Sermon on 14 January 2024 by Pastor Justin
Introduction
If you know Jesus, you will know the way, the truth and the life. You will know the manger (humility), the cross, and the empty tomb. You will know the newness of life if you know Christ. If you know Jesus, you will know the Father and you will know that the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
Message
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” - John 14:7
This is an if-then conditional statement.
John 15:5 tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. It is one thing to know of Jesus; it is another thing to have a relationship with Him. Do you have an intimate relationship with our Jesus Christ?
1. Jesus is the way (John 14:6)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - John 14:6
Knowing Jesus means recognising that He is the only way to God and that you need to follow Him to have eternal life. Knowing Jesus is not about knowledge about Him; it is about whether your life is being transformed. If you continue to crucify yourself, you experience life as an overcomer.
2. Jesus reveals the Father (John 14:9-11)
In John 14:9-11, Jesus told Philip that whoever has seen Him (Jesus), has seen the Father; that Jesus does not speak of His own authority but of the Father.
Knowing Jesus means understanding that Jesus is the perfect representation of God on earth (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is God. To know Jesus is to know the Father. When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He responded by saying that He (God) must not be tested.
Jesus responded, “The scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” - Matthew 4:7
3. Jesus empowers us (John 14:12-14)
The disciples will do greater works than Jesus because the Holy Spirit empowered them to do so. Recognise that you have the Holy Spirit in you. Your good works in Christ will draw people to Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus means recognising that He empowers us to spread His message of love and salvation to others. Our actions of love and service in oneness is an evangelical unity that draws the world to Jesus.
Closing
Stay humble, grounded, and rooted in Christ. If you know Jesus, you know life - abundant life (John 10:10).
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