100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:11,320The words the Spirit of God gave me to express the wonder of this were very deep indeed.200:00:11,320 –> 00:00:22,680The Word became flesh and lived among us and I could say from the heart, we saw His glory.300:00:23,440 –> 00:00:27,240Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and Colin today we’re starting a new400:00:27,240 –> 00:00:31,780series called Christmas Stories and in the series we’re looking at the Christmas story500:00:31,780 –> 00:00:34,340from the viewpoint of some of the characters who were there.600:00:34,340 –> 00:00:39,259Yeah and doing it in the first person trying to stand as it were in John’s shoes when he700:00:39,259 –> 00:00:46,119says, we saw His glory, what it was for these disciples to see the glory of the Lord Jesus800:00:46,119 –> 00:00:51,680Christ and you know, one day we are going to see His glory and what a day that is going900:00:51,680 –> 00:00:52,680to be.1000:00:53,160 –> 00:00:55,919The theme for the program today is that you by faith will1100:00:55,919 –> 00:01:01,080have a glimpse of the glory of Christ as we take our stand with the Apostle John.1200:01:01,080 –> 00:01:07,940Well we’re in the book of 1John starting chapter 1 as we begin the message John’s story.1300:01:07,940 –> 00:01:08,940Here’s Colin.1400:01:08,940 –> 00:01:15,220Now in my day people had all kinds of ideas about Jesus just as they do today.1500:01:15,220 –> 00:01:17,699Some regarded him simply as a great teacher.1600:01:17,699 –> 00:01:21,559Others regarded him as one of the prophets who came back to life.1700:01:21,860 –> 00:01:24,519Others just shrugged and came to no particular conclusion.1800:01:24,519 –> 00:01:27,320It’s always been like that.1900:01:27,320 –> 00:01:31,239One day Jesus asked us who we thought he was.2000:01:31,239 –> 00:01:33,980Peter said, you are the Christ.2100:01:33,980 –> 00:01:37,160You are the son of the living God.2200:01:37,160 –> 00:01:41,379We were convinced that he was the one who had been promised from the beginning of time2300:01:41,379 –> 00:01:45,260who would be the saviour of the world.2400:01:45,260 –> 00:01:51,220But what happened a week later, put it beyond all doubt for me.2500:01:52,220 –> 00:01:55,760Jesus said that he was going up a mountain to pray.2600:01:55,760 –> 00:01:59,699And he wanted Peter, and James, and me to come with him.2700:01:59,699 –> 00:02:04,160It was a fair bit of an old climb, and when we got there, we were tired and we decided2800:02:04,160 –> 00:02:05,660that we would lie down for a rest.2900:02:05,660 –> 00:02:09,119So Jesus began praying on his own.3000:02:09,119 –> 00:02:13,960And I will never forget what I saw when I woke up.3100:02:13,960 –> 00:02:19,300The whole appearance of his face changed.3200:02:19,380 –> 00:02:21,479His clothes began to shine.3300:02:21,479 –> 00:02:30,320They were brilliant, radiant, light, dazzling, as if light were radiating from the very essence3400:02:30,320 –> 00:02:37,419of his being, so bright that I could hardly even look at him directly.3500:02:38,139 –> 00:02:42,979There’s only one word that I can use that would even begin to describe what I saw to you.3600:02:42,979 –> 00:02:45,639It’s the word, glory.3700:02:45,699 –> 00:02:48,360What I saw was glorious.3800:02:48,360 –> 00:02:53,860We saw his glory.3900:02:53,860 –> 00:03:00,360And I knew right then, that I was standing in the presence of God, and telling you what4000:03:00,360 –> 00:03:02,039I saw.4100:03:03,619 –> 00:03:05,800Then a cloud appeared, moved towards us.4200:03:05,820 –> 00:03:08,600Now there’s nothing unusual about a cloud coming towards you when you’re on the top4300:03:08,600 –> 00:03:09,600of a mountain.4400:03:09,600 –> 00:03:11,059But this was no ordinary cloud.4500:03:11,100 –> 00:03:16,119I knew from the Old Testament, that when God’s immediate presence was right there with his4600:03:16,119 –> 00:03:22,199people, he came down in a cloud of his glory.4700:03:22,199 –> 00:03:27,300In a matter of seconds, that cloud enveloped us.4800:03:27,300 –> 00:03:29,300We were in the cloud.4900:03:29,300 –> 00:03:32,220It was absolutely terrifying, I can’t tell you.5000:03:32,220 –> 00:03:36,679And I heard an audible voice.5100:03:36,679 –> 00:03:42,979The voice said, this is my Son, whom I have chosen.5200:03:42,979 –> 00:03:44,360Listen to him.5300:03:44,360 –> 00:03:50,179I am telling you what I heard and telling you what I saw.5400:03:50,179 –> 00:03:56,720It was the voice of Almighty God affirming that Jesus is indeed his one and only Son,5500:03:56,720 –> 00:04:00,860and that we, and everyone else, are to listen to him.5600:04:00,860 –> 00:04:03,600I fell to the ground, so did Peter, so did James.5700:04:03,600 –> 00:04:07,339We immediately thought that this was the end of our lives, that we were right there in5800:04:07,339 –> 00:04:13,820the presence of God and there was so much that was wrong with us.5900:04:13,820 –> 00:04:16,859But the cloud passed.6000:04:16,859 –> 00:04:17,859I’ll never forget it.6100:04:17,859 –> 00:04:18,880Jesus touched my shoulder.6200:04:18,880 –> 00:04:21,079He said, get up.6300:04:21,079 –> 00:04:23,079Do not be afraid.6400:04:23,079 –> 00:04:31,100And when I got up, the cloud had passed, the brilliant shining had gone.6500:04:31,279 –> 00:04:37,019The face of Jesus was the familiar face that I knew once again.6600:04:37,019 –> 00:04:42,679That day I knew for sure who he is.6700:04:42,679 –> 00:04:46,119God in the flesh.6800:04:46,119 –> 00:04:49,359God made accessible to us.6900:04:49,359 –> 00:04:52,200We saw his glory.7000:04:52,200 –> 00:04:57,619The glory of the one and only who came from the Father full of grace and truth.7100:04:58,540 –> 00:05:05,420I have to tell you, it is still beyond my grasp how one who has such glory should hide7200:05:05,420 –> 00:05:18,320it, veil it and be born taking flesh like ours and lying in a manger and living an ordinary7300:05:18,320 –> 00:05:25,559human life so that we should have the opportunity of calling him our friend.7400:05:26,040 –> 00:05:32,399Not long after that we were all together in Jerusalem for the great festival of7500:05:32,399 –> 00:05:39,820the Passover. We were tired after a long day and nobody could be bothered as we7600:05:39,820 –> 00:05:43,679sat down for a meal to wash the others feet. But when Jesus got up from the7700:05:43,679 –> 00:05:48,579table and began washing the feet of the rest, everybody was embarrassed.7800:05:49,480 –> 00:05:55,380You know, he washed my feet. Gives me goosebumps even to think about it now.7900:05:57,980 –> 00:06:01,200And he said to the group of us, you are all clean.8000:06:02,579 –> 00:06:05,519One of the most beautiful things he ever said, clean.8100:06:06,220 –> 00:06:09,679I think of all that’s wrong with my life, clean.8200:06:12,000 –> 00:06:14,459That’s the amazing thing when you were next to him you8300:06:14,459 –> 00:06:20,600always felt that you had so far to go, so much to be forgiven for.8400:06:21,799 –> 00:06:24,239And yet you knew that you were forgiven8500:06:24,420 –> 00:06:27,079and that he was leading you forward from where you were.8600:06:29,040 –> 00:06:34,239I was sitting next to him that night, we were all kind of reclining as we did in those days8700:06:34,239 –> 00:06:36,160around a low table.8800:06:36,720 –> 00:06:39,760Enjoying the meal, great celebration it was.8900:06:40,660 –> 00:06:42,179But at one point in the meal9000:06:42,179 –> 00:06:48,980It seemed as if a great sense of trouble and of sorrow came upon him like a cloud coming down on him.9100:06:50,619 –> 00:06:57,799It took us all by surprise, when he said I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.9200:06:59,260 –> 00:07:03,600Everybody was astonished, of course they all began saying is it me, is it me?9300:07:05,040 –> 00:07:08,959I was sitting as I said next to Jesus, and so Peter a little further away caught9400:07:09,000 –> 00:07:11,559My eye he said to me, ask him who it is9500:07:14,160 –> 00:07:19,279So I leaned back and said, quietly Jesus, who is it?9600:07:20,459 –> 00:07:21,679And he said to me9700:07:21,899 –> 00:07:26,720It’s the one to whom I will give the piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish9800:07:26,980 –> 00:07:30,859Then he took a piece of bread dipped it in the dish, and he handed it to Judas9900:07:31,559 –> 00:07:33,559And he took it10000:07:33,799 –> 00:07:37,420It’s almost as if something seemed to come over him at that very moment10100:07:37,640 –> 00:07:41,220Jesus said to him what you’re going to do go and do it quickly10200:07:42,980 –> 00:07:48,160The rest didn’t really know what he was talking about thought maybe he was telling Judas to go and get some bread10300:07:49,260 –> 00:07:51,799But you just got up and he walked out.10400:07:52,500 –> 00:07:53,980I knew10500:07:53,980 –> 00:07:57,959Because Jesus had told me about the bread, he would hand over10600:07:59,119 –> 00:08:02,040He spoke to the rest of us for a long time after that10700:08:02,519 –> 00:08:04,799We sang a hymn and10800:08:05,540 –> 00:08:08,619Then we went out across the valley to a gardens called Gethsemane10900:08:09,579 –> 00:08:10,320once again11000:08:10,320 –> 00:08:13,859Jesus separated the three of us from the rest of the group and asked us to pray11100:08:14,339 –> 00:08:17,359And then he went a little further and he prayed alone.11200:08:18,059 –> 00:08:19,799I’ve got to admit that is a little embarrassing11300:08:19,799 –> 00:08:24,540I didn’t actually hear what he was saying when he prayed for the simple reason that I fell asleep which11400:08:25,140 –> 00:08:29,179is one of the reasons that I have not recorded that story in my gospel either11500:08:29,179 –> 00:08:31,679Peter and James11600:08:31,839 –> 00:08:35,159also were asleep it has to be said I was not the only one and11700:08:35,700 –> 00:08:36,820so11800:08:36,820 –> 00:08:41,520in fact the only way that we know what Jesus said when he was praying then is11900:08:42,299 –> 00:08:44,880That there was a young man who was hiding in the bushes12000:08:45,659 –> 00:08:50,799Mark doesn’t actually name himself in his gospel, but he was there and that’s how we know12100:08:50,900 –> 00:08:52,900That when we were asleep12200:08:54,140 –> 00:08:55,760He prayed12300:08:55,799 –> 00:09:00,979Father if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me nevertheless12400:09:02,599 –> 00:09:04,599Not my will12500:09:04,640 –> 00:09:06,640But yours be done12600:09:07,619 –> 00:09:11,659We couldn’t remain sleeping for long because it was a terrible noise as a mob arrived12700:09:11,659 –> 00:09:15,919They had swords and they had clubs and they had come to arrest him12800:09:15,919 –> 00:09:18,119Can you imagine this the one who?12900:09:18,760 –> 00:09:23,880Radiated glory when it was revealed was now being tied and bound and let away13000:09:26,020 –> 00:09:33,039Judas had identified him with a kiss and the rest of us just ran for our lives13100:09:34,880 –> 00:09:38,880The next day he was crucified I was there13200:09:40,619 –> 00:09:48,039At the foot of the cross I can’t describe the agony of his suffering but I can tell you what I heard him say13300:09:50,400 –> 00:09:52,400When they raised him up13400:09:53,140 –> 00:09:59,380He said father forgive them they do not know what they are doing13500:10:01,640 –> 00:10:03,640As Jesus agony increased13600:10:05,059 –> 00:10:07,059cried out I thirst13700:10:08,559 –> 00:10:10,280They brought some13800:10:10,280 –> 00:10:14,419Wine mixed with vinegar that they put on a sponge on a stick and held it up to him13900:10:14,419 –> 00:10:20,099It was a kind of mild. Anesthetic that they used to offer people in the terrible barbarity of that suffering14000:10:20,099 –> 00:10:22,099But you know, he did not take it14100:10:23,059 –> 00:10:26,080he experienced every dimension of14200:10:26,719 –> 00:10:28,719that suffering in full14300:10:30,599 –> 00:10:32,880Then he looked down at Mary14400:10:34,799 –> 00:10:38,179The mother in whose arms he once lay I14500:10:40,340 –> 00:10:46,400Was standing next to her. I can’t describe the grief that was tearing her heart in14600:10:47,179 –> 00:10:49,179two14700:10:49,419 –> 00:10:52,419There was compassion in the eyes of Jesus as he looked down14800:10:53,260 –> 00:10:55,260to her in her suffering and14900:10:55,900 –> 00:10:58,000Looking at her and then looking to me15000:10:59,219 –> 00:11:02,099he said mother behold your son and15100:11:03,320 –> 00:11:05,320Looking at me he said son15200:11:06,520 –> 00:11:08,520Behold your mother15300:11:08,919 –> 00:11:12,239It was incredible that in the extremity of his suffering15400:11:13,239 –> 00:11:20,840This compassion was poured out towards the woman from whom he took his flesh now being crucified15500:11:21,640 –> 00:11:23,280and15600:11:23,280 –> 00:11:26,140Trusted the care of the one who had brought him into this world15700:11:27,760 –> 00:11:29,760To me15800:11:31,479 –> 00:11:33,679Then the sky grew very very dark15900:11:35,820 –> 00:11:38,200Telling you what I heard, I’m telling you what I saw16000:11:38,359 –> 00:11:40,359He16100:11:40,840 –> 00:11:45,460Entered into it seemed a whole new realm dimension of his suffering16200:11:45,479 –> 00:11:51,739It was as if all the devils of hell itself had common congregated at that one lonely hill16300:11:53,679 –> 00:11:57,140My god my god, why have you forsaken me he cried16400:11:59,640 –> 00:12:01,640But then the light returned16500:12:03,219 –> 00:12:06,820Almost as if the father were saying he had not forsaken the son16600:12:08,440 –> 00:12:14,520And then Jesus cried out in a loud voice one word as we heard it16700:12:15,080 –> 00:12:17,53910s i which means in your language16800:12:18,440 –> 00:12:20,280it is16900:12:20,280 –> 00:12:22,119finished17000:12:22,119 –> 00:12:24,119He said that with a note of triumph17100:12:25,799 –> 00:12:32,280Then he said father into your hands I commit my spirit he said that loudly he said it with authority17200:12:32,559 –> 00:12:34,559He said it with finality17300:12:35,400 –> 00:12:37,400I’d seen other people die17400:12:38,400 –> 00:12:40,820Death overcame them17500:12:42,679 –> 00:12:47,479But he was not overcome by death it was as if he marched into it and17600:12:48,520 –> 00:12:52,640laid down his life at the moment of his own choosing a17700:12:54,580 –> 00:13:01,640Guard who was standing right next to me saw it and was so astonished. He said truly. This is the son of God17800:13:01,659 –> 00:13:03,659We17900:13:04,780 –> 00:13:09,820Had no idea what to do next and we went back to the room we were staying in Jerusalem18000:13:12,739 –> 00:13:14,739Until Sunday morning18100:13:15,859 –> 00:13:17,979When we were wakened by Mary Magdalene18200:13:18,820 –> 00:13:20,719She was in a terrible state18300:13:20,719 –> 00:13:26,359she’d gone to the tomb and said that the body of Jesus had been taken Peter was off like a shot, but18400:13:27,039 –> 00:13:32,520Between you and me a little bit out of shape Peter. And so I got to the tomb first18500:13:33,659 –> 00:13:35,659Let me tell you what I saw18600:13:36,159 –> 00:13:40,780The cloth that had been wrapped round Jesus body was just lying there18700:13:41,119 –> 00:13:46,820I stood at the entrance then Peter comes along puffing and pounding pushes past me. He goes right in there18800:13:47,599 –> 00:13:53,619And when I followed him in we could both see not only the strips of cloth, but the square sheet18900:13:54,340 –> 00:13:57,460That had been used to cover Jesus head19000:13:57,460 –> 00:14:02,119It was folded looked like a pillow discarded and placed on the stone. I19100:14:02,659 –> 00:14:04,400looked and19200:14:04,400 –> 00:14:06,400I knew he was alive19300:14:07,179 –> 00:14:09,179We wondered what would happen next19400:14:10,320 –> 00:14:15,859We knew there could be trouble and we were afraid that the mob who had demanded the death of Jesus might now come after us19500:14:15,859 –> 00:14:21,080So we locked ourselves in an upstairs room, but that very evening the same day19600:14:22,080 –> 00:14:23,919Jesus came19700:14:23,919 –> 00:14:28,219And came right into the room where we were sitting there just talking. He was there19800:14:28,219 –> 00:14:31,119He walked right into the very center of the group19900:14:32,280 –> 00:14:34,280and he said peace be with you20000:14:34,919 –> 00:14:37,119We could see the wounds in his hand20100:14:38,159 –> 00:14:40,859His side where that spear had been thrust20200:14:42,239 –> 00:14:44,559He said as the father has sent me20300:14:45,880 –> 00:14:50,520So I am sending you. I’m telling you what I heard. I’m telling you what I saw20400:14:52,080 –> 00:14:54,640And of course, that’s the reason I wrote my gospel20500:14:56,119 –> 00:15:01,799So that you may know that this Jesus whose birth you celebrate at Christmas is indeed20600:15:02,479 –> 00:15:04,400the Christ and20700:15:04,400 –> 00:15:06,400the Son of God20800:15:07,479 –> 00:15:10,659And that’s why it doesn’t surprise me that on the night when he was born20900:15:12,000 –> 00:15:14,000but Angels filled the sky21000:15:14,119 –> 00:15:18,859and the God set a star in the heavens to guide even Kings21100:15:19,840 –> 00:15:21,840To come and worship him21200:15:22,260 –> 00:15:27,239The words the spirit of God gave me to express the wonder of this were very21300:15:28,719 –> 00:15:30,719Deep indeed21400:15:30,859 –> 00:15:32,859the word21500:15:33,059 –> 00:15:35,140became flesh and21600:15:36,419 –> 00:15:38,419lived among us21700:15:39,260 –> 00:15:43,599And I could save from the heart we saw his glory21800:15:43,960 –> 00:15:45,340121900:15:45,340 –> 00:15:50,000You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and our message today. John’s story22000:15:50,099 –> 00:15:56,299It’s part of our series Christmas stories looking at the Christmas story through the eyes of different characters who were there22100:15:56,719 –> 00:15:58,080people, like John22200:15:58,080 –> 00:15:59,760Simeon Mary22300:15:59,760 –> 00:16:04,719Joseph and even King Herod if you ever miss one of the series or you want to go back and listen again22400:16:04,719 –> 00:16:07,599Don’t forget you can always do that by coming online to our website22500:16:08,119 –> 00:16:10,119Open the Bible .org .uk22600:16:10,739 –> 00:16:15,460Or you can find us as a podcast and those are available on all the major podcast sites22700:16:15,679 –> 00:16:21,280Search for open the Bible UK and subscribe to receive regular updates back to the message22800:16:21,280 –> 00:16:24,580Now, here’s Colin. That just leaves. One more thing before I’m through22900:16:26,679 –> 00:16:33,280Why did he come why is it important to folks like you now living 2,000 years after he came into the world I23000:16:33,840 –> 00:16:35,700I23100:16:35,700 –> 00:16:41,780want to answer that question with just one word that I used over and over again in my gospel and23200:16:42,520 –> 00:16:48,619In the letters that I wrote word that Jesus spoke so many times and I I recorded what he said23300:16:49,960 –> 00:16:51,840life23400:16:51,840 –> 00:16:53,840life23500:16:53,960 –> 00:16:55,960All of us are looking for life23600:16:56,479 –> 00:17:00,520You’re not the first folks to do that. We’ve we’ve all been doing that23700:17:01,039 –> 00:17:03,039throughout the generations23800:17:03,619 –> 00:17:06,920don’t quite know what it is that we’re looking for but we23900:17:07,479 –> 00:17:14,119we have a sense that there is something more that we were created for some greater and higher purpose than just to be24000:17:14,219 –> 00:17:18,339Born and eat and sleep and learn and work and love and play and get old and die24100:17:18,339 –> 00:17:22,280We know that there must be more than this and we are searching for it24200:17:22,280 –> 00:17:26,780We are looking for life. God has implanted that searching within you24300:17:28,079 –> 00:17:30,079That’s why Jesus said that24400:17:30,160 –> 00:17:35,780That he had come that we may have life and that we may have it to the full24500:17:37,160 –> 00:17:39,160He said and I wrote it down. I24600:17:39,920 –> 00:17:45,239Am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me will live forever24700:17:46,839 –> 00:17:53,800On another occasion he said when you hear my word and you believe in my name you cross over from death to life24800:17:55,979 –> 00:17:57,979That’s what happened to me I24900:17:58,839 –> 00:18:05,400Looked back, and I see now that my life before I started following Jesus was really only a shadow I25000:18:07,079 –> 00:18:09,939Began to follow Him, and I discovered what I wrote25100:18:10,479 –> 00:18:14,920That in him was life, and that life is the light of men25200:18:16,859 –> 00:18:22,540See a lot of people think that eternal life is like some kind of possession that you add to your list of assets like a25300:18:22,920 –> 00:18:27,680Pension policy or an insurance or something you know the kind of thing you know I have a four-bedroom house25400:18:27,819 –> 00:18:34,260A good job in the city Alexis under good pension and eternal life listen, eternal life is not like that25500:18:37,160 –> 00:18:39,160Eternal life is a relationship25600:18:40,160 –> 00:18:42,160It’s what Jesus taught us25700:18:42,560 –> 00:18:50,020This is eternal life. He said to know the true. God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent25800:18:51,680 –> 00:18:56,680The way to life now and the way to life forever beyond the veil of death is25900:18:56,719 –> 00:18:59,020To know him and to follow him26000:19:00,599 –> 00:19:03,359I’d always believed in God like most of you26100:19:05,040 –> 00:19:11,780But when I started actually following Jesus I realized that I was coming to know God26200:19:12,959 –> 00:19:14,959It’s all the difference in the world26300:19:16,380 –> 00:19:19,400The amazing thing is that that relationship never ends I26400:19:20,479 –> 00:19:26,119Followed Jesus for about 60 more years or so after the resurrection, and then the time came when I faced death26500:19:27,500 –> 00:19:29,500You know what it was like26600:19:30,479 –> 00:19:37,400It’s just like walking through a curtain and then on the other side I was right there in the presence of Christ26700:19:39,420 –> 00:19:41,920And I’ve been there for the last 2,000 years your time26800:19:43,119 –> 00:19:45,359though nobody’s counting up there of course and26900:19:46,959 –> 00:19:50,400The joy is indescribable it is unspeakable27000:19:51,500 –> 00:19:53,479I’m not allowed to tell you about it27100:19:53,500 –> 00:19:58,439but even if I was you wouldn’t be able to understand it as beyond what you’re able to grasp and27200:20:00,599 –> 00:20:07,520You know all the talk and all the anticipation up there is about the day when he’s going to come for you27300:20:09,500 –> 00:20:10,520We’ll be with him27400:20:10,520 –> 00:20:12,520then of course those of us who’ve already27500:20:12,680 –> 00:20:15,839experienced the sheer joys of his presence we will come with him and27600:20:15,839 –> 00:20:21,979Those who are alive at that time will be caught up in the air and we will meet together the whole church the whole of27700:20:21,979 –> 00:20:23,000his people27800:20:23,040 –> 00:20:25,420we will enter into the fullness of the new life27900:20:26,619 –> 00:20:28,920But he’s come to prepare for all who love him28000:20:30,900 –> 00:20:32,900That’s my life message I28100:20:34,739 –> 00:20:39,780Want you to know that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and28200:20:41,280 –> 00:20:44,520The reason I want you to know that is28300:20:45,800 –> 00:20:47,800So that you by believing28400:20:49,140 –> 00:20:51,760May have life in his name28500:20:53,160 –> 00:20:58,380And I think there’s a lot of folks who don’t really understand what I meant by believing28600:20:59,540 –> 00:21:03,780see a lot of you maybe think that believing is just28700:21:05,280 –> 00:21:09,699Accepting something that you didn’t actually see for yourself as make any difference to your life28800:21:09,699 –> 00:21:14,099And it doesn’t make any demands upon you whatsoever. That’s not what I meant by believing28900:21:16,380 –> 00:21:19,119when I speak about believing here’s what I mean I29000:21:19,439 –> 00:21:21,439I29100:21:21,479 –> 00:21:23,479mean a29200:21:23,640 –> 00:21:25,640commitment to follow29300:21:26,920 –> 00:21:33,260Like when Jesus said to me follow me and because I had put my trust in him already Even at that time29400:21:33,260 –> 00:21:35,260I began to follow him29500:21:35,880 –> 00:21:39,000To grow and to learn living life his way29600:21:40,439 –> 00:21:47,219If it is indeed the case that Jesus whose birth you celebrate is the Son of God29700:21:47,760 –> 00:21:53,800And if he came so that you may have life in his name29800:21:55,800 –> 00:22:03,180Then there is no greater calling on your life than that you should know him that you should follow him and29900:22:04,420 –> 00:22:07,439there is no greater time for you to begin than30000:22:08,579 –> 00:22:10,500this Christmas as30100:22:10,500 –> 00:22:16,060You celebrate his coming into the world and I tell you if you begin to follow him30200:22:17,060 –> 00:22:22,880By one always be easy but there is no greater joy in all the world30300:22:24,640 –> 00:22:26,640That’s what happened to me30400:22:27,079 –> 00:22:28,819As it happened to you30500:22:28,819 –> 00:22:35,619You’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and John’s story part of our series Christmas stories30600:22:36,000 –> 00:22:39,839Telling the Christmas story from the viewpoint of different characters who were there30700:22:40,459 –> 00:22:45,079Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series you can always catch up or go back and listen again30800:22:45,439 –> 00:22:50,300Online at our website open the Bible org dot uk there30900:22:50,300 –> 00:22:52,920You’ll find all the messages there have already gone out on air31000:22:53,500 –> 00:22:59,280Open the bible is able to stay on this station and the internet and available as a podcast31100:22:59,680 –> 00:23:06,900Because of the generous financial support of our listeners, that’s people like you and if you already give to support the work31200:23:07,060 –> 00:23:08,640Thank you so much31300:23:08,640 –> 00:23:14,859If supporting open the Bible is something you’d like to start doing this month. We’re delighted to offer a free gift31400:23:15,520 –> 00:23:22,140When you set up a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible in the amount of five pounds per month or more31500:23:22,140 –> 00:23:24,719Or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more31600:23:24,920 –> 00:23:26,079We’d love to say31700:23:26,079 –> 00:23:31,739Thank you by sending you a free copy of pastor Collins new book hike through the Bible31800:23:32,280 –> 00:23:34,959Colin where did the idea for this book come from?31900:23:35,680 –> 00:23:43,300Well, we have fly through the Bible for those who are looking for a place to begin then drive through the Bible32000:23:43,319 –> 00:23:45,079Obviously takes people a bit further32100:23:45,079 –> 00:23:51,800But for everyone that wants to get serious about the Bible story, hike through the Bible is for you32200:23:51,800 –> 00:23:58,239I mean, this is where you get your boots on the ground and really get to grips with what the Bible is all about32300:23:58,239 –> 00:24:03,339And you’ll discover that the whole Bible is one story that the whole of it points32400:24:03,339 –> 00:24:10,699To our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I wrote this for people who want to have a better grasp of the Bible32500:24:10,699 –> 00:24:13,859I wrote it for people who want to have a deeper love for the Lord32600:24:14,060 –> 00:24:19,260Jesus Christ and just by way of encouragement if you think that hiking sounds like hard work32700:24:19,260 –> 00:24:21,500Well, you can hike at a gentle pace32800:24:21,939 –> 00:24:24,180this is 50 chapters and32900:24:24,699 –> 00:24:27,459That’s designed so that you could do one a week a nice33000:24:27,699 –> 00:24:30,839Gentle hike through the Bible so that at the end of the year33100:24:30,839 –> 00:24:38,280You really have crossed the Bible as a whole and you’ve got a clearer grip on what it is that God saying into your life33200:24:38,660 –> 00:24:39,160well33300:24:39,160 –> 00:24:40,300We’d love to send you33400:24:40,300 –> 00:24:47,780Collin’s new book when you set up a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of 5033500:24:47,780 –> 00:24:52,579Pounds or more this month full terms and conditions online at our website33600:24:52,819 –> 00:24:56,780Open the Bible org dot UK and you can give online33700:24:57,540 –> 00:25:01,380Don’t forget to leave your name and address so we can send you your gift33800:25:02,400 –> 00:25:08,880For open the Bible and pastor Collin Smith. I’m David pick and I look forward to being with you again next time33900:25:14,719 –> 00:25:17,380Simeon was an ordinary man who had the extraordinary34000:25:17,959 –> 00:25:22,219Privilege of holding Jesus in his arms eight days after he was born34100:25:22,219 –> 00:25:29,439Here his testimony and discover what he said about the Son of God. That’s next time on open the Bible