The Plowman

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Gospel of John #18: an exposition of John 6:22-59. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 13, 2011.

Intro:
They are among the saddest words recording in Scripture, “…after this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”  He was enjoying unrivaled popularity.  Crowds followed Him everywhere.  They hung on His every word.  They were prepared to take Him by force and make Him king!  Now they walked away.  Why?  What awful thing had He done?  He said something they didn’t like.  Something that didn’t set well with them.  It didn’t fit into their theological grid.  That’s the trouble with truth.  It’s unyielding.  It is what it is and you cannot handcraft it to fit your need.  When they asked what it would take to do the work of God…He told them.  He gave them the plain, difficult truth.  Not difficult in the sense that it was beyond understanding.  It’s not that they were unable to unravel the complex formula to get at the truth.  It was difficult because it was understandable.  The difficulty was in accepting the truth.  So they walked away.  The crowd then, much like the crowd today, was fickle.  As long as they got what they wanted they were on board but the minute they are made to feel uncomfortable, or had a thought challenged, or a cherished truth questioned they were gone.  Well what upset them so?  Was it something about moral or ethical standards?  Was Jesus meddling in their personal business?  Was it about money?  Think more foundational.  Think of something essential.  Our text this morning is found in chapter 6 of John’s Gospel.

Text: John 6:22-59

The first 21 verses of chapter 6 lay out three great truths:
The feeding of the 5000 demonstrates the power of God to supply your every need.
Jesus’ walking on the water demonstrates the power of God to calm your every fear.
Jesus’ response to the adoring crowd makes it clear He will not be used.

Jesus and His disciples have again crossed over the Sea of Galilee to escape the crowds.
Yet the crowds have followed.
When the crowd reaches them – they want to know how and when Jesus made the crossing.
They saw the disciples leave and Jesus remained on the other side.
There’s no extra boat – how did you get here?

Jesus ignored their question (I would have said, “I walked”).
Rather than answer their question He launched an offensive – a rebuke (6:26-27).
Though it is not stated here, we could easily insert 6:6 – “…he said this to test them for he knew what he was going to do.”

6:26-27
Truly, truly – a statement without fear of contradiction – a truism.
You seek me out of material desire – you want a free lunch.
You are not motivated by spiritual desire but rather physical want.
Stop wasting your life in pursuit of that which is destined to perish.
Seek that which is eternal.
Seek that which only I can give you.
You know that God has set his seal of approval on me.

Key – 6:28 – “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
What must we do to be saved?
How can we be united with God in His work?

Jesus gives them the short answer – 6:29 – “…this is the work of God, that you believe in him who he has sent.”

The response of the crowd is stunning!  6:30-31
That feeding of the 5000 was impressive but Moses fed a lot more than that for a lot longer.
Let’s see you do something big so we can know this is a “God thing.”

All of this sets up the “Bread of Life” discourse which runs from 6:32 through 6:58.  In which we learn the plain, difficult truth about the biblical doctrine of salvation.

Thesis: The biblical doctrine of salvation is distinctly God-centered.

Our greatest difficulties with the Scripture is not what we do not understand but rather what we do understand.  Some things are just too clear and therefore make us uncomfortable.

I’m convinced that we are all theologians.
We all have our notions of what God is like, what the Bible says, and how we are to live.
I’m also convinced that most people believe in “salvation by death.”
Driven by some sort of works salvation.
It’s about me, my performance…that is not the biblical picture.

I want to point out three truths from our text.

1. Saving faith is focused on the person of the Lord Jesus.  (6:32-40)
2. Salvation originates in the heart of the Sovereign God.  (6:43-51)
3. Eternal security naturally results from a vital union with Christ.  (6:52-59)

Conclusion:
Biblical salvation is focused on the person of the Lord Jesus.
It originates in the heart of the Sovereign God.
Eternal security is the result of a vital union with Christ.

That’s good news.
That is the Gospel.

Does it offend you?  Will you walk away?  Where will you go?

6:60 – When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?

6:66-69 – After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you want to go away as well?
68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.

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Gospel of John #17: An exposition of John 6:1-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 6, 2011.

Intro:
Do you believe in miracles?  I know we live in a sophisticated time.  Ours is a scientific age and some would suggest that we are just too intelligent to believe in miracles but I want to go on record as one who unashamedly, unapologetically believes in miracles!  Our God is a miracle-working God.  I asked, in a classroom setting once, if the class believed in miracles.  One scoffer said, “Yeah I believe in miracles.  Just last week my wife turned our car into a telephone pole.”  Even a casual reading of the New Testament reveals our God is a God of miracles.  Opening the eyes of the blind; making the lame to walk; calling the dead to life.  The Lord Jesus was and is a miracle worker.  If you are too sophisticated for that well…your just too sophisticated.  John 6 is a miracle chapter.  This morning I want us to explore the first 21 verses of John chapter 6.

Text: John 6:1-21

John tells us his purpose in writing is evangelistic – John 20:30-31.
“…these things are written that you might know the Jesus is the Christ and that you might have life by believing in his name.”

As we approach chapter 6 Jesus is still gaining in popularity.
Large crowds follow him everywhere.
At the same time controversy is mounting.
While the masses adore him – the religious establishment despises him.

John has just told us of the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda.
While the crowds rejoiced the leadership wanted someone punished for violating the Sabbath.
As Jesus justified his actions the charge of blasphemy was added.

John 5:19-47 records Jesus’ defense as he calls on various witnesses:
God the Father who affirmed that Jesus was His one and only Son.
John the Baptist who testified to the purpose of His coming – the Lamb of God…
The miracles testified to the truthfulness of His message.
The Scriptures testified to the glory of His person.

Now in the opening verses of chapter 6 we find 2 miracles and 3 important lessons.

1. The feeding of the 5000 demonstrates the power of God to supply your every need.  (6:1-13)
2. Jesus’ walking on the water demonstrates the power of God to calm your every fear.  (6:16-21)
3. Jesus’ response to the adoring crowd demonstrates the fact that He will not be used.  (6:14-15)

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Gospel of John #16: An exposition of John 5:30-47. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 27, 2011.

Introduction
I like courtroom dramas.  Just the other night I enjoyed an evening watching the classic Twelve Angry Men with Henry Fonda.  The whole movie takes place in the jury room as 12 men seek to work their way through the evidence and arguments of a trial to decide the guilt or innocence of the accused.  Of course it all started for me with Perry Mason.  I was fascinated by how Perry, Della Street and Paul Drake were able to get at the truth.  At the same time I could never understand how Hamilton Burger and Lt. Tragg could keep their jobs seeing they always arrested and charged the wrong man!  I guess the thing that attracts me is the notion that the truth is what matters ultimately.  I’m fully aware that in the “real world” the system is warped.  It seems it is more about putting on the best show or “winning the argument” than it is a pursuit of truth but in theory, if not always in reality, it is about the truth.  What really happened?  Did they do it?  Is she guilty as charged?

In love and kindness He stopped at the feet of a hopeless invalid and spoke words of life.  Instantly the man was made whole.  Rather than sharing in the joy of this miracle the religious establishment wanted to punish a Sabbath breaker.  The Lord Jesus became the object of their wrath.  As they persecuted Jesus for His supposed violation of the Sabbath, Jesus gave His justification, which resulted in the charge of blasphemy.  Two very serious charges – Sabbath breaking and blasphemy.  That is the context of our text this morning found in John chapter 5 beginning at verse 30.

Text: John 5:30-47

Jesus is about to call a few witnesses in His defense.  He begins with God the Father 5:32.  He is a little more specific in 5:37-38.  When did the Father bear witness?  At Jesus’ baptism (Mt. 3:17) and again at the transfiguration (Mt. 17:5).  Twice the voice of God was heard, audibly, to declare, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

But in this text Jesus presents three witnesses on His behalf.

1. John the Baptist testifies to the purpose of His coming.  (5:33-35)
2. His miracles testify to the truthfulness of His message.  (5:36-37)
3. The Scriptures testify to the glory of His person.  (5:39-47)

Conclusion:
There is one other witness that I would add…

Acts 17:30-31: The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

In short God is saying, “I’ve made it clear to the whole world that this is My only begotten Son, and the days of patience are forbearance are over.  Now I command you to come to Him because I’m going to judge the whole world through Him.”

Do you really need more proof?
What could be added to make you believe?

If you will not accept the testimony of God the Father, John the Baptist, the miracles, the Scriptures and the resurrection – what would you believe?

You will not be able to say, on that day, “I didn’t know.  I never heard.”  The evidence is in.  Testimony has been given.  Now it is up to you to deliver your verdict.

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Gospel of John #15: An exposition of John 5:16-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 20, 2011.

Introduction:
It’s a beautiful, warm afternoon.  The year is A.D. 30 and we are just north of the city of Jerusalem approaching the Sheep Gate.  The city is crowded due to the feast.  Jews from throughout the region are in town.  The streets are crowded, people are laughing, singing and celebrating.  Over there are large crowd has gathered near the Pool of Bethesda.  Because we are curious, we elbow our way through the crowd to get a better look.  A man turns and with great excitement says, “A cripple has been healed!”  This whole section of the city is worked up into a frenzy.  “What happened,” we ask?  “This teacher was walking through the area, stopped at the feet of the man and asked, ‘do you want to be healed?’  Then he said, ‘get up and go’ and he did!”  Unbelievable.  Incredible.  Fantastic.  You would think everyone would be thrilled but they weren’t.  The scribes, Pharisees and the religious establishment looked at the healed invalid and all they could see was a violation of the Sabbath law.  “You there, how dare you carry your bed on the Sabbath.”  The man tried to explain, “I’m sorry but you see I’ve been an invalid for 38 years.  This man he told me to get up and take up my bed and walk and well…I’ve been healed!”  “We don’t care about your medical history you are in violation of the Sabbath law and that is a serious offense.”  That’s the trouble with legalists.  They are incapable of sharing in the joy of a miracle if one of their rules is broken.

This is the backdrop for our text this morning found in John chapter 5 beginning with verse 16.

Text: John 5:16-30

I don’t know if you’ve learned this yet but faith can be messy.  It doesn’t always fit into nice, neat categories.  We’re comfortable when everything fits and we know what to expect.  I think that’s why so many people have a problem with Jesus.  He doesn’t fit.  He refuses to be confined to a box – anyone’s box.  Make it as big as you want, whatever shape you want – your system can’t contain him.  Look at 5:16, 18:
And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Jesus makes some incredible claims in this text.  Claims that cannot be ignored.  Claims that go to the heart of who he is and what he came to do.  We begin with verse 16.

Thesis: Jesus’ answer to the religious establishment demanded a response then and requires your response now.

1. Jesus boldly declares himself to be one with the Father in His actions.  (5:19-20)
2. Jesus brazenly declared himself the Giver of Life.  (5:21, 24-26)
3. Jesus authoritatively declares himself the Sovereign Judge of all things.  (5:22, 27-30)

Conclusion:
These claims demand your response.

He is one with the Father.
He is the Giver of Life.
He is the Sovereign Judge.

What will you do with Jesus?
He will not be ignored.
Will you flee to him in repentance and faith and thus receive life eternal and abundant?
Will you reject his claims as fanciful and nonsensical and thus perish in your sin?

You could put it off for another day – but you have no assurance there will be another day thus you may seal your doom.  These claims are eternal.  They are weighty.  They demand your serious consideration.  What will you do with Jesus?

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Gospel of John #14. An exposition of John 5:1-15. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 13, 2011.

Introduction:
He spoke and the world came into being.  He said, “Let there be…” and there was.  Powerful.  Awesome.  Majestic.  Sovereign.  The Mighty God, Ruler of heaven and earth.  God.  How do you picture Him?  When you think of God what image comes to your mind?  What does God look like?  Before you say, “That’s a dumb question” Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me you have seen the Father.”  John’s prologue says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.  That word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-4, 14).  If you want to know what God is like – look to Christ.  If you want to know how God would respond – look to Christ.  As you explore the Gospels a clear picture of God emerges.  He is indeed a God of love, mercy and grace.  One striking example is found in John chapter 5.

Text: John 5:1-15

Have you ever felt helpless?
Have you ever believed your circumstance was hopeless?
Have you ever felt like you were at the end of your rope?
Have you ever wanted to throw in the towel, give up, walk away?
If you have, take heart!
If that is you, rejoice.

You are just at the point where God typically steps in.  When we come to the end of ourselves, when we are desperate, when hope is gone – we become prime candidates for God’s amazing, transforming grace.  In our text we have the story of a man snatch from the valley of despair and brought to life.  Listen to the story of this nameless cripple and find hope in the midst of your dark world.

This encounter at the pool of Bethesda reminds us that…

Thesis: The ministry of Jesus reveals the heart of God in response to hurting humanity.

One of the great fallacies regarding the character of God is that He is a cosmic killjoy.  That He is the angry God of the big stick.  That He is stern and looking for an excuse to punish those who get out of line.  Often the God of the Old Testament is pitted against the God of the New Testament.  But He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Jesus the Son is one and the same with God the Father.  Both are righteous, holy and just.  Both are loving, compassionate and full of mercy.  Do you remember Jesus said, “I don’t do anything unless the Father tells me to do it.”  “My meat is to the do the will of my Father and to accomplish the work He sent me to do.”  So when you see Jesus responding in grace – that’s the response of God.   When you see Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus those are the tears of God.  When you see Jesus walking in the midst of the weak and crippled that is the presence of God.

There are three things I want us to note in our text.

1. Jesus, in love, walks in the midst of the hurting.  (5:1-6)
2. Jesus, in mercy, touches the broken imparting life.  (5:6-9)
3. Jesus, in grace, challenges the restored to a life of godliness.  (5:10-15)

Conclusion:
The hurt of God in response to the hurting.
Walks in the midst of the hurting.
He touches the broken imparting life.
He challenges the restored to a life of godliness.

The response of love, mercy and grace.

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#13 in the Gospel of John series. An exposition of John 4:43-53. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 6, 2011.