Overcoming Unbelief: The Courage to Follow Jesus

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound nature of belief and unbelief, using the narrative of Jesus' interaction with the people in Jerusalem. The heart of the matter lies in the resistance to belief, which often stems from a deeper issue within the heart rather than mere intellectual objections. Unbelief is a powerful force that can grip the soul, preventing individuals from accepting the life-giving promise of Jesus, who offers streams of living water to those who come to Him. The tragedy is that many, despite hearing His invitation, turn away due to preconceived notions or arguments, such as the debate over Jesus' birthplace.

We also examined the courage displayed by the temple officers and Nicodemus. The officers, sent to arrest Jesus, were struck by His authority and chose not to lay hands on Him, recognizing that no one ever spoke like Him. This courage to acknowledge the uniqueness of Jesus, despite the pressure from the religious authorities, is a testament to the power of His words. Similarly, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, dared to question the prevailing disbelief among his peers, showing the beginnings of faith that would later lead him to openly identify with Jesus.

The narrative challenges us to take an honest look at Jesus, to think for ourselves, and to ask for His help in overcoming the resistance in our hearts. Faith is formed by listening to Jesus, observing His actions, and allowing His words to penetrate our hearts. This story reminds us that whenever Jesus is proclaimed, there will be a divided response, but knowing who Jesus is will give us the courage to follow Him, regardless of the cost, and the confidence in His ultimate triumph.

Key Takeaways:

- Unbelief often masks a deeper resistance within the heart. It's crucial to examine whether our reasons for disbelief are genuine or if they serve as a shield against confronting our own spiritual resistance. Jesus invites us to ask for His help to change our hearts, as true faith is formed by engaging with His words and promises. [18:50]

- The authority of Jesus' words is unparalleled. The temple officers recognized this, choosing not to arrest Him despite orders. This recognition of Jesus' unique authority challenges us to listen and respond to His teachings, understanding that His words hold the power of eternal life. [25:30]

- Nicodemus' journey from confusion to faith illustrates the process of belief. By seeking Jesus, listening to Him, and observing His actions, Nicodemus moved from skepticism to a courageous declaration of faith. This progression encourages us to engage deeply with Jesus' teachings to form a robust faith. [30:46]

- Bearing witness to Jesus will always result in a divided response. Understanding this helps us remain steadfast in our witness, knowing that even Jesus faced resistance. Our role is to faithfully proclaim His message, trusting that some will be drawn to Him while others may resist. [34:14]

- Confidence in Jesus' ultimate triumph is essential. Despite growing hostility towards Christianity, we are assured that Jesus will prevail at the appointed time. This assurance empowers us to remain faithful, knowing that Jesus will ultimately separate the righteous from the wicked and establish His eternal kingdom. [39:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:12] - The Power of Unbelief
- [19:11] - Jesus' Invitation and Promise
- [20:24] - Examining Our Hearts
- [21:11] - Responses to Jesus
- [21:49] - The Officers' Dilemma
- [23:12] - Authority of Jesus' Words
- [24:40] - The Officers' Courage
- [25:30] - No One Spoke Like Jesus
- [27:25] - Jesus' Unique Nature
- [27:58] - Nicodemus' Courage
- [29:23] - Nicodemus' Journey to Faith
- [32:28] - Invitation to Believe
- [33:32] - Divided Responses to Jesus
- [35:20] - Following Jesus at Any Cost
- [36:30] - Confidence in Jesus' Triumph

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 7:37-52
2. Matthew 13:44
3. John 3:1-21

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#### Observation Questions
1. What reasons did the people in Jerusalem give for their unbelief in Jesus, and how did these reasons serve as a shield for their deeper resistance? [19:43]
2. How did the temple officers respond to Jesus' words, and what was their reasoning for not arresting Him? [25:30]
3. What role did Nicodemus play in the narrative, and how did his actions reflect the beginnings of faith? [30:46]
4. What does the parable in Matthew 13:44 illustrate about the value of the kingdom of heaven?

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the narrative of the temple officers and their reaction to Jesus' authority challenge the listener to evaluate their own response to His teachings? [25:30]
2. In what ways does Nicodemus' journey from confusion to faith serve as a model for those struggling with belief today? [30:46]
3. How does the divided response to Jesus' proclamation in the sermon reflect the broader societal reactions to Christianity? [34:14]
4. What does the assurance of Jesus' ultimate triumph mean for believers facing hostility or resistance in their faith journey? [39:33]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you resisted belief in Jesus. What were the reasons you gave, and do you think they masked a deeper issue in your heart? How can you address this resistance today? [20:24]
2. The temple officers recognized the authority in Jesus' words. How can you cultivate a habit of listening and responding to Jesus' teachings in your daily life? [25:30]
3. Nicodemus took a risk by questioning the prevailing disbelief. Is there an area in your life where you need to take a stand for your faith, even if it means going against the crowd? [30:46]
4. Bearing witness to Jesus often results in a divided response. How can you remain steadfast in your witness, especially when facing opposition or indifference? [34:14]
5. The sermon emphasized confidence in Jesus' ultimate triumph. How does this assurance impact your approach to challenges and uncertainties in your life? [39:33]
6. Consider the parable of the hidden treasure in Matthew 13:44. What is one "treasure" in your life that you need to prioritize less in order to fully embrace the kingdom of heaven?
7. Identify a specific area where you feel resistant to Jesus' invitation. What steps can you take this week to open your heart to His life-giving promise? [19:11]

Devotional

Day 1: Unbelief as a Heart Issue
Unbelief often masks a deeper resistance within the heart. It's crucial to examine whether our reasons for disbelief are genuine or if they serve as a shield against confronting our own spiritual resistance. Jesus invites us to ask for His help to change our hearts, as true faith is formed by engaging with His words and promises. [18:50]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: What preconceived notions or arguments might be preventing you from fully embracing Jesus' invitation today? How can you invite Him to help you overcome these barriers?


Day 2: The Unmatched Authority of Jesus' Words
The authority of Jesus' words is unparalleled. The temple officers recognized this, choosing not to arrest Him despite orders. This recognition of Jesus' unique authority challenges us to listen and respond to His teachings, understanding that His words hold the power of eternal life. [25:30]

Matthew 7:28-29 (ESV): "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize listening to Jesus' teachings this week, and how might His words transform your daily decisions?


Day 3: Nicodemus' Journey from Skepticism to Faith
Nicodemus' journey from confusion to faith illustrates the process of belief. By seeking Jesus, listening to Him, and observing His actions, Nicodemus moved from skepticism to a courageous declaration of faith. This progression encourages us to engage deeply with Jesus' teachings to form a robust faith. [30:46]

John 19:38-39 (ESV): "After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you moved from doubt to belief. What steps did you take, and how can you apply this process to current areas of doubt in your life?


Day 4: The Inevitable Division in Response to Jesus
Bearing witness to Jesus will always result in a divided response. Understanding this helps us remain steadfast in our witness, knowing that even Jesus faced resistance. Our role is to faithfully proclaim His message, trusting that some will be drawn to Him while others may resist. [34:14]

Luke 12:51-53 (ESV): "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Reflection: How can you remain faithful in sharing Jesus' message, even when faced with resistance or division from those around you?


Day 5: Confidence in Jesus' Ultimate Triumph
Confidence in Jesus' ultimate triumph is essential. Despite growing hostility towards Christianity, we are assured that Jesus will prevail at the appointed time. This assurance empowers us to remain faithful, knowing that Jesus will ultimately separate the righteous from the wicked and establish His eternal kingdom. [39:33]

Revelation 17:14 (ESV): "They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper confidence in Jesus' ultimate victory, and how might this assurance influence your actions and attitudes today?

Quotes


I suspect that having found a reason for not believing they were determined to hold on to it, and instead of confronting the problem, they simply hide behind it. Now I want to ask this question honestly of you then today: you found a reason for not believing. Is it possible that you are holding on to it because you want to hide behind it? [00:18:10]

Unbelief, it's a power that grips the soul. It goes deeper than reason itself, and here's the tragedy of unbelief: here are people and they're listening to the amazing promise of the Son of God standing right in front of them a few feet away. He's there in the flesh and he's saying, "Out of your heart can come streams of living water if you'll come to me and drink, all of you who are thirsty." [00:18:56]

If you have a reason for not believing today, please consider the possibility that the problem may lie in your own heart. And today I really want to encourage you: will you ask Jesus to help you? Because you see, if it really is the case that the problem lies in your heart, you need the help of Jesus to change the heart; otherwise, you'll never come to faith. [00:20:19]

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees and said to them, "Why did you not bring them?" And they who said to them, "Why did you not bring them in?" And then we read this remarkable, remarkable testimony: "Why did you not bring him in?" The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man." [00:25:10]

People often say that all religions are essentially the same, that they're all basically saying the same thing. And friend, that simply is not true. Let me quote to you from Bishop Stephen Neill, who I think says this very well in a book called "Christian Faith and Other Faiths." I quote, "If we take the gospel seriously, Jesus is not the least like anyone else who has ever lived." [00:26:00]

The officers were right: no one ever spoke like this man. And the reason that no one ever spoke like this man is that Jesus is more than a man. There's no one else like him. He's the Son of God. He's God with us, and he alone has the words of eternal life. And these soldiers had the courage to recognize that there was something incomparable about Jesus Christ. [00:27:16]

Nicodemus, who had gone to him before and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" Now Nicodemus was not yet a committed believer, but it's very clear right here that the beginnings of faith are forming very wonderfully in his soul. [00:30:33]

When you bear witness to Jesus, there will be a divided response. Understand from this story that whenever the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed, as he's being proclaimed right now, as he's proclaimed every time you bear witness to him with a friend or family member or colleague, every time Jesus is proclaimed, there will be some people who are gathered to him and there will be others who are gathered against him. [00:33:43]

Knowing this will help you in regards to your witness to Jesus. If you are burdened for someone you love who does not believe, you may have thought to yourself, "Why can't I be a better witness?" I mean, if I could only persuade her, she would be saved. And I'm saying to you from this story, remember, you can't have a better witness than Jesus himself. [00:34:51]

When you know who Jesus is, you will follow him whatever it costs. Jesus told this one-verse parable in Matthew chapter 13: "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up, and then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." [00:35:18]

When you know the treasure that Jesus is, you will follow him, no matter what it costs. And then the last application is simply this: when you know who Jesus is, you will be confident in his ultimate triumph. You know, the Pharisees sent these officers to arrest Jesus, and John tells us a little earlier, in a repeated phrase in this gospel, why his arrest was not made at that time. [00:36:15]

Remember this: there is a great division among people in our culture today over Jesus. There always has been, there always will be, but Jesus' hour will come, and when his hour comes, Jesus will make a division between us. He will separate the sheep from the goats. He will separate the righteous from the wicked. [00:38:20]

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Transcript
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