Person of Interest: Seeking Jesus

How Does Jesus Know so Much? (The Source of Jesus' Wisdom)

John 7:14-18

Summary: In John 7:14-18, Jesus teaches in the temple, revealing his wisdom and knowledge, which come from God the Father.

Application Point: This passage reminds Christians that true wisdom comes from God. By seeking His guidance and spending time in His Word, we can grow in wisdom and knowledge. It also challenges us to be discerning of false teachings and to always test everything against God's truth.

Teaching Point: This sermon teaches that Jesus, as the Son of God, is the ultimate source of wisdom and knowledge. His teachings are not His own but come from the Father. We are called to listen to His words and follow His teachings.

How this passage points to Christ: Throughout the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). In Proverbs, He is referred to as Wisdom personified. Jesus' wisdom and knowledge demonstrate His divine nature.

Big Idea: Seeking wisdom and knowledge from Jesus, who is the source of all wisdom, leads to discernment and growth in faith. As Christians, we are called to follow His teachings and rely on Him for guidance in all aspects of our lives.

Introduction

Good morning,

Last week we looked at the first 13 verses in John and saw where Jesus had a different plan than His brothers. We learned that we must trust in Jesus, and have the discernment of God’s timing. Even though Jesus did not go when His brothers wanted Him to, or do it the way they wanted, Jesus was still working.

This morning we continue in John starting in v. 14

John 7:14–18 NIV

Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 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. 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.

Here we see that Jesus waits until halfway through the festival to make himself known. How does he do this? He heads into the temply courts. THis would be the area between the main temple entrance the the entrance to the temple building. This is the area people would congregate throughout the day, and the same area where Jesus would clear the people out not once but twice in his life. The main question posed here by the people is, “How does he know so much, he didn’t go to school?” It was comoon for all Jewish men to have some level of education, they would be able to read and write, and have a basic knowledge, but the level of theological knowledge and wisdom Jesus was sharing was far beyond that of a “son of a carpenter from Nazareth.” So how do we take this and apply it to our lives? Again, we are to follow the example of Christ by showing...

Application

1. Boldness of Divine Wisdom

John 7:14 NIV

Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.

You could start by illustrating the boldness of Jesus, stepping into the temple to teach, as a way of demonstrating that true wisdom and authority come from being in direct communion with God. This sets the stage for understanding how Jesus, fully aligned with the Father’s will, is our ultimate guide in discernment and wisdom.

Again, as we saw last week, Jesus knew the religious leaders were coming for Him

His brothers wanted to force Him there, with a large group, making this grand scene.

Jesus had other plans, following the will of the Father and showing his authority and wisdom that transcends understanding.

He boldly walked into the temple courts, alone, and taught

He showed His authority and wisdom through His teaching.

He was fully aligned with God

Are we fully aligned with Him?

Are we willing to be bold?

We are working on furniture in the nursery. This can be a point of contention for some.....Imagine trying to assemble a complicated piece of furniture without reading the instructions. We boldly go on, only to end up with leftover parts and a wobbly piece of furniture. Divine wisdom is like the instruction manual for life, and boldness without it can leave us feeling incomplete and unstable.

2. Beyond Human Understanding

John 7:15–16 NIV

The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.

Perhaps explore the astonishment of the Jews at Jesus' knowledge, despite His lack of formal training, to highlight that wisdom from God transcends human understanding and credentials. This point could underscore the invitation to trust in Jesus for guidance and wisdom, rather than solely on human authorities or our own understanding.

Jesus showed his Knowledge beyond human understanding

The people were amazed by Him

Are we amazed by Jesus?

Does his teaching blow our minds?

Do we acknowledge the source of his wisdom beyond just words on a page, or a sermon thats given?

He tells them where his teaching comes from, the Father

Wisdom from God transcends all human understanding

We are to trust in Jesus (like we talked about last week) and trust His guidance and wisdom over human authority and our own understanding.

When we seek wisdom, who do we look towards?

On Wednesday nights we are goign through creation v evolution

We see the scientist that so many look to for Wisdom

Darwin, Lyell

It seems we tend to seek men for wisdom more than the Father

In a world filled with self-help books and 'life hacks', it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of earthly wisdom. But it's like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. God's wisdom, on the other hand, is like a never-ending spring of living water that satisfies our deepest thirst for meaning and purpose.

3. Wisdom in Willingness

John 7:17–18 NIV

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. 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.

Maybe emphasize Jesus' criteria for recognizing true wisdom: willingness to do God’s will as the path to understanding. This can reinforce the importance of obedience and humility before God as prerequisites to gaining divine wisdom and discernment, inviting the audience to examine their own hearts and dedication to God's will.

Jesus let the people know, that if they followed the will of the Father, they would find out where His teaching comes from.

The challenge and overall critique to the people surrounding Christ was they they did not truly know God.

Every Sunday we gather just outside the door. Chad, Aubrey, the Deacon of the Week, the choir and myself. You know what we do? We pray forthe service together. The main point of the prayer being for God ro move us out of His way, and use us to deliever His message to you. We do not want to get caught up in the group of people speaking on our won for our own personal glory. We only want God to get the glory.

When our focus is on Christ, when we seek the will of the Father, we will see wisdom be granted to us.

Jesus says there is nothing false in Him

We do not know what Jesus was teaching during this pasage of scripture, but we know it was profound and challenging.

Following Christ and learning truth all starts with obedience and humility.

In the book of James, we are reminded that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to us. This wisdom is not just head knowledge, but a practical understanding of how to live in a way that pleases God. When we obediently seek God's wisdom, we position ourselves to receive it.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). In Proverbs, He is referred to as Wisdom personified. Jesus' wisdom and knowledge demonstrate His divine nature.

So how did Jesus know so much? Because He followed the will of the Father. Would others say the same thing about you? Are you smart, but not wise? Do you know all the answers, but your life doesnt prove it? Are we willing to walk into the temple courts of our lives, filled with unbelievers and detractors, and stand on the truth of God’s Word? Do we know God enough, do we seek Him closely, that He would impart His wisdom upon us? Or are we faking it, can we tell the difference between the wisdom from God and the desires of the flesh? A lot in the church today place words in God’s mouth. THis si evidence of their relationship with him. I pray that we, as people and a church, never fall into this category. I pray that we seek earnestly each day. That we trust Christ fully, and we recieve true wisdom from the Father.

Imagine a skilled craftsman who patiently teaches their apprentice, sharing valuable knowledge and wisdom. The apprentice's ability to learn and apply this wisdom is directly linked to their obedience and receptiveness to the master's instruction. In the same way, God desires to impart wisdom to us, but our obedience is crucial in receiving and applying it in our lives.