What Happens When The Camera Turns On You? Series

We should expect it! There are going to be some people who see the evidence, but who still refuse to accept Jesus. We can say all the right words, show all the right evidence, but there will still be some who refuse. That’s because believing in Jesus is an act of will!

v17 If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

We haven’t seen much in the way of persecution in our country, but stop and think about it. There will be more. The reason there’s an ACLU and a PAW, the reason there are pro-abortion groups and homosexual groups is because accepting Jesus’ agenda would interfere with their plans.

Even after the evidence is in, some still shun accepting Jesus because it would mean giving up too much: control; sex; wealth; independence; status; fun.

You have to sympathize with them. Yeah, there are a lot of people who would be giving up a lot if they were to follow Jesus. They’d have to give up Saturday morning hangovers, DUI’s, sexually transmitted diseases, damaging relationships of no commitment, trying to keep up with the Jones’; constantly looking over their shoulder; being unable to trust anyone; futile efforts to never grow old; worrying about death. No wonder there are some people who just refuse to accept Jesus. It would mean giving up just too much.

Ill – C.S. Lewis wrote: ”The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says "Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours."

Maybe you’re one of those people this morning who haven’t accepted Jesus because He doesn’t fit your plans, and what you’re concerned with is what you will have to give up. If I were you, I’d be concerned about what you’re giving up too. The longer you wait to accept Jesus, the longer you’re choosing to give up what really matters and lasts, and to hang onto what really stinks.

III. Some People are Afraid to Believe Because of Pressure From People around Them

vv12-13 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

v32 “The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him.”

v46 "No one ever spoke the way this man does," (temple guards)

Now as you read those verses, I want you to note to facts about the people there:

A. The people were all in the same crowd

Some openly believed; some were too afraid.