WEBVTT

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 Amen. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 7.

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!

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 And in the development of that purpose, John over and over again juxtaposes people who receive Jesus and people who reject Jesus.

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 The last time we studied John together, we saw the record of Jesus standing up at the Feast of Booths and declaring,

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 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

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 That's verse 37.

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 With some following comments concerning the coming of the Spirit.

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 And these words caused quite a stir.

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 We find some people in chapter 7 contemplating who Jesus is.

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 Others seem to believe that he is the Christ and some want him arrested.

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 Verse 43 says,

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 So there was a division among the people over him.

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 More than 2,000 years later, the world is still divided over who Jesus is.

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 Now I have a very short quotation from John MacArthur's commentary on this, which is in my notes.

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 But I brought a copy up here because some weeks ago I had a very dilapidated, falling apart copy that I read from.

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 And just as a little note, I said, I need a new one of these.

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 If anyone wants to get me a gift.

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 And I didn't really mean it seriously.

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 But I have since received two of them.

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 One came anonymously.

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 One was handed to me.

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 And I just wanted to hold it up and note before I read this brief, brief quotation.

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 Not just in this case, but I just wanted you all to know how very heard and loved I feel by you as a church.

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 Story after story I hear of pastors who preach to folded arms and sneering faces,

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 feel extraordinarily alone in the task that they have.

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 And I just feel the opposite of that.

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 In fact, I sometimes feel bad hanging out with pastors because I can't commiserate with them.

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 And I don't tell them how great you guys are because I don't want them to be discontent in the place that they are.

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 But thank you for loving me so very much.

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 I really, really appreciate it.

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 So, again, this issue is still at hand.

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 And John MacArthur says this.

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 The ultimate question that everyone must eventually face.

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 The most crucial issue determining one's eternal destiny is,

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 what shall I do with Jesus Christ?

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 His claims about himself are far too audacious to just ignore.

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 You must do something with him.

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 You must either reject him or I hope you will receive him.

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 How do you respond to the declaration of Jesus?

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 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

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 Do you recognize that your soul is thirsty and it will never find the satisfaction it seeks in anything this world may have to offer you?

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 If you do, come to Jesus.

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 He is the source of living water.

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 Before I read our text beginning in verse 45, join me in a prayer.

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 Father, we are grateful for your word for these verses before us and this time we have to consider them.

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 And we ask humbly that you would bless our time together.

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 We want to behold Christ in this text.

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 We want to see him rightly.

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 If we've already placed saving faith in him, I pray that you'd give us a fresh picture of Jesus.

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 And if we have yet to do so, I pray that you would work that miracle in hearts this morning.

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 We pray this in his name.

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 Amen.

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 John 7, beginning in verse 45.

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 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them,

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 Why did you not bring him?

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 The officers answered, No one ever spoke like this man.

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 The Pharisees answered them, Have you also been deceived?

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 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

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 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.

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 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before and who was one of them, said to them,

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 Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?

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 They replied, Are you from Galilee too?

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 Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.

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 Now this portion of John's gospel has, surprise, a literary structure,

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 which you ought to be familiar with by now.

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 It's called a chiasm.

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 If that's a new word to you, please talk to me about it afterwards.

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 I'd love to tell you about chiasms.

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 This structure is a bit harder to discern.

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 It has been, in other portions of the book, much easier to see.

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 But it is there, and it places at the center of this literary structure the question,

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 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

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 It's the helpful interpretive lens we can pick up from that structure.

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 The Pharisees asked the question,

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 What have any of us done with Jesus Christ?

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 You're considering the words of this man?

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 Well, none of us have believed in him.

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 They use it as a rhetorical tool to convince the officers that they should have arrested Jesus Christ.

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 Now my friends, little friends mostly in our church who are learning their logical fallacies,

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 will know that an appeal to authority, especially your own authority,

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 when making an argument is shaky ground at best.

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 And that's what they're doing here.

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 It's this question,

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 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him,

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 that's at the center of this text,

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 that frames for us the opening and the ending of it.

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 Note it with me in the following simple outline.

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 Number one, powerful words.

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 Number two, prideful unbelief.

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 And number three, really, really tried to alliterate number three,

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 so if you'll hear my emphasis,

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 appropriate consideration.

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 Powerful words, prideful unbelief,

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 appropriate consideration.

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 Number one, powerful words,

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 verses 45 and 46.

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 So the officers come to the chief priests.

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 They're returning to the chief priests and the Pharisees,

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 and they say,

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 Why did you not bring him?

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 Back in verse 32 of chapter 7,

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 we can see the Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him,

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 and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers.

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 So in verse 45,

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 we're seeing the return of those officers sent,

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 recorded in verse 32,

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 for a purpose,

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 to arrest him.

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 That's what they were sent to do.

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 Now, these officers would have been Levites.

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 They would have been religiously trained

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 and selected to serve as a sort of temple police.

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 So these are Levite men going to arrest Jesus,

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 and yet they return without arresting him.

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 And you can get this rejection narrative

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 if we back up even further into John chapter 5 and verse 18.

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 Why have they sent the officers to arrest him?

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 He's back in town at a previous visit.

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 He said some massive things about himself.

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 He did some healing on the Sabbath.

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 And chapter 5 verse 18 says,

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 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him,

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 because not only was he breaking the Sabbath,

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 but he was even calling God his own Father,

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 making himself equal with God.

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 So that's what's going on here.

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 This is the intent of this arrest.

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 To seize him, to bring him,

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 and to have him put to death.

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 From our text last time we were in John chapter 7 verse 44,

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 some of them wanted to arrest him,

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 but no one laid hands on him.

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 We've talked extensively about God's timeline here

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 and it being obeyed really by everybody in Providence.

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 And so it's not yet been time for him to be arrested.

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 And so these officers return and the question is asked,

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 Why did you not bring him?

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 And their answer, verse 46, is,

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 No one ever spoke like this man.

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 Powerful words.

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 What has he said in between their being sent in verse 32

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 and their return in verse 45?

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 You can see in verse 33 and 34,

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 he says,

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 I will be with you a little longer,

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 and then I am going to him who sent me.

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 Remember previously he's made claims about God being his Father.

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 Father, you will seek me and you will not find me where I am.

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 You cannot come.

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 And then in verse 37 we see,

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 On the last day of the feast, the great day,

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 the feast of booths,

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 Jesus stood up and cried out,

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 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

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 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said,

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 out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

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 So these are the things that Jesus has said,

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 these officers have heard,

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 and they report back,

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 No one ever spoke like this man.

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 I'm not entirely sure what is happening in the minds of these officers,

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 what's perhaps stirring in their hearts.

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 But it would seem that they,

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 religiously trained men,

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 are just unsure at this point what they are to do with him.

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 The question hangs for them.

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 His words to them are strange.

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 He is declaring to be God.

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 He is offering to eternally satisfy souls.

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 These officers, as far as we can tell,

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 do not accept him as the Christ,

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 but they also do not arrest him.

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 Once again, MacArthur, he says,

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 caught between the power and grace of his message

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 and the hatred of their leaders,

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 they were paralyzed into inactivity.

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 Just didn't do the task they were sent to do.

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 Oh, I hope these men,

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 as we find them considering the words of Jesus,

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 eventually placed their faith in him.

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 We don't know.

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 But neutrality concerning the claims of Christ,

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 will not stand forever.

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 His words are too emphatic to ignore.

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 One day, every knee will bow before Christ.

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 So there's powerful words in the text.

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 Secondly, there is prideful unbelief.

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 Verse 47, 48, and 49,

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 and then picked back up again at the end of the text,

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 in verse 52.

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 The Pharisees answered them.

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 No one ever spoke like this man.

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 They say,

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 Have you also been deceived?

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 Notice that the officers are not in trouble

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 because they failed to complete the task

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 they were sent for.

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 They're not being derided

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 because they didn't do the thing

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 they were commanded to do,

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 but because of a concern

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 that they were being led astray.

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 The religious elite in Jesus' day

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 thrived by leveraging spiritual power.

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 They claimed exclusive understanding

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 of the demands of God's law.

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 They added all kinds of tradition

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 to it, interpretive tradition.

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 Grossly misled by the law,

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 and they wielded it to their advantage.

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 People starting to think

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 that maybe Jesus was the Christ

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 caused a genuine fear in them

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 that their power was going to go away.

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 This is their concern all along.

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 This is why Jesus must be put to death.

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 Lest he raise up a rebellion

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 and Rome comes in and squashes

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 and takes the power away.

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 A tiny aside for a moment at this point.

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 Sadly and all too often,

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 this type of spiritual abuse

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 still happens in our day.

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 Christian teaching

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 that appeals to some measure

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 of elite knowledge or interpretation

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 has no place in churches

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 established by and in the word of God.

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 Beloved, be really cautious

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 when teachers teach outside of the Bible.

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 When they act as if

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 they go up onto the mountain

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 and meet with God in a cloud

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 and bring a new word down.

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 Faithful Christian leadership

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 equips the saints

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 for the work of ministry.

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 Ephesians chapter 4.

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 And it does not claim

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 to have a corner on the truth.

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 Yesterday morning,

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 this is still part of my side,

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 we had one of our men's morning meetings

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 and we talked about biblical finances.

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 And I was trying to come up with a way

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 to spend two hours talking about this

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 and not just be me droning

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 on and on and on,

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 which I'm sure would not have been enjoyable.

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 And so I just thought,

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 you know,

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 I've got,

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 I had eight principles,

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 eight biblical principles,

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 and I thought,

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 I'm just going to float the principle

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 and then set our guys to the task

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 of proving it

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 or disproving it,

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 if I was wrong,

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 from the Bible.

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 And I was so encouraged

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 by these 22-ish men

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 who were there

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 who all had something.

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 I mean,

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 just,

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 I mean,

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 right to the Bible

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 every single time.

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 And I don't mean this

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 as a boast on myself,

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 but I'm just glad

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 to be part of a church

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 of people who hold the Scripture

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 as the Scripture

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 and aren't looking

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 for some mountaintop experience

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 for somebody

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 who gives leadership

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 to it.

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 Okay,

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 so,

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 they're

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 abusing their power,

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 they're claiming

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 to have a corner

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 on the truth,

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 that's the concern here.

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 Have you also been

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.500
 deceived?

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.720
 And then they ask

00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.000
 this central question,

00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:22.039
 have any of the authorities

00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.240
 or the Pharisees

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.879
 believed in him?

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.159
 This is not a genuine question.

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.740
 They're not actually asking,

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.639
 do you know

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.559
 this has happened

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.600
 in any case?

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.159
 What they're doing

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.620
 is they're saying,

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.759
 what's wrong with you guys?

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.320
 None of us

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.820
 have believed in him.

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.500
 I hope that you can feel

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:45.360
 the dripping pride here

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.320
 on their part.

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.480
 How dare you entertain

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.620
 the idea

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:51.139
 that he's unique

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.340
 in the way that he speaks?

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.059
 None of us

00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.200
 have received him

00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.700
 as the Christ.

00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:57.360
 If we,

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.919
 the experts,

00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.659
 aren't buying

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.639
 what Jesus is selling,

00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.759
 why should

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.100
 you?

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.480
 Now,

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:05.980
 these men

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.819
 knew

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:08.000
 their Bibles.

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.460
 It is at this point

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.440
 that I

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.539
 tremble

00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.960
 most.

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:16.120
 it is altogether

00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:17.220
 possible to be

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.579
 familiar with

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.279
 the truth

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:21.440
 and not believe it.

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.539
 To have all

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.420
 the right answers,

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.519
 to be able to

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.319
 recite them,

00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:27.680
 spit them back

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.319
 at the ready,

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.319
 and yet not

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:31.000
 have saving

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.079
 faith

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.380
 in those

00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:34.120
 answers.

00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:35.099
 you can know

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.659
 the truth

00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.699
 and not hold

00:17:36.699 --> 00:17:37.259
 the truth

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.679
 savingly.

00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:40.779
 Jesus said

00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.359
 to the religious

00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.319
 elites in John

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.099
 chapter 5,

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:44.500
 verse 39 and 40,

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.180
 you search the

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.579
 scriptures

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.920
 because you

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.460
 think that

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.200
 in them

00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.940
 you have

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.700
 eternal

00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:52.339
 life.

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.339
 Aren't there

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.140
 so many in our

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.619
 day that would

00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.500
 commend that?

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:56.880
 Searching the

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.180
 scriptures,

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.660
 what a task.

00:17:58.880 --> 00:17:59.140
 Yes,

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.079
 search the

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.400
 scriptures.

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.799
 We ought to be

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.759
 biblically

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.380
 literate

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.200
 people

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.240
 because you

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.640
 think that

00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:06.640
 in them

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.220
 you have

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.680
 eternal

00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.400
 life.

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:09.380
 That they

00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:09.940
 themselves

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.579
 are the

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.180
 source of

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.539
 eternal

00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:12.059
 life.

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:14.799
 And it

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.399
 is they,

00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:16.259
 he goes on,

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.599
 that bear

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.319
 witness

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:19.059
 about me.

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.099
 Yet you

00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:21.879
 refuse to

00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.579
 come to me

00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:23.039
 that you

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.500
 may have

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.740
 life.

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.639
 Jesus is

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:28.099
 not here

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.000
 devaluing

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.399
 the Bible

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:29.940
 and neither

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:31.019
 am I.

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.599
 It is

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.799
 God's word.

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.240
 It is

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.179
 powerful.

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:35.960
 It is taken

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.679
 up by the

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:37.259
 spirit and

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.839
 used in our

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.319
 lives to

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.779
 bring about

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.619
 regeneration,

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.859
 sanctification,

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.679
 our one

00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:41.940
 day,

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.879
 glorification.

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.200
 It is a

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.740
 powerful tool

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.039
 but it's

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.079
 powerful because

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.000
 it speaks

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.799
 the message

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.700
 to us.

00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.799
 It takes

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.539
 us to

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.379
 Jesus,

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.099
 to him,

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.819
 himself.

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.059
 They

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.879
 failed to

00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.639
 see him

00:18:58.639 --> 00:18:59.879
 in their

00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:00.339
 knowledge.

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.179
 They

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:02.519
 had become

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.679
 so puffed

00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:04.079
 up with

00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.240
 their

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.919
 understanding

00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:05.480
 and their

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.119
 positions

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:06.659
 that they

00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.379
 could not,

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:07.960
 they were

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.440
 not even

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.399
 willing to

00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:10.319
 entertain the

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:10.940
 thought that

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.440
 Jesus

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:13.420
 might be

00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:13.559
 the

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:13.980
 Christ.

00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:15.519
 They

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:15.640
 didn't

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:16.039
 skip a

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.360
 beat.

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.340
 They

00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:17.420
 didn't

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:17.900
 stop for

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.680
 a moment

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.380
 to consider

00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:20.400
 if he

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:20.759
 was in

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.779
 fact who

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.360
 he claimed

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.460
 to be.

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.180
 Well,

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.920
 at least

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.340
 most of

00:19:26.340 --> 00:19:26.519
 them,

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.320
 most of

00:19:27.320 --> 00:19:27.500
 them,

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:27.920
 as we'll

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.220
 see in a

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.460
 moment.

00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:30.500
 But before

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.080
 we do,

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.360
 note their

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:34.380
 disdain for

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.299
 the ordinary

00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.180
 people's

00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.019
 prideful,

00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.940
 prideful

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.120
 unbelief.

00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.199
 they say

00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:41.099
 verse 48,

00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:42.039
 my summary,

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:42.779
 none of

00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.139
 us have

00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.599
 believed in

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:43.859
 him,

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.339
 but this

00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.000
 crowd,

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.159
 verse 49,

00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:48.339
 that does

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.199
 not know

00:19:49.199 --> 00:19:50.000
 the law

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.559
 is accursed.

00:19:52.959 --> 00:19:53.559
 So

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.799
 spiritually

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:56.379
 superior.

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.379
 We know

00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:58.859
 the law

00:19:58.859 --> 00:19:59.279
 and haven't

00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.739
 believed in

00:19:59.739 --> 00:19:59.979
 him,

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.119
 so they

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:01.919
 must not

00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:02.279
 know the

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.679
 law and

00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:04.019
 therefore

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.739
 are accursed.

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:05.799
 thirst.

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.200
 You see,

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.599
 they had

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.960
 no

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.339
 recognition

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.359
 of their

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.019
 spiritual

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.319
 thirst.

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:14.640
 To be

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:14.980
 sure,

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.620
 their souls

00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.299
 are not

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.859
 satisfied.

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.339
 They think

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:17.500
 they're

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.359
 finding it

00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:19.059
 in this

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.440
 knowledge,

00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.099
 this position,

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.700
 this power

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.420
 that they

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:21.779
 held,

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:22.579
 but they

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.180
 are in

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:23.960
 fact

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.120
 spiritually

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.539
 thirsty.

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.160
 You know,

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.680
 most of us

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.620
 are likely

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.279
 dehydrated

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.680
 all the

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.000
 time.

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.980
 Very few

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.160
 of us

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.759
 probably drink

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.099
 as much

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.599
 water as

00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.079
 we possibly

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.819
 could drink

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.279
 in a day.

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.539
 Maybe,

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.220
 some of you

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.519
 ladies,

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.039
 because you've

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.299
 always got

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:39.619
 your water

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:39.980
 with you,

00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:40.720
 are getting

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:42.139
 your water

00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:42.419
 in.

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:43.980
 We're often

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.439
 at varying

00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:44.960
 degrees of

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.460
 understanding

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:45.759
 of how

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.980
 really thirsty

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.859
 we are

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:49.139
 physically.

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.039
 Our

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.500
 spiritual

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.159
 thirst will

00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:53.639
 never be

00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.720
 met

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.519
 apart from

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:55.980
 Christ.

00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.339
 And you

00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:56.579
 may or

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.019
 may not

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.099
 be entirely

00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.759
 aware

00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:00.000
 of the

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.559
 longing that

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:00.859
 you have

00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.059
 in your

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.500
 life for

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.000
 something

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.699
 more.

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.099
 It's not

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.740
 about things

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.079
 in this

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.359
 world.

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:04.819
 It's not

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.059
 about

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.659
 relationships.

00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.059
 It's

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.179
 about the

00:21:07.179 --> 00:21:08.439
 Lord Jesus

00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:08.899
 Christ.

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.399
 The dryness

00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:10.679
 of your

00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:11.919
 soul will

00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:12.159
 find a

00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:12.679
 satisfaction

00:21:12.679 --> 00:21:13.259
 in him.

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:13.779
 And they

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.539
 have no

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.619
 concern at

00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:15.859
 all.

00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:17.220
 This crowd

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.879
 that does

00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.599
 not know

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.259
 the law,

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.980
 prideful,

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.960
 prideful

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.220
 unbelief.

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:23.960
 May we

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.519
 not be

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.259
 counted

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.259
 amongst

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:28.179
 these men.

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.259
 men.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.660
 But notice

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.259
 thirdly,

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:32.799
 the

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.519
 appropriate

00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.680
 consideration.

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.440
 Appropriate

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.460
 consideration.

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.019
 Jesus has

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.600
 spoken words

00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.200
 of power.

00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:40.779
 They ought

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.320
 to be

00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:42.060
 considered.

00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.140
 We see a

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.259
 man do

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.640
 this

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.759
 considering.

00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.740
 Verse 50

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:49.320
 and 51.

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.200
 Nicodemus.

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.820
 Nicodemus,

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.440
 who had

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.360
 gone to

00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:55.519
 him before

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.420
 and who

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.440
 was one

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.019
 of them,

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:58.960
 one of

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.119
 this

00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.599
 council,

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.839
 said to

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.819
 them,

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.079
 yes,

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.119
 this is

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.259
 the

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.839
 Nicodemus

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.400
 of John

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.000
 chapter 3.

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.480
 John

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:09.920
 wants us

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.220
 to be

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.940
 sure that

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.319
 we don't

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.400
 miss that

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.599
 fact with

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.240
 this phrase,

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.200
 Nicodemus,

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.259
 who had

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.740
 gone to

00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:18.180
 him before.

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.220
 He means

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.619
 for us to

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.099
 note this.

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.379
 Oh,

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:20.879
 oh,

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.359
 the one

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.539
 who had

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:21.799
 gone to

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.180
 him before,

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.559
 that

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.180
 Nicodemus?

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.539
 Yes,

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.579
 that one,

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.160
 who had

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.580
 gone to

00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:26.279
 Jesus in

00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:28.019
 secret at

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.519
 night because

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:29.980
 he was

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.960
 curious.

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:31.880
 You may

00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.240
 remember,

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:32.720
 he says

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.120
 to him,

00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.279
 nobody does

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.720
 these kinds

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.320
 of things or

00:22:35.320 --> 00:22:35.759
 speaks this

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.040
 way if

00:22:36.040 --> 00:22:36.480
 they're not

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.779
 from God.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.360
 Jesus says

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:39.900
 some interesting

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.440
 things to

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:40.880
 him about

00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.779
 being born

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.460
 again that

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.240
 Nicodemus doesn't

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.660
 seem to

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.380
 understand.

00:22:46.540 --> 00:22:46.880
 And then he

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.500
 goes on.

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.420
 It's to

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.460
 Nicodemus that

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.340
 Jesus says,

00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:51.620
 John 3.

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.240
 16.

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.800
 For God so

00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:54.259
 loved the

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:54.660
 world,

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.680
 that he

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.259
 gave his

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.160
 only son,

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.420
 that whoever

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.180
 believes in

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.600
 him should

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.519
 not perish

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.460
 but have

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.620
 eternal

00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.759
 life.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.380
 A lot of

00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.420
 other wonderful,

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:07.759
 clear gospel

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.160
 expressions in

00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.720
 that chapter.

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.279
 However,

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.019
 chapter 3

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.100
 doesn't record

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.519
 what Nicodemus

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.720
 does after

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.519
 this encounter

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:18.019
 with Jesus.

00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:19.240
 John's narrative

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.660
 just kind of

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.660
 rushes off

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.660
 to what's

00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.040
 going on

00:23:22.040 --> 00:23:22.380
 with John

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.960
 the Baptist

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.840
 at the

00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:24.180
 time.

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.180
 And Nicodemus

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.240
 passes from

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.000
 the page

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.560
 until chapter

00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:29.100
 7.

00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:29.779
 The very

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.519
 same

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:32.200
 Nicodemus,

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.060
 a leader

00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:33.680
 amongst

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.320
 the Jews.

00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:37.240
 I'm led to

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.620
 believe,

00:23:38.040 --> 00:23:38.620
 because of what

00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.279
 happens here,

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.900
 that he has

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.220
 been,

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.720
 from chapter

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.380
 3 until

00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:43.840
 now,

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.040
 however much

00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:45.400
 time has

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:45.940
 gone by,

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.140
 quietly

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.920
 considering

00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.300
 what Jesus

00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:50.380
 said to

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:50.600
 him.

00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.480
 He's

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:51.940
 mulling it

00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.200
 over.

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.560
 He's

00:23:52.560 --> 00:23:52.960
 giving it

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.780
 appropriate

00:23:53.780 --> 00:23:54.720
 consideration.

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:57.060
 He seems,

00:23:57.280 --> 00:23:57.820
 as we see

00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.340
 him here in

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:59.000
 chapter 7,

00:23:59.580 --> 00:24:00.280
 to still

00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:00.940
 be doing

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.259
 so.

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.759
 He's in

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.500
 that process

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.880
 even now.

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.380
 He brings

00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:06.620
 up this

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.060
 question.

00:24:08.020 --> 00:24:08.380
 He says

00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:08.740
 to them,

00:24:08.780 --> 00:24:09.320
 verse 51,

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.660
 does our

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.520
 law judge

00:24:11.520 --> 00:24:11.860
 a man

00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.700
 without first

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.340
 giving him

00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:13.800
 a hearing

00:24:13.800 --> 00:24:14.620
 and learning

00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.880
 what he

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.340
 does?

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.520
 We don't

00:24:18.520 --> 00:24:19.280
 see Nicodemus

00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:20.580
 openly defending

00:24:20.580 --> 00:24:21.500
 Jesus' deity

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.280
 at this point.

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.200
 He does not

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.720
 make the case,

00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.220
 oh, but he

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:24.560
 is the

00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:24.920
 Christ.

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.160
 What might

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.680
 be stirring

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.160
 in his

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.500
 heart,

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.060
 exactly,

00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.060
 we don't

00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:30.640
 know.

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.280
 But he

00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:32.200
 does raise

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.520
 a telling

00:24:33.520 --> 00:24:34.720
 procedural

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.600
 point.

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:37.360
 His

00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:37.759
 companions

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.360
 stated that

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.120
 the crowd

00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:39.960
 doesn't know

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.480
 the law

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.700
 and they

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.400
 are breaking

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:42.800
 it

00:24:42.800 --> 00:24:43.780
 themselves.

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:44.740
 Notice

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.020
 that?

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.220
 The accusation

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.620
 they make

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:46.879
 of the

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.259
 crowd,

00:24:47.479 --> 00:24:47.639
 right?

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.339
 They're

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.679
 ignorant

00:24:48.679 --> 00:24:49.119
 of the

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.399
 law,

00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:50.099
 they're

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.639
 accursed,

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.019
 and then

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.819
 he brings

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.319
 the law

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:52.899
 to bear.

00:24:53.419 --> 00:24:54.019
 You're

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.339
 breaking

00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:54.919
 the law,

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:55.539
 is what

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:55.819
 he says

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.159
 to them.

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.599
 Doesn't

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.179
 our law

00:24:58.179 --> 00:24:58.779
 say,

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.239
 is what

00:24:59.239 --> 00:24:59.699
 he says

00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:00.179
 to them.

00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.219
 He's

00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:01.819
 indicting

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.579
 them as

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.500
 men who

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.119
 do not

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.059
 practice

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.599
 the law,

00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:07.479
 and he

00:25:07.479 --> 00:25:08.119
 is expressing

00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.839
 that he

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.519
 is open

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.059
 to Jesus'

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.719
 claims.

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.259
 Isn't it

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.819
 proper that

00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.179
 we should

00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:12.819
 give him

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.839
 a hearing

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.599
 before we

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.719
 judge him?

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.039
 We should

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.700
 think about

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.539
 what it

00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.860
 is that

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.019
 he's

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.319
 saying.

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.819
 Why not

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.100
 hear him

00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:21.400
 out?

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.740
 Nicodemus

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.640
 asks.

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.240
 So what

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.700
 becomes of

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:26.880
 him?

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.100
 This is

00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:28.720
 all we

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.120
 see here

00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.579
 in chapter

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:31.019
 seven.

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.559
 The man

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.059
 who first

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.720
 comes in

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.339
 secret at

00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:34.740
 night,

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.700
 then procedurally

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.579
 defends Jesus

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.140
 amongst the

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:39.380
 religious leaders.

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:42.680
 I am so

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:44.420
 grateful that

00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:44.800
 we know.

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.120
 Do you

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.600
 know what

00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:46.060
 happens in

00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:46.480
 Nicodemus?

00:25:47.280 --> 00:25:48.180
 John records

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.600
 for us in

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.820
 chapter 19

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.460
 and verse

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.640
 39.

00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.540
 After

00:25:52.540 --> 00:25:53.300
 Jesus'

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:54.800
 crucifixion

00:25:54.800 --> 00:25:55.380
 and before

00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:55.700
 his

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:57.080
 resurrection,

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.500
 verse 39

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.080
 says,

00:26:00.020 --> 00:26:00.840
 Nicodemus

00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:01.760
 also,

00:26:02.760 --> 00:26:04.160
 who earlier

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.060
 had come to

00:26:05.060 --> 00:26:05.800
 Jesus by

00:26:05.800 --> 00:26:06.260
 night.

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.460
 John's doing

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:07.880
 there.

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:09.280
 That same

00:26:09.280 --> 00:26:10.040
 one is what

00:26:10.040 --> 00:26:10.380
 he's saying.

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.100
 Remember that

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:11.460
 one that

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.840
 came in

00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.160
 secret?

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.980
 Who earlier

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.400
 had come to

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:14.700
 Jesus by

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.000
 night,

00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.720
 came bringing

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.540
 a mixture

00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:19.080
 of myrrh

00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:20.180
 and aloes

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.620
 about 75

00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:24.100
 pounds in

00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:24.440
 weight.

00:26:25.780 --> 00:26:26.240
 So he

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:28.580
 brings the

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.400
 embalming

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.780
 spices when

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:31.400
 Jesus is taken

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:33.200
 down off the

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.620
 cross.

00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:35.200
 And there's

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.200
 this little

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.680
 detail.

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.320
 why the

00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:39.620
 detail,

00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:39.960
 John?

00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.640
 Why are we

00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.120
 talking about

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:43.360
 75 pounds

00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:45.980
 of spices?

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.280
 It's because

00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:49.380
 John means to

00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:50.080
 tell us that

00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.660
 he would not

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.140
 have done this

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.020
 by himself.

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.800
 This is no

00:26:53.800 --> 00:26:54.600
 longer being

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.520
 done in

00:26:55.520 --> 00:26:56.460
 secret.

00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.660
 This is Jesus

00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.140
 being taken

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.260
 down off the

00:26:59.260 --> 00:26:59.660
 cross.

00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:00.340
 This is

00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:01.160
 Nicodemus,

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.080
 a man of

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.420
 stature,

00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.120
 coming with

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:04.260
 servants in

00:27:04.260 --> 00:27:05.420
 the daytime.

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.860
 a whole

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.880
 parade of

00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.680
 people coming

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.779
 to carry

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.300
 this,

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.519
 that Jesus

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.220
 may be laid

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.200
 to rest

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.140
 in the

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:14.400
 tomb.

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.480
 It's

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.000
 phenomenal.

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.820
 Nicodemus

00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:21.779
 grew in

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.180
 grace.

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.019
 We get to

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.480
 see that.

00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.340
 John chapter

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.539
 3 through

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:27.180
 John chapter

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.820
 19.

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.700
 One of the

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.420
 ones in the

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.039
 text that

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:31.019
 receives

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.360
 Jesus.

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.559
 Now,

00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.119
 certainly there

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.699
 was a point

00:27:34.699 --> 00:27:35.000
 of his

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.539
 conversion.

00:27:36.679 --> 00:27:37.039
 John doesn't

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.459
 record that

00:27:37.459 --> 00:27:37.799
 for us.

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.240
 A point that

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.539
 he was

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:40.139
 spiritually dead

00:27:40.139 --> 00:27:40.379
 and then

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:40.779
 became

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.539
 spiritually

00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.819
 alive.

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.339
 In your

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.539
 bulletin,

00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.219
 the historic

00:27:46.219 --> 00:27:46.859
 quote today

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.299
 says,

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:47.959
 from Thomas

00:27:47.959 --> 00:27:48.319
 Watson,

00:27:48.459 --> 00:27:48.819
 to every

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.279
 believer,

00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.439
 the debt

00:27:50.439 --> 00:27:50.899
 book is

00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.719
 crossed out.

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.399
 The black

00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.159
 lines of

00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:53.740
 sin are

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.519
 crossed out

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:54.899
 in the

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.699
 red lines

00:27:55.699 --> 00:27:57.259
 of Christ's

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.619
 blood.

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.079
 There's a

00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.659
 point at

00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.459
 which that

00:27:59.459 --> 00:28:00.579
 happens.

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.500
 You are

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.759
 unforgiven

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.400
 and now

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.200
 you are

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.339
 forgiven.

00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.579
 But I

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.240
 think more

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.819
 often than

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.319
 not,

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.680
 people are

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.640
 drawn to

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.359
 Christ in

00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:12.980
 a process.

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.880
 I think

00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.559
 that Nicodemus'

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.319
 story ought

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.200
 to encourage

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.400
 many of

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.700
 us who

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.359
 didn't find

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.059
 ourselves in

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:23.119
 some squalor

00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:23.740
 of sin,

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.660
 some sin

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.019
 that the

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.000
 world might

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.799
 measure as

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.240
 great,

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:28.940
 and then we

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:30.220
 suddenly snapped

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.819
 and all of a

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.140
 sudden our

00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.700
 life was

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.420
 dramatically

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.360
 different after

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.640
 the fact,

00:28:34.780 --> 00:28:35.300
 but bit

00:28:35.300 --> 00:28:35.900
 by bit,

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:36.759
 degree by

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.240
 degree,

00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.420
 here we

00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:38.680
 have a

00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.080
 man who

00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:39.660
 was trained

00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.000
 in the

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.360
 Bible,

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.520
 who from

00:28:41.520 --> 00:28:42.320
 everybody's

00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:43.120
 perspective was

00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:43.620
 upright,

00:28:43.800 --> 00:28:44.320
 who was doing

00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:45.340
 everything that

00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:46.240
 should be done

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.920
 to please

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.180
 God,

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:50.000
 and he's

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.860
 made curious

00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:52.100
 about these

00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:53.500
 claims of

00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:53.900
 Jesus,

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.240
 and he

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.560
 approaches

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:57.120
 him first

00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:57.800
 shamefully,

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.400
 and then he's

00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.060
 willing to stand

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.659
 up for him a

00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:01.299
 bit amongst

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:03.119
 his companions,

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.519
 and then

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.960
 finally a bold

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:07.039
 proclamation that

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.639
 he's a follower

00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:09.619
 of Jesus at

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.139
 his death.

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.159
 Now the

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.240
 response to

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.700
 Nicodemus takes

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.599
 us back to the

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.319
 second point.

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.200
 If you were

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:18.799
 listening carefully,

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.399
 you may have

00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:19.819
 noted there I

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.539
 said verse 52,

00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:21.000
 and I didn't say

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.419
 anything about it.

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.839
 Well, here we

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.940
 are now in the

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:23.359
 text.

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.799
 prideful

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:27.139
 unbelief.

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.159
 They are brutal

00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:31.159
 in their response

00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:32.359
 to Nicodemus.

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.559
 Don't miss

00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:35.000
 what's going on

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.119
 here.

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.279
 I try to read

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:36.759
 it with some

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.339
 measure of

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.899
 tone, but I

00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.819
 don't want to

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.479
 be an actor,

00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:42.740
 so I have to

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.679
 dial down the

00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:43.939
 way they

00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:44.979
 probably sounded.

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.359
 They replied,

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.899
 are you from

00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:48.740
 Galilee too?

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.259
 Search and see

00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.019
 that no prophet

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.960
 arises from

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.400
 Galilee.

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.019
 This is

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.619
 mockery.

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.640
 They're saying,

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.440
 are you defending

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.279
 him because you

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.859
 are also from

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:02.579
 the sticks?

00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.960
 You're from the

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.379
 country?

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.960
 You're a bumpkin

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.799
 out there?

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.980
 For some reason

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.799
 you see the need

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.599
 to take up for

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:09.879
 him?

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.960
 They know that

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.680
 Nicodemus isn't

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.279
 from Galilee.

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.579
 They're very aware

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:16.099
 of this.

00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:20.420
 And then notice

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.200
 they say,

00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:22.680
 search and see.

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.879
 No prophet

00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:27.160
 arises from

00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.579
 Galilee.

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.799
 Again, these

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.779
 are the religious

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.279
 elite.

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.460
 These are the

00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.740
 men who knew

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:34.799
 their Bibles.

00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.559
 What's really

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.220
 interesting at this

00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:39.000
 point is that

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.740
 there is a

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.519
 prophet that

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.440
 arises from

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:41.920
 Galilee.

00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:43.839
 Jonah undoubtedly

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.059
 arises from

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.500
 Galilee.

00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.599
 If they're

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.039
 appealing to

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.700
 their authority

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.460
 in this text,

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:49.960
 at this point

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.400
 everybody ought

00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:50.599
 to go,

00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:51.079
 ah, you

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.339
 don't have a

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:51.639
 clue what

00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.099
 you're talking

00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:52.500
 about.

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:53.379
 Yeah.

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.119
 If we search

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.899
 and see the

00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:56.159
 scriptures,

00:30:56.419 --> 00:30:57.159
 there is a

00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:57.579
 prophet who

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.539
 arises from

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:58.980
 Galilee.

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.019
 And some

00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.619
 scholars, there's

00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.240
 a pretty good

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.779
 case to be

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.199
 made that

00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:02.980
 also Nahum

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.639
 and Hosea

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:03.859
 and there's

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.139
 some other

00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:05.159
 possibilities as

00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:05.379
 well.

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.700
 but we

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:07.380
 know factually

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.000
 Jonah.

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.060
 Jonah was

00:31:09.060 --> 00:31:09.640
 from Galilee.

00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.840
 They have no

00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.280
 idea what

00:31:12.280 --> 00:31:12.720
 they're talking

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.040
 about.

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:15.020
 They have

00:31:15.020 --> 00:31:15.820
 used the

00:31:15.820 --> 00:31:16.780
 Bible to

00:31:16.780 --> 00:31:17.600
 build platforms

00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.820
 for themselves.

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.980
 They are not

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.020
 seeking to

00:31:21.020 --> 00:31:22.300
 please the

00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:22.560
 Lord.

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.800
 They accuse

00:31:24.800 --> 00:31:25.520
 Nicodemus of

00:31:25.520 --> 00:31:26.200
 being ignorant

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.940
 of his Bible.

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.560
 Instead,

00:31:29.060 --> 00:31:29.840
 their ignorance

00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:31.379
 is exposed.

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.240
 This is a

00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.959
 tactic of

00:31:37.959 --> 00:31:38.139
 the

00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:39.279
 deconstructionists

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.279
 of our

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.599
 day.

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.439
 Those who

00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:43.119
 would have

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.819
 people who

00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.500
 once professed

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:44.679
 to be

00:31:44.679 --> 00:31:45.279
 Christians no

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:45.879
 longer be

00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.259
 Christians.

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.759
 With great

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.339
 confidence,

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:48.959
 they make

00:31:48.959 --> 00:31:49.939
 outlandish

00:31:49.939 --> 00:31:50.759
 claims about

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.279
 the Bible

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.159
 and people

00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:52.859
 just eat it

00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.099
 up.

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.439
 You've

00:31:53.439 --> 00:31:54.079
 probably heard

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.839
 people make

00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.980
 these kinds

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.740
 of claims.

00:31:57.459 --> 00:31:58.299
 Say things

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.759
 that are just

00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:00.000
 false about

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.420
 the Scripture,

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:00.859
 but they say

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.160
 it with such

00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:01.559
 confidence,

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.200
 no one wants

00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.559
 to do the

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.059
 work to

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.539
 actually go

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.099
 and see.

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.420
 Is that

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:04.839
 something that

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.299
 the Bible

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:07.799
 actually says?

00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:09.480
 It's

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.460
 happening all

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:12.059
 the time.

00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.700
 Beloved,

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.480
 we need to

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.839
 confirm and

00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:17.119
 defend the

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.400
 Scriptures.

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.839
 We need the

00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.220
 people who

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.359
 say, no,

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.480
 that's not at

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.299
 all what's

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.940
 happening in

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:24.099
 this grand

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:25.000
 narrative of

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.980
 God's redemptive

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:27.019
 work for

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.379
 his people.

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:30.900
 Yes, our

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.559
 God is full

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.079
 of wrath,

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.960
 but he's

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.259
 also full

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.799
 of mercy.

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.180
 There's a

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:39.460
 popular

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.240
 pastor who

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.980
 has suggested

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.460
 in our

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:41.740
 gospel

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.359
 presentations

00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:42.940
 that we

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:44.440
 unhitch the

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.480
 gospel from

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:45.740
 the Old

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.099
 Testament.

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.359
 Unwilling to

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:49.000
 do the work

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.559
 of helping

00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.240
 his people

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.599
 understand the

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.160
 Old Testament,

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.519
 he says,

00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:54.099
 let's just do

00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:55.000
 away with it

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.420
 so that people

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.259
 can't object

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:57.980
 any longer

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:59.140
 in this way.

00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:00.900
 Confirm

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:02.539
 and defend

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.660
 the Scriptures

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.220
 for they

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.180
 express to

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:06.460
 us our

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.640
 God.

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.799
 We want to

00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:10.460
 know him

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.279
 by the book

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.059
 that he

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.319
 wrote

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.079
 and share

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.420
 him with

00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:15.779
 others.

00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.160
 So confirm

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.900
 and defend

00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:18.680
 the Scriptures

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.700
 for the glory

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.619
 of our God

00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.579
 and for

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.399
 the good

00:33:22.399 --> 00:33:24.199
 of people.

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:26.979
 Powerful

00:33:26.979 --> 00:33:27.399
 words,

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.299
 prideful

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.199
 unbelief,

00:33:30.179 --> 00:33:30.979
 appropriate

00:33:30.979 --> 00:33:33.379
 consideration.

00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:35.419
 I'm going to

00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:35.939
 pray for us,

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.419
 but before I

00:33:36.419 --> 00:33:36.599
 do,

00:33:36.699 --> 00:33:37.000
 I just want

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.339
 to make a

00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:37.819
 note.

00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:39.839
 I don't

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:39.959
 know how

00:33:39.959 --> 00:33:40.219
 many of you

00:33:40.219 --> 00:33:40.439
 are paying

00:33:40.439 --> 00:33:40.919
 attention to

00:33:40.919 --> 00:33:41.299
 our preaching

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.759
 schedule.

00:33:41.959 --> 00:33:42.599
 We're off

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.039
 of it on

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.639
 the dates.

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.039
 We'll have

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:45.159
 to republish

00:33:45.159 --> 00:33:47.539
 that document.

00:33:48.219 --> 00:33:48.679
 But if you

00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.159
 look at your

00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:49.639
 text,

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.480
 you may

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.160
 notice

00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:52.480
 some notes,

00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.660
 some double

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.420
 bracketing

00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:56.400
 around chapter

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:56.860
 7,

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.220
 verse 53

00:33:58.220 --> 00:34:00.480
 through chapter

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.320
 8 and

00:34:01.320 --> 00:34:02.860
 verse 11.

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.140
 And the

00:34:03.140 --> 00:34:03.700
 preaching schedule

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.980
 says that I'm

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.400
 going to preach

00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:05.840
 that text,

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.200
 but guess

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.560
 what?

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.420
 I'm not.

00:34:09.160 --> 00:34:09.800
 What we are

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.320
 going to do

00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:10.680
 is we're going

00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:11.700
 to talk about

00:34:11.700 --> 00:34:12.500
 textual

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.119
 criticism.

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:14.660
 Why it is

00:34:14.660 --> 00:34:14.960
 that there's

00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.760
 double brackets

00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.860
 around this

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.519
 text and

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.640
 why I don't

00:34:18.640 --> 00:34:19.119
 believe it

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.059
 belongs in

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.500
 the text

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:20.960
 at all.

00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:21.639
 Why?

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:23.980
 Because we

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.219
 want to

00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.099
 confirm and

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.980
 defend the

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:27.480
 scriptures for

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:27.940
 the glory of

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:29.400
 our God and

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:29.739
 for the good

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:30.639
 of people.

00:34:30.859 --> 00:34:31.019
 So that's

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.179
 what we're

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:31.239
 going to

00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.519
 spend our

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.000
 time doing

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.839
 next week.

00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:33.299
 So we'll

00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:34.319
 kind of be

00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:34.980
 in John

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:36.319
 chapter 7

00:34:36.319 --> 00:34:36.900
 verse 53

00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:37.460
 through chapter

00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:38.619
 8 and

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.179
 verse 11.

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:40.079
 How did we

00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.420
 get our

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:40.739
 Bible?

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.500
 Why can we

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.119
 be confident

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.779
 it is in

00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:44.099
 fact God's

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.880
 word when we

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:46.619
 have little

00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.779
 issues like

00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:49.420
 this found

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:49.659
 here?

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.759
 Let's pray.