Athanasius was a bishop of the Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt in the 4th century. At that time, there was a major controversy hurting Christianity that centered on the nature of Jesus. Was He God-in-the-flesh or was he not? The man who was leading the forces who denied Jesus was God-in-the-flesh was a man named Arius. Arius was an elder of another church, also in Alexandria.
Arius was having great success in convincing people that Jesus could not be God-in-the-flesh. He said Jesus was some kind of subordinate, lesser being. Because of the strength of Arius’s teachings, Athansius was sent into exile five times to get him to change his views. He was brought before the emperor, Theodosius, who demanded Athanasius stop opposing Arius and His teaching.
The emperor said, “Do you not realize that all the world is against you?” To that question, Athanasius responded, “Then I am against all the world.”
How courageous are you about defending the teaching about Jesus and also the teaching from Jesus?
As we examine our text, we are going to see that Christians, as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, are called to suffer. If we want to live a life of joy with Jesus, then we need to be ready to suffer for the sake of our commitment to Christ.
THE SETTING – 7:1-9:
In John 7, we have the Feast of Booths going on. The Feast of Booths, or the Feast of Tabernacles as your translation might give it, was the most popular of the Jewish feasts.
Jesus’ physical brothers challenge Him to go to Jerusalem during the feast, and do His miracles, and show Himself to the world. Jesus’ brothers, at this point, do not believe Jesus’ message (verse 5).
In verse 6, Jesus says His “hour” to reveal His Messiahship is not yet. The world hates Him (verse 7) because Jesus testifies about its wickedness. Here is the first instance in this context of the willingness you and I need to have, even as Jesus did, to stand up for God’s teachings and to teach God’s teachings accurately, regardless of how that teaching might impact me and you.
JESUS MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN – 7:14-24:
At the right time, decided by the Father, in the middle of the week, Jesus goes into the temple and He starts teaching.
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Jesus points out that His teaching has divine authority (vs 16). The difference between knowing God’s will and not knowing God’s will is a matter of your heart (vs 17). If we want to know God’s will, then we can know God’s will. It is all a matter of: Where does your heart lie?
A man who does not teach accurately God’s doctrine does so because He is afraid of offending men or afraid of having to stand alone when men want to hear something different. That’s verse 18a. You either hold to the doctrine found in the Bible, because your highest goal is to honor God, or you do not hold to the doctrine found in the Bible, because your highest goal is self-preservation or honoring yourself.
WHO IS JESUS? – 7:25-36:
The Jews have seen Jesus for three years; some, like His brothers, have watched Him grow up. He does not “fit” their expectations of the Messiah; therefore, He could not be the Messiah!
In verse 28, seemingly in frustration, Jesus calls out: “Yes! You know Me and you know where I am from!” The Jews did not understand Christ as thoroughly as they thought and claimed they did. The Pharisees heard some of the Jews were becoming disciples of Christ and it bothered them. They sent officers to seize Jesus and arrest Him. Do you have that kind of courage to stand up for the doctrine of the New Testament?
It takes courage to stand up to our friends and our family and our co-workers, as Jesus does here, and defend the doctrines of the Bible, regardless of how it impacts our relationship. We must have the courage to stand with Jesus even if it means that we stand alone. Even if it means our doctrine we teach turns people away. God forbid that we turn people away because we make laws where God has not made them! God forbid that we turn people away even if we teach the truth, but because we do so arrogantly, unlovingly, or in a condescending way. Let us stand with Jesus, even if it means that we, too, are seen as narrow-minded, exclusive, and even “legalistic.” If we are living the commandments of God in our lives, without addition, without alteration, then God will be with us and only then can we live a true “life of joy.”
JESUS CALLS US TO SUFFER WITH HIM – 7:37-39:
If you are spiritually thirsty, go to Jesus for your spiritual water. He and His doctrine, alone, can fulfill your spiritual needs. Don’t go to man. Go to Jesus. Study His doctrine. Base your beliefs, your practices, your life on what Jesus says to do. By all means, don’t teach anything that has its origins in you or your heart. Just teach the Bible, the message from the Holy Spirit. That is enough.
If you wish to live a life of joy with Jesus, you must have the courage to suffer for the sake of His truth.
Paul Holland
