Enemies of God & The Ultimate Obeyer

Main Idea: Jesus obeyed perfectly to bring enemies of God back to Him.

Introduction – "Opposition to Jesus: Then & Now"

Ask: "Have you ever been against something or someone, only to later realize you were wrong?" (Example: A disliked food, a person you misjudged, etc.)Transition: "In John 7:1-9, we see that people—both then and now—naturally reject Jesus. But while we resist God, Jesus perfectly obeyed Him. The good news is that His obedience makes a way for us to be reconciled to God!"

We Are Natural Enemies of God

(Read John 7:1-7) Because of sin, people naturally resist and oppose God. This passage gives three examples:

A. The Jews Sought to Kill Him (v. 1)

Jesus knew the religious leaders in Judea wanted Him dead. Their problem? Jesus exposed their sin & hypocrisy (remember back to John 5:18), and they hated Him for it.

"What are the reasons we reject truth, even when it’s for our good?"

Have you ever not wanted to be told the truth about the outcome of some decisions you were making?

Key Point: Sin makes us resist the very God who gives us life.

B. His Own Brothers Mocked Him (vv. 2-5)

Even Jesus’ own brothers didn’t believe in Him. Instead of supporting Him, they sarcastically told Him to go prove Himself in Jerusalem. The text never tells us that his brothers hated him, but Jesus was too common in their minds, after all they grew up with Him. For some of us, our idea of Jesus has made him far too common and we’ve reduced him in our mind to a slogan, holiday or good example to follow. Like his brothers, many today aren’t convinced he is the one they needed for life, they wanted proof on their own terms rather than trusting God’s timing to prove Jesus to be the Christ.

Key Point: Many reject Jesus not because of lack of evidence but because He has become common in our minds and our hearts resist seeing our need for God.

C. The World Hates Him (v. 7)

Jesus told them, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil." The world doesn’t mind a nice Jesus, but it hates a Jesus who calls for repentance. Ask: "What are ways people reject Jesus today?"

Key Point: Without Jesus, we are naturally part of this world’s rebellion against God.

Jesus Is the Ultimate Obeyer of God

(Read John 7:6-9) Though Jesus was rejected, He stayed perfectly obedient to God’s plan.

A. Jesus Was Not After His Own Glory (vv. 2-5, 6-8)

Jesus' brothers encouraged Him to make Himself known to the world by going to the feast. They thought it was the right time for Him to show off His power. But Jesus didn’t seek His own glory. He was focused on obeying His Father’s will, not drawing attention to Himself for personal gain. Ask: "Why do you think Jesus didn’t give in to His brothers’ encouragement?"

B. Jesus Submitted to God’s Timing for His Death (vv. 6, 8)

His brothers wanted Him to go to the feast publicly, but Jesus followed God’s timing, not theirs.Jesus didn’t seek human approval—He sought obedience.Ask: "Do you find it hard to trust God’s timing in your life?"

Key Point: Jesus trusted God’s plan, even when others pressured Him to act differently.

C. Jesus Endured Hatred & Death in Submission to the Father (v. 7, 9)

Jesus knew the world hated Him, yet He still went to the cross for those same people.His obedience led Him to endure rejection, suffering, and ultimately death on our behalf.Ask: "If Jesus obeyed God even when it was hard, how should we respond?"

Key Point: Jesus obeyed perfectly in our place, so that through Him, enemies of God can become children of God.

Call to Response – "Where Do You Stand?"

For those who haven’t believed: Are you still rejecting Jesus like the rest of the world, or will you trust Him today?

For believers: Are you living like Jesus, seeking to obey God even when it’s unpopular?

Gospel Invitation:

We are natural enemies of God (Romans 5:10). Jesus obeyed God perfectly and died for His enemies (Romans 5:8). Through Him, we can be made right with God (John 1:12).

Closing Prayer & Challenge

Encourage students to reflect: "Am I rejecting or following Jesus?"Offer time for personal prayer or questions about faith. Challenge: "Jesus obeyed God for us—will we follow Him in return?"