John 7:37–52 - Cameron Jungels - Sun AM, April 6, 2014

“Division over Jesus’ Identity” (John 7:37–52), John Message 34

(Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/April 6, 2014)

³⁷ 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.  ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."  ³⁹ 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.  ⁴⁰ On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."  ⁴¹ Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee?  ⁴² Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David's descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?"  ⁴³ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.  ⁴⁴ Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.  ⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?"  ⁴⁶ "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards replied.  ⁴⁷ "You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted.  ⁴⁸ "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?  ⁴⁹ No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law-- there is a curse on them."  ⁵⁰ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,  ⁵¹ "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?"  ⁵² They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee." (John 7:37–52, NIV)

1.       Jesus’ words bring eternal life and the gift of the Spirit to all who believe in him (vv. 37­–39). 

2.       Jesus’ words elicit different responses to his identity and message (vv. 40­–52).

a.       Confused or Insufficient Understanding – the Prophet.

b.      Misaligned Expectations or Perceptions – the Messiah.

c.       Undeveloped Amazement – the soldiers – “no one ever spoke the way this man does.”

d.      Vehement Rejection and Hostility – the religious leadership.

e.       Budding Faith – Nicodemus.

f.        Abiding Faith and Discipleship – the Twelve (minus Judas).

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. (John 8:31, NIV).

3.       Jesus’ words cause a fundamental division between people – those who believe and follow and those who do not.

³⁴ "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  ³⁵ For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--  ³⁶ a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'  ³⁷ "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.  (Matt. 10:34-39, NIV)

Main Idea: Because the message of Jesus is a heavenly message that brings eternal life and the gift of the Spirit, its seriousness and exclusivity will cause a division between people – between those who believe and those who reject.