“attitude of the doubtful”
John 7:1 - 13
August 30, 2017
Relevant Question: “From where does this doubtful attitude come?”
1) From Unbelieving Brothers[v3]
2) From a Hateful World[v7]
3) From Murmuring People[v12]
1) Why did the world hate Jesus?
[a] They first hated John the Baptist and Jesus’ disciples.
[b] They murmured that Jesus misleads the people.
[c] They knew that Jesus testified that its works were evil.
[d] They believed Jesus to be the Son of God.
[e] All of the Above.
Sermonc=Yes, Jesus testified to the evilin the world. Jesus loved the world, yet He condemned the sin while forgiving the sinner.
v7 >“The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil.”
SermonA =No, the world did not first hate John the Baptist or Jesus’ disciples. The world first hated (and continues to hate) Jesus as Lord and Savior.
John 15:18“If the world hate you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.”
SermonB =No, the world did not hate Jesus because some said he mislead or deceived the people. Saying that does not make it so. The truth of the matter, Jesus “goodness” shed a light on the evil in the world. Jesus is a good God and a great Savior.
v12“And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceives the people.”
Sermond = No, the world did not hate Jesus because they believed Him to be the Son of God. The real issue is that the world does not believe, it only hates. The world hates God; therefore, the world hates the Son of God.
Sermone =No, thus nullifying “all of the above.”
2) Which oneis the reason for Jesus saying he would not go up to the feast?
[a] The religious leaders plotted to kill Him.
[b] Jesus could no longer minister in Judaea or Jerusalem.
[c] The doubters who heard the “hard saying” in chapter six would be there.
[d] It was not in God’s divine timetable for Jesus to go and to be put at risk.
[e] All of the Above.
Sermone =All of the above. Each one is a reason why Jesus said he would notyet go up to the feast.
v6“Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready.”
SermonA =Yes, the religious leaders sought to slay Jesus since the healing of the impotent (invalid)] man at the Pool of Bethesda.
John 5:16“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.”
SermonB =Yes, Jesus could no longer minister (walk) in Jewry [Judaea or Jerusalem] because of doubt and unbelief.
v1-2 “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.”
Sermonc =Yes, the doubters who heard the “hard saying” of chapter six would be at the feast. Many, if not all of them, would have been at the feast spreading their unbelief. Every Jew over the age of 20 was required by law to attend the three high holy feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and this Feast of Tabernacles.
John 6:60“Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”
SermonD =Yes, those who sought to slay Jesus could not because it was not in God’s divine timetable for it to happen. Jesus told his brothers that his time “is not yet full come.” Jesus time toglorify the Father could only take place upon the Cross of Calvary.
v8“Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.”
3) In John chapter seven, Jesus has about six more months to live. [T] or [F]
SermonTRUE, the Feast of Tabernacle was in the autumn, or September/October of the year a.d.28. During the Passover Feast in the Spring of a.d.29, Jesus would be crucified on the cross of Calvary. Remember, Jesus was born 4b.c., which means He was 33 years old at the time of His death.
John 12:1“Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”
4) Unfortunately, Jesus’ half brothers and sisters never came to believe on Him. [T] or [F]
SermonfalsE, the good news is that Jesus’ half-brothers and half-sister came to believe on Him, but only after the Resurrection. Doubters became believers. James authored the New Testament epistle that bears his name and became the leader of the Jerusalem church. Jude wrote the epistle that also bears his name.
Sermon Living under the same roof with Jesus, his brothers and sisters had the best opportunity to watch and test Him, yet they were unbelievers. Sadly, proximity to Jesus, either in a family or as a disciple, or as a church member does not guarantee faith.
Mark 6:3“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and of Jude, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”
John 1:11“He [Jesus] came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
5) Why did Jesus’ brothers want Him to go to the feast with them?
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BTSJesus’ brothers wantedHim to go up to Jerusalem andto publicly display His miraculous powers. They could not understand why Jesus did not want a larger audience for his miracles.They were looking for Jesus to demonstrate His power for personal gain, so they encouraged Him not to waste His efforts or time in Galilee, but to go to Jerusalem where He could get the attention of the religious and political leaders. They knew that Jews from everywhere were travelling to Jerusalem for the Festival of Tabernacles. In Jerusalem, they believed Jesus would have the multitude for His miracles.
v3-4“His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest” 4For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeks to be known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself to the world.”
BONUS: Why did Jesus tell his brothers he would not go to the feast, but later went?
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Sermon Jesus told his brothers that He would not go to the feast because the time of His glorification was not “yet” fully come. In v8, notice the little word “yet.” Jesus did not say that He would not go to the feast, but that He would not go there publiclywith them, but would go later secretly.
v8-10“Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come. 9When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.”
SermonJesus was totally committed to the Father’s divine timetable, and therefore would not permit any deviations in the spiritual schedule. Jesus was exercising precaution because He knew that the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Him.