REAL LIFE- Who is Jesus?
Scripture Text: John 20:31
Introduction: Indescribable Joy….. Sense of purpose and plan for your life…. do you have these today? Do you know that you were created for a purpose? …. That you are a special creation of God? Further, that you can have eternal life in Jesus Christ, the Son of God…. a life that is not only eternal, as in length of life; but also abundant, as in the quality of your life.
Propositional Statement: We have been studying in the Book of John. This book was written so that you might trust that Jesus will give you life. Packed inside this seemingly simple Bible verse is the identity of Jesus and the definition of ‘real life’…. that is life in His name.
John essentially includes two things here: First, who God is; and secondly, what is the evidence. BELIEVING has to do with WHO God is and a description of LIFE.
I. BELIEVING has to do with who God is. Who is Jesus? If someone were to identify one of us today, they might ask for our driver’s license and they might find out our date of birth, how tall we are or our address; but they would not be able to describe who we are. John wrote this gospel so that we would know WHO Jesus is.
Since the Pastor has been going through the Book of John; we have been told about how Jesus turned the water into wine in chapter 2; how he healed a paralytic man in chapter 5; and how he multiplied the loaves and fishes in chapter 6. In chapter 11, we will see His power of death; but ultimately the book will explain how Jesus was resurrected from the dead….further proof of the power of God and reason for us to worship Him.
In Matthew 16:15, after many rumors about the things that Jesus had been doing, some said Jesus was one of the prophets, and some even thought he was a risen from the dead John the Baptist. After the works that Jesus had been doing were witnessed by Jesus’ closest disciples he asked them, “But who do you say that I am? (NASB)” In John 7, Jesus’ words imply that after the evidence is examined, we have a responsibility to know WHO He is. In the temple of his very own Jewish people, he cried out, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me (NASB).” Yes, the question that we need to answer today is: “Who do you say Jesus is?”
A. TRUST that Jesus is the Christ (in the original ‘Annointed’)
In John 20:31; one of two things we learn about Jesus is that he is the Christ. Christ means ‘the Annointed.’ It is the title of His Deity. In other words, Jesus is God and John means his book to prove that. One of my Jehovah’s Witness friends always argued, “Well, if he was God, then why didn’t he just come out and say it?” You see, there are a few things that we need to consider here: First, the nature of Jesus’ mission. He came in loving obedience to the Father. To honor God, the Scripture tells us, we must honor Jesus. Secondly, there was no question in the minds of the priests of WHO Jesus was. At several points they picked up stones to kill him because of WHO He claimed to be. In John 14:11-12 Jesus said, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves (NASB).” If Jesus was just a prophet or a re-incarnated John the Baptist; then how could he say, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” In John 10:30, after telling people that His sheep hear His voice, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” In fact, one of the strongest evidences that Jesus is God is the claims that He made about Himself.
Jehovah’s Witness’ changed their translation of the Bible and defy the rules of Greek grammar so that these facts would be skewed. Turn to John 1:1 so that I can show you the difference between the Word of God and their poor translation. I will recite their version:….
But, one does not need to argue the rules of Greek grammar to explain to someone that Jesus was not a created being, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses contend. Greg Koukel, a Christian apologist can help us here: Simply skip to John 1:3. Take out a napkin or piece of paper and draw a box. Divide the box into two areas. First, all things that are uncreated; and secondly, all things that are created. Outside the box of created things; write created by or through Jesus. Now remember, the box represents everything that exists. Things that were created and things that were not; there is no third option. Now, if we were to take out a coin and place it on the box into what category that Jesus belongs in; where would we put the coin? “The first impulse of a Jehovah’s Witness, of course, is to place Jesus in the category of "all things that came into being" because that’s what their theology dictates. In keeping with the teaching of Arius in the early fourth century, there was a time "when the Word was not." Jesus was the first created being and everything else was created by Jehovah through Jesus. But John 1:3 doesn’t allow that option. Look at the wording carefully. John says, "All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being," or in the NWT,"...and apart from him not even one thing came into existence" (emphasis mine). John says the same thing two different ways for emphasis and clarity: everything that ever came into being owes its existence to Jesus, who caused it all to happen. If Jesus caused all created things to come into existence, then He must have existed before all created things came into existence. Therefore, the Word could not have been created(Greg Koukel, Stand to Reason).” Jesus even prayed in John 17:5; Now Father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was.” There is only one conclusion that we can come to understand when we answer the question about WHO Jesus is; …. That Jesus is the Christ, ….that He is God.
B. TRUST that Jesus was the Son of God (identifies with us in His humanity) Not only did John assert through His Book that Jesus was God; but also that He could identify with you personally. What good is a God that you cannot relate to personally? One of the biggest differences in all the world’s religions is this: in Christianity, we have a personal God. We have a God who would contend with us.
John 1:1; and 14 helps us understand that Jesus came to be with us; to allow us to relate to Him. (Read 1:1; 14) In the Old Testament God was in Heavenly dwelling places; but when Jesus came, God would walk among us. He would not be so far away anymore. Hebrews 10:19-22 says, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (NASB). A lot of this passage is written in terms that we may not understand because it is related to Hebrew temple worship; but let me make it easier to understand: We can have confidence in life to draw near to God because of what Jesus did on the cross. When our representative to God (Jesus) had His body broken on the cross, it paved a way for us to live a life of faith, freedom, and forgiveness of sins. How can we approach a God who is both Holy and Just? We approach Him through Jesus! That is why it is important here in John 20:31 that it says that Jesus is, “the Son of God.”
ILLUS>How many have heard the apparently new cliché: "They are who we thought they were"
“Normally quiet Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green first uttered this trademarked phrase during a swear-filled, post-game tirade in 2006. When he was asked what he thought of the Chicago Bears after his team dropped a 20-point lead during a Monday Night Football game, Green responded "they are who we thought they were." There is another part to the quote "and we let ’em off the hook!" that is not part of the trademark.
Green exclusively owns the right to use the phrase for sports merchandise, but the clip is a sports media standard that is used when teams fail to take advantage of their opponent’s obvious flaws.” (CNN http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/15/famous.phrases/index.html)
The point I want to make is this: When you know your opponents flaws, they are who you thought they were. In many cases though, this is the problem that people have with Jesus; He is not who they think He is. John is writing this book so that we will trust that Jesus is who He says He is. If you have ever thought that Jesus might be God; or that He could save you from a destructive life; then He is WHO you thought He is.
Transition: Not only was the Book written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; but it was also written so that when we continue in that belief that we may have life in Jesus’ name.
II. BELIEVING you might have life. If I were to ask you to sum up in a few words what the meaning of the word ‘life’ encompasses; how would you respond? What does life mean to you? I don’t mean biological life, I mean inmaterial life…life of the spirit or soul. How is life made better? And in this passage, how is life related to believing? Does living life in Jesus’ name make life any different?
A. What is life? If you were to search the Bible for all the references to ‘life,’ then you would find thousands of references. Similarly, when we think about life; we think about all the experiences that we have had and the myriads of courses that life can take. Many people exclude Jesus from their lives because they just can’t get beyond the supernatural acts that He performed. They rationalize; if miracles do not happen, then certainly the testimony about Jesus must not be true! Or if the resurrection of men from the dead is impossible; then certainly the testimony is false. My purpose today is not to prove or disprove miracles or the resurrection; but it is to give you an opportunity to examine the evidence yourself. Do yourself a favor, and do not reject this out-of-hand. My fear is not that you reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; but that you do not even consider what is here in the Book of John. John said, these things are written so that you may believe….. What things were written? We don’t know unless we check it out!
If in considering life; we can imagine a life of purpose and joy; how is it that life in Jesus name is exceptional?
B. What is life in His Name? Jesus said in John 14:14, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it (NASB).” In our materialistic society, one might be tempted to ask for a new car. Jesus, I think I might like a new Camaro. The idea here is not that what we get what we want; but we get what Jesus wants for us. I am here to tell you: He wants to get rid of the destructive things in your life! He cares for you and wants the very best for you in everything. He is not going to let you have the car if you can’t live with it. And if you force the issue and get the car without Him; you are going to wish that you did not have it because your life is going to be a mess. In all things related to life; life is better in Jesus’ name.
ILLUS> Sermonspice Video entitled Big Burger Meal.
Both good and evil has been done in Jesus’ name; but only God can define what is good and evil. We know from both John and the rest of the Bible that God does not sin; that He is the definition of righteousness. Further, the ones who do evil in the name of Jesus do not have the testimony of the Word of God behind them. Jesus argues against the Pharisees in John 5:43; that you won’t receive me as I come in my Father’s name; but somebody else comes along and you will accept him. I think it was the Christian author Frank Peretti who said, “everybody gets to be Jesus; but Jesus himself.”
In Biblical times, names meant something. They had something to say about the named person. Throughout the Bible, names help define the person. Jacob’s name for instance meant ‘supplanter’ or ‘trickster’ and it is interesting that his life was characterized by such activity. In Psalms 115:1; it says: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth (NASB).” To these people God’s name means a love that never fails and that God was truthful. In summing up the power of the name of God in the Bible, I think this passage in Acts 4:12 helps: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (NASB).”
Transition: John tells us that he wrote the Book so that we might believe and have life in Jesus’ name. That is ‘real life;’ life with purpose and joy. The Bible says, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ Jesus connects our claims with our deeds. Do we say we love Jesus; yet totally contradict His righteousness in our lives? Jesus says right here: then I don’t know you! (Matthew 7:22-23)
INVITATION:
Let us pray…
Father, May your name be glorified today in this service to you. May forgiveness of sins and your righteousness permeate the world. We come to you as sinners and ask forgiveness in your name; but we also approach your throne in boldness knowing that you have already forgiven us. We are your children and we know that you love us. We ask you that you would provide for our every need; and that we would be forgiving of others as you are forgiving of us. Finally, we ask for your protection; as we know you are with us continually.
You have said in John 5:39-40 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life (NASB)”
Father, may we not be unwilling to come to Jesus and have life in His name. But may we have ‘real life;” which is only in Jesus.
If you want Jesus in your life today, with heads bowed and eyes closed; please just lift your hand in response to His calling on your life today. And when we have concluded this prayer, and have began singing; if you want to come to the front and pray with me, or have more questions, then just come forward during the singing. Acts 2:21 says, “AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
Father, we pray your blessings upon this congregation today. In Jesus’ precious name we pray it; AMEN.
