Unbelievable Unbelief

To help us a bit with a time perspective, what we are studying right now would have been about 6 months before Jesus gave His life on the cross as a love offering. 

As we observe throughout the life of Jesus, He did not spend time battling those who were the “sinners.”  His opposition came from the legalistic, proper religious leaders.  He came to heal the sick.  He came to offer help and hope for the helpless and hopeless.  The opposition came from the self-help community of independent, make-up-my own rules for religious living; I’m better than others because I do these things and don’t do those things, followers of a man-made religion.

My friends, belief in anything, or anyone, other than Jesus Christ is merely unbelief.  And if a person believes in something or someone other than Jesus, their unbelief turns into antagonism, rebellion, anger, hostility, etc.  Their unbelief sets them against God, thus making them enemies of the very God they profess to follow.  

Jesus stated that because the world hated Him, they will hate us, those who are followers of Christ.  And just as Jesus never wavered nor changed His claims about being the Son of God, we cannot compromise our witness, either.  Jesus never gave another option for salvation, other than belief in Him, alone.  You and I must also hold firmly to presenting Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven. My friends, in view of this world today and what we experience, here is our challenge: 

In spite of attacks and opposition, we must continue to present belief in Jesus Christ as the only way for salvation.

Today our study will be focusing on the choices which unbelief causes people to make.

Unbelief Chooses Wrong Information - 7.25-29

So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill?  Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they?  However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.”  Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.  I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

Here, we read about a group of people who actually did know what the religious leaders were plotting.  Their question is a rhetorical one which demands a positive answer.  They continue by pointing out Jesus’ boldness in this whole scenario.  The word for publicly can also be translated boldly, confidently.  They are observing that the same leaders who were looking to quietly kill Jesus in order to silence Him so they could keep their own power over the people, were actually acting in a cowardly way.  The religious leaders were not willing to engage Jesus in debate.  They weren’t willing to have Him openly arrested.  

This does make some sense from a practical perspective.  If they start a debate with Jesus, they probably thought they would lose and look like fools.  If they had Him arrested, they might start a riot.  If that happened, the Roman officials would sweep in to restore order and probably cause great problems for the Jewish leaders.  

Don’t you find it interesting when God has a message to be proclaimed, the person (here it is Jesus) is given boldness in the face of intense animosity and hatred?  We have seen this with the Old Testament saints, as well as with the early church in the book of Acts.  We’re reminded from Paul’s ministry how he could have retired and settled down and not been bothered after he was set free.  However, he exercised his rights and requested that he be sent to Rome.  He knew that God had a message for him to share with the leader of the world at that time.  We still see this same boldness today in those who are in right relationship with Christ and are obedient to His will.

Back to verse 26, they ask this rhetorical question.  John 7:26 ““Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they?” This time, the wording is such that it demands a negative answer.  The reason it must be a negative response, is seen in verse 27 as they share their ignorance and faulty information. John 7:27 ““However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.””

They had listened and accepted some false information and some incorrect interpretations of some Old Testament verses and apocryphal books, as well as from some teachers who thought they knew more than they actually did.  The logic was, that based upon the idea that one could not know the origin of the Messiah, and the fact that they felt they knew where Jesus was born and raised, then the conclusion must be that this could not be the Messiah.  

Again, Jesus did not bother to correct their faulty thinking.  Instead He went back to the core issue—their unbelief.  In verse 28, the wording cried out shows that Jesus yelled or spoke with incredible volume, so that everyone could hear Him.  The same word also carries with it that this is a proclamation and is not up for any discussion.  What Jesus was going to say needed to be heard by everyone there.  Verse 28 is not a contradiction, but rather a statement of irony.  MacArthur worded it this way:  “So you think you know Me and where I am from, do you?”  This would make sense as Jesus once again points out that their supposed spiritual knowledge was absolute nonsense.  Not only were their ideas totally wrong, their worship was totally wrong.  They professed to knowing God.  The reality is that they did not know God!  Those who thought they were so righteous in their religious activity and words, were anything but righteous.  They pretended to be pointing to God, but were only pointing to themselves.  

This danger has gone on for centuries and is still happening today.  Whether it be in the form of legalism, a focus on activity, an emphasis on certain behavior, or whatever; if the focus is on anything other than the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way for sinners to be set free to serve God and to live for Him, then most likely, it is not of God.

Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets spoke very much the same thoughts to those who were acting as if they were working on behalf of God.  Jesus did not mince words as to who is actually in charge of their lives and what those unbelievers truly were.  

When unbelief chooses to make wrong choices, it sadly leads to those people using willful intimidation. This seems to be how the religious leaders reacted to Jesus’ statements. 

Unbelief Chooses Willful Intimidation - 7.30-32

So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.  But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”  The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him.

Why would the people want to seize Jesus?  Obviously, He touched a nerve when He stated exactly what was going on in their hearts.  He was not interested in being popular or acceptable among the people.  He was focused on doing His Father’s will.  His purpose was to come to offer forgiveness and take away the punishment for sin for those who would believe on His Name.  However, He had much more to do.  So, nobody was able to touch Him for the purpose of silencing Him.  

Too often, Christians find themselves being careful or cautious about sharing the things of Christ.  There is a concern that something bad might happen if we don’t keep our mouths shut.  However, God will not allow anything to come our way unless He has chosen to permit it.  We can trust God completely for our lives and for our death.  We need to be willing to be a witness for our Lord, regardless of the opposition of those who are caught up in unbelief or hostility towards Christ and His children.  

It seems that wherever Jesus is or wherever He is proclaimed, division among people is the result.  We see this in these three verses.  Some of the people, along with the Pharisees, wanted to seize Him in order to silence Him completely.  However, there were many of the crowd [who] believed in Him.  What an encouraging word that is.  Even today, we can be encouraged that though there may be great opposition to Christ and the things of God, there are many who believe in Him.  

There is an interesting question in verse 31, which is, once again, a rhetorical question. John 7:31 “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?” The wording expects a negative answer.  From what they had observed and heard, they understood that whoever the religious leaders were waiting for, that person would not perform more signs or proofs that He was from God than Jesus already was doing.  It seemed obvious to many that Jesus was the real deal.  

Verse 32 shows the Pharisees beginning to panic.  John 7:32 “The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him.” They certainly didn’t want the people to think that Jesus was actually the Messiah.  This struck such fear into their hearts that they sent for officers to seize Jesus.  These officers were basically Levites who were the temple police force.  Their responsibility was to make sure things stayed peaceful and orderly according to the religious leaders’ demands. 

It is also interesting to note that the Pharisees now joined the chief priests in their opposition to Jesus.  Why is this interesting? The chief priests were mostly Sadducees.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were actually enemies of each other.  Now they were combining in a joint effort to silence Jesus.  

Will this hostility and antagonism cause Jesus to tone it down for the purposes of peace?  As we see in the next verses, the answer is a resounding “no.”

Though the religious leaders were choosing willful intimidation, the sad reality is that all of the wrong choices of unbelief simply ended in woeful condemnation.

Unbelief Chooses Woeful Condemnation - 7.33-36

Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me.  You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”  The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He?  What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

Jesus continued to share with the crowd.  He let it be known that He will continue to be with them, though it will be for a little while longer.  Then what?  Jesus says that He will go to Him who sent me.  We know that this took place when Jesus was resurrected after the crucifixion. 

But Jesus didn’t just stop with this.  He continued to point out what the results of their unbelief would be, and the fact that He is indeed God. He says, You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.  This was incredibly powerful language which Jesus was presenting.  He has stated that He has come from the Father, from heaven.  He has said that He is doing the Father’s will; He has equal authority with the Father; He and the Father are one.  He says here that He is going back to the Father, back to heaven.  Then He makes it even more painfully clear. 

Even though they think they are seeking the Messiah, they won’t find Him.  Why not? They’re looking for Him in all the wrong ways.  He declares that where He will be, it will be impossible for them to come.  The reason? Unbelief cannot inherit eternal life.  Hostility towards God does not gain anyone a place in the Kingdom of heaven.  Following one’s own religious system is not anywhere close to God’s way of a person becoming a child of God.  The reality is that unbelief and a refusal to do things God’s way, results in eternal death and separation from God and an eternity in hell.

Instead of dealing with what Jesus was actually teaching and getting to the core of what He meant, they mocked Him and acted as if He were a lunatic and a spiritual loser.  They offered their words of superiority over everyone else, even in their comments about the Greeks. Yet, the Greeks were interested in God, not Judaism.  They were among those who would choose to follow biblical teachings and ignore the false Jewish focus.  

Reflections

One might look back at this passage and recognize that Jesus was actually offering the people another opportunity.  He would still be on this earth a little while.  However, if they continued in their unbelief, there would never be the opportunity to spend eternity with Him.  

Today, just like in Jesus’ time, and throughout history, humanity tends to miss the point completely.  Too many people are content with trying to get to heaven on their own terms.  They attempt to avoid the way of Christ because they see it as too narrow and limiting.  They try to present God as a God of love, Who couldn’t possibly send people to hell, just because they didn’t get it. A person can argue about Christ and with Christ; but they will not only lose the argument, they will lose their soul.

Brothers and sisters, there are too many people with whom we are acquainted that fit into this mindset. And sadly, their unbelief will result in a Christ-less eternity.

My friends, there are also too many people sitting in churches all around the world who are steeped in their own version of unbelief. They strut around, showing off their pseudo-spiritual power, keeping people in their places, while pretending to be serving God. Their form of unbelief will also result in a Christ-less eternity.

So what does that have to do with each one of us? 

In spite of attacks and opposition, we must continue to present belief in Jesus Christ as the only way for salvation.