In this Lesson we have come to the end of Jesus’ PUBLIC ministry. This Paragraph is, in fact, Jesus’ “whosoever” Sermon in which all the world is addressed.

Someone summed the book of John like this …

In the Gospel’s first half … Jesus lived in perfect obedience to His Father!

In the last half, Jesus died in perfect obedience to His Father!

Wow!

I called God the Father “invisible” in this Class! Why?

“God’s dear Son (Jesus) Who is the image of the INVISIBLE God, the firstborn of every creature.” Colossians 1:5

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17

Notice this …

While on earth Jesus was wooing lost souls unto Himself!

At the great White Throne judgment. Jesus will be judging lost souls who refused Him!

One more thing …

In our Text (John 12:44-50) Jesus introduces no new teaching! No new words appear either! Making this the most unusual Text in John’s whole Gospel!

Actually, John here may have collected a group of Jesus’ Sayings and formed them into an invitation to salvation!

Much like Matthew (in his 8th and 9th chapters) collected ten of Jesus miracles to show God’s Power, Love and Grace!

Well now, one more thing for sure!

The Line about someone seeing Jesus being the equivalent of one seeing the Father (verse 45) is particularly pertinent to John 10:38 …

“Though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

Reciprocal indwelling!

Just some thoughts I forgot to include in Class today …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Let’s face it. There are some Bible Passages whose meanings will only be fully revealed in Heaven, in eternity!

I choose to confront these Paragraphs via “faith” rather than doubt or skepticism.

The aforementioned verse is Deuteronomy 29:29 … “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Amen! Leave those unanswered questions in God’s Hands! Major on the Bible Truth that has been revealed to us!

Good advice.

Furthermore … I have learned from Romans chapter 1 that if a man (or women or family or society or nation) persists in sinning, willfully and stubbornly resisting the restraining Holy Spirit of God … God will “give them up” to their wicked passions! See Romans 1:24 and 26 and 28! Their hearts become progressively harder and harder!

Sobering verses …

“Seek ye the Lord WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, call ye upon him WHILE HE IS NEAR.” Isaiah 55:6, seriously implying He may not always be accessible!

Luke 12:48 thunders … “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”

These Pharisees had been given so much Light (“so many miracles done before them”) … that their responsibility before God had also grown, had multiplied!

The sum of this … reject Light, expect Darkness!

I sure did enjoy studying for this video Bible Class. May I invite you to watch it?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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John 1:14 says of Jesus … “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus, God the eternal Son, was made “flesh!”

So, it is Biblical to speak of His Humanity. Part of our video lesson, John 12:27 speaks of Jesus being “troubled.” Disturbed, maybe even somewhat perturbed! (I think over the unbelief all around Him!)

Recall in John 4 that one day, after walking all morning, Jesus sat down by a well, “wearied!” (A Greek verb meaning “exhausted!”)

In Matthew 21:18 Jesus “hungered.” Luke 4:2 gives another instance of Jesus needing nourishment as well.

On the Cross, of all places, He was “thirsty!” John 19:28 … “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

Was He ever lonely? Again, on the Cross! “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

And perhaps the best all-round verse (excerpt) on Jesus’ Humanity is the Claim that our Lord was “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” Hebrews 4:15, astounding!

Yet exhibiting all those “human traits,” Jesus was GOD! (He even thought it not “robbery” to be equal with God! See Philippians 2:6 for proof.)

I just did not have time to develop these thoughts in Class today! But I did get a good bit said!

Watch …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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We have on our YouTube channel several dozen video Bible Lessons focusing on the Old Testament Book of Amos. the above verse was discussed during that series of studies.

But it has impressed me afresh tonight and I must comment …

“Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” Amos 5:8

Look at all God does, as described in this single verse!

He created the stars, apparently even naming them! More than that … “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” Psalm 147:4, astronomy todays teaches that the stars are innumerable! But God knows!

Did this grand Creation include the constellations, and even other “groupings” of stars? Certainly, “Orion” and “the seven stars” (today called “Pleiades”) suggest that!

God turns shadows into morning, darkness into daylight! (And vice versa.) In fact, He is doing that this very second somewhere around the globe!

And on top of it all … God sends (engineers) the rain!

Bold claims!

But I believe every one of them!

Why?

Because I know Him!

You can know Him as well!

“The LORD is His Name,” and He is known (only) through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ!

Romans 10:13 … “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Seek Him today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In recording this particular video Bible Lesson, I actually omitted very little from my study notes! (An unusual situation, truth be told!)

But I did lack time to insert one more Old Testament Text that is clearly Messianic. It’s part of Jacob’s prophecy for his son Judah! (Judah, of whom Jesus is a descendent! Judah, the Royal Tribe from which Israel’s Kings descended!) Genesis 49:11-12 … “Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” Sure sounds a little bit like Jesus’ “Triumphant Entry” as depicted by all four Gospels! (But blending a little “Second Coming” Truth into the Mix as well!)

This too … I am impressed by the fact that Jesus allowed (if not instigated) this public applause! (After all, He did send for and climb on and ride that little donkey!)

Whereas earlier in John’s Gospel Jesus shunned any public acclaim! As in John 6:15 … “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” Plus recall his physical brothers’ advice in John 7:4 … “For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.” To which suggestion Jesus responded … “Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.” John 7:8, again not calling any attention to Himself!

So, back to my question, WHY did Jesus accept this outpouring of praise? Luke even adds (Luke 19:39) … “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Here’s why … “to fulfill Scripture!”

Oh, how high a view of the Bible Jesus possessed!

I suspect Jesus cleansed the Temple based on Psalm 69:9 … “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” (Laid alongside John 2:17.)

Add to that something Jesus said on the Cross … “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” John 19:30

What Scripture?

I suspect this … “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” Psalm 22:15, Messianic to the Core!

One more thing …

I briefly mentioned that the little ass (donkey) on which Jesus rode (Luke 19:30) was unbroken, never ridden by any man! This fact was no doubt meant to remind us that any animal to be sacrificed in ancient Israel was to be one on which no yoke had ever been laid! (Numbers 19:2). Even an animal pointing to Jesus Death on Calvary!

Jesus riding an unbroken donkey!

Jeus born of a virgin!

Jesus laid in a new tomb! (John 19:41)

Yes, our Lord is that Special!

That unique!

That favored of His Father!

Hallelujah!

Study with us now, in more detail …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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