Gospel of John:  So that We may Believe

Getting Jesus Right (pt. 2)

John 5.30-47

Getting Jesus Right:  Jesus is God – there are witnesses to this claim

• Witness of prophets
  • o John is the culmination of the witness (bear witness to light, behold lamb of God) (v.33)
  • o Jesus points this out for our salvation (v.34)
  • o They liked the idea but not the reality (v.35)
• Witness of works
  • o Who else could do what Jesus did?
  • o 7 Signs in John
    • Water into wine (2.11) – He brings a new covenant, joy
    • Cleansing temple (2.18) – He builds new temple of His people
    • Healing from a distance (4.54) – He gives life by His Word
    • Healing at pool (6.2) – He has power for wholeness
    • Feeding multitude (6.14) – He is bread of life for eternal life
    • Healing blind man (9.16) – He gives spiritual sight
    • Raising Lazarus (12.18) - He rules over death
  • Witness of Father
    • o Baptism – this is my beloved Son (Matt 3.17)
    • o Transfiguration – this is my beloved Son (Matt 17.7)
    • o Father leaves no doubt (though they do not have the Word in them)

Getting Jesus Right:  Jesus is revealed in the Scriptures (no AI Jesus, not making stuff up about Him)

Jesus never said…

Follow your heart – God will never give you more than you can handle – YOLO – Being right > Being righteous (you can win the argument and not win the person) – Humans are basically good – You deserve to be happy – It’s not THAT big a deal

• There is a way to read the Bible that misses the central meaning (Jesus) (v.39-40)
  • o You will need glory from someone (v.41, 43-44) – who will give your life weight, purpose, legitimacy
  • o You will not have love for God in you (v.42) – and no fruit of that as a result
    • It’s not a yearbook (love problem – always looking for yourself)
    • It’s not a menu (glory from someone)
  • Missing Jesus means being condemned by our heroes
    • o Either those who are truly heroic and point to Him or those who are faux-heroes and show their inadequacy