The Majestic Messiah: A Masterful Manifestation

Introduction

This morning, we return to the Gospel of John. However, as we do, let me begin by reminding you of one great attribute of this wonderful gospel.

The entire book of John concerns itself with the fact that Jesus Christ is God.

Thus, from the very beginning, our understanding as taught in this gospel is this: If you truly want to know God personally, then seek to know and learn everything you can about Jesus Christ. He is God.

John 1:1–3 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 KJV 1900

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

We are limited beings. Our ability to know and understand God on His level is way beyond our capability. Knowing this,

God became flesh and dwelled among us in the physical makeup of Jesus Christ.

Christ was way more than just a man. He was God. Thus, if you truly want to know God, know Christ.

It is quite disturbing that hundreds of thousands of people met Christ, heard Him teach, and witnessed His miracles. Yet, they missed the obvious truth that Christ was God, the promised Messiah.

John 1:10–11 KJV 1900

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

This fact becomes increasingly apparent as we read and study Christ’s encounter with people during His earthly ministry. From the religious leaders, known as the Pharisees, to the everyday working class, the majority never truly accepted Christ as the Messiah.

Some of the most brilliant minds to have ever walked this earth, outside of Christ, also failed to recognize Christ as God. For example, Albert Einstein, a renowned physicist and one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, did not believe in a personal God. He refused to state or accept the idea of a God. Instead, he would often refer to a “cosmic spirit” or a “God of Spinoza” as the underlying order of the universe rather than a personal deity. Not once during his lifetime did he ever accept Jesus Christ as God. Here is one of the most brilliant minds to ever grace our planet, yet even he failed miserably in his understanding of Jesus Christ as God, as Messiah. With his brilliant mind understanding math, physics, and natural laws, Albert Einstein could not explain the meaning of life, love, or hope!

Similarly, today's world is filled with brilliant minds and powerful leaders. Yet, they cannot ultimately satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. They have no answer for the one thing men need most - the cure for sin. Only one person has ever done so: Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate authority, the sole source of true wisdom, and the key to eternal life.

In today’s text, chapter 7, we encounter a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ divine authority and knowledge. In this passage, we will explore the Messiah's masterful mind, mighty miracles, and mighty message. We will also see mankind's mixed response to His divine revelation and the ultimate call to follow Him.

Here is our first point.

The Holy Spirit shows us the...

Masterful Mind of the Messiah

Look at our text, John 7, and note verses 14-19.

John 7:14–19 KJV 1900

14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

It is interesting that we find Christ teaching in the temple. You may recall that all this takes place during the great Feast of Tabernacles. Initially, his brothers challenged Him to go with them to the feast and openly reveal Himself to the entire world. However, such revelation had not yet come, so Christ refused their offer. Then, after his brothers went to the feast without Him, He went to the feast, but he did so secretly. Yet, here He is openly teaching in the Temple.

Why is that? The answer is easy. Christ refused to be intimidated by those who sought to kill him. He was more concerned about submitting and being obedient to the Father’s will. In doing so, He set the example for us, who later would be His disciples. We, too, must not be intimidated by unbelievers, but we must be bold in our submission and obedience to God.

Another interesting thing is that we have already seen Christ in the temple two other times. In John 2, Christ vindicated the Temple as His Father’s house by clearing out the moneychangers. Later, Christ was again in the temple and healed an impotent man. Here, in John 7, we find Christ teaching in the Temple.

We do not have a record of His teaching. Scripture plainly states, “Jesus went up into the temple and taught.” However, we do have a record of all those who heard His teaching.

John 7:15 KJV 1900

15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

The word “letters” means literary learning. In Jewish culture, it means being an expert in the written literature known as the Hebrew Scriptures, mainly what we know today as the law, prophets, and proverbs, which include the Psalms. Thus, they were utterly amazed that Christ has such a profound understanding of the Old Testament that they could not explain it, noting that, as far as they knew, He never received formal education and training in them.

One Bible commentator noted, “These words undoubtedly refer to our Lord’s great acquaintance with the Scriptures, and the judicious and masterly manner in which He taught the people out of them, with far greater majesty and nobler eloquence than the scribes could attain by a learned education.”

How is Christ able to do so? The short answer is this. He is God.

He is the Author of the entire Word of God, including the Old Testament. He is the Word. Thus, by His very nature, He is the Word of God.

That is the short answer according to Scripture, but let’s observe Christ’s answer.

John 7:16–19 KJV 1900

16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

His answer reveals important spiritual factors.

First, His teaching and dialogue with those who heard his teaching reveal His marvelous mastery of Scripture. As already noted, He is the Author of Scripture; thus, His mastery of it is beyond all others. However, Christ also stated that his “doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” This is a simple statement with some profound meaning. Essentially, Christ was noting once again His deity. The word “doctrine” simply means “teaching.” His teaching and the teaching of God are the same, for they, Jesus Christ and the Father, are God.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Second, Christ noted that any person who is determined to do God’s will is a person who will also know God’s teachings. In other words, true disciples of Christ devote themselves to knowing God’s Word and doing God’s Word. Their devotion to obedience only happens as they know God’s will. Knowing God’s will only come by faithfully studying God’s Word. If a person, a true believer, spends significant time studying God’s Word so they might do God’s will, they will, without a doubt, know when another person is speaking of themselves or God. It will occur naturally.

Third, Christ also noted that anyone who is full of themselves seeking their own glory instead of God’s glory is not of God. They are not true or genuine. However, those who seek God’s glory seek the One who is true and has no unrighteousness.

Note the majesty and magnificence of Christ’s words. He alone is the Word of God. He is the Author of Scripture. His teaching far exceeds all others because He penned them. However, we, too, can know the Word, Jesus Christ. We, too, can study Him and the Scriptures. In doing so, we can not only teach the same doctrine or teaching but also discern the truth coming from others as they teach.

Now, you would think that all those who heard His teaching that day and the many other times He taught would recognize Him as the true Messiah. Sadly, they did not. However, there was further proof offered by Christ than just His teaching.

The majestic Messiah, Jesus Christ, manifested Himself by His masterful mind and by offering His mighty miracles.

Mighty Miracles of the Messiah

Look again at our text, noting the people's responses.

John 7:20 KJV 1900

20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

Their response came because Christ asked in the previous verse, “Why go ye about to kill me?”

John 7:19 KJV 1900

19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Christ asked the question as He turned the tables on them. Remember, it was through Moses God gave the law. What is one of the most famous commandments of the ten? Thou shalt not kill. Yet, here were all these Jews claiming to be disciples of Moses committed to the Law and, yet, seeking to kill Jesus. He exposed the unrighteousness and double standard in their speech and actions. Of course, their response was accusation and denial. You are possessed by a devil, for who is going about to kill you? O how their speech betrays them. In the blindness of their sinful hearts, they blaspheme Christ. However, despite their evil speech, Christ ignores their blasphemy and continues to graciously and mercifully address them.

John 7:21–24 KJV 1900

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

The key point to His response is simply this. Each miracle that Christ performed was a miracle of great wonder.

Each miracle defied everything men knew about nature and the laws of nature.

They marveled and were stupefied by them. Yet, with one miracle, the miracle by which He healed an impotent man on the Sabbath, they turned on Him. They accuse Him of all kinds of spiritual violations according to their interpretation of the law. Their criticism was completely unreasonable. As Christ noted, if they would perform circumcision on the Sabbath (for you cannot choose when a person is born), then why complain when He heals a man who has suffered his entire life?

Verse 24 is crucial. Here is the one area in which we all fail. Too many times, we hastily form our opinions without considering everything. We already have what we think should or should not be. These Jews were hastily forming opinions about Christ based on appearance, not truth. They allowed the ruling religious crowd to dictate the parameters of their thinking. Thus, their opinions were constantly vacillating between Christ being a good man and Christ being the promised Messiah. Instead of believing Scripture and accepting Christ's teachings, they formed views based on their innately flawed thinking. It is for this reason Scripture clearly states we must “believe.” Faith is the only option. We must brush aside our opinions. Our wicked sinful hearts are not capable of “righteous judgment.”

Hebrews 11:3 KJV 1900

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This is why Christ repeatedly encourages people to “believe” or “have faith.”

Faith is the only thing that pleases Him and is the path to understanding.

Here is one last point as we conclude today.

Not only did Christ offer His masterful mind and mighty miracles as proof of His deity. He gave them a mighty message.

Mighty Message of the Messiah

Read the last few verses of our text with me.

John 7:25–31 KJV 1900

25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? 26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

One of these days, I will research this gospel based on how many times we see the phrase “then cried Jesus” or something similar. As I was studying this week, this act of Christ stood out to me. The word “cried” means He loudly and emotionally said something. If Christ is saying something emotionally, it must mean it was very dear to His heart. In our text today, He cries, “Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent.” In a nutshell, it would seem that Christ was crying out from frustration. I wonder how many times God is frustrated by our stubbornness. Furthermore, these people, the Jews, were His people. From the time of Abraham, God chose them. Yet, repeatedly, they refused God. Even at this moment, as Christ walks among them, teaching them and doing wonderful miracles, they refuse to acknowledge Him as Messiah. Yes, they did know Him and where He came from. Unfortunately, they would not accept the truth. His mighty message was that He came. For those who would set aside their opinions of Him and believe His teachings, miracles, and message, eternal life and spiritual understanding were theirs. They would know as He knew that He was from the Father who sent Him. However, for those who refuse to believe and continue to reason with their sinful hearts and minds, if they do not believe, they will one day awake to an awful eternal reality that does not include God or any hope of everlasting life.

Conclusion

As we conclude our study of today’s text, we are left with a profound challenge. Will we, like the Jewish leaders, reject the clear evidence of Christ's divinity, or will we embrace Him as the true Messiah? The choice is ours. We can choose to cling to our own understanding, traditions, and pride, or we can humble ourselves and submit to the authority of Christ. The consequences of our choice are eternal. Let us not be like those who saw Jesus, heard His teachings, and witnessed His miracles yet still failed to recognize Him. Instead, let us embrace Him as the source of all truth, the giver of life, and the hope of the world.

May we, by God's grace, respond to the majestic mind, mighty miracles, and mighty message of the Messiah with faith, repentance, and obedience.