Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Purpose PART III
Rev Abe Cho
25 September 2016
John 12: 37-50
37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
"Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn--and I would heal them."
41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47"If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
WHAT JESUS SAYS
--He cries out in v.44 suggesting an urgent message.
--His first statement after that is belief in him--not any particular action.
--Jesus is evangelistic, so we should be too.
WHY DO WE MISS IT
--The nature of unbelief and doubt.
--Doubt isn't just rational and empirical
--v.39 They could not belief cause God hardened their hearts, but v.43 suggests they desired human praise too much.
--Parallels with God hardening Pharoah's heart and Pharoah hardening his own heart.
--It's both God's decree and we are free to do what we want--Work out the relationship/contradiction on your own..if possible.
--Why do we not want something to be true...Why do we not want to believe? - because it requires giving up our control?
--The good things in our lives can blind us to the Glory of God.
WHY DO WE NEED HIS LIGHT
--Am I ready to see myself and all my flaws under God's revealing light.
--Human resources can't deal with evil or justice.
--Only if we think the wrongs of this world will be made right will we begin to live in peace.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Sent to Show Christ's Glory
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Purpose PART II
Dr. Timothy Keller
18 September 2016
John 12: 27-36
27"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD?
--v.28 It is the history of all existence
--Supreme Importance (Old Test) God matters the most in your life
--Ultimate Beauty (New Test) Beauty that is seen and rejoiced
--Jonathan Edwards-Obey because you want to, not because you have to
--Glad surrender and joyful unconditional obedience.
--Trust Him whether or not you understand it.
--God mattering the most in our lives orders our commitments.
WHERE TO FIND THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Hour of Jesus's death.
--"My soul is troubled" What can scare Jesus? Having love torn away from him
--Is love torn away from us what scares us the most?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WITH THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Don't waste your sorrows.
--Glorify God during our sufferings
--Get excited about what he can make of you.
--v36 Believe in the Light
Dr. Timothy Keller
18 September 2016
John 12: 27-36
27"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD?
--v.28 It is the history of all existence
--Supreme Importance (Old Test) God matters the most in your life
--Ultimate Beauty (New Test) Beauty that is seen and rejoiced
--Jonathan Edwards-Obey because you want to, not because you have to
--Glad surrender and joyful unconditional obedience.
--Trust Him whether or not you understand it.
--God mattering the most in our lives orders our commitments.
WHERE TO FIND THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Hour of Jesus's death.
--"My soul is troubled" What can scare Jesus? Having love torn away from him
--Is love torn away from us what scares us the most?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WITH THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Don't waste your sorrows.
--Glorify God during our sufferings
--Get excited about what he can make of you.
--v36 Believe in the Light
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Sent to Die and Bring Life
Jesus, Mission, and Glory PART I
Rev Abraham Cho
11 September 2016
John 12: 20-26
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethasaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My father will honor the one who serves me.
UNUSUAL SIGN
--v20-22; non Jews are inquiring which suggests some kind of ethnic divide.
--v.23 The Hour has come (coincides with the coming of non Jews?)
--A visible sign that God was acting to save the world because segregation was being challenged.
SURPRISING DISCLOSURE
--His death was the purpose of his life. (v24-25)
STRANGE INVITATION
--Our life flourishes when we fall to the ground.
--Human flourishing comes in the pursuit of self-denial in service of others.
--Lives of self-giving is the modus operandi of Jesus.
Rev Abraham Cho
11 September 2016
John 12: 20-26
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethasaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My father will honor the one who serves me.
UNUSUAL SIGN
--v20-22; non Jews are inquiring which suggests some kind of ethnic divide.
--v.23 The Hour has come (coincides with the coming of non Jews?)
--A visible sign that God was acting to save the world because segregation was being challenged.
SURPRISING DISCLOSURE
--His death was the purpose of his life. (v24-25)
STRANGE INVITATION
--Our life flourishes when we fall to the ground.
--Human flourishing comes in the pursuit of self-denial in service of others.
--Lives of self-giving is the modus operandi of Jesus.
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