WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from John chapter 7 and 8 this week.

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 In chapter 7, verse 37, we read,

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 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowd,

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 Anyone who is thirsty may come to me. Anyone who believes in me may come and drink.

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 For the scriptures declare, rivers of living water will flow from his heart.

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 When he said living water, he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.

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 But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.

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 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared,

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 Surely this man is the prophet we've been expecting.

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 Others said, he is the Messiah.

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 Still others said, but he can be.

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 Will the Messiah come from Galilee?

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 For the scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David in Bethlehem,

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 the village where King David was born.

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 So the crowd was divided about him.

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 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.

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 Then in chapter 8, verse 31.

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 Jesus said to the people who believed in him,

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 You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings,

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 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

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 But we're descendants of Abraham, they said.

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 We have never been slaves to anyone.

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 What do you mean you will be set free?

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 And verse 48.

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 The people retorted,

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 You Samaritan devil!

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 Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?

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 No, Jesus said.

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 I have no demon in me.

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 For I honor my father, and you dishonor me.

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 And though I have no wish to glorify myself,

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 God is going to glorify me.

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 He is the true judge.

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 I tell you the truth.

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 Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die.

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 The people said,

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 Now we know you're possessed by a demon.

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 Even Abraham and the prophets died.

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 But you say,

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 Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die.

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 Are you greater than our father Abraham?

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 He died, and so did the prophets.

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 Who do you think you are?

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 Jesus answered,

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 If I won't glorify myself,

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 It doesn't count.

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 But it is my father who will glorify me.

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 You say,

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 He is our God.

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 But you don't even know him.

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 I know him.

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 If I said otherwise,

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 I would be as great a liar as you.

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 But I do know him and obey him.

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 Your father Abraham rejoiced

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 as he looked forward to my coming.

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 He saw it and was glad.

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 The people said,

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 You aren't even 50 years old.

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 How can you say you have seen Abraham?

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 Jesus answered,

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 I tell you the truth.

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 Before Abraham was even born,

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 I am.

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 At that point,

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 they picked up stones to throw at him.

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 But Jesus was hidden from them

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 and left the temple.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great.

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 Ellen,

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 thank you so much for reading for us this morning.

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 And good morning, everybody.

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 It is good to see you,

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 to see so many faces,

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 to see a couple of people

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 from different parts of the world.

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 I see Amy Darlingan from New Zealand

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 and a couple of others.

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 And of course,

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 those of us in Hong Kong,

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 great to see you as well.

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 I wish we could see you face to face.

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 But hopefully,

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 we will do that sometime

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 in the coming weeks and months.

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 For the last 2,000 years,

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 Jesus of Nazareth

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 has provoked a lot of curiosity,

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 fascination,

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 for some people,

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 anger,

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 maybe even hatred,

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 certainly a lot of intrigue.

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 About 100 years after Jesus

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 was born and died and raised again,

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 there was a Jewish historian

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 by the name of Flavius Josephus.

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 And he wrote this.

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 He said,

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 There was this man called Jesus,

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 a very wise man,

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 if indeed you should call him a man.

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 He was one who performed surprising deeds.

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 He was a teacher of great truth.

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 He won over many Jews and Greeks.

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 Was he possibly the Christ,

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 the Messiah?

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 And a little closer to our time in India,

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 Mahatma Gandhi,

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 the great revolutionary leader of India,

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 he wrote this.

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 He said,

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 I like your Christ,

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 but you Christians,

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 I'm not so sure about you.

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 He said,

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 I've not been able to move beyond the belief

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 that Jesus was one of the greatest teachers

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 of mankind.

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 And then even more recently,

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 not sure if you'd call him a theologian,

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 but John Lennon,

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 the leader of the British pop band,

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 The Beatles,

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 he said,

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 Christianity will disappear.

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 It will vanish and shrink.

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 I don't even need to argue about it.

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 I'm right and I will be proved right.

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 I am more popular than Jesus Christ.

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 In fact,

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 later on,

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 John Lennon,

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 in one of his drug-induced states,

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 was convinced that he was Jesus Christ

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 for a couple of days

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 and tried to convince his band members

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 of the same.

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 Lots of different opinions

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 about who was this man,

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 Jesus of Galilee.

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 But what did Jesus himself say?

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 Who did he claim to be?

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 Well,

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 this morning,

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 we are joining with hundreds of churches

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 across Hong Kong,

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 today and for the next six weeks,

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 and we're going to be looking

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 at these seven statements

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 that Jesus makes in the Gospels

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 about his identity,

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 about who he is,

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 and why he came to earth.

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 And so we start in the series

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 called I Am.

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 Seven things that Jesus says

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 that he is.

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 And we start off with this

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 pretty difficult passage today

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 in John 8

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 that Ellen read to us.

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 It's quite tricky,

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 and the passage in particular

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 that we're going to look at

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 comes at the end

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 of this long dialogue,

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 this conversation

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 that Jesus has

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 with a bunch of Jewish people

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 in Jerusalem

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 around the year 31 AD.

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 But the passage,

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 actually the context,

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 starts back in chapter 7.

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 And I'll explain

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 something of what's going on here.

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 Around this time,

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 the Jewish people

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 were gathered in Jerusalem

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 for what was known as

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 the Feast of the Tabernacles.

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 It was an annual celebration.

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 It was seven days long.

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 Every year,

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 in the seventh month of the year,

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 hundreds of thousands of people

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 would gather in Jerusalem

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 to celebrate

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 Israel's pilgrimage

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 coming out of Egypt,

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 wandering through the wilderness

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 for 40 years,

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 and eventually ending up

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 in the promised land,

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 the land of rest.

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 And so every year,

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 they would gather

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 to celebrate

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 this pilgrimage journey.

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 And if you know

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 the Old Testament,

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 you'll remember

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 that really,

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 the nation of Israel,

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 the people of God,

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 are formed after the Exodus.

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 Up until that point,

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 Israel,

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 or the people of God,

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 are really the families

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 of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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 But after the Exodus,

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 when they leave Egypt,

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 they become the nation of Israel

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 and the people of God.

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 And you'll remember,

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 of course,

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 how they leave Egypt.

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 They are slaves there.

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 They are oppressed

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 by Pharaoh

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 and his armies.

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 And one day,

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 they're crying out to God

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 for years and years and years,

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 and God calls a man

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 called Moses

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 to be the great deliverer

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 and the redeemer.

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 And he calls Moses,

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 and he says,

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 he reveals himself to Moses

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 at a burning bush

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 out of the wilderness.

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 And he tells Moses

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 to go to Pharaoh

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 and to tell Pharaoh

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 that God says

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 Pharaoh must let

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 his people go.

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 And Moses is not so sure

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 about this.

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 And Moses says,

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 okay,

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 but who must I say

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 that you are?

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 I mean,

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 what's your name?

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 What God are you?

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 The problem is that

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 the Egyptians

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 are polytheistic.

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 They worship all sorts of gods.

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 There's the God of the sun

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 and the moon and the stars.

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 There's the God of the cattle,

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 the God of the crops,

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 the God of the Nile River.

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 There are all sorts of gods.

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 And so Moses says,

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 if I go to Pharaoh

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 and says,

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 God says let his people go,

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 he's going to say,

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 which God?

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 Who are you talking about?

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 Why should I listen

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 to that God?

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 Who are you?

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 What is your name?

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 And God answers Moses

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 with this very unusual

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 and strange name.

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 He gives himself

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 the name I am.

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 He says,

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 tell Pharaoh,

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 I am.

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 He says,

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 let my people go.

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 I am.

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 What does that mean?

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 In Hebrew,

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 you would say Yahweh.

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 And what it means

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 is that

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 I am the eternally sovereign,

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 unconstrained God.

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 I am the God

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 that has no limitations

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 and no constraints.

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 I have no beginning.

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 I have no end.

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 I am not just

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 the God of Israel

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 or the God of Egypt.

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 I am not the God

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 of a certain geography.

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 I am not the God

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 of a certain time

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 in history.

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 I am not just

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 the God

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 of a certain people.

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 I am the eternal,

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 uncreated,

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 sovereign God.

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 I am the supreme being

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 of all beings.

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 I am simply

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 I am.

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 Anything you put in there

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 to define me

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 is a constraint

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 on who I am.

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 I am simply I am.

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 And if you know

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 the story of the Exodus,

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 Moses goes back

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 to Egypt

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 and Pharaoh

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 doesn't want to

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 release the Israelites

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 and God,

00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.019
 by many miraculous

00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:53.639
 interventions,

00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:55.259
 delivers His people

00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:56.000
 from slavery

00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:57.159
 and sets them free.

00:09:57.259 --> 00:09:57.779
 And they enter

00:09:57.779 --> 00:09:58.359
 into the wilderness

00:09:58.359 --> 00:09:59.099
 and eventually

00:09:59.099 --> 00:09:59.719
 they enter

00:09:59.719 --> 00:10:01.339
 into the promised land.

00:10:01.479 --> 00:10:02.379
 And while they're

00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:03.199
 traveling in the wilderness

00:10:03.199 --> 00:10:04.259
 for these 40 years,

00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:05.859
 God miraculously

00:10:05.859 --> 00:10:06.839
 provides for them

00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:07.659
 again and again.

00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:08.299
 When they run out

00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:08.659
 of water,

00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:09.879
 He provides water for them.

00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.860
 When they run out of food,

00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:12.080
 He gives them food

00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:12.559
 from heaven.

00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:13.820
 When they are

00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:15.439
 walking through the desert

00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:16.259
 and it's baking hot,

00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:16.939
 there's a cloud

00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:17.659
 that covers them.

00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:18.179
 At night,

00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.899
 when there's darkness

00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:20.419
 all around them,

00:10:20.439 --> 00:10:21.240
 He provides a light.

00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:22.379
 God provides them

00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:23.120
 and leads them

00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:23.740
 through the wilderness

00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:24.600
 until they get

00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.299
 to the place

00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:26.539
 of rest.

00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:28.620
 Now,

00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:29.179
 fast forward

00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:30.480
 1,500 years.

00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:31.939
 It's Jerusalem.

00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.360
 And the Jewish people

00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.840
 have come to Jerusalem

00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.120
 to celebrate

00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:37.840
 the Feast of Tabernacles.

00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.360
 God's kindness

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.320
 and God's provision.

00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:41.040
 The fact that God

00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:41.899
 is with His people

00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:42.840
 throughout this journey

00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:43.660
 from Egypt

00:10:43.660 --> 00:10:44.480
 into the wilderness

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.399
 and into the promised land.

00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:47.980
 And every year

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:48.820
 there's great excitement

00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:50.120
 but this year in particular

00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.639
 there's a buzz in the air.

00:10:52.060 --> 00:10:53.180
 And there's a buzz in the air

00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:54.399
 because everybody's wondering,

00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:55.440
 is that man

00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.399
 we've been hearing about,

00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.519
 Jesus of Nazareth,

00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:58.879
 is He going to be there?

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.980
 That's what's on everyone's lips.

00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:02.480
 Is Jesus of Galilee

00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.680
 going to arrive

00:11:03.680 --> 00:11:04.360
 and be there?

00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:07.800
 And they're wondering.

00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.100
 So look at chapter 7

00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:09.519
 verse 12.

00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.039
 It says this,

00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.060
 The Jews were looking

00:11:11.060 --> 00:11:11.899
 for Him at the feast

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.840
 and saying,

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:13.840
 Where is He?

00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:15.139
 And there was much

00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:15.960
 muttering about Him

00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:16.620
 among the people.

00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:17.399
 While some said,

00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:18.180
 He's a good man,

00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:18.700
 others said,

00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.360
 No, no,

00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:20.879
 He's leading people astray.

00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.200
 And so,

00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.139
 there's all this anticipation.

00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:24.940
 Is Jesus here?

00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:25.539
 Who is He?

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.620
 What is He on about?

00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:27.720
 Is He the Christ?

00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.460
 Is He the Messiah?

00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:30.259
 And as Jesus goes up

00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:30.779
 to Jerusalem,

00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.580
 at first He stays back,

00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:33.680
 He hangs in the shadows

00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:34.899
 but eventually He goes

00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:35.379
 to the temple

00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.159
 and He starts teaching

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.299
 and He gathers a crowd

00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:37.859
 around Him.

00:11:38.819 --> 00:11:39.319
 And if you look

00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.139
 at what Jesus says,

00:11:40.199 --> 00:11:41.059
 throughout this teaching,

00:11:41.239 --> 00:11:41.979
 He's picking up

00:11:41.979 --> 00:11:42.839
 on all the signs

00:11:42.839 --> 00:11:43.659
 and all the symbols

00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.359
 that the Jews

00:11:44.359 --> 00:11:45.179
 were celebrating

00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:46.519
 during the Feast of Tabernacles

00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:47.719
 and He's saying,

00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:49.120
 You think these are signs

00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.179
 showing you how God

00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:51.199
 was with your fathers

00:11:51.199 --> 00:11:51.759
 in the wilderness?

00:11:52.439 --> 00:11:53.099
 Don't you see

00:11:53.099 --> 00:11:54.099
 these are all shadows?

00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.379
 They are real signs

00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:56.239
 and wonders.

00:11:56.419 --> 00:11:57.740
 Point to me.

00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:58.939
 Point to me.

00:11:58.959 --> 00:12:00.279
 Look at what He says here.

00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:00.919
 Do you remember

00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:02.759
 how Israel got water

00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:03.500
 in the wilderness

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.179
 when they left Egypt?

00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:06.919
 God opened up a rock

00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:08.159
 and from it sprang

00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:08.879
 living water

00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:10.120
 so to feed them

00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:11.220
 water in the wilderness?

00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:12.139
 Well, look at what Jesus

00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:13.179
 says in chapter 7.

00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:14.819
 If anyone thirsts,

00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:16.179
 let him come to me

00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:16.700
 and drink.

00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:18.179
 Whoever believes in me,

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.679
 as the Scriptures have said,

00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.580
 out of his heart

00:12:20.580 --> 00:12:21.879
 will flow rivers

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.840
 of living water.

00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:24.019
 Do you remember

00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:26.139
 how the Israelites

00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:26.759
 when they're walking

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.299
 through the wilderness

00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:28.019
 at night time,

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:28.559
 it's dark,

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:28.980
 they don't know

00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:29.539
 where to go

00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:30.819
 and what does God do?

00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:32.360
 He provides a light

00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:33.639
 for them to shine

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.279
 in the darkness.

00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:35.159
 Well, look at what Jesus

00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:36.059
 says in chapter 8.

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.039
 I am the light

00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.539
 of the world.

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:39.379
 Whoever follows me

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.419
 will not walk in darkness

00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:41.079
 but will have

00:12:41.079 --> 00:12:41.939
 the light of life.

00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:43.199
 And remember

00:12:43.199 --> 00:12:44.159
 the whole point

00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:45.279
 of the Exodus was

00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:46.559
 when God delivers people,

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.199
 He sets them free.

00:12:48.839 --> 00:12:50.199
 They are slaves in Egypt.

00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.719
 They are in bondage

00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:53.079
 and He sets them free.

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:54.559
 Well, look at what Jesus

00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:55.379
 says in chapter 8,

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:55.959
 verse 31.

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.719
 If you abide in my word,

00:12:57.839 --> 00:12:59.059
 you are truly my disciples.

00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.819
 You will know the truth

00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:01.360
 and the truth

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.299
 will set you free.

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.339
 You see what Jesus

00:13:04.339 --> 00:13:04.899
 is doing here?

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.319
 He's pointing to

00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:07.319
 all the things

00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:07.779
 that the Jews

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.679
 were celebrating

00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:10.939
 about God's faithfulness

00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:11.620
 to them in the wilderness

00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:12.500
 and He's saying,

00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:14.079
 if you really want to know

00:13:14.079 --> 00:13:15.500
 that God has not abandoned you,

00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:16.759
 that God is with you,

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.639
 look to me.

00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:20.299
 Look to me.

00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:22.319
 And that's why

00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:23.159
 there's so much division

00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:23.899
 going on here.

00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:25.079
 Some are astounded,

00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.039
 some are rejoicing,

00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:26.899
 some are trusting

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.079
 that the promised Messiah

00:13:28.079 --> 00:13:28.659
 has come,

00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:29.899
 but to others,

00:13:30.079 --> 00:13:31.139
 Jesus' words sound

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.439
 awfully blasphemous.

00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:34.219
 It sounds like He's saying

00:13:34.219 --> 00:13:35.740
 that He is God.

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.299
 And so,

00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:38.879
 look at their response.

00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:40.579
 Look at verse 48 with me

00:13:40.579 --> 00:13:41.579
 and we come to the passage

00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:42.699
 that Ellen read to us.

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:43.319
 Verse 48.

00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:44.500
 It says,

00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:45.500
 the Jews answered Him,

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.799
 are we not right

00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:47.699
 in saying that you are

00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.419
 a Samaritan

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.860
 and you have a demon?

00:13:50.439 --> 00:13:50.959
 In other words,

00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:51.319
 Jesus,

00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.399
 you've lost your mind.

00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.159
 You've completely

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.319
 lost the plot now.

00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:56.020
 To use C.S. Lewis'

00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:56.820
 famous words,

00:13:56.900 --> 00:13:57.220
 they're saying,

00:13:57.420 --> 00:13:58.420
 either you're a lunatic

00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.820
 or you are a liar.

00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:00.220
 Right?

00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:00.900
 That's what they mean

00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:02.640
 by a demon or a Samaritan.

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.460
 Either lunatic

00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.580
 or you are a liar.

00:14:05.520 --> 00:14:07.460
 But Jesus isn't finished

00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:08.280
 revealing Himself

00:14:08.280 --> 00:14:09.940
 because He wants to help them

00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:11.520
 see who He really is.

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:12.440
 And so,

00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:13.000
 look what He says.

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:14.240
 Jesus says four things

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:14.980
 in this passage.

00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:15.620
 We'll look at them

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.220
 very quickly.

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.580
 Four things

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:19.800
 that really rile

00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:20.960
 His audience.

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.540
 The first thing He says,

00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.059
 He says,

00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:23.959
 God the Father,

00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:24.939
 the one that you know

00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:25.579
 as Yahweh,

00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.240
 He and I are totally aligned.

00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:30.240
 One and the same heart.

00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.779
 Look at how He says this twice

00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.559
 in verse 49.

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:32.959
 He says,

00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.919
 I do not have a demon

00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.579
 but I honor my Father.

00:14:36.099 --> 00:14:37.639
 I do not seek my own glory.

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.539
 There is one,

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.000
 the Father,

00:14:39.079 --> 00:14:39.719
 who seeks it

00:14:39.719 --> 00:14:40.919
 and He is the judge.

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:41.559
 Again,

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.240
 in verse 54,

00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:42.579
 He says,

00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:44.199
 if I glorify myself,

00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:45.240
 my glory is nothing.

00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.079
 It's my Father

00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.059
 who glorifies me.

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.159
 The one that you say

00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.120
 He is our God.

00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:51.460
 Jesus is saying

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.720
 that God the Father,

00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:53.519
 Yahweh,

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.320
 actually glorifies me,

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.039
 exalts me,

00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:56.860
 lifts me up.

00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.299
 If you know how

00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.740
 jealous

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.440
 Jewish people were

00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.580
 of God's glory,

00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.500
 Jesus is saying

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.360
 a radical thing.

00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.179
 Remember in Isaiah 43,

00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:06.679
 God says,

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.560
 I am God,

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.279
 there is no other.

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.000
 I am God,

00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:10.179
 I give my glory

00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:11.279
 to none other.

00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:13.159
 He has Jesus saying,

00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:13.659
 no, no, no,

00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:14.139
 that God,

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.019
 He actually does

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.259
 give His glory to me.

00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.659
 He will glorify me.

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.179
 Notice the second thing

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:20.659
 Jesus says.

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.500
 Look at verse 51.

00:15:21.699 --> 00:15:21.980
 He says,

00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.759
 truly, truly,

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.559
 I say to you,

00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:24.740
 if anyone keeps

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.639
 my word,

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.740
 he will never see death.

00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:28.899
 Now,

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.179
 all Jews knew

00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:31.539
 that in the Old Testament,

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.600
 God's word

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.179
 was almost equated

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.120
 with God Himself.

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:38.259
 In Psalm 27,

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:38.819
 it says,

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.399
 the word of the Lord

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.379
 breaks the cedars.

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.519
 Then the next line says,

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:44.480
 the Lord breaks the cedars.

00:15:44.839 --> 00:15:46.179
 The word of the Lord

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.379
 sets captives free.

00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:49.480
 the Lord sets captives free.

00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:50.259
 In other words,

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.139
 God's word

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.659
 is so closely aligned

00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:55.100
 with what God does

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.299
 that it's almost,

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:57.340
 almost synonymous

00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:57.939
 with God.

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.980
 But Jews also know

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.820
 that God's word

00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.580
 in the Old Testament

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:03.519
 is the one that creates life

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.399
 and pushes back death.

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.220
 Remember,

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.879
 that's the problem

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.720
 with Saul, right?

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.659
 In the book of 1 Samuel,

00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.919
 he's constantly rejecting

00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.620
 God's word

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.980
 and his life spirals

00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.460
 downhill,

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:12.940
 downhill,

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:13.419
 downhill

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.700
 until he's one foot

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.279
 in the grave

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.899
 and he is the walking dead.

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:19.820
 Remember how Scripture

00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.740
 says that the world

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.240
 was created?

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.740
 God spoke the world

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.220
 into being.

00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.620
 That's not a technical

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.700
 scientific term

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:27.419
 about how old the world is

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.899
 or how the world

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:30.019
 came into being exactly.

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.259
 The point is

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.559
 it's saying

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.720
 God's word

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.799
 creates life.

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:36.019
 Look what Jesus says here.

00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.879
 Jesus says the same thing.

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:39.340
 If anyone keeps my word,

00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.659
 he will never

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:42.000
 see death.

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.860
 Jesus is equating himself

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.500
 with the God

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.200
 of the Old Testament.

00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:47.419
 Jesus is saying

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.720
 that if you keep my word,

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.500
 if you honor it,

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.320
 if you respect it,

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.299
 if you cleave to it,

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.539
 if you live within it,

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.740
 if you surrender it,

00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.679
 you'll be so infused

00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.379
 with life.

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.500
 Life in the midst

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.000
 of darkness,

00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:58.799
 life in the midst

00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.539
 of hopelessness,

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.279
 life in the midst

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.360
 of this broken world.

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.340
 My life will come

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.399
 and reside within you.

00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:05.740
 But look at the third thing

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.420
 Jesus says here

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.000
 in verse 56.

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:07.980
 He says,

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.400
 your father Abraham

00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:11.360
 rejoiced at the prospect

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:13.019
 of seeing my day,

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.980
 of seeing me come

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.420
 and arrive.

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.599
 He was glad

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:17.400
 and he rejoiced at it.

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.240
 And what he means by that

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.039
 is when God,

00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.059
 the father Yahweh,

00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:22.400
 made a great promise

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.400
 to Abraham

00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:25.019
 that through your descendants,

00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:26.120
 one of your sons

00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:27.759
 will bless the whole world,

00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.519
 not just Israel,

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.259
 not just the Jews,

00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:30.200
 the whole world

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:30.819
 will be blessed

00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.440
 through the coming

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.799
 of one of your descendants.

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.799
 Abraham rejoiced

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.360
 at the prospect,

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.460
 the coming of a Messiah,

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.599
 a king who would bring

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.539
 hope to the midst

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.240
 of hopelessness,

00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:40.039
 peace in the midst

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.980
 of a broken world,

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.259
 light in the midst

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:42.740
 of darkness,

00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.639
 joy in the midst

00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.259
 of pain.

00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.519
 And he rejoiced

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.059
 at the prospect

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.619
 that a Messiah king

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.139
 would come.

00:17:48.959 --> 00:17:50.000
 And Jesus says,

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.879
 he would rejoice

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.579
 at the coming

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.919
 of my day.

00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:54.879
 He saw it

00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:55.899
 and he was glad.

00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.399
 Now,

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.980
 the people around Jesus,

00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.839
 they hear all this

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.819
 and they're taking Jesus

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.459
 very literally.

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.559
 They don't really understand

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.079
 what he's saying.

00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:03.459
 They say,

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:03.839
 hang on,

00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:04.099
 hang on.

00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:05.579
 Abraham died

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.740
 2,000 years ago.

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.440
 How can you say

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.660
 that he saw you?

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.019
 How do you know

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.779
 when he rejoiced at?

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.180
 How do you know

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.740
 what is going on

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.059
 in his heart?

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:13.039
 Have you seen Abraham?

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:13.940
 You're not even

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.880
 50 years old.

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.480
 And that leads to

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.620
 Jesus' fourth

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.259
 and final thing

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:18.819
 he says here.

00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.339
 It's truly,

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:19.740
 truly,

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.599
 I say to you,

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.140
 before Abraham

00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:23.620
 was even born,

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.539
 before he was even

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:26.240
 brought into existence,

00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.839
 I am.

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.680
 I am.

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.140
 Do you see

00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:35.000
 what Jesus is saying?

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.960
 Jesus has been

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.039
 building up the tension,

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.039
 building up the tension,

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:40.240
 giving more and more clues

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.960
 and more and more hints

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.779
 as to who he is

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.559
 and finally he drops

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:45.380
 this bombshell statement,

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:47.359
 the ultimate mic drop

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:47.900
 of Jesus.

00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.220
 He takes upon himself

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.960
 the self-relevatory

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.900
 name of Jesus,

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.839
 the name that God gave

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.460
 to Moses

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.500
 at the burning bush,

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.039
 the name that,

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.019
 where God says,

00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:00.119
 I am the eternal,

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:00.960
 sovereign,

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.160
 uncreated one.

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.019
 I am,

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.339
 simply I am.

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.619
 With no constraints,

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.619
 no limits,

00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:08.639
 I am the supreme being

00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.899
 of all beings.

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.879
 I am who I am.

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.439
 When the Jews finally say,

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.319
 who are you?

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.899
 When they press him,

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.740
 Jesus says,

00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.899
 before even the greatest

00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:19.699
 religious leaders

00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.039
 in the world,

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.839
 before Abraham,

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.679
 Isaac and Jacob,

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.019
 before Moses gave you

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.659
 anything,

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.419
 I am.

00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:27.039
 I existed.

00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:29.359
 Before your father,

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:29.980
 Abraham,

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:32.700
 even came onto the radar,

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:34.900
 I've always been there.

00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.819
 I am the eternal,

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.279
 sovereign,

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.160
 and created one.

00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.400
 And of course,

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.759
 the response from those

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.079
 listening,

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.579
 they know exactly what he said.

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:45.599
 They know exactly what he means.

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.000
 And so what do they do?

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.259
 They pick up the stones

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.920
 around him

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:51.120
 to stone him to death.

00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:55.439
 Jesus makes a remarkable

00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:56.079
 claim here.

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:58.039
 He's not just a great teacher,

00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.179
 not just a moral religious leader,

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.719
 he's not just a miracle worker,

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.819
 he's not just a philosopher,

00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:04.659
 he's not someone who's just

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:06.259
 come to give us good advice

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.619
 to how to live our lives.

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:11.199
 Jesus Christ claims

00:20:11.199 --> 00:20:11.979
 to be none other

00:20:11.979 --> 00:20:13.459
 than Yahweh,

00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:14.859
 the eternal,

00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:15.500
 sovereign,

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.599
 and created one.

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.000
 Well,

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.119
 what does this mean

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.939
 for us today?

00:20:22.699 --> 00:20:23.459
 That's wonderful

00:20:23.459 --> 00:20:24.500
 that Jesus says this

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.480
 2,000 years ago.

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.619
 What does it mean

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.079
 for us today?

00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:27.319
 Well,

00:20:27.719 --> 00:20:29.039
 I want us to very quickly

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.839
 just notice five things,

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.819
 mainly from this passage,

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.059
 that we have to come to terms with

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.059
 if we're going to make sense

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:37.159
 of Jesus Christ at all

00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:38.619
 and his claims.

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.619
 And five things,

00:20:39.719 --> 00:20:40.439
 we'll run through them

00:20:40.439 --> 00:20:40.980
 very quickly.

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.219
 The data,

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.039
 the consistency of Jesus,

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.199
 the claims of Jesus,

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.579
 the security of Jesus,

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.159
 and finally,

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.480
 the promise of Jesus.

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.119
 So,

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.439
 firstly,

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.359
 let's look at the data.

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.319
 One of the things

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.099
 that we can easily do

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.699
 and misunderstand

00:20:54.699 --> 00:20:55.879
 who Jesus is,

00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:57.359
 is by simply misunderstanding

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.639
 the data that's available.

00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.179
 I don't know if you noticed

00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:02.000
 the first passage of Scripture

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.980
 that Ellen read to us

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.419
 this morning,

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.779
 back in chapter 7,

00:21:04.959 --> 00:21:05.759
 it says this,

00:21:06.459 --> 00:21:06.659
 it says,

00:21:06.719 --> 00:21:07.679
 some people said,

00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.500
 this is the prophet.

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:10.899
 Others said,

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.059
 this is the Christ.

00:21:12.679 --> 00:21:13.480
 But some said,

00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:14.279
 isn't,

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.159
 is the Christ

00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:15.980
 that comes from Galilee

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.240
 hasn't the Scripture

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.440
 told us that the Christ

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.339
 comes from the offspring

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.860
 of David

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.620
 and therefore comes

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.299
 from Bethlehem?

00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.079
 So,

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:22.799
 there's a division

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.819
 among the people

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.360
 over him.

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.440
 So,

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.180
 some people are looking

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.579
 at Jesus

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.259
 and they're astounded

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.880
 by his teaching,

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.380
 they're astounded

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.079
 by his words,

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.740
 they're astounded

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.559
 by the impact

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.140
 and the influence

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.019
 he's had in history

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:34.539
 and they're thinking,

00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.839
 surely this is the Christ.

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.740
 But the others that say,

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.339
 yeah,

00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.440
 it looks like the Christ,

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.440
 but there's a problem.

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.660
 The Scriptures have told us

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.320
 that the Christ

00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:43.840
 must be born in Bethlehem.

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.420
 But we've all heard

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.440
 this guy comes from Galilee,

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:48.320
 so they write him off.

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.840
 Do you see how

00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:51.740
 they write him off?

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.100
 They say,

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:53.519
 he can't be the Christ

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.580
 because they haven't

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.380
 done their homework.

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:57.080
 They haven't gone

00:21:57.080 --> 00:21:58.080
 to the source material.

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.460
 If you know

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.600
 the Christmas story at all,

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.799
 you know that Jesus

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.320
 was born in Bethlehem,

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.580
 but Herod wanted

00:22:04.580 --> 00:22:05.500
 to persecute him

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.120
 and so his family

00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.279
 fled from Bethlehem

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.940
 down to Egypt

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.779
 and a few years later

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.940
 returned to Galilee

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.240
 and he grew up in Galilee.

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:13.440
 But here are some people

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.059
 that they're writing

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.339
 off Christ the Messiah

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.259
 simply because

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.119
 they haven't done

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.460
 their homework.

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.259
 They haven't gone

00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.399
 to the source material.

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.319
 They're relying

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.940
 on second-hand

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.059
 information about him.

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.319
 Now friends,

00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:25.480
 if you're a spiritual seeker

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.139
 this morning,

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.180
 have you made

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.940
 the same mistake?

00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.740
 Maybe you find yourself

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.740
 interested in faith

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.099
 and Jesus and religion.

00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:33.619
 You've read a couple of books.

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:33.980
 You've read,

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.259
 you know,

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.940
 Christopher Hitchens

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.920
 and Richard Dawkins.

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.879
 You've read Jonathan Haight

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.920
 or Jordan Peterson.

00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.420
 You've read some stuff

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.380
 about faith and science

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:41.740
 and you think,

00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.800
 ah, it can't be.

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.020
 It can't be.

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.060
 Friends,

00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:46.280
 don't make the same mistake

00:22:46.280 --> 00:22:47.320
 that these people did.

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.640
 Here are some people

00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.780
 and they're writing off

00:22:49.780 --> 00:22:50.740
 the most influential,

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.780
 the most astounding

00:22:51.780 --> 00:22:52.360
 human being

00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:54.100
 who has ever lived

00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:56.120
 because they don't go

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:57.340
 to the source material.

00:22:58.020 --> 00:22:58.460
 They've heard

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.580
 second-hand information.

00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:00.800
 Friends,

00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:01.660
 if you're not a Christian

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.180
 this morning,

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.200
 you've got to go

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.940
 to the source material.

00:23:04.060 --> 00:23:04.660
 You've got to read

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.620
 the Gospels for yourself.

00:23:06.260 --> 00:23:06.860
 You've got to go

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.979
 and see who does Jesus

00:23:07.979 --> 00:23:08.899
 say that he is.

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.379
 Find out what he says

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.000
 about himself.

00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:12.679
 Don't miss Jesus

00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:13.679
 because you misunderstand

00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.439
 the data.

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.879
 Secondly,

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:18.259
 the consistency of Jesus.

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.579
 Now,

00:23:20.159 --> 00:23:20.939
 you could say

00:23:20.939 --> 00:23:21.719
 the integrity

00:23:21.719 --> 00:23:22.259
 and not,

00:23:22.959 --> 00:23:23.199
 I don't,

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:24.000
 by that I don't mean

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.979
 the moral integrity

00:23:24.979 --> 00:23:25.419
 of Jesus.

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.000
 I mean the,

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.639
 the integrated wholeness

00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.759
 of the New Testament

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.740
 and the Old Testament.

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.639
 The consistency

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.719
 of the claims

00:23:31.719 --> 00:23:32.859
 of who God is

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:34.259
 between the Old and New.

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.019
 You know,

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.599
 some people say,

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.680
 I like Jesus,

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.579
 I like his teachings

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.799
 about turning the other cheek

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.920
 and forgiving your enemies

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.079
 and loving those

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.940
 who persecute you

00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:42.599
 and all that stuff.

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.799
 But all that stuff

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.680
 in the Old Testament

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.759
 about God

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.639
 and enemies

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.639
 and people dying,

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:48.900
 I don't know,

00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.819
 I don't know about that.

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.859
 Surely the God

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.619
 of the Old Testament

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.220
 and the God

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.859
 of the New Testament

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:54.000
 are two separate gods.

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.119
 I can follow

00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.039
 the God of the New Testament

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.660
 but the God

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.180
 of the Old Testament,

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.579
 I'm not so sure about that.

00:23:59.539 --> 00:23:59.859
 Friends,

00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.859
 you see what Jesus Christ

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.480
 is saying here?

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:03.500
 He says that

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.500
 you can't make

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.140
 that distinction.

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.000
 Jesus doesn't allow us

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.319
 to make that dichotomy.

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.120
 Jesus says that

00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.740
 the same God

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.599
 who overcame

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.779
 the Egyptians

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.740
 through the blood

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:15.120
 of many lambs

00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:16.460
 is the same God

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.160
 who will overcome

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.019
 our great enemy

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.740
 through the blood

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.460
 of the Lamb,

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.420
 Christ,

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.099
 the one who died

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.700
 on the cross.

00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.259
 Jesus says that

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.940
 the same one,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.440
 the same great I am,

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.059
 the one who says,

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.440
 I am who I am,

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.180
 who commanded

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.019
 his people

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.200
 to take out their enemies

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.240
 so they could enter

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.039
 into their rest

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:34.080
 is the same great I am

00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:34.779
 who will take out

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.799
 our great enemy

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.840
 as he dies on the cross

00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.620
 and we can enter

00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.799
 the rest of salvation.

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:40.980
 Friends,

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.039
 Jesus says that

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.960
 the same God

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.680
 who demands holiness

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:46.180
 and obedience

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.120
 in the Old Testament

00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.779
 and the one whose temple

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:50.519
 is resplendent

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.779
 with glory and holiness

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:54.420
 is the same great I am

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.120
 who one day

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.720
 every knee

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.740
 will bow down before

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.340
 when we see him

00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:59.080
 in his glory.

00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:01.419
 Jesus says that

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:02.879
 the I am of the Old Testament

00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:04.659
 is the same great I am

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:06.000
 for whom we will worship

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:08.099
 and adore in heaven.

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.599
 It's the same God.

00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:10.399
 It's one and the same.

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.480
 The consistency of Jesus.

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.720
 Jesus doesn't allow us

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.699
 to dichotomize

00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:15.339
 and to place him

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.759
 in a box

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.039
 and say,

00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:17.299
 I'll take this aspect of you

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:18.059
 but not that.

00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:20.460
 Jesus is the consistent one.

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.639
 Notice thirdly here,

00:25:22.919 --> 00:25:24.399
 the claims of Jesus.

00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.899
 The claims of Jesus.

00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.240
 Now,

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:29.420
 as we go back

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:30.420
 and look at this passage

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:32.200
 and the rest of John's Gospel,

00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:33.560
 one of the things we see

00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:35.500
 is that the entire narrative arc

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.740
 of the whole Scripture

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.660
 focuses in

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.480
 on the person of Jesus Christ

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.540
 and his claims.

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:43.360
 Go back and look at the four things

00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:44.840
 that Jesus says about himself

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.420
 in this passage.

00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:45.860
 He says,

00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.959
 I honor my Father

00:25:46.959 --> 00:25:48.059
 and my Father honors me.

00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:50.139
 If anyone keeps my word,

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.159
 he will never taste death.

00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.059
 Jesus says,

00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.939
 Abraham rejoiced at my day.

00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.159
 He saw it and was glad.

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.399
 Finally, he says,

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:58.319
 I am the great I am.

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:59.619
 I am Yahweh.

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.079
 And it's not just in this passage.

00:26:02.179 --> 00:26:02.399
 In fact,

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:04.099
 every passage in the Scriptures,

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.399
 particularly in the Gospels,

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.299
 Jesus is going to say

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.899
 the same thing about himself.

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.919
 He's going to say,

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.899
 it's all about me.

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:12.099
 Look at Luke chapter 4.

00:26:12.219 --> 00:26:13.579
 This is a famous passage

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.159
 when Jesus starts out his ministry.

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.580
 He says,

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:17.380
 he comes to the temple

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:19.240
 and he gets the scroll

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.279
 of Isaiah the prophet

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.220
 and he opens it up

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.019
 at Isaiah 61

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.960
 and he says this,

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.019
 The Spirit of the Lord

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.920
 is upon me

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.920
 because he has anointed me

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.480
 to proclaim good news to the poor.

00:26:28.840 --> 00:26:30.019
 He has sent me

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.940
 to proclaim liberty

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.740
 to the captives

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.700
 and recovery of sight

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.759
 to the blind.

00:26:34.040 --> 00:26:35.259
 To set at liberty

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.120
 those that are oppressed

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.100
 and proclaim the year

00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:37.860
 of the Lord's favor.

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:39.360
 And at the end of that,

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.779
 Jesus gives the scroll

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.400
 back to the attendant.

00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.540
 He sits down and he says,

00:26:42.540 --> 00:26:43.800
 Today this Scripture

00:26:43.800 --> 00:26:44.700
 has been fulfilled

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.819
 in your hearing.

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.940
 Jesus says that

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.299
 the whole Old Testament

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.200
 is actually pointing

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.240
 towards him.

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.799
 He's saying that

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.420
 God's word,

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:53.840
 the Scriptures,

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.180
 is not good advice

00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:56.640
 about how to live your lives.

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:59.120
 It's not good motivation.

00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.700
 It's not just good teaching.

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.080
 It's a proclamation

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.779
 of good news

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:04.500
 that Jesus is the Messiah King.

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.640
 Do you see that?

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.120
 And this is one

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.840
 of the remarkable things

00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.299
 about Jesus.

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.680
 Jesus stands apart

00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:11.019
 from every other founder

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.980
 of world religion

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:13.019
 because he says

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.960
 it's all about me.

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.660
 Every other founder

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.400
 of the world religion

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.660
 says,

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.420
 Don't look to me.

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.200
 Don't worship me.

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:19.279
 Follow my teachings.

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.220
 Follow my Dharma.

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.339
 Do you remember

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.660
 what Gautama Buddha said

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.539
 on his deathbed?

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.440
 He's dying.

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.539
 He turns to his disciples

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.180
 and he says,

00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.440
 Let my Dharma

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.420
 and the disciplines

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.279
 that I've taught you

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.120
 be your teacher.

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.279
 See what he's saying?

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.539
 He's saying,

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.259
 Don't follow me.

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.500
 Don't worship me.

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:35.360
 But follow my teachings.

00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.720
 Follow the disciplines

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.579
 that I've taught you.

00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.160
 Muhammad said the same thing.

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.339
 He said,

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.940
 Don't follow me.

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.820
 Don't worship me.

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.100
 Follow the words

00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.920
 that I give you.

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.299
 But Jesus Christ

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:44.960
 stands alone

00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.920
 from every founder

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.660
 in the world religion

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.200
 and he says,

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.680
 If you follow my teachings,

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.840
 if you follow my wisdom,

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.080
 if you follow my words

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.000
 apart from me,

00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.340
 it's meaningless.

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:55.360
 You have to come to me.

00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.460
 Remember,

00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:57.539
 Jesus says the same thing

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.240
 in Matthew 11.

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.340
 He says,

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.400
 Come to me,

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.320
 all you who laban

00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:02.960
 or heavy laden,

00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:04.580
 and I will give you rest.

00:28:05.080 --> 00:28:06.380
 Take my yoke upon you.

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.080
 Learn from me.

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:08.259
 I am gentle

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.400
 and lowly in heart.

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.400
 You will find rest

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:10.980
 for your souls.

00:28:11.560 --> 00:28:12.500
 My yoke is easy.

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:14.420
 My burden is light.

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:17.280
 Jesus makes this remarkable claim

00:28:17.280 --> 00:28:19.160
 that you can search the scriptures

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.100
 and be an expert

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.080
 in religious study.

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.640
 You can know the scriptures backwards.

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.220
 You can seek to follow

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.560
 everything the scriptures say,

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.800
 but if you do not come to him,

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.400
 you miss it all completely.

00:28:29.280 --> 00:28:30.980
 The radical claims of Jesus.

00:28:32.560 --> 00:28:34.019
 Notice fourthly what Jesus says here,

00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.860
 the security of Jesus.

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:37.240
 Now,

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.979
 one of the problems

00:28:38.979 --> 00:28:40.539
 that many people raise

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.279
 against Christianity

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.459
 is that you say,

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.379
 Jesus Christ

00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:44.039
 must have been

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.740
 one of the most insecure,

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.379
 self-centered people

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.279
 to have ever lived

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.039
 if he needed

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.899
 all this praise

00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.519
 and worship.

00:28:51.199 --> 00:28:51.319
 Right?

00:28:51.679 --> 00:28:52.599
 Michael Prowse

00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:54.279
 was a columnist,

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.199
 American columnist

00:28:55.199 --> 00:28:56.599
 for the Financial Times

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.079
 of London.

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.519
 And he turned away

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.099
 from his faith

00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.699
 because he said,

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.740
 only tyrants

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.959
 puffed up with pride

00:29:01.959 --> 00:29:03.859
 crave adulation

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.919
 and approval.

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:05.759
 Right?

00:29:06.439 --> 00:29:07.039
 C.S. Lewis,

00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.139
 before he became a Christian,

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.719
 he complained

00:29:09.719 --> 00:29:11.019
 that God's demand

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.979
 to be praised

00:29:11.979 --> 00:29:12.559
 and worship

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.139
 sounded like a vain woman

00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:15.359
 who wants compliments.

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:17.219
 The words of C.S. Lewis

00:29:17.219 --> 00:29:18.879
 in the 1940s.

00:29:19.979 --> 00:29:20.500
 But look at what

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.219
 Jesus says here.

00:29:21.919 --> 00:29:23.500
 Jesus doesn't need

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.479
 our praise

00:29:24.479 --> 00:29:25.179
 and our worship.

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:25.779
 He doesn't need

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.879
 anyone's glory or honor.

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.459
 The people of his day

00:29:28.459 --> 00:29:29.279
 are mocking him.

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.179
 Soon they're going

00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:30.919
 to spit on him.

00:29:30.979 --> 00:29:32.079
 They're going to smash

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.779
 a crown of thorns

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.500
 into his head.

00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.579
 They're going to

00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.619
 write him off

00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.359
 as a lunatic,

00:29:36.479 --> 00:29:37.199
 as a renegade.

00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:38.479
 They're going to crucify him.

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.879
 And Jesus is not perturbed.

00:29:42.719 --> 00:29:43.500
 And the reason is

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.219
 because he says,

00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.179
 I didn't come

00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:46.299
 for people's approval.

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.699
 I came to seek

00:29:47.699 --> 00:29:48.659
 and to save the lost,

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.059
 to lay down my life

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.859
 as a ransom

00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.159
 for many.

00:29:53.959 --> 00:29:54.740
 Jesus Christ,

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.459
 look what he says here

00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.079
 in verse 50.

00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:56.339
 He says,

00:29:56.399 --> 00:29:57.119
 I do not seek

00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:57.899
 my own glory.

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.199
 There's one who seeks it

00:29:59.199 --> 00:30:00.379
 and he gives it to me.

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.039
 He is the judge.

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:01.740
 Verse 54.

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.740
 If I glorify myself,

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.759
 my glory is nothing.

00:30:04.899 --> 00:30:05.759
 It's the Father

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.459
 who glorifies me.

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.099
 Jesus Christ

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:10.319
 is the most secure man

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.159
 who ever lived.

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.119
 Do you remember

00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.139
 what Philippians 2 says?

00:30:13.219 --> 00:30:13.439
 It says,

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:15.219
 even though he was God,

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:19.519
 he equated equality

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.259
 with God,

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:22.019
 something not to be grasped.

00:30:22.679 --> 00:30:23.839
 Jesus had it all

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.099
 and he gave it all up.

00:30:25.199 --> 00:30:26.079
 He rather took on

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.099
 the nature of a servant,

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.859
 humbled himself

00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:29.000
 to the point of death,

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.779
 to rescue and ransom

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.319
 people like us

00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.480
 who need him.

00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.859
 Jesus Christ,

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.920
 the most secure man

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.480
 who ever lived

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.059
 because he had

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.980
 all the affirmation

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.779
 within the Trinity.

00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:40.400
 He had the approval

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.500
 of God himself.

00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.700
 And so why does God

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.259
 command us

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.259
 to worship and adore?

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:45.900
 I mean,

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.279
 you're saying,

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.200
 Jesus doesn't need

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.960
 our worship, Kevin?

00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.319
 Okay,

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.759
 so why should we worship him?

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.900
 Why does God command us

00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.640
 to come before him

00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:52.779
 and to praise him,

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.200
 to tell him

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.940
 that he's the greatest,

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.960
 that there's no one like him,

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.019
 that he is God

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.960
 and that there is no other?

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.400
 Why do we sing songs

00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:00.019
 and glorify his name,

00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:01.099
 declare that he is God?

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:02.119
 Why do we do these things

00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.259
 if Jesus doesn't need it?

00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.500
 And the answer is,

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:07.420
 not because he needs it,

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:09.059
 but because we need it.

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.000
 John Calvin said

00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:12.000
 that the human heart

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.619
 is an idle factory,

00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.960
 always creating things

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.759
 to clasp

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.680
 and to deify

00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.379
 and to worship.

00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.519
 Things in which

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.759
 to find our significance,

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:24.440
 our security

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.299
 and our fulfillment.

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.720
 Friends,

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.039
 you see,

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.079
 Jesus calls us

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.200
 to worship and adore him,

00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.379
 not because he needs it,

00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:31.440
 but because we need it,

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.500
 because he's calling us

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.700
 to set us free

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:35.200
 from the false gods

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.779
 that promise the world

00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:38.019
 but only enslave us.

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:40.039
 Jesus doesn't need our worship.

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.099
 He has all the security

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.879
 and the significance

00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.599
 in the whole world.

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.440
 He has all the fulfillment

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.079
 in the world.

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.420
 He's God.

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.680
 But he calls us

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.460
 to worship him

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.740
 because we need

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.559
 to bring our lives

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.359
 to him

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.839
 and to truly be set free.

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.259
 And then notice,

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.139
 finally and fifthly,

00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:55.139
 the last thing is,

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:56.640
 notice the promise

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.100
 of Jesus.

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:58.440
 Look again at verse 51.

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.960
 Jesus gives this

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.860
 remarkable promise.

00:32:01.020 --> 00:32:01.300
 He says,

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.120
 Truly, truly,

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.880
 I say to you,

00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.660
 if anyone keeps my word,

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:07.400
 he will never see death.

00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.920
 Jesus makes a promise

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.200
 that all who come to him

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.540
 will experience fullness

00:32:12.540 --> 00:32:13.220
 of life

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.700
 and life in abundance.

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.620
 Jesus is making

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.140
 the statement

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.920
 about his divinity.

00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:18.820
 Yes, that's true.

00:32:19.020 --> 00:32:20.259
 Jesus is equating himself

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.820
 with God,

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.500
 with Yahweh,

00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:22.240
 the great I am.

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:22.799
 That's true.

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:24.079
 But Jesus is making

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:25.079
 more than a statement here.

00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.359
 He's also making

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.039
 a promise.

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.700
 He's making a promise

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.880
 that those that feel hopeless

00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:31.279
 can come and find hope in him.

00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.700
 He's making a promise

00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.559
 that those who feel restless

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.279
 can come and find

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.120
 their rest in him.

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.440
 He's making a promise

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.339
 that those who feel

00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:39.359
 like they're grasping

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.039
 in the dark,

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:41.279
 trying to make sense of life,

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.839
 not sure where to go

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:44.620
 and how to get through

00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.759
 the entanglements of life

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.859
 can come to him

00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.680
 to find light

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:49.079
 and to find life.

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:50.579
 And the word that Jesus

00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.419
 uses in the,

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.419
 the word that Jesus

00:32:52.419 --> 00:32:53.079
 and John use

00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:53.980
 in his gospel,

00:32:54.199 --> 00:32:54.679
 one of the most

00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:55.980
 common words he uses

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.639
 is that everlasting life,

00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.679
 eternal life.

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.339
 Jesus came and said,

00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:01.720
 I've come to give you

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.559
 eternal life.

00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:03.720
 And when John and Jesus

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.359
 use that word,

00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.500
 he's not just talking about

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.740
 one, when we die,

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.619
 we'll experience life,

00:33:07.699 --> 00:33:08.460
 although that is true.

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.659
 What he's talking about

00:33:09.659 --> 00:33:11.299
 is the life of heaven,

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:13.119
 the life that Adam and Eve

00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.000
 were meant to experience

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.859
 in the garden of Eden

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:16.579
 is infused into our life

00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:18.199
 even now as we live.

00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:20.360
 What Jesus means by that

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:22.000
 is a life fueled by hope

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.279
 and courage and confidence,

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.840
 a life that's free of shame

00:33:24.840 --> 00:33:26.259
 and despair and guilt,

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:28.640
 a life that is marked by peace,

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.580
 the kind of life

00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:30.480
 you can only dream

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.279
 and hope that heaven

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.940
 will be made of.

00:33:32.080 --> 00:33:33.819
 Jesus says that I will come

00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:35.460
 and give that kind of life

00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:37.120
 to those who follow me

00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.900
 and trust me.

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.759
 Jesus doesn't just say

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:41.340
 that those who trust him

00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:42.720
 won't die of cancer

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:44.100
 or COVID or something else.

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.840
 He's saying that when death

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:47.019
 comes knocking at our door,

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:49.299
 it'll be a transition

00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.720
 from one form of life

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:52.059
 into the next.

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:55.480
 Well, these are the claims

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:55.960
 of Jesus.

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.660
 And so the people

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.339
 of Jesus' day,

00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.319
 they know that

00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:01.559
 they may not have known

00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.400
 who Jesus was,

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:03.599
 but they knew one thing

00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.139
 for certain.

00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.519
 They knew that Jesus' words

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.599
 demand a response.

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.780
 They knew that those kind of words,

00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:10.780
 you can't remain neutral.

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.099
 And so what do they do?

00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:13.059
 They pick up the stones

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.759
 around them

00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:15.539
 to stone him to death.

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:18.920
 Jesus knows that his words

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.960
 don't allow you

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.739
 just to give him

00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:21.460
 a simple applaud

00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:21.719
 and say,

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.699
 nice sermon, teacher.

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.619
 Jesus' words don't allow us

00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.460
 just to nod our head

00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:25.739
 and say,

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.440
 very interesting.

00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:28.199
 Jesus says that

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.139
 either you take him

00:34:29.139 --> 00:34:29.599
 as word,

00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:30.239
 you take him

00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:31.980
 as what he claims to be,

00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.279
 and therefore you never

00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:33.960
 taste death,

00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.559
 or along with the crowd

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.500
 in today's passage,

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.500
 you reject him

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.039
 as a lunatic,

00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.719
 you reject him

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:39.279
 as a liar,

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.340
 and you reject him

00:34:40.340 --> 00:34:41.659
 as someone worthy of death.

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:43.380
 But Jesus doesn't allow

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.980
 us to be neutral.

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:44.840
 He doesn't give us

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.400
 that option.

00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:46.240
 He says,

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.519
 come and see me

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.980
 for who I really am.