Jesus’ Teachings

John 7:14-16

Last week we considered Jesus’ Public Ministry and saw the intense opposition under which he did his Ministry. His life was under threat, the Jewish authorities were seeking to kill him (v.1). Not only that, but his own brothers didn’t believe him and who he says he was (v.5). On top of that the people were divided over his real identity. While some said he was a good man, others said he was leading the people astray (vv.12-13). So this was the opposition with which Jesus carried out his ministry. As we continue through this chapter, with the Public Ministry of Jesus still in view, this morning I want us to consider the content of Jesus’ Public Ministry. That is not the title of the sermon but that is to introduce the title. The content meaning what did Jesus say, what did he talk about, what was the focus of his ministry. So our title this morning will be Jesus’ Teachings. We will consider three broad subheadings: Subject of Jesus’ Teachings, Skepticism Over Jesus’ Teachings, Source of Jesus’ Teaching. The verse we read points us to the fact that Jesus among the things he did in his ministry was primarily a teacher: “About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching”. Jesus was a teacher. The gospels we know are a biographical account of Jesus’ ministry and his teachings. His ministry was marked by teaching.

Subject of His Teaching (v.14)

The popular sermon on the mount for example spanning from Chapter 5-7 was Jesus’ teaching on various aspects of life and the law. Look at how the sermon on the mount begun

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them saying (Matthew 5:1-2).

Look also at how that same sermon on the mount ended: Chapter 7:28-29

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

There are indeed many subjects Jesus taught in his ministry, but in this sermon I will try to summarise the most obvious and clear things Jesus taught

Sin (v7)

This is one of the clear subjects Jesus spoke about. In various places in the Bible, we see Jesus confronting sin and evil. And in most of his clashes with the religious authorities, he confronted them with their sin. It is for sin Jesus came into the world, therefore it is a subject he indeed addressed. In his interactions with his brothers in this narrative, we see Jesus pointing out this reality of sin: “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it, that its works are evil” (v.7). “I testify about it that it’s works are evil.” Here Jesus diagnosed the problem of the world—it is a problem of sin. It is a problem of evil. The original language translated as evil carries a meaning of bad, wicked, malicious.

See, all the problems we see around us then is a sin problem. This is basic Christian doctrine. We are all sinners by nature. We carry what is called in Christian theology, original sin. The ramification of Adam’s sin in the garden affected all of us. In Adam, the human race fell: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Adam was our federal head. He was our Parliamentarian representing the whole human race before God. Therefore he took a decision that affected all of us.

Now what is the consequences of sin? It has separated us from God. And the only way of reconciliation to God is by

Regeneration

This is another subject Jesus taught. In John 3:3, in his encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus spoke about the need for regeneration: “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” I indicated the consequences of our sins as human beings is separation from God. This means we are outside of God’s Kingdom. We are enemies of God. And the only way we can be reconciled to God is for us to be born again. It is for us to receive a new heart. You will observe that in John 3:3, an emphasis is placed on the necessity of Regeneration when Jesus began his words with “Truly,Truly…” That phrase was to point out the importance of what Jesus was saying. It needed Nicodemus’ rapt attention.

Regeneration or Born Again is a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God or gain access to the Kingdom of God. Consider Regeneration as the visa to enter the Kingdom of God. A Latin phrase is best used to describe this. It is a “sine qua non.” Which means something that is “ an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient.” To be Born Again therefore, is necessary to enter the Christian faith. It’s necessary for salvation. To be Born Again is necessary for a relationship with God. To be Born Again is necessary for entry into the Kingdom of God. Without this, one cannot enter the Kingdom of God or be saved.

The Kingdom Of God

To be regenerated is to be born into God’s Kingdom. And the Kingdom of God is another of Jesus’ teachings. His very first message he preached was about the Kingdom of God: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 4:17).

When we speak of a Kingdom, it is a place with a King and subjects. In our modern times, perhaps the closest we can come to in describing a Kingdom is the United Kingdom ruled by a monarchy. So when we speak about the Kingdom of God, it is that spiritual realm where God is King and rules over his people. God’s kingdom is manifested in our age in the lives and hearts of God’s people and in the age to come. Everyone who has a relationship with God through Christ is a member of this Kingdom. The kingdom of God simply is God’s rule over his people. And in our context, we can talk about the universal church. This kingdom comprises of all people who have placed their faith in Christ.

Yet in his Sovereignty, there is a sense in which God’s Kingdom is universal and he is ruling over all people of the world, wheter they believe in him or.

The theme of the Kingdom of God runs through both Testaments, focusing God’s purpose for world history. In Old Testament times God declared that he would exercise his kingship (his sovereignty Dan 4:34-35) by setting up his kigndom (his rule or reign over people’s lives and circumstances ) under his chosen king (the Davidic Messiah, Isaiah 9:6-7)… This Kingdom came with Jesus the Messiah as a worldwide relational reality, existing wherever the lordship of Jesus is acknowledged in repentance, faith, and new obedience (J.I Packer, Concise Theology)

Conversion

Are you a member of this Kingdom? Does your life give evidence you are indeed a member of God’s Kingdom. The way we can know this is that you have believed in Jesus Christ and have been converted. To be converted is to change in the inside and seen on the outside. Conversion is repentance. A turning away from our old ways By their fruits you shall know them, Jesus said.

Are you bearing fruits? Has anything changed about your life since you believed and trusted Jesus, that is if you have believed. Many profess to be Christians but there is still no evident change in their life.

Conversion is a turn around of our life’s direction when we are born again. Now when nothing has changed about you, your desires are the same. You have no sorrow over sin, people cannot tell the difference between the old you and the supposed new you, then you are not converted, you haven’t turned from your sin. Hear Paul on this matter

put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24)

There is an old self to be put off. An old self consisting of the old ways of life. There is a new self to be put on. Consisting of the righteousness If no change has taken place in your life since you claim you believed then this is a call for you to repent and turn away from your sin to God.

Skepticism Over His Teaching

Jesus’s words has always produced two kinds of response: Unbelief or Faith. The response of the Jews in this encounter is for them to question his teachings rather than to believe: “The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” When I read this, I was like does it matter? Does it matter to them whether what he was saying was true? Or whether he has studied. Isn’t it the truth of his teachings they should be concerned about?

Indeed, in the gospel narratives, we see clearly that anytime Jesus has taught, the people were astonished or amazed…Remember twelve year old Jesus in the temple. We know the story. Also at the end of the sermon on the mount, the people testified that Jesus spoke as one with authority. And they acknowledged the difference between Jesus and the authorities.

In this narrative, rather than leading the people to faith, it drew criticisms. Just like the pharisees, many today, instead of believing the claims of Jesus, will rather question his claims. Jesus says he is God, then people will be asking, “so who was he praying to in the garden”, “or on the cross” Rather than believing, people question unnecessarily. Now this is not to say the Christian faith should not be questioned. But often the people who raise some of these questions of Jesus, are not seeking answers. Rather they are seeking to mock the faith. Do you have any questions of the faith which you are struggling to answer? Take it to the Lord in prayer. Or speak with the brethren around. That is the benefit of Christian fellowship. Are you in doubt of anything I have said here? Ask me…seek for clarification. That’s how we are all going to grow together. But don’t join the skeptics.

Now this is not only about skepticism. But in another sense, the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of Scripture must move you. We must be able to say with David: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). We must be able to pray with David “Open thou my eye that I will behold wondrous things from your word” Do you get amazed in a positive way over God’s word? Have you ever seen a word you have awed over? Have you ever stopped in the middle of reading your Bible to ponder some truth you have seen?

Brethren, we must stand in awe of the word. It’s the very words of God we are dealing with.

Source Of Jesus’ Teachings (vv.16-18)

In answer to their Skepticism, Jesus tells them the source of his teachings or doctrine: “So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” (v.16).

In these words, Jesus tells them two things (i) Source of his doctrine (ii) Source of his ministry (his who sent me). Jesus was sent into the world by the Father with his word to reconcile sinners unto himself. This is the whole of Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t come to seek his own will or his own glory. But he came to fulfill the Father’s will. In this the Father is glorified: “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” (vv.17-18).

Do you seek to do God’s will? Then you must know that Jesus was indeed sent by the Father. Why was he sent? So that through faith in him in his death and resurrection, sinners will be pardoned and reconciled to the Father.

This is the Christian message. It is a message of reconciliation of sinners to God the Father. It is a message of regeneration and a call to repentance. It is a message of a call to be a part of the Kingdom of God. Will you heed this call? Are you tired of trying to live in obedience to God but constantly failing? Listen to the call of Jesus to weary souls. He says come! Come by putting your faith and trust in him. Will you?

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is (Matthew 11:28-29)

Amen

 

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