Details Matter
Below is a summary of the sermon on John 7:1-13 (click here to watch the sermon):
When you read this passage, remember that Details Matter. What seems to be merely a few notes detailing what happened between chapters 6 and 7, is packed with powerful principles that we need to take note of.
Remember: the goal of Bible study isn’t merely to increase in knowledge, although that’s an important thing. The goal of Bible Study is to grow in Holiness and increase in Christlikeness. To be transformed. Changed.
Chapter 7 opens with and after these things, so we must start with the question:
1. What Things? (1)
There’s a six month gap between chapter 6 and chapter 7
What was going on during these six months?
The other gospels give us details of this six month period -
Jesus spent significant time in personal discipleship with the Twelve.
Discipleship is simply: Helping one another follow Jesus better.
Colossians 1:9-10 defines it well:
…filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God;
Notice the “balance” between John 6 & 7
Jesus spent two days with a huge crowd of probably about 20,000. Then, He spent the next six months with the Twelve.
Every Christian needs to be involved in the process of discipleship.
Who is discipling you outside of what you’re learning and how you’re growing on the Lord’s Day when you gather with the saints for worship?
The best context for pursuing the “One Anothers” of the NT (see the blog just before this one) is in both relationships and personal discipleship.
Jesus prioritized discipleship
We must prioritize discipleship
John MacArthur points out: The measure of any church’s success is not the size of its congregation, but the depth of its discipleship.
2. Surprising Unbelief
Verses 2-5
Of all the people that you would expect to believe in Jesus, His brothers are at the top of the list. Acts 1:14 tells us that they did eventually come to faith in Jesus, but at this point, they’re not convinced.
This detail highlights for us in an amazingly clear way that “no one can come to faith until the Father draws him.” (John 6:44 & 65)
Jesus’ brothers, here, are giving evidence of this. Showing they weren’t truly believers.
They were remaking God in their image.
Creating a Messiah of their own wishes -
It seems that they hadn’t really decided for themselves who/what Jesus really was. They wanted a Political Messiah, just like the rest of the Jewish people.
3. God’s Timing, Not Mine
Verse 6 – So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always here.
While there aren’t imperatives/commands in this passage, when we look closely, we see many great principles that we need to embed in our thinking.
Early on, the Jewish leadership started plotting against Him. Because He does have a plan, but He’s not to that part of the plan yet. He’s been staying in Galilee, and will stay there until it’s the right time. (In John 7:14)
What does the “your time is always here” mean?
In addition to emphasizing that they’re not following God’s timeline like Jesus is, it also points to the continual call to salvation.
If you do not know Christ. If you haven’t trusted Him - your time is always here.
You can, even right now, in this moment.
Trust in Christ. “your time is always here”
In John 6:35, Jesus said,
He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
So come to Jesus. Believe in Him
It really is that simple.
Psalm 95:7 – Today, if you hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts,
The call is today.
Why would you not trust in Him right now?
4. Hating Jesus (v. 7)
There really are only two categories.
You either Love Jesus, or you Hate Him.
Anyone who is not a believer is actually at war with God and is His enemy.
Romans 8:6-7 – For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is at enmity toward God
This is also why, when you live a Christ-exalting Christian life, there will be hatred coming your way in some form.
When you bring the truth of the Bible to bear, it will likely be responded to with hatred.
The easiest example today is the whole “LGBTQ+” scenario. The Bible clearly teaches that there are only two genders. God creates each of us either male or female (at conception, and it doesn’t change). And homosexuality is a sin, along with any other form of sexual expression outside of a husband/wife relationship.
But bring that up in public, you’re likely to stir up any number of negative response from a wide variety of people.
Jesus was hated because He declared the truth boldly. His very existence and presence was/is a reminder of sin.
When we live the righteous lives that we’re called to live - it will be an extension of this aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry and it will bring, at a minimum, negativity toward you, and all the way up to hatred. Just for living a holy life.
Don’t ever be surprised at the hatred aimed at you when you take a stand for what’s right, pursue obedience and aim for God’s glory.
The final thing we see in this passage:
5. Controversy & Fear (9-13)
Jesus is polarizing.
Sound doctrine divides!
And there was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the crowd astray.”
Both opinions are actually wrong.
He’s way more than a good man. He’s the perfect, holy, righteous Son of God.
The passage closes with verse 13 –
The question is - What are you afraid of?
As you answer that question, remember
Fear of man - vs. - fear of God
The more you fear man
- the less you’ll fear God.
The more you fear God
- the less you’ll fear man.
Are you willing to speak of Him openly?
Speak His truth Boldly?
Are you willing to come to Him in belief?
Are you holding back because you fear man?
What might happen to you?
What others might say?
You might get laughed at - or worse - people will think poorly of you in some way.
While these aren’t “go and do” imperatives, they’re biblical principles that should guide and inform all of your decisions.
From coming to Jesus for salvation to all of our daily decisions, they must all be:
• informed by the Word
• empowered by the Spirit
May the Lord impress all of these details on your mind and heart as you pursue Him daily.
Grace & Peace
Pastor Rob