1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:02,600 So it's been a joy meeting out here. 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,700 Thank you guys for being patient with us during a little bit of a 3 00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:08,600 crazy season. As I said earlier. 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:10,400 My name is Joel McCarthy. I have the privilege of serving 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,100 as the pastor for preaching and oversight here at new Eden 6 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:16,000 Church. It's been a joy to do ministry. 7 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,900 Alongside you all. I truly count it a privilege to 8 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:22,300 just be a part of what God is doing here even during a really 9 00:00:22,300 --> 00:00:25,800 busy Chaotic season. It's also like this season of 10 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:27,800 the building Kevin and I talked about how we feel like we're in 11 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,400 just like a dead Sprint. Trying to get to the The end of 12 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,500 this and it's just kind of, you know, the thing that hangs over 13 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:36,200 everything else we do. It's also hit me during quite a 14 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,200 bit of a busy personal season. And so it kind of adds a little 15 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,800 bit of stress to an already stressful time. 16 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:47,400 Now, all of us have some way that we like to unplug and 17 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,200 decompress from stress. So I don't know what it is for 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:51,900 you. I'm one of the ways that our 19 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:55,700 modern America World American World does that is through TV 20 00:00:55,700 --> 00:00:58,700 shows or movies, right? We can escape reality and enter 21 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:02,300 into another world for Little bit and just sit back and watch 22 00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:05,099 that world. So that's something that I do 23 00:01:05,099 --> 00:01:08,700 recently, my wife and I have been watching the show Ted lasso 24 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:10,800 together. So that's one that we won't 25 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,500 watch. If we can't watch it together. 26 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:14,400 We'll just watch it alongside each other. 27 00:01:14,700 --> 00:01:17,700 So the other show that I kind of watch when she can be, there is 28 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:20,100 the show Lost. So, I know I'm like, I don't 29 00:01:20,100 --> 00:01:22,300 know, 10 years behind or something, but I've heard people 30 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:24,000 talk about it. Like, I need a new show to 31 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:25,500 watch. I'm going to try it normally 32 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:28,500 shows, really make me annoyed like before, season, one ends, 33 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:30,600 and I give up on them, but I still Chuck with this one. 34 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,500 So I'm watching that show. We're not caught up on either 35 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:35,700 show. So don't come spoil anything. 36 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,900 I don't like spoilers. Although with lost. 37 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:39,800 I think it's unfair because I'm like 10 years behind. 38 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,400 So if you spoil that, that's on me, not you guys. 39 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,200 But so the show Lost, you know, the premise of the show. 40 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,800 I mean, it makes sense is called Lost, is that these people have 41 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,100 this airplane, wreck, and they're stranded on this island. 42 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:54,800 And so the opening scene opens with them, just scrambling 43 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:56,500 figuring out what's going on. Right? 44 00:01:56,500 --> 00:01:59,400 And so you're watching the show and especially in season one. 45 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,000 What's your Watching is these people want to be rescued and 46 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,400 they not only want to be rescued actually expect to be rescued. 47 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:09,800 They're assuming that the rescue boats going to come soon. 48 00:02:09,900 --> 00:02:12,800 They won't move Inland because they want to stay on the beach. 49 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,500 They want to send out signal fires. 50 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:17,100 So the rescue team can see them when they come. 51 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,800 And so as the the seasons progress, some of them get more 52 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,100 comfortable and kind of make this place their home, but still 53 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:26,700 like the resounding kind of theme underneath everything is 54 00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:31,100 that they still want to go home. They want to Be rescued their 55 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:35,300 longing and hoping to be saved. And today in our text. 56 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:39,200 We're going to see a people who whether they fully understand it 57 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:40,900 or not. Even though they might get 58 00:02:40,900 --> 00:02:45,100 distracted by life at times. Like we do ultimately, they are 59 00:02:45,100 --> 00:02:50,400 longing and looking for a rescuer for a savior for a 60 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:55,400 messiah and the sad part is he's right in front of them, but many 61 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,800 of them refuse to believe as we do here in New Eden. 62 00:02:59,900 --> 00:03:02,300 Preaching through a book of the Bible. 63 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:05,100 That's what we typically do and we're in the Gospel of John 64 00:03:05,100 --> 00:03:07,900 currently and this week. We're in John chapter 8, verses 65 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:11,800 21 through 29 as you heard read a moment ago. 66 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,000 I have this big idea for our theme is should be on the screen 67 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,300 for you. This is a big idea of our text 68 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:20,100 today. Jesus is The Rescuer. 69 00:03:20,700 --> 00:03:27,300 We are all looking for. Jesus is The Rescuer that we are 70 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:31,700 all looking for. So, as has been the case, a lot 71 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:35,500 recently, our text today is simply a conversation between 72 00:03:35,500 --> 00:03:38,700 Jesus and a group of people. This has been happening a lot 73 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:41,600 this week. It's a group referred simply to, 74 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,100 as the Jews, this group of people. 75 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:49,400 Jesus is conversing with is most likely a large group of diverse 76 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,100 people. Probably everything from haters, 77 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,000 that hate Jesus Skeptics doubters. 78 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,400 Probably some who, hopefully believe that maybe this is the 79 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,900 coming Messiah and We everybody in between last week. 80 00:04:02,900 --> 00:04:05,000 We saw him. He just got done talking to some 81 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,500 religious leaders and he said that he was the light of the 82 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:11,700 world and this week. He's going to continue these 83 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:16,300 claims of messiahship with some statements to this crowd. 84 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,200 So the conversation in our text, you just heard it, read it goes 85 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,000 back and forth in a pretty clear manner inverse. 86 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,000 This is like, I'm going to give you a summary of the whole text 87 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,900 real quick and like my own translation. 88 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,300 This is the way I kind of understand it. 89 00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:33,700 Of condensing it for us. So in verse 21, Jesus is like, 90 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,400 yo guys, I'm going away soon. You're going to keep looking for 91 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,600 a messiah once I do, but you're not going to find them and 92 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,000 sorry. You're going to die in your 93 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,600 sins. And the Jews are like, huh? 94 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:48,000 Like what's he talking about? We're a little confused as to 95 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,700 what's going on here. And then Jesus responds again. 96 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:53,100 He's like, guys, I'm not like you. 97 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:55,700 Of course, you don't get it. We're not the same. 98 00:04:55,900 --> 00:05:00,200 You need to believe that I am who I say I am or You're going 99 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,500 to die in your sins. The Jews again are like, what 100 00:05:03,500 --> 00:05:04,900 are you talking about? Like, who are you? 101 00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:06,400 Is what they say? Like, he's I don't know if 102 00:05:06,407 --> 00:05:08,200 that's like a who do you think you are? 103 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,000 Or who are you? What Authority do you have to 104 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,200 say these things? And then Jesus responds. 105 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,400 Again? He's based like, brother. 106 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,700 Like I've been saying this, he's like, I've been saying this from 107 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:18,200 the beginning and he goes. He kind of makes a statement. 108 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,700 It's kind of funny is like I've got more to say to, but I'm 109 00:05:20,707 --> 00:05:22,400 going to kind of let that go right now because I'm only going 110 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,300 to say what my father tells me to and the Jews. 111 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:28,500 Again, were told by the narrator of the passage that they are 112 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:31,600 confused. And then in verse 28, and 29, 113 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,200 the end of our text. Jesus says, you're gonna get it 114 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,400 soon. You're going to see the plan 115 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,700 when you eventually kill me and then you'll know that I am the 116 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:43,400 one you're looking for. And you'll also know that I'm 117 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,900 not doing this on my own that you'll see the big picture that 118 00:05:46,900 --> 00:05:50,500 I'm working with my father and that's basically the 119 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:54,400 conversation of our text today. Now, some of the language in our 120 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,700 current understanding and the translations can be awkward and 121 00:05:57,700 --> 00:06:00,300 some of this we can get caught up in the Expert. 122 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:03,000 If we kind of just look at it. As I was studying the text. 123 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,300 There are these repeating things. 124 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,200 One of the repeated themes is that these people will die in 125 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,300 their sins. Jesus says that three different 126 00:06:12,300 --> 00:06:15,700 times in the text. He also uses the language in the 127 00:06:15,700 --> 00:06:18,300 Greek. I am multiple times as we've 128 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:21,800 already seen through John, which reminds us of Yahweh, the name 129 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,300 of God, and so you what you're seeing and what's building up in 130 00:06:25,308 --> 00:06:29,700 this text is too Stark reality between who Jesus is. 131 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,200 And between between who these people are he Compares himself 132 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,200 with them. He says we are not like each 133 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:37,900 other. You are of this world. 134 00:06:37,900 --> 00:06:40,000 I am not of this world. You are from below. 135 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,500 I am from above and so there is this stark contrast that Jesus 136 00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:48,200 is headed to perfect union. With his god. 137 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,800 With his father. He's on a path to sinless and 138 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:56,500 perfect Eternal Union and that humans are on this path toward 139 00:06:56,500 --> 00:07:00,800 death and sin and there is this giant Gap. 140 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,800 And if they have eyes to see and if we have eyes to see, will 141 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:10,100 notice that we need a rescuer that we are lost. 142 00:07:10,300 --> 00:07:14,200 We need someone to close the gap for us and divert our path from 143 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,200 one towards deaf to a path toward life. 144 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:23,000 But before we can do that, we have to be honest about death, 145 00:07:23,700 --> 00:07:28,200 as Jesus Is In this passage. There are three main thoughts, 146 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,000 about death from this text. I want us to see which we'll all 147 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,700 point us to our main idea that Jesus is The Rescuer. 148 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:37,700 We are all looking for. So the first thought about death 149 00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:41,400 from our passage is the reality of death. 150 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:45,500 This is something that we often don't like to talk about. 151 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,300 But there's no getting away from the truth In this passage about 152 00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:53,600 Sin and death that Jesus proclaimed. 153 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:56,600 This is the reason we preach what we call Exposition and 154 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,300 Preach through the whole text because it forces us to wrestle 155 00:08:00,300 --> 00:08:02,700 with things. That sometimes we would 156 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:06,800 naturally bring up. But death is a real thing. 157 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:10,700 I know some of you personally have have faced death with loved 158 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:14,300 ones close to you in the last year like death has been to me. 159 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:17,000 It's just been closer than it has in a long time. 160 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,400 In the last 6 months, 6 to 12 months. 161 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,200 We have to wrestle with sin and death. 162 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,000 As I was studying this text. I was struck a A fresh by the 163 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,800 reality. And These Warnings about Sin and 164 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,400 death directly from the mouth of Jesus. 165 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,700 This is not me bringing this to the text. 166 00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:41,100 Like, let's look at what Jesus has to say to the crowd and to 167 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:46,300 us. John 8:21 says, you will die in 168 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:52,500 your sin where I'm going. You cannot come verse. 24 says, 169 00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:56,500 I told you that you will die in your sins for if you do not 170 00:08:56,500 --> 00:09:01,200 believe Give that I am. He you will die in your sins. 171 00:09:02,300 --> 00:09:07,200 Because Jesus loves them deeply and because he doesn't want them 172 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:11,100 to die in their sins. He is not afraid to speak to 173 00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:16,300 them about the reality of death. Ultimately, because of sin in 174 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:18,700 the world. There is a death that is coming 175 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:24,100 to every man and woman and none of us can escape this reality 176 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,400 and death stinks. Like it wasn't meant to be this 177 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:28,900 way. Like we say, death is a part of 178 00:09:28,908 --> 00:09:32,500 life and there's a sense in which yes, it is now, but Julie 179 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:36,000 in the, the perfect world that God created death was not meant 180 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,300 to be a part of life, but sin has come into the world and we 181 00:09:39,300 --> 00:09:43,000 all at one time or another will face death. 182 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:46,200 This phrase. That's repeated three times. 183 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,100 You will die in your sins. It could mean that it could also 184 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:52,400 mean you will die for or because of your sins. 185 00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:57,900 Either way the Stark reality is that death awaits and sin is the 186 00:09:57,900 --> 00:10:00,700 culprit. The other thing that should 187 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:04,300 shock us about this statement that's important for us to see 188 00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:08,300 is that it's not only death, but it's also sin. 189 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,700 So there is this physical aspect to dying, right, but there is 190 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:17,600 also So a spiritual death. When we die still in our sins, 191 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,800 that every single human is inflicted with the disease of 192 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:22,800 sin. And this applies not only to the 193 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,900 crowd that Jesus was talking to in his day, but it is a 194 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:30,700 universal truth. Excuse me, that applies to all 195 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:34,700 of us. We will die in our sins without 196 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:38,300 belief in the Savior. Jesus Christ Our King, so he 197 00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:41,600 speaks, not only of death. He speaks not only of sin, but 198 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,700 he also speaks of a separation. Even from their creator. 199 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,300 He says where I am going because of your sin. 200 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:53,400 You cannot come. I'm going to be in Union with my 201 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,900 father, but you can't come and this is something again. 202 00:10:56,900 --> 00:11:00,300 We don't often like to talk about, but it's in the text and 203 00:11:00,308 --> 00:11:05,600 we've got to wrestle with it. Sin is bad and it destroys and 204 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,500 not only in this age. We see the effects of it in this 205 00:11:08,500 --> 00:11:12,000 age, but also and more importantly in the age to come. 206 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,000 And instead of getting up. That or offended at the 207 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,800 messenger. We might do well to heed the 208 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:22,300 truth of the message. It's one thing I have to remind 209 00:11:22,300 --> 00:11:26,000 my kids about a lot and as I remind them, it reminds me of 210 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,000 the danger and destruction of sin when they sin and they 211 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,100 minimize it as not. A big deal. 212 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,600 I have to get on their level and I say, look what you don't 213 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,400 understand right now and you will someday, is that sin will 214 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,200 hurt? Not only you, but everyone 215 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,100 around you. And ultimately and I tell them 216 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:49,800 that your sin will lead to death and separation from God and I 217 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,700 don't want that. For you and then I asked him, 218 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:56,300 you know what that means? You need someone to rescue you 219 00:11:56,500 --> 00:12:01,600 from since grasp and then we have a conversation about Jesus. 220 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,100 But if we don't acknowledge the reality of death and sin, if we 221 00:12:05,100 --> 00:12:09,500 simply get upset at the truth of the diagnosis, then we will 222 00:12:09,500 --> 00:12:14,400 never get to the Cure. The message and the reality of 223 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:18,500 death is a consistent. True and authoritative message. 224 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:21,400 Jesus says that in verse 25 and 26. 225 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,400 He says I've been telling you this from the beginning. 226 00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:27,200 It's a consistent message. When Jesus first began his 227 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,500 ministry. He said, hey, come to me. 228 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:31,700 If you don't, you will find Death. 229 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:35,500 If you do, you will find life. It's been consistent. 230 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,300 It's been true because it's backed by the authority of the 231 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:45,200 father, its authoritative. In a culture that devalues and 232 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,900 distrust of authority and maybe sometimes rightly. 233 00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:53,500 So this is an authority that you can't afford to distrust. 234 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,400 You can't afford to ignore this authoritative message. 235 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,600 Jesus is not just trying to be the bearer of bad news. 236 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,400 He cares deeply about these people and he cares deeply about 237 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,400 you. So he shares these truths about 238 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,400 the reality of death. But I love the way Jesus 239 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,900 interacts because he doesn't just share about the reality of 240 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:17,800 death. He gives the explanations, he 241 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,900 shares as well about the reason for death. 242 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,500 And that's the second thing. We'll see. 243 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:28,200 The reason for death, see death, ultimately awaits. 244 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,500 All of us because we are both Sinners by circumstance and 245 00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:37,600 Sinners by choice. And we need to understand this. 246 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:43,400 We are all on one level, both the victims of sins, grasp, and 247 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:49,100 the perpetrators of sin, and we can't minimize either reality. 248 00:13:49,100 --> 00:13:52,300 They both need to be dealt with in verse 23. 249 00:13:52,300 --> 00:13:53,600 Jesus. Plainly tells them. 250 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,400 It should be on the screen. He says, you are from below. 251 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,400 I am from above, you are of this world. 252 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:04,200 I am not of this world. This is their identity, their of 253 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,800 this world. Now, these people have any 254 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,600 control over the fact, whether or not, they were born into sin, 255 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:16,000 conceived in sin as David said, in Psalm 51. 256 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:21,100 No, they had no control over. This is, was the circumstance of 257 00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:24,800 sin that was around them. But Jesus doesn't mince words 258 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,700 that this is their reality. They were born to do the will of 259 00:14:28,700 --> 00:14:31,600 sin and bound to its powerful. Way. 260 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:35,400 And these are the circumstances of sin that all of us find 261 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,700 ourselves in. They were also centers by choice 262 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,400 multiple times. These people had been given 263 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,800 options to repent and turn from their sin, and Trust in this 264 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,400 Messiah, but they refused to do so, because to do so meant to 265 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,500 give up their life and lose their own way of thinking. 266 00:14:54,300 --> 00:14:57,900 You see it in verse 24, 25 and 27, that they don't know the 267 00:14:57,900 --> 00:15:00,400 father, because they're rejecting Jesus, and you can't 268 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,700 know the father without coming to Jesus. 269 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:08,800 And so, my hope for us is that we don't either minimize the 270 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,100 grasp of sin over us or others because we can do that to the 271 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,900 point that we don't show love and compassion. 272 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:18,900 We make it all about the choice of sin and we show no love or 273 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:22,500 compassion when people are caught in sins, powerful grasp. 274 00:15:22,900 --> 00:15:26,800 Even God himself sees our frame and remembers that we are simply 275 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,400 dust and he has compassion and love toward us when he sees us 276 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,800 caught in sins grass. And so may we not go to that 277 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,700 extreme, but may we also not make excuses and pretend that we 278 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:40,100 are just the victims of sins grasp. 279 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,800 When the reality is we all on one level or another have chosen 280 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,300 sin for our own purposes and selfish Pleasures ignoring the 281 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:50,300 destruction that it's caused around us. 282 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,100 And so the reason for death that Jesus gives is both the 283 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:57,100 circumstances of sin. We find ourselves in but also 284 00:15:57,300 --> 00:16:00,600 the choices of sin that we have all willingly made and it's a 285 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:05,000 vicious cycle. but even in the midst of a dark passage such as 286 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,500 this one, even in the midst of the Stark, reality of death, we 287 00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:14,300 find glimmers of Hope. As we always do see the bad news 288 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:16,700 with Jesus. The bad news never stays bad for 289 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:21,300 long because there is always a rescue for those who admit that 290 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:24,900 they need one. Look at verse 21 again. 291 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,700 When he starts this, he says to them again. 292 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:33,200 I'm going away. You will look for me and you 293 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,100 will die in your sin where I'm going. 294 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:40,200 You cannot come. Jesus says that when he goes 295 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,100 back to his father. So this is after he dies and 296 00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:46,500 rises again in a sense to the father that they will be looking 297 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:48,700 for him. Now, this phrase can seem a 298 00:16:48,708 --> 00:16:52,200 little weird, but we've got to place ourselves in the minds of 299 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:56,100 the Jewish audience ever since the days of the prophets. 300 00:16:56,100 --> 00:17:01,400 The Use were longing for a messiah, like, figure one who 301 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,400 would come and redeem both the cosmos the circumstance of sin, 302 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:10,000 and the hearts of his people, the choices of sin. 303 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:12,800 And so, they're longing for this Messiah. 304 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,400 This rescue are the Savior, and Jesus has told them multiple 305 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,200 times. That's me. 306 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:21,000 You're looking at him, you're talking to him. 307 00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:23,500 They've heard this message, but they've rejected him. 308 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,400 And so what Jesus is saying here is, hey, you're still We're 309 00:17:26,408 --> 00:17:29,300 going to be looking for me, meaning the Messiah once I'm 310 00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:32,300 gone and you're not going to find them and because you're not 311 00:17:32,300 --> 00:17:34,000 going to find them. Because you rejected him. 312 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,400 You're going to die in your sins. 313 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,800 And you can't come to the place of beauty where I'm headed. 314 00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:45,700 When you are a worker of sin. See the thing is even if we're 315 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:48,700 not willing to admit it yet. All of us. 316 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:54,300 Need a rescuer and it's God's grace that sin destroys us to 317 00:17:54,300 --> 00:18:00,600 the point where we're willing to look up and say help, I can't do 318 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,600 this. We all need someone or something 319 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,100 to save us from the circumstances of sin around us 320 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,400 and the choices of sin that we have made with our own hearts. 321 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:14,400 And, you know what, we try to do, we try to patch this This 322 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,500 this destructiveness. We try to fix it with things of 323 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:21,300 this age, with our own ways of thinking, maybe we look for the 324 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:23,300 solution. If I just had more free time in 325 00:18:23,300 --> 00:18:25,800 a better schedule. I would my life would be better. 326 00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:30,200 Maybe if I was in a higher income bracket, maybe if I had a 327 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,300 car that didn't break down, then I would not have stress in my 328 00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:35,700 life. Maybe if I found that therapist 329 00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:39,800 that was more in tune with me. Maybe if I found this this calls 330 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,800 to live for, in this purpose, to live for and post about on 331 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,900 Facebook, then like, My life will be fulfilled. 332 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,200 Maybe if I had that perfect relationship, that perfect 333 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,800 person who would complete me. Then I would be okay. 334 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,200 Maybe if I voted a different president in the power. 335 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,700 It might save me. Maybe if I watch the news 336 00:18:59,700 --> 00:19:03,600 Channel that I agreed with more. I would be okay. 337 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,800 And let me say clearly, none of those things are bad in and of 338 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,100 themselves, but they can't save you. 339 00:19:13,300 --> 00:19:17,700 They can't save me, they can be gifts from the father, good 340 00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:21,800 things, but they can't cause you to pass from Death to life. 341 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:26,700 They can't take a cold dead heart, that loves sin, and 342 00:19:26,700 --> 00:19:29,800 replace it with the heart that beats with the Rhythm of Life 343 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:34,600 and joy of the spirit. They might patch the problem for 344 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,200 a minute and cover the wound. So no one can see it from the 345 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,300 outside looking in, but that wound is still there. 346 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,800 And yes, Jesus said that without him, we could not go to where he 347 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:53,400 was going, but he came to us. We've seen the reality of death, 348 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,300 the reason for death. And lastly we see the good news, 349 00:19:57,500 --> 00:20:02,600 the rescue from death. As I mentioned, there was this 350 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:06,700 looking and longing for a rescuer one who would come and 351 00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:09,100 save the world from sin and death. 352 00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:11,800 This this idea is referenced throughout the entire Old 353 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,200 Testament, but I want to look at one specific example, Isaiah 354 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,500 chapter 43, It should be on the screen for you. 355 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:21,500 Going to read a few verses from that chapter. 356 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:25,100 This is a prophecy about what Yahweh is going to do for all 357 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:28,200 his Covenant people. It says, in the first verse of, 358 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,600 Isaiah 43. Now, this is what the Lord says. 359 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,100 I want you to notice these verses, the one who created you. 360 00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:39,800 Jacob, the one who formed you Israel do not fear for I have 361 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:44,300 redeemed or rescued. You I have called you by your 362 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:46,700 name. You are mine. 363 00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:49,200 Fine. When you pass through the waters 364 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:53,900 of this life, the circumstances of sin, I will be with you and 365 00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:56,100 the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. 366 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:59,900 When you walk through the fire. You will not be scorched and the 367 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:03,700 flame will not burn you. In verse 10. 368 00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:07,400 He says you are my Witnesses. It's the Lord's declaration. 369 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,000 He's the one saying this you're my witness is you're my servant 370 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,700 whom I have chosen. Why? 371 00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:14,700 Why? So that you may know and believe 372 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:22,100 and understand that I am he Unless you believe that I am, he 373 00:21:22,500 --> 00:21:25,300 you will die in your sins. He was gonna say no, God was 374 00:21:25,300 --> 00:21:27,500 formed before me, there will be none after me. 375 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:31,300 I am the Lord, besides me. There is no savior. 376 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,000 You can't find The Rescuer anywhere else. 377 00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:36,800 I alone declared saved and proclaimed. 378 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,500 Not some foreign. God among you. 379 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,000 Now, some God, you fashion with your own hands that we still do 380 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:46,300 to this day. You are my Witnesses and I am 381 00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:50,100 God. Also from today on, I am, he 382 00:21:50,100 --> 00:21:53,600 alone. None can rescue from my power. 383 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,300 I act. And who can reverse it. 384 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,000 The rhetorical answer is no one. There's this prophecy of this 385 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,800 chosen servant these Witnesses, which is what Jesus is 386 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,900 fulfilling that. These people may know, and 387 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:12,300 believe that I am, he this name, we've seen it over and over in 388 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:14,200 the Gospel of John. On this name. 389 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,900 I am that. Yahweh declared himself to Moses 390 00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:20,600 at the burning bush that this Lord alone is the one who can 391 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,600 save from the power of sin. And in our passage today. 392 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,800 Jesus is again, making it explicitly clear that he is The 393 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,900 Rescuer. He's the Fulfillment of this. 394 00:22:31,900 --> 00:22:35,400 Look, again at verse 24. I told you you will die in your 395 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,900 sins. For, if you do not believe that 396 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:42,200 I am, he I can hear Jesus pleading with them. 397 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,000 I am the Messiah. I'm the one I've been saying 398 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,000 from the beginning. You will die in your sins. 399 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,100 Jesus is honest about the reality of death in the reasons 400 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,500 for death because he himself stands as the rescue from Death. 401 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,200 He lived the perfect life. He's the only one who didn't 402 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,600 succumb to the circumstances of sin around him. 403 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:06,800 As the tempter told him to choose Earthly power over the 404 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,600 path that the father had chosen for him. 405 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,300 He remains steadfast. He was not tainted. 406 00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:17,900 He was not conceived in sin. Verse 23, he reminds us that 407 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:19,600 he's from above, he's not from below. 408 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:25,000 He's not of this world. As we're told in verse 29. 409 00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:28,800 He always did what pleased, his father. 410 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:33,800 He's the only child who's never disappointed their parent. 411 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,800 But even though he lived a perfect life, he showed that he 412 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,800 had power over both the circumstances and choices of 413 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,800 sin. He still allowed himself to walk 414 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,200 into the death that our sin deserved. 415 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,000 Even though he warned us of dying because of our sin. 416 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:57,900 The reality is, he died because of our sin, he became sin on the 417 00:23:57,900 --> 00:23:59,600 cross. That's what he refers to. 418 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,700 When he says, you'll know, when I am lifted up. 419 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,500 He's talking about his death on the cross. 420 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,900 When he talked about going away, they said, is he going to kill 421 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:11,500 himself and the irony of this statement? 422 00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:14,100 Because it was not going to be him killing himself. 423 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:17,100 It was going to be the Jews, placing him on a cross. 424 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:24,900 And as he does, this Jesus deals with the reason for death sin, 425 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:28,500 and he stamps it out and he puts it to death. 426 00:24:29,100 --> 00:24:30,800 He deals with both the choices of sin. 427 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,400 We make in our heart and the circumstances of sin around us 428 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,000 the cosmos. And the gruesome reality of the 429 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,100 Cross. As we dwell on it, lets us never 430 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:44,500 forget the destructiveness of sin, it tore apart. 431 00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:52,400 The son of God's flesh and skin. It pierced his side, it whipped 432 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:57,000 his back and nailed his hands and his feet to this bloody 433 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,500 Roman torture instrument called the cross. 434 00:25:00,500 --> 00:25:02,700 And he willingly did that to rescue us. 435 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:08,200 But verse 21 reminds us that Jesus did not stay in the grave. 436 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,500 He said I'm going somewhere and that somewhere was not to the 437 00:25:11,500 --> 00:25:13,300 Grave. His going away was not 438 00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:16,200 ultimately to death. It was going through death and 439 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,500 resurrecting to sit at the right hand of his father in the place 440 00:25:19,500 --> 00:25:23,900 of authority. And even though he says that we 441 00:25:23,900 --> 00:25:26,600 can't join him there. John will later clarify, that 442 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,300 that's the only true for those who die in their sins. 443 00:25:29,300 --> 00:25:32,400 That for those who believe that he is the one for those who 444 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,400 repent from trusting in the Most Rescuers of this age, when we 445 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,100 turn to Jesus. We receive his life. 446 00:25:39,100 --> 00:25:40,400 Death, burial. Resurrection. 447 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:43,300 And we like, we have to understand this reality of 448 00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:46,300 Union. You are made one with the father 449 00:25:46,300 --> 00:25:49,300 when you trust in Jesus. And there's a sense in which 450 00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:52,500 that's not fully accomplished yet, but it is just as good as 451 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:54,400 done. And it's a reality. 452 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:59,900 No one can take that away. The one who acts no one can 453 00:25:59,900 --> 00:26:02,900 reverse it. And when Jesus makes you, his no 454 00:26:02,900 --> 00:26:04,300 one can take that away. Away. 455 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:09,500 And because of the work of Jesus, all that's left for you 456 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:15,200 is to Simply believe. And if you've not trusted him 457 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:21,900 yet, like fully trusted Jesus, we want you to believe that he 458 00:26:21,900 --> 00:26:25,700 is the I am or you will die in your sins. 459 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:30,500 And for those of us who have trusted in him, may we be 460 00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:34,900 reminded again of the good news? And turn to the only one who can 461 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:39,800 save to turn again from false Rescuers and false Idols that we 462 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,700 think can fulfill and save us and turn again to Yahweh. 463 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:45,400 The I am Jesus. The Messiah who came and died 464 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,400 for your sins while you were still a sinner. 465 00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:55,000 We can smile when facing the fires of death and the torrents 466 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,000 of Destruction. We don't have to fear because in 467 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,600 Christ Yahweh is with us. We don't have to have 468 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:06,100 reservation when God acts to destroy sin, because we have 469 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:09,500 been rescued from it, and our sin has already been destroyed 470 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:13,700 on the cross Christ, has, exchanged his righteousness for 471 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:17,900 our sin, and given us his, the smile of the father. 472 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,200 Now, now in Christ, you're the kids who never disappoint their 473 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,300 parent. You guys know what, it's like to 474 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:27,000 have the critical father over you or mother over you. 475 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,900 We can even be that constantly critiquing because we don't want 476 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:34,800 our kids to embarrass us. Like Hebrews tells us that God 477 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,600 is not ashamed to be called yours. 478 00:27:38,900 --> 00:27:41,600 But he's not a shame that you bear the family name, no matter 479 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,100 how many times you messed it up, but he's not ashamed of you. 480 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,100 What in the world? God knows your frame. 481 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:55,900 He knows you're simply dust and he's provided a rescuer who is 482 00:27:55,900 --> 00:28:00,500 gentle and lowly in heart. And when we begin to grasp this 483 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:03,200 and we turn to him instead of other things, it actually 484 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,600 transforms us, like people can actually change through the 485 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:12,400 power of the spirit, like transformation is possible. and 486 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,000 it doesn't happen perfectly until Jesus comes back, but it 487 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,500 does happen just like Jesus burst into Earth his likeness 488 00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:25,100 burst into our hearts in the Here and Now eternity the new 489 00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:29,900 creation breaks forth and we begin living More like Christ 490 00:28:29,900 --> 00:28:34,200 slowly formed into His Image. So what are the implications of 491 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:35,900 this? We become a people who are not 492 00:28:35,900 --> 00:28:38,900 of this world. Just like Christ was not of this 493 00:28:38,900 --> 00:28:41,100 world. Now, we are in the world. 494 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:43,100 We're in the muck and the mire, and the mass. 495 00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:46,000 And we get dirty just like Jesus did. 496 00:28:46,100 --> 00:28:50,000 But our identity is clearly an obviously markedly different. 497 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,100 Our homeland is not of this age. We seek a country. 498 00:28:54,100 --> 00:28:56,200 That's to come one, whose maker and Builder. 499 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:00,000 Is God the one where Jesus sits on the Roan not any Earthly. 500 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,900 Ruler. And just like Jesus and we did 501 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:06,600 look at it much, but he said he was sent to speak, only what the 502 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:11,300 father told him and just like us and powered by the power of the 503 00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:14,200 spirit. We don't say too little and we 504 00:29:14,208 --> 00:29:17,800 don't say too much. We just speak truth and 505 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:21,800 wholeness and beauty and life pointing everyone to Jesus where 506 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,400 hope can be found. Like, that's my hope for me 507 00:29:25,500 --> 00:29:26,900 because I get convicted about this. 508 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:32,200 Is that my conversations and my newsfeed might be filled more 509 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:37,200 with the truth and beauty of Jesus and politics or sports or 510 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:39,700 any other false Rescuers, the world tries to offer us. 511 00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:44,800 And we can have those conversations But ultimately 512 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,400 Jesus is where we place our hope. 513 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,100 And it doesn't mean we don't talk about the reality of death 514 00:29:49,300 --> 00:29:53,100 and Brokenness, but we don't grieve as those without hope. 515 00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:55,300 Yes, we're living in a Land of death. 516 00:29:55,300 --> 00:29:58,900 So we grieve but death does not have the last word. 517 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,800 There is a reality of death. There's a reason for death and 518 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:06,700 there's also a rescue from death and that rescue is a person and 519 00:30:06,700 --> 00:30:11,000 his name is Jesus repent and believe the good news of the 520 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:12,900 Gospel. Or let's pray.