John & 1,2,3 John | Lecture 9 : BC301-John-20260907

Yes, good morning everyone online and good morning to those of you who are here. Um, who is praying for us today? >> Okay. Yeah, Vanilla just commit the class into the Lord's hands. >> Sure. Let's pray. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Father. Thank you for giving this wonderful time, Father God. Lord, as you given this time to learn your word, Father God, Lord, take us deep and deep into your word, Father God. Lord, you help us to understand each and every word, Father God. And also, Father God, we just submit lecture into your mighty hands, Father God. I just submit ma'am also into your mighty hands, Father God. As she going to teach to us, Father God, give wisdom. Uh you just pour out your spirit, Father God. You just talk to us through lectures, Father God. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. >> Yes. Thank you. So we are right now in chapter five. Um Oh yes, we were looking at the at the argument which takes place with the Jewish leaders after the paralyzed man got healed. Uh so uh Jesus says my father is always at his work and I too am working. So they are very angry for two reasons. we see the two reasons which anger the Jewish leaders in 5:18. So John chapter 5 verse 18 um yeah if you could read out that that verse once again. For this reason they tied uh all the more to kill him. Not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was even calling God his own father making himself equal with God. >> Yeah. So we see that they are upset about two things. He has not followed their phariseical law, you know, which according to which you should only walk a certain number of kilometers on the Sabbath day. Uh you're supposed to not carry certain objects on that day. Uh you can't pluck grain and eat it on that day. U all these things are not in the Mosaic law. They're just additional laws which the Pharisees added. And so they're upset that he has broken the Sabbath. um in that sense in the sense that he broke their laws and um also they're angry that he has made himself equal with the father. So this is the defense which Jesus presents uh regarding you know how he is equal with the father. He does not say anything about the breaking of the sabbath over here in this particular gospel details mentioned in uh Matthew and Mark. So we will look at that because there's this wrong impression that people have that Jesus came as some kind of a rebel. He went around happily breaking whatever law you know had been honored and followed respectfully since generations. He was not that kind of a rebel. He openly says in fact to the people I have not come to abolish the law or to break the law. I have come to fulfill this law. Even the smallest uh you know um what do you call it wobble marking which is there on that even that I will fulfill right down to the last detail. So Jesus never said that he's one of those you know uh what rebellious kind of persons who's just going to randomly go around breaking the mosaic law. After all he's Yahweh right? He's the one who gave the law at Mount Si because he's part of the godhead. So as part of the godhead he has given that law at mount si. So he did not come to break it. He came to fulfill it. It's only the man-made laws which he broke. So we will look at a couple of scriptures which back up that you know. So that if anyone says that Jesus just happily was breaking law, he was not doing that. Uh so we'll first look at Matthew chapter 5 17-20 where Jesus declares in what high esteem he holds the Old Testament law. Matthew 5:17-20. If someone could read out, >> do not think that I have come to uh abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these command commands and teaches others accordingly will will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless you are righteousness uh surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly uh not enter the kingdom of heaven. >> Yeah. So over here Jesus makes a comment on these Pharisees and teachers of the law and he says you know they are not even keeping the law of Moses. So he says if you want to enter into the kingdom of heaven your righteousness will have to be better than that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Here they are complaining about people not following the laws which they made you know and they say that you're breaking the Sabbath if you don't keep one of the laws which they have made. But when it comes to the actual Mosaic law, these Pharisees and teachers of the law are not even obeying it. They're not even keeping it. So Jesus in fact says yours righteousness should be better than that of these leaders if you want to see the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because Jesus says anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. So don't assume that you can disobey the Old Testament law and get away with it. Even if you break the least of the Old Testament laws, you will be held accountable for it and in fact you will be regarded as least in the kingdom of heaven. So Jesus gave utmost importance to the Old Testament Mosaic law. Okay. And he says um not the smallest letter not the least stroke of a pen will will will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. So every single thing that is mentioned in the Mosaic law has to first be fulfilled and accomplished only then we can set it aside. So Jesus says you know till all of it is fulfilled till all of it is accomplished um it is valid it is still relevant to the people and they must follow it. So what did he mean by saying the smallest letter and the least stroke of a pen? Um if you you know were to just look at the Hebrew alphabets in the internet uh you will see that some of those alphabets are just like one small line you know um the year the year sound it's just like one one small line that's it one slash you know it's like not even like a full alphabet it's just a slash so that would be your you know the alphabet that ya which is called yod. Okay. Then what is the least stroke of a pen? Um so in the in the Old Testament uh when the scrolls were being written, they would write out those alphabets, you know, the all the verses on in in the scroll. Uh but nobody taught them how to pronounce those alphabets because they didn't have vowels. For instance, you have, you know, when you have C and T, how do you pronounce C and T? You can pronounce it as cat or you can pronounce it as cut. How do I know when to pronounce it as cat and when to pronounce it at cut? Because of the a and the u those vowels which are there will tell me should I pronounce c and t as ka or should I pronounce it as c you know. So that way now your Hebrew scrolls did not have absolutely any vowels in them. People just knew how to pronounce it because you know for generations the leader would stand and and read out those scriptures. So they automatically know which alphabet should be pronounced how. You know the words they would know how to pronounce the words. But then when people shifted it to to Greek. You know a lot of people went um settled down in Babylon and Egypt and Persia people started forgetting Hebrew and many of them were forgetting how to even pronounce the you know sentences written in the scrolls. So then it was in the early New Testament time. Okay. um in in the uh in the in the late um hundreds before Jesus came you know before Jesus came into the world these there were this group of people who added markings on top and below the they didn't want to touch the sacred scripture or meddle with it so they didn't put vowels inside but above the alphabets and below the alphabets they put markings so if you look in your internet you know you will see that these Hebrew sentences will have you know like a mark on top or a dot or you know different things above and below that taught the people that those are like your vowel points. They taught the people how to pronounce different you know words. So he Jesus is saying not the smallest letter nor the least stroke of a pen you know because sometimes the mark is just one small thing like this that's it. So even that will not disappear until I have fulfilled and accomplished all of it. only after that the old testament law is no longer relevant. So uh in Mark 7 5 to8 Jesus says something similar you know about the phariseic u laws which those people created. Mark 7 5 to8 if someone can read out You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on the human traditions. And he continued, you have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God. Mark 75 to8 5-9. So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, why don't your disciples uh live according to the tradition of elders instead of eating their food with uh defiled hands? He replied, Isaiah was right uh when he prophesied about hypocrates. As it is written, these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far far from me. They worship me in vain. Their teachings are mereily human rules. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. And so over here in these verses, you know, the Pharisees are complaining to the um to Jesus and his disciples that they're not following the laws which they made. And so then they say, you know, they they say, why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders? So it is this Pharisee elders who came up with these human laws. And so uh so he they ask why are you not following these traditions of the elders which we have laid down which we have fixed. And so then Jesus replies and says you people are not interested in the Mosaic law. You don't bother to keep that. You know they say he says in verse verse 7 Isaiah was correct when he said these people worship me in vain. Their teachings are merely human rules. So they're very happy to keep the human rules but when it comes to the actually following and obeying the mosaic law that they don't because the mosaic law says that you should look after your elderly parents that they don't want to do but washing of hands on how many kilometers you should walk that they will very keep easily keep because you know it's easier to keep there's no responsibility over there to you know fulfill so he say Jesus says in verse 8 you have let go of the commands of god and are holding on to human traditions. So Jesus whenever he you know he the there was an allegation made against him saying oh you have broken the Sabbath law he was breaking some of the human traditions of the elders. He never ever broke any of the Mosaic laws because Jesus said even the smallest vowel marking which is made on the alphabet that also I will fulfill. So okay so Jesus uh never broke the Old Testament law and then we learn from our Hebrews 10:1 you know it says the law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming not the realities themselves that's what it says in your Hebrews 10:1 so the old testament was the shadow pointing towards Jesus who will come and fulfill it so once Jesus came and fulfilled you know then no longer you know the law old testament law was no longer needed which is why we don't practice the old testament law we follow the new covenant which Jesus Christ has established. So during the time of Jesus before his crucifixion the mosaic law the old testament law was still very much valid. So in Hebrews 10:1 and also again in Colossians 2 16 and 17 it's very clearly mentioned that the old testament was like a shadow. In Colossians 2:E1 17 it says these are a shadow of the things that were to come. The reality however is found in Christ. So the old testament covenant was a shadow and Jesus Christ is the reality who fulfilled that old testament covenant and finished it off completed it closed it and now he has opened a new covenant which we believers are supposed to follow. So that's regarding uh you know breaking of the Sabbath. Jesus never broke the Sabbath. The second uh allegation which they make against him or rather which they're very angry about is that he made himself equal with God. So here Jesus gives his defense. There are three points that he makes to to say why he is definitely equal with the father. So the first you know point which he makes is that he is only doing whatever the father is asking him to do. Okay. So he's he's in union with his father when he's doing and saying certain things. So that's the first point of defense which Jesus gives you know to to support the fact that he is equal to the father. So that would be your verses 19 to um 23. So chapter 5 19 to 23 if you can read out. >> Jesus gave them his this answer. Very truly I tell you the son the son can do nothing by himself. He can do only what he sees his father doing because whatever the father does uh the son also does for the father loves the son and shows him all he does. S and he will show he will show him even greater works than these so that you will be amazed. So just as father raises uh the dead and gives them life, even the even son uh even so the son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreever the father judges no one but has >> uh we'll do that later. So uh we see here that Jesus first the first defense which Jesus gives to defend himself he says I'm only doing what my father is doing. Whatever I see my father doing in the spirit realm, I do that here in the physical realm. If I hear the father saying something in the spirit realm, then I say it out here with my mouth, with my physical, you know, tongue over here on in the physical realm. That is basically how Jesus operated. And that is why Jesus says you're going to see even greater works than this. What you're seeing right now itself is you know kind of startling you and troubling you. you're going to see much greater things because whatever I'm seeing the father doing in the spiritual realm, I automatically act it out over here in the physical realm. So he says there'll come a day, you know, in the same way the father raises people from the dead, you're going to see me also raising people from the dead. So that's that's the declaration that Jesus makes. So when Jesus was doing this, every time Jesus saw something in the spiritual realm and did it in the physical realm, he was fulfilling God's will. For instance, um you know, we'll look at the Luke 7 11-16 passage, you know, where Jesus um raises the um son of a uh widow. you know that widow's son has died and they are taking him to to to you know to have him buried and so at that time even as the funeral procession is going it says over there in the Luke 7 passage uh verse 13 specifically it says when the Lord saw her his heart went out to her and he said don't cry you see he is in his heart he is sensing the same compassion passion which the father is sensing towards that particular lady. And then you know Jesus goes to that boy and he raises him up from the dead. He says young man I say to you get up and the dead man gets up and begins to talk to his mother. Uh so uh then it says in the next verse Luke 7:16 it says they were all filled with awe and praised whom did they praise? Praised God. And what did they say? They said they said God has come to help his people. So God the father has come to help his people. How? Through Jesus. Jesus is now being the hands and feet of God the father. Whatever God the father wants done that here in on earth Jesus is acting out. He's becoming the hands and feet of the father. That is exactly what you and I are supposed to be doing today. We are not supposed to go off at random doing our own ministry in our own style, you know, saying to people whatever we wish to say, you know, working in our own way. We should be we should have that union with the Lord where we see him doing something in the spiritual realm. We sense that this is what he wants done and then we act it out in the physical realm. That's the reason why the early disciples had such great success in their ministry. They were not just doing ministry on their own. They would see what the father is doing and they would act it out. They would become the father's hands and feet in establishing that thing here on earth and making it a reality. If you look at the Lord's prayer, this is the prayer, right? Matthew 6 uh 9 to 10. It says, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." So Jesus when he raised that uh dead boy back to life, he was establishing God's kingdom in that you know in in that home in that in that in that widow's life and the son's life. God saw that this is what the father wants for this family for this boy to come back to life. And so in his heart he felt that compassion which the father is feeling and he acted it out. So he established God's will and God's kingdom in the in you know in in that particular family. In the same way in in the New Testament, this is what it says about that you know that beautiful gate incident um where you have Peter and John. If you were to turn to Acts chapter 3 28 that that beggar has been you know lame from birth and he sits over there at the beautiful gate and uh that gate is called beautiful. Okay, it's not that it's extra beautiful. It's just the name of the gate. Uh so the so he he sits over there at the gate and he begs because that's basically how he tries to support himself because he can't get a job. So he asks them money in the same way he asks everyone money. But then look at verse four. It says Peter looked straight at him as did John. They are looking at what the father in the spiritual realm wants done. in the spiritual realm, you know, God of the father has decided that this particular man should be healed. And so after looking straight at him, both of these people, they sense in their spirit that they need to open their mouth and do something. And that is why it says in the next verse, um Peter says, "What I do have, I give you. What the father is giving me that I'm giving to you." You see, they're in contact with the father. there's constant union between them and the Lord and so they know exactly what they're supposed to do when they're supposed to do you know just as a word of explanation there were lot of dead people dying in during the time of Jesus he did not go raising all of them from the dead but there are specific ones that he raised from the dead so the whatever the whatever he sees the father doing only that he does in fact Jesus says I don't do anything unless I see the father doing it he's that specific in his ministry never does anything randomly. Only what he sees the father doing only that he does. So it's he's he's in he's in contact in union with the father and he establishes the will of god and the kingdom of god wherever the father tells him to. So here that is what these two people pet Peter and John are doing. They are establishing god's will and god's kingdom in the life of this lame man who was you know lame from birth. So what they have seen the father doing that they have acted it out. They have chosen to become the father's hands and feet in you know restoring this man. So it says over there in your verse 7 acts 3:7 taking him by the right hand he helped him up. So the father it's like he's becoming the hands and feet of the father and doing what the father wants done for this man and the man is completely healed. And what does it say in the next verse in verse 8? It says this man went walking and jumping praising God. So it's God who got honored you know in the case of um the the young man getting raised to life and also in this case again it's God who is getting glorified when the lame man is uh because why it's God's kingdom which is getting established. It's God God's will which is being done. So you know in the same way just like Jesus we should always be looking at to the father and whatever we see him doing the same thing we also act it out. So when you sense in your heart sometimes I mean we see a lot of people facing difficult situations but sometimes have you noticed there's this deep compassion which you feel rising in your heart for someone you know you almost feel like crying you you're so overcome by what they are going through that is actually the father's you know telling you I want you to work in this situation according to my will so when you feel that compassion rising up in your heart for someone ask him lord what do you want me to say what do you want me to do. Don't just go ahead and do what you want. Ask him what is the right thing to do. You know, because that's just that's one simple way where the father conveys to you something that he wants done. You feel an extraordinary unusual compassion rising in your heart for that particular person for that particular occasion. Uh you know, so I mean like I've encountered that and I've realized the you know that and I mean I never realized it till someone explained it to me. They said what you're feeling is not just your feeling. You're feeling the father's compassion for that person. Which means the Lord wants to do something for that person. Ask him. Ask the lord what he wants you to do for that person and do that specifically. Don't just try to help that person in your own strength because you'll probably miss the mark. No. So um that the second uh proof that Jesus gives about why he is equal with the father. The second you know line of defense which he presents he talks about how the father has appointed him to judge everyone. So maybe we can look at verses 22 and 23. Yeah, if you could first read out verses 22 and 23. Moreover, the father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the son that all may honor the son just as they honor the father. Whoever does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him. >> So Jesus says I am equal with the father because you see all judgment is has been entrusted to me. So on judgment day I am the one who is going to be doing all the judging and Jesus continues with that same you know uh line of explanation in your verses 27 to 30. So if you could read out even those verses 27 to 30. >> And he has given him authority to judge because he is the son of man. Do not be amazed at this for a time is coming uh when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out. Those who have done what is good will raise to live. And those who have done what is evil will rise to be uh condemned. By uh myself I can do nothing. I judge only as I hear and my judgment is just for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. So here Jesus says in union with the father I will be judging on that day. So when I call out with my voice and say all the dead people get up. Those who are righteous will you know their physical bodies they their physical bodies will be resurrected. They will get up to stand before the judgment throne of God and they will be rewarded for the good that they have done. In the same way those who are to be condemned even they will resur get resurrected but only thing their resurrected bodies will be thrown into the lake of fire because you know they have been uh they have uh not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. So he says, "I am the one who will call out with a loud voice and then people will rise up. They will you know get resurrected and then those who are meant to be rewarded will go to heaven and those who are meant to be condemned because they did not accept the Lord Jesus they will go into hell." So here Jesus talks the second line of defense which Jesus gives is that I am the one that father has appointed to judge everyone. The third thing that Jesus talks about is uh how he has life in himself. That would be your verses 24 to 26. If you could read out that 24- 26. >> Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word has uh sorry word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but crossed the has crossed the over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God, and those who will hear will live. For as the father has life in himself, so he has granted the son also to have life in himself. >> Yeah. So in the same way, the father has life in himself. No one created the father. The father was always there, you know. He there was no beginning point for him. He always was there infinitely. He was always there. In the same way, the son also has always had life in himself. There was no beginning point for the sun. He was not created at some point of time. He was always there. And then Jesus, you know, says some uh uh repeats the same thing in a more clear way in your John 10 17 and 18. So if you could just turn to that John 10:17 to18 where Jesus talks about how he has life in himself. The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take up take it up again. No one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own according accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. this command I received from my father. >> So Jesus says, you see, I can choose when to lay down my life and I can choose when to take it up again. That's why, you know, you know, in all your gospels where it talks about Jesus, you know, dying on the cross, it says he gave up his spirit. It's a voluntary act. It's not like as if he waited to die. He chose the exact moment when his work is done, when the old covenant is completely fulfilled, accomplished. And at that point, he just said, "Okay, fine. I'm I know I'm going to give up my spirit and choose to die. So he laid down his life voluntarily and when once the work was done, he took it up again voluntarily. So he has life in himself. So these are the three things which Jesus says to defend the fact that he is equal with the father. And then he says to them, you know, it's not just me testifying about myself. There are five witnesses who are testifying about me. So right now you people will be doing a little bit of activity. You we we'll read out these verses. Verses 31 to 40. Uh in verses 31 to 40 you will see four witnesses who are testifying about Jesus divinity. You will have to identify and tell me who those four uh who or what those four witnesses are you know which are testifying to Jesus divinity. So when even as the person who's reading out is reading out it's not easy I mean it's not difficult it's it just very openly says okay so let's actually read that passage uh chapter 5 31 to 40 there are four witnesses testifying about Jesus yeah if you can read >> if I testify about myself my testimony is not true there is another who testifies in my favor and I know that his uh testimony about me is True. You have uh sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not uh not that I accept human testimony, but I mention it uh that you may be saved. John was a lamb that burned and gave light and you you chose for a time uh to enjoy his light. I I have testimony uh whether than that of John for the works that the father has given me to finish. The very works that I am I am doing. Testify that the father has sent me. And the father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form. Nor does his word dwell in you. For you do not believe the one who sent the one he sent. You study [clears throat] you you study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very scriptures that testifies about me yet you uh refuse to come to me to have life. So who are these four witnesses mentioned over the fifth one will be mentioned later but who are the four who are doing the testifying over here. The first one is John. John has he says in verse 33 you have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. The second witness anyone on Oh yes here we have Shiraj with all four of them. Ah, you chose one of the ones which have not not yet been read out. Uh, but yes, John was the first one. The second one. Anyone here in the class? Verse 36. Because the father is 37. Verse 36, Jesus says I'm if I just testify about myself, it's not enough. There are other five people, five people or things testifying about me. So the first was John the second one in verse 36 the works that I am doing he says the very works that I am doing testify that the father has sent me so the works are testifying about him that's the one which Shiraj has not mentioned uh so that's verse 36 verse 37 yes is the father and then what's the fourth one from the people here in the class the fourth uh witness testifying about Jesus So your people were not paying attention when the verses were being read out. Verse 39. Exactly. >> Yes. >> Because it says over there, these are the very scriptures that testify about me. So there are four witnesses testifying about Jesus. John who very openly told this is the Messiah. The works which he's doing, the miraculous works are like signs. They're like sign boards pointing and saying look look this Jesus he's divine look at what he's doing. The third one is the father testifying and saying this is my son. And then uh the fourth one are the scriptures the old testament scriptures which talk about Jesus. So the the one which mentioned you know Moses uh that will be the fifth witness. We will read that a little later. But right now when did the father testify about Jesus? When was there any point where the father said look you know this is my son or something like that. Ah so that would be your Luke 3:22. It says in Luke 3:22 and a voice came from heaven you are my son whom I love. So that is the testimony given by the father. What about the scriptures? When did the Old Testament scriptures testify about Jesus? There are lots of examples, you know, where the Old Testament scriptures talk about uh Jesus. Um you have um yeah the Deuteronomy 18:15 where Moses says a prophet God will raise up a prophet for you just like me. And then uh Jesus has mentioned the bronze serpent thing, right? That also was referring to him. Uh so that would be from your numbers 21 that bronze serpent represented Jesus. So that also was talking about him. Then in 1 Corinthians 10:4 it talks about the rock that followed the Israelite people and you know gave them water. So that would also so that old testament scriptures which talk about water coming out of the rock that also is talking about Jesus. Uh in your Leviticus chapters 1 to7 you have five different sacrifices mentioned. every one of those sacrifices was actually fulfilled by Jesus Christ later. So, uh that also is testifying about Jesus. That is why in your Emos passage, where is that? Um was it in um um you know that passage where Jesus, you know, he it says from the Old Testament scriptures, he explained to them about himself. Uh where exactly is that scripture? I've written it down somewhere. M okay I've not written down the reference but yeah you know on the road to Emmos when those people are wondering what has happened to Jesus at that time he explains from the old testament scriptures about himself uh so there are a lot of old testament scriptures which testify about Jesus so these are the four different witnesses testifying that Jesus is divine. The fifth witness is Moses. Uh which we will look at a little later. But first Jesus makes some comments regarding glory. Uh we would need to look at that verses 41 to 44. What is Jesus telling about glory over here? Something very very valid. Uh yes Shira just put the thing uh references here. Thanks. Isaiah Isaiah definitely Isaiah 57 Psalm. Uh oh yeah there you have the passage Psalm 22 talks about uh Jesus. Yeah. Yes. Uh okay. Uh what what are what are verses 41 to 44 telling about glory? If you can read out. >> I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know you I know that you do not h do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my father's name and you you you do not accept me. But if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? The point Jesus is making over here is that you see there are five witnesses testifying about me and that is more than enough. I don't need you people to validate me. If you believe it's good for you. If you don't believe you're bringing condemnation upon yourself. But the basic thing is I don't need your praise. I don't need your validation to to make myself feel that oh okay I am the son of God. That's that's the point which Jesus is making over here. He says I do not accept glory from human beings. He's basically saying when you people you know praise someone you're basically doing it because maybe you'll get something out of it. No like people who praise the boss they're not praising the boss because they care about the boss. They're only praising the boss because they're hoping that they'll get some benefits from the boss. So Jesus says I don't need that kind of glory. So I do not accept glory from human beings especially the ones who have no love in their hearts for the father. Why? Because you people are you know uh what what kind of glory do you people like? He says over here uh verse 44 how can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek that glory uh the glory that comes from the only God. So a lot of people including believers for them the most important thing is getting human praise, human validation. If people praise you and tell you how wonderful you are, then you are wonderful. But they don't really care about what God is thinking. So when people are not praising and validating you, then you go into depression thinking, "Oh, look, I'm such a failure. I'm so useless." Why? Because for them human praise is more important than what God is saying. But God who looks at you knows who you actually are. People will change. Sometimes they will praise you. Sometimes they will not praise you because their understanding is limited. Their eyesight is you know kind of uh faded. They can't see the clarity and the truth which God can see. So their opinions will differ. When you match up to their expectations, they will praise you. when you don't when you're not performing the way they expect a great person to perform, they'll say, "Oh, you're not great." But God is the one who knows who you actually are. So here Jesus says those who love the Lord and who, you know, really care about what God thinks, they will take their glory from him. They will depend on him for their praise and their validation. So when you're in ministry and all the other pastors are commenting on you or are not giving you your your congregation is not giving you the appreciation that they should those things will not matter to you if you really love the lord and your heart is completely focused on him because your praise is coming from him your validation is coming from him if humans also you know um you know pat you on the back that's nice it's a good bonus but you don't have to depend on that for your self-worth you don't have to you're not depending on that for for your esteem and the way you look at yourself. You know who you are. Your father is validating you, is praising you, he glorifies you. That becomes very important. When that becomes very important, what others think will not matter that much, it begins to fall away. So there's this lovely point which someone had made. You know, they talked about how uh that oh we we'll come to that later. Okay, we'll not talk about it now. We'll talk about it when we come to that passage. Yeah. So yeah, so Jesus didn't have those you know um self-esteem and self-image issues because he want he he took his glory from his father. That was what you know mattered to him the most. So these people on the other hand these Jewish leaders Jesus says to them you people when someone comes in his own name you accept him your basic policy is I'll praise you you praise me you pat me on the back I'll pat you on the back. No that was their thing. So Jesus says that's not the kind of glory which I need. So then in the verses 45 to 47 he talks about the fifth witness Moses. Moses also you know testified about me. He says okay so um that takes care of those things. Uh we still have some time. So we are now moving into the second uh passage which talks about how Jesus was rejected. Okay. The first one was after the healing of the paralytic which we have looked at. The second rejection takes place after the feeding of the 5,000. So a miracle takes place and then people criticize. Then the next miracle takes place and then again people criticized. So that those are the kind of passages that we are now going through. So Jesus was criticized after the paralytic was healed. And now the next event is the feeding of the 5000 in your chapter 6. Um so yes let's begin by reading out the first four verses. >> Sometime after this Jesus crossed to the far shore of the sea of Galilee that is uh the sea of Tibaras and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountain side and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover festival was near. >> Okay. So we see that the Jewish Passover festival is near and the Passover festival is one festival which these people will not like to miss. So even people travel from abroad and come just for this one festival. So obviously there's a huge crowd moving towards Jerusalem. Okay. People traveling from different places all going towards Jerusalem. And so it is in that time in during that time that this event takes place. That is why you have such large crowds at that particular point of time. So it says over here that Jesus crossed to the far shore of the sea of Galilee. He's trying to get away from the crowds. He wants to be alone for some time. And then we get to know from the other gospels why he wants to be alone. This is significant. You know he's trying to get away but then the crowd comes chasing him. So uh it helps us to understand the context. Um maybe we could read out Matthew 14 11-13. Matthew 14 11-13 which gives us some background information. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Uh then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard that what happened, he withdraw by boat uh privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the tones. And then we can also look at Luke 9 10 and 11. We get to know there are some other things also going on which made Jesus want to you know go away to a solitary place. Luke 9:10-11. When the apostle returned uh they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then uh he took them with him and they withdraw by themselves to a town called Batsa. But the crowds uh learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed those who uh needed healing. >> Now in from both of these passages, we get to know what exactly is going on over here. Jesus hears about John the Baptist being killed in such a random manner. I mean just some silly girl who can dance, you know, decides to go and ask her mother, you know, what should I what should I ask for as a reward? And this godly man who has done so much to straighten the way for the Messiah is just killed off in such a meaningless manner. Imagine how painful that would have been for Jesus because Jesus and John the Baptist would have known each other from childhood. So for him this is a very personal grieving period. And at at a time like that he he it says he went away to the far shore. He just wants some time to be alone you know to pray to you know to to to build his heart once again in the in God's presence and moreover he had sent his disciples on a missionary trip they have come back you know to report about all the things which have which which they have accomplished so he wants some time to just sit with them so that they can all talk about you know what was done in the mission trip you know feedback review all of that and also recover from the pain of what has been encountered and then when Jesus is you seeking a solitary place. The crowd comes eagerly searching for him and his heart is just touched with compassion and he lays aside his pain. He lays aside you know uh this these disciples lay aside the tiredness from the mission trip and they begin to minister. So usually when we read this passage of the you know 5,000 feeding we think of them all all sitting on some nice pleasant mountain side and having a picnic meal. But no, Jesus in his heart, his heart is heavy, filled with pain because a very close friend has died in such a meaningless manner under the hands of such cruel people. And so he's in pain. His disciples are exhausted, tired because they've just come back from their missionary trip. In that condition, Jesus ministers the entire day preaching to them, healing the sick, doing all of that. At the end of the day, you can imagine how exhausted emotionally and physically both Jesus and the disciples are. At that point, instead of saying, "Okay, I'm done. I'm finished. Let me get into my car and go to my hotel." No, he thinks about the crowd. He thinks, "How will they get back to their places? I need to first feed them." And so then he feeds them. So this so look we see here an example of ministry being done when there's emotional pain on the inside and there's exhaustion on the outside under such circumstances in his compassion Jesus ministers and his disciples also they have the same heart you know even though they've just come back from the mission trip and they must be so tired they all minister so we see that beautiful you know introduction the background to the story and the actual story we will look at it next time. So, let's just quickly close with a word of prayer. Lord, we just thank you that you are such a compassionate God. We thank you, oh Lord, that you are the one who is going to judge us one day, who will cry out with your voice and we will all just come and stand before your throne. That God has such compassion towards us. So Lord, we pray that we will that you will equip us to minister in an effective manner like you. Enable us to see what the father is doing. Enable us to feel the compassion and burden which he feels and enable us to be his hands and feet and act it out here on earth so that your kingdom is established wherever we go and your will is done in all the things which we take up. Equip us for this Lord. Only you through your Holy Spirit can do that. I mean we can just simply go through our classes and not get equipped unless you equip us on the inside. We need you. We desperately need your help. We want a supernatural ministry, not just some casual work. We want a supernatural ministry which the father is showing us to do and equipping us to do. Help us Lord. Equip us for that. Thank you Lord in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.