We Would See Jesus Part 3 Why People Do Not See

We Would See Jesus Part 3 Why People Do not See

Setting

Place - Open Word Fellowship (Community Church of Myrtle Point

Time - Sunday Morning

Date - November 25, 2018

Scripture -

Text - (NIV84) “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Topic - We Would See Jesus Part 3 Why People do not see

Theme - The simple fact is that people do not see because they have looked at the light and become blind or turned away in disobedience.

INTRODUCTION

We have come to the end of Jesus teaching to the masses. No great church was built. No large congregation was visible. People still do not believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. They liked the miracles. They thought the loaves and fishes were great and the resurrection of Lazarus was phenomenal. But they still did not believe.

Possible Title

We Would See Jesus Part 3 Why People Do Not See

Observations

1. Unbelief V.37-43

Did not

Could Not

Many Believed BUT Kept Quite out of Fear

2. Judgment V. 44-50

Jesus the Light

The Word Brings Judgment

3. Question V.38 Isa:1 "Who has believed our message

AND

to whom has the arm of the Lord

been revealed?"

We have come to the end of Jesus teaching to the masses. No great church was built. No large congregation was visible. People still do not believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. They liked the miracles. They thought the loaves and fishes were great and the resurrection of Lazarus was phenomenal. But they still did not believe.

But - Believes not in Me BUT in Him who sent Me V.44

But - Not to Judge BUT to save the world V.47

But - Not spoken on My own BUT the Father who sent

Me has given Me a commandment

Intro

We have come to the end of Jesus teaching to the masses. No great church was built. No large congregation was visible. People still do not believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. They liked the miracles. They thought the loaves and fishes were great and the resurrection of Lazarus was phenomenal. But they still did not believe.

Is it possible that God planned it this way? Was this a fulfilment of prophecy? Well yes and no. God doesn't make people not believe but when light is rejected it often turns to darkness and when people stop their ears they sometimes get to a place where they cannot hear.

When I got my hearing aids I was told that hearing aids can help to stop the natural lose of hearing from getting older. It can never bring back what is lost but it might help keep it from getting worse.

I do not know if that is true time will tell. What I do know is that often in the New Testament people are told that If they have ears they should hear what is being said. In this scripture we have read what Isaiah told the Jews plainly that, it was God who blinded their eyes, hardened their hearts so they could not turn and be healed.

In (NIV84) it says, "Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” and in L (NIV84) it says, "He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

Later in this chapter Jesus will tell them that He is the light. It is this light that shines in the darkness and if not recognized makes the darkness even darker.

I. V. 37-43 Unbelief

A. Did Not Believe Isa 53:1

:37 Act - Even after Jesus had done

Specific - all these miraculous signs

in their presence

they still

would not believe in Him.

What does it take to bring people to belief? Signs, miracles, teaching nothing seemed to matter they still did not believe. Do we? Are we disciples of just onlookers.

:38 Results - This was to fulfill the words of Isaiah the

prophet:

Question - "Lord, who has believed our message

AND

to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

This is the constant question of those that serve the Lord and look for the harvest. The quote here is taken from

:1 It gives us some interesting things to look at. First of all this prophecy was said about Jesus many years before Jesus came teaching. It was also a prophecy to the people of Israel. Second the question is twofold Who has believed and to whom is it reveal? In Isaiahs day the believers were to be the people that knew and saw the Law and its working. In Jesus day it was the crowds that saw the signs and miracles and should have been able to see. In our day it is the same. What more do we need to see to see the Lord. But wait there is here a suggestion that the power of the Lord is to be revealed. These very thing that the Law, the miracles and God's work in changed lives should show Jesus. If we look we will see Him if we do not we will perish.

B. Could Not Believe Isa. 6:10

:39 Reason - For this reason they could not believe

because , as Isaiah says elsewhere

:40 Act - "He has blinded their eyes

AND

deadened their hearts,

Results - so they can neither

Specific - see with their eyes,

NOR

understand with their hearts

NOR

turn and I would heal them."

All that they wanted and needed most is lost because they refuse to see, have it revealed and believe. Just as the same sun harden the clay it melts the ice. Those that start by not wanting to see because it is hard or inconvenient come at last to a place where they cannot see. these verses define what happens they do not limit what happens or make it happen.

:41 Reason - Isaiah said this because He saw Jesus' glory

AND

spoke about Him

Isaiah saw in his vision a picture of the glory that would be the presence of Jesus the Son of Man. and it is that glory John takes from Isaiah and applies here. This is another one of the connections John makes about the God/man The Incarnate Jesus. Who came in the flesh and showed forth the glory of the on true God.

C. Fearful Belief V. 42-43

:42 Time - Yet at the same time

Act - many

Specific - even among the leaders

believed in Him

Contrast - BUT

Reason - because of the Pharisees

they would not confess their faith

Purpose - for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

:43 Reason - for they loved praise from men

Cp. - more than praise from God.

There were some that believed but only in silence because of their position. That may also be used in reverse. Some lead but have no faith but lead to receive the praise of people. (NIV84)

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Their salvation is incomplete therefore as if it never really happened. It is important to confess and live the life.

II. V. 44-50 Judgement

:44 Act - then Jesus cried out

Fact - "When a man believes in Me, he does not believe

in Me only,

Contrast - BUT

in the One who sent me.

The faith of the believer takes in both the Father and the Son. The one who sent Jesus is the source the special revelation that is the Christ. It is always important to know the source of the power behind the speaker. This goes back to the idea of not on me only but also on the Father because the two are one.

:45 Fact - When he looks at Me he sees the one who sent

Me.

This is the same as he statement I and the Father are one. It was a particularly difficult statement for hem to hear and harder yet to understand. Jesus was not introducing a belief in multiple gods but in the concept of the Godhead.

This whole section is a summary of all that Jesus has taught up to this point. It is the closing of His public ministry and therefore a restatement of important truth,

:46 Pronouncement - I have come into the world as a

light,

Purpose - so that no one who believes in me should stay

in darkness.

Clear purpose statement of why Jesus came and what He was accomplishing. In we were told that Jesus came into the world a light but the darkness never understood it. Here that is repeated giving us the force of the power that overcomes the darkness.

:47 Condition - "As for the person who hears my words

BUT does not keep them,

Pronouncement - I do not judge him.

Reason - For I did not come to judge the world but to

save it

This is a clear statement of Jesus not as judge but as savior. We do not need to die in our sins. said Jesus did not condemn the world but that through Him the world might be saved. If one is judged it is not because of Jesus but because of sin. Jesus provided away but if one refuses the way it is not Christ that condemns or judges him but his own refusal.

:48 Info. - there is a judge for the one who rejects Me

AND

does not accept My words;

Pronouncement - that very word which I spoke will

condemn him at the last day.

There will come a time when the role of savior will end and then judgment will take place. The judgment will come from the very words Jesus spoke. Refusing to listen and obey will not keep us from being judged it only delays the judgment. all sin will eventually be judged. Not by us but by the words of Jesus.

:49 Reason - For I did not speak of My own accord

Contrast - BUT

the Father who sent Me

Act - commanded Me what to say

AND

how to say it.

There were not my words says Jesus these were the words the Father commanded Me to say. They come from Him.Even as Jesus looks forward to His end here on earth and His resurrection to the glory He had with the Father so He encouraged us to be ready for our own time when we stand in the presence of the Father.

:50 Act - I know that His commands lead to eternal life.

Fact - So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say."

Jesus is confident in two things. 1. God's commands lead to eternal life and 2. Jesus words were just what the Father wanted Him to say. We need not fear for following the words Jesus has given us leads us to eternal life as well. As long as we continue to give out His words others will also we lead to belief in Jesus and eternal life.