According to the Gospel of John Chapter 20,

verse 30 and 31, Jesus did lots more things

than were recorded in the Gospels. It says Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples

which are not written in this book, but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ,

the son of God, and believing have life in his name.

And since my text is taken from the Gospel of John this morning, I think it's very fitting

that my goal be the same as John's, namely that those who do not believe,

and I'm sure there are people here that do not believe,

that those who do not believe that Jesus is the son of God

might be drawn to Jesus by the power of the Father through his word this morning as I speak.

And second, that everybody will leave this place today loving the truth more and more assured of eternal life.

But now let me preface what I have to say from the text in John 18 with a warning.

So as to awaken us all to the seriousness of hearing the word of God.

One time Jesus spoke the word of God and very, very few people believed. And John

explained what happened like this, John 12, 38 to 40. It was that the words spoken by the

prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, Lord who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah said he has blinded their eyes and hardened their

heart lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their heart and turn for me to

heal them.

That's from Isaiah 53 verse 1 and Isaiah

6 verse 10.

And there's another passage in Isaiah that John doesn't quote,

...