Pastor Tim leads us through Jesus' words and works from John 4:27-45

Pastor Tim leads us through Jesus' words and works from John 4:1-26

Mark Hargrove leads us through Jesus' words and works from John 3:22-36.

Pastor Tim leads us through Jesus' words and works from John 3:16-21

This Easter, we look at the resurrection of Jesus as an example of what each of us can experience by becoming born again. Jesus told Nicodemus "you must be born again." Even the high-brow religious elite are not good enough to enter heaven. God's Spirit is moving, ready to bring you to life spiritually. Jesus died and rose again so that by His power and grace, you too can come to life though you were dead in your sins.

We survey the whole New Testament to find that the cross is God's expression of love for us. God demonstrates His own love towards us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The next greater thing Jesus did after the wedding wine miracle was to enter Jerusalem's Temple and drive out the moneychangers and the critters. While John puts this in chapter two, the other Gospel writers told this story at the end of their accounts, on Palm Sunday. This Temple cleansing shows us that humanity has a constant need for cleansing.

Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding. The moment got Him thinking about the cross: His love for mankind, this couple's love for one another. To foreshadow the life and fullness He'd give us at the cross, He fills the wedding party's empty glasses with water turned into the best wine.

Jesus calls Philip to follow Him. The first thing Philip does is to invite his own friend, Nathanael, to meet Jesus too. Nathanael at first is skeptical, but then Jesus shows him a glimpse of His glory. Nathanael is hooked -- he believes that Jesus is the son of God, the king of Israel. Jesus wants to show us greater things too, but He is waiting for us to have the faith to see Him at work.

John's only job, as he saw it, was to introduce people to Jesus. Having done that, he invites his disciples to start following Jesus. As Jesus begins to make disciples of Himself, He does not pressure them for quick decisions, but only invites them to come and see. Our witnessing needs to be winsome and engaging, also urgent, but reflecting this same calm patience that Jesus had.