Gospel of John #45: an exposition of John 16:16-33. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 13, 2011.
Intro:
I was just a naive kid. He was my oldest brother. I loved him, adored him, and most of all, trusted him. When he said, “No those peppers aren’t hot.” I believed him. When he assured me they were delicious I ate one! After a couple of hours crying and recuperating I was encouraged and touched by his remorse. He had made a terrible mistake. The red ones were hot. It is the yellow one that is not. As a goodwill gesture he offered me a yellow pepper. After a few more hours of tears, wash clothes, bread and other remedies, I was feeling better when he offered me the green pepper. Yes, I took it. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. The third time – I must have been an absolute idiot! But that was when I was a child.
During my college days my roommate suggested we order pizza. I called it in and had it delivered to our room. Just before the pizza arrived my roommate suddenly discovered he had no cash. No problem. I got it. Well, that happened four or five times and I finally caught on! But I was a college kid.
She was a sweet little old lady who was overjoyed that the young seminary student was buying her trailer. In a way she was investing in the ministry. She even through in the refrigerator. After 3 years I sold the trailer, for which I paid $9000, for $2000 and was glad to get it. I’m afraid there’s a pattern here.
I felt sorry for them. Their story was heart-wrenching. Their mother had died. They were here trying to make arrangements. The hospital had taken what money they had. One of the sisters had her son with her. As they told their story I kept looking at the boy. His head down. Polite when I spoke to him. Sure I provided them a room for the night and some help for a meal. Of course I feel bad later when I saw them on the news and read the story of how they have manage to work their con-game crisscrossing the United States for the last 10 years.
I’m reasonably intelligent. I graduated cum laude from OBU. I have a masters degree from Southwestern Seminary. I like to think I have some spiritual insight. So how did I miss it? How come I didn’t get it? Presumption is a dangerous thing.
They had spent three and a half years with him. They heard the teaching. They witnessed the miracles. They had a front row seat to everything and yet they just didn’t get it. Nearness to Jesus did not guarantee understanding. Believing and receiving his truth did not ensure insight. Our text this morning is found in the 16th chapter of John’s Gospel.
Text: John 16:16-33
All of this is happening on the night of our Lord’s betrayal.
He is in the upper room with the disciples encouraging and equipping them for what is to come.
In our text he tells them some glorious things.
There is wonderful, good news in this text but the thing that stands out is their failure to understand.
As we work our way through the text we discover…
Thesis: Our joy and standing before God are not dependent upon our spiritual perception and insight but rather by the work of Christ alone.
Remember the context is – all hell is about to break loose.
Their world is about to be shaken.
What they have believed and committed themselves to is about to be violently taken from them.
A key thought emphasized is, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
Their life is in Christ.
Not in their understanding of Christ but in Christ himself.
There are three things I want to call to your attention.
- A genuine spiritual experience does not guarantee spiritual perception. (16:16-24)
- There is a fine line between spiritual perception and arrogant presumption. (16:25-31)
- Our joy and standing before God are secured by the work of Christ alone. (16:33)