Advent: Why Did Jesus Come? He Came to do the Father’s Will (John 6:38-40)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, November 30, 2025

The Italian architect-believer, Fra Giovanni, wrote in 1513:

I salute you. There is nothing I can give you which you have not;

but there is much that, while I cannot give you, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.

Take heaven …

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in the present.

Take peace …

The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our

reach is joy. Take joy …

And so at this Christmas time I greet you with the prayer that for

you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.^1,[1]

It is the Christmas season. This is tied to be the most important season of the year.

Oklahoma City made startling and shocking news Sunday morning, December 6, 1964. A thirty-one-year-old mother gave birth to a child on the sidewalk at the corner of Sheridan and Broadway. A curious crowd “watched without helping.” The woman and her baby lay on the pavement for about forty-five minutes in a temperature of about thirty-four degrees.

A visitor from Tulsa summoned a taxi. When the cab arrived, however, the driver refused to take the mother to the hospital. Then the helpful stranger called the police, to no avail. During the time the woman lay on the sidewalk, two patrol cars passed the scene and neither stopped.

A former state representative chanced that way, stopped and called the fire department for an ambulance. He also sent a man across the street to a hotel to borrow a blanket, but a porter refused him. Meanwhile, the rescue squad arrived. While waiting for an ambulance, Captain Bill Latham of the fire department and the former representative, Bob Cunningham, decided to take the mother and her child to the hospital in the latter’s car. And they did.

This unbelievable story, heralded across America Monday, December 7, and doubtless around the world, is reminiscent of what happened in ancient Bethlehem, when another woman was heavy with child. “And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).^2,[2]

Why did He come?

As we begin this Advent season, I would like us to focus on why Jesus came.

Today, we will focus on:

Why Did Jesus Come? He Came to do the Father’s Will (John 6:38-40)

Next week: there will be a Christmas program, but I will give a meditation on Jesus became Like Us to Give Us Fullness of Life (John 10:10);

December 14, 2025, I will focus on Jesus Came to Bear Witness to the Truth (John 18:37-38);

December 21, 2025, I will focus on Jesus Became Like Us to Save Us (Hebrews 2:14-18);

Then, on Christmas Eve, we will discuss how Jesus Was Born to save us (Matthew 1:21; John 12:44-47).

1. 1. Let’s look at the context.
   2. At the beginning of John 6, Jesus feeds the multitude.
   3. One source shares:
   4. …physical things we look to for meaning eventually fade. I love how C. S. Lewis put it: “I cannot find a cup of tea which is big enough or a book that is long enough” (cited in Hughes, John, 206). Do you know what he means? That which we think gives our lives so much meaning is never quite enough. We always need more, but even more won’t do it.^[3]
   5. This is also recorded in Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; and Luke 9:10-17).
   6. In John 6:15, Jesus was concerned that they were going to take him by force. Jesus withdrew to the mountain by Himself.
   7. Later, Jesus walks on water in John 6:19-20.
   8. In John 6:26, Jesus begins a message to the people.
   9. The message is pointing to Him as the Savior.
   10. John 6:29 (ESV)
   11. ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
   12. They were focused on signs, but He was talking about believing in Him.
   13. This chapter has correlations to Numbers 11.
   14. John 6:30–34 (ESV)
   15. ³⁰ So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” ³² Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
   16. The manna in the wilderness is described in Numbers 11:7-9.
   17. In verse 32, John 6:32, Jesus says, “truly, truly…” That is saying, “amen, amen…”
   18. Jesus then points to the “true bread…”
   19. ESV SB: The true bread from heaven would be something that nourishes people eternally and spiritually and thus is infinitely superior to the manna given to Israel in OT times, which was able to meet only temporal, physical needs. Jesus identifies himself as this “true bread” in v. 35.^[4]
   20. Then, look at John 6:35:
   21. John 6:35 (ESV) ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
   22. Jesus is now saying that He is the bread of life…
   23. Coming to Him means never hungering or thirsting.
   24. One source shares: I am the bread of life is the first of Jesus’s seven “I am” sayings in John. Subsequently he said he is “the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5); “the gate” of the sheep (10:7, 9); the “good shepherd” (10:11, 14); “the resurrection and the life” (11:25); “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6); and “the true vine” (15:1). Apart from these sayings, there are statements where Jesus referred to himself as “I am” (6:20 textual note; 8:24, 28, 58; 18:5), a clear allusion to God’s identification as “I AM” (Ex 3:14).^[6]
   25. Remember, Jesus had just fed the 5000. Also, in John 4, Jesus talked with the woman at the well regarding the water He gives.
   26. Now, look at John 6:36-37: John 6:36–37 (ESV) ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
   27. They see, but do not believe.
   28. When the Father gives people to the Son, they come to the Son and Jesus will not cast them out.
   29. This is about salvation.
2. Jesus came to do the Father’s will (John 6:38).
   1. John 6:38 (ESV) ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
   2. Now, Jesus continues to build on Who He is and why He is there.
   3. Jesus did not come in the same manner as other prophets.
   4. Jesus came from Heaven (Phil. 2:5-11).
   5. Jesus came not for Himself. Jesus came to do the will of Him Who sent Him.
   6. Who would that be?
3. The will of the Father is the salvation of those who trust in the Son (John 6:39-40).
   1. John 6:39–40 (ESV) ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
   2. Verse 40 tells us “Him Who sent Him” is the Father.
   3. Father God sent Jesus.
   4. Verse 39 shows that Jesus came, He was sent so that He loses no one that the Father has given Him.
   5. There is a picture of the Father giving people to the Son, to Jesus, and Jesus saving them.
   6. Jesus raises them up on the last day.
   7. How?
   8. In verse 40, we see how.
   9. We look to the Son and believe in Him, and we have eternal life. Jesus will raise us up on the last day.
   10. Starting in John 6:40ff, we see the Jews grumbling, not believing.
   11. They do the opposite of what Jesus said.
   12. They do not receive Him.
   13. This continues an amazing passage.
   14. C. Sproul shares:
   15. John 6:37 is a universal positive principle of the gospel, and the universal negative principle of the gospel is in John 6:44.
   16. John 6:37 is positive: ³⁷ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
   17. John 6:44 negative: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
   18. One source shares:
   19. The believer’s security is founded on the Son’s faithfulness in doing the Father’s will.^[7]
4. Why did Jesus come?
   1. He came from Heaven.
   2. He was born and laid in a manger.
   3. Why, to grow up and save us.
   4. He was sent by God the Father to save us.

One writes:

Saint Augustine famously said, “You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you.” I want to keep the spirit of his statement but tweak the words just a bit. If he was reading this passage, he might say, “You made us to hunger for you, and our starving souls find no nourishment until they feast on you.” Only Jesus can fill the emptiness inside. Only Jesus can quiet the growling of your soul. Only Jesus can give you life.^[8]

In her syndicated column for November 11, 1971, Erma Bombeck reminded us that time hangs heavy over the heads of bored people, eludes the busy, flies by for the young, and runs out for the old. Perhaps we should view it, she counseled, through a child’s eyes.

“When I was young, Daddy was going to throw me in the air and catch me and I would giggle until I couldn’t giggle anymore; but he had to change the furnace filter, and there wasn’t time.”

There is always something else to do!^[9]

Remember to live in the moment now. But as we go through this Christmas season, I encourage you to remember that Jesus came to do His Father’s will. His Father’s will was to save us.

Look to Jesus and have life.

¹ Christian Century Pulpit, December, 1957, “Greeting at Christmas,” by Fra Giovanni, AD 1513, p. 22. Permission requested.

^[1] G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 56–57.

² The Daily Oklahoman, December 7, 1964.

^[2] G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 57.

^[3] Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 152.

^[4] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2034–2035.

^[5] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2035.

^[6] Andreas J. Köstenberger, “John,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1678.

^[7] Andreas J. Köstenberger, “John,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1678.

^[8] Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 155.

^[9] G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 346.

Always Be Thankful: Reframing things can help us cultivate gratitude.

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, November 23, 2025

I read the following:

When I glimpse the well-worn spine of The Hiding Place on my bookshelf, I always think first of the fleas and the horror of human beings forced to sleep in flea-infested straw bedding in a concentration camp. And then I remember with amazement and deep conviction the prayer whispered on that straw by Betsie ten Boom and recalled by her sister Corrie: “Thank you, God, for the fleas.”

The first time I read The Hiding Place, I was in my mid-20s and, after a lifetime of assigned reading, was rediscovering the joy of reading for pleasure. Drawn to biographies of faithful Christians, I couldn’t devour them fast enough. I went to these books in search of worlds and experiences outside my own from which to mine wisdom. I gobbled up books such as Peace Child, Evidence Not Seen, A Chance to Die, Shadow of the Almighty, Surprised by Joy, Living Sacrifice, and Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God. But I returned over and over again to Corrie ten Boom and the Beje in Holland, her jail cell, and the flea-ridden bunk she shared with her sister in Ravensbruck, deep in the cold, darkened heart of Nazi Germany.

Corrie’s memoir begins happily enough as she recalls her home, work, and family life in Holland. A cloud hangs over her telling, however, because as all students of history know, war looms on the horizon. When Nazi Germany invades and occupies Holland, Corrie notes small and confounding changes around her: stars of David appearing on passersby, windows of Jewish businesses broken by rocks, ugly words appearing on synagogue walls. Eventually Corrie and her family notice Jewish neighbors disappearing—to where, they aren’t sure—so they begin hiding Jews in their home and working with an underground network to spirit them to safety.

Corrie, her father (Casper), and her sister (Betsie) are eventually betrayed by a fellow Dutchman, arrested, and imprisoned. The two women are ultimately transferred to Ravensbruck, a German concentration camp. While in the camp, bedded down with the fleas, sickly Betsie shares a post-war vision with Corrie: She must tell what she’s seen—not merely the brutality but also how the love and forgiveness found in Christ surpasses the evil and hate of the world. Corrie must tell, Betsie implores, how God was there among them in their deepest suffering.

Betsie doesn’t live to see the reality of her vision, but Corrie does. She’s released from the concentration camp based, she’d later discover, on a clerical error. This divinely appointed clerical error set her on a trek all over the world to proclaim what she’d seen and experienced—a story of God’s faithfulness during some of the worst suffering humanity could invent.

As a young woman, I was a grateful recipient of Corrie’s story. I needed her honesty as she attempted to reconcile faith with suffering. When Betsie thanked God for the fleas, I was almost repulsed. I resonated more with Corrie than Betsie when Corrie said, “Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.” When Betsie expressed compassion for the Nazi guards, earnestly praying for souls hardened by hate, I stood with Corrie on the opposite side, uncertain if forgiveness could ever come. But through certain circumstances that revealed God’s goodness, God did make Corrie grateful for the fleas. And when, after the war, a former guard in her barracks extended a hand, asking for forgiveness, Corrie chose to offer it despite her feelings.[1]

Thankfulness is beneficial, but how do we thank God for difficult times?

My theme today is: Always find ways to give thanks.

Reframing things can help us cultivate gratitude.

1. The world is groaning.
   1. Romans 8:18 reads: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
   2. Paul had been writing about how we are adopted. Paul had been writing about how we are fellow heirs with Christ. Paul had been writing about how the Spirit testifies that we are children of God. Now, Paul begins to write about how our present suffering does not compare with our future glory. Paul writes about our hope.
   3. I notice that Paul acknowledges suffering. Do you notice that?
   4. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time… Paul mentions “sufferings,” but also “present time.”
   5. We all suffer in the present time. We are all going through struggles. We all go through illnesses, whether it’s ourselves or our friends and family who face them. We all go through mental illness, if not ourselves, our friends and family face mental illness. We all go through spiritual attacks, temptations, and even spiritual warfare (Eph 6:10-12). This is true whether we realize it or not. We suffer.
   6. Paul acknowledges here that we suffer.
   7. Paul does not say, “the suffering is not real…” Paul does not say, “toughen up…” No, Paul is comparing the suffering with our future with Jesus.
   8. Paul says the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
   9. Paul is contrasting the two.
   10. Paul is referring to the resurrection of the body.
   11. We are to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming.[2]
   12. 2 Co 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…
   13. 1 Pe 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
   14. Someday God will make all things new. That is in Revelation 21:1-4.
   15. What is coming? Let’s look at the next few verses.
   1. Romans 8:19 reads: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
   2. Paul now broadens the subject matter.
   3. In verse 18 Paul used “I” and “us.” These are both personal pronouns. Now, Paul looks at this from a broader view. Now, he looks at this not from an individual perspective, but rather from a broader perspective. Now, Paul writes about all of creation suffering. All of creation is waiting with “eager” longing… or, literally, “eager expectations.” All of creation is waiting expectantly and how are they waiting “eagerly.” All of creation is earnestly waiting. As one writes: He personified it as leaning forward eagerly in anticipation of the great day in which God will fully redeem it too (cf. Gal. 5:5; Phil. 3:20; Heb. 9:28).^[3]
   4. What is all of creation waiting for? Creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.
   5. Who are the sons of God? That is us, we are sons and daughters of God, and that is powerful. Remember verse 16 about this, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
   6. Creation is waiting for the sons of God to be revealed, and this would mean glorifying the sons of God when all is made new and right.
   7. What is wrong with creation? Sin. Everything is fallen, all creation is depraved and needs redeemed. “All creation” means all animals, insects, stars, asteroids, rivers, oceans, cells, everything is marred by sin.
   8. Look at Romans 8:20-21: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
   9. Everything, all creation, was subjected to futility. One source says: This refers to the inability to achieve a goal or purpose. Because of man’s sin, God cursed the physical universe (Ge 3:17–19), and now, no part of creation entirely fulfills God’s original purpose.^[4]
   11. One source shares: Verses 19–21 are Paul’s commentary on Gn 3. When Jesus returns to earth with His people, the curse will be lifted from the world. Inanimate creation is personified in this passage as looking forward to the restoration of creation.^[6]
   12. Creation was subjected to futility, but not willingly… how? Who is the “him” who subjected it? This happened at the fall. God ultimately subjected it, but this happened because of sin entering the world, but there is a goal. Verse 21 shows that creation is waiting to be set free.
   13. Look at Romans 8:22-23: For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
   14. All of creation is waiting for redemption. Look at the language Paul is using. All of creation is undergoing labor pains. All of creation is going through childbirth. In verse 23, Paul comes back to us. All of creation is groaning in childbirth, and so are we. We, Christians, have the first fruits of the Spirit. That means that we have the first fruits, that is a pledge that more is to come.
   15. What is the first fruits? I think the first fruits would be the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts (Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:22-23).
   16. We are first groaning and waiting eagerly for adoption as sons, but we are ultimately waiting on the redemption of our bodies.
2. We wait patiently and confidently (verses 24-25).
   1. Look now at Romans 8:24-25: For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
   2. Paul talks about our hope. We were saved with the hope of when God will make all things new.
   3. We hope, not for what we see, but what we do not see.
   4. This is why we wait with patience.
   5. We do not see our hope, but we trust in the promises of God.
3.  Applications:
   1. Our suffering does not compare to our eternal life (verse 18). We must remember this. We must always remember that this world is the only hell we will experience. We must always remember to keep it in perspective.
   2. We must always remember that people in heaven are not thinking that they wish they lived longer.
   3. We must remember that God has a better plan, all of creation is fallen (verses 20-23).
   4. We must know that we have the first fruits, we have the Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance (verse 23).
   5. We must remember that we have hope. In Christ, we always have hope.
   6. We must patiently wait for when God restores all things (verses 24-25).
   7. We must share the good news of Jesus with others.
   8. As we reframe, we can give thanks.
   9. Think about reframing-

Learning the Bicycle

by Wyatt Prunty

Learning the Bicycle

for Heather

The older children pedal past
Stable as little gyros, spinning hard
To supper, bath, and bed, until at last
We also quit, silent and tired
Beside the darkening yard where trees
Now shadow up instead of down.
Their predictable lengths can only tease
Her as, head lowered, she walks her bike alone
Somewhere between her wanting to ride
And her certainty she will always fall.
Tomorrow, though I will run behind,
Arms out to catch her, she’ll tilt then balance wide
Of my reach, till distance makes her small,
Smaller, beyond the place I stop and know
That to teach her I had to follow
And when she learned I had to let her go.[1]

[1] Poem: “Learning the Bicycle,” by Wyatt Prunty, from Balance as Belief. © John Hopkins University Press. Accessed on 11.19.2025

https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2004%252F05%252F15.html

Let’s get practical:

Pastor Ricks Sams writes:[1]

“The early morning hour should be dedicated to praise: do not the birds set us the example?” – Literary great, CS Lewis, quoting preaching great, Charles Spurgeon.

Let’s make the entire month of November 30 days of praise.

Research also shows that simply WRITING down three things every day for which you’re thankful is a key to happiness and a prescription that battles the blues—depression and anxiety. Don’t just say or think it if you want the power of this prescription.

Watch the mega-viewed youtube video on “Happiness At Work” by clinical psychologist, Dr. Shawn Achor, the doctor who actually prescribes writing your praise. In truth many doctors and social scientists have reported on the health-giving properties of praise & thanksgiving.

Hmm??? Who would have thought of that before all this research?

Actually, God did over 3000 years ago when the many Psalm writers penned commands like these: “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name; for the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100).

Note in this Psalm how connected thanksgiving and praise is with gladness and joy. Also contained in these commands is getting a firm grip on who we belong to, also tied to joy. How many references to “his” did you count?

Why commands? Because God loves us and wants us to experience the best life possible. He knows how we get that because He created us. Do you recall how giving us life abundant was one of the reasons Jesus came:?“I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

On top of all this a growing body of research shows what we say or think first thing every morning sets the tone for the next 24 hours*.

[1] Rick’s Ramblings email on 11.18.2025

Blessed Assurance:

1       Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

2       Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight:

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3       Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest:

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Chorus        This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.^[7]

[1] From Insight for Living Daily Broadcast: Putting Grace into Action, Part 3, Nov 18, 2025

This material may be protected by copyright.

[1] Hoover, Christine. Gospel Coalition; July 1, 2019; accessed on 10.06.2025. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/finding-courage-hiding-place/

[2] Paraphrased from Piper, Desiring God, pages 283–284

^[3] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ro 8:19.

^[4] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:20.

[5] https://bibleworm1.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/the-redemption-of-possums-part-1/

^[6] Michael G. Vanlaningham, “Romans,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1757.

^[7] Logos Hymnal, 1st edition. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995).

Paul Encourages the Churches in Macedonia and Greece (Acts 20:1–6)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes at Bethel Friends Church on Sunday, November 16, 2025

Tony Evans shares:

In the 1996 Olympics, Keri Strug, the Olympic gymnast, had the weight of the Olympic gold medal for her team on her shoulders. All she had to do was have a successful vault, and the United States would get the gold. There was one problem. When she did her first vault, she sprained her ankle, and she could barely walk. She fell; she did not get the score she needed for the U.S. team to win. As she sat there on the mat with tears falling down her face, she cried for two reasons. One, she was in pain. And two, there was no way she could make the score to win the victory in this situation.

But she had another jump. She had another vault. She got up. She felt like giving up, but her coach stood on the sidelines and said, “You can do it, Keri. You can do it, Keri. I believe in you. You can do it.”

As she limped to get ready to try to do a vault, she could barely move. She told an interviewer, after the vault, that all she could do to keep going was keep her eyes on the coach. He kept her from focusing on her ankle. This girl was really hurting. She was crying. But she had an encourager who believed in her. She found strength from his encouragement that she didn’t have. Even with the limp, she took off running, and did her flip on the vault. She had to nail the landing in order to win. She had to try to do this with an ankle that was injured. With her coach’s encouragement holding her up, she conquered her impossibility. She earned a high enough score for the U.S. team to win the gold—all because of her coach’s encouragement. Encouragement changes your performance.^233,[1]

My theme today is: Paul encourages the churches in Macedonia and Greece.

1. Let’s start with the context.
   1. Acts 20:1 reads: After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
   2. What uproar?
   3. Remember, in the previous verses, there was an almost riot in Ephesus.
   4. The town clerk (Acts 19:34) quieted the crowd.
   5. So, here in Acts 20:1 Paul is in Ephesus, but leaving for Macedonia.
   6. Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.^[2]
   7. The ESV SB: helps: Paul Completes His Ministry in Greece. Paul made a final visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, spending the winter in Corinth.^[3]
   8. Achaia would be the broader area around Corinth.
   9. The uproar ceases; Paul sends for the disciples.
   10. He says farewell and leaves for Macedonia.
2. Paul in Greece (Acts 20:1-3).
   1. Acts 20:1–3 (ESV)
   2. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. ² When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. ³ There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 
   3. Macedonia would include Berea, Thessalonica, Philippi, and other cities. Corinth was south of Macedonia in Greece.
   4. Picking up at verse 2, Paul had gone through those regions.
   5. Notice in Acts 20:1 and Acts 20:2, Paul is encouraging the churches.
   6. Paul is also carrying an offering for Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-27).
   7. One writes:
   8. Paul collected offerings from the Gentile congregations of Macedonia and Achaia (Greece), and presumably from Galatia and Asia Minor, in order to support the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. This offering would serve as a concrete expression of love, support, and solidarity. Paul tells the church in Rome that those in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make this offering (Rom 15:26–27). They were “cheerful giver[s]” (2 Cor 9:7).^[4]
   9. Which regions? CSB: Paul probably went to Philippi and Thessalonica in Macedonia before going to Greece (Achaia), where he stayed for three months, possibly in Athens and Corinth. [In verse 3 we see] Paul’s Jewish opponents plotted against him, which caused him to change his travel plans. He decided to travel overland from Greece to Macedonia, where he caught a ship at Philippi.^[5]
   10. Notice that Acts 20:2 reads that he is giving them much encouragement.
   11. Do we aim to encourage?
   12. Then he comes to Greece. That is the same as the Roman province known as Achaia, which is where Corinth is located.
   13. He spent three months there (Acts 20:3).
   14. Once again, there is a plot against him by the Jews (Acts 20:3).
   15. He changes his travel plans to return through Macedonia. This is a land route, rather than a sea route.
   16. Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.^[6]
3. Paul heads to Troas (Acts 20:4-6).
   1. Acts 20:4–6 (ESV) ⁴ Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. ⁵ These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, ⁶ but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
   2. In verse 4, we see that seven people joined him.
   3. In Acts 20:5 Luke writes they went ahead and waited for “us.” Since Luke writes “us,” I believe Luke is also with Paul.
   4. They sail from Philippi.
   5. It is interesting that they sailed after the days of Unleavened Bread. That would be Passover week.
   6. The days of Unleavened Bread refer to the week following Passover. Originally an agricultural festival commemorating the beginning of harvest, it was celebrated for seven days beginning on the fifteenth day of the month Nisan (March–April). It was later combined with Passover (Exod 12:1–20; Ezek 45:21–24; Matt 26:17; Luke 22:1).^[7]
   7. They stayed seven days in Troas.
   8. Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. From Philippi to Troas was about 125 mi (200 km).^[8]
4.  Applications
   1. How can we encourage our brothers and sisters this week?
   2. How can we encourage through giving to our brothers and sisters this week?
   3. How can we serve our brothers and sisters this week?
   4. Who can we visit this week?

Tony Evans writes:

Many churches are in need of what every football team has: cheerleaders. The job of a cheerleader is to tell everybody “we’re going to make it.” No matter how bad things look on the scoreboard, there is still hope. Cheerleaders cheer all the way to the end of the game and will act like the team is winning by a big score even when there may be no way that a victory is possible. Their job is to be a cheerleader.

When folks come into today’s sanctuary with broken lives, they need to run into some cheerleaders, folks who are willing to cheer them on and tell them that they are going to make it.^239,[9]

^[1] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 85.

^[2] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:1.

^[3] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[4] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 299.

^[5] Stanley E. Porter, “Acts,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1756.

^[6] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:3.

^[7] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:6.

^[8] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:6.

^[9] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 86.

Paul Experiences Violent Opposition at Ephesus (Acts 19:23–41)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

Sproul writes:

When Paul preached the gospel, a conflict always arose from the confrontation between the truth of Christ and the false doctrine of idolatry. John Calvin tells us in the Institutes that the heart of every human being is an idol factory, a fabricum idolarum. We are by nature inventors, craftsmen who create for ourselves idols as substitutes for the living God. In his letter to the Romans, Paul said that God’s wrath is revealed against the whole world, not because there are isolated incidents of idolatry but because the penchant toward idolatry is universal. It is foundational to everyone. Every human being knows the living God because God has clearly revealed His character to everyone. Yet every person by nature represses that knowledge of the true God and exchanges it for a lie by creating idols as substitutes for the true God (Rom. 1:18–23). That propensity does not end with conversion. That strong drive within us to replace the living God with something more palatable to us remains even in the hearts and minds of the converted. Today we do not fashion idols from stone, but we do fashion idols from ideas.

There was probably no place in the ancient world where this conflict with idolatry was more severe than in Ephesus. The temple of Diana in Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens. It was constructed of 127 pillars, and each pillar was 60 feet high. The walls of the temple were adorned by the ancient sculptor Praxiteles, the Michelangelo of his time. The grandeur of the temple of Diana was known throughout the entire world. In fact, the cult of religion that focused on Diana, or Artemis, was one of the largest religions of that time worldwide. There were thirty-three shrines to the goddess Diana in the ancient world spread out across different cities. She was a fertility goddess and was also known as the goddess of the hunt. Worshipers built little household shrines in their backyards dedicated to Diana before which they would bow and pray. Additionally, a large economy was established on the worship of Diana.^[1]

My theme today: Paul’s violent opposition in Ephesus.

The application: Take down idols in your life

1. The lecture of Demetrius (Acts 19:23–27)
   1. The context and situation.
   2. Paul is in Ephesus.
   3. In the previous section, we had people trying to impersonate him to cast out demons.
   4. Then, in Acts 19:21, Paul resolved to pass through Macedonia and Achaia (Corinth) and go back to Jerusalem.
   5. But the following event is in Ephesus.
   6. Acts 19:23–27 (ESV)
   7. ²³ About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. ²⁵ These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. ²⁷ And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
   8. This section begins with “about that time…” This is as Paul is beginning to think about heading back to Jerusalem. He has sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, but he stayed awhile (Acts 19:22).
   9. Notice that Christianity is called “the Way.”
   10. In verses 23-24, we see Demetrius the tradesman (Acts 19:23–24): He employs many craftsmen to make silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis.
   11. Verse 24 says that Demetrius brought “no little” business to these craftsmen. That seems to clue me in that the following is going to be about money.
   12. In Acts 19:25-27, we see Demetrius the troublemaker: He calls his associates together and lectures them concerning how Paul’s preaching is harming their business.
   13. Acts 19:25 says that he gathered these businessmen in similar trades to his. Then, we see his speech. It starts with him talking about the wealth in this business. He is referring to the pagan things.
   14. The NET Bible shares: In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.^[2]
   15. Remember this event follows many being saved in Acts 19:19-20. They were saved, and they burned all their things of the magic arts. Since they were now Christians, they aren’t going to be marketing these places.
   16. In Acts 19:25, Demetrius says that from this business they have their wealth.
   17. In Acts 19:26, He says that Paul has persuaded and turned people away from their business. Paul is saying they are not gods at all.
   18. IVP BBC NT: “Not gods at all” was the refrain of Isaiah (e.g., 44:9–20; 46:1–11) and Judaism. By the early second century the Roman governor of a nearby province complained that the temples of the gods were being forsaken due to conversions to Christianity. After the arrest of many Christians, the governor reported, more people did buy animals for sacrifices again.^[3]
   19. Sproul writes: The silversmiths made images and souvenirs for visitors who came from all over the world to see this great temple, and outside the temple they had booths for displaying and selling Diana-related paraphernalia.^[4]
   20. In Acts 19:27, he shares danger about losing the business but also not being able to take care of the temple of Artemis. The NET Bible shares: It is important to appreciate that money alone was not the issue, even for the pagan Ephesians. The issue was ultimately the dishonor of their goddess to whom they were devoted in worship. The battle was a “cosmic” one between deities.^[5]
   21. NET: Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.^[6]
2. The lunacy of the crowd (Acts 19:28–34):
   1. Demetrius’s fiery speech incites mob action against Paul and his associates.
   2. In Acts 19:28-34 wee see the mob.
   3. Acts 19:28 (ESV)When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
   4. These businessmen meet in the amphitheater. They are crying out how great Artemis is.
   5. This location made the event a public spectacle. The Grand Theater in Ephesus (still standing today) stood facing down the main thoroughfare of the city toward the docks. It had a seating capacity of 25,000.^[7]
   6. In Acts 19:29 they rush in and take Paul’s companions- Gaius and Aristarchus.
   7. The ESV STB shares: Apparently Gaius and Aristarchus were eventually released, since Aristarchus reappears later as Paul’s frequent companion (see 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10; Philem. 24).^[8]
   8. Acts 19:29 (ESV)
   9. ²⁹ So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.
   10. Paul then wanted to go in the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.
   11. Acts 19:30 (ESV)But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.
   12. Even other friends of Paul were urging him not to go into the crowd.
   13. Acts 19:31 (ESV)
   14. ³¹ And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.
   15. Asiarchs are high-ranking military officials.
   16. ESV SB adds: The Asiarchs were the keepers of the imperial Roman cult in Asia; they were of high rank and were concerned about the safety of their fellow citizen Paul. Many inscriptions testify to the use of the title Asiarch during this time (see also Strabo, Geography 14.1.42).^[9]
   17. In Acts 19:32-34 the mob gets worse.
   18. Acts 19:32–34 (ESV)
   19. ³² Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
   20. Confusion gets worse.
   21. Notice, most of them did not know why they came together.
   22. I once heard about the American Civil War. One person would be fighting for slavery, another for states’ rights, and another would be fighting because his friend was fighting. The initial reason gets blurred.
   23. Verse 33 says they thought it was Alexander.
   24. The Jews had put him forward.
   25. Alexander wanted to speak.
   26. He is not able to speak. Further, they realize that he was a Jewish man and they shout him down.
   27. The NET Bible shares:
   28. The nature of Alexander’s defense is not clear. It appears he was going to explain, as a Jew, that the problem was not caused by Jews, but by those of “the Way.” However, he never got a chance to speak.^[10]
   29. ESV SB: The role of the Jew Alexander is unclear. Perhaps he wished to dissociate the Jews from the Christians. But the crowd shouted him down, knowing that Jews opposed any foreign gods.^[11]
3. The mayor calms them down (Acts 19:35–41):

1. 1. Acts 19:35 (ESV) ³⁵ And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?
   2. This town clerk quiets the crowd.
   3. I wonder how he did that. He must have had enough respect to leverage in this situation.
   4. Notice he talks about the city of Ephesus as a “temple keeper of the great Artemis…” Notice “Artemis” is always the “’Great’ Artemis.”
   5. Ephesus is also the keeper of the scared stone that fell from the sky.
   6. This was likely a meteor.
   7. In verse 36 he exhorts them to calm down.
   8. Acts 19:36 (ESV) ³⁶ Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
   9. Look at Acts 19:37:
   10. Acts 19:37 (ESV) ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
   11. I found his honesty revealing. Here is this man who is likely not a believer, but he says these Christians are not sacrilegious or blasphemous of their goddess.
   12. In Acts 19:38-39, the town clerk points Demetrius and the craftsmen to the courts.
   13. Acts 19:38–39 (ESV) ³⁸ If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
   14. Keller: “” It was a pragmatic argument. “Watch out; we may get arrested,” and everybody went home. Okay, so the moral of the story is … what? Actually, most commentators across the spectrum say it’s very cagey of Luke to keep this in here and show us this.
   15. That’s because the city clerk is essentially saying, “You say that these guys are disrupting the social order, but you’re the ones disrupting the social order. You’re saying these people over here, because they are undermining idol worship, are disrupting the social order, but actually you’re the ones who are disrupting the social order, because the Romans could come down on us. They could declare martial law. This is a riot. You don’t have any good reason for it.”
   16. What he’s actually saying is, “You say idols are the basis of our social order, but actually, it’s the idolatry and the violence of the idolaters that’s disrupting the social order.^[12]
   17. He essentially says that there is an order for taking care of these things.
   18. This section wraps up with a warning that if they do not disperse, the Roman officials will come in.
   19. Acts 19:40–41 (ESV) ⁴⁰ For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” ⁴¹ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
   20. He then dismissed this assembly, and they followed his warning. In Acts 20:1 it begins with “After the uproar ceased…”
   21. The ESV SB is helpful:
   22. A “proconsul” (Gk. anthypatos) was the head of government in a Roman province (cf. 13:7; 18:12). The plural here may refer to the fact that at that time in Ephesus they were between the reigns of two proconsuls. in danger. The crowd in the theater (where regular assemblies were held) had the appearance of an unlawful assembly and risked bringing Roman reprisals. Luke’s extensive report of the careful reasoning of the town clerk may have provided an important basis with which Christians in other cities could have defended themselves, since Luke shows here (and elsewhere in Acts; see notes on 18:14; 23:27) that the Christian gospel was not contrary to the Roman rule of law and was not disruptive of public order, and that accusations made to that effect were untrue.^[13]
2.  Applications:
   1. This all begins because Paul preached against idols.
   2. How are we doing with that?
   3. Is our family an idol?
   4. Is our money an idol?
   5. Is our job an idol?
   6. An idol is anything we place in front of God.

Keller writing about a New York Times opinionator blog:

New York Times Opinionator blog (it wasn’t in the printed version), a man named Benjamin Nugent, a creative writer, wrote a very interesting column on what he called “monomania.” He basically says that for a big part of his life, like a lot of young people, he wanted to be a writer, and that was the only thing he wanted. He wanted to be a good writer. He wanted to have his stuff have an impact. He wanted to write beautiful stuff, great stuff. He began to realize he was shooting himself in the foot.

He says, “When good writing was my only goal, I made the quality of my work the measure of my worth. For this reason, I wasn’t able to read my own writing well. I couldn’t tell whether something I had just written was good or bad, because I needed it to be good in order to feel sane. I lost the ability to cheerfully interrogate how much I liked what I had written, to see what was actually on the page rather than what I wanted to see or what I feared to see.”^[14]

Further:

He went on and said what was interesting as a writer is he noticed that writers of the past couple of centuries were much better at describing what he calls “monomania.” He says, “… writers of the 19th century wrote deathless novels about monomania.” For example, he talks about Captain Ahab and Moby Dick and the fact that the whale had beaten him and now he had no self-esteem and he was going to get his honor back by finding that white whale.

Then he talked about Victor Frankenstein who knew if he could just scientifically unlock the secret of life, then he’d know … This is all in the same column. Benjamin Nugent says, “When Frankenstein’s creature opens its eyes, [he] is repulsed and runs away. Ahab’s confrontation with his whale does not restore his self-esteem.”

What Nugent calls monomania is what the Bible calls idolatry. It’s the same thing. It’s the very same thing. It always fails to give you what it says it’s going to give you. It gives you the opposite. Anything you make more important than God will do that. Anything. Another woman also wrote in the New York Times early this year. This was in the print edition. She was the CFO of a major investment bank at one point. She was really at the top of the field.

She wrote an article called “Is There Life After Work?” She dealt with what she considered one of the main New York City myths, which is: you work like a dog to make money for a while. You spend a number of years. You work like a dog to get up and make your money. Everything else is put second, and you work and you work and you work. Then you kick back, and you have the money to live the way you want. The last two-thirds or half of your life you’re able to do what you want.

She says what a lie that was, because she was successful. Why? Because she worked like a dog. But why? She says, “Inevitably, when I left my job, it devastated me. I couldn’t just rally and move on. I did not know how to value who I was versus what I did. What I did was who I was.” Work, she thought, was her servant. It actually had become her god. She couldn’t feel good about herself unless she was being incredibly busy. She couldn’t stop. She didn’t know who she was. The idols always, always do that to you.^[15]

^[1] R. C. Sproul, Acts, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 333.

^[2] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:25.

^[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Ac 19:26.

^[4] R. C. Sproul, Acts, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 333–334.

^[5] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:27.

^[6] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:24.

^[7] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:29.

^[8] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[9] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[10] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:33.

^[11] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[12] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[13] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[14] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[15] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).