200410. ser
“Confusion and Conflict Regarding Christ”
CLBC February 22, 2004 a.m.
Subject: Christ:
Theme Division over Christ
Passage: John 7: 1 - 52 (Read 7: 25 - 31)
It is impossible to be completely neutral bout Jesus Christ. Multitudes of people try to be neutral toward him. Many really believe that they are neutral toward him. They would claim that he was a good man, that he did many wonderful things, but that was long ago and far away, and it has nothing whatever to do with how I live my life. It certainly doesn’t require me to go to church. “I don’t have to go to church to believe in Jesus.”
But it was the same when Jesus was here on his earth in person. There was confusion and conflict about Jesus. Every time Jesus came to town, he got into trouble. The first time, he cleaned out the temple, and drove the animals and birds, and moneychangers out of what he called, “My Father’s house.” On his next visit to Jerusalem we saw him heal a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. That should have sent joy bells ringing throughout the city but nstead it stirred up murder in the hearts of the religious leaders. At that time, “the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath”..John 5:16.. And “therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God.”John 5:18
And now, lookout, because he’s coming to town again, and who knows what will happen this time?
It wasn’t that he came to Jerusalem often- for at least six months he had been ministering in Galilee, 80 miles to the north, but in that length of time, their hatred of Jesus had not died down one bit. As we come to John chapter 7, the animosity is still there, affecting everyone in the city. In fact in another 6 months, it will finally result in his crucifixion.
The occasion was the Feast of Tabernacles. This was one of the 3 main Jewish festivals each year, and this was a time of celebration - an 8 day “camp out” in which everyone made and lived in “booths” or shelters of boughs and branches as they looked back to the wilderness wanderings of Israel in the desert. It was held 5 days after the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest took the blood of sacrifice into the Holy of Holies to atone for the sins of the nation for the
year. It was also a harvest festival, held in October to celebrate the gathering in of the crops. So, it was a time of joy and rejoicing. Now let’s see the
1. Confusion about Jesus
a. The reaction of his own brothers - tolerant amusement.
As everyone was getting ready to go to Jerusalem, Jesus’ brothers urged him to go to
Jerusalem too. “Go and show yourself to the people.” It was really political advice. “You want to be somebody? Well, get known!”
Now the real reason show up in verse 5, “For even his brothers did not believe in him.”
There is still debate as to who these brothers were. Some teach that Mary was a virgin all of her life, and therefore these had to be near relatives, or perhaps Joseph’s sons by a former marriage, but there is no need for such confusion. The Bible clearly says that Joseph did not know Mary, that is, did not have sexual relations with her until she brought forth her firstborn son. It is clear that after Jesus was born, other children were born to Joseph and Mary and these half brothers who grew up in the same home with him had never yet come to understand who he was or to believe in him as their Saviour and Lord. But that changed after the crucifixion and resurrection and in Acts 1: 14, we read that the followers of Jesus stayed in the upper room with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
Application:
This simply reminds us that there are lots of people who have grown up in Christian homes, who went to sound Bible believing churches from their earliest days, who attended kids’ clubs, and young teens, and youth group, who went to camp each year - people who have had every spiritual advantage, and yet never really came to trust Christ and they are just as lost as the worst sinner in the land. They are in the community. They can still quote Bible verses. They can
sound very wise about Christianity, and yet their attitude is one of tolerant amusement. A Pastor friend
tells us that that was his situation until he was 30 years old. Then he began to read the Bible to his family and his girl came to him asking him what she needed to do, and he told her of her need to confess her need of forgiveness and to ask Jesus into her life, and he led her to Christ. Then it hit him what he had done and he understood that he needed to be saved himself.
Praise God for parents that faithfully teach their children the Word of God, even if the kids
appear to reject it for the time being.
b. The reaction of the common people - honest uncertainty
When the people arrived in Jerusalem, we read that everyone was looking for Jesus. But there was confusion about him. Verse 12; Some said, “He is a good man” -others said, “He deceives the people” but no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jews.
This reminds us that there are many people in the community who really don’t know who Jesus is. They may not have gone to church all their lives - but they have been at Christmas programs. They have heard the story of Easter. They have listened to Billy Graham and respect him. They may go to church occasionally or even regularly. They may really like what they hear
from the Bible. It sounds good. It’s nice to think a person could be forgiven of their sins. But still
their spiritual eyes have never been opened. They are not opposed, they are just uncertain. They may greatly admire those who openly believe in Jesus.
But the likelihood is that they are afraid also. They are afraid to take an open stand for Jesus. They are afraid that others may laugh at them. They are afraid that their friends and relatives will call them Bible thumpers, or some other derogatory name.
Like Jesus brothers, many of these people may become believers at last. After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, many of these people may have been in the crowds listening to Peter and the apostles. At last the Spirit of God opened their hearts and they repented and became true Christians.
Application:
I am so glad to have the opportunity to preach the word to these people because, though they may be hesitant, when the Holy Spirit finally draws them to trust in Jesus, they will be committed Christians, ready to stand for Jesus.
c. The reaction of the Jewish leaders - proud hostility
This is no longer just confusion: this is open conflict.
v. 15 “How does this man know letters, having never studied?” There was arrogant contempt here. This fellow has never gone to our theological schools; he has no degree! He has no cultural background! We see this same attitude in the Pharisees when the officers they sent to arrest Jesus came back without him. Look at v. 45 - 52 When the officers said they hadn’t brought him because,”No man ever spoke like this man!” the Pharisees said, “Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers of the Pharisees believed on him? But this crowd that doesn’t know the law are accursed.”
Now take note that this is the attitude of the shepherds that were supposed to care for, to feed and to protect the sheep of Israel. Do you see why Jesus later called them thieves and robbers who do not care about the sheep?
But their reaction was worse than that: they had murder in their hearts. The people of Jerusalem knew it. As they heard Jesus openly teaching in the temple, they asked, “Is this not he whom they seek to kill? But look, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers really know indeed that this is truly the Christ? John 7:25
In v. 30 they sought to take him. In v. 32, the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers
to take him
I mentioned to you before that beginning in chapter 5, I have drawn a little knife in the margin beside every verse in which the Jewish leaders hated and wanted to kill Jesus. In chapter 7 alone I have 9 knives.
This represents an attitude of hostility and hatred that would never be satisfied until Calvary.
Application:
And that proud hostility has never gone away from this earth. On the T.V. you can hear religious “scholars” who will speak slightingly of Jesus, who will speak down about him, who will dispute any need to be converted to faith in him. In the community there is no lack of people who have a proud, arrogant, disbelieving attitude to Jesus.
You need not be surprised if they not only hate Jesus, but they hate those who claim to be true Christians, too.
2. The Teaching of Jesus
You have seen the varied reactions of the people. But what of the teaching of Jesus Himself?
One thing that becomes obvious as you read the scriptures: Jesus Christ did not do anything to try to draw favour to Himself on the part of those who disbelieved. In fact it can truthfully be said that Jesus Himself contributed to the conflict about Himself.
In chapter 5 he goes out of his way to show them that he was the Messiah, and that he was not just a man, bu that he came from heaven.
See his talking of “My Father” about “the Son can do nothing by Himself but only what he sees the Father do.” “All should honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father.” “The Father has given the Son
authority to execute judgement.”
In chapter 6, Jesus pressed them to the limit with his insistence that if they did not eat his flesh and drink his blood they had no life in them.
In ch. 7, he challenges the Jewish reaction to his healing on the sabbath day. “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath day, are you angry with me because I made a man whole on the Sabbath day? Judge righteous judgement.”John 7:23,24 “I am going to Him
who sent me, and you will seek me and not find me. Where I am going you cannot come.” John 7:33,34
You see, when I preach about the Jewish leaders and their hatred of Jesus, I must be careful, because someone might say that I am guilty of teaching anti- Semitism. You have heard the controversy in the media over Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ.” Even before it was produced, charges were being laid that Mel Gibson was anti-Semitic, and that this film was designed to stir up anti-Semitism.
I listened to Mel Gibson’s interview with Diane Sawyer the other night, and you could feel the tension as she probed this question, and he repeatedly asserted that neither he nor the film are anti Semitic, and he said very clearly that the ones who put Jesus on the cross were not the Jews,and not the Romans, as such. In no uncertain terms, Mel Gibson said that it was our sins which put Jesus on the cross.
Conclusion:
Dear ones, there have always been confusion and conflict over Jesus Christ. No one can be
completely neutral toward him. No one balance precariously on the fence.
I listened to what Mel Gibson had to say the other night. He gave a very open testimony of faith in Jesus. He told Diane Sawyer that he had achieved everything he could desire and none of it satisfied. He was still empty, and that he had committed his life to Christ. “I am a believer,” he said with conviction. Now I readily confess that there are some things which confuse me about his life too. He also made a very definite stand about his denominational loyalty, and that statement confuses me. I am not going to try to claim too much for Mel Gibson.
But I will claim everything about my Saviour Jesus Christ.
Here is a letter of recommendation on behalf of Jesus as Saviour.
Private and Confidential
Dear Sir
Thank you for your letter requesting a personal reference for Jesus of Nazareth in support
of his application to join you in the position of ’Saviour’ in your life. I am delighted to be in a
position to give him my highest recommendation.
I have known Jesus for the past sixteen years and have found him to be an honest, reliable and trustworthy person. His dual qualifications as ’Son of Man’ and ’Son of God’ place him in a unique and, I believe, more than adequate position to fulfill all the necessary requirements for the position in question.
In addition, his life--revealing as it does the capability to perform miracles, teach with
authority and to forgive sins--is further evidence of his suitability for the role of Saviour.
Furthermore, I urge you to consider perhaps the most outstanding of his achievements - that he rose rom the dead - precisely to bring about our salvation. This claim is supported by historical evaluation and by numerous witnesses and is perhaps the most conclusive proof of his power and suitability for the position of Saviour in your life.
His reputation as an unrivalled leader in his field is well deserved and his ability should not be underestimated. His undeniable charisma and personal qualities of understanding, compassion, gentleness, patience and love inspire the fiercest loyalty in his work colleagues and friends. He has an uncompromising devotion to furthering the individual personal development of others. He is also an activist in society promoting with great persuasive prowess and wisdom such concepts as justice, tolerance and the highest moral standards. To this date I have never known him to be wrong. This can make him rather irritating to work with at times, especially for people with strong personalities or conflicting beliefs.
One word of caution with regard to the appointment in question, if Jesus takes up this
position with you, he will almost certainly change your life. He will undoubtedly challenge your
accepted views on a variety of issues and will also cause you to grow and develop in new, exciting, but sometimes painful, ways. These changes are not necessarily quantifiable or in keeping with today’s social perceptions. Whilst all of Jesus’ work is of a voluntary nature and attracts no salary, the process of change in your life can be very difficult and I advise you to count the cost before employing him. However, I can reassure you that the final results are always good and beneficial both to yourself and others.
One final word, if you do decide to offer Jesus the position of ’Saviour’ in your life, he will
at the same time be remaining in that post in the same position here in mine and in the lives of millions of other people around the world!
Yours faithfully
Anne Witness
Copyright 2004 Simone Panday. Permission is granted to send this to others, but not for commercial purposes.
And one final word: Jesus paid the price for you. You get to keep the change!
Amen.
