“Do You Believe…?” (Part 3 of 3)

When Jesus restored the side of a man who had been born blind.

That was just the beginning of the story Jesus had healed him physically and the Pharisees had interrogated him endlessly. So what more did he need to confess today on Truth for Life. Alastair Beck makes three observations regarding the one question Jesus requires each of us to answer.

Do you believe essentially this morning study turns between a question and answer the question, is there at the end of our starting five. Do you believe in the Son of Man, and the answer which then comes in verse 38 Lord I believe Jesus. We learn from the opening part of verse 35 has sought out this man in order to ask in this express question. The question is there.

Do you believe in the Son of Man.

I want to suggest to you three things concerning the question. First of all, I wonder, would you agree with me that what Jesus poses is of vital question John chapter 3 and verse 13 Jesus says, no one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. I remember what the question is do you believe in the Son of Man.

What are the implications of belief answer belief is the open door to eternal life. Therefore Jesus sets the question in the context of eternity. If you look at verse 18. You have a solemn statement still in John three and in verse 18 whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son, so the question of believing in the Son of Man. The question posed to this man once born blind addresses the whole issue of life itself, and in John's Gospel, particularly that her tremendous number of statements concerning life bursts upon us in the prologue. When Jesus is introduced in him was life, and this life was the light of men.

In John chapter 3, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about eternal life. In John chapter 10 he says I have come that you might have life and that you might have it in all of its fullness, while in every instance, he was speaking to people who had life who had physical life who are alive pointing out the fact that Jesus use of the terminology speaks to something far deeper far more significant than simply our journey through our earthly existence with her to be 70 years or longer. And to this man.

He says I have a question for you. Do you believe in the son of man is asking him whether he has ever entered into the discovery of a life that is in Jesus, a life that once in Jesus goes all the way unhindered into eternity.

Now that of course will be challenged by people he made me challenged by some who were listening to me now. The idea of a life that will never end.

Yes, that's what the Bible says that once we discover the resurrection life in Jesus. Once his spirit comes to live within us even though we die, even though they put us away in the ground. Still, we will live in the reality of that truth brings to the Christian an expectation of what is still to be while they enjoy the privileges of life in the now, so that eternal life is not something that we aspire to over there when we get there, but eternal life.

The life of which Jesus is speaking is a life which begins now and continues all the way through into eternity some years ago maybe 20 years ago maybe 25 we have to go back people would've pooh-poohed this in general conversation and most people would've said, especially if it came from a scientific background I never heard such hogwash in all my life, I'm a scientist, rationalist.

I know certain things I have verifiable data.

This is all speculation and spirit is nonsense, but I have found are not exclusively, but increasingly that many of my friends who were once marked by that kind of rationalism are beginning to change their tune. Perhaps there is something more perhaps the Bible has something to say.

Now we know why the sneaking suspicion is there because the Bible says that God has said, eternity in the hearts of men and women. In other words, a man and a woman knows intrinsically that death is not a cul-de-sac. That death is actually a gateway and it is for that reason that dad when it comes in all of his finality still doesn't and the conversations that people have about their loved ones, so that even though they may be unbelieving people, they still talking about where their loved one is gone or what is happened to their loved one, or how they felt their loved one with why do they say these things. Why can they never imagine themselves dead here. Imagine yourself dead in your coffin impossible because you're alive imagining it. You can imagine still thinking life life life that we would bring this back to the man born blind in the assertion that this is a vital question, what are we saying will think about this man who'd been born blind might have been ready to conclude that his big problem in life was over. After all, his big problem in life was being blind and Jesus had come, and dealt with his blindness. Therefore, no more blindness no more big problem. Let's just get on with our life's.

He might've been very quickly within earshot of people who seeing him now able to move around and enjoy life in a whole different dimension as they talk with one another about the experience and so on. One of them said just before they parted. Well you know what everyone says as long as you have your health, that's all that matters, which is of course one of the managers of our day is as long as you have your health, that's all that matters is not all that matters know when you put eternity into the picture know when you ask this question. Do you believe in the Son of Man and believing is the gateway to eternity, then it introduces to our portfolios, something that is far more significant. So when Jesus asked this man about his need.

He's asking him about his need of spiritual sight. This man, although he could now physically see needed to see Jesus needed to believe in him. If blindness was the issue in the story was over I was blind, now I can see. Case closed. Wrapping up. Why does Jesus seek him out. He seeks them out to ask a question and I say to you again. It is a vital question.

Secondly, you will notice that it is a specific question is a specific question. He doesn't ask the man with any believe something or he believes anything or whether he's feeling religious or whether he is spiritual Manhattan now because, as another of our mentors in our day, isn't it the people as a as a sign also suitable as long as you have health or they will say while all that matters is your faith, then that is not what our fencing. Why does my lungs. Your faith we mean as long as your faith faith in what faith, in whom Jesus isn't asking are you a religious person. Do you believe something, do you believe anything know he's asking a specific question. Do you believe in the son of man, no Son of Man is a designation that you find throughout the Gospels over 80 times in the Gospels, many of them here in John as well were not going to delay on the term a good concordance will help you with that.

The term derives from Daniel chapter 7 it runs through the Gospels, you find it again reappearing in Revelation chapter 1 all that matters. For our purposes this morning is to recognize that in using this designation Jesus is indicating his own heavenly and transcendent nature. It is a designation which contains in it. All kinds of notions that run from the Old Testament all the way through into the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation, and it is if you like.

Jesus favorite designation with only one exception. In 1234. The phrase never appears in anyone else's lips except the lips of Jesus and what he is saying in this is that he is not a Son of Man but he is the Son of Man, the Son of Man was coming down from heaven, hence his origin is transcendent and divine and unique, but he is the Son of Man who has come down and is connected with humanity. He doesn't speak to us from afar. He comes down to where we are and he does not come down to where we are to live a life free from the extends and sees that face other people you know sorrow and disappointment and pain in first and so on. And indeed in Isaiah 53. He is depicted as a man of sorrows, and one who is acquainted with grief. It is for that reason that men and women who themselves are acquainted with grief and to understand sorrow will find Jesus a wonderful person to seek out is there he is ready he is willing, in fact, he is the initiative taker and reaching out to those who are in the predicament of their lostness. Do you believe in the Messiah of God is actually is a question that is a very relevant question for for many of us this morning because we've been developing our understanding of these are some of us have. We started off it is a man called Jesus. We may as a result of thinking about things concluded that he was actually a prophet of God that we haven't ever come to the point where we have decided that he is the Messiah of God that he is none other than God himself.

That's 1/3 aspirate I want you to notice the question is not only a vital one a specific one and an unavoidable one was unavoidable for the man and x-rays unavoidable for each of us.

Do you believe in the Son of Man at the answer to that is either yes or no maybe is in no I don't know is in no and uncheck box is a no and the reason I say that it is an unavoidable question is this, that although you may go through all of your life seeking to avoid the impact of this question, you will when God calls you before him answer this question because the Bible says it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes judgment and the basis of judgment is simply and essentially this have you believe on the son of God. Have you believed in the Son of Man. Have you cast all of your whole for forgiveness for time for eternity. Have you reached the point where in casting yourself and believing childlike faith upon Jesus you're able to say I know whom I have believed some unavoidable quest. She Jesus is inviting the men to trust in the one who is the revelation of God and in verse 36. It would appear that a man is eager to believe is saying Jesus if you can answer just one more question for me. I think the longer I listen to you. The more I find a reason to believe in you. In other words, this is not some great quantum leap into oblivion. By this man. There is a growing sense of confidence. This man whom I had never known has intervened in my life. He has met me is open my eyes. He is, and sought me out.

He is speaking kindly to me now here is this question for me.

Do you believe in the Son of Man, what shall I say to them while look at what I'll say to them. Who is he, sir, why do you tell me so that I may believe in him. This is the response of the Pharisees challenging Jesus. This is humble. This is genuine in the Bible assures men and women when they come to Jesus in this way if they seek him.

They will find him when they search for and with all of their hearts. This man clearly desired to believe desired to believe. Do you desire to believe seek and desire to believe and not yet believe you desire to believe you have questions. Like the man in question. Do you have a basic question like this, who is the Son of Man tell me because I want to believe will then take a leaf out of the man's book going to inquire of Jesus. Go to your Bible. Read John's Gospel asked Jesus make yourself known to me, Jesus, who are you are you the person he could let you claim to be, because it would appear that to this point Amanda never even seen Jesus, otherwise it doesn't make sense that he would say. Who is he, sir, which is the word curiosity and Greek translated sir here translated Lord in verse 38 as a result of his eyes being further opened. Who is he, sir.

The man asked Jesus makes this amazing declaration, verse 37 you have now seen him, you have now seen him. I've seen them I was something he could've said before fabulous is maybe it was a smile on Jesus lips you've seen them and fight.

He is the one speaking with you. Now don't miss this and will get ready to stop but you can't miss this, especially if you're here today wondering about the claims of Jesus and send yourself. I wonder who is this Jesus, I wonder if I can rely on him. I wonder if I can if I can trust him.

What is he actually say about himself. You will of read literature that tells you that there's nowhere in the Bible you can find that Jesus says I am God.

That is absolutely true. There's no place in the Bible really says I am God. But the whole of the Gospels are currently eight with his self designation as none other than son of God and Son of Man John chapter 5 in verse 25 Jesus says, I tell you the truth. Of time is coming.

It is now come when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God and those who hear will live. For as the father has life in himself, so he has granted the son to have life in himself, and he has given him authority to judge because he is the son of Jesus within a matter of a few sentences interchangeably uses the designations.

Both son of God and son of man that loved ones if you're thinking then I'm sure covers a significant number of you here we find ourselves at the very heart of Christianity. You see, what we are confronted with here is the assertion of Jesus.

Do you believe in the Son of Man. Do you believe in the son of God, do you believe in the Christ. Do you believe in the Messiah.

That's what he's asking, do you believe in the revealer of God do you believe in the one who redeems men and women.

The man says. Who is he, tell me so that I can believe Jesus says you're looking to see what he say I'm God and the Messiah you're looking at the Messiah same as John four, who gives the living water. You don't have to come here and get more water.

What is this living water provides this living water. If you knew was who was who was telling you this you asking me give you live in Waterloo as we know when the prophet Jesus ego I mean, it's me. Now for those of you who read CS Lewis remember CS Lewis says we have three options essentially in relationship to such an assertion either. Jesus is diluted is there's no was going on, or he is a deceiver flat out liar or years. The incarnate Lewis in his memorable statement says.

Then, deductively so you can come to him and spit at him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But do not come to him with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great moral teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He didn't intend so to believe in the one way is inevitably to close down the other options do you believe in the Son of Man.

The Unitarians are right, we are wrong as Christians and we are idolaters because we have made a man into a God. Therefore, we have broken the first commandment and we are to acknowledge before the living God were absolutely wrong. If there right, the questions asked. Have you examined the book Jesus, I deceiver Jesus diluted or Jesus, the very person you claim to be and then you see, the question remains as a vital specific unavoidable question. Do you believe you I believe some people get off the bus at that stop I can be as simple as that is becoming a Christian you believe. Yes, I believe, are you going to make it harder than that. Alastair mean anything as simple is very difficult for me to make it very difficult for me than I would be a lot simpler right so when you tell people, now would you believe in Jesus, slipping down rabbit holes all over the place excuses and reasons for not believing do you believe I was think of my friend Paul and when I when I asked the simple question how he was in the Edinburgh University studying to be a vet and he was being pressed upon by various people from the Christian Union and invited to different things and given books to read and are you reading your Bible and have you consider this and so on and eventually prevailed upon him in the midst of all of these considerations of the claims of Jesus and Andy took them to a Christian retreat center. They told me afterwards how scared he was going into this retreat center, and especially having a room with one of these. These Christian fellows before the end of the evening as they pack your stuff up and were ready for lights out. The fellow from the other bunk said to them, Paul.

I just have to ask you do you believe in Jesus and Paul said I looked at again. I said yes I believe in Jesus and he said I marked my conversion from that moment in that room. In response to that vital specific and in that case, unavoidable question. It's actually a question for everyone. Everyone do you believe in the Son of Man. That is one question. None of us can avoid listing to Alastair Berrigan a message called do you believe part of our series titled alike. In the darkness, helping others come to recognize their need for a Savior is one of the reasons we make our mission a Truth for Life to teach the Bible every day. We know that as God's word is proclaimed God's spirit goes to work in a supernatural miraculous way to transform the hearts and lives of those who listen each day. This program is made available. Our prayer is that you will grow in your faith through Alistair's teaching and if you have come to know Christ through the ministry of Truth for Life.

We hope you will share these messages with others. Maybe you been a believer for a while and if you have, you are undoubtedly familiar with the feelings we all experience feelings of failure when we salmon struggle and grow weary and become discouraged instead of giving up, let your despair drive you to Jesus because he has not given up on you if you can relate to these feelings you want to request a copy of the book gentle and lowly. This is a book or recommending today because it reminds us of just how much God loves us back the book's subtitle is the heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers in the bottom line. Truth reveals a portrait of a Savior who promises never to walk away, regardless of our failures. Would love to send you a copy of this book.

When you donate by clicking on the gentle and lowly image you see on our mobile app or by visiting our website Truth for Life.org/donate or call us at 888-588-7884 by Bob Lapine. Thanks for joining us. Don't miss tomorrow's message where you'll hear one man say Lord I believe the Bible teaching of Alastair Beck is furnished by Truth for Life. Learning is for Living