John 7:1-53

It was time for the feast and the debate was to go or not to go. Jesus decided to go "in secret" so as not to attract too much attention but then ends up teaching publicly in the temple so I am not sure what the point of secrecy was. At any rate, there were several reactions to Christ and His teaching by several different groups presented in this chapter.

HIS BROTHERS WERE DOUBTFUL: It is amazing to think about Jesus having siblings and, at least for me, brings up questions of what that household was like with all these boys growing up in it. Brothers tend to know way too much about one another, and no matter how much they mature and accomplish great things with the passing of time, it is impossible to erase the images of "indian torture" and "nugies." Imagine if your older brother were God. I am sure that Mary and Joseph had told them all about who Jesus really was. But it appears that in adulthood there were still many doubts in their minds.

THE CROWDS WERE DIVIDED: Many of the people who heard and saw Jesus believed. However, many dismissed Him as the Messiah because He did not fit with their understanding of Scripture. Some thought He was a good man, others thought He was evil and still others thought that He was crazy. Amazingly, it does not seem that much has changed in the two-thousand years since this festival. All of these debates continue to rage to this day. However, the most dangerous and illogical position of that or this day is the position of seeing Christ as merely a good man. He must either be God as He claimed to be, a wicked deceiver of multitudes or a raging lunatic that mistakenly thought He was God. It astounds me how this debate could exist in the midst of all the miracles He performed and the clarity of His teaching. Yet, still today with all the evidence that supports the Scriptures there are so many who reject Him. I am so thankful for the honor of knowing Him.

THE SOLDIERS WERE DISTRACTED: The soldier went out to arrest Jesus but when the heard Him speaking and saw how the crowd responded to Him, they came back empty handed. They had never heard or seen anything like this before. Christ was well aware of what He was doing and what they were doing. His time of crucifixion had not yet come, so He continued to confound the authorities and their attempts to kill Him until the time was right. The Lord's teaching is life changing and captures the attention of the hearts of men. We must allow the teaching of God's Word to capture our minds as well.

THE PHARISEES WERE DECEITFUL: The Pharisees had to make a choice. Either submit to Christ and obey Him as their Lord or deny His authority. Since they were not about to do the former, rejection was their only option. Not because Christ did not meet the Scriptural qualifications of Messiah or because He had not proven Himself repeatedly, but because they did not want to surrender their power or change their lives. They led most of a nation astray with their lies and hatred. They loved their power and they coveted the influence they wield over the people and were not about to give it up. May we never be so desirous of the comforts and pleasures of this world that we are ready to lies to ourselves about what we know to be true.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more