THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THEY TOOK JESUS AND LED HIM AWAY

JOHN 19:16-18

John 19:16, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.”

Jesus “had been all night in agony, he had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, he had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; he had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted him. They were eager for his blood, and therefore led him out to die, loaded with the cross.” —Charles H. Spurgeon.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ for our sins was a cooperative effort by both Gentiles and Jews contrary to what established religion has said for centuries.

I. JESUS WAS DELIVERED TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

A. The people were given a choice, Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

1. They chose Barabbas over Jesus, Matthew 27:26, “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

2. They chose death over life, Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

B. The Roman soldiers were involved as Mark tells us, Mark 15:16-20, “And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.”

1. Jesus was led away from the Jews where the “whole” band of soldiers {400 to 600) could deal with Him, v. 16; Matthew 27:27, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.”

2. They clothed him with purple, any color mixed with red, (Matthew says scarlet), v. 17; Matthew 27:28, “And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.”

3. They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, v. 17; Matthew 27:29, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”

4. The soldiers mocked Him, humiliated Him, and led Him away to be crucified, vv. 18-20.

II. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WAS TO CRUCIFY JESUS

A. “Behold, your King,” vv. 14-15.

1. Minutes before the soldiers had mocked Jesus calling Him “King of the Jews,” John 19:3, “And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.”

2. Now Pilate seeks to move the affections of the people in order to release Jesus, but to no avail, v. 15, “But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.”

3. The chief priests hated the Romans, but they hated Jesus more, John 11:48, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”

4. Their greatest fear became a reality, Ezekiel 21:26-27, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”

CONCLUSION

Jesus will soon return and claim His rightful place on the throne of David His father. What if He came today would you be prepared to meet Him? Or would you be among the mockers who are so bold today to speak out against the Lord.

He suffered and died to pay for your sins and now just as the Jews were given a CHOICE, you are given a choice today. Who will you choose?

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Introduction:

Pilate had asked the question of the Lord, but he did not wait for an answer. The world puts a high premium on truth, but does not really want to hear it. You are here today expecting me to tell you the truth, but some become angry when they hear it. Others ignore the truth hoping that it will go away, while yet others accept it with great joy.

Let us consider the question, “What is truth?”

I. THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH

John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

A. The Word of God sets us up apart that we might believe, John 17:19, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

1. Hearing the Word of God sets us apart to trust and have faith, Romans 10:17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. Receiving the Word of God as the truth sets us apart unto the Lord, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

B. The Word of God, the Truth, has it affect on our lives, “And such were some of you.”

1. But ye are washed… by the Spirit of our God, Rev. 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

2. But ye are sanctified… by the Spirit of our God, Heb. 10:10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

3. But ye are justified… by the Spirit of our God, Romans 3:24, 28, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

II. JESUS DECLARES HIMSELF TO BE THE TRUTH.

A. I AM the way, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

B. I AM the Truth.

1. Jesus is full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

2. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

3. John the Baptist bare witness of Jesus Christ, John 5:33, “Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.”

C. I AM the Life, John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

III. THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD POINT TO THE TRUTH, JESUS CHRIST

A. The Spirit of God bears witness to the incarnate Word, 1 John 5:6, “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

B. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit, Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

C. The Spirit of truth lives within us, John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

D. The Spirit will guide us, John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

CONCLUSION:

What is truth? The Truth is Jesus Christ. He it is who can save you soul if you will trust Him today. He is the way to heaven; He is the Truth: He is the Life and that life is eternal life by faith in Christ.

WAKING AWAY FROM THE FEAST WITH THE GREAT “I AM.”

JOHN 6:31-71

Many people would give almost anything to have a meal with some renowned writer or perhaps a great military man of years gone by. Many would consider that the high point of their life.

In these verses the Lord of Glory invites men to “Come and dine” (John 21:12) with him, but many have doubts about the “Bread.” Other remember the “manna” that Moses gave to Israel saying that he gave them “bread from Heaven,” v. 31. Let us consider these things as the Lord…

I. OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DINE.

A. Who was Jesus in comparison to Moses? The crowd that asked for a sign from Jesus must have felt that the feeding of the 5,000 did not compare with Moses’ gift of bread from heaven.

B. They thought Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand was less significant because manna fed the whole nation for 40 years, but they missed two things.

1. Many of the Israelites who were fed 40 years in the wilderness did not believe.

2. God’s signs authenticated both Moses and Jesus; therefore both should be listened to and believed.

II. OFFERED THEM A BETTER CHOICE THEN THEIR FATHERS HAD.

A. Our fathers did eat “bread from Heaven,” v. 31.

1. That bread was only for the physical life.

2. Jesus offers the true bread from heaven.

B. Jesus said, “My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven,” v. 32.

1. The great “I Am” offers this bread.

2. The “true” bread gives life, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

III. OFFENDED AT THE CHOICE.

A. Jesus is too literal for their taste, vs. 48-51.

1. “I am that bread of life,” v. 48.

a. Jesus is saying that He is the true bread from Heaven.

b. He is saying that you have to partake of that bread.

2. “Except ye eat my flesh,” v. 53, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”

B. “This is a hard saying,” v. 60.

1. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, v. 58.

2. Jesus promised, “he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” v. 58.

C. Jesus asked, “Doth this offend you?” vs. 61-64.

1. “It is the Spirit that quickeneth,” v. 63. Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

2. Jesus knew those who did not believe, v. 64, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus knows our hearts. He knew before this conversation with these Jews that many would not believe in Him. He knows right now whether you will trust His as your Savior. He still offers to save your soul even when He knows whether you will believe or not.

VERILY, VERILY GREAT TRUTHS

JOHN 8:51

“Verily, verily” at the beginning of a discourse means “surely, truly,” or “of a truth.” At the end of a discourse it means “so it is, so be it,” or “may it be fulfilled.” It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, or had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded “Amen,” and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.

There are 25 occurrences of the expression “verily, verily,” all in the Gospel of John. The word “verily” is used in other places, but in these 25 verses the word is doubled calling attention to an important thought that the Lord wants to convey to His hearers.

I. REGARDING SALVATION

A. You must be born again, John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

B. How you are born again, John 3:5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

1. The hearing of the Word of God, John 5:25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”

a. Those dead in sin, Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

b. Hearing the Word brings faith, Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. The believing of God’s Word, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

a. You have eternal life immediately, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

b. You shall never come into condemnation, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

c. You have passed from death to life, 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

C. Believing in Jesus Christ, John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

II. REGARDING SIN

A. “I tell you the Truth (verily, verily) about sin, John 8:34, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

1. The servant of sin, Romans 6:16, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

2. But thank the Lord you obeyed the truth, Romans 6:17-18, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

B. Sin had made us the enemies of God, but we were reconciled to God by His Son, Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

1. We have been declared righteous, Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

2. The problem of our justification was resolved by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, Romans 3:25-26, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

III. REGARDING UNBELIEF

A. You did not believe Me, Jesus said, John 3:11, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.”

B. Nicodemus was religious but had no knowledge of spiritual things, John 3:9-10, “Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”

1. Paul speaks of his ignorant unbelief, 1 Timothy 1:13. “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

2. Nicodemus came to know the truth and believed on Jesus Christ and was at the Lord’s burial, John 19:39-40, “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”

CONCLUSION:

There is much more regarding the expression “verily, verily” in the book of John. We have only touched on a couple of area of these great truths.

TO WORSHIP IN TRUTH
JOHN 4:19-26

As the Lord speaks to the Samaritan women He brings a new perspective on the worship of God. Here he describes what it is to worship the Lord in truth. Salvation comes to the women as well as a new understanding of what worship is all about and to whom that worship is to be directed.

I. TRUE WORSHIP

A. Jesus condemned the worship of the Jews, Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

1. Jewish tradition had taken the place of statutes of God, Matthew 15:2-3, “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”

2. Jesus showed how the religious leaders had nullified the commandment of the Lord, Mark 7:11-13, “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

B. Jesus said the Samaritans did not know what they worshipped, John 4:22, “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”

1. They were not the vehicle for the salvation of mankind, Romans 9:4-5, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

2. Salvation is through Jesus Christ who was born of the seed of Abraham, Galatians 3:13-14, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ;”

C. Jesus defines true worship, John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

1. “God is a spirit,” is a declaration of His invisible nature. He is not confined to one location.

2. Jesus has declare Him, John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

a. Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed a new birth, John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

b. The Spirit opens to the believer a new realm of the Kingdom of God, John 7:38-39, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

II. JESUS IS THE TRUTH OF GOD

A. Jesus declares Himself to be the Truth, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

B. John the Baptist bore witness of the Truth, John 5:31-33, “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.”

C. God’s truth endures forever, Psalm 117:2, “For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”

III. THROUGH JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO WORSHIP THE FATHER

A. Jesus declares the Father, John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

1. Jesus reveals Himself, v. 26; John 9:35-37, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.”

2. Jesus reveals the Father, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

3. Jesus reveals the only way to the Father, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

B. The Father declares the Son, Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

1. We are told “hear ye Him,” Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

2. Many want to hear Him, Luke 15:1, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”

a. Some were very attentive, Luke 19:48, “And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.”

b. Some even came out early in the morning to hear Him, Luke 21:38, “And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.”

CONCLUSION:

Do we really worship the Lord in truth and in Spirit? Many are not willing to trouble themselves, but the Lord’s people come even early in the morning to worship Him.

God has been good to revebe able to worship Him today.al the truth to us that we might