THE GREAT DEBATE: WHO IS HE?

TEXT JOHN 7: http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/?q=John7&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE JOHN 7:14-24

Some of the people at the Feast of the Tabernacles asked if Jesus was the man the religious leaders were trying to kill. They asked what it meant that none of the religious leaders had tried to keep him from publicly teaching and if they had concluded he was the Christ. Knowing where Jesus was from they questioned whether he could be the Christ who was suppose to come out of no where.

Interrupting his teaching, Jesus responded by telling them that while they knew where he came from he was not here on his own but was here from God - the true One who had sent him.

They reacted to what he said by trying to seize Him but were unable to lay a hand on him because his time to lay down his life had not yet come. Others reacted by confessing they believed in Him reasoning that when the Christ came he couldn’t do any more miracles than Jesus had done.

When the religious leaders heard the crowd saying this they sent out temple guards to arrest Jesus.

Jesus responded to this by telling them he would be with them for a little time longer before going to be with God. He told them they would not be able to find where he was and they would not be able to come to where he was.

The Jews asked each other where he could be going if that they would be unable to find him - thinking he may be going to live among the dispersed Jews and the Gentiles. They were perplexed by what he meant when by telling them they wouldn’t be able to find him and they wouldn’t be able to come to where he was.

On the final and greatest day of the Feast Jesus stood up and loudly told the people that anyone who was thirsty should come to him and drink. He told them that the Scripture says, whoever believes in Him will have streams of living water flow up from within them – meaning that they would receive the Holy Spirit once He ascended and became glorified.

After hearing this some said he surely was the Prophet while others said he was the Christ. Others questioned how the Christ could come from Galilee when Scripture says the Christ is to come from David’s family and from Bethlehem. With the people divided about who Jesus was some wanted to seize him but again no one was able to put a hand on him.

PRINCIPLES John 7:25

I. FIRST CENTURY READERS

A. CIT: John told his first century readers the crowd debated if Jesus was the Christ.

B. INTER: John told his first century readers why the crowd debated if Jesus was the Christ.

C. ANS: John told his first century the crowd debated if Jesus was the Christ because the people & leaders misunderstood:

1. His Origin vv 27-29, 33-36, 41b-42
2. His Power. vv 25-26, 30, 32, 43-44
3. His Mission. vv 31, 37-41a

II. US TODAY

A. CIT: John tells us today that people debate if Jesus is the Son of God.

B. INTER: John tells us today why people debate if Jesus is the Son of God.

C. ANS: John tells us today that people debate if Jesus is the Son of God because they misunderstand:

1. His Origin - He is Fully God & Fully Man
2. His Power - He has the Power to Resurrect.
3. His Mission - He has the Spirit of Life.


PRAYER

Our Father, we praise You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Our Father, we thank You for giving Him the power.
Our Father, we praise You for giving Him the glory.
Our Father, we thank You for sending the Spirit of Life.
Our Father, we ask Your forgiveness for our doubts.
Our Father, we ask Your forgiveness for our unbelief’s.
Our Father, we ask Your forgiveness for nailing Him to the cross.
Our Father, we thank You for His mission so that we can Live.
Our Farther, We ask You to strengthen us to be voices of this Good News!
In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.


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