03.05.09 John 7:14-36 (NASB)
Sermon Audio File: John-7:14-36
Going Deeper: Study Guide
The Cost Of Living A Life Of Truth
A major Multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director. After much advertising and many applications, three candidates entered the final selection process. A mathematician, a statistician and a lawyer.
The first to be invited in for the final interview was the mathematician and the President asked him a simple question: What is 2+2. The mathematician was surprised, thought about it for a bit, wondered if it might be a trick question and then simply answered 4. The President looked at the Board, shook his head and thanked him for coming, but he wasn’t the candidate they were looking for.
The statistician was the next in - and the President also asked him the simple question: What is 2+2. He paused, thought about it for a bit and then replied that statistically it was a number between 3 and 5. The President smiled and the Board were quite impressed. But the candidate was thanked and ushered out.
The last candidate, the lawyer was then invited in to the interview and the President also asked him the simple question: What is 2+2. Without batting an eyelid he replied: "What do you want it to be". He was promptly hired on the spot.
The issue of truth today is relative, like the lawyer said - What do you want it to be? There no longer remains a place for objective truth. We can each have our own truth and live in peace with one another, without any moral dilemma. In a survey 72% of the people polled did not believe that there was absolute truth. Biblical truth is even harder to swallow, and it can be seen even in churches today. In that same survey 67% of conservative Bible believing Christians polled say that they do not believe their is absolute truth (Colson). Today we will find that Jesus always spoke truth. The more He spoke, the greater a body of truth was delivered, and the result was greater conflict.
As we began chapter 7 last time, we found again that Jesus’ life was still under the constant threat of death by the Jewish rulers. Did this phase Jesus? No. Despite the circumstances, Jesus continued full steam ahead in doing the will of the Father through His earthly ministry in and around Galilee. Jesus was fully sensitive to God’s Divine timetable. He didn’t go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, under the pressure of His brothers and in their way, but He departed for Jerusalem the way that God had wanted Him to be there.
Today we continue on, and we will witness what happens when Jesus arrives at the feast. In light of the truth - the Apostle John presents Jesus speaking hard, but true statements, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (Jn.20:31). As with anything that Jesus declares, people are divided. Some will be open to the truth and some will reject the truth. Jesus was so fixed on the Father’s will that He demonstrated to us that THE COST OF LIVING A LIFE OF TRUTH will be high, yet it can be achieved. Living a life of truth is really a call to self denial and a commitment to Christ.
THE COST OF LIVING A LIFE OF TRUTH can be seen in today’s passage. We can see that:
Living A Life of Truth can cause people to question you (v.14-19)
Living A Life of Truth can divide people (v.20-27) -
Living A Life of Truth can have its consequences (v.28-36)
As we wrestle with the issue of truth, I want you to ask yourself, and maybe you can write this down into your notes in your bulletin: Do I stand with Jesus for the truth - or am I more like Jesus’ opponents spurning the truth?
Living A Life of Truth Can Cause People To Question You (v.14-19)
John 7 of our passage states: 14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and [began to] teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" 16 So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or [whether] I speak from Myself. 18 "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 19 "Did not Moses give you the Law, and [yet] none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"
v.14 - As we begin our text we see that Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. He gets there in the midst of the feast. And as soon as He arrives in the city He goes to the temple and then begins to teach. The Jewish leaders who had been asking the people if they had seen Jesus (v.11) - no longer need to do so - because Jesus is right in the midst of their presence. Jesus was not fearful of the people or authorities, but He goes and takes His rightful place in the temple - assuming the right to be heard like any other Rabbi. Jesus begins to teach truth in a fashion which caused a stir amongst the audience. Jesus taught with an authority which the people were not used to. His teaching was so powerful that even His enemies were taken-a-back.
v.15 - The Jews were astonished at Jesus’ teaching and it left them confused. It was amazing to witness because in their eyes all they saw was this uneducated country carpenter, and they thought of Jesus as a self start scholar, a do it your-selfer. Usually a rabbi would train under one of the leading rabbis, and memorize his materials and those of other great rabbis. Jesus didn’t come under this classification - this is when the questioning begins. So they asked - How has this man become learned, having never been educated? They had to admit that for a guy who had no training - He was pretty good. Jesus was on par with those who had formal education in their own rabbinical institutions.
v.16 - Rabbis of Jesus’ day would teach by quoting each other’s insights and other authorities. Now Jesus replies to shed light upon His source. Jesus doesn’t say that it is His own power, but instead gives all credit to God. Jesus’ teaching comes from the Father who sent Him - and not from men. Jesus was always focused on the will of the Father and it is not any different here. Jesus’ divine mission was to bring to all who would hear, a divine message. Jesus’ authority and greatness was a result of God’s plan. Therefore His teaching was undoubtedly superior to the Jews - because He delivered and opened up the very truth of God Himself. And this very source dictated this superiority. Like the rabbis, Christians who are weak in the truth always quote each other - but Jesus doesn’t want carbon copy Christians saying well Pastor said this, my fellowship teacher said this, so and so says this - instead Jesus wants a church full of people who know the Word of God personally, in real time with the impact of it deep and hard hitting. These are the voices today that can speak actively and authoritatively. God wants believers to rest on the authority of His Word alone and not that of people.
v.17 - Jesus offers a very simple and practical test for His listeners. In effect He was challenging them find out for themselves - If you want to test my claim, that what I teach is of God, then you have to be willing to do [God’s] will. Jesus is not speaking of a merely outward performance of God’s will - it had to go deeper beyond the superficial - it is a call to have one’s life conformed to God’s will. The choice to know truth is not a intellectual one but it is a moral one. If they do God’s will then the experienced results will confirm the truth. Isn’t it right, that in man’s thinking - our thinking - that we want to know that something is true before we act upon it? People don’t want to know God’s truth because they would rather stay in their sin? The enemy of truth is rebellion towards God. As one gets older we become wiser in a sense, in that we have been stung enough or ripped off just enough in our life, that we want the evidence first. We bring to many situations a mentality that thinks and says - seeing is believing. But what Jesus is proposing is if they wanted to know God’s truth then they must submit themselves in obedience…conforming their lives to God’s will first….otherwise they will never experience God the way that He wants them to.
v.18 - Jesus makes a comparison of two kinds of teachers, the one who speaks from himself that is a self taught teacher, whose motivation is his own glory. This kind of teacher promotes his own ideas, pats himself on the back, and jockeys for positions of glory. In contrast, the other kind of teacher (as Jesus is) is the teacher who seeks to bring glory to the One who sent Him. So the first kind of teacher elevates himself and the second teacher exalts God. Jesus is the second kind of teacher - a humble teacher of the truth - Jesus is a man who is true - He is a man of truth because this is one of His unchanging characteristics, like the Father. In Jesus there is no unrighteousness in Him. So Jesus teaches the truth and is the righteous One.
v.19 - When a person speaks the truth, what is said can be stinging. The reflection of God’s Word in what we say, will inevitably assault the flesh - assault the self will of man. This is what Jesus does in His teaching, and truth identifies the hypocrisy of these so called ‘law keeping’ Jews. Jesus uses a rhetorical question - Did not Moses give you the Law? Of course the Jews have God’s law handed down through Moses. But none of them carries out the Law - they did not obey it - and the proof of this stinging truth, was demonstrated by the Jews’ continual attempts, in trying to kill Jesus. If they had really followed God’s Word - the thought of murder would be replaced by practicing - You shall not murder of the 10 commandments (Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17). So we can clearly see that the truth reveals their unbelief, by violating the very words they professed to be true.
Living a life of Truth is reflected in everything we may say. And if we sincerely seek to be truthful we often stand out in a crowd, because sadly - the quest for truth in our day is uncommon - absolute truth is looked down upon - and lies abound. Truth has a way of piercing through a persons heart, because if we speak God’s truth it is righteousness, and righteousness pricks the conscience of unrighteoussness, and that opens us up to questioning. Does anyone like to be under the gun of questioning? No. But if we want to be faithful then we should discipline ourselves to speak the truth all the time. And the truth will bear witness to the reality of God, in your life. Secondly….
Living A Life Of Truth Can Divide People (v.20-27)
John 7 continues and states: 20 The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 "For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on [the] Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 "If a man receives circumcision on [the] Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on [the] Sabbath? 24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." 25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 26 "Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27 "However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from."
v.20 - The crowd answered Jesus’ remarks by accusing Him of being demon-possessed. It also reveals that the general crowd - that is the pilgrims coming into Jerusalem, did not know of the plot by the Jewish authorities to kill Jesus, because they asked Who seeks to kill You? This part of the crowd thought, because Jesus was making such seemingly wild claims of murder, that He must have been demon possessed - and therefore acted with demonic motivations. Here in the response and charge of the crowd, we see the sin nature of man rearing its head - isn’t it typical that when people are confronted with the truth, they re-act by making up something to distract us from the truth? There may even be blame shifting. Unbelieving people would rather collaborate with deception, than stand up and speak for the truth that is revealed by God.
v.21 - Jesus moves to respond to the accusation of demon possession hurled by the crowd. This was not Jesus’ imagination, paranoid thinking, but it was a true fact, and so - Jesus goes back to the last time that He was in Jerusalem - to the healing of the invalid by the Pool of Bethesda. This was the one deed which brought marvel - a miracle which was performed on the Sabbath. As a result of that miracle there was an uproar and the Jews manifested murder in their hearts.
v.22 - Jesus contrasts the Sabbath healing to that of the Jewish practice to circumcise on the Sabbath. Moses gave them circumcision, but in reality it was practiced by the fathers (ie: patriarchs) - as Jesus notes….Circumcision was the sign of the covenant that God had given to Abraham (Gen.17:9-14). It was to be performed on the 8th day. In Jesus’ time the Jews still practiced this, and even if it fell on the Sabbath.
v.23 - In verse 23 the contrast is laid out clearly. The Jews would go and perform circumcision on [the] Sabbath and see nothing wrong with this ceremonial practice, but when it came to making an entire man well on [the] Sabbath it was unacceptable….and this is where Jesus’ judgment of hypocrisy lay. Can you see why this was hypocrisy? The Jews were hypocrites because they maintained the practice of keeping the Sabbath, but when it came to circumcision, they willingly violated the Sabbath. So Jesus challenged their thinking and practice by questioning them for being angry at Him.
v.24 - There is a well known saying that appearances can be deceiving. And Jesus hits on this and challenges the crowd to stop being superficial in their judgement based merely upon appearances. Instead they should judge, based upon the true standard and not external issues. They should appraise things objectively. The real issue was, how the Jews perverted God’s intentions for the Sabbath. Under the Jews the Sabbath became a burden - devoid of grace, compassion, kindness, and mercy. The Jews’ spiritual insight was darkened by unbelief and now Jesus calls them to account - to be open to the righteous workings of a mighty God.
v.25 - Forming part of the crowd were people who lived in Jerusalem - they began wondering if Jesus was the man whom - meaning the Jewish rulers - are seeking to kill? These urban dwellers were aware of the innuendos and rumors flying around town - they knew the character of their leaders - and knew their culpability to the corruption of their hearts.
v.26 - Yet they quite couldn’t figure it out - there was a death threat - yet Jesus was free to speak in the temple courts publicly - and yet the authorities didn’t do anything - they didn’t try to take Jesus down - but they were saying nothing to Him (except for some derogatory remarks about Jesus’ training). If Jesus was such a big threat then why didn’t they act? So the people sarcastically reasoned that perhaps that the Jewish rulers didn’t do anything because they had come to the conclusion that Jesus was the Messiah - the Christ. Though the people expected a negative answer… maybe there was something to Jesus’ claim after all…but would they murder the Messiah?
v.27 - But they continued to reason that they know where this Jesus is from, thinking back to His humble blue collar roots - the son of a carpenter. They say this because the crowd ignorantly misunderstood the Scriptures. Contrary to what Scripture records they did have a tradition which believed that no one knows where the Messiah would come from. If they had indeed known the Scriptures, these city slickers, would have realized that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, like Jesus was and therefore this could very well be the Messiah. Instead they mistakenly thought the Messiah would come out of nowhere and deliver their nation, kinda like some comic book hero that we would know of.
I think all of us have found ourselves in a situation where you spoke the truth and as a result came under attack for doing so - and those were painful times - knowing that what you said was the truth - yet you were singled out. It sadly happens in churches too often - that those involved are divided, claiming that we can have different perspectives….maybe even stating that "being of the same mind is agreeing to disagree," instead of working towards the truth. Isn’t this mindset…this reasoning…this version of truth washed out? - relativism? - post-modernism? ….if everyone discards a bit of truth then we can all get along.
The Cost of Living A Life Of Truth will put you under the magnifying glass - inevitably people will not like what you have to say - and people will divide. People may seem to be your buddies, patting you on the back faking spiritual sincerity, but these are just sophisticated acts of unbelief….but over time as truth progresses division will arise. It is naïve to think that those who are worldly will openly embrace God’s standard of truth. In fact they are in rebellion to God and His Word. It is true that truth divides. There is a danger to truth and finally…..
Living A Life Of Truth Can Have Its Consequences (v.28-36)
Our passge concludes with the Scripture revealing: 28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 "I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me." 30 So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?" 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, "For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 "You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come." 35 The Jews then said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? 36 "What is this statement that He said, `You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come'?"
v.28 - While all this was going on, Jesus was still teaching - and with a burst of emotion, He cried out - You both know Me and know where I am from. So the people did know who Jesus was and where He was from. But to counter this knowledge, did they really know where He was from? These people really had no clue to as who Jesus is, and where He originated from. The perspective they were missing was that of His divine origin. Jesus re-affirms the truth that, He is sent by the Father’s initiative . I was sent by God - this is what Jesus was saying. And He who sent Jesus is altogether true - and He is the very source of truth. And when Jesus speaks the words that the Father gave Him, then it is true. Yet the sad thing is that they do not know Him, who is true - they have no true knowledge of God - this was the main issue.
v.29 - Jesus, does in contrast, emphasize that He does personally know the Father. In His position as the Son - Jesus clearly declares again that He has come from God’s presence, who sent Him - and for that reason Jesus is the Apostle and the interpreter of God (AT Robertson).
v.30 - At that very moment the crowd was incensed at the truth Jesus revealed - He is mad - demon possessed - a deceiver - and these enemies of Christ were seeking to seize Him. Yet they were unable to invoke the Passion (week) that was ordained because its hour was not yet come. Divine predestination - immutable timing - the will of the Father… could not be altered, even in the face of the strong unbridled will of man. The picture we have here in verse 30 is sheer unbelief.
v.31 - Then in verse 31, are those who at this point had reached belief for many of the crowd believed in Him. Jesus saves many that day. These people began accepting the fact that Jesus was the long awaited leader that they looked for. It seems that these people did not reach a deep understanding - there was still lingering confusion in the crowd. So a question was raised - When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He? The way that this question is structured - a ‘no’ answer was expected, because they had witnessed many of the miracles of Jesus.
v.32 - Because of these events it got the muttering going again, adding more verbiage to the grapevine. Now that Jesus had won over many of the people, verbal undercurrents rippled through the crowd - and the Pharisees take note. The Pharisees were a religious sect know for legalistically holding to the letter of the Law and tradition - they were more in touch with the pulse of the people - they were like the spiritual watchdogs of the community. The chief priests were the religious power brokers of the day, a little bit removed from the common people, and comprised of members of another religious sect known as Saducees. Theologically and ideologically, the Pharisees and Saducees were diametrically opposed to each other and therefore…let’s just say they didn’t get along very well. But in their hatred for truth, they conveniently overlooked their differences and joined forces to destroy Jesus. They figured if more and more people were going to side with Jesus, then this could be a major obstacle against the sinister plot of the Jewish rulers. If the Jewish authorities were to execute their sinful desires, then now was the time to take down Jesus. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him Jesus. This was an official arrest because the temple guards - who are the Levitical policemen charged with maintaining order in the temple - they were called in and summoned to execute this task.
What a reminder for us that the religious authorities of the Holy City of God, these spiritual watch-dogs, chief priests of Jesus’ day, they like some of our leaders today…are not always willing to understand or respect the truth. Do we find ourselves as Christians, on the other side of the fence opposing Jesus? Do we react adversely to the Word of truth? Do we through our lives put Jesus on trial for being to too hard on us with the truth?
v.33 - In the midst of this situation Jesus continues to respond to the crowd, and now He gives the people a hint as to what will happen in the future. Look down at verse 33 - this is what Jesus says - For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. Jesus knew what He was going to face - and as a result He was only going to be around a short time - and then he would withdraw Himself - having purchased salvation for sinners. It would be about six months before His final Passover and impending sacrificial death. Not only does Jesus foreshadow His death, but He also pictures His resurrection and ascension.
v.34 - When all these events would take place, Jesus tells the people of Jerusalem that they will seek Him unsuccessfully - it will be too late, He will no longer be physically on earth. The place that He is going to, the people cannot go. Jesus will be returning to the Father’s side, back to the One who had sent Him to carry out His mission. Those who had hardened their hearts to the good news of Jesus Christ in unbelief, they would not be able to enter into this place that He was going - heaven.
v.35 - Of course these words of truth caused a stir. The Jewish authorities were perplexed - what is this guy talking about departing? Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? And they speculated that perhaps Jesus was going to other Jews who were scattered among the Greeks (Greeks being a generic term referring to the Gentiles or non-Jewish peoples).
v.36 - The Jews couldn’t figure it out - What is this statement that He said - so they were left puzzled over Jesus cryptic statements. Jesus was the most profound speaker of truth that our world has and ever will see, because He is God - He is the Lord of truth. Jesus is the personification of truth (AT Robertson). As Jesus spoke truth it was like turning on a light - truth shines upon the darkness and when that happens the world’s sin is exposed; and what is wrong with our heart is exposed and we hate it. In the face of truth, conflict escalated with error. The more that Jesus said, the greater the consequences and the greatest price was His life.
If we speak the truth in every circumstance then it will expose everything else as error. Living a life of truth has consequences…in the end truth may cost you a job, it may mean attacks on your character, you may lose friends, people will distance themselves from you. THE COST OF LIVING A LIFE OF TRUTH may seem to be a burden, but that is why Jesus died so that we in Christ may be faithful and true. We have the resident truth dispenser living in us - the Holy Spirit - and He will enable us to live righteously.
THE COST OF LIVING A LIFE OF TRUTH is not all negative, for living in the light of truth will release us from the bondage of sin, it will set in a position to bring glory to God, and speaking truth will deliver the souls of men from hell. Jesus paid the price, so that we may be sanctified intellectually, morally, and spiritually…to His praise and glory…. let us remember and be encouraged by what Jesus said about truth - and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (Jn. 8:32).
