During the last day of the festival, Jesus continued to call for people to believe. There was a wide mix of responses to him.
click here for an online Bible John 7:37-8:1
Some recognized that Jesus was a man of God. They thought that he was the prophet of God. Others recognized the truth. They said that he was the Christ (the Messiah). Others said that he couldn’t be the Christ because the scriptures say that the Christ would come from Bethlehem, from the family of David. I have to sympathize with this group. They were trying to make judgments based on scripture. Actually, Jesus was from David’s family and he was born in Bethlehem. Most of the people that John mentions are struggling with belief. They know that there is something about Jesus, but they are having trouble coming to grips with it.
Even the temple guards had trouble. When they came back to the religious leaders without Jesus, their excuse was that “no one ever spoke like this man.” They saw something in Jesus too.
It was the religious leaders who had made up their minds. There was no reason for the guards to doubt. None of the religious leaders believed in Jesus, so that settled things. Nicodemus put things on hold. He knew that Jesus was from God, but he wasn’t ready to publicly support Jesus.
We save our harshest criticism for the Pharisees. Their problem was that religion got in the way of faith. We have to be careful not to fall into the same trap. Our faith in Christ and our confidence in the Bible must drive our religion, not the other way around.
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This part of John bothers me because I just don't understand why they couldn't figure out Jesus' lineage. Wasn't it important to the Jewish traditions to keep track of where people were from? And wouldn't they have known who Jesus' parents were and how Mary and Joseph fit into David's line? And didn't someone know about Jesus being born of "a virgin" and "the Holy Spirit" at that time?
It makes me wonder, if they had read or heard any of the prophets and done some minor investigating - wouldn't they have been able to connect the dots? Obviously this is an example of God's plan and purpose going forward - but it just makes me sad for them - why couldn't they see what is so clear now! (I know I'm yelling at the person on the movie screen here).
I agree Bobbie - it seems to me that they should have known his lineage. But, I think that also would've meant that the Pharisees wanted to believe. If they wanted to believe, they probably would've gone the extra step to research his lineage. But, they didn't want to believe. Jesus didn't fit their plan or the mold they had for the Messiah. He "upset the apple cart". He performed miracles on the Sabbath, he hung around with undesirables, he broke the rules.
It's sad really, the people who knew the most believed the least. It makes me think about the sermons Pastor Cliff has been giving about discipline. You have to know the bible, memorize scripture, study the word, apply the word, and believe. Just knowing the bible and not doing anything with it isn't going to work. Believing and not studying is going to leave you stagnant in your faith.
The Pharisees and so many of the other people here missed the mark. They knew one aspect, the law, but missed the boat when it came to belief. They got so caught up in the law that they couldn't see the truth standing right in front of them.
Cliff said it and I agree, we have to be careful not to let our religion get in the way of our faith.
These verses and everyone's comments reminds me of the very well done example of "The Law" by the pastor at WorldChangers. It started with God's law laid down for the Jews represented by a couple people on center stage. Next, to protect God's law, man's law is setup to surround God's law to make sure we done set over God's law: i.e. Keep the sabbath holy is protected by "don't make any money on the sabbath". These new laws are represented by a few people surrounding the first couple. The next Pharisees to "make their mark" design another law to protect man's law that protect God's law: i.e. keeping the sabbath is further protected by "don't even give money on the sabbath" - represented by another layer of people surrounding the first 2 layers. These are just my examples to explain the essense of his sermon, not actual laws but they may be close. This protective law making goes on for EVERY generation of Pharisees for 3000 years. SO, by the time we get to Jesus' day, the religous leaders are so bogged down in man's laws they can't even "see" God's law anymore. Sadly, this seems to be still common today in "christian" faiths - completely caught up in the rituals and lost their first love of Christ as Savior. I believe this is our best in-road to those that THINK they are saved: keep taking them back to the basics just as Jesus did.
It is upsetting that there was a division as a result of the truth, however this is common today as well. We have honest and devoted believers and we have those still suffering from unbelief. Scripture tells us that there are people whose hearts have been hardened and cannot see the light. Unfortunately, it seems they'd rather argue and debate religious-based issues than to repent and trust in Jesus as their personal Savior. I pray for all those still lost out there! Also, we have to remember that, though it is sad to know many "missed the boat," it was all part of God's great plan. He knew some would unbelieve, He knew he would eventually be arrested and crucified. He did it all for us and the glory of God! We should worship and give thanks to Him everyday for dying for our sins and giving us eternal life. He adopted us! It's not that we deserve it, as we are all sinners, but it's because He loves us so much. Praise God!
The Lord of Host Mighty and Strong has laid it upon my heart to show the following. First, Jesus tries to show the people the way to the Father. (Compare Amos Chapter 5:18-27 with 37-39). You see, they were feasting when they should have been fasting, Amen? Second, you'll see, they wanted justice, but He already showed them the way towards all Justice and Righteousness. They were not present when Jesus spoke, but there very own guards who gave witness and who were there believed (because they were sent by God to speak to the religious leaders) and to convict them even further into their unrighteousness. Can we really say that we would not have done the same thing as them when we were not there -- but we are there -- Jesus' message is still the same! we are here today and the events that transpired of old are here today -- JUST LOOK AROUND. Take a good look at history and you see the Lord's hand has been in everything... the media has captured it and recorded it -- now, now don't you know they are God's messengers. when the message mixes with the Holy Spirit the interpretation is accurate, but when we look through our feeble minds we... we miss it... we, we see right on passed it. the message to the pharisess was a message for us... you see all the words of the pharisess is that self talk that we gotta find in us. So, yes there is a division but that division is not perfect -- lets pray for Israel and the war in Iraq... the war is a spiritual battle and my sister is in the battle as a member of the AF she is presented with schemes for battle against Iraq. And I can tell you that it is a spiritual battle they are fighting as well as the tactical movements and strategies. We need to look, but only after we have examined ourselves fully, we then need to look beyond ourselves to these issues all around us. THERE IS AN ELECTION COMING ARE WE UNITED OR JUST AS DIVIDED AS THEY WERE. Separation of church and state; prayer in schools; abortion versus adoption; these issues my friends are the Jesus Issues of today we need to make a voice and reach out not for the lost but for the voiceless... everyone has heard the message of Christ by now... and if not let the message of CHRIST RING a resounding stench (you see the spirit now?) in our actions. OK? ok... ok... I just want to make one more point and that is the last part, you see, each went to there own house, but Jesus went to the mount of olives... he had no home to go to but to be with His Father. He went to pray and intercede for the sins of the many people and the religious leaders... he was trying desperately trying to reach them... and this is the spirit we need to see the Holy Spirit manifesting itself today through scripture we can align our motives with Christ. Lets pray for our pastors and our governors and our senators and our President and our military... you see they have been chosen by God to carry the message. We need to be in prayer and fasting for our mothers who have been deceived by planned parenting -- the biggest sin among us today. We need to become strong and courages we need to make a stand and say we want your baby. The fatherless -- my heart goes out for the fatherless those who have lost there son or daughter due to any reason -- there are so many concrete issues we need to become a voice for ... I pray that our religious leaders will not continue to be lukewarm on these issues and let their light shine. It is time for us to go to the Mount of Olives and let the rivers flow.
I love you,
please love me,
ej
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