Sermon nuggets, Weds May 7, 2008
Theme – Conflict
Verses -John 7:14-24 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"
16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.
17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?"
20 "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?"
21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." (NIV)
Teaching Truth
It was interesting after Jesus left Galilee he came in secretly and showed himself publicly at the temple. The temple is the physical dwelling place of God to the Jewish people. There God was revealed also in the flesh, though they did not know it at the time.
As He taught they questioned where he got his teaching. The world has a different viewpoint of authoritative teaching. They wanted to know his credentials. Truth is truth regardless of how many degrees someone has. With the recent movie, Expelled, we see how the traditions of man in Darwinism refuses to look at the evidence for Intelligent Design. The political and academic culture wants to supress the truth of God for man centered worldviews. This is evidenced increasingly in the traditions of church teachings as well. All truth is never anything to be feared, although it can increase conflict when the opinions of man differs from the truth of God.
There was still hostility concerning the fact that He healed a man on the Sabbath. According to the teachings of religious law Jesus had violated the Jews understanding of the Sabbath by healing a paralyzed man. If Jesus could do such a thing on the Sabbath day then He was obviously dangerous.
The point Jesus makes is that just as the rite of circumcision was done in order not to violate the law of Moses, so also His act of grace was done in order not to violate the law of God. He has fulfilled the kindly intent and purpose of God on that Sabbath.
The world is also concerned also about appearances. Jesus is concerned about reality. He is not concerned with how well he comes across to mere men, or how well He will be liked. He wants them to honor God with all their hearts. He wants that of you and me. He calls us to be His witnesses.
Friends, there comes a time when we must no longer keep silent. We must tell and teach the truths of Jesus and His word, regardless how it is to be received. The idea that," I don't speak up to tell others about my faith I just let my life do the talking," forces us to ask, "Whose life is good enough for such an assignment?"
Samuel Shoemaker once said, "I cannot by being good, tell men of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection, nor of my faith in His divinity. The emphasis is too much on me, and too little on Him. Our lives must be made as consistent as we can make them with our faith; but our faith, if we are Christians, is vastly greater than our lives. That is why the word of witness is so important."
When we confront a hostile world we must consider the matter of teaching truth. Traditions of man will often be in conflict with the truth of God.
Are there traditions that seem in conflict with what the Spirit an Word of truth is presenting to you these days?
Pastor Dale
