WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.040 Yes, I apologize that you just have me and not. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:06.679 Man, Aiden, your hair is growing. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:09.240 It's looking. 00:00:09.620 --> 00:00:10.060 Sorry. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:12.599 I'm not jealous. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:13.220 I'm not jealous. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:16.699 Man, I'm sorry that it's just me. 00:00:17.240 --> 00:00:19.019 We hope that Micah will be here with us. 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:21.960 Guys, you've been sending me really mixed messages. 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:25.839 You guys meet Micah, and last week we had J1 preach, 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:28.300 and he came over to our house afterwards, 00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:30.300 and him and Emily were both there, 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:34.120 and they're like, oh, Micah's just so perfect in every way. 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:37.500 And then Jay looks at me and goes, James, he looks just like you. 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:40.159 And I'm like, ah. 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:44.620 Does that mean, yes, it does. 00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:45.260 It does. 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:46.000 Thank you, Micah. 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:49.500 Yeah, there's a lot of jokes about his hair and my hair, 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:52.120 but, guys, there's low-hanging fruit. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:56.100 But I'm so grateful to be here. 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:59.320 Actually, even these last few weeks, 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:03.039 just having Gabe ministers in the Word, 00:01:03.120 --> 00:01:05.420 and then having Aaron and Jay, 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:07.060 and I'm not going to lie. 00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:09.079 I mean, Rusty is probably a good way to put it. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:10.640 I came in this morning, oh, my goodness. 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:13.240 Some of the kids are sick, and figuring this out, 00:01:13.299 --> 00:01:13.939 figuring that out. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.879 And I'm like, my heart is all over the place. 00:01:17.520 --> 00:01:18.379 And then I was blessed. 00:01:18.520 --> 00:01:20.540 I was blessed just by being in that small room, 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:22.060 praying with the leaders, and just, 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:25.180 I need this gathering. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:26.879 I need these people. 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:28.540 This is how my heart is steadied, 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:30.439 being amidst the people of God. 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:33.280 And hearing the prayers of my brothers and sisters 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:35.579 was what really kind of stilled me. 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:38.200 And so I'm thankful for you all 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.960 for just being here, 00:01:41.240 --> 00:01:42.540 being here and being part of this. 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:44.740 And this is an incredibly important week. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:46.099 Why don't you just put up the slides? 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:48.180 Actually, can I hijack this? 00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:49.540 Do you think that'll work? 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:53.820 Sorry, I'm being the rebel here. 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:54.700 Does that work? 00:01:56.380 --> 00:01:57.140 Okay, not yet. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:01:59.080 Maybe that was a bad idea for me to suggest that. 00:02:03.580 --> 00:02:07.280 I was meditating over this week's passage, 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:08.319 and we're in 1 John, 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:09.680 and it's also Palm Sunday, 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:11.980 which I was talking to a few people about. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:13.219 This week is the week. 00:02:13.480 --> 00:02:14.920 This week, don't worry about it if it's too hard. 00:02:16.580 --> 00:02:18.180 This week is the most important week. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:20.500 It is by this week we are saved. 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:22.560 It is by this week that we have life. 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:23.520 And I don't know how much, 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:25.659 how aware we are of that, 00:02:25.819 --> 00:02:26.379 this Holy Week, 00:02:26.420 --> 00:02:28.439 and everything that's going to be happening this week. 00:02:28.480 --> 00:02:29.860 And it really ties in with the passage 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:31.879 that we've got happening in 1 John. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.060 Alex just read the triumphal entry 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:36.520 from Matthew chapter 21. 00:02:36.600 --> 00:02:37.280 If you've got your Bibles, 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:38.300 I invite you to bring it out. 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:38.420 So, 00:02:38.860 --> 00:02:43.900 journey with me today. 00:02:45.260 --> 00:02:46.900 Grateful for you all last week is Aaron, 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:48.080 and oh, I'm on. 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:49.120 Is this me? 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:49.660 Is this my, 00:02:50.980 --> 00:02:51.200 huh? 00:02:51.480 --> 00:02:51.760 Yes. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:52.660 Oh. 00:02:54.820 --> 00:02:56.100 Let's see if this works then. 00:02:57.420 --> 00:02:58.320 Oh, but it's tiny. 00:02:59.140 --> 00:03:00.100 Should it be this tiny? 00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:01.680 Close it and try again. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:03.140 Close it. 00:03:06.640 --> 00:03:07.659 And then try again. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:08.840 If not, don't worry. 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:10.219 Then you can just control it from your end. 00:03:11.300 --> 00:03:11.659 Whoa. 00:03:13.540 --> 00:03:14.260 So clever. 00:03:18.600 --> 00:03:20.240 Palm Sunday is the day that Jesus 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:21.819 enters into Jerusalem. 00:03:22.519 --> 00:03:25.000 And he enters in with all this fanfare 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:27.199 and all these people celebrating him, 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:27.959 shouting for him. 00:03:28.019 --> 00:03:28.340 Hosanna, 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:29.319 Hosanna in the highest. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:32.099 And these palm trees just waving at him. 00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:35.479 And even though it's so filled with celebration and joy, 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:37.599 no doubt in Jesus' heart, 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:38.019 he's like, 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:38.259 man, 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:39.900 if only they knew 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:42.620 what was about to happen this week. 00:03:42.859 --> 00:03:43.599 And as you see, 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:44.659 he journeys in, 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:45.379 and there's the donkey, 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:47.639 and there's this final bit. 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:47.979 He says, 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:50.459 the crowds are asking. 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:52.020 No doubt you and I would have been. 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:54.120 Have you done this when you see a big, 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.360 I heard Mirror were in Pacific Place the other day, 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:58.260 and there's just the crowds there, 00:03:58.580 --> 00:03:59.319 and then everyone's like, 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:00.260 oh, what's happening here? 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:01.300 What's happening here? 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:03.280 Another example is 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.280 on weekday mornings, 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:06.340 the kids and I, 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:07.180 oh, it's gone again. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:08.460 Oh, that sucks. 00:04:09.920 --> 00:04:11.219 We will try one last time, Bonnie. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:11.900 If it doesn't work, 00:04:12.100 --> 00:04:12.900 you can take it back. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:13.740 Does that sound good? 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:19.439 I didn't know if you knew this. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:21.800 The MTR has this early bird offer. 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:23.680 So at 7.15, 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:26.139 if you go through the turnstiles, 00:04:26.219 --> 00:04:26.699 it's cheaper. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:28.579 So the kids and I, 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:30.779 we get into the MTR around 7.10, 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:32.319 and we see just people 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.279 just standing in the middle of the concourse, 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:35.759 not going through the turnstiles. 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:36.519 Has anyone seen that? 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:38.459 No, none of you are up that early. 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:40.819 And we were like, 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:41.740 what's going on here? 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:43.159 Why is everyone just standing 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:44.300 and not going in 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:45.480 through the turnstiles? 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:46.800 And so then I'm always nosy, 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:47.319 so they're like, 00:04:47.379 --> 00:04:48.139 hey, what's happening? 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:49.199 Is this like a, 00:04:49.620 --> 00:04:50.419 what's going on? 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:50.759 He's like, oh, 00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:51.719 it's just because we're all cheap 00:04:51.719 --> 00:04:53.539 and we all just need to wait 00:04:53.539 --> 00:04:54.159 for two more minutes 00:04:54.159 --> 00:04:54.979 and then we'll have the early, 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:56.120 but Gabe's like the green. 00:04:56.259 --> 00:04:57.039 That's what he does. 00:04:57.039 --> 00:04:59.240 And so I was like, wow. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:00.839 No doubt the crowds 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:01.819 would have done the same thing. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:03.599 You've got all these people shouting, 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:05.099 Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:07.519 Everyone's welcoming this guy, 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:08.399 Jesus of Nazareth. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:09.659 There would have been people 00:05:09.659 --> 00:05:10.639 who were on the back going, 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:11.279 who is this? 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:11.839 What's happening? 00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:13.079 I hadn't heard about this. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:14.219 And then, 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:14.959 so the question is, 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:15.779 who is this? 00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:16.259 Verse 10, 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:17.500 and the crowd said, 00:05:17.559 --> 00:05:18.879 this is the prophet Jesus 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.079 from Nazareth of Galilee. 00:05:22.119 --> 00:05:23.599 Isn't that the point of debate 00:05:23.599 --> 00:05:25.500 since that moment then? 00:05:25.739 --> 00:05:26.839 Who is this guy? 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.019 Who is this Jesus? 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:30.179 We've all been asking that question. 00:05:30.239 --> 00:05:30.779 For those of you 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:31.519 who've been doing Alpha 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:32.259 on Monday nights 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:33.519 and it's been so fun 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.679 just being with everyone there. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:35.939 Isn't that the same question 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:37.139 that we just asked on Monday? 00:05:37.679 --> 00:05:38.799 Who is this Jesus? 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:39.740 There's no doubt 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:40.699 that Jesus existed, 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:41.180 by the way. 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:42.100 We all are agreed 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:43.439 on Jesus existing. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:44.840 But the question is, 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:45.720 who is he? 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:47.720 Who is he? 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:48.520 This guy that, 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:48.819 well, 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:50.040 those who don't believe him 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:51.259 will still shout his name 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:51.740 when they, 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:53.300 when they stub their toe 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:53.780 on the table. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:56.639 People who follow the calendars, 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:57.759 which nearly all of us do here, 00:05:58.139 --> 00:05:59.340 he split time in half. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:00.680 The question isn't 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:01.500 whether Jesus existed. 00:06:01.580 --> 00:06:02.139 The question is, 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:02.879 who is he? 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:04.840 And this is the, 00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:06.259 this is the point of the question. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:07.519 If this Bible is to believe, 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.159 be believed, 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.379 then there's only really 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:10.060 three scenarios 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:10.639 that C.S. Lewis 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:11.899 and many, many apologetics 00:06:11.899 --> 00:06:12.799 people talk about this. 00:06:13.599 --> 00:06:14.740 Three options that we have 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:16.159 in terms of who Jesus is, 00:06:16.299 --> 00:06:16.639 which is, 00:06:16.799 --> 00:06:17.620 is he a lunatic? 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:18.579 Does he, 00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:19.959 does he just believe these things? 00:06:19.979 --> 00:06:20.560 He's delusional 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:21.819 or is he a liar? 00:06:21.939 --> 00:06:22.620 Is he a fraud 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:23.979 or is he actually Lord? 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:26.099 There are no other options. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.659 Those are the only three options 00:06:27.659 --> 00:06:28.180 that we have. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:30.719 Who is this Jesus? 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:31.319 Now, 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:32.819 if we fast forward to one John 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:34.120 and if you turn with me there, 00:06:34.219 --> 00:06:35.939 we're nearly done with one John 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:37.079 and actually next week is Easter 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:38.199 and then the week after, 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:39.180 we actually have the honor 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:40.439 of having Juju come up 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:41.879 to summarize the whole book 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:43.199 of one John for us. 00:06:43.659 --> 00:06:45.000 So looking forward to that. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:46.639 Essentially, 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:48.219 in one John five, 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:50.459 the same question comes up. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:52.159 John is trying to address 00:06:52.159 --> 00:06:53.259 the very same thing again. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:54.299 Even after everything 00:06:54.299 --> 00:06:55.000 that's happened now, 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:56.319 the same question remains. 00:06:56.599 --> 00:06:57.839 Who is this Jesus? 00:06:58.099 --> 00:06:59.079 And this is what he says. 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:01.060 This is he who came 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:02.120 by water and blood, 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:03.159 Jesus Christ, 00:07:03.159 --> 00:07:04.399 not by the water only, 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.560 but by the water 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:06.759 and the blood. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:08.139 And the spirit is the one 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:08.879 who testifies 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:09.819 because the spirit 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:11.859 is the truth. 00:07:14.219 --> 00:07:15.479 This whole book of John 00:07:15.479 --> 00:07:15.859 is saying, 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:16.039 hey, 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:16.759 I want you to know 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:17.519 this Jesus guy. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:18.159 And then really, 00:07:18.239 --> 00:07:18.759 the question is, 00:07:18.799 --> 00:07:18.899 well, 00:07:18.919 --> 00:07:19.799 who is this Jesus? 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:20.979 And so here, 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:21.799 as he's coming up 00:07:21.799 --> 00:07:22.399 to his finale, 00:07:22.739 --> 00:07:24.319 he sees it important enough 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:25.779 to address that question again. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.259 Do you truly know 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:29.620 who the real Jesus is? 00:07:30.099 --> 00:07:31.079 Because you need to know 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:31.399 who he is. 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:32.120 He's either lunatic, 00:07:32.239 --> 00:07:32.799 he's either liar, 00:07:32.919 --> 00:07:34.079 or he's Lord. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:35.060 And if he's Lord, 00:07:35.179 --> 00:07:36.739 then that has massive, 00:07:36.919 --> 00:07:38.099 massive implications 00:07:38.099 --> 00:07:39.239 for your life. 00:07:40.539 --> 00:07:41.399 The question really is, 00:07:41.479 --> 00:07:42.539 do you and I really know 00:07:42.539 --> 00:07:44.339 who the real Jesus is? 00:07:44.739 --> 00:07:45.759 The Jesus that we have, 00:07:45.799 --> 00:07:46.739 is he the real one? 00:07:46.859 --> 00:07:47.699 Or is it one that 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:48.620 church tradition 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.000 and Sunday school 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.659 has built up 00:07:50.659 --> 00:07:51.659 as to who Jesus is? 00:07:52.239 --> 00:07:52.819 During COVID, 00:07:52.899 --> 00:07:53.560 I use the example, 00:07:54.039 --> 00:07:54.199 hey, 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:55.439 many of us growing up 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:56.359 in a culture 00:07:56.359 --> 00:07:57.239 that is filled 00:07:57.239 --> 00:07:58.000 with Christianity 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.099 are vaccinated 00:07:59.099 --> 00:08:00.159 with a mild version 00:08:00.159 --> 00:08:00.560 of Jesus. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:01.240 Remember we had 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:01.899 those vaccines 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:03.100 and the Pfizer's 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:03.660 and all those kinds 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:03.980 of things? 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:04.959 Vaccinations, 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:05.579 how they work 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:06.579 is that they inject 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:07.720 a weak or mild version 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:08.500 of that virus 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:09.160 into your body 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:10.079 so it will stop you 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:10.959 from getting the real thing. 00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:11.540 Right? 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:12.660 And so the thing 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:13.500 that I had on my heart 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:14.040 all the time was, 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:15.000 have we, 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.220 have we basically 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:17.040 been injected 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:17.699 with a mild, 00:08:17.840 --> 00:08:18.060 weak, 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:19.160 dead version of Jesus 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:20.100 that's stopping us 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:21.120 from getting the real thing? 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:23.459 That's the challenge 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:24.279 that I had in my heart. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:25.459 I know of Jesus, 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:26.360 I know about Jesus, 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:27.620 but is it the real Jesus? 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.560 Who is the real Jesus 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:30.280 to me? 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:30.939 Do you know 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:31.899 the real Jesus? 00:08:32.179 --> 00:08:32.620 John here, 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:33.340 as he's coming 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:33.940 into his finale, 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:34.720 he says, 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:35.759 this is he who came 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:36.600 by water and blood, 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:37.299 Jesus Christ, 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:38.919 not by the water only, 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:40.100 but by the water 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:41.980 and the blood. 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:42.960 Now, 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:44.360 Florence and I 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.000 were talking about this 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:45.480 over this week 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:46.539 as she was preparing songs 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:46.980 and we were like, 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:48.580 this is a hard passage. 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:50.059 This is a hard passage 00:08:50.059 --> 00:08:50.799 to understand. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:51.700 And actually, 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:52.379 a lot of scholars 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:53.840 are at odds 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:55.200 over what this actually means. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:56.180 But just to put it simply, 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:56.480 really, 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:57.640 what we're seeing here 00:08:57.640 --> 00:08:58.400 is that Jesus 00:08:58.400 --> 00:08:59.360 is the Christ, 00:08:59.420 --> 00:09:00.300 which is the chosen one, 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:01.259 the one who will save 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:02.020 the world. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.000 And why? 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:03.900 Why do we know that? 00:09:03.920 --> 00:09:04.680 It's because the spirit 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:06.020 testifies that he is. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:06.800 And how does he do that? 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:07.020 One, 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:07.700 through water, 00:09:07.800 --> 00:09:08.320 which is what? 00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:09.340 Is there any guesses 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:10.020 to what that might be? 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:15.360 Sign. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:16.480 Baptism. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:17.400 The baptism. 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:18.040 Yes, 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:18.360 do you do. 00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:19.420 The baptism, 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:20.160 that moment 00:09:20.160 --> 00:09:21.140 at the beginning 00:09:21.140 --> 00:09:22.080 of Jesus' ministry 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:22.660 where he goes 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:23.299 and gets baptized 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:23.980 by John the Baptist 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:24.939 and the heavens open. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:26.699 God doesn't open the skies 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:27.259 that often 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:28.399 in the New Testament. 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.480 But the two times 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:29.919 that he does, 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:30.959 the two times he comes 00:09:30.959 --> 00:09:31.600 and says something, 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:32.779 he opens and he says, 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:33.559 this is my son. 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.179 This is my beloved son 00:09:35.179 --> 00:09:36.519 with whom I am well pleased. 00:09:37.939 --> 00:09:38.879 That's one way 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:39.360 to testify 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:40.100 that this guy 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:40.839 is the real deal. 00:09:41.819 --> 00:09:42.699 The second is, 00:09:42.819 --> 00:09:43.019 of course, 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:43.620 the blood. 00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:44.419 What is that? 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:45.980 It's the crucifixion. 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:46.799 And we're going to focus 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.759 a little bit on that today 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:49.179 because I think that has, 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:50.339 again, 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:51.659 massive ramifications 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:52.679 of why we're even 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:53.719 sat here today 00:09:53.719 --> 00:09:54.740 by the blood. 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:55.139 Now, 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:55.600 often, 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:56.959 and I've talked about this, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.059 we have a pick and mix, 00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:58.799 kind of pick and choose 00:09:58.799 --> 00:09:59.360 kind of Christianity 00:09:59.360 --> 00:09:59.980 these days. 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:01.019 We like the Jesus 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:01.500 who is good. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.019 We like the Jesus 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:02.600 who is kind, 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.079 who is loving, 00:10:03.219 --> 00:10:04.339 who comes and heals 00:10:04.339 --> 00:10:05.379 our hurts and our pains, 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.379 who gives us purpose. 00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:07.360 He's just the kind, 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:08.240 loving Jesus. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:09.819 And we often try 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:11.579 and avoid the issues of sin. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:12.459 We try and avoid 00:10:12.459 --> 00:10:13.559 the issues of the blood 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:14.299 because once it gets 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:14.959 to the blood stuff, 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:15.759 it's a little bit gory. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:17.000 It's a little bit like, 00:10:17.059 --> 00:10:17.240 oh, 00:10:17.339 --> 00:10:18.279 that makes me uncomfortable. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.199 But here's the question 00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:21.620 that I wanted to ask 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:22.060 us today. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:24.639 What does the, 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:25.759 why does Jesus 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.279 have to die? 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.620 Why does Jesus 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.179 have to die? 00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:30.340 Have a think about that. 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.259 I might even pick on you. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:32.740 Why, 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:33.659 in your eyes, 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:35.240 did Jesus have to die? 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.700 John here is saying, 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:39.159 hey, 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:41.080 it's not just by the water, 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:41.919 it's by the blood. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:42.820 And I'll tell you the context 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:43.759 of why he's saying that 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:44.500 because there were people 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:45.100 in the church 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:45.659 at that moment 00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:46.180 who were saying, 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:46.580 hey, 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:47.960 Jesus was a good man. 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.000 And you may have heard 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:49.620 these things said 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:50.159 by people as well. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:50.879 He was a good man. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:51.840 He had good teachings. 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:53.240 I heard this even during Alpha. 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:54.759 But, 00:10:55.560 --> 00:10:56.299 there's the but. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:10:57.500 But actually, 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:58.299 the whole death thing 00:10:58.299 --> 00:10:59.220 is the bit that I don't 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.340 really truly understand. 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:01.039 Or actually, 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:01.720 there were some people 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:02.580 during this time 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:03.480 when John was writing 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:04.419 his letters to the church, 00:11:04.560 --> 00:11:05.080 there were people 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:05.759 who believed that 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:07.320 Jesus was just a normal man, 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.240 a good man. 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:09.759 He became God 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:10.779 when the spirit descended 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:11.720 on him at baptism. 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:12.740 That's the water bit. 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:13.879 But, 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.740 then they said 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.419 that actually 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:16.820 he stopped being God 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:18.299 just before he died 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:19.139 because God can't die. 00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:20.379 So, 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.060 their beliefs 00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:22.120 were that actually 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:22.980 the moment 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.899 just before 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:24.659 he was crucified, 00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:25.639 the spirit of God 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:25.980 leaves him 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:26.659 and Jesus becomes 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:27.139 a man again. 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.159 That was their kind of 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:30.600 angle as to what this was. 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:31.700 And John's insisting 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:31.960 saying, 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:32.620 no, 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.019 no, 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:33.539 no. 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:35.500 Jesus had to have been God 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.879 even at the crucifixion, 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.159 even all the way 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.379 up until the point of death, 00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:41.360 he would have been God. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.519 The question is, 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:43.379 why? 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.480 Do you know 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:46.519 the answer to that question? 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.560 Let me ask a few people. 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:52.139 Kuban, 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:52.759 let me start with you. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:53.840 Start, 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:54.440 I mean, 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:54.720 again, 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:56.000 no pressure on getting 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.700 the right answers here, 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:56.899 just, 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.220 in your eyes, 00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.100 why did Jesus have to die? 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:01.100 I think he had to die 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:03.759 because as the perfect being, 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.200 he had to be offered 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.060 as a sacrifice 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:07.259 for everybody else. 00:12:07.560 --> 00:12:08.259 It was not perfect. 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:08.620 Yeah. 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:09.860 Boom, 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:10.519 there's two words there 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.220 that actually pop up. 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.060 One is sacrifice, 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:13.120 that he actually had 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.060 to sacrifice himself. 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.060 And two, 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:15.440 of course, 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:17.120 is substitution. 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:18.240 He had to die 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.160 in our place. 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.399 If you were to be asked 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:20.879 by someone else, 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:22.100 why did Jesus have to die? 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.279 What thoughts would come 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.080 to your mind? 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:24.860 Paul, 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:25.259 what do you have? 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.820 Committed to justice. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.759 Committed to justice. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:30.720 Committed to justice. 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:31.540 Wow, 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:31.779 that's good. 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:32.580 Tell me a bit more about that. 00:12:32.660 --> 00:12:33.200 Expand on that. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:35.240 Well, 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:35.700 like, 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.320 punishment needed to be paid. 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:37.960 Hmm. 00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:38.379 So, 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.580 he needed to be gracious. 00:12:40.660 --> 00:12:41.840 He had to be 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.160 committed to making sure 00:12:44.160 --> 00:12:45.480 that punishment wasn't paid 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.460 and he was the only one 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.320 who could do that. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.420 Paul's talking something 00:12:49.420 --> 00:12:50.120 about justice, 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.200 just this idea 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:51.680 that actually, 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:52.360 Romans 6, 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.060 23 says this, 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.240 the wages of sin is death. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:55.600 And so, 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.720 there was a wrong. 00:12:57.140 --> 00:12:57.720 And every time 00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.259 there is a wrong, 00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.240 every time there is 00:12:59.240 --> 00:12:59.879 a wrongful action, 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:00.580 there is a consequence. 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.180 There is a price 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:01.900 that has to be paid. 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:02.720 And Jesus, 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.460 being the one 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:04.580 who actually is blameless, 00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:05.680 is the one who steps in 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:06.259 to pay for that. 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.440 And that's what we're saying. 00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:08.320 That's a debt 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.580 that we have no ability 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.259 to pay at all, 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.220 but Jesus is the one 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.100 that comes and steps in. 00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:12.759 Again, 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:15.120 that's completely true. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:15.860 One final one. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:16.280 Over there. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:16.820 Kelly, 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.180 what do you got? 00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:21.540 I think just echoing 00:13:21.540 --> 00:13:22.680 what both of them said, 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.040 like, 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:25.340 there's just no other way 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.100 for us to have 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:26.560 patience 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.480 to be done 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:30.060 unless the perfect sacrifice 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:32.379 unless there's 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.119 a perfect sacrifice. 00:13:33.619 --> 00:13:33.799 Yeah. 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.679 And because of the justice 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:37.519 and because of the great love, 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:40.779 that had to be done 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.619 in order for him 00:13:41.619 --> 00:13:42.159 to be done. 00:13:43.739 --> 00:13:44.099 Wow. 00:13:45.239 --> 00:13:47.259 There was a price 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:47.759 that he was paid 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.539 and it had to be 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:49.559 a perfect sacrifice 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.579 and out of love. 00:13:50.839 --> 00:13:51.179 And really, 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.919 Kelly sums up to us 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:55.000 really what Paul 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.759 starts to say here. 00:13:55.839 --> 00:13:56.159 And this week, 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:56.579 next week, 00:13:56.619 --> 00:13:57.319 we'll look at this passage. 00:13:57.459 --> 00:13:58.279 This is key here. 00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.439 For I delivered to you 00:13:59.439 --> 00:14:00.399 as of first importance 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.639 was I also received 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.779 that Christ died. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.879 Why did he die? 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.220 For our sins. 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:05.720 We'll unpack 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.980 what that actually means 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.279 later in accordance 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:08.860 with the scriptures 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:09.519 that he was buried 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.379 and that he was raised 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:12.240 on the third day. 00:14:12.319 --> 00:14:13.639 It is all about 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.819 what actually happened 00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:15.480 from the moment. 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:16.500 If you rewind 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.259 the question of 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.839 why is there death 00:14:18.839 --> 00:14:19.720 in the first place? 00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:22.120 Why would you say 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.879 that there is death 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.000 in the first place? 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:24.959 We weren't created 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:25.460 to die. 00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:26.540 What was the original 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:28.820 source of death? 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.780 We go all the way 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:30.780 back to the Garden of Eden. 00:14:31.400 --> 00:14:32.139 We go all the way 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.840 back to the Garden of Eden 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.780 where God creates 00:14:33.780 --> 00:14:35.060 man and woman 00:14:35.060 --> 00:14:35.720 and they're supposed 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:36.720 to live in communion 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.060 with him. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.879 But then what happens? 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.280 The apple happens. 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:40.800 And what happens 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:41.180 with the apple? 00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:41.740 Basically, 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.800 there's these two trees. 00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:43.600 There's one, 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.639 which is the tree of 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:47.300 life, 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.420 and the other one 00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:48.920 is the tree of 00:14:48.920 --> 00:14:49.759 knowledge of 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.060 good and evil. 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.240 At that moment, 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.039 God says, 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.240 hey, 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.180 eat from this tree. 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.539 Eat from this tree 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:56.860 and you're going 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.180 to enjoy just the garden. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.379 You're going to flourish 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.360 the way that I designed 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.080 you to be flourishing. 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:04.080 But then the snake 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.320 comes in and deceives. 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:06.379 And what does the snake 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.460 ask Eve? 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:10.100 Did God really say that? 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.139 What he's saying is, 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.580 can God really be trusted? 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.539 Why don't you eat 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.100 from the tree of 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:15.500 the knowledge of 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:15.840 good and evil 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.980 so that you can decide 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:17.620 what it is? 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.560 So basically what it is 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:19.320 is the tree of life 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.519 represents trusting 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.379 in God's wisdom. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.480 And then the tree 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:22.879 of the knowledge 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.360 of good and evil 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:23.700 is saying, 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:24.460 I don't trust 00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.019 in God's wisdom. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.320 I'm going to choose 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.720 to decide what's 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.500 good and evil myself. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.340 I'm going to choose 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:31.360 trust in man's wisdom. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.980 The problem then becomes 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:34.720 the moment they did that, 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.700 that's when sin 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:37.899 entered into the garden. 00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.480 When we lose that trust, 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.120 we were designed 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.659 for communion 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.700 and relationship forever. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.340 And yet in that moment, 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:46.159 they chose sin. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:46.899 Essentially, 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.659 that's what sin is. 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.299 Sin is turning away 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.639 from God's way 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:50.940 and saying, 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.139 God, 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.960 I can't trust you. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.439 I can't trust you, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:53.819 so I'm going to have 00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:54.299 to take matters 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.279 into my own hands. 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.480 So then Adam and Eve 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.039 were banished. 00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:57.539 And actually, 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.139 that's what part 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:58.759 of the passage here 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.960 God tells them, 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.960 you may surely eat 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.980 of every tree of the garden, 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:02.600 but of the tree 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.019 of the knowledge 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.559 of good and evil, 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.319 you shall not eat. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.000 For in the day 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.840 that you eat of it, 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:08.779 you shall surely die. 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:11.059 In that moment 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.840 of rebellion, 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.699 in that moment 00:16:12.699 --> 00:16:13.960 of mistrust, 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.679 they have to leave 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.019 the garden. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.899 And then what guards 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.279 the garden? 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.120 Just this swinging, 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:18.980 fiery sword. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.200 There's no way 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:20.680 for them to get 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.519 back into the garden 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.000 where there is 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.779 eternal flourishing. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.700 They now have 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.340 to wander outside. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.460 And because they 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:26.980 ate this, 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.840 they now will surely die. 00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.779 That's why death 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.440 came in. 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.320 If you think about it, 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:33.259 God designed us 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:34.500 to be in perfect 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.379 communion with him. 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:35.980 But the moment 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.820 we turn our backs, 00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:37.340 we leave, 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.420 then we are no longer 00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:38.960 in communion. 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:39.920 You could argue 00:16:39.920 --> 00:16:41.120 this whole story, 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.539 this whole Bible, 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.659 if you could sum it up, 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:44.860 yes, 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:45.960 the word love is there. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.860 What does that love lead to? 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:49.080 That leads to reconciliation. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.720 This gospel message 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:52.000 is one of reconciliation. 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:53.440 From that moment 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.180 that Adam and Eve 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.180 were banished from the garden, 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.300 from that moment, 00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:58.440 now God starts his plan 00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.139 of salvation 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.340 to reconcile. 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.500 That's what he's trying to do. 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.800 And in the Old Testament, 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:05.079 you see tons of examples 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.759 of how he tries to reconcile. 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.059 He gets them to create 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.720 a tabernacle. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:09.720 And he's saying, 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:09.980 guys, 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:12.279 you can't come into my presence 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.220 anymore without dying, 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.559 but there is one way. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.500 We're going to have a tabernacle, 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.259 we're going to have a tent, 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.000 and we're going to have 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.079 an inner part of the tent 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.119 called the Holy of Holies, 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.279 and before you come 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.880 into my presence, 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.339 you're going to have 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.019 to sacrifice, 00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:22.839 what Kenny just said, 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.579 sacrifice a perfect animal. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.480 Basically what they're saying 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.339 is you have to put 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:28.339 your sins onto that animal 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.480 and banish that animal, 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:29.940 that goat, 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:30.940 into the wilderness, 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:31.579 and then, 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.019 only then, 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.099 can one person come in. 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:34.599 And so this starts 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.420 this whole thing 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.779 of just animal sacrifices, 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:38.319 trying to get to the point 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.339 where they understand 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:41.339 that in order to reconcile, 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.339 the debt has to be paid, 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.240 because the wages of sin 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:45.579 is death, 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.440 Romans 6.23. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.559 Unfortunately, 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.720 this starts then 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.420 just a cycle 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.579 of all these animal rituals, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.480 and the Israelites 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.140 and mankind 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:55.259 still do not get it. 00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:56.500 God is trying 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.839 to pursue mankind, 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.799 but unfortunately, 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.500 we still keep running away. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.759 You fast forward 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.500 to the New Testament, 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.500 that's when actually 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.119 God says, 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:04.960 actually, 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.579 I'm going to tabernacle 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.599 with you. 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.519 I'm going to tabernacle 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:09.880 with you. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.440 John 1.14, 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:13.900 the word became flesh 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:15.160 and enters the world 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.559 in light, 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.440 enters into the darkness. 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.900 It's this continuation 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:20.500 that God wants 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:22.120 to be with us. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.640 Of course, 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:23.880 then, 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.360 that comes into the issue 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.500 but there still needs 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.139 to be a price 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:27.599 that is paid. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.599 And of course, 00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:28.879 God, 00:18:29.199 --> 00:18:29.459 Jesus, 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.799 offers this ultimate, 00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:31.819 ultimate way 00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:33.339 of doing it. 00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:37.179 And what is that way? 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.139 Here, 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.379 for our sake, 00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.639 he made him to be sin 00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.419 who knew no sin 00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:42.500 so that in him 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.419 we might become 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.500 the righteousness 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.500 of God. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:48.099 this is what 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.680 we're going to focus 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.119 on today 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.640 because when we 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.299 think about 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.180 why we're here 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.140 it's because 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:54.099 someone paid a price. 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.579 It's because 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.680 there was a death 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.660 that was paid. 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.259 The question for us is 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.779 do we think about 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.500 that enough? 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.539 And if there's a week 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.680 to think about it more, 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.380 it is this week. 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.980 But maybe a question 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.980 just to kind of help us 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:11.059 kind of get there, 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.640 what is your relationship 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.460 with death? 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.319 And actually, 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:14.779 when I 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:17.500 we first had Micah, 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.500 then I went to work 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.720 with Young Life guys 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.500 and I was reflecting 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.559 that that's the word 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:23.119 that's been on my heart. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.039 When the moment 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:26.579 I met Micah, 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.399 the thing that I couldn't 00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.460 help but think about 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.039 was death. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.339 And it was a thing 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:31.799 that I've actually 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.720 been processing myself 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.500 for this long time. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:33.779 And actually, 00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.599 why is that word 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.660 so prominent 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.500 in my mind? 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:36.920 And I maybe 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.220 rewind it all the way 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.160 back to when Joe and I 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.819 and our dad died 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.660 and that's just 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.440 the word 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.099 that has just 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.839 always been there. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.539 When my mind is blank, 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.440 and as a guy, 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.440 I can confirm 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.359 that my mind 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.519 is often blank. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.500 When Christina 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:50.899 asks me, 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.539 what are you thinking? 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:51.859 I'm like, 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:52.079 quick, 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:52.660 think of something. 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.799 I can't let her know 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.279 that I'm actually 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.920 thinking of nothing. 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.160 And that word 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.920 just keeps coming up. 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:01.920 Death. 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.039 And I couldn't even 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.940 help but think it 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.019 when I saw my child. 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.299 I mean, 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.559 of course, 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.859 I witnessed my wife 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.519 die to herself 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.200 to push this baby out. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:13.120 That's part of it. 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:13.460 I was like, 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:13.960 man. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.319 And then when I saw him, 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.200 this life 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.960 and this beautiful, 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.319 actually, 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.120 babies are just 00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:20.519 this paradoxical existence 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.480 where they're ugly 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.019 and beautiful 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.779 at the same time. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.980 They're literally both. 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:26.019 Can we call that out? 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.360 I don't mind. 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.140 Have you seen a picture 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.840 of baby Micah 00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.799 in his first few days? 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.500 It's okay. 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.500 You can tell me he's ugly. 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.819 He looks really ugly. 00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.700 But he's ugly 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.240 and beautiful 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.120 at the same time. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.259 I mean, 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:38.859 the thing that I 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.699 couldn't help but say 00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:41.419 to my son 00:20:41.419 --> 00:20:42.759 was that, 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.159 Micah, 00:20:43.219 --> 00:20:43.539 my son, 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.599 one day you will die. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.919 But that's not 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:47.619 going to be the end. 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.399 Life and death, 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.359 it's baked into 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.039 who we are. 00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:53.899 It's baked into 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.399 the seasons 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:55.539 that we live in. 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.519 Winter is dying 00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.619 and gives way to spring. 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.339 A parent 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.819 lays down their life. 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.719 Christina lays down 00:21:01.719 --> 00:21:02.259 her sleep 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.739 and dies to her sleep. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.779 And so a baby 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.299 can be fed. 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.299 What's your relationship 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.380 with death? 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:09.940 I just want to spend 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.380 a moment. 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.279 Before we process 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.079 more about what 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:14.120 Jesus' death means, 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.740 let's just start 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.420 with the fact that 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.480 do we realize 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.220 that from that moment 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.940 in the garden 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.880 we've been set 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.940 on a path towards death? 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.839 To set the mind 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.700 on the things of the flesh 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.660 which is what Adam and Eve did 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.839 which is what you and I do, 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.059 Romans 8, 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.519 it leads the death. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.940 What's your relationship 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.700 with that? 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.740 And I shared with 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.259 some of the guys 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.839 in your life 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:34.240 and I think 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.679 I've shared this 00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:35.099 with before. 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.359 Alexander the Great, 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.240 his dad, 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:38.859 King Philip II 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.439 of Macedon, 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.980 he hired a servant 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.959 who had one job 00:21:41.959 --> 00:21:43.659 which is every morning 00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.240 when King Philip 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.879 would wake up, 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.179 he would go to 00:21:46.179 --> 00:21:46.699 King Philip 00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:47.379 and tell him, 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.179 King Philip, 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.679 one day you will die. 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:50.799 Can you imagine 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.459 that being your job 00:21:51.459 --> 00:21:52.459 and that's it? 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.359 Imagine just forgetting 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:54.679 that job. 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:56.000 So we have one job. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.819 Wake up, 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.240 King wakes up, 00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:58.859 you tell him 00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.639 that one day 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.139 he will die. 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.359 Why? 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.059 Because King Philip 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.019 wanted to be reminded 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.819 of his mortality, 00:22:03.219 --> 00:22:04.240 wanted to be reminded 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.259 that he won't live forever. 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.019 Sometimes me, 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.839 maybe you, 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.019 we get so engrossed 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.939 in the things of this world 00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.719 and the things of this life 00:22:10.719 --> 00:22:11.740 and the worries for tomorrow 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:13.879 that we don't take a step back 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:14.159 and go, 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.519 man, 00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:16.719 one day we will die. 00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:19.059 But that is not the end of it. 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.979 I just want to spend 60 seconds 00:22:21.979 --> 00:22:23.740 just in a bit of a reflection 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:26.279 just to kind of set as a primer 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:26.699 for us 00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:28.039 as we go into why Jesus died 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.099 is what is your relationship 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.599 with death 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.759 just in general? 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.359 You know, 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.180 let's go from there. 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.799 Whether you close your eyes 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:35.559 or whether you stare 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.220 into blank space, 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.700 whatever it is, 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.200 let's just spend 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.559 a brief moment doing that. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:38.680 Okay. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:38.680 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.200 00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:28.180 Thank you. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:58.180 Thank you. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:28.180 Thank you. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:30.200 Thank you. 00:24:58.200 --> 00:25:00.200 Thank you. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.200 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.200 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.200 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:32.200 Thank you. 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.200 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:34.200 Thank you. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.200 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:36.200 Thank you. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:38.200 Thank you. 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:40.200 Thank you. 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:42.200 Thank you. 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:44.200 Thank you. 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.200 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:46.200 Thank you. 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.200 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.200 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.200 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.200 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.200 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:48.200 Thank you. 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.200 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.200 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:50.200 Thank you. 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.200 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:52.200 Thank you. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:26:01.240 himself to the sword for us. You see, if we lose sight of that, that's when we get consumed with 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:07.960 everything else in the world. When we lose sight of the cross that we have now turned into just 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:13.440 a nice little bit of jewelry that we have, but we don't realize what we're hanging here. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:19.840 Someone once said that actually, if Jesus had come to earth in a different century, 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:23.539 it wouldn't have been a cross. It would have been an electric chair and maybe we would have all had 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:31.099 electric chairs hanging around our necks. But do we understand what even this is? The most brutal, 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:41.599 humiliating form of punishment during the time that Jesus came and he did it for us. The question is, 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:48.079 why did he do it for us? But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:54.960 for us. I know that all of us here, many of us here have heard that message multiple, multiple times. 00:26:56.659 --> 00:27:02.500 But I'm praying today that the Holy Spirit would remind us of that in a new way. 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:08.480 Mostly because there's probably something that we have to do to respond to it. 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:15.079 This is what Tim Keller says. The cross is not simply a lovely example of sacrificial love. 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:23.199 Throwing your life away needlessly is not admirable. It is wrong. Jesus's death was only a good example if it was more than an example. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:30.659 If it was something absolutely necessary to rescue us. And it was. Why did Jesus have to die in order to forgive us? 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:36.659 There was a debt to be paid and God himself paid it. There was a penalty to be born. 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:42.940 God himself bore it. Forgiveness is always a form of costly suffering. 00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:47.940 I want to lead us into a time where we come and fixate our eyes on the cross. 00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:50.480 Sam, you can jump on. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:53.140 Actually, St. Teresa of Avila says this. 00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:58.120 Fix your eyes on the crucified and nothing else will be of much importance to you. 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:05.720 Billy Graham says the cross shows the seriousness of our sin, but it also shows the immeasurable love of God. 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:14.880 I realized today as I was prepping this message that there really is nothing more than the power of the cross for us. 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:25.720 The danger is I speak too much with lofty words and speech and the power of the cross is taken from it. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:36.200 Until we realize that we're all sat here because of what someone did for us. 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:40.600 That actually everything else is really meaningless. 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:45.380 But the question really then becomes, okay, well, what's the response? 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.420 Okay, Christ died for us. 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:51.980 I think sometimes we skim over that too quickly. 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:56.360 But you see, when you fix your eyes on the cross, 00:28:57.360 --> 00:29:03.080 you remember, at least I remember Jesus' words that he who wants to follow me, 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.480 whoever wants to follow me, 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:09.900 must deny themselves and take up their own cross. 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:16.720 And just as a mother like Christina laid down her life to die to herself, 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:19.759 to give life to a child, 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:26.300 we're actually encouraged that we're also called to die to ourselves in some way. 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.900 John Mark Homer says the, 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:34.519 maybe the more easily understood word to die to ourselves is surrender. 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:40.039 Just as Christ surrendered himself on the cross for us. 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.779 The question then comes is, 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:46.700 is there anything that we need to surrender to him? 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.639 Is there anything that you need to die to in order that you may live? 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.960 Now, the message of the gospel is not just a sad one. 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.660 It's not just that someone died, 00:29:57.720 --> 00:30:00.079 but it's in that death that we have life. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:06.480 And I'm convinced all of us here in the room, 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:09.639 at least most of us have something that we need to let go. 00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:13.159 There's something we need to die to 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:20.679 in order that we can access the full abundant life that Christ has offered us. 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:24.779 There's something that we need to surrender. 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:29.199 I can think of no better week for us to be doing this. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:35.120 We're going to be going into a time of communion as well. 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.960 But before that, 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:38.759 while we, 00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:40.840 while we just have this moment of just quiet reflection, 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:42.559 can we just ask the Lord, 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:46.360 how must I respond to your cross? 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:51.140 What is the cross that I have to take today? 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:56.059 What is the sin that I have to acknowledge today? 00:30:56.059 --> 00:31:00.339 And I know that I've chosen this sin time and time again. 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:04.539 And I know that somehow I need to get out of it. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.700 Because if I don't, 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.440 it will lead to death. 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:13.159 That's the beauty paradox of the faith of the good news. 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.399 Can we do that? 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.279 Can we just spend a moment? 00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.799 There's a few things I really want to do today. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.559 I want to lead communion. 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:22.279 I want to have this time of solar reflection. 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.680 And I want to be able to pray for each other. 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:25.480 And if we do those things, 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:29.019 I'll treat this time as a success for us. 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.779 Let me pray for us to begin. 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:33.859 Amen. 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:33.859 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.440 Amen. 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.440 00:31:52.440 --> 00:32:22.420 Thank you. 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:52.420 Thank you. 00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.799 Christ died for us. 00:32:56.500 --> 00:33:02.120 Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:07.559 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son. 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:12.200 Much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:20.200 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:43.519 And Lord Jesus, we want to spend this time now to ponder the cross. 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.680 00:33:43.680 --> 00:34:13.659 Thank you.