WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 I go to the same coffee place to work on my sermon for, I don't know, about three years now. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:08.679 It's usually, most of the time, the same place. 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:14.660 And a little bit after I started going there to work on it on weekdays in the mornings, 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:18.839 towards the end of the day, I'd see a group of mainly ladies. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:24.400 90% of the time, 95% of the time, it would be a group of three to five ladies who would come in together. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:31.879 And I figured out almost immediately that they were probably Jehovah Witnesses. 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:33.739 And it turns out that they were. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:39.899 And so, just about maybe two or three times a week when I was there, they would come in. 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:42.359 They'd all sit and have coffee and they'd all look at me. 00:00:43.019 --> 00:00:47.119 Not because I'm something special, but because I was working on my sermon, I had a Bible out. 00:00:47.579 --> 00:00:49.619 And they'd notice the Bible and they'd look at me. 00:00:49.619 --> 00:00:55.899 And eventually they'd start to smile and I found out that what they did is that they were witnessing, 00:00:56.239 --> 00:00:59.839 as they would call it, going house to house and witnessing in that region. 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:03.619 And to get a bit of a break, they'd all have coffee together. 00:01:03.699 --> 00:01:07.539 And they have a name for it, which I can't remember what the name is for it. 00:01:07.679 --> 00:01:09.239 But Jehovah Witnesses have a name for it. 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:15.000 And so, we'd be fine and I'd say, oh, they noticed that I was reading the Bible 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.259 and I told them I was a pastor and I was a Christian and all of that stuff. 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:22.240 But I knew that at some point in time, a particular encounter was going to come. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:28.240 And sure enough, after several months, a time came when a woman around my age with her daughter, 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:31.800 and her daughter was, in a sense, a professional missionary. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:37.020 She had been working outside of the country for several years and that's all she did. 00:01:37.360 --> 00:01:38.780 She made her living going. 00:01:39.360 --> 00:01:45.219 She raised support to go door to door and try to convert people to becoming Jehovah Witnesses. 00:01:45.219 --> 00:01:49.359 And so, the day came when there was just the two of them came in and they saw me 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:53.560 and they came and sat down with me and I was waiting for something like this to eventually happen. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:56.959 So, we had a conversation that went about 45 minutes. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:59.019 It was a very interesting conversation. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:01.519 And this isn't by the way to boast. 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:05.000 Maybe it's a bad thing, but they've never wanted to have a conversation with me since. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:13.439 But it, and it wasn't because I was mean or rude, but just because I know a little bit about Jehovah Witnesses. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.120 And they have a pattern, they have a type of thing that they go through, 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:22.219 several different conversation patterns that they like to go through. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:26.439 So, if you ever get a talk with a Jehovah Witness, one of the best things to do is to knock them off. 00:02:27.259 --> 00:02:31.479 There are different little streams of conversation that they have. 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:36.280 And they started to talk to me and I said to them, after we'd been talking for about five minutes, 00:02:36.359 --> 00:02:40.479 I said, one of the reasons I could never be a Christian, I mean a Jehovah Witness, 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:43.519 is because you ultimately don't believe that God is love. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:46.060 And they were very offended by it. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:46.639 Well, they weren't offended. 00:02:46.739 --> 00:02:47.479 They were just surprised. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.719 They assured me that they believed that God was love. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:53.879 And I said, well, here's the problem. 00:02:53.879 --> 00:03:00.539 You believe that there's only this one God, that God is one, and you believe that God is love. 00:03:00.659 --> 00:03:06.740 But if God has just always been one, then before he created human beings, who was there for him to love? 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:11.479 Like before he created angels, who was there for God to love? 00:03:12.519 --> 00:03:18.479 Is God sort of, was God sort of a needy God that he had to create angels and then human beings 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:20.340 so that he could have somebody to love? 00:03:20.419 --> 00:03:27.939 But if he has a, if he's a needy type of God that has to create somebody so that he can love them, 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:30.739 well, then how is he God if he has these particular needs? 00:03:30.799 --> 00:03:35.919 And we went down this path because they would try to defend it. 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:39.899 They'd never, I guess, come across an argument about one of the problems with their belief 00:03:39.899 --> 00:03:41.979 is that they couldn't believe that God is love. 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:46.560 It culminated in me, of course, talking about not only the love that existed between, 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:49.479 anyway, they just, they didn't quite know what to deal with it. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:55.259 Now, I mention all of this because the Bible text, which we just read a couple of moments ago, 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:58.459 and we're going to look at John chapter one, verses one to five, 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:01.879 is a very, very, very important part of the Bible. 00:04:02.899 --> 00:04:07.439 I don't know if it's still the case, but when I was trying to learn Greek, 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:12.139 the first place that you would go to try to learn Greek was actually these verses. 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:13.439 It's very simple. 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:19.860 It's almost of the level of see Dick run, run Dick run, see Jane run, run Jane run, 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:23.519 like the type of very beginning simple words. 00:04:24.159 --> 00:04:27.279 But on one level, they're very simple, but on the other level, 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:32.620 every word is very, very profound and very, very carefully crafted. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.379 And it tells us something which is quite astounding. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:41.120 So if you get your Bibles out and look at John one, we're going to begin reading it. 00:04:41.159 --> 00:04:46.399 And by the way, this isn't just sort of an academic thing to talk with Muslims or Jehovah Witnesses. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:53.079 The fact of the matter is, is that love is unbelievably important to us as human beings, 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:55.060 and especially in this cultural moment. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:02.899 We, in our moment, our culture has this constant huge desire and hunger for love. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:07.399 The more institutions break down, the more relationships break down, 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:13.979 the more marriages break down, the greater desire and hunger of our hearts is for love. 00:05:14.659 --> 00:05:18.539 And we might be confused about what love looks like. 00:05:18.599 --> 00:05:21.319 We might be confused about how love relates to justice. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:25.319 But there's this huge cultural desire for love. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.480 It fuels the transgender movement. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.740 It fuels the LGBTQ movement. 00:05:31.099 --> 00:05:36.680 It fuels our concern for First Nations people and their concerns. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:39.019 There's this huge hunger for love. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:44.339 So to look at whether or not, like how we can understand love and base it, 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:45.759 it's not just an academic thing. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.800 It's very relevant and very deeply important to each one of us. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.300 So in mind of that, listen to this. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:55.099 It doesn't sound like it's talking about love, but it really is. 00:05:55.180 --> 00:05:55.800 Listen to this. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:02.560 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.439 He was in the beginning with God. 00:06:06.039 --> 00:06:12.639 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:17.759 Now, we can talk a little bit about why it is that Jesus, 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:20.899 because that's ultimately who they're talking about, is described as the Word. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:24.139 Maybe I'll say a few things about it in a moment. 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:28.500 But actually, if you could bring up the first point, Andrew, that would be very helpful. 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:33.459 What, amongst other things, this text of Scripture is telling us 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:39.279 is that love is deeper and older than creation itself. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:45.459 Love is deeper and older than creation itself. 00:06:46.359 --> 00:06:48.439 That's what the Bible is teaching here. 00:06:49.239 --> 00:06:53.879 You see, this word, was, is a really important word. 00:06:54.119 --> 00:06:55.079 Listen again to the Bible. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:59.679 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. 00:06:59.739 --> 00:07:01.199 Sorry, not was, it's the word with. 00:07:01.619 --> 00:07:04.899 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:07.039 and the Word was God. 00:07:07.219 --> 00:07:10.120 He was in the beginning with God. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:14.719 And twice in these few verses, it uses the word with. 00:07:14.799 --> 00:07:18.620 And we might think, well, with, like George, what's so special about the word with? 00:07:19.239 --> 00:07:24.500 Well, in the original language, there's two different ways that the word with could be used. 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:31.180 One way would be to say, Louise, my car broke down. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.379 Could you come and pick me up? 00:07:34.019 --> 00:07:35.360 And then she says, well, where are you? 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:36.740 And I can say, I'm with the car. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.399 Okay, I'm with the car. 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:43.279 And in the original language, there'd be a way of using with, 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:45.500 which means that you're just sort of with something. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:49.759 Something, you're with it, you're with either something which is impersonal, 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:54.579 or you're with something, so you're with something which is just impersonal, 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:57.240 or you're with someone in an impersonal way. 00:07:57.779 --> 00:08:00.639 Because it would be the same word as I'm with the car, 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:04.079 as saying I'm with some people at the bus stop. 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:05.899 I'm at the bus stop. 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:06.879 Are you there by yourself? 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:08.259 She might say, no, no, there's some other people. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:09.800 I'm here with some other people. 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:14.720 But it's just, it's no different really than just me being with some objects. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:18.720 And there's another way in the original language of using the word with, 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:23.520 which implies that there's a personal connection. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:28.460 And more than a personal connection, a relationship of intimacy and love. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:35.120 We would use it that way if I, maybe somebody, well, I know, 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:40.160 back when I was in my earlier church, my previous church, 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:45.500 there was a fellow who had to go to court because he'd been accused of something. 00:08:46.439 --> 00:08:49.699 And I actually believe that in this particular case, 00:08:49.839 --> 00:08:53.659 I have to say in this particular case, because he was not unfamiliar to the police, 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.100 but in this particular case, I think he was completely and utterly innocent. 00:08:59.219 --> 00:09:02.959 In fact, I had good reasons to know that he was probably completely and utterly innocent. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:04.879 He'd been accused of something he didn't do. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.860 And I'll call him Bob. 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:08.039 I almost said his real name. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:10.899 And I said to him, Bob, I'm with you. 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.740 I'm with you on this. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:15.320 And I'll go with you to court because I'm with you. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:19.259 And when you use that word with in that type of a sense, 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:21.600 like I put my arm on him, so I'm with you. 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:22.399 I'm with you, Bob. 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:23.480 I'm with you on this. 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:25.279 We'll go to this together. 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:28.139 And I'll sit with you because I'm with you. 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:32.879 And so in the original language, there's a way of saying with, 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:35.439 which implies this personal relationship. 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.620 It's a relationship that only a person can have with another person. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:43.059 And it's not sort of just formal or impersonal. 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:46.199 It's a very personal connection. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:50.620 And that's the word which is used here in John chapter 1. 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:55.259 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:58.240 But it's telling us that it's a person, the word. 00:09:58.439 --> 00:10:02.759 However we understand why it is that John used this word, the word, 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:08.139 to begin to describe Jesus, I mean, we can meditate upon that. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:12.580 We can, the poets and the prayer warriors, we can meditate upon that. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.759 We can think upon it. 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:20.000 The artist can imagine why it is that God would choose this word 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.960 to describe the second person of the Trinity. 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:26.960 But at the very, very heart of this text is before there were stars, 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:30.840 before there was a galaxy, before there were human beings, 00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:32.400 before there were angels, 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:35.740 before anything existed that does exist, 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:41.240 in the beginning, the word was with the Father. 00:10:41.900 --> 00:10:43.440 And the Father was with the word. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:46.100 And both are God, but there's still only one God. 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:47.040 They're with each other. 00:10:47.540 --> 00:10:49.560 There's a personal relationship. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.659 It's a love relationship. 00:10:52.099 --> 00:10:56.500 And that exists before anything that exists. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:59.639 So you see, from the Christian account, 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:05.939 we can say that love is deeper and older than creation itself, 00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:07.859 because it's only in the Bible. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:09.819 It's only in the doctrine of the Trinity. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:13.519 Islam has no basis to believe this. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:18.879 And Orthodox Judaism, it would be a puzzle within Orthodox Judaism, 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:22.679 a puzzle that, on one level, they know that God is love, 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:26.579 because it's, in fact, in the Old Testament scriptures, the Tanakh, 00:11:27.199 --> 00:11:30.039 I'm going to get it wrong, because I can't get the full phlegm, 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:34.000 but chesed, God's faithful covenant love, 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:36.199 is one of the most important ways to describe love. 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:40.360 But you have this idea, this truth that God is love in the Old Testament, 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:44.720 but at the same time, they have to puzzle over how is it that God could be a God of love 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:48.080 if there was no one other than him. 00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:51.879 But from the Bible, from Jesus, from his death and resurrection, 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:56.680 we understand this deeper truth that from all eternity, 00:11:57.180 --> 00:12:00.520 there is the Father loving the Son and the Son loving the Father. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:04.879 And that love that existed between the Father and the Son from all eternity, 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.960 it was a deep love, an eternal love, and a true love, 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:11.639 and it is out of that love that things are created. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.980 So listen to it again. 00:12:14.079 --> 00:12:17.579 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:20.179 He was in the beginning with God. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.519 In fact, I would suggest that it's only in the Bible, 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:27.439 only through what Christ has revealed to us, 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:31.140 that we in fact have a way to truly understand and base 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:36.080 this deepest desire of our hearts to know love. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:44.540 You know, the central myth of our culture 00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:47.480 is the myth of naturalistic evolution. 00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:51.300 And at the very, very center of that myth 00:12:51.300 --> 00:12:55.980 is the belief that after time and chance work to create life, 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:58.420 the way that we came about 00:12:58.420 --> 00:13:01.159 was through two simple truths. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.200 The strong eat the weak. 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:06.680 The strong adapt, the weak die. 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:10.740 And how on earth do you derive from the strong eat the weak 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:14.500 or the strong adapt and the weak die, 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.759 therefore love one another? 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:18.920 Therefore love... 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:20.659 That doesn't follow. 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:22.799 I mean, what really follows is 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.299 I should be able to eat the weak 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:26.740 until I become weak. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.319 Or I should be able to adapt 00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:33.199 so that I will survive 00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:34.559 and it sucks to be weak. 00:13:37.079 --> 00:13:39.279 And as we all know, that's so unsatisfying 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.339 because eventually if we live long enough, 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.240 we become weak. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.379 We begin weak. 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:48.379 Some of us never are anything other than weak. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.860 But we always end up weak. 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:53.399 And we can't be weaker than dying. 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.200 And in such a context, 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.559 there's this profound affirmation 00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.799 and teaching in the Bible 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:01.820 that in the beginning was the Word 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:03.059 and the Word was with God 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:04.120 and the Word was God. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:06.360 He was in the beginning with God. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:07.679 Actually, Andrew, I missed the point. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.759 Can you put up the second point? 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:15.039 Basically, just as a matter of thinking, 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:17.179 something or someone, 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:20.279 somewhat or some who, 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:24.460 I know it sounds like a Dr. Seuss line, 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.819 but something or someone, 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.679 somewhat or some who, 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.419 has to have no beginning. 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:35.439 Like that's just the case. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:41.420 And we just have to be so grateful 00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:42.340 in our culture 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:46.340 that our culture still is living off 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:49.100 the remnants of the Christian story 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:55.260 because if the thing that has no beginning 00:14:55.260 --> 00:14:56.080 is a what, 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:59.460 if the thing that has no beginning is a thing, 00:15:01.020 --> 00:15:04.720 then how do persons come to be? 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.080 And how do they have value 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.400 and how do they have dignity? 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:09.860 And why is it that 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:12.560 that if things and what's 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.440 are the most basic 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.280 with no beginning 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:16.340 and no end, 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:19.260 that human beings exist 00:15:19.260 --> 00:15:22.200 and seem to be made 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:25.260 with this unceasing hunger for love? 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:30.060 And we Christians have to learn 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.360 to not be intimidated 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:33.040 by the myth 00:15:33.040 --> 00:15:35.220 of naturalistic evolution. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:37.580 and to be comfortable 00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:38.380 and confident 00:15:38.380 --> 00:15:40.960 that there's very simple ways 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.940 how the Christian story 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.480 is completely compatible 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:46.800 with the true findings of science 00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:49.280 and say, 00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:53.000 it is a who, 00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:56.580 a person that has no beginning. 00:15:56.780 --> 00:15:58.460 In fact, it's more than a who. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:00.560 It's, 00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:03.320 well, one who, 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.460 just one God, 00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:07.040 but the Father and the Son 00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:09.519 who know each other as persons, 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:11.060 who love each other as persons 00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:12.259 from all eternity. 00:16:13.400 --> 00:16:16.060 And out of them being persons 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:18.019 and out of them being love, 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.720 they created human beings. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:23.980 Now, 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:30.500 I'm a man of a certain age 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:33.560 and I have a certain type of context 00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.540 and for those of us 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.240 of a certain age 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.440 and a certain context, 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:39.379 what would evangelists 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.360 give to people 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.019 that they wanted 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.440 to try to become Christians 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:44.540 or what would evangelists 00:16:44.540 --> 00:16:46.000 give somebody 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:46.779 who had just become 00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.820 a Christian to study? 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.820 And for those of us 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.780 who are of a certain age 00:16:50.780 --> 00:16:52.020 and have a certain context, 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:53.360 the answer would be 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.440 the Gospel of John. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.620 That's what, 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.140 that's what, 00:16:57.640 --> 00:16:57.840 in, 00:16:58.260 --> 00:16:59.340 I don't know if they still, 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.740 if in many places 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.500 it's still done, 00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:02.920 but the Gospel of John 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.180 would be what would be given 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.960 to a person 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.400 who either wants to be, 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.360 that you want them 00:17:07.360 --> 00:17:08.299 to become a Christian 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.860 and you want them 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:09.820 to find out about Jesus 00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:10.960 so they'll become a Christian 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.340 or after they become a Christian, 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:14.140 how they can know Jesus more. 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:14.600 You'd give them 00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:15.340 the Gospel of John. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:16.620 Why is it 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:18.319 that that is the case 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.159 and why is it 00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:19.839 that we should maybe 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.799 get back to it? 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:23.359 If you turn in John's Gospel 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.359 to chapter 20, 00:17:24.439 --> 00:17:25.119 verse 30, 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.699 you'll see the answer. 00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:28.799 Turn in your Bibles 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.879 to John chapter 20, 00:17:29.959 --> 00:17:32.019 verse 30 and 31. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.179 And here's what John writes, 00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:36.039 right towards the end 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:36.659 of the Gospel. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.939 I keep sort of 00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:39.679 walking into that. 00:17:39.739 --> 00:17:40.819 I guess you can't see that 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.279 from the other, 00:17:41.419 --> 00:17:42.019 from the image. 00:17:42.739 --> 00:17:43.879 And it says this, 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.260 just almost before 00:17:45.260 --> 00:17:46.080 the very end 00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:46.960 of John's Gospel, 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.940 John reveals 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.740 why he wrote 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.580 John's Gospel. 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.220 He says, 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.100 Now Jesus did many 00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:52.960 other signs 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.640 in the presence 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.520 of the disciples, 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.260 which are not written 00:17:56.260 --> 00:17:57.040 in this book, 00:17:57.780 --> 00:17:59.280 but these are written 00:17:59.280 --> 00:18:01.400 so that 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:03.500 you may believe 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.340 that Jesus 00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.660 is the Christ, 00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:07.600 the Son of God, 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.460 and that by believing 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:11.460 you may have life 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.460 in his name. 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.259 Like, just say that 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:14.900 verse 31. 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:15.740 Why did John 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.480 write the Gospel? 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.700 Why, as John 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.559 is beginning to write 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.120 his Gospel, 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.160 and as he's starting 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.880 with chapter 1, 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.579 verse 1, 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.200 and as he does 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.980 chapter 2, 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.940 and chapter 3, 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.240 all the way through 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.460 John's Gospel, 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.579 John said, 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.819 I wrote everything, 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:31.220 everything that I wrote, 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.880 I had a purpose. 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.460 And my purpose 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.700 is my hope 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.940 that as you read this, 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.579 you will come 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.379 to believe 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.460 that Jesus 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.619 is the Christ, 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.519 the Messiah, 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.000 that he is 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.339 the Son of God, 00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:46.419 and that by believing 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:48.119 him, 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.699 you may have 00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:50.460 life 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:52.839 in his name. 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.220 That's why 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.819 John wrote 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.480 his Gospel, 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.259 and that's why 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.539 for many, many 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.179 generations 00:18:59.179 --> 00:18:59.899 in many, many 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.679 different cultures, 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.659 the Gospel of John 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.419 would be the Gospel 00:19:02.419 --> 00:19:02.980 that was given 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.480 to people. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.460 And some of you 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.879 might say, 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.240 George, 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.039 if you say that 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.500 to us, 00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.119 that sort of 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:08.579 means that 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.639 it can't be true. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:10.819 But that's 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:13.000 not the case 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.439 at all. 00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.579 It's not the case. 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:15.699 It's, 00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.759 John knows 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.419 that he's writing 00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:18.699 this, 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.099 that it's going 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.279 to be, 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:19.619 there's going 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.559 to be pushback, 00:19:20.679 --> 00:19:20.939 there's going 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:22.359 to be people 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:22.980 who disagree 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.599 with it. 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:26.339 When our church, 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.519 because we used 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:27.960 to be part 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.559 of the Anglican 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.359 Church of Canada, 00:19:29.659 --> 00:19:30.759 and over a 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.619 very important 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:33.039 doctrinal issue 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:33.619 that was an issue 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.539 of salvation, 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.919 we felt that 00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:36.720 we could no longer 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.420 be part of the 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.100 Anglican Church 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:38.600 of Canada, 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.420 and we walked 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:39.680 away, 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.100 and we used 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:40.500 to own a 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.000 building and 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.779 have property, 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.960 and our former 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.720 church sued us, 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:49.860 and then we went 00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.579 to mediation 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.779 before going to 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.100 court, 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:54.299 and in mediation, 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:57.400 both sides say 00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.200 why they're right. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:01.880 They share the facts 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:02.600 of history, 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.060 they share the 00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:05.020 legal facts, 00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:06.220 they share the 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.300 legal principles, 00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:09.280 and each side 00:20:09.280 --> 00:20:10.100 puts them in 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.080 such a form 00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.160 to convince 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.060 the mediator 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:15.920 that the facts 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:18.440 stand with 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.160 their position. 00:20:20.300 --> 00:20:21.080 And that's how 00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:21.520 we have to 00:20:21.520 --> 00:20:22.220 understand what 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.120 John is doing. 00:20:23.820 --> 00:20:24.540 John isn't 00:20:24.540 --> 00:20:24.880 saying, 00:20:25.320 --> 00:20:26.020 so I just sat 00:20:26.020 --> 00:20:26.840 down and invented 00:20:26.840 --> 00:20:27.840 as many interesting 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.880 stories as I 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.860 possibly could, 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:31.419 and I just sat 00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.339 down and invented 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.319 as many fables 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.259 and fairy tales 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.839 and myths 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:36.119 and marketing 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.939 things as I 00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.799 possibly could 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:38.339 so I could 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.279 hoodwink you. 00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:42.419 If you go and 00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:42.879 you look at the 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:43.779 very last words 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.659 of John's gospel, 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.379 look at chapter 00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:45.899 21, 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.839 verse 25, 00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.139 actually verse 00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.759 24, 00:20:49.919 --> 00:20:50.479 you'll see what 00:20:50.479 --> 00:20:50.779 John, 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.579 how he actually 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.659 closes his words. 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.379 So he shared 00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:55.519 with us that his 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.699 whole point is to 00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:57.219 talk about, 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.359 just to share the 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.159 way that Jesus 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.759 talked when he 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.519 was being far 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.440 more philosophical 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.720 and poetic and 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.720 mystical and 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.220 intimate, 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.600 and to share 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.360 some of these 00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:08.660 key conversations 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.340 with Jesus. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:09.820 He's going to 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.600 share them with 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.200 us so that we 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.980 can know Jesus. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.540 And then look at 00:21:13.540 --> 00:21:14.340 how it ends his 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:14.700 gospel, 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.700 verse 24 of 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.360 chapter 21. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.960 This is the 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.580 disciple who 00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.000 is bearing, 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:20.480 he just recounted 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.160 an incident with 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.560 somebody, 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:22.640 and he's saying, 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:22.820 listen, 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.720 I'm that guy. 00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.700 I'm that guy 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.400 that I just told 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:26.920 you about in the 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.220 story. 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.160 This is the 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:28.580 disciple, 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:29.339 verse 24, 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:29.980 who is bearing 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.819 witness or 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.480 testimony. 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.980 It's a legal 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.460 word. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.399 I am bearing 00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:36.919 testimony about 00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:37.659 these things. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.399 It's a word from 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:39.519 the courts who 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.399 has written these 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.579 things that we 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.519 may know that 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.720 his testimony is 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:43.980 true. 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.599 It's a word from 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.240 the courts. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.460 Now, 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.019 there are 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.839 therefore many 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.799 other things that 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.619 Jesus did. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.379 Were every one 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:51.899 of them to be 00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.139 written, 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.919 I suppose that 00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:53.319 the world 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.220 itself could not 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.879 contain the 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.799 books that would 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.220 be written. 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.159 In other words, 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.919 John is saying, 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.920 I'm just 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.080 bearing witness 00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:00.860 and testimony 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.779 to what actually 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:03.360 happened so that 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:04.000 you might come 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.120 to believe in 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:05.500 Jesus. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.700 Now, 00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.279 I share this 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.980 with you because 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.980 this is the 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.720 first Sunday 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.279 of quite a few 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.940 Sundays where we're 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.480 going to go through 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.200 John's Gospel, 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.060 and I encourage you 00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:14.860 to read along with 00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.120 me. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.080 In fact, 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:16.860 to read ahead of 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:18.140 me so that when 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.980 you come to church 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.500 you've looked at 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.420 the text itself. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:22.039 But it means that 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:23.019 every time you read 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.980 John's Gospel, 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:24.920 what you can 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.759 always ask 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.639 yourself is 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.000 saying, 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.619 why did John 00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:29.599 include this 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.019 there? 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.139 What is it 00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.440 that he is 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.059 saying here 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.660 that will help 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:34.119 me to believe? 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.379 Like, 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.279 why is this 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.519 important to 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.420 understand who 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.920 Jesus is and 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.680 come to believe 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.259 in him? 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:44.240 That's not a, 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.400 that's in fact 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.220 the question that 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.160 you need to ask 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.019 if you're to 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.879 actually read the 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:50.660 Gospel of John 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.259 properly. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:54.100 How does this 00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:54.980 fit in with 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.420 this? 00:22:56.040 --> 00:22:56.840 How does this 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.600 fit in with 00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:57.880 this? 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.400 That at the 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:58.840 end, 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.080 I am to 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:00.580 believe that 00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:01.259 Jesus is the 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:01.580 Christ, 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.080 the Son of 00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:02.400 God, 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:02.779 I'm to 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.320 believe in 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:03.500 him, 00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:03.860 and I'm 00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:04.420 to have 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.660 life. 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.320 How does 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.160 that contribute 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.560 every little 00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:08.860 bit to this 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.700 ultimate purpose 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.220 of John? 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:11.800 Well, 00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.220 just in 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.900 closing, 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:14.360 turn back to 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:14.720 the beginning 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.259 of John's 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.680 Gospel, 00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:16.500 chapter 1. 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.560 Chapter 1, 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.160 verse 1. 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.340 And let's 00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.000 just read 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:23.480 these five 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.500 verses that 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.900 we're looking 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.500 at today. 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.880 Next Sunday 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.420 morning at 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.700 10, 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.000 we're going 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.360 to look at 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.160 verses 6 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.460 to 13. 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.900 And if 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.360 you don't 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.400 come both 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.940 times on 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.540 Christmas Eve, 00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:36.060 you can listen 00:23:36.060 --> 00:23:36.560 to them later 00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:37.080 online. 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.440 And Sunday 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:38.920 evening, 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.340 which is 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:39.920 Christmas Eve 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.160 evening, 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.680 I'll look at 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.540 verse 14. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.880 And then on 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.820 Christmas morning, 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.560 and I know 00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:45.660 only me and a 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.040 couple of 00:23:46.040 --> 00:23:46.580 others will be 00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:47.060 at all three 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:47.759 of the services, 00:23:48.040 --> 00:23:48.340 but I'm going 00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:48.620 to do a 00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.320 different sermon 00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:49.880 in the morning 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.440 and the evening 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.780 and on 00:23:50.780 --> 00:23:51.520 Christmas morning. 00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:52.700 I'll look at 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.480 verses 15 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.080 to 18. 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.040 But listen to 00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:56.500 these first 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.180 five verses. 00:23:58.280 --> 00:23:58.800 In the beginning 00:23:58.800 --> 00:23:59.840 was the Word, 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:01.260 and the Word 00:24:01.260 --> 00:24:02.340 was with God, 00:24:02.780 --> 00:24:03.800 and the Word 00:24:03.800 --> 00:24:04.560 was God. 00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.500 He was in the 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.640 beginning with 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.080 God. 00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:09.460 In other words, 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.300 just pause for a 00:24:10.300 --> 00:24:10.520 second. 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.440 Before anything 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.280 else existed, 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.080 the Word and 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:15.300 God the Father 00:24:15.300 --> 00:24:16.180 existed and 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.900 were with each 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.560 other in love 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.660 and intimacy 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:21.140 and communion 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:23.220 and similar 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.880 purpose. 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:25.880 And then 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.360 verse 3, 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.220 all things 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.780 were made 00:24:27.780 --> 00:24:28.640 through Him. 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.460 All things 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:30.900 were made 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.340 through Him, 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.780 and without 00:24:31.780 --> 00:24:32.360 Him was not 00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:33.280 anything made 00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:34.019 that was made. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:34.880 It's making 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.820 a claim about 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:37.860 donkeys and 00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:38.820 horses and 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.540 birds and 00:24:39.540 --> 00:24:40.340 mountains and 00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.019 hills and 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.860 stars and 00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:42.720 planets and 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.360 moons and 00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:43.840 galaxies. 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.860 All things 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.300 were made 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.980 through Him, 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.779 and without 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.259 Him was 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.899 not anything 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.440 made that 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.019 was made. 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.259 In Him 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.180 was life, 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.839 and the 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.379 life was 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.099 the light 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:57.180 of men. 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.299 The light 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.119 shines in 00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.740 the darkness, 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:00.859 and the 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:02.119 darkness has 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:02.779 not overcome 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.099 it. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:03.859 Listen to 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.359 verse 4 and 00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:04.839 5 again. 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.399 In Him 00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:06.200 was life, 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.200 and the 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.279 life was 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.680 the light 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.119 of men. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:09.980 The light 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.960 shines in 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.740 the darkness, 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.519 and the 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.759 darkness has 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.240 not overcome 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.539 it. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.420 If you 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:16.700 could put 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:16.920 up the 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.440 next point, 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:17.759 please, 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.039 Andrew, 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.319 that would 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.720 be very 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.160 helpful. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.279 Here's the 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.640 thing which 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.039 the Bible 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.660 is teaching, 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.960 is that the 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:25.140 Creator became 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:26.319 the Redeemer. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.920 The Creator, 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.559 it will be up 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:28.799 there in a 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.059 moment. 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.420 Oh, 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:35.680 sorry, 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.359 it's a 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.079 previous point. 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:37.519 Did I? 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:41.880 Sent you 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.319 two emails. 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:50.120 Okay, 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.400 well, 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:50.839 listen, 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:51.180 while that's 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.299 getting 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.680 sorted out, 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.559 it's only 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:54.640 five words, 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.019 so you can 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.500 remember them. 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.460 The Creator 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:58.200 became the 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.640 Redeemer. 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.799 The Creator 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.859 became the 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.240 Redeemer. 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.400 So what this 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.420 Bible text is 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.099 telling us here, 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.960 if you look at 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.200 this, 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:05.900 what it's 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.220 saying, 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:06.779 and John 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.620 probably knew 00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.140 about the 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.779 other gospel 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.319 accounts, 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.140 and John 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.599 knew all 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:10.980 about the 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.519 story of 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:11.819 Jesus, 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.720 and so 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.379 what John 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:13.960 is saying 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.419 is that 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:14.859 when you 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:16.000 see the 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.899 baby being 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:17.439 laid in 00:26:17.439 --> 00:26:17.960 the manger, 00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.179 you see 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:19.799 the Creator 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.299 of all 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.000 things being 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.359 laid in 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:21.759 the manger. 00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.240 When you 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.179 see the 00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:23.919 baby being 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:24.480 laid in 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.039 the manger, 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.039 you are 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.000 seeing the 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.299 life that 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.259 is light 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.480 being laid 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.179 in the 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:32.559 manger. 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.779 When you 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.179 see Jesus 00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:36.039 throughout the 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.720 gospel of 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.879 John talking, 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.579 when you 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:38.980 see him 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.500 teaching, 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.439 who are you 00:26:40.439 --> 00:26:41.159 seeing teaching? 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.940 You are 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.400 seeing the 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.140 Creator of 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.880 all things 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.420 who's entered 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.000 into his 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.540 creation. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.320 It is the 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.400 Creator who 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.019 is teaching. 00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:48.880 When you 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:52.800 see Jesus 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.360 teaching, 00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.640 it is the 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.840 life that 00:26:55.840 --> 00:26:56.680 is light 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.380 who is 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:57.820 teaching. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.759 That's who's 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.120 teaching. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.500 And then when 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.480 you see Jesus 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.519 hanging on the 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:03.940 cross, 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:04.759 who is 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.340 hanging on 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:05.900 the cross? 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.160 The Creator 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.380 of all things 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:09.279 is hanging 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.120 on the cross. 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.880 When you 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.740 see Jesus 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.620 hanging on 00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.140 the cross, 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.820 who do 00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.320 you see? 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.520 You see 00:27:15.520 --> 00:27:16.940 the life 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.840 that is 00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:18.400 light 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:20.400 hanging on 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.960 the cross. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.240 That's what 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.700 you see. 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:25.220 It is the 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.540 Creator who 00:27:26.540 --> 00:27:27.520 enters into 00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:28.260 our created 00:27:28.260 --> 00:27:29.620 order to 00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.340 save us. 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.360 Now, if you 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:32.960 could put the 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.980 final point up, 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.780 now that I'm 00:27:34.780 --> 00:27:35.580 not too 00:27:35.580 --> 00:27:36.180 confused, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.260 to turn to 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.660 Christ is 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.539 to turn to 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.259 the life 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:41.940 that is 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.440 light. 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.759 To stay 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.779 turned away 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.680 from Christ 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.779 is to 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.140 continue to 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:49.359 walk in 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:49.879 darkness. 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.019 To turn 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.720 to Christ 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.640 is to turn 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.440 to the life 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.859 that is 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.319 light. 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.819 To stay 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:58.160 turned away 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.119 from Christ 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.359 is to 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.839 continue to 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.319 walk in 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.879 darkness. 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.720 That's what 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.140 the Bible 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.819 is teaching. 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.460 Notice 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:08.920 here it 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.279 says, 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:09.940 in him 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.559 was life 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.819 and the 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.240 life was 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.539 the light 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:11.940 of men. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.460 The light 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.200 shines in 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.799 the darkness 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.940 and the 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.319 darkness 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:15.799 has not 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.279 overcome 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.620 it. 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.700 Some of 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.200 your Bible 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.620 versions 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.220 might say 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.079 that the 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.460 darkness 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.920 has not 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.799 comprehended 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.100 it. 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.680 And maybe 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.120 the better 00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:25.799 translation 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.360 would be, 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:26.940 because both 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.440 words are 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.519 included in 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.059 the original 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.600 language, 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.799 some versions 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.319 might use 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.620 the word 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.240 master, 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:32.740 which is a 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.180 really good 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:33.480 word, 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:33.779 because you 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:33.980 know how 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.559 you master 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.140 a subject? 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.440 Or you 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.220 master some 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.839 other person, 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.380 you wrestle 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:38.960 somebody and 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.519 master them 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:39.880 down. 00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.480 And so what 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.120 the Bible is 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:42.759 saying is that 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.640 darkness didn't 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.539 come from God, 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.380 there's this 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.000 problem of 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.960 human darkness. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.039 And human 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.380 darkness and 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:51.299 supernatural 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.960 darkness, by 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.480 its very 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.500 nature, it 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.319 can't understand 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.180 light and it 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:56.839 can't understand 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.319 life. 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.680 By its very 00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.220 nature, it 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.019 can't understand 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.940 God and it 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.680 can't understand 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.100 Jesus. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.019 And darkness, 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:04.980 whether it's 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.640 human darkness 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.460 or supernatural 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.320 darkness, not 00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:08.020 only can it 00:29:08.020 --> 00:29:08.860 not truly 00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:10.320 understand, it 00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.240 also can't 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.800 overcome, because 00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.640 what it can't 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.340 understand it 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:14.759 wants to 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.120 overcome. 00:29:15.560 --> 00:29:16.160 But darkness 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.740 will never 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.880 overcome God, 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.420 it will never 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.740 overcome the 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.980 life that is 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.340 light. 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.480 It just cannot 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.540 master it in 00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:24.400 any type of a 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:24.700 sense. 00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:25.680 And what's so 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.380 important about 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.160 this teaching, 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.680 that it is the 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.800 life of the 00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.840 world who is 00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.820 the light of 00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:32.400 the world, 00:29:33.020 --> 00:29:33.940 that comes to 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.820 be born in 00:29:34.820 --> 00:29:35.620 Bethlehem and 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.320 die upon the 00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:38.039 cross, is it 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:42.180 tells us that 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.259 human and 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.340 supernatural 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:46.640 darkness is 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:48.840 so unbelievably 00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:51.320 powerful, and I 00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:51.840 use the word 00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:53.559 unbelievably on 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:55.539 purpose, it is 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.960 so unbelievably 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:59.720 powerful and so 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:01.480 unbelievably dangerous 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.740 to us, far 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.059 worse than our 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.980 worst nightmares, 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:07.600 that only the 00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.960 life who is the 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:11.220 light could 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:11.920 deliver human 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.779 beings from it. 00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:14.460 It tells us 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.600 something about 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:17.279 the power of 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.200 darkness and the 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.420 power of evil, 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.620 and its power to 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:23.880 blind us as 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.720 human beings, 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:26.279 who keep thinking 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.100 that we somehow 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.900 by our own 00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:29.019 efforts can 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.680 make ourselves 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.580 right, where 00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:32.060 some effort can 00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:33.000 fulfill the 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.160 hole in our 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:34.820 heart that 00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.660 hungers for 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.640 love, that by 00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.640 our own efforts 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.259 can become 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.600 somehow God-like, 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.480 and the text is 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.600 telling us that 00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:42.220 there's something 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:42.720 about the 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.460 darkness which 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.280 is so much 00:30:44.280 --> 00:30:45.160 more powerful 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.800 than we can 00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:47.340 ever truly 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.460 understand, that 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:50.060 our need is, 00:30:50.780 --> 00:30:51.740 and our doom 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:55.860 is worse than 00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.360 our worst 00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:56.940 nightmares. 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.340 that it 00:30:58.340 --> 00:30:59.240 requires the 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.200 light, the 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.920 life who is 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:02.140 the light, to 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.900 be the one to 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.540 deal with it. 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:05.300 But at the 00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:06.580 same time, it 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.519 is telling us 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:12.120 that we are 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:15.880 loved more 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:17.300 than we can 00:31:17.300 --> 00:31:18.460 ever believe, 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:21.840 because we are 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:23.200 so deeply 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.940 loved by 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:27.940 God, that 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:29.000 God himself 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.799 would come to 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.500 die for you 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:32.259 and me, that 00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.900 we are so 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:34.059 deeply loved 00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:35.539 and so 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.600 deeply precious 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:38.980 to God, that 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:40.180 the life who 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.120 gives light 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:42.500 would hang on 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.980 the cross for 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.539 you and me. 00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:47.320 This story is 00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:48.160 setting before 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:52.080 us the depth 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.919 of our danger 00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:56.299 and need, and 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.259 the depths and 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.919 heights of 00:31:58.919 --> 00:32:00.339 God's love for 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.839 you and me, and 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.299 his hope that 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.220 we will believe 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:07.500 in Jesus, who 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.639 is the life of 00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:09.500 the world, the 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.019 light of the 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.759 world, the 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.539 creator of the 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.339 world, the 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.199 sustainer of the 00:32:13.199 --> 00:32:14.399 world, the end 00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:15.139 of all of our 00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:16.159 longings and of 00:32:16.159 --> 00:32:16.859 our yearnings. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:20.839 That's how 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:22.059 John begins to 00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.939 introduce Jesus 00:32:22.939 --> 00:32:23.759 to us. 00:32:24.719 --> 00:32:25.199 Could you 00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:25.919 please stand? 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.699 So as we're 00:32:31.699 --> 00:32:32.299 watching the 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.039 pageant, which 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.419 is going to 00:32:33.419 --> 00:32:34.039 begin in about 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:35.819 five minutes, and 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.479 when we see the 00:32:36.479 --> 00:32:37.399 really cute kids 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:37.919 and the cute 00:32:37.919 --> 00:32:38.659 adults who are 00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:39.359 helping them, and 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.139 we see the 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:41.839 little baby, John 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.479 wants us to 00:32:42.479 --> 00:32:43.699 remember who 00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:45.119 is it, who 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:46.259 is in the 00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:46.839 manger, and 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:48.679 the creator of 00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:49.619 all things is in 00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.079 the manger. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.439 Who is it who 00:32:51.439 --> 00:32:51.859 is in the 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.159 manger? 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.359 It is the 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:55.699 life that gives 00:32:55.699 --> 00:32:57.179 light that is 00:32:57.179 --> 00:32:57.819 in the manger. 00:32:58.599 --> 00:33:00.059 That is who is 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.859 in the manger. 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.119 And why is the 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:02.799 creator of the 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.439 world in the 00:33:03.439 --> 00:33:03.699 manger? 00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.619 Why is the 00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:05.359 life that gives 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.039 light in the 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.379 manger? 00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:08.199 That you and 00:33:08.199 --> 00:33:09.000 I might come to 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.799 know Jesus as 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:12.079 our Savior and 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.779 walk with him. 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.959 Let's bow our 00:33:14.959 --> 00:33:15.619 heads in prayer. 00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:18.239 Father, we ask 00:33:18.239 --> 00:33:18.759 that your Holy 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.259 Spirit would 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:19.939 move in hearts 00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:20.739 and minds and 00:33:20.739 --> 00:33:21.399 wills and 00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:22.959 imaginations and 00:33:22.959 --> 00:33:23.919 in our dreams and 00:33:23.919 --> 00:33:24.639 in our nightmares, 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.399 that your Holy 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:26.119 Spirit would move 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:27.199 very powerfully in 00:33:27.199 --> 00:33:27.879 us this morning, 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:29.159 that your Holy 00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:29.959 Spirit would draw 00:33:29.959 --> 00:33:31.599 us to Jesus, that 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.319 we would hear 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.259 these words, that 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.939 we would believe 00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:34.539 them, that they 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.419 would be engraved 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:36.099 on the command 00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:36.839 center of our 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:38.459 lives, to know 00:33:38.459 --> 00:33:40.199 who it is that 00:33:40.199 --> 00:33:40.739 died on the 00:33:40.739 --> 00:33:41.759 cross for us, who 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.659 it is that entered 00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:43.659 into this world for 00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:43.839 us. 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.599 Father, may that 00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:45.439 be engraved in 00:33:45.439 --> 00:33:46.759 our heart, that 00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.379 we might know 00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.959 Jesus, that he 00:33:48.959 --> 00:33:50.319 might know us, that 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.199 we might know him 00:33:51.199 --> 00:33:52.619 as our Savior, that 00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.439 we might know him 00:33:53.439 --> 00:33:54.039 as our Lord. 00:33:54.199 --> 00:33:55.639 Father, help us to 00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:57.159 know Jesus, to know 00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:58.059 him more and more, 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.000 and rest in him and 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.839 walk with him. 00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.159 And this we ask in 00:34:02.159 --> 00:34:03.000 the name of Jesus, 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.259 your Son and our 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:04.579 Savior. 00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.519 Amen. 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:05.619 Amen. 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:05.699 Amen. 00:34:05.699 --> 00:34:05.759 Amen. 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:05.799 Amen.