WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.140 All right, well, as we get into the Word of God this morning, we are going back into the Gospel of John. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:17.160 If you have your Bible with you, you can open it up to John chapter 6, and we're going to be starting about verse 60. 00:00:20.460 --> 00:00:26.240 We're coming close to the end of this long conversation that Jesus has been having with the crowd. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:30.699 And you'll remember that some of the people there were at the feeding of the 5,000, 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:35.700 and Jesus has been declaring to them that He is the bread that has come down from heaven. 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:38.659 He's been telling them that He is the bread of life. 00:00:39.099 --> 00:00:46.239 He's been offering to them eternal life and inviting them to come to Him and believe in Him. 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:52.920 And the crowd there has had some pretty telling questions and responses to Jesus. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:58.260 They've demanded that He do a sign before believing. 00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:01.719 They've been grumbling about what He is saying. 00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:04.780 And Jesus has kind of told them straight up, 00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:08.719 you guys have seen, and yet you still do not believe. 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:15.960 Two weeks ago, we saw how all of this came to a head as Jesus said some things that were pretty shocking. 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:20.419 In verse 54, He said, 00:01:20.639 --> 00:01:25.859 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. 00:01:26.639 --> 00:01:28.919 And we talked about these words two weeks ago. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:30.759 We talked about what Jesus meant by them. 00:01:31.339 --> 00:01:37.719 Of course, He was not talking about actually eating His flesh and drinking His blood, 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:45.780 but about how people need to partake in the deepest way possible of what His death will accomplish 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:50.319 in order to have eternal life and to be saved from death. 00:01:51.039 --> 00:01:57.900 But it got the crowd arguing sharply about whether Jesus was speaking in metaphor or not. 00:01:58.900 --> 00:02:02.259 How can this man give us His flesh to eat? 00:02:03.460 --> 00:02:04.560 Some of them said. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:10.920 And all of this, John tells us, was said while He was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:16.500 So this morning, we want to look at what happened after this conversation. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:20.140 Let's read it starting in verse 60. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.280 On hearing it, many of His disciples said, 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.259 This is a hard teaching. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:33.039 Who can accept it? 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:37.699 Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:39.500 Jesus said to them, 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:41.099 Does this offend you? 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:46.819 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:51.219 The Spirit gives life. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:54.780 The flesh counts for nothing. 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:58.039 The words I have spoken to you. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.900 They are full of the Spirit and life. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.680 Yet there are some of you who do not believe. 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:10.860 For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe, 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:13.500 and who would betray Him. 00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:15.560 He went on to say, 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:23.740 This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them. 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:32.939 So not only did the crowd grumble that day at what Jesus said, 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:37.200 but even Jesus' disciples grumbled that day. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:41.919 This is a hard teaching, they said. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:43.759 Who can accept it? 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.039 And I love how Jesus handles this. 00:03:47.119 --> 00:03:48.379 There's no beating around the bush. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.060 He just goes straight to it and asks them, 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:52.979 Does this offend you? 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:56.599 Do my words offend you? 00:03:57.539 --> 00:04:00.399 And then Jesus goes on to help them with this teaching. 00:04:00.959 --> 00:04:04.859 We're not going to have time to look at everything He said here, 00:04:05.299 --> 00:04:08.959 but one thing I will point out is what He says in verse 64. 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:10.120 He says, 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:13.319 There are some of you who do not believe. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:21.139 For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe, 00:04:21.139 --> 00:04:23.099 and who would betray Him. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.779 And so again in the Gospel of John here, 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:30.740 we see that Jesus knows what's going on in the hearts of His followers. 00:04:32.099 --> 00:04:34.699 Even as He looks them in the eye right now, 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:37.240 He knows which of them believes, 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:39.579 and which of them does not. 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:43.139 In fact, John tells us that all along, 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:46.240 He has known which of them believes, 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:47.879 and which of them does not. 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:51.099 And this is not only referring to Judas, 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:54.539 notice it says, 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.360 Which of them, plural, 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:58.800 and it's especially clear in the original language, 00:04:58.919 --> 00:05:01.560 which of them, plural, did not believe, 00:05:02.039 --> 00:05:04.680 and who, singular, 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:06.959 would betray Him. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.680 It's as though Jesus sees right through them. 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:13.879 He sees what's going on in their thoughts, 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:15.680 in their hearts, 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:20.379 and this reality that some of them do not believe, 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:24.720 really leads into what we read next in verse 66. 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.459 From this time on, 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:31.400 many of His disciples turned back, 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:33.319 and no longer followed Him. 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:37.899 Let's stop and think about those words for a moment. 00:05:38.719 --> 00:05:43.259 Many of His disciples turned back, 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:44.779 and no longer followed Him. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.920 So there were a lot of people following Jesus. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:51.900 And you can imagine that some of them just kind of came out for the day, 00:05:52.140 --> 00:05:54.060 or maybe two days, 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:54.400 you know, 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:57.379 just to see what He's saying and doing, 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:58.540 to check Him out. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:02.259 But then there was a good number of people who were His disciples. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.020 They followed Him from place to place. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:07.439 The twelve disciples were among them. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.259 There were also a number of women that we know about from the other Gospels, 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:15.279 and there were probably even more. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:21.019 This was probably a group that was a few times larger than the twelve disciples 00:06:21.019 --> 00:06:22.779 that we're all familiar with. 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:23.459 And yet, 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:27.819 John tells us that many of them turned back 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:31.899 and no longer followed Him after this conversation. 00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:35.800 Let's think of this from the perspective of the twelve disciples. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:42.480 They were likely in the minority of people who stayed with Jesus 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.720 and continued to follow Him after that day. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.980 Evidently, there was a large group of His followers who did not believe, 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:53.980 just as Jesus said. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:59.120 And this whole conversation in the synagogue about, 00:06:59.400 --> 00:07:00.879 eat my flesh and drink my blood, 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.540 it was like the spark that lit the fire. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:06.780 It was like the straw that broke the camel's back. 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:11.600 They stumbled over what Jesus said that day in the synagogue. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:17.640 And the result was this mass exodus of many of His followers. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:21.480 You can almost imagine maybe what they're thinking. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:24.620 Like, man, eat my flesh and drink my blood? 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:26.060 Like, that's too much for me. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.080 No way. 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:30.160 That's over the top. 00:07:31.320 --> 00:07:32.100 I'm done. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:33.820 I'm going home. 00:07:35.460 --> 00:07:38.420 I imagine it a little bit like that moment 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:40.100 where probably most of you have experienced, 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:43.280 where you're at somebody's house for a gathering, 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.900 and it's already getting late, 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:48.080 and a number of people are thinking about going home. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:51.040 The conversation's kind of petering out, 00:07:51.140 --> 00:07:52.000 but it's still going. 00:07:53.080 --> 00:07:54.780 And then finally someone stands up and says, 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:56.340 all right, well, I'm headed out. 00:07:56.460 --> 00:07:57.180 I'm going home. 00:07:57.900 --> 00:07:58.760 And then all of a sudden, 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.120 everybody else kind of sees that opportunity. 00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:03.800 Yep, I was thinking the same thing. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:05.459 It's time for me to get going. 00:08:05.659 --> 00:08:06.259 And all of a sudden, 00:08:06.339 --> 00:08:08.879 there's just this mass exodus towards the door, 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:10.599 and the party is over. 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:12.480 Something like that, 00:08:12.599 --> 00:08:13.360 only here, 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:14.620 not as friendly. 00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:16.939 There has been arguing, 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:18.519 grumbling, 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:19.360 and murmuring. 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.639 And this is not just about going home tonight. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:24.360 It's about going home to stay. 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:25.740 Like, we're done 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:29.040 with following this Jesus guy around 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:29.860 like we've been doing. 00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:31.920 All of a sudden, 00:08:32.060 --> 00:08:32.919 everybody, it seems, 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.000 just stands up 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:35.899 and walks out the door. 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:38.980 And the picture that we have here 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:40.819 is that there are relatively few 00:08:40.819 --> 00:08:43.240 left with Jesus. 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:47.579 And Jesus turns to the 12 themselves. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.000 And he says, 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.079 you do not want to leave too, 00:08:53.419 --> 00:08:53.879 do you? 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:56.319 Jesus asked the 12. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.159 There's the door. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.439 If you've been thinking about it, 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:04.360 if you've been thinking 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:07.140 you might not want to follow me anymore, 00:09:07.260 --> 00:09:08.080 or you want to leave, 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:10.880 you've seen the majority walk away from me 00:09:10.880 --> 00:09:12.600 all at once here, 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:15.040 do any of you wish to join them? 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:19.720 And it's here that Peter speaks. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:22.680 Lord, 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:25.020 to whom shall we go? 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.680 You have the words of eternal life. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:35.400 We have come to believe 00:09:35.400 --> 00:09:37.520 and to know 00:09:37.520 --> 00:09:40.560 that you are the Holy One of God. 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:44.980 These are precious words. 00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:47.720 What is Peter saying here? 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.340 Well, first there's the question, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:50.720 Lord, 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.520 to whom shall we go? 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:55.480 And what we notice is that 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:57.240 it's not so much a question 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:57.980 as a statement. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:59.899 Master, 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:03.580 there are no other alternatives here 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:06.159 when it comes to the faith of our fathers, 00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:07.560 when it comes to the scriptures, 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.680 when it comes to the fulfillment 00:10:09.680 --> 00:10:12.460 of all that we have longed and hoped for. 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:14.920 To whom shall we go for those answers? 00:10:16.180 --> 00:10:18.340 To whom shall we look for that hope 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:19.180 to be fulfilled? 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:20.980 John the baptizer, 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:22.560 he was a great guy, 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.840 but he pointed us to you. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.220 We certainly aren't seeing our longings 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:30.379 and hopes fulfilled in the other rabbis 00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:33.660 or the people on the Jewish council. 00:10:35.780 --> 00:10:38.440 Nicodemus didn't seem to have the answers. 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:42.280 The chief priests don't seem to have 00:10:42.280 --> 00:10:44.080 a real love for God as you do. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:47.259 They were all too happy to make a buck 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:49.220 through the sellers and the exchangers 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:50.560 at the temple. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:53.199 The teachers of the law 00:10:53.199 --> 00:10:54.939 don't seem to truly love people 00:10:54.939 --> 00:10:55.759 like you do. 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:57.899 They're trying to get you 00:10:57.899 --> 00:11:00.099 in jail 00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:02.399 for healing a man on the Sabbath. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:03.819 Lord, 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:05.379 to whom shall we go? 00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:08.459 There's no one else 00:11:08.459 --> 00:11:10.559 that we see as being from God 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.639 the way that you are. 00:11:14.739 --> 00:11:16.119 And it's not just that you're 00:11:16.119 --> 00:11:17.339 the best of the worst. 00:11:18.339 --> 00:11:19.419 It's not just that you're 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:20.620 the best that we've got 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.360 in our day. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.439 If this question, 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:24.559 to whom shall we go, 00:11:24.620 --> 00:11:25.519 was all Peter said, 00:11:25.599 --> 00:11:26.559 then we might be tempted 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.419 to think that Peter 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:28.539 is just desperately 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:30.879 settling for Jesus. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.679 But he's not. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:34.399 There's more. 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:35.419 He has some things 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:36.679 to affirm about Jesus. 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:38.079 He goes on. 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:38.500 He says, 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:40.360 you have 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.419 the words 00:11:41.959 --> 00:11:43.240 of eternal life. 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:45.639 we have come 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.480 to believe 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:48.200 and to know 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:49.139 that you 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:51.220 are the Holy One 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:52.060 of God. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.740 What a statement 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.279 of faith. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.500 For years, 00:11:58.580 --> 00:11:59.659 I've looked at these words 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:00.180 of Peter, 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.740 and I'm not sure 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.620 that I quite heard 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.539 what Peter was saying. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.980 I think I was bringing 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.159 a lot of my own perspective 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:07.980 to these words, 00:12:08.060 --> 00:12:08.820 and I thought Peter 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:09.860 was saying something like, 00:12:10.180 --> 00:12:10.340 well, 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:11.259 what's the alternative? 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.420 Nobody else, 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.280 no other religion, 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:15.139 no other faith 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:16.420 offers eternal life 00:12:16.420 --> 00:12:17.399 the way that you do, 00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:18.960 so I guess we'll take 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.100 our chances with you 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.940 because there might 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:23.360 just be the real possibility 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.960 that you could give us 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.720 eternal life. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:26.820 We've got nothing 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:27.620 better to do. 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:29.620 We've got no one 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.639 better to follow. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.740 Yet the more I listen 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.580 to what Peter said 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:35.060 that day 00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:36.060 and really reflect 00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:37.060 on all of it, 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:39.280 the more I hear 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.339 something different, 00:12:40.459 --> 00:12:41.059 the more I hear 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:41.819 that this is not 00:12:41.819 --> 00:12:43.360 just a desperate gamble 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:44.860 kind of a statement. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.439 It's not as though 00:12:46.439 --> 00:12:47.120 Peter's saying, 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.360 we're going to keep 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:48.919 following you 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.539 simply because 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.159 we've got nothing 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:50.939 better to do, 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.620 no one better 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.339 to listen to. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:55.000 Rather, 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.819 I'm seeing in these words 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:58.559 an affirmation 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.799 of faith. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:01.879 This is Peter 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:03.100 saying out loud 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.620 what he truly 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:05.819 believes 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:06.720 about Jesus. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.000 words 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.240 of eternal 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:10.899 life 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.480 you 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.420 have. 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:14.440 And we 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:15.580 have believed 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:16.980 and not just 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.560 believed, 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.860 we have come 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.620 to know 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.120 that you 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.580 are 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.779 the Holy 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.560 One of God. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.100 We're not going 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.800 to go out the door. 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.300 We don't want 00:13:26.300 --> 00:13:26.820 to leave. 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.580 You have the words 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.420 of eternal life 00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:31.460 and we know 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.519 that you 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:32.980 are the 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:34.080 Holy One 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:34.540 of God. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.139 Why would we 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.519 leave? 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.039 Where would we 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:36.259 go? 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:36.939 There is no 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:37.259 other. 00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:38.879 It's as if 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.639 Peter is saying, 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:40.519 you are the 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:40.879 one. 00:13:41.079 --> 00:13:41.699 We believe 00:13:41.699 --> 00:13:41.960 it. 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.659 We know 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:43.899 it. 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:48.120 None of the 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:48.639 other religious 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.379 people around 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.139 us here 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.980 have these 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.480 words. 00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:54.379 We believe 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.000 you have the 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.439 words that 00:13:56.439 --> 00:13:56.919 lead to 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:57.679 eternal life. 00:13:58.699 --> 00:13:59.439 We believe 00:13:59.439 --> 00:13:59.799 you are the 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:00.439 one he has 00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:00.759 sent, 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:01.659 the Holy 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:02.299 One of God. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.579 And not just 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.039 believe, 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.019 we know it. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:09.139 Jesus said 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.519 some hard 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.019 things that 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.340 day. 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:11.559 Eat my 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.120 flesh and 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.600 drink my 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:12.960 blood. 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:14.960 Yet Peter 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:15.799 doesn't stumble 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.679 too much 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:17.379 over these 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:17.879 words of 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.259 Jesus, 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.279 like many 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:21.699 did that 00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.039 day. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.559 He probably 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.120 found these 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.220 words difficult. 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:26.840 He was 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.199 probably 00:14:27.199 --> 00:14:27.860 initially a 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:28.299 little red 00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:28.899 in the face 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.960 as Jesus 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.460 said them, 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:30.840 and maybe 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.620 even upset 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.199 as people 00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:33.019 started walking 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:33.659 out the door 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.939 on Jesus. 00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:36.759 But I 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.199 think when we 00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:37.719 read these 00:14:37.719 --> 00:14:38.079 words, 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:38.379 when we 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:38.719 hear what 00:14:38.719 --> 00:14:39.219 he says, 00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:39.620 we have 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:39.959 come to 00:14:39.959 --> 00:14:40.579 know that 00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:40.860 you are 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.219 the Holy 00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:41.559 One of 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:41.939 God. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:42.959 There 00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:43.379 wasn't a 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.339 chance that 00:14:44.339 --> 00:14:45.759 Peter was 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.100 going to be 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:46.639 walking out 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.139 that door. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.879 What Peter 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.379 saw, 00:14:53.339 --> 00:14:54.459 somehow he 00:14:54.459 --> 00:14:55.519 saw and 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.600 knew about 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:58.279 Jesus what 00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:59.459 many did 00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:01.059 not see and 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:01.799 did not know 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.559 about him. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.279 What Peter 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.399 saw and 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:06.179 believed and 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:06.659 knew about 00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.279 Jesus was 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.159 enough to 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:09.579 keep him 00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:10.579 following Jesus, 00:15:11.219 --> 00:15:11.740 even when 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.279 Jesus said 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:12.740 some things 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.019 that were 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.839 difficult or 00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:16.500 shocking or 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:16.899 hard to 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.579 understand. 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.379 What he saw 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.039 and believed 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.679 and knew about 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.299 Jesus was 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:21.899 enough to 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.339 keep him 00:15:22.339 --> 00:15:23.359 following Jesus 00:15:23.359 --> 00:15:24.359 even when 00:15:24.359 --> 00:15:25.059 the majority 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:27.399 left and 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:29.620 mocked and 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.939 balked and 00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:31.559 turned away. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:36.339 I don't 00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:36.679 know about 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.120 you, but 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.259 these words 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.979 have a 00:15:38.979 --> 00:15:39.699 special place 00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:40.719 in my 00:15:40.719 --> 00:15:41.059 heart. 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:41.719 These words 00:15:41.719 --> 00:15:42.179 of Peter 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.279 over the 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.179 years since 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:44.639 I first 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.019 believed, 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.539 they have 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:47.199 been words 00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:47.759 of deep 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.579 comfort and 00:15:48.579 --> 00:15:49.120 assurance. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.179 In fact, 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.620 I would even 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.120 say that 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.059 these words 00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:53.799 have held 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:55.579 me and 00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:56.399 kept me 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.779 as a 00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:58.379 follower of 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:58.740 Jesus. 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.060 in those 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:00.659 moments where 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.299 I've wrestled 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:01.840 with doubt 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.700 and unbelief 00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:03.200 in my own 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:03.580 soul. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.899 And I have 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.519 wrestled with 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.200 doubt and 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.960 unbelief over 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:08.620 my years of 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:08.960 being a 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:09.279 Christian. 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.360 It's been 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:11.759 less and 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:12.419 less as I've 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:12.879 grown in the 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.200 Lord, 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.419 less often 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:16.419 and less 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:16.980 deeply, 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.039 deeply. 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.720 But I 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.340 still remember 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.800 times in 00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:21.320 which these 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:21.860 words of 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.560 Peter became 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.060 my own 00:16:23.060 --> 00:16:24.820 words in 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.340 moments where 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:25.860 I was feeling 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.840 confused and 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.300 doubtful and 00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:29.680 desperate. 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:31.899 I remember 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:32.500 when I first 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.320 discovered when 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:33.860 I was younger 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.259 that the 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.899 Bible wasn't 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.340 written in 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.759 English. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.480 And I began 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.320 to wonder and 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:38.879 doubt whether 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.720 we even have 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.560 the very words 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.039 which God 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.500 spoke. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.379 I started 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.420 looking at the 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:45.200 big differences 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.820 in some of 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.639 these translations 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.559 and reading the 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.240 footnotes in 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:48.960 the Psalms on 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:49.439 some of them 00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:50.019 where it says 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.939 that the meaning 00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:51.659 of this Hebrew 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.480 word or phrase 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.179 is uncertain. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.179 And doubts 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.000 began to rise 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.699 in my mind. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.899 What if it's 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:00.319 all lost in 00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:00.919 translation? 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.100 What kind of 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.000 foundation is my 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.900 faith built on? 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.279 And in the 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.879 confusion of 00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.639 those moments, 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.619 these words 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:12.079 became my 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.539 words as I 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.099 wrestled 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:16.099 words? 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:16.339 And I 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:16.740 thought, 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.480 eventually I 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:17.980 came to that 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.459 question. 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:20.619 Lord, to whom 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.279 shall I go? 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.259 Where else 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.919 will I look? 00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:24.779 There are no 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.599 other words 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.579 except your 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.079 words which 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.799 make sense of 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.319 this world, 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.119 this life, 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:32.019 and everything 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.500 in it. 00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:34.539 I have come 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.219 to know that 00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:37.119 you are the 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:37.679 Holy One. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:40.460 I remember 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.759 the first time 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.000 I read some 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.420 of those 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.500 passages in 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:44.940 the Bible 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:46.100 that I would 00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:46.779 be honest and 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.920 say I don't 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.600 like or I 00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.340 didn't like. 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.840 Reading how 00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.660 God decreed 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.519 the execution 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.320 of children 00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:55.900 in Canaan 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:57.799 or how God 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.539 struck one of 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.180 the Levites 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:00.620 dead for 00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:01.220 reaching out 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:01.840 his hand to 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:02.299 steady the 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:02.720 Ark of the 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.259 Covenant so 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.740 that it didn't 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.420 fall off the 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:04.980 ox cart. 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.759 I remember 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.400 the first time 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:07.920 I read in 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.299 some of the 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.079 prophets the 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:09.819 writings there 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.519 of God's 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.500 severe wrath 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.120 and anger 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:12.860 towards the 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.360 children of 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:13.759 Israel. 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.880 And even 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.640 passages like 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.160 this one where 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:18.940 Jesus says 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.680 some things 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.380 that initially 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:20.880 I think, 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.039 why did you 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.519 have to say 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.120 it that way? 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.779 Eat my flesh 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:26.039 and drink my 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.420 blood. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.819 And here 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.180 again, 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.220 Peter's words 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:32.279 over the years 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:32.980 have become my 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.400 words. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.920 in the 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.380 wrestling of 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.080 those moments 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:37.940 I come to 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.519 the question, 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.019 Lord, 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.019 to whom 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.400 shall we 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:41.680 go? 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.720 Nobody 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.360 else has a 00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.160 better explanation 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:46.640 of what's 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.180 going on in 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:47.660 our world. 00:18:48.820 --> 00:18:49.019 Nobody 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.580 else has a 00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:50.259 better answer 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.780 about where 00:18:50.780 --> 00:18:52.360 evil and 00:18:52.360 --> 00:18:53.400 suffering come 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:53.720 from. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.280 I remember 00:18:56.280 --> 00:18:57.140 several moments 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.960 in which I 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.560 began to 00:18:58.560 --> 00:18:59.600 entertain the 00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.140 thoughts of 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.220 the alternatives. 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.539 thoughts like 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.799 maybe there is 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.380 no God. 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.660 Maybe we 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.339 are all 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.000 just part 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.700 of just 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.180 the product 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.819 of a big 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.480 explosion 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.319 that happened 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:13.880 long ago 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.600 and suffering 00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.200 and evil 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.640 and death 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:15.980 are just 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.480 part of the 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.120 normal stuff 00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:17.420 of our 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.279 natural world. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.539 Aside from 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.120 the fact that 00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:22.620 that view 00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.559 is totally 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.059 hopeless 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:25.700 and depressing 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.440 and takes 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.019 all the 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.960 beauty and 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.480 purpose out 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.059 of life, 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.779 nobody who 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.500 believes that 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.839 has been able 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.399 to answer 00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:34.039 the question 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.659 at least for 00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.679 me of how 00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:36.079 we got 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.379 there, 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:36.859 how we 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.359 got here. 00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.279 How did 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.960 we as human 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.019 beings actually 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.759 get here in 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.379 all our 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:41.919 wonderful 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.659 complexity? 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.440 They will 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:45.980 say it's a 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.319 long, 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.460 long time 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:49.419 plus chance 00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:52.000 but I look 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.700 at my hand 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.980 I think about 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.440 who I am 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.639 in all my 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.039 wonderful 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.679 complexity. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:57.799 complexity 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:59.720 and I 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.279 just know 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.960 there's not 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.539 a chance 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.720 that it was 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.400 just chance 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:04.940 and time. 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.519 God, 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:07.000 you have 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.620 the words 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:08.680 which brought 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.340 life long 00:20:09.340 --> 00:20:11.259 ago and 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.580 you have 00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:12.039 the words 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.480 which will 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.380 bring eternal 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:15.380 life and 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:15.900 hope beyond 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.420 the grave. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.560 I remember 00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:19.320 a few moments 00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:19.980 when I was 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.039 working as a 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.600 courier and 00:20:21.600 --> 00:20:22.640 I'd be doing 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.460 my rounds at 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.060 the mall in 00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:24.640 Edmonton 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:26.740 and a few 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.279 days I 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:27.720 thought to 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.220 myself, 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.700 what are 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.259 the chances 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.759 that the 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.500 majority of 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.220 our world 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.319 has got it 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.799 wrong and 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.319 doesn't see 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.899 the truth of 00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:36.539 Jesus and 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.119 the truth of 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:37.539 what's really 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.160 happening in 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.539 our world? 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.180 How can it 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.059 be that only 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.700 a relative 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:42.779 few see the 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.279 truth and 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.639 know the 00:20:43.639 --> 00:20:44.019 truth? 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.819 Why is it 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.319 that so many 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:47.899 think that 00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:48.559 what I believe 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.319 is foolish 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.819 and a waste 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.279 of time? 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.680 Why can't 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.359 God just show 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.059 up in power 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.740 and glory 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.440 and convince 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.039 everyone? 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.740 I don't 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.659 like this 00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.579 feeling of 00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:00.259 being in 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.139 the mocked 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.700 minority. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.460 Maybe I 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.879 should throw 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.440 in the towel 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.019 and be done 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.419 with it. 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.339 And here 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.720 again, 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.000 Peter's words 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.599 became my 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:12.919 words. 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.179 Well, 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:15.500 to whom 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.079 will I go? 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.339 What other 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.559 belief or view 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.200 of the world 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.099 will I adopt? 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:23.679 there are no 00:21:23.679 --> 00:21:24.699 other alternatives. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.619 Deep down 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.159 inside, 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.339 I believe 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:28.799 that what 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.559 Jesus says 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:29.959 is the 00:21:29.959 --> 00:21:30.299 truth. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.500 I see 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.279 something about 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.459 him that 00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:35.919 others do 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:36.439 not see. 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.759 And I 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.139 would say 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.740 I know 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.939 that he 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:41.539 is the 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.059 Holy One 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.539 of God. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.579 Somehow 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:47.199 by God's 00:21:47.199 --> 00:21:48.119 spirit at 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.740 work within 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.379 his people, 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:50.419 these words 00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.019 of Peter 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.879 are our 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.460 words 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.279 when we 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.660 consider 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.039 whether or 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.359 not we 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:56.779 should walk 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.099 out the 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.519 door on 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.039 Jesus and 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.400 just go 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:58.720 our own 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:58.980 way. 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.019 I've 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.359 come to 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.799 learn that 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.019 we, 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.599 like Peter, 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.220 I think, 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.099 realizes in 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:08.599 this moment, 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.099 we don't 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.519 have to 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.279 have every 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.720 answer. 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.059 We don't 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.379 have to 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:13.859 have every 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.500 last word 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.039 of Hebrew 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.599 poetry 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.440 translated 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.359 with 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.619 certainty 00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:19.299 into our 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:19.559 own 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.119 language. 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.059 we don't 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.440 have to 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:22.740 like 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.220 everything 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.720 that God 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.400 decides to 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.480 do in 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:25.819 his own 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.420 freedom and 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:26.900 justice. 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.559 We just 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:29.900 need to 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.660 believe and 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.500 know by 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:31.940 the grace 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.480 of God 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.720 that Jesus 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:35.379 is the 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:35.879 Holy One 00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.379 of God. 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.960 That was 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.900 enough to 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.740 keep Peter 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.359 there with 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.480 Jesus that 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:43.819 day. 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.420 That's enough 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.200 to keep me 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.339 here with 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:47.839 Jesus, 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:49.240 even if 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.559 everybody 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.259 else walks 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.599 away. 00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:51.759 I believe 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.279 he does 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.720 have the 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.039 words that 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.379 lead to 00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.740 eternal 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.259 life. 00:22:58.939 --> 00:22:59.859 Do you? 00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:04.019 Let's 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.339 imagine 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.439 ourselves in 00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:06.079 that moment 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.079 with the 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.259 other 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.740 disciples. 00:23:10.679 --> 00:23:11.319 Jesus 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:13.659 says, 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.919 there's the 00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.159 door. 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.200 door. 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.920 Do you 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.279 want to 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.759 leave too? 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.360 I know 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.000 my answer. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.660 What's your 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.000 answer? 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.079 door. 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.259 Let's 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.519 pray. 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.720 Father in 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.160 heaven, we 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.839 thank you for 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.420 sending your 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:39.720 son. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.579 And we 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.460 confess, we 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.440 do believe that 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.039 he is the 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.619 Holy One. 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.240 We also 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.859 admit that we 00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.420 have doubts. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.240 At times, we 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.839 wrestle with 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.240 things. 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.200 And we 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.660 thank you that 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.259 you are patient 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.880 with us and 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.660 gracious to 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.000 us. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.680 Thank you 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.839 that you 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.299 bring us 00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.619 around. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.259 You convince 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.559 us. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.759 You lead us 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.380 back to this 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.079 place where we 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.599 come to 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.079 assurance and 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.480 faith. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.440 Help us to 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.460 grow in our 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.059 faith, Lord. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.380 We do have 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.640 unbelief, but 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:14.480 help us in 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.700 it. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.339 Guide us and 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:18.839 keep us. 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.160 We ask this in 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.819 Jesus' name. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.240 Amen.