Knowing Jesus
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John 1-12 - Jesus’ life and ministry
John 13-21 - Jesus’ at the Last Supper, his suffering, death and resurrection
John 13-17 - Jesus’ teaching, counsel and prayer for his disciples
John 18-21 - Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, resurrection
John 13: Jesus demonstrates his love for his disciples knowing that his hour had come
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
Jesus’ focus on his disciples is astonishing in light of what was about to happen to him: suffering, death vs. their own ignorance and self-centredness
key statement in John 13:36
“Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
this is the reason for the disciples’ questions and Jesus’ answers in 13:36-14:14
all they know is that Jesus is leaving and Jesus has told them they can’t follow
Peter, Thomas and Philip each respond and make a request of Jesus
Peter in 13:37:
Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Jesus told Peter, the leader of the 12, that he would deny Jesus not once but 3x!
if this was so of Peter, what of the rest???
Jesus’ response in 14:1 a wonderful example of his love in the face of denial
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
even Peter’s denial was not to trouble them!
told them where he was going and what he would be doing
going to his Father’s house to prepare rooms for them
Thomas in v.5
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
“if we don’t know where the Father’s house is how can we know how to get there?”
Jesus’ answer: “the way is not a road but a person”
v.7: “if you had known me” means that they didn’t
Philip in v.8
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
didn’t understand yet the truth of 2 Cor 5:7
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
the disciples were not spiritually minded, yet
You Still Do Not Know Me?
You Still Do Not Know Me?
Jesus’ answer to Philip’s request to show them the Father:
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
must have been a strange question for these disciples who had followed Jesus all over Judea, Samaria and Galilee for 3 years!
I can just imagine them thinking, “how could we not know him!”
though they had lived with Jesus, ate with Jesus, slept with Jesus 24 hrs/day, 7days/wk, 365 days/yr, they still did not truly know him
they knew much about Jesus, they knew more about Jesus than most people, but they still did not know what was most important
is true of many who profess Christ today
may have made a “decision”, may have gone to church for decades, might have read the Gospel accounts but they don’t really know Jesus
I’m certain there are some here this morning who fall into this category
they know about Jesus but they don’t know him personally
John 14:9a
“Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?
“have I been with you” vs. “have you been with me”
emphasis on “I” vs. “you”
“you” would put the onus on the disciples’ coming to Jesus
Jesus came to them, he took the initiative
he came to them, he called them to himself, he taught them, he did signs and wonders before them
Jesus calmed the storm, walked on water, was transfigured, signs and wonders, raising the dead (widow of Nain and Jairus’ daughter), confession of demons (Mk 1:24 & Mt 8:28-34), forgave sins (Mt 9:2)
[https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/jesus-is-god/divinity-jesus-revealed-new-testament/]
Jesus had done everything necessary to show them that he was far more than just an ordinary man
it’s was if Jesus was saying,
“what more could I have done?” or, “what else do I have to do to convince you?”
the evidence for Jesus’ divinity was very clear
the issue of unbelief has never due to a lack of evidence, it’s that there is no desire to know
sinners are not looking for Jesus, they don’t want to know him
when a sinner truly “seeks” after Jesus it is because God is drawing them = irresistible grace & effectual calling
“you still do not know me”
the problem: knowing about Jesus vs. knowing Jesus
Jesus had asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15; Mk 8:29; Lk 9:20)
the greatest and most important question every person must answer
Mormons: Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer
JWs: Jesus is the archangel Michael
New Agers: Jesus is an avatar or an enlightened messenger
the most important question in life: who is Jesus
the sad reality that though Jesus clearly revealed himself to be God in the flesh, people are more interested in themselves
the focus of many people to discover themselves
cannot really answer the question about who you are until you know who Christ is
if we don’t get the right answer about Christ is you will spend eternity in hell
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
not knowing Christ is not a physical problem but a spiritual one
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
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. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
“whoever has seen me has seen the Father”
Jesus’ answer to Philip’s request: “show us the Father”
in other words Philip was saying, “seeing is believing”
Philip thought the problem was physical
remove the physical problem, the inability to see the Father, and the problem will be solved
Jesus answered Philip, “whoever has seen me has seen the Father”
in other words, “you have already seen the Father”
if this was so their problem was not that there was something wrong with their eyes
Jesus identified their real problem in vv.10-11
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
the word “believe” is recorded 3x
the disciples’ real problem: believing that Jesus and the Father were one
the reality of Php 2:5-8 was nonsense to the Jewish mind
Jesus did not fit their preconceived notions
because they did not understand the scriptures which they studied they could not understand Jesus
“the words that I say to you”
what was Jesus saying to his and all would be disciples?
Jesus was saying, “I am God”
in light of this it is impossible to say that Jesus was just a good man
good men don’t make false claims
either Jesus was a liar, a lunatic or he was who he said he was!
claims Jesus made to be God:
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”
33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
the testimony of Jesus’ apostles in the face of fierce persecution
11 of the 12 apostles were martyred
would these men die for a lie?
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Jesus provides 2 witnesses that he was telling the truth:
anyone can make wild claims
what proof was there that Jesus’ was telling the truth?
Proof #1:
Proof #1:
the miracles Jesus performed
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Believe on account of the works
the Jews struggled with Jesus’ words
John 6: “you must eat my flesh and drink my blood” vs. “this is a hard saying, who can accept it”
in light of this struggle with Jesus’ words he told them to focus on the works he did which were undeniable proof they should believe on him
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.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Proof #2:
Proof #2:
doing Jesus’ works and seeing prayers answered
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Jesus’ primary works:
preach the gospel and call to repentance
bear witness to the truth
acts of mercy and grace
those who are committed to finishing the work which Jesus started will do greater works than Christ
example: Jesus had 120 followers at Pentecost vs. Peter’s first sermon where 3000 were saved
“whatever you ask I will do”
context: doing Christ’s works
as you commit yourself to doing Christ’s works you will discover him giving you everything you need to accomplish it
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Application
Application
knowing about Jesus vs. knowing Jesus
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
since God has chosen the weak and foolish and the knowledge of God comes through the Word we know that God has made his word understandable to his target audience
those who cannot understand are wise in their own eyes
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.
Jesus: I have not come to call the righteous but sinners
if you come to him with an honest desire to know him and a willingness to humble yourself God will reveal himself
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Jesus to his disciples:
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
those who truly know Jesus will do his works
those who do his works will see answers to their prayers that only God could have done
result is great assurance!
one of the reasons we lack assurance is that we are not being faithful in doing the works of Christ!
Jesus knows who his workers are!
Jesus’ warning about the judgment:
[READ Mt 7:21-27]
compare those who claimed to do mighty works with the 7 sons of Sceva in Acts 19:11-20
they were using the name of Christ but did not know Christ
though the disciples’ knowledge of Christ was deficient it did not stop Christ from sending them out to minister
if we wait until we are fully equipped we may never serve!
God expects us to use what he has given us regardless of where are in our faith journey
God has chosen the weak and foolish things to confound the wise
parable of talents: God gives to each according to their ability
does not require from those who are able to handle less what he requires of those who are able to handle more
he does require more from those who are able to handle more
if we don’t use what he has given us there will be consequences
great reward for those who are faithful