Jesus and the Jews

Jesus and the Jews 

John 5:1

Key Question: How do you deal with hostility or opposition in your life?

This question is related to

Opposition (or the of it) causes people to give up

Christians should understand because the message of the gospel is offensive 

2 Timothy 3:12

We do not run around trying to hostility or opposition toward us — as some do

Some people are because of opposition and hostility in their lives

John 5-8 deals with the start of the that Jesus faces on the part of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.

The Jews

The reference to “the Jews” is a reference to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, not Jews

During the time between the close of chapter 4 and the opening of chapter 5 — what happened? 

a. A shift in policy and the Sanhedrin lost its jurisdiction over capital crimes

b. There was a lot of Zealot activity and pushback against Rome that heightened tensions 

Jesus didn’t let hostility deter him from the path the Father had set him on

Do you let hostility or opposition you from what you know you should do? 

“I don’t like conflict but I will not avoid it either” 

If we must choose between a quiet life and living a godly life containing hostility and opposition — we must choose the later

Hebrews 12:1-3

Much of the Christian world is afraid of

Bitterness

When you have faced opposition and hostility: Did it produce bitterness in you?

Bitterness can manifest itself in a reason to from the path that the Lord has called you to

The bitter person becomes consumed with the and take their eyes off Jesus

How do we determine if we are getting bitter in the midst of opposition and hostility? 

Have we been deterred from the path that Jesus has called us too? 

Are we focused more on the or what we have been called to do? 

Bitterness is never

Hebrews 12:14-15

Chrisitan Moralism: Jesus didn’t let the opposition of “the Jews” detur him from the path or it didn’t produce bitterness in Him, therefore you shouldn’t either — try harder!

The Christian Gospel: Jesus didn’t let the opposition of “the Jews” detur him from the path or it didn’t produce bitterness in Him and this shows our weakness for the more we try to live up to Christ’s standard the more we fall short of it. The believer is victorious only because of what Jesus has done on our behalf. Power to be victorious over sin then comes from Him and not our own effort. We must look to Christ.