Christ's Loving Message to Those Who Hate Him - John 10:31-39

0:41For which of them are you stoning me? The Jews answered him, For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy. And because you, being a man, make yourself out to be God. Jesus answered them, Has it not been written in your law, I said you are gods? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken, do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, you are blaspheming? Because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father. Father is in me, and I in the Father. Therefore, they were seeking again to seize him, and he eluded their grasp. Well, this morning, I want you to see Christ's loving message to those who hated him, so that you will, on the contrary, admire him. Truly, we come to a passage where the love of Christ is set on display, and I want you to see that this morning. It's set on display to those who hate him and are ready to kill him, says a lot about him and gives us just a wonderful Savior to admire, to love, to trust, and to follow with all of our hearts. Well, here we are in John chapter 10. We're at the Feast of Dedication. They are celebrating the cleansing of the apostate religion that the Seleucid king had set up there in Jerusalem. This is the Feast of Dedication, Feast of Lights, Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, another name. But it's celebrating the fact that unexpectedly, as Josephus would say, true worship had come back into the Temple Mount because the Temple had been cleansed. So it was a celebration that commemorated. What had happened, but it was also one of those festivals that looked forward to even a greater deliverance, that from Rome. And so here we are, and here comes the king. Here comes the one who's already cleansed the temple once. Here he is, the one that's going to really clean up things, if you will, and yet he's going to be totally rejected. You see, we live in a world that hates the Christ of Scripture. There's a lot of Christs out there, little Christs that people manufacture for different reasons or give him a personality that the Scripture never gives him.

3:39And that's because they hate the Christ revealed in Scripture. Why does the world hate the Christ of Scripture? Well, Jesus has already given us that answer. If you turn back a couple pages to chapter 7 and verse 7, you would read these words: The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its deeds are evil. So Jesus' very presence, all that he said, all that he did, testified to the evilness in the world system.

4:19He always did the things that pleased the Father. And you know, when you get around those people who are always doing things that please the Father, guess what? It could kind of make some people mad. In fact, I imagine times in your life where somebody held the biblical standard at a time when you were not, and there was a little bit of enmity that, well, who do you think you are? Goody two-shoes, you know, or that kind of thing. I think we've experienced that from the inside. I think many of you follow Christ for any kind of length of time and you are raising a biblical standard, you've felt it on the other side as well. That, oh, you're raising the biblical standard. And you could be hated even by doing that. And you're hated because just your very presence, what you don't say, what you will do, what you won't do, where you will go and where you won't go, testifies that those who act contrary or do contrary, their deeds are evil. And so there's a hatred that can rise up. You remember why Cain killed Abel?

5:31You remember, it was simply because God was pleased with Abel and his offering, Abel and his sacrifices, and was not pleased with Cain's. Let me read you a little excerpt from Genesis 4:3. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part, also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for the Lord. For Abel and for his offering, but for Cain and for his offering, he had no regard, didn't value it. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. So now he's angry at Abel. Abel hasn't done anything to him, Abel has just been pleasing to God, doing what God would please God. And so it comes about in verse 8 that when they are in the field, Cain rose up against Abel and killed him.

6:32Simply by doing what pleased God, Abel testified that Cain's deeds were evil. Likewise, you have this setting: just by Jesus being Jesus, he testified that the world's deeds were evil and in need of his saving work. He didn't just come to point out you're condemned. He didn't come out just to condemn the world, point out their faults, shame them, and then condemn them. He came out to point out that their deeds were evil so that they could be saved from their evil, from the consequences and the disposition to evil. That's why he came to give life and have it more abundantly, as he has already said.

7:19And his presence, just his very presence, testified to the evil of the Jewish religious establishment of his day. And so there he is in the temple. He's already cleansed it once. He's going to cleanse it again, at least another time. His very presence, here he is, testifies that the religious establishment is in need of cleansing as apostate, like it was under the Seleucids. Though the apostasy may not have been so overt, they were just as closed to the God who had revealed himself in Scripture. And so Jesus is there at the Feast of Lights, and His presence infuriates the Jewish leadership. You see, we're dealing with in this passage those who hate Jesus. These Jews hated him. And you can see evidence for this. If you look back at verse 24, look back at what's going on in verse 24.

8:35There he is. The Jews gathered around him, and we're saying to them, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. So there he is, walking in the portico of Solomon, just kind of minding his own business, so to speak. And they surround him. Literally, it's an aggressive term. They gathered around him, the Jewish leadership. They gather around him and they put him on the spot and they say, Okay, look, quit beating around the bush. Tell us plainly if you are the Christ. As we looked last time, he goes on and he gives them a very plain answer, and he gives them a lot more than what they asked. They asked him, and Jesus tells them very plainly, look, the works that I do testify that I'm the Christ. And he gets down to verse 30, and he gives them more than they bargain for. He said, Look, I and the Father are one.

9:29And he's not just talking one in purpose. Yes, they're one in purpose, but one in power, one in authority. Just as no one can snatch anyone from Christ's hand, no one can snatch him from the Father's hand. No one, no one can take him out of the Father's hand, no one, no one can take his sheep out of his own hand. How do you reconcile these? They have to be one, and not just one in purpose, but one in power and authority and even essence. Well, this obviously enraged them because he brought them to a point.

10:10They had to recognize, okay, these works that he's doing, if they really are of God, which they cannot refute, then they must, if they confess him to be Christ, they will have to follow him as such. They would have to give up their sovereignty, right? Have to give up their own sovereignty and come under his. Leadership. You see, man wants control of himself. That's the one thing we don't want to give up, is our own sovereignty. And it shows up in so many ways. And it shows up here, it shows up in the religions around the world. Look, man wants control, and he will establish religions and invent religions to make sure he keeps it.

10:55But look at how they responded to Christ's plain and bold answer. Pick it up in verse 31, our text this morning. The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Now, what's interesting at this point, this is evidence again of the Jewish hostility that's going on. They picked up stones. The word is also they carried stones and they lifted up stones. The verb speaks that they it involves the idea of carrying as well as picking up. You see, it's difficult to imagine that there were a bunch of stones lying around the temple court, especially stones big enough to stone a person to death. So, how do you get stones into the portico of Solomon? Listen, our ascetics committee around here, we don't keep little big rocks all around the entrances, right? We don't keep, why don't we keep big, big chunks of rocks around the doors and entrances and fellowship areas? Why?

12:01Oh, yeah, you're going to trip. It's just our set our ascetics committee would never stand for it. My wife's on that committee, by the way. Well, think about the portico of Solomon. It's not likely that you've got these big stones laying around, right? No, they had to carry them in from the outside. This is the kind of action. So they were already premeditated. They hated this gathering around him with stones. They're ready to commit premeditated murder once again right in the middle of the temple during a holiday celebration. And all of this just speaks, again, of their intense hatred, that they would be so aggressive, even to normal senses, that this would not be appropriate time. But it's in this context that Jesus' love for his enemies is set on glorious display. He loves people, even when they despise and hate him.

13:15Many hate the Christ of Scripture today. I would venture to say many, or maybe some in here this morning, hate the Christ of Scripture. Now, you wouldn't articulate. Well, I'm not that strongly opposed. No, but when pushed. comes to shove, you will not give up your sovereignty and come under his. And you just haven't been pushed as far as the Jewish nation was in Jesus' day. How wonderful his love is for these Jews this morning. How wonderful his love is for you and I. And as we look at this, I want you to see how we should relate to those who hate Christ. And if you're one of those who hate Christ or who just deep down, you know you have very little regard for Christ, I would like for you to be instructed and see how he would respond to you this morning.

14:25We are to respond to Christ, to those who hate Christ the same way he did. He loves them. He continues to love them. And this is what he does. He loves them, continues to love them, and he loves them by continuing to set biblical truth before them. So that's what he does. I'm going to look at three goals or three exhortations that are expression of his love aimed at one goal. Three expressions. Exhortations and one goal. Three exhortations. First exhortation, that is an expression of Christ's love for these that hate him, is he tells them to stop and to think about what you are doing. Stop and think about what they are doing. One of the expressions of Christ's love for us is to arrest our attention and to get us to stop and to think about the direction we're heading, the places we're going, what we are doing, and really deep down, what is our relationship to Christ? What is your view of Christ? Ask yourself deeply that question right now, the Christ of Scripture. What is your thoughts? What are your thoughts about him? And look at what he says. It's basically what he says. Stop and think about what you're doing. I showed you many good works from the Father. For which of them are you stoning me? In other words, what did I ever do to you to deserve such hostility?

16:08And the expression here is like, for what work? It's not just a work. It's like, it's more speaking about the kind. For what kind of a work are you stoning me? It says, look, I did many good works. What kind of work are you stoning me? Obviously, if you're lifting up stones to kill me, you must think I. Did something really, really bad. Now, look at the works. Look at my life. Look at what I've done. What kind of work? Think about what you're doing. What kind of works are you about to do this horrible deed?

16:45What are you doing? Think about what you're doing. I mean, and then it's like he's arresting their attention. He's like, now think about it. What kind of a person would kill someone for doing good? I did good works among you, and they were good. Really, no disputing, right? Proverbs 17:13 says, He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. And so here's Jesus saying, Look, what? I have done good. I have shown you good. Now, why are you, what's wrong with you that you would kill me for what? What's going on in your own heart?

17:32And Jesus had been good, good in quality, good in kindness, good in compassion, good in service, good in power. All of this had come from his Father as an expression of his father's love for his people. Jesus was the incarnate expression of the Father's love. And he encouraged them to stop and think for the reason. Think, what's really going on in your heart? Why do you hate me with such force? Same question we can ask ourselves today. Why do we not love Christ with all of our being? Why do many of you have a hang-up with following Christ wholeheartedly? What is going on in your heart?

18:18And what Jesus is trying to show them is that, you guys, you have evil hearts, and that needs to change. Listen to me. Your reservation about following Christ is an indication of what's happening in your heart. And I can promise you that if you are reticent to follow Christ, you boil it down, there is an irrational, evil or uninformed, we can give it that, desire going on in your hearts. So that's what he does. He stops. But this gives us a window into the darkness of our fallen condition, doesn't it? How many people live hostile to God after all the good that he has done for them? How many of us are currently living today in hostility to God when an honest pause and evaluation of our life would just show his goodness?

19:28And even as believers, We can often get very angry with God, even though he's been so good to us, can't we? God, this Monday turned out like a really bad Monday, and now it's your fault or the woman you gave me. One of those, right? But it's a window into our fallen condition that we need to be rescued from. And so at times, we all would do well to hit the pause button and to think about what we're doing in life and the direction we're going and why. That's an expression of his love. Stop and think.

20:10Think about what you're doing. Think about where you're going. Is it warranted? Is it good? Stop and think so you won't go down the wrong path. Is Marilyn here? Marilyn, I didn't ask you this, but there's something I want to share. Now, this is how you like. I can do this with Marilyn, but there's an illustration you shared with me this past week about the medication that was given to you. Can I share that? She can't say no now, but I know her well enough. And I won't do this to anybody else. If it was anybody but Marilyn, I wouldn't. But basically, Marilyn was given some medication for her heart. And many of us have been praying for Marilyn this week.

21:00We love you very much. And whenever anything happens in her life, we're all very concerned. And her heart, the person gave her, medical professional, gave her some medicine. And she looks at it for a minute and she says, What is this going to do? Well, it's going to slow your heart down. It's going to slow my heart down, really. Well, I already have a low heartbeat. Well, let me call your doctor. Get the doctor on the phone. Yeah, don't give her that. It'll kill her.

21:34Right? Okay, I'm telling the story as it is, okay? And stop and think about what you're doing. Pretty good. And what an act of love, right? And that's what Christ is saying. Look, stop and think of what you're doing in spiritual matters. Stop and think about what you're doing. It may lead to your death. And that's an act of his love. Jesus answered them, I showed you many good works from the Father. For which of them are you stoning me?

22:15Second exhortation, an expression of Christ's love. Take a closer look at what Scripture actually says. Take a closer look at what Scripture actually says. Look at verse 33. The Jews. Answered him, for a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself out to be God. Wow. Now, what's interesting here is there is agreement about the works. You can see it there. For a good work, we do not stone you. In other words, there is no argument about the nature and legitimacy of the works. They were all in agreement.

23:07They were authentic. They were good. And listen, if these guys could legitimately attack the credibility of Christ's works, they would have done so. If they could have attacked the character of his works, they would have done so. And this is strong evidence for the validity of Christ's miracle and all the miracles. I mean, they knew that they were authentic. Listen, and I believe that the Jews didn't particularly want to crucify Christ originally. They wanted to discredit him enough so that he wouldn't have a mass following.

24:01Crucifixion ended up being that last resort when they couldn't discredit him. And if they could have discredited him on works, they certainly would have done so. And this speaks to their validity, strong validity. And you don't see this anywhere, really, in these early centuries. Even Josephus will refer to Christ as an individual that maybe you shouldn't even call a man because of him. So if they could have discredited him, they would. No, the works, there is agreement. No, we're not going to touch the works because we know they're good. We know the population knows they're good. They're of the character of God. They're good. They're compassionate. They're merciful. They're powerful. All that. We're not even going there. It's a losing battle for us. So what do they do?

24:59Here's the problem. You are making yourself God. And that's a Greek is very emphatic. We read in the English, you being a man, make yourself out to be God. A literal translation, you are making yourself God. So this was insulting to God in their minds, or at least that's what they're going to play. See, in their minds, for a man to Claim to be God is slanderous to the nature and power of God. And listen, many denominations and religions are still offended to the same degree as these Jews were that day when you start bringing out the deity of Christ.

25:51I could go through illustration after illustration in my own personal. Remember talking to some Jehovah Witnesses. We were out, my family were out, we were doing some tasks, and here come some Jehovah Witnesses, and they engaged me in a conversation to which I was reluctant to get into them for a number of reasons. But I told them at the beginning, I said, this is going to end up with the deity of Christ. Well, come on, let's talk about it. So I start pointing out in their own scriptures, their own translation, the inconsistency with the position that Christ is anything less than full deity. Boy, and that's when the lid came off. That's the point when, well, you're just one of those, you're just, and they proceeded to insult me in front of my whole family for not knowing the Bible, for not knowing a lot of things. My family was right there. They get off in a huff. They jump in their car, drive off. My family's out there in the middle of the road. We got hands together. We're praying. But all of it, it was a scene. I mean, this is one of those neighborhood scenes.

26:55But all of this was over the deity of Christ. As soon as we got there, things, the gloves seemed to come off. I was talking to a Muslim friend, having a great conversation about God and Christ. And then at some point, I said, Well, Jesus is God in the flesh. No, no, no, no. Boy, the lid came off. And then recently I was talking to a Jewish, a friend of mine. And we got in this conversation and started to, you know, talk about morality. And then we started talking about Christ, Jesus. And I said, well, Jesus is Yahweh come in the flesh. No!

27:42And don't you dare pronounce Yod Haybob Hei in my presence again. And Jesus certainly is not Yod Ha-Bob Hei. That's the Hebrew ketogram that we translate sometimes, Jehovah or Yahweh. But you're not supposed to speak. But once we got to this issue about Christ being God in the flesh, the lid just seems to come off. It's offensive, just like it was offensive that day. This is insulting to God. That's what blasphemy means. You have insulted God. And for insulting God, you deserve to die. I think you've heard that language, hear that rhetoric today.

28:31But who do we think we are to demand that God cannot take on human form? Who are we to say that God cannot take upon flesh and dwell among us? It seems like those who say that he can't do that are limiting God. Not the other way around. Right? Who are we to demand that God cannot take on humanity? Are we not limiting his power? So, what does Jesus do? Well, he takes them to Scripture, as he often does in a dispute. Jesus answered him: look at verse 34. Has it not been written in your law, I said, you are gods?

29:22I love the Greek here. Takes them to Psalm 82, quotes it exactly. Hebrew and Greek agree. I said, God's, y'all are. That's the way you pronounce it. I mean, that's the way you'd literally express it. Y'all are gods. And that's textual proof that God had textes in mind long before it ever came up. But you all, y'all are gods. So, what Jesus does, and listen, if you're not going to be able to do it. You were in here in Sunday school, kudos to you because we went through Psalm 82 and we went through this whole thing verse by verse so that we could have an appreciation for what's going on in Psalm 82 and how Jesus is using it. Because this really sounds strange because he is clearly saying the scripture refers to men as gods. So, in what sense? Well, I can't spend an hour like we did in looking at Psalm 82 in Sunday school, but I can give you the high points. The gods are clear references to the judges of Israel. And they are called such. They were dignified with such titles because God commissioned them to rule on his behalf. This is what happens in a theocracy. God, and some people think that Psalm 82 came at the time of Sinai or thereabouts. You can't really prove that. But it certainly is in the context that God has given his word to be administered through those he has delegated to minister his word. And so it's clearly to those delegated by God with his word to administer and judge and rule accordingly. And if you think about it, to those to whom They presided over, they were as God, at least in a judicial sense. Christ isn't talking about in an absolute sense, or that there are other gods out there, or in a moral sense, or in an essence, but in a purely judicial sense. Their authority was delegated, but though it was delegated, it was real, and it carried with it a divine dignity.

31:57Even Moses, some of his spirit was put on the elders to rule in his stead. And so when you came before God, Elohim, your case would be heard by the Elohim. One in an absolute intensive sense, and one in a simple sense. You would be heard by the gods. In several instances, this shows up in Scripture. But, I mean, you can look at Exodus 22, 8, 22, 9, verse 28, and even 21.6. But all these seemed to see this dignified title that God placed on those who were to rule and act on his behalf by his word.

32:50So as these who were to judge, they were to act like God in the way they judged and ruled. But the whole psalm is about how they didn't do this well. And because of they didn't do that well, social injustice and the foundations of the earth are shaken when the unjust rule. And the only hope for the world is for Christ himself to arise, for God to arise to judge the judges of the earth, to take his stand to rule and reign. That's the ultimate hope, the ultimate element of how we can get justice truly reigning. It's not going to come from fallen human beings. Well, that's what's going on in Psalm 82. Now, look how Jesus uses it in his argument. So then look at verse 35. If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken, do you say of him whom the father has whom the father sanctified and sent into the world, you are blaspheming because I said I am the Son of God. It's interesting.

34:10Side note: this is Jesus' way of accepting the charge. He doesn't deny the charge. Boy, it would sure be nice. They're about to stone him. If Jesus didn't think of himself as God, he would be sure nice to tell us right here and clarify. No, no, no, you get put the stone down. You guys just misunderstood everything I had to say. No, he accepts the charge. But what he's saying is like, I embody something more than a judge with simple delegated authority to whom the written word was given. I am clearly sent by God, sanctified by him. The works bear this out, that you yourselves know are authentic and good. And so you're not even contesting the works.

35:04Clearly, God is in me. And so, if, and here's his thinking, if God called them gods to whom the word of God came, and truth number two, the scripture cannot be broken. I love that expression. B. B. Warfield says it like this, that great champion of the inerrancy of scripture says this, that this describes the indefectible authority of scripture. Indefectible authority, even in its smallest parts. And Jesus' whole argument is going to be based upon the exact word of Psalm 82, 6. That's how indefectible the authority of Scripture is. And Scripture, so truth one, he called gods to whom the word of God came. Truth number two, the scripture cannot be broken. Then, and this is what he's saying: is it reasonable for you to say of him whom the Father is clearly sanctified, clearly sent into the world, you are blaspheming me because I said I am the Son of God?

36:18He's saying, Look, if you all can claim legitimacy to the title gods in your governing capacity, then certainly there must be a sense in which I can use that as well. Clearly, Scripture, a blasphemy charge, cannot be supported by scripture. And that's what he's saying. There is a legitimate sense that I can call myself the Son of God, and you need to be trying to understand in what sense I am connected and related to God. That's what the works should be compelling you to do. You see, they thought Jesus was clearly in the wrong and deserved death, but by what standard?

37:08Not by a clear understanding of Scripture. And that's why he lovingly says to them, take a closer look at what the scripture actually says. It's an expression of love. Third exhortation, which is another Expression of Christ's love for these. Pay attention to the works Jesus did. Pay attention to the works that Jesus did. Or in direct context, pay attention to the works that I did. That's what he's going to tell them. Look back at verse 37. If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. And then in verse 38, but if I do do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works. The two imperative commands are right here in these two verses. And Jesus is saying something here. If I do not do the works of my Father, then you must not be believing in me. Then absolutely do not believe my words. Now that's pretty stuff, right? He's saying, look, if the works that I'm doing is not characteristic of my Father in power, in holiness, in goodness, in covenant faithfulness, if the works that I'm doing are not compatible with my Father, then absolutely do not believe me.

38:48But if I do do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works. This is an amazing appeal. Jesus is like, look, God created, Jesus created. God has authority, Jesus has authority. God is good, Jesus is good. You can see all this in his work. And he's saying, look, if the works that Jesus did not do, or that Jesus did were not from heaven, then have absolutely nothing to do with him. Look at the character of his works. Look at them.

39:24But if they are something that the God the Father would do, then instead of running away from him, you need to be drawn to him. And this is what Jesus is saying. He says, Look, if I do do them, although you do not believe me, that is, you don't believe my words, you don't believe my teaching, you don't believe my claims, if you don't believe all this, at least believe the works. Start with them and think through them. And then rethink about who I am and rethink your accusations. Do you see a loving Savior here?

40:01These guys hate him. And he's still appealing to them to believe. So three exhortations, all expressions of Christ's love. And all of these are aimed at one goal. One goal. Look at the second half of verse 38. Do all this so that you may know and understand that the Father. Is in me and I in the Father. Literally, in me, the Father, I in the Father. Make sure you start with the work so that you will come to know and that you will be coming to know more and more that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.

40:57That's his goal. Stop and think about what you're doing. Take a closer look at what Scripture actually says. Pay attention to the work I did, if nothing else, so that you would come to know and understand that the Father is with him and that heaven's blessing is upon him. Why is Jesus doing this to these men who want to kill him? Why? He's inviting them to be his sheep. Remember in verse 25, I told you, and you do not believe the works that I do in my Father's name, these testify. But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one. Be believing in this. Be my sheep.

41:56Now, I don't know how this reconciles, really, with, okay, God's son. Sovereignty and man's exercise of his free will. But here, Jesus is clearly saying, he is making an appeal. You see, both in this passage. He's telling them, you cannot come unless you're my sheep. You will not believe because you're not my sheep. And then he's exhorting them, look at the works and believe, so that you will be my sheep. And all this fits in glorious harmony in God's mind. In fact, the whole purpose of John's gospel, we've looked at it several times in chapter 20 and verse 30. Listen to what John says. Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. So John says, Look, there's a whole bunch of works that Jesus did. Many others that I didn't write about. But he says in verse 31 of chapter 20, these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have a life in his name. And this is exactly what Christ is doing at this time. Believe the works. So think through the works. Jesus did the, he did something that only God can do. And they are valid works. If Jesus really did walk on water, if Jesus really did create matter out of nothing, if Jesus really did heal the sick and raise the dead, and he himself came forth from the graves, what does this say about him? God is with him and the invitation for you to come. And be with him as well.

43:33No other human figure in history has dared to make these claims because they can be debunked. Well, you know, I think sometimes we evangelicals can be pretty obnoxious, especially when we first come to Christ and we're all excited about God, we're all excited about the forgiveness of sins, and we just want to share it. And I think there's something that comes from God about that. You know, Jesus left heaven because he wanted to share the greatness of his Father. And then when we come to Christ, there seems to be this energy boost of, I just want to tell somebody. And sometimes our tact isn't all that great. And I'm guilty of that on many occasions. Well, on one particular occasion, this is years ago, I was out with, and this is right after, this is my years at Baylor. We went out to witness and to people. And I was with my friend, an Asian believer, just filled with God's holy fire.

44:33You probably know the kind. This guy was just a man of God. He loved truth. He loved people. One of the finest young men that I knew. And we would go out witnessing. We've gone to kind of this kind of a little bit of a crummy part of town. Not excessively crummy, but pretty crummy. Certainly had a crummy crowd there. And so we do, for some reason, he takes the lead and goes over. And he starts talking to them. And he starts sharing truth about Christ. And he's very good, very loving, expressing truth. And they are not receiving it. In fact, they are mocking him. They are making fun of him. And I'm watching this. I'm reading the body language here. And I'm getting irritated at these guys. Just, you know, I'm out there witnessing to you, but he's doing all the talking. And these guys are making fun of him in very wrong ways. And he goes through that. They wouldn't receive Christ. I mean, they wouldn't receive Christ's words. We don't believe. They wouldn't even believe God. And so then, my friend, he just kind of shifts gears and he gets very animated. And he goes, Do you believe in miracles?

45:53At which point I'm like, okay, I'm going to interrupt this thing. They're not going to go for the miracles. And I step in and to kind of defend his honor because I know what's going to come to him, or I think I was. And so then I kind of stopped the whole thing and kind of move him on. And I turn and kind of admonish the guys. I'm like, this guy was being good. You know, I was, and kind of made some kind of remark, and we left.

46:24And I've since reflected on that. And even at the time, I'm like, damn, I don't know if I handled that very well. And I. Look back, and this is exactly what Jesus did to these guys here. When they wouldn't accept the truth about him, when they wouldn't accept the truth of Scripture, when they wouldn't go and accept these things, Jesus appeals to miracles. And that's what he does. Think through the miracles. And that's exactly what my friend was saying. It's like, last ditch, do you believe in something supernatural happening? And he was taking them back to that very point that Jesus brought these Jews that day.

47:17And that's what's going on in this passage. Jesus is a last-ditch effort here, and he's going to leave the public scene. He's going to do one more public thing in chapter 11. He's going to raise Lazarus from the dead. And think about that with these words. Think about the signs. Now he's going to raise someone from the dead right in their community as another expression of his love. That's a Messiah we can admire and love and trust.

47:58Well, this. The following Christ really changed John the Apostle. There was a time in John and Luke chapter 9 where they were walking through. The Samaritans would not receive Christ as they were going up to Jerusalem. And when John saw this, James and John saw this, John, party to this, said, Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? That was John. Follows Christ for many years. And then he writes this in 1 John 3:11, later in life. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brothers were righteous. Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

49:07Well, Jesus came, and John witnessed his loving message even to those who hate him. Transformed John, and I hope it will transform you. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, indeed, what a mighty Savior you have given us at the government. Of our lives would be upon his shoulders, and he is so good. He doesn't exalt himself. It is you, Father, who exalt the Son, and it is right to do so. May He be magnified in our midst this morning by hearts getting more honest before him.

49:54Help us to be honest before you. Help us to receive. what you have for us. If nothing else, Lord, help us to really contemplate the reality of his works and what this means for us, what this means for whom you have sent, and what this means for our well-being. Father, we just thank you. What a glorious Savior. May we be like him. In Jesus' name.