No One Had Ever Spoken Like This Man (John 7:45-52)

Amidst the confusion at the Feast of Tabernacles, officers had been sent to apprehend Jesus. They came back to the Pharisees empty-handed. and they were chastised by them. When they were asked why they had not brought Jesus with them, they replied that no one had ever spoken like this man. They were in awe. The officials accused them of being led astray along with the rest of the crowds. Nicodemus challenges them to use the Mosaic Law to determine if Jesus is guilty of any infraction, but the Pharisees accuse him of being led astray as well. Nicodemus had previously visited with Jesus in secret back in chapter three. He had been told by Jesus that he must be born again and that "God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." Lord, help us all to hear Jesus, trust him, listen to him, and follow him.

Rivers of Living Water (John 7:25-44)

The people in the Temple in Jerusalem were puzzled. They knew the scriptures foretold the coming of the Christ and they knew he would come from an unknown place. He would perform signs to reveal himself. However, Jesus alludes to the fact that he has come from the Father. The Pharisees overhear people in the crowds talking about what Jesus is teaching and they send officers to arrest him. Jesus eludes them. He tells the crowds that have gathered that he will be with them for a while but then he will go to a place where they cannot find him. He stands up on the last day of the feast and proclaims that if anybody thirsts, come to him and drink. This is the same promise he offered to the Samaritan woman at the well. He then claims to be the Messiah saying that the scriptures foretold his coming saying, "Out of his heart would flow rivers of living water." The spirit provides this living water to all who believe in Jesus and receive him. But, this won't happen until sometime later. Again, the people are puzzled. Some want to draw near to him while others seek his arrest. There are things that Jesus will say and do that are hard to grasp. But, he is who he says he is. He is Messiah. All who believe in Him and receive Him will be saved. They will receive the Holy Spirit who provides the water that Jesus and Isaiah describe (Isaiah 44:3)

Judge With Right Judgment (John 7:14-24)

At the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles in Jerusalem in the middle of the celebration Jesus goes up into to the temple and starts to teach the people. Earlier in the chapter he told his brothers that he was going to stay in Galilee away from the crowds because his time had not yet come. He seems to change his mind later and decides to go anyway. He knows that many people want to kill him, but he goes up into the temple and teaches anyway. He will not remain silent. The people are all amazed at his teaching even though he has not formally studied with their leaders and teachers. Then he really starts teaching. He tells them that his teaching is not his own, but it comes from the Father. All who truly believe should be able to understand this. I do not seek my own glory but the glory of God. Moses gave you the Law, but none of you keep the Law.  Why do you seek to kill me? At this, they think he is out of his mind crazy and/or possessed by a demon. Who is trying to kill you? He says they want him dead because he healed a man on the Sabbath. But, they circumcise on the Sabbath to uphold the Law. They judge wrongly. They are hypocrites. "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment (v24)." God has given us a mind. We should use it along with the wisdom he provides us. The teaching that says judge not lest you be judged is perfectly in tune with the above command. We are to use sound judgment, being careful to discern what is right. Jesus is afraid of no one. He does not seek his own status, but glory for God the Father. He is willing to say what needs to be said. The house of God, the Temple in Jerusalem, is governed by those who do not keep the Law. Jesus is challenging them to consider what is right before their eyes. They hear his teaching, they witness his works, they know the scriptures, yet they do not see. Judge rightly. Listen to Christ. Consider God's will.

They Thought They Knew Him (John 7:1-13)

It was time for the annual celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles. Jesus' brothers had not believed in him. They told him to go to Judea and perform miracles there. They thought that Jesus had a desire to be famous. At this time there were many in Judea who were plotting to take his life. Jesus planned to wait until the right time, so he told his brothers to go without him. But, he attended the feast in secret. The world was not ready for him yet. He said, "...it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil." Very few believed in him. The Pharisees wanted to have him killed. His brothers didn't know what to do with him. They thought he was crazy (Mark 3:21). The world would soon know who he really is. There is a time for everything. Jesus remained faithful to his calling as well as to the Jewish traditions. His ambition was so much more than wanting to be a public figure. He had something much greater in mind.

Where Else Can We Go? (John 6:60-71)

Many of Jesus' disciples found his teaching to be hard and could not accept it. Jesus tells them that there is life in his words. There is true power in what he says, but there are many who will not believe. It is not because his teaching is lacking in anything. He knows even from the beginning which of them are true followers and which ones will betray him.

Then he tells them that nobody can even come to him unless the father first makes it possible. When they heard this many of them left. They could no longer follow him.

Jesus turns to the twelve and asks them if they are going to leave as well. But, Peter replies saying basically where else are we going to go? Why would we leave? You are the holy one of God, and you have the words of eternal life. Then Jesus tells them that even though he has chosen them, he has allowed a betrayer to be part of their company. A devil is in their midst.

Nothing is a surprise to Jesus. All is going according to plan. He is in control. His word is truth. There is life in his teaching. Yet, for some reason, according to this plan, there are many who will not be enabled by the Father to come to Jesus. Some, like Judas, will even be used by God to betray his people. Peter rightly recognizes that there is no other place to go. There is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.

Lord, Father, draw your people to yourself through your Son that they may believe and be saved.

The Future Belongs to Christ (John 6:25-59)

I was watching a show about kids in Korea and one of the segments featured a classroom that had a motto that said "The Future Belongs To Those Who Work Hard Today". Jesus says the work of God is this: to believe in the one whom God has sent.

The crowds finally found Jesus and he says to them basically you are only looking for me because I fed you. You want me to be your king so I can provide for you what you think you need for this life. What you really need is the kind of food which does not spoil which produces eternal life. They ask him then to show them a sign to prove that he is someone to believe in. For, their forefathers ate manna in the wilderness which was bread from heaven. But, it was not Moses who gave it to them. It was from God. Jesus says it is the bread of God that gives life to the world, and this bread is in the form of a person. He tells them, "I am the bread of life." Basically, I am what you need. Without bread/food we will perish. Without Christ we are finished. There are many in the crowd who are witness to this, but they do not believe.

Jesus continues saying, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away... I have come down from heaven to raise up all that the father has given me on the last day, and I shall lose none of them." We cannot come to Jesus unless the Father first draws us. If we are drawn to Jesus by the Father, and we believe in Jesus and come to him, we have everlasting, eternal life.

Jesus is the bread of life. He is what we need. Their forefathers needed to eat manna daily and they eventually died. Jesus says he is the bread of life. When we eat this bread we have eternal life. In other words, when we trust in Jesus we will truly have life. The sacrifice of his body on the cross was given for us, that we would be saved. We eat this bread symbolically when we celebrate communion. It represents the faith that we have in him, his sacrifice for us, and the fulfillment of this promise for us.  

Walking On The Sea (John 6:16-24)

After Jesus had fed the 5000 he went up to on a mountain to be alone and pray by himself. For some reason his disciples decided to leave him and they departed by boat to cross the sea to Capernaum. A strong wind came up and the disciples found themselves rowing for several miles. Jesus comes to them walking on the sea.  He told them not to be afraid. When they brought him into the boat, they found themselves on the shore of the land to which they were going. The crowd that had been fed the day before were looking for him and set out after him on the sea.

It's almost comical. Jesus and his disciples are trying to get away from the crowds who are in hot pursuit. They want something from Jesus but he is leaving them all behind. How often do we see people seeking Christ for the wrong reasons? How often to we ourselves seem to be reaching out to him, yet he seems so distant? Maybe this is a good reminder to check ourselves. Ask yourself, what do I really want from Jesus? Is if what Jesus wants for me?

The sea is raging. The wind is howling. Here comes Jesus walking on the water. He can feed thousands. He can speak the universe into existence and hold it all together. He is capable of anything. Are we only seeking to be blessed by miracles, signs, and wonders? Or, do we seek the truth and his love? Lord show me what I really need.