Reading …

  • John 20 ;30-31

Introduction …

  • Today we are starting a series in the Gospel of John which will last some time …
    • Some might react and say  … so BORING 
  • But the truth is that the gospel of John is very far from boring. 
    • Some commentators regard it as the most important of the Gospels 
      • The truth is each one is written from a different perspective with a different overall purpose and are equally important
    • For example Luke in his introduction says …
      • There are a lot of historical accounts about the life of Jesus
      • So I have researched very carefully the truth and have put this all down in an orderly account so that we might know for certain exactly what happened. 
  • So we find that all who author books have a purpose in writing that book …
    • In doing so there is a desire to influence the readers in some way. 
  • But the problem is we also need to know something about the author before we commit ourselves to his or her points of view. 
    • Because they will always have a bias of some kind.
      • That is why the same news reported by B.B.C., Aljazerah, C.N.N, Fox News are often so different. 
        • Fox and CNN have very different opinions on Donald Trump. 
  • This is especially true when reading Christian literature off the internet …
    • When asked the question …
      • Is it ok to read Christian articles off the internet …
    • My answer is …
      • Yes as long as you know the author. 
    • Example …
      • Don't read articles by T.D.Jakes or Kenneth Copeland on tithing to the church.
      • John MacArthur or Chuck Swindol are a much safer bet. 
        • But the Bible is still the best. 
  • So our aim is to take the Gospel of John and see what it says to me today 

John … 

  • Is the author …Can he be trusted …
    • He was an apostle/disciple chosen by Jesus…John 1;35-39
    • He is referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved … 13;23, 19;26
    • He is in close proximity to Jesus at the last supper …
    • John along with Peter and James attended the transfiguration … Mark 9;1
    • Throughout the trial and crucifiction of Jesus John is there
    • Jesus places the responsibility of care of his Mother on John …John 19;27
      • Clearly Jesus held John in high regard and trusted him.
    • He was very much a father figure in the church and cared greatly for them, referring to them as dear children … 1 John 2;1
      • And he worked in the church into his 90’s
  • Clearly we have an author whose bias is towards the Lord Jesus Christ and the care of his followers.
    • So my advice to you is … Read the writings of John . 

His purpose …

  • The reading that we have in front of us spells out his purposes …
    • And therefore as we go through the book we must always take this statement into account. 
      • Because the purposes influence all his comments.
  • I have written these things that you may know (Believe) that Jesus is the 
  • Christ, the Son of God and by believing you may have life in His name… John 20;31
    • No surprises then to see the word believe is used frequently in this gospel
  • His purpose is also laid out in the first chapter of the book … 
    • The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us …
      • We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only (God), 
      • Full of grace and truth… John 1;12 
  • So in writing the purpose is 2 fold …
    • To prove that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
    • To reveal to us the glory of the Lord Jesus. 
      • So that we might believe in him … 
      • So that we might abide in him … 1 John 2, John 15;7
    • He wants to see people coming into the kingdom by believing in Jesus…
      • And he wants them to walk each day reflecting the glory of Jesus. 

Outline …

  • So how does he achieve this …
    • Prologue … Who Jesus is … Ch 1;1-18
      • Various witnesses provided…
        • John the disciple
        • John the Baptist
        • Nathanael the disciple
        • Jesus' own testimony  
  • Signs  …7 proofs … Ch 1;19 - ch 11;57
    • John uses the term for a good reason…
      • Listen to John as he tells us why he calls them signs …
      • This is the first of the miraculous signs that Jesus performed 
        • He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him… John 2;11 
      • So the purpose of the signs is …
        • To reveal Jesus in all his glory
        • To bring people to a personal belief in Jesus.
    • So as we work through the 7 signs each one will reveal the glory of Christ …
      • Each one reveals a different aspect of his glory 
      • But when we put them all together we see that all our needs are fulfilled in him …
        • Jesus is the all sufficient one. 
  • The book of glory … full extent of his grace and truth  … Ch 12;1 -20;31
    • From chapter 12 onwards everything starts to build towards his death on the cross. 
      • There are promises that Jesus makes that are impossible for a man to keep …
      • There are prophecies of denial , betrayal, mistrial and a cruel death. 
        • But in all of this his grace and truth is apparent. .
  • Resurrection …The glorious 8th sign …Ch 21;1-25
    • Finally there is vindication as God raises him from the dead…
      • And he reveals himself in his glorious resurrection body. 
    • And again the grace is revealed as …
      • Peter the denyer is restored to a life of faithful service.
      • Thomas the doubter believes and is assured of truth. 
  • And John assures you and me when he says …
    • This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. .. John 21;24
  • So you can see the book can hardly be regarded as boring…
    • Instead it takes our faith in the Lord Jesus to a new level and understanding. 

The call to believe…John 20;31

  • Baring in mind John’s purpose in writing it is obvious we are called to believe.
  • Believe …
    • Believe …Pisteuo …
      • Definition …Consider to be true and worthy of one's trust …
        • Within that definition lies two actions …
          • Consider to be true … intellectual acceptance
          • Worthy of trust … A decision to act accordingly…
      • We are called to believe and make important decisions on matters every day … 700 000 in a lifetime. 
    • When buying certain items we become engaged in a lot of research and we seek advice from experienced people we trust… 
      • Because the claims of the manufacturers cant always be believed. 
      • So we do this because the decision has massive consequences 
    • That is what C.S. Lewis did for some 2 years before becoming a christian.
      • Others like Frank Morrison the author of the book “Who moved the stone” and investigative journalist Lee Strobel who authored “The case for Christ”and  Michael Minot the atheist attorney authored “In the beckoning”
        • All of these men were atheists …
        • Eventually their research led to intellectual acceptance …
        • Which then led to them putting their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus as their saviour and Lord.
    • The belief that John is calling for is the most important decision we will ever make …
      • And it goes way beyond an intellectual acceptance. 
        • The belief that  John is calling for has life changing consequences… a belief that demands obedience
          • For this present life
          • And all eternity.
  • Claims … true or false
  • The claims that Jesus makes are in fact the claims of the manufacturer …
    • And are hard to believe …
      • I am before Abraham … Really
      • I am the resurrection and life …
      • No one comes to the Father (God) but by me. 
        • And based on these claims the powers that be, created a case against him that would lead to his death. 
    • The question is are the claims true or false. 
  • John says they are attested to by miraculous signs …And witnessed by the disciples…
    • There are 33 miracles but John only selects 7 …
    • Because these 7 signs highlight glorious truths about Jesus that we must consider and understand .
      • E.g…When he raises Lazarus from the dead Jesus reveals to Martha a glorious truth …John 11;26
        • I am the resurrection and the life …
          • And he proves his claim and raises Lazarus from the dead.
  • All the signs were witnessed by the disciples of Jesus…and many others. 
    • Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples … John 20;30
      • Jesus said …For you have been with me from the beginning …John 15;27
    • It was this witnessing that caused them to believe …Ch 2;11… 
      • The miracles were done with the purpose of educating the disciples so that they could go into all the world and testify. 
    • Today many of the cults, the so-called prophets and apostles claim God has spoken to them …in private …
      • Beware of such claims. 
  • What must be believed
    • Believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God … John 20;31
    • The Christ … this is the Greek word …
      • The Hebrew word is Messiah. 
    • This is not a name but a designation
      • It means the anointed one …
        • Consecrated to a specific office …Luke 4;18
          • Anointed to proclaim good news … of the gospel
  • So Jesus says …
    • The Son of man has come to seek and save the lost …Luke19;10
    • I have come that you may have life… John 10;10
  • We must believe that God appointed Jesus to come to this earth to give us eternal life … John 17;1-3
  • The Son of God …monogenes
    • Mono …one of a kind 
    • Genes … sharing the same divine nature …
      • Small wonder the rulers of the Jews said … He claims to be equal with God…John 10;33
      • In that they were correct
    • God refers to Jesus as the only begotten Son …John 3;16
      • Conceived of God the Spirit, carried by Mary
      • Having the same nature as God
      • In special relationship with the Father …oneness with the Father in all things.…John 10;30
      • Inheriting special powers from the Father … John 10;17-18
        • And  John states …
          • In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.,, John 1;1
          • All things were made by him… vs 2
    • Johns purpose is to ensure we know who we are to believe in
  • John’s purpose is to show that all the claims Jesus made were proven to be correct.
    • I am the door, the way, the truth, the life, the bread of life, I am etc
      • But are they true …
  • C. S. Lewis writes concerning the claims of some who believe Jesus to be just a great moral teacher …
    • A man who was merely a man and said the things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher . He would either be a lunatic or the devil of hell 
  • The truth is that everything he said of himself is gloriously true

The gospel is effective …

  • And when you believe in him …
    • Is it life changing .
  • Look at John … introduced as the son of thunder …
    • Yet the one Jesus loved .. the spiritual father of many
  • Peter the denyer …
    • Yet crucified for his faith 
  • Thomas the doubter …
    • Who became the reluctant missionary to India where his name is venerated to this day.
  • The gospel is life changing … it worked then and it still does
    • Chuck Colson went to prison because of the evil he did serving Richard Nixon …
      • But there he became a believer and started the Christian Prison Ministry …
      • And became an author of many biblical books. 

Conclusion …

  • Do you believe in Jesus …
    • What do you believe … what should you believe
  • Next week we will spell out the claims of Jesus 
  • The big question is are they gloriously true.