Jesus - What's So Different About Jesus? - John 6, 9 and 20 - October 17,2010

Bible Study – Jesus – What’s So Different About Jesus? – October 17, 2010

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “The Case for Jesus.”
Our scripture is John 6:66-69; 9:17, 24-25, 31-33, 35-38; 20:26-29.
Who is JESUS? Who is JESUS to you? A great man? A delusional person who wanted his ten minutes of fame? Or is HE the SON of GOD?


Some of JESUS’ followers turned away from HIM. Take Peter, one of JESUS’ disciples. He walked with JESUS for about three (3) years. He witnessed many miracles, yet when JESUS was arrested he denied HIM three (3) times. After denying HIM, Peter could have walked away but he didn’t. Peter repented of his denial of CHRIST and went on to be an apostle. After JESUS was resurrected, Peter saw and touched the resurrected CHRIST. Peter watched as CHRIST ascended into heaven after HIS forty (40) days stay on earth after HIS resurrection. So why did Peter come back after he had denied CHRIST three (3) times? Did he remember some of the things JESUS had said to HIS disciple before HIS crucifixion? Did he begin to see the truth?


Many Christians become disillusioned about who CHRIST is and what role HE is to play in their lives. I know I did. I had defined CHRIST as I wanted HIM to be and guess what? HE disappointed me. HE did not measure up to my expectations. CHRIST did not measure up to Peter’s expectations and he denied HIM. So what can we do when CHRIST does not measure up? Ask HIM to reveal truth to us. It is important to study GOD’S Word, to trust and pray to find the truth. It has been a long journey for me and I am still discovering wonderful truth. My misconceptions and false notions are slowly being dispelled. It is part of the sanctification process.


So how do we get misconceptions and false notions? Much comes through well meaning Bible teachers, televangelists, Christian friends, preachers and our filter system. We have selective hearing and read into things we hear or read to apply them quickly to our situation at that moment. Keep in mind that all Christians are the enemy of Satan. He wants to deceive, discourage, defeat and destroy all Christians. He does not want any Christian to live the abundant life that has been planned for every Christian.


Let’s explore our scripture. What on earth was going on when JESUS’ followers were turning their backs on HIM?


Let’s read John 6:66-69:
66 From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!”[17]


JESUS had fed the five (5) thousand the day before and walked on water to catch up with the boat headed for the opposite shore. The crowd whom HE had fed missed HIM and learned that HE had gone to the opposite shore. They followed HIM to the other side the next day. JESUS told them that they were looking for HIM not because they sought Spiritual food but because HE had fed them physically and not because they recognized HIM as the SON of GOD. They were looking for a free meal/a hand out.


HE made the connection between the physical bread they had eaten and HIM being the Bread of Life/Spiritual Bread. HE told them that HE came from heaven, that HE was the living bread and whoever eats this bread will never die. HE was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Those listening to HIM, referred to as disciples/followers, said HIS teaching was hard and who could accept it? This leads us to our scripture.


From that moment, many of HIS disciples turned back. JESUS did not run after them or change HIS message in an effort to lure them back. HE was not trying to build a feel good following. HE was focused on truth. HE was and is truth. HE was not in a popularity contest. At first blush one might conclude that the original disciples were the ones who were turning their backs on HIM. We read further that JESUS directed a specific question to the twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”


Peter answered for the twelve. This was the same Peter who denied HIM when HE was arrested. Peter was convinced that JESUS was the promised Messiah. So what had Peter and the other disciples, as well as many of JESUS’ followers, concluded about JESUS? They thought HE would be a political Messiah. HE would deliver them from Roman rule. They were looking for an earthly kingdom, not a Spiritual Kingdom. It is easy for our circumstances to shape our theology.


It is easy for us to draw the wrong conclusions about the Spiritual plans of GOD which are accomplished through a blend of the Spiritual and physical worlds. In our next scripture we fast forward in the ministry of JESUS.


Let’s read John 9: 17, 24-25, 31-33, 35-38:
17 Again they asked the blind man,[3] “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” “He’s a prophet,” he said.


JESUS had healed a man who had been blind from birth. The man’s parents had confirmed to the Jewish religious leaders that their son had been blind since birth. They had never seen such a miracle and neither had they ever heard of such a miracle. So they questioned the man whose eyes JESUS had healed. The previously blind man answer was. “He’s a prophet.”


24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God.[4] We know that this man (JESUS) is a sinner!” 25 He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”


The religious leaders approached the healed man for a second time to ask him to give GOD the credit because they knew the man who had healed him was a sinner. The healed man gave a classic response, “I was blind, and now I see!” He did not need any more proof than that. This is what happens when a number of people experience salvation. They were Spiritually blind but when they asked JESUS to forgive them for their sins, believed that CHRIST died for them on the cross and asked HIM to come into their lives, it was as dramatic as a physically blind person receiving his/her sight. Not everyone has this dramatic transformation. Some experience the unveiling of their Spiritual eyes gradually.


31 We (The religious leaders plus the healed man) know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Throughout history[5] no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything.”


The healed man was lecturing the religious leaders because he saw that they were struggling in an effort to determine the Spiritual nature of the person who had healed him. It was hard for the religious leaders to accept the fact that the blind man was healed. He was asking them to follow his logic - GOD does not listen to sinners but if a person was GOD-fearing and does HIS will, HE listens to that person. Neither the healed man nor the religious leaders had ever heard of anyone healing the eyes of a person born blind. Therefore, the person who healed him must be a GOD-fearing person. The religious leaders kicked him out. How dare the healed man try to usurp their religious expertise.


Does this sound familiar? Human religious leaders today think that just because they have the title, they are endowed with great Spiritual knowledge and discernment. GOD is no respecter of persons. HE will speak and reveal to whomever HE chooses. The Bible tells us that HE spoke through a jack ass.


35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, “Do you believe in the • Son of Man?”[7]36 “Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” he asked. 37 Jesus answered, “You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you.” 38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped Him.


JESUS heard that the man HE had healed was banished by the religious leaders and HE went to him. It seems that GOD wanted the religious leaders to banter about who healed the man with the man in an effort to get them to open their hearts to HIM. Nothing doing, they had their minds made up and were not open to change. Stubbornness is an evil thing that blocks the Spirit of GOD from working in a person’s heart.


It was clear that the man JESUS healed was firm in his faith. His heart was open to salvation. JESUS approached him for a second time and opened his eyes Spiritually. WOW!!! The love of GOD is overwhelming. GOD never gives up on a person but HE chooses the right time to approach him/her to reveal Himself.


Notice the words of the man healed, “I believe, LORD.” Notice that immediately following his acknowledgement of CHRIST, he worshiped HIM. When CHRIST opens our Spiritual eyes it leads us to worship. We see CHRIST in a totally new light. HE is the SON of GOD, our SAVIOR. The process of sanctification leads us to know HIM in a more intimate, loving way. During the process we build a relationship with CHRIST.


Let’s read John 20:26-29:
26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” 28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.[8]Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”


JESUS had been crucified, buried and resurrected. Mary Magdalene had seen JESUS after the resurrection and reported it to the disciples. The disciples were locked in a room and JESUS appeared to them. Thomas was not present. They told Thomas about their encounter with JESUS, What was Thomas’ reaction? John 20:24-25 says it best:


24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!”


So, eight days later the disciples are again behind closed and locked doors and Thomas was with them. JESUS appeared to them and challenged Thomas to check HIM out. JESUS challenged him to place his finger in the nail scars in HIS hands and place his hand in HIS side.


Thomas did not need to touch HIM, just seeing HIM was convincing enough. JESUS told him that he believed because he had seen HIM but blessed are those who believe without physically seeing HIM.


Christians see JESUS with their Spiritual eyes. The indwelling HOLY SPIRIT secures and confirms a Christian’s salvation. The HOLY SPIRIT teaches, enlightens, empowers, confirms, comforts, guides and reveals.


JESUS is not out to win a popularity contest but HE is about truth. When I have been disappointed in JESUS, it has been because I have gotten ahead of HIM or learned that I had false notions and made false assumptions. If CHRIST has disappointed you tell HIM and ask HIM to reveal truth to you. Then look for HIS answer. It will come if you do not close your mind.