A River in the Wilderness
Notes
Transcript
The Feast of Booths - commemorated Israel’s journey through the wilderness.
The Disbelief of Jesus’ Brothers
The Disbelief of Jesus’ Brothers
Illustration of familiarity causing one to loose sight of Christ’s glory.
They did not believe the works of Christ were sufficient, and dared to counsel him on his methods for gaining a following.
A demanding spirit is a sign of lack of faith. In the unbeliever it demands more evidence, another sign, when the truth of Christ has been clearly made known. In the believer it seeks to bend Christ to our will, rather than submitting to the will of the Father.
Christ made it clear that he lived in accordance will the will of the Father. (My hour is not yet come).
He was not seeking popularity, but simply to do His Father’s will.
Jesus’ brothers would come to believe in Him after his resurrection.
The Debate Among the Jews
The Debate Among the Jews
Their argument began over his works, but quickly moved to a debate over Jesus’ words.
“How does this man know so much, having never learned!” - John Phillips calls it “intellectual snobbery”.
The Jewish leaders spoke from ‘the authorities’ (quoting other rabbis), Jesus spoke with authority (expounding the Word).
Jesus’ authority was not from man. He did not have man’s stamp of approval, no degree from an elite Seminary or accreditation from the highly educated. His doctrine came from the Father. His desire was to glorify the Father.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
They hated him because he exposed them as false shepherds and fraudulent saints.
The Invitation to Drink
The Invitation to Drink
The great day of the feast - Jesus issued an invitation at the height of the ceremony.
The priests would go down to the pool of Siloam draw water with a golden pitcher. They would pour the water out on the west side of the altar. they would sing the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) and wave palm branches. They would recall the Lord’s deliverance and provision in the wilderness.
When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.
Perhaps at the close of Psalm 114 Jesus cried out with a LOUD VOICE, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me an drink!” Jesus is that Rock in the dessert, Jesus is that River in the Wilderness. He is the Truth that enlightens the doubting soul. He is the encouragement for the discouraged heart. He is the deliverance for the captive to sin, and pardon for our iniquities. He is satisfaction to the thirsty soul, and will turn your barrenness into springs of water!
The promise of the Spirit:
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
O taste and see that the Lord is good!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!