2. John 7:10-52 - Feast of Tabernacles (7:2) - Several groups judging Jesus:
a. The Jews - v. 1 - Leaders/enemies -(v. 11).
b. His brothers - v. 3-5 - Did not believe in Him.
c. Multitudes - v. 12 - There for feast, unsure.
d. Jerusalemites - v. 25 - Curiosity and doubt.
e. Sanhedrin -v. 32, 45 - Rulers, faithless.
3. John 7:24 - Jesus invites righteous judgment of Himself (reach a decision, determination).
- 7:50-51 - Basis of judgment: Words and works.
I. HIS IDENTITY: WHO WAS HE?
A. He Claimed To Be God - John 5:17-18; 8:58; 10:30-36.
1. Only 2 alternatives to this claim:
a. FALSE (Knew it, or did not know it).
(1) If He knew it was false, He was a deliberate liar, hypocrite, demon and fool (died for it).
(2) If He did not know it was false, was sincerely deluded and a lunatic.
b. TRUE: LORD (Can accept or reject) - John 12:48.
2. Most misjudge Jesus - Isa. 53:3.
B. What People Said (Say) About Him - John 7:12ff (Matt. 16:13-16).
1. v. 12 - Good man (cf. Good moral teacher - Moral man doesn’t lie!).
2. v. 12 - Leads astray.
3. v. 20 - Have a demon (Deluded, deranged, visions of grandeur) - cf. He calmly mastered every situation.
4. v. 31 - Believed (Untested - Matt. 27:20-22).
a. v. 40 - The Prophet (Deut. 18:18).
b. v. 26-27, 41-42 - Christ.
II. HOW WILL WE JUDGE WHO HE WAS (IS)? - 7:24
A. His Teachings - John 7:14-18.
1. He claimed:
a. To speak from God - 7:15-18. (Sent to teach, He is true/righteous)
. . . "No man ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:46; Heb. 1:1-2)
b. To be from above - John 8:23-24.
. . . "You are a teacher come from God." (John 3:2)
c. To be the Christ - John 4:25-26.
. . . "We have found the Messiah!" (John 1:41)
d. To be sinlessness - John 8:46.
. . . "I find no fault in him!" (John 18:38; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22)
e. That He would rise from dead - Matt. 16:21 (John 11:25).
. . . "He is not here, he is risen!" (Matt. 28:6-7; 11-15)
f. That all should love and obey Him - Matt. 10:37; Lk. 6:46; John 14:15.
. . . "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
2. Jesus measures up to His teachings!
B. His Works - John 7:19-23.
1. Healed man - 7:21 (John 5:1-17).
. . . "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." (John 9:33)
2. "Broke" the Sabbath - John 7:21-23 (5:16, 18).
. . . "This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath!"
3. Forgives sin - 7:23 - Every whit whole (5:14-18 - Made whole, work of Father); Mark 2:5.
. . . "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7)
4. What do His works say about Him?
a. Enemies never denied His miracles--They attributed them to Satan (John 11:47; Matt. 12:22-24).
b. Didn't break law of Moses - John 7:23.
c. Healed and forgave sins! - Mark 2:5-12
d. He is Messiah, Son of God, Deity - John 10:37-38 (20:30-31).
Conclusion
1. John 7:24 - Having judged Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God, what must we do with that information?
2. John 7:37-39 - Believe, come and drink - Life (Spirit, His blessings of salvation - Acts 2:38).
3. Mark 16:15-16; Rom. 12:1 - Obey and be a faithful Christian.