What Think Ye of Christ?

Temple Baptist Church - 3-8-2023

John 7:43

Introduction:

 

A.  As I ask you this question tonight, “What think ye of Christ?”, I need to make it clear that our eternity rests upon the answer to this question.

 

B.  In the preceding chapter, we find the division of the people who saw what Christ did and heard what Christ said.  Many of His disciples walked away because of their unbelief. 

 

John 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

 

C.  The question was asked in John 6:67, “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”  Peter answered for all the disciples in verses 68-69, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

D.  But Peter did not know that there was another unbeliever among the disciples who would “go away” and betray the Son of God.  Jesus spoke on one of them in John 6:70-71:  “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  (71)  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”

 

E.  In our verse for tonight, we find that there was a division among the people concerning who Jesus was.  That division was not one of confusion!  It was one of rejection!

 

F.  2 Corinthians 11:4 has certainly come to fruition in our day.  2 Corinthians 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.  (Another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel)

 

1.  A Jesus who is not God.

 

2.  A Jesus who is not Holy.

 

3.  A Jesus who is not the only Way.

 

4.  A Jesus who cannot Keep Us.

 

5.  A Jesus who is not Coming Again.

 

6.  A Jesus who did not Create all things.

G.  Two questions tonight:  1)  What does this world think of Christ?  2)  What think ye of Christ?

 

1.  The view of the unsaved world.

 

a.  They said that Christ was a marvelous man.  John 7:15  And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

 

He was that.  But He was so much more than that! 

 

b.  They said that Christ was a devilish man.  John 7:20  The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

 

He was not that!  What a perverted perception they had of  Christ as all He ever did was good, holy, and beneficial! 

 

c.  They said that Christ was a courageous man.  John 7:25-26  Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?  (26)  But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

 

He was that.  He became obedient to the death of the cross, the most horrendous of all deaths. 

 

d.  They said that Christ was a blasphemous man.  John 7:28-30  Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.  (29)  But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.  (30)  Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

 

He was not that!  He never spoke a sinful word or conveyed a sinful thought! 

 

e.  They said that Christ was a prophet.  John 7:40  Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

 

He was that as He knew the end from the beginning, but He was much more than that!

 

f.  They said that was a deceiver.  John 7:41-42  Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?  (42)  Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

 

He was not that as He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life!  They were the deceived!

 

2.  The view of the saved believer.

 

a.  That Christ was the promised Messiah. 

 

b.  That Christ was the Son of God.  John 6:69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

c.  That Christ was the God in the flesh.  John 7:31  And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

 

d.  That Christ was the Saviour of the world.  John 7:41  Others said, This is the Christ!

 

Conclusion: 

 

You see, it matters not what the world thinks of Christ.  From no Jesus to another Jesus, the world lies in the darkness of rejection and unbelief.  This is “on them”.  We can share the gospel with them; we can share our personal faith with them, but ultimately the choice remains theirs to make.

 

All that matters tonight is “What think ye of Christ?”  This determines our individual eternal destiny.  I agree with the statement that Peter made. 

 

“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”