Christ's Controversial Claims
September 15, 2013 Speaker: Ken Ramey
Topic: Diety of Christ Passage: John 7:14–36
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John 7:14-36
In this passage, Jesus made THREE CONTROVERSIAL CLAIMS regarding who He was, where He came from, and where He was going… and why it should matter to you.
1. HIS AUTHORITY: "I teach for God" (vv. 12-24)
Jesus didn't need a human teacher or Rabbi because His education was divine; His teaching came directly from God the Father (John 8:28, 12:49). This set Jesus apart from all other teachers. In essence, Jesus was the 'mouthpiece' of God, for when people listened to Jesus speak, they were hearing God himself.
Jesus didn't need a human teacher or Rabbi because His education was divine; His teaching came directly from God the Father (John 8:28, 12:49). This set Jesus apart from all other teachers. In essence, Jesus was the 'mouthpiece' of God, for when people listened to Jesus speak, they were hearing God himself.
2. HIS ANCESTRY: "I came from God" (vv. 25-31)
Not only did Jesus teach from God, but He came from God. Jesus knew God the Father because He was literally from Him and of Him. The Jewish people of the day knew who Jesus was, but they didn't really know who He was. This was a serious issue for the Jews because they prided themselves in knowing the one true God. Jesus' claim to be God was therefore looked upon as blasphemous by the Jewish religious leaders.
Not only did Jesus teach from God, but He came from God. Jesus knew God the Father because He was literally from Him and of Him. The Jewish people of the day knew who Jesus was, but they didn't really know who He was. This was a serious issue for the Jews because they prided themselves in knowing the one true God. Jesus' claim to be God was therefore looked upon as blasphemous by the Jewish religious leaders.
3. HIS ADVISORY: "I will return to God" (vv. 32-36)
Jesus foretold His death and resurrection. Beyond this, He cautioned His followers that He would only be among them for a short while longer, and He warned the Jewish spiritual leaders and teachers that He was going to a place where they could not come (John 8:21). Jesus was implying that our opportunity to receive Him as Messiah and the author of salvation was limited, and that today may indeed be the last day we are given to act on God's offer of eternal life.
Jesus foretold His death and resurrection. Beyond this, He cautioned His followers that He would only be among them for a short while longer, and He warned the Jewish spiritual leaders and teachers that He was going to a place where they could not come (John 8:21). Jesus was implying that our opportunity to receive Him as Messiah and the author of salvation was limited, and that today may indeed be the last day we are given to act on God's offer of eternal life.
Thank God for sending His Son into the world to teach you how to be saved from your sin and take you to be with Him in heaven someday. Pray for unbelievers you know that they will repent of their sin and trust in Christ before it is too late - that they not end up dying in their sin and spend eternity in hell.