byog “blind faith” god…byog | “blind faith” god jake barker | john 14:1-11 hey traders...

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Transcript October 21 and 22, 2017

BYOG | “Blind Faith” God Jake Barker | John 14:1-11

HeyTradersPoint.MynameisJake.Overthelastfewweekswe’vebeeninthisseriescalledBYOGanditstandsforBringYourOwnGod.WhatwebelieveisthatallofushaveeitherinheritedorinventedaversionofGodthatiseitherunhelpfulorinaccurateoruntrue.SomewherealongthewayyougotthisversionofGodandyouadoptedit.ItmaynotbetherealGod,butit’swhoyouthinkGodis.ThereasonwespendsomuchtimeonthisisthatthereareconsequencestowhoyouthinkGodtobe.Notonlydoesitchangethewayyouliveyourlifehereonearth,butifChristianityistrueitaffectsyoureternity.We’renotjusttalkingaboutthehereandnow,we’retalkingaboutforever.SowhoyouthinkGodtobeiswildly,wildlyimportant.AaronsharedthisquoteinweekoneandIlovedit.Ithoughtitwasbrilliant.“WhatcomesintoourmindswhenwethinkaboutGodisthemostimportantthingaboutus,”A.W.Tozer.Solike,manyofyoudisagreewithhim,butifhehasapoint,whoyouthinkGodtobeiswildlyimportant.NowmaybeyourversionofGodiswhatmomanddadtoldyoualongtimeago.Theywereyourparentssoyouassumedtheywereright,andyou’vecarriedittothisday.OrmaybeyouhavethisFrankensteinversionofGodtowhereyoukindofpulledpiecesfromdifferentworldviewsanddifferentideasandslappedthemtogethertomakeyourownversionofGod.Butregardlessofwhomyouthinkheis,thereareconsequencestothat.Itaffectsthewaywelivehereonearth,andpossiblyevenonintoeternity.Sotodaywe’regoingtopropupanotherversionofGodandlookatitfromsomedifferentanglesandaskthequestion,“WhatdoesGodsayabouthimself?”Andhere’stheversionwe’retalkingabouttoday.BlindFaithGod:Idon’tknowhowtojustblindlybelieveinaGodIcan’tsee.Onemoretime:Idon’tknowhowtojustblindlybelieveinaGodIcan’tsee.Infact,thisispopular.Atallofourcampuses,justdomeafavor.Justraiseyourhandifyou’veeverheardsomeonesaythisorifyou’vejustsaidityourself.Goaheadwithashowofhandsandlookaround.Almosteverysinglehandisup.Thisiswildlyrelevant.Therearesomanypeoplewhohavethisworldview,“It’sjusttoughtobelieveinsomethingIcan’tsee,Ican’ttouch,Ican’thear.HowamIsupposedtobelieveina

BYOG|“BlindFaith”GodOctober21and22,2017

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GodIcan’tlayeyeson?”Inreality,inourworldwehavealowtrustlevelforthingswecan’tsee.Aweekago,asourgroupwaswrappingup,wewereheadingoutthedoorandweweretalkingaboutthislaptoponeofourgroupmembershasjustpurchased.She’saphotographerandsheeditspictures.Sheneededaplacetostorethem,sosheboughtthisharddrivetogowiththelaptop.Itisthiskindofbigclunkything.Iwaslike,“Youcanstorethoseonline.Youcanstorethoseonthecloud.It’slowercostandyoucanhavemoreonthere.It’salwayswithyouandyoucanaccessitfromanywhere.”Shewaslike,“Yeah,Idon’tknow.Idon’treallygetthecloud.Idon’tknowwhereitis.Idon’tknowwhomadeit.Idon’tknowifIcanreallytrustit.”ItwasatthatmomentIrealizedIwasfriendswitholdpeople.That’sreallythelessonIlearnedrightthereatthatdoor.IfIcan’tseeit,ifIcan’ttouchitIdon’treallyknowitistheresoIcan’trelyonit.Andreally,morethanjustthecloud,wethinkthataboutGodallthetime.HowamIsupposedtobelieveinaGodIcan’tsee?Andusuallywhenthatobjectionisofferedupitisdeliveredwithoneortwotones.Thefirstoneisoneofgentlesincerity.“Yeah,Idon’tknowifIcangetoverthat.Aren’twekindofpastthatasagroupofpeople?Haven’tweevolvedbeyondthat?Aren’twesmarterthanthat?Aren’tthereenoughexplanationsforlifethatwedon’tevenneedGodanymore?Ijustdon’tknowifIcanbelieve.Maybeitworksforyou,butitdoesn’tworkforme.”Andthenthereisanothertonethatisalittledarker,alittlemorecynical.Itusuallysoundslike,“Howcanyoubelievethat?Howcanyoubelieveinsomefairytaleofsomethingyou’veneverseen,andsomebodyyou’veneverheardfrom?Howcanyoupossiblyhavefaithinthat?”Infact,faithinourculturehasoftenbeenlabeledasuneducated,unenlightened,andit’seventippedoverrecentlyintosomethingcalledarroganceandpossiblyevenbigotry.Theideathatyouwouldsayyouknowanythingaboutthetruthputsyouinthiscategoryyoudonotwanttobein.Whatwe’regoingtowrestlewithtodayissomethingeverysingleoneofusisdoing.Nomatterwhoyouare,nomatterwhatconclusionyou’vecometoaboutGod,allofusaredoingthesamething.Wearetakingtheevidencethatisavailableinthisworldandsaying,“Isthatenoughformetohavefaith?IsthatenoughformetobelieveinGod?Or,isitinsufficientsoI’mgoingtooptoutofbeliefinGod?”Allofusarelookingatthesameevidence,yetwe’recomingtodifferentconclusions.We’regoingtowrestledownwhy.We’regoingtodoafewthingstoday.Butnumberone,Iwanttosetthestageforwhatwearenotgoingtodo.Overthenextfewminutes,IamnotgoingtoprovetoyouonceandforalltheexistenceofGod.Thatwouldbekindofcool,tobethefirsthumantoeverirrevocablyand



undeniablyprovetoyoutheexistenceofGod,butIthoughtthatmightbealittletooloftyformylastsermon.SoIwaslike,“Let’spareitdown.Let’sgetalittlefocusedhere.”Sowe’renotgoingtodothat,becauseIcan’t.It’sgoingtorequiresomefaith,buthere’swhatIwouldlovetodo.AllofusareindifferentplacesinourconfidenceinwhatwebelieveaboutGod.Someofusareout.Maybeyou’relisteningonlineorhereatoneofourcampuses,andyou’rejustlike,“Ican’tgetoverthathump.Ican’tbelieveinsomethingIcan’tsee.”Othersofyoumaybehaveamixofalittlebitoffaith,butyou’vestillgotsomequestions.Othersofyouhavebelievedforalongtime,butyoustillhavetoadmitsomedoubts,itrequiressomefaith.Andregardlessofwhereyouland,hereismyrequest.Ifyouwillconsiderthis,thenwecangoonawalktogetherandconsiderwhatGodmighthavetosaytous.I’mgoingtoplayallmycardsatonce.Here’swhatI’maskingyoutodo.Doubtyourdoubts.

Yousee,whathappenssoofteninmanyofourlivesisatanearlyagewecometosomeconclusions.WecometoaconclusionaboutGod.Wecometoconclusionsaboutlife,andatthatmomentitbecomesrocksolidforus.Itbecomesthefoundationuponwhichwebuildourentireworldview,orrelationships,ourlife.Andwesay,“ThesedoubtsaresostrongIwillneverovercomethem,Iwillneverunderstandbeyondthispoint.TheyarewhoIam.”Andthenwelivetherestofourliveswithouteverreconsidering,withouteverre-evaluating.Andsotoday,whatIamaskingyoutodooverthenextfewminutesistonotbelievewhatIbelieve,I’mjustaskingyouwouldyouconsiderdoubtingyourdoubts?WouldyouconsidergoingbackandrelookingatsomeofthethingsthathavekeptyoufromGod,andgiveanopenhandedlookatwhathehastosay?Andifyouwilldothatwithme,IpromiseIwilldoafewthingsforyou.We’llmakeadeal.Numberone,Iwillbenice.Wewillbeniceaboutit.Unfortunately,inalotoffaithenvironmentswhenyoustartairingoutdoubtsorquestionsorholdupsyouhavewithfaith,youcanoftenbedismissed.Youcanoftenbeostracizedorpushedtothesidebecauseyoudon’tbelievelikewebelieve.Ipromiseyouwe’renotgoingtodothat.Numbertwo,we’regoingtobeintellectuallyhonestwithsomeoftheobjectionsaboutfaithandGod.Oftenwhathappenswhenyoushowupisyoubringyourfact-basedquestionsandsay,“Whataboutthis?”Andinturnyou’regivenafaith-basedanswer,andit’snothelpful.Soyousay,“Hereisthethingthat’sreallyholdingmeup,”andinturnyou’retoldtojustbelieve.You’retoldtojusthavemorefaith.Ifyouwouldjustpraymore,itwouldtakecareofeverything.Anditleavesyoudissatisfiedandevenmorefrustrated.



Sotodaywe’regoingtoputourthinkingcapsonandconfrontsomeoftheprimarythingsthatholdusbackfromfaith.Then,inturn,I’dliketogiveyousomethingstoconsiderandquestionsyou’regoingtohavetoanswerregardlessofwhereyoulandwithGod.NowIknowwhatIbelieveaboutJesus,andyouknowwhatyoubelieveaboutJesus.ButtodaywearegoingtolookataneyewitnessaccountofthelifeofJesusfromsomeonewhowastherewhenhewasspeaking.We’regoingtoseewhatJesusbelievedaboutJesus.SoifyouhaveaBibleoraBibleapp,youcanjoinmeinJohn,thegospelofJohn.It’sthiseyewitnessaccountofthelife,thewords,andtheworksofJesus.Andwe’regoingtoseewhathehadtosayabouthimself.John14:1,Jesusbeginsandhesaysitlikethis.“Don’tletyourheartsbetroubled.TrustinGod,andtrustalsoinme.”SoJesusishereandheistalkingtohisdisciples.Theywerethe12guyswhohadmostrecentlygivenuptheirlivelihoodtofollowJesus.Theywerewithhimwhenhewasteaching.Theysawhimperformmiracles.Theysawhimhealpeople.TheyhadafrontrowseatofthelifeofJesus.Heislookingatthemandsaying,“Don’tletyourheartsbetroubled.”Nowtheonlyreasonyouwouldsaysomethinglikethatisiftherewasareasonfortheirheartstobetroubled.WhatwefindisthatinthepreviouschapterJesushadpredictedsomethingsthatwereabouttohappenthatwereverytroublesome.Numberone,Jesustoldthemhewasabouttodie.Hewasabouttolaydownhislife.Hislifeonearthwascomingtoanend.Thatistroublesome.Numbertwo,hepredictedthatoneofthose12guys,oneofthe12whohadbeenspendingsomuchtimewithhimwasgoingtobetrayhim.Hewasgoingtobethecatalystthatwouldleadtohisarrestandhiseventualdeath.Therewereonly12ofthemsittingaroundJesus.Youknowwhattheyimmediatelystarteddoing,theytriedtoguesswhichoneitwas:It’sprobablythatguy.I’venevertrustedthatguy.Thatguykeepsgettingupandheleaves.HisnameisJudas,it’sprobablygoingtobehim.That’swhattheydid.Theywerejustguessing.Whointheworldwasthisgoingtobe?Sohepredictsadeath.Andthenhepredictsabetrayal.Andthenhelooksatthevocalleaderofthedisciples,namedPeter,andhesaysthatPeterisgoingtodenyhimonmultipleoccasions.Adeath,abetrayal,andadenial,thesewerereasonsfortheirheartstobetroubled.ButJesussays,“Don’tletyourheartbetroubled.TrustinGodandalsotrustinme.”



NownotonlyhadtheyreceivedtroublesomenewsfromJesusaboutwhatwasabouttohappen,buttheywerebeingconfrontedbecausewhattheybelievedaboutJesuswasn’twhathewassaying.Infact,thediscipleshadBYOG’dthemselves.Idon’tknowifyoujustnoticed,butIturnedthesermonseriestitleintoaverb.Youcanusethatifyouwantto.TheyhadBYOG’d.That’swhattheyhaddone.Yousee,thedisciplesamongstthousandsofotherpeoplewereconvincedthatGodwasgoingtosendaSaviorandthatSaviorwouldrightlyputIsraelbackinaspotofpower,privilege,andprestige.TheythoughtGodwassendingaSaviortoleadthispolitical,national,andmilitaryrevolution.Theyhadafrontrowseattothisrevolution.TheythoughtJesuswasgoingtobetheguy.Theyweresittingaroundhim.Theyhadtheredhatsonthatsaid:MakeIsraelgreatagain.Theyareallinonthis.Theygenuinelythoughtthat’swhattheyhadsignedupfor.Theythought:Holdon.Ithoughtweweregoingtobeontop.AndnowJesussays:Ifyoureallywanttolead,andyoureallywanttoloveyouneedtogetdownlow.Theysaid:Ithoughtweweregoingtobeinpower,butJesusisoverheresayingheisgoingtodie.Thosetwothingsdon’tlineup.Whattheyhadtodoisthethingwehavetodoonaregularbasis.WehavetotaketheversionofwhowethoughtGodwasgoingtobe,andthenseewhoGodsaysheis.Whenthosetwothingsdiverge,wehavetodecidewhichwearegoingtobelieve.Yousee,thedisciplessooftenallowedwhotheythoughtJesuswassupposedtobetoblindthemfromthemanwhowasstandingrightinfrontofthem.Andwedothatallthetime.WethinkGodissupposedtobeonewayandwhenheisnotwearedisappointed.WethinkGodissupposedtoprotectusfromcertainthings,andwhenhedoesn’twe’reletdown.ButhereisthetruthIbelievefromthebottomofmyheart:GodisbetterthanourversionofHim.Godissomuchbetterthantheversionyou’vecreatedinyourhead,orthisFrankensteinthingyou’veputtogether,orjustthisthingyouweretoldalongtimeago.AndsometimeswethinkGodisgoingtodoonethingandhedoesanother.AndwethinkGodwassupposedtosayonething,andthenhesayssomethingelseanditblowsourminds.IpromiseyouifyouwillgivehimachanceandletGodbewhohereallyis,heissomuchbetter.NowJesuscanlookatthedisciplesandgetthemtotallyconfused:Waitaminute.Ourwholeworldisbeingblownup.Wethoughtweweresupposedtobeinpower,andnowyoutellusyouaregoingtodie.Thisdoesn’tmakeanysense.



Hetriestoexplainalittlebitmorewhereheisheaded,“ThereismorethanenoughroominmyFather’shome.Ifthiswerenotso,wouldIhavetoldyouthatIamgoingtoprepareaplaceforyou?Wheneverythingisready,Iwillcomeandgetyou,sothatyouwillalwaysbewithmewhereIam.AndyouknowthewaytowhereIamgoing.”SoJesussays:NotonlyamIabouttodie,butI’mgoingtoleaveyou.AndI’mgoingtoprepareyouaplaceinmyFather’shome.He’stalkingaboutheavenhere.Heissayingheisgoingtogetitready,andeveryonewhohasfaithinJesuswillgotoheaven.Therewillbeplentyofroomforeveryonewhobelieves,andthatistheeternaldestination.OneoftheprimarypromisesofGodtothepeoplewhobelieveisthatJesuswillreturnonedayandtakeustoaneternalrestingplaceinhispresence.Thatiswildly,wildlykey.Butagain,thedisciplesarelike:Wait.Ithoughtitwasaboutthehereandnow.Ithoughtyouwereabouttomakemyliferightnowbetter,butyou’retalkingaboutthethereandlater.AndIdon’tknowwhat’sabouttohappen.Idon’tknowhowtogetmymindaroundthat.So,we’renotgoingtogetthepositionswewanted?Andwe’regoingtohavetowaituntilsomedaywhenyoucomebackandgetus?”Theirmindsareblown.ButJesussays,“Trustme.Youknowhowtogetthere.”AndthisisofmyfavoriteversesintheentireBible.Ilovethis,mymanThomasinverse5saysthis.“’No,wedon’tknow,Lord,’Thomassaid.‘Wehavenoideawhereyouaregoing,sohowcanweknowtheway?’”Ilovethis.IloveThomas’honesty.Jesussays:Youknowtheway.AndThomasgoes:Nowedon’t.Jesus,youneedtoknowitisexhaustingtobeoneofyourdisciples.Youtellthesestorieswedon’tget.Allofthesuddenthereisnofood,andthenthereisfood.Wedon’tknowwhat’shappening.AndthentherewasthetimewhenyouwerelikewalkingonwaterandIcan’tdothat.Wouldyoujusttelluswhereyouaregoing?IputitinGoogleMapsanditjustsaidrerouting,rerouting.Ijustdonotunderstand.Jesus,wouldyoujusttellme?IlovethismomentbecauseittellsmesomethingaboutwhoJesusis.Yousee,Jesusashewashangingoutwiththeseguyshadcreatedaculturethatmadeitokay—Jesusmadeitokaytospeakhonestlyandquestionopenly.

Thomasdidn’tevenholdback.Hewaslike:Jesus,Ihavenoideawhatyouaretalkingabout.Wouldyoupleaseexplainit?Andhewasn’tintimidated.HewassayingthistoJesus.Hesaidittohisface.Wewanttohavethatkindofcultureatthischurch—thatyoucanspeakhonestlyandquestionopenly.Weneedyoutoknowthatyoudon’tneedtohavealltheanswerstofitinaroundhere.You’reingoodcompany,becausewedon’teither.Wedon’tknoweverything.Wedon’thaveit



allfiguredout.Jesuscreatedaculturetowhereyourquestionsarewelcomedandyourdoubtsdonotdisqualifyyou.Yourskepticismisokay.Wehavequestionstoo.SoJesusallowedforthat,eveninthetightest-knitcirclehehad.Evenwiththeguyswhospentthemosttimewithhim.Jesussaidthatwasokay.AndJesusisgoingtoexplaintoThomasandeveryoneelselisteningthewaytoheaven.Ifyou’vebeenwaitingforthisanswer,ifyouwanttoknowthekeyandshowupwhereGodis,Jesusisabouttoexplainit.Butheisgoingtosaysomethingthatispossiblyoneofthemostcontroversialthingsheeversaid.Notonlywasitcontroversialatthattime,butitisespeciallycontroversialtodaybecauseourculturaltemperamentdoesnotappreciatewhatJesusisabouttosay.Becauseitissocontroversialwe’regoingtoreaditandunpackwhatthatreallymeans.WatchhowJesusexplainstheway.“Jesustoldhim,‘Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelife.NoonecancometotheFatherexceptthroughme.Ifyouhadreallyknownme,youwouldknowwhomyFatheris.Fromnowon,youdoknowhimandhaveseenhim!’”SoJesussays:YouknowthewaytogetwhereIamgoing.Thomassays:Nowedon’t.AndJesussays:Iamtheway.Yousee,thisisacentralclaimtoChristianity.ThewaytoGodisthroughJesus.Infact,intheoriginallanguageyoucanprobablybetterunderstanditlikethis.IamthewaybecauseIamthetruthandlife.That’swhatJesuswassaying.Thereasonheistheway,thereasonheisthepathtoGodisbecauseheistheperfectembodimentofwhoGodis.WhenGodchosetorevealhimselftous,hediditthroughthelifeofJesus.NowsooftenwecangetfrustratedanddisappointedbythewaysGodchosenottorevealhimself.Sometimeswewishwehadthistextbook,manual,orhehadjustwrittenitintheclouds.Orthattherewassomeaudiblevoice.God,whycouldn’tyouhavebeenclearerlikethat?WecouldobsessoverthatorwecouldgiveseriousconsiderationtothewayGodchosetorevealhimself,andthatwasthroughthelifeofJesus.HewastheperfectembodimentofGod.AnotherbookoftheBible,Hebrews,putsitlikethis.“TheSonradiatesGod’sowngloryandexpressestheverycharacterofGod,andhesustainseverythingbythemightypowerofhiscommand.Whenhehadcleansedusfromoursins,hesatdownintheplaceofhonorattherighthandofthemajesticGodinheaven.”JesusisthewaybecauseheisGodhimself.Heistheway,thesingularwaytoGod.Thisiswhereitgetsuncomfortable.Maybeyou’realreadysquirmingbecausethissoundsverynarrow.Thissoundsveryexclusive.Itsoundsverysingular.Andthisisthechallenge,thesetwolittle



wordsyoumightnotthinkwouldhavemuchofanimpactbuteternityhangsinthebalancehere:theversusa.YouseeJesus,veryclearly,said:“Iamtheway,”singular,“Iamthetruth,”singular,and“Iamthelife,”singular.Jesusisabsolutelymakingaclaimabouthimself—heistheoneandonlywaytoGod.Nowourculturewouldhavereallypreferred,anditwouldhavebeenwaymoreconvenientifJesuswouldhavesaid:Iamaway,atruth,andalife.Iamawayamongstmultipleways.Iamatruth,butthereareotherequallyvalidtruths.I’malife,butyoucanreallylivehoweveryouwant.Thatwouldhavebeenfarmoreconvenient,butit’snotwhathesaid.Soourculturereactstothatandsays:Youcan’tclaimyouhavetheexclusivetruth.Youcan’tmakeatruthclaimasifonethingistrueandnoteverythingelseisequallytrue.Allthesereligions,allthesefaiths,alltheseworldviews,theyareequallyvalued.Honestly,theyarekindofleadingtothesameplaceanyway.WhenwealltalkaboutGodit’sreallythesameGod.Sonoonefaithcanclaimtohavethetruth.That’stheculturaltemperamentinthedayinwhichwelive.Nowhereistheproblemwiththat.Thelogicfallsapartprettyfastbecauseallofusaremakingexclusivetruthclaims.Eitheryou’resayingJesusistheoneandonlywaytoGod,oryou’resaying:noheisnot.Eitherwayyou’remakingatruthclaim.Howeveryousayit,Jesusisthewayornoheisnot,allofusareclaimingweknowthetruth.Sothequestionisn’tisthereatruth,thequestioniswhichoneistrue.Andthat’saquestionyouhavetoanswerforyourself.Youhavetolookattheavailableevidencebecause.IfwhatJesussaidabouthimselfistrue,thentheconsequencesarenotjustfortodaybuttheyareeternal.Itchangeseverything.Soit’sworthyourfullconsideration.Nowwearenotthefirstonestohavetodecideifwebelievethatornot.Therewereguysintheroomwithhimwhenhesaidthis.Thesearetheguyswhohadhungoutwithhimformultipleyears,theyhadbeentogetherforalltheirdowntime.Theyhadhungout,fishedtogether,andtheyknewJesus.Andtheyhadtodecideforthemselves:DowebelievethisguyweknowistheonlywaytoGod?Andlookhowoneofthemrespondedinverse8.AguynamedPhilipsaidthis,“Philipsaid,‘Lord,showustheFather,andwewillbesatisfied.’”Soifyou’veeversaid,“Idon’tknowifIcanbelieveblindlyinaGodIcannotsee,”youareingoodcompanybecauseoneofJesus’owndisciplessaidittohisface.Philipsaid:CanyoujustshowusGod?Ifyoucanjustshowme,ifIcanjusttouchhim,ifIcanjustfeelhimthenIwillbe(andIlovethisword)satisfied.



It’slikePhilipwasthejudgeandJesushadtodefendhimselftoPhilip’ssatisfaction.WatchhowJesusresponds.Thisputsusinaposition,anditputthedisciplesinapositiontodecide:Dowebelieveinthis?“Jesusreplied,‘HaveIbeenwithyouallthistime,Philip,andyetyoustilldon’tknowwhoIam?AnyonewhohasseenmehasseentheFather!Sowhyareyouaskingmetoshowhimtoyou?Don’tyoubelievethatIamintheFatherandtheFatherisinme?ThewordsIspeakarenotmyown,butmyFatherwholivesinmedoeshisworkthroughme.JustbelievethatIamintheFatherandtheFatherisinme.Oratleastbelievebecauseoftheworkyouhaveseenmedo.’”Again,thisoneoftheprimaryandcentralclaimsofthefaithofChristianity,thatJesusistheoneandonlywaytogettoGod,thatJesusisGodhimself.Andintheabsenceofthoseclaims,whatisbeingpresentedtoyouisnotChristianity.AnythinglessisnotthefaithoftheNewTestament,notthefaithoftheBible.AndsoPhilipisinapositionwherehehasgottofigureout:DoIbelieveinJesusandwhatheissaying?Jesusislike:LookatwhatI’vedone.Philip,youwerethereandyouheardmeteach.Hasanyoneevertaughtlikeme?Andtheeyewitnessaccountssay:Absolutelynot.InfactthereviewsonYelpweresaying,“NooneteacheswithauthoritylikeJesus.Noonehaseverdoneitlikethat.”AndthenJesussays:HeyPhilip,yousawmeperformmiracles.TherewasthattimewhenIwalkedonwater.Therewasthattimewhenwaterwasnotwine.AndtherewasthattimewhenIfed5,000peoplewithahappymeal.Thatwasprettyamazing.Youwerethereforthat.Hesaid:Haveyoueverseenanybodyheallikeme?Therewasaguywhohadleprosy,andthenhedidn’t.Therewasaguywhousedtobeblind,andthenhecouldsee.Therewasthatwomanwhocouldn’tstopbleeding,andwithjustatouchshewashealed.Therewasthatguywhowasdead,andnowheisbackfromthedead.Philip,yousawitall.Yousawit.Andit’sallpointingtothefactthatJesusisGodandheistheonlywaytoeternity.SoPhilip,Thomas,thisguynamedJohnandmultipleotherswerealleyewitnesses.Theyrecordedwhattheysawandexperiencedandithasbeenfaithfullyrecordedandhandeddownthroughgenerationstoyouandme.That’swhatwehaveintheNewTestament—eyewitnessaccountsofthelifeofJesusandthewordsofJesus,andwhatJesusthoughtabouthimself.AndyouandIareinthesamepositionsthediscipleswerein2,000yearsago.Areweinorareweout?Nowsometimesthiscankindoffeellike,“Man,ifIwereThomas,”or,“IfIwerePhilipIwouldprobablyhaveaneasiertimebelieving.Iwasn’ttherewhenhewalkedonwater.Maybeyouwere,Iwasnot.Ididn’tseethat.Idon’tknowifIcanbelievethat.IfIsawJesusturnwaterinto



wine,I’dbeallin.Freewine.”Andsomeofyougotalittletooexcitedaboutthat.That’sokay,we’lltalkaboutthatlater.“IfIcouldjustseeit,ifIwerePhiliporThomas,itwouldbegreat.”Idon’tknowifyou’veeverhadarelativeorafriendwhowentonacruiseandthentheywantedtoshowyoupicturesofit.OrtheyblowupyourFacebookfeedwithpicturesoftheirvacation.Herewearewithourluggage.HereweareataStarbucksinAruba.Idon’tcare.Thatwasyourexperience,notmine.Itdoesn’tmeananythingtome.Notonlydowehavetheseeyewitnessaccounts,butI’dlovetoproposetoyouahandfulofcluesastotheexistenceofGod.Again,Ijustwanttobeclear.I’mnotprovingtoyouGodexists.It’sjustthatthesearequestionsthatregardlessofwhatyoubelieve,you’regoingtohavetoanswerthem.Thefirstoneisthis:LifeofJesusSooneoftheprimaryobjectionstoanyonesayingtheyhavethetruthisthatitwillnaturallyleadtoalifeofarrogance,andlifewhereyoulookdownonotherpeople.Theassumptionisthatifyouhavethetruth,you’regoingtolivealifewhereyou’reconsistentlysaying,“Iamrightandyouarewrong.Ihavethetruthandyoudon’t.Therefore,Iambetterandyou’reworse.”That’sournaturalassumption,oneofarrogance,andwecan’tstandthat.TheproblemisifyoulookatthelifeofJesus,heknewthetruth.Infact,hewasthetruth,yethislifewasnotoneofarroganceorlordingitoveranyone.Itwasoneofsacrifice—selflessness.Jesuswasconsistentlyspendingtimewithpeoplenooneelsespenttimewith.Hewasconsistentlytouchingtheuntouchableandlovingtheunlovable,andpreachingamessagetowhereitwasn’taboutyou.So,theclaimthatyouknowthetruthdoesnotnecessarilyleadtoalifeofarroganceandfeelingbetterthanotherpeople.Here’sanotherevidenceforyou:PurposeWhataboutthiswholeideaofpurpose?Yousee,manyofusifnoteverysingleoneofuskindofbelieveinsomeway,shape,orformthatthereissomethingmorethanjustthislife.TheideathatI’llwakeupeverydayandeatfoodtokeepmealivesoIcangotoajobtomakemoneytoeatthatfoodsoIcanstayaliveagain.Thatcan’tbeallthereis.Wehavedreams,hopes,andwewanttoseechange.Thereissomethinginsideofusthatsaysthereisapurposebeyondthisworld.TheproblemisifthereisnoGod,ifallthiswasjustanaccidentalcollisionofthingsalong,longtimeago,thenthereisnopurposewhatsoever.Thereisnoreasonbehindanything,yetlatelywebelieveinsomethingbigger.Sowheredoesthatpurposecomefrom?Again,it’snotproof.It’sjustaclueandsomethingyou’regoingtohavetowrestlewith.Here’reafewmore:Clues.



Whyistheresomethingratherthannothing?That’safairquestion.Whyisthereanythingatall?Stuffexists.Youexist,Iexist,andthechairyouaresittingonexists.Thetrees,roads,families,relationships,theyallexist.Thequestioniswhy.Andwemustconsideriftherearethingsthatdidn’tusedtoexist,thenallofthesuddentheydidexistandtheycollidedandfromthereit’sbeenaseriesofaccidentsandyouarewhereyouaretoday,orthequestionis:didsomeonestartit?Didsomeonegetthisthinggoing?Istheremaybeevenapurposeandadesignbehindallthis?Whyisthereanythingatall?It’sworthsomeconsideration.Whyistherelifeonthisplanet?Ifyou’veeverstudiedjusthowperfectlydesignedearthistosustainthelifewelive:theairwebreathe,thefoodweeat—earthwassoperfectlysetupit’salmostlikeitknewwewerecoming.Thequestionis,isthatanaccident?Didthatjusthappen,oristheresomethingbehindit.Oneauthorputitlikethis,“Theoddsthatearthwouldbesoperfectlycreatedforyourlifeandmylifeissimilartoifyouwereplayingagameofpokerwithsomefriendsandoneofyourbuddiesdealthimself20straighthandsoffouraces.”Intheworlditisphysicallypossiblethatitcouldhappen,butyou’restillgoingtobeathimup.You’regoingtofighthimbecauseheischeating,becauseitissofarfromlikely.Andthewaytheearthisperfectlysituatedforyouandmeisjustsomethingwehavetoconsider.Here’sanotherquestionforyou:Whyistherebeauty?Thereisbeauty.You’vefeltit.You’veseenit.Butwhy?Becausefrompuresurvivalinstinctbeautydoesn’taddalotofvalue,justkeepingusalive.Beautyisunnecessary.Butyouknowit.You’veseenit.Whenyouheardasongthatmovedyoutotears,youknewthatwasbeauty.Whenyousawapieceofart,asunset,orkidslaughinguntiltheycriedyoujustknew:thatisbeautiful.Purelyfromascientificsurvivalinfluence,thereisnoreasonforbeautybutweknowitexists.Infact,whenyouareattractedtosomeone,someoneyouwanttodate,someoneyouwanttomarry…Justconsiderthispickuplinefromasingleguy.Nexttimeyouthinkabouthittingonagirl,justthinkaboutthisone.Youcansay,“Heygirl,”it’salwaysagreatplacetostart.“Heygirl,IknowwhatIseeinyouisamomentaryandaccidentalcollisionofatomsandmyresponsetothemisonlyasortofpsychicphosphorescencearisingfromthebehaviorofmygenes.Ourrelationshipwouldonlybeaboutextendingtheexistenceofhumankind.Doyouwanttogoonadate?”Yeah,gettingthatgirl,homey,sheisnotgoingforthat.Saysheisbeautifulbecauseyouknowsheisbeautiful.Again,it’snotproofbutit’sahint,aclue.Maybethereissomeonebehindthis.



Hereisthelastoneandit’sthemostcompellingforme,andmaybeitwillbeforyou:MoralityMorality,we’retalkingaboutthedifferencebetweenwhatisrightandwrong,goodandevil,whatweoughttodoandwhatweoughtnottodo.Hereisthedeal.I’mmoving,soyoucan’tgetmadatme.I’mgoingtosaysomething.Evenifyousayyoudon’tbelieveinGod,Ithinkyouknowheisrealbecauseofthis.Thereissomethinginsideallofus—wedisagreeonsomanythings—butthereisjustthishandfulofthingsallofuslookatandcometothesameconclusions.That’sgood,orthat’sevil.Forinstance,imagineyoufindafamilyandit’sawidowerwhocan’tbuyChristmaspresentsforherkids.Andanotherfamilycomesandadoptsthemandsetsthemuptohavejoyinthatseason.Onehundredpercentofuswouldlookatthatandsay,“That’sgood.”Orweseeeventsinthenewstowhereyoudidn’tevenhavetohesitate,youdidn’thavetothinkaboutit,youjustknewtheywereevil.YouseeastoryaboutashootinginLasVegasataconcert.Youdidn’tthinktwice,youknewitwasevil.WhenyouseeastoryaboutaHollywoodexecutiveinapositionofpowerusingyoungwomenyoujustknewthatwaswrong.Thatisevil,thatispureevilandyoudidn’tevenhesitate.Historicallywelookbackoneventsliketheholocaust.Thereisnodebate.Thatisevil.Allofushavethisgutinstinctwhenweseethosethings.Buthereistheproblem.IfthereisnoGoditboilsdowntoaverysimplequestion.It’ssimple,butprofound.Hereisthequestion:Whosays?Unlessthereissomeoneoutsideofthisworld,someoneevensupernaturalwhohasinstilledinus:Thisiswhatisgoodandthisiswhatisevil,thenitisentirelyuptoustodecidewhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Yeah,weallknowit’sthere.Wehavethesekindofmoralobligations—eveninthemidstofallourdisagreements—thatweagreeon.Like,humanshaverightsandyouhavetotreatpeoplewithdignityandrespect.Allofusagreetothat,butthequestioniswheredoesthatcomefrom?Because,fromapuresurvivalinstinct,thatisunnecessary.Again,Idon’tanticipatethatitprovesanythingtoyou.IjustthinkyouhavetohaveananswerforitregardlessofwhatyoubelieveaboutGod,you’vegottofigureoutwhyyoufeelthosewaysinthosemoments.Again,mycardsareonthetable.YouknowwhereIstand.Ibelievewholeheartedly,ineveryfiberofmybeing,thatGodcreatedusandcreatedthisworld.Soifyouwouldindulgemeonemoretime.Atallofourcampuses,ifyouwouldstandupI’dlovetotellyouwhoIknowJesustobeonemoretime.



IbelievethatitwasthroughJesusthateverythingwascreated.I’vestoodatthefootofmountainsandI’velookedup.I’vestoodattheedgeoftheoceanandI’velookedout,andIthoughttomyself,“Therehasgottobesomeonebehindthis.”AndI’vestoodindeliveryroomsthreedifferenttimesandI’velookeddownatanewbornandlookedintheireyesandthought,“Therehasgottobesomeonebehindthis.”I’vesatindoctor’sofficesandreceiveddevastatingpersonalnews,yetI’vefoundhopeandIthoughttomyself,“There’sgottobesomeonebehindthis.”Yousee,IbelieveJesuscreatedyoujustasyouare.Hecreatedyouthattall,withthathaircolor,andthatweirdsenseofhumor,andthatobnoxiouslyloudlaugh.HecreatedyouforapurposethatismorethanrunningsomeracewithratsorkeepingupwithsomeonenamedJones.Youhaveanintention,youhaveadesign,andhemadeyousoyoucouldtellasmanypeopleaspossiblethebestnewstheywilleverhear;thattheymattertoGodandJesuslovesthem.IbelieveinJesusbecausehehasthishabitofdoingtheimpossible.I’veseenhimresurrectmarriagesfromthedead.I’veseenhimgivestudentsafuturefortheirlives.I’veseenhimbreakaddictionsthathadastrangle-holdonpeople.I’veseenJesustransformpeoplewhogofromdeadtoalive.IbelieveinaGodwhosenthisSontolivethelifeIcouldnotlive,andpaythepenaltyformysinsIcouldnotpay,andinturngivemetherewardIcouldnotearn.IbelieveinaGodwhocreateswithawordandhehealswithatouch.IbelieveinaGodwhorobbedthegraveandhestolethestingfromdeath.IbelieveinaGodwhodesperatelywantstoknowyou,andforyoutolovehimandtofollowhim.Ipromiseyouifyouwill,youwillnever,everregretit.Thankyou,TradersPoint.

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