John || Are You Deceived?
WHO IS JESUS ??
Is Jesus divisive?
John 7:40
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”
Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
John 7:41-42
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
John 7:43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The Gospel always divides.
DETAILS, FACTS, CONCLUSIONS
Ignorance is bliss.
Willful ignorance is pride.
While intentionally not seeking out a comprehensive assessment to determine the truth
The Pharisee Spirit – I choose to fixate on the facts/details that secure my conclusion in order to make sure the whole story, the truths that comprise it, and the witnesses that corroborate a conclusion different than mine never have a chance to nudge my preconceived notion.
John 7:45
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
John 7:47
The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
Religious pride can blind you from the truth.
Knowledge + Humility = Seeing Jesus.
The Pharisee Spirit – “I have decided what the truth is. If you don’t agree with me it is because you are weaker (mentally, academically, spiritually) than me and have been deceived by a deception I would never be susceptible to… like you.”
The Pharisee Spirit – Once the Pharisee spirit has identified your deception they threaten disconnection.
“Have you also been deceived?”
John 7:50
Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
God uses courageous voices in hard places
The question is not “Who do they say He is?” but“Who do you say He is?”