Sermon Tone Analysis
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Our theme for 2022 is “Begin Again”
This series is called, “Believe Again”
You may have already believed the gospel, but it is time to believe again.
We began with “Believe in Jesus”
Then we talked about believing in spiritual reality.
We talked about how an encounter with Jesus leads to transformation, living in both realities.
Last week we talked about life - remember the great circle of life?
John talks about another circle of life - God’s life in us and flowing through us.
We respond to God and then He invites us to ask for anything!
God then responds to us because we are responding to Him.
Now we are going to shift to a different metaphor - light instead of life - or light as an illustration of life.
What is light?
Light is energy - electromagnetic radiation.
Sometimes it acts more like a particle - called photons.
And sometimes it acts more like wave energy.
The bottom line is that while we know a lot about light, but we are still not entirely sure of what it is.
What we know is what light does.
Sound familiar?
Jesus said the same thing about spirit.
Light illuminates!
It helps us to see and to know the world around us
In the universe, light provides a constant by which time and space can be measured.
It dispels darkness, which is the absence of light.
Light nourishes and supports life.
Just as with the circle of life - there is a circle of light.
We receive light and we also give it out.
Some would say that we reflect the light of God to the world.
Others might say that we refract light, because what we reflect is unique as it passes through our individuality.
Or perhaps we are more light solar lights where energy is received, stored and released.
It’s fun to play with metaphors, the images change as you look at them differently, like looking through a kaleidoscope.
Light is also what gives life beauty, because it opens our eyes to a whole world of color which is made possible by light.
As we continue reading in John chapters seven and part of eight, we will use the light metaphor as a lens through which to view Jesus.
Using the spotlight.
John (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) shines a spotlight on certain events and teachings because they contribute to a larger picture or story.
It like the theater where the spotlight comes on and follows the character who is telling the story.
There may be other action happening on stage, but the spotlight is there to illuminate what must be seen.
Light illuminates - it causes to be seen.
Lets see what the spotlight is doing as we begin John chapter seven.
The spotlight shines where you need to look.
So the main action on stage is moving toward Jerusalem and the feast of tabernacles.
But Jesus is avoiding that spotlight.
It’s not time to make that entrance.
But the anticipation is building - they want Him to break out in the big number.
John has another narrow spotlight on Galilee, as if to show his audience that the real action is what is happening behind the scene.
Jesus is staying behind, presumably because his life is being threatened by evil forces.
Direct confrontation would be a disaster.
Jesus chose the element of surprise.
There is a lesson here.
We want to know and see everything about God, life and ourselves.
We want to get all the action- but we don’t have the capacity to take it all in.
Besides, sometimes what is happening in a small corner of the stage is really more important than anything else.
The Holy Spirit is like a spotlight, let God direct our attention to where it needs to be.
You can try to keep up with all of the news, current events and social media or you can simply pray - “God, shine your light on what I need to see.”
“Holy Spirit, focus my attention on what is really important.”
Jesus did that, and it led Him to stay behind until the right moment.
Being in the spotlight means coming under scrutiny.
Jesus wait until the middle of the feast to show up, and then shows up in the temple courts teaching.
We can speculate that if he had come with his disciples and relatives, they would have been waiting for him and knew where to find him.
The idea is to take him out quietly before He can make a scene.
Jesus waits and goes straight to center stage - there is no chance to intervene quietly - he’s already in the spotlight.
So the Pharisees start asking questions - to expose him.
Where did you get your training?
Who are you reading?
What are your sources?
Every rabbinic school has it’s critics.
Put Jesus in a category, a school of thought, and immediately you polarize the audience.
Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight, but a word of warning for those who do - the spotlight will expose every little thing about you.
If you are insecure about the way that you look.
If you have annoying little mannerisms.
If you care at all what people think about you...
The spotlight will find your weakness.
Sound scary? - Not if you know what your purpose is.
You purpose is to let the light of God shine through you.
Jesus says He is simply say what God gives Him to say.
And if your will or desire is simple obedience to God, you will get it.
How do you deal with the worlds scrutiny?
First of all, know that everything that they accuse you of thinking or doing reflects their own actions and intentions.
They assume that you think and act like them.
Secondly, keep you focus on God and let Him shine through you.
You are to be reflecting Him, not them.
Be careful, if you focus on what evil and what evil is doing, you will begin to manifest that same spirit.
I have seen people become hurt and offended when they only want to tell the truth.
And then they become so desperate to prove that they are right, that they begin to hurt and offend others who mean well.
That is why we must forgive, because only by forgiving can we shift our focus back to God and to blessing.
The spotlight can be harsh, but the spotlight also moves...
Beware that the spotlight can turn around!
So after answering their questions, Jesus has a few questions of his own.
You believe “thou shalt not murder” but you want to murder me!
Watch what happens here - they say he has a demon!
How do they know about the demonic plan to kill the Christ?
Because they are in on it!
It’s the oldest trick in the book …accuse your opponent of what you are doing.
Try to turn the spotlight on them so they don’t see what you are doing.
Then Jesus takes them to school regarding their own law.
Circumcision and Moses - two hot topics everybody is talking about.
Except circumcision predates Moses - meaning that Moses is not the ultimate authority - but like everyone else - he is reflecting a light that comes to him.
Circumcision is surgery that is normally performed on the Sabbath - but you are not allowed to do anything on the Sabbath.
They don’t want Jesus to heal on the Sabbath, but they can do surgery, why?
Because God made the Sabbath to be restorative, but they have made it about power, control and oppression.
There is one set of rules for people who walk in the light and believe in truth and another set of rules for those who make their own light and their own truth.
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