Sermons by Jeff Cottone (Page 33)

Jesus tells us that his washing of the disciples’ feet is an example for us. His example teaches us that in order to serve like Christ, we should 1) serve in humility, 2) serve even in the hardest of circumstances, 3) take the initiative to serve, 4) serve even the least deserving, and 5) serve with love as our motive. When we realize that the footwashing points to the deeper cleansing Jesus accomplished for us by enduring the cross for…

What does devotion to Jesus look like? How do we grow in our love and devotion to him? This passage shows us an example of devotion to Jesus that is: 1) personal, 2) public, 3) costly, 4) humble, and 5) extravagant. And, we are reminded that we grow in our devotion to Jesus not by looking inward towards our ability to love God (which is always imperfect, failing, and faulty), but by remembering his love for us – and what Jesus…

In this passage we see 1) the rebellious schemes of men, set in contrast to 2) the plan of God. In all their scheming against Jesus, they only accomplish God’s plan – His plan to rescue his people by the substitutionary, sacrificial death of Jesus.

If there’s nothing beyond the grave, then there’s nothing but the grave. Here Jesus interacts with 2 grieving women, who have buried their brother Lazarus. In this passage we see 1) Jesus’ comforting presence and 2) Jesus’ hope-producing promise. Lazarus’ resurrection is a foretaste of Jesus’ resurrection, and the promise that for all who believe in him, death does not have the last word; but rather is transformed from devastating enemy to mere transition to abundant and eternal life.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, brings salvation to his sheep which consists of eternal life and abundant life. Abundant life refers to the quality of life – life that is full, rich, restored to what it was meant to be – fellowship with our maker & creator & redeemer & father & friend – the one – the only one – who can satisfy the depths of the thirsts of your soul: pure joy; perfect peace; abundant satisfaction. Eternal life refers…

Jesus has healed a man blind from birth. However, this man’s physical blindness, though tragic, is not the most tragic blindness we see in the passage. His blindness is physical, but the pharisees are spiritually blind; as such, they cannot see the obvious reality of who Jesus is. Even more tragic, they are blind to their own blindness. In the words of one theologian, “The greatest misery of sin is not that we are blind, but being blind we think…

Jesus here responds to the disciples’ question about the reason for suffering in a man they encounter who was blind from birth. This is an age-old question – “why do people suffer?” – and can frequently bring with it the temptation towards discouragement, doubt, disbelief, and despair. Jesus responds to their question first in the negative – that it was not as a punishment for sin, neither his own nor his parents – and then in the positive – that the result…

In this passage Jesus makes 3 claims – each great news, but only if you also embrace the “bad news” that comes along with it: 1) That he is the light of the world, which means that apart from him we are in darkness; 2) That he brings freedom, which means we are enslaved to sin; 3) he enables us to become the children of God, which means that we are by nature children of the devil. Jesus’ audience refuses to…

The gospel is both “comfort” and “call”. In this historical account (but probably not part of John’s original gospel), we see a picture of the comfort the gospel gives: gracious compassion to the vulnerable, and full forgiveness to the sinful & guilty. We also see the call of the gospel: at the same time the gospel offers “no condemnation” towards sinners, neither does it condone sin but calls us to a life of radical repentance. Those who experience the forgiveness of…

Division over Jesus is nothing new. What we see all throughout this chapter is summarized in verse 43: “So there was a division among the people over him.” In this chapter we look at 1) the nature of this division over Jesus, 2) the reasons for it, and 3) how we as followers of Christ should respond to it.

In this passage we see 1) the crowds desertion, set in contrast to 2) Peter’s declaration. The crowds are offended by Jesus’ teaching and “turn back and no longer walked with him” (v 66). Jesus’ challenging teaching sifts out the committed followers from the casual, the true disciples from the false. In contrast to the crowds, Peter and the other remaining disciples stand firm in their faith, against the current of popular opinion about Jesus. And, Jesus reminds his disciples…