Are We Following John’s Jesus?

JOHN’S JESUS

INTRODUCTION: To read the Gospel of John prayerfully is to discover Jesus in many of His facets. To this end, read it again and again.

So let’s meet John’s Jesus.

John 10:3–6 “3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant,”

I was reading last week in my devotional book, Oswalt Chambers for August 6th. Something hit me, He asked a question, “When I have sadly misunderstood Jesus?” I thought this for awhile, the rest of the week really until today. Jesus is The Word! Period AMEN!

How do we muddy the scriptures waters in our life don’t we? Could it be possible to know doctrine, rules and regulations, routines, “we have always done it that way,” and really not know Jesus? I see and talk to so many people during the week, they are fumbling, wandering, they are lost. They ask dozens of people for their opinion, their thoughts, their past experiences and they never think of going to God in His Holy word.

When we make it a rule to know the doctrine of the church better than we dedicate ourselves to Jesus our lives will be a mess. When we continue going to the “rulebook” and not the playbook we are going to be living a miserable life church.

So, who is this Jesus to us?

A. He was with God (1:1).

B. He was God—the Word (1:1).

C. He was the Creator (1:3).

D. He was life (1:4).

E. He was light (1:4).

F. He became flesh (1:14).

Was Mary Mandolin focusing on the laws of the Pharisees? Of course not. Doctrine meant no more to Mary than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her. we read in:

Luke 8:2–3 “2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.”

Mary had received Jesus’ Blessings, but the bottom line is that Mary knew Jesus...

At Jesus’ grave site, we read in:

John 20:14 “14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.

John 20:16 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). In my spiritual walk, many times I have heard Jesus, His direction, His wisdom, His love for my wellbeing. Are you listening for Jesus in your day?

I need to ask you all a question, Have you been doubting something about Jesus, maybe an experience to which others has testified? Remember doubting Thomas? The others had seen Jesus but Thomas had not so he did not believe. They said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

What did Thomas say as his reply? “unless I see.......I will not believe Lk 20:25

So Thomas needed that personal touch, that personal voice of Jesus. Do we even put ourselves in the position to hear Jesus? Are we running throughout our day? This planned and that planned? I know I do!

II. Jesus is “I AM” (8:58; see Exod. 3:14).

A. I am the bread of life (6:35; 6:48).

B. I am the light of the world (8:12).

C. I am the door (10:7).

D. I am the good shepherd (10:11, 14).

E. I am the resurrection (11:25).

F. I am the way, the truth, and the life (14:6).

G. I am the true vine (15:1).

Throughout your day or week, have you ever selfishly denied Jesus like Peter did? Peter doubted Jesus on the water, Jesus said “come to me” Peter started to then Peter got caught up in the storm, the waves, the wind. Kind of like life isn’t it? Do you get caught up in life”s storms? We kind of start out the day with Jesus but fade away don’t we?

What about before Jesus’ crucifixion? Peter again doubted even denied that he ever knew Jesus! remember Peter denied Jesus 3 times. Remember, after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Why? to let us all know that we will be weak at times but Jesus had great things planned for Peter, He build His church through Peter.

John 21:16–18 “16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon (Peter) son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”

Have you ever heard that still small voice asking you, repeating the question, ______________fill in blank, “do you love me?” ____________fill in blank, do you love me? 3 times, ___________do you love me? “Them feed my sheep....;

The glorified Jesus said, “I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore”

Revelation 1:17–18 “17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”

Do you love Jesus?

AMEN