Jesus Ranks Above Men

Lesson #138

In our last lesson, lesson #137, we briefly looked at John 8:12, the second I AM that Jesus claimed for himself: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Our last lesson was primarily links to work that was previously done. Before moving on to the next verse, let us consider another thought. John tells us in John 1:4 (NASB): “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” Jesus is the source of life and that life produces light. That light is what removes the darkness we experience. Those who are unsaved and apart from Jesus walk in darkness and do not know where they are going. The closer a believer is to Jesus, the less darkness there is; if there seems to be a cloud of darkness over you then you need to check your walk with Jesus because Jesus is light and darkness is displaced by his presence. As you allow Jesus to be squeezed out of your life then darkness invades, so stay close to Jesus.

As you can imagine, a claim like “I AM the light of the world” would cause the Pharisees to react: “So the Pharisees objected, “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!”” (John 8:13 NET). The Pharisees objected because the law requires at least two witnesses. Without another witness the Pharisees insist that what Jesus says about himself cannot be trusted, so to be safe they reject it as not being true.

“Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.”” (John 8:14 ESV). Even though Jesus is testifying about himself, he insists his testimony is true. The Pharisees are correct and supported by the law not to accept the testimony from man about himself. However, Jesus raises himself above the rank of men by knowing things that men do not know. Being the Son of God, he knows where he came from and when his assignment is completed he knows where he is going. This is something the Pharisees do not know.

By saying he knows where he came from he is implying that his origin is not from this world but from God and thus he should not be subject to the laws of men. From their law the Pharisees should know that it points to the coming of such a person as Jesus. But the Son of God coming into the world as he did; born of a virgin; clothed in the flesh of a man, the Pharisees could not accept who Jesus was.

Since the Pharisees could not accept where Jesus was from or know where he was going, they could not accept his testimony as being true. We must keep this in mind; we need to be sure that we know and accept that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, who came from heaven and that he came to die for our sin and then rise from the dead and return to his Father. We need to embrace this and embrace Jesus and as we do we will walk in the light as the darkness of unbelief is overcome. We must stay focused on Jesus, no matter the trials we encounter, and stay close to him so as to walk in the light of understanding. Do not fail to see the importance of staying near Jesus to keep the darkness of doubt and feeling of defeat from overcoming us. Our victory is found in staying close to Jesus where we can walk in the light of his glory.

Prayer

Father, thank you for bringing me to the Lord Jesus Christ where the darkness of sin was overcome by the light of his glory. Thank you for showing me through this lesson the importance of belief and staying close to Jesus to keep darkness from creeping into my soul. 

I Am the Light of the World

Lesson #137

In the next section, defined by John 8:12 – 20, Jesus declares that he is the light of the world and the source of life, but the Pharisees accused him of false testimony. Jesus then defends himself and claims that they don’t really know God.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” (John 8:12 ESV). In the book of John, Jesus uses the phrase “I AM” in seven declarations about himself. Each I AM is linked to a metaphor which describes an aspect of his saving relationship toward the world.  These are listed in the following table of links:

Article Link	Reference Link	Blog Link
I AM The Bread of Life	John 6:35	Bread
I AM The Light of the World	John 8:12	Light
I AM The Door	John 10:7 – 9	Door
I AM The Good Shepherd	John 10:11, 14 – 15	Good Shepherd
I AM The Resurrection and the Life	John 11:25 – 27	Resurrection and the Life
I AM The way, and the truth, and the life	John 14:6	Way    Truth     Life
I AM The True Vine	John 15:1	True Vine

What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). Jesus was sent into the world and he said, “I am the light of the world”. Because of sin the world lies in spiritual darkness and needs the light Jesus has to offer. In contrast to spiritual darkness Jesus is the light that brings true knowledge, moral purity, and the light that shows the presence of God. That light comes from the life he and only he has to offer. This is one powerful claim; the life Jesus gives to those who come to him produces light that removes their blindness. Surely such a claim will not go unchallenged by the Pharisees.

Two Scriptures that illustrates the importance of this light are Ephesians 5:8 – 14 and 1 John 1:5 – 7. Evil and death is associated with darkness but good fruit is found in the light. If we are to have fellowship with God we must walk in the light because he is light and in him there is no darkness at all. Jesus provides us with access to this light.

Prayer

Father, thank you that in Jesus Christ my spiritual darkness has been removed by the light that comes from the life he gives. Lord, thank you nourishing me, as the Bread of Life, for removing the darkness from my soul, as the Light of the World. Father, how awesome is the Lord and how loved I feel being with him.

The Adulterous Woman - Continued

Lesson #136

We ended the last lesson, lesson #135, with the Pharisees standing in silence, not knowing what to say as Jesus completely disarmed them when he said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” As the Pharisees stood there pondering what to say or do, Jesus “once more . . . bent down and wrote on the ground” (John 8:8 ESV). The Pharisees knew the law: “On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst” (Deuteronomy 17:6 – 7 ESV). By this the witness would feel the responsibility in giving evidence, as he was also to be the executioner. Jesus knew that under these conditions, no one would dare step forth and claim the position of witness and executioner. “Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him” (John 8:9 NET). Again Jesus takes command and shows his authority. As the accusers drift away Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”” (John 8:10 ESV). It says in verse 9 that Jesus was left alone with the woman. “Alone” cannot mean there were no people left there except Jesus and the woman because this was taking place a public setting. This is clarified when Jesus asks the woman where all her accusers had gone. Is there no one left to condemn you? The Pharisees had accused the woman, but they were not willing to proceed to the point of taking responsibility for her death and they left. To the question asked by Jesus, the woman replies, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”” (John 8:11 ESV).

I don’t believe Jesus is not condemning her for her adultery. Since those who brought the charge of adultery against the woman have left, Jesus does not condemn her to die based on their charges. Jesus knows she has sinned; she was detected and accused; her sin was great, but with the accusers gone, Jesus tells her to go and sin no more.

Prayer

Father, how refreshing it is to see that in some difficult situations there may be a way to proceed that would produce positive results that the world would not think of; ways that are from above that disarm evil intensions and bring a measure of order. Here, Jesus displays wisdom that is from above and demonstrates to us the importance of seeking and applying this wisdom. Lord, thank you for being our source of all we have need of.

The Adulterous Woman

Lesson #135

This lesson begins chapter 8, with the first section defined by John 8:1 – 11. This section is not found in John’s original Gospel, for it is absent from all of the oldest manuscripts. The episode about the adulterous woman probably happened during the ministry of Jesus but was not included by John when he wrote his gospel. There is nothing wrong with this story, but it should not be considered as part of Scripture. We will cover it because we can learn from it.

“They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives” (John 7:53 – 8:1) ESV). This is clearly a point of transition from the rejection of Jesus by the Pharisees and their condemnation of the officers, the people and Nicodemus to John introducing a new event. The people went to where they were staying; Jesus left Jerusalem and went to the Mount of Olives, where he probably spent the night. “Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them” (John 8:2 ESV). It is now early in the morning and Jesus goes back to the temple and the people gather around him, expecting Jesus to continue teaching, which he does, but before he can hardly get started he is interrupted by the scribes and the Pharisees.

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.”” (John 8:3 – 4 ESV). Since adultery involves two people, I wonder why the man was not brought also. My suspicion is that this was a setup. Possibly a man was chosen to seduce the woman to have relations with her and when that occurred they were interpreted and only the woman was taken to be used in an attempt to trap Jesus. They set that trap by saying, “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground” (John 8:5 – 6 ESV). How might this be a trap? If Jesus sides with the law and says she should die, then they could accuse him of claiming power that belongs to the Romans. They could also accuse him of judgment without a fair hearing or a proper trial. If Jesus decides otherwise, he would then be charged with denying the authority of the law. No matter what Jesus decides he will be in trouble. Jesus is fully aware of what is happening and responds in an unexpected way. He bends down and writes something on the ground with his finger.

The scribes and the Pharisees were not sure Jesus clearly heard them; “And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”” (John 8:7 ESV). On behalf of Jesus you want to cry out, “YES” because he stopped them in their tracks. They did not expect this and surly they must be standing there in silence, assessing what was said. We are going to let them think for a while and return to see what happens at the beginning of our next lesson.

Prayer

Father, what an amazing example of wisdom Jesus displays as he responds to an intentional trap. It illustrates how important it is for me as a believer to walk in wisdom from above and be able to discern how to respond to difficult situations. Father, thank you for continually drawing me into your Word to know the truth and to acquire this wisdom.

The Defense of Nicodemus

Lesson #134

With this lesson we will finish chapter 7. We ended the last lesson with the Pharisees venting their angry displeasure with the officers not returning with Jesus. The Pharisees told them they were deceived by being moved by what Jesus said and further condemned them by telling them that none of those in authority believed in Jesus. Next the Pharisees condemned the crowd. They said, “But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed” (John 7:49 ESV). In the minds of the Pharisees, the crowd refers to common people, or as we would say, the rabble. They were looked down upon as being unformed and not qualified to make spiritual decisions, especially concerning their salvation; this is because they had not been schooled in the law. It is interesting to note that Christianity is available for everyone and that even a child can know enough to choose a relationship with Jesus Christ and thus obtain salvation. In the eyes of the Pharisees, these people are accursed, or cursed to eternal destruction.

The Pharisees had just claimed that none of the authorities believe in Jesus, but we know from a previous lesson that Nicodemus had gone to see Jesus, “and who was one of them, said to them” (John 7:50 ESV) comes forth with a challenge. “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:51 ESV). Nicodemus, who earlier was so timid and fearful that he went to visit Jesus in the dark, now steps forth with boldness and fearlessly defends the truth that he is beginning to accept from Jesus. He claims that they are not being fair by not carefully listening to Jesus and having dialog with him to discern the truth. What Jesus is saying is radically different to what they currently believe and makes them uncomfortable. Instead of working through their discomfort caused by this new hearing, they reject it and the one who is bringing it, seeking to get back as quickly as possible to their acceptable normal. Nicodemus suggest they give Jesus a fair hearing.

As expected, the Pharisees turn against Nicodemus. “They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee” (John 7:52 ESV). They lash out with contempt and ridicule, a weapon so often used by the proud and haughty against Christianity. By insisting Jesus is from Galilee and not from Bethlehem, they think they can build a stronger case against Jesus. Scripture is clear that the prophet, the Messiah, is from Bethlehem and not Galilee. Being convinced of the wrong town leads the Pharisees to reject Jesus and the truth God is sending to them through him, his Son.

This ends chapter 7 with each departing to his own house. The earliest manuscripts do not include John 7:53 – 8:11. We will, however, pick up our study with the next lesson starting at John 8:1.

Prayer

Father, this lesson stresses to me the importance of listening to what is being said; to give the speaker a fair hearing and then carefully determine if the message is from God. Father, it seems like many church people are like the Pharisees and want to hear what makes them comfortable. They are not willing to listen to that which is challenging and then take the time to validate it and apply the truth to their lives. Unfortunately, this desire for comfort overpowers their desire to become more like Jesus and as a result they continue to look like those in the world. Father, I wonder if judgment through some persecution would help by replacing some of their comfort with suffering and less safety? 

Lack of Belief

Lesson #133

With this lesson we come to the last section of chapter 7, defined by John 7:45 – 52. In our last lesson, Lesson #132, we ended with some wanting Jesus arrested, but no one laid hands on him. In the first verse of this section we learn more about who those were who wanted to arrest Jesus and then in the next verse we learn why.

“The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?”” (John 7:45 ESV). The officers were temple priest that were deployed by the chief priest and Pharisees, representing the Sanhedrin, to arrest Jesus. They apparently listened to what Jesus had to say and were so moved by it that they returned without arresting him. The officers were asked why they did not obey their command and arrest Jesus. “The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”” (John 7:46 ESV). What a profound statement! There has been no other man in history who was also fully God who was able to speak with the infinite knowledge and authority of God. We have seen the effects of the power of his words in the miracles he has performed in our earlier lessons. This power tends to terrify the wicked toward their destruction, but for the believer that power provides us with eternal life and a relationship with God that we cannot yet fully comprehend.

The Pharisees were not pleased that Jesus was not arrested and brought to them. “The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?” (John 7:47 ESV). The Pharisees were not interested in what Jesus said that so impressed the officers. Their minds were made up and they considered Jesus to be a fraud and they turned to their officers and insulted them because of the impression Jesus made on them. The officers were willing to listen to Jesus and were touched by what he said and were condemned for doing so. This is a very common response by authorities in areas of the world where persecution against believers is found. Today their hatred for Jesus is taken out on those who represent Jesus called Christians. Jesus warned us by saying, “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name” (Matthew 24:9 NET). We see this happening all around us and maybe soon we will experience it also.

The Pharisees continue their insult by saying, “Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?” (John 7:48 ESV). The argument of the Pharisees is any person of distinction has rejected Jesus and his message. The implication is that common and thus ignorant people don’t know any better and are thus being led astray. These Pharisees are unwilling to submit to God and rely upon his word as their guide. Instead they have made up their own sinful minds, turning from the truth and following the path of unbelief to their destruction. We must be very careful we don’t make important decisions that pertain to our eternity apart from God and his revealed truth. The Pharisees are doing just that in rejecting the truth that God is delivering to them through Jesus the Son of God.

Prayer

Father, how thankful I am that you have given me the Holy Spirit to discern your truth. Like the officers in our lesson, I am touched by what I learn from the Word and the more I learn the more I desire to be like Jesus. My heart is grieved by our tendency to be satisfied by what the world has to offer and not staying focused on the task you set before us. Forgive us and continue to work in our hearts.

Division Among the People

Lesson #132

In this lesson we will cover John 7:40 – 44. After Jesus spoke about living water, “some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?”” (John 7:40 – 41 ESV). It was foretold in Deuteronomy 18:15 – 18 that God would raise up a prophet like Moses. When John the Baptist arrived on the scene people wondered if he was the prophet or the Christ. John said that he was neither. Out text shows some confusion amongst the people as some thought the prophet and the Christ were two different people. Some felt Jesus could not be the Christ because he was from Galilee. They apparently forgot he was actually born in Bethlehem.

Those who believed Jesus was not from Bethlehem presented the argument, “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” (John 7:42 ESV). In Micah 5:2 we read, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (NASB). This verse tells us that Jesus would come from Bethlehem, from among the clans of Judah, would one day be a ruler in Israel, and that he existed from the days of eternity before being born in Bethlehem. Surely this should have been known by the Jews, but people have a way of being blind to what they don’t want to accept. Jesus grew up in Galilee and so the Jews claimed that was where he was from, which meant he couldn’t be the Christ.

“So there was a division among the people over him” (John 7:43 ESV). A passage from James helps us understand what is happening: “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:14 – 16 ESV). Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in our hearts can cause us to be false to or reject the truth which results in different human views, causing division. Sinful hearts rebel against God and that which is truth. As we saw in previous lessons, the truth can be presented, but what is done with that truth depends on the heart of the one hearing it. Has there been occasion when you rejected or were not willing to accept and obey what the Scriptures revealed to you? Are you not studying the Scriptures so you will not have to experience the guilt of disobeying what you just learned?

This division among the people overflowed in hate for Jesus and “Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him” (John 7:44 ESV). Very often when people reject someone their rejection is accompanied by cruelty and the eagerness to cause the person harm. With Jesus, this rejection and cruelty will continue to grow until the time set by the Father for Jesus to go to the cross.

Prayer

Father, I confess that I have experienced this in my own life. I have not liked the message being given by someone and rejected it and thus the person. I now realized that this rejection usually was accompanied by ill feelings toward that person. When my pride sets the standard I find sin waiting at the door. Father, forgive me and continue to conform me into the image of your Son.

Rivers of Living Water

Lesson #131

In this lesson we will cover John 7:37 – 39. We learn from other sources that Jesus was not arrested at this time and in this lesson we find him before the people on the last day of the feast, “. . . the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”” (John 7:37 ESV). John 7:14 makes reference to the middle of the feast while here we are at the last day of the feast, called the great day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus stands up and cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” Probably Jesus is referring to Psalm 55:1, where in the first part of the verse we read, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters . . . “. In chapter 4, Jesus refers to the water as “living water” (v 10) and whoever drinks of that water will never thirst again (v13). But to drink, to remove one’s thirst, that person must first come to Jesus in belief.

Jesus continues to describe the meaning of drinking to remove thirst by saying, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38 ESV). Jesus is the source of living water that he gives to those who come to him in belief, but as a believer that living water can flow through us to touch the lives of others. To understand how this works we need to continue on the verse 39.

“Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39 ESV). This living water, that believers were to receive, refers to the Holy Spirit. To understand this, consider the sap that flows within a living tree. That sap is the life of the tree; without it the tree would no longer have life. This living water in us is like the sap in the tree, but there is a great difference. The sap is physical and provides life for a physical tree. Without water our body would die, but unlike the tree we are also spiritual. Without the Spirit flowing within us we would not have spiritual life. Our bodies require water to remove thirst and provide life. Jesus then builds a bridge between the physical and the spiritual using the term “living water”. In the spiritual realm Jesus calls this living water the Spirit. Without the Spirit living in us we do not have spiritual life.

Jesus then informs us the Spirit has not yet been given, because he has not yet been glorified. This living water, this Spirit will come to fill us with life after Jesus goes to the Father. This giving of the Spirit occurs at Pentecost. From that time forward, the Spirit dwells within each believer and remains there for an eternity. This does not mean the Holy Spirit has not been at work in the world prior to Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Spirit was present in the world as early as Genesis 1:2, where we find “the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters.” Probably what Jesus means here is the full and powerful presence would not occur until the church age, which we now live in.

Prayer

Father, what an exciting time to be alive, to be able to enjoy the indwelling presence of the Spirit, providing us with eternal life. What joy it is to have the living hope of our resurrection when Jesus returns and life with you as your child forever. 

Where Will Jesus Go?

Lesson #130

With this lesson we will finish the section defined by John 7:32 – 36. Jesus had just said to his enemies that he was going to leave in a little while to return to his Father. He further tells them that after he leaves they would search for him but would not find him. Jesus knew they did not understand what he meant by his statement that he was going to return to his Father because he told them that after he left they would search for him to see what happened to him or where he went.

“The Jews [then] said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?” (John 7:35 ESV). By this statement, the Jews show their complete lack of understanding of what Jesus has been teaching them. These who do not understand who are deaf to hear God’s instruction are further moved by their wickedness to threaten harm to anyone they do not understand.

Ignoring what Jesus said about going to his Father, the Jews wonder if “he [intended] to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?” “The Dispersion was a common Jewish expression to refer to all the Jewish people scattered throughout the Roman Empire, and even beyond the bounds of the empire, but not living in Palestine itself.” (ESV Bible footnotes for verse 35). They wondered if this is what he meant. Peter refers to the dispersion as those scattered “in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1 NET). The implication is, will Jesus cross the sea to go to Jews who dwell in a world unknown to them?

The Jews are so confused and utter “What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?” (John 7:36 ESV). There is nothing more to say here than to realize these Jews are spiritually dead and are unable to understand any reference made to spiritual things. They simply could not grasp the idea of a spiritual kingdom beyond this worldly kingdom they were currently a part of.

Prayer

Father, thank you that I know that Jesus is with you and I know that one day I will be with you also because of what Jesus accomplished by coming and dying for my sin and then rising from the dead. Father, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and empower me to invest the time I have left wisely.

Sent to Arrest Jesus

Lesson #129

This lesson will be the first of two on the section defined by John 7:32 – 36. “The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him” (John 7:32 ESV). The Pharisees were deeply troubled over the common person thinking about Jesus and sharing their thoughts with one another. They felt threatened by the influence Jesus was having over the people. They were afraid that this influence would weaken their control over the people and wanted to stop any further erosion of their authority. This is no different today in many countries. As people learn about Jesus and move toward a relationship with him, authorities feel threatened and apply pressure, often through persecution, to control the influence of their witness. The difference between then and now was the actual presence of Jesus. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees focused on removing the influence of Jesus by arresting him. Today the focus is on Christians who are influencing others through their witness. In either case the object is to eliminate the influence of Christianity on the current culture by silencing in some way the one who is witnessing.

“Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.”” (John 7:33 ESV). It is not clear who Jesus is speaking to; was it the assembly of people or to those who came to arrest him or to both. I think we can be safe to say he is speaking to his enemies, informing them that they have no influence over his death until the time appointed by the Father. It is not only Jesus they are rejecting but the grace God is extending to them. Jesus was sent to them by the Father from heaven’s glory and was calling them to embrace him for their spiritual needs, but they would not receive him. In a little while he would leave, removing the offer of the grace of God from them.

Jesus makes it clear that he is in control of when he leaves and where he is going. His death will not be the end of his influence. At the appointed time he will die, but he, as we will see later, has the power to rise from the dead and through those who believe, continue to have an effective witness. No matter what his enemies try to do they will not be able to overcome what he was sent to accomplish. Once he returns to his Father, he will begin to live his life through those who believe and as hard as his opposition tries they will not be able to stamp out his witness.

Jesus continues by saying, “You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come” (John 7:34 ESV). If they are able to put Jesus to death, why would they want to then seek him. After dying on the cross they placed him in a sealed tomb, but on the third day the tomb was found to be empty. No matter how hard they look they will not find him because he went to be with his Father, a place where they cannot go. The death of Jesus or the death of believers is never wasted. The death and resurrection of Jesus provided salvation and on the death of believers the church is being built. What the Father has determined, no enemy can defeat. We must never forget that.

Prayer

Father, thank you that you are in control and will complete the process of transforming those you have chosen, before the foundation of the world, into the image of your Son. Thank you for the living hope you have given each one of us who believe. Thank you for your love for us and the kindness of your grace you extend to us.

Can This Be the Christ?

Lesson #128

The residents of Jerusalem were listening to and watching Jesus and questioning his identity. The Jewish authorities were convinced in their minds that Jesus could not be the Christ, the foretold Messiah, but there were others who believed he was; at least they saw him as their deliver from the bonds of Rome. Jesus concurs with them that they know where he is from as a man, but they simply can’t grasp that the Son of God dwells inside that body. Jesus refers to this by saying, “I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me” (John 7 28 – 29 NASB).

This was more that the Jewish authorities could accept “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come” (John 7:30 ESV). The authorities had the will and were seeking an opportunity to arrest Jesus; they had the strength, but something seem to hinder them from carrying out their intent as no one laid a hand on him. God had a plan that he was executing and thus a schedule for Jesus to follow and until that time determined by God arrives, Jesus was protected against all their violence and furious attacks.

God’s plan included Jesus going to the cross as our sacrifice for sin; when, according to schedule, when the time is right we should not be surprised or alarmed when they finally drag him off to his death. Just as the death of Jesus had an exact time determined by God, we should understand that as we live from day to day we are under God’s authority and protection. As Calvin said, “It is difficult to believe that, while we are subject to so many accidents, exposed to so many open and concealed attacks both from men and beasts, and liable to so many diseases, we are safe from all risk until God is pleased to call us away.” For each of us as believers, God determined our time of birth, assigned us work to do with guidance and strength to do it in his time frame, and set a time of death. Between those two end points we are immortal and will complete the work assigned. I see this in my own life. There were three distinct times in my past when I should have died as a result of accident, but I was protected. There was work assigned to me to do in the distant land of China that I could never have even dreamed of when I was younger. The protection and guidance of God’s hand is so clear in my life that at times it nearly overwhelms me and surely humbles me.

“Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”” (John 7:31 ESV). The people knew that God was going to raise up a prophet like Moses from among them, “And I (God) will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV). Jesus like Moses had performed many miraculous signs and as a result it would be only natural for the people to wonder if Jesus was the Messiah.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your guidance and protection over my life. Thank you for your loving care as you molded my life to look and act more and more like that of Jesus. I long to see how you plan to use me and mold me in the days ahead. Truly, life under your hand is an adventure that has no other match. The world has nothing to offer that comes anywhere close to what life with you has to offer.

Who Is Jesus?

Lesson #127

With this lesson we will begin the next section defined by John 7:25 – 31. “Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill?”” (John 7:25 ESV). It seems that the Jews, the rulers, had been sharing their desire to eliminate Jesus with some of the people of Jerusalem because they now question if Jesus is not the man whom the Jews seek to kill? “And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?” (John 7:26 ESV). It is clear that these people are somewhat confused because here Jesus is speaking openly and the authorities, probably the Sanhedrin, are doing nothing about it. They wonder if the authorities have determined that Jesus is really the Christ. The people wonder about this because the Prophets have testified that the origin of Christ will be unknown. They said, “But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from” (John 7:27 ESV). Jesus really has an obstacle to overcome at this point.

Before we go any further we must stop and think about what is really happening here. The religious leaders have determined in their minds expectations for the coming Christ, the Messiah, and in their view, Jesus is not a good match and so they come up with arguments that explain why Jesus is not who he says he is. When Jesus confronts them and disproves their argument they contrive another argument against him. Sinful man will always come up with something that allows them to reject some new truth that is placed before them that doesn’t meet with their approval. It is no different today. We can decide what we want to believe and we will always have some argument that prevents us from accepting what God may be trying to teach us.

“So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know”” (John 7:28 ESV). In Micah 5:2 we are told that from Bethlehem a king would emerge that will rule over Israel, one whose origins are in the distant past. The Jews know where the man Jesus is from, but they can’t accept that he is anything more than that; they are not willing to accept that the one from Bethlehem, namely Jesus, existed in the distant past with God as the Son of God. Jesus points this out by explaining that he has not come on his own accord, but that he was sent by his Father. Jesus informs them that they do not know the one who sent him.

Jesus continues, “I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me” (John 7:29 ESV). Jesus continues to hold firm to who he is, where he is from, and who sent him. Jesus says that he knows the Father because he comes from him in obedience to his request. It is this eternal part of Jesus they can’t accept. They are unable to see that Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, was the door through which God entered; through which we may enter into the presence of the eternal God; God and man together in perfect union.

Prayer

Lord, you are such a great mystery to so many. It seems that unless God gives one understanding that person will not see or accept the deity of Jesus. Most people cannot get beyond the human level. Father, thank you for choosing me, drawing me to yourself, preparing me spiritually to desire Jesus, and giving me to him as a gift. Lord, thank you for unconditionally accepting me and giving me eternal life.

Acceptance of Truth

Lesson #126

With this lesson we will continue where we left off in the last lesson at verse 21 with Jesus responding to the crowd telling him he had a demon or that he was mad by assuming the Jews wanted to kill him. “Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it.”” (John 7:21 ESV). Jesus is probably referring back to the paralytic he healed on the Sabbath at the pool called Bethesda. They marveled at his healing, but since he did it on the Sabbath he is being accused of breaking the Law. If the people would stop and think about what they do on the Sabbath, they would realize that they are also guilty. Jesus gives them an example.

“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?” (John 7:22 – 23 ESV). We have two events being performed on the Sabbath; circumcision required by God to be done on the eighth day, even if it falls on the Sabbath, and the healing which Jesus did. Circumcision affects only one part of the body, but the healing Jesus did makes a man's whole body well. Jesus was claiming that his healing was of greater value that their circumcision. The problem seems to be that Jesus healing on the Sabbath is something new and lies outside of what the Jews have deemed as acceptable.

Jesus continues by saying, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24 ESV). Jesus ends his defense and then condemns them for their sin of judgment. In their minds, circumcision was ok on the Sabbath because they saw it as a work of God that they were to perform, but because of prejudice they were not willing to accept the work of Christ as a worthy activity. Because of the Jews dislike of Jesus, they were unwilling to embrace any truth Jesus presents to them. We must be careful we don’t dislike doctrine and reject it because of our dislike of the person teaching it. It is clear that their dislike of Jesus blocks their acceptance of anything new being proclaimed by him. Their blindness and rejection of the truth will grow as their hatred of Jesus grows.

 

Prayer

Father, as I wrote this lesson I thought about how I sometimes react to people who present a doctrinal view different from what I hold. I questioned whether I want to maintain my position or am I willing to listen to their view with the possibility of modifying my view. If I continue to reject their view, do I also reject the person who is presenting the new view. Father, as I think about this I believe I am in need of a little heart change, just as the Jews were at the time of Jesus.