Jesus at the feast - Pt. I
So that you may believe - Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 51:47
0 ratings
· 12 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
I do it willingly
I do it willingly
Would you willingly do anything to protect your children? To what length would you be willing to go? Jesus has been teaching on His willingness, His choice that opened the door for us and our choice of Jesus.
Jesus choice (Jn10:16-18)
The Fathers love (Jn10:17)
The shepherds example (Jn10:14-15)
Jesus had been talking in a way, teaching in a way that the people of that day would totally understand. Talking sheep! He transitions to who He is, affirming His identity. - Let me give you some reminder passages first.
14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Jesus claims picture inserted here
He claims He is the Good Shepherd (affirms His identity)
He claims His sheep know Him
He claims the Father knows Him and He knows the Father that He lays down His life for His sheep (claims his purpose)
He claims others not of “this fold.” (others that are not of the fold of Jerusalem
Another reminder from last week. Because of our faith, our belief in the Good Shepherd who willingly laid down His life for us.
We can expect to receive an abundant life in Him.
We can look forward to His blessings on this life and the blessings to come
We can know we can trust Him because of His character and nature
I can expect all of the above not because of my perfection, but because of His and He was willing to lay down His life to save mine.
My entry into the kingdom is not hinged on anything I do, but on everything He did. We have responsibilities after salvation.
Deny yourself and pick up your cross (ref: Lk9:23)
Keep my commandments (re: Jn14:15)
Love your neighbor (re: Mt22:39)
Love your enemy (re: Mt5:43-44)
There are others too, keep believing, keep repenting, share the gospel, serve the poor, just to name a few.
He is our Shepherd we are His sheep. Tonight we will continue on and learn more.
Simply Christians gleaning from God’s word
Simply Christians gleaning from God’s word
19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”
21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”
22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.
26 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 “I and the Father are one.”
Gleaning from the text
Why was there division (v.19)?
How many said he has a demon (v.20)?
Why did others say he could not have a demon (v.21)?
When and where is this portion of scripture taking place (v.22-23)?
The Jews ask a very pointed question (v.24), what is it?
What does Jesus say about the Jews (v.25; then v.26)?
What does Jesus say about His sheep (v.27)?
What does Jesus give to His sheep; and promise to them too (v.28)?
What do we learn about the Father and Jesus (vv.29-30)?
Divisive words
Divisive words
Have you ever had a conversation that brought about division? Did it keep you from speaking truth?
Jesus brought division picture inserted here
Jesus brought division because of words (vv.19-21)
Jesus has spoken of division other places too (Lk12:51)
Lk12:51 “51 “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;”
Because of Jesus claim, His radical claim by words people are divided about him. some believe He is who He says He is. Others think he is demon possessed and insane.
William Barclay wrote: “Either Jesus was a megalomaniac madman, or he was the Son of God.”
By what we know of Jesus, is it fair to say He was a madman?
His words were not of a madman, but a proclamation of His deity
His deeds were not the deeds of a megalomaniac, they were proof of His deity and totally unselfish
The effect of Jesus words were not of a madman, but of His sacrifice given that was for the many, even those outside the fold of Jerusalem.
Barclay again said: “And what was he doing to merit all this? Why, he was instructing the ignorant, telling the wretched that he was going to die to save their souls! Amazing love of God, and the ingratitude and obduracy of men!”
This miracle of opening the eyes of a man born blind at birth (10:1) has not been done, much less than by demons
It happen because the touch of Jesus, the words of Jesus, the instructions of Jesus and the obedience of the man.
Does that sound familiar?
(Transition) - So the words, the deeds and the effect now lead to a time-frame and location.
The Time and the History
The Time and the History
Understanding the setting, the background help us to understand the passage and the context.
22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
What season is it, and what is the festival?
Where was Jesus?
So, do you wonder what is the Feast of Dedication? This is not one of the required feasts that men must go to, but what is it?
What was the feast of dedication?
History: This feast is also known by name you would know Hanukkah.
But what does that really represent?
Antiochus Epiphanies picture here
This is a remembrance of the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple after three years of desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes III, the king of Syria in 164 or 165 B.C.
Antiochus attacked Jerusalem, he had a reign of terror against the Jews. Some of which:
Stole millions in gold, silver from the treasury
Anyone caught with a copy of the law of Moses was punished by death.
Circumcising a child was punished by death
Mothers circumcising their child were to be crucified with the child hanging around their necks
The house of the Lord was turned into a house of prostitution.
Burnt offerings were offered to the Greek god Zeus
Pigs were sacrificed on the great altar in the temple
80,000 Jews were killed and about 80,000 were sold into slavery.
Maccabean revolt picture here
You can find much information in the Apocrypha books of 1 & 2nd Maccabees. This covers much of the prophesy of Daniel chapter 11 that they fulfilled in the inter-testimonial period. Between Malachi and Matthew.
The rise of the Maccabees ended the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanies.
Barclay said: “it was told that when the Temple had been purified and the great seven branch candlestick re-lit, only one little cruse of unpolluted oil could be found. The cruse was still intact, and still sealed with the impress of the ring of the High Priest. By all normal measures, there was only oil enough in that cruse to light the lamps for one single day. But by a miracle it lasted for eight days, until new oil had been prepared according to the correct formula and had been consecrated for its sacred use.”
I know that is a lot of information. Things we can glean from this.
Feast of dedication; feast of lights, Hanukkah was at the re-dedication of the temple after it had been desecrated.
Oil that should have lasted a day, last eight days
FYI: a few commentators claim that the re-dedication happened on December 25th, and they brought in Jesus birthday to match that since he was the Light of the World, but there is not much historical proof for that at all.
Jesus walking in the temple
A stroll a question in the temple
A stroll a question in the temple
Another confrontation is coming, as Jesus talks a stroll in the temple.
23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.
Just a tidbit of information, it says walking in section known s Solomon’s Colonnade. Some versions say Solomon’s porch. This is the portico that was on the East side of the Temple along the outer court. This is also the place that Peter and John healed the lame man. It is also a place that early believers were known to gather to share the word and their personal witness.
What did the Jews do to Jesus (v.24)?
They surrounded him; in the Greek text is says they “boxed Him in”. They hemmed Him in.
This seems to be a hostile ambush of Jesus when He was just walking (v.24).
Have you ever been ambushed by someone for something?
Commentator Dodds (have used many times over) said: “Here the Jews ‘ringed around Him,’ preventing His escape wand with hostile purpose.”
In the ambush you see unbelief and doubt.
Are there people that you know, or were you one who had unbelief or doubt?
They hoped to get Jesus, since they failed every other time thus far. Blame Jesus for their unbelief.
Their question was to try to get Jesus again to say He was equal with God and the King of the Jews which would open the door to Roman problems for they looked at Caesar as the only king
So, we are not going to get as far as I thought today. So, this will stretch out a little longer. But, I want to give you some more on what Jesus had said to them before and yet they do not believe.
I came from Heaven (Jn3:13, 6:38)
Whoever believes has eternal life (Jn3:15)
I am Son of God (Jn5:19-23)
I will judge all humanity (Jn5:19-23)
Honor Me as you honor God (Jn5:19-23)
I live to please God and do not sin (Jn8:29, 46)
I was sent from God (Jn8:42)
Before Abraham was, I am (Jn8:58)
I am the Son of man (Jn9:37)
I will raise Myself (Jn10:17-18)
I am Bread of Life (Jn6:48)
I am Light of the World (Jn8:12)
I am the Door (Jn10:9)
I am the Good Shepherd (Jn10:11)
David Guzik: “The problem wasn’t that Jesus was unclear about who He was and where He came from. The problem was that the religious leaders had hearts of unbelief that they wanted to blame on Jesus.”
Now, while Jesus may not have used the word “Messiah” to the Jews. He did confirm to the Samarian women in (Jn4:1-26)