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Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

Text: Text : John 7:25-52
20 April 2008

(I) RAISING A RHETORICAL QUESTION CONCERNING THE RULERS

“…Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?” John 7:26

1. The rulers should consider the possibility that Jesus was the Christ

2. They were depended on by people as teachers and religious leaders

3. Yet they were blinded to the truth of the Lord

(II) POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS CONCERNING THE LORD JESUS

1. Jesus …not much can be known about Him

“However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” John 7:27

2. Jesus… people focused more on signs

“And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” John 7:31

3. Jesus… going to a place where the Jews would never chose to

“Then the Jews said among themselves, ‘Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’? ‘ ” John 7:35, 36

(III) MARVELLOUS WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS CONCERNING HIMSELF

1. The words of Christ were astonishing

“But look! He spoke boldly…” John 7:26

“The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” John 7:46

2. Words spoken concerning Himself

a) His place of origin

“Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, ‘You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” John 7:28, 29

b) His place of destination

“Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” John 7:33, 34

c) His continuing work after His departure

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39

(IV) MANY VARIED RESPONSES TO CHRIST

1. Division among the people

a) Different conclusions

i) Jesus was a prophet

“Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, ‘Truly this is the Prophet.’ ” John 7:40

ii) Jesus was the Christ

“Others said, ‘This is the Christ’…” John 7:41

iii) Jesus was not the Christ

“…But some said, ‘Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?’ ” John 7:41, 42

b) Division resulted

“So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.” John 7:43, 44

2. The rejection of the religious leaders

a) They sent officers to take Him away

“The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.” John 7:32

b) They saw Jesus as one who deceived

“Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’ Then the Pharisees answered them, ‘Are you also deceived?’ ” John 7:45-47

c) They rejected Christ

i) No ruler should believe Him

“Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? John 7:48

ii) Crowd is accursed for believing

“And many of the people believed in Him…” John 7:31

“But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” John 7:49

3. The courageous defence of Nicodemus concerning Christ

a) Real faith in Christ

“Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them” John 7:50

b) Defended the Lord Jesus

“Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” John 7:51

c) Courage to face up to opposition

“They answered and said to him, ‘Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.’ ” John 7:52