In this sermon Graham is preaching from John’s gospel. This is part 1 of a series on chapters 13 to 17.
The sermon is available as a Podcast, downloadable PDF notes and the text of it is pasted in this post below.
The material is made available so that any may use it, preach it or adapt it.
To download PDF of notes - DOWNLOAD
Sermon John 13:1
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” NIV
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” AV
Chap 13 to 17 is an intimate record from the pen of John. He was there. He now looks back as an older man, not with memory dimmed, but having pondered, marvelled, wondered and begun to understand.
This is the final period of time before the resurrection when they are all together with their Lord. He (Jesus) knows it, so every word and action is striped of the superfluous.
John too, chooses carefully what he will include in this his account, and what he will leave out. He misses out the details of the Lord’s Supper. His account is in three parts:
1) washing the feet and the accompanying dialogue in 13:2-20.
2) after the departure of the traitor 13:31-16:33.
3) the real Lord’s Prayer 17:1-26.
Before all that… this one sentence introduction. Our subject for today.
If only one sentence, why include it? Why is it worth including if I have just said John leaves out anything not vital to the narrative? Because John is telling us that this is the context for all that will follow in his account of chapters 13-17. This gives us the context for those chapters and this sentence is made more rich and valuable by the context of those chapters.
These wonders that John recorded are not in spite of Jesus knowing, but because Jesus knew “when Jesus knew that his hour was come”. Because he knows he is leaving them all these things followed.
We will look at:
1) Those He loves
2) How He loves
3) How Long He Loves
1) Those He loves
Those he loves are described as ‘his own’.
We know that all things are the creator’s and that Jesus is the Word and the medium of creation.
John 1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
In a special sense though, there are ‘his own’. See John 1:11, 12 for the two categories of people mentioned side by side.
In John 1:11 ‘his own’ is applied to the covenant community which rejected him compared to those who ‘received’ him.
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
Not only those he loves but those ‘who were in the world’
Jesus had more of his own outside of this life, beyond death - a greater horizon we must never lose sight of in this life!
These however are “in the world” with it special trials and temptations, joys and sorrows.
“In the world.”
The one departing is saying farewell to those who remain. Think of all the fond farewells across the ages, the sadness and longing, hopes and acceptance of lost hopes. Would any ever have been as sad as this one? Certainly none so significant.
See John 17:11 “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one.”
Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
“In the world.”
He wants me in the world until he removes me. I am not mocking the call of God on other people’s lives. Some may have been mistaken when they fled the world for their monasteries of sitting on top of a pole. Perhaps some were simply being obedient to the Master. They and I must answer for their own lives.
Some preach a message of freedom from suffering. But see 1 Peter 1:3-12. What is the this gospel that angels wish to understand, that the prophets spoke about? Look at the context! It is the grace and mercy of God in suffering!
Jesus (in Luke 4:18) quoted Isaiah when he spoke of ‘binding up the broken hearted’. See 2 Corinthians 1, where it speaks of the comforting by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. There is no binding up needed if their is no broken-hearted, no Comforter is required if there is no hardship.
I don’t preach a message of no troubles, but a better one, of Christ in there with us through it all.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Ps 23:5 tells me that in the presence of enemies he sets a feast before me.
Don’t quote me exceptional examples of suffering and claim Christ’s grace is not sufficient. The whole history of the church is filled with demonstrations that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Ps 23:4.
See Rom 8:28ff.
2) How He loves
“Having loved…”
This sentence reminds us that his whole ministry has been one of love. John is saying that Jesus has always loved them, he did still, (and from the perspective of hindsight) would continue until the end.
“Having loved…”
In choosing the particular ones to love he shows us that love is choice, a decision, and may be directed. He chose. I can choose.
Was he short of friends that he was stuck with with them? He was their constant, continual companion.
Love chooses and is content.
Value the relationships entrusted to you by God and He may entrust you with more. Avoid the error I have seen where friends are abandoned for the expectation of better or more profitable ones like Pip in Great Expectations.
There are people who miss marrying wonderful partners because they are always chasing the better. When I chose Penny I closed the door on all other “might be’s” or “what if’s?” I have decided that door remains shut. Young people, by the grace of God it is possible to lose the key. Not that anyone is above temptation, but we can know what is entrusted to us and God’s grace will always be more than enough.
“Having loved…”
His love was stronger than their doubts.
He spoke to Peter “Get behind me Satan” (Mark 8:33) but he never stopped loving him.
“Having loved…”
If I were to sit down with pen and paper (or do it on Google Docs) and try to list all the many and varied ways Jesus has showed his love to me and showered it upon me, the list would be very, very long. And even then, still impossible to complete as over the years I will have been a recipient of his love in ways I was never aware of.
3) How Long He Loves
“He loved them to the end”
“And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.” Amplified Bible.
“To the end.” Not just to the end of the time period, but to the fullest extent, in all circumstances.
He had loved them and would love them, even the Passion would not interrupt that. This supper is evidence.
As he approaches the “Joy set before him” (Heb 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”) he chooses this loving farewell.
That Jesus could remember his own in the Garden of Gethsemane, while carrying the cross and while hanging above the earth, is not going to forget me now.
Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 49:15,16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
Conclusion
“His own”
I am his. He owns me.
Are you his? Does he own you?
Graham’s new preaching series is to be on John’s Gospel, chapters 13 to 17.
Come back here each week for notes and podcasts.
A Christian predicted the Oman floods through “prophecy” the gift (ability given) of the Holy
Spirit.
I have had more news about these extraordinary events in Oman and Cyclone Gonu through Saji, one of our church members.
See TheMorningFlight.com for more.
One of the early actions by Gordon Brown as new Prime Minister was to halt what had seemed to many Christians like an unstoppable train. The so called “Super Casinos” were opposed by so many churches and social groups. To those opposition groups this news has been hailed as very good news indeed.
Why would Christians be against these casinos when they were being hailed as a means of regenerating poor districts such as in Manchester?
In this sermon Graham brings a Biblical perspective on the subject of gambling.
A resource was mentioned from the Christian Institute, click HERE to go to those notes.
To download pdf of notes - DOWNLOAD
Yes it is true!
For the first time in almost 50 years, the camp will not be taking place this year. The field is just too waterlogged.
Go to the Fraisthorpe Camp website for full details.
It is not long ago that we said goodbye to Chin who returned to Nigeria after completing her studies here. So it was a delight to see her return with daughter, Zim for her graduation ceremony (MA in Social Policy).
It was great to hear your true-life story in church this morning of God’s faithfulness .
In our local newspaper Chin’s name was printed in full and went over two lines. In case you are wondering it is Chineze Uzoamaka Gbenga Oluwatoye!
Some friends gathered for a meal on Friday 13th July to celebrate with Chin and Barbara Badu who was also celebrating her MA in Environmental Economics.
Click on a thumbnail to see the big picture.
There are a number of opportunities for helping with camp this year by using your car.
Tow-bar Help
Friday, 20th July, we need help from drivers who have tow-bars on their cars.
The task is to move caravans from storage to the camp site at Fraisthorpe. We meet at the storage place at 10:30 AM and move as many as we can in the time. When we finish we go for a lunch at the fish and chip cafe.
The storage place is Catfoss Industrial Estate, Brandesburton. To see where that is go to this MAP.
Lifts for Campers
Some young people and their luggage need transporting to camp on Sat 28th July or 4th Aug (depending which week they are booked in for).
Middle Sunday Barbecue
We usually meet for a 4;30 PM barbecue before going to the evening meeting. Some of our church would love to be there if transport was available. Can you help?
This is part 10, the final part of this series on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This week we are again looking at the predictions concerning Israel, its gathering and blossoming, and its final enemies. Will Jerusalem ever be defeated? Or will it be a rock immovable?
In his introduction Graham mentioned a clay tablet inscription deciphered 130 years after it was excavated. It has been hailed as a breakthrough for biblical archaeology. It mentions the name of a court official of King Nebuchadnezzar who is also mentioned in the Old Testament. Nebo-Sarsekim, the royal officer mentioned in the 2,600-year-old Babylonian inscription, also appears in Jeremiah’s account of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem. To see the Times article go to this LINK.
To download pdf of notes - DOWNLOAD
Yes it is that time of the year again. Next Friday, 20th July, we need help from drivers who have tow-bars on their cars.
The task is to move caravans from storage to the camp site at Fraisthorpe. We meet at the storage place at 10:30 AM and move as many as we can in the time. When we finish we go for a lunch at the fish and chip cafe.
The storage place is Catfoss Industrial Estate, Brandesburton. To see where that is go to this MAP.
Ian and Charlotte from St Laurence’s bell-ringers came to Elim on Sunday morning. They were inviting us to give bell-ringing a try at a special introductory session being held on Monday evening.
Eight “novices” took up the challenge, climbed the tiny spiral staircase up to the tower and found…a warm welcome, some patient instructors, a new vocabulary (we now know who Sally and Bob are!), a gentle work-out as we tugged on the ropes, and for some… a new hobby!
