The Gospel of John - The Fruit of Our Salvation - Part 2 - Love Anyway

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Good Morning Loved Ones

If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.

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Open it to the Gospel of John and Chapter 13 beginning in verse 21 as we continue our preaching series called “the Fruit of our salvation” which is ONE part of our walking through the Gospel of John together verse by verse.

PRAYER OVER SERIES

My prayer over this series is that the Holy Spirit of God will being us all in to a deeper understanding of what the fruit of our salvation is.

AN understanding of what our salvation is to produce in our life -

OF what Salvation is to produce in the life of someone who is saved

and what fruit can be produced in the life of someone is needs to be saved

Fruit is what something produces- That is why there is a section in the grocery store is called produce.

Because there is fruit there - there is the product of production there - the produce from the plants in the Produce section of the grocery store.

And my prayer is as we come to a deeper understanding in what the fruit of our salvation is supposed to be.

AND - We would ask ourselves if we can see and feel and experience the transforming fruit that Jesus is supposed to be producing in our life?

and Loved ones - what I pray will happen to all of us is that we will all find ourselves wanting more and more of of Jesus - more and more of what Jesus and his saving work is to be producing in our lives and in the lives of everyone who needs Jesus.

So that we will be more and more like Him in every way.

PRAYER OVER MESSAGE

My prayer over this mornings message is that we would come to know at the deepest level that when we are saved, When Anyone is - Truly Saved!

(Long Pause)

Well lets just pause a minute!

I guess we need to answer the question: “What does it mean to be “truly saved?”

What is weird is that there is a debate in the western church about what it means to be “truly saved”

If I asked you this morning: are you truly saved from a biblical definition, from what the bible says? -

Not from what some pastor said to you a long time ago -

Not from some tradition that you grew up in says

Not what you think walking an isle or a sincere prayer you said years ago did.

Not what you think your membership in a local church or you being baptized says about you -

But from what the bible says bring ‘truly saved is”-

So for clarity sake

Here is what the bible says - The Bible your salvation is a work of God?

To Such an extent that he gives you a super natural faith a supernational trust - a required trust that He says you must have - and with that gift of faith - that gift of trust - Given to you by the Holy Spirit, you have repented, you have surrendered your life to the Lordship of Jesus because you know and understand how much He loves you - and you have come to Him as a new born child of God.

Born again unto NEW life - Once dead in your trespasses and sin and now made alive to God as God’s workmanship Created NEW in Christ Jesus, Regenerated unto this new life by the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s workmanship, created new in Christ to walk well in the good works that God has designed well in advance for you to walk well in.

and the your life has fruit of this salvation - This salvation had produced things in you namely that you are being constantly and continually conformed into the image - which means the Like ness of Jesus - You are becoming more and more like Jesus in our relationship with our heavenly father, in the words we speak, in the thoughts we have and in the deeds we do.

My Prayer over this message is that IF we are truly saved we would come to understand at the deepest level that ONE of the fruits of our salvation - One of the things that our salvation produces in us is a supernatural ability to “Love Anyway”

and if you are here this morning and you are NOT truly saved-

My prayer is that you would hear this morning how much God loves you anyway in Christ Jesus

and as you hear the love of God for you your heart and mind would be drawn to HIM,

faith would be given to you

and you would respond to this gift of faith and surrender your life to Him, be adopted by His Spirit to become His child and the fruit of salvation would grow in your life as well.

ENGAGEMENT –

Ever heard the phrase “I’m about to loose my Jesus”

I think there are times from moment to moment when all of us think something or do something in frustration or anger towards another person that we might think you our selves “I’m gona loose it”

Ya know anyone noticed the increasing number of drivers on 306?

Been on 35 lately?

Ya - Ya know - when this or that happens and they cut ya off or nearly drive ya off the road -

You think to yourself certain names or certain hand signals that seem to come immediately to your brain - to communicate your frustration to others?

Lets get a little closer to home - Ya know your spouse that does that ONE thing that has this emotional effect on you that you might label as “driving you mad” or “Driving you insane”

Kids - Relatives - Friends - what all of them can do - we think that just for a moment causes us to just feel crazy -

(Pause)

ya know relationships are interesting -

Relationships we have with other drivers - People in the market place - People in our circle of influence - People in our families - Our spouses -

People are sometimes just a little frustrating -

But lets move deeper - What happens when you catch your children lying to ya?

I mean just straight up lying to ya? Especially the first time?

Brandi and I have 8 kids - number 7 and 8 under the age of 15 - They don't have a chance - we know all the tricks -

But that feeling that you get when you realize in a moment of conflict that you child is just lying to your face!

Ya know you feel betrayed - You feel hurt emotionally - Your body aches for a minute.

What about from adults - Hurt betrayal deceptions disappointment from those who you never through would do that - Adult family that took or takes advantage of you.

Addictions - Sexual infidelity - Deception and deceit from those you love and care about -

Your spouse leaves and abandons you for another.

It can happen in your work life - Employees who steal - Bosses who take advantage - Corporations who don't let their employees know the whole story and then surprise them with selling the company and all is lost -

Talking about body aches - That all hurts emotionally and Physically

and sometimes, a lot of the times we leave those situations and relationships - with what we think are scars for life - A damaged ability to be in relationships

- An inability or a diminished capacity to trust -

A diminished capacity to give of oneself fully to anyone, anything or any cause.

Because we revert to the protection of self

TENSION

What happens when we take our diminished capacity to trust - our diminished capacity to give oneself to anyone or anything - our protection of self, into our relationship with Jesus is we find ourselves not loving others - not serving others - less concerned with others eternal salvation than we are of self and what we want out of life-

and what happens to us is we sacrifice the adventure and the quest of living a life on mission for Jesus for the 4 idols of our culture - Namely comfort, convenience, safety and security.

and the reason behind this is a circular problem - We are hurt and betrayed - We then don’t trust anyone or anything - We then have a difficult time trusting Jesus with everything including our relationship capital - our relationship strength - our relationship capability -

and we remain broken in our relationship capacity towards others and especially towards Jesus - and we then look towards other who are also broken in their relationship capacity to be the ONE who shows the goodness that we think lies at the heart of humanity, and when they let us down, we then have a difficulty trusting -

and it ends up in a rinse and repeat cycle in our lives that we never seem to escape

and we end up isolated and alone -

A place that Jesus never wants or intends for His followers to be.

Because what Jesus does when He saves us and we are being conformed to HIS image, into HIS likeness - what Jesus wants to produce in us by the power of the Holy Spirit is in the midst of the brokenness of our humanity is to LOVE ANYWAY.

BACKGROUND

Some context for the narrative in where we are in the time line of Jesus.

We are at a time when Jesus has separated himself and his 12 disciples and gather them to prepare them for what is about to happen to all of them.

as well as begin to prepare them for what will happen to them for the next 60 days in what we now know as history.

We are in the last hours of Jesus walking on this earth as Emanuel (God with us)

We are in the time line of the Last Supper - He has gathered His disciples - He has broken the bread and shared the cup. He has said the words - This is my body given for you - This is my blood poured out for the sins of many.

Jesus is headed to the Cross of Calvary - He is just a few hours away from absorbing on HIs body the wrath of God that every human being deserves because of our sin against ourselves and each other and ultimately against the one True God who’s central characteristic of His nature is Love.

He has washed the feet of His disciples - Had dinner with them - He has said that they are all clean but one -

and the one is the one who will betray Jesus - Someone who has been closest to Him for years -

Someone who has done what Jesus did - gone where Jesus has gone - Seen what Jesus has done and heard what Jesus has said -

Someone who has slept where Jesus has slept - ate what Jesus ate and joined him in prayer and in meals together -

Someone who also served along side all the other 11 -

Jesus knows this and has known this for quite sometime -

And I want you to watch how Jesus interacts with Him

 UNPACKING

VSS21

says “after saying these things Jesus was troubled in HIs Spirit, AND Testified” -

To recap

The things that Jesus has finished saying - Jesus said his followers were to serve God - Humble themselves like Jesus showed them as an example when He washed their feet.

The Text says “Jesus was troubled in HIs spirit”

Meaning he was emotionally stirred up and when it says He Testifies - it means, in the original language of the new testament it means - To speak of something that is true -

and He begins with “Truly Truly” Which means to those he was speaking of “Pay attention”

“I say to you, ONE of you will betray me”

Here is how that would have sounded in Texas - I’m Tellin’ all y’all that one of y’all are gonna betray me”

Jesus was speaking to all of His disciples -

and this statemen that Jesus says created a whole lot of curiosity -

and that is what we see in vss 22-25

John 13:22–25 “The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?””

VSS26

Jesus answers the question “who is it?”

Here is the amazing thing - JESUS KNOWS!

HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHO IT IS.

Watch what he says -

John 13:26 “Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”

and Right here and Right now Judas is at a cross roads -

Before this back in verse 2 of this same chapter - As John was describing the work of Satan as just an influencer -

You don’t have to turn there but listen - VSs2 says “when the devil had put it in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus”

The Idea was just in his heart - HE had not determined to walk it out - Back in verse 2 its just an idea -

We get to verse 26 and Jesus knows what part of the cross roads that Judas is going to take.

Judas heard the discussion - Judas heard the conversation - Judas heard the question “WHO is IT” and Judas heard the answer Jesus gave-

“The One who I give this morsel of bread to when I have dipped it”

Here is what is interesting -

They were at the last Supper - There was bread and there was Wine -

I want you to remember this is the very same meal where Jesus took the bread and give it to his disciples - and said this is my body given for you - and after then took the cup and gave it to his disciples and said - This is a cup of my blood - the cup of the new covenant - a cup of my blood that will be poured out for the forgiveness of many -

Jesus dipped some bread in some wine and handed it to Judas and vss27 says:

VSS27

John 13:27 “Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.””

What is interesting is that Jesus didn’t -

Jesus Didn’t call him out -

Jesus didn’t call him “The Betrayer”

Looking at the reaction from the disciples Jesus didn't completely disclose that Judas was going to be THE ONE

Jesus didn't berate him - “How dare you, who do you think you are?”

Jesus didn't do anything to stop Him but indirectly offer him a choice out of love -

Here is what I want you to think through - Jesus knows that Judas is going to betray Him -

Jesus knows that Satan - the enemy of God and the Enemy of God people has already influenced Judas -

and Jesus lets Judas hear the conversation about the fact that he will betray Jesus - and Jesus dips and feeds Judas at the same dinner table that all of them had just celebrated the last supper at -

and in a very indirect way - Jesus gave Judas an open invitation to change His mind - to Turn back to Jesus!

All - out of the love that Jesus had for Judas and for the world.

How do we know That Jesus did not do and say those things to Judas -

Look at the text -

VSS28-30

No one at the table knew why -

And then they all speculated-

But notice - This happens at night.

VSS31

Notice what Jesus then does -

After Judas leaves

Jesus turns to the 11 that are left there with Him - At the table where the last supper has been shared - at the very table that Passover had been remembered - the Very place where Judas shared in this meal - The place where Jesus fed Judas -

Jesus turns to the 11 and speaks of three things -

1 - The glorification of the Son of man in conjunction with God - and what is interesting is Jesus begins this with the word “NOW”

and some times we are tempted to think that Jesus was saying things like “Now that judas is out of the way” - Or “Now that Judas is doing what he has set his mind and heart on doing - NOW we can get started -

But that is not what is happening -

The Emphasis that Jesus is placing - when He says NOW - He is indicating that the stage is set - the circumstances are perfect and the timing is just right -

and here is what we need to seriously think about - Jesus is indicating that the time if perfect - The circumstances are perfect for God to be Glorified -

Loved ones we must remember what the word Glorified means in the language of the new testament - It’s simpler meaning is REVEALED.

Most of us in the middle of being betrayed - in the moments we would say “he is getting the police and we will be arrested” we would not consider it Perfect to reveal anything but our backside as we ran out of the place.

Watch where Jesus goes with this -

2nd thing He says:

John 13:33 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”

Verse 33 leaves us with a question: “Where is Jesus going that others cannot come? Especially his followers -

You might say - To the cross?

Loved ones we must understand where Jesus is going - It is so much more severe than the cross - in fact some of his disciples will follow Him to the cross -

But what Jesus has just said - I am going to a place you cannot come to -

Jesus is going under the wrath of GOD to satisfy it for all time -

No one but Jesus alone can go under the wrath of God and provide a satisfaction for all Sin - Noting but the blood of Jesus.

Then watch - Jesus has talked about Glorifying - He has talked about going to a place no one else can go =

Then Watch -

The very first instructions Jesus gives is to LOVE

VS34-36

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The first commandment that Jesus gives after navigating with love the one who would betray him -

In the middle of betrayal - and what is even more interesting is that it is also in the middle of double betrayal -

On the front of this Story is judas -

On the back of this story, we will see in just a minute - is Peter who will betray Jesus - He will betray Jesus by denying Him Openly -

AND Again - Jesus knows this IN advance -

and in the midst of all this hurt and betrayal and deception - Right in the middle of all of the brokenness of our humanity on full display for the whole world to see -

Jesus says -

I give you a new commandment - Love one another!

Now - What we love to do is stop right there and say that Jesus said “Love one another” and we stope there like there is a period in the sentence - Like the thought and the instruction has stopped -

But what John was writing to His original audience and what has been carried through history to us today is that it is not the conclusion of the thought- this is not the end of the command -

Jesus gives us the “how to” - The “what does that look like and sound like” part of the command -

You see loved ones there is a colon - in the text - meaning that the sentence as a whole has come to an end but there is more to the thought - there is more to the command - there is more to the instructions that Jesus has given -

Jesus continues with His instructions:

Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

This leaves us with a huge question: “how does Jesus love us?”

When Jesus uses the word “As I” in his instructions “Just AS I have loved you”

We have to then ask “How does Jesus love us?”

The disciples - who are not any more special that you or me - They are working and moving and existing in the middle of their broken humanity just like we are - Jesus says “love one another as I have loved you!

From this very narrative, if this is all we had, if we didn’t have anything beyond these 15 or so verses - Loved ones we could still pick up what Jesus is laying down -

You might think right about now: Pastor what was Jesus laying down?

Loved ones - Jesus was laying down two words for us this morning in the instructions of this new commandment -

Here they are - Ready?

“Love ANYWAY”

Remember what is surrounding Jesus at this very moment

- A disciple, who was trusted with the money of this band of brothers

- Called personally to follow Jesus

- Has followed Jesus for 3 and a half years - Going where Jesus went - Sleeping where Jesus slept - Seeing all that Jesus had done and participated in it. Heard all the words Jesus heard -

Yet ultimately choosing self advancement over kingdom advancement - Judas betrayed Jesus -

That is not all -

The other 11 who were this rag tag group of social misfits - no position - No wealth - No abilities to advance what Jesus is advancing - Doubters - Zealots - Thunderous, Proud, arrogant, - self reliant group -

and ONE of them so Proud and arrogant He will declare “I will die for you!

and in just a few hours from declaring that statement loud and proud - He will betray Jesus, by denying the relationship He has with Jesus - to protect himself - and will cover himself with embarrassment and shame-

In addition to all that - The life story of Jesus in the brokenness of our humanity is Jesus had suffered betrayal and rejections and haltered from his own people.

He was misunderstood and persecuted by those who were supposed to know He was coming and had arrived and were supposed to be ultimately His Followers.

He has been attacked, maligned and ridiculed from all sides. He has grow tired and weary, frustrated and suffered the loss friends.

He has been labeled in first century terms a freak, a hippie, a cult leader, a quitter, a fraud, an idealist, a purist, a heretic, a divider, a communist, a jerk, an egomaniac, a devil worshiper, and in fact the devil himself and yes it has happened to HIs face and behind His back.

He has wept deeper and stronger that anyone ever, I am sure in His humanity he has doubted his purpose, calling, convictions, path, and life. He has experienced human loneliness, extreme Human loneliness and by a lot of people then and today Jesus has been seen as utterly unsuccessful.

BUT loved ones - What Did Jesus do?

He loved anyway!

VSS35

Jesus told us why we need to love this way!

SO that people - The world would know that we are his disciples - we are his students - we are His followers - We are being conformed into HIS image.

You see this is ONE way that we represent Christ and make Him known to ANYONE ANYWHERE and ANYTIME - is we love ANYWAY

VSS36-38

IS the book end of this text - Peter is clearly feeling left out and says

John 13:36 ESV

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

Peter is like - Hey wait a minute - We've all been following you for over three years and we cant go - Why not? -

You see peter didn’t get it - Jesus was going to express His great love for the world - Jesus (God in the flesh) is going to to the cross of calvary to Turn the other cheek -

To absorb the Wrath of God what is due all of us because of our love of self and the life we want - over our love and affections for GOD and the life HE designs for us to live.

and then tells Peter “you will follow me afterwards” and we need to understand what Jesus has just said - After I have done what I came to do then You can follow -

That is where Jesus is going that Peter cannot go - AND Jesus confronts Peter in His pride and arrogance -

“Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

and in that prideful arrogance that instantly gave way to denial and betrayal just few moments later when confronted in the courtyard by a young women at the crow of that rooster -

Jesus loved anyway.

THE GOSPEL CONNECTION

Loved ones this is the heart of the Gospel -

In the midst of our being Judas- Betraying Jesus for the protection of Self - leaving Him for the idols of our culture - Jesus loved anyway and went to the cross -

in the midst of our betraying Jesus by denying him in the market place of ideas for fear of ridicule and discrimination or persecution - again for self - chasing those idols - Jesus goes to the cross for us and loves anyway.

and loved ones when He went to that old rugged cross, to pour out HIs blood for the forgiveness of Many - He went with Joy - Enduring the cross scorned its shame and

Loved ones to prove the He was God, to prove that He had the authority to completely forgive our sin - to prove He had the authority and the power to love anyway and truly forgive our betrayal and our denials and heal the brokenness of our Humanity -

God raised Him from the dead on that third day and Jesus - Emanuel God with us in the Flesh is now seated on the right hand of the Father fully revealed to the world.

and so loved ones - God call us to love anyway - In the midst of our living in the brokenness of humanity all around us

God has given us the power by the indwelling Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ to love anyway -

And when we do this loved ones we will be doing what the church has done for two millennia we will be representing Christ and making Him know to anyone anywhere anytime.

COMMUNION

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