WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:01.900 Thanks very much, Neil. Good morning, everyone. 00:00:02.060 --> 00:00:05.459 Really good to have you with us, whether in the church here or remotely. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:07.459 A question. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:10.320 Why do you believe in Jesus? 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:12.099 Or maybe for some people the question is, 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:14.040 why do you not believe in Jesus? 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:18.640 Or more generally, why do people believe in Jesus 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.400 or not believe in Jesus? 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:24.320 I think these are really important questions. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.780 If we are a Christian, we say we are a Christian, 00:00:27.780 --> 00:00:31.320 we should know what is the basis for our faith. 00:00:32.120 --> 00:00:36.120 If we say, well, I don't believe, then why do we not believe? 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:40.359 And if we're thinking of telling others about Jesus 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:43.200 and the good news of the gospel, 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:46.219 what is it that brings them to believe? 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:49.579 Or what is it that keeps them back from believing? 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:54.439 These are questions, I think, which come from the passage today 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:57.680 and more generally from John's gospel. 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:01.520 So in our passage, we have the first appearance of the Lord Jesus 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:04.260 to his disciples, and there's a question of belief there. 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:07.200 But more particularly, when we come to Thomas 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:09.460 and the Lord's appearance to Thomas, 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:13.420 there's the question, what is it that led Thomas to believe? 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.299 And then as the Lord says, 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:18.599 how blessed are those who haven't seen and yet have believed? 00:01:19.240 --> 00:01:22.680 The question then is, well, why do people believe having not seen? 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:25.720 Why should we believe if we haven't seen? 00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:30.100 And then at the end, we have the verse we refer to quite a few times 00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:33.460 as we've gone through John's gospel, John's purpose statement, 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:40.180 that he's made a careful selection from all the things that happened during Jesus' life. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:43.860 And he's done it so that he can bring them together 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:50.280 and help us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:53.319 And so I think as we come to the end of John's gospel, 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:55.879 this is a good thing to be thinking about. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:59.519 Now, I say the end of John's gospel, there is another chapter to go, 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:03.379 which Archie will be taking us through next week, a very important chapter. 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:07.799 But that has the nature probably of an epilogue to John's gospel. 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.460 If chapter 21 wasn't there and John's gospel ended at chapter 20, 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:14.579 it wouldn't seem unfinished. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:17.500 And I think John wrote chapter 21, 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.759 at least in part to tie up the loose end with Peter. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:24.199 Last time we saw Peter, he was denying he knew the Lord Jesus. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:27.099 And that invites the question, well, what happens next? 00:02:27.359 --> 00:02:30.419 And chapter 21 gives us the answer to that. 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:36.679 But chapter 20 is in many ways the ending of the main section of John's gospel. 00:02:37.099 --> 00:02:39.039 So it's a good time, I think, to look back 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.819 and think what is John being saying to us throughout his gospel. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.359 So this morning, I want to do things a little bit differently from how I normally do. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:49.579 We're not going to spend all our time going through the passage. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:53.819 We'll talk about it fairly briefly and try and get an understanding of it. 00:02:54.019 --> 00:02:57.799 And then I want to focus very particularly on this question, 00:02:58.259 --> 00:03:00.199 why believe in Jesus? 00:03:01.079 --> 00:03:04.479 What is it that John says in the passage we're looking at today 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:10.199 and throughout his gospel that should compel us to believe in Jesus? 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:12.439 And we'll let John speak for himself largely. 00:03:12.619 --> 00:03:17.479 We'll pick verses from the gospel that will help us to understand what he's saying. 00:03:18.619 --> 00:03:20.199 But let's begin with this passage. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:22.799 It's a great passage in its own right, isn't it? 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:27.500 So we're picking up the story of Jesus on Easter Sunday. 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:33.240 So previously during the day in the morning, the Lord Jesus has risen from the dead. 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:35.360 He's appeared to Mary Magdalene. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:38.000 We know from other gospels he appeared to other women as well. 00:03:38.600 --> 00:03:43.220 Peter and John have been to the tomb and witnessed the fact that Jesus is no longer there. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:52.719 And now we're in the evening and the disciples are together, almost all of them, in a room with the doors locked. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:55.120 But they were afraid. 00:03:56.539 --> 00:03:58.560 They had seen what has happened to Jesus. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.060 And even though they had heard that Jesus had risen from the woman, 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:07.479 still they were worried, what is going to happen to us? 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:14.879 And they were sitting, no doubt, in that locked room and almost waiting in fear of the knock on the door. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.319 And someone has come to them to say, 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:18.879 Look, you're next. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:21.500 We're going to put you on trial. 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:26.920 And as the disciples are there, suddenly Jesus appears with them. 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:31.920 Now, isn't a common thing in the gospel that Jesus suddenly appears out of nowhere? 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:36.599 So it may be that with his resurrection body, things were a bit different. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:42.580 But despite the locked doors, Jesus himself came and stood there and he talked to them. 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:50.140 And what Jesus said to them was designed to reassure them and to prepare them for the future. 00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:53.939 He starts by saying, Peace be with you. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:56.260 A peace they certainly didn't have. 00:04:56.320 --> 00:05:01.860 They were probably feeling guilty about the fact that they deserted Jesus in his hour of need. 00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:03.640 As I've said, they were worried. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:07.479 Jesus comes first and says, Peace be with you. 00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:10.879 He then demonstrates very clearly that it is him. 00:05:11.339 --> 00:05:16.259 They see his hands and his side where the nails had been, where the spear had gone. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:19.180 And they are overjoyed, says John. 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:20.599 It really is Jesus. 00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:23.360 He really is alive. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:34.120 And then Jesus repeats a bit of a summary of what he talked to them about in chapters 13 through to 16, his upper room ministry. 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:36.180 He sends them out. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:41.080 He gives them their commission to go and to tell others about him. 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:45.839 He does something which symbolizes the coming of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:45.979 --> 00:05:51.560 He breathes on them and says that they will receive the Holy Spirit. 00:05:51.779 --> 00:05:54.659 Again, something promised in the earlier chapters. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:06:03.899 And then he promises that if they say people's sins are forgiven, then these people will be forgiven and conversely not. 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:09.479 Now, I don't think the Lord Jesus is saying here, you can just go up to people and say your sins are forgiven. 00:06:10.239 --> 00:06:22.019 The sense, I believe, is that if people have demonstrated evidence of faith, the disciples can give them the assurance that their sins are forgiven because they believed in Jesus. 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:27.459 Or conversely, if they haven't shown faith in Jesus, to say, no, your sins are not forgiven. 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:36.839 Anyway, what this event does, what this appearing of the Lord Jesus does for most of the disciples, it gives them a real reassurance. 00:06:37.299 --> 00:06:38.479 Jesus is alive. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:46.120 All our worries and fears we can put behind us and we can go out and tell others about him. 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:52.600 We then move on a week, so I guess in terms of our timetable, we're on today, the Sunday after Easter. 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:58.259 And we have the disciples again together, but this time Thomas is with them. 00:06:59.280 --> 00:07:00.379 I like Thomas. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.780 Thomas, it seems to me, was someone who was very straightforward. 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:12.480 He said what he thought and he wasn't afraid to say it, even if it wasn't what other people might want to hear. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:20.860 So back in chapter 11, we have the incident where Lazarus has died and Jesus says, we'll go and Jesus would raise him from the dead. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:25.040 And the disciples are saying, well, we can't go to Jerusalem because Jesus is going to be arrested. 00:07:25.140 --> 00:07:26.340 We're all going to be in danger. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:32.240 And Thomas says, well, let's just go with them and we can die with them. 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:35.000 A man of some courage. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:42.660 Chapter 14, Jesus is talking to his disciples about what will happen when he goes to the father. 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:45.819 He's gone to prepare a place for them, he says. 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:49.500 And he says, you know the way to the place where I'm going. 00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:55.399 And it's one of these situations, you think, where the disciples are looking around and thinking, we don't really know. 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:57.319 We don't really understand what's going on. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.180 But it's almost everyone's afraid to say anything except Thomas. 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:05.720 So Thomas says, Lord, we don't know where you're going, so how can we possibly know the way? 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:09.920 And then Jesus says, of course, I am the way, the truth and the life. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:13.220 Someone who is willing to say what he thought. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:14.980 And so he gets again here. 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:21.519 Thomas is hearing the accounts of disciples and he's thinking they're hallucinating. 00:08:22.340 --> 00:08:27.360 This is wishful thinking that Jesus has come and has appeared to them. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:39.159 And so he says, unless I see the nail marks, unless I put my finger in the nail marks, I put my hand in his side, I'm not going to believe. 00:08:39.800 --> 00:08:41.860 And then they're together a week later. 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:47.300 Jesus comes again, very similar to the last time, suddenly appears among them, says, peace be with you. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.840 And he says to Thomas, look, put your finger here. 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:52.620 Put your hand here. 00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:55.220 Stop doubting and believe. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:57.080 And Thomas doesn't need to do it. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:00.180 Seeing Jesus, hearing Jesus is enough. 00:09:00.700 --> 00:09:08.759 And we have this great statement of faith, in many ways a climax of the gospel, as Thomas says, my Lord and my God. 00:09:09.419 --> 00:09:13.259 And then we have Jesus' response to him, because you've seen, you have believed. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:17.779 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:23.500 Thomas himself would have become one of the great witnesses, I think, to the Lord Jesus. 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:29.500 Someone who could say, I didn't believe, and then I got the evidence, and I believed in Jesus. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.919 Okay, so that hopefully gives us some understanding of the passage. 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:38.059 We will be referring to it again as we go along. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.620 But let's now take this question. 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:43.000 Why believe in Jesus? 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:51.019 I'm going to suggest five things that John says that are reasons why we believe in Jesus. 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:56.200 And the first of these is credible witnesses. 00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:59.340 In many ways, John is a book of witnesses. 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:00.759 John himself is a witness. 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:06.419 But there are also lots of other people, as you go through John's gospel, who can say, I've met Jesus. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:08.039 I believed in him. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.700 Here is what he's done for me. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:12.840 Here's why you should believe as well. 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.899 I suspect most of us first heard about Jesus from someone else. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:25.379 Someone who believed in Jesus told us about him and said, here is someone who's worth believing in. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:28.200 For quite a number of us, it would have been our parents. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:35.280 When we were children, teaching us the stories of Jesus, and in many cases, living out the Christian life. 00:10:35.400 --> 00:10:42.000 Now, we're not all people who grow up in a home where Christian faith is possessed, professed, have happy memories of it. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:47.759 But for many of us, we can look to our parents and say, yes, they were a great example to us. 00:10:47.780 --> 00:10:50.180 Or perhaps there was a friend who talked to you about Jesus. 00:10:50.179 --> 00:11:01.179 But someone said, I believe in Jesus, and you saw the genuineness of their faith, and you too felt that you should explore this further. 00:11:01.979 --> 00:11:03.039 And we have that here. 00:11:03.199 --> 00:11:04.799 We have the witness of the disciples. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.739 We have, as I said later, the witness of Thomas and the witness of John in the gospel. 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:16.060 But let me just present you three witnesses that John brings to us through the gospel. 00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:18.639 First of these is John the Baptist. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:21.340 John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Lord Jesus. 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:26.299 He was the one who came and said, there's someone coming after me who's much greater than me. 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:30.340 I'm not even worthy of untying his shoelaces. 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:33.039 And John said quite a number of things. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:37.199 One of the things he said was, I have seen and I have testified. 00:11:37.839 --> 00:11:42.039 I testify that this is God's chosen one. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:48.719 In the same passage, he says, Luke, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:55.599 So in terms of John's gospel, the first witness to Jesus was John the Baptist. 00:11:56.719 --> 00:11:58.879 Jumped on a few chapters to chapter 4. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:03.759 In chapter 4, Jesus meets with a Samaritan woman at a well. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:07.580 And he has a discussion with her, which is about living water. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:10.240 Also about her personal circumstances. 00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:11.539 She had five husbands. 00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:13.659 She's living with someone who's not her husband. 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:18.120 And she goes away and she tells everyone in that village, 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:24.340 come see a man that told me everything I ever did. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.360 He was a great witness. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:28.320 Someone who had met Jesus. 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:37.200 Someone who he had been able to talk to and to convince of the genuineness of who he was. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:42.840 And she goes back and she invites lots of others to come with her. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:48.279 Then the third witness I'd suggest is a man who was born blind. 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:53.500 John chapter 9, a man who was born blind, who Jesus sends down to the pool of Siloam. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.939 And as he washes the mud off, he can see again. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:02.199 And the man, throughout the chapter, all he can say is, 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:08.139 look, you may not believe in Jesus, but one thing I know, I used to be blind. 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:09.959 Now I can see. 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:14.259 And I believe in Jesus because of that. 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:22.360 Credible witnesses, people who've encountered Jesus, who've experienced what he had to offer them, 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:25.200 and who have come to believe in him. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:30.080 One other thing about these witnesses, what was the reaction to them? 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:36.580 Well, John the Baptist, some of his disciples immediately left him and went and followed Jesus, 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:39.419 Andrew and possibly John, along with them. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:42.779 John had been preparing them for the Lord Jesus coming, 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:49.179 and they believed the testimony of John, and they immediately went and followed Jesus. 00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:51.559 Samaritan woman. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:57.899 She goes back, she tells the people in her village, they come and they meet Jesus, 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:01.819 and they say to her, well, we kind of believe because you told us, 00:14:02.099 --> 00:14:08.259 but now that we've met him, we really believe that he's the Messiah who has come into the world. 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:15.120 So someone who's heard, who's been attracted to Jesus through the witness of others, 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:21.600 but who come and to see for themselves and experience for themselves what Jesus is like. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.439 Then in chapter 9, we have almost the opposite. 00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:30.240 We have this blind man who's going around telling people about what Jesus has done for him, 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:32.980 and they're not willing to listen. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:36.139 The man ultimately is thrown out of the temple, 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:40.500 and the resolve of the Jewish leaders against Jesus is hardened. 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:44.720 And of course, over the following chapters, we see the continuing rejection, 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:48.620 and eventually his trial and his crucifixion. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:52.159 I think we will, if we are talking to people about Jesus, 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:55.220 we will also get these kind of reactions. 00:14:55.220 --> 00:15:00.399 Some people will recognize the faith and the difference it makes to us, 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:03.680 and because of that, they will be attracted to Jesus. 00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:08.680 Now, it needs to be in their own faith that they come to understand and to believe, 00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:15.840 but the witness of people who live out their faith can be really important in people coming to Jesus. 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:20.180 Some people may be made curious by what we say to them. 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:25.019 They may want to say, well, I want to find out a bit more for myself about Jesus. 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:28.519 And there will be some, sadly, who will just reject and say, 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.679 no, I'm not interested. 00:15:30.359 --> 00:15:33.259 I don't want to believe in Jesus. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:37.419 The important thing for us, if we are Christians, if we are followers of Jesus, 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:41.559 is that we are credible witnesses, that we live out our faith, 00:15:41.839 --> 00:15:44.259 and that we share it with others. 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:52.720 Second thing I would suggest that John brings before us is compelling evidence. 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:59.179 And throughout the Gospel, he is trying to present what Jesus did and what he said, 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:04.080 and to say to us, this is evidence that Jesus really is the Messiah. 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:06.360 He really is the Son of God. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:11.939 So throughout the Gospel, there are a number of what John calls signs. 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:13.179 We would call them miracles. 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:16.799 There are seven before the death of the Lord Jesus. 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:18.819 There's one still to come in chapter 21. 00:16:19.219 --> 00:16:23.239 And of course, there's the resurrection of Jesus, the greatest miracle of all. 00:16:24.239 --> 00:16:30.500 But these signs demonstrate, says John, the power and authority of the Lord Jesus. 00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:33.559 Power over nature, turning water into wine, 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:38.599 feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, walking on the water. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:43.860 Power over illness, healing an official servant from a distance. 00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:50.560 The lame man in John chapter 5, who is healed by Jesus, 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:53.000 and the blind man we've already talked about. 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:56.139 And then power over death, the raising of Lazarus, 00:16:56.500 --> 00:17:01.320 and ultimately the resurrection of the Lord Jesus himself. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:05.019 And John says to us, these are things you should consider. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.279 Here's the evidence. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.259 It's pretty compelling. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.539 Believe in Jesus. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:12.460 And Jesus himself says something similar. 00:17:13.320 --> 00:17:15.799 In John chapter 10, he says, 00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:17.779 Even though you do not believe me, 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.320 believe the works, 00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:23.160 that you may know and understand the Father is in me, 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.960 and I in the Father. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.660 Believe the works. 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:33.060 The words of Jesus in many ways should be enough for people to believe. 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.720 But he says, if that's not enough, 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:38.519 then look at what I've done and believe because of that. 00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:41.259 There is compelling evidence. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.400 What's the compelling evidence for us? 00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:49.720 We can't, we haven't seen the miracles of Jesus that he did 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.140 when we were on earth. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:54.200 We can't go and talk to people who could say, 00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:55.420 yes, Jesus healed me. 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.000 I was blind. 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:56.680 He made me see. 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:59.799 We can't do that because we're 2,000 years on. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:05.259 And yet Jesus says people will believe in him. 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:09.840 John says, I've written these things so that you will believe. 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:14.420 I believe the evidence for Jesus is still compelling. 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:24.480 There are many books written that would help us to understand the reasons why Jesus is who he said he was. 00:18:25.320 --> 00:18:30.060 Particularly, there are books written about his resurrection and attesting to that. 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:33.759 There's one on the front porch, if you want to, as you go out today, 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:37.120 a book about, is Easter credible? 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:42.099 But if we will honestly examine the facts about Jesus, 00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:49.799 I think particularly if we will read in John's gospel and the other gospels and see the life of Jesus, 00:18:50.479 --> 00:18:55.359 there is, even in that, compelling evidence of who Jesus is. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:58.859 He doesn't leave us the option of saying, oh, he's just a good man. 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:01.139 He was a fine teacher, anything like that. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:08.619 Jesus is presented as God's son, and the evidence is there for us to see and to believe. 00:19:08.699 --> 00:19:13.319 And if you want to read the books on apologetics explaining why people have come to believe in Jesus, 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:17.799 many people who didn't believe have written books saying how they came to believe in Jesus, 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.500 that could be helpful too. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.619 But the gospels speak for themselves. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:25.639 There is compelling evidence that Jesus is who he said he was. 00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:31.279 He is God's son, and therefore we should believe in him. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.279 Incredible witnesses, compelling evidence. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:37.180 And my third heading is Christ recognized. 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:40.079 That's what happens in this passage, isn't it? 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:48.839 When Jesus appears first to the probably ten disciples in the upper room on the evening of his resurrection, 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:51.899 and then when he appears with Thomas there, 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:55.619 they only have to look at him and to hear his voice, 00:19:55.859 --> 00:20:01.879 and they recognize who he was, and they rejoice, and they worship him. 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:05.319 Thomas' doubts vanish immediately. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.639 He doesn't need to do the physical action. 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:10.600 He recognizes Jesus, and he says, 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:13.660 My Lord and my God, I believe in you. 00:20:14.060 --> 00:20:19.500 I recognize who you are, and I recognize that what you said about yourself, 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:21.280 it has all come true. 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:22.680 You are the Christ. 00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:25.259 You are the Son of God. 00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:31.420 And again, as we go through John's gospel, we see people recognizing Jesus. 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:35.220 John himself, John the writer of the gospel, right at the beginning, 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.200 he says, 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:40.579 We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:45.400 who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:48.279 Here's someone who'd been with Jesus for a long time, 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:53.360 known him at least three years during his earthly ministry in this world, 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.400 and he says, 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:58.180 We saw him, and we saw that he was God. 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:01.140 He was the one who had come from the Father, 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:04.700 and who displayed to us the glory of God. 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:09.080 We recognized Jesus when he was with us. 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:12.120 Then there's Peter. 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:15.640 John chapter 6 is the story of the feeding of the 5,000, 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.220 and then Jesus walks on the water. 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:20.299 And then there's some pretty hard teaching of Jesus, 00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:23.340 talking about the bread of life and what that means, 00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:25.340 but also challenging people, 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:28.340 those who would have made him king earlier, 00:21:28.580 --> 00:21:32.319 but actually who were very shallow in their belief in him. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.579 And they depart, they leave him, 00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:35.740 and Jesus says to his disciples, 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.639 What about you? 00:21:36.679 --> 00:21:38.099 Are you going to go as well? 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:39.539 And Peter says, 00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:41.700 Lord, to whom shall we go? 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:44.919 You have the words of eternal life. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:48.139 We have come to believe and to know 00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:52.019 that you are the Holy One of God. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:55.500 We have come to believe and to know. 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:57.539 We have recognized you, Jesus, 00:21:57.900 --> 00:22:00.500 for who you are, the Son of God, 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.859 here with us in the world. 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:06.359 How important it is that we come to recognize 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.319 who Jesus is. 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:11.779 Christian faith is not simply a matter of saying, 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:14.519 Yes, I believe Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:16.519 I believe he died on the cross, 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.799 that he was a good man, 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.039 and that's it. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.460 He's an example, but not much more. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:25.259 Christian faith is about a relationship with Jesus. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:28.659 It is about recognizing that he is not just a man, 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:31.539 not just a good man who lived many years ago. 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.599 He is God come to live among us, 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.839 to live our life, 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:37.680 to suffer everything that we do, 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:39.599 but without doing anything wrong, 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:43.799 and ultimately to die on the cross for us. 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:47.619 And it's when we come to recognize who Jesus is, 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:51.619 and when we come into a living relationship with him, 00:22:51.959 --> 00:22:53.459 that we can truly say, 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:56.259 I believe in Jesus. 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.959 I believe he's the Son of God. 00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:02.579 I believe he's my Savior and my Lord. 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:05.039 We need to recognize Jesus. 00:23:07.739 --> 00:23:09.299 Two more thoughts to go. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:12.339 Credible witnesses, compelling evidence, 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:15.739 Christ recognized, and a clear challenge. 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:18.700 You notice in the incident with Thomas, 00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:20.839 the Lord Jesus says to him, 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:23.579 stop doubting and believe. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.299 And as we go through the Gospel of John, 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:28.299 again and again and again, 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:31.000 we get challenges given to us. 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.059 A couple of these, 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:35.299 look at John chapter 8, 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:38.859 the Lord Jesus is in a big debate with the Jews, 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:40.359 and he says to them, 00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:42.519 if you do not believe that I am he, 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:46.359 you will indeed die in your sins. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.240 The Jews were saying that Jesus was from the devil, 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.299 that he wasn't from God. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:50.779 Jesus said, 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:52.279 if you don't believe who I am, 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:55.199 then you'll die in your sins. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:59.179 Perhaps even clearer and more challenging than that, 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.179 John chapter 3. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.159 John 3, of course, 00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:02.919 is the story of Nicodemus, 00:24:02.979 --> 00:24:04.559 and there's a story about John the Baptist. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.179 And right at the end, 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:08.079 it's not clear whether it's John the Baptist's words 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.579 or John the Gospel writer's words, 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.519 it doesn't matter. 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.460 It says, 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:14.279 whoever believed in the Son has eternal life, 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:18.000 but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:22.619 for God's wrath remains on them. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:26.240 And Jesus and John the Gospel writer 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.899 very clearly want to present to us the challenge. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:33.039 Either you believe and you live, 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:35.680 or you don't believe, 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:37.559 and you're in your sins, 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:41.559 and ultimately you will be judged for that. 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:44.139 It's important today, too, 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:47.339 that we are willing to say that to others, 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.819 and that we challenge ourselves with it 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:53.019 if we've not yet come to believe in Jesus. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.399 There is a binary choice. 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.960 Either we believe in Jesus, 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.839 and our sins are forgiven, 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.279 or we don't believe in Jesus, 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:05.859 and ultimately we'll face God's judgment on us. 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:09.200 One or the other will apply to each of us. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:12.000 And we need to examine ourselves and see, 00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.220 do I believe, 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.779 do I have that assurance 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:17.119 that my sins are forgiven? 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.720 And if not, 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.639 we need to come to the Lord Jesus, 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.180 confess our sins, 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.480 believe in him, 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:25.339 and be forgiven. 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:29.579 A clear challenge that is presented to us. 00:25:31.199 --> 00:25:32.259 And then finally, 00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:33.159 credible witnesses, 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.279 compelling evidence, 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.399 Christ recognized, 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.199 a clear challenge, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:40.159 and there is the call of God. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:43.860 If we believe in Jesus, 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.720 if we have believed in Jesus, 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:48.759 it is because God has spoken to us 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:51.240 and has drawn us to himself. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:54.779 It is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.259 convicting us of sin 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:58.380 and helping us to believe 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.160 that Jesus, 00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:00.860 who he says he is, 00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:03.380 and coming to faith in him. 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:07.420 The words of Jesus from John chapter 6 again, 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:09.600 no one can come to me 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:13.440 unless the Father who sent me draws them. 00:26:15.020 --> 00:26:16.700 And that's not an excuse that someone could say, 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:18.120 well, God hasn't drawn me to him, 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.660 therefore I'm not going to believe. 00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:21.540 God calls us to believe, 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.540 and if we believe, 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:25.160 then we will receive forgiveness. 00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:26.760 But nevertheless, 00:26:27.040 --> 00:26:28.600 unless God works in our hearts, 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:31.160 unless we're receptive to God working in our hearts, 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.640 we won't believe, 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:35.600 because it is those who God draws to himself, 00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:37.280 to faith in the Lord Jesus, 00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:39.400 who will trust in him. 00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:41.480 I think that gives us reason 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.660 if we're Christians 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:44.360 and we want others to come to Jesus. 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:46.600 That gives us reason to be on our knees in prayer 00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:48.720 for those who don't yet know the Savior, 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.920 that he will work in their hearts, 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:53.360 that he will draw them to himself, 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:56.580 that they will come to trust in Jesus. 00:26:58.560 --> 00:27:00.140 I'm sure there are many other reasons 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:01.300 you can maybe think of 00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:03.700 about why we should believe in Jesus, 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:05.480 but I leave these five with you. 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.819 Credible witnesses, 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.720 compelling evidence, 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.339 Christ recognized, 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.680 a clear challenge, 00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:14.259 and the call of God. 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.119 We then have the question, 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:18.960 do you believe in Jesus? 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.559 Have you come to that point 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:22.159 of trusting in him, 00:27:22.159 --> 00:27:25.000 of recognizing that you need him 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.220 for your eternal salvation, 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:30.440 and of putting your faith in him? 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.960 And if you have, 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.799 are you reaching out to others 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:36.299 and helping them on that journey 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:38.140 that the Lord would take them on 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:40.200 to faith in Jesus? 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.579 To a journey that Thomas went on, 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:45.000 to a journey that all the disciples went on, 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:47.980 from the law of Jesus' death 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:50.480 and thinking everything we stood for has gone, 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.000 to recognizing Jesus was alive, 00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:55.279 that what he said had come to pass, 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.740 and then going out 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:59.039 and turning the world upside down 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.940 with their message. 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:04.700 Let me finish with a quote from C.S. Lewis. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:08.059 C.S. Lewis is one of the great Christian apologists 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.860 in part because for a long time 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.740 he didn't believe, 00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:12.779 he didn't think Christian faith was credible, 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:15.580 and then through the witness of J.R.R.R. Tolkien 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.319 and others, 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:18.860 he came to understand Christian faith 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:20.480 and to trust in Jesus. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.960 And C.S. Lewis said this, 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:25.400 Christianity, if false, 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.120 is of no importance. 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:30.539 And if true, of infinite importance. 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:33.359 The only thing it cannot be 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:36.279 is moderately important. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:39.559 What I would urge you to do this morning, 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:42.079 don't go away from here thinking, 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.819 yes, this Christianity is a good thing. 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:45.079 There are nice people here. 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.460 We've had a good time. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:50.519 And I believe that Jesus was someone very special. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:53.460 That's not enough. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:56.379 Christianity demands either 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:58.440 that we reject Jesus 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:00.880 and take the consequences of that, 00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:02.860 or that we accept him, 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.080 that we believe in him, 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.900 and he becomes the most important thing, 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:10.120 the most important person in our lives. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.620 If the message of the gospel, 00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:14.380 if Christianity is true, 00:29:14.820 --> 00:29:16.600 if Christ truly is God, 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:18.300 that is of infinite importance, 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.180 and that should be something 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.620 that directs our thoughts 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.980 and our actions 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:25.520 every day of our lives. 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:28.120 So why do you believe in Jesus? 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:31.220 Why do you not believe in Jesus? 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.540 If you don't believe in Jesus, 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.240 can I urge you, 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:36.680 go and read John's gospel for yourself. 00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:38.960 See the evidence that John presents. 00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:40.480 Come with an open mind, 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.940 looking for the truth. 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:44.120 And I believe if you do that, 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:47.020 you will see that Jesus is the Christ, 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.380 the Son of God, 00:29:48.760 --> 00:29:50.980 that you will believe in him. 00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.480 Let's pray together. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:55.599 Father, we thank you for your word this morning. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.420 Thank you for Thomas. 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.559 Thank you for the way 00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:59.079 in which the Lord Jesus 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:01.920 helped him to believe and to understand, 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:04.599 and for that great statement of faith, 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:07.299 my Lord and my God. 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:09.039 We pray that you help all of us 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.180 to come to that point, 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:12.099 where we recognize Jesus 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:15.339 as the one who is God with us, 00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:17.960 and the one who we should be obeying 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:20.779 as our Lord and our Saviour. 00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.500 Thank you for the privilege 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:23.640 it has been this morning 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.460 to meet together, 00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.079 to worship, 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.960 and to consider your word. 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:29.640 We pray that you will continue to be with us, 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.400 as many of us now will join together 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.779 in remembering the Lord Jesus 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:35.640 in the way he's commanded. 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.880 We give you our thanks 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.240 and ask for your blessing. 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.079 In Jesus' name. 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.059 Amen. 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.160 Amen.