Church In Toronto Sermon Audio

In John’s Gospel, the crucifixion paradoxically symbolizes Jesus’ glorification. The cross is a means of exalting Jesus, despite being an instrument of capital punishment; that claim is akin to someone ‘enthroned’ on an electric chair. John’s distinctive concept of glory provides the key to unlocking this enigma; glory is not a deity’s visible splendor but a profound manifestation of God’s character. That’s why John differs from the Synoptic Gospels, omitting the transfiguration and apocalyptic prophecies. Instead, John emphasizes the cross as the ultimate revelation of God’s boundless love for humanity. This revelation glorifies God the Father and exalts Jesus, God’s Son. Can we become a ‘Johannine Church’? Embracing John’s view means valuing insights into God’s nature over sensational heavenly visions, and abiding in Christ rather than obsessing over global events and end-time prophecies. John encourages us to see beyond the agony and shame of Christ’s Passion, grasping its profound unveiling of divine love. Thus, we experience the transformative power of God’s love in our daily lives and gain a fresh perspective on Christ’s crucifixion.

John chapter 12:1-11 is a continuation of the sign of the raising of Lazarus. Although the raising of Lazarus is the pivot point, the two sisters, Martha and Mary are the dominant characters of this narrative. These two disciples of Jesus have different personalities and therefore have different responses to Jesus. They give us two different models of a disciple’s life in following Jesus. Martha, the vocal one, gives herself to care for Jesus by preparing food. Mary, the quiet one, gives herself to show her love by washing Jesus’ feet with expensive ointment. One is caring for Jesus in the present, the other caring for Jesus for the future, that is for his soon to be burial. These two women give us good models and show us that as disciples we don’t all have the same response or actions. We should care for Jesus and respond to Jesus based on who we are.

Jesus raising Lazarus was like a pebble being dropped into calm water, as ripples move out from the center. Some ripples see people believe in Jesus. Others have the Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus. Still other ripples see the Pharisees adding Lazarus to their hit list. But the ripples don’t stop. Those who had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus were later in Jerusalem letting people know what Jesus had done. This stirred up more ripples & many who were in Jerusalem waved palm branches while proclaiming Jesus as their conquering king as he entered the city (Jn 12:12-13).

But as they welcomed him as king, what kind of king did they expect him to be? They wanted a political king who’d defeat Rome. But that was not how Jesus came to them. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a warhorse. They needed to see he came as a king who would die for them (Jn. 12:23-24); a seed who willingly fell into the ground & died. And while you might think that seems like a strange way for Jesus to take, he calls his followers to follow his pattern through death. If Jesus was willing to die, he would produce much fruit. If we will lay ourselves down & not live a life centred on ourselves (jn. 12:25-26), then we too will be ripples that affect those in our lives.

Jesus’ raising Lazarus is a profound ‘sign,’ pointing to deeper truths. Martha, a devout Jew, firmly believed in the bodily resurrection of the dead on the ‘last day.’ However, God’s intervention through Christ dramatically shifted her perspective. Jesus proclaimed, ‘I’m the Resurrection and the Life,’ bringing God’s promises from the distant future into our present reality. John’s Gospel contrasts with the Old Testament and the other Gospels as Jesus extends to believers the offer of eternal life, resurrection, and exemption from divine judgment in the present through faith. He boldly asserts, ‘the coming hour is now here!’ This means God’s eternal life isn’t a far-off future event but the immediate possession of believers. Resurrection commences today through spiritual rebirth, and they’ve already transitioned from death to life, standing acquitted by divine judgment. This is what baptism testifies. Christians can confidently lay claim to God’s eternal life, the initiation of a process guaranteeing future bodily resurrection, and exemption from God’s final judgment. Let’s wholeheartedly embrace these promises, dispelling anxiety about our current status and eternal state, thereby transforming our lives today.

Before Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb, he gives thanks to the Father to display tothose standing nearby that he is one with God the Father. He is not taking credit forwhat is about to happen. He is directing all the praise to God. But at the same time, healso wants people to see that God truly has sent him. Of course, this is no differencefrom what he has been saying and doing throughout this Gospel. He lives in dependenceon God. Only God can raise someone from the dead. And Jesus does that very thing.Is there a deeper significance to Lazarus’ resurrection for you and I as we follow Jesusfrom day to day? Yes! First, we should know that our death is different because we arebelievers. Death does not hold power over us any longer because we know that death isnot the end. Second, because we have the hope of resurrection, the manner in which welive today is strikingly different. We live a life of more value. Third, it’s not uncommonfor us to find ourselves buried in a tomb due to addictions, anxiety, lusts, guilt & shame.The good news is that our Resurrected Saviour is still calling us out of our tombs. Doyou hear his voice?

John chapter 11 is the conclusion to the first 10 chapters of this gospel. The climax is the resurrection of Lazarus. The way the narrative unfolds reveals to us a number of characteristics of Jesus and also raises a number of questions. Firstly, we see that Jesus has close friends that he loves in the household in Bethany. The questions that people may ask are: why did Jesus delay his coming to Bethany and why the very different responses to Martha and Mary? To Martha he shows his divine nature in being resurrection and life. To Mary he shows his humanity. We need both aspects of Jesus. This section is both comforting and life-giving.

Jesus’ metaphor of the Good Shepherd reveals his sacrificial love for his followers. His declaration about willingly “laying down his life for the sheep” highlights his unwavering devotion. This metaphor also alludes to the emerging Trinity. In John’s Gospel, “Good Shepherd” applies to both Jesus & God the Father, underscoring their joint role in safeguarding believers unto eternity. This addresses fundamental questions for many Christians: “Can one forfeit their salvation?” “If one were to falter in faith,would God abandon them?” “Does our eternal destiny hinge on a lifelong commitment to faith?” In this context its vital to recall our rebirth into God’s family; we are God’s beloved children–not mere servants or slaves. Our status as God’s children is immutable; it transcends performance-based evaluations. This enduring bond cannot be revoked or altered; therefore, we can be assured of eternal salvation.

Jesus unfolds another aspect of his ministry through a sheep farming figure of speech. He uses the figure of the good shepherd to differentiate his ministry from that of the bad shepherds (Jewish leaders). He also lays out the means through which he will shepherd God’s people, his voluntary sacrifice for them. This image has a dark background that Jesus is drawing upon from Ezekiel 34.

After the man who was born blind gained his sight, he was questioned first by his neighbours and then taken to the Pharisees where he was questioned and challenged again. What is striking in this narrative is that the man becomes increasingly bold as he speaks about his experience and especially about who Jesus is. The more he speaks the clearer he becomes. He begins by calling Jesus a man and eventually tells the Pharisees that Jesus must be from God if he can do such a sign. Jesus eventually finds him and he believes that Jesus is the Son of Man and he worships him.

This man’s experience illustrates a few things. First, our gaining spiritual sight is not only a gift but also often comes through trials and possible challenges from unbelievers. These challenges force us to dig deeper in our understanding of Jesus. Second, the more we speak the clearer our spiritual sight becomes. It also indicates that at first, we may not be that clear but we should speak anyway. Finally, today Jesus is not present with us and so like this man, we are Jesus spokespersons. This man’s boldness should be a pattern for us.

In John 9 Jesus encounters a man blind from birth. His disciples ask the age-old question–‘who sinned?’ Jesus transcends their simplistic view, seizing the opportunity for God’s work. This underscores a nuanced truth: while sin correlates with suffering, it lacks a consistent causal connection.

Jesus heals by unconventional means: forming a paste from clay and saliva to anoint his eyes, he instructs the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. He obeys in faith and returns seeing. This isn’t ancient folk-medicine, or mystical practice; rather, it shows Jesus shares the divine identity of the Creator. Its not merely a restoration of sight; its a remarkable act of new creation—a foretaste of the coming kingdom when the blind will see, the lame leap, etc.

However, gaining physical sight is only the beginning. Under relentless questioning from skeptical Pharisees, the formerly-blind- man gains spiritual insight regarding Jesus, culminating in recognizing him as the ‘Son of Man’ and offering his worship.

In stark contrast, the Pharisees, trapped in their disbelief, plummet into spiritual darkness. Their refusal to embrace the truth about Jesus blinds them further. Ironically, the sin of unbelief causes their spiritual blindness. This illustrates that possessing clear physical sight–20/20 vision–is insufficient. We all need enhanced spiritual insight into Jesus’ Person and Work.