WEBVTT

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 Good to be with you all again for the first Sunday of Advent.

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 We are taking a short break from our sermon series in the book of Exodus,

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 and we're going to explore the Gospel of John for six weeks.

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 So we'll look at Jesus as the Word of God, that's today,

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 and then Jesus as the Lamb of God, Jesus as the Son of God,

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 Jesus as the Christ of God, and the Light of God,

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 and the Bread of God on Christmas Day.

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 So I look forward to going through the Gospel of John with you all.

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 So, and then we're going to be in John 1 today, so if you have your Bibles,

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 if you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand,

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 and we'll have some of our greeters bring you a copy of the Bible you can use while you're here.

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 It looks like you guys all have one.

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 So the Gospel of John in the New Testament, after the Gospel of Luke,

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 before the book of Acts, Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 1 to 18.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves before your Word.

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 Exalt your Son, Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

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 Strike as anew with a sense of wonder before the Word made flesh.

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 God who took on human infirmities.

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 Jesus who took our sins and nailed them to the cross.

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 Fix our eyes on Jesus this morning as we incline our hearts and ears to you.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 If you're able, please stand with me for the reading of God's Word from John 1, 1 to 18.

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 I'll read it out loud for us.

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 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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 He was in the beginning with God.

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 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

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 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

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 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

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 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him.

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 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

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 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

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 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.

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 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.

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 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,

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 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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 And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us.

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 And we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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 John bore witness about Him, and cried out,

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 This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.

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 For from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

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 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 The only God who is at the Father's side, He has made Him known.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

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 There's some famous first sentences of novels

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 that I think many of you would recognize.

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 If I were to say,

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 It was the best of times.

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 It was the worst of times.

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 See some knowing faces.

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 Before I finish that sentence,

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 many of you already identified that as the first line of Charles Dickens' famous novel,

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 A Tale of Two Cities.

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 But no first words are more famous or influential than the first words of the Bible.

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 from the book of Genesis,

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 In the beginning.

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 It then tells the beginning of how the world as we know it came to be,

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 how God created it all simply by speaking with the word of His mouth.

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 The Gospel of John begins with the same exact words,

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 In the beginning.

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 And John intends for us to hear echoes of Genesis 1.1.

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 It's a very ambitious first line for a book.

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 Unlike the Gospel of Mark, which begins with the public ministry of Jesus,

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 or the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, which begin with the birth of Jesus,

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 John goes all the way back to the creation of the world.

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 In fact, he goes even further back.

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 He takes us to the time before creation.

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 Pre-existence.

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 The absolute beginning.

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 Where all there was, was God.

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 Genesis 1.1 said,

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 In the beginning, God.

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 John 1.1 says,

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 In the beginning, the Word.

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 This is John's version of the Christmas story.

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 And he wants us to grasp the cosmic scale of this story.

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 Forget for a moment the sentimentality of a baby in a manger

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 and the pageantry of the three magi.

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 Though those are all important and significant.

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 John's taking us all the way back when nothing else existed.

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 In the beginning was the Word,

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 and the Word was with God,

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 and the Word was God.

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 John's teaching us in this passage that Jesus Christ

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 is the Word who was made flesh

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 to make God known to us.

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 So I'm going to first talk about the Word,

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 and then a witness,

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 and then the Word that,

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 the world that did not know him,

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 and the Word made flesh that makes God known.

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 So we're going to follow that in turn

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 as we go through this passage.

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 So we have to ask the question at first,

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 what is the Word?

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 Because the verse one begins,

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 In the beginning was the Word,

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 and the Word was with God,

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 and the Word was God.

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 John is not speaking of words of human languages

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 that we use to form sentences.

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 The word,

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 which in Greek is logos,

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 is the word from which we get the English word logic,

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 generally refers to an inner thought,

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 something like reason,

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 or even science,

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 and it played an important part

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 of the conceptual world of Greek philosophies.

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 The Stoics and Platonists, for example,

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 they all understood the Word

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 as the rational principle,

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 the animating principle

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 that undergirds and governs

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 the entire universe

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 and constitutes its essence.

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 So it's a very loaded word in its context.

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 However, that's not the end of it.

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 John is aware of the fact

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 that the Word is a buzzword in his day,

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 but his understanding of the Word

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 is not shaped primarily

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 by the Greek philosophies.

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 Rather, he's using the Word,

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 the concept, as a starting point,

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 but then he is reorienting the Word

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 toward the Bible's definition of the Word

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 by connecting it to Genesis.

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 The Word in the Old Testament

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 and in the book of Genesis

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 is God's speech,

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 the divine self-expression

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 or self-disclosure,

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 God revealing himself by his speech to us.

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 In Genesis 1, God creates by his Word.

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 He speaks light, darkness, sky, earth, land, sea,

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 and all the creatures

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 into being through his Word.

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 It says in Genesis 1, 1-3,

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 in the beginning,

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 God created the heavens and the earth.

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 The earth was without form and void,

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 and darkness was over the face of the deep,

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 and the Spirit of God

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 was hovering over the face of the waters,

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 and God said,

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 let there be light,

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 and there was light.

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 So God creates by his Word.

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 But God also reveals himself by his Word.

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 And so if you look at the prophets,

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 it's like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel,

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 they often say this phrase,

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 the Word of the Lord came to me.

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 The Word revealing the Lord God himself

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 to human beings.

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 And finally, God saves his people

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 also by the same Word.

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 Psalm 107.20 says,

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 he sent out his Word

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 and healed them

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 and delivered them from their destruction.

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 The Word delivers God's people.

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 In short,

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 the Word of God

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 is God's powerful self-expression

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 in creation,

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 revelation,

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 and salvation.

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 Everything there is to know about God,

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 we know by his Word.

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 God reveals himself by his Word.

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 We cannot know God

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 apart from his Word.

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 So, so far,

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 that's pretty straightforward.

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 But then in verse 1,

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 it tells us something

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 that is absolutely mind-blowing.

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 It says that this Word

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 was with God.

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 So the Word is a being

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 that is distinct from God,

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 which is why we can say

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 that he was with God.

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 So it implies fellowship.

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 He was with God.

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 And yet,

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 John tells us

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 in the clause

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 that immediately follows

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 that the Word was God.

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 God, right?

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 This doesn't mean

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 that the Word is another God

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 or a part of another God

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 or one of the gods.

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 In the syntax here,

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 this underlying

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 the English translation,

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 the word God

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 in the Greek

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 is actually fronted

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 for emphasis.

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 So it actually says

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 God the Word was.

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 The structure of verses 1 to 2

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 highlight this clause.

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 You look at verse 1,

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 it says the first part,

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 in the beginning,

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 the Word was with God.

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 And then at verse 2,

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 likewise says,

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 he was in the beginning

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 with God.

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 They're mirroring phrases.

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 And they sandwich

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 this central clause

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 to highlight it.

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 The Word was God.

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 That's what it's emphasizing.

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 The very Word,

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 the very God

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 that the Word was with,

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 the Word was that very God.

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 The Word was with God,

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 yet that selfsame Word

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 was God.

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 We're so familiar with this.

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 This is so mind-blowing.

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 The Edmund Clowney,

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 a theologian,

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 puts it memorably.

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 He says,

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 the Word was with God,

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 God's eternal fellow.

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 The Word was God,

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 God's own self.

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 To the Jewish mind,

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 try to think about this

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 from a Jewish perspective,

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 they have been for generations,

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 for thousands of years,

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 drilled into their heads.

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 The Lord is God,

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 and the Lord is one.

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 There's no God

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 besides the Lord.

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 And then to bring this truth,

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 further revelation,

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 to His people,

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 saying that this Word of God

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 was God.

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 The Word was with God,

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 and the Word was God.

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 It shatters their reality,

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 transforms their theology profoundly.

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 This is the first building block

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 of the Christian doctrine

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 of the Trinity,

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 which our church is named after.

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 It is a foundational doctrine.

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 The doctrine of the Trinity

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 states that there is one God,

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 only one God,

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 but in three persons,

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 the Father, Son, and Spirit.

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 They are distinct,

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 yet inseparable,

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 three and one.

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 And we see here

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 the Father's relationship

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 with God,

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 the Son,

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 His Word.

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 And then we also saw

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 reference to the Spirit

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 when I read earlier

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 from Genesis 1, 1-3.

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 The Spirit of God

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 is hovering over the waters

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 as God the Father speaks,

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 and the Word brings

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 all creation into being.

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 Psalm 33, verse 6 says,

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 By the Word of the Lord

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 the heavens were made,

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 their starry host

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 by the breath of His mouth.

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 The word breath here

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 is the same word

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 that is translated often

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 as Spirit.

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 So God speaks,

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 and His Word,

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 carried forth by the breath of God,

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 brings all of creation

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 into being.

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 The Trinity

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 is not a human invention,

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:51.360
 it's what we have come up with

00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.059
 to make sense

00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:53.539
 of what God has revealed to us

00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:55.000
 in history

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.639
 and in the Word of God.

00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:59.299
 So the Word is a person

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.960
 within the triune Godhead,

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.559
 and the Word of God

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.019
 was not made by God

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.460
 in the beginning,

00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:05.879
 He was God,

00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:07.700
 and as verse 2 reiterates,

00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:08.860
 He was in the beginning

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:09.440
 with God,

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.740
 already at the very beginning,

00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.799
 before anything else

00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:13.299
 was created,

00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.279
 the Word was there

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.779
 with God.

00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:17.120
 So the Word was not created,

00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.100
 everything was created

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:19.019
 through the Word.

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.779
 Look with me at verse 3.

00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:21.139
 It says,

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.299
 All things were made

00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:22.940
 through Him,

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.340
 and without Him

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.580
 was not anything made

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.580
 that was made.

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:30.080
 The totality of all of creation

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.279
 exists through the Word.

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.340
 All things,

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.340
 anything,

00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.379
 there's not a thing

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.940
 we see in this universe

00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:38.600
 from the smallest particles

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:39.639
 that make up the atom

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.500
 to the sun,

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:42.500
 from the caterpillar

00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:45.019
 to the eagle

00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.159
 that soars the heavens.

00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:47.440
 Fire,

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.340
 water,

00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:49.799
 human beings,

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.120
 angelic beings,

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.679
 black holes,

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.740
 the galaxies,

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.340
 nothing visible

00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.340
 or invisible

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.820
 in the entire cosmos

00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:00.000
 was created,

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:00.820
 came to exist

00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:01.759
 apart from

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.940
 the Word of God.

00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:05.060
 That's why Colossians 1,

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:05.940
 16 and 17

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.740
 calls Jesus

00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.300
 the firstborn

00:15:08.300 --> 00:15:09.040
 of all creation,

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.660
 the Word of God,

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.300
 the firstborn

00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:10.980
 of all creation.

00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:12.120
 Not in the sense

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.540
 that He was the first thing

00:15:13.540 --> 00:15:14.300
 that was created,

00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:16.320
 but in that He was the one

00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:17.840
 by whom all things

00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.600
 were created.

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:20.940
 He is the first mover,

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.800
 the originator.

00:15:23.880 --> 00:15:25.260
 Colossians explains it further,

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.299
 for by Him

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:27.460
 all things were created

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.939
 in heaven and on earth,

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.360
 visible and invisible,

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.259
 whether thrones

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:31.980
 or dominions

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.480
 or rulers

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.220
 or authorities,

00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:34.819
 all things were created

00:15:34.819 --> 00:15:35.740
 through Him

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.939
 and for Him

00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:39.159
 and He is before all things

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:39.939
 and in Him

00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:41.240
 all things hold together.

00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.620
 Everything you see

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.059
 and cannot see

00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:45.639
 was created

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.259
 through the Word

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:47.500
 and for the Word.

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.399
 He's the goal

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:49.960
 of creation.

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:52.240
 The Word is the instrument

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:52.939
 of creation,

00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:54.879
 the reason for being

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.700
 of all creation.

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.899
 Why we exist,

00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.980
 why all creation exists,

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.559
 it's Jesus,

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.320
 the Word.

00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:04.919
 He precedes all things

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:06.980
 and sustains all things.

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:09.340
 So John is describing

00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:11.220
 how measurelessly vast

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.679
 the Word of God is,

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.460
 who's with God.

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.100
 This is cosmic in scale.

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:21.879
 And the verses 4 to 5 continue,

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:24.820
 in Him was life,

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:26.799
 and the life was

00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.960
 the light of man.

00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.960
 The light shines

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.740
 in the darkness

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.500
 and the darkness

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:33.539
 has not overcome it.

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.960
 Later in John,

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.720
 John 5, 26,

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.559
 Jesus also says that

00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:40.879
 as the Father

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.460
 has life in Himself,

00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.379
 that He has granted

00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.159
 the Son also

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.820
 to have life

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.179
 in Himself.

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.139
 So this is pointing

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.700
 to Jesus'

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.240
 self-existence

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.139
 as the Word of God,

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.899
 what theologians call

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.039
 the aseity of God,

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:54.379
 meaning that God

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.860
 has no origin

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.579
 or source

00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:57.500
 apart from Himself.

00:16:58.219 --> 00:16:59.699
 He is self-originating.

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.399
 Because everything

00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.339
 we see around us,

00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.579
 every life that we see

00:17:03.579 --> 00:17:04.279
 has a beginning

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.420
 at some point in time.

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.000
 It has a source

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.099
 in something else

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.000
 or someone else,

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:10.220
 but not the Word of God.

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.579
 The Word of God

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.720
 does not have a source

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.420
 it comes from.

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.539
 The Word has life

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.159
 in Himself,

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.720
 like light

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.539
 that makes life

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.619
 possible on earth.

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.819
 All that is life

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.179
 and not death

00:17:21.179 --> 00:17:22.559
 in this world.

00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:23.699
 All that we would

00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:24.699
 describe as life,

00:17:25.199 --> 00:17:26.099
 all that we describe

00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.779
 as light,

00:17:27.179 --> 00:17:28.319
 all that comes

00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:29.500
 from Jesus,

00:17:29.979 --> 00:17:30.819
 the Word of God.

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.719
 And in the Gospel

00:17:32.719 --> 00:17:33.219
 of John,

00:17:33.479 --> 00:17:34.299
 I don't think

00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.219
 probably most of you

00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:35.739
 are not here

00:17:35.739 --> 00:17:36.339
 when we went through

00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:37.000
 the Gospel of John

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.279
 some years ago now,

00:17:38.419 --> 00:17:40.699
 but John uses

00:17:40.699 --> 00:17:41.959
 the motif of light

00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:42.599
 and life

00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.179
 extensively

00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:44.079
 throughout the Gospel.

00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.159
 And he tends

00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:46.039
 to use those words

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.899
 with double meaning.

00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.160
 So he's not only

00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.140
 referring literally

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:50.040
 to light

00:17:50.040 --> 00:17:51.960
 and to life,

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:52.800
 physical life,

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.019
 he's referring also

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.640
 to spiritual light.

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.180
 God's illuminating,

00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:58.180
 enlightening light

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.900
 and he's referring

00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.300
 to spiritual life,

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.580
 eternal life,

00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:03.080
 resurrection life.

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:05.380
 Despite all the evil

00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:05.920
 that you see

00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.420
 in the world,

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:08.360
 despite all the darkness

00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:09.580
 and all the death

00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:10.500
 that you see

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:10.980
 in the world

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.920
 that's ravaging

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.960
 this world,

00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:14.380
 the light shines

00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:15.040
 in the darkness

00:18:15.040 --> 00:18:16.040
 and the darkness

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.819
 has not overcome it.

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.700
 That's the word.

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.399
 And then in verses

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.079
 six to eight,

00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.420
 John digresses briefly

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.019
 to tell us about

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.059
 a witness of the word.

00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:28.799
 He writes,

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.460
 there was a man

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.500
 sent from God

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.859
 whose name was John.

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.059
 He came as a witness

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.920
 to bear witness

00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.659
 about the light

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.799
 that all might believe

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.379
 through him.

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.680
 He was not the light

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.339
 but came to bear witness

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.599
 about the light.

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.519
 John being mentioned here

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.700
 is not the apostle John

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.559
 who wrote the gospel

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:46.940
 of John

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.079
 but John the Baptist

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:50.359
 and three times,

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.000
 so if you look at

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.039
 verses one to five,

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:55.099
 it repeats the word God

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:56.180
 in conjunction

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.180
 with the word

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:59.259
 but here,

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.559
 in stark contrast

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.220
 in verse six,

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.740
 it says,

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.440
 there was a man

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.740
 sent from God.

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.220
 So the word

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.220
 was with God

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.660
 and the word

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.460
 was God

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:09.940
 and the word

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.640
 was with God

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.099
 in the beginning

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:13.019
 but John is a man.

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.420
 So there's a contrast.

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.460
 John was not God

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:17.720
 and if that wasn't clear

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.859
 and if that weren't clear enough,

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.079
 John makes it

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.759
 even more explicit.

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.180
 He says,

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.960
 John was not the light.

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:24.740
 It's like,

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.319
 imagine introducing

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.000
 a speaker

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.319
 to a podium

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:30.880
 and then talking

00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:31.460
 about all the things

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.019
 he's not.

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:32.880
 He's like,

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:33.519
 yeah,

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.620
 John is not the light.

00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.179
 you know,

00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:38.239
 John's just a man

00:19:38.239 --> 00:19:39.859
 and he's a,

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.159
 he's,

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.199
 but he is a witness.

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.779
 How many times,

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.619
 the word is repeated

00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.199
 three times,

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:47.559
 witness,

00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:50.279
 so that we make

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.899
 no mistake

00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:52.119
 about who John was

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:54.039
 and what his purpose was.

00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.479
 John's function

00:19:56.479 --> 00:19:58.019
 is preparatory

00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:00.119
 and transitory.

00:20:00.479 --> 00:20:01.459
 He makes way

00:20:01.459 --> 00:20:03.059
 for the true light

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.960
 and he bears witness

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.399
 about that light

00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:08.119
 as great a prophet

00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:09.179
 John was

00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:09.619
 and there was

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.559
 no greater prophet.

00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:13.359
 He is no Jesus.

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:16.099
 He is not the word.

00:20:17.619 --> 00:20:19.039
 He is not the savior

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.579
 of the world.

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.419
 He is not the light

00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:22.019
 of the world.

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.659
 Mistaking John

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.539
 for these things

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.700
 would be like mistaking

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.839
 a guest at the wedding

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.359
 who is merely there

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.099
 as a witness

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:32.199
 for the bridegroom himself.

00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.719
 John actually uses

00:20:34.719 --> 00:20:37.259
 that very metaphor

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.279
 to describe himself

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.240
 in John 3

00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.480
 when John's disciples

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.279
 observe that all of

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.959
 John's previous followers

00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:46.679
 are flocking to Jesus

00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:48.119
 on the other side.

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:49.839
 John,

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.240
 and then they bring it up

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.679
 to John.

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.039
 Hey,

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.799
 can you do something

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.339
 about this?

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:53.639
 Look at,

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.359
 they're all going

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.359
 to that guy,

00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.019
 to Jesus.

00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.279
 And then John says,

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:59.079
 I am not the Christ.

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.980
 The one who has the bride

00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.980
 is the bridegroom.

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.920
 The friend of the bridegroom

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.519
 who stands and hears him

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.200
 rejoices greatly

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.599
 at the bridegroom's voice.

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.960
 Therefore,

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.660
 this joy of mine

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.819
 is now complete.

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.819
 He must increase,

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.539
 but I must decrease.

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.859
 John is saying,

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.940
 I'm just a witness

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.579
 at the wedding.

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:26.059
 I'm just here to see,

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.980
 celebrate.

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:32.159
 Jesus is the bridegroom.

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.159
 And God's people

00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:35.859
 are his bride.

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.859
 It is my joy

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:40.039
 to see them united

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.939
 to one another.

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.899
 Jesus must increase,

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:44.199
 I must decrease.

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.759
 And later in verse 15

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.519
 of our passage,

00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:49.000
 this also gives us

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.199
 a snippet of the witness

00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:51.279
 that John bore about Jesus.

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.599
 He says,

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.079
 this was he of whom I said,

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.779
 he who comes after me

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.879
 ranks before me

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:57.660
 because he was before me.

00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.240
 Jesus came after John

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.460
 in terms of time

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.079
 and space

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.920
 in the physical world

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.660
 because John was born

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.139
 before,

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:05.920
 some months

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.359
 before Jesus was.

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.819
 And John began his ministry

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:10.379
 before Jesus did.

00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:12.859
 So he was before Jesus

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.500
 in this sense

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:15.700
 and yet Jesus was before John

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.460
 because why?

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.799
 Verse one told us

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:19.879
 he was in the beginning

00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:20.720
 with God.

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:24.119
 Jesus is the eternal word,

00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.059
 the God,

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.440
 the word of God himself

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:27.299
 and he was right there

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.779
 in the beginning

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.680
 and so John,

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.339
 on the other hand,

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.039
 is just over 30 years old

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.259
 and John never existed

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.740
 before he was born.

00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.259
 And so John

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:40.099
 is way outranked

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:40.559
 by Jesus

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:42.279
 and he knew this

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.460
 so he bore witness

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.059
 to Jesus.

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:47.019
 isn't it so easy

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.720
 for us to forget

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.299
 this reality?

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:51.279
 Our mission in life

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.779
 is not

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.019
 to make much

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.859
 of ourselves,

00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:58.700
 to promote ourselves,

00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:00.179
 to bear witness

00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:01.480
 to ourselves.

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.059
 Our Christian mission

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.899
 is to bear witness

00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.599
 about Jesus.

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:08.139
 He is the eternal word.

00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.180
 God,

00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.259
 we're just heralds,

00:23:11.020 --> 00:23:11.560
 messengers.

00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:14.660
 We mailmen,

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.740
 relay a message

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.660
 to proclaim a message.

00:23:20.300 --> 00:23:21.300
 Jesus is the light

00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:21.700
 of the world.

00:23:21.800 --> 00:23:23.080
 We're just satellites,

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.600
 moons,

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.220
 revolving around him

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:28.720
 and we have light

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.520
 only insofar

00:23:29.520 --> 00:23:30.440
 as we are reflecting

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.480
 off of his light,

00:23:32.280 --> 00:23:33.080
 the light of the world.

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:35.899
 So what is your

00:23:35.899 --> 00:23:36.939
 posture in life?

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:40.179
 Is your posture in life

00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:41.399
 what's in it for me?

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:45.759
 What does this local church

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.819
 have to offer me?

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.339
 What does this job

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.279
 opportunity have

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.839
 for me?

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.000
 What does the next

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.980
 five years in life

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.799
 have in store

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.379
 for me?

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:57.460
 What am I going to do

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.679
 with my life?

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.299
 What if instead of asking

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.159
 what's in it for me,

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.059
 we ask what's in it

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.740
 for Jesus?

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:07.179
 What does Jesus

00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:07.960
 want to do

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.659
 with the life

00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:10.000
 that he has given me?

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.799
 The world does not

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.440
 need more of me.

00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.319
 The world needs

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.000
 more of Jesus.

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.480
 Jesus is the only light

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.839
 that can help people see.

00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:22.059
 Jesus is the only life

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.179
 that can make people

00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:24.000
 who are dead

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.980
 alive again.

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.679
 Missing two Sundays

00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.539
 in a row

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.379
 because of COVID

00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.500
 was a really helpful

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:35.060
 reminder for me.

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.540
 This church

00:24:38.540 --> 00:24:39.960
 is not my church.

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.560
 It is the church

00:24:43.560 --> 00:24:44.600
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:49.360
 Even the pastor

00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.200
 is not the bridegroom.

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.920
 He's just the guest

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.360
 at the wedding.

00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:59.479
 starting in verse 9.

00:24:59.479 --> 00:25:00.459
 John tells us about

00:25:00.459 --> 00:25:01.479
 how the word

00:25:01.479 --> 00:25:02.399
 came into the world

00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.559
 and how he was received.

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.479
 He says in verses 9 to 10,

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.339
 the true light

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.439
 which gives light

00:25:07.439 --> 00:25:08.179
 to everyone

00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:09.659
 was coming into the world.

00:25:10.219 --> 00:25:11.719
 He was in the world

00:25:11.719 --> 00:25:12.759
 and the world

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:14.259
 was made through him

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.619
 and yet the world

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:17.379
 did not know him.

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.219
 It's tragic.

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.460
 The repetition

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.839
 of the word

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.400
 world

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.480
 highlights the irony

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.799
 of the world's

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.000
 failure to recognize

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.059
 the word of God.

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:29.339
 The word is the true light.

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.620
 He came into the world.

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.100
 He was in the world

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.579
 and the world

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.440
 was made through him

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.160
 and yet the world

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:35.400
 did not know him.

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.519
 Remember that

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.559
 nothing in this world

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.500
 came to be

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.279
 without,

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.279
 apart from,

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.079
 the word of God.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.660
 Everything in this world

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.440
 is upheld

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.000
 and sustained

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.100
 by the word of God

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.059
 and yet the world

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:48.599
 did not know the word

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.559
 when the word

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.759
 was right here

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.579
 in the world.

00:25:53.719 --> 00:25:54.579
 Imagine a person

00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.980
 with two functioning eyes

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.339
 who can see everything.

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:59.379
 The faces of loved ones,

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:01.279
 the elegantly trailing plants

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.019
 in some of your houses,

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:05.159
 the assortment of colorful,

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:05.639
 you know,

00:26:05.719 --> 00:26:06.819
 fruits in a bowl,

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:09.439
 the golden brown

00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:11.019
 of a well-cooked turkey.

00:26:11.439 --> 00:26:12.339
 He could see everything.

00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:15.159
 And then we ask him,

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.319
 hey,

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:16.039
 so do you know

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.459
 what light is?

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.980
 Do you know

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.859
 where the light

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.959
 is coming from?

00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:23.579
 How you're seeing all this?

00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:25.359
 And then he says,

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:25.839
 no,

00:26:25.879 --> 00:26:26.619
 I've never heard of it.

00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.119
 I don't know

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.740
 what light is.

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.539
 Even though it is

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.559
 by the very light

00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.199
 that he's seeing

00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:33.279
 everything that he's seeing.

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.859
 I don't know

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.539
 what the light is.

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.419
 That's what the people

00:26:38.419 --> 00:26:38.959
 of this world

00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:39.439
 were like.

00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.740
 The word of God

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.319
 who brought them

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.039
 into existence

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:43.119
 came into the world

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.000
 but they did not

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.700
 recognize him.

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.460
 The situation

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.359
 gets even more dire

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:51.000
 in verse 11.

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:51.319
 It says,

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.740
 he came to his own

00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:55.259
 and his own people

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.659
 did not receive him.

00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.759
 The word of God

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.259
 came into his own people,

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.159
 Israel,

00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:01.980
 the Jews,

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.339
 the nation chosen

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.680
 as God's special possession

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.639
 among all the nations

00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.200
 of the world

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.960
 in the Old Testament.

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.339
 The people whom God

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:09.740
 saved from their slavery

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.180
 in Egypt

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.340
 and brought forth

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.380
 through the Red Sea

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.320
 and brought into

00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:14.100
 the promised land

00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:14.680
 of Canaan

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.960
 flowing with,

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.299
 richly with milk

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.720
 and honey.

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.620
 Surely they would

00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.580
 recognize the word

00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:21.660
 even if all the other

00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:23.080
 nations failed to.

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.019
 But tragically,

00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.299
 it says,

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.340
 their own,

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.600
 his own people

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.960
 did not receive him.

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.380
 Dementia is such

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.560
 a grievous condition

00:27:33.560 --> 00:27:35.779
 because it's not only

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.980
 debilitating for the person

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.740
 who is affected,

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:40.000
 but it also deprives

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.860
 that person's loved ones,

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.140
 all this person's

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.880
 family members

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:45.140
 of the shared memories

00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:47.079
 and the relational connections

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.779
 that they had

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.460
 with the person.

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.160
 A demented man

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.620
 might say

00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:54.099
 to his own mother,

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:57.039
 I feel like

00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.220
 I should know you,

00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:00.680
 but I have no idea

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.279
 who you are.

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:05.899
 This is obviously

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.680
 heart-rending

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.240
 for the mother.

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:09.839
 I gave birth to you.

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.720
 I changed your diapers.

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:15.039
 I carried you

00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.539
 in my arms.

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.819
 I sang songs to you.

00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:17.339
 I brought you

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.420
 to church with me.

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:20.119
 I walked you to school.

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.079
 Do you not remember me?

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.839
 Verse 11 is tragic

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:29.000
 in an even worse way.

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.339
 It says,

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:31.200
 he came to his own.

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:33.220
 And his own people

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.539
 did not receive him.

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.759
 I created you

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.579
 out of nothing.

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.680
 I brought you forth

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.480
 into this world.

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:47.379
 I chose you as my own

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.440
 when you were a nobody.

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.339
 I saved you

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.500
 by my mighty hand

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.960
 and nursed you to health

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.059
 and fed you

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.660
 in the wilderness

00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.720
 and brought you

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:57.319
 into the rich promised land.

00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.440
 And yet,

00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.859
 when I came into the world,

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.699
 you did not

00:29:00.699 --> 00:29:01.859
 recognize me.

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.240
 But though the world

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.399
 did not know him

00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:11.819
 and his own people

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.759
 did not receive him,

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.299
 not all

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.500
 rejected him.

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.679
 Verses 12 to 13

00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:17.819
 say this,

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.699
 but to all

00:29:18.699 --> 00:29:20.339
 who did receive him,

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.879
 who believed

00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:23.079
 in his name,

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.919
 he gave the right

00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:25.799
 to become

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.839
 children of God

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.480
 who were born,

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.639
 not of blood,

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.439
 nor of the will

00:29:29.439 --> 00:29:30.079
 of the flesh,

00:29:30.139 --> 00:29:30.699
 nor of the will

00:29:30.699 --> 00:29:31.299
 of man,

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.659
 but of God.

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.339
 It tells us

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.079
 what does it mean

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.639
 to receive the word

00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:37.619
 instead of rejecting

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.019
 the word.

00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.019
 What does that look like?

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.000
 It tells us right here.

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.480
 It means to believe

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.659
 in his name.

00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:45.500
 The name of Jesus

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:47.179
 represents his person.

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.299
 So to believe

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.099
 in his name

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:49.759
 is to believe

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.879
 in who he is,

00:29:51.199 --> 00:29:52.279
 who he claimed to be,

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.500
 and all that he did

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.279
 in his life

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.960
 here on earth.

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.819
 To believe

00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.259
 that Jesus

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.500
 is the son of God,

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.099
 the Christ,

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.839
 the Messiah,

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.759
 the risen,

00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:03.240
 resurrected Lord.

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.259
 To believe

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.859
 in Jesus

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.899
 is to entrust

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.920
 yourself to him,

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.180
 to renounce

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.460
 all your other allegiances

00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:10.960
 and to say,

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.859
 I pledge allegiance

00:30:11.859 --> 00:30:12.420
 to Jesus

00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:13.279
 as my Lord

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.500
 and as my King.

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:17.379
 To those who do this,

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.480
 it says in verse 12,

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.559
 Jesus,

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:21.660
 he gave the right

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.599
 to become

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.480
 children of God.

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:26.339
 Faith in Jesus Christ

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:28.279
 is not what earns

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.680
 the right

00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.259
 to become

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.180
 children of God.

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:32.639
 Faith in and of itself

00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:34.240
 is not meritorious.

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.799
 Faith does not

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.000
 qualify us

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.839
 to be children of God

00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:40.059
 any more than,

00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:40.859
 you know,

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:42.720
 me believing that

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:44.460
 I am royalty

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.240
 makes me a prince.

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:48.539
 But Jesus,

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.899
 who was,

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.980
 who has the authority

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.139
 to bestow such honor,

00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:53.380
 gives,

00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.740
 he gives the right

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.440
 to become children

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:56.740
 of God

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.340
 to those who put

00:30:57.340 --> 00:30:58.180
 their faith in him.

00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.900
 For this reason,

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.600
 those who become

00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.560
 children of God,

00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.020
 it says,

00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:04.020
 are born not of blood

00:31:04.020 --> 00:31:04.980
 nor of the will

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.500
 of the flesh

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.000
 nor of the will

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.440
 of man,

00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.440
 but of God.

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.400
 We have a lot of

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.180
 babies in the church.

00:31:11.320 --> 00:31:12.020
 Babies are born

00:31:12.020 --> 00:31:13.100
 of blood and flesh.

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.500
 It's not pretty

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.100
 when they're born.

00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.899
 When a man

00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.519
 and a woman

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.399
 engage in

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:20.519
 reproductive acts,

00:31:20.959 --> 00:31:22.279
 a child is born.

00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:23.059
 A human child

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.500
 is born.

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:25.519
 But a child of God

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.519
 is born,

00:31:26.959 --> 00:31:28.240
 not through

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:30.480
 procreation,

00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.679
 but through

00:31:31.679 --> 00:31:32.619
 new creation.

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.339
 Only God

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.159
 can create.

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:38.199
 A child of man

00:31:38.199 --> 00:31:38.959
 is born of the will

00:31:38.959 --> 00:31:39.480
 of man,

00:31:39.699 --> 00:31:40.799
 but a child of God

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.699
 is born of the will

00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:42.779
 of God.

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.699
 It is not ultimately

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.940
 the will of man,

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.000
 my decision,

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.759
 that makes us

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.559
 children of God.

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.319
 It is ultimately

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.360
 the will of God

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.620
 that makes us

00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:53.680
 children of God.

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.580
 No one belongs

00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:56.500
 to the family of God

00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.299
 by birthright,

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.259
 not even the Jews.

00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:00.000
 Only Jesus

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.100
 can bestow that right

00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:02.059
 and he bestows it

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.500
 freely only to those

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.420
 who receive him

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.819
 and believe in his name.

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.640
 But what is his name?

00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:11.000
 Right?

00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.100
 Up to this point,

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.200
 John hasn't told us

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.160
 he told us

00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:15.819
 John's name.

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.519
 He hasn't told us

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:18.420
 the name of the word.

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:18.940
 He says,

00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:19.920
 believe in the word,

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.840
 believe in his name,

00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:22.440
 but what's his name?

00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.759
 He tells us

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:28.000
 in verses 14 to 17,

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:30.380
 the word became flesh

00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:31.460
 and dwelt among us

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.819
 and we have seen

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.700
 his glory.

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:35.720
 Glory as of the only son

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.539
 from the father,

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.500
 full of grace

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.279
 and truth.

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.860
 John bore witness

00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.500
 about him

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.340
 and cried out,

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:41.920
 this was he

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.779
 of whom I said,

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:44.299
 he who comes after me

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:45.000
 ranks before me

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.059
 because he was before me.

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.639
 For from his fullness

00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.720
 we have all received

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.240
 grace upon grace.

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.079
 For the law

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:52.099
 was given through Moses,

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.720
 grace and truth

00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:55.139
 came through

00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:57.680
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:01.619
 Jesus is the word

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:03.639
 that became flesh

00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:04.799
 and dwelt among us.

00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.779
 Instead of letting

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.359
 this familiar phrase

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:09.779
 just go in one ear

00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.480
 and go out the other,

00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.860
 just let it sink in

00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.380
 for a minute.

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:16.759
 The word became flesh

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:20.519
 and dwelt among us.

00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.720
 The word of God

00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.539
 as we were reading

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:28.900
 in our assurance of pardon

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.559
 and in confession of sin,

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.420
 the word of God

00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.980
 that stands forever.

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:37.360
 Human flesh is but grass.

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.299
 Grass withers

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.259
 and flower fades

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.700
 but the word of our God

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:42.259
 stands forever

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.139
 but that word

00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:44.159
 that stands forever

00:33:44.159 --> 00:33:47.680
 became flesh

00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:49.659
 which is like grass

00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:50.379
 that withers away.

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:55.599
 The word that was with God

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.359
 and was God

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.200
 in eternity past

00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:58.180
 became a man

00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.759
 in a particular point

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.700
 in space time.

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.659
 It's crazy.

00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:05.060
 It's like the author

00:34:05.060 --> 00:34:05.759
 of a book

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:08.700
 like entering

00:34:08.700 --> 00:34:09.820
 the book

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:12.480
 as its principal character.

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:15.300
 It's like an architect

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:16.019
 of a building

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.539
 somehow

00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.860
 becoming the very

00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:20.139
 foundation of the building.

00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.619
 It's strange

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.200
 and mysterious

00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:26.800
 and yet

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:28.280
 it is real.

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.059
 It is true.

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.079
 It happened

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:31.800
 in human history.

00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:33.960
 And this word

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:34.779
 became flesh

00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:35.799
 and dwelt

00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:37.079
 among us.

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.899
 More literally

00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:39.019
 it says that the word

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.319
 pitched a tent

00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:41.379
 among us

00:34:41.379 --> 00:34:42.799
 or tabernacled

00:34:42.799 --> 00:34:43.319
 among us.

00:34:43.359 --> 00:34:44.019
 It's the same word

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.679
 that's used to refer

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.539
 to the tabernacle

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.339
 in the Old Testament.

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.960
 The tent of God

00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.940
 where God dwelled

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:50.159
 made his presence

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.219
 known to his people.

00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:52.440
 And so we are learning

00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.719
 in John 1

00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:55.019
 that the tabernacle

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.899
 of the Old Testament

00:34:55.899 --> 00:34:57.539
 was meant to foreshadow,

00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:59.259
 meant to point to

00:34:59.259 --> 00:35:00.759
 the reality of Jesus.

00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:03.060
 that Jesus was God's

00:35:03.060 --> 00:35:03.780
 ultimate plan

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.460
 all along

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:06.260
 to fulfill his plan

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:06.860
 from the beginning

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:08.000
 to dwell among

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.800
 his own people.

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:11.820
 That has been God's plan

00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.480
 from the beginning.

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:14.200
 Not to create us

00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:15.400
 and leave us alone,

00:35:15.620 --> 00:35:16.540
 to run on our own,

00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:18.760
 but to dwell among us.

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.460
 Unlike the so-called

00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:23.700
 gods of paganism

00:35:23.700 --> 00:35:24.860
 who dwelled in distant,

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.220
 lofty mountains,

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.720
 our God chose to dwell

00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:28.600
 among us,

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:30.539
 to know our weaknesses,

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:33.719
 to experience

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.679
 our infirmities.

00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:37.599
 Think about this.

00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:38.000
 Jesus

00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:41.839
 knew what it was like

00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:43.500
 to soil his diaper.

00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:49.059
 Jesus knew

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.920
 what it was like

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.639
 to walk around

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.319
 in sandals

00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:52.719
 on a hot, dusty day

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.360
 and come home

00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.079
 with his feet

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:55.139
 coated black

00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:55.779
 with dust.

00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:58.600
 He knew

00:35:58.600 --> 00:35:59.220
 what it was like

00:35:59.220 --> 00:36:00.000
 to have blisters

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:01.440
 on his hands.

00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:04.000
 Jesus knew

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.540
 the hunger

00:36:04.540 --> 00:36:06.220
 that we feel

00:36:06.220 --> 00:36:06.980
 when we don't eat

00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:08.080
 for a while

00:36:08.080 --> 00:36:09.980
 or for one hour.

00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.040
 Jesus knew

00:36:15.040 --> 00:36:15.640
 the pain

00:36:15.640 --> 00:36:16.600
 of weeping

00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:18.620
 at the loss

00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:19.300
 of a loved one.

00:36:22.580 --> 00:36:23.380
 Do you feel

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.000
 that God

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:25.260
 is aloof

00:36:25.260 --> 00:36:27.280
 from your pain

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.380
 and suffering?

00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:35.140
 Do you feel

00:36:35.140 --> 00:36:35.579
 that God

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.740
 doesn't understand

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:38.380
 how hard it is

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:38.920
 for you

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:39.840
 to resist

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.400
 the allures

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:40.940
 of sin?

00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.660
 Do you feel

00:36:43.660 --> 00:36:44.220
 overwhelmed

00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:45.260
 by how broken

00:36:45.260 --> 00:36:46.380
 and dark

00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:47.240
 this world

00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:48.099
 seems to be?

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.360
 Are you losing

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:51.559
 hope for your future,

00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.799
 for the future

00:36:52.799 --> 00:36:53.480
 of your children?

00:36:54.739 --> 00:36:55.619
 Do you feel

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.159
 that God

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.880
 doesn't know?

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.480
 God doesn't

00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.199
 understand.

00:36:58.699 --> 00:36:59.799
 This is God's

00:36:59.799 --> 00:37:01.199
 answer in his word.

00:37:01.299 --> 00:37:01.799
 He says,

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.659
 the word became

00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.199
 flesh

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.000
 and dwelt

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:06.139
 among us.

00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:08.500
 He knows

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:10.219
 what it's like

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.699
 to be in our shoes.

00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:15.139
 He knows

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.699
 what it's like

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:16.279
 to feel

00:37:16.279 --> 00:37:17.000
 what you feel.

00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:19.420
 And because

00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.119
 he was tempted

00:37:20.119 --> 00:37:20.519
 and yet

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.259
 he never sinned,

00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:22.100
 he's experienced

00:37:22.100 --> 00:37:22.600
 the fullness

00:37:22.600 --> 00:37:23.600
 of that temptation

00:37:23.600 --> 00:37:24.760
 like we

00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:26.260
 haven't.

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.340
 Jesus became

00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:31.880
 like us

00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.200
 and dwelt

00:37:32.200 --> 00:37:32.660
 among us

00:37:32.660 --> 00:37:32.940
 so that

00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.620
 none of us

00:37:33.620 --> 00:37:34.160
 can ever

00:37:34.160 --> 00:37:36.580
 point to him

00:37:36.580 --> 00:37:36.940
 and say,

00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:37.720
 you just

00:37:37.720 --> 00:37:38.840
 don't understand.

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.620
 And this word

00:37:43.620 --> 00:37:44.280
 became flesh

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:44.700
 and dwelt

00:37:44.700 --> 00:37:45.600
 among us

00:37:45.600 --> 00:37:46.540
 not only

00:37:46.540 --> 00:37:46.880
 so that we

00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:47.340
 might know

00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:47.720
 that he

00:37:47.720 --> 00:37:48.780
 understands us

00:37:48.780 --> 00:37:49.560
 and that he

00:37:49.560 --> 00:37:50.620
 can save us

00:37:50.620 --> 00:37:51.540
 but so that

00:37:51.540 --> 00:37:52.500
 in Jesus

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.320
 we might know

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:54.320
 what God

00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:55.500
 truly is like.

00:37:56.700 --> 00:37:57.380
 So that in

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:58.100
 Jesus we might

00:37:58.100 --> 00:37:59.160
 behold God's

00:37:59.160 --> 00:37:59.519
 glory.

00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:00.440
 Verse 14

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:00.820
 tells us

00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.620
 we have seen

00:38:01.620 --> 00:38:03.200
 his glory,

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.900
 glory as of

00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.920
 the only son

00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:06.580
 from the father

00:38:06.580 --> 00:38:07.220
 full of grace

00:38:07.220 --> 00:38:07.680
 and truth.

00:38:08.040 --> 00:38:08.600
 And that verse

00:38:08.600 --> 00:38:09.160
 is paralleled

00:38:09.160 --> 00:38:10.019
 by verse 14,

00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:11.320
 I mean verse 18.

00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:12.860
 Verse 14 and 18

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.460
 parallel each other.

00:38:13.540 --> 00:38:14.320
 Verse 14 says

00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:15.300
 Jesus is the only

00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.360
 son from the father.

00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.580
 Verse 18 says

00:38:17.580 --> 00:38:18.440
 Jesus is the only

00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.240
 God who is at

00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:20.400
 the father's side

00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:21.580
 who has made

00:38:21.580 --> 00:38:22.440
 the father known.

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.180
 Jesus is the only

00:38:24.180 --> 00:38:25.460
 God from the father's

00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.640
 side because he is

00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:27.500
 the only son

00:38:27.500 --> 00:38:28.420
 from the father.

00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:30.180
 God grants all

00:38:30.180 --> 00:38:30.760
 those who believe

00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:31.680
 in Jesus' name

00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:32.820
 the right to become

00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.800
 children of God.

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.019
 However,

00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:37.240
 Jesus is in a

00:38:37.240 --> 00:38:38.160
 class of his own.

00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:38.920
 He is unique.

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.640
 He is the only

00:38:41.640 --> 00:38:42.800
 son from the father.

00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.140
 God is God

00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:45.539
 and we are not.

00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:46.900
 We're only human.

00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:48.019
 But Jesus

00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:49.659
 is the God man.

00:38:49.819 --> 00:38:50.619
 He is fully God

00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.579
 but also fully man.

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:53.579
 He is the only

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.920
 son from the father.

00:38:55.079 --> 00:38:56.139
 One who is eternally

00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:57.519
 begotten of the

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.579
 father and therefore

00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.639
 shares the father's

00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:00.539
 divine nature.

00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:03.019
 Every man and woman

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.759
 because we are

00:39:03.759 --> 00:39:04.420
 creating the image

00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:05.759
 of God in some

00:39:05.759 --> 00:39:06.639
 way reveals

00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:07.359
 something about

00:39:07.359 --> 00:39:07.639
 God.

00:39:09.219 --> 00:39:10.299
 But none of us

00:39:10.299 --> 00:39:10.900
 can capture

00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:11.859
 the glory of God.

00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:11.900
 God.

00:39:13.700 --> 00:39:14.940
 The image of God

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:15.980
 stamped upon us

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.780
 has been marred

00:39:16.780 --> 00:39:17.700
 by our own sin

00:39:17.700 --> 00:39:18.940
 so that no one

00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.960
 can truly get to

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:20.539
 know God the

00:39:20.539 --> 00:39:21.420
 father by just

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.340
 looking at us.

00:39:24.640 --> 00:39:25.960
 Only Jesus can

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.820
 reveal God the

00:39:26.820 --> 00:39:27.480
 father like that.

00:39:28.760 --> 00:39:29.760
 No one has ever

00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:30.400
 seen God.

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.240
 Right?

00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:31.800
 It says in verse

00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:32.039
 18.

00:39:32.120 --> 00:39:32.640
 No one has ever

00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:33.099
 seen God.

00:39:33.180 --> 00:39:34.400
 And yet later in

00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:35.519
 John 14 9 Jesus

00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.420
 says to his

00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:37.559
 disciples whoever

00:39:37.559 --> 00:39:38.980
 has seen me has

00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:40.120
 seen the father.

00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:42.980
 Why?

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.699
 Because he is the

00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:44.799
 only God who is at

00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:45.599
 the father's side

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:46.519
 who makes him known.

00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:48.779
 Because Jesus and

00:39:48.779 --> 00:39:49.880
 the father are one.

00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:52.480
 Until Jesus came

00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:53.299
 the worshippers of

00:39:53.299 --> 00:39:54.019
 God could never

00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.179
 avail themselves of

00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:57.259
 an image, an idol,

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:57.920
 an artistic

00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:59.019
 representation of

00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.759
 God because the

00:39:59.759 --> 00:40:00.759
 second of the ten

00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:02.579
 commandments prohibited

00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:04.179
 as we saw in

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:04.719
 recent weeks.

00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:06.759
 They longed to see

00:40:06.759 --> 00:40:07.900
 God, to picture

00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:09.299
 God but they

00:40:09.299 --> 00:40:09.859
 never could.

00:40:10.119 --> 00:40:12.380
 But Colossians 3 15

00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:13.299
 tells us that Jesus

00:40:13.299 --> 00:40:14.759
 is the image of the

00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:15.739
 invisible God.

00:40:16.299 --> 00:40:17.619
 Jesus is the

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:19.079
 invisible God made

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:19.599
 visible.

00:40:20.299 --> 00:40:21.579
 Word made flesh.

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.480
 Until Jesus came

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.299
 the people of God

00:40:24.299 --> 00:40:25.359
 could only worship

00:40:25.359 --> 00:40:26.359
 him from afar.

00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:29.219
 Once a year they

00:40:29.219 --> 00:40:30.099
 could enter into the

00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:31.239
 most holy place

00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:32.039
 within the temple,

00:40:32.219 --> 00:40:33.079
 the very throne room

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:33.539
 of God.

00:40:33.839 --> 00:40:35.219
 And not anyone and

00:40:35.219 --> 00:40:36.339
 not everyone, only

00:40:36.339 --> 00:40:37.779
 one person, the high

00:40:37.779 --> 00:40:38.619
 priest alone.

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:40.619
 God made a

00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:44.719
 sacrifice for his own

00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.420
 sins beforehand.

00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:47.599
 But now we don't

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.599
 need a temple.

00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:50.679
 We don't even need a

00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:51.579
 temple because we have

00:40:51.579 --> 00:40:52.000
 Jesus.

00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:53.940
 God in the flesh who

00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:55.679
 dwelt among us, who

00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:56.699
 made a once and for all

00:40:56.699 --> 00:40:58.039
 sacrifice for our sins.

00:40:58.039 --> 00:41:01.119
 in order to grasp the

00:41:01.119 --> 00:41:02.480
 staggering implications

00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.719
 of this, of what

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:05.679
 Jesus, who Jesus is

00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:06.800
 and what he's done, we

00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.420
 need to go back to

00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:09.759
 Exodus 33, 18 to 23.

00:41:10.619 --> 00:41:12.340
 There Moses asks God,

00:41:13.219 --> 00:41:14.539
 please show me your

00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:14.880
 glory.

00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:18.800
 And God replies, I will

00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:19.840
 make all my goodness

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:21.360
 pass before you and will

00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:23.659
 proclaim you before you

00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:24.820
 my name, the Lord.

00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:26.620
 But you cannot see my

00:41:26.620 --> 00:41:27.080
 face.

00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:29.900
 For man shall not see

00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:30.620
 me and live.

00:41:31.660 --> 00:41:32.780
 And you shall see my

00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:34.019
 back, but my face

00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:34.920
 shall not be seen.

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:36.900
 And then later in

00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:38.700
 Exodus 34, 5 to 7, the

00:41:38.700 --> 00:41:39.960
 Lord passes by Moses and

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:41.059
 shows him his back.

00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:42.980
 And the Lord proclaims

00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:43.519
 his glory.

00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:44.720
 The Lord, the Lord, a

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:45.680
 God merciful and

00:41:45.680 --> 00:41:47.220
 gracious, slow to anger

00:41:47.220 --> 00:41:48.200
 and abounding in

00:41:48.200 --> 00:41:49.360
 steadfast love and

00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:50.120
 faithfulness.

00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:52.280
 The essence of God's

00:41:52.280 --> 00:41:53.580
 glory and goodness, who

00:41:53.580 --> 00:41:54.720
 he is, can be boiled

00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:55.519
 down to those two

00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:57.539
 attributes, steadfast love

00:41:57.539 --> 00:41:59.139
 and faithfulness.

00:42:00.679 --> 00:42:02.139
 Over and over again,

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:03.199
 throughout the

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:04.539
 scriptures, those two

00:42:04.539 --> 00:42:05.659
 words are used as

00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:07.859
 summary descriptions of

00:42:07.859 --> 00:42:09.459
 what God is like, what

00:42:09.459 --> 00:42:10.659
 his characteristics are

00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.199
 like, what his

00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:13.139
 attributes are like.

00:42:14.279 --> 00:42:16.259
 So he says in Psalm 36,

00:42:16.339 --> 00:42:18.019
 verse 5, your steadfast

00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:20.059
 love, O Lord, extends to

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:21.219
 the heavens, your

00:42:21.219 --> 00:42:22.639
 faithfulness to the

00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:23.119
 clouds.

00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:25.219
 A love that does not

00:42:25.219 --> 00:42:29.319
 fluctuate like the

00:42:29.319 --> 00:42:32.099
 waves of the sea, but

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:33.199
 rather is constant and

00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:34.639
 immovable like bedrock.

00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:37.719
 A love that does not

00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:39.199
 vary or change depending

00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:40.099
 on the circumstances

00:42:40.099 --> 00:42:41.219
 based on the performance

00:42:41.219 --> 00:42:42.980
 of the object of love

00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:44.400
 and affection, but rather

00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:46.259
 an unchanging, steadfast

00:42:46.259 --> 00:42:46.639
 love.

00:42:46.639 --> 00:42:49.779
 Fickleness is not an

00:42:49.779 --> 00:42:50.519
 attribute of God.

00:42:50.599 --> 00:42:51.219
 That is a human

00:42:51.219 --> 00:42:51.639
 attribute.

00:42:52.719 --> 00:42:54.019
 The Lord is instead

00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:54.719
 characterized by

00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:57.379
 faithfulness, which

00:42:57.379 --> 00:42:58.119
 means the Lord is

00:42:58.119 --> 00:42:58.900
 always true.

00:42:59.500 --> 00:43:01.159
 He's always true to who

00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:01.739
 he is.

00:43:02.219 --> 00:43:03.519
 He is, to his gracious

00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:04.639
 and merciful nature.

00:43:05.219 --> 00:43:06.460
 The Lord is reliable.

00:43:06.739 --> 00:43:07.579
 He is faithful.

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:08.839
 He is true.

00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:11.259
 Do you want to know

00:43:11.259 --> 00:43:12.299
 what the Lord our God

00:43:12.299 --> 00:43:12.859
 is like?

00:43:12.860 --> 00:43:14.539
 He is abounding in

00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:15.880
 steadfast love and

00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:16.680
 faithfulness.

00:43:17.280 --> 00:43:18.880
 That's who he is like.

00:43:20.620 --> 00:43:22.800
 But even Moses did not

00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:23.980
 get to behold the

00:43:23.980 --> 00:43:24.660
 fullness of God's

00:43:24.660 --> 00:43:24.940
 glory.

00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:26.820
 He did not get a

00:43:26.820 --> 00:43:27.980
 glimpse of the face of

00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:28.320
 God.

00:43:29.160 --> 00:43:30.059
 His face was hidden.

00:43:30.160 --> 00:43:31.220
 He only saw his back.

00:43:32.099 --> 00:43:33.860
 But Jesus, Jesus reveals

00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:35.640
 the glorious splendor of

00:43:35.640 --> 00:43:37.000
 God's steadfast love and

00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:37.599
 faithfulness.

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.820
 We know this because

00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:39.860
 John tells us, he says

00:43:39.860 --> 00:43:41.079
 in verse 14, that Jesus

00:43:41.079 --> 00:43:44.820
 is full of grace and

00:43:44.820 --> 00:43:45.500
 truth.

00:43:46.640 --> 00:43:47.440
 And again, in verses

00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:49.440
 16 and 17, Jesus is

00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:50.720
 from his fullness, we

00:43:50.720 --> 00:43:51.640
 have all received grace

00:43:51.640 --> 00:43:52.320
 upon grace.

00:43:52.680 --> 00:43:53.720
 The first grace is the

00:43:53.720 --> 00:43:54.840
 law given to us through

00:43:54.840 --> 00:43:55.620
 Moses, and the second

00:43:55.620 --> 00:43:57.480
 grace is the grace and

00:43:57.480 --> 00:43:59.360
 truth that came through

00:43:59.360 --> 00:44:00.000
 Jesus Christ.

00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:02.640
 Two times, this pair of

00:44:02.640 --> 00:44:05.320
 words, grace and truth,

00:44:05.880 --> 00:44:07.700
 describe what Jesus is

00:44:07.700 --> 00:44:08.820
 like, and he's full of

00:44:08.820 --> 00:44:09.019
 it.

00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:10.800
 And those two words are

00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:12.700
 John's Greek rendering of

00:44:12.700 --> 00:44:13.600
 the Hebrew words,

00:44:13.820 --> 00:44:15.440
 steadfast love and

00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:16.120
 faithfulness.

00:44:18.300 --> 00:44:19.539
 Do you want to see the

00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.260
 face of God?

00:44:23.059 --> 00:44:24.740
 Look to Jesus who is full

00:44:24.740 --> 00:44:25.760
 of grace and truth.

00:44:28.400 --> 00:44:30.240
 That's why I love reading

00:44:30.240 --> 00:44:30.960
 the Gospels.

00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:34.539
 And I've been watching,

00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:37.080
 it's not the Gospels, it's

00:44:37.080 --> 00:44:38.080
 not a substitute, but I've

00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:39.139
 been watching Chosen with

00:44:39.139 --> 00:44:40.119
 my oldest.

00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:43.239
 And I love introducing

00:44:43.239 --> 00:44:46.480
 her to Jesus through the

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:48.079
 Gospels, because in the

00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:49.619
 Gospels you meet our

00:44:49.619 --> 00:44:51.440
 Savior, what he was like,

00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:53.420
 how he dealt with tax

00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:55.980
 collectors and lepers and

00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:56.340
 sinners.

00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:58.400
 And in the way he lived and

00:44:58.400 --> 00:44:59.880
 the way he spoke and the

00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:01.699
 way he died and the way he

00:45:01.699 --> 00:45:05.519
 was raised, we see God in

00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:08.079
 his glory full of grace and

00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:09.019
 truth toward us.

00:45:14.460 --> 00:45:15.940
 And in the Gospel of John

00:45:15.940 --> 00:45:17.219
 there is one place in

00:45:17.219 --> 00:45:19.780
 particular where John tells

00:45:19.780 --> 00:45:22.059
 us God's glory is seen in all

00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:23.780
 its glory, all its fullness.

00:45:23.780 --> 00:45:23.960
 goodness.

00:45:25.820 --> 00:45:27.840
 It's not where you might

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:28.460
 expect it.

00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:32.340
 But it says in John 12, 23,

00:45:32.560 --> 00:45:35.240
 that Jesus is glorified, his

00:45:35.240 --> 00:45:37.360
 glory is most seen when he is

00:45:37.360 --> 00:45:40.380
 hanging on the cross, laying

00:45:40.380 --> 00:45:41.980
 down his life for us.

00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:47.300
 That's the glory that John

00:45:47.300 --> 00:45:48.920
 points to, not when he is

00:45:48.920 --> 00:45:53.800
 transfigured, not when he is

00:45:53.800 --> 00:45:54.559
 ascending.

00:45:55.659 --> 00:45:57.260
 You want to see the glory of

00:45:57.260 --> 00:45:57.579
 God?

00:45:58.860 --> 00:46:00.559
 You want to see the fullness

00:46:00.559 --> 00:46:02.320
 of God's steadfast love and

00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:03.039
 faithfulness?

00:46:03.420 --> 00:46:05.179
 You want to see the face of

00:46:05.179 --> 00:46:07.099
 God in his grace and truth?

00:46:07.219 --> 00:46:08.420
 Look nowhere else.

00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:10.139
 Turn to the cross of Jesus.

00:46:10.139 --> 00:46:13.619
 Look at how love poured out on

00:46:13.619 --> 00:46:14.259
 the cross.

00:46:15.219 --> 00:46:17.059
 Look at how he laid down his

00:46:17.059 --> 00:46:18.400
 life that we might live.

00:46:19.039 --> 00:46:20.440
 Look at how the word of God

00:46:20.440 --> 00:46:22.579
 was made flesh and he poured

00:46:22.579 --> 00:46:23.359
 his blood.

00:46:25.379 --> 00:46:27.259
 That's where you see the face

00:46:27.259 --> 00:46:27.759
 of God.

00:46:30.460 --> 00:46:32.139
 That's where you see the glory

00:46:32.139 --> 00:46:32.639
 of God.

00:46:35.239 --> 00:46:37.039
 For God who said, let light

00:46:37.039 --> 00:46:38.739
 shine out of darkness, has

00:46:38.739 --> 00:46:40.119
 shown in our hearts to give

00:46:40.119 --> 00:46:43.400
 the light of the knowledge of

00:46:43.400 --> 00:46:46.440
 the glory of God in the face

00:46:46.440 --> 00:46:48.440
 of Jesus Christ.

00:46:52.980 --> 00:46:54.539
 We see the glory of God in the

00:46:54.539 --> 00:46:56.099
 face of Jesus because Jesus is

00:46:56.099 --> 00:46:58.699
 the word who was made flesh to

00:46:58.699 --> 00:47:00.059
 make God known to us.

00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:00.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:00.819 --> 00:47:00.880
 Let's pray.

00:47:00.880 --> 00:47:01.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:01.819 --> 00:47:02.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:02.819 --> 00:47:04.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:04.819 --> 00:47:06.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:06.819 --> 00:47:08.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:08.819 --> 00:47:09.819
 Let's pray.

00:47:09.820 --> 00:47:24.519
 Lord Jesus,

00:47:24.519 --> 00:47:24.580
 Lord Jesus,

00:47:24.580 --> 00:47:34.480
 you did not have to become man.

00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:40.400
 you could have come as a son of God

00:47:40.400 --> 00:47:48.300
 in all his terrifying glory to consume

00:47:48.300 --> 00:47:49.320
 all of us sinners.

00:47:49.320 --> 00:47:59.539
 and yet you came to reveal your glory in the fullness of grace and truth.

00:48:00.640 --> 00:48:03.220
 Fullness of your love, your faithfulness.

00:48:03.219 --> 00:48:05.219
 Lord Jesus,

00:48:05.219 --> 00:48:11.459
 please help us to know you and remember you rightly,

00:48:11.459 --> 00:48:14.099
 that we might relate to you rightly.

00:48:14.099 --> 00:48:24.419
 Especially this Advent season, remind us, remind us of the peculiar glory of the Son of God displayed on the cross.

00:48:24.420 --> 00:48:26.420
 His life, death, resurrection.

00:48:26.420 --> 00:48:28.420
 His life, death, resurrection.

00:48:38.420 --> 00:48:39.420
 Thank you.

00:48:41.920 --> 00:48:43.099
 We love you.

00:48:43.099 --> 00:48:47.099
 Jesus name.

00:48:47.099 --> 00:48:48.400
 We pray.

00:48:48.400 --> 00:48:49.239
 Amen.