Why Jesus is the Way

ILLUST - Familiar phrases we use to get attention

Here’s the thing you need to know right now

If you only remember one thing....

If you are only going to do one thing...

But...If you are Jesus - “Truly, truly” or “Verily, verily”

Amen, Amen

ACCUSATION - Jesus just basically said He is God - And Jesus goes on the offensive

Evokes the image of a trial - Jesus on trial

Truly, truly, I say to YOU, Son and Father are working together, are ONE (A little glimpse of how They work together)

Four “Fors”

1) The Father as the Model

v. 19 - for whatever the Father does

Jesus modeled/imitated the Father

Paul stated something similar in 1 Cor 4:16

1 Corinthians 4:16 (NASB95)

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

But Paul started with imitating Christ 1 Cor 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB95

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

The Father sent the Son, to do the Father’s will - accomplished by leaving glory, being made a man, and fulfilling God’s plan

But for Jesus, it was more than just doing as He was told, He let people see the Father, through Him

2) Son is Dependent on the Father

v. 20 - For the Father loves the Son

Tied to the Father’s love for the Son

5:20 - root word is Phileo - the more “friendly” love word - endearing, touching

The Father’s plan was to deal with sin, to destroy the works of the devil

This plan involved the wrath of God, because of sin

Don’t miss the intimate relationship between the Father and Son

Jesus’ prayed for another way, but Thy will...

God’s love is what overcomes His wrath - to those who believe

The Father’s love for the Son allowed Him to send the Son

They are One, and the plan was revealed to Jesus, the man

Jesus never doubted His Father’s love for Him - and He saw the Father’s love for us

So He willingly laid His life down

John 3:16 takes on an amazing new depth when you look at Their relationship, and see how much Jesus loved the world, enough to die for the world

Because the Father loved the Son, and the world, and thus the mission of Jesus

God so loved the world...

How else could He have shown that?

What else could He have done?

3) Father Sets the Example

v. 21 - For just as the Father raises...

The life-giver - Genesis 2:7

Genesis 2:7 NASB95

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

The living soul - who God created

The living soul, chose to rebel, the Fall

The living soul, dead, spiritually, now giving physical life to other living souls, spiritually dead

Bringing what is dead to life is the sign of the presence of God

Raising the dead is the sign

OT examples - Elijah, Elisha (to point to YHWH)

NT examples - Jesus, apostles (to point to the Father)

Jesus, Himself, rose from the dead, but He’s no messenger like Elisha, He is life

Recall John 1:4

John 1:4 NASB95

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

And now, Jesus brings the spiritually dead to spiritual life

Gives life to whom He wishes

He wishes to give life to those who follow the Father’s plan

Eph 1 - the plan is Jesus Christ - God calls and elects according to His plan, and that is anyone can accept/trust Jesus

4) Judgment Belongs to the Son

v. 22 - For not even the Father judges...

“Because the Father says so”

Does this work on kids?

Gotta give some reason behind it, to win hearts of children (“here’s why I say so...”

The Father backs up the “because I say so” with “This Son of Mine followed My will, to the cross, for you.”

He deserves the right to judge, based on that

In the context here...

When Jesus comes to judge, it will be to judge those who have rejected rescue

Jesus came to rescue from condemnation, not to send people there!

Jesus judges, based on trust in Him,

ASIDE

Believers - Judged right into eternal life with Him

Rejecters - maintain their present judgment into eternal death

John 5:24 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

CONCLUDING - The Present Reality

1 - v. 23 - How we treat the Son shows how we treat the Father

Do not disrespect my son. Dads, you with me?

Now, step that up like a billion times

That’s God the Father and Jesus

The doctrine of the incarnation - HUGE - God in person (otherwise, they won’t get it, right?)

Honored, or dishonored

Believed/accepted, or rejected

Jesus’ parables about sending servants (prophets) and then the son himself

2 - Believers HAVE PASSED - already done, settled

What Jesus brings to life, stays alive, even though the body dies

He gives His word

1 Peter 1 - imperishable inheritance, born again

1 John 5:18 - you can KNOW

John 10:18 - will not be plucked from Jesus’ hand

Eph 1:13 - sealed, H.S. is proof; can’t be taken away, sealed

Truly, Truly - Amen, Amen

And Jesus is just getting started

3 - Jesus is still on trial today

The evidence is stacked, He is God

Honor Him or dishonor Him

QUESTION: If someone were to accuse YOU of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

If people can’t tell, then they can’t see Jesus, they won’t honor Him, and they will be judged by Him, not as believers, but as non-believers, rejecters

They need to hear His word, from us, so they can believe

They need to hear that they have a way of rescue from judgment

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