Jesus' Witness Protection Program

Main Idea

The Holy Spirit tells Jesus’ disciple’s Jesus’ message after he leaves

Introduction

Illustration: Witness protection is security provided to a threatened person delivering testimonial evidence to the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during, and after a trial, usually by police. While a witness may only require protection until the conclusion of a trial, some witnesses are provided with a new identity and may live out the rest of their lives under government protection.

The United States established a formal program of witness protection, run by the U.S. Marshals Service, under the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. Before that, witness protection had been instituted under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 to protect people testifying against members of the Ku Klux Klan. Earlier in the 20th century, the Federal Bureau of Investigation also occasionally crafted new identities to protect witnesses.

Before witness protection funds can be sought, law enforcement must conduct an assessment of the threat or potential for danger. This assessment includes an analysis of the extent the person or persons making the threats appear to have the resources, intent, and motivation to carry out the threats and how credible and serious the threats appear to be. When threats are deemed credible and witnesses request law enforcement assistance, witness protection funds can be used to provide assistance to witnesses which helps law enforcement keep witnesses safe and help ensure witnesses appear in court and provide testimony.

Transition To Body- Context of John 13-16

John 15:26–27 ESV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:1 ESV

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:4 ESV

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Body

Jesus’ Sympathy & Wisdom In Communication

John 16:12 ESV

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

bear

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.55 βαστάζω; φέρω

to accept, but with the implication of the truth being difficult to comprehend or to respond to properly

Holy Spirit’s Submission & Clarity In Declaration

John 16:13 ESV

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Illustration: 3-steps to better Communication

Communicating well can help you to maintain good relationships, avoid conflict and even increase your likelihood of getting what you want.

Be An Active Listener- Good listeners ask questions, respect people's right to disagree, and know when to offer help.

Be An Assertive Communicator-

Aggressive communication involves speaking in a forceful and hostile manner that alienates others.

Passive communication is characterised by not expressing your thoughts, feelings or wishes. This form of communication can make you feel like others are walking all over you.

Assertive communication involves clearly expressing what you think, how you feel and what you want, without demanding that you must have things your way.

Mind Your Body Language-

Quick to Hear...

James 1:19–20 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Hearing God in the OT

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1. The Hearing of Revelation outside the NT.

The strength of the underlying awareness that all hearing is referred to God and His will emerges most clearly in the use of the schema, the “Hear, O Israel,” as a daily confession.16 The three portions to be heard (Dt. 6:4–9; 11:13–21; Nu. 15:37–41) treat of the way in which God’s commandments are to be observed. The seeing of God is reserved for the hour of death and the life beyond.

Hearing God in NT

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 2. The Hearing of Revelation in the NT.

The NT revelation, too, is a Word to be heard. It is message, proclamation.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 2. The Hearing of Revelation in the NT.

As is only natural, the content of hearing is determined by the content of the message. In the New Testament this is always the offering of salvation and ethical demand in one. Hearing, then, is always the reception both of grace and of the call to repentance. This means that the only marks to distinguish true hearing from purely physical hearing are faith (Mt. 8:10; 9:2; 17:20 etc.) and action (Mt. 7:16, 24, 26; R. 2:13 etc.)

Clarity-

the quality of being coherent and intelligible.

the quality of transparency or purity.

"the crystal clarity of water"

God’s Controlling Influence Through Holy Spirit

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. πνεῦμα

God’s being as controlling influence, with focus on association with humans, Spirit, spirit as that which differentiates God

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. πνεῦμα

Because of its heavenly origin and nature this Spirit is called (the) Holy Spirit

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. πνεῦμα

in these three places the Spirit of Truth is the Paraclete promised by Jesus upon his departure

If Anyone Be In Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

truth

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 72.2 ἀλήθεια, ας

the content of that which is true and thus in accordance with what actually happened—‘truth

Spirit of Truth- 5X in New Testament

Guiding followers of Jesus Christ

John 16:13 ESV

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

guide

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 27.17 ὁδηγέω

to guide someone in acquiring information—‘to lead someone to know, to guide someone in learning

Abiding in followers of Jesus Christ

John 14:17 ESV

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Helping followers of Jesus Christ

John 15:26 ESV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Focusing followers of Jesus Christ

1 John 4:6 ESV

6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Testifying to followers of Jesus Christ

1 John 5:6 ESV

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

Holy Spirit’s Shine & Responsibility In Declaration

John 16:14 ESV

14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

glorify

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 87.24 δοξάζω

to cause someone to have glorious greatness—‘to make gloriously great, to glorify.’

Let Your Light So Shine

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

take/receive what is Jesus’ & transfer to Jesus’ disciples

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 57.125 δέχομαι; λαμβάνω; λῆμψις, εως

to receive or accept an object or benefit for which the initiative rests with the giver, but the focus of attention in the transfer is upon the receiver

known

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.197 ἀναγγέλλω

to provide information, with the possible implication of considerable detail—‘to announce, to inform, to tell.

1 Corinthians 10:31–33 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Triune God’s Sharing & Partnership (Fellowship) In Declaration

John 16:15 ESV

15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

mine

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 92.2 ἐμός, ή, όν

pertaining to a speaker—‘my, mine, of me

Luke 12:32 ESV

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Philippians 2:3–6 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Hebrews 13:15–16 ESV

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

John 3:16 ESV

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.

Transition To Close- Jesus Put Us In A Witness Protection Program

that we Could Glorify Him Later as our Personal LORD & Savior

Glorify Jesus through your witness & testimony of Jesus’ saving power

Friends of Jesus Christ abide & bear fruit

Illustration: 1999’s HBO Movie “Witness Program” starring Forest Whitaker

South Boston career criminal Bobby "Bats" Batton, facing execution by his partner in crime, Theo Cruise, a Charlestown mobster, whom the FBI wants behind bars for a double murder, is offered a deal by the feds: immunity from prosecution for several serious crimes in exchange for testimony against Theo Cruise, after which he and his family will join the Federal Witness Protection Program.

Batton accepts the offer, and he, his wife Cindy, his Harvard-bound son Sean, and young daughter Suzie spend five days with federal marshal Steve Beck (Forest Whitaker), who coaches them in their new identities in preparation for their relocation to Seattle.

Trying to cope without money, friends, relatives, pets, possessions, or any semblance of a past existence proves to be more difficult than any of them anticipated. When the family slowly begins to disintegrate under the weight of recriminations and frustration, Bobby wonders if his freedom is worth the sacrifices his loved ones have been forced to make.

You Will Inherit Eternal Life For Your Sacrifice

Matthew 19:29 ESV

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

To Live Is Christ...

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

If We Have Died with Him, We Will Also Live With Him

2 Timothy 2:11–13 ESV

11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

So The Holy Spirit In You Only Will Glorify God!

John 16:14–15 ESV

14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Friends Of Jesus Love One Another!

John 15:12–17 ESV

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Close- High Priestly Prayer

Our Heavenly Father Glorifies The Son

The Son Glorifies Our Heavenly Father

John 17:1–5 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Jesus Is Gloried Through The Church

John 17:10–11 ESV

10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Jesus’ Followers Receive His Glory To Be One/Unified

John 17:20–25 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

Make God’s Name Famous/Known

John 17:26 ESV

26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Go Make Disciples!

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:7–8 ESV

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”