The Word Teaches

JN 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

There are many reasons that we are to love the brethren.  One of them is listed for us in verse 35.  By our love for each other all men will know that we are truly Christ's disciples.  All men certainly includes the lost.  Our love for each other testifies to a lost and dying world.  In a good local church you will see people of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, and races loving each other.  People who would other wise have nothing in common find that they have a lot in common once they get saved.  Time and time again I have seen people sacrifice for others with no thought of what they can get out of it.  They simply do it out of godly love.  God in our hearts gives us the capacity to love in a way that the lost world cannot. 

Our love for the brethren is an important witness to the lost.  That is one reason (there are many others) why God hates it when instead of loving the brethren we cause discord.    Pay attention to the 7th thing in this list in Proverbs.

Pro 6:16 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

JN 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

JN 12:10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

JN 12:11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

The chief priests not only wanted to kill Jesus but they also wanted to kill Lazarus.  The reason that they wanted to put Lazarus to death was because many people were believing on Jesus because of Lazarus.  Verse 11 tells us that they went away from the dead religion of the chief priests and turned to Jesus.  There is always a turning from when you turn to Jesus.  The chief priests were angry about loosing their followers.  Angry enough to kill.  It hurt their pride that the people would leave them and follow another.  They were also angry over the loss of power that they had over the people.  Giving would also be down.  No doubt there was some envy going on also.  Instead of considering that they were wrong, they set out on a course of evil.  This is what pride, envy, lust of power and money can bring you to. 

The sins of pride, envy, and lust of power and money are terrible sins.  If we follow after them, we will end up doing things that we never would have dreamed that we would have done.  Instead we need to guard against them and the best way to do that is to keep our eyes upon Jesus.  Continually walk with Him.

JN 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

JN 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Jesus delayed to go see Lazarus so He could raise him from the dead.  This is another example of Jesus' deity.  The book of John brings this out more than any other book.  And verse 15 tells us the reason why Jesus was going to do this miracle, "to the intent ye may believe."  That is the main purpose behind all the miracles.  The miracles were not done for show.  However, many people followed Jesus around just hopping to see a miracle.  Herod is an example of a man who only wanted to see a show.  That was not the intent of the miracles.  The purpose is so that people would believe who Jesus was.  They gave validation to who Jesus was so that people would put their trust in Him.  We do not need to see new miracles today because the miracles that Jesus did are faithfully recorded for us in the Holy Bible. 

JN 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The Messiah was predicted under the image of a shepherd in Eze. 34:23, Eze 37:24, and Zec 13:7.  When Jesus is saying that He is the good shepherd, it is a declaration that He is the Messiah that was promised. 

JN 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

JN 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

In verses 17 and 18 Jesus says that He has the power to lay down His life and take it up again.  No human has this power.  This is another claim of deity. 

JN 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

JN 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus then says that He gives His sheep eternal life.  And that He has the power to keep those that He gives eternal life to.  This again is a power that only belongs to God. 

JN 10:30 I and my Father are one.

You cannot be one with God the Father unless you are also God. 

JN 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

JN 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

JN 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Over and over in this chapter Jesus is declaring His deity.  Jesus is clearly God manifested in the flesh.  The reaction of the Jews shows that they understood what Jesus was declaring.  They tried to stone Him and gave the reason in verse 33. "thou, being a man, makest thyself God."  They understood what Jesus was declaring, but they refused to believe it.

Praise God that not everyone refuses to believe.  Jesus then leaves and goes beyond Jordan and many believed on him there (vs. 42). 

JN 9:18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

JN 9:19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

JN 9:20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

JN 9:21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

JN 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

JN 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

Jesus had healed a man who was born blind.  The Pharisees question the former blind man on how he was healed.  They did not like the answer.  So trying to disprove the healing, the Pharisees bring in the former blind mans parents.  His parents testified that it was their son that was healed and that he was born blind.  But they would not testify that Jesus did it.  The son they loved and raised was now healed.  Their son who had to beg for money, and had to bear the reproach of people who thought he was blind because he was a sinner.  The son they loved is now healed by Jesus and will no longer have to suffer being blind.  This was a big deal for this family.  You would think that these parents would be spreading the news about this great healing.  You would think that they would be telling others about the healing power of Jesus.  But they did not.  Why?  The answer is found in verse 22. 

JN 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

The parents did not tell others about Jesus because of what others might do to them.  They knew that if they witnessed for Christ that they were going to be put out of the synagogue.  They would loose their social status and their business contacts and many of their friends.  They could not go to the synagogue anymore, which was a center of their society.  They felt that the cost of witnessing for Jesus was too high.  Now before you are too hard on these parents, realize that many of us today do the same thing.  We will not speak out and witness for Jesus because we are afraid of the consequences.  We are afraid of loosing friends or social status.  Many are worried what others might think.  None of these are valid reasons for not witnessing for Jesus. 

JN 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Jesus is the only one that ever was or ever will be that could say "I do always those things that please him."  Face it, we all do things that do not please the Father.  Most likely you have done something in the last week that did not please Him.  It could have been a little lie you told or an impure thought or you did not love your neighbor the way you should or a thousand other things.  We are all sinners with a sin nature.  We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.  It is our nature.  However, Jesus was not a sinner.  He did not have a sin nature.  He proved it by being able to always please God.  Not once did Jesus ever let God the Father down.  Not once.  Not one slip up in His entire life.  Jesus had no sin and proved it with His life.  And because He was without sin, He could go to the cross and pay for our sin.  He was the just dieing for the unjust. 

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  

JN 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

The world hates Jesus.  When verses like this or John 3:16 speaks of the world it is not speaking of this planet.  For God so loved the world is speaking about the world of men.  God became man and went to the cross because He loves all men (the world).  This love is often met with hatred.  All over the world people are whipped, put in prison or even killed for repeating the words of Jesus. 

Why?  Verse 7 gives us one of the reasons.  "because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil."  Jesus tells people that they are sinners.  That the works they do are evil.  Jesus tells men that they are going to hell; that they need a Saviour.  Jesus says that I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Man likes to think highly of himself.  Man's pride likes to think that he can work his way to heaven.  Man likes to indulge in sin.  Man's sinful nature hates the light and loves the darkness.  The result of man's sin is an eternity in hell.  Man loves his sin and does not want to hear the truth. 

Out of love Jesus left the glories of heaven and came to earth to pay for our sin.  Jesus testifies of our evil ways out of love so that we might turn from our sin.  Jesus testifies so that we will realize that we are sinners and call upon Him to save us.  Out of love Jesus tells man the truth so that he might repent and be saved. 

Most people respond to His love with hatred.  What about you?

JN 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

JN 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

JN 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

JN 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Jesus was God manifested in the flesh.  Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not.  Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him.  Jesus not only knew from the beginning of His public ministry, but Jesus knew from the very beginning.  Before the foundations of the earth were laid Jesus knew who would betray Him.  He is all knowing.  He knows the beginning from the end.  This is an attribute that belongs only to God.

Jesus knew how it would all happen.  He knew that Judas Iscariot would be the one who would betray Him.  Jesus chose him on purpose.  Not only is Jesus all knowing, but He has a plan and a purpose.  Each one of the 12 was chosen with a purpose.  They each had a place in God's great plan.  And yet each man still had a free will.  The Bible teaches both the free will of man and the sovereignty of God.  Both are true.  God has a plan and complete foreknowledge but man does not. 

Man is responsible for his choices and God knew from the beginning what man would choose. 

The truth that God is sovereign and man has a free will is a truth that is above our ability to completely comprehend.  But our inability to understand does not in any way negate the truth. 

JN 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

It should be obvious that Jesus is talking about the Old Testament here.  The New Testament had not been written yet so the only scriptures that they had was the Old Testament.  And Jesus says that the O.T. testified of Him. 

JN 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

 JN 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible (Gen, Ex, Lev, Num, Deu).  And Jesus says that Moses wrote about Him.  All of the ceremonies, sacrifices, and feasts were pictures of Jesus.  The serpent on the pole that they had to look to and live, was all about Jesus.  The law that Moses wrote was showing man that he is a sinner and needs a Saviour.  The theme of the entire Bible is Jesus.   

JN 4:4 And he must needs go through Samaria.

JN 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

JN 4:6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

JN 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

The Bible says that Jesus must needs go through Samaria.  Jews would travel long distances to avoid going thru Samaria.  It was not a desirable location for them.  Many people would not understand why Jesus would go there.  But He must go.  He needed to go.  It was not a pleasure trip.  It was not to sightsee.  Everything that Jesus did had a specific purpose.  So why must he go there?  What need was there? 

He had to go to meet with the woman at the well and lead her to a saving knowledge of Himself.  He went to save her. 

In the Bible you find over and over again how Jesus went for the one.  He went out of His way for the one.  He preached to the individual.  He took time for the individual.  He dealt with people one on one.  Jesus is very concerned for the individual. 

Jesus is very concerned and interested in you as an individual.  He does not see you as just a member of the masses.  He is interested in you as an individual.  He want to have a personal relationship with you one on one. 

Man is too interested in the numbers.  God is interested in the individual.  God is interested in you.

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