Madman or Messiah?

Cleaning up the town – 2008 Source: New York Times 7/1/2008

John 6-21 Jesus’ Last Year

Spring - 9 months earlier John 6:4 NIV The Jewish Passover Feast was near. Fed 5,000 & “I am the Bread of Life” In Galilee, disciples abandoned him

John 6:4 NIV The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

Fed 5,000 & “I am the Bread of Life”

In Galilee, disciples abandoned him

October - 2 months earlier John 7:2-3 NIV But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, (3) Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. John 7 through John 10:21 In Jerusalem; Jews divided over him

John 7:2-3 NIV But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, (3) Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.

John 7 through John 10:21

In Jerusalem; Jews divided over him

John 10:22 NIV Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, (23) and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. Now, it is December

Solomon’s Colonnade Roofed enclosure supported by columns along one side of the temple Shelter from the winter rain

Roofed enclosure supported by columns along one side of the temple

Shelter from the winter rain

The Feast of Dedication Hanukkah Feast of Lights Eight-day feast Commemorated the Jews’ last deliverance from their enemies

Hanukkah

Feast of Lights

Eight-day feast

Commemorated the Jews’ last deliverance from their enemies

Began nearly 200 years earlier Antiochus IV Statue of Zeus in the temple Sacrificed a pig on the altar Judas Maccabeus Re-dedicated the temple

Antiochus IV

Statue of Zeus in the temple

Sacrificed a pig on the altar

Judas Maccabeus

Re-dedicated the temple

John 10:24 NIV The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Greek text indicates that the Jews: Encircled Jesus so he could not get away Forced him to face their question: “Are you the Messiah, or aren't you?”

The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

Greek text indicates that the Jews:

Encircled Jesus so he could not get away

Forced him to face their question: “Are you the Messiah, or aren't you?”

“ We don’t want to hear …”

“ We want to know …” Are you & your boys going to run the Romans out? Are you Wyatt Earp?

John 10:25-26 NIV 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.

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.

Their idea – not what Jesus meant Their idea: Hero like Judas Maccabeus Someone who would drive out the Romans Give Jews control of the land Jesus claim: Never planned to be a military hero Saying “I’m the Messiah” would raise false hopes He did show them in what he did

Their idea:

Hero like Judas Maccabeus

Someone who would drive out the Romans

Give Jews control of the land

Jesus claim:

Never planned to be a military hero

Saying “I’m the Messiah” would raise false hopes

He did show them in what he did

Why didn't the Jews believe in him? Why don't folks today believe in Jesus? Jesus gives three reasons:

Why didn't the Jews believe in him?

Why don't folks today believe in Jesus?

Jesus gives three reasons:

First: Not because of lack of information Isaiah 35 said when the Messiah came: The ears of the deaf would be unstopped The eyes of the blind would be opened The lame would leap as the hart The tongue of the dumb would sing Jesus’ claim came in deeds, not words

Not because of lack of information

Isaiah 35 said when the Messiah came:

The ears of the deaf would be unstopped

The eyes of the blind would be opened

The lame would leap as the hart

The tongue of the dumb would sing

Jesus’ claim came in deeds, not words

Misconceptions lead to misunderstandings

It’s hard to convince people when you don’t look right Jews expected deliverance from Rome Jesus came to deliver men from sin

Jews expected deliverance from Rome

Jesus came to deliver men from sin

Second: Some people reject the evidence “ The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe.” His miracles fulfilled the prophecy Why did they not believe him? Cafeteria-style Bible study – selected what they liked & ignored the rest

Some people reject the evidence

“ The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe.”

His miracles fulfilled the prophecy

Why did they not believe him?

Cafeteria-style Bible study – selected what they liked & ignored the rest

We see this in an election year Democrats blame Republican President Republicans blame Democratic Congress Each quotes statistics, polls, figures, etc. until they look believable They selectively pick through the evidence they want and ignore the rest

Democrats blame Republican President

Republicans blame Democratic Congress

Each quotes statistics, polls, figures, etc. until they look believable

They selectively pick through the evidence they want and ignore the rest

Third: Some refuse to commit “ You do not believe because you are not my sheep” They never committed to Jesus The reason many never find God today Jesus responds with a favorite text

Some refuse to commit

“ You do not believe because you are not my sheep”

They never committed to Jesus

The reason many never find God today

Jesus responds with a favorite text

John 10:27 NIV My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Believers vs. pretenders Believers are attentive to Jesus’ teaching Believers commit to relationship with him Believers obey – they do what Jesus says Obedience is not optional for the believer

John 10:27 NIV My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Believers vs. pretenders

Believers are attentive to Jesus’ teaching

Believers commit to relationship with him

Believers obey – they do what Jesus says

Obedience is not optional for the believer

John 10:28-29 NIV 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. Three things he has done for his sheep

John 10:28-29 NIV 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.

Three things he has done for his sheep

“ I give them eternal life” (pres. act. ind.) Present possession continually renewed Life that will never end Survives death & eliminates insecurity Guarded by Jesus & the Father No one can steal us from the Father Not unconditional – we can walk away

“ I give them eternal life” (pres. act. ind.)

Present possession continually renewed

Life that will never end

Survives death & eliminates insecurity

Guarded by Jesus & the Father

No one can steal us from the Father

Not unconditional – we can walk away

Luke 22:31-32 NIV "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. (32) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Luke 22:31-32 NIV "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. (32) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Acts 8:9-24 NIV (22) Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. (23) For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." (24) Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

Acts 8:9-24 NIV (22) Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. (23) For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." (24) Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

Jesus’ staggering claim John 10:30 I and the Father are one." Many say Jesus never claimed deity The Jews understood this as a claim John 10:31-32 NIV 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?“

John 10:30 I and the Father are one."

Many say Jesus never claimed deity

The Jews understood this as a claim

John 10:31-32 NIV 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?“

Jesus forces them to justify their accusation John 10:33 NIV "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." They do not deny his good works They condemn him for blasphemy

John 10:33 NIV "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

They do not deny his good works

They condemn him for blasphemy

John 10:34-36 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'?

John 10:34-36 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'?

He focuses on a text they ignored Psalms 82:1 NIV God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods": Addresses Israel’s human judges Judges were God’s agents; their judgment was God’s judgment In that context, the psalm calls them gods Psalms 82:6 NIV "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.' "

Psalms 82:1 NIV God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods":

Addresses Israel’s human judges

Judges were God’s agents; their judgment was God’s judgment

In that context, the psalm calls them gods

Psalms 82:6 NIV "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.' "

Two levels of argument: Surface level: Scripture calls men doing God’s work “sons of the Most High” How can you accuse me of blasphemy when I am doing God’s work? Deeper level: I came from, was sent by, and am one with God If men who do God's work can be called ‘gods’ without blasphemy, how can you charge me as a blasphemer?

Surface level:

Scripture calls men doing God’s work “sons of the Most High”

How can you accuse me of blasphemy when I am doing God’s work?

Deeper level:

I came from, was sent by, and am one with God

If men who do God's work can be called ‘gods’ without blasphemy, how can you charge me as a blasphemer?

Argument rests on evidence John 10:37 NIV Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. If God doesn’t back me, then don’t believe me John 10:38 NIV 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." If God backs me, then you ought to believe me

John 10:37 NIV Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.

If God doesn’t back me, then don’t believe me

John 10:38 NIV 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."

If God backs me, then you ought to believe me

C.S. Lewis comments on Jesus’ claim "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

C.S. Lewis comments on Jesus’ claim You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity , The MacMillan Company, 1960, pp. 40-41.)

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity , The MacMillan Company, 1960, pp. 40-41.)

Where these rejected, others believed John 10:39-42 NIV Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. (40)Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed (41) and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." (42) And in that place many believed in Jesus.

John 10:39-42 NIV Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. (40)Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed (41) and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." (42) And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Madman or Messiah? What do you say?