Category: Sermon

Good morning church! Glad to see you all this morning. Thank you so much for your prayers, messages and concern as our family was recovering from the sickness. I’m so happy to be back this Sunday to fellowship and be encouraged with you all. I’m grateful for the gift of the local church.

Even as we turn to God’s Word this morning, I want to remind us that this is a very precious and important time. Because if the Word is being preached faithfully as it should be preached, then all of us will be held accountable to what we’ve heard.

Let’s remember that our accountability isn’t just to the pastor or to the church, but our accountability will be to God Himself. So that’s the seriousness with which we need to approach this time.

As a church we’ve been going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the gospel of John. The apostle John wrote this book with the laser eyed focus of helping us believe (commit, entrust and surrender) and know (personally, intimately, experientially) Jesus.

And right now we find ourselves in chapter 7 where the events of this chapter happen around 6 months before Jesus’ death and resurrection. So he has spent a considerable amount of time doing ministry by then. What we’re going to learn today is the different responses people had toward Him. But before we proceed, let’s look to the Lord in prayer.

Pray

Imagine if you and I were part of a kingdom where our king had gone away on a long journey for many years and we were eagerly waiting for Him to come to us. Imagine the scene as our king finally returns home! What do you think the responses and reaction would be?

Joy & celebration – a month of festivals would be planned to celebrate the coming of our king. A red carpet would be rolled out & a stage would be set to honor our king. He would be welcomed with such warmth and affection – because this is our king! This is the One that we’ve been waiting for.

Interestingly, the Jews and the Israelites waited for centuries for the Promised King and Messiah to arrive. But when he finally arrived in the person of Jesus – God’s Son, their response was exactly the opposite. It was one of rejection. It was one of hatred.

John 1:11 ESV

[11] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Today what we’re going to do is spend some time digging deep into the various responses that people had towards Jesus their King. Let’s try to understand why they responded in the way that they did. Are there any lessons that we can learn in terms of our responses to Jesus?

1. Response of Jesus’ family (V1-9)

[1] After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

The context that John sets up for us is the growing hostility and aggression of the Jewish leaders towards Jesus. By hostility, it’s not just their frustration or criticism of Jesus. They are actively contemplating murder. They’ve begun making plans on how to eliminate Jesus.

Jesus was aware of that and so He decides to remain in Galilee rather than go to Judea where a plan is being hatched on how to kill Jesus.

[2] Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand.

The Jewish feast of booths or feast of tabernacles was one of the most popular and celebrated festivals for the Jews. Crowds would travel from all over and come to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival. Not just Jews, even foreigners would be present during this festival.

What would happen here is that the people would make temporary shelters made of leaves and branches and live in it for one whole week. This was to remind them of God’s presence, provision and protection over them while they roamed around in the wilderness for 40 years.

The timing of this festival was also important. It would be during the time of agricultural harvest – so it was a time to thank God for His provision in the last year and it was just before the rainy season – so it was a moment for them to hope and ask God to renew favor for the next year.

By NT times, Jews had added some more rituals to the Feast of Booths. One was a ceremony with water which was done everyday in the morning. Then there was a ceremony involving lights. The reason why I’m mentioning these ceremonies is because Jesus will touch upon these themes in the coming passages.

Jesus will reveal to His people that He is the fulfillment of the Feast of Booths. This whole festival was about Him. To just give one example: the word that’s used for booths or tabernacle is the exact same word used by John in John 1:14

John 1:14 ESV

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

That word “dwelt” among us is the same word that is used to describe the Feast of Booths. What is John trying to say here? Just as God remained with His people and took care of them while they were in the wilderness for 40 years, here is our Lord who has come to permanently live with us and take care of us not just for our short earthly lives but unto eternity.

[3] So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.

[4] For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”

Jesus’ brothers advice him to seize the moment – make the most of the opportunity of having the entire Jewish crowd present in one place at the Feast of Booths & create this spectacle by doing some amazing miracles out there and according to them, that’s how Jesus is supposed to reveal Himself to the world.

Seasoned politicians and businessmen know exactly how to do that. They identify the grand moments and then they know what to say and do in those moments to make it go viral and then become the talk of the town and create hysteria around them.

That’s what Jesus’ brothers are telling him – if you truly are the Christ, if you are who you claim to be, then why are you doing it in secret? You need to go and do this in public.

[5] For not even his brothers believed in him.

What the brothers were saying wasn’t coming from a place of wanting Jesus to be glorified, it was coming from a place of sarcasm or mocking.

This verse is critical because though the brothers of Jesus saw Him up close, they had the best seat in the house to hear from Jesus, to witness His miracles, to see His spotless life and yet they didn’t believe in Him.

Proximity to Jesus doesn’t guarantee faith in Jesus. We can be close to Jesus in physical proximity and still be far away from Him.

[6] Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. [7] The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. [8] You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” [9] After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

Jesus reminds His brothers that He cannot operate according to their timing and plans but He operates according to God’s timing and plans. Their plan of Jesus revealing Himself to the world meant Jesus going and “wowing” the crowd with miracles. God’s plan of Jesus revealing Himself to the world meant Jesus going and dying on the cross for our sins.

It’s the dealing with our sins that is why Jesus came to the earth. Jesus clarifies that in V7 – the world hates Him because He testified that it’s work is evil. Confronting sins. Exposing people’s hearts. And then providing a way for saving and rescuing them is why Jesus came. Not to come and “wow” people with miracles.

What’s interesting is that the entire time when Jesus was there in the Feast of Booths, he performed no miracles. His primary purpose was to expose people’s hearts. Expose their need for help, so that they can run to Him for salvation.

That was the response of his family. But there was also a

2. Response of the crowd (V10-13)

 [10] But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. [11] The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” [12] And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” [13] Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

Jesus does go to the Feast later on but not publicly but in private – in secret because the time had not yet come to reveal Himself and His purposes to the people.

But though Jesus went there in secret, there was a buzz around Him. The Jewish leaders were obviously searching for Him.

Among the crowd, there was a divided opinion on Jesus and it couldn’t be more contrasting from each other. Some people said “He is a good man” while others said that “He is leading people astray” – by calling God His Father and equating Himself with God. Completely opposite views of Jesus. There was no neutral ground. People either loved Him or they hated Him.

It’s similar to how CS Lewis describes the trilemma when it comes to Jesus. He is either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord. Every person irrespective of who you are, will have to make a decision on what you think about Jesus – on what your response is going to be towards Jesus.

Do you think he’s a liar (fake claims)? Do you think he’s a lunatic (he’s crazy and he doesn’t know what he’s saying) or He is the Lord? But it’s a risky statement to say that Jesus is Lord because if He is, then it’s going to demand your entire life’s surrender. Not 50 percent, not 70 percent, not 90 percent – 100 percent of your life needs to be turned over to Him if He is Lord.

That was the response of the crowd, earlier we saw the response of Jesus family, but there is also

3. Response of Jewish leaders (V14-24)

[14] About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.

This is an astonishing verse. Because we thought Jesus didn’t want to go public, we thought Jesus wanted to be secretive. We thought Jesus wanted to keep things under wraps until later. Why is Jesus then going and teaching in the temple? It’s like going into the lion’s den when you know that people are plotting to kill you. Why is Jesus doing this?

In Mark chapter 6 which talks about the same account of Jesus feeding the five thousand, Mark mentions a very interesting comment.

Mark 6:34 ESV

[34] When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

When Jesus saw the crowd and His heart was moved with compassion for them. When he saw that they were sheep without a shepherd, Jesus’ way of responding to them was by teaching them. The most loving things that Jesus could do to care for them was to teach them. Instruct them. Point them to the Father because that’s what our heart needs. That’s the only thing that can quench the longings of our heart which is the truth of God’s word.

Have you ever considered that one of the most loving things that God can do for you is teach you His Word? Have you ever considered that one of the most caring acts of God is to care for you through His Word?

We sometimes think of God’s care only in terms of daily provision, answered prayer – and these things are important. We ought to come to God with every kind of need and He delights in providing for our every need. But over and above all those needs, He knows that we are sheep without a shepherd, and so He loves teaching us through His Word. That’s His care for us.

So we begin to understand why Jesus despite the animosity and hostility decided to still go and teach in the Temple.

[15] The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?”

Jewish Rabbi’s had to undergo rabbinic seminary training for many years before they were able to teach in public settings. And so they were shocked when they heard Jesus had such amazing command over the OT Scriptures and was able to preach with such authority without having any rabbinic training or credentials. In our time we would say “how is he able to do it without any formal degree or certificate?” How is this carpenter’s son preaching with such clarity and authority?

 [16] So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. [17] If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Jesus’ knowledge and authoritydidn’t come from learning under a rabbi or going to rabbinic seminary. Jesus’ knowledge and authority comes from His relationship with the Father. Jesus openly declares the source of His knowledge – “It’s come from my Father”. It tells us a lot about Jesus’ close relationship with Father, where Jesus trusts the Father completely and His Father delights to reveal everything to Him. There’s nothing hidden between them.

And then Jesus lays down an interesting test for people to know whether Jesus’ teaching is from God or self- manufactured? “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will” – in other words, if you desire to obey God – if the attitude of your heart is one of obedience then you will know that this teaching is from God.

Again, let’s remember who Jesus is speaking to right now. Learned Jewish leaders – Jesus is telling them that if they need to test Jesus’ teaching and understand its source, it can happen only if they have an attitude of obedience. If they don’t have an attitude of obedience, they will not understand that this teaching has come from the Father.

Again, just to highlight the importance of having an attitude of obedience when we approach God’s Word.

[18] The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

In everything Jesus ever did or said, He always sought the glory of the Father. Time and time again we see Jesus giving glory to the Father in the Gospels. Just like the obedience test, this is also another test to show that Jesus is truthful in everything that He says and does.

 [19] Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” [20] The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” [21] Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. [22] Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. [23] If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? [24] Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Then as Jesus continues to teach, he exposes their hypocrisy and sin. He peels off the layers to reveal what’s really going on in the hearts of these super religious leaders.

Firstly, he exposes their sin with respect to the law. On the outside it looked like these were very learned, obedient followers of the law. But deep down in their hearts, they weren’t keepers but breakers of the law because they were plotting to kill Jesus.

Why were they plotting to kill Jesus because Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. Jesus then addresses that as well by exposing their hypocrisy and double standards.

These Jewish leaders were okay making allowances if someone gets circumcised on a Sabbath because that is needed for that person to be included into the covenant family. But they made a huge scene with Jesus healing and restoring a person on the Sabbath. So in one case, an allowance is made on the Sabbath and in the other case, it becomes the basis for rejection, hatred and murder.

And that’s why these Jewish leaders hated Jesus even more because Jesus exposed what was going on in their hearts. But before we get judgmental on them, what if you and I were in their shoes?

Many times we imagine how beautiful and wonderful it would be if we were there in Jesus’ time listening to him preach. The truth is that many of us wouldn’t find his preaching too comfortable to listen to. Why? Because it would also expose our hearts and intentions. Not from a place of insulting and shaming or schooling them, but to actually help us have a right view of our problem so that we can run to Jesus as the solution. So even in the midst of this very hard and difficult teaching exposing hearts, Jesus wants the Jewish leaders to repent.

Good morning church! Happy Resurrection Sunday to all of us! I wanted to welcome everyone, even our new friends who have joined us this morning. We’re so glad that you’re here and we pray that this time together would be meaningful for you and would help you appreciate Jesus and what He has done in a new and fresh way.

Before we begin, let’s ask God to help us make sense of this passage & also be able to respond to Him in humility and trust.

If you were to walk up to someone on the street and ask them to rank their greatest fears of life, what do you think would come up on top almost every time?

It would be the fear of death! The fear of passing away. And there are of course other real fears: fear of losing a job, fear of not having enough money, fear of broken relationships and conflict, fear of war, fear of what tomorrow would bring – uncertainty, fear of getting a terminal disease.

All these are very real fears, but the fear of death would still be the topmost fear in every person’s life. Why? Because it’s an inevitable reality. The richest and the wealthiest among us also faces the reality of death as much as the poorest among us. The strongest and healthiest among us also faces the reality of death as much as the weakest and unhealthiest.

It is a common, shared, mutual reality for every human being who has ever lived on the earth. No wonder it ranks on top of everyone’s fears.

And that’s why there’s a multi billion dollar industry today called the life extension industry or longevity industry that’s trying different things to prolong a person’s life, to keep him or her from aging or dying. The world is trying to find a solution for something that they don’t fully understand and for which they simply don’t have the expertise. It’s simply beyond human control.

And that’s why passages like the one that we’re studying this morning are so valuable for us because it tells us that it’s not just our modern era that has questions about death and what happens after death. Believers in the early church also wrestled with the same questions.

The church in Corinth in fact wrote to their spiritual leader Paul asking him about what happens after death? Some wondered if their existence completely ceased after death (no spirit, no body)? Some others wondered if only the spirit went into the afterlife without any physical body (only spirit, no body)? They wondered if the resurrection was real or is it just a work of fiction?

And Paul being their loving, caring spiritual father and leader spends a whole long chapter explaining, proving and reasoning with the church so that they understand that the resurrection is real and that’s the greatest, sure shot hope that we have against the reality of death.

3 Reasons why we can say that resurrection is real for a believer:

1. Because of the basis of the resurrection (V1-4)

[1] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Paul takes them back to the very first message that he preached to them. What was this message? It was the Gospel message. The word Gospel means good news! It’s the good news that Jesus has brought God’s rule into the world through His life, death and resurrection. We’ll dive deep into that in just a few moments.

And then he goes on to say that when the Corinthian church heard this gospel message, they received it. They soaked it in. They welcomed it. They decided to bank their whole lives upon this gospel message.

And then he says something so amazing – “in which you stand and by which you are being saved” – lest the believers think that this gospel message was only necessary on the first day they believed and afterwards they graduated out of the gospel. Lest they think that they no longer needed the gospel and that they could do without it.

And Paul tells them – no you are standing on this gospel message today. You are being changed by this gospel message today. Don’t ever think that you can outgrow the need of the Gospel in your life. Don’t ever think that you are a Gospel graduate. Without the Gospel, your faith simply has nothing to stand on. It’s like a chair without legs.

“If you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain”. Paul isn’t abdicating the believer’s responsibility of holding on to the gospel message that was preached to them. He’s not saying that their faith will automatically take care of itself. He’s telling the church to make an effort in holding on to the gospel message that was preached to them. He’s telling them “you need to constantly, repeatedly, daily go back to the Gospel message that was preached to you. Don’t forget that message.”

And then in V3-4, he breaks down the Gospel for them once more.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:

“First importance” – Paul is stating what was his top most priority when he preached to them. Before he preached anything else, he wanted to make sure they got this. They understood this and they believed in this. It was his No. 1 priority.

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

Christ died for whose sins? Not His sin – He was sinless, innocent and perfect. He died for our sins! The reason why Jesus died on the cross was because of our many many many sins. You and I don’t just sin in our words and our actions alone, we sin in our thoughts and attitudes as well. And all of these sins are being committed against a Holy God.

And so we have a chargesheet that lists the number of sins that we’ve committed against Holy God, and guess what? That chargesheet doesn’t end because a minute doesn’t go by without us sinning against God.

And our God is a Righteous Judge, He can’t just let moral criminals like us go scot free. If He gives us a clean chit without punishment, then He wouldn’t be Righteous. Romans 6:23 – the wages of sin is death.

The salary for our life of sins is death! We all deserve death – which is being eternally separated from God in hell. But God being so rich in mercy and love didn’t want us to be eternally separated from Him and so He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to this earth to live the life that you and I needed to live but couldn’t live. And then die the death that you and I deserved to die.

Romans 5:8 ESV

[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Whenever we look at a symbol of the cross, we ought to remember that we should have been there. That should have been us, not Him. And yet He did that for us to pay the price for that massive mountain size chargesheet with our names. He did that to clear your and my name in the eyes of God with His sacrifice.

Christ died for us in accordance with the Scriptures – this wasn’t some haphazard, last minute, reactive Plan B. This was God’s plan A all along since eternity past – before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1) and it was prophesied time and time again in the OT. Like Isaiah 53 which talks about the suffering servant and it was written 700 years before Jesus came down to the earth.

V4. that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

After Jesus paid the entirety of the price that needed to be paid to clear the enormous, massive, mountain sized chargesheet against us, he was buried in a tomb. This was real death. Jesus didn’t just faint or pass out. He died and was buried.

Then on the third Day, Jesus rose from the dead! He physically rose from the dead! How amazing is that?

Some years back we invited our neighbours home for a Christmas get together and we decided to share not just about His birth but His death and resurrection. And as I mentioned that Jesus came back to life on the third Day, one of our neighbours was stunned at hearing that. He was astonished to know that Jesus came back from the dead.

And I kept wondering, why am I not amazed at the way my neighbour was? It’s that amazing  – that there was one person who defeated death in its face!

This amazing Resurrection was also according to the Scriptures. This resurrection also was also not a reactive Plan B. It was prophesied and written down in the Scriptures. One example was the passage that we read in the morning for call to worship:

Psalm 16:10 ESV

[10] For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

David was not talking about himself here, but was prophesying how the Messiah would rise from the dead.

This is the basis of the resurrection – the Gospel message of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

The second reason why Paul is saying that resurrection is the real deal for believers

2. Because of the Proof of Christ’s resurrection (V5-11)

Paul is like a defense attorney who is calling in eye witnesses to come and present their witness accounts to Jesus’ real resurrection.

[5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Jesus appeared to Peter and the 12. These were Jesus’ close circle of inner disciples.

[6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

We’re not talking about a handful of people who saw the risen Christ. We are talking about at least 500 people who saw the risen Christ. And then he says an interesting thing – most of whom are still alive. Which means that if anyone had any doubt on the resurrection of Jesus, they could have easily cross checked with the living eye witnesses themselves.

[7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11] Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The last proof is his own testimony where he refers to himself as “untimely born” and “unworthy to be called an apostle” – why? because Paul persecuted the church. He hated the name of Jesus and he hated Jesus’ church. He was one of the approvers at Stephen’s stoning. Acts 9 tells us that Paul breathed threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus.

And so if there was one person in the world who was the hardest to convince, that was Paul. And if Paul got converted and now is being used as a minister of the Lord Jesus, then Jesus’ resurrection must be true.

So there’s the basis of resurrection – gospel message. There’s the proof of the resurrection – in terms of the eye witnesses who were still alive at that time when the letter was written. And finally, we know that the resurrection is real

3. Because of the Impact of Christ’s resurrection on us (V12-19)

 [12] Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

What Paul is saying here is huge. He’s saying that if Christ’s resurrection is a fact, then every believer’s resurrection is also a fact.

It cannot be one or the other. Both have to be true. Either there is no real resurrection for both Jesus and the believer in Christ. Or there is a real resurrection which happened to Jesus and will 100% certainly be experienced by every true believer in Christ.

[14] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

Jesus’ resurrection is central to our faith. It’s not a side topic. If Jesus isn’t raised from the dead, then Paul’s preaching and the believer’s faith is empty, zero and useless.

 [15] We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then Paul is guilty of misrepresenting God – being a false witness about God because he claimed that God raised Jesus from the dead when he preached to them which was not the case if there is no Resurrection.

 [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

Christ’s resurrection = a believer’s resurrection. We sometimes don’t fully get what it means to be united to Jesus Christ. He doesn’t take the union with us lightly.

A few examples in the Bible. When Jesus confronts Paul on the road to Damascus, He doesn’t tell him “Why are you persecuting my people?” He asks him “Why are you persecuting me?” Because persecuting Jesus’ people means persecuting Jesus’.

Ephesians 2:5-6 ESV

[5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Those who are in Christ will also have a seat with Christ in the heavenly places.

Romans 8:17- we are fellow heirs with Christ.

So close and so seriously Jesus takes His  union with the church, that He allows the church to enjoy the many privileges that He has.

It’s like a marriage where by virtue of the marriage, what belongs to the husband now also belongs to the wife and vice versa.

So in the same way, if Christ is raised, then certainly His bride – the church – His people will also be raised.

[17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

The assurance of our faith and the assurance of our forgiveness lies in Jesus’ resurrection. Good Friday was when the full payment was made. Resurrection Sunday is when we got the receipt – paid in full & you’re clear. That’s how significant it is for God and for us.

[18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

If Christ hasn’t been raised, then believers who have died believing in Him have perished forever. What was the point in trusting in Him and devoting their lives to Him if there was no resurrection?

And if our hope in Christ is only limited to this earthly life, then we are to be pitied of all the people! People need to have pity on us if there is no hope for eternity.

There is a real impact of Christ’s resurrection on our lives! That’s why we refer to it as Resurrection Sunday. Not because we just want to be different. Not even because of pagan origins of the name Easter.

But because resurrection is real for every believer in Christ? How do I know?

• Because there is a solid basis for the resurrection
• Because there is proof of the resurrection and
• Because there is an impact of Christ’s resurrection on us.

For who is not a believer

For those who are believers

Good morning church! If you’ve been tracking with us, you’re aware that we’re going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the Gospel of John.

The apostle John wrote this book precisely so that the readers would believe and know Jesus. At the end of this book, he clearly states his purpose by writing:

John 20:30-31

[30]  Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Believing and Knowing Jesus is the point of this book. So even as we prepare ourselves to hear from God’s Word, that should be the expectation in our hearts. That we would believe and know Jesus – that we would commit our lives to Him, entrust our lives to Him and know our Savior deeply and intimately.

So before we proceed, let’s ask God for help to understand this passage and apply it in our daily walk with Him.

Could you imagine people shutting their ears at the words of Jesus? Could you imagine people saying that they have heard enough of Jesus and can’t listen to him for a second more? Could you imagine people being deeply offended by the words of Jesus? And yet that’s what we see happening in our passage today.

What’s even more remarkable is the background context in which we find people being offended by Jesus. Just 24 hours earlier, many of them had witnessed an astonishing sign of Jesus feeding 5000 men alone (adding women and children – this could have been anywhere between 10-15000 people) by multiplying 5 barley loaves and 2 fishes. And it’s not as though they shared crumbs among themselves, the Bible says that the crowd ate their fill and were fully satisfied.

And so overwhelmed were they by this sign, that the Bible tells us that they declared that “Jesus is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world”. Not just that, they were trying to take him and make him king. That’s the instant reaction that the people had towards Jesus 24 hours earlier!

Jesus’ popularity was at its peak. From a worldly sense, this was the moment when his ministry was supposed to kick off and go to a whole another level. And yet within 24 hours, in the eyes of this very same crowd, Jesus is no longer seen as their hero. He is no longer a candidate for kingship.

So what happened? Did Jesus change within 24 hours? Did people suddenly change within 24 hours? Or was it that people were always the same, but they never really, truly knew what it meant to follow Jesus!

And so that’s what we’re going to spend some time diving into today – what does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

3. Following Jesus is a gift from God (V60-65)

[60]  When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

I want us to focus on a couple of words in this verse. “Many” and “disciples”. Like we’re not talking about a handful of people. We are talking about a large number of whom? Jesus’ disciples at the time!

These were not ordinary people who followed Jesus in the crowd. These were “disciples” or “learners” or “followers” who dedicated their lives to following the teachings and their lifestyle of their Rabbi – in this case it was Jesus. So we’re talking about dedicated students and disciples of Jesus.

And what were they saying? “This is a hard saying (harsh, difficult), who can listen to it?”

What hard teaching were they referring to?

John 6:41

[41] So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

The Jews basically grumbled saying “How can Jesus say that He’s come down from heaven when we know his biological father and mother. We know his home address. We know his family. How can he say that?”

John 6:53-58

[53] So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. [55] For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. [56] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. [58] This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

They were wondering “Is Jesus talking about cannibalism here? Why is he telling us to eat his flesh and drink his blood? This is a repulsive, violent teaching.”

But was Jesus actually talking about cannibalism? No! So what does Jesus mean about feeding on him? We need to go back a few verses earlier.

John 6:35 ESV

[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Jesus is using an analogy of something as basic for survival as physical bread to show how much they need Him for their spiritual survival and sustenance. If Jesus is the spiritual bread that our spiritual lives survive on, then feeding on this spiritual bread means what? Coming to Him & believing in Him. It means humbly approaching Jesus and committing your life, entrusting your life, surrendering your life to Jesus as the only source of your spiritual survival and sustenance.

Another verse in the same passage to help us understand what Jesus means by feeding his flesh and blood.

John 6:51 ESV

[51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

It’s clear that Jesus is talking about His loving, willing sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Let’s remember that Jesus didn’t go up on that cross because he committed a crime. He went up on that cross because we were condemned criminals before Holy God. We deserved to die. We deserved God’s anger. We deserved hell.

Romans 5:8 ESV

[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus went up that cross, bore our punishment and our sin and died in your place and mine. Every time we look at a cross, it’s supposed to be a humble reminder that we should have been there instead. But yet Jesus in His love stood in our place for us. He died for us.

He was buried in a tomb and then after 3 days He rose from the dead so that whoever may repent (turn from our sins and living for ourselves) and believe in what Jesus has done for us, would be saved and granted eternal life.

So is Jesus talking about cannibalism? Absolutely not. He’s talking about believing in His sacrifice for us on the cross and holding onto that as the only thing that we need for our spiritual eternal survival.

[61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?

Because Jesus is God, He knows what’s going on in our hearts even before we say it. And so Jesus confronts his disciples by asking them “are you offended by what I’m saying?”

Which is an interesting statement about the human heart because it tells us that many times Jesus’ words and word of God will sound offensive to us (not because Jesus is trying to hurt us) but because it’s confronting the sins and unbelief of our hearts.

[62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Jesus is telling them that if the statement “I am the bread of life who came from heaven” is offensive to you, how will you respond when you will see me ascend and go back to heaven? And then in verses 63, Jesus diagnoses why they are finding Jesus’ words so offensive. It’s because they are still fleshy, earthly, worldly minded people. For them to receive and embrace what Jesus is telling them, the Holy Spirit will have to do something miraculous in their heart. The Spirit will have to awaken their hearts. The Spirit will have to pump new life into their hearts.

[64] But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

Because He is God who knows the end from the beginning, He’s not surprised or confused when people refuse to put their faith in Him.

[65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

It’s a huge statement that Jesus is making here. He’s saying that unless the Father grants permission, unless the Father allows, unless the Father enables, unless the Father gives the green light, no one can come to Jesus.

Now that’s a mystery that we can’t understand with our finite minds. I can’t claim to have all the answers today to be able to explain that to you. But we need to recognize that for a person to come to faith in Jesus, something has to happen outside of that person’s control, desire and ability.

The Father has to give the green light. The Spirit has to awaken the dead heart for the person to see Jesus as their beautiful Savior and Lord.

And if you’re a believer in the Lord, that should fill your heart with worship and gratitude – because we had nothing to do with this. And if you’re an unbeliever or want unbelievers in your lives to get saved, that should move you to earnest prayer because you can’t do anything in your own strength to make someone a believer.

2. Following Jesus isn’t a matter of convenience; it is a matter of conviction (V66-69)

 [66]  After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Again those two words “many” and “disciples”. These were a large group of people who followed Jesus for sometime but at this point they walked away from Jesus. Why? Because their commitment was not to Jesus, it was to their expectations of what Jesus should say and do for them.

As long as Jesus was saying and doing the things that expected him to do, they hung around. The moment Jesus started saying hard things, the moment they realized Jesus wasn’t giving them what they wanted, the moment Jesus started confronting their sin and unbelief, the moment they realized that following Jesus would mean wholesale renovation and change in their life, they walked away.

[67] So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

It’s amazing that Jesus would even ask this question to his twelve disciples when everyone else abandoned him. Is Jesus trying to reduce his team? But Jesus wanted to challenge them to ask themselves deep down why they were following Him? Is it because of some expectation? Is it because of something that they are expecting for Jesus to give them? Or were they following Him for who He is and what He came to do?

[68] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, [69] and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

It’s such an amazing statement of faith in Jesus. Peter is telling Jesus that there’s no one else they can go to. It’s not because there weren’t any other options out there. There were plenty of other Rabbis.

But he was convinced that Jesus has the words of eternal life. Those these were hard and difficult sayings, it doesn’t make them untrue. Jesus sayings were true and would lead to eternal life. How was Peter so sure?

V69. We have believed (committed, entrusted, surrendered) and have come to know (ginosko – experiential knowledge or intimate knowledge through personal experience). In other words, Peter is saying that after spending time with Jesus, listening to Him and seeing His life, He’s convinced that Jesus is the Holy One of God. He is the Christ. He is the Messiah. He is the Son of God.

What if we were to ask ourselves the same question today? Why are you following Jesus today, what would you say?

3. Following Jesus is not a religious activity, but a relationship with Jesus (V70-71)

[70] Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” [71] He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

I find it so interesting that this passage on following Jesus ends in a very sad analysis of one of the 12 apostles. Jesus refers to him as “devil” which in the Greek which could mean slanderer or false accuser or someone who scatters and divides. And I think that is what is meant here – he had a divided heart with scattered desires.

Though he was one the Twelve, he had special access to Jesus and actively participated in ministry (he handled the ministry money (John 12:6) and he was sent out by Jesus to preach the good news, cast out demons and heal all kinds of diseases (Matt 10). Though it seemed like he was very close to Jesus, his heart was far away and was often divided and scattered. He never really followed Jesus. He was never really a committed believer.

And so that should leave us with a shocking warning that simply being around Christian things and activities will not make you a committed follower of Christ. Don’t assume that. Father has to give the green light. The Spirit has to awaken your dead heart. And Jesus needs to be seen as treasured and loved not because of your expectations but because of His loving, willing sacrifice for us.

Good morning, church! How are you all doing? With so much that is happening around the world, it’s natural for us to feel anxious and uncertain. In fact, listening to minute by minute updates of what’s happening can really leave us unsettled, and that’s why we need God’s Word to reveal to us who our God is and how He’s still working out His glorious purposes in the midst of a chaotic world. Even as different nations and businesses and families are figuring out how to deal with the chaos, God’s not confused and neither are His purposes impacted.

That’s why this time of sitting under the preached Word is so important for us because God is feeding us with truths about who He is. And that’s in fact what we’re going to focus on this morning as we ponder on 3 comforting truths about Jesus our Savior.

But before we proceed, I’d love to pray for us.

It was the most amazing revival meeting ever! Not only did the audience listen to the best ever preacher and communicator of God’s Word, but they also witnessed one of the most astonishing miracles right before them where 5 bread loaves and two fish were multiplied and managed to feed 5,000 men (which probably could have been anywhere between 10,000 to 15,000 people). And so abundant was the provision of that miraculous sign that there were still 12 baskets of leftovers.

Then in V14 which we read last week, the crowds who experienced this declared that “this is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world”. What more can you ask for? If something like this happened today, the organizing committee would have published this all over social media announcing the massive success of this revival meeting. They would’ve already started planning for the upcoming event.

Instead what do we see happening here? Jesus withdraws to a mountain by Himself and the disciples take a boat and go to the other side of the sea. It’s like an anti-climax. What we expected to happen, didn’t happen. The opposite did. Because even as the crowds were saying the right things, Jesus knew what was going on in their hearts. He knew their heart motivations weren’t right. He saw their unbelief.

And so that’s the context in which we find ourselves in today’s passage. It’s the aftermath of Jesus’ fourth sign – Jesus feeding the 5000. What we will see in the proceeding 24 verses are 3 comforting truths about Jesus. Let’s remember that even as Jesus is performing these amazing signs, He’s not doing it to “wow the crowd” or create a viral moment. He’s doing these signs to reveal something about who He is to His people. He’s doing this to reveal something about who He is and what He’s come to do.

Let’s get right into it. 3 comforting truths:

1. Jesus our Protector (V16-21)

[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. [20] But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

After a long day of ministry, these tired disciples get on a boat and intend to cross the sea to go to the other side. V17 tells us that Jesus wasn’t with them (they were by themselves) & it got pretty dark.

And then crisis hits them in V18 when they are hit with a terrible storm. Lake of Galilee was known for having sudden and violent storms due to its geography. Cool, dry air from the surrounding mountains would frequently collide with the warm, semi tropical air of the lake which often resulted in violent storms.

Even though many of these disciples were experienced sailors and fishermen themselves, that in itself doesn’t guarantee safety against forces of nature. V19 says that they rowed 3-4 miles but the same account in Mark 6:48 tells us the disciples were making headway painfully. In other words, they were struggling to row. They were in grave danger because of the storm.

And then they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming toward them and they were frightened. The same account in Mark 6 tells us that they thought that they saw a ghost and so they cried out in fear seeing him. So it’s not just the storm that is frightening them, it is the sight of Jesus who they think is a ghost.

And then in V20, Jesus comforts them by telling them “It is I, do not be afraid”. When we read this, it may seem like Jesus is telling them “It’s me only. Don’t worry”. But it’s much more than that. When Jesus says “It is I”, the Greek word for that could also be translated as “I am”. That’s the name that God used to describe Himself to Moses. “I am who I am”. He is the eternal God. Self-sufficient, self existent and sovereign. He’s the only being in the universe who can claim to have dependency on no one else. The perfect way to describe this God is “I am”.

Now imagine what it must be for these struggling disciples to hear those words? First to recognize that this is their Jesus but also to recognize that He is the I am. Such a comforting truth to know during their moment of distress.

V21 tells us that they were glad and took him on the boat, and then after a few hours the boat reached the land. Is that what it says? No, it says “immediately” the boat was at the land where they had to go. How remarkable?

What was Jesus trying to teach His disciples that evening? By walking on water, He taught them that they have no power to face the forces of nature like the wind and sea but Jesus rules over the forces of nature like wind and sea. By entering the boat and immediately reaching the shore, He’s showing them that though we all find ourselves within the limits of time and space but Jesus operates outside of that. Time and space isn’t a limitation for Him.

Moreover, these Jewish disciples are well acquainted with God’s deeds involving water bodies in Israelites history. They very well know the story of God parting the Red Sea to protect His people from the Egyptians. The same God who parted the Red Sea, walked on water, and safely brought the disciples to the shore. He is our Protector!

With all the crazy things happening in the world around us, how comforting it is to know that Jesus is our Protector! He is powerful and comes to our aid.  But more than just the physical safety, how comforting it is to know that Jesus has taken it upon Himself to safely protect us and bring us to our heavenly home.

But not only is He our Protector,

2. Jesus our Satisfier (V22-36)

[22] On the next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. [23] Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. [24] So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

Just imagine this – the crowd that was fed (not just a few people) was desperately seeking Jesus. They conducted a thorough search of the land, and when they couldn’t find him, they hopped onto a boat and went across just to find Jesus. It’s commendable to see the effort that they took just to find Jesus.

[25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

In other words, they are saying, “Jesus, when did you get here? We were looking all over for you.”

[26] 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.

Because Jesus is the Son of God, He knows what’s really going on in our hearts. He didn’t need anyone to bear witness about man because He Himself knew what was in man. (John 2:25) So Jesus diagnoses them immediately and says “You’re coming here not because you saw the signs and want to believe in me, you’re coming to me for free food. You’re here for a happy meal. You’re simply being materialistic”.

[27] Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

A little bit of context on the Galileans. They were simple people – mostly worked all day in the fields so that they could earn their livelihood and literally put bread on the table. Unlike some of the other groups of people which Jesus interacted, who were more theological and philosophical, the Galileans weren’t like that. They were practical, simple people whose only aim in life was to work and bring food on the table.

And so when they approached Jesus again, let’s think about what was going on in their minds. They saw Jesus as someone who could give them free food without having to spend hours in the field working for it. They saw Jesus as the solution to reduce their toil in life. They saw Jesus as a pathway to an easier, more comfortable life.

So when Jesus tells them “do not work for the food which perishes”, he’s not discouraging them from working in the fields. He’s pointing to the pursuits of their hearts – “Comfort, Easy life, Material things (salary at the end of the month, nice house, nice car, wonderful spouse, beautiful children, investments”. Jesus is telling them that if your life is all about these things, you should know that this pursuit will perish – it’s temporary and short-lived. None of these things that we chase after will matter in eternity.

And so Jesus says rather let your pursuits be for eternal life, which the Son of Man (Jesus) will give us, because on Him is the Father’s seal – God’s approval is upon Him. Let your pursuits, your heart, your focus be on eternal life.

What are you and I pursuing after?

[28] Then they said to him, “What must we do to be doing the works of God?”

They are basically asking Jesus – tell us plainly what should we be pursuing and chasing after?

[29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Believe in Jesus Christ! That word “believe” in Greek isn’t simply referring to believing facts about Jesus. It refers to commitment. It refers to entrusting your life to Jesus. It refers to fully surrendering your life to Jesus.

It’s not just raising your hand or walking down the aisle or praying the sinners prayer. I can pray the sinner’s prayer and yet not be willing to surrender my life to Jesus. That’s not believing. True believing means surrender!

[30] So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? [31] Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Isn’t it amazing the question that they pose to Jesus? Just a day before they themselves witnessed how Jesus miraculously supplied and provided for their need in the middle of nowhere. And yet they are asking for more signs that they can believe!

And then they quote from the OT to show how Moses gave them bread from heaven. They were basically demanding that Jesus do something similar (give them daily manna from heaven everyday) so that they can finally trust in Him.

 [32] Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Jesus corrects them and says it wasn’t Moses but the Father who fed the Israelites with manna from heaven. Moreover, the same Father in heaven is now giving you the “True Bread” from heaven who will give you life.

 [34] They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

They are still thinking in earthly physical terms. They are not getting it.

 [35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

This is the first of the seven I am sayings. Again, Jesus uses the name that was used by God to describe Himself to Moses in the burning bush. Jesus is saying that He is the eternal God, self sufficient, self existent and sovereign (to do what He wants to do).

“Bread of life” – bread is not a luxury food. Bread is essential food for daily nourishment and sustenance. We need bread for survival. In the same way, Jesus is saying that we need Him for our eternal survival. Without Jesus we will eternally perish.

“whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” – not only is Jesus saying that He is critical for our spiritual nourishment and sustenance. He’s also saying that when we come to Him, He will fully satisfy us.

And out here, Jesus is making the big claim, that only He can uniquely satisfy us & when we come to Him & believe in Him, we will be satisfied.

Throughout history people have tried doing different things to satisfy human hearts but the truth is that all of it will fail us. Everything else will leave us dry. Everything else will leave us hungry. Everything else will leave us thirsty. Only Jesus can satisfy our hunger and thirst by us coming to Him and entrusting our lives to Him.

Someone may say “I’ve believed in Jesus many years back but I still feel empty and hungry and thirsty in my heart”. The question we need to ask ourselves is this “have I really fully surrendered my life to Jesus or not”? Because either we are lying or Jesus is lying. We know that Jesus cannot lie and He keeps all His promises and so if He’s saying that He will satisfy, that must be true.

 [36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

That’s the unfortunate part that despite hearing all of this & seeing Jesus’ unbelievable sign, they still didn’t believe in Him.

Another example of the fact that even if we saw Jesus doing the things that He did up close, that in no way guarantees better or stronger faith.

But not only is He our Protector and Satisfier,

3. Jesus our Preserver (V37-40)

[37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

These verses are super encouraging because it tells us of God’s ownership and control over the life of the believer. It’s a big statement to make where Jesus says that whoever the Father gives to me “will come to me”. Not might come to me or ideally should come to me. Will come me. It is 100% certain. Now this doesn’t mean that there’s no need for repentance and faith from our side as though God is operating us like robots. No that’s absolutely needed which Jesus presses throughout this passage. But this is just to show the kind of favor and hand that God has over those whom He has appointed.

And then Jesus says, whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. Actually the word “never” is translated as “in no way, by no means, never ever”. It’s a way of Jesus saying, once a believer has come to me, I’m not going to let go of him. Never. And Jesus reemphasizes this in V39 where He says that He will not lose nothing of all that has been given to him but all will be raised up. In other words, Jesus is promising a 100 % success rate of bringing believers safely to heaven’s shore.

40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

This is a promise Jesus makes not just to a certain group or community. This is a promise Jesus makes to everyone who looks on the Son and believes (commits, entrust, surrenders) that they will have eternal life and will be raised on the last day.

When you read these verses? Do you think a true believer can lose His salvation? No never. Maybe that person was never a believer in the first place. But if he is a believer and if he’s gone astray, Jesus will do whatever He will either to loving correction of a brother, disciplining or suffering to bring that person back. Why? Because whoever comes to Jesus, He will never cast out. Jesus’ name and character is right behind this promise. How comforting is that?

I just want to end by the wonderful stanza of In Christ Alone which says this:

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Good morning, church! I’m aware that many of us could be unsettled this morning as we’ve heard the news of a war breaking out in the Middle East. We’ve got loved ones and friends living out there, and there is a concern for their well-being. There could also be a sense of anxiety as we think about all that’s happening in the world around us.

In moments like this, we find strength and assurance not by looking at ourselves, at governments and at the military strength of nations. We look at what God’s Word tells us about our God. That’s how God’s people have always found strength and assurance.

Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

[1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2] Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, [3] though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

That’s our God and let’s commit the care of our loved ones and family into the hands of our God who is our refuge and strength.

As we move into our time with God’s Word, we’ve been going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the gospel of John. And apostle John who is the writer of the gospel tells us explicitly that this is the reason why he wrote this gospel. He tells us that everything that he’s written was written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

Believing and Knowing Jesus is why he wrote this gospel! And so irrespective of where you are in your relationship with Jesus, this gospel has something to say to you. If you’re a believer, know that you’re been called to deeper commitment & knowledge of Jesus today. If you’ve not known Jesus, then this is an invitation to believe in Him and know Him as your Lord and Savior for the first time today.

As we come to Chapter 5, we can see that things have escalated quite quickly. Jesus has just performed his third sign that was recorded in the Gospel of John. An unbelievable miracle has just taken place where a man who was disabled for 38 long years was told by Jesus to get up, take his bed and walk! He actually did that. He instantly sprung up on his feet, took his bed and walked. An astonishing miracle for the man and everyone else who witnessed it that day.

Now you would imagine that a miracle of a kind like this should bring about a positive response towards Jesus. You would imagine that people, especially the religious Jews would be welcoming Jesus with open arms and honoring Jesus. That should have been the expected response. But instead we see them becoming hostile toward Him.

And this hostility had reached such a tipping point that the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill him! They hated Jesus. And why did they hate him? Because they saw him as a rule breaker. In their minds, they thought “how dare Jesus heals a person on the Sabbath? How dare Jesus call God the Father as His Father?”

And so what we’re seeing in this passage is Jesus’ response to their accusations. How is Jesus going to defend His claim of being God’s Son? What proof or evidence is there to show for that? And as Jesus shows the proofs or witnesses, He also diagnoses the real heart issue of the Jews. Until the heart issue gets fixed, none of the proofs will matter.

[30]  “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

A few verses before Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that God the Father has given Him the authority to execute judgment. In other words, Jesus is the One who is going to sit at the Judgment seat. Jesus is the ultimate Judge.

Oftentimes in our church circles we don’t mention this enough. We focus on Jesus being our Friend, Jesus being our older brother but let’s not forget that He’s also our Judge. Every human being will have to stand before Him and give an account. He is the One who will pass the ultimate verdict – guilty or not guilty on the basis of our trust in His sacrifice. Let that fill our hearts with holy reverence for Him.

And so as Jesus isdefending Himself before these accusations, He’s telling them that they will one day stand before Him and give an account for their lives. And Jesus will pass a judgment – and it’s not a random, arbitrary judgment.

It’s a just judgment because it relies not on His will but His Father’s direction and guidance. Although Jesus has been given the authority as Judge, He’s not doing it independently – He is fully dependent on the Father’s will and direction.

[31] If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. [32] There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

In these verses, Jesus turns to OT Jewish law to make a case for Himself. According to the OT law, if someone has to be charged guilty for a crime or wrongdoing, it will need to be established by not one witness but at least two or three witnesses. Jesus uses the same legal language to back up His own claims of being God’s Son.

He’s telling them that His claims are not simply self attested. But there is another person who bears witness about Him. There is another person who gives an honest, factual report about Jesus. Who is that person? Let’s find out.

[33] You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

Jesus references John the Baptist’s witness. As we all know, the Jews took John the Baptist’s words quite seriously because they considered him as a prophet of God. And what did John the Baptist say?

When priests and Levites came to him and asked him if he was the Christ? He said “No. I’m just an ordinary human being who baptizes people with water but among you is someone you don’t know whose sandal straps I’m not worthy to untie”. He is very clear in stating that He is not the Christ but that the Christ was about to make His appearance.

And then later on – on two separate occasions he sees Jesus and says this:

“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29,35)

Nobody can say that John’s preaching and message was ambiguous. It was crystal clear that Jesus was the Christ.

[34] Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

[35] He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

Jesus clarifies that this is not the person’s testimony that He was referring to. We will come to that testimony a little later.

But Jesus uses John the Baptist’s testimony so that the Jewish leaders might be saved. He’s basically telling them “I know you are struggling to believe in me, but listen to John the Baptist. Take him seriously”.

I find it so interesting that Jesus uses John’s testimony so that they would be saved. But why does Jesus want to save those who are plotting to kill Him?

And this should help us understand that Jesus’ conversations with his most hostile enemies were not to school them or troll them or just win an argument. A lot of our online debates are just about that.

But that’s not what Jesus was doing. Jesus was laying down the facts and witnesses so that even his most hostile and bitter enemies could be saved. Even in the midst of a very tense conversation, it’s filled with grace.

John 3:17

[17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus knew why He came into the world. To save people – even those who hated and persecuted Jesus. Case in example – the apostle Paul who in own testimony said this:

1 Timothy 1:12-16

[12] I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, [13] though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, [14] and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. [15] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. [16] But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

[36] But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John.

Jesus is building a case from lesser to greater. John the Baptist’s testimony is already there, but there is a greater testimony than that of John.

Whose testimony is Jesus talking about? God the Father. And God the Father uses different ways, different channels, different proofs to bear witness about His Son? What are these?

1. Witness of Jesus’ works (v36)

For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

Themiracles that Jesus performed while He was on earth were astonishing! These were not illusions. There were not magic tricks. These were never seen before, life-changing miracles that pointed to the divinity of Christ.

As we look through the Gospels, we see miracles of all different kinds performed by the Lord. We read about blind people beginning to see with their eyes, deaf people beginning to hear, mute people beginning to speak, crippled people beginning to walk and use their limbs. People with skin diseases and leprosy being healed. People with bleeding issues being healed. People with seizures being healed. People who have been possessed by demons being healed. People who were at the point of death being healed. People who were dead being brought back to life!

These by no description and definition can be qualified as ordinary cures. These are unbelievable miracles! And in fact Isaiah prophecied that this would be one of the markers of the Messiah.

Isaiah 35:5-6 ESV

[5]  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; [6]  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

You couldn’t witness these miracles with your eyes andstill conclude that Jesus hadn’t come from God. It was plainly obvious!

That’s the first channel that the Father used to bear witness about His Son. The second one is:

2. Witness of Scripture (v37-39)

[37] And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, [38] and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

And then Jesusmoves on to showing how God has testified about Jesus. Although they’ve not audibly heard his voice, although they’ve not seen him, yet God has clearly testified about His Son. How did he do that?

Through His Word. The written Scriptures which were given to them.

And then Jesus makes a very direct charge at them. V38 – Jesus tells these Scriptural learned, trained Jewish leaders that God’s word doesn’t abide in them. Because if it did, they would believe (entrust themselves, commit themselves, surrender themselves) in the One that God has sent. All the spiritual knowledge that they had gained didn’t translate into genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

V39 – They search the Scriptures – these were people who didn’t just read the Scriptures from the surface. They studied it. They went into depth. They thoroughly investigated Scripture. These were not ordinary lay people here. These were theologically skilled and knowledgeable people. If we were there at that time, we would’ve been amazed at the sheer wealth of spiritual knowledge that these people had.

And yet all of this didn’t help them to come to Jesus. It just remained at a head knowledge level. Which should tell us something. Spiritual resources don’t guarantee a relationship with Jesus. Spiritual biblical resources are now more accessible to us than it has been for any other age, but yet with all of that it doesn’t guarantee a relationship with Jesus.

Sometime back I had the chance of listening to a brother in Christ who shared his testimony of how he went through 3 years of Bible seminary while he was still an unbeliever. It was after that that he understood the Gospel, filled with the conviction of the Lord and turned to God in repentance and faith.

And then Jesus goes on to diagnose the real heart issue?

First heart issue:

[40] Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

The real problem wasn’t the lack of spiritual resources. They had all of them and more. The real problem was a refusal – a stubborn unwillingness to come to Jesus and have life.

Second heart issue:

 [41] I do not receive glory from people. [42] But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. [43] I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. [44] How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

[45] Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. [46] For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. [47] But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Deuteronomy 18:15-18 ESV[15]  “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— [16] just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ [17] And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. [18] I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Good morning, church! A warm welcome to all who have joined us today. As we move on ahead, I wanted to ask everyone if we’re prepared to hear from God’s Word this morning ? Even as we say “yes” (good thing) let’s also remember that hearing God’s Word also means being prepared to have our hearts examined. Are we ready for that?

Hebrews 4:12

[12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Are we ready for God’s Word to do that in our hearts this morning? Are we ready for God’s Word to discern our hidden thoughts and intentions of our hearts? If you truly want to know the Lord, then I hope your answer is yes.

If you’ve been tracking us as a church, you’re probably aware that we are going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the Gospel of John. John’s entire purpose in writing this gospel book is so that we may believe (commit and entrust our lives to Jesus) and know Jesus (not surface-level knowing but knowing Him intimately and personally).

Today, we will study the third out of the seven signs mentioned in the gospel of John. As we discussed earlier, what’s the point of a sign? Right outside on the street, there’s a sign of Mukti Manch. Why is that there? To point us to this hall. In the same way, John carefully curated 7 signs in the Gospel so that we may be pointed to something about Jesus.

The sign that we’re going to study today will point us to Jesus’ Supreme Authority. Jesus as God’s Son has got power and authority. But before we go ahead, I would love to pray for us.

Let’s jump into our text for today in v1.

[1] After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

John sets up the context in which the sign takes place. There’s a festival of the Jews and Jesus decides to go to Jerusalem where all of this is taking place. So we can imagine large crowds. Jews travelling from all over to be there in Jerusalem. Especially the Jewish religious leaders who would have been really involved and out there at that time.

[2] Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.

Interestingly the Sheep Gate had huge importance for Jews because that’s the entrance from where they would bring in the sacrificial lambs to the Temple. Ironically it was Jesus – the perfect and ultimate sacrificial lamb who was walking through Sheep Gate.

Right beside the gate was a pool called Bethesda which means House of mercy. And this Bethesda pool was covered with a roof or a shade held together by five pillars.

[3] In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

Under this shade right next to the pool there were a multitude of people with disabilities. Some were blind, some didn’t have limbs and some were paralyzed.

[5] One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

Among all of these people with disabilities, there was one man who was disabled for 38 long years! That’s a long time. A better part of his life was already spent with that disability.

You can just imagine how a long term disability could have taken a toll on his life. Let’s keep in mind that this is not 2026 but first century AD. Not just affected physically but spiritually (viewed as cursed by God forever), mentally & emotionally (you’re experiencing more lows than highs), relationally (they are social outcasts) and economically (they can’t earn an income, most would resort to begging).

His whole life had been defined by his physical disability. Even as John is describing this man’s condition, he wants us to know that this man had an unbelievably difficult life. Whatever we think is difficult, this man’s life was much harder than that.

[6] When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

It’s so interesting that out of all the multitudes in that place, Jesus took special notice of this man. And the verse tells us that Jesus “knew” that he had already been there a long time. Not only did Jesus know the number of years that he was disabled for, Jesus knew Him from the time He was formed and knitted together in His mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

Jesus fully knew and understood all that He suffered over the years. Nobody else knew him the way Jesus knew him. So when this verse says Jesus knew him, let’s know that it’s not just factual, surface level knowledge of the person. It’s not just his medical history like a doctor knows his patient. Jesus knows him from the inside out.

In the same way Jesus knows us from the inside out. So when we approach the Lord we don’t need to go to Him pretending to be someone else. We don’t need to go to Him with a long explanation of our background history. He knows us. He is our Creator. He is our Redeemer. So we can approach Him with honesty and sincerity just like a small child is with their parent.

So Jesus knew the man from the inside out, yet why is Jesus asking him if he wants to be healed? Didn’t Jesus know that he really wanted physical healing? Off course Jesus knew. Then why did He ask? We see that often in Jesus’ conversations. He probes further to draw out what’s there in people’s hearts.

Jesus already knows what’s in our hearts but He probes further so that people can themselves realize what they’ve been trusting in. Maybe they’ve been trusting in their own strength or other people’s strengths or maybe they’ve been trusting in the things of the world.

All of that comes to surface when Jesus asks those pointed questions. Do you really want to be healed? Are you prepared to live a different life post healing? Or have you become comfortable with the way things are right now?

[7] The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

Instead of answering Jesus with a yes or no, what does the man do? He puts the blame on others for his condition. It seems like there was some superstition that this pool had some magical powers. There was a belief in that day that an angel of the Lord would come and stir the pool at a certain point of the day, and whoever jumped into the pool first would get healed.

And so this man is complaining and blaming others for not supporting him to jump into the pool without realising that right before Him stands someone who has the authority to do whatever He wishes to do in the manner He wishes to do and nobody can defy that command.

 [8] Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

Sometimes I think we get so familiar with stories like this in the Bible that we may end up missing the impact that it’s supposed to create in our hearts and minds. Jesus is telling a man who has been disabled for 38 years to simply get up, take up his bed and walk!

If you or I were to tell this to someone who has had experienced physical suffering for so many years, it would be considered a terribly insensitive joke. We just don’t say that and yet Jesus goes ahead and says these words.

[9] And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

And guess what? Not after a few hours, not after a few days, what does this verse tell us? At once he was healed! Instantaneous healing. Even long term diseases, illnesses and disabilities – the Lord has the power to heal that instantly. That’s His Supreme Authority!

But does that mean that Jesus will always choose to heal all our diseases and disabilities? Sometimes we forget that there were a multitude of invalids who were at the pool that day. Jesus could have healed all of them. He has the supreme authority to do that but He didn’t do that. Why? Because Jesus’ ultimate goal was not to deliver physical healing and deliverance. Jesus’ ultimate goal was to deliver us from God’s wrath because of our sins.

It’s like asking a fireman – when a building is on fire, what is your main goal? Is it rescuing people or preserving their valuables? Rescuing people from getting burnt and dying is their number one priority.

Jesus’ No. 1 priority is rescuing you and me from God’s wrath. That’s why He came and went up on the cross and died for us. He died and was buried and on the third day He rose from the dead so that whoever repents and puts their full faith in Jesus (holds on to Jesus to rescue them) will be saved not just for this life but for all of eternity. And gift us and eternal relationship with God forever!

[10] So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” [11] But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” [12] They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” [13] Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

It’s such an interesting response of the Jewish leaders. They’ve just witnessed a person with disability for 38 years being instantly healed and instead of marvelling at the miracle, instead of moving toward Jesus in faith, what are they doing?

They are more concerned about their Sabbath tradition being observed. Now let me clarify that the Sabbath law which was ordained by God and part of the 10 commandments did not prohibit people from being healed or carrying their bed and walking.

The Sabbath was designed by God to free His people from the burden of daily labor. The Egyptians forced the Israelites to work everyday. By giving the Sabbath, God wanted to give His people rest from their labor. God was telling them “Now that you’re under me, you can take rest and enjoy that rest”.

But the Jewish leaders made their own rules on top of this, and basically defined what constituted as work – carrying a load of this much weight and travelling this much distance is not observing the Sabbath according to them. And so the Sabbath became stifling for people rather than freeing and life giving.

I sometimes wonder how am I presenting the Sabbath to my children. Am I presenting it to them as a burden – something that they have to do as an obligation? Or something that is freeing so that they can be refreshed and freeing for them?

And so observing the Sabbath man made tradition was what the leaders were more worried about and they kept questioning the man who was healed. The man didn’t know who Jesus was, and so he just replied with an “I don’t know” to the Jewish leaders.

[14] Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

It’s a fascinating follow up conversation that Jesus has with the man. Jesus basically tells him that he shouldn’t go back into that pattern of sin or something worse would happen to him.

In this case it does seem like Jesus is connecting this man’s physical suffering to his sin. There was some connection with sin in his life. However, this is not a blanket rule for all physical suffering. We can’t look at this passage in isolation. There are many other instances where Jesus clearly explains that suffering and personal sin are not connected.

Let me share a few examples of the other side:

John 9:1-3

[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3] Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

So in this case, physical suffering was there in this person’s life so that it would more clearly display God’s power and goodness.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV

[7] So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In Paul’s case physical suffering was in his life not due to sin but to instead to guard his heart from sin, keep his heart humble and help him desperately rely on God.

And so biblically speaking, it wouldn’t be right to associate every physical ailment, disease or suffering to a sin cause. Sometimes it’s related, other times there aren’t. In fact that was the predominant thought in biblical times, that suffering and sin is always connected. Jesus had to correct that way of thinking.

Coming back to this story, why does Jesus feel the need to have this follow up conversation on sin? After all, he had a physical disability problem which was solved right? Shouldn’t this be the end of the story?

Again, this should tell us that Jesus is more concerned about our spiritual eternal wellbeing than of our physical well-being. Jesus knows that although this man is physically okay now, that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be okay in eternity. His physical healing is not an assurance of spiritual security. And we see this in his response to Jesus after this conversation.

[15] The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. [16] And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. [17] But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Unlike some of the other healing passages, where healed persons have shown gratitude, trusted in Jesus and followed Him, this man instead goes and tells the Jewish leaders about Jesus. This begins the face off between the Jewish leaders and Jesus. There’s no indication of saving faith in the life of this man and that’s what makes this sign so astonishing.

That Jesus would still use His Supreme Authority to physically heal someone whom He knew wouldn’t reciprocate in faith. Why would Jesus do that? That’s His mercy which is not dependent on how we will respond but despite our response. He will show mercy on Sabbath and non-Sabbath days. He will show mercy to those who don’t deserve it. Because that’s who He is.

The question we need to ask is : what is our response going to be to His mercy? Are we going to respond just like the disabled man? Or is it going to be of gratitude and love?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV

[14] For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; [15] and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Good morning church! A warm welcome to everyone who has joined us this morning. As a church we’ve been going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the Gospel of John.

And it’s fascinating to know that the apostle John wrote this gospel with only one goal in mind. He wrote this book so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

If Jesus is truly the Son of God, if Jesus is truly the Savior that God has been preparing for us from eternity past, then not believing in Him and not knowing Him would be the greatest tragedy of our lives.

I remember this story that was once shared by one of the missionaries from my previous church. This missionary had once gone to a village in Maharashtra and was asked to speak at a meeting there.

This missionary kept speaking about the legacy of my previous church – stating how St. Thomas had come to Kerala in AD52 and the result of his work was the eventual formation of this church.

He went on and on about the credentials of this church. And somewhere in between, one of the villagers stopped him and asked “If St. Thomas brought the Gospel of Jesus in AD52, why did it take you so long to bring it to us?”

Not believing and knowing Jesus is the greatest tragedy of anyone’s life.

That villager in Maharashtra recognized that. Do you and I recognize the gift of believing and knowing Jesus? Are we grateful that God has chosen us to believe and know Jesus?

I believe that’s why John wrote this Gospel. If you’re an unbeliever, then John’s purpose is that you would take that step of faith to believe and know Jesus. If you’re a believer, then John’s purpose is that you would be grateful for what Jesus has done for you and that you would trust and know Him deeper than you’ve done before. That you won’t be okay with all that you’ve known about Jesus so far.

So let that be the expectation of your heart today as we study God’s Word. Let that be the prayer of your heart today as we prepare to listen from God’s Word. Let’s ask God for help to be able to believe and know Jesus deeper today through this time with the Word.

Today’s passage happens right in the middle of a fascinating conversation between Jesus and an unnamed Samaritan woman. We don’t know her name but through the conversation we get to have a glimpse into her life and her struggles.

Unlike Nicodemus who was seen as the ideal spiritual leader of the day (you looked up to him and wanted to follow his lifestyle), she found herself on the other side of the spectrum where she was seen as an unspiritual person with promiscuous life, someone whose life you wouldn’t want to emulate.

That was the contrast between the two people and yet Jesus departed from his budding ministry in Judea where He was gaining more followers than John the Baptist. He leaves all of that, and was willing to travel through hostile territory so that he could meet with her. He treated her with the same gentleness and the same compassion just as He dealt with Nicodemus.

He was pleased to reveal Himself to this unnamed Samaritan woman who didn’t have her life put together. The last couple of verses that we read last week were so interesting because it seems like the Samaritan woman is trying to deflect and change the conversation and move on by saying “I know when the Messiah comes, he will tell us all things”.

And Jesus basically tells her “I am He”. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that’s me. The One around whom all of human history hinges on, that’s me! He was pleased to reveal Himself to this unnamed Samaritan woman who didn’t have her life sorted out.

That should encourage you and me because we know that even our lives are not always put together. Even our lives are not sorted all the time. Even if we are in a mess, Jesus delights to reveal Himself to us. So we should never think that Jesus expects us to be perfect before He reveals Himself to us. He knows we cannot be perfect. All we need to do is come to Him.

Matthew 11:28 ESV

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

This interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman should encourage us, assure us and brings us to Jesus’ feet once again.

Let’s look at V27

[27] Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”

Jesus’ disciples who had gone into the city to get food are back with food and they spot Jesus having this intense conversation with the Samaritan woman.

As we heard last week, it was forbidden for a Jewish man to speak to any woman on the street, not even his wife.

And so they see Jesus here breaking traditions, going against cultural norms and doing something that was considered inappropriate at that time. But instead of asking Jesus, they decided to avoid that conversation, slip that under the carpet and not bring it up again.

[28] So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, [29] “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” [30] They went out of the town and were coming to him.

The events described in these verses are remarkable! Actions speak louder than words. First things first. Why did the Samaritan woman come to the well in the first place? To draw water. So why would she leave that jar of water which she brought to well to draw water – why did she leave that and go away? Something has happened that is more critical than the water that she came to draw.

Secondly, we know that this woman had a very scandalous life. She faced a lot of public shame in her lifetime which is why she picked a time of the day to draw water when she knew no one else would be around. She tried her best to avoid the public eye because she knows that it will lead to judgments and humiliation.

And now how is it that she’s able to let down her guard, boldly stand in front of those very same people and tell them that she met a person who told her everything that she ever did? How in the world was she able to do that?

It’s because for the first time ever in her life she’s experienced what it means to be satisfied by the fountain of living waters. She spent all of her life going from one broken container to another through her multiple marriages and relationships and she’s returned back dry, empty and unsatisfied in her soul.

For the first time as she interacted with Jesus who knew everything about her – with all of the messy details – He didn’t use those details to humiliate her but to offer her living water to satisfy her soul.

What we’re seeing here is that the joy and satisfaction she’s experiencing in knowing Jesus has completely turned her life around. It’s making her do things that she was so terrified of doing earlier.

It’s causing her to be a bold witness of Jesus. “Can this be the Christ?” She’s not worried about people not taking her seriously, she’s only faithfully expressing what she’s just experienced.

And it’s also causing her to humbly acknowledge her sins before others. No longer is she worried about facing humiliation once she confesses, because the One whose opinion matters has already revealed Himself to her and offered her living water.

So right here, we are able to see the secret to bold witness and humble confession of sin – it’s when we experience joy and satisfaction in our relationship with Jesus.

When our cup is being filled with the joy and satisfaction of Jesus, we no longer look to others to do that for us. We no longer live under the insecurity of people’s opinions about us. We are actually freed to live out the life that God has called us to live.

So if we’re here today, desiring to be a bold witness for Jesus and also desiring to be authentic and not fake in your acknowledgement of your sins and weaknesses, we need to ask ourselves “have I been drinking from the fountain of living water? Have I been filling my spiritual cup with the joy of knowing Jesus?”

[31] Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” [32] But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” [33] So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” [34] Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

The disciples have brought food for Jesus from the town. They know that He’s physically hungry and so they urge Him to eat.

But Jesus responds to them saying that He’s got food that they aren’t aware of. The disciples are surprised by hearing this and are wondering if someone else brought food for Jesus.

Again like some of the other conversations that we’ve seen in the past, while people’s minds are only fixated on physical earthly things, Jesus often talks about spiritual things.

That’s what Jesus says in V34 – His food is to do the will of His Father and to complete that work. Just like in the same way as we need physical food to live – to sustain and satisfy us, Jesus is saying that obedience to His Father’s will and completing that work is what sustains and satisfies Him.

In other words, obeying His Father’s will & completing that work was more critical to Him than even eating physical food. Now that doesn’t mean that Jesus is saying that eating food is not important or that we shouldn’t take care of our health.

What He’s trying to say is that the mission on which Jesus was sent – to seek and save the lost was His top most priority. Everything else was secondary. It’s like a fireman saying “I have to go and rescue those people trapped in the building that has caught fire. That is my top most priority”.

Isn’t that encouraging to know that saving you and me was on Jesus’ top most priority? It’s not because we are some special, rare, lovable species. No, in fact we don’t deserve to be on Jesus’ top most priority because we are enemies by nature and by our actions. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We shouldn’t be on God’s priority list at all. But that’s how amazing God’s love is for us – the Bible says that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Jesus went on the cross and died for you and me.

And on the third day He rose from the dead so that whoever repents and trusts in Jesus would be rescued from sin, Satan and death & adopted as children of God.

How gracious is our Lord that we would be on His top most priority despite our sin and weakness?

[35] Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. [36] Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. [37] For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ [38] I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

One of the familiar analogies that Jesus would often use is that of harvest. Farmers would sow seeds of grain and then wait for sometime so that the grain grows and matures. Once the grain changes color and becomes hard, it’s ready for harvesting. This whole process from start to end would take months.

So Jesus uses this analogy to tell his disciples that we don’t have to wait any longer for the spiritual harvest because harvest season is already here. In other words, people are already prepared and ready to believe in Jesus right now. We don’t have to wait anymore.

Already Jesus says we’re able to see the fruit of the harvest. We’re already seeing the impact. All we need to do is go and pluck out the ready grains. All of the prior work of sowing has already been done, we just have to reap now.

In the immediate context, it’s referring to the Samaritan people whose hearts were already prepared and ready to believe in Jesus. But what if we also tried applying that today? Do we look at the people around us and trust that God’s already prepared their hearts? Do we trust that God’s readied their hearts to believe in Him?

[39] Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

Can you believe that? This unnamed Samaritan woman’s testimony brought many people to faith! Who was this woman? What kind of life did she live in the past? How many church services did she attend? How many years of ministry experience did she have? Which bible college did she go to? Nothing was there. She was a brand new believer and someone who the world considered unfit as an evangelist.

But this is the amazing truth – unfit evangelists are the best evangelists! Why? Because they have nothing else to boast about except Jesus. That’s when it truly impacts people’s hearts.

And so just seeing this from the Samaritan woman should encourage us to know that we don’t need any qualifications to be ready to witness for Jesus. If we are a believer and tasted the love of Jesus, we are qualified to share the Gospel with others.

 [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. [41] And many more believed because of his word. [42] They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

These are such assuring, encouraging verses because it tells me that the burden of trying to convince people and make them believers is not my job. My job just like the Samaritan woman is just to introduce others to Jesus. Jesus is powerful and strong enough to convince, persuade and transform people’s lives. Jesus will do that. I’m only called to witness to what Jesus has done in my life & Jesus will do the convincing.

As I close, just want all of us to take a minute to prayerfully ask God to do this:

1. Fill our hearts with the joy and satisfaction of knowing Jesus through the Word
2. Help us to trust that God has already prepared people in our lives who are ready to believe
3. Pray for God to show us who are the people with whom we can witness to about what God has done for us in Jesus or open doors for us to read the Bible with them so that they can be convinced of Jesus themselves

Good morning church! Hope you’re doing well this morning. If you’ve been tracking with us, you’re aware that we have been going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the Gospel of John.

And what we’ve realized is that this believing and knowing doesn’t simply mean believing in facts about Jesus or knowing facts about Jesus.

I can believe in a lot of facts about Jesus and still not surrender my life to Him. I can know a lot of facts about Jesus and yet not know Him personally. There’s a stark difference between believing facts about Jesus and truly believing in Him. There’s a stark difference between knowing facts about Jesus and truly knowing Him. That’s the journey that we have begun through the Gospel of John.

And so even today we are going to ask ourselves the same questions as we look at this well known passage. Do I really believe and know this Jesus who is revealed in today’s passage? Have I really surrendered my life to this Jesus who is revealed in this passage?

And so before we begin, let’s ask the Spirit to soften our hearts, and to help us understand & apply this passage to our lives this morning.

Jim Carrey – the famous Hollywood actor and comedian once famously said “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see it’s not the answer”.

So profound! The reason why we take this quote seriously is because Jim Carrey attained it all. He’s attained all the riches and fame in the world. With all of his power and influence, he can get hold of anything that he wants to get hold of and he’s saying that none of these is the answer to life. None of these can satisfy our hearts. All of these things that we often chase after will leave us empty. And so then what can satisfy us?

Well today’s passage is an answer to that question. In today’s passage, Jesus reveals Himself as the only One who can truly satisfy us. He is the Giver of Living Water.

Let’s jump into John 4:1:

[1] Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John [2] (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), [3] he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

This is connected to last week’s passage where we see that Jesus kickstarting His earthly ministry and it was gaining traction. In fact a lot of the crowds were now going to Jesus and His disciples rather than John the Baptist.

And so John the Baptist’s disciples were intimidated by that and they thought that they were losing influence and they went up to John and aired their grievances to him.

And John tells them that Jesus is the bridegroom and so if people are going to Him, then he rejoices in that because that’s the way it should be. The bride should be with the bridegroom. John the Baptist was simply the friend of the bridegroom. He must increase, I must decrease. And so we saw John’s humble view of his own ministry.

And in these first three verses, we see Jesus’ view of his own ministry. Jesus wasn’t interested in the popularity and fame game. At a time when His ministry was growing and gaining traction. At a time when the religious leaders were beginning to take notice of Jesus, He leaves the area and goes to Galilee.

We can see that Jesus wasn’t in for this popularity game. Jesus wasn’t sidetracked by the growing fan following. He had a clear cut purpose for why He came to the world, and He was sticking to it.

[4] And he had to pass through Samaria.

It was necessary for him to pass through Samaria. Now this might seem like a simple fact, but there’s more to it. Because of the context. Jews and Samaritans were hostile enemies. Jews hated Samaritans.

They couldn’t stand them because they saw them as unclean people. Because Samaritans were children of Jews intermarrying with foreigners who had settled in their land.

On top of that, to make matters worse, the Samaritans had their own temple on Mount Gerizim. They had their own version of the first five books of the OT. They had their own version of Israelite history.

To use a loose modern example, their relationship was like that between India and Pakistan. Tensions were always very high between both people groups.

Jews would do everything they could to avoid interacting with a Samaritan (which is what is written in v9 also). If it meant that a Jew would need to take a longer route, they’ll do that just to avoid interacting with a Samaritan.

In that context, for Jesus to choose to go through Samaria was a huge deal. You can imagine the disciples of Jesus trying to talk him out of it. But no, Jesus had to go through Samaria because there was a divine purpose behind this journey.

[5] So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well.

Jesus was fully human just as He was fully God. He experienced weariness and tiredness and exhaustion just like us. So whenever we experience that in this life, we should know that Jesus understands and relates with us.

It was about the sixth hour. [7] A woman from Samaria came to draw water.

It was around 12pm. What’s interesting is that that’s not the usual time when women came to draw water. They would usually come to draw water in the mornings or in the evenings when it would be cooler. This Samaritan woman seems like she’s coming to the well at a time when no one would be around. She wanted to avoid the public eye.

Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” [8] (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) [9] The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Jesus initiates the conversation with this Samaritan woman and she’s taken aback by that. Firstly because of the heightened tensions between Jews and Samaritans.

But also, it’s because she was a woman. They lived in a very patriarchal society where it was forbidden to not speak with any woman on the street, not even their own wives.

Which is why her response was of shock and surprise. What Jesus was doing at that moment was something radical! He was engaging with a woman who was also a Samaritan. He was breaking all kinds of barriers and traditions at that very moment.

[10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

And so Jesus was basically telling her that if she really knew who it was who was speaking to her, she would ask him and he would give her living water.

What is this living water? It’s the only thing that can satisfy the deep longings of our hearts. For that we have to turn to a passage from OT.

Jeremiah 2:13 ESV

[13] for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

In this passage, what is God referring to Himself as? Fountain of Living waters. God is telling His people that He is the source of abundant living water. He is the source of abundant soul satisfying water.

But instead of going and drinking from the fountain of abundant living water, what have God’s people done? They are trying to drink from man made broken containers which have no capacity to hold water. These containers are empty. They cannot quench your longings of your heart and soul. They cannot satisfy.

So Jesus is recalling the same language out here where He’s telling the woman – I am the fountain of living water. I am the abundant supply of soul satisfying water. Come to me. Drink from me.

[11] The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? [12] Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

She doesn’t understand his metaphor. She’s still thinking that Jesus is talking about physical drinking water. He’s not.

 [13] Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

In other words, Jesus is telling her that if she goes and tries to satisfy her soul with anything else in all of creation, she will come back empty. They are all broken containers. But if she comes to Jesus, guess what? He can fully satisfy the longings of her heart!

And the same applies to you and me as well. If we turn to our jobs to satisfy us, we will be empty and dry.

If we turn to our relationships to satisfy us, we will be empty and dry.

If we turn to our possessions and think that by buying everything that we can buy it will satisfy us, we will be empty and dry.

If we turn to our pleasures, thinking that if I can indulge in whatever pleasure I want to indulge it will satisfy us, we will be empty and dry.

If we turn to knowledge thinking that accumulating all the information in the world will satisfy us, we will be empty and dry.

There is nothing in all of creation that has the capacity to fulfill and satisfy the longings of our heart. Only Jesus can because He is the fountain of living waters.

An example that we sometimes use – what would happen if we fill our vehicle’s fuel tank with Pepsi instead of petrol or diesel. It’s not going to run. Why? Because the vehicle was made to run on petrol Or diesel. In the same way, you and I were created with longings that can only be fulfilled by our Creator. Everything else will fall short.

[15] The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

She still doesn’t get it because she’s still thinking about physical drinking water. Jesus doesn’t give up. He continues the conversation with her.

[16] Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” [17] The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; [18] for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” [19] The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

In order for her to receive this soul satisfying living water, she first needs to be confronted with her sinful and immoral lifestyle.

When we look at the Samaritan woman’s personal life, we realize that there’s a lot of mess involved. She’s gone from one relationship to another to another to another. And her current relationship isn’t a marriage, it’s a live-in relationship.

You can imagine how scandalous this was at that time. And yet Jesus wasn’t confronting her with her sinful lifestyle in order to name and shame her.

Jesus was confronting her with her sin so that she could come and confess before the One who knows what it is in man! So that she could realize her need for the real satisfier.

She went from relationship to relationship in order to find satisfaction but came back empty. So she has to acknowledge that before she receives the soul satisfying living water.

[20] Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

She tries deflecting the conversation from herself and moving to a theological debate on the right place of worship. How many times have we done that? Whenever we are convicted, instead of responding to the conviction by repentance, our defenses come up and we try to deflect to a theological discussion which is in the air and doesn’t address the heart issue.

[21] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Although she was trying to deflect, Jesus didn’t stop the conversation. He carries on and reveals to her God’s intention in worship. It was never about this place or that place. It was always about people’s hearts. But people’s hearts are broken. So how were they going to worship?

And so God had to do something radical by sending His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. He lived the life we needed to live but couldn’t. He died the death we deserved to die. He was buried and then on the third day rose again so that whoever may repent and put their faith in Jesus would be radically transformed to be able to worship God in spirit and truth.

What does that mean? It means where our worship is based on the truth of God as revealed in His Word. We are not worshipping our own ideas and concepts about God. We are worshipping what is true about God as He has told us in the Bible.

And when we have known God as revealed in His Word, the Spirit will take that truth and bring about authentic, genuine, sincere worship from our hearts.

To take a human example, what if I went up to my wife and told her “Angie, I just love your blonde hair. You look so beautiful and amazing in it”. Do you think she would feel loved by that? No, why? Because it’s not rooted in what’s true about her.

And so in the same manner, what God delights in is when we take what is true about Him as revealed in the Bible and worship and praise Him for that only.

Sometime back when we did our training for the worship team we spoke something similar to this. The closer we are to God’s word during our worship set, the more authentic our worship would be. The further we are from God’s word during our worship set, the less authentic our worship would be.

[25] The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Little did she know that the One with whom she was having this theological debate was her Messiah. Her Savior. Her soul satisfier!

This is the second one to one dialogue that Jesus has in the Gospel of John. The last time he had it, it was with Nicodemus. Interestingly she didn’t have any of the credentials that Nicodemus had. She didn’t have his OT knowledge. She didn’t have his moral standing as someone who followed the law rigorously externally.

She didn’t have his influence. She didn’t have the respect and stature in society. She was the polar opposite of a Nicodemus. And yet, Jesus was pleased to travel through that hostile territory in order to reveal Himself to her as her satisfier. He is the same today! He promises to do the same to any one of us who comes to Him this morning.

What is your response going to be to Jesus this morning?