FULL UNDERSTANDING

 

Full Understanding

 

24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.

 

1.        Jesus did things never done before.  Walked on water, cast out demons, fed 5000 and 4000 people.  Healed all who came to Him.  Claimed and proved he was God. 

2.        Showed a morality, integrity, character, nature, and essence only God could.  Was virgin born.  Confirmation of His work, and authority by both divine, and human sources.

3.        He went further in His teaching from the law.  He came not to change the law but fulfill it.  He explained the true meaning of the sabbath and not the religious interpretation of it. 

4.        He showed them who God was as is by His example and way he conducted himself among and with people.  This created tension, animosity, anger, hatred, and violence among the established religious community at the time.  Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, greed, and religious arrogance. 

5.        They in truth hated both the Father and Jesus because they had corrupted and watered down God’s word.  The form and tradition became more than the truth and substance.

6.        They saw his example and rejected Him because He did not fit their interpretation of image of what the Messiah or Savior should be.  They missed the important scriptures.  They majored on the minors and minored on the majors. 

 

Lesson:  Don’t be surprised when people have an unnatural dislike or hatred for you.  Also remember these signs follow them who believe.  You are the Lord’s representative and ambassador in your world.  Not everyone is going to be excited about this.  Expect some tension, scorn, mocking, hatred, and persecution.  Don’t look for it but don’t be surprised when it comes.

 

25     but this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.

 

1.        This is a fulfillment of what David saw in Psalm 69:4. There is no real reason to hate Jesus except He exposes us for who we are and what we do.  This hatred is unnatural and from the realms of darkness.

2.        The Old Testament warned about this.   They had no real reason to hate Jesus.  Except he was the light, and they were in darkness.  He is the truth, and they prefer a lie.   He did fit their expectation of what God was really like. 

3.        Mankind is under the reign and rule of the devil and so unless rescue from his influence no person can understand or see God. 

 

Lesson:  Scripture is always fulfilled.  Whether immediately or over time.  God’s word is accurate, trustworthy and true.  It was in David’s time, Jesus’ and ours.