WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.419 So I have a son who is eight years old, 00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:17.679 and one of his favorite books when he was younger 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:21.800 was a picture book called Kitten's First Full Moon. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:24.440 And in this children's story, 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:27.920 Kitten, who's this very endearing character, 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:30.120 looks up and sees the full moon, 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:33.260 and poor little kitten thinks it's a bowl of milk. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.260 So the book follows Kitten's misadventures 00:00:37.260 --> 00:00:41.740 trying to get that bowl of milk that she sees up in the sky. 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:44.740 Kitten ends up with bugs in her mouth. 00:00:45.180 --> 00:00:46.520 Kitten falls off the porch. 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:48.520 Kitten even climbs up a tree, 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:50.280 and when she climbs up the tree, 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:53.640 she sees the reflection of the moon in the pond below, 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:57.060 leaps into the pond thinking she's found the bowl of milk, 00:00:57.060 --> 00:00:59.719 look, splash, she has only found water. 00:01:01.540 --> 00:01:04.900 In the story, Kitten has a preconception, 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:07.359 which seems like a very big word for Kitten, 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:09.260 but Kitten does have a preconception. 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:13.219 Her preconception is that the moon is a bowl of milk, 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:16.740 and this belief guides Kitten's actions. 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:20.879 Today, we are looking at this question. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:23.680 Is Jesus the Christ? 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:23.720 Christ. 00:01:24.380 --> 00:01:25.920 Is Jesus the Christ? 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:29.480 The Christ is another word for Messiah. 00:01:29.860 --> 00:01:31.440 They are exactly the same word. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:34.460 They are simply translated from one language to the other. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:38.200 And the Messiah, the Christ, is the one who is foretold, 00:01:38.360 --> 00:01:40.700 the expected deliverer of the Jews. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:43.000 And so we have that question today. 00:01:43.160 --> 00:01:45.060 Is Jesus the Christ? 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:46.299 To answer this question, 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:49.480 we are going to examine some preconceptions. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:51.140 A preconception. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:53.939 A preconception is a preconceived idea, 00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:55.480 a presumption, an assumption, 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:57.240 a prejudice, a bias, 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.020 an opinion performed beforehand. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:05.280 And today, we are going to examine four preconceptions. 00:02:06.300 --> 00:02:10.000 Now, these aren't the same notions that people have about Jesus today. 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:12.060 These preconceptions that we look at, 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:12.879 we won't say, 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:15.800 oh, that's some of the same things that I see people thinking. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:17.199 But, 00:02:17.539 --> 00:02:20.699 we are asking the same fundamental question 00:02:20.699 --> 00:02:23.620 that the people at Jesus' time are asking. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:26.659 Is Jesus the Christ? 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:30.759 The setting for this passage 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:32.719 comes at a very challenging time 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.000 of Jesus' ministry. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.080 We've seen in the previous chapter 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:38.800 that Jesus, 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:39.939 many of his disciples, 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:41.099 have begun to turn away. 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:43.979 They have found his teachings difficult and untenable, 00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:46.080 and they have gone their own way. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:49.300 Jesus, who once had these many adoring crowds, 00:02:49.419 --> 00:02:50.259 has now looked up 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:52.400 and seen his followers dwindle. 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:54.599 And while the twelve still remain, 00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:57.639 the crowds no longer seem to be following him quite the same. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:02:59.560 In addition to that, 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:01.060 we now find in verse 1 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:03.280 that the Jews were seeking to kill him. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.280 Now people are trying to kill Jesus. 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:10.460 Also part of our setting for our story today 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:12.099 is the Feast of Booths, 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:13.580 sometimes also called 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:15.719 the Feast of Tabernacle. 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:18.419 This is an eight-day celebration. 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:20.259 It's an eight-day celebration 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:21.620 where the Jews remember 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:23.539 they're wandering in the desert. 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:27.039 After Moses has led the people out of Egypt 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:28.659 in that miraculous escape 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:31.500 and across the crossing of the Red Sea, 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:33.819 they are then led into the wilderness. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:36.520 And they will spend 40 years in the wilderness 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:39.379 before they finally reach the promised land. 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:41.199 And this Feast of Booths, 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:44.219 it remembers God's provision for the people 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:46.560 when they were in that 40-year journey 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.560 across the wilderness. 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:50.819 And it's called Feast of Booths 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:52.539 because part of this celebration 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:56.520 is that the people would live in temporary dwellings, 00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:58.420 hence the term Booths. 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:01.639 Also as part of this festival 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:04.319 is that people would go to Jerusalem. 00:04:04.579 --> 00:04:06.899 So they would travel on their way to Jerusalem. 00:04:08.539 --> 00:04:09.759 With this setting in mind, 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:11.339 let's look at our first preconception. 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:14.979 And that's that Jesus wants to be popular. 00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:18.560 As the feast begins, 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:20.099 Jesus' brothers, 00:04:20.219 --> 00:04:22.920 those are the children of Mary and Joseph, 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:23.959 they tell Jesus, 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:25.539 go to the feast. 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:28.360 And we can see where their advice is coming from. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:29.199 Their advice is coming 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:31.599 because many of Jesus' followers 00:04:31.599 --> 00:04:32.659 are no longer with him. 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:35.420 The crowds no longer seem to be gathering around him. 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:37.699 And so they have a plan for Jesus. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:39.219 We see that plan in verse 4. 00:04:39.220 --> 00:04:41.480 For no one who works in secret, 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:43.280 if he seeks to be known openly, 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:45.300 if you do these things, 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:47.720 show yourself to the world. 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:50.600 We see their advice. 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:52.940 Jesus, go to Jerusalem. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:55.580 That's where all the people will be. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:58.180 Be seen, Jesus. 00:04:58.380 --> 00:05:01.180 You've been working kind of in the backwoods of Galilee. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:03.340 Now it's time to go big time. 00:05:03.780 --> 00:05:04.680 Go to Jerusalem. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:05.880 Go to the crowds. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.000 When you do the signs that you've done, 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.660 think of all the people 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:11.100 that will be following you. 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:14.839 But this advice is based off of the preconception 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:17.180 that Jesus wants to be popular. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.540 Jesus' siblings thinks 00:05:20.540 --> 00:05:22.620 that he wants adoring crowds, 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:24.480 just like he had earlier. 00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:27.939 But Jesus responds to his siblings in verse 7. 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:29.660 He tells them, 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:32.019 the world hates me 00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:36.240 because I testify that its works are evil. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:43.779 Jesus' message will not be enthusiastically received 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:45.300 by these crowds. 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:49.500 The reason Jesus' messages will not be well received 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:52.899 is because Jesus is confronting people about their sin. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:57.160 He's telling them that your works are evil. 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:00.819 He is calling out their sin. 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:02.740 He is calling out their failure 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:04.660 to follow God completely. 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:07.640 And this message will not be received. 00:06:09.640 --> 00:06:11.680 So the question that we have today, 00:06:13.280 --> 00:06:15.260 is Jesus the Christ? 00:06:18.700 --> 00:06:22.020 Jesus' siblings here in this chapter, 00:06:22.640 --> 00:06:23.920 when they ask this question, 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:25.040 is Jesus the Christ? 00:06:25.320 --> 00:06:26.240 They say, no. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:29.540 The Christ will be beloved by all. 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:31.160 And Jesus is not. 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:34.060 Jesus' siblings do not think he is the Christ. 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:39.240 As we think about communicating Jesus to others, 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.960 here are some things I want you to keep in mind. 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:44.440 The first thing is that his message 00:06:44.440 --> 00:06:46.360 is not a popular message. 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:50.440 People are not really that interested 00:06:50.440 --> 00:06:52.900 in hearing their sins confronted. 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.040 People are not interested 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:57.360 in hearing their failures brought before them. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:02.139 But let's not defang the message of Jesus. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:05.500 The message of Jesus, 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:09.500 it's not all about rainbows, unicorns, and cupcakes. 00:07:11.080 --> 00:07:15.280 Jesus testifies against the evil of this world. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:20.559 And if we downplay Jesus' testimony 00:07:20.559 --> 00:07:22.000 against the evil of this world, 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:24.759 we present a faulty caricature. 00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:28.899 We don't accurately represent who Jesus is. 00:07:31.919 --> 00:07:34.519 The second preconception that we're going to look at today 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:37.519 is that Jesus lacks authority. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:41.139 The passage continues on, 00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:44.360 and we learn that Jesus decides to visit the feast. 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:47.599 But he decides to go in private, 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:48.899 and not publicly, 00:07:49.159 --> 00:07:50.379 as his sibling suggested. 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:53.000 At the feast, 00:07:53.099 --> 00:07:55.519 Jesus seems to be a popular topic of conversation. 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:56.860 You can imagine 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:58.899 if people from all across the area 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:00.879 have gathered together in one place. 00:08:01.419 --> 00:08:04.060 And they've heard about the signs and wonders 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:05.120 that Jesus has done, 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:07.120 and the amazing things that are happening. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:10.439 And so the people begin to discuss Jesus among themselves. 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:12.659 But, 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:14.539 they do so very quietly. 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:16.699 Because as we said, 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:18.459 Jesus doesn't bring a popular message, 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:20.459 and not everyone is eager to hear about them. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:21.639 And we see in verse 13, 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:24.560 but for fear of the Jews, 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:26.319 no one spoke openly of him. 00:08:27.599 --> 00:08:30.079 So Jesus seems to be on everyone's mind, 00:08:30.419 --> 00:08:32.340 and even perhaps on everyone's lips, 00:08:32.699 --> 00:08:35.399 but not in open conversation for others to see. 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:40.980 As Jesus goes to Jerusalem, 00:08:41.819 --> 00:08:43.279 he teaches at the temple. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.860 It seems like we always find Jesus at the temple, 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.279 don't we? 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:49.740 If you read the story of Jesus, 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:50.840 he always seems to be teaching, 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:52.240 whether in the synagogue or the temple. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.319 He just seems to can't get away from that desire 00:08:55.319 --> 00:08:57.340 to speak God's truth to people. 00:08:57.740 --> 00:08:58.240 And once again, 00:08:58.319 --> 00:08:59.039 we find Jesus, 00:08:59.199 --> 00:09:02.519 who has now entered the city very privately, 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.919 but now founds himself in a public place 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:05.539 to teach others. 00:09:05.539 --> 00:09:09.879 After hearing Jesus, 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:11.719 the Jews marvel. 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:14.599 They are very impressed by Jesus, 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:16.139 as is we often find. 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.659 Whenever Jesus speaks and teaches, 00:09:18.939 --> 00:09:19.740 people marvel. 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:21.399 They understand that he is someone 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:22.759 who has great insight. 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:24.620 And while they may not agree with him, 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:26.299 they recognize his insight, 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:26.980 and his knowledge, 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:27.759 and his understanding. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:32.559 But these people not only marvel at what Jesus says, 00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:34.360 they marvel at his background, 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:37.319 particularly at his lack of instruction. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.899 Jesus hasn't followed the cultural norms 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:42.740 for teaching from the scriptures. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:45.960 He hasn't been a part of some school of thought, 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:48.700 or sat and learned with the other religious leaders. 00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:51.480 And yet he speaks with great authority. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.480 We see the people's confusion there in verse 15. 00:09:55.780 --> 00:09:58.240 How is it that this man has learning, 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:00.000 but he has never studied? 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:03.560 People have a preconception. 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:07.900 They believe that Jesus lacks authority. 00:10:07.900 --> 00:10:11.060 And the reason they believe that Jesus lacks authority 00:10:11.060 --> 00:10:14.800 is because Jesus lacks training from the religious leaders. 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:20.759 Jesus responds to this question of his authority. 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:25.379 And he says that the authority will come from either God 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:27.800 or from the person, from the individual. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:31.680 As he fleshes this idea, let's see in verse 16. 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:32.440 Jesus says, 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:37.280 My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.720 Jesus says, 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:41.060 The teaching doesn't come from me. 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:42.040 It comes from God. 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:45.000 Verse 18. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:49.500 He continues on in looking at this question of whose authority. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.620 The one who speaks on his own authority 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:55.159 seeks only his own glory. 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:56.240 The person. 00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:57.480 The individual. 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:01.659 So the question of authority. 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:02.519 Jesus says, 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:03.879 Does it come from God? 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:05.419 Or does it come from the person? 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.679 He says the right choice is there in verse 18. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:13.799 The one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true. 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:16.179 The one who seeks the glory of God 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:17.659 and not the glory of the self is true. 00:11:20.359 --> 00:11:22.359 After presenting this dichotomy, 00:11:22.599 --> 00:11:24.979 glory of God or glory for the self, 00:11:25.599 --> 00:11:28.299 Jesus directs an accusation at the religious leaders. 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:30.559 There in verse 19. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.679 Has not Moses given you the law? 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.859 Yet none of you keeps the law. 00:11:40.179 --> 00:11:41.679 With this question lingering, 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:45.199 whose glory do the religious leaders seek? 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.839 Do they seek the glory of God? 00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:48.639 Do they seek glory for themselves? 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:52.259 Jesus offers them an example 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:54.159 from his own ministry. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:58.039 In John 5, 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.059 we find that Jesus heals a man 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:03.120 who has been an invalid for 38 years. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:07.399 But the religious leaders showed great contempt for this action. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:09.439 And the reason they showed great contempt 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:11.699 is because it had taken place on the Sabbath. 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:15.340 We find Jesus, 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:17.919 as he's responding to this question of whose authority. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.599 Continue there in verse 16. 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:24.679 And this is why the Jews were persecuting Jesus. 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:27.659 Because he had done these things on the Sabbath. 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:30.339 The religious leaders are greatly upset 00:12:30.339 --> 00:12:33.599 that Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:38.479 And Jesus confronts them about this flaw in their thinking. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.079 Jesus says to them, 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:44.360 look, the law has come to make people well. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:48.860 The law has come to put our relationship right with God. 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:53.779 And you're using it to worry about such little and petty things 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.800 as what day a healing takes place? 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.759 Jesus says, consider the law. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.600 Consider circumcision. 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.060 It says, 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:03.259 when circumcision falls on the Sabbath, 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:06.120 do you not circumcise the boy? 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.639 The answer is yes, they do. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.259 Jesus says, 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:13.600 if you can make one part of that body well, 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:15.460 if you can make one part of that body right, 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.779 then what's wrong with me making the entire body well, 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:22.659 making the whole body well? 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:22.759 Well, 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.539 as Jesus offers that example 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:31.879 to the religious leaders, 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:35.419 it becomes clear that Jesus has won the dispute. 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:39.799 If Jesus' premise is accepted, 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.399 that authority comes from God 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.279 in seeking the glory of God, 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.879 or authority comes from the person 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:47.179 in seeking the glory of the person, 00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:49.159 the question then lingers, 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.480 which authority do the religious leaders possess? 00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:57.480 Jesus says that we are to judge 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:59.719 with right judgment. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:04.240 Authority, Jesus will say, 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.179 does not come from position. 00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:08.459 It does not come from power. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:10.539 It does not come from status. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.959 It does not come from a title. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.379 Authority comes from right judgment. 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:22.899 So is Jesus the Christ? 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.159 That's the question we're asking today. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.679 Is Jesus the Christ? 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.600 The religious leaders say, 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.120 no, 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.439 the Christ will be like us. 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:34.840 The Christ will be trained like us, 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.779 and teaching like us, 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:36.740 and instruction like us. 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:38.259 So the religious leaders say, 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:38.720 no, 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.159 the Christ will be like us. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:42.200 Yet Jesus makes it clear 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.379 that he is not like them at all. 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:47.279 The third preconception 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.200 that we are looking at today 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:50.240 is that the Christ 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.279 has unknown origins. 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:56.080 Jesus continues to teach in public, 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:58.559 which leads to great confusion 00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.399 among the crowds. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.700 Remember the crowds 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:01.700 were discussing Jesus, 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:02.539 but in private, 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:05.799 for fear of being overheard. 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.559 Yet there's Jesus teaching away. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.259 The people won't even talk about him 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.480 in open conversation, 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.379 but there's Jesus 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.580 in front of everyone teaching. 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.360 And so there the crowds 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:19.600 have a bit of a confusing moment 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.759 as they look up and wonder, 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.200 don't the religious leaders 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:22.840 want him dead? 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.360 There he is. 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.960 It would seem easy to get, 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.360 wouldn't it? 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.500 So the crowds begin to think, 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.060 well, 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.539 maybe the religious leaders 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.920 have come to believe in him too. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.720 Maybe that's why 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.700 they're not harming him. 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.879 Amidst this speculation, 00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:41.759 we find there in verse 27, 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.700 this idea that is presented. 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.360 But we know where this man, 00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:48.039 that being Jesus, 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.279 but we know where this man 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.960 comes from, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.879 and when the Christ appears, 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.279 no one will know 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.360 where he comes from. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.000 So while they're considering 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.939 whether Jesus is the Christ, 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:00.340 they say, 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.399 we won't know where the Christ 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:01.899 comes from, 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.360 but we know where Jesus 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:03.899 comes from. 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:06.480 So this belief that they 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.340 would not know where 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.259 the Christ comes from 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.159 comes from 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:10.759 is part of their tradition 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:11.819 that has developed. 00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:13.679 It was the idea that the Christ 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.919 would suddenly appear 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.559 on the scene. 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.500 This great deliverer 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.519 would suddenly appear, 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.439 and they would not have 00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:21.039 an idea of where the Christ 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:21.799 had come before, 00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:22.759 but would just suddenly 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.639 be there 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.759 to lead the people. 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.799 Jesus responds, 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.319 and he says, 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.740 you do know where I come from, 00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:30.340 but I come from God. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.720 So this preconception 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.879 that the Christ 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:35.520 has unknown origins 00:16:35.520 --> 00:16:37.300 creates a dissonance 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.720 of thought among the people. 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:41.360 While they do believe 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.040 that the Christ 00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.420 has unknown origins, 00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:44.740 they look at Jesus, 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.260 and they say, 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.820 he sure seems like the Christ. 00:16:49.260 --> 00:16:50.620 He seems like the one. 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.720 I think that's the one. 00:16:53.260 --> 00:16:54.240 So there's a dissonance 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.200 of thought that emerges. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:58.379 And despite their misgivings, 00:16:58.640 --> 00:16:59.900 despite their concerns, 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:02.160 some people believed in Jesus. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.360 We see in verse 31, 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.720 yet many of the people 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.440 believed in him. 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.340 They said, 00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.680 when the Christ appears, 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.660 will he do more signs 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:11.000 than this man has done? 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.539 So our question again of the day, 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.940 is Jesus the Christ? 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.680 Some believe. 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.620 Some do not. 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.720 Let's take a closer look 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.940 at some of those who believe. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.460 One of the interesting things 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.519 I want you to see today 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:31.200 is that those who do believe 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.120 in this account, 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.500 they believe, 00:17:34.620 --> 00:17:36.960 despite having absolute certainty, 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:38.880 that Jesus is the Christ. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.860 Jesus doesn't quite fit 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:42.940 their exact expectations. 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.299 Still, 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.080 they made the decision, 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.100 the choice, 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.299 to believe. 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.539 To believe that Jesus 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:52.539 was indeed the Christ. 00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:52.579 Christ. 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.599 The word believe 00:17:56.599 --> 00:18:00.019 comes from the same root word 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.720 as faith. 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.839 So the idea of believe 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.680 and faith, 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.159 and the scriptures 00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:04.980 are very similar. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.119 We find, 00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.859 in people 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:12.099 that we know 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.500 and meet, 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.519 and people that you work with, 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.220 and people that live near you, 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.480 and friends that you have, 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:19.220 that belief and faith 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.620 is a stumbling block 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.420 to following Jesus. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.039 Sometimes people 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.180 don't want to follow Jesus. 00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.960 They don't want to take 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.720 that step of faith. 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.460 And sometimes, 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.480 as we think of this, 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:36.860 we look and we say, 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.420 the information is there, 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:41.360 and yet, 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.880 they choose not to believe. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:45.720 And, 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:47.519 as we communicate 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.360 Jesus to others, 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.460 we find that there are 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:52.060 often questions to be had, 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:54.080 concerns to be presented, 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.120 reasons to not believe 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:57.220 that they put before us. 00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.779 Sometimes, 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.560 we can't answer 00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.300 all the questions, 00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.779 and we can't delay 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.660 all their concerns. 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:06.019 But I would remind you, 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.640 as you communicate 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.560 Jesus to others, 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.919 that if every question 00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:11.679 could be answered, 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.779 belief would not be needed. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.879 If every doubt 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:18.099 could be put aside, 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.940 faith would not be required. 00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:25.019 People in this account today, 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:27.220 they believe in Jesus 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:29.619 despite their questions 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:31.960 and despite their doubts. 00:19:32.919 --> 00:19:34.059 People today 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:36.019 also believe in Jesus. 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.079 Despite questions, 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.899 despite some doubts, 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.839 people still believe. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:42.980 Now, 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.799 I'm not espousing 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.099 an irrational belief. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.000 We'll talk more 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.220 as we move through 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.099 the message, 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.099 this idea. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.339 But I do want you to know 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:55.339 that as you communicate 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.460 Jesus to others, 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.159 we can't answer 00:19:58.159 --> 00:19:58.799 all the questions. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.460 We can't answer 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.240 all of their doubts. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.880 at some point, 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.579 the person makes 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.680 a decision to believe. 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.220 Just like the people 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.920 in this account 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.779 made a decision 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.299 to believe. 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.200 Jesus didn't quite match 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.019 what they thought 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.019 the Christ should look like. 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:15.099 Jesus didn't quite match 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.900 the ideas 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.940 that they had grown up with, 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.740 that they had developed, 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.819 but yet, 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.539 they believed. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.400 There's a certain irony 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.460 to the people 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.319 who doubted Jesus. 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:25.439 Jesus. 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.740 They doubted Jesus 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.039 because they said, 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.139 we will know where, 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.379 we will not know 00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.319 where the Christ comes from, 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.299 but we know Jesus. 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.559 He comes from Nazareth. 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.179 The reality is 00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:39.899 that Jesus didn't actually 00:20:39.899 --> 00:20:40.619 come from Nazareth 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:40.960 at all, 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.220 did he? 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:43.099 That Jesus was 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:44.439 miraculously conceived 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.700 and born in Bethlehem. 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.400 Thus, 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.160 they didn't even know 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.059 where Jesus was from, 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.220 even though they thought 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.620 they did. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.420 Our fourth preconception 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.900 that we're going 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.600 to look at today 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:58.080 is that Jesus speaks 00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.900 only about 00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:00.680 the physical world. 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.820 The religious leaders 00:21:04.820 --> 00:21:06.460 of the day, 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.420 they finally decide 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:08.980 that they are going 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.740 to arrest Jesus. 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.900 They've heard enough of him. 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.279 And so they send 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.799 officers out 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.899 to arrest Jesus. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:18.099 And then Jesus speaks 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.180 to the people about this. 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.279 There in verse 33, 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:21.839 he says, 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.019 I will be with you 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.740 a little longer 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:25.519 and then I am going 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.740 to him who sent me. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.299 You will seek me 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:30.220 and you will not find me. 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.980 Where I am, 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.619 you cannot come. 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.919 And there's confusion 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:36.599 among the people 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.419 as they hear Jesus 00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:38.220 speaking this. 00:21:38.639 --> 00:21:38.980 Like, 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.000 where's Jesus going? 00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.700 He says he's leaving somewhere? 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.159 Is he going to see 00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:43.720 the Greeks? 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:43.980 Yes. 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.799 And the confusion results 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.119 because they think 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.879 Jesus is speaking 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:50.099 only about 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:51.680 the physical world. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.220 But we know 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.180 that Jesus speaks 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.519 spiritual truths. 00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:58.899 And Jesus, 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.579 as he says, 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.440 where I am going, 00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:01.500 that you cannot come 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.500 and that he will be leaving. 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.700 He's looking forward 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.940 to his ascension. 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.680 He's looking forward 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.579 to a time 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.180 that is to come. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.680 And so while Jesus 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.740 speaks to a time 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.440 that is to come, 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.039 to a spiritual truth, 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:17.240 the people are confused 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.380 because all they think 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.140 is in terms 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.560 of their physical reality. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:25.159 we see Jesus then 00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:26.099 on the very last day 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.700 of the feast 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:28.539 that he declares 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.019 to the people 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.159 there in verse 37, 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:32.160 If anyone thirsts, 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.320 let him come to me 00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:33.759 and drink. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.660 Whoever believes in me, 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.880 as the scripture has said, 00:22:37.040 --> 00:22:37.980 out of his heart 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.140 will flow rivers 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.480 of living water. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:45.140 This passage, 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:45.839 this idea 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.779 that Jesus says, 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.920 let him come 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.740 to me and drink, 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.940 that whoever believes 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.360 in me, 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.120 as the scriptures 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:54.440 have said, 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.279 out of his heart 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.360 will flow rivers 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:57.259 of living water. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.599 This idea 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.880 connects perfectly 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.299 in with the feast 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.079 of Booth 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.680 that the people 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.339 are celebrating. 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.400 A significant part 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.339 of the feast of Booth 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.900 was a water rite 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:09.259 that remembered 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.740 Moses' deliverance 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.720 of the people 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.619 as they were 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.400 in the wilderness. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.940 And one of the great things 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.480 that they needed 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.099 was water. 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.259 And God, 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.259 working through his leader 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:18.660 Moses, 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:20.279 provides water 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.480 for the people 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.460 in the wilderness. 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:24.319 And Jesus comes 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.960 and his teaching 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.240 reflects upon 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.859 that moment 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:30.279 of God's deliverance 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.579 through Moses 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.539 for the provision 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.119 of water. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.859 But Jesus says, 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.940 you come to me 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:37.319 and there will be 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.980 living water. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:40.380 It's an eternal water. 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.059 There will be 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.900 no more thirst. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.099 Come to me. 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.220 So the question 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.740 that we have 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.559 been looking at, 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:51.640 is Jesus the Christ? 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:53.980 We do find 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.599 that some believe, 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.480 as we have seen, 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.420 and we see even more 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:56.860 believe there 00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.660 in verse 40. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.559 This is the Christ. 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.900 We have people 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.400 who have answered 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:01.839 that question, 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.319 yes, 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.400 Jesus is the Christ. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:04.440 Christ. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.100 They believe Jesus 00:24:07.100 --> 00:24:07.640 after hearing 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.460 his proclamation 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:10.180 about the need 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.660 to believe 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.540 and that he 00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:12.380 is the living water. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.140 But these people, 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:18.040 they did not 00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:18.820 understand what 00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:19.180 he meant. 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.040 These people 00:24:23.040 --> 00:24:23.740 did not understand 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.220 what he meant 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.519 because Jesus, 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.740 as he looks to himself 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.920 as this living water, 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.120 he's looking ahead 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.880 to his work 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.740 on the cross. 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:33.759 There on the cross, 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.460 Jesus will come 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.420 and take the sins 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:38.140 of people upon him. 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.059 And he will take 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.740 those sins 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.759 and he will be, 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.620 go with him 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.180 as he's put up 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:43.839 onto the cross 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.079 and there he is crucified. 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.359 And there he is 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.099 put to death. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.620 And these religious leaders 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.740 who have conspired 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.359 against him 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:54.319 will have their 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.160 day of victory 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.279 as they think, 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.980 we have finally 00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:58.059 put an end to Jesus. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.019 We have finally 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.680 put an end 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.500 to this man 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.019 who teaches 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.980 but doesn't have 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.700 the same authority 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.259 that we have. 00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.059 We have finally 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.660 put an end 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.720 to this man 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:07.339 who teaches 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.279 and people follow 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.119 and believe him. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:11.079 Is he the Christ? 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:11.579 They will say, 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:11.900 look, 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.579 we put him 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.279 in the grave. 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:15.019 He's dead. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.900 But we will know 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.880 that's not the end 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.720 of the story of Jesus. 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.079 Right? 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.799 Because the grave 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.460 couldn't hold him. 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.720 The grave held 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.259 everyone else 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.819 but it could not 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.319 hold Jesus. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.859 And Jesus 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.519 will defeat 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.559 the power of death. 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.819 Because he was sinless. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.000 And death 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.799 had no claim 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.299 upon him. 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.079 Jesus will be 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.759 resurrected 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.000 back to life. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.059 And Jesus 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.839 will continue 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.339 to live. 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.960 And unlike 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.619 other people 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.279 who have cheated 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.880 death, 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.599 Jesus will never 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.339 face death again. 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.140 He has faced 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:52.779 death once 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.220 and he has 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.799 defeated it. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.740 And when we 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.559 believe in Jesus, 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.700 we take part 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.059 of that. 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:58.379 We take part 00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:58.720 of that 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.559 resurrection 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.079 that Jesus 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.480 has that 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.059 puts us 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.819 right with God. 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.819 That makes 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.319 our relationship 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.980 with God 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.539 as it should 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:04.839 be. 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:06.859 And so when 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.500 Jesus comes 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:07.839 and he says, 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.940 come to me 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.619 for the living 00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:10.099 water. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.319 Come to me 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.799 and drink. 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:15.599 He says, 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.259 come to me. 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.200 I am the one 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:17.819 who will defeat 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.740 the power of death. 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.960 I am the one 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.859 who will put you 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.599 right with God. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:26.579 So is 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.799 Jesus the Christ? 00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:30.139 As we have seen, 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.779 some answer, 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.240 yes. 00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:32.019 Yes, 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:33.339 Jesus is the Christ. 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:34.959 But some 00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:35.439 don't believe. 00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.379 Some don't believe. 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.000 Finally, 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.399 we see that 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:43.179 the religious leaders, 00:26:43.459 --> 00:26:44.959 they have come 00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:46.179 to arrest Jesus. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.539 The religious leaders 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.879 response then 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:50.099 is to send out 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.779 these officers 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.720 to arrest Jesus. 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.559 But as these 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.599 officers go out 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.240 to arrest Jesus, 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.460 they fail to do so. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.779 With this lingering 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.279 question, 00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.399 is Jesus the Christ? 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.460 These officers 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.920 go and they see 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.759 Jesus teaching 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.720 and they see 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.200 him speaking 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.359 and they say, 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.700 can't do it. 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.759 And of course 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.559 they come back 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.660 to their superiors 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.259 and the superiors 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.460 say, 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.359 where's Jesus? 00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.379 Like, 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:14.899 we didn't do it. 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.200 Like, 00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.480 and they say there 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.319 in verse 46, 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:20.200 no one ever spoke 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.200 like this man. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.640 They've seen 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.460 something special 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.220 and unique 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.000 about Jesus. 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.200 And of course 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.920 the religious leaders 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:30.480 have great condemnation. 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:31.680 They say, 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:31.920 what? 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.840 Have you been tricked 00:27:32.840 --> 00:27:33.160 to? 00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:34.720 Have you been tricked? 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.080 Amidst the 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:40.319 anger on the part 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.100 of the religious leaders, 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:44.039 we find Nicodemus 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.559 emerging. 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.039 Nicodemus 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.519 is a character 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.200 who emerges 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.879 three times 00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:50.639 in the book of John. 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.839 And in the book 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.119 of John, 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.680 Nicodemus 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.359 is a bit 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.139 of a subplot. 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.359 If you'll follow 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.859 the three instances 00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:00.139 of Nicodemus' appearance, 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.119 you'll have 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.240 the story of John 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.220 mostly laid out 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.639 for you. 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.779 We've seen 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.200 Nicodemus 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.480 who was a Pharisee, 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:10.000 was a Pharisee, 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.500 he was among 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.319 the religious leaders. 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:15.419 And he comes 00:28:15.419 --> 00:28:15.859 to Jesus 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.819 first in John 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.480 chapter 3. 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.839 And he comes 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.339 to Jesus 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.939 in secret. 00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:22.200 And he comes 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.579 to Jesus 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.460 with questions. 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.259 Jesus, 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:24.799 I need to 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.559 understand more. 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:27.819 The second 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.399 appearance then 00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.019 of Nicodemus 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.419 is here. 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.279 And the third 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.319 appearance of Nicodemus, 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.819 I'll let you 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.359 find that one 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.359 on your own. 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.939 So Nicodemus 00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:38.439 here in his 00:28:38.439 --> 00:28:39.339 second appearance 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.099 says to the 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.779 religious leaders, 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:42.059 there in verse 51. 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.359 Does our law 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.359 judge a man 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.279 without first 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.299 giving him a hearing 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:48.420 and learning 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.839 what he does? 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.200 Nicodemus realizes 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.839 that Jesus' 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.160 teachings contrast 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.980 to their current 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.379 notions, 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.059 a contrast 00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.680 to their current 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.059 beliefs. 00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.160 It doesn't fit in 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.759 well with what 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.339 they've been taught 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:02.700 before. 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.700 But he refused 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.799 to simply discount 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.639 Jesus because 00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.460 of this contrast. 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.779 He offers 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.639 this suggestion 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.800 to the other 00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:11.240 leaders, 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.340 to his fellow 00:29:12.340 --> 00:29:12.960 religious leaders. 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:13.920 Let's hear more 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.460 from Jesus 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.280 and give us 00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:15.980 ideas, 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:16.940 consideration. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.620 Of course, 00:29:19.560 --> 00:29:20.300 the religious leaders, 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.740 they refuse 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.600 this suggestion. 00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:27.500 The religious leaders 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:29.140 have a flaw. 00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:29.800 Nicodemus' 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.360 suggestion exposes 00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.500 this fatal flaw 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:34.360 of the religious leaders. 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:36.779 It is this. 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.459 The religious leaders 00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:40.419 have much knowledge 00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:42.179 but no understanding. 00:29:42.959 --> 00:29:44.259 They have knowledge 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.459 but no understanding. 00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:46.659 They have much knowledge 00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.399 of God that comes 00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:47.899 from the study 00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:48.459 of the scripture. 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.419 They studied the scripture 00:29:50.419 --> 00:29:51.099 extensively. 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:53.179 But they have no 00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:53.819 understanding 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.859 of God's character. 00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.139 They're oblivious 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.339 to the nature of God. 00:29:57.339 --> 00:30:00.480 So what does it look 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:03.459 like to have knowledge 00:30:03.459 --> 00:30:04.919 but no understanding? 00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:06.359 I'll tell you a little 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.899 bit of what it looks 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.119 like. 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.659 It looks like me 00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.599 when I am trying 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.019 to cook. 00:30:11.859 --> 00:30:13.519 So when it's my turn 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.480 to cook around the house, 00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:16.159 my meals tend to start 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:18.079 in a packaged, 00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.059 frozen dinner. 00:30:19.439 --> 00:30:20.500 And I take out 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.720 that frozen chicken 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.539 that's already been 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.399 seasoned and cooked 00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:24.559 and heated up. 00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.759 And then I take out 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.379 the vegetables 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:28.220 that are frozen 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.400 and I pile them on. 00:30:29.600 --> 00:30:30.200 And then I take out 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:31.240 the sauce that came 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.740 in the package 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:33.260 and squeeze it on. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.000 Heat it up 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.440 and I have developed 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:36.840 a meal. 00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:38.300 I have knowledge 00:30:38.300 --> 00:30:40.200 of how to provide 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:42.020 a meal for the family. 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.980 But if you 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.300 were to give me 00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:47.620 the raw ingredients 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.480 there in the kitchen, 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.580 some chicken 00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.320 and vegetables 00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:51.620 and things to make 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.520 some sort of sauce, 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.400 I could never 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.280 reproduce that. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.960 I don't have 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.860 understanding 00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:57.860 of these things 00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:58.140 to be able 00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:58.840 to reproduce 00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.380 that meal. 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:01.039 If you were to put me 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.900 on the farm 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:03.500 and say there are 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.559 the chickens over there 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.340 and there are the crops 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:06.059 over there, 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.500 I most certainly 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.860 could never 00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.480 reproduce 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.460 that meal. 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.900 I have knowledge 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.900 of how to cook. 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.640 I really don't have 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.579 any understanding 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.960 of how to cook. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.019 The religious leaders 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.700 in the same way. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.120 They have much 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:21.240 knowledge of God, 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.700 but they do not 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.980 have understanding. 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.240 That's what happens 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.120 when Jesus comes 00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:28.539 is he exposes 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.519 their lack 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.380 of understanding. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.019 If we want to gain 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.740 an understanding 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.960 of Jesus, 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:38.559 let's follow the advice 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.259 of Nicodemus. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.140 He says, 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:41.980 let's give Jesus 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.400 a hearing 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.759 and learn what he does 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:45.920 and consider belief. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.640 And how are we going 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.039 to do that 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.160 in our contemporary context? 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:51.120 I wish I had some 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:53.080 special advice 00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:53.519 for you 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:53.860 that you say, 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:54.759 that's the greatest 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.880 advice I've ever heard 00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:57.080 to understand 00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:58.400 and understand more 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.259 about who Jesus is. 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.400 But really the advice 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:01.279 is quite simple. 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:03.680 Read your Bible. 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.920 Read your Bible. 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.420 Next thing I would say, 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:10.380 come to a worship service. 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.940 It's nice to see you all. 00:32:13.060 --> 00:32:14.420 So come to a worship service. 00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:15.420 These are two 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.840 of the greatest ways 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:17.700 that we have 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:19.360 to develop an understanding 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:21.180 of who Jesus is. 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.620 You remember Kitten? 00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:26.940 We talked about Kitten 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.580 when we started. 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.559 Yes. 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:29.240 Kitten, 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:31.000 she thought the moon 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.940 was a bowl of milk. 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.860 In the story 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.840 with Kitten, 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:37.660 the moon 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.940 is either 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.059 a bowl of milk 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:42.240 or it is not. 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.700 In the same way, 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:47.100 Jesus is either 00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:47.860 the Christ 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:49.500 or he 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:51.000 is not. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.160 So what do you say? 00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:54.880 Do you believe 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.740 that Jesus 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.279 is the Christ? 00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:00.240 There may be 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.539 concerns that you have. 00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:03.140 There may be 00:33:03.140 --> 00:33:03.680 perhaps 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:04.620 misunderstandings 00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.120 that you have. 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.200 There may be 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.259 questions that you have. 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.500 These need not 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:09.980 keep you 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.039 from making that decision 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.860 to follow Jesus. 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:14.059 As we've seen 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.539 today, 00:33:15.419 --> 00:33:16.240 when asked, 00:33:16.439 --> 00:33:17.419 is Jesus the Christ? 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.079 We've seen people 00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.359 who said, 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.519 it's not quite 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.219 what I expected. 00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:23.279 But that's the one. 00:33:23.479 --> 00:33:24.179 That's the one 00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:24.919 in whom I believe. 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.659 Kitten, 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.039 Kitten went home. 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.079 I've got to tell you 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.699 how the story 00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.079 of Kitten. 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.439 Kitten went home. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.019 And Kitten, 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:37.659 as she goes home, 00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:38.539 she finds a bowl 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:38.960 of milk 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.079 waiting for her 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.559 on the porch 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.980 and lapsed 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:42.599 that milk up, 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.339 happy to have 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:43.920 finally found 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.220 the milk 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.619 that she was 00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:45.039 looking for. 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.319 Jesus says to us, 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:50.440 if anyone thirsts, 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.079 let him come 00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.700 to me and drink. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.619 Whoever believes 00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:53.899 in me, 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.440 as the scripture 00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:55.000 has said, 00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.059 out of his heart 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:57.619 will flow rivers 00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:59.480 of living water. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:03.659 Today, 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.680 the question, 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:06.240 is Jesus the Christ? 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.399 What do you say? 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.139 Remember, 00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.059 you can choose belief 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:13.619 because perhaps 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.539 like those officers 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.059 who were sent 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:15.759 to arrest Jesus, 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.099 you realize 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:17.779 there is something 00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:18.779 special about him. 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.900 Or perhaps 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.179 you realize 00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.699 you have a spiritual thirst 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:26.000 that only Jesus 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.659 can satisfy 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:27.779 and you make 00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:28.279 that decision 00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:28.800 to say, 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.239 yes, 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:32.039 Jesus is the Christ. 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.639 Let me close 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.980 the sermon in prayer. 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.900 God, 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:40.739 we come before you 00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:42.699 grateful that you 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.719 have sent Jesus. 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.420 Grateful that you 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.079 have sent Jesus 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:47.820 on our behalf 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:49.599 so that we can have 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.300 a relationship 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:50.880 with you. 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.340 God, 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.019 we come, 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.380 we are thankful 00:34:54.380 --> 00:34:55.099 for his word. 00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:55.960 God, 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.679 and we acknowledge 00:34:56.679 --> 00:34:57.219 his goodness 00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:58.480 and his authority 00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.759 and his sovereignty 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:00.659 over us 00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.300 and our lives. 00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:02.039 Amen. 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.139 Amen. 00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:03.199 Thank you. 00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:33.179 Thank you.