John Part 9-Is This the Christ?

Key Verse:    So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”

(John 7:28-29 ESV)

 

In Luke 12:51 Christ says He came not to bring peace to earth but division.  He also says in John 14:27 that He leaves his people with peace, to have untroubled hearts.  Later in John 16:33, He says that when we are scattered, His words will give our hearts peace.  So the division he brings is not emotional, but a separation of who is His and who is not.  Matt 25:32 says:   

 

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

This chapter shows the division Christ brings as some can’t accept who He is. 

So study and read, who do you think the Christ is?   The answer to that question will determine on that day what side you are on.  Will the King know you? 

 

Read John Chapter 7

·         Where and when did this chapter occur?  Why do you think Jesus kept His works and travels quiet?

·         Make a list of all the things you read in this chapter that people thought Christ was.  For example in verse 12 you find two opposing views: “a good man”  and “leading the people astray.”  You will find a lot of opposites in this passage…

·         One thing that divided the people was wondering if Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah.  Note what you discover about the reasons they thought He was and wasn’t.  Where they judging rightly (v.24)?  We will reflect on this more in our journal prompt.

·         Reread verse 18.  Why does Jesus say proves that He is telling the truth?

·         Verse 42 describes a prophecy the Jews knew would be fulfilled in the Christ.  Read Micah 5:2 and tell why this caused division among the people? Read Matthew chapter 2 if you are unfamiliar with the story of Christ’s birth and what happened after Herod died. 

 

Journal Prompt

·         Our culture is built around image.  Advertisers manipulate on our desire to show our worth by what we wear or drive.  If we look a certain way, it communicates we are a certain kind of person.  As Jesus says in verse 24, looks are deceiving.  Instead He commands to judge rightly and not to judge by appearances.  At this time in His ministry He was caught in the middle of many people’s opinions of him, as they were judging Him by His appearance.  When did you judge by an appearance?  How did it turn out?  How can we judge rightly as Christ instructs instead? Read John 5:30 and 8:16 for insight.