In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, Jeff Archie offers an insightful exploration of the Gospel of John, specifically focusing on chapter 7. Delve into the narrative of the Pharisees, their skepticism, and missed opportunities as they grapple with the presence and message of Jesus Christ. Jeff encourages listeners to draw parallels between the historical text and today’s spiritual journey, prompting deep reflections on faith and understanding.
From the International Gospel Hour, we once again open the text, the scriptures, and spend time in the Gospel of John, chapter 7. So let’s search the scriptures today. We’ll be back in a moment.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today.
SPEAKER 01 :
Here’s Jeff. Well, greetings, everyone. Great having you with us once again. And we appreciate each and every listener of the International Gospel Hour broadcast. We’ve been on the air twice. into our 91st year as of this date, and what is an amazing journey, and we thank you for joining us on that journey. We appreciate our Jay Webb, and you’ll hear from Jay throughout our broadcast. He’ll tell you a little bit about our work with our fellow laborers at House2House.com, and later in the broadcast, I’ll share with you one of our free Bible studies by mail. Hebrews 11.6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. So friends, may we seek God through our study today. When I was in local preaching a number of years ago, a beloved brother and friend who has since passed on from this life came to me curious about a time in the life of Christ when Jesus, in essence, said, a little while and you shall not see me. Now his thoughts began from reading John 7, verses 32 through 36, which says, The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then Jesus said to them, I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to him who sent me. You will seek me and not find me, and where I am you cannot come. Then the Jews said among themselves, Where does he intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that he said, You will seek me and not find me, and where I am you cannot come? Well, friends, let’s consider that today as we study this text from John chapter 7. And we’ll be back to begin in a moment.
SPEAKER 02 :
Please check out our fellow laborers at HouseToHouse.com, an outstanding website for topic research, an excellent media section, and some free materials. While there, please request a free copy of House to House, Heart to Heart. Check it out today at HouseToHouse.com.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, let’s notice the Pharisees here in verses 32-34 and see first they rejected an opportunity. Again the Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him, that is, Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to him who sent me. You will seek me and not find me, and where I am you cannot come. Now, friends, you would think such adamant law-keepers as the Pharisees and the chief priests would have inquired more about Christ with their knowledge of the law and the prophets. But such was not the case with Jesus. They felt threatened. And we know from John 7 and verse 30 that they had sought to take Christ, to arrest him. Let’s think a little further of the phrase, I shall be with you a little while longer. And let’s think of it this way. At this point, it is believed to be about six months that Jesus would die. Thus, time was running out for those to take him or to arrest him. Now, friends, let’s think about that phrase today. Jesus is with us all a little while longer. But note from James 4, verses 14 and following, how life is but a vapor here for a little while and then vanishes away. We’re here for just a little bit. And Jesus said, I shall be with you a little longer. And he would leave. Friends, Jesus will only be with us so long. Will we obey Him? Let’s think about the phrase, I go to Him who sent me. You see, they just could not grasp what Jesus was saying because they did not want to grasp it. Well, Jesus did leave the Father and He returned to the Father. He is there now. On the right hand of the Father, Hebrews 1, 1-3. As the head of His church, Ephesians 1, 22-23. He makes intercession for the child of God, Hebrews 7, 24 and 25. He serves as the mediator between God and man, 1 Timothy 2 and verse 4. He is also the advocate for the child of God, 1 John 2, 1 and 2. He pleads on behalf. Jesus is there now. Jesus will come again, John 14, 1 through 6. And then Jesus said, You will seek me and not find me. Now again, to those Pharisees and chief priests, their time to arrest or to take him was running out. As a matter of fact, when Jesus went to God, well, they could not find him. And that tomb was empty. It was amazing, because do you remember the instruction to the guards in Matthew 28, 11-15? Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priest all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, Tell them, his disciples came at night and stole him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure. So they took the money and did as they were instructed, and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews unto this day. Isn’t it amazing, folks, that they gave money to them for them to lie, that his disciples came and stole him away while they slept? Now can you imagine a soldier admitting he was sleeping on duty? It is amazing how one lie can turn into another. Folks, the application today, there are individuals that seek and cannot find Jesus. They are seeking Him through other gospels that will not teach, Galatians 1, 6-9. The wrong churches that are not of Christ that He promised to build in Matthew 16 and verse 18. We’re seeking Christ in ways that we cannot be supplied. Jesus also told them, where I am, you cannot come. The rejection of Christ by the Pharisees and chief priests would cost them. And continuing into the book of Acts, they remained against Christ and the teaching concerning Christ. You see, one cannot come to Christ, for they know not where they are going. There is no direction, and because of no decision, the same thing is happening today. People will not go to Christ because they are seeking other ways. Christ was before them of old and they declined. And friends, Christ is before you. And may you not decline. Maybe we need to think about where we stand. Where do we stand religiously? Where do we stand concerning the church? Where do we stand concerning salvation? Allow me to pause for a moment. Share with you a new Bible study that is available by mail from us here at International Gospel Hour. courtesy of our friends at godandman.com. That’s specifically god-and-man.com. They have a wonderful study booklet called God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all of our materials, it is free. We want to send you that study book. You can call us toll free at 855-444-6988 And leave your name, address, and just say God and man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and just type God and man in the message box. That’s another new Bible study that is free from International Gospel Hour. Do not allow God to be with you and turn away. And embrace the opportunity before you. Let’s not be like those in our lesson text of John 7, 32-36, the Pharisees, the scribes, the chief priests and all, because not only did they reject an opportunity, but they refused to listen. In verse 35, the Jews said among themselves, Where does he intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that he said, You will seek me and not find me, and where I am you cannot come? You see, they rejected Jesus, therefore they refused Him. Instead of battling Him, they should have believed Him. They kept discussing things among themselves rather than deciding to follow Him. So many times we just keep looking, discussing, and going back and forth. when we simply should obey. You see, they were hearing, but they failed to understand which was common in the time of Christ, as we would know later in John 8, 34, or rather John 8, 43 and 44. You see, they wanted to listen to Satan. They heard, but they failed to understand. 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 16 speaks of those whose eyes were blinded, and Matthew 13, 14, and 15 tells of those whose ears were closed. Friends, there’s no difference today with many individuals. When one rejects and refuses, turns away from the one that will help them, then there’s nothing else that can be done, and when one fails to seek, one will not find. Friends, from this lesson, let’s note that they rejected an opportunity to learn of Christ, and they refused to listen to Christ. Today, if we follow those Pharisees, those chief priests, supposedly religious people, And if we reject an opportunity to seek and to study the truth and refuse to listen when we hear something that, well, I just don’t believe that, rather let us search the Scriptures and see if indeed it is true, because the Scriptures are indeed our guide. Earlier we mentioned our fellow laborers at HouseToHouse.com. We’d love to send you a free copy of House to House, Heart to Heart. You can request it there on their website at housetohouse.com. But since we also offer the Bible study by mail, God and man, I tell you what. Call us at 855-444-6988. Leave your name and address and just say God and man and say house to house. That’s all. Just your name, your address, God and man, house to house. And we’ll put it in the same envelope and send it to you. Look through this material. Begin to search the Scriptures diligently. See where you stand and see where you want to stand. See where you are and see where you want to go. Here on the International Gospel Hour, we want to study the Word of God with you and to seek those things that be of God. We are greatly encouraged by so many of you that reach out to us. and how we can help you in your pursuit of truth. We’ll continue this pursuit at another time, but for now, thank you for joining me on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
God be with you till we meet again. Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.
