WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.360 Good morning. The scripture for today comes from John chapter 1 verses 1 to 18. 00:00:08.040 --> 00:00:11.919 Please follow along in your own Bibles, the bulletin, or the screen. 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:24.100 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:33.600 He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:00:34.939 --> 00:00:44.480 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:53.680 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:01:02.179 That all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:09.340 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 00:01:10.019 --> 00:01:15.939 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:21.740 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 00:01:21.739 --> 00:01:30.219 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:38.179 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of the men, but of God. 00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:46.220 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. 00:01:46.660 --> 00:01:51.900 Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:01:53.080 --> 00:01:55.480 John bore witness about him and cried out, 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:57.620 This was he of whom I said, 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:02.659 He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me. 00:02:03.960 --> 00:02:08.140 And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 00:02:08.920 --> 00:02:11.740 For the law was given through Moses. 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:16.060 Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:21.680 No one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Father's side. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:23.860 He has made him known. 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:25.439 This is the word of God. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:27.960 Great. Thank you, Annabelle. 00:02:31.420 --> 00:02:35.840 Okay. I wonder if you have ever heard of the Indian parable, 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:39.900 in which there are a bunch of men, five or six men, depending on the parable, 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:45.039 blind men, who hear that this creature has come into their village, 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:49.040 this creature is called an elephant, but they have never seen an elephant, 00:02:49.259 --> 00:02:53.540 and so they decide we must go and discover what this creature is like. 00:02:54.259 --> 00:03:00.120 And so they go into the village, and each one takes hold of a different part of the elephant, 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:06.520 and depending on which part of the elephant he holds, he describes it in a different way. 00:03:06.640 --> 00:03:09.400 And so one takes hold of his trunk, and he says, 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:11.900 this creature is like a thick snake. 00:03:12.620 --> 00:03:15.580 And another takes hold of his ear, and he wages and says, 00:03:15.640 --> 00:03:17.319 no, no, this creature is like a fan. 00:03:17.819 --> 00:03:19.659 And another takes hold of his leg and says, 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:24.900 this thing called an elephant is strong and sturdy, like a pillar, like a tree trunk. 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:27.640 And another one takes hold of its tail and says, 00:03:27.700 --> 00:03:29.240 no, no, this creature is like a rope. 00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:31.200 And on and on they go. 00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:38.439 And the point of the analogy is that nobody really has true perspective on life. 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:41.620 Nobody really has the right to any truth claim. 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:47.659 We all just view life through our own perspective, and our version of truth is just that. 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:48.740 It's our version of truth. 00:03:48.819 --> 00:03:51.180 There's no such thing as independent truth. 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.599 We all just mediate truth through our experiences. 00:03:56.620 --> 00:03:58.460 I wonder if you've ever heard of that. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.620 And it's often used when it comes to faith. 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.099 I mean, who are you to say that this is true? 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:04.680 Maybe this is just your experience. 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:10.700 Any truth claim, especially a religious truth claim, is subjective. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:15.719 Now, of course, I hope you can see there's a problem with the analogy. 00:04:16.019 --> 00:04:22.259 The problem is the analogy only works if the person telling the analogy does have perfect perspective. 00:04:22.840 --> 00:04:26.139 If they can see the whole story and the elephant, and they know it's an elephant, 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:32.019 and we, the suckers that are in the story, are the only ones that can't see what's going on, right? 00:04:32.659 --> 00:04:34.639 The analogy doesn't exactly hold water. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:40.319 But, of course, what if we are all to some degree blind? 00:04:40.419 --> 00:04:46.339 What happens if we all do have imperfect vision, and our perspective in life is somewhat tainted? 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:49.479 How would we find out what is true? 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:51.039 What is real? 00:04:52.019 --> 00:05:00.039 What if we are, in some measure, trying to find our way through life, trying to work out what is right, what is real? 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:08.419 Well, friends, what happens if we couldn't find our way to truth, but truth came looking for us? 00:05:09.400 --> 00:05:16.840 What if rather than us trying to discover our way to what is right and light and real, if those things came to us? 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:25.759 This morning, we are starting John's Gospel, and we're going to be going through this for the next, I think, 10 or 11 weeks, the first four chapters. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:31.139 And we are looking this morning at the introduction to John's Gospel, what is often called the prologue. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:34.439 And John's Gospel is all about Jesus Christ. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:42.980 John wants us to see very clearly who is Jesus, and why did He come, and what His claims are. 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:44.920 John wants us to understand Him. 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:50.220 And John is one of the few authors that actually tell us his purpose for writing his book. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:56.899 Most biblical authors want us to work it out, but John tells us, if you go to the very end of John's Gospel, in chapter 20, 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.220 he actually says it here in verse 31. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:00.699 I'm sorry, I don't have it on the slide. 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:04.800 He says this, these things, I've written these things, these things are written, 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:12.879 that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name. 00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:18.459 John wants us to very clearly see who is Jesus, to understand Him, 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:23.439 because John knows that by seeing Jesus and understanding Him, that changes everything. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.180 Life and life is found in Him. 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:30.680 And so today we're going to look at this introduction to John's Gospel, 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.319 and we're going to look at it through the lens of three questions, right? 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:34.459 Who is Jesus? 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:36.160 Why did He come? 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.519 What should we do? 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.220 Three simple questions. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:41.460 So let's dive in and look at it. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.220 Firstly, who is Jesus? 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:44.879 Verses 1 to 5. 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:49.540 John has a lot to say to us about Jesus of Nazareth. 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:53.699 He wants us to see that Jesus of Nazareth was not simply a wise man, 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:56.660 or a special religious leader, or a special figure. 00:06:57.180 --> 00:06:59.400 Not just an influential man of history. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:06.540 John wants us to see that Jesus of Nazareth is nothing less than the God of the Old Testament. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.600 And we see this in the beginning. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:10.259 Look at how he starts off. 00:07:10.340 --> 00:07:14.000 He starts off his Gospel's biography of Jesus with these words. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:14.379 He says, 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:15.740 In the beginning. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:19.740 Now, for us, that might not be particularly relevant, 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:23.639 but to every Jewish reader of his Gospel, 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:25.660 those three words struck a chord. 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:29.640 Because every single Jewish reader in the whole of Israel 00:07:29.640 --> 00:07:31.880 would automatically know where those words come from. 00:07:32.020 --> 00:07:32.800 Do you know where they come from? 00:07:34.020 --> 00:07:35.080 Genesis 1, right? 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:38.700 Remember, every Jewish kid from the age of probably three or four 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:41.180 would start to memorize the first five books of the Bible? 00:07:41.700 --> 00:07:45.160 So every kid would know the first three words of the entire Bible. 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:47.120 Genesis 1 verse 1 says, 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:48.440 In the beginning. 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:50.319 In the beginning. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:51.199 In the beginning, God. 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:55.660 Now, Genesis is not a cosmology textbook. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:00.019 It's not trying to tell us everything, answer all our cosmological questions. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:03.939 It's not trying to tell us how old the earth is, the age of the universe. 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:08.399 Genesis is telling us the who behind the what. 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:10.399 Who created the universe? 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:12.060 Well, Genesis tells us, 00:08:12.159 --> 00:08:16.060 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:18.379 And so every Jewish kid would know, 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.720 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:23.079 And John borrows these three words, 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.600 and now he's talking about Jesus, 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:25.139 and he says, 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:26.980 In the beginning, Jesus. 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:29.680 He calls him the Word. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:31.139 We're going to talk about that in a few minutes. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:33.779 John's got a very unique name for Jesus, the Word. 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:35.659 In the beginning was the Word. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:36.340 That's Jesus. 00:08:36.820 --> 00:08:38.279 The Word was with God. 00:08:38.959 --> 00:08:39.559 That means, 00:08:39.839 --> 00:08:40.779 The God of the Old Testament, 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.259 As the Old Testament would have understood him. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:43.819 Jesus was with him. 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:45.120 Not the same as him, 00:08:45.199 --> 00:08:45.839 But with him. 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:47.779 And the Word was with God. 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:49.379 And the Word was God. 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:52.319 He was in the beginning with God. 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:53.379 So, 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.220 And that opens a whole, 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.179 Lot of questions about the Trinity, 00:08:57.339 --> 00:08:58.360 And how does the Trinity work? 00:08:58.740 --> 00:08:59.980 If you've got questions about the Trinity, 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:00.819 Come and chat to me. 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:02.240 I'd love to talk through that with you. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:02.919 But, 00:09:03.060 --> 00:09:04.980 But what John wants us to see here, 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:05.940 Is that, 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:08.379 Jesus is a personal being, 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.759 Distinctive from God the Father. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:11.560 He's not just a, 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:13.700 A different manifestation of the Father. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:14.360 He's distinctive. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:15.259 And yet, 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.399 Equally God with God the Father. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:18.899 And then, 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:20.379 Echoing Genesis even further, 00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:21.320 John tells us that, 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.919 Jesus Christ is at the very heart of all creation. 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:26.139 Everything that exists. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:27.899 Look at what he says in verse 3. 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:28.799 He says, 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:31.120 All things were made through him, 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.519 And without him, 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:34.139 Was not anything made, 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:35.360 That was made. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.460 It's a very wordy way of saying, 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:40.200 Jesus Christ is the creative power, 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:41.560 The creative genius, 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:45.440 Behind every single thing that exists, 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:47.340 In all this material world. 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:48.960 So think of our, 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:52.139 100 billion light year wide, 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:53.879 Observable universe. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:54.720 That's, 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:55.740 As far as I can tell, 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:57.060 That's the latest we understand, 00:09:57.220 --> 00:09:58.519 How big the universe is. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.919 100 billion light years in length. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:02.500 Jesus Christ, 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:04.299 Is the creative genius, 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.779 Behind all of it. 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:07.639 All the galaxies, 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:08.940 And the solar systems, 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:09.759 And the universes. 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:11.399 We sang earlier about, 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:13.299 He holds all the oceans in his hands. 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:14.179 The oceans are nothing. 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:16.500 He holds the cosmos in his hand. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:17.860 You know, 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:19.279 From galaxies, 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.740 To subatomic particles. 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:22.759 Jesus Christ was there, 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:24.899 Before the beginning of our material world, 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:26.980 Speaking it into existence. 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:30.080 All things were made through him, 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:30.720 And without him, 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:31.800 Was not anything made, 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.039 That was made. 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.159 All things including, 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:36.340 Life. 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:37.740 All life. 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:38.740 Look at verse 4. 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:39.960 In him, 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:41.120 Was life, 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:41.920 And the life, 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.180 Was the light of mankind. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:45.500 The light shines in the darkness, 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:47.180 And the darkness has not overcome it. 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:48.080 In other words, 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.440 Jesus is the, 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:50.399 The source, 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.680 The original source, 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.699 Of every living thing. 00:10:54.339 --> 00:10:55.079 So think about this, 00:10:55.239 --> 00:10:55.259 You, 00:10:55.459 --> 00:10:56.219 You're at your desk, 00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:57.539 And it's getting dark outside, 00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:57.839 And you, 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.039 You turn on the light, 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.279 You switch it on, 00:11:00.339 --> 00:11:01.639 The light switch turns the light, 00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:01.819 But, 00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:03.839 But if it's not connected to a power source, 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.599 Doesn't matter how many bulbs you've got in there, 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:06.099 Globes, 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.899 Or how fancy the wiring is, 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.379 Or how beautiful the light bulb looks, 00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:10.819 If it's not connected to a source, 00:11:11.219 --> 00:11:11.719 It's nothing. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:14.319 Jesus is the original life source, 00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:15.699 Of everything that exists. 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:18.079 In him is life. 00:11:18.719 --> 00:11:19.759 And that life, 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:20.899 Was the light of mankind. 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:22.859 Now, 00:11:22.979 --> 00:11:24.639 We could spend a lot of weeks on this, 00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:26.159 But John's point is this, 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:28.059 That the one that we've come to know, 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:29.379 Is Jesus of Nazareth, 00:11:29.479 --> 00:11:29.599 Who, 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:30.620 In verse 17, 00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:32.819 John eventually reveals him, 00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:33.079 He says, 00:11:33.219 --> 00:11:34.179 Jesus Christ, 00:11:34.839 --> 00:11:36.979 The one who has existed for all eternity, 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:38.219 Through whom all life, 00:11:38.339 --> 00:11:38.859 And reality, 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:39.639 And existence, 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.799 Derives its being, 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:43.419 This is Jesus of Nazareth. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:43.659 And, 00:11:43.959 --> 00:11:45.379 And we often think of Jesus as, 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.659 Gentle and lowly, 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.279 And kind, 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:47.839 And meek, 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:50.459 And just gentle babies on his lap, 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.199 And that's true, 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.459 He is kind, 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:54.039 And gentle and lowly, 00:11:54.599 --> 00:11:56.739 But he's also infinitely majestic, 00:11:57.739 --> 00:12:00.719 The creator of every single star and galaxy, 00:12:00.859 --> 00:12:02.359 And every semi-tomic particle, 00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:03.319 Jesus, 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:05.719 Is the creator of it all. 00:12:06.859 --> 00:12:07.179 Now, 00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:08.859 Just a side comment here, 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:10.739 This is not John's main point in this passage, 00:12:10.959 --> 00:12:12.219 But a side comment here is this, 00:12:12.239 --> 00:12:13.699 And he's going to make this point again, 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:14.919 And again throughout his gospel, 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:17.639 One of the implications of this, 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.539 And this is really, 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:19.919 At the heart of Christianity, 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:21.340 In some ways, 00:12:21.939 --> 00:12:22.460 Is this, 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:23.279 That, 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:25.120 You will never, 00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:27.019 We will never ever, 00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:28.419 Experience life, 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:29.759 Hope, 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.539 Lasting joy, 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.259 Lasting peace, 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:35.960 Enduring confidence, 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:37.460 All the things, 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:39.639 All the things that we so desperately long for, 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:42.040 And existentially crave in our gut, 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.139 Those things, 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.879 We will never find, 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.960 Apart from union, 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.500 Uniting ourselves with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:12:50.160 --> 00:12:51.560 John's going to tell us again, 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:51.900 And again, 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:52.100 And again, 00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:53.360 That all life, 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.340 By which he means, 00:12:54.680 --> 00:12:56.019 The existence of life, 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:56.820 But also, 00:12:57.180 --> 00:12:58.139 Existential life, 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:59.300 The fullness of life, 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:01.759 Existence and fullness of life, 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.439 Are found in union, 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:04.219 Being one, 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.419 With the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.659 He is life, 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.479 How do you say it? 00:13:09.699 --> 00:13:10.899 In him is life, 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:13.219 And the life was the light of all mankind, 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:16.979 I think this, 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:18.719 Raises a question for us, 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.959 He has a question for us to ponder, 00:13:22.099 --> 00:13:23.419 For those of us that are Christians, 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.459 I know not all of us here, 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.579 Would consider ourselves Christians, 00:13:25.719 --> 00:13:26.959 But for those of us that are Christians, 00:13:27.339 --> 00:13:28.979 I wonder whether our lives, 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:30.699 And our prayers, 00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:32.339 And our worship, 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:33.319 Reflect this, 00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:35.299 When we come to church, 00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:36.479 And we worship God, 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:38.699 It's very easy just to be blase, 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:39.679 Or familiar, 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:40.399 Or just, 00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:42.120 Kind of our minds drift, 00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:43.219 And we sing the songs, 00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:43.559 And, 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.439 But who is it that we stand before? 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.299 We stand before, 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:49.579 The sovereign, 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:50.479 Uncreated, 00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:52.079 Eternally existing, 00:13:52.859 --> 00:13:53.959 Uncreated being, 00:13:54.099 --> 00:13:55.359 One with God the Father, 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.579 Distinctive from the Father, 00:13:56.719 --> 00:13:58.419 From whom all life and being, 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:00.399 And purpose derives it existence, 00:14:01.099 --> 00:14:02.299 This is Jesus, 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:04.079 Now look at what, 00:14:04.079 --> 00:14:05.799 John has to say about this Jesus, 00:14:05.979 --> 00:14:06.740 He calls on the word, 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.419 Verse 14, 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.039 Then he says, 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:09.759 And this Jesus, 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.659 The word, 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:12.199 Has become flesh, 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.079 And dwelt amongst us, 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:15.400 So, 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.320 Second question, 00:14:17.040 --> 00:14:17.440 Jesus, 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.180 Who is Jesus? 00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:18.920 The eternal, 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.940 Uncreated, 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.520 Ever existing God, 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:24.060 Why did he come? 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.100 Question 2, 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.060 Verses 1, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:29.259 Verses 14 to 18, 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:30.560 Now, 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.600 This Jesus, 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.320 Who is God, 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:36.220 Why would this incomprehensible deity, 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.680 Who is infinitely bigger, 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.920 Than anything that our minds, 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.280 Can fathom and understand, 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:42.720 Why would he squeeze himself, 00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:43.679 And limit himself, 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.139 Into, 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.480 Something as small, 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:47.100 And insignificant, 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:48.480 As a human being, 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.039 With all our failings, 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:50.939 And foibles, 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:52.339 And failings, 00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:53.159 And mistakes, 00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.759 Why would this being, 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.199 Come and be with us? 00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:58.659 Well, 00:14:58.959 --> 00:15:00.339 John wants to tell us, 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.759 No doubt you notice, 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:04.159 John's got this very unique name for Jesus, 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.199 What does he call Jesus? 00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.480 The word, 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:07.840 Right? 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.039 He says here, 00:15:09.060 --> 00:15:10.139 In the beginning was the word, 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:10.879 He's talking about Jesus, 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.340 And the word was with God, 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.460 And the word was God, 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.360 He was in the beginning with God, 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.440 Why does John call Jesus the word? 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:21.139 And that's a very strange name for Jesus, 00:15:21.800 --> 00:15:22.120 Well, 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:22.860 There's a couple of things, 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.980 I think there's two things in particular, 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.659 Firstly, 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.000 In the Old Testament, 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:27.920 The word, 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:28.779 God's word, 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.220 Has a very particular, 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.480 And important significance, 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.480 God's word, 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.480 Is very closely associated, 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.960 With his character, 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.080 And God himself, 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.280 And God's word, 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.580 Accomplishes many things, 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:41.740 So for instance, 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.600 In Genesis 1, 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.460 God speaks, 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.120 And his word, 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.780 Brings creation into being, 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:46.639 In, 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.379 In, 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.420 At Mount Sinai, 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.580 God speaks, 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:51.400 And he forms a community of people, 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:51.980 His people, 00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.740 It's his word, 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:54.680 That creates the community of God's people, 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.560 In Psalm 107, 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.740 God says, 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:59.120 His people cried out to him, 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:00.600 To rescue them, 00:16:00.780 --> 00:16:02.220 And he sent his word, 00:16:02.280 --> 00:16:03.680 And his word rescued them, 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:05.240 Psalm 119, 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:06.300 That amazing psalm, 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:06.899 And talks about how, 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:08.579 God's word comforts us, 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.479 And guides us, 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.339 And leads us, 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.799 And leads us to salvation, 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.219 And, 00:16:12.359 --> 00:16:12.679 And, 00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:13.979 Gives us hope, 00:16:14.079 --> 00:16:14.979 And gives us clarity, 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.759 And protects us, 00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:16.759 God's word, 00:16:16.859 --> 00:16:17.839 Does all sorts of things, 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:19.099 And of course, 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.079 The very famous chapter, 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:21.120 In Ezekiel 37, 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.099 Is the valley of dry bones, 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.979 There's death, 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.659 There's no life, 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:25.959 And God tells Ezekiel, 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.359 Speak my word, 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.979 And my word will create life, 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.740 Throughout the Old Testament, 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.820 God's word, 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.060 Creates life, 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.360 Rescues, 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.340 Saves, 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.519 Redeems, 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:37.899 God's word, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.000 Accompasses all these things, 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:40.500 And John now says, 00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:41.620 Jesus, 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.220 Is the word, 00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.279 Made flesh, 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.879 All those things, 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.960 That God does, 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.460 In the Bible, 00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.200 In the Old Testament, 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.060 Jesus is the one, 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.720 Who's doing those, 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.279 But there's something more, 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:53.000 Than this of course, 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.460 Isn't there, 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.279 What do our words do, 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.579 Our words reveal, 00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.759 Who we really are, 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.959 Remember how Jesus says, 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.620 Out of the overflow of our hearts, 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.160 The mouth speaks, 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.940 When we speak, 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.879 Often we reveal, 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.240 What's hidden in our hearts, 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.980 In our lives, 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.119 Friends, 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:11.019 How many of us have, 00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:12.399 Found ourselves, 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.819 I don't know if you've ever done this, 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:15.139 You say something, 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:17.019 That is very true, 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:18.819 But not maybe socially appropriate, 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.319 And as you say it, 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:22.220 You wish you could grab those words back, 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.500 Right? 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.119 And you can't, 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.619 They're gone, 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.819 They're out your mouth, 00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:26.119 Why? 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.199 Because, 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.779 And why do you want to take them back? 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:29.959 Because they reveal, 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.179 What's really going on, 00:17:31.219 --> 00:17:31.459 Right? 00:17:32.239 --> 00:17:32.959 Or how many times, 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.199 Have we seen somebody famous, 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:34.939 Maybe a celebrity, 00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:35.799 Or somebody, 00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:36.959 Being caught, 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.139 Saying something on camera, 00:17:38.179 --> 00:17:38.699 And they didn't know, 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.399 They were on camera, 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:39.899 Right? 00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:41.299 And it reveals, 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.559 What they really like, 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.119 Behind the PR scheme, 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:47.000 And the well manicured presentation, 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.419 And then what happens, 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.139 They all issue, 00:17:49.219 --> 00:17:50.819 Some kind of very flaky apology, 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.979 And they'll say something like, 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:52.679 You know, 00:17:52.739 --> 00:17:53.759 I apologize for my words, 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.579 That's not who I really am, 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:57.359 I'm not really a racist, 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.400 And you'll think, 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.220 Of course you are, 00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.440 Right? 00:17:59.500 --> 00:17:59.759 Because, 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:01.119 When you didn't know, 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.079 The cameras were on you, 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.180 Your words revealed, 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.059 Who you really were, 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.279 They showed exactly, 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:05.859 Who you were, 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:06.940 Right? 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:08.900 Our words, 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.079 Reveal something about, 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.799 The hidden nature, 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.980 Of what's inside of us, 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.879 Our words give manifestation, 00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.259 To what's unseen, 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:16.879 Unknown, 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.859 Our words reveal, 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.440 The unseen secrets of our hearts, 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:20.960 For better, 00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:21.900 Or for worse, 00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:24.140 Sidebar tangent, 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.259 This is one of the reasons, 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:26.240 Why it's so important, 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.320 For married couples, 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:28.780 To make sure, 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.460 That you're not just, 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.880 That you're getting time together, 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.680 To share what's really on your heart, 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:33.880 You're not just managing, 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:34.440 The households, 00:18:34.540 --> 00:18:35.320 And kids and stuff, 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.440 You can go on a date night, 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.560 Or have time together, 00:18:37.560 --> 00:18:38.160 Because actually, 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.440 What builds intimacy, 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.580 Is sharing our hearts, 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.680 Is seeing what's going on, 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.480 Inside of our hearts, 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.200 Is our words, 00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:45.440 Words reveal, 00:18:45.540 --> 00:18:46.420 What's inside of us, 00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:48.740 Now what does John say here? 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.299 John says, 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:52.900 Jesus is the word of God, 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.640 What does that mean? 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.240 He's the one, 00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.180 Who reveals, 00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:58.019 The unknown, 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.120 Unseen God, 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.519 What God is really like, 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:03.120 And that's what verses 14 to 18, 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:03.779 Are all about, 00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:05.140 Look at them with me, 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:08.380 Why did this uncreated being, 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.359 Who spoke the ever expanding universe, 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.099 Into existence, 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.259 Who is utterly beyond comprehension, 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:15.920 Why did he take on flesh and blood, 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:17.359 And dwell amongst us? 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:19.479 Because he wants to make known, 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.359 What God is like, 00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:21.699 Look at what he says in verse 14, 00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:23.539 The word became flesh, 00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.799 And dwelt amongst us, 00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:27.519 And we have seen his glory, 00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:30.479 Glory is the visible manifestation, 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.459 Of the holiness, 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.919 Or the distinctiveness of God, 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.819 God is holy, 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.779 He's completely unlike us, 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.059 And his glory is his visible manifestation, 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.759 We have now seen, 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.939 The distinctiveness, 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.240 The glory of God, 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:42.639 How? 00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:44.159 In the person of Jesus, 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.700 The word became flesh, 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.640 And dwelt amongst us, 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.180 And we have seen his glory, 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.140 Look at verse 18, 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.840 No one has ever seen God, 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:52.980 The only God, 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.120 Who is at the Father's side, 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.840 But he, 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:55.420 Jesus, 00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:57.740 He has made him known, 00:19:59.120 --> 00:20:00.300 Jesus called the word, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.340 Because he reveals, 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.060 What is unseen, 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.360 And unknown about God, 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.120 To us, 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:06.620 And so the point of John's prologue, 00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:06.860 In this, 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.360 These verse 18 verses, 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:10.500 Is that Jesus is nothing less, 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.819 Than the manifestation, 00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:13.519 Jesus wants us to know, 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.419 And see, 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.039 And experience, 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:16.719 What is this unknown, 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:18.039 Unseen God like? 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.619 He's Jesus, 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.799 Now the question is, 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.359 What about God, 00:20:23.439 --> 00:20:24.319 Does Jesus reveal? 00:20:24.439 --> 00:20:25.959 I mean there's a lot about God, 00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:27.279 He is this diamond, 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.559 That every facet reveals, 00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:30.359 Has another aspect of his glory, 00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:31.199 And his majesty, 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.279 His holiness, 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.240 His splendor, 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.139 His tenderness, 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.879 His omnipotence, 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:38.240 What aspect about God's, 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.220 Infinite characters, 00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:40.140 Does Jesus reveal? 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:41.800 Well there's a lot, 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:43.760 But John has something in particular, 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.600 There's one thing in particular, 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:47.420 He wants us to see about Jesus, 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.340 Look at what he says here, 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:51.140 He references the Old Testament, 00:20:51.260 --> 00:20:52.220 A whole bunch of times, 00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:54.120 And look what he says in verse 14, 00:20:54.780 --> 00:20:56.180 The word became flesh, 00:20:56.300 --> 00:20:58.100 And dwelt amongst us, 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.500 You might know this, 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.380 The word dwelt there, 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:01.120 It literally means, 00:21:01.260 --> 00:21:03.020 He pitched his tent amongst us, 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:05.080 Jesus came and pitched his tent, 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.199 Amongst us, 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.439 But it's also, 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.319 That word dwelt, 00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.740 Is also the word that's used, 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.519 In the Old Testament, 00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:11.859 For the tabernacle, 00:21:12.699 --> 00:21:12.879 Okay, 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.699 If you remember, 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.119 The tabernacle was this tent, 00:21:15.199 --> 00:21:15.980 That was in the wilderness, 00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:16.720 In the desert, 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.119 And the tabernacle, 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.240 Was the precursor, 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.919 To the temple, 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.419 So remember God's people, 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.119 In the Old Testament, 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.779 They're walking through the wilderness, 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:25.139 Towards the promised land, 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.819 And they are sinful, 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.000 They are rebellious, 00:21:28.439 --> 00:21:30.480 They don't really follow God, 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.899 How does God respond, 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.579 To their sin? 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.299 In amazing grace, 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.740 He says, 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:36.500 I will come and dwell with you, 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:38.059 And so he tells Moses, 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.240 Build a tent, 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.920 I will put my presence there, 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.880 My glory there, 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.839 Isn't that amazing? 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.900 How does God respond, 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.420 To our sin? 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.160 He comes to us, 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.440 He comes close to us, 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.859 And in the tabernacle, 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.099 His presence is there, 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.960 And it's the one place on earth, 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.400 Where heaven and earth meet, 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.240 Where God's presence is, 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.359 This place is called, 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.120 The tabernacle, 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:59.620 John uses that very word, 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.019 And says, 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.559 The word became flesh, 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:04.259 And God tabernacled amongst us, 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:04.859 In Jesus, 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.279 What's John saying? 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.059 The tabernacle is gone, 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.440 The temple is gone, 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.059 Who's here in this place? 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.039 Jesus, 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.480 The presence of God, 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:15.039 The one place where heaven and earth, 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.599 Are going to meet, 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:17.099 In the person of Jesus, 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.720 Okay, 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.039 And then John says this, 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.000 The word became flesh, 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.859 Dwelt amongst us, 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.019 We have seen his glory, 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:24.119 And when we see his glory, 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.920 What do we see? 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.599 Full, 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:28.059 Full of grace, 00:22:28.679 --> 00:22:29.419 And truth, 00:22:30.419 --> 00:22:31.819 Full of grace and truth, 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.779 Again, 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.859 It's an Old Testament reference, 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:36.939 Do you remember, 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:39.319 In Exodus 32 to 34, 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.359 The people of God, 00:22:40.439 --> 00:22:41.699 Are walking through the wilderness, 00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.179 And they're on the way to the promised land, 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.279 And God says to Moses, 00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:44.679 Moses, 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.119 You must take my people in, 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.459 And Moses says, 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.419 God I can't do it, 00:22:48.459 --> 00:22:49.559 These people are rebellious, 00:22:49.719 --> 00:22:49.779 They, 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:51.480 I can't control them, 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:52.199 They're like, 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:54.219 Wayward two year olds, 00:22:54.719 --> 00:22:56.000 God I can't do it, 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.480 And he says, 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.559 Eventually he says, 00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:58.059 Okay God, 00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:59.079 I'll do it, 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.299 But you must go with me, 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:00.759 And God says, 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.439 I'll go with you, 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.899 And then Moses says, 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.559 God please show me your glory, 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:05.759 I need to know that you're with me, 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.899 Show me your glory, 00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.179 And God says, 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.819 Okay I will, 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.959 And so he shows, 00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:12.799 He reveals his glory to Moses, 00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.599 And what does he do, 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.599 He hides him in a rock, 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.799 And he says this, 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.219 I am the Lord, 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:17.799 The Lord, 00:23:18.219 --> 00:23:19.779 A God merciful and gracious, 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.339 Slow to anger, 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.199 And abounding, 00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:24.219 In steadfast love and faithfulness, 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.519 And through the rest, 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.079 The Old Testament, 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:28.240 This is kind of God's nickname for himself, 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:30.279 This is God's description of himself, 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.179 Who is the God of the Old Testament? 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.179 Well supremely, 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.720 He is the God who is abounding, 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:38.659 In steadfast love and faithfulness, 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:42.159 But another way of translating that is, 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:45.399 Gracefulness and truthfulness, 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:48.359 Who is the God of the Old Testament? 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.019 He's the God who overflows, 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.699 Abounds, 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:53.160 He's the God who meets our fallenness, 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.080 And our brokenness, 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.900 And our mistakes, 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:57.779 With steadfast love, 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.000 Faithfulness, 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.120 Truthfulness, 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:01.279 And grace, 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.420 Well how does John describe Jesus? 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:05.799 He says, 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:06.759 Here is Jesus, 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.680 Full of, 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.140 Grace and truth, 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.900 Steadfast love and faithfulness, 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.140 John is telling us, 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.820 That the God who met Moses, 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.880 In the wilderness and exodus, 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:19.800 Is the same God who walked the streets of Jerusalem, 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.840 The person of Jesus Christ, 00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:25.220 And then look finally at verse 17, 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.140 He says here, 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.100 Verse 16, 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.180 What else does John say? 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.720 From his fullness, 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.600 We have all received grace, 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.980 Upon grace, 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.420 Upon grace, 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.779 Out of the abundance of who Jesus, 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.799 Jesus is like this, 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.799 This spring, 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.480 A well, 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:42.500 That never ceases to bubble up, 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.759 And what bubbles up from him? 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:45.400 Not condemnation, 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.059 Not the pointed finger, 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:48.579 Telling you how terrible you are, 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.799 Grace, 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.980 Upon grace, 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.319 Upon grace, 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:53.640 Upon grace, 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:55.900 Friends, 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.220 There's no human being in the world, 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.360 That doesn't need grace, 00:24:58.359 --> 00:25:00.459 Every one of us need grace, 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.539 We need grace for our sin, 00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:02.399 And our failings, 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.699 We need grace for our shame, 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.199 Because sin doesn't just condemn us, 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.579 It makes us feel gross, 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.779 We need grace for our shame, 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:11.319 We need grace for our sufferings, 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:14.139 And our difficulties in life, 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:17.059 We need grace to carry us home on this journey, 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:19.459 In Jesus Christ, 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:21.479 Is fullness of grace and truth, 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.279 Who is Jesus? 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.500 Why did he come? 00:25:25.939 --> 00:25:27.579 He came to reveal God to us, 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.519 And what does he reveal? 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:30.059 Out of his fullness, 00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:32.259 Grace upon grace, 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.379 In this passage, 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:37.319 John tells us about two other very prominent people, 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:38.740 Who were used mightily by God, 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:41.039 And who both had a lot to say, 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:43.179 Look what he says about John the Baptist, 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:45.019 In verse 6 to 8, 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.699 He says here, 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.559 There was a man sent from God, 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.960 Whose name was John, 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:49.379 Now, 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.139 John, 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.839 The author of the book, 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.500 Is not talking about himself here, 00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:53.819 Okay, 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:55.500 John's talking about another John, 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.420 So John the author, 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.940 Is talking about another John, 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.779 Called John the Baptist, 00:25:59.380 --> 00:25:59.900 And he says, 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.640 There was this man, 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.380 He came from heaven, 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.880 From God, 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.680 His name was John, 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.339 John the Baptist, 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:05.039 He came as a witness, 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.720 To bear witness about the light, 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.400 That all might believe through him, 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.140 He was not the light, 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.740 He came to bear witness about the light, 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.500 Okay, 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.240 So we're going to talk about John the Baptist next week, 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:17.519 But notice what John the author wants us to see, 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.940 John the Baptist was a pretty big deal, 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.779 He had this amazing ministry, 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:24.140 And thousands of people flocked to hear him, 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:26.019 People's lives were turned around, 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.180 Thousands of people, 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:29.680 The crowds were getting baptized by him, 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.059 People listened to him, 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:32.559 His message changed their lives, 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.079 John was a big deal, 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:36.059 But what does John the author say? 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.839 He wasn't the light, 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.799 He wasn't the Messiah, 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:41.919 He wasn't the Savior, 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:45.019 Grace and truth did not come through him, 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:48.500 Grace and truth came to Jesus, 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:49.980 What did John say? 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.379 John said, 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.220 Don't listen to me, 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.460 Listen to Jesus, 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.220 He's the one, 00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:55.159 And then John says the same thing, 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.180 Verse 17, 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.720 The law was given through Moses, 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.639 Grace and truth came through Jesus, 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.399 Who was Moses? 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.180 Moses was a pretty big deal, 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:02.980 Right? 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:05.299 Moses was the great rescue of God's people, 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.079 Out of Egypt, 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:07.559 He went to Mount Sinai, 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.759 He got the Ten Commandments, 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.720 The Bible says, 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.940 Moses spoke to God face to face, 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.799 Like a man speaks to his friend, 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:16.599 Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.039 Genesis, 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.440 Exodus, 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:17.940 Leviticus, 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.220 Numbers, 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.660 Deuteronomy, 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:22.559 Everything that the nation of Israel know about God, 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.859 In the early centuries, 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.759 Comes through Moses, 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.339 Moses is a big deal, 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.119 But what does John say? 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:31.099 He wasn't the word made flesh, 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.700 He wasn't the revelation of God, 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.019 He was not from the beginning, 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:37.519 Nothing was made by him, 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.319 Or through him, 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.139 Or for him, 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:41.960 Moses taught God's people a lot about God, 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:44.460 But he wasn't made God in flesh, 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:47.079 He couldn't bring grace and truth, 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.599 Only Jesus can, 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:52.920 Jesus is those things in and of himself, 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.680 And friends, 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.759 The point is this, 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:58.019 You may be a spiritual seeker, 00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.400 You may be trying to find out, 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:02.039 What is this faith thing like? 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.579 Where is hope? 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.319 Where is life? 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:04.659 Where is, 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:06.039 What is the purpose of life? 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:06.879 Friends, 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.339 You may be on a spiritual journey, 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.480 Maybe you're just an ordinary person, 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.680 Trying to make sense of life, 00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.220 Maybe you're trying to make, 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:16.940 Navigate your way through the complexities of life, 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.819 Maybe you're a Christian, 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:21.259 Who's some way stuck in your Christian life, 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:24.059 Your Christian walks become apathetic, 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.619 What is John wanting to say to us? 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.859 He's going to say, 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:29.599 You don't just need a pastor, 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.399 You don't need a Christian counselor, 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.859 You don't need a spiritual guru, 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:36.659 They're not going to solve the problem for you, 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:38.779 You don't need some transcendental meditation, 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:41.259 In a temple somewhere in the Himalayas, 00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:42.579 Friends, 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:45.659 The only place where the deepest longings of your soul, 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.459 Are going to be met, 00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:48.939 On the person of Jesus, 00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:51.679 Jesus is life and light, 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:53.219 And grace and truth, 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.859 And at the very best, 00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:56.539 All those people can give you some wisdom, 00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:58.379 Maybe they can point you in the right direction, 00:28:58.380 --> 00:29:01.440 But they are not life in and of themselves, 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:04.860 You have to encounter the living God, 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:07.300 You have to come to the eternal God, 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:09.780 The source of light and life and hope Himself, 00:29:10.300 --> 00:29:12.060 And the good news is this, 00:29:12.540 --> 00:29:15.140 Jesus has come to us, 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.100 Jesus has come for us, 00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:20.240 Who is Jesus of Nazareth? 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.620 The eternal God, 00:29:22.080 --> 00:29:23.240 The uncreated one, 00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:24.300 The creator of all things, 00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:26.020 Who existed before the beginning, 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.759 Why did He come? 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:30.660 He came because in Him is life, 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.359 And grace and truth, 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:35.539 And He came to bring those things to us, 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:38.299 That we may encounter grace upon grace, 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:41.000 Final question today, 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.819 Who is Jesus? 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.599 Why did He come? 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.639 What should we do about it? 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.779 What should we do? 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.160 Well, 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:49.940 Look at verse 9 to 13 with me, 00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:52.440 Jesus has come, 00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.840 How should we respond? 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.259 And John tells us, 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:57.480 He's got a very specific response, 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.440 In fact, 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.840 Look at verse 11 here, 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.820 John tells us how to respond, 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.279 He says, 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.820 He came to His own, 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.320 And His own people, 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.820 But they did not receive Him, 00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:10.600 But to all who did receive Him, 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:12.600 Who believed in His name, 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.540 He gave the right to become, 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:16.500 The children of God, 00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:17.720 Friends, 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:19.379 Jesus has come to us, 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:22.079 Jesus has come for us, 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.639 How should we respond? 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.559 Receive Him, 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.339 Receive Him, 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.720 Receive Him as your King, 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.539 Now, 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:32.480 When we hear the word receive Him, 00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:34.960 That's a little bit difficult to understand, 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:37.180 Because these days we talk about receiving something, 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.899 That's very passive, 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.200 Right? 00:30:38.639 --> 00:30:40.619 You receive a text message on your phone, 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.159 Or you receive an email, 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.700 Or if you're in trouble, 00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:44.779 You receive a summons, 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.720 From the courts, 00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:45.960 Okay? 00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:47.240 Maybe you don't want to receive it, 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.160 But you receive it, 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.420 And it's very passive, 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.940 It's that thing you do about it, 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.320 It just arrives in your inbox, 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.460 Or it arrives at your door, 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.779 And there it is, 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:57.720 But that's not how John uses the word receive, 00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:59.660 What does he mean when he says, 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.640 Receive Him? 00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:03.940 John's thinking about the way we receive, 00:31:04.040 --> 00:31:04.700 A dignitary, 00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:05.440 Or a president, 00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:06.019 Or a king, 00:31:06.100 --> 00:31:06.960 From a foreign country, 00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:07.240 Right? 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:09.420 A dignitary comes from afar, 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.380 And they come to Hong Kong, 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:10.980 And what do we do? 00:31:11.340 --> 00:31:12.640 We roll off the red carpet, 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:16.540 And we get the police force on the sides, 00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.780 And we welcome them, 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:19.620 And all the police are standing in their best gear, 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:21.900 We welcome them with arms, 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:24.500 We orientate our schedule around them, 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.900 A foreign dignitary comes to Hong Kong, 00:31:27.280 --> 00:31:30.620 And a whole cavalcade of cars go before, 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.000 And police cars with sirens, 00:31:32.340 --> 00:31:34.640 And everybody has to stop their agenda, 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.740 For this dignitary, 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:39.140 It doesn't matter if you're late to the airport, 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.420 You can miss your plane, 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.779 The king has come, 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.180 Right? 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.859 It doesn't matter if you're late for a meeting, 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.819 They've come, 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.640 The king has come, 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:47.640 And so all the traffic lights stop, 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:49.799 You get to a green light, 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:50.299 Doesn't matter, 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.420 Your car will stop, 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.599 Public transport stops, 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.859 Everybody stops, 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.319 Because the king, 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.019 Or president, 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.640 Or the premier has arrived, 00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:59.700 We welcome them, 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.859 With open arms, 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.620 Sometimes I chat to some of you, 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:03.920 And I say, 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.019 Hey, 00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:05.680 Do you want to get lunch this week? 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.560 And you'll say, 00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.700 My boss is in town, 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.000 Right? 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:10.039 When your boss comes to town, 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:11.759 They rearrange your whole schedule, 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:13.560 Your whole calendar is put on freeze, 00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:14.980 Because your boss is in town, 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.700 You welcome, 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.340 This person of honor, 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:21.080 John is telling us, 00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:23.060 That the universe is true king, 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:26.320 Heaven and earth's king has come, 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:29.560 And we are to receive him, 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:33.220 We are to throw wide the doors of our hearts, 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:35.160 We are to roll out the red carpet, 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:37.960 We are to reorientate our schedules, 00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.759 And our gender, 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.660 And the purpose, 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:41.100 And the goals of our life, 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:43.019 Around the king who has come, 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:45.660 And we are to receive him, 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:48.380 To welcome him with open arms, 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:50.620 To orientate our lives around him, 00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:52.319 And when we do, 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.420 We find life, 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.799 And light, 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.319 And grace, 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.500 And truth in him, 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.880 To those who receive him, 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:03.160 Who believe in his name, 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.980 He will give the right, 00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:06.700 To become the children of God, 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.340 Friends, 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.600 Have you received him? 00:33:10.780 --> 00:33:12.480 Have you believed in his name? 00:33:13.320 --> 00:33:14.640 Not just intellectually, 00:33:15.540 --> 00:33:16.880 Not just culturally, 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.080 Not just going to church, 00:33:19.280 --> 00:33:20.420 And joining a CG, 00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:22.260 And joining a nice community of people, 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.740 Have you in your heart of hearts, 00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:25.620 Received him? 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.620 Have you bowed down to the king? 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:29.779 Have you said, 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:32.119 Jesus have your way in my life? 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.599 John wants us to know, 00:33:34.699 --> 00:33:35.879 That if you haven't done that, 00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:38.339 You'll always be in the dark, 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:41.259 The darkness comes to shine, 00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:43.419 And the light comes to shine in the darkness, 00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:45.500 The darkness has not overcome it, 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:47.319 But if you do not receive him, 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:49.059 You're still in the dark, 00:33:50.179 --> 00:33:52.079 John wants you to walk in the light, 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.259 He wants you to encounter, 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.659 Grace and truth, 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:57.100 Friends, 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:57.860 Have you received him? 00:33:58.620 --> 00:34:00.220 Maybe you did that many years ago, 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.279 Have you received him recently? 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:03.440 Have you opened wide your heart to him? 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.500 Is he your king? 00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:08.659 We're going to learn a lot more about Jesus, 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.680 In the coming weeks, 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:11.079 But John wants us to know, 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.720 Who is Jesus? 00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:13.200 He's the eternal, 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.960 Uncreated God, 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.920 The one who holds, 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:18.300 All the universe and the cosmos in his hands, 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.579 The one by whom, 00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:20.320 And through whom, 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.220 And for whom, 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.820 Everything exists, 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:24.820 He is the one whom, 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.340 Light and life, 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.840 And grace is found, 00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:30.000 And he's the one who's come to us, 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.100 And why did he come to us? 00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:33.059 That we might know what God is like, 00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:34.620 And what is God like? 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:36.900 At the heart of God's heart, 00:34:37.140 --> 00:34:38.380 Is a benevolent, 00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:40.080 Creator of the universe, 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:41.440 Who is for his people, 00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.160 Who has come, 00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.260 Not with a stick, 00:34:43.580 --> 00:34:44.620 Not with a pointed finger, 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.900 But has come with grace, 00:34:47.660 --> 00:34:48.960 That we might come home, 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:51.840 And how does he want us to respond? 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:54.199 To receive him as our king, 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.840 Let's do that now, 00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:56.780 As we come in prayer, 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:57.780 Let's pray together, 00:34:58.659 --> 00:35:00.380 Lord Jesus, 00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.280 As a church, 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.679 We talk about you often, 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.440 But God, 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.079 We do confess, 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.980 It's very easy, 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.619 To become, 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:07.900 Overly familiar, 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.099 And overly blasé, 00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.780 About you, 00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:10.780 God, 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.139 We can sing the songs, 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:14.000 With half-hearted hearts, 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.460 But God, 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:14.840 I pray, 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.800 Won't you open the eyes, 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:16.300 Of our hearts, 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:17.039 To see you, 00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.199 To see you, 00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.059 In all your majesty, 00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:19.659 And your glory, 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.819 To be in awe of you, 00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:22.379 Astounded by you, 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.639 And to fall down, 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.259 On our knees, 00:35:24.339 --> 00:35:24.839 At your feet, 00:35:24.879 --> 00:35:25.359 Once again, 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.739 God, 00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:28.159 We want to receive you, 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.299 We want to welcome you, 00:35:29.339 --> 00:35:30.000 With open arms, 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.279 God, 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:30.960 We want to, 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.159 We want to roll out, 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.699 The red carpet, 00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.039 And say, 00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.039 Christ the king, 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.259 Come and have your way, 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.319 In our life, 00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.619 God, 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.219 For those of us, 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:38.679 This morning, 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:39.559 That have never done that, 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.199 I pray, 00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:40.699 Won't you, 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:42.019 Open the eyes of our heart, 00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:42.779 Give us faith, 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.319 Help us God, 00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:44.939 To see you, 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.819 And to trust you, 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.299 God, 00:35:47.379 --> 00:35:47.919 For those that, 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.559 Maybe did that, 00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.440 Many years ago, 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:49.860 And we've, 00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:51.720 We've kind of relegated you, 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.720 To a back room, 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:53.599 And we've got on, 00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.280 With our lives, 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.220 And you no longer, 00:35:55.220 --> 00:35:56.340 Have that place of honor, 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.900 In our lives, 00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:57.960 God, 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.820 We confess that, 00:35:58.880 --> 00:35:59.340 And we ask you, 00:35:59.380 --> 00:35:59.960 To forgive us, 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.860 And help us God, 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.280 We want to bring you, 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.880 Back into the center stage, 00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.139 And welcome you, 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:05.639 Once again, 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.180 Jesus, 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.400 Come and be big, 00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.119 In our hearts, 00:36:09.200 --> 00:36:10.039 And in our eyes, 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.519 We pray, 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.220 In your name, 00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:13.180 We pray these things, 00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.300 Amen, 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:14.480 Amen, 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.940 And we pray, 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:15.940