< Previous11 THE MISSION OF JOHN Read: John 1:19-28 With the introduction to his book now over, John brings us to the first scene in our guided tour through the life-story of Jesus. People from all over Palestine were continually flocking to a remote desert location. Often travelling for several days on foot, they would come to hear the powerful preaching of John the Baptist. By the side of the Jordan river he would call the people to turn from their sins and live a life that was pleasing to God. Those who believed his message were baptised (literally “immersed”) in the river, as a symbol of their changed life. The religious leaders of the Jewish faith became increasingly aware of the impact which John’s ministry was having on the whole nation, and, curious to know who he claimed to be, they sent a delegation of temple officials to question him. The people of that time were eager for the appearing of their long awaited Messiah-King. Some self-appointed messiahs had risen up with a band of followers, but had failed to make any deep impression on the nation. John was different. He was not calling people to follow him, but to turn their attention to the One who would come after him. The delegation asked, “Who are you?” John did not answer their question until he had first stated clearly that he was not the Messiah, nor was he any other special person mentioned in the Scriptures. He was simply a voice “crying in the wilderness” as the prophet Isaiah had promised. His mission was to prepare the people for the coming of their King. John’s admission of his own personal insignificance created a problem in the minds of the religious leaders. “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet” (verse 25)? What authority did he have to introduce a new rite into their religion, since he admitted he was no one special? John the Baptist replied that, even though he was only a voice in the wilderness, he was a voice with a very important message. “In fact”, says John, “I already know the one who is to come after me, and He is right here in this crowd now. You don’t know Him and even if you tried to recognize Him you would not be able to do so”. Jesus still stands as close to any of us today as He was to the crowd by the Jordan river that day. In fact closer! Yet many fail to recognize His presence. John’s words to the delegation from Jerusalem could be equally applied to many of us: “among you stands one whom you do not know”. Is Jesus Christ just a name to you, or do you know Him personally as your own Saviour and Lord? 612 THE MISSION OF MESSIAH Read: John 1:29-34 The time had come for John the Baptist to point out the Messiah. This was a critical time in his mission. The people’s hearts had been prepared by his call to repentance, and their minds had been prepared by his reference to the special person who would come after him. Anticipation turned to excitement. “Is Messiah here?” “Who is He?” Seeing Jesus walking toward him John said: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. He could have said “Behold the Messiah”. Why did he introduce Jesus in the way he did? If John had said “Behold the Messiah”, the people would imagine that Jesus was going to lead a rebellion against the Roman empire, under whose rule the Jews were chafing. They expected the Messiah to be a political King who would eventually rule the whole world. John knew that Messiah’s first mission was not to reign. Christ had come to suffer the punishment for the sins of the world. He pointed to Jesus as the Saviour. Messiah had come to deliver the world from the bondage of sin, not to be the immediate answer to the national- istic desires of the people. The words “Behold the Lamb of God” would draw the people’s attention to the animal sacrifices which God had instituted in Israel. The practice was for a person who had sinned to bring a lamb to the altar, confess their personal sin, and then kill the innocent lamb in place of themselves. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The death of a lamb in the place of the sinner was a continual picture to Israel that, even though their sin incurred death, God’s way of forgiveness was only through the sacrifice of an innocent lamb in the place of the guilty. Jesus’ mission was to die as an innocent substitute for the sin of the world. All have sinned, and all therefore deserve to die. Jesus, being sinless, did not deserve to die. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree “(1 Peter 2:24). The people of Israel found it hard to accept a Messiah who was despised and rejected; one who was hung in shame upon a cross. Jesus so easily could have fulfilled the expectations of the people, but He chose to do the will of His Father. He came to deal with man’s deepest problem - sin. Even today Christ does not cater to the expectations of people who want a Messiah who will be a solution to their problems. Jesus Christ delivers those who seek freedom from the guilt and power of sin. He died on the cross as an innocent sacrifice to purchase your pardon. If you receive Him, He will forgive and cleanse you from all your sin and make you a child of God. 713 THINKING IT THROUGH John 1:1-34 Answer the questions as best you can, referring back to the Bible verses for help. Note down anything you cannot understand under the heading “Ques- tions and Difficulties”. These can then be discussed with another person or in a group on a weekly basis. 1. What does the title “Word” tell us about Jesus Christ? What are some ways God reveals Himself to us? (Psalm 19:1, Romans 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16) 2. What was the mission of John the Baptist (verses 6-8)? What special preparation do you think God may have done (or be doing) in your life, in order to lead you to trust in Jesus Christ? 3. What is required for a person to become a child of God (verses 12-13)? 5. What caused the apostles to recognize Jesus as the Son of God (verse 14)? 6. From verse 29, describe in your own words the mission of Jesus Christ. How does this affect you personally? QUESTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES:14 8EUREKA! Read: John 1:35-42 Have you ever watched an exciting relay race? All eyes are fixed on the runner with the baton. Once it has been passed on, the new runner becomes the focus of attention. John the Baptist had run well. His mission was almost finished. Selflessly he weans his own followers off himself, and, by encouraging them to follow Jesus, passes on the baton. Those who became disciples of Jesus at that time represent differ- ent types of people who come to Him today. 1. First there was Andrew and another disciple. They had seeking hearts. Jesus knew their deepest desires, so He asked them “What do you want?” (verse 38). After spending time with Him, they were convinced that they had found what they were looking for. “Eureka!” Andrew exclaimed, “We have found the Christ!” To all those with seeking hearts Jesus asks “What are you really searching for?” Are you seeking for peace with God? Are you search- ing for answers to perplexing questions? Are you looking for some- thing which you know is missing from your life? Jesus alone can meet you in your need. 2. Simon, Andrew’s brother, was the next one to find Jesus. The Lord knew all about Simon’s fickle and impetuous nature. But He gave him a new name, Peter, which means “rock”. He was anything but a rock, but as he followed the Lord Jesus, he would grow into a stable, strong person. How wonderful to know that Christ accepts us as we are, but sees in us the person we will eventually become with His power and help! 3. Then Jesus found Philip. The word “found” suggests that it wasn’t a chance meeting. Jesus took the initiative and asked Philip to follow Him. Some people are like Philip. Quite unexpectedly they hear the call of the Lord Jesus. Without much prior searching or thought they respond in faith to Christ and His message of forgiveness. 4. Finally, Jesus was found by Nathanael. He had a sincere heart. Jesus knew he was genuine, without any sham or pretence. He knew what had taken place in Nathanael's private life. Perhaps under the fig tree in his home town, Nathanael had overcome a strong temp- tation, prayed, or confessed his sins in deep sorrow. Such genuine concern had reached the heart of God and of the Lord Jesus. Many people are seeking today, but God knows those ones who are sincere. “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).15 MORE THAN A MIRACLE Read: John 2:1-12 The miracles of Jesus are not mere wonders designed to create attention or cause amazement. They are signs. That is, they point to His uniqueness as the Son of God (John 20:30-31). To most people at the wedding feast that day, Jesus was just another guest. But the miracle He performed was the means by which some (including His new disciples) could catch a glimpse of His true glory. Verse 11 says: “He thus revealed His glory and His disciples put their faith in Him.” God had sent other messen- gers in the past, and their miracles had not brought glory to themselves. Jesus, however, brought His own glory into view by His miracles as well as to His Father in Heaven. They were signs of who He was, and what He had come to do. Mary, who knew her virgin-born Son to be the Lord from heaven, was eager for Him to start proving Himself. She came to Him with news of the embarrassing shortage of wine, knowing that this provided an ideal opportunity for Him to reveal His true identity. But the Lord was not going to bow to this temptation (Luke 4:9- 12). If He is to act, He must do so in His own time and for the right reasons. Up until this point He had been accustomed to respond- ing to His mother’s direction as a loyal son. Gently but firmly He reminds her that He had now embarked on His special mission where He moved only at the impulse of His Father’s will. Never- theless He did act, but in a way that was to produce faith in those who saw past the spectacular, and perceived in the miracle the glory of His person. It is significant that His first miracle was not to heal the sick, give sight to the blind or raise the dead. His first sign brought joy and happi- ness to a family situation after their own resources had failed. Any happiness derived from earthly things will always be temporary. The wine of this world will eventually fail us. But when we turn to Christ as our personal Saviour, He transforms our lives and gives us the wine of heaven. God saves the best wine till last! Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Rather than creating wine out of nothing, Jesus chose to turn water into wine. This action pictures us when we turn to Him. He takes us as we are and transforms us. He renews us. He recreates us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 916 THE DIVISION BEGINS Read: John 2:13-22 Trains which stand side by side at a station platform can end up thousands of miles apart. Through his book, the apostle John brings to light a division among the people in their response to Christ. This division widens as the story unfolds. On one track there are those who believe, and on the other track there are those who do not. Initially these two groups are not easily distinguishable, but gradu- ally they, like us, are forced to take sides. The division began when Jesus went up to Jerusalem at the Passover feast. He presented Himself officially to the Jewish Nation as their Messiah. The religion of the Israelites had degenerated into a money-making racket. Thousands of pilgrims came annually to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. The priests would only accept animals from the “approved” vendors who had set exorbitant prices. The people’s money had to be changed into the “sacred” currency (the shekel) by temple officials who charged high exchange interest and lined their own pockets. Jesus was indignant, but had kept silent each time He had previ- ously gone to the feast. Zealous for His Father’s glory, this time He was ready to act. Without losing control He calmly platted a small whip, (a symbol of authority and judgement), then strode into the temple with all the moral command that belonged so naturally to Him. There was no resistance to His startling presence, but there was a response! The disciples had their faith strengthened. They remem- bered that the Old Testament spoke of the Messiah being consumed with zeal for God’s house (Psalm 69:9). Others responded by ques- tioning His authority to act in this way. There was no need for Jesus to provide a direct answer, as His action sat well with everyone’s conscience. Jesus nevertheless did give a sign of His divine authority by predicting His own death at their hands, and His bodily resurrection three days later. He moved from talking about the temple building where they were standing, to refer to the 'temple' of His own body. The temple in Jerusalem was the place on earth where God dwelt in His glory. Jesus Himself is the true Temple. He is God who “made His dwelling among us” and the disciples "beheld His glory ... full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). This, the first public action of Jesus, set alight a small fire of opposition to Him. The fire will first smoulder, and then burn. Finally, out of control, these same people will cry out “Crucify Him, crucify Him”. At the same time, those who believed had their faith gradually strengthened, and finally rewarded. Which group do you belong to? Jesus says: “He who is not for Me is against Me” (Luke 11:23). 1017 SHALLOW FAITH Read: John 2:23-25 An excited hum rippled through Jerusalem as news spread of Jesus’ startling activities. Who was this man who dared to stand up against the temple officials and religious leaders? Was He the long awaited Messiah-King? Many came from all parts of the crowded city, joined by feast-day visitors, and they listened to this newly recog- nized public figure as He taught with divine authority. They watched as He performed amazing miracles with undeniable ease and power. “He must be Messiah!” one would say. “I believe He is!” another would affirm. But Jesus was not running for office! He was not seeking the short-lived admiration of people who wanted a king to suit their own ends. He is king, but those who come to Him must come on His terms or not at all. Jesus was well aware of the source of these people’s attraction to Him. The signs and wonders He had done ignited an immediate response from the people. They had been expecting their Messiah to come at any time, and, seeing the miracles, believed in Jesus. But Jesus, seeing inside their hearts, did not have faith in their faith! He realised that it had no depth. The Lord has perfect knowledge of the secrets of every heart. 1. His knowledge is universal (“He knew all men” verse 24). No one is outside the orbit of His unlimited knowledge. Every person on earth, old and young, rich and poor, clever and simple, good and bad; all are tested by His piercing gaze. 2. His knowledge is unaided (“He did not need man’s testimony about man” verse 25). It is not necessary for the Lord to send out spies, or to rely on any external help in order to know all about us. Being God, He has that ability in Himself. 3. His knowledge is complete (“He knew what was in a man” verse 25). We can't hide any part of ourselves from His piercing eyes. “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12,13). As Jesus is portrayed before you in this gospel, examine your response to Him. Is it genuine faith which springs from a sincere and honest heart. Shallow faith involves no committment. If there is no commitment in your faith towards Him, there will be no commitment on His part towards you. 1118 THE GREATEST MIRACLE Read: John 3:1-10 Nicodemus was one of those mentioned at the close of the previous chapter. The appearance of Jesus had awakened in him a renewed hope that at last the new age was about to dawn. Cautious excitement moved him to speak privately with this newly recognized prophet. He was a genuine seeker. He wanted to probe Jesus and come to a definite conclusion which would satisfy him. Jesus’ miracles were proof that God was with Him, but who was He? And what had He come to do? In order for Jesus to answer this man’s quest, He had to challenge his inbred belief about the role of Messiah. Nicodemus expected the Kingdom of God to come with unhindered power and glory. Messiah, he believed, would appear and rule the world. Jesus calls attention to the indispensable condition which must exist in people’s lives before they become a part of that glorious Kingdom. A miracle must occur, far greater than all the wonders Jesus had performed - the miracle of new- birth. “Unless you are born again”, Jesus said, “you cannot see (or enter) the Kingdom of God.” New-birth is a new beginning midstream in the course of one’s life. It can happen to a child, an adult or to a person on their death bed. It is a creative act of God’s Spirit as real and as necessary as natural birth. We can only enter our human existence by birth (“flesh gives birth to flesh” verse 6) and like-wise, we can only enter God’s kingdom by a spiritual birth (“Spirit gives birth to spirit”). It is impossible to enter God’s kingdom as we are, in our natural state. There must be a radical transformation which springs from a brand new life given to us by God. Natural birth marks the beginning of life in the flesh and new-birth marks the beginning of a new life in the Spirit. Jesus went on to talk about this new life in verses 15 and 16, where He calls it eternal life. Nicodemus, being a good man and a religious leader, believed he had done all that was necessary to give him the right of entry into God’s kingdom. Imagine the shock he received when the Lord pointed out that all his religion, all his good works, all his (outwardly) blameless living, and even his love for God, were not enough to gain him a place in God’s kingdom! Without the miracle of new-birth he was as far away from heaven as the worst sinner. For the first time in his life Nicodemus realised that he needed a Saviour! He could not earn his way, nor could he perform the miracle of new birth himself. He had to trust someone else to do that for him! You and I are the same. All our good deeds are unable to help us. We need the Lord Jesus to perform in us the miracle of new-birth, and give us eternal life by His Spirit. If we receive Him personally, trusting Him to be our Saviour, we are born again (John 1:12). 1219 LIFTED UP Read: John 3:11-15 Nicodemus had never been taught about the need to be born-again, nor was the subject ever discussed among his fellow rabbis. What right did Jesus have to speak so emphatically? Every Rabbi can only teach what he has personally come to know and experience. Jesus was the Son of God, and having come down from heaven, He had first-hand knowledge of spiritual things. He was also in continual, vital touch with His Father, and could speak with perfect knowledge of heavenly things. He revealed spiritual truths in a way that earth-bound people could grasp. He used earthly concepts (e.g. birth), to dress up spiritual teaching in an understandable way. If Nicodemus could not believe Him when He used earthly illustrations, how would he cope if Jesus spoke in purely heavenly terms!? The Lord then explained the ultimate purpose of His coming. Jesus had to be “lifted up” on a cross, and die for the sins of the people, in order for new-birth to be experienced. Until sin is forgiven, God cannot give eternal life. Through Jesus’ death God dealt with sin once and for all, making possible the miracle of new birth. Jesus points to an Old Testament illustration which parallels the way we receive eternal life today (see Numbers 21). 1. The people of Israel had sinned, and God judged them by sending poisonous snakes. Many were bitten and lay dying. In a similar way our sin has brought upon us God’s judgement: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Jesus came into the world to save us from the serious consequences of our disobedience. 2. God instructed Moses to lift up a brass effigy of a serpent on a pole in easy sight of all the dying people. Likewise, Jesus was lifted up on a cross to die. His death was an event which has become known by people far and wide. All people have a chance to believe in Him and be saved. 3. The people of Moses’ time needed only to look in faith at the brass serpent on the pole for God to instantly forgive and heal them. Imagine hearing the news - “all you have to do is look at the brass serpent and you will not die!” God says much the same today: “...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Our sins are forgiven when we look in faith to the One who was crucified for us - “whoever believes in Him shall...have eternal life” (John 3:16). 1320 IN FOCUS Read: John 3:16,17 I remember as a young boy being fascinated by the way a small magnifying glass was able to focus the sunlight into a concentrated pinhead of light and energy. The sun’s rays passing through the lens were narrowed into a miniature sun, with intense heat. Jesus acts like a divine lens. He gathers up many rays of truth in the Bible and focuses them into a summary statement in verse sixteen. The great themes of God’s Word converge, and central to them all is the love of God. Although God had the right to judge the world (as Nicodemus would have expected), God sent His Son to save the world from its predica- ment. The verse highlights God’s love as follows: 1. The OBJECT of God’s Love is “the world”. The world means humanity in rebellion against God. We do not deserve being saved. There is nothing in us that merits God’s action. It was while we were “still sinners” and “God’s enemies”, that “Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8,10). 2. The OCCASION for God’s Love - “He gave His one and only Son” The thought behind the word “gave” is not that of sending but rather surrendering. He did not hold back His only Son. It was precisely because Jesus was the unique Son of God that the little word “so” is used. His love was shown in giving His best for the world’s worst. God surrendered His Son to the cruel and humiliating death of crucifixion. He did it in order that we might be forgiven! Such is God’s love. 3. The OBJECTIVE of God’s Love - “shall not perish”. If there was no hell, Christ’s death would be a tragic extravagance. God warns of a broad road that leads to destruction. He knew that the penalty of our sin could not be removed in any other way than His Son’s death in our place. 4. The OFFER of God’s Love - “whoever believes”. The good news is universal in it’s scope. It is for all people. Every race and religion. The good and the bad. The educated and uneducated. All are included in the word “whoever”. What is more, the word “believes” brings people of different intellects and cultural backgrounds onto the same level. The Bible College professor and the child; the wealthy business executive and the tea-lady have an equal opportunity to simply believe in Jesus Christ. 5. The OUTCOME of God’s Love - “may have eternal life”. God’s love didn’t just promise a never-ending life after death. He gives eternal life at the very moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. “The gift of God is (now!) eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Do you have eternal life right now? Have you personally trusted in the Lord Jesus, asking Him to forgive your sin and come into your life? 14Next >