John’s Account of Jesus

Review Jesus’ 7 Signs: Water to wine Healing the Royal Official’s son Healing the invalid Feeding 5,000 Walking on water Sight to the blind Raising Lazarus

Review Jesus’ 7 “I AM” statements I AM the Bread of Life (6:35) I AM the Bread of Life (6:35) I AM the Light of the World (8:12) I AM the Light of the World (8:12) Before Abraham was, I AM (8:58) Before Abraham was, I AM (8:58) I AM the Good Shepherd (10:11) I AM the Good Shepherd (10:11) I AM the Resurrection and the Life (11:25) I AM the Resurrection and the Life (11:25) I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6) I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6) I AM the True Vine (15:1) I AM the True Vine (15:1)

Review Jesus’ 7 Equalities with God Equal in working (5:19) Equal in knowing (5:20) Equal in resurrecting (5:21, 28-29) Equal in judging (5:22-27) Equal in honor (5:23) Equal in regenerating (5:23) Equal in self-existence (5:26)

How much has Jesus revealed about who he is?

Blindness Context: Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.

Blindness Context: The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” Opportunity

Blindness Context: When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them- vs

Blindness the end...…?

Blindness Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him- vs. 37

Blindness If Only… Tom Cruise got some Jesus

Blindness If Only… Tom Cruise got some Jesus More people were healed

Blindness If Only… Tom Cruise got some Jesus More people were healed The rich man comes back from the dead

Blindness If Only… “Celebrities and signs…”

Blindness Why don’t some people believe?

Blindness Spiritual

Blindness Why don’t some people believe? Spiritual Intellectual

Blindness Why don’t some people believe? Spiritual Intellectual Innate depravity

Blindness Why don’t some people believe? Spiritual Intellectual Innate depravity Implications (what will have to change)

Blindness Are these valid? SpiritualIntellectual Innate depravity Implications (what will have to change)

Blindness This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”- vs. 38 "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”- vs. 38

Blindness Suffering Servant

Blindness He Blinded Me with Science

Blindness For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them”- vs

Blindness Passive Judgment Active Judgment

Blindness First they didn’t believe Then they couldn’t believe Spiritual Blindness

Blindness Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him- vs. 41 When?

Blindness I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple- Isaiah 6:1 Whose glory?

Blindness He said, "Go and tell this people: " 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Blindness Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Blindness Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?” And he answered: "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken- Isaiah 6:9-13

Blindness How?

Blindness God’s Word brings both judgment and freedom from judgment based upon the its reception

Blindness Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God- vs

Blindness Scandalous

Blindness How are they blind?

Blindness Joshua 22- war! 2 Timothy 1:7- Powerless & fruitless John 11:50- Better for one to die for the people than that the whole nation perish

Blindness Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe- Proverbs 29:25

Blindness It is impossible to trust God and fear man at the same time. We’ll either compromise our faith or in faith overcome our fear. The choice is ours

Blindness How do we overcome the fear of man?

Blindness Fear of man: Cultivate Faith Look to Give (love) rather than Get (approval) Understand Equal Ground Aim for God’s glory and praise

Blindness Corollary: There will be consequences for trusting God rather than pleasing man

Blindness Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.

Blindness When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness- vs

Blindness He is the image of the invisible God- Colossians 1:15 Light results in seeing Truth and adjusting life according to it

Blindness What is the purpose of life?

Blindness Those who continue in darkness have never come to faith

Blindness "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it- vs. 47

Blindness This place is “off the hook”

Blindness There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it- vs

Blindness When I accept and adjust my heart and life according to God’s Word, I am accepting God himself, escaping judgment and finding life

Blindness When I reject God’s Word, I reject God and set up the means by which I will receive judgment

Blindness I know that his command [leads to] is eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say”- vs. 50

Blindness Takeaways What opportunities is God calling me to right now? Obedience? Ministry? Relational? Will I listen and answer the call?

Blindness Takeaways How should I handle people who don’t believe? Spiritual, Intellectual, Depravity, Implications

Blindness Takeaways Has the “fear of man” affected my life? If so, am I willing to acknowledge that to God and seek his help in overcoming it?

Blindness Takeaways Am I allowing the scriptures to soften my heart? Am I adjusting my life according to the Truth of the gospel?