Would it surprise you to hear that a significant amount of the Gospel of John centers around conflicts Jesus had during His ministry. From Herod’s wrath at Jesus’ birth to angry mobs seeking His death, Jesus was acquainted with grief (Is 53:3). John prepared us for this reality when he wrote: “The true light, who gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own and His own people did not receive Him” (1:9-11). Jesus told Nicodemus, “This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed” (3:19-20). The darkness hates the light and seeks to put it out at all costs. Therefore, it should not surprise us that Jesus had conflict during His ministry. This morning, we will consider one conflict more closely.
Questioned by the People
The crowd questioned Jesus. They saw Jesus. They saw the signs He performed. They heard His teaching. They even knew where the Messiah would be born. Yet they were fearful of following Jesus. They saw His light, but hated it because He exposed their sin. They feared the religious leaders and were divided in their opinions. Some believed that Jesus was not the Messiah, but the Prophet (7:40) who was prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15. They were correct that Jesus is the Prophet to come (Acts 3:22-24) but they failed to see that He is also the Messiah. Others in the crowd believed that Jesus is the Messiah (7:41) but were confused about Him. They asked, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does He?” They knew the Scripture said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but they did not realize that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem. The people were divided about Jesus.
Rejected by the Authorities
The religious leaders rejected Jesus. They saw Jesus. They knew the signs He performed demonstrated that He was from God (John 3:2). Yet they were offended by His teaching and His works and refused to believe Him. Not only did they not believe in Him, they sought to kill Him because they were convinced He was a blasphemer. They saw His light, but hated it because He exposed their sin. They rejected Him because He did not do what they wanted.
The religious leaders had previously sent the temple police to arrest Jesus (7:32). When the police returned the rulers asked, “Why haven’t you brought Him?” (7:45). The police replied, “No man ever spoke like this!” (7:46). The rulers were indignant. They replied, “Are you fooled too? Have any of the rulers believed in Him? Or any of the Pharisees? But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed!” (7:47). The rulers are getting nervous that the crowd will follow Jesus and sought to put an end to Him.
Loved by the Disciples
The Disciples loved Jesus. They saw Jesus. They knew the signs He performed demonstrated that He was from God. They might not have understood all He said, but knew as Peter said, “Lord…You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). They saw His light and they came to the light because they love Him.
Nicodemus boldly spoke up on Jesus’ behalf. He said, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (7:51). This statement was costly to Nicodemus and it would have been easier for him to remain silent. The other Pharisees mocked Nicodemus, “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” (7:52). They sought to shame him and even made the erroneous claim “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee” (7:53). They were either mistaken or lying because Jonah and Nahum most likely came from Galilee (and probably others as well!). Also in Isaiah 9, the Lord spoke of the coming Messiah and said that “He will bring honor…to Galilee of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned” (Is 9:1-2). What the rulers meant as an insult is actually a compliment. Nicodemus, at this point, is struggling with publicly identifying with Jesus. He was the Pharisee who met with Jesus at night (John 3). This rebuke would help Nicodemus be courageous in the coming days. We learn later that he worked with Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Jesus’ body for burial (John 19:39).
Humbled or Hardened by the Lord
J.C. Ryle commented: “These verses show us, for one thing, how useless is knowledge in religion, if it is not accompanied by grace in the heart.” Many of the people in Jesus’ day saw His miracles and heard His teaching and remained unconverted. The warning is clear that no unbelieving person—no matter what they profess, what they have or have not done—will enter the kingdom of God. We may attend worship services regularly, we may give consistently, we may be a member of a local church and even attend Wednesday night prayer meetings, but if we are not truly born again and possess genuine faith we will be damned. Jesus makes this very clear in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven will enter. The faith you profess must be the faith you possess or else it is useless.
Vance Havner once said, “The same sun melts ice and hardens clay, and the Word of God humbles or hardens the human heart.” Does the Word of God humble us or harden us? How can we know? Here are a few diagnostic questions:
- Are you in regular communion with God through prayer and Bible study?
- When you read and/or hear the Scriptures, do you consider how you are to think, speak, and act differently based on what you have read/heard?
- Does it grieve you when you become aware of your sin against God and others?
- Are you willing to forgive those who sin against you and seek forgiveness from those you have sinned against?
- Do you enjoy the gathering of the Church and make it a priority in your life?
The Apostle Peter wrote, “All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). The true light has come into the world, are you drawn to it or fleeing from it?
First Baptist Scott City, MO 
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