The One Jesus Loves, Part 16: Stress Busters

THE ONE JESUS LOVES – 16

The Gospel of John

Stress Busters

John 7:1-52

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Jesus understands Stress

Before the feast: Disbelief (vs 7-10)

During the feast: Debate (vs 11-36)

After the feast: Division (vs 37-52)

(John 7:1-13 ESV) 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.

STRESS BUSTER 1:

EMBRACE GOD’S TIMING

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(John 7:6 ESV) Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.

(John 7:8 ESV) You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”

STRESS BUSTER 2:

RESIST PEOPLE’S OPINIONS

The disapproval of men

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Disapproval can start at home.

(John 7:5 ESV) For not even his brothers believed in him.

Disapproval can turn hurtful.

(John 7:12 ESV) 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.”

Disapproval can be hateful.

(John 7:20 ESV) The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?”

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” – Aristotle

“If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection.” – Lecrae

The approval of God

God’s approval creates confidence.

(John 7:17 ESV) 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.

God’s approval creates character.

(John 8:14 ESV) …for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

STRESS BUSTER 3:

DISCOVER A BRAND NEW SOURCE

(John 7:37-39 ESV) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.