SF041 - CHRIST TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE (John 7 14-31)
Christ Teaching in the Temple
February, 24, 2002
John 7:14-31
Introduction
Having waited until the Feast of the Tabernacles was half over, Jesus came to the Temple. He did not come this time to cleanse (John 2:13-25) or to heal the lame (John 5:1-7), although the memory of these previous events was still fresh in the minds of the Jewish leaders. Rather, He came on this occasion to teach. In doing so He addressed three critical questions: Can His teaching be trusted? What is the purpose of the Law? Is Jesus the Messiah?
1A. Can His Teaching be Trusted? (7:14-18)
1B. Yes, because of the source. (7:14-16)
Jesus declares that His teaching is not His own but His “who sent Me.” He is speaking here of the Divine origin of His teaching, indeed of all Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2B. Yes, because of the content.
The content of God’s doctrine could not be any more different from man’s doctrine. James M. Boice notes the following differences:[1]
1. The doctrine of God
Ø Man wants a God that is like him.
Ø According to the teaching of Christ God is the holy, sovereign God of all eternity and all history and could not be more different from man.
2. The doctrine of Scripture
Ø Man says the Bible is a record of man’s search for God.
Ø God tells us that the Bible is His word about man and to man in his lost condition.
3. The doctrine of man
Ø Man’s doctrine rates man by man’s standards and by man’s standards he is not too bad.
Ø God rates man by His standards and finds him to be woefully short of His requirements. (Romans 3:10-18)
4. The doctrine of Christ
Ø Man views Christ as a good man or a great teacher but nothing more.
Ø The truth is that Jesus is God. (John 1:1, 14)
5. The doctrine of the death of Jesus Christ
Ø Some say the cross was a tragedy, others an example of brave suffering.
Ø “The Bible teaches that the cross was the place of vicarious sacrifice, that Jesus died there for sinful men and that from before the foundation of the world this great sacrifice was planned as the means by which God would save those whom He had previously determined to save.”[2]
6. The doctrine of final judgment
Ø Men scoff at God’s judgment, they imagine that hell is not real and that God either cannot or will not judge them.
Ø The Scripture says:
Acts 17:30-31 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.
3B. Yes, because of the results.
Only God’s doctrine truly satisfies.
Ø Nothing can satisfy the soul of man except God’s truth.
Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Only God’s doctrine is self-validating. (7:17)
“The fundamental condition for spiritual knowledge is a genuine heart desire to carry out the revealed will of God in our lives. Wherever the heart is right God gives the capacity to apprehend His truth.”[3]
God’s doctrine will bring glory to God alone. (7:18)
One of the surest tests of any teaching or teacher is that of who is glorified. The doctrines of God always glorify Him and Him alone. Sinful men will always reject any doctrine that exalts God and exposes man for what he truly is, a lost sinner.
2A. What is the Purpose of the Law? (7:19-24)
1B. The law condemns.
If you try to live by the law, the law will pronounce you guilty.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”
2B. The law points lost sinners to Christ.
“The law was a standard given in order to convince men of their true and hopeless condition so that they might turn from their own efforts at salvation and come to God for grace. The law can be compared to a mirror. The function of a mirror is to show you your face and, if your face is dirty, to show you that it is dirty. The purpose of the mirror is to drive one to soap and water. Similarly, the function of the law is to drive the one who discovers his sin by means of the law to Christ.”[4] When we are driven to Christ, then and only then can we be cleansed of our sin.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is that flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3A. Is Jesus the Messiah? (7:25-31)
In these verses our Lord defends who He is. The key question is asked in verse 31: “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
Let us look at what Christ has done.[5]
1B. Jesus alone has fulfilled the Scriptures.
Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
When John the Baptist was in prison and questioned Jesus’ identity, our Lord responded:
Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
2B. Jesus has convinced millions that He is God that He is God and that in Him is found life.
The apostles and millions after them have given their lives for their faith in Christ.
They all knew what Simon Peter confessed.
John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
3B. Jesus has liberated the souls of millions.
He has fulfilled the words of Isaiah.
Luke 4:18-21 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD. And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Perhaps Charles Wesley said it best when he wrote:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Indeed Jesus is the Christ!
Application
1. Are you fully convinced of the truth and accuracy of God’s Word?
2. Are you seeking Him by reading and studying His Word?
3. By His grace and through His law has the Lord convinced you of your sin?
4. Will you call out to Him for mercy and deliverance even now?
Preparing for Next Week
1. What is there in verse 34 which that unmistakably brings out the Deity of Christ?
2. What does verse 35 go to prove?
3. Does verse 38 describe your spiritual experience? If not, why?
4. What solemn warning is conveyed by verses 41 and 42?
5. What do verses 50 and 51 go on to show?
6. Were the Pharisees correct in verse 52?
7. What is there in this passage that magnifies Christ as “the Word?”
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[1] Boice, James M., The Gospel of John, Volume 2, The Coming of the Light, John 5-8, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985), 560-63.
[2] Boice, 562.
[3] Arthur W., Exposition of the Gospel of John, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975), 385.
[4] Boice, 568.
[5] Boice, 572-75.