WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.200 On the Saturday night before Easter, I discovered that my seven-year-old boy believes in the Easter bunny. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:14.240 I was really surprised. I also discovered that he believes in Santa Claus. 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:19.300 Like, we've never been a big... I mean, we have lots of older brothers and sisters. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:27.879 I just assumed that whatever early belief he had in the Easter bunny and Santa Claus had been long debunked by somebody or another. 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:32.079 But it was so cute. It was on the Saturday night just before Easter morning. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:36.479 And my son and I were in the bedroom and he was getting ready for bed. 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:41.820 And he asked me a question about how the Easter bunny got from house to house. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:46.620 And then that's when I discovered he still believes in the Easter bunny. 00:00:46.739 --> 00:00:49.480 And then he sort of connected the Easter bunny to Santa Claus. 00:00:49.579 --> 00:00:52.120 And that's when I discovered he still believed in Santa Claus. 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:56.879 And I didn't disabuse him. I don't know what you folks would do, those of you who are parents. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:58.200 I just thought it was so adorable. 00:00:59.800 --> 00:01:02.020 I was fine with him believing that. 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:05.420 And he'll come gradually to some other type of a sense. 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:12.879 But what I'd like to share with you this morning is that Jesus isn't like Santa Claus or the Easter bunny. 00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:17.280 On one level, I guess there's a bit of a similarity because, you know, 00:01:17.320 --> 00:01:21.879 the wonderful thing about those two imaginary creatures 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:25.799 is that there's something wonderful and magical about them and they give gifts. 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:29.459 And in that sense, I guess Jesus is like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus. 00:01:30.259 --> 00:01:35.500 But Jesus is not like either of them because Jesus is real. 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:38.919 And he really lived and he really died. 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:41.620 And he really did rise from the dead. 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:45.439 And he really is present amongst us this morning. 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:48.439 He really is the savior of the world. 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:53.060 And he will really return someday to judge the living and the dead. 00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:59.159 The gospel is the good news, the story about a man named Jesus. 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:05.879 The gospel is the good news, a story about a man named Jesus. 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:11.719 You know, at some point in time, every child will ask this type of question. 00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:16.680 At least every child who has Christian parents, maybe Muslim children, ask this question as well. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:18.699 But they'll ask the question, who made God? 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:21.639 Every child asks that question. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:27.599 And my children have at their different times asked that question, who made God? 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:33.039 And I know you can always see when I try to answer them, 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:35.000 and I probably don't give them good answers. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:37.900 I probably give complicated answers rather than simple answers. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:40.460 I say, well, nobody made God, you know. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:45.159 I mean, if you think about it, there always has to be something that was first. 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:47.780 There has to be something that was first. 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:53.120 And Christians believe that the first thing wasn't just energy, or it wasn't just matter, 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:59.240 or it wasn't just the world, but that the very first thing and the only thing which has always existed, 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:00.539 that that's God. 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:03.299 That's what we believe is true. 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:08.380 And depending on the age of the kid, you'll have maybe a bit of a longer talk about it. 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:10.800 And of course, as some of you know who are university students, 00:03:10.880 --> 00:03:15.600 that same type of question comes up in university courses in terms of what is first? 00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:20.860 What is that thing which existed before anything else existed? 00:03:21.040 --> 00:03:23.120 It's the very, in a sense, ground of existence. 00:03:23.320 --> 00:03:24.200 What is that thing? 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:30.299 You know, the thing which is so amazing about the gospel story, at least the gospel story as John tells it, 00:03:30.699 --> 00:03:36.239 is John begins his story of Jesus by talking about that, who made God. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:42.780 He, you know, all of the other gospel writers begin maybe with a prophecy or John the Baptist or something, 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:49.299 but the apostle John, when he begins to tell us the story about who Jesus is, 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:52.800 the story of the good news about a man named Jesus. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.900 And when John is going to tell us the good news about a man named Jesus, 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:01.719 he begins by talking about this question, what came first? 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:02.880 Who made God? 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:07.460 And John's answer is very, very clear, 00:04:08.100 --> 00:04:14.120 that God is the first and biggest and greatest and most constant of all things. 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:20.399 And the beginning of the story of Jesus begins with the beginning of all things. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:26.620 John says that there is no time that God, the Son of God, was not. 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:31.860 There is no time when God, the Son of God, was not. 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.160 And one of the wonderful things about this is that, you know, 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:41.399 we live in an age and a culture where there's an increasing appreciation for the created order 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.859 and the wonder of nature and there's concern about global warming 00:04:44.859 --> 00:04:47.739 and the environment and all of that type of thing. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:50.519 And one of the wonderful things is that for our age, 00:04:50.599 --> 00:04:54.560 when John begins the story of Jesus by going with the very, very beginning 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.879 of the beginning of the beginning of the beginning of the beginning, 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:59.759 one of the things he's saying to us is this. 00:05:00.539 --> 00:05:05.859 You know, the very, very same being who created all things 00:05:05.859 --> 00:05:09.799 is the same being who is going to come to redeem us. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:14.660 It's not as if you have to choose between creation and redemption. 00:05:15.020 --> 00:05:19.199 It's not as if you have to choose between the past and the future. 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:24.160 But there is one God who is beginning and before all things. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:27.160 And if you want to understand the story of Jesus, 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:29.040 you have to go right to the beginning. 00:05:29.780 --> 00:05:31.259 Listen to how John puts it. 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:34.780 If you want to use the Pew Bibles to follow along, 00:05:34.840 --> 00:05:36.340 it's on page 918. 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:37.840 It's John chapter 1. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:41.819 And here's how John begins to tell the story of Jesus. 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:43.939 In the beginning was the Word, 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:46.279 and the Word was with God, 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:48.159 and the Word was God. 00:05:48.719 --> 00:05:50.719 He was in the beginning with God. 00:05:51.239 --> 00:05:53.099 All things were made through him, 00:05:53.159 --> 00:05:55.579 and without him nothing was made that was made. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:57.519 In him was life, 00:05:57.939 --> 00:05:59.599 and the life was the light of men. 00:06:00.039 --> 00:06:01.939 And the light shines in the darkness, 00:06:02.559 --> 00:06:05.159 and the darkness did not comprehend it. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:08.240 You know, when you read this, 00:06:08.320 --> 00:06:09.100 and you sound this, 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:11.960 it actually sounds like something you could read in Hinduism. 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.320 It sounds like something you could find in the Upanishads, 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:15.840 or something that Buddha would teach. 00:06:16.260 --> 00:06:20.940 It sounds like it's all going to be a story about abstractions and ideas. 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:22.819 And so, I mean, the question could be, 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:27.459 is the story about Jesus really a story about ideas or principles? 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:32.920 Is it about sort of just really abstract, high, eternal things, 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:37.519 which maybe if we perfect ourselves through mystical states, 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:39.800 through profound learning, 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:42.060 through ascetic practices, 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:46.079 if we perfect ourselves to the pinnacle of human effort and achievement, 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:50.139 will we be able to grasp these abstract ideas? 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:54.819 Is the story about Jesus a story about high abstractions? 00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:58.779 John answers, no. 00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:04.719 It's not about high abstractions or principles at all. 00:07:04.799 --> 00:07:08.339 That it's going to be a story that takes place in history. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.479 It's not about principles. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:13.099 It's not fundamentally about morals. 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:16.220 It's not fundamentally about ideas. 00:07:17.820 --> 00:07:19.120 Some of you might have heard this. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:20.840 It's my favorite joke about Anglicans. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.080 Some people might wonder, you know, I know a lot of you aren't, 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:27.120 I was telling somebody the other day 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:29.480 that most of the people who come to this service 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:31.600 haven't grown up Anglican. 00:07:31.640 --> 00:07:32.720 They were really surprised. 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:34.400 So maybe over coffee today, 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.080 you can sort of share with each other, you know, 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:38.080 what your spiritual journeys have been. 00:07:38.640 --> 00:07:40.200 But if you want to try to figure out 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:43.779 where Anglicans fit in the Protestant scheme of things, 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:45.000 it's very easy. 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:47.180 The Salvation Army picks you up out of the gutter. 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.959 Baptists baptize you. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:52.759 Presbyterians educate you. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:55.139 Methodists disciple you. 00:07:55.939 --> 00:07:57.599 Pentecostals teach you how to sing. 00:07:58.539 --> 00:08:01.319 Anglicans introduce you to society and culture. 00:08:02.159 --> 00:08:04.620 And then the Salvation Army picks you up out of the gutter. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:13.899 Now, you see, that's sort of a joke, 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:17.220 putting down Anglicans or saying some bad, you know, 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:18.720 there's one aspect of Anglicanism 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.360 which is always a bit ambivalent, 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:22.939 and that's, you know, our relationship to high culture 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:24.720 and everything. 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:28.720 But, you know, if I want to try to tell you something 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.340 about what Anglicanism was like, 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:32.039 I could think maybe I could use this joke 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:33.419 or maybe I could use this story, 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:35.120 I could use this type of analogy. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:38.519 And, you know, and through the week sometimes 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:40.759 if I want to try to communicate a particular idea, 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:43.319 I'll be thinking through what type of story 00:08:43.319 --> 00:08:44.939 or analogy can I use. 00:08:45.459 --> 00:08:49.360 And if Christianity is all about some abstraction 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:54.000 or ideal or principle or practice or moral, 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:56.919 then if that's what the Christian faith is all about, 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.439 then what that means is that we human beings 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:02.360 will try to think of some different stories or analogies 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:05.440 that can try to communicate that abstraction. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:07.380 And then, as I said, maybe, you know, 00:09:07.420 --> 00:09:09.660 it's a matter of learning how to, you know, 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:11.400 do, you know, mental disciplines 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:14.800 and physical disciplines and dietary disciplines, etc., 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:16.300 so that we can perfect ourselves 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:19.500 to grasp these high abstractions and ideas. 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:22.180 But the Christian faith is not like that at all. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.260 The gospel is the good news, 00:09:24.380 --> 00:09:26.500 the story about a man named Jesus. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:29.500 And so after John has given these spectacular 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:32.779 sort of abstract ideas of the Word 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:35.360 and there's never a time when the Word didn't exist 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.659 and the Word was with God 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:40.279 and there's these wonderful, wonderful high ideas, 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:42.440 the very, very next thing that John says 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:45.080 as he continues to try to tell us the story about Jesus 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:48.100 is he tells us about a man named John. 00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:55.820 And he instantly goes from these high abstractions to history. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:59.200 A guy that, in a sense, if you'd been there with John, 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:01.800 the disciple John, when he's talking about John the Baptist, 00:10:01.920 --> 00:10:04.120 you could have said to John the Evangelist, 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.879 what was John the Baptist's favorite food? 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:07.060 And John could have said, 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:09.580 well, he actually liked grasshoppers and honey. 00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:11.879 And we'd all go, oh, gross. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:13.420 At least I would go gross. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.480 Maybe some of you folks like that type of food. 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:20.800 And so the Gospel is not a story about ideas or about principles. 00:10:21.060 --> 00:10:24.639 It's going to be about something that God does in history. 00:10:25.060 --> 00:10:27.460 Listen to how John talks about it in verse 6. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:32.279 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.240 This man came to be a witness, 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.560 to bear witness of the light 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:41.240 that all through him might believe. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:43.879 He was not that light, 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:47.539 but was sent to bear witness of that light. 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:53.399 Now, another question we could ask about the fact that the Gospel 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:56.340 is the good news about a man named Jesus 00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:59.279 is that maybe this is going to be a story 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:02.940 about how disciples and all and other people figured things out. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:07.159 Maybe it's a story about figuring things out and achieving things. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:10.620 Maybe the image that we should have in our mind 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.819 as we listen to this story 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:13.500 and try to figure out what the Christian faith is, 00:11:13.579 --> 00:11:16.419 maybe we should think of something like a young child. 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:18.799 I don't know, those of you who've had young children 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.719 or maybe had younger brothers and sisters, 00:11:22.719 --> 00:11:25.600 there's that time when a child, 00:11:25.699 --> 00:11:28.740 you're trying to explain a concept or an idea or something to them, 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:32.179 and you can see the child just thinking and thinking and thinking. 00:11:32.299 --> 00:11:34.919 You can see the look and concentration in their face, 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.819 and you can see that wonderful moment, 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.939 which almost as if a little light bulb went on in their head, 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:41.319 and they get it. 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:42.959 And if you've ever been there, 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:45.000 when you've seen a young child get something, 00:11:45.079 --> 00:11:46.519 it's a really precious thing. 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:49.779 You realize that just something was turned on in their head. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.779 And so maybe is the story, 00:11:51.819 --> 00:11:54.500 is this story which John is going to tell us about Jesus, 00:11:55.099 --> 00:11:57.059 about him dying on the cross and all of these things, 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:58.879 is it really ultimately a story 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:02.099 about human beings figuring things out 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:05.200 and coming to new realizations. 00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:07.600 And John is going to say to us, 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:10.620 know that the image that we should have in our head 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:13.500 is not of a child figuring something out, 00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:16.139 but that the image is, 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:18.240 okay, you know what the image is like? 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:21.340 The image is really one of darkness and human powerlessness. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:24.700 That to hear the story of Jesus, 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:28.480 not think of ourselves as little children figuring things out, 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:33.580 but to recognize our complete and utter need for help. 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:36.200 I've used this example before, 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:38.580 but I'll just ask you all folks here for a second. 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:41.240 Okay. 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:45.240 What am I thinking of in my head right now? 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:50.379 Not a single one of you have the vaguest idea in the world. 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:52.220 I can tell you what I was thinking. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:54.820 I was thinking of the very first time I saw Tosh 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:58.600 after he'd been born in Louise's arms. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.600 That's what I was thinking of in my head. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:03.460 Not a single one of you could possibly have known that. 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:07.419 And what John is going to say 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:09.740 is that the story about Jesus 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:12.259 is a story of revelation. 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:16.340 It's a story of God making clear 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:18.179 what had to happen 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:20.240 and the life that had to be received 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.019 because we human beings 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:24.600 could not possibly know it or understand it 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.819 or figure it out or work it out 00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:27.799 or achieve it by our own power. 00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:31.139 That the way that we are going to have to hear this story about Jesus 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.860 is just as if, 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.059 if we want to know what's going on in God's head, 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.620 if we want to know what on earth is going on in God's heart, 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:41.740 we literally have to wait until he tells us. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:44.319 And be open to receiving it. 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:47.000 And that this is going to be a key dynamic 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:50.299 as John tells us the story about Jesus. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.580 John is going to tell us that the world is in darkness. 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:55.220 And you know what? 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:55.720 If you have, 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.899 you can get all the darkness in the world together 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:59.879 and darkness can never make light. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.039 Darkness can never make light. 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:05.980 Light is something different from darkness 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:07.759 that shines in darkness. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.919 But if you have a dark room, 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.539 that dark room will never produce light by itself. 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.000 And John is going to say 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:17.720 that the gospel is the good news about a man named Jesus. 00:14:18.319 --> 00:14:20.080 It's a story about revelation. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.100 Listen to what he says. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.299 Verse 9. 00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:25.500 That was the true light, 00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:28.679 which gives light to every man who comes into the world. 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:30.399 He was in the world, 00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:31.959 and the world was made through him, 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:34.099 and the world did not know him. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.839 He came to his own, 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.539 and his own did not receive him. 00:14:37.979 --> 00:14:39.839 But as many as received him, 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:43.659 to them he gave the right to become children of God, 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:46.459 even to those who believe in his name, 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.559 who are born not of blood, 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:50.019 nor of the will of the flesh, 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.519 nor of the will of man, 00:14:52.079 --> 00:14:52.919 but of God. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.980 Maybe the story 00:14:57.980 --> 00:15:00.500 that we're going to hear about Jesus 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.720 over the coming weeks 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.259 is a story about 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:05.220 the divine, 00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.720 the exalted, 00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:08.279 the sublime. 00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:11.720 Maybe it's like an experience. 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:12.439 You know how, 00:15:12.579 --> 00:15:14.279 we've all had those experiences 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:16.000 of the divine and the sublime. 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:19.319 Maybe it's been after a really good day, 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.640 we've maybe got a promotion, 00:15:20.900 --> 00:15:23.120 or we had an unexpected check come in, 00:15:23.540 --> 00:15:26.660 and maybe we've had a couple of glasses of wine, 00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.040 and a really good meal, 00:15:28.140 --> 00:15:29.640 and we're with our very best friends, 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.960 and we're just feeling like at the top of height, 00:15:32.400 --> 00:15:34.900 and maybe there's a beautiful scene outside, 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.480 or just a beautiful house, 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:39.060 and we just sort of feel sublime, 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:41.660 and it just feels so effortless, 00:15:41.660 --> 00:15:43.400 as if God is in the world, 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.660 and as if everything is just right with the world, 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.639 and right with us, 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:51.240 and we just have this profound sense of the sublime, 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:53.039 and of the divine, 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.219 and of wonder, 00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:57.579 and maybe the story about Jesus 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:58.919 is a story like that. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.159 The story about Jesus 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.480 is not a story like that. 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:04.360 The story about Jesus 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.679 is not about the divine, 00:16:06.219 --> 00:16:07.699 it's not about the sublime, 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.719 it's not about the exalted. 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:11.160 In fact, 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.740 the story about Jesus 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:14.879 is completely and utterly shocking. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.240 It's about the fact that 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:21.600 the word became flesh. 00:16:22.540 --> 00:16:25.540 The word became flesh. 00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:29.200 God took into himself 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.399 all that makes us human. 00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:35.259 It's not about divine, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.560 it's not about divinity, 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.019 it's not about spirituality, 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.819 it's ultimately a story 00:16:39.819 --> 00:16:41.539 that has at its very center 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:44.179 that the eternal God, 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.960 the creator of all things, 00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:47.620 the transcendent God, 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:49.079 the imminent God, 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.819 that that very God 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:52.679 took into himself 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:54.199 our human nature 00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:56.399 and became flesh. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:59.579 The words are very, very striking 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.639 and very, very stark. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:04.039 Listen to what John says. 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:07.399 And the word became flesh 00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:09.119 and dwelt among us 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.079 and we beheld his glory, 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.639 the glory as of the only begotten 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.639 of the Father, 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.960 full of grace and truth. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.720 The gospel is the good news 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.039 about a man named Jesus. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.359 John begins his story 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.279 by talking about 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.299 the very, very beginning 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.200 of all things. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.159 And whatever is going to be 00:17:28.159 --> 00:17:29.399 about the story of Jesus 00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.440 has its roots 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:32.059 and its basis 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.640 in the very, very beginning 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:34.580 of all things. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.299 It's not a story 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.740 about exalted ideas 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.559 or principles 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.779 or human achieving 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.180 or human attainment. 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:42.600 It's not something 00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:43.740 which is beckoning us 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.100 to ascetic principles 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:46.539 or to the sublime 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.460 or to the exalted. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.440 It is ultimately going to be 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.000 the story of the word 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.039 becoming flesh 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.340 and dwelling among us 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:55.340 so that we might behold 00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:56.039 his glory, 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:58.460 the glory as of the only begotten 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.120 of the Father, 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.000 the one who is full 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.360 of grace and truth. 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.819 And God is going to be 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:05.559 the one who is going 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.799 to determine what glory 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.600 and what truth 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:09.019 and all of these things mean. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.860 As we read the story 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.160 of Jesus as recorded 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:12.720 in John, 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.340 he is going to turn 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.779 glory upside down 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:17.700 and splendor upside down 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.880 and our expectations 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.000 upside down 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.079 and our beliefs 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:22.120 in our own power. 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.000 John is going to attempt 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.039 to crush us 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.180 of all of these things 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.799 and say the story 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.839 is not about George, 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.980 it's not about Christians, 00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:31.259 it's not about the church. 00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:33.740 The story that matters 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.359 is the story of Jesus, 00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:37.779 the man who was also 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.740 the Son of God 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:40.779 who came and dwelt among us. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.779 My very final words 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.519 would be from John chapter 20. 00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:48.759 John at the end of his story 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.879 tells us why he wrote 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.839 this whole story 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:52.379 and he says this, 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.859 And truly Jesus 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:55.099 did many other signs 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.740 in the presence 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.579 of his disciples 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.579 which are not written 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.220 in this book, 00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.599 but these are written 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.919 that you may believe 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:02.819 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:04.139 the Son of God, 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.339 and that believing 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.759 you may have life 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.339 in his name. 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.879 Let's bow our heads 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.339 in prayer. 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:34.699 Father, we want to know Jesus. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.459 Help us to know 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.460 your Son of God 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:41.180 in all of the depths 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.980 of who he is as a person 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.120 and all of the depths 00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:45.380 and wonders 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.539 of what he has accomplished 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.880 for us as human beings. 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:50.120 We ask, Father, 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.480 that you would humble us 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.559 and help us 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.440 to put to death 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.180 our own desires 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.059 for glory, 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.579 our own desires 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.680 for preeminence, 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.140 our own desires 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:01.180 to achieve 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.460 in spiritual matters, 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.319 to win 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.840 in spiritual matters, 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.299 to accomplish, 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.779 to master, 00:20:08.179 --> 00:20:09.459 to overwhelm, 00:20:10.199 --> 00:20:11.859 to put in place. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.839 We ask, Father, 00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:15.199 that you would humble us 00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:16.319 of all of these 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.439 natural desires, 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.279 these so-called 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.220 natural desires 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.740 that we have 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.399 at this time, 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:22.439 that your Holy Spirit 00:20:22.439 --> 00:20:24.019 would so fall upon us 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.019 that we might be humbled, 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:28.339 that we might be stilled, 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.240 that we might be 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.440 so inwardly healed, 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.259 that we are able 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.220 to receive 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.799 that which you alone 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.500 can give, 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.620 that which your Son 00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:42.019 alone can give 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:43.259 and has accomplished. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.539 Father, 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.880 please humble us 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.779 and fan into flame 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.460 within us 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.740 a deep longing 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.339 and yearning 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:51.099 and desire 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.220 to receive that 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.920 which you alone 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.539 can give 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.579 in the person 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.140 of your Son, 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.980 Jesus Christ. 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.559 All this we ask 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.579 in the name of Jesus, 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.420 your Son, 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.360 and our Saviour. 00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:01.220 Amen.