1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,200 Well, please open your bible at John and chapter 5 2 00:00:03,200 –> 00:00:10,120 This is the last of our eight weeks in this part of the scripture together. I have so enjoyed 3 00:00:10,460 –> 00:00:17,660 These weeks in John chapter 4 and John chapter 5 God willing we will come back to John’s gospel at some point 4 00:00:17,879 –> 00:00:19,260 next year 5 00:00:19,260 –> 00:00:25,740 Today we’re coming to the end of the conversation between Jesus and his enemies that was provoked 6 00:00:25,860 –> 00:00:29,000 by the healing of the man who had been lying for 7 00:00:29,040 –> 00:00:33,779 38 years beside the pool of Bethesda and the reason that this provoked 8 00:00:34,220 –> 00:00:39,020 controversy was that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath and 9 00:00:39,459 –> 00:00:45,220 Verse 18 if you look back there tells us that the Lord was speaking 10 00:00:45,740 –> 00:00:51,020 After this event to those who were seeking all the more to kill him 11 00:00:51,020 –> 00:00:56,380 That’s verse 18 and verse 19 says Jesus said to them 12 00:00:57,419 –> 00:01:03,900 So what follows from verse 19 all the way down to verse 47 at the end of the chapter are? 13 00:01:04,300 –> 00:01:09,379 All the words that Jesus spoke to people who wanted to kill him 14 00:01:09,379 –> 00:01:14,680 and it’s important to keep that in mind as we listen to these remarkable and very 15 00:01:15,059 –> 00:01:17,339 Wonderful words of the Lord Jesus Christ 16 00:01:17,800 –> 00:01:20,739 28 verses and there isn’t a single 17 00:01:21,419 –> 00:01:25,940 Interruption from the folks who are listening to Jesus no questions. No 18 00:01:26,480 –> 00:01:32,699 Interjection, I think there must have been a divine restraint upon these enemies of Jesus that they listened to him without 19 00:01:33,019 –> 00:01:35,000 interrupting for 28 verses 20 00:01:35,000 –> 00:01:41,199 Especially in the light of the truth that he told them that we are going to look at together today 21 00:01:41,919 –> 00:01:44,820 So to get the scene picture Jesus 22 00:01:45,800 –> 00:01:52,879 Surrounded by a crowd of demonstrators, that’s probably the the best way for us to picture of it today that this is a hostile 23 00:01:53,339 –> 00:01:54,660 environment 24 00:01:54,660 –> 00:01:57,940 These are people who’ve taken a fence at Jesus 25 00:01:58,720 –> 00:02:02,099 They have it in for him. It’s not a friendly crowd 26 00:02:03,839 –> 00:02:09,520 So as we listen to these words of Jesus and we try and apply them to our own lives 27 00:02:10,160 –> 00:02:13,919 Think about the person in your life who is most 28 00:02:15,639 –> 00:02:18,059 antagonistic towards Jesus and 29 00:02:20,460 –> 00:02:24,360 Sometimes the hostility that that person has towards Jesus will overflow 30 00:02:25,520 –> 00:02:32,479 So on to you as a Christian so that you feel all the time. You’re sort of walking on eggshells with that person 31 00:02:33,679 –> 00:02:38,100 This is the person that Jesus is speaking to here 32 00:02:38,139 –> 00:02:40,139 Now we saw last week 33 00:02:40,820 –> 00:02:45,220 Jesus speaks with such wonderful grace to his enemies verse 24 34 00:02:45,500 –> 00:02:48,039 Truly truly I say to you you who want to kill me 35 00:02:48,940 –> 00:02:55,699 Whoever here’s my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment 36 00:02:55,699 –> 00:02:58,039 but has passed from death to life 37 00:02:59,360 –> 00:03:02,300 Every word that Jesus speaks here is so that 38 00:03:03,220 –> 00:03:06,639 Even his enemies may enter into 39 00:03:07,360 –> 00:03:09,380 Eternal life and 40 00:03:09,839 –> 00:03:16,220 So what does Jesus say so that people who are far from God and very hostile to him will come into eternal life? 41 00:03:16,220 –> 00:03:18,220 There are two things 42 00:03:18,220 –> 00:03:21,479 The first and we looked at this last week is that Jesus speaks about himself 43 00:03:21,580 –> 00:03:28,339 If you’re going to come into eternal life you have to know who Jesus is and that’s why we looked last week at that 44 00:03:28,839 –> 00:03:30,399 marvelous 45 00:03:30,820 –> 00:03:33,779 Seven-fold description of Jesus 46 00:03:33,779 –> 00:03:39,160 he tells us that he is one with the Father in work and will and love and an 47 00:03:39,320 –> 00:03:43,360 Authority and trust and honor and he’s one with the Father in life 48 00:03:43,360 –> 00:03:46,619 So he’s speaking all about himself if you’re to have eternal life 49 00:03:46,619 –> 00:03:51,360 And that’s what I want for you. Jesus is saying then you need to know who I am. I’m one with the Father 50 00:03:52,639 –> 00:03:55,779 Then the second thing is if you’re to have eternal life 51 00:03:56,779 –> 00:03:59,919 You really need to come to terms with the truth about yourself 52 00:03:59,919 –> 00:04:01,919 These are always the two things aren’t they? 53 00:04:02,139 –> 00:04:08,839 To know who God is and to know who you really are and that’s what’s addressed in the second part of the words of Jesus 54 00:04:08,979 –> 00:04:10,979 That we’re looking at today 55 00:04:12,080 –> 00:04:17,119 now when Jesus speaks to a crowd of people who want to kill him and 56 00:04:17,980 –> 00:04:20,239 Tells them the truth about themselves 57 00:04:21,140 –> 00:04:24,220 You can understand that this truth is not pretty 58 00:04:24,619 –> 00:04:29,420 It is not easy to hear and it must have taken immense courage 59 00:04:30,739 –> 00:04:37,399 For our Lord Jesus Christ to speak to people who hated him in the direct way that he did 60 00:04:37,760 –> 00:04:40,279 In these verses that are before us today 61 00:04:41,200 –> 00:04:44,559 But Jesus is full of grace and truth 62 00:04:44,559 –> 00:04:49,640 He speaks the truth and he does so because he is full of grace 63 00:04:49,760 –> 00:04:54,519 I want you to notice verse 34 where Jesus says I say these things 64 00:04:55,700 –> 00:04:57,700 So that you may be saved 65 00:04:59,140 –> 00:05:04,140 Everything that Jesus Christ says that we’re going to look at today is with this one purpose in view 66 00:05:04,420 –> 00:05:12,459 That people who may be far from him will actually in the end be saved and this is worth 67 00:05:13,140 –> 00:05:17,600 Remembering when Jesus Christ says the hardest things to you 68 00:05:18,359 –> 00:05:23,119 It is because he seeks the best things for you and 69 00:05:24,299 –> 00:05:27,359 there will be times when you come to something in the Bible and 70 00:05:28,079 –> 00:05:30,079 You say that’s really hard 71 00:05:31,239 –> 00:05:33,019 Always remember this 72 00:05:33,019 –> 00:05:41,100 When Jesus Christ says the hardest things to you, it is because he seeks the best things for you 73 00:05:41,100 –> 00:05:44,540 I see these things so that you will be 74 00:05:44,559 –> 00:05:46,559 Be saved 75 00:05:48,019 –> 00:05:49,540 Now 76 00:05:49,540 –> 00:05:53,239 Before we get into what Jesus actually says here 77 00:05:53,239 –> 00:05:59,179 I want to say one more thing by way of introduction that I think will help us to connect with 78 00:05:59,480 –> 00:06:07,019 These words of Jesus and I want you to notice verse 35 where we’re told about John the Baptist and Jesus 79 00:06:07,019 –> 00:06:08,739 Says about him 80 00:06:08,739 –> 00:06:09,940 he 81 00:06:09,940 –> 00:06:11,940 was a burning and 82 00:06:12,200 –> 00:06:14,200 shining lamp 83 00:06:15,480 –> 00:06:18,779 You that is the people who now want to kill Jesus 84 00:06:20,059 –> 00:06:21,500 you 85 00:06:21,500 –> 00:06:25,220 We’re willing to rejoice for a while in 86 00:06:26,000 –> 00:06:27,059 his 87 00:06:27,059 –> 00:06:29,600 light that is an extraordinary statement 88 00:06:31,399 –> 00:06:37,720 See John, the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus he was the one who pointed to Jesus prepared the way for Jesus 89 00:06:37,720 –> 00:06:43,119 He’s the one who pointing to Jesus said behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world 90 00:06:43,119 –> 00:06:49,579 This is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit and Jesus says to these people who now want to kill him 91 00:06:50,339 –> 00:06:52,339 There once was a time 92 00:06:52,899 –> 00:06:55,859 When you enjoyed the light of John the Baptist 93 00:06:56,500 –> 00:07:03,679 Ministry and he was pointing to me. You even had joy in his ministry at one time in your life 94 00:07:05,899 –> 00:07:10,160 So here are people now who are hardened towards Jesus 95 00:07:10,700 –> 00:07:13,779 resistant towards Jesus but 96 00:07:14,660 –> 00:07:16,660 at one time 97 00:07:16,959 –> 00:07:19,339 They had joy in the truth 98 00:07:19,980 –> 00:07:25,200 They were open to the truth one time. They had been responsive to the truth 99 00:07:25,220 –> 00:07:30,899 But now that angry with Jesus now they’ve taken a fence at Jesus now, they’re hostile towards 100 00:07:31,420 –> 00:07:37,420 Jesus and they’re ready to be done with him that tells us something very important it is possible 101 00:07:37,920 –> 00:07:43,880 for a person to lose the light and joy that they once had and 102 00:07:44,459 –> 00:07:46,899 Our Lord makes this very clear later in John’s Gospel 103 00:07:47,980 –> 00:07:52,579 The lights will be among you for just a little while longer walk 104 00:07:52,579 –> 00:07:58,980 While you have the light lest darkness overtake you that’s surely what had happened to these people 105 00:08:00,100 –> 00:08:05,200 they once had rejoiced in John’s Light, but darkness now has overtaken them and 106 00:08:05,720 –> 00:08:09,660 and Jesus comes to these people who once had joy now are in darkness and 107 00:08:10,920 –> 00:08:14,700 He says I’m saying these things because I want you 108 00:08:15,779 –> 00:08:17,779 to be saved 109 00:08:18,839 –> 00:08:22,160 So here is a message that is of special relevance 110 00:08:23,899 –> 00:08:29,579 To people who once had joy once had light, but do so no longer 111 00:08:29,660 –> 00:08:31,660 perhaps 112 00:08:31,959 –> 00:08:33,260 you 113 00:08:33,260 –> 00:08:34,280 once 114 00:08:34,280 –> 00:08:40,460 Walked with the Lord and had joy in the Lord and but today. You’re in a different place in 115 00:08:41,739 –> 00:08:49,400 some way something that Jesus has allowed in your life has caused you to take offense at him and 116 00:08:50,359 –> 00:08:57,880 No, your posture towards him is not one of joy and praise and thanksgiving, but one that is really very resistant very hard 117 00:08:58,840 –> 00:09:00,840 Indeed 118 00:09:00,859 –> 00:09:06,539 The first thing to say then as I want you to know the great love that the Savior has for you 119 00:09:07,440 –> 00:09:09,440 He wants you to be saved 120 00:09:10,659 –> 00:09:14,559 He wants to bring you out of that awful place of 121 00:09:15,039 –> 00:09:19,539 resistance to a Savior where the judgment of God would be ahead of you and 122 00:09:19,799 –> 00:09:23,599 bring you into the marvelous place where it’s behind you and 123 00:09:24,239 –> 00:09:27,380 He speaks the truth to you 124 00:09:28,239 –> 00:09:30,919 because he loves you and 125 00:09:31,840 –> 00:09:33,859 The truth may not be easy to hear 126 00:09:35,179 –> 00:09:39,799 But it is the truth as Jesus tells us that sets us free 127 00:09:41,299 –> 00:09:43,679 Now last time we saw a sevenfold 128 00:09:45,039 –> 00:09:52,200 Description of who Jesus is in his oneness of the Father same pattern today, but here we’re going to look at a seven-fold 129 00:09:52,419 –> 00:09:57,919 Diagnosis of the human condition as Jesus lays it out here. If you just look through the passage 130 00:09:57,919 –> 00:10:04,260 You’ll see again and again. Jesus is speaking in the early verses about I I I and the father 131 00:10:05,359 –> 00:10:11,599 but here in these later versus Jesus is speaking about you you you we got to know who Jesus is and we got to know 132 00:10:11,599 –> 00:10:13,599 who we are 133 00:10:13,919 –> 00:10:18,619 So the main part of the message here today is to face the truth about yourself 134 00:10:18,659 –> 00:10:26,280 Yourself and here’s the seven fold truth that Jesus points out to these people who are hostile towards him 135 00:10:26,460 –> 00:10:27,840 number one 136 00:10:27,840 –> 00:10:30,739 Verse 37. You do not know God 137 00:10:31,260 –> 00:10:33,260 You do not know God 138 00:10:33,700 –> 00:10:41,599 The Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me his voice. You have never heard and 139 00:10:42,460 –> 00:10:45,659 His form you have never seen 140 00:10:45,659 –> 00:10:47,659 Wow 141 00:10:49,239 –> 00:10:54,979 That must have been really hard for these people to hear, I mean these include 142 00:10:55,940 –> 00:10:59,140 religious leaders who conduct worship 143 00:11:00,119 –> 00:11:02,119 people who come to worship 144 00:11:02,760 –> 00:11:08,780 People who are actively involved in one kind of ministry on another Jesus says you do not know God 145 00:11:09,380 –> 00:11:11,380 You don’t know him 146 00:11:12,099 –> 00:11:14,099 Everybody thinks that you know God 147 00:11:15,059 –> 00:11:17,140 You speak as if you know God 148 00:11:18,700 –> 00:11:20,700 But the truth is you don’t know God 149 00:11:22,340 –> 00:11:29,179 And I won’t suggest to you you know here is where you need to begin in facing the truth about yourself 150 00:11:30,840 –> 00:11:32,840 It really is 151 00:11:33,219 –> 00:11:34,500 possible 152 00:11:34,500 –> 00:11:38,460 To call yourself a Christian when in truth 153 00:11:39,619 –> 00:11:42,520 You really don’t know God 154 00:11:43,520 –> 00:11:51,380 It’s possible to get involved in all kinds of Christian activity and church work and all the rest of it when in 155 00:11:51,780 –> 00:11:58,679 Reality the truth that you may be reluctant to admit is that you really don’t know God 156 00:12:00,080 –> 00:12:02,659 now Jesus wants you to be saved and 157 00:12:03,799 –> 00:12:10,500 Where is that transformation going to take place? It’s going to begin here. You got to stop claiming 158 00:12:10,500 –> 00:12:18,799 What’s not actually true and face up to the reality that you’re actually at this time far from God 159 00:12:19,539 –> 00:12:24,200 Far from God and that if you were left to yourself you’d never get back to him 160 00:12:25,260 –> 00:12:27,859 And you wouldn’t have any hope of finding 161 00:12:28,940 –> 00:12:31,840 his voice you have never heard and 162 00:12:32,500 –> 00:12:35,320 His form you have never seen 163 00:12:36,320 –> 00:12:42,179 Second Jesus says to these people God’s truth isn’t in you look at verse 38 164 00:12:43,200 –> 00:12:45,380 You do not have his word 165 00:12:46,119 –> 00:12:48,119 abiding in you 166 00:12:49,219 –> 00:12:53,900 Now again these leaders had the Old Testament Scriptures they had the Word of God 167 00:12:53,900 –> 00:12:57,039 They were expert in it, and they could argue about it all day 168 00:12:57,919 –> 00:13:00,359 they were very familiar with the Bible and 169 00:13:00,940 –> 00:13:07,140 So to translate that to our setting here today, you have to think about a person who’s been in church 170 00:13:08,119 –> 00:13:13,159 But not just any church a person who’s been in a church where the Bible is taught 171 00:13:15,119 –> 00:13:17,400 Here’s a person who has heard the truth 172 00:13:18,340 –> 00:13:22,679 They have listened to many many sermons they are in Bible study of one sort or another 173 00:13:24,140 –> 00:13:29,260 But here’s the reality the word of God doesn’t abide in them 174 00:13:30,140 –> 00:13:34,580 at what happens when the Word of God comes to their life is a little bit like a 175 00:13:34,820 –> 00:13:41,119 Billiard ball, you know that just hits and shoots off in another direction the Word of God touches your life 176 00:13:41,799 –> 00:13:48,440 But it doesn’t make an impression on your life. It doesn’t stay in your life. It doesn’t remain it doesn’t abide 177 00:13:50,659 –> 00:13:55,460 Number three you do not believe you do not believe 178 00:13:55,460 –> 00:13:57,460 You do not believe 179 00:13:57,760 –> 00:14:02,760 Verse 38 you do not have his word-abiding in you 180 00:14:04,440 –> 00:14:12,200 For now, that’s very interesting. Now, we’re being told why God’s Word doesn’t abide in you here. We’re getting the reason the because 181 00:14:13,919 –> 00:14:16,619 Why is it that when some people 182 00:14:17,380 –> 00:14:20,679 receive the word of God they just flourish and 183 00:14:20,880 –> 00:14:28,280 And other people receiving the same ministry of the Word of God never seemed to make any progress. Why is that? What’s the difference? 184 00:14:30,119 –> 00:14:35,679 Well, that’s exactly what Jesus is telling us here look you do not have his Word abiding in you 185 00:14:35,679 –> 00:14:41,580 It doesn’t remain it doesn’t have a changing effect. Why because for you do not believe 186 00:14:43,280 –> 00:14:45,280 The one whom he is sent 187 00:14:45,760 –> 00:14:47,280 So 188 00:14:47,280 –> 00:14:51,539 Jesus is saying at Root. Whatever is said on the outside 189 00:14:53,440 –> 00:15:00,059 When there’s not a disposition of hearts that draws near to Jesus and seeks to be fed by 190 00:15:00,659 –> 00:15:03,880 Jesus and receives from Jesus then 191 00:15:04,400 –> 00:15:08,419 what happens is that the words comes and it just has a 192 00:15:08,739 –> 00:15:13,520 Clicking kind of billiard ball sort of an affect no lasting impression 193 00:15:13,580 –> 00:15:19,359 But turn that on its head and see the possibility here if you start believing in Jesus 194 00:15:20,239 –> 00:15:25,380 If you were to come to a place today of saying I need to be fed by Jesus 195 00:15:25,559 –> 00:15:28,760 I need to put my trust in Jesus 196 00:15:28,760 –> 00:15:32,840 I need to be believing these promises as opposed to merely hearing them 197 00:15:32,840 –> 00:15:37,739 I need to be absorbing the word of God by looking to the Savior 198 00:15:37,760 –> 00:15:41,400 Then you would find that the Word of God would penetrate your life 199 00:15:41,440 –> 00:15:45,520 It wouldn’t be like the billiard ball. It would come into you. It would remain in you 200 00:15:45,520 –> 00:15:49,159 It would abide in you and it would begin to change your life. You see 201 00:15:50,599 –> 00:15:52,520 number four 202 00:15:52,520 –> 00:15:59,140 Jesus says to these people, you are unwilling to come unwilling to come to Jesus verse 39 203 00:15:59,739 –> 00:16:01,739 You search the Scriptures 204 00:16:02,239 –> 00:16:09,859 because you think that in them you have eternal life and it is they that bear witness about me yet 205 00:16:10,859 –> 00:16:17,900 You refuse to come to me that you may have life 206 00:16:20,059 –> 00:16:23,400 Now you see what Jesus is saying to these people you once had light 207 00:16:24,979 –> 00:16:29,679 You once had joy for a while in the ministry of John the Baptist 208 00:16:31,419 –> 00:16:37,840 But you don’t have that now you’ve lost the light that you had you’ve lost the joy that you had and here’s why you are 209 00:16:38,219 –> 00:16:40,760 Steadfastly resisting drawing near to me 210 00:16:41,559 –> 00:16:44,880 your posture towards me is one of resistance and 211 00:16:45,479 –> 00:16:48,119 It’s a very determined resistance 212 00:16:50,679 –> 00:16:52,679 What was it that 213 00:16:53,080 –> 00:16:55,080 Kept them from coming 214 00:16:55,739 –> 00:17:00,380 To Jesus when once they had seen so open in the time of John the Baptist 215 00:17:01,679 –> 00:17:03,520 well 216 00:17:03,520 –> 00:17:06,900 There was one issue that offended them and they got stuck on it 217 00:17:08,079 –> 00:17:11,260 The issue that offended them was the issue of the Sabbath 218 00:17:11,260 –> 00:17:14,680 We might say why would you lose all the joy that could be yours? 219 00:17:14,880 –> 00:17:19,260 Because you’ve got hung up on offense over the Sabbath 220 00:17:20,979 –> 00:17:24,239 But you know, isn’t that exactly how it is in our own lives 221 00:17:26,959 –> 00:17:33,660 Christ allows something to happen in our lives that is painful for us and defends us we take a fence 222 00:17:34,500 –> 00:17:41,599 And we get hung up on that thing, and we steadfastly resist. We refuse to draw near to the Savior 223 00:17:42,339 –> 00:17:44,339 light goes 224 00:17:44,420 –> 00:17:46,420 and joy diminishes 225 00:17:47,699 –> 00:17:51,140 And Jesus says that’s the reality of your experience. 226 00:17:52,500 –> 00:17:55,760 I want you to know that this can happen to the best of God’s servants 227 00:17:56,020 –> 00:18:02,839 And that of course is why Jesus is speaking these words here and another way in which they apply to us 228 00:18:04,140 –> 00:18:06,500 You remember John the Baptist himself now? 229 00:18:07,140 –> 00:18:09,140 Jesus refers to him here 230 00:18:09,420 –> 00:18:17,020 He had the most marvelous ministry. In fact, Jesus said on one occasion that there was none greater 231 00:18:18,239 –> 00:18:25,359 None greater. It never had been a greater ministry apart from the ministry of our Lord than the ministry of John the Baptist 232 00:18:26,099 –> 00:18:28,280 But you remember that at one point 233 00:18:28,979 –> 00:18:30,979 After all his faithfulness 234 00:18:31,819 –> 00:18:36,819 Something really hard happened in John the Baptist’s life 235 00:18:37,939 –> 00:18:39,939 He was put in prison 236 00:18:40,060 –> 00:18:41,420 and 237 00:18:41,420 –> 00:18:44,819 When he was in prison, he began to have doubts 238 00:18:45,900 –> 00:18:51,400 about the Christ that he had so marvelously proclaimed to other people and 239 00:18:52,099 –> 00:18:54,979 You can read the story in Matthew in Chapter 11 240 00:18:54,979 –> 00:18:56,319 It’s a very significant 241 00:18:56,400 –> 00:19:01,180 Story because here’s the person who Jesus says there’s nobody has ever had a greater ministry 242 00:19:01,599 –> 00:19:05,599 Than John the Baptist and this man ends up having doubts having proclaimed 243 00:19:06,400 –> 00:19:09,199 Jesus so magnificently to other people and 244 00:19:09,959 –> 00:19:13,119 so he sends from prison a messenger to Jesus and 245 00:19:13,839 –> 00:19:15,839 The question is this 246 00:19:15,900 –> 00:19:20,439 are you the one that was to come or are we to seek someone else and 247 00:19:22,180 –> 00:19:24,180 Jesus sent back this message he 248 00:19:24,880 –> 00:19:31,459 Accounted the miracles that were taking place signs that he is indeed the Messiah, but then the most important thing he said is this 249 00:19:32,760 –> 00:19:35,939 John blessed is the one 250 00:19:37,199 –> 00:19:39,500 Who is not offended 251 00:19:40,339 –> 00:19:42,339 by me 252 00:19:42,380 –> 00:19:44,459 Blessed is the one who is not 253 00:19:45,199 –> 00:19:47,079 offended 254 00:19:47,079 –> 00:19:48,900 by me 255 00:19:48,900 –> 00:19:50,160 if 256 00:19:50,160 –> 00:19:53,000 You take offense at 257 00:19:53,619 –> 00:19:55,439 Jesus Christ 258 00:19:55,439 –> 00:20:00,640 You lose the light and you lose the joy that you had and 259 00:20:01,520 –> 00:20:05,959 There is no more miserable place to be in life 260 00:20:07,280 –> 00:20:13,619 Than to be holding out on a grievance against the Savior who loves you 261 00:20:14,760 –> 00:20:17,819 what happens is it just shuts out the light and 262 00:20:18,300 –> 00:20:20,439 it shuts out the joy and 263 00:20:21,439 –> 00:20:27,699 Jesus is speaking to the core issue right here in these words that are before us in John’s gospel 264 00:20:27,699 –> 00:20:29,959 He said now look here’s what’s happening. You’re 265 00:20:30,719 –> 00:20:32,339 refusing to come to me 266 00:20:32,339 –> 00:20:37,719 And then notice what he says next. He said you’re refusing to come to me that you may have life 267 00:20:39,599 –> 00:20:41,500 Here’s Jesus reaching out to look 268 00:20:41,500 –> 00:20:47,800 There’s a joy that you could have there’s a peace that you could have there’s a strength that you could have you could be enjoying 269 00:20:47,800 –> 00:20:48,920 it now 270 00:20:48,920 –> 00:20:51,640 even in the difficulties that you may face 271 00:20:52,619 –> 00:20:55,199 But because you have set yourself with this 272 00:20:55,719 –> 00:21:01,260 Refusal to draw near to me though you once had joy in me you don’t have it 273 00:21:01,260 –> 00:21:03,719 You don’t have it now, and it’s to your own great loss 274 00:21:05,199 –> 00:21:08,560 Number five you do not love God 275 00:21:10,079 –> 00:21:12,079 Verse 42 I know 276 00:21:13,479 –> 00:21:16,359 That you do not have the love of God 277 00:21:17,880 –> 00:21:20,640 Within you. Why is your heart so hard? 278 00:21:22,099 –> 00:21:24,099 Well here’s the reason Jesus says 279 00:21:25,400 –> 00:21:30,959 And you may congratulate yourself on all the good that you’ve done and all the good that you may still do 280 00:21:30,959 –> 00:21:36,459 But here’s the thing says Jesus. You don’t have the first thing that God requires of you 281 00:21:36,459 –> 00:21:40,979 You don’t have that love for God in your heart. It’s not that and you know it 282 00:21:41,900 –> 00:21:43,479 number six 283 00:21:43,479 –> 00:21:45,479 You seek the wrong kind of glory 284 00:21:46,339 –> 00:21:49,420 Verse 44 how can you believe? 285 00:21:50,280 –> 00:21:57,479 When you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only 286 00:21:58,300 –> 00:21:59,880 God 287 00:21:59,880 –> 00:22:02,579 You receive glory from one another Jesus says 288 00:22:03,400 –> 00:22:08,979 In other words what really matters to you is what other people think about you 289 00:22:09,619 –> 00:22:16,280 The great thing that’s down at the bottom of the motivation of your life is to do with the 290 00:22:16,699 –> 00:22:21,119 Impression that others have of you and the impression that you make on them 291 00:22:21,140 –> 00:22:27,239 You are looking Jesus is saying for you’re well done in the wrong place 292 00:22:28,699 –> 00:22:36,000 You’re not looking to God for your well done. You’re looking to other people for your well done and that’s 293 00:22:36,000 –> 00:22:43,979 Pushing you all the time to go with the flow of the culture that’s around you 294 00:22:44,599 –> 00:22:47,180 and how can you believe? 295 00:22:47,420 –> 00:22:51,020 If that’s what really matters most to you 296 00:22:51,579 –> 00:22:58,380 Now I want you to notice the emotion of Jesus at this point in verse 44. It’s very very striking 297 00:22:59,380 –> 00:23:03,140 I don’t even know what word to put on it, but 298 00:23:03,780 –> 00:23:05,719 How can you believe? 299 00:23:07,420 –> 00:23:09,420 Our Savior said that 300 00:23:11,040 –> 00:23:16,439 Now we all love the stories, don’t we where Jesus 301 00:23:17,540 –> 00:23:22,400 models how to reach lost people. I mean his 302 00:23:23,079 –> 00:23:27,579 masterful leading of nicodemus who comes to him at night and then 303 00:23:27,739 –> 00:23:33,319 Eventually comes to faith and the Lord Jesus Christ and all that we can learn from how Jesus reached Nicodemus 304 00:23:33,500 –> 00:23:35,959 the winsome winning of 305 00:23:36,439 –> 00:23:38,319 the woman at the well 306 00:23:38,319 –> 00:23:43,420 That we looked at just a few weeks ago and the masterful way in which the Lord Jesus 307 00:23:43,719 –> 00:23:47,719 Connected with this lady and drew her speaking first to her thirst 308 00:23:47,719 –> 00:23:54,000 And then drawing her through a knowledge of her own sins into all that it means to trust him as the Redeemer 309 00:23:54,319 –> 00:23:56,719 What a marvelous story and we say boy 310 00:23:56,719 –> 00:24:03,540 We want to be able to do evangelism like that everything that we can learn from Jesus. And of course so we should but I 311 00:24:04,880 –> 00:24:06,880 Want you to see from this passage 312 00:24:08,280 –> 00:24:10,280 That there were some people 313 00:24:11,020 –> 00:24:18,500 Who were not one to faith even by the sustained witness of the Son of God himself 314 00:24:21,680 –> 00:24:23,680 28 verses uninterrupted 315 00:24:24,339 –> 00:24:26,260 Do you 316 00:24:26,260 –> 00:24:28,260 How can you believe 317 00:24:30,160 –> 00:24:31,859 Now 318 00:24:31,859 –> 00:24:37,180 you may have a loved one who is far from God and 319 00:24:38,239 –> 00:24:40,239 whose heart is hard and 320 00:24:41,839 –> 00:24:45,780 You will probably find yourself thinking I know this in my own life 321 00:24:46,459 –> 00:24:48,359 If 322 00:24:48,959 –> 00:24:55,199 If only I could find the right words to say that would break through her or his hardness of heart 323 00:24:56,439 –> 00:24:58,439 and then you say 324 00:24:58,439 –> 00:25:00,839 Maybe if he just read this book 325 00:25:01,599 –> 00:25:02,859 or 326 00:25:02,859 –> 00:25:07,760 if only she would just listen to that sermon and 327 00:25:09,079 –> 00:25:12,540 We have this sense that there must be a silver bullet somewhere 328 00:25:13,599 –> 00:25:15,599 That’s going to get through 329 00:25:16,260 –> 00:25:21,880 The hardness of heart of a person that you dearly 330 00:25:22,479 –> 00:25:24,479 love 331 00:25:24,640 –> 00:25:29,160 But your experience and it’s exasperating to you is 332 00:25:30,199 –> 00:25:33,599 With all your prayers and with all your best efforts 333 00:25:34,719 –> 00:25:38,780 Nothing that you say seems to get through to them 334 00:25:39,699 –> 00:25:42,599 And of course you say what am I doing wrong? 335 00:25:42,599 –> 00:25:44,599 Well 336 00:25:44,839 –> 00:25:46,959 When you’re in that position that 337 00:25:47,400 –> 00:25:54,859 Nothing, you say or do gets through to them. I want you to remember this the Son of God Himself has been there 338 00:25:55,800 –> 00:25:57,020 and 339 00:25:57,020 –> 00:25:59,020 You can therefore say to him 340 00:26:00,680 –> 00:26:04,599 Jesus you know what this is like for me 341 00:26:04,599 –> 00:26:11,280 You know how painful it is to love someone with a really hard heart 342 00:26:13,040 –> 00:26:15,800 You’ve been there in your perfect life 343 00:26:17,560 –> 00:26:24,520 Now please help me while I am here in my very imperfect life 344 00:26:26,459 –> 00:26:27,939 Number seven 345 00:26:27,939 –> 00:26:34,079 Your hope is misplaced your hope is misplaced that last of the seven things that Jesus says to them 346 00:26:34,599 –> 00:26:38,119 Do not think that I will accuse you before the father 347 00:26:38,959 –> 00:26:41,079 There is one who accuses you 348 00:26:42,160 –> 00:26:44,160 Moses on 349 00:26:44,780 –> 00:26:48,020 Whom you have set your hope 350 00:26:50,979 –> 00:26:55,900 In other words here were people who had set their hope on their own virtue 351 00:26:56,959 –> 00:27:00,880 Their hope was that they would live a life good enough for God a phrase that is often 352 00:27:01,000 –> 00:27:06,219 Repeated by many people today and Jesus is saying that hope is misplaced if your hope is 353 00:27:07,020 –> 00:27:12,459 That you will measure up to the commandments of Moses and live a life that is good enough for God that hope is misplaced 354 00:27:12,939 –> 00:27:15,500 That’s what Jesus is saying here 355 00:27:17,060 –> 00:27:18,880 Remember the successful man 356 00:27:18,880 –> 00:27:21,040 we know him as the rich young ruler who came to 357 00:27:21,479 –> 00:27:22,439 Jesus and 358 00:27:22,439 –> 00:27:25,099 Asked now what do I have to do to get eternal life? 359 00:27:25,459 –> 00:27:31,579 Which of course is the subject here as we saw and Jesus recites the commandments and the man says I’ve kept all of these since 360 00:27:31,579 –> 00:27:36,739 I was young and by the time Jesus was finished the conversation the man who thought he’d kept all of them 361 00:27:36,819 –> 00:27:41,099 Surely must have seen clearly the Arianen kept any of them in fact. He hadn’t kept the first 362 00:27:41,719 –> 00:27:44,500 to have no other gods before the Lord because 363 00:27:45,339 –> 00:27:50,760 The God of his life was himself. It was all about himself. That was why he couldn’t part with what mattered to him 364 00:27:51,760 –> 00:27:53,800 And wouldn’t become a follower of Jesus 365 00:27:54,579 –> 00:28:01,099 So now let’s let’s put together what Jesus is saying here to these people whose hearts are heart 366 00:28:01,540 –> 00:28:04,400 You once had light you once had joy 367 00:28:06,060 –> 00:28:11,839 But you have lost the light and you have lost the joy that you had 368 00:28:12,640 –> 00:28:14,380 and 369 00:28:14,380 –> 00:28:16,859 Here’s what he says to them now. Here’s where you are now 370 00:28:17,540 –> 00:28:20,900 You don’t know God the truth is not in you 371 00:28:21,140 –> 00:28:26,219 You don’t believe you don’t have a desire to come to Jesus you don’t love God 372 00:28:26,500 –> 00:28:30,900 You’re seeking the wrong kind of glory and your hope for the future is utterly 373 00:28:31,500 –> 00:28:37,660 Misplaced and I see this so that you will be saved 374 00:28:38,739 –> 00:28:40,739 that’s what he says is 375 00:28:41,420 –> 00:28:42,979 he I 376 00:28:42,979 –> 00:28:47,199 Say this so that you will be saved in other words. I’m seeing this 377 00:28:47,260 –> 00:28:51,260 Because I want you to know God 378 00:28:52,619 –> 00:28:59,359 I’m seeing this because I want the truth to abide in you and to make a difference in your life. I 379 00:29:00,439 –> 00:29:05,239 Say this because I want you to believe and to come to me Jesus is saying I 380 00:29:05,920 –> 00:29:09,900 Say this because I want you to have the love of God in your heart 381 00:29:09,939 –> 00:29:14,780 I say this because I want you to seek the glory that will never never pass away 382 00:29:14,780 –> 00:29:20,500 And I say this because I want you to have a real hope that is rock-solid and will never ever fail 383 00:29:21,060 –> 00:29:23,060 I’m saying this so that you’ll be saved 384 00:29:25,500 –> 00:29:30,839 Only a Savior who loves would say that to people who hate him 385 00:29:33,099 –> 00:29:38,579 When they took offense at him Jesus could he’ve easily have walked away and ignored them and 386 00:29:39,239 –> 00:29:41,239 Then there would be no hope at all with there 387 00:29:42,939 –> 00:29:44,880 But Jesus 388 00:29:44,880 –> 00:29:51,199 speaks to them and that’s why there was hope for them right there in John 5 as these hardened people are listening to the words 389 00:29:51,199 –> 00:29:57,400 Of Jesus and that’s why there’s hope for every one of us here today because the words of Jesus are coming to us from the gospel 390 00:29:58,219 –> 00:29:59,479 and 391 00:29:59,479 –> 00:30:03,319 He speaks these words so that we may be saved so that 392 00:30:04,000 –> 00:30:06,420 hardness of heart may not be the end of us 393 00:30:06,800 –> 00:30:08,500 Losing 394 00:30:08,500 –> 00:30:10,500 Light and losing joy 395 00:30:11,219 –> 00:30:13,219 It’s why I say these things 396 00:30:14,239 –> 00:30:15,699 So 397 00:30:15,699 –> 00:30:22,160 Face the truth about yourself. That’s clearly the message of these remarkable verses in which Jesus so directly 398 00:30:22,939 –> 00:30:28,219 Speaks and speaks with grace seeking the good of those who seek him harm 399 00:30:29,280 –> 00:30:35,660 Face the truth about yourself. But you say well now ok I get it. I see where I’m at what now am I to do? 400 00:30:36,420 –> 00:30:41,260 And I want just very briefly to point out one more thing having face the truth about yourself 401 00:30:41,699 –> 00:30:46,239 You find the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ 402 00:30:47,280 –> 00:30:51,420 It’d be very easy for a pastor at this point to say what’s the end of the sermon? 403 00:30:51,420 –> 00:30:54,540 Well, it’s repent and believe and actually that would be true and appropriate 404 00:30:55,979 –> 00:31:01,479 But it’s actually not the words that Jesus uses here. So let’s go where Jesus goes here 405 00:31:02,260 –> 00:31:08,819 Where Jesus goes here in terms of what it means for them to move forward is all about 406 00:31:09,479 –> 00:31:13,020 The scriptures he keeps coming back to the scriptures 407 00:31:13,719 –> 00:31:21,180 Here’s how you’re gonna find your way out of hardness of heart. It’s the scriptures. It’s this good. He keeps coming back to that 408 00:31:22,420 –> 00:31:24,880 Now just notice what he says here very briefly 409 00:31:25,119 –> 00:31:30,040 The first don’t miss this how Jesus declares very clearly in these verses that 410 00:31:30,500 –> 00:31:34,800 God has spoken in the scripture. Notice verse 38 411 00:31:36,140 –> 00:31:38,380 You do not have his 412 00:31:39,060 –> 00:31:40,839 Word 413 00:31:40,839 –> 00:31:45,979 Abiding in you now. He’s referring to the Old Testament scriptures. So what is Jesus? 414 00:31:47,380 –> 00:31:49,660 definition off the scripture 415 00:31:50,280 –> 00:31:56,699 What is Jesus understanding of the scripture it is God’s Word 416 00:31:58,439 –> 00:32:00,439 That’s Jesus doctrine of Scripture 417 00:32:01,260 –> 00:32:02,739 His 418 00:32:02,739 –> 00:32:08,479 Word not the word of Moses and Isaiah not the word of man about God 419 00:32:08,640 –> 00:32:14,140 but God’s word speaking to us God’s word coming out of the 420 00:32:14,760 –> 00:32:18,699 Father’s own mouth that’s so beautifully stated in 421 00:32:19,339 –> 00:32:24,339 Second Timothy in chapter 3 and verse 16. It’s God breathed its his Word 422 00:32:26,359 –> 00:32:28,479 That’s Jesus doctrine of 423 00:32:29,660 –> 00:32:31,420 Scripture and 424 00:32:31,420 –> 00:32:36,500 Of course this then is how you come to know God. He’s just been saying you don’t know God 425 00:32:36,500 –> 00:32:38,699 How would you come to know God well his word? 426 00:32:39,579 –> 00:32:46,420 He’s made himself known he has revealed himself. Why did he speak his word well he spoken his word 427 00:32:47,979 –> 00:32:50,439 So that you will come to know him and 428 00:32:51,319 –> 00:32:54,420 If you come to know him then you will come to love him 429 00:32:54,819 –> 00:33:00,020 And if you come to love him then you will be drawn to the one he assert Jesus Christ 430 00:33:00,020 –> 00:33:02,160 and if you come to believe in Him 431 00:33:02,180 –> 00:33:06,760 Then your hope is going to be well placed and you’re going to be seeking after the glory that never fades away 432 00:33:07,760 –> 00:33:13,760 So he’s pointing back to the solid rock of Scripture look you can know God 433 00:33:14,619 –> 00:33:18,260 You can come to know him and all of his glory in all of his wonder 434 00:33:18,260 –> 00:33:22,739 And this is where you get back to the scripture immerse yourself in the scripture 435 00:33:23,880 –> 00:33:31,239 And then secondly the whole of Scripture points to Jesus Christ can’t miss this here. It comes twice verse 39 436 00:33:31,920 –> 00:33:35,640 You search the scripture. This is the Old Testament. He’s speaking about of course 437 00:33:36,400 –> 00:33:42,579 Because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness 438 00:33:43,260 –> 00:33:46,359 About me so the whole of the Old Testament 439 00:33:46,900 –> 00:33:54,000 Scripture is pointing in some way to Jesus Christ our need for Christ who Christ is what Christ will do and what he will accoplish 440 00:33:55,160 –> 00:34:01,880 and then you have it again in verse 46 if you believed Moses you would believe me for 441 00:34:02,040 –> 00:34:04,500 he wrote off me 442 00:34:05,160 –> 00:34:09,139 two marvellous statements from the lips of our Lord, Jesus Christ 443 00:34:09,860 –> 00:34:14,780 About the whole of scripture bearing witness to him 444 00:34:15,379 –> 00:34:17,780 Let me just say this in a moment here. I 445 00:34:19,939 –> 00:34:23,540 Want you to be very very aware of 446 00:34:25,219 –> 00:34:32,379 the spiritual dangers of a diminished doctrine of Scripture 447 00:34:32,379 –> 00:34:39,320 many people who profess to be Christians and especially many younger people are 448 00:34:40,500 –> 00:34:44,040 Going down this road of saying. Oh, yes, I believe in the Bible 449 00:34:45,540 –> 00:34:50,379 But I don’t go with all of the stuff about in yearnsee 450 00:34:51,060 –> 00:34:57,399 Which means that because it is spoken by God His word God doesn’t speak errors does he? 451 00:34:58,620 –> 00:35:01,879 so what happens when folks go down that road that 452 00:35:02,600 –> 00:35:05,659 Is they start chipping away at? 453 00:35:06,239 –> 00:35:07,820 the Bible I 454 00:35:07,820 –> 00:35:11,699 Just love the words of Jesus. I loved. Oh, yeah, I love the Gospels 455 00:35:12,560 –> 00:35:14,699 And also Kean on the Old Testament 456 00:35:14,699 –> 00:35:20,100 I don’t see that having any authority in my life and another time another place and so forth and so on and 457 00:35:20,459 –> 00:35:24,000 So you chip away you chip away. You chip away 458 00:35:26,199 –> 00:35:28,679 But notice what Jesus says here if 459 00:35:28,860 –> 00:35:32,540 If you believed Moses 460 00:35:34,139 –> 00:35:36,139 You would believe 461 00:35:36,520 –> 00:35:38,520 me 462 00:35:38,620 –> 00:35:43,040 In other words if you lose confidence in the Old Testament 463 00:35:44,040 –> 00:35:47,560 Scriptures it won’t be long before you lose confidence in Jesus as well 464 00:35:48,600 –> 00:35:52,600 you’ll just keep chipping away, and then you’ll find things in the Gospels that you chip away and 465 00:35:52,820 –> 00:35:56,760 I mean look what Jesus says here Moses wrote about me 466 00:35:58,679 –> 00:36:01,320 Well you see if you’ve dissed Moses 467 00:36:02,620 –> 00:36:10,320 Then you now have a fallible Jesus. Who’s mistaken in his view of Moses and and on and on and on it goes 468 00:36:13,379 –> 00:36:19,580 The spiritual dangers of a diminished view of scripture 469 00:36:21,280 –> 00:36:24,899 Now if you come to the Bible as a critic 470 00:36:25,600 –> 00:36:30,000 The Bible will always be a closed book to you 471 00:36:31,459 –> 00:36:37,639 I’ve spoken with folks who said I’ve read the whole Bible, and I I didn’t know God speaking to me at all and 472 00:36:38,580 –> 00:36:40,580 That’s possible 473 00:36:41,500 –> 00:36:44,379 You come to the Bible as a critic 474 00:36:45,419 –> 00:36:49,020 You come with a sense of superiority to and that analyze 475 00:36:49,739 –> 00:36:53,500 what’s there it’s going to be a closed book to you and 476 00:36:53,580 –> 00:36:54,620 And 477 00:36:54,620 –> 00:37:02,360 your heart may be as hard at the end as it was at the beginning I always remember that these people that Jesus is talking to 478 00:37:02,360 –> 00:37:05,000 here were students of the Bible and 479 00:37:05,979 –> 00:37:07,979 our hearts were hard 480 00:37:09,239 –> 00:37:15,840 So if you are going to break beyond hardness of heart you have to humble yourself before God 481 00:37:16,800 –> 00:37:18,800 You have to open his word 482 00:37:19,560 –> 00:37:21,500 With the honest 483 00:37:21,500 –> 00:37:28,739 Recognition of your true position before him you have to come before God and open the Bible with this kind of spirit 484 00:37:28,760 –> 00:37:32,179 you have to say God I don’t even know you and 485 00:37:34,040 –> 00:37:36,860 I need you to make yourself known to me 486 00:37:38,540 –> 00:37:41,159 Lord the truth, isn’t in me 487 00:37:41,159 –> 00:37:46,840 And if I’m to come to a knowledge of the truth, I need to receive it because I’m not going to produce it 488 00:37:47,780 –> 00:37:51,919 Lord I don’t have faith and if I’m to have faith 489 00:37:52,340 –> 00:37:56,459 please create Faith in me, through your word 490 00:37:58,540 –> 00:38:04,219 Lord the inclination of my heart is so often to turn from Jesus Christ 491 00:38:04,719 –> 00:38:10,939 So work through your word in me to change the inclination of my heart and to give me new desires 492 00:38:13,459 –> 00:38:15,459 Lord I 493 00:38:15,459 –> 00:38:19,280 Do not have a true love for you in my heart 494 00:38:21,340 –> 00:38:28,679 So create that love for you by revealing your endless love for me in the Scriptures 495 00:38:30,000 –> 00:38:32,600 Lord I’ve been seeking the wrong kind of glory 496 00:38:32,600 –> 00:38:38,699 I’ve been pushed by the wrong kind of influences now rescape. What is motivating me 497 00:38:39,399 –> 00:38:41,399 by your word 498 00:38:41,439 –> 00:38:44,739 And Lord, I’ve been putting my hope in all the wrong places 499 00:38:45,540 –> 00:38:51,540 And so Lord, will you use your word to establish me on the solid rock that is Jesus Christ 500 00:38:52,020 –> 00:38:57,000 So that I will have a hope that will never never never be put to shame 501 00:38:59,379 –> 00:39:01,379 A hard heart 502 00:39:01,780 –> 00:39:03,780 Lost joy 503 00:39:04,120 –> 00:39:08,280 And Jesus says face the truth about yourself 504 00:39:08,800 –> 00:39:10,239 And 505 00:39:10,239 –> 00:39:14,260 Then drawn here in the Scriptures and find the truth about Jesus 506 00:39:14,260 –> 00:39:19,300 And he says I say these things so that the end of you will not be a hard heart 507 00:39:20,340 –> 00:39:22,320 but I say these things so that you 508 00:39:23,439 –> 00:39:25,280 may be saved 509 00:39:25,280 –> 00:39:27,040 father 510 00:39:27,040 –> 00:39:33,179 We pray that the grace and love and truth of the Lord Jesus Christ may bear 511 00:39:34,159 –> 00:39:40,320 Wonderful fruit softening all of our hearts in a fresh way and giving us a new humility 512 00:39:40,780 –> 00:39:46,419 Before you and your wonderful word. Thank you that when you say the hardest things to us 513 00:39:46,419 –> 00:39:49,719 it’s always because you seek the best things for us and 514 00:39:50,040 –> 00:39:54,879 We see in this your marvelous grace for which we thank you in Jesus name 515 00:39:55,780 –> 00:39:57,780 Amen