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About-Him Devotional 08-07-2004
Do you remember the story about the Ten Blind Men who were trying to describe an elephant. One got a hold of his truck, another of his leg and so forth. Each then proceeded to describe an elephant based on what he could touch and feel. Do we not limit our Lord in the same manner?
We serve a great big God who is much bigger than I could ever hope to describe or explain. He did help me out a bit though. He clothed HImself in flesh and entered the world He had created, as a baby. They called Him Jesus. All that I would desire to know of God is in Him and I have His promise that if I will come to Him, he will never cast me out (John 6:37).
145: Teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles - Jn. 7:10-53
John 7:10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
As large crowds thronged into Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles, Jesus was among them. He made a silent entry into the city , as his opponents were watching for Him and looking for an opportunity to kill Him. There was much debate among the people concerning just who he was. Some believed Him to be a good man, some the Messiah and others thought that Jesus was simply a deceiver. however, because of the fear of the religious rulers, the people kept their opinions to themselves.
In the middle of the feast Jesus began to teach. the people knew that Jesus didn’t have the same level of education as the doctors of the law who usually taught in the temple but they marveled at His understanding and because He spoke with authority ( Matthew 7;29; Mark 1:22; Isaiah 50:1-9). The religious leaders also wondered how Jesus could even read and understand, saying that he had never learned letters.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Jesus responded that His teaching was not His own but rather that of God who had sent Him. He also accused them of disobeying the law of Moses that they professed to revere so deeply, because they were seeking to kill Him. This they denied and accused Jesus of being possessed by the devil.
During an earlier visit to Jerusalem, Jesus had healed an impotent man on the Sabbath (John 5:9) and this was the reason that they were seeking to kill Jesus. Jesus reminded them that when they circumcised on the Sabbath they were also working on the Sabbath. He enjoined them to not judge by the appearance but to exercise righteous judgment (Luke 14:1-6).
There was further debate as to whether Jesus was indeed the Christ. The people expected that no one would know where the Messiah had come from. They knew the humble origin on Jesus and where He had worked and labored. On the one hand such a one could not possibly be the Messiah. On the other hand, no man could do all these miracles, unless he was indeed the Messiah.
Jesus replied that, yes they knew Him and His background, but they didn’t know the One true God who had sent Him. Jesus said, "I know Him for I came from Him and He sent me." This infuriated the rulers and they wanted to kill Him then, but they couldn’t. It simply wasn’t His time, yet. They sent officers to arrest Jesus, but they later came back empty handed, exclaiming, "Never a man spake like this man" (John 7:35).
John 7:34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
Jesus said, "I’ll be with you a little longer, and them I’m going to return to Him that sent me." This stirred up more debate as to just who and what He was.
John 7:37 ¶ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
On the last day of the feast Jesus stood up and cried out that He and He alone was the source of living water. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit which as yet had not been given to men. Simply by believing in Him, one could have living water flowing from his innermost being. This simply intensified the division among the people. Some believed He was Messiah from the seed of David of the town of Bethlehem and others just wanted to kill Him.
The soldiers who had been previously sent out to arrest Jesus returned empty handed, the Pharisees asked if they had also been deceived. Wasn’t it apparent that no Pharisees had believed on him? Nicodemus, who had made the night visit to Jesus much earlier (John 3), cautioned that the law required that no man could be put to death before he had an opportunity to defend himself. This simply directed their wrath towards Nicodemus. Was he also an ignorant Galilean. Certainly he should know that no prophet could ever come out of Galilee.
Their plots foiled for the time being, they all dispersed and went to their homes. It wasn’t the appointed time, but it wouldn’t be much longer before these people would unleash all of their hatred and venom against Jesus and crucify Him upon the cross of Calvary.
Conclusion and Application:
Things haven’t changed a bit. Some still reject him and others receive Him. We who have received him are confident of Who and what He is. He is the living God veiled in flesh. We are thankful that we have drunk of His living water. He has given us His Spirit and we will never thrist again.
How could Jesus speak with such understand when He lacked the higher learning that was expected of a teacher of the law? Well, first of all,as God, He was the author. As a man He was in constant communication with the Spirit of God.
Isaiah 50:4 ¶ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Things You'll Find in the About-Him Website Audio Sermons http://about-him.com/sermonlink.html Bible Studies http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html Devotional Archives http://about-him.com/devotionlink.html Humor http://about-him.com/hu1.html Flash Movies http://about-him.com/player.html Music http://about-him.com/audio.html Humor A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday School presentation. His mother, sitting in the front row to prompt him, gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it didn't help. Her son's memory was blank.
Finally she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world."
The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud, clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world." Somebody Has Said Wisdom is, and starts with, the humility to accept the fact that you don't have all the right answers, and the courage to learn to ask the right questions. Keep Looking Up!
Don & Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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