Man's Failure to understand the Light
Notes
Transcript
I think Jenn is putting glue on my guns, she is denying it, but I am sticking to my guns.
Friend told me they couldn’t afford their water bill… so I bought him a get well soon card.
In chapter 8 of John, we have heard Jesus start man claims and make many professions about himself, claiming that he is the light of the world… and then followed that up with
• “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness” (v.12).
• “I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me” (v.16).
• “You don’t know me, nor my Father” (v.19).
• “I am from above; you are of this world” (v.23).
and we followed that up last week as we talked a little bit about our search for answers and meaning in life… and how ultimately the only thing that will fulfill that desire and need in our lives is Jesus. Today what we are going to see is how man fails to understand Jesus in his most basic sense… last week we ended with Jesus’ claim about himself in John 8:24 and i told you that translated very clearly means I am
John 8:24 (ESV)
24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am you will die in your sins.”
So Jesus lays it on them and uses language they should have clearly understood what he was saying… it is his goal in fact to make them understand him clearly, but immediately we find them asking a very basic question of Jesus ...
John 8:25 (ESV)
25a So they said to him, “Who are you?”
And to really understand this, you have to understand that Jesus didn’t just say I am he.. but he said I am… and these guys should have gotten it… but all of a sudden they think he is like their absent minded grandmother and has forgotten to finish his thought… And they are basically saying… you are? Come on dude… finish your thought… who are you… thats what we are trying to get out… what Jesus had meant for good and for their understanding they had allowed to confuse them… but why is that? Mostly becasue they had already made their mind up about who he is, and they couldn’t clearly hear who he was saying that he was
And this isn’t any different today, there are still people who are asking that question of Jesus, “who are you? are you good? Are you who you say you are
and I love that Jesus just gives them the same simple truth right after their question he answers and says
John 8:25 (ESV)
25b Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
John 8:25 (NLT)
25b Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be
John 8:25 (NASB95)
25b Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?
And I put all of the different translations because i think they are all beautiful and unique but point to the exact same thing… Jesus is saying I done told ya....
But Jesus doesnt stop there, he continues talking and says…
26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”
So Jesus, has said, look I done told you who I am, and not only that, but there is a whole lot that I have to say… there is a lot I could say in judgment of you, and you need to realize that everything I am telling you, everything I am doing is from the father.
And Jesus is giving them here some truth they didn’t understand and some of the world today still doesn’t understand that Jesus is Gods spokesman and judge. He was the one who brought the message to the world.... just look at these two things...
Jesus claimed to be the spokesman to the world: John 8:26
John 8:26 (ESV)
26b ...I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”
And we shouldn’t be surprised by any of this… look at all the other things he has said about the words he was telling them.
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
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.
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
And i think it is clear that Jesus is trying to let these people know that he is on this mission from God to tell the world everything the father wants them to know. He is there to set them straight and give them all the information they need. Jesus is so gracious to us, that he wants us to know, look, this is what God wants, and this is how we can be made right with him, listen to me, do what I tell you.
Not only was he the spokesman of God but
2. He was “sent by God”
We know that his mission was to come and proclaim the good news of the gospel, to live a sinless life, and to die a death that would make us right again with God, and it was God who sent him and selected him for this mission. He wants them to know that it wasn’t his own mission, that he didnt just choose to do this on his own, but his father, the one they claim to know and love is the one that got this whole thing started.
Something interesting that you may not know is some Jews today believe the Messiah is living in Israel.. Yehuda Ben David he has performed what they are calling miracles.. the only problem is he is giving zero credit to God.
By telling them he was sent by God, he is trying to again make them hear him say they believe in God, so they say, so they should believe in him as welll… it is important when we talk about being sent that we also understand that Jesus was sent for the ENTIRE world… not just the Jews… and his message was the only message that could help
3. Jesus also claimed to be the Judge of the world. As the Spokesman of God, He had the duty not only “to say many things” but “to judge many things.” His function as Spokesman included judgment.
John 8:26 (ESV)
26a I have much to say about you and much to judge...
So his first mission was to share the message, and his second mission to earth will be to judge men...
22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
And while we know the claims of Jesus, it is still hard for us to understand that he is the judge...
Lets move on...
John 8:28 (ESV)
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am , and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
So Jesus is telling them, you aren’t truly understanding who I am, because I am the one who will be lifted up to save you all, an you just aren’t seeing that I am the son of man, and he is referring clearly here to his death on the cross and how that will show them EXACTLY who he is… and it is important, because it is for this reason, that he is the son of man, that he was able to live a perfect life and able to give his life for us.
and we see again here in verse 28 that Jesus is saying I AM… he is again trying to tell them that he is God in a way they could clearly understand it… and what I find extremely interesting is that Jesus tells them it was his death on the cross that would wake them up and illuminate the fact that he was God. And the reason this is so interesting to me is the Jews were waiting on a messiah to setup this earthly kingdom, thats what they expected… a rule and a reign that would end the tyranny they lived under… and Jesus is telling them here it was the exact opposite of what they were waiting on that would open their eyes to that fact.
So what we learn from that fact is the cross is what wakes men up to the idea of who Jesus is and our need for salvation and it was his resurrection that proved Jesus power of God.
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
And what we see in the ascension is that it allowed the holy spirit to replace christ on Earth and it gave us his conviction ability in our lives. And we will see that clearly as Jesus will tell us in Jn 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
Not only was Jesus sent but he wants them to know that God has never left him… so it is easy to know that his message is from God. He has never failed… and he always does what is pleasing to God....
c. He claimed that He had not failed. He always did the things God said, He obeyed God perfectly and completely, never sinning. Men could trust and depend upon Him.
30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Look at what the resul of what he has said… they became convinced of all the things he had said and told them.