Embracing Jesus: Trusting His Methods and Message
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the theme of questioning Jesus' methods, message, and identity, as illustrated in John 7:1-24. We began by reflecting on our own tendencies to think we know better than others, even Jesus. This was exemplified by Jesus' brothers, who doubted His methods and suggested He should seek public recognition in Jerusalem. They failed to understand His divine timing and purpose, revealing their lack of belief in His true identity as the Messiah.
We then examined the Jewish leaders' issues with Jesus' message. They appreciated parts of His teachings but rejected the core truths about sin, sacrifice, and the need for a Savior. Jesus' message was not just about love and peace but also about the necessity of His sacrificial death for humanity's salvation. This message was hard for many to accept because it challenged their self-righteousness and reliance on the law.
Finally, we discussed the broader issue of Jesus' identity. People in Jesus' time, and even today, struggle with accepting Him as God. They may see Him as a good man or a wise teacher but resist acknowledging His divine authority. This resistance stems from a reluctance to submit to His lordship and the implications it has for our lives.
The sermon concluded with a call to resolve our issues with Jesus by recognizing and accepting Him as Lord. When we do this, we can trust His methods, embrace His message, and live a life free from the burden of trying to control everything ourselves. This acceptance brings peace, clarity in decision-making, and a life aligned with God's will.
### Key Takeaways
1. Questioning Jesus' Methods: We often think we know better than Jesus, much like His brothers did. They suggested He should seek public recognition, not understanding His divine timing and purpose. This reflects our own struggles with trusting Jesus' ways in our lives. We must remember that His methods are always aligned with a greater divine plan. [30:23]
2. The Challenge of Jesus' Message: The Jewish leaders had issues with Jesus' message because it challenged their self-righteousness and reliance on the law. Jesus' teachings about sin, sacrifice, and salvation are hard to accept because they require us to acknowledge our brokenness and need for a Savior. Embracing the full gospel means accepting both the comforting and challenging aspects of Jesus' message. [51:22]
3. Struggling with Jesus' Identity: Many people, both in Jesus' time and today, struggle with accepting Him as God. They may see Him as a good man or a wise teacher but resist acknowledging His divine authority. This resistance often stems from a reluctance to submit to His lordship and the changes it demands in our lives. [01:01:21]
4. Resolving Our Issues with Jesus: Our issues with Jesus' methods and message are resolved when we accept Him as Lord. This acceptance allows us to trust His ways, embrace His teachings, and live a life free from the burden of trying to control everything ourselves. It brings peace and clarity in decision-making, aligning our lives with God's will. [01:06:57]
5. Living as Disciples: Being a disciple of Jesus means daily surrendering to His lordship. It's not just about a one-time decision but a continuous process of coming off the throne of our lives and putting Jesus in His rightful place. This daily surrender leads to a life of purpose, peace, and alignment with God's will. [01:09:08]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[29:34] - Introduction: All Thrones and Dominions
[30:23] - Personal Anecdote: Know-It-Alls
[31:22] - Self-Reflection: Do We Know Better?
[32:02] - Everyday Examples of Thinking We Know Better
[34:10] - Questioning Jesus' Methods
[34:54] - Reading John 7:1-24
[35:54] - Jesus' Brothers Doubt His Methods
[37:41] - Context: Miracles and Teachings
[39:41] - Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
[41:28] - Jewish Festival of Shelters
[43:33] - Different Groups' Issues with Jesus
[44:10] - Jesus' Brothers' Business Plan
[47:20] - Misunderstanding Jesus' Methods
[50:46] - Jewish Leaders' Issues with Jesus' Message
[53:36] - The Full Gospel Message
[55:02] - The Good News and Its Challenges
[58:01] - The Sacrifice of Jesus
[01:00:14] - Issues with Jesus' Identity
[01:03:13] - John's Purpose in Writing the Gospel
[01:06:17] - Resolving Issues by Accepting Jesus as Lord
[01:09:08] - Call to Discipleship and Daily Surrender
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 7:1-24
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus' brothers suggest He should do to gain public recognition, and why did they suggest this? ([34:54])
2. How did the Jewish leaders react to Jesus' teachings during the festival, and what was their main issue with His message? ([51:22])
3. What were the different opinions people had about Jesus' identity during the festival? ([01:00:46])
4. How did Jesus respond to His brothers' suggestion about going to the festival? ([35:54])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus' brothers doubted His methods and suggested He seek public recognition? What does this reveal about their understanding of His mission? ([34:54])
2. What aspects of Jesus' message were particularly challenging for the Jewish leaders, and why did they find them difficult to accept? ([51:22])
3. How does the struggle with Jesus' identity, as seen in the reactions of the people and Jewish leaders, reflect common attitudes towards Jesus today? ([01:00:46])
4. What does Jesus' response to His brothers about divine timing teach us about understanding and trusting God's plan? ([35:54])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you thought you knew better than Jesus in a particular situation. How did that turn out, and what did you learn from it? ([34:10])
2. Jesus' message includes both comforting and challenging aspects. Which part of His message do you find most difficult to accept, and why? ([51:22])
3. Many people today see Jesus as a good man or wise teacher but struggle to accept His divine authority. How does this perspective affect their willingness to follow His teachings? ([01:00:46])
4. In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to trust Jesus' methods? How can you begin to surrender those areas to Him? ([49:58])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of daily surrender to Jesus' lordship. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are putting Jesus on the throne of your life each day? ([01:09:08])
6. How can accepting Jesus as Lord bring peace and clarity in your decision-making process? Share a specific decision you are currently facing and how you can apply this principle. ([01:06:57])
7. Think of someone in your life who struggles with accepting Jesus' identity. How can you engage them in a conversation about who Jesus is and what He means to you? ([01:03:13])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting Jesus' Divine Timing
We often think we know better than Jesus, much like His brothers did. They suggested He should seek public recognition, not understanding His divine timing and purpose. This reflects our own struggles with trusting Jesus' ways in our lives. We must remember that His methods are always aligned with a greater divine plan. [30:23]
In John 7:1-24, Jesus' brothers doubted His methods and suggested He should seek public recognition in Jerusalem. They failed to understand His divine timing and purpose, revealing their lack of belief in His true identity as the Messiah. This story highlights a common human tendency to think we know better than others, even Jesus. We often question His methods and timing, especially when they don't align with our expectations or desires. However, Jesus' ways are always aligned with a greater divine plan, and trusting in His timing is crucial for our spiritual growth.
Reflecting on this, we must recognize that our limited perspective often leads us to doubt or question Jesus' methods. Trusting in His divine timing requires faith and patience, acknowledging that His ways are higher than ours. When we surrender our need to control and trust in His plan, we can experience peace and clarity in our decision-making, knowing that He is working all things for our good.
John 7:6-8 (ESV): "Jesus said to them, 'My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.'"
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you are struggling to trust Jesus' timing. How can you surrender this situation to Him today and trust in His divine plan?
Day 2: Embracing the Full Gospel
The Jewish leaders had issues with Jesus' message because it challenged their self-righteousness and reliance on the law. Jesus' teachings about sin, sacrifice, and salvation are hard to accept because they require us to acknowledge our brokenness and need for a Savior. Embracing the full gospel means accepting both the comforting and challenging aspects of Jesus' message. [51:22]
The Jewish leaders appreciated parts of Jesus' teachings but rejected the core truths about sin, sacrifice, and the need for a Savior. Jesus' message was not just about love and peace but also about the necessity of His sacrificial death for humanity's salvation. This message was hard for many to accept because it challenged their self-righteousness and reliance on the law. Embracing the full gospel means accepting both the comforting and challenging aspects of Jesus' message, acknowledging our brokenness, and our need for a Savior.
This challenge is still relevant today. Many people struggle with the parts of Jesus' message that confront their self-righteousness and call for repentance. However, true acceptance of the gospel requires embracing the entirety of Jesus' teachings, including the difficult truths about sin and the need for His sacrificial death. When we do this, we can experience the fullness of His grace and the transformative power of His salvation.
Romans 3:20-22 (ESV): "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe."
Reflection: What aspect of Jesus' message do you find most challenging to accept? How can you open your heart to embrace the full gospel, including the difficult truths about sin and the need for a Savior?
Day 3: Acknowledging Jesus' Divine Authority
Many people, both in Jesus' time and today, struggle with accepting Him as God. They may see Him as a good man or a wise teacher but resist acknowledging His divine authority. This resistance often stems from a reluctance to submit to His lordship and the changes it demands in our lives. [01:01:21]
People in Jesus' time, and even today, struggle with accepting Him as God. They may see Him as a good man or a wise teacher but resist acknowledging His divine authority. This resistance often stems from a reluctance to submit to His lordship and the implications it has for our lives. Accepting Jesus as God means recognizing His authority over every aspect of our lives and being willing to submit to His will, even when it challenges our own desires and plans.
This struggle is a significant barrier to true discipleship. Acknowledging Jesus' divine authority requires humility and a willingness to surrender our own control. It means trusting that His ways are higher than ours and that His plans for us are good. When we submit to His lordship, we can experience the fullness of His grace and the peace that comes from living in alignment with His will.
Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Finding Peace in Surrender
Our issues with Jesus' methods and message are resolved when we accept Him as Lord. This acceptance allows us to trust His ways, embrace His teachings, and live a life free from the burden of trying to control everything ourselves. It brings peace and clarity in decision-making, aligning our lives with God's will. [01:06:57]
When we accept Jesus as Lord, we resolve our issues with His methods and message. This acceptance allows us to trust His ways, embrace His teachings, and live a life free from the burden of trying to control everything ourselves. It brings peace and clarity in decision-making, aligning our lives with God's will. Surrendering to Jesus means letting go of our need to control and trusting that His plans for us are good.
This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily practice. Each day, we must choose to trust Jesus' methods and embrace His message, even when it challenges our own understanding or desires. When we do this, we can experience the peace that comes from knowing that we are in alignment with God's will and that He is guiding our steps.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made. How might it have been different if you had fully trusted in Jesus' methods and surrendered to His will? How can you apply this trust to future decisions?
Day 5: Daily Surrender to Jesus' Lordship
Being a disciple of Jesus means daily surrendering to His lordship. It's not just about a one-time decision but a continuous process of coming off the throne of our lives and putting Jesus in His rightful place. This daily surrender leads to a life of purpose, peace, and alignment with God's will. [01:09:08]
Being a disciple of Jesus means daily surrendering to His lordship. It's not just about a one-time decision but a continuous process of coming off the throne of our lives and putting Jesus in His rightful place. This daily surrender leads to a life of purpose, peace, and alignment with God's will. Each day, we must choose to submit to Jesus' authority and allow Him to guide our steps.
This process of daily surrender is essential for spiritual growth. It requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own desires and plans. When we put Jesus in His rightful place, we can experience the fullness of His grace and the peace that comes from living in alignment with His will. This daily practice of surrender is the foundation of true discipleship and leads to a life of purpose and fulfillment.
Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to surrender to Jesus' lordship? How can you make this a daily habit in your life?
Quotes
1. "Have you ever thought that you know more than Jesus? Come on now. Have you ever thought that, oh, Jesus, you know, I have a better way. Matter of fact, I'm going to type it out for you in triplicates, Jesus. I'll give you a copy. I'll keep a copy. And we'll file the other one away. Because this is the best way to do it. Right? That's pretty arrogant of us, isn't it? To think that we know better than Jesus." [34:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Have you ever had an issue with something Jesus is doing in your life? We don't wanna admit to that and I don't expect everybody to shake their heads. I get it. And some of you may be more spiritual than I am, but I've had moments in my life where I've gone like, no, Jesus, that's just not the way that things should work. I don't like what you're doing, Jesus, or even in the life of somebody that you love. Jesus, I don't like this plan. I don't like the methods that you are using in my life or in their life." [49:58] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "See, there is a truth to this that the gospel is not nice news, but it's good news. You understand what I'm saying? It's not nice when you think about all that Jesus went through. It's not nice to even think about the fact that Jesus, who was God, who is God, that he became flesh. But what's not nice is at the end of his life, though it is good news, it's not nice news, that Jesus would suffer one of his closest, closest friends stabbing him in the back and turning him over to those who wanted to kill him." [57:16] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we resolve the issue of who Jesus is in our life, just imagine with me what can happen. When I know and I resolve that issue, Jesus is Lord, he sits on the throne of my life, then what happens is we get to be relieved of the stress of having to know it all and figure everything out because Jesus already has it handled. And since he is God and he is Lord, I just can, I can sit back and I can trust him and what he says and what he does about the matter." [01:07:33] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "See, your issues with Jesus are resolved when you resolve that he is Lord. Let me ask you to bow your head and close your eyes. What do you think about Jesus today? Is he your Lord? Is he your God? Is he your family and reigning in your life? Are you daily surrendering yourself to him? Well, I asked Jesus in my heart, that's not what I asked. Well, I got baptized, that's not what I asked. Are you a disciple? Are you following? Are you apprenticing to Jesus?" [01:09:08] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "People take issue with Jesus because they don't wanna follow Jesus in the way that he calls us to do life as his apprentices. People take issue with the message of Jesus because the message is a message that reveals our inability to be good enough to save ourself. People take issue with the message of Jesus because it reveals our selfishness in the way that we relate to people and the world around us." [01:05:32] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The gospel is not this message of I'm gonna condemn you and damn you to hell. It's a message of there's a God who loves you. He sent his son to die for you. And if you will give your life to him and receive for yourself what that savior did for you, you get to live in this love relationship with the heavenly father for the rest of your life." [56:23] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When we resolve that Jesus is Lord, we'll have fewer regrets in life because when we submit to Jesus' rule and reign, it allows us, it allows us to release everything to him and we don't have to carry around guilt and shame and have regrets in our life for making wrong choices and wrong decisions because we thought we knew better than God. See, your issues with Jesus are resolved when you resolve that he is Lord." [01:08:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "See, none of these things, the methods and the message of Jesus, none of those things are an issue if we can recognize one thing, that Jesus is God. And because he is God, he gets the throne of my life. And here's what I want you to take away today. This is what I want you to chew on. This It's this, that your issues with Jesus are resolved when you resolve that he is Lord." [01:06:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "There are some people that don't like to hear that gospel because they like the mad gospel. It's almost like I'm a Christian, I'm mad about it, and I'm trying to find out how many people are going to hell. it's no wonder people are turning away from the church we don't have a message, I say we generically. Much of the church doesn't give out a message of hope and love and forgiveness." [56:23] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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