The Oppositions He Encountered
and the Disturbances the Enemy Caused
(Not a Surprise to God but Prophesied). (Cont'd.)

14. They murmured at him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven" (John 8:41). Also because he said "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53).

15. They asked Him tricky questions, trying to catch Him in a fault in his words.

(1) "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause?" (Matthew 19:3; Mark 10:2).
(2) "Which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36).
(3) "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar?" (Matthew 22:17; Luke 20:22).
(4) "In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven?" (Matthew 22:28; Mark 12:23; Luke 20:33).
(5) "A certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25).

16. They disputed His authority (Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:28; Luke 20:2).
17. The Jews agreed that if any did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue (John 9:22).
18. They said, "This man, if he were a prophet, he would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner" (Luke 7:36-39).
19. "They sought to lay hands on him to arrest him, but they feared the multitude because they took him for a prophet" (Matthew 21:46). Also "because his hour was not yet come" (John 7:30).
20. "The chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled in the high priest's palace and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him" (Matthew 26:3).
21. After he healed the man with the withered hand on the sabbath, ''The Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him" (Mark 3:6).
22. Peter took Jesus and began to rebuke him (Mark 8:32).
23. "Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them" (Mark 14:11; Luke 22:34). "And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he, take him, and lead him away safely" (Mark 14:44). "And they laid their hands on him, and took him" (Mark 14:46).

1. Satan wanted to defeat God's purpose.
2. Blind and unspiritual leaders did not really know God.
3. Pride, envy, and jealousy.
4. Some were provoked by Satan or out of honest and sincere concern, such as Peter.
5. Natural human reactions of unregenerate people.
6. Designed of God to afford great opportunities and background for presentation of truth.
7. Some events of opposition were used to fulfil prophecies and to work out the plan of God.

1. Things do not always go smoothly nor do people love us when we do what is right.
2. Jesus left us an example for us to follow.
3. It shows the devil and the world that there are those who will do what is right, when others say it is not possible or find excuses for doing wrong. Where some say "I can't because God has those who are doing it any way.
4. The old saying, "No pain, no gain" is true.
5. Opposition and problems give us opportunities for impact that we would not otherwise have.
6. We need to make sure that the trouble we are having is because of righteousness and God and not because of our faults.
7. People who are not right with God can cause trouble for us.
8. There are situations that even though it will cause trouble or problems, we cannot do otherwise and still be truthful and true to God.

"Please tell me more."