No Publicity Stunt: Missing God In Plain Sight Series

Have you heard someone say, “I wouldn’t bet the farm on that if I were you?” There are a lot you cannot of people you cannot count on. But there’s one you can bet the farm on, and His name is Jesus.

Find John 7 with me, if you will.

Jesus finds Himself poked and prodded by the public in every way. The Jesus we see in John 7 must defend Himself and define Himself on many fronts.1 In our story, people are seeking to kill Jesus, and no one wants to be publicly connected to Him. Still, there is a lot of curiosity surrounding Him. People are still curious about the controversial figure Jesus to this day.

Muslim Iman Conversion

In recent weeks, a Muslim Iman found believers in and around central India. The religious leader began to ask questions about following Jesus. After talking with American believers, the young Iman had a dream where a respected elder Iman told him everything he believed had no purpose. After hours of deep conversation about Jesus Christ and hours of Bible reading with believers, the Muslim Iman embraced Jesus Christ by faith at tremendous risk to himself. When this young Iman’s sister found a New Testament in his room, she reported this to their father, who also was an Iman. His family gave him a really hard time. But he continues to pursue the Lord Jesus Christ by reading God’s Word.

Would you pray for this young believer with me?

Sermon Preview

I want you to picture yourself as a member of the jury this morning. You must decide on this question: Who is Jesus Christ? There’s a trilemma that I want to show you that has helped thousands of people. A what? A trilemma to the question, “Who is Jesus Christ” ?. But there’s a wrinkle to this age-old question: Are you really capable of deciding? Jesus warns us to be aware of our bias in our investigation.

Today’s Scripture

“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” (John 7:10-24).

Decline of American Christians

If current trends in America continue, less than 50% of people will identify as Christian believers by 2070. When I was but a few months old, 90% of Americans identified as followers of Jesus Christ. Today, only 64% of Americans would say they are followers of Jesus, according to the people at Pew Research.2 The worst-case scenario is this: As many as 42 million people raised in Christian homes will disaffiliate from Christianity by 2050.

1. Faux Disciples Offering False Wisdom

“For not even his brothers believed in him” (John 7:5).

Jesus’ stepbrothers kick off our story with a suggestion. There’s this interesting aspect of the story where Jesus’ brothers want His ministry to go viral. Jesus’ reaction to His nonbelieving brothers is insightful.

1.1 The Feasts of Booths

First, there’s the setting. The Feast of Booths or Tabernacles took place around September – October, when grapes and olives were being harvested (Leviticus 22:33-36). This festival was a celebration, the work was over, and now everyone can enjoy one another. People would gather from all around Jerusalem. They built makeshift booths to stay in during this holiday, so they called it the “Feast of the Booths.” The Feast of Tabernacles was a popular attraction that drew countless thousands to Jerusalem.