That You Should Not Be Made to Stumble, John 16:1-11

 

Here in America, we like our teaching in an outline format, 1-2-3. A.B.C. Give me all the details of the first point, and then move on to the next point.

Like eating all the food on your plate one item at a time. Eat all the potatoes and gravy, then all the green beans, then all the meatloaf…

That’s not how they eat, or talk or teach in the middle-east; that’s not how Jesus taught in His day.

They taught, like most folks eat. A bite of potatoes, then beans, followed by a couple bites of meat, then potatoes again, bite after bite; line upon line.

So, when you see or hear something that sounds familiar, like you’ve heard it before—that’s because you have, it’s intentional.

It’s actually a great way to teach, to learn; to eat… to remember.

You’ve heard the words; repetition is the mother of all learning.

Zig Ziglar said it like this:

“Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.”

   

 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

The stuff I’ve told you, is because I don’t want you to fall.

Instead of the word “stumble” your translation may say, be offended, fall away, get caught off guard, abandon your faith, be led into sin…

The Greek word for stumble is skandalizó; where we get our word, scandal.

Skandalizó literally means, “to put a snare in the way.”

Okay, so, the stuff I’ve told you, is because I don’t want you to fall into the traps strategically placed in the way to snare you, and cause you, to fall.

 

2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

They will put you out of the synagogues.

A successful snare is hidden, camouflaged, even a bird knows to avoid a snare set in plain sight. Prov. 1:17.

So don’t be surprised if the devil, or his demons, or his people, come disguised as angels of light. 2 Cor. 11:13-15.

Don’t be surprised if the ones in white robes, those running the synagogues, the religious folks, the churchy people under the steeple; don’t be surprised if the ones that ought to love you are the ones that stab you.

Psalm 55:12-14. If it were an enemy, I could bear it; a foe, I could hide, but it was you, my close friend; we had sweet communion, we walked together to the House of God.  

Jesus says in John 13:18, quoting, Psalm 41:9, My own friend, with whom I shared bread, has raised up his heel against Me.  

The time is coming, (and now is), that whoever kills you will think he offers God service.

Religion kills.

The letter kills, the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6.

Religion murdered Jesus.

Religion slaughters millions.

Saul of Tarsus, thinking he was doing God service, murdered Christians. Thankfully, his eyes were opened (by making him blind); he saw Jesus as Messiah; and became a recipient of the persecution he once dished out. Eventually became a martyr.

Religion kills.

From the Roman Catholic Crusades; the Spanish Inquisition; Hitler’s holocaust; to Islamic terrorists declaring Jihad (“holy war”) shouting allah-akbar…

All slaughter the innocent while hiding behind the disguise that they’re, “offering God service.”

 

3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because He just said something similar.

John 15:21.

“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

The difference is, now it hits closer to home.

He was talking about how the world would treat them. John 15:18; If the world hates you, just know that it hated Me first.

Previsously, we talked about how the world martyred the disciples, the Christians.

Of course the world is going to be worldly, the haters are going to hate, sinners are going to sin.

But the church? The religious folk? The synagogue leaders? Those that profess godliness? Those that think they are doing God service.  

One more bite. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little… Isaiah 28:10

 

They have not known the Father nor Me.

Religion talks about God.

islamic terrorists shout, allah-akbar, (meaning, God is greatest), while they sin against God by slaughtering the innocent.

If they actually knew God, they would know that He loves Life, that He doesn’t even take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live. Ez. 33:11.

They don’t recognize Jesus, so therefore they don’t know God.

The Jews talk about God, read the Word of God; the Torah, (Gen.-Deut. Five Books of the Law of Moses), the prophets, the Psalms; the Old Testament. But they don’t receive God’s Son; they don’t recognize Jesus.

In Mark 7:13, Jesus told the religious Jews that by their tradition (their man-made religious rules) they made of non-effect the Word of God.

The Jews made the Law of Moses (their interpretation of it) their God. (Moses never wanted this to happen).

True Christianity is all about Jesus.

Judaism, Islam and Christianity lay claim to the God of Abraham.

Only those who have Jesus as Lord, really know the God of Abraham.

John 14:6. I AM the Way the Truth, the Life, no one come to the Father, but by Me.

Notice He is “the” way, not “a” way.

It’s all about Jesus.

Now, let’s add another bite of meat. Some may need to chew this for a bit, or it may be hard to swallow.

As the Jews elevated their interpretation of the Law of God, above the Love of God; organized Christian denominations, have done likewise with their particular doctrines.

Just hearing those words will irritate a religious spirit.

A religious spirit can preach the apostle Paul for weeks and never mention the love of Christ, or barely mention Jesus. (Paul never wanted this to happen).

The religious spirit will passionately debate a particular belief, but is apathetic toward showing the love of Christ.

The religious spirit gets agitated when the love of Jesus takes priority over denominational dogma.

The religious spirit has a form of godliness by denies the power thereof.  2 Timothy 3:5.

The religious spirit wants to jump up about right now and tell me to sit down and shut up.

Religion is about rules and regulations; Jesus is about relationships.

If you have trouble swallowing that, consider the word Jesus chooses to use when He says:

John 16:3; they have not known the Father

John 15:21; they do not know Him

Matt. 7:23; depart from Me, I never knew you

 Know in the Bible is not to know, intellectually, but intimately.

Adam knew Eve, and she conceived.

Speaking of Mary and Joseph, we’re told he knew her not until she brought forth her First born Son. Matthew 1:25.

Religion is blind. The letter kills, the Spirit gives Life. 2 Cor. 3:6.

 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

I’ve told you these things so you’re prepared, not scared.

It’s not nearly as scary, or stressful, if you know what’s coming.

Literally this says when “their time comes.” When they put you out of the synagogue, when they kill you, when they persecute you; remember, I told you it’d happen, so don’t be afraid.

Please understand the persecution, is an evil act of evil people, not a Divinely orchestrated event.

Jesus knows it will happen, but He doesn’t make it happen.

Remember, Jesus was the Word became flesh. So, everything He said was the Word of God, and beneficial for them to remember. Just as it is beneficial for us to remember, the Word of God.

He knew our weakness, our humanity, our forgetfulness, so He said:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26.

So, hallelujah, walking with, and listening to, the Holy Spirit, can Supernaturally improve our memory.

Jesus continues…

 

“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

There was no need to tell you these things at the beginning, but now it’s time.

One bite at a time.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105.

 

To those of you who’ve been with Me since the beginning, I’ll tell you things to come, things you need to know; so you won’t stumble.

Please notice that these things were only spoken to the eleven—those who were with Him from the beginning. Those who stayed.

There’s a powerful, powerful, powerful, blessing in staying. Just saying, Jesus I’m staying with You. Come hell or high water, feast or famine. I’m yours. I’m not leaving your side. Ever. Never. No matter what.

That dogged determination, that commitment that doesn’t want anything but His presence, is powerful, and pleasing to Him and those are the ones, He can trust to reveal things to come.

Are you one? 

5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

I’m going to the Father; if you loved Me, you’d rejoice because I’m going to the Father, (John 14:28). But you don’t even ask about where I’m going.

Instead of being happy for Me, you’re just sad for yourselves.

 Nevertheless…

 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Nevertheless… It’s truly to your advantage, that I go; because then, I’ll send the Helper.  

The Helper, The Holy Spirit. The Third Member of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

He will not only be with you, but in you. John 14:17.

When the Helper comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death (judgement), but the Gift (righteousness) of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Sin. We need to know (be convicted) we’re all sinners in need of a Sinless Savior.

Righteousness. Jesus’ sinless life and death was accepted as the only righteous payment for the sins of mankind; so, He rose from the grave and ascended to the Father in heaven.

Judgement. God is just. The sin debt must be paid, one Way or another. 

One Way is to accept the blood of Jesus.

The other is hell to pay.

Let’s pray,

Heavenly Father, we come to You in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We pray that Your Word will soften our heart, illuminate our path, so we walk with You in Love, not stumble in law.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Thank you for sharing.  

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