From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in – we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands.

The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes: we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in the most sober prose that was we witnessed was, incredibly, this:

The infinite Life of God Himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us.

This experience of communion with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this too.(1 John 1:1-4 – The Message)

Reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off.

The result is a dry, two-dimensional person doing strange, undecipherable things.

We need to remove the religious varnish in order to discover stunning new insights into who Jesus really is. He was accused of breaking the law,

keeping bad company, heavy drinking and of being an evil person. He was so compelling and dangerous they had to kill him.

But others loved him passionately. He had a sense of humor. His generosity was scandalous. His anger made enemies tremble.

He'd say the most outrageous things. He was definitely not the Jesus of the stained glass.

To understand Jesus, we must break him out of the typical stereotypes.

By uncovering the real Jesus, our understanding

of Him – and our own lives will change.

All of the remarkable qualities of Jesus burst like fireworks with color and brilliance when we see Him as He really is –

and we can experience this Jesus in their lives every day. (John Eldredge)

JESUS is an Outlaw!

John 2:1-12: Turning water into wine

John 2:13-23: Clearing out the temple

John 3:1-21: Confronting preconceived religious beliefs

John 4:4-42: Showing compassion to an outcast

John 5:1-15: Healing on the Sabbath

John 5:16-47: Claiming to be God

John 6:22-68: Preaching hard truth about God

John 8:1-11: Extending mercy and grace to a sinful woman

John 8:12-59: Risking His life to tell the truth

John 9:1-34: Healing a blind man

Loose lawbreaker

Loose lawbreakerOffensive outlaw

Loose lawbreakerOffensive outlaw Radical rebel

Loose lawbreakerOffensive outlaw Radical rebel Disruptive dissident

JOHN 7: THE REBEL CHAPTER

Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death . . . But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went,

though secretly, staying out of public view . . . There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said,

“He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him.

“How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked . . . Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?

But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him.

“After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things,

they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus . . . So the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.

When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “

“We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded. “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked . . .

This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!” (John 7:1, 10-15, 25-26, 31-32, 40-51 – New Living Translation)

Counter - cultural

Unexpected

Politically incorrect

THE REBEL CODE:ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES FOR GOD’S BEST

Substituting religion for relationship

Substituting externals for internals

Substituting head knowledge for heart knowledge

Substituting judgment for forgiveness

Substituting law

for love

Substituting exclusiveness for inclusiveness

Some say He was an outlaw that He roamed across the land with a band of unschooled ruffians and a few old fishermen

No one knew just where He came from or exactly what He’d done but they knew it must be something band ‘cause it kept Him on the run

Some say He was poet that He’d stand upon a hill and His voice could calm an angry crowd or make the waves stand still

That He spoke in many parables the few could understand but the people sat for hours just to listen to this man

Said he was an outlaw

Some say He was a sorcerer, a man of mystery. He could walk upon the water, He could make a blind man see

That he conjured wine at weddings and did tricks with fish and bread and he talked of being born again and raised people from the dead

Said he was an outlaw Said he was an outlaw

Some a politician who spoke of being free – He was followed by the masses on the shores of Galillee

He spoke out against corruption and He bowed to no decree and they feared His strength and power so they nailed Him to a tree

Said he was an outlaw Said he was an outlaw

Said he was an outlaw Said he was an outlaw

Some say He was the Son of God a man above all men – that He came to be a servant and to set us free from sin

And that’s who I believe He was cause that’s what I believe – and I think we should get ready cause it’s time for us to leave

Said he was an outlaw Said he was an outlaw

Said he was an outlaw Said he was an outlaw

Said he was an outlaw

Consider this one piece of evidence: millions of people who have spent years going to church and yet they don’t know God.

Their heads are filled with stuffing about Jesus, but they do not experience Him. There are millions who say they love Jesus but rarely connect with Him.

They stumble along short of the life He promised. If you sent someone you loved to school for a decade, yet they remained illiterate,

How would you feel about the education? Religion gives the impression of having Christ, while it inoculates you from truly experiencing Him.

If you want to destroy an economy, flood the market with counterfeit bills. If you want to destroy your walk with God, substitute religion for relationship.

Let’s Pray