Sermon
Christ In The Court Of Public Opinion (Part 2)
October 20-21, 2001
Pastor Donald Sheley

I'm going to ask you to take your Bible. If you would like to use the pew Bible today, it's John's gospel. We're on page 717 in the pew Bible. For you that join with us as our guests, again, I'm delighted that you're here. And we have been now for some months studying in the gospel of John, and we have arrived at chapter five. So take your Bible and turn there with us. Let me give you the background to our lesson today so you'll understand the context of what we're dealing with. At the beginning of chapter five Jesus had gone to a pool called the pool of Bethesda, and it was known for a strange happening. It says that there were times when the water would move, and it was believed that if you were standing by the pool and you were sick and you got in the pool first you'd get healed.

And when Jesus visited that pool there were multitudes, it says, around it and He found one man who had been ill for 38 years. Jesus walked up to him and said, would you like to be healed? He said, yes. Jesus said take up your bed and go home. Well, he took his bed and as he's leaving of course he's highly criticized by religious people, because the religious people of Jesus' day were very, very controlling when it came to the Sabbath. They had their traditions and you could not carry any load on the Sabbath, that was working on the Sabbath. It was a violation and then because of that violation you were guilty and condemned to death at times.

But then, the Pharisees approached Jesus on this whole matter and His response was, the works of My Father are the same as Mine. He works in His creation showing love and mercy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Why are you going to try to limit Me and not show mercy on one day of the week if God the Father works all the time? His works are the same as Mine. And not only are His works, but His words are the same as Mine. What He speaks I speak because I speak what He tells me to speak. And then He went further and said, not only are His works, but His will is the same, and His knowledge is the same, and He has given to me the assignment of being the judge of the universe. Now this really stopped them, because what He has said in these claims -- I am deity.

Jesus on other occasions would say, if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. The Father is in Me and I am in a Father. And thus one of the basic tenants of our Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is God manifest in human flesh -- God incarnation in human flesh. And thus, time after time, Christ establishes that position of deity. And so what He's done now in our text today, after He's made these claims He does something very interesting. It's almost like He sets up a court scene, and that's why I've called our sermon 'Christ in The Court of Public Opinion'. He's made His claims and now He's going to set up His defense. He's got four different witnesses for His defense of His deity, and in John 5:31 He commences this defense. We likened it, remembered last Sunday, almost like a courtroom, so court is in session now.

Now Jesus begins the case in His opening argument, John 5:31, He says, if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. Now here's what He's saying. I go back to a divine principal, we found that last week remember back in Deuteronomy, where it says you must establish your case with two or more witnesses. You cannot be your own witness. And so Jesus picks up that divine principal from the ancient past. He said, I open this court case. I'm not going to go on defense for Myself, but I am going to call four witnesses who will defend Of my position. And He starts His case, and He calls witness number one.

Look at verse 32. There is another who bears witness of Me and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. And you'll notice the witness isn't on the stand very long because immediately, the next verse, He says, you sent to John, and thus John becomes His second witness. Now the great theological question is this, who is this other witness? Theologians have differed, some say He is referring to the witness of His Father, but when we get down to verse 37 it's obvious that He calls His Father's witness as part of His case. Other theologians say, no, what He is referring to is the witness of the Holy Spirit.

Now you remember at His baptism, Christ comes out of the water, and as soon as He's out of the water, a dove alights on His shoulder, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. And there's a voice that comes out of heaven and says, this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. But the first witness to His public ministry was the appearance of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. And many theologians say what Christ is referencing here is that witness of the Spirit.

We go back in Christ's earlier childhood days. At the age of 12 His mother and father take Him to the temple in Jerusalem, and they leave thinking He's with them and finally realizing He's not, they come back and where do they find Him? They find Him in the temple teaching the rabbis. He's 12 years of age, and they say, Son, why? And He said I must be about My Father's business. There seems to be, even at an early age, that sense of divine mission by the presence of the Spirit of God within Him. And John 3:34 says Christ was given the Spirit without limit, without measure. So it almost when he says that other, it's almost like referring to that inner witness which they may not and possibly do not understand, that's why He moves to His next witness. But He said I know that that other witness witnesses true of Me and He establishes His first witness.

I can understand that position because isn't it true when you and I come to Christ and we open our heart and say, Spirit of God, come live within us. And I pray that that's what's happened in many lives this morning. There comes that sense of confidence, that sense of peace, that our spirit bears witness with His Spirit that we truly are children of God. There's just something, inner witness, that takes place within the life of a Christian. You try to explain it to somebody else and say, you know, I want to tell you what happened to me. It's hard to explain because there's something that takes place deep within us as the work of the Spirit of God commences. And as a result, it's that inner witness, it just could be, Jesus says: witness number one -- that other witness. I'll hurry along because you don't understand Him, but I know what He's witnessed is true. He says, verse 33, you have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. So now witness number two steps to the stand, and Christ is going to have John give witness to His deity-John the Baptist.

Now we started a text last Lord's Day and I want to go there quickly because it's so profound. Go with me to Matthew chapter 11, and in your pew Bible it's page 656. I'd like all of you there because this is something I think is very, very profound. It's the story of John the Baptist and his servant's encounter with Jesus. It says, now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His 12 disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

Now we pause there for moment, because I want you to see an insight into spirituality. We study great men and we think there's never a moment when their faith fluctuates. That's not true. Here's John the Baptist and we're going to learn and just a moment that he's the greatest born among women. And yet, he's there in prison. Herod has placed him there. He's told Herod he's a sinner because he's living with his brother's wife. And he's in prison; soon he's going to be beheaded. It's probably dark. It's probably night, and he's looking back and he's wondering was that really the Messiah that I baptized that day?

He calls his disciples and he sends them; you go ask, are You the One, or do we look for another? And I made this observation: part of our human journey, ladies and gentlemen, in our spirituality there are going to come moments when our faith comes under tremendous tension. It almost seems that everything we believe isn't working out like it should be. We almost call out and say, God, where are You? And our faith just kind of seemingly blows in the wind. David had that, remember, we talked about it. David said why are You cast down on my soul? Why are You disquieted? Hope in God -- he talks to His soul.

And even though I've been in the ministry for 50 years I tell you folks, there are times when I really wrestle: I say, God, I don't understand You. I can't figure this out. It's not the way I preach it. It's in those dark moments when I wrestle deeply, and then come out of it, where I realize those are the moments I learn the most in my spiritual journey. And you may be going through one of those; just hang on and say hope thou in God.

John says to his servants I want you to go and ask, are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? And Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preach to them." John, that's My witness. Just tell him what happens. And you tell John, verse 6, that blessed is He who is not offended. John, just keep hanging on. Don't lose faith. Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.

And they're ready to go back to John so they depart, and Jesus begins to say to the multitude concerning John, what did you go in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? If you went down by the Jordan River the most common sight would be the reeds waving in the breeze along the river's edge. Did you just go out to see the scenery? Well, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? No, John's dressed like a prophet. A prophet wears his camel's hair, and he's not dressed like the rich. Jesus said a man clothed in soft garments, why they wear those in king's houses. John's lived in the wilderness. He doesn't wear those kinds of clothes.

What did you go out to see? A prophet? Oh yeah, yes I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is the one of whom it is written: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You." The prophecy of Isaiah concerning the one who would proceed the Messiah. Then he adds, assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than He. So standing on the witness stand is the greatest man born of women, John the Baptist. But He says something about John that is perplexing; if John's that great, how come those that are in the kingdom are greater than he?

Most theologians give this explanation, they're saying this, John had a unique role in the life -- he was the forerunner, he's the one that presents the Christ, and he's the prophet. His message is one of condemnation and a message of wrath and challenging people to open their hearts and join in faith. And he's preceding the Messiah. He's the prophet. Soon will be following as Christ sets up His kingdom, but John loses his head right before it all happens. He's gone. And what Jesus inferred was this, John spoke of the kingdom, but we who now know Christ and are a part of the kingdom, we participate in the kingdom that all he did was talk about.

John never saw the cross. He never witness that glorious moment when God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and He died on a cross. John didn't see that. We can look back to those moments in history and realize that there on the cross love's redemption secured for us salvation and we are participants, we are a part of the kingdom of God, because of what Christ did at Calvary. So we who are in the kingdom have a far more wonderful experience of God's love and grace and even John understood. But the next verse is probably one of the most profound in the Bible. Are you with me? Look at what it says. He adds, and from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent taketh it by force.

What did He mean by that? And the next verse says, for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Now we have the same record found in Luke, and Luke seems to put it this way; you come into the kingdom of God not in a noncommittal, nonsurrender way. If you're going to be a Christian it means that we make that total commitment. We come in with all of our heart, with all of our life, with all of our soul. If you're going to be a Christian, Jesus says in this world you will have persecution, and anybody who tells you that being a Christian is easy is not telling you the truth. Because to be a Christian, to be sold out for Jesus Christ, we live in a world that rejects Him and it will reject us.

And thus it seems like Luke is saying that it's only those that are determined, those that are really sold out, are the ones that get into the kingdom. Remember, Jesus said you may call Me Lord, Lord, but if you don't do what I say, in that day I'll say to you I never knew you. Maybe that's what Jesus meant, but coming to John He seems to say that here's Christ's kingdom and now it's under violent attack. And there's a spiritual war that's being set up. The kingdom of Christ against the kingdom of Satan, and those kingdom's will be in collision and there's violence. Violence starts with John. John's beheaded. It goes on to Christ, He's hung on a cross. You take the early Christians they scatter out across the world and they are killed. The kingdom of God has always been under attack, and Christians to live their lives, many of them pay a tremendous price. And by the way martyrdom hasn't ceased, ladies and gentlemen. The last few years more people have died for their faith around the world than in all the rest of the worlds prior to this. There are still people who give their lives for their faith.

And Jesus may have been saying, John, you've announced the kingdom and I've come to set up the kingdom, and because of that, there is a collision. There is a spiritual warfare that's going to take place and it's going to be under violent terms. What did He mean by that? Go with me to Revelation. Way back in the back of your Bible-Revelation 12. It seems that something in the cosmic heavens happened when Christ sets up His earthly kingdom 2000 years ago. Look at what it says in Revelation 12. I'm at page 829 in your red Bible. It says, and war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, that is they didn't win, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So that great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Something in the cosmic heavens takes place, but look at the next verse. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come. It seems that this is the moment. The kingdom is launched. Satan's cast out. Christ's power and His kingdom is now in force. The accuser of the brethren is cast down, that's Satan, who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down, and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that his time is short time.

What's it's say? It says there was a time when Satan was cast out of heaven. Christ's kingdom is announced, His power and His glory, and the result is Satan comes to make it rough on all the believers.

Now go with me quick to Luke. It's an interesting event. Go to page 699 in your Bible, Luke chapter 10. Now here's the setting: Christ's kingdom now is underway. He's launched it. He sent out seventy. He said I want you to heal. I want you to cast out demons. I want you to use the authority of Christ. And they come back. Look at verse 17; then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.". Which is the strongest kingdom? The kingdom of Christ. And they are saying, Christ, we used the authority of Your name and even the demons flee.

Look at the next verse; and He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Could that not have been the same moment that John sees in the Revelation? That moment when Christ sets up His kingdom and the kingdoms are now in conflict. The seventy go out and Jesus looks and old Satan's power has fallen. Isn't that something?

Go with me to one more passage. Go to Ephesians chapter 6. Page 789 in your Bible. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes or the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but we wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand.

John's on the witness stand and Jesus is saying, He will in this passage, if you'd have listened to John, you would have been saved. What was the message of John? Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. That message is still true today, and it will be the message that we sing in the heavenly chorus. Jesus said if you would have listened to John, you would have been saved. The importance of his message, and in the proclamation of John with Christ, launches that kingdom where the great spiritual battle of all the ages has raged, and it's raged for 2000 years.

I bring my message to a close. Ladies and gentlemen, we're told by the world leaders today that this is not a religious war. I disagree, because the religion that's getting most prominent attention on the world scene today is an anti-Christ religion. There's a total rejection of Christ, His deity, and His Saviorhood. With great adamancy, if you listen to their religion, they have no savior, they have no provision for sin, and Jesus Christ is not the divine Son of God nor the Savior of the world. And isn't it interesting that in world history, as much as we don't like to admit it, and as much as the world leaders are seeking to subdue the fact, this ultimately will be a religious war.

How does it all end Pastor? King Jesus wins. The war will continue to rage. We're going to go through extremely difficult and hard times. I want you to do something when you go home today I want you to get out a map, and I want you to study the geography of that part of the world; then I want you to see the tides of time as they move along. How will at all end? They'll march towards Jerusalem and in the valley of Megiddo the battle of Armageddon will be fought. And for our time in history it's taking on all the indications of a battle between the God of heaven and Satan.

It's interesting. Now I say that in this context: if ever we need to stand up tall and hold tenaciously to our faith and pronounce it and believe with all our heart, Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. Jesus Christ was God in human flesh. All the other religions, or many of the other religions, do not hold that today; we do as Christians. That's what makes us unique. And I say this, the closer we get to the end times the more we're going to have to defend the deity of our Savior. That's why I'm taking so long and being so very, very cautious to instruct you.

Jesus said, I have one witness -- it's the Spirit -- but if you had listened to John, you would have been saved. We've listened. We've behold the Lamb of God and we put our trust in Him. Amen?

Let's pray. Father in heaven, Your word is so profound. And, Lord Jesus, we have never doubted as the Pharisees did, and as many religions of the world do today, we've never doubted Your deity. We believe with all of our heart, Lord Jesus, that You are everything You claimed to be, and You're our Savior. And in a world that's going in 1000 different directions, and religions that are seeking to denounce You as the divine Christ, we lift our voice high and with courage and joy You are King of kings, and You are Lord of lords. We believe that. And someday, when the wars are over, we'll forever be with You in heaven. Thank you Jesus, and everybody said, amen. God bless you.