Unbelieving Leaders

Place - Open Word Fellowship (Community Church of Myrtle Point)

Place - Open Word Fellowship (Community Church of Myrtle Point)

Time - Sunday Morning

Date - August 5, 2018

Scripture -

Text -

Topic - Unbelieving Leaders

Theme - When we allow anger to cloud our judgment we make serious mistakes that lead to life changing experiences.

Introduction to the Scripture

Our reading today is . This is the reaction of the Jewish leadership to Jesus not being arrested. Our reading begins at John 7:45

INTRODUCTION

Possible Titles

This passage starts out with some questions asked to the Levites, guards, sent arrest Jesus. They did not because by their own words, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” They were clearly impressed by what they heard. We also read in verse 44 that no on laid a hand on Jesus and in verse 30 we were told that His time had not yet come.

Unbelieving Leaders

Division and Unbelief

Jesus had a message to give and an appointed time to die and until that mission was complete no on could lay a hand on Him. To this the Leaders became angry. After all He is just a man. All the guards need to do was reach our and take Him. Now there true attitude begins to show. Their further questions reveal a mindset of their own importance and that know one was to appose them not even the law.

First reading NIV

1. Discussion between the Leaders and the Temple Guards that were sent to arrest Jesus

2. The Guards came back without Jesus.

3. The Leaders do not want to hear anything positive they just want Jesus arrested.

4. Nicodemus is shot down because of the Galilee issue.

Second Reading ESV

5. Repeat of Questions

Why did you not bring Him?

Have you also been deceived?

Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him?

Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?

Are you from Galilee too?

6. Very hostile group of Leaders

Third Reading NRSV

Fourth Reading NET Bible

7. Controversy of V.7:53-8:11 being included into the text.

I. V. 45- 49 Miscalculation

I. V. 45- 49 Miscalculation

A. V. 45 Guards Ability

7:45 Time - Finally (then, Therefore)

People - the temple guard

Act - went back

Specific - to the chief priests

AND

Pharisees,

who asked them,

Question - "Why didn't you bring Him in?"

The first word in this first sentence is oun and can be translated either then or therefore. If we look back to the previous verse we remember that no one could lay a hand on Jesus even though they wanted to arrest Him. Therefore the guards not being able to do their job went back to the people that had sent them the leaders of the religious community. Which then prompted the question Why didn't you bring Him? We sent you to do a task and you are back without completing the task.

B. V.46-49 Jesus' Appeal

:46 Answer - "No one ever spoke the way tis man does,"

Response - the guards declared.

Here is another taste of John's irony as the guards, probably Levites themselves recognise in Jesus a depth of wisdom not possessed by other men. Indeed without meaning to they give testimony to Jesus as being more that Just a man.

V.47 Question - "You mean He has deceived you also?"

Response - The Pharisees retorted.

The response here is based on the idea that as trained religious people they should know better than to be taken in by an obvious imposter. No one could have foreseen that the words of Jesus would appeal even to those trained in the law. Training can cut both ways to open a person to the truth or to make a person hard and set on their particular belief and tolerate no other.

V.48 Question - "Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees

believed in Him?"

Answer - No! (supplied by the NIV not in the original)

Now the rulers ask about their own people. Surly those of the elders of the people are not deceived

:49 Contrast - But

People - this mob that knows nothing of the law

Opinion - there is a curse on them" (on them added)

In contrast to the Levities, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees, that know all things particularly the law, this mob or crowd know nothing and are under a curse. Not many wise or important people have come to faith so Paul tells us. Today it is still the same. People of certain learning traditions think themselves above the common person and are sure that the common person could not possibly understand the complexity of the things elected officials and highly educated people deal with. Thus the term liberal used ti mean tolerant, learned and flexible. Now it means stay out of the way because we know better than you. See where the Sanhedrin are amazed at Peter and John

II. V.50-53 Anger Distort

A. V.50 What is said

V.50 Person - Nicodemus

Specific - who had gone to Jesus

earlier

AND

who was one of their own

number,

V.51 Act - asked

Question - "Does our law condemn anyone without first

hearing him to find out what he is doing?"

Now one of their number asks a question will he be heard. When emotion rules the head and heart then often decisions are made that bring on bad decisions. Nicodemus is not even defending Jesus he is only raising a point of order and justices.

B. V.52 How it is Responded to

V.52 Response - They replied,

Question - "Are you from Galilee too?"

Command - Look into it,

AND

you will find

Specific - that a prophet does not

come out of Galilee."

Again their misinformation has led them to a wrong conclusion. While Jesus had been teaching in Galilee He was born in Bethlehem and began His ministry in Judah where the tried to arrest and kill Him.

These few verses give us a look at the people in charge and how deeply they hated Jesus. He was popular they were not. He taught with authority they did not. The common people understood and flocked to Him they did not like or trust the spiritual leaders. Jesus gave them life and hope the elders gave the law and despair. In the end the the leaders won the battle crucifying Jesus but Jesus is even today winning the war against sin and changing our lives.