WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.620 Good morning, church. 00:00:02.500 --> 00:00:06.500 Our sermon text this morning is John chapter 1, verses 19 through 34. 00:00:07.259 --> 00:00:08.900 Let me ask you to turn there with me. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:10.679 That's page 886 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:16.760 This Advent season, we've been looking at the life and message of John the Baptist, 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:22.600 which isn't your typical Christmas sermon series, I admit. 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:26.780 But John the Baptist has a lot to say about getting ready for Jesus' arrival. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:29.039 Prepare for the coming King. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.339 That was John's message. 00:00:32.939 --> 00:00:35.479 And after all, that's what Advent is all about, isn't it? 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:37.679 Preparing for the coming King. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.340 We remember Jesus' first coming in grace. 00:00:41.460 --> 00:00:43.879 We look ahead to His second coming in glory. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.120 That's what we're doing this month. 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:50.899 So let's pick up our series in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 19. 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:53.939 And before we read that, let me pray for us. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:05.719 Father, as we have just sung, tidings of comfort and joy. 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:13.780 Oh, how we long to hear a word of comfort that will produce much joy. 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:20.439 God, we confess that we are often not a comforted people, but a very disturbed people. 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:26.099 Lord, we are often not a joyful people, but we are a distressed people. 00:01:26.099 --> 00:01:34.819 So God, now as we draw near to You in Your Word, we pray that You would reveal to us now, 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:41.560 through Your written Word, a fresh sight of Jesus, Your incarnate Word. 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:48.939 Lord, help us by Your Spirit to behold Him, and in beholding Him to love Him, 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:57.240 and in loving Him to follow Him, and in following Him to know this comfort and joy. 00:01:58.460 --> 00:02:01.420 Do this for our good and for Your glory, Father, we pray. 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:04.719 For it is in Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:04.840 Amen. 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:11.379 John chapter 1, verse 19 through 34. 00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:19.960 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask Him, 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:21.020 Who are You? 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:27.000 He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:31.479 And they asked Him, What then? Are you Elijah? 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:33.079 He said, I am not. 00:02:33.079 --> 00:02:34.539 Are you the prophet? 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:36.240 And He answered, No. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:38.859 So they said to Him, Who are you? 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:41.080 We need to give an answer to those who sent us. 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:42.479 What do you say about yourself? 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:46.840 He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:50.000 Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:53.699 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 00:02:54.259 --> 00:02:56.900 They asked Him, Then why are you baptizing, 00:02:56.979 --> 00:02:59.020 if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:03.320 But John answered them, I baptize with water. 00:03:03.320 --> 00:03:07.460 But among you stands one you do not know. 00:03:08.660 --> 00:03:13.400 Even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:18.319 These things took place in Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:22.259 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:26.419 Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:32.959 This is He of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because He was before me. 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:37.199 I myself did not know Him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, 00:03:37.579 --> 00:03:39.199 that He might be revealed to Israel. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:41.299 And John bore witness. 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:45.840 I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:51.640 I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:55.040 He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, 00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:57.840 this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:04.080 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:14.600 Well, there's a lot to look at during the Christmas season, isn't there? 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:16.960 I wonder what you're looking for. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:20.180 Maybe you're still looking for some good sales on Christmas gifts. 00:04:21.080 --> 00:04:24.040 20% off Star Wars at Target, just in case you're wondering. 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:29.819 Maybe you're excited to look in your mailbox for Christmas cards from friends and family. 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:35.339 Maybe you just keep looking at your calendar, counting down the days until Christmas vacation. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:38.819 One of the things we like to do as a family is drive around our neighborhood 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:41.839 and look at all the lights and the lawn ornaments our neighbors have put up. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:45.699 I think the prize still goes to, for the second year in a row, 00:04:45.779 --> 00:04:49.259 the inflatable Darth Vader wearing a Santa hat just a few doors down. 00:04:50.899 --> 00:04:53.480 You've got to love how you can stick a Santa hat on anything, 00:04:53.719 --> 00:04:55.719 and suddenly it becomes a Christmas decoration, right? 00:04:58.159 --> 00:04:59.480 Santa hat on Angry Cat. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:00.640 Christmas decoration, done. 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:09.040 But first, on a serious note, amidst all that fun and distracting stuff, 00:05:10.080 --> 00:05:14.379 what really has your attention this Christmas season? 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:20.720 What do the eyes of your heart keep coming back to, keep looking at, as it were? 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.439 What are you really beholding or focusing on? 00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:30.879 Maybe if we were to have a good heart-to-heart, you'd say it's finances. 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:35.040 It's hard not to think about finances during the Christmas season, right? 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:41.899 Maybe a relationship that's going well, or maybe not going well. 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:46.980 Maybe a loved one who's sick, or maybe a health issue of your own. 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:52.120 Maybe what keeps drawing your attention is a big decision on the horizon. 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:54.540 Where to go to college, where to find work. 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:01.780 Something probably is there, capturing your attention and drawing the gaze of your mind and your heart. 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:08.479 You know, but amidst all these things that capture our gaze, 00:06:08.599 --> 00:06:12.859 here in the middle of our passage comes this word, behold. 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:18.520 Now, that's not a word we use much, is it? 00:06:18.780 --> 00:06:19.220 Behold. 00:06:20.280 --> 00:06:23.759 It's not like you've opened your fridge late at night and said, 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:24.780 Behold. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:27.660 Leftovers for dinner, right? 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:29.720 Behold. 00:06:30.840 --> 00:06:31.860 But it's a great word. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:33.759 I think we need to revive it. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:35.720 Behold. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:36.500 Look. 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:38.199 Take notice. 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:40.620 Set your gaze right here. 00:06:40.780 --> 00:06:41.540 This is it. 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:48.680 For the last two weeks, we've looked at John the Baptist's ministry, 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:50.280 his ministry of baptism. 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:54.560 We've looked at his message, his message of repentance and how that's good news. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:57.319 But you know, this morning, we get down to it. 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:00.400 We get to the heart of what John was all about. 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:03.439 Look, John says. 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:05.500 Behold. 00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:09.600 Amidst all the distractions, especially for us at Christmastime, 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.740 the gifts, the lights, the gift sales, 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:16.740 amidst all the cares and concerns that this time of year brings, 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:20.759 the hopes, the fears, the disappointments, the stress. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:25.680 This is what we really have to see. 00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:30.420 Here's the answer to what you've been looking for. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:33.740 This is what you really have to behold. 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:40.560 Now, I wonder when you look at Jesus, what do you see? 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:43.700 Perhaps you see many things. 00:07:45.840 --> 00:07:46.819 See a great teacher. 00:07:49.020 --> 00:07:54.200 See a great teacher with some pretty good principles that only if you could put them into practice, 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.259 things might be a little different. 00:07:55.259 --> 00:08:02.899 Maybe you see a religious founder, someone to admire for his spiritual bravery. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:08.920 John the Baptist, too, had a lot of things to say about Jesus, didn't he? 00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:11.060 I mean, just look at the paragraph. 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:15.519 He's the one who ranks before me because he was before me. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:18.839 He is the one on whom the Spirit of God remains. 00:08:19.299 --> 00:08:23.759 Not like those other figures in the Old Testament on whom the Spirit of God would come 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.539 and then leave and then come and then leave. 00:08:25.599 --> 00:08:27.339 No, the Spirit of God remains on him. 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:31.919 He is the one who will usher in the new age of God's redemption. 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.699 He will baptize us, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:36.439 --> 00:08:39.840 We will be awash in the very presence of God because of this one. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:48.320 And at the end of our text, he's the Son of God, the King, the Messiah, the one we've been waiting for. 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:52.280 So much to say and to know about Jesus. 00:08:53.920 --> 00:08:57.780 But look, fix your gaze on this. 00:08:59.580 --> 00:09:01.280 Here's what I really want you to see. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:06.819 Behold, John says, pointing at Jesus, the Lamb. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:22.360 Now, in the first century, there were some Jewish writers and some Jewish religious groups that weren't very mainstream. 00:09:23.819 --> 00:09:25.579 But we have some of their writings still in existence. 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:37.020 And they would talk and they would write symbolically about a lamb-like figure who would come at the end of the age as a warrior to execute God's judgment on the world. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.400 A sort of apocalyptic warrior lamb. 00:09:41.700 --> 00:09:43.860 Sounds like a good Netflix series, doesn't it? 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:50.700 But is that what John wants us to behold here in Jesus? 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:54.040 The apocalyptic warrior lamb. 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:59.459 Of course, John did speak of Jesus as the mighty one who would come with the Holy Spirit in fire. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:05.740 John wasn't afraid to talk about God's rightful king being the rightful judge who will set the world to rights. 00:10:08.219 --> 00:10:08.659 But, 00:10:09.599 --> 00:10:13.259 I think the answer is a little more obvious. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.899 Because John was the son of a priest, wasn't he? 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:19.939 Zechariah. 00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:21.839 Remember that story from the Gospel of Luke? 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:32.039 So, John, as a young man, would have grown up very personally familiar with a different kind of lamb. 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:37.279 With lambs that were sacrificed every day in the temple, day in and day out. 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:43.679 And John would have been steeped, like every other Jew of his time, in the stories of the Old Testament. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:50.379 Stories of the lamb that God provided for Abraham in Genesis 22. 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:56.719 And stories about the lambs that Moses prescribed in the law in Leviticus, for example. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:59.799 The whole range of offerings and sacrifices. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.839 But most of all, 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:10.639 John, like every other Jew of his day, would have been steeped and shaped by the story of the Passover. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.300 By the story of the Exodus. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:15.040 Do you remember the story of the Passover? 00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:20.040 When God's judgment came down upon everyone in Egypt. 00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:23.280 Both Egyptian and Israelite alike. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:29.299 And the only thing that kept the Israelite family safe was a lamb. 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:34.360 Instead of God's judgment taking the firstborn, 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:39.240 they were to sacrifice a lamb instead and put its blood on the doorposts. 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:43.620 And as God's judgment came, it would literally pass them over. 00:11:45.439 --> 00:11:48.519 Because a sacrifice had been made in their place. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:56.039 And here is John the Baptist with rich symbolism, standing in the wilderness, 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.600 identifying with the voice of Isaiah 40. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.740 I'm a voice crying out in the wilderness. 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.139 That's a quote from Isaiah 40. 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:06.079 And what was Isaiah 40 all about? 00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:09.019 That whole section of Isaiah is about a new exodus. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:13.480 Here is John heralding the new exodus that Isaiah looked forward to. 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:16.779 And here was John saying, in light of that new exodus that's coming, 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:18.659 that we all need to be cleansed. 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:21.399 And that this baptism that he had come with was just something, 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:24.139 was just a sign of something greater to come. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:29.679 Knowing that in that same section of Isaiah, in Isaiah 53, 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:34.860 there was a suffering servant who would die a sacrificial death 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:38.559 that somehow, mysteriously, would set the people free. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:44.719 And now seeing Jesus, John says, behold, the Lamb. 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:48.479 The perfect sacrifice for our sins. 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:55.419 So why don't we do this morning what John's telling us to do? 00:12:55.459 --> 00:12:56.679 Why don't we behold this Lamb? 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.259 We're going to focus on verse 29. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:05.779 And I want us to notice three things that we behold about this Lamb in verse 29. 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:09.980 First, we see something about his source. 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:14.559 Jesus, we're told, is the Lamb of God. 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:20.220 That is, God himself provides this Lamb. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:21.699 You know, outside of the Bible, 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:23.799 nearly every other example of sacrifice 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:27.879 is a human attempt to win over the gods. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:32.259 I just read the Iliad for the first time last month. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.699 Has anyone here read the Iliad? 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:34.520 It's really long. 00:13:35.640 --> 00:13:36.520 It's great, though. 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.340 But it's wonderful. 00:13:38.520 --> 00:13:42.320 You have these Greek warriors just sacrificing stuff all the time. 00:13:42.900 --> 00:13:43.300 Why? 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.080 Because the gods are so unreliable. 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:47.800 They're fickle. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.180 And they're selfish. 00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:51.420 And they have lots of sex with each other. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.020 It's crazy. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.820 That's how sacrifices worked in most of the ancient world. 00:13:56.900 --> 00:13:58.400 You take something that was of value, 00:13:58.660 --> 00:13:59.640 that belonged to you, 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.600 a nice fat animal, 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:02.040 a big cup of wine, 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:03.360 and you would sacrifice it, 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.759 and you would pour it out 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.339 in hopes that the aroma of that going up 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:09.500 would please somehow, someway, 00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:12.039 whatever God it was you were hoping to win favor with. 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.879 But in the Bible, it's completely different. 00:14:19.319 --> 00:14:20.620 Here, in the Bible, 00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:22.059 we have not a human attempt 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:25.799 to win over some fickle, temperamental deity. 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.819 No, here we have 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:32.139 the sacrifice that we need 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:35.159 coming down as a gift from God himself. 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:38.559 That the initiative 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:41.079 to put things right 00:14:41.079 --> 00:14:42.559 comes not from our side, 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:44.059 but from God's side. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.519 And the provision comes 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.319 not from our side, 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.299 but from God's side. 00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.979 And the atonement comes, 00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:52.679 the reconciliation comes, 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:55.579 not from our side, 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.359 but from God's side. 00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.779 This is God's doing. 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.379 It's his gift to us. 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:06.299 And perhaps the deepest mystery of all 00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.959 that the gospel of John will unfold 00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:09.679 is that this Lamb of God 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.179 is God. 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.719 God incarnate 00:15:14.719 --> 00:15:16.199 in our flesh. 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:18.700 He ranks before me 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.900 because he was 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:21.020 before me, 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:21.900 John says. 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.400 Now, 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.440 on one level, 00:15:24.520 --> 00:15:25.340 that's not true. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:25.980 John the Baptist 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.379 was older than Jesus. 00:15:28.420 --> 00:15:29.920 And he showed up on the scene 00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:31.259 before Jesus. 00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:31.800 And yet, 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.420 John says, 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:34.060 he was before me. 00:15:36.040 --> 00:15:37.040 The opening verses 00:15:37.040 --> 00:15:37.940 of John's gospel 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:38.680 express 00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:41.259 the Trinitarian reality 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:41.759 of God 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.840 with such simplicity 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:44.500 and profundity 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.700 they will probably 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.840 never be bettered. 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:47.980 In the beginning 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.720 was the Word 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.879 and the Word 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.679 was with God 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.779 and the Word 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.480 was God. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:53.899 You see, friends, 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.879 when God gives his Son 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.899 the Word 00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:58.320 to be the Lamb, 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.399 it is God himself 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.100 coming down 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.080 to rescue us. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.659 Behold the Lamb 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.200 of God. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.799 Now, 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.279 what should we make 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.759 of all this? 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.019 Well, 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.419 when we behold 00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.039 the source 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.240 of the Lamb 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.099 that God himself 00:16:16.099 --> 00:16:16.939 provided Jesus 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.799 as our sacrifice 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.799 that ought to be humbling 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.740 at the very least. 00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:23.539 After all, 00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.339 how great 00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:25.860 must our sin be 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.240 if it took 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.399 nothing less 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.939 than the self-giving 00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:30.659 sacrifice 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:32.059 of God's own Son 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:33.500 to reconcile us? 00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.860 How terrible 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:38.000 must our condition be 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.039 if God himself 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.319 had to die for us? 00:16:42.339 --> 00:16:42.719 You know, 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.360 if you take your car 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:43.940 to the shop 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.539 and they give you 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:46.200 a bill for 50 bucks, 00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:46.919 then you know 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:48.440 it's no big deal, right? 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.240 An oil change, 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:50.060 maybe a new belt, 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:50.800 no problem. 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.220 In, out, done. 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.639 But if you go in 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.080 and they hand you 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:56.419 an estimate 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.279 for $5,000, 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.779 then you know 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.320 something has gone 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.080 horribly wrong. 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:03.200 Your car's not even 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.140 worth $5,000, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.319 right? 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.779 The transmission 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.519 must be blown. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.220 The engine 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.480 must be totally seized up. 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.519 Something has gone 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.680 drastically wrong. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.599 And friends, 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:13.980 spiritually, 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.799 the same is true. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.700 If you and I 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.339 could offer 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.139 some sort of 00:17:19.139 --> 00:17:20.819 good work to God 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.500 or make some sort 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.019 of sacrifice 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.779 on our end 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.379 at our initiative 00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.299 to make things right, 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.139 then the debt of sin 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:26.259 might be uncomfortable, 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.700 but it wouldn't be unbearable. 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.519 We could handle it. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.339 We could manage it 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:29.960 on our own. 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.619 If we could scrap up 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.960 the spiritual capital 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.099 to make things right, 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.519 well, 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.519 maybe things aren't 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:36.940 that bad. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.279 But if the only way 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.400 to get right with God 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:43.440 is through the sacrifice 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.259 of His infinitely 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.339 worthy Son, 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.859 then our sin 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.660 must be more 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:50.119 tremendously deep 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.139 than we can imagine. 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.579 And so it is. 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.839 For why else 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.240 would God 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.059 give His own Son? 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.480 Things are really 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:03.960 that bad. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.220 You see, 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.160 the essence of sin 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.720 is basically 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.420 putting ourselves 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.300 in the place of God, 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:08.680 is it not? 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:11.180 We decide that we can 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.960 run our lives 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.519 our own way 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.480 without much reference 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.560 to God as our Creator 00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:15.640 or our rightful Lord, 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.519 and when we do that, 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.060 we're essentially 00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:18.759 telling God 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.560 that we are wiser 00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:22.240 and more powerful 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.080 and more compassionate 00:18:23.080 --> 00:18:23.820 and more just 00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:24.420 than He is, 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.320 that we know best, 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:27.940 and that we ought 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.580 to be the rightful 00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:29.820 lords of our lives 00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:30.340 and the rightful 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.200 lords of creation. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.620 Now, of course, 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:35.699 if you happen 00:18:35.699 --> 00:18:36.019 to show up 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.679 at work one day 00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:37.979 and you tell 00:18:37.979 --> 00:18:38.779 one of your colleagues 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.199 at work 00:18:39.199 --> 00:18:39.959 that they're a fool 00:18:39.959 --> 00:18:41.019 and you can run 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.899 things better than them, 00:18:42.719 --> 00:18:44.099 there might not be 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.759 much of a price 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.359 to pay, right? 00:18:46.479 --> 00:18:46.959 In fact, 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.539 you might even get 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.159 a chance to prove 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.739 yourself right. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:49.599 Okay, 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.519 you want to do it? 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.159 You do it. 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.299 All right, 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:53.339 I will do a better job. 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.319 Thank you very much. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:56.959 But if you tell 00:18:56.959 --> 00:18:57.519 your manager 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.679 that they're a fool 00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.239 and you can run 00:18:59.239 --> 00:18:59.679 things better, 00:18:59.779 --> 00:18:59.899 well, 00:18:59.959 --> 00:19:00.579 the results probably 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.379 won't be so positive, 00:19:01.479 --> 00:19:01.699 right? 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:05.700 Try that one out, 00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:06.940 medical students 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:08.460 with your professor 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.360 when you're doing a round. 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.240 But how much more 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.059 serious would it be 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.799 if you walk into 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.880 the CEO's office, 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.779 berate him as a fool, 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.460 and show him 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.259 how you unilaterally 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.559 reinvested the company's 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.480 resources into what 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.799 you ultimately think 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.440 is best because 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.519 he is so incompetent 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.120 to do so. 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:29.539 Well, 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.179 for that offense, 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.679 the penalty 00:19:30.679 --> 00:19:32.319 would most likely 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.039 be termination. 00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:38.299 But think, 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.139 is that not what 00:19:39.139 --> 00:19:39.839 each of us does 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.779 with God every day? 00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:42.679 We might not come 00:19:42.679 --> 00:19:43.500 right out and say it, 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.099 but with every 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.719 unilateral, 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.319 God-ignoring decision, 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.199 we functionally 00:19:48.199 --> 00:19:49.179 call God a fool 00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:50.719 and set up ourselves 00:19:50.719 --> 00:19:51.339 as the rightful 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.179 lords of creation. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:56.039 And if to do such a thing 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.740 in the workplace 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.920 spells the end 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:59.100 of our working life, 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.860 then surely 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.799 to do such a thing 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:03.019 in the spiritual realm 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.000 spells the end 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.299 of our spiritual life. 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.640 The wages of sin 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:12.180 truly and justly 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.519 is death. 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.880 But behold, 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.980 John the Baptist says, 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.640 in the face 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.559 of this debt 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.960 that we cannot repay, 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.740 under this penalty 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.980 that we cannot satisfy, 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.640 behold, 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.140 he says, 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.700 the Lamb of God. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.660 In grace, 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.900 the very one 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.660 that we offended, 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.599 the very one 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.500 that we spurned 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.120 and dishonored 00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.559 and hated, 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.539 God himself, 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.160 he provides the Lamb. 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.660 He provides 00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.460 the way back in. 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.259 And that brings us 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.920 to the second thing 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.580 we behold 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.400 about this Lamb. 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.380 If first we behold 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.120 his source, 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.620 that he's the Lamb of God, 00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:54.960 then second here 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.440 we behold 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.320 his accomplishment. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.640 Jesus is the Lamb of God 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.120 who takes away our sin. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.140 But how does that work? 00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.980 How does he bring about 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.920 such an accomplishment? 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.279 Well, 00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:10.140 again, 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.940 think of the Passover. 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.640 You see, 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.440 the Passover Lamb 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.140 was sacrificed 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.660 as a substitute. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:21.160 God's terrible judgment 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.820 meant the death 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:22.580 of the firstborn. 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:23.840 But in place 00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:24.640 of the firstborn, 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.880 there would be a Lamb 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.640 who would stand 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.440 in its place 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.940 and die. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.279 God's judgment 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.360 would fall on the Lamb 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.259 instead of the child 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.519 and in so doing, 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.460 God would prove himself 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.740 just and merciful, 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.080 just because the penalty 00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:39.480 of death 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.460 still comes down 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.500 and merciful 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.360 because the penalty 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.200 is borne away 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:43.819 by another. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.100 But of course, 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.120 an actual, 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.140 literal, 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.019 bleeding Lamb 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.059 could never really serve 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.980 as a proper substitute 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.000 for a human being, right? 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.000 I mean, 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.779 we kind of get that. 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.680 All those sacrifices 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.460 in the Old Testament, 00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.160 the Passover, 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.539 the daily sacrifices 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.140 in the Temple, 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.580 the annual Day of Atonement, 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.340 all that could never 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.980 really take away sin, right? 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:09.640 This is what the writer 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.339 to Hebrews says. 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:10.720 Look, 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.599 if it had really worked, 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.920 they would have stopped 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.500 doing it 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.640 because it would have worked, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.380 but they had to keep doing it 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.500 because it didn't really 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.059 get to the root 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.620 of the problem. 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.660 All these sacrifices 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.480 were just pointers 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.440 to a greater sacrifice. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:26.900 After all, 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.819 what good is an animal 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.819 when the real lawbreaker 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.620 is a human being? 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.740 You know, 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.019 as much as you want to try, 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.539 you can't pay off 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.420 your credit card debt 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.379 with a goat 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.460 or a few dozen eggs. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.619 I mean, 00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:41.259 you can go down 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.059 to Bank of America 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.440 with a grocery bag 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.720 full of animal products 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.339 and they are not 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:46.960 going to release you 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.399 from the debt 00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:48.079 that you accrued. 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.859 And friends, 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.680 what makes us think 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.859 we could pay our spiritual debt 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.559 in the same way? 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.460 Wouldn't justice 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.779 ultimately require 00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.420 a human 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.779 to pay the proper penalty 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.559 for human sin? 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.339 But then again, 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:09.200 would even a human 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.700 be enough? 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.799 After all, 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.460 this is an offense 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.139 against God, 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.659 is it not? 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.700 This sin 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.099 which we have done. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.539 And that means 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.240 that this penalty 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:23.859 we are under 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.339 is infinite 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:25.899 because it's 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:27.159 an infinite God 00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:28.420 whom we've offended. 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.319 And who could pay 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:32.680 such an infinite penalty 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.960 besides the infinite God 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.379 himself? 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:36.240 So you see 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.700 this dilemma 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.140 we're in 00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.660 when it comes 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.580 to the reality 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.220 of our sin. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.860 A human must pay it 00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.240 and yet 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.160 only God can 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.340 only God can pay it. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.080 We need a substitute 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:48.260 that's both fully human 00:23:48.260 --> 00:23:49.580 and at the same time 00:23:49.580 --> 00:23:50.460 fully God. 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.740 And where on earth 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.320 are we going to find 00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:54.920 such a substitute 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:55.520 like that? 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.900 Search the history 00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.420 of religion, 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:00.880 friends. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.560 look 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.800 and look 00:24:03.800 --> 00:24:05.620 and you will not 00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:06.040 find 00:24:06.040 --> 00:24:07.040 the one 00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:07.660 that you need. 00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:11.460 But then 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.920 the words 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.360 of John 00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:13.900 ring out. 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:14.920 Behold 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.100 the Lamb 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.680 of God 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.160 who takes away 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.480 the sin 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.040 of the world. 00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:21.160 Jesus Christ, 00:24:21.260 --> 00:24:21.640 the Word 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.320 become flesh 00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:23.120 fully human 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:24.340 and fully God. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.220 He's the one 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.420 who can do it. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.980 Do you see now 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.500 why Christianity 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.380 is so unique? 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.880 It is unlike 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.940 every other religion. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:34.900 Deep down 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.620 every other religion 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.039 or worldview 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.140 says one of two 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:37.799 things basically. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.480 Either it says 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.000 God or ultimate reality 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.920 is so holy 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:41.960 that you have to 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.980 earn your way up to Him 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.680 through your own 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.120 sacrifice 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.019 or your own good works 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.839 or your own sincere 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.319 devotion, 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.200 whatever it is. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.220 Or it says 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.059 God is loving. 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.240 He doesn't require 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.640 justice. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.420 He just accepts 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.059 everyone 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.940 and everything. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.480 But only Christianity 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.200 comes along 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.720 and says 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.580 no, 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.360 God is holy 00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:01.819 and loving. 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.460 So holy 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.319 that He requires 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.600 a payment for sin. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.160 So loving 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.620 that He makes 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.640 the payment for us 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.299 in our place. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.759 Behold the Lamb 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.640 who takes away 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.080 our sin. 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.360 Let's go to the third thing 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:21.940 that we behold 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.720 about this Lamb. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.400 Third, 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.100 we see not just 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.000 His source, 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.180 not just His accomplishment, 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.400 but we see His scope. 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:31.100 Jesus is the Lamb of God 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:32.340 who takes away 00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:32.960 the sin 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.140 of the world. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.200 Now the world 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.460 in John's gospel 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.779 is a bit of a technical term. 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.560 It's John's way 00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:42.279 of talking about 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.120 not just the sort of 00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:43.820 big round thing 00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:44.720 that we're standing on 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.940 or just all the people 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.380 out there, 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.060 but it's John's way 00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:48.820 of talking about 00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:50.000 human society 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.360 arranged 00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:52.460 without any reference 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.000 to God. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.160 It's His way 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.279 of talking about 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.519 human society 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.299 arranged 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.880 in hostile rebellion 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.680 against God. 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.279 It's a negative term, 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.240 the world, 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:02.799 for John. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:08.240 And it is for this world, 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.640 this sinful, 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.500 fallen world, 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.940 that Jesus came. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.299 Friends, 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.220 here's the good news, 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:20.400 that the atoning work 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:20.980 of the Lamb 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:23.799 is not merely 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.559 for the religious 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.640 and the morally upright. 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:28.140 It's not for the deserving. 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.640 It's for the undeserving. 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.920 It's for the world. 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:35.080 When Jesus was born 00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:35.820 in a manger, 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.500 when He lived 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.720 a perfect human life 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.360 in our midst, 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.820 when He died 00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.600 on a cross, 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.100 when He was raised 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.920 on the third day 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.440 in glory, 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.500 when He ascended 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.279 to the Father, 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.960 all of that was done 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.759 not for the sake 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:52.460 of just a special 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.620 couple of people 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.240 who happened 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.420 to have all their ducks 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.820 in a row 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:57.100 and all their cards right. 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.720 No. 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.400 It was for lost 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.259 and hopeless 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.339 and guilty 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.339 and flawed 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:04.319 and moral failures 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:05.160 like you and me. 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.879 It was for the world. 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:13.759 And it was so effectual. 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.960 It was so powerful. 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:18.379 It was so competent 00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:19.099 what He did 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:22.839 that the sins of the world 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.799 were taken away. 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.859 There's no sin of yours 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.740 so great, 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.920 so heinous, 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.099 that His blood, 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.400 His sacrificial death 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.240 cannot cleanse. 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.740 There's no habitual failure 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.720 too repeated 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:39.339 that it cannot be taken away 00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.960 by Christ, 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.779 the Lamb of God. 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.799 All who receive Him, 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.700 all who believe 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.359 in His name, 00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:47.079 John says, 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.700 their sins 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.700 will be taken away. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.420 They'll be reconciled 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:50.859 to God 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:52.140 and made His sons 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:52.660 and daughters. 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:52.759 the curse. 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.300 The curse is lifted. 00:27:56.300 --> 00:27:59.200 The guilt is done away. 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:00.880 Friends, 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.100 if you've put your trust 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.000 in Jesus, 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:07.400 your sins have been taken away. 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:11.900 Let me end with three points 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.540 of application. 00:28:13.580 --> 00:28:13.940 First, 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.360 to you, 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.600 if you're spiritually seeking 00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.860 or if you're new to Christianity. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:20.180 As you behold Jesus this morning, 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:20.800 what do you see? 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.759 What are you looking at 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.940 when you look at Jesus? 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.840 Do you see merely a good teacher, 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.320 a profound spiritual guide, 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:29.820 or are you beginning to behold Jesus 00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.700 as He really is? 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.680 Are you starting to see 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.880 that there's something unique 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.480 about Him? 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.420 That He's the Son of God 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:38.019 and the one and only 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.940 Lamb of God? 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.019 Friend, 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.519 you need to know 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.019 that Christianity 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.059 isn't ultimately 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.480 about new rules to follow 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:46.279 or new rituals to perform. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.920 It's ultimately about 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.779 uniting your life 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.720 to the crucified 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.660 and risen Jesus 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.440 through faith 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:55.160 and living in an ongoing 00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:56.259 relationship with Him. 00:28:59.080 --> 00:29:00.299 So what holds you back 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.399 from believing in Christ? 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.519 Why would you not take hold 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.460 of this Lamb of God 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:07.139 who's come in grace 00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.240 to take away your sin 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.139 and reconcile you to God? 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:14.200 Let me encourage you 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.839 to talk to someone 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.659 about your questions, 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.180 your doubts, 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.700 your fears. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.579 If you came with a friend 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:17.980 this morning, 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:19.180 I'm sure they'd be more than happy 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.079 to share with you 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.680 their own story, 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.339 their own questions, 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:21.899 their own doubts, 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:23.099 their own fears that they had 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.099 as they were coming 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.419 to understand who Jesus is, 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.519 as they were beginning 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:28.039 to place their trust in Him. 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.720 In fact, 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.259 maybe you're ready 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.119 to do that this morning 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.619 yourself. 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.119 And if you're wondering 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.799 how to start, 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.740 how do I start 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:37.460 in a relationship with Christ? 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.159 There are some prayers 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.859 in the bulletin 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:40.059 to help you get started. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:44.099 Feel free to come up front 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.779 after the service. 00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.899 We'd be happy to talk with you 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.940 and pray with you. 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.539 Talk to someone 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.940 about what you're going through. 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:51.000 Let others help you 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.539 in this journey 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.119 that you're on. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.419 It's not something 00:29:54.419 --> 00:29:55.019 you're meant to do 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.559 on your own. 00:29:55.559 --> 00:30:00.019 Second point of application 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:01.419 for those who are trusting 00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:02.460 in Christ already, 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.940 as you behold Christ 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:06.519 taking away your sin, 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.039 friends, 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:11.480 let that increase your desire 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:13.339 to be done 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:15.440 with all the remaining sin 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.019 in your life. 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:19.519 Don't hold fast 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.559 to the very thing 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.460 that Christ died 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.339 to take away. 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.200 Be done with it. 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.740 Be done with sin. 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.819 Put it behind you. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.700 He's taken it all away 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.220 by His grace. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.440 Now live into that freedom 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.039 and that life 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.099 that He's purchased for you. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.120 Behold the Lamb of God. 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:37.160 Let love for Him increase 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:40.180 and let your love for sin 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.160 wither and die. 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.420 Do you want to know freedom 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:45.120 from your besetting sins? 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.920 Keep beholding the Lamb 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.240 who was slain for you. 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:52.019 Keep taking in the wonder 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.400 of His achievement for you. 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:56.200 Let that stir in your heart 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.780 a passion, 00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:57.800 a love for Him, 00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:00.740 a desire for Him, 00:31:01.320 --> 00:31:02.880 a desire for the things of God 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:04.060 and the kingdom of God 00:31:04.060 --> 00:31:06.240 that will cause the things 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.100 of your old life 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:09.780 to pale so much in comparison. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.920 Third thing, 00:31:16.780 --> 00:31:18.100 perhaps this Christmas season 00:31:18.100 --> 00:31:18.340 you, 00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.000 something that you hold 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.619 very dear 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:22.259 has been taken away 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.720 from you. 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.779 But friend, 00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.740 no matter what losses 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.839 you've experienced, 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.079 remember, 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.740 amidst all of that, 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.420 this core reality 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:38.799 that He's taken away 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.460 your sins. 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.619 Even if you feel like 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.599 God has taken away 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.579 something very precious 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.039 to you, 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.839 He's taken away 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.500 your sins. 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:49.119 behold the Lamb of God. 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.180 See how deeply 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.980 He loves you. 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.619 See how much hope 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.519 He has granted you. 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.640 You're free from sin. 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.839 No matter your present 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.579 circumstances, 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.440 you have reason 00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:00.220 to be thankful. 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.380 You have reason 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.539 even to rejoice. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.500 You're reconciled to God. 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:07.119 The curse has been lifted. 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.160 Your guilt is gone. 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.119 The Holy Spirit 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.119 lives inside of you. 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:10.980 You will one day 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:12.059 reign with Him forever. 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.220 forever. 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.539 So friends, 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.039 no matter what has 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.759 caught your attention 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.440 this season, 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:19.899 no matter where 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.759 you're tempted to look 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.599 amidst the joys 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.259 and distractions 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.000 and sorrows 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.919 and disappointments, 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.339 let's fix our gaze 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:25.859 on Jesus, 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.859 the Lamb of God 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.819 who takes away 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.659 the sin of the world. 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:32.200 And in beholding Him, 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.500 may we testify with John 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.259 that this is indeed 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.039 the Son of God, 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.200 the Savior, 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.419 the King. 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.259 Let's pray. 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.319 Amen. 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:50.179 Oh Lord, 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.039 we confess that 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.720 in our own strength, 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:56.659 in our own vision, 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.539 we don't know You. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.019 Lord, 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.240 so often in this passage, 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.539 John confesses that 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:04.039 in and of himself, 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.480 he didn't recognize 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.639 in Jesus the Messiah, 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.299 the Lamb. 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:08.779 God, 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.819 that is true of us too. 00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:12.259 In our own selves, 00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.059 we don't see it. 00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.259 We don't recognize it. 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:17.299 So we need You, God. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.259 We need You to come. 00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:19.799 And we need You 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.460 to open the eyes 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.159 of our hearts 00:33:21.159 --> 00:33:23.019 so that we might see Him. 00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:26.039 Lord, 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.279 as we come to the Lord's table, 00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:27.799 I pray 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.859 that this would be 00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:30.099 a means that You use 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:31.419 to help us 00:33:31.419 --> 00:33:32.980 to see 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.740 and taste 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.980 and to behold again 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:39.019 the mighty Lamb of God. 00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.939 who's taken away our sins. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.700 Amen. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.559 Well, 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:45.960 I wonder if those 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.700 who are helping to serve 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.700 communion would come up. 00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:54.940 this is one of the great means 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.940 that God has given us 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.880 to do exactly 00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.880 what we've been talking about 00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:58.299 this morning, 00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:59.740 to behold the Lamb of God. 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.039 That Jesus, 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.819 on Passover, 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.000 gathered with His friends, 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.140 with His disciples, 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.140 and He took that Passover meal 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:07.799 that was about God 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.639 liberating them, 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.480 and He gave them 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.220 its real interpretation. 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:11.699 He said, 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.820 this is what Passover 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.659 is really all about. 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:14.980 It's about a lamb 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.820 who's going to be broken, 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:17.320 and it's about blood 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.200 that's going to be poured out. 00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.140 It's about my body 00:34:19.140 --> 00:34:19.960 that's going to be broken, 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:21.280 and it's about my blood 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:22.080 that's going to be poured out 00:34:22.080 --> 00:34:22.620 for you 00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.980 and for your sins. 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.019 And then He told His followers 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.539 to keep doing this act 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:29.480 over and over 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:29.980 and over 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.740 and over again. 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.160 Why? 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:33.500 Because we're very forgetful people, 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.420 aren't we? 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.820 It's like we have a hole 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.400 and we leak 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.180 all the time. 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.460 Jesus said, 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.080 here it is. 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.140 Take this, 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.660 eat it, 00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.420 drink it, 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.079 and be filled 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:45.720 with the remembrance 00:34:45.720 --> 00:34:47.440 of what I've done for you. 00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:49.760 So friend, 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.780 if you're here this morning 00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:52.240 and you're a Christian, 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:54.539 if you've turned from sin, 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.320 if you've turned from 00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.360 trying to be your own Lord 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.480 and trying to be your own Savior 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.340 and trying to make 00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.280 your own way 00:34:59.280 --> 00:34:59.880 with your life, 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:01.220 if you've given up 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.039 on that pursuit 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.900 and you've trusted in Christ 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.960 as your hope, 00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:06.079 as your treasure, 00:35:06.200 --> 00:35:06.860 as your Savior, 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.800 if that's true of you, 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.720 then this table is for you. 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.760 Take this time, 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:14.620 to repent of your sins again 00:35:14.620 --> 00:35:16.380 and receive this provision 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:17.280 from God 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.340 and remember the Lamb 00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.720 who was slain for you. 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.640 If you can say yes to that 00:35:22.640 --> 00:35:25.320 and you haven't been baptized, 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.020 let me encourage you 00:35:26.020 --> 00:35:26.880 to think about baptism. 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:30.220 As we take up the Lord's Supper, 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.380 this is a way of identifying 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.080 with Jesus 00:35:32.080 --> 00:35:33.080 and with His people. 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.840 And if you haven't been baptized, 00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:36.420 that's your next step, 00:35:37.100 --> 00:35:38.660 to identify publicly 00:35:38.660 --> 00:35:40.280 with Christ in baptism. 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:44.240 Let me read a couple words. 00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:48.940 Jesus says this. 00:35:49.040 --> 00:35:49.220 He says, 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.840 Paul says this 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.840 in 1 Corinthians 11. 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.180 He says, 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.280 For I received from the Lord 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.540 what I also delivered to you, 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.940 that the Lord Jesus 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.400 on the night 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.100 when He was betrayed 00:35:57.100 --> 00:35:57.760 took bread. 00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.120 When He had given thanks, 00:35:59.140 --> 00:35:59.980 He broke it and said, 00:36:00.060 --> 00:36:00.760 This is my body, 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.500 which is for you. 00:36:01.600 --> 00:36:02.760 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:36:03.680 --> 00:36:04.560 In the same way also 00:36:04.560 --> 00:36:05.220 He took the cup 00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:05.720 after supper, 00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.000 saying, 00:36:06.060 --> 00:36:07.080 This cup is the new covenant 00:36:07.080 --> 00:36:07.680 in my blood. 00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:08.460 Do this as often 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.100 as you drink it 00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:10.019 in remembrance of me. 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:11.339 For as often 00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:12.219 as you eat this bread 00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:12.960 and drink this cup, 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.960 you proclaim the Lord's death 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.839 until He comes. 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:17.860 So you see, friends, 00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:19.039 this is a table for believers 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.519 to proclaim the Lord's death 00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.259 until He comes. 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.719 If you're here 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:23.480 and you're not a believer, 00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.339 then let me encourage you 00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:26.799 to just pass the plates by 00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:27.219 as it comes. 00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:28.380 We're going to pass out 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.059 the bread first. 00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:30.119 It's going to go around 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:30.519 and then we're going to 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:31.000 eat together 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.539 and then we're going to 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.179 pass out the cup 00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.059 and we're going to drink together. 00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:35.179 And if you haven't placed 00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.880 your faith in Christ, 00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:37.019 then just pass the plate by 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.679 and instead, 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.960 use this time, 00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:39.559 use the prayers 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.239 in the bulletin 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:43.539 to do some spiritual seeking, 00:36:43.779 --> 00:36:44.659 some self-assessment. 00:36:44.799 --> 00:36:46.639 Where are you with God? 00:36:47.659 --> 00:36:48.980 Instead of taking this bread 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.699 and taking this cup, 00:36:49.799 --> 00:36:50.579 take Christ 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:52.940 as yours this morning. 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.059 Let me invite those 00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:54.779 who are downstairs 00:36:54.779 --> 00:36:56.099 to come on up. 00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.340 If you're downstairs, 00:36:58.480 --> 00:36:59.159 you can come on up 00:36:59.159 --> 00:36:59.739 to the lobby 00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:00.939 and we'll serve you there. 00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:05.099 Jonathan, 00:37:05.319 --> 00:37:05.819 would you pray 00:37:05.819 --> 00:37:06.579 for the bread for us? 00:37:06.879 --> 00:37:07.199 Thanks. 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.559 Dear Lord God, 00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:19.519 you knew that 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:21.559 in our human weaknesses 00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:23.739 and sinful preoccupations 00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:25.559 that we would neglect 00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.939 to remember our Savior. 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:30.420 and by your grace, 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.340 you have given us 00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:32.039 this act 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.720 and this... 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:32.940 ... 00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:34.079 ... 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:34.579 ... 00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:35.579 ... 00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.579 ... 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.579 ...