Identity Crisis

Traditional 3-Point Sermon Template

Our Identity in Christ

John 7:14-36

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everyone! As we gather today, we stand on the cusp of celebrating the 4th of July, a day that commemorates the birth of our nation and the precious freedom we enjoy. It's a time to reflect on the liberties enshrined in our Constitution and the sacrifices made by countless individuals to secure and protect those freedoms. However, as we delve into today's scripture from John 7:14-36, we are reminded of a deeper, more profound freedom available to us in Christ. While our national freedom allows us to live and worship openly, the freedom offered by Jesus transcends all earthly bounds, liberating us from the chains of sin and death. In this passage, we see Jesus teaching in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, a time of celebration and remembrance for the Jewish people. His words were revolutionary, challenging the established religious norms and offering a pathway to true spiritual freedom. Jesus declares that His teaching comes from God and invites all who are thirsty to come to Him and drink, promising streams of living water. As we reflect on our freedoms this Independence Day, let's remember that our ultimate freedom is found in Jesus Christ. He frees us from sin, guilt, and fear, allowing us to live in the fullness of God's grace and truth. Let us celebrate both our national and spiritual freedoms with gratitude, recognizing the incredible gift of liberty we have been given through Christ.

Bible Passage

John 7:14-36 (CSB - Christian Standard Bible)

14When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach.

15Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How is this man so learned, since he hasn’t been trained?”

16Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me.

17If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.

18The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

19Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

20“You have a demon!” the crowd responded. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21“I performed one work, and you are all amazed,” Jesus answered.

22“This is why Moses has given you circumcision — not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers — and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

23If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won’t be broken, are you angry at me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath?

24Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

25Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?

26Yet, look, he’s speaking publicly and they’re saying nothing to him. Can it be true that the authorities know he is the Messiah?

27But we know where this man is from. When the Messiah comes, nobody will know where he is from.”

28As he was teaching in the temple, Jesus cried out, “You know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own, but the one who sent me is true. You don’t know him;

29I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.”

30Then they tried to seize him. Yet no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come.

31However, many from the crowd believed in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, he won’t perform more signs than this man has done, will he?”

32The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about him, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent servants to arrest him.

33Then Jesus said, “I am only with you for a short time. Then I’m going to the one who sent me.

34You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

35Then the Jews said to one another, “Where does he intend to go so we won’t find him? He doesn’t intend to go to the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does he?

36What is this remark he made: ‘You will look for me, and you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come’ ?”

Illustration

Introduction to the Text

So how do we find that identity, or how do we re-align with that identity. That is what John with show us today as Jesus begins his teaching and exchange with the Jews and crowds at the festival.

And in this we will see that our identity as believers is intricately tied and confirmed to Christs,

1 Teachings

2 Authority

3 and Mission

1

The Teaching of Christ V14-18

Bible Passage

Explanation

V14

1 We got a great introduction to the festival last week

1 and we learned that Jesus did not go up to the festival as expected

1 instead he waited for the right time

2 The Festival is 7 days long so we expect Jesus arrived somewhere around day 3 or 4

3 And because he went in secret, he was able to just get up start teaching

4 And of course he went to probably the most public place there in the temple to do this

1 it wasn't like he hid in a corner

5 In the temple colonnade

1 most likely in the court of the women

2 this was one of the most outer places where ALL Israelites could gather

3 So he essentially went center stage

2 But what is interesting here as well is that he began to teach

1 He didn't perform any miracles

2 he didn't heal

3 He taught

4 He came with Words, not Works

3 And His teachings must have been amazing

1 you may ask what was he teaching that was so profound

1 that it would amaze the people

2 Well, And I am sure it was the same thing he taught about wherever he went, things like

1 The Kingdom of God

2 The Fullfilment of the Scriptures

3 The Love and character of God

4 He taught on Repentance and Faith

5 On how to live both ethically and Righteously

6 and finally, He taught on

1 His own identity and Mission

3 And every single one of these things challenged the conventional religious practices of the day

4 And it wasn't like anything the crowds had ever heard

1 Which is why they reacted the way they did in V15

V15

1 When they heard the things that Jesus was teaching they were amazed, they were marveled

1 I mean here is this normal looking man

1 remember there is nothing special about the way Jesus looked

2 he had calloused hands

3 road beaten and torn cloths

4 he was probably of average height

5 yet, he was.

6 preaching and teaching with such authority, knowledge and wisdom that it left them dumbfoudned

2 That is why they asked how He knew so much when he didn't have any training.

1 Now, just every man in that Jewish culture had the ability to read and write, so this is not what they were questioning his literacy

2 what they were questioning was how this man could teach in this way

1 a way they had never seen before

3 They had never heard any other rabbi teach with such deep interpretation of the scriptures

3 Yet he taught and applied the scriptures like they had never heard

4 and they wondered,

1 this guy didn't go to seminary

2 he didn't even go to a bible college

3 no southwestern, no Dallas Theo, no Southeastern

4 none of those

5 He had no formal education

6 He sat under no other rabbis

5 And Jesus hears this mumbling and going on

1 He understands there this crisis occurring in which they are trying to figure out just who he is

6 So before things can get even more out of hand Jesus responds with V16 (READ

Bible Passage

John 7:16-18 (CSB - Christian Standard Bible)

16Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me.

17If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.

18The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Explanation V16-18

V 16

1 What other Rabbis would do is they would quote other rabbis in order to validate their interpretation of the scriptures

2 But Jesus didn't do this,He didn't quote any human rabbi

3 So what then, did he make this up on his own?

1 This is probably what they were thinking.... NO

4 It was profound because it came from the one who sent Him

1 He didn't just dream it up

2 He didn't arrive at these thoughts through personal study

3 Nor was he simply quoting another rabbi as many of them would do

5 No, these teaching weren't part of some religious tradition

1 these teaching were directly from God

V17

1 Jesus then continues by saying that if you were seeking the will of God, you would understand my teachings are from Him

2 But for the most part they were closed off to His teachings and will of God

3 Just like so many today can be

4 And if we are completely turned off to God's will and His ways,

1 then we will never understand or follow His teachings

5 And this verse speaks right to the heart of his teaching message

1 See it is through the heart

1 that we find desernment and faith

2 and if we are open to His message and His will, we will receive his teachings and we will understand them

3 Because when we follow His will

1 we find obedience

2 and when we find obedience we find the ultimate aspect of learning the teachings of Jesus

4 but if we are closed off, as it was for most of this crowd

1 then the teaching will make no sense

6 Now, it is through knowing Gods will that we know the teachings are from God right

7 But what if they weren't from God

8 What if Jesus was just trying to glorify himself

9 I mean, self glorification was just as prevalent then as it is now

10 which is why in V18

V18

1 See If Jesus' message was for His own glory,

1 then he would have received that glory

2 But again and again Jesus attributes His teaching to the Father

1 and his father is true

3 Therefore, Jesus message isn't about himself it is about Gods message

1 which is a message of salvation for humanity

2 and through that salvation, God will receive His glory

4 But again, only those that want God's will, which is found in salvation

1 understand this, for they understand who Jesus really is

1 God's Son

5 Lets look at this a little further in the context of Jesus' teaching and those seeking Glory

1 because that is exactly what most of the rabbis back then were seeking

6 and frankly now, we can practically throw a rock out of those front doors and hit a preacher that is in it for his own glory

1 See those in it for themselves insist on pushing their titles and credentials

1 yet we see that Jesus has no creditials and no title (not yet)

2 Those seeking their own glory

Seek personal recognition and fame. Prioritize their own agenda and preferences. Focus on personal achievements rather than spiritual growth. and the result are nothing more than superficial faith

3 Yet Jesus

He focused on glorifying God and serving others. He taught with authority and truth, centered on God's Word. And this resulted in a deep, transformative faith

Illustration

Illustrate your point.

Application

2

The Authority of Christ (V19-24)

Bible Passage

Bible Passage

John 7:19-21 (CSB - Christian Standard Bible)

19Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

20“You have a demon!” the crowd responded. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21“I performed one work, and you are all amazed,” Jesus answered.

Explanation

Bible Passage

John 7:22-24 (CSB - Christian Standard Bible)

22“This is why Moses has given you circumcision — not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers — and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

23If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won’t be broken, are you angry at me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath?

24Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

Explanation

Illustration

Illustrate your point.

Application

1 And its the same way even today

2 See the world tries to influence our identity by exerting it's own authority upon us by trying to influence

1 our beliefs

2 our values

3 and our behaviors in various ways

4 and these are almost always in contrast to the teachings and authority of Christ as revealed in the Bible

3 And the world does this by

1 luring us into sin

1 tempting us to our natural desires

2 trying to lead us astray

2 or by promoting relative morality

1 pushing away this idea of truth for one that is relative

2 with moral standards based upon what makes you feel good

3 Or maybe through cultural pressures or ideologies

1 trying to pressure us into following things we know we shouldn't

2 I mean just look at how many organizations turned their logo's into rainbows this month

3 how many sports teams had whole dedicated days and nights to this agenda

4 they are trying to pressure us into that ideology

1 maybe even by calling us names

2 or appealing to our morals

4 How about by prioritizing materialism and success

1 we can sometimes feel as though our worth is measured based upon our wealth

2 or status or

3 Social media definitely helps us fall into this pattern

4 and this can lead us to prioritize these things

5 or seek approval from others based upon things

6 rather than living for God

5 But! when we understand and when we grasp that our identity does not have to be based upon these thing and IS not based upon these things

1 it opens up a wealth of hope,

2 it releases a heavy burden

3 and gives us relief

6 See, in order to withstand the worlds attempt to impose its authority

1 we must simply stay rooted in Christs authority

7 And we do that by

1 remaining in His word

1 study and read the Bible

2 Prayer

1 that's our communication line with God

2 and we have a direct connection

3 Obedience

1 don't just read what he says, live it

4 fellowship with other believers

1 come to church,

2 invite someone over for dinner

5 Serving and telling others about Jesus

8 See when we submit to the authority of Christ

1 we can experience freedom from Sin

2 We get that new identity

3 we receive guidance and wisdom

4 we are able to overcome challenges

5 we get a deep relationship with God

6 and thus we become His instruments

1 of peace and Love

9 And then we get to join Jesus,

1 on HIS mission

10 Which is our final point of the morning

3

POINT #3

Explanation

Explain Point #3.

Illustration

Illustrate your point.

Application

Apply this point to your audience.

Conclusion