Decided Distancing...
Notes
Transcript
What to do with Jesus?
What to do with Jesus?
Social distancing in a phrase that was really not part of our vocabulary until a few weeks ago. People around the world are being invited to distance themselves to help prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus. The invitation to Social Distancing is a choice. It is a decision that is made to separate from other people so that the spread of the virus is minimized. So, for now we are separating for an overall good cause. To help abbreviate the spread of a global pandemic.
Think about this… What other decisions do we make that lead to separation? Some things that might not be so positive?
- We separate from one another for health reasons...
- We separate from one another because of preferences...
- We separate from one another because of anger… and violence...
- People separate from each other because of social status....
- We separate from one another because of personal values and beliefs....
- Probably the biggest one of all… people separate from one another because of Jesus...
Christ brings division and separation every day. I’m sure many of us have experienced this…
We’re at the store, in school, or at work and we are talking with someone about a number of things… politics, sports, education, the weather… then… someone says something like… ‘you know my life has really been different lately because of Jesus...’..
Suddenly there is an awkward silence… and you begin to hear the shuffling of feet as people disperse.
One guy looks at his watch and says… ‘I think i’ve got an appointment I need to get to… I don’t want to be late.’ Another person says, ‘oh I just forgot… I need to go feed the dog...’ I’ve gotta run.
In reality nothing urgent needs to be done… but by bringing up the subject of Jesus… you’ve caused people to awkwardly want some social distancing.
“The mention of Christ brings division to life. Talking about religious matters is acceptable as long as you talk about them dispassionately… but talking about them personally doesn’t seem to be allowed.” (Hughes)
A point worth considering is this: Sincere devotion to Christ always brings division.
A point worth considering is this: Sincere devotion to Christ always brings division.
As we tuck that statement into the back of our minds to meditate on.... Let’s turn our attention to our text for today.
We will be continuing our study through the Gospel of John. Last week Cody did a great job of walking us through chapter 7 and presented us with the truths of Christ and His eternal origins.
As we open our Bibles to … let’s ask ourselves a question that has been coming to the minds of people every since the day that Jesus turned water into wine…
What do we do with Jesus?
Last week when we looked at , we learned about a time when Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Tabernacles. This was one of the Jews biggest holidays of the year.
— A side note about the Gospel of John — Usually throughout the book, whenever John says “the Jews”… he is referring to the enemies of Jesus. — For example, when we look at
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
That phrase… “the Jews were seeking to kill him”… is obviously referring to the enemies (religious leaders) of Jesus… because hopefully your friends wouldn’t be trying to kill you.
(Background about the Feast of Booths/ Tabernacles and its connection to water…)
We are going to be looking at verses 37-52 today. But, before we go to the text, let me give you a little bit more background information about the feast of booths/ tabernacles that will help frame our understanding of what Jesus will say in verse 37.
The feast of booths/ tabernacles took place when all of the harvest had been gathered… and it was a joyous time of celebration.
The gospel of John presents 3 main feasts or celebrations. Passover (ch. 6), The feast of booths/ tabernacles (ch. 7-10a), and Hanukkah (ch. 10b).
The feast of booths was a very well attended and exciting festival to attend...plus it was one of the three festivals that required the attendance of every Jewish male who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem.
The city of Jerusalem would have been full of people… it was a colorful and interesting time when small shelters or tents would have been popping up all over the city.
e would have been lots of people in Jerusalem. It was a very colorful and interesting event where small shelters or tents popped up all over the city.
One author said that today we might call it the “Jerusalem Camping and RV Expo!”
As the shelters were built, they had to follow certain guidelines. The walls had to be extra thin so that light could come through and the roof had to show enough sky so that the stars could be seen from inside. —
This was a reminder to the Jews of how they had wandered in the wilderness and of how God had provided for them.
People who attended the feast would have dressed in their Sabbath best. People called this festival “the season of our gladness”. It was such a festive time that the Prophet Zechariah had said that it was a symbol of the glorious future of the people of God ().
Why are we talking so much about the feast of booths? Well… that is a good question. We need to understand what is going on here in the context of so that we can understand the statement that Jesus makes in verse 37.
At the center of the festival was a daily water ritual... that was performed by the priests.
Each morning large numbers of people would gather at the temple. They would bring certain citrus fruits and tree branches with them that were a reminder of the land that God had given them and a symbol of their ancestors journey through the wilderness.
Each morning the people gathered together, and the priest would hold out a golden pitcher. The priest would then go to the Pool of Siloam and the crowds would follow. As they followed they would chant Psalms. Once they arrived at the pool, the priest would draw water from the pool in the golden pitcher. When the priest did this the people would recite the words from
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Then the crowd would march back to the temple, entering through the Water gate as the priests blew their trumpets. The priests would then circle the altar once, and go up onto the platform and then the water from the golden pitcher would be poured out.
This happened every day of the feast of booths. This part of the festival commemorated God’s miraculous provision of water during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, and encouraged the anticipation of the messianic age.
Now that we have that contextual picture in our minds…
This festival is a big deal to the Jews. The city would have been filled with people eagerly gathering at the Temple daily.
Jesus was also in Jerusalem… surrounded by enemies that are seeking for reasons and opportunities to kill him.
Now that we have that contextual picture in our minds…
Let’s look at our text for today. Let’s begin by reading together.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
John 7:37-52
The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:37-39
Why did Christ decide to speak out at that exact moment?
We have to believe that according to God’s plan of redemption… It was the right moment.
Everything that is taking place in Chapter 7 is strategically occuring according to God’s divine time-table. Remember back in verse 2 of chapter 7
Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.
For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.
John 7:4-
Jesus didn’t do anything unless it was part of the Father’s time schedule. Now in verse 37 Jesus stands and gives this invitation at a moment in time when the drama of the festival would have been at its peak… It was just the right moment for Jesus to speak.
As we read through the text today Jesus will engage us with an invitation. But, this invitation has two sides to it. One one hand… the invitation of Jesus Satisfies.... and yet on the other hand… the invitation of Jesus separates.
In verses 37-39 Jesus pronounces An Invitation that Satisfies. Then, in verses 40-52 we will be shown several responses to the same invitation… but instead of satisfaction.... Jesus’ invitation will separate.
see an invitation given and then several responses to that invitation. In verses 37-39 Jesus pronounces An Invitation that Satisfies. Then, in verses 40-52 we will be shown several
Let’s turn out attention back to verses 37-39 where Jesus stands and gives an invitation…
I. An Invitation that Satisfies:
It was the final day of the feast when the priest would again come to the temple, followed by the great crowd chanting their Psalms ().
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
They would come in through the Water Gate with trumpets sounding...
It was the final day of the feast. (7th or 8th day)
the priest would circle the altar. This time time… on the last day of the feast he would circle the altar 7 times.... just like Israel did when the walls of Jericho fell.
It was the day that the priest would again come to the temple, followed by the great crowd chanting their Psalms (Psalms 113-118). They would come in through the Water Gate… the trumpets would sound.... and the priest would circle the altar. This time time… on the last day of the feast he would circle the altar 7 times.... just like Israel did when the walls of Jericho fell.
After the 7th trip around the altar, the priest would then go up the ramp to the altar… and there would be a pause.
The priest would dramatically raise the golden pitcher… the crowd would begin to shout for the priest to hold it higher.... and he would try his best to do so....
It was thought to be one of the the highest joys in an Israelites’ life if he could see the water being poured onto the altar.
Imagine that moment.... the crowd is hushed… waiting for the climax when the priest would pour the water out onto the altar… then as the crowd is hushed… wrapped in expectation...
“Jesus stood and cried out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (vs. 37).
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Jesus stands and cries out... “if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (vs. 37).
“Jesus stood and cried out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (vs. 37).
At the right moment.... in God’s perfect timing… “Jesus stood and cried out,… if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (vs. 37).
Wow! Such a powerful statement… Such a dramatic presentation of this wonderful spiritual truth!
At a moment when people were focused on the fact that God had provided for their physical thirst in the wilderness....
Jesus stands and invites all who will hear Him… all those who are spiritually thirsty… to come Him and have their spiritual thirst satisfied!
All those who are ready to acknowledged the great thirst of their own personal guilt before a holy God… realizing that they can do nothing on their own to escape His judgment, which they so rightly deserve… Jesus says come to me!…
These are the people who Jesus is inviting to come to Him and drink....
All those who are ready to rely on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the payment for their sins… affirming Jesus to be the only Savior (; )… and Lord of their lives ()....
Then, in verse 38 Jesus says,
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
:38
Those that come to Jesus and drink.... that living water which they drink becomes a well… springing up to eternal life… ().
Our Lord was inviting thirsty souls to come to Him for spiritual, eternal, and life giving water...
All those who are thirsty.... come to Me and find satisfaction…
People in the middle-east know what it means to be thirsty. While we tend to focus on our physical thirst… Jesus has the spiritual thirst of the crowd in mind.
All those who are thirsty.... come to Me and find satisfaction…
Sadly, many times today when we begin to thirst for God… we try and satisfy that thirst with new clothes, a new car, a new experience… or whatever else you seek to fill the void.
This invitation is to anyone who thirsts… anyone who is truly seeking… anyone who is searching for the divine gift of spiritual health… Anyone who is seeking to have their thirsty souls satisfied...
Those who hunger and thirst for the water that Christ will give are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Here in , Jesus encourages a healthy thirst.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
John 7:37
Those that come to Jesus with a healthy thirst will be satisfied.
It’s interesting that verse 38 says… “as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’”.
Jesus isn’t quoting any one OT Scripture here. Jesus is actually summarizing several different OT Scriptures and putting them all together when he says and says...that whoever believes in HIm.... will have rivers of living water flowing out of them.
Jesus summarizes several different OT Scriptures and says...that whoever believes in HIm.... will have rivers of living water flowing out of them.
This phrase “out of his heart will flow rivers of living waters” is a reflection of passages like and . and others....
This invitation is to anyone who thirsts… anyone who is seeking… anyone who is searching for the divine gift of spiritual health.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.
(you can read for yourself.... speaks about the flowing waters related to the Melennial temple.
As Jesus gives this invitation to come to Him and be satisfied… He is also promising that all those who do come to Him in faith.... to those who truly Believe.... they will be channels through which the rivers of living water will flow and be sent out to others.
The main idea Jesus is promoting is that Believers… those who come to Him… respond to Him in faith… are to be channels through which the rivers of living water are sent out to others.
True Christians are not meant to be self-centered.
As we receive God’s gift… we are to pass it on to others. As our spiritual thirst is quenched.... we are to be a channel… carrying that living water to others who are also dying of thirst.
When we are redeemed and become servants of the Lord… God will use us as the means by which He brings blessing to others.
The picture Jesus seems to be painting here is that as we come to Him by faith… we are to spread the news to others… evangelize the lost, edify the saints … allow the spiritual life within us to spill over and impact all those around us.
Those who hunger and thirst for the water that Christ will give are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
What do we do with Jesus?
All those who are thirsty.... are called to come to Him… Embrace Him by faith… Believe in Him… and become channels for the living waters of salvation so that others may believe also!
Jesus’ invitation to come and drink.... is followed by a comment by John. Almost like John puts a small foot note here to the story. John tells us in verse 39 that Jesus was referring to the Spirit, “through whom those who believed in him were to receive..”.
Eternal life is given through the Spirit to all those who believe (; ; ; ).
The Spirit is also responsible for empowering the believer to bring the living water of salvation to others who are thirsty… (; ; ).
John’s footnote in verse 39 says...
Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When John adds this footnote about the Spirit he is clarifying something for us.
John is giving the readers clarity about what Jesus is saying. Jesus wasn’t saying that the Holy Spirit had not been present or active in the past or at the present… He was!
What is John trying to clarify here?
We could spend a long time going through all the OT passages that talk about the Holy Spirit being present and active. (; ; ; ; Ez. 36:27, etc…)
John wants to clarify that Jesus wasn’t saying that the Holy Spirit had not been present or active in the past or at the present…
What John wants to make sure his readers understand is that there was going to be a time when Believers would be empowered by the Spirit in a unique and powerful way that would provide for the enablement of the ministry and evangelism.
If we read ahead in the gospel fo John, Jesus further clarifies this in , when He talks about how the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, would come once He was gone.
During the time prior to Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension… anyone who responded in faith to Christ’s invitation would receive the living water of salvation. They would be saved... But, the Holy Spirit would not be given in full until several months later… on the Day of Pentecost… after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Since the ending of the transitional time when the church was being started, which is recorded for us in the book of Acts,
Praise the Lord that now all Christians everywhere… now that Jesus is glorified… all those who respond to faith in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
When Jesus pronounced HIs invitation to Come to Me! His invitation was given so that the souls of men would no longer have to suffer from spiritual thirst but have the opportunity to be truly satisfied in Christ.
As we continue reading in verses 40-52, John shows us several different responses to Jesus’ invitation. We will see that Jesus’ invitation was not only able to bring satisfaction… it was able to breed separation.
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
II. An Invitation that Separates: Responses of the Crowd
As you read through verses 40-52 we are shown that the crowd was separated into 4 groups.
John 7:
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
In verses 40-41a we are told about those who were Convinced.
In verses 41b-44 we are told about those who were Clarifying
In verses 45-49 we are shown those who were Confused
And in verses 50-52, John highlights those who were Questioning
People separated into 4 groups: Convinced, Clarifying, Confused, Questioning… (Mac)
The crowd was divided by Christ’s invitation to come to Him....
In verses 40-41a we see that there were those who were convinced.
Convinced (40-41a)
“When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.”…
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?
There were some in the crowd who were convinced that Jesus was “the Prophet” that Moses wrote of in . Some people accurately connected this promise of a “prophet” with the Messiah (two passages in Acts that help make this connection… ; ).
At the very least this group was convinced that Jesus was sent from God.
There were others in the crowd who had a clear understanding of who Jesus was.... these were the ones saying, “This is the Christ.” in the beginning of verse 41.
Previously people had been afraid to publicly identify with Jesus as the Christ because they feared the Jewish authorities. Now, it seems like at least some have gained victory over their fear of man and are boldly proclaiming that they are identifying with Christ. They are professing their belief! As this group of convinced people proclaim their belief in Jesus… they are instantly separated from the crowd and placed in an awkward cultural position standing in opposition to the Jewish religious authorities.
By proclaiming their belief in Christ… they set apart from the crowd.
Next, in verses 41b-44 we see that there were some who were clarifying… on the surface… they seemed to want more information.
Clarifying (41b-44)
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
Now those in the crowd that are still skeptical are asking for clarity. The way that they make their statement… “Is the Christ to come form Galilee?” expects a negative answer.
The idea that the Christ… the Messiah could come from some small country town in Galilee seemed ridiculous to the sophisticated Judeans.
All of a sudden they are beginning to remember their OT prophecies when they said “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David… in Bethlehem?”
What they are saying is true.
The Messiah was prophecies to come from the line of David and was to be born in Bethlehem. Cody pointed that out last week when we turned to . (; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ).
But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.”
But… isn’t this the same crowd that back in said that … “when the Christ appears, no on will know where he comes from.”
So, when they said that statement… they were just blowing smoke. They knew all along that the Scripture said exactly where the Messiah would come from.
But, this group is so fixed in their unbelief that they have failed to stop and examine the evidence. If they had done so, they would have seen that Jesus met both the qualifications.
He was a descendant of David (, ; , ; , , )
And Jesus had been born in Bethlehem (; , , ).
The skeptics in the crowd quickly assumed that since Jesus grew up in Nazareth… that he must have been born there. While on the outside it seemed like this group was seeking clarity… they were really not too concerned with investigating Jesus’ Messianic credentials.
This group skeptics were separated from the crowd by their pride and unbelief.
The truth is.... Jesus divides believers from unbelievers.... Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus Himself said that this would happen. If you read , Jesus said that he came to bring division…
The gospel is offensive… and naturally divides people.
When people are asked… “What do you do with Jesus?” There are only two real answers....
Embrace Him as Lord… or Reject Him as a Liar.
In verse 45-49 John introduces us to a part of the crowd who seemed confused
Confused (45-49)
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
The officers mentioned here would have been the temple police. They seemed confused by the teaching of Christ. Back in verse 32, we were told that the Chief priest sent officers to arrest Jesus. When they returned here in verse 45, they were empty handed.
The officers were on one hand in awe of Jesus… they said in verse 45,… “No one has ever spoke like this man!” But, on the other hand they were under the influence of their leaders who were enraged with hatred towards Jesus.
The officers didn’t embrace Jesus as Messiah… but they didn’t openly reject Him either…
They were paralyzed… caught between the grace of Jesus’ message and the hatred of the religious leaders…
Enraged by the officers response.. the Pharisees said… “have you also been deceived?” … then they ask another question that was meant to receive a negative response… “Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him?”
This statement was expressing the fact that the religious elite thought that only they were smart enough and blessed by God enough to truly understand the teachings of Scripture.
While their question was meant to receive a negative response.... it opens up the opportunity for one of the religious elite who did believe to speak up.
In verses 50-52, John reintroduces us to a man named Nicodemus who slightly stands up for Christ by opening up a separate line of Questioning.
Then, in verses 50-52, John shows us that there were some who were Questioning.
Questioning (50-52)
Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
The Pharisees main argument here was that all of the religious rulers had unanimously rejected Jesus as the Christ. This wasn’t true. As we saw in Chapter 3 when Nicodemus visited Jesus as well as we will see in , which tells us that “many of the authorities believed in Him...”
Nicodemus… a prominent Rabbi, calls the Pharisees out for doing something that even the Romans (who most of the Jew despised and saw as extremely unfair) wouldn’t do… that was to condemn someone without a hearing.
The Pharisees respond to Nicodemus by insulting him when they said… “Are you from Galilee too?”
Making this statement towards Nicodemus would have been one of the most demeaning insults that they could make towards someone who was considered one of the religious elite. A spit in the face…
In an attempt to mock Nicodemus… the Pharisees demonstrate their own ignorance. In verse 52 they said… “search and see that no prophet arises form Galilee”.
In fact there was an OT prophet from Galilee. The beloved prophet Jonah! We are told in that Jonah was from ma town not far the city of Nazareth in Galilee.
Some scholars also believe that Nahum and Hosea could have also been from the region of Galilee.
In an attempt to insult Nicodemus… by calling him a country bum who didn’t know the Scriptures… they actually exposed their own lack of Scriptural integrity and knowledge of basic theological truths.
Jewish prophets from Galilee: Jonah
While we don’t know if Nicodemus truly responded in faith to Christ at this point… we do know that in response to Jesus’ invitation… he was set apart… he was divided from the crowd as a person who was questioning. Eventually Nicodemus found the truth He was searching for in Christ…
This text shows us that a sincere devotion to Christ will result in division.
Application/ Conclusion:
What do we do with Jesus? 2 main responses…
You will either embrace Him as Lord.... ashose in the crowd who were convinced and questioning did.
Or… you will reject Him as a Liar.... just like the majority of the crowd along with the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.
As we consider Jesus’ invitation to come to Him how will you respond?
Are you convinced?
Are you decided that to be separated from the world and joined with Christ is the path you will follow?
If you are among those who are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah… the Son of God.... then as you come to Him by faith you will receive the flowing waters of eternal life…
We can praise God because we know the One who truly satisfies… we belong to Him who gives us hope and fulfills all of our needs and spiritual longings…
We were thirsty… but now we are satisfied!
We were thirsty… but now we are satisfied!
The next question is.... What are you going to do with that satisfiaction? What are you doing to do with the truth that you possess?
Jesus wants us to be channels through which the message of salvation can flow.
Christ has called us to be constantly flowing channels of His message of hope and salvation.
We’ve been presented with a great time in our worlds history to do that. As we interact with those in our neighborhoods while we are out walking… as we help provide groceries and medicine for our neighbors who can’t get out.... as we talk with our children and those in our family.....
We have been called by Christ to be a channel of blessing to all those we meet by exposing them to the life giving truths of the gospel.
Are you doing that? Are you taking advantage of the situation God has placed us in to be blessing and have a gospel impact in your neighborhood?
Remember that our satisfaction is found in Jesus.... Let’s praise God for that today!
Is your spiritual satisfaction flowing out to others around you?
Are you satisfied? Is your spiritual satisfaction flowing out to others around you?
There may be some that are listening today that are not yet convinced… if that is you then you might still be questioning…
Are you still questioning?
Remember, Jesus not only calls us to come to Him by faith… but He promises that those who believe… will be satisfied. All those who are thirsty for spiritual hope and redemption will find their ultimate satisfaction in Christ.
While we are in a season of social distancing.... separating from others.... Don’t be like those who separated from Christ.
Don’t be like those who chose to distance themselves from Jesus.
Come to Jesus today… We must come to Jesus on His terms… Jesus is graciously inviting us to communicate with Him… to speak to Him…
Are you satisfied?
Talk about this with Jesus today.
If you have any questions or want to talk about anything you have heard today, please email at pastor@wellspringbiblechurch.net
or connect with us through our website. www.wellspringbiblechurch.net
Let’s pray: