Sermon Central
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Discipleship Will Cost You, Part 5 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Mar 15, 2026 (message contributor)
Summary: When it comes to following Jesus, we have to ask the important distinction: Do we really know Him? Or do we just know about Him? Jesus explores this topic amongst the religious in the Temple, and it truly speaks to us today!
John, Part 31
Series: Discipleship Will Cost You, Part 5 Passage: John 7:25-31
FOCUS: Continuing our focus on Discipleship and its personal cost to us
Discipleship: the process of becoming like Jesus through obedience / submitting
LAST WEEK: Jesus is teaching in the synagogue; last 6-months of earthly life
? His teachings are becoming more direct (repent & to come to God)
? People’s conclusion is: Jesus must be opposed to “our idea” of God!
? Why? Because He challenges what they hold sacred: “religious identity”
? SEE: If your identity is in religion, or in this world, it’s NOT in Christ!
Here is where it gets tough for us: Jesus challenges our / their legalistic ways!
Legalism: dependence on moral law rather than on scriptural-based faith in God
• EX: He does something good (healing on Sabbath) and this is a bad thing?
• They were devoted to some things but not to what God called them to
• He challenges their idea of worship and what is “faithfulness to God”
• Their natural reply is: Ridicule Him – Remove Him – Kill Him!
Today we’ll examine His response to locals (last week was pilgrims) at Festival
Want us to see how quickly we can ALSO fit into this category of complainers
FACT: These were people who knew about Jesus, but didn’t know Him
Read John 7:25-31 & Pray
Point 1 – The Locals’ False Assumptions
Their response was that of questioning – based in uncertainty v25
APP: Their conclusion is tragic (same one that is often made today too)
Consider: Their doubt is what leads them – so openly they wonder:
? “Is He one we should worship?” / “Is He really the One they want to kill?”
? BIG: “Is He really the one who has been promised by God to save us”?
Follow their logic: They know His hometown, know His origins, know His family
So they assume that Jesus can’t be the Messiah because of what they know! v26
Now, watch this … they lead themselves with FLAWED knowledge!
Re-Read v27 … “when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from”
• Genesis 49:10 (The Tribe of Judah):
o Predicts that the scepter (word for ruler or Messiah) will not depart from Judah, narrowing the regional location to His origins (tribe)
• 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (Lineage of David):
o Establishes that the Messiah will be a descendant of King David, specifically tying the origin to David's city, Bethlehem
• Micah 5:2 (Birthplace: Bethlehem):
o The most specific prophecy, indicating the ruler over Israel would arise from the small town of Bethlehem in Judah
Why is this REALLY bad? They depend in their own wisdom to identify God!
? However, if we (humans) were capable of identifying God:
o Would we not recognize our own sin?
o Would we not repent and stop fooling ourselves?
o Would we not stop trying to be little judges on behalf of God?
? These people are living by false teaching, fed to them by flawed humans!
HUGE: Said another way: They suffer from Biblical illiteracy!
They trust in what they think they know rather than what God says! Today?
We need less podcasts, sermons, and emails and more reading of God’s word!
Lesson: If we are not reading His Word and seeking Him; what are we doing?
Their uncertainty about God leads them to a disastrous conclusion:
? Their doubt, because He is not fitting into the box they’ve designed is …
? That Jesus cannot be the Messiah that has been promised from God
CHALL: How often do we do this very thing?
? Because God did answer me – He can’t be trusted!
? Because God does not do what I want – He isn’t real!
Point 2 – Jesus’s Second Response to the People
Jesus’s response to them provides striking correction (rebuke) vv28-29
1) I am not here of my own authority!
a. His mission and message were not His own; this is NOT His will
b. He was not sent for glory or to build a following; or gain reputation
c. Even though you know my family, you’ve no idea who I really am!
2) The One that sent Him is True!
a. HUGE: Look at the wording: A real Person sent Jesus to them!
b. Greek: “ho pempsas ego” means: “the One who sent me”
c. Not referring to someone “make-believe”; aligns Himself with God
d. Jesus is claiming that the One who sent Him gave Him this mission
e. This person is not only real, but He is also True (re: Faithful)
3) And … (watch this) … YOU (personal) do not know Him!
a. Jesus is telling them that they do not KNOW God!
b. APP: They do not identify as God’s people; ones living for God
