???????????????????????????????????????????????JOHN 7:32-53 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Lesson # 16

???????????????????????????????????FINDING THE TRUTH OR GETTING A WIN

I.? Introduction:

???????????Note:? We are going to watch some interesting arguments in tonight’s lesson.? There will be some cheating because the Pharisees are starting to lose, but before we begin have you ever watched friends or people at work argue….

???????????Q? Have you ever watched people argue and someone in the argument starts to cheat because they are losing?

???????????Q? How did they react then?? What are some of the things they did when they saw they were losing?

???????????Q? Why do people cheat when they start to lose?

???????????Q? Have you ever lost an argument to an authority and were not sure they played fair?

???????????Q? Why do authorities have to win an argument?

Note:? Jesus had made some telling arguments in the earlier part of the chapter and was starting to get some positive results among some of the people.

???????????Let me read to you John 7:31.?? This was disturbing to the leaders and rulers of Jesus’ day and they were not happy.? Lets see what unfolds….

II. ?Reaction Of The Leaders To The Crowd’ Semi-Positive Comments:? Arrest Him.? John 7:32-36.

>>>>? Have someone read John 7:32.

???????????Q? What was the Leader’s reaction?? What motivated it.

????????????? An = They sent officers to arrest Jesus because they heard the semi-positive response of the multitude.? They were jealous.? When someone seems to have some type of power with the people, there is always concern among the ruling class.

>>>> Have someone read John 7:33-34.

???????????Q? Jesus is in trouble now does He back off?? What does He do?

????????????? An = He makes a prophesy about His future action.? He will go back soon to the One Who sent Him.

???????????Q? What does Jesus mean?

???????????Q? Why is Jesus so vague and not specific about His future actions?

>>>> Have someone read John 7:35-36.

???????????Q? What is their response?

???????????Q? Do they ask Jesus their questions?? Why not?

????????????? An = After their answers ask everyone to turn to >>> Matthew 7:6-7 and have someone read these two verses.? The religious leaders got no answer because they asked Jesus no questions.?

???????????Q? Are their religious seekers today who never talk to God, but only about Him.? They only discuss theology among themselves, but never talk to God?

???????????Q? Do you do that sometimes? ???

III.? Jesus’ Last Sermon At The Festival:? An Invitation to Come, Receive, Empower.? John 7:37-39

>>>>? Have someone read John 7:37-38.

???????????Q? What is Jesus saying here?

???????????Q? He is making a promise here in verse 37, what is it?

????????????? An = If you come you will be able to drink?

???????????Q? What is the pre-condition to coming and then being able to drink?

????????????? An = You must be thirsty, not arrogant with a lot of religious or academic knowledge.? >>>>? Have someone read I Corinthians 8:1.

???????????Q? What does this mean?

???????????Q? Why does Jesus say you have to be thirsty before you can come and drink?

????????????? An = >>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:6.

???????????Q? What does it mean to be thirsty?

???????????Q? How is verse 38 related to verse 37?? Is it interpreting 37, and if so how?

???????????Q? What is new about verse 38, what is added that is not present in verse 37?

????????????? An = coming and drinking seems to be the same as believing, but a new thing is added they will not only be satisfied, but become sources of blessing and refreshment for others.

???????????Q? What is this living water?

>>>>? Have someone read John 7:39.

???????????Q? If the Spirit of God is the living water that flows from those who believe, then if the Spirit does not flow out of us, is that a sign that we do not believe?

IV.? Mixed Reaction of the Multitude:? Some Open and Some Hiding in Technicalities.? John 7:40-44

>>>> Have someone read John 7:40-44.

???????????Q? What are the three reactions recorded here?

????????????? An = The reaction was mixed:? Some think He is a Prophet, He is the Christ, He comes from the wrong city.

???????????Q? Is Jesus guilty of the technicality of being from the wrong city?

????????????? An = Actually no.? He was indeed born in the city of Bethlehem.? If they had inquired directly of Him, they would have learned that.? Because they discussed theology instead of talking to God, they were left confused.?

???????????Q? Are we guilty of using technicalities when we doubt God?? What technicalities do we use to put off God?

????????????? An = If we really want the truth about God, we should truly be thirsty, but thirsty for righteousness sake.? We should seek the truth.? We should talk to God, we should pray openly and honestly seeking wisdom from God.? If we believe, He will give us abundantly what we ask (James 1:5-7).

Note:? In a similar and someone related vein:? if we have a problem with another person we should go to them directly.? Sometimes a lot is solved if we just ask the person.? A lot of grief can be avoided.? >>> Read to them John 7:12.? They knew Jesus was a good man.? He did good things (He healed a man sick for 38 years).? Ask good people if you have problems with what they are doing, or seem to have done.

???????????Q? One more thought on these verses, why did they not seize Him?

????????????? An = see John 7:30.? It was not His time yet.

V.? Discussion Between the Officers and the Chief Priest and Pharisees:? John 7:45-52.

???????????Note:? The author has left us hanging for a few verses since he announced that the leaders (a joint decision of the Chief Priest, usually a Sadducee, and the Pharisees, who did not usually agree with the Sadducees) had sent officers to arrest Jesus.

>>>> Have someone read John 7:45-46.

???????????Q? What do you think of the officer’s answer?

???????????Q? Who are these people questioning the officers?? Are they pagans or part of the believing community of that day?? Who would they be today?

>>>> Have someone read John 7:47-49.

???????????Q? What is their answer to the officers’ enchantment with Jesus’ words?

????????????? An = It is in the form of rhetorical questions and a statement.? They ask the officers to think about the correctness of their thinking with the first question.

???????????Q? The second rhetorical question and final statement in verse 49 asks the officers to think about what issue?

????????????? An = Just who is it that follows or admires these words of this Jesus?? The argument is not one of logical investigation based on the truth or falseness of Jesus’ actions or words but on “who” buys into Him.

???????????Q? Is this a logical way to argue, is this type of argument still used today?? Where have you heard it?

???????????Q? Do these leaders have a lot of respect for the thinking of the common man?

>>>>? Have someone read John 7:50-51.

???????????Q? What is Nicodemus asking them to do before they judge the truth or falseness of Jesus?

????????????? An = He asks them to do a most logical thing:? gather evidence first hand, by listening and learning what He is doing.? This is exactly what Nicodemus did.? He went personally to Jesus and asked his questions directly of Jesus.? Nicodemus was truly thirsty.

>>>>? Have someone read John 7:52.

???????????Q? How did the other leaders respond to Nicodemus?

????????????? An = With a personal attack in their first rhetorical question and with a technicality in their second rhetorical question.

???????????Q? Did they respond to Nicodemus’ request to gather evidence before they made a condemnation?

????????????? An = No, they did not.? They hid in technicalities.? They were not thirsty.

???????????Q? Do conservative Christians sometimes hide in technicalities when judging others?

????????????? An = Give example of the TV preacher comment and your discussion with Randall.

Note:? We need to be like Nicodemus, get evidence, listen and get to know those we judge.? Like Nicodemus we need to be thirsty, because if we are we will drink and we will become fountains of living waters, flowing with the Spirit.?

???????????If the Spirit is not flowing, then maybe we should pray for “thirst”.

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