Jesus: Good Man, Deceiver, or Deliverer?
How do we truly know someone? Through time, questions, and relationship. The same principle applies to knowing Jesus Christ through God's Word.
Building Relationship Through God's Word
Spending Time
Week after week, we spend time with Jesus in His Word, seeing how He interacts and responds. This builds deep relationship beyond mere information.
Knowing His Character
The more we know someone, the better we can anticipate their responses. When we know Jesus deeply, we recognize what sounds like Him and what doesn't.
Sometimes the goal isn't just application or takeaways—it's simply spending time with your Savior to know Him better. When life brings tragedies, you can trust His heart because you know Him.
The Rising Opposition
Death Threats
Jesus avoided Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. He exercised divine wisdom over the timing of His death.
Divine Claims
Opposition arose because Jesus claimed to be God. His detractors understood exactly what He was saying—making Himself equal with God.
Perfect Timing
"I lay my life down that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." John 10:18
The Feast of Booths
The Feast of Booths was Israel's most popular celebration—their Thanksgiving season. People built temporary structures and lived in booths for seven days, commemorating God's provision during their wilderness journey.
This harvest festival celebrated grapes and olives, bringing together the entire community in joyful feasting and remembrance of God's faithfulness.
Family Disbelief and Presumption
01
Brothers' Request
Jesus's half-brothers urged Him to go to Jerusalem and make Himself known publicly. They wanted Him to seek popularity and recognition.
02
Their Unbelief
Scripture clearly states that even His brothers did not believe in Him. They thought He was losing His mind and couldn't understand His mission.
03
Divine Timing
"My time has not yet come, but your time is always here." Jesus operated on the Father's timeline, not human expectations.
Why the World Hates Jesus
"The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil."
1
Not the Miracles
People don't hate Jesus for His healing or caring for the poor. The miracles aren't what offend them.
2
His Words Expose Sin
The world hates the words of Christ—words that dive deep into our hearts and expose our rebellion against God.
3
Truth Divides
When you declare Jesus as the only way to heaven, you'll be called a bigot. Truth always divides.
The Lie vs. The Truth About Sin
The Lie
Sin frees us
- Embrace your sexuality and be free
- Leave your marriage and find freedom
- Escape religious constraints
The Truth
Sin separates us
- Separates us from God
- Separates us from one another
- Separates us from joy and mission
The Word of God exposes our selfishness, our lack of forgiveness, our pursuit of happiness over holiness. We hate this exposure because it's uncomfortable to confront our sinfulness.
Jesus's Divine Genius in Teaching
No Formal Credentials
The crowds marveled: "How does this man have learning when he has never studied?" Jesus had no rabbinical training yet displayed profound wisdom.
Divine Wisdom
His teaching revealed a genius beyond Aristotle, Socrates, or Galileo—wisdom that could only come from God Himself.
Heart Exposure
Jesus's words had the power to expose hearts, reveal truth about God, and bring together Old and New Testament understanding.
The People's Response: Three Views
Good Man
Some said He was simply a moral teacher—but this falls far short of who He claimed to be.
Deceiver
Others believed He was leading people astray—a dangerous charlatan making false claims.
Deliverer
Many believed: "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?"
The Greatest Sign: The Cross
He Is The Deliverer
The greatest sign Jesus would perform wasn't parting seas or calming storms—it was the cross. The righteous God in flesh, dying for sinners, satisfying the debt of sin and God's wrath.
Acknowledge
Recognize you are a sinner exposed by His words
Believe
Cast yourself on Jesus alone by His grace
Receive
Find comfort and joy as His words become life to you
"By His death we might have life. By His righteousness we might have His righteousness. By His sinlessness we might be brought into holy standing before Almighty God."