The final words of Jesus’ Public ministry (4 things)

• 1^st – You must loose you life… vs. 20-26
  • 1^st – There were certain Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus… vs. 20-22
    • It is unclear if they were Gentile converts to Judaism / or just there for the festival…
      • They came to Philip – perhaps because he had a Greek name…
      • They very politely asked – ‘Sir we would like to meet with Jesus’…
      • Philip was uncertain of why they wanted to meet the Lord – so he hesitated…
      • He did not know if they were serious / or in light of ‘Palm Sunday’ – just curious…
      • Perhaps there is someone who only comes to church when there is a special event…
      • Are they really there to learn about Jesus – or just there to have fun…
      • We cannot see the hearts of other people – we do not know what motivates them…
      • But people cannot hide their motives from God – He sees the heart – I Samuel 16:7
    • Philip went and told Andrew – thinking perhaps he would have an answer…
      • But Andrew could not see their heart either – so they both went and asked Jesus…
      • It does not matter who comes / or what we think their purpose might be…
      • Out part is not to question the motives of others – we just take them to Jesus…
      • Even if they do not have a good motive – God might touch their heart!
  • 2^nd – Testing the heart… vs. 23-26
    • Jesus was VERY interested in talking to Gentiles – John 10:16 – the other sheep…
      • Yet He had a very peculiar response when they came to meet Him…
      • Jesus told them – ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to enter His glory’… 
      • They were excited to see Jesus because of the Triumphal entry / Lazarus…
      • But Jesus knew the ‘fun’ was not going to last – it was time for the cross!
      • So the question was – when the fun was over – when the hard times began…
      • Did they still want to hear from Jesus – did they still want to be disciples…
      • People tend to miss the fact that there is a price to following Jesus!
    • Unless a seed dies and is planted – it cannot produce new life…
      • A seed is no good all by itself – if you take a seed and hold onto it nothing happens…
      • But if you let it go / bury it / if it dies – then it becomes what God intended it to be!
      • Jesus understood in order for Him to be able to give new life – He first had to die…
      • And if we want to follow after Him – it means we must also let our life go…
    • Those who love their life will loose it…
      • If we do not want to loose our life – if we want to live for things of this world…
        • If we think we can find happiness in money / possessions / pleasure – we loose…
        • Who would not like the message of salvation – the free gift of eternity with God…
        • But the message is about repentance – that leads to salvation…
        • It is not enough to not want to go to hell – we must choose to live for Jesus today…
        • Few are willing to give up the ‘pleasures’ of this life – to inherit eternal life!
      • But suppose we had everything the world could ever offer us – but missed Jesus…
        • If you had all the money / power / all the fame – everything you ever wanted…
        • But when you died – ended up in hell separated from Jesus – was it worth it
        • Mark 8:36 – “What will it profit if you gain the whole world, and lose your soul?”
    • The one who HATES his life in this world – will find eternal life…
      • The greatest tree in the world is the ‘Red Wood’ – grows to be 100m tall / 6m thick!
      • But it starts out as a little seed – that has to die and be planted…
      • If we allow ourselves to get caught up in the cares of this world – we’ll never grow…
      • We must learn to HATE the things in this world that would distract us from Jesus…
      • Not being content to live for the scraps this world offers us – momentary pleasure…
      • Instead looking forward to the far greater rewards God has planned for us!
      • God did not intend for us to stay a ‘seed’ – He wants us to be a MIGHTY tree!
      • Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

• 2^nd – You must go through trials… vs. 27-33 (2 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus was deeply troubled by the thought of the cross… vs. 27-28
    • He had no great desire to go through the shame and suffering that lie before Him…

• But should Jesus ask the Father to save Him from the crucifixion…
• Hebrews 5:8 – “[Jesus] learned obedience by the things he suffered…”
• The cross was the whole reason why He came – to die for the sins of all men…
• So instead Jesus prayed – ‘Father bring Glory to Your Name!’
• When we go through hard times – we often pray for God to take us out of the trial…
  • But God does not take away problems – He may even allow them to get worse…
  • He teaches us through those difficulties to be completely dependent on Him!
  • Like a tree that has grown on the weathered windward side of the hill…
  • We become unmovable / unshakable / grounded and rooted in Christ!
  • Colossians 2:7 – “Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.” (NLT)
    
    
• 2^nd – The Father answered – ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again’… vs. 29-33
  • The people who heard the voice – argued over what it was they heard…
    • Some said it was just thunder / while others said it was the voice of an angel…
    • Jesus explained – the voice was because God was about to judge (krisis) the world…
    • And Jesus was about to cast the ruler of this world out – satan…
  • Jesus would be ‘lifted up’ / crucified – so He could draw all people to Him…
    • When Jesus was put on the cross – satan rejoiced – he thought he had won…
    • What he did not understand – but would learn in 3 days later – it was his defeat!
    • It was there on the cross Jesus crushed satan / sin / and death!
    • I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?  The sting of death is sin… But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • The greatest fear of all men is the fear of death – because it is an unknown…
    • Because some fear it is an end / but most of all because it means we will be judged…
    • But satan / death have no power over those who have believed in Jesus Christ…
    • We have nothing to fear from hell of judgment – because we have been forgiven!
      

• 3^rd – You must be watered by the Word… vs. 34-43
  • 1^st – The whole counsel of God… vs. 34-36
    • The people answered Jesus – how can the Messiah be crucified…
      • The people understood what Jesus was saying – but saw it as contradicting the Law
      • According to the Old Testament (Law) – the Messiah / Christ would live forever…
      • Their problem was they were only looking at the verses they wanted to see…
      • They completely missed the verses that that talked about the death of the Christ!
      • Isaiah 52:10 – “It was the LORD’s good plan to crush him… his life made an offering for sin…”
      • It is easy to focus on one part of the Bible and ignore other parts…
      • But we cannot pick and choose which parts of the Word we want to believe!
    • Jesus answered – ‘The light will only be with you a little while longer’…
      • If you try and walk in the darkness – you will not know where you are going…
      • Believe in the light – so that you can become the sons of light!
      • Psalm 110:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
      • If we want to know where we are going in life / if we want to grow in Jesus…
      • Psalm 1:2-3 – “Blessed is the man [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season… whatever he does shall prosper.”
      • When we abide in the Word of God – we will be like a well-watered tree…
      • We will bear good fruit for the Lord – and whatever we do will prosper!
  • 2^nd – Why people do not believe in Jesus… vs. 37-43
    • Even though Jesus did many signs – the people did not believe…
      • Quoting from – Isaiah 53:1 – who has believed our report…
      • The reality is not everyone who hears the Gospel – will believe…
      • In fact most likely only a small portion of those who hear will believe…
      • But it is not about numbers – it is about the one who does receive Jesus!
    • 1^st – They could not believe because of their sin…
      • Quoting again from – Isaiah 6:10 – the people could not believe in Jesus…
      • Seeing they do not see – hearing they will not hear – nor will they understand…
      • Because sin had made their hearts dull – and closed their eyes and ears
      • Sin keeps us from reading our Bible – go to church – fellowship with believers
      • Sin will keep us from growing in the lord  – but the Lord keeps us from sin!
    • 2^nd – They could not believe because they loved (agape) this world more than God…
      • Many / even leaders – understood the Word – and knew Jesus was the Christ…
        • But they feared the Pharisees – threatened to excommunicate any who believed…
        • They were more concerned about pleasing men – then about following God…
        • Ultimately the only reason someone reject the free gift of salvation…
        • Is because there is something else that they Love more than God in their life…
        • A love of the acceptance of people/ family – unwilling to stand up for Jesus…
        • A love of drugs/alcohol – the love of pleasure – living for the moment…
        • Or it could even be the love of money – desiring the things of this world…
      • We all have to make a choice – we cannot serve two masters…
        • James 4:4 – “Friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God?”
        • If we are not willing to take a stand for Jesus – if we deny Him – Matthew 10:33… 
        • He will not stand for us before the judgment seat of God – He will deny us…
        • To be Jesus’ disciple we must Love Him more than anything in this world!
          
• 4^th – The conclusion of the public ministry… vs. 44-50
  • If anyone does not believe – Jesus will not judge them… vs. 47-50
    • Jesus did not come to judge the world – He came to save the world from sin…
    • But those who do not believe will be judged on the last day…
    • They will be judged by the Word – because the Word comes from the Father!
    • We all have the standard – the Word – that we will one day be judged by…
    • A standard of perfection we all failed – Matthew 5:48 – we all sinned – Romans 3:23
    • So unless we have faith in Jesus – the only thing that waits us is certain judgment!
    • Hebrews 10:27 – “There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”
  • Jesus cried out – ‘He who believes in Me – believes in the one who sent me’… vs. 44-46
    • Anyone who saw Jesus – also saw the Father who sent Him…
    • Colossians 1:15 – “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.”
    • Jesus was sent to be a light – so that we would not longer abide in darkness…
    • How many of us this morning are seeds / how many are mighty trees…
    • If you are wondering where your walk with the Lord is – examine yourself…
    • Stand in the light of Christ and be honest – so that you can become all God intends!
    • I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”