Untitled Sermon (6)

How many of us love receiving good news? Often times when we receive good news our response to the one who shared the good news with us is something like, Thank you for sharing that good news, you just made my day.

You see all of us love receiving good news and we love reading about Good News.

The Bible the number one selling book in the World is full of Good News. In fact the Good news is what we call the first four books of the New Testament. The Gospel of the Good news about Jesus Christ and what he has to offer.

In the fourth book of good news known to us as the gospel of John, John informs us that the reason why he took the time to write the book was so that we could come to know Jesus and and by knowing him we could revive the good news that he has to offer. The gift of eternal life.

John is very specific in his writing and he purposefully shares with his audience 7 miracles and seven saying of Jesus that help us as the readers of this book come to know Jesus better and understand more fully what the Good news is that Jesus offers those who believe in him.

In John chapter 2 we learn about the first sign or miracles that helps people understand who Jesus really is. And boy did the people love receiving this good news.

I imagine that the servants who were put in charge of keeping the drinks cumming were sweating bullets when they realized that they hadn't prepared enough wine for the party.

Thankfully Jesus mother knowing that her son wasn’t just an ordinary guest stepped in and saved the day by requesting that Jesus provide more wine.

Though a little aggravated Jesus obeys his mother and miraculously provides more than enough wine to get the servants through the party.

After seeing and witnessing the good news that Jesus provided his and many others began to believe that he was more than just a carpenter.

From there Jesus spent time sharing some more good news with a man named Nicodemus in John chapter 3. Nicodemus was a high ranking ruler of the Jews who had witnessed Jesus share with others good news and thus wanted to know more about who Jesus was.

The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus led to Jesus sharing the greatest news that anyone has ever shared. Jesus tells Nicodemus that the God in whom he serves loves him and everyone so much that if he will believe and be born again of water and spirit than he will never have to die but rather will be a able to live for eternity.

In Chapter 4 of John Jesus continues to talk about the good news concerning water by telling the woman at the well that He can offer her living water. After going home and telling others about this good news and encouraging everyone to come and see this man that I just met. Not only did he offer me eternal life but he was able to me everything that I have done in my life. This woman tells the people to come see this man after all could this possible be the Christ.

Its at this point in the Gospel of John that Jesus began to grow in popularity. Many people began following him so they too could witness all of the signs and miracles that he was performing along with hear him speak of this good news.

After spending some time with the Samaritans Jesus returned to the place where he turned water to wine only to provide an important official with some more Good News. Jesus tells this official that his sick son who was close to dying would be healed and continue on living.

From there in chapter 5 Jesus continues to offer Good news at the pool of Bethesda. Specifically to a man who had been disabled for thirty eight years. Jesus delivers good news to this man by telling him to get up and walk.

These examples of Good news are just a fraction of the good news that Jesus would have shared with those that he came in contact with up until this point.

So as you can imagine, Jesus had developed quite a following. I mean after all wouldn’t you stop what you were doing and follow a man that was doing and offering the things that Jesus of Nazareth was offering?

In chapter 6 we come to the feeding of the five thousand. A those who were following Jesus at this point had no doubt ably seen some pretty amazing things hand had heard lot of good news coming from Jesus.

Jesus had shared so much good news that over 5 thousand men had gathered together with the purpose of making him King so that they could over take the roman empire.

Knowing the motives behind these men Jesus slipped away only to be found by this large crowd once again.

And its at this point that Jesus the bearer of good news begins to get a little bit frustrated with those who were following him.

In John 6:26 Jesus says to the crowd

John 6:26 ESV

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

You see this large crowd continues to follow Jesus but after realizing that they were not going to be able to take him by force to become their new King they decide well, if he won’t be our next king, then the least he can do is provide us with another meal.

Jesus from here goes into a lengthy discussion about the type of food that he has to offer. Jesus tells them in verse 27 that they shouldn’t seek after bread that will only make their stomachs fool for a little while but rather they should work for the food that endures to eternal life.

After a lengthy discussion about this bread that (note son bread) provides eternal life many began to complain and say this is a hard saying.

I imagine many were thinking I have appreciated all the food he has provided and all the great news we have witnessed but I don’t know if I can continue to follow someone who is asking s to believe these difficult teachings.