John 7: Jesus' Clarifying Truth

Lesson: 11

Passage: John 7

Attribute: Wise

Doctrine: Trinity

Big Idea: Jesus’ Clarifying Truth is timely, absolute, and revealing.

Aim:

I. Introduction

Alright…we are gonna play a game…are you ready...

It’s called 2 truths and a lie..

here we go..

I played soccer in college.

I lived and worked in Yellowstone National Park for a summer.

I have had multiple knee surgeries.

Which one is the lie?

Let’s keep playing...

My Jesus loves people like I do.

My Jesus wants me to be happy.

My Jesus

We live in a world where truth is what you want it to be.

What you feel…or what you want to be true…is truth…and to question a person’s truth is to be unloving.

We ask questions because we have a heart to learn…to discover...

In chp 7…there are a total of 18 questions asked both by Jesus…and by the people.

Sometimes the people ask a question and then Jesus responds with another question!

Have you ever had a teacher do this?

Why do they do it? Why do they test you and ask you to ANSWER questions?

Because they want you to learn..to grow in understanding.

c. What is truth?

John MacArthur:

“Here’s a simple definition drawn from what the Bible teaches: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.”

This week we will see Jesus’ confront confusion with clarifying truth that is

Timely Truth 1-13

Understood/Absolute Truth 14-24

Revealing Truth 25-52

Open Bible’s/Apps

II. Timely Truth 1-13

We are going to see that Jesus’ timely truth WAITS in verses 1-9 and is always, right on time, in verses 10-13

a. 1-9- WAITS

Last week, chapter 6 ended with many of Jesus’ disciples turning away and rejecting Him.

Why- because basically, they weren’t interested in a Messiah who was mainly spiritual, they wanted someone who was going to meet their physical…here and now needs.

As we continue into chapter 7 today, the drama is going to continue.

Our scripture starts by telling us that it was time for the Festival of Tabernacles, or as some translations have- the Feast of Booths.

This was one of 3 Jewish festivals where the Jews would actually physically travel to Jerusalem.

This festival was 8 days long and focused on remembering how God had cared for Israel for 40 years in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. But it was also a celebration that the harvest had been complete.

This was a time of celebration and joy.

The way it worked, is that the Jews would come and build booths, or small huts, made out of branches and live in them to remember their temporary living arrangements before they moved into the promised land.

If you like camping…and you like parties..then this would be your favorite festival.

Typically, families would go together so Jesus’ brothers say to Jesus in vs 3.

“Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things show yourself to the world.”

In other words- they are like- listen Jesus..you are doing this all wrong. It’s TIME for the festival…All the Jews are going to be together in one spot…THIS is YOUR TIME to make your move.

But Jesus didn’t come to get a bunch of fans…to make the biggest scene...or to try to get the most followers on social media...

His plan and purpose was bigger than that.

and He KNEW that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him..we learned that in vs. 1 but also back in chp. 5…

So Jesus tells them 6...My TIME is not yet here; for you any TIME will do.

TIME…the truth is- we all have time- the question is..how are you going to spend it?

For Jesus’ brothers---> Anytime will do....I wonder if this describes you today...Do you bring everything…even your TIME before the Lord?

Recognizing that the TIME you have been given is HIS time…and you can spend it on his plans and purposes for your life…or you can be like his brothers…and do what you want, whenever you want to do it, and how you want to do it.

Following Jesus mean’s giving up CONTROL of your timetable and what you think your purpose is and instead following Him.

It lets go of your to do lists and says- ok Lord…direct my steps…

The word for time here is kairos…which often means “opportunity.” Jesus says- I’m waiting for the right opportunity- and this exact moment isn’t it.

He is going to REVEAL- He is going to reveal WHO HE IS…AT the opportune..or right time. He isn’t afraid…He isn’t a coward…He is simply…in control and has purpose in the waiting.

Jesus’ Truth is and was important..and needed…and should be shared..so…Jesus waits…and then..he moves forward..

b. 10-13- Is Right On Time

In vs’s 10-13…we see that Jesus’ truth is always right on time…

apparently, sometime after his brothers left, it WAS time for him to go to the festival.

Now at first it might seem like Jesus was lying when Jesus said he wasn’t going…but, he wasn’t lying to them…he meant that he wasn’t going with them....it wasn’t time for him to die- and if he had gone with them and made the big scene that they wanted him to make…then Jesus knew that that is what would have happened…and it wasn’t time....

Jesus will make his grand entrance in chp. 12 when he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey..note that when he does that, less than a week later..

So in vs 10…It’s time…so, he goes..

remember...his hour to die had not yet come..but the time to go to the festival…without his brothers…had come....

so..knowing it’s time…off he goes...

at just…the right…time…

Why did he go? Well…as we are going to see in the rest of the chapter and also next week…Jesus came to bring clarifying truth…but he does it..in his time…and in his way…never too soon and never too late.

The people were confused…they were speculating..whispering about Him…Jesus knew their confusion..he knew their questions…and he knew what they needed most…was the REAL…ABSOLUTE…CLARIFYING TRUTH about who he was...

Principle: Jesus’ truth is always given at the right time;

Jesus’/God’s timing is always perfect.

Do you trust God’s timing? Or do you get ancy and try to take things into your own hands?

There is such a thing as a “right time”.

God’s truth is always revealed on time/at the right time.

God is always on time.

Application:

- Where are you trying to be in control of God’s timing?

Do you see a problem and JUMP into action to solve it…because you think the problem needs fixed..right now..in this moment…and if no one else is going to do it, well then…you will?

Or…do you know WHEN to wait…

knowing WHEN to WAIT requires a constant dependence on God…it requires listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit…there are lots of situations where we are forced to wait, but Jesus wasn’t forced to wait here…he was in tune with the Father…he listened for the voice of the Holy Spirit and even though he could have gone with his brothers…he obeyed…he listened…he waited.

Some of you are excellent waiters..but God is telling you it is time to go… to say “yes” to the thing that is going to take up, ironically, more of your time...

Take time this week to ask God where you need to wait and where you need to go? Seek Him? Listen for his voice…read his word…and

III. Absolute Truth/Origin of Truth 14-24

In vs’s 14-24 we will see that Jesus’ ABSOLUTE TRUTH is FROM GOD in vs’s 14-17 and and NOT Man in vs 19-24

a. 14-18- From God

Ok, so vs. 14 tells us it’s halfway through the festival, so day 3 or 4, and Jesus goes up to the temple courts and begins to teach.

Hearing Jesus’ teachings results in one of the many questions found in this chapter...

vs 15..How did this man get such learning without having been taught?

Now…Jesus could have responded...”because I am God.” which, would have been a true statement.

But instead, He says:

16 “...My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.

Here Jesus reveals his connection with the Father....

DOCTRINE.... TRINITY

in revealing his connection with the Father…he points out that ABSOLUTE TRUTH…comes from GOD...

because God is sovereign…creator…and all knowing...

illustration about people having different perspectives of same situation.

He has the whole picture...

every word God speaks is absolute..

it’s not relative truth…or simply an opinion or even a fact…if God says it, then it is…TRUTH…it is final...

What keeps you from believing that God’s truth is absolute?

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.

in vs 17 Jesus says tells us that those who CHOOSE God will realize that his words are truth..

In other words…if you are struggling to believe- if you are constantly CONFUSED about who I am...the problem, might be your lack of willingness to submit..or in other words- to let go of what you want to be true...

Jesus says- if you would just LET GO…if you would make the choice that you are going to believe my words..even when they are hard…even when they don’t make sense…even when you are confused…He says...IF you CHOOSE to TRUST me...THEN…you will find understanding.

Notice he doesn’t say anything about getting a degree, getting better teaching, memorizing more verses, going to church more, or reading the most commentaries before you do your lesson each week....remember- the Pharisees had all of that…

But- vs’s 17-18 show us how we can continue to grow in our faith once we have believed.

So, How do we grow in our faith?

You continue- day by day- to LET GO of your wants and desires and instead live for God.

Look at vs 19- the man of truth is one who SEEKS THE GLORY OF GOD…because TRUTH comes from God.

Reading another book about God or even reading your Bible doesn’t make you spiritually mature if you aren’t willing to do what it says.

instead what he says..is what he has said from the beginning of this book…he says…CHOOSE ME…CHOOSE to LET GO of your ways and follow God’s...

Jesus here connects the the heart and the head.

He DOESN’T say throw logic or reason out the window..he doesn’t say not to be an intellect…he doesn’t say reading your Bible, memorizing scripture, or going to church doesn’t matter…but…BEFORE…you can have understanding…you have to submit..or said another way, you have to BELIEVE...

one commentator puts it simply…

When you don’t believe…you misunderstand. unbelief causes misunderstanding.

ILLUSTRATION ABOUT NEEDING TO BREAK THE ICE TO SEE THINGS MORE CLEARLY

b. 19-24- Not Man (Moses)

In verses 19-24 Jesus shows us that truth DOES NOT come FROM MAN..therefore,

Principle: Understanding truth always comes from obedience to God; surrender to God;

Application:

- Where are you searching for truth?

- The news? Through facts? Social media?

IV. DIVIDING/Revealing Truth 25-52

As we move to the final half of chp. 7,

a. 25-36: Clarifies Jesus’ Identity

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

b. 37-39: From Holy Spirit

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[c] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

i. DOCTRINE: TRINITY

c. 40-53: Causes division

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

Principle: The Holy Spirit reveals the truth about Jesus’ identity.

Application:

V. Conclusion 2 minutes