Schemes of Satan-4

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions is propagating the disbelief in his existence or presenting himself as an angel of light. The Mormons believe that Satan is Jesus’ brother, therefore, making him equal to Jesus! Some false teachers teach that Satan is just the image of evil not the reality of evil. The Bible clearly states that Satan is indeed real and a created being that has fallen from being in the presence of Jehovah. He is more evil and deadly than can be imagined.

Let us continue our study.

John 7:32  The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. 

What were the charges? Did they need any charges? Could they legally seize Him? Since all of Israel was under Roman rule, this seems to be a grey area.

7:33  Therefore Jesus said, "For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 7:34  "You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come." 

This has three meanings. The first it talks to His coming arrest and crucifixion. The second was His ascension. The third was both a warning and condemnation of the Jews.

7:35  The Jews then said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? 7:36  "What is this statement that He said, 'You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come'?" 

They did not understand but they also had no real desire to gain understanding. Their focus was getting rid of Jesus, not understanding or believing.

7:37  Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 7:38  "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" 

7:39  But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Without an understanding of the Holy Spirit, this teaching would be difficult to fully believe. But, when He leaves to return to Heaven, true believers will gain complete understanding. Satan understands this but believes he can circumvent this from happening by having Jesus crucified.

7:40  Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." 7:41  Others were saying, "This is the Christ." Still others were saying, "Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? 7:42  "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 

This shows how false teachers can introduce questions about Jesus’ deity, mission, and true identity. Jesus birth in Bethlehem is clearly recorded in the Temple, as were all the birth and family records for Israel. Why didn’t they do their research? They tell people what they want to hear, while withholding what they need to hear.

7:43  So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. 

7:44  Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 7:45  The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why did you not bring Him?" 7:46  The officers answered, "Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks." 

It was not Jesus’ time, but the guards couldn’t make themselves arrest Him. They were amazed by His teaching. Why did the Pharisees want to seize Him?

7:47  The Pharisees then answered them, "You have not also been led astray, have you? 7:48  "No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 7:49  "But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed." 

They just falsely claimed the high ground. If we don’t believe, that is all you need to know. What Law where they referring to? Their oral law, which they created above GOD’s Law.

7:50  Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) *said to them, 7:51  "Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?" 

One of their own had to speak up. But, they did not want to argue on his premises, so they instead attacked him. Discrediting a reknowned teacher on his poor understanding of the Scriptures. But, they were the ones in error. Jesus was first from Bethlehem, which they should have known. He lived in Nazareth until adulthood.

7:52  They answered him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee." 

By focusing on Galilee they seemed to be totally discrediting Jesus ministry. Another scheme of Satan, as lies are his best tool of deception, he simply just shifts the argument to his lies. He knows that by simply letting the Jews state this lie as truth, no one would dare challenge them.

We all need to do our own research, as these schemes have been used within the ‘church’ for centuries.

More next Saturday.