43 John - 2016

Skip Heitzig

The gospel of John is a unique eyewitness testimony of the life of Jesus that emphasizes His deity and provides information about Him that's not found in the other Gospels. John wrote this account so we would know that we can find true, abundant life in Christ alone: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). In this verse-by-verse study of John, Skip Heitzig takes us through Jesus' public ministry, His teachings to the disciples, His death, and His resurrection.


 

Table of Contents

# SCRIPTURE: MESSAGE:
1 John 1:1-25 John 1:1-25
2 John 1:19-51 John 1:19-51
3 John 2 John 2
4 John 2:23-3:19 John 2:23-3:19
5 John 3:22-4:24 John 3:22-4:24
6 John 4:19-54 John 4:19-54
7 John 5:1-36 John 5:1-36
8 John 5:31-6:21 John 5:31-6:21
9 John 6:22-6:71 John 6:22-6:71
10 John 7:1 John 7:1
11 John 7:1-36 John 7:1-36
12 John 7:37-8:11 John 7:37-8:11
13 John 8:12-59 John 8:12-59
14 John 9 John 9
15 John 10:1-24 John 10:1-24
16 John 10:21-42 John 10:21-42
17 John 11:1-35 John 11:1-35
18 John 11:33-12:11 John 11:33-12:11
19 John 12:12-50 John 12:12-50
20 John 13 John 13
21 John 14:1-26 John 14:1-26
22 John 14:12-15:27 John 14:12-15:27
23 John 16 John 16
24 John 17 John 17
25 John 18 John 18
26 John 19:1-22 John 19:1-22
27 John 19:23-42 John 19:23-42
28 John 20 John 20
29 John 21 John 21

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 1:1-25
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-25
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4060

MESSAGE SUMMARY
The book of John is the go-to gospel for new believers. While the other Gospels were written for specific groups of people—the Jews, Romans, and Greeks—John was written for the whole world. As we begin our study in John, we discover that it is a studied portrait of Jesus' life, and it shows Him for who He really is: the Son of God.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Old Testament
      1. Solomon dedicated the temple (see 2 Chronicles 7:8-18; Ezra 6:16-18)
      2. Will God really dwell on the earth?
        1. The tabernacle and temple became the focal points for the presence of God among His people
        2. A central place people gathered to seek the mind and the will of the Lord
    2. The New Testament
      1. God dwelt on earth in Jesus
      2. This event was so significant that it took four individuals to write the story of Christ: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
      3. Why are there four Gospels?
        1. The person of Jesus is so unique
        2. The Holy Spirit directed these writings
          1. Like a string quartet
          2. Like a director of a movie set
    3. Audience of the Gospels
      1. Matthew was written for the Jewish people
        1. The word fulfilled and the phrase so that it might be fulfilled are mentioned often in this book
        2. Stresses that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions to the Jewish nation
      2. Mark was written for a Roman audience
        1. Full of action
        2. Short, fast
        3. It is about accomplishing
      3. Luke was written for a Greek audience
        1. Luke was a Gentile physician
        2. He spoke of Jesus' perfect manhood
        3. The Son of Man
      4. It seems that the intended audience for John is the entire world
        1. Presents Jesus as the Son of God
        2. God Himself in a human body
    4. Focus of the Gospels
      1. Matthew focused on what Jesus said
      2. Mark focused on what Jesus did
      3. Luke focused on how Jesus felt
      4. John focused on who Jesus was
    5. John was different in his approach
      1. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are snapshots of who Jesus was
      2. John is like a studied portrait (see John 1:14)
      3. John starts with the beginning
    6. Although this book was written by John, he is never introduced as the author in the text
      1. How do we know he is the author?
      2. In the second century AD, a man named Irenaeus said John wrote it
      3. Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp
      4. Polycarp was a direct disciple of John the apostle
    7. John goes by an interesting title in his writings
      1. He is called the disciple whom Jesus loved
      2. Some believe this is arrogant
      3. It is confidence in his relationship with Jesus
    8. John was part of Jesus' inner circle
      1. Peter, James, and John
      2. When Jesus healed Jairus' daughter, He took these three disciples in with Him (see Mark 5:21-24, 35-43)
      3. He also took only them when He was transfigured on the mount (see Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)
      4. When He was temped in the garden of Gethsemane, He took them with Him (see Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-43)
      5. John was the first apostle at Jesus' tomb and the first to believe Jesus was resurrected (see John 20:4-9)
      6. John stood at the cross and watched his Savior's death (see John 19:26-27)
        1. He was standing with Jesus' mother, Mary
        2. Jesus entrusted John to take care of Mary
    9. John was a son of Zebedee
      1. James was the other son of Zebedee
      2. They were partners with Peter and Andrew
      3. Jesus called them Boanerges, meaning Sons of Thunder (see Mark 3:17)
        1. He called them by this name because when Jesus was rejected by the Samaritans, they asked Him if He wanted them to call fire from heaven and destroy the village (see Luke 9:51-56)
        2. John has been called the Apostle of Love based on how he wrote his gospel
        3. He appears to have been angry, impetuous, and temperamental
        4. This shows how Jesus changed him in three and a half years
        5. Changed men who were Sons of Thunder to sons who were tender
        6. Lives can change if they are willing to hang out with Jesus long enough
  2. John 1:1-25
    1. In the beginning (see v. 1)
      1. The Word refers to Jesus
        1. The book of Matthew begins the genealogy of Christ with Abraham
        2. The book of Luke begins the genealogy of Christ with Adam
        3. The book of John goes back to the very beginning
          1. Jesus never wasn't
          2. He always was
          3. Sounds like Genesis 1:1
      2. The Jews sometimes referred to God as the Word
        1. In the Old Testament, the Jewish people had such a high respect for God that they would not use His given name
        2. Instead, they referred to Him by other names
          1. Adonai
          2. In the Targums, they used the term memra (the word) as a designation for God
      3. The Greeks believed in the Logos
        1. Logos = a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech
        2. Used by Greek philosophers because they recognized the world has a level of design
        3. They questioned what the source or origin of this order and predictability was
        4. They called the reason for the order of the universe the Logos
    2. Jesus created all things (see vv. 2-5)
      1. He is the origin of life
        1. Science periodically asks whether natural processes can be responsible for animate life if given enough time
        2. A study by the Wistar Institute concluded that there is no way the complexity of life could just come about
          1. It is mathematically impossible because there is simply not enough time for life to occur by chance
          2. William Paley from the 1700s came to the conclusion that if there is design, there must be a designer
      2. When the New Testament speaks of life, it speaks of three different kinds of life
        1. Bios = life, living
          1. Referred to sparingly in the New Testament
          2. Physical, biological life
          3. The New Testament uses this word in a backhanded, negative way (see Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:7; Luke 8:7)
        2. Psuché = breath, the soul
          1. Inert, mental life
          2. The only way to satisfy your psyche is to surrender your life to Christ
        3. Zóé = life
          1. Most common of all usages for life translated from the Greek in the New Testament
          2. A theological term that speaks of a quality of life that comes from God
          3. Begins now and continues through all of eternity
          4. The result of a new birth
      3. "The darkness did not comprehend it" (v. 5)
        1. When someone has been in a dark room and a light is turned on, their first reaction is to shy away from it and reject it
        2. They don't want it
    3. John the Baptist (see vv. 6-8)
      1. Parents Zacharias and Elizabeth were older when God promised them a son (see Luke 1:5-25)
      2. When Elizabeth was five to six months pregnant, Jesus' mother, Mary, came to visit her, and Elizabeth's baby leapt in her womb at the sound of Mary's voice (see Luke 1:39-46)
      3. Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest man who ever lived (see Matthew 11:11)
      4. Because his father was a priest, he should have followed in his father's footsteps and become a priest
        1. He probably took a Nazarite vow his whole life
        2. He grew his hair long
        3. He did not partake or touch any fruits of the vine like grapes
        4. He did not touch a dead body or anything else that would defile him
        5. He was separated for God's purpose
    4. John, the author, understood who Jesus was (see vv. 8-14)
      1. He clearly explained that Jesus is God (see 1 John 1:1)
      2. His own people did not receive Him
        1. He came unto His own creation
          1. Creation responded to the Creator
          2. Jesus was able to walk on water (see Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-25)
        2. His own people did not receive Him
          1. With all the predictions made about the Messiah, the Jewish people did not receive Him
          2. Even though they had the text of Scripture and the prophets who foretold His coming
      3. Some did receive Him
      4. John was writing against a philosophy called Gnosticism
        1. This philosophy said that Jesus Christ only seemed to be human
        2. It said He was not a real human being
        3. The first attack on Christianity was not against Jesus' deity; it was against His humanity
        4. John wrote his gospel in part to correct the error of Gnosticism (see 1 John 4:2-3)
        5. Jesus was undiminished deity in unprotected humanity
    5. Grace after grace (see vv. 15-17)
      1. John compared the old covenant with the new covenant of God's grace through Jesus
      2. The law
        1. Demands righteousness from man
        2. Perform your works
      3. The covenant of grace
        1. Gives righteousness to man from God
        2. Here is the work of Jesus Christ: it is finished
    6. No man has seen God at any time (see v. 18)
      1. No one has seen the full, undiminished glory of God in His total essence
        1. Moses prayed to see God's glory (see Exodus 33:12-23)
        2. Phillip asked Jesus to show them the Father (see John 14:7-17)
      2. God seems aloof, fuzzy, and unclear, but Jesus makes Him clear
        1. When Jesus spoke, God was talking
        2. When Jesus healed people, that was God's compassion
    7. The testimony of John the Baptist (see vv. 19-25)
      1. When the Levites questioned him about who he was, he could have listed his credentials
        1. He was the son of a priest
        2. He was filled with the Holy Spirit since he was in the womb
        3. He was the greatest man who ever lived, according to Jesus
        4. He had a miraculous birth by old parents
      2. Instead he said he was the voice declaring the Word (see Isaiah 40:3)
        1. We have a message, and the message is Jesus
        2. We don't have to make anything up
        3. Just say what the Bible actually says
      3. The living Word, Jesus, has power
        1. Learn His Word and keep Him the center of your life
        2. Learn to love the words He has provided

Figures referenced: Irenaeus, William Paley, Polycarp

Greek/Hebrew words: bios, Boanerges, logos, memra, psuché, zóé
Cross references: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 33:12-23; 2 Chronicles 7:8-18; Ezra 6:16-18; Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 11:11; 13:22; 14:22-32; 17:1-13; 26:36-46; Mark 3:17; 4:7; 5:21-24, 35-43; 6:45-52; 9:2-13; 14:32-42; Luke 1:5-25, 39-46; 8:7; 9:28-36, 51-56; 22:39-43; John 6:16-25; 14:7-17; 19:26-27; 20:4-9; 1 John 1:1; 4:2-3


Topic: Jesus Christ

Keywords: temple, Gospels, Jesus Christ, John the apostle, Sons of Thunder, the beginning, the Word, memra, Targums, Logos, life, creation, design, designer, John the Baptist, Nazarite, Messiah, Gnosticism, deity, humanity, old covenant, new covenant, law, grace, glory

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 1:19-51
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 1:19-51
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4062

MESSAGE SUMMARY
What is your view of Jesus? John the Baptist was very aware of who Jesus is: "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). We learn that our faith should not be dictated by the world's opinion of God because the majority of people have not received Him—but those who do have the right to become His children.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. There is not one single description that will encapsulate who Jesus is
      1. This is why there are four Gospels
      2. They are the four faces of Jesus Christ
    2. In the Old Testament, God dwelt among the people in the tabernacle
      1. The tabernacle was a fancy tent in a courtyard that had two rooms: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies
      2. On all four sides of the tabernacle were the Levites, divided according to families
      3. Beyond the Levites were the thousands of people who made up the twelve tribes of Israel
        1. They were divided into four separate camps, with three tribes in each direction
        2. Each camp had an emblem according to the head tribe they were gathered under
          1. Eastern side: the tribe of Judah with the emblem of a lion
          2. Western side: the tribe of Ephraim with the emblem of an ox
          3. Southern side: the tribe of Reuben with the emblem of a man
          4. Northern side: the tribe of Dan with the emblem of an eagle
        3. Four faces
    3. Ezekiel received a vision of the throne room of God (see Ezekiel 1:3-11; 10:21-22)
      1. The faces he saw were the same as the faces of the emblems
      2. Lion, ox, man, eagle
      3. John also saw a vision of heaven and these same faces (see Revelation 4:7)
    4. The same imagery is found in the four Gospels
      1. Matthew speaks about Jesus as the King of the Jews
        1. Speaks of Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy
        2. Like the lion of the tribe of Judah
      2. Mark speaks to the Romans
        1. Rapid, fast-paced
        2. Portrays Jesus as a servant
        3. Like the ox
      3. Luke speaks of Jesus as the Son of Man
        1. Full of compassion
        2. Jesus' humanity
        3. Like the man
      4. John speaks of Jesus as the Exalted One
        1. He is more than the Son of Man; He is the Son of God
        2. His glory
        3. Like the eagle
    5. Not one of the faces is enough
      1. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they bear so much resemblance to each other; they are snapshots
        1. Matthew: what Jesus said
        2. Mark: what Jesus did
        3. Luke: what Jesus felt
        4. John: who Jesus is
      2. John demands a little more study so we can receive its full impact
        1. 90 percent of the material in the book of John is unique to that book
        2. There are certain features in John that are featured nowhere else
          1. The seven "I am" statements of Christ
          2. No parables are found in John
          3. Seven miracles, five of which are found in none of the other Gospels
          4. The longest prayer in the New Testament (see John 17)
          5. The shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept" (John 11:35)
        3. Word repetitions
          1. Jesus and Christ are found 170 times
          2. Believe is found 100 times
          3. John wrote that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ (see :John 20:30-31:)
  2. John 1:19-34
    1. Incarnation of the Son of God: John 1:1-18
    2. John 1:19 begins the presentation of the Son of God: Jesus was presented to John the Baptist, to the early disciples, to the people at Cana for His first miracle (see John 2:1-11), and to the city of Samaria (see John 4:4-41)
    3. John
      1. John the Baptist is named in this book
      2. The author, John the apostle, is only mentioned as the apostle whom Jesus loved
    4. Who was John the Baptist (see vv. 19-27)?
      1. When John was asked who he was, he began by saying who he was not
        1. It was not important to him that people knew who he was
        2. He wanted the world to know who Jesus was
      2. They thought he was the Christ
        1. History tells us there was a yearning and expectation in both the Jewish and secular world that a leader would arise
        2. Heightened expectation at that time from the Jews for their Deliverer and Messiah
        3. When the Jews were in captivity, they could not practice ceremonial Law
          1. Their temple had been destroyed
          2. There were in a foreign country
          3. They could not offer animal sacrifices
        4. During the Babylonian captivity, they developed synagogues
          1. God did not establish this practice; the Jews did
          2. It was a place they could read, study, and apply the written Law
        5. This caused them to yearn more than ever to go back to Jerusalem and experience the coming Messiah
        6. When they returned to their land and the Romans took over, they yearned even more for their Savior
      3. They thought he was Elijah
        1. He looked like Elijah (see 2 Kings 1:8): had long hair, wore camel's hair, and ate bugs
        2. Malachi predicted that before the Messiah establishes His earthly kingdom, Elijah will come back (see Malachi 4:5-6)
      4. Jesus said John was Elijah who is to come (see Matthew 11:11-14)
        1. Jesus said John was Elijah in a sense (Matthew 17:9-13)
        2. John's father, Zechariah, was told that his son would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (see Luke 1:5-17)
        3. John partially fulfilled the Malachi prophecy in that he was the forerunner of the Messiah's first coming
        4. Elijah will be literally resurrected in the future to usher in the second coming
        5. The two witnesses in Revelation could refer to Moses and Elijah (see Revelation 11:3)
        6. When Jesus was transfigured, Moses and Elijah were there (see Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)
      5. The Pharisees thought John was the Prophet
        1. When Jesus asked His disciples who men said He was, they answered John the Baptist, Elijah, orJeremiah or one of the prophets (see Matthew 16:14)
          1. There was a tradition that said Jeremiah the prophet would come back
          2. He would restore the ark of the covenant prior to the Messiah's establishment of His kingdom
        2. In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses stated that God would send another Prophet like Himself
          1. It is believed this is a messianic prediction
          2. When the Pharisees asked John if he was the Prophet, they could have been referring to this prophecy
      6. John was humble
        1. He said there was someone coming who he was not worthy to be a household slave to
        2. Sometimes our attitude before God is anything but humble
          1. We think we deserve better
          2. We should thank God every day that He has not given us what we deserve, because we deserve hell
      7. Bethabara
        1. The place of crossing
          1. Where the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land (see Joshua 1)
          2. The place where the nation was baptized after wandering in the wilderness
        2. John was baptizing in this very spot
        3. Baptism was originally invented by the Jewish people
          1. If someone wanted to convert to Judaism they had to go through three rituals: instruction by a scribe, circumcision by a priest, and baptism by or with a witness
          2. Symbol of conversion from paganism into Judaism
        4. If a Jew became ritualistically unclean, they had to self-baptize before entering the temple to worship
        5. Mikvah = a ritual bath or bathing place for purification in accordance with Jewish law
      8. The Pharisees were puzzled because John was not calling pagans or Gentiles to convert to Judaism; he was calling Jewish people to repent and turn to God fully
        1. A baptism unto repentance
        2. Trust and belief in the Messiah John said was going to come
        3. At that time, there were 6,000 Pharisees
          1. Strict, legalistic
          2. Had a narrow interpretation of the Law
          3. Ritualistic
        4. Their opposite was the Sadducees
          1. Liberal
          2. Did not believe in the Scripture beyond the Torah
          3. Did not believe in spiritual or supernatural things
    5. John saw Jesus (see v. 29)
      1. John's father was a priest in the temple, so he was familiar with temple rituals: lambs were bred for sacrifice
      2. He saw Jesus and called Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
        1. During Passover, they would take the blood of a lamb and spread it on the lentils and doorposts of the homes
        2. Perhaps he was thinking of Isaiah's prediction of the Messiah's sacrifice (see Isaiah 53:7)
        3. Perhaps he was thinking of Abraham who was almost sacrificed his son Isaac before an angel stopped him (see Genesis 22:1-18)
    6. John baptized Jesus (see vv. 30-34)
      1. He saw the heavens open and the Spirit descending like a dove
        1. If someone could not afford a lamb to sacrifice, they could bring a dove
        2. Symbolizes that Jesus can cover the sins of all people, both rich and poor
      2. Twice in the text John said he did not know Jesus
        1. They were familiar with each other—they were cousins
        2. He meant that he did not know Jesus was the Son of God
        3. This familiarity adds to John the Baptist's credibility in saying Jesus was the Lamb of God
      3. It is believed Jesus' mother Mary and John the author's mother Salome were sisters
        1. This would make John the author Jesus' first cousin
        2. This familiarity adds to John the apostle's credibility in saying Jesus was the Lamb of God
      4. Israel did not want a lamb; they wanted a lion
        1. Jesus will come again as the Lion of the tribe of Judah
        2. He came first as the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world
  3. John 1:35-42
    1. Jesus asked John's two disciples, "What do you seek?"
      1. These are the first words of Jesus that John the apostle recorded in this book
      2. Jesus already knew the answer
        1. He wanted them to think about the answer they were going to give
        2. Lead to a logical consideration
      3. In the garden of Eden, God asked Adam, "Where are you?" (see Genesis 3:9-13)
        1. He knew where Adam was
        2. He wanted Adam to think about far he had moved from God
      4. Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" (see Matthew 16:13-16; Mark 8:27-29)
        1. He knew the answer
        2. He wanted them to think about what people were saying
      5. Jesus asked a paralyzed man, "Do you want to get better?" (see John 5:6-9)
        1. He knew the man wanted to be healed
        2. He wanted him to be certain he was ready for the life changes that would take place when he got better
      6. When you find questions in Scripture, ask them of yourself
    2. The disciples answered, "Where are You staying?"
      1. They just wanted to be with Jesus
      2. Psalm 27:4
      3. Jesus answered, "Come and see"
      4. He did not give them information; He gave them an invitation
    3. Andrew went to find his brother Simon to bring him to meet Jesus
      1. If you are really following Jesus, you want to bring others to Him
      2. A true disciple is someone who is not content with going to heaven alone
    4. Jesus gave Simon a new name
      1. Peter = Petros = a stone or boulder
      2. Throughout the Gospels, it appears Jesus named people not based on their present character, but on what He was going to change them into
      3. Jesus made Peter into a strong rock
        1. He preached at Pentecost (see Acts 2:14-47)
        2. He wrote two New Testament letters as a leader of the early church
  4. John 1:43-51
    1. Jesus called Philip to follow Him; Philip immediately found Nathanael and told him they had found the One who had been prophesied
    2. Nazareth
      1. Nathanael was from Cana of Galilee, not far from Nazareth (see John 21:2)
      2. All Galilean cities were unsophisticated, but Nazareth was the lowest of all
    3. Nathanael wore his heart on his sleeve
      1. He said what he felt
      2. Jesus knew he was honest
      3. Jesus showed him that He knew the secret parts of Nathanael's life
      4. That was all it took for Nathanael to believe
    4. Jesus told Nathanael he would see heaven open and angels ascending and descending
      1. Genesis 28:11-15
      2. Jesus meant Nathanael would discover He was the ladder that connected heaven and earth
  5. Closing
    1. Jesus came into His own and His own did not receive Him (see John 1:11-12)
      1. The majority did not receive Him
      2. The minority did receive Him
    2. Don't let your spirituality be governed by others
      1. Discover who Jesus is on your own
      2. Believe in His name

Figures referenced: Suetonius, Tacitus

Greek/Hebrew words: mikvah, Petros

Cross references: Genesis 3:9-13; 22:1-18; 28:11-15; Deuteronomy 18:15; Joshua 1; 2 Kings 1:8; Psalm 27:4; Isaiah 53:7; Ezekiel 1:3-11; 10:21-22; Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:11-14; 16:13-16; 17:1-13; Mark 8:27-29; 9:2-13; Luke 1:5-17; 9:28-36; John 1:1-18; 2:1-11; 4:4-41; 5:6-9; 11:35; 17; 20:30-31; 21:2; Acts 2:14-47; Revelation 4:7; 11:3


Topic: Deity of Jesus

Keywords: tabernacle, emblem, Gospels, incarnation, John the Baptist, Messiah, captivity, synagogues, Elijah, prophet, baptism, Pharisees, Sadducees, Passover, dove, lamb, lion, sacrifice, disciples

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 2
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 2
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4064

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus' first miracle could have been performed in front of all of Israel, demonstrating that He was their Messiah; instead, He performed His first miracle in private, bringing joy to a group of people at a wedding and cementing the disciples' faith in Him. In this study, we learn about that first miracle and why it was significant to Jesus' ministry.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. John 2 contains the first miracle Jesus ever performed
      1. The heart of this miracle was to cause the disciples to believe in Him
      2. Jesus brought joy to a group of people at a wedding
      3. It was not a dazzling, spectacular miracle that was witnessed by thousands of people
      4. Instead, it was a private miracle
    2. In the Gospels, there are a total of thirty-seven recorded miracles performed by Jesus
      1. John recorded eight of them
      2. John 20:30-31
  2. John 2:1-2
    1. The third day of Jesus' public ministry
      1. There were five disciples with Jesus at this time
      2. Cana is about nine miles from where Jesus grew up
        1. People in Cana probably knew Him
        2. One of His disciples---Nathanael---was from Cana
      3. Many people have a hard time with miracles
        1. Some Bible commentators have a problem with themiraculous works of Jesus
        2. William Barclay had a hard time believing in thedeity of Christ
          1. He had a hard time believing that the laws of nature could be superseded by even God Himself
          2. It seems to take more faith to believe Barclay's accounts of Jesus' miracles than to believe the miracles themselves
        3. If you can believe Genesis 1:1, then it is easy tobelieve everything else
        4. Sometimes we as Christians either over-naturalizemiracles or minimize them
    2. This wedding most likely took place on a Wednesday
      1. Weddings were not conducted on Saturdays because it was the Sabbath
      2. A lavish celebration lasting a week
      3. After the ceremony, a parade would take the couple to their residence
    3. The groom was most likely a close friend or family member of Jesus
      1. There is no mention of Joseph
      2. He may have died by this time (see John 19:26-27)
  3. John 2:3-5
    1. Your wedding will be a good one if Jesus is at the center of it
    2. They ran out of wine
      1. Wine was a symbol of joy (see Psalm 104:15)
      2. It was a social embarrassment to not have enough wine at a wedding
      3. It would be a stigma the family would live with for the rest of their life
    3. Mary told Jesus they had no wine, possibly suggesting He present Himself as the Messiah
      1. She knew Jesus was the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-38)
        1. She remembered her cousin Elizabeth's baby, John,jumped in the womb at the sound of Mary's voice (see Luke 1:39-55)
        2. She remembered the shepherds who visited them atJesus' birth (see Luke 2:8)
        3. She remembered the magi who visited them after Hisbirth (see Matthew 2:9-11)
        4. She remembered Simeon's reaction to seeing babyJesus at the temple (see Luke 2:25-32)
        5. She remembered when Jesus taught in the temple attwelve years of age (see Luke 2:42-51)
      2. There was talk about Jesus' origin
        1. When Mary was pregnant with Him, she was not yetmarried to Joseph
        2. This was grounds for stoning
        3. John 8:41
        4. Mary was anxious to see Jesus reveal Himself becauseshe had been carrying this burden
    4. Jesus addressed Mary using the term woman
      1. This was a term of formal respect, similar to our use of ma'am
      2. It was not an intimate term
      3. Jesus used this term six times in the New Testament, including:
        1. When He was on the cross (see John 19:26-27)
        2. When Mary Magdalene saw Him after His resurrection(see John 20:13)
    5. A literal translation of "What does your concern have to do with Me?" (v. 4) is "What do you and I have together?"
      1. "What do we have in common?"
      2. Signaled a change in their relationship
      3. He was about His Father's business (see Luke 2:49)
    6. Whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it
      1. Some sects of Catholicism believe that Mary was sinless and ascended into heaven
      2. Some even go as far as to say she is the co-redemptress of the human race
      3. Mary did not view herself as sinless (see Luke 1:46-47)
        1. Only sinful people need saving
        2. Romans 3:23
      4. Jesus said those who listen and keep the will of God are the same as His mother, brother, and sister (see Matthew 12:47-50; Mark 3:32-35; Luke 8:20-21)
      5. Jesus said those who hear the Word and keep it are blessed (see Luke 11:27-28)
      6. If you want to honor Mary, obey her Son
  4. John 2:6-12
    1. Water for purification was kept in stone containers that held twenty to thirty gallons each
      1. The Jews believed earthenware could be contaminated
      2. There was a certain ritual of how people washed their hands before they ate (see Matthew 15:1-2)
    2. The pots were filled to the brim
      1. This eliminates the chance that something else was added to the pots
      2. The author John wanted us to know that this was a real miracle
    3. Jesus turned 180 gallons of water to wine
      1. This was a lavish gift to the couple
      2. If they wanted, they could sell it
      3. It was a blessing for the couple and a way for Jesus to bring joy
      4. This first miracle was an act of creation
    4. John wanted us to know two things
      1. This was Jesus' first miracle
        1. There are fictitious accounts of Jesus changing claybirds into real birds as a boy
        2. There is another false story that Jesus cursed alittle boy in Egypt who died and had to be healed by Jesus
        3. These are false; Jesus' first miracle was turningwater into wine
      2. This miracle cemented the faith of the five disciples who were following Jesus
    5. Is it okay for Christians to drink?
      1. The Bible does not say anything bad about wine
      2. Medicinal purposes (see 1 Timothy 5:23)
      3. The rules for doing things that are considered gray areas
        1. Do not do anything that will put you under itscontrol (see 1 Corinthians 6:12)
        2. Do not do anything that will not edify your life(see 1 Corinthians 10:23)
    6. In ancient times, people did not refer to places geographically, but topographically
      1. Jerusalem was always "up" because it was a higher elevation than its surroundings
      2. The Jews saw it like this spiritually as well
        1. If you are Jewish and you want to immigrate toIsrael, you have to make aliyah
        2. To go up to Zion
  5. John 2:13-22
    1. Jesus can be gentle, meek, and mild, but He can also be lethal, fired up, and riled
      1. When He overturned the money tables in the temple, He was protecting people from the chicanery of the leaders
      2. They were trying to gouge the people
        1. Anyone who lived within a fifteen-mile radius ofJerusalem had to attend the three yearly feasts
        2. Jerusalem was crowded with people from all over theworld
        3. They would not have wanted to bring their animalsfor sacrifice with them
        4. They would be charged exorbitant prices forsacrificial animals
        5. If they did bring their own animals, sometimes the inspectorswould tell them that their animal was not pure enough for sacrifice
      3. The people had to bring temple shekels
        1. Some people who came from foreign lands had foreignmoney that needed to be converted
        2. They would be charged a percentage to have theirmoney converted into a temple shekel
    2. Jesus never lost control
    3. Jesus referred to the temple as His Father's house
      1. Indicates a special relationship with the Father
      2. Asserted Himself as the Messiah
      3. Psalm 69:9
    4. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection
      1. The Jews challenged His authority
      2. Even His disciples did not understand that He was speaking of the temple of His body until several years later
        1. Sometimes we are not ready for the truth
        2. Jesus knew that they would eventually understand
      3. Jesus was talking about the temple of His flesh (see John 1:14)
      4. The Jews loved their temple
        1. Construction on the temple had begun sixteen yearsbefore Jesus was born
        2. It would not be finished for another twenty-fouryears after this
        3. It was not even completely finished when the Romansdestroyed it
        4. To the Jews, it represented the presence of God
  6. Closing
    1. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
      1. Worship should be taking place inside of us regularly
      2. We should be caring for our temple
    2. John 2:23-25
      1. Many people were committed to Him, but He was not committed to them
      2. Someone in the temple needed to hear Jesus say that
        1. Nicodemus would have a new birth (see John 3:1-21)
        2. He would be committed to Jesus in a way that thosewho followed Jesus because of His miracles would not
Figures referenced: William Barclay, C.S. Lewis, Charles Wesley
Hebrew words: aliyah
Cross references: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 69:9; 104:15; Matthew 1:18; 2:9-11; 12:47-50; 15:1-2; Mark 3:32-35; Luke 1:26-55; 2:8, 25-32, 42-51; 8:20-21; 11:27-28; John 1:14; 3:1-21; 8:41; 19:26-27; 20:13, 30-31; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20; 10:23; 1 Timothy 5:23
Topic: Miracles
Keywords: Jesus' miracles, wedding, Cana, Jesus' public ministry, wine, alcohol, mother of Jesus, Mary, sacrifice, Messiah, Jesus' death and resurrection, temple

Keywords: Jesus' miracles, wedding, Cana, Jesus' public ministry, wine, alcohol, mother of Jesus, Mary, sacrifice, Messiah, Jesus' death and resurrection, temple

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 2:23-3:19
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 2:23-3:19
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4066

MESSAGE SUMMARY
When Jesus began His ministry on earth, many people were interested in who He was and what He was doing because of the signs and miracles He performed—not because they believed in His mission. In this study, we learn that Jesus' mission was to save all people, and He already did the hard part: He bled, suffered, and died on the cross for our sins.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Jesus had cleansed the temple
      1. Called the temple His Father's house
      2. Astonished the religious leaders
      3. Some were interested in whether He was really the Messiah
    2. Nick at night
      1. Nicodemus was interested in Jesus
      2. He came to Jesus at night
    3. Other people were interested in Jesus for different reasons
      1. Jesus worked on His Father's timetable (see John 2:4)
      2. An underlying motivation to seek the Lord is to witness the spectacular
        1. People want to see miracles
        2. There were people in Jerusalem at that time who believed in Jesus solely because of His miracles
      3. They were seeking Him not for the mission of Christ, but for the miracles of Christ
  2. John 2:23-24
    1. In this gospel, John wanted us to know that Jesus was more than a man
      1. He exhibited the qualities of God
      2. He was the Son of God
    2. The words believe and commit are essentially the same word
      1. Many people believed in Jesus, but He did not believe in them
      2. There is a faith short of saving faith
        1. Many people believe in God and Jesus
        2. Superficial faith (see James 2:19)
        3. Emotional response
        4. Unsaved believers
      3. We must give an account of our lives (see Hebrews 4:3)
  3. John 2:25-3:1
    1. Nicodemus was a contrast to the Jews who superficially believed in Jesus
      1. Physical description: a man
      2. Ethnic description: Jewish
      3. Spiritual description: a Pharisee
    2. Pharisees
      1. One of two leadership groups in the New Testament
      2. 6,000 living at the time of Christ
      3. It is believed that Pharisees developed during the break between the Old and New Testament
        1. Began in the Babylonian captivity
        2. Perushim Pharisees= the separated ones
        3. They wanted to be separated from the rest of the world
        4. They did not want to fall into idolatry and be punished again by God
      4. Movement grew during the 407 years between the Old and New Testament
        1. Descended into a legalistic traditional group
        2. What began as a beautiful movement disintegrated into pure legalism
      5. They were committed to keeping the Mishnah, or oral law, not just the first five books of Moses
        1. Commentary on the law of Moses
        2. If you didn't keep this law, you would hear from the Pharisees
      6. Influential, conservative wing of Judaism
    3. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews
      1. He was part of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court
        1. There were seventy-one members of the Sanhedrin
        2. He was influential
      2. He was the teacher in Israel (see v. 10)
    4. He was present at Jesus' burial (see John 19:39-40)
      1. He donated spices and aloes for Jesus' burial preparation
      2. Costly
      3. He was wealthy
    5. He was drawn to Jesus and wanted to know more
  4. John 3:2-8
    1. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night
      1. Possibly he was afraid to be seen with Jesus
      2. Possibly he was busy and could only come at night
      3. Possibly he wanted quality, unrestricted time with Jesus
        1. The Pharisees used to say the best time for studying Scripture was at night
        2. Undisturbed, quality time with God
    2. Nicodemus wanted a private meeting with Jesus
      1. We should strive to be like that
      2. Unsatisfied with just meeting with God with the crowd
      3. There are things you can't get from Jesus with the crowd
    3. He referred to Jesus as Rabbi
      1. Term of respect
      2. Assumption that he and Jesus were on the same level
      3. Jesus is God who came to teach
    4. Jesus got right to the heart of the matter
      1. Nicodemus probably never had anyone talk to him that way
      2. He believed that his qualification for entering heaven was his physical birth
    5. Jesus told him that he would not see heaven unless he was born again
      1. Some people treat being born again like a special sect of Christianity
      2. In that time, the Jews called people who converted from any other religion reborn
        1. Jesus did not say this to a pagan
        2. He said it to a devout Jew, a member of the Sanhedrin
      3. Gennēthē anōthen = to be born from above
        1. It can also mean to be born a second time
        2. This is what Nicodemus thought it meant
      4. New birth is what leads to new life
    6. Born in the water and in the Spirit
      1. Some believe this refers to baptism
        1. Doubtful, because Christian baptism did not come for a while
        2. If it were true, Jesus would have tried to baptize as many people as possible
        3. If it were true, the thief on the cross would not have been saved (see Luke 23:39-43; 1 Corinthians 1:17)
      2. Others believe Jesus was referring to a spiritual cleansing
        1. Ezekiel 36:24-27
        2. Jesus was speaking to a ruler of the Jews who would have been familiar with this Scripture
      3. To be washed in water is a metaphor for the Word of God (see Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 Peter 1:23)
      4. Our interpretation of this passage is a combination
        1. Spiritual cleansing
        2. In ancient times, to be born of water meant to be physically born because a woman's water breaks when she is about to give birth
        3. We are born of the water physically, into physical life
        4. So must we be born spiritually so we might have spiritual life
      5. The word for wind is the same as the word for spirit: pneuma
        1. We can hear, feel, and see the effect of the wind
        2. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit
        3. Wind can change a place; the Spirit of God changes people
  5. John 3:9-19
    1. No one can ascend into heaven except the One who came down from heaven
      1. We are creatures of time and space
      2. We cannot reach up and find God
    2. The essence of Christianity is that spiritual life has to come down from heaven to us
      1. The only way to transcend is for God to step into our world
      2. John 1:14
      3. Salvation must come from heaven into our world
    3. Most of the people in this world try to do it backward
      1. Man reaching up to try to grab hold of God
      2. Religion
    4. Salvation is accomplished through the principles of death and of faith (see Numbers 21:6-9)
      1. You have to admit that you are a sinner
      2. You have to, by faith, look to Jesus to save you
      3. You will be saved from death
    5. John 3:16: gospel in a nutshell
    6. God does not want to condemn people; He wants to save people
      1. All men are born into the world as sinners
      2. This is why we need a second birth (see Psalm 58:3; Ephesians 2:1)
  6. Closing
    1. The condemnation sentencing will take place at the great white throne judgment (see Revelation 20:4)
      1. Though the sentencing will take place in the future, the trial is now
      2. We are condemned already if we do not believe
    2. Believing is not hard; Jesus did the hard part by dying on the cross
Figures referenced: Martin Luther, Warren Wiersbe
Greek words: gennēthē anōthen, pneuma
Cross references: Numbers 21:6-9; Psalm 58:3; Ezekiel 36:24-27; Luke 23:39-43; John 1:14; 2:4; 19:39-40; 1 Corinthians 1:17; Ephesians 2:1; 5:25-26; Hebrews 4:3; James 2:19; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 20:4
Topic: Salvation
Keywords: Nicodemus, salvation, faith, believe, Pharisees, Sanhedrin, physical birth, spiritual birth, born again, reborn, water, Spirit, cleansing, condemnation, gospel

Keywords: Nicodemus, salvation, faith, believe, Pharisees, Sanhedrin, physical birth, spiritual birth, born again, reborn, water, Spirit, cleansing, condemnation, gospel

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 3:22-4:24
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 3:22-4:24
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4068

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Many people believe the church is a society of perfect people; it is, however, a society of redeemed people who express their personality through God's spirituality. In this teaching, we learn that Jesus chooses sinful people to do His work, and He loves everyone regardless of who they are and what background they come from.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Pride is the cancer of the human soul
    2. In this passage, John the Baptist was tempted by pride
      1. He had a very successful ministry
      2. Jesus' ministry was growing larger than John's
      3. John's disciples brought it to his attention
      4. He had a very lonely ministry
    3. John had a mature response that we can learn from
  2. John 3:22-26
    1. Jesus did not baptize people (see John 4:1-2)
      1. His disciples baptized
      2. The activity of baptism brought anxiety
      3. Dispute about purification
    2. Many people become disillusioned with the church
      1. They forget that, though we are saved from our sin,we are not sinless
      2. We are not perfect
      3. The church is not a society of the perfect; it's thesociety of the redeemed
      4. Express spirituality through personality
        1. We have flawed personalities
        2. Our spirituality is tainted
      5. All families---even spiritual ones---have disputes
        1. Abraham and Lot (see Genesis 13:7-12)
        2. The twelve apostles (see Matthew 18:1; Mark 9:34-35;Luke 9:46-48; 22:24)
        3. Paul and Barnabas (see Acts 15:36-40)
      6. God reserves the right to use people who disagreewith you
  3. John 3:27-30
    1. John had a proper understanding of theology
      1. Man cannot receive anything unless God gives it tohim
      2. John believed God is sovereign and in control
      3. He did not try to stand in God's way
    2. John had a proper understanding of his calling
      1. He knew that he was not the Christ
      2. He knew what his job was
    3. John had a proper attitude
      1. He was happy for Jesus and His ministry
      2. He was glad to do his part
    4. John had a proper relationship with Jesus
      1. He knew it was about Jesus and not him
      2. He was the herald announcing Jesus
  4. John 3:31-36
    1. This passage sounds more like John the apostle wrote it, not John the Baptist saying it
      1. It may be John the apostle's commentary
      2. This is typical of his writings; he summed things up
    2. He was trying to convince the reader why they should believe in Jesus
  5. John 4:1-3
    1. Jesus did not baptize people
      1. It would have been heady for someone to be able tosay they were baptized by Jesus
      2. They would be tempted to feel superior
    2. He let His disciples baptize people
      1. Even with that, division arose in the early church(see 1 Corinthians 1:11-17)
      2. People were divided based on who their favoritepreacher was
  6. John 4:4-18
    1. Jesus needed to go to Samaria
      1. Before ascending to heaven, He told His apostles tospread the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth(see Acts 1:8)
        1. He modeled this for them
        2. He instructed this to them
        3. They did it
      2. He had a divine appointment with a woman at a well
        1. He wanted to demonstrate that God loves all people,not just the Jews
        2. No matter their background or what they have done
      3. This one woman was converted and the gospel wasspread to all of Samaria because of her testimony
      4. For 700 years, there had been animosity betweenSamaria and Jerusalem
        1. When traveling from Jerusalem to Galilee, they wouldgo around Samaria
        2. The Assyrianstook over the ten tribes of the north
          1. Israel was split
          2. Ten tribes in the north, two in the south
        3. Jeroboam introduced idolatry in the north by placinga golden calf in Dan and in Samaria (in Bethel; see 1 Kings 11-12)
        4. This angered the people of Judea and God
        5. 722 BC: the Assyrian Empire took over the world
          1. They removed the Jews from their land, leaving onlythe farmers and poor people
          2. The Assyrians brought in people to replace them,and these people intermarried with the Jews, who remained in the landaround Samaria
          3. No longer a pure bloodline and definitely not apure religion
        6. The Jews returned to Judea to rebuild their temple
          1. Some Samaritans wanted to help
          2. The people of Judea refused to let them helpbecause of the idolatry in their lives (see Nehemiah 2:19-20)
          3. The Samaritans became so angry that they built arival temple on Mount Gerizim, the place of blessings and cursings(see Deuteronomy 27:12-28:68)
          4. The rival temple was almost exactly like the templein Jerusalem
        7. The Samaritans had their own worship system
          1. Only believed in the first five books of Moses
          2. The Pentateuch
      5. There are still Samaritans alive today
    2. Jesus was weary from the journey
      1. He was fully God, but also fully man
      2. He was weary in the pursuit of souls
      3. Women typically gathered water from the well in themorning and evening, but this woman came at noon
        1. She did not want to be seen by other people
        2. She had a bad reputation
      4. What are you weary from?
        1. Anytime there is something spiritual done, there areweary people who made it happen
        2. Missionaries grow weary
        3. The satisfaction of knowing you are in God's will iswhat drives us
    3. Jewish men did not talk to women in public
      1. They especially did not talk to Samaritan women
      2. Based on her answers to Jesus' questions, this womanwas a hard person
    4. Living water
      1. The woman would have thought Jesus was referring to astream
        1. It is the best water because it is flowing and fresh
        2. It is not stagnant
      2. Jacob did not find living water in that area; he duga well
    5. People become calloused, bitter, angry, and cynical as they try to find satisfaction in life
      1. The woman drank from many wells of pleasure andrelationships, but she was still thirsty
      2. If-only syndrome
        1. We are never satisfied with where we are in ourlives
        2. We are always looking for the next best thing
    6. Jesus called the woman out on her lifestyle
      1. She had five husbands in her past, and the man shewas living with was not her husband
      2. He wanted her to realize how thirsty she was forliving water
      3. Jesus shows us our need
  7. John 4:19-24
    1. The woman deflected the conversation away from her personal life
      1. She became uncomfortable
      2. She began talking about the worship systems
    2. It's not about where you worship; it's about whom you worship and how you worship
      1. Authentic in spirit
      2. According to truth
      3. God is not near or far in terms of place
        1. It does not matter where you worship
        2. God is wherever you choose to worship (see Matthew18:20)
  8. Closing
    1. God wants us to be truthful about who we are and what we need
    2. He wants us to understand we will deal with Him ultimately
    3. He wants us to be all in
Figures referenced: William Carey, Josephus, Stephen Langton, Oswald Sanders
Cross references: Genesis 13:7-12; Deuteronomy 27:12-28:68; 1 Kings 11-12; Nehemiah 2:19-20; Matthew 18:1, 20; Mark 9:34-35; Luke 9:46-48; 22:24; Acts 1:8; 15:36-40; 1 Corinthians 1:11-17
Topic: Refreshment
Keywords: pride, baptism, John the Baptist, the church, division, Samaria, Jeroboam, Assyrian Empire, worship, weariness, living water, spirit, truth

Keywords: pride, baptism, John the Baptist, the church, division, Samaria, Jeroboam, Assyrian Empire, worship, weariness, living water, spirit, truth

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 4:19-54
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 4:19-54
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4070

MESSAGE SUMMARY
As we study Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, we learn He was not there by accident. Through that one woman's testimony, word of Jesus spread throughout Samaria. In this teaching, we learn that we should not underestimate how God uses the seeds we are planting in those around us.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. The Samaritan woman at the well
      1. She was cynical
      2. She knew her way around men, and to her, Jesus was just another man
      3. She came to the well at noon instead of in the morning or evening with the other women
      4. Interesting history with men
        1. Five husbands in the past
        2. Living with a man who was not her husband
        3. With each relationship, she must have thought it was the one that would bring her satisfaction
    2. When she met Jesus, she realized He knew more than He was letting on
    3. Jesus was not there by accident (see John 4:4)
      1. He wanted to get a hold of this woman's heart
      2. She would be a witness to all of Samaria
  2. John 4:19-24
    1. The woman was making worship about the geographical location in which the Samaritans and Jews worshiped
      1. Jesus told her that it did not matter
      2. As long as we worship in spirit and truth
    2. Worship must be candid and credible
      1. Authentic in spirit
        1. Not the Holy Spirit, but your spirit
        2. Pneumati = spirit
        3. Human spirit
        4. The deepest part of you worshiping God
        5. Worship is not just going through the motions (see Matthew 15:8)
      2. Based on truth
        1. It's not enough to be sincere
        2. It has to be based on the Scriptures
        3. Samaritans only believed in the first five books of the Old Testament
        4. Twisted some of the stories around
    3. The failure to worship God authentically can always be traced back to an inadequate knowledge of God
      1. The heart of our worship must be expository Bible study
      2. Without a prophetic vision, the people perish (see Proverbs 29:18, KJV)
  3. John 4:25-30
    1. The Samaritans were also waiting for the Messiah
      1. Even though they had a separate worship system and temple, they still believed in a coming Messiah
      2. They were waiting for another prophet like Moses (see Deuteronomy 18:15)
    2. The woman left her water pot and went to the city to tell the men about Jesus
      1. She was touched
      2. She drank from a well that satisfied her thirst
    3. One encounter with a person can change them forever
      1. Never underestimate how the Lord is using the seeds you are planting
      2. The woman's testimony caused many people in Samaria to believe in Jesus
  4. John 4:31-38
    1. Jesus' disciples urged Him to eat
      1. He said He had food of which they did not know
      2. He was referring to spiritual food (see Deuteronomy 8:3)
      3. He meant that there is nothing more fulfilling than doing the will of the Father
    2. Jesus told them the harvest was ready
      1. He was not talking about crops
      2. He was speaking spiritually
      3. Possibly about the Samaritans who were approaching them from the city
    3. Often in evangelism, it is not the fields that are not ready---it's the workers
      1. God wants laborers to do His work
      2. Matthew 9:36-38
  5. John 4:39-42
    1. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman's witness
    2. Many more believed because of His powerful word
    3. The Samaritans were the first group ever to call Jesus the "Savior of the world" (v. 42)
      1. Jews did not come to Samaria
      2. They realized that Jesus was the Savior not only of the Jews, but of the Gentiles as well
  6. John 4:43-54
    1. In Cana, a nobleman implored Jesus to heal his sick son
      1. Basilikos = connected with a king; royal; regal
      2. He probably lived in the city of Tiberius
        1. No record of Jesus ever visiting this city
        2. Capital Gentile city on the Sea of Galilee
      3. He probably heard Jesus was staying in Capernaum
        1. Traveled by boat across the Sea of Galilee
        2. Expected to find Jesus there
      4. When he was told Jesus was in Cana, he left his son in Capernaum to find Jesus
      5. The only thing he knew was that Jesus healed people
        1. Jesus was a means to his end
        2. He just wanted his son healed
    2. Jesus replied that these people would not believe without signs
      1. A surprising sentence
      2. He had other surprising and shocking statements
        1. "Get behind Me, Satan!" (see Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33; Luke 4:8)
        2. "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6)
      3.  An arrow of sweet rebuke
        1. Speaking not to the man, but to the crowd
        2. They were interested in Jesus because of His miracles, not His mission
    3. The man got a faith lift
      1. Jesus challenged the man's faith by not going physically to the child
      2. The man believed Jesus' words and went his way
      3. He had only a promise, and he believed
    4. It seems that the man spent the night in Cana and went on to Capernaum the next day
      1. He believed Jesus' promise
      2. He and his whole household believed in the person of Jesus
Figures referenced: Herod Antipas, Herod the Great
Greek words: basilikos, pneumati
Cross references: Deuteronomy 8:3; 18:15; Proverbs 29:18; Matthew 9:36-38; 15:8; 16:23; Mark 8:33; Luke 4:8; John 4:4; 5:6
Topic: Evangelism
Keywords: Samaria, worship, spirit, truth, Scripture, Messiah, testimony, evangelism, harvest, healing, faith, miracles

Keywords: Samaria, worship, spirit, truth, Scripture, Messiah, testimony, evangelism, harvest, healing, faith, miracles

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 5:1-36
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 5:1-36
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4074

MESSAGE SUMMARY
When Jesus healed the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda, He proved He was the ultimate Healer—but not everyone saw Him that way. In this teaching, we learn that this was the point in Jesus' ministry that most of the Jewish nation formally set itself against Him, and the opposition would only continue to mount until they finally succeeded in crucifying Him.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. In the King James Version of the Bible, the word impotent was used to refer to a person unable to better himself (see v. 3)
    2. This is the story of an impotent man meeting an omnipotent Man
    3. God helps those who can't help themselves
    4. The pool of Bethesda
      1. House of mercy
      2. It was not a house of mercy; it was a hangout of misery
      3. Many people unable to help themselves
    5. Turning point in Jesus' ministry
      1. Point at which the nation of Judea set themselves against Him
      2. Opposition mounted higher and higher until they ultimately crucified Him
  2. John 5:1-4
    1. Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the feast
      1. Possibly the Feast of Tabernacles
      2. Jewish males in Judea were required to attend three festivals per year
        1. Passover
        2. Pentecost
        3. Tabernacles
      3. Men from Galilee were not necessarily required to attend
    2. Jesus worked through the system He was born into
      1. He was circumcised as a child (see Luke 2:21)
      2. He had a bar mitzvah before He turned thirteen (see Luke 2:42)
      3. He was in the synagogue to worship on the Sabbath
      4. He wore the tassels on His robe that Jewish males wore (see Matthew 9:20; Luke 8:44)
      5. He did not come to destroy the Law (see Matthew 5:17)
    3. Pool of Bethesda
      1. Beth = place of
      2. By the Sheep Gate (see Nehemiah 3:1, 32)
        1. A place by the wall in Jerusalem where sheep were kept outside
        2. Animals were washed in the pool and then taken to the temple for sacrifice
      3. Discovered at an archaeological dig by Saint Anne's Church
    4. Legend said that an angel caused the pool to bubble up, and whoever entered the pool first would be healed
      1. Bubbling was caused by an underground spring
      2. Problematic for sick people, because many times they could not even move, let alone move to get somewhere first
      3. Cruel way to view God's power
    5. Congregation for all kinds of diseased people
      1. Scholars estimate there were as many as 300 people gathered at normal times of the year
      2. During festivals, the number was upwards of 3,000 people
  3. John 5:5-8
    1. Mercy toward others begins with how you see them
      1. Jesus saw the man—it began with a look (see Matthew 9:36)
      2. He had a heart of compassion
    2. "Do you want to be made well?" (v. 6)
      1. A fair question
      2. Do you really want to change your condition?
        1. A radical change
        2. This man was an invalid for thirty-eight years
        3. He had been living off the generosity of others
      3. If made well, he would have to take on a whole new level of responsibility
    3. When Jesus commands you to do something, He always gives you the power and strength necessary to do it
      1. Moses stuttered, but God used him to be the spokesman of the entire nation of Israel to Pharaoh (see Exodus 6:10-12; 6:30-7:2)
      2. Jesus told Peter to come walk on water (see Matthew 14:25-29)
      3. In obeying the command, we find the capacity
  4. John 5:9-16
    1. The Old Testament Sabbath law does not specify what work you are not supposed to do on the Sabbath (see Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3)
      1. The Jewish leaders began to add to the written commandments what is called the oral law
        1. Thirty-nine activities were prohibited on the Sabbath
        2. Looking in a mirror
        3. Wearing false teeth
        4. Burden = anything that weighed as much as or more than two dried figs
      2. The Jews were upset because the man carried his mat after being healed
      3. Some of the most vicious people are religious legalists
    2. The man then went to the temple
      1. He wanted to thank God for healing him
      2. This could have been the first time in his life he was able to enter the temple
      3. Jesus advised him to sin no more
        1. Hell is worse than what he had already endured
        2. Physical suffering is nothing compared to eternal suffering
        3. Jesus loved the man and showed him mercy
    3. The Jews persecuted Jesus continuously for healing the man on the Sabbath
  5. John 5:17-24
    1. What Jesus said about Himself makes Him a nut basket, a liar, or it reveals His true identity as God
    2. The Jews hated that He continually claimed to be equal with God (see John 6:35; 14:6-11)
    3. Five ways He is equal with God
      1. In purpose
        1. While we are resting, God is working
        2. Psalm 121:4
        3. If God is working while we are resting, why should we be worrying?
        4. He claimed He could forgive sins (see Mark 2:4-7)
        5. Only God can forgive sins, so He must be God
      2. In performance
      3. In power
        1. God can raise people from the dead
        2. No one takes His life from Him (see John 10:17-18)
      4. In the proclamation of judgment
      5. In praise
    4. All people will be judged
      1. Believers will be judged (see 2 Corinthians 5:10)
        1. Rewarded for the faithful things we do
        2. Or not rewarded because we did not do what we were called to
        3. Based on what we do after we are saved
        4. Bema seat of Christ
          1. Béma = an elevated place ascended by steps; a throne, tribunal
          2. A raised platform where rewards and edicts were given
      2. Unbelievers will be judged
        1. Great white throne judgment (see Revelation 20:11-15)
        2. Unbelievers who have died will be raised and sent to face judgment in hell forever
    5. If you want to know what God is like, you just have to look at Jesus
      1. When we are talking to the Lord in Jesus' name, we are dealing with someone who left heaven to come to earth
      2. He experienced the same hurt and trials that we face, and He understands (see Hebrews 4:15)
      3. He has all the resources of heaven
      4. He is the God-Man
  6. John 5:25-36
    1. For believers, judgment is past tense
      1. Passed from death to life
      2. Judgment was taken out on Jesus on the cross (see Romans 8:1)
      3. We will only be judged on what we did or did not do for Christ
    2. For unbelievers, judgment is in the future
Figures referenced: D. A. Carson, Benjamin Franklin, King James

Greek/Hebrew words: béma, beth

Cross references: Exodus 6:10-12; 6:30-7:2; 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3; Nehemiah 3:1, 32; Psalm 121:4; Matthew 5:17; 9:20, 36; 14:25-29; Mark 2:4-7; Luke 2:21, 42; 8:44; John 6:35; 10:17-18; 14:6-11; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 20:11-15

Topic: Jesus' Ministry

Keywords: omnipotence, pool of Bethesda, Jesus' ministry, opposition, feast, the Law, sickness, disease, angels, mercy, compassion, Sabbath, oral law, suffering, Jesus' identity, Jesus' divinity, judgment, bema seat, great white throne, heaven, hell, rewards

Keywords: omnipotence, pool of Bethesda, Jesus' ministry, opposition, feast, the Law, sickness, disease, angels, mercy, compassion, Sabbath, oral law, suffering, Jesus' identity, Jesus' divinity, judgment, bema seat, great white throne, heaven, hell, rewards

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 5:31-6:21
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 5:31-6:21
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4076

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus provided many reasons for why people should believe in Him. As we look at some of His miracles, we see that when we go God's way, He will get us to our destination and teach us vital lessons along the way.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Jesus Christ is always on trial
      1. He is tried in the court of popular opinion every day
      2. People are curious about Him and those who follow Him
    2. Jesus went on trial with the Roman government while He was on earth
      1. He stood before Pontius Pilate (see John 19:10)
      2. At the same time, Pilate was the one on trial
      3. The decision he made concerning Jesus would determine his eternal destiny
    3. Jesus is actually the Judge (see John 5:26-27)
    4. The end of chapter 5 is like a courtroom scene
      1. The word witness shows up eight times
      2. The word testify shows up three times
      3. Jesus brought forth three witnesses to make the case for why the Jews should believe in Him (see Deuteronomy 19:15)
        1. Not that He needed witnesses to validate who He was
        2. The Jews needed the witnesses because they didn't honor His witness of Himself
  2. John 5:31-40
    1. The first witness: the worker, John the Baptist
      1. He knew Jesus very well (see John 1:29)
      2. He knew Jesus pre-existed before him (see John 1:15)
      3. John 3:30
      4. There were many other eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, ministry, and miracles
        1. The apostle Peter (see 2 Peter 1:16-21)
        2. The apostle John (see 1 John 1:1-3)
    2. The second witness: the works of Jesus Himself
      1. Jesus performed many works
        1. He healed a man at the pool of Bethesda (see John 5:1-9)
        2. The Jewish leaders were skeptical
        3. They were taught to be skeptical (see Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
          1. They were taught to test miracle workers on what they believe
          2. They were taught to make sure it was not just the miracle they were swayed by
        4. There are over thirty miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospels
        5. John recorded seven of them
      2. Miracles by themselves are powerful, but alongside the other witnesses, they are unmistakable (see John 14:11)
    3. The third witness: the Word
      1. The Old Testament Scriptures that tell what the Messiah would be like
      2. The Bible deals with the most controversial matters possible
        1. The existence of God
        2. The origins of man
        3. The beginning of evil
        4. The future of the world
      3. The books of the Bible agree with one another seamlessly
      4. The Old Testament paints a picture of what the Messiah would be
        1. Over 300 descriptions
        2. Astronomical odds that one man would fulfill all of them
        3. Jesus expounded on who He was to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, beginning at Moses and all the prophets (see Luke 24:13-27)
      5. The Jews knew the Word of God, but they did not know the God of the Word
  3. John 5:41-47
    1. One day, the Antichrist will come and be received as the Christ instead of Jesus who already came
      1. He will come in his own name
      2. Jesus came in His Father's name
      3. The world will go after him
    2. Moses wrote about Jesus in the first five books of the Old Testament
      1. Another Prophet (see Deuteronomy 18:15)
      2. Find other places where Moses wrote about Jesus, and you will have an idea of what the study Jesus gave in Luke 24 was like
    3. Studying the Bible will not bring you to heaven; Jesus will
      1. Studying the Bible will bring heaven to your soul
      2. It will nourish and feed your soul (see Psalm 19:7)
  4. John 6:1-13
    1. The feeding of the 5,000
      1. Mentioned in all four Gospels (see Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:10-17)
      2. 5,000 men, not including wives or children
    2. They followed Him because of the miracles He had performed
      1. Crowds are exciting; growth is exciting
      2. Jesus was not always excited by the size of the crowd (see John 2:23-25)
      3. Some people stop following Jesus when things don't go their way
        1. They have expectations and their loyalty is conditional
        2. Selfish followers
        3. Matthew 13:18-23; Luke 8:5-15
      4. Jesus has a compassionate heart for those in need
    3. He asked Philip what they should do to feed the people
      1. Philip lived in a village nearby called Bethsaida Julias
      2. Jesus tested him
        1. Test of trust
        2. Philip calculated the cost of feeding the people
        3. He was a pessimist (see John 14:1-10)
        4. Difficulty must always be measured by the capacity of the agent doing the work
      3. Philip had seen Jesus work in the past (see John 2:1-11)
    4. Andrew brought the boy with five loaves and two fishes to Jesus' attention
      1. Andrew was not a prominent apostle
        1. Did not write any books of the New Testament
        2. Did not give any sermons mentioned in Scriptures
        3. He was known as Peter's brother
        4. Unknown and unnamed does not mean insignificant
      2. Andrew was a connector
        1. He connected people to Jesus
        2. He led Peter to Jesus
        3. He and Philip led a group of Greeks to Jesus (see John 12:20-22)
    5. The boy brought his food to Jesus
      1. John is the only gospel author who mentioned the boy
        1. It was not much food, but when you add Jesus to the equation, it is a lot
        2. It all depends on whose hands it is in
      2. A poor boy
        1. Barely was the poorest of the grains, often fed to animals
        2. Hearty, not tasty
        3. Little dried or pickled fish
      3. Jesus had the people sit on the grass (see Matthew 14:19; Mark 6:39)
        1. It was springtime and the grass was green and lush
        2. By the summertime, grass in Israel is brown and dry
      4. Some of us see our lives as insignificant
        1. We are precious in God's sight
        2. He has given us everything we need to change the world
        3. Instead of focusing on your littleness, focus on God's greatness
    6. Jesus gave thanks
      1. Typical prayer made by the father in the Jewish household
      2. Traditional prayer prayed at Passover
    7. There was more than enough food for everyone
      1. Philip planned for the minimum, but Jesus provided the maximum
      2. He did more than was necessary (see Ephesians 3:20)
      3. They had twelve baskets left over
  5. John 6:14-21
    1. Because of this miracle, many people believed He was the Messiah
      1. They believed He would throw off the rule of Rome
      2. They wanted to turn it into a political movement
      3. He came to be the Savior first
    2. The Sea of Galilee
      1. Entirely below sea level, as is the entire Jordan Valley
      2. Syro-African Rift
      3. Winds from the Mediterranean Sea cause incredible storms
    3. A huge storm arose as the disciples were rowing across the Sea of Galilee
      1. They were on a spiritual high, and the last thing they expected was a storm
      2. This is how life works
      3. Jesus made them get into the boat (see Mark 6:45)
      4. When you realize that God brings us to our life storms, it will revolutionize how you deal with pain
    4. They were afraid when Jesus came to them on the water
      1. It was the fourth watch of the night, and they had been rowing for about eight hours (see Mark 6:48)
      2. If you are praying for Jesus to deliver you from something, do not lose heart because it may not yet be the fourth watch
    5. Storms do not last forever
      1. Trials are seasonal, not perpetual (see 1 Peter 1:6)
      2. God knows when the deliverance should come
      3. This storm was not a waste of time
      4. They got to their destination and learned vital lessons along the way
  6. Closing
    1. Even though Jonah paid the fare, he never made it to his destination (see Jonah 1:3-17)
      1. When you go your own way, you pay the fare and never make it to your destination
      2. When you go God's way, He pays the fare and you get to your destination
    2. The apostles willingly received Jesus
      1. Smartest thing they could have done
      2. Let Jesus into your boat and let Him captain it for you
Figures referenced: G. Campbell Morgan, Gypsy Smith

Cross references: Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:15; 19:15; Psalm 19:7; Jonah 1:3-17; Matthew 13:18-23; 14:13-21; Mark 6:34-45, 48; Luke 8:5-15; 9:10-17; 24:13-27; John 1:15, 29; 2:1-11, 23-25; 3:30; 5:1-9, 26-27; 12:20-22; 14:1-11; 19:10; Ephesians 3:20; 1 Peter 1:6; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-3

Topic: Jesus' Ministry

Keywords: judge, witness, trial, testify, believe, ministry, miracles, Scriptures, the Bible, the Word, Antichrist, apostles, significance, provision, Savior, storm, pain, trials, deliverance

Keywords: judge, witness, trial, testify, believe, ministry, miracles, Scriptures, the Bible, the Word, Antichrist, apostles, significance, provision, Savior, storm, pain, trials, deliverance

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 6:22-6:71
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 6:22-6:71
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4080

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Miracles bring awareness that God is real and near to us. But along with that awareness is the danger of seeking the Lord not for who He is, but for what He does. Some people only seek Him because they want what He can give them. In this study, we see that Jesus wanted people to know the true miracle: that they can be eternally saved simply by believing in Him.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. A miracle is a suspension of natural law
      1. If you witness a miracle, it immediately changes you
      2. It brings the awareness that God is real and near (see Luke 5:4-10)
    2. Miracles can also change the way one relates and prays to God
      1. There is danger of seeking the Lord not for who He is, but for what He gives
      2. Some people follow God based on personal need
  2. John 6:22-34
    1. People sought Jesus because of His miracles
      1. There are people who seek the Lord not because they love Him, but because of what He does for them
        1. They seek the gifts, not the Giver
        2. They do not hunger for righteousness, but rather for physical sustenance
      2. Why do we go to church? Pray? Read our Bibles?
        1. It should be so we can grow in our relationship with God
        2. Many people come just because they think it's what they are supposed to do
    2.  Jesus challenged people to aim for heaven rather than just the physical (see Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-2)
      1. How do we get our needs met? (see John 4:13-14)
        1. By seeking the Lord, but not so we can get our needs met
        2. It's all about Him
      2. We do not get to heaven by doing works
        1. The Jews were programmed to believe in works-based righteousness
        2. They looked to be right with God by doing certain works (see Romans 10:2-4)
        3. Justification by faith was unfamiliar to them
      3. We only need to believe
        1. If you can get to heaven by being good, how good do you have to be?
        2. If we go by God's standard, we will never make it (see Matthew 19:16-17; Mark 10:17-18; Luke 18:18-19)
      4. John used the word believe about ninety-eight times in his gospel alone
    3. The people compared Jesus' miracle of feeding them with the loaves and fish to Moses and the manna from heaven
      1. Moses told the Israelites that God would send them another Prophet like him
        1. Deuteronomy 18:15
        2. The Messiah was sometimes called the Prophet (see John 1:21; 6:14)
      2. By saying this, they marginalized the miracle Jesus performed
  3. John 6:35-59
    1. "Most assuredly" (v. 32) = truly, amén
    2. Jesus is the Bread of Life
      1. He corrected the Jews
        1. Moses did not give them the bread—God did
        2. The manna was temporary
        3. Spiritual nutrition is a living being, not a loaf of bread
      2. Jesus made seven "I am" statements in John
        1. He said "I am"—Egó eimi—twenty-three times
        2. "I am the bread of life"
        3. "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12; 9:5)
        4. "I am the door of the sheep" (John 10:7)
        5. "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14)
        6. "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)
        7. "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)
        8. "I am the true vine" (John 15:1)
        9. Claimed to be equal with God
    3. Jesus gave two perspectives of salvation
      1. The divine perspective
        1. God must choose you
        2. Divine election, predestination
        3. God invites you to eat the bread of life
      2. The human perspective
        1. You must choose God
        2. Human volition
        3. You must decide to eat the bread of life
      3. Not contradictory truths
        1. Truth held in tension
        2. Compatible truths
    4.   The Jews were bothered Jesus said He came from heaven
      1. They were operating under the impression that Jesus was a human only
        1. Isaiah said He would be human and divine (see Isaiah 9:6-7)
          1. Human: "For unto us a Child is born"
          2. Divine: "Unto us a Son is given"
        2. Born of a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14)
      2. They assumed He was just the son of Joseph
        1. Joseph had nothing to do with it
        2. Jesus preexisted in heaven before Bethlehem
      3. We will have a physical resurrection
        1. Absent from body = present with the Lord in spirit (see 2 Corinthians 5:8)
        2. If we die before Jesus returns, we will wait to be physically resurrected (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
        3. The last day of the church on the earth
    5. Jesus explained how the Father draws people (see Isaiah 54:13)
      1. God chooses people in advance and speaks to them through the teaching of His Word
      2. Anyone who responds to the teaching of the Word comes to Jesus
      3. We haven't seen God yet, but we will (see Exodus 33:20; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:1-2)
    6. Verse 47
      1. Briefest and clearest picture of how a person is saved
      2. You get everlasting life by believing in Christ
    7. Jesus is Wonder Bread
      1. Jesus gave them raw, shocking verbiage about His sacrificial death
      2. They were shocked because they believed the life of the flesh is in the blood (see Leviticus 17:11)
        1. They were forbidden from consuming blood
        2. Jesus said this to shock them
      3. Catholic church believes in transubstantiation
        1. When you take Communion, you are consuming the actual body and blood of Jesus
        2. Not a symbol; literal
      4. This is not what Jesus meant
        1. He had not yet instituted the Last Supper and Communion
        2. If Jesus meant transubstantiation, it would mean we would have to take Communion to be saved: salvation by works
        3. It's in the aorist tense in Greek
          1. Describes an action that is done once and does not have to be repeated
          2. Communion is done often
        4. Jesus plainly said He was speaking in spiritual terms (see v. 63)
          1. Metaphor of taking in body and blood for believing
          2. Compare verses 54 and 40
          3. Taking in body and blood equals believing in Him
      5. True life comes through Jesus' death
  4. John 6:60-71
    1. The disciples had a hard time with these truths
      1. Skléros = hard, rough
      2. Not hard to understand—hard to tolerate
      3. Jesus often said hard things (see Matthew 23:15; John 4:17-18)
    2. Many of His disciples stopped following Him after this
      1. Mathétés = a learner, disciple, pupil
        1. Not necessarily authentic
        2. Some of them were authentic followers
      2. The twelve were His true disciples
      3. Peter get a bad rap from preachers
        1. He got the answer right at Caesarea Philippi (see Matthew 16:15-17; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20)
        2. He got the answer right here, realizing no one could compare to Jesus and His gift of eternal life
  5. Closing
    1. What could happen in your life that would cause you to turn away from Jesus?
    2. In Christ, we have water and bread that quenches our thirst and satisfies our hunger
Figures referenced: James Montgomery Boice, Billy Graham, C.S. Lewis

Greek words: amén, egó eimi, mathétés, skléros

Cross references: Exodus 33:20; Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 54:13; Matthew 6:33; 16:15-17; 19:16-17; 23:15; Mark 8:29; 10:17-18; Luke 5:4-10; 9:20; 18:18-19; John 1:21; 4:13-14, 17-18; 6:14; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1; Romans 10:2-4; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Colossians 3:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 John 3:1-2

Topic: Salvation

Keywords: miracle, righteousness, heaven, works, believe, manna, Bread of Life, divine election, predestination, human volition, preexistence, resurrection, everlasting life, eternal life, salvation, transubstantiation, Communion

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 7:1
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 7:1
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4082

MESSAGE SUMMARY
God gives us all the information we need, even if it's not all the information we want. In this Communion message, we learn that adjusting to God's sovereignty is always better than suffering the consequences of our own obstinacy. As we take the Lord's Supper, we remember that the Jews wanted to kill Jesus because they hated Him, but He willingly gave His life to save the world.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 7:1-36
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 7:1-36
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4101

MESSAGE SUMMARY
When Jesus came to Earth, people responded to Him with disbelief, debate, and division. In this Communion message, we learn that the Jewish leaders' hatred and animosity toward Jesus grew, culminating with His death on the cross. As we take the Lord's Supper, we remember that it has always been the plan of God to send His Son to the earth as a sacrifice for our sins.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 7:37-8:11
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 7:37-8:11
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4104

MESSAGE SUMMARY
The highest place of satisfaction in our lives is when we allow God to use us for His glory and purpose. He desires for us to be conduits of His love, not just reservoirs. As we study Jesus' ministry, we are reminded that He gives the most incredible invitation to quench the thirst of our lives.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 8:12-59
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 8:12-59
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4106

MESSAGE SUMMARY
God treated Jesus like we deserved to be treated so we could be treated like Jesus deserved to be treated. We are all slaves to sin, but Jesus took that burden from us so we could be children of God. As we continue our study in the gospel of John, we learn how Jesus explained His deity to the Jews.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 9
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 9
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4110

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Nobody enjoys suffering, but God can use it to bring about good. Suffering equips us for ministry, strengthens us, and sometimes even corrects us. As we study John 9, we learn how Jesus healed a blind man and demonstrated that spiritual sight is more important than physical sight.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 10:1-24
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 10:1-24
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4111

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow him because they trust him. Scripture refers to humans as sheep and calls Jesus our Good Shepherd. As we study John 10:1-24, we learn that Jesus gave His life for His sheep, and He desires to lead us to an abundant life in Him.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 10:21-42
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 10:21-42
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4117

MESSAGE SUMMARY
To believe or not to believe—that is the eternal question. John 10:21-42 highlights the fact that even though Jesus said He was the Son of God, many people in the world still do not believe this truth. As we take the Lord's Supper, we learn there is a huge difference between doubt and unbelief.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 11:1-35
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 11:1-35
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4121

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers exactly when or how we think He should. Tragedy happens to all people, even those who love Jesus. As we study the story of Lazarus, we learn that God's delays are not His denials, and He does things on His own perfect timetable.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 11:33-12:11
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 11:33-12:11
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4123

MESSAGE SUMMARY
There is no question about whether God can heal people—He absolutely can. Jesus did more than heal Lazarus—He raised him from the dead. As we take the Lord's Supper, we are reminded that although we will all die, we will one day be raised to eternal life because of the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 12:12-50
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 12:12-50
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4126

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem was an exciting time, but many of the people who shouted, "Hosanna!" on that day would be demanding His death less than a week later. In this message, we learn about Jesus' countenance in the week leading up to His crucifixion.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 13
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 13
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4131

MESSAGE SUMMARY
During the Last Supper, Jesus spent a private moment ministering to His disciples. In this Communion message, we learn that God is not shocked by our failures; in fact, we are expected to learn from them. And one day, we will eventually be restored because of Jesus' humility in sacrificing Himself for us.

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 14:1-26
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 14:1-26
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4142

MESSAGE SUMMARY
When Jesus' public ministry was over, He shared the Last Supper with His disciples, teaching them more before His death. He promised that though He was leaving them, He would send a Helper to aid them as they shared the gospel. In this Communion message, we learn that obedience to Christ opens the door to intimacy and satisfaction with Him.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. The Last Supper
      1. Jesus shared the Passover with His closest friends
      2. The Upper Room Discourse
        1. Four major discourses Jesus gave
          1. Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7)
          2. The Kingdom Parable Discourse (see Matthew 13)
          3. Olivet Discourse (see Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21)
          4. The Upper Room Discourse (see John 13-17)
        2. The longest and most intimate of the discourses
    2. Jesus' public ministry was over at this point
      1. The nation rejected Him (see John 1:11)
      2. Thus, He had nothing more to say to them
      3. Behind closed doors, Jesus gave this discourse to His twelve disciples
    3. At the beginning of this passage, the disciples were agitated
      1. Jesus predicted His death (see John 13:33-35)
      2. He predicted His betrayal (see John 13:21-30)
      3. He predicted Peter would deny Him (see John 13:36-38)
  2. John 14:1-3
    1. Jesus commanded them to not be troubled
      1. He was telling them to stop stressing out
      2. This shows that we are in control of our emotions
    2. With the command comes the capability to keep it
      1. Because of who you know
        1. You trust in God; trust in Jesus too
        2. Jesus had been trustworthy up to that point
          1. When there was no food, He fed the multitude (see Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:1-13)
          2. When the storm was going to overturn the boat, He calmed it (see Matthew 8:23-27; 14:22-32; Mark 4:35-41; 6:45-51; Luke 8:22-25; John 6:16-21)
          3. When Lazarus died, He raised him from the dead (see John 11:1-45)
      2. Because of where you'll go (heaven)
        1. The Bible speaks a lot about heaven (532 times)
        2. Jesus spoke about heaven relationally
          1. "My Father's house"
          2. Many rooms, or apartments
        3. In ancient times, people lived in tents
          1. When they added to the family, they added on to the tent
          2. The tent would keep growing
        4. There is room for us in God's house
        5. In the future
          1. New heaven and new earth
          2. New Jerusalem will orbit the earth (see Revelation 21:2-27) and be roughly the size of the moon
      3. Because of what He'll show
        1. He is preparing a place for us
          1. Heaven will be a personalized place
          2. Jesus made this promise 2,000 years ago
          3. Imagine what He could do with that amount of time
        2. He will return
          1. The rapture (see 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4)
          2. A different time than His first coming
          3. We have the "blessed hope" of His return (Titus 2:13)
  3. John 14:4-11
    1. Thomas spoke up stating he did not understand
      1. Opened the door for Jesus to give the gospel in a nutshell (see v. 6)
      2. Thomas had a question mark for a brain
      3. Jesus was in the process of turning the question mark into an exclamation point
      4. After the ascension, Thomas went on to take the gospel to India
    2. No one can go to the Father except through Jesus
      1. As believers, we are narrow-minded (see Matthew 7:13-14)
      2. Every other belief system that has a way to God besides Jesus is invalid
    3. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father
      1. Philip was a pragmatist; he had a calculator for a brain
        1. He was always trying to figure things out (see John 6:5-7)
        2. He did the math without adding Jesus
        3. When you bring God into the picture, it changes everything
      2. We believe in God by faith, but it would be awfully good to actually see the Father
        1. The basis of worship is that we always want more
        2. Moses had seen some pretty amazing things, but he still wanted more
          1. He saw God part the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:21-31)
          2. He saw manna come from heaven (see Exodus 16:11-31)
          3. He saw water come from a rock (see Exodus 17:5-6)
      3. Until we are in heaven with Jesus, we will long for more
    4. It can never be said that Jesus never claimed to be God (see John 10:30-33)
      1. John, the author of the book, also wrote 1 John
      2. His opening in 1 John demonstrates that he realized who he had been following for those three years (see 1 John 1:1)
      3. God in flesh
  4. John 14:12-20
    1. Jesus said that those who believe in Him will do greater works than He did
      1. Forty recorded miracles in the Bible that Jesus did (see John 20:30-31)
      2. What did He mean?
        1. He could have been talking about His disciples
          1. Telling them that they would do miracles like Him and more
          2. The apostles did some miracles in the book of Acts
          3. Others did them as well
          4. Verse 12 says, "He who believes," so this could not exclusively refer to the disciples
        2. He could have been talking about everyone, with an emphasis on having enough faith
          1. Believing enough to pull off a miracle
          2. It is on you to muster enough faith, and if you don't, you can't do miracles
          3. Jesus didn't say, "He who believes might"; He said, "He who believes will"
        3. He was most likely talking about all believers
          1. "Because I go to My Father" (v. 12)
          2. This was the signal that the Holy Spirit would come (see John 16:7)
      3. Greater works than these
        1. Not greater qualitatively, but quantitatively
        2. Spreading of the gospel
        3. Miraculous transformation to salvation
          1. After He left, 3,000 people were saved at Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-41)
          2. In the first few months, thousands upon thousands of people were transformed
        4. More people came to Christ in these first months than the entire three years of His ministry
    2. Jesus spoke about the Helper who would come
      1. Did not refer to the Holy Spirit as "it"
        1. Referred to as "Him"
        2. Not a force, feeling, or mode
        3. Modalism (Sabellianism) = God is one person with three different faces
          1. New Testament teaches that the Trinity is three distinct persons
          2. One God
      2. The Helper
        1. We need all the help we can get
        2. Paraklétos = an advocate, intercessor, consoler, comforter, helper
      3. Another Helper
        1. Heteros = another of a different kind
        2. Allos = another of the same kind
        3. Jesus used allos, meaning He was going to send another Helper just like the one He was to them
    3. As believers, we are in Christ (see Ephesians 1:1)
  5. John 14:21-26
    1. Judas (not Iscariot)
      1. The son of James (see Luke 6:16)
      2. Also known as Thaddeus
    2. Jesus said He would manifest Himself to them
      1. Manifest = to make evident or certain by showing or displaying
      2. Judas thought Jesus was referring to His earthly kingdom
      3. Obedience to Christ opens the door to intimacy with Christ and satisfaction of Christ
      4. If you love Jesus enough to put into practice what He said, He will show you more
      5. Be the kind who loves Jesus enough to learn and do what He says
Figures referenced: Steven Langton, Henry Morris

Greek words: allos, heteros, paraklétos

Cross references: Exodus 14:21-31; 16:11-31; 17:5-6; Matthew 5-7; 8:23-27; 13; 14:13-32; 24; Mark 4:35-41; 6:34-51; 7:13-14; 13; Luke 6:16; 8:22-25; 9:11-17; 21; John 1:11; 6:1-13, 16-21; 10:30-33; 11:1-45; 13-17; 20:30-31; Acts 2:1-41; 1 Corinthians 15; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 4; Titus 2:13; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 21:2-27

Topic: Upper Room Discourse

Keywords: Last Supper, discourse, Upper Room Discourse, ministry, trust, heaven, rapture, gospel, faith, miracles, salvation, works, Holy Spirit, modalism, Sabellianism, obedience

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 14:12-15:27
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 14:12-15:27
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4144

MESSAGE SUMMARY
The Bible is filled with God's promises, and we know He always keeps them. In this study of the Upper Room Discourse, we see Jesus promising His disciples His comfort through the Holy Spirit, His peace through His omniscience, and His joy through a life devoted to Him.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. God always keeps His promises
      1. His promises are exceedingly great (see 2 Peter 1:4)
      2. The Bible contains 31,102 verses
        1. Law
        2. Poetry
        3. Prophecies
      3. Over 7,000 promises God made to man
    2. The best thing you can do with God's promises is believe them and live by them
    3. In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus gave several promises to His disciples
  2. John 14:12-24
    1. Jesus was the one who brought the disciples comfort
      1. He fed them (see Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:1-13)
      2. He provided tax money for them (see Matthew 17:27)
      3. He helped them do what they couldn't do in their own profession (see Luke 5:2-11)
    2. Jesus promised He would send His Helper, the Holy Spirit (see John 14:16)
      1. Absent does not mean unavailable
      2. Jesus would be available for them spiritually through prayer
      3. When you pray, the gap between heaven and earth is closed
    3. Verse 14 has been misinterpreted
      1. To pray in Jesus' name means that we pray according to all that His name embodies
      2. Prayer according to His will
        1. If we prayed this way, our prayers would change
        2. Counteract "gimme" prayers
        3. Focus is on His will, glory, and character
  3. John 14:25-26
    1. Jesus has a ministry in heaven
      1. His work is not done
      2. His ongoing work is as an intercessor for us to God
      3. His first work of intercession was to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit
    2. Verse 26 explains how twelve disciples, uneducated men, were able to spread the gospel
      1. The Holy Spirit gave them the power to recall correctly and record what Jesus said, did, and taught
      2. Peter said some pretty dumb things, so how can we trust what he wrote?
        1. 2 Peter 1:20-21
        2. The Holy Spirit moved the authors to the literary destination predestined by God
  4. John 14:27-31
    1. Jesus' peace
      1. Peace to you
        1. Shalom = peace
        2. Greeting in Israel
      2. Jesus' own peace that He experiences and manufactures Himself
        1. We never picture Jesus as worried or fretful
        2. He is all-knowing and in control (see John 10:18)
      3. The disciples were troubled
        1. Jesus had told them some serious things
          1. He predicted His death (see John 13:33-35)
          2. He predicted His betrayal (see John 13:21-30)
          3. He predicted Peter would deny Him (see John 13:36-38)
        2. No matter what we have going on around us, Jesus offers the cushion of His peace
    2. At this point, God the Father was superior to Jesus
      1. Jesus had left heaven and submitted Himself
      2. God the Father was superior in terms of His position (see Philippians 2:8)
    3. Jesus did not have much more to say after this
      1. The ruler of this world was coming
        1. Satan, the god of this age (see 2 Corinthians 4:4)
        2. When Adam and Eve sinned, they surrendered their control of the world to Satan (see Genesis 3)
      2. This could be a reference to His betrayal by Judas
        1. He knew the powers of darkness were working against Him
        2. He did not say "Judas is coming" or "My human betrayer is coming"
        3. He was demonstrating the power behind the plot
      3. No demonic power or human plot could manipulate Jesus into this
      4. The world would know by His death that He loved the Father
    4. Jesus and His disciples left the upper room
  5. John 15:1-8
    1. Jesus is the Vine
      1. Grapes growing in vineyards along the road to Gethsemane
        1. Jesus used something they could see
        2. Spiritual metaphor about what it is to have a relationship with God
      2. The massive bronze doors of the temple
        1. Built in Greece and sent to Jerusalem
        2. Embossed gold vine
      3. Israel is God's vineyard or vine (see Isaiah 5:1-7)
        1. Israel had become unfruitful because they had rejected the Messiah
        2. They were to bring light to the Gentiles
        3. Unprofitable vine
      4. Jesus is the real Vine
        1. God the Father is the vinedresser—the viticulturist
        2. He cares so much for His people
    2. God prunes the dead branches off of us
      1. Katharizó = to cleanse
      2. We are cleansed by Scripture (see Hebrews 4:12)
        1. The Word of God confronts us
        2. It is given to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable
      3. We are cleansed by trials (see Psalm 119:67)
        1. God will get your attention with trials
        2. It's better to give Him your full attention every day
      4. Be careful to not call something bad that is sent by God for good
        1. Many people ask why God would allow bad things to happen to good people
        2. Be careful who you call good; no one is good but God
        3. Be careful what you call bad
          1. Joseph was sold into slavery and suffered
          2. God used that bad situation to elevate his status and bless him (see Genesis 37-48)
      5. Even though it hurts to be pruned, our viticulturist knows what He is doing (see Romans 8:28)
    3. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches
      1. We are twigs
        1. Unimpressive and seemingly unimportant
        2. In a vineyard, twigs are only good for two things
          1. Burning
          2. Bearing fruit
        3. Grape wood is so useless that no one uses it to build anything
        4. Good for nothing but kindling
        5. Our value comes in being connected to the Vine because the life of Christ flows through us
        6. When we are connected to Jesus, He will change the world through us
      2. We stay connected by abiding in Christ
        1. Menó = to stay, abide, remain
        2. Living communion with Jesus
        3. Personal relationship with Jesus
          1. Term not found in the Bible
          2. Everyone has a personal relationship with Jesus, but not everyone has a good one
        4. A connection with Jesus yields fruit
      3. Without Jesus we can do nothing
        1. Fruit is natural
        2. The branch does not have to work hard to produce fruit; it just hangs in there
        3. Relax and stay close to Jesus
        4. Enjoy the Christian walk
      4. When we abide in God's Word, we will know what to pray for
        1. We can ask for whatever we want, because we will be in God's will
        2. No is an answer
    4. God is committed to us being fruitful, then bearing more fruit, then bearing much fruit
  6. John 15:9-17
    1. Jesus will give us His joy
      1. The world craves peace and joy
      2. Joy is different than happiness
        1. Happiness is contingent on the happenings
        2. Joy is something constant
    2. We are commanded to love others as Christ loves us
      1. A commandment, not a feeling
        1. Love is not an emotion; it is volition
        2. It's not something you feel; it's something you do
      2. Once you act on the volition, the emotion will follow
        1. This is how you can love your enemies
        2. Not hypocrisy, but obedience
      3. Jesus did not feel like laying down His life for us; He chose to
    3. God chose you
      1. Ephesians 1:4
      2. We choose Him, but He chose us first
      3. Predestination will never preclude you from being saved
  7. John 15:18-27
    1. When you love God, the world will hate you for it
    2. Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life and paid the atoning death
Figures referenced: Ann Landers, C.S. Lewis, Everek Storms

Works referenced: Time Magazine, "Standing on the Promises"

Greek/Hebrew words: katharizó, menó, shalom

Cross references: Genesis 3; 37-48; Psalm 119:67; Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 14:13-21; 17:27; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 5:2-11; 9:11-17; John 6:1-13; 10:18; 13:21-30, 33-38; 14:16; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 1:4; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:4, 20-21

Topic: Promises

Keywords: God's promises, Upper Room Discourse, comfort, Holy Spirit, prayer, God's will, peace, Satan, betrayal, fruit, Vine, vineyard, vinedresser, trials, abide, personal relationship, joy, love

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 16
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 16
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4146

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus' disciples had a hard time understanding that He was going to die, rise again, and ascend to heaven. In this study of the Upper Room Discourse, we see that Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them and they would eventually suffer persecution, but they would be filled with everlasting joy in the Holy Spirit.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Passover
      1. L'shanah haba'ah b'yerushalayim
        1. "Next year in Jerusalem"
        2. Spoken at the end of Passover seder
      2. Passover is considered the greatest festival and it is a privilege to be in Jerusalem during the celebration
    2. Jesus was with His disciples in Jerusalem
      1. They probably spent at least two Passovers with Him
      2. They gathered in an upper room to celebrate together
    3. The Upper Room Discourse
      1. The longest and most intimate of the discourses
      2. Found in John 13-16
      3. Not all of it took place in the upper room (see John 14:31)
        1. Chapters 15-16 took place on the way to the garden of Gethsemane
        2. Eleven disciples; Judas left to do his deal to betray Jesus (see John 13:30)
    4. Jesus told His disciples about the consequences of discipleship (see John 15:18-19)
      1. In chapter 16, He told them that His enemies would not be friends to them
      2. They were troubled (see John 14:1-2)
    5. Jesus' method of teaching
      1. Gave the disciples several points, then circled back several times to them to reinforce a set of truths
      2. The same way 1 John is written
  2. John 16:1-6
    1. Jesus wanted to let the disciples know that He knew what they were going to go through
      1. Skandalizó = to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble, to give offense
      2. He wanted them to know what to expect
    2. He told them they would be persecuted
      1. Saul of Tarsus (see Acts 9:1-2)
        1. Thought he was doing the will of God
        2. A religious opposition
        3. After Saul was converted and became Paul, he experienced similar persecution
          1. He entered cities and preached first in the synagogues because he believed salvation was first to the Jews (see Romans 1:16)
          2. He was often cast out of synagogues
          3. He was jailed and beat up
          4. Then he would pick up and go to the next city, starting the cycle over
      2. Early Christians in the Roman Empire had it tough
        1. Fed to lions for sport
        2. Burned at the stake
        3. Placed on wooden poles, covered in pitch, and used as living torches
        4. Attacked by wild dogs for sport
        5. Poured over with molten lead
    3. What became of the apostles
      1. Matthew: slain with a sword
      2. John
        1. Put in boiling oil and escaped
        2. Exiled to Patmos
      3. Peter: crucified upside down in Rome
      4. James (son of Zebedee): beheaded at Jerusalem
      5. James (son of Alphaeus): thrown from the temple and beaten with a club
      6. Bartholomew: flayed alive
      7. Andrew
        1. Bound to a cross
        2. Preached to his persecutors until he died
      8. Thomas
        1. Went to India to share the gospel
        2. Run through with a lance
    4. What would make them carry on if what they believed was a myth?
      1. They were all willing to face gruesome deaths for what they believed
      2. Jesus did not want them to stumble
    5. They did not really care where Jesus was going (see John 14:28)
      1. They cared about why He was leaving them
      2. They focused on their loss rather than on what Jesus would gain
      3. They focused on their loss rather than on what they would gain: the Holy Spirit
      4. Many unbelievers have the wrong focus as well
        1. Their loss: friends, popularity, old life
        2. Their gain: a Friend, popularity in heaven, new eternal life
  3. John 16:7-11
    1. Jesus left us with a Helper, the Holy Spirit
      1. We need a helper in our lives
      2. The Christian life is very difficult to live
        1. We often doubt if we will make it through things
        2. Our Helper knows our weaknesses
      3. The key to success in the Christian life is to allow yourself to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that there is nothing left of you (see Ephesians 5:18)
    2. Jesus could have used two words for another
      1. Heteros = another of a different kind
      2. Allos = another of the same kind
      3. He used allos, meaning He was going to send another helper just like the one He was to them
      4. The Spirit provides the same kind of help Jesus did
      5. The Spirit is a person
    3. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would convince the world of three things
      1. Sin
        1. A person will never be open to receiving a Savior unless they realize they need saving
        2. The Holy Spirit convicts the world
        3. It is not our job to save people
        4. Peter preached the Word at Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved because of the conviction of the Spirit (see Acts 2:14-41)
      2. Righteousness
        1. When Jesus died, rose again, and ascended to heaven, God accepted His righteousness
        2. This is why we need to be in Christ, clothed in His merits
        3. No one is righteous except for God (see Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19)
      3. Judgment
        1. There is a consequence; if left to ourselves, we will face the certain judgment of God
        2. It is healthy for a person to think about the future and realize they are ill-prepared to face judgment
  4. John 16:12-14
    1. God reveals things about Himself as we grow in our faith
      1. The more we put into practice what He tells us, the more He will tell us
      2. If we don't put it into practice, He won't reveal more
    2. The Holy Spirit will guide us in all the truth
      1. Tes alethias = the truth
      2. A specific truth
      3. The message of Jesus Christ (see Jude 1:3)
    3. The life of a believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit
      1. The Holy Spirit is like a stage director, making sure the light is on Jesus (see John 15:26; 16:9, 14)
      2. A person or church that is filled with the Holy Spirit makes much of Jesus
  5. John 16:15-21
    1. Sometimes we try to act spiritual in front of others
      1. The disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about
      2. They did not ask Him
    2. Jesus was probably speaking about what was about to take place immediately
      1. The world would rejoice in His death
      2. The disciples would be plunged into sorrow
      3. They would be filled with joy at His resurrection
    3. Jesus could have been speaking about what would take place imminently
      1. He would rise from the grave
      2. He would ascend into heaven
      3. They would rejoice when the Holy Spirit came
    4. Jesus could have been speaking about what would take place ultimately
      1. Whether by death or by rapture, we will all be in the presence of the Lord
      2. We will be filled with joy
  6. John 16:22
    1. No one can take your joy
    2. The disciples' hope
      1. When they began following Jesus, they had hope
      2. Their hope grew as they continued to follow Him
      3. But their hope died when Jesus died (see Luke 24:19-21)
      4. The day Jesus rose from the grave, their hope became a living hope (see 1 Peter 1:3)
        1. All of Jesus' promises about eternity made sense to them (see John 11:26)
        2. They finally understood
  7. John 16:23-28
    1. Up until this point, whenever the disciples needed something, they asked Jesus
      1. He calmed the storm (see Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:36-41; Luke 8:23-25)
      2. He fed them (see Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:5-13)
      3. He healed their relatives (see Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39)
    2. The relationship between Jesus and His disciples was changing
      1. No longer did they have to ask Him for things
      2. Now they could talk directly to the Father
      3. God wants us to come before Him boldly (see Hebrews 4:16)
        1. In the name of Jesus
        2. On His merit
    3. Summary of what Jesus has done and what He will do
      1. His incarnation: from the Father
      2. His humiliation: into the world
      3. His resurrection and ascension: out of the world
      4. His glorification: to the Father
  8. John 16:29-33
    1. The disciples stated that they now believed, but Jesus knew they would soon be scattered and abandon Him (see Zechariah 13:7)
    2. We are never alone
      1. God will never forsake us, because Jesus took that forsaking on the cross
      2. Jesus knew they would leave Him
    3. Jesus has overcome the world
      1. Spiritually by the cross
      2. Ultimately when He comes again
      3. When we suffer, we are experiencing the death throes of a dying Enemy
Figures referenced: Carol Burnett, Jim Elliot, D.L. Moody

Works referenced:Foxe's Book of Martyrs

Greek/Hebrew words and phrases: allos, heteros, l'shanah haba'ah b'yerushalayim, skandalizó, tes alethias

Cross references: Isaiah 64:6; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 8:14-15, 23-27; 14:13-21; 19:17; Mark 1:29-31; 4:36-41; 6:34-44; 10:18; Luke 4:38-39; 8:23-25; 9:11-17; 18:19; 24:19-21; John 6:5-13; 11:26; 13:30; 14:1-2, 28, 31; 15:18-19, 26; Acts 2:14-41; 9:1-2; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 5:18; Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 1:3; Jude 1:3

Topic: Upper Room Discourse

Keywords: Passover, Upper Room Discourse, persecution, salvation, apostles, Holy Spirit, sin, righteousness, judgment, truth, joy, hope

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 17
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 17
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4148

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus' ministry began, continued, and ended in prayer. John 17 records Jesus' one-on-one communication with His Father about Himself, His disciples, and us. In this teaching, we learn just how important prayer was to Jesus and how it should be the same in our own lives.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. During Passover, the Jews celebrated and commemorated when God delivered them from Egypt
      1. They sat down every year and shared a meal
      2. Passover seder
      3. Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples
    2. He knew what was going to happen
      1. Even though He told them, they did not believe it
      2. They were troubled
      3. He reassured them (see John 14:1)
    3. After the meal was over, they left the upper room (see John 14:31)
      1. They walked through Jerusalem down toward the Kidron Valley and the garden of Gethsemane
      2. They would have been able to see the gates of the temple
        1. Bronze with gold embossing of a vine
        2. Represented the nation of Israel (see Isaiah 5:7)
        3. Jesus said He is the Vine and God is the one who tends the vineyard (see John 15:1)
    4. As they reached Gethsemane, He gave them more instruction
      1. They would have tribulations (see John 16:33)
      2. He has overcome the world
    5. In the hours and days that followed, the disciples were sent into a tailspin, forgetting everything Jesus had taught them
      1. We do this in times of crisis
      2. We forget that Jesus has overcome the world
  2. John 17:1-5
    1. Jesus began a one-on-one communication with His Father
      1. The Lord's Prayer
        1. Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 is really the Disciples' Prayer, given to them as instruction on how to pray (see Luke 11:1)
        2. This passage is Jesus' prayer to His Father
        3. Longest recorded prayer of Jesus
        4. He began, continued, and ended His ministry in prayer (see Luke 23:34, 46)
        5. The only thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to do was to pray
          1. Saw the powerful effect of prayer in His life
          2. Relationship with the Father
      2. Why does Jesus need to pray if He is God? (see Philippians 2:6)
        1. While Jesus was on earth, He was in a state of submission to the Father
        2. Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time
        3. Theanthropic nature
          1. Theos = God
          2. Anthrópos = man
        4. He emptied Himself (see Philippians 2:6-8, ESV)
        5. Voluntary obedience to the Father
        6. Since then, Jesus has been glorified and is at the right hand of God
      3. If Jesus thought it was important to keep in communion with His Father, then it should be a priority for us
    2. Jesus lifted up His eyes
      1. Posture of prayer (see Psalm 123:1)
      2. Recognition that you are speaking to someone who is above all
      3. The Bible does not speak of closing our eyes or folding our hands
      4. Kneeling, prostrating, bowing, dancing, lifting of hands (see 1 Timothy 2:8)
    3. Jesus lifted up His voice
      1. He prayed out loud
      2. They heard Him and recorded His prayers (see Luke 22:41)
      3. It is good to pray out loud because it is easy to get distracted when praying silently
    4. Jesus' hour had come (see John 2:4; 7:30)
      1. Eternal or everlasting life
        1. Not just longevity
        2. Quality of life
        3. Everyone has eternal life, but the quality will vary
        4. Apart from God or with Him in heaven
        5. Aiónios zóé = eternal life
        6. Abundant life (see John 10:10)
        7. Knowing God and having a relationship with Him through Jesus
      2. Jesus was ready to go home to heaven
        1. He had shared glory with the Father
        2. Imagine leaving the glorious environment of heaven to be born in a feeding trough in Bethlehem
        3. He had to suffer the rejection of the very people who were created in His image (see John 1:11)
      3. If you knew you had a few hours to live, what would you pray for?
        1. Jesus prayed for Himself (see vv. 1-5)
        2. He prayed for His disciples (see vv. 6-19)
        3. He prayed for us (see vv. 20-26)
      4. Jesus' prayer was answered by the Father (see Philippians 2:9-11)
        1. When Stephen was being stoned to death, he saw Jesus in heaven (see Acts 7:54-60)
        2. Jesus was restored to the Father
  3. John 17:6-19
    1.  When we gave our lives to Christ, the Father gave us to Jesus as a love gift
      1. God chose us, but we also chose Him (see Ephesians 1:4)
      2. Salvation is a combination of God's pre-choice and our real-time choice (see John 15:16)
      3. Appeals to personal choice and human volition (see Matthew 11:28; Mark 1:15; John 7:37-38)
      4. At the same time, Scripture says God picked us
      5. What Jesus sought to harmonize, we dare not polarize
    2. Jesus gave us God's words
      1. If you want to grow in your faith, don't close the Bible and pray for faith
      2. Open it and develop your faith (see Romans 10:17)
    3. The phrase the world is used 209 times in the New Testament
      1. Kosmos = the world, universe; worldly affairs, the inhabitants of the world, adornment
      2. There are many ways to look at the world
        1. Creation (see Psalm 24:1)
        2. Humanity (see John 3:16)
        3. The ordered system of worldly thinking and values (see 1 John 2:15)
      3. Jesus was speaking of an arranged order where Satan is called the god of this world and there are humans who do not love God
    4. The occupational hazard of following Jesus
      1. The world will hate you, and you will be persecuted
      2. Jesus did not pray a prayer of escapism
      3. Jesus saves us out of the world, cleans us up, and then sends us back into the world with a message
    5. Our relationship with the world is that the world needs us, but we need the world too
      1. If you are in the world but not in the Word, you will become like the world
      2. If you are in the Word but not in the world, you will become mushy
      3. We cannot isolate
      4. We cannot insulate
        1. The approach of the Pharisees
        2. No evangelism (see Mark 2:16; Luke 5:30)
      5. We cannot vegetate
        1. Apathy
        2. No desire to share the gospel
      6. We cannot imitate
        1. No difference between the world and believers
        2. No reason to convert
      7. Jesus' solution is to permeate
        1. We are the salt of the earth (see Matthew 5:13)
        2. We have to be in the world to change the world (see Matthew 10:16)
  4. John 17:20-26
    1. Jesus prayed for you then, and He is praying for you now
      1. His work is not finished: the work of intercession (see Hebrews 7:25)
      2. He lives to pray for us to the Father
    2. Jesus prayed that we would be unified
      1. You may be tempted to think this prayer was not answered
        1. The apostles had disputes among themselves (see Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46; 22:24; Acts 15:36-39)
        2. There are different denominations in Christianity
      2. Unity is not something that is produced; we have it already (see Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:4-6)
      3. Unity does not mean uniformity
        1. We are not going to agree on everything
        2. As long as we agree on the cardinal doctrines of the faith
      4. We should endeavor to keep the unity
      5. If there is unity, the church will be attractive to unbelievers
    3. Jesus prayed for glory for us
      1. Every time a believer dies, Jesus' prayer is answered
      2. When we lose our focus on heaven, we start fighting on earth
Figures referenced: John Knox

Works referenced:When God Prays

Greek words: aiónios, anthrópos, kosmos, theos, zóé

Cross references: Psalm 24:1; 123:1; Isaiah 5:7; Matthew 5:13; 6:9-13; 10:16; 11:28; Mark 1:15; 2:16; 9:34; Luke 5:30; 9:46; 11:1-4; 22:24, 41; 23:34, 46; John 1:11; 2:4; 3:16; 7:30, 37-38; 10:10; 14:1, 31; 15:1, 16; 16:33; Acts 7:54-60; 15:36-39; Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:4; 4:4-6; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:15

Topic: Prayer

Keywords: Passover, seder, Gethsemane, prayer, the Lord's Prayer, theanthropic, eternal life, everlasting life, salvation, predestination, free will, the world, persecution, intercession, unity

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 18
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 18
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4150

MESSAGE SUMMARY
As Jesus' time on the earth drew to a close, His disciples might have felt their world was spinning out of control. But Jesus was not a victim of His circumstance; rather, He was the orchestrator, and He knew that it was all in His Father's plan. In this Communion message, we examine Jesus' betrayal and the trials that ultimately resulted in His crucifixion.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. We look forward to taking the Lord's Supper as Jesus did with His disciples (see Luke 22:15)
    2. All things work for good for God's people (see Romans8:28)
      1. God is sovereign
      2. Nothing is out of His control
      3. Jesus was not a victim of His circumstances; He orchestrated the circumstances
        1. He told the disciples where to find the donkey (see Matthew 21:2-6; Mark 11:2-6; Luke 19:30-34)
        2. He sent them to find the furnished room for them to hold the Passover feast (see Matthew 26:18-19; Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10-13)
        3. He knew it was time to lead them to Gethsemane (see John 14:31)
      4. He was not a victim; He was a volunteer (see John 10:18)
  2. John 18:1-9
    1. Jesus took His disciples over the Brook Kidron and tothe garden of Gethsemane
      1. When David was betrayed by a trusted friend and rejected by his nation, he fled Jerusalem by crossing the Brook Kidron (see 2 Samuel 15:7-23)
      2. To make this similarity even stronger, David's friend Ahithophel killed himself, just like Judas (see 2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:5)
      3. When the lambs were killed for Passover in Jesus' time, the blood was drained into the altar, which drained into the Brook Kidron
        1. On one Passover about thirty years after Jesus, 256,000 lambs were slain
        2. The Lamb of God crossed over a brook filled with the blood of lambs that could not take away sin (see Hebrews 10:5-14)
    2. The garden of Gethsemane
      1. The olive press
      2. An olive orchard
      3. The place where olives were crushed into oil
        1. Used as fuel in lamps
        2. Used for cooking
        3. Used in anointing
      4. Life began in a garden
        1. Physical life began in the garden of Eden (see Genesis 2:7-8)
        2. Eternal life began in the garden of Gethsemane
        3. In the garden of Eden, Adam sinned (see Genesis 3)
        4. In the garden of Gethsemane, the last Adam conquered sin (see 1 Corinthians 15:45)
        5. In the garden of Eden, Adam hid from God (see Genesis 3:8)
        6. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus presented Himself to God the Father
      5. One of Jesus' favorite places to go with His disciples (see Luke 21:37)
    3. Judas came to the garden with a detachment of troops
      1. Matthew called this "a great multitude" (see Matthew 26:47)
        1. A cohort, a tenth of a legion
        2. They had tried unsuccessfully several times to arrest Him (see John 10:39)
        3. Jesus stirred things up (see Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15; John 2:13-16)
        4. They probably were afraid of a revolt (see Matthew 21:46)
      2. "I am He" (v. 5)
        1. He is not in the original text; it reads "I am"
          1. Egō eimi = I am
          2. Used also in Exodus 3:13-14
        2. Unmistakable use of the divine title Yhvh (Yahweh)
      3. The troops fell to the ground at the sound of His name
        1. Jesus was not a victim; He was a volunteer
        2. Just His words are commanding (see Revelation 19:15-21)
      4. Jesus told the soldiers to let His disciples go (see John 17:12)
      5. Compare to Psalm 2:1-6
  3. John 18:10-17
    1. Peter cut off the high priest's servant's ear with a sword
      1. Peter was a great fisherman, but a not a good swordsman
      2. Capital offense
      3. God's plan was coming together exactly as He intended (see Acts 2:23)
      4. Peter's actions were reactions to Jesus' prediction that he would deny Him (see Matthew 26:34-35; Mark 14:30-31; Luke 22:34; John 13:37-38)
        1. He was trying to prove Jesus wrong
        2. So often we do the same instead of letting Him handle it
    2. Jesus endured not one but six separate trials
      1. Religious trials
        1. Trial before Annas, the former high priest who still wielded great influence
        2. Trial before Caiaphas, the current high priest at the time
        3. Trial before the Sanhedrin early in the morning
      2. Civic trials
        1. Trial before Pontius Pilate
        2. Trial before Herod
        3. Second trial before Pilate
    3. Trial before Annas
      1. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas
        1. Former high priest put under power by Quirinius (see Luke 2:1)
        2. Around AD 15, he was deposed by Valerius Gratus, predecessor of Pilate, and replaced by Caiaphas
      2. Annas still wielded power and influence
        1. He controlled the business of the temple
        2. Jesus had twice disturbed his business
  4. John 18:18-32
    1. Peter had already denied Jesus once
      1. But he was still in the courtyard
      2. Courageous
      3. Peter would be restored (see Luke 22:31-32)
      4. You might feel far from God, but God is never far from you
    2. Jesus knew that this was an illegal trial
      1. According to Jewish law, they could not have a court proceeding during a festival
      2. They could not have a court at night
      3. The high priest could never directly question the defendant
    3. Three phases of Peter's ministry
      1. At the fire
      2. Under fire
      3. On fire
        1. When he was restored, he was on fire for the Lord
        2. Filled with the Holy Spirit
    4. The Jews could not legally enact the death penalty
      1. They took Jesus before Pontius Pilate
      2. The Praetorium
        1. Castle-like structure attached to the Temple Mount
        2. The Romans were afraid of an uprising during festival time
        3. Built so they could see what was going on at all times
        4. Pontius Pilate did not live there but would go to Jerusalem for the festivals
      3. In Jewish tradition, the dwelling places of Gentiles were defiled
        1. They made Pilate come out of the Praetorium to speak with them
        2. Did not sit well with him; this is why he wanted to dismiss the case
        3. Bedikat chametz is the ritual of collecting leaven in the house
        4. Pilate's house was not free from leaven
      4. They wanted the Romans to crucify Him
        1. Jesus predicted He would die by Gentile means (see John 12:32)
        2. Jews did not crucify people; they stoned people
  5. John 18:33-40
    1. Jesus wanted to reach Pilate's heart
    2. Jesus was a King, but not a political, military king
      1. His kingdom is not of this world
      2. Is He the King of your life?
    3. Pilate did not know what to do with a spiritual King
      1. He was not a Roman; he was Spanish
      2. He married the granddaughter of Caesar Augustus, Claudia Procula
      3. She had a dream about Jesus and warned her husband to leave Him alone (see Matthew 27:19)
    4. Verse 37: the incarnation of Jesus
      1. He was born into this world
      2. Connotes His preexistence
    5. Pilate found no fault in Jesus
      1. He asked, "What is truth?" but did not stay around for the answer
      2. To most people, truth can be spun to mean anything
    6. The Jews wanted Barabbas released to them instead ofJesus
      1. A violent criminal who deserved the death penalty
      2. Bar = son; abba = father
      3. Barabbas = son of a father
      4. According to Origen, Barabbas' first name was Jesus
      5. The choice was Jesus son of a father, or Jesus Son of the Father
  6. Closing
    1. Jesus was not a victim of circumstance; He wascontrolling the circumstances
    2. He died for our sins, but He is coming back to ruleand reign forever
Figures referenced: Caesar Augustus, Valerius Gratus, Flavius Josephus, Origen, Claudia Procula,CharlesSpurgeon

Greek/Hebrewwords: abba, bar, bedikat chametz,egōeimi, Yahweh

Crossreferences: Genesis 2:7-8; 3; Exodus3:13-14; 2 Samuel 15:7-23; 17:23; Psalm 2:1-6; Matthew 21:2-6, 12-13, 46;26:18-19, 34-35, 47; 27:5, 19; Mark 11:2-6, 15; 14:13, 30-31; Luke 2:1;19:30-34; 21:37; 22:10-13, 15, 31-32, 34; John 2:13-16; 10:18, 39; 12:32;13:37-38; 14:31; 17:12; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Hebrews10:5-14; Revelation 19:15-21

Topic: Jesus' Trial

Keywords: Lord's Supper, sovereignty, Passover, garden of Gethsemane,Lamb of God, garden of Eden, I Am, trial, death penalty, crucifixion, King, incarnation

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 19:1-22
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 19:1-22
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4154

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus endured extreme torture up to and including His death on the cross. In this message, we examine the political and spiritual circumstances surrounding His trial and crucifixion, and we learn how this historic event was all part of God's ultimate plan.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. John wanted us to know what a privilege it was to stand at the foot of the cross
      1. Jesus had many followers
        1. When Jesus fed people, thousands followed Him
        2. When He taught people, hundreds followed Him
        3. Only twelve men were really close to Him, and one of them betrayed Him
        4. Three of those men were part of His inner circle: Peter, James, John
        5. Only one was at the foot of the cross at His death: John
      2.  There were more women followers of Jesus at the cross than men
        1. Typically, woman are quicker to get involved in the things of Christ than men
        2. It does not need to be that way
    2. Early church leaders saw a parallel between the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary and the sacrifice of Isaac on the same mountain thousands of years before (see Genesis 22:1-18)
      1. Isaac carried wood up the mountain
      2. Isaac was Abraham's only son
        1. First time love is mentioned in the Bible
        2. Love of a father toward his son as he went to sacrifice him
      3. Abraham was stopped from killing his son because God provided His own sacrifice
        1. This is what happened when Jesus died on the cross
        2. God provided Himself as the sacrifice
      4. On the very mountain Isaac was almost sacrificed, Jesus was sacrificed
        1. Mount Moriah, also called Mount Zion
        2. Settled in the time of David—City of David
        3. Rises to the north of the Temple Mount
        4. The peak of Mount Moriah is at Golgotha, the place of the skull
    3. The cross was not an "oops" moment for God
      1. Everything was planned
      2. Jesus knew this was His hour
  2. John 19:1-3
    1. Pilate scourged Jesus
      1. Scourge= whip made out of leather strips with jagged metal balls and sheep bones
      2. Diagonal blows across victim's back
      3. Romans used three different forms of scourging
        1. Fustigatio = mildest form
        2. Flagellotio = for more serious crimes; brutal
        3. Verberatio = reserved for capital crimes
          1. Always associated with crucifixions
          2. Thirty-nine lashes
          3. To weaken the victim and hasten death
          4. To get a confession from the victim
      4. Jesus endured the verberatio
        1. Was not guilty; no confession
        2. Beating was brutal
    2. Robe and crown of thorns
      1. Robe
        1. Military robe from one of the soldiers
        2. Added to Jesus' suffering
          1. Blood soaked through and coagulated
          2. When they got to the cross and ripped off the robe, the wounds opened afresh
      2. Thorns
        1. Emblematic of the curse (see Genesis 3:18)
        2. Placed on the One who would eradicate the curse
    3. Game played by the Roman soldiers
      1. They took their boredom and aggression out on prisoners
      2. Hot hand
        1. Blindfolded the victim and took turns punching him in the face
        2. Made the prisoner guess which soldier gave the blow
  3. John 19:4-11
    1. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and tried to get Him off
      1. "Behold the Man" (v. 5)= ecce homo
      2. Pilate tried to appeal to the crowd's compassion
    2. Isaiah 52:14; 53:5
    3. The Jews wanted Jesus put to death because He called Himself the Son of God
      1. They had made up charges to try to get Him killed
        1. Failing to pay taxes to Caesar (see Luke 23:2)
        2. Brought in false witnesses, but charges did not stick
      2. They wanted Him put to death for blasphemy (see Leviticus 24:16)
      3. The Romans had taken away the right of capital punishment from the Jews
    4. Son of God
      1. A term of deity
      2. The Son of God is God
      3. They Jews wanted to kill Him because He claimed to be equal to God (see John 10:31-33)
    5. Pilate was afraid
      1. The Romans believed that a person could be a representative of a divine being
      2. If you messed with that person, they may hurt you
      3. Pilate's wife had a dream about Jesus (see Matthew 27:19)
      4. Pilate marveled at Him
        1. Mark 15:5
        2. Thaumazó = to be shaken and astonished
    6. Leaders are put in their positions by God (see Romans 13:1)
      1. Give honor to them whether you like them or not
      2. Pray for them
      3. If you don't, you are dishonoring God
  4. John 19:12-17
    1. Pilate was disturbed that the Jews called him no friend of Caesar
      1. He was on thin ice with Tiberius Caesar
      2. He had made three bad mistakes
        1. When he was first in power, he came into town with figures of Caesar
          1. Against Jewish law to have any image of any person
          2. This caused the Jews to rebel and demand he remove the figures
          3. He threatened to cut their heads off, and they fell to the ground with their necks bared
          4. Pilate recanted and removed the images
        2. He wanted to build an aqueduct to bring more water into Jerusalem
          1. Not enough money, so he took from the temple treasury
          2. Secretly sent soldiers into the protesting crowd to kill several people
        3. He brought tribute shields with an image of Caesar to Antonia Fortress
          1. The Jews found out and protested
          2. Caesar himself ordered Pilate to remove them
      3. This was a veiled threat against him
      4. The chief priest stated that they had no king but Caesar
        1. They rejected Jesus as their King
        2. In AD 70, Caesar ordered Titus to destroy the temple, the city, and 1.5 million Jews
    2. The sixth hour on the Preparation Day (Friday)
      1. Roman time
        1. Day began at midnight
        2. Sixth hour = six in the morning
      2. Preparation Day was when the lambs were slaughtered in the temple and eaten as the Passover meal in Jerusalem
      3. The leaders had not yet eaten; they did not want to enter Antonia Fortress lest they be defiled
      4. Jesus and His disciples had already eaten the day before (see John 13)
        1. In Galilee, the day was from sunrise to sunrise
        2. In Jerusalem in Judea, the day was from sunset to sunset
        3. Galileans ate the Passover on one night, and the Judeans ate it on the next
        4. Helped with the volume problem in Jerusalem
      5. While Jesus was being sacrificed on the cross, the sacrificial lambs were being slaughtered in the temple
    3. Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified
      1. He gave in to the people (see Luke 23:23)
        1. Peer pressure
        2. He knew Jesus was innocent
      2. They led Jesus to Golgotha
        1. Kranion in Greek
          1. Where we get the word cranium
          2. The skull bones
        2. Calvarium in Latin
        3. The rock formation looks like a skull
      3. Jesus was probably crucified in front of this hill
        1. The Romans liked to show the population their gruesome punishments
        2. Crucified people on main roads
  5. John 19:18-22
    1. Jesus was crucified between two people
      1. The person in the middle was considered the worst
      2. "He was numbered with the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12)
      3. Position of disgrace
    2. The Romans did not invent crucifixion, but they perfected it
      1. Invented by the Persians
        1. Intended to lift a person off the ground
        2. So as not to defile the earth
      2. If the Jews had their way, they would have stoned Jesus
        1. Being crucified fulfilled the prophecy about the kind of death He would die
        2. Jesus was put on a stake with a crossbeam (patibulum)
          1. Seventy-five to 100 pounds
          2. He carried it after all the torture He had already endured
    3. Pilate wrote "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" above Jesus
      1. Three languages: Hebrew, Greek, Latin
        1. Jerusalem was multicultural and multilingual
        2. Hebrew: the language of religion
        3. Greek: the language of the world—education and culture
        4. Latin: the language of Rome—law and order
      2. Jesus was the Savior for all people
    4. Most people who were crucified stayed on a cross for days
      1. Designed to delay death
      2. Person usually died of asphyxiation
      3. Jesus died earlier than expected—only six hours
Figures referenced: Eusebius, Flavius Josephus, Tiberius Caesar, Titus

Greek/Latin words: calvarium, ecce homo, flagellotio, fustigatio, kranion, patibulum, thaumazó, verberatio

Cross references: Genesis 3:18; 22:1-18; Leviticus 24:16; Isaiah 52:14; 53:5, 12; Matthew 27:19; Mark 15:5; Luke 23:2, 23; John 10:31-33; 13; Romans 13:1

Topic: Jesus' Crucifixion

Keywords: Calvary, Mount Moriah, Golgotha, cross, sacrifice, scourge, crown of thorns, blasphemy, Son of God, Pilate, Preparation Day, Passover, peer pressure, crucifixion

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 19:23-42
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 19:23-42
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4166

MESSAGE SUMMARY
Jesus suffered a gruesome death on the cross. Not only that, but the majority of his followers abandoned Him in His greatest hour of need. In this message we examine the Roman practice of crucifixion, and what Jesus must have felt as He paid the atoning sacrifice to save us from our sins.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Most everyone in the world is familiar with the symbol of the cross
      1. Began in the Middle East
      2. We're very used to it and can sometimes become desensitized to it
    2. The Romans took crucifixion and used it to execute the worst criminals in their culture
      1. Roman citizens were exempt from being crucified
      2. Reserved for murderers, armed robbers, and insurrectionists
    3. Jesus had three religious trials and three civic trials
      1. In Gethsemane, He sweated great drops of blood (see Luke 22:44)
        1. Hematidrosis
        2. Capillaries in forehead burst into the sweat glands
        3. Happens during extreme stress
      2. Pilate commanded Jesus be scourged (see John 19:1)
      3. Jesus carried the patibulum of His cross to Golgotha (see John 19:17)
        1. Seventy-five to 100 pounds
        2. He couldn't carry it all the way (see Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)
    4. Golgotha (see John 19:17)
      1. Calvarium in Latin
      2. The Romans usually required the victim to carry their cross along the longest route
      3. A morbid parade to show people what happened to those who defied Rome
      4. Via Dolorosa = Way of Sorrows
        1. Spanish
        2. Pilate and the tenth legion were from Spain
    5. Pilate, in a sense, coronated Jesus as King of the Jews by writing as much on a sign above Him on the cross (see John 18:36-37; 19:19-22)
      1. Pilate probably did this to anger the people who wanted to kill Jesus
      2. The Jews wanted Pilate to amend the sign
        1. In John 19:21, said is in the imperfect tense, meaning they repeated what they said
        2. Pilate stood by what he had written and refused to change it
      3. When Jesus was born, wise men came from the east looking for the King of the Jews (see Matthew 2:1-12)
      4. When Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, some people acknowledged Him as their King (see John 12:13)
      5. Jesus told Pilate His kingdom was not of this world (see John 18:36)
        1. Not to say His kingdom won't one day be of this world
        2. The first time He came, He came to deal with sin
        3. When He comes the second time, He will be not only the King of the Jews, but the King of Kings (see Revelation 19:11, 16)
  2. John 19:23-27
    1. The soldiers cast lots for His garments
      1. When a person was convicted of a capital crime, their belongings became the spoils of the Roman government
      2. Four soldiers assigned to the cross—quaternion
      3. A Jewish male had five articles of clothing
        1. Outward tunic
        2. Inward tunic
        3. Belt
        4. Headpiece
        5. Shoes
      4. They cast lots for the fifth piece, fulfilling Scripture (see Psalm 22:18)
        1. David wrote this Scripture hundreds of years before crucifixion was invented
        2. John wanted us to know that this was not a coincidence
        3. God is in control (see John 10:18)
    2. People at the cross
      1. Could be divided into two groups
        1. Four unbelieving soldiers
        2. Four believing women and an apostle (John)
      2. Jesus uttered seven sayings from the cross
        1. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34)
          1. Got the attention of the soldiers
          2. Got the attention of the two thieves on either side of Him (see Luke 23:38)
        2. "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43)
        3. "Woman, behold your son!... Behold your mother!" (John 19:26-27)
        4. At noon, a darkness covered the land
          1. Mentioned in ancient Roman history books
          2. During that time, Jesus was silent
        5. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
        6. "I thirst!" (John 19:28)
        7. "It is finished!" (John 19:30)
        8. "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit'" (Luke 23:46)
      3. The women outnumbered the male followers of Christ at the cross
        1. Where were the apostles?
          1. Peter had said he would never forsake Jesus (see Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:33)
          2. John was the only apostle there
        2. When Jesus fed the crowds, thousands were there
        3. When He preached, hundreds of people heard Him
        4. When Jesus was in the hour of His sorrow, His twelve disciples were there
        5. In the garden of Gethsemane, He took Peter, James, and John
        6. At the cross, only John was there
    3. Three of the women at the cross were named Mary
      1. Common name in the New Testament
        1. At least six different Marys
        2. Named after Moses' sister, Miriam
      2. Mary the mother of Jesus
        1. Mary must have remembered when she and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be dedicated (see Luke 2:25-35)
          1. God told Simeon he would not die until he saw the Messiah
          2. Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce Mary's soul because of Jesus (see vv. 34-35)
          3. Mary must have understood this prophecy as she saw her Son on that cross
        2. From this day forward, Mary was brought to John's own home
          1. History states she died eleven years later at the age of fifty-nine in Jerusalem, where John's second home was
          2. Another tradition says she traveled with John to Ephesus and died there
        3. We know she was not assumed into heaven
          1. Catholics believe in the Assumption of Mary, that she did not die but was taken into heaven
          2. This is not founded on anything in the Bible, history, or tradition of the earliest church
        4. Suffering is all-consuming
          1. Jesus was suffering but still thinking of His mother
          2. He wanted to make sure she was taken care of
          3. Rather than thinking of Himself, He thought of others
      3. Mary's sister Salome, the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John
      4. Mary the wife of Clopas
        1. Some believe Clopas is the man Cleopas, who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus (see Luke 24:18)
        2. Clopas is a shortened version of Cleopas
      5. Mary Magdalene
        1. Mary was the notorious sinner who had seven demons cast out of her (see Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2)
        2. Probably who Jesus referred to as having been forgiven much and loving much (see Luke 7:47)
  3. John 19:28-37
    1. Jesus was given sour wine
      1. This was the second time they offered Him wine; the first time, He did not accept it (see Matthew 27:34)
        1. Wine mixed with gall
        2. A pain reliever that would cause the person to be disassociated with their pain
        3. Jesus refused the medication because He was taking on the sin of the entire world—drinking from the cup of the wrath of God
        4. He did not want anything but the full measure of God's wrath; He felt it all
      2. The effects of crucifixion create a burning thirst
        1. Dipsō = I thirst
        2. They filled hyssop with sour wine
          1. A weed that soaked the wine like a sponge
          2. Hyssop was used to spread lamb's blood on the Israelites' doorposts in Egypt (see Exodus 12:7-13)
          3. When Jesus was on the cross, thousands of lambs were being slaughtered in the temple
      3. Sour wine was the cheap wine of legionnaires
    2. "It is finished!" (v. 30)
      1. He did not say, "I am finished" or "We are finished"
      2. A cry of victory, not defeat
      3. Tetelestai = fulfill, accomplish, pay
        1. Used when a servant fulfilled his master's command
          1. Appropriate because Jesus was doing the will of the Father (see John 3:38)
          2. He finished doing the bidding of His Master
        2. Used by the priests as they examined lambs to be sacrificed
          1. If the lamb was without blemish, they would say, "Tetelestai"
          2. Appropriate because Jesus was the Lamb without blemish or spot (see 1 Peter 1:19)
        3. Used by artists when their work was done
          1. Meaning it is completed
          2. Appropriate because when we read the Old Testament, we do not get the entire picture
          3. It comes together in the New Testament and we see the plan of God
        4. Used by merchants
          1. When a transaction was complete and the item was paid in full
          2. Jesus paid it all
      4. The finished work of Jesus Christ
        1. When you try to add to it, you are insulting God
        2. When people try to get to heaven on their own, they are saying what Jesus did was not good enough
    3. They did not break Jesus' legs
      1. Jesus was dead after six hours
      2. Usually a victim lasted two to three days on a cross before they died
        1. Until they suffocated
        2. They would push up on their legs and pull on their arms to breathe
        3. When paralysis set in, they were no longer able to get breath and died
      3. The Romans would leave the person on the cross for days after that
        1. Even up to a week or two
        2. Scavengers would come and tear the flesh
        3. Body would begin to smell
      4. The Jews had a law that required bodies be buried the same day the person was killed (see Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
        1. They wanted the bodies off the crosses so they could go enjoy the Passover
        2. They did not want their land defiled
      5. They requested the Romans break the legs of the three men on the cross
        1. An act of mercy
        2. Death would come more swiftly
      6. Jesus was already dead, so they did not break His legs
    4. They pierced Jesus' side and blood and water came out
      1. John wanted to make sure his readers knew that the things he was writing were true
        1. In the early church, a group emerged who said Jesus did not have a physical body (Gnostics)
        2. Docetic Gnosticism says Jesus was not human and did not have a real human body
      2. According to some medical experts, the fact that water came out with the blood shows that Jesus died of cardiac failure
        1. Postmortem evidence
        2. Broken heart syndrome
        3. It would not be inaccurate to say Jesus died of a broken heart
          1. The weight of the sin of the world
          2. Separation from the Father (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
  4. John 19:38-42
    1. Joseph of Arimathea was a secret believer
      1. Mentioned in all four Gospels (see Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:43-46; Luke 23:50-53)
      2. A just and righteous man
      3. A young believer in the Roman government
      4. Came even though all the other disciples fled (besides John)
    2. Nicodemus was the man who came to Jesus by night (see John 3:1-21)
      1. Could be that he had a busy schedule
      2. Could be that he wanted time alone with Jesus
      3. The marvel is not that he came to Jesus by night, but that he came at all
    3. Joseph and Nicodemus came to Jesus again at the time He needed to be buried
      1. A last act of mercy
      2. They took care of His dead body
    4. The tomb
      1. Gordon's Calvary
        1. In 1842, a British general stood on the Damascus Gate and saw in the mountain what looked like a skull
        2. He bought the land, which is still owned today by a British company called the Garden Tomb Association
      2. They excavated one of the largest cisterns in Israel
        1. They also found a winepress
        2. When they dug a little more, they found a tomb dated 2,000 years ago
        3. Beautifully preserved as a garden
        4. Because of this, many believe this was the tomb Jesus was buried in
    5. Jesus experienced many things on the cross
      1. Darkness
      2. Burning thirst
      3. Separation from God
      4. Sounds like hell (see Hebrews 2:9)
      5. He experienced all of this so you would not have to (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)


Figures referenced: Oswald Chambers

Greek/Spanish/Latin words: calvarium, dipsō, quaternion, tetelestai, Via Dolorosa

Cross references: Exodus 12:7-13; Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 22:18; Matthew 2:1-12; 26:33-35; 27:32, 34, 46, 57-60; Mark 14:29-31; 15:21, 34, 43-46; 16:9; Luke 2:25-35; 7:47; 8:2; 22:33, 44; 23:26, 34, 38, 43, 46, 50-53; 24:18; John 3:1-21, 38; 10:18; 12:13; 18:36-37; 19:1, 17, 19-22, 26-28, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 19:11, 16

Topic: Jesus' Death

Keywords: cross, crucifixion, Gethsemane, scourge, Golgotha, King of the Jews, casting lots, apostles, Mary, Assumption of Mary, selflessness, sour wine, God's wrath, tetelestai, lamb, broken heart, Docetic Gnosticism, tomb

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 20
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 20
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4168

MESSAGE SUMMARY
After Jesus' death and burial, His followers were confused and in despair. Little did they know their sorrow was about to turn to joy—Jesus was alive. As we take the Lord's Supper, we examine the experiences of those who saw Jesus after His resurrection and learn about the commission He gave them and all believers.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. Christians typically gather on Sundays because Christ rose from the grave on the first day of the week
      1. Celebrate that death was vanquished by life
      2. The disciples made it a point to meet every week on Sunday because of the resurrection (see Acts 20:7)
    2. The resurrection is something many people have heard about since they were kids
      1. We fail to recognize how shocking it was to hear and see
      2. When Paul taught the resurrection in Athens, the people mocked him (see Acts 17:15-32)
  2. John 20:1-10
    1. Most religions are based on the philosophical teachings of their founders
      1. Only four religions are based on personalities
        1. Judaism: based on Moses, the lawgiver
        2. Christianity: based on Christ
        3. Buddhism: based on Buddha
        4. Islam: based on Muhammad
      2. Only Christianity is based on a resurrection
    2. In John's account of the resurrection, he described three people who saw something
      1. They all saw essentially the same thing, but what they thought about it was different
      2. Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John
    3. Mary Magdalene
      1. Went with other women to the tomb (see Matthew 28:1)
      2. John chose to only write about Mary
        1. She may have arrived earlier than the others
          1. The fourth and last watch of the night: 3-6 am
          2. She probably didn't sleep very well
        2. She had a unique love for Jesus
          1. He had done something for her that no one else had ever or could ever do
          2. He forgave her and extended love to her (see Luke 7:47)
        3. She had seven demons cast out of her (see Matthew 16:9; Luke 8:2)
          1. Her hometown, Magdala, was known for prostitution
          2. Maybe she was a prostitute
      3. Upon seeing the stone rolled away from the tomb, she ran to Peter and John
        1. She expected to see a sealed tomb
        2. Stone weighed two to three tons
        3. She immediately thought someone had robbed the grave and stolen His body
          1. Very common
          2. Emperor Claudius outlawed grave robbery and made it a capital offense
      4. Her natural mind worked for a natural explanation, but she was wrong
    4. Peter and John
      1. Luke wrote that the disciples did not believe Mary (see Luke 24:10-11)
      2. They ran together to the tomb
        1. John arrived first but did not go in
        2. Peter arrived second and went in, seeing the empty tomb
        3. John went in, saw the empty tomb, and believed
      3. Three Greek words for see
        1. Blepó = to look at (see v. 5)
          1. To notice facts
          2. John was taking everything in
        2. Theóreó = to look at, gaze, behold (see v. 6)
          1. We get the word theater from this
          2. Peter studied closely and intently
          3. Did not come to a conclusion—bedazzled
        3. Eidó = to know, remember, appreciate (see v. 8)
          1. To see with comprehension or understanding
          2. John got it; he saw and believed Jesus rose from the dead
      4. Jewish burial process (see John 11:44)
        1. Body was wrapped in strips of cloth soaked with substance made from aloes and spices
        2. Each limb wrapped, then entire body
        3. Substance hardened and formed a sort of cocoon
        4. Another piece of cloth covered the face
      5. Peter and John noticed that the linen cloths were undisturbed, but collapsed
        1. Swoon theory
          1. Jesus didn't really die; He merely fainted
          2. If that happened, the linens would have been strewn around the tomb
        2. If someone had stolen the body, they wouldn't have unwrapped it there; they would have taken the whole encasement with them
      6. The head handkerchief was folded in a place by itself
        1. Jewish custom: if you were a guest and were treated well by your host, you would crumple your napkin and lay it on your plate
        2. If you were not treated well, you would fold your napkin
        3. A polite way of saying, "You will never see me again"
  3. John 20:11-18
    1. Mary saw two angels: one where Jesus' head had been and one where His feet had been
      1. Reminiscent of the mercy seat, where blood was sprinkled for atonement (see Leviticus 16:11-16)
      2. Angels appear in thirty-four books of the Bible
      3. Mark and Luke called the angels men (see Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4)
        1. Human forms
        2. Heavenly messengers
      4. The angels asked Mary why she was weeping
      5. Angels appeared throughout Jesus' life
        1. At His birth (see Luke 2:8-14)
        2. At His temptation (see Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:13)
        3. At His resurrection
      6. This is the only time we see angels sitting
    2. Mary did not recognize Jesus
      1. He also asked why she was weeping
      2. Mary, supposing He was the gardener, asked Him to tell her where Jesus' body was so she could get Him
        1. Shocking statement, because she would not have been able to carry Him
        2. Body weight plus 100 pounds of spices
        3. Love doesn't ask the details
      3. She was looking for a corpse, not a living Lord
        1. It was dark and early; she was crying and not paying attention to details
        2. Jesus was resurrected, and a resurrected body, though similar to the original, has enhanced features (see 1 Corinthians 15:42-43)
        3. She may have been supernaturally restrained from seeing Him (see Luke 24:16)
    3. One word changed Mary's life: her name spoken by Jesus
      1. He revealed Himself to her vocally
      2. Not by what she saw (see Romans 10:17)
    4. How often have you wondered where Jesus is?
      1. He's right in front of you (see Matthew 28:20)
      2. We miss Him because of our trials and sorrow
      3. Look for Him in the hardest part of the trial (see Philippians 3:10)
      4. There's an intimacy you can have with Christ only when you suffer
    5. Jesus gave Mary instructions
      1. To not cling to Him, as she had a job to do
      2. He instructed her to tell His disciples that He was risen
        1. This is the first time He referred to His disciples as His brethren
        2. Because He paid the sin atonement, they could have a relationship with the Father (see Hebrews 2:11)
  4. John 20:19-23
    1. Jesus greeted His disciples gently
      1. Shalom = peace
        1. Hebrew greeting
        2. Response is ma shlomcha, or "How is your peace?"
      2. The disciples had the doors locked
        1. How did Jesus get in?
        2. If He was able to pass through the grave clothes, a wall was no problem
        3. This is a preview of coming attractions for our resurrected bodies (see Philippians 3:21)
          1. In the resurrected body, time and space are different
          2. When we're raised from the dead, we're going to have some fun
    2. Commission
      1. The disciples were to take Jesus' place in the world
        1. We are the body of Christ
        2. Witnesses to the world (see Acts 1:8)
        3. We bring His peace wherever we go (see Acts 1:1-2)
        4. Jesus never told the world to go to church; He told the church to go to the world (see Mark 16:15)
        5. Invite people to know Christ wherever you are
      2. Jesus instructed them to receive the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:4)
        1. He breathed on them
        2. God originally breathed life into man (see Genesis 2:7)
        3. When Jesus breathed on them, He pledged spiritual life
        4. Spirit is the same word for breath in both Hebrew and Greek
          1. Ruach qodesh = Holy Spirit (Hebrew)
          2. Ruach = breath (Hebrew)
          3. Pneuma = wind, breath, spirit (Greek)
  5. John 20:24-31
    1. Thomas
      1. Called Didymus, the Twin
      2. He was the most raw and honest of the disciples (see John 11:16)
      3. Spoke up when he did not understand (see John 14:1-7)
      4. It was eight days before Jesus appeared to him
        1. Thomas missed the peace and joy of Jesus' first appearing
        2. Out-of-fellowship believers miss out on so much
        3. There are many believers who are not belong-ers
    2. Jesus was in a resurrected body, but He retained the wounds He suffered at His crucifixion
      1. Our resurrected bodies will remain at our genetic pinnacle
      2. Jesus ascended to heaven in that body (see Revelation 5:5-6)
      3. Jesus will bear those wounds proudly because they're how we get to heaven
      4. We will always be reminded of what He did for us
Figures referenced: Emperor Claudius

Works referenced: Talmud

Greek/Hebrew words: blepó, didymus, eidó, ma shlomcha, pneuma, ruach qodesh, shalom, theóreó

Cross references: Genesis 2:7; Leviticus 16:11-16; Matthew 4:1-11; 16:9; 28:1, 20; Mark 1:13; 16:5, 15; Luke 2:8-14; 7:47; 8:2; 24:4, 10-11, 16; John 11:16, 44; 14:1-7; Acts 1:1-2, 8; 2:4; 17:15-32; 20:7; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 15:42-43; Philippians 3:10, 21; Hebrews 2:11; Revelation 5:5-6

Topic: Resurrection

Keywords: resurrection, religion, tomb, grave, burial, swoon theory, angels, mercy seat, resurrected body, sorrow, trials, peace, body of Christ, church, Holy Spirit, honesty, fellowship

 


 

SERIES: 43 John - 2016
MESSAGE: John 21
SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig
SCRIPTURE: John 21
URL: http://SkipHeitzig.com/4170

MESSAGE SUMMARY
As we conclude our study in the book of John, we learn Jesus had a mission when He invited His disciples to have breakfast with Him. Jesus gave Peter a chance to redeem himself and commissioned the disciples to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.

DETAILED NOTES

  1. Introduction
    1. The gospel of John is like a studied portrait
      1. Painters have to take time to study the face of their subject
      2. Matthew, Mark, and Luke—the Synoptic Gospels—all describe events from a very similar viewpoint
      3. 90 percent of the material in John is not found in the other Gospels
        1. Healing miracles
        2. "I am" statements (see John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7-9, 11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1)
        3. Upper Room Discourse
        4. Prayer of Jesus (see John 17)
    2. John ended chapter 20 with the theme of Jesus Christ and faith in Him
      1. Jesus and Christ are found more than 170 times in John
      2. Believe is found 100 times
      3. The theme of John is believing in Jesus Christ
    3. It appears John could have ended his book after chapter 20 (see John 20:30-31)
    4. Two reasons why he didn't end there
      1. Jesus is a great Savior
        1. Jesus promised His disciples He would die, be buried, rise again, and see them again
        2. He needed to commission them to preach the gospel
      2. John is a great friend
        1. If John would have ended at chapter 20, we would still have the opinion that Peter was a failure
        2. John wanted us to know how Peter was restored by Jesus
        3. John loved Peter
        4. John wanted the reader to know that though Peter denied Jesus three times, he also affirmed Jesus three times
        5. If we did not have chapter 21, we'd be confused about the book of Acts
          1. We know Peter failed, denied, and ran away from the Lord
          2. In Acts 1-12, Peter is the main character who brought the gospel at Pentecost and was one of the leaders of the early church
  2. John 21:1-6
    1. Seven of the twelve disciples were together at the Sea of Tiberias
      1. Peter was a natural leader and originally a fisherman
      2. Matthew gave us another piece of the story (see Matthew 28)
        1. Jesus had told His disciples to meet Him on a mountain
        2. They waited for Him for several days, so Peter decided to go fishing
        3. Some people think it was wrong for Peter to go back to fishing
          1. Jesus called him out of that occupation (see Matthew 4:18-19; Mark 1:16-17)
          2. Like he was going back to his old ways
        4. You can wait passively or actively
          1. Peter wanted to do something while he was waiting
          2. Jesus instructed them to do business until He came (see Luke 19:13)
        5. It is easier to direct a moving object than a stationary object
        6. As you wait for the Lord, stay busy
        7. Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac (see Genesis 24)
          1. "I being in the way, the Lord led me" (Genesis 24:27, KJV)
          2. Get in God's way
          3. He is moving, and we should move with Him
    2. The best time to fish on the Sea of Galilee was at night
      1. In the morning, they would sell their fresh fish
      2. They would light torches in the boat and the fish would be attracted to the light
      3. Yet hour after hour, they caught nothing
    3. In the morning, Jesus appeared to them on the shore, but they did not recognize Him
      1. The boat was far from shore and the light was dim
      2. Possibly, Jesus' resurrection had brought significant change to Him
      3. Paul elaborated on the resurrected body (see 1 Corinthians 15)
        1. The difference between our current bodies and our resurrected bodies is the difference between a seed and a plant
        2. A seed looks very different from a flower
    4. Jesus called them children
      1. Paidion = a little child, an infant, little one
      2. The term a guardian or loved one would use
    5. Because they had caught no fish, Jesus instructed them to let their nets on the right side of the boat
      1. Seven and a half feet from the left side of the boat
      2. When they obeyed, they caught so many fish that their nets almost broke
      3. Jesus did not grow up as a fisherman; He was a carpenter
        1. He gave fishing advice to actual fishermen
        2. He knew more about fish than they did; He created them
    6. Jesus wanted the disciples to face their failure
      1. God oftentimes asks questions to which He obviously knows the answers (see Genesis 3:9-11; 1 Kings 19:9-10)
      2. He wants us to face our failures and admit them
      3. Jesus is often right there with us, and we don't recognize Him (see Genesis 28:11-16)
    7. There is a huge difference between doing something on your own and doing something at the leading of the Lord
      1. The difference is the results
      2. If it is not Spirit-directed service, it will not produce results
      3. Be obedient and listen to what He says
  3. John 21:7-14
    1. John figured out it was Jesus standing on the shore
      1. He had also figured out Jesus had been raised from the dead (see John 20:3-8)
      2. He knew they couldn't catch fish like this unless it was the Lord
      3. This scenario sounded familiar to John (see Luke 5:1-8)
      4. There was no explanation other than it had to be Jesus
        1. How Peter got up and preached on Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-41)
        2. How people who come from such sinful backgrounds are completely changed
    2. Upon hearing this, Peter put on his cloak and jumped into the sea
    3. When they reached the shore, Jesus was already there with a fire, bread, and fish
      1. They caught 153 fish
      2. Early church leader Jerome
        1. Stated that at the time of this event, there were 153 known species of fish in the world
        2. When Jesus commissioned His disciples, He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature
    4. Jesus invited them to eat breakfast with Him
      1. He made a fire
        1. Peter had denied Jesus at the fires of the enemy
        2. Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57; John 18:25
      2. He made them breakfast
        1. In ancient times, to eat with someone meant intimate fellowship with them (see Revelation 3:20)
        2. To eat a meal with someone who had wronged you was a gesture of forgiveness
      3. He made them add their fish to His fish
        1. He didn't have to do that; He could have brought in more fish if He wanted to
        2. Jesus doesn't need your help, but He loves your involvement
        3. Jesus didn't need the little boy's loaves and fishes to feed thousands (see John 6:5-14)
        4. He loves for us to bring what we have to Him
    5. The highlight of the disciples' day was not fishing—it was eating breakfast with Jesus
      1. Sometimes we who serve the Lord are in danger of becoming so busy about the King's business that we forget the King Himself
      2. Begin in fellowship with Him (see Revelation 2:1-4)
  4. John 21:15-19
    1. Jesus had a conversation with Peter in front of the other disciples
      1. Peter was hurting; he carried with him the weight of denying Jesus three times
      2. Jesus and Peter had already met privately (see Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
      3. Peter denied Jesus three times, and he was able to publicly affirm Him three times
    2. "Do you love Me more than these?" (v. 15)
      1. Possibly referring to his occupation
      2. Possibly referring to the other apostles
      3. Possibly referring in a comparative sense to the other apostles
        1. Peter had once said he loved Jesus more than the others did
        2. Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31
      4. Agapaó = to love
        1. 100 percent, self-sacrificing love
        2. The kind of love God gives
    3. Peter responded that yes, he loved Jesus
      1. Used the word phileó
      2. He admired Jesus
    4. Jesus asked Peter again, using the word agapaó
      1. Peter responded again, using the word phileó
      2. The third time Jesus asked Peter, He used the word phileó
        1. He moved down to Peter's level
        2. Peter was grieved because Jesus was questioning whether he even admired Him
        3. Peter appealed to Jesus' knowledge of him
          1. When Peter said that he would die rather than deny Jesus, he was effectively saying Jesus did not know him
          2. Here he acknowledged that Jesus knew him
    5. Jesus commissioned Peter three times
      1. We would understand if Jesus did not want to use Peter because of his failure
      2. Instead Jesus entrusted Peter with His sheep
    6. Jesus predicted Peter's death by crucifixion
      1. To stretch out one's hands was a euphemism for crucifixion
      2. Peter was crucified upside down because he felt he was not worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord
      3. This was encouraging to Peter
        1. He would not only live for Jesus, but he would die for Him as well
        2. He would die an old man
          1. This is significant, because Peter was later arrested in Rome and sentenced to death (see Acts 12:1-6)
          2. He was chained between two guards, sleeping
          3. He knew he was not to die yet
  5. John 21:20-25
    1. We often get worried about other people when we should be worried about our own walk with the Lord
    2. More could be said about Jesus, but John did not write all of it
Figures referenced: Eusebius, Jerome, Charles Spurgeon

Greek words: agapaó, paidion, phileó

Cross references: Genesis 3:9-11; 24; 28:11-16; 1 Kings 19:9-10; Matthew 4:18-19; 26:31-35; 28; Mark 1:16-17; 14:27-31, 66-68; Luke 5:1-8; 19:13; 22:55-57; 24:34; John 6:5-14, 35; 8:12; 10:7-9, 11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1; 17; 18:25; 20:3-8, 30-31; Acts 2:1-41; 12:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 2:1-4; 3:20

Topic: Restoration

Keywords: believe, Peter, commission, waiting, resurrection, fish, fishing, eating, obedience, failure, denial, forgiveness, restoration, love


43 John - 2016 | SkipHeitzig.com/series374
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