Four Responses to Jesus — John 3-7

0:00 Verse 30, and I'm gonna ask you to do something different than normal. Let's stand up as we read it. John chapter seven and verse 30, we're gonna read through 53. So let's look at the word of God. They were seeking therefore to seize him and no man laid hands on him because his hour had not yet come.

0:24 But many of the multitude believed in him and they were saying, when the Christ shall come, excuse me, he will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will he? The Pharisees heard the multitude muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize him. Jesus therefore said, for a little while longer, I am with you, then I go to him who sent me. You shall seek me, and you shall not find me, and where I am, you cannot come. The Jews therefore said to one another, where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him?

1:02 He is not intending to go to a dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he? What is the statement that he said? You will seek me and you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come. Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, if any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture says, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.

1:33 But this he spoke of the spirit whom those who believed in him were to receive. For the spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words were saying, certainly, this certainly is the prophet. Others were saying, this is the Christ. Still others were saying, surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is he?

2:02 Has not the scripture said that Christ comes from the offspring of David and from the... And from Bethlehem, the village where David was? So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. And some of them some of them wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, why did you not bring him?

2:28 The officer answered... Sorry, the officers answered, never did a man speak the way this man speaks. The Pharisees therefore answered them, have you not also... Have you also been laid astray? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in him, has he?

2:48 But the multitude which does not know the law is accursed. Nicodemus said to them, he who came to him before being one of them is what Nicodemus said, our law does not judge a man unless first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it? They answered and said to him, You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee. And everyone went to his home.

3:17 You may take a seat. I've never prided myself in being a good reader. As much as I practice, I can never really flow in my reading. I can talk my way out of jail, but I can't read very good. Praise praise god.

3:33 God's word is still blessed, isn't it? It's his holy inspired word which he had laid in our hands. Father, for the glory of Jesus, we pray that you bless his words in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

4:08 And suddenly, the the long waiting, the anticipating, the hoping that the Messiah will come, the time arrived and Jesus comes into the scene, and everybody's like, you're the Messiah? You're not what we pictured. They were expecting a Thor like figure, you know, that he shoots out of heaven, he's got that wild hair, a muscular build, and a giant hammer, and and have you all seen Thor? Maybe the younger generation has. The younger...

4:38 Yeah, the younger younger generation has. Right? Okay. And so he's got that giant hammer and he whacks it on the ground and fire comes from heaven and crushes the enemy, right? And there's Thor.

4:48 And so that's what they were expecting. That's what they were expecting. Someone like him that was just gonna come out of nowhere, out of heaven and and just come with his giant hammer and and wham, he's going to destroy the Romans. So so you you read in John seven twenty seven, we know where this man is from, but whenever their Christ may come, no one knows where he's from. And so that was the the the the the philosophy of the day but it was wrong.

5:15 You know, it's kind of like when when someone dies, you go to a funeral and everybody's like, he's in a better place now. Everybody says that. It's like, oh really? Is that the thing to say in a funeral? Is that true?

5:27 Do we say things that are not true just because it's a funeral? He was a good man, everybody hated his guts, right? I'm just joking, relax. So you know, we we have a lot of common sayings that we say. We say a lot of common sayings.

5:44 And so one of the common sayings is that when he comes, he's gonna be this mystery man coming out of nowhere, and, you know, just show up and wham, there he is. It was a total misconception. So when he does come into the scene and and he starts expressing himself and showing that he really is the Messiah, the the people were, like, really baffled, you know. Well, where's the white horse? Where's the, you know, you don't fit the image.

6:09 So, what do you believe about Jesus? Who is he? Who is he? Here's what men said about Jesus up to this point in the gospel of John so far. John starts at the gospel of of John by saying that god became a man and dwelt among us.

6:24 That was his testimony because John was with him throughout his throughout his three and a half years of ministry and he said, I can attest to you and I wrote in part by the holy spirit, excuse me, that Jesus was indeed god and he became a man. John the Baptist as as he testified about Jesus said, behold the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world and he also said in chapter three, he came from heaven and is above all. Andrew in chapter one said, he's the Messiah. Nathaniel, also in chapter one said this, you are the son of god, you are the king of Israel. Peter said, you are the Christ, the son of the living god.

7:14 Thomas said, my lord and my god. The Samaritans in chapter four said, this is indeed the Christ, the savior of the world And so John is building his case and he's building quite this case that different people confessed and said, he is the one. He is the Messiah. He he is the Christ. And what did Jesus say about himself?

7:40 In John four twenty six, he said, I who speak to you, am he, he was speaking to this woman who was in desperate need of help. She, her life was a disaster. She needed hope and Jesus comes and and offers her forgiveness and he's questioning, she's questioning him and saying, when the when when the when the Messiah comes, when the Christ comes, he's going to reveal all things to me and that's when Jesus said to her, I am the Messiah. She believed and she went and told all of the people in her village, in her town, I found the Messiah. In chapter six and verse 58, Jesus...

8:20 So not only Jesus claimed himself to be the Messiah and said, I'm the one in in in in John six fifty eight, Jesus said, this is the bread which came down out from heaven. He who eats this bread shall live forever. And so Jesus himself was saying, I I I came from heaven and he does this illustration. I'm like bread. When you eat bread, it gives you life.

8:44 If you take me in, you're going to have eternal life. You're going to live for all eternity. In in chapter five and verse 24, Jesus also said, truly truly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not commit to judgment, but has passed out of death into life. In Matthew, another of the gospel, Jesus made this offer. Matthew chapter 11 verse twenty eight and twenty nine.

9:19 Come to me all who are weary and and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. These are some tremendous statements on his behalf. Do you know anyone who has made such claims? To to to be able to just outright say, if you come to me and you believe in me, I'm going to give you rest.

9:54 If someone comes to me and tries to believe in me, I'm not going to give him any kind of rest at all. I'm going to give him work to do. Come in my yard and you'll be to be able to do some things for me but I can't give you rest. I can't offer those things. I I...

10:07 You're not gonna find rest in me. You're not gonna find an answer in me. I have nothing to offer you, but Jesus could actually stand up and say to the people, if you come to me, I'm going to make a difference in your life. You're not... You're going to find rest for your soul.

10:24 And John four ten, he says, I will give you living waters. In John four fourteen, he says, the water that I give shall become in him a fountain of living water springing up into eternal life. So so when you believe in the lord Jesus, he says, inside of you, in your heart, it's going to be like a bubbling water just springing up for life. So the Christian life is bubbly and joyful. It's not always the doldrums.

10:51 Right? Amen? Yes? It's exciting. You know that the the part of Mexico my parents are from is very hot.

10:58 It's not uncommon for it to be a 100, 105 degrees in the summer. And I I remember that they have no heat air condition by the way. And so you're there and you're like so hot and near there, there's a mountain and from the mountain there was a a spring where the water was born. It would come out and it would come out just cold, really cold. And as it came out, it would turn into...

11:21 Form into a river. So literally like a mile down from where it was born, it was already a river probably a 100 feet wide and about three feet deep. And right along the edges of it was these big trees and we would go there we would get into the water, and it was cold. And you would sit there in the shade of the tree and just relax. And it was so refreshing.

11:45 So this is what Jesus is saying, that when when I give you this living water, when I save you, it's it's it's it's refreshing. It's it's beautiful. It's a beautiful thing to know the lord. Right? But Jesus kept on saying more things really that are that are that are phenomenal.

12:33 We used to throw rocks in the rivers and play around. I remember you. How how can you say such a such a statement that that the... That I know God, he sent me? And so then you can see these these tremendous reactions that that come from these statements that Jesus were making.

12:55 Then notice what Jesus says in in verse 36, seven thirty six. What is the statement that he said? You will seek me and you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come. What do you mean by that? What do you mean by that?

13:11 That's what the people are saying. Why are you saying that? Here's what he was saying. For those of you who don't believe me, I'm gonna return to heaven. I'm going up and you're gonna be seeking me.

13:21 You're not going to find me and where I'm going, you can't come unless you know me in a personal way. That's what he was saying. Then he says, this other statement really that that's powerful in verse 37. Now in the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried. So you can just see there's a huge crowd of people, and he gets up kinda like when we went to Mexico.

13:47 Right? Which... How many of y'all went to Mexico with me? Raise your hand. Nothing...

13:51 Nobody's gonna hurt you? Alright. So remember when remember when we were there and we would scream out to the crowds? That we would gather crowds and we would be preaching the word out loud. That's what Jesus was doing.

14:03 He stood up and and he screamed down and this is what he said. If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Wow, that's an interesting statement. And and so, of course, the the the Samaritan woman understood that very statement as, oh, you're going bring me some water that's going to take away my thirst. But Jesus was speaking about your inside.

14:28 The the the thirst that we have inside. That that emptiness that each each of us have because we were born in the image of God, and so we naturally desire that relationship with our creator. So if you come to me, I'm gonna give you a drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture says, from his... In the scriptures, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.

14:54 Now now turn turn with me to to Isaiah chapter 55. Look how interesting, because I believe he's quoting from Isaiah 55. So turn there with me and notice how it says here, how interesting the invitation. Isaiah 55 and verse one. Everyone who thirst, come to the waters and you have no money, come and buy and eat.

15:26 Come and buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ears and come to me. Listen that you may live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you according to the faithful mercy shown to David.

15:51 So what's the invitation to come? Come to the waters. So this illustration Jesus used in Isaiah, he also uses here in John. Come, if any man is thirsty, come to me and let him drink and I'm going to give you life inside. Now, we need to take a little a little pause from that truth and apply this within the context.

16:39 In the Old Testament, the spirit of God was always active and always moving. And so you can see several statements throughout the Old Testament where it says the spirit of God fell upon them and they did great things. For example, Samson, you know, the the strong guy. There's a Philip... The spirit of the Lord fell upon him and all of sudden he was able to take on...

16:59 How many did he kill? In one shot? With the with the donkey sting? How many was it? Yeah, donkey's How many did he kill?

17:10 You remember? 200 or 300. It was a large number. Right? I mean, I can probably take one guy if he's smaller than me.

17:18 But he's got to... Know, he took on a bunch but it said the spirit got fell upon him and he did it but we also read in Psalm 51 and I think verse 11, David says this, do not take your spirit from me. Isn't that interesting? Because you know that he had sinned tremendously and he was confessing his sin and and and and the spirit of the lord for for that time while he was not confessing kind of like was pulled away. But in the New Testament, you never read that.

17:50 The New Testament is totally different. It says that when you become a believer, the spirit of god comes into your life and seals your life says, you belong to god. The spirit of god takes you and puts you into the body of of Christ that's called the spirit baptism, baptizing you into the body of Christ where he puts you in, you become a member of the body of Christ, spiritually speaking of course, right? Put you in. The spirit of god seals you, the spirit of god indwells you, you become the temple of the of god and suddenly, what a difference and so here's what he's saying.

18:23 Whoever believes in me is going to have the holy spirit living in him. Permanently, he's never going to leave when you get saved and even when you might be in disobedience and grieving god because you're you're you're purposely being disobedient and living in sin. Even at that time, the holy spirit is still there. But he's grieved, the Bible says. He's grieved and and and the Bible even says that you can actually quench the holy spirit.

18:51 Turn them off. Hey, look, leave me alone. I wanna do my own thing and a believer can't do that. But here's what it says though. When you believe in me, the spirit of god comes into your life and the spirit of god comes into your life permanently.

19:04 Why? To empower you, to give you victory in your Christian walk. So that you can be triumphant in your Christian walk. The lord always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus. Second Corinthians chapter one, right?

19:18 And and so, what a difference the New Testament from the Old Testament is that the the this is tremendous promise and now remember, it also says there that spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. I'm I'm sorry. Yes, because he hadn't been glorified. So, when was he glorified? Remember when he rose from the dead?

19:37 And then he ascended on high? And then he was given a name above all name? Glorified. And he's in in heaven right now on the right hand of the father in a place of honor, glorified. And so when he went up to heaven, he says to the disciples, you're going to read, we're going to read it later on.

19:57 It's convenient for you that I leave, that I go to heaven because then when I do that, the father's going to send you the holy spirit. The holy spirit. That's right. And and when you get the holy spirit, he's going to be working in your heart. He's going to convict you of sin and you need for a savior.

20:13 Then, he's going to he's going to illuminate you. He's going to help you understand about me, who I am, and you're going to glorify me because the holy spirit is going to lead you to love me. And he's going to give you insight and he's going to guide you and then the Bible goes on to say, walk in the holy spirit and you won't do the the the desires of the flesh. You have the holy spirit empowering you. Walk in and be guided by the holy spirit.

20:36 Don't be ignorant but be full of the holy spirit. Right? And so, what what a promise from Jesus that whoever is saved, whoever believes in him, the holy spirit is going to come into his life and it's a bubbly, exciting life, right? Come on. That's enough of that.

20:52 I'm a Christian. No, I'm a Christian. I got the holy spirit in my life and it's bubbling. It's what the Bible says. It's going be like a spring refreshing where the holy spirit empowers a believer and gives them life.

21:08 What what a what a promise. What a statement, Wow. So the holy spirit then now guides and fills and powers, illuminates the believer. Right? So, follow me.

21:32 He can quench your thirst, and he can give you the holy spirit. Listen, he's either a lunatic or he's true. To make these claims, you have to be out of your mind, totally deranged, or you have to be true. He's either a liar or or he's worthy to be trusted and to be believed and to be followed. Listen to some quotes from some from some men of God.

21:59 Jesus Christ, the meeting place of eternity and time, the blending of deity and humanity, the junction of heaven and earth. He stands absolutely alone in history, in teaching and example, in character and exception, a marvel. And he is himself the evidence of Christianity. Martin Luther put it this way, no other god have I but thee, born in a manger, died on a tree. So there's there's basically four responses that come out of Jesus claims at this point and I want you to see them.

22:34 Everyone of you fall into one of the four. So try to find yourself in this. Which are you? Four responses. And and I had to give credit to John MacArthur.

22:45 He gave me this this four four outline. Like, oh, I like that. I'm going to build on that. Alright. Now, number one, you're you're there.

22:54 Well, let me give you all four then we're gonna explain them. You have the convinced, the contrary, the confused, and the con... Contemplative contemplating person. Alright? Number one is the convinced.

23:10 Seven thirty one. But many of the multitude believed in him and they were saying, look at the, look what they were saying, don't miss it. When the Christ shall come, he will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will he? What's the answer? Of course not.

23:31 Of course not. They they they were they were convinced. They were convinced. Look at forty and forty one. Some of the multitude therefore when they heard these words were saying, this certainly is the prophet.

23:46 Others were saying, this is the Christ and then we'll just stop there. These are still part of the the convinced. Alright? So what were they saying? The evidence is overwhelming.

23:59 The the evidence is overwhelming. We we can no longer deny his claims. We can no longer deny who he said he is. He he is obviously the Messiah. Look at his signs.

24:10 Look at his power. Look look look at his words. Look at his life. He has to be the one and they were convinced. So, are you there?

24:18 Are you convinced in who Jesus is? I've been coming to church all my life. It doesn't matter. Are you convinced without a doubt? And so, the the convinced group made their statement.

24:35 This is certainly the Christ. The evidence proves it. His signs show that he's true. He's gotta be the one. Then we have the contrary, seven and thirty two, seven and thirty two.

24:44 The Pharisees heard the multitude muttering these things. What things? That the convinced people are saying, this is the Messiah. It's obvious. The Pharisees were hearing this, Motu muttering these things about him, and the chief priest and the Pharisees sent officers to seize him.

25:02 Oh, man. The contrary, the Pharisees, they they they wanted to seize him because they they they couldn't take him. See, they they were so hardened in their heart that no amount of evidence was going to convince him and and and they were going to do whatever it takes to get get him out of the way. And so they hear these words, they they see the signs, they see what he says, what he's doing, and they're like, you know what? We're going to seize this guy and get him out of the way.

25:31 Notice notice seven forty seven, the Pharisees therefore answered them, you have not also been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or the Pharisees has believed in him, has he? And so they they come to the people like, come on, you're not being fooled by this dude, are you? I I I... Do do you really think he's the Messiah?

25:55 Any of us? Have have we believed in him? And so so then they get desperate because the the people were being convinced. They were being drawn to to to Jesus. They couldn't deny the evidence.

26:11 And so look what they say. Look at this in verse 49. But this multitude which does not know the law is accursed. The the multitude is ignorant and they're accursed and they despise the common people because they were not impressed with the Pharisees. Or their teaching.

26:31 And so they couldn't get him to come and so their their natural defense was you're just ignorant and stupid. Come on, you're not going to follow that Jesus guy, are you? You don't even know the law, you're cursed. And so you can see how they're getting desperate, and they're they're going to the the insulting tactics, the belittling tactics. And so not only that, but notice that they also attacked Nicodemus.

26:56 Nicodemus said to them, verse 50, he who came to him before being one of them in chapter three, you remember? He came to him and Jesus said to Nicodemus, you you must be born again? And this is what he questioned the other Pharisees, the other men in leadership with him. Our law does not judge a man, 51, unless he first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it? And how did they answer him?

27:22 They answered and said to him, you're not also from Galilee, are you? Search and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee. In other words, they slammed him. Are you stupid? That's what they're saying.

27:33 You're not from Galilee, are you? You're not from the hood, are you? Where you come from, man? You come from the from the backyard or something? And so they attacked him, and notice what they said.

27:47 Nicodemus says, look, we need to be willing to listen to the claims of Jesus and investigate and see if they're true and then and here's how they answer that. See and search that no prophet arise out of Galilee. You know what? They're they weren't going to listen to Jesus regardless and they didn't do their investigation because if they would have investigated and truly see to to see if he's really true or not, they would have found out that Jonah, the prophet, was from hang on, let me put my glasses on so I can see. He was from Geth Heifer near Nazareth.

28:22 So the Pharisees didn't do their homework, did they? You know why? Because they didn't care. Jesus and the Bible, you can't trust the Bible. Have read it?

28:32 No, but you can't trust it. Have you read it? No, but you can't trust. Have you read it? Have you heard the claims of Jesus, have you investigated to see if it's true?

28:43 And they insult Nicodemus, come on man, what comes out of Galilee? What Jonah did, he was a prophet. So, they were so hard hearted that no evidence was going to convince them. Then, we have the confused, the confused. Verse 41, others were saying, this is the Christ.

29:03 The others were saying, surely, the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is he? Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was? So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. Alright? And so what were they saying?

29:21 They were a little confused and even the soldiers. We're supposed to seize him, but this guy is speaking such wise words and he's so... It seems like he's from God. Listen to his words. And so again, the Pharisees attacking them.

29:34 Why didn't you seize him? You're not following for him, are you? And then the other group were like, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Isn't he supposed to come from Bethlehem?

29:42 But he's from Galilee. Again, if they would have done their investigation, they would have realized that Jesus was born where? Bethlehem. In Bethlehem. Thank you.

29:49 Right? He was born in Bethlehem. And then he went to Egypt because they were trying to kill him. Then he went back to Nazareth and that's where he was raised. Right?

30:01 So... But he was born in Bethlehem. And so again, they were confused. And if you're confused, that's okay. Do your investigation.

30:08 You're gonna find that you cannot deny the claims of Jesus. But they could be sustained and proven. Alright. So then let's go to the the final person, the guy who contemplates. This is Nicodemus.

30:30 Now Nicodemus heard the words of Jesus, and he was thinking about him. He wasn't saved yet, but he's listening to him, and that's why he says in in verse 50, Nicodemus said to them who came to him before being one of them, he was part of the the leadership Sanhedrin, and he was with the Pharisees and and the other guys. Our law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it? So in other words, here's what he's saying. I wanna hear more about him.

31:08 We should hear him out. We should really search and see what he's saying and maybe he's right. Maybe he is the one. His peers were insulting him and they were being sarcastic with him. However, his desire to know the truth could not be quenched.

31:23 And he kept searching. So in conclusion, you are one of the four. Which are you? Are you convinced? Therefore, have repented?

31:41 You have taken Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. You're following him fully. You've taken up your cross. You're serving him. You're totally committed to him and you're sold out to Jesus.

31:56 That's the convinced. Or are you the confused? You're still not sure if he if he is who he claimed to be? You're not sure if you can trust the Bible as a final authority as to what happened to you when you die? You still don't know if you can trust the word of god and Jesus.

32:14 And so you're a little confused still. That could be you. You could be the person that's still contemplating. You're honestly investigating the claims of Jesus and I hope that if you're not saved that you are honestly open to listening to what Jesus claimed. Hopefully, you're open minded and you're listening.

32:35 Oh, by the way, Nicodemus was saved shortly after this. A little bit down the line, you're going see that he became a disciple of Jesus. He was convinced after he kept listening and investigating. Or are you contrary? You've seen the undeniable evidence, the claims that can be proven trusted and they're true.

32:59 Yet you harden your heart. And even if you were to see them right now, you would still turn them away. Have you done the research? Because ultimately, in spite of all the research you do, you have to believe by faith. I'm gonna quote to you from a famous guy.

33:46 He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he's a poached egg or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either he... Either this was and is the son of God or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.

34:16 But don't come up with any patronizing nonsense about him being a great moral teacher. He hasn't left that alternative open to us, and he never intended to. And so who is Jesus to you? The the New Testament church has become so complacent sometimes. You wonder how many people really know him.

34:43 Sometimes the worship is so lacking vibrancy. You wonder how many people really have come to know Christ in a personal way and are committed to him. So where are you? Are you convinced? If so, then give them your all.

35:04 Father, thank you for your word. And I pray that if someone here has yet to come to Christ, that they would trust him today. And those of us who are of Jesus, that we would serve him fully and be totally committed and valiantly proclaim the claims of Christ. Once again, we're gonna thank you for all the mothers here and pray that you would bless them and give them a special measure of grace. Be with us as we go home.

35:33 And again, bless your word to our hearts. In Jesus name, amen. Of Jesus that we would serve him fully and be totally committed and valiantly proclaim the claims of Christ. Once again, we're gonna thank you for all the mothers here and pray that you would bless them and give them a special measure of grace. Be with us as we go home.

36:08 And again, bless your word to our hearts. In Jesus name, amen.