Judging Jesus
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Come and Drink
Come and Drink
Veterans: Humbling honor. In a day when security is on our hearts, thank you for making this a place where we can even have the conversation.
I once read about a kid chat on a Sunday morning. He wanted enthusiastic participation, so early in his remarks he asked the kids, “What is gray, has a bushy tail, and gathers nuts in the fall?” One five-year-old raised his hand and said, “I know the answer should be Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me.”
I once read about an assistant pastor who was leading a children’s sermon in the regular worship service on Sunday morning. He wanted enthusiastic participation, so early in his remarks he asked the kids, “What is gray, has a bushy tail, and gathers nuts in the fall?” One five-year-old raised his hand and said, “I know the answer should be Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me.”
I once read about an assistant pastor who was leading a children’s sermon in the regular worship service on Sunday morning. He wanted enthusiastic participation, so early in his remarks he asked the kids, “What is gray, has a bushy tail, and gathers nuts in the fall?” One five-year-old raised his hand and said, “I know the answer should be Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me.”
Perhaps to five-year-olds in a Sunday worship service, Jesus should be the answer to everything. The response seemed obvious, but it was wrong—a situation we see commonly in .
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink!
The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”
He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been received because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This really is the Prophet!”
Others said, “This is the Messiah!” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does He?
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David once lived?”
So a division occurred among the crowd because of Him.
Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
Then the temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why haven’t you brought Him?”
The police answered, “No man ever spoke like this!”
Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too?
Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed!”
Nicodemus —the one who came to Him previously, being one of them—said to them,
“Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?”
“You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
So each one went to his house.
Jesus’ brothers assumed he would want fame and public recognition and therefore should head for Jerusalem to flaunt his stuff at the feast—but they were wrong.
It seemed obvious to the crowds at the feast that the mystery that surrounded Jesus suggested he was a deceiver of some kind—but they were wrong.
It seemed obvious to the Jewish religious leaders that no one could read their inner hearts and know their murderous intentions—but they were wrong.
The festal pilgrims saw that the authorities did not arrest the prophet they seemed to hate so much. They concluded that perhaps they had become believers as well—but they were wrong.
The Jewish leaders heard Jesus say he was going to some place where they could not find him. They assumed he would go teach Greeks—but they were wrong.
Jesus’ enemies thought they knew him, his family, and his origins—but they were wrong.
It seemed obvious that Jesus’ message must be false since only the ignorant mob took it seriously—but that was wrong.
Sincere belief in what appears to be obvious is no excuse for not searching for truth. Our belief system should rest on what God says.
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, pp. 151–152). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.”
Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He?
“Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him.
Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?”
The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.”
The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you?
“No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?
“But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.”
Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them,
“Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”
They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”
Everyone went to his home.
Last day of the feast. Seven times around the altar. Water dipped from the pool of Siloam was poured out on the alter, along with wine.
Water for washing is the Word
Water for drinking is the Spirit
At this festival, on this day, according to tradition:
שואביﬦ רוח הקודש
Judging Jesus
they draw the Holy Ghost
Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 835). London: Mathews and Leigh.
Judging Jesus
Actions - the crowds judged Him favorably by His signs. The Jews judged Him unfavorably as a law breaker. First century Jewish historian, Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews), wrote about the miracles He performed. Only they were attributed to wizardry!
Words - His teaching was powerful. It had been since He was 12, that we know of. The temple guard was ‘arrested’ by it.
Experience (Believe, follow) - Nicodemus was having to make a decision to either believe and follow or to reject Jesus. We must make the same choice.
We judge each other by the same measures. Notice that ‘experience’ is the most thorough means to get to know someone.
Responses to the Gospel:
Believe - John 3:16
Hesitate (stumble) - 1 Corinthians 1:23
Scoff - (popular response to last Sunday’s church shooting)
Kill the messenger - Acts 7:58
Water for drinking is the Spirit
Responses to the Gospel:
Believe
Hesitate
Scoff
Kill the messenger
The temple guard (hypēretai) were amazed at Jesus words.
hypēretai
The police answered, “No man ever spoke like this!”
The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
John 7:
The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.”
It was offensive to hear that Jesus’ words were more authoritative than their own. The temple guard would have been within earshot of many of the Pharisees most eloquent orations. Yet this unlearned Galilean spoke like no one ever had! Compared to Him, your words are babbling.
It was even worse to recognize the crowds were being drawn to Him. Their power (influence) was slipping through their fingers!
All having been decided, there are two commands remaining:
Come - If he !believes! rivers will flow from him
And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23
If you have recognized your thirst, COME! What great context! The water had been poured out. The symbolism was ripe.
The invitation is to come to Christ and none other. Not to Moses or the law or any other created thing. Those are wells without water. HOPE DEFERRED. Where you see the well or cistern, and running to it think “my salvation” but find it empty and useless.
Drink
Once I have come, there is but one last step to take. DRINK.
There are many who come, but never drink. It is possible to acknowledge Jesus but never believe. Never allow that obedient faith. We see that in this very text. Some said He must be the Christ, but they didnt drink. They didnt put their trust in Jesus that day.
If the act of coming is only to Jesus. Then the act of drinking is only of His Spirit which gives grace - FREELY!
salvation by him is of free grace, and the pardon of sin is according to the riches of grace, and justification is freely by his grace, and so all other blessings; and of this we may drink abundantly: there is a fulness of grace in Christ, and there is an abundance of it communicated to us; it is exceeding abundant; it flows, and overflows, and may be drank of to satisfaction, till our souls are as a watered garden, and we are satisfied with the goodness of the Lord.
Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 835). London: Mathews and Leigh.
Water for washing is the Word
Water for drinking is the Spirit
The feast reenacted a tradition that could never satisfy the heart of man or righteousness of God. Jesus offers us living water, eternal satisfaction and the opportunity to become the very righteousness of God! Will you come and drink?