Jessus Effect on the People

Introduction

We have seen the Jesus had an effect everywhere He went in John chapter 2.

We’ve seen His effect on at the wedding - In was an act of love. The sole purpose of the miracle at the wedding was to maintain joy.

We’ve seen His effect on the temple - it was an act of vengeance on hypocritical worship. Though often overlooked there was a miracle at the Temple that day because with all the temple guards and all the authority present, no one physically stopped Jesus from clearing out the Temple. We saw when the Word speaks it can’t be combated. The purpose of that miracle was to show His authority as the Son of God.

Remember we left of last time with the disciples remember the words of the Old Testament.

John 2:17 KJV 1900

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

We’ve see Jesus of love and we’ve seen the Jesus of righteousness. You can’t have one Jesus without the other. He is both of those things.

You can’t preach a lopsided Jesus because He can’t be lopsided. If you overemphasis one of these sides over another you are not presenting the whole counsel of God. You are doing people a disservice if you overemphasize one of these over another when it comes to our Lord.

Now as we close out John chapter 2, we are going to see Jesus’ effect on the people.

Before we read our passage this evening, I’m reminded that I need to be careful about how I expect Jesus to work and move in my life and other’s lives.

Sometimes preachers (me included) can be guilty of praying for God to move and work in a gathering or a meeting. Or we ask God to give us a good crowd at a gathering or meeting. There is nothing inherently wrong in praying those prayers. But I must be mindful that God’s desire is always to have an impact on individuals. Revival will never come to Lighthouse Baptist Church until it comes to the individuals that are a part of Lighthouse Baptist Church.

I’m guilty so often of praying non-specific prayers. God bless this service. God be with preacher as He preaches. Both of those prayers have to do with individuals.

No there’s no way that I can know everything that’s going on in your lives, but I can pray that the Spirit of God moves in the lives of people today. I can pray that the Holy Spirits give pastor the exact thing that he needs to give to the people of Lighthouse Baptist Church.

God help us all to pray as specific prayers as possible especially when it comes to individuals.

Let’s read John 2:18-25

John 2:18–25 KJV 1900

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

The Jews required a sign. The Bible tells us this in I Corinthians 1:22

1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV 1900

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

One of the many things that I love about Jesus is that He didn’t do anything just for the sake of doing it. He wasn’t going to give a sign just to appease a fleshly question.

I absolutely love the response that Jesus gave to them asking for a sign.

Look at what He says to them.

John 2:19 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

So that brings me to the first things I want us to see. When Jesus has an effect on people.

Jesus challenges our preconceived ideas about everything

He challenges our preconceived ideas about tradition

How many of you have every heard someone say this, “This is the way we’ve always done it?”

Look at verse 20.

John 2:20 KJV 1900

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

That magnificent building had been started by Herod in 20 b.c., and this conversation took place in approximately a.d. 26.

The construction process would still go on for thirty-seven more years until its completion in a.d. 63.

The temple would stand complete for only seven years before being destroyed by the armies of Titus in a.d. 70.

These words would not be forgotten by the crowds, however, and mockers would repeat the charge as Jesus hung on the cross. It’s recorded for us in Matthew 27:40.

Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, pp. 34–35). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Listen to

Matthew 27:40 KJV 1900

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Mark 15:29 KJV 1900

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

Everything Jesus encounters in John chapter he introduces something new to replace it.

He filled those barrels with new wine. He stepped on to the temple steps and introduced a new way of thinking about service.

He challenges our preconceived ideas about worship

He now is introducing a new way of worship.

He was coming to make it possible for man to have direct access to the Creator of Universes by offering Himself as the final, once-for-all sacrifice.

The Father would then in turn put his seal of approval on the sacrifice three days later when Jesus would rise from the dead.

Paul said it best in

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

This is what the Holy Spirit was impressing upon John as he was penning these words. Jesus answer to the Jews when they asked for a sign had nothing to do with a building. It had everything to do with a body.

Jesus Christ never places an emphasis on a building. He always places an emphasis on the body.

The Jews took what Jesus had said out of context and misinterpreted it. By-the-way, people still make a practice of taking the Word out of context and misinterpreting it and it gets people into trouble every time it happens.

The Lord wasn’t talking about the building they were standing beside. He was talking about His resurrection from the dead.

The building wasn’t the center of attention here. Jesus was the center of attention and that’s how it always should be.

Jesus Causes People to Believe the Word

Look at

John 2:22 KJV 1900

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

This is a side note that the Holy Spirit impresses on John to include in the text.

He tells us here that the disciples didn’t think very much about this statement at the time but that they all would remember it later after Jesus’ resurrection.

Notice what that verse says. This is incredible to me. Notice the progression here.

Look back at

John 2:11 KJV 1900

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

After the miracle at the wedding, it says the disciples believed on him.

But John 2:22 tells us that the disciples didn’t believe the Scripture (they didn’t believe the Word) until after Jesus rose from the dead.

Let me give a personal example because I can only speak for myself.

I believe that Jesus is who He says He is. I’ve seen Him do some pretty amazing things in the short time that I’ve lived.

I love Jesus. I’ve spent time with Him. In fact, I’ve got a lot in common with these disciples up to this point. I can sympathize with the disciples back in John 1:39 where is says, “They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with him that day...”

I’ve communed with Him just like these disciples communed with Him. I’ve gotten to know Him just like these disciples got to know. The same Jesus that they were asking questions to and gaining insight from, I TALKED TO HIM TODAY.

But I am guilty of picking up this blessed book and having trouble believing it.

You ask, “You mean you’ve doubted?” - Yes.

But time after time after time, I come to a place of remembrance in my life where the Holy Spirit prompts me and says, “see, I told you.” “Remember the truth you read in God’s Word. Well, it’s manifesting itself today.”

I wish I would have just trusted that God’s Word was ultimate truth when I read it the first time, but my human frailty and flesh rear up every once in a while and I doubt the Word.

John was giving us a glimpse into the disciples doubt and human frailty. Doesn’t make it right, it just means you are in good company.

Jesus Commits Himself to true Worshipers

Look at

John 2:23–25 KJV 1900

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

It’s true that many believed in the name of Jesus but it says in the next verse that Christ did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men. Verse 25 says He knew what was in them.

The word believed in verse 23 doesn’t mean that these people became believers in the sense of an unreserved personal commitment or a practical acknowledgment of Him as Lord. The fact is that Jesus realized that the belief that they were exhibiting was superficial so he didn’t recognize them as disciples.

The people here were only believing because they were seeing everything that Jesus was doing. They saw the miracles. These were more sign-seekers. I’ll believe if Jesus can raise my kid from the dead. I’ll believe if my disease can be healed. I’ll believe if he makes the wine at my wedding.

it’s easy to believe when things are going your way. It’s easy to worship when the sun’s shining.

But Jesus made it very clear what’s expected of a true worshiper and true disciple.

Look at

John 4:23–24 KJV 1900

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God is seeking for true worshippers, not superficial ones. He’s looking for people who are all in. What’s that mean?

Jesus himself tells us in

Luke 9:23–26 KJV 1900

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Mark records it for us in

Mark 8:34–38 KJV 1900

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Oh but they believed! Not just some…many! But let’s not forget what Matthew records for us in

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

So I have to ask myself, “Am I a true disciple?” “Am I a true worshiper?” Or do I just trust when it’s easy to trust and doubt the rest of the time. I’m certainly guilty of doubt.

But I’m encouraged that when we commit to and maintain our relationship with Jesus, He commits Himself to us.

I’m glad the Psalmist was led to put it this way in

Psalm 37:23–27 KJV 1900

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore.

The key word in that passage is the word “Dwell.” The New Testament uses the word “Abide”

In fact, if we get to John 15 before Jesus comes, we are going to study where John says in,

John 15:4–11 KJV 1900

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Conclusion

So, as the reader, I’ve got some pretty serious questions to ask myself and you do to.

What kind of an effect has Jesus Had on me?

Make no mistake about it, if you’ve had an encounter with Jesus, He’s had effect on you. The question is, have you allowed all of Jesus to have an effect on you. The love, the righteousness, the holiness, the compassion, all of Him. You can’t just have one part of Jesus. All of Him must have an effect on you.

2. What kind of worshiper and disciple am I?

Illustration

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

Illustration

The story is told of a young man was eager to grow in His Christian life. He got a piece of paper and made a list of all the things he would do for God. He wrote down the things he would give up, the places he would go to minister and the areas of ministry he would enter. He was excited. He took that list to the church and put it on the altar.

He thought he would feel joy and excitement, but instead he felt empty. So he went home and started adding to his list. He wrote down more things and more things he would do and wouldn’t do. He took the longer list and put it on the altar, but still he felt nothing.

He went to his wise, old pastor, and told him the situation and asked for help. The pastor took those long lists of noble goals and looked through them.

He then gave the list back to the young man and said, “Put your name at the top of the list, then put it back on the altar.”

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Prayer