There is more, much more! John 14:15-24

THERE IS MORE, MUCH MORE! (or, To Know Him is to Love Him; To Love Him is to Obey Him) John 14:15-24 Introduction: One of the themes that we have seen repeated in this Gospel is that Jesus came to offer “life” to humanity. This life is referred to frequently as “eternal life” and so our tendency is to think ahead to Heaven and the idea that through faith in Christ we will spend eternity with Him. That is a true, correct statement. But it is not all that He means when He says that He came to offer us “life.” Remember that Jesus made a provocative statement in John 10:10b,

“…I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly…”

That’s what He wants you to experience. Jesus is interested in presenting to humans the one true way to life, though faith in Him. But He wants more for us than simply knowing we are saved: He wants much more, He wants us to experience the abundant life. Believing God, knowing Him, and loving Him are the key to experiencing what God intends for us. Love is not just an emotion; it is a commitment, a choice. If we really love Him, it will be a joy to obey him. We overlapped a little with last week’s Scripture since v.15 introduces a key idea in this paragraph: If we love Jesus, we will obey Him, v.24 frames the same truth from the opposite side: If we don’t love Him we won’t keep His word. One of the most recent commandments He gave, toward the end of chapter 13, he called a “New Commandment,” i.e. that we love one another. Someone might say “I love God, it’s people I have a problem with!” John will give us God’s thoughts on that in I John 4:20, 21, “If someone says ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this is the commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” As we come to know God we will love Him and have intimate fellowship with Him as we walk in obedience to Him.

The Big Idea: We can have a vital, intimate, relationship with the Father through the Son that results in obedience in the power of the Spirit.

I. The Spirit is Present: The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit empowers us to love God and to live in obedience to Him (15-17). The truth reflected in this verse is that obedience flows out of loving Jesus: “If you love me, [or, “you will”] keep my commandments…” The question may be, in light of the context, “how can we do that?” If Peter is going to deny Him, Judas is going to betray Him, and He is going to be delivered up by His own people to be crucified, where does the capacity for living above the struggles and temptations of life in this world come from? What hope is there for any of us? The point is not that we love Him and so must obey Him. The language is clear: “If you love me… you will keep my commandments…”

Listen, the Christian life is not only difficult, if you think you can live it in your own strength you are wrong—it’s not difficult, in our strength is impossible!

But it is not our strength, but His presence and power that is the answer. As the Lord said through the prophet Zechariah, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord…” (Zech 4:6). We introduced the answer last week: the Comforter, our Counselor and Helper, the Encourager called alongside to help, He will enable us. The idea of a transformed life is not a threat, it’s a promise! We know that the Holy Spirit is connected with the idea of powerful Christian witness. Talking of the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost Jesus will say,

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses…”

We see that exemplified in Acts as the apostles, threatened, arrested, and beaten, continue to boldly proclaim Christ. Even as their own lives are in jeopardy, their response was “We cannot stop preaching what we have seen and heard.” This is true. It’s changed our lives. Jesus is God and He died for us was raised the third day. They were saying this to the very leaders that delivered Jesus to Pilate to be crucified! And its not just power to witness… More generally, the Spirit gives us the power of God’s presence, enabling us to live a life that is different, changed by His grace. He is in us, and He guides us. Paul said in Rom 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. …” In Galatians Paul talks about the “fruit of the Spirit…” which is “…is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). “Fruit” indicates something that comes forth, results, from the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. We can have a vital, intimate, relationship with the Father through the Son that results in obedience in the power of the Spirit.

II. The Abiding Presence of the Son: The Coming of the Spirit would follow the unfolding story of the Gospel: the death and resurrection of Jesus (18-20).

Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you” (v.18). On the one hand the connection between Jesus and the Holy Spirit is so vital, that the Spirit can be referred to as the Spirit of Christ. We read for example in Romans 8:9,

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

The Holy Spirit can be called the Spirit of Christ. We also read in Acts 16:6-8,

“They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them…”

Here the Holy Spirit (v.6) is called “the Spirit of Jesus” (v.7). So there is a sense in which the unity within the Godhead, here between the Spirit and the Son, is such, that when the Spirit is present, so is Jesus. But remember that the sending of the Spirit on Pentecost is connected to another event that happened fifty days earlier: the resurrection of Jesus. I think the main point here is that Jesus is looking ahead to His death and resurrection. The “little while” in v.19 is the time until the cross, and His death and burial. The Cross was coming, the “hour” that He had been moving toward, the hour for which He had come. But the disciples would see Him soon after, three days to be precise, when He defeated death in His resurrection. Look ahead to 16:7,

“It’s to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you…”

The cross, resurrection, ascension, and coming of the Spirit on Pentecost are all connected. So the Spirit is with us and in us, and the Son, as He promised, is with us always. We can have a vital, intimate, relationship with the Father through the Son that results in obedience in the power of the Spirit.

III. The Promised Presence of the Father, Leading us Deeper into Life in Christ (21-24).

The language here reflects a deepening, intimate relationship with God. Rev 3:20 speaks of this kind of intimate fellowship when it says, Revelation 3:20 20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” He is talking to the church in Laodecia, and inviting them to move ahead from their lukewarm state into the kind of living, vital relationship He wants with them. We Baptists often practically connect “food” and “fellowship.” The word “fellowship” means communion or sharing. When Jesus spoke in Rev 3:20 of “supping” or “dining” with those who open the door and let Him in, He is speaking to that near Eastern idea of intimate fellowship together. We read in John 14:21-24

21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."

If we love Him we will keep His commandments. That is the evidence, the demonstration of authentic love for Him. “Love” is not just a word that we speak, its not just a feeling or an emotion, it’s a commitment to a person and a relationship that shows itself by actions. Then N.B. what it says: “I will disclose myself to him…” Loving Jesus will enable us to receive deeper revelation of truth. The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. This is the difference between knowing about God, and knowing Him personally. It’s one thing to be able to state correct facts of theology, repeat the doctrinal statement of the church, its another to have a growing relationship with Him as the Spirit guides us into a deepening understanding of His word. Those outside of faith in Christ simply don’t see, they are blind to the truth. Here we read that

“…Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him…”

Obedience shows our love, and the Father leads us deeper in our living, vital, relationship with Him. And the promise is that that living relationship will lead us deeper:

“…and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me…”

The word “abode” here is the same word that Jesus used in 14:2, “dwelling place.” We were discussing this in our last small group meeting and a couple of our ladies made a good observation: Jews in the first century would have thought of the Temple when Jesus spoke of “his Father’s house.” John has been making the point that Jesus himself is the presence of God (e.g. “tear down this Temple and in three days I will raise it up…” (2:19-21). He is the ladder the heaven that the angels ascend and descend on in Jacob’s vision at Beth-El [i.e. “House of God”] (1:51). The point here is that we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to experience this kind of intimate fellowship with God. Because of Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, we are “in Christ” and by faith enter the Holy Place, the very Presence of God. He makes His abode with us.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

Does your life feel empty at times? Or do you perhaps feel overwhelmed by the daily grind? Jesus came that you may life, and that you may have it more abundantly. We can have a vital, intimate, relationship with the Father through the Son that results in obedience in the power of the Spirit.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

If you have trusted Christ as Savior, you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. God is here—with you and in you! If you love Him, you will keep His commandments. One of those was related in this context, at the end of chapter 13, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…” Our “vertical” relationship with God will show itself in our “horizontal” relationship with one another, and with our neighbors. [By the way, a good turn out here on Wednesday afternoon for Gloria’s memorial service will be a testimony to the family: see how they love each other!]. Walk with the King today, and be a blessing! Amen.

Knowing our Triune God - John 14:7-17

Knowing Our Triune God John 14:7-17 Introduction: Many Sundays we sing the Doxology as we just did:

“Praise God from whom all blessing flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…”

We are praising the Triune God when we sing that. When we are talking about God there are some doctrines that we can state, but hardly understand. The word “Trinity” never appears in the Bible. Yet the biblical teaching is that there is only one true God, and that He exists eternally as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Knowing God as He is, as He has revealed Himself to us, is the foundation of the New Life He wants for us: In John 17:3 Jesus will pray,

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

We come to the Father, through the work of the Son, in the power of the Spirit (the promise of the Holy Spirit comes center stage here). Its not too surprising that some religions misunderstand what we are saying when we talk about the Trinity and assume we must be polytheists—people who worship more than one God. The Bible is clear that God is One: Deuteronomy 6:4, “The LORD is our God, The LORD alone…” (my translation). One God. One Divine Essence. Yet the Father is called God in distinction from the Son. John started off saying “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God…” The language relates two persons in face to face relationship. Of course the next phrase introduces the tension: “…and the Word was God…” Jesus has affirmed several times in this Gospel His unique relationship with the Father. Now as he anticipates his departure the revelation reaches another level. It was hinted at back in 7:39 in John’s editorial comment explaining the teaching of Jesus in the preceding verses:

“But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet [given], because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

The glorification of the Son is approaching, the cross drew nearer, and that would be the precursor to the giving of the Holy Spirit. John wants us to know God as He is, in His tri-unity. The Big Idea: Through the Son we know the Father, and by the indwelling Spirit we have communion with Him.

I. Seeing God—The Son reveals the Father: Like Father, Like Son! Jesus reveals the Father through His works and words (14:7-11).

How could humans know a transcendent God? He needed to reveal himself in some tangible way that we could understand. Remember the story of the child, afraid of the dark, not wanting her mother to leave her bedside. “Don’t be afraid, God is here.” The reply came, “I know, but right now I need somebody with skin on!” To really know God, He had to make Himself known to us. So Jesus, the eternal Son, could say, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus reveals the Father (Read, John 14:7-9 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?”). John gave a summary statement of what we see revealed throughout in the Gospel in 1:18,

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him [i.e., “He has made Him known…”].”

Or as Paul said in Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”, and again in Colossians 2:9

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…”

GOD became a man, in Jesus we know the Father and have seen Him. How is it possible for humans to know a transcendent God, a God so immense, omnipotent, awesome (that was our theme Wed. nite, Ps 8, “Awesome God; Amazing Grace!”). Eternal God, the Son, took upon himself a human nature. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). In Paul’s words, “…he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men…” Jesus words come from the Father and His works reveal the Father. John 14:10-11

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”

If the Words alone were not convincing the works that Jesus did could leave no doubt. Yes, it’s through the Son we know the Father, and by the indwelling Spirit we have communion with Him.

II. Following God—The Son is an example to His followers: Like the Master, so His disciples (14:12-15).

Through faith in Jesus we carry out His mission in the world: 12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” What is Jesus talking about here? Consider the miracles that He did in this gospel, the signs that revealed and proved Him to be the Messiah! What greater works could his followers do? When we turn to Acts we see miracles done at hands of the apostles, in the name of Jesus. The works confirmed their authority to bring the Word of Christ. We read in Acts 14:3

“…they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Through Him and because of Him we can pray to the Father. We read in 14:13,14,

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

We’ll talk more about prayer as we continue through the Upper Room discourse, but it is clear that Jesus is not saying that God has given us a blank check, we can name it and claim it and its ours. If we pray in His name we are in fellowship with Him, praying according to His will, not necessarily our wants. When He taught His disciples how to pray, He said pray like this: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven…” His will become important to us when we know Him. Because we love Him, we obey Him. We’ve all heard the saying, “to know you is to love you!” Well, when God is the object, knowing, loving, and obeying are parallel, virtually inseparable ideas. Jesus said, 15 " If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Obedient Christianity is normal Christianity. *** Through the Son we know the Father, and by the indwelling Spirit we have communion with Him.

III. Indwelt by God—The Son asks the Father, who sends the Spirit, who will be with us and in us always (14:16,17).

Here Jesus introduces a topic He had alluded to earlier. At one point John, the writer, explains the meaning of Jesus words: John 7:37-39,

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Even in this context Jesus alluded to His impending departure, that where He was going they could not follow, but promised something new, God present in a new way, filling them and coming out of them so that because of him they become like a fountain of life in a thirsty world. Now the hour was at hand, Jesus is preparing His disciples for a major transition: they would have to carry out His mission without Him being physically present. But He would not leave them as orphans. He promises to send “another Helper.” Using Greek or Hebrew words in a sermon doesn’t usually help much, and it could confuse the message. Like the Sunday School teacher who was questioning her students about the image of a bird used in Scripture to describe the Holy Spirit. She had in mind the Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove at His baptism. But the student shouted out, “A Parakeet!” When she questioned where that was found in the Bible the child said, I heard the pastor say Jesus was sending the Holy Spirit as our Paraklete, but I think he meant to say ‘parakeet’”! The actual word, Parakletos, one called alongside [to help]. “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper…” The translations struggle to find an adequate English translation: Helper, Advocate, Counselor, Encourager, Comforter… all of these terms reflect an aspect of what the Comforter is and does for the people of God. “…that He may be with you forever…” Think about that! You are never alone… He is with us, not to condemn us but to help us, to comfort us, to give us counsel and guidance. He is here when we come together to celebrate his presence, He is with us when we are tired and alone and could easily despair, He is there when the enemy would taunt us and tempt us to choose sin over worship and submission to Him. He is with us always, He will never leave us or forsake us. And that is not all… Notice what Jesus promises in v.17,

“…the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

If you have believed in Jesus, that is, if you have turned from sin and turned to Him in faith for salvation, God’s Spirit lives in you. He lives with us and now, since Pentecost, He dwells IN us! This is the idea that Paul tried to get across to the Corinthians when he said in I Cor 3:16,

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

Then again in in 6:19 of I Cor,

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

When the Hebrews left Egypt under the leadership of Moses they were instructed to build a Tabernacle which traveled with them through the wilderness wandering. It was the place of God’s presence in their midst. When they took the land, it was finally Solomon who was permitted by God to build the Temple in Jerusalem, and that became the new place of God’s presence among the people. Jesus of course came and He himself was the presence and revelation of God. Now get this: we are the body of Christ, and we have become the temple, the dwelling place, the place of His presence! God is with us, and in us. • When we are tempted to sin, remember God in His holiness is with you and in you! • When we repent and come to Him with a contrite heart, God in his grace and mercy is already here, waiting. • When we feel alone and abandoned and unloved, the One who so loved us that He gave His only Son, is with us and in us. • When we feel overwhelmed by opportunities and needs that are before us, remember the God who spoke and created the universe lives in us, and is with us.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

Through the Son, and because of Him, we know the Father, and by the indwelling Spirit we have communion with Him.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

Have you come to the Father through the Son? If you have, do you realize that the Spirit of God dwells in you? How should you then live? Think about that! Amen.

The Way is Peace for Troubled Hearts - John 14:1-6

The Way is Peace for Troubled Hearts John 14:1-6 Introduction: It is easy for us to be troubled, to feel overwhelmed in the face of life in this fallen world. Jesus spoke of the “signs of the times” in His discourse in Matthew 24 (Mark 13). I believe he was telling his disciples that those fearsome events he describes would be part of life in this fallen world until He returns: wars and rumors of wars, famines and pestilence, earthquakes in diverse places (that sounds familiar, recall the testimony of Yoshito Kato a couple of weeks ago). People look in a lot of different places for comfort and hope in this troubled world. Psychology, meditation, yoga, self-help books, TV gurus, sometimes to substance abuse that at least dulls the anxiety. Jesus knew what His disciples would face after His departure. He knew the challenges that the Church would face through the centuries. He knew the challenges that you would face as well. He knew every one of the prayer requests that we have listed in our bulletin. He knew the needs that we mention at our Wednesday prayer meetings. He knew the personal struggles and crises that you faced last week – He knows the biggest concern in your heart right now. His word to His disciples is a word to each one of us: “Let not your heart be troubled…” It’s a tender scene, like a parent comforting a child, preparing them for his impending death. In this context Jesus addressed his disciples as “little children” (13:33). It’s not a common word in the NT. Jesus uses it here, later John in his old age will use it himself as he writes his first letter. In their anxiety He promises peace (14:27) and that they will not be left as orphans (14:18). The Big Idea is that we can have peace in a troubled world because through faith in Jesus we are citizens of Heaven.

I. We can have peace because we know Him: Faith in Jesus is the answer to our anxieties (14:1).

Jesus begins, “Let not your heart be troubled…” Remember the context. What was happening in chapter thirteen? The disciples may have begun to feel uneasy about what Jesus was saying to them. He was going away? Where? Could he be talking about dying? He would be betrayed? Even Peter would deny Him, not once, but three times that very night? Peter was the “rock,” they probably viewed him as the strongest of the group, if he would fail what hope was there for any of them? How could this be? What did it mean? Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled….” We’ve seen this word before in John, in fact its an emotion that Jesus himself experienced. We see him At the tomb of Lazarus, seeing Mary (and Martha) weeping, mourning the untimely death of her brother,

“…when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33).

After His triumphal entry in John 12, as He anticipates the passion, possibly feeling already the weight of the sin of humanity crushing down on Him, He says

"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27).

Finally as he predicts his betrayal by one of His own disciples we read in John 13:21,

“When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.’"

Jesus can sympathize with our struggles, and He is the Prince of Peace.” The same word is used here John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled…” and again a little further on we’ll see it in John 14:27 where Jesus says,

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

We don’t need to be troubled in our hearts, He was troubled for us: He bore our sorrows and carried our grief. We read that very thing in Isaiah 53:4, “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows…” He took our sins, and the consequences of our sins in His own body on the cross. We don’t need to be troubled in our hearts, because Jesus, our High Priest can empathize with us, He himself “bore our sorrows and carried our grief.” You remember the story of the little girl terrified by a vicious thunder storm. Her mother assured her she needn't be afraid, she was right in the next room, and Jesus was right here with her, and He never sleeps. She asked “Are you sure he never sleeps?” That’s right, the mother replied. “I guess I can go to sleep then, there is no use both of us staying up!” He knows your pain, your heart aches, your struggles. As we sang one of our songs today I could imagine in my mind’s eye Jesus, walking down this aisle, one by one putting His hand on our shoulder, looking into our eyes, saying “Fear not, Let not your heart be troubled…” He knows you, personally, intimately, and He promises to be with you always. The second part of v.1 can be translated in different ways, in this case based on the context I like the NIV which takes it as parallel imperative statements: “Trust in God. Trust also in me.” We needn’t be overcome with anxiety in this troubled world, because we know Him, and He is trustworthy. He is bigger than any crisis we might face in the world or in our individual lives. Our hearts needn’t be troubled, we don’t need to be afraid. Because we know Him, we can have peace in a troubled world. After all, through faith in Jesus we are citizens of Heaven!

II. We can have peace because our future is sure: Assurance of Heaven gives us perspective in difficult times (14:2,3).

The translations struggle a bit with v.2 and we could get bogged down in the details, but the main idea is clear enough: the is more than enough room in Father’s house, and Jesus is making ready a place just for you if you know Him! Warren Wiersbe said in his Bible commentary on this passage:

Some years ago a London newspaper held a contest to determine the best definition of “home.” The winning entry was, “Home is the place where you are treated the best and complain the most.” The poet Robert Frost said that home is the place that, when you arrive there, they have to take you in!

When we were appointed as missionaries we had to leave behind our home in NJ and move to a house in Brazil where we lived for a year, then moved to an apartment, then to another. When we had a furlough we came back to the US and lived somewhere else. Sarah grew up in that context of international moves and often wondered where home was. Mary Ann told her if we were there together, it was home. The idea here is that we are all citizens of heaven (see Philippians 3:20,21). We have another home, a permanent one, prepared for us by the King himself! Heaven is your home if you know Jesus (Hey, you all are from away too)! We have a room reserved in Heaven, and either we will go there through death, or Jesus will take us there when He returns for the church! Think about it: this world is temporary and so the problems of this world are temporary. Its like the old time Bible teacher who said one of his favorite phrases from the Bible in times of crisis is “…and it came to pass…”! By that he meant that whatever the crisis was, it didn't come to stay, it was temporary, it came to pass! Well that may not be good hermeneutics, but it is right theology. A song says, “Who could mind the journey when the road leads home?” The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, “…for the joy set before Him endured the cross…” (Heb 12:2). Perspective! As Paul wrote, “…the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us…” (Rom 8:18). We can have peace in a troubled world because through faith in Jesus we are citizens of Heaven.

III. We can have peace because we know the Way home: The One who is truth has given himself as the Way to Life with the Father (14:4-6).

This is one of the great “I AM” statements of this Gospel. I think the phrases go together, qualifying and complementing one another. He is essentially saying that He is God the Son, the true and only way to life with the Father. Vv.4,5 show that the disciples are still struggling along to understand: Jesus said, "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" • “I AM…” For the reader of the Gospel there is no question, 23 times in this gospel Jesus uses the phrase, each time revealing a bit more about who He is. From the self-revelation to the woman at the well as she spoke of the coming messiah, “I AM [he]”, to his word to the disciples as came walking on the water, “Fear not, I AM…”, to his response to those who came seeking Him in the garden in John 18, He is the great I AM, Yahweh, God incarnate. Immanuel. • “…the Way…” This evokes in me the image of Jacob’s vision which Jesus alludes to in John 1 as He speaks with Nathanael. The angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Jesus is the way, the only way to the Father. • “…the Truth…” The question of absolutes is challenged today. We see it all the time when we present the Scriptures to people, especially the unsaved. Well that’s your interpretation; this is what it means to me… Later in this Gospel Pilate will ask, “What is truth?” Today the world wants to deny absolute truth. Like is or not, there are absolutes in the Bible. Right and wrong. True and false. [Some would argue today that marriage should be reinterpreted, that God’s design as revealed in the Bible was for a different time, a different culture. God’s revelation is true. He designed marriage for one man and one woman, period.] Jesus came to reveal the Father and make possible our salvation. We can trust Him, because He is the Truth. • “…and the Life…” – He said at the tomb of Lazarus that he was the “resurrection and the life.” He is speaking about eternal life, the abundant life God wants for His people, life with meaning. • The only Way to the Father: “No one comes to the Father but by Me…” That is an exclusive statement and it is an offense to many people. It’s not my view, it’s God’s Word that matters. As Peter would preach in the book of Acts, “There is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” None. Only through faith in Jesus, recognizing who He is, trusting in what He has done for us, can we approach the Father.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

We can have peace in a troubled world because through faith in Jesus we are citizens of Heaven.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

There are a lot of uncertainties in the world. For many of us, we can easily despair about things that are beyond our control. Politics. The economy. Terrorism. Health… Do you know Jesus? You can trust Him, implicitly. Your future is secure. That is a reason for peace on our hearts! Think about that. Amen.

A New Commandment John 13:31-38

A New Commandment: Love one another as I have loved you! John 13:31-38

Introduction: We return this morning to the upper room with Jesus and His closest followers. Jesus the Master Teacher, is preparing his disciples, equipping them for what is about to happen. John 13:1 said, “Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” What does that mean? “Love” is a popular topic, it’s the subject of books, movies, and music, but what does it look like? The world has its own superficial ideas. Love is a feeling, an infatuation with a person. So the feeling fades and the relationship is abandoned. “I don’t love her anymore” or “Don’t I have a right to be happy?” The idea of commitment, much less sacrifice, is lost. Jesus said: “Greater love has no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.“ John said in 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren…” and in 1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” Paul said in Eph 5:2, “Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us.” Sacrifice, as John 13:1 said, “He loved them to the…” telos, to the end, NIV, “He showed the full extent of his love.” Context: In our last study in John we saw two weeks ago that we should examine our hearts to be sure we know Him and then live in such a way that it is evident that we do! This passage shows one important aspect of the Christian Life. It’s a life defined by love. The Big Idea: Jesus showed us what love looks like. As we choose to love one another we show the world that we know Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

I. Jesus showed His love by being willing to lay down His life. He knew that God was being glorified as the Gospel story unfolded according to plan (31-33).

The glory of God has been a major theme in John’s gospel from the start, but it will be increasingly emphasized as the cross draws nearer. The first 12 chapters of John are referred to by scholars as the “Book of Signs,” as the emphasis is on the miraculous signs that Jesus did. The signs were revelation, they “revealed his glory,” to those who had eyes to see. But the next part of John, the second half, is alternatively referred to either as the Book of the Passion, as it emphasizes the cross, or, the Book of Glory, as it shows the full revelation of God’s glory in the cross of Christ. Here we see the glory of the Father intimately connected to the glory of the Son: We read in John 13:31-32

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 "If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.”

That is fascinating in light of the Old Testament teaching that God’s glory is exclusive and personal, He doesn’t share it with anyone. We read in Isaiah 48:11 “…I will not give My glory to another…” Then He says again in Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another...” In John we’ve seen the glory of God revealed in Jesus. We see here the unity of the Father and the Son: God will not share His glory with another. This is one more evidence that Jesus is God, the eternal Son, One with the Father and the Spirit. The Father, the Son, the Spirit, three persons, One God. TriUnity. We can state it, but do we understand it? Probably not! Jesus alludes to his imminent death in 13:33, “Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you.” He uses personal language, calling them His “little children.” His love and care for His own echo in that tender phrase. But how would Christ’s death bring glory to God? Let me highlight three ways: • First, it would reveal God’s faithfulness. God had promised a redeemer, One who would crush the serpent’s head and provide the means for sinners to be reconciled to him. God revealed His plan in the Old Testament prophecies and promises and the fulfillment of those promises brings glory to His Name. He is the Faithful One. • Secondly, it revealed his Holiness and His justice. How could God be just, and justify sinners? Paul treats this question in Romans 3:22-26 (NLT)

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”

• Finally, and even more relevant to this context is that the cross brings glory to God, because it showed us His love: 1 John 4:9 “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” A song says “love was when God became a man.” Jesus showed us what love looks like. As we choose to love one another we show the world that we know Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

II. Jesus modeled love and calls us to love one another as a testimony to the world (34-35).

We see here what we are to do, how we are to do it, and why we are to do it. What we are to do: Love one another! John develops this idea in his first epistle: 1 John 4:7-8 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. How we are to do it: As Jesus has loved us! In John 15:13 Jesus will say, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples He said that He was giving them an example, they should do for each other what He was doing for them. Remember the start of this chapter, “He loved them to the end…” i.e., “He showed them the full extent of his love…” All the way to the cross. Paul said, in Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” By the way husbands, in another context you are specifically called to love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. That means putting her needs, her good, her happiness before your own. Why we are to do it: As a testimony to the world! Our love for each other will testify to the world the reality of our relationship with God through Christ. “By this men will know you are my disciples…” As we love one another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens, the world will take notice, they will see that we are different because we know Jesus. What does that look like? How does it work out practically? Francis Schaffer in his book “The Mark of a Christian” suggested that one mark of love is being willing to apologize and seek forgiveness from those we have wronged. Jesus used the example of leaving one’s sacrifice at the altar as we go and seek reconciliation. The flip side of that is being willing to forgive. The NT word has the idea of releasing from a debt, letting go. Are you holding a grudge? Do you frequently “get historical” with someone, reminding them of a past offense? LET IT GO. Forgive. After all, consider what Christ has forgiven you! Jesus told a powerful story that gets to the heart of the matter, How many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Jesus said in Matthew 18:23-35:

"…a certain king …wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents [According to one source, a talent was about 15 years wages for a working person!]. 25 "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; [a denarius was about a days wage for a worker] and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

That’s an embarrassing story, maybe because it is so easy to find ourselves exactly in the middle of it, holding on to a debt, a grudge, after we have been forgiven a debt that was a million times greater, a debt we had no hope of paying. Think what you have been forgiven! “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Forgive. LET IT GO. That’s love. *** After all, Jesus showed us what love looks like. As we choose to love one another we show the world that we know Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

III. Despite our failures Jesus showed us love by choosing to lay down his life, and so has made our future sure (36-38).

Jesus knew what was coming—for Himself, and for his disciples. Including Peter. Still, He loved him to the end, He showed the full extent of His love. He was willing to die for Peter knowing that Peter would deny him three times that night. He was willing to die for you and me knowing that we would willfully choose to sin. In Romans 5:7-8 we read,

For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Similarly in 1 John 4:10-12 it says

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

I’ve had people say, "I don’t think God could forgive me, not after what I have done." Have you heard that? Have you said that? He forgave Peter, He forgave the thief on the cross, He forgave those who drove the nails into His hands. He will forgive you if you turn to Him in faith and receive the salvation He purchased in His blood.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

Jesus showed us what love looks like. As we choose to love one another we show the world that we know Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

How can we practically show Jesus to the world by loving one another? Forgive… serve… Paul said “I beseech you, walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph 4:1). He wrote in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.” Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32 “...be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Think about that. Amen.

He Chose you on purpose, for a purpose! John 13:18-30

HE KNOWS YOU, DO YOU KNOW HIM? (or, “SHEEP, GOATS, [and an occasional wolf]”)

John 13:18-30 Introduction: John 13 began in the upper room, a last meal for Jesus to share with His disciples. Looking to give them an object lesson, to reinforce His teaching with a living, powerful illustration, He, their Master and teacher, washed the feet of His disciples, revealing the attitude of a servant, calling them to think of others before themselves. And now, even through the unfolding story of His betrayal, Jesus was working to reveal His glory and to show His love. The teacher was still teaching, building their faith, equipping them for life and ministry without His physical presence.

The Big Idea: We should examine our hearts to be sure we know Him, and then live in such a way that it is evident that we do!

I. Jesus knows the truth about us: He predicted His betrayal by Judas in order to strengthen the other disciples’ faith (13:18a). Jesus said in verse 17, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” His disciples were to be doers of the word, and not hearers only! But He wasn’t telling that to everyone in the room. The works He was calling them to do had to spring from genuine faith. Jesus knows His sheep, and He knows the hearts of the goats! He realized that his lesson on serving one another as He had served them was not actually relevant to everyone in the room. “I do not speak concerning all of you…” His message applied to the believers in the room—even Jesus was dealing with a mixed multitude. In virtually every context where the Bible is preached or taught not every hearer is in the same place spiritually. Before we can follow Him we have to know Him. This is a warning against presumption. Judas walked with Jesus, he was surrounded by believers and in close proximity to the Master himself. But he did not know Him. Being in church is a good thing. You have a chance to hear the truth and to learn about God. Going to church is not a substitute for personally trusting Jesus as the Savior and Lord of your life.

“I know whom I have chosen…”

Elections are coming up this year in which Americans will choose the leaders who will set the course for our nation for the coming years. I hope you are all registered to vote and informed on the issues! The verb here is eklegomai transliterated into English “to elect.” John uses it in three other contexts of those He had chosen as his disciples, to carry out his mission. We read in 6:70,

Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"

15:16 says "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”

Finally in 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

I am 6' now, but when I was a middle school student and into high school I was kind of short and scrawny, and usually, when they were picking teams for a game I was one of the last ones chosen. You have been chosen by God himself to be a part of His team. If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, think about this: He has chosen you out of the world and appointed you to have a part in His mission to the world! I was visiting a dear brother in the hospital this week and we spoke about this passage. He pointed me to Jeremiah 1 where God was calling the prophet in Jeremiah 1:5,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Before you were coneived you were known by God. According to Paul before the world itself was created He knew you and chose you! You are exactly the one He wanted! He knows you, with all your flaws and weaknesses, and He will use you, if you will yield yourself to Him. We should examine our hearts to be sure we know Him, and then live in such a way that it is evident that we do!

II. Jesus is God, so He knew what was happening, he knew the truth about Judas: Ironically, His betrayal was a fulfillment of Scripture and so a vindication of Jesus’ identity: He is the great I AM (13:18b-25).

Prophecy has purpose, to reveal, to testify to God’s nature and to reveal His plan. Jesus’ betrayal by Judas was a fulfillment of Scripture and so a vindication of Jesus identity. The citation of Scripture and the prediction of His impending betrayal (v.18,19) is a further revelation that He is the great I AM. He talks about this before hand so his disciples will “believe” Think of this, not only the cross, but betrayal by a friend were prophesied centuries before!

“…but [all of this happened so…] that the Scripture might be fulfilled that says, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me’…”

Prophecy was being fulfilled: this a prophetic statement in Psalm 41:9. The writing of this scripture before it happened on the pages of the Hebrew Bible is a further testimony, more evidence, vindicating the identity of Jesus.

“…that… you may believe that I AM [He]” (13:19).

Without the fuller understanding of what Jesus has revealed about himself, this statement would almost be incomprehensible: “Now I tell you, before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will know, that I AM…” I AM what? The NKJV fills in “I am He,” that is the promised One, the One that spoke to Moses in the wilderness, I AM that I AM.” The fulfillment of prophesy written in Scripture and spoken by Jesus would be one more means that He used to build the faith of the disciples, and to confirm His identity as God the Son—the Great I AM. V.20 hints at the mission that faces the church. “He who accepts anyone I send accepts me; whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me…” It anticipates the words of Christ after the resurrection, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21). God had a mission for the Son to complete—to provide salvation through his death on our behalf. Now he has a mission for us to carry out: proclaiming the gospel of salvation by grace through faith to the world. We are sent! You are sent! You have a mission field that you touch on a daily basis. And if they reject you, don’t take it personally, it’s Jesus that they are rejecting. Though Jesus knew the heart of Judas, He was nevertheless “deeply troubled” by his treachery. Judas was with Him for three years. Walking, talking, living, their relationship was as disciple and teacher. Jesus took no pleasure in the reprobate heart of Judas. It hurt Him, it troubled Him that Judas would turn his back on Him. We see the heart of Jesus, his compassion, his full humanity alongside His absolute divinity. We saw the same word in 12:27, there his “soul” was troubled over the impending passion, here his imminent betrayal left Him “troubled. We need to watch for wandering sheep. We need to be diligent in teaching the truth so that goats among the sheep will be convicted of their need. The question of John, instigated by Peter, may have been motivated by lingering doubt, “could it be me?” That might be better than presumption (22-25)! It may be that Judas was deceiving himself up to the last minute. Covering up his sin, hiding his treacherous intentions from the others (all but Jesus that is!). Some think Judas may have even justified his actions thinking that he was forcing Jesus to show his hand and to reveal his power. I can’t count the number of times I have counseled with people who were engaging in sin, and justifying their behavior – God wants me to be happy, this is different from other cases we love each other (but are you married), we are really committed (but, are you married), you don’t know my heart (no, but God does!). Sometimes, “I believe the Lord has led me to do this…” (Well, if it is in direct contradiction to His Word, its not the Lord that is leading you!). We should examine our hearts to be sure we know Him, and then live in such a way that it is evident that we do!

III. Jesus is God, and He was in control, over-ruling even The Darkness and the Devil to accomplish His purpose (26-30).

13.26-In response to John’s question Jesus gave an answer, that apparently wasn’t understood by John (or Peter), until perhaps after the cross. Based on vv.28-29 it seems like still no one got what Jesus said, they suspected nothing about Judas. Even as Jesus handed the bread to Judas it seems that Peter and John were blinded to what Jesus had just said: “Ok, you’re giving us bread, and it’s one of us?” Back in v.2 we read that the devil had put treachery in Judas’ heart – now it goes further in v.27, “Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him…” The word is striking here, the bread entered Judas, then Satan entered him. It’s clear that the enemy was working, seeking to destroy Jesus, seeking to defeat this intrusion of Good into this world of evil. Of course He was just as oblivious it seems to God’s plan as were the disciples. Remember the scene in the “Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” where Aslan had delivered himself up to ransom Peter from the clutches of the witch? He he surrenders himself to be bound, and laid on the stone table, and the witch plunges a knife through his heart. Celebration—for a moment. She thought her enemy was beaten. That seems to have been Satan’s thinking—oblivious to what God was doing in allowing Jesus to go to the cross. But apparent defeat would be turning into overwhelming victory! In 27b, was Jesus talking to Satan or to Judas (or to both)? He said what you do, do quickly. He had no plans to interfere, no intention of exposing him to the other disciples so that they would intervene, in fact it may be He is sending Judas out before it dawns on John and Peter what Jesus had just said, “It’s to the one I give the morsel of bread…” “Get out of here (while you can!) and get it done!” It’s clear that Jesus is in control, He is directing the unfolding of this story. The leaves are starting to change. Fall is still a week away officially, by have you noticed it’s getting dark earlier?... That little phrase at the end of v.30, “And it was night.” That was the time of day, but by now “light and darkness” conveys a deeper meaning to the reader of John. The light shined in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it. The prince of darkness sought to snuff out the Light of the World. Dawn will come.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

It’s not God’s purpose in giving us this story—nor is it mine in preaching from it—to cause you to doubt your salvation. It is a good thing however to allow the Word, from time to time, to push us to take an honest look in the mirror, and first of all to make certain that we have trusted in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. We should examine our hearts to be sure we know Him, and then live in such a way that it is evident that we do!

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

First of all, we should be cautioned against the danger of presumption. There was an old chorus that sang, “If you think this business of serving the Lord is just singing in the choir or serving on the board, you’ve just been kidding yourself…” Going to church won’t save you. Giving money won’t save you. Just as the blood had to be applied over the door of the Jews in Egypt for the firstborn to be spared, the blood of the Lamb must be applied to our heart through faith in Jesus. Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to His cross I cling. For those who have done that, think about this, He knew you and chose you before you were ever conceived, before the world was created. He chose you on purpose, for a purpose. Are you willing to allow Him to use you however He would chose? In light of what He was done for us, it’s the least we can do! Amen.

Improving your Serve! John 13:1-17

Improving your Serve John 13:1-17

Introduction: I remember hearing Dr. James Dobson telling the story of a couple he was counseling. The husband had gotten very frustrated with his wife’s lack of care in the cleanliness of the house. She just didn’t seem to care that he worked all day and wanted to come home to a clean house. Well one day he came home and saw a chicken bone under the table! The worst thing was they weren’t having chicken for dinner, that was two nights ago! He was furious. He determined not to say anything, but to wait and see how long it took her to pick up that chicken bone. Each day he would come home and look, and sure enough that bone was still there. Finally, after a week, he could take it any more and he exploded. “Don’t you see that chicken bone?!” he shouted. “Do you realize that has been there all week?” His wife calmly replied, “That chicken bone has been there all week? Why didn’t you pick it up?” Sometimes we get so focused on “what we have coming to us,” that the idea of serving someone else just doesn’t come to mind. I remember the story of a student at a Bible school in the Philippines who became disturbed over the condition of the men’s rooms. When nothing was done to eliminate the filth, he took matters into his own hands and complained to the principal of the school. A little while later, the student noticed the problem was being corrected, but he saw with amazement that the man with the mop and pail in hand was the principal himself! Later the student commented: “I thought that he would call a janitor, but he cleaned the toilets himself. It was a major lesson to me on being a servant and, of course, it raised a question in my own mind as to why I hadn’t taken care of the problem!” A servant attitude is revealed by our actions. If we really love one another like Jesus said we should, are we willing to serve one another? Jesus showed His love by dying as a sacrifice for sinners when “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). As the Lord Himself will say a little further on in John, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Paul reminded the Ephesians, “Christ… loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma …” (Eph. 5:2). “We know love by this,” John wrote, “that He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). Love is not just an emotion, it is a choice that shows itself in action. James said “faith without works is dead…” I think the biblical evidence would affirm the parallel truth that “love without works is dead…” Jesus showed his love, by becoming a servant. Do you have the mind of Christ? Do you have the attitude of a servant? How do you react one someone treats you like one? The Big Idea: Jesus showed His love for us by taking the form of a humble servant. We show our love by our willingness to serve.

I. AN ACT OF SERVANTHOOD: A Servant exemplifies love that never fails (13:1-5).

The scene described here in John 13 would have been shocking, unthinkable. Not only a respected teacher, their Rabbi, but the One they had come to know as the Son of God, humbling himself as a lowly servant. Washing feet—It was such a lowly act of service that there was a rabbinic law that no male Jewish servant should be required to do it, it was for foreigners, or women or children. Jesus had a way of turning the world’s expectations upside down. First the setting is outlined in 13:1… Passover, His hour had come, specifically the hour of His departure and return to the Father, He loved his own, to the end. (The NIV says, “He now showed them the full extent of 1His love” That certainly is true: greater love has no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends). This is an example of a servant’s heart, an act done by Jesus to teach his disciples, and it is motivated by love. He loved them to the end. By the way, if you know Jesus as Savior and Lord you can have that same assurance. He has showed His love for you, and His love for you will never fail. Paul said in Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” His love for you won’t fail! V.2 gives us a little more information about the moment, the devil already put treachery in Judas’ heart… The story was unfolding exactly as Jesus knew it would. Rather than thinking of himself He used the opportunity to teach His disciples, to prepare them a little more for continuing as a body, as a family, without his physical presence. Think about what v.3 is saying: Jesus knew the Father had put all things into his hands. He was in control, he had all authority. Judas was about to betray him and he doesn’t raise a hand to stop him. Jesus knew who he was and where he was from and here he was going. God the Son. And he does this most humble service for his disciples, including Judas! Jesus showed His love for us by taking the form of a humble servant. We show our love by our willingness to serve.

II. A LESSON ABOUT GRACE: Jesus came to provide salvation and the means to grow in holiness and to maintain fellowship with God (13:6-11).

This lesson on servanthood is only one step toward the greatest demonstration of the suffering servant, when Jesus willingly goes to the cross. Many years later Peter would write,

“You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19).

In the same epistle he wrote that “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Besides teaching his disciples a lesson about humility and serving one another, there is also a spiritual symbolism to this scene. In John 13:6-10 we read

6 And so He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand hereafter." 8 Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" [He felt himself unworthy] Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." [He didn’t think before talking, but wanted to relate his total commitment to Jesus] 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

(He knew Judas’ heart…) On a spiritual level, once we are cleansed, saved by grace through faith in Christ, we don’t need to get saved again. We don’t need another bath, but we do need to regularly have our feet washed. I think at a spiritual level this refers to the confession of sin that should characterize the life of a believer in Jesus. John said in his first letter,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession and cleansing go together. We’ve been forgiven, once and for all, through faith in Christ. Why then does John talk about confession? The verbal tense reflects the idea of an ongoing, repeated action, something that is characteristic of the life of a believer. Because we are still in this fallen world and because we have a nature that is redeemed but still affected by sin, we still sin. When we do, we are convicted by the Spirit, and confess our sin. If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior you’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb! You are clean. You have eternal life. But, our feet still get dirty as we walk through this world, and they need regular washing. Would I be pushing this too far to say that one aspect of washing each others’ feet, of loving as Jesus loved, is to be willing to forgive, as Christ has forgiven us? Paul said in Ephesians 4:2

“…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,..”

If confession and cleansing are necessary for Christians to maintain fellowship with God, isn’t dealing with the things that would separate us from one another necessary? Confession, confrontation, forgiveness. Willingness to do these humbling acts will deepen our relationships with one another. Is it hard? At times. But remember that Jesus showed His love for us by taking the form of a humble servant. We show our love by our willingness to serve.

III. A CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP THROUGH SERVANTHOOD (13:12-17).

The disciples were concerned about which of them was greatest, Jesus shows them that is the wrong question—rather they should be asking how they can follow the example of their master, by serving others. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,

"Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

Jesus is using powerful imagery here. By now the disciples had an idea of who Jesus is, the Son of God. Yet we know from the other gospels, that once again, at the last supper, they were discussing which of them was greatest! Jesus got up from the table and served them in the most humble way imaginable. He, their teacher and Lord, washed their dusty feet. Then he tells them it was a lesson, as He served them, they should serve on another. Its not human nature! The mantra of fallen humans is to “Look out for number one!” It’s all about me! Remember the story about the novelist who met an old friend? After they had talked for two hours, the novelist said, “Now we’ve talked about me long enough-let’s talk about you! What did you think of my last novel?” I was interested to read that one of Theodore Roosevelt’s own children commented about his self-centeredness: “When he went to a wedding, he wanted to be the bride. When he went to a funeral, he was sorry he couldn’t be the corpse!”

"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

Jesus showed His love for us by taking the form of a humble servant. We show our love by our willingness to serve.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

Our human nature says look out for number one! Our natural tendency is to prioritize our own comfort. We all like to be loved and to receive love. Jesus says, “If you know these things…”, i.e. the lesson he has just taught about putting the needs of others before your own, about humbly serving in the name of Jesus, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Shortly after WW2, Europe was in shambles, picking up the pieces. One of the saddest consequences of war then and now is the children who were orphaned. Early one chilly morning an American soldier was making his way back to his barracks in London. As he turned a corner he saw a little boy, dressed in rags with his nose pressed against the window of a bakery. .Inside, the cook was working on a batch of pastries. The soldier stopped, and walked over to where the boy was standing looking in the window. As the hot pastries came out of the oven the boy was pressed against the glass. The soldier’s heart went out to the boy next to him. “Would you like some of those?” the soldier asked. “Oh yeah, … I would!” The American bought a dozen and came out and gave the bag to the boy. He turned to walk back to his jeep and felt a tug on his coat. The boy looked at his face and asked, “Mister… are you God?” It may be, that when we serve others, thinking no one is watching, expecting nothing in return, that we reflect Jesus most clearly. AMEN.

"To Whom has the Arm of the Lord been Revealed?"

TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED? John 12:37-50

Introduction: “Apologetics” is an area of study that relates not to saying “I’m sorry!” [Though that would be a valid and important study for another sermon!] but rather to defending the truth of the Christian Faith. We raised one question last week that has been put before the church for two millennia: If Jesus really is the Son of God and did the things the Bible says He did, why was He rejected by his own people? Part of the answer that is difficult to grasp is related in this context. Jesus died because God planned for Him to die so that we could be saved through faith in Him. The Context: Jesus had just spoken of his impending death/departure and called his listeners to believe in the Light. The last phrase of v.36 is interesting, the same word that appeared in 8:58, He was “…hidden…” from them. In both contexts it seems to me that is talking about more than the fact that suddenly he was gone and they couldn’t find Him. They couldn’t see, they couldn’t understand, He was hidden from them. God had a plan then that had to lead to Calvary, and He has a plan now that we should preach the cross, proclaim the Gospel, and call people to repentence and authentic faith in Jesus. The Big Idea: It was God’s plan for Jesus to be rejected by His own people, so that through His life, and His death and resurrection, He could reveal the way to eternal life.

I.THEN: The Scriptures predicted the unbelief of the Jews (37-41).

John 12:37 points to the problem:

“But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him…”

The wording here is quite emphatic: the signs were compelling evidence. There were many of them and they were done “before [there very eyes],” yet still they were not responding in faith! Its similar to the idea Peter presents in his sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:23,

“Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did through him in your midst just as you yourselves also know…”

He was “…attested…” to them, publically revealed to a legal certainty by the miraculous signs he did. In this very context he opened the eyes of a man born blind (John 9) and raised from the dead a man who had been dead and buried for four days (John 11). Only God could do such things! Yet, despite the evidence, they were not believing in Him. The majority of those who saw Jesus still “…would not believe in Him… despite the signs He did…” They had the proof, the evidence of his teaching, the testimony of his mighty works, but still they held back. The “weren’t believing in Him…” Sometimes the failure to believe the warnings we receive can prove fatal. I read this report this week:

A San Diego man killed Friday by a grizzly bear in Alaska’s Denali National Park had been taking pictures of the animal for at least seven to eight minutes before the attack, park officials said Sunday. Richard White, 49, was between 50 and 100 yards away from the bear that ultimately mauled him to death, according to images found on his camera, park spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin said. He is the first person to die in a bear attack in the history of the park, which covers 4.7 million acres. Hikers are typically advised to stay at least 300 yards away from a bear, McLaughlin said. The bear, which weighed approximately 600 pounds, was shot and killed by a state trooper as he was defending the spot where White's remains were found.

He was warned to keep a safe distance. What was he thinking? We’ll never know, maybe, “It will never happen to me. I’m not like others who might have been mauled. I’m quiet, keeping a low profile, and besides this grizzly isn’t acting like it’s very dangerous.” Until it killed him. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. John gives an explanation of their unbelief in 12:38ff.:

“…that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "LORD, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

Notice there are two parallel statements in this verse that focus first on “words,” i.e. verbal testimony, and secondly on “works [the arm of the Lord].” He asks two rhetorical questions: 1) Who has believed our report?; and secondly, 2) “…and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed…” Believing, and having the truth of God’s powerful presence “revealed” are connected. The context is Isaiah 53, the powerful revelation of the suffering servant who would bear our sorrows and have the iniquity of us all laid on him. At the end of Isaiah 52 it prophesies that though he would be marred more than any man, he would be exalted, lifted up, and the nations would consider him (remember the Greeks had just come seeking him!). John then gives us another quote from Isaiah in Jn 12:39-41

“For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 "He has blinded their eyes, and He hardened their heart; lest they see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and be converted, and I heal them." 41 These things Isaiah said, because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.”

This quote comes from Isaiah 6, that tremendous scene where God is calling Isaiah and he gives him a glimpse of the heavenly throne room. God is so majestic and powerful that His glorious presence is more than Isaiah can take in: “Woe unto me I am undone…” Two things: First John explains that Isaiah saw HIS glory, i.e., Jesus’ glory. That was Jesus on the throne—He is God, Immanuel. Jesus was a man, but not merely a man. He was more than the babe of Bethlehem, more than the carpenter from Nazareth, more than itinerate preacher who attracted crowds and annoyed the leadership. John has been pounding away at a truth that is indispensable to our faith: the Deity of Christ. The Muslims will affirm that Jesus was a great prophet, many people even today will agree that He was a wonderful teacher. But if that is all you can say about Him according to John you are missing the point:

“In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

Jesus is eternal God, the Son. Think about it! The Creator came to die for your sins and mine! He is the One we worship, the One who’s Word we read. Secondly, it says here that they could not believe, because God hardened their hearts, he blinded their eyes. I believe one way that He did that was by sending a kind of messiah that they couldn’t fathom—it just didn’t compute. At that point in Jewish history, in the “fullness of time” when God sent forth His Son (Gal 4:4,5), they were not wired in their expectations to receive a humble servant, a suffering servant, a Lamb. It was God’s plan for them to reject Jesus—it was His plan to go to the cross. He was delivered up by the predetermined purpose and foreknowledge of God. He came to His own, but there was no question, absolutely no doubt, that He would be rejected by them, they would not receive Him. Ironically, His rejection was our only hope, and it was God’s only plan. So ironically, their rejection of Him fulfilled prophecy, confirmed His identity, and carried out the Father’s plan. *** It was God’s plan for Jesus to be rejected by His own people, so that through His life, and His death and resurrection, He could reveal the way to eternal life.

II. AND NOW: What kind of believer are you?

There were some who “believed” but were fearful to make their faith public (42-43). There seemed to have been some “secret believers” almost from the start. Here, many “believed” among the leaders but “were not confessing Him” before the Pharisees-lest they be excommunicated from the synagogue. Men like Joseph of Arimathea who would later expose himself (along with Nicodemus) by asking for the body of Jesus so that he could give him a respectable burial. It’s also clear that some who “believed,” did so in an inadequate way, not having the faith that saves. We saw that in John 2:23-25

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man for He Himself knew what was in man.”

Their faith was not saving faith, in some way it was partial incomplete. Some people have a mere, intellectual assent to certain facts of history. They believe in Jesus, that is, they believe he walked on the earth, taught good things, maybe even did miracles. But they have not trusted in Him alone as their only hope for salvation. They might believe in Jesus like they believe in George Washington, he’s a historical figure, but they are not trusting him to do anything for them today! Whether or not these leaders who “believed” had saving faith I’m not sure, but John is pointing out that a faithful disciple should not be a secret disciple. But before we’re too hard on these—are we faithful in letting those in our sphere of influence—those we bump shoulders with on a regular basis, do they know who we have believed? Or are we afraid to speak up-hesitant to risk offending them or losing their friendship? In verses 42-43 we see the motivation for their not publically affirming their faith: the cost seemed too high, these it said loved the praise of men more than they loved the praise of God. Authentic faith in Jesus illumines our understanding so that in Jesus we can see the invisible God (44-46). He’ll say again in chapter 14,

“He who has seen me has seen the Father…” (14:9).

Here he says “He who believes in me believes in the One who sent me…” (v.44); and “He who sees me has seen the one who sent me…” (v.45). In the first chapter of John we read that “No man has seen God at any time, but the only begotten Son, who is in the bossom of the Father, He has made him known…” (Jn 1:18). Think of that, as we read these stories of Jesus and consider His works and words, we are brought face to face with our Creator, the God who spoke this universe into existence! Faith means believing Him, taking Christ at His Word. The Word of Christ is the Truth that brings life: rejection of the Truth will condemn unbelievers (47-50). The idea that faith that requires signs, faith that demands proof, is inadequate, that idea has been repeatedly affirmed in this Gospel. Thomas will be the epitome of that teaching at the end of John 20 when, after the resurrection, He refuses to believe unless he cans see and touch “the evidence” for himself. Jesus answers “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” God’s Word is truth, it is fact, it is absolutely reliable and it is self-authenticating. It doesn’t require justification or defense in order to be effective. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.

What is God saying to me in this passage?

It was God’s plan for Jesus to be rejected by His own people, so that through His life, and His death and resurrection, He could reveal the way to eternal life. You’ve been warned—there are bears in the woods—there is only one place of safety, in Christ.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

Next Sunday is “Rally Day” for our Sunday School. We will be having a church breakfast in which well express thanks for our Sunday School teachers as they introduce a new semester of study. We invite you to be here, and to invite a friend or neighbor who isn’t part of a Bible preaching church. Some of our small groups that stopped for the summer will be restarting soon—a great opportunity to get involved and to invite a friend. Let’s seek to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us… Amen.