Jesus' Terms
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ILLUST - Celebrity just attending, not participating, politician just attending convention
Life on Jesus’ Terms
Life on Jesus’ Terms
Read John 7:1-19 text
Setting/Background
Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement, marked the day of the year when High Priest entered Holy of holies and sprinkled blood on the lid of the ark of the covenant. Ark was gone, tradition remained
Five days later, there was an 8-day celebration. Feast of tabernacles - this feast in John 7
Originally 7 days, but an 8th added for summary day
Evenings of this feast, lamps and torches were lit to commemorate pillar of fire by night and God’s leading
(Jesus - light of the world, into a world of darkness - do not miss this)
Feast had become a time of expectation of Messiah to appear, rescue from Rome
This passage - Jesus is challenged by family, questioned at the feast, and Messiahship questioned
Life, our life, is to be based on Jesus’ terms, not our own
1) His Timing
1) His Timing
Noteworthy - Jesus’ brothers do not believe He is the Messiah
“You should go to the feast, that’s where the real Messiah would go, show yourself there!” Not just little ol’ Galilee!
Think in terms of Matthew 4 temptation by Satan
“IF you are the Son of God...” verses 3 and 6
Or what about on the cross, Luke 23:35 “if this is the Christ...”
Same with the soldiers and even one of the criminals
His brothers are placing demands on Him, based on what THEY desire, or what THEY feel
They demand He act on THEIR timing, so THEY feel, better, in control
ASIDE: Jesus says He’s not going, maybe He said “yet” (discussion in the MSS)
Then He goes - did He lie? Was He deceptive?
TRUTH: He did not intend to go publically, He did not intend to go and be the main focus or the main attraction at this feast
His time for that would come
What demands does the world place on Jesus?
If God is real, then why did this bad thing happen?
If you are so faithful, why did this happen to you?
It’s been a couple thousand years, why hasn’t Jesus returned?
What demands do we place on Jesus?
Have you thought on His terms or yours?
I do have one demand of Jesus - I’m going to hold Him to His Word; I expect Him to keep His promises
2) His Message
2) His Message
His message was his mission - Jesus stayed on mission
Not personal prestige, not personal power
Jesus is reminding His brothers about His message, tied with His timing
The time is NOW to believe, (and also go to the feast)
His message led people, the world around Him, to hate Him, it was unavoidable
His message clashed with the message of the world
His message was light, lighting up the world and showing the world its sin
This is why He was hated
This is why, when YOU stand up for God’s Word against the world, you get so much pushback
You proclaiming truth reminds sinners that their behavior is sinful
Then they are faced with repentance or rejecting
Then they may resent you
YOU are not the problem, really - The issue they detest is the TRUTH
Jesus ended up going to the feast - just privately
Then He made His way to the temple courts to teach
He starts with their love of the Law (one of the main pieces of the law is “thou shalt not murder”)
Why are you trying to kill me?
His mission was not the Law, but Truth
His mission was not the Law, but Rescue
His message was not the Law, but Love
This is on Jesus’ terms, got it?
3) No Compromise
3) No Compromise
“So let’s discuss this, let me tell you what I think Messiah and the Message should be like.”
Um…NO
Jesus’ world challenged Him to fit it, to meet their timing and demands
He dared to express His views! And immediately He was challenged
Jesus is right, they were wrong - it’s that simple
They challenged His very right to teach, since He did not follow some Rabbinical teaching
But Jesus is right, they were wrong
They questioned his very authority - He said it was God - Jesus was right
LOOK WHERE JOHN”S GOSPEL HAS BROUGHT US SO FAR
Jesus is God
Jesus has power over nature and humanity
Jesus came to give new birth, spiritual birth
Jesus promised resurrection to any accepting that birth
Jesus met physical needs, always coupled with spiritual truth, (even when people keep demanding signs, just like His brothers did, just like we do at times)
Jesus said He came to do the Father’s will, to offer hope to a dark, evil world
Jesus offered life with Him - forever
NOT because He’s such a good guy and we are nice people He likes
NO - because He’s GOD, and we were wretched, lost sinners in need of His grace, mercy, and salvation - and HE IS GOOD to offer that to everyone!
Just…on His terms
CLOSE
TIMING - we like to guess and demand when Jesus will return
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God is being patient while more get saved
So stop asking when, and get busy telling people “soon”
Time is NOW to accept the Message of Jesus
for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—
MESSAGE
People today do not like the truth, because they do not listen to all of the truth
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
ALL of God’s Word is truth
ILLUST - Sour candy that’s actually good
OR: Dandelion tea and licorice tea, healthy. What if this was the only thing that would help? Some would say yes, others no.
To the lost - Jesus said you are a sinner, and you must repent and...
Many check out right here, that truth hurts
The rest of the truth is that you are then forgiven, part of God’s family
To believers - Jesus said to follow Him, surrender to Him, to leave behind the old self and put on the new self - new choices that mean not making yourself the priority
Many believers check out here, wanting life to be about themselves
But the rest of the truth is that life lived for Him, surrendered to Him, if the best, most blessed life
But it doesn’t FEEL like it yet - timing issue?
But the world’s message is different? - message issue
Can’t I have it both ways, live for the world and for Jesus? - NO
NO COMPROMISE
You must choose
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
It’s easier, right NOW to
Demand Jesus do what you want for your feeling of control
Follow the message of the world, since that is what the majority does
Compromise on the truth, because it makes you more likable and appealing
JESUS SAYS STOP IT!
He was faithful to His mission
He asks you to be the same
He was not self-serving
Glory was always pointed to God
This is why He offered Himself to you, so you could have new life, and point glory to Him
THAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE