Christ Steps Out into the Spotlight 2
Last time, we saw Jesus training His apostles to be more like Him. We learned more about the cost of following Christ, and we saw Him begin to reveal His true self at the Temple in Jerusalem (see part 1).
Remember that Jesus was at the Festival of the Tabernacles. On the last day of the festival, water is ceremonially poured upon a rock in the altar. This commemorated when God drew water out of a rock to slake the thirst of the Hebrews, during their exodus journey.
Jesus takes this opportunity to call out to the people in attendance, about His gift of salvation – in an analogy:
“The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” Jn. 7:38 CSB
He said this same thing to the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 4:10-14). Here, it is this Scripture that He was referring to:
“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! …Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” Is. 55:1 & 3. NLT
So, if you place your faith in Christ, drink in His Gospel and reflect it, you will receive the water of salvation.
Yet, this crowd grumbles in derision. The Pharisees went after those who did believe, calling them ‘illiterates’ with regards to Scripture…
The day after the feast, Jesus went to the Temple to teach again. While He was doing so, a Pharisee brought in a woman who was caught committing adultery. He snidely says to our Lord:
“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women [to death]. So what do You say [to do with her – what is Your sentence]?” Jn. 8:5 AMP
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. Jn. 8:6 – 8. NLT
Everyone left the Temple, leaving only Christ and the woman. He said:
“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Jn. 8:10, 11. NLT
Jesus just delivered her from death; and He showered her with His merciful forgiveness, hoping this experience would prompt her to repent of her transgressions.
Later, He would teach in the Temple again. This time, adding more clarification to who He is:
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jn. 8:12 NKJV
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed this over 700 years before Christ came:
The people walking in the darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Is. 9:2 CSB
The apostle John also speaks to this:
…if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 Jn. 1:7 NLT
Following Christ is the only way to transcend the darkness in this world. Yet, the Pharisees call him a liar, saying that according to Mosaic Law, He must have one other witness to corroborate His Messianic claim. Jesus responds:
“These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.” Jn. 8:14 NLT
“You judge according to human standards [just by what you see]. I do not judge anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true and My decision is right; for I am not alone [in making it], but I and the Father who sent Me [make the same judgment” Jn. 8:15,16. AMP
Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. (See Dt. 19:15). I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” Jn. 8:17, 18. NLT
Jesus just produced His own witness – God Himself.
(Note that Jesus said that He does not judge. He is not contradicting Himself. He did not judge during His earthly ministry. When He comes back, well, that’s another story).
The Pharisees got really lathered up – demanding to know the whereabouts of His ‘Father.’ Christ throws it right back in their faces:
“Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” Jn. 8:19 NLT
Jesus is the exact Spiritual image of His Father, the voice of His Father, possess God’s exact qualities, and He incorporated within the God head. The apostle Paul reiterates this:
He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation. Col. 1:15 AMP
Christ lowers the hammer on these Pharisees, and others who are like-minded:
“I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going…You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not…for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” Jn. 8:21, 23 & 24. NLT
Jesus is saying that He is a heavenly being – the Messiah, the Son of God, the ‘I AM.’ Furthermore, He is telling them that He is returning to heaven; and that those who will not believe in Him for who He is and what He has done, will die – period. Whereas those that believe, have a guaranteed open door to eternity. Consider the nature of what’s happening here:
“How long will you mockers relish your mocking…I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come…When they cry for help, I will not answer…For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.” Pr. 1:22, 24, 28 & 29. NLT
This ‘thick-skulled’ crowd collectively asks:
“Who are you?” they questioned.
“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. “I have many things to say to judge about you, but the one who sent me is true, and what I have heard from him – these things I tell the world.” Jn. 8:25, 26. CSB
Jesus was met with blank stares, like a deer facing the headlights of an oncoming car. I am sure He felt frustration, but He stayed on task:
“When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me – he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Jn. 8:28, 29. NLT
At this point, Jesus omnisciently perceives that He has made some converts. His next uttering is for them alone:
“If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” Jn. 8:31, 32. AMP
The unbelievers in the crowd tell Jesus that they are descendants of Abraham, have never been slaves, and so they don’t understand what it is, that they need to ‘set free’ from.
What merciful patience Christ displays, as He continues to try to open their blind eyes, by setting the example for how His followers must behave in like situations:
(…reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, to be able teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness…then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Tim. 2:22 – 26. CSB)
So, in that space of deliverance, Jesus offers them a choice:
“…everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” Jn. 8:34 – 36. NLT
Christ is saying that an unrepentant sinner has a finite time limit with respect to his earthly life; whereas those who partner with Him have eternal surety.
The crowd is not getting it and things are beginning to heat up…
Don’t miss the final outcome of this blistering encounter in Part 3!
Goodnight and God Bless.
Building Better Americans 57
Christ Steps Out into the Spotlight
We finished last time with Jesus trying to help His apostles embrace love, forgiveness, and humility – to remove any self-induced roadblocks to their ‘Great Commission’s efficacy (see Are You Putting Christ First in Your Life).
He continues, this time addressing the importance of compassionate, non-judgmental mercy – especially for the ‘backslider’:
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” Mt. 18:15 – 17. NLT
Thus, Jesus reveals the godly way of handling offenses, which all humans will commit many times in their lifetime.
Jesus then repeats what He told Peter privately, to the rest of the apostles [see Pharisaical Falsehoods and the Truth (Mt. 16:17 – 19)]:
“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as my followers], I am there among them.” Mt. 18 – 20. AMP
There is a powerful synergy created in heaven in response to corporate prayer and Jesus inserts His own power into that synergism, to bring prayer requests to fruition.
Yet Peter, (and you just have to love those apostles when they show their human side; it gives us all hope), seems to be brushing Jesus’ teachings aside, when he whines about having to put up with sinners:
“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Mt. 18:21, 22. NLT
The Holy Spirit gave the apostle Paul wisdom in this area as well:
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them, pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! …Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Rm. 12:14 – 16 & 18. NLT
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph. 4:30 – 32. NLT
Going back to what Jesus said, 490 times we must forgive? Yet He wasn’t being literal but speaking a hyperbole. What He means is that we should we exercise forgiveness as many times as we can muster it, if we are dealing with a repentant person.
Jesus put a period on this matter by relating a parable to them (Mt. 18:23 – 34). In it, He tells a story of a merciful king who forgives one of his slaves’ very large indebtedness owed to him. The same slave turns around and has another slave, who owed him a much smaller debt, thrown in jail.
When the king gets wind of this, he throws the first slave in prison as well.
Jesus then says:
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Mt. 18:35 NLT
Christ and His apostles hung out in the region of Galilee instead of journeying on to Judea, because He could foresee that the Jewish officials were waiting there to kill Him. It wasn’t fear that kept Him from going, but because Jesus had a Divine timetable that He had to adhere to.
It is now the end of September, 29 A.D. – near the time for the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Jesus’ brothers (those born from Mary and Joseph after His virgin birth), did not believe that He was the Messiah at this time. They attempt to get their Brother to go to the festival and work miracles. They want Him to step out into the spotlight – perhaps (my guess) to receive glory by association).
Again, Christ has His own predetermined schedule. He responds:
“My time has not come; but any time is right for you. The world cannot hate you [since you are a part of it], but it does hate Me because I denounce it and testify that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Jn. 7:6 – 8. AMP
So, Jesus stayed behind. He was telling His brothers that He brings the righteous light of exposure to the sins that people try to hide or legitimize. They hate Him for that, as well as anyone who represents Him.
Not long after His brothers left for the festival however, the ripening of His mandate manifests:
As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Lk. 9:51 AMP
Jesus and the apostles took the direct route from Galilee to Jerusalem, which included traveling through Samaria – whereupon the Samaritans refused to grant them lodging. (Some biblical scholars believe that it was because they were going to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship, instead of the one in Samaria that the inhabitants maintained was the only legitimate place of veneration).
This upset John and James, who asked Jesus if they could call down heavenly fire to destroy them. Christ rebukes them:
“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” Lk. 9:55, 56. NKJV
The Son of God is telling them that their intent was in error because the spirit of His followers needs to be one that readily offers peace and love through the free sharing of the Gospel – not the show of anger and retribution for those who refuse to receive it.
Three would-be followers of Christ approached Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. One said:
“I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to even lay his head.” Lk. 9:57, 58. NLT
He said to another person, “Come follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Lk. 9:59, 60. NLT
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Lk. 9:61, 62. NLT
Jesus is clarifying the parameters for, and the consequences of, making the decision to follow Him: First, it will be challenging because we must give up the (supposed) security of all things worldly, and place our absolute trust in Christ’s ability to provide what we need.
Secondly, we must make our obedience to Jesus our highest priority, even over our familial obligations, (although we are not to ignore them).
Lastly, we must face forward, and not look back, to stay on our heavenly course. We cannot keep one leg in the world and try to straddle the other in heaven. Remember Lot’s wife (Lk. 77:32).
Ultimately, this is what Christ calls us to do:
…be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus…Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. Endure suffering…as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 2 Tim. 2:1 – 4. NLT
When Jesus finally arrives in Jerusalem, He keeps a low profile. The religious authorities are looking for Him and the crowds are talking about Him. Midway through the festival, Christ enters the Temple – stepping out into the spotlight.
He astounds the people with His command and understanding of Scripture because they know that He has had no formal training. Jesus knows this and responds:
“My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” Jn. 7:16, 17. NLT
“Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.” Jn. 7:18, 19. NLT
Jesus speaks the word of God. In fact, He isthe living word of God – speaking to glorify His Father, not Himself. Christ also declares that He is void of unrighteousness, yet this crowd is steeped in it, as He points out in speaking to their desire to kill Him.
Then, Jesus challenges the crowd to reveal what kind of crime it is that He has committed.
They begin to grumble about whether He should be arrested or killed. Others wondered if He really was the Messiah, while those who knew Him as a child in Nazareth did not believe. Jesus speaks to their quandary:
“Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” Jn. 7:28, 29. NLT
Obviously, these people did not possess a good knowledge of Old Testament Scripture, or they would have started putting the pieces together:
“But as for you Bethlehem…too little to be among the clans of Judah; from you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, from ancient days.” Mic. 5:2 AMP
What Jesus is telling them, is that they might recognize His earthly form but have no grasp of His divine nature nor believe that God had sent Him. Furthermore, He accuses them of not knowing who God is.
That was crossing a ‘red line’ as far as the crowd was concerned. The chief priests and the scribes tried to have Him arrested, but He was supernaturally delivered from their grasp (Jn. 7:30 – 32). Jesus spoke to the crowd once more:
“For a little while longer I am [still] with you, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” Jn. 7:33, 34. AMP
Jesus is speaking of His resurrection and ascension to heaven. He is also alluding to the sins of these people, which will rob them of a similar experience.
The crowd stubbornly remains clueless…
To be continued in Part 2.
Goodnight and God bless.