The Book of John - 45

Introduction - In John 7, following the introductory verses found in 1-10, we arrive in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2)

In the the last lesson we saw:

b. The demand of his brothers. vss. 3-4

c. The distrust of his brothers. vs. 5

d. The dividing statement of the Lord. vss. 6-9

e. The departing for the feast. vss. 9-10

I like what Matthew Henry had to say about going up to the feast… He stated “Many come first to the temple who are brought thither by vain-glory, and go thence unjustified, as he, Luk 18:11. It is not, Who comes first? that will be the question, but, Who comes fittest? If we bring our hearts with us, it is no matter who gets before us.”

In this next section, contains a large section of dialogue between the Lord and the religious rulers.

Let’s read verses 11-27.

Let’s pray.

Amen.

At the first, we see the Lord purposely not going up to this feast. But then in verse 10, we see the Lord going to the feast.

From this we learn two things,

We should not to run headlong into trouble.

Some folks purposely stir up strife and contention with the wrong motives in their heart.

Some further fail to walk wisely and place their lives in unnecessary danger.

Vs. 1 tells us that Jesus would not walk in Jewry and then gives the reason, —Because the Jews sought to kill them.

But then secondly, we also learn that the Lord was obedient to the will of God the Father and fulfilled the law.

We ought to obey the Lord and fear God not men.

According to God’s divine time table, He would go to the feast, fulfill the law (Deuteronomy 16:16) and preach openly as we will see shortly.

I am reminded of the apostle Paul in His missionary journeys, we are told on some occasions that He suffered physical harm for the sake of the Gospel.

In Acts 14:19 — the Bible tells us that Paul was stoned, being persuaded by the Jews and left Him for dead outside of the city.

In other cases, like in Acts 17, we see Paul prudently leaving Thessalonica, as to not put the brethren or Himself in unnecessary danger.

In this section we are looking at today, we discover that the fear of men has silenced many witnesses.

Look with me at John 7:13.

John 7:13 “Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.”

Because of the power that the religious rulers held folks did not speak.

We will see this fear again demonstrated in John 9:22, with the parents of the blind man, whom Jesus opens the eyes of.

Proverbs 29:25 tells us, “25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”

Opposed to this idea of the fear of man dictating our response, we read in Ecclesiastes 12:13 “13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

I want you to notice the bookends of this particular section.

In first few verses in this section we see people talking about the Lord (vss. 11-13). In the last verses in this section we see people talking about the Lord (vss. 25-27).

There is a lot of discussion going on amongst these people trying to put their finger on who the Lord is.

Hold your finger there and look with over in Matthew 16 for a moment.

In the 16th chapter of Matthew we see a personal discussion between the Lord and His disciples. The question is raised by the Lord in verse 13.

“…Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”

Notice with me the many responses.

Verse 14 says:

Some say John the Baptist.

Some say Elijah.

Some say Jeremiah.

Some say one of the prophets.

This entire list if you will notice falls short of the truth. Then in verse 15, the Lord makes this question personal, doesn’t He?

They answered the question— they stated what other men believed concerning the identity of the One they were following.

But now the Lord asks this personal question:

Notice with me, verse 15.

“But whom say ye that I am?”

Go back if you will to John chapter 7.

f. The discussion of the people. vss. 11-13

They have a lot to say about the Lord Jesus Christ.

What are they saying?

They are saying all manner of things.

There are some people who would hold that the Lord is a good man. There are some who would state that the Lord is tremendous teacher. Others say that He is a prophet or miracle worker.

My friend what do you believe?

One expositor stated it this way, “In light of this passage, the differences and divergencies of religious beliefs today ought not to surprise us. (Pink) They are but modern symptoms of an ancient disease. (Ryle)”

People today are still discussing the Lord. And they have a lot to say about Him.

You will notice in our text, that the Bible says

Some declared He is a good man. (vs. 12)

We would think about the young rich ruler in this class of people… He came running up to the Lord and kneeled in excitement and stated, “…Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?…”

A man’s religion will always require Him to work to attempt to propitiate—- appease God. However, God’s way is that man cannot work to appease God.

That account is found in Matthew 19:16-ff, Mark 10:17 -ff, and Luke 18:18-ff.

Believing the Lord Jesus Christ is a good man — falls short of the revelation of God’s Word.

Some declared the He is a deceiver. (vs. 12)

This crowd rightly understood Jesus’ claims but would not accept them.

In other words, there is a camp of folks that you will run into witnessing, and discover that they understand what you are saying—- but do reject what the Bible reveals about the Lord.

If the claims of the Word of God are rejected, then Jesus Christ must be a liar.

He must be a deceiver.

Some declared that He could not be the Christ. (vs. 26-27)

At the first in verses 26 and 27 seem almost to be a admission of faith, but what is revealed is their reasoning in the matter. They reason that if the rulers— believe this is the Christ, why would they not reveal Him as such.

And then they conclude He cannot be, because we know this man is from Nazareth.

Some believed on Him as the Christ. (vs. 31)

I pray that your answer would be, —I believe all that is revealed to us in the Scriptures concerning Christ.

Just recently, I have had conversation with folks who do not believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man.

They will tell you, they believe He is the Savior.

One even quoted John 14:6 and stated there is no way to the Father but by Him.

But they say He is not God in the flesh.

I want you to understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed in the Scriptures, as being both fully God and fully man.

In the very opening verses and chapter one of John this assertion is made.

In John 1:1–3 “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.”

In John 1:14 John further writes, “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.”

The ‘Word’ as is said in John 1 is Jesus the Christ.

This is made clear by 1 John 1:1 “1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”

In Hebrews chapter 1, the Lord is described as the express image of the invisible God.

God is a Spirit— and in saying that, we are stated, He does not possess a fleshly body like you and I. However, when God took upon Himself flesh— He became a man, without ceasing to be God.

This is what is stated in John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh…”

Therefore He is the express image of the invisible God.

Later in the Gospel record of John in chapter 14, the Lord makes this statement to Philip.

John 14:9 “9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

Notice lastly about this discussion concerning Christ,

Some declared that Christ did not have the proper credentials.

Look with me at verse 15.

The Bible says, John 7:15 “15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”

This is similar to what we discover in Luke 2:46–47 of the Lord at twelve years of age, “46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

One expositor stated, “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.” (Doddridge)

Later on in John 7:46 the officers sent by the chief priests and the pharisees to take Him exclaimed, “46 …Never man spake like this man.”

And how true a statement that is, because this was not just a man— this is the Son of God.

Education is good my friend, and I am a firm believer in folks receiving a wonderful Biblical foundation.

I want you to realize however, all the education in the world, without the presence, power and spiritual understanding from the Lord will do you no good.

My friends there are scores of individuals whom God has used in His work to preach and teach the Word of God without ever having stepped foot in any of man’s institutions.

We cannot substitute education for the power and presence of the Lord.

One has said that people throngs to the altar of education rather than worshipping the One True Living God.

You cannot substitute education for a vibrant relationship with God Himself.

In addition, we must not disregard a person because they have or have not gone to a particular institution we are fond of!

As we close the thought is this—- there are all kinds of opinions as to who the Lord Jesus Christ is.

You will run into folks talking about who the Lord is and they will say all manner of things about Him.

Discussing the Lord is no good. He is not a topic to be debated about —- to which there is no end.

A personal declaration —- a reception of who He is is what is needed.