Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:06.400
Let's turn our attention again to the
gospel of John, at beginning in Chapter
2
00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:12.349
Seven, Verse Twenty Five, and
Reading through Ver Chapter Eight, verse thirty.
3
00:00:12.390 --> 00:00:18.589
Last week we took some time to
carefully think about the context in which
4
00:00:18.589 --> 00:00:23.579
John is speaking. You remember,
perhaps, the controversy that touched all of
5
00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:28.179
this off, when Jesus healed a
man on the sabbath and when he was
6
00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:35.619
accused of breaking God's law for doing
that, he defended himself by saying that
7
00:00:35.729 --> 00:00:42.729
he is divine, that he is
working as the father is working. I'm
8
00:00:42.770 --> 00:00:47.929
it's in light of that controversy that
Jesus is speaking these words. Let's give
9
00:00:47.929 --> 00:00:55.000
our attention to them now. John
Seven, verse Twenty Five. Some of
10
00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:59.600
the people of Jerusalem therefore said,
is not this the man whom they seek
11
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:03.399
to kill? And here he is
speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
12
00:01:03.120 --> 00:01:06.989
Can it be that the authorities really
know that this is the Christ?
13
00:01:07.709 --> 00:01:11.109
But we know where this man comes
from, and when the Christ appears,
14
00:01:11.230 --> 00:01:15.109
no one will know where he comes
from. So Jesus proclaimed, as he
15
00:01:15.189 --> 00:01:18.780
taught in the temple. You Know
Me and you know where I come from,
16
00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:22.900
but I have not come of my
own accord. He who sent me,
17
00:01:23.099 --> 00:01:26.379
is true, and him you do
not know. I know him,
18
00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:30.420
for I come from him and he
sent me. So they were seeking to
19
00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:34.129
arrest him, but no one laid
a hand on him because his hour had
20
00:01:34.170 --> 00:01:38.849
not yet come. Yet many of
the people believed in him. They said,
21
00:01:38.129 --> 00:01:42.370
when the Christ appears, will he
do more signs than this man has
22
00:01:42.409 --> 00:01:47.439
done? The Pharisees heard the crowd
muttering these things about him, and the
23
00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:52.319
chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers
to arrest him. Jesus then said,
24
00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:56.959
I will be with you a little
longer and then I am going to him
25
00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:00.719
who sent me. You will seek
me and you will not find me.
26
00:02:00.469 --> 00:02:06.189
where I am going, you cannot
come. The Jews said to one another.
27
00:02:06.549 --> 00:02:08.750
Where does this man intend to go
that we will not find him?
28
00:02:09.310 --> 00:02:14.270
Does he intend to go to the
dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
29
00:02:14.430 --> 00:02:16.020
What does he mean by saying you
will seek me and you will not
30
00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:21.580
find me, and where I am
going or where I am you cannot come?
31
00:02:23.219 --> 00:02:25.060
On the last day of the feast, the Great Day, Jesus stood
32
00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:30.969
up and cried out if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
33
00:02:30.490 --> 00:02:35.210
Whoever believes in me, as the
scripture has said, out of his
34
00:02:35.370 --> 00:02:39.969
heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the spirit
35
00:02:40.009 --> 00:02:45.840
whom those who believed in him were
to receive, for as yet the spirit
36
00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:51.199
had not been given because Jesus was
not yet glorified. When they heard these
37
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:53.879
words, some of the people said, this really is the prophet, others
38
00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:59.189
said this is the Christ, but
some said is the Christ to come from
39
00:02:59.349 --> 00:03:02.150
Galilee? Has Not? The scripture
said that Christ comes from the offspring of
40
00:03:02.229 --> 00:03:07.949
David and comes from Bethlehem, the
village where David was so there was a
41
00:03:07.030 --> 00:03:10.509
division among the people over him.
Some of them wanted to arrest him,
42
00:03:10.830 --> 00:03:15.099
but no one laid their hands on
him. The officers then came to the
43
00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:19.860
chief priests and Pharisees, who said
to them, why did you not bring
44
00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:23.259
him? The officers answered, no
one ever spoke like this man. The
45
00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:29.370
Pharisees answered them, have you also
been deceived? have any of the authorities
46
00:03:29.449 --> 00:03:32.009
of the fair? have any of
the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
47
00:03:32.689 --> 00:03:38.330
But this crowd does not know or
but this crowd, this crowd that
48
00:03:38.449 --> 00:03:43.360
does not know the law, is
a cursed Nicodemus, who had gone to
49
00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.280
him before and who was one of
them, said to them. Does our
50
00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:51.000
law judge a man without first giving
him a hearing and learning what he does?
51
00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.550
They replied, are you from Galilee
to search and see that no prophet
52
00:03:55.550 --> 00:04:01.590
arises from Galilee? Now, going
to Chapter Eight, verse twelve, again
53
00:04:01.669 --> 00:04:05.789
Jesus spoke to them, saying I
am the light of the world. Whoever
54
00:04:05.870 --> 00:04:10.979
follows me will not walk in darkness
but will have the light of life.
55
00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:15.459
So the Pharisees said to him.
You're bearing witness about yourself, your testimony
56
00:04:15.579 --> 00:04:20.459
is not true. Jesus answered,
even if I do bear witness about myself,
57
00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:26.250
my testimony is true, for I
know where I came from and where
58
00:04:26.250 --> 00:04:29.970
I am going, but you do
not know where I come from or where
59
00:04:29.970 --> 00:04:33.290
I am going. You judge according
to the flesh. I judge no one.
60
00:04:33.850 --> 00:04:39.040
Yet even if I do judge,
my judgment is true, for it
61
00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:43.600
is not I alone who judge,
but I and the father who sent me.
62
00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.560
In your law it is written that
the testimony of two people is true.
63
00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:53.189
I am the one who bears witness
about myself, and the father who
64
00:04:53.189 --> 00:04:57.670
sent me bears witness about me.
They said to him. Where is your
65
00:04:57.709 --> 00:05:02.310
father? Jesus answered, you know
neither me nor my father. If you
66
00:05:02.350 --> 00:05:06.819
knew me, you would know my
father also these words. He spoke in
67
00:05:06.899 --> 00:05:11.660
the Treasury, as he taught in
the temple, but no one arrested him
68
00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:15.139
because his hour had not yet come. So he said to them again,
69
00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:20.060
I am going away and you will
seek me and you will die in your
70
00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:25.970
sin. where I am going,
you cannot come. So the Jews said,
71
00:05:26.290 --> 00:05:29.129
will he kill himself, since he
says where I am going, you
72
00:05:29.209 --> 00:05:32.970
cannot come. He said to them. You are from below, I am
73
00:05:33.009 --> 00:05:38.160
from above. You are of the
world or of this world. I am
74
00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:42.160
not of this world. I told
you that you would die in your sins,
75
00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.920
for unless you believe that I am
he, you will die in your
76
00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:49.670
sins. So they said to him. Who Are you? Jesus said to
77
00:05:49.709 --> 00:05:54.589
them, just what I have been
telling you from the beginning. I have
78
00:05:54.709 --> 00:05:58.430
much to say about you and much
to judge, but he who sent me
79
00:05:58.709 --> 00:06:01.589
is true, and I declare to
the world what I have heard from him.
80
00:06:02.629 --> 00:06:06.339
They did not understand that he had
been speaking to them about the father.
81
00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:11.139
So Jesus said to them, when
you have lifted up the son of
82
00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:14.579
man, you will know that I
am he and that I do nothing on
83
00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:18.009
my own authority, but speak just
as the father taught me, and he
84
00:06:18.129 --> 00:06:21.730
who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone, for
85
00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:26.850
I always do the things that are
pleasing to him. As he was saying
86
00:06:26.889 --> 00:06:43.240
these things, many believed in him, all men. So one of the
87
00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:48.550
things that we see in this passage, one of the questions that the whole
88
00:06:48.790 --> 00:06:54.189
gospel of John, you might even
say the whole Bible, is answering,
89
00:06:54.870 --> 00:07:00.509
is who is Jesus? Right?
It comes up again and again. They
90
00:07:00.550 --> 00:07:03.500
are sort of circling around with him
in this conversation, back and forth,
91
00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.980
back and forth. Who Are you? I told you who I am,
92
00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:10.420
you're not listening, and so on
and so forth. But those who hear,
93
00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:19.250
those who believe, they receive really
wonderful things, eternal life, the
94
00:07:19.370 --> 00:07:29.449
spirit, these things are are tied
to him, him not being someone we
95
00:07:29.610 --> 00:07:35.560
imagine, not being someone we speculate
about, but Jesus as he has revealed
96
00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:42.639
himself. And so for that reason
it's important for us to pay attention to
97
00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:48.750
these words, as challenging as they
are. In many ways, his words
98
00:07:48.910 --> 00:07:56.709
is he is unfolding and revealing himself, who he is. We must pay
99
00:07:56.709 --> 00:08:01.420
attention because, as the word says, it's by believing in these things that
100
00:08:01.540 --> 00:08:07.100
he is saying, that we have
eternal life, not believing them as a
101
00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:11.220
set of doctrine that we can just
stick in our back pockets, but believing
102
00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:16.329
in them, which is to believe
in him and trust him for everything,
103
00:08:16.850 --> 00:08:24.089
to find not just a certain ideas
about him, but to know him as
104
00:08:24.290 --> 00:08:31.279
he is. Imagine, for example, let's say that you met a family
105
00:08:31.320 --> 00:08:37.440
member that you had not known existed
before. Maybe you lost track of and
106
00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.799
you finally you connect on the internet
or something like that. You get a
107
00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.429
chance to meet them, you sit
down with them for coffee and they start
108
00:08:43.509 --> 00:08:48.190
revealing to you who they are.
They talk about your family connections, they
109
00:08:48.230 --> 00:08:52.950
talk about their relationships, in their
lives. And what, after all this
110
00:08:52.110 --> 00:08:56.700
time and after all this excitement,
who is this person? You just start
111
00:08:56.940 --> 00:09:01.139
tuning out? Is Sir whatever.
On and on they go, talking about
112
00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:03.860
their life. Right, it wouldn't. No one would. None of us
113
00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:07.500
would do that. Right, we
would pay close the tention would do,
114
00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:11.289
would ask them questions, we would
seek to know more and more who they
115
00:09:11.289 --> 00:09:16.129
are so that we could know them, so that we could be connected with
116
00:09:16.289 --> 00:09:20.970
them, have a relationship with them. If that's true of a long lost
117
00:09:20.129 --> 00:09:24.519
friend or a family member or something
like that, how much more true for
118
00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:31.080
the one that all of human history
has been waiting for, that God has
119
00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:35.840
been promising since the man, since
mankind first fell under the curse, that
120
00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:41.470
a son would be born that would
crush the head of the serpent, that
121
00:09:41.629 --> 00:09:45.789
a son of David would be born
who would establish an eternal kingdom in which
122
00:09:45.830 --> 00:09:50.629
God's people would live forever and safety
and protection. This Christ, this prophet,
123
00:09:50.990 --> 00:09:54.460
this king, this son of David, the son of Adam, he's
124
00:09:54.500 --> 00:10:01.940
here. It's time to tune in, to pay attention, to listen to
125
00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:05.899
what he is saying. He is
revealing himself to us, and that's why
126
00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:11.970
we're taking time to read of these
long passages, to not just sort of
127
00:10:11.090 --> 00:10:18.169
move through them quickly, but to
really begin to see both the big picture
128
00:10:18.970 --> 00:10:24.559
as well as some of the details. Last week we considered this particular detail
129
00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:30.600
about his revelation that he comes from
the father, that he is sent from
130
00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:35.519
the father. We thought about how
this fact that he has sent means that
131
00:10:35.230 --> 00:10:41.669
we have this gift, this gift
of love. Jesus was sent not on
132
00:10:41.909 --> 00:10:45.789
a Lark or God was bored and
didn't have anything to do. He's not
133
00:10:45.990 --> 00:10:50.259
like the Pagan Gods. He's not
like the stories that you hear about the
134
00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:54.899
Greek and the Roman and other gods. Now, Jesus was sent not because
135
00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:58.460
he was bored or he didn't have
anything else to do or he wanted to
136
00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:05.850
mess with us. He was sent
because he loved us, because God loved
137
00:11:05.889 --> 00:11:11.570
us before even time began. EPHESIANS
talks about that and love. We were
138
00:11:11.730 --> 00:11:18.210
predestined for. This adoption in Christ
an amazing thing. And here he is,
139
00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:24.000
this gift of love and sending the
son. God loved us. You
140
00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.799
remember that famous first and John,
John Sixteen, for God soul loved the
141
00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:35.950
world that he gave His only begotten
Son that whoever believes in him should not
142
00:11:35.149 --> 00:11:41.870
perish but have everlasting life. We
also thought about how this fact that he
143
00:11:41.070 --> 00:11:46.549
is sent from God and the things
that he says surrounding that point to us,
144
00:11:46.590 --> 00:11:50.940
or point us to this big fact
that John is making in his Gospel,
145
00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:56.620
that Jesus is the son of God, that his sending to to us,
146
00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:03.409
his coming and his incarnation is deeply
connected to his to his person as
147
00:12:03.529 --> 00:12:09.289
the One Who is eternally begotten of
God, and that our hearing and our
148
00:12:09.370 --> 00:12:15.799
believing in him is the key,
is the deciding factor for our relationship with
149
00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:24.919
the father. This is what it
means that Jesus is sent and how we
150
00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:30.350
are to receive him. Today we
consider a second aspect of that work that
151
00:12:30.389 --> 00:12:33.990
Jesus mentions a several times throughout this
passage, and it's a theme that will
152
00:12:35.070 --> 00:12:39.309
come up again and again in the
book of John, and it's this you
153
00:12:39.470 --> 00:12:43.419
read them. You read these words
first in John Thirty three. He says,
154
00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:48.500
I will be with you a little
longer and then I am going to
155
00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:52.539
him who sent me. So you
hear the connection between these two things.
156
00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:58.059
The one to who sent him is
the one to whom he is going.
157
00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:03.330
There is a sending in a going
that are connected with one another. I
158
00:13:03.370 --> 00:13:07.850
will be with you a little longer
and then I am going to him who
159
00:13:07.970 --> 00:13:09.850
sent me. And he goes on
to say you will seek me and you
160
00:13:09.970 --> 00:13:16.159
will not find me where I am. You cannot come. Now he doesn't
161
00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.639
explain why that is. They're they're
asking why can't we come? Is he
162
00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:24.399
going to the dispersion right? Is
he going to leave Galilee and go out
163
00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.990
and teach and do these things out
in the rest of the world. That's
164
00:13:28.029 --> 00:13:31.230
one idea they had. The other
ideas. Is he going to kill himself?
165
00:13:31.389 --> 00:13:35.309
Is that what he means? Is
he going to commit suicide? Is
166
00:13:35.429 --> 00:13:41.220
that why he means like where he
is going, cannot come? Well,
167
00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:45.980
Jesus tells them later on, as
you when as you continue reading as we
168
00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:48.259
did, he tells them what I
mean is that I am going to the
169
00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:54.059
father and you cannot come because you
do not know him, you do not
170
00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:56.210
know him, because you do not
believe in me, and because you do
171
00:13:56.370 --> 00:14:03.490
not believe in me, you will
die in your sins. That's what he
172
00:14:03.570 --> 00:14:09.370
means by saying this. Who is
this man, they say? Some people
173
00:14:09.450 --> 00:14:11.639
saying this is the prophet that was
promised, other people saying this is verse
174
00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:16.360
Forty One, this is the Christ. There's all kinds of confusion about him.
175
00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:22.559
Hopefully we can learn from their mistakes, knowing that, with God's help
176
00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:28.149
or without God's help, we'd make
the very same ones, but with him,
177
00:14:28.549 --> 00:14:33.710
listening to him, believing him,
we can find a better way instead
178
00:14:33.710 --> 00:14:41.259
of resting on our assumptions, instead
of simply assuming things about Jesus we hear
179
00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:48.539
what he says. Listen to what
John says in Verse Eight and Twelve,
180
00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:50.620
and then I'm going to pause for
a moment and sort of step over here
181
00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:58.610
and do a little bracket conversation.
Okay, so Jesus explains this in verse
182
00:14:58.690 --> 00:15:03.370
twelve and he says Jesus spoke to
them saying I am the light of the
183
00:15:03.490 --> 00:15:07.519
world. Whoever follows me will not
walk in darkness but will have the light
184
00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:13.200
of life. After this he gets
into a conversation where they accuse him of
185
00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:20.590
having false testimony, but then he
picks up that theme when he says Verse
186
00:15:20.629 --> 00:15:24.149
Eighteen, I am the one who
bears witness about myself, and the father
187
00:15:24.269 --> 00:15:28.269
who sent me bears witness about me. They said to him, therefore,
188
00:15:28.269 --> 00:15:35.230
where is your father, right here, this location language, where is your
189
00:15:35.269 --> 00:15:39.460
father? Jesus answered, you know
neither me nor my father. If you
190
00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:45.779
knew me, you would know my
father also. So what we see is
191
00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:50.889
that are believing in him is very
much tied to our following him, and
192
00:15:50.049 --> 00:15:56.169
these questions about him coming, being
sent and him going relate to us,
193
00:15:56.769 --> 00:16:00.250
because we follow him. Whoever follows
me, he says, will not walk
194
00:16:00.370 --> 00:16:03.960
in darkness but will have the light
of life. where I am going,
195
00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:11.200
he says to these unbelieving Jews,
you cannot come because you are not following.
196
00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:15.039
Do you see how this language is
all tied together, the coming and
197
00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:22.230
the going, of the sending and
and the leaving, this all and this
198
00:16:22.429 --> 00:16:26.269
relates to us, because we are
to his disciples. We desire, I
199
00:16:26.350 --> 00:16:30.269
are, to follow him, we
want to go where he goes. I
200
00:16:30.389 --> 00:16:34.059
want to look at some other verses
in relation to this before we do this.
201
00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:37.940
I do want to so, like
I said, sort of step over
202
00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:44.659
here. Here's a little sidebar.
Okay, this is I'm doing this because
203
00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:48.250
of these brackets that you have at
the end of Chapter Seven, in the
204
00:16:48.409 --> 00:16:51.809
beginning, going to eight hundred and
twelve. You actually have, or sort
205
00:16:51.809 --> 00:16:56.809
of going to have, a bracketed
conversation because of these brackets that many of
206
00:16:56.889 --> 00:17:02.039
you have in your Bible's what you'll
see there, along with a footnote.
207
00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:07.039
So in my Bible here it says
in the footnotes some manuscripts do not include
208
00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:11.559
seven hundred and fifty three through eight
and eleven, and then it also notes
209
00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:17.549
others add a passage here or after
hundred and thirty six or after two thousand
210
00:17:17.549 --> 00:17:21.990
one. Hundred and twenty five or
after Luke thirty eight, with variations in
211
00:17:22.069 --> 00:17:25.950
the text. In other words,
there's lots and lots of inconsistency in this
212
00:17:26.069 --> 00:17:30.940
particular passage when we look at the
old manuscripts. And so, for that
213
00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:34.980
reason, this gives us a question. How do we consider this passage?
214
00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:40.019
Do we do we take it with
the rest all together? Can we be
215
00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:45.329
confident, as someone asked me,
that this section is the word of God?
216
00:17:45.529 --> 00:17:49.569
And the answer is no. In
fact, we can be confident that
217
00:17:49.650 --> 00:17:55.569
it is not the word of God. Now that might feel a little disturbing
218
00:17:55.650 --> 00:17:59.279
because you're seeing it here in a
book that you call Your Bible. Right.
219
00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:03.160
Why is this here in the Bible? And so that deserves a little
220
00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:08.839
more explanation. What we have here
is what's possibly a true story. That's
221
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:15.950
possible, which is probably why it
was added later on, but there are
222
00:18:15.069 --> 00:18:21.069
lots of true things that aren't in
the Bible. Our question about this passage
223
00:18:21.069 --> 00:18:26.710
is not whether or not something could
have happened, but whether it did and
224
00:18:26.869 --> 00:18:32.460
whether God intended it to be part
of his word. The answer in this
225
00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:37.380
case is no, we don't believe
it's a part of his word because we
226
00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:41.809
don't believe it's in the original manuscripts. That's why. So it's not an
227
00:18:41.890 --> 00:18:47.250
arbitrary thing based on sort of what's
in the passage or there's a doctrine we
228
00:18:47.289 --> 00:18:51.210
don't like or something we're confused about. That's not how we handle God's word.
229
00:18:51.730 --> 00:18:56.279
We ask what were we given,
and in this case these words shouldn't
230
00:18:56.279 --> 00:19:03.799
be taken as an errant or infallible
because it's not original. It might have
231
00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:10.750
a have interest interest to you from
a historical or a scholarly perspective, but
232
00:19:10.869 --> 00:19:15.589
it shouldn't have interest to us from
a Christian or a perspective of someone looking
233
00:19:15.789 --> 00:19:21.549
to God's word to set their faith
on, just as you wouldn't look at
234
00:19:21.589 --> 00:19:23.980
anything else that's not in the Bible. So then, why am I speaking
235
00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:30.859
with such confidence that this is not
in the scripture? It's because scholars a
236
00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:37.140
unanimously believe that it's our almost unanimously, I suppose there's always somebody who disagrees,
237
00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.690
but very strongly, that this is
not a part of the original Gospel
238
00:19:41.049 --> 00:19:45.970
God gave us. And I'll share
with you three reasons why this is the
239
00:19:45.009 --> 00:19:49.130
case. Very, very briefly.
I just want to address this and sort
240
00:19:49.170 --> 00:19:52.759
of move on, but I'm happy
to talk about this more with you another
241
00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:57.200
time if you like. These three
reasons come from a new testament scholar,
242
00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:03.279
Bruce Metzger, writing for the Textual
Committee of one of the critical additions of
243
00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:10.150
the Greek so three reasons very quickly. The first is that this passage is
244
00:20:10.269 --> 00:20:15.549
not found in the best manuscripts,
the earliest manuscripts, or a diverse range
245
00:20:15.549 --> 00:20:19.630
of manuscripts. And as the note
here and that I read to you and
246
00:20:21.309 --> 00:20:26.619
this Bible suggests, the passage itself, even when it is found, is
247
00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:32.299
not consistently there in the same way. So the pet that's number one.
248
00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:36.529
This passage is not found in the
best, the earliest or a diverse range
249
00:20:36.569 --> 00:20:41.769
of manuscripts. The second reason,
and I'll quote here, there's a good
250
00:20:41.809 --> 00:20:47.450
baby name for anyone who's looking.
Coming up a second no Greek church father
251
00:20:47.730 --> 00:20:52.960
prior to Euthemius Zygabenus. So there's
your baby name. No Greek church father
252
00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:57.319
prior to you, thin me as
Zygabenus. This is in the twelve century.
253
00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:03.509
No Greek father prior to this man
in the twelve century even comments on
254
00:21:03.670 --> 00:21:10.549
this passage. And when euthemius declares
when he talks about it. He says
255
00:21:11.589 --> 00:21:15.509
that the accurate copies of the Gospel
don't contain it. So we don't have
256
00:21:15.670 --> 00:21:19.779
any comments on this passage in the
in the eastern church until this time.
257
00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:26.019
And then the one comment it is
says that the accurate copies don't have it.
258
00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:30.460
And the third is that the style
and the vocabulary are very different from
259
00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:33.930
the rest of John's Gospel. You
could add a fourth to it interrupts the
260
00:21:33.970 --> 00:21:38.250
flow of the narrative. It doesn't
really seem to belong. So anyway,
261
00:21:38.450 --> 00:21:42.410
these are the reasons why we can
be confident that that it wasn't part of
262
00:21:42.450 --> 00:21:48.000
the original Gospel but was added at
some point in history, and possibly because
263
00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.960
it was old. But nevertheless,
it shouldn't be preached or read as the
264
00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:59.240
Word of God. The good news
is that God does not leave us without
265
00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:02.549
the voice of our savior. He
doesn't sort of leave us where we don't
266
00:22:02.670 --> 00:22:06.710
we're lacking nothing. In other words, by not I'm having this as a
267
00:22:06.829 --> 00:22:11.789
part of God's word. He speaks
to US clearly, speaks to US truly
268
00:22:11.910 --> 00:22:18.220
and he continues what we have in
verse twelve. And so let's go now
269
00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:23.500
back off the sidebar back to verse
twelve and continue our thinking through this passage.
270
00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:30.690
So Jesus says, I am the
light of the world. Whoever follows
271
00:22:30.769 --> 00:22:33.650
me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.
272
00:22:34.769 --> 00:22:40.289
In Verse Fourteen, he affirms this. He says my testimony is true,
273
00:22:40.730 --> 00:22:45.799
for I know where I came from
and where I am going. They say,
274
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.720
where is your father? He responds
by saying you know neither me nor
275
00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:51.920
my father. If you knew me, you would know my father also.
276
00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:56.880
What are we to take from this? These words, for one, remind
277
00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:02.829
us of the unity between the father
and the son. Here's the thing,
278
00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:08.269
and this is very common still today. They claim to know the father but
279
00:23:08.390 --> 00:23:15.819
not Jesus, like we know God, but who are you? Or they
280
00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:19.779
claim to know Jesus but not the
father. Hey, we know you.
281
00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.940
We know where you came from.
Where is your father? Who is your
282
00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:29.529
father? What are you talking about? Jesus says, though, it's impossible
283
00:23:30.130 --> 00:23:36.089
to truly do either one of these
things. You can claim to know one
284
00:23:36.170 --> 00:23:37.849
and not the other. Know the
father but not the son, or no,
285
00:23:37.970 --> 00:23:41.440
the son but not the father.
But Jesus says, it's impossible.
286
00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:45.960
You either know both or you know
none. Why? Because the father and
287
00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:52.000
the son, though distinct persons,
are not divided in their essence. They
288
00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:57.670
are the one and the same God. If one bears witness, both bear
289
00:23:57.789 --> 00:24:06.990
witness. As Jesus has said and
is saying, the son is from the
290
00:24:07.150 --> 00:24:15.019
father, Jesus says, and is
also one with him. Praise gone.
291
00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:19.299
The son is, the son of
God, is not from the father like
292
00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:25.329
a human sons are a human son, my son's, for example. They
293
00:24:25.410 --> 00:24:29.690
have their own will, their own
plans, their own power. The son
294
00:24:29.809 --> 00:24:33.849
of God, though, is different. No surprise there. We're talking about
295
00:24:33.849 --> 00:24:38.680
the divine nature. He is creator, not created. He's entirely different from
296
00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:44.039
us. We can't judge him based
at we can't judge him or determine him
297
00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:52.000
in human categories. Nevertheless. So
how is he different? Well, he's
298
00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:55.269
different at that. The son of
God says, as he keeps saying,
299
00:24:55.630 --> 00:25:00.990
that everything that he has, everything
that he has, is from the father.
300
00:25:03.869 --> 00:25:07.660
So he has his own will,
but it's a will that is from
301
00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:12.660
the father and totally united with him, and therefore one will, and the
302
00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:19.660
father gives all that he has to
the son. Now I find this difficult
303
00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:26.130
to understand, but so helpful when
I hear the scriptures speak for themselves,
304
00:25:26.170 --> 00:25:30.170
and I hope this is true for
you as well. So here's some scriptures.
305
00:25:30.210 --> 00:25:34.289
John Nineteen, Jesus said to them. Truly, truly, I say
306
00:25:34.329 --> 00:25:40.039
to you, the son can do
nothing of his own accord, but only
307
00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:44.160
what he sees the father doing,
for whatever the father does, that the
308
00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:48.240
son does likewise. So you see
the distinction, right, the distinction between
309
00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:52.630
the father and the son, and
yet the perfect unity. There's no difference
310
00:25:53.150 --> 00:25:59.150
and no difference. Whatever the father
does, the son does likewise. But
311
00:25:59.349 --> 00:26:03.349
also is true that the son can
do nothing of his own accord. They
312
00:26:03.390 --> 00:26:10.779
are not the same person, though
they are the same God, again,
313
00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:14.180
the words of scripture, God himself. John Twenty One and twenty two.
314
00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:18.849
For as the father raises the dead
and gives them life, so also the
315
00:26:18.970 --> 00:26:25.529
son gives life to whom he will. For the father judges no one,
316
00:26:26.130 --> 00:26:33.200
but has given all judgment to the
son. John Twenty eight, so Jesus
317
00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:37.359
said to them. When you have
lifted up the son of man, this
318
00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:40.640
is in our passage today, when
you have lifted up the son of man,
319
00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:45.599
then you will know that I am
he and that I do nothing on
320
00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:52.349
my own authority, but speak just
as the father taught me. John Fifty
321
00:26:52.349 --> 00:26:57.549
four, Jesus answered, if I
glorify myself, my glory is nothing.
322
00:26:59.710 --> 00:27:03.660
It is my father who glorifies me, of whom you say he is our
323
00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:11.019
God. John Forty nine, for
I have not spoken on my own authority,
324
00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:17.569
but the father who sent me has
himself given me a commandment what to
325
00:27:17.650 --> 00:27:22.210
say and what to speak. John
Thirteen. Three, last one for the
326
00:27:22.329 --> 00:27:29.049
moment. Jesus, knowing that the
father had given all things into his hands
327
00:27:29.089 --> 00:27:33.720
and that he had come from God, was going back to God. Again,
328
00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:37.519
that same language that we're focusing on
his coming and is being sent and
329
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:42.079
then is going Jesus knowing that the
father had given all things into his hands
330
00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:48.589
and that he had come from God
and was going back to God. So
331
00:27:48.750 --> 00:27:52.630
what's the point of this? One
implication of this is, do you see
332
00:27:52.829 --> 00:27:59.660
now why we worship the father and
the son and not just a generic God
333
00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:03.140
with no reference to either one,
or mixing the father and the son as
334
00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:08.380
if they weren't distinct? How can
we deny a distinction between the father and
335
00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:14.930
the son when Jesus is constantly saying
there's a distinction between him and his father.
336
00:28:15.450 --> 00:28:19.170
And yet at the same time,
how can we divide the two as
337
00:28:19.250 --> 00:28:26.490
if they were two gods, or
or one God and a lesser God or
338
00:28:26.569 --> 00:28:30.039
something like that? How can we
divide them when he is constantly saying that
339
00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:34.920
he does everything and has everything,
that God, the only true God,
340
00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:41.549
has given him, that the image
of God, as Hebrews says, has
341
00:28:41.630 --> 00:28:49.069
been is made manifest in the sun? We I don't mean to neglect the
342
00:28:49.109 --> 00:28:52.670
spirit at all. We will come
to him at a later time, and
343
00:28:52.750 --> 00:28:59.460
Jesus brings that up in this passage
briefly. His primary focus is on him
344
00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:02.619
and his relationship with the father,
which is why our focus is here for
345
00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:07.220
the moment. But just just remind
ourselves, remember of verses thirty seven through
346
00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:12.049
thirty nine, when Jesus says,
if anyone thirsts, let him come to
347
00:29:12.089 --> 00:29:17.130
me and drink. Whoever believes in
me out, as the scripture is said,
348
00:29:17.250 --> 00:29:21.529
out of his heart flow rivers of
living water. Now this he said
349
00:29:21.529 --> 00:29:26.680
about the spirit whom those who believed
in him were to receive, for as
350
00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:30.640
yet the spirit had not yet been
given because Jesus was not yet glorified.
351
00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.869
We worship Father, son and Holy
Spirit, and not just a generic God
352
00:29:38.150 --> 00:29:45.309
with various names, but we worship
the triune God, who is father,
353
00:29:45.789 --> 00:29:52.029
son and spirit, because that's the
only true God to worship. That's how
354
00:29:52.190 --> 00:29:56.500
he has revealed himself. This is
who he is and that's why Jesus can
355
00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:59.579
say, if you don't know who
my father is, you don't know me
356
00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:03.859
and you can't know the father if
you don't know me. They are one.
357
00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:08.769
The father, who has given all
things to the son in the spirit,
358
00:30:08.809 --> 00:30:14.930
has done so so that we might
come to the father through the son.
359
00:30:17.410 --> 00:30:22.079
This unity between God or in between
the persons and within God himself,
360
00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:32.839
this way in which we express that
God is one perfectly unified, not split
361
00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:40.230
in any way in his essence,
and that that communion is characterized by things
362
00:30:40.390 --> 00:30:48.710
like beauty and solidity and perfection and
holiness and love, means that when Jesus
363
00:30:48.910 --> 00:30:57.019
offers to us a way to enter
into that fellowship with God himself, we
364
00:30:57.099 --> 00:31:03.740
dropped to our knees and we say
praise you, O great and mysterious God.
365
00:31:06.650 --> 00:31:10.369
It's why we put all of our
life and our hope in Jesus.
366
00:31:10.410 --> 00:31:14.730
When he says in John Fourteen six, I am the way, I am
367
00:31:14.809 --> 00:31:22.559
the truth, I am the life
and no one, no one comes to
368
00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:30.319
the father except through me. If
we want to go to the father,
369
00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:37.309
we must go with Jesus, through
Jesus, because you can't separate the two.
370
00:31:37.190 --> 00:31:44.549
You cannot separate the father and the
son, because you can't separate God.
371
00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:56.180
These are the bonds of divinity,
the divine nature that cannot be separated.
372
00:31:56.539 --> 00:32:00.539
I can barely tie a piece of
you know, carefully, rip a
373
00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:07.730
piece of paper into or cut a
plant stem easily. There is no dividing
374
00:32:07.930 --> 00:32:22.559
God, and that is how secure
your salvation is. What is all this
375
00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:28.160
revelation, these great mysteries, this
these things that are being revealed to us?
376
00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:30.029
Is it God coming into the world
to just mess with our minds and
377
00:32:30.150 --> 00:32:36.190
confuse us? No, he is
telling us these things so that we might
378
00:32:36.430 --> 00:32:42.750
hear him and follow Jesus where he
goes, so that we might find life.
379
00:32:43.990 --> 00:32:46.339
Those who reject him, the Curse
of Eight hundred and Twenty One,
380
00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:51.619
John Twenty one, belongs to them. You will not go. You will
381
00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:58.890
remain here below in your sins until
the judgment of God comes on this world,
382
00:32:59.170 --> 00:33:02.210
and then you will die in your
sins. But to those who are
383
00:33:02.369 --> 00:33:07.930
lifted up in Christ, who is
lifted up first on the cross and then
384
00:33:08.210 --> 00:33:15.559
from the grave and then into heaven. That's you, and that's why Paul
385
00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:20.680
says you have been raised with Christ
into the heavenly places. You are seated
386
00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:25.279
with him, who is above,
above. Why on Earth, I'm add
387
00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:31.670
about it. I would you put
yourself on things that are below when our
388
00:33:31.710 --> 00:33:36.670
sins are forgiven? In Him,
just the opposite is heaven. We have
389
00:33:37.309 --> 00:33:42.819
the new man, we are united
to his body. And then we have
390
00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:46.980
promises like this in John Thirty seven. All that the father gives me will
391
00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:53.779
come to me, and whoever comes
to me I will never cast out.
392
00:33:55.490 --> 00:34:00.490
Or John Ten twenty nine. My
father, who has given them to me,
393
00:34:00.130 --> 00:34:05.529
is greater than all and no one
is able to snatch them out of
394
00:34:05.650 --> 00:34:09.719
my father's hand or out of the
father's hand. That's how safe we are
395
00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:16.719
in Jesus, that's how protected we
are in him. And these promises are,
396
00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:22.880
of course, fulfilled when Jesus is
lifted up, first on the Cross,
397
00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:30.269
in this kingly exaltation in which,
through suffering and death, he overcomes
398
00:34:30.389 --> 00:34:35.510
our sins. He is a perfect
sacrifice and atones for us on the Cross.
399
00:34:36.630 --> 00:34:38.219
And then, finally, as I
said before, when he's lifted up
400
00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:44.860
into heaven. Notice that the ascension
and Jesus is exaltation. There is not
401
00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:50.059
just sort of like an add on
right you have. You know Jesus is
402
00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:52.889
death and his resurrection and you know
we're basically done with the salvation story,
403
00:34:53.530 --> 00:34:58.250
Jesus says, and John here what
we read. We are not done because
404
00:34:58.289 --> 00:35:02.809
there is no sending of the spirit
until I am lifted up. In other
405
00:35:02.849 --> 00:35:07.840
words, Jesus is going to the
father. Is An essential part of our
406
00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:13.920
salvation. The church does not get
built up into a living temple of God,
407
00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:17.239
as we read earlier in Ephesians,
in which the God and will dwell
408
00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:24.389
in the spirit in us, unless
Jesus goes. God sends us in love
409
00:35:25.750 --> 00:35:34.869
and then Jesus ascends in love.
He doesn't abandon us. He does this
410
00:35:35.070 --> 00:35:39.139
thing so that his spirit would come, so that he can prepare a place
411
00:35:39.340 --> 00:35:44.739
for us. That's what Jesus is
doing now. That's why we walk by
412
00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:47.059
faith and not by sight. That's
why we don't wander around the world every
413
00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:54.210
day looking for our savior. We
know where he is. I'll close by
414
00:35:54.690 --> 00:36:00.929
reading passage from John Fourteen. He
speaks to those who do believe in Him
415
00:36:00.929 --> 00:36:06.159
who do follow him and go where
he goes. He says, in my
416
00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:09.039
father's house are many rooms. If
it were not so, would I have
417
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:14.400
told you that I go to prepare
a place for you and if I go
418
00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:19.550
and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you
419
00:36:19.670 --> 00:36:28.150
to myself, that where I am
you may be also. Isn't that good
420
00:36:28.230 --> 00:36:35.940
news? Isn't this news about Jesus
being sent and even his going good news?
421
00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:39.300
He goes to prepare a place and
he says, and if I'm preparing
422
00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:45.579
a place, surely I'm going to
come. I haven't left you, I'm
423
00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:52.809
getting things ready, I'm making the
place ready so that when I come again,
424
00:36:52.849 --> 00:36:55.650
I will take you to myself,
that where I am, you may
425
00:36:55.730 --> 00:37:00.679
be also. This is what it
means to be a disciple, a follower
426
00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:07.079
of Christ, to understand him as
he is, to believe him as he
427
00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:14.880
is and then to follow him as
he is. Praise be to the one
428
00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:21.110
true Tryun God forever and ever.
Amen. Let's pray
