Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / John 12:37-43
Transcript
- 0:00Amen. Please take your copy of God's Word. Join me in John chapter 12. Our text for today is John chapter 12, verses 37 through 43.
- 0:14! As you're getting there, I just want to make a brief comment about my gratefulness for verse-by-verse exposition as the normal habit of our church.
- 0:24And this was brought to the front of my thinking this week as I go and I look at commentaries.
- 0:33Largely after I've done much of the work that I do in preparation for a sermon, I go back and I check and just make sure I'm not missing something entirely.
- 0:42And I've got some technical commentaries and I have some more layman commentaries, some that are actually just the notes of preaching.
- 0:52And three of my commentaries entirely skipped this text, just jumped over it, decided not to preach it, I would assume, in the context of a church.
- 1:04And I'm glad that we have to take up and deal with texts that can seem difficult.
- 1:11As we come to the closing portion of John chapter 12, we arrive at a significant transition in John's gospel.
- 1:21For 12 chapters, John has been presenting the public ministry of Jesus Christ, carefully arranging his account around the words and works of Jesus so that his readers might recognize him as the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God.
- 1:38We have watched Jesus turn water into wine, heal the sick, feed the hungry, give sight to the blind, and raise Lazarus from the dead.
- 1:49Each of these miracles has served a particular purpose, to reveal something of the divine identity and saving mission of Jesus.
- 1:59Yet, in spite of this extraordinary revelation, the overwhelming response of the people has been unbelief.
- 2:06The one who came to give sight to the blind is rejected by those who insist they can see.
- 2:14The one who came to give life to the dead is rejected by those who are spiritually dead.
- 2:21And the one who came to reveal the glory of God is rejected by those who love the glory of men.
- 2:29In our previous text last week, we saw Jesus say in verse 35, in the beginning of verse 36,
- 2:38The light is among you for a little while longer.
- 2:42Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.
- 2:47The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
- 2:51While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.
- 3:00And then, rather ominously, at the end of verse 36, John tells us that Jesus departed and hid himself from them.
- 3:09There's something so profoundly tragic about that sentence.
- 3:17The light of the world has been shining in the midst of Israel, yet Israel has repeatedly refused to come to the light.
- 3:25And now, the light withdraws.
- 3:27And this raises a difficult question.
- 3:31If Jesus really is the promised Messiah, why did so many of God's old covenant people refuse to believe in him?
- 3:40Was something deficient in his ministry?
- 3:43Had God's promises failed?
- 3:46Had the unbelief of Israel somehow frustrated God's purposes?
- 3:50Had the unbelief of Israel.
- 3:52Just with those questions in mind that John writes the following verses.
- 3:59We pray for us, and then I'll read the text.
- 4:03Father, we ask humbly that you would help us as we take up your word together this morning.
- 4:09We admit that we need your help.
- 4:11We need the Spirit to help us to rightly see Christ.
- 4:17We want to believe the promises of the Scripture.
- 4:20We want to obey its commands, and we want to find our affection growing for you as its author.
- 4:27So we pray that you'll help us to this end, and we pray in Jesus' name.
- 4:32Amen.
- 4:34John 12, beginning in verse 37.
- 4:37Though he, Jesus, had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him.
- 4:45So that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.
- 4:48Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?
- 4:52And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
- 4:57Therefore they could not believe.
- 4:59For again, Isaiah says, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart,
- 5:03lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart,
- 5:06and turn, and I would heal them.
- 5:09Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
- 5:17Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him,
- 5:20but for fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it,
- 5:23so that they would not be put out of the synagogue.
- 5:26For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
- 5:32Note with me first the tragic nature of unbelief.
- 5:40We can see this in verses 37 and 38.
- 5:45The Israelites' rejection of Jesus as the Christ was not due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
- 5:53John wants this to be very clear.
- 5:56Though he had done so many signs before them.
- 6:02That's the implication there.
- 6:04He had done ample things.
- 6:07They still did not believe in him.
- 6:10John's statement is remarkable because of everything that has preceded it.
- 6:16Jesus demonstrated his authority over creation, sickness, blindness, and death.
- 6:22His signs publicly revealed his identity.
- 6:24Nevertheless, many witnesses to these miracles refused to believe.
- 6:32John does not suggest that they lacked sufficient evidence to recognize the significance of Jesus.
- 6:40Rather, he emphasizes their stubborn unbelief despite the extraordinary evidence already given.
- 6:47The fundamental problem of unbelief is not merely intellectual ignorance.
- 6:55It's not that we just need to know more.
- 6:58The fundamental problem is the moral and spiritual disposition of the sinful heart.
- 7:05John chapter 3, verse 19 and 20 explains that people love darkness rather than light because their works are evil.
- 7:15In John chapter 5, in verse 40, Jesus tells his opponents that they refuse to come to him that they may have life.
- 7:22Scripture describes our condition in terms of blindness, hostility, and spiritual death.
- 7:32You see Romans 8, 7, and 8 in Ephesians 2, 1 through 3.
- 7:37Apart from the gracious work of God upon the human heart, this is who we are.
- 7:44We are rebels, enemies, haters of God.
- 7:50But the Bible never lets mankind off the hook.
- 7:55You cannot say, well, I was just born this way.
- 8:00We are fully culpable of our rejection of the good rule of a God.
- 8:06Now, at this point, you may be tempted to think that John goes on to argue that the Israelites did not believe because of the prophecy of Isaiah 53 and verse 1.
- 8:19Here cited,
- 8:20Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
- 8:27This is an understandable temptation because of the words preceding his citation.
- 8:32So that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.
- 8:38I suggest to you that the prophecy of Isaiah 53 was not the cause of their rejection.
- 8:46That's how many people might read this initially.
- 8:50But rather, it's just the prediction of it.
- 8:55John is showing us that the rejection of Jesus was not an unexpected development in God's life.
- 9:02God's redemptive plan.
- 9:05This morning's reading was Isaiah 52, verse 13, through 53, verse 1.
- 9:12And I hope that you'll join me there to look at it again.
- 9:14You can see it in your bulletin or you can turn there in your Bible.
- 9:20I hope you'll note the significance of why we read it in this way.
- 9:25And recall that the chapter headings are added later to the text.
- 9:29They're not inspired.
- 9:32Here we see beginning of verse 3.
- 9:34Behold, my servant shall act wisely.
- 9:39We understand this now to be the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 9:43He shall be high and lifted up and shall be exalted.
- 9:48As many were astonished at you.
- 9:52His appearance was so marred beyond human semblance and his form beyond that of the children of mankind.
- 10:01So shall he sprinkle many nations.
- 10:05Kings shall shut their mouths because of him.
- 10:07For that which has not been told them they see.
- 10:12And that which they have not heard they understand.
- 10:17Then verse 1 of 53 cited in our text today.
- 10:21Who has believed when he has heard from us?
- 10:24And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
- 10:27Out of the arm of the Lord in verse 1 of Isaiah 53 pictures God's saving strength.
- 10:37But that strength would be displayed in a servant whom the people despised.
- 10:44A servant who would be lifted up, we now know, on the cross.
- 10:49Chapter 52 and verse 13.
- 10:52Marred beyond recognition.
- 10:55Verse 14.
- 10:57A servant who would become the saving and reigning king of the nations.
- 11:05You see, John is teaching that the unbelief of man cannot overthrow the purposes of God.
- 11:11Because even the rejection of the Messiah was anticipated within God's plan of redemption of peoples.
- 11:21So, John is clear.
- 11:26Unbelief is tragic.
- 11:29And its fault is in the one who rejects Jesus as the Christ.
- 11:35But this unbelief does not thwart God's plans.
- 11:40But he doesn't depart his contemplation of unbelief there.
- 11:46He continues.
- 11:47Note with me the second.
- 11:50The divine hand in unbelief.
- 11:55He goes on.
- 11:56Therefore, they could not believe.
- 11:59For again, Isaiah said, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.
- 12:03Lest they see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn.
- 12:07And I would heal them.
- 12:08Look at the progression in the text.
- 12:12In verse 37, the people did not believe.
- 12:17In verse 39, they could not believe.
- 12:24John presents both the willing rejection of Jesus and the divine judgment under which unbelief persists in a matter of a couple of verses.
- 12:34We must not diminish either statement but hold them together.
- 12:40Together.
- 12:41They did not believe.
- 12:43They could not believe.
- 12:46This is the issue of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man set together right here.
- 12:53And I'm going to make sure.
- 12:54A few phrases apart.
- 12:58Charles Spurgeon once said, and I'm picking up in the middle of a long quotation here.
- 13:03one, God has a chosen people
- 13:07and has given these people to Christ
- 13:08and these people must and shall come to Christ
- 13:11and so shall be saved
- 13:13two, so this is two statements
- 13:16one, two, every man who comes to Christ
- 13:19shall be saved
- 13:21and let me insert the opposite
- 13:23those who don't come to Christ will not be saved
- 13:26I continue, since he shall not be cast out
- 13:30and that implies that he shall be received
- 13:32and accepted
- 13:34these are two great truths
- 13:37let us carry them both with us
- 13:40and they will balance each other
- 13:43so again, my insertion
- 13:44that's the sovereignty of God
- 13:45and responsibility of man in salvation
- 13:48Spurgeon goes on
- 13:50I was once asked to reconcile these two statements
- 13:54and I answered
- 13:55no, I never reconcile friends
- 14:00there's no need to reconcile friends
- 14:03they work together somehow
- 14:07both things are true at the same time
- 14:12we call this a paradox
- 14:15they seem to contradict each other
- 14:19yet, they don't
- 14:21and we ought to accept it
- 14:23because it is what God's inspired
- 14:25inerrant authoritative word
- 14:27teaches
- 14:28in Romans 9
- 14:31as Paul wrestles with the unbelief of Israel
- 14:33he's doing the same thing
- 14:35essentially that John's doing here
- 14:36why is it that they're not
- 14:38believing in the Christ
- 14:40there, Paul cites a number of Old Testament passages
- 14:44to make this case
- 14:46and then he anticipates
- 14:49a question
- 14:50says Romans 9 verse 19
- 14:52you will say to me then
- 14:54this presentation of God as sovereign
- 14:57over salvation
- 14:58why does he still find fault
- 15:02for who can resist
- 15:05his will
- 15:07yes, Paul
- 15:09reconcile God's sovereignty
- 15:11with human responsibility
- 15:12lay it out for us
- 15:14help us to understand
- 15:16do you know how he answers?
- 15:20he doesn't work it out for us
- 15:21he says instead
- 15:23but who are you
- 15:25oh man
- 15:26to answer back
- 15:28to God
- 15:29he's been citing the scripture
- 15:30citing the scripture
- 15:31citing the scripture
- 15:32who are you
- 15:33oh man
- 15:33to ask such a question
- 15:35will what is molded
- 15:38say to what's molded
- 15:39why have you made me
- 15:40like this
- 15:42my summary
- 15:44of what he's saying
- 15:46is
- 15:46sit down
- 15:47and be humble
- 15:48stop trying to explain away
- 15:51the parts of the Bible
- 15:52that you have difficulty with
- 15:54submit yourself
- 15:56to the creator
- 15:57as one
- 15:58who has been
- 15:59created
- 16:01you
- 16:03beloved
- 16:03are not the center
- 16:05of the universe
- 16:06God is
- 16:08have faith
- 16:11like a child
- 16:12even while you search out
- 16:14the mysteries
- 16:15of the gospel
- 16:16plumb its depths
- 16:19but do so
- 16:20with faith
- 16:21like a child
- 16:23I commend to you
- 16:25the words of
- 16:26Richard Baxter
- 16:28this is in the kids coloring
- 16:30today in our bulletin
- 16:31sometimes these are the best quotes
- 16:33in the kids coloring sheet
- 16:34he once said
- 16:36study hard
- 16:37for the well is deep
- 16:39and our brains
- 16:40are
- 16:40shallow
- 16:42I commend those words
- 16:44to you
- 16:44but in the same breath
- 16:45I say
- 16:46do not think
- 16:48you will arrive
- 16:49while you remain
- 16:50in your feeble body
- 16:51to comprehend
- 16:53the majesty
- 16:54of God
- 16:55and the redemption
- 16:56of his people
- 16:57just take him
- 17:00at his word
- 17:01and live
- 17:03there was a time
- 17:06I'll admit
- 17:07to my shame
- 17:08that I felt
- 17:09proud
- 17:09that I had
- 17:10some measure
- 17:11of comprehension
- 17:12of the sovereignty
- 17:13of God
- 17:13just taking up
- 17:15the word
- 17:16and reading it
- 17:16at its face
- 17:18value
- 17:19many years ago
- 17:21I had the opportunity
- 17:22to go
- 17:22briefly
- 17:23and partner
- 17:24with a ministry
- 17:25in Atlanta
- 17:25that did
- 17:26gospel preaching
- 17:28to people
- 17:29who were living
- 17:29under bridges
- 17:30there
- 17:31mostly drug addicts
- 17:34homeless
- 17:34living under these
- 17:35bridges
- 17:36and had the chance
- 17:38to walk down
- 17:39busy busy busy
- 17:40streets
- 17:40and step over
- 17:41guardrails
- 17:41with a man
- 17:42named Richard
- 17:42and if you can
- 17:44picture Richard
- 17:45with me
- 17:45he was
- 17:466'5
- 17:47I'm going to guess
- 17:493'80
- 17:50he was a very
- 17:51very big
- 17:52man
- 17:53and we were
- 17:54casually talking
- 17:55about how he had
- 17:56come to faith
- 17:57in Christ
- 17:58because we were
- 17:58headed to the bridge
- 17:59that he used to live
- 18:01under
- 18:01just six months
- 18:03prior
- 18:04so he'd
- 18:04come out from
- 18:05under that bridge
- 18:06had received
- 18:06the gospel
- 18:07was being
- 18:08discipled
- 18:10I was going
- 18:10back now
- 18:11to share the gospel
- 18:12with others
- 18:13and I wasn't
- 18:15framing my questions
- 18:16in theological terms
- 18:17I was just asking him
- 18:18questions about how it was
- 18:19that he came
- 18:19to saving faith
- 18:20and he so simply
- 18:22stated
- 18:23how he would have
- 18:24never come
- 18:25to faith in Christ
- 18:26what a rebel
- 18:28he was
- 18:28to Jesus
- 18:29he fully owned
- 18:31his rejection
- 18:32of Jesus
- 18:33and then
- 18:33God's
- 18:34sovereign work
- 18:35and calling him
- 18:36out of that
- 18:37and saving
- 18:38his soul
- 18:39beautiful
- 18:40simple
- 18:41and I thought
- 18:42to myself
- 18:42that's the way
- 18:43this needs to be held
- 18:44as he's going now
- 18:46to step over a guardrail
- 18:48and go under a bridge
- 18:49to a rather dangerous place
- 18:50I was glad I was with
- 18:5265380
- 18:53Richard
- 18:54going
- 18:54under there
- 18:55and that he was in charge
- 18:57to be
- 18:57frank
- 18:59to share that good news
- 19:00with others
- 19:01he saw no contradiction
- 19:04in it whatsoever
- 19:05now
- 19:08God's
- 19:11judicial
- 19:11hardening
- 19:12is a
- 19:13righteous
- 19:14judgment
- 19:15upon
- 19:16human
- 19:16rebellion
- 19:17John quotes
- 19:19Isaiah
- 19:206
- 19:2110
- 19:21describing
- 19:22God
- 19:23blinding eyes
- 19:24and hardening
- 19:25hearts
- 19:26in Isaiah
- 19:286
- 19:29at the beginning
- 19:30of that chapter
- 19:30the prophet
- 19:32sees the Lord
- 19:34enthroned
- 19:35in glory
- 19:36his robes
- 19:37filling
- 19:37the throne room
- 19:39he recognizes
- 19:41his sinfulness
- 19:42he receives
- 19:42cleansing
- 19:43and is commissioned
- 19:44to preach
- 19:45yet he is told
- 19:48that his ministry
- 19:49will be met
- 19:49with profound
- 19:50resistance
- 19:51and increasing
- 19:52hardness
- 19:53of heart
- 19:54that's the context
- 19:55of chapter
- 19:566
- 19:56and verse
- 19:5810
- 19:58John
- 20:00recognizes
- 20:00this pattern
- 20:01reaching its
- 20:02climactic
- 20:02expression
- 20:03in the ministry
- 20:04of Jesus
- 20:05Christ
- 20:06Jesus Christ
- 20:08has come
- 20:08and he is
- 20:09preaching
- 20:09and it is
- 20:10being
- 20:11resisted
- 20:12judicial
- 20:14hardening
- 20:15should not
- 20:15be pictured
- 20:16as God
- 20:16making
- 20:17morally
- 20:18innocent
- 20:18people
- 20:19wicked
- 20:20against
- 20:20their
- 20:21wishes
- 20:21it is
- 20:23God's
- 20:23righteous
- 20:24judgment
- 20:24upon
- 20:25sinners
- 20:25already
- 20:26guilty
- 20:27in their
- 20:27rebellion
- 20:28giving them
- 20:29over
- 20:29to the
- 20:30God's
- 20:31judicial
- 20:31hardening
- 20:31is never
- 20:32unjust
- 20:33because God
- 20:34never
- 20:35judges
- 20:36a sinner
- 20:36who is
- 20:37morally
- 20:38innocent
- 20:39and that's
- 20:42what's going
- 20:42on at the
- 20:43beginning
- 20:43of this
- 20:44text
- 20:45that's
- 20:46what's
- 20:46happening
- 20:47here
- 20:47John
- 20:48is just
- 20:48trying to
- 20:48help us
- 20:49make sense
- 20:50of the
- 20:51rebellion
- 20:51why is
- 20:52it that
- 20:53and he
- 20:53shows us
- 20:54both
- 20:54the human
- 20:56responsibility
- 20:56in it
- 20:57and God's
- 20:58sovereign
- 20:59work
- 20:59now note
- 21:02with me
- 21:02finally
- 21:03the theme
- 21:05of glory
- 21:06in
- 21:06belief
- 21:08Isaiah
- 21:09said these
- 21:10things because
- 21:11he saw
- 21:12his glory
- 21:14and spoke
- 21:15of him
- 21:16if you have
- 21:18been a Christ
- 21:18follower for
- 21:19very long
- 21:19you have
- 21:20likely
- 21:20joined me
- 21:21in the
- 21:21experience
- 21:22of having
- 21:22read a text
- 21:23through on
- 21:23several occasions
- 21:24and missing
- 21:25a key word
- 21:26or phrase
- 21:26something just
- 21:27leaps off the
- 21:28page to you
- 21:29in an
- 21:30additional
- 21:31reading
- 21:32I've read
- 21:33the gospel
- 21:34of John
- 21:34many times
- 21:35I've read
- 21:36through this
- 21:36chapter
- 21:37even in my
- 21:37preparation
- 21:38throughout our
- 21:39study of
- 21:40John's
- 21:40gospel
- 21:41and it
- 21:42seems as
- 21:42if verse
- 21:4341 didn't
- 21:43even exist
- 21:44until
- 21:45this week
- 21:46how simple
- 21:48minded we can
- 21:49be just
- 21:49jump over
- 21:50these words
- 21:51Isaiah
- 21:52said these
- 21:53things because
- 21:54he saw
- 21:55his glory
- 21:56and spoke
- 21:57of
- 21:58him
- 21:59I love
- 22:02it when
- 22:02New Testament
- 22:03writers under
- 22:04the Spirit's
- 22:04inspiration bring
- 22:05clarity to
- 22:06Old Testament
- 22:07passages
- 22:09right it's good
- 22:10when the Bible
- 22:10gives commentary
- 22:11on the
- 22:12Bible
- 22:12I think
- 22:14that contextually
- 22:15John is
- 22:15telling us
- 22:16that Isaiah
- 22:17in Isaiah
- 22:176 saw
- 22:19the exalted
- 22:20Christ
- 22:21I think that's
- 22:22what we can
- 22:23derive from
- 22:23this as he's
- 22:24speaking about
- 22:25Jesus
- 22:25right that
- 22:26that chapter
- 22:276 verse
- 22:281 Lord
- 22:28that Isaiah
- 22:30sees is
- 22:31Christ
- 22:32and then
- 22:34he wrote
- 22:35of Israel's
- 22:36unbelief
- 22:37when Isaiah
- 22:39wrote of
- 22:40unbelief he did
- 22:41not condemn
- 22:42God as
- 22:43unjust
- 22:43but rather
- 22:45he viewed
- 22:46him
- 22:47as glorious
- 22:49how could
- 22:51this be
- 22:52to consider
- 22:54that people
- 22:55would reject
- 22:56Jesus as
- 22:57the Christ
- 22:58and yet
- 22:58Isaiah
- 22:59saw his
- 23:01glory
- 23:01and spoke
- 23:03of him
- 23:04I think
- 23:07there are
- 23:07at least
- 23:08two answers
- 23:08to this
- 23:09question
- 23:09that find
- 23:10their beginning
- 23:11in the
- 23:11doctrine
- 23:12of God's
- 23:13simplicity
- 23:14which states
- 23:16that he is
- 23:17all that he is
- 23:18at all
- 23:19times
- 23:21it's a
- 23:22rather simple
- 23:23doctrine
- 23:24but it's hard
- 23:24to wrap your
- 23:25mind around
- 23:25God is
- 23:26always God
- 23:27he's not
- 23:28fickle like us
- 23:29he doesn't put
- 23:29on one
- 23:30characteristic
- 23:30versus another
- 23:32sometimes I'm
- 23:32happy
- 23:32sometimes I'm
- 23:33sad
- 23:34is an
- 23:34obtuse
- 23:35example
- 23:36God is
- 23:38all that he
- 23:38is
- 23:39at all
- 23:40times
- 23:42so first
- 23:44God is
- 23:45glorified
- 23:46in the
- 23:47condemnation
- 23:47of sinners
- 23:48because he
- 23:50shows forth
- 23:51his justice
- 23:52in doing
- 23:53so
- 23:53we do not
- 23:56worship a
- 23:56God who
- 23:57will tolerate
- 23:57evil
- 23:58and he is
- 23:59glorious
- 24:00when he
- 24:01sets
- 24:01wrongs
- 24:03right
- 24:04we want
- 24:05a just
- 24:06God
- 24:07second
- 24:10as we saw
- 24:11at the end
- 24:11of Isaiah
- 24:1252
- 24:12God has a
- 24:14redemptive
- 24:14purpose
- 24:15for all
- 24:16peoples
- 24:16and Israel's
- 24:18broad rejection
- 24:18of Jesus
- 24:19as the Christ
- 24:19is part of
- 24:20that plan
- 24:21so we see
- 24:22God's mercy
- 24:23shown
- 24:24to every
- 24:25tribe
- 24:25nation
- 24:27and tongue
- 24:28if that thought
- 24:30is intriguing
- 24:31to you
- 24:31I would really
- 24:32encourage you
- 24:33to go
- 24:33to Romans
- 24:34chapter 9
- 24:35and begin
- 24:35with Paul's
- 24:36logic
- 24:36at the beginning
- 24:37of 9
- 24:37as he's
- 24:38wondering
- 24:38why is it
- 24:39why is it
- 24:40that my brethren
- 24:41are not responding
- 24:42to faith
- 24:43in Christ
- 24:44and he works
- 24:44that entire
- 24:45argument out
- 24:46through the end
- 24:47of chapter
- 24:4811
- 24:49and there
- 24:50he praises
- 24:51praises
- 24:53God
- 24:54for the mystery
- 24:55of his
- 24:55redemptive
- 24:56work
- 24:57Isaiah
- 24:59and Paul
- 25:01and John
- 25:02saw
- 25:03the glory
- 25:04of Christ
- 25:05and would
- 25:06have us
- 25:07do
- 25:07the very
- 25:08same
- 25:09so what are we
- 25:13to make
- 25:13of the rest
- 25:14of this section
- 25:15I said we should
- 25:16notice the
- 25:17theme of glory
- 25:18John goes on
- 25:20nevertheless
- 25:22he's referring to
- 25:23all of this
- 25:23unbelief
- 25:24many
- 25:25even of the
- 25:26authorities
- 25:26believed
- 25:27but for fear
- 25:29of the Pharisees
- 25:30they did not
- 25:30confess it
- 25:31so that they
- 25:32would not
- 25:32be put
- 25:32out of a
- 25:33synagogue
- 25:33for they
- 25:35love the
- 25:35glory that
- 25:36comes from
- 25:36man more
- 25:37than the
- 25:37glory
- 25:38that comes
- 25:40from God
- 25:40some
- 25:42authorities
- 25:43believed
- 25:43in Jesus
- 25:44in
- 25:45some
- 25:46sense
- 25:47yet they
- 25:49feared the
- 25:49consequences
- 25:50of identifying
- 25:51themselves
- 25:52with him
- 25:53exclusion
- 25:55from the
- 25:55synagogue
- 25:56could carry
- 25:57serious
- 25:58religious
- 25:59social
- 26:00and economic
- 26:01costs
- 26:02and this
- 26:02threat had
- 26:03already been
- 26:03issued
- 26:04the Pharisees
- 26:05had said
- 26:05you speak
- 26:06of this
- 26:06guy
- 26:07you believe
- 26:07in this
- 26:08guy
- 26:08you will
- 26:09be put
- 26:09out
- 26:09of the
- 26:10synagogue
- 26:11these
- 26:13men
- 26:13recognized
- 26:13something
- 26:14significant
- 26:15about
- 26:15Jesus
- 26:16but feared
- 26:17the cost
- 26:18of saying
- 26:19so
- 26:20now I
- 26:22do think
- 26:22that we
- 26:23should
- 26:23withhold
- 26:24pronouncing
- 26:24a final
- 26:25spiritual
- 26:25judgment
- 26:26on every
- 26:27individual
- 26:27mentioned
- 26:27in John
- 26:2812
- 26:28and verse
- 26:2942
- 26:30for example
- 26:32Nicodemus
- 26:33we've talked
- 26:34about him
- 26:35in previous
- 26:36study
- 26:37shows a
- 26:38developing
- 26:39identification
- 26:40with Jesus
- 26:41as the
- 26:42Christ
- 26:43we saw
- 26:43him first
- 26:43in John
- 26:44chapter 3
- 26:44and then
- 26:45chapter 7
- 26:45we'll see
- 26:47him finally
- 26:47in John
- 26:49chapter 19
- 26:50and I've
- 26:51said to
- 26:51you
- 26:51I think
- 26:52I think
- 26:52that Nicodemus
- 26:53ended up
- 26:55a Christ
- 26:55follower
- 26:56developed
- 26:56across
- 26:57some time
- 26:58however
- 27:01a faith
- 27:02that never
- 27:02progresses
- 27:03beyond
- 27:03private
- 27:04approval
- 27:05of Jesus
- 27:06because
- 27:07public
- 27:07allegiance
- 27:08would prove
- 27:08too costly
- 27:09gives us
- 27:10serious
- 27:11reason
- 27:11to examine
- 27:12whether
- 27:13someone
- 27:13truly
- 27:14treasures
- 27:15Christ
- 27:16John
- 27:17identifies
- 27:18these
- 27:18underlying
- 27:20affections
- 27:21they feared
- 27:23the Pharisees
- 27:23because they
- 27:24loved
- 27:25human
- 27:26approval
- 27:27so there
- 27:28you have
- 27:29Isaiah
- 27:30and I think
- 27:30by implication
- 27:31John
- 27:32has seen
- 27:33the glory
- 27:33of Christ
- 27:34and therefore
- 27:35follow him
- 27:37want to
- 27:38glorify him
- 27:39and here
- 27:40you have
- 27:41in opposition
- 27:42to that
- 27:42people who
- 27:43say
- 27:43there's
- 27:43something
- 27:44unique
- 27:44about this
- 27:44man
- 27:45we
- 27:45recognize
- 27:46that he's
- 27:47doing
- 27:47miraculous
- 27:47things
- 27:48maybe
- 27:48we
- 27:48even
- 27:49think
- 27:49he
- 27:49is
- 27:50the
- 27:50Christ
- 27:50and yet
- 27:51they
- 27:52still
- 27:52fear
- 27:53the
- 27:53Pharisees
- 27:54and they
- 27:55want
- 27:55human
- 27:56approval
- 27:56the problem
- 27:58was not
- 27:59simply
- 27:59some
- 28:00insufficient
- 28:01courage
- 28:01it was
- 28:03a
- 28:03disordered
- 28:04love
- 28:05genuine
- 28:07faith
- 28:08increasingly
- 28:08values
- 28:09the glory
- 28:10of Christ
- 28:10above the
- 28:11approval
- 28:11of the
- 28:12world
- 28:13glory
- 28:14is a
- 28:15major
- 28:15theme
- 28:16of
- 28:16John
- 28:1612
- 28:17son
- 28:18of man
- 28:19is to
- 28:19be
- 28:19glorified
- 28:19verse
- 28:2023
- 28:20Jesus
- 28:21prays
- 28:21for the
- 28:22father's
- 28:22name
- 28:22to be
- 28:22glorified
- 28:23verse
- 28:2328
- 28:24and then
- 28:24we see
- 28:25in our
- 28:25text
- 28:26Isaiah
- 28:26sees
- 28:27Christ's
- 28:27glory
- 28:28in
- 28:28verse
- 28:2841
- 28:29and then
- 28:30the
- 28:30preference
- 28:30of the
- 28:31glory
- 28:31of men
- 28:32in these
- 28:33last
- 28:33verses
- 28:33those
- 28:35who
- 28:35should
- 28:36have
- 28:36recognized
- 28:37the
- 28:38Messiah's
- 28:38glory
- 28:39were
- 28:39occupied
- 28:40with
- 28:41preserving
- 28:42their
- 28:43own
- 28:43the
- 28:45Christian
- 28:45life
- 28:46is more
- 28:46than
- 28:46adopting
- 28:47correct
- 28:48religious
- 28:48convictions
- 28:49it is
- 28:51the
- 28:51transformation
- 28:52of our
- 28:52affections
- 28:53so that
- 28:54the glory
- 28:54of God
- 28:55becomes
- 28:55more
- 28:56precious
- 28:57than
- 28:58temporary
- 28:58applause
- 29:00or anything
- 29:01else
- 29:01for that
- 29:03matter
- 29:03so let me
- 29:06work to
- 29:06give us
- 29:07some
- 29:07application
- 29:07in closing
- 29:09what do we
- 29:09walk away
- 29:10with
- 29:10how do we
- 29:10think about
- 29:11this
- 29:11text
- 29:12first I
- 29:14want to
- 29:15say to
- 29:15the
- 29:15unsaved
- 29:16believe
- 29:17that
- 29:17Jesus
- 29:18is the
- 29:19Christ
- 29:19the
- 29:20anointed
- 29:20one of
- 29:20God
- 29:21the one
- 29:21who
- 29:21comes
- 29:21to
- 29:21take
- 29:22away
- 29:22the
- 29:22sins
- 29:23of the
- 29:24world
- 29:24there
- 29:25is
- 29:25sufficient
- 29:26evidence
- 29:28do not
- 29:29identify
- 29:30with those
- 29:31Isaiah
- 29:31prophesied
- 29:32about
- 29:32the
- 29:33opportunity
- 29:34to turn
- 29:35from your
- 29:35sin
- 29:35is presented
- 29:36to you
- 29:37today
- 29:38adults
- 29:40old and
- 29:41young
- 29:42children
- 29:43you are
- 29:44guilty of
- 29:45your
- 29:45rebellion
- 29:46you will
- 29:47not be
- 29:47able to
- 29:48blame it
- 29:48on God
- 29:49in the
- 29:49day of
- 29:50judgment
- 29:50you are
- 29:52guilty
- 29:52of your
- 29:53unbelief
- 29:54God will
- 29:56not lay
- 29:56aside his
- 29:57wrath for
- 29:58your sin
- 29:59repent
- 29:59and believe
- 30:01turn
- 30:03from your
- 30:03sin
- 30:04and embrace
- 30:05Jesus
- 30:06if you do
- 30:08this by
- 30:09faith
- 30:09he will
- 30:11take away
- 30:11God's
- 30:12judgment
- 30:12because he
- 30:13already bore
- 30:14God's wrath
- 30:15for you
- 30:15and he will
- 30:17restore you
- 30:18to God
- 30:19to the
- 30:21saved
- 30:22do not
- 30:24be controlled
- 30:25by the fear
- 30:26of man
- 30:26we may
- 30:28keep silent
- 30:28about Christ
- 30:29to protect
- 30:30our reputations
- 30:31soften
- 30:32biblical
- 30:32convictions
- 30:33to escape
- 30:34criticism
- 30:34or avoid
- 30:36confronting
- 30:36sin to
- 30:37preserve
- 30:37a comfortable
- 30:39friendship
- 30:40pastors
- 30:41and church
- 30:42members
- 30:42alike
- 30:43can be
- 30:43tempted
- 30:44to measure
- 30:44faithfulness
- 30:45by the
- 30:46approval
- 30:46of others
- 30:47rather than
- 30:49obedience
- 30:50to God's
- 30:51word
- 30:51the fear
- 30:52of man
- 30:53becomes
- 30:53spiritually
- 30:54destructive
- 30:55when our
- 30:56desires to
- 30:56be accepted
- 30:57by others
- 30:57exceeds
- 30:58our desires
- 30:59to see
- 31:00the glory
- 31:01of Christ
- 31:02also
- 31:05to the
- 31:06saved
- 31:06let divine
- 31:09sovereignty
- 31:10comfort
- 31:11and
- 31:12enthrall
- 31:13you
- 31:14if it
- 31:16weren't for
- 31:16God's saving
- 31:17grace
- 31:17we would
- 31:18all
- 31:18all of
- 31:20us
- 31:20be cut
- 31:21off
- 31:21from the
- 31:22loving kindness
- 31:22of God
- 31:24and Paul wrote
- 31:25in Ephesians 2
- 31:26but God
- 31:27being rich
- 31:29in mercy
- 31:29because of the
- 31:30great love
- 31:31with which
- 31:31he loved
- 31:31us
- 31:32even
- 31:32when we
- 31:33were dead
- 31:33in our
- 31:34trespasses
- 31:34made us
- 31:36alive
- 31:36together
- 31:37with Christ
- 31:38by grace
- 31:39you have been
- 31:39saved
- 31:40and raised
- 31:41us up
- 31:41with him
- 31:42and seated
- 31:42us with him
- 31:43in the heavenly
- 31:43places
- 31:44in Christ
- 31:45Jesus
- 31:45so that in
- 31:46the coming
- 31:47ages
- 31:47he might
- 31:47show the
- 31:48immeasurable
- 31:49riches
- 31:49of his grace
- 31:50and kindness
- 31:50toward us
- 31:51in Christ
- 31:53Jesus
- 31:53rest
- 31:55in the
- 31:56completed
- 31:56work of
- 31:57Jesus
- 31:57on your
- 31:58behalf
- 31:58and work
- 32:00to bring
- 32:00him glory
- 32:01in the way
- 32:01you parent
- 32:02in your
- 32:03work
- 32:04in the way
- 32:05you learn
- 32:05students
- 32:06in your
- 32:07service
- 32:07in the
- 32:08church
- 32:08in your
- 32:09love
- 32:10of your
- 32:10spouse
- 32:11and by
- 32:12sharing
- 32:12the gospel
- 32:13with your
- 32:13neighbor
- 32:14to the
- 32:14very
- 32:14ends
- 32:15of the
- 32:16earth
- 32:16let's
- 32:17pray
- 32:17together