DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Many of the People Convinced that Jesus is the Christ, vv. 25–31
How did our Lord speak in those days (v. 26)? Is there any warrant for the change from “boldly” to “openly” in the Revised Version? (Compare the Greek and R. V. of Acts 4:13; Eph. 6:19, 20.) What characteristic of our Lord was manifested by His bold speaking at this particular time? (See v. 25.) What thought should make us bold in declaring the truth of God even when we are threatened with death? (Is. 50:7, 8; Ro. 8:31.) What thought was suggested to the people by the fact that the rulers said nothing to our Lord though He spoke thus boldly (v. 26)? Did the rulers know that He was indeed the Christ? (11:47–53; 12:42.) Did the people really believe that Jesus was the Christ? What reason did the people give for doubting it? What did they say they knew? Did they know whence Jesus was? (8:14.) Can a man today at the same time know and yet not know whence Christ is? What did the people say about the Christ? Was that true?
What did our Lord then do (v. 28)? Why did He admit that there was any truth in their claim to know whence He was? In what sense did they know Him, and whence He was? In what sense did they not know Him, and whence He was? Would such knowledge save them? (20:31; 17:3.) Have any today only this knowledge of Jesus as a man that the Jews had? What will it do for them and what will it fail of doing for them? What did our Lord tell them about Himself that they did not know? How do we know that He regarded this as a very important truth? (8:16, 42; 10:36; 17:8, 25.) What secret of a successful mission have we in these words of our Lord? What did He say of the One who sent Him? How true is God? (Ro. 3:4; Titus 1:2; 1 John 1:5.) If God is true, what ought to be our attitude toward Him? In what four words did our Lord bring terrible indictment against the Jews? How important is it that a man know God? (17:3; 2 Thess. 1:8, 9.) Was it the thought of the Jews about themselves that they did not know God? What was their boast over all nations? What solemn lesson is there in this? What is true of many today who profess to know God? (Titus 1:16.) What is the practical proof that we do know God? (1 John 2:3, 4.) What was the conclusive proof that these Jews did not know God? (8:19, 42, 54, 55; 15:20.) In what way and what way alone can we know God? (Matt. 11:27; 1 John 5:20.)
What did our Lord say of Himself in contrast to what He had said of the Jews (v. 29)? What was the ground of His knowledge of God? How long had He been with God? (1:2.) How is His knowledge of God different from a philosopher’s knowledge of God? Which conception of God is more reliable and more worthy of acceptance—that of the greatest philosopher or that of Jesus? What had He a right to say? Have you a right to say it?
What was the effect of these words of our Lord on His hearers? Why? What may any one who testifies to the full truth expect of men? What was the practical outcome of their attempt to take Him? Why did no man lay hands upon Him (v. 30)? How far can wicked men go in their purposes? (Ps. 76:10.) Was the restraint by which God held these men back visible? Did they realize what held them back? What lesson is there in all this? What great truth is contained in the words: “His hour was not yet come”? Were all evil disposed toward our Lord (v. 31)? Is it worth while to save the common people? What question did they ask?
2. The Pharisees Plotting, and the People Perplexed, vv. 32–36
What was the effect upon the Pharisees of the faith and words of the people? Did they succeed? Why not (v. 30)? What was the outcome of the attempt? (vv. 45, 46.) What important announcement did our Lord make? How little a time is the Holy Spirit to be here? What was our Lord to do when the little time was up? What would the Jews do after He was gone? What would be the result of their search? What lesson in that? Have the Jews sought for a Messiah since they rejected the true one? What would be the result of their not finding Him? What lesson in this? (8:21, 24.) When should we seek the Lord? (Is. 55:6.) Did the Jews lay His words to heart as they ought? Why didn’t they understand?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Our Lord
Spoke boldly to the Jews though they plotted His death, 26; taught in the temple, with great earnestness, came not of Himself, sent of God, 28; knew God, was from God, 29; the Jews sought to arrest Him, no man could lay hands on Him until His hour was come, 30; believed on by many of the people, did miracles that even His enemies could not deny, 31; went to Him that sent Him, 33; if not sought in the day of opportunity cannot be found at all, 34.
2. The Jews
Sought to kill Jesus, 25; their rulers knew that Jesus was indeed the Christ, 26; were perplexed about Jesus, 27; knew not the true God, 28; sought to arrest Jesus, 30; cannot go where Jesus went, 34.
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R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.