The Savior's Supernatural Stealth

I. INTRODUCTION – John 8:59 – The Second Of Two Near-Stonings In John 8

A. Near Stoning Of A Sinner

(John 8:3-5) “Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"

B. Near Stoning Of The Savior

(John 8:59) “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

II. HOW DID JESUS HIDE HIMSELF AND SLIP AWAY?

A. Three (3) Theories

1. Mixed with multitude (of supporters)

2. Protected by pillars (of temple)

3. Supernatural stealth

B. Greek word for “hid” = krupto = to conceal, to remove from view, clandestine

III. THE SAVIOR’S SUPERNATURAL STEALTH WAS AN ACT OF…

A. Purposed Fluke

1. Coincidence – when God chooses to remain anonymous

2. Read Luke 24:28-34

3. God was behind it all – but chose to remain hidden

4. Sometimes to test us, sometimes to see if we’ll give Him glory

B. Pulling Away

1. Look at the other times Jesus “hid” himself

a. John 8:59

b. John 12:37

c. Luke 4:28-30

2. Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people

3. God is not at home where unbelief abounds

4. Gen 6:3 “And the LORD said,"My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”

5. Ps 51:10-11 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me”

6. Judg 16:20 “And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his

sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.”

B. Protection

1. It wasn’t Jesus’ time to die

2. Other times they could have killed Him, Jesus disappeared

3. John 10:17-18 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

4. John 19:11 “Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.”

5. Greek word for “hid” = krupto = to conceal, to remove from view, clandestine to hold a shield over, to cause to be made safe or protected by hiding

a. Jesus became concealed, removed from their view

b. shielded from them, protected from them

IV. WORD STUDY OF “Krupto”

A. From “krupto” – we get our English “crypt” or “cryptic” - Crypt = grave, underground chamber, hidden chamber

B. Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

1. As we identify with death of Christ – allow things to be put to death within

2. Then…

a. then our life “krupto” – hidden with Christ in God

b. then our life is shielded, protected, eternally

c. there is now no condemnation for those in Christ

3. How does he “protect us”

a. protection among those of His multitude – Godly people

b. protection among the pillars

c. protection via supernatural stealth

- confounds the devil

- confounds the accuser of the brethren

- our life hidden in Christ

C. John 8 Gives Great Example Of Someone Whose Life Was Hidden In Christ

1. Just as the Savior slipped away unharmed, the woman slipped away unharmed, her life hidden in Christ

2. There was that inner death (embarrassment, shame, conviction)

3. Conviction didn’t lead to her destruction, but her redemption

4. She was dying inside (inner death) but life hidden with Christ in God

V. INVITATION