Lesson 223 - Senior

Memory Verse

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

Cross References

I  The Disbelief of Israel

1. The Jews' rejection of Jesus Christ as God's Son and Heir was the fulfilment of ancient prophecy, John 12:37"41; Isaiah 6:9, 10; 53:1; Jeremiah 5:2"22; Ezekiel 12:2; Matthew 13:10"17; Luke 8: 10, Acts 28: 24"27.
2. Fear of man and fear of reprisal kept many from openly expressing their belief in Christ, John 12:42; 7:13; 9:22.
3. Many were unwilling to forsake the praise of men to gain the praise of God, John 12:43; 5:44; I Samuel 2:30; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:8, 9.

II  Messenger of God

1. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me," John 12:44; Mark 9:37; I Peter 1:21.
2. Jesus also stated, "He that seeth me seeth him that sent me," John 12:45, 14:9, Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3.
3. Jesus came to be a light unto the world, John 12:46, 35, 36; 9:5, 39; Ephesians 5: 14; Isaiah 9:2.

III  Judgment by the Word of God

1. The mission of Jesus Christ was to save the world, not to condemn it,John 12:47; 3:17; 5:45; 8:15, 16; 10:10; 18:37.
2. Men will be judged by the Word of God according to their obedienceto its precepts, John 12:48; Deuteronomy 18:18, 19; Mark 16:16;: Luke 10:16; I Thessalonians 2:8.
3. Jesus spoke not of Himself but that which the Father had commanded Him, John 12:48"50; 8:38"59; 14:10; 17:8, 14, 22"26.
4. The commandment of God through Jesus Christ is life everlasting, John 12:50; 17:2.

Notes

Israel's Unbelief

The Bible speaks of the mystery of iniquity (II Thessalonians 2:7) -- and it is a mystery indeed. It is cause for wonder, as we read of Israel's rejection and denunciation of Jesus Christ as an impostor and a fraud.

That Israel could reject Christ and remain unbelieving is incredible, and becomes the more so when one considers the proof that Jesus mani­fested that He was the One sent from God. He spoke with authority of heavenly things, and the wisdom Christ evidenced against His enemies confused them until they dared ask Him no more questions. (See Matthew 13:54; 22:46; Mark 1:22, 27; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3.) Jesus spoke with such pow­er that even His accusers who came to take Him to crucify Him were felled to the ground with but a spoken word (John 18:6).

These things alone would have left Israel without excuse before God, but Jesus also performed works that noone but God could have performed. This left Israel totally responsible for that, which they wereseeing and hearing. Even so, in the face of such supernatural events, they dared to accuse Jesus of being a devil or of being in league with Satan (Matthew 12:22"30; John 8:48"59).

Revelation of Sin

The bitter antagonism that was aroused against Jesus and His teachings is positive proof of the satanic influence that was in the hearts of the people. God had winked at certain of the times of ignorance of the heathen nations, but now it was God's time that sin should be revealed for what it was, and Israel was called to the accounting first of all (Acts 17:30).  This was proper, for to Israel had been committed the oracles of God, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God, and the sacrifices (Romans 9:4, 5; Acts 17:29"31).

Isaiah prophesied that the knowledge of Christ would come: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (Isaiah 9:2). That light began to shine with some brilliance in Israel's lineage as far back as faithful Abraham; and with the ensuing centuries that light became more and more brilliant. Through a long line of priests, prophets, Judges, kings, and godly men and women, the message of redemption and of the coming King was heralded and proclaimed to the stiff"necked and stubborn Hebrews. Now at last He was here in their midst. He that was proclaimed to be "King of the Jews" had come unto His own, and His own received Him not.

Jesus said of these: "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father" (John 15:22"24). Jesus also said: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil, (John 3:19).

Prophetic Denouncement

Isaiah, inspired of God, looked through the intervening years of history until the Messiah should come (Isaiah 6:9, 10). The Apostle John quoted Isaiah: "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart and be converted, and I should heal them" (John 12:40).

God did not purposely blind Israel's understanding so that they could not believe the truth of salvation. Their own determined rebellion through many years against all God's commandments so warped their understanding of all things spiritual that they could no longer recognise the true light of God manifested through Jesus Christ; and they chose instead, the lies of Satan, manifested through the Pharisees and false prophets.  Israel had too long listened to the lies of false prophets who had preached to them "smooth things"; and now they were denying their Lord and Saviour. (See Isaiah 30:8"14.)  Like Esau, they were selling their birthright for a mess of pottage; and like Judas, they sold their Lord for earthly gain.

Proclamation of God

Jesus made a proclamation that He was the Son of God and left the Jews unable to rightfully dispute with him any longer as the carpenter's son.  "He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me." To believe Christ was to believe the truth that God the Father hadsent Jesus to proclaim. To deny Jesus was to deny God the Father. The Jews were very quick and loud in their claims that God was their Father, but were equally as quick to deny that Jesus was the Son of God. Never­theless, Jesus told them He was from God, and was bringing them God's message. Other passages of Scripture also bear witness to the fact that, "He that bath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9).  (Read Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15.)

Word of Warning

Knowing the Jews would refuse Him, Jesus cautioned them with re­gard to the message He brought them. Hoping to overcome their blindness and their prejudice toward Him, He sought to bring to their attention the seriousness of rejecting His message also, for that message was from God to men: "He that rejecteth me, and
receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

Will you not have Christ, O men of earth? Then you will have none of God, nor any of God's salvation; for Jesus said, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Reject the message of Christ and you have defied the only thing that can be the instrument of salvation in the day of judgment. Jesus said He came not to condemn the world but to save it. His presence in the world made the people conscious of their sins, and they felt condemned before God, yet it was Jesus' glad duty to tell them that through Him there was forgiveness for sins. And there was no other name given, or would be given, by which men could be saved (Acts 4:11,12).

Let all men everywhere respect the Word of God; for the Bible, which so many deride and hold of no value, shall be the deciding factor in that last great day as to whether they shall or shall not inherit eternal life. To those who have obeyed its precepts, it will bring life everlasting. But to those who have dared to defy its truth, it will condemn them into everlasting darkness.

Sin of Unbelief

The ultimate penalty of Israel's rejection of Christ would condemn them, as individuals, to an eternity in the lake of everlasting fire. History also bears evidence to the penalty for the fateful decision the Jews made as a nation when they rejected Christ and cried, "His blood be on us, and on our children" (Matthew 27:25). Their history has been full of bloodshed and heart"rending sorrows, and they have been the unwilling recipients of all manner of diabolical persecution until this present day.

Fearful Believers

There were some who believed the message of salvation but were afraid of men's opinions, and thus were afraid to make any open confession of their belief in Christ. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Still the Word of God was not without effect, for we read of some who did step out eventually and make public confession of their belief in Christ (Acts 6:7; John 19:38, 39).

In contrast with these fearful ones are those who from the time they heard Christ's message did not hesitate to confess their belief that Jesus spoke the truth of Himself. Some of these were the twelve disciples, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary and her sister Martha, Lazarus, and many others. We know there were 120 gathered in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost, these all being of one mind and in one accord. It is to such individuals as these that the Lord spoke, "If any man serve me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26); and again, "Whosoever therefore shad confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32, 33).

Questions

1. What previous knowledge did the Jews have of a coming King?
2. Who prophesied of the unbelief of the Jews?
3. How did the Prophets know the Jews would refuse Jesus when He came to earth?
4. Did God blind the people that they could not understand the truth?
5. What will men be judged by in the day of judgment?
6. Did Jesus condemn the world by His coming to earth? Quote Scriptural authority for your answer?