Faint, Yet Pursuing

Judges 8:4  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

In this section, Gideon had just defeated the Midianites and were pursuing Zeebah and Zalmunna, two kings of Midian who had escaped. In this message, we want to talk about something that you don’t hear much about and that is what to do during times of faintness.

Talking about this topic is often taboo among Christians because “As Christians, we’re not supposed to be faint because we serve a God of power and if you even mention being faint, then you must not be praying enough!”

We do serve a God of power, but talking about this topic does not mean someone is not prayerful, nor does it give an excuse to become slothful. There is a healthy way to look at this topic. We must be careful of extreme beliefs.

The Warriors Were Faint

Judges 8:4-5  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.  (5)  And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

I know that in Christianity, you’re not supposed to talk about being faint or weary. But, to deny this reality of the Christian life is to deny reality itself. Sometimes we get tired and, rather than focusing solely on that, we need to know how to deal with those times of weariness.

 Jesus and the disciples got weary. Mark 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Paul grew weary 2 Corinthians 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Maybe Jesus, the disciples, and Paul should have prayed in the Spirit more often! Or, maybe they weren’t so afraid to acknowledge the reality that the work of God can wear you down sometimes. I’ve heard it called “Compassion exhaustion”, or being worn down by loving people’s souls more than they love their own souls.

When people ignore this reality in their feeble attempt to keep up appearances, they tend to burn out, sometimes beyond recovery.

A Lack of Compassion

Judges 8:6-9  And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?  (7)  And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.  (8)  And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.  (9)  And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

When Gideon asked for food and water while pursuing Zeebah and Zalmunna, the men of Succoth basically said, “No, because the victory hasn’t already been won”. These men had no compassion on those who were in the fight! They were probably afraid to put their own necks on the line.

Most people won’t do something unless they feel they’ve been given social approval to do so. The question they subconsciously ask themselves is, “Is this safe to support, or will I get retaliation for supporting it? Even though I really like this, what would this person or that person think if they knew I supported it?” This is a terrible way to live because it makes them the slave of other people’s opinions!

The Warriors Were Still Pursuing

Judges 8:4  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

These warriors were not sinning by being faint in the fight and neither is anyone else sinning who becomes faint in the fight! When we get weary, rather than completely stopping, we must look to God for His power and learn to keep pursuing at a pace that is healthy for that moment.

We may need to pull back on some things, accept the help of those who will offer it, and don’t worry about those who don’t offer help. What did Jesus tell the disciples? Mark 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while… Notice He didn’t say, “You bunch of unprayerful lazy bones!”. Be careful of people who talk to you like that, especially if the only sword they are wielding seems to be at their own people!

You want to be able to keep pursuing even when you become faint so you don’t burn out beyond recovery. Associate yourself, not with those who deny reality, but with those who know what it’s like to be Faint, Yet Pursuing because they are out in the fight too!

Remember, the goal isn’t to never be weary. The goal is to look to God for power so you can keep pursuing!

How Old is Jesus?

Something fun to ponder.

Right now in Heaven, Jesus is still only 33 years old. I understand Jesus is eternal. He was eternal before He came into this life and yet we say He died on the cross at around 33 years old.

The only place where age is measured is in this life and it is usually measured in months or years. In eternity there is no time therefore there is no measuring of age. If someone were to ask, “How old is Jesus?”, though He is eternal, His is also still 33 years old because that is where His age stopped being counted.

What are your thoughts?

The Mystery of the Messiah (Part 2 – The Mystery of Messiah’s Ministry and Message)

If you prefer to watch this message as it was preached, you may do so by >>Clicking Here<<

Bible Reading: 1st Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Introduction:

The promise of the Messiah was one that was, and still is highly misunderstood. This is especially the case to those who did not have the word of God as we have it today. In satan’s attempt to replace the actual reason for celebrating Christmas, we now have Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves.

This is something that many people seem to be happy to focus on rather than focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Santa Claus promises to give you what you want rather than what you need; a concept that is very appealing to those who are focused on carnal things. Jesus, however, focuses on giving you what you need. Something that, though it be less appealing to the flesh, will get you into eternity with God!

In this message, we’ll teach about the mysteries that surround the Messiah and how they are fulfilled, and could only be fulfilled, by Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Messiah.

Isaiah 9:6-7  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

“…For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” – The prophet no doubt understood the concept of a child being born, but what about a son being given. Another prophecy that may have seemed confusing. “We’re going to receive a son who already exists?”

We in the New Testament understand this concept when we read John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Up to this point we have set the foundation for this teaching in Part 1and taught about The Paradoxes of the Messianic Prophecies and The Mystery of the Messiah’s Lineage. Now, we’ll go to the ministry of the Messiah.

The Mystery of the Messiah’s Ministry

The ministry of the Messiah was expected by the Jews to look a certain way. It was expected to be a ministry that would set them free from the tyranny of the oppressive Roman government, and they would all live happily ever after. Even John the Baptist, who himself was a fulfillment of the prophecies of (Isaiah 40:3 – The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. and Malachi 4:5-6 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:  (6)  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.) and was the forerunner to the ministry of the Messiah, seems to have  expected the Messiah to come and destroy the enemies of Israel and set Israel free.

The message John Baptist was preaching came from God. Luke 3:2- …the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. We get the impression of John Baptist’s expectation through the kind of messages he preached. What was his message?  (3)  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; Luke 3:7-8 …O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…

Also, Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Basically, John the Baptist’s message was, “turn or burn sinners, because the Messiah is here and He is not messing around!!” and to the Pharisees, his message was, “It’s time for all you sinners to burn, and I’ve got a front row seat to the fire!”. Something like that.

Yet, not much longer after preaching this message and identifying Jesus as the Messiah, John the Baptist was thrown into prison at The Fortress of Machaerus, which is located on the northeastern shore of the Dead Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan River. He was put there by Herod Antipas because John Baptist was preaching against Herod’s adulterous relationship with the wife of his own brother; Philip.

The Mystery of the Messiah’s Message

We read of one of the first messages to the crowds preached by Jesus in Matthew 5 (known as “The Beatitudes” or supreme blessings). Matthew 5:3-4  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (4)  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. This was hardly the message the Messiah was expected to preach! (a lot of people have a lot of expectations of the preacher, and even Jesus get off that hook!)

John Baptist heard that Jesus, was preaching mercy, forgiveness, and was healing people rather than reigning down God’s judgment upon them. We read in Matthew 11:2-3  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  (3)  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

It’s interesting that John had this kind of doubting because John Baptist and his parents knew that John was born to be the forerunner of the Messiah, and, when he saw Jesus at the river, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and John would declare John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John would also say, John 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

Because the ministry of Jesus wasn’t one of judgment and eternal punishment, as John supposed it would be, even John the Baptist started doubting the ministry of Jesus. Jesus would send word back to John and say Matthew 11:4-6  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  (5)  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  (6)  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

In other words, remember there is another part of the prophecies that must be fulfilled first. They are the prophecies of Isaiah 61:1-2  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  (2)  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD…

John the Baptist was looking for the last part of Verse 2…, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn (or give the Jews rest from their oppressors). Jesus was telling John, “We must fulfill the first part before we can fulfill the second part.

So, we see that the ministry and message of Jesus did not fit the preconceived idea of what was expected of the Messiah, even to John the Baptist, who was most familiar and ready for it.

Many today will not accept Christ, because His ministry and message do not fit into their preconceived ideas. But, His ministry is God’s chosen way and anyone who would get to God’s Heaven must get there through the ministry and message of Jesus Christ!

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The Mystery of the Messiah (Paradoxes in the Messianic Prophecies)

If you prefer to watch this message as it was taught, you may do so at this link: Paradoxes of the Messianic Prophecies

Bible Reading: 1st Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Introduction:

The promise of the Messiah was one that was, and still is highly misunderstood. This is especially the case to those who did not have the word of God as we have it today. In satan’s attempt to replace the actual reason for celebrating Christmas, we now have Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves.

This is something that many people seem to be happy to focus on rather than focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Santa Claus promises to give you what you want rather than what you need; a concept that is very appealing to those who are focused on carnal things. Jesus, however, focuses on giving you what you need. Something that, though it be less appealing to the flesh, will get you into eternity with God!

In this message, we’ll teach about the mysteries that surround the Messiah and how they are fulfilled, and could only be fulfilled, by Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Messiah.

The Mystery of the Messiah

When we say “mystery” we simply mean something that has not yet been revealed. Because we have the completed 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, collated into one comprehensive book, called The Holy Bible, we now have access to many answers that those before us did not have.

To those living in Old Testament times, and especially those prophets whom God chose to write Messianic prophecies, the prophecies they received and wrote were a mystery to them because they did not yet understand, as we do today, how those prophecies could have come to pass at all, much less come to pass by one man.

Peter explains to us in our Bible reading that the Old Testament prophets were trying to figure it out, but could not do so with the limited knowledge they had at the time. (1st Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.)

During the Old Testament, though many prophecies went forth about the Messiah, those prophecies seemed to contradict one another which created many paradoxes that surround the Messiah. A paradox is a combination of two, seemingly contradictory statements, that are both true.

The Paradoxes of the Messianic Prophecies

  1. The Messiah would have (Isaiah 9:6) …the government…upon his shoulder (signifying world dominance). But, then He would be (Isaiah 53:3-4) …despised and rejected of men… The prophets may have asked, “How can you rule the world and be despised and rejected by the world?”
  2. We’re told (Isaiah 9:6) …and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God… But, then the Messiah would be (Isaiah 53:3-4) …a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief… The prophets may have asked, “How could He be called Wonderful, if He’s filled with sorrows and grief? How could He be the mighty God, and yet be a man of sorrows? God and man at the same time? How can this be?”
  3. The Messiah would be the  …root of Jesse… (Isaiah 11:10) signifying He existed before Jesse, the father of David, just as the root of a tree exists before the rest of the tree), yet the Messiah would also be called …a Branch… (Isaiah 11:1) that comes forth from Jesse. The prophets may have asked, “How can someone be a root and a branch?”
  4. He would be the Son of Man while also being the Son of God, and yet He would have no beginning nor ending.
  5. He would be a King and a servant.
  6. He would be dead, and yet live forever.

All these were paradoxes with which those in the Old Testament had to wrestle, and yet never fully understand, or as Paul would write in Hebrews 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: and Peter says in 1 Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently…

Now that we somewhat understand the limited knowledge they had under the Old Testament, let’s look further at some of the mysteries of the Messiah.

The Mystery of the Messiah’s Lineage

Listed in the lineage of the Messiah are some unlikely candidates. Five women. In the Hebrew culture, women were not normally listed in the lineage, but they are in the lineage of the Messiah. These five women are: 1) Tamar (Matthew 1:3), 2) Rahab (or Rachab in Matthew 1:5), 3) Ruth (Matthew 1:5), 4) Bathsheba, or “…her that had been the wife of Urias” in Matthew 1:6), 5) Mary (Matthew 1:16).

Tamar – We are going to focus on Tamar for now, to show you the length to which God will go in order to work all things together for His glory and His plan.

In Genesis 38, we read that Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah, who was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. We know, from (Genesis 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.), that the Messiah was supposed to come through the line of Judah. The problem is that there were some major problems with the line of Judah.

Tamar was married to Er, Judah’s oldest son. Er was so wicked that God killed him. We don’t know how this was done. Judah then told his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar and have a child with her, and name it after Er. Onan had sexual relations with Tamar, but he did not want to have a child with her that would be named after his dead brother. So, God killed Onan as well.

Judah promised Tamar that, if she would remain a widow, he would let his younger son, Shelah, marry her. After Judah’s wife died, he goes up to Timnath, and sees a prostitute. He goes in and has sex with her and promises to pay her later with a young goat. As collateral, she keeps his bracelets, staff, and signet ring until he returns. He quickly returns with the goat, knowing that the items she has could easily identify him, but he could not find the prostitute anywhere. So, he goes back home.

After three months, Judah hears that Tamar, his daughter-in-law, is pregnant by someone she’s not married to. He then orders her to be burned. There were only two offenses for which people may die by burning. 1) Prostitution by a priest’s daughter (Leviticus 21:9  And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.) and 2) Incest. (Leviticus 20:14  And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.)

As they were getting ready to burn Tamar for getting pregnant without being married, we read in Genesis 38:25  When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet (that says “Judah 1 on it”), and bracelets, and staff. Tamar had dressed up as the prostitute that Judah slept with three months earlier. He had slept with his own daughter-in-law and didn’t know it.

Judah then acknowledges his sin in Genesis 38:26  And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her (had sex with her) again no more. Tamar had twins by Judah, her father-in-law, Pharez and Zamar and it would be through the lineage of Pharez that the Messiah would come.

The Curse of Being Born out of Wedlock

We now know that, in Genesis 49, it would later be prophesied that the Messiah would come through the lineage of Judah, but there was a problem. Judah’s two older sons were dead and he had twins by his daughter-in-law, but they were illegitimate children because they were born out of wedlock and God pronounces a curse upon those who are born out of wedlock, in Deuteronomy 23:2  A bastard (illegitimate child) shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Well, God would just use Judah’s youngest son Shelah, right? Wrong! God uses the lineage of Pharez, one of the illegitimate children, to bring the Messiah into the world. Let’s see how God does that.

Remember, the curse of the illegitimate child lasted to the tenth generation. Matthew 1:3-6  …1) Phares begat Esrom; and 2) Esrom begat Aram;  (4)  And 3) Aram begat Aminadab; and 4) Aminadab begat Naasson; and 5) Naasson begat Salmon;  (5)  And 6) Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and 7) Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and 8) Obed begat Jesse;  (6)  And 9) Jesse begat David the king; and 10) David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; From Pharez to David is 10 generations and the curse is broken at the birth of David, who later would be king of Israel and through whom God would bring the Messiah.

The Curse of Jeconiah

We read in Matthew 1:11  And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: Jechonias (or Jeconiah, Jehoiachin, or Coniah) was a very wicked king in Israel’s history. It was during his reign that Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity.

God pronounces a curse upon Jechonias in Jeremiah 22:24-25  As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;  (25)  And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life… (Jeremiah 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

How is it that God cursed the lineage of Jechonias, yet, we read that Messiah would come through the lineage of Jechonias in Matthew 1:11  And Josias begat Jechonias… I thought God said no king would descend from Jechonias. Isn’t Jesus the King of kings?

The lineage of Jechonias came through the lineage of King Solomon, the son of King David and it was through this lineage that Joseph the husband of Mary came. But, Jesus was not the biological son of Joseph. Jesus is the biological Son of God. So, the DNA of Joseph was not in Jesus, therefore the DNA of Jechonias was not in Jesus, which means Jesus is exempt from the lineage, and therefore the curse, of Jechonias.

Jesus is still in the lineage of King David through his mother Mary, who came through the lineage of another son of David by the name of Nathan. (Luke 3:31 …Nathan, which was the son of David,) Therefore, Jesus still gets to descend from the lineage of King David and bypasses the curse of Jechonias.

Stay tuned for Part 2 – The Mystery of Messiah’s Ministry and Message

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“As a Prince Hast Thou Power”

Genesis 32:28  And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Jacob, whose name translates to mean “deceiver”, was wrestling with the Lord. Although this was a physical event for Jacob, it could very well represent our own natural inward wrestling within. The wrestling that we naturally feel when it comes to deciding between our will or God’s will.

Ultimately, this was the issue with which Jacob was actually wrestling; his will for his life versus God’s will for his life. This may account for why, as the Bible clarifies, he wrestled “…until the breaking of the day.” (Vs. 24).

It is likely this wrestling match actually started 20 years prior, at the end of Genesis 28, when Jacob made a vow to serve the Lord, and now, in Genesis 32, God was calling upon Jacob to make good on his promise!

Like so many times, it took a life-changing event to finally get Jacob’s attention. In his case, God “…touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” (Vs. 25).

We read later this one event affected Jacob for the rest of his life. It was after this that Jacob “…halted upon his thigh.” (Vs. 31) and in his old age he “…blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.” (Hebrews 11:21).

It was only after this event, that God told Jacob, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

The name Jacob (deceiver) represented who he was, but now the name Israel (Prince) represents who he had become! Jacob had to be dislocated so that the Prince (or Israel) inside could be located!

God knows how to locate that part of us that is deeper and more substantive; that part of us that we may not even know exists yet. It may take dislocation first, but if we say to God, as Jacob did, “…I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”, then bless us He will!

Development Class: “Influencing More Like Jesus”

If you’d prefer to view the live teaching, please Click Here.

A Little Bit about Influence

What is influence? It is the capacity to have an effect on someone. That “someone” can be you or someone else. Yes, you can influence yourself just like you can influence another person. This can be used in a positive manner or a negative manner. Influence pours over into the topic of leadership. If you can influence someone, you can lead them.

This rule applies whether the other person is at a lower, equal, or higher level of authority than you. If you can influence someone, you can lead them (sometimes without the other party even being aware that it is taking place). This is because true leadership is influence. Everything else, such as rank, title, and official position is just structural management.

Jesus was focused on self-development, through His connection with His Father. We see this in Mark 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Jesus was also focused on the development of others. We also see this in Mark 1:17  And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

With this in mind, it would do us well to learn the importance of both self-development and developing others, like Jesus did!

At the end of each of the following scenarios, I will ask three discussion questions, which I want everyone to be ready to answer. I will even give you answers along the way.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who did Jesus influence?
  • How did He influence them?
  • How can we influence people in the same way Jesus did in this situation?

Jesus Influences Others in a Sensitive Situation

John 8:3-6  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,  (4)  They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  (5)  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  (6)  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him…

Notice how they tried to influence Jesus. 1) They used his title “Master”, probably thinking this would appeal to His ego and cause Him to drop His guard. 2) They gave what most people would probably define as an open and shut case. “this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act”. 3) They set up, what seemed like an easy question, “What sayest thou?”

John 8:6b-7  …But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  (7)  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (8) And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Notice the influential approach Jesus takes here. He ignores those who were considered to be the highest authorities in the nation of Israel. He is influencing them in a way of which they are not even aware. It’s a way they are not used to being influenced; namely not being able to oppress someone simply by the use of their rank and position.

Rudyard Kipling said of this, “Beware of overconcern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.” This poverty of which Mr. Kipling writes could be financially poor or it could mean how poor you are in influencing people when you thought you were rich in this area.

John 8:9  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  

Notice now how Jesus influences these people. He says certain words in certain ways to get them to come to a realization, on their own, and then take action on that realization.

Most people will not care for most counsel you give them, no matter what they tell you. But, if you can influence them to come to a conclusion on their own, they will most likely take that counsel because they will feel they came up with it themselves.

John 8:10  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  (11)  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

              Notice how Jesus influences this woman. He did not give her the information directly. He asked her a question, “hath no man condemned thee?”, which warranted a response from her, “No man, Lord”.

              By asking her the question, and letting her answer it for herself, this did two things. 1) He allowed her to declare her own freedom from condemnation and 2) She became a witness to herself that she had been made free from the penalty she deserved.

              Jesus then influenced her in one more way. He gave her a sense of accountability. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”. What does this approach of influence do? It lays the responsibility to do better squarely in the hands of the decision maker themselves, as it should be. As if to say, “You’ve been given leniency, learn from it and become better because of it!”

              What better ways to influence others than to take the approach that Jesus takes in this situation?!

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who did Jesus influence?
  • How did He influence them?
  • How can we influence people in the same way Jesus did in this situation?