John 7:1-36 More Distrust

Having just lost a multitude of followers, Jesus also was being cautious by staying in the region of Galilee, because in Judea the Jews were wanting to kill Him.  How strange then for his own half-brothers to say, “You should leave here and go to Judea!”  They were sarcastic in their words, trying to goad Him into revealing His supposed divinity in much the same manner that Satan suggested during the temptations in the wilderness.  “Even Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him.”  How that must have hurt for Him own family not to be believers!

Jesus did attend the Feast of Tabernacles, but on God’s timetable, and He hid Himself from the crowds until He began openly teaching in the Temple.  Again, people were amazed at what He knew.  Once again He acknowledged in words they understood that He is indeed God:  “I was sent by the One who is true, whom you don’t know.  But I know Him, because I am FROM HIM and He sent Me.”  He’d just revealed that He had pre-existed in Heaven before His birth on earth, and this stoked the crowd and the Jewish leaders against Him.  They sent Temple guards in an attempt to arrest Him.

There was something important in there, and my commentary mentioned it:  “He was not suggesting a shallow taste test but rather the deep personal commitment of the person to truth.  The Jews depended on education and authorities and received their doctrine secondhand, but Jesus insisted that we experience the authority of truth personally.  The Jewish leaders were attempting to kill Jesus, yet at the same time they claimed to understand God’s truth and obey it.  This proves that an enlightened and educated mind is no guarantee of a pure heart or a sanctified will … Satan offered Adam and Eve knowledge, but it was knowledge based on disobedience.  Jesus offered knowledge as a result of obedience:  first the yoke of responsibility, then the joy of knowing God’s truth…”

Father, help me to find Your truth as I search for it.  Remind me that it comes from obedience to Your Word and a deep personal commitment to truth.  Don’t let me think that an enlightened and educated mind is all that is needed to find it.  I’ve made that mistake before.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford