Pastor Guy's Blog

Testimony of the Father
Life & Light Community Church
Message from 3/11/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So, the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
John 8:12–20 (NASB95)

For us to fully understand what is happening in today’s passage, we need to understand that the statements of Yeshua likely reflect Daniel 7:9-14.

“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. “A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.

As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:9–14 (NASB95)

This passage speaks of thrones, in the plural, being set up – one for the Ancient of Days, and one for the Son of Man. This idea of co-sitting in heaven, in the position of power, is an important idea in the process of development that reaches its high point in the New Testament. This is a picture of Yeshua, the Son, seated next to the Father, the Ancient of Days.

The Judean Jews claimed to be experts in Torah knowledge and interpretation. Let’s not forget, these Pharisees have already called the crowds who follow Christ ignorant of the Law, the is, lacking knowledge. But Yeshua tells them because they denied the valid testimony of witnesses, they are disqualified from having any opinion about Him. They have missed the fact that He comes from and has been sent by the Father. It is His Father who gives the confirming witness about Yeshua and the Testimony of the Father is true.

When Jesus proclaims, “I am the Light of the world,” the Pharisees accuse Him of testifying about Himself. Because they judge according to the flesh, they do not know that the Father has sent Him. Because the Pharisees do not know His Father, they do not understand that the Testimony of the Father is true, thus, Jesus can judge, and His judgment is true.

Yeshua testifies of Himself when He says, “I am the Light of the world.” Because the Pharisees continue to judge according to the flesh, they cannot understand that the Father who sent Him, also testifies about Him. Thus, Yeshua is not alone, and the Testimony of the Father is true, meaning Yeshua is the One whose judgment is true.

In this message, we seek to answer the question, “What are the implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, for the Christ follower?”

The implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to understand that when Yeshua says, “I am the Light of the world,” means to know Yeshua is to know the Father – “the Great I Am.”

1). The first implication of knowing that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to know that Yeshua is not alone – the Father is with Him.
Yeshua, and the Father who sent Him, both testify about Yeshua.

When Yeshua declared, “I am the Light of the world,” He was applying the high calling of Israel to be the light of the world to Himself. In essence, Yeshua was claiming divinity – He was claiming to be God. In the Bible, “light” is a symbol of the holiness of God. Yeshua is not merely a light, or another light, He is the One true light – He illuminates the truth, gives people spiritual understanding, and reveals God to all people and what God has does for us. This also defines the unique position of Yeshua as the true light for all people, not just for the Jews.

In staking His claim as the Light of the world, Yeshua makes two great promises to His followers – first, those who follow Him will never walk in the darkness, and second, they will have the light of life. When a person comes to Yeshua in faith, they are walking in His light. We no longer walk in the darkness, that is, we no longer walk blindly in our sin and need for forgiveness, instead, Yeshua guides us in life’s path and into eternal life. “Follows” in the Greek languages is a continuous action – we must “keep on following” Yeshua to have the light of life. The meaning, purpose, and significance of life cannot be seen or known apart from Christ.

The Pharisees level the false charge that Yeshua has no witnesses. Yeshua knows the Law requires two witnesses to be a valid testimony. Yeshua is the first witness, and His witness is true. Everything He has said and done is meant to bring glory to God and lead people to worship, honor, and serve the Father. His actions bear witness that His claims – that He was sent OF and FROM God – are true.

The second witness is the Father who sent Him and God’s witness is true. God has clearly acted in and through Yeshua – His life, words, and work demonstrate the presence and power of God. The confirming witness for Yeshua is God Himself – the Father and the Son make two witnesses, the number required by the Law. Once again Yeshua meets the requirements for the Law. Yeshua does not disagree with the law that says two witnesses are needed for a valid testimony. Instead, He simply claims His testimony is true because He knows where He came from, and He knows where He is going. Yeshua comes from the Father and only speaks the words that come from the Father. When Yeshua spoke, He testified for Himself and because He spoke the words of the Father, He testified for the Father as well.

The religious leaders do not understand that the Father and the Son are together – they lived in each other and were with each other. Even though the Son came from the Father and was sent by the Father, the Father who sent the Son came with Him and provided testimony for Him. Yeshua came down out of heaven, sent from and by the Father. Human eyes cannot penetrate or see the spiritual world – the spiritual dimension must come into the physical dimension and that is exactly what Yeshua has done. As often happens, when a witness is presented, the opposite side seeks to discredit the witness by attacking their person, thus breaking the power of the witness. “Where is Your Father,” is most likely referring to the accusation of the illegitimate birth of Yeshua. Yes, it is possible they were simply asking why Joseph is not making an appearance to give his testimony, but that is highly unlikely. What is more probable is that the Pharisees are, once again, judging according to the flesh – by appearances – in other words, they want physical proof!

As Christ followers who have placed their faith and trust in Yeshua, we do have a few advantages in our favor. We have the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, which record the actions of God in human history – including the physical birth of His Son in the physical realm. We also have other witnesses – family members, church members, friends, and even our own experiences – which make our faith very personal. Just the same, we need to guard our hearts that they do not become hardened to the evidence that continues to mount as a witness to the Father-Son dynamic of God and Yeshua.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

What evidence do you have that you continue to walk in the Light of Yeshua? If none, what must you do to change this?

What evidence do you see, in the world or in others, that the Father and Son are indeed together? If you see none, why do you think this might be?

When was the last time you caught yourself asking the Lord for physical evidence? You know, “Come on, Lord! Just give me a sign!”

The implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to understand that when Yeshua says, “I am the Light of the world,” means to know Yeshua is to know the Father – “the Great I Am.”

2). The second implication of knowing that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to know that Yeshua is the only One who has judgment that is true.
Yeshua is the only One who does not judge according to the flesh!

The Jewish religious leaders are, once again, judging by human standards – they are judging by the flesh – because they do not know of the divine origins of Yeshua. People tend to judge according to the flesh – by what they see – because they seek physical evidence, however, Yeshua cannot be judged simply by the flesh – by physical appearance. These Pharisees are no different, they too seek physical evidence – because they are judging by appearance – they seek to see Yeshua’s Father.

The tragic fact is, they do not know Yeshua or His Father – those who do not believe do not know Yeshua. They can see Yeshua standing before them as a man, but they can only know Him by what they see – as a man. “Where is Your Father,” is like saying, “Bring on this other witness. We would very much like to speak with him!” Yeshua affirms that they neither know Him or His Father – their unwillingness to “know” Yeshua while He is among them, prevents them from knowing the Father, who was just as truly among them.

Yeshua has a Father-Son relationship with God – He knows God in a very intimate and personal way as His Father. He has come from the presence and “household” of His Father. Yeshua has, in fact, come down from the spiritual dimension – He alone knows the facts of the spiritual world. The authority that Yeshua has comes from the Father – by implication the Judean Jews have no authority, therefore, they are rendered powerless to judge.

The Pharisees rejected His claim and refuse to accept Yeshua as Messiah, as Lord, so naturally, they do not know Him, for the only way to truly know Yeshua is to follow Him as Messiah, as Lord. The Pharisees miss the fact that Yeshua has been sent OF and FROM God. This means Yeshua has come from the spiritual dimension into the physical dimension making Him the only One who truly knows both dimension. Yeshua is truly the only One who can judge impartially – not by appearances or according to the flesh, by the will of the Father.

The Pharisees will not see the Father as they have demanded because the Father is in Yeshua – those who do not believe do not know God. No one has ever seen God – at any time – the only way to know God is for God to reveal Himself. God must come from the spiritual dimension into the physical dimension. This is exactly what Yeshua has done – He has come to reveal God the Father to all people! Yeshua did not come to judge but to save, so Yeshua reserves the right for Himself to judge. The Son of Man has been given authority to judge, and when that future day of judgment comes, Yeshua will judge according to the Fathers will. So, we could say that while Yeshua did not come to judge, His coming forced a decision – and a rejection of Yeshua led to judgment.

Far too many Christ followers believe the lie we are not to judge others. The fact is, we are to judge others, but we are to do so without hypocrisy. In other words, if you call someone out for lying, you had better not be lying yourself. If you call someone out for stealing, you had better not be a thief! We are especially to judge the actions of those in the church – again, without hypocrisy. We can NEVER judge someone heart, but we know right from wrong, and we are to call out wrong actions – in other words we are to call out sin. But this is to be done in love and with gentleness, never with the intent of causing harm or hurt. A gentle correction will help the brother or sister in Christ return to the Lord and their former calling. This is the lesson we learned last week, never call out sin in hypocrisy!

Questions for discussion/reflection:

When was the last time you caught yourself judging someone or something simply by human standards, according to the flesh? If you have not, what steps do you take to prevent this?

Is there some part of your life you are rejecting Yeshua as Messiah? If so, what steps do you need to take to change this? If not, what steps have you taken to prevent this?

What steps are you taking to continue to grow in the knowledge of both the Father and the Son? If you are not, why?
The implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to understand that when Yeshua says, “I am the Light of the world,” means to know Yeshua is to know the Father – “the Great I Am.”

People today are very willing to acknowledge the greatness of Yeshua as a man – but not to acknowledge Him as God. By human standards, Yeshua was the greatest man who ever lived. But human standards are not enough to explain and help us understand the true identity of Yeshua. Calling Yeshua “great” is faint praise, at best, in the light of His identity as God. Simply admiring Yeshua as a great leader or teacher falls short, as well. Our response should be to adore Yeshua as Lord and Savior.

This is one of the reasons John mentions the treasury – it is in close proximity to ALL the Temple officials and guards. Remember, last week I mentioned the challenge pit before the Pharisees and scribes was like that of drawing a line in the sand and daring them to cross that line. Well, Yeshua has crossed that line! Notice the progression of this conversation – it began in Galilee and moved to Judea; from Judea it came to Jerusalem; it then moved from the streets of Jerusalem to the Jerusalem Temple, finally it has moved from the grounds of the Jerusalem Temple into the very heart – the seat and symbol – of the Temple authority – the treasury unit.

This is a direct challenge to those who consider themselves experts in Torah knowledge and interpretation – you need to know Me before you reject Me. In our day, this is a direct challenge to those who see Yeshua simply as a great man – you need to know Me before you reject Me. For people to truly know God, He must reveal Himself in the physical dimension. This is what Yeshua has done – He is the revelation of God to humanity. He has come in the flesh as the “visible image of the invisible God,” thus, the only way to truly know God is to know Christ.

The task now falls to us – we must be the visible image of the invisible Christ. We must live our lives – in thought, in actions, in words – in such a way, that people “see” Christ in us. We bring peace where there is chaos; we offer forgiveness where there is no forgiving; we bring hope to the hopeless; we bring purpose to those wandering aimlessly; we bring value to those thought to be worthless; we show people the significance of life when life doesn’t seem worth living. But, perhaps our most important task is to love those deemed unlovable and to love them like the end is near. We must make Christ known!

Ours is a difficult task, for when God does come and a person does not accept and believe in Him, that person will never get to know God. We must be diligent in doing our part to make Christ, and our Great God, known to all those we meet.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,
Amen and amen.
Next Week: John 8:21-30

Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 2/25/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

Everyone went to his home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him.

But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

                                                                                  John 8:1–8:11 (NASB95)

Before we begin I’d like to make one comment about this passage. Most all Bible translations note that John 7:53-8:11 is not found in the best manuscripts of John’s gospel account. There are many reasons to believe this story was added to this account late but most biblical scholars agree this is an authentic story, even though it was not recorded in the original Gospels. That being said, this is a passage of contrasting lives – we see the quiet worshipful life of Jesus, the turbulent and judgmental life of the religious leaders, and we see the dark guilt and nature of all humanity.

The secret to the calm and peace in the life of Yeshua is because He manages to get alone with God the Father. The Mount of Olives is a favorite place to escape the crowds and draw close to the Father. Here He is able to meet face-to-face with the Father for strength and encouragement and to be alone with His disciples.

It is early morning when Jesus begins teaching at the Temple. John says the people were coming to Him and He began to teach them. In the Greek translation, “coming” and “teach” indicate this is a continuous action. The people “kept coming” and Jesus “kept teaching.” In our passage today, the teaching will be, ultimately, on forgiveness and freedom from sin. In this teaching, the woman caught in adultery is a picture of all humanity; likewise, when forgiven and set free, she is, once again, a picture of all humanity, for we too have been Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua.

Having been caught in adultery, a woman is brought before Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees say she must be stoned, according to the Law of Moses. In an unexpected twist, Jesus says those who are without sin are to cast the first stones against her. Slowly, those who condemn her, turn to leave. She was Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua and commanded to sin no more.

The woman caught in adultery pictures the sin of all humanity. Only those who are without sin can bring condemnation against another. There is only One who can condemn us, but we must remember, we were Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua, guilty, but now forgiven and set free, commanded to sin no more.

In this message we seek to understand the implications of being Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua in the life of the Christ follower.

The Christ follower must beware of condemning another in hypocrisy.

1). When the Christ follower has been Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua, we were once guilty but must now guard against vindictiveness and seeking revenge.

We must be careful that our self-righteousness and criticism is not coming from a lack of love.

The guilt of every person is portrayed in this passage. It is easy for us to focus on the sin of others, while completely overlooking our own sinfulness. The religious leaders bring a woman caught in the act of adultery, a very serious sin under Jewish law. Now, we all know it takes two people to commit this particular sin, but it is only the woman who is brought forth. We are not told, and we have no idea, what has happened to the man. However, it is NOT the woman we need to focus on but the SIN.

The sin pictured here represents the sin of every person – all people of all time. All sin is a work of darkness. All sin is dark, and most sin is done under the cover of darkness or shrouded in secrecy. In most cases, people think their sin will not be discovered – that no one will ever know. However, in the vast majority of cases, sin has been or will be discovered – as careful as a person might be, they still slip up or make a mistake, not to mention all sin is seen by God. Also, notice WHEN this sin took place. It occurs during a Feast, in a party like atmosphere where men and women are brought together by drinking and dancing. Such an atmosphere can lead even those with the best of moral intentions to corruption.

Some of the witnesses are guilty of a different sin – vindictiveness and revenge. Vindictiveness is the intent to cause anguish or hurt. It is a strong desire to “get back at” someone. Revenge moves from intent to action. This is the act of inflicting hurt or harm on someone; we retaliate for an injury or wrong from that person. It is unlikely this woman and her male counterpart were seen by the scribes and Pharisees – they are much too strict in their rules and regulations. Whomever these witnesses were, they wanted to strike back at this woman.

The point is this – the witnesses against this woman were sinners as well. They were vindictive and revengeful, seeking to have her exposed in a public fashion. Under Jewish law, what should have happened, the woman should have been kept in private, held in custody, until judgment was passed. Instead, she is dragged before the public to expose her sin, shame her, and then punish her. As the woman is dragged to the authorities, people would naturally become curious and follow along. The Jewish religious leaders saw an opportunity to test Yeshua. So, they drag the woman before Yeshua hoping to discredit Him.

If Yeshua did not find her guilty, He would be too soft on sin. If He found her guilty and should be stoned, He would be breaking Roman law which did not find adultery a sin worthy of death. The Jewish leaders would criticize Him for lack of mercy and love, compassion, and forgiveness. No matter what Yeshua would say, the Jewish religious leaders would use this to discredit Him.

The dark nature of all humanity is seen in the sin of these leaders and the crowd seeking to join in the public exposure of this woman. They had a hard, self-righteousness and condemning spirit. A spirit of self-righteousness that lacked forgiveness; criticism that lacked love; judgment that lacked compassion. They had a spirit of censoring that lacked understanding; condemning that lacked restoration. They had a spirit of savagery that lacked caring; destroying that lacked a second chance, and they had a spirit that had a deceptive purpose – they sought something to trap Yeshua into saying something they could use to discredit Him. On top of all of this, they are hypocrites! They felt they were better than this woman – free from any sin serious enough to be exposed in public. They even went so far as to use Scripture to support their right to condemn her.

These religious leaders have failed this woman. They have failed to give her what each and every one of us has needed at some point in time – to be embraced and pulled OUT OF THE SIN AND HURT griping us. They completely failed to keep this sin quiet – to keep it out of the public eye and say nothing to anyone except the one caught in sin; and they failed to begin the ministry of restoration and reconciliation to God and those hurt by the sin. Yeshua, however, refused to give in to the people – the religious leaders, the witnesses, and the public – He refused to give them what they wanted.

Instead, Yeshua bends down and silently writes in the dirt. We are not told what He writes, so there is no sense in speculation, but this does give Yeshua opportunity to take a breath, to think through the situation. It also forces the accusers to repeat the charge. Perhaps this would help them see their lack of compassion. Whatever the case might be, we can safely say that Yeshua brought calm and peace to a chaotic situation. In His silence, peace came over the entire area – and then He speaks. What Yeshua has to say is unexpected at the very least. “You are right; the law says she is guilty and should be condemned to death. Let those who are without sin among you be the first to cast stones at her.” I would imagine you could hear a pin drop.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

What are you doing to guard against wanting to “get back at” or “retaliating against” someone for a hurt or wrong they have caused? If not, how do you fight this temptation?

How do you keep from lacking forgiveness? Or lacking love? Or lacking compassion? Or lacking understanding? If you lack none of these, what steps have you taken to prevent this from happening?

 In a situation filled with chaos, what do you do to remind yourself to stop and take a breath, before speaking? If you do nothing to remind yourself, why is this?

The Christ follower must beware of condemning another in hypocrisy.

2). When the Christ follower has been Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua, we are forgiven and set free.

We too have been commanded to go and sin no more.

Yeshua remained silent, allowing His statement of blunt truth to sink into those who surrounded this woman. He upheld the Law, so no one could accuse Him of being against the law. But, neither did He excuse the woman’s actions. He simply stated those without sin must be the first to cast a stone against her. At this point, there is no need for further argument. You might say that Yeshua has drawn a line in the sand and dared the scribes and Pharisees to cross that line!

Think about this for a moment – imagine what might happen if someone begins to lift an arm to cast their stone at the woman. As they prepare to cast their stone, someone in the crowd might recognize them and say, “Hey! Wait a minute! I know your sin! Put that stone down!” Even the pious Pharisees could not take such a chance and had to step back to save face. The trap set by the scribes and Pharisees has snapped shut – but it is the scribes and Pharisees who find themselves trapped!

Slowly, beginning with the elders, everyone begins to drop their stones and walk away. Apparently it is true, with age does come wisdom, for the elders know their sin and are the first to stop, drop, and leave. Finally, after the last person has gone, this woman stands alone before Yeshua. No one could claim the sinlessness needed to condemn her. Yeshua exposed the hypocrisy of her accusers, and they have all turned and walked away – now all aware of their own sinfulness.

Once again, this woman is a picture of all humanity. First, there are no accusers, at least not among mankind. No human can condemn this woman then, or now. This remains true for each of us, even in our sin, there is no person alive today who can condemn us. Secondly, the woman, like each of us, stands alone before Yeshua. We stand naked before Him, striped of all righteousness, for none of us possess righteousness in ourselves. Finally, the only One who is perfect, who remains sinless, is Yeshua – both for this woman and for us.

Put yourself in this woman’s shoes for a moment. Certainly, she heard Yeshua state she is guilty of breaking the Law – she has been condemned and sentenced to death, but those who were supposed to execute her punishment have turned and left because of the blunt truth stated by Yeshua. None of them were without sin and could not throw a stone at her! Well, except for one person – Yeshua. What might have been going through her mind? “He is still here. That means He is sinless, right? Is He going to stone me?”

I can imagine this woman jumping – startled at the sound of His voice – “Where are they?” The realization that she stands before Yeshua – alone and frightened – sinks in. “Does no one condemn you?” A slight shaking of her head. “No Lord, no one.” Then He speaks again, “Then neither do I condemn you.” But Yeshua doesn’t leave it at that, “Go. From now on sin no more.” This is what happens to each and every one of us – for any and all persons – when we come before Christ, confessing our sin in repentance. We are forgiven – freely – and then set free. But Yeshua doesn’t stop there with us either. We too receive the command, “Go. From now on sin no more.”

Questions for discussion/reflection:

When was the last time you found yourself standing before Yeshua, naked and striped of all righteousness? How did you react? If you haven’t been, why hasn’t this happened?

Think of a recent time of confession before Christ. How did you react when He said, “Neither do I condemn you.” If you have never heard this, why do you think this might be?

What steps are you taking so that you might, “Go. From now on sin no more?” If you are not taking any steps, why?

The Christ follower must beware of condemning another in hypocrisy.

Yeshua is the only One who has the right to condemn us or forgive us. He is the only One who is righteous, the only One who is perfect, the only One who is guilt-free, He is the only One who is sinless. Therefore, He alone is worthy and able to stand in judgment. God hates sin, we can make no mistake about that. Yeshua stands ready to forgive ANY person, but confession, repentance, and a change of heart are the properly prepared ground for forgiveness.

Our intentions must be to not sin again. That does not mean we will never sin again, nor does it mean that God expects us to never sin again. What it does mean is that God expects our lifestyle to no longer be a sinful lifestyle. This is willfully living in sin – not the unintentional sin or the occasional fall – this is living life in sin, knowing it is sinful and separates you from God. Our desire should no longer be to live for ourselves and our pleasures, but to live our lives wholly and fully for God.

None of us are perfect, we will stumble and fall from time to time. But with the help of Christ and His Spirit living within us, we can overcome the sinful desires and cravings of our flesh. We must remember we are a work in progress, God has not finished His work within us yet. Each day we strive to take a step forward in our spiritual growth – we will not mature overnight. Remember, our faith is a marathon – it takes a lifetime to come to maturity in Christ – so we must pace ourselves to prevent spiritual burnout and to run the race in such a way that we win this lifelong race of faith.

Live in His word; rest in His presence; pray often; bring peace in chaos; forgive freely; practice understanding; show compassion; care for those around you, wherever you might be, but above all this, love others like the end is near.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord.

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 8:12-20

Late January and early February have been tough on our little church, but God has been faithful and seen us through the storms of life! I apologize for the lack of postings, but we are back and fully charged!

Divided Over Christ

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 2/11/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 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 people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “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? “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

So, a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? “But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” Everyone went to his home.

                                                                                  John 7:37–53 (NASB95)

It happens every Fall, in households across the country. We call it “a house divided.” The husband and the wife (or brothers, or brother and sister) are split, not in a marital, or relationship spat but in a dispute that is as old as time itself. The husband says he is right, it is his year! The wife disagrees, stating it is her year and he is going down for sure. The husband and wife remain in a heated battle for, at least, a week, and then the one who wins the battle, has bragging rights for a year. What is this dispute that separates family members for more than a week? It is the football game between two bitter rivals, one supported by one family member, the other supported by the spouse or other family members. It is simply a house divided, but today we are looking at a different kind of division.

The division we are looking at today, will again bring division to some homes, but it will also, absolutely, cause division in neighborhoods, cities, states, and even entire countries. We see this division in two groups within the passage we are examining today, the crowds and the Pharisees. This division will end up as the cause of death for many and be the saving grace for others! What could possibly cause such a division to occur and affect so many people? In a word, Yeshua, Jesus the Christ. This is the one name that mentioned in a room full of people, will cause the entire room to be Divided Over Christ.

Jesus invites those who thirst to come to Him for rivers of living water. As He speaks about the Spirit, the crowds argue over His identity. Some say He is the prophet, others claim He is the Christ, and still others claim He cannot be the Christ because He comes from Galilee. Even the Pharisees are Divided Over Christ as they seek to finally seize Him.

As Christ followers, we have received the Spirit because we have believed in Christ. Even in our day, many are Divided Over Christ, not because of where He is from but because we claim Him to be more than a man, more than a prophet or great teacher, and because He is the only way to the Father and eternal life.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why is it important for the Christ follower to understand the dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ?”

The dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ is that they miss His true identity and the opportunity for eternal life.

1). The danger for those who remain Divided Over Christ is they will not receive His Spirit.

The world does not recognize the Spirit, does not know the Spirit, and cannot receive the Spirit.

This final passage in chapter 7 finds Yeshua at the Feast of Booths, it is the last day of the feast known as the Last and Greatest Day. This Feast celebrated God’s care, protection, and provision during the desert wanderings. There is a ritual performed during this feast we need to know about to help us understand what is happening here. For seven day, in the morning, the priest carried a golden pitcher of water to the altar. As he neared the water gate, a shofar, a ram’s horn, was sounded. They made quite the show of bringing the pitcher of water into the Temple each morning! This was followed by the singing of psalms of praise and worship to God for the Fall harvest. Citrus fruit was used to symbolize the harvest just gathered.

Depending on the source one uses, this was done for six or seven days, on the eight day there was no water brought in, but on the seventh day the ritual was performed seven times to show the emphasis and concentration on prayer and worship. We should also note that the Sadducees were opposed to this ritual, this was fully a Pharisee-based ritual and following the singing a prayer was given for rain. This added element carried the meaning of the feast beyond the traditional emphasis of the desert experience. It is against this backdrop that Yeshua stands on the last and greatest day of the feast and cries out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”

In crying out this statement, Yeshua is talking about the Holy Spirit, which John points out hasn’t been given yet because Yeshua had not yet been glorified. What then, is the purpose of making this statement? Yeshua states that it is those who believe in Him, as the Scripture said, that will receive this river of living water. Many believe that Yeshua may have been partially quoting a Psalm here but there are two other passages that actually fit this passage better. The passage Yeshua is quoting likely comes from Ezekiel 47:1-12. Here Ezekiel describes a river flowing out of the Temple – an angel who has accompanied Ezekiel measures the river as it grows increasingly deeper. Following this there is a vision of the future described by Ezekiel.

The desert region, along with the Dead Sea are seen to be flourishing. Because of this river of living water, the desert would become a place of life and healing. Zechariah 14:14-20 is a parallel passage to Ezekiel with one slight difference. The river of living water begins to flow in two directions – east and west! This passage also mentions one other important detail – this is an end times prophecy; the surviving nations will gather each year in Jerusalem to celebrate this very feast – the Feast of Booths. How does all of this tie into the Holy Spirit? Yeshua is the Source and Giver of Life. He is not only the source of water He is the Source of Living Water. This also make Him the Source of the Holy Spirit.

Yeshua says it is those who believe in Him that will receive the Spirit. This began with the Feast of Pentecost, a spring feast, found in Acts 2, and now comes as part of the new creation when a person believes in Christ. Why is it significant that Yeshua states it is those who believe in Him who receive the Spirit? As Yeshua prepares His disciples for His death and return to the Father, He teaches them about the Holy Spirit. This comes as the disciples are walking with Yeshua to the Garden of Gethsemane in chapter 14:15-17 of John. Here Yeshua spells out, quite clearly, why it is important to believe in Him, in order to receive the Spirit. In this passage the Spirit is called “another Helper” and “the Spirit of Truth.”

As He walks with His disciples, He explains that the world cannot receive the Spirit, they cannot see the Spirit, and they cannot know the Spirit. Why exactly, can the world not receive, see, or know the Spirit? Because the world has hardened their hearts towards God. When this happens people can no longer hear the call of God on their life. The world has rejected God the Father and/or Yeshua, the Son of God. If the world rejects the Source of the Spirit, how would they be able to receive the Spirit? The world calls evil good and good evil. Taking credit away from the Spirit and giving it to another is not only blasphemous, it is also spitting in the face of God. For these and many other reasons, the world simply cannot receive, see, or know the Spirit.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How are you experiencing Yeshua as a river of living water during this season of life? If not, why do you think this is so?

How are you being a river of living water for others during this season of life? If you are not, why?

How have you experience the Holy Spirit as Helper or Spirit of Truth during your faith journey?

The dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ is that they miss His true identity and the opportunity for eternal life.

2). The danger of those who remain Divided Over Christ is they continue to be deceived about the truth concerning Christ.

The world cannot know the truth concerning Christ because it cannot receive the Spirit of Truth.

Because the world cannot receive, see, or know the Holy Spirit, the world is unable to know the truth concerning Yeshua. We have two examples in this passage – the crowds and the Pharisees. After hearing the words of Yeshua, some in the crowds are convinced He is the Prophet. Others hear the words and are convinced He is indeed the Messiah. Finally, there are still others who hear and are convinced He cannot be the Messiah because He does not come from the right place. These three examples are what we still see in people today. Those who believe He is the Prophet are hearing the call of God on their life but have not fully responded to that call – something is holding them back, there is still a lingering doubt.

Those who say He is the Messiah have fully heard the call of God on their life and have responded to that call. They can no longer ignore the evidence and have cast aside all fear and doubt to fully place their faith in God as Father and Yeshua as Messiah. Finally, there are those who say He cannot be the Messiah because no loving God would allow evil in the world. These have hardened their hearts to the point they can no longer hear the call of God on their lives, and they are fully ignoring the evidence God has placed before them. Yeshua is rejected outright because He does not meet the right requirements.

Not only is there division in the crowd concerning Yeshua, but there is also division within the Pharisees concerning Yeshua. In the Pharisees we also see three examples of what we can find in people today. The officers, who are really Temple priests, return without Yeshua and the Pharisees accuse them of being led astray. The officers are impressed with the way Yeshua speaks or teaches. But the Pharisees see themselves as the true teachers of Israel because they are fully educated. They are the experts in the Law, not a carpenter from Galilee. What we find in people today are those who think Yeshua is just a great teacher but nothing more.

Some of the Pharisees call those in the crowds accursed and not knowing the Law. Here the Pharisees turn their anger against those in the crowd who believe Yeshua to be the Messiah. They cannot possibly know the Messiah because they do not know the Law as the teachers of Israel do, they are under a curse and do not have their right mind. The word accursed also expresses a strong dislike or anger towards someone or something. People today will say that those who follow Christ are simpletons or have a simple mind. It is a faith for the weak and uneducated. Finally, some of the Pharisees assume none of the Pharisees or those in leadership have begun to follow Yeshua. These are the people who are in charge of teaching and leading Israel, they have the experience, the knowledge, and the expertise to know the Messiah when they see Him, and the Messiah will not come from Galilee. The objection to Yeshua today is not where He comes from, but we claim Him to be – the only way to the Father. Many of the Pharisees reject Yeshua and miss the truth about Him because they know one thing – He is from Galilee.

As Christ followers, we will meet all kinds of people in our faith journey. Some will have some faith but not enough to be fully convinced Yeshua is the Messiah. Others will have faith in Yeshua as Messiah and have fully placed their faith in Him. And still others will reject Him outright because He does not meet the right requirements. There are those who think Yeshua was a great teacher who lived a great life, but nothing more. Others will claim our faith is for the simple minded, who are weak and uneducated. Finally, there will be those who reject Yeshua outright because He cannot possibly be the only way to heaven or to the Father. We must be prepared to answer all of these objections and many more, and the only way we can do that is to stay close to Messiah, to live in His word, and follow His ways. Our lives should be our best and strongest witness, not our words.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

Which objection to Yeshua are you having the most difficulty dealing with during this season of life? If there are no objections, why do you think that is?

Where do you need the Spirits guidance and wisdom in dealing with objections concerning Yeshua? If none, what have you done to prepare for these objections?

How are you preparing to deal with some of the objections you are facing? If you are not, why?

The dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ is that they miss His true identity and the opportunity for eternal life.

There will always be division among the “crowds” concerning Yeshua. What there must not be, what there cannot be, is division among His followers. Yes, I know, we have plenty of division among Christ followers, all one needs to do is look at all the different denominations in the world and it is clear there is division among those who follow Him. But those who are hearing the call of God as we near the end of the age and the return of the Christ, these are the ones who must come together and put their differences aside and find a way to bring peace and love back to those who follow Christ. Love is the one mark, the true mark, of those who follow Him. Their love for one another stands out most of all, especially in a world that is so full of hatred and intolerance right now.

What can we do? We must be a praying community. We must continue to pray for one another daily, lifting one another into the very presence of God so He might touch us all. We must also strengthen one another. We support, love, and encourage one another whenever we are together, spurring one another on through the battles of life. We must also be praying for other Christ followers. First, those Christ followers we know are stuck in a church that is slowly slipping away from the message of Christ and into “another gospel,” as Paul has warned us will happen. But we must also be praying for those Christ followers who are looking for a new church home, especially those whom God might be preparing to bring to this ministry. Finally, be alert. Listen to what the Lord is saying. Be prepared to be obedient to what you hear. And above all, love with the end in mind.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week:  

The Danger of Rejection

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 1/14/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“So, they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?” The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. Therefore, Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. “You will seek Me and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? “What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

                                                                                 John 7:30–36 (NASB95)

Last week we studied The Danger of Judging by Appearances, seeing how the Pharisees viewed two deeds through the same point of Law and applied their already developed methods differently. Yeshua has challenged the Pharisees to apply these methods consistently. The Pharisees have judged two deeds by their appearance, one seen as a responsibility, the other seen as a way to enhance a person’s station or status in life. The people in the crowd exhibit the same tendency to judge by appearance as some begin to believe Yeshua is the Christ, while others say it is not possible because they know this man.

In today’s passage we encounter the second danger Yeshua is warning the crowds and the Pharisees about – The Danger of Rejection. The teachers of Israel have long taught that they, the Jewish people, are the chosen of God, and this is true. What they have missed is the mission of the Messiah to make God known to the entire world – all people, not just the Jews. The danger here is that rejecting the Messiah means they are rejecting the One who sent Him, and in this rejection, they make the place where God can be found an unapproachable destination.

While some in the crowd began to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Pharisees hear them muttering and see a troublemaker. So, the Pharisees and the chief priests, in a power play of authority, send officers to capture Him. However, Jesus is clear, He is with them for a short time, but The Danger of Rejection means they will seek Him but not find Him, because they cannot come where He is.

As Christ followers, we must be prepared for the time when the world will see those who follow Christ as troublemakers. We will be wanted, hunted, and put in jail, because we remain obedient to a higher authority. As time grows short, we must warn others of The Dangers of Rejection, for the end result is eternal separation from the Father and the Son.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why should the Christ follower be aware of The Dangers of Rejection?”

As Christ followers, we are called to obedience to a higher authority – an Authority which the world has rejected, which only leads to eternal separation from the Father.

1). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Rejection because one day we will be seen as troublemakers.

Yeshua has warned us to be prepared to be hated by a world that hated Him first.

The Pharisees continue their pursuit of Yeshua after He has challenged them to apply their already developed methods to the Law consistently. Once again, John tells us that “His hour has not yet come.” We see the people in the crowd once again begin to believe in Him, this time pointing out the numerous signs He has performed. And once again, we find the Pharisees at the fringe of the crowd, listening to the mutterings of the crowd, and then, in a power play displaying their authority, they send officers, yet again, to capture Him. It is becoming increasingly clear that the ruling authorities, particularly the Pharisees, have rejected Yeshua outright, as the Messiah.

At the heart of the matter is the fact that Yeshua refused to come to the ruling council and seek their permission for His ministry. The Pharisees believe they are the gateway to God the Father, not some carpenter from Nazareth, and they have every intention of putting His ministry to rest, once and for all! While the Pharisees have taken the lead in opposing Yeshua, they are working closely with the chief priests. After standing at the fringe of the crowd and listening to the mutterings of the crowd, they have had enough and have, apparently, persuaded them to send officers for His arrest. The tipping point comes as those in the crowd begin to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah, even mentioning His numerous signs. They are fully opposed to Him and reject Him as the Messiah.

Emotions are at a fever pitch, and at one point, the Pharisees thought they had enough popular support to make a public move against Yeshua. They have miscalculated the division within the crowd and the impression Yeshua was making on those in attendance. There appears to be much confusion about Messiah and the crowds have moved from questioning the education of Yeshua to the number of signs He has performed, many saying the Messiah will not do more than He has already performed. And yet, the Pharisees and the chief priests, those who make up the Sanhedrin, are clearly opposed to Yeshua and have branded Him as a troublemaker, to be rejected as the Messiah.

Throughout the gospel accounts, Yeshua prepares His disciples for His death and the trouble they will find because they have believed in His name. Two of these times occur in John, and we will examine them more closely when we get to them, but for now they add confirmation to what we find in our passage today. In chapter 15 and 16, Yeshua and the disciples are walking to Mount Olive and the Garden of Gethsemane. As they walk Yeshua tells them plainly that should they find hate in the world, it is because the world first hated Him (18-19). Then in chapter 16, Yeshua again speaks plainly in telling His disciples, “In this world you have tribulation.” But Yeshua goes on to say He has overcome the world.

It is clear that Yeshua wanted those who follow Him to know that this is not an easy life. He never promised us that it would be easy, but He does promise to be with us until the end of the age and He has promised to send us the Helper, the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth, to lead us into all truth and to remind us of the teachings of Yeshua. We will not find peace in this world. Never. The world has no idea what true peace is, and it certainly cannot provide what it does not know. We are to be prepared to be hated because this same world that hated Yeshua, will, indeed, hate us for believing in Hs name. Because the world has rejected Yeshua, they will reject those who follow Him and the message they bring.

Questions for discussion/Reflection:

How do you sense the world opposing Yeshua today? If you do not, why is this?

How do you sense the world, or at least the people you are associated with, opposing the message you bring? If not, what have you done to prevent this?

Where are you beginning to get a feeling of being hated because you are a Christ follower? If not, why do you think this is?

As Christ followers, we are called to obedience to a higher authority – an Authority which the world has rejected, which only leads to eternal separation from the Father.

2). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Rejection because rejection makes eternal life an unapproachable destination.

When the world rejects the Christ follower, it rejects our message and our God.

The Pharisees make a power play and send officers to seize Yeshua. Sensing this to be the case, Yeshua makes a statement that only adds to the confusion of the people. “You will seek Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” What in the world is this man talking about?! Where can He possibly go that we cannot go? Many thought He was going to the Greeks, but this is not simply the Greeks by nationality, the people thought He was going to Jews who acted like Greeks, the Hellenized Jews. This is what they meant when they said the Dispersion among the Greeks. But Yeshua has something entirely different in mind. Yeshua has just told the crowds and the Pharisees on the fringe, that He answers to a Higher Authority, the God of Israel.

We see this rejection of Yeshua and His disciples elsewhere in the gospel accounts as well. In Luke’s account of Yeshua returning to Jerusalem for the last time, the crowds greet Him with the shout of Hosanna, the Pharisees take issue with this and demand that Yeshua rebuke His disciples. There are numerous times we read of the Pharisees condemning Yeshua for healing on the Sabbath, for eating with tax collectors and sinners, or for allowing a known prostitute to clean His feet with her tears, wiping them clean with her hair. It is plainly clear that Yeshua does not fit the expectations the Pharisees have of the Messiah. Yeshua has been clearly branded as a troublemaker.

Going back to the power play by the Pharisees, this is not the first time they have made such a play. Back in chapter 1 of John we see the Pharisees have sent priests to John the Baptist to interrogate him to find out his identity. Again, they want to know who has given him authority to begin a ministry without getting their permission. In both cases, it is the priestly authorities, the Pharisees, and the chief priests, who are involved. These authorities do not really wish to know the Authority that has sent Yeshua, for time and again when He states, “My Father,” or “the Father and I,” these same men accuse Him of blasphemy. The real issue remains He has not gotten their permission and they will not stop until He submits or ceases His ministry.

The answer provided by Yeshua is no ordinary answer, for if you listen and look closely, Yeshua tells them He is returning to the Father, and more importantly, they cannot come where He is! Think about this implication for a moment. To be Jewish and told that you cannot come to the place where God is to be found would simply be earth shaking news. Remember, the teachers of Israel taught they were God’s chosen people, and so they were and are, but they misunderstood their mission as a light to the nations, and further misunderstand the mission of Yeshua as Messiah to the world. It was understood that those who were not Jewish were completely separated from God. Now they hear that because they reject Him, God has become an unapproachable destination!

There is a warning here for both the world and the Christ follower. The warning for the world is rather obvious, reject Yeshua and you risk the promise of eternal life. There is only one way to the Father, one way to receive eternal life, one way to enter the Kingdom of God, one way to overcome sin, death, and the grave…Yeshua, the Son of God, the Messiah. That message is and has been clear for many for a very long time, it is, in fact, the main reason so many reject Christ and Christianity, for the belief that He is the ONLY way to the Father. The world today wants things the way they want them, when they want them and on the terms they want them, end of story. No one will tell us how to get to heaven and see God. But what about the Christ follower?

The warning here comes in the plural, warnings. First, there is coming a time when we will be seen as troublemakers. The examples I mentioned make this clear. I know it is hard to believe while living in this country, the greatest country the world has ever seen, but it is true. We are already seeing the changes starting to happen and, as we read in the Scriptures, it is only going to get worse. In Matthew 10:34. Yeshua Himself says, “Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace but to bring a sword.” Simply put, the mission of Yeshua is to be filled with tension, persecution, and even death. The second warning has to do with how we handle our faith. We still face the danger of rejecting Yeshua at the end of our lifetime, under the stress and strain of persecution, facing our own death. We must remain strong and firm in our faith, even as we face persecution and possible death, for we must remain obedient to a Higher Authority – God the Father, Almighty Creator and Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How have you sensed rejection because you remain faithful to Yeshua? If not, why do you think this is?

Where do you sense confusion over your mission for Yeshua? If none, how have you gained clarity?

Where do you sense tension or persecution as you try to remain faithful to a Higher Authority?

As Christ followers, we are called to obedience to a higher authority – an Authority which the world has rejected, which only leads to eternal separation from the Father.

As Christ followers, what do we do with this information? How can this help prepare us for what the future holds? First, we must remember that, when you find opposition, it is not the person who opposes you, it is the spirit behind that person who opposes you. Paul taught us that we do not fight against flesh and blood, rather we are fighting against the powers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). Second, remember the message you take with you is counter cultural, it goes against the flow so it will naturally create tension. Thirdly, remember it is hard to be hated, but hatred cannot harm you or kill you. Our suffering does not match the suffering Yeshua experience on our behalf. So, take courage for Yeshua has overcome the world.

Fourth, remember this is not a personal rejection of you but a rejection of the One you represent. If you believed exactly as the world believes you would be readily accepted, but you are different, you have been called into the Light of the Christ and it is this Light that is being rejected. Fifth, if you are finding confusion concerning your mission, seek clarity through prayer, reading and studying the word, talking to other trusted Christ followers, and then pray some more! Finally, we are never to be subject to an evil or immoral authority – at any level. We always answer to a Higher Authority – it is His will we seek; it is His will we obey.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 7:37-53

The Dangers of Judging by Appearance

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 1/7/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. “For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. “I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”                                                                         John 7:20–29 (NASB95)

Let’s do some quick review to remind ourselves of what has been happening around Yeshua. Chapter 5 opens with Yeshua attending a Feast of the Jews. The feast is unnamed so we are not sure which feast this might be, but it is not one of the seven Feasts to the Lord, celebrated each year by all Israelites. Yeshua arrives at the Sheep Pool at Bethesda and heals a man who has been lame for 38 years. Rather than rejoicing with the man for his healing, the Pharisees accuse him of breaking the Sabbath. When the man figures out it is Yeshua who has healed him, he tells the Pharisees and the lengthy conversation we are studying begins.

In chapter 6 Yeshua attends the Passover Feast and as He travels the area, a large crowd begins to follow Him. Testing His disciples, Yeshua asks how they can feed so many people. The crowd numbered 5,000 men plus women and children. The disciples think only in terms of human devises and taking the small offering of five loaves of barley bread and two fish, Yeshua feeds the people with twelve baskets leftover. The crowds follow Him to Tiberias where He makes His “I Am the Bread of Life” statement but the people grumble because He says they must eat His flesh and drink His blood.

We now arrive at chapter 7 where the brothers of Yeshua attempt to convince Him to show himself to the world. The Feast of Booths is at hand and the brothers cannot think of a better time to show the world He is the Messiah. Yeshua tells His brothers it is not His time, and He will not be attending the feast, but they should go alone. Yeshua arrives later, about mid-week, and begins teaching at the Temple. As He teaches the people begin to wonder how He can speak this way when He has not been educated. The controversy begins when Yeshua says His teachings are not His own but come from God, the One who sent Him. Which brings us to our passage today.

The final question from Yeshua to the crowd is “Why do you seek to kill Me?” The reaction is that Yeshua has a demon, meaning He is insane. But as we will learn in our passage, Yeshua has been calling out the inconsistencies of the crowd, as well as the Pharisees, when it come to the interpretation of the Law. The warning here is clear and very much needed even today, we must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances.

Accused of having a demon, Jesus contrasts circumcision to keep the Torah, to healing a man on the Sabbath. The Dangers of Judging by Appearances comes into focus as the people declare they know where Jesus is from, but no one will know where the Christ is from. Jesus points out the people do know Him, but they do not know the One who sent Him.

As Christ followers, we must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances, for the way people judge is inconsistent and relies on personal opinion rather than a right understanding and the consistency required for judging rightly.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why must the Christ follower be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearance?”

The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because our personal opinions have a way of clouding the truth.

1). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because they will cloud our inconsistencies.

The Christ follower must be consistent in their witness to the world.

This entire controversy and conversation started with the healing at the Pool of Bethesda, near the Sheep Gate. This healing was done on the Sabbath and the Pharisees take exception to this. Yeshua is at a Feast when the healing occurs, but the feast is unnamed. There are only two other feasts the Jews observed, and both are in Winter months. Chapter 6 happens during the Passover Feast or in the Spring and chapter 7 happens during the Feast of Booths, or in the Fall. So, this could be nearly a years’ worth of conversations and controversy surrounding one healing on the Sabbath.

What we must understand is that Yeshua is NOT arguing with the Pharisees about the legitimacy of the Law or the Torah. In fact, Yeshua agrees with them on the point of Law they accuse Him of breaking. What He is arguing about is their interpretation of the Law they are accusing Him of breaking. Yeshua understands and agrees that the Law of Moses must be kept, even if it means performing a circumcision on the Sabbath. A person is brought into covenant relationship with the God of Israel, making them whole spiritually. If this is true, then how can making an entire person whole on the Sabbath be wrong? Does this not bring them into a covenant relationship with God? Or at least, back into a covenant relationship? And certainly, it makes them whole both physically and spiritually.

Here is the point of contention for Yeshua, the inconsistency in interpreting the Law. Yeshua is not calling them to repentance or out of legalism, He is calling out to apply their already developed methods more consistently! For example, in Matthew 12, Yeshua challenges the Pharisees concerning the practice of helping an animal that has fallen into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath. The Pharisees find this acceptable because it is the responsible thing to do when caring for an animal, something that is helpless. Yet these same Pharisees condemn Yeshua and the practice of healing an entire person – one who is more valuable than any animal – on the Sabbath.

It is this inconsistency that is being called out. One good deed, that of helping an animal fallen into a ditch or pit, is acceptable as it is a responsibility on caring for the animal, but to heal the entire person is not acceptable as it might be seen as an act to enhance one’s station or status. Yeshua is challenging the Pharisees to see both the act of circumcision – done to meet a religious and ceremonial need for people and the healing of a person to meet a deep, desperate need for that person – in the same fashion. The Pharisees have judged two deeds by appearances – one deemed acceptable because it is a responsibility, the other deemed unacceptable because it is seen as a way to enhance a person’s status or station in life.

As Christ followers, we are in the same dangers as the Pharisees. For example, how many times have you been given the evil eye, or perhaps given the evil eye, over the way someone has come into the church dressed? Or perhaps someone has taken exception to the translation of the Bible you choose to read and study. How many times have you looked upon someone who claimed to be a Christ follower and thought, “As if!” There are many, many ways we can judge by appearances, these are but a few. The point is, we are all in danger of falling into the temptation to judge someone by the appearance of things.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

When was the last time you thought, someone was trying to “sound smarter than they really are?”

What point, or points, of our faith are you applying inconsistently?

When was the last time you openly judged someone completely on their appearance? Either in the church or someone out in public?

The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because our personal opinions have a way of clouding the truth.

2). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because they can keep us from the One who called us.

The Christ follower must stay close to Yeshua so they can truly and fully know Him.

At this point the people begin to put things together, they are finally beginning to realize who this is that is teaching. This is the One, who just moments ago they accused of being insane, who the Temple authorities have been seeking to kill. Some in the crowd, however, have an issue with Yeshua as the Messiah. They know where He comes from. We have mistakenly thought that the crowd was talking about His knowing His parents, but that is not the case here. The teachings and miracles of Yeshua are well known by this time. The issue is that Yeshua has not sought the approval of those in Jerusalem. In addition, there is the belief that when the Messiah appears it will be suddenly – there is no more suddenness with the ministry of Yeshua now.

Yeshua has been known for some time now – almost three years – because of this, He no longer fits the candidate checklist of the people, or that of the Pharisees. So, when the people begin to grumble stating that they know where Yeshua is from, it seems He agrees with them. “You both know Me and know where I am from:” But Yeshua goes on to explain that they really do not know Him as well as they might think. Christ has been sent by Israel’s God, but Yeshua tells them plainly the One who sent Him is true whom they, the people, do not know, and He knows Him because, Yeshua says, “I am from Him.”

The people claim to know more about Him than they really do. He has not come of Himself. He did not come to bring glory to Himself. He did not come to build a following or a new movement. He has been sent with a specific message and He has been sent on a specific mission. He has come to reveal the Father to all people, beginning with the lost sheep of Israel. He has come to make the Father known by bringing glory to the Father. He has come preaching the Kingdom of God is at hand, and as we learned in chapter three, the Kingdom will be open to the world, not just the nation of Israel. Yes, the nation of Israel is expecting the Messiah to come but they truly had no idea what to expect when He arrived. They did not know as much about Messiah as they claimed because they did not know the One who sent Messiah.

As Christ followers, we must be careful to stay close to Yeshua. We must be in the word daily, reading and studying, so that we can truly and fully know Him. We too face the danger of thinking we know more about Messiah than we truly do, just as the people in the crowds. If we simply take the word of the pastor in the pulpit, or the teachings of the church, or the accepted doctrine of the day without exploring, researching, testing, and praying for clarity, we are in danger of allowing our personal opinions to cloud the truth of God’s word. We must communicate, talk with our Savior. We must be a praying people, taking every care and concern to our Lord and Savior. We must stay close to our great God so we can truly and fully know Him.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

The people had an issue with Yeshua as Messiah because they know Him – He had become too familiar. What part of God’s word – His commandments and teachings – have become too familiar with you? If none, how do you keep this from happening?

The people thought they knew more about Christ than they really did. When was the last time you thought you knew something about Christ only to find out you were wrong or did not have the entire truth?

What are you actively doing to stay close to Yeshua? If nothing, why?

The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because our personal opinions have a way of clouding the truth.

The point of this message is not to point the finger at anyone or to call anyone out for something they have done. The point here is to provide a warning that we all face this same danger. It is easy to judge things or people by their appearance. I bet most of us do it every day without even thinking about it or knowing it. It seems to be just a natural part of the day and how we operate. But if we take the time to examine our own motives, we just might find we are doing it far more often than we care to admit.

For the Christ follower, there are precautions we can take. We can make the effort to see people through the eyes of Christ. If we can see people as sheep looking for a shepherd, we just might be able to understand how they are feeling or understand why they are acting as they do. If we can stay in the word and ask the Lord for clarity and guidance as we read, we might find that we can make a difference in someone’s day, week, or even their life. A simple kind gesture, made in the love of Christ, can turn a day around or flip a life upside down. The point here is simple, take a beat, take a deep breathe, or count to ten and then look at things again. Look beyond the appearance of things. You might find those harsh words spoken to you by someone else were actually a spiritual attack meant to get your focus off what God has been calling you to do. You might find the one who seems dressed inappropriately or in dirty, untidy clothes, is deeply hurt and seeking what you already have – the love of Christ.

This message is meant to call you out of your comfort zone, to keep your eyes on Christ, to read, study, and meditate on the word, to research, test, and seek guidance and clarity from the Lord, and above all, to love others with the end in mind, for we all face The Dangers of Judging by Appearances.

We do all things for the glory of God through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 7:30-36