WEBVTT

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 Heavenly Father, this Christmas Eve, we remember that it is you who sent your Son, Jesus Christ,

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 so that he was born, so that he may raise those who are dead to life.

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 And we now want to hear from your word about what your Son accomplished on our behalf.

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 So please speak to us and by your Spirit, give us understanding and inflame our affections for you.

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 So that this Christmas, we may truly remember the King that came and witness his glory.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Please turn with me to John chapter 6, verses 22 to 35.

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 John chapter 6, verses 22 to 35.

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 You're using your Q Bible, that's in page 891 of your Q Bible.

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 And this passage follows on the heels of Jesus' feeding of the 5,000.

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 It says 5,000 men, and they customarily counted only the men in large crowds.

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 So it's likely there was probably, counting women and children, 20,000 people or so, that Jesus fed with this miracle,

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 multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish to feed this crowd.

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 And this was intended to show that Jesus was the new Moses, the Messiah, that was promised by God to come.

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 Just as Moses provided manna, bread from heaven to the Israelites,

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 Jesus was going to provide the new bread of life to give eternal life to people that he came to save.

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 And so that's this passage follows just after that.

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 Chapter 6, verses 22 to 35.

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 I will read it out loud for us.

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 Follow along with me in your Bibles.

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 On the next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there,

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 and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.

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 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

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 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples,

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 they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

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 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him,

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 Rabbi, when did you come here?

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 Jesus answered them,

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs,

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 but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

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 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life,

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 which the Son of Man will give to you.

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 For on him God the Father has set his seal.

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 Then they said to him,

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 What must we do to be doing the works of God?

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 Jesus answered them,

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 This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

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 So they said to him,

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 Then what sign do you do that we may see and believe you?

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 What work do you perform?

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 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written,

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 He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

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 Jesus then said to them,

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 Truly, truly, truly, I say to you,

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 It was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven,

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 but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

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 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven

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 and gives life to the world.

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 They said to him,

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 Sir, give us this bread always.

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 Jesus said to them,

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 I am the bread of life.

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 Whoever comes to me shall not hunger,

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 and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Now, many of you,

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 probably all of you are familiar with the Christmas story,

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 and probably also with Aesop's fable about the grasshopper and the ant.

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 You guys know the fable that grasshopper spends his entire summer

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 singing away his time,

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 while the ant is working hard all over the summer,

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 preparing for the future,

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 the winter that is coming,

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 storing up food.

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 And when winter finally comes,

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 the grasshopper has no food to eat,

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 so he goes to the ant and asks for some food.

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 And the ant rebukes him for his idleness and says,

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 You should dance the winter away,

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 just as you did the summer.

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 And this fable is intended to extol the virtues

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 of industriousness, hard work,

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 and planning for the future.

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 And here in New England,

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 we like to think of ourselves as people who are industrious.

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 We like to think of ourselves as people who plan for the future.

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 So we work jobs that we like.

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 We work jobs we don't like.

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 We work day in and day out.

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 We provide for ourselves and for our families.

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 We save for our children's college.

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 We plan for our retirement.

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 Yet even with all of that,

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 we don't plan quite far enough.

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 We plan for this life,

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 but not for the life to come.

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 So in the scale,

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 the breadth of eternity,

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 then we are just like this grasshopper

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 who is so distracted and busy

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 with the preoccupations of the here and now

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 that we do not attend to the business of eternal life.

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 And that's what Jesus rebukes this crowd of

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 in verse 25.

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 He says to them,

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 in verse 26,

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 He says,

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 Well, truly, truly, I say to you,

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 you are seeking me not because you saw signs,

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 but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

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 Jesus here accuses his admirers and followers

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 of using him to get what they want

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 but in seeking to get to know him

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 and following him as a son of God and Messiah

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 that he is.

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 And if you've,

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 I mean,

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 and I think all of you at every stage of life

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 have probably experienced this.

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 As a child,

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 you may remember that some,

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 and if you're still a kid,

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 you might remember that some of your peers,

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 some of your other friends' kids

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 who may not have any,

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 wanted anything to do with you,

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 didn't want to hang out with you,

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 all of a sudden want to be your friend

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 when you have the cool toy

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 or a game

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 that they didn't have, right?

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 Or if you're a teenager

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 in high school,

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 you might remember that all of a sudden

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 friends who didn't really,

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 the peers that didn't really care for you

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 want to hang out with you

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 when they find out that you got your driver's license

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 and you have a car, right?

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 Or if you're an adult,

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 you experience all the powerful adults,

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 people with influence

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 have people flocking to them,

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 wanting to score some points

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 and to be under their good graces,

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 flattering them.

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 That's exactly what these followers

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 are doing to Jesus.

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 They were not interested in getting to know him

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 and following him as who he claimed to be.

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 Rather, they wanted him to be a showman,

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 a magician to fill their stomachs,

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 not a savior to save their souls.

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 They wanted to take care of their body,

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 their here and now,

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 and not attend to their souls for eternity.

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 And that's what so many of us do, isn't it?

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 That's what we do often in this life.

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 We religiously care for our own bodies, right?

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 We, you know, exercise when we don't want to.

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 We eat healthy foods that don't taste good to us, right?

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 We take the vitamins faithfully.

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 We care for ourselves

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 and buy the organic foods

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 that are the most expensive

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 in the food aisles in the grocery store,

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 all in the hopes that we might be healthy

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 for a little longer,

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 live just a little longer, right?

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 We religiously tend to our careers.

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 We push aside family and friends

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 to climb relentlessly up the corporate ladder

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 and find greater recognition and esteem

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 and compensation.

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 We religiously pursue fleeting pleasures for ourselves,

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 feeding our addictions to TV shows,

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 video games, drugs, alcohol, or sex.

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 Or maybe we simply religiously pursue

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 the happy middle class life,

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 American life.

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 To have a nice spouse,

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 a nice pair of kids,

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 a nice house,

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 and a nice car,

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 and maybe a nice dog to boot, right?

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 But the tragedy of life

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 is that all of these pleasures

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 are futile and fleeting.

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 We think that in these things

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 we can find true satisfaction,

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 but we always come up empty.

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 We never quite have enough,

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 and we always need the next big thing

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 because these things

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 ultimately cannot satisfy

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 our true hunger and thirst.

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 And the reason for that

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 is that our ultimate longing,

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 our true hunger and thirst,

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 is not for these things,

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 but for God,

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 who created us.

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 As Augustine,

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 a 4th century Christian theologian,

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 says to God,

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 he prays to God,

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 you have made us for yourself,

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 O Lord,

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 and our heart is restless

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 until it finds its rest in you.

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 A more modern Christian theologian,

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 C.S. Lewis,

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 also writes about this.

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 And then he says in his book,

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 Mere Christianity,

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 creatures are not born with desires

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 unless satisfaction for those desires exists.

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 A baby feels hunger,

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 well,

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 there is such a thing as food.

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 A duckling wants to swim,

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 well,

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 there is such a thing as water.

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 Men feel sexual desire,

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 well,

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 there is such a thing as sex.

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 If I find in myself a desire

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 which no experience in this world

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 can satisfy,

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 the most probable explanation

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 is that I was made for another world.

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 If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it,

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 that does not prove that the universe is a fraud.

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 Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it,

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 but only to arouse it,

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 to suggest the real thing.

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 we need to recognize that

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 all the broken,

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 incomplete,

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 fleeting pleasures

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 that we experience in this life

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 are just glimpses

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 of the whole,

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 complete,

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 and enduring

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 perfections of God

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 and the joys that He offers

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 in eternal life.

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 So you might think,

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 perhaps,

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 of a really

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 mellifluous melody,

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 a music

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 that makes you feel

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 when you listen to it

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 that some things are right in this world.

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 Or maybe you think

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 of the hearty,

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 the blissful,

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 carefree laughter

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 of a baby in your arms.

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 Or maybe you think

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 of that synergistic blend

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 of savory and sweet

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 in your favorite food.

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 Or maybe you think

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 of that perfect spiral

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 thrown by Tom Brady

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 going into

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 a perfect rainbow arc

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 into that snug hands

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 of that white receiver.

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 Maybe you think

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 of the beautiful interplay

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 of colors and lines

00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.740
 in your favorite painting.

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 Or that sacrificial

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 and mutually supporting love

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 between a husband

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 and a wife.

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 All of these things

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 that we long for,

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 that we live for,

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 these are just glimpses.

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 Echoes,

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 shadows

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 of the perfections

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 of eternal life

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 with God.

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 And perhaps

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 we don't think much

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 about heaven,

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 we don't look forward

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 to these things

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 because we do not realize

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 how good it is.

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 So Jesus enjoins us

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 in verse 27,

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 do not work

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 for the food

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 that perishes

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 but for the food

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 that endures

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 to eternal life

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 which the Son of Man

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 will give to you

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 for on Him

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 God the Father

00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:35.259
 has set His seal.

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 So don't seek

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 the food that perishes

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 but the food

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 that endures

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 to eternal life.

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 These fleeting pleasures

00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:42.820
 that we have

00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:43.700
 are real pleasures

00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:44.559
 but they will not

00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:45.799
 ultimately fulfill us.

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.740
 And the crowd

00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.720
 is intrigued by this

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.379
 and so they ask

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:50.059
 in verse 28,

00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.220
 what must we do

00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:52.279
 to be doing

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.300
 the works of God?

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.600
 This is a subtle

00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.660
 but dangerous question

00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:57.259
 that they're asking

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.580
 because Jesus said

00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.399
 in verse 27,

00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:00.899
 the Son of Man

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:02.360
 will give to you

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.180
 the food

00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:03.860
 that endures

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.620
 to eternal life.

00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:06.820
 And having heard that,

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.960
 the appropriate response

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.639
 should have been,

00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:09.440
 well then please

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.360
 give us this food

00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:12.240
 that endures

00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:12.920
 to eternal life.

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.360
 But rather than

00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.300
 relying on Jesus

00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:16.320
 who promised that

00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:17.279
 He will give

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:17.840
 this bread,

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.320
 the people are concerned

00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:19.960
 with earning

00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:20.680
 this bread.

00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:22.620
 So they want to know

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.460
 what works

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.660
 we must do.

00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.680
 But Jesus says

00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:28.340
 in verse 29,

00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.040
 He corrects them,

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.180
 this is the work of God

00:13:30.180 --> 00:13:31.580
 that you believe in Him

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:33.120
 whom He has sent.

00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.080
 An eternal life

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.860
 that Christ offers

00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.779
 is a gift

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:38.220
 and not a wage

00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.060
 so that the

00:13:39.060 --> 00:13:39.399
 quote unquote

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.660
 work that He demands

00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:42.040
 is to believe in Him

00:13:42.040 --> 00:13:43.200
 whom He has sent.

00:13:44.920 --> 00:13:45.460
 It's like

00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:46.220
 at Christmas time

00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:47.040
 it's particularly appropriate

00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:48.200
 to think about gifts,

00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:48.600
 right?

00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.240
 When you receive

00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.100
 a Christmas present

00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.720
 you don't expect

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.580
 to receive a bill

00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.360
 the following week,

00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:53.759
 right?

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.279
 Saying,

00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:55.000
 well this is how much

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.379
 it costs,

00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:56.180
 you have to pay me back.

00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.480
 That's not a gift.

00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:58.420
 That defies

00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.220
 the very definition

00:13:59.220 --> 00:13:59.700
 of a gift.

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:01.019
 A gift is freely given.

00:14:01.680 --> 00:14:01.779
 Right?

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.340
 In the same way

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.379
 Jesus here says

00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.139
 the Son of Man

00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:05.440
 will give to you

00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.879
 the food that endures

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.779
 to eternal life.

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:10.179
 It's free.

00:14:10.179 --> 00:14:10.199
 It's free.

00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:11.620
 It's a gift.

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.360
 And that's why He says

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.600
 this is the work of God

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.600
 that you believe in Him

00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:20.419
 whom He has sent.

00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:23.459
 And faith,

00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.279
 believing in Him

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.139
 is not work.

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:25.740
 Rather it's

00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.779
 an admission

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:27.919
 of our helplessness.

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:31.860
 In Romans 3.23.25

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.299
 it says that

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:33.259
 all have sinned

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.959
 and fall short

00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:34.899
 of the glory of God

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.839
 and are justified

00:14:35.839 --> 00:14:36.740
 by His grace

00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.919
 as a gift

00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:39.199
 through the redemption

00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:40.479
 that is in Christ Jesus

00:14:40.479 --> 00:14:42.099
 whom God put forward

00:14:42.099 --> 00:14:43.099
 as a propitiation

00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:43.740
 by His blood

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.479
 to be received

00:14:44.479 --> 00:14:45.959
 by faith.

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.819
 All of us

00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:48.379
 have sinned

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.079
 against God

00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:51.120
 and by refusing

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.899
 to channel

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.879
 all of our thoughts

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.799
 all of our

00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:54.779
 affections

00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.360
 and desires

00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:56.799
 all our speech

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.579
 all our words

00:14:57.579 --> 00:14:59.399
 all of our actions

00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.839
 by failing

00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:01.319
 to channel

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.179
 all of those things

00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:02.860
 all that we are

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.500
 and all that we do

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.819
 toward God's glory

00:15:04.819 --> 00:15:05.980
 we have sinned

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.399
 against Him

00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.059
 because that's what

00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:07.899
 He created

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.459
 us to be

00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:09.120
 that's what

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.659
 He created

00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:10.340
 us to do

00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.279
 and as a result

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:11.939
 we have experienced

00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:13.039
 spiritual death

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:14.259
 and the only way

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.519
 to regain this life

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.159
 is to have

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.139
 this bread of life

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.360
 but this bread of life

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.299
 is too costly

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.199
 for us to afford

00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:22.079
 it's too difficult

00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:23.179
 for us to procure

00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:25.639
 but Jesus

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.279
 He says

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:27.819
 He freely offers it

00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:28.539
 gives it

00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:29.699
 to us

00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:30.480
 and all we have

00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:30.759
 to do

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.500
 is in faith

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.740
 simply say yes

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.779
 holding out

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.720
 our empty hands

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.519
 now I don't want

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.139
 you guys to think

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:38.639
 that faith

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.620
 is an easy thing

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.480
 therefore it's

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.340
 something you can do

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.379
 lightheartedly

00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.259
 or halfheartedly

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.759
 because the genuine

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.720
 faith is not just

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.220
 theoretical

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:47.440
 but it's practical

00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:50.420
 so you might say

00:15:50.420 --> 00:15:51.140
 you believe in

00:15:51.140 --> 00:15:51.800
 modern medicine

00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:52.320
 right

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.580
 but if you don't

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.540
 vaccinate your kids

00:15:54.540 --> 00:15:55.940
 and you

00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:56.720
 when you are diagnosed

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.440
 with cancer

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.660
 instead of

00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.920
 going to an oncologist

00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:00.780
 you eat a lot of

00:16:00.780 --> 00:16:01.140
 blueberries

00:16:01.140 --> 00:16:02.580
 then you don't

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.140
 believe in

00:16:03.140 --> 00:16:03.700
 modern medicine

00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:04.960
 you believe it

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.420
 in theory

00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:05.940
 but you don't

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:06.260
 believe it

00:16:06.260 --> 00:16:06.880
 in practice

00:16:06.880 --> 00:16:09.300
 in the same way

00:16:09.300 --> 00:16:09.780
 if you're to

00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:10.640
 believe in Jesus

00:16:10.640 --> 00:16:11.520
 you say you believe

00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:11.900
 in Jesus

00:16:11.900 --> 00:16:12.520
 but if He

00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:13.320
 doesn't affect

00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:14.120
 your priorities

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.220
 your values

00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.420
 your entire life

00:16:16.420 --> 00:16:17.500
 then you don't

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.920
 really believe

00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.660
 in Jesus

00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:26.260
 think about it

00:16:26.260 --> 00:16:26.800
 this way

00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:28.640
 1 John 4

00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:28.980
 20

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.500
 this

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.340
 describes

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.300
 God's people

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:32.760
 the church

00:16:32.760 --> 00:16:33.500
 as the family

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:33.960
 of God

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.900
 and it says

00:16:34.900 --> 00:16:35.620
 that if you don't

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.480
 love your Christian

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.480
 brother or sister

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.440
 whom you have seen

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.420
 you can't love

00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:41.020
 God whom you

00:16:41.020 --> 00:16:41.940
 have not seen

00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:43.500
 imagine if you

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.000
 have a family

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.380
 member

00:16:44.380 --> 00:16:45.800
 maybe a sister

00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:46.260
 or brother

00:16:46.260 --> 00:16:46.720
 or father

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.120
 or mother

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.520
 and you don't

00:16:48.520 --> 00:16:49.040
 interact with

00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:49.560
 that person

00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.220
 at all

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.820
 throughout the

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.560
 entire year

00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:52.640
 except for

00:16:52.640 --> 00:16:53.320
 a cursory

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.140
 perfunctory

00:16:54.140 --> 00:16:54.640
 call

00:16:54.640 --> 00:16:56.120
 phone call

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.600
 on Christmas

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:56.940
 day

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:59.540
 can you really

00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.160
 say that you

00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:00.780
 love that

00:17:00.780 --> 00:17:01.700
 family member

00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:03.060
 of course

00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:03.360
 not

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:06.100
 in the same

00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:06.680
 way

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.620
 then too

00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:07.940
 if

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.620
 you do not

00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:11.899
 interact

00:17:11.899 --> 00:17:12.199
 with your

00:17:12.199 --> 00:17:12.479
 Christian

00:17:12.479 --> 00:17:12.959
 brother or

00:17:12.959 --> 00:17:13.179
 sister

00:17:13.179 --> 00:17:13.779
 at all

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.659
 throughout

00:17:14.659 --> 00:17:15.199
 the year

00:17:15.199 --> 00:17:16.219
 except for

00:17:16.219 --> 00:17:16.799
 a perfunctory

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.599
 visit

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.539
 on Christmas

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:18.919
 day

00:17:18.919 --> 00:17:20.319
 can you

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.299
 really claim

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.119
 to love

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:23.139
 your Christian

00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:23.539
 brother or

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:23.779
 sister

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.419
 and if you

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:25.959
 don't love

00:17:25.959 --> 00:17:26.299
 your Christian

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.679
 brother or

00:17:26.679 --> 00:17:26.899
 sister

00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:27.579
 according to

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.239
 the Bible

00:17:28.239 --> 00:17:28.699
 it says

00:17:28.699 --> 00:17:29.039
 you do

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.379
 not

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:29.979
 love

00:17:29.979 --> 00:17:30.919
 God

00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:33.199
 you see

00:17:33.199 --> 00:17:33.779
 faith is

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.439
 far more

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:34.839
 than just

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.479
 the mental

00:17:35.479 --> 00:17:36.179
 ascent

00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:37.459
 it's not

00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:38.299
 just theoretical

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:38.699
 it's

00:17:38.699 --> 00:17:39.419
 practice

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:42.080
 oh yes

00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:42.700
 I believe

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.100
 in God

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:43.539
 we say

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.060
 but even

00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:44.539
 the devil

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.140
 believes

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.840
 in God

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:48.460
 what matters

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:48.900
 is do we

00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:49.560
 obey him

00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:49.800
 do we

00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:50.440
 follow him

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:50.779
 do we

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.700
 harness

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.440
 all of our

00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:52.779
 life

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.880
 to live

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.880
 for him

00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.680
 so yes

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.380
 eternal life

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:57.759
 is offered

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.080
 to us

00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:58.420
 freely

00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.060
 by Jesus

00:17:59.060 --> 00:17:59.980
 but when

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:00.539
 we possess

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:00.720
 it

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.039
 we also

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.360
 become

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:01.779
 possessed

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.360
 by it

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.019
 it defines

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.600
 our life

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:04.560
 it drives

00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:05.480
 our life

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:07.720
 so then

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.060
 the food

00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:08.519
 that endures

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:08.860
 the eternal

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.240
 life is

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:09.559
 free

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:09.859
 and it

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.339
 is given

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:10.759
 to us

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.399
 by Jesus

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.019
 but what

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.479
 exactly

00:18:12.479 --> 00:18:13.240
 is this

00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:13.699
 food

00:18:13.699 --> 00:18:14.479
 and Jesus

00:18:14.479 --> 00:18:15.279
 gives the answer

00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:15.819
 in response

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.359
 to the people's

00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:17.679
 demand for a sign

00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:18.979
 they ask in verses

00:18:18.979 --> 00:18:19.899
 30 to 31

00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:21.119
 then what sign

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.740
 do you do

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.479
 that we may see

00:18:22.479 --> 00:18:23.240
 and believe you

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.119
 what work

00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:25.039
 do you perform

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.979
 our fathers

00:18:25.979 --> 00:18:26.779
 ate the manna

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.359
 in the wilderness

00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.139
 as it is written

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:28.879
 he gave them

00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:29.719
 bread from heaven

00:18:29.719 --> 00:18:30.319
 to eat

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.579
 so they want

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.099
 a sign

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.879
 they want to prove

00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.559
 that Jesus

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.519
 indeed can give

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.159
 them this bread

00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.579
 of life

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.419
 and then Jesus

00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:37.039
 responds

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.379
 in verses

00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:38.539
 32 to 33

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.980
 truly truly

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.899
 I say to you

00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.659
 it was not

00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.500
 Moses who gave

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:42.899
 you the bread

00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:43.480
 from heaven

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.679
 but my father

00:18:44.679 --> 00:18:45.279
 gives you

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.159
 the true bread

00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:46.659
 from heaven

00:18:46.659 --> 00:18:47.639
 for the bread

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:48.119
 of God

00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:48.980
 is he who

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:49.740
 comes down

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.279
 from heaven

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.000
 and gives

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.519
 life

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.879
 to the world

00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.939
 and then

00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:54.460
 finally

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.439
 after this

00:18:55.439 --> 00:18:56.559
 back and forth

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.059
 between Jesus

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.579
 and the crowd

00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.139
 the crowd

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:58.899
 finally gives

00:18:58.899 --> 00:18:59.220
 the right

00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.699
 response

00:18:59.699 --> 00:19:00.139
 they say

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:00.939
 okay well then

00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.579
 please give us

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.119
 this bread

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.399
 say sir give us

00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:03.959
 this bread

00:19:03.959 --> 00:19:04.539
 always

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.119
 and then Jesus

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:06.759
 comes back

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.739
 with this mind

00:19:07.739 --> 00:19:08.399
 blowing truth

00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.199
 in verse 35

00:19:09.199 --> 00:19:11.439
 I am the bread

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:11.919
 of life

00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:13.739
 whoever comes

00:19:13.739 --> 00:19:14.279
 to me shall

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.979
 not hunger

00:19:14.979 --> 00:19:15.359
 and whoever

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.299
 believes in me

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.099
 shall never

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:18.079
 thirst

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.919
 before Jesus

00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:20.759
 said that he

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.659
 will give

00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.459
 eternal life

00:19:22.459 --> 00:19:23.759
 and now he

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.639
 reveals that he

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.859
 himself is

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.500
 the bread

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.919
 of life

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:30.059
 he's going

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.619
 to offer

00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.259
 himself

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.519
 because he's

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:32.960
 the one

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:33.839
 in whom

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.640
 eternal life

00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.480
 resides

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.359
 and this is

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.740
 an unmistakable

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.359
 reference to

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.220
 his future

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.619
 impending death

00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:41.700
 on the cross

00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.319
 and later in

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.039
 verse 51

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.200
 he makes this

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.619
 clear

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:44.900
 he says

00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.400
 the bread

00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:45.839
 that I will

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.359
 give for the

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:46.799
 life of the

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.059
 world

00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.119
 is my

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.019
 flesh

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:51.579
 and you

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.200
 might be

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:52.500
 wondering

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:52.940
 well this

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.220
 is Christmas

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.599
 it's about

00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.500
 Jesus'

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.319
 birth

00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:57.960
 so why are

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.279
 you talking

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:58.819
 about Jesus'

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.339
 death

00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:00.599
 well the

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.219
 reason for

00:20:01.219 --> 00:20:01.500
 that is

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:01.899
 because we

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.240
 have something

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.799
 to celebrate

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.339
 in Christmas

00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.659
 but it's

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.359
 not merely

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:05.799
 that he

00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.480
 was the fact

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:06.599
 that he

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.059
 was born

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.379
 that we

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:07.859
 celebrate

00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:08.379
 but we

00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:08.919
 celebrate the

00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:09.359
 fact that he

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.859
 was born

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.480
 to die

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.419
 because if he

00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:14.159
 didn't die

00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:15.419
 for our sins

00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:16.039
 then there would

00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.859
 be no good

00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.480
 news for us

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:17.980
 to celebrate

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.980
 there would be

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.719
 nothing for us

00:20:19.719 --> 00:20:20.719
 to rejoice in

00:20:20.719 --> 00:20:21.919
 we would all

00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.740
 still be

00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.779
 spiritually dead

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.359
 and not all

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:24.679
 that would

00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:25.539
 await us

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.619
 would be God's

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:26.939
 judgment

00:20:26.939 --> 00:20:27.839
 and eternal

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.439
 perdition

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.980
 but on

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.400
 Christmas

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.279
 the only

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.700
 God

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.259
 became

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.880
 a man

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.380
 to save

00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:33.700
 us

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.700
 on Christmas

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.120
 the son

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:35.539
 of God

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.140
 became a

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.460
 son of

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:36.740
 man

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.480
 God the

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:37.920
 creator

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.600
 and upholder

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.420
 of the

00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:39.860
 universe

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:40.500
 took on

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.200
 flesh

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.900
 and was

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.580
 born as

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.320
 a feeble

00:20:43.320 --> 00:20:44.420
 human

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.180
 baby

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:46.080
 in a

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.420
 manger

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:48.580
 and what's

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:48.980
 remarkable

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.299
 is he

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.120
 came not

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:50.799
 to enjoy

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.480
 the luxurious

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.200
 life of a

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.460
 king

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.100
 making

00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:53.799
 men

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.200
 his

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.660
 creatures

00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.200
 do his

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:55.519
 bidding

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.360
 rather he

00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:56.759
 says in

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.140
 Mark 10

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:57.539
 45

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.279
 he came

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.700
 to serve

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.519
 and to

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:00.920
 give his

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.799
 life as

00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.319
 a ransom

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.440
 for many

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:07.659
 the Anglican

00:21:07.659 --> 00:21:08.440
 minister John

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.879
 Stott summarizes

00:21:09.879 --> 00:21:11.599
 this good news

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.339
 of Jesus Christ

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:12.920
 this way he

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:13.659
 says the

00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.319
 essence of

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.680
 sin is we

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.599
 human beings

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.559
 substituting

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.720
 ourselves for

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.119
 God

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.700
 while the

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.240
 essence of

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.619
 salvation is

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.859
 God substituting

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.079
 himself for

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.579
 us

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:27.819
 we put

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.159
 ourselves

00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:28.679
 where only

00:21:28.679 --> 00:21:28.960
 God

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.379
 deserves

00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:29.819
 to be

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:31.119
 God

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.799
 puts

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.240
 himself

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.539
 where

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:32.980
 only

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.619
 we

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.199
 deserve

00:21:34.199 --> 00:21:34.960
 to be

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.379
 and that's

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.019
 what happened

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.399
 on Christmas

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.919
 day

00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:39.379
 that's what

00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:39.819
 happened

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.279
 on the

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.740
 cross

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:42.159
 God the

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:42.439
 creator

00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:42.980
 became a

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.240
 man

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.919
 the creature

00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:45.019
 because

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:46.119
 man presumed

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.419
 to be

00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:47.119
 like God

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.579
 by living

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.159
 without any

00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:48.639
 accountability

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.379
 toward him

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:51.480
 God the

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:51.980
 holy one

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.460
 died a

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.019
 sinner's death

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.319
 on the

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.839
 cross

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.139
 because man

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.779
 the sinful

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.339
 one

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:58.500
 rebelled

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.019
 against

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.740
 God

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:03.660
 and why

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.160
 should we

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.839
 believe that

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.400
 this very

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.059
 tale like

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.700
 story is

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.039
 true

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.420
 because that's

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.019
 the sign

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.480
 that Jesus

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.039
 offered

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.379
 the sign

00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:11.759
 that Jesus

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.379
 offered was

00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:12.960
 in giving

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.779
 offering up

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.639
 himself his

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.220
 own body

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.559
 and then

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.639
 rising again

00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.519
 from the

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.759
 dead

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:20.779
 and I've

00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.039
 mentioned

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.420
 this before

00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:22.819
 to our

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.319
 church a

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:23.700
 couple weeks

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.039
 ago but

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.579
 this is

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.819
 that Christianity

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.119
 is the most

00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.960
 falsifiable

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.619
 religion in

00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:28.980
 the world

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:33.059
 because if

00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.500
 you want to

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.660
 start a

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.279
 cult if you

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.619
 want to

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.440
 invent a

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.640
 religion about

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.160
 the worst

00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.660
 thing you can

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.400
 say is well

00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:39.920
 I'm going to

00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.500
 die and then

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.059
 in three days

00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.660
 rise again

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:43.099
 because you're

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.680
 going to die

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.039
 and then you're

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.460
 not going to

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:44.980
 rise again

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.980
 and that's

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.880
 obvious

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:49.319
 to everybody

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:49.900
 and they could

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.559
 observe that

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.099
 and demonstrate

00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:51.759
 that and prove

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.579
 that they could

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.220
 verify for

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.460
 themselves but

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.079
 that's exactly

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.500
 what Jesus

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.240
 did he told

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.160
 people after

00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:58.200
 in his public

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.799
 ministry that

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.400
 he would die

00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.220
 and rise again

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.140
 to prove that

00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.860
 he is a son of

00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.360
 God who gives

00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:03.259
 eternal life to

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:05.279
 us and people

00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:05.980
 believed in him

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.740
 because he did

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:09.319
 which this is

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.140
 unlike any other

00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.460
 religion in the

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.599
 history any

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.360
 other religion you

00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:13.740
 look around

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.759
 Hinduism Buddhism

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.879
 Islam and

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.539
 they all start

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.339
 with this private

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.180
 idea or a

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.000
 private revelation

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.980
 of God that

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.180
 no one else can

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:21.759
 challenge or

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.599
 verify and that's

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.200
 why they can

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.359
 survive but

00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.259
 Christianity is a

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.299
 religion that is

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.960
 patently falsifiable

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.859
 yet it survived

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.759
 because it was

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.059
 true because Jesus

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.480
 did die and he

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.779
 rose again from

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.799
 the dead and his

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.039
 disciples were

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.920
 martyred for their

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.700
 conviction that

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.700
 Jesus was the son

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.599
 of God who rose

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.140
 from the dead

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:45.320
 and you might

00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:46.380
 object that well

00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:47.259
 sure adherents of

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.200
 other religions and

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:48.860
 other faiths have

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.840
 also died for their

00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:51.040
 faith and that is

00:23:51.040 --> 00:23:53.060
 true but while

00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:54.460
 people die for what

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.320
 they are convinced

00:23:55.320 --> 00:23:56.460
 is true no one

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.340
 dies for what they

00:23:57.340 --> 00:24:00.140
 know is false and

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.560
 these disciples died

00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:02.259
 proclaiming that

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.420
 Jesus rose from the

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:03.720
 dead

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:08.000
 Jesus offered himself

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.100
 up as the bread of

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.280
 life broken for us

00:24:10.280 --> 00:24:11.700
 so that we might eat

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:13.160
 and have eternal

00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:14.120
 life but then how

00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:15.080
 do we eat this

00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.720
 bread and I've

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.360
 already hinted at

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:18.120
 this and the answer

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.140
 is in verse 35

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.700
 Jesus says I am the

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.420
 bread of life

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.700
 whoever comes to me

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.500
 shall not hunger and

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.539
 whoever believes in me

00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.600
 shall never thirst

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:28.160
 here the metaphorical

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:30.080
 language is revealed

00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:32.039
 because those who no

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.240
 longer hunger are not

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.160
 those who eat Jesus

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.779
 but those who come to

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.920
 Jesus and those who

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.940
 will no longer thirst

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.580
 are not those who

00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.920
 drink Jesus but those

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.900
 who believe in him so

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.039
 you eat the bread of

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.420
 life by coming and

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:46.320
 believing in Jesus so

00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:47.380
 I urge you then this

00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:48.539
 evening don't seek the

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.940
 food that perishes but

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.420
 the food that endures to

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:56.100
 eternal life and as we

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:57.600
 think about eternal life

00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.340
 I'm going to end with

00:24:58.340 --> 00:25:01.000
 this thought it's from a

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:03.360
 book called heaven by

00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:04.259
 Christian author named

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:07.340
 Randy Alcorn and he

00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:08.920
 writes this he says the

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:12.259
 best of life on earth is

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:14.920
 a glimpse of heaven the

00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:17.759
 worst of life is a

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:21.080
 glimpse of hell for

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:23.000
 Christians this present

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.340
 life is the closest they

00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:27.100
 will come to hell for

00:25:27.100 --> 00:25:28.779
 unbelievers it is the

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.080
 closest thing they will

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:35.460
 come to heaven so I urge

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.920
 you with all my heart this

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:40.539
 evening anyone listening to

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:42.259
 this message could come to

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.920
 Jesus and believe in him

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.360
 for that's the reason for

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:47.100
 Christmas that's the

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:49.019
 purpose of Christmas he

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:50.440
 was born to die so we

00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:52.340
 might live so let's pray

00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:52.740
 together

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:57.579
 Ralph

00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:00.720
 baking

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.819
 me

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:03.440
 you

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.519
 me