The Word Became Flesh

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

John 1:14-18

I have heard it said in prayers; it has been mentioned Bible classes; even in sermons; I have heard it and heard it a thousand times or more but I am not sure I have we really comprehend its significance or appreciated it.

• What John says here in vs. 14 is perhaps the most amazing thing that has ever happened to mankind and it is a doctrinal truth that lies at the very heart of the Christian faith.

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh,  and dwelt among us,

• In the first 5 verses of this gospel John says that “In the beginning the Word was”; before the foundation of the world was ever formed, the Word was!

And then John says that “the Word was with God”; the Word and God are not identical but they are ONE; the Word has the very same nature as God the Father.

And then John says that “the Word was God”; all that could be said about God may aptly be said about the Word; nothing higher could be said about the Word

And then John says that “all things came into being by the Word”; He is the Almighty Creator.

• And that “life” (both physical and spiritual is in Him. If anything in this world has life it is because of Him) and “light” is in Him (without Him we would be in darkness).

In the first 5 verses John declares the Word to be God.

• And now, here in vs. 14 John says that, that Word who was and is God, who Was and Is the Creator; and in Whom is life and light” that Word, became flesh and dwelt among us” and that is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to mankind; it is amazing that God Himself would do that.
• And I am not sure if you/I comprehend and appreciate that?

 Let me put it this way to help you understand how amazing this was: Some of you may remember, in July 1969, one of the most momentous events in all of human history took place when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

• People all over the world watched on T.V.; millions on millions watched.
• And people were glued to the T.V.; and when Neil Armstrong stepped off of that ladder onto the face of the moon; people cheered; they were ecstatic; they couldn’t believe it.
• And do you remember what Neil Armstrong said: “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind!”
• That was a man, assisted by amazing technology and hundreds of experts, landing on the moon; and people were amazed!

And as amazing as that was, here in this passage, you have the Word, the pre-existent One; the eternal One; the Omnipotent One; the Omnipresent and Omniscient One, coming in the flesh.

• And not only walking on this earth but dwelling among us, not just for a week like Neil Armstrong did on the moon, but for 33 years.
• And it wasn’t a small step for the Word to take on human form; Phil 2:6 says that “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
• He subjected Himself to everything that humans suffer and endure.

And 2 Cor. 8:9 tells us that He “gave up the riches of heaven in order that through His poverty we might be rich.”

• And 2 Cor. 5:21 says, “He was made to be sin in our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
• It wasn’t a small step for the Word to take on human form and dwell among us.

And you talk about a giant leap for man-kind, His was a giant leap for mankind!

• Where would we be if He had not have come?

And let me tell you, this is the most important doctrine in the Christian faith.

• If anyone is going to be saved;
• If anyone is going to find heaven;
• If anyone is going to be forgiven of their sins, they must believe that “the Word; that God came in the flesh, and dwelt among us.”
• Any teaching that denies this is heresy.

If the Word was and is not God then we can just ignore John’s Gospel and his later epistles completely because that is the crux of his writings.

• And if the Word did not come in the flesh then the angels and shepherds and wise men lied when He was born.
• Herod killed the babies of Bethlehem for no reason.
• Jesus was never tempted in the wilderness; he never knew what it was to be hungry or thirsty or tired. He cannot relate to us and therefore cannot intercede for us.
• He never learned obedience through His suffering; Heb. 5:8-9.
• He is not the author and perfecter of our faith; Heb. 12:2.
• He was never in the garden; beaten, crucified; buried, and raised from the dead.
• If He was not God who came in the flesh and dwelt among us you can burn the song books; sell the building, and throw your Bible away and forget about any decency at all and just join the forces of darkness and do what they do else!

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” is the most amazing thing that ever happened to mankind and this truth lies at the very heart of Christianity.

• And if you and I don’t believe this then there is no hope for us.

If I really think about this and understand it, it cements my devotion and commitment to Him.

• And I know we always point to the cross and what He sacrificed on the cross, but for Him to leave and give up the riches of heaven and come to this earth and experience think that mankind experiences, that cements my devotion and commitment to Him.
• And makes me thankful that He came.

Now, look at vs. 14 again: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

• It is not uncommon for people today to say that they are searching for God or searching for His way.
• And they go from place to place and religion to religion trying to find Him.
• More commonly, they stay in one place until God finds them.

John says God has come close. He came in the flesh. And if people really want to find God all they have to do is find Jesus Christ and that is as near as your closest Bible. (He is also in the hearts of His disciples.)

• In fact, look at vs. 18: No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
• If people can’t find God it is because they are looking in all the wrong places; or they simply don’t want to.

 So John says that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” and that Word was God; but that is easy to say. Where is the proof?

• “Up until this time John, you have made some pretty convincing arguments that “the Word is God and that the Word came in the flesh, but where is the proof?”

 Well, from here on through the rest of the book John is going to give testimony that “the Word” was and is Jesus and that Jesus is God who came in the flesh.

• And he begins by giving an eye-witness account stating that the “Word” is and was God.

So, look at the end of vs. 14: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Notice that John does say, “I beheld”; he says, “We beheld.”
• The testimony of one person was easily disputed and really proved nothing.
• But, if there was two witnesses; well that was little more acceptable; but when John says “we” he isn’t talking about just two witnesses; he is talking about at least 12 disciples; and in 1 Cor. 15 the apostle Paul speaks of “500 brothers” who saw Jesus.
• When you consider all the people who witnessed all the things that Jesus did during His 3 year ministry, we don’t know how many “we” is here in this passage but it is enough to confirm what John says about “the Word” being God.

 And look at what John says “they beheld”; and that word “beheld” is not speaking of a vision or a dream; this is speaking of something they literally saw!

• John says “We beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father.”
• “Glory that proves He is the only begotten from the Father.”

 What does John mean when he speaks of seeing “His glory?”

• In chapter 2, at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, after Jesus turned the water into wine, verse 11 says, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”
• That is an indication that every time Jesus performed a miracle Jesus revealed His glory.

Then you have the Transfiguration in Matthew 17 where Jesus was “transfigured and His face shone like the sun and His garments became as white as light.”

• That could very well be what John is talking about when He speaks of seeing “His glory.”

But then there is this also. In Mark 1:41 Jesus encounters a leper and vs. 41 says that Jesus “was moved by compassion” and reached out and healed that man.

• In Matthew 9:36, Matthew says, “When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
• In Matthew 20:34, after two blind men called out to Him, Matthew says “He had compassion on them and touched their eyes.”

And look again at John 1:14. John says that Jesus was  “full of grace and truth.”

• And in 16 John the Baptist said:  For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

 And we might ask, “What does His compassion, and His grace and truth have to do with John seeing His glory. Well, look at this from Exodus 33: 18.

Moses asks to see “God’s glory” and God says,  “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

• God didn’t allow Moses to see His face “for no Man can see Him and live.”
• Instead, when Moses asked to see God’s glory, God manifested His goodness, His grace, His compassion; His divine nature.

And when John saw those same things in Jesus, when he saw the compassion, the grace, the love and care, then John realized that what he was seeing was the “glory of God.”

• So, when John speaks of “seeing His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father” he is speaking of the miracles, the transfiguration, and the God-like virtues that Jesus manifested.
• And what John is saying is, “The Word who came in the flesh is God because He possesses the same virtues and character that only God possesses.”

In vs. 15, John will once again use John the Baptist to confirm that the Word is Jesus, and that Jesus is God and He came to “explain God” to us. What He is like.

• If you want to know God; if you want to understand Him; if you want to know what God is like; look at Jesus.

But here is the problem. People look at what Hollywood says about God; and they look at what some of these books say about God; at what philosophers say; what some songs say and then they say, “That is what God is like!”

• “We have a God who is biased, bigoted, unfair, cruel, unjust, immoral; and the reason people think that is because they look in all the wrong places, instead of looking at Jesus.

Jesus defines God; He displays God’s glory; He dispenses grace and truth.

So it is amazing to me that the Word would become flesh and dwell among us; and it is the most important thing for us to believe.

So, why does John tells us all of these things? Here it is again:  John 20: 30 Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

 Your faith in Christ is not misplaced.

If you want eternal life; there is only One way to get it and that is through Jesus Christ. It is all about Jesus. And if you refuse to believe that He is God who came in the flesh there is no hope for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Witness

THE WITNESS

John 1:6-13

 Do you remember why John wrote this gospel?

• John’s purpose for writing this gospel is to get people to “believe that Jesus (Savior/human) is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, (Deity) and that believing they may have life in His name.”
• That is John’s purpose.

 And we saw that last week in the first 5 verses of John 1 when John revealed Jesus to us as the eternal Word of God, the Creator of the Universe, and the source of life and Light.

• God, through John wants all of us to find eternal life through Christ.
• So, John keeps telling us: “It is all about Christ” and here in the passage that was read, to get us to put our full trust and faith in Christ, John gives us a witness.
• Let’s look at the passage that was read starting in vs. 6.

In vs. 6 John tells us about another John, a man,  who “came” and  was “sent from God.”

• And this John was “sent from God as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.”
• And vs. 8: “He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.”

Now, there is little doubt that John is talking about John the Baptist and John the apostle seems to intentionally make the point that John the Baptizer was a “man” who “came” and who was “sent from God as a witness of the light that all might believe through him” and I think there is a very good reason why John does that. .

• There is no doubt that John the Baptizer came to point people to Christ and that is what he did.
• But some of those who heard John preach and who were baptized by John for the forgiveness of sins continued to be devoted to John.
• Some even wondered if John wasn’t the Messiah himself (Luke 3:15).
• And remember in Acts 18:24 that Apollos was “acquainted only with the baptism of John” and Pricilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the word of God to him more accurately.
• And then in Acts 19, when Paul came to Ephesus, he found some disciples who had only been baptized into John’s baptism.
• So, even though John the Baptizer came to proclaim Christ, there were those who still held to John or had not heard the “good news” of Christ, and John the author of this gospel wanted everyone to know that John the Baptizer was not the “Light”; he was not the Christ; but he came to testify about the One who was the “Light! “

Once again, John is saying, “It is all about Jesus!”

• And you might ask, “How does that apply to us today?”

Sometimes, and I don’t expect anyone here to have this problem, but sometimes people get “preacher-itis.”

• They get so devoted to the preacher that they fail to see Christ.
• And if the preacher leaves or dies they are devastated.

I remember a congregation where the preacher decided to leave and one of the sisters in the congregation went to one of the elders and said, “What are we going to do?” She was devastated.

• Do you know what the elder said? “We are going to find another one.”

It is not about the preacher; or an elder; or anyone else.

• There are religious groups today that blindly follow after those who claim to be prophets or representatives of Christ, and sometimes the people are manipulated, and taught in error; and deceived.
• And recently a group in Kenya was told that if they wanted to be right with God they had to kill themselves; and they did; and what they need to realize is they may need to look past whoever it is they are following and follow Jesus because, like John says, “It is all about Jesus.”

Now, look at vs. 9:  There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

• Jesus is and was the “true” light; others are just “flickering lights” of truth; faint glimpses of reality which have led men to follow them only to wind up in the darkness and be left there.
• But Jesus, He is the genuine light; He brings real illumination to people; there is nothing unreal or shadowy about the light which Christ shines.

But notice the last of vs. 9: “The true light which enlightens every man.”

• People are without excuse!
• God’s light was not hidden from them; the people refused to see it and still do today.
• Look at this in chapter 3:19.

“And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.

• The Light didn’t come for just a select few; it wasn’t hidden from them!
• They simply loved the “darkness rather than the light!”
• This is true today.

The Light shines everywhere; churches; Bibles; Bible in motel rooms; crosses in cemeteries; crosses on necklaces and earrings; remember the guy with the multicolored hair that would sit in the end zone of football games and hold up the sign that said, “John 3:16.”

• The 10 Commandments was on monuments on courthouse squares; in public buildings; in schools.
• And football, basketball, and baseball games all started with a prayer.
• And the Light was even visible at Christmas and Easter and Thanksgiving; the Light was never hidden.

The problem was and is, “men love the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds are evil.”

• 20: “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” 

 Look at what the apostle Paul says in Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The majority of the sinful acts we are seeing in our society today is not because the Light or the Truth has been hidden from them; it is because people love the darkness rather than the Light.

• The Light is shining and they can find it if they want; and if necessary we will take it to them.
• But most don’t want to find it.

Now, back in chapter 1:10: He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

• Are you serious? People were created by God; they were created in the image of God; and then when He showed up on the scene they were like, “Who’s this? Get Him out of here! We don’t want to talk to Him!”
• That is pretty shocking!

And look at vs. 11: He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

• How many times did God speak through the Jewish prophets about the coming Messiah; where He would be born; and what He would do; and they missed it?

What is interesting is that animals are better than this; animals know their master but somehow humans don’t! Look with me at Isaiah chapter 1.

2 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth;  For the LORD speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me. 3 “An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel does not know,  My people do not understand.”

This is crazy! These are dumb animals! They are not human beings! And yet they know their master and his manger while people don’t even recognize Him!

People have dogs. And they come home and their dog is so excited to see them! They jump up and down and jump up on your feet; and sometime they are so excited that they “leak.”

• But if someone comes up that the dog doesn’t recognize, what does he do? He barks!
• And we call them “dumb dogs?”

Dogs are smart enough to recognize their master but do humans?

• Do you see how far this sinful world has fallen?
• When sin came into this world it rendered us literally incapable of recognizing God who created us.
• We were cut off from God spiritually to the point where we could no longer recognize our own creator and today, some have fallen so far that they don’t even recognize that He created them male and female!
• That is deep, deep darkness; and it would be terrible if this was the end of John message.
• But it isn’t.
• There is some “good news.” Look at vs. 12:

12 But as many as received Him (the bulk of the people didn’t and haven’t received Him. But many did.)

…and to them He gave (grace…they didn’t earn it) the right (the authority-they have full authority to claim their exalted position based on His grace and His authority) to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

• “Believe” here is more than just a simple acknowledgment of Jesus.
• To “believe” is to accept; to receive; or to fully trust that He is the Light and that Life is in Him; that He is the foundation of salvation; there is no other foundation; we are totally dependent on His righteousness; His perfection and His love that gives us credit before God.
• And it is to believe so sincerely that it shows up in what we say, how we act, and what we do.
• Believing is yielding one’s self up to be possessed by Him

And to “believe in His name” is not just simply uttering His name as though it is a password that opens up God’s blessing to you.

• “Name” refers to all that He is; it refers to His whole being.

And look at vs 13. This right, this authorization to become a “child of God” is not based on blood lineage (not based on being born a Jew or a Gentile);

• It cannot be obtained by works of the flesh; none of our external efforts can cause this to happen.
• It is not based on the will of man; it is not based on what you or I may think gives us a right relationship with God.

 It is only by the will of God and Jesus’ perfect life and works on the cross; and our receiving and believing completely in Him that anyone can be a “child of God.”  

• And as a “child of God” we are subject to all of His eternal promises; eternal life; heaven; salvation;
• And I guess that is the question we should all ask ourselves this morning; “Am I, are you a child of God? Or, do we love the darkness?
• How we live, what we say will reveal the truth.

Do you and I recognize our Master or are we dumber than an animal?

If you have drifted away from Christ; come back where you belong.

• And if you are living in darkness; Christ can and will transfer you from that domain of darkness into His kingdom where you have redemption and the forgiveness of sins if you will let Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Example of Faith

AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH

John 4:46-54

Before we get into our study of the passage that was read I want to once again remind you why John wrote his gospel; and why this account of another miracle is recorded here in this chapter.

• Look what John says in John 20:30-31.

Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

• The primary purpose for Jesus performing miracles was not to make anyone think they too could perform miracles; or to make anyone think that the reason they are still sick is because Jesus doesn’t care about them.
• The primary purpose for the miracles performed by Jesus was to get “you and I to believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God; and that we might have “life in His name.”

With that in mind let’s look at John 4:46-54.

As this passage begins, John tells us that Jesus has come again to Cana of Galilee, the place where He performed His very first miracle; John 2.

And while Jesus is there a very interesting man comes from Capernaum to see Him.

• 46 tells us that this man was a Royal Official…a Royal Officer….one who serves the king.

And that makes this man even more interesting because the king over Galilee at this time is Herod Antipas.

• So this man was probably one of Herod Antipas’ officials.

And that make this man’s trip of 20 miles to find Jesus all the more interesting and impressive because none of the Herods have ever liked Jesus…in fact, they have openly opposed Him.

• And Herod wouldn’t like for one so high in his court to travel this far and go to all this effort to find one who claimed to be a King himself.
• Coming to Jesus could be grounds for dismissal…or imprisonment…or worse!

But this man was willing to run these risks and go to all this trouble…to find Jesus.

Now, let me make this point before we go on.

• This man does not allow his high position, his status; keep him from coming to Jesus.
• He did not wrap himself in pride nor did he let what others might say or think keep him from Jesus.
• Instead, he saw a desperate need; he humbled himself, and made every effort to come to Christ.
• And he didn’t demand anything from Christ.
• He served the king and yet in Christ he recognized someone higher than the king!

Some people, perhaps someone here this morning, would be embarrassed if their friends or family knew that they came to Christ because “real men don’t need Christ”; “religion is for women”; “I would be admitting weakness if I came to Christ.”

• And for some, they will only come to Christ if Christ does what they want Him too.

Well, the man in this account was a “royal official”; he was the king’s man and his only hope was to come to Christ and that is true for each and every one of us.

• And people need to realize that He is King and not them.
• Don’t let pride and arrogance deprive you of all the blessings that can be yours in Christ.

So, this Royal Official comes to Jesus and the passage says that he “was requesting” Jesus to come…

• And the tense of the verb here is “continuous action”…and it conveys the thought of
• In other words, “he pressed his plea”….or “he begs.”

So this father who is a Royal Official travels this 20 miles…knowing what he is doing is not going to be pleasing to the king…and he persistently pleads with Jesus to come help him.

• And the reason he wants Jesus to come is because his son is sick and “he doesn’t want his son to die.”

And before I go on let me say this…and I want to say this to all of our young people.

• You learn this same thing about your parents.
  • Your parents don’t bring Jesus to you…they don’t teach you about Jesus…to make you look weird in the eyes of your friends.
  • They don’t do it with the idea of being restrictive or mean.
  • They don’t bring Jesus to you to bore you because, let me assure you, there is nothing boring about Jesus.

This dad loved his son and he wanted to bring Jesus to his son so his son wouldn’t die physically…

• And your parents are the same…with the exception that your parents want to bring Jesus into your lives because they don’t want you to die spiritually, something that is much worse than dying physically.

And I know how it is…

• When we were kids my mom would, on occasion, get us up out of bed on Sundays…and we had to get cleaned up…and put on our Sunday clothes…clothes that felt funny and that you couldn’t play in or get dirty.
• And we had to go to church while other kids were at the park playing football.
• But we had to go to church and listen to a guy that I thought was boring.
• And we went to Bible classes that were kind of fun except I didn’t understand what they were talking about and I never knew any of the answers.

And the next time when mom came in and said, “Get up and get ready for church” we’d moan and groan…and we’d beg, “Do we have to?”

• And I didn’t understand why mom made us go to church…surely she wanted to bore us to death.

But let me tell you…my mom was just like your parents…and your parents are just like this dad…and when they bring Jesus into your life they do it because they love you…and because they know that Jesus can save…and they don’t want you to suffer the consequences of sin and die spiritually.

This dad showed a lot of love for his son in doing what he did and trying to bring Jesus to him.

• Well, your parents are doing the same.
• The greatest love they can demonstrate to you is to bring Jesus into your life.

Let’s go on.

This father pleads with Jesus “to come down and heal his son.”

• And upon this man’s request, Jesus seems to give a somewhat harsh answer.
• Look at verse 48. Jesus says: “Unless you people see signs and wonders you simply will not believe.”

This seems kind of uncaring.

• But the “you” in this statement is plural and it indicates that Jesus is speaking to a group of people and not specifically to this nobleman.

You see, some people followed Jesus not because they were devoted to Him or loved Him.

• But they followed Him simply because they loved the sensational.
• They wanted to see another miracle…a trick.
• And Jesus didn’t come to do tricks…or to entertain the people.
• He came to save those who are lost.
• And so maybe out of frustration Jesus speaks a little harshly here.

And this nobleman hears these words and still he is persistent.

• And again he says, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
• He is not wanting to see a trick or to be entertained.
• This father has trouble back home…and he knows the only way to solve his trouble back home is to have Jesus come along with him to his house.
  • At this point it doesn’t matter about the job he has…
  • It doesn’t matter what the king might think.
  • What he needs is for Jesus to come home with him and help him solve the problem at home.

How I wish people everywhere had that attitude today.

• Because so many of us and so many around us have major problems at home.
• And some of those problems at home are of such a nature that the only way that they will ever get solved is if the people involved bring Jesus home with them.

This dad asks Jesus to “come down with me before my son dies.”

• And Jesus says to the father, “Go your way, your son lives.”

 And look what the dad does. The verse says, “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and he started off.”

• Do you know how hard that must have been for him?
• This is really not what this dad wanted.
• In his mind he had to bring Jesus with him.
• In his thinking it was necessary for Jesus to go to his house.
• And what Jesus said here didn’t agree with his thinking or with what he wanted to do.

But John says, “He started off.”

• Even though it wasn’t what he had in mind, Jesus’ word was enough.
  • No arguing…no discussion…no protests.
  • Jesus told him to go…that was good enough…and he went.

It’s so different than what we see today.

• It seems that today people want to dispute everything Jesus says.
• We want to argue, deny, reject and excuse so much of what He taught simply because it doesn’t agree with what we have in mind or what we intend.
• If it hurts us, hinders us, or convicts us, we want to change it.
  • For this man…Jesus’ word was good enough…Jesus spoke and the man went.

Jesus tells this man to “Go his way”….and now look at verse 51.

 “And as he was now going down, his slave met him saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the 7^th hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “You son lives,” and he himself believed, and his whole household.

• I’ve said it before and I will say it again, “if you want your difficult times and your sad stories to have a happy ending be sure that Jesus is involved.”

Now, look at vs. 53 again:  So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed, and his whole household.

• Do you remember why Jesus performed miracles? (John 20:30-31)

This father, this Royal Official and his whole household believed; do you?

• If you are a faithful, obedient follower of Christ, be steadfast; no matter what you may encounter; no matter what might happen; finish the course, fight the good fight and keep the faith.

And for others, this miracles account is here to persuade you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and in Him you can have eternal life.

• But understand, just like this Royal Official, believing involves being obedient to what Christ says even if it does not agree with what you might want to hear.
• Will you be obedient to Christ, confess Him as Lord, repent of a life of sin, be baptized into Him for the forgiveness of your sins; and be faithful to Him even unto death?

Let’s close with John 20:30-31: Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Do You Wish To Get Well

DO YOU WISH TO GET WELL?

John 5: 1-9

Before we get into the passage that was read I want to remind you again why John wrote this gospel. In chapter 20:30-31 John says, “Many other signs (or attesting miracles) therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

 When John wrote his gospel most people saw Jesus primarily as a “miracle worker” and that is why they followed Him. (See Mark 1:38)

• That holds true today. People follow Jesus today because they see Him primarily as a “miracle worker” and the two most common miracles they want Jesus to perform is healing or make them rich; and if He doesn’t they think He doesn’t love or care for them; or their faith is severely damaged.)

But Jesus was not primarily a “miracle worker” and performing miracles was not the primary purpose of His ministry.

• Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” and the miracles were “attesting miracles” that “attested to who He claimed to be”; that “attested to what He taught”; and they were and are intended to convince us that “Jesus truly is the Son of God; and by believing that we may have life in His name.”

And once again, that is what we have here in John 5; another miracle intended to convince us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Here in chapter 5 Jesus comes to Jerusalem; and there by the “sheep gate” is a pool called Bethesda.

• And there is a multitude of people who are sick, blind, lame, and withered.
• And the reason they are there is because they believe that occasionally the water is stirred by an angel of God and whoever got in the water first would be healed.

Now some dismiss the idea that an angel stirred the pool because some of the ancient manuscripts do not contain the end of vs. 3-4.

• But vs. 7 indicates that the waters did stir; so it is possible that an angel did stir the waters.

So Jesus comes to this place and in vs. 6 Jesus asks a question to a man that the passage says had been sick longer than Jesus had been alive! This man had been sick for 38 years.

• John does not tell us specifically what the man’s illness was; the indication from vs. 8 is that the man was lame.
• And verse 14 implies that his sickness was the result of sin.
• And in verse 7 the man tells Jesus how “hopeless and helpless” he is because of his illness; which again is evidently the result of sin.

Now, do not think that you or anyone else is sick because of some sin you have committed. These bodies are flesh and blood and they simply get sick.

• So, if you are sick or suffering from some other infirmity, do not conclude that you are being punished for sin.

But, sin can and sometimes does cause illnesses and injuries; (drunkenness, STD’s, outbursts of anger; greed; – we seldom if ever realize how damaging sin is; it destroys lives; it destroys marriages; it destroys families; it destroys health; and ultimately it condemns one to be lost eternally).

• We all need to understand that sin always has serious consequences and that seems to be what happened to this man.

So Jesus seeing this man lying beside the pool asks the man “Do you wish to get well?”

• And it seems that this man did; he wanted to “get well” because here he is staying close to this pool; what he believed was his only source of healing; and from what he says in vs. 7 he had evidently tried to get into the water before others only to fail.
• So, it seems he wanted to “get well.”

And you would think today that most people  whose lives have been wrecked by sin; who have lost years of their life due to the consequences of sin; who are condemned eternally because of sin, you would think they would want to “get well” also.

• But tragically, for many, the cost of getting well is too high for them.
• Because look at vs. 14.

In vs. 14, if this man “gets well” it is going to require some changes because Jesus says, “Do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you.” 

• Multitudes of people want to “get well” but they don’t want to and will not make the changes in their life that they need to make to be “well.”

They want to “be well” but they won’t leave the drugs behind; they won’t leave the alcohol behind; they won’t leave the immorality, the sensuality, the love for money, the lust for worldly pleasures; the desires of the flesh; the impurity; the hatred; the strife; the jealousy; the idolatry; and the coarse jesting behind.

• They won’t leave those things behind or get the help they need to leave those things behind, and then can’t understand why things only get worse.

If you or I or anyone else decides to “get well spiritually”; if we decide to leave the sinful life behind; things will be much different; but just like for this man, things will be immeasurably better.

For some they may think, like this man, that they are “helpless” and their situation is “hopeless.”

• “I have done some really bad things in my life and I have done them for so long and no one can help me.”

 Listen, the word “unable” is never found on God’s lips.

• In fact, in Heb. 7:25 we are told that “God is able to save forever (completely, no matter what you have done or how long you did it) those who draw near to God through Jesus.”

In 1 Cor. 6:9 the apostle Paul says this: Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

• These are some serious sins!
• But look at the next verse.

11  And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

• There has never been a sinner that God has looked at and said, “I can’t help them; it is beyond Me to save them; they are hopeless.”
• There is no one that Jesus can’t help and make spiritually well.
• That is of course, unless you do not have a desire to “get well”; He cannot help anyone who refuses to let Him.

And whether or not you “get well” does not depend on what anyone else does. In vs. 7, every time the “water stirred” and this man tried to get in the water there was “no one to help him” or when he was trying to get in the water, “another stepped in before him.”

• That is not a problem with Jesus.
• “Getting well” or “forgiveness of sin” or salvation is not dependent on, or determined by what someone else does or doesn’t do.

In some religious circles “getting well” is conditional on whether or not a member of the clergy prays for you; or whether or not a member of the clergy takes your confession; or whether or not a member of the clergy says the right words.

And it makes no difference what your parents, or other family members may or may not have done; Ezekiel 18:19-20 makes it clear that you are not held accountable for the sins of your father, and your father is not held accountable for any sins you may have committed.”

• The apostle Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Jesus is not constrained by time; He is not limited by crowds; He does not work on a first come first saved basis; and He is not influenced by what someone else may or may not have done.

• He is always willing and ready to make you/I/ or anyone else “well” when we are.
• The only time that someone else can keep you from being made “well” is if you let them talk you out of it.

So, Jesus asks this man, “Do you wish to get well?”

• Evidently the man did and so in vs.8, Jesus tells the man, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.”
• And vs. 9: “And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk.”
• When no one else could help this man; when no one else would help this man; Jesus did!
• And when sin has crippled you/me/or anyone else; when no one else can help; and no one else will help; Jesus can; and will, but only if you and I let Him.

So, Jesus asks us today, “Do you wish to get well?” Has sin crippled your life?

• “Do you wish to get well?”
• If so, are you willing to do what He says to get well?
• Jesus told this man to “Take up your pallet, and walk.” Are you willing to do what Jesus says?
• Are you willing to learn what He says you must do to get well?

Most people today see Jesus as a “miracle worker.” Well, that is true, not in the sense that most people think; He may not make you rich and He may not make you well physically.

• But Jesus can and will perform a miracle this morning by washing away all of your sin with His blood that was shed on the cross when in obedience to His word you are baptized into Him.
• “Do you wish to get well?”

And if you have already been made well by the blood of Christ; well remember what Jesus said in vs. 14: “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you.”

Let’s close with these words from John.

Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus Raises Lazarus

JESUS RAISES LAZARUS

John 11

I appreciate you being here this morning; it is a special morning because like all other days it is a day which the Lord has made and we should rejoice in it; but Sunday’s are a little more special in that, as John says in Revelation 1:9, “It is the Lord’s day”; the day in which we are reminded each week of His rising from the grave.

I ask you to look at the first verse of the passage that was read; John 11:1. In the last 12 months this same thing that happened to Martha and Mary has happened to many of us; and we can be sure that this same thing will happen in the future.

• Illness has fallen on some of those we love; and death has followed; and like Martha and Mary you have been left to grieve.
• You have been left feel just like Martha and Mary; “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.”
• As you read through this chapter you will see that Martha and Mary are in total despair because of the death of their brother; just as some are because of their own loved ones.

So, in the depths of your grief where do you find any comfort, peace, or hope. Well, the same place that Martha and Mary found theirs.

• What I want to do this morning is simply read through what John says in this chapter and I hope you will hear what he says, and more than that I hope you will hear what Jesus is saying; and let these words remind you, reassure you, and comfort you.
• I don’t believe that anything can take away all the hurt and disappointment; but I do believe that what God says here can help.

For others, I hope you will let what John says here convince you to draw even closer to Christ.

• In this gospel John, Jesus performs 6 other miracles; all intended to convince people that Jesus is the Son of God.
• Still, the people refused to believe. So, here in this chapter Jesus, in what seems to be “one last effort” performs this last and most monumental miracle to convince, not only the people at that time, but all people today, that He is Christ.
• So I hope you hear what Jesus has to say today.

11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. ³ So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 

When this takes place Jesus is being rejected by almost everyone! It seems that He was an unwelcome guest in most homes with the exception of this one family who lived about 2 miles from Jerusalem.

• And because of His close friendship with this family, when Lazarus gets sick, Martha and Mary send a message to Jesus saying, “Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.”
• We do not know what the “sickness” was, but the sisters evidently recognized the seriousness of it and sent word to Jesus.

⁴ But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 

Understand, Jesus is not saying that Lazarus was not going to die at all. Lazarus will die; vs. 14; and so will we.

• What Jesus is saying is, “Death will not have the last word.”
• Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead; and He will do that to give convincing proof that He is the Son of God and that He has the power over death; and some day, because of our faith in Christ, death will not have the last word over us either.

Now, can I share just a few of my personal thoughts with you on what we just read? This is not a commandment; maybe more of just a suggestion; something to think about.

• When I look at the fact that Lazarus was sick; and God and His Son will use it to Their glory, can we, can you and I, should you and I allow Them to do the same with our illnesses and eventual death?
• We can determine for ourselves that if and when we are stricken with some critical illness that we can allow God to use it for His glory; to try one last time to get people to turn to Him.

Did you know that everyone in this auditorium this morning has some health issue they are dealing with?

• That means every one of us can manifest to others that Christ is our Lord and not that illness. Every one of us can use it to God’s glory.
• Even in sickness we can be kind, loving, encouraging, compassionate, forgiving to others, especially to those who take care of us.
• But if we are rude, mean, hateful, sharp?

And the same when it comes to death! Every one of us will die. If we glorify God in life, should we not glorify God death?

• When death comes into a family everything stops. Nothing gets people’s attention like death does.
• And a funeral service gives you and I the opportunity to, one last time, say some things to family and friends that we never had opportunity to say before; it gives us opportunity to glorify God!
• Before it comes give some thought to what you want said; write it down; give some thoughts to the songs you want sung and what their message is; and not only in life, but in death glorify God, so that others may turn to Him too.

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 

Was Jesus reluctant to return? Did He not care? No, there is no doubt from vs. 35 that Jesus cared.

• Jesus delays because He wants everyone to understand that Lazarus had not just swooned away; that Lazarus was simply in a coma; He wants everyone to understand that Lazarus was dead; and beyond the help of any human effort.

⁷ Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” ⁸ The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” ⁹ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 

I have read several commentaries this week and none of them agree or seem to understand exactly what Jesus is saying.

• In the context of what is happening, the best explanation seems to be that Jesus is basically saying, “The threats of men will not stop Me from doing what My Father has sent me to do.”
• And that is something we need to remember: Jesus is not controlled by men. Threaten as they may, they have absolutely no control over our Lord. He does not answer to them.

¹¹ This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” ¹² The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will ^[a]recover.” ¹³ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of ^[b]literal sleep. ¹⁴ So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

Scripture indicates that “those who have died, all who are in the tombs, will on the last day, when the trumpet sounds, when the Lord returns, be raised, “those who did good deeds to a resurrection of life; and those who committed evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

• And in vs. 24 Mary understood that.
• But until that “last day” those who are in the tombs are “asleep”; no awareness of time; no knowledge of life; they are “asleep”; waiting for Jesus to “awaken them.”

And notice vs. 15 again. Jesus says, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

• It seems that Jesus had the same problem then as He has today: His disciples had faith; but their faith was not what it should be; they needed to grow in faith; especially when they, like us endure the troubles of this world.

And, look at vs. 16: Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

• It is hard to know how Thomas said this. Thomas was a bit of a pessimist and He may have looked at going to Bethany as a suicide mission.
• We don’t know exactly how Thomas said this but here is what I believe. I believe that Thomas is saying, “I don’t know how this is going to work out, but if that is where Jesus is going, that is where I want to be.”

Every one of us, every day, walk into “uncertainty”; we don’t even know what the next hour holds; perhaps illness and death.

• But the best thing to do, is to walk into that uncertainty with Jesus by your side.

 ¹⁷ So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about ^[d]two miles off; ¹⁹ and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 

• All of this takes place a few days before the Passover Feast; Jews from all regions are on their way to Jerusalem; what Jesus does here will be witnessed by multitudes of people; and the fascinating thing is, no one ever came back and denied what He did.
• They may not have liked it; but no one denied it; in fact, because this actually happened is one of the reasons why the Jewish leaders increased their efforts to kill him.

 ²⁰ Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary ^[e]stayed at the house. ²¹ Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 

• Martha didn’t believe that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead. She knew He could heal the sick; she had seen that; but now it was too late.

³ Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴ Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

 ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus does not mean that “everyone who lives and believes in Him will never die (physically).” Lazarus at the time was dead.

• What Jesus is saying is, “everyone who lives and believes in Him will be raised to never die again.

 ²⁷ She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are ^[f]the Christ, the Son of God, even ^[g]He who comes into the world.”

²⁸ When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” ²⁹ And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him.

³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. ³¹ Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ³² Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” ³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and ^[h]was troubled, ³⁴ and said, “Where have you laid him?” They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” ³⁵ Jesus wept. 

³⁶ So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” ³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, ^[i]have kept this man also from dying?”

³⁸ So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹ Jesus *said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, “Lord, by this time ^[j]there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” ⁴⁰ Jesus *said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the ^[k]people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” ⁴³ When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” ⁴⁴ The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

In the last year illness and death have frequently come to our doors; the grief still lingers and will do so for some time; comfort in this life is hard to find.

• But what this miracle does is it gives us clear, undisputable, undeniable proof that Jesus is who He claims to be; that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and if our loved ones have fallen asleep in Him, a day will come when He will speak to them; and they will hear His voice; and they, like Lazarus will come forth; and they will be with Him forever.
• And we, in our human weakness, may fail to recognize how much you hurt; and we may fail to sympathize; and we may fail to encourage you like we should; but Jesus never will; keep your focus on Him.

And for everyone: This miracle is recorded here in a “one, final, climactic, undeniable, incomparable, indisputable effort to get you and I to put our faith in, and obediently follow Christ.

And remember this: if Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead; I know that He can do the same for each one of us some day.

 

A Bizarre Teaching

A BIZARRE TEACHING

John 6: 52-60

If you would look once again at verse 53 and 54. Jesus is in the synagogue speaking to the Jews and He says: “Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 That’s pretty bizarre sounding isn’t it, this “Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus?”

• This was so bizarre sounding that if you look in verse 60 you find that many of those who had been following Christ had a hard time accepting it.
• In verse 52 His enemies actually thought that Jesus was talking about literally eating His flesh.
• And history reports that many of the pagans at the time, as well as the Roman government, considered Christianity to be an evil cult because they believed that Jesus was endorsing cannibalism here.
  • So, admittedly, this seems to be a pretty bizarre statement that Jesus makes here.

What does Jesus mean by it?

• Is He promoting cannibalism?
• Is He talking about the Lord’s supper? Many religious groups believe so.
• Is that what Jesus is speaking of here when He says that you must eat of His “flesh and drink of His blood?”

And it is important that we understand what He is talking about because Jesus says it is a matter of “eternal life and death.”

• So, what is Jesus talking about?
  • We all want eternal life…so let’s spend a little time this morning and learn why Jesus says this…and what He is saying.

First of all, Jesus is not teaching or endorsing the practice of cannibalism.

• The fact is, we know that no one ever literally ate Jesus’ flesh or drank His blood.
• We never find in scripture or history where anyone took Jesus, before or after He died, and ate Him.
• And nowhere, in all of church history, do we find any record of anyone in the church practicing cannibalism.

Also, in Genesis 9: 4 and Lev. 17: 10-12, the Jews were explicitly forbidden to eat blood.

• So, it is not remotely reasonable to contend that Jesus is actually promoting the practice of cannibalism.

Now, many people think that Jesus is referring to the Lord’s Supper here, the taking of communion.

• And as a result, some have come up with the doctrine of “transubstantiation” which says that Jesus is literally present in the bread and the fruit of the vine that is taken during communion.
• Their idea is that the Holy Spirit transforms the bread literally into the flesh of Jesus Himself…and the fruit of the vine is literally transformed into His blood. (the bells rings)
  • So the fundamental question arises: Is what Jesus says here a reference to the Lord’s Supper?

Well, notice vs. 54 once again. Jesus says:  “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.”

• If the “eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood” is a reference to the Lord’s Supper then all that would be required of us for eternal life is to take the Lord’s Supper.
• A person could just simply take the bread and the drink and eternal life would be his.

And notice the word “eats” and the word “drinks” both words are in the aorist or past tense…that means all you would have to do is take the Lord’s Supper one time and you would have eternal life.

• There would be no need to take the Lord’s Supper ever week.

But, the truth of the matter is, eternal life does not come simply by taking the Lord’s Supper.

• In I Cor. 11: 23ff where the apostle Paul discusses the Lord’s supper he refers to it as a memorial to the life of Christ…
  • …he refers to it as a reminder of what Christ did for us on the cross…
  • …he refers to it as a time of self examination…
  • …he refers to it as a proclamation of the Lord’s death and His impending return…
  • …and He refers to it as an indication of fellowship with Christ.
• But at no time does Paul or any of the other apostles ever associate the Lord’s Supper with salvation and eternal life.
  • And neither does Christ.

In Luke 22: 17-22 where Christ institutes the Lord’s Supper. He takes the bread and He says, “This is my body (not flesh…body is a completely different term than that used here in John 6).

• He says, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
• He refers to the Lord’s Supper as a reminder.
• And then He refers to the cup as the “new covenant in His blood.”
• But He says nothing about obtaining “eternal life” by taking the Lord’s Supper.

And, not only that, in Luke 22: 17-22 where Christ speaks of His supper, He makes no reference at all to what takes place here in John 6.

• And as far as the idea of “transubstantiation” where the bread and the fruit of the vine literally become the flesh and blood of Christ…no where in scripture will you find that doctrine substantiated.
  • So, what Jesus says here in John 6: 53 and 54 does not teach cannibalism…and it is not a reference to the Lord’s Supper.

So, what is Christ talking about when He says that we must “eat of His flesh and drink of His blood” to have eternal life?

Well, first of all let’s look at who Jesus is talking to in all of this. Let’s go back a little to verse 26.

• Jesus has just fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
• The people are so impressed that in verse 15 they want to make Him king and will use force if necessary.
• But that isn’t what Jesus wants so He withdraws from the people…and eventually makes His way to the other side of the sea.
  • And when the people find out where He is they follow.

Now, notice in verse 26, the kind of people that have followed Him. Jesus says: “Truly, Truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.”

 Now, notice verse 28: “They said therefore to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

 And then verse 30: “They said therefore to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, that we may see, and believe You?”

 And then verse 41 and 52 speaks of the “Jews” who grumbled against Him.

Do you see the kind of people Jesus is speaking to?

• The people that Jesus is speaking to here are lukewarm disciples…disciples who are following Him because they want more to eat…
  • …and because they want to see another sign.
• And some of them still believe that they need to do “works” in order to be justified with God.
• And as far as the Jews are concerned, they are simply Jesus’ opponents.
  • And what Jesus is doing through out this whole discourse is He is trying to get them to believe in Him.
  • To put their faith and trust in Him for their salvation.

In verse 29 He says: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

Vs. 35:  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

36: “But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.

40: For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

47: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

Jesus is talking to a bunch of lukewarm disciples as well as His enemies…and all through this discourse His purpose is to get them to believe in Him…to trust in Him…because it is only by believing in Him that they can obtain eternal life.

• That is the primary purpose of this whole discourse.

Now, let’s go back to verse 53 and 54. In verse 53 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourself. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

• What does Jesus mean here when He speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood?

Well, let’s compare these verses with what He has already said back up in verse 47. Notice what produces eternal life in this verse: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

• “Belief” or believing results in eternal life here…and in verse 53 and 54 it is “eating and drinking” that results in eternal life.
• Which one is right?

Both.

• You see, all the way through this discourse Jesus equates believing with eating and drinking.

Look at verse 34: “They said therefore to Him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

• Now, notice what Jesus says:

 “I am the bread of life…”

• What do you do with bread? You eat it.

Look what He says: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

• Jesus equates eating the bread, which He is, and drinking of Him…with believing in Him.

Look at verse 47: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 “I am the bread of life.

And now look at verse 51:  “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever;

• In one verse you must “believe” in the bread of life to live eternally.
• In the other you must “eat” of the bread to live eternally.
  • All through this passage Jesus equates believing in Him with eating and drinking Him.

And so, in verse 53 and 54 when Jesus says that we must “eat His flesh and drink His blood” He is telling these Jews that they must believe in Him or “trust” in Him or “rely” on Him in order to have eternal life.

• And what you have in the metaphor of “eating His flesh, and drinking His blood” is an illustrated definition of what “believing” really is.

Most people do not know or understand what it means to believe in Christ.

• To many people believing is a superficial thing.
• It is nothing more than just believing that Jesus is…and it has nothing to do with trusting in Him or being obedient to Him.
• All that most people want is what Jesus can give them without making any changes in their life at all. (Treat Him like a Genie).

But this idea of “eating His flesh and drinking His blood” conveys more than that.

• “Eating His flesh and drinking His blood conveys that believing consist of taking Christ in and making Him a part of your inward being. (If I eat something I take it in and it becomes a part of me. That is the idea here.)
• And it is not just taking in a part of Jesus…not just the part you like…and leaving out that which you don’t like.

This idea of “eating His flesh and drinking His blood” conveys that believing consists of taking all of Christ in…and letting Him be a part of your very being.

• In fact, look at verse 56. Jesus says: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides (dwells, resides) in Me, and I in him.
  • That is the definition of believing.

This is not a passage on cannibalism.

• This is not a passage about the Lord’s Supper.

There are 13 references in verses 26-58 to eternal life.

• This is a passage about eternal life and being raised up on the last day.

And this is a passage on how to obtain that eternal life.

• And what it takes is “believing” in Jesus.
  • Believing that He is the Son of God.
  • Believing that He is the Son of Man.
  • Believing that He is the Messiah…the Chosen One of God.
  • Believing that because He gave His flesh and His blood on the cross that you can have eternal life.
  • Believing that He made atonement for sins there.
  • Believing that He is Lord and by obeying His commands you can have eternal life.

And, it is allowing that belief to cause you to take Christ in…and be a part of your very being.

• To change you…motivate you…guide you…and direct you.
• To let His life and values be your life and values.

Now, let me ask, “Who or what are you eating of drinking of? Who are you taking in and letting them be a part of your being?”

• These Jews were “eating and drinking” of some prominent Rabbi.
• The Romans were eating and drinking of Caesar or some General.

Today, some eat and drink of some pleasure; or some entertainer; or some philosopher, or some author; or some group; or perhaps a sports team.

People eat and drink of these kinds of things and they walk away hungry and thirsty with no hope of eternal life…completely unfulfilled with life.

It is only when you eat and drink of the flesh and blood of Christ…only when you allow Him to change you, motivate you, guide you, and direct you, and let His values be your values that you will inherit eternal life.

Believing in Jesus is so much more than just saying, “I believe in Jesus.” A lot of people say that and simply because they are afraid of being lost…they want what Jesus can give them; while they want to give very little of themselves in return.

• Sincere believing is living for Jesus and letting Jesus live through you.

In this passage Jesus is speaking to some lukewarm disciples and to His enemies.

• And His purpose through out this discourse is to get them to believe in Him…to trust in Him…to take Him into their very being to guide their lives so that they may be strong and be saved.

Most of His enemies refused.

• And verse 66 says that “Many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore.”
• But then others remained.

What will it be for you today?

• Will you reject Him and withdraw.
• Or will you believe?
  • It is your decision to make.

 

Jesus Cleanses The Temple

JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE THE FIRST TIME

John 2:13-22

Before we get into the passage that was read I want to remind you why John wrote this gospel. Remember that John wrote his gospel account after all the other gospels were written and in John 20:30-31 John says,

Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

• Everything in this gospel account John wrote “so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and by believing we may have life in His name.”
• That is John’s purpose.

Now, let’s go to the passage that was read; John 2:13-17.

• Now, you may have recognized this account as “Jesus cleansing the temple.” In fact, you may have a “header” that summarizes this section of scripture that way.

But, apparently this is not the only time that Jesus “cleansed the temple.”

• You find 3 other accounts of Jesus cleansing the temple in the gospels; One in Matthew 21:12f; one in Mark 11:15-17; and one in Luke 19:45f.
• Each of those differ from this account in John, but the most significant difference is Jesus cleansing the temple in this account comes at the beginning of His ministry; this is His first great, public, act of “being about His Father’s business”; and the other accounts of Jesus cleansing the temple is His last, great public act before going to the cross.

Now, with that said we must keep in mind that Jesus would be unknown to these people.

• Earlier in this chapter He performed His first miracle in Cana of Galilee when He turned the water to wine and word of that may have come to some of these people; but most of these people in Jerusalem would not know Jesus or what He is about.
• When He cleanses the temple later on the Jewish leaders would know who He is but not at this first cleansing.
• So, what you have here is His first public statement of who He really is.

So, let’s look now starting in vs. 13. John says: And the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”

• The Passover of the Jews” and the “Feast of the Unleavened Bread” was an annual feast mandated by God to commemorate the night in Exodus 12 when the death angel came on the first born in Egypt and yet, passed over the houses of the Israelites who had sprinkled the blood of the “Passover Lamb” on the doorposts of their homes.
• God mandated that the Israelites keep the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread every year after that.
• So Jesus would have kept the Passover every year because He was always obedient to the will of God.

And Jesus would not be the only one who came to Jerusalem! This week was the most significant week of the spiritual year for the Jews.

• Thousands upon thousands of Jews came to Jerusalem for the week of the Passover.
• In fact, most scholars believe that Jerusalem would swell to well over a million people during this week…and the focal point for all of these people was the Temple and the Temple courtyard;
• …because the Temple was the one place on earth where you should be able to approach the presence of God and worship God.
• The “Holy of Holies” was there; it was a sacred place; it was the place where you could offer your worship sacrifices and your sin sacrifices to God; and it should have been a place where you could go and find God’s people doing what God’s people do.

But, look at vs. 14 at what Jesus found when He entered the Temple.

14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated.

• This practice of selling oxen and sheep and doves, and changing money was a matter of convenience for those who had to travel to come to Jerusalem.
• Those who had to come from a distance could hardly bring their own animals for sacrifice with them; so they would purchase them when they came to the temple.

And it was permitted to make money offerings in the temple but only certain coins were approved (people coming from a distance away may bring coins of a different currency all together) so the “moneychangers” would take the unapproved of coins and exchange them for coins that were approved.

But notice that Jesus found them “in the temple.”

• Evidently, at some point in time this selling of animals and changing of money took place outside of the temple courtyard but later it was moved inside of the courtyard.
• And in vs. 16, that seems to be the primary objection that Jesus has.

 Now there may have been some other things going on that Jesus would not approve of.

• If we take into account what Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us, some of these people selling the animals may not have been very honest.
• For instance, they may have charged more for an animal than they should have; or if you brought and animal to be sacrificed they would find something wrong with it and force you to buy another animal, then they would take your animal and sell it to someone else.

And as far as the “moneychangers” were concerned, they would undervalue your “unapproved of coin” and charge you 3 of your coins for one of theirs.

• Evidently there were some shady shenanigan’s going on and that is why Jesus says in Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s account of Him cleansing the temple that these people selling the animals and changing the money were making His Father’s house a “Robbers Den.”

But Jesus doesn’t mention those things here in John 2. Jesus does not object to any dishonesty taking place.

• Starting in vs. 15 it simply says: He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

The New International Version says: How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”

• Jesus does not seem to be upset by any dishonesty that might be going on.
• Instead He is upset about what will cause people to be dishonest.
• And He is upset about the same thing that is happening in our culture and society.
• These people, like many today, had become complacent about God; they no longer respected God; they no longer reverenced God as they should.

 Isn’t that true today? How many times in a week do you hear someone show disrespect to God by taking His name in vain?

• “OMG”…”Jesus!”
• Think of other ills in our society: homosexuality and transgender issues; did those actions not start because of a lack of reverence for God (see Romans 1:21).
• Lawlessness; violence; corruption; perversions; broken marriages and families; all of these things are a result of no respect for or reverence for God.

 And these people had no respect or consideration for those who sincerely came to worship God.

• The only court in which all this noisy, boisterous traffic took place was the only court to which the Gentiles might go when they wished to pray or meditate and they couldn’t do that.
• Even those Jews who came to worship should have been able to pray and worship in peace but instead they found themselves in the middle of a noisy bazaar or marketplace (it would be like trying to worship God at Walmart on a Saturday).

These people selling the animals; and these moneychangers did not treat God with the respect that He deserves; and they didn’t show any respect or consideration for those who sincerely came to worship; and Jesus drives them out.

• I have to wonder why the Jewish leaders; the temple priests didn’t do this?
• Apparently they had become complacent and if your leaders have no reverence for God why would the people be any different?

Now evidently, what Jesus does here doesn’t have much effect on the Jewish leaders or those selling and changing money because in 2 years He will do this all again.

• But notice the effect it has on His disciples; His followers; look at vs. 17:

In vs. 16, Jesus says, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise.” (The fact that Jesus refers to the temple as “His Father’s house”; that in itself speaks of a special relationship between Jesus and God. Jesus is referring to Himself as God’s Son, or the Son of God.)

And then in vs. 17 it says, His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Thy house will consume me.”

• That is a quote from Psalm 69:9.
• John doesn’t quote the Old Testament as frequently as some of the other New Testament writers do; but by John recording this; and by the disciples remembering and applying Psalm 69:9 to what Jesus does here, they are telling us that fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures was seen in all that Jesus did.
• And that told His disciples; and it should tell us today; that Jesus truly is the Messiah.

Now, let’s read verses 18-22. Keep in mind up to this time the Jews did not know who Jesus was and so they are somewhat amused by what He has just done. So they ask: vs. 18:

18 The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?”

• Jesus disciples were not the only ones who understood Jesus’s actions. So did the Jews. The Jews understood that what Jesus did here indicated that He was more than just someone who was faithful to God.
• So they want Him to “authenticate” His claim and His actions with a sign; with a miracle.

 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  20 The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken.

• The Jews wanted a sign…they got it 3 years later. Did they believe? Some did. Others still refused.
• Do you/I?
• Because you see, verse 22 tells us that His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture; and the word which Jesus had spoken.”
• What this does is it divides us into two groups today: you are either a disciple who believes the scriptures and the word of Jesus; or you are not a disciple.

 And as you think about that remember again the reason why John wrote this. John 20:30-31:

Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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