WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 I would like you to turn in your Bibles this morning to John, the Gospel. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.979 And follow as I begin reading. 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:41.539 Turn in your Bibles to John and follow as I begin reading. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:53.439 In the beginning was the Word. 00:00:55.620 --> 00:00:57.400 And the Word was with God. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:00.560 And the Word was God. 00:01:02.100 --> 00:01:04.719 He was in the beginning with God. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:12.560 All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.579 In Him was life. 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:20.519 And the life was the light of men. 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:26.899 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:30.780 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:37.739 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through Him. 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:41.899 He was not the light but came to bear witness about the light. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:47.260 The true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:51.580 He was in the world and the world was made through Him. 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:54.580 Yet the world did not know Him. 00:01:55.540 --> 00:01:56.560 He came to His own. 00:01:57.360 --> 00:01:59.340 And His own people did not receive Him. 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:03.200 But to all who did receive Him who believe in His name. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:08.759 He gave the right to become the children of God. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:10.920 Let's pray. 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:19.779 Gracious Father, it is our undeserved privilege to come into your presence this morning. 00:02:22.519 --> 00:02:25.639 Because of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:33.759 In fact, He has bidden us to come boldly before the throne of grace. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:37.099 To find help in time of need. 00:02:37.099 --> 00:02:45.819 And there is no moment in which we, as we draw breath, do not have need. 00:02:48.299 --> 00:02:52.780 And as we, this morning, open Your Word and hold it in our hands. 00:02:53.659 --> 00:02:55.039 And as I proclaim it. 00:02:55.979 --> 00:02:57.259 We have need. 00:02:58.299 --> 00:02:59.959 Your people to hear it. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:02.759 With the enabling of the Spirit of God. 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:05.039 And me to declare it. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:07.879 To preach it boldly and clearly. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:11.500 Through the power of the Spirit of God. 00:03:13.019 --> 00:03:17.219 And Father, as we take this Word that You have given to us. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:21.979 Through the work of the Holy Spirit upon John the Apostle. 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:23.739 We pray. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.759 That that Spirit which You have given to Your children. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:30.719 Would quicken our hearts to hear. 00:03:31.679 --> 00:03:33.000 And to understand. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:34.799 And to appreciate. 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.359 And to grow in our love for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:41.859 And we ask this in Your precious name. 00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:43.039 Amen. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:43.159 Amen. 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:51.259 Well, it is at a very particular juncture in my ministry that I have to say to you. 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:53.359 I'm laying aside a favorite book. 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:54.819 And I'm taking up a favorite book. 00:03:55.859 --> 00:04:00.079 I remember when we started into the book of Ephesians. 00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:02.159 And we concluded it last week. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.899 I remember saying over and over again. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:06.959 Boy, this is the best passage. 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:09.399 This is a phenomenal book. 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:12.300 And you heard me say that over and over again. 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:15.039 And some of you were probably sitting out there saying. 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:20.459 Do you remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf too often? 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:22.600 And you would say. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:24.120 Pastor, you're going to wear us out. 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:26.199 Saying this is the best, the best, the best. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:29.500 But I take great comfort in knowing. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:31.780 That I am not the only pastor. 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:33.519 Who when he comes to the text. 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:36.600 And has been touched by the Spirit of God. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:39.500 And enjoys the passage that God has given to him. 00:04:39.700 --> 00:04:40.780 He can't help but say. 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:42.420 Man, this is the best day. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.140 This is the best passage. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:45.800 And this is the best book. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:48.640 And so as we take up the book of John. 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:49.580 I have to tell you. 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:52.360 It is the best book right now for me. 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:57.620 And I trust that as you begin working your way through the book of John with me. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:00.000 Whether it is in your own private study. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:01.760 Or in your devotional time. 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:03.660 Or as you track the sermons. 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:07.200 And allow the teaching of the word of God to make a difference in your heart. 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:08.460 I trust that one of the things. 00:05:08.580 --> 00:05:10.120 Man, this is great. 00:05:10.380 --> 00:05:11.500 It is an encouragement. 00:05:11.880 --> 00:05:13.400 It is a profound blessing. 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:19.120 I stop and think a little bit of why I would take the book of John. 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:23.840 For one, it is quite a few more chapters than Ephesians. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:27.659 And some of you have maybe thought to yourself. 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:30.099 Are we going to be in John for the duration? 00:05:30.619 --> 00:05:32.159 I really cannot say. 00:05:32.299 --> 00:05:38.679 I will tell you that it is my prayerful intention to take a slow start. 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:43.899 As we work through the profound theological statements in the first chapter or so. 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:47.199 And then we will pick up steam as we get into the narratives. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:51.879 And there is a, I wouldn't say a promise. 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:57.099 But there is an ambition that we will take some of the larger passages in a narrative fashion. 00:05:57.339 --> 00:06:01.279 And we will allow them to kind of flow out in the context in which they are set. 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:07.659 As you look at the book of John, you may ask yourself the question, so why study it? 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:09.419 Why this book? 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:17.280 And apart from the fact that it is in the New Testament and it is part of the gospels it's spoken of as the gospel of John. 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:30.020 If you were to ask me, what is it that has brought you to this place where you are going to open up the book of John and present it to these dear, dear people that the Lord Jesus died for and redeemed and loves. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:31.500 I'd have to tell you this. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:37.460 It is so that you and I together can grow in our affection for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:47.159 It says in 1 Peter, and it's one of those passages that remains as a focal point in my life, whom having not seen you love. 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:49.479 Do you know what? 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:51.279 You can't love somebody you don't know. 00:06:52.859 --> 00:07:01.799 And the only way we can love the Lord Jesus Christ, first of all, is by the work of grace that brings love into our heart for him. 00:07:01.799 --> 00:07:04.379 In 1 John chapter 4, it says we love him. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:04.699 Why? 00:07:05.039 --> 00:07:06.419 Because he first loved us. 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:11.340 And he pursued me in my despicable, rebellious spirit. 00:07:11.340 --> 00:07:18.500 And he brought to me a conviction of my sin and drew me to the cross and loved me and loved me. 00:07:19.960 --> 00:07:27.280 And he has also continued to work in my heart slowly and arduously to help me grow in my love for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:30.439 And I trust that that is something that you are growing in. 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:40.500 I've said often to you that when my evening comes to a close, that I say I love you to two different sets of people or two different individuals. 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:42.079 One is to Judith. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:48.680 And I have to say that after she hits the pillow, she is about 30 seconds from La La Land. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:50.500 And I got to get it in pretty quickly. 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:58.280 Because if I don't, it's just, you know, there's that soft, easy breathing that tells me what I said does not mean a thing. 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:04.360 But there is someone who is always on task and is waiting to hear my conversation. 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:07.600 And the last person I talk to is the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.920 And I end my evening by saying, Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that you love me. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:20.680 And I want to revel and I want to rejoice and I want to enjoy the reality and the sweetness of your love for me. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.160 That never changes. 00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:23.939 That is always constant. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:26.040 That is firm and clear. 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:29.740 And is the thing that I depend upon more than anything else. 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:41.620 And so as we study the book of John, I would have to confess that my ambition is the same as the ambition with which I first came to the book of Mark. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.360 And then to the book of Luke. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.060 And then to the book of Hebrews. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:46.879 And then to the book of Revelation. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:51.299 It was that you and I together can grow in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:58.740 And have that knowledge end up affecting our confidence and our certainty in Him and our affection for Him. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:04.720 And so as we open the book of John, if you were to ask me, why are you teaching this book? 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:09.899 For one thing I would say is so that you who know the Lord Jesus Christ can grow in loving Him. 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:14.799 But there is another reason and it is given to us by John the Apostle himself. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:18.320 And we are going to come back to it again and again this morning. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:20.899 I want you to turn in your Bibles if you will. 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:23.200 If you are in John chapter 1. 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:25.659 I just read that to kind of frame the beginning of the book. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:29.399 But I want you to look at John chapter 20 verse 30 and 31. 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:43.439 Often authors tell you at the beginning, kind of in an introductory fashion, how they are going to go about the book they are going to write. 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.719 John does it at the end. 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:50.580 And in John chapter 20 verse 30, he says this, 00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:56.560 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:03.860 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:06.960 and that by believing you may have life in His name. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:10.680 I would encourage you to underline that. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:14.620 You see, John is telling us at the end, 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:23.680 I am writing this book so you can have adequate information to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ so that you can have life. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:33.239 Several weeks ago, I got one of those interesting calls that more often than not come in the spring. 00:10:33.359 --> 00:10:37.459 Around March and April, it seems that they happen on a very regular basis. 00:10:37.599 --> 00:10:40.799 And I'll get a call and Connie will send it through to me. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:46.099 And there's usually a girl on the end of the phone, a young girl somewhere in her 20s and 30s. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:47.580 And she will say to me, 00:10:48.040 --> 00:10:56.759 Oh, pastor, I would like to talk to you about whether or not you will do a wedding for people who are not members of your church. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:05.139 When a person says that, it usually tells me that they've made enough calls that they have been through the routine a little bit. 00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:06.860 And so they kind of cut to the chase. 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:09.320 And I'll say, I am so glad you called. 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:21.120 We at Maranatha counted an absolute privilege to be part of helping a young man and a young woman build their lives on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:22.580 And I'm glad you called. 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:33.080 In the course of conversation, it ended up being quite evident that this young lady really did not have much understanding about the Lord Jesus at all. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.920 When I asked him, so why would you want to be married at Maranatha? 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:37.940 Because I don't think I remember your name. 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:39.520 No, we've never been there. 00:11:41.140 --> 00:11:42.660 Well, I'm glad you called. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:44.720 But why would you want to be married at Maranatha? 00:11:44.780 --> 00:11:45.900 We're just looking for a church. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.720 I said, oh, okay. 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:49.700 Well, where do you go now? 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.060 I mean, that's a logical question, isn't it? 00:11:52.780 --> 00:11:57.940 There have been people that have wanted to be married here because their church is a little church of 40 or 50. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.760 Or maybe they're meeting in a warehouse somewhere. 00:12:00.900 --> 00:12:01.240 You know what? 00:12:01.300 --> 00:12:05.360 By the way, the place has irrelevance to the issue of what the church really is. 00:12:05.400 --> 00:12:06.120 It's not a building. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:06.700 It's people. 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:14.220 And she said, well, I happen to see the church on the web, and I think it's beautiful. 00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:16.680 Oh, I like it. 00:12:17.640 --> 00:12:19.560 You saw the church on the web? 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:19.880 Yeah. 00:12:20.880 --> 00:12:23.860 Well, actually, what the building is is not the church. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:25.300 The church is God's people. 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:37.419 And in the course of conversation, I ended up having an opportunity to talk to this young lady about the Lord Jesus Christ and share the gospel with her. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:45.979 And as we were making our way through that conversation, the girl broke down, began to cry. 00:12:45.979 --> 00:12:48.639 She said, I can't believe it. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:51.579 No one has ever talked to me about these things before. 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:55.360 And I was hurt. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.460 Do you follow that? 00:12:57.660 --> 00:13:00.100 I wasn't the first church she had called. 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:10.920 And I said, you have to believe, you have to understand that it's fair to expect a pastor to want to talk about Jesus when you happen to call. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:11.800 Does that make sense? 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:21.879 As our conversation played on, I could tell that her interest in spiritual things was piqued. 00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:29.479 But she had this lingering concern that maybe the young man that she was going to marry really didn't have much interest in the faith. 00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:31.679 Do you follow that? 00:13:33.859 --> 00:13:40.679 And one of the things that I have learned over the years is that pressing prematurely for a decision doesn't work. 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:44.259 You can get people to say yes just to get rid of you. 00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:50.039 But that has nothing to do with the work of God and drawing a person to salvation. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:57.579 And so I remember saying to her as we kind of brought the conversation towards the end, I said, well, hey, what about this? 00:13:57.699 --> 00:14:00.179 Why don't you get your Bible? 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:00.839 Do you have one? 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:01.379 Yeah, I do. 00:14:01.819 --> 00:14:04.579 And I want you to read the gospel of John. 00:14:05.719 --> 00:14:07.259 I want you to read John. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:14.319 And as you are reading through the gospel of John, I want you to keep on asking yourself just a couple questions. 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.700 Who is Jesus? 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.360 Who is Jesus? 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:23.139 I said, the book of John is all about Jesus. 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:29.179 And so as you are reading through the gospel of John, I want you to keep on asking yourself this question. 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.379 Who is Jesus? 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:32.559 And what is Jesus to me? 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:35.740 What is Jesus to me? 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:37.419 Who is Jesus to me? 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:46.820 Now, I bring that by way of introduction to tell you that out in the track rack are little gospels of John. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:49.240 Now, can anybody think of why we would do this? 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:59.220 As we are working through the book of John, the gospel of John, what I'm going to encourage you to do is think about getting some copies of the gospel of John. 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:02.060 And we're not going to do memory work at this point. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:05.799 We're going to be mobile track racks. 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:07.000 You got it right there in the pocket? 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:09.659 Now, I don't want you to do drive-by johnnings. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:11.480 You know, it's like fling them out the window. 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:17.360 So, I shouldn't say this, but I will. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:26.519 When I was a boy, there are many things I can't tell you about when I was a boy, but this one I can, I think. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:32.079 When I was a boy, we would pass out tracks in India. 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:37.120 It was called mobile literature methodology. 00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:44.960 And as we were going through a village, you know, cars were rare issues in India where I grew up in those days. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:52.320 And when our little old sedan would roll through the town, we would roll down the window and guess what we would do with the tracks? 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.980 Does anybody have an idea? 00:15:55.700 --> 00:16:01.720 We would allow the slipstream of the car as it was, you know, to kind of bring the tracks out. 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:04.300 They were single slicers, you know, and just drop them out the window. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:06.019 And there we go. 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:07.980 I gave 100 tracks. 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:11.320 You know, we're not going to be doing that with these. 00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:13.480 They happen to cost about a dollar a piece. 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:23.240 So I want you to be well advised that when you hand out one of them, it's something to be done prayerfully, thoughtfully, with a little bit of backup to it. 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:31.019 But I want to encourage us to be people who take advantage of the book of John to make a difference in the lives of people, right? 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.320 Let's go over the passage again. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.100 It says this. 00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:42.940 These are written so that you may believe and have life. 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:53.920 And as we work our way through the book of John, one of the things that I trust happens is that you who know John or know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior, 00:16:54.340 --> 00:17:01.480 have your lives encouraged and strengthened by the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ and your heart is touched and encouraged by him. 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:08.160 And those of you that are sitting here this morning that may not know Christ as your personal Savior, you may be sitting here. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.839 And the truth of the matter is you have grown up with all the vocabulary. 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.460 How many of you realize you can grow up in a Christian home? 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:17.539 You can have gone through a Juana. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.279 You could have memorized all the verses. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:22.440 You could have even been a Sunday school teacher in some environments. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:26.600 And the truth of the matter is you've never come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:32.400 And if you're sitting here this morning and in the course of our studies in the book of John, 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:39.279 if the Spirit of God convicts you that the reality of the matter is that you really don't know Christ as your personal Savior, 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:43.100 I trust today will be the day of conversion of salvation. 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:49.439 So as you look at the gospel of John, 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:57.759 I want you at the outset to understand some of the differences that John has from any others of the gospel 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:01.240 so that you have a little bit of background and a little bit of foundation with you. 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:04.719 So let's understand, first of all, the uniqueness of John. 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:11.699 I want you to in one way recognize that John is no different than any other book in the Bible. 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:17.620 What I mean by that is that it was given by divine inspiration. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:20.580 The Holy Spirit worked on the heart of John the Apostle. 00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:29.240 And when he wrote it, he wrote it in some ways for exactly the same reason as every other author in writing the scriptures. 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:34.400 Namely, that all scripture, revelation given to us by God, 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:41.440 is designed to declare and to make plain the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the world. 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:45.980 So in one sense, we could say that all of scripture is Christocentric. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:50.259 It brings to us the picture of Christ Jesus our Savior. 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:53.779 While all of scripture has that common theme, 00:18:54.860 --> 00:19:01.420 different authors were tasked with different responsibilities in displaying the nature and character of our Savior. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:04.580 A lot of the Old Testament in particular is narrative. 00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:11.420 And it relies upon stories to give us kind of the larger picture of God at work and redeeming his people, 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:16.880 whether it is bringing promise to Abraham and through him, the Messianic line, 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:21.019 or whether it is bringing his people out of Egypt, whatever it is, 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:24.060 we see the picture of God at work in the process. 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:31.539 And those historical counts are important, but they are not the distillation that we have in the Gospels. 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:35.539 And when we talk about the Gospels, we're talking about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.139 Three of the four Gospels are called synoptic. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.000 Okay? 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:44.059 And the word synoptic actually means to see together. 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.679 Optic being what? 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.899 Ocular, you know, eyeball. 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:55.300 So the optic part means seeing sin together. 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.280 We see it together. 00:19:56.780 --> 00:20:00.720 And in essence, what we have in the synoptic Gospels, that's Matthew, Mark, Luke, 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:07.800 we have a lot of information that is relatively similar when you are studying in Matthew. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:16.120 In many cases, when you want to get a little further insight on the particular incident or the story that is being told, 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:21.199 you can turn to one of the other Gospels and you'll find companion passage that kind of fleshes it out, 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.579 gives you greater detail. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:29.059 That is not at all the case when we come to the book of John. 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:32.779 John is profoundly different. 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:37.059 And as we saw in John chapter 20, verse 30 and 31, 00:20:37.719 --> 00:20:39.279 John says right up front, 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:42.139 there's a lot that could be said about Jesus. 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:46.220 But there's just a certain amount that he has chosen. 00:20:47.040 --> 00:20:53.880 In fact, I want you to recognize that John actually zeros in on only 21 days of Christ's earthly ministry. 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.900 That's not very much. 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:01.740 He lived, if you are to track through Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he lived for about 33 years. 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.660 He was born, grew up. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.720 We know nothing about that part of his life. 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:10.440 And then began his public ministry around 30 and concluded it on the cross. 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:19.220 It's interesting that John deliberately chose to not include most of the detail that we find in the synoptics. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.820 There are no parables. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.180 Can you imagine that? 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.720 There are no parables in John. 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:30.779 In fact, John does not include Christ's birth, his baptism, or his ascension. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:35.039 We don't find any detail of those facts in the book of John. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:45.899 There are only 10 percent, there is only 10 percent of the material in John that matches up to the rest of the synoptic gospels. 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:53.019 On the other hand, while John doesn't tell us much of the detail that we have in the synoptics, 00:21:53.180 --> 00:22:01.460 John, on the other hand, is the one that gives to us the clearest picture of Christ being the Son of God divinity. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:05.200 John is the only one who speaks of the wedding feast. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:11.240 He is the only one who speaks of Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the raising of Lazarus. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:18.279 You can imagine that the raising of Lazarus would be one of those miracles that would have a lot of oomph in all of the New Testament. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.220 Can you understand that? 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.559 I mean, here, Jesus raising someone from the dead, Lazarus in particular. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.980 John is the only one who makes reference to it. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:33.960 Furthermore, John is the only one who gives us a direct statement in which Jesus announces that he is God. 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.140 Now, that's pretty interesting, isn't it? 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.980 Think about this. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:46.120 We base our faith upon the reality that Jesus Christ is actually God himself, God the Son. 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:53.500 And yet, John is the only place where there is a direct statement about Christ saying, I am he. 00:22:53.919 --> 00:23:00.279 Let's look for a moment so we can catch that passage and turn in your Bible over to John 4, verse 26. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.500 John 4, verse 26. 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:17.140 Let me set the context for you a little bit and remind you that here we are dealing with Jesus as he is going through Samaria and he stops at a well to get a drink. 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:21.259 And as he is there at the well, he ends up in conversation with the woman. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:28.519 And you remember the woman hears Jesus talk about living water and she says, I'd like some of that. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:31.140 And Jesus says, well, go bring your husband. 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:35.200 Now, why do you think Jesus brought that up? 00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:39.140 What was Jesus' intention with this woman? 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:39.700 What do you think? 00:23:40.520 --> 00:23:41.940 Now, here's the end of the story. 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:47.180 He was working to draw her to salvation. 00:23:47.300 --> 00:23:47.920 Isn't that right? 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:53.000 So when he asked that question, go bring your husband, what was his actual purpose? 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:56.320 It was to bring, can anybody say it? 00:23:56.520 --> 00:23:56.960 Conviction. 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:59.980 Can there be conversion without conviction? 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.880 What's the answer? 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:01.500 No. 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:02.759 No. 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:06.780 You have to have the bad news before you have the good news. 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:15.220 If, according to what we hear said today, we're all just pretty wonderful people and we're getting there anyway, there's no need for Jesus. 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:21.660 The reason we need the Lord Jesus Christ is because we're sinners and we stand condemned before a holy God. 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:28.180 And God sent his son, the Lord Jesus, to be the payment for our sins, to be a sacrifice in our place. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:32.220 Jesus says to the woman, hey, go bring your husband. 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.420 She says, I don't have one. 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.160 He says, you're right. 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:37.300 You've had five of them. 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:40.899 And the man you're shacking up with right now, he's not your husband. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.700 And the woman dodges it. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:45.419 She says, oh, I can see you're a prophet. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.359 Well, you're right. 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.919 I'm more than that. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:50.920 Anyway, here we go to John chapter 4, verse 26. 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.880 Jesus said to her. 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.460 And anyway, verse 25. 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:56.519 The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.880 He was called Christ. 00:24:57.960 --> 00:25:00.220 When he comes, he will tell us all things. 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:02.779 Now, she had heard him tell her all things. 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.299 Am I right? 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:07.980 She had heard Jesus say, you're a sinner, fundamentally. 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:15.740 And so we find there in verse 26, Jesus said to her, I who speak to you, what? 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.519 Am he. 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.319 That is pretty clear. 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:30.720 John gives us a clear, persuasive picture of who the Lord Jesus Christ is. 00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:38.619 So John is unique in that very little of what we find in the synoptics is actually in John. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.819 John comes at it differently. 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:42.639 So let's understand the value of John. 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:49.379 The gospel of John really serves as a perfect illustration of what distinguishes Scripture 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:51.660 from all other sources of information. 00:25:52.780 --> 00:25:57.860 Scripture, and John in particular, aims to do more than just inform. 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.460 Can I say that slowly? 00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:04.560 Scripture is different from all other sources of information 00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:08.820 in that Scripture doesn't aim just to inform. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.420 I'm not up here just to tell you facts. 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:19.300 I am up here to persuade you of the glory of Christ 00:26:19.300 --> 00:26:22.900 and cause you to be a worshiper that delights in him 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:26.259 or a sinner who is convicted and drawn to the cross. 00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.240 Do you understand that? 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:34.060 Preaching says this is Jesus and he deserves your praise and your adulation 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:37.720 and you are to be convinced and convicted of his glory. 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:46.180 John presents evidence that leads to faith that brings eternal life. 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:50.819 I want you to have that fixed in your mind. 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:59.220 Go back again, if you will, as we think of this, to John chapter 20, verse 31. 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:02.380 John chapter 20, verse 31. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:08.740 That string, evidence, faith, life, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:16.920 are three words that kind of give you an overview of the operating principle of all of John. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.779 As you are reading through the book of John, 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:26.380 you are being exposed to evidence that is designed to bring you to faith 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.819 so that you may have life. 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:33.880 And I want you to think with me just for a moment of how that plays out 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:35.839 in the life of the woman at the well. 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.259 Will you stop and think with me just? 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:39.519 And we'll just do this by way of memory. 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:43.980 I'm assuming that most of you know the story of the woman at the well. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:44.600 Okay? 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.559 Samaritan woman, there she is. 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.079 She's a sinner. 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:52.200 Jesus exposes, he shows evidence of his deity. 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:58.720 Number one, he tells her things about herself that nobody else had reason to know. 00:27:59.080 --> 00:28:00.160 And she says, well, I get it. 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.380 You're somebody special. 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.779 He says, well, let's take it a little further. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.080 I am God. 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:08.000 And she is convinced of that. 00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:10.399 She comes to faith and she goes into town. 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.359 And what does she do? 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:13.699 I love what she does. 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:18.500 She runs into town and she says, come see the man who told me all about me. 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.859 Listen to me. 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.359 I want you to think about this. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:31.220 When we come to faith, the facts of our past, though we don't tromp out all the dirty details, 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:35.440 the facts of our past are part of the story that makes him the hero. 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.920 How many of you understood what I just said? 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:43.700 He is the one who is the one who receives glory and adoration for the fact that he saved a miserable sinner. 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:46.160 Now, you don't have to give all the dirty baggage. 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:49.580 But the fact of the matter is, is he is the one who saved you. 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:57.600 And so as you look at John, you understand that here throughout this gospel, 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:04.900 we are going to see the apostle over and over again exposing us to the reality of the information of who Jesus is 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:07.180 to bring us to faith that we might have life. 00:29:08.300 --> 00:29:13.400 Every step, every step of the journey that we're going to take through this book of John 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:17.240 will challenge us to consider Christ and say, that is the Messiah. 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:18.280 That is my Savior. 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.740 That is the one I'm trusting in. 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:23.120 Or whether or not you're going to back off and say, well, I'm not interested. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.400 I'm not, I don't care about who he is. 00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:29.080 From the beginning to the end of the book of John, 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:32.160 every time we open this book, 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:37.840 we are going to be put on the spot of choosing to believe or to deny who Jesus is. 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.920 Think with me just for a moment. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:45.180 The opening lines that I read to you this morning in the beginning was the word and the word was God 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:49.600 and the word was with God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:52.560 And we beheld his glory, the glory of what? 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.960 That's our Savior. 00:29:54.560 --> 00:30:01.480 And John is telling us that so that we who sit here can have the hair go back up on the back of our neck 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:03.380 and we can think that's my Jesus. 00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:05.039 That's who I'm believing in. 00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:06.700 And I'm going to see him someday. 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:08.180 Do you follow that? 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:12.600 You work your way through and you deal with a Samaritan woman 00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:19.720 and you stop and you are in awe that Jesus would take the time to sit down at a well and talk with a woman. 00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.779 And you think he did that for me. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.440 He found me in my misery and my despair. 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.700 He took the time to talk to me. 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:32.240 He took the time to help me understand what a sinner I am. 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:35.880 And he was the one who gave me salvation through his blood. 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:39.359 You go into John chapter 6. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:47.900 That long extended passage in which John declares that Jesus taught and said, 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:50.660 I am the bread of life. 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:53.339 Whosoever eats of me shall have life. 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:57.439 And remember how the disciples responded? 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.579 Most of them left. 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.039 It was a hard saying. 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.480 Hey, listen to me. 00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:08.199 Gospel preaching sometimes has hard things to say. 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.039 Do you realize that? 00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:16.199 But at the end of the day, those who know Christ are drawn to the truth. 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.759 And remember what Peter said? 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.799 Are you guys leaving? 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.839 Jesus says. 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.859 He says, well, where are we going? 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.740 Nobody else is it. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.480 You have the words of life. 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:28.119 In John chapter 14, he says, 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.559 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:31.480 No man comes to the Father but by me. 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:34.359 I am appalled today when I hear people talk about, 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.920 well, there's just so many different ways to get to heaven. 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.519 That's not true. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:40.039 Jesus did not come because there are a lot of different ways. 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:43.700 He came because it's only through him that salvation is to be had. 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:46.299 I love John chapter 20. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:50.919 And here is Jesus dealing with that doubting Thomas. 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:56.960 Remember, Thomas says, well, I'm not going to believe unless I can put my finger inside. 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:59.099 And Jesus shows up. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:00.000 And what does Jesus do? 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.960 Come here, Thomas. 00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:05.440 Put your finger in my hand. 00:32:06.659 --> 00:32:11.200 And go ahead and put your hand up into where the spear point went. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.400 And you know what? 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:16.980 Thomas says, my Lord and my God. 00:32:19.860 --> 00:32:21.000 Let's come back again. 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:29.460 The book of John gives us information to bring us to faith, to give us life. 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:36.039 Information to bring us to faith, to give us life. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:44.480 And so this morning, as you are thinking about that, the evidence that brings faith, that brings life, 00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:46.379 I'd have to ask you a very practical question. 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:50.680 Some of you I've known for almost 28 years. 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:55.240 Others of you, I'm seeing you today for the first time. 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.940 And you know what I do not know is this. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:01.480 I do not know the certainty of your eternal destiny. 00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.359 Do you follow that? 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.659 But I know this. 00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:06.819 Jesus came to take all the questions away. 00:33:08.919 --> 00:33:11.439 He came that you might have life. 00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:23.439 And life is had by, first of all, being convicted of the reality of your sin and the desperation of your condition apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:25.319 Because here's what the Bible says. 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:27.299 It says the wages of sin are what? 00:33:27.939 --> 00:33:28.459 Death. 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:33.759 But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:37.079 And this morning, I guess the question is this. 00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:40.980 What will you do with the truth of his coming and his offer of salvation? 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:49.440 See, the purpose of preaching is to make it clear that Christ Jesus is the Savior of the world. 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:58.940 And that he came to deal with the desperate condition that we are in on our own, apart from God, entirely unable to save ourselves. 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:11.260 Deceived by Satan to think that our effort, our standing is dependent upon all those good little things we've done. 00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:11.920 No. 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:15.179 There is none righteous, no, not one. 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:29.419 And salvation belongs only to those who believe in the finished work of Christ, who died in my place and died in your place and has satisfied the judgment of God against sinners. 00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:38.440 And faith brings us to say, yes, Jesus, I am a sinner who stands justly condemned before the throne. 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:46.400 And yet I know Jesus died in my place and I claim his death and his blood for my life. 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:49.280 You know what Jesus does when he hears that prayer? 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.599 He answers it. 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.380 He grants salvation. 00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:57.640 And so as we close this morning, let me appeal to you. 00:34:57.660 --> 00:34:59.840 Have you put your head down just for a moment where you sit. 00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:02.360 And I want you to ask yourself a question quietly. 00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:04.200 What are you going to do with the truth of Jesus? 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:08.019 He came into the world to be the Savior of the world. 00:35:08.160 --> 00:35:12.260 He came because mankind stood justly condemned before a holy God. 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:14.119 And my question to you is this. 00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:18.900 Have you truly believed in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:21.019 Or is he just a historical fact? 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:28.579 And really when you get to heaven, you think you're going to be able to stand before God and say, hey, by the way, I was a really good person. 00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:29.960 No. 00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:32.739 There is none righteous, no, not one. 00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:38.360 And my question to you this morning where you sit is, do you know Christ as your personal Savior? 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:43.699 Have you trusted in his finished work alone for your salvation? 00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:55.839 If you've never come to that place, I would plead with you right now where you sit, humble yourself enough just to slip your hand up and say, I need Christ as my Savior. 00:35:56.279 --> 00:36:01.319 I need salvation for the burden and the darkness of my soul. 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:05.819 If you're here and you need that, would you slip up your hand and say, that's me. 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.319 That's me. 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:20.180 Father God, I pray that you would work in the hearts of those who are here that know the Lord Jesus Christ, that their hearts would revel in the sweetness of the truth that he is their Savior. 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:31.320 Work in the hearts of those that do not know Christ to give them no rest and no peace until they confess their sins and believe on Christ in whom alone is salvation. 00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:34.200 We ask this in your precious name. 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:35.780 Amen. 00:36:36.600 --> 00:36:39.039 I'm going to ask that the candidate for baptism comes. 00:36:39.660 --> 00:36:43.360 And as our band is leading us in our closing song, we'll prepare for baptism.