Week 19, John 12: Hook. Main Point: Jesus is the one who submits. Main Application: Submit to God above all else.

Transcription

1 Week 19, John 12:37 50 Hook Main Point: Jesus is the one who submits. Main Application: Submit to God above all else. Current Event: What would you do to avoid a speeding ticket? An Arizona resident attempted to negate speeding tickets by exploiting a loophole. Dave VonTesmar did not recognize the authority of speed cameras (operate like a red light camera) and claimed that if the state could not definitively prove that he was operating the vehicle, no penalty could be levied. When speeding past the cameras, VonTesmar would wear a monkey mask. The driver reportedly accumulated over $7,000 in fines and sought to fight each ticket. Concerning his actions, VonTesmar stated, It's a peaceful act of resistance that's what this country was founded on. 1 Discussion Questions: When is it OK to refuse to submit to authority? Should we as Christians always obey authorities? 1 nbcnews.com,

2 Should someone submit to God when doing so could bring negative consequences? For instance, should a missionary in a hostile land submit to God even if it means physical harm?

3 John 12:37 50 Book Main Point: Jesus is the one who submits. Main Application: Submit to God above all else. Text Summary: Jesus continues to be rejected by the people and the Jewish authorities. John uses the words of Isaiah to show that the rejection of the Messiah is in accordance with the Father s ultimate plan. Jesus closes out this passage exhorting His listeners that He has come into the world to save it and bring the world out of darkness and into light. He does this all because the Father has sent Him. John 12:37 43 (Read) Sub Application: Beware the desire of man s approval. Jesus quotes Old Testament prophecies regarding the people s disbelief. Many authorities believed in Jesus but because of fear of Pharisees, they made no confession. Coming off of verse 26, verse 37 leads into a new direction. John is about to show, yet again, how Scripture as they knew it (the Hebrew Bible), pointed to Jesus as the Christ. But even after all the signs that Christ had done, the people still did not believe. All that Jesus had done wasn t enough for them, for whatever reason. But this unbelief was part of Old Testament prophecy. Those who have yet to believe didn t believe in order that they may fulfill Scripture. Here, John uses Isaiah 53:1 and 6:10 to show how the people s unbelief was predicted hundreds of years before this account. The passage in its original context referred to the Servant of the Lord, who was rejected by the people but exalted by God (Isaiah 52:13-15). 2 John, however, is using this to refer to Jesus here in his gospel. He uses this to show that Jesus was this Promised Servant. John shows that this Messiah, Jesus, the promised Servant, rejected by the Jews, is nothing new in salvation history, for just as Isaiah s message had been rejected, so was Jesus. 3 After this, John says that Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus glory and spoke of Him. We know from Isaiah s writing that he foresaw that God was pleased with a suffering servant who would be raised and lifted up and highly exalted (52:13), yet who was pierced for our transgressions and bore the sins of many (53:5, 12). Hence, Isaiah knew that God s glory 2 Andreas Kostenberger, Baker Exegetical Commentary On the New Testament: John. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2004, p Ibid.,

4 would be revealed through a suffering Messiah something deemed impossible by the crowds (John 12:34). Like Abraham, Isaiah saw Jesus day (John 8:56, 58). 4 After this, John tells us that many believed in Jesus, even the authorities present. This was powerful. The disappointing aspect here in this account is that fear of man cripples their profession of faith. They care more about their membership to the synagogue than membership in Christ s family. Their concern is greater for the Jewish authorities acceptance of them rather than God the Father s. This verse, however, shows us that following Jesus and serving Him above all else during this time and in this day were dangers for anyone who chose to do so. Jesus disciples lives were in constant danger. Why are the people rejecting Jesus? Why is the people s rejection of Jesus necessary and how is it a part of God s ultimate plan? Why is it valuable for these Jews to hear the Old Testament quoted in reference to Christ? How can the desire to please others interfere with someone s faith? Is seeking approval from those you respect necessarily a bad thing? Another Perspective: The ESV Study Bible In spite of massive national unbelief, the situation was not hopeless. God always has a remnant. Many individuals in high places did believe in Jesus, but for fear of being put out of the synagogue, they did not openly confess Him. They feared men s opinions and loved men s praise more than God s praise. 5 Discussion: What are the things that we fear that keep us from moving forward in faith? John 12:44 50 (Read) Sub Application: Submit to God s authority. Jesus recognizes God s authority. Jesus explains why He has come into the world. Jesus closes with proclaiming His oneness with the Father and heralds His own life as mere obedience to the 4 Ibid., Edwin A. Blum, "John" In, in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), Jn 12:42 43.

5 Father s will. Jesus has come on the Father s authority alone and no one else s, not even His own. John s ending this half of his gospel in this way really works to magnify Jesus humanity, and His perfect obedience to the Father as a model of human obedience in right relation to God. It will be this obedience that will empower Him to go through with the plan, the plan that will lead Him to the Cross. In all this, we know and understand from Jesus life and words up to this point that the purpose of his coming is not condemnation but transformation and deliverance from the wrath of God and the sentence of eternal death, which rest on humanity as a whole. 6 Jesus says that He has come into the world on mission from the Father. What does He say He has come to do? If Jesus is part of the Godhead, how can He submit to the Father? What should a Christian do when an earthly authority runs counter to a heavenly authority? Describe an instance when a Christian had to disobey an earthly authority because it conflicted with heavenly authority. 6 Andreas Kostenberger, Baker Exegetical Commentary On the New Testament: John. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2004, p

6 Week 19, John 12:37 50 Took Main Point: Jesus is the one who submits. Main Application: Submit to God above all else. Biblical Example: Consider the story of 12 spies sent into the Promised Land in Numbers 13 and 14. The spies had entered the occupied Promised Land; they witnessed the splendor, the abundance and the warriors who inhabited the land. Ten of the spies brought back a negative report; two trusted God and encouraged the people to move forward. The Israelites believed the pessimistic version of the report and began to find a leader to return them to captivity in Egypt (a seemingly better option). The spies had been sent to gather information and instead, because of their fear and doubt, led the people to turn their backs on God s will. Because they did not submit to God, to move forward despite fear, the rebellious Israelites faced consequences. The people would be forced to wander in the desert for 40 years, and none of the men who were 20 years or older would ever enter the Promised Land. Only the two spies who chose to submit to God s will and trust that He would provide would be permitted to step foot in the Promised Land. They desired to follow God despite the consequences. Discussion Questions: Will God s will always make sense to us? If God is logical and we are intelligent, shouldn t His will always make sense to us? Have you ever submitted to God and experienced negative earthly consequences? Why do Christians choose to disobey? Lesson Conclusion: Jesus is the ultimate picture of submission to God s authority and will. Man must make a decision as to whom he will submit. The rejection of submitting to the will of God has consequences.

7 Challenge: Don t allow the desire for the approval of others to stunt your growth as a Christian. If God is the ultimate authority in your life, your job is to submit to that authority despite the opinions of others. Be brave when it is time to move for Christ. The opinions of those around mean nothing in the vastness of eternity. Seek God s approval, not man s.