Him Who Sent Me
Notes
Transcript
“Dad says...”
“The boss says...”
“The preacher says...”
Jesus puts our focus on “what God says...”
About sixth months have passed since Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 begins “after this” - over the next 2 chapters we see a lot more opposition to Jesus, especially of the Jewish religious leaders. These 2 chapters are happening during the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths).
We see the opposition to Jesus mentioned in the first verse of today’s reading. They were upset about what he did back in chapter 5 at the Bethesda pool - where he healed a man who was lame for 38 years.
Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s word.
1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.
2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,
3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.
4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.
8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.”
9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.
11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”
13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.
15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.
17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.
22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath.
23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath?
24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Multiple sermons out of this reading - but would like to focus on verse 16 and the surrounding verses.
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.
Jesus is answering here - the Jews asked a curious question… Jesus arrives about halfway through the Feast of Tabernacles (around the 4th day of this 7-8 day Feast). He goes into the Temple courts and begins teaching and ....
15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
He didn’t go to any rabbinical school - was not a disciple of any “famous” or “well-known” rabbi
Today - not going to the right seminary - or not going to seminary at all.
NOTHING WRONG with education - I find it interesting to look at peers, doctors, lawyers, and look at their educational background - not always Harvard or Yale and yet they do quite well.
For us it is listening to God as we read. Listening to God as we pray. Listening to God as he speaks through others around us.
For Jesus - in verse 16 “not my own teaching - it is from the one who sent me”
Jesus follows up that statement in verse 17
17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
“do the will of God” most scholars would substitute “believe in God” - place their faith in God.
The Holy Spirit will help our spirit to discern what we’re hearing, what we’re reading.
Is it that easy? Probably not, but it is true.
Jesus offers a “test” to use in the next verse...
18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
Is anyone you’re listening to or reading puffing themselves up? Seeking their own glory?
OR are they trying to share the Word of the One who sent Jesus.
Are they sharing Jesus and reveling in His Glory rather than their own personal gain?
What about our own words and actions? Are we pointing to the one who sends us? Or are we saying “look at me!”? “Look at us!”?
John the Baptist - “I must become less - so that He becomes more.”
Seek the glory of God - and we will become a person of truth.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Grace - Jesus continues to interact with his brothers even though verse 5 states they didn’t believe in Him.
Truth - verse 24 - “stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement.” There is often deeper “stuff” going on that reveals the truth and we can rightly conclude.
Jesus says to put our focus, our belief, our faith, on “Him Who Sent Me”
Jesus says to put our faith in “what God says...”