WEBVTT

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 Well, would you turn with me to the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 14 through 18.

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 That's page 833 in the Pew Bible.

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 Let me pray as we come to God's Word together.

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 Our Father in heaven, as we come to your Word written, help us to behold your Word incarnate,

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 our Lord Jesus.

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 It's him that we really want to see.

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 It's his glory that we want to behold.

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 So help us, Lord, to do that by your Holy Spirit.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 All right, let me read John, chapter 1, 14 through 18.

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 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,

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 glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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 John bore witness about him and cried out,

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 This was he of whom I said,

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 He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.

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 For from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

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 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 The only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

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 In his book, Simply Christian, N.T. Wright tells this parable in one of his chapters.

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 There was once a ruler, a dictator, who wanted everything in his country to be thought through

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 and worked out according to a strictly rational system.

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 Nothing would be left to chance.

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 But this ruler, this dictator, noticed one day that the water sources around the country were erratic

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 and in some cases quite dangerous.

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 There were thousands of springs of water, often in the middle of towns and cities.

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 They could be useful, but sometimes they would cause floods,

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 and sometimes they got polluted, and often they burst out in new places

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 and damaged roads and fields and houses.

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 So the dictator decided on a sensible, rational policy.

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 The whole country, or at least every part where there was any suggestion of water,

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 would be paved over with concrete so thick that no spring of water could ever penetrate it.

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 The water that people needed would be brought to them by a complex system of pipes,

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 and we would even treat the water with some chemicals and keep the people healthy.

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 With the dictator controlling the supply, everyone would have what they needed,

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 and there wouldn't be any more nuisance from these unregulated springs.

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 Well, for many years, the plan worked just fine.

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 People got used to their water coming from the new system.

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 It tasted a bit strange, and sometimes they would look back longingly

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 to the bubbling streams and fresh springs they used to enjoy.

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 And many of the problems didn't go away.

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 It turned out the air was just as polluted at times as the water.

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 But on the whole, the people praised the dictator for his forward-looking wisdom.

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 A generation passed.

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 All seemed to be well.

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 Then, without warning,

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 the springs that had gone on bubbling and sparkling beneath the solid concrete

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 could no longer be contained.

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 In a sudden explosion,

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 they burst through the concrete that people had taken for granted.

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 And water shot up everywhere,

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 through the sidewalks and in the middle of the roads,

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 through the floors of their shops and homes.

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 Water came shooting from all directions.

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 Some people loved it.

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 At last they could get water without depending on the system.

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 Others were dismayed.

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 Especially those who ran the water pipes.

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 Where would all this lead?

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 Well, this parable is meant to tell the story of the Western world

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 for the last few hundred years.

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 For the past two or more centuries,

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 philosophical and cultural currents have tried

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 to pave over spirituality or religion or transcendence

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 with a thick layer of concrete.

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 Pack it down.

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 Keep it away.

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 Only give it a very small, controlled place in our private lives.

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 But on the whole, just keep it buried.

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 But the concrete couldn't hold.

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 The deep human longing for spirituality,

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 for transcendence,

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 keeps breaking through.

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 For many years, sociologists thought that religion would eventually die out.

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 That we just wouldn't need it anymore.

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 But now those confident predictions are seen to be foolish.

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 The thick concrete of materialism just couldn't hold.

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 And now the springs of spirituality are bursting forth from every corner.

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 The human heart longs to be in touch with something greater

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 and something deeper.

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 Of course, for many people in the West,

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 that does not mean a return to traditional religion, does it?

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 Religion still seems stuffy and cold and boring,

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 but spirituality,

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 a way to connect with transcendence and meaning,

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 that is alive and well.

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 Just walk through the aisles of Barnes & Noble long enough,

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 and you'll stumble across the section

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 filled with books about meditation

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 and mindfulness,

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 about mind and body and spirit.

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 our age is an age hungry

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 for something more than the old,

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 concrete, layered world

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 of the 19th and 20th century rationalism could provide.

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 And you know,

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 in that hunger,

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 there are no shortage of options today.

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 And there were no shortage of options in John's day either.

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 The Apostle John,

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 who wrote what we just read,

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 spirituality in the first century

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 was alive and well,

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 just like in the 21st century.

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 Now, in John's day,

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 there were sort of the classic options.

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 You know,

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 there was good old paganism

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 with lots of gods,

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 each god with his or her own sphere of influence.

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 You could pick a few of your favorites

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 based on your tribe or your profession,

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 and you could hope they would give you

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 some kind of control or blessing in this life.

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 And then,

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 on the other hand,

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 there was good old Platonism.

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 The gods were sort of out there

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 in their own sphere,

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 and the trick was to escape

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 this messy material world

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 and to go dwell there.

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 But alongside these kind of classic options,

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 there were some more up-to-date versions.

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 In the place of good old paganism,

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 there was Stoicism.

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 Which sort of held that the divine,

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 you know,

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 it wasn't located in individual gods,

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 but rather there were divine forces

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 within us and the world.

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 And if you could just align yourself with them,

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 with the right mindset,

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 then you would actually achieve

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 sort of proper peace now

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 and maybe even union with that divine

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 when your life expired.

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 Stoicism wasn't actually far off

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 from a lot of spirituality today,

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 when you think about it.

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 But then in the first century

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 and into the second century,

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 there was also Gnosticism,

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 which was sort of a revamped Platonism.

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 In Gnosticism,

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 what matters about humans

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 is sort of their secret inner core,

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 that you have a real self,

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 deep down,

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 buried down,

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 that needs to be identified

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 and allowed to express itself.

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 And this real self

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 is often quite different

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 from your outer person,

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 your physical person.

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 And if you can find this inner spark,

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 this secret inside of you,

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 then you'll really be connected

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 to the divine,

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 to the transcendent.

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 And you know,

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 a lot of spirituality today

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 is highly Gnostic.

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 We sort of anxiously try

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 to find our true self

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 and our physical bodies

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 give us no indication

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 of what that might be,

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 we think.

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 So what does the Gospel of John

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 have to tell us

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 when it comes to this whole

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 human impulse for spirituality?

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 Well, John puts the whole question

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 on a very different footing.

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 He says in verse 18,

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 no one has ever seen God.

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 All of our human attempts

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 to reach God

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 or connect with God

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 or break through to God,

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 they don't work.

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 We can't possibly cross the divide

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 between the finite

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 and the infinite.

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 The gap is just too great.

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 You know the play Hamlet?

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 It's sort of like imagining

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 Rosencrans and Guildenstern,

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 two characters in that play,

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 searching the castle,

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 stalking the graveyard,

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 marching all over Denmark,

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 trying to find Shakespeare.

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 No matter how hard they try,

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 they aren't going to find

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 the author of the play.

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 No one has ever seen God,

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 John says.

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 Keep looking.

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 You won't find him.

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 But what about all of our human impulses

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 for spirituality?

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 Is John just paving more concrete

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 over the wild springs

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 deep in the human heart?

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 Ah, keep reading.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 The only God who's at the Father's side,

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 he has made him known.

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 Humans cannot reach up to God,

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 but God can reach down to humans.

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 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

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 won't ever break outside the play

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 to find Shakespeare in a pub

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 in Stratford-on-Avon, right?

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 But Shakespeare might choose

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 to write himself

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 into their world.

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 And that's what John

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 is trying to tell us.

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 The impossible human longing

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 to see God,

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 to know God,

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 the impossible human longing

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 that bubbles like a spring

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 under the concrete

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 of our late modern world

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 and takes countless shapes and forms

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 from yoga studios

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 to mindfulness seminars.

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 This impossible human longing

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 has finally actually become possible.

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 Why?

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 Not because of anything

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 you or I have done

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 or could do,

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 but only because of what God has done.

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 God in Jesus has made himself known.

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 He's written himself into the play.

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 In fact, the Greek word

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 that John uses here for make known

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 at the end of verse 18

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 and other places in the New Testament

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 means to tell a narrative

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 or to narrate.

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 So we might say that Jesus

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 is the narration of God.

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 God speaking his own self,

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 his own story,

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 right into ours.

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 Do you see how this makes Christianity

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 very different

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 than other spiritualities?

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 You know, nearly every other approach

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 to spirituality says,

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 if you want to see God,

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 then you have to make yourself

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 more like God.

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 If you want to get in touch

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 with the transcendent,

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 here's a set of practices

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 that will change you

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 and align you

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 with that transcendence.

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 If you want to see God,

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 well, here's the secret

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 to become more like God.

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 Here's the path up.

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 Here's the path in.

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 Here's how you,

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 a finite human,

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 can get up to the infinite.

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 But Christianity is very different.

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 This spirituality says,

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 not humans must become God,

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 but God has become a human.

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 God has become a human

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 and made himself known.

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 And for John,

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 that means two things.

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 First, it means that in Jesus

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 we can see God's glory.

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 And second, it means that in Jesus

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 we can receive God's grace.

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 So let's look at the first of those.

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 We can see God's glory.

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 Look again at verses 14 and 15.

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 And the word became flesh

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 and dwelt among us

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 and we have seen his glory.

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 Glory as of the only son

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 from the father,

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 full of grace and truth.

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 John bore witness about him

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 and cried out,

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 this was he of whom I said,

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 he who comes after me

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 ranks before me

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 because he was before me.

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 We've seen his glory.

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 Isn't that what so many spiritualities

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 are trying to get at?

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 A sort of glimpse of glory,

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 of transcendence,

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 of infinite,

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 of awe and wonder and holiness.

00:12:35.540 --> 00:12:36.620
 John says, here it is.

00:12:37.280 --> 00:12:37.780
 In the word,

00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:39.000
 Jesus, the only son

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.680
 from the father

00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:41.040
 who became flesh

00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:42.980
 and dwelt among us.

00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:46.220
 Of course, in one sense,

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.460
 this is what the whole Bible's about.

00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.220
 Remember all the way back

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.360
 in Genesis chapter one,

00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.100
 God creates the world.

00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:53.240
 In six days,

00:12:53.300 --> 00:12:54.980
 he sort of sets up the form, right?

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.420
 And then in six creation days,

00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.759
 he sort of fills it out.

00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:59.259
 And then on the seventh day,

00:12:59.320 --> 00:12:59.899
 what happens?

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:03.419
 Well, the writer of Genesis says,

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.500
 God rests.

00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:05.639
 But you know,

00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:07.360
 that doesn't mean that God took a break

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.159
 because he was tired, right?

00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:10.480
 It wasn't as if six days of work

00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.220
 was really rough.

00:13:11.699 --> 00:13:11.919
 You know,

00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.439
 you and I work five days

00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:14.259
 and we get kind of worn out.

00:13:14.319 --> 00:13:15.139
 We need a two-day weekend.

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:15.959
 God can work six,

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.480
 but he still needs one day off, right?

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.759
 That's not what Genesis is saying.

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.759
 The resting on the seventh day

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.480
 is not the rest of a weary laborer,

00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:27.779
 but the resting of a king on his throne.

00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.320
 All of creation in Genesis one

00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:35.279
 is built like a temple for the living God,

00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.060
 the place where his glory rests.

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.300
 From the very beginning,

00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:45.259
 God intended to dwell with his creation,

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.019
 with his people.

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.659
 But as the story goes,

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.500
 the first humans disobeyed their king.

00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.720
 They disobeyed God

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.759
 and they were driven out

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.340
 from God's presence in the garden.

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:57.200
 The dwelling place seemed to be lost.

00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.440
 But then as the story continues,

00:14:00.560 --> 00:14:02.379
 God reestablishes his dwelling place.

00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.379
 He redeems his people from slavery in Egypt

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.560
 and he tells them to do what?

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.639
 He tells them to build a tabernacle,

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.220
 build a tent in the wilderness.

00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.519
 And this tabernacle would be the place

00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.720
 where God again begins to dwell

00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.860
 in the midst of his people.

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.960
 They lived in tents,

00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.480
 so God would come

00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:22.159
 and dwell in their midst in a tent.

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:25.000
 And then after God establishes them

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.879
 in the promised land,

00:14:25.959 --> 00:14:27.259
 he allows them to build a temple.

00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:28.779
 Because after all,

00:14:28.839 --> 00:14:29.939
 the people now live in houses,

00:14:30.079 --> 00:14:32.120
 so God will dwell in their midst in a house.

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.339
 And the tabernacle and the temple

00:14:35.339 --> 00:14:36.199
 would be the place,

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.219
 it would be the center

00:14:37.219 --> 00:14:39.600
 of the spirituality of God's people.

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.059
 Here is where God's glory would reside,

00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.319
 right in their midst.

00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:46.560
 Here is where the infinite

00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:48.460
 would touch the finite.

00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:50.379
 Here is where transcendence

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:52.379
 and holiness would come into contact

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:54.260
 with the material and the mundane.

00:14:54.760 --> 00:14:56.080
 This is where God would rest.

00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:57.480
 This is where God would dwell.

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.160
 And in both instances,

00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:02.920
 when the tabernacle was first raised

00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:04.340
 and the temple first constructed,

00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:07.020
 we are told that God's holy glory

00:15:07.020 --> 00:15:08.880
 comes down and fills it.

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:12.419
 But you know,

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.659
 the tabernacle and the temple,

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:16.799
 these were just signposts.

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.919
 They were just preliminary sketches.

00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:23.360
 God had something greater in store.

00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:26.740
 Because when the fullness of time had come,

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.159
 the word became flesh

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.620
 and dwelt among us.

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.700
 And the word dwelt that John uses there

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.659
 is the same word

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:37.220
 for pitching a tent,

00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.600
 for a tabernacle.

00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:41.340
 John is very deliberately saying

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:43.060
 that the true tabernacle,

00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.940
 the true temple,

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.680
 is finally here.

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.320
 God's no longer dwelling in a tent

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.480
 or in a temple.

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.740
 God became flesh

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:56.200
 so that humans might know his glory at last.

00:15:58.560 --> 00:15:59.920
 God has become human.

00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.460
 In Jesus Christ,

00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:04.759
 we see God's glory.

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:07.000
 That was the message of John the Baptist,

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.080
 Jesus' forerunner.

00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.600
 He who comes after me ranks before me

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.879
 because he was before me.

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:13.100
 According to John the Baptist,

00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:15.020
 Jesus has the preeminence,

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.660
 the glory.

00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:18.740
 John saw it and testified to it,

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:21.180
 the gospel writer John says

00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:22.259
 about John the Baptist.

00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:25.720
 But how about you and me?

00:16:28.020 --> 00:16:29.040
 Do we see it?

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:32.319
 Do we see God's glory

00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:36.199
 in the incarnate become flesh word,

00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:36.779
 Jesus?

00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:40.439
 Many choose not to.

00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:42.879
 After all,

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.120
 I mean,

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.199
 isn't God's glory

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.559
 supposed to be powerful

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.779
 and overwhelming?

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.899
 Shouldn't it be huge

00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.879
 and gilded

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.659
 and shining

00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:52.000
 like the walls of the temple?

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.299
 But Jesus,

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.099
 look at him.

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:58.440
 born to an insignificant family

00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.159
 in an insignificant part of Israel,

00:17:02.040 --> 00:17:03.320
 living an insignificant life

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.240
 for 30 years.

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.720
 Goodness gracious,

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.900
 he dies hung up

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.880
 on a Roman cross

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.440
 like the trash of the earth.

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.740
 There's no glory there.

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.400
 Where's the power?

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.240
 Where's the shock and awe?

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:22.839
 But what sort of glory

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.900
 were you looking for?

00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:27.640
 The real glory of God,

00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:28.640
 the true God,

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.519
 the God who makes himself

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.279
 known in Jesus,

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:34.920
 it isn't that sort of glory.

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.480
 You want celebrity,

00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:38.480
 fame,

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:39.279
 money,

00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.319
 power,

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:42.220
 that's not real glory.

00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.500
 Real glory,

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.460
 God's glory,

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.980
 is right here.

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.420
 in Jesus,

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.859
 John says,

00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.940
 full of grace

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.259
 and truth.

00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:57.400
 That's what God

00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.819
 ultimately wanted us to see.

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.059
 And that's what he had been

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:01.900
 telling his people

00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.920
 for centuries actually.

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.120
 Do you remember

00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.339
 when Moses said to God

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:05.839
 in Exodus,

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.519
 God, show me your glory.

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.460
 What did God do?

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.319
 Well, God knew

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.240
 that if sinful Moses

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.039
 really saw God

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.640
 and his holiness,

00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:14.079
 Moses would be undone.

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.599
 Just like Isaiah's

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.380
 vision in the temple.

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:16.980
 Do you remember that?

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:19.019
 Isaiah has this prophetic vision

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.299
 where he sort of sees

00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:21.359
 just the hem

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.559
 of God's robe,

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:24.019
 sort of like the edge

00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:25.440
 of the outermost piece

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.200
 of his clothing.

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.400
 And what happens?

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.680
 He sees the edge

00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.339
 of God's robe

00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.339
 and Isaiah cries out,

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.079
 woe is me!

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.980
 I'm undone!

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.519
 My very being

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.539
 is shaken to the core

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.359
 and I'm in pieces.

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.460
 I'm uncreated

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.940
 by the holiness of God.

00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:41.200
 So how is God

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.100
 going to show Moses

00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:42.779
 his glory?

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.299
 Well, God says,

00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:46.320
 Moses, hide here.

00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.000
 Hide in the cleft

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.700
 of this rock

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.160
 and I'll cover you

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.220
 and then I'll pass by

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.700
 and you won't see my face.

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.980
 You'll see my back actually.

00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.559
 That is, you'll see

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.920
 the kind of after effects,

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.640
 the echo

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:59.160
 of my passing by

00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:00.600
 and then I'll declare

00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.660
 to you my name

00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.779
 and my glory.

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:06.259
 And God does just that.

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.779
 Exodus 34, 6 says,

00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:11.160
 The Lord passed before him

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.839
 and proclaimed,

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.700
 The Lord, the Lord,

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:16.639
 a God merciful and gracious,

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.740
 slow to anger

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:21.579
 and abounding in steadfast love

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:23.180
 and faithfulness.

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:27.440
 Abounding in steadfast love

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:29.379
 and faithfulness,

00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:32.000
 full of grace

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.140
 and truth.

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.579
 That's God's glory.

00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:39.240
 And it comes to its climax

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.039
 in Jesus Christ.

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.599
 Because in the incarnation,

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.579
 God proves his faithfulness

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:47.220
 to all of his promises.

00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.140
 And in the incarnation,

00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.099
 God demonstrates

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.640
 his steadfast love,

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.339
 his grace.

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:55.200
 In the incarnation,

00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:57.019
 God completes his plan

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.339
 promised all the way

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.299
 back in Genesis

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:01.980
 when the first human couple fell

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.860
 and when God promised

00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:04.660
 on that day

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:06.240
 that one day

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.539
 a child would come.

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.519
 One day the child

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.079
 would come

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.059
 to crush the head

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.660
 of the serpent,

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:13.400
 to defeat sin and evil.

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:15.120
 But in the crushing,

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:17.200
 the child would be crushed.

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:21.200
 Look again at the tabernacle.

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.039
 Look again at the temple.

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.759
 What do you see there?

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.779
 Day after day,

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.000
 month after month,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.019
 week after week.

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.299
 What do you see happening

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.140
 at the tabernacle,

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.740
 at the temple?

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:28.859
 The temple.

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:31.940
 Sacrifices.

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.400
 After all,

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.660
 how could this holy God,

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:37.019
 this almighty creator,

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.620
 dwell in the midst

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.640
 of a sinful people?

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.200
 Would it not surely

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.140
 mean their death,

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.039
 their undoing?

00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:45.920
 Surely his unimaginable holiness,

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:47.240
 wouldn't it,

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.240
 would it not just simply

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.680
 crush them under its weight?

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.839
 This last summer,

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.940
 my family,

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.859
 we made a trip

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.819
 to Niagara Falls.

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:56.960
 I don't know

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.019
 if any of you

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.960
 have been to Niagara Falls,

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.460
 but it's just massive.

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.419
 And the just weight

00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:04.559
 of the water

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:06.439
 pouring down.

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.339
 You can't really feel it

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:08.980
 until you're there.

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.899
 And we were there

00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:11.679
 and we went on this thing

00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:12.139
 called I think

00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:13.019
 the hurricane deck

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.879
 or something like that

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.579
 where you sort of

00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.599
 can climb out on this deck

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.399
 and you're sort of

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.179
 next to the water

00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:17.819
 pouring down

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.700
 and it's spraying off of you

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.799
 and it hurts.

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.319
 But it's like the bouncing

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.439
 of it that hurts, right?

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:25.039
 Not the full weight of it.

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.819
 And honestly,

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:28.539
 it's very troubling

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.939
 being that close

00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.980
 to Niagara Falls

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.019
 because you think,

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.279
 one slip

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.139
 and we're done for.

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.799
 And if that's true

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.079
 of a mere waterfall,

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:40.559
 friends,

00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.779
 what about the holy God

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:45.859
 who made waterfalls

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.460
 and mountains

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.079
 and stars

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.740
 and universes?

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.099
 Could sinful people

00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.859
 dwell with a God

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.319
 like that?

00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:56.299
 So God gives them sacrifices

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:59.460
 and so the sacrifice dies

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.679
 so the people don't have to.

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.159
 God allows a substitution

00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:03.819
 to be made.

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:06.500
 But you know,

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.240
 the sacrifices

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.200
 at the tabernacle

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.939
 and at the temple,

00:22:09.139 --> 00:22:09.460
 again,

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.319
 they were just signposts.

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:14.039
 It wasn't going to be

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.019
 bulls and goats,

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:17.859
 but the word made flesh

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:19.339
 full of grace

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.059
 and truth,

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.319
 full of steadfast love

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.259
 and faithfulness,

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.000
 true to his promise.

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.180
 God himself

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.359
 would bear the curse

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:29.440
 and the crushing weight

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.000
 of sin.

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.740
 And that would be

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.519
 the full display

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.400
 of God's glory.

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.240
 According to the Gospel

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:38.819
 of John,

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.940
 where do we see

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.400
 the glory of God?

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:44.140
 It's the glory

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.800
 of the cross.

00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.880
 The Holy One

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.360
 would stand

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:48.880
 in the place

00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.400
 of the sinner

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.460
 and the sinner's debt

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.320
 would be paid.

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.320
 And that's why

00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:56.340
 John goes on to say,

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.360
 for from his fullness

00:22:58.360 --> 00:23:00.140
 we have all received

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:01.780
 grace upon grace.

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:03.040
 For the law

00:23:03.040 --> 00:23:04.000
 was given through Moses,

00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:05.600
 grace and truth

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:07.220
 came through Jesus Christ.

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.080
 So John's saying,

00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.240
 look,

00:23:09.280 --> 00:23:10.240
 we don't just see

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.040
 God's glory

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.019
 in the incarnate

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.500
 word Jesus,

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.700
 but we receive

00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.379
 his grace.

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:16.240
 We receive it.

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:20.599
 I mean,

00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.039
 think about it.

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.460
 What is it

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.019
 that we're really

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.740
 looking for

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.759
 in what we call

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.379
 spirituality?

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:26.700
 There might be

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.200
 a lot of reasons

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.039
 why people go after

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.099
 what they think of

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:29.879
 as something spiritual.

00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:30.220
 You know,

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.940
 it might be a desire

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.579
 for awe.

00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.680
 It might be a desire

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.599
 for control,

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.220
 trying to get

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.079
 some kind of control

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.819
 around yourself

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.700
 or your surroundings.

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.619
 It might be a desire

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.359
 for meaning.

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.720
 To make sense

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.359
 of life.

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.680
 But I think

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.240
 deep down,

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.779
 isn't what we're

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.460
 looking for,

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.159
 isn't what we really

00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:48.819
 want,

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.279
 isn't it to be

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.680
 known

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.399
 and to be loved?

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.119
 John says,

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.680
 we've been given

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.700
 grace upon grace.

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:01.099
 One grace

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.299
 in place of another.

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.119
 What was the first grace?

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:04.940
 He says,

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.639
 the law was given

00:24:05.639 --> 00:24:06.139
 through Moses.

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.579
 The law is a great gift.

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.099
 Why?

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.399
 Because when you look

00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.079
 into the law,

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.299
 you see yourself.

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.500
 You see yourself

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.399
 without any hiding

00:24:14.399 --> 00:24:16.240
 and without any pretense.

00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:17.799
 God's perfect law

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.019
 comes and God says,

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.179
 I know you

00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:21.079
 fully.

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:22.859
 All of you.

00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.379
 All your virtues

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:25.519
 and your vices.

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.579
 I know you.

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.500
 Everything that makes you

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.539
 lovely and everything

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.599
 that makes you ashamed.

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.639
 All your triumphs

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.639
 and all your failures.

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.599
 All your flaws

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.519
 and all your sins.

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.079
 God says,

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.359
 I know them all.

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.859
 But is that where it ends?

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.279
 No,

00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:45.599
 there comes a second gift

00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.759
 in place of the first.

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.680
 The law came through Moses.

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.200
 Grace and truth

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.440
 came through Jesus Christ.

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.160
 God knows you fully

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.859
 and

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:58.319
 he loves you completely.

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:01.019
 So much so

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.180
 that what he requires

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.759
 of you,

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.759
 what God requires

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.980
 of you in the law,

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.420
 God provides for you

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.299
 in his son.

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.640
 That's why it's grace

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.879
 and truth.

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.319
 There's no one

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.460
 who knows you better

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.559
 than Jesus Christ.

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.980
 He is the God,

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.000
 the one through whom

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.079
 all things,

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:22.819
 you included,

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.480
 were created.

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.960
 And he became flesh

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.559
 and lived

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.700
 in this very humanity

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.579
 that is ours.

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.819
 No one knows you

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.480
 better than him.

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:34.160
 And still,

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.240
 he chose to love you

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.240
 and lay down

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.000
 his life for you.

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.319
 No one knows you

00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:41.680
 better than Jesus

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:44.099
 and no one loves you

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.799
 better than him.

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.559
 From his fullness

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.360
 we've received

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:48.960
 grace

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:51.140
 upon grace.

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:55.440
 So where does this

00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:55.900
 leave us?

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.640
 Well,

00:25:57.800 --> 00:25:58.900
 if it is true

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.500
 that no one

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.460
 has ever seen God

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.480
 but the only God,

00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:01.840
 Jesus,

00:26:02.040 --> 00:26:02.460
 the Son,

00:26:02.560 --> 00:26:03.680
 who's at the Father's side

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.920
 has made him known,

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.720
 if that's true,

00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:07.160
 well,

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.440
 then the application

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.320
 seems clear.

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.980
 The only true

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:13.180
 and real spirituality

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:14.740
 is the one

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.300
 focused

00:26:15.300 --> 00:26:16.160
 and centered

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.720
 utterly

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.120
 on Jesus Christ.

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:20.479
 the bubbling

00:26:20.479 --> 00:26:21.099
 streams

00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:21.659
 of human

00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:22.459
 spirituality

00:26:22.459 --> 00:26:22.939
 that keep

00:26:22.939 --> 00:26:23.319
 breaking

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.199
 through the concrete

00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:24.939
 are meant

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.639
 to flow

00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.419
 to him

00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:26.859
 and to him

00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.219
 alone.

00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.059
 So friends,

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.599
 what will you do

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.159
 this week

00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:34.419
 to draw near

00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:34.819
 to him

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.359
 because he

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:35.859
 has drawn

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.339
 so near

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:36.819
 to you?

00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.579
 Perhaps

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:40.959
 it means

00:26:40.959 --> 00:26:41.379
 entrusting

00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:41.839
 your life

00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.199
 to him,

00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:43.139
 placing your

00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:43.739
 trust in him

00:26:43.739 --> 00:26:44.239
 for the first

00:26:44.239 --> 00:26:44.659
 time

00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.879
 and becoming

00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.479
 a follower

00:26:46.479 --> 00:26:47.219
 of this Jesus.

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:50.299
 perhaps

00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.619
 if you've

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.019
 already done

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.239
 that,

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.579
 it means

00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.259
 taking a step

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.939
 to get baptized,

00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:54.959
 to make a public

00:26:54.959 --> 00:26:55.539
 profession

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.299
 of faith

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.619
 in him,

00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:57.299
 to identify

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.879
 with him

00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.599
 and his people.

00:27:01.239 --> 00:27:01.679
 Perhaps

00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.119
 it means

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:02.759
 spending a few

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.219
 moments

00:27:03.219 --> 00:27:03.859
 in the morning

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.519
 before the day

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.179
 begins

00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:07.659
 to just be

00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:08.739
 still before him,

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:11.079
 to put yourself

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.039
 not in a posture

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.939
 of doing

00:27:12.939 --> 00:27:15.219
 but of receiving

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.140
 and simply

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.759
 receiving

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.500
 his grace

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.680
 upon grace

00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.200
 for you.

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.660
 Perhaps

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:22.980
 it means

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.400
 rethinking

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:23.819
 what kind

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.200
 of glory

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.579
 you've been

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.200
 living for

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:28.100
 because what

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.559
 we see

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:28.799
 in the

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.220
 incarnate

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.480
 word

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.779
 is that

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.319
 God's glory

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.940
 isn't found

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.620
 in power

00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:33.240
 but in service.

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.120
 God's glory

00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:35.600
 isn't found

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.400
 in celebrity

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:38.420
 but in humility

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:40.180
 and in honesty.

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:42.860
 it's not found

00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:43.480
 in wealth

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.840
 but in

00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:45.420
 self-giving

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.039
 generosity.

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.660
 That's the sort

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.180
 of glory

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.000
 God wants

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.380
 to work

00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:50.820
 in you

00:27:50.820 --> 00:27:51.340
 through his

00:27:51.340 --> 00:27:51.660
 spirit.

00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:55.860
 So where

00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:56.660
 is the incarnate

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.060
 and risen

00:27:57.060 --> 00:27:57.640
 Christ,

00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.480
 the word

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.279
 made flesh

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.779
 inviting you

00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:02.500
 to behold

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.299
 his glory

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:05.000
 and in

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.660
 beholding

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.080
 him to

00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:06.779
 become less

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.560
 like the world

00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.820
 and more

00:28:08.820 --> 00:28:09.340
 like him?

00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:12.080
 That's real

00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.620
 spirituality.

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.519
 That's the

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.320
 real wellspring.

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.620
 That's the

00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.299
 water we're

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:17.980
 all longing

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.580
 to drink

00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.860
 no matter

00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.400
 how much

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.840
 concrete

00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:21.320
 we try

00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:21.820
 to pave

00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:22.360
 over it.

00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:24.560
 Let's pray

00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:24.900
 together.

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.200
 Our Father

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:36.560
 in heaven

00:28:36.560 --> 00:28:36.920
 by your

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.539
 Holy Spirit

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:37.940
 would you

00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.320
 enlighten

00:28:38.320 --> 00:28:38.740
 the eyes

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.039
 of our

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.420
 hearts

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:39.799
 that we

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.000
 might

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.399
 behold

00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:40.940
 Jesus

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:42.319
 the

00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:42.539
 word

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:42.759
 made

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.240
 flesh

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:45.119
 crucified

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.059
 risen

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.500
 and

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:46.859
 reigning.

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.839
 Lord

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.500
 help us

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:54.599
 through the

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:54.940
 power of

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.419
 your spirit

00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:56.019
 to behold

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.599
 his glory

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:58.339
 and to

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.859
 receive his

00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.220
 grace.

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.240
 We pray

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.619
 this in

00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.039
 his name.

00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:01.599
 Amen.

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:01.700
 Amen.

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:01.720
 Amen.

00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:01.740
 Amen.

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:01.759
 Amen.

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:01.779
 Amen.

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:01.799
 Amen.

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:01.819
 Amen.

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:01.839
 Amen.

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:01.859
 Amen.

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:01.919
 Amen.

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:03.779
 Amen.

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:03.819
 Amen.

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:03.839
 Amen.

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:03.859
 Amen.

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:05.819
 Amen.

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:05.839
 Amen.

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:05.859
 Amen.

00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:05.879
 Amen.

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:05.919
 Amen.

00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:09.779
 Amen.