True Reconciliation

This morning, we are continuing our study of the cost of Salvation. What it cost Jesus, and what it costs us, as Jesus’ followers. If you want to see what we looked at in the previous weeks, to be reminded, just look at them on Maranatha’s Website, or YouTube channel.

This is where John’s gospel shifts focus from Jesus ministry to the Jewish people to preparing for the reason why he came, to die on the cross. Some Greeks ask to see Jesus. John includes this conversation with these non-Jewish God-fearers to remind us that Jesus is for all people. He’s not just for whatever people group you belong to, he is offering salvation to anyone who will believe in him, regardless of class, race, orientation, background, political party, whatever. Jesus died to save sinners. If you’re a sinner, then he died in order to rescue you from your sin.

Some Greeks ask to see Jesus. This is where John’s gospel shifts focus from Jesus ministry to the Jewish people to preparing for the reason why he came, to die on the cross, which is referenced for us again in a few verses. John includes this conversation with these non-Jewish God-fearers to remind us that Jesus is for all people. He’s not just for whatever people group you belong to, he is offering salvation to anyone who will believe in him, regardless of class, race, orientation, background, political party, whatever. Jesus died to save sinners. If you’re a sinner, then he died in order to rescue you from your sin.

So, these Greeks come saying to Philip, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” When I was at Seminary, the pulpit in the seminary chapel had that verse on a plaque which was visible to every preacher who preached from that pulpit. It is a real and absolutely necessary reminder. We can so very, very easily begin to preach and teach people a false God, or false Gospel. This reminds us: preach Jesus.

These Greeks, wanted to see Jesus, the messiah. And Jesus says, somewhat cryptically, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” This is what he means. Jesus hour, the whole reason why he came from heaven was at hand. He was going to be glorified.

That actually sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? I’m thinking a parade, like what we’ll have next week, with Palm Sunday, but wait, no one will be here, oh, right social distancing, no more parades....

But no, that’s not what Jesus is saying. It is not going to be a parade like that. It is going to be a different kind of glorifying. And then he explains what kind of glorifying it will be: I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Jesus is telling them, point blank. I’m going to die. It is necessary for me to die. Unless I die, no one will live. Just as a kernel of wheat must be planted in order for it to produce more kernels of wheat, so must the Son of Man die, so that other sons and daughters of mankind can be saved, and truly live.

Now, I’m going to skip over vefrses 25 & 27, for a moment, and come back to them later.

While Jesus is still speaking to his disciples, the Greek believers, and the crowd, he offers a prayer, bourne out of the extreme difficulty he is facing: dying for all the sin of the world. What shall I ask the Father? Save me from the very reason I have come, just because it is difficult? Father, glorify your name.”

Jesus knows that the hour will bring glory to the Father. He knows what needs to be done, and he willingly goes forward to it.

Then! The Father speaks! “I have glorfied it, and I will glorify it again!” This is for us. God the Father received glory by Jesus’ faithfulness.

Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. Jesus came to defeat Satan, sin and death, all in one fell swoop. The war is over. All that remain until Christ returns are skirmishes.

Then, Jesus goes on to say, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Remember last week’s message, how Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as Moses lifted up the snake? Again, Jesus is saying that he would be dying on a cross in order to atone for, that is, pay for your sins, my sins. Jesus took the curse upon himself, and simultaneously removed it from all who believe.

He is drawing all people to himself. No, this is not universalism—this does not mean that all people will live eternally with God. Hitler, Judas, and anyone who does not look on Christ and believe that he has paid for their sins, even people who have done great things, if Bill Gates does not believe in Jesus, (he might believe in Jesus, I don’t know), but if he doesn't’ believe, then he will not be saved. Salvation comes through believing that Jesus died for sins, on the cross. Anyone who says differently is lying.

The people there didn’t get it. They didn’t understand that the Messiah had to die for people’s sins. They thought he’d come, and rule and reign right away forever. Dying didn’t fit their picture.

And yet there he is the true messiah right in front of them. He is the Light shining in the darkness for all to see. If I were to light a candle right now in this place, you’d hardly notice it. But if we were all in the pitch black darkness of a cave, even a birthday candle would seem super bright!

Jesus was shining the light of truth right in front of all to see, and though the darkness of Satan and sin was all around him, people loved darkness. Some, though came to the light, saw the light, and became sons of light.

We need to acknowledge two things. First, we have all sinned. We have all sinned against God and others. Some of us can immediately call to mind sins that we’ve committed, as well as sins that have been committed against us.

Jesus paid the cost of all those sins, by being beaten, whipped—most people died from the whipping, huge chunks of flesh were ripped off his body, and he was crucified. One of the most heinous executions invented by mankind. The pain though wasn’t what caused him to sweat blood in the garden where he pleaded that the cup be taken away. No, it was the weight of sin, and the death it demanded that caused that. Your sin, my sin. Jesus, pure and utterly innocent became sin, for you. For me.

So, that’s the cost of reconciliation. That’s what reconciliation costs us. We can’t just brush it off. We can’t. We have to accept that Jesus paid for our sin by dying for us. In order to be right with God, with Jesus, with others, we have to die. Look now at verses 25-26:

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.”

So there it is. If in this life, we try to keep it, if we try to have our best life now. If we do whatever we can to get ahead for the sake of getting ahead, if we live without a care for others, if we live as though this life is it, then we’ll lose it, eternally.

What this is saying is we must love Jesus more than our homes, more than our cars, more than our sports teams, more than our athlete idols, singing idols, spouse idols, family idols, professional idols, more than anything. We have to so love Jesus above everything else that in comparison, our love for Jesus makes it look like our love for others is like hatred. Consider it this way, take the brightest led bulb you can find. that’s your love for your family, and whatnot. Put that bulb in front of the sun. The sun is the love you have for Jesus—that’s the order of magnitude brighter your love for Jesus needs to be.

We have to be willing to give up our lives, to die with Christ, in order to really live. In comparison, those who love Jesus more than this life, will demonstrate it by how they live. They will serve others without recognition. They will do what is right, no matter what. They will quietly work in the background, never drawing attention to themselves, in the full knowledge that God sees their work. They will gladly give up whatever the trappings of this world are, because they already have everything in God.

Please pray that God will bring you to this truth. Die, then you will live. Die and you will produce fruit. Many will come to know Jesus through your humble service. There is no room for pride in Christ. Jesus turned everything upside down. Everyone thought his death was the greatest humiliation. He proved it was the Father’s greatest glory. What are they saying in heaven? “Worthy is the lamb who was slain, worthy to receive glory, honour and power.”

Now, I close with the practical application.

How do we live as reconciling people? How do we live as people reconciled to God? How do we live as people reconciled to each other? Jesus made it clear in the Lord’s prayer, if we don’t forgive others, we won’t be forgiven by God.

Turn with me to which teaches us how to live as true Christians, as reconciled people.

Love must be genuine. No fake sentimentality here. No pretending. Love, even your enemies, love. Not with your made up love, but the Love of Christ in you. Hate evil; do good. Love one another with a brotherly love. Stick up for each other, have each other’s back.

Out do one another in showing honour.

Honour. Weight, value. Ever wonder why Jesus died for you? Because he values you. Not your looks, not what you do. because you bear God’s image. You have value. You are valuable.

Those who are also made in God’s image? Valuable. Treat them as such. Hold them in high esteem. They are not a means for your end. Honour them.

All this is easy to say. It is hard to do. It is why Jesus went to the cross. Likewise reconciliation requires a cross. For this reason he says, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me.” Are you willing to die? Are you willing to suffer?

I planned this sermon series months ago. With all that has gone on in Maranatha these last several months, I didn’t want to preach this sermon today. But Christ has been working in and through my heart. The conversation goes something like this: “You believe you’re forgiven by me, Paul? Then demonstrate it by forgiving others. Value others before yourself.”

“But That’s hard, Jesus.”

“Yes, Paul, yes it is. But you cannot say you love me, and not simultaneously die to yourself. You must decrease, I must increase. Love, value, honour those in your life.”

So, I’m standing before you all today declaring that I will go to whatever lengths Christ is calling me to go, dying to my sinful, prideful, wilful self in order to give glory, honour and praise to Jesus. I will take whatever may come. If it takes two to tango in sin, it takes two to tango in reconciliation.

Look at Jesus. Be like Jesus. He is the creator of the universe. He had all glory and honour and power. He gave that up and became a servant, the lowest of the low. That’s what he’s called me to be. That’s what he’s called all of us to be. It took the supernatural power of the eternal Jesus to save you, to reconcile you to the Father. It takes the supernatural power of the eternal Jesus to reconcile us to each other.

Love each other. Love your neighbour. Love, really love. Amen.