WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church. Our sermon text this morning is John chapter 1, verses 19 through 34.

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 Let me ask you to turn there with me. That's page 886 in the Pew Bible.

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 This Advent season, we've been looking at the life and message of John the Baptist,

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 which isn't your typical Christmas sermon series, I admit. But John the Baptist has a lot to say

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 about getting ready for Jesus' arrival. Prepare for the coming King. That was John's message.

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 And after all, that's what Advent is all about, isn't it? Preparing for the coming King.

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 We remember Jesus' first coming in grace. We look ahead to His second coming in glory. That's what

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 we're doing this month. So let's pick up our series in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 19. And

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 before we read that, let me pray for us. Father, as we have just sung, tidings of comfort and joy.

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 Oh, how we long to hear a word of comfort that will produce much joy. God, we confess that we are

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 often not a comforted people, but a very disturbed people.

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 Lord, we are often not a joyful people, but we are a distressed people.

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 So God, now as we draw near to you in your word, we pray that you would

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 reveal to us now, through your written word, a fresh sight of Jesus, your incarnate word.

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 Lord, help us by your spirit to behold him, and in beholding him to love him, and in loving him to

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 follow him, and in following him to know this comfort and joy. Do this for our good, and for your glory,

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 Father, we pray. For it is in Jesus' name we ask it. Amen.

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 Amen. John chapter 1, verse 19 through 34.

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 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,

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 who are you? He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ.

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 And they asked him, what then? Are you Elijah? He said, I'm not. Are you the prophet? And he answered, no.

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 So they said to him, who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about

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 yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord,

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 as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, then why are you

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 baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John answered them, I baptize with

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 water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose

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 sandal I'm not worthy to untie. These things took place in Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was

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 baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, behold, the Lamb of God who takes away

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 the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man who ranks before me, because

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 he was before me. I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he

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 might be revealed to Israel. And John bore witness. I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and

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 it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me,

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 he on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

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 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.

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 Well, there's a lot to look at during the Christmas season, isn't there? I wonder what you're looking

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 for. Maybe you're still looking for some good sales on Christmas gifts, 20% off Star Wars at Target,

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 just in case you're wondering. Maybe you're excited to look in your mailbox for Christmas cards from

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 friends and family. Maybe you just keep looking at your calendar, counting down the days until

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 Christmas vacation. One of the things we like to do as a family is drive around our neighborhood and

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 look at all the lights and the lawn ornaments our neighbors have put up. I think the prize still goes

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 to, for the second year in a row, the inflatable Darth Vader wearing a Santa hat just a few doors down.

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 You gotta love how you can stick a Santa hat on anything, and suddenly it becomes a Christmas

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 decoration, right? Santa hat on angry cat, Christmas decoration, done.

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 But first, on a serious note, amidst all that fun and distracting stuff, what really has your attention

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 this Christmas season? What do the eyes of your heart keep coming back to, keep looking at, as it were?

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 What are you really beholding or focusing on?

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 Maybe if we were to have a good heart-to-heart, you'd say it's finances.

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 It's hard not to think about finances during the Christmas season, right?

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 Maybe a relationship that's going well, or maybe not going well.

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 Maybe a loved one who's sick, or maybe a health issue of your own.

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 Maybe what keeps drawing your attention is a big decision on the horizon.

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 Where to go to college, where to find work.

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 Something probably is there, capturing your attention and drawing the gaze of your mind and your heart.

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 You know, but amidst all these things that capture our gaze,

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 here in the middle of our passage comes this word,

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 behold.

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 Now, that's not a word we use much, is it?

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 Behold.

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 It's not like you've opened your fridge late at night and said,

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 behold.

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 Leftovers for dinner, right?

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 Behold.

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 But it's a great word.

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 I think we need to revive it.

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 Behold.

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 Look.

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 Take notice.

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 Set your gaze right here.

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 This is it.

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 For the last few weeks, we've looked at John the Baptist's ministry,

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 his ministry of baptism.

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 We've looked at his message, his message of repentance and how that's good news.

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 But you know, this morning, we get down to it.

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 We get to the heart of what John was all about.

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 Look, John says.

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 Behold.

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 Behold.

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 Amidst all the distractions, especially for us at Christmastime, the gifts, the lights, the gift sales.

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 Amidst all the cares and concerns that this time of year brings, the hopes, the fears, the disappointments, the stress.

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 This is what we really have to see.

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 Here's the answer to what you've been looking for.

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 This is what you really have to behold.

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 Now, I wonder, when you look at Jesus, what do you see?

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 Perhaps you see many things.

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 See a great teacher.

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 See a great teacher with some pretty good principles that only if you could put them into practice, things might be a little different.

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 Maybe you see a religious founder, someone to admire for his spiritual bravery.

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 John the Baptist, too, had a lot of things to say about Jesus, didn't he?

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 I mean, just look at the paragraph.

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 He's the one who ranks before me because he was before me.

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 He is the one on whom the Spirit of God remains.

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 Not like those other figures in the Old Testament on whom the Spirit of God would come and then leave and then come.

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 No, the Spirit of God remains on him.

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 He is the one who will usher in the new age of God's redemption.

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 He will baptize us, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.

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 We will be awash in the very presence of God because of this one.

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 And at the end of our text, he's the Son of God.

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 The King.

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 The Messiah.

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 The one we've been waiting for.

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 So much to say and to know about Jesus.

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 But look.

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 Fix your gaze on this.

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 Here's what I really want you to see.

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 Behold, John says, pointing at Jesus.

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 The Lamb.

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 Now, in the first century, there were some Jewish writers and some Jewish religious groups that weren't very mainstream.

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 But we have some of their writings still in existence.

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 And they would talk and they would write symbolically about a lamb-like figure who would come at the end of the age as a warrior to execute God's judgment on the world.

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 A sort of apocalyptic warrior lamb.

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 Sounds like a good Netflix series, doesn't it?

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 But is that what John wants us to behold here in Jesus?

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 The apocalyptic warrior lamb.

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 Of course, John did speak of Jesus as the mighty one who would come with the Holy Spirit in fire.

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 John wasn't afraid to talk about God's rightful king being the rightful judge who will set the world to rights.

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 But, I think the answer is a little more obvious.

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 Because John was the son of a priest, wasn't he?

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 Zachariah.

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 Remember that story from the Gospel of Luke?

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 So, John, as a young man, would have grown up very personally familiar with a different kind of lamb.

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 With lambs that were sacrificed every day in the temple.

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 Day in and day out.

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 And John would have been steeped, like every other Jew of his time, in the stories of the Old Testament.

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 Stories of the lamb that God provided for Abraham in Genesis 22.

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 Stories about the lambs that Moses prescribed in the law.

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 In Leviticus, for example.

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 The whole range of offerings and sacrifices.

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 But most of all,

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 John, like every other Jew of his day, would have been steeped and shaped by the story of the Passover.

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 By the story of the Exodus.

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 Do you remember the story of the Passover?

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 When God's judgment came down upon everyone in Egypt.

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 Both Egyptian and Israelite alike.

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 And the only thing that kept the Israelite family safe was a lamb.

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 Instead of God's judgment taking the firstborn,

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 they were to sacrifice a lamb instead and put its blood on the doorposts.

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 And as God's judgment came, it would literally pass them over.

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 Because a sacrifice had been made in their place.

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 And here is John the Baptist with rich symbolism, standing in the wilderness,

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 identifying with the voice of Isaiah 40.

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 I'm a voice crying out in the wilderness.

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 That's a quote from Isaiah 40.

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 And what was Isaiah 40 all about?

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 That whole section of Isaiah is about a new Exodus.

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 Here is John heralding the new Exodus that Isaiah looked forward to.

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 And here was John saying, in light of that new Exodus that's coming,

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 that we all need to be cleansed.

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 And that this baptism that he had come with was just something,

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 was just a sign of something greater to come.

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 Knowing that in that same section of Isaiah, in Isaiah 53,

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 there was a suffering servant who would die a sacrificial death

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 that somehow, mysteriously, would set the people free.

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 And now seeing Jesus, John says, behold, the lamb.

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 The perfect sacrifice for our sins.

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 So why don't we do this morning what John's telling us to do?

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 Why don't we behold this lamb?

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 We're going to focus on verse 29.

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 And I want us to notice three things that we behold about this lamb in verse 29.

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 First, we see something about his source.

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 Jesus, we're told, is the lamb of God.

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 That is, God himself provides this lamb.

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 You know, outside of the Bible, nearly every other example of sacrifice

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 is a human attempt to win over the gods.

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 I just read the Iliad for the first time last month.

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 Has anyone here read the Iliad?

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 It's really long.

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 It's great, though.

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 But it's wonderful.

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 You have these Greek warriors just sacrificing stuff all the time.

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 Why?

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 Because the gods are so unreliable.

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 They're fickle.

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 And they're selfish.

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 And they have lots of sex with each other.

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 It's crazy.

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 That's how sacrifices worked in most of the ancient world.

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 You take something that was of value, that belonged to you,

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 a nice fat animal, a big cup of wine,

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 and you would sacrifice it, and you would pour it out

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 in hopes that the aroma of that going up

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 would please somehow, someway,

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 whatever God it was you were hoping to win favor with.

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 But in the Bible, it's completely different.

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 Here, in the Bible, we have not a human attempt

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 to win over some fickle, temperamental deity.

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 No, here we have the sacrifice that we need

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 coming down as a gift from God himself.

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 That the initiative to put things right

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 comes not from our side, but from God's side.

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 And the provision comes not from our side,

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 but from God's side.

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 And the atonement comes.

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 The reconciliation comes.

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 Not from our side, but from God's side.

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 This is God's doing.

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 It's his gift to us.

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 And perhaps the deepest mystery of all

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 that the gospel of John will unfold

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 is that this Lamb of God

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 is God.

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 God incarnate in our flesh.

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 He ranks before me because he was before me,

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 John says.

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 Now, on one level, that's not true.

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 John the Baptist was older than Jesus.

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 And he showed up on the scene before Jesus.

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 And yet, John says, he was before me.

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 The opening verses of John's gospel express

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 the Trinitarian reality of God

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 with such simplicity and profundity

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 that will probably never be bettered.

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 In the beginning was the Word.

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 And the Word was with God.

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 And the Word was God.

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 You see, friends, when God gives his Son

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 the Word to be the Lamb,

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 it is God himself coming down to rescue us.

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 Behold the Lamb of God.

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 Now, what should we make of all this?

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 Well, when we behold the source of the Lamb

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 that God himself provided Jesus as our sacrifice,

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 it ought to be humbling,

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 at the very least.

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 After all, how great must our sin be

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 if it took nothing less

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 than the self-giving sacrifice

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 of God's own Son to reconcile us?

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 How terrible must our condition be

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 if God himself had to die for us?

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 You know, if you take your car to the shop

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 and they give you a bill for 50 bucks,

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 then you know it's no big deal, right?

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 An oil change, maybe a new belt, no problem.

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 In, out, done.

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 But if you go in and they hand you an estimate

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 for $5,000,

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 then you know something has gone horribly wrong.

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 Your car's not even worth $5,000, right?

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 The transmission must be blown.

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 The engine must be totally seized up.

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 Something has gone drastically wrong.

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 And friends, spiritually, the same is true.

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 If you and I could offer some sort of good work to God

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 or make some sort of sacrifice on our end

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 at our initiative to make things right,

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 then the debt of sin might be uncomfortable,

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 but it wouldn't be unbearable.

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 We could handle it.

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 We could manage it on our own.

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 If we could scrap up the spiritual capital

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 to make things right,

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 well, maybe things aren't that bad.

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 But if the only way to get right with God

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 is through the sacrifice of his infinitely worthy son,

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 then our sin must be more tremendously deep

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 than we can imagine.

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 And so it is.

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 For why else would God give his own son?

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 Things are really that bad.

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:05.160
 You see, the essence of sin

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:07.440
 is basically putting ourselves

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.700
 in the place of God, is it not?

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:12.519
 We decide that we can run our lives our own way

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.559
 without much reference to God as our creator

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.640
 or our rightful Lord.

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.519
 And when we do that,

00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:18.759
 we're essentially telling God

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.559
 that we are wiser

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:22.240
 and more powerful

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.079
 and more compassionate

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.420
 and more just than he is,

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.319
 that we know best.

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.900
 And that we ought to be the rightful lords

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.819
 of our lives

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.180
 and the rightful lords of creation.

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:34.620
 Now, of course,

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.680
 if you happen to show up at work one day

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:39.200
 and you tell one of your colleagues at work

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.960
 that they're a fool

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.920
 and you can run things better than them,

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:45.360
 there might not be much of a price to pay, right?

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.860
 In fact, you might even get a chance

00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:48.740
 to prove yourself right.

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.519
 Okay, you want to do it?

00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:51.160
 You do it.

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:53.340
 All right, I will do a better job.

00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.320
 Thank you very much.

00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:57.519
 But if you tell your manager

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.680
 that they're a fool

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.680
 and you can run things better,

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.700
 well, the results probably won't be so positive, right?

00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.700
 Try that one out,

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.940
 medical students,

00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:08.460
 with your professor

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.360
 when you're doing a round.

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:14.060
 But how much more serious would it be

00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:15.880
 if you walk into the CEO's office,

00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:17.799
 berate him as a fool,

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.460
 and show him

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.460
 how you unilaterally reinvested

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.980
 the company's resources

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:24.180
 into what you ultimately think is best

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:26.100
 because he is so incompetent to do so.

00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:30.199
 Well, for that offense,

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.039
 the penalty would most likely be termination.

00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:38.299
 But think,

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:40.779
 is that not what each of us does with God every day?

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:43.500
 We might not come right out and say it,

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.719
 but with every unilateral,

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.299
 God-ignoring decision,

00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:49.159
 we functionally call God a fool

00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:50.719
 and set up ourselves

00:19:50.719 --> 00:19:52.179
 as the rightful lords of creation.

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:56.740
 And if to do such a thing in the workplace

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:59.100
 spells the end of our working life,

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:03.019
 then surely to do such a thing in the spiritual realm

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:05.299
 spells the end of our spiritual life.

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.640
 The wages of sin,

00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:12.180
 truly and justly,

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.519
 is death.

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:16.900
 But behold,

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:18.980
 John the Baptist says,

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:21.559
 in the face of this debt

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.960
 that we cannot repay,

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.740
 under this penalty

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.960
 that we cannot satisfy,

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.139
 behold, he says,

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.700
 the Lamb of God.

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.660
 In grace,

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.660
 the very one that we offended,

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.500
 the very one that we spurned

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.559
 and dishonored and hated,

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.539
 God himself,

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.160
 he provides the Lamb.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.460
 He provides the way back in.

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.920
 And that brings us to the second thing

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.400
 we behold about this Lamb.

00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:52.119
 If first we behold his source,

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.619
 that he's the Lamb of God,

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.960
 then second here,

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.319
 we behold his accomplishment.

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.639
 Jesus is the Lamb of God

00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:00.139
 who takes away our sin.

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.139
 But how does that work?

00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.980
 How does he bring about

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.920
 such an accomplishment?

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.279
 Well,

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.139
 again,

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.000
 think of the Passover.

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:14.640
 You see,

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.440
 the Passover Lamb

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.140
 was sacrificed

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.680
 as a substitute.

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.160
 God's terrible judgment

00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.819
 meant the death

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.579
 of the firstborn.

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:24.640
 But in place of the firstborn,

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.900
 there would be a Lamb

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:28.440
 who would stand in its place

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.940
 and die.

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.279
 God's judgment

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.359
 would fall on the Lamb

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.259
 instead of the child,

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.500
 and in so doing,

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.460
 God would prove himself

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.740
 just and merciful,

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.480
 just because the penalty of death

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.460
 still comes down,

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.500
 and merciful

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.380
 because the penalty

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.799
 is borne away by another.

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.120
 But of course,

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.120
 an actual,

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.140
 literal,

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.019
 bleeding Lamb

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.059
 could never really serve

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.980
 as a proper substitute

00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.000
 for a human being, right?

00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.000
 I mean,

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.779
 we kind of get that.

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.680
 All those sacrifices

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.460
 in the Old Testament,

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.160
 the Passover,

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.539
 the daily sacrifices

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.140
 in the Temple,

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.579
 the annual Day of Atonement,

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.339
 all that could never

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.980
 really take away sin, right?

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:09.640
 This is what the writer

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.360
 to Hebrews says.

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:10.720
 Look,

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.599
 if it had really worked,

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.920
 they would have stopped

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.500
 doing it

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.640
 because it would have worked,

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.380
 but they had to keep doing it

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.500
 because it didn't really

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.059
 get to the root

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.640
 of the problem.

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.660
 All these sacrifices

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.480
 were just pointers

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.440
 to a greater sacrifice.

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:26.900
 After all,

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.819
 what good is an animal

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.799
 when the real lawbreaker

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.620
 is a human being?

00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.740
 You know,

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.019
 as much as you want to try,

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.539
 you can't pay off

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.420
 your credit card debt

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.379
 with a goat

00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.460
 or a few dozen eggs.

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.619
 I mean,

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.259
 you can go down

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.059
 to Bank of America

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.440
 with a grocery bag

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.720
 full of animal products

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.339
 and they are not

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:46.960
 going to release you

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.400
 from the debt

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.079
 that you accrued.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.859
 And friends,

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.660
 what makes us think

00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.859
 we could pay our spiritual debt

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.559
 in the same way?

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.460
 Wouldn't justice

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.779
 ultimately require

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.400
 a human

00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.779
 to pay the proper penalty

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.559
 for human sin?

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:06.359
 But then again,

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.200
 would even a human

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.700
 be enough?

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.799
 After all,

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.460
 this is an offense

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.139
 against God,

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.659
 is it not?

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.720
 This sin

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.119
 which we have done.

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.539
 And that means

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.240
 that this penalty

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:23.859
 we are under

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.339
 is infinite

00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:25.899
 because it's

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:27.159
 an infinite God

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:28.419
 whom we've offended.

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:31.320
 and who could pay

00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.680
 such an infinite penalty

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.660
 besides the infinite

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.380
 God himself?

00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.240
 So you see

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:37.140
 this dilemma we're in

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.660
 when it comes

00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.580
 to the reality

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.220
 of our sin.

00:23:39.580 --> 00:23:40.860
 A human must pay it

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.860
 and yet only God

00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:43.320
 can pay it.

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.080
 We need a substitute

00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:48.259
 that's both fully human

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.580
 and at the same time

00:23:49.580 --> 00:23:50.440
 fully God.

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.740
 And where on earth

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.320
 are we going to find

00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:54.940
 such a substitute

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.519
 like that?

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:55.620
 No.

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:59.899
 Search the history

00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:00.899
 of religion, friends.

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.579
 Look

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.799
 and look

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:06.039
 and you will not find

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.659
 the one that you need.

00:24:10.459 --> 00:24:11.459
 But then

00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:13.359
 the words of John

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.919
 ring out.

00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:14.919
 Behold

00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:16.679
 the Lamb of God

00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:18.139
 who takes away

00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:19.039
 the sin of the world.

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.159
 Jesus Christ,

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.639
 the Word

00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.319
 become flesh

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.119
 fully human

00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.339
 and fully God.

00:24:24.479 --> 00:24:25.219
 He's the one

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.440
 who can do it.

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.980
 Do you see now

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.500
 why Christianity

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.380
 is so unique?

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.880
 It is unlike

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.940
 every other religion.

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:34.880
 Deep down

00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.620
 every other religion

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.039
 or worldview

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.400
 says one of two things

00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:37.799
 basically.

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.480
 Either it says

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.000
 God or ultimate reality

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.920
 is so holy

00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:41.960
 that you have to

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.980
 earn your way up to him

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.200
 through your own sacrifice

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.039
 or your own good works

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:46.319
 or your own sincere devotion

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.200
 whatever it is.

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.220
 Or it says

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.079
 God is loving.

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.660
 He doesn't require justice.

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.420
 He just accepts

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.059
 everyone

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.940
 and everything.

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:57.480
 but only Christianity

00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.200
 comes along

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.720
 and says

00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:00.360
 no God is holy

00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:01.820
 and loving.

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.480
 So holy

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.320
 that he requires

00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:05.600
 a payment for sin.

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.160
 So loving

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.620
 that he makes

00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.640
 the payment for us

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.299
 in our place.

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.759
 Behold the Lamb

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.640
 who takes away

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.080
 our sin.

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:21.359
 Let's go to the third thing

00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:21.939
 that we behold

00:25:21.939 --> 00:25:22.720
 about this Lamb.

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.399
 Third,

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.099
 we see not just

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:26.000
 his source,

00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:27.179
 not just his accomplishment

00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:28.399
 but we see his scope.

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:31.099
 Jesus is the Lamb of God

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.339
 who takes away

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.960
 the sin

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.139
 of the world.

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.179
 Now the world

00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:38.460
 in John's Gospel

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.779
 is a bit of a technical term.

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.559
 It's John's way

00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.279
 of talking about

00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.139
 not just the sort of

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.819
 big round thing

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.720
 that we're standing on

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.940
 or just all the people

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.380
 out there

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:48.059
 but it's John's way

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.819
 of talking about

00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:50.000
 human society

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.360
 arranged

00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:52.460
 without any reference

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.000
 to God.

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.160
 It's his way

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.319
 of talking about

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.519
 human society

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.299
 arranged

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.880
 in hostile rebellion

00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.680
 against God.

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.259
 It's a negative term,

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.259
 the world

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.819
 for John.

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:07.100
 And it is for

00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.240
 this world,

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.640
 this sinful

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:11.500
 fallen world

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:13.960
 that Jesus came.

00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.299
 Friends,

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.220
 here's the good news

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:20.039
 that the atoning

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.960
 work of the Lamb

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:23.799
 is not merely

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.559
 for the religious

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.640
 and the morally upright.

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.140
 It's not for the deserving.

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.640
 It's for the undeserving.

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.960
 It's for the world.

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.079
 When Jesus was born

00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:35.819
 in a manger,

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.500
 when he lived

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.720
 a perfect human life

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.360
 in our midst,

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.819
 when he died

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.600
 on a cross,

00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:43.100
 when he was raised

00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.920
 on the third day

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.440
 in glory,

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.500
 when he ascended

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.259
 to the Father,

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.960
 all of that was done

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.759
 not for the sake

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:52.460
 of just a special

00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.620
 couple of people

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.620
 who happened to have

00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.819
 all their ducks in a row

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:57.100
 and all their cards right.

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.720
 No.

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.420
 It was for lost

00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.259
 and hopeless

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.319
 and guilty

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.339
 and flawed

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:04.299
 and moral failures

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.160
 like you and me.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.880
 It was for the world.

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:11.480
 And it was so

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.760
 effectual.

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.960
 It was so powerful.

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:18.380
 It was so competent

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.100
 what he did

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:22.840
 that the sins of the world

00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.820
 were taken away.

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.860
 There's no sin of yours

00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.760
 so great,

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.900
 so heinous

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:31.100
 that his blood,

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.400
 his sacrificial death

00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.240
 cannot cleanse.

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:35.880
 There's no habitual

00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.740
 failure

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.720
 too repeated

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.519
 that it cannot

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.339
 be taken away

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.960
 by Christ,

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.779
 the Lamb of God.

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.799
 All who receive him,

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.700
 all who believe

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.359
 in his name,

00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:47.079
 John says,

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.700
 their sins

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.700
 will be taken away.

00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.420
 They'll be reconciled

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:50.859
 to God

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:52.160
 and made his sons

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.660
 and daughters.

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.319
 The curse is lifted.

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.259
 The guilt

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.220
 is done away.

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:00.920
 Friends,

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:02.100
 if you've put your trust

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.000
 in Jesus,

00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:06.420
 your sins

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:07.400
 have been taken away.

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.340
 Let me end

00:28:11.340 --> 00:28:11.900
 with three points

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.539
 of application.

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:13.940
 First,

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.360
 to you,

00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.600
 if you're spiritually seeking

00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.200
 or if you're new

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.900
 to Christianity,

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.700
 as you behold Jesus

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.180
 this morning,

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:20.800
 what do you see?

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.759
 What are you looking at

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.960
 when you look at Jesus?

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:26.240
 Do you see merely

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.840
 a good teacher,

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.320
 a profound spiritual guide,

00:28:28.320 --> 00:28:28.940
 or are you beginning

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.820
 to behold Jesus

00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.720
 as he really is?

00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:32.160
 Are you starting

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:33.080
 to see that there's

00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:33.880
 something unique

00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.500
 about him,

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:36.420
 that he's the son of God

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:38.019
 and the one and only

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.940
 Lamb of God?

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.019
 Friend,

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.519
 you need to know

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.019
 that Christianity

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.060
 isn't ultimately

00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:43.940
 about new rules

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.460
 to follow

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.600
 or new rituals

00:28:45.600 --> 00:28:46.279
 to perform.

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.539
 It's ultimately

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.580
 about uniting

00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.779
 your life

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.720
 to the crucified

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.660
 and risen Jesus

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.440
 through faith

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.539
 and living

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.180
 in an ongoing

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.279
 relationship with him.

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:59.960
 So what holds you

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.799
 back from believing

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.399
 in Christ?

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.000
 Why would you not

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.519
 take hold

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.460
 of this Lamb of God

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:07.139
 who's come in grace

00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.240
 to take away your sin

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.740
 and reconcile you

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.140
 to God?

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.200
 Let me encourage you

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.839
 to talk to someone

00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.680
 about your questions,

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.180
 your doubts,

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.700
 your fears.

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.579
 If you came with a friend

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:17.980
 this morning,

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.579
 I'm sure they'd be

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.180
 more than happy

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.079
 to share with you

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.680
 their own story,

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.339
 their own questions,

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:21.900
 their own doubts,

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.480
 their own fears

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.099
 that they had

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.099
 as they were coming

00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:24.620
 to understand

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.420
 who Jesus is,

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.519
 as they were beginning

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.660
 to place their trust

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.039
 in him.

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.720
 In fact,

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.259
 maybe you're ready

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.120
 to do that this morning

00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.680
 yourself.

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.120
 And if you're wondering

00:29:34.120 --> 00:29:34.799
 how to start,

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.740
 how do I start

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.920
 in a relationship

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.460
 with Christ?

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.180
 There are some prayers

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.859
 in the bulletin

00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:40.079
 to help you get started.

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.660
 Feel free to come up

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.779
 front after the service.

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.240
 We'd be happy

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:45.900
 to talk with you

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.940
 and pray with you.

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.539
 Talk to someone

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.519
 about what you're

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:49.940
 going through.

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.980
 Let others help you

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.539
 in this journey

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.120
 that you're on.

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.400
 It's not something

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.019
 you're meant to do

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.579
 on your own.

00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:00.019
 Second point of application

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.720
 for those who are

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:02.460
 trusting in Christ already,

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.940
 as you behold Christ

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:06.519
 taking away your sin.

00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.039
 Friends,

00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.580
 let that increase

00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.480
 your desire

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:13.320
 to be done

00:30:13.320 --> 00:30:15.100
 with all the remaining

00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:16.039
 sin in your life.

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:19.519
 Don't hold fast

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.559
 to the very thing

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.460
 that Christ died

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.360
 to take away.

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.220
 Be done with it.

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.740
 Be done with sin.

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.820
 Put it behind you.

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.700
 He's taken it all away

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.220
 by his grace.

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:31.440
 Now live into that freedom

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.019
 and that life

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.600
 that he's purchased

00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:33.100
 for you.

00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.580
 Behold the Lamb

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.119
 of God.

00:30:35.679 --> 00:30:36.519
 Let love for him

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.159
 increase

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:39.539
 and let your love

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.179
 for sin

00:30:40.179 --> 00:30:41.159
 wither and die.

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:42.980
 Do you want to know

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.419
 freedom

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:45.119
 from your besetting sins?

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.439
 Keep beholding

00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:47.919
 the Lamb

00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:49.259
 who was slain for you.

00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.399
 Keep taking in

00:30:51.399 --> 00:30:52.019
 the wonder

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.799
 of his achievement

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.399
 for you.

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.559
 Let that stir

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.199
 in your heart

00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:56.779
 a passion,

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.799
 a love for him,

00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:00.740
 a desire for him,

00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:02.500
 a desire for the things

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:02.900
 of God

00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.400
 and the kingdom

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:04.059
 of God

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:05.920
 that will cause

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.240
 the things

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.099
 of your old life

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:09.140
 to pale so much

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.799
 in comparison.

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.940
 Third thing,

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.079
 perhaps this Christmas season

00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:18.339
 you,

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.000
 something that you hold

00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.619
 very dear

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:22.259
 has been taken away

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.720
 from you.

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:27.779
 but friend,

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.740
 no matter what losses

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.839
 you've experienced,

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.100
 remember,

00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.740
 amidst all of that,

00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:36.420
 this core reality

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:38.799
 that he's taken away

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.460
 your sins.

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.620
 Even if you feel like

00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.600
 God has taken away

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.579
 something very precious

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.039
 to you,

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.839
 he's taken away

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.500
 your sins.

00:31:48.100 --> 00:31:48.839
 Behold the Lamb

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.120
 of God.

00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:50.159
 See how deeply

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.979
 he loves you.

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.619
 See how much hope

00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.519
 he has granted you.

00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.639
 You're free from sin.

00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.559
 No matter your

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.559
 present circumstances,

00:31:57.719 --> 00:31:58.439
 you have reason

00:31:58.439 --> 00:32:00.219
 to be thankful.

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.379
 You have reason

00:32:01.379 --> 00:32:02.439
 even to rejoice.

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.979
 You're reconciled

00:32:04.979 --> 00:32:05.479
 to God.

00:32:05.919 --> 00:32:06.519
 The curse

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.119
 has been lifted.

00:32:07.239 --> 00:32:08.159
 Your guilt is gone.

00:32:08.439 --> 00:32:09.119
 The Holy Spirit

00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.119
 lives inside of you.

00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:10.979
 You will one day

00:32:10.979 --> 00:32:12.059
 reign with him forever.

00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:16.539
 So friends,

00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:16.919
 no matter what

00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:17.759
 has caught your attention

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.439
 this season,

00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:19.900
 no matter where

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.779
 you're tempted to look

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.600
 amidst the joys

00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.259
 and distractions

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.000
 and sorrows

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.920
 and disappointments,

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.340
 let's fix our gaze

00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:25.860
 on Jesus,

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.860
 the Lamb of God

00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:27.820
 who takes away

00:32:27.820 --> 00:32:28.680
 the sin of the world.

00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:32.200
 And in beholding him,

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.500
 may we testify with John

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.259
 that this is indeed

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.059
 the Son of God,

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.200
 the Savior,

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.420
 the King.

00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:39.259
 Let's pray.

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.320
 Let's pray.

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:50.180
 Oh Lord,

00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.039
 we confess that

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.720
 in our own strength,

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.759
 in our own

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:56.660
 vision,

00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:58.559
 we don't know you.

00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.019
 Lord,

00:33:00.080 --> 00:33:01.240
 so often in this passage,

00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.259
 John confesses

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:04.039
 that in and of himself,

00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:05.480
 he didn't recognize

00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:05.980
 in Jesus

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.660
 the Messiah,

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.320
 the Lamb.

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:08.779
 God,

00:33:08.840 --> 00:33:09.820
 that is true of us too.

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:12.259
 In our own selves,

00:33:12.340 --> 00:33:13.059
 we don't see it.

00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:14.259
 We don't recognize it.

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:17.099
 So we need you,

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.299
 God.

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.259
 We need you to come

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.799
 and we need you

00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.460
 to open the eyes

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.160
 of our hearts

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:23.019
 so that we might see him.

00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.039
 Lord,

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.279
 as we come to the Lord's table,

00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:27.799
 I pray

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.859
 that this would be

00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:30.099
 a means that you use

00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:31.420
 to help us

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.980
 to see

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.740
 and taste

00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.980
 and to behold again

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:39.019
 the mighty Lamb of God

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.940
 who has taken away our sins.

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.700
 Amen.

00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.660
 Well,

00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:45.960
 I wonder if those

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.700
 who are helping to serve

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.720
 communion would come up.

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.940
 This is one of the great means

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.940
 that God has given us

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.879
 to do exactly

00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:57.879
 what we've been talking about

00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.299
 this morning,

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:59.740
 to behold the Lamb of God.

00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.059
 That Jesus,

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.819
 on Passover,

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.000
 gathered with his friends,

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.140
 with his disciples,

00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:07.140
 and he took that Passover meal

00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:07.799
 that was about God

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.639
 liberating them,

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.480
 and he gave them

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.219
 its real interpretation.

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:11.699
 He said,

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.820
 this is what Passover

00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.659
 is really all about.

00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:14.980
 It's about a Lamb

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.820
 who's going to be broken,

00:34:16.520 --> 00:34:17.320
 and it's about blood

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.200
 that's going to be poured out.

00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.140
 It's about my body

00:34:19.140 --> 00:34:19.960
 that's going to be broken,

00:34:20.160 --> 00:34:21.280
 and it's about my blood

00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:22.080
 that's going to be poured out

00:34:22.080 --> 00:34:22.620
 for you

00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.980
 and for your sins.

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:26.040
 And then he told his followers

00:34:26.040 --> 00:34:27.560
 to keep doing this act

00:34:27.560 --> 00:34:29.480
 over and over

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:29.980
 and over

00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.740
 and over again.

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.160
 Why?

00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:33.500
 Because we're very forgetful people,

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.400
 aren't we?

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.840
 It's like we have a hole

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.400
 and we leak

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.200
 all the time.

00:34:40.040 --> 00:34:40.480
 Jesus said,

00:34:40.560 --> 00:34:41.080
 here it is.

00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:42.140
 Take this,

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.660
 eat it,

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.420
 drink it,

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.079
 and be filled

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:45.720
 with the remembrance

00:34:45.720 --> 00:34:47.460
 of what I've done for you.

00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:49.760
 So friend,

00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.780
 if you're here this morning

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:52.260
 and you're a Christian,

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.539
 if you've turned from sin,

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.320
 if you've turned from

00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.360
 trying to be your own Lord

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.480
 and trying to be your own Savior

00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.340
 and trying to make

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.280
 your own way

00:34:59.280 --> 00:34:59.880
 with your life,

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:01.220
 if you've given up

00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.039
 on that pursuit

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.900
 and you've trusted in Christ

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.960
 as your hope,

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.079
 as your treasure,

00:35:06.200 --> 00:35:06.860
 as your Savior,

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:09.800
 if that's true of you,

00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.720
 then this table is for you.

00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.760
 Take this time

00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:14.620
 to repent of your sins again

00:35:14.620 --> 00:35:16.400
 and receive this provision

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.280
 from God

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.360
 and remember the Lamb

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.760
 who was slain for you.

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:22.640
 If you can say yes to that

00:35:22.640 --> 00:35:25.320
 and you haven't been baptized,

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.019
 let me encourage you

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.880
 to think about baptism.

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:30.220
 As we take up the Lord's Supper,

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.380
 this is a way of identifying

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.079
 with Jesus

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.079
 and with his people.

00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:34.840
 And if you haven't been baptized,

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:36.420
 that's your next step

00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:38.659
 to identify publicly

00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:40.279
 with Christ in baptism.

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:44.239
 Let me read a couple words.

00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:48.940
 Jesus says this.

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.219
 He says,

00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.840
 Paul says this

00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.840
 in 1 Corinthians 11.

00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.179
 He says,

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.279
 For I received from the Lord

00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:54.539
 what I also delivered to you,

00:35:55.299 --> 00:35:55.940
 that the Lord Jesus

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.400
 on the night

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.099
 when he was betrayed

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:57.759
 took bread.

00:35:58.279 --> 00:35:59.119
 When he had given thanks,

00:35:59.139 --> 00:35:59.960
 he broke it and said,

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.759
 This is my body,

00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.500
 which is for you.

00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:02.759
 Do this in remembrance of me.

00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.559
 In the same way also

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.219
 he took the cup

00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:05.719
 after supper,

00:36:05.819 --> 00:36:06.000
 saying,

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:07.079
 This cup is the new covenant

00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.699
 in my blood.

00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:08.460
 Do this as often

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.099
 as you drink it

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:10.019
 in remembrance of me.

00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:11.340
 For as often

00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:12.219
 as you eat this bread

00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:12.960
 and drink this cup,

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.960
 you proclaim the Lord's death

00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.840
 until he comes.

00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:17.860
 So you see, friends,

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:19.039
 this is a table for believers

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.519
 to proclaim the Lord's death

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.299
 until he comes.

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.719
 If you're here

00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:23.480
 and you're not a believer,

00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.340
 then let me encourage you

00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:26.799
 to just pass the plates by

00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:27.219
 as it comes.

00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:28.380
 We're going to pass out

00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.059
 the bread first.

00:36:29.319 --> 00:36:30.119
 It's going to go around

00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:31.000
 and then we're going to eat together

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.880
 and then we're going to pass out

00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:32.179
 the cup

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.059
 and we're going to drink together.

00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:35.179
 And if you haven't placed

00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.880
 your faith in Christ,

00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:37.019
 then just pass the plate by

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.679
 and instead,

00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.960
 use this time,

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:39.559
 use the prayers

00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.239
 in the bulletin

00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:43.539
 to do some spiritual seeking,

00:36:43.739 --> 00:36:44.659
 some self-assessment.

00:36:44.799 --> 00:36:45.539
 Where are you

00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.639
 with God?

00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:48.980
 instead of taking this bread

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.699
 and taking this cup,

00:36:49.779 --> 00:36:50.579
 take Christ

00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:52.940
 as yours this morning.

00:36:53.279 --> 00:36:54.059
 Let me invite those

00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:54.799
 who are downstairs

00:36:54.799 --> 00:36:56.099
 to come on up.

00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.339
 If you're downstairs,

00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.159
 you can come on up

00:36:59.159 --> 00:36:59.739
 to the lobby

00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:00.960
 and we'll serve you there.

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.079
 Jonathan,

00:37:05.319 --> 00:37:05.819
 would you pray

00:37:05.819 --> 00:37:06.579
 for the bread for us?

00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:07.199
 Thanks.

00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:16.559
 Dear Lord God,

00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:19.519
 you knew that

00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:21.579
 in our human weaknesses

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:23.739
 and sinful preoccupations

00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:24.480
 that we would

00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:26.319
 neglect to remember

00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:26.960
 our Savior.

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:30.420
 and by your grace,

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.340
 you have given us

00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:32.039
 this act

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.739
 and this