If I be lifted up

Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die. – John 12.30-33

Jesus of course knew what had to happen. He knew that He has to die so that He could conquer death. He knew that He had to shed His blood for the sin of all mankind. He even knew that He had to be lifted up in crucixion to fulfil prophesy. He knew that the brazen serpent in the wilderness that was lifted up to deliver from the bite of the serpents was a picture of Messiah beling lifted up on the cross.

The purpose for being lifted was clear. Jesus said ‘If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.’ All men. Its just like the when the plague of serpents in the wilderness struck anyone who looked up to the servant would be delivered from death.

The offer of deliverance from the penalty of sin is for anyone who will look up to Jesus on the cross in faith. He had to be lifted up to provide deliverance for all who look to Him.

Glorify Your name

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” – John 12.27-28

Here is John’s account of Jesus’ passion in the garden. We know that Jesus had submitted Himself to the Father when He came to Earth as an example to us. He became obedient, as we read, even to the point of death.

We get to see here though the inner workings of His human heart and soul as He faces the cross. ‘What shall I say Father? Should I ask You to deliver me from this hour?’ The whole ordeal was going to be agony for Jesus. He seems to have wanted to be released from this hour.

But what He ‘wanted’ didn’t matter. What mattered was that He had chosen to take on the role of a servant and obey all the way.

The important thing here is that God be glorified. That may sound a little selfish to our ears, but God is most glorified when men to turn Him from their sin. It is not God’s desire that men spend eternity separated from Him. He is glorified when He draws men to Himself and His kingdom grows. He does not desire that any should perish but that all would come to repentance.

For that to happen Jesus had to die to prepare a way for us. Jesus had to die and be raised again so that we could have eternal life and glorify God. Jesus was willing to go through it all to glorify the Father.

What are we willing to do?

He who loves his life

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. – John 12.23-26

As beleivers we know now that we live in two worlds. We have to live our physical, temporal, visible, fleshly life while ate same time we live in the Kingdom of God is a spiritual, eternal, invisible life which deals with our soul.

Our souls and our flesh do battle every single day.


We are driven every day by every thing we see around us to go after that which satisfy’s our own life. There is very little out there that draws us to think about eternity. If we could only get the best car and the nicest house and the newest phone and the most advanced computer and dress in the finest clothes everything will surely be better. If we have something to show at the end that will surely show that we have achieved a life well lived.

But what good will that do for eternity? What will that do when we are dead and cold and lying in the ground. What will it profit us if we could somehow gain the whole world, but in the end we lost our soul?

The question is rhetorical. Obviously if after gaining all the good of this world we lose our soul, our life will be a life well wasted.

Our goal ought to be to daily be preparing our souls for eternity. Everything temporal is going to die with us. Only what is done for Christ will last for eternity.

They plotted to kill Lazarus

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. – John 12.9-11

It appears that Lazarus’ resurrection had the desired impact. Because of what had happened many Jews were leaving Judaism and believing in Jesus and the Jews couldn’t have that. Now the Jewis leaders had to problems, Jesus and Lazarus. While the plot against Jesus was growing the Jews decided that they had an answer about Lazarus – they would just kill him.

Through the centuries that has been the way to deal with Jesus’ followers.If you can’t scare them inot change and can’t shut them up the solution is to just kill them. Martyrdom was going to be a part of serving God and following Jesus.

The thing is that they enemies of Jesus killed Him because they don’t know what they are doing. They killed Stephen because they did nor know what they were doing. They wanted to kill Lazarus because it was the only way they knew to shut him up. All over the world today our brothers and sisters in Christ are arrested, beaten, and even killed because the world has no answer for our faith.

I wonder though if many are believing in Jesus because of our new life in Christ?

Lazarus come forth

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” – John 11.40-44

While every moment of Jesus ministry on earth is vital and important and should be examined in detail and teach us lessons that we need every day there are certain moments that are what he today would call show stoppers.

This event is one of those very visible, very clear, very obvious, very public moments. His friend Lazarus had died. Lazarus’ sisters were stunned. How could Jesus let Lazarus die if He were truly the Son of God?

But He did. It wasn’t till four days later that Jesus showed up. Martha confronted Him and confirmed her belief in the resurection. When Jesus got to the tomb he told the men to unseal the tomb. ‘But,’ they said, ‘he’s been dead four days, he is going to stink!’

But they opened the tomb and Jesus called out ‘Lazarus, come forth!’

Can you imagine the anticipation as the assembled crowd waited to see what would happen?

But they was a shuffling in the shadows. From the depths of the darkness Lazarus, still wrapped in the grave clothes, came shuffling out. ‘Loose him,’ Jesus said, ‘let him free.’

If there was still any remaining doubt about Jesus or the power He had, it was not dispelled. He waited four days to come and raise Lazarus so there was not doubt that he was well and truly dead.

Jesus proved all of His assertions and claimed about who He was. He had power over live and death. He was God indeed. Nothing could defeat Him

And do today we can rest assured that death has no power. It may rob me of my body, but death cannot hold the real me for Jesus is the Victor over death and the grave.

That we may die with Him

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” – John 11.16

We criticise the disciples a lot. Not all of it is undeserved. They were thick at times. They didn’t always get it. They could be selfish and proud and arrogant.

But there are moments when we see hope. Jesus was bound and determined to go up to see Lazarus and the family. The disciples knew that Jesus was in dianger if they did.

I’ve heard a couple of explanations for why Thomas the Twin said what he said next, but I see no reason to think that he meant what he said.

‘Let us go with Jesus so that we may die with Him.’

I have read some who say that Thomas was being sarcastic, and maybe he was. Maybe there is something in the Greek that I don’t get, and if there is I apologise in advance for my error.

But I think there is a sign here that at least Thomas’ desire was right. Perhaps he did not want Jesus to go and die alone.

The thing is that all of them seemed committed to follow Jesus all the way to death – but we know what happened when the time actually came.

The right attitude and idea and commitment is only proven when put to the test. How do you and I do when our words are actualy put to the test?

Never perish

Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.” – John 10.24-30

The Jews who were after Jesus had already heard Him claim He was the Son of God. They had already heard Him say that He was I AM. Yet, they still said ‘how long are you going to keep us guessing? Are you or are you not the Christ?’

Jesus salad that He had told them and He had showed them and still they did no believe and the reason they did not believe because they were not His sheep. This was a pure slap in the face. They had always been told that they were His sheep. Now, they are not rejecting Him, He is rejecting them!

The the indictment comes as Jesus describes His true sheep.

‘My sheep’, Jesus said, ‘are mine forever. No one can ever pluck them from My hand.’

‘They will never perish.’

‘God is greater than them all.’

‘No one can snatch them out of God’s hand.’

These guys were not Jesus’ sheep, but if they were they would be eternally safe in Him. We are His sheep and as His sheep we have eternal life. We area wrapped in Jesus’ hands and then wrapped in God the Father’s hand. Nothing can move us from there.

Eternally, perfectly, completely, and wholly secure because of Him. What a wonderful place to be because we no that we will never, ever, ever perish.

One flock, one Shepherd

As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. – John 10.15-16

Here Jesus mentions that He had ‘other sheep who are not of this fold’ that He would bring and ‘they would hear His voice’ and has a result ‘there will be one flock and one Shepherd. ’

Unity has always been a great part of God’s plan. He does not want a divided people.

Jesus plan was that He was not only the Messiah of the Jewish nation. He would have a much larger flock that just the Jews who already knew that Messiah would be their Shepherd.

The Jews did not like Gentiles. They were generally racist about them. They often fled the Gentiles ‘dogs.’ They thought that they would ever and always be the ones who would be Messiah’s sheep.

Little did they know that Messiah was for the whole world. That’s why the New Testement specifically says that in Christ there was neither Jew or Gentile, but all would be one in Christ.

Christ is the Great Shepherd. All sheep are welcome to His fold. Let us be about the task of bringing in the sheep.

They will not follow a stranger

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. – John 10.1-6

Jesus’s shepherd and sheep analogy continues. Jesus said that He was the true Shepherd. He said that His sheep would follow Him. He also said that His true sheep would not follow a stranger.

That’s an interesting statement – buts it one that I can grasp.

Many years ago, shortly after we moved to Naas, we had a shepherd family come to our church for a while. About this time of year, maybe a little later, it was time to move the sheep to a wintering shed. I’m still not sure exactly what that is, but I figured, ‘why not, I might get a sermon illustration out of it.’

So we went out to the farm. It was fine moving the sheep to near where they needed to be because we were all together. But then the time came when we needed to move them into a particular direction. The parents and children started calling the sheep and the sheep immediately followed them. I figured all I had to do was to do what they did, but when I did it not a single sheep followed me, they seemed irritated. Finally the farmer took me aside, stuck me in a doorway with a bin lid, and told me that if any sheep wandered my way that I was to bang the lid with a stick to turn them away.

And it worked, pretty soon all the sheep were where they needed to be.

The point is simple and obvious. The sheep knew the voice of the shepherds. They did not know the voice of the stranger. They followed the voice of the shepherds. All the stranger could do was to scare them away.

And so it ought to be with us. We should only heed one voice – the voice of our great Shepherd. Everything else should put us off.

Why then are we so often willing to heed the stranger?

Do you want to follow Jesus?

He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. – John 9.27-34

We don’t know this blind man’s name, but he is quite an exmple for us of what it means to be a bold and clear witness for Christ. The Pharisees kept pursuing him trying to find a way to get something to use as fuel in their attempt to arrest Jesus.

So the man kept going and talking about Jesus. At one point the man said ‘I’ve already answered your questions and you keep asking, do you want to be a disciple of Jesus as well?’

I don’t know if he was being genuine or sarcastic but this was the perfect answer for the situation. He then went on to say that only a man of God could heal the blind. Jesus could not be a sinner because a sinner could not do that.

The conviction was too much. They turned to an attack on the man saying ‘you are completely born in sin’ and they cast him out of their presence.

Continuing to talk about Jesus may have the same result for us. People may not talk to us anymore. One thing is certain though – they have heard about our Jesus and the Holy Spirit can use that to draw men to God.

Once I was blind

He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” – John 9.25

Amongst Jesus’many headings healing we have this account of Jesus healing a blind man. When he met the man He pointed out that this man was not blind because of anybody’s sin. The He spat on the ground, rolled the the spit into the dirt to make a ball of clay, put it on the man’s eyes, sent him to wash in a pool, and healed His blindness.

The Pharisees were always looking for a chance to find some way to attack Jesus. They still thought that Jesus was some kind of charlatan or magician or something. So they went to interview the man about what had happened. ‘Is the man a prophet? He is something else? Is He commiting sin? What is going on?’

The simplicity of the man’s answer blesses me – ‘Listen, I don’t know about all your questions, but I do know this, once I was blind but now I can see.’

That was the perfect answer. He didn’t have to know everything, all he knew is what Jesus had done for him and that was enough to give an answer. His testimony of what Jesus had done for Him was enough.

We often worry about what we are going to say when we try to witness to people. We are worried about answering their theological questions. It is true that we need to read and study our Bibles to learn more about our faith, but our most powerful tool is to tell people what Jesus has done for us. It is our personal experience with Him that will make the difference.

So study and read and know the word of God, but when you have the chance just tell others what Jesus has done for you.

I AM

Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. – John 8.54-59

Jesus was once again in a discussion with the Jewish leaders and officials/ Although He had clearly told them over and over again that He was Messiah and the Son of God I guess they didn’t accept because they are still pressing their point. Here the debate is over who God’s sons are and who can claim God as Father. They were trying to get Jesus to retract His statement that He was truly the Son of God. He couldn’t do that, He said, because if He said that He would be a liar.

They kept pushing Him until He said this – ‘before Abraham was, I AM.’

It’s those last two words that caused all the trouble. He claimed the name that God had used when He had told Moses who He was. We use the name Jehovah or Yahweh today. To these men though this was the ultimate blasphemy.

Jesus had now crossed the point of no return. They immediatley sought to kill Jesus for what He said. No one can deny that Jesus was not claiming to be the God who created and sustains the universe.

You can’t have Jesus part way. If He is not God He is not worth following. His teachings may be profound but unless He is God He cannot be trusted and His teachings are worthless and we might as well go on ourmerry way.

But He is I AM and as such worthy of our all.

Hears God's words

He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” – John 8.47

He who is of God hears God’s words.

What a powerful, dramatic, clear cut statement. It cuts right to the bone. It leaves no room for debate. If you are of God you will hear His word. If you don’t hear His word you are not of God.

How do you and I do with that test? Are we people who hear the word of God or are we people who slough it off when we hear it? The kind of hearing Jesus is talking about here is hearing that has an impact. It is hearing that settles in and takes root.

So much of the professing parts of the church do not show any evidence of hearing God's word. Some folks hear the noise, but it has no impact at all. It does not change their lives.

But how about you and me? Are we hearing God’s word and is our hearing having an impact on our day to day lives?

Free

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. – John 8.34-36

Sin is a terrible master. Sin is the Simon Legree of the spiritual world. Sin is a master that cares nothing for its slaves. Sin destroys. Sin may not always appear destructive, but under sin man is never free no matter how nice it seems at the time.

All men and women are born as slaves to sin. It is our nature. No one who takes an honest look at the world around us can really deny it. Look at our own lives. Try as we might to do battle our sin somehow it seems to always come out.

But there is deliverance. Sin does not have to win. As Paul in Romans 6 we have been delivered from the body of sin and death. Sin has not more dominion over us. We have a new Master whi gives us victory over our sin. When Christ gives victory over sin it is real victory over sin’s power.

With Christ we must remember that the sin we struggle with is a defeated master. We need to stop obeying it and its desire. We must daily turn to our new grace filled Master and seek His loving help and guidance through the struggle.

The things that please Him

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. – John 8.28-30

‘I always do the things that please Him’

I know these were the words of Jesus, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say those same words in our lives?

Jesus could clearly say those words. He is God. He only seek to do the Father’s will and He will never displease God even though He faced the same trials and afflictions and we do and more.

But that doesn’t mean that there is nothing here for us. We are called ‘Christian’ and that is a word meaning ‘Christ copiers.’ It was intended as an insult, but we took it on as a reminder and a challenge. Our goal and our desire should be to always please God.

Can we do that? No, not perfectly, but we should be going on pleasing Him as we pass through this life. My question for every thought and word and deed ought to be ‘does this please my Heavenly Father?’

How about today to start with. Can we try today, the 16th of September 2018, to live a day that totally please Him?

The Light of Life

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8.12

Light and darkness, here it is again. Jesus over and over again deal with the issue of a world being trapped in darkness. The problem of darkness is a good because we can all identify. Darkness is where we trip and fall and stub our toes and smash our shins. Darkness is where people hide who can do us harm. Sometimes I walk super early in the morning and there are still some rough characters out and about.

Walking in darkness is cerainly no fun for most of us. In Scouts we once had to do a night hike with no torches. It was cloudy so it was just pure dark. It was a terrible walk and part of it had to be done by feel. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to be blind.

It is even worse, much, much worse to be wandering is spiritual darkness. Trying to make it is life without any spiritual light is a disaster. Spiritual darkness allows us to be trapped in the horrors of this world without any hope. The resulting blindness means that we can’t even perceive how dark it is.

But Jesus can change all that. He brings light into the darkness and lights the way so that all darkness is dispelled. The blinders are removed and we finally see things from God’s perspective. When we follow Christ we no longer walk in darkness because we have Him to light our way.

T

Go and sin no more

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” – John 8.7-11

This setting always makes me a bit angry. Here we have a bunch of self-righteous mysogyntist men who have found a woman commiting adultery. She was guilty. She had been caught – but where is the man? These men have decided to take her and publicly stone her to death.

I get irritated at that. It is the same tired and corrupt line that somehow women are to blame for men’s lust. We still here those lines today. “She must have said something or walked a certain way or something so she is guilty.’ I have personally heard stories of actual events where young girls were seen as at fault for ‘seducing’ adult men. Anyway, that’s not the point I guess, but I think it is interesting to see what Jesus does.

Jesus walks up and addresses the men. He kneels and writes something and then says ‘let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’ Men had the power to blame her because they were in control.

Thankfully Jesus knew their hearts. ‘Let the one of you who does not have sin cast the first stone.’

And they all left. One by one they left. They knew their guilt.

‘Where are you accusers? Jesus asked. ‘Who has condemned you?’

‘No one.’

‘I am not going to condemn you, just go and sin no more.’

Jesus didn’t excuse her sin. He told her to sin no more.

The thing is He knew that she did not sin alone. All He wanted her to do was to stop her sinning.

It is so easy to judge others. Its not quite so easy to judge ourselves.

Whosoever will

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. – John 7.37-39


On the last day of feast in Jerusalem Jesus stood up among the people and cried out words that had to remind the people of Isaiah 55.

‘Ho, everyone who thirst, come and drink!’

Anyone, everyone – these are key words.

Here is an open invitation to all who will take. I have seen a meme recently that is just downright silly. ‘Heaven has walls and a strict immigration policies, hell has open borders.’

In reality Heaven is for anyone who wants it. Sure, you must confess your sin in repentance and ask forgiveness but then they free gift is ours. Black, white, male, females, gay, straight, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, atheist, rich or poor the waters that will satisfy are there for anyone and everyone who will take it. No one who comes to the gate willing to accept Christ is refused. There is indeed only one way in, but no one is banned.

‘Whosoever will’ are two of the greatest words in the gospel.

Anyone and everyone

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. – John 7.37-39


On the last day of feast in Jerusalem Jesus stood up among the people and cried out words that had to remind the people of Isaiah 55.

‘Ho, everyone thirst, come and drink!’

Anyone, everyone – these are key words.

Here is an open invitation to all who will take. I have seen a meme recently that is just downright silly. ‘Heaven has walls and a strict immigration policies, hell has open borders.’

In reality Heaven is for anyone who wants it. Sure, you must confess your sin in repentance and ask forgiveness but then they free gift is ours. Black, white, male, females, gay, straight, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, atheist, rich or poor the waters that will satisfy are there for anyone and everyone who will take it. No one who comes to the gate willing to accept Christ is let in. There is indeed only one way in, but no one is banned.

‘Whosoever will’ are two of the greatest words in the gospel.

The profitless life

What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. – John 6.62-62

We have it made in our western culture. The vast majority of us are well fed, have a roof over our heads, and are well clothed. That says a lot. An awful lot of the world can’t even say that. We ought to be grateful that we can go to bed at night in security and safety, that there is food for breakfast, and that we’ll have clothes to put on tomorrow morning.

But our flesh craves so much more. Our flesh craves this our way. We want our flesh to provide our security. We are discontent when we don’t have the stuff we want the way we want it. We seem to always want the biggest and best and nicest of everything. We don’t want to have to trust God for our daily needs.

So we live to fulfill the flesh.

And that is the ultimate profitless life. What does it profit us if we gain the whole world but lose our soul in the process. What good will all things of the flesh do when We stand before God to give an account of our lives. Everything I see around me is only ever going to give temporary satisfaction. It is only the Spirit tht gives life that matters.

So we are challanged in another place to walk after the spirit and not after the flesh. We are challanged to set our affections on things above. We are challanged to look on the unseen.

That’s quite a task considering how visible everything around us is. But oh the value of treasuring the eternal instead because those things are, well, eternal.

I will lose nothing

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” – John 6.35-40

Of all the debated and contested doctrines that I have looked at one that I have never struggled with is the notion that once a person truly repents and puts their faith in Christ eternity is secure and their salvation is safe.

Call it ‘once saved always saved’ if you will, but I can’t see anyway to get around the fact that once Jesus saves me he saves me for good. If my continued salvation is based on my words than it is me who is in charge of my salvation. The scriptural evidence is overwhelming but we are just looking at one passage this morning and it is a passage where Jesus says ‘I will never cast out one who comes to Me. I will not lose one whom the Father sends Me. I will give them everlasting life. I will raise him up in the last day.’

I don’t know how anyone could possibly argue with that. It seems pretty clear. What is means is that if anyone seems to turn away they are either walking in the flesh or they never truly came to Christ in the first place because Jesus will not throw anyone out who truly comes to Him.

That doesn’t give one a licence to sin. It means that if anyone uses their liberty as a licence to sin something is wrong. They need to examine their lives to see if they are truly in Christ.

But one thing is certain – If I am truly in Christ He will never, ever, cast me out.

Food that endures

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” – John 6.26-29

Jesus knew the hearts of the people. He knew He was drawing huge crowds, but He also knew that many of them were coming, not because they believed in the things He was preaching, but because they had been fed when He multiplied the bread and fishes. They were following Him for the free meal.

Jesus risked losing His crowd when He confronted them the facts. He told them their motivation was all wrong. He told them they needed to follow Him, not because od what they could get here and now, but for what mattered for eternity.

‘How do we do the works of God’ they asked.

‘Believe in me, the One the father sent.’

That’s a wonderful answer. All we can do it to believe in Him. I donn’t think it only for salvation. Our daily spiritual bread is to believe Him to save us, but also to believe in Him to care for us day by day. When I am not believing Him today I am missing the bread that endures in my life. I believe Him for eternity, but I believe Him for eternity as well.

Because of her words

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. – John 4.39-41

What possible impact could Jesus talking to one Samaritan woman have? Why not go to the crowds where He could have a big impact all at one shot? Why not hold a mass rally?

Well, Jesus did that at times. Massive crowds did not follow Him and show up to hear His preaching.

But it is also true that Jesus would not neglect the one. He took time out to cut though Samaria because of this one woman. He shared with us the good news of spiritual water from which she would never thirst. Eventually she accepts Jesus as Messiah and goes back into town talking about Jesus.

I need to stop for a second here. When we study the new Bible it is amazing what is done when people talk about Jesus. And yet, how seldom do we talk about Jesus outside of our Christian community? We talk about everything else, but what about Him?

What impact does she have? Many Samaritans believed when she talked about Jesus. So much in fact that the people in town asked Jesus to stay and many more were saved because of His words.

We need to realise the power of our words – when we speak about Jesus. I can talk about a lot of things, but only talking about Jesus is going to have eternal impact.

One sows, another reaps

For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ – John 4.37

Because we are human we like it when we are the ones to finish a task and get the ‘credit’ for it. It is a shame, but my early days in church were spent with a huge emphasis on the reapers. People and churches kept tally of how many people they had led to the Lord. I have had questionnaires that asked how many people we had seen saved and baptised. That kind of emphasis makes it seem that the reaper is the most important worker in the process of seeing people saved.

But that’s not how it works. When a crop is harvested a lot of works has been done before hand. The land must be cleared, the soil prepared, the seen planted, the crop must be watered and fertilised, the field must be weeded, and finally the harvest must be reaped.

Without each of us the task could not be accomplished. We need stone pitchers and ploughmen and seed sowers and waterers and weed pickers and reapers. Every single job is important. May we do what we have the chance to do for the ultimate purpose – not to gain credit for ourselves, but to bear fruit for God’s glory. Remember. God gives the increase.

To do the will

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! – John 4.34-35

Sadly, I am one of those people who really loves food. I look forward to a good meal, and good treats, and good snacks, and good ice cream, and, well you get the idea. When you look at me you see how obvious this is. If there is a meal being served I am very, very, yeah very unlikely to skip it.

When Jesus came upon the disciples as He was talking to this woman the first thing they though about was whether or not He had eaten. ‘Have you had anything to eat?’
they asked.

Jesus’ reply was a great example and a lesson and a pattern for us – to parrowphrase He said ‘Physical food is not important right now, I am in the middle of doing God’s will and that is what important.’

I think we have a lot more here than whether or not doing God’s will or eating our food is more important. What we are seeing here is that the things of God are more important than worldly fleshly things. We need our ‘necessary food’ and such, but that is not our priority. We are told to seek God’s kingdom first and that if we do that we can trust God to take care of all the rest. God knows what I need, I need to pursue His will and His way and He will sort out the food part.

There is a great job to do – let’s not let our desires get in the way of doing His work.

Love each other

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13.34-35

The Law was full of rules and commandments. Tucked away in there were the words that we ought to love God and love others. The legalistic Jews though chose to stress the do thises and the don’t do that’s.

Several times in His ministry Jesus shows them a new focus. He tells them the answer is pretty basic – love each other. His standard His high though because He says that the standard was that they, and we, are to love each other the same way that He loves.

In fact, this is so important that Jesus says that this is the test of whether or not we are His disciples. It is the test by which people are going to know the reality of our faith. Do we love each other? Do people know that we love each other? Are people drawn to Jesus by the way we love each other?

And yet how often do we as believers manifests fightings and divisions and bightings and devourings among beleivers? We seem to find the smallest and silliest things to divide over. The world watches us fight over music choices and worship styles and how we dress for church and issues like that and now we do it right out in the open on social media.

I’m not saying that we ought to compromise on essentials, but surely there is room for a lot of improvement in how we love each other.

I who speak to you am He

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” – John 4.25-26

The Jews and the Samaritans did not get along, at all. Both thought they were the ones doing it right. The did agree on one thing though – they agreed that Messiah was coming. Jesus and the Samaritan woman had reached a point of agreement. Messiah was coming and He would tell them everything they needed.

What Jesus said next must have stunned her ‘I, the One who is speaking to you, am He.’ In other words “I am the Messiah you are waiting for.’

What a shock this must have been. Who is going to boldly proclaim that He is the Messiah everyone is waiting for.

There were a couple of things that could be true – maybe He was telling a lie, maybe He was crazy, or maybe He was who He said He was.

In fact, aren’t those the only options. There is no half way here. Either He is Messiah, or He is a liar, or He is crazy. That doesn’t leave room to just be a good teacher or a wise man or a religious leader. He is Lord or He is a liar or He is a lunatic.

Most people will acknowledge that Jesus existed and that He was a great man and a great teacher and had a great impact on history – but that is not enough. He must be seen as Lord.

Will never thirst

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”- John 4.13-14

There are a lot of places in the New Testament where God shows us the importance of one – the one son, the one sheep, the one coin, the one Ethiopian in the desert. And here we have the importance of one woman in the middle of the day at a well gathering what when the proper folks would not be there. She came then because the other ladies would not welcome her in the cool of the evening.

Water is often used to picture not only physical thirst but also emotional or spiritual thirst or indeed any kind of deep desire. We speak of a thirst for truth or a thirst for knowledge. Here we find Jesus speaking of the deep abiding spiritual thirst for life and the meaning of life.

Men try everything to sate that thirst. They try wealth and possessions and sex and mind letting substance and power and popularity and even religion to satisfy their thirst.

But everything falls short. That thirst is never really and fully and permanently satisifed. Something is always lacking. This woman knew that well, she knew the reality of her deep spiritual thirst.

Jesus tells her that He has the answer to her thirst. Indeed He is the answer to her thirst and if she will partake of His gift she will never have to thirst again. Her spiritual thirst will be satisfied once and forever. All she has to do is to take it.

It is obvious that we live in a very thirsty world. That’s why we see so much crazy stuff going on around us. People are thirsty and we have the answer. How selfish it is of us when we won’t share.

He must increase

He must increase, but I must decrease. – John 3.30

For a short time here it looks like we have two competing prophets vying for the attention and affection of the people. John was already about the region preaching about repentance and baptising people who did repent. He looked like a wild man but was drawing great crowds.

We also had this new prophets named Jesus of Nazarth. He was also preaching and baptising.

John’s disicples and some of the Jews were not sure about this new preacher. They came to John reporting that Jesus and His disciples were also baptising and drawing people to them.

If John was like a lot of us there would have been a little of that tragic, little known sin of ‘ministry envy’ but John would have none of it. John knew why he was there. We knew his whole purpose was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

So it didn’t bother John. This was all part of God’s work. Then John declares that something that should always be foremost for us in every situation. He realises that it is not about him and he declares ‘He must increase and I must decrease.’

That same contest goes on in our lives today. Who is going to increase and who is going to decrease. If I increase me in my life than I have to decrease Him. But, if I increase Jesus I am the one who is going to move to the back.

Christ must have the priority in my life. He must be first. I must strive to lift Him up, and as I do He will take care of everything else.

Darkness vs Light

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” – John 3.18-21

Have you noticed how many TV programmes take place in darkness? Every time anyone enters a building it is dark, especially on the crime shows. I think the reason is that we all know that darkness is the perfect cover for doing wrong. Darkness hides evil until it is exposed to the light.

That might be a little dramatic for this passage, but I think it is a picture about why people love darkness more than light. Men love darkness because their deeds are evil and they don’t really want anyone else to see it, especially God.

No one likes it when their sin is exposed. Men get so caught up in the pleasures of a season that they don’t want a change, all they can see is their sin.

So the world rejected the Light.

But some come to the Light, and those who do see things in the light of the Light. When we walk in the Light we see things from God’s perspective. We see the world in the light of the word of God.

But it is more than that. When we walk in the Light we are also called to let our light shine before men that they can see our good works and glorify our Heavenly Father. What impact does the Light have on you and me and our lives?

For God so loved the world

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. – John 3.14-17

If there was only one verse we could have to explain the gospel it would have to be John 3.16. Growing up in the American South it is a verse that we would hear and see everywhere. It is the first verse that many Americans ever learned, even if they were not saved. You can't miss in in the culture . The reason I think is that it was such a clear and simple presentation of the truth. Its all there.

For God – that’s where it has to start, with God, not us
So loved – God is love. He acted in love. What He here is because He is acting in accord with His nature.
The world- that pretty mush says it. I certainly do not know all about how predestination works, but I do know that God loves His creation and the people who fill it. He knew the world was living in darkness without hope.
That He gave – a gift. He did not give a payment or a reward or anything of the like. He gave a gift.
His only Son – I also don’t understand all of how the Trinity works. But in some way God the Father sent God the Son because He is the only one who could pay the penalty for man’s sinful state. The penalty for sin is death, but the sacrifce has to be sinless to pay it.
That He who believes – believes, not does good work or acts religious
In Him – faith in Christ alone
Will not perish – will not have to suffer eteranl death. Bodies will die, but we will live on.
But have eternal life – always, eternal, forever, unending life

There it is. The plan and way of salvation is one small verse.

Now, what are we going to do with it, keep it or share it?