INTRODUCTION:
Jesus had just finished another discourse and in verses 40-52. This morning we will
examine the responses to Jesus and by God’s grace we will be helped by critically
examining our own response to Jesus. Remember, everyone who hears of Jesus has a
response.
If you have not already discovered, let me tip you off; John does not allow anyone to
remain neutral after hearing of Jesus. He erases the middle ground that many think
they are standing on. At the end of the day, either you are for Jesus or not. Committed
or uncommitted!
May I ask you this morning at the outset of this message: are you with Jesus or not?
Are you for Him or against Him? Do you believe in Him or are you in unbelief? Are you
committed to Him? Have you been transformed by Him?
FIRST KEY PLAYER OR PLAYERS
1. The Crowd
a. “This is certainly the Prophet, Truth but no Transformation
b. “This is the Christ” Confession with no Conviction
c. “Surely Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture
said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the
village where David was”? Verses with no Vitality (Lifeless) These people were quoting
prophecy about Christ while at the same time rejecting Christ. They referred to the
Scriptures with familiarity and yet the eyes of their understanding were not opened. The
Messiah stood before them and they knew Him not.
d. The crowd is divided (schism) v. 43 Several observations:
i. Recurring theme in John's Gospel, cf. 9:16; 10:19
ii. Christians should expect similar division to result from our witness, cf.
John 15:18-20; Matthew 10:32-39, also cf. the Book of Acts and see the division
caused by the proclaiming of the Word
iii. Those contemplating the possibility of becoming Christian believers need to be
warned about the possible costs, cf. 15:18 (hated), Luke 9:57-62; 14:25-33(separation
from love ones, discomfort, possible loss of possessions and life, cross bearing, self
denying, and yes the dreaded inconvenience)
Truth and confessions, accompanied by verses of scripture do not a conversion make.
Certainly they are present in conversion, but they do not guarantee conversion. This is
the dilemma faced by Bible teaching churches. Some sit week after week listening to
truth. The truth they hear allow them to make confession. Their confessions are laced
with verses of Scripture. But because there is no conviction and no transformation, they
lack vitality (lifeless) and they leave the same way they come in and this goes on week
after week, month after month, and year after year.
Did you notice something missing between verse 42 and 43?
2. The Officers, v.44-46
a. Some wanted to seize Him
b. No one laid a hand on Him, cf. 7:30
c. Overwhelmed but not Overcome, impressed, but no impression was made upon
them, v. 46
d. They spoke better than they knew or were willing to live, “No man” is right, Jesus was
no mere man, He is the Word made flesh, the incarnate God, the One who’s every word
and deed incarnate is the revelation of the Father.
e. It can happen and it happens often. These officers are captivated by the Word of
Christ, and they are able to report their captivation, yet they are not converted, there is
no sign of Gospel repentance and they never give due honor to the Word spoken
because as far as the report goes they did not have a change of heart. Perhaps they
are in the number that John makes report of in 12:42-43, but the case remains that
neither now or then did they devote themselves wholly to Christ.
f. Calvin:
“Even in the present day, we see many persons who too much resemble those officers,
who are reluctantly drawn into admiration of the doctrine of the Gospel, and yet are so
far from yielding to Christ, that they still remain in the enemy’s camp."
g. Pink:
“Words are cheap and worth little unless followed by action”
3. The Pharisees
a. Nothing has changed. The reports of their officers will not convince them, the crowd
certainly is not convincing to them
b. They are simply blind. Blinded by their twisted understanding of the Law, or by their
complete disregard for the Law, cf. 6:39, 45-47; 7:19
c. The ones who boasted of not being duped were precisely the ones duped by their
own boasting.
4. Nicodemus
a. His first public alignment with Jesus is a soft rebuke of his peers for a blatant
disregard for the Law. They accused the crowd for not knowing the Law; Nicodemus
accuses them of not keeping the Law. One observations should be noted:
i. His is a well-known and proverbial sentiment, (“ought not to be judged without first
hearing him and knowing what he is doing) the same could be said of a thief or
murderer. In his attempt to secure release of Christ he does not use doctrine. “The
seed of the Gospel no doubt planted in him on that night he went to Jesus and
afterward bore fruit was still concealed and choked in him”, says Calvin. The Lord
frequently causes the doctrine which seems not to be present in someone to gradually
take root and after a long period it puts forth a bud and then it comes out full in a lively
and vigorous way, just like the faith of Nicodemus acquired new and sudden vigor from
the death of Christ. In Nicodemus the signs are seen that God is doing something in His
life, i.e. comes to Jesus (by night), he stands against his peers on behalf of Jesus,
when all Jesus’ disciples left, He comes and honors Jesus at His burial.
These four groups are represented here today.
Now that this message is over may I ask you what I asked at the beginning: ARE YOU
WITH JESUS OR NOT? ARE YOU FOR HIM OR AGAINST HIM? DO YOU BELIEVE
IN HIM OR ARE YOU IN UNBELIEF? ARE YOU COMMITTED TO HIM? HAVE YOU
BEEN TRANSFORMED BY HIM?
Jesus had just finished another discourse and in verses 40-52. This morning we will
examine the responses to Jesus and by God’s grace we will be helped by critically
examining our own response to Jesus. Remember, everyone who hears of Jesus has a
response.
If you have not already discovered, let me tip you off; John does not allow anyone to
remain neutral after hearing of Jesus. He erases the middle ground that many think
they are standing on. At the end of the day, either you are for Jesus or not. Committed
or uncommitted!
May I ask you this morning at the outset of this message: are you with Jesus or not?
Are you for Him or against Him? Do you believe in Him or are you in unbelief? Are you
committed to Him? Have you been transformed by Him?
FIRST KEY PLAYER OR PLAYERS
1. The Crowd
a. “This is certainly the Prophet, Truth but no Transformation
b. “This is the Christ” Confession with no Conviction
c. “Surely Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture
said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the
village where David was”? Verses with no Vitality (Lifeless) These people were quoting
prophecy about Christ while at the same time rejecting Christ. They referred to the
Scriptures with familiarity and yet the eyes of their understanding were not opened. The
Messiah stood before them and they knew Him not.
d. The crowd is divided (schism) v. 43 Several observations:
i. Recurring theme in John's Gospel, cf. 9:16; 10:19
ii. Christians should expect similar division to result from our witness, cf.
John 15:18-20; Matthew 10:32-39, also cf. the Book of Acts and see the division
caused by the proclaiming of the Word
iii. Those contemplating the possibility of becoming Christian believers need to be
warned about the possible costs, cf. 15:18 (hated), Luke 9:57-62; 14:25-33(separation
from love ones, discomfort, possible loss of possessions and life, cross bearing, self
denying, and yes the dreaded inconvenience)
Truth and confessions, accompanied by verses of scripture do not a conversion make.
Certainly they are present in conversion, but they do not guarantee conversion. This is
the dilemma faced by Bible teaching churches. Some sit week after week listening to
truth. The truth they hear allow them to make confession. Their confessions are laced
with verses of Scripture. But because there is no conviction and no transformation, they
lack vitality (lifeless) and they leave the same way they come in and this goes on week
after week, month after month, and year after year.
Did you notice something missing between verse 42 and 43?
2. The Officers, v.44-46
a. Some wanted to seize Him
b. No one laid a hand on Him, cf. 7:30
c. Overwhelmed but not Overcome, impressed, but no impression was made upon
them, v. 46
d. They spoke better than they knew or were willing to live, “No man” is right, Jesus was
no mere man, He is the Word made flesh, the incarnate God, the One who’s every word
and deed incarnate is the revelation of the Father.
e. It can happen and it happens often. These officers are captivated by the Word of
Christ, and they are able to report their captivation, yet they are not converted, there is
no sign of Gospel repentance and they never give due honor to the Word spoken
because as far as the report goes they did not have a change of heart. Perhaps they
are in the number that John makes report of in 12:42-43, but the case remains that
neither now or then did they devote themselves wholly to Christ.
f. Calvin:
“Even in the present day, we see many persons who too much resemble those officers,
who are reluctantly drawn into admiration of the doctrine of the Gospel, and yet are so
far from yielding to Christ, that they still remain in the enemy’s camp."
g. Pink:
“Words are cheap and worth little unless followed by action”
3. The Pharisees
a. Nothing has changed. The reports of their officers will not convince them, the crowd
certainly is not convincing to them
b. They are simply blind. Blinded by their twisted understanding of the Law, or by their
complete disregard for the Law, cf. 6:39, 45-47; 7:19
c. The ones who boasted of not being duped were precisely the ones duped by their
own boasting.
4. Nicodemus
a. His first public alignment with Jesus is a soft rebuke of his peers for a blatant
disregard for the Law. They accused the crowd for not knowing the Law; Nicodemus
accuses them of not keeping the Law. One observations should be noted:
i. His is a well-known and proverbial sentiment, (“ought not to be judged without first
hearing him and knowing what he is doing) the same could be said of a thief or
murderer. In his attempt to secure release of Christ he does not use doctrine. “The
seed of the Gospel no doubt planted in him on that night he went to Jesus and
afterward bore fruit was still concealed and choked in him”, says Calvin. The Lord
frequently causes the doctrine which seems not to be present in someone to gradually
take root and after a long period it puts forth a bud and then it comes out full in a lively
and vigorous way, just like the faith of Nicodemus acquired new and sudden vigor from
the death of Christ. In Nicodemus the signs are seen that God is doing something in His
life, i.e. comes to Jesus (by night), he stands against his peers on behalf of Jesus,
when all Jesus’ disciples left, He comes and honors Jesus at His burial.
These four groups are represented here today.
Now that this message is over may I ask you what I asked at the beginning: ARE YOU
WITH JESUS OR NOT? ARE YOU FOR HIM OR AGAINST HIM? DO YOU BELIEVE
IN HIM OR ARE YOU IN UNBELIEF? ARE YOU COMMITTED TO HIM? HAVE YOU
BEEN TRANSFORMED BY HIM?
| Sunday Morning, April 29, 2007 Sermon Outline RESPONDING TO JESUS John 7:40-52 |
New Life Fellowship Church
John 7:40-52
John 7:40-52
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |