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Sermons from 1 John |
Putting Jesus On Trial |
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Other sermons from 1 John
Sharing The Word Of Life (1:1-3)
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There are two trials that are often referred to as the “Trial of the Century.” One is what is commonly known as the Lindbergh Trial. The kidnapping and murder of the son of world-famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and the subsequent trial in 1932 caused a worldwide sensation. Bruno Richard Hauptman was convicted of the crime and executed on April 3, 1936.
The other trial often labeled the trial of the century was the 1925 Scopes or Monkey Trial in Dayton, Tennessee. The world's attention was riveted on the little town of Dayton during July, 1925. At issue was the constitutionality of the "Butler Law," which prohibited the teaching of evolution in the classroom. Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and Kentucky already had such laws. The ACLU hoped to use the Scopes case to test (and defeat) Fundamentalist meddling in politics. Judge John Raulston began the trial by reading the first 27 verses of Genesis.
Whereas there may be debate as which was the trial of the century, there is no debate as to the trial of the ages. It is the trial of Jesus Christ, a trial that continues, and at issue is whether or not He is the Son of God. From John’s day to the present, authenticity and validity of His claims are question and attacked.
During the fourth century, at Alexandria, Arius began to argue that Jesus Christ was not God but a mere creature. Arius conceded that He was no ordinary creature. He was, he argued, the greatest of all creatures, a kind of median being between creator and creature, but certainly not God. He was not eternal, and there was a time when He did not exist. This heresy threatened the life of the church for some thirty years and God raised up the great Athanasius to combat it. What we call today the Nicene Creed is the result of this controversy.
In John’s day, there were those who taught that Jesus was merely a man on whom “the Christ” had come when He was baptized, and then “the Christ” left Him when He was on the cross and Jesus died like any other human being.
As I look at verses 6-9, a courtroom scene comes to my mind. I hear John slamming the gavel down and calling court into session. John asks, “Is Jesus the Son of God?” One by one, witnesses are called to the stand to testify in the defense of Christ.
Let’s look at verses 6-9, the witnesses that are called and the evidence they present. First, think with me of:
1. THE ASSEMBLING OF THE EVIDENCE
John begins the trial by calling certain witnesses to testify. Their responsibility is to bear record and witness on behalf of the Lord Jesus. The word "witness" in verses 6,8,9 speaks of someone called "to testify, give evidence in our court of law." The word "record" in verse 7 is the same word. A witness is someone who has knowledge of certain events and facts and is called upon to testify to those events and facts. In this case, the witnesses personally know the Lord Jesus and are familiar with certain events and are called to give testimony to those events and facts.
The witnesses are classified into two categories. There there are:
A) Human Testimonies
In verse 9, John speaks of “witnesses of men.” The "men" that John refers to were no doubt the Apostles (John included) that emphatically made certain claims as to the deity of Christ. These are called to witness and bear record of the deity of Jesus Christ are called to testify.
Luke spoke of how the disciples or apostles were witnesses of the gospel and the deity of Christ: “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, [2] Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word" (Luke 1:1-2).
Peter stated, 2 Peter 1:17-18, “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount" (2 Peter 1:17-18). Peter was saying that that he proclaimed was what he had seen and heard.
Why were these men called to be a witness? They had been with the Lord Jesus, They had walked with Him, listened to Him, and watched Him. They had first-hand knowledge of Him.
The second category of witnesses are:
B) Heavenly Testimonies
We read in verse 7, "For there are three that bear record in heaven." In verse 9 John speaks of the "witness of God." God the Father Himself, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are called to testify and eternal evidence is presented. Why would God be called to testify?
I think of the phenomenon of matching DNA to determine if a person is guilty or note guilty. Each of us, unless we are identical twins, is unlike anyone else in the world. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes containing the DNA blueprint that encodes all the materials needed to make up ours bodies as well as the instructions for how to run it. One member of each chromosomal pair comes from our mother, and the other is contributed by our father. By our DNA we can be linked to a crime, or acquitted. We can even be linked to other people (ancestors). That’s why we hear about the body of Jessie James and other being exhumed to determine if they are indeed who they claimed to be or others claim them to be.
John calls for God Himself to testify. If fingerprints were taken, they would find them to be the same. If DNA samples were taken, the result would be the same.
From both earthly and eternal experience, witnesses are called and evidence is presented. Furthermore, we see:
2. THE AGREEMENT OF THE EVIDENCE
We read in verse 8, "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." There is an agreement in the testimonies. There is no conflicting or contradictory evidence. All say the same thing.
In their testimonies we see there is:
A) Undeniable Evidence
Among the evidence presented is evidence from the past. John speaks of the "water" and the "blood." These two pieces of evidence point us to two past events in the life of the Lord Jesus. First, there is the "water." This takes us back to the baptism of the Lord Jesus. At the baptism of Christ, evidence was given that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Matthew described the scene: "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" (Matt. 3:16-17). God the Father's own voice was heard declaring that Jesus was the Son of God. This was more than a tale that had been passed down through the years. The voice of God had been heard! There was verbal evidence.
The second piece of evidence John describes is the "blood." This takes us to the hour of the death of the Lord Jesus. What occurred at the death of Christ that stood as evidence that Jesus is the Son of God? Again, we let Matthew describe the scene: "Jesus, when He had cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of their graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:50-54). There was not only verbal evidence, but there was also visible evidence.
John also describes evidence from the present. There is the present and continual evidence that is given by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit through the Word of God and in the heart of every believer testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. The evidence from the past and present, provide evidence that is undeniable.
Furthermore, the evidence is:
B) Unimpeachable Evidence
There is the evidence of God Himself. His word is sure and settled evidence. His testimony is unimpeachable. Paul declared in Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." God cannot lie! It is more than He will not lie. He cannot lie! It is impossible for God to even think about lying. When it comes to His testimony, you cannot discredit Him or doubt Him.
We often hear about court cases where attorneys will try to discredit the testimony of a witness by bringing up things from their past or the kind of life they live. You will not find one blemish in God. He is absolutely and totally holy. There is not a sin you can point to or a failure you can bring to His charge. When it comes to a witness, His word to truth!
Finally, we see:
3. THE AFFIRMATION OF THE EVIDENCE
The witnesses are called and the evidence is presented. What does it affirm? In John's words we see:
A) What The Evidence Displays
It removes any doubt as who Jesus is. He is the Son of God! It proves that Jesus is who God said He was and that Jesus is everything He stated Himself to be. Court is over and the case is closed. Jesus is found guilty of being the eternal Son of God.
Furthermore, we see:
B) What The Evidence Declares It not only displays that He is the Son of God, but it also declares that He is the Saviour of the world. Our faith is not in vain. He is the Saviour of all who put their trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins. Case closed! |