.320 is spirit. 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:54.180 That means in 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.700 this case it 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.080 is something 00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:55.740 of the 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.060 Spirit. 00:22:57.020 --> 00:22:57.420 Do not 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.720 marvel that I 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.320 said to you, 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.300 you must be 00:23:00.300 --> 00:23:00.700 born again. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.500 Third time, 00:23:01.760 --> 00:23:02.460 you must be 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.120 born again. 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:04.860 The wind blows 00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:05.460 where it wishes 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.380 and you hear 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.140 its sound, but 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.620 you do not 00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.220 know where it 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.000 comes from or 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.680 where it goes, 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.080 so it is with 00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:12.160 everyone who is 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.680 born of the 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:12.980 Spirit. 00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:13.720 He comes back 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.500 to it again and 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.080 again and again 00:23:15.080 --> 00:23:15.360 and again. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.200 And here, by the 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.380 way, is if the 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:18.020 devil hasn't 00:23:18.020 --> 00:23:19.280 completely sidetracked 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.899 us on baptism, now 00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:21.420 with this, the 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.119 wind blows where 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.839 it is, that's 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.319 where the devil 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.220 sidetracks us 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.680 again and we 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.200 get off on this 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.059 long discussion 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.279 maybe about the 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.259 Pentecostals and 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.740 charismatics and 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:32.019 baptism and what 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.700 this symbolism 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.220 means. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.220 And before we 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.039 know it, we've 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.759 completely and 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.740 utterly forgotten 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.740 the starkness of 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.319 the text. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.759 If you could put 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.139 up the next 00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:43.700 point, that would 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.180 be great. 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.240 In fact, when 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:48.259 Jesus says that 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:48.920 that which is 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.359 born of the 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.099 flesh is flesh 00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:50.579 and that which 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.079 is born of the 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.839 Spirit is spirit, 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.220 in verse 6, what 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:55.019 he's saying is that 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.980 humans can only 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.640 produce what 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.259 humans can 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.839 produce. 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.220 I need what 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.000 only God can 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.259 do. 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:04.200 That's the word 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.000 flesh in this 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.079 particular case is 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.940 referring to human 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:08.099 beings in all of 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.799 our frailty. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.920 And the fact of 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.900 the matter is, is 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:13.480 that whether it's a 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.259 human institution 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.099 like that, lots of 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:15.700 us human beings 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.480 together, what we 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:18.200 produce will be what 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.340 humans can produce. 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.240 In a sense, a 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.160 church without the 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.840 Bible and without 00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:23.819 the gospel is no 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.460 different than a 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.080 mosque or a 00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:26.380 synagogue or the 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.880 liberal caucus or 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:29.059 the conservative 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.059 caucus or the 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.140 CBC newsroom. 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:31.880 Well, just human 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.620 beings producing 00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.340 what only human 00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:34.340 beings can produce. 00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:36.100 And everything that 00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:37.340 human beings produce 00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.480 is frail. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.319 It'll pass away. 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.100 It will die. 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.539 It has marks of 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.920 rebellion and sin in 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.060 it. 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:49.180 And what Jesus is 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:51.000 reminding Nicodemus, 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.360 and this is, by the 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.180 way, very important 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:54.920 in just a little 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.900 tiny thing, the 00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:58.320 whole social justice 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:59.800 progressive movement 00:24:59.800 --> 00:25:01.100 in the Western 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:02.980 world is a movement 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.960 that desires the 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.720 kingdom of God 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.480 without God. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.160 And thinks it 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.400 knows how the 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.180 kingdom of God 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:12.039 without God will 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.759 come upon us. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.519 And this text is 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.000 saying, you know 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.279 what? 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.400 What is human will 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.200 only produce what 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.660 is human. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.059 Human beings will 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.720 never produce a 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.420 kingdom of God 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.119 without God. 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:27.079 We need God to do 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:28.480 what only God can do 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.680 because human beings 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:31.079 will only produce 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.400 that which is weak 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:32.960 and frail. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.019 people. 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.799 Let's continue on 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.500 in verse 9. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.840 Sorry, maybe I've 00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.720 already... 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.400 So now Nicodemus 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:48.900 comes to the 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:52.100 point where he 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:53.259 now is asking a 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.100 very, very honest 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:54.660 question. 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.660 He's taken 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.519 back by what 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.400 Jesus has said 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:59.279 and he, in 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.000 verse 9, says 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.840 to him, 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.939 how can these 00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:02.559 things be? 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.119 And Jesus 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.799 answered him, 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.799 are you the 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.659 teacher of Israel 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:07.599 and yet you do 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.339 not understand 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.059 these things? 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.699 Verily, verily, I 00:26:10.699 --> 00:26:11.419 say to you, we 00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.179 speak of what we 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.799 know and bear 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.519 witness to what 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.259 we have seen, 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.539 but you do not 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.159 receive our 00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.659 testimony. 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:17.720 If I have told 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.359 you earthly 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.039 things and you 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.679 do not believe, 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.679 how can you 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.399 believe if I 00:26:21.399 --> 00:26:22.579 tell you heavenly 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.079 things? 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.119 Just pause. 00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:24.659 What he means 00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.359 here by earthly 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.079 is things that 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.759 have happened on 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.379 earth, even if 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.000 they're spiritual 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.599 things. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:30.599 He's really 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.179 referring to the 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:31.579 things that he's 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.359 already referred 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:32.619 to. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.759 Now, heavenly 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.639 things, he's 00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.219 going to explain 00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:35.719 that right in a 00:26:35.719 --> 00:26:35.919 moment. 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.399 No one has 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:38.240 ascended into 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.599 heaven except he 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.240 who descended 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.959 from heaven, the 00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:43.599 Son of Man. 00:26:44.719 --> 00:26:45.299 If you could put 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.699 up the next 00:26:45.699 --> 00:26:46.339 point, that would 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:46.799 be great. 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.439 What Jesus is 00:26:48.439 --> 00:26:48.959 saying here, 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.799 Jesus says that 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.759 he is not a 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.240 teacher come from 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.679 God. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.919 He is God come 00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:57.959 to teach and 00:26:57.959 --> 00:26:58.359 save. 00:26:58.599 --> 00:27:01.179 Remember I 00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:01.539 said he's 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.939 going to keep 00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:02.679 doubling down? 00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:03.799 The typical 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.659 Canadian thing 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.059 will be to 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.799 pay a compliment 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.579 to Jesus because 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.859 Canadians, we 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.419 like to try to 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:11.019 get along together 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.779 with each other. 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.959 A typical 00:27:13.959 --> 00:27:14.679 Canadian thing 00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:15.000 would say, 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.259 Mohammed is a 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.399 teacher come 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:17.779 from God, 00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.539 Jesus is a 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.079 teacher come 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.679 from God, 00:27:20.199 --> 00:27:20.839 your yoga 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.299 instructor, 00:27:21.459 --> 00:27:22.039 teacher come 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.599 from God, 00:27:22.719 --> 00:27:23.419 or however you 00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.000 want to put it, 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.500 but we want to 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.139 try to respect 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.500 it. 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.119 And Nicodemus 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.879 begins this 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:28.820 whole conversation 00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:30.260 with his 00:27:30.260 --> 00:27:30.700 Canadian 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.760 compliment to 00:27:31.760 --> 00:27:32.900 Jesus, and 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.540 by this point 00:27:33.540 --> 00:27:34.180 in time, after 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.780 Jesus is 00:27:34.780 --> 00:27:35.600 completely and 00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:38.220 utterly undermining 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.840 his Canadian 00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:40.300 categories, he 00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:40.700 even goes 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.560 further, and 00:27:41.560 --> 00:27:42.960 that's the 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.660 point of him 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.080 saying, 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:47.300 verse 12, 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.060 verse 13, 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:48.760 no one has 00:27:48.760 --> 00:27:49.500 ascended into 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.820 heaven. 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:51.960 In other 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.299 words, no 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:53.679 human being 00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:54.159 has been able 00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:54.679 to go right 00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:55.119 up into the 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:55.839 very councils 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.639 of God and 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.740 grasp God by 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:59.019 the unaided 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.939 exercise of 00:27:59.939 --> 00:28:00.419 their human 00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:01.000 mind and 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.399 their human 00:28:01.399 --> 00:28:01.980 power, no 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.220 one. 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:05.119 But he, 00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:05.899 Jesus, is 00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.399 one who is 00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.200 descended from 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.460 heaven. 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.319 So what we 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:09.779 have, 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.419 Nicodemus, 00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:12.439 here's this 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.059 big claim, 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:15.240 if you went 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.700 back in a 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.460 time machine, 00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:18.259 John, in 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.720 many, many 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.220 ways throughout 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.559 the whole 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.119 gospel is 00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:20.680 claiming that 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.359 he's just 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:21.879 telling you 00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:22.460 what actually 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.900 happened, as 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.460 if he's in a 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.200 court of law 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.940 under oath. 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.160 And you 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:27.619 could go and 00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.379 you would see 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.779 Nicodemus and 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.759 Jesus talking at 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.359 night, and 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:33.279 Jesus, without a 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.099 smile, without a 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.740 smirk, without 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.319 arrogance, he 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:38.500 says, I am not a 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.859 teacher from God, 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.519 I am God, come to 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.319 teach and save. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:51.539 This is a 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:53.940 pretty preposterous 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:55.059 claim. 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.619 If you could 00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:56.940 put up the 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.779 next point, last 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.500 week we looked 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.720 at Jesus 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.920 predicting his 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.720 resurrection. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:04.900 In a few 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.359 moments we're 00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:05.660 going to see 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.519 Jesus predicting 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.539 his crucifixion. 00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.900 But here's the 00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.460 big claim, I'm 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:09.779 not going to 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.319 get into much 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.519 of an 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.460 apologetic around 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.500 it, but this 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:12.960 is what the 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.619 whole Christian 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.420 faith stands 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.279 and falls on in 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.940 terms of being a 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.539 reasonable thing. 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.119 Why should we 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:17.839 take any of this 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.319 seriously? 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.519 I mean, quite 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.199 literally, you 00:29:20.199 --> 00:29:20.839 could go down to 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.519 the Shepherds of 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.119 Good Hope, you 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.679 could go down to 00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.279 the Union Mission 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.699 and you would 00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:24.559 meet all sorts of 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.159 people who would 00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:26.319 think they are 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.000 somebody like 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.019 Jesus or God. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.579 I would bet 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.039 there's at least 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.059 a thousand people 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:33.619 in Ottawa who 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.279 think that they're 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:34.679 God. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.779 And I don't mean 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.079 any type of, you 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.579 know, just the way 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.939 your boss, she 00:29:39.939 --> 00:29:40.699 might think she's 00:29:40.699 --> 00:29:41.399 God or he might 00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.299 think he's God or 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:42.799 acts like that. 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.659 No, I mean, they 00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:44.220 actually probably 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:44.679 would say to you 00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:45.279 with a completely 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:47.159 serious face, you 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.100 should worship me, I'm 00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:48.340 God. 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.920 I mean, there's 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:50.120 probably all sorts of 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:50.600 people in Ottawa. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.000 But if the 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.920 resurrection of Jesus 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:55.060 happened, then who he 00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:56.440 is and what he says is 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.140 vindicated. 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.300 If he was not 00:29:59.300 --> 00:30:00.820 resurrected, what he 00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:01.600 says is garbage. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:06.539 Just as if you went 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.359 down to the Royal 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:08.399 Ottawa or the 00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:09.240 psychiatric ward of 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.240 the civic or the 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.240 Union Mission or the 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.879 Salvation Army or the 00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.519 Shepherds of Good 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.619 Hope and somebody 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:16.019 said, they're God, 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.839 you would know it's 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.319 garbage. 00:30:19.699 --> 00:30:20.919 Jesus keeps doubling 00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:21.359 down. 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:25.859 Now, in the 10 or 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.679 11 minutes I have 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:28.480 left, Jesus starts to 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:30.919 unpack this in both 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.880 very hopeful and 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.300 very, very 00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:33.180 startling ways. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.880 He's going to talk 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.580 a little bit about 00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:36.300 how it is that he 00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:37.640 can make us born 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.000 again. 00:30:39.560 --> 00:30:40.140 If you could put up 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:40.880 the next image, yeah, 00:30:41.320 --> 00:30:41.900 that's a pretty 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.660 gruesome one, eh? 00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:44.440 Jesus is now going to 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.759 talk to Nicodemus about 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.460 a story in the Old 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.279 Testament that's 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.440 knack in Numbers 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.320 chapter 21. 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.620 Hear what he says. 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.720 It's in verse 15. 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.299 Actually, we'll do 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:55.680 verse 14, 15, and 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.120 16. 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:58.259 And as Moses lifted 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.240 up the serpent in the 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.340 wilderness, so must the 00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:01.320 Son of Man be lifted 00:31:01.320 --> 00:31:02.600 up, that whoever 00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:04.559 believes in him may 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.480 have eternal life. 00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:07.220 For God so loved the 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.220 world that he gave his 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:10.279 one and only Son, that 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.500 whoever believes in him 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:13.180 should not perish, but 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:14.080 have eternal life. 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:17.240 And he's making a 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.619 reference to a story 00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:20.099 when Israel is wandering 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:22.159 in the wilderness, and 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:24.480 they've had a time of 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:26.359 particular complaint 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.699 against God, rebellion 00:31:27.699 --> 00:31:31.099 against God, just 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:34.339 calling God names. 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.939 And part of the 00:31:36.939 --> 00:31:37.960 judgment is that there 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:39.279 becomes these snakes that 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.299 come, and they're 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:42.919 poisonous snakes, maybe 00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:43.599 adders. 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:45.379 And as they bite 00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:47.379 people, they get sick 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.980 and they die. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.839 And they call out to 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.179 God for mercy that God 00:31:51.179 --> 00:31:51.899 would deliver them. 00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:53.740 And so God says to 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.079 Moses, in the center of 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:56.639 the camp, put up a big 00:31:56.639 --> 00:31:57.059 pole. 00:31:57.939 --> 00:32:00.980 And on the pole, put an 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.399 image, make an image of 00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:04.179 the snakes that are 00:32:04.179 --> 00:32:05.419 biting you and killing 00:32:05.419 --> 00:32:05.720 you. 00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:09.599 And anybody who looks at 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:11.639 the serpent on the top 00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:12.259 of the pole, 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:18.279 people, if you look, you 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:19.160 won't die, you'll be 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.460 healed. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.700 Story in the book of 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.759 Numbers, chapter 21. 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:26.339 And that's what Jesus 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:30.740 says about himself. 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:33.980 And it's a very, very 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:35.960 powerful story if you think 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.779 about it for a second. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:42.059 If the person who's bit by 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:43.359 the snake looks to Moses, 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.779 they will die. 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.579 They look to their 00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:48.700 parents, they will die. 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.319 They look to the 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:52.819 tabernacle, they will die. 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:57.180 If they look to Joshua, they 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.680 will die. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:01.340 If they look at what God 00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:03.120 has said, the serpent on the 00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:04.340 pole, they will live. 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.600 How is this very relevant 00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:07.120 for us? 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.779 If you look to the church, 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.920 you will die. 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.500 If you look to the bishop, 00:33:13.560 --> 00:33:14.500 you will die. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:17.539 If you look to a ritual like 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:19.259 communion or baptism, just as 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:21.220 rituals, you will die. 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:24.019 If you look to praise music, 00:33:24.600 --> 00:33:26.120 if you look to Trudeau, if 00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:27.200 you look to your prof, you 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.460 look to your mom, you look 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:30.380 to your dad, you will die. 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:33.500 If you look to Jesus, you 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:33.940 will live. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:40.620 If you look to Jesus, you 00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.039 will live. 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.640 See, Jesus just keeps 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.539 doubling it down. 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:51.119 If you could put up the 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:51.759 next point. 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.599 In a very, very simple 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:58.119 way, what is this looking 00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:58.700 to Jesus? 00:33:58.899 --> 00:34:00.019 What is this believing? 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:01.119 You go back and you read 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:02.019 through this whole text, you 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:03.180 will see time and time and 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:04.180 time throughout John's 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.159 gospel in this text, it 00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:06.920 keeps telling you believing 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.460 in Jesus. 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:08.519 It doesn't mean having an 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.599 idea about Jesus. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.420 Demons have ideas about 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.300 Jesus that are more 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.420 accurate than yours and 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.860 mine, but they are still 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.259 demons. 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:17.300 In a sense, it is a 00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:19.180 believing into Jesus. 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.539 That's the actual 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:22.460 original language in the 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.420 original language. 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:25.660 It's entrusting myself 00:34:25.660 --> 00:34:27.019 wholly to him. 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:30.920 It's believing that because 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.960 of his death and 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.860 resurrection upon the 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:34.019 cross, he has vindicated 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:35.080 that what he says is the 00:34:35.080 --> 00:34:35.440 truth. 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:38.100 And that if I look to 00:34:38.100 --> 00:34:42.220 him, believing what he 00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:44.720 says, if I look to him 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:49.059 and entrust myself to him, if 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.599 I, in a sense, am just 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:52.799 entrusting myself into him, 00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:56.399 believing into him, that's 00:34:56.399 --> 00:34:58.919 all I do, and he does all 00:34:58.919 --> 00:34:59.619 the rest. 00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:01.699 In fact, if you could put up 00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:05.379 the next point, please. 00:35:05.879 --> 00:35:08.279 I entrust myself to Jesus and 00:35:08.279 --> 00:35:10.439 what he accomplished for me, 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:15.260 and then, that as we'll see 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:16.820 in just this, which has 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:17.760 already gone on, and in the 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:19.019 next few verses, in the next 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:20.280 few minutes, what happens? 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:22.119 What does Jesus say happen to 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.400 us? 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:24.420 Like the image of the 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:26.260 looking at the serpent is 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:27.800 it's a very powerful image 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:29.500 that what happens is that 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:31.300 something like a cross in the 00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:33.820 very center of the camp, that 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:35.900 which, in a sense, is the 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:38.740 sin, and is the punishment of 00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:41.300 the sin, and represents the 00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:43.320 sin, and by being a serpent, 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.440 it even has a bit of a 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:46.579 hearkening back to Genesis 3 00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:49.619 and the rebellion against God. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:51.559 It's sin, it's the punishment 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:53.280 of sin, and it's put upon the 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.880 on a pole. 00:35:56.579 --> 00:36:00.460 And Jesus will bear the penalty 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:02.420 for my sins upon a cross. 00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:05.800 And so I entrust myself to 00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:07.300 Jesus, that's all I do, and 00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:08.639 what do you accomplish for me? 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:11.980 I don't say, by the way, I've 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:13.240 been a missionary, I've been a 00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:14.700 pastor, I've been a good dad, 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:17.000 I'm really good looking, you 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:18.260 know, I have a low body fat 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.639 count, I have a big bank 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:23.579 balance, I'm really cute, I'm 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:25.220 funny, like it's nothing like 00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:25.460 that. 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:27.000 You just entrust yourself to 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.559 Jesus, and what do you 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.400 accomplish for me? 00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.840 And this text says, you know 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.420 what happens? 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:33.320 What is it that God does for 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.559 us in the person of his Son? 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.880 The penalty for all my sin is 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.240 paid. 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:39.599 What happens when I put my 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.280 trust in Jesus? 00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.920 I am born from above. 00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:43.460 I am born of the Holy Spirit. 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.740 I am born from God. 00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:46.340 What happens when I entrust 00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:47.159 myself to Jesus? 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:50.300 I receive that which only God 00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:53.420 can give, because my children 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:55.579 will die, my grandchildren will 00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:57.320 die, my great-grandchildren 00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:58.059 will die. 00:36:58.180 --> 00:36:59.659 I cannot give them eternal 00:36:59.659 --> 00:36:59.920 life. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:02.059 Only God can give me eternal 00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:02.360 life. 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:04.159 And when I entrust myself to 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:05.960 Jesus, I receive eternal life. 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:10.559 And in John 3, 16, when it 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:12.960 talks about, for God so loved the 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.659 world that he gave his one and 00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:16.860 only Son to the end, that whoever 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:18.900 believes in him will not perish, 00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:21.820 but have eternal life, I begin to 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:24.659 know the uncreated, eternal, 00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:27.299 unfailing love of God. 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:31.960 Because that's the love of God. 00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:33.259 It is uncreated. 00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:36.279 It is eternal. 00:37:37.399 --> 00:37:39.799 It is unfailing. 00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:44.319 Jesus doesn't believe in me, 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:46.960 but this is what he gives me. 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.740 Let's finish the text. 00:37:58.740 --> 00:38:00.039 Verse 16 again. 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.700 For God so loved the world that he 00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:04.860 gave his one and only Son. 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.400 By the way, when it says, for God so 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.760 loved the world, what it's saying 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:09.780 here, it has a double meaning. 00:38:10.580 --> 00:38:12.580 What it's meaning is, if you just 00:38:12.580 --> 00:38:13.820 think about this for a second, 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:16.240 this is how much God loves you. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:18.960 God loves you so much that in he 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:21.120 and the person of his Son comes 00:38:21.120 --> 00:38:24.260 down from heaven to die like a 00:38:24.260 --> 00:38:27.240 serpent on the cross for you. 00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:31.220 That is how much God loves you. 00:38:32.220 --> 00:38:36.640 His love is beyond the wildest 00:38:36.640 --> 00:38:39.600 imagination of the greatest 00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:40.480 narcissist. 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:46.239 And at the same time, when we see 00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:47.799 Jesus dying on the cross, we can 00:38:47.799 --> 00:38:50.960 see this is, this we see now, God's 00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:52.599 love for human beings. 00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:54.920 Just, you know, as an aside, you 00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:56.940 know, I'm not going to tell you a 00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.739 spoiler alert. 00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:59.179 Just, it's not going to be a 00:38:59.179 --> 00:39:00.719 spoiler alert, but if you've ever 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:03.860 watched one of the best series on 00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:07.380 war, like a movie, it's the Band of 00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:07.759 Brothers. 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:08.980 Those of you who have seen it, you'll 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:10.880 all say that's a spectacular series. 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:12.360 In one of the last episodes, it's 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.560 called The Final Patrol. 00:39:14.700 --> 00:39:16.380 And it's so, it's so interesting 00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:18.520 regardless to this, because what in 00:39:18.520 --> 00:39:20.460 what in the world is the normal way 00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:22.080 that things happen in the world? 00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:26.000 Like, should McGinty have been going 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:27.260 to jail or Livingston? 00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:30.420 Those of you who follow politics in 00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:30.800 Ontario. 00:39:32.140 --> 00:39:34.360 But the powerful people don't die, the 00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:35.280 little people die. 00:39:36.120 --> 00:39:37.780 The powerful people send the little 00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.640 people to die. 00:39:39.240 --> 00:39:40.480 The Band of Brothers, the Final 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:42.520 Patrol, the World War II is almost 00:39:42.520 --> 00:39:44.880 over, but the bigwigs send the lowly 00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:47.640 grunts out on a patrol that could get 00:39:47.640 --> 00:39:48.800 them killed and don't want to go. 00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.860 I'm not going to say anything else. 00:39:50.080 --> 00:39:50.920 Watch the series. 00:39:51.140 --> 00:39:51.960 It's a great episode. 00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:53.900 But that's the way of the world. 00:39:54.460 --> 00:39:55.519 But what happens here? 00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:57.740 God himself dies, not the little 00:39:57.740 --> 00:39:59.639 people, but God dies for the little 00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:03.900 people because he loves you and loves 00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:04.260 me. 00:40:06.360 --> 00:40:07.539 Verse 16 again. 00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:09.220 For God so loved the world that he 00:40:09.220 --> 00:40:11.059 gave his one and only son that whoever 00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:13.740 believes in him should not perish but 00:40:13.740 --> 00:40:14.820 have eternal life. 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:18.599 For God did not send his son into the 00:40:18.599 --> 00:40:20.240 world to condemn the world. 00:40:20.239 --> 00:40:23.000 And the word condemn here, it's not 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:24.919 meant the way condemn is used normally 00:40:24.919 --> 00:40:25.659 in English. 00:40:26.419 --> 00:40:28.419 Condemn, I'm sorry, I know it's going 00:40:28.419 --> 00:40:30.079 to touch on some things, but you know 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:32.279 with his whole social media campaign 00:40:32.279 --> 00:40:36.719 of Twitter and condemning people and 00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:38.239 social media, it's very powerful. 00:40:38.359 --> 00:40:40.079 It just means that we put people down, 00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:41.379 we accuse them of things. 00:40:41.959 --> 00:40:44.079 Condemn here, it's a language of the 00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:44.719 law courts. 00:40:44.859 --> 00:40:47.219 It's a language of what happens after 00:40:47.219 --> 00:40:48.459 there's been a fair trial. 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:49.840 And all of the evidence has been 00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:52.220 looked at and the judge declares you 00:40:52.220 --> 00:40:52.720 guilty. 00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:55.139 That's the language. 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:57.679 It's not the emotional name calling 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.119 language. 00:40:58.300 --> 00:41:00.019 It's a language from the law court. 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:01.920 Talk to some of the lawyers who are 00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.639 present here. 00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:04.800 And even in perfect Canadian justice, 00:41:04.940 --> 00:41:06.099 but the trial has been through. 00:41:06.220 --> 00:41:07.420 All of the evidence has been 00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:07.900 presented. 00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:09.460 All of the evidence is weighed. 00:41:09.820 --> 00:41:11.440 And at the end of it, the judge says 00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:12.619 guilty or not guilty. 00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:14.400 And that's the language condemned. 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:15.500 Read it again. 00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.340 Verse 17. 00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:16.380 Verse 17. 00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:19.239 For God did not send his son into the 00:41:19.239 --> 00:41:23.119 world to condemn the world, but in order 00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:25.800 that the world might be saved through him. 00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:32.739 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, is 00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.559 declared innocent. 00:41:35.139 --> 00:41:38.599 But whoever does not believe is condemned 00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:43.019 already because he has not believed in the name of 00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:44.219 the only son of God. 00:41:45.019 --> 00:41:46.519 And this is the judgment. 00:41:47.380 --> 00:41:49.119 The light has come into the world. 00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:52.900 And people love the darkness rather than the light 00:41:52.900 --> 00:41:55.539 because their works were evil. 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:59.639 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light 00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:03.900 and does not come to the light, lest his works should be 00:42:03.900 --> 00:42:04.480 exposed. 00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:07.000 Could you put up the next point, please? 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:15.719 In your natural state, in my natural state, you hate the 00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:16.940 light and love the darkness. 00:42:20.940 --> 00:42:25.460 I mean, if you don't think that's true, just try to actually 00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:28.500 have a completely honest apology. 00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:32.920 You've done something wrong. 00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:41.139 And how hard is it for you or me to actually give a full, honest, 00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:47.500 unvarnished apology with no insinuation that the other person 00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:53.300 contributed to it, no excuse, no extenuating circumstance. 00:42:53.300 --> 00:43:04.960 And if you're honest, it's something we rarely do perfectly, maybe never do perfectly. 00:43:05.120 --> 00:43:11.519 And even if we manage to get the words out perfectly, many of us inside of 00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:16.640 ourselves are hoping that the other person will acknowledge some responsibility 00:43:16.640 --> 00:43:22.480 because at the deepest level of our heart, we haven't fully come to the light. 00:43:23.300 --> 00:43:29.920 And so this text is saying in your natural state, you hate the light and love the darkness. 00:43:30.120 --> 00:43:35.060 So God gives you what you want and what you deserve. 00:43:37.900 --> 00:43:38.800 Endless darkness. 00:43:40.560 --> 00:43:41.820 You have hated the light. 00:43:42.300 --> 00:43:43.740 You don't want the light in your life. 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:47.180 When you die, you will go where there is no light. 00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:51.759 You have loved darkness and said darkness is your friend. 00:43:52.899 --> 00:43:56.639 And when you die, God says, I will send you to outer darkness. 00:44:03.319 --> 00:44:04.639 Can you put up the next point? 00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:14.699 This text as well is saying, that's the thing here about the light coming into the world. 00:44:15.299 --> 00:44:17.659 And it's a wonderful phrase from John. 00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:24.599 It refers to both conscience, the fact of a created order, of a moral order, 00:44:25.059 --> 00:44:30.239 of our different ways of knowing about God, all the different pointers that exist from God. 00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:32.379 It's what Paul talks about in the book of Romans. 00:44:33.219 --> 00:44:36.719 No one will have a valid excuse before God for rejecting him. 00:44:37.699 --> 00:44:41.419 No one will be able to say that there was not enough light from God 00:44:41.419 --> 00:44:44.500 or that he did not love us enough. 00:44:48.439 --> 00:44:50.679 If you could put up the final point, that would be great. 00:44:50.859 --> 00:44:51.899 If you could all stand. 00:44:51.900 --> 00:44:59.720 This is maybe one of the greatest verses in the Bible. 00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:02.559 It's Jesus speaking to you and me. 00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:10.800 What's just been said to us today is very, very, very, very, very, very stark. 00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:18.060 And it is really, truly telling us that apart from Christ, 00:45:18.840 --> 00:45:22.700 we are doomed to perish, 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:28.240 to spend an eternity in endless darkness. 00:45:29.680 --> 00:45:32.240 But this is not God's heart for you and me. 00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.980 His heart for you and me 00:45:34.980 --> 00:45:37.660 is that we would humble ourselves 00:45:37.659 --> 00:45:40.779 and entrust ourselves to Jesus. 00:45:43.719 --> 00:45:45.879 For God so loved the world 00:45:45.879 --> 00:45:49.000 that he gave his one and only Son 00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:54.019 that whoever believes in him should not perish 00:45:54.019 --> 00:45:56.659 but have eternal life. 00:45:57.440 --> 00:45:59.019 Friends, if you are here 00:45:59.019 --> 00:46:01.799 and you have not yet entrusted yourself to Jesus, 00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:04.339 there is no better time than right now, today, 00:46:04.579 --> 00:46:06.000 to entrust yourself to Jesus. 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:13.739 Jesus is like, you know, 00:46:13.820 --> 00:46:15.800 if there was a perfect cure for cancer 00:46:15.800 --> 00:46:17.400 that was just discovered 00:46:17.400 --> 00:46:19.940 and a doctor comes and gives you 00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:22.139 and he says, I have very terrible news, 00:46:22.320 --> 00:46:23.280 you have cancer. 00:46:26.760 --> 00:46:29.380 In a sense, when he tells you that you have cancer, 00:46:29.579 --> 00:46:32.320 you are closer to health than before he told you that 00:46:32.320 --> 00:46:33.760 because before he told you that, 00:46:33.820 --> 00:46:35.400 you wouldn't have gone seeking a cure. 00:46:35.400 --> 00:46:41.440 And Jesus tells us how great is our danger and our doom. 00:46:41.960 --> 00:46:44.200 But he only does it in the context 00:46:44.200 --> 00:46:49.639 of how great God's salvation is 00:46:49.639 --> 00:46:52.900 for even the best and even the worst. 00:46:54.019 --> 00:46:55.800 There is no time better than now 00:46:55.800 --> 00:46:57.780 to entrust yourself to Jesus. 00:46:57.780 --> 00:47:00.860 And for those of us who have done that before, 00:47:00.940 --> 00:47:02.840 we don't have to keep entrusting ourselves to Jesus, 00:47:03.040 --> 00:47:06.120 but this is why the mission statement of this church 00:47:06.120 --> 00:47:09.160 is that God whose Holy Spirit will move in our lives 00:47:09.160 --> 00:47:10.820 so that we are disciples of Jesus, 00:47:11.100 --> 00:47:13.440 gripped by the gospel. 00:47:14.920 --> 00:47:16.960 So we are freed up to live for his glory 00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:21.119 and to pray and to share to the end 00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:23.179 that our loved ones and friends will also come 00:47:23.179 --> 00:47:24.920 to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. 00:47:25.380 --> 00:47:26.659 Let's bow our heads in prayer. 00:47:27.460 --> 00:47:27.840 Father, 00:47:28.320 --> 00:47:31.740 we thank you, Father, 00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:35.280 that these really hard words are said to us 00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:38.139 by the one who died for us, 00:47:38.380 --> 00:47:41.500 the one who came from heaven to live amongst us, 00:47:41.500 --> 00:47:42.619 to die for us, 00:47:43.059 --> 00:47:43.639 that, Father, 00:47:43.760 --> 00:47:45.860 he is sharing his heart 00:47:45.860 --> 00:47:47.400 for everyone who is here 00:47:47.400 --> 00:47:49.019 and everyone that we meet, 00:47:49.420 --> 00:47:51.980 that he is not saying this 00:47:51.980 --> 00:47:54.659 to merely frighten us or depress us, 00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:55.699 but, Father, 00:47:55.860 --> 00:47:57.059 that he is saying this 00:47:57.059 --> 00:47:58.599 to drive us to our knees, 00:47:58.719 --> 00:48:01.579 to drive us to throw our arms out wide 00:48:01.579 --> 00:48:02.980 and call out upon you 00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:04.840 to entrust ourselves to you, 00:48:05.239 --> 00:48:06.940 to entrust ourselves to Jesus. 00:48:07.159 --> 00:48:07.440 Father, 00:48:07.800 --> 00:48:08.960 may your Holy Spirit 00:48:08.960 --> 00:48:10.920 move in our hearts and lives 00:48:10.920 --> 00:48:12.760 that we will be disciples of Jesus 00:48:12.760 --> 00:48:14.240 who are gripped by the gospel, 00:48:14.420 --> 00:48:15.780 learning to live for your glory. 00:48:16.860 --> 00:48:17.420 And, Father, 00:48:17.619 --> 00:48:19.440 give us a heart for the lost 00:48:19.440 --> 00:48:21.860 and a boldness 00:48:21.860 --> 00:48:23.700 to bear witness to Jesus 00:48:23.700 --> 00:48:25.619 here in Ottawa 00:48:25.619 --> 00:48:26.940 and to the ends of the earth. 00:48:27.220 --> 00:48:28.780 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, 00:48:28.920 --> 00:48:29.980 your Son and our Savior. 00:48:30.599 --> 00:48:30.960 Amen.