Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing. Thousands are tuning in each week to receive spiritual nourishment and blessing. We receive many exciting testimonies of people who have come to faith in Jesus by listening to the programs.
If you’re tuning in for the first time today, we are currently being led through the Gospel of John by the teaching of our Radio Pastor, J. Mark Horst. In a few moments, he’ll be here to teach us, but before he does that, let’s pray.
Gracious God our Heavenly Father, we come to you in the precious name of Jesus. It is alone through Him that we have access into your holy presence. His blood, shed on the cross at Calvary, is the only sacrifice that is acceptable to you to wash away our sin.
And now, Father, as Pastor J. Mark comes to teach us from the Word, open our hearts to receive your truth. This I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
A certain captain in the Roman Army once had a dear servant who was sick. When the captain heard that Jesus was coming to his town, he sent some of the Jewish leaders to ask Jesus to heal the sick servant. As the Lord came near the house the captain sent friends to tell Jesus how he felt completely unworthy that Jesus should come to his house. He said, “For I am also a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” Luke 7:8.
Jesus was surprised at the captain’s words, and He said, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” You see, the captain knew what it meant to be sent. He also knew what it meant to issue orders to his men. He expected each one to obey and do what he was told. Anyone who has been sent should do what he has been sent to do.
In the highest order of authority, we see JESUS – THE SENT ONE. His birth was not an accident of history. He was the Sent One. He knew He came for a reason. He spoke different times of His hour not being as yet. Then He spoke on other occasions that the hour had come. He spoke of being sent by the Father. From the Biblical record in the Gospels, we must conclude His life was under divine direction. God was directing His life. This becomes evident in the text of this message in the Gospel of John 12:44-50.
44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
From these words of Jesus, I set forth several basic STATEMENTS for an understanding that Jesus is The Sent One.
The first Statement: There is the Light of Faith.
Some things cannot be reasoned out. Some experiences in life are beyond our reason. They must be believed. Jesus said, “He who believes on me does not believe only on me, but he also believes on him who sent me.”
We are not asked to abandon our thought. We are only asked to harness it, to bring it into proper focus so what we believe is what we ought to believe. And there is the light of faith. It is beyond reason. By faith, the Bible says, we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God.
Now, we cannot understand this in any other way. There’s only one way that we can understand the origin of the universe. By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. You see, there is the light of faith.
The light of faith in Jesus is to connect with faith in God. Here then is a basic statement: there is the light of faith.
One of the great church fathers years ago by the name of Tertullian once said, “I believe because it is ridiculous.” He was saying, because I cannot reason it out I will, therefore, accept it by faith. There is the light of faith.
The second Statement: There is the Locus of Judgment.
Now, every judgment must rest upon some fact. The judge must know the law. He cannot create the law as he goes. He must relate his decision and judgment to existing law, what has been written and what has been practiced. There is the locus of judgment.
It is so in our courts of the land. It is so, also, in the courts of God. Divine judgment also rests upon fact. Jesus said, “It rests upon my words.” He said, “I did not come to judge, I came to save the world.” At the same time, He said, “The words that I have spoken, they will judge you in the last day.”
Surely it is true: His words are saving words. But His words are also judging words. So He said the locus of judgment rests on His words. There is a definite connection between His word and the final day of judgment, my friend. Isn’t it wonderful that He has told us beforehand so that we can understand how to prepare for that appearance in the court of God?
Here then is a basic statement. There is the locus of judgment: His Words.
There is then that third Statement: There is the Line of Authority.
Many claims have been made for final and divine authority. But there is only one that is absolutely true and sure. It is the claim of Jesus which He made here. He said, “I have what I have from the Father. I understand his commandment and his commandment is everlasting life. I am saying what I am saying because he has told me.”
You see, there is a direct connection, a direct line of authority. The claim that Jesus made is absolutely correct. He was God in the flesh. He was the Sent One. He did and said what He was to do and say. He came to bring everlasting life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
There is the line of authority. As God in the flesh, He was the Sent One. He had a direct connection with the Father. He understood what God the Father wanted Him to do. And He did it. Here then is another basic statement: there is the line of authority right to God the Father. Jesus is the Sent One.
You will have a fuller understanding of Jesus as the Sent One by accepting these statements. There is the light of faith, Praise God! There is the locus of judgment; we know His Word beforehand. There is the line of authority right to God the Father. Jesus is the Sent One.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that you have sent your Son, Jesus, into the world to be our Savior. We know that when He came to earth, His own people didn’t receive Him. But to as many as did receive Him, to them He gave the right or privilege to become His very own children. How wonderful!
I pray right now for my friend who is listening to my voice, that he or she might come to a better understanding of Jesus as the sent One. He came to give us the light of faith, so we could believe in Him and in the Father. He came, as God in the flesh, to show us what You are like. So, bless my friend as he considers the claims of Jesus on his life. And help him to choose to follow Him and walk in His joy and peace. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
My friend, I remind you of Jesus’ words. He said, “He who believes on Me, believes not only on Me, but on Him who sent Me.” In other words, He was saying, “if you believe on Me then you also believe on My Father, God.” You see, God and Jesus are inseparable. You can’t say you believe in God and reject Jesus; that doesn’t work. If you reject Jesus, that’s proof that you really don’t believe in God. And the reverse is also true.
Now, perhaps you’re considering coming to Jesus, but you have some questions about Him. If you contact us with those questions, we would be happy to answer them from the Bible, God’s Holy Word. So, listen carefully now as Arlin gives you a variety of ways you can contact us.
My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or a digital file, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org.
The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an e-mail to [email protected]. That e-mail address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching in print or a digital file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus, He’s our hope for today and for every day!
This series by Dr. J. Otis Yoder has been re-recorded by J. Mark Horst.