Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind

Hopewell Baptist Church

August 18, 2019

Out of Sight, Out of Mind saying – Parents, when your kids get that toy, you know, the one that is really annoying and it makes loud noise, and you can’t wait for it to break, but, it doesn’t break. Then, you hope they just lose interest in it, and sometimes you hide it to help move that along. Well, let me tell you, that didn’t work well with my oldest child, Kristen. She would remember toys she hadn’t played with in a while. While her toys that we wanted her to get over were out of sight, for her, they were NOT out of mind.

Jesus, likewise, is out of sight, however, amongst the Jewish people in and around Jerusalem, Jesus was definitely NOT out of mind.

Jesus, likewise, is out of sight in this passage, but not out of mind at all.

Despite being completely out of sight for us on this side of heaven, He is never out of mind, as all of creation shouts of Him.

And despite being completely out of sight for us on this side of heaven, He is never out of mind, as all of creation shouts of Him.

Recap of – Divine Timetable (Abiding, Brothers’ unbelief, God’s Perfect Timing)

I. – Out of Sight

a. Verse 11 - “The Jews” were looking for Him.

i. Distinction between “The Jews” and “the people” (v.12)

1. The Jews = Jewish leaders (Stand the lose the most)

2. “the people” = common people (Stand to gain the most)

ii. Why are they looking for Him?

1. They want to kill Him – ()

iii. They couldn’t find Him, despite that He is there (v.10), because He can make himself so people don’t see Him (?Premature Triumphal Entry?)

1. – He hid himself and went out of the temple

2. – On the road to Emmaus

b. Verse 12 – Good man versus leading people astray

i. “The people” is a diverse group, Jews from all over who have come to Jerusalem for the feast. (Galileans, Judean, and diaspora Jews).

ii. They are both wrong.

1. Jesus isn’t just a “good man”

a. Is God just a “good man”?

b. Can just a “good man” do all of the miracles/signs and wonders that Jesus had done?

i. Witnesses to Jesus –

2. Jesus isn’t leading people astray (in the traditional sense).

a. Jesus is the Word ()

b. In him was life, ()

c. He is the living water ()

d. He is the bread of life ()

e. If anything, people are being “led astray” from their sinful ways, as Jesus came to save His people from their sins ().

3. The Pharisees are the ones who are leading people astray

a.

c. Verse 13 – Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

i. The authorities did not want Jesus discussed publicly.

1. People associated with Jesus too closely risked being put out of the Synagogue (, )

a. Being put out of the Synagogue is like being an outcast. You lose social status, financial security (as Jews most likely won’t do business with you), and it can ruin your life.

II. Application

a. We, as Jesus did, must lead people away from sin and to the Savior.

i.

ii. Today, sin is a normalized part of our culture, and because of this, we must “lead people astray” from the perversion that is now normal and back to the cure for the disease of sin, Jesus Christ.

b. We must be bold in our stance for Jesus, willing to give it all up ()

i. With sin being so normal and accepted in our society, we, as Christians, must take a stand, a firm, bold stand for Jesus Christ, the one whom through all things were made ().

1. Friends.

2. Jobs

3. Family

4. Our lives.

ii. The Cost Is HIGH to follow Christ. The reward is we receive is worth it.