Sermons on John (Page 5)

The Gospel of John is Pastor Gene’s current, ongoing teaching series – one that he began back in 2019. It focuses heavily on the deep theological themes of John’s Gospel, along with the transformative power of Christ it presents. Rather than treating the Gospel merely as a historical narrative, the series centers around John’s ultimate purpose statement found in John 20:31—that listeners might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and find eternal life in His name.

The series intentionally introduces a ‘Bigger Jesus’ by examining the staggering, cosmic scope of Christ’s true identity. The teaching connects Jesus’ dwelling on earth to the Old Testament Tabernacle – just as God’s glory filled the physical tent in the wilderness, Jesus is the literal presence and glory of God moving among humanity.

The series walks sequentially through the Seven miraculous Signs recorded by John, anchoring them strictly to the purpose of identifying Him as the Promised Messiah, and inspiring saving faith. The John 6 ‘feeding of the 5,000’ sermons consider the symbolism of that sign/miracle as a foretaste of the coming Cosmic Banquet – the blessings and provisions of the Millennial Reign of Christ. The 12 baskets of leftovers challenge the listener to see Jesus not merely as a physical provider, but as the very Bread of Life.

The series does not avoid any controversies which arise within the Text. Each is considered carefully – exegetically, theologically, apologetically and in its proper context – and is presented with application for our spiritual lives as Jesus-followers. These include controversial dialogues where Jesus confronts the religious elite, such as the courtroom-like drama of John 5. The messages emphasize that God’s Word is both a divider and a uniter. It forces a choice. True disciples remain because they realize, like Peter, that Christ alone holds the words of eternal life.

The series divides the Fourth Gospel broadly into two parts (with an introduction and an epilogue): The Book of Signs and the Book of Glory. It notes that while the raising of Lazarus is the breathtaking peak of the initial Seven Signs, Lazarus eventually died again. Thus, the series points to Jesus’ own resurrection as an “Eighth Sign”—the ultimate dawning of a brand-new creation and a new garden which signals the permanent end of death.

A recurring point in the series is the stark division between internal spiritual transformation and external, legalistic religion. Reflecting on Jesus’ interactions with Nicodemus (John 3) and His farewell discourses, Pastor Gene emphasizes that salvation is an operation of the Holy Spirit regenerating a human heart. True belief is evidenced by God actually dwelling within a person, separating them from the empty practices of unbelievers. Expounding on John 7:37-39, the series invites believers to step out of dry, rigid Christian routines and experience the gushing “rivers of living water”—which represent the spontaneous joy, hope, and spiritual fruit that the Holy Spirit naturally produces in a believer.

Throughout all of this, the series never loses sight of John’s words that these things “are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).