"A
Little Knowledge"
Text: John
7:40-53
(Psalms 100:3-5 NKJV)
"Know that the LORD, He is
God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We
are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless
His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures
to all generations." Amen.
Dear Fellow Christians:
My guess is
that if I were to begin a sentence with: "A
little knowledge is
" most would finish it with "a dangerous thing." That's the expression
Usually when
we use that expression it is to put a novice or young person in his or her
place. This morning we are going to examine that saying with a bit more
sobriety than is usually associated with those words. We will examine how in
the spiritual realm that simple saying can be both absolutely right and
tragically wrong. The God-inspired words that will guide our thoughts this
morning are found in the Gospel of John, the Seventh Chapter:
NKJ John 7:40-53 Therefore many from the
crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the
Prophet." 41 Others
said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come
out of Galilee? 42
"Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David
and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" 43 So there was a division among
the people because of Him. 44
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45 Ά Then
the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them,
"Why have you not brought Him?"
46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this
Man!" 47 Then the
Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? 48 "Have any of the rulers or
the Pharisees believed in Him? 49
"But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus
by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge
a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" 52 They answered and said to him,
"Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out
of Galilee." 53 Ά And everyone went to his own house.
These are the
very words of our God gifted to man to bring about our rebirth and
preservation. That having already used the power of his Word to bring about our
rebirth or conversion, we therefore pray that our God would use that same power
to preserve us unto our end, and ask him to do so with these words: "Sanctify us through Your truth, O Lord.
Your Word is truth." Amen.
While it may
well be true that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, a great deal of
knowledge can prove to be just as deadly. No one is therefore immune from, or
"above," the warnings of our text. Foolishness comes in all shapes
and sizes. Even today the majority of the most educated men and women in the
world believe that they are descended from apes and that life began from, well,
dead stuff. This remains, to me, a head-scratcher; a
position or belief that defies logic, common sense, and the evidence all around
us. One of the most basic rules of science is the Law of Biogenesis. Simply
stated, life begets life. If modern man can be so wrong about something so
basic, it ought not surprise us that men living a
couple thousand years ago were also mistaken about a few things. In fact if
modern man can actually deny the very existence of the Creator God, it
shouldn't surprise us that ancient man couldn't recognize the Son of God when
he was standing right in front of them.
And that's
just what they did, isn't it? Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the
world, was standing right there in front of them
and they failed to recognize him. More accurately, they refused to recognize him. How? Why? Because, at
least in their case, a little knowledge was indeed a very dangerous thing.
We read with
great interest (and maybe even a bit of amusement) how the highly educated
Jewish leaders rationalized their rejection of Jesus. It was indeed fascinating
how they justified their denial in their own minds. This man was clearly saying
and doing things of which no ordinary man was capable, and yet they steadfastly
refused to admit that he was anything but a deceiver. What is more, they held
up for public ridicule anyone who pointed out even the basic facts concerning
the man. As the Jewish leaders struggled to explain away the solid evidence
Jesus presented to them, they demonstrated the same silliness we see today in
the evolutionists and atheists. Remember that our merciful God made allowance
for man's natural skepticism in Jesus' day through the performance of countless
miracles and signs. At one point even a Pharisee had to acknowledge: "Rabbi,
we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no
one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (John
3:2 NKJV) Still they refused to acknowledge that Jesus was who he said he was.
Such is the nature of unbelief. It is fully capable of blocking out even
irrefutable evidence if that is what is necessary to justify their unbelief.
Make no mistake. Unbelief is, in large part, a choice. A very
bad choice.
In our text it
was fascinating to watch the Jewish leaders struggle with the facts. Did you
catch their basic justification for refusing to believe that Jesus was who he
said he was? He was a Galilean. Why should that have made any difference? Was
it just some petty prejudice on their part? Actually no, for here is where the
"little knowledge" part comes in. The Jews knew from Micah 5:2 that
the Savior was going to come from David's line and that he would be born in Bethlehem.
"But
you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet
out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler
in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
These men knew their Old Testament Scriptures. We are told that many memorized
entire books and could recite them at will. Remember how Herod inquired of
these same men when questioned by the Magi as to the birthplace of the Messiah,
and how those Jewish scholars were able not only to give Herod a Scriptural
answer, but Herod believed and acted on that information.
The problem
was that Galilee was not part of the territory ceded to the Tribe of Judah, and
the Prophet Micah had clearly foretold that the Savior would be born in
Bethlehem, a city of Judah. Nazareth, the city where Jesus was raised, lay far
to the north and was part of the territory given to the Tribe of Zebulun. Jesus
probably even carried with him a Galilean accent. To the Jews such facts simply
made it impossible for Jesus to be the Messiah. End of discussion. Unbelief is
not only blind, it is also very stubborn.
Part of the
problem we have in understanding this line of reasoning today is the fact that
we don't really understand the general perception of Galilee in general, and the
City of Nazareth in particular, in Jesus' day. We today associate Jesus with
Nazareth, and therefore the city takes on a certain majesty it didn't otherwise
possess. To get an idea of what we are talking about, think of a weedy, seedy
little town and add the words "Jesus
of..." before it and you begin to get the idea. Jesus of Mott, Jesus
of Beaver Dam, Jesus of Poughkeepsie you get the idea. The Jews of Jesus' day
just did not believe that anything good could come out of the region of
Galilee. One of Jesus' own Apostles agreed. Remember how Nathanael said to his
brother Philip, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" before he
was first introduced to Jesus? What did his brother reply? "Come and see."
That was the
key, wasn't it? That was where the religious elite of Jesus' day went wrong.
For the simple men who were invited to follow Jesus the question about Jesus'
hometown and lineage was easily answered. Go to him and find out. The scribes
and Pharisees were content with their "little knowledge" because it
was what they wanted to believe. Their misgivings could have would have
been easily answered by a visit and a question: "Jesus, the Prophet Micah told us to look for a man from
Bethlehem. How can you be that man when you are a Galilean?" Simple question, and
Jesus would undoubtedly have given them a simple answer: "I was born in Bethlehem and moved first to Egypt and then to
Galilee." The Jewish leaders
would undoubtedly have also been familiar with Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called My son." Matthew reveals to us that this too
was a prophecy about Jesus, but the Jews didn't want to hear it. In Matthew we
are also taught that there were well-known prophecies that foretold that the
Messiah "shall be called a Nazarene" though those prophecies
are not recorded in the Scriptures. The bottom line is that unbelievers just
needed any old reason to "justify" their unbelief, and they were
perfectly content to dismiss Jesus based on their "little knowledge"
of one passage.
You and I
today face very similar temptations which can actually look rather appealing at
times. On the one hand we are tempted towards spiritual laziness which we
justify on the basis of "All I need
is simple faith in Jesus" and "The
more I learn the more questions I have so it is less confusing to remain
ignorant." Sound familiar? We are also tempted, on the other hand, to assume
too much from the little knowledge we do accumulate. One of the expressions
that my children probably get tired of hearing is that we don't know what we don't know.
Here again
great balance is needed if we are to appreciate both the danger and the joy of
the knowledge that God has given us and continues to offer us through the
study of his Word.
This week, for
example, the accumulated knowledge of our Confirmand is scheduled to be
examined in preparation for Confirmation. There we will see if she has grown in
her knowledge and understanding to the point that she can now participate in
the reception of the Lord's Supper. We pray, of course, that this and every
other confirmand understands that Confirmation is simply another mile marker,
not a final destination. Our education certainly does not end with confirmation;
it just takes on a new aspect or character. In that sense Confirmation is more
a draft notice than it is retirement papers. It is your own personal notice
from God that he is calling you to more active service on the front lines of
his Kingdom work.
So what then are
the specific dangers that young and old alike face in the days and years to come
in modern-day America? What are our specific dangers when it comes to "a
little knowledge"?
We live in the
information age where doubts and questions spread with shocking speed to all
corners of the earth. These errors need to be refuted, both in your own heart
and mind and in society. A thorough understanding of God's Word will therefore not
only help to protect each individual Christian from faith-destroying error, it
will help to equip every single Christian in his or her calling to "give
a reason for the hope that is in us" to any and all who ask. Each
one of us therefore has an equally tremendous opportunity to serve as a solid
spokesman for God's Word in an era of rampant doubt and uncertainly. How can we
serve our Lord faithfully if we do not know, and how can we know if we do not
study his Word and will? A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, but
knowing little or nothing about God's Word can have catastrophic consequences,
both for us and for those who do not know their Lord. If too little knowledge
was a dangerous thing for the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus day, it is
certainly also a dangerous thing for us today.
That,
dear Christians, is just one way in which this saying still applies to each one
of us today. Yet in another sense this same saying
is also tragically wrong. In other words, "a little knowledge" can
also be a most blessed and joyful thing. How so? Saving faith is not a matter
of how much we know, it is a matter of what we
believe. Saving faith is not complex; it is marvelous in its simplicity. To
this same Nicodemus mentioned in our text Jesus summarized the "little
knowledge" that brings us Life eternal: "God so loved the world that
He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have eternal life."
Praise be to God for the simplicity of salvation. Our sins have
been erased from God's sight forever. Jesus did that for us. Full and complete
salvation is ours because of what Jesus did, not because of what we now do or
don't do. No one can change that simple fact, and it is through faith or trust
in that simple fact that we are saved faith that has also been given to us by
the Holy Spirit. The very same heaven that we
should have earned by perfect obedience to our God is now ours because of Jesus' perfect obedience. We failed, but
Jesus succeeded. We sinned, Jesus paid for our sins. We ruined our relationship
with our God, Jesus restored that relationship. These are facts. Do not be
afraid to let these facts fill your heart with all of the joy and peace and
relief Jesus intended this simple message to create. That is exactly why he did
what he did for you. That is why he died to save you. Thanks be
to God for the "little knowledge" that brings us eternal life, and
for the simplicity of that message. Help
us, dear
Savior, to also grow daily in the knowledge of your Word that we might be
strengthened, protected, and preserved in your simple, saving grace. Amen.
Scripture Readings and Sunday Bulletin for June 1, 2008
NKJ Deuteronomy 11:18-21 " Therefore you shall lay up these words
of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand,
and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 "You shall teach them to
your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by
the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 "And you shall write them
on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 "that your days and
the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore
to your fathers to give them."
NKJ
2 Timothy 3:10-17 But you have carefully followed my doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions,
which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra
-- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all
the Lord delivered me. 12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution. 13 But evil men
and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the
things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have
learned them, 15 and
that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make
you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may
be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NKJ
John 7:40-53 Therefore many from the
crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the
Prophet." 41 Others
said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come
out of Galilee? 42
"Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David
and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" 43 So there was a division among
the people because of Him. 44
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45 Ά Then
the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them,
"Why have you not brought Him?"
46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this
Man!" 47 Then the
Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? 48 "Have any of the rulers or
the Pharisees believed in Him? 49
"But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus
by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge
a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" 52 They answered and said to him,
"Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out
of Galilee." 53 Ά And everyone went to his own house.
ST. PAUL
Bismarck,
ND 58501 (701) 223-4885 Cell: (701) 425-5483
Mr. Mark
Johnson, President (222-1855)
Mrs. Eileen McEnroe, Organist
Michael Roehl,
Pastor mjroehl@bis.midco.net
Third Sunday after Pentecost June 1, 2008
|
The Opening
Prayer by the Pastor
The Opening
Hymn ‑#7- (Red Hymnal)
"As We Begin another Week"
The Order of Morning Service Red Hymnal page 5.
The Scripture Lessons: (Printed on the bulletin insert)
The Old Testament
Lesson:
(Deuteronomy 11:18-21) Note how God here establishes the
fact that faith and religion are to be a part of every minute of every day.
That does not mean that we are to abandon all other pursuits and do nothing but
study God's Word. It does mean that God's Word is to remain with us throughout
the day and that it will have an effect on every aspect of our lives. Let it
also be so among us.
The Epistle Lesson:
(2 Timothy 3:10-17) Paul was painfully aware of the dangers that faced Timothy
and the rest of the Christian Church in the days that would follow his death.
That is undoubtedly why he repeatedly stressed the need for ongoing study of
the Word of God. That Word is not only that which saved Timothy and all other believers;
it is also that which preserves each of us in that same saving faith.
The
Confession of Faith ‑
The Apostolic Creed (Red Hymnal page 12)
The Pre‑Sermon Hymn ‑#37- (Red Hymnal)
"Lord, 'Tis
Not that I did Choose Thee"
The Sermon John 7:40-53 (Printed on the back page of this bulletin)
"A Little Knowledge"
"Create
In Me" (The Offertory) Red Hymnal page 12
The Post-Sermon Hymn -#277- (Red
Hymnal)
"I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say"
The Offering, followed by the Prayers
-#568-
(Verses 1 & 3) (Red Hymnal)
The Benediction
The Closing
Hymn ‑#48- (Red Hymnal)
"How Blessed Are They Who Hear
God's Word"
Silent
Prayer
Attendance ‑ Last Sunday (38) 2008 Average (52)
This Week
at
Today -10:00 a.m. Worship Service
-11:00 a.m. Fellowship Hour
Thursday -7:00
p.m. Confirmation Examination
Next Sunday -10:00 a.m. Worship Service (Confirmation)
-11:15
a.m. Fellowship
Meal
CLC News Pastor Nathanael Mayhew of Zion,
Lawrenceville, GA has accepted the call from the CLC Board of Missions to serve
as a part-time missionary to East Africa. This will be on an annual visitation
basis, God willing, and is in addition to his regular call as pastor of Zion.
A
bank account has been established to aid Pastor Michael Schierenbeck and his
family with the various costs associated with his upcoming medical procedures
and extended recovery time. Gifts may be sent to:
Farmers
State Bank
86 E. Water St.
Markesan, WI
53946
Checks
are to be made out to Mike Schierenbeck. Write "transplant
fund" on the memo line.
Examination - Confirmation Examination for our lone confirmand this year,
Emily Baker, is scheduled for this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Confirmation
Sunday Next Sunday is Confirmation Sunday here at St. Paul. Our regular communion
service will be followed by a fellowship meal in honor of our Confirmand.
Please make plans to attend.
Unique
Opportunity Next Sunday we have a rare opportunity to host the head
of the CLC of East Africa (CLCEA) Pastor Jeremiah, who is scheduled to speak at
the morning service. Pastor Jeremiah is from Tanzania and is currently visiting
CLC congregations in the United States.