Bible Text: John 12:23-33 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is outline found in the Sunday bulletin. Click below for complete notes.

07-15-2018

Son of God: Son of Man

John 12:23-33

Read John 12:23-24… God’s Son, dying for our sins
and then raised from the dead demonstrates authority over sin, death, and judgement (see Romans 1:1-4).
The Jews were not the only “people of God,” after Christ’s death and resurrection, the gospel would provide salvation for people from every tribe, tongue and nation. John 12:25-26… If you belong to Christ, you are to serve, honor and obey His Word, this demonstrates the eternal life you have that can never be taken away (cf. Matthew 10:37-39; Luke 9:23-24).
John 14:3, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
All those who serve Christ are honored by the Father (1Samuel 2:30), “…those who honor Me I will honor.”
In less than a week, Jesus will die on the cross, for both Jew and Gentile (see Ephesians 2:14-16; 3:6).
Read John 12:27-28a… Jesus is very troubled in His heart and mind, concerning what lies ahead, for He is going to suffer God’s wrath, although He is sinless. 2Corinthians 5:21, “He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’”
1Peter 2:24, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Hebrews 10:10, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
1John 2:2, “He Himself [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation [full payment] for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (cf. John 3:16).
Jesus did Father’s will (see John 10:17-18).
Read John 12:28b-30… The Father speaks here and
(baptism, Matthew 3:17; transfiguration, Matthew 17:5). The people couldn’t hear for they were spiritually deaf.
In John 8:47, Jesus said the Pharisees couldn’t hear the words of God because they didn’t belong to God.
In John 10:27, Jesus says His sheep hear His voice because they belong to Him and follow Him.
The Father’s audible voice was was for disciples who were going to lose their Lord, when He was crucified.
Read John 12:31-33… The Cross of Christ is central to Christianity, bringing God’s judgement to all those who reject Christ and salvation to all who believe (see John 3:18-19; 5:22-27; 6:28-29; 8:24; 10:30).
Christ is victorious over the god of this world, the devil (see Ephesians 2:2).
1John 3:8, “The devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
Hebrews 2:14, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus] likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
John 3:14-15, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”
In Matthew 16:16, Peter proclaimed to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Hebrews 9:22, “according to the Law, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
The Son of Man bled and died on the cross; the Son of God, rose from the grave on the third day, demonstrating His authority over sin, death and judgement, forever!
If you aren’t sure you are saved, please see me.

Bible Text: John 12:17-26 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | Here is the sermon insert to follow along. There are also sermon notes below.

07-08-2018

Some Gentiles Seek Jesus

John 12:17-26

Look at:  John 11:18-19, 28-29, 31-35, 39-46

Read John 12:17-18… John 12:13 describes this marvelous scene, the people are waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.”
Jesus fulfills Zechariah 9:9, “Behold, your king is coming to you;… …humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Read John 12:19… The Pharisees are tracking Jesus’ movements (see John 11:47-48, 53-54; 12:1, 9-11).
Read John 12:20-22… These Greeks have come up to Worship the God of the Hebrews, proselytes to Judaism called God-fearers (cf. Acts 10:1-2; 17:4, 17).
God’s plan was always to save people from every culture, tongue and nation (cf John 10:14-16; see Acts 10:3-8, 13-16, 30-35, 39-48).
Philip was from Bethsaida, near the Decapolis [lit. a group of ten cities], mostly Greek; Andrew was also from Bethsaida (cf. John 1:44), together they go to Jesus.
Read John 12:23-24… The Religious Leaders of Israel want Jesus silenced, eradicated, even though He is the Messiah, Lord and Savior, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.
Jesus response, is the first time “His hour” is present; always before it is future (cf. John 2:4; 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20). From John 12:23 on, it is expected, imminent (cf. John 12:27; 13:1; 16:32: 17:1).
John 17:1-5, “Jesus… …lifting up His eyes to heaven, said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.’”
Daniel 7:13-14, “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man was coming, He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.”
Although Jesus will one day enter Jerusalem as a conquering King; first will come the rapture of those belonging to Christ into heaven, followed by the Anti- christ, setting off 7 years of Tribulation; after which, Christ returns to earth, riding a White Stallion. He is the Word of God, the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, and everyone will see Him (cf. Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16).
John 12:23… the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified is when the Lamb of God dies for the sins of the world and is raised from the dead by God, demonstrating authority over Sin, Death, and Judgement forever.
Jesus’ statement in John 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit,” is antithetical to the Messiah the Jews were looking for, to rid Israel of all Gentiles, establishing His Kingdom, now.
Jesus will not be glorified without making full payment for our sins, taking God’s wrath upon Himself without which, there could never be a kingdom without sin’s curse (See Revelation 21:1-5).
2Corinthians 5:21, “He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
1John 5:5, “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

Bible Text: John 12:12-16 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: John | This is the insert from the morning bulletin:

07-01-2018

God’s Son Presents Himself to Israel

John 12:12-16

Read John 12:12-15… On “Palm Sunday” Jesus rode into Jerusalem; as a crowd of people wave palm branches shouting, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.”
The people were following an ancient practice (cf 2Kings 9:12-13) of expressing homage to a new king; they are recognizing Jesus as Messiah, King of the Jews. Psalm 118:25-26, “O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.”
Jesus [Greek], Yeshua [Hebrew] ”God’s salvation,” the people are shouting, “God’s Salvation, Please, Save Us!”
Read again John 12:14-15… Jesus rides a young donkey into town, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
See Matthew 21:1-7… Jesus sent two disciples into Bethphage to find a donkey and her young colt and bring them to Him; after which they laid coats on them both.
Matthew 21:8 says the people are throwing down their outer garments and palm branches, expression their hope and desire for their Messiah-King to liberate them.
Matthew 21:9, “The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”
The Disciples have witnessed many wonderful things over the past 3+ years: Jesus changing water into wine in Cana; Jesus healing a royal official’s son who was 20 miles away; Jesus healing an invalid for 38 years; Jesus feeding 5,000 men, with one boy’s lunch; Jesus walking on water; Jesus forgives a woman caught in adultery; Jesus healing a man born blind; Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
See John 12:16… The disciples don’t understand God’s purpose in Christ until after He is glorified.
John 7:39, “[Jesus] spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Jesus tells them (John 14:26), “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 16:13), “when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 17:1-5, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Israel didn’t receive Jesus as Messiah because He didn’t ride in on a white stallion and conquer the Romans; but that was never God’s intention.
Mark 10:45, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” John 1:11, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
The Jews didn’t understand that Jesus came to free them from the penalty of sin; and that, one day He would return as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, riding on a White Stallion (cf. Revelation 19:11-16).
John 20:31, “these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Bible Text: John 12:1-11 | Pastor: Mike Hale | Series: John | This is the bulletin insert. The full notes are also available here.

06-24-2018

Mary Foreshadows Christ’s Death

John 12:1-11

Read John 12:1-3… Jesus comes back to Bethany (on Saturday), six days before Passover (on Thursday).
Martha serves supper, Lazarus reclines, Mary pours perfume on Jesus’ feet and wipes it with her hair.
Jesus and the 12 are at Simon the leper’s house (see Matthew 26:6-7; Mark 14:3). Simon is healed, for the OT gives instructions concerning lepers (Leviticus 13:45-46), “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.”
Read John 12:4… Judas is going to betray the Lord. See John 6:70-71… Judas witnessed the same miracles
as the other 11, yet, he was “a devil!”
Matthew 26:24 “woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
Judas never embraced Christ as Lord, he was a skilled imposter who fooled everyone except Jesus.
Whenever God’s work is being done, there will be imposters and hypocrites, like Judas, mixed in with the flock of God, for Satan’s servants (2Corinthians 11:15), “masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
Read John 12:5-8… Judas is a thief.
Jesus (verse 7) speaks up for Mary, defending her.
In (John 11:50) Caiaphas declares that either Jesus dies or the whole nation falls. John tells us (John 11:51) that Caiaphas did not say this on his own, but God used him to prophecy Christ’s sacrificial death.
Mary’s act of worship previewed the coming death and burial of Jesus.
Read John 12:9… A large crowd learns Jesus is in Bethany, they go to find Him and Lazarus.
John 11:53-54,”So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went to the country near the wilderness.” 57, “Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him.”
Read John 12:10-11… Everyone responds in some way to Jesus: either believe in and serve Him; remain indifferent; or oppose Him.
A person’s response to Jesus will determine their eternal destiny (Acts 4:12), “for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13, for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Bible Text: John 11:37-57 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | The insert from our morning bulletin, different than the sermon notes:

06-17-2018

The Dead Shall Rise Again.

John 11:37-57

Read John 11:37-40… Why didn’t Jesus heal Lazarus? Jesus, now at the tomb, commands that the stone be
removed. Martha is shocked, he has been dead four days.
Jesus reminds her, if she believes, she will see the glory of God.
Read John 11:41-43… Jesus yells, “Lazarus come out!” John 5:25-29, “I say to you, an hour is coming and now
is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”
All the dead will one day be raised (cf. 1Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:1-14).
Jesus commands, take off the wrappings (clean and feed him, cf. Jairus’ daughter Luke 8:41-42a, 49-55).
John doesn’t tell us about Lazarus’ reaction or his reunion with Mary and Martha; that is not the priority or purpose of this miracle; but instead, as John tells us (verse 45) it is so that, “many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”
This event was witnessed by many people.
Read John 11:46-52… Many of the Jews believed in Jesus, others told the Pharisees what He had done. No one had ever resurrected a dead man..
Members of the Sanhedrin asked themselves, “What are we going to do? This man [Jesus] is performing signs [attesting miracles]. “If we don’t stop Him, all will believe in Him.” They feared losing their places of privilege.
Caiaphas scolds them, “don’t you know anything, this Jesus must die or the nation will fall to the Romans. Although he is unaware of it, he is speaking of Christ’s sacrificial death (1Corinthians 15:3-4; 2Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:27-28; 1Peter 2:24), but he is also speaking of Israel’s destruction in AD 70.
John states God’s plan to gather all who believe in and obey Him into one family, from Israel and also Gentiles outside of Israel (see Ephesians 2:11-18).
Read John 11:53-54… Caiaphas’ influence is seen, “from that day on they planned together to kill [Jesus].” Jesus goes to Ephraim, 12 miles NE of Jerusalem, where he stays until Passion week, except for a brief trip to Samaria and Galilee (cf. Luke 17:11-19:28).
Read John 11:55-57… This is the third Passover mentioned by John’s Gospel (2:13; 6:4). Attendance at this feast is mandatory (cf. Numbers 9:6); it is estimated there were over 1 million congregants attending Passover.
John tells us (verse 56) the people are looking for Jesus at the feast, but some think He may not come because (verse 57), “the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.”
The resurrection of Lazarus set Jesus at odds with the religious leaders of Israel like never before, but also, forced people to make a decision about Jesus. Their responses then are the same as today: some respond to Jesus in faith, some remain indifferent, and some are hostile toward the Savior, Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
Next week, we’ll pick up as Jesus returns to Bethany for a visit and a shared meal with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (who was previously raised from the dead, by Jesus, and is still very much alive).
The Jews not only want to kill Jesus, but also Lazarus, for he is proof of Jesus’ divinity for only God can raise the dead back to life.

Bible Text: John 11:17-36 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | 06-10-2018

Jesus Wept

John 11:17-36

Read John 11:17-19… As noted, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days when Jesus arrived.
During the time of Christ, deceased were normally buried within 24 hours (Acts 5:1-10), Ananias and Sapphira lied to God, were struck dead and buried.
Read John 11:20-27… Lord, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Note: Jesus in Luke 7:11–17, raised the son of a widow commanding, “get up,” he sat up and began to talk; in Luke 8:52–56, a 12 year old girl died, Jesus held her hand, saying “My child, get up,” she stood up.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Martha voices her belief in Him, as John writes (John 20:31), “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Read John 11:28-36… Martha tells her sister Jesus wants to see her. Mary gets up to go to Jesus, many of those comforting her go with her.
Mary arrives at Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus loved this family, He is deeply moved [implies outrage & indignation]. Jesus is troubled, in Matthew 2:3 Herod uses this word when the Magi are looking for the One born King of the Jews; it is also used by Jesus (John 13:21) at the Last Supper, concerning the one of who would betray Him.
We are told Jesus wept (cf. Isaiah 53:3), “A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” The word wept (verse 35) is only used once in the New Testament. It implies a quiet, bursting into tears, the result of deep grief.
“See how He loved Lazarus!” Jesus came to die for us, to take our punishment, that we might be forgiven for our sins, made acceptable to the Holy God of Creation.
2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 21, “He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Romans 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:1-2, Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Hebrews 9:27-28, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
1Peter 3:18, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”
Next week Jesus will demonstrate what He said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, Savior? Your eternity depends on your response to Him!

Bible Text: John 11:1-16 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | These are the sermon notes from Sunday’s bulletin:

06-03-2018

Lazarus is Dead

John 11:1-16

Read John 11:1-2… We are told that Lazarus, brother
of Mary and Martha from Bethany, near Jerusalem, is sick.
Read John 11:3-6… Mary & Martha send word to Jesus, “he whom You love is sick.”
Jesus doesn’t go for two more days? But why not heal him long-distance? See John 4:46-53…
It would see that Lazarus was already dead when the messenger informed Jesus (see John 11:17).
Read John 11:7-10… The disciples are concerned about going back up to Jerusalem; they left there after the Jews tried to kill Jesus, it isn’t safe to return to Judea.
Jesus answers them with a really strange response (see verses 9-10).
We think of a day as 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness, but Jesus is not talking about a solar day.
John 8:12, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’”
Jesus gives believers eternal life; He is self-existent – He was not created, He is the Creator, eternally existent, the Almighty “I AM,” (Exodus 3:14).
There was a time when the universe did not exist; but there was never a time when God did not exist. Jesus Christ, the Word [Logos], is God, He has always existed.
In Christ was the light and life of God (see John 1:1-4; 1John 1:5-7).
Without the light of Christ there is only darkness.
John 9:4-5, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
All Christians are empowered to do the work of God. Do you see the meaning of John 11:9-10? Those who have Christ, walk in the Light of God’s Word, those who don’t believe in Christ walk in darkness, they are dead, void of the Life and Light of God!
Read John 11:11-16… Jesus tells the Twelve, Lazarus has “fallen asleep” and He needs to go wake him up.
Note: Sleep is a euphemism for death: in the OT the phrase “slept with his fathers” means to die (1Kings 2:10; 11:34); in the NT the phrase “fallen asleep” is applied to Christians who have died (Matthew 27:52; Acts 7:60; 1Corinthians 15:6, 51; 1Thessalonians 4:13-15).
Jesus says He is going to “awaken him out of sleep,” i.e., raise Lazarus from the dead. The disciples don’t get it, they think he’ll just wake up after he rested or well.
Jesus clears it up (verse 14), “Lazarus is dead!” Jesus is going there to raise him from the dead.
Usually it is Peter who opens his mouth at times like this (verse 16), saying what the other guys are thinking (cf. John 6:68-69), “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Thomas [Hebrew] and Didymus [Greek], both mean “the twin”. Thomas displays his love for Christ when he says, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” The disciples know going back to Judea will be dangerous.
The sadness of Lazarus’ death will turn to joy, as both Father and Son receive glory at Lazarus’ resurrection.
John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey [believe] the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 5:26, “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself.” John 6:40, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”
1John 5:11-12, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

Bible Text: John 10:22-42 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | 05-27-2018

Rejected and Accused of Blasphemy, Jesus Departs

John 10:22-42

“Rejected and Accused of Blasphemy, Jesus Departs.”
Read John 10:22-24… The Feast of Dedication, known today as Hanukkah or Feast of Lights, takes place on the 25th of Chislev (Nov.-Dec).
Read John 10:25-31… Evidently these Jews weren’t paying attention in John 5:17; 8:12, 24, 58.
Jesus is God in human flesh, giving His life as payment for our sins (see 2Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:26b).
To those who genuinely belong to God through Christ, being born of the Spirit of God (John 1:12-13), “…to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…” “…born of God.”
Those who belong to Christ have eternal life (John 11:25-26), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”
Jesus states His own equality with the Father; the Jews pick up stones to throw at Him.
Read John 10:32-33… The Jews are unwilling to believe Jesus is God in the flesh, the One who came to die for our sins (see John 1:1-4, 14, 18).
Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Hebrews 9:26, “He [Christ] has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
Hebrews 10:10, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Read John10:34-38… This is, at first reading, a difficult teaching, that God would call Israel’s corrupt judges gods.
Psalm 82:1-2, “A psalm of Asaph. God presides in the great assembly; He gives judgment among the ‘gods’: ‘How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?’” 6-7, “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.”
Verse 35… God called these wicked judges “gods”, although they were just sinful men. So shouldn’t the One sent by the Father, to save us, be called the Son of God?
Jesus appeals to the Jews, but they are so spiritually blind they cannot recognize His works as the works of God; (verse 38) even if they don’t believe Him, they should believe the miracles themselves and come to the conclusion that the Father is in Jesus and He is in the Father, for (verse 30) “He and the Father are one.”
Read John 10:39-42… These hardhearted Jews don’t want to believe in Jesus, they want to arrest Him and bring Him to the Sanhedrin, but He escapes their grasp [cf. John 7:30; 8:20, “His time had not yet come”].
Jesus departs Jerusalem and goes back across the Jordan, where John baptized Him [John 1:28, Bethany, “beyond the Jordan]. While there, many people comets Him saying, everything John said about Him is true.
Note: Although John performed no miracles, the people considered him to be a prophet from God and a true witness of the Messiah (see John 1:29-33).
Like the time of Christ, today most people reject Him, only those who come to Him believing, repenting of sin, will be granted forgiveness for sins, eternal life and (John 1:12),“the right to become children of God.”
John 7:17, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own.”
John 6:28-29, They asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29, Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.”
John 8:24, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be].”
John 20:31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

Bible Text: John 10:1-21 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the insert from the Sunday Morning bulletin.

05-20-2018

God’s Son, the Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Read John 10:1-5… Shepherding was always a part of the life in Israel. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David, were all shepherds.
God is the Shepherd, Israel is the sheep.
Psalm 23:1, “A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”
Isaiah 40:11, “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”
Ezekiel 34:11-12a, “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after My sheep.’”
The Old Testament prophets warn Israel’s leaders who don’t care for God’s people (see Isaiah 56:10-11; Jeremiah 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34:2-10).
Matthew 7:15, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Acts 20:28-29, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.”
Read John 10:6-11… There were many false teachers at the time of Jesus; but the true sheep (children of God) were not led astray by them.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provided payment for the sins of all who believe in Him.
Read John 10:12-16… The hired hand doesn’t care for the sheep, but runs away when trouble comes.
The shepherds in Israel often protect the sheep from wolves, lions, bears, or thieves and robbers (see 1Samuel 17:32-37, 48-50).
God’s flock contains both Jew and Gentile who respond to Jesus Christ (see Acts 10:9-16, 24-28, 34-38, 44-48; Ephesians 2:11-16).
Read John 10:17-18… Jesus always obeyed the Father who loved Him and sent Him to save us (see Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 6:25-29).
Read John 10:19-21… Jesus’ words stir the people up, some saying He has a demon and is insane, as we have seen before (cf. John 7:20; 8:48, 52).
But some don’t agree (verse 21), “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Remember the blind man (John 9:25)? The Jews wanted him to denounce Jesus as a sinner; but the blind man responded, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” Jesus was indeed sent from God.
By referring to Himself as the Gate for the sheep (John 10:9) and the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), Jesus describes Himself as the Savior Shepherd of all who belong to God, for He lays down His own life for you and for me.
What a wonderful Savior!

Bible Text: John 9:13-41 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | These are the sermon notes from the church bulletin insert:

05-13-2018

Spiritual Blindness!

John 9:13-41

Read John 9:13-16… The man says, “He put mud on
my eyes, I washed and now I see.”
The Pharisees say Jesus is not from God, for He didn’t keep the Sabbath. Jesus didn’t break any biblical commands concerning the Sabbath, although He violated religious rules, healing a man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:9-13), an invalid (John 5:1-9), making it clear (Mark 2:27), “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Read 9:17-23… The Jews don’t believe he was blind, so they call his parents in to testify. His parents don’t want to tangle with the Pharisees, so they say, ask him, he is an adult, he can answer for himself.
Read John 9:24-30… The Jews challenge the healed man to say Jesus is a sinner, and is not from God! His response was, “I was blind but now I can see!”
The Jews escalate, “How did He heal you?” “I told you already, do you want to become His disciples?
The all-knowing Jews don’t know where Jesus comes from, i.e., He is credentialed, we don’t acknowledge Him.
John 9:31-34… The ex-blind guy gives these Jews a lashing, “If this man [Jesus] is not from God, He could not do this miracle.”
The Pharisees release their vehemence, “you were born in sin,” they threw him out of the synagogue.
The Jews were spiritually dead (1Corinthians 2:14), “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Read John 9:35-38… The Lord finds the man and asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [Messiah, cf. Daniel 7:13-14), He has all power and dominion.
Jesus reveals Himself and the man responds, “Lord, I believe,” after which he worships the Lord.
Romans 5:12, “sin entered the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned,” 17-18, “death reigned through that one man [Adam], how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.”
John 9:39-41… Jesus tells the Pharisees they are guilty before God, unwilling to repent and be saved; they are lovers of darkness rather than light.
The blind beggar received sight and salvation.
John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
2Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel,” 6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2Corinthians 5:17-18, 21, “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.” 20-21, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Herbert Spencer: time, force, action, space, matter. See Genesis 1:1…
“In the beginning” (that’s time)… “God” (that’s force)… “created” (that’s action)… “the heavens” (that’s space) … “the earth” (that’s matter).
All who repent of sin, believing in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, are healed of spiritual blindness.