Jesus performed multiple signs and miracles to substantiate his identity, his purpose, and his power. Many of his listeners were convinced, but religious leaders only became angrier and more frustrated. What about you? What do you believe? Today on Truth for Life, Alastair Begg reviews the evidence and the responses.
Uh Yeah. I invite you to turn to the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of John. and to follow along as I read. Just a brief section from verse 20. to verse twenty six.
John chapter 12. And verse 20.
Now, among those who went up to worship at the feast. were some Greeks So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. and asked him Sure. We wish to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew, Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
And Jesus answered them. The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, It remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it.
And whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, He must follow me. And where I am there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the father, will honour him. Amen.
We thank you, Father, that you have left to us Uh your word. that when your word is proclaimed, your voice is heard. That you are the God who speaks. in such a way that even the dead hearing your voice. may come to life.
Accomplish, Lord, your purposes in our study this morning and this evening, we ask. For Jesus' sake. Amen. Well, you would have picked out our truly, truly there in verse 24. For those of you who are visiting, we started some time ago, I think.
And we have been working our way through the Gospel of John, considering these. Verse 24: Truly, truly I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, It remains alone. but if it dies, it bears much fruit. And what Jesus is making clear here in this illustration is that his death is the basis, is the source of spiritual life to the world. that by his death He brings life to the world.
Now In Coming to each of these texts, we have been fairly repetitive. In saying to one another, it is very important that we understand each of these in light of the wider. perspective of the entirety of the Gospel of John. And we know that the stated purpose of John in writing this gospel is not an academic purpose. but it is an evangelistic purpose.
And we know that from what he says in the 31st verse of chapter 20. Quotes: Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples. which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Now each of the Gospel writers, the Synoptic writers Matthew, Mark and Luke and John, have an express purpose in the way in which they unfold the material. And what John has provided for us is a highly concentrated perspective on the work of Jesus. And he has marshalled, if you like, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the material that he provides for us. In such a way that he presents these signs, not every sign. But approximately seven of these signs.
He presents them, if you like, as evidence. concerning the identity of Jesus. the purpose of Jesus and the power of Jesus. These signs, this evidence, is to provide a basis for the response of faith. And the response of faith is then in turn to be seen by discovering life in his name.
And so it's important that we keep this in mind, not only as we're listening to the Bible being taught, but as we're sharing the Bible with others, as we're telling other people, as I hope we are when we have occasion to meet them about Jesus. Because I find that people are very, very quick to say, often in rebuttal, that they're not prepared to take a leap into the dark. They understand perhaps the forcefulness or the enthusiasm that we may share with them, but we're not going to take a leap into the dark. And part of the privilege that is entrusted to us is to say, no, no, no, nobody wants you to take a leap into the dark. In fact, what the Bible is asking us to do is to step out of the darkness and into the light of life.
Jesus says, I am the light of the world. He that follows me will not walk in darkness.
So it's not leaping into the dark, it is stepping out of the dark into the embrace of Jesus.
Now, what we've also said is that we need to consider each of these statements not only within the framework of John's express purpose for his. his gospel, but also in light of of the setting, the place in which uh we find it. It's important for us perhaps also to recognize, and you'll see this just by reading yourself. That this chapter, this twelfth chapter of John, Contains for us the last words and acts of Jesus that are conveyed in the public arena. This is John's final recording of what Jesus was doing and saying out, if you like, in the thoroughfares of life.
When you turn from 12 into 13, then you find that he is now with his disciples. You then have the upper room discourse where he is preparing his disciples for the fact that I'm going away. Don't let your hearts be troubled, I'm going away, and so on. And then he prays in chapter 17 and then in chapter 18, we then come to the events of the passion.
Now Given that it is Jesus' closing public statements, if you like, as recorded by John, I think it's worth just noticing in verse 44. that Jesus is crying out to the world that he has come to. And what does he cry out in verse 44? Whoever believes in me, he says, believes not in me, But in Him who sent me. And whoever sees me Seize him who sent me.
I've come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me. may not remain in darkness.
So that what Jesus has come to do as he steps out into the thoroughfare of life, as he approaches the closing stages of this, no surprise, he is still saying the same thing. And sometimes, when you say that we as pastors keep saying the same thing over and over again, there is good precedent for that. Because that's exactly what Jesus is doing.
Now I gathered my thoughts. I sat for a long time staring. I usually do. But I finally wrote down four words to help me. If they help you, then that's fine.
If not, it just gives me a framework. First word is frustration. The second word is investigation. The third word is explanation, and the fourth word is application. But you don't need to worry about anything other than frustration.
Not that you're going to be frustrated by this, although there is a possibility that you will be. Because what I found myself doing was going back through the Gospel of John. To understand just why it is that here in chapter 12, you will find that the crowd is going out to meet Jesus. This is verse 18. This incidentally is why it's important for you to have your Bible.
The reason why the crowd went out to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. That is the sign of the raising of Lazarus, an unmistakable sign. And so the Pharisees said to one another, This is going nowhere. You see that You are gaining nothing. Look.
The whole world has gone after him. We've been trying to shut this down for ages. And look at where we are. The world The voice of the evil one, From the very beginning. Seeking to disband that which God has put in place.
Now, it's something of a paper chase, and I invite you to follow my little chase under the heading of frustration. On the part of the Jews. Remember, he came to his own. His own did not receive him. Not only did they not receive him, but they opposed him.
and they were actually filled with animosity towards him.
Now, for example, in chapter 5, If you remember, we studied in part the healing of the invalid at the pool. That's chapter five. The reaction to that on the part of the religious establishment was not solid. Verse 10 of chapter 5.
Now that day when the man was healed, was the Sabbath.
So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, We rejoice with you. That after being an invalid for 38 years, you are now up and about.
Now, if you don't have a Bible, you don't know whether they said that or not. If you have a Bible, you know, and they never said anything of the kind. They said it is the Sabbath. And it's not lawful for you to take up your bed. In verse 16.
The man, of course, had gone away and told The people, what was going on, verse 16, and this is why the Jews were persecuting Jesus. Because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. And he says to them, Well, you should just know that my father works on the Sabbath. He makes the wind blow, he makes the sun rise, he puts the moon in its place, the oceans are under his control, and I too am working.
Well, that frustrated them even further. Verse 18, this was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him. Because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. I remember what John's purpose is. I've provided these things in order that you might.
believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing you might have life in his name. And they hear this, and they say, no, we want nothing to do with that at all. We can move from five into chapter seven, where we have the record of Jesus at the Feast of the Booths. And on that occasion, we're told by John there was a tremendous amount of muttering that was going on. They're in verse 12.
And there was much muttering about Jesus among the people. While some said he's a good man, others said no, he's leading the people astray. Yet, for fear of the Jews, no one spoke openly. of him. And then five.
What they were seeking to do was arrest him. You can see that in verse 30.
So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. We'll come back to that later. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done? And the Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers.
To arrest him. As you read on in the chapter, you find that there was a division among the people. When they heard these words, some of the people said, Verse 40, this really is the prophet. Father said this is the Christ.
Some said it's the Christ to come from Galilee. It's interesting. It's the kind of thing you would have in a conversation, perhaps, as you're sitting waiting for an aeroplane, and somebody starts the conversation and they say the very same thing.
Well, you know, I've given some thought to Jesus. I'm from a Muslim background. I actually believe that he was a prophet. And somebody says, well, he wasn't simply a prophet, he was actually the Messiah of God. Oh, says my Muslim friend, but I don't believe that.
And then we have to say, well, who's right here? Is he simply a prophet? Or is He the actual incarnate Son of God? This is the Christ. But some said, is the Christ to come from Galilee?
And then they have a big interchange about that. It's quite wonderful, actually. And then in verse uh 45. Then the officers the officers then came to the chief priests. Who said to him, Why did you not bring him?
Because remember, they send the officers to get Jesus. We don't have to close him down. And the officers come back. And they don't have Jesus. Why didn't you bring Jesus?
Well, they said nobody ever spoke like this, man. And the Pharisees said, Oh, no, you're not telling me. that you've swallowed this now as well. Yeah. You guys, you're the officers.
You're supposed to be taking care of this. Have you been? Deceived? By him? Isn't that what some of our unbelieving friends say?
You've just been deceived. You've swallowed a bill of goods. Have you been deceived? Have any of the authorities of the Pharisees believed in him? Yeah.
What they're saying is this, you don't see any of us. believing in Jesus. But The crowds The ignorant crowds The people that don't know the law They're accursed. What a level of frustration you see when an individual, wrestling with who Jesus is and what he's done, decides again and again to have nothing to do with him. That might be where you are today.
I don't know. Chapter 8, I told you, it's a paper chase. Chapter 8 and verse 39. Jesus has told them that the truth is going to set you free. And uh You can read that on your own for homework.
Eventually It hits the point in verse 58. Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was. I am.
Well, that did it. Yeah. And that pushes them over the edge. And so they picked up stones. to throw at him.
But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. How amazingly frustrating. Chapter 9 is fantastic, isn't it? You remember the man born blind. What a predicament this is for them.
Because the man can see. And they can see that the man can see. But they don't want to believe why it is that the man can see. The person says, you know, in fact, uh think of Wesley. Wesley Why is A vicar who had a problem with booze and a horrible bad temper while he was a vicar.
Because he was an unconverted minister. It was only when his heart was strangely warmed and he discovered the reality of who Jesus is. that he discovered abstinence, as it turns out. And he began to get his temper by the power of the Holy Spirit under his control. But when he and his brother came to their mother, and said We just actually have discovered who Jesus is.
Their mother said, Oh, no, no, you've known who Jesus is for a long time. You're a minister, for goodness sake. They were unconverted ministers. offering the bread of life to people. Having never eaten the bread, themselves.
And these individuals who are The ones who should be declaring the work of the prophets and the fulfillment of their purposes. They are dumbfounded by the fact that this man, who was born blind, can now see. And once again, notice how gracious they are to him. Verse thirty-two. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. This is the blind man speaking. They answered him. you were born in utter sin. And you're gonna teach us?
And they threw him out on the street. In chapter 10, you will remember, in response to the fact that Jesus declares himself to be the good shepherd. Once again, instead of deciding to follow him, verse 31, they picked up stones again to stone him. And Jesus appeals to them. Logic.
The Jews said to him, It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you. But for blasphemy Because you being a man make yourself God. And Jesus actually points out to them If I'm not doing the works of my Father, Then do not believe me. But if I do them Even though you do not believe me. Believe the signs.
Believe the works. That you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father. And again they sought to arrest him. You see The Jews who are opposing him are right. to conclude that Jesus is claiming deity.
That's their problem. They realize that he's actually declaring himself to be the Messiah. and their right to recognize that claim. What they're wrong about is then assigning to him Blasphemy. Because the irony actually is They are.
The true Blasphemers. They are within touching distance of the Messiah. They are the ones who have been present to see His miracles, to hear his words. And he is speaking clearly to them. He's compelling, if you like, them to think logically about things.
Forget this idea that the way you become a Christian is you disengage your brain and put it under the seat and try and feel your way into something. No, not for a moment. And so we're told that he escaped. And he escaped from their hands, verse 39. He didn't escape to avoid Pain.
but he escaped to fulfil his purpose. Which brings us to chapter 11. Chapter 11. What a shame that there is no truly, truly in chapter 11. This is such a disappointment to me because I wanted to do chapter 11.
But you know what has happened. And you know that in the interchange that takes place between Jesus and Martha and Mary. The striking question that falls right in the middle of it all, and it is a question for the ages, isn't it? where Jesus having said, I am the resurrection and the life, Whoever believes in me, even though he die, yet shall he live. And to everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
And then here's the question: do you believe this? Do you believe this? You're not asking, do you believe in religion? He's not asking anything other than, do you believe this? coming to a belief.
which in John's Terminology involves personally committing oneself to Jesus. As Son of God, Saviour, Lord. Lamb of God. and king. You're listening to Alistair Bigg on Truth for Life.
We'll hear more about Christ's deity tomorrow. As Alistair pointed out today, becoming a follower of Jesus isn't a blind leap of faith. The Bible challenges us to use our brains and to think it through. That's why our mission at Truth for Life is to teach the Bible with clarity and relevance. Our prayer is that God's Spirit will work through Alistair's teaching so that unbelievers will become committed followers of Christ and believers will continue to grow in faith.
and we are so grateful for the prayerful and financial support that comes from you. Your giving makes it possible for anyone, anywhere in the world, to access Alistair's teaching library of nearly three thousand sermons for free. We never want cost to be a barrier for those who want to come to know Jesus. It's also your support that brings our daily program to listeners through nearly 2,000 radio stations. In fact, we recently received a letter from a listener who wrote and said, Under God's guidance, I started listening while I was in prison, and even though it was my own doing to be there, God knew that imprisonment was just what I needed to take him seriously.
I've been out for 10 years now, and I'm living the life God had in mind for me. I just want to say thank you for being direct and unapologetic in your teaching. I know that God used you to reach me, and I have learned now to use God's Word for answers to everything. Thank you for your teaching. Thank God for His Word.
Well, you can be part of the team that brings Truth for Life to so many, like this grateful listener, when you become one of our Truth Partners. Truth Partners are listeners who have benefited from Alistair's teaching and want to share it with others by giving a monthly donation. You can sign up at truthforlife.org slash truthpartner. or you can call us at 888-588-7884. When you do get in touch with us, be sure to request your copy of the book, Come You Weary, Enjoy Christ's Comfort.
The book is our way of saying thanks for your support. This little book turns your focus to the promises of Jesus so you can find rest for your weary soul. I'm Bob Lapine. Many of Jesus' listeners were convinced of who he was, and yet others refused to believe, regardless of what they heard or saw. Why is this?
Tomorrow we'll review even more of the evidence and the responses. The Bible teaching of Alastair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life. Where the Learning is for Living.
