Sermon Tone Analysis

How Much Does God Love Us?

The Gospel of John

John 12:27-33

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - May 31, 2017

(Revised December 15, 2019)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to John 12:20.

A couple of weeks ago in John 12, we looked at the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday.

This happened during the annual Passover Feast.

One source estimated that 3 million people were in Jerusalem for that Passover, both Jews and gentiles.

Last week, God's Word focused on some of the gentiles, Greeks who had come to the city to worship at the Passover feast.

They believed Old Testament Scripture, but not being Jews, they were very restricted in how they could participate.

(1)

*But these Greeks had heard about Jesus, and they told His disciple Philip that they wanted to meet with the Lord.

That probably happened on the day after Palm Sunday in the Temple's court of the gentiles.

You see, that was as far as these Greeks were allowed to go, and Jesus was probably in the court of Israel.

*John Phillips gave this important background: "The entire Temple area of that day included 19 acres, and this area was divided into four courts.

Coming in from the east and moving toward the sanctuary, a visitor would pass through the court of the gentiles, then the court of the women, the court of Israel, and the court of the priests.

(2)

*There was a dividing wall which separated the court of the gentiles from the other courts in the Temple.

Signs were posted in Latin and Greek to warn Gentiles not to go any farther into the temple under the penalty of death.

(3)

*Those Greeks wanted to see Jesus.

But they couldn't get past the wall, so Andrew and Philip took their request to the Lord.

And in vs. 20-26, they got an unexpected answer:

20.

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.

21.

Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus.''

22. Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23.

But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

24.

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

25.

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26.

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.

If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

*We might think that Jesus would have said, "Hey.

Sure.

Give Me a few minutes, and I'll be right there."

But the Lord was, as always, focused on the cross.

Jesus was pointing everyone to the only way we could ever see Him forever: And that is by trusting in the cross of our Risen Savior, trusting in the true Lamb of God who came to earth to die on the cross for our sins.

*In tonight's Scripture, Jesus was still speaking in the Temple, and there was a mixture of people listening to the Lord.

Some of the Lord's closest followers were there.

There were also some Jewish seekers there, still wondering if Jesus was the Messiah.

And there were people present who hated Jesus with murderous passion.

*With this background in mind, let's read John 12:27-33, and as we read, please think about how much God loves us.

MESSAGE:

*How much does God love us?

We know that He loves us far more than we can measure, but tonight's Scripture helps us understand.

1. FIRST WE SEE THAT GOD LOVED US ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE GREATEST GRIEF FOR US.

*Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God went through terrible grief for us.

We see this truth in vs. 27, where Jesus said, "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?

'Father, save Me from this hour'?

But for this purpose I came to this hour."

*Jesus was "troubled."

It's the same word used in John 11:33, when Lazarus was still dead, and Jesus saw Mary and the people with her weeping.

There the Bible tells us that Jesus "groaned in the spirit and was TROUBLED."

This same word "troubled" was also used in John 13:21, on the night before the cross.

There God's Word says, "When Jesus had said these things, He was TROUBLED in spirit, and testified and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'''

*The original word for "troubled" had the idea of being turbulently stirred up like a fierce, stormy ocean.

Our Lord was in great mental anguish in those last few days before the cross.

*All of us know about mental anguish, some a whole lot more than others.

We know the anguish of fear and loneliness.

We know the anguish of rejection, discouragement, failure, and the loss of loved ones.

Some of us even know the anguish of betrayal.

But we can never know the turmoil and grief that Jesus went through as He got close to the cross.

*Gethsemane is the best place to see it, and Mark 14:32-36 says:

32.

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray.''

33.

And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

34.

Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.

Stay here and watch.''

35.

He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

36.

And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.

Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.''

*Luke 22:44 says, "And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.

And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

*Jesus went through terrible mental anguish, and he did this for us!

Hebrews 2:9-10 speaks about Christians, and says, "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

*Hebrews 4:14-15 says, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

*And Hebrews 5:7-8 tells us that in the days of (Jesus') flesh, He offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and (Jesus) was heard because of His godly fear.

Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

*HOW MUCH DOES GOD LOVE US? -- ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE GREATEST GRIEF FOR US.

2. AND ENOUGH TO MIRACULOUSLY SPEAK TO US.

*We hear the Father's miraculous voice in vs. 28-30, and it was prompted by Christ's prayer at the beginning of vs. 28.

There Jesus said:

28.

"Father, glorify Your name.''

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.''

29.

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered.

Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him.''

30.

Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake."

*This was the third time our Heavenly Father spoke audibly during the Lord's earthly ministry.

The first time was at the beginning of Jesus' ministry when He was baptized by John the Baptist.

Matthew 3:13-17 says:

13.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14.

And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?''

15.

But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.''

Then he allowed Him.

16.

Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

17.

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.''

*Next was on the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed His glory.

Luke 9:30-31 tells us that Moses and Elijah also appeared in glory, and Jesus talked to them about the cross.

*Matthew 17:1-8 described the transfiguration this way:

1.

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, brought them up on a high mountain by themselves,