On Termites and Wicked Horsemen
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Protecting against the age-old efforts of the enemy to subvert and destroy the Gospel.
Text: John 7:45-52
Date: 06/25/2017, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 55
Description:
The Feast of Booths has been the background for a highly dramatic and ironic confrontation between Jesus and those who oppose Him. Although some are believing in Him to varying degrees, the overall temperament is one of confusion and hostility. The main antagonists are the religious leaders of the day-- "the Jews" as John refers to them. They have spread rumors and mis-information concerning Jesus to try and undermine and contradict His ministry. But when the Temple guards return to the Sanhedrin empty handed, and Nicodemus raises questions of justness, we are given insight into the source of the division. The Jews of the Sanhedrin are in rare form as they use the age old method of "intellectual bullying" to undermine and try to destroy the teaching and ministry of Jesus. We will first analyze their tactics in both an ancient and modern context, and then pull upon the somber prophecies of John's Apocalyptic Revelation to put this work of the enemy in its eschatological perspective. And finally we will explore the Scriptural anchoring necessary to stand firm against the incessant onslaught of the termites and wicked horsemen who constantly gnaw away at the Gospel and the church.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 7:45-52.
A. Context, John 7:37-38, Acts 4:12.
B. Contention with the Temple guards, vs. 45-49.
1. Returning empty-handed, vs. 45, John 7:32.
2. The officers' surprising explanation, vs. 46.
a. The impact of the Logos, Mark 1:22.
b. John's irony, John 7:37,38, 10:27.
3. The Sanhedrin's rude response, vs. 47-49.
a. Intellectual bullying, vs. 47.
b. Supreme arrogance, vs. 48.
c. The disdain of the "shepherds" for their sheep, vs. 49, Ezek. 34:4-5.
C. Contention with Nicodemus, vs. 50-53.
1. Nicodemus' objection, vs. 50-51.
a. Nicodemus re-appears, vs. 50.
b. An objection of jurisprudence.
2. Another sneering response from the Sanhedrin, vs. 52.
a. Disparaging Galilee and Galileans.
b. Yet another irony, 2Kings 14:25.
III. Application
A. The work of the Apocalyptic horsemen.
B. Early detection of termites.
1. Recognizing the spirit of confusion.
2. Muddling the details, John 1:1,14.
3. Intellectual bullying, John 8:44, Matt. 23:15.
a. Conscious and explicit bullying.
b. Subliminal and implicit bullying.
4. The word of the scholars.
IV. Conclusion
