THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

JESUS FULFILLS THE LAW

JOHN 2:12-17

Introduction:

Here we have a short visit Christ made to Capernaum, v. 12. It was a large and populous city, about a day’s journey from Cana. It is called “his own city,” in Matthew 9:1, “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” because he made it his headquarters in Galilee, and what little rest he had was there. It was a place of concourse, a meeting place for commerce, and therefore chosen by Christ that the fame of his doctrine and miracles might spread from there and beyond.

Now He goes to Jerusalem for the first of four Passovers that He observed during His ministry in order to fulfill the Scriptures.

I. JESUS MADE UNDER THE LAW

Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

A. The first step in fulfilling the Law was His Baptism, Matthew 3:14-15, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

1. John sees his own need, v. 14, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”

2. John acquiesces or rests satisfied in the Lord’s word, v. 15.

B. The Lord’s First Concern was to do the Will of the Father, John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

1. That is His “Meat,” John 4:32, “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.”

2. Jesus felt as Job did, Job 23:12, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

3. That was His Delight, Psalm 40:8-9, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

C. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1. Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, determined to do God’s will.

a. Jesus KNEW what was ahead, Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

b. His determination was to FINISH the work that God had given Him to do, Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

2. The Lord’s Example ought to motivate us to greater service for Him, John 13:15-17.

a. The Lord does not mean that we should wash each other’s feet.

b. He means that we should be willing to do as He did, 1 Peter 2:21, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

II. JESUS’ ZEAL FOR THE LAW

A. The Lord’s zeal for the Law is seen in our text, John 2:14-17.

1. The money changers, Mark 11:15, “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;”

2. The disciples remembered the Scripture, John 2:17, “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

B. The Lord’s zeal for the truth.

1. 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.”

2. 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.”

3. Jesus is 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.”

4. Jesus said the truth shall make you free, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

5. Our worship of Jesus is to be in Spirit and in truth, John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

6. Jesus’ Word is Truth, John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

C. Jesus expects His churches to have His zeal.

1. To repent of wrongdoing and do God’s will, Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

2. To be a people zealous of good works, Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

CONCLUSION:

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:7.

IN THE GARDEN

JOHN 18:1-11

The Lord had finished His prayer to the Father and had eaten the Passover with His disciples. He also instituted the Lord’s Supper after Judas Iscariot had departed on his mission to betray the Lord.

Now He goes over the brook Cedron, which runs between the Temple in Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, v. 1. He had set His face to fulfill the will of the Father.

I. JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

A. Jesus went to pray, Luke 22:41-44, “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

1. Here in the garden He separates Himself a bit from the disciples, Matthew 26:36, “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.”

a. Here alone Jesus begins to suffer for our sins, Luke 22:44, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

b. Here it was that God send His angel to strengthen His Son, Luke 22:43, “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

2. Here in the garden we see His determination to do the Father’s will, Luke 22:42, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

B. Jesus went to be betrayed, vs. 2-5.

1. It was Jesus’ custom to retire at night to the Mount of Olives when in Jerusalem; there his quarters were, in the skirts of the city. This was much like Daniel, Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

a. David had prophesied this, Psalm 110:7, “He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.”

b. The Brook Cedron, the black brook, so called either from the darkness of the valley it ran through or the color of the water, tainted with the dirt of the city; is typical of His suffering.

2. Judas knew the place where Jesus went to pray, v. 2.

a. Judas was very intimate with Jesus knowing where he went to pray, Luke 21:37, “And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.”

b. Many know about Jesus, but like Judas they don’t know Him in their heart, 2 Peter 2:21, “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it , to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

C. Jesus is betrayed, v. 3; Matthew 26:47-49, “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.”

1. Judas was guide to them that took Jesus, Acts 1:16, “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.”

2. Here with Judas was a great multitude; that the scripture might be fulfilled, vs. 3; Psalm 3:1, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.”

“The soldiers . . . officials from the chief priests, and Pharisees united in their hostility toward Jesus. The detachment of Roman soldiers was a cohort (speiran, 10th part of a legion), which here included about 600 men.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary.

3. Peter intervened, but the Lord stopped him, vs. 10-11, “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”

CONCLUSION:

The Lord Jesus all the way knew exactly what was going to happen. His courage was second to none, as was His determination to fulfill the will of His Father.

IF ANY MAN THIRST

JOHN 7:37-53

Introduction:

Jesus invites man to come and drink at the well of living water. This is the same water that Jesus offered the woman at the well in John 4. This is the water of life that satisfies for eternity.

This water gives eternal life that the Lord is offering to man. All that man has to do is DRINK believing and trusting in Jesus as his Savior.

Then Jesus tell us that no one will be turned away. God is not like man. His love extends beyond our unfaithfulness. He loves us even when we are unlovely.

I. LET HIM COME UNTO ME

A. You will not come to me, John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

1. Because man loves darkness, John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

2. They do not want to hear the truth, John 8:45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”

3. They did not even believe His miracles, John 12:37-38, “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

B. I will not cast you out, John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

1. The Lord has never lost one who came in faith to Him, John 6:39, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

2. We will be with Him, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

3. He will give us rest, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

a. He will give us rest for our souls, Isaiah 11:10, “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”

b. His rest is glorious, Isaiah 32:17, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

II. LET HIM COME AND DRINK

A. Let him drink from the Rock, Exodus 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

B. That Rock was Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

1. It is a spiritual drink of living water, John 4:10, “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

2. If you have thirst, Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

a. If you are thirsty, come draw from the well, Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

b. Take of the water of life freely, Isaiah 55:1, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

III. LET HIM BELIEVE IN ME

A. He that believeth on me…

1. Shall never thirst, John 6:35, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

2. Has everlasting life, John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

3. Will have the Holy Spirit indwelling him, John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

4. If you believe on Jesus you believe in the Father, John 12:44, “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.”

5. Will do greater works, John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

B. He that believes in Jesus will enjoy the fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Those of us who have drunk of the water of life have never been thirsty again. The water of life gives perfect satisfaction.

The benefits of drinking at the wells of salvation are beyond our imagination. We have salvation, but there is so much more to look forward to, especially the Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I TELL YOU THE TRUTH

JOHN 6:26, 32, 47, 53

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,” means “I tell you the truth” in modern English. In this 6th chapter of John the Lord make this statement four times. The Lord gets plain spoken with these so-called disciples. They were following Jesus, but not necessarily by faith. They were along for the material benefits that they received from being with Him at the right time.

Let’s examine these four statements for their truth.

I. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU…

John 6:26, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”

A. Ye seek me not because you saw the miracles, John 6:15, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

1. They were interested only in themselves, Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”

2. Israel was looking for a King to save them, not from sin, but rather, from the Romans, Luke 19:38, “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

B. But because you ate the bread, Romans 16:18, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

II. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU…

John 6:32, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”

A. Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, Exodus 16:4, 8, “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.”

1. Moses had supplied them with leadership under the Lord, but not bread.

2. The LORD had given them bread from heaven, Psalm 78:22-24, “Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.”

B. My Father gave you the TRUE Bread from heaven, John 6:33, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”

1. Jesus is the True Bread from heaven, John 6:35, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

2. The Jews were murmuring because they recognized Jesus, John 6:41-42, “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”

a. Jesus was in His home country, Matthew 13:57, “And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”

b. Even the Lord’s brethren did not believe in Him at that time, John 7:5, “For neither did his brethren believe in him.”

III. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU…

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

A. He that believes on Me, 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:”

1. John the Baptist came before Him that men might believe in Jesus, John 1:6-7, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”

2. The entire book of John was written for this purpose, John 20:30-31, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

B. Believing that you might have everlasting life, John 3:15, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

1. The end of your faith, 1 Peter 1:9-10, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:”

2. It is the will of God, John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

IV. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU…

John 6:53, “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.”

A. Unless you identify with Jesus, Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

B. You will not have eternal life, Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus told us the truth. There is no salvation in any other. Luke wrote in 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.”

Everything that is written in the Bible is written in order to save us from hell and give us a better life here on earth.

I HAVE LOST NONE

GENESIS 31:38-40; HOSEA 12:12

Key verse: JOHN 17:12

Introduction:

The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world as a man to do the Father’s will. He called unto Himself a people and gave them eternal life. Satan has tried from the very beginning of time to destroy the work of God, but he has been defeated by the Savior.

Of those that the Father has given to Jesus Christ He has lost not one. Every one of them will enjoy eternity in the very presence of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ for all of eternity.

I. SATAN TEMPTED HIM SORELY

A. The desert knew his temptations, Matthew 4:2, “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

1. The devil tempted Jesus through His physical needs for He was a man, John 1:30, “This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”

2. The Scripture tells us that he suffered as a man, Hebrews 2:18, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

B. The desert knew His conflict, Mark 6:31, “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”

1. The Lord retired to a desert place for time with the Father, Mark 1:35,“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

2. He invited His disciples to come aside for rest and fellowship, Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

C. The desert knew his victory too, Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

1. We are more than conquerors, Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

2. We have the armor of God with which we may defend ourselves, Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

II. OF JESUS OWN HAND GOD REQUIRED FAITHFULNESS AS A SHEPHERD

A. My sleep departed from mine eyes, Luke 6:12, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

B. His hair was wet with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night praying for His Beloved, Song of Solomon 5:2, “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”

C. All night he was in prayer wrestling for his people as Jacob wrestled with the Lord, Genesis 32:24, “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

D. We witnessed the fervor of His prayer, James 5:17, “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

1. One night Peter must be pleaded for, Luke 22:31-32, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

2. At other times another claims his tearful intercession, Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

III. I HAVE LOST NONE

B. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus laid down His life for the sheep, John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

C. As the Good Shepherd, He had cared for His Sheep, John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

D. His Sheep are protected in His hand, John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

1. I have kept them in your name, John 17:11-12, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

2. He is able to keep us, 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

CONCLUSION:

The Lord has fulfilled His word to the Father in that He has called unto Himself a people and has care for them and preserved them for eternity, Titus 1:3, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”