March 28, 2025
John 7:1-12
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. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers
said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may
see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in
secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even
his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is
not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates
me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not
going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had
said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the
festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Now at the festival the
Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” Among the
crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good
man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”
John 7:25-30
At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask,
“Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is, speaking publicly, and
they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that
he is the Messiah? But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes,
no one will know where he is from.” Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple
courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not
here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but
I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” At this they tried to seize
him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
Yesterday we noted the experience of the Prophet Jeremiah and the increasing hostility toward him and his prophetic ministry. Today our reading shows us that Jesus often faced threats and was mistreated, long before he was crucified. In these verses, we are told that leaders were planning to kill him, just as we saw in the Jeremiah story.
Jesus demonstrated that even in the face of such rejection and opposition from people, he was able to center on God and respond to these experiences with a radical love. What is striking, I believe, in both Jeremiah and Jesus is that they were not distracted from their God given calling, even under great pressure. In the face of strong external pressures their trust and commitment to God did not waver.
By contrast, our outside influences can often knock us off course. Have you ever felt misunderstood, mistreated, or judged unfairly? If you have then you are aware that experiencing opposition, especially when we’re trying to do what’s right, can be deeply painful. If we are honest about it these experiences often can leave us questioning whether standing firm in our faith is worth the cost.
What we see revealed in the scriptures is that when we live into our relationship with God, when we trust the promises of God, when we remember how God has faithfully led us and protected us and provided for us in the past, we can find a firm foundation beneath us. We often sing in worship, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand all other Ground is sinking sand.” So, with Jesus we pray “not my will but yours be done” even as we face our moments of suffering and opposition.
As we conclude our week of devotions let us pray for strength to endure trials and center ourselves with faith and humility on our Covenant God.
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