The Words of Jesus

John 7:40

During my preparation, I was fixated on the first words of the of the verse 40: “When they heard these words” Question: What words did they hear? Answer: They heard the words of Jesus as spoken in the verses 37-38: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. These are the words they heard Jesus spoke. And you will notice that these words they heard produced an effect on them. Not only did it have an effect on them. It produced a response.

Rightly, the words of Jesus always demands a response. We can’t be indifferent about Jesus’ words. In fact our indifference itself is a response to the words of Jesus. What do you do with the words of Jesus that comes to us either through preaching, teaching, reading a book or especially captured in the Bible? Does the word change you? Does it have an effect on you? Can you point to ways the words of Jesus has had an effect on you?

Perhaps because of the word you have parted ways with sinful ways. And this should be expected of all Christians. You can’t continue in your sins and call yourself a Christian. Can we confidently say I was this, but now I am that, positively? Can we honestly sing

Amazing Grace How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I am found

Was blind, but but now I see

Perhaps doubt has turned to faith because of the word. You have trusted God more because of the word. Perhaps you have grown in your convictions, you have become obedient because of the word. We should see the word having an effect on every area of our lives: Parenting, Work, Relationships, Marriage, Dating, Integrity. The word must have a holistic effect on us. James tells us not to be only hearers of the word, but be doers also (James 1:22). Truly the word of Jesus demands a response.

You will notice that the people in these verses had different responses to Jesus’ words. The words that marks their response can be seen throughout the verses: “Some said, others said”

1. Some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet” (v.40)

2. “Others said This is the Christ (41)

3. But some said, Is the Christ to come from Galilee? (v.41)

4. Some of them wanted to arrest him” (v.44)

So these are the various responses to Jesus’ words. And I think these responses are significant for our attention. Therefore, I will want us to consider for a sermon title: The Words Of Jesus. Obviously you know now it is from the verse 40: “When they heard these words” Under this title, we will consider the various responses to Jesus’ words under three words: Conviction about Christ, Confusion Over Christ and Contempt For Christ. I will spend a lot of time on the first point: Conviction About Christ.

As we go through these verses, may we come to a point of strong conviction in knowing Christ and living our lives for him.

Conviction

The words of Jesus opens hearts. It opens minds and eyes. It brings light to people. It brings understanding. It brings conviction to the hearts of people. It produces faith. Paul tells us faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:10). And that is what is going on here.

The first set of people seem to have had strong convictions or beliefs about who Jesus truly is when they heard him: v.40 “This really is the Prophet” That word really identifies the certainty of their conviction about who Jesus was. They were really sure of who Jesus is after hearing him. As Jews, they knew their Old Testament Scriptures. And were indeed expecting a Prophet from God because Moses has announced it: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers — it is to him you shall listen” (Deuteronomy 18:15). This promise then is what informed the people’s conviction about Jesus. Note that they could have said This really is a Prophet” But no, they were definite: This really is the Prophet. They were sure of who Jesus is. Look at the other set of people: “Others said, “This is the Christ” Here is another conviction out of their knowledge of Scripture

The word Christ as I believe you may have heard me explain here before is a Greek word meaning the anointed one translated from a Hebrew word Messiah. Old Testament kings and prophets are anointed with oil for specific purposes like in the anointing of Saul and David by Samuel. Now in the Old Testament, God promised a Messiah who will deliver God’s people from sin and oppression and the Jews looked forward to his coming expectantly. John tells us he wrote his gospel to prove that Jesus is that expected Messiah (John 20:31). Peter proclaims that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Out of the 150 Psalms, 16 are categorised as Messianic Psalms: This means they looked forward to God’s anointed one who is Jesus Let me give you the first 5 (Psalm 2, 8, 16, 22, 23, 24). And take the rest as homework to go search.

When the woman encountered Jesus at the well, she expressed this expectation of the Jews clearly:

The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he (John 4:25-26).

This interaction clearly points us to expectation and fulfilment of the Messiah. So when this set of people declared “This is the Christ”, they were also expressing a strong conviction about who Jesus is. Dear friends, the words of Jesus brings conviction. It brings faith. It brings life: Jesus said “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:65). This means Jesus’ words is life giving. It leads to eternal life. It brings joy. That is what Jesus offers in the verses 37-38 which the people heard: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” This is eternal life. This is regeneration– change of heart where sinners are reconciled to God. This is the gift of God’s Spirit. John comments on Jesus words in verse 39 saying: Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Two things here: the receiving of the Holy Spirit for those who believe in Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ. Have you received the Spirit? I don’t mean do you speak in tongues? I mean are you saved? Has Jesus’ death been applied to your life? Jesus offers eternal life to all who will come to him and believe: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink”

I love the guys in verse 46: “The officers answered, No one ever spoke like this man!” See, they have been sent to arrest Jesus (v.32, 44). But they came back without the man. And in v 45, the Pharisees questioned them why they didn’t bring Christ. Their answer was that No one ever spoke like this man. They have heard many religious leaders. They have heard the scribes. They have heard the Pharisees. But this one man, is different. He spoke with power! He spoke with authority! He spoke as God. There is a similair incident in Matthew 7:29 where the people were astonished about the teachings of Jesus Christ in what is commonly called the Sermon on the mount

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

Dear friends, if you have believed in Jesus. If you have been saved, the words of Jesus should have such strong effect on you. You should love the words of Jesus. You should desire the words of Jesus. You should crave to know the words of Jesus. For in Jesus words your life is shaped.

As a believer, your joy in life, your hope, your future, everything you do rests on the word of God. It is your foundation. It is your very existence. It is your source of sanctification: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17), “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103). I say the litmus test or the evidence that you have truly been save is your desire for God’s word. The apostle Peter says so: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it, you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3”. Have you tasted that the Lord is good? Then this is how you will know it. A desire for God’s word.

Now our final example of conviction in the text is Nicodemus. He took a stand for Jesus. The Pharisees consider everyone who has believed in Jesus as cursed and ignorant (vv.47-49). But Nicodemus, took a stand for Jesus in v.46. He defended Christ.

Now, I cannot say from the text that these people came to salvation. But I can confidently say the words of Jesus had a convicting effect on them. They were clearly different from the ones who were Confused about Christ. While these express the truth of who Jesus is, the other people, questioned who he is. They were Confused about Christian

Confusion Over Christ

While some responded to the words of Jesus with conviction, we see the others responding with doubts and confusion over who Jesus is: “But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring David, and comes from Bethlehem the village where David was?” (v.41). Notice the clear contrast: “But some said…” This is making a contrast between those who affirmed who Jesus is and those questioning his identity. The people asking about the origins of Christ, asked the right question, but they were confused. Truly, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as was prophesied in Micah 5:2. Matthew clearly records the birth of Jesus as having taken place in Bethlehem

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ (Matthew 2:1-6).

Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem, so what’s their confusion? Firstly, Jesus did most of his ministry in Galilee, so perhaps they have thought he came from Galilee. In fact, he will remain in Galilee because the authorities sought to kill him (v.1)Secondly, their question is more of doubts than Jesus’ origin. Because they have heard him. They have seen the miracles he did. They have heard his own testimony. It is only doubt and rejection of who Jesus is. As John said, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). The King James says and the darkness comprehends it not. Jesus’ works shows who he is, but these people rejected him.

God has clearly shown himself to the world, but the world out of hatred, reject God. The world scorns, the world shows disdain. The world displays hatred towards Christ. That leads us to our final point

Contempt For Christ

The religious authorities also heard Jesus and the things the people were saying about him. And what was their response? They sent officers to arrest him (v.32). They openly displayed their hatred towards Christ. And they extended even that hatred to anyone who believed in Jesus (vv.47-49;52).

Today, the story is no different. Many people will not only reject Jesus through unbelief; but they hate him and everyone who believes in him. But that does not change anything, Jesus Christ is still working in the hearts of people and bringing them to salvation. There is life in Jesus’ words. He offers eternal life through his words.