Sunday, March 29, 2009

John Talk 4 - Chapter 14:15-31 & 16:5-16

Jesus goes to his father so that we may receive the holy spirit and all his benefits!
Introduction

Did anyone hear see the latest Baz Luhrman epic Australia?
It seems to me the only thing epic about it was the media propaganda leading up to its release, unless you think the level of ambivalence by the movie-going public after its release was even more epic!
Now I didn't see the movie, and maybe when it gets to the one dollar weekly section at the DVD store I'll give it a go!
But what was interesting about the movie, other than the fact to cost $130 million to make, but only $78 million after ATO rebates -- and we wonder why no one has got any money to fix the public transport system! Anyway back to the point, what was interesting about the movie was that when the preview was trialled at pre-release, there was two different endings, one where the heartthrob hero Hugh Jackman lives, and one where he dies.
Guess which ending trialled better?
Those of you who saw the movie you won't have to guess I suppose, but for the rest of you, which won do you think trialled better for today's society?
Of course the one with the hero lives. Not because it makes a better story I am sure, but because it makes us feel better about the story. The hero dying is too much like real life, we go to the movies to escape life.

So our society today almost without exception chooses the feelgood option. But you know what is surprising, Mankind hasn't changed that much over the last 2000 years, because the disciples in their day actually weren't all that much different.

This week as we move into the second half of John's gospel it becomes clear to us all, and increasingly clear to the disciples, that this story is in fact a tragedy, it is a drama where the hero will die. And both the disciples (and ourselves as readers) get a preview of this as Jesus reveals what will happen, but just like today’s audiences the disciples don't want to hear this kind of story either!

The second half of this book is like watching a movie which all of a sudden switches to slow motion. As the final nine or so chapters cover the space of one week leading up to Jesus death. The story slows down to focus our attention on the importance of this event, but also to allow Jesus to explain the significance of this event for his followers, he is explaining to them what true discipleship looks like.

John 12:23-26 23And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, 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. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 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 honor him.

Well, as you may remember last week we left Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, back in chapter 11, where he had raised Lazarus from the dead. And it really is this great act of power, generosity and mercy, which will ensure and seal Jesus death warrant with his enemies.

John 11:48-50 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

Jesus knows the events he set in action, he knows the conclusion of these events will be his death, and as we move forward to chapter 14 today it throws into sharp relief the events that will result for his followers from his death, his return to his father.

What is staggering about Jesus at this point, is that he knows the harsh realities of when he will die, and how he will die and yet his chief concern is for the anguish his disciples feel because he will leave them.

Me, I'd be saying, “a little focus here fellas, I am the one dying!”

But unsurprisingly Jesus is not like me in his response, he is instead like a terminal patient putting his affairs in order, to ensure his family's well-being after he is gone. He is ensuring his family's inheritance, an inheritance of the holy spirit and all its benefits for them.

1. In the face of his imminent death, Jesus concern is not for himself but for His disciples.
NIV John 16:5
"Now I am going to him who sent me,
yet none of you asks me,
'Where are you going?'
6 Because I have said these things,
you are filled with grief.

16: 12 "I have much more to say to you,
more than you can now bear.

14: 18 I will not leave you as orphans;
I will come to you.

Jesus will die but his going to the father, will allow the holy spirit to be sent, from the father and the son, to be with his disciples and counsel them. Jesus concern is not for the imminent and terrible death he is about to face, but his concern is for his disciples, for his sheep, and the impact his death will have on them.
No wonder he is the good Shepherd, even his death is all about the sheep and their well being.

In this, the son demonstrates that great characteristic of God, of being “other person centred”. This characteristic that is at the heart of our God who is Trinity, which incidentally means it should be at the heart and centre of all our Christians faith and life.

And Jesus death will have a purpose for his disciples, he tells us in
14: 29 I have told you now before it happens,
so that when it does happen
you will believe.

This will be another sign to them, because he told them the truth about it beforehand. It will be a sign to encourage, strengthened and grow their belief that Jesus really is the Christ, the one sent from God the father, the one full of grace in truth, the one who brings life and light to all mankind who believe!
Christ's demonstration of concern and love, is how God is disposed towards us, in the midst of our hardship, suffering, confusion and sin in this broken world. God through Christ in the spirit is for us, even in the face of imminent, costly and painful death, Christ was for us.

2. Jesus has no fear of his enemies and their plans.

Throughout John's gospel, we have seen consistently in each of his interactions, Jesus is always the most perceptive person. Not only does he see the situation’s rightly, he seems to be able to perceive the people he speaks to, at a depth which they sometimes don't even understand about themselves.
And not only that, he is also the most powerful person in the Gospel, the one who heals to sick, feeds the hungry, walks upon the sea, the one who raises the dead.

Jesus is the incarnate Lord, the word became flesh, and he perceives reality in a sovereign manner that always achieved his goals. And we see this most acutely in John's Gospel in his dealings with his enemies, and particularly the part they will play his death.

14: 28 "You heard me say,
'I am going away and I am coming back to you.'
If you loved me, you would be glad
that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
29 I have told you now before it happens,
so that when it does happen
you will believe.
30 I will not speak with you much longer,
for the prince of this world is coming.
He has no hold on me,

We see here Jesus perceives the coming of his enemies, this is no surprise to Jesus, he knows this timetable of his death will run to schedule like Swiss public transport!
He then declares that the Prince of this world has no hold over him, in fact he is condemned we read in 16:11.

Which is to say the devil is defeated at the cross, Christ is the victor over the devil, over Sin and death in his very own death and his cry upon the cross, "it is finished!".

Jesus has no fear of his enemies in their plans, because what they have intended for evil, God has purposed for good!

And you know what, in Christ's victory over his enemies, he has defeated our enemies as well. And by the power of his in dwelling holy spirit, we are called up into this personal relationship with Christ, in which all his riches become ours. Christ in his death, has in the same moment defeated our enemies of sin and death, the Devil, fear and judgement -- do you believe?

It seems to me, too often today Christian people live in fear of these things, like they have forgotten how this story ends!
Jesus has won, and because of this so shall we. So we are to live as victors, not like the captive slaves of the defeated.
Christ has brought to us victory and peace in the spirit.
1427 Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.

The only two commands Jesus gives in this whole passage, is;
- do not let your heart be troubled
- do not be afraid.
Christ is the victor and through the power of the holy spirit, so are we.
Jesus has no fear of his enemies and their plans, so in Christ neither should we.

3. The Holy Spirit will bring glory to the Son, as the Son brought glory to the Father.

John 16: 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own;
he will speak only what he hears,
and he will tell you what is yet to come.
14 He will bring glory to me
by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine.
That is why I said the Spirit will take from
what is mine and make it known to you

The spirit Jesus talks of is the holy spirit, the spirit of God, the spirit who is God, the spirit who is the third person of the Trinity. The trinity of father-son and spirit, who three persons in unity, that are one God.

The spirit comes from the father and the son, and serves the father and the son by doing their will, by speaking what is spoken by them and bringing the son glory in exactly the same way the son has brought glory to the father.
14 V24b These words you hear are not my own;
they belong to the Father who sent me.

So we see from this text, the Trinity has in itself ordered relations, or a hierarchy, between the father son and the holy spirit. Each of the persons have unique contributions to make (ie.the son was crucified, not the father or spirit) but all act to one purpose, which is for the glory of God through the salvation of sinful man!

All three persons are God, and fully God, but have different and complementary role's. However each of the persons of the Trinity exhibit that fundamental building block of God's character, of being “other person centred”.

The holy spirit’s role is to serve and bring glory to the son.
And by participating in the spirit, we also serve the son and bring him glory.

But what does participating in the spirit mean?
-- good question thanks for asking!

4. The holy spirit for us!

The holy spirit is most commonly referred to in this passage as our counsellor (or paraclete)
14 16 And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—
17 the Spirit of truth.

The holy spirit has the role of being our advocate, to enable us, the one who guides, convicts and strengthens us in line with Christ's Truth.

And this means to clear things for us
I. A deep, personal and intimate relationship with God
II. At the heart of our relationship with God is love, that is expressed in our Obedience.
I. A deep, personal and intimate relationship with God
14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father,
and you are in me,
and I am in you.

In this passage we notice that the spirit is with you and in you, it is personal in this sense, it is not an abstract force, nor is it like teen spirit – just some human emotion, but it is personal with us, and in us and yet distinguishable from us.
14 23 Jesus replied,
"If anyone loves me,
he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our home with him
The holy spirit takes us into a deep relationship with all of God, father-son and spirit. The spirit takes Christ (and all his benefits) and makes him (and them) our personal possession.

Jesus points out a number of times in this passage, that this love from God, this love of God, in the Fellowship of the holy spirit is not an abstract feeling, but has a shape to it, a content to it -- it is founded upon the truth. The truth of who Christ really is and this is brought to ourselves, into the depths of our hearts and minds by the servant holy spirit.
16 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own;
he will speak only what he hears,
and he will tell you what is yet to come.
14 He will bring glory to me
by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine.
That is why I said the Spirit will take from
what is mine and make it known to you.


There is a content and shape to the love of Christ and we are given that content and shape in Christ's words. Christ's words and the holy spirit are unified in their purpose and intent to save the sinner, and to rule Christ's world through bringing Christ glory. The word of God and the spirit of God go together.
16 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything
I have said to you.

Christ rules his church (his people) even today, through his word and his spirit. The word and spirit go together to testify to the truth of Christ. And our loving response to God - is to obey the word in the power of the spirit.

II. At the heart of our relationship with God is love, that is expressed in our obedience.
14 NIV John 14:15
"If you love me,
you will obey what I command.

14 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them,
he is the one who loves me.
14 23 Jesus replied,
"If anyone loves me,
he will obey my teaching.

plane and simply this passage is telling us, you cannot love Jesus if you do not love his word. And you do not love his word if you do not obey it. And you cannot obey Jesus, unless you receive and are empowered by his holy spirit.

The Christian life is about a relationship with Jesus. You cannot love Jesus if you do not love his word, if you will not listen to him speaking to you -- by which of course we mean listening to the Bible.
And you will not love and obey his word, unless you are empowered by his spirit, and how do we receive his spirit, well unsurprisingly by believing his word.

The apostle Paul tells us that all scripture is God breathed, which means the Bible is the spirit's testimony of the words of Christ, brought to life in our minds and brought to action in our lives, by the same holy spirit that inspired that word in the first place.
The word and the spirit go together, they serve and bring glory to Christ. Our love to Christ is to obey his commands, because Christ rules his church by his word and his spirit.
To love Jesus you must love his word.
1423 Jesus replied,
"If anyone loves me,
he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 He who does not love
me will not obey my teaching.
These words you hear are not my own;
they belong to the Father who sent me.

Now a few years ago, I was in a second-hand bookstore in Katoomba, and I found a copy of one volume of John Wesley's collected works. So I decided to purchase it. But as I got to the front counter I realised that I had no cash, and they did not take credit card or EFTPOS. So the guy serving there, hung onto the book at the front counter for me, while I wandered up the street to the bank.


By the time I got back to the counter, the guy was actually having read of Wesley's book. Now anybody who knows anything about Christian history knows that John Wesley was a giant of the Christian faith. He was actively involved in the conversion of myriad of people, but also actively engaged in profound and effective Christian works of social good for all of society.

Now to my knowledge, the guy at the counter was not a Christian, but he said after reading one of Wesley's letters to his friends, "the whole letter was soaked in Scripture allusions, it's almost like he couldn't help but speak it!".

People who love Jesus, love his word, and they express their love through obedience to his word in the power of the holy spirit.

5. The Holy Spirit for the world

The holy spirit does for the world exactly the same thing as Jesus signs and words. It gives sight or it confirms blindness. Which is not surprising because the spirit and Jesus words go together and worked together for the same purpose. The holy spirit is God's legal advocate convicting the world of sin, by leading some to repentance and then confirming the wilful sinfulness of the rest.
16 8 When he comes,
he will convict the world
of guilt in regard to
sin
and righteousness
and judgment:
9 in regard to sin,
because men do not believe in me;
10 in regard to righteousness,
because I am going to the Father,
where you can see me no longer;
11 and in regard to judgment,
because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
in essence this means that the servant holy spirit is the great evangelist of the Christ doesn't it?

It means that no one is innocent before God because they all actively sin and then turn from the holy spirits testimony to their spirit about it. But by the spirits power the testimony of the spirit can lead people to the throne room of Grace, to receive the gift of the Christ who died from them who comes clothed in his words of promise in the Gospel.

This year the Anglican diocese in Sydney is undertaking its connect 09 out reach, and the truth is without the profound outpouring of the holy spirit upon people to hear the truth of Jesus words, so they may turn and be saved, the whole thing will be a miserable failure.

God's call upon all our lives is that we like the spirit would serve Christ (in the spirits power) to convict the world by Jesus words to repentance that they may also find life and glorify Christ.

We are compelled aren’t we to pray for the holy spirit's work in Christ's world.

In fact let's do that now;
our heavenly father,
we give you thanks that you with your son, sent your spirit to enliven our minds, emboldened our hearts and enable our hands to love obey and serve you, in order that you may be merciful upon the lost and bring glory to your self. We ask Lord that you would be merciful upon us so that we may actively participate in the fullness of the holy spirit, his works, gifts, leading and teaching so that we may see the great evangelists work amongst the lost, so that they may hear Christ's words and be saved.
For Jesus Glory alone we pray these things
Amen.


Excurses: the holy spirit and guidance

One of the areas I have wound up doing some thinking about in my Christian life, is the question of how does the holy spirit guide Christian people today?
And you know what the most common answer had been given on this issue is, "do you have a peace about your decision?".

And as a fairly immature Christian, this was pretty much all was offered in the way of instruction. And I suspect the text we looked at today would have been used as some sort of justification for that view, because Jesus seeks to bring us peace doesn't he?

But you know what?
In hindsight, in my life, I have done some things that at the very least were dumb, and if I stop to contemplate them long enough and honestly, they probably were sinful. But at the time I would have said I had a peace about it.

And in contrast, in my life, I have done some things with abject fear, things that I know in hindsight when I contemplate them, were good and godly things.
Try a preaching the gospel to a couple hundred people without fear, most people say they would rather die than do public speaking.
Try doing evangelism in a caravan park full of holiday people including bikers without fear.

Try leaving a “perfectly good” career to become a full-time student again for four years at theological College without being afraid whether you have made the right decision or not.

What I am trying to say is, Peace is not the one emotion to rule more when it comes to the issue of guidance and the holy spirit, in the face of complex and hostile world.

The peace Jesus is talking about, is not an emotion associated with any given decision, but a peace because we know who wins in the end, and we know he is the one who holds our real treasure for us.

We know that God is sovereign, we know that God is good, we know that God is in control of all things, that he knows all things, we know he has numbered the days of our life in the hands on the head, there are no surprises for God in his world, and you only need to look at Jesus in this passage to be assured of that.

God knows what he has planned for the details of our life, but God knows, that because he knows, you don't need to.

God wants relationship with us, where we learn to trust him. God does not treat us like machines where he automates our actions through a rigorous dictation of his will for our life through his spirit to our mind, but neither does he leave us free in this world to do whatever we please because after all “we are a people of grace”.

God through Christ relates to us through his word and his spirit, God desires that our minds may be renewed so we may discern what is good and pleasing in his sight.
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

God is in control but he has not promised to tell you every detail of your life, but has promised that he will be your heavenly father and do you good in the life he has given you.

So how Do I view guidance and God's will for my life?
Well I know that God is Will for my life, is that I would love Jesus and bring him glory by obeying his word and serving him in the power that the holy spirit provides.

Which is good, true, and practically probably not that much use if you are currently struggling with the decision, so plain and simply if you aren't sure what do you do?

1. it is not God's will that you would do something which is plainly spelt out in scripture as sinful. No ifs no buts, even if you do feel at peace about, that is usually because you just plain refuse to listen to a holy spirit conviction.

2. For areas of life that are not directly addressed by scripture, then pray for wisdom in the spirit that it would apply God's word to your mind in this situation.

3. ask the counsel of godly people whom you know. They often see better than you and will tell you the truth you may need to hear – even if you don’t want to.

4. remember that often what seems like a monolith of a decision we're facing, the thing that seems the whole world should stop to contemplate, is often (in terms of God will) not so much an issue of choosing the right out of “option a” or “option b”, as much as it is it is an opportunity for us to express and develop our dependence and trust in God.

God sent his son to die for you, he will also give you all good things you need, in their good time, even if he doesn't tell you what they are beforehand!.

A wedding Sermon!

Forgive as the Lord forgave you

Well Ian and Janessa, first the good news, congratulations well done you have made it, you are now officially married!

Now for the bad news, if the history of marriage (even my own marriage but that matter), tells us anything about life, well take some really good pictures now, because this is as good as you are ever going to look, but before you panic that's okay -- it's the same for everyone!

And it's okay it was marriage isn't about appearances anyway, marriage is about a loving relationship. And a loving relationship is about serving the other person in marriage and about seeking after the other person's needs. A loving relationship isn't about appearances, it's about action.

Now choosing to get married is a good thing, in fact it's an excellent thing, the most excellent thing, it's a rich thing it's a rewarding thing, but it is also a scary thing!


Because you are choosing to make yourself vulnerable with another person, by giving everything you have to then and expecting them to care few in return. You give them everything you have, your body, your mind, spirit, your possessions, your whole life and expect them to treat it with care.

Ian your whole life now belongs to Jeanessa, and Janessa your whole life now belongs to Ian.

So the big question you should have right now is;
"how do we make this work?"
"How do we make our marriage work?"

And I know Ian will be sitting there right now thinking, just get to the point will you!

Well ok, he is the point, in only six words,
six words as the secret to marriage,
even Oprah can't do that!

So the six words are;
"forgive as the Lord forgave you!"

Which is the second half of v13 from Colossians 3 which we read earlier.

The bedrock, the foundation, the engine room of a loving relationship, is forgiveness. If you cannot learn to forgive each other, this relationship is going nowhere.

Love is the pretty shiny bit on the outside of a relationship that everyone else sees, but forgiveness is the hard work that has to happen to make the relationship go.

Now the question is, why do we need to forgive anyway?

Well because we are all human aren't we?
We all make mistakes, in all areas of life and especially in a relationship as tricky as marriage. And as hard as it is to believe today Ian and Janessa, you are going to offend each other.
An Ironclad, money back guarantee, and if you really lucky it won't happen till at least the third day of your honeymoon!

People make mistakes, sometimes we even do stupid things intentionally, and often we do it unknowingly, but we make its mistakes which hurt other people, and we offend them.

Now at that point, you have a few options open to you if you have been offended against.
So let me tell you what two very bad options are at that point;

Firstly, you can hold it against them and use it for bargaining power to rule over them for the rest of the day's of their natural life.

Or secondly, you can try on paper over it, and pretend like it didn't bother you at all.
And I can assure you, when you are first married, you'll basically go for this option every single time.

But neither of these options are good ones, because ultimately they don't fix the relationship, in fact they inevitably as night follows day, will lead to bitterness and resentment. Bitterness and resentment are toxic to a loving relationship, they eat away at it.

For this loving relationship to go anywhere, you need to be able to genuinely to forgive each other.

So the next question you should have is,
"how do we do that!".


The motivation and example of any loving relationship is found in God himself. God is a God who actively seeks to forgive in order to have a loving relationship.

As I said a minute ago, we're all human, we all make mistakes, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, we offend other people.

The Bible tells us that God is our loving Creator, our heavenly father, the one who gave us life and every other good thing we have. And yet we all know that we fall short of what he calls us to, because we make mistakes in our lives.

Sometimes we ignore God's instruction about how we should live, and at other times we offend him by just plain ignoring him and his role in our lives altogether.

We have made a problem in our relationship with God. But the Bible tells us that God has done something about this problem to fix our relationship. God offers to us forgiveness out of his great love. In fact a book of the Bible called Romans says in 5:8, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God was the one whom we offended, and yet he is the one who took the initiative, who paid a heavy price, to restore the relationship.

Forgiveness is the engine room of a loving relationship. And we are called to forgive as the Lord forgave us.

Twice in this passage from Colossians we read, Paul tells us to “be thankful”, we are to be thankful to God that he would restore relationship with us through the death of his son on a cross in our place.

And because we have said yes, that is our wrongdoing, and we have said yes to his offer of forgiveness found in his son, we can be thankful to God for the loving relationship we share with him, and this compels us from a heart of thankfulness, to forgive others as the Lord who gave us.

Because of God's action we are able to understand deeply what it means to be forgiven, to understand deeply what it means to be in a loving relationship and because of this it forms the grounds and encouragement for us to be like our God and to offer forgiveness to those who have offended against us.

So this is the hard part, if you want a loving relationship, you have to take the initiative to forgive when you have been offended against. And the encouragement to do this is, whatever debt there is that they owe you, it is nothing compared to the debt you owed God.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ian, when Janessa crashes the Ute, when she crashes the Ute into your power tools, when she crashes the Ute into your power of tools and pushes them through the back wall of your garage.
You need to take the initiative to forgive.

Jeanessa, when Ian says something unthinking and uncaring and offends you, when Ian says something unthinking and uncaring and offends you and your mum, when Ian says something unthinking and uncaring and offends you, your mum, and your best friend. You need to take the initiative to forgive.

Forgiveness is not a cheap absolution, but a genuine engagement in your relationship. Forgiveness isn't the avoidance it isn't suppression, but it is to deal truly with the issue through the action of speech and an attitude of grace from the heart.
It is to confront the issue, it is to confess wrong where it belongs to you, and then it is to have the other send it away upon the ocean into the sunset, never to return. And that part is important, Never to return.

Forgiveness is the foundation for a loving relationship, it is the engine room that makes it go. Forgiveness is the foundation for marriage.

Six Words:
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Monday, March 16, 2009

John's Gospel Talk 3 - Ch 10

Follow the leader: "I am the good Shepherd"

Today is 15 March 2009 AD, or, "in the year of our Lord", this is not a widely used phrase today, but still true. But if the secular media is to the be believed 2009 is not so much the year of our Lord as it is the year of our Obama

Barak Obama is the poster boy, (or the new messiah if you like), who is apparently going to lead his country and did indeed it appears the whole "free" world, into the dawning of a new age of the secular humanist Utopia of more wealth health and success.

Truth be told, you can't help but marvel at little bit at this guy's capacity can you?
He certainly comes across to me as a leader.
But then that asked the question, what makes a leader?

It seems to me what defines a great leader involves lots of things, but ultimately great leaders are defined by;
I. how they stack up against other leaders
(like would Obama be so loved, if Bush wasn't so hated? - I suspect not)
II. the devotion of their followers.

Some leaders, lead because of their position -- like Bush -- by definition a leader, but hardly a good one, let alone a great one. And why not? Because people had to follow him even if they didn't want to follow him, and it seems to me like a lot of people - did not want to follow him!

A leader is made by their followers, great leaders are followed irrespective of whether they have an official office of leadership will not.

But you know what, there genuinely is not a leader in the world today, or even one of the 20th-century, who can compare to Jesus of Nazareth. Even if you are the sort of person who does not believe he was the Son of God. (Which is hopefully no one here!)


-- he held no official position of leadership
-- he had three years in public life in small back water of the Roman Empire
-- he had no PR department, no you-tube, no face-book, note twitter, not even CNN.

He had none of these things; and yet he has more followers today, 2000 years after he lived, than Barak Obama has today with all his technology.
In truth, Jesus Teaching has impacted more political and legal legislation than anyone; including Obama,
Jesus and his teaching has been responsible for launching more aid and welfare programmes than anyone, including Obama,

When you think about it, they made the dating system of the world after him, he gets us three public holidays a year, so empirically, seriously, can any leader past or present truly hold a candle to him, in terms of his impact upon society today, let alone in terms of the number influence of his followers?

Even if you do not call yourself a Christian, you have to be able to give an account for the success of this man as a leader don't you?

Well today in this passage we are going to learn something about Jesus as a leader, who shows us the conviction of his purposes, and his resolve in the face of opposition, and he does it through his teaching. His words of teaching just like his signs over the last few weeks, will bring both comfort and conflict.
- Comfort to those who believe the truth and follow him.
- Conflict to those who do not believe the truth and deny him as their leader.
Which will you choose today?

Jesus is the good Shepherd, the question is; is he good enough you?
Is he good enough for your devotion, to follow him today?

Well you may have noticed that there is an outline for today's sermon, which has five points, (which is always good for a Calvinist!)
As you see these five points they can be summarised in five words:
1.discipleship
2.Salvation
3.intimacy
4.mission
5.Faith

1.the sheep hear the shepherd's voice and follow (versus 1-6)
NIV John 10:1
"I tell you the truth,
the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate,
but climbs in by some other way,
is a thief and a robber.

2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
3 The watchman opens the gate for him,
and the sheep listen to his voice.
He calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own,
he goes on ahead of them,
and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice.

5 But they will never follow a stranger;
in fact, they will run away from him
because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
6 Jesus used this figure of speech,
but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Jesus commences his statement here on v1 with a phrase I tell you the truth, which is exactly same phrase who will use again v7. As you may remember from last week truth is important in John's gospel because each person who appears in John's gospel is in a sense on trial. They are on trial to tell the truth about what they have seen. Much like the blind man was last week, much like his parents were last week. Truth is important in John's gospel, because John will tell us the truth about Jesus, and then asked the question of us; do you believe?

Jesus is a faithful witness in John's gospel he tells us the truth, the truth about God, the truth about ourselves, and the truth about God's messiah, the good Shepherd.

But the first truth Jesus wants to tell us about in this first section of chapter 10 is not about himself, but the truth about thieves and robbers. Throughout this chapter we meet a smorgasbord of characters, some are real, some personifications in Jesus figure of speech, but all up their around 11 characters we meet.
So what we all want to know is, who are the thieves and robbers?
And you know what? I suspect that's what Jesus hearers wanted to know as well!
What we learn about the thieves and robbers is that they are people who usurp authority over God's people, they are not sent by God they are not appointed by God, but they manage to weasel themselves undetected in amongst the flock with only the intention of harming the sheep.

In the historical context, (particularly following on from the conflict of chapter 9) I'm pretty sure Jesus is referring to the Jewish leadership at this point, and in particular the Pharisees.

In a total contrast, the shepherd of the sheep, has authority over the sheep, because he has been sent from God. It's clear that Jesus means he is the true shepherd, the true leader of Israel, the true teacher of Israel, the true saviour of Israel, who is sent from God.

The Shepherd, in this wonderful picture calls his own sheep by name, what a thing to be able to say, that you and known by God himself by name, the Bishop doesn’t know my name, much less the Arch-Bishop, but God does!

And so Jesus' sheep know his voice, they hear his voice, and they follow him. The shepherd will bring out all the sheep that belong to him and they will follow him out into good pasture.

In V3 it says the sheep or listen to his voice, but listening in English is a passive thing, it would be fairer to say the sheep here his voice, hearing in English is an active thing.
To say to someone I'm listening to you, is a little different to say I want to hear what you have to say. Listening is a little passive, hearing is active and intention. The sheep were to be active in hearing the shepherds voice, hearing almost implies listening and then obey.

As we move on in John 10, in contrast to hearing the shepherd, the sheep will not listen to a stranger's voice, the voice of thieves and robbers, and more than that not only will they not listen, they will in fact flee from them, they recognize that they only seek to do the sheep harm. These strangers at false shepherds, they are false messiah's and false leaders of God's people.

When you stop to consider it, who would you say is your leader or teacher about life? Who is the person you look up to and follow?
Do you flee from, Or entertain, false messiahs?

My suspicion is, that very unlike Jesus day, we are quite unlikely to be misled by other religious leaders (it is possible and unfortunately there are many prominent teachers both on television, the Internet and bookstores who quite clearly teach untruths about the Christian faith to the detriment of the sheep and to their own material benefit), but in our time it seems to me we are less interested in learning from that scene, and in fact far more influenced by our other teacher, our own secular society and its expectations.
And the worst part of the this is I think we do it unconsciously. We often absorb and do not challenge the teachings of our society about life, and we absorb it into our own lives almost by osmosis.

Do you follow Jesus voice when it comes to your views of how life works, like marriage, relationships, sex and money?
Truth be told, hand on your heart, who do you follow in your life?

Christians today are in danger of being ashamed of Christ's teaching about life and how it to live it. Brothers and sisters flee from the sin an idolatry applauded by the world, and flee from those teachers who stand opposed to Christ and his words.

Do you know, hear and love your shepherd's voice?


“My sheep hear my voice”. Whose voice are you listening to about life. I know good Christian friends, who spend far more time each week listening to Oprah's voice than they do listening to Jesus voice. To have a passion for Jesus is to have a passion for the hearing of shepherd's voice from the pages of the Bible. You cannot say that Jesus isn’t speaking today, you can only say that you are not hearing what he is saying.

Be passionate hearers and followers of Jesus our shepherd.
Whose disciples do you look like?
Is Jesus a good enough shepherd you?

Now in case I wasn’t entirely clear in what I was just talking about, I take great comfort and the fact that the greatest preacher of all time (no not JE not even M.D.) that Jesus himself, needed to try another angle of attack to get the whole point of his message across to his hearers we read in verse six. So he starts again in v7 which is our second point today.

2.the sheep go through the door to life (versus 7-10)
7 Therefore Jesus said again,
"I tell you the truth,
I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 I am the gate;
whoever enters through me will be saved.
He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to
steal and
kill and
destroy;
I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.

Again Jesus starts with his statement I tell you the truth, telling his true testimony again into John's gospel as a trustworthy witness to the truth, and again he tells us the truth using his "I am" expression. This time twice he tells us I am the gate" (or the door).

Now at this point you should be asking what on earth does that mean, "I am the gate"?
Well the gate, is the gate for the sheep, the sheep who passed through this gate (no doubt listening to the voice of the shepherd, who is now also the gate, weirdly, but we get the point!), anyway the sheep who go through this gate (we see in V9) into a salvation, they go out and find pasture -- a wonderful picture of a peaceful existence much like the old Testament promise of Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. ".

This gate is the gate to salvation and peace and in verse 10 the abundant life, or the full life (by which Jesus clearly does not mean a BMW or a tag Heuer watch!). But a life in a full relationship with God, his creation, and his sheep.

Jesus makes an exclusive claim here, there is one gate that leads to salvation and a full relationship with God, and that gate is Jesus. Jesus is un ashamed to make that claim, not because he is boastful or arrogant, but because it is true! And if it is true then the Bible is right in what it says that there is no other name under Heaven or Earth by which we may be saved.
And Jesus confirms that for four of us in chapter 14 of John's gospel, where he says that he alone is "the way and the truth on the life!".

Jesus is not ashamed to tell the world who he is, because it is for their benefit, that they may find salvation. Jesus is not ashamed of that message, the question is are you?

Jesus again develops the theme of the thieves and robbers, those who come and a menacing and self-serving, who think the flock exists only to their benefit. They steal, kill and destroy. They See God’s sheep as vulnerable, and instead of protecting them they are looking around for some nice veggies to roast, and a stick of Rosemary to garnish their meal!
At every step of the way they seek to serve themselves and oppose Jesus and his flock. And again it seems likely to me the historical referents of Jesus remarks are the Jewish leaders, and in particular the ones who threw out the blind man (one of Jesus sheep) from the synagogue back in chapter 9.

Jesus is the one true Messiah, the teacher and leader sent from God who is the shepherd of his people, he is the one gate to life and his desire is that people would come to him and find salvation, peace, meaning and hope, do you believe?

And will you follow?.
Christian people need to follow their leader.

The second half of John's gospel which we will start to look at next week, focuses upon the death of the shepherd. And today’s third point is a great word of comfort to the disciples, that death will end in victory.

3.the good Shepherd is obedient to his father and lays down his life for the sheep (versus 11-15, versus 17-18)
11 "I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep.
So when he sees the wolf coming,
he abandons the sheep and runs away.
Then the wolf attacks the flock
and scatters it.
13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand
and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 "I am the good shepherd;
I know my sheep
and my sheep know me—
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—
and I lay down my life for the sheep.

17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—
only to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me,
but I lay it down of my own accord.
I have authority to lay it down
and authority to take it up again.
This command I received from my Father."

As we read Jesus statement I am the good Shepherd", with the words of Ez 34 ringing in our ears, we can't help thinking that Jesus is the Shepherd that fits the bill, the one whom God was going to send.

In Ez 34, the Lord is the shepherd and he binds up his people. The shepherd looks for the lost, but he will also divide the Rams and the goats. And he will use his servant David, Israel's Messiah and King to do it.

Twice Jesus says “I am the good Shepherd".
Why is he good? (Other than he is God alone of course!)
Four times in this section he says, "he laid down his life for the sheep" and in verse 18 he tells us this is the father's command. Jesus is the good Shepherd for two obvious reasons in this passage; firstly he saves his sheep because he laid down his life, and secondly; because he is obedient to his father and lays down his life.

This shepherd will die to save his sheep!

Again in this figure of speech Jesus introduces two new characters the wolf on the hired man. And So far when we have looked these type of characters in the chapter, we have concentrated on try to work out who the historical referents could be, and this is an important exercise to help understand the message. But if we only did that, it would be to misunderstand the message in the context of the whole John's gospel. Because to at one level to understand who the historical referents are, is to miss the point that they are merely the agents of a greater foe for Jesus.
From the opening chapter of John, we know that there is a cosmic battle going on, between light and dark, good and evil, and behind both the wolf and the hired man is Jesus true opposition, the devil and his cohorts. And the shepherd will die at their hand, but in the process he will save the sheep and in fact defeat his enemies for all time. That is the great paradox of the cross, that helpless and shameful death achieved the great victory of God over all his enemies, which was declared to all in the resurrection and God's victory over death.

So the truth is the wolf is really just the Devil's agent, who opposes Jesus and his sheep. At that point in history it could have meant the Pharisees who kicked the blind man out, or it could have in fact meant Rome itself who ultimately killed the shepherd. In truth it doesn't really matter, because you can tell a wolf by the way they treat Jesus sheep.
Did they feed them or did they feed on them?
Spiritually, physically, emotionally or financially did they do the sheep harm or good?

Well if the wolf actively devours Jesus sheep, the hired man acquiesces in his responsibilities and the sheep are devoured just the same! May be like the blind man's parents last week who give up their son when it becomes hard.

Ultimately both the wolf and the hired man failed the sheep, and serve as a foil in contrast to show the goodness of the good Shepherd.
The good Shepherd in contrast, lays down his life for the sheep, he is obedient to his father and lives and dies from the sheep's benefit.

In summarising this section I used one word “intimacy”, and in verses 14 and 15 we see the intimacy of the relationship between the Father and Son, which has now been extended to the shepherd and sheep.

The profoundly personal and relational nature of God is poured out in these verses, that not only does God know us by name (like V3) but he carries us into the very relational heart of himself.

We now relate to the Father through the Son in the Spirit, we are pulled into a relationship with the one triune God, who as Father, Son and Spirit is Trinity in unity. This triune God made himself manifest, made himself known, revealed himself in the word became flesh, the creator come to the creation, the creator come to make things new in the great signs of re-creation, of making things new, new wine, new eyes and new birth. The creator who came as a shepherd to find his lost sheep.

I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The shepherd shows his deep love for both his Father and his sheep by dying a horrific and shameful death upon a cross, and because of this we can have a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with a triune God who is our creator.

Jesus is able to shepherd his sheep, because he has received authority from his father. Jesus has authority under heaven and the earth because he is the creator and Lord. And that is what we read in versus 17 .and 18.

Jesus shows he is the Lord of all creation because he is able to not only lay down his life when he chooses, but to take it up again. Because let's face it, it is one thing to raise the dead, and it is a whole different thing to raise yourself from the dead isn't it?
But Jesus has the authority over life and death. The Father loves the Son and gives him the authority over life and death, the Son loves the Father by using his authority and obedience to do the Fathers will.

Jesus Power authority to raise his own life from the dead, is our guarantee and promise that if we enter through the gate that is trusting him and his death on our behalf, we will also see that act of new creation when he raises us from the dead also.

In Christ your death, will not end in judgement but life.
Do you believe?
Will you follow Christ your Shepherd, or drift away after some other false messiah?

Jesus is the good Shepherd, is he good enough you?
Will you hear is use voice and follow?
"I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd laid down his life sheep".

Now very quickly we are going to a move through the last two points -- they are both very easy to understand, but challenging to do!

4.the "other" sheep (verse 16)
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.
I must bring them also.
They too will listen to my voice,
and there shall be one flock
and one shepherd.

First and foremost, we are the other sheep! Those of us who are considered Gentiles have no word of promise from God quite like the Jews, and yet Jesus came to save us.

And this should mean two things for us;
firstly, we should be thankful that God would save sinners and God-haters like us. It is amazing Grace.

Secondly, we should be confident that Jesus has other sheep out there that belong to him and are waiting to his voice, will you speak for Jesus the good Shepherd who has laid down his life of those sheep.

5.Jesus sayings divide like his signs (verse 19-21)
19 At these words the Jews were again divided.
20 Many of them said,
"He is demon-possessed and raving mad.
Why listen to him?"
21 But others said,
"These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.
Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

Jesus sayings just like his signs, bring comfort or conflict.
If they don't believe his words, they would never believe the signs!

Jesus words will divide, and we will see that, but be encouraged because division actually means some will hear and be divided into Salvation. Millions upon millions of people have heard the words of Jesus and believed and been saved, so why not millions upon millions more?
So don't be discouraged but speak Jesus words, because that is what his sheep are longing to hear.

There is one shepherd over the one flock whom we must unreservedly give our allegiance, Jesus our Saviour, our teacher and our Lord. The one who has promised us, "I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep!".

Sunday, March 8, 2009

John's Gospel Talk 2 - Ch 9

Jesus; the Lord of the eyes

Introduction
have you ever had a ‘deer in the headlights moment’?
A moment of light shining like a spotlight on you, that uncovered you, and made you feel exposed, and it made you anxious to the point that you felt nauseous and thought you could throw up?
A moment where you have no chance but to make a choice at that instant and everything to follow hinged upon this decision?

My moment like that was in July 1994, wherein a moment of amazing startness, I was conscious that God was saying, "last chance Champ! are you getting in, or are you getting of out the boat, is Jesus going to be your Lord or not?".
And from that day everything changed for me!

Now you mightn't have had a moment as dramatic as that in a Christian sense, but having a ‘deer in the headlights moment’ in a general sense, is something of a common experience to all humanity isn't it?

At some point in our lives we will find ourselves on the horns of a dilemma. Choose the path to the left and all these consequences will follow, choose the path to the right and all these other consequences will be yours, and you have to make a decision in an instant what are you going to do!

As a kid I remember having those moments all the time, when your parents ask "did you do this?", and your immediate thoughts were to deny it, or even just run, but were those consequences worth it?
Particularly on the occasions when you had just been caught red-handed in the act (So realistically I guess it was something of rhetorical question, but that never stopped you from thinking that talking your way out of it was a real option, and by talking your way out of it, I of course mean lying).
And even as adults we still know the experience, and at one level we must love it, at least in others, how else do you explain a show like border security?
Are these drugs yours? -- no
they were taped to your body -- no!
Wrong answer!
Telling the truth in those situations may not be easy, but it's the right option isn’t it?

Well today in John's Gospel we are going to meet three main characters, who are having their "deer in the headlights moment". For two in particular it is a totally unexpected occasion, and the stakes of their moment in the spotlight are high. In fact you could say in these scenes of John's Gospel today, we are seeing three groups of people (or characters) on trial, they are in the Judges dock -- what will be their plea -- what will their testimony be -- will it be the truth, or will they try and evade the consequences with something less than the truth?

Three characters on trial today;
1.the blind man
2.the Blind man's parents
3.the Pharisees

They all have their day in court today, and this passage today divides into three main Scene's;
Scene 1.versus 1-7 -- Jesus gives the blind man sight
Scene 2.versus 8-34 -- the tale of two testimonies -- the blind man and his parents
Scene 3.versus 35-41 -- Jesus gives the seeing man perfect sight

Scene 1.versus 1-7 -- Jesus gives the blind man sight

In this section of John's gospel, we see John continuing the theme that started back in chapter 2, of Jesus making things new, new wine, new birth, new legs (lame guy), new living water, new bread -- you get the picture -- and today it is new sight.

But this scene starts in V1 with the seemingly random choice by the disciples of a blind beggar to be the subject of a deep theological question, and this question would result in the unravelling of a remarkable chain of events as the story unfolds.
NIV John 9:1
As he went along,
he saw a man blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him,
"Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?"

Now the truth be told, The disciples ask a question that at first glance is quite distasteful isn't it? It certainly is not politically correct.
If people are broken, sick, dysfunctional or blind -- it must be their fault mustn't it?
And you can see the logic at work you can't you?
If God is the all-powerful creator and he is good, he must have a reason to make people like this, so it has to be a just punishment from God for their sin. And this idea is found today as well, because you often hear the remark after people who died through particular diseases, or even in natural disasters, that they are being punished for their sins, (and unfortunately it is often by people who call themselves Christian). The logic of this direct and unalterable cause and effect in the world is an idea called Karma.
And I'll give you the tip, that idea does not belong to biblical Christianity!

So why would the disciples ask such a dumb question as this if this isn't Christian thinking?
Well like most subtle untruths it is partly right!
Sometimes people's illness is direct link linked to their sin, and we saw this with Jesus back in Ch5 v14 where he heals the lame man and then warns him directly, (a direct warning from God himself), "see you are well again, stop sinning or something worse may happen to you"
(now, that word "may" becomes pretty critical at this point doesn't it?)

Sometimes our sin does result in physical repercussions, but not all physical abnormalities are a direct result of that person's sin (X2).
So as always in the Gospels, the disciples think that they are getting Clever and learning lots from Jesus, but they are again two steps behind the play and Jesus tells them that in V3.

3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,"
said Jesus,
"but this happened
so that the work of God might be displayed
in his life.

Jesus corrects his disciples, by explaining that the link between Sin and brokenness is not as direct as they are making out.
The disciples desire to protect the goodness of God (while at the same time reassuring themselves that there is a reason it happened to others and not to them) is misplaced and simplistic.

Jesus explains that there is no direct link to sin as a cause here, but the goodness and power of God will be displayed in this weakness. That was the reason he was given the weakness -- to display the triumph, the power and the goodness of God. So Jesus tells us emphatically neither this man nor his parents are sinners, but this is a question that is going to be revisited in the next scene.
Jesus is saying some sin leads to brokenness, but not all brokenness is a direct result of that person’s sin.

Now There is a clear relationship between sin and brokenness, sin is what resulted from the curse of the fall back in Genesis 3 and it has entered the DNA of every created thing and caused brokenness. Sometimes it appears acutely like bushfires or cancer, sometimes more chronically like homelessness or the common cold.

Ultimately all brokenness stems from the collective sin of humanity at the fall, but that does not necessarily mean every instance of brokenness is a direct result of that particular person’s sin.

Sin leads to brokenness, but not all brokenness is a direct result of that person's sin.
There is an asymmetric relationship going on there.
You can get cancer from smoking.
Or you can just get cancer.

SO Unless you are Jesus, be very cautious about (you or anyone else for that matter!) Pronouncing the relationship between illness and sin in any particular case. Jesus is teaching us it is more complex than an exclusively direct relationship of cause and effect, and by implication sometimes the secret things of God, well they are the secret things of God this side of eternity.

But within John's gospel, from the opening chapter to the final scene’s at the cross we are aware that there is a cataclysmic battle of good and evil being played out, of Sin versus forgiveness, of sickness versus healing, of light versus dark and of life versus death. Verse 4-5 reminds us that Jesus is the light of the father, the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome.

4 As long as it is day,
we must do the work of him who sent me.
Night is coming, when no one can work.
5 While I am in the world,
I am the light of the world."

The darkness will have a moment of victory, it will strike Jesus heal, but the darkness will be eclipsed by the light, the serpent’s head will be crushed by Jesus.

The point is, Jesus is not overcome the darkness, the opposition of sin and illness, but he overcomes the darkness and heals the man.

6 Having said this,
he spit on the ground,
made some mud with the saliva,
and put it on the man's eyes.
7 "Go**,"
he told him,
"wash** in the Pool of Siloam"
(this word means Sent).
So the man went and washed,
and came home seeing.

This is a great little scene isn’t it? plain instructions and plain obedience -- a great example of the Christian life. Plain instructions and plain Obedience and Jesus heals the man who is blind. He recreates a new the eyes that were broken by a fallen world. Once again in his Gospel John is telling us Jesus makes things new.

Now the question I have is, why use dirt and saliva?
Mouths are filthy things, with heaps of bacteria in them, so why use saliva with dirt to fix an illness?
I defy anyone to come out here with a medical problem, preferably an open sore or something, and let me split into it and rub some dirt into it, with the genuine expectation that it will get better!
So Why did Jesus use mud?
Well We'll get back to that later.

But for now we move to our second scene, the tale of two testimonies, that goes from versus 8-34. And throughout this scene, just like the rest of John's gospel, people can't seem to see Jesus for who he is. And again John writes in this passage with this style that drips deliciously with irony for us as readers, we get the joke because John is telling us the inside story.

And the first testimony is that of the blind man

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked,
"Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?"
9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said,
"No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted,
"I am the man."
10 "How then were your eyes opened?"
they demanded.
11 He replied,
"The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes.
He told me to go** to Siloam and wash**.
So I went and washed,
and then I could see."
12 "Where is this man?"
they asked him.
"I don't know,"
he said.

a. confusion of a Monty Python type nature because of the healing and its extreme nature
everyone is confused except for the blind man (formerly blind man)
b. ego eimi, and tells the truth about the story.

The people think this miraculous thing needs a spiritual interpretation, so take the man to the Pharisees (the Jewish religious leaders of the day).

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.
14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud
and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath.

So all of a sudden I think we can now answer the question as to why Jesus made the mud. I mean Jesus has already healed plenty of people in the Gospel to this point, and usually with only a word. In chapter 5 verse 50 Jesus heals a child who is Capernaum while he is in Cana some 30 km away!
He doesn't need to make the mud.
But he does.

And he does it to pick a fight with the Pharisees about who really speaks for God. This is continuing a fight about the sabbath that has been a theme throughout the Gospel and in particular in chapter 7. So here by kneading mud to heal, Jesus intentionally breaks the Pharisees sabbath law.

Jesus will not allow himself to be dictated to by self glorifying religious elitists. God and his word will be glorified, not the religious traditions of men. So the battle lines are drawn, and these traditionalists doubt that anyone making mud on the sabbath can be doing God's work, but to test their theory they ask for an explanation of events anyway.

15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.
"He put mud on my eyes,"
the man replied,
"and I washed, and now I see."
16 Some of the Pharisees said,
"This man is not from God,
for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked,
"How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?"
So they were divided.
17 Finally they turned again to the blind man,
"What have you to say about him?
It was your eyes he opened."
The man replied,
"He is a prophet."
18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind
and had received his sight
until they sent for the man's parents.

A. plain statement of fact by blind man
B. the Pharisees theological assumption
C. again there is confusion
D. how can he do such a miraculous sign, nicotine is in chapter 3, "we know"
E. blind man says he is a profit, like the woman by the well in chapter 4
F. Pharisees hear the testimony and do not believe

So the Pharisees demand a second witness, recognizing that according to the law of Moses (the Bible) the testimony of two people formally establishes the truth of a claim and the second witness is called and we hear the testimony of the Blind man's parents.

Read versus 19-23

19 "Is this your son?"
they asked.
"Is this the one you say was born blind?
How is it that now he can see?"
20 "We know he is our son,"
the parents answered,
"and we know he was born blind.
21 But how he can see now,
or who opened his eyes,
we don't know.
Ask him.
He is of age;
he will speak for himself."
22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews,
for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged
that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
23 That was why his parents said,
"He is of age;
ask him."

SO now the Parents have their "deer in the headlights moment", they find themselves unexpectedly drawn into the midst of the maelstrom, and upon the horns of a difficult dilemma, which option will they choose?
Standing on trial will they face up to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or they go for something more evasive, not exactly wrong, but not exactly right either?

Well the parents decide to state the truth's, " he is our son", "he was blind", and the logical implication is, as we know he is now not blind, so something must of happened to bring about the change. But as to the miraculous method of this transformation, and in classic cover up style.
"well nobody saw nothing!".

The parents fear the Jews, and they fear the consequences of saying any more than they have. They were unwilling to tell the truth because of the consequences, which is to say, they were unwilling to confess the truth about Jesus because of the consequences, in fact they were even willing to knowingly sell their own son up the river, because they prefer the praises of men, rather than the praises of God.

How you reckon their son felt at that moment?
It would have been quite a car trip home for the three of them I suspect!
So the Pharisees having clearly established that the man was blind from birth and now sees, call the man into the dock again, no doubt to see if he would like to change his story. But he does no such thing. In fact despite a timid start he seems to grow in stature and give them some stingingly sardonic answers!

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind.
"Give** glory to God,"
they said.
"We know this man is a sinner."
25 He replied,
"Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know.
One thing I do know.
I was blind but now I see!"
26 Then they asked him,
"What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?"
27 He answered,
"I have told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said,
"You are this fellow's disciple!
We are disciples of Moses!
29 We know that God spoke to Moses,
but as for this fellow,
we don't even know where he comes from."
30 The man answered,
"Now that is remarkable!
You don't know where he comes from,
yet he opened my eyes.
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners.
He listens to the godly man who does his will.
32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
33 If this man were not from God,
he could do nothing."
34 To this they replied,
"You were steeped in sin at birth;
how dare you lecture us!"
And they threw him out..

A. give Glory to God
Well at least the Pharisees now admit that he was blind and now sees, they give him that much with the stinging barb about his State at birth. But the blind men sees the truth about the situation, better than the religiously educated Pharisees. The Pharisees claim Moses as the leader, but back in chapter 5 verse 45, Jesus has already told them that Moses rather than being their leader, will in fact be their judge.

The blind man harangues the Phar-I-sees because they don't!
In verse 30 he explodes with "that is remarkable", the religious men can't see the work of God that is as plain as the nose on the face, but a blind man can!
The Pharisees are the Bible people they should have known that the Messiah would bring sight to the blind as Jesus tells us himself in Luke 4 as he quotes Isaiah.

ESV 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

In stead of recognising the Messiah the Pharisees, directly oppose him when They judge the man born blind and scary it is because of his sin, which Jesus has already said is wrong, the Pharisees are indeed blind guides and whitewashed tombs.

In this trial there are two indisputable facts;
1.that this man was born blind
2.that this man now sees

This is the testimony of the blind man, his parents, even the Pharisees in the end, it is a statement of fact. And John testifies this truth to us today!
The logical conclusion from this truthful witness, is that Jesus really did open his eyes, Jesus the creator has come to make things new. Defects from birth, even death itself (we will learn) cannot stand against Jesus the son of God who will recreate all things.

Jesus will fix the brokenness, he will fix death for all who believe in his name. Jesus will fix the brokenness, and he will fix Sin, and he will fix death for all who believe in his name, by undergoing death himself, by drinking the cup of God's wrath that should be ours, by dying on the Cross in our place.

Do you believe?
"One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see"
John has seen these things and he testifies that they are true
Do you believe?

We have met three characters in today's story, outlining the three responses you can have to Johns testimony, which is to say the three responses you can have to Jesus.

1. Are you going to be like the Pharisees?
Are you going to continue being a religious person Who has a predetermined view of what God is like, and is not interested in letting Jesus challenge that?
Which is to say Do you have a domesticated Jesus?
The kind of Jesus who only wants you to be healthy and wealthy, comfortable and fulfilled?
A domesticated Jesus, I'm an Anglican, we don't need zealous people!
A Domesticated Jesus, No no no, God doesn't judge anyone, God is a God of love, she doesn't judge anyone!
Which I guesses Is all well and fine, but then you and Jesus don't believe in the same God, and I know whom I am going to believe.
So in the end you and your domesticated Jesus are going to have words with the real Jesus, so why not listen to Jesus now?

2. Are you like the blind man's parents?
John testified to us today "the truth", that a blind man was healed and Jesus did it. Jesus did it because he is God and that is the truth.
Will you take your stand on that truth, will you defend that truth no matter what the consequences?
OR Deep down is social or family acceptability and comfort more important to you than Jesus?
Will you be a person who cut’s Jesus loose, like the blind man's parents cut loose their son when it became difficult for them?
Is this world too appealing to you to take the hard road of discipleship for Jesus, the Way of the Cross, to deny ourselves and our comforts and our own concerns and to live for his kingdom and glory alone?
Do you love this world too much?

Do you know the difference between a " fan " and a "fanatic"?
A fan wears his replica shirt to the game on the weekend, and then takes it off when they go to work during the week.
A fanatic as the team emblem tattooed on their body, where everyone can see it, everywhere they go.
Jesus doesn't want fan's, weekend Christians, he wants fanatics, people who serve him wherever they go, so everyone can see!

Will you tell people the truth about Jesus, or turn your back when it gets difficult?

3. Are you like the blind man?
Will you tell the truth about Jesus, the exclusive, the confronting, the difficult, the wonderful truth about him, no matter how difficult it becomes?

I know that it is difficult, and in our time is much more socially acceptable to believe in tolerance, relativism, and postmodernism. I know it is nice and comfortable to be part of that gang, but the problem is, it isn't true!
And because it isn't true it actually doesn't work with the world God has created.

Ask a postmodernist to stick a fork and a PowerPoint and suddenly they will be converted (like Paul on the Damascus Road) that there is such a thing as "true truth".

The true truth is Christ is the Lord and Saviour of the world.
Do you believe?
And if you believe, how can you not testify to that truth?

And finally and briefly we can look at our third and last scene in the passage today, where Jesus seeks out the Blind man, or should I say the ‘seeing man’, and gives him perfect sight!

Scene 3 - V35-41 Jesus gives the 'seeing' man perfect sight.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
and when he found him,
he said,
"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
36 "Who is he, sir?"
the man asked.
"Tell me so that I may believe in him."
37 Jesus said,
"You have now seen him;
in fact, he is the one speaking with you."
38 Then the man said,
"Lord, I believe,"
and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said,
"For judgment I have come into this world,
so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked,
"What? Are we blind too?"
41 Jesus said,
"If you were blind,
you would not be guilty of sin;
but now that you claim you can see,
your guilt remains.

Jesus is the true light of the world that does one of two things:
brings sight or confirms blindness.
You have seen the sign of the healing from the pages of John's gospel that tell you truly who Jesus is.
Do you believe?
Is it true?
Because this, right now, is one of those ‘deer in the headlights moments’ for you. Jesus tells us he does bring division and there are only two paths you can go by in the long run. So to put it plainly
"Get in, or get out of the boat"

Brothers and Sisters, let me encourage you, Do not let sin, apathy, doubt or fear, obscure your vision of who Jesus really is. These things are like a cataract.
Make a choice now to follow Jesus no matter what the cost.
Because
"One thing I know, I was blind but now I see!"