Freedom in Relationship
Grave Robbers Week #5
Freedom in Relationship
John 11:45-12:11
Religion can best be described as a system of rules, traditions and regulations created by a group of men for the purpose of control and manipulation through the means of guilt and shame
Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. John 11:45
But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.” John 11:46-48
Religion values rules over relationship
Religion says “those people”
We say those people are our people, because we are all one of those people who are broken and need the grace of God
Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! John 11:49
Religion always has an arrogance to it
You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” 51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. 53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. John 11:50-53
Religious people have no problem breaking God’s commands, when you break their commands
No matter what happens, God can take it and use it for good
As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples. 55 It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?” 57 Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him. John 11:54-57
Religion seeks to shame but Jesus seeks to set free
When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. John 12:9-11
Religion speaks death but relationship speaks life
Religion seeks to kill the miracle
When religion says “no” Jesus says “Let’s Go!”
A relationship with Jesus is ultimately what defines us