A new commandment
Series: No Ordinary Life
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 25th September 2011
00:00:00 --> 00:00:12 And now we'll read from John chapter 13, beginning at verse 18, and that's on page 1045 of the Bibles in the pews.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:24 And of course, this is the Last Supper. Jesus has washed the disciples' feet, and now he goes on to speak to them.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:35 I am not referring to all of you. I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil the scripture.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:49 He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am he.
00:00:49 --> 00:01:00 I tell you the truth. Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:12 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, I tell you the truth. One of you is going to betray me.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:19 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:25 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:32 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ask him which one he means.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, Lord, who is it?
00:01:38 --> 00:01:46 Jesus answered, it is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 Then dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 What you are about to do, do quickly, Jesus told him.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:07 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:14 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 or to give something to the poor.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:21 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 And it was night.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 When he was gone, Jesus said,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:32 Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:40 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 My children, I will be with you only a little longer.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:51 You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 Where I am going, you cannot come.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 A new command I give you.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 Love one another.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:10 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 Simon Peter asked him,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Lord, where are you going?
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 Jesus replied,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:23 Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 Peter asked,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 Lord, why can't I follow you now?
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 I will lay down my life for you.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 Then Jesus answered,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Will you really lay down your life for me?
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 I tell you the truth,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 Before the rooster crows,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 You will disown me three times.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 This is the word of the Lord.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 Thanks be to God.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:48 Amen.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:48 Amen.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:48 Amen.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 Amen.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:49 Amen.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 Amen.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:50 Amen.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 Amen.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 Amen.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:52 Amen.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:52 Amen.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 Amen.
00:03:54 --> 00:04:00 Amen.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:21 Hasta Gordon.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 We do pray, Lord Jesus, that as we come to your word now,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 as I proclaim it, that you would speak to us powerfully by your spirit,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 that you would lead us in what is true,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 and we pray, Father, that you would work amongst us,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:37 growing us in righteousness, that we might be the people of God
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 and that we would reflect you in the way that we're meant to be.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 And we pray this in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 Do you remember when we were best friends,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:52 when we'd share our every thought, every smile, every laugh?
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 Oh, and did you remember when you broke my heart?
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 Because I seem to remember that more than anything.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 I trusted you.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 I trusted you to take care of my heart.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 I trusted you not to take it and stomp on it.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 And the day that you betrayed my trust
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 was the day that I lost all my trust for you.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 I believed that you would take care of my heart
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 and that's why I left it with you.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 Well, I'm taking it back because at this very moment,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 I can't trust you with my heart
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 in fear that you will hurt me once more.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:36 Look at me through my eyes and feel the pain I hide inside.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 It breaks my heart.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 It makes me sad to think of all the times we had.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 You made me laugh.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 You made me cry.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 And all that I can do is sigh and wonder why.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 I wish I could walk away and forget what we have,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 but I can't.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 Because I know you won't come after me
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 and I guess that's what hurts the most.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 It's really amazing when two strangers
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 become the best of friends,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 but it's really sad when the best of friends
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 become two strangers.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:11 Trust can take years to build,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 but only a second to break.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 How can it be that two of the greatest friends in the world
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 can go from being each other's everything
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 to absolutely nothing?
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 The anguished heart of a young woman
00:06:25 --> 00:06:30 whose heart has been crushed by betrayal.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 And that's a very,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 there's a very close relationship
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 between love and betrayal.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 How many of us have experienced the bitterness
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 of love gone wrong?
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 We've seen it in our parents or our children
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 or amongst our friends.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 Love which has been smashed in a moment of betrayal,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 maybe even ours.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:57 A heart crushed and anguished
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 as someone makes their decision and walks away.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 Now we saw last week in John 13,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 I hope you got John 13 open
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 because that's where I'm speaking from this morning.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 We saw last week in John 13
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 that the clock is ticking.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 There is less than 24 hours
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 to the crucifixion of Jesus.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 He's spending his last day
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 with his 12 chosen friends
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 and he is preparing them for his departure.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 And in verse 18,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 he stuns them by revealing
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 that there is a traitor in their midst.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 I'm not referring to all of you.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 I know those that I have chosen,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 but this is to fulfill the scripture
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 that he who shares my bread
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 has lifted up his heel against me.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 I tell you now before it happens
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 so that when it does happen,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 you will believe that I am.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 I tell you the truth,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 whoever accepts anyone I sense accepts me
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 and whoever accepts me
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 accepts the one who sent me.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 After he had said this,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 Jesus was troubled in spirit
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 and testified,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 I tell you the truth,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 one of you is going to betray me.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 And his disciples stared at one another
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 at a loss to know which of them he meant.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:14 Jesus has been hinting at this
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 for a while back in chapter 6,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:16 verse 70.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 He said,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 Have I not chosen you,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 the 12,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 and yet one of you is a devil?
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 And then earlier on in this chapter,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 in John chapter 13,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 Jesus said to the disciples,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 You are clean,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 though not every one of you.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 For he knew who was going to betray him,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 and that was why he said,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 not everyone was clean.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:40 Now Jesus takes the words of Psalm 41
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 and makes them his own.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 And so in Psalm 41,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 King David sees the Lord,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 he talks about the Lord being a Lord
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 who will deliver him,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and protect him,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 and preserve him,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 and bless him,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 and sustain him,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 and he's going to restore him
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 in the face of a bunch of enemies
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 who are looking to bring him down.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 And the enemies say things about David,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:02 like,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 When will he die and his name perish?
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 When will we be done with him?
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 And they come to him in conversation,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 and they pretend to be interested,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 and he says,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 All that they're really doing
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 is gathering slander in their hearts,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 and then going out and spreading it
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 to anyone who will listen.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 And in verse 9 he says,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 Even my close friend,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 whom I trusted,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 he who shed my bread,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 has lifted up his heel against me.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 And Jesus takes these words
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 from the Old Testament,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 and he applies them to his situation.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 And I think it's reasonable to think
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 that when Jesus quotes one verse
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 from this psalm,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 he's actually got the whole meaning
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 of the psalm in mind.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 The king is being plotted against
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 from all directions.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 He's experiencing the agony of heart
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 that comes from the betrayal
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 of a close friend.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 And the psalm finishes
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 with the confident assertion
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 that my enemy does not triumph over me.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 And John's gospel will soon show
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 that the enemies of Jesus
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 do not triumph over him.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 The disciples are stunned
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 by what Jesus says.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 Seems like nobody except Judas
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 knows that betrayal's at hand.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 He's been very quietly going
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 about his deathly business.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 It's only afterwards
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 when they look back
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 that they find out
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 about his love of money
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 and its corrupting influence
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 on his soul.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 He's been the treasurer of the twelve.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 In John chapter 12,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 he fussed over Mary
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 wasting so much money
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 pouring perfume over Jesus' feet.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 Don't you know
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 that that perfume
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 could have been sold
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 and the money given to the poor?
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 Very self-righteous.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 And John tells us
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 that Judas didn't care
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 about the poor,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 but because he was a thief
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 as keeper of the money bag,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 he used to help himself
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 to whatever was put into it.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 This is not an easy matter
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 for Jesus.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 Verse 21,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 it says,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 he was troubled in spirit
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 and testified,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 I tell you the truth,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 one of you
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 is going to betray me.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:21 When he says
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 he was troubled in spirit,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 he uses the same word
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 that was used
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 in John chapter 11
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 when Jesus went
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 to see the family
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 of Lazarus
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 after Lazarus had died.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 He was deeply troubled,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 he was deeply moved
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 in spirit
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 and wept.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 Very difficult for Jesus.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 And I don't think
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 the grief is solely
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 for himself,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 I don't think it really
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 is about him.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 It's got to do
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 with the loss
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 of relationship.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 In John chapter 11,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 the distress
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 at what death
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 had done
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 for his friend Lazarus
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 and for his family.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 And now here
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 in John 13,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 distress for what
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 was about to happen
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 with Judas.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 Judas is going
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 to be lost.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 He'll be gone
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 and he will not recover.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 From what he does.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 And Jesus says,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 one of you
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 is going
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 to betray me.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 It's a certain
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 finality.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 He knows
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 there's going
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 to be no turning back.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 He has loved Judas
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 and Judas
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 is turning away
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 from Jesus.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 Jesus isn't
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 turning away
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 from Judas.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 People walk
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 away from Christ.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 Christ doesn't
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 walk away
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 from people.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 But we are
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 confirmed
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 in our own
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 decision.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 And up until now,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 Judas has been
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 doing his dirty
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 work in the darkness.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 And Jesus
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 outs him.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 Here he is,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 he's in the group
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 of disciples
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 and Jesus
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 says something
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 which provokes
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 a final decision
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 from Judas.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 Even up to this
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 point,
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 he's still got
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 options.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 Judas could still
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 be on his knees
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 saying,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 oh Lord,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 I've made
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 a terrible
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 mistake.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 I've sold you
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 for 30 pieces
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 of silver.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 I'm so wrong.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 I just don't
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 know what to do.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Please forgive me.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 But he doesn't.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 And his heart
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 is set on his
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 course of action
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 and he is
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 not changing
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 direction.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 Now there's
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 some intriguing
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 clues in this
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 passage about
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 how much
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 Jesus still
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 loves Judas
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 right up
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 till now.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 I'm not going
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 to spend
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 much time
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 on it,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 but the
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 disciples are
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 probably all
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 reclining around
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 the table,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 around the
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 lounges.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 They're sort of
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 head to head,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 shoulder to
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 shoulder,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 back to
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 back.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 And it
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 seems like
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 Judas is
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 actually lying
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 on the
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 left-hand
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 side of
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 Jesus,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 which would
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 have been
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 the place
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 of honour
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 at this
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 dinner,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 the very
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 last dinner
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 with his
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 disciples,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 and Judas
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 is given
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 the place
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 of honour.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 And John
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 is on the
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 other side
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 of Jesus,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 the right-hand
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 side of
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 Jesus.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 John refers
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 to himself
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 as the
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 disciple whom
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 Jesus loved.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 John is
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 the one who
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 hears every
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 word of this
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 conversation,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 that not
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 all of the
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 other
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 disciples hear.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 And Jesus
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 says,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 one of you
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 is going
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 to betray
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 me.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 And in
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 verse 24,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 Peter,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 somewhere out
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 there across
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 the table,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 catches John's
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 eye and
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 looks at him
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 and says,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 ask him
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 who he
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 means.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 And John
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 quietly leans
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 back on
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 Jesus and
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 he says,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 who is
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 it?
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 And Jesus
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 answered,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 it is the
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 one to
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 whom I
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 will give
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 this
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 piece of
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 bread when
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 I have
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 dipped it
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 in the
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 dish.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 And then
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 dipping the
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 piece of
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 bread,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 he gave
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 it to
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 Judas Iscariot,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 son of
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 Simon.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 And as
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 soon as
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 Judas took
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 the bread,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 Satan
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 entered into
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 him and
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 Jesus said,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 what you
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 are about
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 to do,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 do quickly.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 Judas
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 took the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 bread and
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 verse 30
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 says,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 he went
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 out,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 it was
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 night.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:25 it was
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 the
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 moment of
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 departure.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 This
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 friend of
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Jesus
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 walked away
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 never to
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 return.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 The only
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 time that
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 John mentions
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 Judas again
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 is when he
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 leads the
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 group of
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 soldiers to
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 Jesus to
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 arrest him.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 Doesn't even
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 bother referring
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 to Judas'
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 suicide.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 He went
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 out is
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 the end
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 of his
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 association
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 with
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 Jesus.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 He'd
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 known him
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 intimately,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 he sold
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 him out,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 it was a
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 moment of
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 immense
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 betrayal.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 And the
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 scripture says
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 it was
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 night.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 It was
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 night.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 One of the
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 great themes
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 of John's
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 gospel is
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 light and
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 darkness and
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 the struggle
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 between them.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 in John
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 chapter 8
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 verse 12
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Jesus said
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 I am the
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 light of
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 the world.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 He who
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 follows me
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 will not
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 walk in
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 darkness but
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 will have
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 the light
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 of light.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 The light
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 of life.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Jesus
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 loves Judas
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 even to the
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 very last
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 moment but
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 he goes into
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 the night to
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 do his
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 dark deed and
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 it becomes a
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 very dark
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 night for his
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 own soul.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 He walks
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 away from
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 Jesus out
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 into the
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 darkness
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 never to
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 return.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Brothers and
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 sisters if we
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 walk away from
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 the Lord
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 Jesus Christ
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 there is
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 nowhere else
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 to go.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 For John
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 this is an
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 absolutely
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 poignant
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 moment in
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 his gospel.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 It seems
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 as though
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 darkness
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 begins to
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 rain but
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 Jesus turns
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 to his
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 disciples and
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 says it
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 is not
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 so.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:13 verse 31
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 when Judas
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 was gone
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Jesus said
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 now is the
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 son of man
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 glorified and
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 God is
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 glorified in
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 him.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 If God is
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 glorified in
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 him God
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 will glorify
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 the son in
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 himself and
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 will glorify
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 him at
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 once.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 See
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 despite the
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 darkness of
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 the hour the
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 glory of God
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 is at work in
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 the most
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 extraordinary
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 way.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 God is
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 doing
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 something big.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 The son
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 will glorify
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 the father
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 God himself
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 will glorify
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 the son.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 It's a
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 magic moment.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 The disciples
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 still really
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 don't understand
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 what's going
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 on.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 Satan has
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 just made
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 his big
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 move.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 He's
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 played his
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 hand.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 God is
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 about to
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 come up
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 trumps
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 with his.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 And a
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 cosmic
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 struggle is
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 being played
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 out.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 Satan acts
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 malevolently
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 and God is
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 about to
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 triumph in
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 the most
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 unexpected
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 way.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 It's a
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 glorious
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 moment.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 The son
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 will glorify
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 the father
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 by submitting
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 to his
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 father's
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 will.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 He will
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 die for
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 our sins.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 God will
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 glorify
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 the son
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 by raising
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 Christ from
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 the dead
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 and making
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 him lord
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 of all.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 Feel the
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 moment.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 Judas
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 makes a
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 fatal
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 decision.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 He walks,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 he goes
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 out from
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 Christ and
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 Jesus turns
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 to those
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 who are
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 left and
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 says again,
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 very shortly
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 I'm going
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 away from
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 you but
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 this is
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 what I
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 want of
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 you.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 A new
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 command I
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 give you,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 love one
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 another as
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 I have
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 loved you so
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 you must
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 love one
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 another.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 By this
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 all people
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 will know
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 that you
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 are my
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 disciples if
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 you love
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 one another.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 Judas the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 betrayer of
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 love is
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 gone, a
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 cancer has
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 gone from
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 amongst
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 them and
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 now Jesus
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 gives a
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 command that
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 is designed
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 to keep
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 everyone
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 together when
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 he is no
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 longer
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 present and
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 this command
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 lived out
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 will bring
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 unity to
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 the body
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 of Christ.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 Love one
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 another as
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 I have
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 loved you,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 you must
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 love one
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 another.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 Brothers and
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 sisters, we
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 must love
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 one another.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Came up on
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 the ABC
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 Q&A program
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 the other
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 night, I
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 don't know if
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 you saw it
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 last Monday
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 night, but
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 the discussion
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 had moved to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 homosexuality.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 Can't tell you
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 the background,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 don't need to
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 know, but
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 what happened
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 was people
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 who called
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 themselves
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 atheists were
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 very quick to
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 turn on
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 Christians and
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 tell them that
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 Jesus said to
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 you guys that
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 you've got to
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 love everybody.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 Unbelievers
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 quoted the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 verse back at
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 Christians.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Now a
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 better verse
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 for them to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 have quoted
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 back at
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Christians would
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 have been from
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 Luke chapter
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 10, the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 parable of the
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 Good Samaritan,
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 because believers
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 are taught by
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Jesus to love
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 our neighbours as
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 ourselves by
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 being merciful to
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 them.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 And we are to
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 show mercy to
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 people outside the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Christian family.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 That's a true
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 thing from Luke
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 chapter 10.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 But in John
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 13, where we
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 are, Jesus is
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 addressing the
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 11 disciples who
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 are left and he
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 tells them to
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 love one another.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 He tells them to
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 love the team.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 This is about
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 love within the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Christian community.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 It's about the
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 depth of
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 relationship which
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 we are to have
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 with one another
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 in Christ.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 Now this is a
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 team that has
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 come together.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 They didn't
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 self-select.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 They weren't a
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 bunch of friends.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 They weren't
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 people who just
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 got themselves
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 together.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 They were people
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 who had been
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 selected, chosen
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 by their Lord
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 and Master, the
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 Lord Jesus Christ.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 When I first
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 came to church,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 when I first
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 became to Christ,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 not church,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Christ, my dad
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 took me aside for
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 a father-son
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 talk, which was
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 a very unusual
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 father-son talk
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 because it didn't
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 happen very often.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 And I can remember
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 where I was standing
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 down in the garage
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 at home and my dad
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 turned and very
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 quietly said,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:47 it's all right to
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 go to church but be
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 careful how involved
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 you get because
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 there's a lot of
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 funny people around
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 those churches.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 And you can see
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 I've really heeded
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 his advice about
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 how involved to get.
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 And I talked to
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 the minister about
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 what my dad said,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 looking for his
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 support, looking for
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 some encouragement.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 He said, yeah,
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 your dad's right.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 There are a lot of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 funny people around
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 churches.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 We are a weird
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 mob.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 And if you are in
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Christ, if you are my
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 brother or sister,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 it's because Christ
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 has chosen you and
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 he's chosen me.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:26 And we are his
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 because of him.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 And the Lord Jesus
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 has laid down his
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 life for both of us.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 And he has loved us
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 and so we have
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 become his.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 So the old thing
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 about coming to
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 church, sitting
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 quietly, getting it
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 all from the front,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 going home without
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 any interaction with
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 other believers was
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 sterile and it was
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 wrong.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 It's nonsense.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:56 How can we even
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 begin to love one
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 another if we do
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 not know one
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 another?
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 In 1 John 2
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 verses 9-10,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 love amongst
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 believers is the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 test of whether we
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 are walking with
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 Christ.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Anyone who claims
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 to be in the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 light but hates
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 his brother is
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 still in the
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 darkness.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 Whoever loves
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 his brother lives
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 in the light and
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 there is nothing
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 in him to make
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 him stumble.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 I can think of a
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 terrible fallout
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 between two
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 brothers 30
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 years ago.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 One refusing to
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 be reconciled,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 the other making
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 numerous attempts.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 I can tell you
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 that today only
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 one of them
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 continues to walk
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 and grow in
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 Christ.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 Not hard to
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 guess which one
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 still participates
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 or no longer
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 participates in the
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 church family even
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 though his wife and
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 children still do.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 I was a young
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 believer.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 I was deeply
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 impacted by that
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 conflict.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 It was the first
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 time that I'd seen
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 two brothers whom I
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 loved and respected
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 fall out with one
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 another and not be
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 reconciled.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 Couldn't believe it.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 As the pastor at
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 St Paul's responsible
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 for our community
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 groups I have a
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 dream that our
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 groups will be a
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 place where we
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 connect deeply with
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 each other.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 I hope they're not
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 places that we come
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 to demonstrate who I
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 am and all my
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 knowledge and stuff
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 like that.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 I hope that they
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 will be places where
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 we are known for our
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 love of each other.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 I hope that they are
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 places where we
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 encourage and support
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 one another to walk
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 with Christ.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 I hope that they are
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 places where we will
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 show practical care to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 one another.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 When do you feel
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 loved?
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 What makes you feel
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 loved?
00:23:40 --> 00:23:48 someone notices you,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 speaks with you,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 they seem interested in
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 you before they want to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 tell you who they are and
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 everything that's going on
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 for them.
00:23:59 --> 00:24:03 I was at the oxygen
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 conference for pastors at
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 the Australian Technology
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 Park the other week with
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 numbers of members of the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 team.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 2 pastors or Christian
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 workers under the same
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 roof.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 It was a great time.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 But what if a bomb went
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 off?
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 And the Christian church in
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 Australia suddenly lost its
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 leadership?
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 Or if we're in another
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 country where they were
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 imprisoned?
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 So what if we were left
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 without any clergy?
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 And what if our buildings
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 were confiscated and
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 destroyed?
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 And what if we did not
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 have prayer books or
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 musical instruments and
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 some of the things that
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 make our gatherings on
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 Sunday happen?
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 And what if God left us,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 all that God left us with
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 were the Bible and the
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 people of God, what would
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 we do?
00:24:58 --> 00:25:01 I hope that we'd gather
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 together.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 We'd do it like the
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 Russians.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 We'd go out into the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 trees and meet in the
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 bush if we had to, if we
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 weren't allowed to.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 And I hope that we would
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 read the Bible to each
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 other and teach each other
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 what it meant.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 And I hope that we would
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 pray and that we would
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 care for one another in
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 practical ways.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 Not unlike the first
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 believers.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 believers.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 They became persona non
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 grata at the traditional
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31 church, a band from the
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 local synagogue preaching
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 that Jesus is risen from
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 the dead.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 They met together to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 encourage each other in
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 Christ on the first day of
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 the week.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 They became known for the
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 way that they loved each
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 other.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 They had caring ministry to
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 one another that cost
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 serious money.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 They sold houses and land
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 and laid it at the
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 apostles' feet.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 Money was used to assist the
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 poor among them.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 The world looked on and
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 they saw the extraordinary
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 love of these people who
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 kept talking about a
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 crucified and resurrected
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 saviour.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 Their preaching was backed
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 up by care that cost them.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 Jesus said to the eleven
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 when Judas is gone, a new
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 command I give to you, love
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 one another as I have loved
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 you.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 So you must love one
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 another.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 By this all men will know
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 that you are my disciples if
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 you love one another.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 We can say that we believe
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 in Jesus but it will be
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 evidenced by how we love
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 other believers.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 It's a nonsense to say that
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 you believe in Christ if you
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 don't love other believers.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 I heard a wonderful story of
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 forgiveness the other day.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 A believer went to assist you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 in Christ and confessed a
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 great offence against them from
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 years ago.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 It was a powerful act of love
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 and a powerful act of
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 reconciliation.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 Some of you have done hard
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 yards, you know, going up and
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 down to the nursing home every
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 Sunday morning until Joan died
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 recently, bringing her up for
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 church.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 That was an act of love and
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 service to her.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 Charles Spurgeon was a Baptist
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 preacher in the 19th century and
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 Joseph Parker was another preacher
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 in London and they both had
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 churches and on one occasion
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 Parker commented on the poor
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 condition of children who were
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 And it was reported to Spurgeon,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 however, that Parker had
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 criticised the orphanage itself.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 And Spurgeon blasted Parker the
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 next week from the pulpit.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 And the attack was printed in the
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 newspapers and it became the talk
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 of the town and people flocked to
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 Parker's church the next Sunday to
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 hear his rebuttal.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 People love scandal, don't they?
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 And he said, I understand Dr.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 and this is the Sunday that they
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 used to take an offering for the
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 orphanage.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 And I suggest that we take a love
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 offering here this morning for it
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 instead.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:09 And the crowd was delighted and the
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 ushers had to empty the collection
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 plate three times.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:15 And later that week there was a knock
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 at Parker's study and it was
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 Spurgeon.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:23 You know, Parker, you've practised
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 grace on me.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 You have given me not what I
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 deserved.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 You have given me what I needed.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:35 God reconciled those two men through an
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 act of love.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 In 2 Corinthians chapter 8, the
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 Macedonian churches gave money to
00:28:41 --> 00:28:44 believers in Judea and their giving is
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 described as out of the most extreme
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 trial.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 Their overflowing joy and their extreme
00:28:50 --> 00:28:53 poverty welled up in rich generosity.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 That is an act of love.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 Brothers and sisters, in the end, the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 love of the Lord Jesus is seen in
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 action.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 He is about to willingly go to the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 cross.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 He will become the Lamb of God who
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 takes away the sins of the world.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 And when Christ commands us to love
00:29:13 --> 00:29:15 one another as I have loved you, he
00:29:15 --> 00:29:18 gives us what we need for true unity
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 when he is gone.
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 He gives us what we need to witness
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 to the world.
00:29:24 --> 00:29:27 Love will always be seen in action.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 St. Paul's has a rich evangelical
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 history for which we can give God
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 thanks.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 This is a church that has raised up and
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 sent many people into ministry both
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 here and overseas.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:45 But wouldn't it be great if people
00:29:45 --> 00:29:48 looked at St. Paul's now and into the
00:29:48 --> 00:29:51 future and said, look at how those
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 believers love one another.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 Look at how they care.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 Look at how they forgive.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 Look at how they delight to be with
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 each other.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 Look at how they delight to know and
00:30:05 --> 00:30:08 proclaim the crucified and risen
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 Saviour.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:16 By this all men will know that you are my
00:30:16 --> 00:30:20 disciples if you love one another.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 Amen.