JESUS DIVIDED THE CROWDS.

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1 John 7:25-39 Are You Thirsty for God? Review: We left off with Jesus teaching in the Temple grounds in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles As always, JESUS DIVIDED THE CROWDS. The religious leaders felt threatened by Him and became very critical of everything He did and said. They were looking for an excuse to get rid of Him Those pilgrims visiting from outside the region were just trying to figure Him out But some of the locals were beginning to believe that He was actually the promised Messiah (31) To ALL, Jesus exhorted them to Judge according to righteousness (V:24) Before we read and study today s text I want to clarify something important about right judgment. Have you ever heard somebody say, Judge not, lest you be judged? (This is often incorrectly applied) Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the speck from your eye ; and look, a plank is in your own eye? HYPOCRITE! FIRST remove the plank from your own eye, and THEN you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother s eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Matthew 7:1-6, NKJV. Page 1 of 6

2 God give us discernment and godly judgment to live our lives in a way that is pleasing in your sight READ John 7:25-39 & PRAY V:25-29 There was confusion among the Jews about where the Messiah would come from... Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, NKJV. (LEAVE UP) They knew He would be born of a woman. But they knew His coming would be supernatural. Some seemed to believe that the Messiah would just show up and nobody would now where He came from This led to many wild theories But the scriptures plainly declared But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting. Micah 5:2 Jesus, aware of the controversy concerning His origins addressed the issue when He taught in the Temple area. (V:28-29) But as always, Jesus refocused the emphasis to the real issue that mattered. I was sent by God! I came from Him! I know Him. You do not know Him! Page 2 of 6

3 V:30 Repeatedly the scriptures reveal that Jesus was on God s divine time table and no one could override it! This was Jesus, God in the flesh! (I personally believe you and I can run ahead or lag behind God s perfect plan for our lives ) That s why it s so important that we walk in the Spirit and NOT according to the flesh! (Led by ) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16, 17, NKJV. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:25, 26, NKJV. (We have a choice here) Jesus always walked according to the Spirit and consistently lived on a higher plain than you and I. Jesus was always in God the Father s perfect will. Jesus was always on God s perfect time schedule. V:31 According to De 18 God promised that the Messiah would be like Moses. So the people naturally expected great miracles from Him (V:31 How much more proof do we need! ) V:32-34 Jesus is of course speaking of coming crucifixion (6 months) and ascension into heaven. Page 3 of 6

4 But there is also a very sober warning here to those who reject Christ in the light of the overwhelming evidence. There will come a time when it will be too late! Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6, NKJV. Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. Psalms 32:6, NLT. Many lost sinners who reject Christ today will seek Him tomorrow and He will be gone from them. (Wiersbe) A sobering text Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Proverbs 1:24-28, NKJV. STOP & PRAY? Are you refusing Him today? CALL UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR! V:35-36 They totally missed the point! WHY? Remember the John 7:17 principle? V:37-38 Each morning of the feast, at the time of the sacrifice, the priests would draw water in a golden vessel from the Pool of Siloam and carry it to the Page 4 of 6

5 temple to be poured out. This commemorated the wonderful supply of water God gave the Jews in the wilderness. This seventh day was known as "The Great Hosannah" and climaxed the feast. It takes little imagination to grasp what must have happened when Jesus cried out, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink!" as the priests poured out the water. "Christ was the Rock out of which the waters flowed (In Exodus 17:1 7) He was smitten on the cross that the Spirit of life might be given to save and satisfy thirsty sinners. In the Bible, water for CLEANSING symbolizes the Word of God (John. 13:1--17; 15:3); water for DRINKING represents the Spirit of God Instead of heeding His gracious invitation to come, the people argued, and there was division among them. Some believed in Him, some rejected. It is the same today! I doubt John totally understood exactly what Jesus was offering in V: But later, after having received the promised Holy Spirit personally, he gives his commentary in V:39 Page 5 of 6

6 Are YOU thirsty? Will you COME to Him and DRINK? END Communion Page 6 of 6