The Saturation of Jesus' Priceless Worth, Part 4

Michael Stitzel

Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

John 12:27–50

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

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Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

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Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our invitation for others to come - John 12:9-11.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our acknowledgment of His person - John 12:12-19.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through what we are wiling to give - John 12:20-26.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our coming - John 12:27-36a.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through public confession - John 12:36b-43.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through walking in the light - John 12:44-50.

Introduction

Sponge object Lesson while I read Halle Takes a Stand

Children’s Lesson

Church, are you and I so saturated in the person of Jesus that the fear of man has no hold over us?

Church, are you and I so saturated in the person of Jesus and his priceless worth that we will publicly and unashamedly profess our allegiance with and desire for Him?

Will we?

The truth us, the temptation of Halle in this story is the very same that we face every day. In truth, it is the same thing that religious leaders faced in John 12.

Turn there now.

Review:

Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our invitation for others to come - John 12:9-11.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our acknowledgment of His person - John 12:12-19.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through what we are wiling to give - John 12:20-26.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our coming - John 12:27-36a.

Sermon Body

Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through public confession - John 12:36b-43.

John 12:36–43 ESV

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Though they had seen many of his signs.....

They still DID NOT believe in him.

Their rejection was a fulfillment of scripture. It was prophesied that they would reject him.

Isaiah 53:1-12.

Isaiah 53:1–12 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

It was prophesied that people would reject their own Messiah, that they would miss the hour of his coming.

And yet, that rejection was part of God’s plan for His son, for His creation.

Jesus IS the fulfillment of this passage. HE WAS the Messiah who came, who was rejected, but who would still die for the sins of the people, who would be crushed for their sins.

But also, to fulfill scripture, the people would not believe....

The passage John is citing is from Isaiah.

Isaiah 6:8-13. Particularly verse 10.

Isaiah 6:8–13 ESV

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, 12 and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13 And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump.

This text cited in John, referring to Isaiah and his ministry to the people of Israel, is prophetic for Jesus and his time.

Why would purposefully blind the hearts and minds preventing man from believing?

The startling and terrifying reality is that sometimes, God does this AS A JUDGMENT for their sin and unbelief. In his justice and holiness, he will at times harden man’s heart for after having had opportunity to repent but refusing to do so, God’s patience wears out and he sends judgement…no longer does he offer grace.

Romans 2:4-5.

Romans 2:4–5 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

2 Peter 3:8-10.

2 Peter 3:8–10 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

God’s patience DOES run out. ALL MEN have opportunity to repent and believe. FAR MORE than we deserve. But be warned, sometimes God DOES harden hearts and prevents repentance for his patience runs out and his chooses to send holy and just judgement instead.

Understand this too…man is still responsible for their rejection. By the time that God would harden hearts against repentance and faith, they would have already had plenty of opportunities to choose and would have consistently chosen to reject God.

However, it is STILL very sobering to acknowledge that due to man’s persistent unbelief, that God would and does harden men’s heart from believing.

THIS IS NOT unfair, as he afforded plenty of opportunities to repent before reaching this point.

AND in this judgment, the goodness and holiness of God is glorified and magnified.

John’s point to note that Isaiah spoke those things because He saw God’s glory seems almost like a footnote in the text..

However, it is made in order to make clear that these passages in Isaiah were in fact referring to Jesus. It is further verification that Isaiah spoke of Jesus and that he is in fact the son of God and the messiah.

ADDITIONALLY, Israel’s rejection led to the gospel going to the Gentiles, to us.

Romans 11:11-12.

Romans 11:11–12 ESV

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Make no mistake…GOD NEVER acts unjustly or unfairly.

BUT sometimes we have to reorientate our understanding of just and fair to HIS standard and not ours.

Israel’s failure to believe, to confess him came after decades of rejection. It’s final state was one of judgement for their rejection.

What’s terrifying is the end of this passage.

John 12:41-43.

John 12:41–43 ESV

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

They believed....but did not confess....

What was the consequence for those who confessed Christ?

Being put out of the synagogue.

These men stood to lose EVERYTHING they held dear.

SO, while they believed based on what they saw, they still refused to confess…they refused to claim.

The knew who he was, but refused to accept it.

I suppose it is possible that they believed in secret, but what kind of faith is that? What kind of belief is that when one refuses to acknowledge publicly?

No, it seems most likely that though they acknowledged the FACTS of Jesus, they still rejected him.

This is terrifying. Willful, purposeful rejection.

Their chose their god....man’s praise. The glory of man.

Application: When we cherish man’s approval and covet their appraisal more than God’s, we reject God. When we reject God, we are in danger of his rebuke.

The writer of Hebrews acknowledges this reality. Hebrews 6:1-8.

Hebrews 6:1–8 ESV

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Why is it impossible for those, who once have been enlightened…and then fallen away....to be restored to repentance?

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for those who, once enlightened, who have fallen away....to be restored.

Why?

Because if you WILLFULLY reject the truth AFTER HAVING HAD ENLIGHTENMENT, it is a deliberate choice to do so.

When you have the truth, know the truth, even believe the truth, but choose to reject it anyway, there is little hope of coming back from that....without an divine intervention of course.

Point is, there is difference between rejection due to ignorance and rejection once you have full knowledge and yet still chose to reject.

Application: Church, we will be held to account either way. God has revealed Himself to us with enough clarity that no man is without excuse (Romans 1). However, the danger and the judgement is more intense for those who knowingly reject the truth with full knowledge of what they are doing.

These religious leaders, the text states, had come to believe that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. YET, it appears, they failed to believe, to receive him for fear of what their fellow man would say.

Application: While this extreme may not be true of us, how often are we guilty though of being ashamed of the gospel and not speaking out for God and His glory for fear of what man may say?

Listen, whether you think they truly believed and simply did not confess OR that they intellectually believed who Jesus was while refusing to accept it for fear of man, either way…the outcome is the same. Jesus was dishonored.

When we permit fear of man to prevent us from confessing his name, we dishonor our God.

Publicly confessing his name, especially when that confession comes at a cost, as it did with the blind man, evidences our saturation in the priceless worth of Jesus because have counted the cost and decided he was worth more.

When we come to Jesus with public confession, regardless of the cost, we evidence a saturation in the priceless worth of Jesus.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through walking in the light - John 12:44-50.

John 12:44–50 ESV

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Jesus had already departed and hidden himself…so we do not know for sure when these words were spoken or who they were spoken to.

Some commentators think that they serve as summary of things he spoke and John records them as kind of a footnote, summary of the things he taught.

They could have been spoke as is, some other time and location that is simply not stated here.

There are two groups of people reference and contrasted here…those who believe and those who don’t.

Those who see and believe, walk in the light.

Those who do not, walk in darkness.

Those who see and believe, see God.

Those who do not, fail to see God.

Those who see and believe, believe in God

Those who not, reject God.

Those who believe in God will not face judgment

Those who do not, face judgment

BUT not from Jesus…for He came to save, not to judge.

They face judgement from God the Father. That judgment is still yet future.

Those who see and believe obey; they walk in the light

Those who do not, don’t.

John will later write in his first letter...

1 John 1:5-2:6.

1 John 1:5–2:6 ESV

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Those who WALK in light, who humbly submit to and obey Jesus, those are the ones who evidence their faith and repentance.

This does not mean that if we occasionally screw up, we are not sons of God anymore, but it means that if we are CONSISTENTLY and PERSISTENTLY not walking in the light, not obeying Christ....if we are consistently and persistently living in contradiction to the truth, we MAY not genuinely POSSESS that which we PROFESS.

By your fruits you shall know them....

Those who genuinely believe, will evidence fruit, will evidence confession and profession of the truth. Even if that is inconsistent at times. True faith will persist and will profess even in the face of opposition or suffering.

Point is…The fates of both are complete opposites.

But for those who see and believe, there is light and life. They walk in the light. They obey.

THUS

We saturate ourselves with the priceless worth of Jesus through our faith, through walking in the light, through obedience.

And when we do, we have the assurance of safety and refuge.

John 12:49-50.

John 12:49–50 ESV

49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Jesus speaks upon His Father’s authority.

For the duration of his earthly ministry, he set aside the use of his own deity and operated out of the Spirit’s power and under the Father’s authority - Philippians 2.

However, he is still God. And the Father gave to him such authority. The Father acts upon his word and authority.

Jesus word is the word of eternal life.

Those whom Jesus affirms, will be affirmed by the Father.

Church, are you saturating yourself in the priceless of Jesus through your belief, through walking in the light, through your daily confession of his person and obedience to His will?

Conclusion