DOES IT TASTE LIKE MORE?
JOHN 12, PART 2 (v20-26)
Note: This sermon was given at a prayer service on a Sunday morning service. Each identity of Jesus was taught and then responded in prayer by the congregation in small prayer groups of 3-5 people. The section was closed by singing a short chorus. Then the next section was taught. It was almost like four quiet times back-to-back.
"So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12:21
1. Wonderfully Dangerous and Delicious
My wife’s grandmother was a great cook. She passed this wonderfully dangerous skillset on to her daughter and her granddaughter. It was so wonderfully dangerous skill caused me to gain 35 pounds the first two years of my marriage to my wife, Diane. When you would visit grandma for a special occasion, she would go all out. She cooked for days and had enough food to feed an entire army. All of it was irresistible. Her homemade buns were to die for. I called them ‘candy buns.’ If someone has cooked roast beef or fried chicken or a casserole for fifty plus years, they get very, very good at it.
After eating more than humanly possible, we all would lean back in our chairs, signally that we were beyond content. This is when grandma would ask her famous question. She would ask it every time. It was a terrible question to propose to guests at the table. Grandma would ask, “Does it taste like more?” Really? More? How could anyone even imagine taking even one more bite of this delicious spread? That’s when grandma would bring out the homemade pumpkin or lemon meringue pies. Did it taste like more? YES!
2. What do you wish for in 2021? Do you have a New Year's resolution?
If you had …
> Aladdin’s Lamp?
> Wizard of Oz?
> Clarence the Angel (It’s A Wonderful Life)
> Jesus, the Son of Man
What do you wish? What do you want? Do you want more? Have you had enough?
One of the couple of commands in 50 verses of narrative. It is just one word. It may be one of the most important words in the entire Bible if you think about it. How much would change in our lives if we obeyed this one word?
Behold! See! Look! Attend to! Imperative Lo! Discover! Grasp the significance! Open your eyes! From Zechariah 9:9 Behold is a Pointing to, a Signal and also a Promising Satisfaction.
Well, there is something that God wants for us. He wants us to BEHOLD, Behold Your King! Have you had enough of Jesus? Does it taste like more? Or, do you want a decaf version of the Savior?
Joke: A famous TV pastor visited a care facility that specialized in Alzheimer's patients. He went around and greeted the people who were very glad to see him. He walked up to one lady and asked, "Do you know who I am?" She said, "No Dear, but if you go to the Front Desk, they can tell you."
Do you know who Jesus is?
Enough
All of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
3. Behold, Your King is being Revealed
In John 12:34 the crowds asked themselves, “Who is this Son of Man?” In response, they didn’t do anything. In John 12, there was a group of people who didn’t settle, who hadn’t had enough, who tasted and wanted more.
In John 12:20-21, we see some God-fearing gentiles, Greeks with a bold request. “Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
In the Gospels, we often see Jesus answering people’s requests. He responds to his mother’s response for help at the wedding feast. He responds to the father asking for his daughter’s health and life to be restored. He even response to the unspoken desire of Mary and Martha to have their brother, Lazarus back. Here, Jesus honored this ‘prayer request’ in His response that follows.
If we behold Jesus’ answer to these seekers, we’ll find He gives an amazing response. Can we see it?
4. Seekers who wish to see Jesus, will discover Him as...
A> An adoring ______SON____________ wishing to glorify His Father.
John 12:23 "But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
B> A protective _____SHEPHERD_______ wishing to guard the Beloved.
John 12:25 "Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
C> A sympathetic ____SERVANT________ wishing to minister to the needs.
John 12:26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
D> A purposeful _____SOWER_________ wishing to multiply the gospel.
John 12:44 "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
Let’s behold our King...
Song:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
5. Seekers who wish to see Jesus, will be
A> Discovering Jesus as an adoring SON...
John 12:23 "But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
The Father has our times in His hands. From the first page of the Bible, He planned 7 days of good. He told Abraham the people would walk out of Egypt in 430 years. The Israelites they wonder for 40 years. He told the prophet Jeremiah they would be exiled for 70 years. In 1 Corinthians 15:52 we know that in a blink, a twinkle of an eye, the church on earth will be raptured. The Son must trust ‘time’ into the hands of the Father like we do. The Father knows every hair on our head. The Father knows the moment of our birth and the moment of our passing. The Father tracks every bird on the planet. And, the Father know each and every blink of time. It is all for our good. Let's praise Him and trust Him with our lives and our life purpose.
John 17:4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him. By God’s help, I aim to that man.” D.L. Moody
Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.”
@ Suggested Prayer Response:
> Shine – Father, Son, the Church
> Sovereignty, Submission, Delegated Authority
> Succeed (Kingdom Strategies) - Kingdom Mandate (Ps 67, Matt 28), Accomplish
Song:
Joyful, Joyful
Joyful, joyful, we adore You
Hearts unfold like flowers before You
Joyful, joyful, we adore You
Joyful, we adore You
All Your works with joy surround You
Earth and Heaven reflect Your ways
Stars and angels sing around You
Center of unbroken praise
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Taste of Eternity
The taste of eternity
Is here on our lips
With every breath we sing
With every breath we sing of Your majesty
It's here in our midst
With every breath we sing
## Seekers who wish to see Jesus, will be
B> Discovering Jesus as a protective SHEPHERD...
John 12:25 "Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
My father-in-law, Howard Johnson, was a premier cattle breeder. His cattle were his livelihood. There were times during a brutal Iowa winter when a massive snowstorm would slam unexpectedly into the area. The cattle would be trapped in the fields, paralyzed and helpless. In the blinding, blowing snow, Howard and his oldest son, Dennis would tie each end of a rope around each other’s waists and bravely venture out in search of the lost cattle. The storm could be so intense that the men couldn’t see each other even ten feet away from each other. They were tethered together, or they risked getting disoriented and die themselves in the storm, even though they were only a stone’s throw from safety. They risked their lives to save the stranded animals in the fields, bringing them safely back to the barn. They displayed the heart of a biblical shepherd.
John 10:10 “"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
“Talking to men for God is a great thing but talking to God for men is greater still. He will never talk well and with real success to men for God who has not learned well how to talk to God for men.”. E.M. Bounds
Lord’s Prayer: “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
@ Suggested Prayer Response:
> Shield – External battle: Evil One & the World
> Sonlight – Internal battle: Flesh/Temptations (Clean, Prune, Abide)
> Strengthen - Competing Lions, Treated like sons, Other’s sacrifices
Song:
House of God Forever
God is my shepherd, I won't be wanting, I won't be wanting
He makes me rest, In fields of green, with quiet streams
Even though I walk, Through the valley, of death and dying
I will not fear, 'Cause You are with me, You are with me
Lord I Need You
Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
## Seekers who wish to see Jesus, will be
C> Discovering Jesus as a sympathetic SERVANT...
John 12:26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Matthew 20:26 “This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest;”
Matthew 9:38 “And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
Jesus asks us to pray for laborers to go out into the abundant, ripe harvest. Jesus is seeking those who are lost, blind, in danger and without help. Jesus is speaking to them. Jesus is serving them. Jesus is sympathizing with them. What does a laborer look like? Who should we pray for? Someone who is seeking, speaking, serving and sympathizing. Jesus asked to pray for laborers, workers, servants. If it is so key for Jesus to specifically, unprompted to direct the disciples to pray this way that the Evil One would degrade servanthood to be the lowest position in the universe, instead of the highest?
1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” C.T. Studd
Lord’s Prayer: Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
@ Suggested Prayer Response:
> Seek & Study – Word & Prayer, Thirsty, Good Soil
> Small Groups – Oneness & Unity (Horizontal & Vertical), Fellowship & Accountability
> Service – Talents/Gifts, Treasures, Time, Take Responsibility
Song:
I'm Listening
Oh, I don't wanna miss one word You speak
'Cause everything You say is life to me
Oh, I don't wanna miss one word You speak
So quiet my heart, I'm listening
For Your Glory
Riches and houses Cars and lands
Will all pass away But my life will stand
Jesus, You can use me Lord
For Your glory, For Your glory, For Your glory
You can use me Lord
We say yes Lord, We say yes Lord
We say yes Lord You can use me Lord
## Seekers who wish to see Jesus, will be
D> Discovering Jesus as a purposeful SOWER...
John 12:44 "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Luke 19:10 “"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
John 15:8 "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.
In grade school, a neighbor, Lois Monroe, thought my siblings and I needed to go to Sunday School. Each Sunday Lois would pick us up and drive us to the Winebrenner Church of God. There were four churches on that town corner. She picked the Church of God. She didn’t go there. My family had never gone there. But God’s hand was in her choice. When I was in junior high school, or middle school for some, I attended a week-long summer youth camp sponsored by my little church in Northwest Iowa. Pastors and parents and college students volunteered their time to play games, teach Bible lessons, cook meals, go on hikes, sing, chaperon the bug-infested cabins, and share the gospel each night. One night, I responded to an altar call. While "Just As I Am" was being played on a badly out of turn piano, I got out of my pew, went up front in a rustic chapel, sat down, bowed my head and asked Christ to forgive me of my sins and come into my life.
Even though I don’t know the names of those who were serving and sharing that week, I am forever grateful! I only hope that I can repay the kindness by sharing with others and ‘earn it.’ Later I learned that that a relative of mine was one of the seven founding members of that little church ... 100 years before I was saved that day. Today, I wonder if they prayed for spiritual children? Did they pray for generations of spiritual children? Did they pray for pastors to be raised up from their labors? I don't know if they did, but I am.
Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 1And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
“Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” D.T. Niles
Lord’s Prayer: “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
@ Suggested Prayer Response:
> Story – Your salvation story
> Share – Testimony, Witness, Reveal your transformation
> Spread – Reach every tribe, tongue and territory
Song:
Multiplied
God of mercy sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the skies
And these Halleluiahs be multiplied
I Love to Tell the Story
I love to tell the story of unseen things above
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love
I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true
It satisfies my longings, as nothing else can do
I love to tell the story, 'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story, Of Jesus and His love
6. “Heavenly Father, this year, we wish to see Jesus. We wish to see Him as He is.
@ Suggested Prayer Response:
A> We wish to see SONS, _________WORSHIPERS_________, glorify the Father. (House of Prayer, Abraham)
Shine * Sovereignty & Submission * Succeed
Worshipers - John 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers."
B> We wish to see SHEPHERDS, ____WARRIORS___________, protect the beloved. (Army, David)
Shield * Sonlight * Strengthen
Warriors - 1 John 3:16 "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
C> We wish to see SERVANTS, _____WORKERS____________, maximize their ministry. (Body, Moses)
Seek & Study * Small Grp * Service
Workers - Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
D> We wish to see SOWERS, _______WITNESSES___________, multiply the gospel. Amen.” (Family, Noah)
Story * Share * Spread
Witnesses - Hebrews 6:14 “Saying, I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”
7. IDENTITY CHART
# Jesus > Son > Shepherd/King > Servant > Sower/Seed
# Believers > Worshipers > Warriors > Workers > Witnesses
# Church > House of Prayer > Army > Body > Family
# Purposes / Promises > Father gloried > Persevere, Kept > Minister, Honored > Reach all, Not alone
# Covenants > Abraham > David > Moses > Noah
