WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.519 Good afternoon, it's good to see you all. Do keep that sheet of paper open as we'll be looking at this passage together. 00:00:09.379 --> 00:00:15.199 Well, many of you will be familiar with the hymn Amazing Grace, probably one of the most famous hymns there are. 00:00:15.719 --> 00:00:19.600 It's written by a man called John Newton, who wrote lots of other hymns. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.920 One of his other famous hymns opened like this. 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:33.659 What think ye of Christ is the test to try both your state and your scheme. 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:39.640 You cannot be right in the rest unless you think rightly of him. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:48.099 What think ye of Christ? You cannot be right in the rest unless you think rightly of him. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:54.659 That language might sound quite old-fashioned, but those words are still absolutely true. 00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:59.699 What you think about Jesus is absolutely crucial. 00:00:59.699 --> 00:01:02.939 It is the most important question you will ever be asked. 00:01:04.399 --> 00:01:11.239 It's so crucial, in fact, that the Bible gives us four different accounts of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. 00:01:11.899 --> 00:01:16.420 They're not four competing accounts, so you can pick one of four options. 00:01:17.039 --> 00:01:24.259 They are four accounts that work together to give us the most robust picture possible of who Jesus is. 00:01:24.260 --> 00:01:31.120 You could just read one of them, and one of them would be enough to tell you who Jesus is, if you've only ever read one of them. 00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:40.260 You have read enough to know who Jesus is, but together they do bring together all kinds of different colours to show us who Jesus is. 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:50.939 And around the ages, the church has seen that there are three key questions, really, to get sorted, who Jesus is. 00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:57.219 If you want to think who Jesus is, if you want to think rightly about Christ, here are the three questions. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:01:58.179 First, who is he? 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:00.780 Second, what is his work? 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:03.579 And three, how is the work done? 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:05.000 Who is he? 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:05.819 What is the work? 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:07.480 And how is the work done? 00:02:07.539 --> 00:02:11.000 Those are the three questions that the church has acknowledged from the Bible. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.319 These are what we need to get straight, to think rightly about Christ. 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:18.659 If you get any one of those questions wrong, you end up in deep waters. 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:25.400 You can answer the third question just from looking at the overall shape of each of the four Gospels. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:27.500 How is the work done? 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:33.560 Each of the four Gospels show you that the work is done first down, and then up. 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:38.219 Down to the cross, to death, and to the grave. 00:02:39.139 --> 00:02:42.419 And up from the grave, beyond death, and up to heaven. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:46.139 Every Gospel account has that shape. 00:02:46.139 --> 00:02:52.039 Some of the events that you might see in the same Gospels, they might not necessarily be all in the same order. 00:02:52.579 --> 00:02:55.359 They might be ordered in a particular way to show a particular point. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:58.979 But the overall shape is always down and then up. 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:01.359 That's how the work is done. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:03.939 Going down and then going up. 00:03:05.359 --> 00:03:08.579 And the first three Gospels that we've looked at in this series, 00:03:09.299 --> 00:03:11.239 they're commonly called the Synoptic Gospels. 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:14.039 They are focused on question two. 00:03:14.519 --> 00:03:15.919 What is his work? 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:20.500 That's a particular accent or particular colour that we've got from each of those three. 00:03:20.859 --> 00:03:21.799 So we saw from Matthew, 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:25.639 that he is the King for whose sake we all exist, 00:03:26.419 --> 00:03:29.159 before anyone or anything else. 00:03:30.259 --> 00:03:31.419 We saw from Mark, 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:32.419 that he is the prophet, 00:03:33.519 --> 00:03:35.899 to whom we should listen above all other voices. 00:03:35.900 --> 00:03:38.500 And we saw from Luke, 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:41.860 that he is the priest who alone can reunite us to God, 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:44.599 to give forgiveness to sinners, 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:46.780 and to give God's blessing to them. 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:51.780 This is what theologians have called the three offices of Christ, 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:53.960 or the threefold office of Christ. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.659 But it's basically one of the three jobs that he has done, 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:00.539 to help his people and to save his people. 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:03.620 That's the work that Christ has done. 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:05.280 And then this fourth Gospel, 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:08.000 it focuses particularly on that first question, 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:09.359 who is he? 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:13.319 And we see this particular colour of John's Gospel, 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:16.740 the same way I pointed out the colours of the other Gospels, 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:18.199 by looking especially at the beginning, 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.319 and the end of each book. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:22.379 So if you're familiar at all, 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:23.900 with the beginning of John's Gospel, 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:25.800 and that famous prologue, 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:28.060 we learn there that he is the Word, 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:30.079 the Word who was with God, 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:32.040 who was God in the beginning, 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:34.519 and the Word was made flesh. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:37.360 We learn, in language that was developed later, 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.540 he is the second person of the Trinity. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:40.840 He is God the Son, 00:04:41.960 --> 00:04:44.819 a divine person who acquired a human nature. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:49.519 And so the particular resurrection colour that we get in John, 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:52.199 is that Jesus is the risen God-man. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:55.219 Jesus is the risen God-man. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.920 And John actually makes that teaching point explicit, 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.939 in verse 31 of our passage today. 00:05:04.159 --> 00:05:05.259 He says that his goal, 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:09.219 is for you to come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:12.879 that is the human Messiah, or anointed one, 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:15.180 and the Son of God. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:17.699 You might say, 00:05:17.779 --> 00:05:19.759 well it only says Son of God. 00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:21.879 It doesn't say God. 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.839 And Son of God is sometimes used as a sort of a kingly title, 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:28.240 and it's given to other humans as well. 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:30.819 And you'd be right in that. 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:32.500 It is sometimes used for other people. 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:34.800 But in John's writing, 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:35.819 John makes it very clear, 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:38.279 that when he uses Son language, 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:40.939 he is really thinking about God the Son. 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:43.479 So in John 5, for example, 00:05:44.239 --> 00:05:46.599 when everyone, including those who hated Jesus, 00:05:47.119 --> 00:05:51.739 heard Jesus speaking about God being his own Father, 00:05:53.059 --> 00:05:56.219 they understood that when he said that God was his own Father, 00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:59.019 he was making himself equal with God. 00:05:59.559 --> 00:06:00.599 That's what everyone understood, 00:06:00.739 --> 00:06:02.919 that to call God his own Father for Jesus, 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:05.319 was to make himself equal with God. 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.160 That is how the Son language is used in John. 00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:09.640 So for John to say, 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:12.120 I want you to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:13.900 is the same as to say, 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:15.879 I want you to believe that Jesus is God. 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:22.000 So at the end of this lengthy and beautifully written book, 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:25.120 he wants to ask you and me, 00:06:25.740 --> 00:06:28.180 do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:33.259 the man who was appointed to be king and prophet and priest 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:34.900 and anointed to those positions, 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:38.019 and do you also believe that he is the Son of God? 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:42.920 Do you see that he is both Christ and Son of God, 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:46.259 and that he is the only available source of eternal life? 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:48.699 And if not, 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:51.300 right at the end of this book, 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:53.160 so there's one more chapter after this chapter, 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:55.860 well, he gives us the privilege of getting a glimpse 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:58.220 into one man's journey of faith, 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:02.520 to coming to believe this point as we follow Thomas. 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:07.879 And there are three things that John shows us about Thomas. 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:11.420 First he tells us the story that Thomas heard, 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:15.100 then we see the significance that Thomas understood, 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.560 and then the sight that proved it true. 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:22.420 So first, the story that Thomas heard. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:26.860 If you look at verses 19 to 23, 00:07:27.520 --> 00:07:31.939 we see that the risen Jesus appears to his disciples on a Sunday evening. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.220 There's your reason never to skip the Sunday evening service at church, 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:38.460 wherever you attempted. 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:41.720 I'm kidding, mostly. 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:45.319 And Jesus gives them his peace. 00:07:45.620 --> 00:07:47.259 He blesses them, gives them peace, 00:07:47.259 --> 00:07:50.899 and he proves to them not only his identity, 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:52.039 but his lordship, 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.300 as he shows them his wounds. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.699 He proves that he's conquered death, 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:57.560 it's the same Jesus, 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:59.680 it's the very one who went to the cross. 00:08:00.539 --> 00:08:01.300 And in verse 20, 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.240 they're not just glad when they saw him, 00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:04.899 but glad when they saw the Lord. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:06.920 They realise this is the Lord, 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:08.360 who has risen. 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:11.759 And he gives them a divine commission, 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:14.300 in verse 23, 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:15.780 and in verse 21. 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:17.199 Verse 21, 00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:18.920 As the Father has sent me, 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:20.780 so also I am sending you. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.240 He is giving them God's commission, 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:28.360 and then what that commission is in verse 23, 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:30.340 we'll come to you in a minute, 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:33.180 but between giving them the commission, 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:34.460 and the meaning of the commission, 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:35.740 verse 22, 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:37.419 he breathed on them and said, 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:39.060 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:08:40.560 --> 00:08:42.019 Note that he doesn't pray, 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:46.299 or ask for the Spirit to be given to them. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.200 He himself breathes the Spirit on them. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:53.240 He himself gives the Spirit to them, 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:55.460 with this symbolic breathing out, 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:57.039 from his own body. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.340 The life-giving Holy Spirit of God, 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.139 is the Spirit of Jesus. 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:06.699 And then he delegates them, 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:08.819 to do what only God could ever do. 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:12.059 Certainly what only God could delegate anyone to do. 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:13.179 Verse 23, 00:09:13.319 --> 00:09:14.379 He gives them the authority, 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.000 to grant God's forgiveness. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:19.740 He himself gives them this ministry, 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:20.980 to go and preach forgiveness, 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:22.919 and to declare forgiveness. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:26.699 That's the story that Thomas heard. 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:30.020 It would be quite a lot to take in, 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:30.500 wouldn't it? 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:32.060 Especially, 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:33.720 when you're so raw, 00:09:34.800 --> 00:09:36.340 from the trauma, 00:09:36.520 --> 00:09:37.660 of losing your master. 00:09:39.140 --> 00:09:40.520 Maybe he was just too hurt, 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:41.220 to hear it. 00:09:42.420 --> 00:09:43.860 Maybe he suspected, 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:45.340 his friends were just trying to come up, 00:09:45.400 --> 00:09:46.020 with some kind of, 00:09:46.780 --> 00:09:47.340 crazy, 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.100 useless, 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:49.120 coping strategy, 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:50.860 to deal with the grief. 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:53.100 But for him, 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:53.940 he was probably thinking, 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:54.940 that he's just had, 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:55.580 the biggest, 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:57.320 most painful, 00:09:57.700 --> 00:09:58.519 disappointment, 00:09:58.800 --> 00:09:59.639 of his life. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:01.240 And he's saying, 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:01.980 now you want me, 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:02.899 to devote my life, 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:04.560 to pretend that everything's fine, 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.060 that he's actually alive again, 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:07.379 and that you want me, 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:08.620 to go around preaching forgiveness, 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:10.360 pretending that Jesus is alive again, 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.740 when I'm still this hurt. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:13.039 And when I know that, 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:14.500 I know he's dead. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:17.960 You want me to go to the world, 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:19.039 and the society, 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:20.379 that executed Jesus, 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:21.840 and preach forgiveness. 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:25.360 Absolutely no way. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:27.899 Verse 25, 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:29.220 he makes it very clear, 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.019 he needs to see him. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:32.740 He wants proof. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:34.600 He's not going to give his life, 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:35.360 to this mission, 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:37.320 when he knows it's that hopeless, 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:38.500 and pointless, 00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:40.399 just as a coping strategy, 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.360 for grief. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.720 It's what many people will say, 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:43.320 when they hear, 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:43.860 well, 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:45.779 maybe the disciples made it up, 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.740 as a coping strategy. 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:47.639 Well, 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:49.120 Thomas has thought of that possibility, 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:49.759 and he's thinking, 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.039 no way am I doing that. 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.759 I'm not going to go around, 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:53.480 preaching this, 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:55.379 as a coping strategy. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:57.220 Now, 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:57.379 of course, 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:58.639 he should have known, 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.759 from what Jesus had predicted before, 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:03.060 but so should the other disciples. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.320 They should have known as well. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:05.180 I think we can, 00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:06.899 sometimes be quite hard on Thomas, 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:07.620 for not believing, 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:09.320 when actually the disciples, 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.120 were just as foolish, 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:10.700 for not believing, 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:11.800 before they saw Jesus. 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:13.399 And so, 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:14.399 he hears the story, 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:15.479 and he won't believe, 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:18.079 but a week goes by, 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:19.620 the next time we see him, 00:11:20.099 --> 00:11:20.679 verse 26, 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.419 eight days later, 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.959 so we don't see him again, 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:23.959 until the next Sunday. 00:11:25.959 --> 00:11:26.159 And so, 00:11:26.219 --> 00:11:26.719 we need to think about, 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.399 the significance, 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:28.459 that Thomas understood, 00:11:28.839 --> 00:11:29.719 from the story. 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:33.039 Over that week, 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.120 I'm sure that story, 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:35.240 that he heard from his disciples, 00:11:35.339 --> 00:11:36.519 must have rattled around, 00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:37.839 and rattled around, 00:11:37.959 --> 00:11:38.439 constantly. 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:39.060 I'm not sure, 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:40.080 he would have got much sleep. 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:43.100 He had seen Jesus, 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:44.000 bring people to life, 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:44.480 before. 00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:46.060 But, 00:11:46.160 --> 00:11:47.300 there was nobody around now, 00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:48.620 to do that for Jesus. 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:51.320 For him to come back, 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:52.780 would mean, 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:53.780 conquering death, 00:11:54.140 --> 00:11:54.560 himself. 00:11:56.260 --> 00:11:57.520 And who could do that, 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:58.100 but God. 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:01.300 His friends had said, 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.360 that they should bring forgiveness, 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:03.740 to the world, 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.700 and only God, 00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:05.860 can give that kind of mission. 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.879 It's terribly presumptuous, 00:12:08.300 --> 00:12:09.600 to think that we can just go out, 00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:11.000 and give forgiveness, 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:13.220 if it's just made up. 00:12:14.680 --> 00:12:15.419 You might have wondered, 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.940 where were the disciples, 00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:17.659 getting this idea, 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.419 that we have the right, 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.259 to go and do that? 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.759 How can we go out, 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.940 and fool people like that? 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:24.419 Only God can give, 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:25.060 and achieve, 00:12:25.180 --> 00:12:26.120 and earn forgiveness, 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:27.600 for anyone, 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:29.180 let alone so many people, 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:29.820 around the world. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.220 He'd heard about, 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.200 how Jesus had breathed, 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.200 the spirit on them, 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.620 or breathed, 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.560 the breath of God, 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:36.940 on them. 00:12:38.020 --> 00:12:38.879 Spirit and breath, 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.720 is the same word. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.340 Well surely, 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:41.900 only God, 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:43.200 can breathe the breath of God, 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.740 on people. 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.600 So what are they doing, 00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:46.379 with this story, 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.140 about Jesus, 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.360 being alive, 00:12:48.900 --> 00:12:49.580 and breathing, 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:50.540 the breath of God, 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:50.960 on them? 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.220 If this story, 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.940 was true, 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:56.840 and it seemed like, 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.280 it was probably, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.140 just a made up, 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.040 coping strategy, 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:00.160 if it was true, 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.340 it would have to mean, 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:03.519 that Jesus was more than, 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:04.200 just a teacher, 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:04.980 and a master, 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.879 it must mean, 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.240 that he is God himself. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.660 Which must be, 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.980 a scandalous conclusion, 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.040 for any devout Jew, 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:12.580 to make. 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:14.100 How could God, 00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:15.120 also be a man? 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.759 How could we call, 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:17.500 any man, 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.139 my God? 00:13:20.920 --> 00:13:21.800 So he concludes, 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:22.280 it must be, 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.240 a ridiculous lie, 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.040 and he might have thought, 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:24.240 well, 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.440 maybe they don't realize, 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.200 just how much, 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.100 they're claiming here. 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:29.080 Maybe they don't realize, 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:29.879 that they're claiming, 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.160 that Jesus must be God. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:33.100 If he is alive, 00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:34.139 if he is giving, 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:35.399 the spirit of God, 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.519 upon people, 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.040 if he is commissioning people, 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:39.180 to preach God's forgiveness, 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.240 then, 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.700 it's not just that he's alive, 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:43.540 but you're saying, 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.160 he's God. 00:13:46.280 --> 00:13:47.399 I don't know about you, 00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:48.860 and we don't really know, 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.780 what Thomas was thinking, 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.519 in details, 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.180 during that week, 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:52.780 but I reckon, 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.000 I would have dug my heels in, 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.259 if I'd realized, 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.100 those conclusions, 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.060 I thought, 00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:57.360 well, 00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:58.040 actually, 00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:59.180 the more I think about it, 00:13:59.280 --> 00:14:00.639 the more I must resist. 00:14:01.660 --> 00:14:02.800 If you're going to make, 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.519 all these claims, 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.519 there's no way, 00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.139 I can believe, 00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:07.000 not just that he's alive, 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.440 but also, 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:08.840 all these massive consequences, 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.080 of the story, 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:10.840 they're telling him. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:12.980 But then, 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.420 thirdly, 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.220 came the sight, 00:14:14.780 --> 00:14:15.860 that proved it true. 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:17.440 The sight, 00:14:17.540 --> 00:14:18.360 that proved it true. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.820 As in verse 28, 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.460 that we see, 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:22.920 that that is, 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.040 truly what Thomas, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.620 had concluded, 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.379 from the story, 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:27.000 because that is, 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.200 precisely how he responds, 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.659 when he does see Jesus, 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:32.700 he would have figured out, 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:34.419 I would need to see this, 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.139 for myself, 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:36.539 to come close, 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.240 to believing it, 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:38.220 and as soon as, 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.220 he does see him, 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:41.820 when Jesus comes in, 00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:42.259 and says, 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.200 put your finger here, 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.080 see my hands, 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.080 put out your hand, 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.200 and place it in my side, 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.259 do not disbelieve, 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.379 but believe. 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.279 Thomas answered him, 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.879 my Lord, 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.039 and my God. 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.039 Some people, 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.639 have tried to, 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.419 argue this away, 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.460 as though, 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.500 maybe he was just, 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.059 you know, 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.100 a statement of shock, 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:04.019 my Lord and my God, 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.399 as though, 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.100 he was sort of, 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:05.759 blaspheming. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.039 There is absolutely, 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.639 no way, 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.539 John would be, 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.720 advocating blasphemy, 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:11.259 as an appropriate response, 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:11.960 to seeing Jesus, 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:12.480 resurrected. 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.700 He is speaking, 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:15.600 to Jesus, 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.559 and see that word, 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.000 answered, 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:18.600 Thomas, 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.879 answered him, 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:21.180 he is directing this, 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.899 to Jesus, 00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:24.060 and very simply saying, 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:24.680 my Lord, 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.159 and my God. 00:15:27.540 --> 00:15:28.440 Thomas is stating, 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.180 unequivocally, 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.700 Jesus is, 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.420 his Lord, 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.180 and his Master, 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.720 but more than that, 00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:35.000 he is God himself. 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.440 A radical statement, 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:36.899 for him, 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.080 he would have realised that, 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.860 but it was the only, 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.759 possible conclusion, 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.279 for him. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.160 You are God. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.100 Nobody corrects him, 00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:47.740 nobody tells him, 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.500 how dare you say, 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:48.840 that, 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.360 nobody picks up, 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.559 stones to stone him, 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.220 which, 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.080 if it weren't true, 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.159 might have been appropriate, 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.720 but no, 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.840 he accepts it, 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.379 everyone else accepts it, 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.799 and Jesus acknowledges there, 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:03.000 that what he has done, 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.360 is to believe, 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.460 have you believed, 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.460 because you have seen me, 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.259 or it might just be, 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:09.879 you have believed, 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.899 because you have seen me, 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:13.279 and then he says, 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.179 blessed are those, 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:16.000 who have not seen, 00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:17.059 and yet have believed, 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.039 he has this commission now, 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.919 to go and, 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.419 bring blessing to others, 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.340 who haven't seen, 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.659 and who won't see, 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:26.179 and yet there is this invitation, 00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.539 for anyone who has not seen, 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.799 to also be blessed, 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.879 along with Thomas, 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.340 to know that Jesus, 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.059 is Lord, 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:33.840 and God, 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.460 and so that's how, 00:16:36.540 --> 00:16:37.720 John concludes, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.540 Jesus did many other signs, 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.500 in the presence of the disciples, 00:16:41.660 --> 00:16:42.860 which are not written in this book, 00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.120 but these are written, 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.460 so that you may believe, 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:47.280 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:47.980 if you don't believe, 00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:48.899 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:49.460 the Son of God, 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.460 this book was for you, 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:52.240 it was written for you, 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.200 to come to believe, 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.540 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.700 and that as you believe, 00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:57.940 that you might have life, 00:16:58.400 --> 00:16:59.120 in his name, 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.280 I think it's an amazing moment, 00:17:02.280 --> 00:17:03.280 of clever irony, 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.039 in this book, 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.740 because what is the one thing, 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.139 that proves to this doubter, 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.559 that Jesus is God, 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.119 it's seeing a man, 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.420 it's seeing his body, 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.539 seeing his wounds, 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.839 it's this great climax, 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.319 of the book, 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.619 where John has been emphasising, 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.639 that this man Jesus, 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.839 he is God, 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.599 and man, 00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:24.619 in one person, 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.759 what would you expect, 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.740 to be the proof, 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.779 that someone is God, 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.960 here is seeing his body, 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.799 precisely, 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.640 precisely as he sees, 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.620 the man Jesus, 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:35.799 Thomas knows, 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:37.039 that Jesus is God, 00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:39.200 just as John, 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.519 has said, 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.259 at the beginning of the book, 00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:41.319 no one has seen God, 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.079 but Jesus, 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.579 has made him known, 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.940 Jesus has revealed him, 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:48.640 he's not just alive, 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.920 but Jesus is the giver, 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.579 of life, 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:54.359 and John is calling us all, 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.740 who haven't seen this, 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.319 to be blessed, 00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:58.559 alongside Thomas, 00:17:59.699 --> 00:18:00.519 alongside all those, 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.039 who saw, 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.579 by simply believing, 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.439 and having faith, 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.659 that's all, 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.119 that's all he's asking you to do, 00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.299 believe, 00:18:11.179 --> 00:18:12.119 and as you believe, 00:18:12.199 --> 00:18:12.599 in Jesus, 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.619 you will have life, 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:15.079 in his name, 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.919 so I've asked you, 00:18:17.199 --> 00:18:18.559 questions along this series, 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.359 and who are you living for, 00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:21.159 if not for Jesus, 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.840 the king, 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.259 who are you listening to, 00:18:24.340 --> 00:18:25.400 if not Jesus the prophet, 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:28.320 who will bless you, 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.560 if not Jesus the priest, 00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.519 but crucially, 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.540 where will you get, 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.400 eternal life, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.680 if not Jesus Christ, 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.420 if you don't realise, 00:18:37.540 --> 00:18:37.960 that Jesus, 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:39.900 is the only source, 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.640 of eternal life, 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.000 there is no life for you, 00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.840 there is no forgiveness, 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.440 for you, 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:46.420 there is no friendship, 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.640 with God for you, 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.420 but John Newton said, 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.360 you cannot be right, 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.060 in the rest, 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:54.060 unless you think, 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.980 rightly of him, 00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.759 to get the identity, 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.600 of Jesus wrong, 00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.140 is to get, 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.400 everything else wrong, 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.580 but if you see, 00:19:03.780 --> 00:19:04.360 and believe, 00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.060 that Jesus, 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.200 this resurrected man, 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.300 is both Christ, 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.540 and son of God, 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:12.800 God himself, 00:19:13.800 --> 00:19:15.120 and you put your trust, 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:15.740 in him, 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.660 believe in him, 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.500 you can have, 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.340 eternal life, 00:19:20.560 --> 00:19:21.080 in him, 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:23.199 let's pray, 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.199 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:53.180 Thank you.