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HopeLives365

Sabbath School 4th Quarter 2024: Themes in the Gospel of John

Mark Finley

01 Signs That Point the Way

02 Signs of Divinity

03 The Backstory: The Prologue

04 Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah

05 The Testimony of the Samaritans”

06 More Testimonies About Jesus

07 Blessed Are Those Who Believe

08 Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies

09 The Source of Life

10 The Way, the Truth, and the Life

11 The Father, the Son, and the Spirit

12 The Hour of Glory, The Cross and Resurrection

13 Epilogue: Knowing Jesus and His Word


As we study the lesson for this week, it's the eighth lesson in our series on the Gospel of John. And you remember last week we studied about those who testified of their belief in Christ. We studied about John the Baptist testimony when he said, behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. We studied about the testimony of John and Andrew when they said, we have found him of whom Moses is written. We studied about Nathaniel and Peter, the Samaritan woman, Mary, the crowd, the disciples.

We took a look at Pilate and Thomas. And you remember at the end of Thomas's testimony, when he says, my Lord and my God, Thomas, the doubter becomes a believer. Isn't that good news? That doubters can become believers. You know, your husband may be a doubter, your wife may be a doubter, your children may doubt, your friends may doubt.

But the good news is that doubters can become believers. Well, before we jump into this week's lesson, lesson 8, let's pray. Father in heaven, we've got another important lesson to study. And we pray that as we study this lesson, that Jesus would be near us, that his Holy Spirit would illuminate our minds, open our ears to hear the word of God and apply these lessons to our heart, we pray in Christ's worthy name, amen. When you look at the ministry of Christ, you see this symbiotic relationship, this closeness between Jesus and his father.

Let's look at it. We jump over to Sunday's lesson, John 5, verse 17 and verse 20. John 5, 17 and 20, verse 17, but Jesus answered that he had been working and he says, my father's been working. Look at verse 20, for the father loves the son and shows him all things that he himself does. And he will show him greater works than these that you may marvel.

So here, what Jesus is saying is, I am working, but the Father is working through me. The Father gives me the strength. The Father gives me the power. The Father is the 1 whose power is working these signs, these wonders, these miracles that you see. And you remember in John chapter 14, when Philip said to Jesus, show us the Father.

And Jesus said, Philip, have you been with me such a long time? If you've seen me, you've seen the Father. There are people that say, look, I can identify with Jesus, but I can't identify with the Father. That's their attitude. They say, you know, Jesus is so kind, loving, and compassionate, but the Father, at times in the Old Testament, he may appear austere.

He may appear, you know, a little bit vindictive at some of those lives that were taken, you know, and he, the Father may appear quite authoritarian. But Jesus dispels that myth. Jesus says, if You've seen me, you've seen the Father. Every time I open blind eyes and people see, that's what the Father is like. Every time I open deaf ears and people hear, that's what the Father is like.

Every time I walk in to a place like the Pool of Bethesda and heal the man who was there for 38 years. That's what the father is like. He has mercy. He has compassion. When Lazarus is raised from the dead, restored to Mary and Martha, that's what the father is like.

He gives life. He gives life. He wipes away our tears. So Jesus is the loving representation of the Father. And what Jesus is saying here in the verse that we just read in John chapter 5, verse 20, Jesus is saying, the Father loves the Son and shows him all things that he himself does, and he will show him greater things than these.

In other words, the Father working through the Son accomplishes great works. I like the way it's put here in Sunday's lesson, right under the question, right under after reading John 5, 17, 20, and 36 or 38. It says this, Jesus used the signs to show his close working relationship with the Father. The 2 were 1. The work showed that quote, the Father is in me and I in him.

The purpose of Jesus coming was to do the works of the 1 who sent him in order that these works might be manifest to the world. That is, he came to do the work that the Father sent him to do and the works that he did testify that he was from the Father. So you have this double meaning. The works that Christ does testify that the Father sent him, but the works that Christ does reveal also a loving God. And those works revealed in scripture are positioned there by John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we can believe.

Now, according to Monday's lesson, scripture plays a very authoritative role. In addition to the specific signs and testimonies that John used to point to Jesus as Messiah, John also appealed to the authority of the Old Testament. Look at John 5, verse 39 and 40. John 5, 39 and 40. The Bible says this, search the scriptures for in them, you think you have eternal life, But they are they that testify of me.

Now, another way to read that more modern translation is you search the scriptures, you speaking to the Pharisees, you search the scriptures for in them, you think you have eternal life, but they are they that testify of me." Verse 40, but you are not willing to come to me that you may live. So the Bible is a testimony of Jesus Christ. When we read Scripture, it is the testimony of Jesus speaking to our hearts. Although all through the gospels, time and again, Jesus points to the authority of scripture as the key witness to him. So The following text help us to see this.

John 13, verse 18, John 13, verse 18. The question is, how does the New Testament speak of? Jesus, how does it testify of Jesus, John 13, verse 18, He says, I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled. He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.

What's Jesus talking about there? He's saying the Scriptures testify of me. I'm in the predictions of the Old Testament. See here, Jesus is quoting the Scripture. He's quoting Psalm 41, verse 9, when He says that he who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.

So Jesus uses the scripture to testify that he is the Messiah. And he says that scriptures, and he's speaking at that time of the Old Testament when he speaks to the Pharisees because New Testament wasn't written yet. Look for example at John chapter 17 and verse 12, John 17 and verse 12. We're looking at how Jesus uses scripture to show that he's the Messiah. John 17 and 12.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me, I have kept and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. So again, he's saying, yes, Judas will betray me. But that's all part of the scripture being fulfilled. We find again in John 19, 24 and 28.

John 19, verse 24 and 28. They said, therefore, among themselves, let us not tear it, but that's the garments of Christ when Christ is crucified, but cast lots for it. For it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled which says they divided the garments among them and my clothing cast lots. You find that prophecy in Psalm 22 verse 18. And then when you let your eyes drop down again into John 19 and verse 28, it says, after this, Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.

So from his birth to his life, to his death, to his resurrection, to his ascension, the scripture is fulfilled. And Christ says, yes, I am the Messiah of scripture. But he's always pointing us back to Scripture. Yes, miracles testify to his divinity. Yes, his teachings testify to his divinity.

But where are those miracles found? In Scripture. Where are those teachings found? In Scripture. But Jesus leaned heavily upon prophecy to reveal the fulfillment of himself as the Messiah.

Tuesday's lesson gives you some of those Old Testament prophecies. There's a prophecy in Isaiah 40, verse 3. Let's go look at it. Isaiah 40 verse 3, these prophecies are amazing. Isaiah 40 verse 3, prophecy enables us to believe.

Prophecy testifies of the veracity of scripture and the divinity of Christ. Isaiah 40, verse 3 talks about, "'There'd be the voice of 1 crying in the wilderness, "'prepare the way of the Lord, "'make straight in the desert a highway to our God.'" Who is the 1 that cried in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. Go back to John chapter 1. Who was that? You know, John the Baptist, right?

And here, when John the Baptist is asked, who are you? In John chapter 1, We read exactly the fulfillment of Isaiah 40, verse 3, John 1. You're looking there at verse 23. Who is John? He says, I am the voice of 1 crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.

Exactly the prophecy of Isaiah 40, verse 3. You look at, for example, Psalm 69, verse 9. Psalm 69, verse 9. We read it again. Here is a prophecy about Jesus coming in and cleansing the temple.

Psalm 69, verse 9, "'But the zeal for your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.'" The zeal of your house has eaten me up. But then when you go to John 2, verse 16 and 17, Jesus, that's exactly quoted in this prophecy. How do we know Christ is the Messiah? Prophecy centuries old echo down the card is of time and reveal that Jesus is the Messiah. He fulfilled every 1 of those prophecies.

John 2, verse 16 and 17. And he said to those who sold doves, take these things away. Do not make my house a house of merchandise. Then his disciples remember that it was written zeal for your house has eaten me up. Remember, the disciples see that and they say, wait a minute.

This is a fulfillment of prophecy. The disciples studied the word of God. They could see in these prophecies. You look at John 7, Jesus is the fountain of living water, it says predicted in Jeremiah 2. You look at John 19, where it says that none of his bones were broken, and you remember in Numbers 9 verse 12 it says not 1 of his bones would be broken.

Christ in Scripture is more than a good man, more than an ethical philosopher, more than simply a moral teacher. Much, much more. Jesus is the divine Son of God. The 1 that came to earth to reveal so marvelously the Father's love. And the 1 who came to earth to live for you and me and die on behalf of our sins.

Wednesday's lesson, we go into more of these Old Testament prophecies of Christ's life and Christ's death. John chapter 12 talks about the triumphal entry, verse 13. Let's take a look at it. John 12, verse 13. Isn't the evidence of prophecy quite overwhelming?

Here is an evidence that skeptics cannot deny. John 12, verse 13. They took olive branches. They go before him. They say, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

But wait a minute, that's a quote from Psalm 118. Let's go to Psalm 118 and notice that quote. 118th Psalm, you'll find this quote there. Psalm 118, verse 26. Psalm 118, verse 26.

And scripture is so plain in the fulfillment of these prophecies. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We've blessed you from the house of the Lord. So the disciples in Jesus take a prophecy from the Old Testament about blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. They apply it to Jesus' messianic, triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Christ rides on a donkey. You say, is that prophesied in the Old Testament? It sure is. When you go to Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9, Zechariah 9, verse 9, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Zion.

Behold, your king is coming to you. He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. You read that, for example, in John 12, verse 14 and 15. Look, Judas betrays Christ. 1 of his closest followers betrays him.

And what does Jesus say in John chapter 13, verse 18? He says he'd be betrayed by a friend. And what does it say in Psalm 41, verse 9? Psalm 41, verse 9. You know, in John's gospel, it talks about Jesus being betrayed by somebody who would dip his hand in the cup and take the bread and dip it in the cup with him.

But if you look at some some 41 verse 9, notice what it says. For even my own familiar friends will be a friend that would betray Jesus, not an enemy in whom I trusted, who ate my bread and lifted up his heel against me. These prophecies come to precise fulfillment. Christ's predictions of how he would fulfill the Old Testament prophecies are spot on. He predicted through Zachariah, hundreds of years in advance, that Jesus would be sold for those 30 pieces of silver, that the money would be used to buy a potter's field.

We looked at that last week. Jesus, the divine son of God. The evidence is so clear. But if the evidence was so clear, if they saw Jesus work miracles, if they listened to his teachings, and if they said, never a man spoke like this man. If these Pharisees, Sadducees, if this crowd saw the miracles, heard his teachings, if they saw the fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture, Why did they not believe?

They didn't believe because Christ did not fulfill their vision of the Messiah. They pictured a Messiah that would come that would break the Roman yoke. They pictured a Messiah that would come that lead the armies of Judaism to defeat Rome. They pictured a Messiah that would come that would give them glory and power, wealth and riches, make Israel the head, not the tail. They didn't picture a Christ that would come and establish the kingdom of grace in their hearts.

They were looking for the kingdom of glory. They were looking for a different kingdom. But Christ came to establish the kingdom of grace. He came to establish to transform their hearts. He came to help men and women believe that he indeed was the Messiah.

He came not to satisfy their inmost desires, but to usher in the eternal kingdom of the Father. You see, often our ethics, our morality, our lifestyle dictates what we believe. In other words, there are times that we do not believe, not because the evidence is not present, but because there's something in our life that if we would believe, we'd have to deal with that. Jesus in John 7, verse 17, makes this remarkable statement, John 7, verse 17. He's talking about why some people do not believe.

And he's talking about how, why they don't believe. John 7 and verse 17. Notice what he says. If anyone wants to do his will, he will know concerning the doctrine, whether it's from God or I speak of my own authority. If anyone is willing to do the will of God, how do we know truth?

How do we know God's plan for our life? How can we have purpose and direction? By being willing to do the will of God. If any man is willing to do God's will, he shall know. But if I harbor sin in my heart, if I cherish sin deep within the fabric of my being, if there's something that stands between me and Christ, I will not know truth.

And I might see truth and call it error. I might see right and call it wrong. I might be able to look at the scripture and not see the divine inspiration of it. Why? Because I have blinders on.

In the book of Corinthians, the apostle Paul says, the God of this world has blinded their eyes lest they believe. The take home from today's lesson, the takeaway from today's lesson is this. There is evidence to believe for those that have open hearts to believe. There is evidence to believe for those who have open minds to believe. There is evidence to believe for those whose spirit is willing to do whatever God asks.

Let's pray. Father in heaven, thank you that you have given evidence to believe. Help us not turn away in unbelief. If there's anything in our hearts that keep us from believing, we surrender that thing to you right now. And we choose to believe.

The evidence is clear. In Jesus' name, Amen. This media was brought to you by Audioverse, a website dedicated to spreading God's Word through free sermon audio and much more. If you would like to know more about Audioverse, or if you would like to listen to more sermons, please visit www.audioverse.org.

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Series

Sabbath School 4th Quarter 2024: Themes in the Gospel of John

08 Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

01 Signs That Point the Way

25m

02 Signs of Divinity

26m

03 The Backstory: The Prologue

26m

04 Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah

26m

05 The Testimony of the Samaritans”

22m

06 More Testimonies About Jesus

25m

07 Blessed Are Those Who Believe

27m

08 Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies

19m

09 The Source of Life

25m

10 The Way, the Truth, and the Life

25m

11 The Father, the Son, and the Spirit

32m

12 The Hour of Glory, The Cross and Resurrection

24m

13 Epilogue: Knowing Jesus and His Word

25m

Sound Doctrine