WEBVTT

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 Good morning, it's delightful to be with you all. I'm happy to see you're on plastic, uncomfortable chairs.

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! It'll help keep you alert this morning.

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 I want to encourage you to turn with me back to the passage we read, where if you remember, a scene was set in verses 22 to 26,

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 and then a commitment about Jesus was explained in verses 27 to 30, and then the reason for that commitment was found in the final paragraph of the half chapter that we read.

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 Well, after a nighttime meeting with a man named Nicodemus, Jesus left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside, ending up in the same neighborhood as his cousin John.

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 And John needed a steady supply of water for what he was doing, for the immense crowds that came to him for baptism, whether he was baptizing by immersion or sprinkling or pouring.

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 Anon near Salem was a place with lots of springs, lots of water, and served well enough for the task.

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 And what we see in verses 22 to 24 is Jesus confirming and continuing John's groundbreaking work for the kingdom of God.

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 The shift between the ministry of John and that of Jesus, between an old age and a new age, an age of promise, an age of fulfillment, was not a neat line.

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 It was a kind of wrinkly area of transition, a lot like my shirt this morning, which is why I'm covering that with a jumper.

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 It wasn't a neat, tidy line.

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 A Dutch scholar, a Dutch New Testament scholar, mentions that Jesus and the disciples who followed him

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 did not immediately abandon the pattern of John's preaching of an approaching kingdom, of a baptism of repentance that went with it.

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 Jesus, when he preached, was bringing clearer teaching.

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 He was continuing to fulfill Old Testament promises, but it didn't happen all at once.

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 There were planned transitions.

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 Older theologians said that Jesus was ushering in his kingdom.

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 It's a good word, I think.

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 He was ushering in his kingdom.

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 When we have ushers at a wedding, bringing people into the sanctuary or the fellowship hall for the wedding,

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 they don't pull people down the aisle and push them into seats.

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 They usher them.

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 They do this with purpose and dignity and care.

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 They treat people with respect.

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 Well, that's how Jesus was treating John.

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 He was doing something new.

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 He was ushering in his kingdom, but doing it carefully, thoughtfully.

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 He wasn't in a hurry.

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 He encouraged John's message.

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 He encouraged John's ministry, even as he was adding to John's message.

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 Now, while Jesus' introduction of his teaching, while Jesus' ushering in of his kingdom was gradual,

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 but it was also noticeable.

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 People could see the difference between what John did and what Jesus did.

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 People spotted a real change between these two ministries, between the forerunner and the one himself, Jesus himself.

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 While John's, let me put it this way.

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 There was enough of a difference between the two that there ended up being arguments between their followers.

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 And that's what we overhear in verses 25 and 26.

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 It's hard to know exactly what happened.

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 Did the man who met John's disciples get baptized by Jesus' disciples?

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 Did this fellow mentioned here get in a discussion about the meaning of John's baptism or Jesus' baptism or different Jewish baptisms of the time,

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 both the ones found in the Old Testament and ones that people had made up since?

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 I don't really know.

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 But whatever went on at first, a conflict about a symbol became a conflict about the substance.

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 An argument about baptism ended up being an argument about Jesus himself.

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 John's disciples were unhappy.

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 They were unhappy.

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 And so they went to their leader to tell him that Jesus was pulling in the crowds.

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 And listen to the way in which they talked.

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 First, the Baptist's disciples spoke of John with respect, calling him Rabbi.

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 But Jesus, they don't even mention by name.

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 He's just the one to whom John bore witness.

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 As if John was doing Jesus some kind of a favor.

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 The way that we talk about people shows what we think about them.

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 The way they talked about Jesus suggests they might not have thought enough about Jesus yet.

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 Second, they exaggerate what's happening.

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 They say, all are going to him.

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 And we all know why we exaggerate.

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 We usually exaggerate when we're trying to justify our complaining spirits or something like that.

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 Or to tell a good story.

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 But here they're not telling a good story.

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 The fact is, Jesus had hardly put John out of business.

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 Or even out of busyness.

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 Even if Jesus did attract large crowds, there were still lots of people going to John.

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 John would continue to have so much popularity that King Herod would long to meet him.

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 Now I want you to see that this conversation is really important.

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 John's disciples are coming to him at a very important and very interesting moment in time.

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 His ministry was enjoying success like no other prophetic ministry before him.

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 Moses, Elijah, Elisha.

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 In some sense, not a one of them came close to John.

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 There were prophets who would get visits from people who wanted answers.

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 There were prophets who taught other prophets.

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 There were prophets sent to give important messages to the people.

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 But John is the first prophet who's wildly popular.

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 I mean, we are told that crowds came to him.

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 Rich and poor.

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 Jews and Romans.

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 Leaders and followers.

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 From Israel and beyond.

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 They were all coming to hear John.

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 John had become a, I don't know, like a kind of movable pilgrimage site.

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 Like a tourist destination.

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 If you were writing a travel guide to Jordan, you'd have to add in something about John.

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 You know, the guy with the funny clothes and the pot of honey and the pile of locusts on a rock or something like that.

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 John was the thing.

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 There are entrepreneurial possibilities with John.

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 Frankly, lots of people were going to him.

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 Not everybody was going to Jesus.

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 Remember, John and his disciples had no idea.

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 No idea at that moment what was about to happen.

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 They didn't know that he was going to be put in prison.

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 They didn't know he was going to lose his head.

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 We are told that as we read the passage.

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 But they don't know that.

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 So this is what we call a real ministry temptation.

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 An RMT.

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 RMT.

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 You know, this is a moment when it's really easy to make it all about yourself.

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 And it's possible to do that.

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 It's easy to turn a ministry that's supposed to be about Jesus into something that's really about me.

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 And it would have been so easy for John to do that here.

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 I mean, can you see that?

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 Everybody's coming to him.

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 And then someone begins to pull away the crowds.

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 And he has his loyal fan club.

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 He has his team.

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 And they're saying, we've got to stop this.

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 Do you see what's happening, John?

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 So these grievances offered by his friends present a real test of his integrity.

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 Maybe a bigger test than any of us will ever experience.

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 Because I doubt any of us will ever be quite that popular.

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 And to his credit, John saw the problem.

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 In the way in which his supporters talked and thought.

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 And he met it head on.

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 He met it head on.

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 Verses 22 to 26 tell us all this.

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 And in doing so, they set the scene.

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 Now, in response to the disciples' complaint.

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 John explains his commitment to Jesus by issuing a maxim.

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 A pithy statement.

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 By issuing a maxim and then offering a parable.

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 Those are the two things he does.

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 John wanted his followers, at the very least,

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 to recognize that a person cannot receive one thing

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 unless it's given him from heaven.

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 With this maxim, he's making a basic point about the providence of God, isn't he?

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 He's saying something about God.

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 Jesus was who he was.

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 And he was a whole lot more than John was.

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 Because more had been given him from heaven.

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 John was who he was.

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 And he was a whole lot less than Jesus was.

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 Because less had been given him from heaven.

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 Now, think about what John's saying.

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 Because I think it has some relevance for all of us.

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 According to recent sightings,

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 jealousy is still raising its ugly head.

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 It's still peering over the parapet in the military.

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 We see it peeking over the walls of cubicles in the office.

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 We can even spot it in the kitchen.

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 We can find it in conversations between close friends.

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 Jealousy still exists.

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 Including this kind of professional jealousy.

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 And when we see it,

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 we need to give it a good knock about the head with John 3, verse 27.

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 Because John is explaining to his disciples,

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 really helpfully,

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 that we should not be jealous.

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 In fact, we should not fault people

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 who are very successful in their callings.

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 Maybe way more successful than we are.

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 Now, if that's true in general,

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 and I think it is,

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 it's more obviously true

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 when it comes to Christian service,

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 Christian ministry,

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 which is what John's talking about here.

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 Surely we need to see that

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 if God gives someone real gifts,

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 good content,

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 effective ministry,

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 maybe an unusual acceptance with other people,

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 then we need to give God glory.

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 More was given them from heaven

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 than we have ourselves, perhaps.

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 And we need to be thankful for what they're doing.

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 That's the spirit of John the Baptist, isn't it?

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 Right here in this passage.

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 Speaking for myself,

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 we who are sort of small-time pastors

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 or aspiring preachers,

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 we just need to thank God.

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 We need to learn to be thankful

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 for the leadership and example

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 or maybe the astonishing preaching ministry

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 of other people.

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 Maybe a Philip Riken

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 or a Dick Lewis

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 or a Sinclair Ferguson

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 or an Ian Hamilton

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 or an Alistair Begg

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 or a Paul Levy

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 or whatever,

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 you know,

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 celebrity preacher you have in mind.

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 Pastors don't need to find their security

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 in being able to critique better preachers

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 or in pretending that we're their pals.

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 You know,

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 and the same goes for artists

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 and students

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 and plumbers

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 and lawyers

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 and of course

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 for anyone doing service

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 in Christ's church.

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 May God help us

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 to be big without pride

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 or small without shame.

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 May He help us

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 to remember

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 that none of us

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 has anything

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 unless something is given

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 to us from heaven.

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 John encouraged thankfulness

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 for Jesus

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 in this maxim

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 in this little statement.

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 He then showed

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 his true loyalty to Jesus

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 in a kind of parable.

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 In a kind of parable.

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 He puts a metaphor to work

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 in verses 27 to 30

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 employing the idea

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 of a bridegroom

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 and his best friend

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 in order to show his devotion.

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 You see,

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 John knew

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 that he himself

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 was not the Christ.

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 The promised one of Israel.

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 And he says so.

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 He says so here.

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 Now,

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 let's just stop for a moment

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 and just think

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 what a comment that is to make.

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 I've never had to explain

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 to people

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 that I'm not the Savior

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 of the world.

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 It just tends not

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 to come up in conversation.

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 I don't need

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 to explain this.

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 But John did.

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 I mean,

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 that's a measure

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 of popularity,

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 isn't he?

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 He had such prominence,

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 such power,

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 such authority,

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 that on more than one occasion

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 he had to say,

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 I'm not the Savior.

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 I'm just the one

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 being sent before him.

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 He's like the one

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 who goes ahead

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 to get ready

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 for the meeting.

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 Like the meeting

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 we're having this morning.

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 He's the one

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 who has to get ready

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 for the meeting

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 so that people

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 won't be distracted,

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 so that everything

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 will run smoothly.

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 Harry likens himself

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 to the best friend

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 of the bridegroom

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 before a wedding

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 who just wants

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 things to run well.

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 He's not trying

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 to win anyone

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 over to himself.

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 He's not trying

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 to steal the limelight.

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 He's the best friend

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 making sure

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 everything's okay,

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 waiting at everyone's

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 disposal,

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 willing to do anything

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 to make his friend's day,

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 his friend's marriage,

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 a success.

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 In those days,

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 the bridegroom's friend

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 also had a more

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 specific duty.

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 And not just

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 in those days.

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 I don't know

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 if you've ever

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 read The Count of Monte Cristo,

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 but Alexander Dumas

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 tells this story well.

00:15:03.540 --> 00:15:04.440
 Adele sings this

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:05.300
 in all of her songs.

00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:07.340
 There's people

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.060
 who are sometimes

00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:09.779
 around a wedding service

00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:10.639
 or a relationship

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.840
 who think that

00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.060
 they ought to be

00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:14.240
 the ones holding hands.

00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.480
 They ought to be

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.820
 the ones exchanging

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.360
 the promises.

00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.300
 There are sometimes

00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.759
 bitter or disappointed

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.100
 people around a wedding.

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.539
 And in those days,

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:25.120
 the job of the best,

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:25.920
 one of the jobs

00:15:25.920 --> 00:15:26.560
 of the best man

00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:27.080
 was to kind of

00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.060
 fend off people

00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:29.580
 making last-ditch efforts

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:31.139
 on the bride.

00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.100
 I mean,

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.879
 just to make sure

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.220
 that disappointed suitors

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.220
 kept their distance.

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.259
 John's doing

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.560
 something like that here.

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:44.399
 Whatever the specific task,

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.519
 the friend of the bridegroom

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.500
 is happiest when?

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.500
 He's happiest

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:50.120
 when the wedding starts.

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.319
 He's happiest,

00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:51.980
 as John says,

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.939
 when he hears

00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:54.220
 the voice of the bridegroom.

00:15:54.459 --> 00:15:55.079
 Oh, thankfully,

00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:55.679
 he's coming down

00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.179
 the hallway.

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.860
 My job's almost done.

00:15:58.959 --> 00:15:59.720
 The marriage

00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.620
 is about to begin.

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:02.720
 He rejoices greatly

00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.679
 at the bridegroom's voice,

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.639
 John says.

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.600
 His joy is complete.

00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:07.679
 Now, just stop for a minute

00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.079
 and think about

00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:08.720
 what that means.

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:12.200
 For what would we think,

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.720
 as Augustine of Hippo

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:16.620
 once asked long ago,

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.220
 of a best man

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.420
 who kept the bride

00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:20.399
 from all other men

00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.100
 so that he could

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.180
 keep her for himself?

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.800
 What kind of friend

00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:26.759
 would we count that man

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.220
 to be

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.220
 if he tried to capture

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.320
 the affections

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.000
 of the bride?

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.480
 What would we think

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.700
 in John Calvin's

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.720
 gritty phrase

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.500
 of a best man

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.160
 who made the bride

00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:37.919
 a prostitute?

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.500
 I think we could agree

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.179
 that he wouldn't be

00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:41.519
 a very,

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.919
 he wouldn't be a best man.

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.620
 Not a good man.

00:16:43.699 --> 00:16:44.799
 Not a best friend either.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.019
 And yet,

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:47.480
 as the theologian

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.819
 John Murray explains,

00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:50.199
 that's exactly

00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.819
 what John's disciples

00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:53.000
 were tempting

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.459
 him to do.

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.159
 Incongruous

00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:58.120
 or odd as it seems

00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:00.100
 in the sphere

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.039
 of social life,

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.179
 it's exactly

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.360
 what they were suggesting

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.240
 in the spiritual

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.159
 and heavenly sphere.

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.779
 They wanted

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.879
 John to keep

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.779
 his hold

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:09.519
 on the people

00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.119
 of Israel.

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.779
 To win their

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.180
 affections for himself.

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:14.680
 To keep their

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.839
 attentions on him.

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.200
 Prophet John

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.700
 grew up

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.099
 in the home

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:20.740
 of a priest.

00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.559
 He could not

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.200
 have been ignorant

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.079
 of passages

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.639
 and the prophecies

00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:26.319
 of Isaiah

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.119
 and Jeremiah

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.220
 and Hosea

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.720
 that called Israel

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.420
 or the believers

00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.180
 within Israel

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.259
 the bride

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.160
 of the Messiah.

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.319
 He could not

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:34.960
 have been ignorant

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.579
 of this idea

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.480
 that there's

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.160
 a body,

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.420
 there's someone

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.759
 promised to

00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.480
 the Messiah.

00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:42.519
 But whether he

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.039
 was thinking

00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:43.819
 about that here

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.319
 or not,

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.860
 surely we need

00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:46.620
 to see the

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.680
 importance of

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.620
 what this last

00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:49.700
 great prophet

00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.460
 was teaching.

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:51.740
 No one

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.880
 is to stand

00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:53.600
 between Jesus

00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.059
 and his people.

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.620
 No one

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.279
 is to try

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.640
 and win

00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.259
 the first

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.059
 affections

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.740
 of the church

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.660
 for himself

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.519
 or herself.

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.240
 No minister

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.500
 is to teach

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.819
 or preach

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:07.420
 or counsel

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.940
 or do anything

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.960
 with the intention

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.440
 of winning

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.480
 the hearts

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.000
 of God's people

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.339
 to himself.

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.720
 Not only are we

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.440
 not to do this

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.400
 unintentionally,

00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.980
 we're to intentionally

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.379
 guard against this

00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:21.559
 because we know

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.099
 what our own

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.980
 hearts are like.

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.059
 We're to avoid

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.700
 any attempt

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.440
 to seek the

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.139
 admiration

00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:27.920
 of the Christian

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.440
 church.

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.940
 So look for

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.500
 that kind

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.059
 of pleasure

00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.860
 ourselves

00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:33.380
 as Christian

00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:33.820
 workers,

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:34.660
 Christian

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.279
 preachers,

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.039
 would be to

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.779
 make the bride

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.240
 of Christ

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.000
 unfaithful.

00:18:39.360 --> 00:18:40.039
 Do you see

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.340
 that?

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.059
 Do you see

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.900
 how dangerous

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.640
 it is?

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.860
 John knew

00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:46.220
 this.

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.240
 And he

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:49.620
 wasn't

00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:50.460
 resigned

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.220
 to being

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.120
 second place.

00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.120
 He wasn't

00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:54.920
 sad about

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.279
 this.

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.200
 He rejoices,

00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:57.840
 he says.

00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.320
 He rejoices

00:18:59.319 --> 00:18:59.819
 to play

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.659
 second fiddle.

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.839
 It is

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:04.220
 in that

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.000
 spirit that

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.339
 you could

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.000
 issue

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.179
 the motto

00:19:07.179 --> 00:19:08.200
 about Jesus

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.359
 that no

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.299
 member of the

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.879
 church and

00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.399
 certainly no

00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.079
 minister of the

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:12.899
 church should

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.539
 ever forget.

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.119
 You see it in

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.599
 your Bibles.

00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:17.379
 He must

00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.059
 increase,

00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.519
 but I must

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.079
 decrease.

00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:21.879
 That's the

00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.419
 spirit of a

00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:23.159
 true friend

00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:24.079
 and servant

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.619
 of Jesus.

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.579
 He must

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.099
 increase,

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.819
 I must

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.399
 decrease.

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.460
 As John

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.040
 Aerosmith,

00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.580
 a member of

00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:30.060
 the Westminster

00:19:30.060 --> 00:19:30.519
 Assembly,

00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.360
 once put it,

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.759
 true ministers

00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.720
 set up Christ

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.100
 in their

00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:34.560
 ministry.

00:19:35.320 --> 00:19:35.580
 They are

00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:35.940
 content

00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.920
 themselves to

00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.420
 stand in

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:37.920
 the crowd,

00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.140
 to lift up

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.780
 Christ upon

00:19:39.780 --> 00:19:40.480
 their shoulders,

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.960
 content not to

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.320
 be seen

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:42.920
 themselves,

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.200
 so Christ

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.880
 be exalted.

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.360
 Maybe no one

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:47.980
 ever exalted

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.860
 Christ as much

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.440
 as John did

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:49.960
 at that very

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.120
 moment with

00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:51.560
 such a

00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:51.980
 temptation.

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.839
 Well, I

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.259
 think every

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.640
 Christian

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.299
 instinctively

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:55.920
 admires the

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.380
 spirit of

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.779
 John the

00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:57.099
 Baptist.

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.640
 We know

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.120
 he's right,

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.620
 don't we?

00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.960
 He must

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.480
 increase,

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.099
 we must

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:01.720
 decrease.

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.240
 At our

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.079
 worst moments,

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.740
 to be fair,

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.099
 we sometimes

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:06.559
 get that

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.000
 reversed.

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.240
 We boast

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.059
 about ourselves,

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:11.019
 we talk about

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.579
 our gifts

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.140
 instead of

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:12.839
 Christ's gifts,

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.779
 we advertise

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.660
 what's good

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.180
 in us.

00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:17.920
 At our

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.500
 worst moments,

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.460
 Jesus decreases

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.099
 so that we

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.779
 can increase.

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.779
 Or at least

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.200
 we hope that

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.700
 as Jesus

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.160
 increases,

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.720
 we'll increase

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.180
 along with

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:25.319
 him.

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:25.579
 I think

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:25.940
 that's where

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.400
 I am.

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.400
 I wouldn't

00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.279
 possibly want

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.720
 Jesus to

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.059
 decrease,

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:30.700
 but I'm

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.140
 hoping as

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.759
 he increases

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.559
 that I'm

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:32.839
 going to be

00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.180
 right up

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.539
 there with

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:33.759
 him.

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.380
 That's still

00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:35.920
 too positive

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.460
 of a spin

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.000
 on myself,

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.480
 honestly.

00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.400
 That's where

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:39.759
 we are in

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.140
 our worst

00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.500
 moments,

00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.759
 our wobbly

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.220
 moments.

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.200
 But at our

00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.059
 best moments,

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.900
 when the work

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.380
 of the Holy

00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.120
 Spirit's not

00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:48.480
 being resisted

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.000
 in our lives,

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.279
 when we're

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.299
 thinking straight,

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.480
 we can come

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:51.799
 up with

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.619
 any number

00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.240
 of reasons

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.879
 why Jesus

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.659
 must increase

00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:54.940
 and we

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.659
 must decrease.

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.720
 If you know

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.259
 yourself,

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.779
 if I know

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.279
 myself,

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:58.819
 you can think

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.379
 of all kinds

00:20:59.379 --> 00:20:59.720
 of reasons

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.220
 why I could

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.700
 decrease,

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:01.779
 why Jesus

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.460
 should increase.

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.079
 Here's the

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.559
 good news,

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.240
 if you're

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.919
 short on sleep

00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.680
 or caffeine

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.180
 this morning,

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:06.859
 you don't

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.359
 need to do

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:07.799
 that hard

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.539
 thinking yourself,

00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:10.419
 because John

00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:11.319
 provides three

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.000
 reasons for us

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.480
 right here in

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:12.960
 this passage.

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.759
 So all you

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.099
 need to do

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.559
 is read and

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:14.799
 listen,

00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.419
 you don't

00:21:15.419 --> 00:21:15.759
 even need

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.099
 to think.

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.779
 In verses

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.220
 31 to 36,

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.720
 Scripture offers

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.759
 us John's

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.680
 reasons about

00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.079
 Jesus.

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.900
 Three perfect

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.319
 reasons why

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.539
 we too should

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.740
 agree that

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.460
 Jesus should

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.740
 increase and

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.220
 we should

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:31.740
 decrease.

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.579
 The first

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.500
 cause for the

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.240
 increase of

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.380
 Jesus, in our

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:36.620
 estimation, is

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.539
 his authority.

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.180
 He's the one

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.500
 who comes.

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.019
 So if you like

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.700
 three-point sermons,

00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:41.380
 I have three

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:41.660
 points.

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.400
 Here they are.

00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.759
 The first reason

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.559
 why Jesus should

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.680
 increase is because

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.559
 of his authority.

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:48.079
 He's the one

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.839
 who comes from

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.240
 above.

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.139
 And so he's

00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.759
 above all.

00:21:51.399 --> 00:21:52.039
 The fact that

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.799
 Jesus is above

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.319
 all is mentioned

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.220
 twice in verse

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.639
 31.

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:56.200
 And the simple

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.019
 meaning of this

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.659
 statement is that

00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:59.059
 he holds a rule

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.720
 and authority

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.539
 above all others.

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.339
 No one can

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:01.940
 approach his

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.299
 greatness.

00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.379
 We who are

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.279
 earthly, we who

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.179
 are from below,

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.119
 we who are people

00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:07.259
 of Adam and

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.019
 belong to this

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.759
 world, our

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.599
 thoughts, our

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.240
 words, we're

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.079
 limited in so

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.859
 many ways.

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.639
 As Calvin puts

00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:15.099
 it, he speaks

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:15.619
 from the throne,

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.199
 we just speak

00:22:16.199 --> 00:22:16.959
 from the footstool.

00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:18.979
 The preachers of

00:22:18.979 --> 00:22:19.839
 the word do

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.459
 have a real

00:22:20.459 --> 00:22:21.219
 authority from

00:22:21.219 --> 00:22:22.819
 Jesus, but the

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.500
 point is that

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:25.519
 even the commanding

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.899
 presence and

00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.939
 preaching of

00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:28.419
 someone like

00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:29.799
 John pales in

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:31.539
 authority between

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.159
 the ultimate

00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:34.139
 presence and

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.259
 authority of the

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.799
 one who came

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.359
 from above.

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.399
 So it's because

00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:38.419
 of his matchless

00:22:38.419 --> 00:22:40.059
 authority that he

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.679
 must increase and

00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:42.639
 we must decrease.

00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.559
 John lifts up the

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.379
 authority of Jesus,

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.160
 he also in

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.020
 verses 32 to

00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:48.360
 34 exalts the

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.280
 testimony of

00:22:49.280 --> 00:22:49.580
 Jesus.

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:50.680
 The one who

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.700
 came from above

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.900
 brings with him a

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.120
 reliable testimony.

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.560
 He knows things,

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.560
 he's heard things,

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.860
 he's seen things.

00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.660
 Much that was

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.360
 known to Jesus

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:01.040
 could never be

00:23:01.040 --> 00:23:01.400
 shared.

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.660
 But he bore

00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.640
 witness to what

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.440
 he's seen and

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.580
 heard that we

00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:06.360
 need to know,

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.320
 that we need to

00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:07.620
 hear.

00:23:09.040 --> 00:23:10.920
 The sad irony is

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.600
 that his teaching

00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:12.700
 was accredited by

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.840
 the agency of

00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.660
 heaven and yet no

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.480
 one receives his

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:15.920
 testimony.

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.700
 All are going to

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.480
 him, John's

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.480
 disciples complained.

00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.019
 Ah, but no one

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.640
 receives his

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:24.060
 testimony, John

00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:24.600
 replies.

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.900
 They thought too

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.840
 much was given to

00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.140
 Jesus.

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.060
 John says no, not

00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:31.440
 enough.

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.759
 Never enough.

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.500
 It wasn't enough

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.140
 for the crowds to

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.320
 hear about Jesus.

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.320
 It's not enough to

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.640
 hear that testimony.

00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:38.800
 testimony.

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.620
 Jesus is only

00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:42.259
 honored when people

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.680
 receive that

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.160
 testimony.

00:23:45.020 --> 00:23:45.980
 When they accept

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.660
 the message.

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.700
 Only when someone

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.640
 receives that

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.640
 testimony do they

00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:51.220
 put their seal to

00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:52.000
 this statement.

00:23:52.560 --> 00:23:54.240
 God is true and

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.380
 true in his son.

00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:56.980
 And anyone who

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.880
 says anything less

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.660
 is really calling

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.440
 God a liar.

00:24:00.040 --> 00:24:01.100
 In sending us his

00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:02.400
 son, God sends us

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.140
 the one who is

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.680
 truth.

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.080
 And to reject the

00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:05.900
 person of his son

00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:06.780
 is to reject the

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.660
 truth of God too.

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.099
 Jesus spoke the

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.700
 words of God

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.259
 because he was

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.700
 from heaven.

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.559
 He also did this

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.420
 as verse 34

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.139
 explains.

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.960
 Because along with

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:18.399
 the son, the

00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.259
 father is sending

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.920
 his spirit.

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.059
 So Jesus, he gave

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.859
 the Holy Spirit

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.940
 without measure.

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.799
 Jesus is, among

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.980
 other things, the

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:29.039
 heaven sent, spirit

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:30.559
 filled truth of

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:30.940
 God.

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.019
 Read the first

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.279
 part of all the

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.680
 four gospels and

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.500
 you'll hear that

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.960
 testimony.

00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.440
 Read the last

00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.059
 part of each

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.759
 gospel and you'll

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.779
 see that testimony.

00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.460
 Because he spoke

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.140
 more in his death

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.480
 and in the

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.220
 resurrection than

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.700
 he did in all

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.279
 of his sermons.

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.559
 It's because of

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:51.220
 this unrivaled

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:53.380
 testimony that he

00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:55.019
 must increase and

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.940
 we must decrease.

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.099
 The final reason

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:59.079
 that the gospel

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.819
 gives for the

00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.940
 elevation of Jesus

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.819
 is the gift of

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.160
 Jesus.

00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:03.819
 And once again,

00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:04.880
 to understand why

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:06.480
 Jesus must increase

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.080
 we're directed

00:25:07.080 --> 00:25:07.660
 heavenward.

00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:10.460
 You see, it's

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:12.260
 not only true that

00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:13.420
 the gift of Jesus

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.360
 is a gift from

00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:15.920
 the father and

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.880
 sourced in the

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.900
 bottomless love of

00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.080
 the father, it's

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:21.180
 also true that the

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:23.480
 father has given a

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.580
 gift to the son.

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:26.140
 The father has given

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.120
 a gift to the son.

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.920
 A gift in measure

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.960
 for his love for

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.539
 his son.

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.820
 You see, that's what

00:25:33.820 --> 00:25:35.039
 verse 35 means.

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.600
 The disciples of

00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:37.480
 John looked at

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.420
 Jesus and worried

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.539
 that all are going

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.019
 to him.

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.720
 The father looks at

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:43.120
 Jesus and gives

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:44.360
 everything he wants

00:25:44.360 --> 00:25:44.800
 to him.

00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:47.660
 Sometimes Christians

00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.500
 wonder at the love

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.019
 of the son.

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:51.039
 John is telling us

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.360
 we can only begin

00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:54.620
 to understand this

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:56.000
 love when we see

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.580
 the love of the

00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:56.900
 father.

00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:56.980
 father.

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.620
 It's that love

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.380
 that the son is

00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:01.100
 passing on and

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.940
 which by his Holy

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.000
 Spirit he continues

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.240
 to pass on today.

00:26:04.540 --> 00:26:05.560
 The gift of Jesus

00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:07.780
 to us began as a

00:26:07.780 --> 00:26:08.780
 gift of us to

00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:09.120
 Jesus.

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.640
 We'll see.

00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:14.120
 We'll spend an

00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:15.100
 eternity trying to

00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:17.100
 figure out how we

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.860
 could be a gift to

00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.200
 anyone.

00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:20.540
 Knowing who we are,

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.400
 let alone a gift from

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.100
 the father to the

00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.340
 son.

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.100
 But John's words

00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:24.780
 end on a different

00:26:24.780 --> 00:26:25.100
 note.

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.440
 You can see that

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.000
 the very end of

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.420
 the chapter.

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.240
 He reminds us

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:32.820
 that God's gift

00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.100
 of love to us

00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:36.039
 comes in the form

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:37.400
 of life for us.

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.279
 Whoever believes

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:42.180
 in the son has

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.080
 eternal life.

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.940
 Life with this

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.320
 spirit.

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.500
 With this son.

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.700
 With this father.

00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.019
 Life that discovers

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.240
 this kind of love.

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.860
 Life that does not

00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:53.620
 meet an ultimate

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.700
 tragic end.

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:55.900
 Life that

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.900
 doesn't diminish in

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:59.019
 its glory.

00:27:00.060 --> 00:27:00.900
 You see what Jesus

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.880
 is saying here.

00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:04.420
 This is not a life

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:06.259
 for those who have

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.460
 conquered their

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.220
 jealousies.

00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:09.480
 This is not a life

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.380
 for people who

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.580
 aren't troubled

00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.700
 with rivalries.

00:27:13.040 --> 00:27:14.800
 This is not a life

00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:15.380
 for those who

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:16.400
 haven't started or

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.500
 continued a foolish

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.640
 argument like John's

00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:19.480
 disciples were doing

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:19.780
 here.

00:27:19.780 --> 00:27:20.900
 This is not a life

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.400
 for those who have

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:22.360
 managed to put all

00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:23.040
 their complaining

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.740
 behind them.

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:26.220
 This is a life

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.279
 for all who

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.000
 believe in the

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.259
 son.

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.119
 That's what John

00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.720
 says here.

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.440
 The truth before us

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.619
 if I can quote an

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.420
 Anglican bishop at a

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.139
 Presbyterian church

00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.759
 is one of the most

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.819
 glorious privileges

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.579
 of the gospel.

00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:39.940
 There are no works

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.500
 to be done.

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.440
 No conditions to be

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.859
 fulfilled.

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.740
 No price to be

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.099
 paid.

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.779
 No wearing years

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.859
 of probation to be

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.299
 passed.

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.859
 Christ before a

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.460
 sinner can be

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.480
 accepted with God.

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.879
 Let him only

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.859
 believe on Christ

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:56.399
 and he is at once

00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:56.779
 forgiven.

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:59.119
 It is because of

00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.299
 this priceless gift

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.680
 that he must

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:03.259
 increase and we

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.799
 must decrease.

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.960
 It's this gospel

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.940
 that some of us

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.079
 are commissioned

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.619
 to preach.

00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:11.480
 All of us are

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.299
 called to believe.

00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.559
 But it's the

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.000
 happy privilege

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.799
 isn't it?

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.980
 It's the happy

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.879
 privilege of every

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.320
 Christian.

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.760
 To be able to say

00:28:20.760 --> 00:28:21.600
 to our friends

00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:23.960
 and our family

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.340
 and our neighbors

00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:28.040
 if you trust in

00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:29.840
 Jesus you will

00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.660
 have life.

00:28:32.020 --> 00:28:32.580
 And you're not

00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:33.240
 just offering a

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.120
 hope of life.

00:28:34.760 --> 00:28:35.400
 You're not just

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.240
 talking about a

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.380
 later life or an

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.700
 afterlife although

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.460
 we'll have that

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:39.760
 too.

00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:41.220
 You're offering

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.700
 life itself

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:44.060
 because whoever

00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:45.040
 believes the son

00:28:45.040 --> 00:28:46.480
 we're told has

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.520
 eternal life.

00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.780
 For those who

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.940
 believe in the son

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.180
 as jarring

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.299
 as brutal

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.539
 as death is

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.299
 for those who

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.119
 are left behind.

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.639
 It is for the

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.660
 one who dies

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:59.220
 a life that

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.160
 continues into

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.519
 life from one

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.559
 moment to the

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:02.960
 next.

00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.619
 But if given

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.500
 the opportunity

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:08.019
 for such a

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:10.220
 task of telling

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.980
 people about this

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:13.160
 life I guess

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:14.700
 we'll also want

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.139
 to note the

00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:15.980
 opposite case.

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.819
 God is the

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.140
 love for the

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.720
 son.

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.920
 And John

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:17.559
 mentions that

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:17.860
 too.

00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:20.960
 Whoever does

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.579
 not believe the

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.160
 son does not

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.819
 see life.

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:24.759
 You see so

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.660
 great is the

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.819
 father's love for

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:29.920
 the son that

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.460
 to reject the

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:33.720
 son to ignore

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.900
 his testimony

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:36.900
 has very serious

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:38.079
 consequences too.

00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.919
 when it comes to

00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:42.539
 Jesus to refuse

00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.980
 him is to

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.639
 offend our

00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.000
 God.

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.439
 And no doubt

00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:47.559
 it's because John

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.359
 had begun to

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.460
 understand just

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.759
 how much people

00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.500
 needed Jesus.

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:53.079
 That he quieted

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.799
 his disciples.

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.220
 That he issued

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.899
 his maxim.

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.279
 That he offered

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.980
 his parable.

00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.339
 It's no doubt

00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:00.119
 because he saw

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:01.279
 Jesus' matchless

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.899
 authority,

00:30:02.199 --> 00:30:03.279
 his unrivaled

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.779
 testimony,

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.240
 and the priceless

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.379
 gift that he could

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.640
 say, I must

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.280
 increase.

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.080
 I must decrease.

00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:11.500
 He must increase.

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.240
 The fact is, as

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.460
 verse 36 says in

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.540
 his closing words,

00:30:16.040 --> 00:30:17.600
 we need salvation.

00:30:18.280 --> 00:30:19.240
 We are sinners.

00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:21.100
 Without Christ,

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.960
 the wrath of God

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:23.380
 is already upon

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:23.860
 us.

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:26.100
 Without Christ,

00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.920
 it will remain

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.500
 on us.

00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.740
 There's no hope

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.500
 in trying to

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.620
 avoid the wrath

00:30:30.620 --> 00:30:31.000
 of God.

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.020
 It's already

00:30:32.020 --> 00:30:32.480
 there.

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.340
 It will be

00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:34.200
 revealed in the

00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.920
 last day.

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:38.060
 Psalm 75

00:30:38.060 --> 00:30:39.080
 tells us it's

00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:39.500
 God who

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.060
 executes

00:30:40.060 --> 00:30:40.519
 judgment.

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.500
 Putting down

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.200
 one, lifting

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.680
 up another.

00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.039
 We just need

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.660
 to look around

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.019
 us.

00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:46.519
 We're part of

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.080
 a broken

00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:48.279
 world, a

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.220
 fallen race.

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.100
 We're already

00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:50.580
 down.

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:52.080
 There's only one

00:30:52.080 --> 00:30:52.560
 way up.

00:30:53.580 --> 00:30:54.360
 God has provided

00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:55.140
 that way from

00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:55.539
 the one who

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:55.940
 came from

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.340
 above.

00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:58.100
 The one who

00:30:58.100 --> 00:31:00.080
 set aside

00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:00.620
 his full

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.120
 authority

00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:02.679
 and bore

00:31:02.679 --> 00:31:03.159
 with

00:31:03.159 --> 00:31:05.379
 indignity.

00:31:06.479 --> 00:31:06.819
 He sent

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.339
 his son

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:08.219
 who gave

00:31:08.219 --> 00:31:08.979
 his testimony

00:31:08.979 --> 00:31:09.639
 and watched

00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.299
 it rejected.

00:31:11.199 --> 00:31:11.759
 He sent

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.339
 his son

00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.199
 giving all

00:31:13.199 --> 00:31:13.759
 things into

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.419
 his hands

00:31:14.419 --> 00:31:15.659
 and then

00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:16.199
 Christ put

00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:16.639
 his life

00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.000
 into the

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.500
 hands of

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.159
 sinful men

00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:20.039
 who unwittingly

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.579
 offered him

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.339
 as a sacrifice

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:21.979
 for sinners

00:31:21.979 --> 00:31:22.639
 on a cross.

00:31:23.959 --> 00:31:24.599
 He died.

00:31:25.419 --> 00:31:26.059
 But of course

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.619
 no power

00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.179
 could keep

00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:27.719
 him dead.

00:31:28.219 --> 00:31:28.500
 For the

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.139
 father put

00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.140
 in an

00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:30.800
 abiding

00:31:30.800 --> 00:31:31.520
 and powerful

00:31:31.520 --> 00:31:32.060
 life that

00:31:32.060 --> 00:31:32.620
 no grave

00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.280
 could resist.

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.120
 He sent

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.740
 his son

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.220
 didn't he?

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.620
 He sent

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.040
 his son

00:31:37.040 --> 00:31:37.580
 who declared

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.460
 that in

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.980
 some sense

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.420
 he would

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:39.960
 decrease

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.100
 so we

00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:41.820
 could increase.

00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.200
 May we

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.640
 all,

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.340
 those gathered

00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.920
 here this

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.259
 morning,

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.660
 our friends

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.280
 elsewhere,

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.060
 believe in

00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:52.520
 Christ and

00:31:52.520 --> 00:31:53.500
 find eternal

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:55.000
 life and

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.660
 then may his

00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:56.540
 name increase

00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:57.100
 throughout all

00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:57.560
 the ages.

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.960
 Let's pray.

00:31:59.580 --> 00:31:59.720
 Let's pray.

00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720


00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720


00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720


00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720


00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720


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00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720


00:31:59.720 --> 00:31:59.720