John 20:30-31 - Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
4 ways to resist unhelpful pressure
I. Seek to Do God’s Will in God’s Time (7:1-13)
A. Sometimes unhelpful voices offer advice
John 7:3 - Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
B. Happily obey when the time is right (7:6-13)
II. Trust Christ’s Words (7:14-36)
A. His words are from the Father (vv. 16-17)
B. His words are for the Father’s glory and not His own (vv. 18)
C. His words are convicting (vv. 19-20)
John 7:19-20 - “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?”
D. His words are authenticated by works (vv. 21-24)
E. His words are controversial as predicted (vv. 25-36)
John 7:30-31 - So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
III. Appreciate the Ministry of the Holy Spirit (vv. 37-44)
John 7:37-39 - Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
A. Every believer has the privilege of being indwelt by the Spirit
B. Every believer enjoys the benefits of the indwelling work of the Spirit
C. The presence of the Spirit is a reminder of who Christ is and the work He completed
IV. Refuse to Be Intimidated by Threats and Arguments (vv. 45-52)
A. Lame Argument #1: No one important believes
John 7:48 - No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?
B. Lame Argument #2: No prophet arises from Galilee
Introduction. This morning we’re going to examine a passage of Scripture from the Gospel of John. This is sermon #13 on John’s gospel. Each week we try to show how John proves who Jesus claimed to be
John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
Our series is called Enjoying life in His Name. The title of this sermon is Enjoying Life in His name regardless of outside pressure.
Let’s consider 4 ways to resist unhelpful pressure.
I. Seek to do God’s will in God’s time (7:1-13)
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Let me give you the big picture idea here: (1) It’s around September-October. The backdrop for this event is a seven-day memorial called The Feast of Booths – it’s called by other names, such as The Feast of Ingathering, or The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot – which is the more common meaning today.
[SLIDE] https://lightofzion.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/MerrySukkot-958x638.png
This feast looks back on God’s deliverance, protection, and provision for Israel when they were wandering in the Wilderness in the days of the Exodus.[1] It was a huge event, and the most popular of the Jewish feasts – we’re talking thousands of Jewish people attended this event – that kind of big!
During this time, they would bring their families and build makeshift booths and would celebrate inside for one week. This was a mandatory event – all adult male Jews living within 15 miles of Jerusalem had to attend.
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The bigger the family, the bigger the tabernacle or booth was. These Jewish families would also light up their booths with lamps and it also involved water-pouring rituals.
But the thing to understand is that all of these things were symbols pointed back to how God provided for them and protected them…
God was a light for them in the darkness, and when they were thirsty, it was the Lord who would provide for them drink in a land where there was no water…and get this: It was in God’s time and way.
This is precisely what we’re seeing in the case of Jesus’ half-brothers.
Transition: But like Jesus’ own family members, and likewise for us…
Sometimes unhelpful voices offer advice
John 7:3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
In other words, they implored Christ to go up to the feast right then and now at their timetable and declare himself to be the Messiah.
And our Lord’s response seems something just shy of a rebuke
Happily obey when the time is right (7:6-13)
Jesus responded to his brothers to “go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because my time has not yet fully come.” That is to say, I’ll determine when is the most appropriate time to go up to the feast – it’s not that he wasn’t going, but that it wasn’t yet the best opportunity for Christ to go up!
So the Lord stayed in Galilee and went up in secret. Jesus had good reason for not going up right away, because the Jewish leaders were “seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” - John 5:18
He knew that! His brothers were not the target, Jesus was – that’s why he could to them that they could go up to the feast anytime they wanted to because the world doesn’t hate them, it hates Christ because he “testifies of it, that its deeds are evil.” (John 7:7)
His brothers were not yet believing in who Christ was! They were not yet testifying against the darkness of the world, so they were not under constant threat.
So my friends, I tell you to learn the lesson of Christ here. Sometimes it may be good to wait for the right opportunity to give the Gospel to the lost. When my father was alive, I had a very difficult time ministering the Gospel to my mom because I was the primary target of opposition for my dad.
So, I had to find opportune times to talk to her about Christ. I could not do it in front of my dad because he was openly hostile to the Gospel of grace. Then in God’s timetable, he removed my dad from the earth, and my mother was wide open to hear the Gospel.
But I had to learn to be patient. Sometimes, you just can’t force a Gospel opportunity. Sometimes you have to wait and be in much prayer, and when the opportunity presents itself, be shrewd as a serpent and harmless as a dove, and bear the message of the Cross to the darkened soul (Matthew 10:16) Happily obey Him when the time is right.
If work doesn’t allow you the time to give Gospel because you both have work to do, then wait until after work to do so.
If you’re speaking to a crowd of people and you receive opposition, ask those who are interested to wait and to speak with them afterwards…there are so many providential opportunities to be shrewd in our country and climate to give the Gospel…
So Jesus waited. Then when his brothers left he followed but went to the feast in secret (v.10).
Verse 11 reads that the Jewish authorities were looking for Jesus, saying “where is he?” (v.11)
Verse 12 reads that there was a lot of people talking about Jesus – he was the talk of the feast!
However, we read in verse 13 that this talk was done under the radar “for fear of the Jews”
Then waiting for all of the people to gather at the feast to make to declare himself among the people, and to teach them, to avoid arrest – and that’s precisely what we read in Matthew 21:46
“And although they sought to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, since they considered Him to be a prophet.” (Matthew 21:46)
Transition: These people desperately needed to…
II. Trust Christ’s Words (7:14-36)
In verse 14, we find that Jesus waited until mid-week to give the Gospel at the feast. He waited until the crowds were busting at the seams in Jerusalem and he “began to teach.” (v. 14).
Verse 15 says that the Jews were “astonished” over his mastery of the Scriptures with no formal rabbinic education – they were so blind to see that the very Author of Scripture was standing in their midst…
Some of us had the opportunity to minister the Gospel at the Tippecanoe County Jail. 5 inmates showed up, one left saying he needed to use the restroom, but never came back. We placed 15 bibles on the tables and 4 out of crowd of inmates showed up to hear the Words of Scripture.
The tragedy is that many of those inmates took no opportunity to hear the Words of the Author of eternal life. Many Jails and places of education literally have the Words of Scripture by the Author of Scripture in their midst…and they just pass his words by…
Many homes in America have more than one Bible in their homes, yet the Scriptures sits there in their midst while the people pass on by the golden shores of eternal life, careening down the waterfall that leads down to a lake of fire….
There may be some who are here this morning who have yet to repent of their sins and surrender their life under the Lordship of Christ. The Word of God is in your midst and you hear the sound of his Words…I hope you don’t walk away from the Words of Jesus, but to embrace them completely – to trust in his Word. For His words are eternal life for your soul.
Transition: The tragedy is that many of the religious leaders took no opportunity to embrace the very Author of Scripture.
His words are from the Father (vv. 16-17)
“My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself. 18 The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
In other words, Jesus does not work independently of the Father. (COME BACK TO!!!!)
His words are for the Father’s glory and not his own (vv. 18)
In other words, Jesus never sought his own glory. He surrendered himself to the Father’s will and to glorify Him.
When the Lord gave spiritual gifts to his people, it was never to use them and seek to honor for ourselves, but to glorify to God. When we serve our Lord at Faith Church, it’s never to build our own kingdoms, but to build his.
Scripture bears a weight of sovereign authority
His words are convicting (vv. 19-20)
John 7:19-20 “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?”
Ouch! In other words, Jesus was telling them that they really didn’t believe in the Bible because they don’t live by the Bible! They weren’t interested in doing God’s will – they just wanted to kill Christ! Yet they were lying about their intentions to kill him.
My friends, there could come a time in your life which people will think that it’s God’s will to kill Christians. They said that Jesus had a demon, for goodness sakes!
Transition: Jesus ignores the insult and turns the tables on his detractors
His words are authenticated by works (vv. 21-24)
[SLIDE] “Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all are astonished. 22 For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and even on a Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 If a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry at Me because I made an entire man well on a Sabbath? 24 Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Let me give you the big picture here: The religious Jews were incensed that Jesus healed on the sabbath. The religious Jews believed that they cannot work on the sabbath and that what Jesus did violated the sabbath. Remember, they were trying to figure out a way to arrest Jesus. So Jesus brings up one of the issues that incensed them – the Sabbath!
And since the religious Jews questioned Jesus’ credentials, he turned around and questioned theirs! The interaction basically went like this: you say you are “disciples” of Moses, riddle me this: Circumcision. It’s required that according to the Law of Moses, a baby boy is to be circumcised on the eighth day – but what if the day fell on the Sabbath? Do you still circumcise as a part of your ceremonial cleansing on the Sabbath? Tell me, you who sit in Moses seat!
If you are circumcising children on the Sabbath, why are you angry with me if I work to heal a man on the Sabbath?
He then concludes by telling them to “ not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (v. 24)
In other words, their judgment of Christ was wrong headed – and he pointed it out in front of the crowd! And those who were looking to arrest him were halted by the works of Christ. The Word of God stopped their mouths and they were silent
Transition: You see
His words are controversial as predicted (vv. 25-36)
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His words went against the prevailing traditions of the day – and yours will too if you keep your head in His book! The more your mind is bathed in the Words of Christ you will say things people will not want to hear – yet the Gospel you carry must be told when it is popular and what it is not (2 Timothy 4:2)
You cannot avoid the fact the message of the Gospel is designed to offend people because it tells the unbeliever to repent and give up the rule of their own life, and to take up the Cross and follow Christ – that is an offensive message!
In verses 25-26, we read that Christ was speaking publicly silenced the religious leaders and exposed their hypocrisy. It makes sense that they were reticent to arrest. Not only were they at a loss for words about Christ handling of the Scriptures, but were also fearful of the public push back if they arrested him at the feast (Luke 22:2)
After this very open public silencing, verse 25-26 reads that, “some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this man not the one whom they are seeking to kill? 26 And yet look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27 However, we know where this man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” (stop there for a moment)
In other words, they thought they knew where Jesus was from (they didn’t) , and they also wrongly believed that when Messiah comes he has no point of origin…
Application: Bad theology has consequences! Every idea not tied down to Scripture has consequences. Twisting Scripture has consequences, and can so for a generation of people…at least it was with the case of these religious leaders.
When we get to verses 28-29, Jesus’ response appears to be dripping with sarcasm.
The Bible says that Jesus, “cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 I do know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 I do know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
In other words, “You think you know me and where I am from!” If that’s the case, then you would believe that I came from heaven and that the Father has sent me. But since you don’t believe me where I am from, you don’t know the Father!
When I was in my early twenties, I keenly remember talking to a person who denied Jesus’ divine origin. He didn’t mince words with me at all. He flat out told me that the incarnation was…..(curse words).
He believed Christ’s origin was the same as every other human on the planet, which is partly true – I then tried to explain to him what the incarnation meant, so as to give him the bigger portrait. He abjectly refused to even entertain the notion that Jesus’ came down from heaven. Human birth – yes – incarnation – no.
That’s essentially the interplay between the religious leaders and Jesus. Of course they knew who Jesus was and his family, but they denied where he really came from! They denied the incarnation!
My friends, I would you see the bigger picture of who Christ is this morning. I hope you would embrace all of Scripture – all of who he claimed to be! I hope you don’t leave here today with only a partial picture of who Jesus is: He is truly man and truly God!
Transition: And if for whatever reason you have yet embrace this theological truth…
III. Appreciate the Ministry of the Holy Spirit (vv. 37-44)
Jesus is the supreme master of illustration. He takes on all of imagery of the feast and said on the last day of the feast (read)
Do you remember the imagery we heard at the beginning of this sermon? Do you remember the pictures? I said that the Feast of Booths looked back on God’s deliverance, protection, and provision for Israel when they were wandering in the Wilderness in the days of the Exodus.
In other words, Jesus was saying he is the reality of what the feast pointed to! He is their redeemer – he is their protector – he is their deliverer – he is their provider!
My friend, if you don’t know Christ today, come to him for salvation and he will pour into your heart the Holy Spirit of Promise! He is your redeemer – he is your protector – he is your deliverer – he is your provider!
The presence of the Spirit is a reminder of who Christ is and the work he completed
IV. Refuse to be intimidated by threats and arguments (vv. 45-52)
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Did you hear that lame argument?
Lame Argument #1: No one important believes.
Well, gee – that’s a horrible argument! That’ll go real well on judgment day. I didn’t believe in you because of what my professor’s have said. I didn’t believe in you because popular opinion didn’t!
John 7:48 “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?
Lame Argument #2: No prophet arises from Galilee
This is not true, the prophet Jonah was from Galilee! The prophet Nahum was from Galilee.
I love what Pastor Rob Green said about this passage: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the city of David. But that is how it is. When you do not have a worldview large enough for the world, then you must create lame arguments to justify your ignorance.”
- We must seek God’s will in God’s time.
- We must trust Jesus’ words because they do all he said they would do. He offers the words of life – salvation and sanctification.
- We must enjoy the ministry of the Spirit in all its aspects today so let’s respond to his guiding.
- Then, let’s not be intimidated by those who create lame arguments in the hopes of convincing us that we are foolish. Their arguments are lame because their worldview will never be able to explain the world.
[1] See John MacArthur, The John Macarthur Study Bible (La Habra: Nelson Bibles, 2006), 186.
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