Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

HOOK

As we come close to the end of this chapter, let’s have a quick recap of the Lord’s teachings during the Festival of Tabernacles— In summary what He said was:

SEEK AND DO HIS GLORY

DO NOT JUDGE ONLY BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE

I SHOULD KNOW THE FATHER TO UNDERSTAND THE SON

JESUS WILL QUENCH MY THIRST

THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN ME

Now you also know what the Festival of Tabernacles is— to commemorate their ancestors’ exile from slavery in Egypt, while in the wilderness, they lived in tents [Pista ng mga Tolda]

And they also observe the Festival of Tabernacles every year to pray for rain— Jesus used that topic to teach them about the “living water”— that symbolizes the Holy Spirit

Today let’s see what is still in store for us in the final verses of chapter 7

Open your Bible to John 7:45-53 [last 9 verses of chapter 7]— once you got there, type Amen!

BOOK | JOHN 7:45-53

John 7:45–53 NIV

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. 47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” 53 Then they all went home,

Remember I told you that, when reading the Bible and while meditating on the passage that you are studying— look for:

Words that defines the Character of God

See if there are commands in the passage that you must obey [ask yourself if the command is intended only for the original hearers, or for you as well]

Look if there are promises in it [again, ask yourself if the promises you find are only for the original hearers or for you as well]

Not just words about the CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS or PROMISES— but also look for GOOD EXAMPLES to emulate and BAD EXAMPLES to avoid

Check also if there are words that REMINDS you of SIN you need to confess and repent from

Ask yourself how this passage CHALLENGED you and ENCOURAGED you

And finally— always keep your mind asking about the 5 W’s and 1 H!

Developing the habit of discovering these things will give you the most out of your Bible study.

Now for this particular passage, I found an example to avoid— let’s find out together

But before that— I’d like to point out that the cast of characters in this passages are: The temple GUARDS, the CHIEF PRIEST and NICODEMUS

Quickly before we dive in to the INTERPRETATION— let me show you once again how the Jewish ruling council [Sanhedrin] looks like

SHOW IMAGE | NUMBERS 11:16-17, EXODUS 18:21-22

LOOK

NO ONE EVER SPOKE THE WAY THIS MAN DOES

God controls the minds of the temple guards to fulfill His will and plans

DOES OUR LAW CONDEMN A MAN WITHOUT FIRST HEARING HIM

Nicodemus raised this matter to the Sanhedrin, because it is written in the law that everyone must be entitled for an investigation and fair trial— DEUTERONOMY 1:16, 17:4, 19:18

God likewise controls the minds of the Chief Priest and the Pharisees— it’s clear in the law but they defied it— again, for God to fulfill His will and plans—

The Sanhedrin is very instrumental in the arrest, crucifixion and death of the Lord— if those have not taken place, the prophesied resurrection of Jesus could have not been fulfilled

An example from this passage that we should avoid is the example of Nicodemus— He tried to temper the Sanhedrin, but he did not fight or defended his faith enough

Now, what can we conclude from this passage?

TOOK

GOD CONTROLS THE MINDS OF EVERYONE

I MUST DEFEND MY FAITH IN JESUS

There are times when Jesus is a lamb— but he is also the lion of Judah