John 7, Part 2

Scripture: John 7:14-24

Observation: During the festival Jesus goes to the temple to teach (see Malachi 3:1). The Jews, in particular the teachers or rabbis, are astounded that Jesus is so knowledgeable even though He's had no formal teaching. According to Jewish tradition, all persons had to study under a rabbi, otherwise they were not keeping the law strictly. Jesus tells the crowd that His teacher is God Himself. To prove this, Jesus says it is necessary to do God's will, then it will be plain who His teaching comes from (v.17), because those who speak on their own do it for their own glory, but those who seek to glorify God speak truth (v.18). Jesus accuses these rabbis of not keeping the law, just as they are accusing Him, and He gives 2 examples. First, He says they're trying to kill Him. Some in the crowd cry out in disbelief, "You're demon-possessed! Who is trying to kill You?" (v.20). Yet those who are plotting know who they are. Jesus then gives the second example - their hypocracy with the Sabbath teaching. Jesus points to the fact that circumcisions are performed on the Sabbath in order to keep the law, yet they condemn Jesus for healing a whole man on the Sabbath.

Application: Jesus was not against the law. He was against the legalism of the rabbis who didn't understand why the laws existed. God gave the law to the Jews so that they would understand His mercy and grace, to teach them to do good in all occasion, and to make right judgment. It was meant to change them from the inside out. Instead, they were more concerned with outward appearances.

What about me? Am I more concerned with what people see on the outside, or with what God sees on the inside of me?

Prayer: Lord, giving my life to You should lead to total transformation. Like a caterpillar in its cocoon, I want to emerge changed from the inside out. Help me to become the woman You want me to be, and not to judge others by what I see, but by what You see. In Your Name I pray, Amen.