Speaker 1: Let's go to John, chapter 20.
Speaker 1: I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1: My family's in the back.
Speaker 1: That's good, because I can't see them, but I think this is the first time I'm up here and I have both my sons listening to me.
Speaker 1: So in the future you're going to hear two people saying amen.
Speaker 1: So let me get um, where's big?
Speaker 1: Okay, just sign.
Speaker 1: Can you guys hear me?
Speaker 1: All right, cool.
Speaker 1: So we're going to be talking about the Gospel of John, and I chuckled when Pastor said that this is a dear book to him.
Speaker 1: Book to him.
Speaker 1: It's one of the most exciting gospels that we have in our scriptures.
Speaker 1: In West Indian culture, when someone comes to Christ, is a newborn babe in Christ, has just been even baptized, or joins a church.
Speaker 1: What they usually do is they encourage that new believer to study the book of John.
Speaker 1: That's the first book they're told to study.
Speaker 1: Okay, so I got a West Indian on this side too, amen.
Speaker 1: So what I will tell you is the truth.
Speaker 1: The author of the book, depending on who you talk to, can be up for debate.
Speaker 1: I believe it's John Zebedee, who may or may not have been related to Jesus somehow.
Speaker 1: This is the same Zebedee, whose mother came to Jesus and asked Jesus if the sons can sit on the right or the left in his glory.
Speaker 1: That's this John.
Speaker 1: I know traditionally this book gets a later.
Speaker 1: It's ascribed to a later date when it was written, but I purposefully did not use any of our you know famous and you know think tank heads on this project here, because John is just so well known by so many of us.
Speaker 1: I know some of us can quote chapter one with our eyes closed.
Speaker 1: It's a very tough book to come and present to you and hope that you will be hearing something you haven't heard before.
Speaker 1: So, although those commentaries, we all got the same study Bibles and we listened to the same podcast and we all got the same dozen preachers we all love to listen to, I refuse to listen to any of those and I went on a different route, more the Messianic route, to see how the Messianic Jews would interpret the book of John.
Speaker 1: So I know some of you were here last week when our brother Josh did a phenomenal job on Mark and your guys are probably saying, hey, what happened to Luke, right?
Speaker 1: Why are we doing John?
Speaker 1: Well, we're doing Messianic on it because the Messianic Jews like to ascribe or believe that John actually wrote his book before Luke.
Speaker 1: And there might be some Jewish bias and that's because of what John says in John chapter five when he's talking about the, the, the pool with the five porches.
Speaker 1: In verse two he says that there is a pool Right and a lot of commentaries have looked at that and said if John is describing a pool that is, then that means it was there when he was writing this and that pool we know was destroyed in 70 AD.
Speaker 1: So a lot of people say, well, john wrote his gospel maybe 90 AD, maybe 85 AD, but the Messianic Jews put him before 70 AD, but the messianic jews put him before 70 ad.
Speaker 1: And if you have what is called a brit hadashah, say that five times fast, which is the new testament in hebrew, the brit hadashah you will see that they actually arranged john before luke.
Speaker 1: So that's what we're doing today, okay, so we're going to look at John, chapter 20.
Speaker 1: John, chapter 20.
Speaker 1: And we're going to look at verse 30.
Speaker 1: I also have some of my good friends from the Bronx that came out and people who helped raise EJ when he was small.
Speaker 1: So they came to see Eden, kiki and Sandra and Brissette.
Speaker 1: You all came out to worship with us.
Speaker 1: That's great.
Speaker 1: So, john, chapter 20, verse 30, and truly, yeshua did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Speaker 1: It's important that people know always the truth.
Speaker 1: Yahweh be with us now, amen.
Speaker 1: So that's John's initial ending to his gospel.
Speaker 1: However, for those of you who may be familiar with certain movie productions of today especially, you know, like comic book movies, action, fairy tale, fantasy movies, etc.
Speaker 1: That after the credits have finished scrolling on the screen, if you stayed until the end, your patients would be rewarded with what is called a post-credit scene.
Speaker 1: Right?
Speaker 1: So a post-credit scene is an additional act after the movie supposedly just ended, almost like a hidden or insightful skit where you get further closure on certain things, whether it be a cliffhanger or something that was left unresolved, and it gives extra content for the eager viewer and the audience.
Speaker 1: The post-credits scene in modern movies are extra scenes in the end that give explanation to what to look forward to for a potential sequel, to what to look forward to for a potential sequel.
Speaker 1: Thus some movie aficionados like myself and Bible scholars not like myself would juxtapose and say John is the first director to have a post-credit scene, because after chapter 20 is chapter 21.
Speaker 1: A post-credit scene of sorts, moved by the holy ghost, peter in chapter 21 focuses mostly on yeshua and peter um by the sea of tiberias with the 153 caught fish, and we'll discuss that later.
Speaker 1: But in chapter 21, verse 24, it says this is the disciple who testifies of these things.
Speaker 1: And you know, when we testify we raise our right hand because we are telling the truth and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true.
Speaker 1: And there are also many other things that Yeshua did which, if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Speaker 1: Amen, that which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Speaker 1: A post-credit scene and second ending in the gospel of John.
Speaker 1: Everything is in the Bible.
Speaker 1: Let's look in and try to discover possible reasons as to why John does this First.
Speaker 1: John does this First.
Speaker 1: I believe John's point, by having what apparently is two endings is to iterate and emphasize the purpose of his gospel.
Speaker 1: The purpose of his gospel, and he does that in various ways.
Speaker 1: John emphasizes the prophecies in his gospel.
Speaker 1: John emphasizes the phenomena in his gospel.
Speaker 1: John emphasizes the prodigy and person of Yeshua in his gospel and we'll touch on some of the promises in his gospel.
Speaker 1: The purpose of John writing his gospel is stated in so many words John, chapter 20, verse 31.
Speaker 1: But this is written that you may believe, that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and John, when referring to himself in chapter 21, verse 24, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
Speaker 1: John tells the reader that it's known that what he is saying is truth.
Speaker 1: Therefore, you should believe what is read.
Speaker 1: The purpose of John's gospel is that the hearers and readers will believe Pistouo.
Speaker 1: Pistouo is the Greek word for believe and it's associated with the word faith and it has the meaning to be persuaded.
Speaker 1: To be persuaded, pistou it's one of John's favorite words believe times.
Speaker 1: Mark uses it 16 times, luke uses it 11 times, but John uses it almost 100 times in his gospel.
Speaker 1: No competition, so blow out this.
Speaker 1: Is evident that this is John's intent.
Speaker 1: John wants our faith to be increased.
Speaker 1: So he often uses another phrase along with believe, and that's the word fulfill, fulfill you can believe because it has been fulfilled.
Speaker 1: So John emphasizes the prophecies in his gospel and does so by letting the reader know Christ fulfills specific, detailed Old Testament oracles, for instance in John, chapter 19,.
Speaker 1: Three times, three times in John chapter 19, he speaks of prophecies that are fulfilled in the passion ministry of Yeshua.
Speaker 1: In chapter 19, verse 24, john, when speaking about Yeshua's clothing records, the soldiers said therefore among themselves let us not tear it, but cast lots for it.
Speaker 1: Whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled, which says they divided my garment among them and for my clothing they cast lots.
Speaker 1: This is what God says.
Speaker 1: Therefore, the soldiers did these things.
Speaker 1: Wow, it's like you can't win if the Bible says this is what was going to happen.
Speaker 1: Therefore, the soldiers had no choice but to do it.
Speaker 1: Therefore, the soldiers did these things.
Speaker 1: John wants the reader to believe.
Speaker 1: So he proves Yeshua is the Messiah, and here he's quoting Psalm chapter 22, a messianic Psalm, and that's verse 18,.
Speaker 1: They divided my garment among them and for my clothing they cast lots.
Speaker 1: So John knows his readers will surmise that Psalm chapter 22 is messianic but it's written 1015 years before Jesus was born.
Speaker 1: So John, again in chapter 19, verse 28 says 28 says after this Yeshua, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said I thirst now.
Speaker 1: A vessel full of sour wine was sitting there and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop and put it to his mouth.
Speaker 1: John wants the reader to believe, so again, he references not only Psalm chapter 22, verse 15, but also Psalm chapter 69, verse 21,.
Speaker 1: Quote they also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst.
Speaker 1: They gave me vinegar to drink.
Speaker 1: End quote.
Speaker 1: Food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Speaker 1: End quote.
Speaker 1: It happens just as Jesus.
Speaker 1: It happens to Jesus, just as the Psalms predicted.
Speaker 1: John wants the audience to believe.
Speaker 1: So he shows Yeshua's connection to 1,000-year-old prophecies.
Speaker 1: And lastly, in verse 33, in John chapter 19, verse 33,.
Speaker 1: But when they came to Jesus they saw he was already dead.
Speaker 1: They did not break his legs.
Speaker 1: Look how detailed and precise he gets right In verse 35, he who has seen and testified and his testimony is true and he knows he is telling the truth so that you may believe.
Speaker 1: So what's the purpose of the prophecy John quotes what's the purpose?
Speaker 1: Verse 35.
Speaker 1: So that you will believe.
Speaker 1: And why should we believe John?
Speaker 1: Because of the next verse.
Speaker 1: Should we believe John?
Speaker 1: Because of the next verse, chapter 19, verse 36.
Speaker 1: For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Speaker 1: Not one of his bones shall be broken, just as it was prophesied.
Speaker 1: Now I know in all of our study Bibles that we have, and there are dozens and thousands of pages long.
Speaker 1: You would look up coordinates and it will immediately send you to Psalms, chapter 34, or maybe verse 20.
Speaker 1: And that, on the surface, appears to be what John here in chapter 19 may be referencing.
Speaker 1: But what if I told you that in this prophecy that John is bringing out that he's actually trying, or he is linking Jesus to Moses?
Speaker 1: The scripture should be fulfilled.
Speaker 1: Not one of his bones shall be broken.
Speaker 1: For when speaking of the Passover lamb in Exodus, chapter 12, verse 46 and Numbers, chapter 9, verse 12, verse 46, and Numbers, chapter 9, verse 12, moses says they shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones.
Speaker 1: According to all the ordinances of the Passover, they shall keep it.
Speaker 1: John wants his audience to believe and, looking at Jesus.
Speaker 1: Jesus say behold the Lamb of God.
Speaker 1: He expounds on Jesus through the ministry of Moses.
Speaker 1: John tells the reader that it's known.
Speaker 1: What he is saying is true.
Speaker 1: Therefore, you should believe what is being read, but check out this.
Speaker 1: Check this out.
Speaker 1: John wants us to believe, but John doesn't tell us to believe him because he's called the disciple who Jesus loves.
Speaker 1: Get this.
Speaker 1: John doesn't tell you to believe because he was given power and ability to heal the sick, cleanse the leopard, raise the dead and cast out demons.
Speaker 1: John doesn't tell you to believe him because Yeshua gives him the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.
Speaker 1: John doesn't tell you to believe because his name is written in heaven and in the last days he will sit on a throne judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
Speaker 1: Nor does John tell you to believe him because, allegedly, he will be able to survive a forced ingested poisoning, according to Lausius Cornelius, and come out alive after being boiled in a vat of hot oil, according to Tullian.
Speaker 1: Allegedly, no, john doesn't tell us to believe because of any of his achievements, merits or supposed high social status.
Speaker 1: In John, chapter 18, verse 15 to 16, he says this is the disciple who was known to the high priest indicative to mean John's relation to high class society.
Speaker 1: The high priest knew who John was.
Speaker 1: John doesn't tell you to believe him because of his clout or his apocalyptic prophetic prowess.
Speaker 1: John tells us to believe for many different reasons, but we're going to get into this now, especially because of the phenomenons in his gospel.
Speaker 1: The phenomena in his gospel are the miracles, signs and wonders that take place in his narrative, in the ministry of Yeshua.
Speaker 1: It's sort of like what Luke says these are infallible proves or unmistaken truths, unquestionable demonstrations.
Speaker 1: It's like how the historian Flavius Josephus describes Jesus when he says Jesus performed paradoxa erga baffling deeds, astonishing works, marvelous deeds, mind-bending, extravagant works.
Speaker 1: John's purpose is that people will believe, and John points to the phenomenal deeds of Jesus for unmistaken veracity.
Speaker 1: In chapter two, john tells you Yeshua turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana.
Speaker 1: So me and Shan actually visited the location of where that might have taken place.
Speaker 1: I think you did too, right, pastor?
Speaker 1: Yeah, we actually went there, but unfortunately when me and Shan arrived, the wedding that John is speaking of was already over by the time we arrived, so I didn't get a chance to get some of that Yeshua flavored Manischewitz wine.
Speaker 1: So I don't have cups to hand out today, don't worry.
Speaker 1: But meet me in glory because there will be plenty.
Speaker 1: But John points out the phenomenal signs that Yeshua does and he also uses what's called numerology, perspicuously yet subtly.
Speaker 1: So John mentions about nine total paradoxa erga, baffling deeds, wonderful signs, miraculous works.
Speaker 1: Nine total in his gospel.
Speaker 1: In biblical numerology the number nine can be linked to the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1: See me later if you want to know more about that.
Speaker 1: So the number nine is associated in the Bible with truth, belief and veracity.
Speaker 1: Truth, belief and veracity.
Speaker 1: Think of the ninth commandment.
Speaker 1: That's your homework when you go home.
Speaker 1: Think of the ninth commandment, that's your homework when you go home.
Speaker 1: Nine total phenomena in John's gospel First, turning water into wine in chapter two, showing Yeshua is master and orchestrator.
Speaker 1: He's the one in the third day of creation, and not only does he have all authority over foliage, vegetation and clusters, but by doing this miracle he is showing that he is Lord over time itself, because the wine that he makes is aged to perfection right A thousand years is like a watch to the Lord watching the night.
Speaker 1: He is the Lord of time.
Speaker 1: He stands outside of time.
Speaker 1: He is the Lord of time.
Speaker 1: He stands outside of time.
Speaker 1: He's from everlasting to everlasting.
Speaker 1: He is God, amen.
Speaker 1: So that's the first phenomenal act, turning water into wine.
Speaker 1: The second one is healing a boy in chapter four, who is in Capernaum at the time, about 24 miles away, and Jesus does this miracle while standing in Cana.
Speaker 1: Let me put this in perspective for you.
Speaker 1: So a nobleman comes from Capernaum to plead to Jesus on behalf of his son and he comes to Cana.
Speaker 1: Maybe he heard Jesus just did a crazy miracle.
Speaker 1: Here there's a guy.
Speaker 1: He's making 750 bottles of wine in a shot.
Speaker 1: Let me see if he can heal my son.
Speaker 1: So he comes to Cana and he's begging Jesus to come.
Speaker 1: And Jesus tells him just just go, you've received your answered prayer.
Speaker 1: But it's a nine hour journey from Capernaum to Cana.
Speaker 1: It's a nine hour journey from Capernaum to Cana, 24 miles away, and this was a nobleman, so probably came by chariot, he probably pushed his horses, so maybe a five hour trip.
Speaker 1: But Yeshua doesn't need a lift or an Uber.
Speaker 1: He heals the boy while standing in Cana just by his word, showing that he's the Lord over physics and the Lord over distance, that the father sent his word and healed them, that his word runs swiftly.
Speaker 1: That is the second miracle miracle.
Speaker 1: The third is healing a man, in chapter five, who was paralyzed for 38 years, showing Yeshua as master over our autonomy.
Speaker 1: He knows all our members.
Speaker 1: Not one of them is missing.
Speaker 1: When he formed us in the secret places of our mother's wounds, he knew us.
Speaker 1: He is the Lord over our central nervous system.
Speaker 1: In the fourth miracle we read of feeding 5,000.
Speaker 1: In chapter six, showing that Yeshua is the God who can supply all our need.
Speaker 1: The fifth is walking on the sea in chapter six, displaying Yeshua is God over the elements the sea.
Speaker 1: In chapter six, displaying Yeshua is God over the elements.
Speaker 1: What manner of man is this?
Speaker 1: The sixth is healing a man who's been blind from birth in chapter nine, showing Yeshua is creator of our senses and the one who pulls us out of darkness.
Speaker 1: The seventh is the seventh on purpose.
Speaker 1: It's the cap.
Speaker 1: It's raising Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11, showing Yeshua's power over death, that even a cadaver can reanimate at his word.
Speaker 1: Purpose Think of the day of first fruits, because it's the resurrection of Jesus himself.
Speaker 1: In chapter 20, showing that Yeshua is he who lives forevermore and has the keys of hell and death.
Speaker 1: And it's mentioned eighth, by John because it's on the eighth day from the Passover Jesus rose from the tomb.
Speaker 1: And ninth, in chapter 21, is the catching of the 153 fish displaying Yeshua is the one who forgives and come that we will have life and have it more abundantly.
Speaker 1: Nine signs John points out and uses numerology perspicuously yet subtly.
Speaker 1: There are also what's called 14 ego amis, that is, I am, statements.
Speaker 1: There are 14 of those In the Gospel of John.
Speaker 1: Ego ami refers to when Yeshua in the New Testament uses the exact Greek phrase that Yahweh uses in the Old Testament, greek Septuagint.
Speaker 1: When Yahweh addresses himself to Moses and also others like Isaiah, as the great or the I am Ego I mean in Exodus, chapter 3, verse 14, isaiah, chapter 43, verse 10, isaiah, chapter 46, verse 9.
Speaker 1: 14, isaiah, chapter 43, verse 10, isaiah, chapter 46, verse nine, addressing himself as I am is a moniker, generally speaking, meaning the ever existing one, the ever existing one or the one who always is I am.
Speaker 1: And Yeshua does so 14 times.
Speaker 1: In John's account, for instance, in biblical numerology the number 14 is seven doubled.
Speaker 1: So perhaps the number seven is the number of completion and wholeness.
Speaker 1: So for John, Yeshua saying I am 14 times, is John distinctly stating that Yeshua is the perfect son of man and the completely divine son of God.
Speaker 1: John, 14 times for Jesus, mentions the same words Yahweh uses for himself when speaking to Moses.
Speaker 1: Now look at your neighbor sitting next to you and tell them John likes Moses.
Speaker 1: John likes Moses In John, chapter 1, verse 14,.
Speaker 1: John uses the same words for Yeshua pitching a tabernacle and meeting us as Moses encountering Elohim and coming into the tent of meeting.
Speaker 1: The same concept, same phrase John likes Moses In chapter two.
Speaker 1: The first phenomenal sign John chooses to speak on is Yeshua turning water into wine, perhaps to juxtapose Moses' first plague, which is Moses turning water into blood and his last plague God does through Moses is the death of the firstborn sons, whose doorpost does not have the blood of the lamb.
Speaker 1: Juxtapose Moses' last plague with the eighth miracle John mentions, which is the death and resurrection of the Lamb of God, jesus Christ.
Speaker 1: John likes Moses.
Speaker 1: Why so many similarities?
Speaker 1: I think John does this on purpose.
Speaker 1: He uses similar accounts for both prophets, moses and Jesus.
Speaker 1: I believe he's moved by the Holy Spirit intentionally, because he's trying to answer the question that the Jews are having pertaining to Moses' parabolic or prophetic statement in Deuteronomy, chapter 18, verse 15 to 18, when Yahweh says I will raise up for them a prophet like Moses from among their brethren and put my words in his mouth.
Speaker 1: And Deuteronomy, chapter 34, verse 10, says and there arose not a prophet since in Israel, like unto Moses, who knew Yahweh face to face.
Speaker 1: So John records Jesus saying in John, chapter 10, verse 15, as the father knows me, even so, I know the father John juxtaposed Moses, who knows Yahweh face to face, with Yeshua, who knows the father, and not only that, is the unique son who declares the father or explains, or interprets and reveals the awesomeness of the wonder and the glory of the father.
Speaker 1: John likes Moses.
Speaker 1: John's gospel unveils Moses parabolically.
Speaker 1: John's gospel exegetes Moses parabolically.
Speaker 1: John likes Moses.
Speaker 1: John also records Yeshua saying as Moses, as Moses, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.
Speaker 1: Even so, must the son of man be lifted up.
Speaker 1: John records the words of Philip when he says to Nathanael we have found him, of whom Moses in the law wrote Jesus of Nazareth.
Speaker 1: The purpose of John's gospel is to show that the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1: And of course, the purpose of the phenomenal signs in John's gospel is to unequivocally and perspicuously declare the prodigy and person of Yeshua and John establishes that Jesus is God.
Speaker 1: So, 14 times in reference to Jesus, john records the phrase ego imi I am which is God's appellation from the Old Testament.
Speaker 1: John brings out this point that Yeshua is God throughout his gospel several times, in several ways, but my absolute favorite.
Speaker 1: If I had to choose one and I would take all day before I chose one.
Speaker 1: But if I had to choose one, it would have to be when John quotes Isaiah.
Speaker 1: So if you highlight what happens in John chapter 12.
Speaker 1: John chapter 12, verse 37 to 41.
Speaker 1: John chapter 12, verse 37.
Speaker 1: But although Yeshua had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in him that the word of Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled, which he spoke.
Speaker 1: Lord, who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?
Speaker 1: Now notice verse 41, john chapter 12, verse 41.
Speaker 1: These things Isaiah said when Isaiah saw Yeshua's glory and spoke of Yeshua.
Speaker 1: After reading verse 41, it has to beg the question, right, I mean well, first, if you know where Isaiah is initially quoting from, it's clearly Isaiah, chapter 53.
Speaker 1: And he's clearly saying this is a messianic suffering servant song that Isaiah equates and John also equates to Jesus.
Speaker 1: Right, but the question when does Isaiah see Yeshua's glory?
Speaker 1: When does Isaiah, who lives 740 years before Jesus was born, when does he see Jesus?
Speaker 1: Well, the answer can be found again in the Septuagint, with the Greek word Isaiah uses for glory, and it's doxa, d-o-x-a.
Speaker 1: Doxa, that's the word for glory.
Speaker 1: Let's answer this question when does Isaiah see Yeshua in his glory?
Speaker 1: So for in Isaiah chapter six very popular among our Pentecostals in the back there Isaiah chapter six very popular among our Pentecostals in the back there and for Isaiah chapter six, isaiah says in the year that King Uzziah died, that's 740 BC.
Speaker 1: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw.
Speaker 1: I saw.
Speaker 1: I saw Ha-Adonai sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple above.
Speaker 1: It was seraphines, and one cried to another and said holy, holy, holy is Yahweh Savioth.
Speaker 1: The whole earth is filled of his taxa, his glory.
Speaker 1: So this is when Isaiah sees, when Isaiah sees the glory of the Lord of hosts, the master in all his splendor.
Speaker 1: Isaiah will go on to say in chapter 42, verse 8, and 48, verse 11, our God says I am Yahweh, that is my name and my doxa.
Speaker 1: My glory, I will not give to another.
Speaker 1: Are you following?
Speaker 1: Do you see who this glorified person in John's gospel is?
Speaker 1: If Yahweh doesn't share his glory, how can John say Isaiah saw Yeshua in Yahweh's glory?
Speaker 1: The answer has to be Jesus is Yahweh, jesus is God.
Speaker 1: In John's gospel, the person of Yeshua is that he is Yahweh.
Speaker 1: For instance, john purposefully, purposefully, emphasizes this in chapter one.
Speaker 1: Right, jesus is God.
Speaker 1: Chapter one Can't get away from it.
Speaker 1: Right at the front door.
Speaker 1: Jesus is God.
Speaker 1: And he does it again, especially in chapter eight, when Jesus is debating with the Jews, chapter eight.
Speaker 1: And the connection can be found in a Hebrew word, devvar, which is the word for word Debar.
Speaker 1: The connection can also be found in the ministry of the prophet Abraham, and I propose to you that you know.
Speaker 1: Some of you have heard of the angel of God or the angel of the Lord or the messenger of Yahweh.
Speaker 1: Angel of God or the angel of the Lord, or the messenger of Yahweh, and you've heard that that's a pre-manifestation of Jesus or Christophany, which is true.
Speaker 1: But like John, I would like to say just like the angel of the Lord is Jesus, the word of the Lord is also Jesus, it's personified.
Speaker 1: Let's look at the handouts that I gave you right.
Speaker 1: So in the handout I gave you on the first page it's just basically the Hebrew word.
Speaker 1: It's three letters and I circled the number here H169.
Speaker 1: So if you have like a Strong's Bible commentary dictionary with the Bible words, you can look it up for yourself.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 1: One, six, nine, seven.
Speaker 1: If you flip it up, what you're looking at is the Brit Hadashah, the New Testament in Hebrew, and this is John, chapter one.
Speaker 1: So one line will be in English and under it is the Hebrew.
Speaker 1: And I just made it easy for you.
Speaker 1: I tried to color coordinate here, but you know how that happens when you're trying to color copy.
Speaker 1: So you can see in the first verse John mentions the word word three times and I circled that three times in the Hebrew it's in the purple, is the Hebrew and the English is in the red orange.
Speaker 1: Whatever color it came out for your copy, right.
Speaker 1: And then you can see the numbers one, six, nine, seven.
Speaker 1: So I'm not making this up.
Speaker 1: That is the Hebrew word for what John is using devar.
Speaker 1: So if you look past that on your other page where it has that big number 14 next to it, you will also see.
Speaker 1: This is where it says, and the word became flesh and encamped among us.
Speaker 1: That word again is in the purple.
Speaker 1: It's the same word devar, right?
Speaker 1: So he's saying this divine word became a human being, right, this divine word, which is the devar of God, became a human being, right.
Speaker 1: So when you turn the page again, you have John, chapter 8, verse 56 to 59.
Speaker 1: You guys see that, and here is one what one of Jesus' statements.
Speaker 1: That almost got him killed.
Speaker 1: But Jesus couldn't die before the time because he didn't have any sin on him, because the wages of sin is death and if he's the spotless son of God he can't die.
Speaker 1: There's nothing you can do.
Speaker 1: But in verse 56, it says your father, abraham, rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad.
Speaker 1: So now the Jews understand what Jesus is saying, or at least they understand as much as they can, and they respond to him in verse 57.
Speaker 1: Then the Jews said to him you are not even 50 years old and you've seen Abraham.
Speaker 1: Jesus said to them most assuredly, like, most definitely, without a shadow of a doubt verily, verily.
Speaker 1: I say to you before Abraham was ego, ime, I am.
Speaker 1: And that almost got him killed.
Speaker 1: They tried to stone him right.
Speaker 1: So now they understood what Jesus was saying.
Speaker 1: Jesus is saying Abraham saw Jesus, right.
Speaker 1: So when did that happen?
Speaker 1: On your last page, right here, where you're looking at, you're actually looking at Genesis, chapter 15.
Speaker 1: That's what that is.
Speaker 1: On the left side is the English and on the right side is the Hebrew, right?
Speaker 1: So this is Genesis, chapter 15.
Speaker 1: And it says After these things, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying Do not fear, I am your shield.
Speaker 1: Your reward will increase greatly.
Speaker 1: And Abram said Adonai, yahweh, what will you give me?
Speaker 1: So again, same color coordination.
Speaker 1: Where the purple is is the Hebrew word for Devar, and I colored red orange.
Speaker 1: Whatever color came out for you is when it's mentioning God.
Speaker 1: So this is an account where the word of God visits Abraham, way back in the Genesis account.
Speaker 1: If you flip it over one more time on the last page, this is still the same chapter in Genesis.
Speaker 1: And verse 4, which says and behold, anytime you see that word in the Bible, behold, it means pay attention.
Speaker 1: Something extravagant is about to take place.
Speaker 1: This is not something ordinary, this is extraordinary.
Speaker 1: Listen to what is about to take place, right, and behold the devour of Yahweh.
Speaker 1: The word of Yahweh came to Abraham saying this one shall not be your ear, but he that come forth from your own bowels shall be your heir.
Speaker 1: And he brought him outside and said look.
Speaker 1: Verse six says and Abraham believed one of John's favorite words in Yahweh, did you catch it?
Speaker 1: Yahweh, did you catch it?
Speaker 1: The word of God is a person who came to Abraham and brought him outside.
Speaker 1: So look at the stars.
Speaker 1: And the Bible says Abraham believed is Yahweh the word of God.
Speaker 1: Finally, let's look at some promises found in the gospel of John.
Speaker 1: Real quick, in John, chapter 14, verse 16, jesus says I will pray the Father and he will give you another parakletos, another helper, another comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
Speaker 1: John tells us of Yeshua's promise of the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that seals us, signifying our salvation until the day of redemption.
Speaker 1: Ephesians, chapter 1, 13 to 14.
Speaker 1: John tells us of Yeshua's promise of the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that makes us aware of sin and the need for repentance.
Speaker 1: John, chapter 16, verse 8 to 11.
Speaker 1: John tells us of Yeshua's promise of the spirit, the same spirit that produces the ninefold, the ninefold, the ninefold fruit of the spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Speaker 1: Galatians, chapter 5.
Speaker 1: John tells us of Yeshua's promise of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1: The same Spirit that disposed gives us nine spiritual gifts, nine gifts for the benefit of the church.
Speaker 1: 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 8 to 11.
Speaker 1: Those gifts are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, languages and interpretation.
Speaker 1: John tells us of the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1: The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that dwells in us and gives us the unction to be able to call God our Abba.
Speaker 1: It's a beautiful promise.
Speaker 1: Another promise is found in John, chapter 15, verse 7.
Speaker 1: If you abide in me Jesus is speaking and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.
Speaker 1: John records the promise of answered prayers when we petition our God according to his will and word.
Speaker 1: In John, chapter 14, verse 13, jesus says and whatever you ask in my name, that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Speaker 1: And in chapter 16, verse 24, jesus says In chapter 16, verse 24, jesus says ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.
Speaker 1: John's gospel records the promise of answered prayers when we petition according to God's word so that the father will be glorified and so that we will be joyful.
Speaker 1: These are beautiful promises.
Speaker 1: Imagine if people actually believed John's gospel.
Speaker 1: There's another promise is that's the promise of eternal life, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only uniquely begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Speaker 1: Jesus also says I have come, that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
Speaker 1: So we started off by speaking about post credit scenes, post credit scenes.
Speaker 1: Well, there's a promise post credit scene for all of us in John's gospel.
Speaker 1: He leaves us in chapter 21, verse 21 to 23.
Speaker 1: In John, chapter 21, verse 21 to 23, the context surrounds our resurrected Lord and Jesus is telling Peter how Peter will glorify him, even in the way he dies.
Speaker 1: So Peter always the one to ask the most blunt questions looks at John, says okay, I'm going to die this way.
Speaker 1: What about this guy?
Speaker 1: Imagine that you're walking with your friend and your friend asks somebody how are you gonna die?
Speaker 1: Oh man, I can't wait to meet peter and glory um.
Speaker 1: But he goes, what about john, master?
Speaker 1: And jesus says to peter if I allow that john, remain till I cometh.
Speaker 1: Till I cometh.
Speaker 1: What is I cometh?
Speaker 1: What is that to you?
Speaker 1: You follow me and you know how church folk like to gossip, right?
Speaker 1: So then it says then the saying went out among the brethren that John would not die.
Speaker 1: Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, if I will, that he remain till I cometh.
Speaker 1: What is that to you, right?
Speaker 1: So that's an awesome post-credit scene, and it's for us, because actually John does not die until he sees the coming.
Speaker 1: Revelation, chapter 1, verse 7.
Speaker 1: Behold, he cometh.
Speaker 1: He cometh with the clouds and every eye will see him.
Speaker 1: John, tell me, what did you see?
Speaker 1: Revelation, chapter 19, verse 11.
Speaker 1: And I saw heaven open and behold, a white horse, horse.
Speaker 1: And he that sat upon him was called fateful and true and in righteousness he dove, judge and make war.
Speaker 1: His eyes were a flame of fire and his head had many crowns and he had a name written that no one knew, no man knew but himself, a name written that no man knew but himself.
Speaker 1: And he was clothed, with a vestiger dipped in blood, and his name is called the word of God.
Speaker 1: And the armies that's me, that's you, that's us and the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with he should smite the nations.
Speaker 1: And he ruleth with a rod of iron and treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, and he hath on his vestiger and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Speaker 1: So he didn't die until he saw the coming of the Lord, and he saw us in that post-credit scene.
Speaker 1: So that's the purpose of his gospel.
Speaker 1: There's many other angles we could have tackled this, but I pray that at least you heard something that you haven't heard about the book of John, and with that we will give God glory and say thank you, yeshua, for allowing us to have this moment and we'll get to study your word.
Speaker 1: We praise you and we pray that you'll be with us throughout the rest of the week.
Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen.