What to Say to Someone’s Negative Response About Jesus

AndrewKarr
  1. Phillip calls his brother Nathanael – John 1:43-44;
    • Negative statement – Can any good come from Nazareth – John 1:45-46; [or Galilee – John 7:41;]
    • Best response – Come and see – John 1:46;
    • Results – Nathanael follows Jesus – John 1:49, 2:11, 22;
  2. Man confronted with judgement and wrath – John 3:20, 36;
    • Negative statement – God holds man accountable – John 3:21;
    • Best response – come experience truth, come to the Light – John 3:21;
    • Results – Gives credit to God – John 3:21, 33-34, 35-36;
  3. Jesus talking with woman at the well – John 4:4, 7;
    • Negative statement – Jews don’t talk to Samaritans – John 4:9;
    • Best John 4:4, 7; – There is something better – John 4:10;
    • Results – Samaritans respond:
      • To the woman – John 4:39
      • To Jesus’ word – John 4:40-41;
      • They saw Jesus – John 4:42;
  4. Unbelieving Thomas –
    • I will not believe – John_20:24-25
            24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
      ;
    • Reachout and touch – John_20:26-29
            26After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
      ;
  5. Other calls from God
    • Seek Me – Seek God With All Your Heart
    • Search for Me- Jer_29:13-14
            13‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
      ;
    • Find Me – 2Chron 15:2, 3-4;
    • Come, eat – John_6:35-40
            35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36“But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
      ;
    • Come, drink – John_7:37-39
            37Now 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. 38“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39But 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.
      ;