August 16, 2009 - Purified Access
Series:  Grace ... So Amazing
Pastor Brandon Porter

John 2:1-22

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Sermon Notes:
Jesus performed miracles to establish ...
- The authority of His teachings
- The purpose of His ministry
- This means the context of Jesus' miracles were very important

Jesus used the water jars at the Wedding Feast to show that He had come for the purification of those that would follow Him.
- When Jesus uses wine in the New Testament it is usually a symbol of His blood.

Jesus cleansing of the temple shows us that many of the worshippers at the Temple had lost sight of why they were supposed to be there.
- The people lost sight of the access to God they received at the Temple.
- The people lost sight of the holiness of God.
- The people lost sight of the special opportunity to worship God.
- The people lost sight of the real need of their hearts.

Jesus' claims that He would become the Temple of God was not only a claim that the Spirit of God resided in Him, but also a claim the He would be the final sacrifice for the sin of the people of God, giving all believers access to God.

Jesus came to offer the purification of sinners so that they may have direct access to God through Himself.

John wants the reader to immediately realize that Jesus has the authority to purify His followers so they may enter the presence of God.

Abiding Questions:
Do you realize that you may have direct access to God through Jesus Christ?  If so, how have you entered the presence of God?

Do you realize the great privilege it is to draw near to God by worshipping Him?

Do you realize that you need to be purified?  What are the areas of your life that need to be refined?

Do you realize the great value of Jesus christ as He is our substitutionary sacrifice for the sin in our lives?