WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.900 Turn with me in a copy of God's Word to Genesis chapter 3 and verses 14 and 15. 00:00:15.900 --> 00:00:16.820 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:49.740 Amen. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:49.799 Amen. 00:00:51.480 --> 00:00:55.359 Genesis chapter 3 and verse 14 and 15. 00:00:55.480 --> 00:00:57.840 Let's hear the word of the Lord together. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:00.740 The Lord God said to the serpent, 00:01:01.800 --> 00:01:08.400 Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:15.159 On your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:25.420 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. 00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:33.400 He shall bruise your head, but you shall bruise his heel. 00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:38.799 The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God endures forever. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:46.479 I have five one-word points this morning, each beginning with the letter S. 00:01:46.679 --> 00:01:51.159 Five one-word points each beginning with the letter S. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.280 So boys and girls, you can count it on your fingers. 00:01:54.759 --> 00:01:58.500 I thought I'd keep it simple this morning so your parents can follow along. 00:01:58.500 --> 00:01:59.459 Okay? 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:03.579 So five one-word points each beginning with the letter S. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:04.519 Here's the first one. 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:05.420 Seed. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:07.200 A seed. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:15.900 Reading the Bible is like watching a plant grow from seed to full flower. 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:23.159 Reading the Bible is like watching a plant grow from seed to full flower. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:27.599 A seed is actually a tiny plant encased in a hard shell. 00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:35.219 Everything required for the plant to grow to full maturity and to full flower is in that seed. 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:38.519 The DNA code is complete. 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:42.859 And it's only a matter of time until that seed develops into a shoot, 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:47.979 and then into a small plant, and then into a big tree in full flower. 00:02:48.939 --> 00:02:50.719 And that's a bit like reading the Bible. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:54.900 The early chapters of Genesis are like that seed. 00:02:55.259 --> 00:03:00.460 They contain all of the key information for the rest of the Bible story to develop. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.579 And we could say that about Genesis 3.15. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:08.439 It is the seed promise of the Old Testament. 00:03:10.020 --> 00:03:12.599 I will put enmity between you and the woman, 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:15.159 between your offspring and her offspring. 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:20.639 He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:27.039 This verse has been called in the Christian tradition the Proto-Euangelion, 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:33.460 which is just a fancy way of saying the first announcement of the gospel in the Old Testament. 00:03:34.139 --> 00:03:37.379 And I want to suggest that this Proto-Euangelion, 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:40.039 this first announcement of the gospel, 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:48.379 is like a seed that organically grows through the Scriptures until it comes to its full blossom 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:51.259 in the coming of Jesus Christ, 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:57.120 the one who defeats God's enemy and saves God's people. 00:03:58.399 --> 00:04:03.139 Now, what I want to do with this seed promise is treat it a bit like a sweet. 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:05.799 So here's the second S, right? 00:04:05.839 --> 00:04:09.339 A seed and then a sweet, a boiled sweet. 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:12.639 Boys and girls, what do your parents say about boiled sweets? 00:04:13.339 --> 00:04:13.639 Okay? 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:14.959 Put them in your mouth. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.379 Roll it around in your tongue. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:20.099 Don't crunch it because it's bad for your teeth. 00:04:20.479 --> 00:04:21.779 It's bad for your teeth anyway. 00:04:22.339 --> 00:04:23.579 But roll it around. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:25.579 Suck all the goodness out of it. 00:04:25.579 --> 00:04:28.599 That's what I want us to do with this verse. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:34.699 I want us to squeeze all the goodness out of this one verse like a boiled sweet. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:39.319 So notice with me, first of all, what God promises here. 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:43.860 I will put enmity between you and the woman. 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:48.839 Enmity between the serpent, a figure representing the devil, 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:52.579 and the woman, Eve, the mother of all living. 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:58.759 The promise to put enmity between the serpent and the woman is surprising 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:04.479 for the very simple reason that as God speaks these words, 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:08.139 the serpent and the woman are on the same side, 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:10.639 the same team. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:12.399 They're on team devil. 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:16.259 You remember that the woman had joined the serpent's side 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:18.199 when she ate from the forbidden tree? 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:24.500 Yet here is God graciously bringing her back onto His side 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:30.439 by forcing enmity between the serpent and the woman. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:35.439 No sooner had the serpent forced enmity between God and the woman 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:41.719 than God now forces enmity between the serpent and the woman. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:46.159 And the enmity is not just between the serpent and the woman. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:50.240 Did you notice that in our passage in the second line of verse 15? 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:54.900 It will continue between their respective offsprings, 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:58.640 between your offspring and her offspring. 00:05:59.020 --> 00:06:02.879 That is, God is going to maintain the enmity 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:07.600 between the serpent and the woman in their respective offsprings. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:11.040 The enmity will not just last for one generation. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:19.340 It will be for all generations until it climaxes in a final fight, 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:24.520 a final battle between a descendant of the woman and the serpent himself. 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:30.480 He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:33.060 It will be a bloody battle. 00:06:33.700 --> 00:06:37.439 It will end in injury for the offspring of the woman 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:39.759 and in death for the serpent. 00:06:41.060 --> 00:06:44.139 This is how death is going to come to this serpent. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:47.699 By an offspring of the woman, a seed of the woman, 00:06:48.219 --> 00:06:53.560 a male seed, a he, not a she, a him, not a her. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:55.379 And what do we call male descendants? 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:57.379 Sons. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:06:59.759 There's our third S. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:00.839 Son. 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:04.239 What is promised here is a son. 00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:09.459 I said I wanted to treat Genesis 3.15 like a sweet 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:12.879 and swirl it around and get all the goodness out of it. 00:07:12.979 --> 00:07:17.159 Well, the main piece of goodness of this seed promise 00:07:17.159 --> 00:07:21.239 is that God promises to send a son. 00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:28.919 The whole of the Old Testament is the long search for a promised son. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.900 In the beginning, Adam was God's son, 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:34.920 but he forfeited that right by his disobedience, 00:07:35.580 --> 00:07:40.780 and so God promised another son, the son here in Genesis 3.15. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:47.560 Abraham was promised a son through whom he would be made into a great nation. 00:07:48.280 --> 00:07:54.040 David was promised a son through whom his kingdom would be established forever. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:08:00.379 The whole of the Old Testament is the long search for a promised son. 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:04.360 And it begins with Genesis 3.15. 00:08:06.020 --> 00:08:10.040 Sinclair Ferguson has put it well when he said that the whole of the Old Testament 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:14.280 is really just a footnote to Genesis 3.15. 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:21.099 Now, I think that there are seven things about this son that we can learn. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.719 That's right, I did just say seven. 00:08:23.979 --> 00:08:26.599 Boys and girls, what's five plus seven? 00:08:28.179 --> 00:08:28.619 Twelve. 00:08:29.299 --> 00:08:29.579 Okay? 00:08:30.039 --> 00:08:33.639 Don't tell your mums and dads this is a 12-point sermon. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:34.720 Okay? 00:08:35.079 --> 00:08:38.699 So we've seen a seed, a sweet, a son, 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:41.439 and now we've got seven things about the son. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:41.840 Okay? 00:08:42.880 --> 00:08:46.140 So you can use your other hand and maybe your toes to count these. 00:08:46.260 --> 00:08:46.420 Okay? 00:08:47.660 --> 00:08:48.880 Seven things about the son. 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:51.300 Now, you may be thinking, I mean, come on. 00:08:51.780 --> 00:08:52.700 It's just one verse. 00:08:52.780 --> 00:08:54.880 You're going to get seven things about this son. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.120 Sounds like that old ditty. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:00.080 Wonderful things in the Bible I see. 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:02.420 Some put there by God. 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:04.180 Some put there by me. 00:09:05.020 --> 00:09:05.420 Okay? 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:07.520 Well, I hope by the end you'll be convinced, 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:09.340 actually, you didn't put them there, Johnny. 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:13.860 They can be reasonably deduced from this one verse. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:15.000 So you ready? 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:17.500 Here's the first one. 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:24.000 This son will descend from a woman with no mention of his father. 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:28.560 This son will descend from a woman with no mention of his father. 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:36.340 Now, that's surprising because it's the man who holds the power of begetting descendants. 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:43.980 Basic biology tells us that the seed that produces offspring resides in the man, not the woman. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.360 Yet there is no mention of Adam here. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:53.040 The son will descend from the woman without mention or help of the man. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:58.660 Now, of course, in order for this woman, Eve, to have any offspring, Adam needs to be involved. 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:06.500 But the emphasis is on the son coming from a woman without mention of the father. 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:14.439 And in this sense, we ought to read the Old Testament with an eye on the women of the Bible and not so much the men. 00:10:14.959 --> 00:10:19.939 What we have here, I think, is the faintest echoes of a virgin birth. 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:25.480 An offspring of the woman will come without the help of a man. 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:30.680 Number two, he will be a representative son. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:33.120 He will be a representative son. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:37.480 He will represent all the offspring who descend from the woman. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:43.480 This is seen in the singular collective sense of offspring. 00:10:44.300 --> 00:10:47.320 The Hebrew word for offspring here is serah. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:52.519 It only ever appears in the singular in Hebrew, never in the plural. 00:10:52.519 --> 00:11:01.639 Now, a singular noun like seed can refer to an individual person or a collective group. 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:04.620 We have such words in English. 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:07.799 Fish or sheep. 00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:12.179 Boys and girls, when you see one fish, what do you say? 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.480 You say, look, there's a fish. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:16.519 When you see a whole lot of fish, what do you say? 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:18.299 You say, look, look at the fish. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:18.419 Fish. 00:11:18.859 --> 00:11:22.179 You don't say, look at the fishies, as my Hannah says. 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:24.279 You're more intelligent than my Hannah. 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:25.179 Okay? 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.439 It's just a single word. 00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:27.399 It's a single noun. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:32.559 And it could refer to a single individual fish or it could refer to a group of fish. 00:11:32.979 --> 00:11:34.620 Well, that's a bit like the word offspring. 00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:41.299 It could, in one instance, refer to an individual like it does in the third line. 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:44.179 He shall bruise your head. 00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:45.299 You shall bruise his heel. 00:11:45.359 --> 00:11:47.419 There's the individual offspring. 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:50.240 But it can also refer to a collective offspring. 00:11:50.719 --> 00:11:52.079 That's the second line. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.599 And between your offspring and her offspring. 00:11:56.439 --> 00:12:00.279 In other words, when this individual offspring comes, 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:06.419 he will come as an offspring connected to all the other offspring who have come before him. 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:08.799 He will be their representative. 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:13.399 So that when he goes into battle with the ancient serpent, 00:12:14.199 --> 00:12:20.279 he will be battling, fighting on behalf of all of the offspring. 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:24.360 So we have here a representative son. 00:12:25.199 --> 00:12:27.919 Number three, he will be a warrior son. 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:29.639 A warrior son. 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:35.039 Because he's going to bring the enmity to a focal point with a serpent in a fight, 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.039 he is a warrior son. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.720 We might call him a serpent crushing son. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:42.840 That's the third thing. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.259 He's a warrior son. 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:48.120 So he will descend from a woman with no mention of his father. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:49.960 He will be a representative son. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.740 He will be a warrior son. 00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:57.299 Number four, he will be an obedient son. 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:59.039 An obedient son. 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:04.120 The mission of this offspring, the plan for his life, 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:06.340 is that he come and fight the serpent. 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:08.439 That's God's plan for his life. 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:09.899 And if he's going to do it, 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:15.139 then he must be obedient to God who sent him to do it. 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:16.919 He must be an obedient son. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.179 Now the reason I speak about his obedience is because it's not going to be easy. 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:24.580 He's going to have to fight the serpent. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:28.960 And he's going to have to endure some injury as well. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:30.879 It's going to involve sacrifice. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:36.139 So he's going to be an obedient son to his calling to fight the serpent. 00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:39.139 But it's going to involve sacrifice. 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:41.980 Which leads to the fifth thing about this son. 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:45.639 He will descend from a woman without mention of his father. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.440 Be a representative son. 00:13:47.780 --> 00:13:48.639 A warrior son. 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:49.580 An obedient son. 00:13:49.660 --> 00:13:50.759 Are you ready for the fifth one? 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.679 He will be a suffering son. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:56.960 A suffering son. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:00.240 He will crush the serpent in the head. 00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:05.000 But in that moment, he himself will be bruised in the heel. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:08.559 Now the anatomical part of the body is significant. 00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:16.000 Because the serpent is cursed in verse 14 to crawl on its belly all its days. 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:22.539 The heel of this man is really the only part that the serpent can bite and bruise. 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:29.419 But we mustn't think that the serpent is going to take the son by surprise. 00:14:29.839 --> 00:14:32.039 And sort of sneak up behind him. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:33.740 Bite him in the heel. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.120 Surprise him. 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:39.939 Now notice the order of events in the third line of verse 15. 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:50.080 He, the offspring of the woman, the individual, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:54.660 The son goes looking for the serpent. 00:14:56.040 --> 00:15:04.840 In other words, it is in the act of the son first bruising the serpent in the head that the serpent grabs onto his heel. 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:09.060 But it is the son who initiates the war. 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:11.519 Who goes to war with the serpent. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:15.639 And the son will be bruised as a result. 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:18.940 He will have scars to prove it. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:23.879 Boys and girls, have you ever seen some of those programs on TV about snakes? 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:28.759 And how when they bite, they stick their fangs into your skin. 00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:30.120 Well, what do they leave? 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.759 Scars. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:36.159 This son is going to fight that serpent. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:42.279 And he's going to come out of the battle with scars on his body to prove it. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.700 So he will be a suffering son. 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:49.559 He will descend from a woman with no mention of his father. 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:51.139 He will be a representative son. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.019 A warrior son. 00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:53.659 An obedient son. 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:55.120 A suffering son. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.919 Number six. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.879 A triumphant son. 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.860 A triumphant son. 00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:03.080 Yes, he's going to suffer. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.580 But he's also going to be victorious. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.620 We see this in two ways. 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:16.820 First, notice the reversal in the order of references to the serpent and his opponent. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.019 Look again at the first line of verse 15. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.879 The serpent is mentioned first, then the woman. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:26.139 See him in the second line of verse 15. 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:31.139 The offspring of the serpent is mentioned first, then the offspring of the woman. 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.980 But now notice the third line. 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.019 The order flips around. 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:40.019 The individual offspring from the woman is mentioned first. 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:42.860 He shall bruise your head. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:47.019 And then the serpent himself is mentioned second. 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:54.240 The flipping of the order shows the ultimate victory will belong to the seed of the woman. 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:59.220 In the end, the seed of the woman will become dominant over the serpent. 00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:08.420 But if you read your Old Testament, often throughout it, it is the offspring of the serpent that is dominant over the offspring of the woman. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:11.139 Egypt over Israel. 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:13.819 Put them in slavery for 400 years. 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:17.359 The Canaanites over Israel. 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:21.659 They oppress them for 350 years during the book of Judges. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:24.659 The Philistines over Israel. 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.179 Assyria over Israel. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.220 Babylon over Israel. 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:33.159 Assyria and Babylon take Israel and Judah into exile. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:34.859 All through the Old Testament. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:42.700 It is like the offspring of the serpent gets the upper hand over the offspring of the woman. 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:44.960 But when he comes. 00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:49.299 When this individual of the woman comes. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:52.259 Then things will turn around. 00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:54.680 He will get the victory. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:59.559 This is the first way we see that he will be triumphant. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:02.160 But the second way is more obvious. 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:05.819 He shall bruise your head. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:08.019 And you shall bruise his heel. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:13.579 This son of the woman will crush the serpent in the head. 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:16.579 He will inflict a blow to the head of the serpent. 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:21.359 Which will ultimately end in the death of the serpent. 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:26.079 What's striking in the rest of the Old Testament. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:32.279 Is that when the fighting representative of God's people gets victory over their enemies. 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.920 It often comes with a blow to the head. 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:38.940 Just think about Joshua. 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:41.299 And the five Amorite kings. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.359 After he captures the kings. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.240 He gets his commanders to lie them down. 00:18:45.639 --> 00:18:47.399 And they stand on their necks. 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.359 And then they hang them. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.019 In trees. 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:54.359 Deborah and Barak fight against Sisera. 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:56.639 The representative of the king of Hathor. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.300 And how does he die? 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:01.320 With a tent peg in the head. 00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:03.420 In the book of Judges. 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:06.900 Abimelech gets a millstone in the head. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.180 And boys and girls. 00:19:08.280 --> 00:19:10.580 What's the main example in the Old Testament. 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:14.480 Of some enemy of God dying with a blow to the head. 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.500 Goliath. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:22.180 David slings his stone and kills the great giant in the head. 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.000 In the Old Testament. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.420 God's people are rescued by a representative. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.720 Who destroys God's enemy. 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:33.079 With a deadly blow to the head. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.799 Excuse me. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:38.220 And all these fights in the Old Testament. 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.579 They're all mini dramas. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.059 They're all footnotes. 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.759 To Genesis 3.15. 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:47.119 Each of them pointing to the ultimate fight. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.319 Between the representative offspring of the woman. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.319 And the serpent himself. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.839 And in the end. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.500 This offspring of the woman. 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:57.240 Will be triumphant. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:03.200 That was the sixth thing we saw about this son. 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:05.079 He will descend from a woman. 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.440 With no mention of his father. 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.839 A representative son. 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.700 A warrior son. 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.660 An obedient son. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.940 Suffering son. 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.960 Triumphant son. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.579 You ready for number seven? 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:20.159 He will be a second and last Adam. 00:20:20.159 --> 00:20:24.059 A second and last Adam. 00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:25.859 Why do I say that? 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.939 Well think about it. 00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:31.039 This son will do what the first Adam was supposed to do. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.659 What was Adam supposed to do? 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:36.379 He was supposed to crush the serpent in the head at a tree. 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:39.040 But he didn't do it. 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:41.400 But look what this son is going to do. 00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:43.840 He's going to crush the serpent in the head. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:47.260 So he will be a second Adam. 00:20:47.580 --> 00:20:52.880 And precisely because he will be triumphant in his fight with the serpent. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:55.240 We can say he'll be the last Adam. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.200 If he does what the first Adam should have done. 00:21:00.540 --> 00:21:01.800 Then he's a second Adam. 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:03.920 And if he defeats the serpent. 00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:07.180 Then there's no need for a third Adam. 00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:10.020 And so we can safely say. 00:21:11.020 --> 00:21:12.200 That this son. 00:21:12.760 --> 00:21:14.300 Will be a second. 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:15.900 And last. 00:21:16.300 --> 00:21:16.600 Adam. 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.340 So. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.360 Do you remember all the things about the son? 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:21.760 Descend from a woman. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.059 Without mention of his father. 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.660 Representative son. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.519 Warrior son. 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:26.440 Obedient son. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.000 Suffering son. 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.940 Triumphant son. 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.579 And a second. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.819 And last. 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.599 Adam. 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:37.660 That's what we know about the son. 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.839 But I said there were five S's. 00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:41.119 And we're at number three. 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:42.379 A seed. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:42.879 A sweet. 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.440 A son. 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.160 Number four. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.900 A skull. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.879 A skull. 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:48.960 A skull. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:52.579 In the New Testament. 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.340 When Jesus. 00:21:54.340 --> 00:21:55.460 Is crucified. 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.600 We read that they. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.680 Crucified him. 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.420 At a place called Golgotha. 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.759 It is. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.819 A Greek. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.819 Transliteration. 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:05.000 Of an Aramaic term. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.059 Which means. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:06.759 Place. 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.319 Of a skull. 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.440 Some people think. 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.579 The place gets its name. 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.960 From the shape of the hill. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:15.059 On which Jesus was crucified. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.319 They think it might have looked like a skull. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:19.079 Maybe. 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.279 Maybe not. 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.179 But in any case. 00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:22.519 We get the point. 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.720 It's the place of death. 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.419 But isn't it interesting. 00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:30.359 That the anatomical part of the body. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:32.240 That symbolizes the death. 00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:34.119 Is a skull. 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:36.379 Where do you get skulls from? 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:37.939 Heads. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.939 When a head is shot. 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.319 Or killed. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.339 It rots. 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.700 And it becomes. 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.960 A skull. 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:48.880 Does that remind you of anything? 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:51.240 From Genesis 3.15. 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.500 He shall bruise your head. 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:57.819 Death was what the serpent brought into the garden. 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:00.900 Death was what Jesus suffered in our place on the cross. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:07.819 And yet it is by that same death that the serpent is now bruised and crushed in the head. 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:17.639 And so the New Testament shows us that the seed promise of the son in Genesis 3.15 finds its ultimate fulfillment. 00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:19.480 Its ultimate blossom. 00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:21.599 Do you remember that analogy of reading the Bible? 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:25.359 Like watching a seed grow from seed to full flower. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:32.259 The ultimate blossom of the Genesis 3.15 promise is found in Jesus. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:38.000 As he goes to war against the serpent, the devil, on the cross. 00:23:38.219 --> 00:23:41.699 At a place resembling a skull. 00:23:42.219 --> 00:23:47.199 And in that moment on the cross as Jesus suffers at the hand of the ancient serpent. 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:50.099 As the ancient serpent bruises him in the heel. 00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:54.019 Jesus is bruising him in the head. 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:58.159 And again it's not like Satan snuck up on Jesus. 00:23:58.779 --> 00:24:02.240 And caught him unawares and grabbed him and crucified him. 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:04.579 And Jesus was struggling with that. 00:24:04.699 --> 00:24:08.259 No, Jesus went looking for the devil. 00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:11.139 And in his crucifixion. 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:13.740 In his self-sacrifice. 00:24:14.139 --> 00:24:16.879 He bruised him in the head. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:24.200 There are some lovely parallels between the first Adam and Jesus, the second and last Adam. 00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:28.640 The first Adam was supposed to crush the serpent in the head by a tree. 00:24:29.280 --> 00:24:34.440 Jesus, the second and last Adam, crushes the serpent in a head on a tree. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:40.100 Adam entered into battle with the serpent naked beside a tree. 00:24:40.260 --> 00:24:44.540 Jesus goes into battle with the serpent naked on a tree. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:50.279 Adam brought the curse of thorns and thistles into the world by his disobedience. 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:52.759 Jesus, when he dies, what's on his head? 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:55.220 A crown of thorns. 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:59.480 As he takes the curse for Adam's disobedience. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.079 Adam didn't fight the serpent. 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:06.399 He wasn't willing to sacrifice himself for his bride in the battle with the serpent. 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:09.659 Instead he capitulated to his temptation. 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:12.539 Jesus resisted the devil's temptations. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:18.839 He was willing to sacrifice for his bride at great cost to himself. 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:25.379 He suffered death on a cross and has five scars to prove it. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:29.539 Remember boys and girls, we talked about how when a snake bites you it leaves the scar. 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:34.220 Well Jesus went into battle with the devil and came out with scars. 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:37.680 In his hands, in his feet, in his side. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.400 But that was not the end. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:43.640 He didn't just remain dead on Golgotha's hill. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:46.460 Three days later, he rose from the dead. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:52.759 Which was his ultimate victory over this ancient serpent, the devil. 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:57.779 Here then is the son of Genesis 3.15. 00:25:58.320 --> 00:26:03.259 The representative, warrior, obedient, suffering but triumphant son. 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:05.140 The second and last Adam. 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:06.980 Here's the offspring of the woman. 00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:14.520 If you noticed earlier, we read from John's gospel. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:21.360 I wonder if you were thinking, what's the connection between John chapter 19 and Genesis 3.15? 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:30.379 Well, have you ever wondered about the references to Jesus' mother at the cross in the four gospels? 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:36.819 In each of the four gospels, we're told that Mary, his mother, was watching him as he dies. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:43.139 Now we Protestants get all nervous about Mary being too close to the cross. 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:50.920 We don't like pictures of Jesus, never mind pictures of Mary at the cross interceding for him as he dies. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:55.200 And that is an erroneous teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:58.840 She was not interceding for him when he died. 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.800 He died alone. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:04.339 But let's not push her away. 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.359 She's there. 00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.879 What is she doing there? 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:14.559 She's pointing to the cross, saying, 00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:17.799 the offspring of the woman. 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:29.139 So what we have here is the seed of the woman dying at the place of a skull. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.839 So we've had four S's. 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.700 You're counting on your fingers, boys and girls. 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:39.059 A seed, a sweet, a son, a skull. 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:42.559 You can tell your parents, sermon's nearly over. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:43.639 Okay? 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:48.180 Number five, let me get it right. 00:27:48.780 --> 00:27:50.860 A shed, a shed. 00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:55.640 I want to take you to a tool shed in Oxford, England. 00:27:57.300 --> 00:28:01.660 C.S. Lewis once wrote a beautiful little piece called Meditations in a Tool Shed. 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:06.440 So I've shortened that to shed, because tool shed doesn't begin with S. 00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:11.220 Outside his house in Oxford, there was this tool shed. 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:13.980 And one day, C.S. Lewis was out working in the shed, 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:18.559 and he noticed a beam of light coming in through the crack in the door. 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:22.220 And he was standing outside of the light, 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:24.839 and he saw this beam of light coming into the shed, 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:27.740 and in it he saw these speckles of dust. 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:30.059 And he sort of stood there for a moment, 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:33.380 fascinated by this beam of light and the speckles of dust. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:35.039 And then he thought to himself, 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:42.879 I wonder what it would be like to step into the light and look along the light and see what I see. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:46.639 So he stepped into the light, and he looked out, 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:52.180 and there he could see the blue sky and the trees and the birds flying and singing. 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:58.900 And he realized that it is one thing to stand outside the light and look across the light 00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:01.680 and see all these interesting things in the light, 00:29:01.820 --> 00:29:05.640 and it's quite another thing to step into the light 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:10.460 and look along the light and see something else. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:16.200 Do you know, you can sit in church your whole life 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:20.120 and only look across the light. 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:24.500 You can see lots of really interesting things in the Bible. 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:27.819 And this morning, we've seen some interesting things, haven't we? 00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:31.420 Genesis 3.15 is one of the most interesting verses in the Bible. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:34.480 You can make all the connections through David and Goliath, 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:36.740 all the way down to Jesus on the cross. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:38.660 It's all very interesting. 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.799 But let me ask you, 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:44.920 have you ever stepped into the light? 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:49.779 Or have you just been looking across the light? 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:54.720 It's one thing to look across the light, as C.S. Lewis said. 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:57.799 It's quite another to step into the light. 00:29:57.880 --> 00:30:02.220 And when you step into the light of Genesis 3.15, 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:05.440 what you see as you look along the light 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:10.759 is Jesus on a cross fighting the devil for you. 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.680 So boys and girls, 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:17.019 let me ask you, 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:20.160 have you stepped into the light? 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:23.220 What does that mean? 00:30:23.320 --> 00:30:26.560 Well, it means to say to God that you're sorry for your sin 00:30:26.560 --> 00:30:29.400 and you want to thank Him for sending Jesus 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:31.259 to die for your sin on the cross 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:33.680 and to rescue you from the devil. 00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:37.100 Moms and dads, adults, 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:40.279 people who have been members of this church for years, 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.180 let me ask you, 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:44.539 are you looking across the light? 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:47.740 Or have you stepped into the light 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:50.420 and looked along the light 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:52.000 to see Jesus, 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:55.859 the one who crushed the devil 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:58.319 in your place on the cross? 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.000 Let us pray. 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:07.279 Father, we pray this morning 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:09.180 that you would draw all of us 00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:12.460 into the light of this verse of Scripture 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.799 so that we would see 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:16.420 not just the fascinating connections, 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:18.779 but so that we would see our Savior, 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.859 Jesus Christ, 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:23.160 dying in our place for our sins 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:26.000 and defeating that ancient serpent, 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.620 the devil. 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:29.279 Grant to us all, we pray, 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.700 repentance and faith. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:34.080 And if we are standing in the light, 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.600 Father, we pray that you would give us 00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:37.680 a renewed appreciation, 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:41.240 a new joy in our hearts 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:44.100 for what Jesus has done for us. 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:47.680 And we ask this in His strong name. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.279 Amen.