Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Opening Illustration - Heather Dorniden's Inspiring 600 meter race - Talk about overcoming a significant challenge!

Jesus is finishing a very important discussion, His farewell discourse, with his eleven disciples.

Remember, these are the men who would lead the church (which isn’t around yet) into the future.

They would start a spiritual revolution that would reach through the centuries radically reaching those lost in sin, changing their lives and causing them to be part of a community of faith that change the world.

They would overcome the world because their savior was and is the ultimate OVERCOMER!

Main Idea - Jesus is the Ultimate Overcomer!

Transition - And as Jesus’ “Farewell discourse () comes to a close, there are three things in particular that we should notice from the text.

Three things that clearly demonstrate that Jesus is the overcomer He claims to be...

1. Jesus Overcomes the World because of the Loving Plan of the Father (vs.

25-28)

First and foremost we must remember that Jesus’ role in being the ultimate overcomer was because of a plan that was developed before we, as a human race, ever existed.

A plan that would introduce the “Overcomer” at the right time and in the right place in history.

Look at the text with me...

Jesus, the Ultimate Overcomer, let’s them know that He has purposely talked with them in “figures of speech” since Judas left them in the upper room, but that was all to change.

From the beginning of Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse”, He spoke of “In my Father’s house are many rooms (or mansions) or just a few verses prior He spoke of a woman in labor.

All of these parables were hard for the disciples to understand and they were having trouble tracking with Him (vs.

29-30).

By the way, you may be thinking, why would Jesus teach in such an enigmatic way?

Why not always tell people the clear truth?

I believe Jesus, the master teacher, would often teach this way to pique interest.

To entice people to seek more knowledge!

And once they “got it”, this kind of teaching would help them “keep it”! Stories and word pictures help truth stick.

Besser observes here, “From the very first words of our Lord’s farewell discourse,—‘In my Father’s house are many mansions,’—up to the words concerning the travailing woman, the heavenly purport of the discourse is enwrapped in various similes and parables.”

J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1880), 162.

But, Jesus promises a time when He will speak plainly and clearly to them about the Father and His plan.

When is that day?

I believe it is the 40 days after the resurrection/before His ascension.

Forty Days He walked, talked and taught them.

Forty days He laid forth the significance of His death, burial and resurrection.

He taught them plainly about the Father...

What would He teach them about the Father?

Well, think about it.

By then the crucifixion, burial and resurrection will be in the past.

There will be so many things to review and they will have a clearer understand having just experienced it.

Jesus will be able to teach them openly and plainly about the Heavenly Father and His amazing plan of redemption, about Jesus as the true Messiah brought back to life and How He relates to the Father.

Keep in mind, we have 2000 years of church history that helps bring clarity to the relationship between the Father and he Son.

They didn’t have that and they will need much clarification.

Jesus will shoot as clear and straight with them as possible...

In verse 26, Jesus returns to the subject of prayer in His name that we see in verses 23-24.

He brings some interesting clarity.

It makes sense to surmise that the “day” He is referring is again, post resurrection.

Illustrate -

John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed.

(Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1618.

The point?

Jesus wanted to make sure they understood why they were to pray in the Name of Christ.

It wasn’t because the Father didn’t love and appreciate the Disciples!

No!

This coming day would give the disciples a beautiful intimacy with the Father that was impossible apart form Jesus’ redemptive work.

In that day they could have sweet fellowship with the Father!

Jesus would not need to go to the Father on their behalf, they would have personal access to their Abba (Papa) through the one and only Name, Jesus!

John MacArthur - I do not say.

Christ was clarifying what He meant by praying in His name.

He did not mean asking Him to ask the Father, as if the Father was indifferent to believers, but not to His Son.

On the contrary, the Father loves Christ’s own.

In fact, the Father sent the Son to redeem them and then return.

Asking in Jesus’ name means simply asking on the basis of His merit, His righteousness, and for whatever would honor and glorify Him so as to build His kingdom.

- John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed.

(Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1618.

Do you see why the Father loves the Disciples?

Two reasons.

One, because they loved Jesus...

Second, they believed that He came from God...

John

Illustrate -

Within the Trinity someone had to leave Heaven to fulfill the plan of the Father.

Jesus, the eternal Son, left!

Jesus, the eternal Son came into the world in a very humble way, lived a sinless life and offered himself up at the only acceptable sacrifice for your sin and mine.

Once this was complete, the plan was for the Son to return to the Father and sit at His right hand.

They believed this about Jesus and it was that belief, according to this text, that endeared them to the Father.

Listen, the more and more people that believe these things about Jesus…the more and more people that buy into the Fathers plan!

And this is the Father’s plan to use the Son to overcome the World!

And the world is overcome, in part, through changed lives!

The more believers, the more influence for Christ, them more cultural change.

Do you want to know how to overcome the world?

Share the Fathers plan with the unbelievers around you.

As they are overcome by the grace and love of Jesus, the more the world will be overcome.

Remember, Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ!

Illustrate - You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make um drink!

True, very true!

But you can salt His oats...

Apply - The disciples believed on Jesus and the Father loved them as a result!

This is the Gospel in a nutshell!

This plan of the Father is brilliant!

It will ultimately overcome the world.

Review - Jesus is the Ultimate Overcomer!

Jesus Overcomes the World because of the Loving Plan of the Father

2. Jesus Overcomes the World by Revealing He Came from God (vs.

29-30)

Point 2.

Nobody likes to feel stupid or like they don’t “get” something.

My dad used to get so frustrated with me that I couldn’t “get” algebra!

He would laugh because he couldn’t get that I didn’t get it!

It came easily to him but not for me.

I didn’t like to admit that!

And I think this is what is happening with the disciples.

They didn’t want to admit that they were not fully tracking with Jesus...

Apparently, from their words, they all of a sudden understand what Jesus is talking about.

Now, do you see a bit of a problem here between what Jesus said in verses 25-26?

Take a look again...

Do you see it?

Jesus said, “The hour is coming...” and “In that day...” Yet the disciples say that they are already getting it!