How Did Jesus Relate To those With whom He disagreed?

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  • Examples of Jesus' interaction with people with whom He disagreed.

  • The nature of that disagreement.

  • Your thoughts on how Jesus engaged with that person.

  • Principles you discern.

I do not promise to include everything people say but I will include everything I consider helpful.

It could be said that Jesus disagreed with everyone! Nobody else understood the Bible, the Kingdom of God, the gospel or Jesus Himself like Jesus did although some were obviously willing to learn.

The Pharisees & Teachers of the Law

Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)

  1. The nature of the disagreement

    1. Nicodemus could not understand what Jesus was talking about e.g. being born again. Nicodemus thought only in terms of spiritual birth

    2. Jesus showed some frustration that Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel, did not understand these things (v.10, 12) and rejected Jesus' testimony (v.11)

  2. How Jesus engaged

    1. He expressed his frustration at Nicodemus' lack of understanding.

    2. He taught truths that Nicodemus was struggling to grasp in an uncompromised manner.

    3. He used an Old Testament illustration that Nicodemus would have related to (v.14)

  3. Principles to learn

Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50)

  1. The nature of the disagreement

  2. How Jesus engaged

  3. Principles to learn

Woe to you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees (Matthew 23)

  1. The nature of the disagreement

  2. How Jesus engaged

  3. Principles to learn

The Disciples

Peter when He tried to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21-23)

  1. The nature of the disagreement

  2. How Jesus engaged

  3. Principles to learn

Individuals

The Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-42)

  1. The nature of the disagreement

  2. How Jesus engaged

  3. Principles to learn

False teachers