The Clarity of Christ Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I was asked this past week about my hobbies…
I have a bunch (sports announcing, comic book collecting, movie collecting & watching, combat sports enthusiast [boxing, MMA & wrestling], fishing…but not enough time to really invest in any of them!
Another pseudo hobby I’ve picked up over the years is in the area of productivity…
Productivity is basically the art and science of efficiently getting projects and tasks organized and completed.
It’s a hugely lucrative industry with a multitude of apps, programs, books, training seminars and even conferences.
It’s become a multi-million dollar industry as people constantly look for the “silver bullet” when it comes to maximizing efficiency at work and even their personal lives.
I love learning about new productivity apps and methods. In fact, I’ve read a lot of the key books about productivity and tried many of the most popular productivity apps, to varying levels of success.
The challenge is, however, I often become so enamored with the new shiny app or method that I spend more time learning about it and tinkering with it than I do actually being productive!
Something that promises me clarity in my work and personal life often obscures the reason for using the tools in the first place!
When it comes to productivity, not having clarity can be frustrating and time consuming. But, when it comes to our spiritual life, not having clarity can be the difference between eternal life and eternal death; so clearly it is far more important!
Good thing for us, Jesus gives us perfect clarity when it comes to our spiritual life, if we will learn from Him.
The Clarity of Christ Jesus
The Clarity of Christ Jesus
This morning we will see that Jesus purpose, reason, pathway and message were clear.
In seeing this, we will get clarity when it comes to our walk here on earth as well as our future after this life is over.
Body: John 12:27-36
Body: John 12:27-36
The purpose of Jesus hour was clear: to glorify God the Father
The purpose of Jesus hour was clear: to glorify God the Father
In verse 27 we see that Jesus knew what was coming, but was willing to endure it because His purpose was to glorify God the Father.
What does it mean to glorify God?
The Greek term translated as “glorify” means to “positively acknowledge, recognize, or esteem one’s character, nature, or attributes.”
In simpler terms, it means giving the appropriate honor and praise to someone.
In the case of glorifying God, the focus is giving the appropriate honor and praise to the maker, sustainer, and upholder of the entire universe.
What is the appropriate honor and praise for God the Father? This is presented to us throughout the Bible, but look at one passage in particular:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Glorifying God the Father really should be a summary statement of Jesus entire ministry!
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
In verse 28, even God Himself testifies to Jesus purpose.
This is one of only three times in the NT where a heavenly voice attests to Jesus identity (His baptism and transfiguration being the others).
What God says here is that He has already glorified Himself through the ministry of God the Son, Jesus.
And, He will glorify Himself again through the death and resurrection of Jesus, which was about to come.
As followers of Jesus, we too must learn the importance of glorifying God.
As followers of Jesus, we too must learn the importance of glorifying God.
There are numerous passages to see this, but I’m going to focus on two briefly (a number of others are listed on your learning guide)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Is my life truly about glorifying God, glorifying myself, or a combination of both?
The reason for Jesus hour was clear:
The reason for Jesus hour was clear:
Verses 31-32
Reason: To bring sin under final judgment.
Reason: To bring sin under final judgment.
Sin has been defeated by Jesus on the cross.
Yes, it still has an effect on our earthly lives, unfortunately, but rest assured, Jesus decisively overcame the eternal consequences of sin for all who believe when He died on the cross.
Sin no longer has victory over Christ’s followers.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reason: To cast out Satan.
Reason: To cast out Satan.
Satan was cast out of his place of power and authority because Jesus has overcome sin and final death for all who believe.
Satan’s hatred for God’s people goes back to the beginning. He not only led our first parents to rebel against God, he would continue to influence people, attempting to drawn them away from God.
But, even from the beginning of the Bible, his doom was sure.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
In the cross, Jesus has crushed the head of the ancient serpent, Satan, decisively defeating him.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Satan has no real power over God’s people. Through his emissaries he continues to attack, trying to befuddle God’s people, but ultimately he is powerless.
As John Davenant once said, “Those who are vanquished are always more angry than powerful.”
And here’s part of the reason why Satan is angry:
Reason: To draw a diverse people to Himself for salvation.
Reason: To draw a diverse people to Himself for salvation.
Two important phrases are found in verse 32:
“lifted up”
We find from verse 33 that this is an allusion to the crucifixion.
We also see this in verse 34 as the people are confused because they thought the Messiah would live forever.
“all people”
This isn’t universalism. It isn’t saying that all people everywhere, regardless of their faith will be drawn to Him. (Otherwise this would directly contradict what Jesus says in multiple other places.)
In fact, it fits within the original context of the unnumbered Greek speakers who wanted to see Jesus. Jesus is telling them that all kinds of people or ethnic groups will be drawn to Him.
The salvation won on the cross would not just be for one narrow ethnic group, but for many different people throughout the known world at the time, and later throughout the entire world.
This is part of the reason why missions will always matter!
The reason for Jesus hour (to bring final judgment upon sin, to cast out Satan, and to draw a diverse people to Himself for salvation) is the mission of the church yesterday, today and into the future until Jesus makes all things new.
The reason for Jesus hour (to bring final judgment upon sin, to cast out Satan, and to draw a diverse people to Himself for salvation) is the mission of the church yesterday, today and into the future until Jesus makes all things new.
This is why we exist as a church. This is the message we are called to bear to the people around us.
Jesus didn’t call us to go be nice people, to end suffering, to help people live their best lives now, or to become an Elks Club without the bar (as a friend said to me this week). We are commissioned to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
Are we really doing that?
The pathway of Jesus fulfillment was clear: death.
The pathway of Jesus fulfillment was clear: death.
Look back at verse 27, when Jesus says “Now is my soul troubled.”
This likely reminds us of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. And since John’s Gospel is the only one without the Gethsemane experience related, this gives us insight to the turmoil that Jesus was experiencing, knowing what was coming.
However, it’s important to realize that Jesus wasn’t afraid of the pain He was about to endure.
The pain would be horrific, but thousands of people have died by crucifixion throughout human history. Jesus crucifixion wasn’t unique from a pain standpoint.
Additionally, people have died in far worse ways historically; some because of their faith in Jesus.
What made Jesus crucifixion different was the fact that Jesus was about to become the very embodiment of sin, completely forsaken by God, to bear the full weight of God’s judgment for sin.
That was a spiritual and emotional pain that went beyond anything anyone else had ever or would ever suffer. No one had, would or could experience what Jesus experienced.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
The only pathway to salvation for God’s people was through the sacrificial, atoning, finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The only pathway to salvation for God’s people was through the sacrificial, atoning, finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
We cannot be saved by our merits. We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
A little boy wanted a model sailboat...
“Well, I’m sorry, but I paid good money for it. You will have to pay for it.”
“Now you are twice mine—once because I made you and once because I bought you.”
Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ?
The message of Jesus was clear: believe in Him that you may become sons of light instead of sons of darkness.
The message of Jesus was clear: believe in Him that you may become sons of light instead of sons of darkness.
Jesus ignores the protests of the crowds, instead giving them one last chance to respond to Him in faith.
In fact, look at the second part of verse 36...
The invitation is clear: either continue to walk in darkness, or believe in the Light of the world.
And that invitation is still open today!