Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. We’ve seen crackdowns on Christianity (and other religions) in China. A recent report detailed testimonies of the atrocities against Christians in North Korea. Nigeria, which is fairly evenly split between Christians and Muslims has seen increasing hostility towards Christian in certain regions of that country. And in recent weeks in France, we’ve seen attacks against Christians. In the city of Nice, three people were stabbed to death this week.
Over 260 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution
2,983 Christians killed for their faith
9,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked
3,711 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned
The reality of persecution should not surprise Christians. The New Testament repeatedly talks of the inevitable opposition for those who follow Christ. In 2 Timothy 3:12, the Apostle Paul says: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10).
And there are numerous other scriptures that could be referenced. The gospel is offensive to the world because it confronts people with their sin. It’s offensive to the world because it points to one way to heaven. It’s offensive because it takes man’s own goodness out of the equation for what justifies a person before God.
In America, we’re blessed to enjoy a rich history of faith and constitutional protections. But we should regularly pray for those who are persecuted for their faith.
I also think it’s important in America to appreciate the religious freedoms that we have. As we’re in the final days before the presidential election, I do see fears from some Evangelical Christians about persecution or limitations on churches if Joe Biden is elected president. While I appreciate that there are things Joe Biden supports which are totally against Christianity, I think doomsday fears of the purge on American Christianity are also an overreach.
Yes, Christians should always be attentive of what’s happening and vigilant to preserve and protect our rights. But I also think it’s important to remember the people who truly suffer for their faith, and who’s lives are truly endangered for following the Lord Jesus.
Prayer Lord, on this international day of prayer for the persecuted church, we pray for those who are persecuted for the cause of Christ. Just this week, there were attacks on churches in France. Persecution is on the rise in many parts of the world. Lord, we pray for those who worship you at a great cost to themselves, their families, their livelihoods, and their lives. Lord, may you be near to them. Lord may those people never been far from our hearts and minds. Lord, in spite of man’s attempts to thwart your gospel, we pray for the work of pastors and evangelists in these hostile places. May the word go forth. May the truth be preached. May the message of Christ crucified be proclaimed and believed. In Jesus’ name, amen.
25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”
30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Our heavenly Father,
We praise you for this day and for the opportunity to come together again and to worship you. May you bless our time as we study your word and proclaim your gospel.
May our hearts and minds be transformed by the truths of your scriptures. That Jesus is the Lord who has come into the world to redeem sinful humanity. Lord, we continue to pray for our community as covid cases are on the rise. May we continue to trust in you but to also exercise wisdom in our actions. We pray for our state and the surrounding areas.
Lord, we pray for our nation. It’s been an exhausting year with covid, economic issues, civil unrest, and heated political tensions. May we continue to rise above all of that and to trust in you above all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Introduction
Part of this section we’ve preached over the last couple of weeks.
But to make sense of where we’re going in the passage, I think it’s important to have some of what precedes today’s section. As we’ve noted numerous times, Jesus is speaking to a large group of people in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths.
And so I look at this entire passage as three main scenes. Verses 25-36 is what we looked at two weeks ago.
Verses 37-39 is the second scene. That’s where we were last weekend.
And the remainder of our passage is the third scene and where we’ll spend most of our time.
But I think the first point to make if you were to look at the first scene and the third scene is that they both have a lot of similarities to each other.
Both at the beginning and end of the passage, we see confusion as to the origins and identity of Jesus. In the beginning and ending scenes, we see that there are some people who are drawn to Jesus but we also see there are people who reject Jesus. In both the first and last scenes, you see people questioning what others believe about Jesus, sometimes in accusatory tones. In both the first and final scene of this passage, there are attempts to arrest Jesus which are unsuccessful.
And the reason why I point all of these out is because I believe that makes the second scene the hinge of the whole story where in the midst of all of the chaos and the raucous environment surrounding Jesus, he stands up and says:
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’
We see all of the division and differing opinions among the various groups in this chapter…
That’s the way the world is.
The world has all sorts of assumptions that it makes for who Jesus is.
And that’s what we see in this passage.
There are those who are asking if he could be the Christ. There are those who are trying to explain why Jesus can’t be who he claims to be. You have those who are outwardly hostile to Jesus and his claims.
That’s how the world is today.
We have these groups.
We have all sorts of assumptions about Jesus.
And it’s in the midst of all of that that Jesus says:
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
We can have all sorts of assumptions about Jesus.
But what the middle of the passage is telling us is that none of that matters.
Jesus isn’t calling people to have it all figured out and then come to him.
He’s not saying that we need to be master theologians.
He’s not saying we need to get all of our ducks in a row morally and then come to him.
He’s not giving an exhaustive explanation of the Old Testament and why he is the Christ and should be worshipped and praised.
He says: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Regardless of the arguments for or against Jesus. Regardless of what a person thinks about Jesus or what the world tells about Jesus.
That if we truly want to know Jesus and what he is all about that we have to experience Jesus.
Psalm 34:8 says: taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
We can have all sorts of opinions about Jesus. But he invites us to come to him and know him. He invites us to experience him.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
He invites us to find our rest in him. He invites us to approach him. He invites us to find our hope.
Jesus doesn’t say in this passage that the strong or superior find rest in him, but it it those who are heavy laden.
That is the goodness of Jesus. He came to a dead world to bring life. He came to a guilty world to bring forgiveness. He came to a prideful world to bring grace.
Jesus calls us to believe in him.
Romans 10:13 says: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
And again, a verse we looked at last week.
Revelation 22:17: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Jesus invites us. He invites us to come to him.
He invites the Spiritually thirsty to come to him and to drink the water that he offers.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’
That’s the offer Jesus makes to the crowd in John 7. And it’s the offer that he makes to the whole world. For those who are Spiritually thirsty to come to him, to know him, to believe in him, to worship him, to come and drink.
And with that, we come to our passage. And in the fallout of what Jesus has just said, we will see three different responses from the audience.
Positive response to Jesus
Verses 40 into 41: 40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.”
So some suggest that Jesus could be the prophet. Others suggested Jesus could be the Christ.
They’re both right.
In the first century, there were some who thought that these were two different figures. In reality, Jesus is both.
Let’s explain this further.
For the people who have heard Jesus teaching and wonder if he could be “the” prophet, the is important there.
Because they’re not questioning if Jesus could be a prophet like Isaiah or Ezekiel.
They’re asking if he could be the prophet which is a reference to Deuteronomy 18. In that passage, Moses is still leading the Israelites in their desert wanderings and he talks of a future time when a greater leader than he would come to lead Israel.
Deuteronomy 18:15: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen-
And so people question if Jesus could be this long ago promised prophet.
We actually discussed this over a year ago when we were in chapter 1.
When John the Baptist was teaching and there were people who wondered if he was the prophet. He was quick to set the record straight that he was not.
In John 6, after Jesus fed the multitudes, the immediate response of the crowd given in John 6:14 was:
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
So back in our passage, there are people who wonder if Jesus could be the prophet.
But you also have those who wonder if Jesus could be the Christ.
And I think it’s helpful to give a reminder that when they refer to Jesus as the Christ, the word Christ is not a name, it’s a title.
The word “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Christos” which means anointed. In the Old Testament, the high priest, the kings of Israel, and the prophets would be anointed with oil. The olive oil would be ceremonially poured on them.
Also in the temple, some of the items were also anointed with oil.
The anointing was meant to show that a thing was consecrated to the Lord and set aside.
In the first century, there were people who were looking forward to a coming anointed one. A coming Christ.
And so when Jesus is teaching here, there are people who wonder if he could be that person.
So we do have two camps who see something special in Jesus. Is he the prophet? Is he the Christ?
The answer is: yes.
He’s both.
He is the prophet. And he is the Christ. Jesus who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of both.
He is the long ago promised prophet to lead Israel into the true Promised Land: the new heaven and the new earth. But he is also the anointed one. He is the Christ.
He fulfills the Old Testament. He lived a perfect life. He went to the cross and died and rose so that all who believe in him can be forgiven.
So that’s our first scene. That’s the favorable response to who Jesus is.
That’s not saying that all of the people in that camp were confessing believers or truly understood the gospel. But they’re drawn to Jesus.
So that’s our first group. People who have a favorable response to Jesus. This group is drawn to Jesus.
Disbelieving response to Jesus
We come to a second group.
Others are explaining that he can’t be the Christ. This second group is people who don’t believe in Jesus but they’re not also militant in their opposition.
Rest of verse 41 through the end of verse 43:
But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him.
Again, you have this long expected Christ figure and so the Israelites had opinions of what he would be like.
Just like at the beginning of this section, the passage we looked at two weeks ago, some look to the origins of Jesus as disqualifying to his being the Christ.
Some of the people point to the fact that Jesus is from Galilee and look at that as the reason as to why Jesus cannot be the Christ. Because the Jewish people all knew Micah 5:2: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
The Christ had to come from Bethlehem.
Which Jesus did.
They said that the Christ had to come from the line of David. Which Jesus did.
So what’s happening is there are people in the crowd who actually do have some correct understanding of the Bible but they do not have correct understanding of the facts about Jesus.
Makes me think of the Mark Twain quote: “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.”
That’s something we can all be guilty of. Having our facts wrong. But in this case, that falsity is pointing them away from the savior of the world.
Once again, I think that this is something that often happens in our world. People have part of the truth. They know a little bit about the Bible. They know a little bit about Jesus.
They hear God is love and so assume that moral opinions are somehow unbiblical.
They think Jesus is good, but they don’t really believe he’s Lord and so they don’t believe in him.
They think Jesus quaint but they don’t think he’s their savior.
So much of the world takes slivers of truth about Jesus but misses the whole point of why he came.
It was because the world was dead in sin and true life could only come from a perfect savior who died for the sins we committed and reconciled us to a righteous God.
That’s the gospel.
So from the crowd, we’ve seen those who think he’s the Christ, those who think he’s the prophet, those who think he’s not the prophet.
The second group doesn’t believe in Jesus but they’re not out and out hostile to Jesus here.
That’s where much of our world is today.
There are lots of Bible passages that talk about persecution. That talk about opposition to Jesus.
There are lots of news stories that talk about opposition to Chrsitianity and persecution. We mentioned earlier today that next Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
That’s important and significant.
And I point that out right now because I think it’s on our radar to consider the strong-armed opposition to Jesus.
This second group isn’t like that though. They’re just explaining why they don’t believe Jesus is the Christ.
But they still don’t believe in him.
And there’s no middle ground with Jesus.
Matthew 12:30, Jesus says: Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
You believe him or you don’t.
So I ask. What do you believe?
Who is Jesus to you?
Is he the Christ? Is he the savior of the world? Is he your Lord?
Or does he not fit the criteria that you think matters?
The danger humanity faces isn’t only those who are opposed to Jesus but it’s those who are indifferent to him.
Because the person who is indifferent to Jesus can be tempted to think that they’re all right with Jesus.
But they’re not.
There’s no middle ground.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He’s the word who became flesh. He’s the God who was in the beginning. And he has made a way for sinful people to be forgiven. He did it by going to the cross. Again. We don’t have to have it all figured out.
But we must come to him.
And then we see the third group.
Opposing response to Jesus
Verse 44, we see that there are those in the crowd who think that Jesus should be arrested for what he’s saying. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
As we discussed before, at this point in John’s Gospel, we’re seeing increasing hostility to Jesus. There are people who want him arrested. There are people who want him silenced. There are those who want him killed.
And what follows in the passage are the interactions between these various groups of people.
Another attempt is made to arrest Jesus. We’ve already seen an unsuccessful attempt in the first scene. Here again the temple guards are sent for Jesus.
But the officers in the temple do not follow through.
Verses 45-46: The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
The priests and the pharisees are outraged. Like a looming cloud their opposition to Christ hangs over the rest of this passage.
The guards did not follow through on their orders to arrest Jesus.
Something to note here. When we hear of the religious leaders sending the guards of the temple to arrest Jesus, it’s important to understand that it’s not a swat team. They didn’t send in the Marines. The temple guards were Levites who were responsible for tending to the temple.
So the chief priest might have sent the guards to arrest Jesus but they too have their opinions on the Christ and what he would be like. They’ve heard Jesus teaching.
And so the Levites, the temple guards are taken by what Jesus has said.
No one ever spoke like this man.
Jesus’ words are forceful. They’re moving. They confront us.
To paraphrase an idea from the great 19th century preacher Charles Spuregon, the guards were sent to arrest Jesus, it was they who were arrested by his words. They did not take Jesus but were taken by the power of his message.
We see the intermingling of different responses to Jesus.
The positive and negative responses to Jesus coming to battle.
The pharisees berate the guards. And really they basically lash out against everyone there.
We see those who are sympathetic to Jesus coming into conflict with those who oppose Jesus.
Verses 47-48: The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
D.A. Carson adds a helpful point in their response.
The leaders are not mad at the guards as a commanding officer over subordinates for dereliction of duty. The derision of the authorities comes to the temple guard that they did not listen to their Spiritual and theological authorities. Moreover, the guards should have had more sense and better knowledge of the Old Testament than to be sympathetic to Jesus’ message.
In verse 48, they ask if any of the authorities or pharisees have believed in Jesus?
The irony is that one is about to.
But first, the religious authorities continue their rant and also criticize and insult the crowd.
Verse 49: this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
Again, we’re seeing these differing opinions about who Jesus is.
Verse 50, we see a climactic moment of this whole scene.
The return of Nicodemus. Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” (John 7:50-52)
Nicodemus is introduced in John’s gospel in chapter 3. He was the leading theologian and scholar of his time. He comes to Jesus and he’s intrigued by Jesus and his teachings.
In that famous passage, Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born again.
Nicodemus had responded to Jesus with confusion and questioning:
John 3:4: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
But here we see Nicodemus coming to the defense of Jesus. We’ll also see him reappear after Jesus is crucified.
We’re never told specifically whether or not Nicodemus comes to faith but the fact that John continues to bring him back throughout the story indicates that Nicodemus saw Jesus for who he is.
Nicodemus speaks up on Jesus’ behalf in this passage. He suggests that they give a fair evaluation to Jesus’ words and what he’s said.
But the rest of the religious leaders lash out against him too.
We see these conflicts.
And the conflicts should not be surprising, because as I’ve said many times before: the gospel is offensive. The message of Christ and him crucified, and him coming to redeem the world is offensive. Because it confronts us with our sin and coming to terms with our own sin. It confronts us with our eternal hope. It confronts us with placing our faith and trust in something outside of ourselves.
The gospel is offensive.
And so we have all of these different responses. We see these conflicts in response to what Jesus has promised.
And the solution to the conflicts is Jesus himself.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
What do you believe?
The only response which Jesus accepts is belief in him.
Originally published September 29, 2017 under the title “A priest, two goats, and salvation”
Yom Kippur is this weekend.
For observant Jews all over the world, this evening, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur in Hebrew) is celebrated. The Day of Atonement is the most holy of days in the Jewish calendar. It’s an annual picture of forgiveness that people could have. While Christians don’t celebrate this day, it’s one worth studying because everything about it points to Christ and the gospel.
Atonement refers to God’s work of dealing with our sin. Because of sin, the relationship between man and God has been broken.
Three significant elements of this day are the high priest, who would make the sacrifices, the goat that he would sacrifice, and a second goat who was set free.
Cleansing of the priest
When these commands were given, the Israelites are in their desert wanderings. So where do you worship while you’re on this long journey in the desert?
Well you bring the place to worship with you!
And so the Israelites traveled with the Tabernacle, which was a tent.
Now only a priest could go inside the Tabernacle. It was a holy place. And as we’ve said, the holiness of God demands reverence.
Within the Tabernacle, there was an inner sanctum called the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place, and only the High Priest could go in there. And he did it once a year, on behalf of the Israelites. The Day of Atonement.
Before entering, he had to offer a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering to atone for his sins and those of his family. Because the priest was sinful too
As part of the priest’s preparation for entering the Most Holy Place, the presence of God, was that he had to put on special linen garments. Everything about entering into God’s presence was meant to be holy, set apart, different from everyday life.
Like we’ve already said, everything in this passage points us to Christ.
You have the high priest who had to cleanse himself before entering the temple.
But in the gospels, we see that Jesus is the true High Priest.
And Jesus doesn’t need to purify himself, or atone for his own sin to enter the presence of the Lord because he is the perfect High Priest.
Hebrew 7:26 says, “it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”
Keep in mind the purification rituals needed for the priest. The Holiness that was required to enter the presence of the Lord.
While the Day of Atonement was just one day out of the year, there were animal sacrifices. But because Jesus is holy and righteous, he doesn’t need to purify himself to enter the presence of God. He’s God on earth.
Hebrews 7:26 says, “it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”
Hebrews 7:27 offers another comment on the priestly system. “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”
The perfect High Priest and it is only because of Christ’s perfection that we are enabled to enter into the presence of God. He is the one who is our representative before God.
And on the Day of Atonement, one of the last things the high priest would do before going into the holy of holies was that he would take two goats.
2. The atonement by the goat
The sacrifices the priest has thus far made is for himself.
Leviticus 16:15 says, “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.”
Blood is sprinkled in the Most Holy Place and this is what the sacrifice is meant to do to atone for sins, to cover up our sins. The sacrifice of the goat was meant to symbolically bear the sins of the people.
Leviticus 16:16 says, “Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins.”
All of their transgressions and sins. All of their intentional defiance to God.
Because of the sacrifice of this goat, it was a powerfully symbolic way for atonement, for a restored relationship with the Lord. For sins being covered by the blood of the goat.
Today, we have the gospel. We have Jesus. But before Christ, this would have been an incredibly powerful symbol for the sins of the people being atoned for.
We see that the sacrifices then point us to the greater sacrifice today. That Jesus is the priest but he is also the sacrifice. Because while a goat could not atone for our sins, and while a goat’s blood could not cover up our sins, Christ’s could. He was the worthy sacrifice.
I know to the world, the idea of an animal sacrifice to atone for our sins seems arctic, seems backwards.
But it was merely a shadow. Because our forgiveness could never have been truly paid for by the life of some animal.
It’s not that the sacrifice of that goat actually was the reason why God forgave the people. It was a heart that came to God in faith and recognized the cost of sin that mattered. Just like today.
Hebrews 10:4 says, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
They were never intended to take away sins. It is only the blood of Christ which can do that.
And atones for our sins. He covers up our sins. His blood washes away our sins.
The first goat on the Day of Atonement was sacrificed for sins.
But the second goat wasn’t slaughtered.
And the attention turns to that goat in verse 20.
3. The other goat
20 “AND WHEN HE HAS MADE AN END OF ATONING FOR THE HOLY PLACE AND THE TENT OF MEETING AND THE ALTAR, HE SHALL PRESENT THE LIVE GOAT.
21 AND AARON SHALL LAY BOTH HIS HANDS ON THE HEAD OF THE LIVE GOAT, AND CONFESS OVER IT ALL THE INIQUITIES OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND ALL THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS, ALL THEIR SINS. AND HE SHALL PUT THEM ON THE HEAD OF THE GOAT AND SEND IT AWAY INTO THE WILDERNESS BY THE HAND OF A MAN WHO IS IN READINESS. 22 THE GOAT SHALL BEAR ALL THEIR INIQUITIES ON ITSELF TO A REMOTE AREA, AND HE SHALL LET THE GOAT GO FREE IN THE WILDERNESS.
-LEVITICUS 16:20-22
So our sin is associated with the second goat too. Both hands placed on this goat. It was symbolically transferring sin to that goat. The first goat died and his blood was a symbol of our sins being covered. The second goat is the result of our atonement. It was a symbol for sin being taken away.
Sin totally removed when you trust in God.
What a reminder as that goat is set free. That we are set free from sin because of God’s grace.
If you’re someone who ever struggles to believe that God could forgive you. If you’ve done something really bad in your past, or if you have an area that you’re struggling with today and you feel like God wouldn’t love you, couldn’t forgive you. If there’s ever any lingering worry about that, our sins are taken away because of Christ.
They are totally removed, like the second goat, sent away, never to be heard from again.
We don’t deserve it but that’s how God atones for our sins. He forgives us of our sins. He removes our sins and our relationship with him can be restored.
Because of the work of Christ, because of the grace that God offers to all who accept him, you don’t have to feel that way. Your sins are forgiven. But not only are they forgiven, they’re totally removed, they’re taken away.
Not because we’re so good but because Christ is that good.
Both in the Old Testament and today, what mattered was faith. Trusting in the Lord. Recognizing that we don’t live up on our own. That we aren’t holy. We aren’t worthy.
But when we trust in Christ, he makes us worthy, he makes us holy.
The forgiveness of our sins has a cost we cannot pay.
It’s fascinating as I think of all of the ceremonialism in the Old Testament Law. Everything was done for reasons. All of the exact and meticulous detail under which the tabernacle was built. All of the specific instructions given to the priests, the very specific laws regarding sacrifice, the specific ways in which to approach God. The cleansing that needed to be done, the atonement for sin.
It’s teaching us the holiness of God. A holiness we don’t have, that we can’t live up to. But we are welcomed into the presence of the Lord because of Christ.
For God to forgive us, the Lord paid the price. And he does that for anyone who comes to him by faith. Let this passage be a reminder that there is a cost for sin. A tremendous cost for sin.
Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear what you think, and don’t forget to subscribe!
The prosperity gospel is a movement that has its origins in America about a century ago and came to greater prominence after the Second World War. It has largely grown out of pentecostalism and the Word of Faith movement.
It is the idea that it is always the will of God for genuine believers to be materially blessed and physically healthy. It’s essentially preoccupied with material blessings.
In John 6, Jesus has just fed a large crowd of people. They’ve wanted to make him king. They’re drawn to his teaching and signs, yet Jesus rebukes the crowd when he says: “you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”
I’m not saying that this first century audience had a 20th and 21st century notion of a health and wealth gospel. But they’re drawn to Jesus because of him fulfilling a physical need. There are elements of what they believe which are picked up in the prosperity gospel movement.
It’s not the only place where we find this attitude in the New Testament. Paul addresses a similar issue within the church at Philippi. Philippians 3:19-20: 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
They’re not looking to take up their cross and follow him. They’re not looking to die to themselves and their sinful ways. They’re there because of a free meal.
The theology that looks merely at the material blessings of God has many problems.
First, it’s not the gospel.
The gospel is the message of Christ crucified and his redemption of sinful people for the glory of God.
He died to save souls.
The purpose of life is knowing and enjoying Jesus Christ forever. The purpose of life does not revolve around material blessings.
Secondly, prosperity theology teaches things that are not Biblical.
It undermines the doctrine of suffering. The Bible does not hide from suffering.
Prosperity theology believes that it is never the will of God for a person to be sick, to die from cancer, to struggle with depression.
The Bible teaches that the Christian life does involve suffering.
God uses it and works all things together for good for those who love him. Romans 8:28.
God uses suffering to work his purposes. Story of Joseph. We referenced it last week. Joseph is betrayed by his brothers, but through that betrayal, it brings Joseph into Egypt which allows him to be in a position years later to save his family during a time of famine.
But we also see God’s providence and goodness through that evil.
Genesis 50:20: As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
God uses suffering to sanctify and perfect his people.
James 1:2-4: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Notice that James says to count it all joy WHEN not IF you meet trials of various kinds.
To quote my professor D.A. Carson, if you’re not suffering, just keep living.
Romans 5:3-4: we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope
God uses suffering so that we can have a positive influence on others.
Wonderful passage. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
God uses suffering to remind us that our ultimate need is in him. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9:
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
And we could talk for hours on many more passages.
God allows suffering. In his sovereign will, God allows it. It is talked about constantly in the Bible and especially in the New Testament.
And you have televangelists and authors of popular Christian books who say the opposite of that.
They’re teaching an idea that is not Biblical.
Yes, God does ultimately promise healing, in heaven. But there is no promise given in the Bible that all true believers or faithful Christians will always experience healing in this life.
The third problem with prosperity theology. It turns God into your genie.
God does not primarily exist to fulfill to give you everything you want.
A lot of times the things we want are not good.
If you have a child and just gave them everything they ever wanted, would that be loving? Of course not. Because a lot of things kids want aren’t good for them.
Prosperity theology views giving not primarily as a way of giving back part of what God has given for the purposes of his kingdom, but as a way to receive material blessings back as a result of your generosity.
Prosperity theology views prayer as a way to force God to give you what you desire.
Prosperity theology believes that faith is rewarded by leading to prosperity.
Fourth, it teaches untrue things about the world
While turning God into a genie and believing in a theology where good things happen if you’re good enough or if you have enough faith, what that essentially teaches a person is that they’re in control of their own destiny.
Not Biblical. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign.
Fifth, prosperity theology actually distracts us from true riches.
Ironically, God actually wants to give us so much more than what prosperity theology focuses on. But if we just focus on this world, on materialism, on what’s physical, we lose sight of that.
Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
Sixth: prosperity theology distorts the teachings of scripture and takes the Bible out of context
It cherry picks the Bible. We’re going through the Gospel of John. Prosperity gospel preaching churches don’t go verse by verse through books. Because they have a theological belief system that is not supported by the whole of scriptures and so they pick and choose what fits their system.
You don’t have great scholars or theologians of prosperity theology. Because honest reading of the Bible tears it down.
The seventh issue with prosperity theology is that it relies heavily on special revelations from God.
I know I’m hammering on this topic this morning. But it’s a highly influential, unbiblical movement that influences Christians here in America and across the world.
Many of the best-selling Christian books are written by prosperity teachers and preachers who do not teach or preach the Word but preach a worldly message. Many, I would say most, televangelists fall into this camp.
Our world eats up prosperity theology because it tells us that it’s all about us. It co-opts the gospel and replaces it with worldliness.
As Jesus said, “you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.“
Why are you a follower of Jesus?
Is it because he is the way, the truth and the life? Is it because he is glorious? Is it because he’s worthy? Is it because he’s the savior of the world? Is it because of the gospel. That you were dead in your sins and that the only way to redemption was through his life, and death and because of the shedding of his blood?
I’m hoping that I’m preaching to the choir on this. For those of us who love the Word of God, who have reverence for the scriptures, the prosperity gospel must be seen as a counterfeit gospel.
But here’s my challenge.
Because while we might not buy into a health and wealth gospel, we have so many blessings in our country that there can still be a temptation into falling into the trap of thinking that we’re good and that our lives should be good. We should have good families. We should have happy marriages. We deserve to not really suffer.
It’s a constant temptation. But the Bible makes no such promises. Why are you a follower of Jesus?
The Biblical message is not that we should follow Jesus so that everything will be easy. It’s that when you follow Jesus, you’re taken from death to life. It’s not a promise of ease but it’s a promise that the difficulties have a purpose. It’s not a promise of getting what you want, but it’s a promise of all things working together for your ultimate good. People wanted to follow Jesus because he took care of a physical need, but Jesus came in order to tend to our spiritual needs.
Final verse of the passage. Jesus has given his rebuke to the crowds. He’s exposed their heart and the real reason they’re following him.
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” (John 6:27)
Jesus tells them to work for the food that endures to eternal life and that is the food which Jesus came to bring.
Not only did Jesus come to bring it, but it can come only through Jesus. As the end of the verse reminds us that it is Jesus upon whom God has set his seal. Jesus is the one who has come to bring eternal life to a sinful world.
And he offers that life to you today if you believe in him by faith. Know that you are a sinner and that Jesus has come to forgive you of your sins and reconcile you to God.
Thanks for reading! Make sure to subscribe, like, and comment!
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. -James 3:1
Words matter.
We can use words to bless, words to harm, words to boast, words to give instruction, and words to deceive. Through words we can tell a person that we love them, or that we hate them. Through words we can compliment or tear a person down.
When the Prophet Isaiah had a heavenly vision of the throne room of God, and beheld the holiness of God, he said in Isaiah 6:5: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Words were part of the original sin. In the garden, the serpent, twisting God’s words: “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
God had never said that. He said they could eat of any tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
“We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die” (Genesis 3:2-3).
Eve also gets it wrong. God had never said they couldn’t touch the tree. Twisting God’s words. Further provoked into sin by the devil In Genesis 3:4-5, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When Adam and Eve are confronted with their sin, they use words to blame in Genesis 3:12, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
Words matter.
In the first part of James 3, James zeroes in on teachers. He gives a warning to teachers that they will be judged with greater strictness. The reason why carries into verse 2 that we all sin in many ways, but one of the ways common to us all is that we stumble and sin in what we say.
There is danger in bad Biblical teaching. It can lead people astray. It can teach people falsities, because the God who is revealed in scripture is the eternal, immortal, wise God. He’s the King of the universe, the creator of all things, he spoke the universe into being.
There’s not a canvas where we are painting and where we can make something look however we want it to look.
God is God. He has revealed himself in his scripture, his nature, his holiness. And so sound teaching about God matters. Teaching truth about God matters. Understanding God -in terms of how he has revealed himself in the Bible – matters.
And not all churches do that. And not all teachers do that.
Not many should be teachers because teaching necessarily involves words. Teaching about God’s word, teaching about God’s gospel necessarily involves words and language, and in talking, it makes it easy to say things that are untrue.
We can’t be fast and loose with God’s gospel. We can’t make God who we want God to be if that’s not true about how God reveals himself in scripture.
Unbiblical teachings that resort more to our feelings than to truth.
Doesn’t God just want me to be happy? Not at the expense of sin!
Words matter. How we approach the word of God matters. Like the serpent in the garden, twisting the very words of God.
So it is true that there is a warning given to those who teach. And anyone who does teach from the word of God should question his motives, should be humble before God, and prayerful about the text. It should be taken seriously.
We should be careful in our approach to God’s word.
But regardless of if someone is a teacher or not, all of us should still use discernment in listening to what our teachers say. In listening to that which is in accordance with scripture. Of being fed by sound Biblical preaching. And that’s true here, and thats’ true if you ever move to a new community. And that’s true of any teacher who you might watch on tv or who you might podcast. We should be discerning with the Bible teachers we listen to.
