Choosing Faith: The Divisive Power of Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting Beyond Belief

Believing in Jesus is more than just acknowledging His existence; it involves a deep, personal trust that transforms our lives. This kind of faith is not a mere mental agreement but a commitment to rely on and cling to Jesus as our Savior. The raising of Lazarus serves as a powerful reminder that faith is a call to action, urging us to align our lives with God's purpose. This transformation is not instantaneous but a journey of daily commitment and trust in Jesus. [01:39]

John 14:1-2 (ESV): "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust Jesus fully? How can you take a step today to deepen your trust in Him?

Day 2: Miracles as Invitations

The miracles of Jesus, such as raising Lazarus, are not just displays of divine power but invitations to believe in His identity and mission. These acts provide a reasonable foundation for faith, encouraging us to trust in Jesus as the Messiah. Witnessing or hearing about these miracles challenges us to move beyond skepticism and embrace the truth of who Jesus is. They are calls to faith, urging us to respond with belief and trust in His divine purpose. [06:50]

John 20:30-31 (ESV): "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced or witnessed something that strengthened your faith. How can you use that experience to encourage someone else to trust in Jesus today?

Day 3: The Challenge of Division

Jesus' presence and works often create a division among people, challenging us to examine our stance and choose sides. This division is not meant to alienate but to invite us to a deeper understanding and acceptance of Jesus as the Savior. The reactions to the raising of Lazarus illustrate this divide, as some believed while others rejected Him. We are called to be among those who accept and trust in Jesus, aligning ourselves with His mission and purpose. [13:48]

Matthew 10:34-36 (ESV): "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life where your faith in Jesus has caused tension or division? How can you approach this situation with love and grace while remaining true to your beliefs?

Day 4: Unfolding Divine Purpose

Caiaphas' unwitting prophecy about Jesus' death highlights the divine plan for salvation, emphasizing that God's purposes often unfold in unexpected ways. Even those who oppose Jesus can be instruments in fulfilling His divine mission. This reminds us that God's plans are sovereign and can work through any circumstance to bring about His will. We are encouraged to trust in His purpose, even when it seems hidden or contrary to our expectations. [24:03]

Isaiah 46:10 (ESV): "Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a situation in your life where God's purpose seemed unclear or unexpected. How can you trust in His sovereignty and plan today, even when you don't understand?

Day 5: Daily Commitment to Jesus

Our relationship with Jesus requires a daily commitment, much like a marriage. This ongoing faith sustains and deepens our spiritual journey, calling us to continually choose to trust and follow Him. Just as a marriage thrives on daily acts of love and commitment, our faith grows through daily decisions to rely on Jesus. This commitment is not burdensome but a source of strength and joy as we walk with Him each day. [36:44]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: What is one daily habit you can incorporate into your routine to strengthen your relationship with Jesus? How can this habit help you remain committed to Him in your everyday life?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of John chapter 11, we delved into the aftermath of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, a miraculous event that served as a pivotal sign in the Gospel of John. This miracle was not just a display of divine power but a call to faith, urging us to trust, rely on, and cling to Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John is structured around seven signs, each designed to persuade us to believe in Jesus not merely as a mental agreement but as a deep, personal trust in Him as the Son of God and Savior of the world.

The raising of Lazarus was a dramatic event that elicited varied reactions. Many who witnessed it believed in Jesus, recognizing Him as the Messiah. This belief was not a blind leap but a reasonable step of faith based on the evidence of Jesus' works. However, not everyone responded with faith. Some reported the miracle to the Pharisees, leading to a council where religious leaders plotted against Jesus, fearing the loss of their power and position.

Caiaphas, the high priest, unknowingly prophesied the necessity of Jesus' death for the salvation of the nation and beyond, highlighting the divine plan that Jesus would die not only for Israel but for all scattered children of God. This prophecy underscores the universal scope of Jesus' mission as the Savior of the world.

As we approach the Passover in the narrative, the tension escalates. Jesus, aware of the plot against Him, retreats to Ephraim, awaiting the right time to fulfill His mission. The chapter leaves us with questions about the unfolding drama, urging us to choose sides in the divide Jesus creates. We are called to be among those who trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus, becoming part of the children of God gathered by Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith Beyond Mental Agreement: Believing in Jesus is more than acknowledging His existence; it involves trusting, relying on, and clinging to Him as our Savior. This kind of faith transforms our lives and aligns us with God's purpose. [01:39]
2. Miracles as a Call to Faith: The miracles of Jesus, like raising Lazarus, are not just displays of power but invitations to believe. They provide a reasonable foundation for faith, urging us to trust in Jesus' identity and mission. [06:50]
3. The Divisive Nature of Jesus: Jesus' presence and works divide humanity into those who accept Him and those who reject Him. This division challenges us to examine our stance and choose to be on the side of faith and acceptance. [13:48]
4. Prophecy and Divine Purpose: Caiaphas' unwitting prophecy reveals the divine plan for Jesus' sacrificial death, emphasizing that God's purposes often unfold in unexpected ways, even through those who oppose Him. [24:03]
5. Daily Commitment to Jesus: Just as a marriage requires daily commitment, our relationship with Jesus involves continually choosing to trust and follow Him. This ongoing faith sustains and deepens our spiritual journey. [36:44]
** [36:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Introduction and Context
[01:06] - The Purpose of Signs in John
[02:31] - The Miracle of Lazarus
[03:49] - Reactions to the Miracle
[05:18] - Eyewitness Testimonies
[07:26] - The Atheist's Question
[09:23] - Jesus' Resurrection Power
[11:06] - God's Invitation to Believe
[12:43] - Opposition and Division
[15:01] - The Council's Dilemma
[20:33] - Caiaphas' Prophecy
[24:03] - The Unconscious Prophecy
[26:58] - The Plot Against Jesus
[29:09] - The Passover Approaches
[33:32] - The Uniting and Dividing Power of Jesus
[36:28] - Choosing the Right Side of the Divide

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 11:45-57
- John 1:12
- John 10:16

---

Observation Questions:

What was the reaction of many Jews who witnessed the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead? How did this align with the purpose of the signs in the Gospel of John? [04:28]
How did the religious leaders respond to the news of Lazarus being raised, and what was their main concern? [13:13]
What was Caiaphas' suggestion to the council, and how did John interpret this statement? [20:33]
What did Jesus do in response to the plot against Him, and why was this significant? [26:58]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the miracle of raising Lazarus serve as a call to faith, and why is it considered a reasonable step of faith rather than a blind leap? [06:50]
In what ways does Jesus' presence create a division among people, and how does this challenge individuals to examine their stance towards Him? [13:48]
How does Caiaphas' prophecy, though unintended, reveal the divine plan for Jesus' sacrificial death? What does this say about God's ability to work through unexpected means? [24:03]
How does the concept of daily commitment to Jesus, similar to a marriage, deepen one's spiritual journey and relationship with Him? [36:44]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own faith journey. How have you moved beyond a mental agreement to a deeper trust and reliance on Jesus as your Savior? What steps can you take to strengthen this trust? [01:39]
Consider a time when you witnessed or experienced something miraculous or unexplainable. How did it impact your faith? How can you use such experiences to encourage others to believe in Jesus? [06:50]
Jesus' presence often divides people into those who accept Him and those who reject Him. How do you navigate relationships with people who have different beliefs about Jesus? [13:48]
Caiaphas' prophecy shows that God's purposes can unfold through unexpected people and situations. Can you think of a time when God worked in your life through unexpected means? How did it change your perspective? [24:03]
In what ways can you make a daily commitment to Jesus, similar to the ongoing commitment in a marriage? What practical steps can you take to renew this commitment each day? [36:44]
How can you be more intentional about choosing the right side of the divide that Jesus creates? What specific actions can you take to align yourself more closely with His teachings and mission? [36:28]
Identify one area in your life where you feel tension or opposition because of your faith. How can you rely on Jesus' example to navigate this challenge with grace and conviction? [33:32]

Sermon Clips

In that throughout the Gospel of John, John has presented us with a series of signs and very deliberately these signs are presented to persuade the reader, the receiver of the Gospel to believe, to put their faith in Jesus Christ. And when we say believe, we don't mean it just in a mental agreement with something. [00:01:11]

The biblical idea of believe is really to trust in, to rely on, to cling to someone or something. And that's what John wants us to do in regard to Jesus Christ. He wants to persuade us as he organizes his gospel with the presentation of these seven signs. [00:01:45]

This wasn't just a crazy belief, something that had no foundation, no reason behind it. This wasn't a blind leap of faith. This was a very reasonable step of faith to make. Within the last couple weeks, I was listening to a podcast where there were some apologetic speakers and writers. [00:06:55]

Jesus died as a sacrifice and substitute for sinners, and he told humanity to trust in, to rely on, and to cling to him as Messiah, as Savior of the world. And so you should believe on him for that. I wish they would have given an answer like that to that atheist. [00:10:45]

God will give you reason to believe. He has given you reason to believe. You're really going to look at The God Who added humanity to his deity and walked among us for 33 years and lived like no one ever lived, taught like no one ever taught, did miracles like no one has ever done before. [00:11:23]

Jesus Christ divides humanity. He divides humanity between those who accept him and those who reject him. Now, we often don't think of Jesus that way, and I understand we think of Jesus as a uniter of humanity, and it's true in a very real sense. [00:13:40]

The unconscious prophecy of Caiaphas was greater than he could have ever imagined. Not only did it prophesy what Jesus would do to bring salvation to Israel, but it also prophesied what Jesus the Messiah would do to be the savior of the world. [00:26:04]

When we put our trust in Jesus, in who he is—the Son of God and God the Son, truly God and truly man—we put our trust in who he is and what he did for us, especially what he did for us at the cross, dying as a substitute and a sacrifice for our sins. [00:35:43]

When we trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus that way, then we are counted as the children of God who were once scattered abroad but now gathered by Jesus. Friends, Jesus Christ divides humanity. You need to be on the right side of that divide. [00:36:55]

Every day you need to come to Jesus and choose him all over again. Not to say that you didn't choose him before, but isn't it somewhat like a marriage? In a marriage relationship, there's a beautiful day when the husband and the wife come together and take vows. [00:36:58]

Isn't every day with a married couple, a husband and wife, all over again saying, "I'm committed to you. I know you're committed to me." That's how a healthy marriage works, and that's how it is with our ongoing walk with Jesus. Again, you have believed on Jesus. Keep believing on Him. [00:37:25]

Lord, I pray that if there's even one man or woman on the wrong side of that divide, that today, Lord, you would persuade them that they can and should come to faith in you, that they can believe what's true about Jesus Christ. [00:37:56]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?