THE "RELIGION" OF JESUS

#697                                                            THE “RELIGION” OF JESUS

Scripture  John 9:13-41 NIV                                                                                                                             Orig. 2/17/78

                                                                                                                                                                               Rewr. 11/20/86 

Passage:

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”  16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Purpose: To help us to get a better picture of Jesus by better understanding the real religion He believed and practiced.

Keywords:           Christ the Mediator                         Doctrine               Religion                Commitment

Introduction

                People had problems with their religion in Jesus’ day as well.  It revolved simply around the fact that religion had become common-place.  The Hebrews had this heritage of God’s presence and power undergirding them.  That  He knew about them and cared.  Most of them were born into homes where they had parents,  even fathers, interested in sharing this spiritual destiny with the young.  And there were synagogues enough, not one on every corner, but enough.  They also had the Temple in Jerusalem.  So, they were a religious folk, but it was an outward form of religion.  They looked for ways to  minimize any struggle that might be brought on by such a religious outlook.  They wanted a religion that would cost them as little as possible.

                In Pilgrim’s Progress (1), we find the story of a religious pilgrim.  Some think it to have been a parable of Bunyan’s own life and pilgrimage.  He tells of the pilgrim who is called “Christian” on his journey to the “Celestial City.”  He meets other pilgrims who are going the wrong way.  There  was “Timorous” and “Mistrust” who come running down the road shouting “Go back, man! Go back! There are lions in the path!”  Then there was “Mr. Pliable.”  He was the one of enthusiastic beginning.  But one day on the journey, he fell into the “Slough of Despond.”  He climbed out on the side nearest his own house, a pathetic mud-smeared thing, and made tracks for  home, never to be seen again.

                Paul addressed the problems of the early church in the first twelve chapters of I Corinthians.  He wrote the people about worship, Christian character, God’s holiness, marriage, etc.  In the context of spiritual gifts, however, he reminded them, “You may have the best of religions, and unparalleled comprehension of it, but if you do not have love for others, your religion is without purpose.”

                This message is to the end that we may better understand the religion of Jesus, and thereby better adapt it to our own lives.

I.             Jesus’ Religion Establishes an Ethic not Afraid to Speak of Sin.  V39, 41 “And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.  If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say ‘we see.’  Therefore your sin remains.”

                They, like many today, allowed themselves the prerogative relative to sin.  It did  not matter that there were clear declarations from the law.  Deuteronomy 6:6 “These words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.”  Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Fear God, and keep His commandments:  This is the whole duty of man.”

                They had therefore achieved a level of sophistication whereby they rationalized God’s place and sovereignty in their lives.  It continues to happen.  Some renounce formal marriage ceremonies, [saying] it’s just a matter of record, or [out of] disdain for God.  Many have simply set moral law aside.

                There has found its way amongst us a movement called “God is dead.”  Not new, but even contemporary theologians are radicalizing it.  They pronounce human words, thinking to discount “unacceptable” words.

                I mentioned a few days ago, S.M. Lockridge, black pastor who will be speaking at our Evangelism Conference in January.  He preached at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans a few years ago, and he spoke eloquently to this very question.  I quote: “We live in an alienated age, a computerized environment, and a psychedelic society.  Offbeat theologians and their fraternity mates have  plunged themselves into the depths of existential despair.  They have romped around in their sub-surface playpens and have emerged to announce that God is dead.  Now this shouldn’t have been surprising to us for the Bible informs us that the ‘fool has said in his heart, “there is no God.”’  And when I first heard  that absurd statement it made me want to ask some stupid and senseless questions.  Like, ‘Who assassinated Him? What, no one was called? Who signed His death certificate?  Who was so well acquainted with the One pronounced dead, that he could identify the deceased?  In what obituary column did you find His name?’  And, ‘Why  was I not notified?  I’m a member of the family?’”

                Jesus’ “religion” begins with an appropriate evaluation of sin.

II.            Jesus’ Religion Declared a Doctrine Determined to Raise Questions.  V16 “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, this man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath.”

                Jesus is not at odds with those who would question contemporary religious forms.  At issue is truth.  If what is done, though new and different, has truth as its goal, then Christ is in it.  In fact, to accept something just because it is palatable to the religious masses is spiritually inept.  Such statements as (1) Don’t make waves; (2) Don’t muddy the water; (3) Let well enough alone; (4) It was good enough for Grandpa; would have been morally and spiritually unacceptable to Christ.  They should be for us as well.

                This malady beset the elder brother in Jesus’ parable.  He had not gone against the “traditions” of family honor.  Even if tempted, he had overcome.  He had protected the “status quo.”  But he is ready to turn his own brother over to the ravages of a decadent society without so much as a camel knuckle to chew on.  How like many people’s religion he really is.

                There were questions needing a Voice, and Jesus would voice them.  There are ample examples.  In the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard, . . . but I. . . .”  More than fifteen times this conjunction of alternate thesis is used.  According to Jesus, then, what is true spirituality?  Is it keeping our bills paid, working regularly, going to church usually? Or are these nothing more than things we ought to do anyway? 

                Listen to Mark 8:34 “Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”  Taking “cross” may be just the ordinary.  Following Jesus is the extraordinary.

                Whatever the question is, after it is asked, and answered, are we closer to Him?

                While in New Iberia, I was asked one year to serve as a judge for the Louisiana High School Speech Rally.  One session I was to judge “extemporaneous speech.”  I walked in the room to discover what the choices of topics included.  I don’t recall the others. One I won’t forget: “Good Old Plastic Jesus.”  These high school students were asked to make up a speech about a Jesus who could be manipulated, bent around the finger.

                But that’s not Jesus.  What some would want to make of Him.

                John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Jesus said, Ask all the questions you like so long as you end up with this simple doctrine.

III.           Jesus’ Religion Sought a Standard that Substantiated a Changed Lifestyle.  V35f “Jesus heard that they had cast him (blind man) out; and when he had found him, he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ . . . then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ and he worshiped him.”

                It is no easy matter to always be what others want us to be.  Whether parents, children, employers, neighbors, church friends, etc.  National Geographic report of danger to gorilla handler was more likely if jealousy involved.

                He likewise understands lack of fulfillment when working only to please ourselves.  Ecclesiastes 2:4, “I made me great works; I builded me houses; . . . and, behold, all was vanity.”

                The only viable choice remaining is that of a life standard based on the Word of God.  The family of the man in our text turned from their own son from fear of a religious tribunal.  The people who knew him best reject what they do not understand rather than to abuse their own ego needs.  Much of the world’s intolerance is in the name of religion.  At times, the sincerest believers suffer the greatest abuse.  But those who walk with God are therein comforted not by religion, but by a personal walk of faith.

Closing

                Gertrude, Mabel and Judy were offered a ride from Emmanuel Church in New Orleans.  “I don’t drive on Bourbon Street.”  Gertrude: “And there we were living on Bourbon Street.”

(1) Bunyan, J. and Vermilye, A. (2020). The Pilgrim's Progress: A Readable Modern-Day Version of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Brown Chair Books.

THE CASE FOR REALITY

#751                                                               THE CASE FOR REALITY

Scripture  John 8:24 NIV                                                                                                                               Orig. 7/26/1979

                                                                                                                                                                               Rewr. 5/2/1991

Passage: 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

Purpose: To ponder the question, do we live by the world’s values, or by God’s values?

Keywords:                          Christ the Word                Forgiveness        Christ as Saviour               Sin

Timeline:                             Bible Study, John

Introduction

                A researcher by the name of George Barna has recently published a book, The Frog in the Kettle,(1) in which he studies the impact of religion, more particularly Christianity, on American life.  The better known pollster, George Gallup, has already given us cause for concern.

                In a report last year, Gallup states, “While religion is highly popular in this country, survey evidence suggests that it is often superficial—it does  not change people’s lives to the degree one would expect from the level of professed faith.”  To some degree, the Barna group sought to compare its findings with those of the better known pollster.

                What he reports is not uplifting.  Only 38% of unchurched persons viewed the church as relevant.  The respondents were asked about their philosophy of life.  25% indicated a Christian philosophy, 24% claimed a philosophy  not based on Christianity, and 51% indicated that they had no philosophy of life.

                They were asked what it means to be Christian.  21% thought it meant to go to church, or to be a good, religious person.  Another 21% opted for a bland “to be different from others” answer.  19% said that it meant “to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”  The others, 28%, chose either, “to believe in God, to help, or to love other people.”

                The question comes down to one about reality.  Is our religion settled by religious pollsters, or is this statement of Jesus valid?  “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

I.             The Case for Reality Calls Attention to the Sin Question.  V21 “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins.”  Sin was then, and is now, a contemporary dilemma.  It was all around Jesus in His day.  It is all around us today.  It is a major factor in our lives. 

                Jesus’ directive to the Jews is to be taken seriously.  Sin has caused man to forfeit the place of honor given by God at creation.  Ecclesiastes 7:29 “God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” The water hyacinth was brought in to beautify bayous.  Years ago, Australian sugar industry imported 101 cane frogs to deal with beetles.  Now in epidemic proportions consideration is being given to a parasite to control the frog.

                Every generation has found his own reasons for discounting the sin question.  Jeremiah 16:12 “And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may “not hearken unto me.”

                Every generation is tempted to seek its own impersonation  of the historical Jesus.  We suppose we are in a better position to define eternal truth.  It is Satan’s grandest design.  We seem content to have it so.

II.            The Case for Reality Describes the Burden of Sin.  “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins.”  Consider Israel’s involvement in media events.  Think of the world’s major powers.  Today it’s still USA/USSR.  Germany and Japan were briefly.  In prior centuries it was England, Spain, France. 

                Yet, Israel has a major voice in every decision touching the world.  A nation 100/150 miles in length, hardly more than forty wide.  Jerusalem holds a pivotal place in three great religions.  How?  Egypt’s greatness is seen at Giza.  Marvels of Minoan Crete at Knossos.  The Parthenon accentuates the uniqueness of Greece. Ephesus was the Queen city of the Aegean.

                Jerusalem . . . without a river, port, transportation system, without resources to compete in world trade . . . remains.  The Jerusalem of David and his capital, of Solomon and his temple, of Herod and his hate, of Jesus and His love.

                It is this same Jesus, the son of Israel, who here implores concern for sin.  His birth melody rang out its message.  Matthew 1:21 “And thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”  It was central to  His own teaching.  John 8:34 “Verily, verily I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin . . . John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

                It has been the message of every age declared by his disciples.  2 Corinthians 5:20f  “. . . Be ye reconciled to God.  For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

III.           The Case for Reality Explains Forgiveness from Sin.  “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”  One of the functions of the church has been to call people to repentance, forgiveness.  Psalm 95:7 “Today, if ye will  hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.”  Isaiah 59:20 “The redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression.”

                What can we bring, if we have not first brought our sin to the altar?  Money.  Talents.  Appearance.  God’s spiritual kingdom will  survive without any of them. 

                [Novelist] Sholem Asch --  The Apostle: A crusade is underway, the converts are urged to bring “fruit, meat for repentance.”  The merchant, in dapper dress, brings a bag of gold.  “No,” says the apostle, “naked from the womb, naked to the earth.”  A poor man:  “these hands, the muscles of my back I offer.”  “No, my son, you are trying to give back what already belongs to God.”  A beggar brings his sin.  “My son, you have given more than the others, you have given what is yours.”

IV.          Finally, the Case for Reality Introduces the Saviour from Sin.  “If you believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”  This is either the greatest hoax perpetrated upon humankind.  Jesus, the crucified.  Jesus, the advocate with the Father.  Jesus, the light-bringer. Jesus, the hope. 

                No, it is not a hoax.  It is conditional release.  It is forgiveness from sin.  It is deliverance from guilt to glory. 

                It is salvation.  Jesus:  “The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.”  Jesus: “The author and finisher of our faith.”  Jesus: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.”

Conclusion

                Piglet in  his yard.  Pooh passes.  Again.  “Hallo,” says Piglet, “what are you doing?”  “Hunting . . . tracking something.”  Piglet  joins in the hunt, and every time they go around the spinney more tracks are seen, and the more apprehensive they become.  Whatever it might be, they were getting dangerously outnumbered.

                Christopher Robin:  “Silly old bear, what were you doing?  First you went around the spinney by yourself.  Then Piglet ran after you and you went around together.”

                We must see to the matter that our REALITY is what is, rather than what we imagine it to be.

(1) Barna, G. (1990). The Frog in the Kettle. Baker Publishing Group.

(2) Asch, S. (1943). The Apostle. G.B. Putnam's Sons.

THE THEOLOGY OF LIGHT

#793                                                             THE THEOLOGY OF LIGHT

Scripture  John 8:12-29, NIV                                                                                                                        Orig. 2/25/1983

                                                                                                                                                                             Rewr. 4/24/1991

Passage: Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Purpose: Continuing the series from the gospel, here describing the language of light depicting Christ as the agent of God.     

Keywords:           Christ as Light                    Doctrine               Series Beliefs                     God                       Trinity

Timeline/Series:               Bible Study John

Introduction      

                Chapter seven introduced the time and place.  It was the occasion of the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,10).  Because of the hostilities of the Jews, Jesus had spent the last weeks in Galilee.  As the time of the festival approached, more and more of the people began to make their way to Jerusalem.  Even His own brothers mocked Him about going on up to the feast to show His “works.”

                At the appropriate time, however, He went up also.  We are not given His specific itinerary.  We do know that the first night of the festival was the setting of a ceremony called “The Illumination of the Temple.”  Four great candelabra were prepared, and at dark were lighted.

                It was not exactly a Thursday night bonfire before the big game.  It was not akin to the lighting of the Christmas lights in Natchitoches.  It certainly would not have measured up to the fires set on the Mississippi levee on Christmas Eve down in the Gramercy, Lutcher area of St. James Parish.  But it was impressive.  Ask the person  who has spent time with bandaged eyes what the first glimmer of light was like.

                The celebration went on all night.  The wisest and holiest of Israel’s men danced before the Lord and sang psalms of joy and praise.  Every courtyard in the city became a reflection of that light from the temple.

                Perhaps it is now the next day.  Jesus has seen this glow from the Mount of Olives (8:1).   To the gathering of people who have now come to hear Him He says, “I am the light of the world.” 

I.             The Light of the World Attests to a Theology of Opportunity.  V12 “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  Jesus is accorded a place never given to any other.  He is the unique “Son of God.”  John dealt with this very thing earlier.  3:16 “For  God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son . . . .”  “Only begotten” says the King James.  “Only one of his kind” says the Greek.  Some versions use “unique.”

                He is not trying to take from these struggling people the joy of the festival.  He points them to a more luminous light.  There will be no such ceremony in the temple the next night, or the next.  He is simply affirming for them a light that can never burn out.  The talon is not expended.  The oil is not depleted. The wick is not carbonized.

                He gives them the opportunity to bask in the glow of One who has come from God.  19th Century history tells us of Prince Frederick of Prussia.  He was a good and capable man in line for the throne.  His German doctors found a growth, advised its removal.  He would lose his voice.  Other doctors advised to the contrary.  Frederick did nothing.  Within a year he was dead.  Kaiser Wilhelm ascended to the throne, far  less capable, or intelligent, or experienced.  Could WWI have been avoided had Frederick heard?

                In the verses that follow, Jesus plainly declares the need of His hearers to heed.  Jesus was making His presence felt.  “I go my way, . . . ye seek me, and . . . ye die in your sins.” V21.  All the time they are looking for a deliverer, a Messiah. 

                How many people around us are looking for a deliverer, of their own expectations?  Jesus was there as the breaking dawn.  They were content with such light as may come under the door. 

II.            The Light of the World Accords a Theology of Oneness.  V18 “I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”

                So much that we know of God we learned of Jesus.  He is Himself expressly called God.  John 1:1 “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”  The works of God are ascribed to Him.  John 1:3 “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”  Colossians 1:16 “All things were created by Him, and for Him.”

                Jesus receives  honors due to God only.  Acts 7:59 (Stephen dying) “Lord Jesus, receive my soul.”  Philippians 2:10 “That at the name of Jesus, every knee  should bow, and of things in heaven and . . . in earth, and . . . under the earth.”

                Jesus claimed equality with God.  John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”  In this passage He says so, 8:19, “If ye had known me, ye  had known my Father also.”

                Jesus has come, not just to Jerusalem’s darkness, but Bernice [Louisiana]’s as well.  8:31f “If ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed.  And  ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall  make you free.”  These are not the words of a misguided zealot, or an over-ambitious prophet.  These are the words of God.

                Scripture recognizes Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  They are not perceived separately.  This is not tritheism (three Gods).  We perceive them distinctly in their roles, but their work is never contradictory.  Even after 2,000 years of the attestations of deity, countless people deny.  On the wall of a Palatine Palace in Rome: a human figure is fixed on a cross, with the head of an ass.  A man kneels in worship.  “Alexamenos adore his God.” Mocks believers in Christ.

III.           The Light of the World Affirms a Theology of Obligation.  V24 “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”  Many confirm for us who He is.  William Gladstone: “All I write, and all I think, and all I hope, is based upon the divinity of our Lord, the one . . . hope of our poor wayward race.”

                Vance Havner: “The world by its wisdom believes that the natural man can be cultivated and refined until he can pass inspection at the judgment bar of God.  But the gospel entertains no such hope for the fallen sons of Adam.” S103 p73.

                This obligation is directed to all alike.  To the first century Jew who nailed Him to a cross.  To the 20th Century church member to whom faith is a table game.  International chess match may last for weeks.  We have so many interests, and our response to Christ is a small part of one of them.

                Ballad [by Pete Seeger]:

Where have all the people gone?

Gone to graveyards every one!

When will they ever learn?

When will WE ever learn?

Conclusion

                Robert Browning writes of an occasion when Charles Lamb (18th Century English essayist) was hosting a gathering of his contemporaries.  They began to discuss their reactions if some of the notable people of history should suddenly join them.  Browning writes that Charles Lamb became suddenly quite serious.  He asked, “And if Christ entered the room?”  He was said to have stuttered he was so moved at the thought, and then continued, “You see, if Shakespeare entered, we should all rise; if He (Jesus Christ) appeared, we must kneel.”  

                Doubtless, the world will never know the  height of Jesus’ power, including the so-called Christian nations, until we are ready to pay Him homage.

LIFE GIVING BREAD

#488                                                                   LIFE GIVING BREAD                                                                                          

Scripture  John 6:30-59, NIV                                                                                                                          Orig. 6/7/1970

                                                                                                                                                                             Rewr. 8/20/1990

Passage: 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[b] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Purpose: Returning to series preaching from the gospel, here defining Christ as the One who is Himself the Bread  of God.

Keywords:                           Nature of Christ                Sacrifice

Timeline/Series:               Bible Study of John’s Gospel                       Bible Study of the Parables

Introduction

                This chapter dares the reader to attempt to pass  through these pages without being drawn into the discussion of Christ as the “bread of God.”  Chapter six can, in fact, be divided seven ways, each funneling the reader into that deeper realization of Christ as BREAD.  It opens (vs 1-7) as Jesus questions the disciples about feeding the multitude that has come to hear Him.  The second segment shows Andrew acknowledging (vs 8-11) a lad who still has his lunch.  Next, in sequel form, (vs 12-14), the disciples are admonished to see value in fragments also.  The interval between this day and the next finds Jesus coming to the disciples during the storm at sea.

                Immediately the next day begins, the crowds have returned for second helpings.  What Jesus fed them satisfied their daily hunger, and they were back for more (v22-29).

                The sixth segment contained in this chapter is our text this morning.  Jesus presents Himself as the “life giving bread” (v33).  The concluding portion of the chapter (vs 60-71) reminds us of Peter’s faith in this feeding (v68), and of Judas Iscariot, who like so many then and now, were content to get by on the table scraps that they had set for themselves.

                The two essentials for nourishment are food and drink.  In 4:7f Jesus offers a thirsting woman water that would quench her thirst. Now, to these who hunger, food is offered.  The water was from a supernatural source.  So, also, the bread.  If all they want is a full belly, a full belly is all they will get.  It will hardly last the day.

I.             First Noted is the Striving of the Bread.  V33 “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” V38 “For I came down from heaven, to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.” 

                Do we really, truly understand that Jesus is of more than fleshly stripe?  Five times in  this passage Jesus refers to His incarnation.   No doubt His birth was a human birth.  But it was so much more.  We put great stock in important people.  Go overboard getting program personalities who are important: Terry Bradshaw; Tom Lester (who played Eb on Green Acres) was invited to Camp Harris. 

                This incarnation establishes divinity John 1:14 “The word was made flesh, . . . and we beheld his glory.”  Do you behold Him as God? I Timothy 3:16 “Great was the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.”  The Greek doesn’t say “God.”  The  text accords to Jesus the character of God.

                Do we honor Him as is His due?  I John 4:2f “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. . . every spirit that confesseth not . . . this is that spirit of anti-Christ.”

                Jesus comes in the flesh to do the will of God.  His doing establishes that it can be done.  It testifies as well that we haven’t done it, and are ourselves at risk.  The glory is that faith in Christ affords us with His substitutionary atonement.  Hebrews 2:9 “We see Jesus . . . crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

                1500 years ago missionaries from far to the south came to the land we call England.  Celts had never heard.  Some saw this as an insult to their gods.  In the Grange Hall they argued far into the night.  A small bird blundered in toward the light of their oil lamp.  A chief: “Like that small bird we blunder toward what light we see.  But will this new religion  help us as we go out into the darkness where none of us have been?”

II.            Second Noted, There is the Striving with the Bread.  V41 “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.”  V52 “The Jews strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

                It was striving against messianic claims.  The Jews introduce a word of manna.  The feeding of the multitude prompts.  Jesus informs them (v31) that the bread was from God, not from Moses.  The Messiah likewise will be from God to nourish people.  V33 “The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”  Nehemiah (9:15) refers to manna as “bread from heaven.”

                The messianic tradition was that when Messiah came He would feed them manna.  At destruction of temple, pot of manna secreted away by Jeremiah.  Messiah will return it to the people.  Revelation 2:17 Pergamos: “To him  that overcometh, I will give to eat of the hidden manna.”  For Jesus to say that He was the bread  from heaven was to say He was the Messiah.

                They were striving also against His presumed claims to divinity.  It is so easy for a person reared in the indigenous atmosphere of church.  It is not hard for people of the same culture to easily grasp faith.  But for the Jew, everything they believed is being threatened.  Jesus informs them that it is not Moses who offers manna, but God; and now they are offered bread.

                Someone (Lockyear, p. 319) makes the point that Jesus offers life three essentials.  They are defined as breath, water, food.   In John, chapter 3,  Jesus spoke of breath, wind of Spirit without which man cannot have eternal life.  In chapter 4, Jesus offers a woman living water by which she can live forever. In chapter 6, Jesus offers Himself as the food available and essential for life here and hereafter.

                We should not overlook also that in His birth it was Bethlehem, house of bread.

III.           Finally, There is a Striving for the Bread.  V40 “This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

                Has it occurred that the only physical commodity sought in Lord’s Prayer is bread?  It acknowledges the majesty of God.  It confesses man’s weakness and sin.  It pleads escape from our confused inner selves.  Of physical needs, it pleads only bread.

                Our greater need is for the One who is our daily spiritual replenishment.   To what degree are you striving for Him?  V50 “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.”  How readily do you accord Jesus the place of priority in your life?

                I have told the story of the little boy in the home of people of means, who stuck his hand in the  mouth of a Ming bowl.  It would not release.  Broken.  Inside the clinched fist of the boy was a penny.

                How many of us are intrigued with the gospel story, but our spiritual fists are clinched around some worldly device that we refuse to yield?

                Your striving, my striving, must be for the bread. 

                V34 “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”  Hear Dorothy Sayers in her book, Creed or Chaos:  “The reason why the chuches are discredited today is not because they are too bigoted about theology.  At the risk of appearing  quite insolently obvious I shall say that if the church is to make any impression on the modern mind she will have to preach Christ and the Cross.  Of late, she has not succeeded well in preaching Christ.  She has preached Jesus, which is not at all the same thing.”

Conclusion

                Do  you have a place at the table where this bread is served?  Have you called home to say, “I’ll be there, too!  Set a place for me!”?  V51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any . . . eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh.”

TURNING ON TO JESUS

#505                                                               TURNING ON TO JESUS

Scripture  John 7:32-53                                                                                                                               Orig. 10/30/1990

Passage: ³² The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. ³³ Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. ³⁴ You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” ³⁵ The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”^[a] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

⁴⁰ On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? ⁴² Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” ⁴³ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” ⁴⁶ “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.

⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

⁵⁰ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹ “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

⁵² They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

⁵³ Then they all went home. . .

Purpose: Continuing the series from John’s gospel, here discovering measures of individuals who are turning on to Jesus.

Keywords:           Christ the Lord                   Revival

Timeline/Series:               Bible Study John

Introduction

                At a former church, an older couple found it necessary to move closer to their children.  The had lived in the community all their married lives, and regretted the changes that would be necessary.

                We talked about it, prayed about it, but still they were reluctant to leave the church that they had been a part of for forty  years.  Because the new town was only an hour away, I continued to visit them.  A regular topic of every visit was, “Have y’all found a church yet?”  Actually, they were living only a block away from the one where one of their children was actively involved.  They would always tell me that they were attending some at Fair Park, but had  not decided what to do about joining.

                After almost two years they united with the new church.  Sometime later I saw Mr. Cheeks again.  He explained to me what had happened.  They were in a special program, VBS or something like that.  A goat was being used in some kind of performance that was included.

                When the program was over, an invitation was given.  My friend said, “I reached over and took Lucille by the hand and said, ‘Come on, if these people will take a goat in, they’ll take us!’”

                I was at Lucille’s funeral last Sunday afternoon.  The men of their Sunday School department filled three pews serving as honorary pallbearers.

                There are people in our text being turned on about Jesus, but, unfortunately,  not all of them are being turned on to Jesus.

I.             The First Expression Has  to do with Expectations. V40 “Many of the people therefore, when they hear this saying, said, ‘Of a truth this is the prophet.’”

                Expectations were running high in regard to the Messiah.  People are in Jerusalem for festival.  Time of joyful celebration.  Time of spiritual definition.  They have heard Jesus give expression to spiritual thirst. “If any man thirst, let him come.”

                There was a great polarity of views about who He was.  Religious leaders had rejected His claim.  But the miracles from Galilee have followed Him to Jerusalem.

                They all knew that a great prophet would come.  Luke 7:16 “They glorified God, saying . . . that a great prophet was risen up.”  Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me.”

                But do you notice that they each one control their own expectations?  Some are completely convinced from scripture, from what they hear abroad in the land.  Others use the same sources to confuse.  How sad when people use scripture to plot their own demise.  They know just enough to be ignorant.  Josh  Billings: “The trouble with most folks isn’t so much about their ignorance, as knowing so many things that ain’t so.”

                How many scriptures do you really know? Enough so as not to be confused?  What are you doing about it?

                This is not the first time Jesus has had scripture quoted to Him.  They presumed Jesus to be Galilean.  People presume on  His manhood.  They presume lack of deity.  Assume that He is like the rest.  They saw Him as ill-born, beneath them.  How do we see people today?  Does the limitation of birth mean to assign them a role of caste?  Illustration: Willis Reed/Karl Malone [born near the place where this sermon was delivered].

II.            Then We Encounter a Kind of Experimentation.  V45 “. . . they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?  The officers answered, never man spake like this man.”

                Again, there are people prepared to go both ways in regard to Jesus, just as there are in our town, and in this room.  Some have committed all, some not at all.  Others walk a thin line between commitment and denial.

                The officers had been sent by their leaders to bring Jesus in.  By the way, did you see the story of the town clerk who lost her job:  “Do you want to talk to the man in charge, or the woman who knows what’s going on?”

                We have already seen that the people were divided v43.  Two different words suggest division:  a) diamerismos Luke 12:51 (opposition), “I am come to give . . . division”; b) dichostasia Romans 16:17 (to stir up) “mark them causing division . . . avoid them.”  This word is schisma: It is division set to ill will. Schisma is the source of the word schizophrenia.

                The religious leaders are the ones taking the lead to disenfranchise.  One of the things wrong is a spinoff of religious leaders showing liberality.  The people God continues to bless are those who stand by His word. 

                Do we take the time to encourage our leaders/teachers?

                The glorious thing happening here is in the lives of these officers.  Law officers have a tough time measuring conversions.  They see us all, not in our Sunday best, but with our guards down.  So, they are a tough lot to convince. 

                You notice they are charged with faith.  Anyone who encounters Jesus on equal terms will be impressed.  But these men “believed”—pistueo.  And, hear me, “believing” they saw Jesus as a man, not to still His voice, but to set  free in the world..

                That’s our business, to set the voice of Jesus free in the world.  How???

III.           The Text Takes Us Finally by the Way of Exultation.  V50 “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them.)  Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”

                All around Jerusalem were people making choices.  Some of them making them on logic.  Some emotion.  Others reasonableness, need.  Some simply because Jesus touches the chords of their hearts.  None of them yet knowing the death ahead.  He will be in Jerusalem in a year. John 10:22. There will still be division. John 9:16, John 10:19.  Same word: but they are also saying “He’s mad, has a devil.”

                He will be telling them plainly of  His death.  John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,  John 10:18, “No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself.”

                Only John mentions Nicodemus, but he is mentioned three times.  He came to Christ (3:2)—he was an  elitist but he came, and so must you.  He lifts up his voice for Jesus (7:51). Can you, or I, do less?  He will pay tribute to Christ (John 19:39).   For us, will it be tribute, or triviality? 

                “Would to God,” Nicodemus thought, “I had taken a stand for him while he lived.”  We cannot give deserving bouquets in the grave.  Let your spouse, child, parent, friend know your feeling, especially who have helped you to Jesus.  Be honest about your faith.

Conclusion

                Mary Tyler Moore did a show years ago that centered around the death of a clown named Chuckles.  He showed up at the circus dressed as a giant peanut and was trampled by the elephant who tried to eat him.  The show went back and forth across a line of people who thought it very funny, and others who saw it as tragic.  Could there be room for us to examine ourselves in regards to the death  of Jesus?  Is it just another every day thing, or, did He really die for my sin? 

                                                                                                                Lee Atwater (MMS-11/3/90)

THE STORM AT SEA

#822                                                                   THE STORM AT SEA                                                                                          

Scripture  John 6:15-24 (Mark 6:34-52) NIV                                                                                          Orig. 2/12/1984

                                                                                                                                                                             Rewr. 3/27/1990

Passage: John 6:15-24: 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on the Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Mark 6:34-52: 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Purpose: Continuing the series from John, here depicting the events that took place following the feeding of the multitude.

Keywords:                           Bible Study         Miracle                 Christ as Saviour

Timeline/Series:               Series on John

Introduction

                There  is a story of a family with a small child visiting in the home of wealthy, and influential people.  With the parents distracted, the child stuck his hand through the opening of a rare Chinese vase and then could not extract it.  He began to cry, both out of fear for the stuck hand, and concern that he would be punished.  His parents and the friends tried in every way to free the boy’s hand.  The harder they tried, the louder were the cries from the lad.. boy’s hand was so  hopelessly stuck.  He had seen a penny in the bottom of the vase and had it clutched in a tightly balled fist.  In his childish ignorance, he did not know that by releasing the penny his hand would have slipped free.

                Helmut Thielicke(1)  has a sermon on prayer in which he refers to John 6:26 (20C/12/p234). “Ye seek me,  ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat the loaves, and were filled.”  He added, “He (Jesus) miraculously fed the multitude so that behind the event they might catch sight of the true Bread of Life; . . . But the significance of the event was lost on them.  It was not ‘transparent’ to them. And so they overlooked this hand entirely, and only hungered after ‘the five barley loaves and two small fish.’  If they had caught sight of the Giver behind the gift, and the Saviour beyond the bread, then this experience would have really meant something to them, and it would have stayed with them all of their lives. . . .  We might wander through waterless desert wastes, but God is with us.  He can provide us with oases of fresh water.  He can also surround us with his peace even when things are going to get worse—so that the thirst cannot do anything further to us.  But this gift, which was extended to you in the hour of God’s miracle, you refused.  When your cry for bread was answered, you did not say, ‘Glory to God alone!’ or ‘Praise be to God in the highest,’ but you only rubbed your hands across your well-filled stomach and murmured ‘Food!’  Then you rose up to play and forgot the  whole thing.”

                Too many of us are like the child mentioned earlier.  We clutch selfishly the physical symbols of God’s gifts to us, ignoring the deeper meaning of the symbol behind the gift.

                The Storm at Sea will address three things:  (1) Christ alone at prayer; (2) The disciples at sea and afraid; (3) The multitude discounting the Saviour behind the symbol.

I.             Jesus Alone at Prayer: A Sudden Change.  V15 “When Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force, . . . he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

                It is where He and His disciples had been just a few hours earlier.  They had discussed the mission:  Luke 9:10.  They shared tribute for John: Matthew 14:13.  Jesus saw a glimmer of His own death.

                With the coming of the multitude, Jesus went to them, taught them, fed them.  God’s concern is for worldly needs.  But His principle concern is that we see Jesus as the “bread of life.”  V33 bread of God; V35 bread of life; V51 living bread.

                Suddenly, it is as if a different spirit fills the place.  Jesus sends the disciples ahead to Capernaum; Matthew and Mark say “constrained”; by force of will He compels them.  The multitude is dismissed; “They” v15 see visions of regal splendor, thoughts of Judas Maccabeus. Were the disciples the ring-leaders?  Christ had this great power: they were His chief workers.  Jesus resorts to the Father.  Was He tempted by the crown?  Hebrews 4:15: “. . . In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

                The prayer, the vision of the cross returns.  The afternoon reveals His deity.  Close of day, His humanity.  Nothing would stay Him from His cross.

                Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Lord God?”  Nought but prayer will bring us to that place of submission and surrender.

II.            We Next Encounter the Disciples on the Boat, at Sea, and Afraid.  V18 “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.”  We can safely assume somewhat of thoughts.  They saw first hand the feeding.  They heard and encouraged the talk of insurrection, not resurrection.  Lithuania 4/1990.

                They are sent on their way for  Christ to recover His sense of mission.  They were 4-5 miles from Capernaum.  A storm swept in suddenly.  By three a.m. had gone 25-30 stadia. “Stadia” provides our “stadium”—distance around a contained oval, or about 600 feet.  Compute to 5,000 yards—2-1/2 to 3 miles.

                They were confused—King or Messiah or what?  Mark 6:48 “distressed”—vex, harass, toil.  What they did not know was that Jesus knew their distress.  Above 6:48.  In the midst of this “storm” Christ appears.  With four miles, probably a  mile of shore.  Dark, and wind disorient them.  Some say Jesus was on the beach.  If you don’t know a Jesus who can walk on water, you don’t know a Jesus who saves.  The “stilling” of storm prior—Mark 4/Matthew 8.

                They see Christ as an apparition or a ghost.  Common belief of spirit visits.  Welcoming them to abode of death.  “Be of good cheer,” Matthew and Mark show confidence/courage.  “Ego eimi”—“I am,” not “It is I.”  Courage not in Jesus being thee.  Rather in who Jesus was/is.  “I am.”  Moses: “I am hath sent  thee” very similar in Hebrew to YHWH.  Abraham: John 8:58 “Before Abraham was, I am.”

                They welcome Jesus on board on His terms, not their own.  Have we?

III.           The Multitude Makes a Choice.  V24 “When  the people . . . saw that Jesus was not there, . . . they took shipping . . . and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus.”

                Remember, this is the same crowd from the day before.  They had eaten of loaves and fishes.  They had been prepared to enthrone.  They would have taken up arms against Romans if He had chosen to accept.  A day later they have sought Him out. Many apparently left the scene.  Some did not, or returned.  They saw disciples leave alone. Knowing Capernaum to be center for His activities, (Matthew 4:13f) came there.  Following is in synagogue 6:59.

                A distinction must be made about those who  heard Jesus.  The twelve 6:67 “the twelve.” Many “disciples” 6:66 turned away, “went back as before Christ.”  Counting on Christ as teacher, provider; not as Saviour.   Don’t confuse yourself about one losing their salvation.  Not at issue with these “disciples.”  V24 “came . . . seeking.”  V26 “seek me . . . because . . . you did eat . . . and were filled.”

                There were, also, earnest and sincere seekers.  They would heed the message.  V40 “This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life.”  Jesus, as the bread of life next.

Conclusion

                A Texan named Kenneth Reedy went to Bahrain in early 1970 to take advantage of the oil boom.  With the help of a local contractor he built an ice cream factory.  A few years later, it went bankrupt.  The contractor sued, and won.  Reedy was forced to give up his passport until the $60,000 was paid.  Without a passport, he can only find maintenance jobs.  Nothing can help him until someone pays his debt, or the litigant withdraws the lien.  It is human sin without Christ.

(1) Thielicke, H. (1960). Our Heavenly Father: Sermons on the Lord's Prayer. Harper & Row.

THE BOY WHO WOULD

#817                                                               THE BOY WHO WOULD                                                                                      

Scripture  John 6:1-14 NIV                                                                                                                           Orig. 1/18/1984

                                                                                                                                                                             Rewr. 3/23/1990

Passage: Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages^[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. ¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Purpose: Continuing our study from John, here examining Jesus’ attention to a scrap of a boy with a scrap of bread, and the meeting of needs.

Keywords:  Biographical                Miracle of Christ               Sacrament          Series of John    Bible Study John

Timeline/Series:               New Testament Character

Introduction

                There are two miracles here.  We are going to talk at some length about the miracle of Jesus feeding a company in excess of 10,000 people. It is said to be a “large crowd,” and reference is made to “5,000 men.”  I hope that we will not become so caught up in the scope of feeding such a crowd that we overlook the message contained within.

                The second miracle is that “a lad,” a boy, perhaps eleven to fourteen still possesses his lunch, even though he has been with this crowd for both hours and  miles.  This is a  happening, without concession stands.  Through it all, for reasons we cannot imagine, the boy has held on to his lunch.

                A good friend who was a scout leader told me of a trip his troop took.  They were going whitewater canoeing, and were to be gone three days.  They stopped after about two hours on the road for a brief break.  Back in the van, fifteen  minutes later, he found out that one of his boys had spent every penny he had on the first break.

                The boy’s mother had prepared what she could.  Evidently, they were poor.  The bread identified here was barley, the bitter bread of poor people.  Something to accompany the bread was necessary, thus the fish.  She prepared him, not only with what fare she could, but forewarned him to eat it sparingly.  Evidently, it was she who encouraged him to share.

                Not every lad has this good fortune.  Ann asked her children, for a science experiment, to bring a can from home.  One boy, of age ten or so, replied, “We ain’t got no cans but beer cans.”

I.             We Must Look Back at Where They have Been.  John 6:1 “After these things, Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee. 

                Any good Harmony will attest to John’s death just prior to this.  Matthew, Mark, Luke all affirm.  Matthew 14:13 “When Jesus heard of it, he departed  thence by ship into a desert place apart.”  Also, the disciples have just returned from their preaching mission.  Luke 9:10 “. . . when they were returned, . . . he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place.”

                John’s death was a foregleam of His.  The word “desert,” means nothing more than desolate, it was a place apart.  John was dead, they needed to assess his death.  The disciples had followed Jesus’ guide in preaching.  They needed to discuss what had happened.

                One other important factor arises.  Luke 9:9 “And Herod said, John have I beheaded; but who is this ? . . .  And he desired to see him.”  The curious followed Jesus daily.  Their interest was material  not spiritual.  He wasn’t looking for a sponsor, certainly not someone like Herod.

                There is another factor  It is Passover.  John 6:4 “And, the Passover . . . was nigh.”  Jewish men were required by the Law to be in Jerusalem.  (Hezekiah, II Chronicles 30.)  Jesus would not be there.  His objection was not the feast, but the manner of men in observing. 

                It was Passover when they found the 12-year-old Jesus in  the temple (John 2:13).   Luke 2:46f “about my Father’s business.”  They occupied themselves searching out leaven, with corrupt hearts.  Passover is about the hoped-for Messiah, already rejected. Of what does our spirit convict us in relation to Jesus?  Why are we here?

II.            Also, We Need to See Where They are Going.  “. . . Over the Sea of Galilee . . . to a desolate place belonging to the city called Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). . . up into a mountain.”  V3

                So, let’s learn a little bit about Bethsaida.  A suburb of Capernaum (fishing hub).  Just across the narrow north end of lake.  Two Bethsaidas, one across the lake.  The other at the ford crossing the river lowing into the lake.  There is a mountain above.  A grassy plain near.  The crowd would have had to travel about nine miles.

                This has been a busy time for Jesus.  John 4:54 Cana, Capernaum, “second miracle.”  John 5:1 “Went up to Jerusalem”—paralytic.  John 6:1 here as stated.  John 7:1 “After this, Jesus walked in Galilee; he would not walk in Jewry, because. . . .”

                Jesus moves with the disciples to a place where they can be to themselves.  Suddenly, there is a great crowd.  John 6:5 “great company come unto him.”  They watched as He left.  Mark 6:33 “people saw them departing, . . . and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them.” 

                Jesus needed this time alone, but His compassion was so great, He turns all His energy to the needs of these people.

III.           Two Men are Important to this Story.  V5 “He saith unto Philip.”  V8 “Andrew, . . . saith unto him.”  Philip, first of all is from Bethsaida, as were Andrew and Peter.  John 1:44. He is asked about a commissary where food may be purchased.  His doubt springs not of unavailability, but because they have no funds for such.  Rub out pennyworth:  put denarius.  A day’s wage: thus 6-1/2 months.  Philip’s response was not “must we” or “dare we” or “should we,” but “can we.”  And he concluded that they could not. 

                In faith assessments, how do we think?  What should we do?  What can we do, which regrettably turns to what we cannot do. 

                What God expects of His people He always makes possible for His people.

                At this point, Andrew enters.  He, too, knows the area, but it isn’t bakery shops that are brought to mind.  What is there on this hillside that will satisfy this need?  One feeds his doubt, the other doubts his faith.  “There is a lad here, which hath. . . .”

IV.          Finally, We See the Boy Who Would.  There are those who doubt the story.  Jesus could not do such.  Others say he could but would not.  Matthew 4:3f “command these stones.” 

                Others suggest Jesus used the boy as a kind of leaven.  Others were shamed to share theirs. Andrew didn’t see it that way.  V9.  Some translators see it as a sacramental meal.

                So, here is the boy who would. 

                The boy who would hear Jesus.  Teenagers, how interested are you?  Adults, what are they learning of you about Jesus?

                The boy who would follow Jesus.  He stayed with this crowd all day.  He is here on his own.  He is more concerned for truth than he is in strutting around.

                The boy who would invest in Jesus.  What little he has, he gives.  He has an open heart toward God.

                There is a final direct message for us.  Christ is the bread of life for a perishing world. John 6:35.  That the message is to be delivered to an impoverished world by those who have to give.

                The disciples were left with a remnant to be renewed.  A parable, as it were, to share.  A reminder of mission, miracle.  On the ship, in the dark, the basket could have worked its own miracle.  Hebrew Pe'ah—“corner," the portion of the crop that must be left standing for the poor—remnant in trust for the servant.  Twelve baskets v. twelve disciples.

“I SEEK NOT MY WILL”

#199                                                                “I SEEK NOT MY WILL”                                                                                       

Scripture John 5:17-30 NIV                                                                                                                          Orig. 6/10/1962

                                                                                                                                                                               Rewr. 3/1/1990

Passage: 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

Purpose: Continuing a study from the gospel, here revealing the intent of Jesus to do God’s will even though it will result in His death

Keywords:           Bible Study of John’s Gospel                       Divinity of Christ               Resurrection                      Sovereignty

Timeline/Series:               Bible Study of John’s Gospel

Introduction

                Last Sunday we followed Jesus back into Jerusalem, and near the sheep gate, at a place called Bethesda.  We looked on as He healed a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years.  When the Jewish religious leaders found out that this had been done on the Sabbath they were incensed.  It was a violation of the law, and as says verse 16:  “Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him.”

                Most of us are smart enough to know that when someone is out to get you, the thing to do is to lie low, to be  obscure.  Apparently, Jesus didn’t know the meaning of lying low, didn’t know how to be obscure.  “My Father worketh hitherto,” He said, “and I work.”

                And with that terse statement they hated Him the  more.  They hated Him so much that they started keeping a book on Him.  They would record everything He did that was outside the law.  They would be especially sensitive to charges, legitimate or otherwise, that they could bring against Him that would result in His death.  They were not interested in redeeming Him as a Jew.  They were interested in destroying Him as an enemy.

                John records then, the first discourse of Jesus to the Jews.  He has talked at length to Nicodemus, and to the woman at the well.  He  has  talked with disciples (2:22) and others.  There were brief encounters with Jews (2:18f), and with individuals.  Here, Jesus gives notice to the Jews for what He has come.  And they do not like it.

I.             Jesus First Identifies Himself with God.  V17 “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”  This is one of five parallels established.  The same word for work is used.  The Father and I are both doing the same perfect work.  There is a oneness in ACTIVITY.

                Next Jesus correlates what is done.  “Whatsoever things the Father doeth, also the Son.”  You can imagine their uneasiness.   There is a oneness not only in ACTIVITY, but also in WILL.  It is one thing to claim to be righteous but to be one in WILL with God.

                Thirdly, Jesus takes sovereignty upon Himself.  V21 “As the Father raiseth up and quickeneth, even so the Son.”  He has already alluded to the work at Bethesda.  In response to their disdain for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus responds saying, “My work is God’s work.”  Now Jesus talks about ‘raising’ the dead. SOVEREIGNTY.  So, a man paralyzed 38 years is walking.  You will see much more.  He will return to this subject momentarily.

                Next, Jesus interrelates honor of God and Son.  Someone suggests that Jesus came to Jerusalem to leave His calling card.  It was Passover.  God redeems.  Redemption had its inception in the covenant, but the law stifled it.  A friend years ago: “Me: missed nothing; my church: missed something; Christ: you’ve missed everything.”  The major negative quotient in our lives is failure to honor God, Son.  Letter in New Orleans inviting participation in highway dedication. “Don’t pray in Jesus’ name.”  Don’t blame them.  Blame Christians who compromise.

                Finally, the same life-force the Father has in Himself, so also has the Son.  V26 “As the Father hath life in himself, so has he given to the Son to have life in him.”  In Him is  the fulness of divinity.  Also, there is undiminished humanity.

II.            Next, Jesus Establishes the Dominance of the Role that is His.  V26 “The Father hath . . . given to the son . . . authority to execute judgment.”   Back in the old days, a gospel was preached that required sublimation in Christ.  Funerals didn’t beat around the bush.  You were a Christian or you weren’t.  You gave evidence of your faith by the way you lived, worshipped.

                People depend on something other than faith.  The sobriquet “I don’t drink and I don’t chew and I don’t go with girls who do” never has been a valid distinction.  How much graver the danger today: “I’m a church member!” “Deacon!” “I go to Sunday School!” “Teach!” “I don’t drink!” “I don’t use drugs!”  “l live by the Bible!” “I follow the Golden Rule!” 

                If Christ is not Lord of your life, and a part of every decision, you don’t!  These people got riled with Jesus because He told them their ragged righteousness would not save them.

                We don’t have time to get into the resurrection this morning, but Jesus defines two momentous events.  One has already come, and they are accountable for it.  V25, “The hour is coming, and now is.”  V24, 25 both use the Greek word for “hear”—to hear obediently.  V24 establishes the condition, not only of eternal life, but deliverance from Hell as well.  In life, we determine our own destiny in the way we choose to live.  But v25 eliminates the condition  The spiritually dead shall hear the call to live, and in response, live.

                Which brings us to the second event.  V28 “For the hour is coming, (note) in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.”  V25 addressed spiritually dead. V28 speaks of physically dead.  V25 is conditional, optional even.  V28 holds no condition, option.

                Whether you have heard it believingly in life or not,  you will  hear it in death.  Jesus is the essence of your choice.  You, I, cannot honor the Father and dishonor the Son.  Believing in deity doesn’t save you, believing in Jesus does.  You don’t believe that, you throw the Bible in the garbage.  Deny that,  you say Jesus is a liar, a charlatan.

                This did not start out as a message of the resurrection, but the word is there.  Most of us have been touched by death.  Some of us have recently been to the grave.  My second Winter, six in 12 days.  Proclaimed message was different.  Some gave evidence when v25 in “spiritual death, heard, and responded.”  Some gave  no evidence. Others, only God knows.  All, will hear, v28 and they will do as they are commanded.

                There are members of First Baptist Church, if I had to preach their funeral tomorrow, I would  have to guess if asked their spiritual condition.

                The human bones, apparently of a 17-year-old girl, were found in Union Parish earlier this week.  A search went on for days for proof. When the dead are called from their graves that girl will come forth fully formed.  No question about identity.  If a believer she will answer the summons unto “the resurrection of life.”  If not, just as certainly, “unto the resurrection of damnation.”  It matters not that she was brutally murdered by a person more beast than man.  Unimportant detail that she had so little time to prepare.  The Christ who came seeking “not  His own will, but the Father’s” holds absolutely and eternally  her condition, yours, mine.

HE MUST AND I MUST ALSO

#860b                                                        HE MUST AND I MUST ALSO                                                                                 

Scripture  John 3:22-36 NIV                                                                                                                         Orig. 8/27/1961

                                                                                                                                                                           Rewr. 11/30/1989

Passage: 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[b] gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Purpose: In a series from John’s Gospel, sharing this passage related to the early ministry of Jesus as to our dependence upon Him

Keywords:           Bible Study                         Christ as Lord                     John Series                                                                        

Timeline/Series:               Sequential                                         

Introduction

                One of the distressing realities of our time relates to public figures who are indicted following some scandal.  We read, and hear about it with great dismay in the lives of prominent religious leaders.  It is made to be a public spectacle when these, and well-known political figures compromise certain standards, and are accused, tried, and convicted.

                We struggled last week with the sentence directed against James Bakker.  On the same day, an actress was convicted of hitting a policeman.  A few days before, one of America’s wealthiest women was indicted for tax evasion.

                It is not new.  We well remember the Nixon years and the Watergate scandal.  One of the men who figured prominently in that was the man who was counsel to President Nixon, a lawyer by the name of Charles Colson.  Colson was found guilty and sentenced to several years’ incarceration.

                During his time in prison something different happened.  He acknowledged his own involvement and guilt, realized that the wrong was in himself, and sought to change his life.  And the help he sought was spiritual.  Mr. Colson became a believer in Jesus Christ.  He later wrote his autobiography with the title, Born Again(1).   

                Many people were skeptical.  “Oh, no, not again,” was a commonly heard refrain.  It has been ten years or more, and Charles Colson is out of prison, still holding his new birth experience, and is involved in ministry to men and women who are in, or recently released from, prison.

I.             The First Theme that We Encounter is Summary. V22 “After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon.”

                Here is a bridge between two important texts.  Some called John 3:16 the most important verse in the Bible.                  W.O. Vaught tells about a prior Little Rock Crusade back in the fifties.  He was sent with a committee from the ministerial association to Fort Worth to check out Mr. Graham.  And, he said, though they brought back a glowing report of Graham’s message and manner, twenty-three of his ministerial colleagues signed a petition saying in effect, “this is not the kind of man we need in Little Rock.”  John the Baptist had his critics also, but they will get very little of our attention this morning. 

                Others refer to chapter 4 as the single most significant chapter in the Bible.  1966 JL Sullivan—John’s Witness to Jesus(2).  1989 HH Hobbs—The Gospel of John:  Invitation to Life(3).  So much more than just a bridge.

                The summary is that of perspective.  John 3:1-21 has provided perspective of the new birth.  John Newton:  “I am not what I ought to be, but thank God, I’m not what I used to be.” Separation from the past, commitment to life of discipleship.

                John 3:22-36 insists that we take note of the increasing centrality of Christ to the believer.  Pilgrimage might begin with loyalty to none. Shifted with loyalty to none but Jesus. Being a follower calls forth two requirements: a statutory commitment, and a circumstance of growth.

                It is summary also of personality.  Facts about Jesus and John otherwise unknown.  Of Jesus early ministry: Matthew 19:1, Mark 10:1—come to Judea, Luke 4:44 Judea (KJV reads Galilee).

                Jesus public ministry before John imprisoned.  Mark 1:14 “After John was delivered up, came Jesus into Galilee.”

                Jesus’ affirmation of baptism.  Synoptics never mention Jesus baptizing.  John 4:2f clarifies this about administering.

                That John continues an independent ministry after Jesus’ baptism at a place called Aenon near Salim.  “There was much water there.”  Summary statement on baptism.  Are you distressed about baptisms?  Some say that John chooses a less promising site to open the way for Christ.

                Finally, there is seen an abrupt change from this revival . . . for Jesus.  Luke 3:3 and Matthew 4:17 depict the common mode of their message.  “Baptism of repentance.” “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  After John is imprisoned, Jesus goes into Galilee (Mark 1:14) with same style and message.  But change is in the wind.  Perhaps this explains John’s uncertainty.  See Matthew 11:1,2.

II.            Next, There is the Theme of Subordination.  V25 “Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples . . . .  Rabbi, [Jesus] baptizeth, and all men come to him.”

                In regard to the ceremonial washing, it was major concern to Jews, and a way to make money.  In Cairo ten years ago coverlets; in Jerusalem no admission to the Dome of the Rock.  Regeneration dealt with inside, therefore they wouldn’t pay the tax.  Discussion turned to Jesus and His prominence over John.

                Matthew 14:1f: “Herod had arrested John . . . because of his brother Phillip’s wife.”  From this diatribe on religious ceremony, John shows us what Christian grace ought to be.  His followers are uneasy because Jesus has come to a more favored posture.  They have no idea what is ahead.  The concept of cross is unknown. 

                He reaffirms the centrality of Jesus.  “I am not he!  You know who is!”  John 4:26f same without the negative.  He sees himself as “friend,” philos.  His role in the wedding is to protect interest of bridegroom.  He guards the chamber where the bride awaits.  John will not usurp Christ’s place.

                To what degree do you subordinate yourself to Jesus? I was envious of a friend when 200 of his people were present at S.C.  I had 20 who had chosen to come to the M.C. to hear warmed over Th. Ms. (Meaning unknown.)  Don’t do it for Brother Lamar’s sake.  There is a reason for doing it, and

Remainder of paragraph lost.

                Someone tells about the passenger who went trackside, found his train, and went aboard. He found the car empty, chose his seat, got comfortable.  After a few minutes a grease-stained trainman came through.  “You’ll have to go up to the forward car.”  “Why? What’s wrong with this one?” “Well, nothing’s wrong with it.  It’s just not hooked up to anything that’s going anywhere.”

III.           Finally, There is the Theme of Superiority.  V31 “He that cometh from above is above all . . .   V35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand.  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life . . . he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.”

                Here is the eternal two-fold choice.  It is not that they are “saved” or they are “lost.”  The choices are: they are saved or lost, or there is nothing.  Then, you can conclude that since there must be something, we are either saved or lost.  Or, are you too sophisticated (worldly) to believe that.

                The choice epitomized here is of life or death.  Deuteronomy 30:15 “See I have set before thee this day, life and good, and death and evil.”  Joshua 24:15 “Choose ye this day whom you will serve.”

                John reminds us that the same choices are still much in vogue today.  Herschel Ford wrote: [The sinful man}

• Shuts the door on his highest possibilities.

• Puts himself in the way of others.

• Puts himself on the devil’s side.

• Insults God.

• Crucifies the Son of God afresh.

• Rejects testimony of greatest men.

• Seals his doom in hell forever.

Conclusion

                We must not, in our haste to get from the greatest verse to the greatest chapter, overlook what may be the greatest concept:  “He  must increase, and I must decrease.”  He must and I must also!  Self-subordination is vital to our faith.

                A line on the drug awareness program (C12 11/30/89) said it well.  “It’s painful to take inventory of the things you’ve done wrong.  It’s painful to change.”

(1) Colson, C. (1976). Born Again. Chosen Books.

(2) Sulllivan, J. (1965). John’s Witness to Jesus. Convention Press.

(3) Hobbs, H. (1988). The Gospel of John: Invitation to Life. Convention Press.

THE WITNESS AND HIS FAITH AND CONVICTIONS

#624                                      THE WITNESS AND HIS FAITH AND CONVICTIONS                                                             

Scripture  John 1:12                                                                                                                                                  2/11/1976

Passage: “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”

I.             Why We Have Come to Believe as We Do.

                Because of our enduring need.  (1) Someone said, “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God”—we believe ourselves to be.  (2) What the whole world is looking for we have found: “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (3) We came to despair in  the atonement of human worth; Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

                Because of the working out of the great promises from God.  (1) That God can accomplish great victories through us.  Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord.  Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”  2 Timothy 1:12 “I . . .am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed unto Him.”  (2) That Jesus is the only enduring hope for people such as we. Matthew 14—Peter walked on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus.  Hebrews 12:2—"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

II.            What We Need to Believe. 

• The deity of Christ. (1) Divine authority—“As the  Father hath sent Me, so send I you,” John 20:21.  (2) Virgin birth, “And the virgin’s name was Mary,” Luke 1:27. (3) The personification of God, “The express image of His person,” Hebrews 1:3.
• Salvation through the blood of Christ.  We will not be disappointed if God saves some other way. (1) Old Testament prophecies: “The chastisement of our peace was upon Him,” Isaiah 53:5.  (2) New Testament identification: “Who bare our sins in His own body,” I Peter 2:24. “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” Revelations 1:5.
• That such salvation comes only by grace, without works. (1) “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8. (2) “Not by works of righteousness, which we have done,” Titus 3:5.
• Man’s sin nature, and his resultant lostness.  (1) Ephesians 2:3, “by nature the children of wrath.” (2) John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil.”  (3) Psalm 51:5, “In sin my mother conceived me.”      
• Inspiration of the Word.
• Obligation to witness.   
• Jesus’ return.    
• The Holy Spirit.