WEBVTT

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 Well, sometimes as we're reading our Bibles, we come to passages that are difficult.

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 And as I've said before, there's different reasons for why they're difficult.

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 The Bible was originally written in different languages,

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 and so sometimes translation makes it difficult, bringing that over into English.

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 Other times the translation is good, but it's what's spoken about that's difficult to understand.

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 God tells us about spiritual realities, being born again by the Spirit, how the Holy Spirit works in our lives.

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 And sometimes those things are difficult for us to get our heads around.

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 But sometimes it's not an issue of translation or understanding what the passage says.

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 It's that the passage itself and what it says is difficult to accept.

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 Maybe it offends us.

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 Or it says something that we don't really like or don't want to hear.

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 Well, we are the Davidson Community Bible Church,

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 and we do believe that God has spoken through these pages, every word.

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 And He doesn't make mistakes.

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 So when we get to those passages, we come with a little bit of fear and trembling,

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 but we've got to take our time to stop and to listen and consider what the Lord has said to us.

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 So that's one of those passages that we've got before us today.

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 We're in the story of Jesus as told by John.

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 We're still in John chapter 12.

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 If you have a Bible with you, I won't have anything on the screen this morning.

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 I didn't get time to do that, but ask if you just follow along in your Bible.

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 There's also the pew Bibles in front of you, the black books in the seats there.

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 And here's where we're at in the story.

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 Jesus has just come into Jerusalem.

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 Triumphal entry.

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 Most of you know the story.

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 And it's the final week leading up to his death.

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 And he's had a conversation with some of the people, the Jews, there in the city,

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 which we've been following along in chapter 12.

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 And last week we heard about how he was pleading with them

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 to believe in the light while they have the light,

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 while they have the opportunity, before that window of opportunity closes.

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 And this is the end of that conversation.

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 John tells us how it ended in verse 36 of John chapter 12.

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 When Jesus had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

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 So we don't really know where Jesus went,

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 but if we look at the other Gospels, we can kind of piece things together.

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 During this week leading up to his death,

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 Jesus would come into the city of Jerusalem during the day.

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 And he would teach the people.

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 He would speak to the people.

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 And then oftentimes in the evening, he would make his way out of the city.

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 And there's a couple different places he would hang out with,

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 oftentimes his disciples.

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 The Mount of Olives, some of the gardens and groves around there.

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 And then eventually probably make his way out to Bethany,

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 where maybe he stayed.

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 We don't know for sure if he slept at the house of Mary and Martha and Lazarus.

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 But that was kind of his pattern.

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 So Jesus has been in the spotlight.

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 He's come into the city.

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 There's been this discussion with the crowds.

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 And now he goes off the radar, but not for long,

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 just probably for the evening.

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 And we'll see him again soon.

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 But John now takes a moment to kind of step back and address us,

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 the people who are reading his account,

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 and give us some help to understand what's going on here.

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 I mean, we just heard Jesus talking to this crowd.

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 And in the midst of this, or right leading into this conversation,

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 God spoke in an audible voice to Jesus.

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 And we might be wondering,

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 how is it that the people could hear that

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 and walk away from that and still not believe?

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 Well, John is now going to tell us a little bit

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 and try to give us some help to understand

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 what's really going on here between Jesus and the people.

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 Verse 37.

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 John writes this,

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 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence,

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 they still would not or did not believe in him.

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 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence,

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 they still would not believe in him.

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 This is quite the statement.

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 And in the original language,

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 which is a little bit more flexible with word order,

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 they would often emphasize things

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 by just moving it right up to the front of the sentence.

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 And what's emphasized here is so many.

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 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs,

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 John says,

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 in their presence.

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 Let's think about that for a moment.

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 In their presence.

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 Literally, in front of them, before them.

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 In the sight of them.

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 Now, this doesn't mean, of course,

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 that each person there was hovering right over top of Jesus

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 as he performed each miracle.

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 But it does mean that these things were close enough to them,

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 that they were done openly enough,

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 that virtually everybody in Jerusalem

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 probably knows somebody

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 who has been affected by the miracles that Jesus did,

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 by the signs that he performed,

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 by the healings.

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 John's already told us about three people

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 in his gospel

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 in Jerusalem or the vicinity.

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 We heard about the man at the Pool of Bethesda

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 who couldn't walk for 38 years.

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 Jesus healed him.

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 We heard about the man who had been born blind

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 in John chapter 9.

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 Jesus gave him sight.

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 And then we heard, just recently,

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 about Lazarus,

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 who lived in Bethany,

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 just outside the city.

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 Many of the people in Jerusalem

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 had been to his funeral.

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 And there were also a crowd of them

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 who were out there

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 that witnessed his resurrection from the dead.

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 So that's just three.

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 But John says,

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 not just three,

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 but so many signs in their presence.

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 It reminds me of what we read

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 way back near the beginning.

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 John chapter 2,

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 verse 32.

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 Sorry.

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 John chapter 2, verse 23.

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 This was three years ago.

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 At the Passover in Jerusalem,

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 at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry,

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 it says this,

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 Now while he was in Jerusalem

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 at the Passover festival,

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 many people saw the signs he was performing

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 and believed in his name.

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 So the people of Jerusalem

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 are no strangers

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 to what Jesus has been doing.

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 It's not as though they just

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 heard about the signs.

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 Oh yeah, way over in Galilee

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 he did that.

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 No, right here in Jerusalem,

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 Jesus had been performing signs.

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 Nicodemus was one of the religious leaders

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 who saw them.

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 We know that you are a man

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 who has come from God

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 because who could perform

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 do the things you're doing

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 if God were not with him,

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 he said.

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 In fact,

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 when we bring all the gospel accounts together,

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 we see that Jesus

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 has been doing

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 so many signs,

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 so many miracles,

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 so many healings,

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 it's just,

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 you couldn't even begin

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 to number them.

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 I mean, consider this,

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 when people started

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 to go out to him,

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 he would heal them,

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 word was spreading,

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 this was back in the early days

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 of Jesus,

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 more people would hear about that

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 and if they had some kind of malady,

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 they were going out,

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 people were flocking out to Jesus

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 from all over the nation.

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 It says in Matthew 4,

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 verse 23,

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 he was healing

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 all their diseases,

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 all their sicknesses,

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 all their sicknesses,

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 with the exception of

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 Nazareth,

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 Jesus' hometown,

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 where it says he only did

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 a few miracles,

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 and with the couple times

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 where the Pharisees

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 came right up to his face

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 and said,

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 show us a sign

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 and then we'll believe.

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 And of course,

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 Jesus wouldn't do it then.

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 With the exception

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 of those two things,

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 Jesus has been doing

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 miracles,

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 healings,

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 signs,

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 left,

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 right,

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 and center.

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 In Galilee,

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 in Jerusalem,

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 wherever he goes,

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 this is the picture

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 that we get

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 from the Gospels.

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 John chapter 7,

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 verse 31.

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 Even in Jerusalem,

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 they acknowledge this.

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 still,

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 many in the crowd

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 believed in him.

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 They said,

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 when the Messiah comes,

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 will he perform

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 more signs

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 than this man?

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 In other words,

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 like how many more

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 do we need to see?

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 Like,

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 it's obvious,

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 isn't it?

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 How many would we expect

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 the Messiah to do?

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 He's done so many.

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 Even the religious leaders

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 could not deny

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 that Jesus had done

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 many signs.

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 They too

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 witnessed some of them.

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 John chapter 11,

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 verse 47.

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 At the meeting

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 of the Sanhedrin,

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 they asked,

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 what are we accomplishing?

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 Here is this man

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 performing

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 many signs.

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 Isn't that something?

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 even Jesus' opponents

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 admitted

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 that he'd been

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 not just,

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 you know,

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 a couple different

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 recoveries,

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 coincidentally,

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 for different people.

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 Many signs,

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 they said.

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 We might wonder,

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 well,

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 why did John

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 only tell us

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 about a few

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 that he's done

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 in Jerusalem?

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 Well,

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 as we hear

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 at the very end

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 of the book

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 of John,

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 chapter 20,

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 verse 30,

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 Jesus performed

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 many other signs

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 in the presence

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 of his disciples

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 which are not

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 recorded in this book.

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 And again,

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 at the very end

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 of the gospel,

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 the last thing

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 John tells us,

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 Jesus did many

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 other things as well.

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 If every one of them

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 were written down,

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 I suppose that even

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 the whole world

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 would not have room

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 for the books

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 that would be written.

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 And so,

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 John is not

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 exaggerating

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 when he says

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 so many signs

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 were done

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 in their presence.

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 Miracles,

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 healings,

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 probably everybody

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 there in Jerusalem

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 knew of at least

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 one person,

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 if not,

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 had, you know,

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 a direct connection

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 to some person

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 who had been touched

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 by the life

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 of Jesus,

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 by the healing

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 of Jesus.

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 And yet,

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 this is the sad

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 statement

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 that John

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 gives us.

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 They still

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 would not

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 believe in him.

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 Literally,

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 it's did not.

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 They still

00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:41.919
 did not

00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:43.639
 believe in him.

00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:46.659
 What a sad

00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.059
 statement.

00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.779
 We might wonder,

00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:53.360
 why?

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:56.259
 How could this be?

00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.120
 You might think

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.639
 of yourself

00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.639
 in their shoes,

00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.320
 like if I was

00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:02.980
 seeing all these

00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:03.279
 things,

00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:03.940
 I'd believe.

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.100
 We're a little

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.879
 biased because

00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:06.560
 most of us

00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:07.340
 already believe

00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:07.800
 in Jesus.

00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.879
 How could it be

00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:10.480
 that they saw

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.440
 all those miracles

00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:12.060
 of Jesus,

00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:12.980
 healings,

00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:15.460
 signs,

00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:16.980
 and yet did not

00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:17.480
 believe,

00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:18.980
 would not

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:19.740
 listen to him?

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:21.320
 Well,

00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:21.720
 John

00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:22.820
 actually

00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:24.960
 gives an answer

00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.159
 here in verse

00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.779
 38 to 40.

00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:29.980
 And this is where

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:30.840
 it gets difficult.

00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:33.279
 They still

00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:33.759
 would not

00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:34.560
 believe in him.

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.620
 Verse 38,

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.560
 this was to

00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:39.840
 fulfill the word

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.919
 of Isaiah the prophet,

00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:41.720
 Lord,

00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.539
 who has believed

00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.200
 our message?

00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.820
 And to whom

00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:46.759
 has the arm of the Lord

00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.399
 been revealed?

00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.379
 So John

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:52.220
 tells us that

00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:54.679
 people did not

00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.759
 believe Jesus

00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.600
 in order that

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.720
 prophecy would be

00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.159
 fulfilled.

00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:01.200
 Really,

00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:01.840
 there's two ways

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.480
 to take that.

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.059
 How do those

00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:03.539
 thoughts link

00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:03.879
 together?

00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:04.700
 There's two ways.

00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:05.759
 In order that,

00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:06.559
 or so that,

00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:07.819
 the word that

00:13:07.819 --> 00:13:08.500
 Isaiah spoke

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.019
 long ago

00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:09.759
 would be fulfilled.

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.700
 Or some people,

00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:14.059
 not the majority,

00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:14.819
 but some people

00:13:14.819 --> 00:13:15.599
 suggest that

00:13:15.599 --> 00:13:16.179
 it's,

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:18.119
 they did not

00:13:18.119 --> 00:13:19.239
 believe with

00:13:19.239 --> 00:13:19.959
 the result

00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:21.739
 that the word

00:13:21.739 --> 00:13:22.619
 of Isaiah the

00:13:22.619 --> 00:13:23.479
 prophet would

00:13:23.479 --> 00:13:24.059
 be fulfilled.

00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:25.479
 I think we

00:13:25.479 --> 00:13:26.219
 kind of gravitate

00:13:26.219 --> 00:13:26.979
 towards that,

00:13:27.359 --> 00:13:28.479
 that one a little

00:13:28.479 --> 00:13:28.859
 more.

00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:29.919
 It seems to get

00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:30.659
 God off the hook

00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:31.199
 a little bit.

00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:32.559
 The other,

00:13:32.699 --> 00:13:33.319
 in order that

00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:33.779
 the word of

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:34.259
 the prophets

00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:34.939
 be fulfilled,

00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:37.399
 almost seems to

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.179
 implicate God

00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:39.719
 a little bit.

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.379
 It almost seems

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:41.479
 to suggest that

00:13:41.479 --> 00:13:42.359
 maybe he was

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.800
 working or

00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:44.620
 doing something

00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.039
 that he had

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.820
 a purpose for

00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:46.360
 them not

00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:47.700
 believing in

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.300
 all of this.

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:51.120
 And so we

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.320
 might,

00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.259
 we might wonder,

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:52.440
 well,

00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.159
 what's going on?

00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:53.480
 What do you

00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:53.919
 mean here,

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.240
 John?

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.259
 Which one is

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:56.500
 it?

00:13:58.680 --> 00:13:59.460
 If we keep

00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.879
 following what

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.440
 John says,

00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:01.700
 though,

00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.580
 it probably

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.580
 becomes pretty

00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:04.919
 clear.

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.220
 I'm going to

00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:06.720
 read it again,

00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:07.259
 starting from

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.720
 the top.

00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:09.440
 Even after

00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.080
 Jesus had

00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:10.840
 performed so

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:11.920
 many signs in

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:12.479
 their presence,

00:14:12.599 --> 00:14:13.120
 they still

00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.939
 did not

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:14.479
 believe in

00:14:14.479 --> 00:14:14.679
 him.

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.099
 This was to

00:14:16.099 --> 00:14:16.679
 fulfill the

00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:17.000
 word of

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.519
 Isaiah the

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:17.860
 prophet,

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.240
 Lord,

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:18.959
 who has

00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:19.519
 believed our

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:19.939
 message?

00:14:20.479 --> 00:14:20.819
 And to

00:14:20.819 --> 00:14:21.279
 whom has

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:21.719
 the arm of

00:14:21.719 --> 00:14:22.039
 the Lord

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:22.699
 been revealed?

00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.620
 For this

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.059
 reason,

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:25.939
 says John,

00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.240
 they could

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.559
 not believe

00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.299
 because,

00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:31.459
 as Isaiah

00:14:31.459 --> 00:14:32.199
 says elsewhere,

00:14:32.339 --> 00:14:32.679
 he has

00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:33.620
 blinded their

00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:35.139
 eyes and

00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:35.899
 hardened their

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.319
 hearts,

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:38.099
 so they can

00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:38.620
 neither see

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.000
 with their

00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.759
 eyes nor

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:40.559
 understand with

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.019
 their hearts

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.599
 nor turn.

00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.659
 And I

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.039
 would heal

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.339
 them.

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.459
 This is

00:14:47.459 --> 00:14:47.740
 where the

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.399
 passage gets

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:48.899
 difficult.

00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.860
 Verse 39,

00:14:53.319 --> 00:14:53.899
 especially,

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:55.339
 for this

00:14:55.339 --> 00:14:55.879
 reason,

00:14:56.599 --> 00:14:57.279
 says John,

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.339
 they could

00:14:58.339 --> 00:14:59.620
 not believe.

00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:00.959
 They could

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.919
 not believe.

00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.539
 You can

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.000
 look it up

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.740
 in all of

00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.120
 the major

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:07.500
 English

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.139
 translations.

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.959
 It says the

00:15:09.959 --> 00:15:10.459
 same thing.

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:11.660
 they could

00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:13.060
 not believe.

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:13.980
 Christian

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.379
 standard

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:14.800
 Bible,

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:15.940
 relatively new

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.460
 translation,

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.160
 it actually

00:15:17.160 --> 00:15:19.980
 says what

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.639
 could not

00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.200
 means.

00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.379
 It says they

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.379
 were unable

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.220
 to believe.

00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.279
 believe.

00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.580
 And then the

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:29.899
 reason.

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.160
 Because,

00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:33.360
 as Isaiah

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:33.860
 says,

00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:35.279
 he has

00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:35.960
 blinded

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.960
 their eyes

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.980
 and hardened

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:39.980
 their hearts.

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.039
 signs.

00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.320
 Maybe even

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:47.680
 now the

00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:48.200
 questions are

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:48.720
 starting to

00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.139
 rise in

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.420
 your own

00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:49.759
 mind.

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.120
 Well,

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:50.980
 but what

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.279
 about,

00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:51.980
 how,

00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:53.080
 what,

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.139
 how could,

00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:57.120
 before we

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.480
 get to the

00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.019
 questions,

00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:58.680
 are you

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.180
 hearing what

00:15:59.180 --> 00:15:59.580
 John is

00:15:59.580 --> 00:15:59.879
 saying?

00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.259
 for this

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:01.700
 reason,

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.320
 they could

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.299
 not believe.

00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:04.939
 That's the

00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:05.379
 people that

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.799
 saw his

00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:06.240
 signs.

00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:09.179
 Because,

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.460
 he has

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:11.860
 blinded

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.419
 their eyes

00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:14.299
 and hardened

00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:14.899
 their hearts.

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.080
 Maybe the

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:19.620
 first question

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.120
 on your mind

00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:20.360
 is,

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:20.620
 well,

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.340
 would God

00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.019
 do that?

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:25.659
 would he

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.679
 send Jesus

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.360
 with a

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:28.779
 message,

00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:29.960
 and that

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.539
 message is,

00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:31.740
 believe in

00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.120
 me,

00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:34.419
 and at the

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.299
 same time,

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:37.539
 harden the

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.079
 hearts of

00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:38.600
 the people

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.480
 that Jesus

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:40.919
 was sent

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.179
 to?

00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.340
 Blind the

00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:43.840
 eyes of the

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.259
 people that

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.699
 he was sent

00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:44.860
 to?

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:45.199
 I mean,

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:47.259
 what's going

00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:47.759
 on here?

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.419
 I don't know

00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:51.879
 how else to

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.439
 read this,

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.779
 but it

00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.159
 seems that

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.559
 that's what's

00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.000
 going on

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.220
 here.

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.600
 I mean,

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.159
 look back

00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.439
 up to

00:16:56.439 --> 00:16:57.220
 verse 36.

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.539
 Jesus is

00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.339
 there pleading

00:16:59.339 --> 00:16:59.679
 with the

00:16:59.679 --> 00:16:59.980
 people.

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.459
 He's saying,

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.319
 believe in

00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:01.819
 the light

00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:02.480
 while you

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:02.980
 have the

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.259
 light.

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.460
 And then

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.539
 just write

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:06.899
 down the

00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.200
 page.

00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:07.759
 For this

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.139
 reason,

00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.180
 they could

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.019
 not believe.

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.279
 Could not

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.899
 believe.

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.359
 Because he

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:13.980
 has blinded

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.460
 their eyes

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:14.940
 and hardened

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.299
 their hearts.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.420
 Is it

00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:20.940
 possible

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.619
 that there's

00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:24.219
 more going

00:17:24.219 --> 00:17:24.679
 on here

00:17:24.679 --> 00:17:25.059
 between

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.439
 Jesus

00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:25.819
 and the

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.219
 people

00:17:26.219 --> 00:17:27.979
 than meets

00:17:27.979 --> 00:17:28.419
 the eye?

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.719
 I think

00:17:31.719 --> 00:17:32.059
 so.

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.719
 I think

00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:35.000
 so.

00:17:38.179 --> 00:17:39.019
 The question

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.459
 is not,

00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.079
 would God

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.500
 do it?

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.119
 The question

00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:42.479
 is,

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.559
 why?

00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.159
 We might

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:49.019
 do well

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.519
 to remember

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.000
 that there's

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.580
 another time

00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:51.000
 that God

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.400
 has done

00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.019
 something like

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.360
 this.

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.620
 We've been

00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.240
 learning about

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.600
 it with the

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:54.940
 kids and

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.380
 alive.

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.700
 God sent

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.300
 Moses to

00:17:58.300 --> 00:17:58.600
 Pharaoh.

00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.980
 Even before

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.620
 he went,

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:02.800
 I will

00:18:02.800 --> 00:18:03.200
 harden

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.840
 Pharaoh's

00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:04.140
 heart.

00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:06.200
 And he

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.620
 will not

00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.300
 say yes.

00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:09.940
 But still

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.420
 give the

00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:10.800
 message.

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.380
 Give the

00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:11.720
 command.

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:12.600
 And he

00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:12.920
 did.

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.740
 And Pharaoh

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.440
 did exactly

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.519
 what God

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:16.940
 said he

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.120
 would.

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:17.620
 He hardened

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.220
 his heart.

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.059
 He refused

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.600
 to obey.

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.480
 And as the

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.059
 plagues kept

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.460
 coming,

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.140
 at some

00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:22.539
 point you

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:22.960
 would think,

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:23.720
 man,

00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:24.420
 Pharaoh's

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:24.700
 got to

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.000
 get it

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.279
 here.

00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:26.500
 But then

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:26.920
 it starts

00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:27.580
 telling us

00:18:27.580 --> 00:18:27.900
 in those

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.200
 latter

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:28.759
 plagues,

00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.660
 it was

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.440
 God who

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.080
 was hardening

00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:32.500
 the heart

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.960
 of Pharaoh,

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.120
 making his

00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:34.860
 heart stubborn

00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.480
 so that he

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.120
 would not

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.700
 respond.

00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.279
 And yet

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.640
 he still

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.220
 sent Moses

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.920
 each time

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.720
 and said,

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.420
 give him

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.000
 the command,

00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.420
 let my

00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.100
 people go.

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.100
 That's

00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:50.460
 strange,

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:50.900
 isn't it?

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.400
 He's

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:52.880
 working on

00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.440
 both sides

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:53.740
 of the

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.160
 equation.

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.539
 Is that

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.039
 what's going

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.660
 on here

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:58.759
 with Jesus

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.960
 and the

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.299
 people?

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.779
 I think

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.120
 so.

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.519
 But why?

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.740
 Why would

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.160
 God do

00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:09.460
 that?

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:10.819
 I think

00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.180
 the key

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.940
 comes as

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.360
 we start

00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:14.380
 looking into

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:14.700
 a little

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.200
 bit of

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.760
 Isaiah's

00:19:16.760 --> 00:19:17.220
 prophecy.

00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:18.240
 That's

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.540
 who he

00:19:18.540 --> 00:19:18.900
 quotes,

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.300
 the prophet

00:19:20.300 --> 00:19:20.760
 Isaiah.

00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:22.860
 So I

00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:23.420
 encourage you

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.240
 to flip

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.600
 back.

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.320
 We're just

00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:25.540
 going to

00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:25.980
 look at it

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.240
 a little

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.540
 bit.

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.060
 I'll

00:19:28.060 --> 00:19:28.540
 remind you

00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:28.880
 of the

00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.380
 story of

00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:29.940
 Isaiah a

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.280
 little bit.

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:30.620
 I'm not

00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:30.840
 going to

00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:31.160
 tell the

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.660
 whole thing.

00:19:32.020 --> 00:19:32.660
 You probably

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:33.120
 know the

00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:33.540
 story of

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:33.880
 Israel.

00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:35.920
 As a

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.260
 nation,

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:36.740
 on the

00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.060
 whole,

00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:38.560
 they would

00:19:38.560 --> 00:19:39.160
 continually

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.400
 turn away

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:40.980
 from God.

00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:41.820
 And though

00:19:41.820 --> 00:19:42.160
 there was

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.900
 times of

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.920
 renewal and

00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.360
 revival,

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:44.740
 where they

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.180
 turned to

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.580
 the Lord,

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:47.400
 then they

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:47.720
 would turn

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.320
 away again.

00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:48.900
 And they

00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:49.300
 just kept

00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:49.820
 spiraling

00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:50.360
 downward,

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.680
 further and

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.279
 further away

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:52.840
 from God.

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.240
 The Ten

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.759
 Commandments,

00:19:54.820 --> 00:19:55.080
 which we're

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.480
 about to

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:55.900
 learn about

00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.480
 and alive,

00:19:58.080 --> 00:19:58.660
 the Israelites

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.820
 more and

00:19:59.820 --> 00:20:00.220
 more were

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.600
 doing the

00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.220
 very opposite

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.620
 of those

00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:02.039
 things.

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.400
 Worshiping

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.259
 other gods.

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.380
 There was

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.100
 corruption in

00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:07.600
 the leadership.

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:08.779
 There was

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.680
 wickedness all

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.100
 over the

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.460
 place.

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:13.400
 God was

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.920
 sending the

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.559
 prophets to

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:15.980
 plead with

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.420
 the people,

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.079
 to repent,

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:17.740
 to turn

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.120
 away from

00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.579
 their sin.

00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:20.980
 We're going

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.220
 to look

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:21.740
 actually at

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.620
 2 Chronicles

00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.299
 36,

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.440
 verse 15.

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:24.900
 This just

00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:25.400
 tells the

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:25.980
 end of the

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.980
 story of

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.660
 the era of

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.059
 the kings.

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.480
 This is

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.579
 still a ways

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.460
 after Isaiah

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.620
 prophesied,

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.039
 but this is

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.660
 how it went.

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.440
 It's a good

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.880
 summary.

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.279
 2 Chronicles

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.740
 36,

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.399
 15.

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.420
 Yahweh,

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.059
 the God

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.519
 of their

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.139
 ancestors,

00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:41.839
 sent word

00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.200
 to them

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.799
 through his

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.379
 messengers,

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.500
 that's the

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:44.920
 prophets,

00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.379
 again and

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:46.799
 again,

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.339
 because he

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:48.980
 had pity

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.660
 on his

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:51.119
 people and

00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:51.460
 on his

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.200
 dwelling place.

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.920
 But they

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.859
 mocked God's

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.519
 messengers,

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.379
 despised his

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:57.839
 words,

00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.500
 and scoffed

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.099
 at his

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.879
 prophets until

00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.899
 the wrath of

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.680
 Yahweh was

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.799
 aroused against

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.539
 his people,

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.279
 and there was

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:06.980
 no remedy.

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:09.379
 He brought

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:09.899
 up against

00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.220
 them the

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.519
 king of

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.379
 the Babylonians

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:11.899
 who killed

00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:12.359
 their young

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:12.799
 men with

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.319
 the sword

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.980
 in the

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.460
 sanctuary,

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.420
 and who

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:15.819
 did not

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.399
 spare young

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:16.960
 men or

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.519
 young women,

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.480
 the elderly

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.960
 or the

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.420
 infirm.

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.359
 God gave

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:20.940
 them all

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.440
 into the

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:21.899
 hands of

00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.639
 Nebuchadnezzar.

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.000
 Verse 19,

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.599
 they set

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.139
 fire to

00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:25.879
 God's temple

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.819
 and broke

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.240
 down the

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.559
 wall of

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.079
 Jerusalem.

00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.440
 They burned

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:29.759
 all the

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.440
 palaces and

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:30.799
 destroyed

00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.519
 everything of

00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.180
 value there,

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.920
 and the

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.440
 survivors,

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:34.940
 many of

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.079
 them,

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.500
 most of

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:35.619
 them,

00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.079
 were carried

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.599
 off into

00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.099
 exile.

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.759
 Babylon.

00:21:44.899 --> 00:21:45.379
 Isaiah

00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.859
 came long

00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.660
 before this,

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.259
 but do you

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.000
 hear what the

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.399
 word of the

00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:51.019
 Lord is saying?

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.899
 It's not as

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.740
 though God

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.619
 wasn't patiently

00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.299
 pleading with

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.039
 the people all

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.440
 along.

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.859
 He was.

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.799
 He sent

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.559
 prophet after

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.299
 prophet after

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.019
 prophet after

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.480
 prophet,

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.240
 but God was

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.740
 saying to

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:04.960
 them,

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.160
 eventually there

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.799
 will come a

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.180
 time when

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.039
 enough is

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.420
 enough.

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.799
 I will not

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.380
 tolerate

00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.660
 wickedness and

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.019
 sin forever.

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:19.059
 That's what's

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.620
 going on with

00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.279
 the story of

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.680
 Isaiah.

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.680
 Isaiah chapter

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:24.279
 1 verse 18,

00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.740
 probably at the

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.259
 beginning of

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.220
 Isaiah's ministry,

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.299
 Isaiah himself

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:29.220
 even pleads with

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.880
 the people to

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.279
 repent.

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.579
 God speaks

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.139
 through him.

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.399
 In Isaiah

00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.019
 1 verse 18,

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:34.399
 he says,

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.980
 Come now,

00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.680
 let us settle

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.220
 the matter,

00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.359
 says the

00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:37.619
 Lord.

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:38.740
 Though your

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.480
 sins are like

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.039
 scarlet,

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.559
 they shall be

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.279
 white as snow.

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:43.980
 Though they are

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.779
 red as crimson,

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.599
 they shall be

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.279
 like wool.

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:48.019
 If you are

00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:49.519
 willing and

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.000
 obedient,

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.339
 you will eat

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.039
 the good things

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.680
 of the land.

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:55.360
 But if you

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.340
 resist and

00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:56.759
 rebel,

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.220
 you will be

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.560
 devoured by

00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.080
 the sword.

00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:02.120
 Even there

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.860
 through Isaiah,

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.360
 God was

00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:03.860
 pleading with

00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:04.240
 the people

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.580
 saying,

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:05.980
 Come,

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.060
 repent,

00:23:07.340 --> 00:23:08.160
 humble yourself.

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.580
 Let's settle

00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:09.920
 this.

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:11.060
 I will forgive

00:23:11.060 --> 00:23:11.860
 you of all

00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:12.259
 the wicked

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.740
 things you

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.180
 have done.

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.680
 You can

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.320
 continue to

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.019
 remain in

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.420
 the land

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:17.740
 even.

00:23:19.060 --> 00:23:19.420
 But if

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:19.779
 not,

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.620
 he gave

00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:22.080
 the warning,

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:22.920
 there will

00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.279
 come a

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:23.580
 time,

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.500
 when enough

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.560
 is enough.

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.600
 Punishment

00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:28.160
 will come.

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.680
 He's a

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.259
 holy God.

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:31.720
 He will

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.440
 not tolerate

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.580
 sin or

00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:34.180
 wickedness

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.720
 forever.

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:35.940
 And so

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.220
 when we

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.620
 come to

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:36.940
 Isaiah

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.799
 chapter 6,

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:40.240
 this is

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.860
 that moment

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.480
 when enough

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.279
 is enough.

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.700
 Some of

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:45.920
 you may

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.240
 know the

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.539
 story.

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:46.920
 Isaiah

00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:48.060
 has a

00:23:48.060 --> 00:23:49.240
 vision of

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.660
 the Lord

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.259
 seated on

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.700
 a throne

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.740
 in glory.

00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:52.660
 I won't

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:52.980
 go through

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.279
 the whole

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:53.619
 thing.

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.000
 But at

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.480
 some point

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:55.720
 here,

00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.139
 the Lord

00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:57.059
 speaks to

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.519
 Isaiah.

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.519
 Or I

00:23:59.519 --> 00:23:59.839
 guess he

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.460
 speaks just

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.079
 generally and

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.759
 asks the

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.379
 question in

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:02.839
 verse 8.

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.200
 Then I

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.519
 heard the

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:03.920
 voice of

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.200
 the Lord

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.599
 saying,

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.559
 whom shall

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.139
 I send?

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.059
 And who

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.399
 will go

00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:07.940
 for us?

00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.220
 And I

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:09.559
 said,

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.119
 Isaiah,

00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:12.220
 here am I.

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.200
 Send me.

00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.279
 Isaiah

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.859
 volunteers,

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:19.799
 verse 9,

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.879
 go and

00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.359
 tell this

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:21.740
 people,

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.159
 be ever

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.599
 hearing,

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.159
 but never

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.939
 understanding.

00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.579
 Be ever

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.119
 seeing,

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.579
 but never

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.159
 perceiving.

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.740
 Make the

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.399
 heart of

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.079
 this people

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:33.839
 calloused.

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.579
 Make their

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.939
 ears dull

00:24:35.939 --> 00:24:36.919
 and close

00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:37.500
 their eyes.

00:24:38.219 --> 00:24:38.599
 Otherwise,

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.419
 they might see

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:39.799
 with their

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.159
 eyes,

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:40.879
 hear with

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.500
 their ears,

00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:42.639
 understand with

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.179
 their hearts,

00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:44.259
 and turn

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.600
 and be

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:45.940
 healed.

00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.519
 It's a

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.960
 sobering

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.220
 word.

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.200
 This is your

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.620
 assignment,

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.019
 Isaiah.

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:52.580
 This is your

00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:52.880
 mission.

00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.759
 The time has

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.140
 come when

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:55.600
 enough is

00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:55.920
 enough.

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.400
 And this is

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:57.940
 my judgment.

00:24:58.100 --> 00:24:58.580
 This is my

00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.000
 punishment.

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:00.920
 Deaf ears,

00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.080
 blind eyes,

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.000
 calloused

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.440
 hearts.

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.400
 Isaiah

00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.039
 says,

00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:07.660
 for how

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:07.980
 long,

00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:08.279
 Lord?

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.000
 And God

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.580
 answers in

00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.100
 verse 11,

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.779
 until the

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.380
 cities lie

00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.080
 ruined and

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.379
 without

00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.139
 inhabitant,

00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.359
 until the

00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:15.859
 houses are

00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.559
 left deserted

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.379
 and the

00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.000
 fields ruined

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.679
 and ravaged,

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.659
 until the

00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:20.220
 Lord has

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.000
 sent everyone

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.839
 far away and

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.299
 the land is

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.119
 utterly forsaken.

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.519
 And though a

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.259
 tenth remains in

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:25.559
 the land,

00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.199
 it will again

00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:26.579
 be laid

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:26.960
 waste.

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.419
 There's only a

00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:30.039
 glimmer of hope

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.619
 that comes at

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.019
 the end.

00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:31.779
 But as the

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.460
 terebinth and

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.359
 oak leave

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.279
 stumps when

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.720
 they are cut

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.220
 down, so the

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:38.079
 holy seed will

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.720
 be the stump in

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.139
 the land.

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.839
 So there came

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.419
 a time in

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.320
 Israel's story

00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:45.180
 when eventually

00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:45.779
 God said,

00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.240
 enough is

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.580
 enough.

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.300
 There's no

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.920
 turning back.

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.360
 There's no

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:52.300
 opportunity from

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:52.800
 this point

00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:53.360
 forward to

00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.259
 repent and

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.800
 to change

00:25:54.800 --> 00:25:55.539
 punishment.

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.620
 It's coming

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.220
 for your

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.460
 sin.

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.800
 And I think

00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:01.320
 this is what

00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.100
 John is talking

00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:02.460
 about.

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.440
 He's saying

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.360
 here in

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:05.880
 John chapter

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.320
 12,

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.779
 the reason the

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.600
 people here

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.699
 that are

00:26:09.699 --> 00:26:10.399
 witnessing all

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.240
 these signs

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.859
 could not

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.399
 believe,

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.159
 were unable

00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:14.859
 to believe,

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.779
 is because

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.379
 God is doing

00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:17.859
 the same

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:19.000
 thing here

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.359
 and now

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.779
 today,

00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:21.000
 in Jesus'

00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:21.379
 day,

00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.879
 with the

00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.579
 Jewish people

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.939
 as he was

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.439
 doing back

00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:25.740
 then.

00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:31.059
 it had

00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:31.500
 come about

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.680
 that by

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.160
 God's own

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:33.799
 determination,

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.160
 for many

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.500
 of them,

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:39.299
 the verdict

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:39.940
 was enough

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.559
 is enough.

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:42.839
 now I don't

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.240
 know how

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.720
 that worked

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.159
 for each

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:44.639
 individual

00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:45.159
 person.

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.299
 Maybe it

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.700
 was on an

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.079
 individual

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.639
 basis.

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.639
 Maybe some

00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:50.980
 of them,

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.240
 they'd been

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.639
 hearing the

00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.079
 preaching of

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:53.419
 John the

00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:54.000
 baptizer,

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.500
 and then

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:55.859
 they just

00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.159
 made the

00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:56.579
 choice to

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:56.980
 harden their

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.319
 hearts.

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:57.779
 No,

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.559
 no,

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.299
 no,

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.019
 no.

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.819
 But eventually

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.359
 comes that

00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:02.899
 moment where

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:04.419
 God hardens

00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:05.179
 their hearts

00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:06.720
 and closes

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.220
 the window

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.960
 of opportunity

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.440
 that they

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:10.179
 have to

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.860
 believe and

00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.400
 to respond.

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:12.820
 We talked

00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.299
 about that a

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.600
 little bit

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.160
 last week.

00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:14.779
 Jesus is

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.259
 pleading with

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.420
 them,

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.580
 believe in

00:27:16.580 --> 00:27:16.960
 the light

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.340
 while you

00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:17.779
 have the

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.000
 light.

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.920
 There is a

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.360
 window of

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.840
 opportunity

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.320
 for all

00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:20.759
 of us.

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.160
 But it

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:23.580
 seems that

00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:23.960
 that window

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.700
 of opportunity

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.539
 for some,

00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:27.120
 for the

00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:27.779
 Jewish people,

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.660
 was closed

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.799
 even in the

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.180
 midst of

00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.460
 Jesus'

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.060
 ministry.

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.600
 Not for

00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:34.900
 all of

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.039
 them.

00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:36.600
 You'll

00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.080
 remember how

00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:37.620
 John began

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.160
 the gospel.

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:38.880
 He said

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.960
 that Jesus

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.980
 came to

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.440
 his own

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.160
 and his

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.579
 own did

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.240
 not receive

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.519
 him.

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.420
 But as

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.460
 many as

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.160
 received him

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.299
 who believed

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.840
 in his name,

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.539
 he gave the

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.019
 right to

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.680
 become children

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.220
 of God.

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:53.840
 So the

00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.220
 general,

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.720
 on the

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.120
 whole,

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.120
 story of

00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:56.779
 Israel was

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.660
 they rejected

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.360
 their Messiah,

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.380
 but not

00:27:59.380 --> 00:27:59.759
 everyone.

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.079
 Not

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.759
 everyone did.

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.279
 One more

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.980
 passage that

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.360
 kind of

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:09.119
 confirms or

00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:10.019
 brings this

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.699
 into focus

00:28:10.699 --> 00:28:11.899
 well for

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.459
 us is in

00:28:12.459 --> 00:28:13.139
 Romans chapter

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.639
 11,

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.559
 verse 7.

00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:16.319
 In fact,

00:28:16.439 --> 00:28:16.819
 all of

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.979
 Romans 9-11

00:28:17.979 --> 00:28:19.039
 really digs

00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.500
 into this

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:19.819
 issue,

00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.359
 the story

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:20.879
 of Israel.

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.019
 How is it

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.759
 that God

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.179
 is going to

00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:23.699
 keep his

00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:24.399
 promises and

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.119
 his covenants

00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:25.899
 with Israel

00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:27.719
 and yet they

00:28:27.719 --> 00:28:28.519
 rejected the

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:28.939
 Messiah?

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.799
 Many of

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.139
 them on

00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.679
 the whole.

00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:33.119
 That's the

00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.919
 whole topic

00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:34.439
 of this

00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:34.839
 section,

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.979
 Romans 9-11.

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.360
 We won't

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.740
 look at it

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:36.960
 all,

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.339
 but just

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:37.740
 jump in

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.039
 in verse

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.400
 7.

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.620
 Listen to

00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:39.940
 this.

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.019
 Paul says,

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:41.500
 What then?

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:42.759
 What the

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.200
 people of

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.900
 Israel sought

00:28:43.900 --> 00:28:44.860
 so earnestly

00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.360
 they did

00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:46.039
 not obtain.

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.720
 The elect

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.559
 among them

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.059
 did,

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.000
 but the

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.920
 others were

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.279
 hardened,

00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.120
 as it is

00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.380
 written.

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.860
 God gave

00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:56.200
 them a

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.660
 spirit of

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.160
 stupor,

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.240
 eyes that

00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.640
 could not

00:28:59.640 --> 00:28:59.920
 see,

00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:01.740
 and ears

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.180
 that could

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.680
 not hear

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.819
 to this

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.419
 very day.

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.139
 Paul is

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:06.519
 reflecting

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.059
 back on

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.779
 why did

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.159
 all the

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.659
 children of

00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.039
 Israel

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.619
 reject the

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.000
 Messiah?

00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.500
 He explains

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:12.859
 that there

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:14.599
 was a

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.119
 remnant,

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.059
 just like in

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.419
 the Old

00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:17.220
 Testament days,

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.559
 that was

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.299
 chosen by

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:20.480
 grace and

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:22.059
 enabled to

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.799
 see, to

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.059
 believe, but

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.379
 that the

00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:25.899
 others were

00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:26.299
 hardened.

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.919
 A punishment

00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:29.559
 from God.

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.019
 He was

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.619
 saying enough

00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.159
 is enough.

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.599
 The window

00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.319
 of opportunity,

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.460
 at least in

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.319
 that generation

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.519
 for those

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.440
 people, was

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.840
 closed.

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.160
 You could

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.559
 think about

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:41.960
 the kinds

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.340
 of people

00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.019
 that Jesus

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:46.360
 ran into

00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.380
 during his

00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:47.819
 ministry.

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.940
 The Pharisees,

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.340
 the leaders

00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:53.000
 of Israel,

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.079
 corrupt.

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.120
 They had

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.740
 hard hearts

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.279
 to Jesus.

00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.140
 It wasn't

00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.660
 that God

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.420
 just out of

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.660
 nowhere,

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.180
 decided,

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.220
 well, some

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.660
 of you guys

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:04.920
 are going

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.140
 to get

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:05.640
 mercy and

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.300
 others not.

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.560
 No, they

00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:08.000
 had had

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.700
 opportunity,

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.759
 and yet they

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.300
 had been

00:30:11.300 --> 00:30:14.300
 resisting and

00:30:14.300 --> 00:30:15.380
 refusing to

00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.500
 listen all

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:16.980
 along the

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.240
 way.

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:18.840
 And so it

00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:19.340
 seems that

00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.039
 what John is

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.700
 saying here is

00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:22.620
 that even

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.420
 as the signs

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.300
 kept increasing,

00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:24.980
 Jesus kept

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.519
 doing more,

00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:26.320
 it was obvious

00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:26.840
 right in front

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:27.080
 of their

00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:27.539
 faces.

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:29.680
 many of

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.279
 them could

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.019
 not believe

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:34.240
 because God

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.720
 had already

00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.299
 said enough

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.799
 is enough

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.200
 with some

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:38.240
 in that

00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:38.779
 generation

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:40.379
 and hardened

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.059
 their hearts

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.220
 and blinded

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:42.759
 their eyes.

00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:48.200
 These are

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.659
 sobering

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.019
 words.

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.720
 What's there

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.420
 here for us?

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:57.259
 I want to

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.600
 draw us

00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.120
 back to

00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.539
 what we

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.039
 talked about

00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.700
 last Sunday.

00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.180
 There is a

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.660
 window of

00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.640
 opportunity for

00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.340
 each one of

00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:05.120
 us to put

00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.720
 our faith in

00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:07.480
 Jesus, to

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.320
 respond to

00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:09.500
 God's gracious

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.779
 offer of

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.840
 salvation, his

00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:13.660
 plea to

00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.440
 believe.

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:17.860
 all of us

00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.420
 have sinned,

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.180
 we have all

00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.740
 done wrong,

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.160
 none of us

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:22.900
 deserves

00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.720
 salvation.

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:27.059
 In fact, we

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.600
 all deserve

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.180
 the opposite.

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.779
 And that

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.180
 window,

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:34.840
 it's really

00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.299
 God who

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.900
 determines

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.539
 how long

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:37.860
 that will

00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:38.360
 stay open

00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:38.779
 for each

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.100
 one of

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:39.400
 us.

00:31:39.820 --> 00:31:40.400
 And I

00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:40.740
 think deep

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.240
 down inside

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.580
 we all

00:31:41.580 --> 00:31:42.100
 know that,

00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:44.420
 that window

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.519
 closes, we

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:45.980
 know for

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.840
 sure when

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.340
 we die,

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.000
 there's no

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.519
 opportunities

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.140
 after we

00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.380
 die to

00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:52.039
 believe, to

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.380
 receive

00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:52.940
 salvation.

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.259
 But I

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.560
 think we're

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:56.160
 seeing here

00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.539
 that God

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.180
 even has

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.420
 the sovereign

00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:01.380
 right to

00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:01.920
 close that

00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:03.080
 window even

00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.960
 sooner in

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.480
 our lives.

00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.259
 It's a

00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:07.660
 sobering

00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.000
 thought.

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:13.880
 So what

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.200
 do we do

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.660
 with this?

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:16.779
 Well, if

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.140
 you're here

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.799
 this morning

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.539
 and you

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.819
 have not

00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.259
 put your

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.779
 faith in

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.380
 Jesus and

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.059
 received him

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.559
 as your

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.319
 Lord and

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:25.019
 Savior, I

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.299
 want to

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.000
 encourage you,

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.759
 today is

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:29.340
 the day to

00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:29.759
 believe.

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.259
 Not tomorrow,

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:32.980
 not someday.

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.600
 We don't know

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.279
 how long we

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.920
 have before

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.640
 God closes

00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:37.340
 that door of

00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:38.200
 opportunity for

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.519
 us.

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.519
 As God

00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.160
 says elsewhere

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.640
 in his word,

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.680
 today if you

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.279
 hear his

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:45.080
 voice, do

00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:45.560
 not harden

00:32:45.560 --> 00:32:46.140
 your hearts.

00:32:48.320 --> 00:32:49.039
 Believe in

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.680
 the light while

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.360
 you have the

00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:52.240
 light so that

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.860
 you may become

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.860
 children of

00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.180
 light.

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.220
 Most of us

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.640
 here in this

00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.279
 room have made

00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.940
 that decision

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.400
 already.

00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:01.180
 God

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:01.519
 and I hope

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:01.820
 that you

00:33:01.820 --> 00:33:03.420
 know that

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:04.000
 because of

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:06.120
 Jesus being

00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:07.100
 in Christ,

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.960
 born of

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:09.660
 his spirit,

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.340
 you are

00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.900
 safe.

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.700
 You are

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.180
 secure.

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:16.400
 This blinding

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.480
 of eyes and

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.019
 hardening of

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:19.640
 hearts will

00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.320
 never come to

00:33:20.320 --> 00:33:20.560
 you.

00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.920
 Jesus paid the

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.380
 punishment and

00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:26.200
 that covers you.

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.100
 you are

00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:28.420
 secure forever.

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.420
 But it

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.000
 doesn't mean

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.620
 that there is

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:34.620
 no place for

00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:36.180
 fear, for

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.880
 reverence towards

00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.940
 this holy God.

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.500
 My mind kept

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.279
 going back to

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.160
 Philippians chapter

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.880
 two verse

00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:47.920
 11 and we

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.299
 will end with

00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:48.680
 this.

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.059
 Sorry,

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.600
 two verse

00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.039
 12.

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.319
 Paul writes

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.019
 this to the

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.659
 believers in

00:33:56.659 --> 00:33:57.119
 Philippi.

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.180
 Therefore, my

00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:58.720
 dear friends,

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.220
 as you have

00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.480
 always obeyed,

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.639
 not only in

00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:02.159
 my presence,

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:02.940
 but now much

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.460
 more in my

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.980
 absence,

00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.899
 continue to

00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.779
 work out your

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:08.800
 salvation with

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.659
 fear and

00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.099
 trembling.

00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.619
 For it is

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.239
 God who

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:13.980
 works in

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.960
 you to

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:17.480
 will and

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:19.340
 to act in

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.719
 order to

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:21.000
 fulfill his

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.699
 good purpose.

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:23.980
 even though

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.679
 we are safe

00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.259
 and secure

00:34:25.259 --> 00:34:26.119
 in Christ,

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.779
 let us

00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:28.379
 not forget

00:34:28.379 --> 00:34:29.539
 that we

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:29.919
 have a

00:34:29.919 --> 00:34:30.539
 holy God

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:32.419
 and we

00:34:32.419 --> 00:34:32.819
 ought not

00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.460
 to go on

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.119
 doing the

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.960
 things that

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.679
 Christ died

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.480
 to atone

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.980
 for,

00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.899
 those sins,

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.419
 those wicked

00:34:39.419 --> 00:34:39.859
 things.

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:40.519
 Paul says,

00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.199
 continue to

00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:42.559
 obey.

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:46.019
 God worked

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.299
 in the

00:34:46.299 --> 00:34:46.679
 heart of

00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.980
 Pharaoh and

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.659
 hardened it.

00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:50.599
 It seems

00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.059
 that he

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.619
 also worked

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:52.880
 in the

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.340
 hearts of

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:53.759
 some who

00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:54.299
 were listening

00:34:54.299 --> 00:34:55.219
 to Jesus

00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:56.279
 and hardened

00:34:56.279 --> 00:34:56.679
 them.

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.440
 But,

00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:02.079
 to those of

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.460
 us who are

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.019
 in Christ,

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.699
 it says that

00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.400
 God works

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.480
 in us

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.380
 to will

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.179
 and to

00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:08.659
 act in

00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:09.079
 order to

00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.639
 fulfill his

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.340
 good purpose.

00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:12.500
 we're not

00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:12.760
 on our

00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.059
 own in

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.360
 this.

00:35:14.620 --> 00:35:15.180
 God is

00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:15.400
 the one

00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.100
 who enables

00:35:16.100 --> 00:35:16.559
 us,

00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:17.240
 gives us

00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:18.500
 power to

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:18.860
 obey,

00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.360
 to do

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:19.620
 what is

00:35:19.620 --> 00:35:19.860
 good,

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.200
 to do

00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:20.460
 what is

00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:20.760
 right.

00:35:22.600 --> 00:35:23.280
 And so,

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.280
 that's what I

00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:25.640
 take from

00:35:25.640 --> 00:35:26.220
 these words.

00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.079
 We have a

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.660
 holy God,

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:29.500
 a free

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:29.880
 God,

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:33.740
 a God

00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:34.640
 who graciously

00:35:34.640 --> 00:35:35.480
 gives us

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.260
 chances again

00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:36.660
 and again

00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:37.100
 and again,

00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.140
 and yet a

00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:39.500
 God who

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:39.860
 will not

00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.199
 put up

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:40.659
 with sin

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:41.619
 and wickedness

00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:42.000
 forever.

00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:43.639
 And so,

00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:43.980
 we should

00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:44.619
 tremble before

00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:44.960
 that.

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.619
 We should.

00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:51.340
 Let's pray.

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.679
 Father in

00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:56.840
 heaven,

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.280
 thank you

00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:57.639
 for these

00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.000
 words.

00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:00.860
 I'll admit

00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.340
 on behalf

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:01.920
 of everyone,

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:04.000
 not the

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.380
 words I

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:04.760
 wanted to

00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:05.179
 hear at

00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:05.579
 first,

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.340
 or the

00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:06.659
 words I

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.019
 wanted to

00:36:07.019 --> 00:36:07.460
 see as

00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:07.800
 I began

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:08.360
 my prep,

00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:12.160
 but it's

00:36:12.160 --> 00:36:12.539
 the truth,

00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:12.960
 it's your

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.280
 word.

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.400
 I pray

00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:15.660
 that you

00:36:15.660 --> 00:36:15.980
 would help

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.320
 us to

00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:16.800
 wrestle with

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.260
 these words

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.640
 well and

00:36:18.640 --> 00:36:19.059
 to take

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:19.440
 you very

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.000
 seriously.

00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:22.240
 Thank you

00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:22.559
 that you

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.300
 are an

00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.900
 amazing,

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.420
 gracious,

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.660
 merciful God.

00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:29.720
 We do

00:36:29.720 --> 00:36:30.340
 not understand

00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:30.800
 all of your

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.120
 ways,

00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:31.599
 all of your

00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:32.140
 dealings with

00:36:32.140 --> 00:36:32.559
 people,

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:35.299
 with your

00:36:35.299 --> 00:36:36.699
 special people,

00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.380
 Israel,

00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:37.920
 with us,

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.519
 the church,

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.039
 2,000 years

00:36:40.039 --> 00:36:40.400
 later,

00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:42.119
 but we are

00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:42.659
 so thankful

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.159
 that you

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:45.000
 have given

00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:46.179
 so many of

00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:46.659
 us in this

00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:48.500
 room grace

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.460
 and that we

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:49.960
 have come to

00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.559
 put our faith

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.019
 in you and

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.599
 to be saved.

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.519
 And I pray,

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:52.779
 Lord,

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.980
 that we would

00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.820
 continue to

00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:57.099
 work to see

00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:59.279
 others come

00:36:59.279 --> 00:36:59.840
 to that as

00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:00.059
 well.

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:01.279
 and we

00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:01.699
 trust you

00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:02.000
 with the

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.340
 results.

00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:02.699
 You are

00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:03.099
 the God

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:03.400
 who is

00:37:03.400 --> 00:37:04.059
 capable of

00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:04.460
 softening

00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:04.860
 hearts.

00:37:06.059 --> 00:37:06.519
 Soften the

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:06.960
 hearts of

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.759
 all in our

00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:08.199
 midst who

00:37:08.199 --> 00:37:08.880
 don't believe

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:10.320
 and all in

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.980
 this community

00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:12.299
 who don't

00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.699
 believe.

00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.239
 We pray

00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:15.860
 in Jesus'

00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:16.239
 name.

00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:17.480
 Amen.