Three Responses to Jesus
Opening Prayer
Forgive us, Lord. “We have turned to a God that we can use rather than to a God we must obey” (David Wells).
Read John 7:1–13
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
What did your family members say of your decision to follow Jesus and publicly identify as one of his?
Think Further
The Feast of Tabernacles was eight days of mandated religious fun-time as people remembered God’s goodness in the harvests of their wilderness journeys. However, it forms the backdrop for three very different responses to Jesus. First, why did his brothers advise
him to go up to Jerusalem for the feast, especially since they didn’t believe in him? Rejecting his spiritual claims, they seem to admire his popular appeal. In contemporary language, they appear to be marketing Jesus. Why not throw him onto the big stage in front of the maximum number of people? Tragically, they attempt to manipulate the very Christ of God. But Jesus is on a different mission, one that does not generate popularity. Indeed, his is the very opposite, for he confronts the world’s evil and provokes hatred instead of applause. They can go to the feast, but Jesus will not accommodate their timetable. Later, on God’s timetable, he does go. Andrew Walker comments that God has to be heard in the marketplace but not as marketable goods (Enemy Territory).
Second, others in the crowd hate him and desire his death. Everything Jesus says and does, beginning with the healing on a Sabbath (John 5:18) to his God-claims, undermines their own religious system. Worse still, if Jesus is who he says he is, then they are wrong. As he puts it, “the world… hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (7). C. S. Lewis called Jesus “a
transcendental interferer,” who intrudes, disturbs and exposes the truth about us. This remains true unto today.
Third, among the crowd confusion reigns. Some are positive, others are negative, but no one says anything publicly for fear of the haters. This portion of the Jews will be the majority at Golgotha, and by doing nothing they will allow the Christ to be taken and nailed to the cross.
Apply
Consider how these reactions may still be found today, as churches
may “market” Jesus and in his warning that people will hate believers because of him (Matt. 10:22).
Closing prayer
Lord, although You still generate controversy and mixed opinion, I remain convinced of who You are and why You died on that cross.
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