100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,180The words the spirit of God gave me to express the wonder of this were very deep indeed.200:00:10,180 –> 00:00:23,240The word became flesh and lived among us and I could say from the heart, we saw his glory.300:00:23,240 –> 00:00:25,959Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.400:00:26,160 –> 00:00:29,440Colin, today we’re starting a new series called Christmas Stories.500:00:29,760 –> 00:00:34,240And in the series, we’re looking at the Christmas story from the viewpoint of some of the characters who were there.600:00:34,240 –> 00:00:36,080Yeah, and doing it in the first person.700:00:36,119 –> 00:00:41,820Trying to stand as it were in John’s shoes when he says we saw his glory.800:00:42,139 –> 00:00:46,200What it was for these disciples to see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.900:00:46,200 –> 00:00:52,040And you know, one day we are going to see his glory, and what a day that is going to be.1000:00:52,040 –> 00:01:00,639My prayer for the program today is that you by faith will have a glimpse of the glory of Christ as we take our stand with the Apostle, John.1100:01:00,860 –> 00:01:07,260Well, we’re in the Book of 1 John starting Chapter 1 as we begin the message, John’s story.1200:01:07,459 –> 00:01:08,239Here’s Colin.1300:01:08,580 –> 00:01:13,879Now, in my day, people had all kinds of ideas about Jesus just as they do today.1400:01:14,959 –> 00:01:20,660Some regarded him simply as a great teacher and others regarded him as one of the prophets come back to life.1500:01:21,199 –> 00:01:26,160Others just shrugged, and came to no particular conclusion. It’s always been like that.1600:01:27,279 –> 00:01:31,139One day Jesus asked us who we thought he was.1700:01:31,800 –> 00:01:36,639Peter said, you are the Christ, you are the son of the living God.1800:01:37,180 –> 00:01:44,339We were convinced that he was the one who had been promised from the beginning of time who would be the Savior of the world.1900:01:45,379 –> 00:01:47,440But what happened a week later2000:01:48,080 –> 00:01:50,839put it beyond all doubt for me.2100:01:52,699 –> 00:01:58,919Jesus said that he was going up a mountain to pray, and he wanted Peter and James and me to come with him.2200:02:00,000 –> 00:02:03,339It was a fair bit of an old climb, and when we got there2300:02:03,339 –> 00:02:08,279we were tired and we decided that we would lie down for a rest. So Jesus began praying on his own.2400:02:09,600 –> 00:02:13,080And I will never forget what I saw when I woke up.2500:02:13,800 –> 00:02:17,179The whole appearance of his face2600:02:17,820 –> 00:02:19,699changed.2700:02:19,699 –> 00:02:26,559His clothes began to shine. They were brilliant. Radiant light, dazzling, as2800:02:27,479 –> 00:02:31,940if light were radiating from the very essence of his being.2900:02:33,320 –> 00:02:37,380So bright that I could hardly even look at him directly.3000:02:38,380 –> 00:02:44,740There’s only one word that I can use that would even begin to describe what I saw to you, it’s the word3100:02:45,660 –> 00:02:47,660glory. what I saw was3200:02:48,139 –> 00:02:49,460glorious.3300:02:49,460 –> 00:02:51,500We saw his3400:02:52,080 –> 00:02:54,080glory.3500:02:54,740 –> 00:03:02,479And I knew right then that I was standing in the presence of God, and telling you what I saw.3600:03:02,679 –> 00:03:10,240Then a cloud appeared, move towards us. Now there’s nothing unusual about a cloud coming towards you when you’re on the top of3700:03:10,240 –> 00:03:10,500a mountain,3800:03:10,500 –> 00:03:13,639but this was no ordinary cloud. I knew from the Old Testament3900:03:13,960 –> 00:03:21,220that when God’s immediate presence was right there with his people, he came down in a cloud of his glory.4000:03:22,440 –> 00:03:27,360In a matter of seconds that cloud enveloped us,4100:03:28,479 –> 00:03:30,500we were in the cloud.4200:03:30,539 –> 00:03:36,139It was absolutely terrifying, I can’t tell you and I heard an audible voice.4300:03:37,960 –> 00:03:41,520The voice said this is my son4400:03:42,440 –> 00:03:45,300whom I have chosen, listen to him.4500:03:46,779 –> 00:03:50,300Telling you what I heard and telling you what I saw.4600:03:51,259 –> 00:03:53,839It was the voice of Almighty God4700:03:53,860 –> 00:03:58,580of affirming that Jesus is indeed his one and only son4800:03:58,580 –> 00:04:01,740and that we and everyone else are to listen to him.4900:04:03,000 –> 00:04:03,960I fell to the ground.5000:04:03,960 –> 00:04:05,619So did Peter, so did James,5100:04:05,619 –> 00:04:07,199we immediately thought that5200:04:07,199 –> 00:04:08,679this was the end of our lives.5300:04:08,679 –> 00:04:11,639We were right there in the presence of God5400:04:11,639 –> 00:04:13,979and there was so much that was wrong with us,5500:04:15,919 –> 00:04:19,920but the cloud passed, I’ll never forget it.5600:04:19,920 –> 00:04:22,200Jesus touched my shoulder, he said get up,5700:04:23,200 –> 00:04:25,739do not be afraid.5800:04:27,260 –> 00:04:29,119And when I got up, the cloud had passed,5900:04:29,119 –> 00:04:31,160the brilliant shining had gone.6000:04:33,420 –> 00:04:36,359The face of Jesus was the familiar face6100:04:36,359 –> 00:04:37,839that I knew once again.6200:04:39,359 –> 00:04:43,079That day I knew for sure who he is.6300:04:44,779 –> 00:04:48,480God in the flesh.6400:04:48,480 –> 00:04:51,559God made accessible to us.6500:04:51,859 –> 00:04:54,799We saw his glory.6600:04:54,799 –> 00:04:56,579The glory of the one and only,6700:04:56,579 –> 00:05:00,299who came from the father full of grace and truth.6800:05:01,779 –> 00:05:04,399Now to tell you, it is still beyond my grasp6900:05:04,399 –> 00:05:08,519how one who has such glory should hide it,7000:05:08,519 –> 00:05:13,380veil it and be born taking flesh like ours,7100:05:16,160 –> 00:05:17,480lying in a manger7200:05:17,480 –> 00:05:21,640and living an ordinary human life7300:05:21,640 –> 00:05:24,880so that we should have the opportunity7400:05:24,880 –> 00:05:27,559of calling him our friend.7500:05:30,040 –> 00:05:33,839Not long after that we were all together in Jerusalem7600:05:33,839 –> 00:05:36,519for the great festival of the Passover.7700:05:38,040 –> 00:05:39,859We were tired after a long day7800:05:39,859 –> 00:05:43,760and nobody could be bothered as we sat down7900:05:43,760 –> 00:05:45,420for a meal to wash the other’s feet.8000:05:45,420 –> 00:05:47,440But when Jesus got up from the table8100:05:47,440 –> 00:05:49,480and began washing the feet of the rest,8200:05:49,480 –> 00:05:51,260everybody was embarrassed.8300:05:52,899 –> 00:05:56,299You know, he washed my feet.8400:05:56,299 –> 00:05:58,700Gives me goose bumps even to think about it now.8500:06:01,600 –> 00:06:04,660And he said to the group of us, you are all clean.8600:06:06,260 –> 00:06:08,519It’s one of the most beautiful things he ever said, clean.8700:06:10,220 –> 00:06:13,299I think of all that’s wrong with my life, clean.8800:06:15,380 –> 00:06:16,540It’s the amazing thing,8900:06:16,579 –> 00:06:19,420When you were next to him you always felt9000:06:19,420 –> 00:06:22,100that you had so far to go.9100:06:22,100 –> 00:06:24,000So much to be forgiven for,9200:06:25,540 –> 00:06:28,220and yet you knew that you were forgiven9300:06:28,220 –> 00:06:31,019and that he was leading you forward from where you were.9400:06:32,779 –> 00:06:35,339I was sitting next to him that night.9500:06:35,339 –> 00:06:37,119We were all kind of reclining9600:06:37,119 –> 00:06:40,579as we did in those days around a low table,9700:06:40,579 –> 00:06:43,660enjoying the meal, great celebration it was.9800:06:44,640 –> 00:06:46,700But at one point in the meal it seemed as if9900:06:46,700 –> 00:06:51,019a great sense of trouble and of sorrow came upon him10000:06:51,019 –> 00:06:53,299like a cloud coming down on him.10100:06:55,059 –> 00:06:57,079It took us all by surprise when he said,10200:06:57,079 –> 00:07:02,079I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.10300:07:03,579 –> 00:07:05,140Everybody was astonished of course.10400:07:05,140 –> 00:07:08,079They all began saying, is it me, is it me?10500:07:09,619 –> 00:07:11,540I was sitting, as I said, next to Jesus,10600:07:11,619 –> 00:07:13,859and so Peter, a little further away, caught my eye.10700:07:13,859 –> 00:07:16,700He said to me, ask him who it is.10800:07:18,959 –> 00:07:22,920So I leaned back and said quietly, Jesus, who is it?10900:07:25,260 –> 00:07:27,420And he said to me, it’s the one11000:07:27,420 –> 00:07:29,559to whom I will give the piece of bread11100:07:29,559 –> 00:07:31,660after I have dipped it in the dish.11200:07:31,660 –> 00:07:33,980And then he took a piece of bread, dipped it in the dish,11300:07:33,980 –> 00:07:36,000and he handed it to Judas.11400:07:36,940 –> 00:07:37,760And he took it.11500:07:38,859 –> 00:07:40,260It was almost as if something seemed11600:07:40,260 –> 00:07:42,440to come over him at that very moment.11700:07:42,440 –> 00:07:44,799Jesus said to him, what you’re going to do,11800:07:44,799 –> 00:07:46,339go and do it quickly.11900:07:48,140 –> 00:07:50,600The rest didn’t really know what he was talking about.12000:07:50,600 –> 00:07:54,480Thought maybe he was telling Judas to go and get some bread.12100:07:54,480 –> 00:07:57,459But Judas got up and he walked out.12200:07:57,459 –> 00:08:00,600I knew, because Jesus had told me12300:08:00,600 –> 00:08:03,160about the bread he would hand over.12400:08:04,279 –> 00:08:07,359He spoke to the rest of us for a long time after that.12500:08:08,200 –> 00:08:12,660We sang a hymn and then we went out across the valley12600:08:12,660 –> 00:08:15,040to a garden called Gethsemane.12700:08:15,040 –> 00:08:17,100Once again, Jesus separated the three of us12800:08:17,100 –> 00:08:19,600from the rest of the group and asked us to pray.12900:08:19,600 –> 00:08:22,660And then he went a little further and he prayed alone.13000:08:23,540 –> 00:08:25,140I’ve got to admit this, a little embarrassing13100:08:25,140 –> 00:08:27,160I didn’t actually hear what he was saying13200:08:27,160 –> 00:08:28,660when he prayed for the simple reason13300:08:28,660 –> 00:08:31,660that I fell asleep, which is one of the reasons13400:08:31,660 –> 00:08:35,140that I’ve not recorded that story in my gospel either.13500:08:36,020 –> 00:08:39,520Peter and James also were asleep, it has to be said.13600:08:39,520 –> 00:08:41,020I was not the only one.13700:08:41,020 –> 00:08:44,739And so in fact, the only way that we know13800:08:44,739 –> 00:08:47,820what Jesus said when he was praying then13900:08:47,820 –> 00:08:49,260is that there was a young man14000:08:49,260 –> 00:08:51,500who was hiding in the bushes.14100:08:51,500 –> 00:08:54,260Mark doesn’t actually name himself in his gospel,14200:08:54,260 –> 00:08:55,099but he was there.14300:08:55,099 –> 00:08:58,820And that’s how we know that when we were asleep,14400:08:59,820 –> 00:09:01,400he prayed,14500:09:01,400 –> 00:09:03,880Father if it be possible,14600:09:03,880 –> 00:09:07,419let this cup be taken from me nevertheless.14700:09:08,419 –> 00:09:11,460Not my will, but yours be done.14800:09:13,460 –> 00:09:15,020We couldn’t remain sleeping for long14900:09:15,020 –> 00:09:16,419because it was a terrible noise.15000:09:16,419 –> 00:09:20,099As a mob arrived, they had swords and they had clubs15100:09:20,099 –> 00:09:21,599and they had come to arrest him.15200:09:21,599 –> 00:09:22,859Can you imagine this?15300:09:22,859 –> 00:09:27,059The one who radiated glory when it was revealed15400:09:27,299 –> 00:09:30,479was now being tied and bound and led away.15500:09:32,140 –> 00:09:35,619Judas had identified him with a kiss15600:09:37,059 –> 00:09:39,580and the rest of us just ran for our lives.15700:09:41,299 –> 00:09:43,080The next day he was crucified.15800:09:44,440 –> 00:09:45,280I was there,15900:09:47,419 –> 00:09:48,539at the foot of the cross.16000:09:48,539 –> 00:09:52,419I can’t describe the agony of his suffering,16100:09:52,419 –> 00:09:54,840but I can tell you what I heard him say.16200:09:55,700 –> 00:09:57,640When they raised him up,16300:09:58,919 –> 00:09:59,840he said,16400:09:59,840 –> 00:10:02,119Father, forgive them.16500:10:03,320 –> 00:10:05,320They do not know what they are doing.16600:10:07,679 –> 00:10:09,619As Jesus’ agony increased,16700:10:10,900 –> 00:10:12,619he cried out, I thirst.16800:10:14,599 –> 00:10:17,719They brought some wine mixed with vinegar16900:10:17,719 –> 00:10:19,280that they put on a sponge on a stick17000:10:19,280 –> 00:10:20,239and held it up to him.17100:10:20,239 –> 00:10:22,460It was a kind of mild anesthetic17200:10:23,260 –> 00:10:24,719that they used to offer people17300:10:24,719 –> 00:10:27,080in the terrible barbarity of that suffering.17400:10:27,080 –> 00:10:28,419But he did not take it.17500:10:30,159 –> 00:10:32,719He experienced every dimension17600:10:33,679 –> 00:10:35,119of that suffering in full.17700:10:37,719 –> 00:10:40,020Then he looked down at Mary,17800:10:42,039 –> 00:10:45,059the mother in whose arms he once lay.17900:10:47,440 –> 00:10:48,919I was standing next to her.18000:10:48,919 –> 00:10:50,859I can’t describe the grief18100:10:50,880 –> 00:10:54,919that was tearing her heart in two.18200:10:56,840 –> 00:10:58,799There was compassion in the eyes of Jesus18300:10:58,799 –> 00:11:02,179as he looked down to her in her suffering18400:11:02,179 –> 00:11:05,679and looking at her and then looking to me,18500:11:06,760 –> 00:11:09,340he said, Mother behold your Son,18600:11:10,559 –> 00:11:11,900and looking at me he said,18700:11:11,900 –> 00:11:15,039Son, behold your Mother.18800:11:16,599 –> 00:11:19,799It was incredible that in the extremity of his suffering,18900:11:21,479 –> 00:11:24,640his compassion was poured out towards the woman19000:11:24,640 –> 00:11:28,820from whom he took his flesh now being crucified19100:11:30,559 –> 00:11:31,799and trusted the care19200:11:31,799 –> 00:11:36,280of the one who had brought him into this world to me.19300:11:39,359 –> 00:11:41,580And then, the sky grew very, very dark19400:11:43,400 –> 00:11:44,760and I’m telling you what I heard,19500:11:44,760 –> 00:11:46,280I’m telling you what I saw.19600:11:47,119 –> 00:11:50,280He entered into, it seemed, a whole new realm,19700:11:50,280 –> 00:11:52,320dimension of his suffering.19800:11:52,320 –> 00:11:55,520It was as if all the devils of hell itself19900:11:55,520 –> 00:11:58,460had come and congregated at that one lonely hill.20000:12:00,479 –> 00:12:03,159My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’20100:12:03,159 –> 00:12:04,239He cried,20200:12:06,559 –> 00:12:08,099but then the light returned,20300:12:10,000 –> 00:12:11,760almost as if the Father were saying20400:12:11,760 –> 00:12:13,679he had not forsaken the son.20500:12:13,900 –> 00:12:15,359He had not forsaken the son.20600:12:18,039 –> 00:12:21,580And then Jesus cried out in a loud voice one word20700:12:21,580 –> 00:12:23,700as we heard it.20800:12:23,700 –> 00:12:26,200Tetales thai, which means in your language,20900:12:27,840 –> 00:12:29,260it is finished.21000:12:30,580 –> 00:12:32,380He said that with a note of triumph.21100:12:34,239 –> 00:12:35,919Then he said,21200:12:35,919 –> 00:12:38,440Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.21300:12:38,440 –> 00:12:39,599He said that loudly.21400:12:39,599 –> 00:12:41,119He said it with authority.21500:12:41,119 –> 00:12:42,780He said it with finality.21600:12:44,000 –> 00:12:45,580I’d seen other people die.21700:12:47,539 –> 00:12:49,520Death overcame them21800:12:51,400 –> 00:12:53,500but he was not overcome by death.21900:12:53,500 –> 00:12:56,020It was as if he marched into it22000:12:56,979 –> 00:13:01,080and laid down his life at the moment of his own choosing.22100:13:03,219 –> 00:13:06,640A guard who was standing right next to me saw it22200:13:06,640 –> 00:13:07,760and was so astonished.22300:13:07,760 –> 00:13:11,020He said, truly, this is the son of God!22400:13:13,719 –> 00:13:15,320We had no idea what to do next.22500:13:16,440 –> 00:13:17,500So we went back to the room.22600:13:17,500 –> 00:13:18,940We were staying in Jerusalem22700:13:21,659 –> 00:13:22,719until Sunday morning22800:13:24,940 –> 00:13:26,960when we were awakened by Mary Magdalene.22900:13:27,880 –> 00:13:29,580She was in a terrible state.23000:13:29,580 –> 00:13:30,580She’d gone to the tomb23100:13:30,580 –> 00:13:33,940and said that the body of Jesus had been taken.23200:13:33,940 –> 00:13:35,280Peter was off like a shot23300:13:35,280 –> 00:13:39,580but between you and me, a little bit out of shape, Peter23400:13:39,580 –> 00:13:42,979and so I got to the tomb first.23500:13:43,020 –> 00:13:44,419Let me tell you what I saw.23600:13:45,640 –> 00:13:47,219A cloth that had been wrapped23700:13:47,219 –> 00:13:50,460round Jesus’ body was just lying there.23800:13:50,460 –> 00:13:51,960I stood at the entrance.23900:13:51,960 –> 00:13:54,020Then Peter comes along puffing and panting,24000:13:54,020 –> 00:13:54,900pushes past me24100:13:54,900 –> 00:13:55,979he goes right in there24200:13:57,260 –> 00:13:59,179and when I followed him in, we could both see24300:13:59,179 –> 00:14:00,739not only the strips of cloth24400:14:00,739 –> 00:14:02,659but the square sheet24500:14:04,619 –> 00:14:06,979that had been used to cover Jesus’ head.24600:14:06,979 –> 00:14:08,340It was folded,24700:14:08,340 –> 00:14:10,059looked like a pillow discarded24800:14:10,059 –> 00:14:11,979and placed on the stone.24900:14:12,719 –> 00:14:14,059I looked25000:14:14,059 –> 00:14:15,260and I knew he was alive.25100:14:16,979 –> 00:14:18,739We wondered what would happen next.25200:14:20,179 –> 00:14:21,299We knew there could be trouble25300:14:21,299 –> 00:14:22,659and we were afraid that the mob25400:14:22,659 –> 00:14:24,140who had demanded the death of Jesus25500:14:24,140 –> 00:14:25,539might now come after us25600:14:25,539 –> 00:14:28,059so we locked ourselves in an upstairs room25700:14:28,059 –> 00:14:31,000but that very evening the same day25800:14:32,039 –> 00:14:32,979Jesus came.25900:14:34,020 –> 00:14:35,059He came right into the room26000:14:35,059 –> 00:14:36,000where we were sitting there26100:14:36,000 –> 00:14:37,299just talking.26200:14:37,299 –> 00:14:38,739He was there, he walked right26300:14:38,739 –> 00:14:41,119into the very center of the group.26400:14:42,299 –> 00:14:43,820And he said, peace be with you.26500:14:45,039 –> 00:14:47,239We could see the wounds in his hand26600:14:48,419 –> 00:14:50,840his sight where that spear had been thrust.26700:14:52,520 –> 00:14:54,679He said, as the father has sent me26800:14:56,000 –> 00:14:57,179so I am sending you26900:14:57,179 –> 00:14:58,900I’m telling you what I heard27000:14:58,900 –> 00:15:01,479and telling you what I saw.27100:15:02,739 –> 00:15:03,739And of course, that’s the reason27200:15:03,739 –> 00:15:07,659I wrote my gospel so that you may know27300:15:07,659 –> 00:15:09,239that this Jesus whose birth27400:15:09,239 –> 00:15:10,960you celebrate at Christmas27500:15:11,000 –> 00:15:14,380is indeed the Christ27600:15:14,380 –> 00:15:16,580and the son of God.27700:15:17,979 –> 00:15:19,359And that’s why it doesn’t surprise me27800:15:19,359 –> 00:15:21,419that on the night when he was born27900:15:22,539 –> 00:15:24,239that angels filled the sky28000:15:25,140 –> 00:15:27,520and that God set a star in the heavens28100:15:27,520 –> 00:15:29,580to guide even kings28200:15:30,479 –> 00:15:31,679to come and worship him.28300:15:33,020 –> 00:15:35,020The words the Spirit of God gave me28400:15:35,020 –> 00:15:37,179to express the wonder of this28500:15:37,179 –> 00:15:40,359were very deep indeed.28600:15:41,479 –> 00:15:45,099The word became flesh28700:15:46,599 –> 00:15:48,039and lived among us.28800:15:49,859 –> 00:15:51,520And I could say from the heart28900:15:51,520 –> 00:15:54,200we saw his glory.29000:15:55,580 –> 00:15:56,840You’re listening to Open the Bible29100:15:56,840 –> 00:15:58,179with Pastor Colin Smith29200:15:58,179 –> 00:16:00,539and our message today, John’s Story.29300:16:00,539 –> 00:16:02,960It’s part of our series, Christmas Stories,29400:16:02,960 –> 00:16:04,520looking at the Christmas Story29500:16:04,520 –> 00:16:06,239through the eyes of different characters29600:16:06,239 –> 00:16:07,200who were there.29700:16:07,200 –> 00:16:09,159People like John, Simeon,29800:16:09,159 –> 00:16:12,219Mary, Joseph, and even King Herod.29900:16:12,219 –> 00:16:13,679If you ever miss one of the series30000:16:13,679 –> 00:16:15,140or you want to go back and listen again,30100:16:15,140 –> 00:16:16,440don’t forget you can always do that30200:16:16,440 –> 00:16:18,479by coming online to our website30300:16:18,479 –> 00:16:20,260openthebible.org.uk.30400:16:21,299 –> 00:16:23,119Or, you can find us as a podcast30500:16:23,119 –> 00:16:25,960and those are available on all the major podcast sites.30600:16:25,960 –> 00:16:27,880Search for Open the Bible UK30700:16:27,880 –> 00:16:30,700and subscribe to receive regular updates.30800:16:30,700 –> 00:16:32,900Back to the message now, here’s Colin.30900:16:32,900 –> 00:16:35,400That just leaves one more thing before I’m through.31000:16:36,239 –> 00:16:39,260Why did he come, why is it important31100:16:39,260 –> 00:16:41,760to folks like you now living 2000 years31200:16:41,760 –> 00:16:43,460after he came into the world?31300:16:45,919 –> 00:16:47,679I want to answer that question31400:16:47,679 –> 00:16:51,000with just one word that I used over and over again31500:16:51,000 –> 00:16:54,640in my gospel and in the letters that I wrote,31600:16:54,640 –> 00:16:57,280a word that Jesus spoke so many times31700:16:57,280 –> 00:16:59,219and I recorded what he said,31800:17:00,359 –> 00:17:01,299life.31900:17:02,320 –> 00:17:03,159Life.32000:17:04,160 –> 00:17:07,040All of us are looking for life.32100:17:07,040 –> 00:17:09,560You’re not the first folks to do that.32200:17:09,560 –> 00:17:11,479We’ve all been doing that32300:17:11,479 –> 00:17:13,060throughout the generations.32400:17:14,119 –> 00:17:16,839Not quite know what it is that we’re looking for32500:17:16,839 –> 00:17:20,560but we have a sense that there is something more32600:17:20,560 –> 00:17:23,560that we were created for some greater and higher purpose32700:17:23,560 –> 00:17:26,280than just to be born and eat and sleep and learn32800:17:26,280 –> 00:17:28,599and work and love and play and get old and die.32900:17:28,599 –> 00:17:30,800We know that there must be more than this33000:17:30,800 –> 00:17:32,439and we are searching for it,33100:17:33,040 –> 00:17:34,160not that we are looking for life.33200:17:34,160 –> 00:17:37,239God has implanted that searching within you.33300:17:38,540 –> 00:17:41,920That’s why Jesus said that he had come33400:17:41,920 –> 00:17:46,359that we may have life and that we may have it to the full.33500:17:47,780 –> 00:17:50,079He said and I wrote it down.33600:17:50,079 –> 00:17:53,160I am the resurrection and the life.33700:17:53,160 –> 00:17:56,319Whoever believes in me will live forever.33800:17:57,439 –> 00:17:58,880On another occasion he said33900:17:58,880 –> 00:18:01,260when you hear my word and you believe in my name34000:18:01,260 –> 00:18:04,979you cross over from death to life.34100:18:06,579 –> 00:18:07,939That’s what happened to me.34200:18:09,319 –> 00:18:11,859I look back and I see now that my life34300:18:11,859 –> 00:18:15,699before I started following Jesus was really only a shadow.34400:18:17,319 –> 00:18:21,060I began to follow him and I discovered what I wrote34500:18:21,060 –> 00:18:25,560that in him was life and that life is the light of men.34600:18:27,459 –> 00:18:29,500See, a lot of people think that eternal life34700:18:29,500 –> 00:18:30,979is like some kind of possession34800:18:31,020 –> 00:18:32,579that you add to your list of assets,34900:18:32,579 –> 00:18:35,380like a pension policy or an insurance or something.35000:18:35,380 –> 00:18:36,300You know the kind of thing.35100:18:36,300 –> 00:18:38,280You know, I have a four bedroom house,35200:18:38,280 –> 00:18:41,119a good job in the city, a Lexus and a good pension35300:18:41,119 –> 00:18:45,140and eternal life, listen, eternal life is not like that.35400:18:47,300 –> 00:18:52,300Eternal life is a relationship, it’s what Jesus taught us.35500:18:53,060 –> 00:18:56,140This is eternal life, he said.35600:18:56,140 –> 00:19:00,760To know the true God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent.35700:19:02,319 –> 00:19:05,439The weight of life now and the weight of life forever35800:19:05,439 –> 00:19:09,680beyond the veil of death is to know him and to follow him.35900:19:11,239 –> 00:19:14,099I’d always believed in God, like most of you,36000:19:15,640 –> 00:19:19,119but when I started actually following Jesus,36100:19:19,119 –> 00:19:22,680I realized that I was coming to know God.36200:19:23,680 –> 00:19:25,540It’s all the difference in the world.36300:19:27,099 –> 00:19:30,800And the amazing thing is that that relationship never ends.36400:19:30,800 –> 00:19:33,359I followed Jesus for about 60 more years or so36500:19:33,359 –> 00:19:34,500after the resurrection,36600:19:34,500 –> 00:19:36,760and then the time came when I faced death.36700:19:38,079 –> 00:19:39,540And you know what it was like?36800:19:41,119 –> 00:19:43,599It’s just like walking through a curtain,36900:19:43,599 –> 00:19:45,239and then on the other side,37000:19:45,239 –> 00:19:48,060I was right there in the presence of Christ.37100:19:50,060 –> 00:19:53,680And I’ve been there for the last 2,000 years, your time,37200:19:53,680 –> 00:19:55,979though nobody’s counting up there, of course.37300:19:57,040 –> 00:19:59,619And the joy is indescribable.37400:19:59,619 –> 00:20:00,859It is unspeakable.37500:20:02,239 –> 00:20:03,739I’m not allowed to tell you about it,37600:20:03,739 –> 00:20:06,020but even I was, you wouldn’t be able to understand it.37700:20:06,020 –> 00:20:08,660It is beyond what you’re able to grasp.37800:20:11,040 –> 00:20:14,959And you know, all the talk and all the anticipation up there37900:20:15,979 –> 00:20:18,459is about the day when he’s going to come for you.38000:20:20,060 –> 00:20:21,560We’ll be with him then, of course,38100:20:21,560 –> 00:20:23,520those of us who’ve already experienced38200:20:23,520 –> 00:20:25,060the sheer joys of his presence,38300:20:25,060 –> 00:20:26,119we will come with him38400:20:26,880 –> 00:20:27,800and those who are alive at that time38500:20:27,800 –> 00:20:29,199will be caught up in the air38600:20:29,199 –> 00:20:31,520and we will meet together, the whole church,38700:20:31,520 –> 00:20:33,619the whole of his people.38800:20:33,619 –> 00:20:36,199We will enter into the fullness of the new life38900:20:37,199 –> 00:20:39,560that he’s come to prepare for all who love him.39000:20:41,479 –> 00:20:42,859That’s my life message.39100:20:45,040 –> 00:20:49,959I want you to know that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.39200:20:51,719 –> 00:20:54,400And the reason I want you to know that39300:20:54,839 –> 00:20:59,839is so that you, by believing, may have life in his name.39400:21:03,760 –> 00:21:05,260And I think there’s a lot of boards39500:21:05,260 –> 00:21:08,739who don’t really understand what I meant by believing.39600:21:10,040 –> 00:21:13,760See, a lot of you maybe think that believing39700:21:13,760 –> 00:21:17,619is just accepting something that you didn’t actually see39800:21:17,619 –> 00:21:20,079for yourself make any difference to your life39900:21:20,079 –> 00:21:22,280and it doesn’t make any demands upon you whatsoever.40000:21:22,280 –> 00:21:24,199That’s not what I meant by believing.40100:21:24,479 –> 00:21:27,239That’s just not what we’re talking about.40200:21:27,239 –> 00:21:29,760When I speak about believing, here’s what I mean.40300:21:31,880 –> 00:21:36,000I mean a commitment to follow.40400:21:37,680 –> 00:21:39,579Like when Jesus said to me, follow me40500:21:39,579 –> 00:21:42,739and because I had put my trust in him already,40600:21:42,739 –> 00:21:45,219even at that time, I began to follow him,40700:21:46,599 –> 00:21:49,760to grow and to learn living life his way.40800:21:50,760 –> 00:21:54,719If it is indeed the case that Jesus,40900:21:54,719 –> 00:21:58,099whose birth you celebrate, is the son of God41000:21:58,099 –> 00:22:03,099and if he came, so that you may have life in his name,41100:22:05,160 –> 00:22:09,560then there is no greater calling on your life41200:22:09,560 –> 00:22:13,000than that you should know him, that you should follow him41300:22:14,359 –> 00:22:18,160and there is no greater time for you to begin41400:22:19,000 –> 00:22:21,939than this Christmas as you celebrate41500:22:21,939 –> 00:22:24,359his coming into the world and I tell you,41600:22:24,359 –> 00:22:29,160if you begin to follow him, boy it won’t always be easy41700:22:29,160 –> 00:22:33,500but there is no greater joy in all the world.41800:22:35,199 –> 00:22:39,439That’s what happened to me, has it happened to you?41900:22:39,439 –> 00:22:40,680You’re listening to Open the Bible42000:22:40,680 –> 00:22:43,839with Pastor Colin Smith and John’s Story,42100:22:43,839 –> 00:22:46,380part of our series Christmas Stories,42200:22:46,380 –> 00:22:48,579telling the Christmas story from the viewpoint42300:22:48,579 –> 00:22:51,020of different characters who were there.42400:22:51,020 –> 00:22:53,339Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series,42500:22:53,339 –> 00:22:55,859you can always catch up or go back and listen again42600:22:55,859 –> 00:23:00,400online at our website, openthebible.org.uk,42700:23:00,400 –> 00:23:01,579there you’ll find all the messages42800:23:01,579 –> 00:23:03,479that have already gone out on air.42900:23:04,359 –> 00:23:07,859Open the Bible is entirely funded by our listeners43000:23:07,859 –> 00:23:10,140and we’re very grateful, so if you already give43100:23:10,140 –> 00:23:13,260to the work of Open the Bible, thank you so much.43200:23:13,260 –> 00:23:14,660During the months of December,43300:23:14,660 –> 00:23:17,459if you are able to set up a new direct debit43400:23:17,459 –> 00:23:19,680to the work of Open the Bible in the amount43500:23:19,680 –> 00:23:22,180of five pounds per month or more,43600:23:22,180 –> 00:23:26,260or a one-off gift, to Open the Bible, of 50 pounds or more,43700:23:26,260 –> 00:23:28,599we’d love to say thank you by sending you43800:23:28,599 –> 00:23:31,619three copies of John’s Gospel.43900:23:31,619 –> 00:23:33,819I recently caught up with Amanda Cunningham,44000:23:33,819 –> 00:23:35,900who is Open the Bible UK’s44100:23:35,900 –> 00:23:39,660operations and communications manager and I asked her44200:23:39,660 –> 00:23:41,939to tell me more about this free gift.44300:23:41,939 –> 00:23:43,459Thank you David.44400:23:43,459 –> 00:23:45,239Yes, we are really excited44500:23:45,239 –> 00:23:47,380to be giving away not just one,44600:23:47,380 –> 00:23:50,339but three of these ESV journaling copies44700:23:50,339 –> 00:23:52,000of John’s Gospel.44800:23:52,000 –> 00:23:54,579Each page of texts is blank page opposite44900:23:54,579 –> 00:23:57,300on lovely thick cream paper,45000:23:57,300 –> 00:24:00,020which means they’re perfect for writing notes,45100:24:00,020 –> 00:24:02,099reflections or prayers.45200:24:02,099 –> 00:24:05,140Or if you’re giving it to an inquiring friend,45300:24:05,140 –> 00:24:07,079perhaps you could suggest that they write down45400:24:07,079 –> 00:24:09,060any questions that they want to ask you45500:24:09,060 –> 00:24:11,319or anything that they’re struck by.45600:24:11,540 –> 00:24:13,280Though I definitely wouldn’t feel embarrassed45700:24:13,280 –> 00:24:15,939about giving this Gospel as a Christmas gift.45800:24:15,939 –> 00:24:18,959After all what could be a more precious gift45900:24:18,959 –> 00:24:22,040this Christmas than the living word of God?46000:24:22,040 –> 00:24:25,199And these beautiful illustrated Gospels of John46100:24:25,199 –> 00:24:28,400would be a perfect way to give that gift.46200:24:28,400 –> 00:24:29,719Thank you, Amanda.46300:24:29,719 –> 00:24:32,020So those three copies of John’s Gospel46400:24:32,020 –> 00:24:34,079are our gift to you if you’re able to begin46500:24:34,079 –> 00:24:36,800a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible46600:24:36,800 –> 00:24:39,739this month in the amount of five pounds per month46700:24:39,739 –> 00:24:43,619or more, or a one off gift of 50 pounds.46800:24:43,619 –> 00:24:45,699Full details, terms, and conditions46900:24:45,699 –> 00:24:46,739are on our website47000:24:46,739 –> 00:24:49,739That’s at OpenTheBible.org.uk.47100:24:50,660 –> 00:24:53,079For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,47200:24:53,079 –> 00:24:53,900I’m David Pink47300:24:53,900 –> 00:24:55,939and I hope you’ll join us again next time47400:24:55,939 –> 00:24:57,359on Open the Bible.47500:25:02,979 –> 00:25:04,739Simeon was an ordinary man47600:25:04,739 –> 00:25:07,140who had the extraordinary privilege47700:25:07,140 –> 00:25:09,060of holding Jesus in his arms47800:25:09,060 –> 00:25:11,300eight days after he was born.47900:25:11,300 –> 00:25:12,739Hear his testimony48000:25:12,739 –> 00:25:14,219and discover what he said48100:25:14,219 –> 00:25:15,660about the Son of God.48200:25:15,660 –> 00:25:17,979That’s next time on Open the Bible.