John Part 9
Notes
Transcript
We stopped last week on vs 16,
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Verse 16 is the Gospel in a sentence.
The good news that the life of Jesus was given
So that instead of judgment
We, who believe in Jesus,
Will have eternal life.
The key here to be believe.
And last week, we showed that John teaches
that “belief” is not just a thought in your mind
that you think is true.
But that belief includes more than that
And the “more” is detailed in this book
Especially in chapter 4, and chapter 7
which we will cover soon in this lesson
and we briefly highlighted in the last lesson
Right after Jesus tells Nicodemus to be born again
of the water and the Spirit
And that those believers would have eternal life
He tell him why God did this in verse 17…
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
This verse is important to Nicodemus
Because, he likely thought the Messiah was going to come and condemn the world
If you read the Prophecies the way some people read John chapter 3
You can miss all the parts about the water and the Spirit
In Ezekiel 36
and about how the servant would suffer
according to Isaiah 53
and how he would be our Redeemer and our Saviour
and the Messiah will be “cut off” from his people
According to Daniel 9
and you can skip all that in the OT,
and just read the parts about how the Messiah would come and conquer his enemies.
And Judge the whole earth.
And Nicodemus, as well as the other Pharisees
Were looking for that kind of Messiah
And Jesus says…
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The Son came first to save
not to condemn.
In fact, when he comes the second time
He isn’t going to condemn then either…
why?
Well vs 18 says…
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
So, the default state of all men is condemnation.
You start out condemned
and you must be changed
And that change occurs during the New Birth
You are born the first time into sin and death
and you are born the second time into the Spirit and life.
Amen, aren’t you glad you’ve been born again?
So, Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world
He came to save the world
And all the Jews got it backwards.
They thought the Messiah was going to come condemn the Romans
And then set them free
and then only the chosen Jews would have eternal life
But, Jesus came to his own people
And they rejected him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
So, then he turned around to the rest of the world and
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
You see how this all ties back to chapter 1?
Now, back to chapter 3…
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Whoever does not believe is condemned already.
The ones going to hell
Are not going because they did something wrong
They are not being judged for what they did or didn’t do…
The default state is condemnation.
You don’t need to do something to be condemned
You don’t need to not do something to be condemned
You are already condemned and
You are going to the lake of fire
and you will continue on that route unless somewhere along the way
you put your trust in Jesus.
There are those who claim that only some people are condemned
and some people are saved
and that determination is made by God
From the beginning of time.
In other words, before you are even born
Your eternal destination is already settled in stone
But Jesus says to Nicodemus
That condemnation belongs only to unbelievers
And since you cannot be born a believer
Then you are born condemned already.
because all unbelievers are condemned already
And the way to get from condemned to not condemned
is found in this chapter…
Become a born again believe in Jesus Christ.
That’s it.
There is no alternate route
There is no short cut
there is no scenic route either
There is only the narrow way
of being a born again, of the water and the Spirit, believer in Jesus Christ.
If you do not do this… you are condemned already
He didn’t say, you will become condemned
but rather, you are condemned already.
Why?
Because condemnation is our default state
And the only way to change that state
Is to become a born again believer.
You can’t do it by feeding the homeless
You can’t do it by running for mayor
You can’t switch from condemned to uncondemned by going to the right church
or by signing the right songs
or by dressing the part
The ONLY way is to a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.
Jesus could not be more clearer in this chapter
If there was another way
He would not have said 3 times in a row…
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
There will be many who marvel.
When they get to Judgement day
And they assume they are going to walk right into the Kingdom of God
and He will say… I’m sorry…
I made in plain in Jn chapter 3
If you want to enter this place…
If you even want to see my kingdom…
You must be born again.
And there no other way.
In verse 19,
Jesus says…
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
recall the prologue in chapter 1…
Who is the Light?
Jesus.
So, here, Jesus says that he came into the world
and people loved darkness more than him
because he is the light.
if you are unsure if Jesus is the Light based on the prologue…
Jesus says it explicitly in…
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.”
Again in Jn 9.5
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Again in Jn 12.46
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
So, back to chapter 3.19
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
This is clearly about Jesus coming into the world
He is the light
But people loved darkness rather than
the light
which means they loved sin more than they loved Jesus.
and Jesus knows this based on their actions.
for it says… because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
If you do evil or wicked things
You hate the light
and if you hate the light
you hate Jesus
because Jesus is the light.
And the reason you hate the light
Is because the light will expose your evil
When you shine a light into the darkness
you can see what you could no previously see
And if you hate when the light comes on
it is only because you do not want people to see
what is going on in your life
in the private times and private areas of your life
Criminals don’t like to commit crimes during the day time
Because it is easier to get caught when there is light shining on you
One of the best deterrents to crime is a bright flood light
and the second best is a security camera
It probably cuts out 99% of crimes by just having a bright light and good camera
Because people who do evil
are afraid to be seen.
I’d rather have a flood light and a security camera
than a lock on the door
because most thieves can pick a lock
but they can’t hide from the light.
This light exposes their evil.
We were all in the dark once
And none of us were born into the light
That’s why we need to be born again.
Remember, we were condemned already.
which is why Jesus says…
21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Notice the word “COMES”
If you “come” TO the Light
Then you had to come FROM darkness.
And this is true of every person
We were born into sin
We were shaped by iniquity
We were condemned already
We were walking in darkness
but some of us decided we have had enough of the darkness
and we came to the light
And those who “do what is true”, Jesus says
willingly come to the light
because when you are doing what is evil you want darkness to cover it up
but when you are doing what is true,
you want the light to expose it.
People don’t hide good things
They put them on display
In the next verse, Jesus stops talking to Nicodemus
and he starts baptizing people like John was doing…
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.
23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
So, Jesus and his disciples start baptizing people in a place with much water.
And John the Baptist was there still doing what he was called to do
which was to point people to the Messiah.
And John’s disciples were a bit confused by this.
So, they started a “discussion” about it.
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.
The word purification here means cleansing
And it refers to water baptism
So, they were talking about baptism amongst themselves
and then in the next verse…
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
So, it seems their discussion about about the fact that Jesus
Who was baptized by John
Was now baptizing people of his own.
Now, when we study the cultural context here
and the rite of purification
aka baptism
The act of baptism is how a disciple is made
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Jesus said, go make disciples
How?
by baptizing them.
So, baptism is the process through which a disciples is made.
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
And Jesus was baptized by John
And therefore, his other disciples are confused
Because just a few days ago
Jesus was baptized by John
and now Jesus is making disciples of his own.
They said… LOOK… Jesus is baptizing….
and look…
they are all GOING with him.
Going with him means… they are following him
aka, becoming disciples of Jesus.
and John’s disciples are concerned by this.
But let me explain something here
that John’s disciples didn’t get yet.
The whole purpose of making a disciples
is so that your disciples can make disciples.
Jesus told his disciples to go make disciples
If they didn’t do that
We would not have a church today
Because the first 12 disciples would have died
as the last 12 disciples
Jesus is the first and the last
but his disciples should never be the first and the last
Disciples are supposed to make disciples
who make disciples
who make disciples
If a person isn’t making disciples
then he should question whether he is a disciples himself.
So, there should be no concern when they see Jesus making Disciples
But the reason they are concerned
is because they did not fully understand
that they were supposed to be doing what Jesus was doing.
Instead of following John around forever
They should have been out making more disciples
And after John told them that Jesus was the Messiah
They should have left right then and joined up with Jesus.
So, let’s see how John handles this question from his disciples.
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
John understood something few people ever realize
Some people will go their whole life
and never get this revelation right here
Anything good that I have
Comes from God
James said it this way…
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
If I have a high IQ… it came from God
If I have good hand eye cooridinatoin
It came from God
If I have good health
It came from God
If I have common sense
It came from God
If I have money in the bank
It came from God
Wait, wait… money?
I worked for that!
yeah, how did you work for it?
You woke up thanks to God
You breathe air thanks to God
You didn’t die in a car wreak on the way to work Thanks to God
You had the intelligence to do the job Thanks to God
You didn’t get fired, thanks to God
You didn’t get injured and have to quit, Thanks be to God
Your company didn’t go under this week Thanks be to God.
and you got paid on payday, Thanks be to God.
Well, I don’t work, I got my money from investing…
We can do that same thing
You have the wisdom to invest
The market didn’t crash…
and on and on.
All good
and all perfect gifts
Come from God.
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
And John tells his disciples
No one single thing you have came from somewhere besides God.
So, if Jesus is making disciples
and disciples are a good thing…
Where did those disciples come from?
That’s right…
It is God who brings us disciples…
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,
26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.
Ok, so, now we should understand why John said…
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
Now John reminds his own disciples
that you surely heard me when I said I am not the Christ.
So, if they are John’s disciples
That means that they should follow John and John’s words
And John’s own words admitted that the Christ would come after him.
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
Then John uses an analogy of the bride, bridegroom, and best man.
The best man doesn’t get upset when the bridegroom gets married
And John is not going to get upset when the Messiah starts making disciples.
He is going to rejoice about it
Likewise, we shouldn’t get jealous when someone else starts making disciples
That is what they were called to do
And if we are making disciples too
we wouldn’t get upset
We’d be too busy making disciples to care
So, we only get upset when we are not doing what we should be doing
and we see someone else doing what we should be doing
and it convicts us…
But don’t let conviction bring you down
Let conviction bring you up
If you see someone doing good
Let it motivate you to do good, too
Rather than talk down about them
Celebrate their victory
and go have your own victory
John understood this
And I think that is why he was chosen by God
To lead the way for the Messiah
Because who ever got that job
was destined to be overshadowed
Look, I’m never going to let my Son be me in a race
or in a chess game
but when he finally does
I’m going to celebrate
because i want him to succeed
John may have baptized Jesus
But when Jesus starts baptizing people
John said… my joy is now complete.
What a good spirit to have.
and to emulate.
He goes on to say…
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Don’t wish for others to decrease
so that you can artificially increase
Wish for other’s to increase
I’ve worked with people over the years
Who took the strategy of pushing people down
so that they could rise up
But that only gets you so far
because all those people you pushed down
are never going to follow you when you become a leader
and then you’re going to get demoted for not being able to lead them.
We must learn to lift people up
A rising tide lifts all ships
If you lift people up
they will lift you up
In the case of Christ,
We all need to decrease
and let him increase in our lives
Your life should continually be less and less of you
and more and more of Jesus.
Now, the last 7 verse sort of summarize this chapter well.
It isn’t clear to me if John the Baptist is still talking
or if Apostle John is narrating.
It sounds more like the latter to me
And the ESV ends the quotation marks before vs 31.
So, I’m just going to read these last 6 verses for the sake of time
and not rehash most of it
because, like I said, it is somewhat of a summary
of John the Baptist’s words
and Jesus’ words from this chapter.
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
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.
Notice it says, remains on him
not comes onto him.
The wrath remains
Because condemnation is the default state
And only when we become a born-again believer
do we have Eternal Life.
