When Jesus Isn't Your Superman
Rev. Scott Mitchell, Pastor of Community Formation

God intends to change you by His Word. How is He at work in you to do that?  Read the following passage and consider these questions. 

READ

John 7:1-19 (ESV)

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”

QUESTIONS (40 minutes)

1.  Pastor Scott began the sermon by telling the story of the 2-year-old who passed away, and whose church began to pray for her resurrection. Do you think that the church's prayers were appropriate? Why or why not?

2. How do you think Jesus' brothers would have reacted to John 6:66: "After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him"?

3. For what reason(s) did Jesus choose to stay in Galilee while his brothers decided to go to Judea? How is this related to Jesus choosing shortly thereafter to go to Judea by himself?

4. His brothers wanted Jesus to continue to perform works (i.e., miracles) in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths. Instead, Jesus' first public action in Jerusalem was to stand in the temple and teach. Why would Jesus choose to teach instead of performing miracles?

5. Pastor Scott said that many times we want a Superman, not a savior. What do you do when Jesus doesn’t show up at the time and in the manner that we want?

PRAYER (15 minutes) 

Take prayer requests. Pray together that you may grow deeper in the knowledge that Jesus is your Savior.