Scripture Introduction
John 3.16 may be the best known verse in the Bible, but the next one is near in significance: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus came to save. That’s good news. But what about when he does criticize and rebuke?
We need to answer that question because many people feel guilty and fear condemnation. Hiking in the Rockies provided a parable for this. On the way up to camp the boys paused beside waterfalls and investigated unique rock formations. Our loads felt light and the hike a joy. But after camping through torrential rain, the waterlogged equipment increased our loads and combined with the threat of more storms to quell all enthusiasm. Feeling weighed down and fearing more rain made the return a non-stop trudge.
You know the feeling — guilt weighs, grace relieves. And those relieved find they enjoy the journey. Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save. So that we can be saved and live life to the fullest, we should know when and why he does condemn. Let’s read about it in John 7.14-24. [Read John 7.14-24. Pray.]
Introduction
Our family vacation this fall threw us back to an earlier time. Mackinaw Island is essentially free from motorized vehicles. As a result, we thoroughly enjoyed peddling that bicycling paradise. There was, however, an unexpected problem. You must watch your step on Mackinaw because there is a prodigious amount of…(there’s no nice way to say this): "horse-poo." The movies rarely show this dangerous side effect of the time before cars — everywhere you step is a potential land-mine. Jesus also walked carefully, though for different reasons.
The fact that Jesus carefully considered his steps may surprise you. We imagine Jesus doing what he wanted when he wanted, and with little worry about the effect. But God shows us that Jesus remains innocent as a dove while planning his movements as the wisest of serpents. As a result, he refuses to be bullied into action by family, friends, or foes.
I see a clear application of Jesus’ pattern in the ways in which we speak to one another, and to those outside the church. Christians sometimes suppose that we need not be careful how we present truth, as long as we speak it. I mentioned to you a couple of week’s ago an example of this problem.
Dr. John Frame (professor at Reformed Theological Seminary): “One slogan of the Machen movement was ‘truth before friendship.’ We should laud their intention to act according to principle without compromise. But the biblical balance is ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4.15). We must not speak the truth without thinking of the effect of our formulations on our fellow Christians, even our opponents. That balance was not characteristic of the Machen movement.” Dr. Frame then says that he dreams of a day when we “honor one another as much for character and witness as we do for agreement with our theological positions.” The way we speak is as important as what we say.
We may also fail to match Jesus’ sensitivity while witnessing to his Gospel. Some believe that the technique and methods of evangelism matter little as long as we get the message out. We can paint John 3.16 on a sign and dye our hair funny colors, or we can yell at unsuspecting customers as they climb the steps to the post office — as long as we get the message out. But Jesus does not agree. For him, teaching is both content and context.
Jesus’ brothers had tried to force his hand. Not believing in him and tired of neighbors’ scornful glares, they tell Jesus to make a public claim of his power and politics. But he does not comply: “For you guys, anytime is acceptable. You don’t care about the subtleties of discerning God’s will and doing all things well. Now is not the right time; I will not react to your agenda; God is not controlled by human expectations.”
But after a day or so delay does Jesus go to Jerusalem — not publically, but in private. Rather than risk a mob proclaiming him king, he chooses an entrance that enables him to most effectively teach. Jesus was born to die. But to give his sacrifice meaning, he must teach. Therefore, he prioritizes the context of his speaking ministry (while delivering true content). He preaches so that the most people can hear and respond.
Jesus would have us, also, listen well to his words. And in this paragraph we hear some reasons to love his teaching, to labor in knowing and understanding his preaching, to build a life on his message. The first reason…
1. We Must Listen to Jesus Because His Teaching Is God’s (John 7.15-17)
When Jesus spoke, men marveled. Yesterday (January 12, 2008), Daniel Schorr commented on why Mr. Bush is traveling to the holy land: “I think he is enjoying himself; he likes walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.” From a political and philosophical perspective, it is hard to imagine someone further from President Bush than Daniel Schorr, son of Jewish emigrants from Russia and certainly no friend of Biblical Christianity. But even he respects the President for walking in the footsteps of Jesus. People still marvel over him.
Clearly these Jews were amazed by Jesus’ wisdom and knowledge of Scripture. By the age of twelve, he already astonished people with his understanding of the Word and his answers to theological questions. But there is more; Jesus also impressed people with his manner and style: “No one ever spoke like this man.” He taught with authority, and he spoke with compassion. He was winsome to the wandering and stern with the hard-hearted. One of my professors gave me this coin fourteen years ago to remind me of Jesus’ character: tough minded, tender hearted. Both.
Unfortunately, we pastors fail precisely here, and too often at that. Because we fear man, we tend to be tough with the weak and feeble (because they cannot fight back) and tender and gentle with those who harden themselves against God and grace (because they will fight back). Forgive me when I do that, and correct me, please. Jesus feared God and therefore was able to give each person love and truth.
We should note here that the Jews had a system to prevent people like Jesus from teaching. They knew that whoever controls education, controls the next generation, so their bureaucracy did just that. Likewise, the intense opposition to Christ-centered education in our country has the same source. Yes, private schooling and homeschooling are allowed, but they are tolerated, not encouraged. From rejection of vouchers to certification requirements to limiting the use of “public” school facilities to those inside the system, every power possible is arrayed against the freedom to choose. It should not surprise us that one of the demands of the Communist Manifesto is free, compulsory, public education.
J. C. Ryle: “But the Jerusalem Jews, in their pride and self-conceit, set down anyone as comparatively ignorant who had not been trained in their great metropolitan schools.”
But they do not marvel simply because Jesus is anti-establishment. Plenty of alternative teaching is patently foolish. Jesus’ teaching is marvelous because it is from God. When you hear him you are confronted with God’s will.
You probably know by now that I prefer we not have red-letter bibles. I am not a fan, either, of printing the New Testament without the Old. We asked every member to read the whole Bible this year. Yet we err when we fail to prioritize the New. The story of redemption is incomplete without the Redeemer. Yes the Old Testament is important to understand the fullness of God; but the story of Jesus is essential.
When God sends his son into the world, he calls this “good news,” or “Gospel.” This is the power of God for salvation. The gospel is to be believed so that we may be saved. It is the gospel which must be proclaimed to all nations. It is the gospel that God calls men to preach. It is the gospel which God sent Paul to tell in Corinth. It is the gospel which must be preached lest the pastor be accursed. And it is told in the New Testament.
Having said all that, some who hear (no doubt) do not benefit. You know people who profess faith yet lives fall apart. Those who are exposed to truth yet never changed by it. The man who attends church, yet his wife does not flourish. The woman always at Bible study yet never able to make her home a haven for family or honor and respect her husband. 2Timothy 3.7 warns about those, “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”
So hearing alone must be insufficient. What else is needed? Jesus tells us in verse 17: “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.”
In other words, instead of thinking: “I must first know everything clearly, then I will act” — we should say, “I will act on the knowledge I have and trust God to give more as needed.” Whoever is faithful in little things, can be trusted with more.
You know this experientially from walking in a dark wood with a lantern. The light is wonderful, but the path it reveals is limited. More path appears only as we walk in the light we already have.
J. C. Ryle observes, “God tests men’s sincerity by making obedience part of the process by which religious knowledge is obtained. Are we really wiling to do God’s will so far as we know it? If we are, God will take care that our knowledge is increased. If we are not willing to do his will, we show clearly that we do not want to be God’s servants. Our hearts and not our heads are in fault.”
The Apostle Paul applies this to the church in Corinth. They were not loving one another. So he says, “You can speak in tongues, you can prophesy, you can understand all mysteries and have all knowledge, you faith can move mountains — but if you do not practice the first principle of Christianity — love one another — then you have nothing.
May people say of us, “They practice what they know,” rather than, “They know more than they do.” Men, may your wife say, “He loves me as Jesus loves the church,” not simply that he can recite the verse. Fathers, we know not to exasperate our children; but are we? Do those with whom we work and play and study know only the harshness of our doctrines, or are their defenses melted by our loyalty, kindness, fairness, honesty, encouragement and concern for their well-being?
We must listen to Jesus’ teaching because it is God’s.
2. We Must Listen to Jesus Because His Teaching Glorifies God (John 7.18)
We know Paul was a great pastor because he exemplified this same passion. Two verses make that clear. Ephesians 3.8: “Though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given [to me]: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” 2Corinthians 4.5: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
Bilbo Baggins wrote:
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
The crownless again shall be king.
Those words speak of Strider (Aragorn) the king who did not appear to be. Appearances can deceive.
That is why Jesus says, “Test my ministry by this: who is glorified? I am preaching to you God’s grace; other’s preach for their honor. Which is from God?”
The test of my teaching and all church leadership must be the same: does it honor Jesus and humble sinners? Do I point you to God’s grace as fully sufficient, or to your efforts as necessary contributions? Of course you know that your sins need to be repented of; but what of your good deeds? Are you encouraged to confidence in your successes and fear of your failures, or confidence of Christ’s success and fear of self-righteousness? Teaching which is from God gives all glory to God.
3. We Must Listen to Jesus Because His Teaching Enables Right Judgment (John 7.19-24)
Jesus often healed on the Sabbath, and the Jewish leadership was infuriated. Their rules for Sabbath allowed them to brag of their obedience while practically ensuring others could not perfectly comply. So Jesus healed on that day to press home his new message; and those in authority condemned him.
In response, Jesus notes that they too break the Sabbath commandment when they circumcise on the eight day. Some laws must take priority—specifically works of mercy. They obey the law (of circumcision) by “breaking” the law (of the Sabbath). Then Jesus hits them where it hurts: “I did the same thing you did, only more perfectly. I obeyed the law of loving my neighbor by healing his body, which is greater than the Sabbath command. You break the law of loving your neighbor by plotting my death. Two application for us.
First, resist superficial and quick judgments. There is a saying: “Don’t find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road. Unless you have worn the shoes he wears, or struggled beneath his load. There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt, though hidden away from view. Or the burden he bears, if placed on your back, might cause you to stumble too.” Do we really know what is going on in the heart? Can we really condemn them for treating us poorly? Are you sure the problems they face might not cause you trouble? Jesus condemns self-righteous judgments.
Second, resist the temptation to imagine that your obedience is grand. James Boice: “The fundamental spiritual error of the human heart is to think that a person can please God by his own natural efforts. But this error leads to others.” The Jews obeyed their Sabbath rules. Jesus broke them. If he is God, then their obedience was worthless. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, he said, “Your good works drive you away from God. Will you turn from them?” Jesus condemns self-justification.
4. Conclusion
Abe and Charlie climb Pikes Peak; Billy climbs Snowmass Mountain. Both mountains are in Colorado and similar in height. Pikes Peak reaches 14,115 feet; Snowmass, 14,099 feet. As Abe nears the top of Pikes Peak, he passes 14,000 feet. Billy also reaches 14,000 feet as he climbs Snowmass. Charlie is slow; he is only 9,000 feet up Pikes Peak.
A quick judgment would say that Abe and Billy are close to the goal; Charlie is farthest away. But what if a wealthy businesswoman has offered everyone who reaches the summit of Pikes Peak $100,000, and Billy’s GPS gave him bad directions? Charlie is actually closer to the goal than Billy, and, in fact, every step Billy takes moves him further away.
In Philippians 3, Paul notes that before he found the gospel, he put his confidence in his good works. “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.” I was further up the mountain than any others.
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” My height placed me further from the goal.
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.” I delight in being dragged off the mountain of my good works, that I might be located on a completely different place.
Let us not judge by appearances, how high a person seems to have traveled. Let us just rightly—do I bring people to trust in the completed work of Jesus? That is the test of ministry and the call to all true Christians.
