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In 2026, we're slowing down to soak in the story that invites us to believe. The Gospel of John doesn't just tell us what Jesus did—it reveals who He is. Through signs and stories, questions and conversations, light and life, John calls us again and again to “come and see.” Over the next year, we'll walk with Jesus from the opening words—“In the beginning”—to the empty tomb, discovering how encountering Christ shapes our faith, our hope, and our everyday lives. This is more than a study; it's an invitation to deeper belief and fuller life. Learn more with Pastor Jared. Also, we highly encourage you to download the Church Center App if you want more information about the church. The app will be able to guide you toward our Calendar of Events, ways to Give, and fill out a Connect Card.
Date: 4.19.26 Text: 1 John 5:18-21 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Title: Keep Yourselves from Idols Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Date: April 12, 2026 Text: 1 John 3:19-24; 5:13-17 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Title: Assurance > Insurance Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Date: 4.5.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Text: 1 John 4:1-6 Title: Easter 2026 Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Guest preacher Malcolm Hamblett finishes his four-sermon series on the four Gospels' different emphases on aspects of Jesus' character, life, and ministry based on two challenging passages from John's Gospel. Jesus clearly proclaims His identity as being one with God and the true and prophesied Son of God – controversial in the time of His earthly ministry (and still hard to understand today) but essential to the purpose of His incarnation, ministry, and His perfect, redeeming sacrifice on our behalf.
Part of the 'New Testament Survey' series which gives an overview and themes of the books of Jude and Revelation followed by some sermon outlines. #NewTestamentsurvey #letters #sevenchurches #comfort #churchage #goldenlampstands #John #Jesus #divineauthority #majesty #pastors #authority #death #encouragement #rebuke #vision #faithful #commendation #condemnation #promise #blessing #exhortation #Revelation1-3 A pastor talks to his people from the Bible about different issues that many of them face. ‘We need to get to know the word of God so we can get to know the God of the word.' #Pastoral #Pastor #Godsword #theBible #honours #godlywisdom #heart #reflect #Psalm119v9-11 #Luke11v28 #James1v22-25 For more audio from GBM, visit www.gbm.org.uk/listen To contact us, please email servingtoday@gbm.org.uk
Today's question is one that Pastor has heard most often from young people. The questioning of the Gospels seems to center around miracles, especially the resurrection. Atheistic Materialism Worldview ⁃ No God - universe is by chance ⁃ Matter only - Life came from non-life ⁃ No Miracles - Life is meaningless Bible's Worldview ⁃ There is a Creator ⁃ He created life ⁃ Life has a purpose These two worldviews are in conflict with each other but careful analysis of the Bible shows the Biblical worldview to be trustworthy. No matter your worldview - there is evidence of the Biblical worldview. THE FOUR GOSPELS: ⁃ The Gospels are Jewish in both their content, background and details ⁃ Matthew - Genealogy + 55 quotations ⁃ Mark begins with Old Testament quote ⁃ John: "In the beginning…" just like Genesis starts ⁃ Luke: Priesthood + "deathbed prayer" Luke 23:46 + Psalm 31:5 (Jesus spoke this prayer "into your hands…") ⁃ Geographical knowledge - written by people familiar with the territory ⁃ 26 different towns; Sea of Galilee, etc. ⁃ Up to/Down from Jerusalem ⁃ John: 2 pools - Bethesda + Siloam (archeological proof has been found) ⁃ 2 Gardens - Gethsemane + Golgotha ⁃ Details ⁃ Common Jewish names in Israel ⁃ Clarification: e.g. frequently used names: Simon…Mary… thus the need for the clarity given in the Gospel around common names ⁃ Dill and cumin dispute (Mt 23:23) things known at only a specific time in history ⁃ Tax Collectors in Capernaum/Jericho ⁃ Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic languages ⁃ Identity - not the most likely candidates to have written the Gospels ⁃ Interesting names of Gospel authors ⁃ Matthew = former tax collector ⁃ Mark = not one of the original 12 ⁃ Luke = physician, Gentile(?) ⁃ John = Jesus' closest friend ⁃ Dating - when were they written? Everything that we have suggests that these books were written early and are accurate ⁃ The Gospels reflect the "early days" of the Jesus movement. Jesus is Jewish, the 12 disciples were Jewish, the early believers were Jewish - The Gospels speak from a Jewish view ⁃ Passover within Jerusalem's walls ⁃ Best documented texts from antiquity ⁃ Paul quotes Luke's Gospel (1 Tim 5:18 from Lk 10:7 and 1 Cor 11:24-25 from Lk 22:19-20) ⁃ But this verse is a stumbling block for acceptance to the gospels because it is "productive prophecy": Jesus said, "Jerusalem will be destroyed…" And that brings us back around to the word: MIRACLES. If your worldview is that of atheistic materialism, a miracle / predictive prophecy would seem impossible. But if you believe there is a God and that He is the Creator then He does these things. If Jesus is…. who He claimed to be… who the Gospels declare Him to be…. who the Old Testament said He would be… Then that Good News in the Gospels changes everything the Gospels deserve to be observed they call us to believe it is not irrational it is not foolish the Gospels make perfect sense it is rational it is reasonable and Jesus alone offers life forever and He invites you and me to receive what He freely gives. May we each respond to His Word of truth as we see it proclaimed by those early eye witnesses. Pick up a Bible and read it today! Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
Sermons By Antioch Community Church in Brighton, MA (Boston Area)
This week we take a look at how John Jesus and the Apostles carried on the message from the Old Testament and fulfilled the story it began.
Patrick guides listeners through fast-moving conversations on St. Patrick’s Day, pulling in everything from artificial intelligence’s effect on the value of knowledge to the quiet cost of letting technology handle mental heavy lifting. Candid exchanges on memory, screen time, and biblical passages break into everyday reality, as Patrick fields calls about the challenges of faith, parenting, and friendship with a blend of humor and substance. Audio: With AI, knowledge is now worth ZERO -https://x.com/HinataMotivates/status/2024383495544754395?s=20 (02:21) Audio: Take The I-pad Away - https://x.com/oliviakrolczyk_/status/2027061532165640684 (09:59) Christina - Memory and AI. I am in my early 70s. I used to remember people's phone numbers easily. Now after smart phones, I can't remember the phone of my own son. In the early 1900s, people used to quote poetry. (14:08) Ronnie - Jesus rubbed mud on a man's eyes and he was able to see. What does the 'Son of Man' mean? (18:30) Al (email) – In the movies, they always show a block where the feet are nailed. In reality, do you think they actually had a raised block to nail the feet? (23:43) Greg (email) – Would it be possible for a man on death row to get an exorcism before he is put to death? (28:08) Annie (email) - Is it okay for my 2-year-old son to play with a neighborhood boy (also 2 years old) who has two moms? (30:51) John - Jesus said that it was neither the blindman's sin or his parents that caused his blindness, yet in today's Gospel, Jesus tells him to go and sin no more. This seems like a contradiction. What do you think? (33:46) Laura - I went to Confession and I asked about the woman of the well. The priest told me that her sin had nothing to do with having five husbands or sexual sin, but five gods. What do you think? (40:54)
Date: 3.15.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Title: Love One Another Text: 1 John 3:11-18; 4:7-18 Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Date: 3.1.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Title: Aliens, Antichrists, and Assurance of Salvation Text: 1 John 2:18-27 Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Date: 3.8.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Title: Your Future Self will Thank You Text: 1 John 2:28-3:10 Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
John: Jesus Loves My Dirty Feet 3-1-26 by LifePath Church
Date: 2.22.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Title: Can I be sure? Text: 1 John 2:12-17 Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Most of us underestimate the power of God's presence in our lives — and that underestimation limits our potential for miracles. What if embracing God's ability to do the impossible could change everything? In this episode, we reveal how a simple shift in perspective—trusting in God's light—can transform your walk from darkness to purpose. Discover how Jesus' declaration, "I am the light of the world," isn't just poetic—it's a declaration of life, guidance, and wisdom for every believer. This episode is perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed, confused, or longing for clarity—an invitation to see differently and walk confidently in the dark, knowing the Light of the world is with you.
22nd February 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
In this episode, we explore the profound ways Jesus models humility, wisdom, and mercy in the controversial story of the woman caught in adultery. Discover how His approach teaches us to navigate sin, judgment, and grace with grace ourselves.
Date: 2.8.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Text: 1 John 1:5-2:2 Title: "Confess Your Sins" Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Date: 2.15.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Text: 1 John 2:3-11 Title: Spot the Difference Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Focus this week is on who is with Jesus, referring to forefathers of Jesus, Moses and Elijah, and the contemporaries of Jesus: Peter, James and John (Jesus' present), and who “walks alongside” us – from the past and present. Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Date: 2.1.26 Series: 1 John: Jesus, Continued Text: 1 John 1:1-4 Speaker: Dr. Owen Nease, Lead Pastor
Join Pastor John White and Village Bible Church, as we continue our series through the Gospel of John.Visit Village Bible Church at thevillagemi.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.You can send mail to: 410 N. Ann St., Byron, MI 48418Village Bible Church is unapologetically devoted to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Through this podcast, we are asking God to use us in the hearts and lives of people throughout the world.If we can ever help you or answer any questions, please contact us at info@thevillagemi.com.
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Can people, places, and things point to Jesus-- even non-Christian people, places, and things? Paul tells us that all of nature does that in Romans 1:20. But what about myths and stories and characters from from other cultures? Pastor Chris reflected some on his recent trip to Japan where about 98% of the people are not religious (but love Christmas). Could there be some things in their culture that we could pray that God would use to point them to the Christ of Christmas? Join us as we look at the intriguing and beloved character named Jizo and, along the way, we look at the remarkable story of John the Baptist. The painting associated with this sermon, and the one Pastor Chris referred to, is da Vinci's "St. John the Baptist" (detail) and is viewable in the Epiclesis platform but not in iTunes Podcasts. Pastor Chris's off the cuff memory that it was by Rembrandt was mistaken.
This sermon is preached by Pastor Bogdan Kipko, Senior and Founding Pastor of Forward Church. We hope you are encouraged by the message from God's Word, and we are thrilled to help you find hope in Jesus.For more information about Forward Church, please visit: www.forward.fmTo listen to all audio messages from Forward Church, please visit: www.forwardchurchpodcast.comTo support Forward Church financially, please visit: https://bit.ly/fwdchurchFollow Pastor Kipko on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kipko Watch all sermons from Forward Church on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kipko To get in touch with Forward Church or to request Pastor Bogdan Kipko to speak at your church or event, please send an email to: admin@forward.fm If you are visiting Southern California, we would love to have you come and enjoy the Sunday Service at Forward Church!
Visit us online at tablechurchdsm.org to learn more.
Jesus Revealed
This sermon is preached by Pastor Bogdan Kipko, Senior and Founding Pastor of Forward Church. We hope you are encouraged by the message from God's Word, and we are thrilled to help you find hope in Jesus.For more information about Forward Church, please visit: www.forward.fmTo listen to all audio messages from Forward Church, please visit: www.forwardchurchpodcast.comTo support Forward Church financially, please visit: https://bit.ly/fwdchurchFollow Pastor Kipko on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kipko Watch all sermons from Forward Church on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kipko To get in touch with Forward Church or to request Pastor Bogdan Kipko to speak at your church or event, please send an email to: admin@forward.fm If you are visiting Southern California, we would love to have you come and enjoy the Sunday Service at Forward Church!
Traditional Worship | Bishop Bob Hayes | The Gospel of John is without a doubt one of the most fascinating books in the Bible. Often called the “spiritual gospel,” this unique and powerful testimony provides us with an up close and personal perspective of Jesus like no other book ever written. From the prologue to the epilogue, the main message of John's Gospel is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and we can have eternal life by believing in Him. Beautifully crafted, the book has an abundance of signs, symbols and miracle stories. In the coming weeks we will journey through this amazing testament, and we invite you to come and journey with us as Jesus' identity is made known to the people of His time and to us today through its timeless message. We are delighted that you have chosen to worship with us, and we pray your spirit will be fed.
Visit us online at tablechurchdsm.org to learn more.
Something we've seen over the last few weeks is that this original audience badly misunderstands Jesus.Going back to Chapter 7, we saw it first with the brothers of Jesus and then we saw it with the crowd in Jerusalem — The Jewish people, led by the Pharisees, are incredibly lost when it comes to who Jesus is; they're walking in darkness — the metaphor that will come up soon in Chapter 9 is blindness.But that's what's happening in Chapter 8! — the people are spiritually blind.And … at the same time … Jesus is different.It is the people's own problem that they can't see Jesus, but Jesus is also unlike any person they've ever met before. And that's what I want us to focus on today.We've talked enough about the Pharisees — this morning I want to show you in this passage three ways that Jesus is different. It has to do with his judgment, his origin, and his mission. And this matters for us because these three differences will guide us in our worship of Jesus and our devotion to him. Let's pray:Father in heaven, thank you for your Word, and for this moment. As best as we can, by your Spirit's help, we surrender our hearts to his work. Speak to us, in Jesus's name, amen.Three ways Jesus is different …1. His judgment is not like ours.To start, remember last week in verse 12 Jesus said that he's the light of the world, but then the Pharisees ignore what he says and try to make the whole thing a legal dispute.They said that Jesus was out of bounds to bear witness about himself, but Jesus says that's not really the case because he never does anything by himself — that's not how he works. And just like that, this dialogue presents an opportunity for Jesus to explain how different he is.So in verse 15 he says,“You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.”Now wait a minute: How can Jesus say that? We know he judges. He's gonna say in verse 26 (just a few verses away) that he has “much to judge.” He said back in Chapter 5 that the Father has given him authority to execute judgment (5:27); And he describes his judgment as just and right and true (5:30; 7:24; 8:16). So what does he mean when he says “I judge no one”? According to the FleshWell, he means it in contrast to how people judge “according to the flesh” — Jesus is saying “I judge no one like that.” Remember, we've already seen that wrong judgment is a problem for the people.This goes back to Chapter 5 when the Jews didn't like it that Jesus healed that man on the Sabbath. And in Chapter 7, Jesus refers back to that incident and he tells the people You're seeing it all wrong. Chapter 7, verse 24 …“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”Judging by appearances (ch. 7), and judging according to the flesh (ch. 8), are basically the same thing. And that's the problem. This kind of judgment is judgment based on the limited perspective of fallible humans.So catch this. This human judgment has two things going against it: one is that the lens is limited; the other is that the eyes looking through the lens are fallible.I imagine this to be kind of like those mounted binoculars you find on a fishing pier. (Y'all have seen these before, either on piers at the ocean or somewhere else that has a scenic view.) You pop a quarter in and you can look through these binoculars, but they're limited. You're constricted in how far you can turn the thing. And you can see a part of the ocean, but not the whole ocean, and then the time runs out.Well, judgment according to the flesh is like that, except also the person looking through the binoculars is legally blind (we're all like Mr. Magoo…).This is judgment according to the flesh — it's limited and fallible — and the twist here is that Jesus is not addressing this problem of judgment because of how people treat other people, but this has to do with how they see him.It's About JesusI want to make sure you catch this …There are moral implications when it comes to human judgment and how we treat one another, but that is not Jesus's first concern here.The bigger problem with broken human judgment is that it's what's keeping people from recognizing who Jesus is!We see this problem all throughout the Gospel of John:“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (1:46)“Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (6:42)“How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” (7:15)“Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” (7:41)See, the people were spiritually blind to Jesus. Blindness TodayAnd it's not just a problem with this original audience, but this has been a problem throughout history. This is part of the Christian story — because, according to the flesh, the Christian message is not very impressive.We believe that the Savior of the world is a Jewish peasant who had a three-year teaching ministry in First Century Palestine until the Roman governor had him brutally murdered. No wonder why that at the time that John wrote this Gospel people called this silly! According to the flesh it is silly… by human appearances it's foolishness. But this just means that the only way we can recognize Jesus is if we start seeing beyond what's natural to us.John tells us from the start: We must be born again — not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).To see Jesus we have to start seeing the way he sees. His judgment is not like ours.2. His origin is not from here. We're going to pick this up in verse 23. But in verse 21, Jesus has acted as a prophet and pronounced a coming judgment, and the Jews are baffled by this. They mock Jesus in verse 22. Then, verse 23: He [Jesus] said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”See how plainly he puts this? Jesus is saying I'm different.He's saying to this crowd: We are from and of different realms of reality — just wait and see what he says next week!Setting the SceneBut then Jesus says something here in verse 24 that gets their attention. He sobers ‘em up real quick, and it comes through in their question in verse 25.Everybody find verse 25. Y'all are gonna want to see this one. Verse 25. Chapter 8, verse 25:So they said to him, “Who are you?”Now, I want to back up for a minute and set this scene for you. I'm gonna describe how this might have looked (I need a little poetic license) …Verse 21 opens: Jesus is talking to a small crowd, and you gotta imagine they're basically heckling him. It's one of those group-think moments when people bond over their shared criticism. Y'all ever see that before?You can picture it — they're twisting his words and making their jokes. That's verse 22 — they say: Hey, what's this guy gonna do, kill himself? And the crowd busts out laughing, and as the laughter's dying down, Jesus says something that makes them instantly shut up and get serious. It's like the music just goes errrr — silence. And they say: “Who are you?”That's the scene.So I wanna know: What did Jesus say in verse 24 to cause that question? Let's look at verse 24:“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”What part of these words stopped the crowd in their tracks? Face-to-Face with I AMNow, it could have been that Jesus told them they're gonna die in their sins. That's pretty serious, but it's not new. Jesus said that in verse 21, and he says it twice here. I think the bombshell in verse 24 is when Jesus says “unless you believe that I am he … you will die in your sins…”That's because the words here, “I am he,” in the Greek, is the ἐγώ εἰμι — which literally translates as I AM.And this crowd has heard those words before. They know about the I AM. They know the Book of Exodus, and the story of the burning bush. They've heard the Book of Isaiah, when God speaks and says:Isaiah 41:4,“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am.” Isaiah 43:13,“… from ancient days I am; No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (NIV)Isaiah 43:25,“I am, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 48:12,“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am! I am the first, and I am the last.”These people knew Who said these words in the Book of Isaiah. And here Jesus is saying unless you believe I am the I AM, you'll die in your sins. And they're floored. They take a big gulp, and they say:For real, who are you?And Jesus says: I've been trying to telling you. It's what I've been saying from the beginning.The Big BeginningAnd this first audience hears Jesus say “beginning” and they think he's talking about when their conversation started, but we as the readers, we see that word “beginning” and we think back to John 1:1, to how this Gospel started:“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”He was in the beginning with God.This is what Jesus meant in verse 23 when he said I am from above and I am not from this world. Jesus's origin is not like ours because he had no origin, not as the eternally begotten Son of God. He has always been … Ultimate Reality, the Great First Cause, the Unmoved Mover. He is from everlasting to everlasting … Of old he laid the foundations of the world, and the heavens are the work of his hands! They will perish, but he will remain! They will all wear out like a garment, he will change them like a robe and they will pass away! But he is the same and his years have no end! (see Psalm 102:25–27; Hebrews 1:10–12).Church, Jesus is different — if you can see him. Jesus is different. His origin is not from here.3. His mission is not by himself. This is verse 28: So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. There will come a moment when Jesus's identity as the I AM will be most manifest, and ironically, it'll be a moment that these unbelievers bring about. It'll be when they lift him up. To Be Lifted UpIn the Gospel of John, when Jesus talks this way, he's talking about the cross. To “be lifted up” has a double meaning — it's another example of the layers in John — Jesus will be “lifted up” literally on the cross, to die — And he'll also be lifted up as in he's exalted and glorified in the cross event which culminates in resurrection.Both are in view.And when Jesus is lifted up, literally, on the cross, that's a moment that by appearances — according to the flesh — it looks like the worst kind of defeat. He was crucified! But that was actually the moment when the I AM blots out the transgressions of his people! So, what is most atrocious to human eyes is the greatest divine miracle ever displayed. That is the mission of Jesus. That's why he came. And he came, Jesus tells us, in collaboration with his Father. Collaborating with the FatherThat's what he says in verse 28. His mission is not a solo endeavor, but the Father is involved. Jesus has talked this way before: John 4:34,“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”John 5:19,“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”John 6:38,“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”So Jesus didn't come on a self-directed mission — he was not sent by himself — And he also didn't come by himself. Look at verse 29: “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now, in what way is the Father with Jesus? How has the Father not left Jesus alone?Theologically, the right answer is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is how the Father was with Jesus in his earthly ministry. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and he is the bond of love between them. But in verse 29, Jesus doesn't give us those theological details. He just tells us why the Father is with him. He says it's because“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now in one sense, we could say that Jesus is just stressing again the unity he has with his Father, and that's true. But in another sense, if we're taking Jesus at his word, in verse 29 he grounds the “with-me-ness of God” in what he does. He's saying: I enjoy the blessing of the Father's nearness because of what I do.The Father is with me because I do what's pleasing to him!‘Don't Try This at Home'And this is one of those things that should come with a warning: “Don't try this at home.”Because we can't talk that way. I don't recommend it. That's because one of the facts of our fallen humanity is that we often to confuse the proper placement of our doing. And the simple name for this is called “works-righteousness.”But Chip Dodd calls this confusion the DO-HAVE-BECOME mindset.Many people live their life this way. They think: “If I only could DO (x) then I could HAVE (y), and finally BECOME (z).” Get it? DO … HAVE … BECOME. Look, I'll go ahead and tell you: that's a mess in the making. It will burn you out. Because all you can do in that mindset is keep chasing, always looking for that next milestone, that next thing just above the horizon. This is the path of so many people, and it just leaves you weary and empty.The right order, though, is not “Do-Have-Become” — but “Be-Have-Do!”“Because I AM (z) then I HAVE (y), and therefore I DO (x).”That's the Christian life:Because I AM (a child of God) then I HAVE (every spiritual blessing in Christ) and therefore I DO (a life of love and witness for his glory).We must constantly be reordering our lives this way. We often get it wrong. But we should realize that Jesus is different. Because Jesus was/is the perfect man … This means Jesus lived here with absolutely perfect harmony in his being, having, and doing. Theologians have talked about this as the harmony of his person and work. His Glorious CongruenceSee, Jesus never needed to reorder anything here because he never had a hiccup between who he is and what he does. Part of his holiness was his wholeness.He is the truth and he speaks the truth. He is light and he shines light. He is life and he gives life.This is glorious congruence! Everything that Jesus ever DID was impeccably aligned with his BEING as the Beloved Son of God with whom the Father is well-pleased.He was so aligned, so congruent — his activity was so perfectly an expression of his identity — that doesn't talk of one without including the other.That's why he can say I always DO the things that are pleasing to my Father and that's why he's with me. His mission was not by himself, and here, church, is glory!Behold Him!This is a closeness of relationship with the Father and a congruence of person that we can barely fathom, but certainly adore.Back in 1738, the pastor-theologian Jonathan Edwards meditated on the person of Jesus and focused on the union of his “diverse excellencies” — Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb; he is majestic and meek, just and merciful … Edwards said,“In him meet together infinite highness and infinite condescension; infinite justice and infinite grace; infinite glory and lowest humility.”And for this, he is worthy of our adoration. … And I want to add … Just like we adore Jesus for the “admirable conjunctions of his diverse excellencies,” we adore him for the simple harmony of his person and work. Who he is is how he lived.In the most profound way, What you see is what you get — if you can truly see. So that's where we end. Can you see him yet? Do you recognize who Jesus is?If you see him, you trust him. You put your faith in him, and maybe that's something you want to do today for the first time. You can do it right now — tell him: Jesus, I see you, I trust you. And for so many of us who have seen him, don't you want to see him more? Jesus is different … in his judgment, his origin, and his mission — and we just want to see more of him! More of his glory! We wanna behold him!That's the invitation now as we come to this Table. The TableFor all of us who trust in Jesus, if you see him, let's see him anew this morning as we receive the bread and cup. We are remembering Jesus's person and work, and together, church, we behold him.
Join as we continue our series on The Gospel of John