The Nature of Unbelief

Today’s passage we see the decline of Jesus popularity rise sharply, where previously the crowds are excited to see him come and eager for more miracles now we find them arguing about him and accusing him of being demon possessed. Yet the shocking thing in this passage is not the unbelief of the crowds for we know Jesus will soon face the cross and the same crowds who praise him in the triumphal entry will be shouting crucify him a week later. We have come to understand the fickle nature of the crowds. Yet it says his brothers did not believe him, James who by the time this was written was well known as the leader of the Jerusalem church, and known for the letter that bears his name, this same James did not believe? How could this be? Even stranger is we are told they wanted Jesus to do more miracles because they did not believe. The crowds don’t believe and want no miracles, his brother don’t believe yet want more miracles, How is that both do not believe? Look with me at John 7:1-24 as we explore the nature of Unbelief.

John 7:1–24 ESV

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 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. But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Jesus Brothers Unbelief

John 7:1–9 ESV

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 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.

Notice the brothers advice, it makes sense if you want people to know you go to where a large crowd will be and do something amazing. Your a miracle worker so go work miracles at the feast where all the Jews will be gathering. You can heal the sick, feed the hungry, give sight to the blind, cause the lame to walk, go and pour out this gift on the people that all might come to you. These are all good deeds and will cause the masses to love you, lets go up to the feast.

Why do they give this advice because they did not believe in him. Wait a minute put on the brakes why tell him to do miracles if you don’t believe. Most scholars propose that it was a desire to ride on the coattails of the miracle working Jesus.

Yet this is not why Jesus came. He came to deal with sin. His response makes it clear that He will do nothing contrary to the will of God. Twice he says my time has not come- what time- hes speaking of hte cross.

His purpose in coming to the earth is to pay the price for our sin that we might be restored to a right relationship with God. Jesus does not allow himself to be distracted from his purpose to draw people to God. The world still seeks to distract the church by encouraging our humanitarian efforts to the detriment of performing our true purpose of sharing the Gospel.

His brothers want Jesus to bring glory to himself to cause the people to praise him yet Jesus is seeking the glory of God.

Then we see yet another seeming contradiction as Jesus tells his brothers hes not going to the feast and then goes later in secret and in the middle of the feast he begins teaching. Does Jesus lie here does Jesus mislead his brothers, no 1 Peter 2:22 says

1 Peter 2:22 ESV

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Jesus did not lie rather the tense of the word is that he is not going now. Neither is he going to go the way the brothers want him to go, he is not going as the miracle worker but rather He will go as a teacher seeking to draw people to God.

The Crowds Unbelief

John 7:11–24 ESV

The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Yet the people reject him and his teachings. Notice the crowds are divided some saying he is a good man and others he is leading people astray. None can decide who he is or evaluate his teaching. Jesus rebukes them sharply saying if you were of God you would know from where my teaching comes from and you would know then that it is the God of heaven that sent me and it is by his authority I speak.

Then he says the real issue is who’s glory you seek, You seek your own glory yet I seek the glory of God. You who hold the law above all else yet none of you keep it. You claim falsely to follow it, but it is a lie that you might look good in the eyes of your neighbors.

He then accuses them of seeking to kill him and their response is that he is demon possessed. Mind you they have gathered to hear his words, the words of a demon possessed man are apparently really compelling. The charge of demon possession makes no sense in the context of the moment.

Yet Jesus knows the real issue is the healing of the man on the Sabbath. Their perceived upholding of the Sabbath is more important than the healing of a man lame for 38 years. Yet Jesus challenges their interpretation of the Sabbath by saying they will perform a circumcision on the Sabbath and surely a healing of a man is of more importance than a circumcision.

Yet the crowds reject him and by the end of the week attempt to stone him.

The Common Root

So what is the common root of the unbelief of the brothers and the crowds.

I believe the answer is found in John 7:18

John 7:18 ESV

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

The brothers sought to increase their own glory by increasing the fame of Jesus the miracle worker. The crowds sought to increase their own glory by flaunting their perceived upholding of the law. The Pharisees were the masters of this technique as seen by their tithing of the their spices. Jesus on the other hand was desiring to see God glorified.

I propose that pride is the biggest reason people fail to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. They can handle it, their sin ain’t that bad, they have lived a good life, yet none of these are true the bible says the wages of sin is death, there are none good nay not one, and that there is salvation in no other name than Jesus Christ. True saving faith always requires us to humble ourselves and admit that I am a destitute sinner with no hope of salvation outside of Christ, I deserve death and eternal separation from God, and I believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to live a perfect life to become my sacrifice that I might be restored to a right relationship with God forgiven of my sins and able to live forever more with him in heaven. Humbling ourselves to be his servants making him lord and master of our lives forevermore.

Invitation

My question for you this morning is have you humbled yourself and accepted Jesus as your lord and savior? If not he is waiting even now for you to come to him will you come. For those of you that are saved I ask are you seeking the glory of God or upon reflection have you fallen for the trap of pride and sought after your own glory. Let today be a day of repentance come, humble yourself before God and pledge to seek his glory and not your own. Let us pray.

If you have a decision to make this morning be it for salvation, church membership, rededication or simply need to spend some time in prayer will you come as we sing.