WEBVTT

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 Please remain standing for the reading of God's Word.

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 We're preaching through the Gospel of John, verse by verse.

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 And today we continue in John chapter 1, beginning at verse 14.

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 It's John 1, 14 through 37.

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 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

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 and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son,

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 from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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 John bore witness about Him and cried,

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 This was He of whom I said,

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 He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.

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 For from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

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 For the law was given through Moses,

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 grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 The only God who is at the Father's side,

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 He has made Him known.

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 Verse 19.

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 And this is the testimony of John,

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 when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask Him,

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 Who are you?

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 He confessed and did not deny, but confessed,

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 I am not the Christ.

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 And they asked Him,

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 What then, are you Elijah?

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 He said, I am not.

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 Are you the prophet?

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 And He answered, No.

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 So they said to Him,

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 Who are you?

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 We need to give an answer to those who sent us.

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 What do you say about yourself?

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 He said,

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 I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

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 Make straight the way of the Lord,

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 As the prophet Isaiah said.

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 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

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 They asked Him,

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 Then why are you baptizing,

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 If you are neither the Christ,

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 Nor Elijah, nor the prophet?

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 John answered them,

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 I baptize with water,

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 But among you stands one you do not know,

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 Even he who comes after me,

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 The strap of whose sandal

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 I am not worthy to untie.

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 These things took place in Bethany,

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 Across the Jordan,

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 Where John was baptizing.

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 Verse 29,

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 The next day,

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 He saw Jesus coming toward him and said,

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 Behold the Lamb of God,

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 Who takes away the sin of the world.

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 This is He of whom I said,

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 After me comes a man who ranks before me,

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 Because he was before me.

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 I myself did not know Him,

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 But for this purpose I came baptizing with water,

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 That He might be revealed to Israel.

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 And John bore witness,

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 I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove,

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 And it remained on Him.

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 I myself did not know Him,

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 But He who sent me to baptize with water said to me,

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 He on whom you see my Spirit descend and remain,

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 This is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

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 And I have seen and have borne witness

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 That this is the Son of God.

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 Verse 35,

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 The next day again,

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 John was standing with two of his disciples,

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 And he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said,

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 Behold the Lamb of God.

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 The two disciples heard him say this,

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 And they followed Jesus.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, thank you for how you have revealed yourself to us,

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 The Son of God,

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 The light of life.

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 Lord, we are blind by nature.

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 Cause us today to lift our gaze,

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 To behold Jesus in His glory,

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 Full of grace and truth.

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 And help us to see Him today, Lord,

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 As the Lamb of God,

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 Who takes away our sin.

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 Father, we need Your grace upon grace.

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 And we ask that You will dispense Your grace,

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 Even now,

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 Through the preaching of Your Word.

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 So that You will be glorified among this dear congregation.

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 And that the name of Jesus will be exalted here and to all the nations.

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 We rely on Your help with every breath,

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 O Spirit of God.

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 We pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 The last prophet's crime.

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 I want to talk to you today about this last Old Covenant prophet,

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 John the Baptizer,

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 And what he was crying out.

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 Now, the first 18 verses of John chapter 1,

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 Including last week,

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 Verses 1 through 18,

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 It's what is considered the prologue.

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 It's setting up the themes of the entire gospel of John.

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 And we read last week,

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 Verses 6 and 7.

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 Take a look there.

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 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

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 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light

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 That all might believe through him.

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 And now skip down to verse 15.

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 We're told,

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 John bore witness about him and cried out,

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 This is he of whom I said,

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 He comes after me,

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 But he ranks before me because he was before me.

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 And then the glorious promise,

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 From his fullness,

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 The fullness of Jesus Christ,

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 We have received grace upon grace.

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 How could that be?

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 Look at verse 17.

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 Because God is Spirit,

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 And no one has seen God,

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 Except the only God.

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 Jesus Christ himself is God.

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 Who is at the Father's side,

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 The Father's bosom,

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 The Father's intimate counsel,

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 At his right hand.

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 And he has come to earth to make him known.

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 So the last prophet,

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 John the Baptist,

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 As we read here,

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 He bore witness that Jesus is God,

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 Sent to reveal the Father.

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 And what does he reveal about the Father?

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 That God is full of grace and truth,

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 Shown to you in Jesus.

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 And that from the fullness of Christ,

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 As the Lamb of God,

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 We receive grace upon grace.

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 That's why John the Baptist cried out,

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 Behold,

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 Look at verse 29,

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 Behold the Lamb of God,

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 Who takes away the sin of the world.

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 And look again at verse 35,

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 John was standing with two disciples,

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 And Jesus walked by,

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 And it just bubbled out of him,

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 Couldn't hold it in his lips,

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 When he saw the Lord,

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 He said,

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 Behold,

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 The Lamb of God.

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 John the Baptist was smitten,

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 With Jesus Christ.

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 And I believe that,

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 The Lamb of God,

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 Is the unique insight,

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 The unique and special contribution,

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 Of the gospel of John,

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 The witness of John the baptizer.

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 And what John the Baptist cried out,

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 Stuck with the apostle John,

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 For the rest of his life and ministry.

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 The reason I've come to this conclusion,

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 Is because the phrase,

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 The Lamb of God,

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 Is very rare,

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 Surprisingly rare.

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 It's only used in three different stories,

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 In the Old Testament.

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 The first one is Genesis 22,

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 God promises to provide,

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 A lamb.

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 I will provide,

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 The lamb,

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 As a substitute,

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 For Abraham and Isaac.

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 And then we see,

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 One reference in the book of,

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 First Chronicles,

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 When King Josiah is bringing,

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 Reformation.

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 And God is reviving,

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 The faith of the nation,

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 Under King Josiah,

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 Who feared God.

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 And then finally,

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 There's a cluster of three references,

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 In Ezra,

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 When God is again,

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 Bringing reformation,

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 To the nation of Israel.

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 They're beholding,

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 The glory of God once again,

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 They are confessing sin.

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 And in each of those cases,

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 We're told that,

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 Hundreds and thousands,

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 Of Passover lambs,

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 Were brought,

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 For the worship of a true God,

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 As substitutionary,

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 Sacrifices.

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 Their blood would be spilled,

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 So that the Israelites,

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 Through repentance,

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 Would live.

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 In the New Testament,

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 The phrase,

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 Lamb of God,

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 Is used a total,

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 Of eleven times,

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 But only by one,

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 Biblical author.

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 And that's John,

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 The apostle John himself.

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 Two of those eleven times,

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 Are right here,

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 We just read them.

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 The other nine times,

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 Are all in the book,

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 Of Revelation,

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 Also by John.

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 Isn't that interesting?

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 Nowhere else is that phrase,

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 Used in this way.

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 So that's what I want to talk to you,

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 About today.

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 The last prophets cry.

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 And I hope that by,

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 The time we're finished,

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 You will see,

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 What was the meaning,

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 Of behold,

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 The lamb of God.

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 And what that means,

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 That you,

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 Can now receive grace,

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 Upon grace.

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 Don't you need,

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 Grace,

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 Afresh today.

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 If you're like me,

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 You need it in your own heart,

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 Before God,

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 I need grace,

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 Upon grace.

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 See the gospel,

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 Of the lamb of God,

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 And his blood,

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 To wash away sins,

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 It's for Christians too.

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 It goes out to the whole world,

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 As both an invitation,

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 And a command,

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 Behold the lamb of God.

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:37.940
 Do you need,

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 Grace upon grace,

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 Flowing from the lamb of God,

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 Do you need that,

00:09:43.319 --> 00:09:44.120
 For your own soul,

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 For your conscience,

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 Before a holy God?

00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.879
 You need it in your marriage,

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 Your relationship,

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 With your parents perhaps,

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 With your brother,

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 Or your sister.

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 We need grace,

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 Upon grace,

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 As a congregation,

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 With one another,

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 Don't we?

00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:00.960
 So who was,

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 This last prophet?

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 Who was John the baptizer?

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 Well,

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 We know,

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 From the broader context,

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 Of the gospels,

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 That John,

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 Was from,

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 The Judean elite.

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 Yes,

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 John were told,

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 In Luke 1,

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 Was born to the priestly tribe,

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 His father was a high priest,

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 So he's from the tribe of Levi,

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 And he was,

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 God fearing parents,

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 Zachariah,

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 And Elizabeth,

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 They kept God's law,

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 And they raised,

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 Their son,

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 John the baptizer,

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 In that way,

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 In the capital city of Jerusalem,

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 Where is that ministered?

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 Now Jerusalem,

00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:34.600
 Is equivalent,

00:10:35.040 --> 00:10:36.100
 With God's holiness,

00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:36.780
 And law,

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 The law goes forth,

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:38.420
 From Jerusalem.

00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:40.920
 Galilee is further north,

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:41.600
 So you can picture,

00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:42.920
 The nation of Israel,

00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:44.600
 Cut north to south,

00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.860
 By the Jordan river,

00:10:46.660 --> 00:10:48.120
 Major cliffs,

00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:49.520
 And valley going down,

00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:50.460
 To the Jordan river,

00:10:51.020 --> 00:10:51.460
 At the north,

00:10:51.520 --> 00:10:52.500
 Is the sea of Galilee,

00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:53.620
 Around the sea of Galilee,

00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.680
 There would have been contact,

00:10:54.780 --> 00:10:56.000
 With the Greek cities,

00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:57.320
 And really trade,

00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.620
 Going east and west,

00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.440
 And from the south,

00:10:59.760 --> 00:11:00.700
 So the sea of Galilee,

00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:02.940
 Became a cosmopolitan hub,

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.220
 And the people of Israel,

00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:05.000
 Had been scattered,

00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:05.960
 A long time ago,

00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:07.379
 Commingled and mixed,

00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:09.280
 Under the rule of the Assyrians,

00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:10.379
 So Galilee,

00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:11.260
 Would have been a hub,

00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:12.700
 For the people of God,

00:11:12.780 --> 00:11:13.420
 Being scattered,

00:11:13.520 --> 00:11:14.300
 Among the nations,

00:11:14.780 --> 00:11:15.640
 Further south,

00:11:15.780 --> 00:11:17.440
 Off the main trade road,

00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.379
 Jerusalem,

00:11:18.540 --> 00:11:19.820
 Tucked in like a fortress,

00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:20.700
 Among the rocks,

00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:21.920
 Very conservative,

00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:22.840
 Very secluded,

00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:23.800
 Jerusalem,

00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:23.879
 Jerusalem,

00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:23.980
 Jerusalem,

00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:24.019
 Jerusalem,

00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:24.040
 Jerusalem,

00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:24.460
 Jerusalem,

00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:26.040
 Represented the power,

00:11:26.040 --> 00:11:27.160
 Of the nation,

00:11:27.160 --> 00:11:28.220
 As they were seeking,

00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.920
 To keep the covenant law,

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.500
 Of God,

00:11:30.660 --> 00:11:31.600
 With their nation,

00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.879
 John the baptizer,

00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:35.300
 Grew up in that conservative,

00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:36.519
 Capital city of Jerusalem,

00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:38.560
 He would have had access,

00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:39.360
 Through his dad,

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:40.759
 To expert,

00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.460
 Old testament,

00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:42.320
 History,

00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.160
 Law,

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.220
 And interpretation,

00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:45.180
 Of prophecy,

00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:47.060
 But in Mark chapter 1,

00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.519
 We're told that John was clothed,

00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:49.320
 With camel hair,

00:11:49.780 --> 00:11:50.940
 And he had a leather belt,

00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:52.660
 And he ate locusts and honey,

00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:53.860
 Dwelling in the wilderness,

00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.020
 Like a wild man,

00:11:55.060 --> 00:11:56.280
 With long hair,

00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:57.860
 For being a Nazarite as well,

00:11:59.060 --> 00:11:59.780
 Now Jesus,

00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:00.520
 By contrast,

00:12:00.660 --> 00:12:01.080
 Grew up,

00:12:01.260 --> 00:12:02.620
 Not in the big capital city,

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.000
 Nor around Galilee,

00:12:04.040 --> 00:12:05.100
 He grew up tucked in,

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.240
 Kind of in the cliffs,

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.300
 That would overlook,

00:12:07.640 --> 00:12:09.040
 The Galilean trade routes,

00:12:09.760 --> 00:12:11.180
 In the city of Nazareth,

00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:12.840
 And John,

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.380
 We're told,

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.360
 Was the last one,

00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:14.900
 Coming now,

00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:16.520
 To prosecute the nation of Israel,

00:12:16.660 --> 00:12:18.200
 Calling sinners to repentance,

00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:20.920
 For breaking God's covenant law,

00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:23.660
 And John was sent from God,

00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:24.260
 We just read,

00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:27.060
 Verse 6 of chapter 1 of John here,

00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:27.780
 A man,

00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:28.500
 Is what it was,

00:12:28.540 --> 00:12:29.680
 A man sent from God,

00:12:29.780 --> 00:12:30.680
 To bear witness,

00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:32.420
 About the light,

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:33.220
 That all,

00:12:33.640 --> 00:12:35.060
 Might believe through him,

00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.740
 So he's proclaiming,

00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:38.240
 A gospel of repentance,

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.880
 Turn from your sin,

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.520
 Repent,

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.820
 Come to the waters,

00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:42.980
 Of repentance,

00:12:43.900 --> 00:12:44.520
 And all,

00:12:44.640 --> 00:12:46.040
 Are both commanded and invited,

00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.840
 To turn back to God,

00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:49.700
 As John prepares the way,

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.660
 For the Messiah,

00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:52.640
 And John was baptizing,

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:52.920
 Why?

00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:53.960
 Well,

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.900
 Look at verse 33,

00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:56.220
 He said,

00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.880
 I didn't know who the Messiah would be,

00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:00.660
 But God sent me to baptize with water,

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:02.120
 And told me what to watch for,

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.440
 Now in Acts chapter 19,

00:13:04.520 --> 00:13:05.040
 Verse 4,

00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:05.920
 Paul says,

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.740
 John baptized with,

00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:09.480
 Baptism of repentance,

00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:12.360
 Telling the people to believe in the one,

00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:13.720
 Who was to come after him,

00:13:14.020 --> 00:13:15.440
 That is Jesus Christ,

00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:19.060
 So his baptism was one of repentance,

00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:20.800
 Okay,

00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:21.700
 So what can we conclude,

00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:22.980
 Who was this last prophet,

00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:23.720
 Who was John,

00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.740
 John was a man,

00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:27.120
 Gripped by the glory of God,

00:13:27.260 --> 00:13:28.520
 His back was turned,

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.220
 To the powerful Jerusalem,

00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.800
 And he was not living,

00:13:31.900 --> 00:13:33.020
 For the comforts of this world,

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.040
 He was trusting,

00:13:34.380 --> 00:13:35.980
 In what God had revealed to him,

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:37.280
 And he was there,

00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:38.820
 Crying out from the wilderness,

00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.100
 That glory,

00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:41.620
 Glorious invitation,

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.279
 And command,

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:44.840
 Behold the Lamb of God,

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.940
 Who takes away your sin,

00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:49.080
 Preparing the way for the Messiah,

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.940
 Now I want to draw a contrast,

00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:52.799
 Between his audience,

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:54.860
 On one hand we have those who believed,

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.139
 Through John the baptizer,

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.820
 On the other hand we have,

00:13:57.940 --> 00:13:58.799
 A smaller group,

00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:01.419
 That John refused to baptize,

00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.259
 So first,

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.460
 Who were those who believed,

00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:05.080
 Through John the baptizer,

00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.779
 Look at verse 7,

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.000
 He was sent to bear witness,

00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:11.039
 About the light,

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.679
 That all might believe,

00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:13.159
 Through him,

00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.659
 Those who did not believe,

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.120
 The witness of John the baptist,

00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:17.740
 Were hardening their hearts,

00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:18.719
 Because the invitation,

00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.219
 Went to them as well,

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.339
 And by rejecting,

00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.799
 That call to repentance,

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.379
 They hardened their hearts,

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.059
 Toward God,

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.819
 And they brought the judgment of God,

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.579
 Upon themselves,

00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.299
 But there were many,

00:14:29.459 --> 00:14:31.039
 Who did believe through John,

00:14:31.579 --> 00:14:32.919
 Why were there so many people,

00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:33.500
 First of all,

00:14:33.599 --> 00:14:34.379
 Wandering through,

00:14:34.839 --> 00:14:36.179
 This wilderness road,

00:14:36.579 --> 00:14:37.639
 Along the Jordan river,

00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:39.639
 Have you thought about that,

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.699
 How could there be crowds,

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.360
 Way out there,

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.439
 In the wilderness,

00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.500
 Being baptized,

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.220
 In the muddy,

00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.899
 Jordan river waters,

00:14:46.699 --> 00:14:47.860
 Well most likely,

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:48.860
 According to,

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:49.919
 Context clues,

00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.139
 That scholars have deduced,

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.139
 That this would have been,

00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:53.779
 In the autumn,

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.500
 And there are,

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.539
 True believers,

00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.039
 Coming from all 12 tribes,

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.259
 That have been scattered,

00:14:58.379 --> 00:14:59.360
 They're all coming back,

00:14:59.439 --> 00:14:59.960
 To Jerusalem,

00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:01.679
 For this once a year,

00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:02.519
 Festival,

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.159
 There are actually,

00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:04.100
 Three festivals,

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.539
 That would be taking place,

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.000
 And there's a major trade road,

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.220
 That goes along,

00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:08.960
 The Jordan river,

00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:09.879
 So as they're traveling,

00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:10.980
 They can see,

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.440
 John standing in the waters,

00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:14.179
 And a crowd gathering around him,

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.480
 And nothing draws a crowd,

00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:16.000
 Like a crowd,

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:16.860
 So they want to go see,

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.820
 And hear this message,

00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:19.000
 And he calls them,

00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.120
 To repent of their sin,

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.679
 And God prepared them,

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.600
 Because they were already,

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.700
 Traveling to Jerusalem,

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.639
 With that exact purpose,

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.659
 They were coming to celebrate,

00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.679
 These three feasts,

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:28.919
 And,

00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.360
 What they were,

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.100
 Quickly was this,

00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:31.539
 Number one,

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.580
 The feast of trumpets,

00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.480
 Number two,

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.879
 The day of atonement,

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.139
 And then number three,

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.259
 The feast of tabernacles,

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.080
 Now the feast of trumpets,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.480
 We're told in Leviticus 23,

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.800
 Is that in the seventh month,

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.860
 On the first day of the month,

00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:45.740
 That would be in October,

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.879
 You shall observe a day of solemn rest,

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.759
 A memorial proclaimed,

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:52.800
 With blasts of trumpets,

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:55.580
 And it would be a holy convocation,

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.159
 Gathering the people of God,

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.279
 The true worshipers,

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:01.639
 Near the presence of their king,

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:03.659
 And we're told that John,

00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:05.000
 Was like a trumpet now,

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:07.100
 Announcing the arrival of King Jesus,

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.019
 Who would bring God's rest,

00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.019
 The second festival,

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:11.960
 The day of atonement,

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:13.659
 Would be the annual sacrifice,

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.620
 Performed by the high priest,

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.319
 And there would be both,

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:21.620
 The goat whose blood would be slain,

00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:23.840
 To pay the penalty of sin,

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.159
 And the second goat,

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.899
 The scapegoat,

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.620
 Who would be sent,

00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.220
 Burying the sins of the nation,

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:28.899
 Far away,

00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:30.120
 Into the wilderness,

00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.159
 With the wild beasts,

00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.519
 The third festival,

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.959
 Was the feast of tabernacles,

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.459
 And that was a reminder,

00:16:35.459 --> 00:16:36.959
 That if you belong to God,

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.740
 You are a sojourner,

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.860
 This world,

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.559
 This age,

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.139
 Is like a wilderness to you,

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.600
 But God dwells with you,

00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.299
 In a tent,

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:47.379
 He tabernacles in this hard,

00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:48.839
 Life in this age,

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:51.059
 With his pilgrim people,

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.339
 So those are the three festivals,

00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:54.699
 That people were coming to celebrate,

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.399
 And in Mark chapter 1,

00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:56.899
 We read that,

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.299
 All the country of Judea,

00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:59.240
 And all Jerusalem,

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.659
 Were going out to him,

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:02.079
 And were being baptized,

00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:03.279
 By John in the Jordan,

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.779
 Confessing their sins,

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.740
 See in Luke chapter 1,

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.440
 An angel had told Zacharias,

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.879
 John the baptizer's dad,

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.740
 What would take place,

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.720
 In the life of his son,

00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.099
 And it all was coming true,

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.879
 See it was fulfilled,

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:17.940
 That this man,

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.740
 Was now full of the Holy Spirit,

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.019
 He was great,

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.019
 In the eyes of God,

00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.279
 In Luke 1,

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.779
 We read that,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.859
 He will turn many,

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.059
 Of the children of Israel,

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.700
 To the Lord their God,

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.960
 And he will go before him,

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:31.139
 In the spirit and power of Elijah,

00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.339
 So he's dressed,

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.539
 And living in a way,

00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.680
 That resembles Elijah,

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:35.680
 Why?

00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:37.139
 To turn the hearts,

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.759
 Of the fathers,

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.519
 To the children,

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.399
 And of the disobedient,

00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:42.099
 To the wisdom of the just,

00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:44.139
 See those in the old covenant,

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.099
 Would now,

00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.359
 Be brought back,

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.200
 In repentance,

00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.559
 To a saving,

00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:50.000
 Faith in God,

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.680
 Why?

00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:53.059
 Because he was making ready,

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.519
 For the Lord,

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.720
 For Jesus Christ,

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.680
 A people prepared,

00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:01.000
 If you have beheld,

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:02.039
 The glory of Jesus,

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.200
 It's because God,

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.740
 Has prepared you,

00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.140
 As his people,

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.240
 And you need to praise God,

00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.140
 For all the things,

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.279
 He has brought into your life,

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.900
 To bring you to that point,

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.779
 Those things that have been a blessing,

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.880
 And those things that have been,

00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:15.940
 Extremely hard,

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.420
 But have driven you down,

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.180
 To your knees,

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:19.299
 Praise God,

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:21.059
 That you belong to a people,

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.839
 Prepared for the Lord,

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.480
 And in the fullness of time,

00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.839
 These true believers,

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.079
 Who loved God's law,

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.240
 Who gathered to worship him,

00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.339
 And have their sins forgiven,

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:32.460
 They are now getting to hear a voice,

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.619
 Crying from the wilderness,

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:36.519
 Clearly anointed by the spirit of God,

00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:39.220
 After 400 years of silence,

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.980
 God has revealed now,

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.599
 Once again,

00:18:41.919 --> 00:18:43.919
 The hope of a Messiah,

00:18:43.919 --> 00:18:45.579
 Who will make things right,

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.259
 Do you believe,

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.599
 John the baptizer's cry,

00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.299
 From the wilderness,

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.180
 That there is,

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.879
 A lamb,

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.140
 From God,

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.940
 God himself,

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.819
 Sent to you,

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.299
 To take away,

00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.099
 Sin,

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.099
 See,

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.299
 John was baptizing,

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.400
 He was plunging,

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.680
 Sinners low,

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.879
 Into the muddy waters,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.920
 Of the Jordan River,

00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:09.960
 And he was lifting them up,

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.440
 By saying,

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.220
 Behold,

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.579
 The lamb of God,

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.879
 Who takes away sin,

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:15.600
 But John,

00:19:16.040 --> 00:19:17.160
 Discriminated,

00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.920
 He discerned,

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.200
 And he was selective,

00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:22.000
 On who he would,

00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:22.860
 Perform,

00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.620
 Such a baptism for,

00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:26.400
 He would not baptize,

00:19:26.540 --> 00:19:28.400
 A certain group of people,

00:19:29.060 --> 00:19:30.360
 In Matthew chapter 3,

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:30.800
 We read that,

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.780
 When John saw many of the Pharisees,

00:19:32.840 --> 00:19:33.440
 And Sadducees,

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:34.760
 Coming to his baptism,

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.180
 He said to them,

00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:38.860
 You brood of vipers,

00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.779
 See,

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.579
 A viper was an unclean animal,

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.139
 And these were,

00:19:43.439 --> 00:19:45.240
 Extreme law keepers,

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.899
 And vipers have venom,

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.500
 That comes out of their mouth,

00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:50.079
 That's how he saw,

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.939
 These law keepers,

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.799
 From Jerusalem,

00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.159
 You brood of vipers,

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:57.000
 Who warned you,

00:19:57.479 --> 00:19:59.240
 To flee from the wrath to come,

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.339
 See,

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:02.099
 His call goes out as a command,

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.919
 Judgment is coming,

00:20:04.979 --> 00:20:05.819
 And here's the command,

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:07.240
 To those vipers,

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.799
 Bear fruit,

00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:10.679
 In keeping with repentance,

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.339
 See,

00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:13.059
 Their lives,

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.959
 As righteous as they wanted to be,

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.719
 On the outside,

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.740
 They were spewing venom,

00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:20.099
 They were not bearing a fruit,

00:20:20.179 --> 00:20:21.240
 That only the Holy Spirit,

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.559
 Can produce in the life,

00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:23.979
 Of a true believer,

00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:25.259
 After the Holy Spirit,

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.319
 Has brought you low,

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.500
 In repentance,

00:20:27.699 --> 00:20:28.779
 And these men were proud,

00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.179
 And unrepentant,

00:20:30.699 --> 00:20:32.139
 Now look at our text,

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.979
 Verse 19,

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.759
 We're told the Jews,

00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:36.779
 They sent priests,

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.559
 And Levites,

00:20:37.719 --> 00:20:38.339
 Now priests,

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:40.159
 They were like inquisitors,

00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:41.500
 They were masters of the law,

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.579
 That could drill down,

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.220
 And try to expose,

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.000
 The error,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.859
 Of a man like John the baptizer,

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.220
 The Levites were there,

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.519
 Most likely as bodyguards,

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.199
 Like the muscle,

00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:52.279
 They were there to crush a riot,

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.879
 If anyone wanted to get tough,

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:55.220
 With the lawyers,

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:57.940
 They were sent from Jerusalem,

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:59.519
 To ask John the baptizer,

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.839
 Who are you?

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.420
 So these Jews,

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.099
 The word Jew,

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.579
 It's better translated,

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.319
 Judeans,

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:07.000
 So those from the southern part,

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:09.139
 Most likely from the capital,

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.539
 Will be called Jews,

00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:12.299
 But it's really the Judean elite,

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.200
 So some of the Judean elite,

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.500
 Might have actually grown up,

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.940
 With John the baptizer,

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.600
 He's 30 years old right now,

00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.380
 Just like Christ,

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:22.900
 And these men were also at the peak of their careers,

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.400
 So they said to him,

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.160
 Who are you?

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.519
 We need to give an answer,

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.860
 To those who sent us,

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.779
 What do you say about yourself?

00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:32.120
 You can read between the lines,

00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:34.100
 John the baptizer,

00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:35.420
 You know what you're doing here,

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:37.360
 You know who sent us,

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.759
 Be careful with the words you choose,

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:42.279
 See these Judean elite,

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:45.779
 Were from the powerful elitist capital city of Jerusalem,

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:49.180
 And their job was to enforce the law of God,

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:52.960
 Verse 17 confirms that the law was given through Moses,

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.720
 And the law was still in effect,

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:57.740
 John the baptizer was a prophet under such a law,

00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.779
 The Judean elite,

00:21:59.879 --> 00:22:03.299
 They abused the keys to men's consciences,

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:05.440
 And they became masters of manipulation,

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:08.079
 Using fear tactics,

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.660
 When that goes on,

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.379
 Especially in the name of God,

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:15.920
 You know these are not baptized men,

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:18.420
 These are men who do not have the Holy Spirit,

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.799
 Who behave in such a way,

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.599
 In John chapter 9,

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:24.599
 We see the damage such men would continue to make,

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.940
 Many were told,

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.619
 Fear the Judean elite,

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.839
 These Jews,

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.799
 For the Jews had already agreed,

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:33.379
 That if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ,

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:36.299
 He was to be put out of the synagogue,

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.599
 They controlled the synagogue,

00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:39.500
 Where the word of God would have been read,

00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.480
 And in John chapter 12,

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.619
 We're told that many,

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:45.099
 Even of the authorities believed in Jesus Christ,

00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.819
 But for fear of the Pharisees,

00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:48.119
 They did not confess it,

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:51.359
 So that they would not be put out of the synagogue,

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.079
 The Judean elite did have this authority,

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:57.379
 To shut down and punish false religious leaders,

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:59.220
 Deuteronomy 18 says,

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:03.200
 The prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name,

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.660
 That I have not commanded him to speak,

00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:06.740
 Says God,

00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:09.720
 That same prophet shall die,

00:23:10.060 --> 00:23:11.700
 Now that's the words of God,

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.180
 And it's a good warning against false prophets today as well,

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:17.320
 So these Judean elites,

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.700
 That John refused to baptize,

00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:22.380
 They brokered man's glory,

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.560
 John 12 tells us,

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:26.340
 They loved the glory that comes from man,

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:30.320
 More than the glory that comes from God,

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.500
 Here are these religious leaders,

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:34.500
 Who loved the glory of man,

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:36.660
 More than the glory of God,

00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:41.200
 No wonder there's such a need for reformation,

00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:42.960
 In the name of Jesus,

00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:45.740
 A church gathers for the glory of man,

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:49.660
 Beware the judgment of God is coming,

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:52.360
 To those who do not bear fruit,

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.720
 In keeping with repentance,

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.880
 And use the name of the Lord,

00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:58.360
 For their own vain glory,

00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:02.259
 Look at verse 24 in our text,

00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:05.759
 These men had been sent from the Pharisees,

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:08.740
 The powerful, ruthless elite,

00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:11.200
 And John the baptizer would have known very well,

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:13.539
 What that group of men was willing,

00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:15.339
 And able to do,

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.900
 Now verse 20,

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.000
 How will John respond to these men,

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.779
 Look at verse 20,

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.400
 We're told John confessed,

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.019
 And did not deny but confessed,

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.379
 I am not the Christ,

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:28.940
 What he wanted them to remember and know,

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.619
 Is verse 29,

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.740
 Look at it one more time,

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:34.619
 Behold the Lamb of God,

00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:37.219
 Who takes away your sin,

00:24:37.739 --> 00:24:39.579
 John,

00:24:39.739 --> 00:24:40.819
 This was his message,

00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:43.899
 I am a voice crying in the wilderness,

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:46.659
 But Jesus is the word,

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.739
 The wisdom,

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.819
 And the truth of heaven,

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:52.879
 I was on death row like you,

00:24:53.239 --> 00:24:55.039
 But he is God's firstborn,

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.519
 His only son,

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:59.359
 Who became your Passover lamb,

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.639
 In exchange for your life,

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:04.240
 I am the plowman,

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.340
 That prepares the way,

00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:07.560
 He rides on the king's chariot,

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.080
 I'm the moon,

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.400
 Just a faint reflection,

00:25:10.540 --> 00:25:12.740
 But he is the sun itself,

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:14.860
 I tell you,

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.759
 That blood is on your hands,

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.680
 Condemning you,

00:25:18.020 --> 00:25:20.180
 By the law of God's judgment,

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.740
 For breaking his covenant,

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.180
 Jesus,

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.360
 Is the Lamb of God,

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.180
 Who poured out his blood,

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:30.100
 As a cleansing for your sin,

00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:33.480
 See those who were proud,

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.639
 Who would not be baptized,

00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:36.919
 Not be brought low,

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.480
 Into the brown water,

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.399
 Of the river Jordan,

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:41.480
 They were standing,

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:43.719
 Trying to stand before holy God,

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:45.959
 By their own strength,

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.439
 Their own works,

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.159
 As if they were,

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:50.079
 Anywhere close to good enough,

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.319
 You stand,

00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.119
 And you're dead,

00:25:54.699 --> 00:25:56.299
 You behold Christ,

00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:57.359
 As your savior,

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.099
 And he rescues you,

00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:01.240
 I want to illustrate this with you,

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.099
 For you with something I read recently,

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.899
 There was a kayaker,

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.919
 On the Colorado river,

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.599
 Who hit debris,

00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:08.839
 Fell off,

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.879
 And tried to stand up,

00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.019
 In the big river,

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.679
 White water rapids,

00:26:14.179 --> 00:26:15.059
 By standing,

00:26:15.199 --> 00:26:17.119
 Her feet sunk under a rock,

00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:19.319
 In the mix of sticks and debris,

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.219
 And her foot could not get loose,

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.139
 It became trapped,

00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.519
 And this is what,

00:26:23.699 --> 00:26:26.059
 River rafters call a foot trap,

00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:27.299
 It's the most dangerous thing,

00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.359
 That could possibly happen,

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.879
 To someone on a moving river,

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:33.399
 So their training is this,

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.259
 When you're on a river,

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.000
 If you fall in,

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.980
 Wearing a life vest,

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.460
 You keep your nose,

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.619
 And your toes,

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.200
 Up,

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.379
 Out of the water,

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:42.179
 Do not try to stand,

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:44.259
 Let that river just wash you by,

00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:46.059
 Do not try to stand up in it,

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.740
 Because if you get in a foot trap,

00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.799
 You'll become a casualty,

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.659
 In the year 2020,

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.799
 34 people died,

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.359
 In rivers in Colorado,

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:56.180
 We're on track this summer,

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.659
 I just read this week,

00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:59.519
 To even break that record,

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:02.379
 So if you're not supposed to stand up,

00:27:02.399 --> 00:27:03.359
 In a river when you fall out,

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.000
 What do you do?

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.940
 You need someone else,

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.019
 To rescue you,

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:09.019
 You are there,

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.039
 Looking up,

00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:12.180
 Not standing on your own,

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:14.019
 Intentionally keeping your feet up,

00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:16.059
 Someone has to come in a raft,

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.480
 Or a boat,

00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:18.059
 They grab a hold of you,

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.119
 By a life vest,

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.039
 They plunge you deep into the water,

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.939
 Like a baptism,

00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:24.079
 And they lift you up,

00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:25.539
 And the buoyancy of the life vest,

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.219
 Shoots you up out of the water,

00:27:27.459 --> 00:27:28.599
 On top of them,

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:30.279
 And you lay there on top of themselves,

00:27:30.979 --> 00:27:32.419
 So that's how you get rescued,

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.119
 Out of the water,

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:35.559
 Do you see the picture of baptism,

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:38.119
 It's a person who's finally stopped,

00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:39.519
 Trying to stand up on their own,

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.459
 Because they realize,

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.819
 It's a foot trap,

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.779
 And instead you say,

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.179
 I need my savior,

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.079
 Jesus Christ,

00:27:46.219 --> 00:27:47.879
 To plunge me deep,

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.280
 Into the water,

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:51.720
 So that he can lift me up,

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:53.220
 Onto himself,

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:56.780
 That's what John the baptizer,

00:27:57.040 --> 00:27:58.240
 Was crying out,

00:27:59.100 --> 00:28:00.700
 Well that's who this last prophet was,

00:28:00.760 --> 00:28:01.660
 And his cry was,

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.760
 Behold,

00:28:03.260 --> 00:28:04.440
 The lamb of God,

00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:05.420
 Who takes away,

00:28:05.780 --> 00:28:06.560
 Your sin,

00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:08.020
 And I just want to open up for you,

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.740
 What I think he meant by that,

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.760
 What he had in mind,

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.460
 Look at verse 23,

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.259
 I am the voice of one,

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:16.400
 Crying in the wilderness,

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.880
 Make straight the way,

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.140
 Of the Lord,

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:21.759
 As the prophet Isaiah said,

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.500
 So turn to Isaiah,

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.600
 Chapter 40,

00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:28.920
 What did the prophet Isaiah say?

00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:32.220
 The context for what John,

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.539
 Cries out,

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.420
 From the wilderness,

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.519
 Is most likely,

00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.920
 What he was meditating on,

00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.180
 Because of his upbringing,

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:41.019
 In Jerusalem,

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.860
 With access to God's word,

00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.460
 And the scroll,

00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.580
 And the parents,

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.360
 Who loved the Lord,

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.019
 And knew his law,

00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.880
 And as a Nazarite,

00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.820
 He was very devout,

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.720
 This is what John the baptizer,

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.840
 Was meditating on,

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.300
 And I just want you to hear,

00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:54.019
 The tone of his message,

00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:55.220
 Look at verses 1 and 2,

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.060
 God says,

00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.539
 Comfort my people,

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.160
 Comfort,

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.400
 Says your God,

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:02.620
 Speak tenderly,

00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:03.800
 To Jerusalem,

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:06.140
 And cry to her,

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:08.620
 That her warfare is ended,

00:29:09.040 --> 00:29:10.360
 And her iniquity,

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.520
 Now iniquity means,

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.840
 A intentional,

00:29:14.060 --> 00:29:14.580
 Rebellious,

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.440
 Grotesque,

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.759
 Sin against God,

00:29:17.040 --> 00:29:18.720
 But her iniquity is,

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.840
 Pardoned,

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:22.060
 That she has received,

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:23.280
 From the Lord's hand,

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.220
 Double,

00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.860
 For all her sins,

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:29.640
 What a glorious promise,

00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.300
 That's the,

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.680
 That's the tone,

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.360
 That the prophet,

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.880
 John the baptizer,

00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:35.600
 Is crying out,

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.659
 And we know,

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.139
 Both from,

00:29:37.659 --> 00:29:38.480
 Commentators like,

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.179
 John Calvin,

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.019
 And Matthew Poole,

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.639
 The Puritan,

00:29:41.719 --> 00:29:42.699
 In verse 15,

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.480
 Look at verse 15,

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.839
 When John the baptist says,

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.519
 That he is,

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.079
 Bearing witness,

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.519
 And crying out,

00:29:49.879 --> 00:29:51.019
 In the original language,

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.500
 In the Greek,

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.719
 Those verbs,

00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:54.740
 Are given in the present active,

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.639
 I am bearing witness,

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.879
 I am crying out,

00:29:58.199 --> 00:29:59.359
 That's how the apostle John,

00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:00.740
 Describes the testimony,

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.319
 The life and the message,

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.659
 Of John the baptizer,

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.800
 It's still,

00:30:04.800 --> 00:30:06.380
 Crying out today,

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:09.620
 Why could,

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.420
 Israel,

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.259
 And Jerusalem,

00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.040
 Have hope?

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.360
 It's because,

00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.620
 The enemies,

00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.040
 Were conquered,

00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:17.340
 See,

00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:18.060
 By this point,

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.519
 John the baptizer,

00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.560
 Has already seen,

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.040
 The spirit,

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:22.200
 Descend and remain,

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.300
 On Jesus,

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.060
 He knows,

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.600
 Jesus is the Christ,

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.779
 And he knows,

00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.160
 Therefore,

00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:28.180
 That because the spirit,

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.300
 Immediately drove Jesus,

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.040
 Into the wilderness,

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:31.859
 And Jesus came back,

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.000
 The next day,

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:34.359
 And he declares this of him,

00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.879
 So John the baptizer,

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.559
 Knows that,

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.759
 The kingdom of God,

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:39.039
 Is being inaugurated,

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.259
 We know,

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.119
 That Jesus,

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.220
 Had already conquered,

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.480
 Sin and Satan,

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.220
 In the desert,

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.599
 He had withstood temptation,

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.319
 And he was marching now,

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.519
 For three years,

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.720
 On his path to live,

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.420
 And ultimately die,

00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:53.599
 To conquer death itself,

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:56.220
 So what did,

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.720
 John's baptism mean?

00:30:57.720 --> 00:31:00.079
 Well the biblical theology,

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.700
 Of baptism,

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.539
 Would have represented,

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.140
 Cleansing,

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:02.860
 Judgment,

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.120
 And new creation,

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:06.019
 Cleansing in the ceremonial law,

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.940
 If you're a leper,

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:07.759
 A levi,

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.920
 Or a priest for example,

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.500
 You had to wash your body,

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.319
 Before you could be,

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:13.559
 Declared ceremonially clean,

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.759
 And able to be near,

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:16.100
 The presence of God,

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.079
 And of worship,

00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.720
 It also would have meant,

00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:19.279
 Judgment,

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.900
 And when God brings judgment,

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.480
 Through water,

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.839
 There's always redemptive,

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.519
 Judgment,

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.519
 It's redemption,

00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.620
 Through judgment,

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.819
 Think for example,

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:28.200
 Noah and his family,

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.059
 Were redeemed,

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.700
 As the judgment of God,

00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.519
 On a wicked world,

00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:32.700
 Came with the flood,

00:31:33.179 --> 00:31:34.000
 And I think again,

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.740
 The people of God,

00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:36.359
 Were redeemed through the red sea,

00:31:36.439 --> 00:31:37.259
 That God parted,

00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:39.039
 As the judgment of the waters,

00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.500
 Came upon Pharaoh,

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.460
 And his army,

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:43.159
 Chasing down God's people,

00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:44.740
 And then new creation,

00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:46.319
 That image of,

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.559
 The spirit of God,

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.859
 Hovering over the waters,

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.279
 In the book of Genesis,

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.000
 One and two,

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.519
 And then that image later,

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.319
 Of Noah,

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.759
 Sending out a dove,

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.779
 That hovered,

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.500
 And remained,

00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:58.259
 Knowing that the waters of judgment,

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.200
 Had been receding,

00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.619
 The spirit went out,

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.680
 And remained,

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.460
 Just as the spirit of God,

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.119
 Descended over Jesus Christ,

00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.400
 And remained,

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.779
 On him,

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:10.079
 That's what John's baptism,

00:32:10.639 --> 00:32:12.240
 Would have brought to mind,

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.680
 For this audience,

00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:14.539
 Cleansing,

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.879
 Redemption through judgment,

00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.400
 And new creation,

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:21.620
 Well what did John's confession mean?

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.920
 What would have been on everyone's mind,

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.620
 As they came for these three feasts?

00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:27.880
 So picture a family,

00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:29.840
 Marching down this trade road,

00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.600
 Along the Jordan,

00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:32.600
 What are we going to do dad?

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.680
 What does it mean?

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.600
 The dad said,

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.660
 Oh you're going to love it,

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:38.120
 The first thing you need to listen for,

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.759
 Is a trumpet,

00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:40.220
 When you hear the trumpet,

00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:42.120
 It's calling us to come together,

00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:42.820
 To rest,

00:32:43.280 --> 00:32:44.420
 And know that God,

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.980
 Will forgive our sins,

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:48.040
 And that he will dwell with us,

00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:50.980
 Now look at verse 29,

00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:51.920
 In our text today,

00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:54.040
 In verse 29,

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.880
 We read that the next day,

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:58.720
 He saw Jesus coming toward him,

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.720
 Now 40 days earlier,

00:33:03.340 --> 00:33:03.940
 He would have,

00:33:04.540 --> 00:33:06.100
 Already known that the spirit,

00:33:06.300 --> 00:33:07.960
 Had descended and remained on him,

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:09.440
 Mark 1 says that,

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:11.320
 God's spirit drove Jesus,

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.940
 Immediately into the wilderness,

00:33:13.320 --> 00:33:15.519
 And after Jesus had his victory over Satan,

00:33:15.640 --> 00:33:16.380
 He returned,

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:18.120
 Back to the same spot,

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:20.120
 So when John declares now,

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.800
 In verse 29,

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:22.400
 Behold the Lamb of God,

00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:24.860
 To take away the sin of the world,

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.519
 What would he have had in mind?

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.680
 Well the day of atonement,

00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:32.000
 There would have been the goat,

00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.540
 Whose blood would be drained,

00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:34.500
 For the sin of the people,

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:36.080
 And then this is what was said,

00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:37.080
 Of the scapegoat,

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.820
 Leviticus 16 says,

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.880
 Lay both hands,

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:41.380
 On the head of the scapegoat,

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.560
 The living goat,

00:33:42.780 --> 00:33:43.960
 And confess over it,

00:33:44.080 --> 00:33:44.840
 All the iniquities,

00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.880
 Of the people of Israel,

00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.100
 All their transgressions,

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.960
 And all their sins,

00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:49.560
 And he shall put them,

00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:51.360
 On the head of the goat,

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.360
 And send it away,

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.260
 Into the wilderness,

00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:55.200
 By the hand of a man,

00:33:55.560 --> 00:33:56.700
 Who is in ready,

00:33:57.060 --> 00:33:58.040
 John the baptizer,

00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:58.640
 Was the man,

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.640
 The Levite prepared,

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.880
 Left in ready,

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.700
 To put his hands on this goat,

00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:04.240
 And send him into the wilderness,

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:06.020
 By the spirit of God,

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:08.599
 This goat shall bear,

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.820
 All their iniquities,

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.659
 On itself,

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:13.239
 To a remote area,

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.340
 Far away from God,

00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.019
 In the dwelling of God's people,

00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.679
 And he shall let the goat,

00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:18.980
 Go free in the wilderness,

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:22.360
 Well the feast of tabernacles,

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.380
 Was reminding them,

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.420
 You are sojourners,

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:26.199
 In the wilderness of this age,

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.539
 God dwells among you,

00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.980
 As a pilgrim people,

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.719
 Now I want you to turn,

00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.579
 To numbers 29,

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:33.380
 For each one of these three feasts,

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:35.900
 The people have a very special command,

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.920
 It's the same command,

00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:38.360
 Given three times,

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.660
 Once for each feast,

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:43.079
 Look at numbers chapter 29,

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.840
 First at verse 5,

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.280
 Numbers 29 5,

00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:50.440
 What you need to bring,

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:52.579
 For the feast of the trumpets,

00:34:53.180 --> 00:34:53.820
 Is verse 5,

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.440
 One male goat,

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.980
 For a sin offering,

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:59.519
 To make atonement for you,

00:34:59.660 --> 00:35:00.800
 Now look at verse 11,

00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:03.560
 What you need to bring,

00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.580
 For the feast,

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.480
 This holy convocation,

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:10.220
 The day of atonement,

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.840
 Is one male goat,

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:13.820
 For a sin offering,

00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:16.080
 And now look at verse 38,

00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:17.340
 What about for the,

00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.580
 Feast of the tabernacle,

00:35:19.580 --> 00:35:22.080
 Also bring one male goat,

00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:23.800
 For a sin offering,

00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:25.640
 So as the people gathered,

00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.800
 They knew this,

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:29.200
 God requires of me,

00:35:29.680 --> 00:35:31.080
 A perfect sacrifice,

00:35:31.080 --> 00:35:32.180
 As an offering,

00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:33.539
 To pay the price,

00:35:33.600 --> 00:35:34.800
 Of my sin,

00:35:35.080 --> 00:35:36.780
 I cannot be forgiven,

00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:38.539
 The feast of atonement,

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:40.340
 I cannot rest,

00:35:40.560 --> 00:35:42.200
 With God's gathered kingdom,

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.340
 The feast of trumpets,

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.720
 Nor can I enjoy,

00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.820
 The blessing of being,

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.960
 In his presence,

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.640
 The feast of tabernacles,

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.120
 Without the blood,

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:52.539
 Of an acceptable substitute,

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:54.940
 That's what John the baptizer,

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:56.380
 Who knew the law so well,

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:58.820
 And all those that God had prepared,

00:35:59.279 --> 00:36:00.800
 To hear this call to repentance,

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.719
 That's what they had in mind,

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.880
 When John declares,

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.659
 Behold,

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:05.800
 That's him,

00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:08.420
 It's the lamb of God,

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:11.480
 Hebrews 9.22 says,

00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:13.119
 This is not just for that people,

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:14.159
 In Israel,

00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.519
 This is for you church,

00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:17.179
 Indeed under the law,

00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:19.559
 Almost everything is purified with blood,

00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:21.480
 And this is what still remains true,

00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.280
 For all of us,

00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:24.860
 Without the shedding of blood,

00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:28.860
 There is no forgiveness of sins,

00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:31.300
 Jesus said that himself,

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.740
 In Matthew 26.28,

00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:35.460
 This is my blood of the covenant,

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.619
 Which is poured out for many,

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:41.240
 For the forgiveness of sins,

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:43.139
 In Ephesians 1.7,

00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:43.619
 We're told,

00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.420
 In him,

00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:45.199
 We,

00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:45.880
 The church,

00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:46.599
 Have redemption,

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.019
 Through his blood,

00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:49.619
 The forgiveness of our trespasses,

00:36:49.619 --> 00:36:53.699
 According to the riches of his grace,

00:36:53.699 --> 00:36:56.839
 And that's what John beheld,

00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:59.759
 And he confessed Christ,

00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:01.839
 Also by way of contrast,

00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:02.920
 With his own ministry,

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.839
 See,

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:05.339
 The goal of a rabbi,

00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:07.279
 Was always to graduate,

00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.980
 And send out your own disciples,

00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:10.839
 And John the baptizer has said,

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:13.599
 As these Pharisees approach,

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:14.819
 See,

00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:15.960
 They have their own disciples,

00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:18.220
 And their own disciples,

00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:19.820
 Won't even take off their sandals,

00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.460
 And carry them,

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.940
 That's too lowly of a task,

00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:23.600
 They have special slaves,

00:37:23.600 --> 00:37:24.580
 That follow them around,

00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:26.559
 Just to handle their sandals,

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:28.680
 And John the baptizer says,

00:37:29.100 --> 00:37:31.000
 You think my ministry is full of the spirit,

00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:31.980
 Look at Christ,

00:37:32.059 --> 00:37:33.519
 Because I'm not even worthy,

00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:35.260
 To be the lowest of the slaves,

00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:37.059
 And with his own disciples,

00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:38.840
 He had no interest in graduating them,

00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.680
 Out of his school,

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:41.559
 Or his discipleship,

00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:43.259
 Look at verse 35,

00:37:43.359 --> 00:37:43.980
 The next day,

00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:45.859
 John was standing with two of his disciples,

00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:47.339
 And he looked at Jesus,

00:37:47.879 --> 00:37:49.099
 As he walked by and said,

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.819
 Behold the Lamb of God,

00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:53.719
 And the two disciples heard him say this,

00:37:53.759 --> 00:37:55.299
 And surely they saw his face,

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:57.179
 They saw his bewilderment,

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.759
 At the glory of Christ,

00:37:58.839 --> 00:38:00.139
 The Son of God himself,

00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:04.759
 And the two disciples followed Jesus,

00:38:05.759 --> 00:38:08.099
 This would have been an extreme sign,

00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:09.880
 Of deference,

00:38:10.099 --> 00:38:12.139
 And giving superiority to one much,

00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:13.380
 Much greater,

00:38:14.179 --> 00:38:16.739
 He draws the contrast with baptism,

00:38:17.299 --> 00:38:18.900
 You think my ministry is powerful?

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.759
 Look at verse 26,

00:38:20.839 --> 00:38:21.159
 He says,

00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.940
 I just baptize with water,

00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:25.519
 But among you stands one,

00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:26.880
 Even if you don't know him,

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.860
 Look at verse 33,

00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.739
 He points him out and says,

00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:34.299
 This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit,

00:38:35.259 --> 00:38:37.079
 So Jesus' baptism,

00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:38.539
 Is far superior,

00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.659
 Than mine,

00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:43.880
 Well what does Jesus' baptism mean?

00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:45.739
 The baptism of the Holy Spirit,

00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:47.739
 According to Acts chapter 2,

00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:48.519
 By Peter,

00:38:48.860 --> 00:38:50.179
 It's very simple,

00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:52.579
 Peter said,

00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:54.000
 Repent and be baptized,

00:38:54.279 --> 00:38:54.920
 Every one of you,

00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:56.420
 In the name of Jesus Christ,

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:58.219
 For the forgiveness of your sins,

00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:00.219
 And you will receive,

00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:02.000
 The gift of the Holy Spirit,

00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:04.159
 Baptism of the Holy Spirit,

00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:06.759
 Is when God himself,

00:39:07.279 --> 00:39:08.319
 Causes your eyes,

00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.659
 To behold Jesus,

00:39:09.879 --> 00:39:10.839
 The Lamb of God,

00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:12.799
 Whose blood washes away,

00:39:13.219 --> 00:39:13.699
 Sin,

00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:15.259
 And cleanses you,

00:39:15.379 --> 00:39:16.619
 Preparing you for eternity,

00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:17.759
 With him,

00:39:17.899 --> 00:39:19.279
 And you receive that gift,

00:39:19.359 --> 00:39:20.139
 Of the Holy Spirit,

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.199
 The moment,

00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:23.420
 You are regenerated,

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.179
 To believe,

00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:27.799
 Now look back at verse 16,

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.739
 The glorious promise,

00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:32.599
 From the fullness of the Lamb of God,

00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:36.039
 We all receive grace upon grace,

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:39.759
 What does that mean?

00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:42.259
 Grace upon grace,

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:44.219
 With John the baptizer,

00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:46.519
 He wanted you to know,

00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:49.440
 That the blessings of Christ abound,

00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:51.880
 One blessing after the other,

00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:52.960
 After the other,

00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:54.039
 After the other,

00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:55.059
 Just as you think,

00:39:55.420 --> 00:39:56.860
 You might be coming to the end,

00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:58.039
 And you're running on empty,

00:39:58.579 --> 00:40:00.059
 Your tank's getting low in the wilderness,

00:40:00.739 --> 00:40:01.440
 More trial,

00:40:01.559 --> 00:40:02.179
 More temptation,

00:40:02.440 --> 00:40:03.159
 More attacks,

00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:04.679
 There's grace,

00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:06.159
 Upon grace,

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.319
 Upon grace,

00:40:07.379 --> 00:40:09.099
 To continue sustaining you,

00:40:09.799 --> 00:40:10.199
 That's,

00:40:10.299 --> 00:40:11.440
 That's really his witness,

00:40:11.559 --> 00:40:12.619
 Look at all the blessings,

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:13.980
 That Christ opens up,

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:15.980
 John the baptizer cries out,

00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:17.759
 I am the Levite,

00:40:17.839 --> 00:40:19.199
 Who washed Christ,

00:40:19.279 --> 00:40:20.519
 With the waters of baptism,

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:22.079
 God himself,

00:40:22.179 --> 00:40:23.139
 Went to the wilderness,

00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:24.759
 With wild beasts,

00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:26.599
 To battle the devil,

00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.519
 And demons,

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:29.099
 For you as your scapegoat,

00:40:29.399 --> 00:40:30.619
 He carried your sin,

00:40:30.879 --> 00:40:31.599
 Far away,

00:40:31.879 --> 00:40:32.940
 From the holy presence,

00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.480
 Of God,

00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:34.760
 On his own body,

00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:37.300
 I am the priest,

00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:38.380
 Who plunged Christ,

00:40:38.519 --> 00:40:39.800
 Into the brown Jordan,

00:40:40.300 --> 00:40:41.360
 But he is the one,

00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:42.659
 Who took God's judgment,

00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:43.980
 Of sin,

00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:44.980
 On his body,

00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:46.079
 On that tree,

00:40:47.200 --> 00:40:48.420
 I eat locusts,

00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:49.599
 Dipped in honey,

00:40:49.720 --> 00:40:50.460
 So it'll go down,

00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:52.119
 But he feeds you,

00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:53.500
 With the bread of life,

00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:54.340
 His own body,

00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:56.740
 I dip your body,

00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:58.440
 Into the muddy Jordan water,

00:40:58.820 --> 00:41:00.320
 As an outward sign,

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:01.920
 Pointing to Christ,

00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.840
 Showing that,

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:04.180
 He has made your heart,

00:41:04.180 --> 00:41:04.920
 Contrite,

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:05.940
 He's baptized you,

00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.960
 By his spirit,

00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:08.220
 But it's his spirit,

00:41:08.380 --> 00:41:09.220
 Who calls you,

00:41:09.220 --> 00:41:10.119
 Into the blood,

00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:11.500
 Of the lamb of God,

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.059
 Itself,

00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:14.220
 I can tell you,

00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:15.700
 That you need to repent,

00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.900
 Because the kingdom of God,

00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.559
 Is at hand,

00:41:17.700 --> 00:41:19.599
 But Jesus is the king himself,

00:41:19.940 --> 00:41:21.019
 Don't you hear the king,

00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.619
 Calling you,

00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:23.059
 To enter the rest,

00:41:23.260 --> 00:41:24.220
 Of his rule,

00:41:24.659 --> 00:41:25.659
 Over your life,

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:28.379
 I have no interest,

00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:29.219
 In man's glory,

00:41:29.779 --> 00:41:31.179
 What you need to do,

00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:32.379
 Is behold,

00:41:32.879 --> 00:41:34.039
 The lamb of God,

00:41:34.099 --> 00:41:34.980
 Who takes away,

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.619
 Your sin,

00:41:38.619 --> 00:41:39.759
 John the baptizer,

00:41:39.859 --> 00:41:40.980
 Loved the glory of God,

00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:42.399
 More than the glory of man,

00:41:42.399 --> 00:41:44.019
 And he was so gripped,

00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:45.039
 By God's holiness,

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.719
 That he would continue,

00:41:46.839 --> 00:41:47.639
 To preach this,

00:41:48.259 --> 00:41:49.079
 Sermon of repentance,

00:41:49.319 --> 00:41:49.679
 Until,

00:41:50.399 --> 00:41:51.420
 He lost his head,

00:41:51.879 --> 00:41:52.279
 Beheaded,

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.960
 Died as a martyr,

00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:55.300
 For Jesus Christ,

00:41:55.840 --> 00:41:57.079
 Reminds me of another martyr,

00:41:57.159 --> 00:41:58.000
 Named Polycarp,

00:41:58.220 --> 00:41:59.500
 Of the church of Smyrna,

00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:00.440
 The first century,

00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:01.720
 Most likely would have,

00:42:01.860 --> 00:42:02.920
 Sat under the preaching,

00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:03.940
 Of John himself,

00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.340
 The apostle John,

00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:08.840
 And as persecution grew,

00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.880
 In the early church,

00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:10.440
 They told him,

00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:11.320
 You must deny,

00:42:11.480 --> 00:42:12.659
 That Jesus is God,

00:42:12.860 --> 00:42:14.119
 Or else we will burn you,

00:42:14.300 --> 00:42:14.980
 At the fire,

00:42:15.460 --> 00:42:15.960
 At the stake,

00:42:16.579 --> 00:42:17.420
 And he witnessed,

00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:18.079
 Back to them,

00:42:18.220 --> 00:42:19.659
 I have served my master,

00:42:19.780 --> 00:42:20.579
 For 40 years,

00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:21.559
 And he has always,

00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:22.320
 Been good to me,

00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:23.440
 I will continue,

00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:24.039
 To confess,

00:42:24.139 --> 00:42:26.000
 That Jesus is God,

00:42:26.760 --> 00:42:27.400
 Polycarp said,

00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.179
 I've learned,

00:42:28.280 --> 00:42:28.960
 To trust,

00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:30.019
 His grace,

00:42:30.039 --> 00:42:30.679
 Upon grace,

00:42:30.780 --> 00:42:31.500
 All my life,

00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:33.039
 How could I dishonor,

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.400
 My good Lord,

00:42:34.500 --> 00:42:35.179
 For you now,

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:36.639
 So when they went,

00:42:36.700 --> 00:42:37.340
 To tie him up,

00:42:37.380 --> 00:42:38.599
 And carry him to the stake,

00:42:38.700 --> 00:42:39.720
 Where he would burn alive,

00:42:40.280 --> 00:42:41.200
 One of the cruelest,

00:42:41.220 --> 00:42:41.960
 Forms of torture,

00:42:42.420 --> 00:42:43.240
 Polycarp said,

00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:44.260
 Let me alone,

00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:46.079
 He that gave me strength,

00:42:46.119 --> 00:42:47.400
 To come to the fire,

00:42:47.659 --> 00:42:48.740
 Will give me patience,

00:42:48.740 --> 00:42:50.159
 To undergo your fire,

00:42:50.440 --> 00:42:51.519
 Without your ropes,

00:42:51.599 --> 00:42:52.860
 And Polycarp stood there,

00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:54.840
 Like a man of God,

00:42:55.140 --> 00:42:56.500
 With grace upon grace,

00:42:56.599 --> 00:42:57.360
 To withstand,

00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:58.500
 The flames,

00:42:58.599 --> 00:43:00.140
 Without even being tied up,

00:43:01.500 --> 00:43:02.960
 And if you're feeling like,

00:43:03.039 --> 00:43:04.660
 You're in those white water rapids,

00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:05.660
 Of life,

00:43:05.740 --> 00:43:07.160
 With trial and temptation,

00:43:07.680 --> 00:43:08.900
 Wave after wave,

00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:11.059
 Feeling like you're gonna drown,

00:43:11.700 --> 00:43:13.420
 Don't stand up,

00:43:13.660 --> 00:43:14.720
 By your own strength,

00:43:15.180 --> 00:43:16.820
 Let Christ plunge you low,

00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:18.099
 And raise you up,

00:43:18.300 --> 00:43:19.860
 And pull you on top of himself,

00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:21.240
 Once again,

00:43:21.239 --> 00:43:22.419
 You know how you do that?

00:43:23.359 --> 00:43:24.919
 You behold the Lamb of God,

00:43:24.979 --> 00:43:25.899
 Once again today,

00:43:26.699 --> 00:43:27.579
 Who takes away,

00:43:28.359 --> 00:43:28.899
 Your sin,

00:43:29.659 --> 00:43:31.599
 And if you are beholding Christ,

00:43:31.699 --> 00:43:33.599
 It means that you are among that people,

00:43:33.779 --> 00:43:34.319
 Prepared,

00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:36.119
 You know in the book of Acts,

00:43:36.179 --> 00:43:38.339
 We read that 3,000 believed in Christ,

00:43:38.879 --> 00:43:40.939
 Because the spirit blew over them,

00:43:40.979 --> 00:43:42.139
 And caused them to behold,

00:43:42.779 --> 00:43:43.899
 I wonder how many of those,

00:43:43.899 --> 00:43:45.079
 Had also been prepared,

00:43:45.519 --> 00:43:46.919
 Through the baptism of John,

00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:48.000
 That call to repentance,

00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:50.239
 And now John,

00:43:50.360 --> 00:43:51.559
 As a martyr from heaven,

00:43:51.659 --> 00:43:53.280
 Got to look on in the early church,

00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:54.699
 Just as the angels,

00:43:54.880 --> 00:43:56.780
 And all the great cloud of witnesses,

00:43:56.980 --> 00:43:58.159
 Look on at you today,

00:43:58.559 --> 00:43:59.420
 Who will believe,

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:01.500
 And as the angels rejoice,

00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:04.139
 When one soul is brought into the kingdom of God,

00:44:04.199 --> 00:44:04.940
 Through faith,

00:44:05.780 --> 00:44:06.760
 John the baptizer,

00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:09.340
 And every saint who has beheld Christ,

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:10.039
 Rejoices,

00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:12.840
 When you believe and trust in Christ,

00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:15.320
 The Bible tells you,

00:44:15.660 --> 00:44:17.340
 Behold the Lamb of God,

00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:18.620
 And be ready,

00:44:19.579 --> 00:44:21.019
 Jesus is coming back soon,

00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:23.180
 Come quickly Lord Jesus,

00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:24.700
 Amen.