INTRODUCTION:
1. One of the most popular object lessons of recent years is called “the trust fall.” I went with a group of my colleagues to a rope climbing facility, and we actually did “the trust fall.”
1) One of us would stand on a rock, a table, or an elevated surface of some sort (in our case, it was a rock). We had to be willing to fall backwards.
2) We were to trust a gathered group of friends who would interlock their arms and hands, to catch us. It is just fine to either watch this happen, or to be one of the persons doing the catching.
3) It’s very different when you are the one who is to close your eyes and fall backwards into the human net created by your friends. Once it’s all over, you realize that your friends were there when you needed them most.
2. There is a very important transition in our thinking during this process.
1) When you were the one to fall, you were asking “can I trust them?”
2) When someone else is falling, you are asking, “can they trust me?”
3. In the lesson of the hour, BOTH these important relationships will be explored.
4. But now, let’s get on with the lesson itself.
I. THE APOSTLE JOHN TRUSTED JESUS.
1. One of the most important relationships in Christianity was the one between Jesus and the apostle John.
1) John learned to trust Jesus in so many very significant ways.
2) They grew so close that John was actually the last one of the apostles to die, and was, in some ways, one of the most important figures of the entire New Testament.
2. For one thing, John trusted Jesus enough to forsake prosperity.
1) There are a number of passages in the New Testament which indicate that, when John chose to follow Jesus, he walked away from what could have been a very lucrative family business.
10 and so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:10-11 (NASB77)
2) Luke 5:1-11 makes clear that James and John were partners with Simon, which meant that all of them worked for James and John’s father Zebedee.
1- There were several boats in this fishing business, and, like most trades of the day, the fathers would pass their skills and their business on to their sons.
2- This means that James and John were going to inherit the family business. But remember what we’ve learned when Jesus came on the scene: they immediately left the boat AND their father, and followed Him (Matt. 4:22). 3) Think of those who have made incredible sacrifices in life to follow Jesus!
3. In the second place, john also trusted jesus enough to risk his life.
1) Jesus told His disciples prior to the crucifixion:
27 And Jesus * said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Mark 14:27-28 (NASB77)
2) And, we know that all of them were hiding behind closed doors for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). So, it is extremely significant that John was the only disciple bold enough to be among those witnessing the crucifixion.
3) When I was growing up, I took music lessons from a lady who attended the church where my parents and I went. Her son had served as a Missionary to a foreign country. They had gone to work with primitive natives who were cannibals, because they believed that it was important to change them from heathen killers to people who loved the Lord. They were all killed.
4) Any one of the apostles could easily have been killed on numerous occasions, and John exposed himself to such a danger on Mt. Calvary.
3. John not only trust Jesus enough to forsake prosperity and enough to risk his life, but he also trusted Jesus enough to remain completely anonymous.
1) John’s name is never mentioned once in the Gospel of John. It is not mentioned in the 3 epistles that John also wrote. His name is only mentioned in the book of Revelation.
2) You know how touchy most of us are about our names. We want people to know who we are, and sometimes we will go to extreme lengths to make sure that they do.
3) Even though John is prominently mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, he is only described as the disciple whom Jesus loved in the Gospel of John.
4) It was as if John wanted Jesus to occupy center stage completely, and so much so, that he never even gave anyone the chance to allow him to compete for that attention.
T.S. But now, we are moving forward to an absolutely incredible concept
II. JESUS TRUSTED JOHN.
1. You have likely heard this 10,000 times before: Do you trust Jesus?
1) Perhaps it was formulated as a statement: We all need to learn to trust the Lord, or some such expression as that!
2) We have sung countless times the invitation song, “Trust and Obey.”
2. But, there is more for us to learn from the relationship between Jesus and John than that. What is absolutely amazing is that Jesus trusted John!
1) For one thing, when it came time to write a Gospel record intended for all men, Jesus chose John to do it.
1- The Gospel of Matthew is primarily for a Jewish audience, and is designed to tell them Your Messiah and King is Here!
2- The Gospel of Mark is essentially for a Roman audience, and is designed to tell them The Christ and King is Powerful!
3- The Gospel of Luke is primarily for a Gentile/Greek audience, and is designed to tell them that The Christ and King is Completely Man!
4- But, the Gospel of John is intended for everyone, and is designed to communicate that The Christ and King is Completely God!
(1) Jesus needed someone to include information that was not included in the other Gospels.
(2) Consequently, it begins and ends quite differently.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NASB77)
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:18 (NASB77)
30 Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 (NASB77)
2) Secondly, Jesus also trusted John with His love.
1- John was called the disciple whom Jesus loved. But,John wasn’t always a man of love himself. James and John were known as “The Sons of Thunder.”
17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); Mark 3:17 (NASB77)
(1) They received this nickname because of the way they behaved.
(2) For instance:
35 And James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, * came up to Him, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 And they said to Him, “Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on Your left.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 “But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. Mark 10:35-41 (NASB77)
(3) Some have suggested that this incident shows the ambition of both James and John. However, the fact that the others began to feel indignance toward them indicates instead that they lacked the ability to work with people and to make people feel better just having them around.
51 And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him. 53 And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."] And they went on to another village. Luke 9:51-56 (NASB77)
(4) I think that Jesus interpreted their actions here as betraying a lack of love on their part.
2- But, I want you to see what John became:
1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 1:1-3 (NASB77)
3- Jesus needed a best friend who wouldn’t abuse such a relationship. Imagine the temptation that would come with being Jesus’ best friend. Some would probably sell books and go on tour if that was our designation in life!
3)Thirdly, Jesus also trusted John with the care of His mother.
2- Jesus obviously couldn’t do that because His time on earth was done.
3- There was one man whom He knew He could trust in His absence, and that man was John.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He * said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He * said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household. John 19:26-27 (NASB77)
4- When other disciples spread out throughout the world, John stayed put in Jerusalem to care for Mary.
CONCLUSION
1. You have been asked many times, “Do you trust Jesus?”
2. But let there be this one time at least when the question is asked, “Can Jesus trust you?”
3. Can Jesus trust you with His gospel.
Leave a Reply