Believe in Whom?
Notes
Transcript
Several week ago, we started this series, but have had a few weeks off.
We talked about walking according to the Spirit
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The first thing that we need to understand is that the Holy Spirit is a person and that we can have a relationship with him.
We can grieve the HS, lie to the HS, and we are told to listen to the HS
So, we talked about how 3 ways to walk according to the HS:
1. thinking according to the Spirit
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
2. Speaking according to the Spirit
Jesus gave us the example in:
49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
3. Act according to the HS
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
So, having this basis, we will continue on in our series on the Holy Spirit.
We are going to look at John chapters 14-17 in depth and what Jesus teaches us that the HS will do for us!
It will be a bit later before we get to some things directly involving the HS, but bear with me, we will get there!
Jesus sets up a lot of the background in relationship with Him and the Father before we get to the HS.
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Troubled - to be greatly distressed
Compared to
Jesus in John 11 after Lazarus had died:
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
And, what Jesus will say later in this chapter:
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jesus just told them that he was leaving them, and that Peter was going to deny Him.
Brant Hansen calls this the worst chapter break in the Bible
We often separate the words of Jesus here, but, in the original text, there was no chapters or verses.
So, Jesus says this statement right after telling Peter that He was going to deny Him.
I wonder if maybe this is a note for us today…
Maybe Jesus would say: Caleb, you will deny me…times will come when you want to doubt me and my words and my truth, but,
Do not let your heart be troubled….believe in God, believe also in me!
You see, even when we fail at following Jesus and His words, God is still faithful!
Jesus tells us what to turn to when we fail…turn to Him!
Trust Him! We trust in His faithfulness!
He then comforts them with the thought that He would be leaving them!
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
This is a bit of an interesting idea for us, but it would have meant a bit more in their time period
According to the New Beacon Bible Commentary on John:
John 13–21: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition ((1) Encouragement (14:1–11))
In Jesus’ day, many dwelling units were combined to form an extended household. It was customary for sons to add to their father’s house once married, so that the entire estate grew into a large compound (called insula) centered around a communal courtyard.
The image used by Jesus may also have conjured up notions of luxurious Greco-Roman villas, replete with numerous terraces and buildings, situated among shady gardens with an abundance of trees and flowing water. (Köstenberger 2002, 137; 2004, 426)
“Here, rather than elaborating on the characteristics of the Father’s house, Jesus is content to stress that there is plenty of room” (Köstenberger 2004, 427).
So, here we have this picture of the extended family unit that would likely hit them a little different than for us
In the Jewish culture, they would have this view that the family unity is literally growing when they would get married
And, you would see it demonstrated in the addition to the father’s house
So, I think maybe Jesus is presenting a couple of ideas here:
1. This idea of the coming Church - His body, which is His bride
1. This idea of the coming Church - His body, which is His bride
Maybe He is telling them that He is leaving for a little while to go get the house ready for His soon to be bride, the church! You and me!
So, this picture of the marriage that is going to happen between and His bride!
The second thing that He is possibly leading to is the idea that:
2. Those who will follow Him, will be included in His family!
2. Those who will follow Him, will be included in His family!
Jesus, in the chapters to come is going to talk a lot more about the relationship between the Father and Him, and that we are included in this relationship!
We, as believers are included and now a part of God’s family!
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Jesus’ desire clearly articulated here is that He wants us! He wants to to dwell with Him for eternity!
He will return!
As in the words of Chris Tomlin’s song “Even So Come”
Like a bride
Waiting for her groom
We'll be a church
Ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus come
Even so come
Lord Jesus come
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
I don’t know how many of you are married
Yeah, I probably do know…but anyway
How many of you remember the preparations for your wedding?
How many of you remember the anticipation and the excitement of the wedding to come?
It is an exciting time. You can’t wait for it to come!
You can’t wait for the new start of a family
The joining of two people in a covenant
You see, what Jesus is setting up here is that we can have that kind of excitement and intimacy with Him!
When we understand His goodness! Then you get an appetite for what is to come!
We hunger and desire for the day when we get to see Jesus face to face!!
But until then! We learn to love Him through His Spirit that lives in us!
Jesus continues:
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
How can we know the way?
How can we know the Father? - he hasn’t ask this but Philip will imply it in a moment..
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The way - the only way - not by works
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
It is not a like a scale!
Massive boulder on one end - nothing we can do can move it!
But, Jesus can move it - and remove it!
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The truth - either He is right or wrong - the problem of Jesus
You can have all the intellectual knowledge in the world, but that doesn’t save you
37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,
42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
They intellectually knew all of the scriptures, yet, didn’t truly know God!
The life - The only way to live is in and through Christ