Sent to Live His Life

Big picture - as a church leadership we observed 3 aspects of Jesus’ life that we wanted to focus on for 3 years. Intimacy, Mission, and Character.

Megan and I have a lot of inside jokes. Particularly stories of Nora - and her amazing cuteness.

One time megan and i were with our friends nate and becca, nora was crawling in this adorable scoot. At this point we were testing some of her developmental patterns.

Megan

I noticed that when she saw my phone on the ground, she would go straight for it. But if i took her burp cloth or my handkerchief and i covered it, she would stop mid-crawl and totally act as if she forgot what she was crawling towards.

Now, for you all hearing the story - none of you laughed, but for Becca and Nate and Megan and I, we were giggling giddy because it’s too difficult to relay Nora’s facial expression, the moment of utter confusion and disillusionment when the handkerchief concealed her objective.

It’s almost impossible to relay the joy, the effect of Nora’s

All of you are experiencing what it’s like to be on the outside of a joyful experience and someone else is trying their best to use words to describe it, but it simply falls short.

Have any of you told a joke or a story, where you it simply fell flat - you tell the situation.

And so we say - you just had to be there.

INSIDE JOKES - how it only makes sense if you were there. Only someone with inside information can understand it.

A black hole is a place where the laws of physics as we know them break down. Einstein taught us that gravity warps space itself, causing it to curve. So given a dense enough object, space-time can become so warped that it twists in on itself, burrowing a hole through the very fabric of reality.

matter deforms space and time, and if you can get enough matte.

The ge

Blackholes are the central mystery of our age - where the quantam world and the gravitational world come together.

A singularity - where gravity is finally strong enough to bring everything together in one.

m87 - 6.5b solar mass hole (6.5 billion suns in the center of a galaxy). 55 million light-years away, there’s.

Black holes are the smallest objects in the known universe.

What makes something known?

Last year we focused on intimacy with God, preached through praying the psalms and Exodus, and this Fall we started our year of focus on mission.

The black hole - 8 telescopes all around the globe to have a sattelite

light had to come through the hole, through the earth’s atmosphere, the size of the earth was just right to resolve, recreate a

Advent series - Sent.

the last orbit of photons - the puncture in space time is so deep - so light behind the black hole is parallel.

the first image -

, 200 scientists achieving a nearly impossible discovery to prove that black holes do

The basalisk’s power is in its eyes - when hermoine saw its eyes - there

please turn with me to

John 1:18 ESV

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

[CONTEXT] Up to this point we have read that the Word, being Jesus, became flesh and dwelt among us and people saw his glory. We then read that Jesus overflows with grace upon grace, representing a a transition from grace through the Law given through Moses and now to a fuller more robust grace that comes in a person through Jesus.

John 1:14–17 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

This contrast is furthered in , which is where we will be for our sermon text today.

John 1:18 ESV

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:18 ESV

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Once again, we are presented with the common place truth of anyone familiar with the Old Testament - “No one has ever seen God”

In the greek the word order reveals the intensity and emphasis of the author:

Moses only saw the afterglow of the divine glory. God’s back.

The basalisk’s power is in its eyes - when hermoine saw its eyes - there

[slide of ex. 33:20]

Moses only saw the afterglow of the divine glory. God’s back.

Exodus 33:20 ESV

But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

Exodus

Exodus 33:19 ESV

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

In the greek the word order reveals the intensity and emphasis of the author:

The basalisk’s power is in its eyes - when hermoine saw its eyes - there

God . . . never seen.

God no one seen ever.

Why has no one ever seen God?

Well for one, God told moses in exodus 33:20:

Exodus 33:20 ESV

But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

Why is that?

Well let’s consider this - God made the universe.

therefore, God who made the sun. He made supernovas 1B times bigger than our Sun.

The reason we cannot see him, is for the same reason no one can look upon the sun without losing their eye sight.

God is that glorious - that beautiful - that pure - that No One can see him without having their lives overcome by His life.

Some of you critical thinkers may be thinking - this seems kind of harsh huh?

Now there are two ways to look at this problem -

[NUANCE] Now there are two ways to look at this problem -

Human-centered way -

But why would God make humans who couldn’t even look at him? Why would He make us so limited?

Why would God make us so weak? Asking, why would God make humans who couldn’t even look at him? Why would He make us so limited?

to look upon

God-centered way -

God is so big, that no one but God could truly take him in.

Trivia opportunity - in what relatively new movie that started as a book series but became a movie series where is there a large monster who has the power to kill people if one looked directly at their eyes?

Regardless of Controversy, I read harry potter, and yes, I am still a follower of Jesus.

Harry Potter’s second movie scene has a moment where hermoine is sneaking around the corridors at night and uses her mirror to look around corners. In a reflection, hermoine sees this large snake - the Basilisk - and while others had died upon seeing this wicked, larger than life, snake, she is only petrified, but literally paralyzed and unable to move from that position.

Harry Potter’s first movie has a scene where hermoine sees this large snake - the Basilisk - in a reflection - and while everyone else dies upon seeing this wicked, larger than life, snake, she is only petrified, but literally paralyzed and unable to move from that position.

Harry Potter’s second movie scene has a moment where hermoine is sneaking around the corridors at night and uses her mirror to look around corners.

Harry Potter’s first movie has a scene where hermoine sees this large snake - the basalisk - in a reflection - and while everyone else dies upon seeing this wicked, larger than life, snake, she is only petrified, but literally paralyzed and unable to move from that position.

In a reflection, hermoine sees this large snake - the Basilisk - and while others had died upon seeing this wicked, larger than life, snake, she is only petrified, but literally paralyzed and unable to move from that position.

The basilisk’s mysterious deadly power was in its its eyes.

Other legends such as medusa, who wold turn people to stone for anyone who gazed upon her face, are some other examples.

Where everyone claims to have seen God. In fact, the architecture, education, and artisan industries depended on the manufacturing of little house hold idols that represent the beauty of the gods.

I wonder if the true God refused to be seen and refused people to create false idols of him so that people would not seek to profit on the buying and selling of objects, that we are quick to worship.

But the point is still true - NO ONE SEEN EVER.

where everyone claims to have seen God. in fact, the artisan community depends on the manufacturing of little house hold idols that represent the beauty of the gods.

Now i believe we serve a God who is infinitely more beautiful than we can ever imagine.

Even still, God NO ONE SEEN EVER.

so he made a people - Israel, and now a bigger people, the church.

Even still, God NO ONE SEEN EVER.

No one has ever seen God -

God NO ONE SEEN EVER. No one has ever seen God -

this word comes from mono - which means only or alone

and a greek verb - γινομαι - ginomai - be; become; take place.

Jesus is the ONLY BEING - the ONLY ONE - the Only One OF GOD. No one else is like Jesus.

Where is Jesus in relation to the Father?

(10:30min) in this verse, Jesus is described as at the Father’s side.

in this verse, Jesus is described as at the Father’s side.

But this doesn’t quite capture it.

Jesus is at the Father’s side, and being of the same eternal nature as the Father, when you see Jesus - you see the Father.

A simple illustration - that shouldn’t be taken too far - identical twins -

Andrew and Adrian - these are two of my best friends in HS. They have the same DNA - they see themselves - if you see one, you know the other.

John 14:9 ESV

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

A simple illustration - that shouldn’t be taken too far - identical twins -

Andrew and Adrian - these are two of my best friends in HS. They have the same DNA - they see themselves - if you see one, you know the other.

They are distinct, they are separate - they aren’t the same person, they are different persons but they are of the same DNA.

John

Jesus being the only God is also at God the Father’s side - this beings us back to 1:1 - the Word was with God and the Word was God.

Jesus gives us true knowledge - the kind of wisdom and knowledge when you’re in someone’s presence - at the Father’s side.

Here’s an illustration that I think might help us understand why this is important

One time megan and i were with our friends nate and becca, nora was crawling in this adorable scoot. At this point we were testing some of her developmental patterns.

Megan and I have a lot of inside jokes. Particularly stories of Nora - and her amazing cuteness.

One time megan and i were with our friends nate and becca, nora was crawling in this adorable scoot. At this point we were testing some of her developmental patterns.

I noticed that when she saw my phone on the ground, she would go straight for it. But if i took my handkerchief and i covered it, she would stop mid-crawl and totally act as if she forgot what she was crawling towards.

Now, for you all hearing the story - none of you laughed, but for Becca and Nate and Megan and I, we were giggling giddy because it’s too difficult to relay Nora’s facial expression, the moment of utter confusion and disillusionment when the handkerchief concealed her objective.

All of you are experiencing what it’s like to be on the outside of a joyful experience and someone else is trying their best to use words to describe it, but it simply falls short.

YOU HAD TO KNOW NORA, YOU HAD TO SEE HER FACE, YOU HAD TO SEE HER CRAWL AND SEE HER STOP, YOU HAD TO SHARE THE LAUGHTER WE HAD.

I CAN’T RECREATE THAT MOMENT FOR YOU - I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU A SHADOW OF WHAT IT WAS.

YOU JUST HAD TO BE THERE.

And so we say - you just had to be there.

INSIDE JOKES - how it only makes sense if you were there. Only someone with inside information can understand it.

Jesus has the inside information with the Father. He can tell the story because he was there.

at the father’s side could be translated - “who is in the bosom of the Father” In the bosom could also be understood as at the heart.

There is an intimacy, mutual love and knowledge that Jesus invites us to have through Him with the Father.

we need god with us to show

When I preach - i do this fancy term called - exegete the text - I seek to make it known. This word - Exegesis - to make known. This word is fascinating and it comes from this verse.

exegesis - to make known - when i preach - i seek to exegete the text - i seek to make the test known.

The word for making God known - is exegeomai - which is where we get the word exegete.

Jesus is the one who ἐξηγέομαι the father. He exegetes him. Jesus is the narration of God. In his life we see God.

Exegesis is seeking to draw out a text’s meaning in accordance with the author’s context and discoverable meaning.

where everyone claims to have seen God. in fact, the artisan community depends on the manufacturing of little house hold idols that represent the beauty of the gods.

Eisegesis - is interpreting a text in a way that introduces one’s own presuppositions, agendas, or biases.

Remember when no one could see God?

The creation of gods and idols is eisegesis - this is us applying our own attributes upon God instead of drawing from God to understand God.

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 1. The Magnificent Prologue (1:1–18)

As such he left no question about his ability to communicate to humans an intimate understanding of the Father.

We need God to understand God and so we come full circle at the end of this introduction to the gospel of John.

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 1. The Magnificent Prologue (1:1–18)

The mention of the Father and the stress on the uniqueness of Jesus reminds the reader of the opening verse of the Prologue. This discussion has thus come full circle, and in doing so it presents a tightly constructed, complex introductory theological rationale for reading this Gospel. But

[transition] Elsewhere we see exegesis translated as to tell a narrative or to narrate.

Elsewhere we see exegesis translated as to tell a narrative or to narrate - so in this way, Jesus is the narration of GOd.

This brings us to an important story -

Acts 15:4 ESV

When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

and they “declared all” that God had done.

Luke 24 ESV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

The ROAD TO Emmaus - 2 men, followers of Jesus, are walking back home having a conversation, and Jesus (who is disguised) meets them and asks them to share what they were talking about, these followers of Jesus talk about how Jesus, the rabbi they were following went missing, was publicly killed, and then they were amazed that some women went to his tomb, had a vision, and they believe Jesus to be alive!

Jesus - sensing their sadness - their disappointment and confusion began interpreting all the Scriptures the things concerning himself -

Luke 24:

Luke 24:27 ESV

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

These exegeted

Then they invite Jesus to stay with them - and as they broke bread they recognized him and then Jesus vanished from their sight.

Then they said to themselves:

Luke 24:32 ESV

32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Luke 24:

SO MUCH THAT THEIR HEARTS BURNED WITHIN THEM. They were likely followers of jesus - their hearts still burned within them.

Luke 24:27–35 ESV

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Acts 15:12 ESV

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

JESUS EXEGETED THE SCRIPTURE WITH THEM.

Luke 24 ESV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

JESUS EXEGETED THE SCRIPTURE WITH THEM.

SO MUCH THAT THEIR HEARTS BURNED WITHIN THEM. They were likely followers of jesus - their hearts still burned within them.

AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY REALIZE AND REMEMBER THEIR BURNING HEARTS?

In Luke 24:353 - it says

THAT’S WHAT

I am simply seeking to tell what the Father has made known to me.

Luke 24:35 ESV

Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

they “told what had happened on the road”

they εξηγοῦντο they exegete about Jesus -

When is the last time your heart has burned when you read the scripture?

This prepares the way for

John 6:46 ESV

not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

John 14:9 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 1. The Magnificent Prologue (1:1–18)

Likewise the purpose of the incarnate Logos and the purpose of the entire Gospel are one in focus because the Gospel was written to engender believing in this Jesus to the end that readers might experience the transformation of life

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John I. The Prologue (1:1–18)

The emphasis of the Prologue, then, is on the revelation of the Word as the ultimate disclosure of God himself. That theme is dramatically reinforced by the remarkable parallels between v. 1 and v. 18, constituting an inclusio, a kind of literary envelope that subtly clasps all of 1:1–18 in its embrace. Thus ‘in the bosom of the Father’ is parallel to ‘with God’; ‘the unique one, [himself] God’, is parallel to ‘was God’; and to say that this unique and beloved Person has made God known is to say that he is ‘the Word’, God’s Self-expression.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: John The Word Became Flesh (1:14–18)

Yet even now it is not God in his essence that is seen (cf. 1 Tim 6:16), for creatures do not have the capacity to apprehend God in himself; we can only see him as he makes himself accessible to our limited organs of perception (cf. Chrysostom In John 15.1).

In other words - we see what God makes accessible for us to see.

The emphasis of the Prologue, then, is on the revelation of the Word as the ultimate disclosure of God himself. That theme is dramatically reinforced by the remarkable parallels between v. 1 and v. 18, constituting an inclusio, a kind of literary envelope that subtly clasps all of 1:1–18 in its embrace. Thus ‘in the bosom of the Father’ is parallel to ‘with God’; ‘the unique one, [himself] God’, is parallel to ‘was God’; and to say that this unique and beloved Person has made God known is to say that he is ‘the Word’, God’s Self-expression.

Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 135). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

We are the second hand reporters.

Jesus reveals fully who God is.

We are the second hand reporters.

We continue to reveal God, by being living epistles of Christ’s life in us in relationship (). If I get to know you, what will I see? If someone really exegetes you, will they see you?

Paul describes this idea in 2 cor. 3:1-3 - you youselves are our letter of recommendation - to be known and read by all

Paul describes this idea in 2 cor. 3:1-3 - you youselves are our letter of recommendation - to be known and read by all.

2 Corinthians 3:1–3 ESV

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

whose life would they see recommended.

if you look at someone’s home screen of your phone.

Have you gotten to the point where you are relying on your old exegesis - it’s like you’re watching re-runs. You can recite it, but you have lost those moments where your heart burns.

Do you come to church and not even expect your heart to burn.

Will they see someone consumed by the priorities of Jesus?

We are called to go and exegete the life of Jesus for people. To live his life and make him known. I long for the day when people say, yes, I am a follower of Jesus, because I met someone at Calvary Church who looked so much like Jesus, and they invited me into that deeper life.

Will they see someone consumed by the priorities of Jesus?

We are sent to live this life - to make Him known.

Now if you’ve come and you’re struggling to see any good and the first half of this sermon where NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD - feels much more true that Jesus being at the Father’s side - what’s the hope?

There is good news, and the rest of the book of John goes into this story, and I believe God can change your life when He tells you His story.

There is good news.

If you’re interested in reading the gospel of John with someone, do it! It may be the story that changes your life.

If you have been struggling, hopeless discouraged - there is the One, who is at the Father’s side, who wants to bring you there.

extra:

John 6:46 ESV

not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

John 14:9 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 1. The Magnificent Prologue (1:1–18)

Likewise the purpose of the incarnate Logos and the purpose of the entire Gospel are one in focus because the Gospel was written to engender believing in this Jesus to the end that readers might experience the transformation of life

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John I. The Prologue (1:1–18)

The emphasis of the Prologue, then, is on the revelation of the Word as the ultimate disclosure of God himself. That theme is dramatically reinforced by the remarkable parallels between v. 1 and v. 18, constituting an inclusio, a kind of literary envelope that subtly clasps all of 1:1–18 in its embrace. Thus ‘in the bosom of the Father’ is parallel to ‘with God’; ‘the unique one, [himself] God’, is parallel to ‘was God’; and to say that this unique and beloved Person has made God known is to say that he is ‘the Word’, God’s Self-expression.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: John The Word Became Flesh (1:14–18)

Yet even now it is not God in his essence that is seen (cf. 1 Tim 6:16), for creatures do not have the capacity to apprehend God in himself; we can only see him as he makes himself accessible to our limited organs of perception (cf. Chrysostom In John 15.1).

In other words - we see what God makes accessible for us to see.

Sent to Live His Life

Introduction

No one has ever seen God

[slide] θεὀν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε

[slide of ex. 33:20]

[picture of sun slide]

HARRY POTTER

[basilisk picture]

[CONNECTION] This story is simply to draw out that humans have imagined creatures so terrific that their lives were in danger if they gazed upon particularly powerful beings.

Now Jesus is also speaking in a culture where statues of gods are seen everywhere

[slide] God wanted to be seen in the hearts and lives of PEOPLE, not statues or figurines.

Now Jesus is also speaking in a culture

[transition] In summary, the first part of verse 1:18 we see one major absolute negative, and in the very next section we see one major absolute positive.

The only God

[slide] the μονογενἠς - the only, the unique, God or Son,

[transition] And this can be seen by his position with God the Father.

Who is at the Father’s side

[picture of twins]

[picture of twins]

[TRANSITION] But Jesus doesn’t just look like the Father and share his DNA - that would be true of twins that were separated at birth.

[picture of Nora/handkerchief illustration]

[CONNECTION to JESUS slide] Inside Knowledge that’s Jesus had with the Father - His life is showing us what it’s like to be there - at the Father’s side.

[transition] Because Jesus is at the Father’s side, we come to the next part of the verse - He has made him known.

He has made him known

[slide] Jesus is the exegesis of God.

[slide] Exegesis versus Eisegesis

Now Jesus is also speaking in a culture

FULL CIRCLE -

FULL CIRCLE -

So what?

So what about us?

[slides of ,,]

JESUS EXEGETED THE SCRIPTURE WITH THEM.

Word for the comfortable: If people exegete our lives, whose life would they see?

If people look at our lives, whose life would they see.

[closing] Word for those who are suffering