1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,260 Some of you may remember that we looked at the opening chapters of John’s gospel 2 00:00:05,020 –> 00:00:11,160 In the early months of last year and we got as far as John chapter 3 and verse 21 3 00:00:11,160 –> 00:00:15,620 and so we’re really taking up where we left off from last year and 4 00:00:15,700 –> 00:00:19,059 The plan is that God willing over these next couple of months 5 00:00:19,379 –> 00:00:21,379 We will seek to meet Jesus 6 00:00:21,600 –> 00:00:27,219 At the end of John 3 and chapter 4 and also chapter 5 of John’s gospel 7 00:00:28,180 –> 00:00:35,200 For those who are new to the church this weekend and already last night we have welcomed many many visitors and 8 00:00:36,020 –> 00:00:37,580 Glad to welcome 9 00:00:37,580 –> 00:00:44,500 Visitors today in all three of these services. Just want to say so glad that you have come welcome 10 00:00:45,060 –> 00:00:48,459 Glad that you come on a special occasion of rejoicing 11 00:00:48,939 –> 00:00:51,480 For all of us here at the church 12 00:00:51,520 –> 00:00:56,740 And I hope that you will want to make it your habit to join with us for 13 00:00:57,180 –> 00:00:58,540 worship and 14 00:00:58,540 –> 00:01:03,560 To meet Jesus through the scriptures as we gather together each 15 00:01:04,139 –> 00:01:08,220 Week we are just so you know where this church is coming from 16 00:01:08,220 –> 00:01:15,260 We are a gathering of people who want to listen to all the God says in other words 17 00:01:15,260 –> 00:01:21,239 We don’t want to be the kind of people who pick up a few bits and pieces from the Bible here and there and then ignore 18 00:01:21,459 –> 00:01:22,639 everything else 19 00:01:22,639 –> 00:01:28,059 so our pattern is to open the Bible to read what God says there and 20 00:01:28,339 –> 00:01:33,400 Then to seek to apply what we see in the Bible to our own lives 21 00:01:33,739 –> 00:01:37,980 and here’s therefore how I would encourage you 22 00:01:38,559 –> 00:01:40,379 to approach the Bible 23 00:01:40,379 –> 00:01:45,400 When you take the Bible in your hands or whether it’s on your iPhone or your iPad or whatever 24 00:01:45,720 –> 00:01:50,580 When you have the Word of God before you, here’s what you should be saying to yourself now this Bible 25 00:01:51,120 –> 00:01:52,139 that 26 00:01:52,139 –> 00:01:54,139 I’m holding in my hands 27 00:01:55,260 –> 00:01:58,160 claims to be the Word of God and 28 00:01:58,959 –> 00:02:04,580 If that really is the case what that means, is that what I read in this Bible is 29 00:02:05,099 –> 00:02:08,779 What God actually says to me today and? 30 00:02:09,539 –> 00:02:15,119 If what I read in this Bible is what God actually says to me today, then nothing is 31 00:02:15,720 –> 00:02:18,199 more important and nothing is more relevant 32 00:02:18,220 –> 00:02:19,600 than 33 00:02:19,600 –> 00:02:26,360 That I should listen to what God says and that I should respond to what God is saying in this Bible to me 34 00:02:26,919 –> 00:02:29,479 And that I should respond in faith 35 00:02:29,880 –> 00:02:33,100 And that I should respond in obedience 36 00:02:33,220 –> 00:02:37,380 And so that’s the kind of spirit in which we as a congregation 37 00:02:37,759 –> 00:02:44,979 wants to come to the Bible as we read it privately at a by day and as we gather together around the Word of God 38 00:02:45,479 –> 00:02:47,479 week by week and 39 00:02:48,199 –> 00:02:52,520 We don’t therefore want to be critics of the Bible. We don’t want to try and be 40 00:02:53,259 –> 00:02:56,800 Selecting what we like and what we don’t like. We don’t wanna be critics of the Bible 41 00:02:56,800 –> 00:03:03,240 We want The Bible to be the critic of us we want to stand under the authority of the Word of God 42 00:03:03,240 –> 00:03:05,639 we want God’s to search us and 43 00:03:06,080 –> 00:03:08,080 to challenge us and 44 00:03:08,479 –> 00:03:14,259 To feed us and to shape us and we believe that he does this through his word 45 00:03:14,259 –> 00:03:16,220 so I hope that 46 00:03:16,220 –> 00:03:21,559 Listening to the Word of God will become a the habit of a lifetime 47 00:03:22,279 –> 00:03:28,860 For every one of us associated in any way with the orchard and I give you this promise that if you will do this 48 00:03:29,279 –> 00:03:32,880 Open the Bible listen to what God says and respond with faith and obedience 49 00:03:33,720 –> 00:03:36,839 if you will do this day by day on your own and 50 00:03:37,940 –> 00:03:41,139 Week by week as we gather here together 51 00:03:42,039 –> 00:03:45,339 You will be nourished and you will be fed 52 00:03:45,380 –> 00:03:46,759 and 53 00:03:46,759 –> 00:03:53,919 over time your whole life will be mold it in a way that will bring great blessing to you and 54 00:03:54,539 –> 00:03:56,539 great glory to God 55 00:03:57,179 –> 00:04:02,660 So with that in mind let’s open the Bible together at the passage that was read for us a few 56 00:04:03,080 –> 00:04:08,779 moments ago John’s Gospel in chapter 3 and we’re going to look at some words today of John the Baptist 57 00:04:09,479 –> 00:04:14,899 The man who was given the great privilege of announcing the coming of Jesus and 58 00:04:15,860 –> 00:04:17,859 John at one point 59 00:04:17,980 –> 00:04:20,100 attracted huge crowds 60 00:04:20,779 –> 00:04:25,140 With his preaching. He had a very simple message and it was this 61 00:04:26,859 –> 00:04:29,160 Something that has never ever happened in the entire 62 00:04:29,459 –> 00:04:35,980 History of the world before is about to take place. God is going to come you are going to meet with God 63 00:04:36,820 –> 00:04:40,839 Therefore you had better get ready make straight paths for the Lord 64 00:04:41,480 –> 00:04:45,459 Prepare the way of the Lord. That was the message of John 65 00:04:46,339 –> 00:04:49,279 Now many people when they heard this message felt 66 00:04:49,859 –> 00:04:54,420 well, if I’m really going to meet with God, I better get myself ready and 67 00:04:55,200 –> 00:05:02,779 That led them to confess some sins in their lives and then to be baptized as a sign of their repentance 68 00:05:02,980 –> 00:05:03,940 repentance 69 00:05:03,940 –> 00:05:07,739 John spoke to them about Jesus he described him in these two ways 70 00:05:07,739 –> 00:05:13,440 he said behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and 71 00:05:13,820 –> 00:05:17,380 Then he said this is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit 72 00:05:18,619 –> 00:05:21,260 In other words the two first things that you need to know about 73 00:05:21,420 –> 00:05:26,739 Jesus Christ is that he’s the one who comes to take away sins and the one who comes to 74 00:05:26,940 –> 00:05:33,799 Remorse your life to soak your life as it were in the presence and the power of God himself 75 00:05:34,820 –> 00:05:42,700 Now I want you to notice today particularly from verse 27 some words that this man John spoke 76 00:05:44,140 –> 00:05:46,899 verse 27 John answered a 77 00:05:47,980 –> 00:05:49,700 person 78 00:05:49,700 –> 00:05:51,579 cannot receive 79 00:05:51,579 –> 00:05:53,619 even one thing 80 00:05:54,380 –> 00:05:56,859 Unless it is given to him 81 00:05:57,600 –> 00:05:59,600 from heaven a 82 00:05:59,619 –> 00:06:02,160 Person cannot receive even one thing 83 00:06:03,359 –> 00:06:07,220 Unless it is given to him 84 00:06:08,260 –> 00:06:10,260 from heaven 85 00:06:10,440 –> 00:06:16,380 Now I pick out that verse to start with because in the passage that’s before us there are actually four 86 00:06:16,640 –> 00:06:20,839 Marvelous gifts that are given from heaven more particularly 87 00:06:20,839 –> 00:06:27,019 They’re given by Jesus Christ who came from heaven and is ready to give each of these 88 00:06:27,220 –> 00:06:33,220 Gifts to all who will receive them let me tell you an outline where they are so you know where we’re going today 89 00:06:33,260 –> 00:06:35,660 the first is the gift of purity and 90 00:06:36,140 –> 00:06:42,619 The great question that’s before us here. What is it that makes a person clean and right before God? 91 00:06:44,040 –> 00:06:46,040 Second the gift of peace 92 00:06:46,380 –> 00:06:48,459 Here we are in a world of turmoil 93 00:06:48,500 –> 00:06:55,040 How can a person find peace that question is before us in this passage from the Bible Today’s third? 94 00:06:55,679 –> 00:06:59,160 The marvelous gift of love how can a person love? 95 00:06:59,320 –> 00:07:03,859 What about a person who has been hurt and wounded and is inhibited and withdraws? 96 00:07:04,239 –> 00:07:11,640 How can a person get to a place of being able to love that’s what’s before us today and fourthly the gift of joy? 97 00:07:12,160 –> 00:07:14,160 What is it that gives a person? 98 00:07:14,200 –> 00:07:21,140 Joy John says in verse 29 this joy of mine is now complete now these 99 00:07:21,480 –> 00:07:25,279 Four marvelous gifts are the things that are before us today 100 00:07:25,279 –> 00:07:31,040 John says a person can’t receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven 101 00:07:31,040 –> 00:07:34,179 We’re going to look at four things that are given from heaven 102 00:07:34,359 –> 00:07:38,820 And are the gifts of the Lord Jesus Christ to all who will receive them 103 00:07:39,619 –> 00:07:44,579 Now just looking at these four gifts here’s what’s very striking to me 104 00:07:45,619 –> 00:07:48,660 it seems to me that religion is 105 00:07:50,079 –> 00:07:55,700 Often marked by precisely the opposite of these four things 106 00:07:57,480 –> 00:08:03,299 And I suspect that there may be a number among us even this weekend who in the past have had a bad 107 00:08:03,980 –> 00:08:05,980 experience of religion and 108 00:08:06,839 –> 00:08:11,880 Instead of purity what you’ve seen is hypocrisy and 109 00:08:13,559 –> 00:08:15,559 Instead of peace 110 00:08:15,579 –> 00:08:18,140 what you’ve seen is anger and 111 00:08:19,660 –> 00:08:23,399 Instead of love what you’ve seen is a kind of coldness and indifference 112 00:08:23,959 –> 00:08:27,459 towards the needs of other people and of the world and 113 00:08:28,220 –> 00:08:34,140 Instead of joy. What you’ve seen is a kind of misery that made you say that’s not attractive to me 114 00:08:34,159 –> 00:08:40,700 And so, you know that there are many people who have been turned away from taking any serious 115 00:08:41,219 –> 00:08:43,719 consideration of spiritual things because 116 00:08:44,700 –> 00:08:48,919 What they’ve seen has been the very opposite of what we’re seeing here in the Bible 117 00:08:50,239 –> 00:08:55,599 So I want you to look at these things and for us to try and take them in together 118 00:08:57,340 –> 00:08:58,400 Purity 119 00:08:58,400 –> 00:08:59,479 peace 120 00:08:59,479 –> 00:09:00,760 love 121 00:09:00,760 –> 00:09:04,380 Joy, who is not drawn to these things? 122 00:09:05,640 –> 00:09:10,099 The question is since there are often not seen in the world of religion 123 00:09:10,359 –> 00:09:13,780 where do they come from and how do we get them and 124 00:09:14,919 –> 00:09:18,900 John says to us the answer is Jesus Christ 125 00:09:19,840 –> 00:09:21,840 that if we have him 126 00:09:22,299 –> 00:09:28,960 then we have these four marvelous gifts and the more that we come to know him and the more that we come to trust him 127 00:09:28,960 –> 00:09:36,719 And love him the more these marvelous gifts of purity and of peace and of love and of joy are going to be ours 128 00:09:37,559 –> 00:09:39,739 So that’s what’s before us from the Bible today 129 00:09:39,739 –> 00:09:47,599 Let’s look first then at this marvelous gift of purity and ask the question. What is it that makes a person clean? 130 00:09:48,599 –> 00:09:52,440 Now notice verse 25 now a discussion arose 131 00:09:53,940 –> 00:09:55,940 Between some of John’s 132 00:09:56,280 –> 00:09:58,280 disciples and a Jew 133 00:09:58,880 –> 00:10:00,700 over 134 00:10:00,700 –> 00:10:02,700 Purification so there it is 135 00:10:03,239 –> 00:10:07,919 now it’s easy to see how a discussion over purification arose because 136 00:10:08,619 –> 00:10:12,099 John was baptizing all of these people in water 137 00:10:12,840 –> 00:10:16,159 They came to him. We’re told there was lots of water 138 00:10:16,479 –> 00:10:21,880 Which was important because John baptized people by immersing them fully in this water 139 00:10:22,119 –> 00:10:25,200 As we still baptize people in that way today 140 00:10:25,460 –> 00:10:26,659 And 141 00:10:26,659 –> 00:10:30,580 So it was natural since people were being baptized in in water 142 00:10:30,580 –> 00:10:37,900 Which clearly indicates it’s a symbol and a sign of washing that gave rise to the question. Well, what exactly is it? 143 00:10:38,500 –> 00:10:41,380 That makes a person clean. I 144 00:10:42,659 –> 00:10:46,880 Mean, do you get clean before God by being baptized? 145 00:10:48,239 –> 00:10:49,419 if 146 00:10:49,419 –> 00:10:54,020 your appearance brought you to a church when you were a baby and 147 00:10:54,679 –> 00:10:58,520 A service of baptism was performed over you 148 00:10:59,679 –> 00:11:02,780 Does that make you clean before God or? 149 00:11:04,200 –> 00:11:10,080 If you were baptized as a teenager or as an adult, is that the thing? 150 00:11:10,780 –> 00:11:14,380 That makes you clean before God 151 00:11:15,340 –> 00:11:21,580 well a discussion arose between John’s disciples who were doing all of this baptizing and 152 00:11:22,000 –> 00:11:26,580 and a Jew now, of course an observant Jew would have been 153 00:11:27,099 –> 00:11:29,460 participating in a whole pattern of 154 00:11:30,099 –> 00:11:35,359 ritual washings that would have been practiced every day and week and month and year and 155 00:11:35,780 –> 00:11:37,880 So you can see where the discussion is going 156 00:11:37,880 –> 00:11:41,340 Here’s these guys that are doing all the baptizing and here’s this observant 157 00:11:41,340 –> 00:11:46,219 Jew and he comes along and he’s into all of these ritual washing 158 00:11:46,260 –> 00:11:49,940 So he has his view as to how people get clean 159 00:11:49,940 –> 00:11:50,780 is 160 00:11:50,780 –> 00:11:57,380 It that you get clean by pursuing certain rituals on an ongoing basis and by weaving them 161 00:11:57,619 –> 00:12:02,539 Faithfully into the pattern of your life. And if so, which rituals are the ones? 162 00:12:03,580 –> 00:12:05,460 Does going to church 163 00:12:05,460 –> 00:12:07,460 make you clean or 164 00:12:07,919 –> 00:12:12,619 Is it receiving communion or is it something else like? 165 00:12:13,460 –> 00:12:16,140 Serving the poor or are saying prayers 166 00:12:16,219 –> 00:12:17,739 So, what is it? 167 00:12:17,739 –> 00:12:25,640 So you see what you have in this discussion that arose between John’s disciples and the Jew is really something that still with us today 168 00:12:25,820 –> 00:12:30,900 Here are two approaches that are quite common among many people to the question 169 00:12:30,900 –> 00:12:35,340 How do you get clean or pure before God? Is it being baptized? 170 00:12:35,820 –> 00:12:37,820 Something that happens once 171 00:12:37,940 –> 00:12:44,659 Or is it more something that involves pursuing certain rituals patterns of life that need to be 172 00:12:44,979 –> 00:12:50,419 sustained and woven into the fabric of what you do over months and over years 173 00:12:51,140 –> 00:12:54,059 Now it seems that as this discussion took place 174 00:12:55,299 –> 00:12:59,099 at some point John stepped in and 175 00:12:59,900 –> 00:13:06,500 I wonder we’re not actually told this but I wonder when this discussion got going between John’s disciples and the Jew 176 00:13:06,500 –> 00:13:12,659 I imagine that since it was on different views of purification it probably got pretty heated fairly quick and 177 00:13:13,460 –> 00:13:19,479 Perhaps it was at that moment that John himself steps in and intervenes in this conversation 178 00:13:20,400 –> 00:13:28,059 And what he really says is this argument is going on about how a person gets clean. Is it by baptism, or is it by ritual? 179 00:13:28,919 –> 00:13:31,840 John steps into this dispute he says neither 180 00:13:33,000 –> 00:13:34,940 neither 181 00:13:34,940 –> 00:13:37,460 Being baptized doesn’t make you pure 182 00:13:37,979 –> 00:13:41,140 Nor does any religious ritual however? 183 00:13:41,880 –> 00:13:43,719 scrupulously it is observed 184 00:13:43,719 –> 00:13:50,679 so what is it that makes a person clean and this is where we come to our verse 27 John answered a 185 00:13:51,679 –> 00:13:55,520 Person cannot receive even one thing 186 00:13:57,059 –> 00:13:59,460 Unless it is given 187 00:14:00,280 –> 00:14:02,280 to him 188 00:14:02,520 –> 00:14:04,520 from heaven 189 00:14:04,679 –> 00:14:09,960 In other words what John is saying is look purity is a gift 190 00:14:11,719 –> 00:14:13,719 and it comes from heaven 191 00:14:13,900 –> 00:14:21,380 it comes from the hand of Jesus Christ who came from heaven so that this gift should be yours and 192 00:14:22,299 –> 00:14:27,020 John of course is saying look. I can’t make a person clean by my 193 00:14:27,380 –> 00:14:31,020 baptism he says in verse 28. I am NOT the Christ 194 00:14:32,700 –> 00:14:39,299 And you can’t give this gift of being pure to yourself either it has to be received and 195 00:14:39,679 –> 00:14:43,900 It has to be received from Jesus Christ who has come from heaven 196 00:14:44,380 –> 00:14:47,799 And you thankful that purity is a gift 197 00:14:48,880 –> 00:14:50,880 to be received 198 00:14:51,719 –> 00:14:58,859 Now this is very wonderful folks. We live in a culture where people sometimes think of purity as 199 00:15:00,179 –> 00:15:02,179 Something that you are born with 200 00:15:03,179 –> 00:15:05,179 But then that you might lose 201 00:15:05,919 –> 00:15:07,919 When you mess up 202 00:15:08,780 –> 00:15:12,599 But in the Bible it is precisely the opposite way around 203 00:15:14,640 –> 00:15:17,380 None of us is born with purity 204 00:15:18,960 –> 00:15:21,179 Actually, we’re born sinners 205 00:15:22,640 –> 00:15:27,479 So purity is not something that we have until it is lost 206 00:15:28,200 –> 00:15:30,799 It’s something that we’re without 207 00:15:31,799 –> 00:15:33,799 until it is received and 208 00:15:34,559 –> 00:15:39,400 Jesus Christ came into the world so that this gift of being washed 209 00:15:40,640 –> 00:15:44,059 this wonderful gift of being cleansed and 210 00:15:44,820 –> 00:15:49,380 Therefore made pure before God so that this gift should be yours 211 00:15:49,380 –> 00:15:54,559 So here’s what John is saying in the middle of all this discussion about this important question 212 00:15:54,559 –> 00:15:56,739 How do I get clean and right before God? 213 00:15:56,859 –> 00:16:02,580 He is saying. A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven 214 00:16:02,580 –> 00:16:08,460 And that certainly includes this marvelous gift of purity 215 00:16:09,400 –> 00:16:11,760 Second the gift of peace 216 00:16:12,739 –> 00:16:14,739 What brings a person? 217 00:16:15,580 –> 00:16:16,900 peace 218 00:16:16,900 –> 00:16:19,299 And look with me if you would at verse 26 219 00:16:20,500 –> 00:16:25,200 They came to John. That’s John’s disciples came to him and 220 00:16:25,559 –> 00:16:27,559 And they said to him Rabbi 221 00:16:29,020 –> 00:16:36,159 He who was with you across the Jordan to whom you bore witness that’s Jesus, of course 222 00:16:37,320 –> 00:16:41,440 Luke he Jesus is Baptizing and 223 00:16:42,059 –> 00:16:44,719 All are going to him 224 00:16:46,780 –> 00:16:52,880 Now think about what is happening here for some time John had been the kind of man of the moment 225 00:16:53,020 –> 00:16:54,119 I 226 00:16:54,119 –> 00:16:59,539 Remember vast crowds have been coming from all over Judea and from Jerusalem as well 227 00:17:00,500 –> 00:17:05,739 Because of his ministry that had attracted so many and had brought such an extraordinary response 228 00:17:06,260 –> 00:17:13,239 John the Baptist was used by God to lead a movement of spiritual renewal that had a broad 229 00:17:13,780 –> 00:17:15,780 influence I 230 00:17:16,239 –> 00:17:21,760 think if time magazine was around in those days that he would have been a good candidate to be person of the year and 231 00:17:22,420 –> 00:17:24,420 I mean he really was that influential 232 00:17:26,439 –> 00:17:29,739 The ministry of John you see was to point people to Jesus 233 00:17:31,140 –> 00:17:38,560 so as soon as the public ministry of Jesus began these vast crowds that had been coming to John and 234 00:17:39,020 –> 00:17:42,459 Feeding from his ministry. What did they do they flock? 235 00:17:43,300 –> 00:17:45,060 to Jesus 236 00:17:45,060 –> 00:17:51,300 Now even larger crowds are around him and John is left with a relatively small handful 237 00:17:52,739 –> 00:17:59,339 so John’s ministry was in decline at this moment in John’s gospel in chapter 3 and 238 00:18:00,599 –> 00:18:06,160 With the crowds that had been there now gone and moving away from John for his disciples 239 00:18:07,180 –> 00:18:09,180 This was really a problem 240 00:18:10,560 –> 00:18:16,239 Now all of us know what this is like and you can discover it in many many spheres of life 241 00:18:18,099 –> 00:18:20,099 You’re doing something really well 242 00:18:21,760 –> 00:18:24,280 and then someone else comes along and does it better and 243 00:18:26,540 –> 00:18:28,540 That ain’t so easy 244 00:18:29,119 –> 00:18:33,540 your career seems to be going someplace, and then it seems to plateau and 245 00:18:34,040 –> 00:18:41,520 Then it seems to be tailing off and you say it’s not really on the trajectory that at once was it’s not now headed 246 00:18:41,520 –> 00:18:46,619 Where I thought it was this is where John’s ministry is. It’s in decline. It’s in decline 247 00:18:46,619 –> 00:18:52,339 You found an opportunity and you say here’s a space in which I can really invest myself and do something 248 00:18:53,040 –> 00:18:57,099 Really exciting an area in which I can be genuinely useful 249 00:18:57,099 –> 00:19:01,300 And then someone else comes along and is more successful in exploiting that area than you were 250 00:19:03,420 –> 00:19:08,619 You’re praised for your success in school or for your prowess in sports and 251 00:19:09,800 –> 00:19:15,640 And then after just a few years the spotlight moves and no one is cheering for you 252 00:19:16,119 –> 00:19:18,119 anymore 253 00:19:18,140 –> 00:19:24,280 Now here’s the question that this raises how is it for you when others are doing better than you are? 254 00:19:26,619 –> 00:19:31,140 How is it for you when what is happening for you is actually less 255 00:19:32,160 –> 00:19:34,160 than it was before 256 00:19:35,680 –> 00:19:39,280 Well for the disciples of John, they did not handle this, well 257 00:19:39,280 –> 00:19:43,140 Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan to whom you bore witness, Luke 258 00:19:48,359 –> 00:19:50,160 he is baptizing 259 00:19:50,160 –> 00:19:52,880 I mean it’s like hey you’re John the Baptist 260 00:19:53,660 –> 00:19:59,839 we’re the ones that do the baptizing and now Jesus is doing it he’s on our turf, you see he’s taking our crowd 261 00:19:59,839 –> 00:20:01,839 That’s what they’re saying 262 00:20:02,699 –> 00:20:04,839 So there’s resentment here and 263 00:20:06,199 –> 00:20:08,199 there’s envy here and 264 00:20:08,959 –> 00:20:12,780 there’s self-pity here, there’s disappointment here and 265 00:20:13,660 –> 00:20:16,920 There’s probably a fair degree of anger mixed in here as well 266 00:20:19,359 –> 00:20:27,180 That’s John’s disciples, but what’s so very striking to me is that you don’t see any of that in John himself none of it at all 267 00:20:28,339 –> 00:20:30,339 John is at peace and 268 00:20:31,000 –> 00:20:33,380 here’s why it’s in verse 27 a 269 00:20:33,839 –> 00:20:34,920 person 270 00:20:34,959 –> 00:20:37,640 Cannot receive even one thing 271 00:20:38,619 –> 00:20:40,660 Unless it is given to him 272 00:20:41,439 –> 00:20:43,520 From heaven. I see what he’s saying 273 00:20:44,400 –> 00:20:46,400 Let me try and put it to you this way 274 00:20:46,760 –> 00:20:48,760 the secret of 275 00:20:49,339 –> 00:20:52,479 freedom from resentment and jealousy and 276 00:20:53,520 –> 00:20:54,760 self-pity is 277 00:20:54,760 –> 00:21:02,420 To see that someone else’s success is given to him or to her by God and to accept with gratitude 278 00:21:02,699 –> 00:21:05,239 What God has given to you 279 00:21:05,939 –> 00:21:10,739 now, that’s the principle of verse 27 applied the secret of freedom from 280 00:21:11,060 –> 00:21:13,260 resentment when others are doing better than you 281 00:21:15,319 –> 00:21:21,979 The secret of freedom from self-pity where you’re what’s happening for you as less than it was before 282 00:21:23,380 –> 00:21:30,199 It is to see that whatever is given to someone else is the gift of God to him and to her and to accept with 283 00:21:30,680 –> 00:21:32,140 gratitude 284 00:21:32,140 –> 00:21:33,839 Whatever it is 285 00:21:33,839 –> 00:21:36,619 that God has given to you and 286 00:21:37,500 –> 00:21:39,439 Jon has peace 287 00:21:39,439 –> 00:21:41,439 unlike his disciples and 288 00:21:41,880 –> 00:21:48,599 The reason that he has peace is that he accepts and finds joy in what God has 289 00:21:48,880 –> 00:21:50,880 given to him 290 00:21:51,760 –> 00:21:58,699 Now you see this principle worked out even more strongly in what Jon goes on to say when he speaks about 291 00:21:59,000 –> 00:22:03,060 Himself as being the friend of the bridegroom 292 00:22:03,439 –> 00:22:05,979 He’s speaking of Jesus as being the bridegroom 293 00:22:06,680 –> 00:22:12,500 Jesus being center stage and himself being like the best man the friend of the bridegroom 294 00:22:12,500 –> 00:22:14,619 That’s the role that’s been given to me 295 00:22:14,619 –> 00:22:17,459 I’m not looking for something that hasn’t been given to me 296 00:22:17,459 –> 00:22:23,420 What I’m looking to do is to be faithful in what has been given to me. Do you see this in verse 29? 297 00:22:23,479 –> 00:22:26,219 He says the one who has the bride is the bridegroom 298 00:22:26,219 –> 00:22:33,239 the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at 299 00:22:34,160 –> 00:22:36,160 The bridegrooms voice 300 00:22:37,660 –> 00:22:42,160 Now the friend of the bridegroom we would say the best man 301 00:22:43,020 –> 00:22:45,359 Played a really significant role in a Judean wedding 302 00:22:48,319 –> 00:22:52,640 Apparently in other parts of Israel, there were different customs and cultures 303 00:22:52,819 –> 00:22:56,119 But particularly where Jesus and John the Baptist were at the time 304 00:22:56,239 –> 00:23:00,699 At this point in Judea the friend of the bride-groom or the best man 305 00:23:01,280 –> 00:23:03,439 Played a really significant role 306 00:23:03,619 –> 00:23:07,479 Let me let me tell you what it was and for all her married here 307 00:23:07,479 –> 00:23:10,939 You just think about your best man and go figure how this would have been for you 308 00:23:12,060 –> 00:23:18,160 The role of the best man in a Judean wedding was first to send out all the invitations 309 00:23:18,459 –> 00:23:19,459 You think about whoever was the best man in your wedding? 310 00:23:21,479 –> 00:23:23,020 Second 311 00:23:23,020 –> 00:23:26,280 To be responsible for every arrangement with regards to the reception 312 00:23:27,040 –> 00:23:32,479 and third to attend to all of the needs of the bride to make sure that she was ready for the arrival of the 313 00:23:32,479 –> 00:23:39,439 bride groom now, you think about whoever was the best man in your wedding and you’ll be saying he was responsible for sending out the 314 00:23:39,599 –> 00:23:41,599 invitations they would still be waiting and 315 00:23:42,260 –> 00:23:46,219 If he was responsible for the arrangements for the reception 316 00:23:46,780 –> 00:23:53,099 Place and if he was responsible for attending to all the needs of the bride we would still not be married 317 00:23:53,099 –> 00:23:55,099 But that’s beside the point 318 00:23:55,660 –> 00:23:59,079 that’s what happened in that custom in that culture and 319 00:23:59,939 –> 00:24:02,040 John says now look I I 320 00:24:02,979 –> 00:24:06,260 Am the friend of the bridegroom? I’m not the bridegroom 321 00:24:06,939 –> 00:24:10,880 But I am the friend of the bridegroom. I’m not the Christ 322 00:24:12,180 –> 00:24:15,400 What that means is it’s not about me 323 00:24:17,140 –> 00:24:19,619 The bride does not belong to me 324 00:24:20,699 –> 00:24:24,280 Know the bride belongs to the bridegroom 325 00:24:25,920 –> 00:24:33,380 Now this is clearly a good word for all of us on this wonderful day of celebration 326 00:24:34,699 –> 00:24:41,540 Friends our ministry is never to showcase ourselves, right? 327 00:24:42,219 –> 00:24:47,219 That’s an Maine moment by the way our ministry is never 328 00:24:48,839 –> 00:24:55,260 To showcase ourselves. What is our ministry is the friends of the bridegroom it is to send out the invitation 329 00:24:56,560 –> 00:25:03,260 It is to attend to all of the needs of the bride to make sure that she is ready for the coming of her great 330 00:25:03,579 –> 00:25:04,859 bridegroom 331 00:25:04,859 –> 00:25:07,119 The one who has the bride is 332 00:25:07,380 –> 00:25:14,140 The bridegroom now, of course John spoke more than he knew when he said these words 333 00:25:14,959 –> 00:25:20,439 Describing Jesus as the bridegroom. He would have known of course that in the Old Testament 334 00:25:20,680 –> 00:25:25,959 God spoke of his people Israel as being his bride what he did not know at this point 335 00:25:26,099 –> 00:25:27,939 Was that in the New Testament? 336 00:25:27,939 –> 00:25:33,339 God would speak of the church as the bride of Jesus Christ 337 00:25:34,319 –> 00:25:36,920 The one who has the bride is 338 00:25:38,020 –> 00:25:45,579 The bridegroom is this beautiful Jesus Christ is the one who has the bride the church belongs 339 00:25:45,760 –> 00:25:47,760 Not to us 340 00:25:48,160 –> 00:25:50,160 but belongs to him and 341 00:25:50,959 –> 00:25:57,280 The goal of the ministry that we share together friends is never that the bride should. Love us 342 00:25:57,280 –> 00:25:58,959 the 343 00:25:58,959 –> 00:26:03,459 Goal of the ministry that we share is that the bride should love Jesus Christ 344 00:26:04,199 –> 00:26:06,540 Who is the bridegroom? 345 00:26:06,800 –> 00:26:11,920 And I love it that it says the one who has the bride is 346 00:26:12,239 –> 00:26:19,060 The bridegroom you see it’s not saying though. This is wonderfully true. It’s not saying that the church has Jesus 347 00:26:19,560 –> 00:26:22,739 It’s saying it the other way around which is the even greater truth? 348 00:26:23,319 –> 00:26:25,599 Jesus is the one who has the church 349 00:26:25,959 –> 00:26:32,280 He’s the one who said I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it 350 00:26:32,319 –> 00:26:39,599 that’s why the church has a great and glorious future because it belongs to Jesus Christ our 351 00:26:40,160 –> 00:26:47,660 Sovereign and all conquering Savior and King the church is the Bride of Christ and the one who has the bride is 352 00:26:48,560 –> 00:26:51,400 The bridegroom now John has great peace 353 00:26:51,920 –> 00:26:55,300 He accepts what has been given to him and he finds great joy 354 00:26:56,160 –> 00:26:58,160 in it 355 00:26:58,260 –> 00:27:02,319 Third the great gift of love how can a person love? 356 00:27:03,760 –> 00:27:10,680 Now with all of this talk about Bride and Bridegroom, it’s obvious that this theme here is before us 357 00:27:11,479 –> 00:27:14,780 The Bride and Bridegroom is clearly an analogy 358 00:27:16,040 –> 00:27:18,280 but every analogy is 359 00:27:19,000 –> 00:27:20,800 an image 360 00:27:20,800 –> 00:27:24,780 Chosen to communicate a particular point 361 00:27:26,599 –> 00:27:28,599 What is the point 362 00:27:28,760 –> 00:27:34,199 That is communicated by choosing the analogy of the Bride and the Bridegroom 363 00:27:34,800 –> 00:27:39,219 Clearly, It relates to this marvelous marvelous gift of love 364 00:27:40,520 –> 00:27:45,739 And what we are being taught here, is that Jesus Christ has set his love upon you 365 00:27:46,699 –> 00:27:49,900 that he is deeply deeply committed to you and 366 00:27:50,579 –> 00:27:55,699 that he is actively engaged in drawing you to himself 367 00:27:57,219 –> 00:28:01,680 Now if you wanted to communicate these truths, what analogy would you use? 368 00:28:03,119 –> 00:28:08,699 You would use an analogy that’s familiar to everyone one that we can understand 369 00:28:09,359 –> 00:28:11,979 the winning of another person’s love 370 00:28:12,920 –> 00:28:14,920 I come from the North of Scotland 371 00:28:15,079 –> 00:28:18,280 my wife Karen comes from the south of England and 372 00:28:18,739 –> 00:28:21,199 In the great kindness of God our lives 373 00:28:22,479 –> 00:28:27,819 Intersected as we became in the same year students in the same College in London. I 374 00:28:29,199 –> 00:28:31,760 Spotted her on the first weekend 375 00:28:33,020 –> 00:28:39,819 and I set about winning her heart and it took me two years and 376 00:28:42,219 –> 00:28:44,119 You see 377 00:28:44,160 –> 00:28:52,079 That’s all in this analogy here the Lord Jesus Christ has set his love on you and sets about winning your heart and 378 00:28:52,719 –> 00:28:56,900 For some of us. He may have been working on you for a lot more than two years, too 379 00:28:58,560 –> 00:29:02,060 He’s actively engaged in winning your trust 380 00:29:03,560 –> 00:29:05,780 winning your confidence and 381 00:29:06,939 –> 00:29:12,839 how does a person do this how would you go about winning the heart of another well, you disclose yourself and 382 00:29:13,760 –> 00:29:16,140 you disclose your love and 383 00:29:16,859 –> 00:29:21,000 You see that’s how Jesus Christ seeks to win us to himself 384 00:29:21,479 –> 00:29:28,300 Like the bridegroom that he is you see that’s the point of the analogy Jesus Christ is seeking by disclosing 385 00:29:28,719 –> 00:29:32,160 Himself and by disclosing his love 386 00:29:32,800 –> 00:29:34,760 to win you 387 00:29:34,760 –> 00:29:39,780 To trust and confidence and love in return for him 388 00:29:39,939 –> 00:29:42,219 And that’s why we’re so concerned to meet 389 00:29:42,540 –> 00:29:49,420 Jesus in the Gospel of John because this is where we’re going to discover who he is and what is this love that he has 390 00:29:49,420 –> 00:29:56,219 For each and every one of us. So here’s the question. How can a person love and 391 00:29:57,319 –> 00:30:02,959 The answer to that question obviously is that love is the natural response 392 00:30:04,040 –> 00:30:09,619 To knowing that you are loved and so loving Jesus Christ 393 00:30:09,900 –> 00:30:16,800 is the free and joyful and natural response of a person who has come to see 394 00:30:17,280 –> 00:30:19,280 Jesus Christ loves me 395 00:30:20,819 –> 00:30:25,819 we love him the Bible says because he has first loved us, so 396 00:30:27,000 –> 00:30:33,119 when you see how much Jesus Christ loves you you will love him and 397 00:30:33,760 –> 00:30:39,439 The more you see how much Jesus Christ loves you the more you will love him 398 00:30:40,040 –> 00:30:41,079 and 399 00:30:41,079 –> 00:30:49,119 If you do not yet love Jesus Christ truly there could only be one possible reason and that is that you do not yet see 400 00:30:49,500 –> 00:30:51,599 How much he loves 401 00:30:52,239 –> 00:30:53,319 you 402 00:30:53,319 –> 00:30:55,140 That’s why we’re concerned to meet 403 00:30:55,140 –> 00:31:01,660 Jesus and to discover who he is and to discover his great love for us in the gospel of John 404 00:31:01,660 –> 00:31:04,180 may that be what happens for every one of us as 405 00:31:04,180 –> 00:31:10,180 We seek to meet Christ in the scriptures here this picture of the bridegroom 406 00:31:10,920 –> 00:31:13,079 It obviously speaks about love 407 00:31:14,500 –> 00:31:20,079 But it speaks about something else it’s see Christ loves us 408 00:31:21,920 –> 00:31:24,079 But let me put the emphasis somewhere else now 409 00:31:25,260 –> 00:31:27,260 It’s Christ 410 00:31:27,699 –> 00:31:32,300 Who loves us? I mean it does make a difference who it is that loves you, right? 411 00:31:33,020 –> 00:31:37,420 It’s Christ who loves you. I mean we’re talking about God in the flesh 412 00:31:39,020 –> 00:31:41,020 We’re talking about the one 413 00:31:41,619 –> 00:31:44,859 To whom everything that is God’s belongs 414 00:31:46,800 –> 00:31:54,359 What that means is for you to become his would mean that all that is his becomes yours 415 00:31:56,140 –> 00:32:01,140 This is absolutely staggering think about it this way picture with me for a moment 416 00:32:01,140 –> 00:32:05,680 A woman who is absolutely destitute. I 417 00:32:06,839 –> 00:32:08,839 Mean she has nothing 418 00:32:09,280 –> 00:32:12,140 she has made some poor choices in life 419 00:32:13,160 –> 00:32:17,640 She has debts that have mounted up beyond her ability to pay 420 00:32:18,959 –> 00:32:23,839 She is alone. There is no one in the world who cares for her 421 00:32:25,560 –> 00:32:30,680 But one day she meets a man who takes an interest in her 422 00:32:31,560 –> 00:32:37,479 Of course the long this function of her life makes her very very slow to trust 423 00:32:38,599 –> 00:32:40,739 very very slow to respond 424 00:32:42,180 –> 00:32:49,219 But over time the man wins her heart and wins her trust and eventually asks for her hand in marriage 425 00:32:51,280 –> 00:32:58,420 Now what her life will be if she marries this man what her life will be afterwards depends entirely 426 00:32:58,780 –> 00:33:00,780 on who he is 427 00:33:01,239 –> 00:33:03,300 I mean if he has racked up 428 00:33:04,239 –> 00:33:06,239 debts of his own 429 00:33:06,579 –> 00:33:12,219 Then combining these two in marriage is simply going to put this woman in a situation of even being more 430 00:33:12,459 –> 00:33:14,459 Indebted than she was in the first place 431 00:33:14,819 –> 00:33:21,819 And if this man brings all kinds of this function and baggage from his life 432 00:33:23,040 –> 00:33:26,060 into the marriage and dumps it on top of all of the 433 00:33:26,099 –> 00:33:32,020 Dysfunction and baggage that is already in her life, then this couple is really really gonna struggle 434 00:33:33,540 –> 00:33:36,719 But let’s suppose for a moment that this man is a king 435 00:33:38,060 –> 00:33:42,140 Let’s suppose that he is a good king and a noble king 436 00:33:43,619 –> 00:33:45,619 the moment 437 00:33:45,640 –> 00:33:48,479 That these two are married what happens? 438 00:33:49,699 –> 00:33:52,819 Well this woman’s debts great though, they are 439 00:33:53,880 –> 00:33:55,719 are sucked up 440 00:33:56,040 –> 00:34:00,000 Immediately into the vast weath of the royal treasury and paid off immediately 441 00:34:01,520 –> 00:34:03,520 just absorbed 442 00:34:04,439 –> 00:34:12,179 and what else happens to this destitute woman the moment she marries the king she becomes the 443 00:34:13,340 –> 00:34:18,479 Queen an entire change of identity. She is no longer a destitute woman 444 00:34:20,320 –> 00:34:23,719 She doesn’t have any royal blood in her 445 00:34:24,719 –> 00:34:26,899 She was not born to this 446 00:34:28,219 –> 00:34:35,939 But the moment she is married to the king all the privileges of royalty that go with him 447 00:34:36,379 –> 00:34:38,379 Come to her 448 00:34:40,219 –> 00:34:44,120 Now you may say at this point, but this really sounds like we’re into the realm of a fairy tale 449 00:34:44,139 –> 00:34:48,100 But you see why would any king be interested in a destitute woman? 450 00:34:49,340 –> 00:34:52,639 But you say this is the very point of the gospel 451 00:34:53,340 –> 00:34:56,080 That the Son of God has loved us 452 00:34:56,979 –> 00:34:59,159 weak and helpless sinners 453 00:35:00,439 –> 00:35:06,360 That he who was rich became poor so that we through his poverty might become rich and 454 00:35:07,060 –> 00:35:11,699 The greatest love that you can ever know is the love of Jesus Christ 455 00:35:12,100 –> 00:35:18,020 For you and any love that you have been blessed with or are blessed with now in this world is 456 00:35:18,300 –> 00:35:19,159 a 457 00:35:19,159 –> 00:35:24,199 Pointer a little taste a little sample of the immeasurable love 458 00:35:25,320 –> 00:35:29,060 That is in the heart of God through Jesus Christ for you 459 00:35:30,179 –> 00:35:32,120 so we’re looking here at 460 00:35:32,120 –> 00:35:35,219 Amazing gifts a person can’t receive even one thing 461 00:35:35,699 –> 00:35:41,620 Unless it’s given to him from heaven says John the Baptist and then he’s laying out for us all the things that are given 462 00:35:42,320 –> 00:35:49,060 The gift of purity that comes from Jesus Christ the gift of peace that comes from walking with him 463 00:35:49,159 –> 00:35:55,840 The gift of love that is found in union with him and then one more thing today, and that’s the gift of joy 464 00:35:56,919 –> 00:35:58,919 What gives a person joy? 465 00:35:58,959 –> 00:36:03,899 You notice how at the end of verse 29 John says there for this joy of mine 466 00:36:04,500 –> 00:36:06,500 Is now complete 467 00:36:08,919 –> 00:36:15,340 And this is remarkable because John doesn’t say this on the day of his biggest crowd 468 00:36:15,780 –> 00:36:20,239 The crowds that once came to John are a thing of the past 469 00:36:22,199 –> 00:36:24,199 And yet this man is 470 00:36:24,659 –> 00:36:26,659 completely at peace 471 00:36:28,159 –> 00:36:34,760 He is not disappointed. He’s not saying what’s happened to what I once enjoyed he’s not jealous 472 00:36:34,760 –> 00:36:37,919 He’s not resentful and he’s not afraid of the future either 473 00:36:38,060 –> 00:36:40,060 He says my joy is complete 474 00:36:40,860 –> 00:36:42,860 It’s marvelous 475 00:36:43,520 –> 00:36:47,540 You see he’s not riding on the adrenaline of his own success 476 00:36:50,479 –> 00:36:52,959 He’s finding his joy in Jesus Christ 477 00:36:54,340 –> 00:36:59,580 Friends, let me say this to you if your joy is in your own success 478 00:37:01,080 –> 00:37:03,080 There is 479 00:37:03,760 –> 00:37:05,760 Nothing more wonderful than 480 00:37:05,760 –> 00:37:07,760 your own success 481 00:37:07,760 –> 00:37:10,159 Your joy will never be complete 482 00:37:11,719 –> 00:37:16,040 Because there’ll always be someone else who’s more successful than you are you’ll always be chasing the wind 483 00:37:17,239 –> 00:37:22,600 If your joy is in your own success your joy will never be complete 484 00:37:23,439 –> 00:37:25,840 But John’s joy is in Jesus 485 00:37:27,399 –> 00:37:32,000 And he says this joy of mine is now complete 486 00:37:32,840 –> 00:37:33,439 a 487 00:37:33,439 –> 00:37:37,939 man by the name of Ronald Wallace has said this in a way that I’ve found so profoundly helpful 488 00:37:38,280 –> 00:37:42,159 He said this joy comes without being cultivated 489 00:37:42,959 –> 00:37:48,540 to those who allow themselves to become absorbed as John did in the glory and the wonder of 490 00:37:48,979 –> 00:37:50,360 the Christ 491 00:37:50,360 –> 00:37:55,219 And I love the way he puts these three words in there without being cultivated 492 00:37:55,800 –> 00:38:01,600 You see we live in a world where people are chasing after joy all the time. What’s gonna make me happy this year 493 00:38:01,639 –> 00:38:07,879 What’s the next thing that’s gonna bring me joy and we chase and chase and chase and chase after happiness 494 00:38:07,959 –> 00:38:12,120 And it’s easy to get the idea that we you know 495 00:38:13,000 –> 00:38:18,320 chasing around after the next thing is going to be the means by which we find joy and 496 00:38:19,719 –> 00:38:24,459 Here’s the reality you don’t get joy by chasing joy 497 00:38:25,120 –> 00:38:27,040 You really don’t 498 00:38:27,040 –> 00:38:30,840 You find joy by giving yourself to Jesus by becoming 499 00:38:31,340 –> 00:38:36,780 Absorbed Ronald Wallace says in the glory and the wonder of Jesus Christ my joys in Jesus and 500 00:38:38,239 –> 00:38:43,639 Because he has become the very center of my life and of my being my joy is in him 501 00:38:43,639 –> 00:38:48,679 It’s complete and no one can ever take away my joy 502 00:38:50,320 –> 00:38:53,239 So here we end today, what do you know in your life of 503 00:38:54,719 –> 00:38:56,320 purity 504 00:38:56,320 –> 00:38:57,840 peace 505 00:38:57,840 –> 00:38:59,840 love and joy 506 00:39:00,840 –> 00:39:02,840 You think you need more of these things 507 00:39:03,939 –> 00:39:10,179 these are marvelous gifts and they can be yours, but all of them are found in Jesus Christ who died and 508 00:39:10,679 –> 00:39:15,780 rose in order to procure them and now holds them in his hands and 509 00:39:16,300 –> 00:39:20,159 Offers them to us as we receive him 510 00:39:21,080 –> 00:39:27,199 The more, you know and love and worship and trust and serve Jesus Christ 511 00:39:27,199 –> 00:39:33,100 The more you are going to know of purity and peace and love and joy 512 00:39:34,459 –> 00:39:38,120 In your life. Let’s pray together 513 00:39:40,959 –> 00:39:47,699 Father we recognize the great needs that we have of purity and peace and love and joy in our lives and 514 00:39:49,320 –> 00:39:55,100 We thank you that your son, Jesus Christ came into the world so that these great gifts 515 00:39:56,080 –> 00:39:58,300 May be ours through him 516 00:40:00,659 –> 00:40:05,659 Granted this year knowing more of him and more of his great love for us 517 00:40:06,600 –> 00:40:14,020 we may grow in our knowledge and experience of these great gifts that come freely from your hand in Christ and 518 00:40:14,760 –> 00:40:16,919 These things we ask in the Savior’s name 519 00:40:18,159 –> 00:40:20,159 Amen