Work that must be done:

Context:

• Jesus explained the need to Abide in His Word and Live in His Truth.
• The traditions of men rather than kingdom truth make people slaves to sin.
• People must think beyond the natural to operate in the Father’s will.
• Knowing the Father and keeping the Father’s word is all important.

Now a blind man passes by, and the disciples question “...who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?...”

Is this an inappropriate question to ask?

• Jesus healed an invalid at the pool, then...
• John 5:14 “...Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you..."
• Jesus Himself expressed a relationship between sin and bad things.

• Luke 13:2-5 “...And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish...”
• Jesus also denied a one to one relationship, and emphasized the need for repentance.

John 9:3-5 “...Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world...”

Why does the “...who sinned...” question become a problem?

• It places the focus on the human condition, rather than on God’s intentions.
• The important thing isn’t the classification of sin and guilt.
• The important thing is that God is glorified when His work is being done.

When does the work of God get done?

• “...As long as I am in the world...”
• The light of the world is Jesus.
• Jesus is needed in the world.

Who does the work of God in our generation?

• Those who abide in Jesus.
• Those who live with Jesus.
• Those who walk with Jesus.

John 9:6-7 “...Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing...”

What did Jesus do?

• The work He was sent to do.

John 9:13-16 “...They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them...”

What happens when the work of God is done on earth?

• Arguments start among those who think they have all the answers.
• Opportunity is presented to glorify God.
• People choose to accept or reject the work of God on planet Earth.

John 9:35-41 “...Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains...”

What makes it difficult to accept the miraculous?

• A world view that will have nothing to do with God acting beyond our current experiences and expectations.

What did Jesus say happens to this type of person?

• They lose even the sight that they once had.

Does Jesus want to open the eyes of the blind today?

• There is Work to be Done.

Know Him and Keep His Word:

Context:

• Jesus had explained the need to Abide in His Word and Live in His Truth.
• The traditions of men rather than kingdom truth made people slaves to sin.
• Jesus accused the Jews of failing to hear.
• The Jews then accused Jesus of having a demon.

John 8:49-50 “...Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge...”

What characteristic identified Jesus as one who honored His Father?

• He didn’t seek His own glory.

What characteristic identified Lucifer?

• He sought his own glory.

What characteristic identified the Jews if they indeed were “...of your father the devil...”?

• They sought their own glory.

Whose glory do we seek? Who knows for sure?

• God is a judge who judges rightly, not just by appearances.

• John 7:24 “...Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment...”

John 8:51-53 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?...”

Why would the Jews having difficulty with “...he will never see death...”?

• They were thinking in physical, not spiritual terms.
• They weren’t hearing, or keeping the Words of Jesus.
• They were slaves to untruth.

• John 6:50 “...This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die...”
• John 5:24 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life...”
• John 11:25 “...Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,...”

Why do people have difficulty with Jesus?

• They think in physical, not spiritual terms.
• They don’t hear, or keep the Words of Jesus.
• They are slaves to untruth.

John 8:54-59 “...Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple...”

Why did the Jews pick up stones to throw at Jesus?

• The “...I am...” reference was considered blasphemy. Jesus was equating Himself with God, and this was strictly forbidden.

How would you feel if you were accused of not knowing the God you professed to serve?

What did Jesus claim as the difference between Himself and the Jews?

• He knew the Father.
• He kept the Father’s word.

Do we know Him and keep His word?

Truth Freedom:

John 8:31-32 “...So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...”

Did all Jews reject Jesus?

What advise did Jesus have for the Jews who believed Him?

• Abide in My word. Live in My truth.

What is demonstrated by those who “...abide in My word...”?

• Discipleship.
• Truth.
• Freedom.

What freedom do people need?

• Not freedom to do as they please.
• Freedom from falsehood.
• Freedom from a life that is perverted from the original intentions of God.
• Freedom from sin.

How do we know that Jesus is referring to truth freeing a person from sin?

John 8:34-38 “...Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father...”

How does sin make people slaves?

• A slave must do what his master demands.
• A slave can’t just decide to not be a slave.
• Sin is unrelenting, forcing itself upon those who have been captured by it.

What causes a person, even Abraham’s descendants, to become slaves to sin?

• Rejecting the word (“...my word finds no place in you...”).
• Living in less than the truth.
• Listening to the traditions of men (“...your father...”) rather than kingdom truth (“...My Father...”)

What does accepting less than the truth cause people to do?

• People take active steps to try to destroy that which opposes them.
• Abraham’s descendants sought to kill Jesus.
• The world’s offspring seek to silence the Words of Jesus.

John 8:39-41 “...They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father - even God...”

How do religious people become self deceived?

• Following traditions can lead to pride.

• Saying “...we have one Father, even God...” doesn’t always mean one is following God.

John 8:42-47 “...Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God...”

Why did Jesus say the Jews couldn’t understand what He said?

• They couldn’t bear to hear His words.
• The words He spoke were something they couldn’t receive.
• His words were too much for them?

When can people not “...bear to hear...” the words that Jesus speaks?

• When the words are different than they want to hear.
• When they are slaves to sin.

When can people hear the words of God?

• “...Whoever is of God hears the words of God...”
• People who have been set free by the truth are free to hear the truth.

• John 3:3 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...”

Do people who have not been born again hear the words of God?

Can a person be born again without hearing the words of God?

Do you value Truth Freedom?

Jesus From Above:

Context:

• Jesus claims to be the light of the world.
• Jesus claims there is a way to avoid walking in darkness.
• Jesus claims that knowing the Father is possible.
• Now Jesus starts talking about His future, and His listeners future.

John 8:21-24 “...So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins...”

Why will people die in their sin?

• Rejecting the One who offers salvation is a deadly mistake, a grave sin.
• There is a difference between this world and the place where Jesus is going.
• The only escape from death is to believe in the Jesus from above.

Is it possible to believe in Jesus and die in sin?

• Did the Pharisees believe in a Messiah, but miss something?

Is it possible to profess a belief in a Jesus, but not believe in the Jesus from above?

John 8:25-26 “...So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him...”

Why did the Jews ask “Who are you”?

• Jesus had said the only escape from death was to believe in Him.
• They didn’t know Him.

What does it mean “to know Him”?

How is “knowing Him” different than “knowing about Him”?

What important declaration did Jesus make in reply to the Jews “Who are you” question?

• Jesus had been expressing Himself from the beginning.
• Jesus had much more to say, and much to judge.
• Jesus claimed to have been sent by the One who is true.
• He declared that He had heard from the One who is true.

John 8:28-29 “...So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him...”

When did Jesus say things would be better known?

• When He was lifted up.

What would be better known?

• The reason for His death.
• The reason for His willingness to go to the cross.

Why is it easier for us to understand these words of Jesus than for the listeners at the time the words were spoken?

• Perspective.

How do things we don’t currently understand become more understandable with time?

• Worldly perspective is extremely limited.
• Heavenly perspective is difficult to grasp prior to the completion of the events “...that are pleasing to him...”
• We must listen carefully to heavens explanations, then walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 “...for we walk by faith, not by sight...”

2 Corinthians 5:9 “...we make it our aim to please him...”