CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SERIES
13 – THE APOSTLE JOHN
This morning, we are continuing with our sermon series entitled, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
And we’ve been talking about the fact that…
--now, more than ever
--no matter who you are, what you’ve done
You can have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
And what we’ve been doing is looking at the lives of the greats, and seen how they had their CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
And so far, we’ve talked about
--Adam
--Abraham
--Joseph
--Moses
--David
--4 Great Women (Mother’s Day)
--Simon the Cyrenian (Father’s Day
--Job
--Daniel
Last week, we talked about CLOSE ENCOUNTERS for America
Next week, we’re be looking at the Apostle Peter
But this morning, we’re going to be looking at one of the greatest and most influential apostles of all in the Word of God, and his name is JOHN
With that in mind, let’s read…
John 21:20-25 ( KJV ) 20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Here we find one of the most intimate accounts in all the Word of God between man and God
For we see in the first verse of our text that John was known as the one who “leaned on Jesus breast” at the Last Supper
You talk about…
--Close Encounters
--Intimacy
--A love for our Lord
And it was here, leaning on Jesus breast that John could literally hear the heartbeat of our Savior
And I want to come back to that at the end of the message, but for a few moments, let’s talk about THE APOSTLE JOHN
And what I want to do, in trying to discover…
--who he was
--what he was all about
--how he had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God
Is to break his life down into 3 parts this morning
I want to talk to you about…
--His person
--His principle
--His passion
First of all, let’s consider…
1. HIS PERSON
Who was the Apostle John?
We first read about him when Jesus called him to be his follower
Matthew 4:20-22 ( KJV ) 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
In other words, John and his brother James were out there working on the nets and Jesus came by and said, drop everything and follow me, AND THEY DID!
Think of that – they left…
--their business
--their family
--everything familiar, and they followed Him!
And isn’t that the essence of Christianity – we’re just kind of doing our own thing, and all of a sudden, we get a summons from the SPIRIT OF GOD THAT SAYS FOLLOW CHRIST!
And I’m so glad that I did – when I was 13 years old, I heard those same words, and I’m so glad I did!
And I want you to know that some of you are out there this morning just kind of doing your thing, but Jesus is coming by this morning, and he wants you to follow him
And that’s exactly what JOHN and his brother did
And as we read about them in the Gospels, we find that these two brothers, JAMES AND JOHN were a hand full – they were something else
I mean these were the 2 fellows that…
--wanted to call fire down from heaven in Luke 9:54
--wanted choice seats at Jesus right hand Mark 10:37
John was the one that got upset about someone casting out devils that wasn’t a part of their group in Mark 9:38
I mean, these guys were…
--constantly missing it
--continually messing up
--tenacious
--tough
--temperamental
--rugged
--Type A personality
But oh, let me tell you, before it was all over, these guys, and particularly John went from wanting to call fire down from heaven, to writing over 80 times, MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON IN THE BIBLE, about LOVE
It’s this John that gave us in 1 John 4:8 those great words – GOD IS LOVE!
Talk about transformation!
In fact, history tells us that when John was an old man, he’d sit around the church and say, LITTLE CHILDREN, LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
Talk about a transformation!
And that’s what God delights to do! It doesn’t matter…
--who you are, but who you are becoming
--where you’ve been, but where you’re headed
--what you’ve done, but what He did on the cross of Calvary
And God still delights in taking the RAW MATERIAL of our old…
--hang-ups
--habits
--prejudices
And turning it around for HIS GLORY!
And maybe that’s why John, knowing his…
--temperament
--toughness
--that he was “a hand full”
May be that’s why when John was writing the book of John, he never mentioned himself by name, he always referred to himself as “that disciple who Jesus loved”
He says it 5 times…
• John 13:23 ( KJV ) 23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
• John 19:26 ( KJV ) 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved…
• John 20:2 ( KJV ) 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved…
• John 21:7 ( KJV ) 7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord…
• John 21:20 ( KJV ) 20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following…
Notice he didn’t refer to himself as – THAT DISCIPLE WHO LOVED JESUS
No, it’s THAT DISCIPLE THAT JESUS LOVED
In other words, our love is…
--imperfect
--tainted
But His love comes TO US and not always FROM US!
What a beautiful picture of grace
And while I’m kind of giving you an overview of John’s life, I have to share this part about John’s life, because it was so insignificant
When Jesus was dying on the cross, Jesus asked him to personally take care of His mother, Mary
And history tells us that he never left Jerusalem until Jesus mother Mary died
And here’s a preaching point right here – SOMETIMES OUR MINISTRY IS ONLY TO ONE PERSON!
Sometimes we think we have to have a large crowd, but sometimes, we’re called to care upon…
--a sick spouse
--just one or two in the Sunday School
And John didn’t mind at all when the others were out there doing great things – all he was doing was caring for Jesus mother, and that’s the way our attitude ought to be
And the Bible tells us that as the church got started, that John’s brother James was the very first Apostle to be killed
And we don’t understand that – and what’s so ironic is that John was the last Apostle to die!
We can’t understand that – but here’s one thing – when his brother died, it didn’t stop John from working for the Lord
And I know it’s tough to lose loved ones, but there comes a time when we have to move on
In the Old Testament, there were 40 days of mourning, but after that, it’s back on with life
Why? Because we know that they are with the Lord, and while we are here, we must carry on for the Lord
In fact, it was after James’s death, that John went on and wrote 5 books of the Bible, including the Revelation
And I want you to know, that no matter who has left you in death, or by choice, you can still have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God!
And then, finally, John is the last to die, and he dies on the Isle of Patmos
So, first of all, we understand JOHN’S PERSON
Secondly, let me talk to you about…
2. JOHN’S PRINCIPLES
And we find John’s principles in the 5 books of the Bible that he wrote
Now, understand, other than the Apostle Paul, John was the second greatest writer of the New Testament
A. HE WROTE THE BOOK OF JOHN
And if you read the Gospels through, you know that the first three are almost identical, but the Gospel of John is the most intimate and powerful portrayal of Christ
In fact, all 21 chapters of His book paints to us a portrait of Christ
Let me go through all 21 chapters right now!
Chapter 1 – Jesus portrayed as God (the Word was God)
Chapter 2 – Jesus portrayed as the Miracle worker (turned water into wine)
Chapter 3 – Jesus portrayed as the Savior (John 3:16)
Chapter 4 – Jesus portrayed as the Soul Winner (Woman at the Well)
Chapter 5 – Jesus portrayed as the Healer (man at the pool of Bethesda)
Chapter 6 – Jesus is the bread of life (he fed the thousands with the little boys lunch
Chapter 7 – Jesus is the satisfying (if any man thirst, let him come to me)
Chapter 8 – Jesus is portrayed as the forgiver of sins (woman caught in adultery)
Chapter 9 – Jesus is portrayed as the blind eye opener (I was blind, but now I see)
Chapter 10 – Jesus is portrayed as the door and the good shepherd!
Chapter 11 – Jesus is the resurrection and the life!
Chapter 12 – Jesus is portrayed as the lifted up one!
Chapter 13 – Jesus is portrayed as the servant as He washes the disciples feet
Chapter 14 – Jesus is the one going to prepare a mansion for us, the way, the truth and the life
Chapter 15 – Jesus is the vine and we are the branches!
Chapter 16 – Jesus is the one who gives the Comforter, and who answers prayer, for he said ask and you shall receive, and He’s the one who gives peace in a world of tribulation
Chapter 17 – Jesus is portrayed as the High Priest
Chapter 18 – Jesus is portrayed as the Lamb of God (the model sufferer as he’s betrayed)
Chapter 19 – Jesus is portrayed as the sacrifice for sin as He’s crucified
Chapter 20 – Jesus is portrayed as the resurrected Lord
Chapter 21 – Jesus is portrayed as a restorer
Until finally, he comes to chapter 21 and says – I JUST CAN’T WRITE IT ALL!
John 21:25 ( KJV ) 25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
And then…
He’s still…
--working
--moving
--writing the old story
--blessing
--saving
--sanctifying
--the door
--the shepherd
--the healer!
B. HE WROTE THE EPISTLE OF JOHN
This is 1,2,3 John
And in these book, John emphasizes LOVE
And he emphasizes KNOW
1 John 5:13 ( KJV ) 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
And I’m so glad that I CAN KNOW that I’m saved!
And then, finally, on that craggy deserted island, he caught a glimpse of the Lord coming!
C. HE WROTE THE BOOK OF REVELATION
And at this time, John is old, most of the Apostles have died
Christianity is strong, but still small and vulnerable
But he says…
Revelation 1:10 ( KJV ) 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
And you talk about CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
And from that craggy island, John gives to us the things which are happening now
And he closes up the Bible by saying – COME!
Revelation 22:17 ( KJV ) 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
And he sums up the Bible by saying COME!
--if you just knew how good He was, you would come
--if you just knew how close the end was, you would come!
--if you just knew how much I love Him, you would come!
John’s person
John’s principles
And finally, let me close with…
3. JOHN’S PASSION
Because I want to leave you with one of the most intimate scenes in all the Bible
And John is leaning on Jesus breast
And he could hear the very heart beat of God!
And if you want to have close encounters, find out what makes God’s heat beat
John knew that Jesus heart beat for…
--service
--souls
--His church
--you and I to have close encounters!
IN CLOSING
I believe if John could come back this morning, here’s what he’d say…
--love one another
--don’t give up on yourself, if Jesus could change me, he can change you
--He’s still working
--the Lord is coming sooner rather than later
--don’t let the death of a loved one keep you back
--fall in love with Jesus – rest in Him and on Him!
--you can know that you’re saved!
Come to Jesus today!
