WEBVTT 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.679 Welcome to City Church Dublin Seman Archives. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:24.079 Join us this week as we continue to walk through the Book of John in our series, The Gospel of John. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:27.600 Well, a warm welcome to you this morning. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:29.440 My name is Duncan. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:33.600 As was said, I'm one of the leaders here at City Church. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.840 And it's great to uh be with you. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:44.799 Uh, if I don't know you, uh, well, it's great uh that you are here, and hopefully I'll get to uh meet you and get to know you as well. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:53.119 Uh, but as we come to our passage, please do uh keep that open if you have a device or if you have an actual Bible. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:01:00.880 Um please do have that open as we consider what God has to say to us through his word uh this morning. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:07.120 I don't know whether you enjoy sports, uh whether you enjoy uh the rugby. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:09.200 Uh now yesterday was a big day. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:12.159 Uh the six nations kicked off. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:17.599 And I have to say, Areland crushed Wales, which was even better. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:22.400 Areland uh for me are just wonderful to watch. 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.599 I am always for them uh through the years. 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:37.280 I have supported Ireland, I've followed them both in the highs that we're seeing in these days, but also some bad days, some very bad lows. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:46.239 You see, I I love watching them, I love seeing them win to beat other teams, especially the English. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:50.719 And I've enjoyed following them. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:53.439 And maybe rugby isn't your thing. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:59.439 Maybe you have another team that you support in a different sport, but we follow teams. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:03.280 Or maybe you follow a band, an artist. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:11.520 I find it strange how uh in our culture and society we we have names for those who follow certain people now, don't we? 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:16.159 Believers, I believe, who follow Justin Bieber. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:16.960 I'm one of them. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:18.000 No, I'm not. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:24.400 Or directioners, it's so sad they broke up as a band, isn't it? 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:28.159 Or maybe Swifties, good old Tay Tay. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:30.560 Oh, she just speaks to us, doesn't she? 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:36.080 We follow people around as we follow teams, we follow individuals. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:40.639 And we understand this concept of following. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:53.039 Whether it's a sports team, music group, whether it's a famous person, or maybe just one of the great thinkers maybe of our day, like Jordan Peterson, is someone who people follow. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:56.240 They like to listen to what he has to say. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:00.000 As people, we often find ourselves following others. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:08.960 And what Jesus is communicating to us today is that there is nothing and no one more important to follow than him. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:12.639 That is what he is saying. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:18.080 And when all is said and done, the option is clear for us. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:22.639 We either follow him or we don't. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:27.520 We either are going after him or we're not. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:33.120 And he is seeking here to help us see why we would follow him. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:46.319 As the Pharisees, these religious leaders seek to question and judge Jesus, he continues to proclaim who he is in this text. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:54.560 It can be hard for us to actually feel the weight of what is being said as we we begin this passage. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:02.000 As Jesus declares these words, we can hear them and not really appreciate them. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:07.520 As he proclaims, I am the light of the world. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:20.160 As we sit here, I know it can be hard to know what is being said, but the people, as they would have listened to Jesus say this, they would have been shocked. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.360 Shocked by what he is proclaiming. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:32.240 In light of the present context they were in, but also their historic context. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:37.759 See, as you notice in the passage, the the passage begins with again. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.079 Again Jesus spoke. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:45.199 So the the present context is actually back in chapter 7. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:54.160 This is happening in the feast that is taking place at the time, the feast of booths or tabernacles, as it was known. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:00.000 And the present context adds so much significance to Jesus' words. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:07.920 At this time during the feast, there were four huge lamps that they would light in the temple, you see. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.160 They were in the court of the women. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:17.360 And this court was known as the middle court in the Jewish temple. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:23.759 Positioned between the court of the Jews for the men and the court of the Gentiles. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:31.519 And right in the center, you have this court with these huge lamps lighting the night sky. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:41.439 At the time, you can imagine how how surprising and shocking in terms of it would have lit the night sky. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:48.480 Obviously, at this time, there are no street lamps, there's no electricity. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:06:08.720 So the light of these lamps would shine over Jerusalem, the fire burning, and devout men would dance and sing under the light of these lamps, holding torches in their hand, celebrating throughout the night. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:17.839 You see, light right here in this moment, in this context, was so central to what they were about, what they were doing. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:24.480 And as Jesus comes speaking these words, he speaks it into that sort of context. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:29.199 But there's also the historic context for the Jewish people. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:36.959 Because throughout the Old Testament, light is an image that is constantly used. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:44.240 It is an image of God's presence, it is an image of Him leading, protecting, saving. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:52.959 You can think back to Exodus, and there we see the pillar of cloud. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:07:02.800 And you consider the Israelites in the wilderness in Exodus, and they've been rescued from Egypt, and this pillar of cloud is leading them to the promised land. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:06.720 And at night it becomes a pillar of fire. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:10.319 It says it was a light to guide them. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:17.279 Or you consider Psalm 27, the song that would have been sung by the people. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:28.959 These words of Jesus land with a huge weight behind them. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:35.839 Both with the present and the historic implications for these people. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:53.360 Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:08:14.720 This declaration is not just for those who are present, but this is a global declaration, a declaration of who Jesus is, inviting you to follow him, to come to him as the true light. 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:20.480 Because whether we admit it or not, we are all longing for this. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:36.559 We are all wanting this to feel like our lives have a purpose, have direction to it, to feel satisfied in life, to know that there is substance to our life. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.320 And the truth is outside Jesus we will not find that. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:46.639 Today, Christian, let me encourage you to be reminded. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:54.000 Reminded of who Jesus is, the one who leads you towards life itself. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:59.840 You don't need to stumble around in the darkness trying to find your own way. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.519 Or maybe you're here and and you do not know Jesus. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:09.519 You you you're here and you're like, maybe I want to know Jesus. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.720 You wouldn't call yourself Christian. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:19.759 Let me invite you to consider him, to hear his cry to you, to say, come follow me. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.320 Stop wandering in the darkness. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.679 I want life for you. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:49.039 Because the rest of this passage is seeking to give us confidence that Jesus truly is the light of the world, that Jesus is worth following because of the authority in which he speaks, the authority in which he judges, and the authority in which he acts. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:52.639 The authority in which he speaks. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:10:09.200 As Jesus proclaims these incredible words, you can imagine the tension in what I have said that the Pharisees stood there hearing Jesus state himself to be the light of the world, the one that people should follow, the one they should follow. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:14.159 These religious rulers, the ones who were full of pride. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.559 And it's not surprising how they respond to him. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.279 Look down at verse 13. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:27.759 So the Pharisees said to him, You are bearing witness about yourself, your testimony is not true. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:33.679 We could hear this objection, we can think, well, that seems reasonable, doesn't it? 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:42.240 Of course, they they are just questioning what Jesus is saying, questioning the substance of his claim. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:45.919 But Jesus' response is striking. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:11:02.159 He says, Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:06.960 You see, the issue we have here is one of authority. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:18.639 The Pharisees are not merely asking in a way of humility, asking Jesus with a posture of humility, wanting to really know what Jesus has to say. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:23.840 But rather they are subjecting Jesus underneath their judgment of his word. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.440 Others come to Jesus. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:29.440 We see this throughout the gospels. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:34.399 Others come to Jesus and they ask Jesus questions and he engages with them. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:39.120 But here they are not wanting to hear from Jesus. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:44.399 They are designed to shut him down, to completely discount him. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:52.639 But do you notice Jesus responds in a way that shows they cannot do this? 00:11:53.360 --> 00:12:06.960 He doesn't seek to offer more evidence of his word through others, but rather proclaims his word to be true, to declare his word to be enough evidence. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.279 And this is because of who he is. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:17.519 When we think about the substance of someone's word, you can think about people you listen to. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.840 We often judge it on the base of who they are. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:33.919 Whether you consider the Taoiseach or a judge or a famous person or even someone you love, you base it upon who they are. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:40.559 We listen because we have placed value upon what they have to say. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:48.639 And what Jesus is wanting us to know is when he speaks, he speaks with complete authority. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:56.559 There is no greater, no more significant word than his word. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:06.720 He cannot seek to find anyone else that is greater, more significant to testify. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.120 Because he is God. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.679 That is what he is proclaiming. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.120 John has already exposed us to this. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:21.360 Back in chapter one, we know that Jesus is the word made flesh. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:31.759 The word that has always been, the word that has always existed with God eternally, the word that is God. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:38.480 What Jesus' words tell us is he has complete understanding of who he is. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.679 I know where I come from and where I am going. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.360 You do not. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:12.000 Declaring that though I speak, it is as though the Father is speaking, the Creator God of all. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:26.240 He stands here being questioned by these men. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:39.919 Yet he knows as he sees these men that they only have been because of him. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:53.440 That as they question him, as they engage with him, as they judge him, it is only because he allows them to. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.639 Because he is the word. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:01.360 All things are held together through him. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:09.039 Yet sadly, we can so easily be like these men. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:13.279 We do not humbly come to God's word. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.879 So often we assume we know best. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.960 So often we think our way is better than his way. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.039 Living according to our thinking, our wisdom. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:32.080 So often we can just neglect the word. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.639 Neglect this book. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:39.679 We can trust, we can just treat it, sorry. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:44.399 Like we can pick and drop what we want. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:49.440 I'll take that because that sounds nice, but I won't take that. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:51.840 That's too hard, too difficult. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:00.080 We are in serious danger as Christians if we treat God's word like this. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:10.399 Because Jesus' word, Jesus as the word, has a clear purpose for us to lead us toward life. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:33.360 I don't know how else to say, but Jesus' invitation to follow me, Jesus saying here that He is enough for us should lead us to hunger to know His Word deeply. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:50.000 Because when I look at other Christians, when I see brothers and sisters who are struggling in the faith, or even I consider my own life of times and seasons and moments of struggle, often there is a key component to neglecting the word of God. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:57.840 Often wondering why God seems so distant, often wondering why they feel as though they are drowning. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:01.120 And you might ask them, how's your time in the word? 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.200 Oh, well, I'm not really in the word. 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:06.720 What else do we expect? 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:15.519 When you treat God's word lightly, when you choose to prioritize other things above his word, what do we expect? 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:20.799 Is this not what he is warning you of? 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:30.000 It is obvious why you feel you are wandering around in the darkness in those moments, feeling far from him. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:45.200 We can make excuses and you can tell me why you struggle to read God's word, but if we truly and rightly see his word for what it is and truly and rightly see him, you will grab hold of this. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.720 You will long to be here. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.880 It's crazy. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:59.759 Just imagine if if we were to walk down to the liffy and you were to fall in. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.359 I wouldn't push you, don't worry. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:03.119 You were to fall in. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:06.160 But the issue is actually you can't swim. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:13.519 And there's a life boy, so it's like, oh, don't worry, here you go, and it's right there. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.000 And you look at it, and you're there. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.200 I'm gonna drown. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.319 I'm gonna drown. 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:20.640 Nah, I think there's a better way. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:28.319 I'll find a better solution to my issues, and it's right there. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:38.160 That is how we would look at that person, and we believe we would be like, how foolish! What are they doing? 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:44.160 Brother, sister, right now you can be sat there and you can feel like you are drowning, maybe. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:51.839 Overcome by anxiety, worry, fear, feeling just inadequate. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.640 Jesus comes declaring, I am the light of the world. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:04.880 Jesus comes longing for you to follow him, longing that you would hear from him, longing that you would have life. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:16.720 When we allow our lives to be shaped by his word, when we are submersed in this book, our lives will be changed, they will be transformed. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:20.400 We will find help in times of need. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:30.400 We will know his sustaining power towards us day by day, moment by moment, through his word by his spirit. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:37.119 Practically, I would encourage you, set a time and set a space. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.720 Set a time that you do not give up for anything. 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:48.240 A time that you know I can be in the word and I'm not giving that up. 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.000 A space that allows you to not be distracted. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.119 My time is every morning. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.279 I go down, make myself coffee. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:59.039 I love coffee, it's great. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.640 Maybe tea is for you. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:04.240 But that's okay, I won't judge. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.960 And I get in my chair. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.480 I love my chair. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.799 The chair was bought for my birthday. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:15.680 And I sit in that chair and I open up the word, and I'm like, oh, help me. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:24.480 Let me to see you now, right now, as I open this book, let me know that you are real, you are true, you are the one I need. 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:28.799 Speak to me, breathe life into me by your spirit through your word. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:36.799 We need to see this, that we need Him to lead and guide us. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:42.480 And if we are not coming to the Word, if we are not prioritizing His Word, what do we expect? 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:47.599 I'm not here trying to burden you, trying to dishearten you. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:21:01.599 But lovingly, I want to encourage you to take Jesus seriously because if you do, if you believe Him for who He is, this will be seen in how you prioritize this book. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:10.240 This will be what prepares you for the darkest days that you might face. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:19.039 This is where you will run to for guidance when you have tough decisions to make. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:26.240 Because honestly, I don't know where else you would go. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:34.079 When I have moments of maybe a day, two days, and sadly I've I've miss my time in the Word. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:38.720 I actually genuinely feel that, and that's not a credit to me. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:45.200 I'm just saying, I actually don't understand how Christians can live outside of this. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:47.200 I need this. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:50.079 This is where I find life. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:53.279 This is where he sustains me. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:11.119 The time we spend here on Sunday, the time we spend Community groups, though they are good, profitable, and we should invest in them, they cannot replace your own personal devotion, your own time seeking Him. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:16.240 Allowing yourself to be shaped by Him through His Word by the Spirit. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:19.519 It won't always be easy. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.279 Sometimes it won't feel natural. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:25.119 Sometimes you'll come to it and you'll read it and be like, I read it. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.279 Not feeling much. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.119 That's okay. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.000 We all have those moments. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:39.759 What Jesus goes on to express, though, is the authority in which he judges. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.400 Look down at verse 15. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.480 You judge according to the flesh. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.759 I judge no one. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:54.000 Yet, even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:23:01.839 These Pharisees have sought to judge Jesus, and yet he is not having any of it. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:12.720 He is clear that the ways in which they are considering judging are not even comparable to the way in which he judges. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:19.200 If we are honest as people, we're so limited, aren't we? 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.559 We are only able to judge based on the limited understanding we have. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:28.720 Limited wisdom, limited perspective. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:33.680 But Jesus declares that his judgment is true. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:40.720 Because he roots his authority of his judgment in his relationship to his father. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:46.000 He doesn't judge at all on our level. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:52.960 We can't equate ourselves with him because he's not on our level. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.720 We don't measure up. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:24:00.960 Later on in the passage, he explains how he is not of this world. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:05.200 That is how he can judge as he does. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:08.319 That is how his judgment is true. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:17.119 Jesus wants us to know that when all is said and done, no one will be able to say that's not fair. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:25.759 That Jesus as judge will execute his judgment in perfect righteousness. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:41.680 Because even though these religious leaders believe they are judges, even though they will continue to judge Jesus, even though they will bring him before them and put him on trial, he will have the last word. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:58.720 That all the evil we see, we experience, all the darkness of this world will be judged by him, will be dealt by him, and all things will be placed under him. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.759 Because the light has overcome the darkness. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:10.400 There is a day coming when we will all face him as the righteous judge. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:19.039 And trust me, on that day you won't be concerned about wasting time in, oh, I spent time in the Word. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.960 Oh, I spent time in prayer. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:24.000 You'll be like, oh, why did I look at TikTok so much? 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:30.720 We will see that He is faithful as He judges. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:38.640 What Jesus sees in these men, in these religious elite, is utterly devastating. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:42.640 Because they believe themselves to be set apart. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:48.240 They believe themselves to be closer than to God than anyone else. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:51.279 They believe themselves to be righteous. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:54.640 But what we find is the complete opposite. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.160 Look at verse 19. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:00.079 They said to him, therefore, Where is your father? 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:05.039 Jesus answered, You know neither me nor my father. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:07.920 If you knew me, you would know my father. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:12.000 These words of Jesus are cutting. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:18.880 He's declaring, you think you know God, and you don't. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:24.799 You think you're in a right place before God and you're not. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:35.279 They think they are in a position to judge, and yet they are facing judgment themselves. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:43.920 It is easy for us to people as people, as Christians, to fall into this trap. 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:57.440 If you've maybe grown up in church or been in church for many years, we can think this is what it is to know God. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.759 I just need to look the part. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:12.079 I just need to have a good knowledge of the Bible, had the right answers, and yet we can still not actually know God. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:17.359 These men are better than you. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.440 Sorry, I'm just gonna say it. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:24.880 They would have known by memory books of the Bible. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:29.920 If I invited you down and said, right, Genesis, let's go. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.839 In the beginning. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.279 That's all I got. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:43.599 They look the part, but they do not know God. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:51.200 Because there is a huge difference between knowing things about God and knowing God. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.920 And we need to know that. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:28:00.880 We need to be so careful that we are not just people who know things about God. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.559 Oh, isn't that great? 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:04.400 Isn't that interesting? 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:15.279 But rather, we are people who know our God, people who seek Him, who delight in Him, who experience Him and His presence in our life by His Spirit. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:22.799 The word and judgment of Jesus casts on these men is terrifying. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.240 Look at 21. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:30.240 I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:33.359 Where I am going, you cannot come. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:39.599 You would think that these words would hit the Pharisees. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.559 And they would be like, oh whoa. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:48.160 And yet, as they hear it, they do not hear Jesus. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:52.960 They don't hear what he is saying, they completely miss it. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:01.759 It is as though they've heard the words and they reject them before they even come to them. 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:04.160 Look at how they respond. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:07.519 So the Jews said, Will he kill himself? 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:10.319 Since he says, Where I'm going, you cannot come. 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:13.359 They just completely miss the point. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:24.160 The focus in their minds is upon trying to show that Jesus is not who he says he is. 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:30.960 They are trying to divert it away from themselves and put it back on him. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:35.680 I don't know whether you've experienced that sort of situation before. 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:42.480 Someone's done something, maybe it's someone close to you, and you're like, oh, come on, like, why did you say that? 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:44.079 Why did you do that? 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:50.160 And instead of just dealing with what they heard from you, instead of just saying, Oh, you know what? 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.680 I mucked up, I'm sorry. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:54.799 And like, well, two weeks ago you did this. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:59.359 And it's like, oh, they're diverting away from themselves. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:02.799 They aren't actually dealing with what's been spoken. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:08.000 And this is what they are doing here. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:11.839 The Pharisees just try to shift it back to Jesus. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:16.160 But Jesus won't allow that. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:23.119 He won't allow them to avoid the truth of what he is saying, the truth of his judgment. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:35.119 He says again in verse 24, I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:40.799 That might sound harsh, but actually that is gracious. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:45.440 He's not allowing them to sidestep. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:49.039 He is once again saying, you need to hear this. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:52.160 You need to listen. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:57.279 These words should make us sit up and hear Jesus. 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:05.039 Because there is only two options for us belief in him or rejection of him. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:07.920 And the consequences are devastating. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:12.960 That Jesus is offering us freedom from the darkness. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:18.160 The darkness we all experience, we all taste that darkness in your life. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:22.079 I don't need to know you to know that to be true. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:35.519 That if we do not see him for who he is as the one who is the light of the world, we will remain in that darkness, facing eternity without him. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:39.039 The offer of Jesus is so beautiful, though. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:44.240 It is so beautiful to us, so gracious. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:50.880 The offer that says our need has been met, the offer that takes the burden from us. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:55.599 He is able to offer this because of the authority in which he acts. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.359 That is how he can do that. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:00.319 That is how he can say, I am the light of the world. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:03.839 That is how he can say, believe in me, follow me. 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:06.240 Look at verse 28. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:21.759 Jesus said to them, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:24.640 And he who sent me is with me. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:30.480 He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:35.680 The question of authority is running throughout this text. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:46.400 The authority in which Jesus speaks, the authority in which Jesus judges, the authority in which Jesus acts. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:33:00.559 And what he has been seeking to display is that he speaks with complete authority, he judges with complete authority, he acts with complete authority because of who he is. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:11.920 As we consider Jesus' words here, his eyes are set, set toward the cross, set toward that moment in which he would be lifted up. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:25.039 And what is extraordinary is that he is going there, not unwilling, unable to fight against these powers. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:30.079 Jesus' life could never be taken from him. 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:34.000 Jesus' life could never be demanded of him. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:37.599 No, Jesus lays down his life. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:47.680 He chose this, knowing that at the cross, his authority and glory would chiefly be revealed to us. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:53.359 Notice that what John states back in verse 20. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:58.000 No one arrested him because his hour had not come. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:05.759 The cross has never been a picture of Jesus' defeat, as if he's lost control. 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:14.800 But in fact, that is the very reason he came to display his power to save. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:20.159 On the cross, Jesus declares himself to be the light of the world. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:24.639 That he enters into the darkness. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:28.559 That he takes it upon himself. 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:36.239 The darkness you experience, you feel he did not need to enter in, but he chose to enter in. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:41.199 Chose that you might know that he is the light of the world. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:43.760 He is the one you need. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:54.000 He comes offering life itself, the declaration of Jesus saying that He is the I am. 00:34:55.840 --> 00:35:00.000 The I am who made himself known in the burning bush to Moses. 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:09.360 The I am who is the word, the I am who all creation has been waiting for, the I am who all creation is sustained through. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:16.079 The I am the light of the world, the one to restore, the one to bring us back. 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:22.719 To say, come follow me, I will show you true light, the life we all long for. 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:28.159 Jesus stands here and he is ready and able. 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:32.559 The question is, are we willing? 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:36.960 Are we willing to truly follow Him? 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:46.800 Are we willing to submit our lives to Him, knowing, you know what, this road isn't just simplistic, just filled with daffodils. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:49.280 No, it is hard. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.239 But I know this is life. 00:35:55.199 --> 00:36:04.559 It is only when we look to the face of Jesus, only when we see Him for who He is, will we know His transforming grace in our lives. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:10.639 Maybe you're here and you know Jesus, but you have been wandering far from Him. 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:11.599 Hear His call. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:13.519 I am the light of the world. 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:18.960 Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:34.320 To walk in the light of Jesus is to walk in obedience to him, to take his word seriously, to know that the life that has been bought for you was purchased by his blood. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:51.039 It is not that you do not struggle with sin anymore, your brokenness, but you bring it toward him, knowing he will deal with it, he will deal with the depth of your sin. 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:54.480 He doesn't turn from it, he receives it. 00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:58.400 And says, I have overcome. 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:10.559 Part of the call for us as Christians to walk in the life is a transparent life. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:16.000 A life in which other brothers and sisters are walking alongside you. 00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:24.000 A life that has people who you can be vulnerable with. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:27.360 You can be genuine. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:30.000 You don't have to put up a barrier or face. 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:42.239 Brothers and sisters who are able to speak truth to you with love and gentleness, who you know they are for me. 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:48.159 Even though they say this and this is hard for me to hear, they are for me. 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:53.119 Christians have never been called to go it alone. 00:37:55.039 --> 00:38:00.800 We come toward our Savior, and as we come toward our Savior, we come toward one another. 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:08.000 Community groups are a small picture of this. 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:11.599 A place for genuine care to be felt. 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:17.840 But I would encourage you, you need brothers and sisters who know you. 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.159 Who love you. 00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:28.079 I have a handful of men in my life who who I love dearly and who love me. 00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:36.800 Men who have encouraged me and and challenged me, who've walked with me, and I with them. 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:40.079 Do you know how precious that is? 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:45.360 That is so key for us. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:59.119 Brother, sister, if you do not have fellow Christians, if you don't have a sister walking beside you or a brother walking beside you, or or whatever, please know that this is something you will need. 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:04.559 We all need this, and it is a blessing. 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:07.280 God has given this to us. 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:10.400 That is why we gather. 00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:17.760 To point one another to Him, to encourage one another, to be a blessing, to use our gifts. 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.880 Why are gifts given? 00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:22.800 For the building up of the body as we are the body. 00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:36.719 You need to find people who will do this, who will walk with you, who will bear with you, who you know you're just in that place, and you're like, right, I'm on the phone. 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:38.320 I know I can call them. 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:41.360 They will answer, they will come, they will be there. 00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:44.400 Maybe even just to sit with me. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:52.320 You might be here and you're not a Christian. 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:55.760 You're coming along, maybe you've been invited along. 00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:58.159 I'm so thankful you're here. 00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:00.400 I'm genuinely thankful you're here. 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:05.440 Maybe you've heard this and some of it you've been asleep. 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.159 That's okay. 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:07.360 It's okay. 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:11.360 I don't know how with the loudness of my voice, but anyway. 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:16.000 But Jesus is here and he's declaring to you. 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:19.360 He is come for you. 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:26.639 He is the one who is come to bring life to you. 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:30.159 To say, no, come. 00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:31.760 Follow me. 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:34.880 Follow me and never walk in darkness. 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:37.840 I will lead you to life. 00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:39.519 I will show you. 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:42.480 I will reveal myself to you. 00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:47.920 This is what we've been made for. 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:51.519