Sermon: “Jesus Said It and He Will Do It!
Sermon Date: April 14, 2024
Introduction:
Of late, my study time has been concentrated in the Gospel according to the Apostle John. I encourage every one of you to take some time this week and read the Gospel of John. In my opinion, of the 66-Books of the Holy Bible, there is no writing that can compare, or even come close, to John’s Gospel.
No writer has the depth of knowledge of Jesus Christ as John had. During the public Ministry of Jesus on earth; John’s love, honor, and faithfulness to Jesus was heads and tails above all of the other disciples. God always honors faithfulness in a special way. Everything we do for Christ is recorded in heaven, and God doesn’t cast a blind eye to it. God will reward you for your faithfulness too. Hebrews 6:10 says:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Moreover the Apostle Paul wrote at I Corinthians 15:58:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Regarding John’s faithfulness toward Jesus Christ, he was one of the first to follow Jesus when called. He was seated next to Jesus at the Last Supper. He was the only disciple present at the crucifixion of Jesus; none of His own siblings were there. While on the cross, Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John. John was the first disciple who ran to the tomb after the Resurrection to confirm that it was empty, and was an eye witness to Jesus’ Resurrection. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, would reveal and entrust to John the Revelation of Jesus Christ to write to the Churches. (Rev.1:1-4, 8)
The Gospel of John contains a Prologue (1:1–18) and an Epilogue (21:1–25).The prologue provides the reader with a theological foundation for the rest of the book; to describe who Jesus Christ is and what he did. Also, John’s Book takes us back into the before times (ancient even of days) and highlights all the major themes the reader will encounter throughout the Book.
While on the other hand, the Epilogue makes clear that the Gospel of John is “not” inclusive of everything Jesus did or taught. If it had, John in his writings, supposed that the world itself would not be able to contain the books that should be written. (John 21:24)
Throughout the Book of John the language used is quite simple, but powerful and profound in meaning. There are “so” many memory verses capturing the “Words” of Jesus Christ that serve as an anchor in the hearts of born-again believers of our hope in God in Christ Jesus. Here are just a few:
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 3:4-7:
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 5:24:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 8:32:
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 10:10:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 14:1-2
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Now please understand, in no way am I seeking to diminish the quality of the writings of the other three writers of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) as these glorious gospels give us great details on the history and works of Jesus Christ. But John’s Gospel unveils the mystery of Christ. Jesus is revealed to us as the precious Lamb of God, the Good Shepherd, the Forgiver, the Healer, the Compassionate Intercessor, and the Great I Am.
John’s writings also provide the most in-depth and insightful writings into The Comforter, which is The Holy Ghost, who Jesus would send to every believer in Him once His earthly Ministry was completed. Also contained in the Book of John is the Lord’s mighty Prayer for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers. (John 17) And, our hearts cry great tears of sorrow as John writes of the Lord’s Passion and death on the cross; (John 19) and then our hearts are made exceedingly joyful beyond measure at the Resurrection of Jesus on the third-day! (John 20)
Thus, I salute and commend John, as every believer in Jesus Christ should do: As a prophet, lover, evangelist, author, apostle, brother and beloved friend of Jesus; and as Jesus referred to John as a “son of thunder.” (Mark 3:17)
The Miracles of Jesus Recorded in John’s Gospel Serve Two Vitally Important Purposes
Now, let’s start making traction in where I am going with today’s Sermon. John’s Gospel sets forth two purposes for His Book. At John 20:29-30, He pinned:
There are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life through His name.
Wow, I love it! John’s hope is that everyone who reads the accounts of the “works” (signs and miracles) of Jesus Christ, written in His Book might come to:
- Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
- (In believing) have “eternal life” through His name.
Eternal life: meaning a deep and abiding relationship with God and Jesus Christ forever. (John 17:3) A prime benefit of having eternal life is never seeing death, but passing over death unto life. (John 5:24) Amen to this!
The following are seven examples and references of the mighty works Jesus performed that are recorded in John’s Gospel. John encourages that his readers believe in these works of Christ. Some of these writings are unique to his Gospel like the miracles of turning the water to wine and the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
*Turning Water into Wine (John 2:1-12)
*Healing the Nobleman’s Son (John 4:46-54)
*Healing the Lame Man at the Pool (John 5:1-11)
*Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)
*Walking on Water (John 6:16-21)
*Healing a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-12)
*Resurrecting Lazarus (John 11: 1-45)
Yes, please make sure this week that you go back and read each of these accounts, and through them come to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God! As I taught last week, our victory in overcoming all tribulation in the world, is through our faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (I John 5: 4-5 (Whatever problem you are facing: Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and confess Him with your mouth, and you will overcome it!)
Now, according to John’s account, the last miracle Jesus Christ performed before His Passion was the “Raising of Lazarus” from the dead. (John 11:1-45) In John’s account of the works of Christ, the raising of Lazarus stands as a kind of summation of all the miracles Jesus did in His Ministry on earth. In like manner to the final dramatic and climatic act in a theater production, Jesus used the raising of Lazarus as a “special miracle” to finally prove His divinity to His disciples.
In raising Lazarus, His close friend and whom He loved, Jesus demonstrated His authority and power over death in a way He had not previously done in His Ministry. In other recorded raisings of persons in Jesus’ Ministry, the deceased had either just passed away or had not yet been entombed. (Luke 7:11-17 & 8:40-56)
But in Lazarus’ case, John’s writing shows Jesus purposely waited 4-days after entombment to raise him from the dead, with his body already badly decomposing. What a mighty God we serve!
At the command of Jesus, the stone was removed from the tomb and Lazarus to come forth. When Lazarus came forth out of the tomb and was loosed from his grave clothes; the glory of God was revealed to all who witnessed this special miracle. John noted in his writing that after the miracle, many of the Jews believed in Jesus. (John11:45)
With the raising of Lazarus, Jesus had demonstrated to the disciples (and the Jews) complete mastery over death. To His “standing up again resume’” Jesus had raised people who had just died, been dead a day or so, and dead for several days entombed. Setting the perfect stage for His own Resurrection on the third-day; conquering and abolishing death for all people who would believe in Him. (II Tim. 2:10)
In the very next chapter, (John 12:1-9 &11) John reminds his readers of the enormity of the miracle raising of Lazarus, and how it served to buttress the belief of the Jews in Jesus’ divinity. As John wrote about a dinner party held in honor of Jesus in Bethany attended by Lazarus not long after his raising. John noted that Lazarus was seated at the table with Jesus, and many of the Jews came not only to see Jesus but Lazarus too. This also sorely angered the Jewish leaders who sought to kill both Jesus and Lazarus because the miracle caused so many Jews to believe in Jesus.
Truly, Lazarus’ raising served as a summation of Jesus’ divinity, and the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third-day, put the exclamation point on the truth that: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!
The Miraculous Works of Jesus Recorded in John’s Gospel Reveals a Deeper Truth about Jesus Christ the Son of God
The signs and miracles performed by Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel, along with the other Gospel writers, reveals a profound truth about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This truth is going to sound obvious and simple, and yet it’s extremely powerful in revelation. Please do not take this truth lightly but sow it into your heart and receive manifold more knowledge about Jesus the Messiah. Jesus said at Mark 4:24:
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
The angles refreshed the memories of the women about what Jesus had “said” before that He must suffer, be crucified, and rise again on the third-day. This is what all believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God must do: “Remember His Words,” because whatever Jesus says, He will surely do. Whatever Jesus says will surely come to past! Saints, Hold on to Jesus’s Words!
MY. My, my! One of the exceedingly great and precious promises we have from our risen Savior Jesus Christ is recorded in John 14:1-6. Jesus said to His disciples:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ummm, in this moment, I hear Jesus Christ saying to the body of Christ, to every born-again believer, to “remember My promise as told the disciples:”
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN! JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN TO RECEIVE US UNTO HIMSELF!
Like the women at the empty tomb, God is telling us to go and spread the good news: Tell your family, friends, neighbors, strangers, as well as your enemies “Jesus Christ is coming again to receive us unto Himself. That where He is, we may be also!”
One song we use to sing growing up in Church says: “He is coming on a cloud for you and me. It won’t be very long just wait and see. Hold to His hand God’s unchanging hand you will be ready when He comes.”
By Revelation of the Lord’s Second Coming, the Apostle Paul wrote at I Thessalonians 4:16-17:
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
In closing, we look forward with all the hope with in us for the great day when we shall see Jesus face-to-face. We will praise Him forever! Any day and time now the Lord could return. Keep yourself as pure as Jesus is by continually looking for and expecting His return. (I John 3:3) For Jesus will surely do what He Has promised. Jesus Christ is coming again! Amen to the preaching of God’s Word.
Next week, we will talk about what we need to do to be ready for Jesus’ Return in a Message entitled: “Prepared to Receive the Promise of Jesus Christ!”
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