“A True Disciple”
October 18, 2009
John 8:31 – 47
Pastor Ben Fleming
In 1973 Walter Hendrickson wrote the book Disciples are Made Not Born. That was the year that I came to Christ as my savior. It was in that year that I stopped having religious faith and God gave me saving faith. It was the year that I began the journey of discovering what it meant to be and live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I heard about discipleship groups – someone discipling another person – I am not sure that I understood what the word meant – disciple – discipleship – discipler. All I knew was that it was a process to be worked out in my life now that I was a follower of Jesus.
A good definition says that a (SLIDE) disciple = spreads the beliefs of the one they follow. Most people have heard of the disciples of Jesus Christ – most, think of them as the 12 disciples. Jesus told them in Matthew 28:19 “go and make disciples of all nations” – I am glad these guys obeyed Jesus and spread his beliefs? Turn in your bible to John 8:31. The word disciple is used real loosely today. There is a heavy metal band named Disciple, there is a disciple clothing company, a book named the Unlikely Disciple and of course disciples of the devil.
In the church, we often will talk of someone being a follower of Christ as a disciple. Many people think that if I am a Christian - I am a disciple of Jesus. The gospels give us several pictures of disciples. Matthew 8:21 “Another disciple said to Jesus, Lord, first let me go and bury my father, but Jesus said, Follow me and let the dead bury their dead.” In Luke 14 Jesus said, “If anyone does not come to me and does not hate his mother and father… even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” So Jesus is giving a qualification of a disciple. John 20:8 “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” John calls this man a disciple before he says he believed. So – can we say that someone who follows Jesus does not necessarily always have saving faith? Judas Iscariot was a follower of Jesus and yet he did not have saving faith. He is in hell right now suffering the eternal full wrath of God. There were disciples of John the Baptist and disciples of Moses. John records in chapter 9:28 “you are this fellow’s disciple. We are disciples of Moses. We know God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow we do not even know where he comes from.”
In our lives we follow people. I remember in high school – I followed Mitch Duckworth every he went. We did almost everything together – we water skied together – we built a raft and floated down the Ohio River together and we built match bombs in snuff cans together. In college – I followed John Controveros – I followed John because he befriended me and helped me grow in my faith. I learn to spread to others what John believed and what I now believed. Think of the people you have followed in your life………… what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
What does it mean to spread the beliefs of the one you say you follow? Are you a real disciple of Jesus ? Please stand as we read our text this morning and in this text I want you to find with me 4 characteristics of a real disciple of Jesus Christ. READ 8:31- 47
A Genuine Disciple of Jesus Christ
1. Holds to his teaching (vs.31-32) “to the Jews who had believed in him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jesus has again been spending time speaking to Jewish religious people telling them the validity of his testimony and who he is and at the end of his teaching John says in verse 30 – “Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.” Most of us read that and think they were saved. They prayed a prayer or went forward but we are going see in the further words of Jesus they believed but it was not saving faith. You always have to read the bible in context --- what comes before and what comes after a verse. Bible Scholar Leon Morris wrote about verse (31-32) “these words of Jesus are addressed to those who believe, and yet do not believe. They believe enough to think that what Jesus just told them was true, but they were not prepared to yield him the allegiance that trust in him implies” Morris also says – “this is a dangerous spiritual state. You recognize that truth is found in Jesus and yet you do nothing about that truth - in effect you range or a line yourself up with the enemies of the Lord.” Unfortunately --- I believe many do that today and some of you are --- you hear and believe what is true about Jesus but you do nothing about that truth and you in effect are lining yourself up as an enemy of the Lord. ……Okay – Jesus said if you hold to my teaching you are my disciples……....What does it mean to hold to his teaching? The word Jesus spoke here
To Hold = to abide in or remain in. Jesus spoke the same word in John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” If you are a real disciple of Jesus – you hold to his teaching. Hebrews 2:1 says “we must pay more careful attention, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” A real disciple of Jesus holds to the teaching of Jesus. One of the indicators of real saving faith in a person is faithfulness to the truth of Jesus Christ.
We abide in Christ – we remain in Christ – we hold onto the teachings of Christ when we place ourselves in Him and continue there and draw life from his words. This is a process – for some of us – we are just beginning this process and for some of us it has been some time. Knowing Jesus is knowing the truth. Knowing the truth means that you accept it and obey it. When you obey the truth – Jesus says it will make you free – regardless of the pain you have experienced and the wrongs done to you.
EXAMPLE:
Bruce loved being a husband and a father. He married his childhood sweetheart Cindy – Cindy and Bruce had three children under the age of 10. They taught Sunday School together – lived in Florida and enjoyed the sunshine state – but one day the darkness came as Cindy and her 5 year old were broadsided by a teenager named Justin who ran a stop sign and killed them instantly. Justin got off with no charges filed against him. Bruce battle bitterness – he fought for justice. Eventually Justin was convicted of manslaughter – at sentencing Bruce asked the judge to be lenient on Justin. Bruce said – “the only way I could move forward in life was to forgive Justin – I talked with him face to face and at that time I realized he was in as much pain as I was --- I knew the truth --- I held onto it and I obeyed it and I was set free.” A real disciple of Jesus holds to his teaching like Bruce did.
2. Has a hunger for His word (vs.37) “I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.”
So – we can see here that these people really did not believe even though verse 30 says they put their faith in him --- Jesus tells them that he knows they are actual descendants of Abraham and if that is the case you ought to know what his faith was like. Look what Jesus finally says to them in verse 53 – “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” Abraham knew the promises of God. He knew the truth of God. Abraham had saving faith and that saving faith gave him a hunger for the truth of God. These people even had more than Abraham – they had the first 5 books of the bible called the Pentatuch – Abraham did not. Hunger for God’s Word is an indicator of true saving faith.
A disciple of Jesus has a hunger for the Word of God. Jesus says to these people = you have no place or room for his word. He spoke the word choreo = the NIV translates it as room--- it meant to advance, to make progress, or to go forward. Saving faith produces a hunger for the word of God which causes the person to advance – to make progress and go forward. Jesus is saying that they heard the word of God – but they did not heed it – it bore no fruit in them – it was like the seed that fell beside the road in the parable of the sower. It is like the person who comes to church again and again and again and there is no change in their life. They have a bible but they do not read it. They have a bible but they do not know what it says and there is not the slightest desire to find out and obey it. But if someone is a true disciple – eventually you ought to be able to see changes in their life – progress and advance because of a hunger for the Word of God.
A disciple of Jesus is word oriented. They understand the importance of being a doer of the Word of God. Peter says disciples are like new born babies who long for the pure milk of the word of God so they may grow in respect to their salvation. CHARITY TURN TO THE BOOK OF PSALM 1. The first 3 verses of the book of Psalm describes this hunger for the Word of God found in a disciple of Jesus. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord (WORD OF GOD) and on his law he meditates day and night. ---- he has room for the Word of God ---- He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does he prospers…………
Application: Do you hunger for God’s Word? Do you hunger to read God’s Word? Do you hunger to hear God’s Word preached? Its easy to loose your hunger and it is hard to feed your hunger. Habits help to feed your hunger. When do you make time for reading God’s Word? Many of us are so busy and so easily distracted by the urgency of other things --- Using the Daily Bread booklet devotional is a good way to start with God’s Word. Reading Morning and Evening with Spurgeon is great. Read something from the OT and something from the NT. Ask God to speak to you – ask God to give you the food that you need. Depend upon the Holy Spirit. Keep a record of what you read. Get a bible reading plan – you can read through the bible in one year by reading every day for 5 min. Listen to the preaching of God’s Word --- You can download almost any message you want from any preacher for free today…… If you have not just the slightest bit of hunger for God’s Word then you ought to examine if you truly have saving faith --- you have to start with saving faith – you have to come to Jesus and you have to truly believe. He will give you a hunger for His Word………………. A disciple of Jesus holds on to His teaching and a disciple of Jesus has a hunger for the Word of God.
3. Does what other disciples have done (vs. 39) “Abraham is our father, they answered. If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, then you would do the things Abraham did.”
Once again these people did not grasp what Jesus was teaching them. They insisted that they were Abraham’s spiritual children --- they thought they followed his faith in God --- but Jesus is telling them that if that were the case they would demonstrate the faith that he had. Their lives – their words and their actions conflicted with his. They did not demonstrate the righteousness that Abraham demonstrated.
Genesis 15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” In the New Testament we find Abraham spoken of again and again. Paul gives an entire chapter in the book of Romans to the faith of Abraham. Romans 4--- the first 4 verses… “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter. If, in fact Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ----- this is exactly what Jesus said to them --- if you are children of Abraham --- do what He did --- believe God. Hebrews gives us a perfect example of what Abraham did and how faith was demonstrated in his life.
Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” A real disciple exercises faith and faith many times does things that seem humanly foolish. Go to this country and you will have no idea where the place is or you have no money to get there. A real disciple trusts God when it seems ridiculous. A real disciple does things that other disciples have done. They believe God and take God for His word. They forgive people - who the rest of the world would stay away from and condemn. You find this principle of discipleship time and time again in the Word of God. A real disciple does what other disciples have done --- they follow other disciples. Paul put it this way:
2 Timothy 2:2:2 - 3 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” A disciple of Jesus follows other disciples. A disciple of Jesus learns from others from the past. If that was not the case then Hebrews 11 would not be in the bible and God wasted his time putting it there.
I remember Paul, John, Bruce, and Greg in my life from my past who I learned from and followed. I did not worship them – but I saw Christ working in their lives and I learned from them. I even remember the guys I almost could not stand and yet they were men of God – Larry, Geoffry, Mark and Jim – God used those men in my life. A real disciple learns from what other disciples have done and sees how Christ has used them in their life.
Application: What disciple of Jesus are you learning from? Who can you think of right now that you see them living a Christ like life? You do not worship them but you learn from them? What believers from the past are learning from? Pastor John Piper put it this way about disciples from the past… “The longer I live, the more clearly I see my dependence on those who have gone before me.” A real disciple of Jesus learns from what other disciples have done.
4. Loves Jesus and hears or obeys His Word (vs. 42) “Jesus said to them, “if God were your father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.”
Jesus continues addressing these people after he tells them – if you were abraham’s children you would do what he did – he believed God ---- but in verse 40 Jesus says “you are determined to kill me – a man who has told you the truth from God --- and then verse 41 – “you are doing the things your own father does” --- Jesus is not at all talking about God the father --- look at verse 44 – you belong to your father – the devil – you want to carry out your father’s desire – he was a murderer from the beginning – not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him.” These are some of the same people that verse 30 says “many put their faith in him.”
So perhaps we must conclude that Jesus says that someone who does not have saving faith has faith but that faith is in the devil. Shocking --- you do not hear that much today. Amazing that Jesus would be so blunt with someone. But real truth is at times real blunt………….. and then Jesus says to them but, if God were your father - you would love me. Most people say they love Jesus --- but what does that really mean?
Jesus says – if God were your father – you would love me. John gives us later in the bible perhaps some of the best pictures of what real love for God is.
So how do we see that love?
* Real love walks. 2 John 1:6 - 7 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” The Christian life is not a sprint to the finish line – it is a walk. It means that when you fall down – you confess - you get back up and keep on walking. Walking in obedience to the commands of God is an indicator of loving God. When you obey God you express love to God. I can think of time and time again when I heard God through his Word – do this Ben or do that Ben and I put it off ---- I tried to ignore it but it kept coming back --- the commands of God just kept leaping out of the bible at me and then I decided to walk . 2ndly
* Real love obeys. 1 John 5:2 “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” So the commands of God are not a burden ---- to do what God tells a disciple to do is not a burden. It does not mean that it will not be tough but it is not a burden.
* Real love forgives. 1 John 4:19 - 21 “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother”
I recently went and saw a man who is a Christian. This man hurt me, he gossiped about me, he deceived me. In a sense I felt cursed by him. It took some time but I forgave him. I kept hearing God tell me to bless him. How do I know that? Scripture told me.. Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Is God telling you to forgive someone? --- you’re a disciple but you have ignored blessing someone who has persecuted you. I guarantee you when you bless them you will experience in your emotions more of the love of God. Comment…………..
* Real love is actions. 1 John 3:16 - 18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ‘
Close: To the believer – God has designed for you to be a disciple of Jesus – to follow him and to spread his beliefs. The main way you do that is by living a holy life. You might say that discipleship is the process of the pursuit of a holy life. Stop drinking milk and grow up to maturity.
To the non believer – today is the day that God is calling you – would you come? Would you follow?
Would you believe? You are hearing the truth but you are ignoring it – be careful that you do not experience a hardening of your heart.
Let us pray. Pray for believers and non believers.
Lord Jesus – I pray for your disciples in this room. I pray that they may grow up in their salvation. I pray that they may love you by obeying your word – I ask that they may hold to your teaching – I ask that you would give them a deeper passion and hunger for Your Word. For the non believer or the person here who does not have saving faith --- oh – God – open their heart and may today be the day that they obey and come to you and truly believe in you. IN JESUS NAME – AMEN
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
John #14
“The Bread of Life”
John 6:25 -59
Pastor Ben Fleming
October 11, 2009
Turn in your bible to John chapter 6. Our last time together in John we looked at 5 pictures of who Jesus Christ really is. Today, in the beginning of chapter 6 – Jesus feeds the 5,000 with 5 barley loaves of bread and two small fish – John called it a miraculous sign –“not a miracle” – the people said, “surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world and they wanted to make him King by force and Jesus leaves them and escapes to the mountainside to be alone with His Father. His disciples went down to the lake and set off in a boat to go to Capernaum. Matthew tells us that Jesus insisted that his disciples get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake and then he went up on the hillside to pray. Did you notice – for some reason the disciples obeyed him – and then after being with people and giving out to people Jesus saw a need to pray privately with his Father. Lots we can learn from Jesus here in the account. The disciples are in the middle of the lake and a storm comes up – Jesus sees them in the storm and comes to them walking on the water. John records for us a public ministry of Jesus with the feeding of the 5,000 and then a private teaching time with his disciples. Remember: Judas the one who betrayed Jesus is in this boat when Jesus comes to it walking on the water – and yet Judas does not come to Jesus and believe. Jesus was not alone with his men long when the people found him again on the other side of the lake.
Again Jesus begins to preach to the people. Bible theologians have given this message the name The Bread of Life Discourse. Stand with me as we read starting in 6:25 – 58… READ
PASS OUT ROLLS. Most of us like bread. Some of us like white bread like these rolls. You like them because of their smell and taste and texture– some of us would not even eat white bread. Most like brown bread because they say it is healthier, which it is. Bread is the staple food of many third world nations. An African man would be fully content to have a loaf of bread and cup of tea for lunch. We are getting picky about our bread are we not? Some of the best bread in this region is made at Shatts bakery in Bishop and the Shatts that is suppose to open in the mall is not the same people. Cheryl and I discovered that City Bakery makes a good German Rye bread and every one knows Dorothy makes great bread. We are going to talk about bread today – but specifically we are going to see that Jesus is the bread of life.
Introduction: The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake and wanted to know when he got there – Jesus did not answer their question but says to them “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” The people wanted Jesus for what Jesus could do for them. People do not change throughout the years. Jesus gave them the food the day before – now they wanted to see what else they could get out of him. They were so intent on getting what they wanted they were blind to the one who was giving. They could not see Jesus – they could only see what this man could give them. Is it not amazing that the people and the disciples had witnessed miraculous signs and they had not gained any insight – their hearts were hardened – even the disciples did not realize that God was among them until he walked on water.
Everybody wants more – do we not? We have this belief that we will be happy and content when we just have more. I find it interesting that even the word money has a slang term --- bread. Jewish people knew all about bread – they all knew about the bread that was given to the Israelites as they wandered in the dessert for 40 years in the book of Exodus. Jesus had to remind them that it was not Moses who gave the bread but it was God who gave the bread. In our text – Jesus preaches to the people about the bread of life. Look with me at what Jesus teaches……….
1. The bread of life leads to eternal life. (vs. 27) “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Jesus tells them in verse 26 – “you are looking for me because you saw miraculous signs and you got your stomachs fed” and then in 27 he commands them – “do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give to you.”
Do you consider the life that you are leading right now eternal life? Most believers do not think that way. We humans have a hard time looking at the future unless we can see and do something about it. You are studying to finish school - you are saving money to buy something or to pay something off --- in our American mindset --- we want Jesus for what Jesus will do for us right now. By nature we do not have an eternal perspective. We are just like these people. We want to be awed by something but when we are we want something bigger. I’ve been to Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe – to the top of Heavenly and now to the Grand Canyon – and I have been awed by the divine miracle of my grand daughter but each time I was awed I look for something more to awe me – something bigger --- something that makes my mouth open in wonder of God. Jesus says --- stop looking for something earthly and work for the food that endures to eternal life.
In verse 29 --- Jesus says what that work is: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” He is talking about coming to Jesus and He is talking about following Jesus – and that is a work. That is man’s responsibility. God chooses, but man believes or follows. And then the people hit him again and say okay – “what miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? I believe that this really shows us that seeing does not bring about believing. They had already seen him feed the 5,000 and other miracles and they still did not believe. Jesus is preaching to them to stop looking for miracles but to believe that He is the bread of life and that he leads to eternal life.
If there is eternal life then there is also eternal death. You cannot have one and not have the other. John the Baptist had previously said in (3:36) “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” Sadly, many people all over our country are sitting in church today without eternal life ---God’s wrath remains on them. They have not believed. They do not have saving faith. Some of you – God’s wrath remains on you – you have not believed Jesus the bread of life. You are not walking in eternal life – you possess eternal death.
2. The bread of life is only found in Jesus. (vs.33) “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” The people could not figure what Jesus was saying – the eyes to their hearts were blocked. They thought they could work for eternal life. Time and time again people think eternal life is obtained by doing something or being good enough. The rich young ruler said in Matthew 19:16 “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” and in Luke 10:25 “a lawyer stood up and put Jesus to the test, saying, “teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life”. These people did not understand. The bread of life can never be earned – it can never be purchased – you can never be worthy enough to deserve it and you can not find the bread of life in someone else or in some spiritual idea dreamed up. The bread of life can only be found in Jesus.
The Jews were not satisfied that Jesus had turned earthly bread into more bread – they wanted Jesus to do what they thought Moses did – bring bread down from heaven every day. Jesus reminds them that Moses did not do it – God did it. Jesus is saying, “Manna was not the real bread from God nor was the bread I multiplied for you from the few loaves” --- “I am the bread.” Think about how weary and frustrated these people must of have been searching and searching and searching – people are just like that today. The great philosopher and scientist Pascal put it this way:
“It is good to be weary and frustrated with the fruitless search for the good, so that one can reach out one’s arms instead to the Redeemer.” --- Pascal. ----- THE BREAD OF LIFE IS ONLY FOUND IN JESUS
3. The bread of life satisfies. (vs. 35) “…I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Notice verse 34 – Sir – from now on give us this bread” – they still were so blind they asked again for bread – but Jesus says – “I am the bread of life” He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. Jesus is total satisfaction. Jesus never leaves a person empty. He never leaves a person aching and feeling incomplete. If you come to Him and if you follow Him --- He will satisfy. We looked last time about God choosing man – but if you look here what Jesus says is man’s responsibility – to come and to believe. He who comes and he who believes will be satisfied.
What does it mean to come to Jesus? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? God is the one who chooses His children but his children have a responsibility. Look with me at your outline:
To come = to forsake the old life of sin and rebellion and submit to Him as Your Lord. Repentance is involved in coming to Jesus. A person can come to church all they want --- pray a prayer – get baptized and still not come to Jesus when forsaking sin – rebellion and submission is not a part of their life…in some way.
To believe = to completely trust Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God and to say that salvation comes only through faith in Him.
David wrote in Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” When we say that the bread of life satisfies and Jesus says he who comes and he who believes is never thirsty or hungry – I think about that….. Look what David writes in Ps 27 and what we said to come and to believe means. Ask yourself. What is your one thing? Most of you are believers in Christ. If the Lord is not your one thing, then the thing that is your one thing is your functional Lord. In every situation in your life and my life – there is a one thing war being fought for the turf of your heart. We are really never satisfied unless the Lord really is the one thing that controls our heart and actions.
There are many things that compete with Jesus as the one thing that your heart craves. Where are you looking for meaning and worth? What is the one thing that you wish you had in your life? What is your one thing? Is Jesus your one thing? Do you really experience Him satisfying you?
Put it this way….. Do you encourage yourself to run to God even when you do not understand what he is doing? Or do you give yourself permission to back away from him when you are confused by the seeming distance between what he has promised and what you are experiencing? Are you your best defense lawyer, laying out arguments for your innocence in places where you were actually guilty? When others talk to you, is your internal conversation so loud that it is hard to concentrate on what they are saying?
I have had a chance these past two years to really examine that in my own life. When I am worried – do I come to Christ – do I open His Word faithfully? Do I work at entering worship? When I am afraid – do I come to Christ and trust Him each day one day at a time – (Charity) when I am confused do I come to Christ – when I am happy – do I come to Christ – when I am content – do I come to Christ or do I forget him? As I look at my past – he has always satisfied my soul in any and every situation in every day. But it is work --- perhaps this is part of what working out our salvation with fear and trembling. The bread of life satisfies…………
4. The bread of life causes rebellion (vs. 41) “At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.” People rebel at the claims of Jesus. Apathy is rebellion. The Jews were rebelling at Jesus claim that he was the source of eternal life and they rebelled at his claim that he came down out of heaven. Their unbelief was demonstrated in rebellion. They refused to come and they refused to believe. Rebellion is not always outright and easy to identify. The word translated grumble here is a word that sounds like muttered complaints and whispers of displeasure. Grumbling is a kind word for rebellion.
Have you uttered muttered complaints and been someone who whispered displeasure – especially when it comes to spiritual things? These spiritual people were continually finding something about Jesus to pick apart and criticize. They refused to come and they refused to believe. Sadly, those who continue in unbelief and reject the truth may find that God may harden their hearts. This is one reason why Jesus spoke at times in parables.
If we listen very carefully to people we will hear people admiring Jesus while refusing to submit to him. Some say he was a great teacher but they do not believe he is God. Some people were let down in their past by a pastor or another Christian and many people have been abused. Some of you have. Some grew up under parents who spoke a certain way about Jesus but in their own lives they lived a different life that the kids saw and had to live with.
Pain creates very real obstacles. Never deny pain in your own life or the life of someone else but pain should never be used to keep a person from Jesus. You have to ask – is my pain a reason to run from Jesus or a reason to run to Him? Grumbling is even found with God’s people who have already come and believed. I think we by nature are grumblers – but grumbling is sin – it is rebellion against God.
We live in a state where a lot of people cherish their independence. Think about it: The drive for independence never ends in independence. It always ends in slavery. Why is that so? Because you were designed by the Creator to live in a dependant, obedient, and worship relationship with him and in humble interdependent relationships with other human beings called the church. Independence is not just spiritual rebellion – it is a denial of your humanity. In our text, Jesus cared so much for these religious people that he said back to them – “Do not grumble among yourselves”. He had said enough – He had given them the truth and they were either going to be open and wiling or they were going to harden their hearts……………… Jesus is the bread of life --- but the bread of life causes rebellion.
5. The bread of life is sufficient for all men. (vs. 51) “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” There is a lot packed in this verse. It tells you that Jesus – who is the bread of life gave his flesh for the life of the world. He was more than sufficient for all mankind. There is a tension many find when we talk of God choosing some to be his and choosing some to not be His – tension is good but look at the heart and the attitude of God here. John 3:16 “For God so love the world, that He gave his only Son, Luke 22:20 “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” Ephesians 5:25 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her and John 10:15 “I lay down my life for the sheep.” And the one I like which tells me so much about God and His heart
2 Peter 3:9 “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Jesus is the bread of life and the bread was his flesh and the giving of his flesh was sufficient payment for the sins of the whole world. You can argue over whether his flesh paid for only the sins of his chosen children or his flesh paid for the sins of all mankind – that is not the point here --- the point is that Jesus the bread of life is sufficient for all men. He is not lacking in anyway --- He was the perfect substitute for man. Go back to this verse and lets apply it to our lives. Since it is almost lunch time lets talk about eating.
* Just as food is useless unless it is eaten, so also spiritual truth does no good unless it is internalized. Merely knowing spiritual truth, without acting on it, profits you nothing. COMMENT
* Eating is prompted by hunger, those who are full are not interested in food. Sinners who are satisfied with their sin have no hunger for spiritual things. COMMENT
* Food people eat becomes part of them through digestion. People may admire Jesus but not until they receive him by faith do they become one with Him. This is what causes someone to want more spiritual truth. 4th
* Eating involves trust. No one knowingly will eat tainted or spoiled food. The words in the bible “eating the bread of life” does not mean canabalism but it implies believing or trusting in Jesus.
* Eating is personal. No one can eat a meal for someone else. There is no salvation by proxy.
Story Close: David was 31 years old and he wrote these words, “ I used to climb a tree by our house and look around to see if dad was coming. It was while I was sitting in that tree one day that I realized that my dad was never coming home. It felt as though something had actually broken inside of my chest. I have always been afraid of being abandoned since then. It’s hard to believe or understand God and all his promises – I do not mean that I don’t believe at all, but its hard to understand the love of God when you have missed out on the love of your dad. Throughout the years I have continued to pursue God. I struggle but I find satisfaction in Jesus. He has never abandoned me even when I struggle. I have found that he is sufficient for all my pain – all the past and all the loss. I can truly say that Jesus Christ now is the bread of life for me.” LET US PRAY
John 6:25 -59
Pastor Ben Fleming
October 11, 2009
Turn in your bible to John chapter 6. Our last time together in John we looked at 5 pictures of who Jesus Christ really is. Today, in the beginning of chapter 6 – Jesus feeds the 5,000 with 5 barley loaves of bread and two small fish – John called it a miraculous sign –“not a miracle” – the people said, “surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world and they wanted to make him King by force and Jesus leaves them and escapes to the mountainside to be alone with His Father. His disciples went down to the lake and set off in a boat to go to Capernaum. Matthew tells us that Jesus insisted that his disciples get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake and then he went up on the hillside to pray. Did you notice – for some reason the disciples obeyed him – and then after being with people and giving out to people Jesus saw a need to pray privately with his Father. Lots we can learn from Jesus here in the account. The disciples are in the middle of the lake and a storm comes up – Jesus sees them in the storm and comes to them walking on the water. John records for us a public ministry of Jesus with the feeding of the 5,000 and then a private teaching time with his disciples. Remember: Judas the one who betrayed Jesus is in this boat when Jesus comes to it walking on the water – and yet Judas does not come to Jesus and believe. Jesus was not alone with his men long when the people found him again on the other side of the lake.
Again Jesus begins to preach to the people. Bible theologians have given this message the name The Bread of Life Discourse. Stand with me as we read starting in 6:25 – 58… READ
PASS OUT ROLLS. Most of us like bread. Some of us like white bread like these rolls. You like them because of their smell and taste and texture– some of us would not even eat white bread. Most like brown bread because they say it is healthier, which it is. Bread is the staple food of many third world nations. An African man would be fully content to have a loaf of bread and cup of tea for lunch. We are getting picky about our bread are we not? Some of the best bread in this region is made at Shatts bakery in Bishop and the Shatts that is suppose to open in the mall is not the same people. Cheryl and I discovered that City Bakery makes a good German Rye bread and every one knows Dorothy makes great bread. We are going to talk about bread today – but specifically we are going to see that Jesus is the bread of life.
Introduction: The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake and wanted to know when he got there – Jesus did not answer their question but says to them “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” The people wanted Jesus for what Jesus could do for them. People do not change throughout the years. Jesus gave them the food the day before – now they wanted to see what else they could get out of him. They were so intent on getting what they wanted they were blind to the one who was giving. They could not see Jesus – they could only see what this man could give them. Is it not amazing that the people and the disciples had witnessed miraculous signs and they had not gained any insight – their hearts were hardened – even the disciples did not realize that God was among them until he walked on water.
Everybody wants more – do we not? We have this belief that we will be happy and content when we just have more. I find it interesting that even the word money has a slang term --- bread. Jewish people knew all about bread – they all knew about the bread that was given to the Israelites as they wandered in the dessert for 40 years in the book of Exodus. Jesus had to remind them that it was not Moses who gave the bread but it was God who gave the bread. In our text – Jesus preaches to the people about the bread of life. Look with me at what Jesus teaches……….
1. The bread of life leads to eternal life. (vs. 27) “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Jesus tells them in verse 26 – “you are looking for me because you saw miraculous signs and you got your stomachs fed” and then in 27 he commands them – “do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give to you.”
Do you consider the life that you are leading right now eternal life? Most believers do not think that way. We humans have a hard time looking at the future unless we can see and do something about it. You are studying to finish school - you are saving money to buy something or to pay something off --- in our American mindset --- we want Jesus for what Jesus will do for us right now. By nature we do not have an eternal perspective. We are just like these people. We want to be awed by something but when we are we want something bigger. I’ve been to Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe – to the top of Heavenly and now to the Grand Canyon – and I have been awed by the divine miracle of my grand daughter but each time I was awed I look for something more to awe me – something bigger --- something that makes my mouth open in wonder of God. Jesus says --- stop looking for something earthly and work for the food that endures to eternal life.
In verse 29 --- Jesus says what that work is: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” He is talking about coming to Jesus and He is talking about following Jesus – and that is a work. That is man’s responsibility. God chooses, but man believes or follows. And then the people hit him again and say okay – “what miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? I believe that this really shows us that seeing does not bring about believing. They had already seen him feed the 5,000 and other miracles and they still did not believe. Jesus is preaching to them to stop looking for miracles but to believe that He is the bread of life and that he leads to eternal life.
If there is eternal life then there is also eternal death. You cannot have one and not have the other. John the Baptist had previously said in (3:36) “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” Sadly, many people all over our country are sitting in church today without eternal life ---God’s wrath remains on them. They have not believed. They do not have saving faith. Some of you – God’s wrath remains on you – you have not believed Jesus the bread of life. You are not walking in eternal life – you possess eternal death.
2. The bread of life is only found in Jesus. (vs.33) “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” The people could not figure what Jesus was saying – the eyes to their hearts were blocked. They thought they could work for eternal life. Time and time again people think eternal life is obtained by doing something or being good enough. The rich young ruler said in Matthew 19:16 “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” and in Luke 10:25 “a lawyer stood up and put Jesus to the test, saying, “teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life”. These people did not understand. The bread of life can never be earned – it can never be purchased – you can never be worthy enough to deserve it and you can not find the bread of life in someone else or in some spiritual idea dreamed up. The bread of life can only be found in Jesus.
The Jews were not satisfied that Jesus had turned earthly bread into more bread – they wanted Jesus to do what they thought Moses did – bring bread down from heaven every day. Jesus reminds them that Moses did not do it – God did it. Jesus is saying, “Manna was not the real bread from God nor was the bread I multiplied for you from the few loaves” --- “I am the bread.” Think about how weary and frustrated these people must of have been searching and searching and searching – people are just like that today. The great philosopher and scientist Pascal put it this way:
“It is good to be weary and frustrated with the fruitless search for the good, so that one can reach out one’s arms instead to the Redeemer.” --- Pascal. ----- THE BREAD OF LIFE IS ONLY FOUND IN JESUS
3. The bread of life satisfies. (vs. 35) “…I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Notice verse 34 – Sir – from now on give us this bread” – they still were so blind they asked again for bread – but Jesus says – “I am the bread of life” He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. Jesus is total satisfaction. Jesus never leaves a person empty. He never leaves a person aching and feeling incomplete. If you come to Him and if you follow Him --- He will satisfy. We looked last time about God choosing man – but if you look here what Jesus says is man’s responsibility – to come and to believe. He who comes and he who believes will be satisfied.
What does it mean to come to Jesus? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? God is the one who chooses His children but his children have a responsibility. Look with me at your outline:
To come = to forsake the old life of sin and rebellion and submit to Him as Your Lord. Repentance is involved in coming to Jesus. A person can come to church all they want --- pray a prayer – get baptized and still not come to Jesus when forsaking sin – rebellion and submission is not a part of their life…in some way.
To believe = to completely trust Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God and to say that salvation comes only through faith in Him.
David wrote in Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” When we say that the bread of life satisfies and Jesus says he who comes and he who believes is never thirsty or hungry – I think about that….. Look what David writes in Ps 27 and what we said to come and to believe means. Ask yourself. What is your one thing? Most of you are believers in Christ. If the Lord is not your one thing, then the thing that is your one thing is your functional Lord. In every situation in your life and my life – there is a one thing war being fought for the turf of your heart. We are really never satisfied unless the Lord really is the one thing that controls our heart and actions.
There are many things that compete with Jesus as the one thing that your heart craves. Where are you looking for meaning and worth? What is the one thing that you wish you had in your life? What is your one thing? Is Jesus your one thing? Do you really experience Him satisfying you?
Put it this way….. Do you encourage yourself to run to God even when you do not understand what he is doing? Or do you give yourself permission to back away from him when you are confused by the seeming distance between what he has promised and what you are experiencing? Are you your best defense lawyer, laying out arguments for your innocence in places where you were actually guilty? When others talk to you, is your internal conversation so loud that it is hard to concentrate on what they are saying?
I have had a chance these past two years to really examine that in my own life. When I am worried – do I come to Christ – do I open His Word faithfully? Do I work at entering worship? When I am afraid – do I come to Christ and trust Him each day one day at a time – (Charity) when I am confused do I come to Christ – when I am happy – do I come to Christ – when I am content – do I come to Christ or do I forget him? As I look at my past – he has always satisfied my soul in any and every situation in every day. But it is work --- perhaps this is part of what working out our salvation with fear and trembling. The bread of life satisfies…………
4. The bread of life causes rebellion (vs. 41) “At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.” People rebel at the claims of Jesus. Apathy is rebellion. The Jews were rebelling at Jesus claim that he was the source of eternal life and they rebelled at his claim that he came down out of heaven. Their unbelief was demonstrated in rebellion. They refused to come and they refused to believe. Rebellion is not always outright and easy to identify. The word translated grumble here is a word that sounds like muttered complaints and whispers of displeasure. Grumbling is a kind word for rebellion.
Have you uttered muttered complaints and been someone who whispered displeasure – especially when it comes to spiritual things? These spiritual people were continually finding something about Jesus to pick apart and criticize. They refused to come and they refused to believe. Sadly, those who continue in unbelief and reject the truth may find that God may harden their hearts. This is one reason why Jesus spoke at times in parables.
If we listen very carefully to people we will hear people admiring Jesus while refusing to submit to him. Some say he was a great teacher but they do not believe he is God. Some people were let down in their past by a pastor or another Christian and many people have been abused. Some of you have. Some grew up under parents who spoke a certain way about Jesus but in their own lives they lived a different life that the kids saw and had to live with.
Pain creates very real obstacles. Never deny pain in your own life or the life of someone else but pain should never be used to keep a person from Jesus. You have to ask – is my pain a reason to run from Jesus or a reason to run to Him? Grumbling is even found with God’s people who have already come and believed. I think we by nature are grumblers – but grumbling is sin – it is rebellion against God.
We live in a state where a lot of people cherish their independence. Think about it: The drive for independence never ends in independence. It always ends in slavery. Why is that so? Because you were designed by the Creator to live in a dependant, obedient, and worship relationship with him and in humble interdependent relationships with other human beings called the church. Independence is not just spiritual rebellion – it is a denial of your humanity. In our text, Jesus cared so much for these religious people that he said back to them – “Do not grumble among yourselves”. He had said enough – He had given them the truth and they were either going to be open and wiling or they were going to harden their hearts……………… Jesus is the bread of life --- but the bread of life causes rebellion.
5. The bread of life is sufficient for all men. (vs. 51) “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” There is a lot packed in this verse. It tells you that Jesus – who is the bread of life gave his flesh for the life of the world. He was more than sufficient for all mankind. There is a tension many find when we talk of God choosing some to be his and choosing some to not be His – tension is good but look at the heart and the attitude of God here. John 3:16 “For God so love the world, that He gave his only Son, Luke 22:20 “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” Ephesians 5:25 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her and John 10:15 “I lay down my life for the sheep.” And the one I like which tells me so much about God and His heart
2 Peter 3:9 “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Jesus is the bread of life and the bread was his flesh and the giving of his flesh was sufficient payment for the sins of the whole world. You can argue over whether his flesh paid for only the sins of his chosen children or his flesh paid for the sins of all mankind – that is not the point here --- the point is that Jesus the bread of life is sufficient for all men. He is not lacking in anyway --- He was the perfect substitute for man. Go back to this verse and lets apply it to our lives. Since it is almost lunch time lets talk about eating.
* Just as food is useless unless it is eaten, so also spiritual truth does no good unless it is internalized. Merely knowing spiritual truth, without acting on it, profits you nothing. COMMENT
* Eating is prompted by hunger, those who are full are not interested in food. Sinners who are satisfied with their sin have no hunger for spiritual things. COMMENT
* Food people eat becomes part of them through digestion. People may admire Jesus but not until they receive him by faith do they become one with Him. This is what causes someone to want more spiritual truth. 4th
* Eating involves trust. No one knowingly will eat tainted or spoiled food. The words in the bible “eating the bread of life” does not mean canabalism but it implies believing or trusting in Jesus.
* Eating is personal. No one can eat a meal for someone else. There is no salvation by proxy.
Story Close: David was 31 years old and he wrote these words, “ I used to climb a tree by our house and look around to see if dad was coming. It was while I was sitting in that tree one day that I realized that my dad was never coming home. It felt as though something had actually broken inside of my chest. I have always been afraid of being abandoned since then. It’s hard to believe or understand God and all his promises – I do not mean that I don’t believe at all, but its hard to understand the love of God when you have missed out on the love of your dad. Throughout the years I have continued to pursue God. I struggle but I find satisfaction in Jesus. He has never abandoned me even when I struggle. I have found that he is sufficient for all my pain – all the past and all the loss. I can truly say that Jesus Christ now is the bread of life for me.” LET US PRAY
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
John #13
“That You Might Believe”
John 5: 16 -30
Pastor Ben Fleming
September 20, 2009
Turn in your bible to John chp 5. Can you tell who someone is or what they are like when you first meet them? Some of you think you are a pretty good read of people. I really have no idea what you are like just because you are hear this morning. You can know someone for years and I have known many of you for years ---- you think you know them, and you really do not. Today I want us to look at the question: Who is this person Jesus Christ that we talk about and read about? Who is this person Jesus Christ whom we claim and say is our savior? Did He really come to this earth to bear the full wrath and punishment of God for man’s sin or was he just a good moral teacher? Must we believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to God except through Him and that those who reject him are cast into an eternal hell? Is He really God? People all over the world have different beliefs about who they say and think Jesus is. Some people only know His name…. as a cuss word.
Some say Jesus was a crusading political revolutionary of liberation theology. Some say he was a cynical Jewish sage of the Jewish Seminar or a countercultural hero of the rock musicals Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. Listen to this:….. Jehovah’s Witness say Jesus is not God. Before he lived on earth, he was Michael the archangel and on earth he was just a man who lived a perfect life. So, remember that when they come to your door. Mormans say Jesus was a created spirit child by the Father and Mother in heaven. His body was created through sexual union between Elohim and Mary. He is the elder brother of all men and spirit beings, therefore, Jesus is the brother of Satan. I am not making this up. The Unity Church says Jesus was a perfect man, not God. He is the son of Zechariah and his mission was simply to unite the Jews behind him. Christian Science say he was simply a man who displayed the Christ idea. He did not suffer and could not suffer for sins. Muslims say Jesus was a prophet, New Age says Jesus was not a savior – but a spiritual model – a guru or ascended master and the Hindus believe he is a son of a god as are thousands of others sons of gods. His death did not forgive sins and he did not rise again from the dead. ----- okay ----- so does it really matter who Jesus is or who you might think he is? Does it even matter when you are in a so called Christian church? Can I not just believe in Jesus and not really care about who He is?
Every religious belief that I listed above believes something about Jesus – but the belief they believe will not bring them to God. They can be sincere and honest and good in what they believe and be eternally separated from God – condemened and cast into hell – experiencing the full – eternal – continual wrath of God. Look on your outline at the words of Jesus in Matthew --- very sobering words…..
Matthew 7: 21 – 23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Jesus knew that it was vitally important that he drive home again and again exactly who He is. During the three years of his ministry Jesus was increasingly confrontational to the religious leaders and the Jewish masses by claiming that He was God. John 8:58-59 “I tell you the truth Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am.” At this they picked up stones to stone him.” The Hebrew translation of the English ‘I am” is Yahweh. That name was so sacred to a Jewish person they refused to speak it. When ever you read the Gospels and Jesus answers a question by saying I am.” He is saying I am God – I am Yahweh. In our text today Jesus gives 4 pictures that tell us more of who He is. PLEASE STAND AS WE READ OUR TEXT FOR TODAY 5:16-30.. Phil
Who is Jesus Christ?
1. Jesus is always at work. (Vs. 17-18) “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too. am working.” For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was evening calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” Who is Jesus?
Jesus is equal to the Father in his person. Jesus said – My father is always at his work and I too am working. If you see My Father working – you see me working. In context --- Jesus was referring to verse 16 –“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.” They were upset that Jesus healed on the Sabbath Day. To them – He broke the Sabbath rule and He was claiming to be God. Jewish religious rules said that you could not heal or do anything on the Sabbath. So – what Jesus said – implied that the Sabbath was not given for God but for man. The Sabbath commandment did not apply to God – it did not apply to Jesus. God did not rest on the 7th day because He needed some kind of rest – He did so to give man a divine example. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.”
So --- does God not work on Sunday? Is God cruising right now in His easy chair with His hands off His creation? Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Who sustains all things? Who keeps the O2 in the air and who keeps the world and the planets spinning and gravity working ---- Jesus Christ – why? Because He is equal to the Father. So – who is Jesus? He is God the Father and He is always working. He does good on Sunday.
THINK ABOUT IT IN A SIDE BAR:
How many people do you know who take a break on Sunday like God intended? Believers should take a break and get spiritually recharged. God intended for us to also get physically – emotionally and mentally recharged. He did not intend for it to be a catch up day – got get the lawn mowed – gotta clean house and paint the room. I remember our friends from Holland – Casper and Helen Valevan while on vacation – they would never plan to end their vacation on Sunday by driving home that day --- they came home on Saturday or Monday……. Who is Jesus? He is always at work. He knows what is going on in your life --- in your problems --- in your frustrations and challenges and He – God the Son -- is working just like God the Father – even on Sunday. WHO IS JESUS? #2
2. Jesus submits to His Father. (Vs. 19-20) “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do whatever he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him ever greater things than these.” As the Son – Jesus is equal to God in His works. God is always working and in what God does Jesus is equal to God in that work. But – Jesus submits to God in all that He does. “the Son can do nothing by himself --- he does not act independently – he can do whatever he sees the Father doing – because whatever the Father does the Son also does – the Father loves the Son and shows Him all he does. God hides nothing from Jesus. Jesus does nothing to undermine God. Jesus does nothing on his own. There is this perfect harmony between the two.
This the perfect picture of what a husband and wife relationship should be like. Notice that I said should be like.. This is exactly what Paul is writing about in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:22 – 26 “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” I am not sure that we really do understand this submission between the Father and the Son and how God intends for it to be modeled and reflected in our lives. I want to take some liberty and re write John 5:19-20 “I tell you the truth, the wife can do nothing by herself; she can only do whatever she sees her husband doing, because whatever her husband does the wife also does. For the husband loves the wife and shows her all he does. Yes, to your amazement the husband will show her ever greater things than these.”
Submission in our society and even in the church is not an attractive word. We rebel at it. I cannot recall in 15 years anyone asking me in the church – “do you think I reflect a submissive spirit?” But – here in these verses – we see such a sweet sweet picture of the submissive relationship between the Father and the Son. Because of that submission – the Son is equal to the Father in His works.
3. Jesus gives life to whom He chooses. (Vs. 21-26) “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…..”I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life… for as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.”
Another way of saying that Jesus gives life to whom He chooses is to say Jesus is equal to God in His power and sovereignty. Because Jesus was asserting his equality with God he is saying that he has parallel power with God to raise the dead – to give physical life and spiritual life. Because Jesus has the same power that God has – he is able to raise people from the dead physically and more importantly he is able to give people spiritual life. Jesus said that in
John 4:4 “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water sprinting up to eternal life.”
So – Jesus chooses who becomes spiritually alive and who stays spiritually dead. That is one of the means of him being soverign and supreme. For many, it is a very hard teaching to get their minds around especially when everything around us tells us that it is our right to choose. In our society, choice has become a value in itself, even a priority. But God’s society is not American. Paul puts it this way in Romans 9:19 -22. “One of you will say to me; then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will? But who are you, o man to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, Why did you make me like this? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction?” So – Jesus gives life to whom He chooses. People are born spiritually dead. People are born separated from God. There is no spiritual life in them --- what Paul is saying – God chooses whom He is going to give spiritual life to and whom He is not going to give spiritually life to. John is writing here the words of Jesus – “even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.” Jesus has the same soverign power that God has.
This is not a random teaching in the bible you find it through out the bible. Turn to the book of gepc Ephesians chapter one. I will read a few verses in chapter one. --- vs. 3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world.” God chose us in Jesus before the creation of the world.” He did not choose every one – we know that from Romans 9. Some he chose for noble purposes and some he chose for destruction. In John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.” This teaching is a struggle for man because it takes the choice for salvation out of man’s hands and puts into God’s hands. In verse 21 of chapter 5. Jesus is saying – God gives life to man and I give life to man.
But never be confused and think that man has no responsibility. Time and time again man is told and commanded, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Man has the responsibility to come. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Who are you following? Who is this Jesus that you think you are following? Do you believe He is fully God? Do you believe He has the power to give spiritual life and the power to cast someone into hell? Jesus said, “he who has believed has crossed over from death to life.” Has that happened to you? Tell me one reason why you should go home today and not make absolutely certain that it has happened…….. You cannot think of a reason and yet some of you will go home uncertain of your spiritual life and future. Jesus Christ gives life to whom He chooses.
4. Jesus judges all men. (Vs. 27-30) “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 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.”
In the 3rd picture Jesus said that God had given him the authority to give spiritual life to whomever He chose to give and this is consistent with the 4th picture – God has given Jesus the authority to judge whomever. The will of God and the will of Jesus is the same. They are in perfect harmony. Judging man was not the primary purpose that Christ came to this earth but judgment is the inescapable result of rejecting the salvation he offers. Judgment is coming upon man.
2 Thessalonians 1:7- 9 “…this will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” I am not making this up. This is one of the pictures the bible gives of hell. Hell is everlasting. Hell is the absence of God. Hell is the absence of the grace of God. The only thing present in hell of God is His judgment. Jesus says, God has given me authority to judge. DR AL MOHLER COMMENTS……………..
Look on your outline at another scripture…..
Acts 17:30 – 31 “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” God commands men to repent and he has set a day when he will judge the world by the man (Jesus whom He appointed – gave authority to) and God proved that authority by raising Him from the dead.Jesus judges all men – believer and non believer.
2 Corithians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” The non believer is going to appear before Christ and Christ will cast him or her into hell --- the believer is going to appear and be given crowns for how they lived out the Christian life on this earth.
Who is this Jesus? Jesus has the authority to judge all men. Jesus gives spiritual life to whom He chooses to give it. Jesus submits to His Father. Jesus is our perfect model of submission. Jesus is always at work. Do you know this Jesus? Do you know Him more today?
PHOTO ___ It took a special brand of cruelty to stand out amid the horrors of the Holocaust, but "Ivan the Terrible" was no ordinary sadist. As a Nazi guard, Ivan earned his fame by ushering thousands of prisoners — sometimes hacking them with a sword as they passed — into the gas chambers at Poland's Treblinka death camp. After the war, he vanished. Decades later, in the late 1970s, U.S. authorities fingered a suspect: John Demjanjuk, a retired auto worker residing in a Cleveland suburb. Loving husband and grandfather. His wife and his kids never suspected who John really was. His wife did not know him and the kids did not know their dad. ---- Do you know Jesus? Are you getting to know him better? Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Let us pray.
John 5: 16 -30
Pastor Ben Fleming
September 20, 2009
Turn in your bible to John chp 5. Can you tell who someone is or what they are like when you first meet them? Some of you think you are a pretty good read of people. I really have no idea what you are like just because you are hear this morning. You can know someone for years and I have known many of you for years ---- you think you know them, and you really do not. Today I want us to look at the question: Who is this person Jesus Christ that we talk about and read about? Who is this person Jesus Christ whom we claim and say is our savior? Did He really come to this earth to bear the full wrath and punishment of God for man’s sin or was he just a good moral teacher? Must we believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to God except through Him and that those who reject him are cast into an eternal hell? Is He really God? People all over the world have different beliefs about who they say and think Jesus is. Some people only know His name…. as a cuss word.
Some say Jesus was a crusading political revolutionary of liberation theology. Some say he was a cynical Jewish sage of the Jewish Seminar or a countercultural hero of the rock musicals Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. Listen to this:….. Jehovah’s Witness say Jesus is not God. Before he lived on earth, he was Michael the archangel and on earth he was just a man who lived a perfect life. So, remember that when they come to your door. Mormans say Jesus was a created spirit child by the Father and Mother in heaven. His body was created through sexual union between Elohim and Mary. He is the elder brother of all men and spirit beings, therefore, Jesus is the brother of Satan. I am not making this up. The Unity Church says Jesus was a perfect man, not God. He is the son of Zechariah and his mission was simply to unite the Jews behind him. Christian Science say he was simply a man who displayed the Christ idea. He did not suffer and could not suffer for sins. Muslims say Jesus was a prophet, New Age says Jesus was not a savior – but a spiritual model – a guru or ascended master and the Hindus believe he is a son of a god as are thousands of others sons of gods. His death did not forgive sins and he did not rise again from the dead. ----- okay ----- so does it really matter who Jesus is or who you might think he is? Does it even matter when you are in a so called Christian church? Can I not just believe in Jesus and not really care about who He is?
Every religious belief that I listed above believes something about Jesus – but the belief they believe will not bring them to God. They can be sincere and honest and good in what they believe and be eternally separated from God – condemened and cast into hell – experiencing the full – eternal – continual wrath of God. Look on your outline at the words of Jesus in Matthew --- very sobering words…..
Matthew 7: 21 – 23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Jesus knew that it was vitally important that he drive home again and again exactly who He is. During the three years of his ministry Jesus was increasingly confrontational to the religious leaders and the Jewish masses by claiming that He was God. John 8:58-59 “I tell you the truth Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am.” At this they picked up stones to stone him.” The Hebrew translation of the English ‘I am” is Yahweh. That name was so sacred to a Jewish person they refused to speak it. When ever you read the Gospels and Jesus answers a question by saying I am.” He is saying I am God – I am Yahweh. In our text today Jesus gives 4 pictures that tell us more of who He is. PLEASE STAND AS WE READ OUR TEXT FOR TODAY 5:16-30.. Phil
Who is Jesus Christ?
1. Jesus is always at work. (Vs. 17-18) “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too. am working.” For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was evening calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” Who is Jesus?
Jesus is equal to the Father in his person. Jesus said – My father is always at his work and I too am working. If you see My Father working – you see me working. In context --- Jesus was referring to verse 16 –“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.” They were upset that Jesus healed on the Sabbath Day. To them – He broke the Sabbath rule and He was claiming to be God. Jewish religious rules said that you could not heal or do anything on the Sabbath. So – what Jesus said – implied that the Sabbath was not given for God but for man. The Sabbath commandment did not apply to God – it did not apply to Jesus. God did not rest on the 7th day because He needed some kind of rest – He did so to give man a divine example. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.”
So --- does God not work on Sunday? Is God cruising right now in His easy chair with His hands off His creation? Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Who sustains all things? Who keeps the O2 in the air and who keeps the world and the planets spinning and gravity working ---- Jesus Christ – why? Because He is equal to the Father. So – who is Jesus? He is God the Father and He is always working. He does good on Sunday.
THINK ABOUT IT IN A SIDE BAR:
How many people do you know who take a break on Sunday like God intended? Believers should take a break and get spiritually recharged. God intended for us to also get physically – emotionally and mentally recharged. He did not intend for it to be a catch up day – got get the lawn mowed – gotta clean house and paint the room. I remember our friends from Holland – Casper and Helen Valevan while on vacation – they would never plan to end their vacation on Sunday by driving home that day --- they came home on Saturday or Monday……. Who is Jesus? He is always at work. He knows what is going on in your life --- in your problems --- in your frustrations and challenges and He – God the Son -- is working just like God the Father – even on Sunday. WHO IS JESUS? #2
2. Jesus submits to His Father. (Vs. 19-20) “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do whatever he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him ever greater things than these.” As the Son – Jesus is equal to God in His works. God is always working and in what God does Jesus is equal to God in that work. But – Jesus submits to God in all that He does. “the Son can do nothing by himself --- he does not act independently – he can do whatever he sees the Father doing – because whatever the Father does the Son also does – the Father loves the Son and shows Him all he does. God hides nothing from Jesus. Jesus does nothing to undermine God. Jesus does nothing on his own. There is this perfect harmony between the two.
This the perfect picture of what a husband and wife relationship should be like. Notice that I said should be like.. This is exactly what Paul is writing about in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:22 – 26 “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” I am not sure that we really do understand this submission between the Father and the Son and how God intends for it to be modeled and reflected in our lives. I want to take some liberty and re write John 5:19-20 “I tell you the truth, the wife can do nothing by herself; she can only do whatever she sees her husband doing, because whatever her husband does the wife also does. For the husband loves the wife and shows her all he does. Yes, to your amazement the husband will show her ever greater things than these.”
Submission in our society and even in the church is not an attractive word. We rebel at it. I cannot recall in 15 years anyone asking me in the church – “do you think I reflect a submissive spirit?” But – here in these verses – we see such a sweet sweet picture of the submissive relationship between the Father and the Son. Because of that submission – the Son is equal to the Father in His works.
3. Jesus gives life to whom He chooses. (Vs. 21-26) “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…..”I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life… for as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.”
Another way of saying that Jesus gives life to whom He chooses is to say Jesus is equal to God in His power and sovereignty. Because Jesus was asserting his equality with God he is saying that he has parallel power with God to raise the dead – to give physical life and spiritual life. Because Jesus has the same power that God has – he is able to raise people from the dead physically and more importantly he is able to give people spiritual life. Jesus said that in
John 4:4 “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water sprinting up to eternal life.”
So – Jesus chooses who becomes spiritually alive and who stays spiritually dead. That is one of the means of him being soverign and supreme. For many, it is a very hard teaching to get their minds around especially when everything around us tells us that it is our right to choose. In our society, choice has become a value in itself, even a priority. But God’s society is not American. Paul puts it this way in Romans 9:19 -22. “One of you will say to me; then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will? But who are you, o man to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, Why did you make me like this? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction?” So – Jesus gives life to whom He chooses. People are born spiritually dead. People are born separated from God. There is no spiritual life in them --- what Paul is saying – God chooses whom He is going to give spiritual life to and whom He is not going to give spiritually life to. John is writing here the words of Jesus – “even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.” Jesus has the same soverign power that God has.
This is not a random teaching in the bible you find it through out the bible. Turn to the book of gepc Ephesians chapter one. I will read a few verses in chapter one. --- vs. 3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world.” God chose us in Jesus before the creation of the world.” He did not choose every one – we know that from Romans 9. Some he chose for noble purposes and some he chose for destruction. In John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.” This teaching is a struggle for man because it takes the choice for salvation out of man’s hands and puts into God’s hands. In verse 21 of chapter 5. Jesus is saying – God gives life to man and I give life to man.
But never be confused and think that man has no responsibility. Time and time again man is told and commanded, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Man has the responsibility to come. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Who are you following? Who is this Jesus that you think you are following? Do you believe He is fully God? Do you believe He has the power to give spiritual life and the power to cast someone into hell? Jesus said, “he who has believed has crossed over from death to life.” Has that happened to you? Tell me one reason why you should go home today and not make absolutely certain that it has happened…….. You cannot think of a reason and yet some of you will go home uncertain of your spiritual life and future. Jesus Christ gives life to whom He chooses.
4. Jesus judges all men. (Vs. 27-30) “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 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.”
In the 3rd picture Jesus said that God had given him the authority to give spiritual life to whomever He chose to give and this is consistent with the 4th picture – God has given Jesus the authority to judge whomever. The will of God and the will of Jesus is the same. They are in perfect harmony. Judging man was not the primary purpose that Christ came to this earth but judgment is the inescapable result of rejecting the salvation he offers. Judgment is coming upon man.
2 Thessalonians 1:7- 9 “…this will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” I am not making this up. This is one of the pictures the bible gives of hell. Hell is everlasting. Hell is the absence of God. Hell is the absence of the grace of God. The only thing present in hell of God is His judgment. Jesus says, God has given me authority to judge. DR AL MOHLER COMMENTS……………..
Look on your outline at another scripture…..
Acts 17:30 – 31 “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” God commands men to repent and he has set a day when he will judge the world by the man (Jesus whom He appointed – gave authority to) and God proved that authority by raising Him from the dead.Jesus judges all men – believer and non believer.
2 Corithians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” The non believer is going to appear before Christ and Christ will cast him or her into hell --- the believer is going to appear and be given crowns for how they lived out the Christian life on this earth.
Who is this Jesus? Jesus has the authority to judge all men. Jesus gives spiritual life to whom He chooses to give it. Jesus submits to His Father. Jesus is our perfect model of submission. Jesus is always at work. Do you know this Jesus? Do you know Him more today?
PHOTO ___ It took a special brand of cruelty to stand out amid the horrors of the Holocaust, but "Ivan the Terrible" was no ordinary sadist. As a Nazi guard, Ivan earned his fame by ushering thousands of prisoners — sometimes hacking them with a sword as they passed — into the gas chambers at Poland's Treblinka death camp. After the war, he vanished. Decades later, in the late 1970s, U.S. authorities fingered a suspect: John Demjanjuk, a retired auto worker residing in a Cleveland suburb. Loving husband and grandfather. His wife and his kids never suspected who John really was. His wife did not know him and the kids did not know their dad. ---- Do you know Jesus? Are you getting to know him better? Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Let us pray.
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