1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,680 If you've been here for any length of time at all and you 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:09,720 know me as a person, you you know Christmas dies hard with 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,520 me. I love Christmas, I love the 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,960 season. In fact, I have a hard time even 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:22,040 taking down my trees. So yesterday I finally took down 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,520 the trees in my house. And that's because spring has 7 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,520 sprung and so I figured it's probably a good time to take 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:35,720 down my Christmas trees. But know this, that before you 9 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,440 brand me a lunatic, understand that if there is no birth, there 10 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,920 is no death. If there is no death, there is 11 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,640 no life and you are still dead in your sins. 12 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,520 So that's why Christmas dies hard for me. 13 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,200 Everything is about the celebration of the the coming of 14 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,320 the Messiah. And that's why John's gospel is 15 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,120 so unique because he, he gives us the Christmas story from the 16 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,960 divine perspective. Seven weeks ago we we told you 17 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:07,000 about this, that that Matthew and and Luke give us the 18 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,360 Christmas story from earth's perspective. 19 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,040 But John does it from a heavenly perspective. 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,880 He does in 4 words. The word became flesh, just that 21 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,160 simple. The word of course, is God. 22 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,400 And the God became flesh, and he dwelt among us. 23 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,000 And everything about John's gospel introduces to us the 24 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,600 Christmas story from a heavenly perspective. 25 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,040 So the Word became flesh. So the question is, why did the 26 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,760 Word come? Why did the Word arrive? 27 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:45,840 Why? Why did God become man and dwell 28 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:50,960 among us? That's a good question, and it's 29 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:56,160 answered quite easily. He, he, the Word became flesh 30 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,480 because he had to redeem humanity. 31 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,320 He could not redeem humanity unless unless he died upon 32 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,720 Calvary's cross. And the Bible tells us that God 33 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,360 so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that 34 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,720 whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting 35 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,760 life. First Timothy chapter 2. 36 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:22,680 Paul says this is good and acceptable in the sight of God 37 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,560 our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the 38 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,680 knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one 39 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,480 mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave 40 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:40,480 himself a ransom for all. So the Word became flesh because 41 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:42,360 He simply had to redeem humanity. 42 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:46,480 But but to redeem humanity had to remove iniquity. 43 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,480 So John tells us in first John chapter 3 verse #5 these words, 44 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:58,280 you know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in 45 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,080 Him there is no sin. Why did the Word become flesh? 46 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,680 So He can redeem humanity, but you can't redeem humanity unless 47 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:12,920 you remove iniquity. So He came to remove iniquity. 48 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,200 But in removing iniquity, He had to ravage the enemy. 49 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,320 That's first. John 3 verse #8 He says the Son 50 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:25,720 of God appeared for this purpose to destroy the works of the 51 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,480 devil. Very important statement. 52 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,400 In order to redeem humanity, he must remove iniquity. 53 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,960 In order to remove iniquity, he had to ravage the enemy, which 54 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:42,960 he did at Calvary. Once He ravaged the enemy #4 He 55 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:48,120 could restore, restore man's dignity. 56 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,680 So John tells us in first John 3 verse #1 See how great a love 57 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,800 the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the 58 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:04,080 children of God. Why did the Word become flesh? 59 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:11,000 To remove iniquity, To redeem humanity, To ravage the enemy, 60 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:20,360 to restore man's dignity. But there was another reason the 61 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:30,240 Word became flesh, and that was to reveal Deity, God in the 62 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,040 flesh. God dwelt among us. 63 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,760 He is the exact representation of the Father. 64 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:43,400 And so therefore He came to reveal God to us. 65 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:48,680 The Word was God, the Word was with God, and the Word became 66 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:54,600 flesh. And the only way to reveal deity 67 00:04:56,840 --> 00:05:03,720 was for the Word to become flesh and dwell among us. 68 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:12,720 But note, he also came to reaffirm prophecy so he could 69 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:18,280 rise in victory. Everything about His coming 70 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:20,960 reaffirmed the fact that what was said about him is true. 71 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,280 So it reaffirmed prophecy all about the coming of the Messiah, 72 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,080 how he'd come and where he'd come and how he'd die. 73 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,000 So his coming reaffirmed everything that was said about 74 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:38,840 him prophetically so he could rise in victory. 75 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,920 Mark 831. And he began to teach them, The 76 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,160 Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the 77 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:52,800 elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and 78 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:59,680 after three days rise again. So not only did He reaffirm 79 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:09,480 prophecy, but He rose in victory because He revealed Deity in 80 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,400 order to restore man's dignity. To do so, we had to ravage the 81 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:19,040 enemy, remove iniquity so that He could come and rescue 82 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,240 humanity. But there's another rethinking. 83 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:33,400 So He could return in glory. So he could return in glory. 84 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,120 Listen to what Matthew says. Matthew 24. 85 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,360 Verse #29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days, 86 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,080 the sun will will be darkened, and the moon will not give us 87 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,120 light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of 88 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,840 the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of 89 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:51,920 Man will appear in the sky. And then all the tribes of the 90 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:57,280 earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the 91 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:04,680 clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 92 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:11,280 Why did the Word become flesh? So he could return in glory. 93 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:19,280 And once he returns in glory He will reign in majesty. 94 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:27,120 In Revelation Chapter 11 it says then the 7th Angel sounded in. 95 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,800 There were loud voices in heaven saying the Kingdom of the world 96 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:35,520 has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and it was Christ and he 97 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:43,920 will reign forever and ever. So if someone says why did the 98 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:48,120 word become flesh, you can tell them He came to to redeem 99 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,480 humanity. He came to remove iniquity. 100 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:58,160 He came to ravage the enemy, to restore man's dignity, to reveal 101 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:05,040 deity, to reaffirm prophecy, to make sure you'd rise in victory 102 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:13,560 so you can return in glory, so we can reign in majesty, so that 103 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:22,800 he could rule for eternity. That's why the Word became 104 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:32,480 flesh. Now all of that sums up John's 105 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:41,320 last point in verse #5 of John chapter one, verse 5. 106 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:49,880 Because everything is about the person of Jesus and his 107 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:56,800 invincibility. He's absolutely invincible. 108 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,480 He is sovereign. He rules over all. 109 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:03,480 He cannot be defeated. He is King of kings. 110 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,320 He is Lord of Lords. And so John says, I want to talk 111 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,280 to you not just about his eternality, not just about his 112 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,240 personality, not just about his deity. 113 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,600 I want to talk to you not just about his creativity and his 114 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,320 vitality, all the things that we've covered up to this point, 115 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,280 but I want to talk to you about his invincibility. 116 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:32,360 And that's where verse 5 comes in of John chapter 1. 117 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:40,480 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not 118 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:46,520 comprehend it. This is his invincibility. 119 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,000 This is why the Word became flesh and and dwelt among us, 120 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:58,680 because he's the all powerful, all knowing, all sufficient God 121 00:09:58,680 --> 00:10:05,160 of the universe who was absolutely invincible. 122 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,400 Again, he contrasts light and darkness. 123 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:17,320 Note God is the infinite word, which is light because God is 124 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,600 light and the first thing he created was light. 125 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:27,600 Genesis chapter 1. So the infinite Word is light, 126 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:38,080 the Incarnate Word is light, and the inspired word is light. 127 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,720 Everything about God is light and life. 128 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:49,840 He is the God who is light, who became flesh in his incarnation 129 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,960 and enlightened every man that comes into the world. 130 00:10:53,200 --> 00:11:00,800 That's verse 9 of John 1, and he is the inspired word, the word 131 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,480 of God. These are the very words of God 132 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,880 that provide light. They are lightened to our path 133 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,360 or a lamp to our feet and lightened to our path, and they 134 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,360 lightened the way for us. So John once again is going to 135 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,000 contrast life and light. Why? 136 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,000 Because Satan is darkness, right? 137 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,680 He rules the domain of darkness. That's why Colossians once says 138 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,760 that when you're saved, you're transferred from the Kingdom of 139 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,160 darkness into the Kingdom of light, the Kingdom of God's dear 140 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,400 Son. And and note this that that 141 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:41,600 Ephesians 612 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 142 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:47,000 against the evil forces, the spiritual forces of darkness. 143 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,160 Everything about our our life resolves around a a continual 144 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:57,880 wrestling against not your enemy in the flesh, but the forces of 145 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,360 darkness that you cannot see. And that's why that's why Satan 146 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:06,840 would describe or disguise himself as an Angel of light. 147 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,760 Why? Because he's really dark. 148 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:14,080 He's the Prince of darkness and he rules this world. 149 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:21,600 So John once again is going to contrast life in light with 150 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,920 death and darkness because Satan is Apollyon according to the 151 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,240 Book of Revelation, which is the destroyer. 152 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:34,840 So he wants to contrast light and life again to show you that 153 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:39,560 this word that would become flesh is invincible. 154 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:43,360 That's why the Bible says these words. 155 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:48,440 Verse 5, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did 156 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:55,600 not overcome it. That's the best translation. 157 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,400 Not comprehend. I I have news for you. 158 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:11,680 Every demon who's the subject of Satan completely comprehends the 159 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:17,440 Messiah. They know Him better than you 160 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:22,560 know Him. They know Him inside and out. 161 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:29,680 They are so well acquainted with the Son of God that everything 162 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:34,720 about their relationship to him on earth explains that. 163 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,120 So we know. It doesn't mean that that the 164 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,760 evil forces of darkness could not understand light. 165 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,840 Oh no, they understand Him perfectly clear. 166 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:53,800 They just can't overcome Him. See, it's not about accepting 167 00:13:53,800 --> 00:14:01,800 the Messiah, because they accept Him for who He is, but they will 168 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:06,720 not bow in subjection to Him. That's why they rebelled against 169 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,400 Him. In fact, listen to this. 170 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,040 They understand so much the truth about the Messiah. 171 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:20,480 Matthew 829 says that the demons cried out, saying, what business 172 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:28,920 do we have with the Son of God? Have you come here to torment us 173 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:34,160 before the time? Know what that verse tells you? 174 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:39,280 They understand His Christology and they understand His 175 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,320 eschatology. They understand who Christ is. 176 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,080 He's the Son of God, the Son of the Most High, and they 177 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,440 understand that there's a time for their judgment. 178 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,880 So they have a really good clean understanding of eschatology as 179 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,400 well as Christology. So it's not that the darkness 180 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,840 doesn't understand the Messiah or this word. 181 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,920 Oh no, they understand him completely. 182 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:13,640 They just can't overcome him. And then it says in Mark 134 183 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:17,480 that Jesus cast out many demons and He was not permitting the 184 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,840 demons to speak because they knew who He was. 185 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:28,680 They understand him, but He would not permit them to speak. 186 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,520 Why? Because demons and Satan can't 187 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:39,240 do anything without permission. Satan can do whatever he wants 188 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,520 as long as he asks permission. From who? 189 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:45,480 The invincible king of the universe. 190 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,240 Please understand that Satan is subject to the sovereign King. 191 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,520 Listen to what it says in Luke 441. 192 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:02,200 Demons also were coming out of many shouting You are the Son of 193 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,600 God. But rebuking them, He would not 194 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:11,960 allow them to speak because they knew him to be the Messiah. 195 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:20,520 Interesting. It says this in Luke 434. 196 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:27,360 Let us alone, said the demon. What business do we have with 197 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:32,920 each other? Jesus of Nazareth, have you come 198 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,160 to destroy us? I know who you are. 199 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:47,000 You are the Holy One of God. See that the demons comprehend 200 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:51,120 the Messiah. They know exactly who He is. 201 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:57,160 They are not taken by surprise concerning His identity, His 202 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:02,960 ministry, His eschatology at all. 203 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:14,240 And yet, although they believe God, they tremble, and because 204 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:18,160 He is life and light, they have tried to destroy his life and 205 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,839 extinguish his light. They are relentless at trying to 206 00:17:22,839 --> 00:17:24,520 do that. That's why in the Old Testament, 207 00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:29,080 Satan did all he could to destroy the messianic line, but 208 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:33,520 he could not because of the invincibility of God. 209 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:35,600 But he tried. So desperate. 210 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,360 And then when you come to the New Testament, he incited Herod 211 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:44,080 to to to kill all the children two years and younger, thinking 212 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:48,400 that the Messiah would would be killed and could not go to the 213 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,720 cross. But Herod or Satan failed at 214 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:57,040 that as well because of the invincibility of the Son of God. 215 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,920 And then at his temptation in Matthew chapter 4, Satan tried 216 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,560 to tempt the Christ. Just fall down before me. 217 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:07,920 Worship me. I will give you all the kingdoms 218 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,240 of the world. You don't have to go to the 219 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,160 cross. Why die? 220 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,280 Why go through all the pain? Just worship me. 221 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:18,120 I'll give you everything. And of course, Christ resisted 222 00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:20,480 temptation. Satan failed again because 223 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:29,840 Christ is invincible. And then of course, you have 224 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:35,800 Peter in Matthew chapter 16, who, having voiced the identity 225 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,960 of the Messiah and Christ fulfilling prophecy, tells him 226 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,120 that he's going to suffer and die and rise again. 227 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:47,400 And Peter says, Oh no, that's not who you are, that's not 228 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,200 going to happen to you. And Christ says, get thee behind 229 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,760 me, Satan. Does he get behind me, Peter? 230 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,800 Because Peter, his best friend, was being used by Satan to 231 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,720 detract him from his ultimate mission, which was to die in 232 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,320 Calvary. Satan tried those tactics as 233 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,800 well, but he failed. He could not. 234 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:20,280 And so Satan seemingly triumphed at the cross, thinking the 235 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,880 Messiah was dead. That's why, in between his death 236 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,960 and his resurrection, where did Jesus go? 237 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:34,440 He went down to Hades first, Peter tells us. 238 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,160 To do what? To make a public proclamation 239 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:44,240 that he's invincible. He is the living one who died 240 00:19:44,360 --> 00:19:48,520 and is alive forever more because the demons that were 241 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:55,000 taken captive way back at the flood had no idea about the 242 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,560 death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. 243 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,480 So he goes down to make a public proclamation, not to preach the 244 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,240 gospel, but to make a public proclamation that I'm the 245 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,280 victor. I win, you lose because I'm 246 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:12,800 invincible. See, Satan has tried so 247 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:19,720 desperately to defeat Christ, but he cannot because he's 248 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:24,000 invincible when Christ comes and returns in glory. 249 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,520 Satan will be bound for 1000 years, then released at the end 250 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:34,680 of those thousand years, and then he'll be cast into the lake 251 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:35,400 of fire. Why? 252 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:43,040 Because the because hell go to Matthew 25 was prepared for 253 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:49,440 Satan and his angels. Why? 254 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,000 Because he was going to ravage the enemy. 255 00:20:54,800 --> 00:21:03,680 That which was prophesied in Genesis 315 was proven in first 256 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,320 John 3 verse #8 when he destroyed the enemy at the 257 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:11,400 cross. Remember Genesis 315? 258 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:18,480 Satan will bruise, the seeds heal, but the heel will crush 259 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:23,640 the serpent's head. That was a prophecy, but it was 260 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:32,120 proven at Calvary and then it will be perfected the very end 261 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:34,960 when Satan is cast into the lake of fire. 262 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:41,880 So John wants us to know at the outset, because John is not 263 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:48,760 going to do anything about demon possession in his gospel, but he 264 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:50,840 wants you to know from the very outset that he's invincible 265 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:58,200 because the darkness cannot overcome, cannot defeat, cannot 266 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:06,160 be victorious over the light because the light is invincible. 267 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:12,000 Determine your Bible, if you would to Mark's Gospel, the the 268 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:18,880 5th chapter, Mark chapter 5 and as you're turning there, listen 269 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,000 to the words of Mark one verse 27. 270 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:26,280 These are the statements of the religious leaders. 271 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:33,440 What is this a new teaching and authority that he commands even 272 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:37,400 the unclean spirits and they obey him. 273 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:47,800 They obeyed Him immediately, instantaneously and totally. 274 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:54,440 The Pharisees were taken back when Christ cast out demons. 275 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,160 What new teaching, what new authority? 276 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:00,680 And Christ did no rituals, no routines. 277 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:05,160 He would just speak the Word and they'd be gone because He's 278 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:10,160 invincible. So in Mark chapter 5, which is 279 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:16,200 also recorded in Matthew 8 and also in Luke 8, read along with 280 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:21,440 me, they came to the other side, verse number one of the sea into 281 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,200 the country of the Garris scenes. 282 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,040 When he got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs 283 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:31,720 with an unclean spirit met him and he had his dwelling among 284 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,440 the tombs. And no one was able to bind him 285 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:41,080 anymore, even with a chain, because he had often been down 286 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,920 with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart 287 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:49,440 by him and the shackle was broken to pieces and no one was 288 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,720 strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he 289 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,600 was he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains and, 290 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:02,560 and gashing himself with stones. You can imagine the scene. 291 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:08,080 Nobody can take a walk at night. Nobody can go for an evening 292 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:13,200 stroll with their children for fear that this one who was demon 293 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,080 possessed what would come out of the tombs who's who's gashed 294 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,560 himself and has blood all over him and, and no one can bind 295 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,520 him. He, he is, he is put to the 296 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:26,640 locksmith or the chain maker out of business completely because 297 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:31,200 he he destroys all the shame chains that that they try to 298 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,720 shackle him with. He is powerful. 299 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:42,400 He is demonic. He is relentless. 300 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,240 He's scary. He lives in your town. 301 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,480 I mean, when you think about this, that the homelessness in 302 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:57,640 your town is, is the Ritz Carlton compared to the land of 303 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,000 the garrisons where this man lived. 304 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:07,520 And everybody was afraid for not knowing what what happened to 305 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:12,480 them. But notice this, seeing Jesus 306 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:17,280 from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before him. 307 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:25,440 Why would he do that? He hates Jesus, he despises 308 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:29,320 Jesus. He does not want to subject 309 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,520 himself to Jesus. So why does he run up to him and 310 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:41,160 bow down to Jesus? Because they can't do anything 311 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,800 else, for every knee will bow and every tongue will confess 312 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,480 that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 313 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:52,480 They have to. They're not bowing down. 314 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,120 And the word is proscanuo, which means to worship. 315 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,080 Were they really truly going to worship the King? 316 00:26:00,360 --> 00:26:04,840 No, but but they but they had to bow before him because of who he 317 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:11,760 was, because of who he is. They're in subjection to the 318 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,520 King of kings, the invincible King of kings. 319 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,080 And it says this shouting with a loud voice, he said, what 320 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,120 business do we have with each other? 321 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,520 Jesus, the son of the most high God. 322 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,880 See they, they recognize his deity. 323 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:39,920 They recognize that he's Christ. Now remember, they've never seen 324 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,800 the second person of the Godhead in the flesh. 325 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,280 They they only know Him from eternity past. 326 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,240 They're not omniscient, they're not omnipresent. 327 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:58,040 So this was their first glance of the second person of the 328 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,360 triune nature of God in the flesh. 329 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,640 And yet, even though they had never seen him in the flesh, 330 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:13,200 they knew exactly who he was. Whom exactly, Son of the Most 331 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:18,600 High God, El Elian. They knew that. 332 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:24,000 Why? Because they comprehend the 333 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,600 Messiah. They understand the second 334 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:31,640 person of the Triune God. They understand who Jesus is. 335 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:38,160 They just can't defeat him. They can't overcome Him, but 336 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:46,720 they know exactly who he is. And so they say, what business 337 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,240 do we have with each other? Jesus, son of the Most High, I 338 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,920 implore you, by God, do not torment me. 339 00:27:54,880 --> 00:28:01,720 Or when you look at Matthew's account in Matthew chapter 8, it 340 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:05,040 says these words. What business do we have with 341 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:08,040 each other? Son of God, have you come here 342 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:14,480 to torment us before the time? Not only do they recognize His 343 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,800 deity, they recall their destiny. 344 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:24,160 They know where they're going. They know they have no hope in 345 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:28,160 the future. You come to torment us before 346 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:29,320 the time. What time? 347 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:34,200 The time of judgement, the time in which people would be cast 348 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,920 into the lake of fire. Listen, they know it's coming. 349 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:42,240 Their eschatology is sound. Their Christology sound. 350 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:46,400 Their identity of the Messiah sound. 351 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,400 They know exactly who he is. They're not taking by surprise. 352 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:54,680 Have you come 12 minutes before the time? 353 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,640 It's not time yet. We know what the time is. 354 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:01,320 It's not yet. So why are you here? 355 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:06,960 Don't torment us again. Subject to his sovereignty. 356 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:13,520 And so maybe, maybe they think that in his humanity they can 357 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:20,720 diffuse his power. Maybe they think that in his 358 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:26,520 humanity they're able to influence Him to sin. 359 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:31,720 That's why Satan tinted him in Matthew chapter 4. 360 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:37,240 Maybe he's weaker in his humanity than he was before the 361 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,000 incarnation. Remember, Satan is not 362 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,040 omniscient. He doesn't know everything. 363 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:48,200 He knows what's revealed to him and what he can see, and he 364 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:49,480 can't see the future all the way. 365 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,320 He knows the future based on the fact that the time has not yet 366 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:55,840 come. How interesting. 367 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:04,320 So it says in verse 8, if we've been saying to him, come out of 368 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,160 the man, you unclean spirit, and he was asking him, what is your 369 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:09,600 name? What is your name? 370 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:17,400 He said to him, my name is legion for for we are are many. 371 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,840 They began to implore him earnestly not to send them out 372 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:26,440 of the country. Now there was a large herd of 373 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:28,400 swine feeding nearby in the mountain. 374 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:36,360 The demons implored him saying send us into the swine, said we 375 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:43,720 may enter them. Jesus gave them permission 376 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,800 again. See, Satan can't do anything 377 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,960 without permission. Ask Job. 378 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,880 Satan can do anything to Job without asking permission. 379 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:05,240 Because Satan is completely subject to the invincible King 380 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:11,320 of the universe, he has to ask permission. 381 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:20,120 And so not only they recognize his deity, not only do they 382 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:26,360 recall their destiny, but they realize His authority. 383 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:32,320 They understand that he is the all authoritative God of the 384 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:36,440 universe. And so while they bow before 385 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:41,200 him, not because of anything other than the fact that they 386 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:49,960 recognize who he is, they are asking for permission to go into 387 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:54,440 the swine. And so the Lord grants them 388 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,400 permission, and coming out the unclean spirits into the swine, 389 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:01,720 and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about 390 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:05,760 2000 of them, and they were drowned in the sea. 391 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:16,080 Hard for me to resist. They just took a swine dive off 392 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:21,240 the cliffs and committed suicide. 393 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:28,840 I'm sorry, I need to stay in my own lane and forget about the 394 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,440 comedic act, but it's hard to resist. 395 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:34,320 Verse 13. Their Hersman ran away and 396 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,320 reported in the city and in the country. 397 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:41,680 And the people came to see what it was that happened, that they 398 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,320 came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon possessed 399 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:50,240 sitting down clothed and in his right mind the very man who had 400 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:57,240 the legion. And they became frightened and 401 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:01,240 those who were terrorized, but they were not transformed, 402 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:06,440 redone. Those who had seen it describe 403 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:09,880 to them how it had happened to the demon possessed man. 404 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:14,200 And all about the swine can imagine the stories that were 405 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:19,400 told. And they began to implore him to 406 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:25,120 leave their region, Get out of here. 407 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,240 What? The man who just saved them from 408 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:37,080 the terror of the town? The man who had just exercised 409 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:42,920 the demons in this man. But you see, they they valued 410 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:47,760 their material loss more than their spiritual gain. 411 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:59,600 They had lost 2000 swine into the sea and they didn't want to 412 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:03,280 lose anything. But they did. 413 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,360 And they did not want to worship the king. 414 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:15,840 That's just incredible. They implored him to to leave 415 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:22,679 their region. How, how sad is that? 416 00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:28,840 They they, they, they preferred swine to a savior. 417 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,000 But you see, that's the way the world functions. 418 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:41,679 If the darkness crisis, if the light in the is darkness, how 419 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:50,639 great is that darkness? Well, for them it was great, but 420 00:34:50,639 --> 00:34:52,800 but read on it the story gets even better. 421 00:34:54,679 --> 00:34:57,640 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon 422 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:01,760 possessed was imploring him, begging him that he might 423 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,440 accompany him. Now I want you to know 424 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:07,880 something. Here's a man who was demon 425 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,160 possessed. Here was a man who was totally 426 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:16,520 in chains. Now he's changed because 427 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:20,640 everything that Christ does in the physical realm is symbolic 428 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:22,880 of what He does in the spiritual realm. 429 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:27,640 You've been taken captive by Satan, Second Timothy 224 and 430 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:32,840 25, to do His will. And yet when you are born again, 431 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:37,000 when you're saved by God, you are transferred from that 432 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:40,080 Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light, which is the 433 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:44,560 Kingdom of God's dear Son. There has been a breaking of all 434 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:49,880 chains because you have been totally changed. 435 00:35:49,880 --> 00:36:01,200 Now note this, when that happens, you want to be wherever 436 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:10,040 Jesus is. When you are changed, you can't 437 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:14,880 wait to be wherever Jesus is. I want to go with you. 438 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,360 I want to be with you. Wherever you're going, I'm 439 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:20,040 there. I want to be with you. 440 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:30,840 Because when you come to know Christ, your love for Him is 441 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:34,680 overwhelming. Oh, what manner of love the 442 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,360 Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children 443 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:40,920 of God. Here's a man whose life was 444 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:47,800 completely and totally changed. And all he could say was, I just 445 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:51,760 want to accompany you wherever you go. 446 00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:59,440 And you think that Jesus would say, come on, we can travel the 447 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:02,160 circuit. You can give your testimony. 448 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:08,600 You can be on CNN, Fox News, give your testimony for all the 449 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:14,000 world to hear. You'd be the perfect testimonial 450 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:17,200 for the saving grace of the living God. 451 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:26,640 But that's not what happens. He did not let him, but he said 452 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:31,960 to him, go home to your people and report to them what great 453 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:37,920 things the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you. 454 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:44,680 Go home. Go home and be a living 455 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:47,280 testimony to the power of God in your life. 456 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:50,680 You would think that that the Lord would say to them, you want 457 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:53,720 me gone? OK, Famine all across the land, 458 00:37:54,160 --> 00:38:00,000 No plague. I'm going to corrupt you with a 459 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,880 plague. So you'll beg for me to stay? 460 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:07,920 No, no, God and his graciousness and compassion left them a 461 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:10,960 living testimony to the power of God. 462 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:15,000 So the message would always be before them, constantly. 463 00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:18,840 He'd always be there. Who's that guy? 464 00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:23,560 That's the guy remember, who used to cut himself, who break 465 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,520 broke the chains? That that's the guy who lived in 466 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:27,840 the tomb. Remember that guy? 467 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:31,960 He's not there anymore. He's not chained anymore. 468 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:37,480 He's free, He's known the truth, and the truth has set him free. 469 00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:45,120 He he's, he's good to go. Christ left them a living 470 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:53,160 testimony, but redone and he went away and began to proclaim 471 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:57,280 in Decapolis. What great things? 472 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:03,160 What's the next phrase Jesus had done? 473 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:09,600 What did Jesus say? He said tell them what great 474 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:13,720 things the Lord has done for you. 475 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:19,560 So what did he do? He proclaimed the deity of Jesus 476 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:30,000 that Jesus is Lord to everybody. What great things Jesus had done 477 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:35,440 for him. And everyone was amazed. 478 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:39,960 What? I tell you that story. 479 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:47,320 Why don't we tie that into John one verse #5 to show you that 480 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:55,360 the light is invincible, all powerful, all authoritative, 481 00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:01,800 That everything in the World of Darkness is subject to the world 482 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:03,680 of light. Everything. 483 00:40:07,240 --> 00:40:18,080 And to let you know what happens next, because the first 5 verses 484 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:26,520 are simply May I present to you Jesus, having seen him in his 485 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:32,400 eternality and having seen him in his personality, having seen 486 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:40,600 him in His deity and in His vitality, having seen Him in His 487 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:45,320 creativity and His invincibility. 488 00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:53,880 Now what? Well, verse 6 tells you now what 489 00:40:55,640 --> 00:41:03,880 for verse 6 says these words. There came a man sent from God 490 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:14,720 whose name was John, and he came as a witness to testify about 491 00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:19,240 the light, so that all might believe through him. 492 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:29,400 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 493 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:40,320 Having presented Jesus to you, what is your responsibility to 494 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:46,680 testify to the light? Like John, you are not the 495 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:52,800 light, but John would shine bright as he reflected the 496 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:55,760 light. And John the Baptist, well. 497 00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:03,400 He was the greatest man ever born of a woman, according to. 498 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:07,080 Christ's words in. The Gospel of. 499 00:42:07,080 --> 00:42:11,200 Luke, the Gospel of. Matthew Nobody. 500 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:14,280 Greater than John. And. 501 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:17,600 John was the last. Old Testament prophet, first New 502 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:23,080 Testament preacher. And John would testify about the 503 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:26,520 light. That was his ministry. 504 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:29,600 He. Was not the light. 505 00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:33,320 But he wanted to. Testify about the light. 506 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:37,080 And so he would. He would be the one who pointed, 507 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:40,680 Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 508 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:44,920 John 129. He would point. 509 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:47,440 People to the Messiah. He would testify to the light. 510 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:52,880 Because he knew. He knew Jesus. 511 00:42:54,960 --> 00:43:00,120 We've introduced Jesus to you. So now what's your? 512 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:04,960 Responsibility to point. People to the Messiah. 513 00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:16,000 To testify to the light so that John 20 that I believe. 514 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:21,400 That Jesus is the. Christ, the Son of God. 515 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,320 The Bible says in John 2021. As the Father has sent me, so 516 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:32,320 send I you. John had a unique ministry. 517 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:36,240 How unique? Was John's ministry. 518 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:46,200 His ministry was uncompromising. His ministry was unorthodox. 519 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:54,640 His ministry was unequalled. His ministry was unlimited. 520 00:43:56,200 --> 00:44:03,760 His ministry was uninhibited. His ministry was unpopular. 521 00:44:05,360 --> 00:44:09,760 But his ministry was unforgettable. 522 00:44:11,840 --> 00:44:13,040 You can have. That kind of ministry. 523 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:21,040 If you testify to the light, But that's next week's lesson. 524 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:24,800 Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today. 525 00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:27,560 We thank you for the opportunity to be here. 526 00:44:29,240 --> 00:44:30,640 I pray for. Everyone in the room. 527 00:44:32,720 --> 00:44:34,400 They would. Not just recognize. 528 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:36,800 Who? Jesus. 529 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,680 Is, but they would. Turn and repent of their sin 530 00:44:39,880 --> 00:44:43,480 based on His identity and follow you fully. 531 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:47,160 We do thank you for. Today and the opportunity. 532 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:51,240 We have to be together. Truly Lord you are great and 533 00:44:51,240 --> 00:44:53,080 truly Lord you are worthy of praise. 534 00:44:54,520 --> 00:44:56,560 Thank you for the 1st 5. Verses of the Gospel. 535 00:44:56,560 --> 00:45:03,920 Of John that present the beauty and brilliance of the Son of 536 00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:09,560 God. The Word became flesh, and we 537 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:13,120 have seen. The beauty of Christ. 538 00:45:14,520 --> 00:45:17,920 Maybe leave this place today knowing our marching orders, 539 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:24,960 that we might testify to the light in Jesus name, Amen.