WEBVTT

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 Well it's fantastic, I've been really looking forward to getting back into the book of John.

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 It's going to be great, I hope we'll all benefit, I'm sure we will benefit from that.

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 Keep that passage open.

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 You know, just a few weeks ago some friends came back from a summer trip to the south of France.

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 And I've got to say that they went Euro camping and I've got to say that as they were describing this,

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 it sounded like paradise, I was green with envy.

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 Until the moment they mentioned that they'd taken a day trip to Euro Disney with the kids.

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 Now I don't know if you've been there, you may love the place, but I've got to confess I don't really understand the concept of it.

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 You know, you go to the most romantic city in the world and then you spend the afternoon with Goofy and Mary Poppins.

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 It's sort of beyond me really.

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 But I don't have kids so there you go.

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 Anyway, one evening apparently they'd stayed on into the night to see the elaborate firework display that they show there at the end of each evening in the summer.

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 It was a huge affair, a spectacle, and probably thousands of Euros worth of fireworks were lit in one evening.

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 Truly magical and thousands of people were there on holiday to have a bit of a good time, to enjoy themselves.

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 They'd gathered for some good times, for a bit of fun, to light up their lives with the novelty of it all.

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 But after the show, and I don't know if you've ever had that feeling of dissatisfaction really, with even the best things in life.

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 When it was over they said they had a distinct feeling of an anti-climax as they headed back to the car park.

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 It's banal really, isn't it?

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 Because tomorrow the fireworks at Euro Disney would be lit up again.

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 And the night after that, and the night after that, it would be one trip back on the Eurostar to Waterloo.

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 Then back to Ealing.

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 And back to reality with a bump.

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 And you know, it's that kind of post-holiday blues, if you want to call it, that post-holiday scenario,

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 that the holiday makers in John's Gospel are about to experience for another year.

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 So it's a similar scene.

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 This section that Ian read out just a minute ago, it's a similar scene to what I've just described.

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 The section comes here in the public holidays of the Jewish people.

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 So if you flip back a page to chapter 7 and verse 2, you'll see there John tells us,

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 Now the Feast of Booths was at hand.

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 Or the Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

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 So it's a Jewish public holiday.

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 It's a feast.

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 It's one of the most popular festivals of the year.

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 Thousands of people get a few days off work.

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 They and their families have poured into the streets of Jerusalem.

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 So it's a bit like the craze that's at Euro Disney.

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 It's the craze that we get at Christmas time.

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 It's what they've been looking forward to for a whole month.

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 Or if you shop at Harrods for eight months.

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 It would be a week of parties.

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 And then the grand finale, they'd have a lamp lighting ceremony.

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 In the court of the temple.

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 So there would have been torches.

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 There would have been lights illuminating the streets.

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 From the city.

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 From the temple mount.

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 So it's the annual family firework display, isn't it?

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 And these people are on a public holiday.

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 They are looking for something to light up their lives.

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 But as Jesus speaks in this passage, the post-holiday blues are setting in.

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 There is dissatisfaction in the air.

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 It's near the end of the festival.

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 John tells us in verse 37 of chapter 7.

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 We're going to land in our passage in a moment.

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 But he tells us there that it was the last day of the festival.

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 The celebration was coming to an end.

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 It was reaching its climax.

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 It was just about to end.

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 The torches were going to go out for another year.

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 The lamps were going to be extinguished.

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 And darkness was going to return to the streets of Jerusalem.

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 And to their lives for another year.

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 But Jesus stands up, doesn't he?

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 In chapter 8, verse 12.

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 They're looking for some light and hope in their lives on this holiday.

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 But they know that the lights of the festival are short-lived.

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 Those lights will be going out tonight.

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 But Jesus says, I am the light of the world.

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 And what he says here at this moment, it gets a reaction from the religious leaders.

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 It's well-timed.

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 It's well-targeted, this statement he's making here.

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 He makes it at this festival.

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 So, in the next few moments, I just want us to see two things about this passage.

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 Two C's.

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 Firstly, the claim.

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 The claim that Jesus makes.

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 And, you know, a couple of years after this event, they would look back.

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 It was the kind of thing that would make this Feast of Booths different from all the others.

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 Just let me give you a bit of background on this.

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 You know, here they are at the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Tabernacles.

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 And it was given, this feast, to the people of God in the Old Testament.

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 So, you can read about it in Leviticus chapter 23.

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 It was given to them just after God had rescued them from Egypt.

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 And so, it was to remind them of how God had saved them from the darkness of slavery in Egypt.

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 It was to remind them of their journey in the wilderness when they'd lived in tents or booths or tabernacles.

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 And this lamp-lighting ceremony on the last day was to remind them of how God had led them out of the darkness of Egypt,

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 through the darkness of the wilderness, to the unknown land that he promised them.

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 But he'd led them in a pillar of light, in a pillar of fire, through the darkness of the night, out of Egypt.

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 And throughout the people's history, that that darkness of Egypt has become shorthand for the darkness of sin in their lives.

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 Egypt has become a kind of euphemism for the oppression that sin brings to life.

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 So, the addictions that the misery, that sin, that rebellion against God brings to life, that is the darkness,

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 let alone the offence that it causes at God.

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 You know, one man said, you don't break God's laws, they break you.

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 That is the darkness that we feel when we go against God's laws.

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 We don't break them, they break us.

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 It is a dark thing to sin against God.

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 Going against God is a dark thing.

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 You know, another writer said it's like a banquet in the grave.

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 That is what sin is.

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 A banquet in the grave.

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 And there, that evening, at that moment, when the torches are burning,

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 and the fire from the four huge lamps in the temple court

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 is licking up into the cold night air.

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 The average Jew, with any sense of occasion, well, he'd be welling up at this point, wouldn't he?

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 So, it's the last night of the proms, isn't it?

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 The land of hope and glory.

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 They're thinking about the good old days.

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 The days of Moses.

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 The days of Moses.

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 And being led, rescued out of the darkness of Egypt.

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 The days of being rescued from the oppression of sin.

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 And the images of light in the Bible are going through their minds as well, aren't they?

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 Psalm 27.

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 The Lord is my light and my salvation.

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 Proverbs 6.

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 The word of God is a light to my path.

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 And the promise of Isaiah for the future,

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 the Lord himself would be a light for his people,

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 dealing with sin, finally leading them out of the darkness.

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 So, think of it, the average Jew at this feast, this festival,

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 he is thinking about being led through the darkness,

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 out of slavery, led by the light of God,

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 led to a land of life with God,

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 a promise of God himself coming,

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 and meeting and living with them,

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 being a light to them.

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 It's a wonderful image, isn't it?

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 And all of that is tied up with the image of light.

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 It's a loaded issue for them at this festival.

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 But it's a bittersweet moment, isn't it?

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 As they look at the lights of the festival,

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 because they're in Jerusalem,

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 and it isn't the land of hope and glory, is it?

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 The Roman occupation is in full swing,

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 all they've got are the lights of this festival.

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 What they need is the light of God.

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 And the promises of God seem like a myth.

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 And so what Jesus claims,

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 I am the light of the world,

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 he claims at a very specific moment,

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 so that the people will put two and two together.

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 They see the festival lights,

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 and all that they represent to them.

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 They hear his claim,

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 and they know he is claiming.

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 He is claiming to be the universal,

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 personal, and exclusive fulfillment

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 of all of that Old Testament prophecy.

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 He is the one to lead them out of slavery,

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 to be God's light to them,

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 to light up their lives, truly.

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 So everything that they're celebrating

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 is met in the person of Jesus.

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 Everything that they are remembering about God,

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 what he did for them in Egypt,

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 is met in Jesus,

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 and not only for them,

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 but for the whole world.

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 I am the light of the world.

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 I will lead the entire world,

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 if they will follow me,

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 out of the darkness of sin.

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 I will lead China.

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 I will lead India.

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 I will lead Libya.

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 And London.

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 Out of sin.

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 I am the light of the world,

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 Jesus says.

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 That is the great claim that he makes.

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 And it has a wonderful consequence,

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 doesn't it?

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 Did you see there,

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 verse 12 again,

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 the second part of his claim,

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 and whoever follows me,

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 will not walk in darkness,

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 but will have the light of life.

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 You will be free from sin.

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 Whoever follows me.

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 That is the claim.

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 But secondly,

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 and this is the flip side of it,

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 flip side of it,

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 there is corruption

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 at this festival.

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 There is corruption here.

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 And this is really where we get into the meat of the passage,

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 because it's this claim of Jesus

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 to be the light of God

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 to the whole world

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 that causes a kind of chain reaction,

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 doesn't it?

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 Ian read it really well, actually.

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 You'll see he makes, doesn't he,

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 this claim.

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 And what we hear next

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 is this reaction.

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 So if you look at verse 13,

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 the beginning of verse 13,

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 he makes the claim,

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 and then it says,

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 so the Pharisees said to him.

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 So the religious leaders

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 are reacting to this claim,

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 aren't they?

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 But they are corrupt.

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 They are the ultimate party poopers there,

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 aren't they?

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 The festival is drawing to a close.

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 Jesus is saying,

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 look, although the holiday is over,

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 the good news is

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 that actually everything that you need,

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 that this festival represents,

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 is in me.

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 Every day will be

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 the feast of booths with me.

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 Every day will be

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 a walking away from the darkness

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 with me.

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 But some people,

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 the religious leaders,

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 are corrupt

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 in their thinking.

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 They are corrupt

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 in what they love

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 in their lives.

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 They are corrupt

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 in what they,

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 what they want,

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 what they treasure

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 in their lives.

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 And they don't want,

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 want what is on offer.

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 The claim

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 shows

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 that they are corrupt.

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 They aren't having any of it,

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 are they?

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 So they start

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 interrogating

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 Jesus.

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 But they are corrupt.

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 Verse 15,

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 Jesus says,

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 look,

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 you judge according

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 to the flesh.

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 They are worldly men.

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 They like to,

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 they like the lights

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 of the festival,

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 don't they?

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 The lights of religion.

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 But they don't want

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 the true light.

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 They don't want Jesus,

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 do they?

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 They're not thinking

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 about God.

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 And this great claim

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 of,

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 and this offer of light

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 for them

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 in their lives.

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 Well,

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 they attack it.

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 They don't receive it.

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 They want to undermine

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 his claim.

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 So they want to discredit

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 what he says,

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 don't they,

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 about himself.

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 So they take pot shots

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 at him,

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 don't they?

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 So if you look at

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 verse 13,

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 there's the attack.

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 The attack they make.

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 You are bearing witness

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 about yourself,

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 Jesus.

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 Your testimony

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 is not true.

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 That's the attack.

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.500
 Now what they're doing

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.220
 here is actually

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.020
 remembering

00:14:38.020 --> 00:14:40.040
 something that Jesus

00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:41.360
 has already said

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.420
 that John has told

00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:43.780
 us about,

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.680
 but they're taking it

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:45.860
 totally out of context.

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.000
 So if you turn back

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.140
 to chapter 5

00:14:48.140 --> 00:14:49.900
 and verse 31,

00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.720
 chapter 5,

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.460
 verse 31,

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.500
 Jesus is having

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.780
 a similar conversation

00:14:56.780 --> 00:14:57.740
 here with some people

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.680
 and he says,

00:14:59.640 --> 00:15:00.320
 chapter 5,

00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:00.780
 31,

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:01.940
 if I alone

00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.700
 bear witness

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:03.820
 about myself,

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.600
 my testimony

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.020
 is not deemed true.

00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.680
 So he is saying,

00:15:08.760 --> 00:15:08.980
 isn't he,

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.220
 yes,

00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:09.980
 that is true.

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.780
 If I make these

00:15:10.780 --> 00:15:12.120
 outlandish claims

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.040
 about myself

00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:14.080
 and if I'm the only

00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.440
 one who makes

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.120
 those claims

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.720
 about me,

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.040
 well,

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.160
 that's true.

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.500
 I'm false,

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:19.879
 aren't I?

00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:24.540
 I'm not making

00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:24.980
 a claim

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.460
 that can be

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.020
 validated.

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.320
 But the next

00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.180
 verse after that,

00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.000
 he's pretty clear

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.359
 as well,

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:30.699
 isn't he?

00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.819
 He goes on to say

00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:32.559
 that there is

00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.419
 another who bears

00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:36.639
 witness about him

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:38.399
 and he's talking

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.279
 about John the

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.139
 Baptist there

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.359
 and he also goes

00:15:41.359 --> 00:15:42.099
 on to talk about

00:15:42.099 --> 00:15:42.979
 God himself.

00:15:45.359 --> 00:15:46.620
 So whenever he

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.479
 is speaking,

00:15:48.739 --> 00:15:49.919
 those other witnesses

00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.959
 back him up

00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:52.699
 about whatever he's

00:15:52.699 --> 00:15:54.120
 saying about himself.

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:56.159
 but the Pharisees

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.240
 choose to forget

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.740
 that.

00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.919
 So it's a cheap

00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.639
 shot really,

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.240
 it's a bit of a

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:02.039
 non-argument.

00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:04.519
 But Jesus

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.220
 nevertheless

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.899
 answers,

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.419
 and I want us

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.879
 to get this,

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.700
 it's odd what he

00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.379
 says here,

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.259
 turn back to

00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.399
 chapter 8,

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:14.659
 it's odd what he

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.019
 says,

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.000
 verse 14,

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.039
 Jesus answered,

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:18.120
 even if I do

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:18.799
 bear witness

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.779
 about myself,

00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:21.980
 my testimony is

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.379
 true,

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.379
 and get this,

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.720
 for I know

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.779
 where I came

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.259
 from,

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.379
 and where I am

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:28.980
 going,

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.379
 but you do not

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.019
 know where I

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.679
 came from or

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.519
 where I am going.

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.059
 It's an odd

00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:33.639
 thing what he

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.139
 says there,

00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.639
 isn't it?

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.919
 But his argument

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:38.399
 is to say there

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.759
 that his testimony,

00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:42.519
 his claim of

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.439
 being the light

00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:44.439
 of the world,

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.200
 is validated

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:48.120
 by his unique

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.639
 origin,

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.879
 and his unique

00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.480
 destiny.

00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:54.039
 Even if he

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.879
 were to make

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.000
 a solitary claim

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.700
 about himself,

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.439
 which he doesn't,

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.139
 but even if he

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:59.299
 was to do that,

00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:01.080
 his claim would

00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.759
 be valid,

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.820
 he is saying,

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.400
 because his

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.839
 origin is unique,

00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.900
 and his destiny

00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:08.559
 is unique.

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.640
 He knows where

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.559
 he comes from,

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.019
 and he knows

00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:12.900
 where he is going.

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.339
 He has come

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.660
 from heaven

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.400
 itself,

00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.039
 and his destiny

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.039
 is to return

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.460
 there,

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.220
 and the

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.940
 knowledge of

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.619
 that,

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.539
 makes him

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.099
 confident

00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:27.839
 in his own

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.460
 claim.

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.639
 Knowing where

00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.420
 he had come

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:31.920
 from,

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.299
 and where he

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.039
 is returning

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.599
 to,

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.079
 makes him

00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.599
 sure that

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.200
 what he is

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.779
 saying about

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.460
 himself is

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:39.980
 true.

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.359
 But they

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:42.980
 don't know

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.720
 that, do they,

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.440
 about him,

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.299
 so they don't

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.720
 believe.

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.000
 believe.

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.880
 So, some

00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.539
 people's

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:52.100
 problem, when

00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:52.819
 they hear the

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.559
 claims of

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:55.900
 Jesus, is

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.539
 that they

00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.620
 refuse them,

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.500
 they refuse

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.059
 what's on

00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:01.660
 offer, because

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:02.420
 they don't want

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.240
 to recognise

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:05.339
 where Jesus

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:05.940
 has come

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.460
 from, and

00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:08.079
 where he is

00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.519
 now.

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.559
 He has come

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.360
 from heaven,

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:11.459
 heaven.

00:18:12.939 --> 00:18:13.539
 So, his

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.219
 claim is

00:18:14.219 --> 00:18:14.759
 true.

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:16.299
 And it's

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.039
 ironic, isn't

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.299
 it, you

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:17.639
 know, that

00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:18.099
 the very

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:18.679
 people who

00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.019
 are the

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.459
 spiritual

00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:20.319
 leaders of

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.659
 God's

00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.179
 people in

00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.959
 this passage,

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.519
 don't know

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:23.939
 the God

00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:24.539
 they claim

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.159
 to worship.

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.459
 What a

00:18:26.459 --> 00:18:26.740
 terrible

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.399
 situation

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:27.799
 they're in.

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.759
 Jesus has

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.240
 another

00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.139
 witness, God

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:30.740
 the Father,

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.819
 but when

00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.759
 they hear

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.879
 the words

00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.479
 of Jesus,

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.179
 they only

00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:36.699
 hear a

00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.079
 solitary

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.740
 voice,

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.359
 because they

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:39.959
 don't know

00:18:39.959 --> 00:18:40.519
 God.

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.719
 Where is

00:18:42.719 --> 00:18:43.319
 your Father,

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:43.959
 they say,

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.639
 verse 19,

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.719
 you know

00:18:45.719 --> 00:18:46.519
 neither my

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.899
 Father, if

00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:48.359
 you knew

00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:48.779
 me, you

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.099
 would know

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.699
 my Father

00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:50.299
 also.

00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.299
 Folks, we'll

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.679
 continue to

00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.139
 look at this

00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.659
 passage, I've

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.039
 given you a

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.359
 bit of a

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.000
 snack in that

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.619
 this week,

00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.679
 we'll look at

00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.979
 this further,

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:00.559
 but as we

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.159
 close, now

00:19:01.159 --> 00:19:01.740
 we've got to

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.219
 see the

00:19:02.219 --> 00:19:03.979
 claim that

00:19:03.979 --> 00:19:05.579
 Jesus makes.

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.279
 He is

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:09.000
 offering to

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.759
 lead you

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.660
 out of the

00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.680
 dark places

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:15.220
 of your

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.740
 life.

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.539
 He is

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.119
 offering to

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.299
 lead you

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.900
 out of the

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.940
 darkness of

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:22.940
 sin, to

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.680
 give you the

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.500
 light of

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.099
 life.

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.839
 But there

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.420
 is a warning

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:28.980
 here, isn't

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.220
 there?

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:30.680
 That by

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.839
 judging by

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.559
 the reaction

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.539
 of these

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.079
 other people,

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.539
 Jesus'

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.319
 claim will

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.420
 either draw

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.119
 you in,

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.599
 or it will

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.559
 expose your

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.200
 corruption,

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:41.599
 as you

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:41.980
 hear his

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.539
 claim.

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.200
 You know,

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.639
 it's worth

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.139
 noticing,

00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:45.519
 isn't it,

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:45.919
 that this

00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:47.059
 whole conversation,

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.460
 I don't know

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:47.960
 if you saw

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.859
 that, look

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.259
 at verse

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.099
 20, where

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.659
 are they?

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.460
 This whole

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.299
 conversation,

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.539
 verse 20,

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.279
 these words he

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.099
 spoke in the

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:57.000
 treasury, as

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.679
 he taught in

00:19:57.679 --> 00:19:58.240
 the temple.

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.599
 And you

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.099
 wonder, don't

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:01.419
 you, the

00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.319
 religious leaders,

00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.519
 they make the

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.339
 choice, don't

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:05.899
 they, between

00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:07.860
 accepting the

00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:08.519
 light of

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.780
 Jesus, and

00:20:10.780 --> 00:20:11.540
 sticking with

00:20:11.540 --> 00:20:12.240
 the lights of

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.900
 the festival,

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.560
 the revenue

00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:15.900
 that that

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.640
 brings in for

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.180
 them, in

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.900
 status, and

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:21.720
 in repute, in

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.259
 the temple.

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.100
 But they

00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:26.019
 cannot accept

00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.980
 Jesus' unique

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.960
 origin and his

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.700
 destiny to

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.360
 return to

00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:31.280
 heaven, so

00:20:31.280 --> 00:20:31.600
 they don't

00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:32.280
 realise that

00:20:32.280 --> 00:20:33.060
 his claim is

00:20:33.060 --> 00:20:33.680
 validated.

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:36.340
 but as

00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:36.700
 they do

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.100
 that, they

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.700
 will settle

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.160
 for the

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.680
 lights of

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.460
 this world,

00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.880
 but they

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.299
 will go

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.100
 out, they

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:43.460
 will be

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.220
 short-lived,

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.400
 but Jesus

00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.420
 offers a

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.920
 light that

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.360
 will give

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:50.180
 you life.

00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:51.900
 Following

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:53.560
 him, the

00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:54.080
 light will

00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:54.680
 never go

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.140
 out.

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.240
 Well, let's

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.980
 pray together.

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.299
 Father, thank

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:02.980
 you for this

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.400
 fantastic

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.259
 passage, and

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.039
 we pray that

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.480
 we would

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.720
 understand that

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.400
 the claim

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.220
 Jesus makes

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.620
 is right and

00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:13.099
 true, because

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:13.980
 of his origin,

00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.339
 and where he

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.140
 belongs in

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.460
 heaven, that

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:17.980
 you have

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.420
 validated that.

00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:21.059
 Help us to

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:22.000
 believe then

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.120
 what he says,

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.900
 that he is the

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.519
 light of the

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:26.380
 world, and

00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.000
 that those who

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.860
 follow him will

00:21:27.860 --> 00:21:28.640
 not walk in

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.059
 darkness.

00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:30.579
 Help us to

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.240
 walk in the

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.400
 light, following

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.120
 Jesus this

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.680
 week, we

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.460
 pray in his

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:34.880
 name.

00:21:35.300 --> 00:21:35.700
 Amen.