John 15:1-6 Which branch are you?

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  ‎2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  ‎3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  ‎4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  ‎5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  ‎6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (ESV)

How do you know which branch you are? Are you the branch that does not bear much fruit and gets taken away? Are you the branch that bears fruit and gets pruned? Both branches are cut by the vine dresser. In times of cutting you need to look for and have other godly friends help you see the new growth. The branch that gets taken away withers. The branch that was pruned grows to bear more fruit. After the cut, after the difficulty and the pain, are you withering or are you growing?

Abide in Christ.

Stand in grace (Romans 5:2)

Hold fast to the word and stand in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)

During times of pruning I want to say to God, “Hey! You cut me and it hurts.” But when I slow down I hear God say, “Though your outer self is wasting away your inner self can be renewed day by day. This pain, this cutting, this difficulty, this light momentary affliction is preparing for you an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Do not get hung up on the  cut. Do not look at the things that are seen. You won’t grow looking at that. Instead, keep looking at Jesus. Keep abiding in Him. Look at the things that are unseen because the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Late winter every year I prune a rose bush in my front yard. The bush looks terribly ugly when I do. Oh but when the spring comes that bush is full and strong and healthy. Abide in Christ and you will be pruned but you will bear much fruit.

Love Like Jesus, Love One Another; John 13&15

Love Like Jesus

Text: John 13:1, 34-35; 15:9-17                                              9/11/2011

Thesis: God’s goal is that we love one another like the Father loves the Son.

This morning we are starting a sermon series covering some specific passages which describe what it means for you to be a part of the church. We’re going to be looking at those things that we are told to do or not do for one another. You’ll hear me referring off and on to the “one another commands of the New Testament.” These commands include things like love one another, serve one another, forgive one another, honor one another, encourage one another, and teach one another. Today we begin by trusting grace such that we obey Jesus’ command to love one another.

The reason I want to start with “love one another” is because I believe that love for one another is the foundation for all the other one another commands of the New Testament. As we trust God and rely on his grace so that we love one another we will be more willing to walk according to the other one another commands.

What I’m praying happens in me and you over the next two months is that we make great strides in becoming a more faithful New Testament Church. In the time that I have been a part of this body I have heard many encouraging things about us: We have godly men and women. We have great Bible teachers. We have great ministries. But in this time I have rarely if ever heard anyone say “I know that y’all are disciples of Jesus because you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The world is not believing the Father sent the Son because we are as united as the Father and Son (John 17:21).

People in Granbury, Glen Rose, Walnut Springs, Bluff Dale, and out to the ends of the earth are believing the Father sent the Son because we preach the gospel and believe in the Great Commission. That is a great thing but it’s not the whole thing. Being a church means more than joining together for a common cause. A church is a family that has been born again and made one through the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. His Father is our Father; we are adopted in as brothers and sisters. Jesus’ love becomes our love; we love God, one another, and the nations. Jesus’ mission becomes our mission; together we love and serve for the salvation of others.

By God’s grace we are making great strides in becoming a more faithful church. By faith may each one of us grow in what it means to love one another like the Father loves the Son.

Read John 13:1, 34-35; 15:9-17

You will love the people around you to the extent that you know you are loved by God.

I. Loving people are loved people

1. Jesus loves you deeply (John 15:9)

During the Wednesday night prayer meeting we talked about how amazing this verse really is, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” Right now in all of your sin and weakness and struggle the Son of God loves you more deeply than you can imagine. There is a commitment and tenacity to Jesus’ love for you that you can never match. Do you know that Jesus loves you more deeply right now than you will ever love him even into eternity? Jesus isn’t waiting on you to get straightened out. Jesus isn’t waiting on you to stop sinning. Jesus isn’t waiting on you to do something extra special. Jesus loves you. He loves you right now with the same devotion and affection that the Father loves the perfect Son. That’s what Jesus says.

And don’t try to pridefully explain away Jesus’ love like he loves some people this much but he doesn’t love you this much. Are you one of Jesus’ sheep? Then Jesus laid down his life for you (John 10:11). Jesus loves you. You much choose to abide in that love.

This week a guy named Ron Proctor introduced me to a definition of faith that I hope to unpack in my life. I hope to get the opportunity to help you unpack it in your life. “Faith is choosing to live as though God’s word is true regardless of circumstances, emotions or cultural trends” (Ron & Della Proctor, Mentoring 101, book one, page 8).

Are you abiding there? No matter what is happening to me, no matter how I feel, no matter what the world may say I choose right now to live as though God’s word is true: Jesus loves me as deeply as the Father loves the Son.

You believe there is one God who is three persons. You believe God created the world. You believe the Son of God took on flesh, lived a perfect life, died an atoning death, and rose again on the third day. You believe he ascended to the Father’s right hand and will one day return to rule. You believe all of this and you are right to do so. Now, hear God’s word and believe this: Jesus loves you. Believe it regardless of how you feel. Right now believe it because God’s says it in his Word.

Jesus loves you deeply and

1. Jesus loves you completely (John 13:1)

John 13:1 records this concerning the love of Jesus: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

“To the end” is a fabulous phrase. Jesus used the same root word on the cross when he said “It is finished” (John 19:30). It means the required work has been completed. It means the full payment has been made. It means there is nothing else to be done. You cannot improve it or add to it. This is true of Jesus’ work on the cross and it is true of his love for you.

Jesus loves you completely. Right now, even in all your sin and struggle, Jesus could not possibly increase his love for you. Does the Father love the Son with all that the Father is and has? Yes, the Father loves completely. Then it is also true that the Son loves you with all that He is and has. Hear it and believe it today: Jesus possesses infinite love and affection and delight in you. Jesus loves you to the end.

1. Jesus loves you to the death (1 John 3:16)

Turn with me to 1 John 3:16. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.”

This is love. THIS is love and nothing else. Love is giving up your life to do gospel-good to others. Love is defined by Jesus’ work on the cross. This is precisely why husbands are told to love their wives like Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). So, if you are throwing the scraps of your life at your spouse, your children, and this church do you love your spouse, your children, and this church? Now you may like them for what they give you but if you are not giving yourself for the gospel-good of your spouse, your children, and this church then you don’t love them.

So how do we get there? Loving like Jesus begins by humbly embracing the command to love. It starts by believing God’s word: I must love others. Let’s look at the command.

II. We are commanded to love one another

1. Love for one another is an undeniable command

John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Romans 12:9-10, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection.”

Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

1 Thessalonians 4:9, ‘Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another”

Hebrews 13:1, “Let brotherly love be genuine.”

1 Peter 1:22, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.”

1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1 John 3:11, “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another.”

1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.”

1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

1. We are commanded to love like Jesus (John 15:12-13)

We’ve established the fact that our God commands us to love one another. What we must do now is be sure we understand what it actually means to love one another. Let’s start with what loving one another is not. Loving one another is not tolerating each other. Loving one another is not agreeing to disagree. Loving one another is not putting up with one another. Loving one another is not coming to this church campus and going to separate rooms in order to avoid one another.

And loving the church is not loving the way the church used to be. If you think you love your brothers and sisters because you cherish the Mambrino of 5, 10, or 20 years ago then you love the past. It is right and good to appreciate the past and to love those you have died. But if your love for others goes not further  than the past then you don’t truly love. And loving the church isn’t even loving what the church might become. You look around, see what we could be or do, and you love that. But that’s not loving one another that’s loving what you want to see happen. That’s self seeking. Loving one another is loving us; warts and all. Loving one another is forgiving those who have hurt you. Loving one another is encouraging those who disagree with you. Loving one another is bearing with those who see things differently that you.

Loving one another means loving one another with the same depth and tenacity that the Father loves the Son. Loving one another means you give your life for the gospel-good of those around you. But we say, “I can’t do that.” It’s too much. I’m not capable. It’s too hard, takes too much time, is too costly, and what will I get for it all anyway?

In the Wednesday night prayer meeting this really came together in my mind from John 15:9-11. As I abide in Jesus’ love I will obey his commandments. As I obey his commandments I will experience the fullness of Jesus’ joy in me. That’s straight forward from those verses. Now here is the connection: Jesus commands me to love you and Jesus commands things for my joy. Jesus commands me to love you and Jesus commands you to love me because loving one another like Jesus will produce joy in us.

Okay, think about it. Why do you lack the fullness of joy? Is it because you are surrounded by sinners? Do you lack joy because your husband or wife is living in rebellion? Do you lack joy because your children or grandchildren are so wicked? Do you lack joy because people in this church don’t appreciate you? Or do you lack joy because you are refusing to love those very people like Jesus commanded?

Remember, Jesus was surrounded by sinners. Jesus’ closest friends and family were wicked and selfish. No one in the temple appreciated Jesus. But did Jesus lack joy? Jesus abided in his Father’s love, Jesus kept His Father’s command to love, and Jesus’ joy was complete.

Jesus wants to give you his joy today but it is only experienced through faith. And what is faith? Faith is choosing to live as though God’s Word is true regardless of circumstance, emotions or cultural trends (Proctor, ibid).

Each week I want to close by exposing the opposite of the “one another passage” and point us down the path so that we start obeying that “one another passage.”

Now this is a trick question. What is the opposite of loving one another?

III. The opposite of loving one another is loving yourself

1. Selfishness is the anti-love (1 John 3:16-18)

Turn back to 1 John 3:16 and let’s read through verse 18. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Loving one another, laying down our lives for one another, starts with seeing and meeting one another’s needs. This begins with financial needs, “if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need” he should meet that need. But here’s the problem: we don’t often know when our brothers and sisters are in need and why is that? Basically we don’t see the needs of those around us because we don’t love those around us. Committing to help those in need as long as you don’t have to love them is another form of selfishness; it’s wanting to feel good about doing something without having to love someone. That is just as wrong as not doing anything.

But I think in our culture giving what you have to those in need has more to do with time than it does with money. If someone has a legitimate need and isn’t working the system there are people and institutions willing and able to meet that financial need. What we’re seeing all around is the utter hopelessness of loneliness. We need love.

Now I had to stop here because as I was writing I wanted to say: we need someone to love us. That’s what we think. That is what our culture tells us. But it’s not what God’s word says. What you need is to love someone. You don’t need to wait for a friend if you are lonely. You need to go obey Jesus’ command and love someone. Don’t wait for a friend, be a friend. Jesus didn’t command you to find someone to love and support you. Jesus commands us to love and support one another. Stop waiting on someone to fill your love cup. Abide in Jesus’ love; he’s the only one who can fill your cup and then go out and love recklessly.

So, the opposite of loving one another is loving yourself; hording your time and your resources for the advance of yourself. That must be graciously and patiently rooted out of the church with the power of the Gospel. Let me finish with pointing you down the path.

IV. How to start loving one another

1. Look for love in all the right places

1. Abide in Jesus’ love

Jesus wasn’t looking for someone to love him. Jesus wasn’t running around looking for disciples who would make him feel complete or appreciated or useful. Jesus said in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” Because Jesus was loved by the Father he could love others.  Camp out on this: Jesus loves you right now just as much as the Father has always loved him. Your problem is not finding someone to love you. Our struggle is to abide in Jesus’ love.

2. How do you abide in Jesus’ love?

Jesus said in John 15:10, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” Jesus knew the Father loved him so he did what the Father said. What the Father commanded was a product of his love. Jesus knew he could trust the Father who loved and commanded him. Same is true for you and Jesus. Faith sees the fact that Jesus loves me. Because Jesus loves me I can trust him and do what he commands. Do you want to abide in Jesus’ love? Trust him to be all you need and give all you need to obey all his commands.

3. Embrace the command

Some of us have been so badly hurt that the last thing we want to do is obey Jesus’ command to love. No wonder we don’t feel loved by Jesus. Some of us are so self-centered that the last thing we want to do is obey Jesus’ command to love. No wonder we’re always mad at one another and always feel used by one another. We must abide in Jesus’ love and obey Jesus’ command to love.

4. Begin by confessing to God that you have heard His word and tell him you want to obey. May God through his word proclaimed and his powerful Spirit make our love abound for one another. May we be found loving one another and trusting Christ to provide all that we need. By faith let us grow in what it means to love like Jesus.

Gospel Proclaiming Unity; John 17:20-23

Please contact me at paulduncan@mambrino.org for sermon audio

Text: John 17:20-23                                                               6/5/2011

Thesis: Jesus wants His church to experience gospel-proclaiming unity in the world.

Today we look into Jesus’ prayer specifically for you and for me. Here is what I find most surprising about this passage: the very thing that Jesus is focused on and concerned about in his prayer life is often forgotten or thought unnecessary when we go to pray. Why is it that those who have the mind of Christ and the words of Christ find little joy in praying the prayers of Christ?

So here is my goal: I want to change the way you pray. I want the word of God to change the way I pray. I want us to see the centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how that gospel unites us as God’s household, as sons and daughters of the Father. And I want us to see that this unity is incredibly practical. Our love for one another and our bond as a faith family should make an impact on our neighbors.

Jesus wants His church to experience gospel-proclaiming unity in the world. He wants it so badly he dedicates his last precious moments of prayer with his disciples to it.  Let’s see why gospel-proclaiming unity is so important to Jesus. But first, let’s pray that as we listen to God’s word the desires of Jesus would become our desires.

Read John 17:6-23

I. Unity is possible among those who believe in Jesus (20)

1. Jesus prays for those who believe in him through the word of those who belong to him

The gospel is the only path to unity.  It is the gospel proclaimed by the apostles and believed by the church.

II. Jesus prays for us all to be one (21)

1. Jesus is concerned about unity among all those who believe in him

Jesus prays for unity because our natural inclinations are toward segregation

1. Our oneness should reflect God’s oneness

True unity is being together such that doing life without each other is unthinkable.

1. Jesus is concerned about us being in Them

Jesus prays that we would abide in them

1. When the world sees us as one and us in Them then they will believe

The goal here is for the world to see the powerful gospel uniting us to each other and to God

When the world sees unexplainable love and unexplainable faith then the world will believe the Father sent the Son

For this seeing and believing to occur the church must not retreat from the world but seek to be the church in the world

I think Jesus is praying that we, the church, would overflow into the world and change the world

What does the prayer of Jesus mean for Mambrino Baptist Church?

III. Jesus gives us his glory for unity (22)

1. Jesus possessed the glory of the only Son (John 1:14)

2. Jesus gives us his glory so we can be sons (John 1:12-13; Galatians 4:4-7)

3. The powerful gospel that makes us sons is the powerful gospel that makes us one (17:22)

IV. The Father is in the Son and the Son is in us for unity (23)

1. Gaining God begins the journey toward unity

2. Our growth in unity proclaims the miracle of the gospel

Gospel-unity says that Jesus has come

Gospel-unity says that sinners and enemies are loved

V. Conclusion

I began by stating my goal: to change the way you pray. I hope now you see how the gospel is big enough to produce unity among us. And I hope you want to display our common ground of belief in Jesus Christ. We now have the opportunity to do that. We’re going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together as a display of our common faith in and desire for Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 11:28-29, “Let each person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Two things need to be happening inside of you as you prepare for and then enjoy the supper. First, are you believing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Does the apostles’ word resonate inside of you such that you acknowledge your deep need for a Savior, Sustainer, and even for life itself? Are you trusting in Christ alone for life and salvation? Come and eat this meal.

Second, do you desire what Jesus desires? Do you desire to be radically and relationally united with the church? Do you know your need of Christ crucified for you and do you know your need for a church body to disciple, correct, and encourage you? Do you long to celebrate this meal with the church as Jesus does? If so, come and eat this meal.

As we sing a song of faith and preparation for the supper think and pray on these things: Am I trusting in Christ alone for my salvation? And Do I long for unity with the church?

Jesus’ Prayer for His Disciples’ Mission; John 17:11-19

Thesis: Disciples are kept by God from evil for mission.

Last week we ended our time of worship together by marveling over grace; all that we are is because of the fact that we have been given by the Father to the Son. We are the personal property of the Triune God and because of that ownership Jesus has revealed the Father to us, we are convinced of the divine person and mission of Jesus, we receive Jesus’ words as truth, and we glorify Jesus in our lives. We rest in the grace that Jesus already sees us as what he is making us. As we read this week in 2 Peter 1:2, we are a people upon whom grace and peace have been multiplied in the knowledge of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now, in John 17:11 Jesus makes a transition in his prayer. He goes from making statements concerning who his disciples are to making requests concerning what those disciples need. In simplest terms Jesus prays that his disciples would be kept by God from evil for mission.

So here is what I hope happens this morning: I hope you will clearly see and understand what Jesus wants. In response to the word of God I hope your wants will become more like his. I hope you will pray for and desire what Jesus prays for and desires. I hope you will become what he wants you to become and do what he wants you to do.  I want to see Jesus’ prayer answered in our midst this morning.

Let’s dive in: John 17:6-19

I. Jesus prayed that the disciples would be kept

1. This prayer is needed because Jesus is leaving (11a)

While Jesus was with them he kept them. The physical presence of the person of Jesus Christ provided protection for his disciples. In many ways the physical presence of Jesus was a wall and a shield. Now that Jesus is going to the Father that physical wall and physical shield is being removed. No longer Jesus himself take the brunt of the world’s hatred and opposition. Up to this point the only hatred that the disciples felt was the hatred that splattered off of Jesus and onto themselves. Not so any longer. Because Jesus is leaving that necessarily means that the persecution experienced by the disciples will increase. Since Jesus is no longer in the world but going to the Father this prayer becomes a necessity.

Because Jesus is leaving he offers this first prayer request

1. Jesus asks that the disciples be kept in accordance with the Father’s person, power, and purposes (11b, 12)

Look at the middle of verse 11, “Holy Father, keep them in your name.”

We talked about what it meant to pray in Jesus’ name when we were looking at John 16:23-24. I told you that prayer in Jesus’ name is prayer dependent upon the power of Jesus Christ and in agreement with the person and purposes of Jesus Christ. When you link up with the name of the Son or the Father you are linking up with the power, person, and purposes of the Father and Son.

So when Jesus prays about those given to him and asks that the Father keep them in his name, the name given to the Son, Jesus is praying that the Father protect and sanctify his people according to his character. Jesus expects all that the Father is to shape all that you are. Being kept in the Father’s name is to be conformed to the Father’s image. It’s so much more than just making it into heaven by the skin of your teeth. We know this because

1. Jesus’ disciples are kept for the purpose of unity (11c)

Do you see that Jesus sees a specific purpose of all this keeping? He prays in verse 11, “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”

Jesus wants the Father to protect and sanctify his disciples so that those disciples who experience a supernatural unity with one another. It is true that Jesus wants his disciples to experience a supernatural unity with the Father, Son, and Spirit; he prays for that in verse 21. But that’s not what he’s asking for here. He’s asking for a unity in the church that accurately reflects the unity of the Trinity. Jesus expects his disciples to be united to each other just as the Son is united to the Father and the Father is united to the Son.

So let me ask you? Do you want to be deeply and personally connected with your brothers and sisters here at Mambrino? Do you want to give yourself to and for those who sit in these pews with you this morning? And Jesus isn’t praying for a superficial tolerance of one another. Jesus is praying for a radical interpersonal joy and dependence to well up between you and me and you and he and you and she.

Do you want what Jesus wants? Do you want to be radically fundamentally “at the core of who you are” united with your brothers and sisters here at Mambrino? If you don’t, if you want to stay disconnected and independent, you have misunderstood the person of Jesus Christ. If you are content to come and take from us without giving yourself to us then you have missed what it means to be kept in the Father name. Those people who know the Son and the power of the Gospel are those people who experience an ever deepening unity in the church.

Judas was not kept in the Father’s name. Judas was not kept or guarded by the Son. He did not desire unity with the church or unity with the Son. He wanted money. He wanted for himself. And God, through Scripture, decreed this to be so. The Father would use the selfishness of Judas, the judged wickedness of Judas, to bring about his good purposes. Judas was not lost by the Father or the Son. Judas lived out the wickedness of his heart and this son of perdition is right now cut off from joyful unity with the Son and his people. Judas is judged.

Were it not for Jesus’ prayer we would all end up like Judas. Praise God for the grace and power of the prayers of this righteous man. The prayers of Jesus are powerful and effective to work unity in the church. Jesus prayed for unity

II. Jesus spoke for their joy

In verse 13 Jesus prays, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. Aren’t you glad that Jesus is concerned about our joy? So, how has Jesus set things up? How is his joy fulfilled in us?

1. The words of Jesus produce the joy of Jesus in us (13)

Jesus is speaking these things to the Father before he gets to the Father because he wants his disciples to have joy. In John 15:11 Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” So what is joy? What does Jesus want for us?

Joy is the product of abiding in commandments and love of God. Joy is not mainly a euphoric ecstatic experience. Joy is the experience of peace and contentment because we are kept in the Father’s name. We’re depending on him and he’s meeting our needs. Nothing grown or manufactured in this world can produce the joy Jesus promises. So where do we get joy?

The words of Jesus produce the joy of Jesus in us. Jesus wants you to be at peace with God and Jesus wants you to be content in God. How will it happen? Christian, do you want joy? Listen to his words. “If you abide in [him] and [his] words abide in you ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Ask for joy. Jesus asks for joy. So should we.

We are introduced to joy as we read the word. We experience joy as we allow that word to remake us into the image of the ever-joyful Son. Read the bible; supernatural joy is impossible without it. The bible has been given to us for our joy.

Jesus prayed that his disciples would be kept. Jesus spoke for their joy. And

III. Jesus prayed that the disciples would be kept

That’s not a typo. Jesus is again praying that we would be protected. Get this: we are a people simultaneously filled with joy and peppered by hatred. Why are we hated?

Verse 14, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

1. The words of Jesus produce hatred from the world (14)

The words of Jesus call us out of the world, clean us up, and send us back to the world.

The words of Jesus that produce joy in us produce hatred for us. This truth helps us define joy also. Joy is not the absence of difficulty and joy is not being loved and appreciated by all. Joy does not equal ease. Joy is the experience of peace with God and contentment because of God come what may in this world. Joy is God-dependent.

So know this: when you depend on the Father and rest in the Son and listen to his words you will find joy and you will experience hatred. The world will hate you because you are not like them. The world will hate you because you have joy.

This is what the word of God does: it makes us different. Church, when will we wake up to the fact that the world promises us joy but cannot deliver? The world says, “Be your own man, be independent, and you’ll be happy.” And God’s word says “Be one with the church, be one even as the Father, Son, and Spirit are one and you’ll be happy.” Who will you believe?

Look at how happy Judas was. He got more money and was so happy that he committed suicide. The things of this world cannot produce happiness.

Instead of being like the world be like Jesus. Be who you are. Jesus says that his disciples are not of the world, just as he was not of the world. I would encourage you to read the gospels knowing that the way Jesus acted toward the world is the way you are to act toward the world.

Know this: you will change the world but those who do not want your joy will hate you. Jesus is praying.

He’s praying this in verse 15, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

1. This prayer is needed because our enemy wants to devour us (15)

We need to be recreated in the image of God (Rom 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Colossians 3:10). We need to be strengthened with the power of God. We need to spend our lives for the purposes of God. That means we must love the world (John 3:16). Jesus doesn’t want us to abandon the world that the Father loved. Jesus doesn’t want us to come out of the world or to only touch it with a ten foot pole. There is a mission to complete in the world but that mission is full of danger.

Jesus prays that his disciples will be guarded or protected from the evil one. Verse 15 could be translated as a prayer of protection from evil. But judging by the use of the word “evil” with the article elsewhere in John’s writings (1 Jn 2:13, 14; 3:12; 5:18, 19) it’s best to understand this as a prayer of protection from our enemy who seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus prays that you and I would love the one who hates us and serve the one who would kill us (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus does not give us an excuse to run scared from the battle. Instead Jesus prays that we would stand secure when it comes time to battle for the lost around us.

Be in the world, love the world, but don’t be like the world

1. Being a disciple of Jesus means to be different like Jesus (16)

In verse 16 Jesus prays, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

This is where we get that helpful phrase “be in the world but not of the world.” With the joy of Christ and in submission to his word we are to love the world. Jesus doesn’t want most of us to quit our jobs and become fulltime ministers or missionaries. No, instead Jesus wants us to go joyfully to our jobs as fulltime ministers or missionaries.

Work hard. Make a profit. Be successful. Do all things to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). In all that you do may God be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11). You are being kept by God from the evil one for the mission. Don’t sacrifice the gospel for a promotion. Don’t trade the word of Christ for a good joke.  Don’t give up the mission in order to be accepted. If you do you’ll give up your joy.

Christians it’s time to take back laughter and fun from the world. We shouldn’t laugh at what the world laughs at but we should be full of joy.  We should be in the world full of joy laughing more than the world. Don’t come out of the world, love the world. Be in the world but not of the world. Be different like Jesus.

Jesus prayed that his disciples would be kept and

IV. Jesus prayed that the disciples would be sanctified for the mission

Verses 16&17 go together, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

1. Disciples are set apart for God by the Word (17)

Sanctify, in some contexts, means to become more holy. We talk about progressive sanctification; becoming more like Jesus every day. But elsewhere in Scripture sanctify means to be set apart for special use. This is the way ‘sanctify’ is being used in verses 17-19.

In verse 17 Jesus makes the prayerful statement,
“sanctify them in the truth”. It’s in the imperative mood; it’s a command. Father, do this: sanctify them. Its pretty important to Jesus that you be set apart from the world yet remain in the world for the salvation of the world.  How is it that you will be able to go to work and live among your neighbors and build relationships with your extended family but not be like them? How do we live winsomely among the world?

We will be sanctified in the truth. We will be set apart for God’s use in the world as we listen to the truth. And where do we find God’s truth? Is it lost? God’s word is truth. You want joy? You want fruitfulness? You want a love that is deep? God has revealed all that we need in his word. Listen to him. As we listen to him we’ll become like him.

1. He was sent and his disciples are sent into the world (18)

Here’s some brass tacks. Let’s get down to them. Verse 18, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

I know some of you read the bible. I know most of us are familiar with the life of Christ. We’ve read some or all of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Who does Jesus rebuke and who does Jesus party with?

Jesus rebukes the hypocritical religious people who have come out of the world and Jesus eats and is in the home of sinners. What do we do? We rebuke the world and eat with hypocritical religious people. And then we wonder why we’re not making a difference in the world? Could it be that we’ve changed the mission?

Like cockroaches we’ve run from the world and huddled ourselves in buildings where we sing about joy but don’t have it. I’m becoming more and more convinced that the reason we Christians do not have the joy Jesus promises is because we’ve abandoned the mission that produces joy.

We’ve been sent as a unified body into the world in order to joyfully bring salvation to that world. Jesus is telling us these things so that his joy would be fulfilled in us. We’ve been set apart for joy. We’ve been sanctified for a mission.

And again lets marvel over grace

1. Our sanctification depends upon his sanctification (19)

Verse 19, “And for their sake I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

You want some grace for this joyful unified mission? Listen to this, 1 Corinthians 1:28-30, “God chose what is love and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Who is your holiness? Who is your sanctification? The very Son of God who humbled himself to the point of death, even death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Listen to Jesus as he talks to the Father. He says that it was for your sake, for your benefit, that he sanctified himself. He set himself apart in order to fulfill the mission the Father sent him on. And that mission was the work of the cross. He willingly came to do your will. He joyfully obeyed the words of the Father and the outcome is your salvation.

Now the One who sanctified himself for us has this goal: “that they also may be sanctified in truth.” As we listen to the God who speaks in this word, as we focus our attention on the Son who perfected reveals the Father, we will find ourselves set apart. The truth moves us. The trust sanctifies us. Church we must listen. The Father’s mission and our joy hinge on the word.

V. Where do we go from here?

1. We go joyfully to the word

1. Open your bibles and read them. Follow our read through the bible schedule.  Commit to knowing Christ Jesus by reading a gospel a week. Memorize the word. I am convinced that when we get into the word we will joyfully change the world.

1. We remain joyfully in the world for the mission.

   We are kept from the evil one for the mission. We have been sanctified for the mission. And what is that mission? Listen to the word so that we are joyfully united as the church and sacrificing for the salvation of the world.

To the word, to the church, and to the world; all for joy

Jesus Prays for His Own; John 17:6-10

Thesis: Jesus prays for his own. Are you His?

I had originally planned on preaching John 17:6-19 in one sermon but as I prepared I became convinced that we would receive a greater benefit from slowing down a bit. So, my plan is to preach John 17:6-10 today and, Lord willing, preach John 17:11-19 next Sunday.

In verses 6-10 Jesus defines who his disciples are then in verse 11-19 the Son asks the Father for specific things concerning these disciples. The danger here is that we make these verses a history lesson and no more; looking at these verses as applicable only for those first disciples misses the point. Although the immediate application is for those first disciples I believe there is nothing said in these verses that does not apply to every disciple through the ages.

Here’s why this is important: Jesus has not stopped praying for his own. Hebrews 7:25 tells us Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” In Romans 8:34 we read, “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Right now Jesus stands in the presence of the Father for the benefit of all those who belong to him.

The questions we want to answer today are these: How do I know I belong to him? What are the marks of the person who belongs to Jesus? How do I know Jesus is praying for me?

Read John 17:6-19

I. Every Christian is the personal property of the Father and Son

1. The Father gave you to the Son (6, 9, 10)

In the Toy Story movies why does Woody keep on going in spite of terrible odds and growing difficulty? Who did Woody belong to? Whose name was written on the bottom of his boot? Woody did what he did because he was Andy’s toy.

Look with me at verse 9, “I am praying for them.” Okay, Jesus is defining who he is praying for: he’s praying for them. Who is them? Let’s go on in verse 9, “I am not praying for the world.” Okay, so Jesus does not pray for every soul that ever existed. He’s not praying for those whose lives are lived in opposition to the person and desires of God. Back to verse 9, “I am praying…for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” Jesus is praying for a particular group of people who belong to God and have been given to the Son

In verse 6 Jesus describes these people with these words: “Yours they were, and you have given them to me.” Jesus is praying for a group of people who in the mind and sovereignty of God have been called out of the world and given to the Son.

In verse 10 Jesus expresses ownership of these people with these words: “All mine are yours, and yours are mine.” We are the people of God because we are the personal property of God.

It is true that every person ever created belongs to God by nature of origin. He created the world so the world in the sense of creation belongs to God.  But the Father and Son possess a deeper sense of ownership for those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Here Jesus is not praying for the world. Jesus is praying for those people who by the decree of the Father belong to the Father and to the Son.

Now be careful here. We can take this truth and twist it to our own glory like we are the grand prize given to the Son for his great sacrifice. You are not a pure and perfect reward. Some people as a sign of love receive new cars as a gift. That’s not you. You’re not the new car. Other people receive rusted out inoperable death traps as a gift. That’s you. You are a gift given to the Son that demands restoration and the cost of that restoration will be the very life of the Son.

The Father has given you to the Son for the purpose of restoration. And praise God that since you have been given to the Son your restoration is guaranteed. Jesus keeps, guards, and loses none (John 17:12). Since you are the personal property of the Father and Son your redemption, your salvation, is as good as done; not because of who you are but because of who Jesus is.

That giving by the Father to the Son is the foundation for everything that we’re about to look at. Without that giving none of these other marks would appear. At the root of all that you are and all that you enjoy as a Christian is the truth that you have been given by the Father to the Son. Let’s look at the marks of the person Jesus prays for:

II. Because you have been given to the Son you have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

In verse 6 Jesus prays, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.”

1. Has the Son revealed the Father to you?

In Luke 10:22 Jesus said, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Jesus has the authority, “all things have been handed over to him by the Father.” As the One who has authority over all flesh and as the One who truly knows the Father, Jesus reveals the Father to those whom he chooses to reveal him. Jesus gives eternal life, he gives the knowledge of the Father, he manifests the name of the Father to those who the Father gave him out of the world.

John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.” The Son is the source of knowledge concerning the Father. The Son is the way to have a relationship with the Father.

When you think of Jesus what do you think of? Is he a healer or a good teacher? Is he counter-cultural or an outdoors man? Is he a good listener or a compassionate friend? Now Jesus certainly is those things but Jesus is more than those things. If your understanding of Jesus goes no deeper than these things it is possible that you do not know him. Jesus did not come to be your healer, teacher, or friend like that’s all you needed. Jesus came to show you God such that you would love God and long for God. You don’t need a healer or a friend or a good example. You need God.

So here is our first mark of all those who have been given by the Father to the Son: you have seen God. When you think of the glorious God of the universe you see Jesus. When you think about perfect justice and perfect mercy you see Jesus. When you think about grace and truth you see Jesus.

Christian and non-Christian alike pray to God that he would show you his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. All those who belong to Jesus have seen the glorious character of the Father in the face of the Son.

Now our second mark

III. Because you have been given to the Son you have kept the Father’s word

Look again at verse 6, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.”

1. Do you cherish the word of God?

You keep what you value and you value what is important. Are you keeping the word of the Father? Now don’t fast forward to obedience. Obedience is there in “keeping” but if you start with obedience you’re playing with fire. I started this section with the question “Do you cherish the word of God?” on purpose. Those people who belong to the Son are those people who treasure the revelation of God recorded in the bible. In the first century, those people who belonged to the Son were those people who treasured the revelation of God seen in the person and heard in the words of Jesus.

Keep your eyes and your mind in verse 6. Why does anyone keep, treasure, listen to, and heed the word of God? Because the Son has revealed the name of God to that person. You don’t keep God’s word and then God reveals himself to you. No, the Son chooses to reveal the Father to you and in response to that glorious revelation you keep his word. You keep his word because you are his. You are not his because you keep his word. That order is very important. It’s the difference in law (because I kept his word I am his) and grace (because I am his I kept his word).

So here’s our second mark: Jesus prays for those people who keep God’s word in response to the fact that they belong to God and has seen the glory of God.

Now our third mark

IV. Because you have been given to the Son you know the words of the Son are the words of the Father

Verse 7, “Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them.”

1. Are you convinced of the divine origin of Jesus’ words?

Because you belong to the Father and have been given to the Son, because the Son has revealed the Father to you, and because you cherish his words now you know that everything that the Father gave the Son is from the Father.

Surety concerning Jesus is a product of two things: the work of the Father giving you to the Son and you keeping the word. As the Father and Son come and make their home with you (John 14:23) their presence will drive you deeper into the word. As you go deeper into the word and as the word abides in you your assurance concerning the authority of Christ will increase.

Verse 7 is emphatic in a weird way. Why not just say, “Now they know that all I have is from you?” Why emphasize the giving Father? Why is it important for us to know that everything given to the Son by the Father is from the Father?

Right before I sat down to work on this section of the sermon I read Matthew 17 and the account of the transfiguration. The light bulb went on. There on the mountain the Father spoke to the disciples and told them, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him (Mt 17:5).

Why should we listen to Jesus? What reason do we have to believe that every word he spoke is reliable and authoritative for our lives? Verse 8, “For I have given them the words that you gave me.” Where did the words of Jesus originate? The words of Jesus are from the Father. And how did the Son get those words? The Father gave those words to him. And what did Jesus do with those words? Jesus gave those words given to him to his disciples. And what did the disciples do? They received those words; they took them for themselves. As Jesus spoke the words and as the disciples kept the words their assurance concerning the divine origin of those words increased.

Church, Jesus has given us the words of the Father, are we listening? You see, reading, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture has very little to do with how busy you are or how tired you are.  Reading, memorizing, and mediating on Scripture has everything to do with who you believe Jesus is. If Jesus is the Son of God who gives to us the words of God then we’ll listen to him, we’ll be convinced of the worth of his word, and we’ll keep his word.  But if Jesus isn’t God, if he hasn’t been given the words of God, then you won’t read the bible.

I’m not saying this to guilt you into reading the bible; that’s a worthless goal. I’m saying this so you will step back and question yourself concerning why you don’t read the bible.  Disciples know that the words of the Son are the words of the Father and so disciples cherish those words.

Now our fourth mark

V. Because you have been given to the Son you know the Son came from the Father and was sent by the Father

Verse 8, “they have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”

1. Those who belong to Jesus are convinced that he is divine

It is impossible to be in a right relationship with the Father while denying the deity of the Son.  You cannot be right with God the Father while rejecting the truth concerning God the Son. Those who belong to Jesus are those people who know Jesus is fully God; he came from the Father.

This is all connected.  Since Jesus is divine, sent from God, his words are the words of God.  Since his words are the words of God you should listen to them. As you listen to the words of God you will be convinced of their truth and you will keep them. Assurance concerning the deity of Jesus comes as we listen to the word. Assurance concerning the authority of the word comes as we acknowledge that Jesus is God.

Those who belong to Jesus are convinced that he is divine

1. Those who belong to Jesus are convinced that he was sent by the Father

Verse 8, because Jesus gave us the words of God, we believe that the Father sent him. As we listen to the words of Jesus we become convinced of the authority of those words. As we become convinced of the authority of those words we become convinced concerning the mission of Jesus Christ. Through the words of Christ we come to believe in the mission of Christ. Jesus was sent by the Father to rescue, reconcile, restore, and redeem us. How do we know that? We’re convinced by the authoritative word.

Do you want a strong faith concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ? Then do some thinking concerning the origin of the person and words of Jesus. Where are you going to find some food for thought? Here’s some food for thought: the words of Jesus.

Those who belong to Jesus are convinced that the person and work of the Son are all divine in origin. It is all of God.

Here is our fifth and final mark of those who belong to the Son

VI. Because you have been given to the Son you glorify the Son in your life

Verse 10, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

1. How is Jesus glorified in you?

Where in your life are you putting the greatness of Jesus Christ on display? Maybe you’re glorifying Jesus by turning off the computer or TV and opening your bible. You are declaring the worth of the Son in that decision.

Maybe you’re glorifying Jesus by doing what the word says. You declare the greater worth of the Son by listening to his voice as authoritative over all others. When the Word says one thing and your heart or your friends or the world says another you glorify the one you listen to.

Maybe you’re glorifying Jesus by joining him in his mission. You declare the great worth of the Son when you do what he sent you to do.  When a soldier does what he’s not supposed to do it’s called AWOL. But when a soldier does what he’s supposed to do it’s an honorable thing.  It could be that your life is wrapped up in good things that are keeping you from God-glorifying things.

Maybe God wants you to invest yourself and his word in your kids or grandkids but you can’t because of your decision to do something else. Maybe God wants you to invest yourself and his word into your neighbor or a coworker but you can’t because you’re too busy doing good but not God-glorifying things.

Because we belong to him let’s give our lives to the cause of making the greatness of Jesus known.

VII. Let’s end by marveling over grace

Two things

1. All of these are possible only because of grace

You see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ because you have been given to him.  You keep his word because you have been given to him.  You are convinced of the authority of the word of Christ because you have been given to him.  You are convinced of the divine origin and mission of Christ because you have been given to him.  You glorify him because you have been given to him.

Everything good that you are and do is caused by the fact that you are the personal property of the Father and the Son. So God doesn’t ask his children to become something they are not, God is just telling you to be who you are; you are his.

May the grace of God displayed in his choosing, giving, calling, cleansing, adopting, and equipping of you empower you to act like you belong to him.

1. Think about the exact men about which Jesus is praying

Jesus defines the group of men surrounding him in these last moments before the crucifixion with these words: belonging to God, keepers of the word, convinced of the truth, believers in the person and mission of the Son, and those who glorify the Son by their lives.

Jesus says, “this is true of them” and what do they do at the first sight of difficulty? They tuck tail and run. What’s happening here?

Hold fast to this gracious truth: Jesus all ready sees you as what he’s making you into. If you heard this sermon and at each point you thought, “that’s not me” know this: if you belong to Jesus he all ready sees you that way and he committed his life to getting you there. Do not despair that you are not perfect. Cling to the fact that because you belong to him he will not let you go. He will transform you into the image of his beloved Son.

To the Cross: Jesus Prays for Himself; John 17:1-5

Text: John 17:1-5                                                                   5/8/2011

Thesis: Jesus’ work of redemption brings glory to God and life to his elect.

I. The Son prays in dependence upon the Father (v1)

1. Jesus knows that the Father must work

We are being told that the Son is going to glorify the Father it because the Father glorifies the Son. The perfect Son of God takes no credit for what he accomplishes.  All that the Son does and is is a product of all that the Father does and is. The Son exists in complete dependence upon the Father.

Jesus has already confessed in John 5:19, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but only what he sees the Father doing.” Then in 5:30 Jesus says, “I can do nothing on my own.” In 8:28 Jesus said, “I do nothing on my own authority.” In 14:10 he said, “the Father who dwells in me does his works.”

As Jesus approaches the cross he lifts up his eyes to the Father knowing that he is completely dependent upon the Father. This is a prayer of dependence. “Father in order for me to glorify You, You must glorify me.”

So what specifically is Jesus praying for? What is he depending on the Father for?

He knows that “the hour has come”. This is the hour of crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. It is the hour in which Jesus’ redeeming work will be completed. It is the hour through which Jesus will conquer sin and the grave.  It is the hour when Jesus will drink the cup of God’s wrath for you and for me. It is time for Jesus to fulfill his mission as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus is glorious and has done many glorious things. But all of his glorious attributes and glorious deeds fade into the background when compared to the work he accomplished on the cross. Through the atoning cross and the victorious resurrection Jesus Christ is glorified. He is exalted as the only One capable of removing all the sin and shame that separates us from God. The splendor of Jesus is displayed in his work of coming for his enemies, dying in the place of his enemies, and securing an eternal redemption for his enemies. No one is like our God. No one loves like him. No one redeems like him.  Through the cross the Son of God is glorified. We see him for all that he truly is when we see his bloody cross and empty tomb.

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” Jesus’ desire is to bring glory to the Father by completing the Father’s mission. Jesus’ desire is not to be glorified on this earth for his own benefit.  No, he has glory waiting for him in heaven that far outstrips any benefit he could receive on this earth.  Jesus’ desire is to see the Father glorified. And how is the Father glorified?

The Father is glorified when we cherish Him as the reason for everything that Jesus accomplished.  Who sent the Son to be your salvation? The Father send the Son (John 3:16). Who planned Jesus’ glorious redemption for you? (Acts 2:23)

The Father is glorified when we clearly see him as the gracious planner and provider of every aspect of our lives. Who chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world? (Eph 1:4). Who drew you to Christ? (John 6:44). Who caused you to be born again? (1 Peter 1:3) Who began the good work of salvation in us? (Philippians 1:6). Whose secure hand keeps us into all eternity? (John 10:29). Who wrote your name in the book of life before the foundation of the world? (Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:2; 20:15).

Your salvation through the glorious work of Jesus Christ was the Father’s plan. Praise the God who overcame every obstacle so that you could be restored to him.  The hour has come for the Son to be glorified and when the Son is glorified the Father who planned it and secured it and empowered it all will be glorified.

Before we go on we need to pause and ask a simple question: How does your prayer life compare to Jesus’?

Do you give yourself to prayer because you know apart from God you can do nothing good? You can accomplish nothing as an individual, as an employee, as a spouse, as a child, as a neighbor, as church member, or as a friend apart from the power of Christ. Do you live in dependence upon the omnipotent God of the universe? Jesus shows us that is the way to pray.

Jesus prayed in dependence upon the Father and

II. The Son prays according to the purposes of the Father (vs 2-4)

1. The Son glorifies the Father because he has been given authority over all flesh

Jesus is praying in dependence upon the coming work of the Father (glorify the Son) and Jesus is praying according to the decree of the Father (you have given the Son authority). This authority or power over all flesh is best described by John 5:22, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” Then 5:26-27, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

Revelation 19:11 says that Jesus “judges and makes war in righteousness. Verse 15 tells us that “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.”

The Father has given to the Son all authority over every person. This authority entails two main actions: authority to judge and authority to give eternal life.

First, since Jesus has all authority over all flesh he will be the one who judges each person’s life either pronouncing a welcome into heaven or an expulsion into hell (Mt 25). This is one of the reasons Jesus is able to thoroughly and clearly glorify the Father. It is unheard of that the One with authority over all flesh to judge all flesh would take the punishment for all flesh.  Jesus rightly and authoritatively judges and Jesus as our substitute takes our punishment. By the Father’s plan and power this is done. So, first, Jesus’ authority over all flesh gives him the right to judge. And second, since Jesus has all authority over all flesh he gives life to whom he wills.

Let’s read all of verse 2 again, “since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.”

1. The Son glorifies the Father by giving life to a particular people

Notice what this verse says: Jesus has been given authority over all flesh but only gives eternal life to all whom the Father has given him. Why not just say that Jesus has authority over all flesh and Jesus gives eternal life to all flesh? We don’t say that because Jesus doesn’t do that. Jesus doesn’t give eternal life to all flesh. Verse two says he gives eternal life to all whom the Father has given him. So, who is it that has been given by the Father to the Son?

Look down at verses six and nine for some help. Verse six: “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.” Verse 9: “I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” So the Father does not give the world to Jesus and Jesus does not give the world eternal life. The Father gives a particular people to the Son and Jesus gives those people eternal life.

We saw this in John 6:37 when Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

We saw this again in John 10:28-29 when Jesus said, “I give them (his sheep) eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch the out of the Father’s hand.”

So the Father gives the Son a particular people and the Son gives eternal life to those particular people. Those people will never perish, they will never be cast out, and no one will snatch them out of the Father’s hand? Why?

Because it was decided that Jesus would have authority over all flesh. And it was decided that this authoritative Jesus would give eternal life to those given to him by the Father. Praise God that salvation is secure not because of us the receivers but because of God the giver. Elsewhere in Scripture this group is called the “chosen” (Eph 1:4; Col 3:12; 1 Thess 1:4; 1 Pt 2:9), or “the elect” (Mt 24:31; Lk 18:7; Ro 8:33; 9:11; Titus 1:1).

Now we must be mindful that we are looking at the human race from God’s perspective. He sees a group of people throughout the ages that he calls the elect, the chosen, or those given to the Son. We don’t have that perspective. From our perspective we can only see those who have heard the Gospel, repented of their sins, placed their faith in Jesus Christ, and been born again. All those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ do so because they have been given to the Son and the Son gives them life. And what is this life?

1. Eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son

Look at John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Most of the time when we think of eternal life we think of unending life or life that goes on forever and forever. And that’s true. But it’s only part of the truth. What is the purpose of having life that goes on forever? It’s not so you can do everything you always wanted to do; you’ll run out of wants before you run out of eternal life. Eternal life is not a forever Dairy Queen where you can drink coffee and swap stories throughout forever; you’ll run out of stories. Eternal life is knowing the infinite God. Eternal life is much more than life that never ends. Life in hell never ends but its never called eternal life.

This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

There is only one true God. He exists in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And there has never been a human that walked this earth that did more than scratch the surface of what it means to know God. The infinite God cannot be fully known by a finite mind. Eternal life is getting to know the infinitely amazing God; enjoying all the depths, riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God (Rom 11:33). Like Adam in the Garden, we’ll walk with God and He will teach us. Like Moses on the mountain, we’ll see God and be forever changed. Like Peter, James, and John we’ll see the full glory of Jesus Christ. And for all of eternity we will go deeper and be further satisfied.

God is a subject that we will never complete but never get tired of studying. God is like a mountain we love to climb but we’ll never reach the peak. Knowing God is like the best dream from which we will never awaken. For all of eternity Father, Son, and Spirit will be gloriously satisfying.

How do we get him? Where does this begin? God sent his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus gives us now and secures for us always a growing relationship with the infinitely wonderful God. Jesus knows that’s what he must do and so he prays accordingly.

1. In verse 4 Jesus prays with such faith that he can view the future as if it is the past

He prays, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”

When you’re God and you know God you get to pray this way. The mission is accomplished. Atonement has been made. Victory is won. Eternal life has been given. I glorified you on earth.

Praise God that there has never been a doubt about Jesus’ ability to save your soul from sin and death. The odds that Jesus would fail were infinity to one. When the Father sends the Son it is as good as done. Jesus accomplished the work. He glorified the Father by giving eternal life to his own.

After praying according to God’s purposes

III. The Son prays for his return to glory (v5)

1. The Son wants to get back to the way things were

Some Sunday nights ago we talked for a while about the Self-Sufficient Trinity and how we can add nothing to the glory or happiness of God. Let me try to come at that idea again from John 17:5.

As Jesus faces the cross by which he will redeem a people from all tribes, and peoples, and languages (Rev 7:9) he doesn’t want to go forward he wants to go backward. Jesus doesn’t pray that God would speed the day when he will enjoy the worship of the great multitude of the redeemed in Revelation 7. Jesus doesn’t pray for time to move forward so he can enjoy the worship of thousands and thousands of angels as they say, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12). Jesus prays, look at John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” No amount of faithful angels or redeemed saints can improve on what has always been.

In the presence of the Father the Son possessed a glory that cannot be improved upon. Jesus wants a return to the glory that he rightly deserves as God. He prays for a return to the glory he possessed with the Father before there were any people or planets or songs or solar systems. For us, in the presence of God is the fullness of joy (Ps 16:11). But for Jesus, in the presence of God is the fullness of glory. Your salvation and my salvation do not serve to increase the amount of glory possessed by God. Your salvation and my salvation serve to spread the knowledge of the glory possessed by God. This is why Jesus doesn’t pray forward to the day of great worship by the redeemed. Jesus prays backwards to the day when nothing but God existed and Jesus possessed a glory that could not be improved. Jesus prayed for his return to glory.

Up to this point I’ve done a little application. Let me try to bring these truths home and we’ll be done. Jesus prayed in dependence upon the Father. Jesus prayed according to the purposes of the Father. And Jesus prayed for his return to glory.

IV. You and I pray for God to be glorified by the giving of eternal life according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. Pray in dependence upon the Father

Pray to the Father knowing that if He doesn’t exalt the Son through what you are doing then what you are doing will count for nothing. Husbands, what does your wife need? She needs to see Christ exalted in your life and plans and dreams and deeds and words. Dads, what do your kids need? They need to see Christ exalted in you as you love their mom and go to work and pay the bills and play games with them. Students what do your friends need? They need to see a clear and glorious picture of the Jesus who gives eternal life.

Pray for the glory of God to be displayed in ways totally disproportionate to who you are.

1. Pray according to the purposes of the Father

According to God’s purposes revealed in Matthew 24:14, pray for God to use you to proclaim the gospel to the nations. According to God’s purposes revealed in Ephesians 5 pray that you will be a faithful husband or wife. According to God’s purposes revealed in 1 Corinthians 7 pray you will be a faithful single adult. According to Ephesians 6 pray you will be a faithful son or daughter. God has revealed what he wants for you. Are you praying according to his purposes?

John 15:18-16:4 Not of This World

Text: John 15:18-6:4                                                              4/10/2011

Thesis: Jesus chose us to be like him not like this world.

Today we continue to look at God’s word written in John 15. The last two Sundays have been dedicated to John 15 verses 1 through 17. There we see the amazing picture of what the Christian life looks like.  Because we are connected to Jesus and because we depend on Jesus we live fruitful lives.  Jesus said in verse 5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” The Christian life is a fruitful life. God uses us to rescue and redeem others from sin and death.

We also saw that as Jesus’ disciples we are greatly loved. Jesus said in verse 9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” This is simply too great to comprehend. The depth and strength of Jesus’ love for you and me is equal to the depth and strength of the Father’s love for his only Son. You and I are greatly loved.  Abide in that love; rest in that love. Find your identity and joy in that love. You Christian are greatly loved.

And as we abide in Christ and abide in his love we will obey his commandments. We’ll walk with him and do what he did. Namely, we will love others for God’s glory and their good. As we abide in Christ, abide in his love, and obey his commandments we will realize another great blessing. In verse 16 Jesus repeats this great prayer-promise, “whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Christians bear fruit, love others, and find answers to prayer.

Isn’t it great to be a Christian? Aren’t you glad you are chosen by God? Isn’t it amazing that the Father and Son love you? Doesn’t it make you smile to know that the Spirit has been sent to help you? There are so many great blessings. And we must remember that these great blessings are for a purpose.

You have been chosen by God in order to change the world.  You have been chosen out of the world in order to bear fruit in the world.  You exist in order to change the world through the power of the gospel.  If we are going to change the world we must abide in Christ and abide in his love.

But do not think that all these blessings mean life will be all daisies and ease and appreciation and fruitfulness. In our passage today Jesus unpacks the hard truth that makes abiding necessary.  You are not of this world and that means the world will hate you. Buckle up. Jesus was not of this world and the world hated him. The great blessings are necessary for the great struggle each of us will face. Because God chose us and loves us we are not of this world. And because we are not of this world the world will hate us. It’s time to prepare our hearts and minds for the work that lies ahead of us.

Read John 15:18-16:4

I. We are given great blessings because we will face great difficulties

A.  Faith devouring difficulty is coming (16:1-2, 4)

The great blessings of verses 1-17 are not given to us so that we can sit in comfortable pews until we die. We have the blessings of the love of Christ, answered prayer, and fruitfulness because we need them for this life. In chapter 16 verse 1 Jesus explains to his disciples why all this is so important, “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.” That means the message is necessary for our salvation. What is it that could rattle us to the extent that we would want to throw faith into the trash? What would make us want the Father to cut us off and throw us away? It begins in verse 2, “They will put you out of the synagogues.” You will be cut off from community and the worship gathering as you know it.  You will lose friends. And Jesus goes on in verse 2, “Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” Jesus wants us to be prepared for the day when religious people will kill Christians because they think it honors God.

What could make you want to give up on Jesus? Loss of friends, being cut off from your community, death threats, and even attempts will rattle you and make you question your faith. Look down at verse 4, “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” Jesus is preparing us. He wants you to realize that following after him will cost you everything. Abiding in Jesus, abiding in his word, and bearing fruit that lasts may cause you to lose friends. Your family may cut you off. People may try to kill you and all because you follow Christ.

In the book of Acts we see the persecution and murder of Christians in the name of God. Think of the beatings inflicted on Peter and the apostles in Acts 5. Think of the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. The hour of persecution has begun. On March 21, 2011 Muslims in Pakistan opened fire on a prayer meeting. Two men, Younas Masih, 47, and Jamil Masih, 22, were killed, and two others, Sadiq, 45, and Ishaq, 20, were injured.[1]

Those who abide in Jesus and bear much fruit will encounter persecution (2 Tim 3:12). Jesus tells us this truth so we will be ready. Stand firm Christian. Prepare yourself to bear much fruit in spite of persecution. Prepare yourself to love sacrificially in the face of death.

Let’s unpack all that Jesus has for us as we prepare for whatever the future may bring.

II. As we follow Jesus we will be treated like Jesus

Here’s a reminder from chapter 14

A.  The Father loves those who love Jesus (14:21, 23)

Jesus said in 14:21, “he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Then in verse 23, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Those who love Jesus experience the love and presence of the Father and the Son.  Remember Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17? He wants the world to know that the Father loves Christians even as He loves the Son (17:23). When you love Jesus you are loved by the Father.

B.  The world hates those who love Jesus (18, 21a)

If you love Jesus and abide in his love then the world will hate you. Don’t be surprised by this. Jesus said in verse 18, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” Jesus told his brothers in John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that it works are evil.” In John 3:19 Jesus said, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and the people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed”

The world is wrapped up in, enslaved to, and in love with darkness. Darkness, wickedness, and sin make a brutal task master who only abuses and exploits. Jesus, who is the light, came to expose this twisted love for the darkness and break this brutal slavery. Jesus came to set the captive free. But the captives hate their rescuer.  Those of the darkness crucified the light. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you.” Jesus wants us to understand that hatred for the light is nothing new. The darkness has always hated the light. When you abide in the light you will be hated. You will be hated on account of Jesus’ name.

Church we must count the cost. We must choose. We cannot serve two masters. Do we want to experience the love of the Father? You will be hated by the world. Do you want the love of the world? You will be cut off, gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Know this. Nail this down. Walk in the light of this truth. The love of the Father for you will always be greater than the hatred of the world for you. The capacity of the world for hatred is nothing compared to the capacity of the Father for love. In the face of the world’s hatred Jesus promises that his joy will be in us and our joy will be full (15:11).

Who will you love? Will you love Christ and abide in his love or will you love the world? You cannot have both.

III. God wants us to understand the roots of hatred

A.  You will be hated because you are different (19)

In verse 19 Jesus says, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

The world’s hatred is directed towards those who are not of the world. So what does that mean? To be of the world means to love what the world loves, talk like the world talks, spend like the world spends, and hate what the world hates. If you walked in step with the world then there would be no problem; the world would love you as its own. But since Jesus called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light you are different. You don’t love what the world loves, you don’t talk like the world talks, you don’t spend like the world spends, or hate what the world hates. Because Jesus chose you and cleaned you and because you bear fruit the world hates you.

This gets at the heart of our mission as Christians. We are called and equipped to act like Jesus.  With love and boldness we expose sin while preaching the gospel. It is sin that separates us from God. That sin must be exposed and removed. When we no longer act like the world but abide in Jesus and obey his commands it will make the world uncomfortable. When we call on our coworkers and our neighbors to confess their sins to God and place their faith in Jesus for salvation and joy there will be those who do. We will bear fruit. But be prepared. There will also be those who hate us because we do not do what they do. Hatred will come when we call the world to repentance and faith.

The world will hate you because you are different. So the question is does anyone hate you or are you just like the world?

Next, as we think about why the world hates Christians we need to understand that

B.  The world persecuted Christ so the world will persecute followers of Christ (20)

Jesus said in verse 20, “remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

Jesus is telling us here that the ultimate reason why the world hates us is because it hates Jesus. We should not expect to be treated any different than Jesus was treated. Please understand how dangerous and unbiblical the prosperity gospel is. Jesus didn’t say that if you had enough faith you wouldn’t suffer. Jesus is telling us that if you have faith you will suffer. Are you any better than Jesus? Is the servant better than the master? Do you have some get-out-of-persecution-free card?

The people around us will treat us the way they would treat Jesus. If they persecuted him they will persecute you. If they listened to him they would listen to you. If you are a Christian you are inseparably linked to Jesus. That is for good: love, joy, answered prayer, and bearing much fruit. And it is for difficulty: hatred, persecution, and even martyrdom.

It is time to stop hiding our Christianity by keeping our mouths closed or by avoiding the world. Jesus is calling us to abide in him, abide in his word, and bear much fruit come what may. So we must understand that the world persecuted Christ so the world will persecute followers of Christ.

We saw in verse 19 that the world hates us because we don’t act like them and through the preaching of the gospel we expose their sin. Now in verse 21 we go deeper into why the world hates and persecutes.

C.  Hatred is caused by ignorance (21b, 16:3)

Look at verse 21 and the role of ignorance in hatred, “But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” And then chapter 16 verse 3, “And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

You hate because you are separated from God; you do not know the Father and you do not know the Son. The cure for your hatred is reconciliation with God. Do you want to be set free from your slavery to hatred? Abide in Jesus, abide in his love, abide in his word, and as you obey his commands you will find your hatred decreases and your joy increases.

What is the cure for the hatred all around us? Reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus Christ; hatred is removed as the gospel is proclaimed and believed in the world. Hatred is caused by ignorance and ignorance is cured through faith in Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and resurrected the conqueror of sin and the grave.

This is precisely why

D.  Informed hatred is the worst of sins (22-25)

If knowing the Father and the Son whom he has sent is the cure for hatred then seeing the Son and hating the Son is utterly deplorable. In verses 22-25 Jesus exposes the grossest of sins. He came to his own and he spoke to his own but his own did not receive him (1:11).

Think about this: if you hate someone you do not know, if you hate someone without reason, then you are just plain stupid. But it is utterly wicked to hate someone you know is good. Jesus said that he came to them and he spoke to them. He did miraculous works and they saw him. Yet they still hated him. They hated the Son and they hated the Father. The word written in their law was fulfilled: ‘They hated Jesus without cause.’

Jesus is not saying that the people had no sin until he came and they hated him. And Jesus is not saying that if they had never seen or heard him they would have lived forever. When Jesus says, “they would not have had sin” in verses 22 and 24 he is demonstrating the gravity of their hatred. Nothing they had done or said compares to the horrendous sin of seeing the glorious Son of God and hating him.

The world will hate you if you are different. The world hated Jesus. People will hate you because they don’t know God. And some will even hear the gospel and still chose to hate God. How then do we overcome this hatred?

IV. God equips us to overcome hatred

A.  The Spirit within us will bear witness (26)

Verse 26 gives us all we need to continue in spite of persecution and continue for the transferring of souls from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. We need the Holy Spirit. Again, in verse 26, Jesus calls the Spirit the Paraklete. He is the helper; the one who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. This Helper has come and you received him by hearing the gospel and believing the gospel. So you are equipped.

You know you are equipped because Jesus says that the Helper will be sent to you. Look closely at verse 26 and be amazed at the gift of the Spirit. He is sent to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth. And he will bear witness about Jesus.

James 1:17 says every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights. So this Helper sent from the Father is a good and perfect gift. I like those gifts. He is the Spirit of truth. It is the Helper’s job to expose lies and lead us into the truth. Truthfulness is one of his characteristics. It is impossible for the Spirit of truth to tell lies. That is a good gift. And this Spirit of truth proceeds from the Father. To say that the Spirit proceeds from the Father is the equivalent of saying that the Son is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:3).

The NIV has a good translation here by saying that the Spirit of truth goes out from the Father. The way a river flows out from its headwaters is the way the Spirit proceeds or goes out from the Father. There is no better witness to the Son of God than the Spirit of God.  And this Spirit has been given to you. We have all we need to overcome hatred caused by ignorance. The Spirit will bear witness through us.  We are necessary.

B.  Jesus’ disciples will bear witness (27)

Jesus said, “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” Do you want to bear fruit that lasts and so prove to be Jesus’ disciple? Then join the Spirit of truth as he bears witness to Jesus.  Open your mouth concerning who Jesus is, what he has done, and what he has said.

In the margin of my bible I have written, “The silent either don’t have the Spirit or aren’t following the Spirit.” I think that is good application of these two verses. You and I will proclaim the gospel to our neighbors and the nations to the extent that we have and follow the Spirit. Bearing witness to Jesus is what the Holy Spirit sent to you does.

So one reason you and I don’t share the gospel with our neighbors and the nations is because we haven’t been born again. You don’t tell your friends and coworkers about Jesus because you aren’t a Christian.

Or you and I don’t share the gospel because we are scared of persecution. We know that Jesus has promised persecution even death for some who abide in his word and obey his commands and that’s honestly a bit scary. We’d rather just remain quiet and comfortable.

We have everything we need to bear witness to Jesus and overcome the ignorance that causes hatred. So here is what you must do:

V. Prepare yourself for persecution

A.  Think biblically concerning the life of Christ

He was persecuted and he tells us to expect the same. They hated him and they’ll hate you. They insulted him and they’ll insult you. They beat him and they’ll beat you. They killed him and they’ll kill you.

Jesus experienced all of these precisely because he was loving and obeying the Father. The world is at odds with the Father. The world has declared itself to be an enemy of the Father. So do not be surprised when your love and obedience is thrown back into your face. Think biblically about the Christ you follow.

B.  Know that you can experience joy in persecution

Hebrews 12:2 tells us to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Abiding in his love, abiding in his word, and obeying his commandments will provide a far greater joy than avoiding persecution. Remember, this light momentary affliction is preparing for you an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor 4:17).

We must walk by faith in the greater joy than by sight in this present difficulty. Jesus did it. Jesus experienced joy and he promises that even in suffering his joy will be in you and your joy will be full (John 15:11).

C.  Abide in his love and obey his commandments during persecution

The devil says “if God loves you then you won’t suffer” and Jesus says “if you abide in my love you will be hated”. Before we enter into difficulty and persecution it is a priority that we nail down this biblical truth: faith in Jesus Christ does not equal ease in this life. Instead all those who desire to live godly lives in Christ will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:16).

Therefore it is necessary that we dive deep into the word of God and think deeply concerning the love of God for us. The fuel for joy is meditation on the cross. Abide in his love and obey his commandments. Don’t stop even when its hard.

D.  Don’t fear persecution. Fear the God who cuts away all those who do nothing (15:2)

Step back and think about this message in John 15. When we fear persecution we do nothing, we do not bear witness, and we do not bear fruit. Jesus tells us that all those who do not bear fruit God takes away and throws into the fire.

It is not time for a healthy fear of persecution. It is time for a healthy fear of God. Pray with me that we would not fear those who can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather let us pray that we would fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Mt 10:28).

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[1] http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzUy accessed 4/7/2011

John 14:1-11; We Get God

Text: John 14:1-11                                                                  2/27/2011

Thesis: Because Jesus is one with the Father, when we get Jesus we get God. Because we have God there is nothing to fear.

I. Trusting God cures the troubled heart (v1)

A.  Do not let your hearts be troubled

Jesus’ disciples are commanded to not allow fear to rule our hearts. Jesus’ disciples must fight against the turmoil of heart caused by the difficulties of life. Think about what the disciples have just heard. Peter is going to defect; by morning he will deny knowing Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. That is a hard pill to swallow. But that’s not all.  The disciples are about to be separated from their leader. The one who has provided everything for them, the one who they have given up everything for, is about to be gone. Where Jesus is going they cannot come. But that’s not all. One of their own is about to betray Jesus and Jesus is visibly disturbed by this truth. Jesus has been telling them that he must die and now it is time for them to witness it. All the ingredients for shattered and destroyed faith are there and Jesus commands “do not let your hearts be troubled.”

What do you do when everything you believe God for and hope God will provide appears to disintegrate literally in one night? When it looks like life is falling apart does God tell us to curl up in the fetal position? Is it Jesus’ recommendation that we stay in bed for days until we feel like giving it another go? How is it that Jesus can command his first disciples and every disciple after them to not let their hearts be ruled by difficulty and fear?

We can have victory over a troubled heart because Jesus has defeated sin and the grave. Do not be afraid and do not run from difficulty because Jesus, being God, brings God to us and Jesus will bring us to God. Trusting God through the difficulty is the cure for a troubled heart in the midst of difficulty. This is Jesus’ advice; his command.

B.  Believe in God, believe also in Jesus

Do you hear Jesus telling you that trusting God is the cure for a troubled heart? Those are Jesus’ words in John 14:1. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” That is what we are to avoid. Do not do that. “Believe in God; believe also in me.” That is what we are to do. Some translations put it a bit differently: “you believe in God, believe also in me.” Either way the message is the same: you will either trust God and that trust will lead your heart out of trouble or you will trust trouble and that trust will lead you away from God.

In the next 10 verses Jesus is going to prove to us that he is the divine trustworthy Son of God. Here is the big picture that we will begin unpacking this week and rejoice over in the weeks to come: when you trust God you get the Spirit who is God. When you get the Spirit who is God you get the Son who is God. And when you get the Son who is God you get the Father who is God. Next week we’ll look some at the Spirit. Today we will focus on the Son and how his substitutionary work is necessary if we are going to get the Spirit and the Father.

So Jesus commands us to trust; Jesus demands belief: “believe in God; believe also in me.” We’re going to work backwards starting in verse 10 and see a number of reasons why getting the Son means getting God and losing our fears.

II. Getting God depends on Jesus (vs2-11)

A.  Do not let your heart be troubled because the Father and Son are God (10-11)

This question is crucial as we root trouble out of our hearts: What in particular are we to believe about God the Father and God the Son? There is more than this but certainly there can be no less than what Jesus says in verses 10 and 11, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

Mutual indwelling is the foundation upon which a strong fearless heart is built.

The content of belief is the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son. Throughout eternity the Father and Son have been united; literally they dwell within one another. The reason we believe mutual indwelling to be true is because Jesus has told us it is true by his word and Jesus has showed us it is true by his works

Mutual indwelling means that the Son is fully indwelt by the Father and the Father is fully indwelt by the Son. We are tempted to believe that the Trinity works like Russian stacking dolls: the Spirit goes inside the Son and the Spirit inside the Son goes inside the Father. We can even think of the Spirit as fully God in quality but not fully God in quantity like a bucket full of water is still water but a bucket of water is not as much water as Lake Granbury. And Lake Granbury is fully water but not as much water as the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately as Christians we function with the mentality that we have the Son who is God but he’s not enough God. We might even go as far as to say we have the Spirit who is God but he’s not enough God. They are God but not big enough to stabilize our hearts in the middle of the greatest difficulty. “Yes, yes, I’m in Christ and Christ is in me but that’s not enough when times are hard.”

Mutual indwelling explodes that myth. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son and this to such an extent that every word and every work of the Son is the word and work of the Father. Jesus has told us repeatedly that he can do nothing on his own (5:19, 30). He does what he sees the Father doing. He says the words of the Father. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he is doing. They are together in everything.

I think it’s necessary to stop here and tell you why this is important and how it brings stability to our hearts. Up to this point some of you tuned me out because “all this is over your head” or “this is just the mumbo jumbo of seminary students.” All you want is for you heart to stop being tossed about by the high winds of life. But remember it is Jesus that tells us that the antidote for inner turmoil is faith. And it is Jesus who is defining the content of faith as mutual indwelling.

Here’s the bottom line, here’s is the foundation upon which a strong fearless heart is built, by faith you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The moment you repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit makes you his residing place. You become his home or more specifically your body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). The Holy Spirit who is dwelling with you and in you is the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11). The Holy Spirit who is dwelling in you is the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:11). By receiving the Spirit we receive the Son and the Father. If we have the Triune God dwelling in us what is there to fear?

The God who formed the universe has come to dwell in you. The God who controls the hearts of US President Barak Obama, former Egyptian President Sayyid Mubarak, and entrenched Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi dwells in you. He knows what you need before you ask. He knows the number of hairs on your head. Even the sparrows soar and fall according to his will. But he is not distant. By his Spirit he dwells in you. Do not let your heart be troubled. You are greatly loved by the great God.

I admit I have taken you past what is said in verses 10-11 and I hope you see in Scripture and sense in your life that I have not gone against what is said. The foundation of a fearless heart is the fact that the Father and the Son are eternally together in everything and they are working all things for your good. Let’s keep going

B.  Do not let your heart be troubled because when you see the Son you see the Father (8-9)

In verses 8&9 Philip voices what we as Christians feel when we are in turmoil: if I could just get my head above water and get an eyeball on God that would be enough. If I could see God’s glory like Moses did it would be enough to continue on through difficulty. If I could see God’s glory like Peter, James, and John did it would be enough to continue on through difficulty. Just give me a glimpse of God and that will get me going again.

But this mentality, be it from Philip or from any Christian, betrays a massive mistake. Jesus said in verse 9, “Have I been with you this long, and you still do not know me?” Christian, have you seen the glory of God in Jesus’ face such that you were saved (2 Cor. 4:6) and are you gazing upon Him and being transformed into Jesus’ image (2 Cor. 3:18) and yet you still do not know Him? Jesus said plainly in John 14:9, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” If you are a Christian it is because the Spirit has revealed Jesus to you and if you have seen Jesus you have seen the Father. How can we say, “Show us the Father”? To see the Son is to see the Father.

If you are a Christian you do not need something new. You need to understand, appreciate, and live out of what you have been given. A fearless heart doesn’t come in a Christian because you receive something new but because you live out what you already have: you have God and you have seen God. You already have the infinite unbeatable God. You have already seen Him. Stand firm.

C.  Do not let your heart be troubled because when you know the Son you know the Father (7)

If you claim to be a Christian you are claiming something wonderful: you know God. Look at verse 7: “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” You can’t know the Son and not know the Father: they are eternally together. Since they share the same nature, since seeing one is seeing the other, and since they share the same mission if you know one of them you will necessarily know the other.

Jesus is removing doubt and removing excuses. There can be no greater sustaining knowledge of the Father than what is enjoyed through the Son. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of the Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). To see the Son is to see the Father. To know the Son is to know the Father. They are in one another; filling one another. Christian, know the Lord. Christian swim deeply into the depths of what you have been blessed with. You do not need anything new. We all need to further explore and be strengthened by what we already have. You have seen the Son who is filled by the Father and you know the Son who is filled by the Father. And there’s more

D.  Do not let your heart be troubled because the Son is the way to the Father (4-6)

Our hearts are troubled mainly because we don’t know what’s coming next or we don’t know what to do next. When we feel lost or helpless our hearts become troubled. This is precisely where Thomas is in verse 4. He states, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus, we do not know what’s coming next. We don’t know where you will be. How can we get to you? We feel like sheep without a shepherd. We have the right to be troubled.

And what does Jesus say in verse 6? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Because we are connected to Jesus by faith his destination becomes our destination. Where is Jesus going? He is going to His Father. The Father’s house is Jesus’ destination so the Father’s house becomes our destination, our home, our lasting city, our permanent address.

But how will we get to heaven? You can’t program heaven into your GPS or find it on a map or hop a space shuttle. How will we get there when we die and how do we settle our hearts on heaven right now? What is the way?

Jesus is the way. Jesus is the path and the road. No one goes to the Father except through Him. No amount of faith or good works or good intentions or being religious can span the chasm between you and God. No human is capable of crossing the divide caused by sin and death. If Jesus doesn’t take you to heaven then you will not make it. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from the only way to heaven is through personal faith in Jesus who is the way. Christian, do you see that everything depends on Jesus, a stable heart today depends on Jesus and eternity in heaven depends on Jesus.

By living a righteous life for us and dying an atoning death for us Jesus became the way to God for us. By being fully God and by being indwelt by the Father Jesus become the truth for us. Every one of us can now know God according to Truth. By being the source of life Jesus became life for us. Because of Jesus we live and because of Jesus we have eternal life. Jesus is the way to God, the full revelation of God, and the life of God. And he is yours. You have seen him. You know him. And there’s more.

E.   Do not let your heart be troubled because the Son is returning so we can be with him (3)

Listen to Jesus’ words, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Look at it. Why is Jesus going away? to prepare a place for you. Why is Jesus coming back? to take you to himself. Why is Jesus going to take you to himself? so that you can be where he is.

In the middle of trouble rest in this: Jesus is coming back for you. Jesus hasn’t abandoned you or forgotten you. He is ready to return for you and when he does you get to be with him. That’s the greatest promise of Christianity. We get to be with Jesus forever. Our current idea of heaven is so wrong and weak. The common view of heaven is a huge mansion on a sprawling property where no one bothers us, expect the people we like and only when we want them. We get to do all the stuff we like to do or never got to do. For some heaven is a shopping trip where everything fits perfectly and is paid for. For others heaven is a hunting or fishing trip where we land the trophy every time. For others its being with family. For others its taking a nap. For others its freedom from arthritis.  But what is heaven, how does Jesus describe it? Heaven is being where Jesus is.

If home is where the heart is then heaven is where the Son is. It’s been a while since I’ve said this and it’s appropriate to say now. If you are comfortable with a heaven without Jesus being the main attraction then you’re probably not a Christian. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 explains heaven this way: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, maybe with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

Heaven is seeing and enjoying and be satisfied and eternally stabilized by the glory of God shining brightly through the Son. Heaven is the place where hearts are no longer troubled because Heaven is being with Jesus.

But we don’t think about heaven that way and the problem lies with us. This side of heaven we’re too easily satisfied by shopping and hunting and being with family and being healthy. We should be grateful but not satisfied. Satisfaction, true heart strengthening satisfaction in the face of difficulty depends on getting God and seeing God and knowing God. We need Jesus.

I’d like to end with one last statement of hope

F.   Do not let your heart be troubled because there is room for you in the Father’s house (2)

Look at verse 2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” In the Father’s house, which is Jesus’ destination, there are many rooms. Where the Father is there are many dwelling places. Jesus wants us to know this. Jesus wants you to know that there is enough space in the Father’s house for you.  Jesus is going there to prepare a place for you. And He will return so you can live forever there with Jesus in the Father’s house.

Now something about this is meant to remove inner turmoil and give strength to our faith. What is it? Let’s sweep over this text. There is a place in heaven prepared for even those disciples like Thomas who fear they do not know the way. There is a place in heaven prepared even for those disciples like Philip who can’t seem to grasp it all. Jesus isn’t making these things up. These aren’t empty promises. The words of the Son are the words of the Father. These promises are for you. The work of the Son is the work of the Father. There is a place prepared by Jesus for you in the Father’s house.  You get God.  No matter what is going on inside of you or around you know this: you have God. Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in Jesus.

John 14:12-17; Jesus Continues His Work

Text: John 14:12-17                                                                3/6/2011

Thesis: Jesus’ work continues through believers by the Holy Spirit.

This morning we’re going to look at three amazing promises that Jesus makes to anyone who believes in him. Jesus promises that whoever believes in him will do greater works than he did. Jesus promises to do whatever we ask of him. And Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit; our perfect helper.

This is what I am praying happens because of this sermon: I hope this sermon causes you to do some serious thinking concerning the life you are living. Why are you doing what you are doing? Why are you not experiencing Jesus’ promises? I hope this sermon causes you to devote yourself to prayer. I hope this sermon causes you to think more clearly concerning what is important, what is true, and what actually has been promised.

You see, with these great promises there is also great danger. The great danger is that we will forget Jesus for all his promises. If you want to be frustrated then do this simple thing. If you want to not have your prayers answered or if you want to accomplish nothing with all your hard work then do this simple thing. If you want to not experience the help of the Holy Spirit then do this simple thing. You ready for it? All you have to do is treat Jesus as only the way to the promises. Put your faith in Jesus, repent and believe, then he’ll make you successful, he’ll give you whatever you want, the Spirit will help you no matter what; that is just plain old fashioned wrong.

Jesus’ promises and presence are always connected to his mission. We must fight to keep these glorious promises in their right place. All of these promises are because of and for the advance of Jesus’ mission. And what is Jesus’ mission? His mission is to glorify the Father by the redemption of His people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

So the place for these promises is in the continuing mission of Jesus. Jesus is working. Jesus is working right now and every great work, every answer to prayer and especially the gift of the Holy Spirit is because of Jesus’ continuing work to fulfill the Father’s mission of redemption. So let’s see what Jesus is doing and what he promises us so that we can be a part of his great work of redemption.

Read John 14:12-18

I. Believers work because Jesus worked (v12)

A.  Believers will do the works Jesus did (12a)

Jesus begins, in verse 12, with the emphatic ‘truly, truly’ or ‘amen, amen.’ This is foundational. If you miss this you will mess up. What is it? Whoever believes in Jesus will also do the works that Jesus did. Jesus expects you to do what he did. We know he expects this of all of us because he says “whoever believes in me”. Whoever claims to be a Christian will do what Jesus did. Whoever claims to be saved, born again, a child of God, a follower of Christ, or a plain ole Christian will act like Jesus. Jesus doesn’t limit this promise to those first 11 disciples or the apostles. Jesus is talking about you. He’s talking about me. He’s talking about us. We, because we are attached to Jesus by faith, will do what he does.

That is very clear. So, we have to ask, “what did Jesus do?” Maybe we can start a massive movement with bracelets, t-shirts, and bumper stickers. We’ll abbreviate the question “what did Jesus do” with just the letters “WDJD”. Do you think it will catch on?

Seriously, we can’t ask what would  Jesus do if we don’t know what he did. Jesus promised that we will do what he does. So what did Jesus do? What are his works? The nearest reference to Jesus’ works is found in verse 11, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” So what were these works that caused people to believe in Jesus? The works were the miracles; the signs that Jesus performed.  Jesus expects us to do the miraculous.

It’s important for us now to ask, “Where did those works come from?” Before you answer let me read John 5:19-21 for you. Remember, we’re asking, “what did Jesus do” and “where did the works come from.” John 5:19-21:

Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing on his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

What did Jesus do? He did what he saw the Father doing. Where did the works come from? They came from the heart or mind of the Father; Jesus was only doing what he saw his Father do.  Let’s make the connection. Believers will do the works that Jesus did. Jesus did the works he saw his Father doing.  We will do the works that the Father did. Let’s just pause for a moment and be amazed at this promise. You, me, and any other messed up sinner who repents of his sins and puts his faith in Jesus Christ will do the same amazing works as Jesus. We are not just meant to be redeemed. The Father’s plan is to use each of us in his great work of redemption. It’s not enough for you just to be saved; that’s too small a thing. Jesus promises that you’ll be a part of God’s work to save others.

Believers will do what Jesus did and

B.  Believers will do greater works than these (12b)

If that first part wasn’t hard enough Jesus goes on to say, “and greater works than these will [whoever believes in Jesus] do.” Jesus is promising you that you will do not just what he did but you’ll do greater works than he did. The word “greater” occurs in our passage and I’m sure you heard it in the John 5 passage, “And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.”

Remember, we must fight to keep Jesus’ promises in the proper place as a part of Jesus’ mission. From John 5 what are the greater things that will cause us to marvel? These marvelous greater works are a product of the Father raising the dead and giving them life. These greater works are the Son giving life to whom he will. The greater works that Jesus promises you will do are the works that cause the dead to hear the voice of Jesus and rise again.

Jesus is promising us that we will proclaim the gospel and people will be born again. I’m not saying that we won’t see people physically healed. I think we should expect to see people healed when we pray for them. But we must never ever ever think that a physical healing miracle is bigger or more important or more necessary than the spiritual healing miracle.

I know things must change in this church because when we gather to pray we spend more time and energy trying to keep Christian out of heaven than we do trying to get lost people into heaven. We should pray for physical healing. As an elder of this church it is one of my responsibilities. But the desire for physical well-being in our selves and in our neighbors must always be kept subservient to the desire for spiritual well-being in our selves and in our neighbors.

The greater works that we will do and that will cause us to marvel are the works of physical and spiritual resurrection. We’ll marvel at physical resurrection when Jesus returns and we’ll marvel at spiritual resurrection every time we preach the gospel and a person is born again.

Let’s look at the last phrase in verse 12 and let Jesus drive this point home

C.  All our works depend on Jesus’ work (12c)

Why is it that we will do greater works? What is the “because” at the end of verse 12? “Greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” The greater works we do are 100% the product of Jesus’ completed work.  Because Jesus lived a righteous life, died a substitutionary death on the cross, rose victorious from the grave, and went back to the Father’s right hand you will do greater works than him.

Should we expect to raise someone from the grave after they’ve been dead 5 days? Should we expect to give sight to someone who has been blind since before birth? That’s not the point. The point is you and I are meant to be a part of the Father’s work of redeeming his lost sheep by proclaiming the powerful resurrecting gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes this work will be accompanied by signs and wonders. As we do what we have seen the Father and the Son do we’ll see the miraculous. But don’t trade what is lesser for what is greater. Don’t settle for earth when God’s desire is to give heaven.

Here is our first great promise: you will do greater works than Jesus. Here’s our first question: what are you doing for the goal of seeing the dead raised?

If you knew your friend or family member was physically sick you would do something. If you knew that kid you work with in AWANA or in the youth was sick you’d do something. If you found out that your neighbor has some terrible illness you would jump into action. All around us people are sick. In fact, because of sin they are spiritually dead. You have the gospel. You have the means of resurrection. You have the power of God. Are you attempting great works because of Jesus’ finished work?

Because Jesus worked believers do greater works.

II. Jesus continues to work by answering our prayers (vs13-14)

Look at this next promise in verse 13, ‘Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus promises to answer our prayers. Remember, we must fight to keep these promises of Jesus in their right place: in the mission of Jesus.

A.  Our asking must be in line with his working (13a)

Jesus promises in verse 13 that whatever we ask in his name this he will do. Jesus isn’t promising us a blank check; like he’ll heal every disease if we tag “in Jesus’ name” on the end of the prayer. Jesus certainly isn’t saying he’ll give us whatever we ask in his name even if it’s contrary to the Father’s will. The promise here is amazing, “whatever I ask in Jesus’ name he will do.” That’s good news. Jesus commits himself to fulfilling his mission through me. He stands ready to answer as I ask in his name.

In Jesus’ name, those are the boundaries that we play in. Asking in Jesus’ name means our asking is in line with his purpose and persons.  Jesus would ask for the things we’re asking. In his name also means you are depending on him. You’re depending on his work in order to be heard. You’re depending on his continuing work in for your prayer to be answered. Asking in Jesus’ name is asking for what lines up with Jesus’ person and purpose; you’re depending on him for everything.

B.  Jesus commits himself to our request

Jesus tells us that he will do whatever we ask. Jesus doesn’t promise us an angel. Jesus promises to personally do whatever we ask. That is the commitment of Jesus to the fulfillment of our mission on this globe. Do you think of Jesus in these terms? Do you pray with the conviction that Jesus is the one who personally answers your prayers? This is how Jesus says we should pray. Are you praying that way? Are you praying knowing that Jesus is committed to personally doing what you ask? It’s what Jesus promised. But here again, we must be careful. Why will Jesus answer our prayers?

C.  Jesus answers prayers in order to glorify the Father in himself

Verse 13, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The reason for your request should be for display of the glory of the Father through the finished work of his Son.

I think there are two main reasons Jesus doesn’t answer some of my prayers. First, I’m really not asking so that God would be glorified I’m asking so that my life will be easier. I’m asking for God to make the hard narrow road the wide easy road. When I ask for what is against his will I should not expect him to answer. If the answer goes no further than me and my little claustrophobic world it generally doesn’t get answered.

Let’s think now about the second reason Jesus doesn’t answer some of my prayers. Jesus doesn’t answer some of my prayers because they’re not really for the glory of the Father through the Son.  I want a good marriage, and good children, and a growing church, and a healthy body so that people will think I’m something special. The request is right but the motive is wrong. It is not always the case but it is certainly within the revealed nature of God to not answer because I ask for good things with ungodly motives. So here’s how we should ask:

D.  Ask Jesus for anything that matches his mission and its yours

It is not my desire to squash your asking or to preach in such a way that you pray less. The point is to pray more. In verse 14 Jesus repeats this amazing promise, “If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.” Here’s what’s amazing: the more we line our lives us with Jesus’ life the more we will pray. And the more we line our purposes up with Jesus’ purposes the more we will pray. And the more we depend on the work of Jesus to accomplish our works the more we will pray. And when we pray this way, when we pray in Jesus’ name, he will do it.

We must work the works of him who sent Jesus while it is still day (John 9:4). That means we must pray. And we must pray knowing that Jesus is ready to personally answer. That is amazing. What greater incentive do we need? Pray. Jesus will answer.

Now Jesus is ready to interrupt all these amazing promises, the promises of greater works and answered prayer and the Holy Spirit, with a reality check. Here it is:

III. All we need is love (v15)

Jesus says in verse 15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

A.  Love is the foundation of Jesus’ mission

Get the order right- love leads to obedience. We will do greater works and pray and depend on the Spirit because we love Jesus. We’ll engage the good works he has prepared for us because we love him. Here is the gospel fuel for obedience. When you know he loves you, you will love him, and when you love him you will obey him.

Wives, answer me. When you know your husband loves you is it easier to love him? When you know he loves you and you love him is it easier to submit to him? Covenant keeping love is the foundation for marriage.

Look at Jesus’ promises to you today. He promises you these things because he loves you. He’ll make it so that you do greater works than he did. He’ll listen to you when you pray and he’ll do whatever you ask. He’ll ask and the Father will send the Holy Spirit to be with you forever. Jesus loves you. Do you know his love? If you know his love you will love him and if you love him you will keep his commandments.

The reason you and I disobey is because we doubt Jesus’ love. We don’t think he can be trusted. We don’t think he can keep us. We don’t think he will come through. We don’t think he is after what is best for us. When we doubt Jesus’ love for us we won’t love him, we’ll love ourselves and disobey him.

Here’s the reality check: all we need is love. All we need is God’s great love. In response we’ll love him and obey him. To the next promise

IV. We get the Helper we need (vs16-17a)

A.  Jesus knows we cannot love and obey on our own

In verse 16 Jesus makes it clear that he will ask the Father, and he will give us another Helper. Helper is the word Paraclete. Some translations use the word comforter. Comforter is fine but it doesn’t go far enough. In old English ‘comforter’ carried the idea of one who gives strength. Today a ‘comforter’ is someone who sympathizes and soothes. The Holy Spirit does that but more than that he stands up for us. He advocates for us. He doesn’t advocate for us against the Father. Notice it’s the Father who sends this helper. Think more about the Holy Spirit fighting for you. He strengths, helps, guides, comforts, and fights for us. Jesus knows we need this and so he asked and the Father sent him.

The Father and Son together sent the Spirit at Pentecost. You can read Acts 2 for more information. And if you are a Christian the Helper has been sent to you. He dwells in you because you are insufficient for the task. But he is your perfect Helper. Jesus knew I needed this Comforter, this Advocate, and so he asked and the Father answered. Notice this also:

B.  Jesus asks for a forever Helper (16)

Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” How long did Jesus ask for the Holy Spirit to stay with you? He will stay forever. You can quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) but you can’t lose the Holy Spirit. Today, if you are a child of God you cannot shake the Holy Spirit and you didn’t shake him. He’s in you for the completion of Jesus’ mission. He’ll always be there. He’s for your good.

C.  Our Helper is the Spirit of truth (17a)

Jesus goes on in verse 17 to define who this Helper, Paraclete, Comforter, or Advocate is: he is the Spirit of truth. Jesus said in John 14:6 that Jesus is the truth. Jesus tells us in verse 17 that the Helper is the Spirit of truth. That could mean that Jesus is saying that the Helper is the Spirit of Jesus. Romans 8:9 says: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” So to say that the Helper is the Spirit of truth meaning the Helper is the Spirit of Jesus who is the truth is true. But I think there’s more here in verse 17.

As the Spirit of truth the Holy Spirit always does what is in accordance with Jesus who is the truth. In John 16:13 Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will guide God’s people into all the truth. In the same way that Jesus only says what he hears from the Father, so also, the Spirit only speaks what he hears from the Son and from the Father. This is what it means for him to be the Spirit of truth: the Holy Spirit will never contradict Jesus. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures thus making them true will never contradict himself. He will never go against what the bible stays. He is the Spirit of truth. That’s our helper.

D.  The world belongs to its father the devil (8:44-45)

What is the devil the father of? The devil is the father of lies. The devil, who rules this world, has nothing to do with the truth. So it goes to show that the world who is following after the father of lies cannot receive the Spirit of truth. The world doesn’t see the Spirit of truth because the world is blinded by the father of lies. And the world does not know the Spirit of truth because the world of its self cannot know the Spirit of truth. Again to quote Romans 8, this time from verses 7-8, “the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

God in his grace according to the finished work of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit must overcome our opposition to the truth. God must cause what cannot to be able to. And how does God change one who cannot receive the Spirit to one who is born of the Spirit? By the Spirit-empowered preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let’s close with the glorious truth concerning this promised Spirit

E.   The Spirit of truth is in us (17b)

Jesus said of the disciples, “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Remember, this is before Pentecost, before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is before the Holy Spirit comes to be with each individual believer for ever. Because of their proximity to the Spirit, because the Spirit has descended upon Jesus the disciples knew the Spirit. Because the Spirit was with the disciples they knew the Spirit. Knowledge of the Spirit comes through bible saturated experience. That was true then and it’s true today.

The disciples were waiting for the indwelling of the Spirit. At this time, because Jesus was not yet glorified (Jn 7:39), the disciples were experiencing the help of the Spirit from the outside. Think about the world of knowledge that is outside of you. It is a huge blessing and you can access it here and there. But imagine if that world of knowledge that is outside of you could become inside of you. That would be so much better. The Spirit was with them but the Spirit was not yet in them. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ the Spirit is in you. The Spirit is your Helper. The Spirit is guiding you into the truth. The Spirit is praying for you. The Spirit is lining you up with the plans of the Father. The Spirit is transforming you to look like the person of Jesus.

The greater works that you and I are promised are works that complete the mission of Jesus by the power of His Spirit inside of you. Christian, you have everything you need. Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God (William Carey).

Through the Cross; John 13:31-38

Text: John 13:31-38                                                               2/20/2011

Thesis: Through the cross God is glorified and his love poured out.

As we continue in John 13 I want to remind you of where we have been. We have seen that God himself loves us.  Jesus Christ came to cleanse us. He came to wash his own who are stained with sin and stink because of rebellion. In a powerful display of love and humility Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. Jesus even washed the feet of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot. After washing the disciples’ feet and during that meal Jesus identified Judas as his betrayer. In one terrifying moment Satan entered into Judas and Jesus commanded that the events of arrest, trial, and crucifixion begin immediately. Jesus said, “What you must do, do quickly” (John 13:27). After those words Judas rose from the table and went out into the dark night to betray the King of Glory.

We begin our passage today in John 13 verse 31 (13:31-38)

What we are taught is this: through the cross God is glorified and his love poured out. What we must do is this: focus our minds and hearts mainly on the atoning work of Jesus Christ. There in the death and resurrection of Jesus we will see the glory of God that will cleanse, change, and satisfy our hearts.  There at the cross we will find that we are greatly loved. We will find the love that will empower us to go and love others. Let’s unpack those truths.

I. God was glorified through the cross

Verse 31 states, “When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified’”

A.  The Son of Man is glorified through the cross

Now is the time to fulfill all that had been planned by God before the foundation of the world concerning the cross. Now all that had been put into Judas’ heart concerning betrayal is set in motion.  No longer is Jesus talking about an hour that is coming. Now the Son of Man is glorified.

And it was with great intentionality that Jesus referred to himself as the ‘Son of Man’. This is a loaded title. Son of Man emphasizes that Jesus is not just the divine Son of God but he is also the incarnate Son of Man. He is a real person; a human with flesh and bones. He is like us. He came for us. ‘Son of Man’ emphasizes humanity.

And ‘Son of Man’ emphasizes divine sovereignty. As a human Jesus did not give up his God-ness. The prophet Daniel saw this Son of Man and wrote this: “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Did you catch the three things that are given to the Son of Man? He is given dominion and glory and a kingdom. He is given rule, splendor, and a people.

From John 13:31 let’s focus on this Son of man receiving glory. Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified.’ Jesus has always been wonderful, amazing, and awe inspiring because he has always been God. In John 17:5 he prays “And now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” On the mount of transfiguration Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of the true glory of the Son of God. So do not think that Jesus has lost his glory, his God-ness. No, that glory has been concealed within his humanity. It is through the work of Jesus on the cross, through his crucifixion and resurrection that his glory once concealed becomes revealed.

Now, in his work on the cross, Jesus is glorified. JC Ryle wrote, “The crucifixion brought glory to the Son. It glorified His compassion, His patience, and His power. It showed Him most compassionate, in dying for us, suffering in our stead, allowing Himself to be counted sin and a curse for us, and buying our redemption with the price of His own blood.–It showed Him most patient, in not dying the common death of most men, but in willingly submitting to such horrors and unknown agonies as no mind can conceive, when with a word he could have summoned His Father’s angels, and been set free.–It showed him most powerful, in bearing the weight of all a world’s transgressions, and vanquishing Satan and despoiling him of his prey (Expository Thoughts, Vol 4, 40-41).

Do you want to see the glory of God? Focus on the cross. Do you want to have your soul changed and satisfied by what is eternal and divine? Dwell at the foot of the cross. Through the atoning work of Christ on the cross his glory and his love are revealed.

B.  God is glorified through the Son of Man

John 13:31, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”

As Jesus perfectly obeys the will of His Father and as Jesus takes your sin upon himself God is glorified. Again let’s hear from JC Ryle: The crucifixion brought glory to the Father. It glorified His wisdom, faithfulness, holiness, and love. It showed Him wise, in providing a plan whereby He could be just, and yet the Justifier of the ungodly.–It showed Him faithful, in keeping His promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.–It showed Him holy, in requiring His law’s demands to be satisfied by our great Substitute.–It showed Him loving, in providing such a Mediator, such a Redeemer, and such a Friend for sinful man as His co-eternal Son (41).

The cross proves that God is just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:26). Through the cross the glory of the Son and the glory of the Father are proclaimed for the salvation and satisfaction of the nations. Because of the cross God gets the glory he deserves and you get the God you need. The Son is glorified and the Father is glorified in him, but there’s more.

C.  God glorified the Son of Man

Look at John 13:32, “If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.” There is a great interchange of glory between the Father and the Son. The Son does the cross and this glorifies the Father. This is certainly true. But it is also true that the cross was shameful; even a curse. The cross is a stumbling block to the Jew and foolishness to the Gentile. How could the glorious Son of God willingly submit to something so shameful? How could the glorious God send his son to be a curse? Ephesians 1:20-22 explains how the Father glorified the Son in himself:

[God the Father] worked [the immeasurable greatness of his power] in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

God glorified Jesus through the resurrection by giving him the seat of honor in heaven and authority over everything. There is no more esteemed place than at the Father’s right hand. There can be no greater vindication, no greater display of the glory of the Son, than for the Father to display the greatness of the Son over all persons, institutions, and things. After the cross that glorified God there is the ascension to God’s right hand which glorified the Son.

The depths of humiliation in the cross are far surpassed by the heights of exaltation when the resurrected Jesus is given his seat of honor at the Father’s right hand.

Why does this matter? 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us that Satan does everything that he does to keep people from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. What Satan wants most is church buildings full of people who sing songs and do good deeds but see no need for the bloody God glorifying cross. The demons celebrate every time churches feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the poor while neglecting the bloody God glorifying cross.

We must speak of the cross. We must speak of sin and the wrath of God. We must think about and sing about the blood of Christ split for us. In our minds and in our lives we must cherish the truth of Christ delivered up for our transgression and raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). Satan wants you to be a good husband, work hard, go to church, and not talk about the cross. Church, the cross glorifies God. I Corinthians 1:18&19 tell us that the gospel, the good news, is the word of the cross. To us who are being saved, the word of the cross is the power of God. The cross is central. Take away the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ for us on the cross and you attempt to rob God of his glory. Take away the good news of Christ crucified for sins and resurrected victorious over death and you take away the saving power of God from your life and work.

God was glorified through the work of the cross and God is continually glorified as we believe the word of the cross.

In his great love and mercy Jesus is preparing his disciples. He wants them to understand the truth concerning the cross and he wants them to understand that this glorifying cross will also mean separation.

II. You cannot go where he is going (v33)

In John 13:33 Jesus states: “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”

This means two main things. You can’t go to the cross and you can’t go to heaven.

A.  You can’t go the cross

Now it is true that every person can die. Church history even tells us that afterwards Peter will die on a cross. But fundamentally Jesus is telling us that we cannot glorify God by paying the penalty for anyone’s sin. The disciples need to know their place. We need to know our place. We cannot save anyone. We cannot secure salvation for anyone. Christ is the only means of salvation. The cross of Jesus Christ and none other is the way to the Father. You cannot die an atoning death for anyone. That’s Jesus’ mission not yours. Your mission is to go in the power of the cross and declare the word of the cross so that people see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and get saved. You can’t go to the cross but you can proclaim the word of the cross.

B.  You can’t go to heaven

You can’t go to the right hand of the Father. You cannot even go to the outskirts of heaven. Jesus said this to the Jews. He’s repeating it to the disciples. John 8:21, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.”

For you to get to heaven your sins must be paid for my Jesus Christ.  On your own, apart from Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, you will die in your sins. If you do not repent to God for your sins and if you do not place your faith in the sin-removing work of Jesus on the cross you will go to hell.  Sinners going to heaven depends upon Jesus going to the cross. If there is no cross, if Jesus doesn’t pay my penalty for me, then I will go to hell. There in hell I will pay the penalty for myself.

Your sin must be dealt with and it can only be dealt with in two ways: the atoning cross or eternal hell. You either trust Christ to save you or you go to hell. You can’t go to heaven without faith in Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected victorious over your sin. The separation of Jesus from the disciples means salvation. There is no salvation any other way.

And the disciples will remain separated from the physical Christ. We are separated from the physical Christ. What then are we supposed to do?

Verses 34 and 35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

III. Love others like Jesus loved you (vs34-35)

A.  Love isn’t new but loving like Jesus is

As we saw when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, his love for his own didn’t stop when it came to costly, humiliating, unpopular things. He gave us this example of love and he expects us to love one another like that (13:14).

And we also saw that Jesus loved to the death. Because of his great love he was willing to die to give us what we need. Love your neighbor as your self didn’t go to that extent. Jesus took the law further and his love went deeper.

Remember, love isn’t new but loving one another in costly, humiliating, completely self-sacrificing ways like Jesus did on the cross is new.

B.  We must love one another to the death

Bear with me but I think this needs emphasizing. Look at the words of Jesus in verse 34, “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”  Jesus expects you to love the church with the same strength and with the same depth as Jesus loves you. This isn’t a suggestion it’s the product of God’s love for you. You are to love your brothers and sisters in Christ just as Jesus loves them.

Christians cherish one another. Christians love one another. Christians serve one another. Christians love one another. Christians are committed to one another. Christians love one another. Christians seek to do good to one another and honor one another and encourage one another and bear one another’s burdens. Christians love one another. Christians correct one another and provide for one another. Christians love one another just like Jesus loves us.

C.  Christians are identified by their self-sacrificing love for others

Jesus said in verse 35, “by this (by this self-sacrificing love unto death) all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

‘All people’ speaks of all people both Christian and non-Christian; those who belong to God and those that don’t. As we love one another others will recognize that we belong to Jesus. If we do not love one another there is no reason to believe that we do belong to Jesus. If a person does not love the church we should not assume that he/she is a Christian. If a person loves his brothers and sisters in Christ we have solid ground to stand on. So, when you think about your friends and your neighbors and your children don’t ask if they have ever prayed the prayer or come to worship gatherings for a while or if they are on the membership role. Jesus tells us that will know they are his disciples if they love their fellow Christian.

If a husband doesn’t want to be with his family are we right to say “oh now, deep in his heart he really loves his family?” No. But if a husband is committed to his family through difficulty and disappointment and hurt do we say, “that man loves his family?” Yes.  Love isn’t just making a commitment or speaking some words. Love isn’t paying the bills or giving a tithe. Love is being totally committed until death no matter the cost. Love is keeping your promises no matter what.

Do you love the church? If not, why do you think you’re a Christian? Are you willing to give your all for the good of your faith family? Or is this just a fling on the weekend; friends with benefits but no commitment of your self?

This is a big problem in our day. It’s a problem in Granbury and Glen Rose. Josh Harris even wrote a book about it titled Stop Dating the Church.

D.  Why do we not love one another like Jesus loves us?

The first and obvious answer is we do not love one another like Jesus because we are not his own. Christ is not in us so the love of Christ is not in us. He doesn’t love us with that depth and his love hasn’t changed us therefore we have no love to give. If that’s you, repent and believe the gospel. Experience his love. Pour that love out on others. The Spirit is exposing our lack of love so that we will be saved. There is love for you. Repent and believe.

The second answer to why we do not love one another like Jesus loves us is because we aren’t experiencing His love. As you experience more of the love of Christ you will love others more. Let’s be clear that God doesn’t love us more or less but our experience of that love does fluctuate. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”

Follow my logic. If we disobey Jesus’ commandments we can begin to doubt our love for Jesus. As we begin to doubt our love for Jesus we’ll be tempted to doubt Jesus’ love for us. And if we do not think Jesus loves us then it will be difficult to love others just as Jesus loves us. We don’t love because we’re in disobedience.

So wherever you are, either a non-believer or a disobedient believer, the answer is the same: repent and believe the gospel. Experience Jesus’ love poured out on you through the cross and go and love others.

So how can we truly know and deeply experience the love of Christ? Dwell at the foot of the cross. Think often of Jesus’ love that displays his glory. The more we repent of our sins and believe the gospel the deeper our experience of Jesus’ love will become. As our experience of Jesus’ love grows deeper our willingness to love others will also increase.

Repent, believe the gospel, and start loving. That’s what Jesus expects of us on this earth. Here’s the point; our final point

IV. We need Jesus

Peter is hung up. He’s not hung up on love he’s hung up on the fact that Jesus just told him that he doesn’t have what it takes to stick with Jesus. Jesus told him to his face just what he told the unbelieving Jews, “Where I am going you cannot come.” Peter is confronted with his inability and he doesn’t like it. So he responds with a question in verse 36. Maybe it’s a problem with the destination, “Lord, where are you going?”

Notice that Jesus doesn’t respond by telling him where Jesus is going; that’s not the issue. Jesus says, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterwards.” Peter can’t go to heaven but after Jesus dies on the cross and rises from the grave Peter will have the cleansing and righteousness required. And Peter doesn’t have what it takes to endure in the face of persecution. Now Peter thinks he has what it takes. He says in verse 37, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Peter is ready to die in order to be with Jesus.

But is that how we get to be with Jesus? Do we get to spend eternity with God because we’re willing to die for Jesus? Jesus exposes the inadequacies and insufficiencies of Peter. Verse 38: “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow till you have denied me three times.” Peter thinks that he is big enough but he’s not. Peter thinks he has what it takes to endure difficulty and persecution but he doesn’t.

A.  We need Jesus who fits us for heaven and we need the Holy Spirit who fits us for earth

Peter will be with Jesus in the Father’s house because Jesus cleansed him from all his sin and clothed him in righteousness. Peter will be with Jesus because Jesus laid down his life for Peter. And Peter will follow Jesus in a martyr’s death because the Holy Spirit was poured out on him.  So, what will enable Peter to follow Jesus even to the cross? The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit enabled Peter to follow afterwards.

On our own we can do nothing that glorifies God. On our own we are not capable of heaven. On our own we cannot love others like Jesus. But because Jesus died and rose again, because Jesus ascended to the Father’s right hand and poured out his Holy Spirit we are more than able. I don’t care what you’re background is. If you are a Christian you have the righteousness of Christ and the presence of the Spirit. You can glorify God. You are headed to heaven. And you can love others deeply. Our problem is not a lack of opportunity. Our problem is pride. We think we can do it on our own so we keep failing. Instead let’s trust Christ the one who always obeyed and glorified the Father.