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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
THEY HATED HIM
"The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." (JOH 7:7)
Jesus knows the heart of man, even His own brethren. Joseph and Mary had more children than just Jesus. His own brethren wanted to expose Him because they did not believe in Him. Sometimes your own blood brothers and sisters will seek to destroy you. This is what we find with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In JOH 7:1-7 we read that His own brethren would set a trap for Him to put Him into the hands of the Scribes and Pharisees, and chiefly so that they could destroy Him. They would do it with subtlety and cunning devices.
"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." (JOH 7:1) We have it very clearly identified why He had withdrawn Himself from them. See what happened, "Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest." (JOH 7:2-3)
See the crafty design they used to try to beguile Him into exposing Himself to danger: "For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him." (JOH 7:4-5) They wanted to try to convince Him that He had to do something to make Himself known. They wanted Him to go forth and walk into their trap. "For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready." (JOH 7:5-6) The Lord Jesus is telling them that, "my hour is not yet come." He knew that they were seeking to kill Him, and He understood it all. He said, "but my hour is not yet come, but your time is always ready."
Jesus went on to say, "The world cannot hate you; [Now He’s going to tell us why it was that the Scribes, Pharisees, and the Jews, wanted to kill Him.] but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." (JOH 7:7)
When we start to understand the real theme of the Gospel, we realize how the Lord Jesus Christ told the Pharisees of their hypocrisy. The Lord Jesus Christ had revealed that the Scribes and Pharisees were nothing but whited sepulchres, full of dead men’s bones. That they were nothing but hypocrites and deceivers. This is why they hated Him!
When they saw that He confirmed what He said with miracles, that He would draw the people away from them, their fury against Him was so great that they wanted to kill Him. The jealousy of His own brothers was such that they would lay a snare for Him. They would entrap Him into the hands of His enemies. Why? He told them why, "because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." He had identified their sin.
For 25 years the Lord has led me to lay the sins of the entire judicial system before their eyes. The Lord used me as His witness to identify their sin. What a wonder it is, that the Lord has preserved me and they were not permitted to destroy me.
We read in JOH 3:21, "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." What is more provoking than when you take somebody’s sin and bring it to the light of the Scriptures and show how grievous sin is. This is why Jesus was hated, because their conscience convinced them that what He said was true!
In JOH 12:31 we read, "Now is the judgment of this world." The Lord had His time. He told His brethren, "My time is not yet come," but now the hour is come. "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."
By all human reasoning the prince of this world gained the victory. Jesus was led to the cross, He hung upon the cross, and was put to shame for them. What they did not understand was that this was the very means that the Father had chosen whereby the victory would be gained. That was why He allowed Satan to take Him by the heel, but in so doing, the head of Satan was crushed GEN 3:15; "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." They didn’t understand that this was God’s very plan for salvation. They were bringing about the very purpose of God! "Now is the judgment of this world!" Amen.
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ by man rejected!
Yes, my soul, ‘tis He! "’Tis He!
’Tis the long expected Prophet,
David’s son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it;
‘Tis a true and faithful word.
Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends, through fear, His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress.
Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed!
See WHO bears the awful load!
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed,
Son of man, and Son of God.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrificed to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Thee their hopes have built.
Author: Thomas Kelly, 1804
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.