Welcome to Battle
Creek, Michigan, where
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we are getting ready
for another presentation
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that alert us to the
fact that Jesus Christ is
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alive. My friend, are
you aware the fact that
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Jesus Christ is alive?
If you're not or if you
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would like to know
how to share that more
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effectively with
somebody else, please do
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what we've told you
before and get out your
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paper, get out your
pencils, put on your
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thinking caps and get
ready for an excursion
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into the Bible that
will change your life.
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Friends, I want to
begin by just sharing with
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you a short experience.
I met a friend when I
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was young man name
Tegan and he said to
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me Jason, Jesus
Christ is alive and those
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words transformed
my life never knew it,
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but because of his
courage in the plaza of
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Humboldt State
University in Northern
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California, where
he was handing out
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literature my life
became one with Jesus
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Christ. I'm so
excited about what happened
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for me and I believe
that miracles going to
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happen for you
because friends tonight we
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are aware the fact
that there is a savior and
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that savior changes
lives. With me in the
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studio right now is
Eric Umali, who is going
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to be sharing with
us the joy that comes
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from knowing, there is a savior.
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There is a Savior,
What joys expressed, His
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eyes of mercy, His
word is rest, For each
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tomorrow for
yesterday, There is a Savior
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who lights our
way Are there burdens.
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in your heart, Is
the past a memory that
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binds you, Is there
something that you've
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carried far too long,
Oh there's strength in
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your heart with His
good news, There is a
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Savior and He's forgiven you
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There is a Savior,
What joys expressed, His
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eyes of mercy, His
word is rest, For each
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tomorrow for
yesterday, There is a Savior
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who lights our
way There is a Savior,
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What joys expressed,
His eyes of mercy, His
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word is rest,
For each tomorrow for
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yesterday, There is
a Savior who lights our
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way There is a
Savior who lights our way.
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Thank you Eric
what a blessing to know
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there is a savior
friend tonight. Now I want
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to go with you and
ask you few questions.
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I like asking
questions, my background is
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television news
before God said Jason
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Seiber I want you to
be a pastor, my journey
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was to the television
station. Let's go out and
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interview a few
people would you in our
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minds, let's go out
there and visit with
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perhaps Martin
Luther King Junior in
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Birmingham,
Alabama, where the dogs and
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the police are about
ready to attack and ask
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him Martin Luther
King Junior why are you
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doing this? Where
did you get the idea for
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nonviolent protest
and this sort of peaceful
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resistance? I think
he would probably say
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something like this,
Jesus Christ showed me
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the way. Maybe you
could go with me to the
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streets of
Calcutta, where you see a lady
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picking up young
people and old people and
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people of every
class and bathing their
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wounds and
helping them to die with
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dignity. And you
will say Mother Teresa
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why are you doing
this, I suppose she would
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probably say because
I read in the gospels
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that a man named
Jesus came and changed
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people's lives by
attending to their hurts
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into their needs and
giving them new hopes.
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Maybe you would go
and talk to a person
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like Mohandas Gandhi in Bombay.
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Mr. Gandhi you
might ask, why are you
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offering your body
to be beaten in the name
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of freedom and Mr.
Gandhi would might say
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to you well I was
reading in the Gospel
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accounts of a man
named Jesus, who had the
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courage to let
people beat him and not beat
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them back. Well
friends, I have a question to
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you, a question you
should answer, who did
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Jesus draw his
example from? How unique
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was Jesus. Tonight
pastor Asscherick will
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help to answer that question.
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Pastor Asscherick.
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Alright, thank you
Jason. Good evening
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everyone, good
evening, wasn't that a
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powerful
introduction. We are going
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through the
streets of Alabama through
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Calcutta and we are
asking these individuals
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questions,
where do you find your
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inspiration and each
of them says I find my
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inspiration in Jesus
Christ. Yet this raises
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an important
question, where did Jesus get
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his inspiration
from. Friends what we are
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going to discover
tonight is that all of these
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individual figures
drew their inspiration and
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their example from
Jesus, but Jesus was the
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one who was the
prototypical example that
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is to say he was
the first, he was the
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original. Our
question tonight is how unique
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is Jesus in human
history? Our message is
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entitled has God
spoken the uniqueness, the
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absolute
uniqueness of Jesus Christ in
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human history. Let
us begin first by doing
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what everyone
praying, praying that's right.
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Father in heaven
this evening we rejoice to
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call you father and
father we call you that
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we, we say Father
because in Luke 11 when
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the disciples came
to Jesus and they said
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teach us to pray is
John taught his disciples.
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He said pray this
way our father and we are
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immediately aware
that there is an intimate
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connection, a
powerful connection and
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which we have you
not only as a master, as
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a lord, as a
creator and redeemer, but we
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know you as Abba
Father and so we ask
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now that you will
come into this room, that
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you will stoop and
condescend to come and
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speak to our hearts
as well as to our minds.
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Father tonight we
need to make a decision,
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a decision for you
and for your son, so we
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pray for each of us
here in the studio and
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also for those that
are watching all over this
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globe, we pray father
that your spirit will be
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with us in a potent
way tonight for we ask it
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in Jesus name everyone can say,
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Amen. Amen.
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Why don't we begin
by going in our Bibles
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to Luke Chapter 22,
Luke Chapter 22. Our
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message tonight is
entitled has God spoken
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the absolute
uniqueness of Jesus Christ. We
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are going to Mathew
and what Chapter everyone?
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Mathew Chapter
22. Mathew Chapter 22
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and if we had time
we could take a look at
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the larger context
of Mathew Chapter 22 and
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Jesus is being asked
three sets of questions,
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three sets of
questions. This is occurring the
00:10:10.63\00:10:13.82
Tuesday before his
crucifiction, so just
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hours before the
crucifiction just a few
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days before. Now
Jesus is asked about three
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questions. First, he
is asked by the Pharisees.
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What is our
responsibility to Caesar,
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you remember that
would it lawful for us to
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pay tribute or taxes
to Caesar. The second
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question that Jesus
was asked on this faithful
00:10:33.72\00:10:35.69
Tuesday was what is
our relationship to the
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dead and how do
we understand the
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resurrection
remember the Pharisees had
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come and it said
there was a man and he had
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a woman, who had
this husband, this
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husband, this
husband, this husband in the
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resurrection whose
shall she be. The third
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question that Jesus
was asked, is what is the
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great commandment
in the law and Jesus
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answer that very
potently and powerfully
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when he said there are two Great
00:10:58.55\00:10:59.62
Commandments you
should love the Lord
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your God with all
your heart, mind and soul,
00:11:00.77\00:11:02.11
and the second is
like onto it, you should
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love your neighbor as
yourself. So Jesus has
00:11:03.78\00:11:05.65
been asked how
many questions everyone,
00:11:05.68\00:11:07.09
three questions.
What's our relationship to
00:11:07.12\00:11:09.75
Caesar. What is our
understanding of the
00:11:09.78\00:11:11.93
resurrection and
what is our reverence and
00:11:11.96\00:11:15.22
responsibility to the
law of God. After Jesus
00:11:15.25\00:11:18.29
has met this cross
examination, he has met
00:11:18.32\00:11:21.16
powerfully this,
this inquiry that has been
00:11:21.19\00:11:23.93
trusted him in these
three different question.
00:11:23.96\00:11:25.80
The tables are
turned at the end of Mathew
00:11:25.83\00:11:28.55
Chapter 22 and Jesus
instead of being on the
00:11:28.58\00:11:31.39
receiving end of these
questions, Jesus starts
00:11:31.42\00:11:34.58
asking a question of
his own. I'm in Mathew
00:11:34.61\00:11:37.81
Chapter 22 and I'm
beginning in Verse 41,
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Mathew Chapter 22
and Verse 41, it says
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while the Pharisees
where gathered together
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Jesus asked them,
notice who is doing
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asking now friends.
Jesus ask them saying,
00:11:47.47\00:11:50.41
what do you think
about the Christ whose
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son is he. In the
more familiar king James,
00:11:54.26\00:11:58.16
he says what thinking
of Christ whose son is
00:11:58.19\00:12:03.23
he. It goes on in
Verse 42, the remainder of
00:12:03.26\00:12:06.70
it, they said to him
the son of David. That
00:12:06.73\00:12:08.93
was an easy question;
they could have easily
00:12:08.96\00:12:10.84
said we learned
that in Sabbath School
00:12:10.87\00:12:12.81
Jesus. When you ask
us who son is he, he is
00:12:12.84\00:12:15.61
the son of David.
Now Jesus had a second
00:12:15.64\00:12:18.14
question, he had a
rejoinder and I want you
00:12:18.17\00:12:20.50
to notice in Verse
43. He said to them how
00:12:20.53\00:12:23.29
then does David in
the spirit call him Lord
00:12:23.32\00:12:25.96
saying, the Lord said
unto my lord, sit thou
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on my right hand,
till I make your enemies
00:12:28.24\00:12:29.54
thy footstool. Verse
45 is the rub, he said if
00:12:29.57\00:12:32.45
David then calls
him Lord. How is he his
00:12:32.48\00:12:35.88
son? Do you
understand the dilemma?
00:12:35.91\00:12:39.27
Do you understand the
question that Jesus is
00:12:39.30\00:12:41.08
asking yes or no. If
he is the son of David
00:12:41.11\00:12:44.02
then how can it be
under the inspiration of
00:12:44.05\00:12:46.00
the spirit in the
Psalms that David would say
00:12:46.03\00:12:48.37
of this individual my
Lord Jesus asks a very
00:12:48.40\00:12:52.75
powerful important
question there in Verse
00:12:52.78\00:12:54.50
45. If David then
calls him Lord how is he
00:12:54.53\00:12:58.20
his son? Jesus here
has put his finger on the
00:12:58.23\00:13:02.64
pause of Pharisees
misunderstanding about
00:13:02.67\00:13:05.57
the messianic
identity of Jesus that he was
00:13:05.60\00:13:08.33
both God and man at
the same time. He was
00:13:08.36\00:13:12.04
the son of David
and the lord of David
00:13:12.07\00:13:14.39
simultaneously. Now
notice this in Verse 46
00:13:14.42\00:13:18.51
and no one was able
to answer him a word
00:13:19.66\00:13:22.28
nor from that day
on did anyone dare
00:13:22.31\00:13:25.07
question him
anymore. Amen. Don't you
00:13:25.10\00:13:27.66
like that? Jesus
just ask them simple
00:13:27.69\00:13:29.76
question. How can
he be both Lord and son
00:13:29.79\00:13:32.20
at the same time
and when he puts that
00:13:32.23\00:13:33.64
question to him, he
shows that they have not
00:13:33.67\00:13:35.98
thought outside
of the box in their
00:13:36.01\00:13:37.69
theological
understanding and the Bible says
00:13:37.72\00:13:39.86
that from the day
on, from that day forward
00:13:39.89\00:13:42.18
nobody dare to ask
Jesus anymore questions
00:13:42.21\00:13:45.16
because they end up
looking just as foolish
00:13:45.19\00:13:46.94
as they actually were.
00:13:46.97\00:13:48.23
Now I want to put
that question to you this
00:13:49.77\00:13:51.33
evening what, what
was the thrust of that
00:13:51.36\00:13:53.49
question that Jesus
asks there. What was the
00:13:53.52\00:13:55.45
thrust of that? He
said what think ye of
00:13:55.48\00:13:59.93
Christ? What think
ye of Christ? Whose son
00:13:59.96\00:14:06.38
is he. Our question
tonight is, who is Jesus
00:14:06.41\00:14:10.61
Christ and is he
unique in human history.
00:14:10.64\00:14:13.72
We're going to
look at five testimonies
00:14:13.75\00:14:17.04
tonight, how many
testimonies? Five.
00:14:17.07\00:14:19.21
Five testimonies
and we are going to
00:14:19.24\00:14:20.93
discover that
Jesus Christ is in fact
00:14:20.96\00:14:22.83
absolutely
unique in human history,
00:14:22.86\00:14:26.63
absolutely unique.
So, let us go to our first
00:14:26.66\00:14:29.94
testimony, the
uniqueness of Jesus Christ in
00:14:29.97\00:14:32.76
history. Our
first one is Jesus' own
00:14:32.79\00:14:35.83
testimony. If we
could've ask Jesus in those
00:14:35.86\00:14:39.04
days or even today
if he could come and we
00:14:39.07\00:14:40.91
could say Jesus
who are you? Who do you
00:14:40.94\00:14:43.24
believe you are?
What would he say? Let's
00:14:43.27\00:14:46.03
go to John in the
fifth Chapter, John what
00:14:46.06\00:14:47.98
Chapter we're going to everyone.
00:14:48.01\00:14:49.06
Five. John Chapter 5 and
00:14:49.09\00:14:51.23
I want you to notice
with me several Verses
00:14:51.26\00:14:53.39
in this Chapter.
John Chapter 5 and we're
00:14:53.42\00:14:55.64
going to begin in
Verse 22. John 5 and
00:14:55.67\00:14:58.65
Verse 22, Jesus
speaking he says in Verse 22,
00:14:58.68\00:15:01.15
for the father
judges no one but has
00:15:01.18\00:15:03.58
committed all
judgment to the who everyone?
00:15:03.61\00:15:05.64
To the son, to the
son, that all should honor
00:15:05.67\00:15:08.24
the son just as they
honor the father. He who
00:15:08.27\00:15:10.83
does not honor the
son does not honor the
00:15:10.86\00:15:13.34
father and notice the
next three words here;
00:15:13.37\00:15:15.16
who sent him? What
are those three words
00:15:15.19\00:15:18.82
everyone? Who sent
him? Jesus here says in
00:15:18.85\00:15:21.66
unequivocal
language. It is the father who
00:15:21.69\00:15:24.98
sent me. Now
notice with me Verse 30 in
00:15:25.01\00:15:27.58
the sane Chapter.
John Chapter 5 and Verse
00:15:27.61\00:15:29.07
30, I can of mine
own self do nothing: as I
00:15:29.10\00:15:31.52
hear, I judge: and my
judgment is right just;
00:15:31.55\00:15:33.64
because I do not
seek my own will, but the
00:15:33.67\00:15:36.01
will of the Father,
you say it with me, who
00:15:36.04\00:15:39.08
sent me. Now
notice again in the same
00:15:39.11\00:15:41.49
Chapter
beginning in Verse 36, John
00:15:41.52\00:15:43.12
Chapter 5 and Verse
36, Jesus says, But I
00:15:43.15\00:15:45.37
have greater
witness than John's: for the
00:15:45.40\00:15:47.99
works which the
Father has given me to
00:15:48.02\00:15:49.28
finish, the very works
that I do, bear witness
00:15:49.31\00:15:51.64
of me, that the
Father, what everyone?
00:15:51.67\00:15:53.74
Has sent me, has
sent me. In Verse 37, And
00:15:55.05\00:15:56.50
the Father himself
who sent me, there it is
00:15:56.53\00:15:58.41
again, has testified
of me, you have neither
00:15:58.44\00:16:00.68
heard his voice at
any time, nor seen his
00:16:00.71\00:16:02.43
form. Notice this five
times in, four times in
00:16:02.46\00:16:05.48
John Chapter 5
Jesus says the father sent
00:16:05.51\00:16:07.76
me, the father sent
me, the father sent me,
00:16:07.79\00:16:09.18
the father sent me,
so it's very elementary
00:16:09.21\00:16:12.54
for us to ask if we
could put Jesus just here
00:16:12.57\00:16:14.62
tonight and we
could say Jesus, where did
00:16:14.65\00:16:16.82
you come from? Who
sent you? What would
00:16:16.85\00:16:18.77
he say everyone? He
will say the father sent
00:16:18.80\00:16:21.14
me. I'm sent from
my heavenly father from
00:16:21.17\00:16:24.26
God himself. What
was Jesus own testimony
00:16:24.29\00:16:27.83
about who he was?
Did Jesus believe that he
00:16:27.86\00:16:31.27
was just a good
moral teacher? Did Jesus
00:16:31.30\00:16:34.30
believe that he was
just a guru or a mentor
00:16:34.33\00:16:37.22
or some kind of moralist,
no, no, no. If we could
00:16:37.25\00:16:40.60
Jesus who do you
think you are Jesus?
00:16:40.63\00:16:42.57
Who do you think you
are Jesus of Nazareth?
00:16:42.60\00:16:44.79
He would say my
father has sent me.
00:16:44.82\00:16:47.96
Now notice also in
John Chapter 8 in Verse
00:16:49.25\00:16:50.75
58 since we right
there in John just go with
00:16:50.78\00:16:52.62
me quickly to John
Chapter 8, just three
00:16:52.65\00:16:56.04
Chapters forward, we
are in John Chapter 8
00:16:56.07\00:16:57.92
and notice with me in Verse 56.
00:16:57.95\00:17:01.06
John Chapter 8 and
Verse 56, Jesus has an
00:17:01.09\00:17:03.39
another dialogue here
with the Pharisees and
00:17:03.42\00:17:05.75
the scribes and
he says in Verse 56,
00:17:05.78\00:17:07.22
your father Abraham
rejoice to see my day
00:17:07.25\00:17:10.18
and he saw it and
was glad then the Jews
00:17:10.21\00:17:13.29
said to him what you
are not yet 50 years old
00:17:13.32\00:17:15.64
and you have seen
Abraham. Notice Jesus
00:17:15.67\00:17:17.93
response in Verse
58, Jesus said to them
00:17:17.96\00:17:20.56
most assuredly in
other words you can have
00:17:20.59\00:17:22.77
confidence in this
before I say to you before
00:17:22.80\00:17:26.16
Abraham was and what
are those next two words?
00:17:26.19\00:17:28.56
I am. Now when Jesus here
00:17:28.59\00:17:31.35
says before
Abraham was I am what is he
00:17:31.38\00:17:33.48
referencing? What is
he talking about I am?
00:17:33.51\00:17:35.47
That's exactly right
remember back there in
00:17:37.41\00:17:38.82
Exodus Chapter 3, a
midnight shepherd by
00:17:38.85\00:17:41.43
the name of what was his name?
00:17:41.46\00:17:43.28
Moses. Moses saw a burning
00:17:43.31\00:17:45.21
bush, but the bush
was not consume and as
00:17:45.24\00:17:47.18
he stepped up to that
burning bush the, the,
00:17:47.21\00:17:49.57
the angel of the Lord
spoke out of that bush
00:17:49.60\00:17:51.69
and said I want you
to go down and talk to
00:17:51.72\00:17:53.53
that rascal pharaoh
and say let my people
00:17:53.56\00:17:55.45
go. Moses protested
who shall I say to them
00:17:55.48\00:17:58.31
has sent me and he
said you tell them I am
00:17:58.34\00:18:01.55
that I am had sent
the. Now friends think
00:18:01.58\00:18:05.29
about that for just
a moment Jesus here has
00:18:05.32\00:18:07.45
just said I mean he
has had the audacity,
00:18:07.48\00:18:09.43
the temerity to
say before Abraham was
00:18:09.46\00:18:12.30
because they were
protesting about his age.
00:18:12.33\00:18:13.88
They said you are
not even 50 years old how
00:18:13.91\00:18:16.01
can you say that
Abraham rejoice to see you
00:18:16.04\00:18:17.80
today and Jesus
response was listen before
00:18:17.83\00:18:20.45
Abraham was I am.
Jesus here makes the
00:18:20.48\00:18:25.52
unequivocal claim to
be listen carefully now
00:18:25.55\00:18:28.29
the very God of the
Old Testament the very
00:18:28.32\00:18:32.65
your way, the
very Jehovah of the old
00:18:32.68\00:18:35.53
testament he said
that is me and in another
00:18:35.56\00:18:39.52
occasion in John
Chapter 10 and Verse 30
00:18:39.55\00:18:41.01
Jesus said again in
unequivocal language he
00:18:41.04\00:18:43.57
said my father and I are one,
00:18:43.60\00:18:47.01
I and my father
are what everybody?
00:18:48.23\00:18:50.30
One. One and the Jews
00:18:50.33\00:18:51.48
protested they
said, they said you are
00:18:51.51\00:18:53.36
making yourself
to be equal with God.
00:18:53.39\00:18:55.14
Now let's look at
one more here and then we
00:18:57.24\00:18:58.63
will sort of wrap
this up. Go with me in our
00:18:58.66\00:19:00.37
Bibles to John
Chapter 14. John in the 14
00:19:00.40\00:19:03.51
Chapter, we will
just stay in the Gospel of
00:19:03.54\00:19:05.19
John for convenience
sake. John Chapter 14
00:19:05.22\00:19:08.14
and notice with me
Verse 6, John 14 and
00:19:08.17\00:19:10.43
Verse 6, we'll
actually pick up the context in
00:19:10.46\00:19:12.69
Verse 5. Thomas said
to him Lord we do not
00:19:12.72\00:19:14.96
know where you are
going and how can we
00:19:14.99\00:19:16.84
know the way. Now
you know these Verses
00:19:16.87\00:19:18.19
by heart don't
you notice in Verse 6.
00:19:18.22\00:19:19.62
Jesus said to him I
am, there are those two
00:19:19.65\00:19:23.06
words again, I am
the what? Way the truth
00:19:23.09\00:19:27.66
and the life and
notice this no one comes to
00:19:27.69\00:19:31.09
the father except
through me. Now notice that
00:19:31.12\00:19:34.83
that Jesus uses the
singular definite article
00:19:34.86\00:19:37.72
am the way and the
truth and the life,
00:19:37.75\00:19:41.82
he does not use the
indefinite article A.
00:19:41.85\00:19:43.91
I am A way and I
am A truth one among
00:19:43.94\00:19:47.49
many and I am A
life. Jesus uses the
00:19:47.52\00:19:50.10
singular definite
article the way, the truth,
00:19:50.13\00:19:53.17
and the life. Jesus
here makes the exclusive
00:19:53.20\00:19:57.07
claim to be in the
soul contact point with
00:19:57.10\00:20:00.48
God in heaven.
Are these remarkable
00:20:00.51\00:20:02.92
claims yes or no? No.
00:20:02.95\00:20:04.78
So if we could bring
Jesus here this evening
00:20:04.81\00:20:06.54
and we could
interview him in journalistic
00:20:06.57\00:20:08.51
fashion and we
could say Jesus who do you
00:20:08.54\00:20:10.23
think you are. He
would say my father has
00:20:10.26\00:20:11.75
sent me before
Abraham was I am, I and my
00:20:11.78\00:20:14.63
father are one and
he would conclude by
00:20:14.66\00:20:16.67
saying no one can
come to the father except
00:20:16.70\00:20:19.42
through me because
I am the way, I am the
00:20:19.45\00:20:21.07
truth, and I am
the life. These are
00:20:21.10\00:20:22.79
incredible claims friends.
00:20:22.82\00:20:24.46
It was these kinds of
far reaching claims that
00:20:26.14\00:20:28.85
led Christian author
C.S. Lewis to make this
00:20:28.88\00:20:31.23
very salient
observation and conclusion.
00:20:31.26\00:20:34.19
C.S. Lewis said
because of the claims that
00:20:35.16\00:20:38.43
Jesus made about
himself, we cannot
00:20:38.46\00:20:41.07
confine him
harmlessly or innocuously into
00:20:41.10\00:20:44.28
some category as a
good moral teacher,
00:20:44.31\00:20:46.42
as a nice
philosopher, as a guru of sorts.
00:20:46.45\00:20:49.81
Mr. Lewis said
this man must be one of
00:20:49.84\00:20:52.71
three things
necessarily because of the
00:20:52.74\00:20:55.68
claims he made about
himself, he is either a
00:20:55.71\00:20:58.11
liar that is to say
he was not telling the
00:20:58.14\00:21:00.04
truth, he was a
lunatic that is to say he was
00:21:00.07\00:21:02.41
mad and out of his
mind or he was in fact
00:21:02.44\00:21:04.61
the Lord of glory, a
liar, a lunatic, or the
00:21:04.64\00:21:09.72
Lord. Do you
understand that yes or no?
00:21:09.75\00:21:11.91
Amen. The reason that Mr. Lewis
00:21:11.94\00:21:13.83
said that friends is
precisely this because of
00:21:13.86\00:21:16.34
the claims that
Jesus made about of himself
00:21:16.37\00:21:18.03
we cannot just
consign him innocuously to
00:21:18.06\00:21:20.93
some good moral
teacher. He has not left that
00:21:20.96\00:21:25.34
option open to us.
If we would ask Jesus,
00:21:25.37\00:21:28.63
Jesus who do you think you are?
00:21:28.66\00:21:30.64
Who do you think you are?
00:21:30.67\00:21:32.22
What should
testimony about yourself?
00:21:32.25\00:21:33.92
He would have
said I am in fact the
00:21:33.95\00:21:36.89
eliminable God of
the Old Testament,
00:21:36.92\00:21:38.87
but what about
number 2 his followers
00:21:38.90\00:21:41.01
testimony? What
about those who are closes
00:21:41.04\00:21:43.15
to him? Now I've
been married now for just
00:21:43.18\00:21:45.56
about five years and
I've no shame in telling
00:21:45.59\00:21:48.16
you that before I
was married I thought I
00:21:48.19\00:21:49.98
was almost perfect.
I don't if you had the
00:21:50.01\00:21:53.83
same experience you
know you think you're
00:21:53.86\00:21:55.51
doing just fine
thank you and ready for
00:21:55.54\00:21:58.48
translation just
waiting for the fiery chariot
00:21:58.51\00:22:00.70
to come pick me up
right and then you get
00:22:00.73\00:22:02.96
married and you
realize that you're stubborn.
00:22:02.99\00:22:04.94
Amen. Amen.
00:22:04.97\00:22:07.29
And you are mean
spirited and your,
00:22:07.32\00:22:09.59
you are unkind and
you are selfish and all of
00:22:09.62\00:22:12.88
that sort of came
upon me after I was
00:22:12.91\00:22:15.15
married before I
was married I was ready
00:22:15.18\00:22:16.58
for translation, now
I wonder if I even ever
00:22:16.61\00:22:19.08
going to be
ready for translation.
00:22:19.11\00:22:20.51
Now friends why do I
bring that all precisely
00:22:22.19\00:22:23.87
because of this.
Those listen carefully those
00:22:23.90\00:22:27.94
who are closest to
you know you best isn't
00:22:27.97\00:22:32.07
that true? Those
who are closest with you
00:22:32.10\00:22:35.38
know you best. Now
let's think about those
00:22:35.41\00:22:37.01
followers of Jesus.
Let's think about those
00:22:37.04\00:22:38.69
disciples. They
slept were Jesus slept,
00:22:38.72\00:22:40.85
they ate what Jesus
ate, they walked with
00:22:40.88\00:22:43.01
him, they talked to
him for three and a half
00:22:43.04\00:22:44.96
years they were
with him virtually every
00:22:44.99\00:22:47.17
single step of the
way. If anybody would
00:22:47.20\00:22:50.35
have been able to
see an inconsistency in
00:22:50.38\00:22:52.69
Jesus life it would
have been those who are
00:22:52.72\00:22:54.74
closest to him. For
example, if I stand up to
00:22:54.77\00:22:58.59
you and preach
tonight you might say,
00:22:58.62\00:23:00.01
Oh! That pastor
Asscherick he is a
00:23:00.04\00:23:01.78
Christian, but friends
look if you think I'm a
00:23:01.81\00:23:04.82
Christian this is not
particularly impressive
00:23:04.85\00:23:06.77
because I can stand
up here with my suit on
00:23:06.80\00:23:08.47
and I can preach the
best I can preach that
00:23:08.50\00:23:10.15
doesn't make me a
Christian were the rubber
00:23:10.18\00:23:12.23
meets the road the
real test is if my wife
00:23:12.26\00:23:14.76
think I'm a Christian, Amen.
00:23:14.79\00:23:17.96
Amen. Because my wife is
00:23:17.99\00:23:19.52
with me all the
time, she can see my, my
00:23:19.55\00:23:22.28
idiosyncrasy, she can
see my inconsistencies
00:23:22.31\00:23:25.08
and even at
times my hypocrisies.
00:23:25.11\00:23:26.78
Friends I'm not
perfect and my wife knows
00:23:26.81\00:23:29.42
that very well,
she would stand up and
00:23:29.45\00:23:30.61
testify if she was
here and I'm glad she is
00:23:30.64\00:23:31.98
several thousands
miles in California right
00:23:32.01\00:23:33.48
now, but she would
tell you I believe by the
00:23:33.51\00:23:36.58
grace of God he is
not perfect, but he is
00:23:36.61\00:23:38.67
trying, he is doing
his best and he is a
00:23:38.70\00:23:39.95
Christian man. Amen.
00:23:39.98\00:23:42.15
You understand so
what about those who are
00:23:42.18\00:23:43.99
closest to Jesus?
What about the ones who
00:23:44.02\00:23:47.23
would have seen
him be in that time,
00:23:47.26\00:23:49.78
where it would have
been so easy for him to
00:23:49.81\00:23:51.94
be frustrate, it
would have been so easy for
00:23:51.97\00:23:54.30
him to become
annoyed as the mob was
00:23:54.33\00:23:56.30
always pressing up
on him and pushing up
00:23:56.33\00:23:58.28
on him what about
those who were closest to
00:23:58.31\00:24:00.55
him? What was their
testimony about Jesus
00:24:00.58\00:24:02.82
of Nazareth? What
was their testimony
00:24:02.85\00:24:04.64
about the historical
Jesus? Well if we went
00:24:04.67\00:24:07.50
and ask John the
Baptist, we could say John
00:24:07.53\00:24:09.83
the Baptist who,
who did you think Jesus
00:24:09.86\00:24:12.27
was and he would have
testified that this is
00:24:12.30\00:24:14.83
the one whom I came
to prepare away for.
00:24:14.86\00:24:18.02
This is the one
who, who send those,
00:24:18.82\00:24:20.59
I'm not even
worthy to latch friends.
00:24:20.62\00:24:23.09
Since we are in the
Gospel of John let's stay
00:24:24.54\00:24:25.90
right there and go to
John Chapter 20 notice
00:24:25.93\00:24:28.08
with me in John
Chapter 20, if we were
00:24:28.11\00:24:31.32
given the
opportunity to ask John why he
00:24:31.35\00:24:33.76
wrote his gospel?
What would he say?
00:24:33.79\00:24:35.68
John why did you
write your even Galleon
00:24:35.71\00:24:38.81
your gospel let's
ask him John Chapter 20
00:24:38.84\00:24:41.31
and I'm reading in
Verse 30. John Chapter
00:24:41.34\00:24:44.02
20 and Verse what everyone?
00:24:44.05\00:24:45.29
30. 30, John says And
00:24:45.32\00:24:48.21
truly Jesus did
many other signs in the
00:24:48.24\00:24:51.09
presence of his
disciples, which are not
00:24:51.12\00:24:52.62
written in this
book, but these are written
00:24:52.65\00:24:55.38
that you may believe that
00:24:55.41\00:24:57.83
Jesus is the what everyone?
00:24:57.86\00:24:59.98
The Christ the son of
God and that believing
00:25:00.01\00:25:03.47
you may have life
in his name. Amen.
00:25:03.50\00:25:05.95
Did John believe
that Jesus was the Christ,
00:25:05.98\00:25:08.35
the son of God, and
then if we would to ask
00:25:08.38\00:25:11.01
him John why did
you write your gospel?
00:25:11.04\00:25:12.47
Why did you take
the time to sit down and
00:25:12.50\00:25:14.79
write out this even
Galleon, this account of
00:25:14.82\00:25:17.68
the life of Jesus,
he would say because I
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.60
want you to believe
what I believe namely
00:25:19.63\00:25:22.00
that Jesus is the
Christ, the son of God.
00:25:22.03\00:25:24.28
Those who are
closest to Jesus, those who
00:25:25.84\00:25:28.12
are in the most
intimate connection with
00:25:28.15\00:25:29.73
Jesus affirmed his
messianic and divine
00:25:29.76\00:25:32.67
identity and yet
these were the ones who
00:25:32.70\00:25:35.17
would have been
able to see if there had
00:25:35.20\00:25:36.81
been an inconsistency,
if there had been a
00:25:36.84\00:25:38.81
hypocrisy, these
are the ones who could
00:25:38.84\00:25:40.94
have seen it day in
and day out, night after
00:25:40.97\00:25:43.70
night, day after
day, moment after moment
00:25:43.73\00:25:45.75
with Jesus. One day
Jesus was conducting a
00:25:45.78\00:25:49.25
public survey, a
pole and he said who do
00:25:49.28\00:25:53.75
men say that I the
son of man in Mathew
00:25:53.78\00:25:55.63
Chapter 16 and oh
some say you are John
00:25:55.66\00:25:58.29
the Baptist and some
say you are Jeremiah,
00:25:58.32\00:26:00.13
one of the prophets
and other say your this
00:26:00.16\00:26:01.77
person and that
person and Jesus says okay I
00:26:01.80\00:26:03.76
think you give
me a fair example,
00:26:03.79\00:26:05.13
a fair representation
of what others are
00:26:05.16\00:26:06.53
saying and then he
puts the question right to
00:26:06.56\00:26:08.05
them, but who do
you say that I am.
00:26:08.08\00:26:09.87
And remember who
wants to spoke up on
00:26:10.95\00:26:12.15
behalf of the
rest of the disciples.
00:26:12.18\00:26:13.27
Peter spoke up and
said thou are the Christ,
00:26:13.30\00:26:16.44
the son of the
living God. If we could ask
00:26:16.47\00:26:19.96
Peter, Peter who did
you believe this Jesus
00:26:19.99\00:26:21.94
of Nazareth was, thou
was the Christ the son
00:26:21.97\00:26:24.83
of the living God.
If we could ask Andrew,
00:26:24.86\00:26:26.53
Andrew, son of
Peter's brother, who do you
00:26:26.56\00:26:28.57
believe this Jesus is,
he is the Christ the son
00:26:28.60\00:26:30.79
of the living God.
If we could survey his
00:26:30.82\00:26:32.79
followers and ask
them who did you think
00:26:32.82\00:26:35.33
he was each would
say in succession,
00:26:35.36\00:26:37.94
he was in fact
who he claimed to be.
00:26:37.97\00:26:41.50
Are you understanding yes or no?
00:26:43.43\00:26:44.40
Yes. Amen. Its coming together
00:26:44.43\00:26:46.14
isn't it. Now
notice number 1 Jesus own
00:26:46.17\00:26:48.50
testimony, who did
Jesus think he was?
00:26:48.53\00:26:50.58
What would he say to us?
00:26:50.61\00:26:51.81
Number 2, His
followers'testimony.
00:26:51.84\00:26:53.49
Who did those,
what did those who are
00:26:53.52\00:26:55.43
closest to him
think about his claims to
00:26:55.46\00:26:57.74
identity and
now. Number 3 and this
00:26:57.77\00:27:00.24
is very remarkable,
His enemies testimony.
00:27:00.27\00:27:03.33
Friend its one thing
if your, if your friend
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.60
speak well of you
it is quite a different
00:27:07.63\00:27:10.02
matter, if those
who don't like you speak
00:27:10.05\00:27:14.17
well of you. Amen. Amen.
00:27:14.20\00:27:16.72
Now go with me in
your Bible, we will stay
00:27:17.69\00:27:18.97
in John to John
Chapter 7. What did the
00:27:19.00\00:27:21.13
enemies of Jesus
have to say about Jesus.
00:27:21.16\00:27:24.93
John Chapter 7 and
this is, this is a classic
00:27:24.96\00:27:29.29
story in fact this is
one of my favorite stories
00:27:29.32\00:27:31.59
in the Bible. The
only problem is this we
00:27:31.62\00:27:33.68
only get kind of a
sketch, an outline of
00:27:33.71\00:27:35.97
what actually
happened and so I use my
00:27:36.00\00:27:37.68
fertile imagination to
sort of fill in the rest
00:27:37.71\00:27:40.31
of the details.
The sketch is there in
00:27:40.34\00:27:42.51
front of us let me
try and paint the picture
00:27:42.54\00:27:44.16
for you. John
Chapter 7 and we are
00:27:44.19\00:27:45.96
beginning in Verse 45
it says then the officers,
00:27:45.99\00:27:49.04
that is the roman
officers, came to the
00:27:49.07\00:27:50.95
chief priest and
Pharisees who said to
00:27:50.98\00:27:53.22
them why have
you not brought him?
00:27:53.25\00:27:57.70
Now we don't
know the background,
00:27:59.25\00:28:00.22
but let's try to put it
together. Here's Jesus of
00:28:00.23\00:28:03.10
Nazareth, he is a
provocative young Rabi in
00:28:03.13\00:28:07.35
ancient Palestine. He
is turning the religious
00:28:07.38\00:28:10.14
world and the
religious hierarchy of those
00:28:10.17\00:28:12.43
days up side down.
He is saying things that
00:28:12.46\00:28:15.39
are totally different,
totally contrary to what
00:28:15.42\00:28:17.68
the religious leaders
of his day were saying
00:28:17.71\00:28:19.21
and he is beginning
to attract a rather large
00:28:19.24\00:28:21.59
following on at
least one occasion there
00:28:21.62\00:28:23.86
were 5000 men
plus woman and children
00:28:23.89\00:28:25.86
and so people
are flocking to this
00:28:25.89\00:28:27.17
provocative young
Rabi and the people of
00:28:27.20\00:28:29.75
his day the
religious hierarchy saw that
00:28:29.78\00:28:32.00
Jesus was a threat
to the establishment,
00:28:32.03\00:28:34.77
Jesus was what everyone? Threat.
00:28:34.80\00:28:36.87
A threat to the
establishment and so they
00:28:36.90\00:28:40.24
decided hey they
are gonna the point yeah
00:28:40.27\00:28:41.70
where they wanted to
kill him, so they said
00:28:41.73\00:28:43.02
you know let's just
arrest him, get him off
00:28:43.05\00:28:44.90
the scene, so we
can go on with you know
00:28:44.93\00:28:47.15
the status co
business as usual and so the
00:28:47.18\00:28:49.83
scribes in the
Pharisees approach some
00:28:49.86\00:28:51.56
Roman centurions
and they say look this
00:28:51.59\00:28:53.58
guy is giving us
trouble, he has all kinds of
00:28:53.61\00:28:56.15
thrown in our flesh
and we just want to get
00:28:56.18\00:28:57.83
rid of him. And so
they hire the soldiers and
00:28:57.86\00:29:00.85
said would you
please go and arrest him.
00:29:00.88\00:29:02.64
So the picture, I
have in my mind here is we
00:29:02.67\00:29:04.51
will say one, we will
four, four of these big
00:29:04.54\00:29:07.02
barely ogre like
Roman soldiers going to
00:29:07.05\00:29:10.62
arrest Jesus and
this is the picture of my
00:29:10.65\00:29:12.28
mind, Oh! We are
going to arrest Jesus.
00:29:12.31\00:29:14.19
They got their spears
and are going to arrest
00:29:14.22\00:29:15.95
Jesus and sure
enough when they arrive
00:29:15.98\00:29:17.77
there is a large
crowd around Jesus and so
00:29:17.80\00:29:20.47
they've got to
push through the crowd.
00:29:20.50\00:29:21.77
Oh! Excuse me, we
are gonna arrest Jesus
00:29:21.80\00:29:24.28
and they are pushing
their way to the crowd
00:29:24.31\00:29:26.68
and as they are
pushing their way through
00:29:26.71\00:29:28.77
Jesus continues to
preach. Jesus is teaching
00:29:28.80\00:29:31.82
the people as he was
frequently and so as he
00:29:31.85\00:29:34.57
is teaching, as he is
preaching and there is
00:29:34.60\00:29:36.33
sort of pardon
me, pardon, Umm! Umm!
00:29:36.36\00:29:38.58
And they are
standing there totally
00:29:41.24\00:29:42.93
dumbstruck, their
slack jaw and they just
00:29:42.96\00:29:46.07
heard something that
caught their attention.
00:29:46.10\00:29:47.78
Now they've gone to
arrest Jesus, but here
00:29:47.81\00:29:51.35
they are one two,
three, four Roman soldiers
00:29:51.38\00:29:53.60
standing there,
looking dumb founded and
00:29:53.63\00:29:56.27
intensely
interested in what this Rabi is
00:29:56.30\00:29:58.76
saying and Jesus
is preaching away and
00:29:58.79\00:30:00.69
there is a, Ah!
Ah! Good boy, Ah! Ah!,
00:30:00.72\00:30:03.52
and when the
whole thing is done he
00:30:04.51\00:30:06.02
dismisses them,
everybody goes home,
00:30:06.05\00:30:08.29
here go the roman
soldiers that was a good
00:30:08.32\00:30:10.00
sermon, good
sermon, and they make their
00:30:10.03\00:30:12.27
way back. They
make their way back
00:30:12.30\00:30:15.59
way back to the very
place, where they have
00:30:15.62\00:30:16.86
been commissioned
and hired and when they
00:30:16.89\00:30:18.81
walk in the scribes
in the Pharisees are
00:30:18.84\00:30:20.86
incredulous they
say where is Jesus?
00:30:20.89\00:30:22.77
Why haven't you brought him?
00:30:22.80\00:30:24.21
And notice the
response of the self-styled
00:30:26.18\00:30:29.67
enemies of Jesus.
What did they have to say
00:30:29.70\00:30:33.44
notice with me in
Verse 46 of John 7,
00:30:33.47\00:30:35.75
the officers
answered no man ever spoke
00:30:35.78\00:30:39.31
like this man. Amen. Amen.
00:30:39.34\00:30:43.23
Friends they heard
something. We don't
00:30:43.26\00:30:45.44
know what they
heard, but that must have
00:30:45.47\00:30:46.90
been some scene,
here they go to arrest him
00:30:46.93\00:30:49.09
and something causes
them to stop in their
00:30:49.12\00:30:51.58
tracks, why because
Jesus spoken away that
00:30:51.61\00:30:54.02
never heard
anybody speak before.
00:30:54.05\00:30:55.38
He was unique, he
was what word did I say?
00:30:55.41\00:30:59.49
Unique. Now what does the word
00:30:59.52\00:31:00.66
unique mean? What is that mean?
00:31:00.69\00:31:03.38
One of a kind or
unlike any other. Notice
00:31:03.41\00:31:05.97
Verse 46 again what
did they say, no man
00:31:06.00\00:31:08.75
ever spoke like
this man. What are they
00:31:08.78\00:31:10.71
saying in essence, if
you could do still with
00:31:10.74\00:31:12.37
their saying down to a
single word what did they
00:31:12.40\00:31:13.88
say? Unique.
00:31:13.91\00:31:14.89
He is unique. They
couldn't these are harden
00:31:14.92\00:31:18.20
Roman centurions,
they couldn't bring
00:31:18.23\00:31:20.16
themselves to
arrest Jesus why because he
00:31:20.19\00:31:22.89
was unique. No man
ever spoke like this
00:31:22.92\00:31:28.69
man spoke. Now go
with me from the fourth
00:31:28.72\00:31:32.74
gospel to the first
gospel. Mathew Chapter
00:31:32.77\00:31:35.10
27, here we find
another incredible story,
00:31:35.13\00:31:39.15
an incredible
testimony in which one of the
00:31:39.18\00:31:42.48
self styled enemies
of Jesus actually affirms
00:31:42.51\00:31:46.77
the divinity of
Jesus. Let's look at this in
00:31:46.80\00:31:49.99
Mathew Chapter
27, Mathew Chapter 27
00:31:50.02\00:31:54.16
and were in Verse
let's start in Verse 51,
00:31:54.19\00:31:58.74
then behold the vale
of the temple was torn
00:31:58.77\00:32:00.97
into from top to
bottom this is the
00:32:01.00\00:32:02.62
crucifiction
accounts and the earth quaked
00:32:02.65\00:32:05.45
and the rocks were
split and the graves were
00:32:05.48\00:32:07.92
opened in many
bodies of the saints would
00:32:07.95\00:32:09.54
fallen asleep are
raised and coming out of
00:32:09.57\00:32:11.44
the graves after his
resurrection they went
00:32:11.47\00:32:13.38
into the holy city
and appeared to many.
00:32:13.41\00:32:14.72
Now notice Verse 54,
so when the centurion
00:32:14.75\00:32:17.37
and those with him,
so how many are here,
00:32:17.40\00:32:20.90
how many centurions are here?
00:32:20.93\00:32:22.46
We don't know it
says the centurions and
00:32:23.92\00:32:26.07
those who are with
him they may have been
00:32:26.10\00:32:27.20
other centurions or
may have just been the
00:32:27.23\00:32:28.83
public, but there
was more than one person
00:32:28.86\00:32:30.97
there. Are we
clear on that, yes or no?
00:32:31.00\00:32:32.36
Amen. It says in Verse 54,
00:32:32.39\00:32:34.04
so when the
centurions and those with him
00:32:34.07\00:32:36.19
who were guarding
Jesus. Friends they were
00:32:36.22\00:32:39.64
bodyguards trying to
protect him, these are
00:32:39.67\00:32:41.61
the very ones that
who just lifted him on the
00:32:41.64\00:32:43.02
cross. Are you
understanding now,
00:32:43.05\00:32:45.85
yes or no? Amen.
00:32:45.88\00:32:47.06
So when the
centurions and those are with
00:32:47.09\00:32:48.79
him who were
guarding Jesus saw the
00:32:48.82\00:32:50.65
earthquake and the
things that happened,
00:32:50.68\00:32:51.92
they feared greatly,
saying, what did they
00:32:51.95\00:32:53.88
say? Notice what
they said, truly this was
00:32:53.91\00:32:58.22
the Son of God.
Friends look at that as the
00:32:58.25\00:33:01.56
Roman soldiers
stood there at the feet of
00:33:01.59\00:33:03.64
Jesus and he saw
the way that his man met
00:33:03.67\00:33:06.47
is punishment, the
way that he met that
00:33:06.50\00:33:08.62
ignominious
humiliating death not with
00:33:08.65\00:33:10.88
scathing rebukes on
the soldiers, but humbly
00:33:10.91\00:33:13.34
the Bible says in
Isaiah Chapter 53, like a
00:33:13.37\00:33:15.40
lamb to the slotter
they protested and said
00:33:15.43\00:33:17.77
surely this was in
fact the son of God.
00:33:17.80\00:33:20.86
Can you imagine
being aware that you
00:33:20.89\00:33:22.31
would just kill the son of God?
00:33:22.34\00:33:23.52
This is not, this
is not an intellectual
00:33:25.70\00:33:27.58
statement, Oh!
Surely this was the son of
00:33:27.61\00:33:29.35
God, this is the
crime from anguish lips,
00:33:29.38\00:33:31.59
surely this was
the son of God what
00:33:31.62\00:33:33.64
have we done.
00:33:33.99\00:33:34.96
Friends even the
enemies of Jesus said he
00:33:37.39\00:33:39.90
was unique, he was
divine. The enemies of
00:33:39.93\00:33:43.92
Jesus testimony was
perfectly consistent
00:33:43.95\00:33:46.30
with Jesus own
testimony and with the
00:33:46.33\00:33:48.30
testimony of his followers.
00:33:48.33\00:33:50.04
Consider with me as
I read to you from Acts
00:33:51.68\00:33:53.11
Chapter 6 in Verse 7.
I'm going to read it for
00:33:53.14\00:33:55.26
you Axe 6:7 in the
interest of time it says
00:33:55.29\00:33:58.36
and the word of
God increased and the
00:33:58.39\00:34:00.58
number of the
disciples multiplied in
00:34:00.61\00:34:02.61
Jerusalem greatly
and a great company of
00:34:02.64\00:34:05.96
the priests were
obedient to the faith.
00:34:05.99\00:34:09.08
Now let me ask you
this question for the
00:34:10.14\00:34:11.28
most part when Jesus
was in the mist of his
00:34:11.31\00:34:13.17
earthly ministry were
the priests his friends
00:34:13.20\00:34:15.64
or his enemies.
His detractors or his
00:34:15.67\00:34:17.82
supporters. They
were enemies won't they
00:34:17.85\00:34:20.38
and yet when you
come down into the Book
00:34:20.41\00:34:23.08
of Acts, we find
that many of those who
00:34:23.11\00:34:25.14
have been
responsible for actually putting
00:34:25.17\00:34:26.96
Jesus upon to that
cross, who has had that
00:34:26.99\00:34:28.99
unjust mockery of a
trial before. These were
00:34:29.02\00:34:32.64
the very ones who
began do affirm that
00:34:32.67\00:34:34.75
Jesus was in fact he messiah.
00:34:34.78\00:34:36.40
He is unique in human history.
00:34:39.67\00:34:41.21
Consider with me
as we go to the screen
00:34:42.85\00:34:44.06
number 1 Jesus own
testimony, who did he
00:34:44.09\00:34:47.18
think he was? If
we could ask him what
00:34:47.21\00:34:48.96
would he say?
Number 2, how about his
00:34:48.99\00:34:51.13
followers testimony
did they corroborate
00:34:51.16\00:34:53.10
Jesus testimony or
did they contradicted.
00:34:53.13\00:34:55.52
They corroborated
it. His enemies testimony
00:34:55.55\00:34:57.80
even his enemies
affirmed the uniqueness of
00:34:57.83\00:35:01.94
Jesus Christ and
number 4, let us move now
00:35:01.97\00:35:04.40
to our fourth of
five what about the
00:35:04.43\00:35:07.26
testimony of
history? Let me ask you a
00:35:07.29\00:35:09.24
simple question.
Has the passage of time
00:35:09.27\00:35:12.19
roughly 2000 years
since Jesus walk this
00:35:13.27\00:35:15.65
earth has the
passage of time increased or
00:35:15.68\00:35:19.01
decreased the
significance, importance,
00:35:19.04\00:35:21.69
and preeminence of
the man Jesus Christ.
00:35:21.72\00:35:23.77
You tell me
increased or decreased?
00:35:23.80\00:35:26.49
Friends increased
exponentially increased.
00:35:27.48\00:35:29.90
There are approximately
2 billion people out
00:35:29.93\00:35:33.27
of six billion people
on the planet today that
00:35:33.30\00:35:35.39
believe that Jesus
Christ was in fact the
00:35:35.42\00:35:37.32
divine son of God.
How many were there
00:35:37.35\00:35:39.19
when Jesus was walk
in the earth roughly 12
00:35:39.22\00:35:41.27
plus a few. Now
friends I would say that's
00:35:41.30\00:35:43.81
remarkable increase
wouldn't you, 12 to 2
00:35:43.84\00:35:46.19
billion. What about
the testimony of history?
00:35:46.22\00:35:49.47
Notice this incredible
statement this is taken
00:35:50.17\00:35:52.48
from Dr. Norman
Geisler and he said one of
00:35:52.51\00:35:54.75
the great Christian
apologist of our day.
00:35:54.78\00:35:56.85
He said Christ is
absolutely unique among
00:35:56.88\00:36:00.42
all who ever lived.
That's why our message
00:36:00.45\00:36:01.80
is entitled the
absolute uniqueness of Jesus
00:36:01.83\00:36:04.78
Christ. Christ is
absolutely unique among
00:36:04.81\00:36:07.10
all who ever
lived. He is unique in his
00:36:07.13\00:36:09.29
supernatural
nature, his superlative
00:36:09.32\00:36:12.48
character, and in
his life and teaching.
00:36:12.51\00:36:15.27
No other world
teacher claimed to be God.
00:36:16.07\00:36:18.24
Even when the
followers of some prophet
00:36:18.27\00:36:20.61
deified their teacher,
there is not proof given
00:36:20.64\00:36:23.13
for that claim that
can be compared to the
00:36:23.16\00:36:25.87
fulfillment of
prophecy, the sinless and
00:36:25.90\00:36:28.34
miraculous life, and
the resurrection. Jesus is
00:36:28.37\00:36:31.86
absolutely unique
among all human beings
00:36:31.89\00:36:34.90
who ever lived.
Amen. Now I want you to
00:36:34.93\00:36:38.25
notice that he says
to the resurrection,
00:36:38.28\00:36:40.61
the resurrection.
Let's talk about that
00:36:40.64\00:36:42.60
resurrection for
just a moment in fact our
00:36:42.63\00:36:44.53
entire message
tomorrow evening is entitled.
00:36:44.56\00:36:46.64
The resurrection of
Jesus Christ fact or
00:36:46.67\00:36:49.56
fiction. We are
actually going to look at the
00:36:49.59\00:36:51.91
historical
evidence, so what kind of
00:36:51.94\00:36:53.68
evidence did I say? Historical.
00:36:53.71\00:36:55.15
The historical
evidence. We're going to do
00:36:55.18\00:36:56.37
something unique tomorrow night,
00:36:56.40\00:36:57.54
tomorrow night
we're going to come to the
00:36:57.57\00:36:59.17
Bible not as a
Christian who believes in its
00:36:59.20\00:37:02.09
inspiration.
Tomorrow night, we're going to
00:37:02.12\00:37:04.11
take our
commitment to the Bible as the
00:37:04.14\00:37:05.93
inspired word of
God and we are going to
00:37:05.96\00:37:07.38
set that commitment
on a shelf momentarily
00:37:07.41\00:37:09.36
and we're going to
try and approach the
00:37:09.39\00:37:10.97
Bible like a
historian would. And we're
00:37:11.00\00:37:13.78
going to ask is there
any historical record,
00:37:13.81\00:37:16.37
any historical
validity to the fact that Jesus
00:37:16.40\00:37:19.01
was resurrected.
Tomorrow night you are
00:37:19.04\00:37:20.77
going to see that
one of the most firmly
00:37:20.80\00:37:22.78
established facts
of antiquity is the
00:37:22.81\00:37:25.72
resurrection of
Jesus Christ. It anchors
00:37:25.75\00:37:29.18
human history, we
will talk more about that.
00:37:29.21\00:37:31.51
His resurrection
friends demonstrate that he
00:37:31.54\00:37:35.21
was who he claim to
be think about this the
00:37:35.24\00:37:37.84
man was resurrected,
he went into the tomb
00:37:37.87\00:37:40.16
and yet he came out
of the tomb can you say
00:37:40.19\00:37:43.22
Amen. Amen.
00:37:43.25\00:37:44.22
I quote for you
very quickly from G. B.
00:37:44.23\00:37:46.70
Hardy's book
countdown he said this,
00:37:46.73\00:37:48.86
there are only two
essential questions.
00:37:49.54\00:37:52.17
Number 1, has
anyone ever cheated death
00:37:52.20\00:37:54.18
and number 2 is
it available to me.
00:37:54.21\00:37:55.51
Let us survey the
record Mr. Hardy says
00:37:58.24\00:38:00.51
Buddhist tomb
occupied, Mohammad's tomb
00:38:00.54\00:38:04.06
occupied, Confucius
tomb occupied, Jesus
00:38:04.09\00:38:08.25
tomb empty and then
he adds argue as you
00:38:08.28\00:38:11.88
may, but for me and
my purposes there is no
00:38:11.91\00:38:14.19
point in following
a loser. Now he is not
00:38:14.22\00:38:18.54
being, he is not
being unkind or anything of
00:38:18.57\00:38:21.79
that nature when he
says a loser what he is
00:38:21.82\00:38:23.38
saying is that death
got the victory over a
00:38:23.41\00:38:26.23
Budha and
Confucius and Mohammed,
00:38:26.26\00:38:27.85
but death could not
hold Jesus he is unique.
00:38:27.88\00:38:31.18
Amen. I'm already
preaching tomorrow
00:38:31.21\00:38:33.26
night sermon. Friends
his resurrection firmly
00:38:33.29\00:38:37.67
anchored in history.
Notice this incredible
00:38:37.70\00:38:39.91
quotation, this
quotation is taken from
00:38:39.94\00:38:41.73
W.E.H. Lecky a famed skeptic,
00:38:41.76\00:38:44.97
not a follower, not a disciple,
00:38:45.00\00:38:47.79
he said the
character of Jesus has not only
00:38:47.82\00:38:50.47
been the highest
pattern of virtue,
00:38:50.50\00:38:52.40
but the
strongest incentive in its
00:38:52.43\00:38:54.58
practice, and has
exerted so deep an
00:38:54.61\00:38:57.49
influence that it may
be truly said that the
00:38:57.52\00:39:00.54
simple record of
three short years of active
00:39:00.57\00:39:02.93
life has done more
to regenerate and to
00:39:02.96\00:39:05.56
soften mankind than
all the disquisitions of
00:39:05.59\00:39:09.14
philosophers and
all the exhortations of
00:39:09.17\00:39:11.92
moralists. You see
what this man is saying
00:39:11.95\00:39:15.36
now keep in mind this
is no friend of Jesus,
00:39:15.98\00:39:18.63
not a disciple, not a
believer in the inspired
00:39:18.66\00:39:22.01
in the word of God,
a skeptic who says the
00:39:22.04\00:39:24.83
highest pattern of
virtue that we have is
00:39:24.86\00:39:27.29
Jesus Christ has his
influence increased or
00:39:27.32\00:39:31.44
decreased since the
passage of time over the
00:39:31.47\00:39:33.79
last 2000 years.
It has exponentially
00:39:33.82\00:39:36.23
increased. What is
the testimony of history
00:39:36.26\00:39:38.68
about the
person of Jesus Christ?
00:39:38.71\00:39:40.74
Friends, I want
you to consider with me
00:39:42.41\00:39:43.95
something
absolutely remarkable there are
00:39:43.98\00:39:47.58
people today on all
seven continents from
00:39:47.61\00:39:50.90
every nation,
kindred, tribe, and tongue,
00:39:50.93\00:39:53.71
who affirm
exactly what Jesus claimed
00:39:53.74\00:39:56.72
about himself that
he was the divine son of
00:39:56.75\00:39:58.45
God. The same
thing that the disciples
00:39:58.48\00:40:00.96
affirm that he was
fact the Christ the son of
00:40:00.99\00:40:03.37
the living God. The
same thing that even the
00:40:03.40\00:40:05.07
enemies said truly
this was the son of God
00:40:05.10\00:40:07.20
and they are people
on the top side of the
00:40:07.23\00:40:08.84
earth in every
single continent, every
00:40:08.87\00:40:11.29
village, every
country, every place in fact as
00:40:11.32\00:40:14.43
3ABN is
broadcasting all over the globe
00:40:14.46\00:40:16.21
friends there are
people in every nuking
00:40:16.24\00:40:18.44
cranny of this globe
that believe that Jesus
00:40:18.47\00:40:20.66
Christ was who he claim to be.
00:40:20.69\00:40:22.43
Amen. Amen.
00:40:22.46\00:40:24.10
Now that is an
increase, an increase in
00:40:24.44\00:40:27.52
preeminence, an
increase in importance,
00:40:27.55\00:40:29.23
an increase in influence.
00:40:29.26\00:40:31.35
Now consider with
me go with me to second
00:40:33.23\00:40:34.98
Corinthians Chapter
4, second Corinthians,
00:40:35.01\00:40:37.43
we leave the
Gospels momentarily and we
00:40:37.46\00:40:40.46
go to second
Corinthians Chapter 4 now you
00:40:40.49\00:40:42.55
tell me second
Corinthians is that
00:40:42.58\00:40:44.88
in the Old Testament
or the New Testament,
00:40:44.91\00:40:46.73
New Testament second
Corinthians Chapter 4,
00:40:47.37\00:40:48.99
second question
now Jason loves to ask
00:40:49.02\00:40:50.97
questions let me
ask you a question,
00:40:51.00\00:40:52.39
who wrote the book
of second Corinthians?
00:40:52.42\00:40:54.98
Oh! Silence, Paul
wrote the book of second
00:40:56.68\00:41:00.26
Corinthians. Now
let's talk about the apostle
00:41:00.29\00:41:02.28
Paul. Who was the apostle Paul?
00:41:02.31\00:41:03.99
He was formerly Saul of where?
00:41:04.02\00:41:06.97
Tarsus, Saul of
Tarsus. Now who was Paul?
00:41:07.00\00:41:11.52
Paul was a Hebrew.
Is that true yes or no?
00:41:12.79\00:41:16.13
Was Paul a Jew. Yes.
Absolutely Paul was a
00:41:16.16\00:41:18.66
Jew, he was
Hebrew. Now Paul was also a
00:41:18.69\00:41:21.96
Roman citizen is
that, true yes or no?
00:41:21.99\00:41:25.11
Sure, read the Book
of Acts and on several
00:41:25.14\00:41:27.75
occasions Paul
protested hey you can't do
00:41:27.78\00:41:29.84
this, I'm a Roman
citizen. So Paul was a
00:41:29.87\00:41:31.88
Hebrew, who was
also a roman citizen and
00:41:31.91\00:41:35.24
if you look at
Tarsus, Tarsus was a city in
00:41:35.27\00:41:38.21
the ancient world
that was strongly influence
00:41:38.24\00:41:40.93
by the Hellenistic
world, by the Greek
00:41:40.96\00:41:43.63
world, so notice this
very carefully he was a
00:41:43.66\00:41:45.96
Hebrew, who was
also a roman citizen,
00:41:45.99\00:41:48.36
who had strong Greek Hellenistic
00:41:48.39\00:41:51.29
influences. Paul
lived at the convergence of
00:41:51.32\00:41:55.16
three cultures,
the Hebrew culture,
00:41:55.19\00:41:57.73
the Greek culture,
and the Roman culture.
00:41:57.76\00:42:00.46
Now notice with me
in second Corinthians
00:42:01.82\00:42:03.06
Chapter 4, the
apostle Paul writing says
00:42:03.09\00:42:06.69
something absolutely remarkable.
00:42:06.72\00:42:08.63
Second Corinthians
Chapter 4, I'm reading
00:42:08.66\00:42:10.02
in Verse 6 he
says for it is the God,
00:42:10.05\00:42:13.16
who commanded
light to shine out of
00:42:13.19\00:42:15.74
darkness. What is
that reference to the God
00:42:15.77\00:42:18.23
who commanded
light to shine out of
00:42:18.26\00:42:19.52
darkness? That's
reference to creation
00:42:19.55\00:42:21.64
isn't it, let there
be light and there was
00:42:21.67\00:42:24.11
like for God who
commanded the light to
00:42:24.14\00:42:26.15
shine out of
darkness have shown in our
00:42:26.18\00:42:28.48
hearts to give us the
light of the knowledge
00:42:28.51\00:42:32.15
of the glory of
God, where everyone?
00:42:32.18\00:42:34.90
In the face of Jesus
Christ. Now let's, let's
00:42:36.15\00:42:37.96
look at all of
those words, let's look at
00:42:37.99\00:42:39.57
those syllables,
let's unpack them.
00:42:39.60\00:42:41.00
For God who
commanded the light of shine
00:42:41.97\00:42:43.48
out of darkness
that same God who spoken
00:42:43.51\00:42:45.71
to the actual
darkness and said let there be
00:42:45.74\00:42:47.45
light that same
God have shown in our
00:42:47.48\00:42:49.55
hearts to give us
what the light what kind of
00:42:49.58\00:42:52.48
light a luminous
light and incandescent light
00:42:52.51\00:42:54.73
like we have here, no,
no, no, the light of the
00:42:54.76\00:42:56.98
knowledge, the
light of what everyone?
00:42:57.01\00:42:59.42
Knowledge. The light of the
00:42:59.45\00:43:00.68
knowledge of the
glory, of the glory, what's
00:43:00.71\00:43:03.84
the glory, the glory
is the character. It's the
00:43:03.87\00:43:06.42
personality of God,
so we are sure in our
00:43:06.45\00:43:08.49
hearts to give us the
light of the knowledge
00:43:08.52\00:43:10.33
of the glory of God,
where does he give us
00:43:10.36\00:43:14.97
the light of the
knowledge of the glory of
00:43:15.00\00:43:17.29
God, where is it
given in the face of Jesus
00:43:17.32\00:43:21.32
Christ. The light
of the knowledge of the
00:43:21.35\00:43:24.56
glory of God, where
Paul, where do we find
00:43:24.59\00:43:26.22
this light of the
knowledge of the glory of
00:43:26.25\00:43:27.51
God. Who God
actually is? He says we find
00:43:27.54\00:43:30.74
it in the face of
Jesus Christ. One of my
00:43:30.77\00:43:33.43
very, very favorite
authors, a woman by the
00:43:33.46\00:43:35.34
name of Ellen
White, she said this when
00:43:35.37\00:43:37.12
Jesus came to this
earth, the earth was dark
00:43:37.15\00:43:40.10
through a
misapprehension of the character
00:43:40.13\00:43:43.34
of God. The earth was dark in a
00:43:43.37\00:43:46.50
misunderstanding of
who God was. In John
00:43:46.53\00:43:49.23
Chapter 9 in one
occasion the disciples
00:43:49.26\00:43:50.84
found a blind man
and they ran back to
00:43:50.87\00:43:52.20
Jesus and they said
Jesus we found this man
00:43:52.23\00:43:54.22
who is blind why is
he blind? I mean you
00:43:54.25\00:43:56.95
got him good God
why because he sinned
00:43:56.98\00:43:59.88
because his
parents sinned and Jesus
00:43:59.91\00:44:02.27
protested utterly
Jesus took no responsibility
00:44:02.30\00:44:05.26
for this man's
blindness he in fact said this
00:44:05.29\00:44:07.37
man's blindness is
for the glory of God and
00:44:07.40\00:44:08.98
he healed him.
Amen. The earth was dark
00:44:09.01\00:44:11.44
through misapprehension
of the character of
00:44:11.47\00:44:13.27
God people didn't
know what God was like.
00:44:13.30\00:44:15.53
Yet friends
Paul says the God who
00:44:17.27\00:44:19.05
committed light to
shine out of darkness had
00:44:19.08\00:44:20.56
shown in our hearts
why to give us the light
00:44:20.59\00:44:22.72
of the knowledge of
what of the glory of
00:44:22.75\00:44:25.07
God. What God is
like how do we know
00:44:25.10\00:44:26.91
what God is like
in the face of Jesus.
00:44:26.94\00:44:28.53
Jesus put it this
way if you've seen me,
00:44:28.56\00:44:30.30
you've seen my
father. That same author that
00:44:31.98\00:44:34.54
I eluted to earlier
Ellen White, she makes a
00:44:34.57\00:44:36.91
remarkable
statement, where she says if the
00:44:36.94\00:44:38.36
father had come
and given his life.
00:44:38.39\00:44:40.79
If the father had
come and walk the streets
00:44:40.82\00:44:43.26
of dusty ancient
Palestine, the gospels would not
00:44:43.29\00:44:45.94
have been one iota
different than they are
00:44:45.97\00:44:49.17
now. If Jesus had
remained in heaven and
00:44:49.20\00:44:51.52
the father himself
had come you would have
00:44:51.55\00:44:53.38
the identical Bible
in front of you that you
00:44:53.41\00:44:55.15
have now. There is
synonymous in their
00:44:55.18\00:44:57.02
character, their
goals and their nature.
00:44:57.05\00:44:58.87
Amen. Now let's
unpack that, remember the
00:44:58.90\00:45:04.89
apostle Paul was a
Hebrew, who was also a
00:45:04.92\00:45:08.15
Greek or a Roman
citizen, who lived in a
00:45:08.18\00:45:10.10
very strongly
Greek influence city or
00:45:10.13\00:45:12.52
Hellenistic city. If
we could distill, if we
00:45:12.55\00:45:17.23
could distill the
pursuit of the Hebrews
00:45:17.26\00:45:18.93
down, the Hebrew
culture to a single word
00:45:18.96\00:45:21.73
what did they
pursue? The answer is light.
00:45:21.76\00:45:24.80
Read the Old
Testament and how frequent
00:45:25.77\00:45:27.38
are the illusions to
light? Do they come up
00:45:27.41\00:45:29.46
frequently, yes or
no? Absolutely. You have,
00:45:29.49\00:45:31.82
you have God at the
beginning saying let
00:45:31.85\00:45:33.37
there be light. I
think of Psalm 109, Psalm
00:45:33.40\00:45:35.96
119 Verse 105, it
says that word is a light
00:45:35.99\00:45:39.53
under my feet and
what lamb under my path
00:45:39.56\00:45:41.98
think about Isaiah
Chapter 60 in Verse 1
00:45:42.01\00:45:43.76
literally 100s of
scriptures could be
00:45:43.79\00:45:45.35
sided, Isaiah 60 Verse
1 says arise, shine for
00:45:45.38\00:45:48.57
that light has come
and the glory of the Lord
00:45:48.60\00:45:50.58
is risen upon, the
behold darkness covers the
00:45:50.61\00:45:52.64
earth and grows
darkness the people, but the
00:45:52.67\00:45:54.36
Lord shall arise upon
the and his glory shall
00:45:54.39\00:45:56.83
be seen upon thee.
What was at the dwelt in
00:45:56.86\00:45:59.71
the most holy place
of the ancient mosaic
00:45:59.74\00:46:02.61
sanctuary what was
that there was in the
00:46:02.64\00:46:04.07
most holy place
between the two chairs of
00:46:04.10\00:46:05.75
him on top of the
mercy seat of the ark of
00:46:05.78\00:46:07.09
the covenant. What
was there. The shine and
00:46:07.12\00:46:09.35
kind of glory the
light, so if you could distill
00:46:09.38\00:46:12.77
the pursuit of the
Hebrews down, they were
00:46:12.80\00:46:15.02
the light that was to
lighten the darkness of
00:46:15.05\00:46:17.27
the gentile world.
If you could take their
00:46:17.30\00:46:19.58
whole culture
distill it down to a single
00:46:19.61\00:46:21.61
pursuit you would
say the pursuit of the
00:46:21.64\00:46:23.62
Hebrews was light.
00:46:23.65\00:46:25.24
Now what about the Greeks?
00:46:26.54\00:46:27.65
What about the
Greeks if we could take and
00:46:27.68\00:46:30.16
distill the pursuit
of the Greek culture down
00:46:30.19\00:46:32.88
to a single, a single
word what might that be
00:46:32.91\00:46:36.68
let's think about the
Greeks, who were they.
00:46:36.71\00:46:38.30
Did these names
mean anything to you
00:46:39.45\00:46:40.64
Plato, Aristotle,
Socrates, those names
00:46:40.67\00:46:44.24
mean anything to you?
00:46:44.27\00:46:45.24
They are
philosophers what kind of
00:46:45.25\00:46:47.13
philosophers,
Greek philosophers.
00:46:47.16\00:46:49.53
Now friends the
whole, you know what a
00:46:50.47\00:46:51.92
university is
don't you. A university,
00:46:51.95\00:46:54.78
a university is, the
concept of the university
00:46:54.81\00:46:58.21
is paternally
Greek. It's an Hellenistic
00:46:58.24\00:47:00.73
concept, the
academy is it's a Greek,
00:47:00.76\00:47:03.30
the pursuit of the
Greek's friends was the
00:47:03.33\00:47:05.56
pursuit of knowledge.
00:47:05.59\00:47:06.62
If you go to Acts
Chapter 17 it says that
00:47:09.33\00:47:10.83
there in Athens
they all stood around and
00:47:10.86\00:47:13.13
they didn't do
anything else except want to
00:47:13.16\00:47:14.78
hear something new.
They were interested in
00:47:14.81\00:47:17.44
knowledge, the
pursuit of knowledge,
00:47:17.47\00:47:19.06
the relentless
pursuit of knowledge,
00:47:19.09\00:47:20.64
so the pursuit of
the Hebrews was light,
00:47:20.67\00:47:22.37
the pursuit of the
Greeks was knowledge,
00:47:22.40\00:47:24.00
what about the
pursuit of the Roman world?
00:47:24.03\00:47:25.34
Let's distill it down
to a single word it's very
00:47:25.37\00:47:27.74
easy. All roads
lead to Rome. Rome wasn't
00:47:27.77\00:47:32.12
built in a day,
when in Rome do is the
00:47:32.15\00:47:36.51
Romans friends what
was the whole pursuit?
00:47:36.54\00:47:39.59
What was the, the
epitome of the Roman
00:47:39.62\00:47:42.44
Empire it was glory,
glory that glorious iron
00:47:42.47\00:47:48.14
monarchy of Rome.
Now look at those three
00:47:48.17\00:47:51.99
words put them here
on the screen, put them
00:47:52.02\00:47:55.72
on the screen
here, just go with me one
00:47:55.75\00:47:57.70
more, pass that
one, Oh! We missed it,
00:47:57.73\00:48:01.65
you're gonna have
to bring the back.
00:48:01.68\00:48:03.55
Well, there is a powerful,
let's just distill this
00:48:03.58\00:48:05.63
down maybe if we can
get the slide up for us
00:48:05.66\00:48:07.42
here. Here it is the
Hebrews three cultures
00:48:07.45\00:48:11.25
conversion the
apostle Paul, the Hebrews
00:48:11.28\00:48:13.61
pursuit what everyone? Light.
00:48:13.64\00:48:15.57
Light. The Greeks
pursued knowledge and
00:48:15.60\00:48:18.55
the Romans
pursued glory. Now look at
00:48:18.58\00:48:20.84
your Verse of
scripture again second
00:48:20.87\00:48:22.05
Corinthians Chapter
in Verse 6, it says for
00:48:22.08\00:48:24.06
God who commanded
the light to shine out
00:48:24.09\00:48:25.84
of darkness had
shown in our hearts to give
00:48:25.87\00:48:28.04
us the light of the
knowledge of the glory of
00:48:28.07\00:48:33.99
God where? In the
face of Jesus what is Paul
00:48:34.02\00:48:37.24
saying, Paul is
saying he takes all of the
00:48:37.27\00:48:39.45
three cultures
that he existed in he
00:48:39.48\00:48:42.25
synthesizes them, he
combines them all and
00:48:42.28\00:48:44.76
he says Jesus is the
consummate fulfillment
00:48:44.79\00:48:47.36
of all history and
all cultures, Amen.
00:48:47.39\00:48:51.06
Amen. Friends that's why a
00:48:51.09\00:48:52.20
black men can be
saved just like a white
00:48:52.23\00:48:53.82
man, that's why a man
can be saved just like
00:48:53.85\00:48:56.51
a woman and a
woman like a man, and an
00:48:56.54\00:48:58.29
individual from India
can be saved just like
00:48:58.32\00:49:00.11
an individual from
Pakistan. And God will
00:49:00.14\00:49:02.62
save Africans in
the same way he saves
00:49:02.65\00:49:04.35
Europeans can
you say, Amen. Amen.
00:49:04.38\00:49:06.31
All cultures, all
histories find their
00:49:06.34\00:49:08.86
consummation in the
person of Jesus Christ
00:49:08.89\00:49:11.68
of Nazareth. The
testimony of history,
00:49:11.71\00:49:14.70
the testimony
of history friends.
00:49:14.73\00:49:17.20
Now how about
number 5, we've looked at
00:49:17.23\00:49:19.27
the testimony of
Jesus, the testimony of his
00:49:19.30\00:49:21.40
followers, the
testimony of his enemies,
00:49:21.43\00:49:23.07
the testimony of
history and number 5 my
00:49:23.10\00:49:25.12
own testimony, let
me let you tonight.
00:49:25.15\00:49:26.99
That eight years ago,
I was an aimless young
00:49:28.31\00:49:31.16
person, I was
looking for happiness in sin
00:49:31.19\00:49:35.31
activities, relationships,
academics, and I can
00:49:35.34\00:49:42.59
tell you that my
testimony is this.
00:49:42.62\00:49:44.95
I have found that
Jesus was right when he
00:49:44.98\00:49:49.19
said. My father had
sent me, I am the way
00:49:49.22\00:49:53.43
the truth in the
life, no one comes to the
00:49:53.46\00:49:56.13
father, but by me. My testimony
00:49:56.16\00:49:58.70
corroborates
the testimony of his
00:49:58.73\00:50:00.37
followers. I believe
with Peter that he is the
00:50:00.40\00:50:03.51
Christ the son
of the living God.
00:50:03.54\00:50:05.00
I have found that to
be true in my experience
00:50:05.03\00:50:08.90
friends. I have
also agreed with those
00:50:08.93\00:50:12.90
soldiers who said
no man ever spoke like
00:50:12.93\00:50:14.98
this man. Now I can
speak with just a little
00:50:15.01\00:50:17.46
bit of authority on
this just a tiny bit because
00:50:17.49\00:50:20.06
before becoming a
Christian I read some
00:50:20.09\00:50:22.17
of the Hindu holy
books and I got into
00:50:22.20\00:50:23.96
into Buddhism a
little bit and I was exposed
00:50:23.99\00:50:26.18
to other religions,
but I can tell you there is
00:50:26.21\00:50:28.80
something in the
way that Jesus says what
00:50:28.83\00:50:30.71
he says it has the
ring of truth. Amen.
00:50:30.74\00:50:33.97
He is unique and so
I, I agree even with the
00:50:35.21\00:50:37.69
enemies and
friends I agree with the
00:50:37.72\00:50:39.42
testimony of
history. My testimony tonight
00:50:39.45\00:50:42.68
is that I have
found true happiness,
00:50:43.95\00:50:46.54
true
satisfaction, true contentment,
00:50:46.57\00:50:50.18
true meaning, I have
found that the purpose
00:50:50.21\00:50:53.40
of life the true
purpose of life is to be found
00:50:53.43\00:50:56.28
not in the pursued of
excellence or activities
00:50:56.31\00:50:58.87
or relationships or
any of these kinds of
00:50:58.90\00:51:01.19
things, but in
the pursuit and in the
00:51:01.22\00:51:03.24
apprehension of a person.
00:51:03.27\00:51:05.09
And that person is Jesus Christ.
00:51:07.22\00:51:08.71
Go with me in your
Bibles to Philippians,
00:51:08.74\00:51:10.96
Philippians Chapter
3, Philippians Chapter 3
00:51:10.99\00:51:16.81
this is one of the
very first passages of
00:51:16.84\00:51:18.80
scripture, I ever
memorized, Philippians
00:51:18.83\00:51:20.71
Chapter 3 beginning in Verse 7.
00:51:20.74\00:51:22.10
In Philippians
Chapter 3 in Verse 7,
00:51:23.82\00:51:25.41
we find here the
words of a man, who is
00:51:25.44\00:51:27.98
almost consume to
listen to the way he talks
00:51:28.01\00:51:32.28
it seems like he is
almost off her rocker,
00:51:32.31\00:51:34.26
he uses such far
reaching language.
00:51:34.29\00:51:36.98
Philippians Chapter
3 beginning in Verse 7,
00:51:38.37\00:51:39.83
notice what the
apostle Paul says he says,
00:51:39.86\00:51:41.80
but what things were
gained to me, those I
00:51:41.83\00:51:44.05
count but loss for
Christ. Yet doubt listen
00:51:44.08\00:51:47.60
I count all things,
but loss for the excellency
00:51:47.63\00:51:50.40
of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my lord.
00:51:50.43\00:51:53.64
For whom I have
suffered the loss of all
00:51:53.67\00:51:55.58
things and do count
them, but don't that I
00:51:55.61\00:51:57.80
may win Christ and
be found in him not
00:51:57.83\00:52:00.31
having my own
righteousness, which is
00:52:00.34\00:52:01.75
of the law, but
that which is through the
00:52:01.78\00:52:03.18
faith of Christ.
The righteousness,
00:52:03.21\00:52:05.01
which is of God by
faith, but I may know
00:52:05.04\00:52:08.59
him and the power
of his resurrection and
00:52:08.62\00:52:10.97
the fellowship of
his sufferings being made
00:52:11.00\00:52:12.84
conformable onto his
death, if by any means
00:52:12.87\00:52:15.51
that I might attain
into the resurrection of the
00:52:15.54\00:52:17.08
death nor as though
I had already attained
00:52:17.11\00:52:18.88
either we are
already perfect. But I follow
00:52:18.91\00:52:21.42
after if that I may
apprehend that for which
00:52:21.45\00:52:24.99
also I'm apprehend of
Christ Jesus. Brother I
00:52:25.02\00:52:28.02
count not myself
to have apprehended,
00:52:28.05\00:52:29.54
but this one thing
I do for getting those
00:52:29.57\00:52:31.21
things that are
behind and reaching forward
00:52:31.24\00:52:33.24
nto those things that
are before I press on,
00:52:33.27\00:52:35.33
tore them all for the
price of the high calling
00:52:35.36\00:52:38.39
of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
00:52:38.42\00:52:41.86
This is a man, who
is consumed with Christ.
00:52:43.59\00:52:46.59
A man who says
that he lost everything
00:52:46.62\00:52:49.70
reputation, fame,
family, fortune, everything
00:52:49.73\00:52:53.13
has gone and yet he
says he count it as gain.
00:52:53.16\00:52:56.11
Madness says the
world that's why when
00:52:57.39\00:52:59.74
Paul preached the
cross he said when I
00:52:59.77\00:53:01.31
preach the cross
the Jews stumble over it
00:53:01.34\00:53:03.58
and the Greeks
thinks its foolishness.
00:53:03.61\00:53:06.55
The consuming
Christ, tonight we've looked
00:53:08.22\00:53:12.13
at five testimonies,
tonight we've looked at
00:53:12.16\00:53:16.49
five testimonies and
there is one remaining.
00:53:16.52\00:53:19.49
We have looked at
the testimony of Jesus
00:53:21.89\00:53:23.22
about himself, we've
looked at the testimony
00:53:23.25\00:53:25.91
of his followers
those closest to him,
00:53:25.94\00:53:28.03
we've even looked
at the testimony of his
00:53:29.31\00:53:30.58
self-styled enemies
and they have affirmed
00:53:30.61\00:53:33.03
that Jesus was
who he claimed to be,
00:53:33.06\00:53:34.75
we've looked at the
testimony of history and
00:53:34.78\00:53:37.52
have found that
the significance,
00:53:37.55\00:53:39.10
importance,
influence, and preeminence of
00:53:39.13\00:53:40.67
Jesus has not
decreased, but significantly
00:53:40.70\00:53:43.20
increased and then I
have given you tonight
00:53:43.23\00:53:45.07
as best as I
could my own testimony.
00:53:45.10\00:53:47.19
A man who is
searching everywhere under
00:53:48.49\00:53:50.59
every rock looking
for something that brings
00:53:50.62\00:53:53.57
meaning, happiness,
and cohesiveness to life
00:53:53.60\00:53:56.44
and I can tell you I
found it not in a thing
00:53:56.47\00:53:59.88
not in an activity,
not in an education,
00:53:59.91\00:54:02.69
I found it in a man
and that man is Jesus.
00:54:02.72\00:54:05.47
Amen. Like the apostle Paul
00:54:05.50\00:54:09.03
what things were
gained to me those I count
00:54:09.06\00:54:12.12
but lost for Christ.
A doubtless and I count
00:54:12.15\00:54:14.99
all things, but loss
for the excellency of the
00:54:15.02\00:54:18.44
knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord.
00:54:18.47\00:54:21.32
There is one
testimony that remains to be
00:54:21.35\00:54:24.28
given though and
that is number 6 your
00:54:24.31\00:54:26.26
testimony.
Friends will you add your
00:54:26.29\00:54:29.12
testimony to what
we have seen tonight to
00:54:29.15\00:54:31.58
these other five,
would you add your
00:54:31.61\00:54:33.08
testimony, would
you agree with the
00:54:33.11\00:54:34.79
testimony of
Jesus about himself,
00:54:34.82\00:54:36.47
his disciples, his
enemies, history and even
00:54:36.50\00:54:38.72
my testimony. You
would have to cast your vote
00:54:38.75\00:54:41.28
tonight friends and
you say well who is this
00:54:41.31\00:54:43.89
Jesus and then you
look to the cross and you
00:54:43.92\00:54:46.26
see there a man on a
cross like you see more
00:54:46.29\00:54:49.06
than a man, you
see a savior, you see a
00:54:49.09\00:54:51.17
friend, you see a
brother and you see God.
00:54:51.20\00:54:54.33
Amen. On the
cross, why friends for you
00:54:54.36\00:54:58.24
and I. He is
unique in human history.
00:54:58.27\00:55:01.47
So many things set
him apart. So, many
00:55:02.76\00:55:06.25
things make him as a man unique,
00:55:06.28\00:55:08.87
unparalleled,
peerless in the corridors,
00:55:08.90\00:55:12.06
and beyond time
and so I put to you the
00:55:12.09\00:55:15.23
question today that
Jesus put to those scribes
00:55:15.26\00:55:17.27
and Pharisees. I put to
you that question friend,
00:55:17.30\00:55:21.73
what think ye of Christ?
00:55:21.76\00:55:26.05
What think ye of Christ?
00:55:26.08\00:55:30.73
Ponchus pilots
standing outside of the
00:55:32.37\00:55:33.86
judgment hall had two decisions,
00:55:33.89\00:55:35.12
two options, two
choices, he could crown
00:55:36.05\00:55:38.96
Christ as the true
king or he could crucify
00:55:38.99\00:55:42.41
him and humiliate
him. Friends today what
00:55:42.44\00:55:45.23
think ye of
Christ? For our television
00:55:45.26\00:55:47.75
audience who is
looking in what think ye of
00:55:47.78\00:55:49.57
Christ friends,
what think ye of Christ.
00:55:49.60\00:55:54.04
I put this question
to you tonight and I
00:55:55.07\00:55:56.41
affirm utterly that
the testimony of Christ,
00:55:56.44\00:56:00.21
his disciples, his
enemies and history and
00:56:00.24\00:56:02.11
my own testimony is
that Jesus is the son of
00:56:02.14\00:56:04.64
God the Christ
and the savior, Amen.
00:56:04.67\00:56:08.15
For you tonight who
want to say with me he
00:56:08.97\00:56:11.66
is my savior, he is
my Christ. Won't you
00:56:11.69\00:56:14.24
stand on your
feet, won't you stand and
00:56:14.27\00:56:16.85
contribute, won't
you stand with me as we
00:56:16.88\00:56:19.01
close. You see they
were standing here and
00:56:19.04\00:56:21.52
for those of you in
the television audience,
00:56:21.55\00:56:22.74
why don't you stand
with us, why don't you
00:56:22.77\00:56:24.28
stand right now and
say with me he is not
00:56:24.31\00:56:27.08
only the Christ
tonight he is my Christ.
00:56:27.11\00:56:29.75