Jesus - the Great I Am — Harry Foster

Jesus as the Bread, Light, and Resurrection

The gospel by John, first of all chapter 6 verse 35, Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. Then chapter 9 verse 5, when I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Chapter 11 verse 25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life.

And then chapter 13 verse 19, John 13 19, from henceforth I tell you before it come to pass that when it come to pass, ye may believe that I am. How important it is to have faith in the Lord as the I am, how essential to know him, the I am.

I tell you, he said to his disciples, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe how essential also it is for us to be led into experiencing which happens. And when they happen, we find that what we had told, had been told, has become really inward, knowledge, vital faith.

We have here three of the statements of the Lord, I am the bread of life. It's only when it comes to pass that you really believe that he is, the light of the world. It seems to me that the essential setting for those words was this condition of the man about whom they were spoken, who was in darkness if ever a man was.

I am the resurrection and the life. How much the two sisters at Bethany had been told by the Lord Jesus, and how readily one at least of them had accepted and sought to believe what she had been told.

But it wasn't until it came to pass that the belief became that inward knowledge, ye may believe that I am. How can we know the Lord in this way as being the reality, the answer, the fullness of every aspect of the will of God?

Discovering Our Spiritual Inadequacy

Well I think the first necessary part of such learning is to find, to discover that we are not. I am from the Lord means we are not. Look at this example, the man who stands as the great proof that Jesus is the light, the light of the world.

He was absolutely in the dark. If he had been asked to say before the change what his state was, altering the verses, the words of verse 25, he would have said, whereas others see I am blind. Whatever light there is, I have none of it.

I never had light, and apart from Christ I never shall have light. I am the one in darkness. That's essential, that's not only true of the sinner who must confess his absolute need before he can see light and life in Christ.

It's true of all spiritual experience as we are being trained to discover the true nature of the Lord. To believe I am, you have to find out, and it's a bitter and humiliating experience it may be, to find out how completely otherwise we are.

Always have been, for he was born blind. Always shall be, for this is a matter of nature. The Lord has the positive answer. And how positive it is in comparison with the futile reasoning of the disciples who when they first saw him began to raise this question as to the origin, the explanation, the cause.

It was a completely negative discussion they were entering on. There was no answer to it. There was no remedy if the answer were found. And how negative so much of our curiosity, questioning, and reasoning about the cause of things in other people and in ourselves.

It's the facts that matter, but the facts brought the Lord Jesus who is the answer. There were men in this very chapter, we are told of them, who never found that the Lord was the light. Never came to know him in this way.

And the reason, the reason very simple, that they thought they had light. They were unwilling to discover or to be told how complete was their natural darkness. You find their arguing with the man takes this form.

They say, we know that God has spoken by Moses. We know. Alright, if you know, you won't find that the Lord Jesus is the light. Later on they said to him, thou wast altogether born in sin. Dost thou teach us?

Alright. You're not prepared to be taught. Never will know. Jesus is the light. So that's the first thing in our discovery of the great I am. A fresh discovery that we. Alongside of that goes another perhaps more surprising but equally essential discovery.

That other people are not. We thought they were. Go to the wilderness where the people having listened to the Lord Jesus are hungry. And you find in the center of that great multitude. A little group of men, the twelve.

Who would assume certain measure of importance. Because they were after all the chosen apostles. Who would no doubt be looked up to. By at least some of the crowd. Who would feel well if they were in difficulty.

There was always Peter. And always John. And always the others. And you find that the story reveals. The twelve disciples. To be as utterly bankrupt. As the rest of the multitude. They had nothing. The crowd found out in their hunger.

Of their emptiness. But those to whom they would look. And perhaps upon whom they had begun to rest. And rely. Found out. In the real test. To be just as helpless and as hopeless. It's a bitter discovery.

But a very necessary one. That everybody else but the Lord Jesus is a failure. And when we begin to rely. On one another as apart from him. On men as men. The Lord will take pain. To reveal to us. To cause us to know.

The frailty. The unsatisfactory nature. Of that in which we were trusted. Many Christians are asked. To be out with the Lord. Just because they find that. Others whom they considered reliable. Are after all not perfect.

That's no excuse for any of us. Not to seek to be examples to the rest. But make no mistake about it. It's part of this deep. Heart. Discovery. Of the absolute. Satisfying fullness of Jesus Christ. To be disappointed with everything else.

Christ Alone as the Satisfying Provision

The Lord Jesus. Took trouble. To impress them with this. Notice in the three gospels. How at the time of need. He turned to the twelve and said. Give ye them to eat. Now the Lord doesn't play. Or talk lightly over any matter.

In John's gospel. We are told. He said to them. When shall we buy bread. For this great multitude. Even though he knew what he was doing. Not to tease. But surely to underline. And emphasize this. The greatest servants of the Lord.

Are in themselves empty. They are not. There is only one I am. Thank God for him. The Jews. Or some of them. Discussing that. Experience in the wilderness. Felt that Moses. Could provide. Some sort of answer.

To human needs. And so when the matter of the bread of life. Was brought up. They said to the Lord Jesus. Our Father. That the manna. In the wilderness. The Lord immediately answered that one. It was not Moses.

It was not Moses. It came through Moses. But it was not Moses. When you come to think of it. It is rather pathetic. Long long while ago. The manna came down in the wilderness. And all. That they can produce now.

In this time of present need. And challenge. Is a pathetic harking back. To the past. Moses gave you not that bread. But even if he had. It is a past thing. Now you will notice. If you follow John 6. How from that very verse.

The Lord Jesus again and again. Makes the strongest emphasis. On the present. And the present continuum. Moses. Gave you not. That bread out of heaven. But my Father give it. The Lord avoided saying. My Father gave you the bread out of heaven.

Though he did. But that is past. We are talking about the I am. I am. My Father give it. I am the bread. He that cometh. He that believeth. And so again and again. As the chapter goes on. As mounting up this reminder.

That the Lord Jesus. Is the ever present answer. Though he. And then that nobody else. And that all the past. Will never be sufficient. For the present moment. And we will find. And here we come to John 11.

Growing Through New Experiences of Christ

That even our. Previous knowledge of the Lord. Is not sufficient. Is the one whom we are to know. Not I was. Not I used to be. Though praise be his name. He is the same always. But ye will believe the Lord says.

When you have been through this experience. You will come to know me. And to believe me. As the I am. And that means. That all our previous. Knowledge of the Lord. Will be insufficient. Deliberately so.

By God's own intention. Because we are to be brought. Into a new fuller experience. Of the I am. After all. It is here. That we find the Lord's affirmation. I am the resurrection. And the life. And resurrection.

Resurrection always means. Coming up into a new realm. Martha and Mary. Mary in particular. Had very real knowledge of the Lord. But they had to come up into a new realm. To them a strange realm. And it was a painful experience.

But when it was accomplished. They were found. On higher ground with the Lord. How do we discover. That the Lord. Is the I am. It seems to me. It is absolutely essential. That for this. We shall be plunged.

Into experiences. Which are the opposite of what he is. There is no other way. Of learning that Jesus. Is the bread of life. Than to be really starving in the wilderness. After all. The Lord precipitated that.

They had followed him. They had listened to him. It might have been argued. And quite correctly. That he could have sent them away earlier. That this never need. Have arisen. No from one point of view.

That is quite right. It need not have been. But from the spiritual point of view. If they are to know him. It had to be. And how much can be said. Of our lives like that. That the Lord takes us. And brings us.

Into circumstances. That need not have been. We could have seen. Surely he can. We can see how it could have been avoided. If we had been the Lord. We never would have let ourselves. Or anybody else. Get into that quandary.

It need not have been. But from the Lord's side it had to be. This is the only way. And I am quite sure. That the blind man. Once he really found the Lord. Had the answer. To a question. That had been nagging him.

All through his years. Why did it have to be me? Why did it have to be this way? Well there is no other way. For the light. To become dark. For the way. To become so obscure. That we have no answer to.

To have perhaps. As he had. Questioning people saying. Why has this happened to him? If he hadn't sinned. Or his parents hadn't sinned. If there hadn't been fault. Or failure somewhere. He would never have been in this predicament.

That's human. The Lord has a very different approach. This has been. Ordered. In the providence of the Father. And brought to this very moment. In the will of God. In order that it may be demonstrated.

I am. I am the light. And so. For that death. In Bethany. That was the problem for the system. For they felt strongly. And the Jews around. Were heard. Discussing this very point. That surely this need never have been.

Lazarus. Need not have died. That home in Bethany. Could have been preserved. From the breaking in of the destroyer. From the collapse. That had seemed to come. From the overwhelming. Disaster that met it.

The Lord could have held it off. He could have covered them. Sheltered them. Made it unnecessary. Yes he could. But if he had. They would have missed. The discovery of Jesus love. Circumstance. Seemed at the time.

To be overwhelmingly disastrous. But that's the way. It's the only way. How can you know that Jesus is the light. Unless death. Has encamped upon him. How can you know he's the light. Unless really in a deep.

Inward way you are. And you brought right up. To the fact that you have. No light in yourself. And can get none apart from him. How can you know him as the bread of life. Except. You find yourself led into some wilderness.

And that coming upon you. Which is hunger. For which there's no human answer. No money to buy. And no place to buy if there were money. The Lord Jesus. Is waiting. For he knows. He knows what he will do.

The Disciples' Inadequate Faith at Bethany

Now look at the. Inadequacy of the. Knowledge that so far. Seemed to have taken this Bethany group. Along. Think of the disciples first. When the Lord announced. That he was going to Bethany. They were frightened.

They thought he would die. If he went there. They tried to keep him away. And yet. This was the end of the Lord's ministry. Practically. They had seen Jairus' daughter. Raised from the dead. They had seen the son.

Of the widow of Nain brought back to life. They had seen. The Lord taken to the brow of the hill. At Nazareth. Passing through the midst of them. Going on his own way. They'd seen the murderous attempts on him.

And how supremely indifferent. He was to them. They'd seen the clashes with death. From which he always emerged victorious. And yet here they are. And they say. He goes to Bethany. For one thing. Lazarus is dead.

So it's no use going. And for another thing. Death awaits him there. Well says Thomas. He's got a big heart says Thomas. In spite of all his doubts. Let us also go. That we may die. Doesn't look, does it?

As though all the teachings. All the experiences that they have. Have really made them to know. Jesus as the great I Am. But we pass then. To think of the two sisters. Here's Martha. Now Martha. As soon as she heard that Jesus was coming.

We are told. Ran out to meet him. Which shows that. She had a. An attitude toward the Lord. Of some expectancy. Seeking him. She felt she knew him. And in a time of need. He was the one to run to. Moreover that.

Not only did she meet him. And bring this question. About what would have happened. If he had been there. But she added a little bit of her own. It's very true. And very wonderful. Knowledge that it was she confessed.

Verse 22. Even now she said. I know that whatsoever thou shall ask of God. God will give you. That is. I should imagine a very. Strong and clear. Understanding of the nature of Jesus. Moreover when the Lord Jesus.

Said I am the resurrection. And the life. Not I shall be but I am. He challenged her. Believest thou this? And the answer she gave. Was yes Lord. I have believed. That thou art the Christ. The Son of God.

And yet. As you know so well. When they came to the grave. And the stone lay against it. And Jesus said. Take ye away the stone. And she was the one. Who said no. Never. The knowledge which she had of the Lord.

Didn't really work when it came. To the actual challenge. And in that she is typical. Of most of us. I know yes we know. I have believed yes we have believed. And the Lord takes us up. To some tomb and says well.

Now we are going to pull the stone up. And we can't believe. When it really comes. To something. Which is. A practical test. Of his being the I am. The other sister Mary. This is the one you remember.

Who sat at his feet. And heard his words. The one who was given that better part. Or rather chose the better part. And was promised it should not be. Taken away from her. Mary. Wouldn't even go to the Lord.

Martha. Soon as she heard. Went and met him. But Mary sat still. In the house. Now whether the Lord Jesus. Actually called Mary. I suppose he did. For Martha wouldn't tell an untruth. At any rate. It was Martha's persuasion.

That brought Mary out. She went away and called Mary. Mary secretly saying. The master is here. At any rate. Jesus had to call her. Had to call her. Before she would go to him. When he came to her. Verse 32.

She fell down at his feet. Saying unto him. Lord if thou had been here. My brother had not died. When Jesus therefore. Saw her. That was when he wept. Makes a strange story in a way. Doesn't it? Someone who had sat at his feet.

Blunt in his words. Laid hold of them. Believed them. And now here she is. In the depths of despair. It may be argued. That Martha's was a more superficial temperament. And she ran out. Mary the deeper one.

I think it was. She was. She was cut to the heart. She felt she knew the Lord. And now she found she didn't. She had implicit. Confidence in his love. And now love. Leads to her faith. In a sense it has to be like that.

Faith That Finds Christ Sufficient

For here are examples. Of this tremendous truth. That however much we know of the Lord. He is bound. In his quest. Drawing us on. To a full knowledge of him. He is bound to bring us into new trials. And new problems.

Where all our previous knowledge. Is not enough. Doesn't mean to say that we should lose faith. That we should be offended. With the Lord. But it does mean to say. That the Lord knows. What he is doing.

With a multitude. Who are hungry. Yes and with a Martha. And a Mary. Who are broken hearted. He knows what he is doing. And what is he doing? Bringing them to the place. Where by an experience. Deeper than they've ever had before.

Bigger than they've ever had before. More impossible than they ever could have conceived of. In that experience. They shall make the glad discovery. After all the Lord is enough. I am. It's worth it. The people that were caught out hungry in the wilderness.

Afterwards said it was worth it. It was worth it. The blind man I'm quite convinced. For the rest of his life went around saying. Hallelujah it was worth it. And I believe. So in a deeper way. Because it was a deeper experience.

Lazarus. And Martha. Yes and Mary. Would look at one another. And say. It was bitter. But it was worth it. I told you the Lord says. Before it comes. If you mean business with the Lord. It will come to pass.

This is the only way. I have told you before it comes to pass. That when it comes to pass. He may believe. I would like to say. He may discover. The Queen of Sheba. Heard of the fame. Of Solomon. Concerning the name of the Lord.

The Queen of Sheba and the Wisdom of the King

She came. To prove him. With hard questions. She came to Jerusalem. With a very great train. Camels that bear spices. And very much gold. And precious stones. When she was come to Solomon. She communed with him.

Of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her. All of her questions. There was not anything. Hid from the king. Which he told her not. And when the Queen of Sheba. Had seen all the wisdom. Of Solomon.

And the house that he had built. The meat of his table. And the sitting. Of his servants. And the attendance. Of his ministers. And their apparel. And his cupbearer. And his assent. By which he went up.

Unto the house of the Lord. There was no more. Spirit in her. And she said to the king. It was a true report. That I heard in mine own land. Of thine acts. And of thy wisdom. Albeit. I believed not the words.

Until I came. And mine eyes had seen it. And behold. The half was not told me. Thy wisdom. And prosperity. Exceedeth the fame. Which I heard. Happy. Are thy men. Happy are these. Thy servants. Which stand continually.

Before thee. And hear. Thy wisdom. What a happy thing. To be. In the house. Of the king. In this house. There was no question. As to who was king. Solomon was supreme. In every matter. It was very much.

His house. But the queen of Sheba. Herself a rich woman. As the story. Discloses. And obviously one with a position. Of her own. Could only envy. Anybody. Who had never. Because Jesus is king. They ought to envy her.

And the place of his kingship. Is supremely. In his house. Now the queen of Sheba. Did not come to see. The house of Solomon. She came to see Solomon. And the house of Solomon has no meaning. Unless you meet Solomon in it.

But evidently. It was the house of Solomon. Or rather the Solomon. In his house. Which so overwhelmed her. She'd heard about it. She'd heard of how wonderful. It is. To meet this great king. In his house.

And now she says. They didn't tell me half. Not because they wouldn't. But because they couldn't. There are no words to express. There is no means. By which mere reports. Can convey. Of being gathered together.

In spiritual fellowship. She had seen all the wisdom. First of all. Not frivolous questions. Theoretical questions. She was a woman. Of responsibilities. And life was too much. For her. And problems were too great.

And she hadn't the answer. And nobody else had the answer. And she came into this house. She found the answer. It should always be like that. Is what it says. About Solomon's wisdom. God gave Solomon wisdom.

And understanding. Exceeding much. And largeness of heart. Even as the sand. That is on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom. Excelled the wisdom. Of all the children of the east. And all the wisdom of Egypt.

For he was wiser. Than all men. Than Ethan the Ezraite. And Heman and Calcol and Dada. We don't know who they all were. But you know what it is to have the great names. Don't you? The names. Of the people who are the authority.

And you know what it is to be disappointed. When you've got a real heart. That none of them can answer. Solomon's wisdom. Was not only greater. It was different. But all this wisdom of the children of the east.

And of Egypt. Didn't come from this world at all. It didn't come from Solomon. It came from God. And that's. The first thing that I would say. To characterize. Every representation. Of the house of the Lord.

That people may come with their hard questions. And find in Jesus Christ. The answer. Always the answer. Goes on to say. Speaking of this wisdom. Of Solomon. And he speak. Three thousand. Proverbs. It was practical wisdom.

It just came right down. To everyday life. Whether you ever read these questions. That people send up. To religious papers. They're nearly always theoretical questions. What is the meaning of this. And that and the other.

Who'll be saved and who won't. All sorts of theoretical questions. They used to try that on the Lord Jesus. You know. But he always turned it to something very personal. They began to talk about. Those Galileans.

Whose blood on Pilate. Mingled with their sacrifices. And the Lord says except you. You shall all likewise perish. They asked him Lord. Are there many that be saved. He said you strive. To enter into the straight gate.

The disciples tried it. They said Lord. Did this man sin on his parents. That he was born blind. And the Lord said neither. Let's be practical. When the Queen of Sheba came. I don't know whether she heard any of these Proverbs.

But this was the kind of wisdom that she heard. The wisdom that. Meets us. As these Proverbs. Some of which are recorded do. Daily affairs of ordinary life. Telling us. What is right and what is wrong.

What is wise and what is foolish. Three thousand Proverbs. And moreover it says. His songs. Were a thousand and five. You notice he began with the Proverbs. Didn't want any empty singing. There's a lot of singing that's empty.

That doesn't come out of practical experience. True wisdom says. Let's be practical first. And the song will arise out of the Proverbs. He had to write those songs. When he'd written the Proverbs. That people should be able to give expression.

To how wonderful and blessed and gracious it is. To prove the will of God. In everyday life. Heartwarming wisdom. As well as practical wisdom. Cedar that is in Lebanon. Even unto the hyssop that springeth.

Out of the wall. He spake also of beasts and of fowl. And of creeping things and of fishes. He seemed to know the meaning of everything. And that everything had a meaning. That is how we find the wisdom of God.

In the Lord Jesus. Showing that every part of our life. And every detail. Has a meaning. And if it hasn't got a meaning. He'll put a meaning into it. This is wisdom. Solomon told her. There was not anything hid from the king.

Which he told her not. Queen of Sheba. Meet King Solomon. In his heart. So I believe. Should men and women meet Christ. Today in his house. That's what the house is. Secondly. Just a verse or two about that.

Feasting on God's Daily Provision

And Solomon's provision. For one day. Was thirty measures of fine flour. And three score measures of meal. Ten fat oxen. And twenty oxen out of the pastures. And a hundred sheep. Beside hearts and gazelles.

And robux and patted fowl. My they feasted didn't they. It was a feast that she found. In Solomon's house. A real feast. But they didn't feast for the sake of feasting. These were his servants. That feasted to get strength.

If you've got three thousand proverbs. You need some strength. And if you've got a thousand and five. Songs to sing. You need strength to sing them. Blessed be God. His Solomons. Don't give you proverbs.

And send you away with them. Give you the proverbs. And then give you some strength. Some nourishment. So that they should be fulfilled. And that is what the house of God is for. For men to feast. And to know that they feasted.

To do the will of God. The Lord Jesus stressed this to Peter. Feed my land. Do you remember how the Apostle Paul. Stressed it to the elders. From Ephesus when he called to Myles. That they were to take care.

To feed the church of God. Which he had purchased. With his own blood. God wants his children to be fed. Not starved. And the pity of it is. There's so little food. Among the people of God today. Provision was a daily provision.

You never caught him on an off day. Never had to go away. And say it was alright last week. We hope it will be alright next week. But it's been pretty lean today. Day by day. The fullness. And the fatness.

Was brought out. And men. That men might meet the king. In the house. And sit down at the table. With the king. And go out fortified. As well as rejoice. The food was nourishing food. You notice. The Lord believes in nourishment.

Not stimulants. You can get stimulants from the word of God. And go out with a tremendous excitement. To do his will. But stimulants have an unhappy way. Of losing their power. All too quickly. And very often of bringing a depression.

Which was almost worse. Than before you had the stimulants. Food. Assimilated. And digested. Gives something permanent. To the life. Sitting around of the drones. I doubt whether they existed in Solomon's house.

And they ought not to exist in Christ's house. We're all so. They're sitting down. No wonder. She's overwhelmed. She's never seen it like this. There's an atmosphere. The serenity. This is not a scene.

Of fevered activity. Though it is the very center. And headquarter. Of the administration. Of this kingdom. These are not only workers. These are the most important workers. But there's a. An element of restfulness.

As indeed there was in the whole kingdom. For this is what it says. Judah. And Israel dwelt safely. Every man. Under his vine. And under his fig tree. From Dan. Even to Beersheba. That's what the prophets always dreamed about.

Every man under his vine and his fig tree. It happened. The dream came true. In Solomon's day. Why this peace? This rest? This assurance? Ah, you've got to get behind Solomon. To know that. Solomon sits on a throne.

Which is the fruit of the victory. Of his great father. All the mighty triumphs. Of David. The warrior. Are now vested in Solomon. The administrator. Two men. In Old Testament types. Because no one man.

Could fulfill the type. But it is fulfilled in one man. Our greater than David. In the fullness. Of his victory. Is also the greater than Solomon. On the throne. Of his glory. Rush and strain. Every one of them.

Fulfills his service. In the car. From the king. Whose very name. God's idea of peace. Is never passivity. His idea of peace. Is progress without friction. Activity without. Sitting of his servants. I would like.

Restful Obedience in the House of God

If I was one of the servants. That they should be impressed. By the service of his minister. Obviously some were sitting. And some were standing. But in the spiritual counterpart. We must be both sitting and standing.

Sitting. In restful enjoyment. Of Christ. In alert readiness. Of obedience to Christ. There is too much system. Whether anybody is going to get up. Rather slow labored. Rising up. But not so in Solomon's house.

Blessed by the fact. That everybody is willing to know his will. And they will do it. What a blessed. Blessed house it is. When it is full of people. For only wanting to know the will of God. And are ready to do it.

His ministers. And their apparel. As a dignity. And a glory. Even when they are doing the service. Nothing shabby. House of Solomon. Grant that there may be nothing shabby. There should not be. Which is unworthy of him.

There is that. Which might be more or less. Indeed is. The natural apparel. That we would have apart from him. But when they came into Solomon's service. That was left behind. With his service. They put on apparel.

Which spoke of the dignity of Christ. Marking every one of them. Doesn't say that it was a uniform. Doesn't say that they all looked the same. I am pretty sure it wasn't. In any case. There is no place for uniform.

In the house of the Lord. But everyone. Should bear that. Which in their own way. And their own realm. Says more loudly than words can say. Not I. Not what I am. We were reading at home this morning. Romans 13.

I think it is verse 14. Put me on. The Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder it was a glorious house. When all this was true. No wonder there was no more. Spirit in her. She had never seen anything like this. And dear friends.

Every representation. Of the house of the Lord. Should be something that men. Have never seen anywhere else. Nor can see. So full should it be. Of that which speaks of Christ. And his ascent. By which.

He went up. Unto the house of the Lord. It seems that he had a special. Way. Covered way. Which led directly. From his house. Up into the temple. She was impressed by that. His ascent. Vast as this house was.

Full of a multiplicity. Of people and things. And activities. It all led upward. Into the house of the Lord. The tendency. Was upwards all the time. Perhaps we can understand that more clearly. If we think of the opposite.

Turning the House of God Godward

Sadly possible it is. That even the things of God. Can be brought down. And in what is called the house of the Lord. The personalities and the envies. And strifes and jealousies. And pettinesses of men.

Drag the things of God down. There were kings. Later on. Successors of this very man. Who did that. And used them for their own. End. And there was one king Ahab. If you are leisure you may read about him.

In 2nd Kings. 16, 18. And it says he took. The. Some of the. Riches from among. From the house of the Lord. Took them away. Put the labor down. From off its lions on to the ground. And it says he turned.

This special entry. That King Solomon had made. He turned it round. Now what that means. You can think about it. 2nd Kings 16, 18. What he did actually. Apparently was somehow or other. To close that.

Entrance. But it's quite obvious. What he and others did spiritually. Instead of having everything leading up. To the house of the Lord. They had things coming down to themselves. Turning them round. It's sadly possible.