John 11, Sometimes God seems slow to respond because we are slow to see and understand

John 11:1-6 (NIV) Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."  5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

• We are after the feast of dedication, in the winter time.
• Why does Jesus not go to Lazarus?
• Jesus was letting him die. God was going to do something even greater through the event
• It was an intentional act

• Why does Jesus wait two days?
• So that three days would pass. Require all or part of three days in order for it not to be a resuscitation

• What could Jesus have done?
• He didn't need to go, he could have spoken a word of healing

• How would Mary and Martha feel, humanly speaking?
• God forgot us
• Doesn't Jesus care about us or Lazarus

John 11:7-16 (NIV) Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

• The disciple's response to Jesus' decision to go back tells us what?
• That they did not know why they had waited or had made the assumption that the reason they did not go to Lazarus was the dangers poised by their presence
• They did not know that Lazarus had died
• They were not so sure of their own safety
• They were a little cynical

• Verse 9,10 reminds one of a very popular saying, what is it?
• Nothing good every happens late at night
• I know your parents have probably said that to you and you disagreed, but it is good proverb, and often true

• Jesus' knowledge versus the disciple's knowledge reaffirms what?
• His deity since no information regarding Lazarus' status comes to them

John 11:17-27 (NIV) On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

• Martha comes to see him but Mary does not, why?
• Maybe angry because Jesus had failed her
• Maybe she felt like she was treating Jesus as she had been treated

• What is Martha's response to Jesus?
• She blames him for Lazarus' death
• It is not clear what she is requesting in verse  22 since verse 24 makes it clear she was not thinking of rising from the dead

• Might Mary and Martha been disappointed in Jesus?
• Yes, because he did not respond quickly enough to their plea

• How did Mary and Martha possibly view Jesus' answer to their request? It was a no, and it was now final
• APPLICATION: Sometimes this is our approach to prayer. If God does answer the prayer in our manner and timeframe we consider it unanswered. Sometimes we see the prayer unanswered because we don't see what God can really do

John 11:28-44 (NIV) And after she  had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.

"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said.

"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"  44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

• How does Mary's response compare to Martha's?
•  It is the same as Martha's

• How does Jesus respond to Mary's accusation? What does he not do?
•  He doesn't give an explanation
•  He doesn't justify
•  He doesn't explain
•  He weeps

•  Why does Jesus weep?
• Weep with those who weep is a scriptural principle
•  He truly could feel their pain
•  He is not afraid to admit emotions

• The even more amazing aspect of this miracle is expressed in verses 43-44, what is it?
• This man was dead and decaying
• Jesus would have had to recreate all his cells, organs, blood, everything, and restore his consciousness and memory -- Jesus has the power!

• APPLICATON: Since Jesus has so much power, what is there that we cannot give to him and trust him concerning?

John 11:45-57 (NIV) Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?" 57 But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

• So, why has the situation changed so drastically, from the point of view of the Pharisees?
• It was too amazing
• And rather than seeing it as proof of his claims, the leaders see it as a threat to the order of things

• What is unusual about the timing of the miracle, the last three months of Jesus' life?
• The amazing fact of the miracle meant that the leaders could not ignore Jesus any longer

• APPLICATION: What is more important in our life? Order out of the chaos, or telling others about Jesus Christ?

John 10, Our Shepherd loves and cares for us greatly. We owe him so much, why can't we give him our time?

• Quick discussion of news of the week Jesus' wife
• Parchment is a 4th century document
• It is very poorly preserved and is missing over half of the words so that there is no idea about the topic, just words like Jesus and wife
• Discussion ignores Gnostics, lack of copying, and actual supporting information
• Discussion also ignores the fact that the NT calls the church the bride of Christ and that Jesus talked about a marriage supper of the lamb


John 10:1-18 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.


7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.


11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.


14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."


• This passage is different from others. It is not a parable. Jesus calls it a figure of speech
• (Constable, 2012) John called this teaching a figure of speech (Gr. paroimian) rather than a parable (Gr. parabole). Parables generally stress only one or a few points of comparison, but the sustained metaphors that follow develop many similarities. John did not include any Synoptic-style parables in his narrative.
• So, since the "sustained metaphor" contains many more similarities and contrasts. Let's list some of them and what they mean
• Shepherd -- he truly was ruler over the flock. They were under his authority and sovereignty
• Israel's teachers are called Shepherds in the OT. Jesus here suggests that they are thieves and robbers
• They were taking from the people and not giving
• They did not really offer true life (just because someone has a title, "reverend," or religious does not mean that he knows God and understands how one receives eternal life
• Jesus can protect his sheep completely
• Jesus offers full life to those who enter his fold
• A believer has a particular ability to recognize the voice of Jesus, probably through the Holy Spirit
• While normally a Shepherd would call his sheep with a distinctive sound or whistle, Jesus calls his by name, indicating a personal relationship
• Jesus leads his sheep. He goes with them. He does not send them out without his presence, and he goes first
• Jesus cares for his sheep
• Jesus will lay down his life for the sheep
• APPLICATION: We all have trust issues. Some are the result of our own poor choices. For those we need to repent. But in any case, we also need to trust our good Shepherd. He will not desert us. He will never leave us alone. Not only will he go with us, he will actually lead us
• Mormons like to use verse 16, but the meaning is much clearer, what is he referring to?
• Jesus is speaking to the Jews, the reference is to Gentiles
• Jesus is speaking about the church, Jew and Gentile, one flock and one shepherd


John 10:19-33 (NIV) At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"


21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"


22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."


25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."


31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"


33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."


• Josh McDowell popularized this very argument that we see here, what is it?
• Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic
• Demon-possessed would fit with liar, for who could make such statements to people and be lying if they were not evil?
• Raving mad is the lunatic
• The are two arguments against liar and lunatic
• These are not the words of a liar or lunatic
• The miracles are not the result of demonic power
• Josh McDowell added some other arguments that John might have used (given he wrote this about 90 AD), although not in a historical documentary of Jesus life
• We are not win the winter
• One commentator thought the setting was comparative to the frigid spiritual climate
• The area of Solomon's Colonnade would have protected hears from the weather
• In answer to the request to "tell us plainly," how does Jesus respond?
• He had repeatedly made the claim already
• He repeats the claim here (they pick up stones to stone him)
• Nor does he correct them when they repeat back the implication -- "you, a mere man, claim to be God"
• What does Jesus mean by verses 28 and 29?
• Eternal life comes through Jesus
• Eternal security is promised by the Father
• APPLICATION: You cannot lose your salvation. If you could, it would be earned because that would mean you lived good enough in life to keep it


John 10:34-39 (NIV) Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?  35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came — and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."  39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.


• First of all we need to understand the term here and the context
• The term that is quoted can be used for "gods" and also for "judges"
• In fact, the word of God is given to the judges of Israel because they represent God in handing out sentences
• So, in one sense, even men take on the role of "gods" when they are judges
• Jesus' argument is that if the scripture talks about men as "gods" and the "sons of God," why are they stoning Jesus for claiming to be God and the Son of God
• On one sense, this seems to be a stalling tactic. The other sense is that what Jesus is claiming is completely different than being a mere Judge who represents God
• To make that matter even more clear, Jesus says to look at the miracles (judges did not have the power to make the blind see)
• Jesus also finishes the argument by saying that the Father is in him and he is in the Father. This somewhat invalidates the previous statement, because now he is clearly using the capital "G"
• And this is immediately recognized by the crowed as they try to sieze him
• APPLICATION: What does this mean for us today? Our shepherd is also our God. We are protected by him. He cares for us. How should we respond to such a shepherd? Out of love and thankfulness -- the opposite of neglect and disrespect. God is worth our time. If you don't think that then you don't understand all that he had done for you

John 9, Sharing your story

• Background:
• Timeframe: Constable suggests between feast of Tabernacles (mid-Sept) and Feast of Dedication (mid-Dec)
• This is the six of John's seven selected signs. Constable argues that this shows Jesus' power of misfortune

John 9:1-12 (NIV) As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, "No, he only looks like him."

But he himself insisted, "I am the man."

10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.

11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

12 "Where is this man?" they asked him.

"I don't know," he said.

• There are other cases in the gospels of blind receiving their sight, why is this case so important?
• This is the first case of a man born blind receiving their sight

• Messianic Miracles (An official understanding -- also agrees with Fruchtenbaum)
1. The first Messianic miracle was the healing of a leper. . . . Mk.1:40-45 records Jesus’ first description of a healing miracle. Leprosy affected everything they were considered unclean and it was associated with sin. One could not come in contact with people who were afflicted they needed to stand down wind and if a leper were coming near they needed to cry out unclean. When Jesus came, he knelt and asked if he is willing, which of course he was… there was no healing of a Jewish leper- from the time of Moses and the completing of the Mosaic law no leper had been healed in Israel. This would include Mariam who was healed of leprosy  (Num 12:10-) before the the Mosaic Law was completed and Naaman who was not a Jew (2 Kings 5:1-; Mt.8:2-4; Lk.5:12-16; Mk.1:40-45).  The Scripture makes it clear that only God can heal a leper. Jesus healed the lepers.
2. Healing and casting out a dumb demon- This miracle only the messiah could perform. The Pharisees recognized this as a messianic miracle, this is why they asked could this be the son of David. At the time their were exorcisms performed within Judaism. For this to be accomplished the exorcist needed to communicate with the demon and then force him to tell them his name (as Jesus did with the demoniac). However in this case where someone was affected by the demon to become dumb this exorcism could not take place because there could be no communication made. According to the Rabbis only the messiah could cast out a demon like this.
3. The healing of a blind man Jn.9:1-32 Jesus broke the tradition of the elders (Mishnaic law) which prohibited the healing of the blind by his putting mud and water in the blind mans eyes which was to the Pharisee's unclean. Only the messiah could heal someone that was blind from birth.
• The first messianic miracle the Pharisees investigate Jesus. The 2nd they end up rejecting His claims of Messiahship. The 3rd they reject the individuals who affirm He is the Messiah. (Pasted from <http://www.letusreason.org/Juda5.htm> )

• The disciple's question reflects a very common understanding of the opinion of that day, and of today. We tend to view bad things in a cause and effect relationship. If something bad happens to you then the reason is because you sinned. In this case, the sinner would be the parents, since the child could not have sinned.
• It is not clear why the disciples thought the man had sinned. R.A. Knox relates that the Greek could be understood as "Did this man sin? or did his parents commit some sin with the result that he was born blind?"
• It is possible, based on Knox's rendering of the Greek that they did not know he was born blind. But if his parents had sinned then he was probably born blind, would be the reason
• Of course, sin is the reason for suffering and evil in the world, but it does not always have a cause and effect relationship. That is essentially the argument of Job

• Also, how do the disciples view the person's blindness, what is their attitude?
• They see it as an opportunity for a theological discussion
• They want to put a "reason" down for the man's problem (everything has to have a reason)

• How does Jesus view the man's blindness?
• He takes a positive view
• He sees it as an opportunity to display God's grace

• How do you view Jesus' discussion of day and night?
• Day refers to Jesus' time on earth and the opportunity to do the work of God
• Night is coming and no one will be able to work (interesting because the verse would seem to suggest that Jesus' miracles will soon end)
• The apostles actually do very few miracles
• The miracles decrease as we move farther along in Acts

• Why does Jesus spit on the ground and put mud on the blind man's eyes?
• The mud was unclean in Jewish eyes, but Jesus uses it to clean the eyes
• We are created out of the dust of the earth
• Both the process of spitting and the application of mud would have involved senses for which the blind man was acutely able to experience

• There is some significance to Siloam
• The name means "sent" and Jesus sends him to there. In obedience he receives his sight
• Edersheim references those waters with the Feast of Tabernacles and believes it symbolizes new life by the Spirit

• The man does not know a whole lot but he does seem to know some facts, what are they?
• The person was called Jesus
• He made some mud and put it on my eyes
• He told me to go to Siloam and wash my eyes

• The "where is the man" could because of the healing on the Sabbath, and a desire to report him to the Sanhedrin

John 9:13-23 (NIV) They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."

16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."

But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.

17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened."

The man replied, "He is a prophet."

18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"

20 "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

• The Pharisees actually are required to investigate this miracle, why? Because it is a Messianic miracle
• They have an immediate answer because they have already investigate Jesus. So their primary reason for rejecting Christ is based on what?
• An interpretation of the Sabbath rules

• Actually, two arguments are going on
• One argues a priori, beginning with the law and working forward to Jesus' action
• Second is a posteriori, beginning with the facts and working backwards to Jesus' action
• The Pharisees actually do have the better argument, since miracles do not prove the miracle-worker was from God. But the Pharisees argument is based on a false presumption or false basis, that is, that healing on the Sabbath was breaking the law

• Why are the parents brought in?
• The Pharisees are not convinced that he was actually born blind. At this point, they only have hearsay on his condition. Technically, even a person born blind would not know that fact since it could have happened when he was very young
• We don't know the age of the man, but apparently he is past 13 based on his parent's testimony

• Apparently, some synagogues were persecuting individuals who believed Jesus was the Messiah

John 9:24-41 (NIV) A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this man is a sinner."

25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

26 Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

27 He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."

30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

34 To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."

38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"

41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

• What is interesting about this second court hearing starts?
• The judges immediately taint everything with their view that Jesus is a sinner

• What do we see in the man's response?
• He is not afraid of the religious leaders
• He does not back down from his previous statements
• He replies sarcastically showing his lack of fear

• Previously, they knew where Jesus had come from and has chastised Nicodemus on that very point. Now they are not sure, why?
• Maybe they heard that Jesus was born in Bethlehem

• Technically, the formerly blind man's argument is insufficient to make the point, but it can't be ignored. On the other hand (Sanhedrin point of view), the only evidence of Jesus sin is with respect to their interpretation of the Sabbath, which Jesus has already answered. What was Jesus' argument?
• You circumcise a child on the Sabbath because the law requires it
• Why can't you do good on the Sabbath, doesn't the law actually require it??

• In this last rejection of the third Messianic miracle, the religious leaders reject the persons who affirm Christ's Messiah-ship
• From Jesus point of view, there is imagery in the story that is missed, what is his point?
• Those born blind (in sin) are now seeing
• Those who think they can see (the religious) are blind

• APPLICATION: We can learn a lot about the man born blind in his response and witness. He did not know a lot of theology. But he got under the skin of the intellectuals because he shared what he had seen and heard. We don't need to know all the answers, we just need to share what we have seen God do in our lives

John 8:1-59, Leave judging to God

John 7:53-8:11 (NIV) Then each went to his own home. 8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.


But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.


9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"


11 "No one, sir," she said.


"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."


• The actual penalty was death and it was to be applied to both the man and the woman (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22)
• One wonders why the man was not included?
• If the person was betrothed but not married, both were to be stoned (Deut 22:23)
• If the daughter of a priest, she was to be burned alive (the man is not mentioned in this case)
• Why was this a trap?
• If he agrees to stoning, he would be guilty under Roman law (only the Romans could condemn a person to death)
• If he verbally disagrees, he places himself at odds with the OT law
• We don't know what Jesus wrote on the ground, the scriptures do not say. But what if it is related to what has happened, what he said, and what happened next, what would you conjecture?
• They only charge the woman, not the man
• Jesus pronounces that if any are without sin, let them be the first to throw
• Jesus then goes back to writing
• Men begin to leave, beginning with the oldest
• CONJECTURE:
• He started writing their secret sins on the ground beginning with the oldest (explains why it is not recorded; explains why they leave; explains why the man is not found guilty)
• Maybe he wrote the verse down and underline the man
• Maybe he wrote the name down of other women, the other men had known sexually
• If that is true, then what was the root problem in the group?
• They were guilty of judging another for a sin that they were at one time guilty of themselves
• APPLICATION: It is not just the Israelites who had a problem of judging, believers do it to each other all the time
• We are far better finding sticks in the other person's eyes than logs in our own eyes
• The result is that no one is left. Why is that significant? Why does Jesus not throw the first stone?
• Jesus was asked to be the judge in the case
• Without prosecutors or witnesses, Jesus dismissed the case, which was his prerogative as judge ("Where are your accusers? Does no one condemn you")
• But Jesus does not leave it there, what does he say? Go, and sin no more
• APPLICATION: Just because we are not condemned but forgiven does not mean we are to go on sinning


John 8:14-18, 31-38 (NIV) Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
. . .
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."


33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"


34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."


• Jesus seems to say that when it comes to testifying for himself, he is an exception, why?
• No one else, but God, could validate his claims
• The works validate him
• He validates himself, there is no one else who could do it
• Jesus differentiates his judgment from their judgment, how?
• They judge by human standards; inference is that his are divine
• They judge people; he does not judge others (not this visit)
• His judgments are right because they are the same as the Father
• When we judge another by human standards, what is the danger?
• We don't have all the information
• Our decisions will not always be right (but we think they are right)
• For the disciple, what is a solution to the dangers of judging?
• Hold to Jesus' teaching (do it yourself, just don't talk about it)
• Learn the truth and be set free from human standards and sin
• The word of God can wash our minds of ugliness of human standards
• Immersion in the word is a protection from judging (because judging really is a sin, and many of us are slaves to judging others)
• The crowd reacts quite negatively to the idea of being slaves. What is the problem with their statement?
• The history of the nation shows multiple instances of slavery (from a human perspective)
• But, Jesus is talking spiritually
• Why are the people ready to kill Jesus or to make a wrong judgment?
• They have no room for the word
• APPLICATION: When we don't have time for God's word in our life, we are susceptible to poor judgment and very bad decisions


John 8:42-59 (NIV) Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."


48 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"


49 "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."


52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"


54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."


57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"


58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"  59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.


• How does Jesus describe Satan?
• A murderer from the beginning (Adam, then Abel)
• Does not hold to the truth (he gave up the truth even though he saw God's glory)
• His native language is to lie. He is a liar and the father of lies. His greatest skill is lying
• In contrast to Satan, how does Jesus describe himself?
• He is here, sent from God
• Jesus tells the truth
• Jesus is not guilty of any sin (this statement alone denies his being a mere mortal)
• Jesus belongs to God
• The Jews return to the leader's explanation for Jesus' miracles, the charge of being demon-possessed. How does Jesus respond?
• He categorically denies the charge (it should be obvious)
• The charge dishonors Jesus
• Jesus warns them of the ultimate Judge, God the Father who will judge them (implied is death)
• BUT, if you keep Jesus' word, you will never taste death (spiritual death)
• Jesus response reinforce their claim of demon-possessed. Although technically it would not reinforce that claim but what possibility?
• He could be crazy
• He could be who he claimed to be
• He can't be demon-possessed because no one can convict him of any sin
• His power to do miracles must come from somewhere but he does not lie or sin. Yet he makes outrageous statements ("who do you think you are?")
• Lastly, Jesus references Abraham seeing his day, implied that Jesus knew Abraham. This is the strongest claim yet to divinity
• Notice what he did not say … "before Abraham was born, I was."
• John 10:30 (CJB) I and the Father are one.
• APPLICATION: Jesus' claims cannot be dismissed. He cannot be judged by human standards because you will miss the incredible power of a life lived for Jesus Christ