John: The Galilean
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Exegetical Point: People at the feast begin to suspect Jesus is the Messiah, but the religious leaders oppose him and try to stop Jesus.
Homiletic Point:
Intro
Intro
Imagine if a man speeding, and his neighbor dobbed him in.
Then, the police come to his door. What should they do?
Should they write him a ticket?
Should they ask him if he was speeding?
Should they ask him why he was speeding?
Now in my imaginary story, the man who was speeding was an ambulance driver! He was driving somebody who was very sick to the hospital! Yes, it looked like he was speeding, but he actually had special permission from the authorities to go extra fast!
If the police never ask, and only listen to the complaining neighbor, then an innocent man would be punished.
God wants people to be fair. He expects the authorities in our life to be fair and just, and to give everybody a fair go. People should get a chance to defend themselves against accusations.
In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders thought that Jesus should be punished for the things he said, and did.
But you know what? They weren’t interested in hearing about the reasons Jesus said the things he said, and did the things he did! They were just offended and angry. They wouldn’t give Jesus a fair go.
They didn’t realize that Jesus was on a rescue mission, just like an ambulance driver. He was on a mission from God to rescue people! People like you and me.
Recap:
In the middle of a series of conversations Jesus had around the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem
Jesus had been hanging out in the north, in Gallillee because the religious leaders were trying to kill him,
But now traveled up to the festival down south and started teaching in the temple to a crowd from all over, including some religious leaders.
He was challenging people’s ideas about the Sabbath, and pushing them to see their own hypocrisy - where they claimed to keep God’s law, while they broke it themselves! Jesus was claiming to have divine authority to teach what God says.
We’re continuing on in these conversations...
The desire to spruce it up, and make the message more “fun”. But we’re here to see what God says, and what we are seeing week after week, and passage after passage in John is a compounding message...
Compounding interest, builds on what has been laid down, and grows and grows and grows, faster and faster...
It may feel repetitive, but John is building layer on layer to drive home the message that Jesus is the Divine Messiah, and you should believe in him.
If you don’t yet believe in Jesus, or maybe you’re unsure about whether or not you are a Christian, this is my prayer for you today: that you would believe in Jesus.
We’re not going to twist your arm, or try and trick you into it, we ask the HS to reveal this truth to you, from the word of God. God works in hearts to bring change - especially the great change from being an enemy of God, to becoming his friend.
And it’s all possible through Jesus Christ.
Today the text is going to show us a few things about Jesus. In fact, it will tell us 5 key things that you need to know if you want to believe in Him.
1. Jesus is Other-worldly (v25-31)
1. Jesus is Other-worldly (v25-31)
People are discussing Jesus, and the things he has been saying. We already know from the previous section that a lot of this was hush-hush, because people were afraid of the leadership.
Lets see what they were talking about:
At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah?
At this stage, the religious big wigs, most likely the Sanhedrin, had not made any official announcements about Jesus. People were starting to wonder if their silence means they might actually believe in him?
But they are debating the point among themselves. Does he match the profile?
But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”
The Messiah (also Christ) was the “anointed one”. The person they were expecting is someone like King David from the OT. God had promised a King like David would reign. And the prophecies over the centuries had built on those expectations.
For some reason, some of the Jewish folks had got it in their head that their Messiah would kind of “appear” out of nowhere. We’ll deal with this confusion a bit more later on. But you can see how they’re grappling with the idea: We know this bloke. He’s a tradie from up north. His brothers are here at the feast. He’s doesn’t really have mysterious origins.
Jesus hears them talking, or he knows what they’re thinking, and so he responds quite publicly:
Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”
There’s two ways to read this. And part of the trouble is that the original Greek didn’t have the kind of punctuation we’re used to. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out where sentences start/end or when something is a question.
Here, Jesus could be asking this as a question: “You think know me, and where I am from? Well let me set you straight!” I’ve been sent from God, and I came from Him!
The other way to read it is as your translation might show it. To paraphrase: “You know who I am and where I’m from, but that’s not the whole story, It goes further back...”
Either way, the message is clear: “Jesus is not of earthly origin”
So in that respect, the Jewish expectations were right! They didn’t know where he was from!
Jesus was from out of this world. He came From God the Father.
He came, not on his own authority but with the Authority of God the Father. Jesus entered into this world because he was sent.
He was on mission.
The people listening to Jesus didn’t know who sent him. They didn’t know God. Their eyes were blinded, their ears deaf, their hearts were stony toward God, and so they didn’t know the God who they professed to serve.
It seems folks didn’t like this. Maybe because they thought Jesus was being blasphemous, or perhaps because they were offended at Him telling them they didn’t know God!
They tried to grab Jesus, but they couldn’t!
At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
SO they couldn’t catch Jesus, because God’s timing wasn’t ready. But the crowd goes back to discussing Jesus, and wondering if he really is the Messiah. They wonder, “will anybody be able to top this bloke? Could anyone do better?” Jesus miracles spoke for themselves.
Miracles are not a great reason to believe in Jesus. But they are signs that point to his authenticity. They prove that what he says holds weight.
Will you believe what he has said?
Jesus comes from out of this world, and he comes on God’s authority. Will you trust him?
2. Jesus is at the Right-hand of the Father in Heaven (v32-36)
2. Jesus is at the Right-hand of the Father in Heaven (v32-36)
The authorities make their move. They hears the rumors and act!
The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
Note: Sects & groups - Pharisees (fundamentalists), Chief priests (Religious professionals, Levites), temple guards (religious police, Levites). Also Sadducees & Sanhedrin.
They want to shut Jesus down.
As the guards come, Jesus speaks to the people:
Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
There is confusion, as often happens in John’s Gospel - they completely miss what Jesus is saying. There were Jews scattered throughout what was then the roman empire. Like in Antioch, Alexandria, Athens and many other places. They thought Jesus was talking about an international preaching tour.
But what was he really talking about? His time here on Earth. He was sent on a mission, and when that mission was complete, he would return to the father.
Jesus said the could not follow him. Why can they not come?
Not a place on earth. Like the Disciples, they could follow later. Or,
Their rejection of the Messiah. If you don’t know God, you cannot come to him!
Jesus was with us for a short time, then when the mission was achieved, he returned home to prepare to the next stage.
He came to live the righteous life you couldn’t live. He came to die in your place, and to defeat death! He rose from the grave!
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
For the joy set before [Jesus], he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is ruling and reigning, you need not worry!
It was a good thing that Jesus was only here for a time, because his absence means the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is what he promises next!
3. Jesus is Gives the Holy Spirit (v37-39)
3. Jesus is Gives the Holy Spirit (v37-39)
Some time later, probably on a different day Jesus once more steps forward to show that he is the Messiah.
Feast of Tabernacles - at harvest time, remembering God’s provision.
Remember the tents in the wilderness, but on the last day of the festival, they would create the massive light in the temple to remember the pillar of Fire that leads them, and they would pour out water on the altar, to remember God’s provision of water from the rock in the wilderness.
This looked back to that provision in the past, but also looked forward to God’s promises that his Spirit would be poured out in the last days.
On that last day, presumably about the time this was happening in the temple, look what Jesus did:
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
On the days when the water is poured out in remembrance of God’s past & future provision Jesus stands up and promises to fulfill the scriptures by giving the HS to those who seek it.
Jesus picks up a bunch of imagery from the OT. Such as
Ezekiel - the River from the temple which brings life and abundance.
And...
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Jesus will give the Holy Spirit!
To whom? The thirsty! The one who believes! (present active, not a one time deal!)
Recognize your need, come to Jesus and ask!
The holy Spirit will live in you! Like we read in Ch 4:
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
4. Jesus is Divisive (v40-44)
4. Jesus is Divisive (v40-44)
People listening are still considering the facts. They’re tossing things up. They’re referring to the scriptures to try and understand.
In the scriptures there was promises of the Messiah, but there was also promises of a Prophet. And if you’ve been a Christian for a while you may used to thinking of Jesus as both the Messiah, and the Prophet. But, before Jesus came along, most people held these two promised people as different things. And so they were talking about it, discussing the merits of Jesus as one or the other:
On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
So they can’t come to a consensus. But they do know one thing, Micah prophesied that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. Now John doesn’t get into it, but Jesus had come from Bethlehem, He was born there! He lived there for the first couple months of his life!
Instead of going though this detail, John instead highlights that the people are divided over Jesus.
Some reject him. Others believe him. Some are probably unsure. Some wanted to grab him, probably to arrest him or put him to death.
People argued over Jesus identity. And you know what? People are still arguing over it!
Jews & Romans
Arians (not the racists, the other ones)
Council of Chalcedon
Muslims
Reformation
Mormans, JWs.
Liberal scholars
We expect divisions when the Gospel is preached. Some people ask why can’t we all just get along? Because it is a matter of life and death! We want to the real Jesus, and when people reject him as he presents himself, there are divisions. People create idols and false religions to worship a fake Jesus.
But even putting aside the variations on true Christian faith, the Christianity can have a divisive effect on our relationships. Jesus promised this!
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
The world will hate Jesus, and those who belong to him! even when it comes to our own families.
Following Jesus may mean giving up your family. Are you ready for that? Do you value him more?
Now, this is not an excuse to be arrogant idiots. Some people blame their broken relationships on this, when it’s just their own sinful pride and stubbornness.
Nevertheless, Jesus was divisive in his day, and wherever His people go, there is division: Between God’s people, and the enemies of God.
Because of the division, often there is...
5. Jesus is Mistreated and Misunderstood (v45-52)
5. Jesus is Mistreated and Misunderstood (v45-52)
John is always showing how Jesus is misunderstood.
Do you know what it feels like to be misunderstood? Maybe you’ve even lost friendships that way?
Jesus is so misunderstood because he was so otherworldly. So inconceivable to their minds. He was misunderstood and mistreated because they didn’t understand him.
Interestingly, the temple police seem to understand Jesus, even if the higher-ups don’t!
Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
The leaders cant believe it! But remember these temple police were Levites, they were theologically trained people. They saw something in what Jesus was saying, and they couldn’t bring themselves to make the arrest.
The leaders are taken aback and start throwing jibes at the police.
You don’t believe that nonsense do you?
We religious elites don’t believe him, so how could you mere guards think you know better?
You’re cursed!
Can you see the guilt trip they’re laying down? 9 out of 10 dentists recommends Colgate, you’re not really going to use some other brand are you?
Some of these retorts may sound familiar to Christians
You don’t believe that nonsense do you?
We academic elites don’t believe, so how could you mere plebs think you know better?
You’re deceived by manipulative teaching...
They try and persuade by making people feel stupid and excluded.
This mistreatment is nothing new. But sometimes people stand up for those who are being given a hard time, like Nicodemus!
Nicodemus,who was a religious leader, wisely responds to this. Nicodemus has already met with Jesus is secret, and told Nic that you need to born again by the Spirit in order to have eternal life. Nic speaks up to defend Jesus, so perhaps he may have a budding faith. What does he say?
Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
They are mistreating Jesus, but not even giving him the opportunity to explain himself. Like my opening example, there are very good reasons for what Jesus is doing! But the didn’t want to know about it.
He doesn’t get a fair hearing, on that day, or on the day he was Crucified. (They even had false witnesses prepared…)
The “excuse” for not even bothering to listen to Jesus is that prophets don’t come from Galillee. How eletist.
Funny thing is, prophets do indeed come from Galilee! like Jonah & Nahum! Perhaps they meant “The Prophet” either way, they were so opposed to the idea that Jesus was a prophet, that they would not even make a reasonable argument.
Persecution of Christians is often unreasonable. It doesn’t make sense. People will make an excuse, and that will be enough for them to mistreat and deliberately misunderstand Jesus people.
They Did it to him, they will do it to us.
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
So What?
So What?
5 key things that you need to know if you want to believe in Jesus.
1. Jesus is Other-worldly (v25-31)
2. Jesus is at the Right-hand of the Father in Heaven (v32-35)
3. Jesus is Gives the Holy Spirit (v37-39)
4. Jesus is Divisive (v40-44)
5. Jesus is Mistreated and Misunderstood (v45-52)
References:
Carson’s Pillar Commentary on John.
Hutcheson’s commentary on John
Hendrickson’s commentary on John
Sermons by Richard D. Philips,
Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version. Orlando, FL; Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2005.
Phillips, Richard D. John. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani. 1st ed. Vol. 1 & 2 of Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014.