Exalting Jesus in John (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - Softcover

Carter, Matt; Wredberg, Josh

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0805496548 ISBN 13: 9780805496543

Publisher: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017

Synopsis

Exalting Jesus in John is part of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a Christ-centered approach to expositing each book of the Bible. Rather than a verse-by-verse approach, the authors have crafted chapters that explain and apply key passages in their assigned Bible books.
 
Readers will learn to see Christ in all aspects of Scripture, and they will be encouraged by the devotional nature of each exposition presented as sermons and divided into chapters that conclude with a “Reflect & Discuss” section, making this series ideal for small group study, personal devotion, and even sermon preparation. It’s not academic but rather presents an easy reading, practical and friendly commentary.
 
The author of Exalting Jesus in John is Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg.

“The balance of biblical accuracy, clear outlines, captivating illustrations, and life-changing applications make this commentary a must-have addition to the library of every pastor and everyone else who wants to understand and apply the Gospel of John.”
Stephen Davey, Th.M., D.D., senior pastor, Colonial Baptist Church, Cary, North Carolina; president, Shepherds Theological Seminary, Cary, North Carolina
 
 “Matt and Joshua provide an excellent resource on John's Gospel. With a clear outline of content, a concise purpose for writing, and a faithful handling of the text as it points to Jesus, the authors give the reader a valuable resource for study and preaching. They herald a clear message to remind the reader, ‘The gospel is the good news that you no longer have to wander about in the darkness and despair of sin, but you can enjoy the light of righteousness through Jesus Christ’ (p. 27). I commend this commentary as it will prove beneficial for many, for years to come.”
Lane Harrison, D.Min., lead pastor, LifePoint Church, Ozark, Missouri
 
“The Gospel of John has no shortage of commentaries, raising the obvious question: what sets this one apart from all the others? The unique contribution of Matt Carter's work is rooted in his personal profile. Carter is both a highly successful church planter and long-tenured pastor who has built and led a large church through text-driven preaching. A church holding forth the truth in the heart of one of the most socially liberal cities in the country. A church that has multiplied itself many times over through planting new churches in their own city and in some of the most difficult countries on the planet. As a trustworthy, twenty-first-century pastor-theologian, Carter has not only produced a commentary, but a sermon and bible study starter for preachers and teachers seeking to accurately interpret and prophetically apply the Word of God to this radically changing culture.” 
Nathan Lino, senior pastor, Northeast Houston Baptist Church; president, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
 
“This commentary on John is incredibly practical. Written from a pastor's heart, it provides both deep theological insight and practical application. Both ministers of the gospel and people in the pew need this work!”
Jerry McCorkle, executive director, SpreadTruth Ministries, Bloomington, Illinois
 
 “As a pastor for more than twenty-one years, I appreciate a commentary that stands on solid scholarship while at the same time fitting comfortably in the pulpit. Any pastor, teacher, or small group leader will be able to open this book and find a Christ-centered resource at their fingertips which will enhance their preaching or teaching ministry. In fact, any believer reading this Christ-centered exposition will find themselves learning more about the Lord Jesus Christ and His place in Scripture. The Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series seeks to exalt Jesus. This volume succeeds in meeting that goal!”
Eric Peacock, D.Min., senior pastor, Westchester Baptist Church, High Point, North Carolina
 
“As the church navigates an age of profound confusion and doubt, the Gospel of John serves as an immoveable anchor. This commentary is an invaluable tool for believers in understanding and applying God’s Word to our lives as we combat the litany of competing worldviews that surround us. This work remains faithful to the timeless truth of Scripture while challenging contemporary issues in a thoughtful manner. Believers will be well-served by using this book to supplement their efforts to delight in God’s Word and to live by faith in Jesus, the Savior of the world.”  
Kevin Peck, lead pastor, The Austin Stone Community Church, Austin, Texas
 
 “John said the purpose of his Gospel was ‘so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’ (20:31). This volume is a literary GPS in helping us arrive at that place. Carter and Wredberg wed exegetical integrity with sermonic beauty, and they combine historical accuracy with contemporary relevance, all to show us Jesus. Pastors, teachers, and all who love the Bible and its Christ will be helped greatly by this work.”
Jim Shaddix, Ph.D., D.Min., W. A. Criswell Professor of Expository Preaching, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina
 
 “Josh and Matt have given us a gospel-fueled treatment of John. You will discover, as I have, that this volume exposes areas you thought you had conquered. Worship your way through this exposition by these two Christ–Centered Ninjas.”
Kyle Shearin, D.Min., pastor of preaching and vision, Faith Family Church, Oak Grove, Kentucky
 
 

About this title

About the Author

Matt Carter serves as the Pastor of Preaching at the Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas, which has grown from a core team of 15 to over 7,000 attending each Sunday since the church began in 2002. Matt has co-authored multiple books including The Real Win, a book on biblical manhood co-authored by NFL quarterback Colt McCoy, and two group studies, Creation Unraveled and Creation Restored, which traced the gospel message through the book of Genesis. He holds an M.Div. from Southwestern Seminary and a D.Min. in Expositional Preaching from Southeastern Seminary. He and his wife Jennifer have been married for 20 years, and they have three children, John Daniel, Annie, and Samuel.

Josh Wredberg has served on the pastoral staff of churches in Michigan, Illinois, and North Carolina, and as teaching pastor at Redeemer Community Church in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. He is a graduate of Maranatha Baptist University and Shepherds Theological Seminary. Josh has also earned a doctorate in preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Cari, have three boys, Jack, Max, and Caed.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Exalting Jesus in John

By Matt Carter, Josh Wredberg

B&H Publishing Group

Copyright © 2017 Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8054-9654-3

Contents

Acknowledgments, 
Series Introduction, 
Gospel of John, 
Introduction: The Purpose of the Gospel of John 20:30-31, 
Introducing Jesus 1:1-5, 
A Witness, a Testimony, and a Decision 1:6-13, 
The Story Continues 1:14-18, 
A Messenger of Hope 1:19-34, 
Come and See 1:35-51, 
The Power, Passion, and Promise of Jesus 2, 
Religious Credentials 3:1-13, 
The God Who Loves 3:14-21, 
Pointing to Jesus 3:22-30, 
Follow Him, Boys 3:31-36, 
Everyone, Everywhere 4:1-16, 
Thirsty? 4:7-18, 
Jesus Saves 4:16-26, 
Excuses That Impede Evangelism 4:27-42, 
Authentic Faith 4:39-54, 
Lord of Sickness and Sabbath 5:1-18, 
Answering to a Higher Authority 5:19-29, 
Witnesses to Deity 5:30-39, 
Truth or Consequences? 5:38-47, 
A Greater Moses 6:1-21, 
Bread of Life 6:22-60, 
Understanding Election 6:35-40,61-65, 
True or False? 6:66-71, 
Tough Questions 7, 
An Issue with Authority 8:1-12, 
Giving Up Heaven 8:13-30, 
Bleed the Bible 8:31-47, 
Never See Death 8:48-59, 
The Blind Will See 9, 
The Good Shepherd 10:1-21, 
Unbelief Exposed 10:22-42, 
The Final Word 11:1-44, 
One Man's Death 11:45-57, 
The Gift 12:1-11, 
A Different Kind of King 12:12-36, 
The Theology of Unbelief 12:37-50, 
A Life of Humble Service 13:1-17, 
Belief and Betrayal 13:18-30, 
Fundamental Changes 13:31-38, 
The Promise of Heaven 14:1-3, 
More Promises 14:4-14, 
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know 14:15-31, 
Fruit-Producing Faith 15:1-17, 
Handling the World's Hatred 15:18–16:4, 
Life on Mission 16:4-15, 
Liberating and Lasting Joy 16:16-33, 
Jesus Prays 17:1-19, 
A Prayer for the Church 17:20-26, 
The Cross: A Sovereign Savior 18:1-32, 
The Cross: King of the Jews 18:33–19:22, 
The Cross: It Is Finished 19:23-37, 
The Resurrection: An Empty Tomb 19:38–20:18, 
The Resurrection: My Lord and My God 20:19-31, 
Follow Me! 21, 
Works Cited, 
Scripture Index, 

CHAPTER 1

The Gospel of John

Introduction: The Purpose of the Gospel of John

JOHN 20:30-31

Every semester on the first day of class I would sit in my seat with a feeling of dread. The professor would walk us through the syllabus as I desperately hoped not to hear the dreaded words term paper. When I had to write term papers, I distinctly remember my professors making a big deal about the thesis statement. The thesis statement gives the purpose of the paper. It's the point of the paper — what you're arguing for or attempting to prove. Everything in the paper is supposed to support the thesis statement. The Gospel of John is no different. The Gospel writer gives us a clear and distinct thesis in John 20:30-31:

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We can summarize John's thesis in one word: believe. He says, "I've written this book, including these particular accounts, so that you might believe." John witnessed nearly three years of stories, sermons, and conversations, but he didn't include them all. He selected certain ones — the ones that would help us believe.

The current religious culture in America loves to talk about belief and believing. Those spiritual buzzwords are often used generically and end up devoid of meaning. Contemporary spirituality trumpets not belief in an object or a person but rather a belief in belief. It goes something like this: "It doesn't matter who you believe or what you believe. All that matters is that you believe." There's a belief in belief.

For twenty-five years the high priest of this philosophy in the United States was Oprah Winfrey. She didn't care what you believed; she just wanted you to believe. She was convinced that if you believed something, your life would improve. A few years ago she had an atheist on her show. The atheist described the sense of wonder she experienced when she stood at the edge of the ocean. Here was Oprah's response: "Well, I don't call you an atheist then. ... I think if you believe in the awe and the wonder and mystery then that is what god is. ... It's not a bearded guy in the sky" (cited in Stedman, "Oprah"). Oprah was peddling a brand of spirituality that revolved around believing in belief. As long as a person has faith, he or she is fine. She ignores the object of faith.

John's Gospel doesn't call us to believe in belief or to put our faith in faith. His teaching on belief is much deeper and more robust and infinitely more life giving than any modern, pop-culture philosophy. In the course of twenty-one chapters, the Gospel writer will answer three questions:

• What do we need to believe?

• What does it mean to believe?

• Why do we need to believe?

Question 1: What Do We Need to Believe?

We need to believe that Jesus is the Christ and that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 31). What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ? Christ is not Jesus's last name. People would have identified him as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus the carpenter's son. Christ is a title, and John tells us early on in his Gospel what it means. In chapter 1 he records an encounter between two brothers, Andrew and Simon Peter. Andrew has just seen Jesus and runs to find Simon. He tells his brother, "'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated 'the Christ')" (1:41).

Christ is a title synonymous with "Messiah," and Messiah is a term with roots in the Old Testament. The Old Testament focuses on one called "Messiah" whom God would send. By the time Jesus came on the scene, the nation of Israel had been waiting for centuries for the Messiah to come. As we walk through the Gospel of John, we'll see this expectant climate Jesus entered. He came to a people who were waiting for the Christ.

When John identifies Jesus as the Christ, he's not saying a person just needs to acknowledge that Jesus is the one called "Messiah" but that one must believe that Jesus is the one who will fulfill all of the promises God made to his people. The promises of God tie the entire Old Testament together, and they all center on a person. The Old Testament is not a collection of stories but rather one story. It's a single story of God creating man, man rebelling against God, and God sending his Son to reconcile man back to God. John is saying, "You must believe Jesus is that person. Jesus is the promise keeper. All of God's promises come true in him." What are some of those promises of God fulfilled in Christ?

• The first promise is found in Genesis 3. Mankind has just sinned against God, and Adam and Eve are learning about the consequences of their sin. In the midst of their punishment, God promises to send a son, born from the seed of a woman, who would fix everything that sin had broken.

• In Psalm 2 we find a promise that the Christ will end all injustice and rebellion. Kings and leaders oppress people and make a mockery of justice, but the Christ will come to put an end to their reign. He will judge them for their wickedness, and only those who run to him will find mercy.

• In Isaiah 53 we find the promise of a Suffering Servant. God's servant, the Christ, will be perfectly righteous. He will be the only person who never sins. But he will be punished and killed. He will willingly offer his perfect life as the payment for our sins. He takes the guilty's punishment so the guilty can be declared innocent.

• The prophet Daniel records a vision of God ruling in heaven (ch. 7). In his vision one who looks like a man comes before God, and God gives him a kingdom that never ends. His eternal kingdom is also universal — it includes people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

So when John says we need to believe that Jesus is the Christ, he's making a sweeping statement. We need to believe Jesus is the one who will fix all that's been broken, the one who will end tyranny and oppression, the one who will reign forever as King and Lord, and the one who gave his life so we who are guilty can be forgiven and reconciled back to God.

We also need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. John not only makes the claim that Jesus is the promised Messiah but also that Jesus is God. Only someone divine could do all that God promised in the Old Testament. Only someone divine could be trusted with the absolute power and authority promised to the Messiah. Only someone divine could be the perfect sacrifice and payment for the sin of the world. If Jesus were not divine, then he could not be the fulfillment of all the promises God made.

Question 2: What Does It Mean to Believe?

We use the word believe in numerous ways. Someone asks, "Is the weather supposed to be nice out today?" We answer, "I believe it's supposed to warm up." We really mean, "I think" or "I may have heard" or "I have no idea, but it would certainly be nice." In school we're taught certain facts about history and physics, so we believe those facts. In that sense believe means we hold it to be true but have no real attachment to it. If someone shows us different evidence, we are willing to change our minds. The kind of belief to which John calls us looks much different from these two types of belief.

The word believe translates the Greek word pisteuo, which means "to trust" or "to put one's faith into something or someone." To believe in Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God requires more than mere intellectual adherence to a set of facts about the life of Christ. It requires trusting one's whole self into who Christ said he was and what he was sent to accomplish.

Imagine you are on a hike through a beautiful mountain pass, approaching the edge of a cliff that drops a thousand feet to the canyon floor. The only way to continue is to walk across a bridge from one side of the cliff to the other. It's one thing to say, "I believe the bridge can hold my weight as I walk across this great chasm." It's something altogether different to actually start walking across the bridge. The former is a kind of belief based on intellectual adherence to a possible outcome. The latter is placing one's trust in the bridge. John did not write his Gospel just so we could know facts about Jesus's life. He wrote his Gospel so we would know facts about who Jesus is and what he was sent to do and in response trust in him completely.

Question 3: Why Do We Need to Believe?

One of the dominant themes of John's Gospel is our need for life, and it's always connected to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (1:4; emphasis added)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (3:16; emphasis added)

Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. (5:24; emphasis added)

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. (11:25-26; emphasis added)

I am the way, the truth, and the life. (14:6; emphasis added)

The life we need — spiritual, eternal life, delivered from the judgment of hell — comes through belief in Jesus Christ (20:31). But life does not come to us like a UPS package. It's not a transaction in which we believe in Jesus, then he hands us our life at the front door and walks away. The life he gives us is life "in him."

Life in Christ can be illustrated by adoption. When a child is adopted, the significance is not a piece of paper he can place in a file folder. The real meaning of adoption is that he is brought into relationship with a family that is now his own. His existence is tied up with these new family members. They sleep in the same house. They sit and eat meals together. They exchange gifts at Christmas. They cry together when Grandma dies. They pass the flu to one another. Adoption is not an exchange; it's a new relationship. It's the beginning of a new life. Life in Christ is not an exchange; it's being drawn into an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. He illustrated it for his disciples by comparing their relationship to a vine with branches. The branch doesn't get a one-time injection of life from the vine. It gets daily nourishment from its connection to the vine, and if something were to sever the branch from the vine, the branch would die. When we truly believe, we truly begin to live.

Conclusion

I was walking through the mall one day when I entered a store and something strange caught my eye. I couldn't figure out what it was. I stopped and looked around and realized it was something about the mannequin by the window. I walked a little closer, trying to figure out what didn't fit, when the mannequin looked at me. Then the mannequin blinked. It wasn't a mannequin; it was a model. The store paid some models to stand in the window and display their clothes.

Models and mannequins are similar in many ways. You find them in the same place. You see them wearing the same clothes. You notice them working the same job. Despite all the similarities, there's one major, all-important difference. Models are alive; mannequins aren't. The most expensive mannequin still falls infinitely short of the worst model in one category — life.

The Gospel of John reveals that the most moral, religious, pious person is no more alive than a mannequin in the store window. Though imperfect and struggling with sin, the one who believes on Jesus and commits to following him has been given life. The wrath of God has been removed, the relationship with God reconciled, and eternal life with God guaranteed.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Why did John write his Gospel?

2. What two things does John want you to believe about Jesus?

3. What is the result of believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?

4. When John says we need to believe that Jesus is the Christ, what is he saying we need to believe?

5. What are some common "spiritual" beliefs the world holds? How are these different from belief in Jesus?

6. What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

7. What is John asking his readers to believe about Jesus and what he has done and will do?

8. Name some of the promises God has fulfilled in Christ.

9. How can belief bring life through Jesus?

10. How has belief in Jesus changed your life?

CHAPTER 2

Introducing Jesus

JOHN 1:1-5

Main Idea: Jesus is God, born to deliver mankind from death and darkness.

I. Who Is Jesus (1:1-3)?

II. Why Did Jesus Come to Earth (1:4-5)?

Time magazine once asked "Who Was Jesus?" on their cover. They went on to ask more questions in the article:

How is Jesus to be understood? Did he stride out of the wilderness 2,000 years ago to preach a gentle message of peace and brotherhood? Or did he perhaps advocate some form of revolution? When did he realize his mission would end with death upon a cross? Did he view himself as the promised Messiah? Did he understand himself to be both God and man? (Ostling, "Who Was Jesus?")

These are important questions to ask and to answer. We live in a culture increasingly spiritual yet hesitant to commit to saying there is one absolute truth. To many in modern society, Jesus was a philosopher. Others view him as a good man with important things to say. Still others view Jesus as just another prophet who came to point us to God. This is why the first words of the Gospel of John are so vitally important. They answer the questions, Who is Jesus, and why did he come to earth?

Who Is Jesus?

JOHN 1:1-3

The clear testimony of the Holy Scriptures is that Jesus of Nazareth was more than a good man or wise rabbi; Jesus Christ is God. In verse 1 Jesus is given the unique title, "the Word." Words are powerful. Anyone who thinks words are painless never went through middle school. Our own experiences and the testimony of history teach us the power of words. During World War II, Winston Churchill said these words:

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their Finest Hour."

His words rallied England and emboldened the citizens to stay the course and stand strong against their enemy.

As powerful as Churchill's words were, they are no match for the power of the word of God. "The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth" (Ps 33:6; emphasis added). "Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Gen 1:3; emphasis added). "He sent his word and healed them; he rescued them from the Pit" (Ps 107:20; emphasis added). Creation and salvation both came through the word of God.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Exalting Jesus in John by Matt Carter, Josh Wredberg. Copyright © 2017 Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg. Excerpted by permission of B&H Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Holman Bible Publishers
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0805496548
• ISBN 13: 9780805496543
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288