Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay

In John 13, Jesus, knowing His hour has come to depart to the Father, demonstrates the essence of divine love and humble service by washing His disciples' feet—a profound act that transcends cultural norms and reveals His sovereign identity as the Son of God. Though fully aware of Judas's impending betrayal and the coming crucifixion, Jesus performs this lowly task not only to model servant leadership but to foreshadow His ultimate sacrifice, emphasizing that true greatness lies in selfless love. The passage underscores that spiritual cleansing comes through faith in Christ's atoning work, not proximity to Him, and calls believers to embody His example by loving and serving others sacrificially. Jesus' command to follow His example is not merely symbolic but a moral imperative: if one knows the truth, blessedness comes not from knowledge alone but from obedience. The sermon thus calls the church to live out the gospel in humility, where genuine faith is evidenced by transformed lives marked by service and love.

In John 12, Jesus confronts the culmination of His earthly mission, where the rejection of His own people by the Jews signals the turning point for the gospel's expansion to the Gentiles, fulfilling God's sovereign plan to glorify His name through the cross. Jesus, deeply troubled yet resolute, affirms that His hour has come not for earthly triumph but for self-sacrifice, using the image of a grain of wheat dying to bear much fruit, calling all followers to deny themselves and embrace a life of humble service and obedience. The divine voice from heaven confirms that God's name has already been glorified and will be glorified again through Jesus's crucifixion, which simultaneously brings judgment on a world that loves darkness and defeats the ruler of this world. Though the crowd struggles to reconcile Jesus's identity with His impending death, He urges them to walk in the light while they can, warning that unbelief leads to spiritual blindness, and ultimately, He withdraws from them, symbolizing the hardening of hearts that follows persistent rejection. This passage powerfully reveals that true glory in God's economy is found not in power or preservation, but in sacrificial obedience, and that salvation is universally offered through Christ's lifting up, inviting all to believe and become sons of light.

The sermon centers on the pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry as He enters Jerusalem, marking the beginning of His final week, where the crowd's enthusiastic welcome contrasts sharply with the religious leaders' growing hostility and the ultimate rejection of His true identity as a spiritual Savior rather than an earthly king. Through the contrasting responses of Mary, who anoints Jesus in humble worship, and Judas, who scorns her act out of greed, the text reveals the fundamental dichotomy between genuine faith and self-serving rejection, culminating in the surprising arrival of Gentile seekers who symbolize the broader mission of salvation beyond Israel. Jesus responds to their request not with immediate access but with a profound declaration that His glorification comes through death, using the parable of the grain of wheat to illustrate that true life is found only through self-denial and sacrificial obedience. The passage calls believers to a radical discipleship defined not by self-preservation but by dying to the flesh, following Christ faithfully, and embracing a life of service that leads to eternal life and divine honor, all grounded in the redemptive necessity of Christ's crucifixion.

The sermon presents a powerful theological argument rooted in the historical faithfulness of God's justice, using a series of divine judgments—on rebellious angels, the pre-Flood world, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the righteous Lot—to affirm that God will surely punish false teachers who distort His truth and lead others astray. Drawing from 2 Peter 2:4–10, the preacher emphasizes that God's justice is not idle or delayed, but certain and consistent, as demonstrated by His past actions, which serve as both a warning to the unrighteous and a profound encouragement to believers enduring persecution and deception. The examples are not merely historical anecdotes but are presented as living testimonies to God's character: He preserves the righteous, even in the midst of overwhelming wickedness, while executing judgment on those who pervert divine truth. The central message is one of confident hope—believers can entrust themselves to a just and faithful God who will ultimately vindicate His people and punish those who exploit and deceive them, especially in the face of false teachings that deny Christ's return and the reality of divine judgment.

John 12 presents a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry, as He enters Jerusalem triumphantly just days before His crucifixion, fulfilling prophecy by riding a donkey—a symbol of peace and humility, not conquest. The passage contrasts genuine worship, exemplified by Mary's sacrificial anointing of Jesus, with the false, self-serving adoration of the crowds who hail Him as a political king, driven by miraculous signs rather than spiritual understanding. Though the people cry 'Hosanna' and wave palm branches—symbols of national hope—they fail to grasp that Jesus has come not to establish an earthly kingdom, but to offer salvation through His sacrificial death. The disciples, too, do not comprehend the deeper meaning of these events until after Jesus's glorification, highlighting the gap between human expectations and divine purpose. The Pharisees, despite witnessing the signs and the people's response, remain hardened in unbelief, revealing the tragic danger of rejecting clear revelation out of fear for power and status. Ultimately, the passage underscores the irony of God's redemptive plan: the very people who reject Jesus fulfill His mission, and the world, though initially drawn by spectacle, will one day be transformed by the gospel that turns the world upside down.

John 12 marks a pivotal transition in the Gospel narrative, bridging the 'Book of Signs'—which affirms Jesus's divine identity through miracles like the resurrection of Lazarus—with the final week of His earthly ministry leading to the cross. The chapter centers on Mary's extravagant anointing of Jesus, a profound act of worship that contrasts sharply with Judas's self-serving criticism, revealing the heart's true allegiance. Jesus defends Mary's gesture, declaring that His time with His disciples is brief, and calls for worship in anticipation of His impending death, affirming His divine worthiness to be honored as the Son of God. The passage also exposes the spiritual blindness of religious leaders, who, despite witnessing undeniable signs, plot to kill both Jesus and Lazarus to suppress the growing faith He inspires. Ultimately, the chapter calls believers to examine their own hearts: are they drawn to Jesus for His power and prestige, or do they worship Him with humble, sacrificial love, recognizing that while the poor will always be present, Jesus Himself will not be forever?

The sermon centers on the urgent need for believers to vigilantly defend the truth against false teachers, drawing from 2 Peter 2:1–3 to expose their deceptive nature, destructive heresies, and spiritual dangers. It emphasizes that false teachers, though often appearing from within the church, deny Christ's lordship, promote permissive lifestyles, and exploit others through greed, ultimately sealing their own condemnation. The passage warns that their influence leads many astray, blasphemes the way of truth through immoral living, and provokes mockery of genuine faith among unbelievers. Rooted in the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the sermon calls for disciplined, sober-minded commitment to God's Word as the unshakable foundation for spiritual warfare, urging believers to stand firm in sound doctrine and holy living as a defense against deception.

John 11 explores the complex interplay of faith, doubt, and divine sovereignty through the narrative of Lazarus's resurrection. The sermon highlights Martha's struggle to reconcile her intellectual understanding of Jesus's divinity with the reality of grief and uncertainty, while emphasizing that even in moments of questioning, God is orchestrating events for a greater purpose. The text underscores the danger of hardened unbelief, exemplified by the religious leaders' plot to arrest Jesus, and reveals God's ability to use even their actions to fulfill His plan, ultimately pointing to Jesus's sacrificial death as a means of gathering believers into one community of faith, demonstrating that God's power transcends human understanding and control.

The sermon explores the pivotal narrative of Lazarus's resurrection, highlighting it as a demonstration of Jesus's divine power and ultimate authority over death. Drawing from John 11, the message emphasizes that Lazarus's raising was not merely a miraculous event, but a strategic act designed to reveal Jesus as the resurrection and the life, ultimately driving the religious leaders to seek his demise. The sermon connects this event to broader theological themes of faith, divine glory, and the assurance of life through belief in Jesus, underscoring that even in seemingly hopeless circumstances, God's plan unfolds to accomplish his purposes and offer hope to those who trust in him.

The sermon emphasizes the vital importance of grounding faith in the inspired Word of God, asserting that Scripture's authority surpasses even eyewitness testimony. Drawing from 2 Peter 1, the message highlights the prophetic word, confirmed by the transfiguration and the Holy Spirit, as a source of assurance and guidance for believers. It underscores the necessity of paying close attention to God's revelation, recognizing its power to illuminate the path and ultimately lead to sanctification, while also cautioning against relying on personal experiences over the unchanging truth of Scripture, ultimately reinforcing the belief that God's word is the foundation for a life of faithfulness and spiritual growth.