WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:05.339 Why don't we just take 10 seconds, just turn to your neighbour and just wish them a happy new year. 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:11.759 What was the favourite thing, this week we could ask them, what was the favourite thing on their Christmas plate at lunchtime, Christmas Day? Go for it. 00:00:14.419 --> 00:00:18.879 Okay, well as Ian has mentioned already, it's the new year. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:24.420 And 2016, the first Sunday in the new year, sees us start a new series this morning in the book of Hebrews. 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:27.080 This is going to be fantastic, it's going to take us up to about mid-spring. 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:32.600 And I'm really excited having spent the week in this book, and I know John is as well. 00:00:32.739 --> 00:00:37.560 So why don't we turn in our Bibles to the book of Hebrews towards the end of your New Testaments. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:44.280 And let's pray as we come to still ourselves before God's holy word this morning. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:53.140 Father, we thank you that as we stand at the threshold of a new year, 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:59.160 that although so much around about us changes, Father, that you remain unchanging. 00:01:00.120 --> 00:01:03.760 And Lord, we ask that as we come now to look at your unchanging words, 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.960 Father, that you would speak to us by your Spirit, 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:09.740 that you would strengthen our faith, 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:12.359 that you would inflame our hearts, 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:17.379 and you would lift our eyes to see the beauty and the splendour of your Son, 00:01:17.379 --> 00:01:21.659 the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we ask and pray these things. 00:01:22.179 --> 00:01:22.560 Amen. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:29.679 So I want us to begin this morning by trying to think of a time in your life recently 00:01:29.679 --> 00:01:32.640 when you were tempted to turn back from something, 00:01:33.039 --> 00:01:36.060 because what was ahead of you was far too difficult for you. 00:01:36.899 --> 00:01:40.419 I wonder, I had this experience last week walking down Lothian Roads, 00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:43.620 down towards Toll Cross, towards town. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:46.100 Then, Storm Frank was on the go. 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:48.800 I think in Scotland we should have named him Storm Fergus. 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:50.400 We'll just chuck that one out there. 00:01:50.460 --> 00:01:51.719 But Storm Frank was on the go, 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:55.040 and I'm heading towards town, getting absolutely drenched, 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:57.420 howling winds going against it, 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:01.700 and I can see a black storm coming at me in the distance. 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:06.040 What do you do on those kind of occasions 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:09.140 when everything inside of you wants to turn back 00:02:09.140 --> 00:02:11.960 because you can see difficulty coming in the future? 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:16.920 Well, you see, that question about turning back, 00:02:16.980 --> 00:02:21.159 that question takes us right to the heart of this letter to the Hebrews. 00:02:21.980 --> 00:02:24.719 This is a letter written to a Christian church, 00:02:24.980 --> 00:02:27.400 probably most likely made up of Jewish Christians, 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:32.420 who are seriously tempted to turn back from following Jesus. 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:36.840 You see, in their lives, Jesus used to be a massive deal. 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:39.400 It was a joy to follow him. 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.480 It was a joy to suffer on account of his name. 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:46.700 They used to accept public ridicule from their friends. 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:49.819 They used to stand with their brothers and sisters 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:53.319 who were being put in jail because of their faith in Jesus. 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:57.040 They even accepted the plundering of their property. 00:02:57.719 --> 00:02:59.099 And this was all worth it. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:00.560 Now, why was it all worth it? 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:04.640 It was worth it because Jesus was their ultimate treasure. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:08.679 In church every Sunday, this was the playlist. 00:03:09.679 --> 00:03:11.099 Take the world, but give me Jesus. 00:03:12.179 --> 00:03:14.519 Trust and obey, for there's no other way. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:19.119 I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:19.479 Where? 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:21.239 Down in my heart. 00:03:22.239 --> 00:03:25.719 But now, the song that they're singing is, 00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:28.339 I'm not so sure I've decided to follow Jesus. 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:31.159 I'm not so sure I've decided to follow Jesus. 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:32.719 I might turn back. 00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:34.500 I might turn back. 00:03:35.539 --> 00:03:38.939 Now, you might ask, why are they tempted to turn back? 00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:41.039 Well, it's probably the same reason that a lot of us, 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:43.639 at times in our Christian walk, are tempted to turn back. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:47.939 Because do we not know that it's hard to follow and to walk with Jesus? 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:50.659 Do we not know that in our lives? 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:55.120 It's the easy thing to do, 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:57.180 not to keep our heads below the parapet. 00:03:57.180 --> 00:03:59.480 This is what these guys are facing. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:01.099 Keep their heads below the parapet. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:03.939 Leave this Jesus stuff behind or simply dilute it. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:05.260 Don't talk about them as much. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:07.620 Blend in with the rest of society. 00:04:08.640 --> 00:04:12.560 Join in with the socially acceptable religious practices of the day. 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:14.920 Which I guess in this case, 00:04:14.980 --> 00:04:16.920 it's the Jewish synagogues and their rituals. 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:21.199 Because to do that is going to cause less social friction. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:24.120 It's going to present less awkward moments. 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:28.459 And it's going to lead to less heated and tricky situations and conversations. 00:04:28.459 --> 00:04:30.539 That's why you keep your head below the parapet. 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:32.959 Tempted to turn back? 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:34.480 You bet these guys are. 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:40.779 That's what's going on in the lives of the people that this letter is written to. 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:45.219 And I guess the thing for us to appreciate as 21st century readers 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:49.860 is that this, this morning, isn't a systematic theology. 00:04:51.260 --> 00:04:55.080 And it's not a religious blog post that's just kind of posted out there 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:57.560 for random people to read on the off chance. 00:04:58.320 --> 00:05:02.020 This is more like a heartfelt plea from a pastor 00:05:02.020 --> 00:05:05.020 separated from his congregation 00:05:05.020 --> 00:05:08.220 who's absolutely devastated. 00:05:08.380 --> 00:05:13.400 He's heartbroken because he's heard reports that this flock, his flock, that he loves. 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:15.639 They don't think Jesus is a big deal anymore. 00:05:16.979 --> 00:05:20.819 And they are beginning to become fascinated with other things. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:24.060 Other things that were never designed to take the center stage. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.659 And as a result, Jesus has drifted more and more and more towards the periphery. 00:05:30.599 --> 00:05:34.199 And incidentally, I think that's all this angels stuff in the background here. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:35.139 That's what that's doing. 00:05:37.479 --> 00:05:39.399 So my question to you this morning, 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.000 you're the pastor of this church. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:44.560 Just let this Hebrew church. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:47.920 What do you say to those who are at the exit door? 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:51.060 What do you say? 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:54.639 Do you say, actually, guys, I'd prefer if you stayed 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:57.040 because we've got bills to pay, there's heating to run, 00:05:57.100 --> 00:05:59.199 and if you go, then we're going to struggle to pay this. 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:02.600 Don't go because I actually quite like you guys 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:03.620 and I don't really want you to go. 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:06.199 Why don't we just stay and have a big group hug and a big huddle? 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:06.800 It'll be fine. 00:06:07.339 --> 00:06:09.620 What do you say to people that are at the exit door? 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:12.860 People that are going to chuck in their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:14.139 Here's the answer. 00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:15.699 This is what this guy does. 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:20.560 He dazzles them with the all-surpassing greatness of Jesus Christ. 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:25.060 He displays for them in glorious technicolor 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:27.560 the magnificence of Jesus Christ, 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:29.639 who he is, and what he's done. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.339 And if you grasp that, if you see that, 00:06:32.419 --> 00:06:34.360 then Jesus cannot remain at the periphery. 00:06:35.419 --> 00:06:38.240 He simply cannot remain at the periphery. 00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:39.959 He's got to be right at the core. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:43.680 Now, it's that time of year, isn't it, 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.539 when we make New Year's resolutions? 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:46.519 I wonder if you made any. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:49.219 Maybe I made one to try and get fit this year. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.039 We'll see if that happens. 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:55.900 But I wonder if you've made any spiritual resolutions. 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:57.500 I wonder if you've thought about your faith 00:06:57.500 --> 00:07:00.040 and what you'd love 2016 to be for you. 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:03.900 Well, if there's one thing that I've been thinking about this week, 00:07:03.960 --> 00:07:06.320 one thing that I'm praying for for my own life, 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:07.280 first and foremost, 00:07:07.960 --> 00:07:09.720 for the life of my family, 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:11.540 for the life of my church family, 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:12.580 it's this. 00:07:13.700 --> 00:07:15.700 It's that 2016 would be a year 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:17.579 if we could do one thing, 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:20.439 it's that we would become so fascinated 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:22.180 with Jesus Christ, 00:07:22.979 --> 00:07:26.019 that his spirit living and working in us, 00:07:26.219 --> 00:07:28.319 transforming us daily more and more 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.539 into his likeness, 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:30.899 that would continue. 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:34.480 And it would see great fruit grow in this place, 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:36.819 that we would taste and see something more 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:40.339 of the glory of Jesus Christ day on day, 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:42.079 and it would spill out from here 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.199 into our offices, 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:44.620 into our sports teams, 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:45.639 into our universities, 00:07:45.699 --> 00:07:46.819 into our neighborhoods, 00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:48.479 and many would come to know him. 00:07:51.159 --> 00:07:52.500 Because you might be here this morning 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:53.420 and actually you're thinking, 00:07:53.579 --> 00:07:55.339 I'm not that tempted to turn back, Graham. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:55.899 I'm not. 00:07:56.659 --> 00:07:58.060 I'm not tempted to turn back. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.500 Well, let me ask you this this morning. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:01.180 This is what I was asking myself this week. 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:02.860 You might not be turning back, 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:04.719 but friends, are you pressing in? 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.060 Are you pressing in to know more of Jesus Christ 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:10.099 day on day? 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.259 That's why I'm so excited about studying this letter together, 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:15.819 because that's what this is all about. 00:08:16.539 --> 00:08:18.459 Why should this church stick with Jesus, 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:19.620 Mr. Hebrews? 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:21.180 Well, because Jesus is better. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.340 He's better. 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:24.879 That's the big idea of this letter. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:27.060 You'll see the first hint of it in verse 4, 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.840 if you've got your Bibles there, of chapter 1. 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:32.940 He mentions the word superior twice. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:35.520 You see, this word better, 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.480 it crops up 25 times in this letter, 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:42.060 which is incidentally more than any other New Testament letter. 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:44.340 Jesus is better. 00:08:45.760 --> 00:08:47.360 Not better in the sense of, 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.440 my dad's bigger and stronger than your dad. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:51.920 Not better in a sense of, 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.280 hearts are better than hebs. 00:08:53.540 --> 00:08:54.420 That one's for you, Martin. 00:08:56.400 --> 00:08:58.060 Not better in a sense of, 00:08:58.100 --> 00:09:00.260 he provides a slightly better alternative. 00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:03.059 But better is in the sense of, 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:05.139 all these religious rituals 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:07.319 that you're contemplating going back to, 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:09.379 are nothing but Peter pointers 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:12.059 that God designed to point and illuminate 00:09:12.059 --> 00:09:14.019 the glory of his son, Jesus Christ. 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:16.179 And it's his work, 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:17.500 his mission, 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:18.179 his glory. 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:19.200 It's all about him. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.720 He's the fulfillment of all that you're tempted 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:22.460 to go back to. 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:23.600 So why are you going back? 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:26.299 Jesus is everything. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:27.639 That's what he means by better. 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:30.039 All the way through this letter, 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:33.139 you'll see him do it time and time again. 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:34.860 Jesus is better in this way. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:36.840 Jesus is better in this way. 00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:38.240 Jesus is better in this way. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:40.100 We can't help but get his point. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:42.500 And I guess chapter one, 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:43.559 we really only have time to do 00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:46.120 a brief oversketch of it this morning. 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:47.879 It's so deep and dense, 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:51.179 but he outlines three of the big ideas 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:52.059 that he's going to unpack 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:54.620 in the rest of the 12 chapters of this letter. 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:56.899 Why is Jesus better? 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.060 Well, he gives him three reasons 00:09:58.060 --> 00:09:59.120 why Jesus is better. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:02.600 First reason why Jesus is better 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:05.440 is because he's the ultimate revealer. 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:08.700 Now, I'm from the west coast of Scotland. 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:10.379 Originally, don't hold that against me. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.399 But I had, 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:13.720 she's passed away now, 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:14.580 gone to be with the Lord, 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:17.299 but I had a typical west coast of Scotland auntie. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:19.740 She's a kind of grand, 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:21.220 if I had to describe her, 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:23.039 she's a bit like Isa from Still Game. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:23.879 If anyone knows, 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:24.759 watch a Still Game. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:26.120 She was Isa from Still Game. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.159 She loves the woolly cardigan, 00:10:28.339 --> 00:10:29.379 loved the tunnock's tea cake. 00:10:29.459 --> 00:10:31.139 That's the kind of grand aunt I had. 00:10:31.699 --> 00:10:34.599 But I only ever saw her once a year, really, 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.500 and it was at Christmas time. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:37.959 And without fail, 00:10:38.079 --> 00:10:39.439 every single Christmas time, 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:40.740 she would come to hug me, 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:42.500 and then she would stand back, 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.279 and she would say in the broadest Scottish accent, 00:10:44.439 --> 00:10:44.879 Och hier, 00:10:45.199 --> 00:10:46.480 you're looking so like you're Alan. 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:49.439 Yeah, I know a lot of you didn't get that, did you? 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:50.759 Let me translate that into English. 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:54.480 What she was saying is that she thought I looked so like my dad. 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:56.480 Now, in my pride, 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:59.080 I refuted passionately those allegations, 00:10:59.819 --> 00:11:01.860 but actually she had a point. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.039 So my dad, we look very different, 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.879 but we've both got this kind of skin under the chin 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:07.200 and pin back ears thing going on. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.879 I do kind of look like my dad. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:13.519 But do we not know that to be true on a human genetic level? 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:17.079 That there's something in the Son, 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:21.699 there's something of the Father in the Son. 00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:23.159 Do we not know that to be true? 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.399 If that's true on a human genetic level, 00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:31.579 then Mr. Hebrews is saying here that it's 100% true on a divine level. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:34.419 Look what he's saying at verses 1 and 2. 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:38.279 In the past, God spoke to us, 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.379 spoke to our ancestors rather, 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.620 through the prophets at many times and in various ways. 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.479 But in these last days, 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:48.559 he has spoken to us by his Son, 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:51.559 whom he appointed heir of all things 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.360 and through whom also he made the universe. 00:11:55.219 --> 00:11:58.639 The Son is the radiance of God's glory 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:02.580 and the exact representation of his being, 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:06.259 sustaining all things by his powerful words. 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:09.679 Now, if you've got an ESV translation in front of you, 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.000 you'll see that the ESV uses the word imprint 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.679 instead of representation. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:18.980 And the words there is the terminology of coin stamps. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:25.000 What he's saying is that Jesus is the exact imprint of God the Father. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.759 Jesus is the exact representation of God the Father. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.759 He's the ultimate revelation of God the Father. 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:35.960 We see Jesus, see Jesus, you see God. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:39.639 Jesus is, as Ian used that word earlier, 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:41.120 he is God incarnate. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:44.220 Now, that's one of these terms that I think we can find confusing. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.580 But the way I was taught, 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:47.440 I think John taught me this to think about it, 00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:49.059 is think of chili con carne. 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:54.779 It's the meal that probably I ate about 90% of the time at university. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.100 When we used to want to impress people, 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:00.039 what we did was we put chili con carne in a giant Yorkshire pudding. 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:05.679 Chili con carne means chili with meat. 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:08.799 Incarnate means God with flesh. 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:12.840 Jesus is God with flesh. 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:16.440 The blinding brightness and brilliance of God's glory, 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.279 which in the Old Testament was veiled to human beings, 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:25.720 that same glory is now on show for everyone to see in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:29.039 See Jesus, see God. 00:13:30.339 --> 00:13:32.740 You might be here this morning and you're thinking to yourself, 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.679 how do I really know what God is like? 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:36.860 How do I know what he's like? 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.419 That's a great question to ask. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.799 This Christian God, 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.319 is the description of him that you have here, 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:45.340 is it really just your best guess at what he's like? 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.460 Isn't God just anything that I want him to be? 00:13:49.680 --> 00:13:50.700 Well, here's the thing. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:55.280 This passage is telling us that God's not playing hard to get. 00:13:56.540 --> 00:13:59.240 God's not playing a game of divine hide and seek. 00:14:00.160 --> 00:14:03.120 God didn't wait for us to somehow figure him out. 00:14:03.560 --> 00:14:04.820 God made the first move. 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.380 He revealed himself to us. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.060 He's a relational God. 00:14:09.059 --> 00:14:10.199 He's a speaking God. 00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:11.919 He's a God who has made himself known. 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:18.059 And he spoke to their ancestors by the prophets in the Old Testament. 00:14:18.359 --> 00:14:20.479 But now he is speaking. 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:25.500 He has spoken and is speaking in a fuller, final and better way 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:27.839 in the person of his son, Jesus. 00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:32.099 The one through whom the cosmos was created. 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:36.239 And the one who is sustaining it to this very second. 00:14:36.859 --> 00:14:38.719 Jesus came down to us. 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:41.819 He walked and he talked with us. 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.619 We looked at God. 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.239 What more revelation do you need? 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:50.099 You see, God isn't some kind of divine Mr. Potato Head 00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:54.359 that we can dress up according to our tastes and our preferences. 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.679 He's not some kind of divine whiteboard 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:01.119 where we can just insert the adjectives of our liking on the screen 00:15:01.119 --> 00:15:02.759 and rub out the ones that we don't like. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:07.179 God has nothing more to say about himself than what we've seen 00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:09.679 and what we see in the person of his son. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:13.059 You want to know what God the Father is like? 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:13.799 Look at Jesus. 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:18.159 Get to know him as you encounter him in the Bible, in the Gospels. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.779 Don't just take my word for it. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.159 This is what Jesus said about himself. 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.019 If you've seen me, you've seen the Father. 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:27.600 So do you see what Mr. Hebrews is saying to his readers? 00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:31.679 Is that in Jesus Christ, we have a better revelation. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:37.159 See Jesus, read about him, hear him speak, hear God speak. 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:39.179 That's what happens. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:42.439 And so in that sense, do you see how Jesus is the ultimate prophet 00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:46.819 who speaks God's word to us? 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:48.860 In Jesus, we have a better revelation. 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:56.580 Second reason he's better is because he's the ultimate reconciler. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:02.340 You know, Alex and I, my wife, we were down in our wedding in Bath 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:07.060 the summer before last, and a good friend of mine called Toby was getting married. 00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:12.000 And I always loved weddings, and I think the best bit about a wedding I love 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.300 is listening to the best man's speech. 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.639 Has anyone ever done a best man's speech in here? 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:19.480 Because you find out things about people, don't you, in a best man's speech 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.779 that you would never find out otherwise? 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.919 Well, here's what I found out about my friend Toby. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:30.439 He waited an awful long time before he told his bride-to-be that he loved her. 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:32.720 I mean, we're not talking months, we're talking years. 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:36.039 And the fact that her name was Grace, I think, is very fitting. 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:41.620 But the first time, I asked him about this, why did you wait so long? 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:49.019 But he said this, the first time that I wanted Grace to hear me tell her that I loved her, 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:51.940 I wanted the very next words out of my mouth to be what? 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.460 What do you think? 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.679 Help me out here, brother, go on. 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.179 Will you marry me? 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.019 Even I thought that was cute. 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:04.640 Now, I asked him why he waited so long, and the reason he waited so long 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:07.980 is that he wanted those words, when they came out of his mouth, to mean something. 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:13.400 When he said, I love you for the first time, he wanted it not to be based on butterfly feelings, 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:17.880 but he wanted to be able to follow through his words with a commitment. 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:23.480 Now, before we go crowning him the new Mr. Darcy, let me burst his bubble. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.920 That wasn't an original thought of his. 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.940 You see, I opened the wedding order of service, 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:37.360 and inside, in amongst the pretty pink ribbon and glittery red hearts, was printed this. 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.380 This is love. 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:45.080 Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:50.019 and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:55.319 This Jesus, God in the beginning, God in the flesh, 00:17:55.379 --> 00:17:57.400 he didn't come down just to talk niceties. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:01.339 This wasn't some kind of charity gig that God was putting on 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.980 to let us know that he was still there. 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:06.759 God backed up his words of love with action. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.579 Jesus came on a mission, 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:12.079 and his mission was to bring us back, 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.279 to make us right, 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:15.900 to reconcile us to God the Father. 00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:19.039 And how is he going to do that? 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:22.659 Well, God eternal became God on a cross. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:26.599 The life giver allowed his life to be taken from him. 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:30.559 The one truly innocent was treated as he was the one truly guilty. 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.279 And why? 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.759 Well, Mr. Hebrews says, to make purification for sins. 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:39.759 Now, remember Mr. Hebrews, he's writing to Jewish Christians, 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.859 people who know their sins and their failures, 00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:45.819 people who know the holiness of God, 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:50.619 and people who understand that their sin and the holiness of God do not match up, 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:54.079 that their sin has put them at odds with God, 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:56.079 and they know what God requires of them 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:59.259 in order that they stay in a right relationship with him. 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:02.379 Because we might not get that purification word straight off the bat, 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:04.939 but these readers, they instantly get it. 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:08.000 Purification, it's a priestly word. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.000 Purification, it's a priestly word. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:12.319 The priest would be the one who would represent the people before God. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:16.240 The priest was the one who would stand in the gap 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.960 and who would intercede for the people before God. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.819 Now, how does a priest make purification? 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:24.380 Well, God requires that he makes a sacrifice. 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:28.559 The blood of a perfect, unblemished, spotless lamb 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.920 to make amends for his sin 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:33.019 and to make amends for the sins of the people 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:35.859 so they can be made right with God once again. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.940 Now, imagine just for a second, okay, 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:41.339 that you're an Old Testament priest 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:46.180 and your full-time job is to go to the temple every day 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:48.359 to perform that sacrificial role. 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:51.639 And you come home at the end of every day 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:56.319 tired, hungry, clothed, stinking, and covered in blood. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.519 And as you sit down in your armchair at the end of the day, 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.859 the thought comes to you, 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:03.559 oh, goodness, I've got to do that all again tomorrow. 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.119 And the next day, 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.059 and the day after that, 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.679 and the day after that, 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.779 and then you think of the people 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:15.619 that they've got to bring their sacrifices to you 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:18.279 for you to do your priestly stuff every day. 00:20:18.719 --> 00:20:20.019 What do you think you're thinking? 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.219 Are you not thinking, 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:25.319 is there a day when this is ever going to end? 00:20:26.419 --> 00:20:29.199 Will there ever come a day when I can stop doing this stuff? 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.840 Will there ever come a day when I can offer just one, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.580 one sacrifice to God, 00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.340 and that will be it. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.340 Done. 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.420 Paid for. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.860 I think that's what I'd be thinking. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.400 But you see, God didn't need the blood of animals. 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.680 That was to get the people thinking rightly 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:48.480 that real sins require a real sacrifice. 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:52.080 That we do need someone to stand in the gap 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:55.259 and to mediate permanently and perfectly 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:57.480 between us and God. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:00.419 Because the lambs were always a pointer, 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.819 a visual aid, if you like, 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:03.019 that was preparing the people 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:05.119 for the real McCoy when it came along. 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:07.699 Or should I say when he came along. 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.619 Because what do we have? 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.659 John chapter 1, 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.480 John the Baptist points to Jesus 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.419 as he sees him coming, 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.359 and he proclaims, 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:16.960 Behold, the Lamb of God 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:20.000 who takes away the sins of the world. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.160 Jesus gave his life, 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.480 shed his blood, 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:26.619 to pay the price of our sin 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:28.980 so that we, the guilty, could go free. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:32.359 He is the ultimate reconciler. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:36.000 He is the ultimate perfect and permanent priest. 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.720 And I was reading this week 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.279 that there were no seats in the temple. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.259 And why? 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.680 Well, because if you're a priest, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.859 you're interceding work. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.759 It is never over. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.500 It's never over. 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.640 Well, did you notice, 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.800 as you look at the passage, 00:21:51.040 --> 00:21:52.620 what does Mr. Hebrews tell us 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:54.180 where Jesus is sitting? 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.700 He's sat down. 00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.480 He's sat down. 00:21:59.540 --> 00:22:01.500 Now, why is he sitting down? 00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:03.300 Because his work is finished. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.380 It's done. 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:06.340 Do you see what he's trying 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.560 to get them to understand? 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.240 That in Jesus, 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.780 they've got something far greater, 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.700 far better. 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.080 Something that works 00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:14.520 and is superior in every single way. 00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.820 So don't go back 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:17.819 to the old religious system 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:19.480 where you have to offer 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:22.279 imperfect sacrifices all the time. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.359 Don't go back to shadow land. 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:26.399 But trust in the one 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.419 who those sacrifices 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.919 were always pointing to. 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.939 Trust in the once and for all 00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:33.899 complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.720 See, we're saying that Jesus 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.639 is the better reconciler. 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.480 And so in that sense, 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.759 he's the ultimate priest. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.519 Third reason why Jesus is better 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:48.640 is because he's the ultimate ruler. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.579 See verses four and five. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.299 What does he write? 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:56.200 So he became as much superior 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.960 to the angels 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:59.079 as the name he has inherited 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.720 is superior to theirs. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.720 For to which of the angels 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.779 did God ever say, 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.799 you are my son? 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:07.220 Today I have become your father. 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.859 Or again, I will be his father 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:11.519 and he will be my son. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:15.599 You see, one of the biggest conundrums 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.379 in the Old Testament 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:18.279 as you read it through, 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.839 the conundrum is 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.960 where is God's king 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.619 going to come from? 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:24.339 Where is this perfect king 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.500 who will lead God's people 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.960 into God's presence? 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.440 In fact, I can make a pretty good case 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.680 that that is a big strapline 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.859 for the Old Testament history. 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.879 Where is this king coming from? 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.319 Is this the promised king? 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.660 No, he's not the promised king. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.319 Is this guy the promised king? 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.480 No, he's not the promised king. 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:42.019 Where is this long-awaited king? 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.519 Where is he coming from? 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.900 We'll see at verse 5. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:50.099 Mr. Hebrews, he quotes from two passages. 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.920 Firstly, he quotes from Psalm 2. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.440 What does that psalm tell us? 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.299 Well, that psalm tells us 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:58.160 that God will set his king in place 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:00.700 and that king will be untouchable. 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:02.380 He will rule and reign 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.640 as God's chosen king. 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:05.279 He will triumph over his enemies. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.500 He will reign in righteousness 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.579 for God's people. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:12.339 And he will be to God as a son. 00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.240 And as well as Psalm 2, 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:15.859 really quickly, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.839 there's a quotation there 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:18.299 from 2 Samuel 7. 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:21.460 Now there, David is Israel's king 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:23.660 and the tabernacle has come 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.920 to rest in Jerusalem. 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:26.160 So we have God's king, 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:28.399 God's presence in God's city. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.660 And David, you can imagine, 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:32.059 he's ecstatic at this. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.279 He exclaims, 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:34.740 God, I want to build a house for you. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.059 I want to build a house for you. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.980 What does God say in return? 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.859 He says, no, David. 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:41.319 You're not going to build a house for me. 00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.619 I'm going to build a house for you. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.519 Not a physical house, 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:47.379 but a dynasty, a kingdom. 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:49.480 And one will arise after you, 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.180 a son, a king, 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.639 who will take this kingdom 00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:54.279 and the kingdom will last forever. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.720 And he will be a permanent king, 00:24:56.899 --> 00:24:58.660 ruling and leading God's people. 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:01.559 And he will sit eternally on the throne. 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:05.000 And so do you see that as Mr. Hebrews, 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:07.039 as he brings those two quotations together, 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.960 what is he saying? 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:11.160 He's saying that Jesus is that promised king. 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.539 You're not still awaiting him. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.299 He's here. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.579 And this king, he didn't stay dead. 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:18.839 He conquered death. 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:20.220 And he sits victoriously. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.619 Where does he sit? 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.240 He sits at God's right hand. 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:26.139 It's the Old Testament image of power, 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.920 of superiority, 00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.539 of ultimate achievement. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.960 That's where Jesus is now. 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:33.100 He's at the right hand of God the Father. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.079 And the name he has inherited, 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.660 the rank, the status, 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.380 the fame, the title, 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.880 it's what we were singing earlier, 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.200 isn't it? 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.640 Jesus, the name above all names. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:48.340 That name is superior to every name. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.920 And what does God say of this king? 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:55.279 Well, as we close, 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.019 look at verse eight. 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.420 But about the sun, 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.920 he says, 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.840 your throne, O God, 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:05.460 will last forever and ever. 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.860 A scepter of justice 00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:09.380 will be the scepter of your kingdom. 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.539 You have loved righteousness 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.019 and hated wickedness. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:15.019 Therefore, God, your God, 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:17.120 has set you above your companions 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:19.420 by anointing you with the oil of joy. 00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:21.320 See what I'm saying? 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:22.519 Jesus is the better ruler. 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.620 And in that sense, 00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:26.080 he's the ultimate king. 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.440 He's the ultimate prophet. 00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.539 He's the ultimate priest. 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.600 He's the ultimate king. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:34.500 He's better in every way. 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.840 I was telling you at the start, 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.740 I was walking down Lothian Road last week 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:41.380 with Storm Frank in front of me. 00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:43.000 Do you know what kept me going? 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:46.039 In amongst my drenched quotes, 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:48.080 was the fact that I had a voucher 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.319 for a free coffee in my pocket? 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:53.460 And I proceeded to walk into Starbucks 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.619 and order the most expensive thing 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.079 on the menu. 00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:57.199 And four pound ten later, 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:59.599 I was sitting there drinking my coffee. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.460 But I valued the thing in my pocket. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.439 That's what kept me going. 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:05.519 Now, it's a stupid example, isn't it? 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:07.399 But how much more should we keep going 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:09.639 because of the all superior value 00:27:09.639 --> 00:27:10.439 of Jesus Christ? 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:13.059 It's the lesson to this generation. 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.859 It's the lesson and the appeal 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.879 to our generation. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.839 Do you see what he's saying? 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:18.419 That Jesus is better. 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:21.099 In Jesus Christ, you possess something. 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.720 You have someone 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.539 infinitely more valuable, 00:27:24.699 --> 00:27:25.419 more glorious, 00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:27.859 far better than any would-be pretender. 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:32.539 So understand that Jesus is better. 00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:34.199 Become captivated by him. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:36.459 Put him back at the center of your lives. 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.879 And whatever you do, 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.899 whatever you do, 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.259 don't turn back. 00:27:41.439 --> 00:27:43.259 Let's pray as we finish. 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:52.200 Father God, 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:54.839 we thank you that Jesus is truly better. 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:56.839 And Lord, 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:58.279 it's our prayer that you would help us 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.839 grasp something more 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:01.220 of his greatness 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.799 and his glory this week. 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.779 Would you help us 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.759 by your spirit 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:07.099 to have him at the forefront 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.839 of our minds, 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.720 that he would not remain 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.559 in the periphery, 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.879 but he would come 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.820 and he would dictate everything. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.260 Our words, 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.040 our actions, 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.760 our thoughts 00:28:15.760 --> 00:28:17.020 would reflect something 00:28:17.020 --> 00:28:18.760 of how much we love 00:28:18.760 --> 00:28:19.460 and value him. 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.980 And so, Father, 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:21.900 this is our prayer 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:23.180 in his name. 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.060 Amen. 00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.200 Amen. 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:30.940 Amen. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:45.039 Amen.