Recognizing the Truth: Jesus' Identity and Our Response

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the theme of recognizing the truth that is often right in front of us, yet overlooked. We began with a relatable anecdote about missing the obvious, like searching for something that's right in front of us. This idea of inattentional blindness sets the stage for our exploration of John 10:22-42, where a group of Jewish people failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, despite the signs and miracles he performed. This passage takes place during the Festival of Dedication, a time of joy and light, symbolizing God's miraculous presence and freedom. Yet, even amidst this celebration, the people demanded clarity from Jesus about his identity.

Jesus' response to their demand was a declaration of his identity through his words and works. He emphasized that his actions, performed in his Father's name, testified to his divine authority. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the crowd's unbelief persisted, highlighting a deeper issue of pride and a preference for human glory over God's glory. This is a challenge we face today, as we often seek more signs or explanations when we already have God's word and the testimony of his work in our lives.

Jesus also offered a profound promise of eternal life and security, rooted in his oneness with the Father. This promise is not just a temporary relief but an eternal assurance that no one can snatch us from his hand. This challenges our desire for control and independence, inviting us to surrender to Jesus and trust in his power and unity with God.

Finally, Jesus extended an invitation to respond with love and obedience. Despite the crowd's hostility, he pointed them to the truth through his works, offering them another chance to believe. This invitation is a call for us to reflect Christ in our lives, loving God and others, and obeying his commands. As we navigate our own doubts and challenges, we are encouraged to hold tightly to Jesus' promises, surrender our fears, and live out his word, bringing glory to God.

Key Takeaways:

1. Recognizing the Obvious: Just as we often miss what's right in front of us, the Jewish people in John 10 failed to see Jesus as the Messiah despite clear signs. This inattentional blindness is a reminder to open our eyes to God's presence and work in our lives, recognizing the truth that is often overlooked. [02:51]

2. Jesus' Declaration: Jesus declared his identity through his words and works, yet faced unbelief. This highlights a deeper issue of pride and a preference for human glory over God's glory. We are challenged to examine our hearts and seek the glory that comes from God, rather than from one another. [12:25]

3. Promise of Eternal Security: Jesus offers us eternal life and security, rooted in his oneness with the Father. This promise challenges our desire for control and independence, inviting us to surrender to Jesus and trust in his power and unity with God. [17:06]

4. Invitation to Love and Obedience: Despite hostility, Jesus extended an invitation to believe through his works. This call to love and obedience is a reminder to reflect Christ in our lives, loving God and others, and obeying his commands. [20:08]

5. Living Out Jesus' Words: We are encouraged to hold tightly to Jesus' promises, surrender our fears, and live out his word. This heart revolution establishes the kingdom of peace and righteousness within us, allowing us to bring glory to God. [25:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:14] - Missing the Obvious
- [02:51] - Inattentional Blindness
- [04:02] - Festival of Dedication
- [05:01] - Jesus' Declaration
- [06:34] - The Messiah Among Us
- [07:46] - Seeking Clarity
- [09:07] - Jesus' Identity
- [10:00] - Declaration, Promise, Invitation
- [12:25] - Unbelief and Pride
- [14:30] - Trusting God's Heart
- [15:14] - Promise of Eternal Life
- [17:06] - Oneness with the Father
- [18:46] - Surrendering Control
- [20:08] - Invitation to Believe
- [22:39] - Witnessing Like John
- [25:50] - Living Out Jesus' Words

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 10:22-42

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the setting of the passage in John 10:22-42, and why is it significant? [04:02]
2. How did Jesus respond to the Jewish people's demand for clarity about his identity? [05:01]
3. What promise does Jesus make about eternal life and security in this passage? [15:14]
4. How did the crowd react to Jesus' declaration of his oneness with the Father? [18:46]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the concept of "inattentional blindness" reveal about the Jewish people's inability to recognize Jesus as the Messiah? [02:51]
2. How does Jesus' declaration of his identity challenge the pride and desire for human glory mentioned in the sermon? [12:25]
3. In what ways does Jesus' promise of eternal security challenge modern desires for control and independence? [17:06]
4. How does Jesus' invitation to love and obedience serve as a response to hostility and unbelief? [20:08]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you missed something obvious in your spiritual life. How can you become more aware of God's presence and work in your life? [02:51]
2. Jesus faced unbelief despite clear evidence of his identity. How can you examine your own heart for pride or a preference for human glory over God's glory? [12:25]
3. Consider areas in your life where you struggle with control or independence. How can you surrender these areas to Jesus and trust in his promise of eternal security? [17:06]
4. Jesus extended an invitation to believe through his works. How can you reflect Christ in your daily actions, loving God and others, and obeying his commands? [20:08]
5. Think about a specific fear or insecurity you have. How can you bring this to Jesus in prayer or through conversation with a trusted friend or mentor? [18:46]
6. How can you actively live out Jesus' words and promises in your life, establishing a kingdom of peace and righteousness within you? [25:50]
7. Identify one person in your life who may not recognize Jesus' presence. How can you be a witness to them, sharing the truth of Christ through your words and actions? [22:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Open Your Eyes to God's Presence
In our daily lives, we often overlook the obvious, much like the Jewish people in John 10 who failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah despite the clear signs and miracles he performed. This inattentional blindness serves as a reminder to open our eyes to God's presence and work in our lives. During the Festival of Dedication, a time symbolizing joy and God's miraculous presence, the people demanded clarity from Jesus about his identity. Yet, even amidst this celebration, they missed the truth right in front of them. We are encouraged to be vigilant and aware, recognizing the truth that is often overlooked in our own lives. [02:51]

Isaiah 42:18-20 (ESV): "Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you might have overlooked God's presence or work. How can you be more attentive to His presence in your daily life today?


Day 2: Seek God's Glory Over Human Glory
Jesus declared his identity through his words and works, yet faced unbelief from those who preferred human glory over God's glory. This highlights a deeper issue of pride and the human tendency to seek validation from others rather than from God. We are challenged to examine our hearts and seek the glory that comes from God, rather than from one another. This requires humility and a willingness to let go of our pride, recognizing that true fulfillment comes from aligning ourselves with God's will and purpose. [12:25]

John 5:44 (ESV): "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking approval from others rather than from God? How can you shift your focus to seek God's glory instead?


Day 3: Trust in the Promise of Eternal Security
Jesus offers us eternal life and security, rooted in his oneness with the Father. This promise challenges our desire for control and independence, inviting us to surrender to Jesus and trust in his power and unity with God. It is not just a temporary relief but an eternal assurance that no one can snatch us from his hand. This assurance invites us to let go of our fears and anxieties, trusting that our lives are secure in Jesus' hands. [17:06]

John 10:28-30 (ESV): "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

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: Respond with Love and Obedience
Despite hostility, Jesus extended an invitation to believe through his works. This call to love and obedience is a reminder to reflect Christ in our lives, loving God and others, and obeying his commands. Jesus' invitation is not just to believe in him but to live out that belief through our actions and relationships. As we navigate our own doubts and challenges, we are encouraged to hold tightly to Jesus' promises, surrender our fears, and live out his word, bringing glory to God. [20:08]

1 John 5:2-3 (ESV): "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?


Day 5: Live Out Jesus' Words
We are encouraged to hold tightly to Jesus' promises, surrender our fears, and live out his word. This heart revolution establishes the kingdom of peace and righteousness within us, allowing us to bring glory to God. Living out Jesus' words means embodying his teachings in our daily lives, allowing his truth to transform us from the inside out. It is a call to action, inviting us to be active participants in God's kingdom, reflecting his love and grace to the world around us. [25:50]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can live out Jesus' words in your life today? How can you actively reflect His love and grace to those around you?

Quotes

"Dear God, I ask that you would take these words, earnestly written, and speak through them. Lord, take these minds, humbly assembled here with you. And I ask that you would take these words, earnestly written, and speak through them. And Lord, take our hearts and set them ablaze for you, that you would be glorified in Jesus' name." [00:00:45] (21 seconds)


"This phenomenon is known as inattentional blindness, and it explains why, in general, a famous study, not this one, but one that preceded it, where 50% of the participants miss the dancing bear, or in the original study, the dancing gorilla. So whether it's glasses on your head, or a phone that's in your pocket, or keys at the bottom of your bag, the truth can be staring us right in the face, and we might often miss it." [00:02:56] (30 seconds)


"Jesus answered, I did tell you, but you didn't believe me. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my Father. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one will snatch them from my hand." [00:04:39] (26 seconds)


"In John 5, 4, Jesus cuts to the heart of the problem. He tells us, How can you believe when you seek glory from one another? You cannot seek the glory that comes only from the Father. This chief hindrance to our faith is not that Jesus claims are insignificant or insufficient, but that we, as broken people, we love the glory of one another, what we can get from one another, rather than the glory of God." [00:12:41] (34 seconds)


"Through the dark night of the soul, the 19th century pastor, preacher, and hymn writer, Charles Spurgeon's words have really resonated with me. He says, God is too good to be unkind, and he's too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace his hand, we must trust him. We must trust his heart. He's too good to be unkind, too wise to be mistaken. When we cannot trace his hand, we must trust his heart." [00:14:33] (35 seconds)


"Jesus' final answer about his identity extends beyond his messiahship. It is his oneness with God the Father. You and I, we have the privilege of the Gospel of John, and you might therefore recognize the echo of John 1, 1, 14. In the beginning, the word was the word and the word was with God. The word was God and the word became flesh." [00:15:41] (31 seconds)


"Into this context, Jesus speaks telling us that father and I are one and no one can take you from me because I am stronger than all and no one can take you from the father because the father is stronger than all. When you're in my hand, you are in his hand and when you're in his hand, you are in my hand. Jesus omnipotence, all power, he is all powerful and his unity with God gives you and I safety and security." [00:17:06] (30 seconds)


"In verses 37 and 38, we read, if I am not doing the works of my father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works. Even when faced with their disbelief and hostility, Jesus pointed them to the answer that their heart longed for, on which they could stake this change of heart." [00:19:58] (32 seconds)


"Jesus tells them plainly, yes, I am the one. Look at me, look at my words, look at my deeds. And yet it was John's witness that carried power. To me, this is great encouragement that as followers and disciples of Jesus, we are called to be witnesses to the truth of Christ, just like John." [00:22:46] (26 seconds)


"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the laws and all the prophets hang on these two commandments. In light of that, it seems pretty manageable. Love the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and love others." [00:22:52] (32 seconds)


"In summary, John 10 shows us a Savior who doesn't just tell us who he is. He shows us through his words, his works, his declaration, his promise, and his invitation. He calls us to love him and to follow him. So what are you going to do with Jesus' words today, his promise of eternal security, his invitation to love and obedience?" [00:24:39] (32 seconds)


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Transcript
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