Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

“After this” — Once again John advances the story of Jesus without giving us a specific period of time.

But if we look at what we know of chapter 6 and that we are now approaching the Feast of Tabernacles, approximately six months has passed between the feeding of the 5000 and the events of chapter 7. It is October of 29 AD

Jesus spent about a year ministering around Galilee because the authorities in Judea were out to kill him.

The ministry in Galilee is coming to an end with our passage today.

Jesus did not avoid Judea because He was a coward.

He did so because He was following the Father’s plan…the Father’s timetable…the Father’s purpose for His life.

Jesus was full of courage and never shrinks back from following the will of the Father…even when it meant going to the cruelty of the Cross.

Up to this very moment the time had not yet been right for Jesus to travel to Jerusalem and Judea so His ministry was maintained in the area of Galilee.

The Feast of Tabernacles was approaching and things were beginning to change.

The Father was now beginning the sequence of events which would ultimately lead to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Feast of Tabernacles — (Also called the Feast of Booths) “In this weeklong festival the Jews remembered God’s provision for the nation during the 40 years in the wilderness, and gave thanks to God for the late summer harvest (of grapes and olives).

Tabernacles was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals for which all Israelite men were expected to go to Jerusalem.

During this feast the Jews were to live in temporary huts to reenact their ancestors’ interim residence in the wilderness before entry into the Promised Land.”

In this weeklong festival the Jews remembered God’s provision for the nation during the 40 years in the wilderness, and gave thanks to God for the late summer harvest (see ; ).

Tabernacles was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals for which all Israelite men were expected to go to Jerusalem (see ).

During this feast the Jews were to live in temporary huts to reenact their ancestors’ interim residence in the wilderness before entry into the Promised Land

Jesus brothers — Their names are not mentioned here but Mark’s gospel gives them to us: James, Joseph, Judas and Simon.

(A side note here, there is nothing scriptural about the teaching of the perpetual virginity of Mary.)

Jesus had brothers born of Mary and Joseph.

Bryant, B. H., & Krause, M. S. (1998).

John ().

Joplin, MO: College Press Pub.

Co.

These brothers, as of yet, were not believers.

We know later they come to believe in Jesus as Messiah.

James even became a leader in the Jerusalem church.

But as of now the brothers are not believers and their thoughts are the same as the unregenerate world around them.

They were thinking in human, worldly terms.

They are giving Jesus advice and it is unspiritual.

In their way of thinking Jerusalem and the Feast provided perfect opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate His power and claims to be the Messiah.

They saw this as an opportunity for Jesus to be before the biggest audience of His life and vindicate Himself…to recover some of the disciples which has left Him in 6:66.

They looked at the situation and believed this a wise, timely profitable course of action.

But again…their thoughts were unspiritual and worldly.

Jesus does the genuinely wise thing and refuses to walk in the counsel of the wicked

Be careful who you listen to and from whom you take advice!

Worldly counsel will not necessarily be in agreement with God’s will.

In fact, it rarely will be!

Good advice is what your own kids disregard but save to give to their kids.

1.

Never have more children than you have car windows.

2. Never loan your car to someone to whom you have given birth.

4. Seize the moment.

Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.

5. Know the difference between success and fame.

Success is Mother Teresa.

Fame is Madonna.

Advice is freely given…Sometimes it is good and other times not.

God tells us to be certain any advice we listen to and follow be Spirit led…it needs to be something ultimately acquired from the Lord…from His Word and prayer with Him.

Never take advice from someone you know is lost, a saved person who doesn’t pray, or a someone claiming to be a believer who denies the reliability of God’s Word.

God’s will is a matter of His heart…and only those who know His heart, pursue His heart, have any hope of knowing the wisdom and will contained therein.

The Right Time

The Right Time — Following God is a matter of substance and timing.

An even seemingly right thing at the wrong time can be a disaster; failing to accomplish what might have been done with greater sensitivity and discretion.

A man was praying to God.

He said, "God!?" God responded, "Yes?"

And the guy said, "Can I ask a question?"

"Go right ahead," God said.

"God, what is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years to me is only a second."

"Hmmm," the man wondered.

Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."

So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?"

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

God responded, "Yes?"

And the guy said, "Can I ask a question?"

"Go right ahead," God said.

"God, what is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years to me is only a second."

"Hmmm," the man wondered.

Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."

So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?"

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

"Go right ahead," God said.

"God, what is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years to me is only a second."

"Hmmm," the man wondered.

Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."

So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?"

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

God said, "A million years to me is only a second."

"Hmmm," the man wondered.

Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."

So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?"

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

"Hmmm," the man wondered.

Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."

So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?"

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."

So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?"

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."

The Father has a plan...Step by step Jesus was living His life according to the Father’s plan.

His was a life of purpose and each moment came at the direction of the Father.

He simply obeyed what the Father said to do at the precise time He said to do it.

The brothers of Jesus were not believers.

Their life was without a divine purpose until they came to believe in Jesus.

So all times are alike to the brothers…It really didn’t matter what they did or when…their life was utterly without significance as far as God is concerned.

As followers of Christ our lives are of eternal significance.

From the moment we are saved God begins to unfold His plans and purposes in our life.

We become a part of His story, His work and everything we do, and when we do everything…matters!

This is an incredible point that we cannot allow to pass by easily.

Our life matters to God.