Witness to Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Order of Service
Order of Service
Welcome
Welcome
Hymn -
Hymn -
Psalm Reading
Psalm Reading
Psalm 74:20–21 “Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.”
Prayer
Prayer
Teen Talk
Teen Talk
Hymn -
Hymn -
Notices
Notices
Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm
Friday 7pm - Online
Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm
Tithes & Offerings - £
Main Prayer
Main Prayer
Birthdays
Birthdays
Prayer Items
Prayer Items
Hymn -
Hymn -
Sermon Search
Sermon Search
Reading
Reading
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Sermon
Sermon
The Authority of the Son
Son of God
He is Judge
Honour to the Son, Honours the Father
Response to Jesus is basis of eternal state (Heaven or Hell)
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
He cannot do anything in his own will
His Judgment is just
Jesus enacts only the will of the Father
If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
Jesus lays out the case in their own view
If Jesus’ claim was solely words without external evidence and confirmation then they will view his claims to be false.
Rightly we question those who self promote and make astonishing claims with sceptability
There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
“There is another who bears withness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true”
Jesus inclinated the Father in this statement
But those listening are left trying to work out who it is
“You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the Truth”
Jesus reminds them that they sent a deligation to John to get his testamony
The abbreviation of John 3:22-36 is ...
John 5:31–47
“I (John) am not the Christ; Jesus is the Christ; he is the Lamb of God who is taking away the sin of the world; it is upon him that I saw the Spirit descending and remaining; he is the Bridegroom; he is the One who came from above and is above all; he speaks the words of God, and is himself the Son of God.”
Probably they thiught Jesus did not know of this conversation
But equally Jesus affirms he knows what testamony John gave
Jesus brings it to their attention that they are not even accepting the testamony of others
Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
Jesus affirms he does not rely on mere human testimony
He draws it to their attention to give them opportunity to take it to heart and respond, and therefore be saved
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
Jesus calls himself the light
He calls John the lamp
a lamp must be lit
a wick mist be fed with oil
Jesus is the lamp in Revelation 21:23
John the Baptist is not in competition but he shone to light the way to Jesus
“They were willing to rejoice for a while in his light”
But they turned against him when they realised the message
The Parable of the Tenants “killed the servants/messengers” and then killed the “son”.
But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
A testamony from one greater than John
The Father’s own tesimony, manifest through works Jesus was doing
Works do not bring faith
They have evidential value
Nicodemus said “No one can do these signs which you do unless God is with him”
These signs were a seal of the Father’s approval
They demonstrate the Father commissioned him
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
“The Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me.”
How do you recognise God?
“His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen”
You have his Word yet...
“You do not have his word abiding in you”
“for you do not believe the one whom he has sent”
They failed to recognise The Word because of their unbelief
They don’t even believe God’s testamony because they have failed in their belief
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life”
they think that the act of reading and searching the scriptures leads to eternal life
they miss the fact that the words point to the way of salvation (sign post)
“it is they that bear witness about me”
believers clearly see Jesus proclaimed in the old testament
“yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life”
your hardness of heart has stopped you accepting the Son of God
I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.
“I do not receive [seek/attract] glory from people”
“But I know that you do not have the love of God within you”
If they loved God they would accept His Son
I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
The proof their lack of Love for God
They reject the one the Father has sent
They accept those who self promote
The last one will be the antichrist or lawless one
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
How can they believe?
They seek glory from one another
They do not seek the Glory that comes from “the only” God
Blindness is caused by a lack of love
There was no lack of evidence
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father”
“There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope”
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me”
Hystorical preparation
forces of evil attack against the people of God
whenever humanly speaking it seems impossible God works mightly
Typlogical Preperation
symbolic examples (events, people & worship requirements)
passover, manna, pillar of fire, water from smitten rock
Adam, Melchizedek, Joshua, David, Solomon
tabernacle with its furniture, the entire sacrificial ritual, the serpent lifted up
Psychological preperation - The Messiah, his work, suffering and consequent glory announced
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
“his writings” contrast “my words”
Jesus addresses the leaders:
You jews are always saying nothing is as sacred as the written Torah
Though in practice you seem to esteem the oral law above the written
You place written Law above everything else, certainly above any words which anyone might utter
You regard Moses as yoiur chief leader, and vie with one another in praising his memory
As you see it, no one living today could possibly compare with him.
Therefore, if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my word?
Summary
John - a lamp
Moses - fortold
God - is witness
Our witness is to have God’s word living in our hearts, living according to that word, and thus being spiritual lamps
Hymn - Give me oil in my lamp?
Hymn - Give me oil in my lamp?
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Doxology
Doxology
