Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was written and recorded by the apostle John. More specifically, today’s passage is found in verses ten through thirty-six of the seventh chapter. “But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, he is a good man: others said, nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews” (John 7:10-13). “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If anything man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, th3e same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Mose therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every white whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the Christ? Howbeit ear we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whose ye know. Not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner o sayings is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?” (John 7:14-36). AFTER THESE THINGS! AFTER THESE THINGS JESUS WALKED IN GALILEE! AFTER THESE THINGS JESUS WALKED IN GALILEE: FOR HE WOULD NOT WALK IN JEWRY! AFTER THESE THINGS JESUS WALKED IN GALILEE: FOR HE WOULD NOT WALK IN JREWRY, BECAUSE THE JEWS SOUGHT TO KILL HIM! When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the continuation of that which was presented in the opening verses of the seventh chapter. I am absolutely convinced that in order for us to truly understand the words presented in this passage of Scripture it is absolutely necessary to pay attention to the words presented in the first portion of this chapter. If you take the time to begin reading with and from the first verse you will find that after the events which took place in Galilee the apostle John goes on to write how Jesus continued to walk in Jewry. In the opening verses of the seventh chapter of this New Testament gospel narrative we find it written how Jesus would not walk in Jewry which would have been considered Judaea—perhaps even Jerusalem itself. The underlying reason why Jesus would not walk in Jewry was because they sought to kill Him. In fact it is this particular concept of the Jews seeking to kill Him which is at the very heart of everything that is found in this passage of Scripture. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the truly awesome and powerful reality of the events which we read about in the fifth chapter. I am sitting here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in the seventh chapter of this gospel narrative written by the apostle John and I can’t help but be brought face to face with the awesome and powerful truth surrounding Jesus’ refusal to walk in Jewry which undoubtedly referred to Judaea. The underlying reason why Jesus would not walk in Jewry was because they sought to kill Him. What makes this all the more intriguing when you take the time to think about it is when you consider the events which unfolded in the previous chapter. In all reality it is quite remarkable to read the words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John—particularly and especially in light of the words which are found in the first chapter of the gospel. It is in the opening chapter of this New Testament gospel we read what strikes at the very heart and is perhaps the underlying theme that is found within this gospel. It is in the first and opening chapter of this gospel we read of Jesus coming unto His own and His own receiving Him not. What’s more is that we also read that the Light came into the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. With this being said we must needs acknowledge within this passage of Scripture that the apostle John would indeed write how as many as believed on and received the person of the Lord Jesus Christ—it was unto those who were given power to become the sons of the living God. This is something we must needs recognize and pay close attention to for when reading this particular gospel you must needs understand that it is indeed a powerful picture and presentation of those who rejected Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God and those who did in fact receive Him as both the Messiah and the Christ. Even the very first chapter of this gospel presents the beginning of those who would indeed believe on Jesus and those who would receive Him as the Christ and the Son of the living God. Consider if you will—first and foremost—the words which are found in the first chapter of this gospel beginning with the first verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh,a nd dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bottom of the Father, He hath declared him” (John 1:1-18). HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT! HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT! Oh it is absolutely necessary for us to recognize and pay close attention to the words presented in the opening verses of the first chapter of this New Testament gospel written by the apostle John. The words presented in these verses bring us face to face with the fact that Jesus entered into the world—not only as the eternal Word which was in the beginning, which was with God and which was God but also the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us. In these opening verses we find the apostle John writing concerning Jesus how He was the eternal Logos or the eternal Word which was with God in the beginning and which was God who came in the flesh and dwelt among us. Moreover the apostle John also went on to describe Jesus as being the main conduit and vessel through which all things were made emphatically declare that without him was not any thing made that was made. The apostle John would also go on to declare that in him was life and the life was the light of men which shone in the darkness. It would be the apostle John who emphatically declared that Jesus was indeed the Light which entered into the world which was borne witness and testified by John the Baptist. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for the apostle John was the only one of the four gospel authors who chose to begin his gospel with the eternal and divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is this divine nature that strikes at the very heart of what is found in the opening verses of this chapter for the apostle John would speak of Jesus coming into the world and the world knowing Him not—and not only coming into the world but also as coming unto His own. The apostle John would indeed declare that Jesus came into the world and the world knew Him not and even came unto His own and His own received Him not. I am absolutely convinced that if you want to truly understand the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you must needs understand it through the lens of those who knew and received Jesus and those who deliberately and intentionally chose not to. In fact I would also declare that within this gospel we see the stumbling block which was present before and unto many of the Jews who could not accept Jesus as the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God nor could they accept Him as the Christ. Within the second, fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of this New Testament gospel narrative we find powerful images and portraits of the response of those who could not believe, receive nor even accept Jesus as the Christ, as the Son of the living God and who He demonstrated and declared Himself to be. Beginning with the second chapter with Jesus in the Temple and having overturned the tables of money, pouring out the money changers’ money, driving out all those who bought and sold and even casting out that which was bought and sold we find the Jews demanding of Him a sign that would prove He had the authority to do such things. Oh it is as you continue reading the words which are found in this gospel where you will find the Jews persecuting and seeking to kill Jesus—not only because He had broken the sabbath (according to their own traditions) but also because He spoke of and declared that God was His Father thus making Himself equal with God. In the sixth chapter of this New Testament gospel narrative we find and read a wonderful and powerful description of many of the Jews being offended with Jesus because of the words which He spoke. Having witnessed and beheld the miracles which He had performed and having partaken of the loaves of bread and were filled they found themselves being unable to contend with the words which the Lord Jesus spoke unto them concerning His flesh and blood. As a direct result of this many would turn back and walk no more with Him—ultimately and potentially leaving Jesus with His twelve disciples alone. As you continue reading the words presented in this passage of Scripture you can and will be brought face to face with the tremendous stumbling block which many of the Jews found themselves contending with—namely the words which the Lord Jesus spoke unto and taught them. If there is one thing the gospel narrative written by the apostle John reveals it’s that the Jews were content witnessing, beholding and even experiencing for themselves the miracles Jesus would work among them and were even willing to partake of the bread and be satisfied and filled within themselves. When, however, it came to the words which Jesus taught and spoke they found themselves coming up against something they could not understand and comprehend—much less receive and believe. What so strikes me about the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John is how it is a strong contrast between the Jews who could not believe on and receive the person of Jesus for who He demonstrated and declared Himself to be and those who actually would and could receive Him. It is in the first, second, third and fourth chapters of this New Testament gospel we encounter and come face to face with those who would indeed believe that Jesus was indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. I believe that if you want to understand the language that is found in the seventh chapter of this gospel you must come face to face with the contrast which exists between those who would come unto, those who would believe on and receive Jesus for who He demonstrated and declared Himself to be, and even those who would make the wonderful confession(s) and profession(s) that Jesus was indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. I firmly believe that in order to truly understand and comprehend the words and language found within the seventh chapter of this gospel as well as the words which are found within the gospel itself we must needs begin with examining the accounts of those who did in fact believe on and receive the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. This gospel—even within the first seven chapters—is replete with example after example and account after account of those who did in fact believe on Jesus and who He demonstrated and declared Himself to be. There were in fact those who believed that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of the living God, who received Him as the Christ and the Son of the living God and who even made the profession and confession that He was who He said He was. In fact this is something we must needs understand for I am convinced that directly connected with believing on and receiving the Lord Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God is the confession and profession that He is indeed who He claimed and declared Himself to be. The apostle John emphatically declared that as many as received Him were given power to become sons of God born not of blood, nor of the flesh nor of the will of man, however, I am absolutely convinced that there is something about confession and profession from and with our mouths that must needs be carefully considered. It is within the first seven chapters where we find specific examples of those who would believe on and receive Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God—and not only as the Christ and the Son of the living God but as the Messiah which was to come. With this being said there were also wonderful examples and accounts of those who would confess and profess that Jesus was the Christ, that Jesus was the Son of God, that Jesus was the Lamb of God and even that Jesus was the Messiah. Beginning with the first chapter of this New Testament gospel we find the witness and testimony of John the Baptist and how he would indeed set the tone and stage for belief in Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following accounts of those who not only believed on and received Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God but who also made the confession and profession that He was who He said He was: “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34). “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone” (John 1:35-42). “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathan Athol saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Phillip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:43-51). Within the first chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John we find the witness of John the Baptist who would testify and bear record of the Light which had come into the world. What’s more is that on two separate occasions John the Baptist would make the wonderful declaration concerning Jesus that He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In addition to this we also find the apostle John writing and recording how John the Baptist would indeed bear witness and record that Jesus was truly the Son of God—something which would come after he baptized him in the Jordan River and saw the heavens opened unto Him, beheld the Spirit descend and light upon Him in the form of a dove and heard the voice of the Father declare and proclaim that this was His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. It is within the first chapter of this New Testament gospel where we find Andrew coming unto his own brother Simon after seeing where Jesus dwelt and declaring and professing unto him how they had found the Messiah and the Christ whom the Law and the prophets had spoken of. Not only this but within the first chapter of this gospel we find Nathanael declaring unto the person of Jesus that He was the Son of God and the King of Israel after hearing the words Jesus declared and spoke unto Him. Oh this is something we must needs recognize and understand for these examples and accounts call and draw our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding those who believed on and received the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a great need for us to acknowledge this for it calls and draws our attention to the wonderful truth surrounding the confession and profession of Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God. What’s more is that with this being said the third chapter of this gospel also goes on to further describe this belief on the person of the Lord Jesus and receiving Him as the Messiah and the Christ. It is within the third chapter where we encounter the exchange which Jesus had with Nicodemus by night—and not only the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus by night but also the words of John the Baptist concerning Jesus when there were those who came to him concerning Jesus baptizing more than he and all men coming unto Him. Oh consider if you will the following words which are found in the third chapter of this New Testament gospel beginning to read with and from the first verse: “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind blower the where it listeth, and thou hearest thou sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit, Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have evearlsting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:1-21). HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD! Oh please don’t miss and lose sight of the words found in this passage of Scripture for it is intrinsically linked and connected to that which is found in the first chapter concerning power being given unto those who received Jesus to become sons of God. These sons of God were not born of blood, nor of the flesh nor of the will of man but of water and of the Spirit. It is in this passage of Scripture where Jesus declares that unless one is born of water and of the Spirit they cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Here we find Jesus declaring that God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Moreover Jesus would also declare that God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. It would be in direct connection to this Jesus would go on to declare that anyone who believes not on Him is condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. How absolutely incredible it is to read the words found in this passage of Scripture and consider that Jesus spoke of a condemnation that did in fact come into the world—a condemnation that came not from the Son but rather one which came as a direct result of not believing on the person of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. It was Jesus who would declare that those who believed on Him were not condemned but those who believed not were condemned already because they had not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This condemnation is centered upon the truth t hat light was come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Everyone that does evil hates the light neither comes to the Light lest their deeds should be reproved. Those, however, who do truth come to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. There is a great need for us to recognize the words presented in this passage of Scripture for they bring us face to face with the truth surrounding the Father sending His Son that whosoever believed on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. At the very heart and center of the words which Jesus spoke unto Nicodemus on this particular evening is not only the striking reality of being born of water and of the Spirit that one might become a son of God but also the direct relation to becoming a son of God and believing on the eternal Son of God. BELIEVING ON THE SON AND BECOMING A SON! BELIEVING ON THE SON, BECOMING A SON! Oh if there is one thing we must needs recognize when reading this particular gospel it’s that Jesus was indeed manifested and demonstrated as the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God, however, with that being said He gave power unto those who believed on Him and unto as many as received Him to become sons of the living God. How absolutely wonderful and incredible this truly is when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the words found in this passage and how at the very heart of this gospel is the demonstration and declaration that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and the power given unto others to become sons of God. There is something astounding within this passage of Scripture and how within it there is the incredible truth surrounding belief in the Son of God and receiving Him that we might indeed become sons of God. Oh it is incredibly interesting to read the words found in this passage of Scripture and understand that believing on the Son of the living God can indeed result in our becoming and being given power to become sons of God. We know that we become what we behold, however, I am convinced that we also become who and what we believe in. If we believe in the person of the Lord Jesus as the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God then we can in fact become sons of God ourselves having been given power to become sons of God who are born not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of water and of the Spirit. Having said and written this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in the final verses of the third chapter. It is in the final verses of this chapter where we find Jesus and His disciples coming into the land of Judaea and His tarrying there with them and baptizing. It would be in this particular region where John the baptist was also baptizing for there was much water there in that place. During this time there would arise a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying and they came unto John and spoke unto him concerning that one which was with him beyond Jordan whom he bore witness of was baptizing during those days and all men came unto him. I am absolutely convinced we must needs recognize the words and response which John gave unto those who came unto him for his words would indeed call and draw their attention to something which he had already confessed and professed—namely that He was not the Christ nor was he the Messiah. It would be in the first chapter of this gospel we find John the Baptist declaring unto those who were sent unto him by the Pharisees asking and inquiring of him who he was that he was not the Messiah nor the Christ but was rather the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Now here we find John the Baptist further declaring, confessing and professing that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was the Christ and that he himself must decrease that Jesus might increase within the land. John recognized and understood that his purpose and mission was not to present himself as the Christ nor even make himself greater than Christ. Oh stop and consider how absolutely incredible that truly is for John the Baptist recognized that he was not called to present himself as the Christ and the Messiah during those days nor even make himself greater than the Christ who was entered into the world. Before I present you with the words found in this passage of Scripture I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words found here in this passage of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the truth surrounding the claims, the confession and the profession John the Baptist made. If there is one thing the words which John the Baptist spoke on this particular occasion reveals and demonstrates it’s that he recognized and understood that he was not the Christ nor was he the Messiah. John the Baptist never made the confession nor did he ever make the declaration that he was the Christ nor the Messiah but that he was merely the voice of one crying in the wilderness. John the Baptist declared that He was indeed the voice of one crying in the wilderness preparing and making the way straight and clear for the Messiah who was to come. Even when men mused in their hearts concerning his identity and even when the Pharisees sent Jews unto him to inquire whether or not he was the Christ and the Messiah he emphatically declared and professed that he was not. John the Baptist recognized and realized that he was not the Christ nor the Messiah and he ought not seek to present himself as such before and unto men during those days. John the Baptist recognized that he was not the Messiah nor the Christ and that he had not been called to make himself greater than Christ. John the Baptist existed for one reason and one reason alone and that was that Jesus as the Christ and the Messiah might have the preeminence. John the Baptist realized and understood that he was sent from God to bear witness unto the Light and unto the Messiah and Christ and that he ought never to try and present himself as the Christ nor even make himself greater than the Christ. OH it is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the first chapter of this New Testament gospel as well as the words which are found in the final verses of the third chapter: “And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? That we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizes thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither the prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is who, coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing” (John 1:19-28). “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he attired with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbir, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: and he that is of the earth is earthy, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that the tesitifeth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:22-36). HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE! HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM! Oh please don’t miss and lose sight of the words which John the Baptist spoke on this particular occasion for they are directly linked and connected to the words which Jesus Himself had spoken unto Nicodemus. When speaking unto Nicodemus Jesus would declare that whosoever believes in the Son should not perish but have everlasting life. Moreover Jesus would go on to declare that those who believed on him were not condemned but those who believed not were condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. These words would be similarly echoed by John the Baptist before he was cast into prison for in the same context as his declaring he was not the Christ he would also declare that the Father loved the Son and had given all things into his hand. Moreover it would be John the Baptist who would also declare that he who believes on the Son has everlasting life and he that believes not on the Son shall not see life but has the wrath of God abiding on him. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for at the very heart of the words which Jesus spoke unto Nicodemus as well as at the heart of what John the Baptist spoke unto those who came unto him is the clarion and unmistakeable call and invitation to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is absolutely impossible to read the words presented in this gospel and not encounter and come face to face with the wonderful and powerful truth that we have indeed been called to be those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and those who receive Him. At the very heart of this gospel is indeed the understanding and idea of whether or not we are those who believe on the person of the Lord Jesus and/or whether or not we are those who received Him. It would be Jesus and John the Baptist who declared that those who believed not on the Lord Jesus were condemned already—something which the apostle John would write in the first New Testament epistle written unto the Ephesian saints. Consider if you will the following words which are found in this epistle beginning with the first and opening chapter: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is a thirst, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall also continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:18-25). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefor the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purfieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:1-3). “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 John 3:23-24). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already it is in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have o recommend them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he thaty is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth,a nd the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into he world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:1-13). “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments” (1 John 5:1-2). “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath no life” (1 John 5:4-12). “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one touchet him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:13-21). If you take the words which the apostle John wrote in the first epistle written unto the Ephesian saints you will be brought face to face with the awesome and incredible truth that at the very heart of what he was presenting unto these saints was not only believing on the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God but also becoming sons of the living God. The apostle John called and drew our attention to the absolutely wonderful and powerful truth surrounding the link and connection between believing on the person of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God and our becoming sons of the living God. We cannot say that we are and have become sons of God if we do not believe in the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. What’s more is that we cannot truly say that we have become and are sons of God if we deny that Jesus has indeed come in the flesh and that He is indeed the Christ. There is a great need for us to recognize and understand the tremendous truth which exists between our believing on the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God and our becoming sons of God ourselves. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for if we want to truly become sons of the living God we must needs be those who believe on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah, as the Christ and as the Son of the living God. We cannot miss and lose sight of this and hope absolutely necessary and vital it is for we as the saints of God and the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ have indeed been invited into the place where we not only believe on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ but also believe that He is indeed the Son of the living God and is the Messiah and the Christ. Moving on within this New Testament gospel you can and will be brought face to face with the wonderful and powerful encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well in Samaria. It is there at the well outside the city of Sychar in Samaria we encounter Jesus deliberately and intentionally coming unto Samaria for this particular women. What’s more is that I would also dare say that the words we find in this passage of Scripture bring su face to face with the beautiful reality of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ coming unto Samaria for the purposes of declaring Himself as the Messiah unto this woman—and not only not this woman but also demonstrate and declare Himself as the Messiahunto the men of the city. Jesus would indeed declare unto this woman that He which spoke unto her was indeed the Messiah and as a direct result of this she would leave her water pot behind at the well, would leave Jesus Himself at the well and would return unto the city to declare unto the men concerning One who had told her everything she had ever done. What’s more is that this woman would also return unto the city to speak unto the men concerning that one whom she had encountered at the well and how He might indeed be the Messiah and the Christ. Scripture reveals how the men of this city believed the word of the woman and would indeed come forth out of the city unto Jesus and entreating Him to abide and tarry with them. Jesus would indeed tarry and abide with them for two days and as a direct result of this the men of the city would declare unto her that they no longer believed on Him because of her word alone but based on hearing His own word and experiencing Him for themselves. It would be there in Samaria where Jesus would not only declare and proclaim Himself to be the Messiah and the Christ but would also in that place undoubtedly declare Himself to be the Messiah and the Christ unto the men of the city. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in this passage of Scripture beginning with the first verse of the fourth chapter: “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a dirty of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to bury meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the git of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.The woman saith unto him, Sir give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he wom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saddest thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? Or, Why tallest thou with her/ The woman then left her water-the, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Combe see, a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him” (John 4:1-30). “…And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, he told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves , and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:39-42). Oh please don’t miss and lose sight of the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the wonderful reality of Jesus appearing in Samaria for one singular purpose—namely, to demonstrate and declare Himself as the Messiah and the Christ. Jesus must needs journey through Samaria that He might proclaim and declare Himself as the Messiah and the Christ—something which he would not do in Jewry, nor even in Galilee. If you take the time to read the four gospel narratives you can and will encounter the tremendous truth surrounding Jesus walking in Galilee and Judaea and straitly commanding the unclean spirits and devils to be silent when they would speak of and proclaim Him as the Son of the most High God and as the Christ. Jesus would not suffer nor would he allow His disciples to declare and profess Him as the Christ and the Messiah and would instead command them to refrain from doing so. There is a great need for us to pay close attention to this for it calls and draws our attention to the wonderful and incredible truth surrounding the revelation that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Messiah and as the Son of God and yet His now suffering anyone to declare and profess that He was the Christ and the Son of the living God. There is something we must needs acknowledge when reading the four gospels for within them we find Jesus commanding unclean spirits and devils alike to be silent rather than make the confession and declaration that He was the Christ and the Son of the living God. Jesus would even command His disciples not to make the confession and declare that He was the Christ and the Messiah—even after Simon called Peter would confess that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of the living God in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi. I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding the confession and profession that Jesus was indeed the Christ and that He was the Son of the living God. Jesus would not suffer nor would He allow anyone to make the confession and declaration that He was the Christ nor that He was the Son of the living God. With this being said He would enter into Samaria which was a territory and region which Jews would not enter—much less entertain conversation and relations with anyone within it. Jesus would not only enter into Samaria but He would also speak to a Samaritan woman by the well outside the city of Sychar. What’s more is that there in the midst of the region of Samaria Jesus would declare unto this woman that He which spoke unto her was the Christ and the Messiah. Oh how absolutely incredible this truly is when you take the time to think about it for what He would restrict and prohibit from taking place during those days in Judaea and Galilee would indeed take place in the midst of Samaria in a place where Jews would not have any dealings with those who dwelt and abode in the midst of them. It would be there in that place of Samaria where the Lord Jesus would indeed proclaim and declare Himself as being the Messiah and the Christ unto this woman whom the disciples themselves marveled that he was speaking to. What a truly powerful and incredible truth this is when you take the time to think about it for there in the midst of Samaria Jesus would declare and profess Himself as being the Christ and the Messiah and would undoubtedly make that same declaration and confession during those two days in which He abode and tarried with them. What you will find as you continue reading this gospel narrative, however, are the Jews in Jerusalem and in Judaea persecuting Jesus and seeking to destroy and put Him to death. It is as you read the words which are found in this gospel narrative you will find that after Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda who had an infinity for thirty and eight years the Jews persecuted Him because He had healed on the sabbath. Moreover the Jews would take that to the next level when they would seek to destroy and put Him to death because He had made the declaration that God was His Father thus making Himself equal with the living God. Not only this but when you consider the words and language that is found in the sixth chapter of this gospel you will encounter the tremendous truth surrounding the Jews which were present in Galilee being greatly offended with the words which the Lord Jesus had spoken unto them. Oh within this chapter we find them witnessing and beholding the miracles he had performed and we even find them partaking of the bread and being filled and yet when it came to the words which the Lord Jesus had spoken unto them they would become greatly offended with Him. Jesus would begin speaking of Himself as the bread of life which came down from heaven and they would be greatly offended with and by the words which He had spoken unto them. This offense would take on a an entirely different meaning when you consider the fact that when Jesus would declare that unless they ate of His flesh and drank of His blood they would have no part nor any fellowship in Him. It would be there after feeding them with loaves of bread and filling them the Jews would be greatly offended with the person of the Lord Jesus because He would declare unto them that unless they partook of Him they would not have fellowship with Him. There is a great need for us to recognize and understand the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for when we come to the seventh chapter of this gospel we find Jesus’ brethren declaring unto Him that he should go up to the feast of the Jews which would be celebrated in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. In the opening verses of the seventh chapter we find that Jesus would not walk in Jewry openly because they sought to kill and put Him to death. Even when His brethren declared unto Him that He ought to unto Jerusalem to partake of and celebrate in the feast which the Jews would celebrate Jesus would respond unto them by declaring that His time had not yet come. It would be here in the seventh chapter where we not only find Jesus’ brethren declaring unto Him that he needed to go unto the feast in the midst of the city of Jerusalem to demonstrate and manifest Himself unto them but we find Jesus Himself declaring unto them that His time had not yet come. Jesus’ brethren would declare unto Him that there was no man which did any thing in secret and desired to be known openly. Jesus’ brethren would declare unto Him that He ought to show Himself openly in the midst of Jerusalem that all might hear and see Him and believe that He was indeed the Christ. It would be in response to this Jesus would declare that His time had not yet come but their time was always ready. Moreover Jesus would go on to declare that the world could not hate them but it hated him because He testified of it that the works within it were evil. Jesus would indeed declare unto His brethren that He would speak concerning the world and that the deeds thereof were evil. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for when we read the words found in this passage we find that Jesus would not walk openly in Jewry because they sought to kill and destroy Him. As I bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for within it we find Jesus going up to the feast of the Jews which would take place in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. What’s more is that when you read the words found in this passage you will find that there in the midst of the city of Jerusalem the Jews were desirous of seeing Him and would even ask and inquire among themselves where he was. The apostle John would write how there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him for some believed Him to be a good man while others declared that He deceived the people. What’s more is the apostle John would also go on to declare that no man spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews for there were a great many who were fearful and afraid of speaking openly about Jesus because of what the Jews might say and do unto them. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture it’s that the Jews would indeed marvel at the words which Jesus taught and spoke unto them for they could not understand how He had come upon such learning having never been taught of anyone. Jesus would indeed declare that His doctrine was not His own but belonged to the One who sent Him. Moreover Jesus would go on to declare that if any man would do the will of the Father He would know of the doctrine which He preached and taught and whether it be of God or whether He spoke of Himself. Jesus would also go on to declare that those who spoke of themselves sought their own glory but those who sought the glory that sent Him—the same were true and no unrighteousness was found in them. It is absolutely necessary for us to recognize the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for it calls and draws our attention to the continued division which was present in the midst of the Jews during those days. The apostle John would write how there were some in the midst of Jerusalem who would speak of Jesus as the one they sought to kill and put to death and how He spoke boldly and nothing was said unto him. With this being said we also find and read in this passage of Scripture how there were those in the midst of Jerusalem who asked whether or not the rulers knew that this was the very Christ. There in the midst of the city of Jerusalem there were those who sought to take Jesus but no man laid hands on him because his hour was not yet come. Many of the people believed on him and would ask and when the Christ came would He do more miracles than those which the Lord Jesus Christ would do. Oh there is a great need for us to recognize and pay close attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and whether or not we do indeed believe in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and whether or not we have received Him within our hearts and lives. There is a great need for us as the people of God to recognize whether or not we are such who believe in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for we must firmly settle and establish within our hearts and spirits whether or not we believe in the person of the Lord Jesus that He is indeed the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God and who he professed Himself to be. Oh that we would indeed be those who firmly believe and have settled within our hearts and spirits that Jesus is indeed the Christ and is indeed the Son of the eternal and living God.