Propositional Phrase - in contrast to why the...

Propositional Phrase - in contrast to why the people worshiped Jesus in the triumphal entry

Their reasons for worship were misguided and false and the quickness in which they turned from him displays their selfish intentions.

We have 3 reasons to truly worship Jesus

1.    To worship him because he is the light 12:44-46

                    i.            Explain - "And Jesus cried out"

1.     Believe Me/God - see Me/God

2.     Through belief in Me,  God moves you from darkness

1.       Jesus spoke of the Father as the one who had sent him and he claimed to be the light that illumines the darkness of those who are without God.

3.     darkness is the absence of light.

A young Scottish poet was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighter who went about with a ladder and a torch, setting the street lights ablaze for the night. One evening he stood watching with childish fascination, he was heard exclaiming, "Look, look! There is a man out there punching holes in the darkness!"

With this one statement he summed up the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came into this world and accomplished many great and miraculous wonders, yet His primary purpose was to punch great gaping holes in the spiritual darkness that shrouded this world. He came to be The Light of the World

Christ is that light punching through the darkness! God is using Christ to show the world how dark it really is

Darkness is the absence of light.  

It is not the turning on of light - but the eradication of darkness by the only thing that could remove it. 

                 ii.Illustrate

                                     1.            Professor story

               iii.Apply

                                         1.            Can you worship Jesus as the light this morning?

                                                      a.            Are you ones who have believed

                                                     b.            Or do you remain in darkness

2.    To worship him because he is the Savior 12:47-48

                    i.            Explain – Jesus did not come to judge those still in darkness, but to save them from the darkness.  – Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

1.       His present purpose is to save those who are lost!

1.       Receive his message and receive life  

2.       Reject his message and receive judgment

2.       v47, 48 presents a direct contrast to 44-46

1.       vv 44-46 Believe and move from darkness to light

2.       vv 47-48 Reject and face judgment – there is consequence for refusing what Christ was providing.  

1.       Jn 3:17-18.

1.       17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

3.       The message of Christ when refused becomes the sealing of condemnation of man - nobody who refused it can plead ignorance

                 ii.            Illustrate

1.      Letter from NY, stuck in NJ, and case dismissed

1.      The cops were not judging me, the rejection of the letter already did

2.      Fortunately, I was able to pay the fine and all offenses were forgiven.

3.      The problem came about because I rejected the message!

               iii.            Apply

0.     It is interesting how the emphasis of these two verses is primarily on judgment and the certainty of it, rather than salvation.

1.     Within the context, Jesus is speaking to those who have not believed and therefore stand in judgment. They have not received his message and believed in him and therefore cannot worship him as savior, because they are not saved.

2.     But are you? Can you worship Jesus this morning as the Savior, has he taken you out of the darkness…

3.    To worship him because he is the word of God 12:49-50

                     i.            Explain – a connection before the Jews that God is communicating through him!

1.       Creditability comes right from the Father

2.        Jesus had a specific directive from the Father to communicate his message of eternal life.

3.       He does not claim to be the authority but sent by their authority Yahweh

4.       The emphasis here is the command of the Father.

1.       Obey the Fathers word and come to eternal life (John 12:50). Reject the Father’s word and abide in death.

5.       Prophets of the OT were given messages from God so they could then communicate that message to Gods people – Jesus, instead of receiving a message as if a prophet he is the actual message.   

6.       Jesus is the Word of God

7.       John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

8.       Word took on flesh and dwelt among us

9.      A “word” is an expression that communicates. On the level of human communication, “words “usually refer to verbal expression. When God “spoke” over the centuries, though, he communicated in various ways (Heb 1:1), culminating in that epitome of all divine expression, Jesus Christ, his Son.

10. Jesus is not simply the means by which God communicates his message, but is instead the very communication of God himself to man.

Who God is, is seen through who Jesus is

What God says is heard through what Jesus says

What Jesus does, is what God desires

Jesus is the complete, physical, flesh and blood exclamation of God the father

                 ii.            Illustrate

1.      The statue of David in Italy is an incomplete representation of man Jesus is the complete representation of God the Father.

               iii.            Apply

1. It is through Jesus as the Word that we now have a full revelation and understanding of God the Father
2. This is more than head knowledge; it is something that you must hold true.  
3. Can you say this morning that you worship Jesus as the Word of God?