Okay, thanks Amy, and great to see you this morning.
Please do keep that passage open in John chapter 15.
My name is Graham, I'm the pastor here at the church, and it's lovely to welcome you today.
Particularly if this is your first Sunday with us, know that you are so welcome,
and we would love to serve you in any way that we can, so please do hang around, we'd love to get to know you.
And John chapter 15, the second half, into our WhatsApp messages, what WhatsApp messages kind of week that it's been, let the reader understand.
Here's what Jesus wants us to know about him today.
He wants us to know that he's a king who's hiding absolutely nothing from us.
There are no hidden terms and conditions.
There's no small print that he really hopes that we don't see.
He's full disclosure.
And he's full disclosure, particularly when it comes to the reality of what life is going to be like if we decide to follow him.
Now, it was Chris Martin from Coldplay who sang this,
As of my childhood,
Dude, nobody said it was going to be easy,
but no one said it was going to be this hard.
Do you know the feeling in life?
There's all sorts of things, aren't there, that leave us thinking,
if only we'd known.
Right?
If only someone had warned me that this was going to be that difficult
before I got so far down the track
and I figured it out for myself.
How many of us have got DIY projects sitting at home where we said just that?
And yet Jesus, I want you to know, dear friends, isn't one of those people.
He wants us to know exactly what it's going to be like if we choose to follow him.
He's full disclosure today.
Full disclosure.
And so in John 15, if we take in the two halves of it,
we get so clearly, probably more than anywhere else in the whole Bible,
we get the paradox.
That word, just two things that we don't think go together, but they do.
We get the paradox that's right at the heart of the Christian life.
If you follow Jesus, these two things are true.
That Jesus is the place where true and lasting joy are to be found in this life.
That there is no greater thing to live for and know
as we live our lives in this world than him.
And yet following him puts us on a direct collision course with the world
who will hate you for what you believe and what you stand for.
So Jesus isn't like the captain in the cockpit saying,
on this flight, we may experience some turbulence,
but for the majority of it, it's going to be nice.
So why don't you sit back and relax and enjoy the flight?
Jesus is much more like the army general who's speaking to his troops
seconds before they are about to go over the trenches.
And here are the final words.
And he says to them, this is going to hurt.
And with that, can I just say I'm reminded of two reasons why I find in Jesus,
or I find Jesus rather, the most endearing of leaders.
And I'm reminded of the brilliance of him that has attracted billions throughout the world today
and down the generations, convinced them that he is worth following.
Firstly, because he tells me it's straight.
Follow me and the world will hate you.
Got it?
Loud and clear.
And second, reason for his brilliance is that he's not calling his followers to go anywhere
that he's not first gone himself.
He is the pioneer of the world-forsaken, heaven-traveling, cross-taking life.
And those two reasons come together to show us that he is totally trustworthy today.
He is worthy of everything that you have in your life because he's this kind of king.
And so hear Jesus say that if joy and persecution
are the dominant flavors of your life today as a disciple,
then that is normal Christianity.
And of course, this only makes sense when we understand
what it is to be a Christian.
What takes this passage and makes it more than you need to up your game and be brave
and makes it into something that is life-alteringly good
is if we understand what Jesus has done for us.
And it's always the wonderful truth in the Christian life
that it always comes back to who we are as disciples of Jesus.
You know, there's a famous hymn that the church have sung down through the ages called
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.
But I was hearing this week about a church in the States
who have changed the lyrics to this.
I never wanted to follow Jesus.
But he rescued me.
He rescued me.
So no turning back.
No turning back.
And as they sing it, they're reminding themselves
that yes, there is no glory like knowing Jesus in this world.
It is worth forsaking everything for.
And we're declaring as we sing this song that we are choosing
to follow him with everything that we've got in this life.
But that is not the prerequisite for,
but the response to the fact that he chose,
loved and pursued enemies of God like us.
And he did it not second.
He did it first.
Or if I could put it like this,
Jesus was interested in us way before we were interested in him.
You read Galatians 1.
Paul talks about how he was set aside before he was born.
Because I'll tell you what, before I became a Christian,
I used to think just like the world does,
that religion, Christianity is a big game of hide and seek,
except that I'm the seeker and God's the hider.
And yet you step into the Jesus story.
You hear him talk.
You come to realize that it's completely the opposite way around.
That we were lost.
We had no interest in him.
And yet he came to find us.
Jesus is the great seeker.
He is the great saver.
He is the great restorer.
He is the great renewer of human hearts.
And I think this is why it is so important that we let Jesus' words,
not our logic of how we think it works,
shape the way that we understand ourselves,
the world and these heavenly realities that he's speaking about here.
Now, I'm a simple guy.
Maybe you can imagine it like the claw in Toy Story.
As you take in what Jesus says to his original disciples there at verse 19.
It's on the screen.
Follow along if you've got the Bible there.
He says that I chose you out of the world.
In other words, Jesus reached down into their pit.
He did more than that.
He joined them in their pit.
And he rescued them from the sin and the resulting eternal punishment
that was theirs and ours before our holy creator.
And he did it through his blood shed on the cross.
And he lifted them.
He scooped them up.
And he lifted them out of the world.
And he took them and he placed them,
not to run free, my pretties,
but he took them and he placed them in him.
And that means the most defining feature of the Christian's life
is that it is lived in Christ.
To be a Christian is to be a completely new
and a completely different kind of person.
And because of Jesus, friends,
you and I are now swimming in a completely new and different direction
to the one which we were previously swimming in
and the world currently swims in.
We have got different values.
We live our lives to different priorities.
We've got different beliefs.
Which is why, isn't it, that as a parent,
that though we love the school,
we want to be a blessing to our school.
We love the people there.
That when they send around what they're planning
and teaching our kids about sex and sexuality,
I see that differently.
Hear Jesus say that when you feel different to the world,
it is only because he has taken you out of the world.
You know, our calling as disciples is not to be sweet.
It is most definitely not to be sour.
The calling that Jesus makes on our lives is to be salty.
And remember the context here.
This is hours before Jesus' death.
This is where we are in the farewell discourse of this gospel.
The final say, the final push that Jesus makes.
And Jesus amazingly thinks that the best use of his time
in his final hours is not to use it to tick off the bucket list.
It is to use it to prepare his disciples
for what life will be like for them
in the gap between his going and his returning.
It's where they will soon find themselves.
And of course, it's where we find ourselves today.
Last week, we thought about this.
And really, this is the most wonderful description
of the Christian life.
We saw him call his disciples to that deeply rooted life.
And if you weren't here, I thought Ian did a fantastic job
at just bringing out the comfort, the challenge,
and the sweetness of knowing Jesus.
Particularly a line that challenged me.
I think I quote you right on this, Ian.
You talked about the job of our,
our job is not just to be impressive looking branches.
It is to produce Jesus like fruit in our lives,
both individually and corporately.
Jesus is called to allow his words to nourish us,
to work their way through our system.
Life's where the spirit living in us
is going to take those words and work them through us
and produce in us delicious and joyous
Jesus-shaped fruit in our lives.
And just in case you thought that the world will love you for that,
know that the darkness is never a fan of the light.
Maybe you can think of it like this.
I remember when I was young,
my mum used to wake me up,
my brothers up,
every single day for school.
And you'd have that moment when you were,
you were still semi-asleep
and you would hear her footsteps coming up the stairs
and getting louder and louder and louder.
She approached your door
and then bam,
the door would open
and she would go full light switch.
Full light switch.
My instinctive reaction in that moment
was never thank you, mum.
Because I was just sitting here thinking
that I could really do with some bright light
in my life right about now to wake me up.
The three words in my mind every single morning were,
turn it off.
And that's exactly what Jesus is saying here.
That as the Spirit increasingly,
just to stick with the metaphor,
turns up the light dimmer switch
in the lives of his disciples,
the darkness in turn will increasingly raise its voice
to say,
turn it off.
The world provides no cheerleaders
on the path of godliness.
It will hate you
because you are not from here,
says Jesus.
Now why does he talk like this?
I take it as more than just being forewarned,
as being forearmed.
This is,
see when you experience it.
And I take it,
we'll come back to this in a little bit,
that some of us are right now.
Maybe you are in a really scary place.
You're feeling the heat.
You know exactly what he's talking about.
Others of us,
it will come.
He is saying,
when it happens,
don't let it alarm you.
This is Jesus getting out in front of his disciples
and saying,
I'm telling you what life is going to be like.
And real quick,
can I just pull out three things
that I hope strengthen us today
from what Jesus says here?
Do you notice the Father,
the Son,
and the Spirit
all in this section?
Of course,
it's the Christian doctrine
of the Trinity.
It's just two words,
I take it,
that have been mashed together
of the threeness,
the tri,
and the unity.
Trinity.
It's the Father,
Son,
and the Spirit
who are all involved here
in the work of the disciple.
Here's three quick things for you.
Jesus takes responsibility for us.
Jesus is the one
who's standing behind all of this.
Jesus is the one saying
to his disciples,
verse 18,
when the world opposes you,
know that it opposed me first.
He is the one saying,
verse 21,
that when they do these things to you,
they will do them on account of my name.
So when the world opposes you,
however sharp or little that might be,
know that what is really going on here
is that the world is opposing me.
Jesus is the one
who's standing behind this all.
And he is the one
who's standing above it all.
You know,
one of the first Christian martyrs
that you get chronologically
just after this,
I guess,
in the book of Acts
is a man called Stephen
whose only crime
is that he talks about Jesus
and the people's need of him
and they don't want to hear it
and they kill him for it.
But what you get in that scene in Acts
is not just the play out on earth.
What you get there
is the view from heaven.
Jesus is at the right hand of God
and he's not sitting.
He's standing.
He's standing as if to say
the suffering of my people,
it doesn't just get my attention.
The suffering of my people
draws out my heart.
Jesus is,
this is more than just
he sees what's going on.
No, he stands with his people
in this moment.
Jesus takes responsibility here
for the life of his disciples.
He's got us.
And secondly,
do you see how the Father
has visibility of us?
At verse 24,
Jesus isn't saying
that before he entered the world,
people were without fault.
He's saying that the signs,
which I take it is just code for
his whole life in ministry,
it brings out of people,
it draws to the surface
the rejection of God
that was already there.
And he wants the disciples
to know that as people
rejected him,
what they were in fact doing
was rejecting the Father
who sent him.
And so there's a little
domino effect
that's playing out here,
that as the people
reject us,
they are in turn
rejecting the Son,
and they are in turn
rejecting the Father
who sent him.
What does Jesus want us
to know about the Father?
Do you see how at verse 25 there,
he quotes Jesus
likely from the Psalms,
the book of the Bible
we get in the Old Testament,
likely from Psalm 35,
a little bit of it on the screen.
Go home and read it
in your own time.
This Psalm of David,
as he pours out his soul
before the Lord,
he's feeling unjustly treated
as he tries to walk in godliness.
People are trying to trip him up
at every opportunity.
People are bringing
unfounded accusations
against him.
And he says,
Lord, listen,
they repay me evil
for my good.
One of the dominant themes
you get in that Psalm
is, Lord, you have seen it all.
Lord, you are the all-knowing one,
and also you are the all-seeing one.
And Lord, I keep going
because I know
that none of what's playing out here
has escaped your notice.
And I keep going
because, Lord,
one day I know
that you will vindicate me.
If you watch that ITV drama,
Mr. Bates in the post office,
was that not the big thing
that was coming up?
It was not a scene in that
where he says
it's not just about the compensation,
it's about the truth winning.
It's about being vindicated,
being right.
That's something we all long for,
isn't it?
For the truth to prevail.
And this is saying
that God sees it all.
All the suffering of his people,
every nasty words,
every mocking laugh,
every evil intention,
every blow to the chest,
the Father has visibility
of it all.
And thirdly,
the Spirit brings credibility.
You see, I think that's the helper
that Jesus is talking about
there at verse 26.
The Spirit whose job it is
to convince people
about the truth of
and their need of
Jesus as their Savior.
Now, I take it that
there's an internal angle here
to the Spirit's work
because in Psalm 35,
again, right up top,
you get this,
David praying to God
and he says,
would you say to my soul
that you are my salvation?
In other words,
would you massage this truth
deep down into my life
because right now
I'm struggling to believe
that it's true.
And I take it
that the Spirit
for the believer
brings that sense
of assurance
to our hearts
as we suffer for Jesus
in the words of Romans 8.
And of course,
there,
the context in Romans 8
is all about the groaning
that we feel
for God to come
and make this right.
The Spirit will help us cry,
Abba, Father.
Father, help me know.
Help me know this truth.
Help me to keep going.
And I take it
there's an external angle
in the Spirit's work as well.
The primary mission
of the Spirit
and His people
is to show the world
that Jesus is more glorious
than anything
or anyone else
that the world
could possibly offer.
As you live your life
faithfully for Jesus,
it may look like
foolishness to you.
It may look like
we are wasting our time.
But can I encourage us
to see,
because of what Jesus
says here,
not to think for a second
that the Spirit of God
isn't at work
in ways that are
so far above
our ability
to comprehend.
Because speaking about
and witnessing for Jesus,
it really will be
like the proverbial
Marmite taste.
For some,
as they watch you
and taste your life,
it will be the smell
and the taste of death.
And they will be repelled
by it.
However,
others will taste
the same thing.
And to them,
it will be the smell
and taste of life.
And they will be drawn to it.
And that is how
the Spirit of God
is at work
in our everyday
faithfulness.
Now just on that note,
our time is gone.
Just as we close,
let me tell you
about a friend of mine
at school called Stephen.
Stephen.
Because this is exactly
how it worked out
for me.
Stephen was a Christian
in our year at school.
Everyone knew
that Stephen was a Christian.
But there was one day
in particular
that all of us
found out
that he was actually
serious about
this whole God stuff.
It was a few days
before our school
rugby team
played in the
Scottish schools
finals
due to be played
on the pitches
at Murrayfield.
Now you're a sporty
14-year-old boy.
That stuff
is the stuff
of dreams.
And in the days before,
the coach gathers us
together as a squad
and he tells us
the tournament
is going to be
on a Sunday.
And he says,
boys,
is there any reason
before I name
the squad
that anyone thinks
they're not going
to be able to play?
And Stephen's hand
goes up
and he says
in front of the
whole room,
he says,
sir,
I won't make it
because I'll be
at church.
And the rest of us
look at each other
utterly baffled
because in our minds
he has got the choice
between Murrayfield
and the monastery
and he's got it
for one Sunday
and he's picked
the monastery.
And all of us
were thinking,
why on earth
would you choose
to do that?
Now we got obliterated
in the first round
so perhaps Stephen
had most definitely
got the last laugh.
But there I was
growing up
going to church
but let me tell you
very, very happy
to be non-committal
about it
as one who loved
the fence.
I owned the fence
growing up
going to church,
going to school
and I'm watching
Stephen here
unashamedly nail
his colours
to the mast
and I hear
the nicknames
that people give
him outside
the group
and I hear
the jokes
that people make
about him
behind his back
and he was fully
aware of what's
going on
but while for
everyone else
in the room
it just confirmed
the ridiculous
nature of the
Christian faith
for me
for some reason
which I never
understood at the
time but this
passage tells me
Stephen's life
drew me to
Christianity
and I saw
in him
someone who
fully embraced
the paradox
that's right at
the heart of
the Christian
life.
He had joy
and he was
willing to
embrace
persecution
and in the
world's eyes
you have joy
when things
are going
well
and when
things are
going badly
you don't
have joy
and yet this
tells us
doesn't it
and I saw
in him
that those
two things
run right
together
and I remember
thinking to
myself in
that moment
whatever he's
got
whatever the
secret sauce
is in his
life
I want it
and I need
it
and so here's
two words
just to
that I'll
leave you
with
as we
respond to
this passage
today
two places
where I think
this is going
to land
for us
here's the
first word
is courage
do some
of us
need to
embrace
the call
to stand
up and be
different for
Jesus
and associate
with him
publicly
when the
question comes
at you
tomorrow
what did
you do
with your
weekend
what are
you going
to say
for some
of us
this will
be
about
courage
let me
just say
if you've
never done
this publicly
before
we have a
baptism
class
that Kate
will mention
later on
tomorrow
night on
Zoom
from 7.15
till just
before 8 o'clock
before the
prayer meeting
if you want
to publicly
associate
yourself with
Jesus
that's what
baptism is
you are saying
I'm following
him
come to that
class and find
out about what
baptism is
but maybe
let me just
say the start
of the year
is always the
best time to
nail your
colors to
the mast
some of us
this will come
as a challenge
for courage
and others
I take it
that we are
here
and it's
not courage
we need
comfort
you know
the pain
of what
Jesus is
talking about
here
and you
feel it
in your
life
acutely
and it
may be
playing out
in all
sorts of
different
places
in your
university
in your
family
in your
workplace
with your
neighbors
however this
is playing
out for you
just now
I want you
to know
that everything
that we've
done here
in this
passage
is true
and I
want you
to
we will
be praying
tonight
at the
prayer
meeting
we will
be praying
tomorrow
night
on zoom
as well
we will
try to
establish
this
prayer
weekend
every
month
that we
do
we want
everybody
to join
in the
prayer
life
of the
church
if this
is you
here's what
I want
you to
do
and I
don't
know
if the
slide
but I
want you
just to
email
questions
at
Brunsfield
that's
our
general
email
address
where all
the
general
inquiries
go
just tell
us your
name
and tell
us how
we can
be praying
for you
what the
arena
is
right now
where you're
feeling the
punch
and we
will make
sure that
all of us
pray for
those things
together
because this
is about
corporately
what we
do
we stand
as a
body
individuals
yes but
as a
body
we uphold
each other
when the
going gets
tough
and that's
what we're
called to
do
we will
make sure
that we
pray for
you
again
speak to
somebody
that you've
come with
grab one of
us you've
seen up
here
we would
love just
to pray
for you
right now
as well
and I'm
going to
do that
in a
minute
but let
me just
leave you
with this
finished a
great book
just now
called
future
proof
how Jesus
has
future
proofed
the church
great read
if you
want it
this is
what the
author
Australian
Stephen
McAlpine
says
he says
yes western
culture may
never have
been more
hostile
but it has
never been
more open
either
and both
hostility
and openness
are only set
to increase
our challenge
and our
opportunity
lies in the
paradox
let me pray
Lord Jesus
we just
thank you
for who
you are
today
we thank
you for
the theological
truth and
heart of
this passage
that we
feel this
in our
lives
because you
are the
one who's
chosen us
out of
the world
we thank
you for
grace
we praise
you for
your mercy
and Lord
I pray
particularly
for those
two words
we thought
about at
the end
Lord
however
this is
playing out
in our
lives
right now
I trust
that your
spirit will
be at
work
bringing
that
sense
of
courage
help us
to be
bold for
you
Lord
Jesus
help us
Lord
as we
think about
the arenas
that we're
currently in
just now
and how
we can
witness
for you
there
Lord
I also
pray for
those who
need
comfort
Lord
who really
are feeling
the sharp
end of
standing
for you
and the
cost
of doing
so
Lord
would you
draw alongside
as one
who knows
as one
who cares
as one
who sees
and as one
who has
got us
in the palm
of your
hands
Father
help us
to be
those who
are not
just living
for today
but are
those who
are
incentivized
because of
the gospel
to live
for tomorrow
and for
your return
so Father
be with us
now as we
close our
time together
we pray
in Jesus
precious name
we ask
Amen
out
law