Peace

Jad Crouch

Advent • Sermon • Submitted 6 months ago • Presented 6 months ago

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Good Morning,

Let us open with a word of prayer.

Pray 3+

Today we are celebrating the second week of Advent, and as Marc read for us today’s candle represents Peace. Our text today is found in John 5 verses 30-40 and if you know the text you might think this is an odd passage to connect with the idea of peace and in some ways you would be correct. Peace and the idea of peace is never talked about in this passage. This passage comes after the healing at the pool by the Sheep Gate, where Jesus heals a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years on the sabbath. In verses 16 thru 18, we see something interesting the Jews notice about Jesus that many today fail to recognize. This is Jesus’s claim to deity, in verse 17 Jesus makes a statement saying, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” Then in verse 18 we see that the Jews wanted to kill Him all the more because Jesus was making Himself equal with God.

Then in verses 19 through 29, Jesus speaks of the authority he has been given and that he does nothing of His own accord, but only what the Father is doing. I will read verses 26-29 because they give us some of the reasoning of our passage, but starting in verse 26 it says.

John 5:26–29 “26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

The Father has given Jesus authority to execute Judgement because he is the Son of Man. Sometimes there is some confusion over this Son of Man title, many in our culture miss this reference and the claim to deity.

This title comes from Daniel 7 verses 13-14, they read

Daniel 7:13–14 “13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus in John 5 is claiming to be this Son of Man that was spoken of in Daniel 7 the one whose dominion would be an everlasting dominion, who would have glory and all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. It is His voice that would cause all who are in tombs to come out for either resurrection to life or judgement. Then starting in verse 30 we see what is almost like a hearing.

John 5:30–37 “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. 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. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 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. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. 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. 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,”

John 5:38–40 “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, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

We see in verse 30 a restatement of verse 19, Jesus is not here to do his own will but rather that of the Father this includes the judgments the Son will make, and because of this His judgments will be just. Now starting in verse 31, Jesus will refer back to the legal system and this idea that in order for something to be true it has to be established by two or more witnesses.

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

We see in our passage 4 different witnesses that verify the truth of who Jesus is besides his own testimony. This idea of testimony or witness is a common thread throughout the writings of John, between both the verb form and the noun form in the Gospel alone he uses these words 47 times and if you include the rest of his writings in the New Testament a total of 77 times. So this idea is of great importance to John and really the whole book serves this sort of purpose, to show that Jesus is the Son of God and that everything gave testimony to that fact if one looks at the evidence without prejudice. In John 20, John wrote the purpose of this Gospel.

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.”

And our passage today is a key to understanding the truth of Jesus words, as I said in this Gospel alone the idea of testimony or witness is used 47 times, but nearly a quarter of those are found in our passage. 10 times witness or testimony is used in our verses today. So.....NEXT SLIDE

What are the witnesses of Jesus?

The first that Jesus speaks of is John the baptist though the testimony of John is not the supreme testimony that Jesus speaks of it is an important one. The priests and Levites had interrogated John and asked him why it was he baptised the way he did and what purpose he had served. Turn back with me a little bit to John chapter 1. Starting in verse 6

John 1:7 ESV

7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

John 1:6–8 “6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”

Then Jump to verse 29 and yes this is difficult I want to just read everything here but we have a limited time.

In a very fast overview of John 1:19-28 there was some concern over who John was and what he was doing out in the wilderness. This goes back to what I had said last week about the pharisees knowing that Jesus was in fact sent from God and rejecting Him despite that knowledge. They suspected that he was the Christ but John the Baptist quickly dismisses that, so they ask if he is Elijah or a Prophet, and to both John answers no. He however quotes from the book of Isaiah, this is the same passage that Luke quotes in the passage that Marc read. John the Baptist is the one spoken of in Isaiah 40:3-5, the one to come and make a way for the Lord, and the one who came after him, Jesus, he did not feel worth to untie the straps of his sandals.

But in John 1:29–36 “29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!””

John the Baptist was a witness to the fact that Jesus was the Lamb of God. He saw the Spirit descend from heaven onto Jesus, but John is not the most important witness Jesus speaks of in our passage. The Jews were willing to rejoice in the witness of John for a while, but Jesus had 3 more witnesses whose testimony was far greater than that of John or that of any man.

The next witness Jesus speaks of in our passage are His works. It says in John 5:36 “36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. 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.” So...

How did Jesus's works bear witness to Him?

These works are a far more significant testimony than that of John the Baptist. We have to understand something about the works Jesus did to understand why this is important. Jews understood the importance of Miracles the Old Testament records a great many of them performed by many different men, most of which were dependent upon some obedience to a command from God. Jesus did an incredible number of miracles, around 37 in three years. He displayed His power over nature, over distance, over the human condition, and over death itself. Again the Jews recognized these as unique signs, we saw this last week, but it is worth seeing again.

John 3:1–3 “1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” These signs were so significant that the Jews had to address it. Turn with me to Matthew 12, we will look at verses 22-32

Matthew 12:22–29 “22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”

Matthew 12:30–32 “30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

All of these works were a direct reflection of the Father’s will and testified to the fact that Jesus was from the Father.

But the Father Himself testified to the fact that Jesus was His Son. Back in John 5 verses 37-38 it reads

John 5:37–38 “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.”

We see this in both his baptism and his transfiguration. Look with me at Matthew 3

Matthew 3:13–17 “13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

In a fairly public moment, God the Father speaks and is heard by others, but in a more intimate setting in Matthew 17 the Father again speaks.

Matthew 17:1–5 “1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.””

This same man the Jews had said was casting out demons by Beelzebub, God the Father spoke of, and was well pleased with. The disciples are told to listen to Him.

The final witness that Jesus speaks of in our passage is connected with the Father, but it is the Scriptures.

The Jews knew scriptures and they believed it was because of the Scriptures that they had life, this is an idea that was continued long after the conversation recorded here.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 36: John (Second Edition) Witness to Jesus in Face of Jewish Unbelief (5:31–47)

R. Akiba’s witness is particularly significant; living after the destruction of the temple, his faith was essentially faith in the Scriptures. He stated, “God said: the word is not an ‘idle’ thing for you, Deut 32:47; and if it is idle for you, why is it so? Because you do not know how to search it, for you do not energetically occupy yourself with it. For it is your life. When is it your life? When you exert yourself with it” (Gen. Rab. 1.19, cited by Schlatter, Der Glaube im NT, 57)

The Word Biblical Commentary quotes this from his writing on Genesis, but it shows how deeply this belief went, Jesus however refutes this idea, saying the very Scripture that they believe would give them eternal life bears witness to Himself as the life giver. So...

What are some ways the Old Testament points to Christ?

If you are in the Women’s Bible study, you all are looking at the 7 Feasts and how they are a picture of Christ and His full work. Take for instance the Passover, Jewish families were to take a perfect spotless lamb and sacrifice it, in order that they would be saved from the Wrath of God. Jesus is the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb and through Him we can be forever saved from the wrath of God because Jesus took God’s wrath upon himself.

Daniel, Isaiah, Micah, Psalms all speak of Jesus’s coming, they spoke of where he would be born, how and where he would live, and ultimately his death and resurrection. It spoke of his coming from the beginning Genesis 3:15, His wisdom in Proverbs. From the begging of the Old testament to the end it all pointed to Jesus and unfortunately we do not have enough time to see how much it spoke of Him.

Now after all of this, you might be asking yourself, how does this connect to this weeks theme of Peace? This passage was much like a trial and Jesus displayed the truth of what He said through His witnesses. We do not believe in a fiction or a made up story, like many in the culture would have us believe. We believe in the Son of God. The second person of the triune God, who lived out a human life and died for our sakes and rose again defeating death. A historical event many other witnesses were willing to give their lives for and that should give us a peace that no other religious system offers, because His words are true and through Him we find life.

I will close with this question

Do we bear witness for Jesus?

Do we share that truth and the hope that it brings, how He has change us and given us life.

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