“The Testimony of Christ”
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Good morning, grab your Bibles and head with me to John chapter 20. We are going to take a short break from the gospel of Luke over Christmas and we are going to look at several important themes about Jesus during this Christmas season.
For those of you who know me, you know that I love bibles. I love the smell of a new Bible, I love reading a new Bible, but most of all I love helping people get a bible and then read it so that they can understand what Jesus has done for them. It is truly a life changing book. I can go back and remember a time in my life where I received my first bible. A pastor by the name of Terry Davenport gave me my first Bible and I used it as a young man. This bible had lots of pictures to help illustrate the wonderful truths of God’s Word. Then there came a time in my life where I was heading off to Bible college and I bought my first Bible, I still have this Bible. I have always been thankful and yet proud of God’s Word because I know that it is not only 100% true, it is also a text that is life transforming. From the very beginning I came to understand the creation narrative. I read about the wonderful Old Testament stories that show us God’s love for His people and I came to see how the whole Bible fits together from both the Old Testament too the New Testament. When you take time to read through the whole Bible you come to understand the central theme of Scripture. We as mankind are sinners and we are in need of a Savior and so God sent His Son to defeat the Devil, to defeat Sin, and to over come Death so that we may have eternal life. When you go through the Gospels you come to see this. In fact, near the end of the Gospel of John we see that he answers the question on the purpose of this book. Why was the book of John written? Why was God’s Word written? What was the purpose of all this? It was written to bring men and women to Christ. These accounts that we hold in our hands today were given that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ. In fact, the design of the men that wrote these gospels was not for their own profit or applause, but to bring men to heaven. They had one purpose and that design was too persuade others to trust in Jesus. Look at verse 30 with me.
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
As we come to the end of John’s gospel he tells us of the final days of Christ. He takes time here however to explain why he wrote what he wrote. I think if we are not careful that we can gloss over this and not see the extreme importance of this gospel. John’s gospel gets to the very reason for every part of God’s Word. John helps us to see God’s central mission for his revelation to us. Here is the testimony about Jesus. The subject of John’s gospel is that Jesus is the Son of God and we see this in several different ways. Let us take a look this morning at 3 specific ways we see the Lord’s testimony.
1. The Lord’s Works.
1. The Lord’s Works.
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
There was no need for John or Luke or Matthew or Mark to explain and describe every sign, miracle or work of Christ. John tells us here that if he or anyone else for that matter were to list out a complete work of Christ the world itself could not contain the books written about Him. (John 21:25) There was so much that Jesus did. The life and ministry of Jesus were so amazing and so full that we have all that we need here in the gospels. Listen to what John tells us about the signs that Jesus was doing.
2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
There were many people who were attracted to what Jesus was doing. His works, His signs, and His teachings drew many too Christ. In fact, more than any other gospel John tells us about the life, work, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Early on we read about the incarnation of Christ. Jesus was fully man and yet fully God. The Word became flesh, speaking of Jesus and He dwelt among us. When the Lord’s cousin John sees Jesus he recognizes him as the Lamb who has come to take away the sin of the world. We then begin to see the Lord’s works. Jesus call His disciples. Jesus turned the water into wine. Jesus heals the blind, the lame, the sick and the dead. Jesus feeds the 5,000. and He walks on the water. We then come to know Jesus as He tells us who He is through His 7 “I am statements.”
These were all signs that were pointing people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. However, the other signs that we see mentioned here in verse 30 may not be pointing to everything that Jesus did during His whole life. However, John rather here may be pointing us to the signs that Jesus did after His resurrection in the presence of the disciples. How do we know this? Turn with me to Acts chapter 1.
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Now turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Look at what Paul had to say about this.
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Church, there were other signs, many other signs that Jesus did for the confirmation of our faith. The disciples that followed Jesus had much evidence in the Lord’s works that Jesus was the Messiah the Son of God. In fact, the disciples in whose presence these other signs were done went on to preach Christ, to preach His life, death and resurrection so that mankind would be drawn to Jesus.
Jesus came to show us His life and to help us to see that He was and is the Son of God. John uses the word “Life” 36 different times throughout his gospel because Jesus came to offer sinners abundant life and eternal life, and the only way to come to know Christ is by placing your faith and trust in Jesus. The root problem is that we as sinners need life! Why? Because we are dead.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Salvation is a resurrection from the dead. We as sinners are not just sick or weak, but we are dead and so we need to see the importance of Christ work for us. In that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. This is why John is pointing us to Jesus. We now come to the second area of importance when we think about the Lord’s testimony.
2. The Lord’s Walk.
2. The Lord’s Walk.
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
In this gospel we see Jesus performing many miracles, signs, and works so that people may believe that Jesus is the Christ. What we also see here is the Lord’s walk. Jesus lived a perfect life, even as He faced his enemies.
So what do we know about the Lords Walk? When we come to the first chapter of John’s gospel we learn about Jesus.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
We also learn more about the Lord’s walk as we dive deeper into the gospel of John, like John chapter 4.
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Jesus came to do the will of His Father and not just to live however He desired. He lived to ultimately please His Father. Throughout the Lord’s walk and life His desire was to help people come to the light so that they may no longer walk in the darkness of sin.
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
One of the great things that marks the Lords life is that His walk lined up with everything that He was saying and we know this because of his statement in chapter 14.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Lord’s walk pointed people to God, it pointed people to see that there was only way to God and that was through Jesus. Let me ask you today are you walking with Jesus?
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
When you surrender your life to Christ and begin to trust the Lord, He will guide you and direct your paths. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, follow Him today. This leads us to the last way we see the Lord’s testimony and that is through His words.
3. The Lord’s Words.
3. The Lord’s Words.
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Many times as we pick up God’s Word we see the power in the Lord’s words. We see that as he spoke he spoke as one with authority. We know that His words and message were quite different from the religious leaders. Why? Because His message brought hope, it brought truth and it was life changing. We read of one particular message in the gospel of Luke.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
People were amazed and marveled at what Jesus said. His words and message were powerful because He spoke with authority given to Him by His Father.
One of the great things that stand out to us about the gospel of John that is different from the rest of the gospels is the very words of Jesus in that of His famous “I am statements.”
In the gospel of John we learn 7 valuable lessons about Jesus from His very words. Notice here the statements that Christ speaks about himself. Jesus tells us that He is,
-The Bread of Life. (John 6) Jesus will take care of the spiritual hunger in your life. He nourishes us by every word that He speaks to us.
-Jesus tells us that He is the Light of the World. (John 8) When we come to Christ we no longer walk in the darkness of sin. Christ is the light that we need.
-He is the Door. (John 10) Jesus is the door and the only way to salvation is through Christ. We can’t enter into heaven by our own good deeds, we must turn from our sin and place our trust in Christ.
-I am the Good Shepherd. (John 10) Jesus tells us here that He is the good shepherd. The good shepherd has given his life for us the sheep by his blood and death on the cross.
-I am the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11) When Christ rose from the grave He triumphed over sin, death and Satan. For everyone who believes in Christ and his death and resurrection we will have eternal life.
-I am the Way the Truth and the Life. (John 14) There is only one way to salvation and that is through Christ.
-I am the Vine. (John 15) Jesus is the true vine, are you abiding in Christ?
As you come to hear these words today, know this, we have a duty to respond. For those who read God’s Word, for those who hear God’s Word and you come to understand the doctrine of Christ and the gospel truth, what will you do with that knowledge? Here is what John says.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
We know that the Lord’s disciples were changed because of what they heard and witnessed about Christ. We know their lives went from fear to courage and even Thomas was changed from his doubt and unbelief to confidence in his Lord. As John wraps things up, he invites you to trust Jesus and to be changed from a life of death to eternal life. If you have never trusted Christ than don’t wait. Don’t put things off. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, “now is the favorable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Pray:
Lead into Communion: