If You Don’t Know Me By Now

Text:

John 14:1-11:

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord,  shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

 

Theme:

If You Don’t Know Me By Now

 

Introduction:

• The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel written by the Apostle John. Some believed that it was to fill the gaps left by the first three gospels, but no concrete evidence makes this universally true.  However, it does in a unique and genuine way divulge the depth of the relationship between God and the Son AND the relationship between the believer and the Godhead.
• The Gospel of John, which houses our text, serves as a special closing to the set of Gospels that tell the good news of Jesus Christ.
  • Matthew gives a detailed depiction of the history of Jesus’ life
  • Mark gives Jesus’ life as depicted by Peter’s accounts
  • Luke gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as God’s Son who was a man – the humanity of Jesus
  • However, John gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as the man who was God’s Son – the Divinity of Jesus
    • John sums up his intent in writing the Gospel in John 20:31 when he says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
• At this juncture, Jesus is in the upper room with the disciples during the Passover ritual/celebration.
  • They are at the right place at the right time – Jewish Passover Feast.
  • They have left all others and things outside of the room.
  • In celebrating the Passover that has already happened they are inaugurating the “Passover” that is about to happen.
• Jesus is sharing a special word with the disciples
  • “Let not your heart be troubled” à Comfort
  • RELATIONSHIPS
    • Man to Man
    • God To Man
    • Man to Woman
      • Relationships are a big subject for our society, culture, and lives
      • Verse 11 says in response to Phillip’s question, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me”
        • This has always reminded me of the song “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”

All the things that we’ve been through
You should understand me like I understand you
Now girl I know the difference between right and wrong
I ain’t gonna do nothing to break up our happy home
—– (2^nd verse)

 Just get yourself together or we might as well say goodbye
What good is a love affair when you can’t see eye to eye,oh

• We can all relate to the this title à “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”

Body:

• Relationship #1 à People with People
  • Walk through the song
• Relationship #2 à God with People
  • Walk through the song
  • Walk through the text (verses 1 & 9)
• We must accept Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior
  • Verse 11 à “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake”
    • BELIEVE for who HE IS
      • Believe à Just know for yourself without outside help
    • BELIEVE for what HE HAS DONE
      • Believe à See the example that Jesus set

Conclusion:

• The song says that we give up, but God does not give up when we don’t know Him.
  • After trying with the Old Testament patriarchs, He did not give up
  • After trying with the New Testament Savior, He came back with His Spirit as a Comforter
  • After trying with the Comforter, He is coming back with the Savior again (2^nd coming)
  • After the 2^nd coming, I know that I have ANOTHER home!
    • I have another home not made by the hands of men
      • Talking cannot destroy it
      • Bills cannot destroy it
      • Enemies cannot destroy it
      • Friends cannot destroy it
      • Loved ones cannot destroy it
      • I have ANOTHER HOME!!!!!!!!!