01.12.2014 John p3 - Who is Jesus? Where does His Authority come from?

1.12.2014 John p3 - Who is Jesus? Where does His Authority come from? from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

1.12.2014 Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Lord, thank You for this opportunity to worship and be with You. Help us to live, this year, with hearts fully devoted to You. I ask that we would make commitments of our heart to follow You, to walk with You and to live in relationship with You this year. Help us to learn to be consistent in our relationship with You. Grant us Your grace and favor – give us hope that you long to do us good in 2014. We can’t see ahead to all the challenges we will face, but help us to go into the year knowing that You are working n our behalf. As we study the life of Christ and the book of John, open up to us what it means to be a Christian and what You have done for us – give us an understanding of how much You love us.
We will look at a couple passages in John – they are different things, but they really connect – they answer the same question – where does Jesus’ authority come from? Who is Jesus? Who are You that You do these things? What gives You the right to do and say these things? John demonstrates by actions and words that He is the Messiah. That is the primary point.
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 There He found in the temple [[b]enclosure] those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there [also at their stands].
15 And having made a lash (a whip) of cords, He drove them all out of the temple [[c]enclosure]—both the sheep and the oxen—spilling and scattering the brokers’ money and upsetting and tossing around their trays (their stands).
16 Then to those who sold the doves He said, Take these things away (out of here)! Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise (a marketplace, a sales shop)!
17 And His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Holy Scriptures], Zeal (the fervor of love) for Your house will eat Me up. [I will be consumed with jealousy for the honor of Your house.]
Some people really like this passage – they like this Jesus. Others don’t know what to make of this Jesus.
This action is calculated – very thoughtful and purposeful. This is not igniting a revolution – this is not the Boston Tea Party – He is not calling for rebellion. BUT – it is a prophetic call for restoration and reformation. He is calling them to return and repent for the way they are living. This would be expected of a prophet. If you look at the prophets – they would speak against what is going on in the temple.
18 Then the Jews retorted, What sign can You show us, seeing You do these things? [What sign, miracle, token, indication can You give us as evidence that You have authority and are commissioned to act in this way?]
They understood – he is calling for a reformation – a change – they know they have polluted the temple – it is meant for devotion to God. They are saying – show us your authority! Where do you get the right to think You can come in and do this? Show us Your credentials.
Jesus’ reply is unique -


19 Jesus answered them, Destroy (undo) this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.
This is his – one of His secret answers – perplexing to them. Where do I get the right? Look, destroy the temple and I’ll show you my authority –
20 Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will You raise it up in three days?
21 But He had spoken of the temple which was His body.
After He died, everyone understood what He was saying.
He is talking to them at their level – you haven’t even begun to understand my authority – in essence – you have completely missed it – your focus is on the wrong temple – there is another temple that has come that has authority and that is His body. He answers their question with that.
The temple is the holiest place – and in their minds, He is desecrating it. It leads Him to the cross – this is the accusation they bring – HE said He could rebuild the temple in 3 days.
To those He sold doves – do not make my Father’s house a marketplace.
My father.
In doing that – He is making Himself the SON. As the Son, I have full authority of my father.
He tells a parable about the owner of a vineyard who had servants taking care of the vineyard and other servants would come to collect, and they would beat the servants. Then he sends the son. Surely they will respect the son’s authority and give me what is mine – and the son comes – representative of the Father.
Jesus is representing God – with His full authority in every way. I have authority from My Father.
What has happened – they have mixed the worship of God with the ways of the market – the ways of the world. You have taken your relationship with Me, the place I live – and you have brought in all this stuff of the world. There is nothing wrong with markets. They actually needed a market for the buying and selling of sacrifices. Most used Roman money – and you could not use Roman money in the temple – that is why there were money changers – the problem was WHERE it was taking place. Before Jesus’ time, it took place outside the temple – and they brought the ways of the world directly into the house of God.
What is the temple of God today? Where is the house of God?
Two places: first, in each individual Christian – we are a temple that houses God. God lives inside the believer. But it is not just you as a believer, but we collectively as Christians are the temple of God.
Too often it is an individual thing – but it is really a community thing.
What temples would Jesus turn over today? As a community, - The table of gossip, critical spirit, assuming motives – that is inundated our society. The highest rated television shows, radio programs and news media have the most critical spirits, questioning motives – and that is what sells. The sad thing is – that is very true in the church – that has infiltrated the community.
Think about THAT the next time you want to bad-talk someone – or to believe the worst – you are taking that into the place where God lives when you do that – allowing it to come into the community. That is why He was flipping those tables – and I think He would flip that table over in America, because it is a table that needs to be flipped over.
Ways to deal with these things? First – if someone comes to you with that – encourage the person to talk to the person they are talking about. Just say – Have you talked to them? If they say no – Will you? What if we go talk to them together? I would be glad to talk to them with you.
Then if they say – I don’t want to do that – you need to graciously say – I can’t talk about this anymore with you.
If there is not a willingness to communicate your concern to another person – you will be affected by that – when I hear bad stuff about someone – we like it – I don’t want to tell people that, because then they won’t tell me anything! You don’t want them to tell you anything If they are not able to go work it out –
In the temple of God, there is not room for broken relationships. These things need to be addressed so that things could be healed – relationship could be healed. I’ll give you a couple more.
Second - on a bigger scale – this is not a table – this is helpful – second table – the table of segregation and separation. The church in America is one of the most segregated institutions in the world – race/politics/ - excepting massively enormous churches, you will find people of the same status. I think God would want to turn over that table.
For us – living where we are – being more diverse is a hard thing to do – but all of us can do this in our own lives. It starts there – as individuals – that is not the way I will be. Even the creation of opportunities – to nail that one – nail that coffin shut – it is our responsibility. It is a biblical thing – there is neither slave nor free, Greek nor Jew – this race thing needs to be broken down – learn to accept people who are different – and as a church, being able to welcome those who are different. I think what we need to do – create an atmosphere where that can happen – and it starts with each of us having a heart for this in our own lives. We need to be able to engage with those who have massive amounts of personal issues. Many of us struggle with that. We all have personal issues. It’s just that some people’s are more out there!
I think we need to learn that one.
We also need to create an atmosphere that makes disagreement acceptable and good. Not about orthodoxy – the historically true things that we must hold to and never let go of. But there is so much stuff that Christians have disagreed on through the centuries – and too often we think we need to show that they are wrong and we are right. We need to have disagreements with grace, charity, and humility – I may be wrong on this one – my way of thinking may not be right. Be humble. Be honest.
Third table – the table of quarreling.

I remember Knute Larson sharing two things: Where did you get that? and So What? - Oftentimes, people would use the Bible for things that they have heard that aren't really Biblical - and I realized that I said one of the things he was using as an example! I read and study a lot - and since then, I want to make sure, if I am teaching this - that what I am teaching is what it means! Then I started to go the other way - when I hear someone I sometimes think - You're just wrong on that - I could show you! But I am learning to recognize, as Christians, there are a lot of us committed to understanding and doing things right. Like that marriage seminar line - we are people of good will - and even though I might disagree with a conclusion on a specific issue, I appreciate that they are attempting to serve God fully, but we have come to a different understanding on this issue. Now, if it is something like the Trinity, or something that applies to basic Christian orthodoxy - it may be something to try to correct with love, grace, and dignity, because it is Truth that we must never let go of.

2 Tim. 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Kindness – not quarreling – patient with those who disagree – like the quarreling that takes place on the Internet – a magnet for controversy and quarreling. In the church – so much quarreling takes place – but the instruction is clear – Kind/patient/gentle – it goes overboard to show how to deal with it properly.
What tables would God turn over in your own life? What tables inside of you need to be flipped over and driven out with a whip? Table of lack of self-control/vanity/lust – have you seen the commercial of people destroying their cell phones so they can get a new one? That is how we live – things have to be updated – and it moves us to this consumeristic life of vanity. We have this attitude of upgrading – always getting the newest thing.
Nicodemus – authority.
John 3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
The high council was the protector of the nations – Nicodemus comes as an investigator – who are you and by what authority do you do these things?
He calls Him Rabbi – and he is trying to get info from Jesus – and Jesus replies not to Nicodemus’ question – but to his need.
Born from above – born again –
Jimmy Carter made this popular – first ‘born again’ president.
Nicodemus believed that his birth made him right – born a Jew – a Pharisee – a Rabbi – A leader on the council – but Jesus is saying- all that you are trusting in is not enough. That isn’t good enough. You have a shallow view of salvation – of the Kingdom – you think you need THIS – but you’ve missed it. He brings in this language of rebirth and transformation.
He is bringing in language of the Old Testament –
Nicodemus answers
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
Nicodemus thinks he has it right – but Jesus has to explain it to him.
Ezekiel 36:2525 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Your religion is not enough. A true understanding of things requires change:
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Titus 3: 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

We have a shallow view of salvation and conversion also – we have people who believe they were raised in a Christian family – so they think they are okay. But maybe there has never been that point of regeneration – being born from above.
We have people who have prayed a prayer who believe they are okay – but there has never been transformation – regeneration – a new birth.
For so many – it is a prayer that is supposed to be a ticket out of hell, but that is not what salvation is all about.
Real salvation transforms a person. That transformation is a process –and when someone comes to Christ, he or she begins that process. It is expected that their life will change. There are many who have said the prayer – walked the aisle – but have never really got it.
Jesus talked about the seed growing up and looking like it’s supposed to look – but it is not.
Jesus is talking to Nicodemus – he has followed the Torah his whole life – and Jesus is telling him – it may all be built on sand, because you must be transformed to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Lord – thank You that You are the one who does the work of transformation in our souls. I also thank You that is the evidence in our lives that we have a relationship with You. You shall know them by their fruits – You say it over and over again – a person who believes in Me will be different. SO often we are the same – but You long to transform us – help to place ourselves before you so that work of transformation can take place in our lies.