Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Much Debate

Here in the Jesus public ministry there was much confusion about who he was.  There were many myths about what Messiah would do and where he would come from.

John 6: 


the Son of Joseph -  41 Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”


Holy one of God - 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God


John 7: 
Demon possessed - 20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”


Is he Messiah ? -  25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 27 But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”


Divided opinions -  40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.”[g] 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”[h] 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.


John 8: 25 “Who are you?” they demanded.


A Samaritan devil -  48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”


possessed by a devil - 52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon.


Divided opinions  -   John 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.


Not from God


Ordinary Sinner



A prophet -  17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”
   The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

A sinner - 24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this,[b] because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”



Divided opinions - John 10: 19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.


Out of his mind - 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 


Demon possessed - 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”


Are you the Messiah ?   24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”


Blasphemer, a mere man -  33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”