Weekly Bulletin
Agape: Love
Division Over Christ
Pastor Terry Fulks
March 8, 2026
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
John 11:45–57 ESV
Here are three observations of Christ causing division:
1. Some believed
2. Some watched and reported
3. Some saw Jesus as a problem
- Spiritual problem
- Popularity problem
- Political problem
51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
Luke 12:51 ESV.
“The popular image of Christ as “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” simply will not do. It is a false image. Certainly, he was full of love, compassion, and tenderness. But he was also uninhibited when it came to exposing error and denouncing sin, especially hypocrisy. Christ was a controversialist.”
– John Stott
Points to ponder:
- Things have not changed. Jesus still causes divisions.
- We should not be surprised when people shun us, condemn us, and call us names.
- Politics were part of what Jesus encountered in His day and politics is still what Christians encounter today.
- Your expectations of Jesus need to line up with the real Jesus of Scriptures.
- Jesus is clear he came to give us life, liberty, and forgiveness of sins.
- Would you like to place your faith in Christ today?
Connection Prayer: Lord, please help me surrender to you and place my faith in you. Give me a hunger and thirst for you. I want to thank you for your light, life, love, and your truth. I now, with what faith I have, confess that you Jesus died on the cross for my sins, were buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. I take you as my Savior, Lord, and Leader. Please forgive me of my sins and thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to follow you all the days of my life. Amen.
Next steps for the new believer:
- If you prayed the connection prayer with me:
- Pick up a new believer pack as you leave.
- Read John 3, three times before you go to bed tonight.
- Read the gospel of John all the way through by reading about ten verses a day.
Next steps for the believer:
- This week review the sermon notes at least twice.
- Read John 11 at least twice this week.
- Pick a verse out of John 11 and memorize it.
- Do you believe you might encounter conflict because you follow Christ?
- Are you prepared in your heart to meet up with conflict?