John 7:1-32

Remain Visible

Keep sharing the truth about Jesus among those who reject Him

Text: John 7:1-36

Introduction

Q — Did you every know how something would turn out before it happened, but because of the importance of your efforts, you went forward and contributed anyway?

That being said, anything you do that is good and spiritual is never wasted!

Jesus knew well enough the animosity that would come from his family, the argumentation that would develop from the pilgrims who would arrive for the Feast of Tabernacles, and the antagonism from the Jewish rulers. That being said, once again, we find Jesus among those very people.

Q — Would this be wasted time? NO!

There is not amount of hard hearted sinners that you could be surrounded by that would make your efforts in declaring the truth a waste of time!

Listen, what better person to have among a host of false opinions about Jesus than those who bare the truth?

Let’s be encouraged today through the ministry of Jesus, to be a people who keep Jesus visible through our daily living…

1) Jesus Loved His Unbelieving Family

Q — How many of you have family who are unbelievers? Have you every wondered if you were wasting your time? Have you every said to yourself, “Why do I even keep trying? They are going to be rude and just reject my counsel?”

Mary bore other children. Of course, Joseph would be their natural father. That would make Jesus a half brother to them.

A. His family had heard Jesus’ teaching and saw His miracles (v3-4)

They had the closest contact then anyone else.

They had the best opportunity to watch and test Him.

This was a fulfillment of Psalm 69:8 “8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother’s children.”

Jesus never made it about His loneliness, but about their soon coming eternal separation from eternal life.

a) They were following tradition and missing eternal life

Never turn away from the TRUTH because of your family’s religious tradition.

There will be no sympathy from God!

b) They ultimately didn’t follow Him because of verdict on the world

Jesus responded to His brothers by saying, “The world hates me because I have testified that their works are evil.”

B. His family told Him to move on to bigger things

Remember back, Jesus had no interest in becoming a celebrity.

His half brothers had the world’s point of view:

“If you really want a following, You are going to have to do something spectacular!

In their minds, this would be the prime opportunity to recoup the number of disciples who deserted Him.

Satan had even suggested this earlier on — Matthew 4:5–7 “5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

His brother was accusing Him of hiding away and therefore possible not being who He said He was.

Their logic was: “If you are the great Son Of God, take center stage and put on a big show for everyone to see.”

Jesus would one day take center stage. However, it wouldn’t be to receive the applause of man, but to receive the punishment of man’s sin.

People have said, “If Jesus is who He says He is, He would fit the mold of their qualifications (remove pain and suffering, and heal the sick).

He met the qualifications of His Father!

C. Jesus gave His family a promising invitation (v6-9)

a) Jesus never undervalued the common people

Jesus came in the form of a commoner.

He was born to a very average family.

He was born in a cave like stable area.

He was laid in a stone feeding trough.

He was surrounded by shepherds.

Jesus always valued reaching the family unit. You always found him with the rejected, discarded, and overlooked.

For Jesus, it wasn’t about making a name for Himself. He already had the greatest name under Heaven.

Acts 4:12 “12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

His desire was for people to know Him and receive Him.

b) This all means that He has a love for even someone like you!

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

c) If Jesus led who were unwilling, you should never give up on those who are unwilling!

2) Jesus Loved The Skeptic

A. Jesus went to the Feast of the Tabernacles (v10-11)

The Feast of Tabernacles looked back to Israel’s journey through the wilderness, and looked forward to the promised kingdom of Messiah. The Jews lived in booths made of branches to remind them of God’s providential care of the nation for nearly forty years. (Warren Wiersbe; The Bible Exposition)

Leviticus 23:40–44 “40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.”

Following the Feast of Trumpets and the solemn Day of Atonement, Tabernacles was a festive time for the people. The temple area was illumined by large candlesticks that reminded the people of the guiding pillar of fire; and each day the priests would carry water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out from a golden vessel, reminding the Jews of the miraculous provision of water from the rock.(Warren Wiersbe; The Bible Exposition)

The feast may have been a jubilant time for the people, but it was a difficult time for Jesus, for it marked the beginning of open and militant opposition to Him and His ministry. Ever since He had healed the paralytic on the Sabbath Day, Jesus had been targeted by the Jewish leaders who wanted to kill Him. (Warren Wiersbe; The Bible Exposition)

a) Jesus was never led by fear. He was led by the Spirit!

Even though for Him to remain in Galilee would have been much safer, He had to leave in order to observe the feast.

He was never fearful to share the truth with those who apposed it.

He never waited for a convenient time of safety or comfort; the right moment according to the flesh.

Jesus waited on the right moment according to the Holy Spirit.

B. Jesus claimed that His teaching came from the Father (v12-19)

(v12-13) Before Jesus arrived, pilgrims and local Jews of Jerusalem were arguing if Jesus was good or a liar.

Jesus does have to be one or the other!

a) Once Jesus arrived, the debate began to be about His doctrine (v14-15)

He had already claimed His works and judgement were connected to the Father.

His Jewish enemies claimed Jesus had no credentials. Credentials that didn’t pass their approval.

All false religion is built on the notion that Jesus “alone” doesn’t meet their qualifications.

Jesus has fulfilled every prophecy concerning Him!

b) Jesus could claim absolute authority regarding all that He taught (v16-18)

This is not the case for you and me.

You and I can claim authority for the Bible, but not my interpretations of scripture.

Notice how Jesus said they can prove His claim.

“Submit to My will and find out”

Jesus was not saying, “Give it a try and find out.”

Jesus was talking about:

Having a desire to act on God’s will.

Surrendering to a deep personal commitment on the truth of His person.

Illustration: I remember when I surrendered deeply to God’s call to salvation!

Jesus was calling them to have a personal experience with the authority of His truth...the ONLY TRUTH!

LISTEN...Jesus is NOT someone you “try.” He is someone you come to with a deep rooted belief that He is the Savior who alone can cleanse you of guilt before the Father.

That is exactly where the religious crowd drew the line!

3) Jesus Loved The Antagonist

Verses 25-38

A. Jesus had no fear to tell them from where He came (v25-29)

a) The locals had a blinded logic regarding where Jesus came from (v27)

1. Nobody knows where the Christ comes from.

2. We know where Jesus of Nazareth came from.

3. Conclusion: Jesus cannot be the Messiah.

b) Jesus responds with clarification (v28-29)

“You may think you know, but you don’t”

“My existence does not originate with this body I am in”

“My existence is from eternity with the Father...the One you don’t know, but I do!”

John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Acts 4:11 “11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

B. Jesus had no fear of their efforts to take His life (v30-32)

No body was going to force God’s hand! He works all things out to His will in His timing!

This reminds me of the Sovereignty of God over my life!

Missionary Story: Bro. Robert Mach shared a story about an opportunity to share the gospel with one of the most hostile areas and tribes there in the Ivory Coast of Africa.

What may seem like a situation that could go hostile, could be an open door to remove the hostility through the gospel.

C. Jesus told them of a future where He would no longer be found (v33-38)

a) Who were the ones in real danger? (v33-34)

He warned them that they had but “a little while” to hear the truth, believe, and be saved.

b) Who were the ones who could have Jesus? (v37-38)

Conclusion

Believer: Are you hiding the truth about Jesus?

Unbeliever: Jesus remains visible and available for you to repent and invite Him into your soul and life through confessing a placement of your personal faith in Him.