John 7:10-24
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
Today’s passage overlaps with yesterday’s for two verses. Read John 7:10-24 keeping in mind that the Jewish religious leaders were still fuming all these many weeks later over Jesus’ Sabbath healing of the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda.
This passage could be entitled, “How to Miss the Point.” Jesus has come to the festival incognito and is circulating among the crowds. He knows the religious leaders find him completely threatening, so for a while he stays in the shadows listening to the whispers of the regular people. Some think he is a good person, and some believe he’s a trickster seeking a following from among the gullible. None of them recognize that the very Kingdom of God is right there among them in Jesus.
But then he begins to teach, and something about the way he speaks catches everyone off guard. It would be comical if it weren’t so tragic. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is teaching the very words of God, and the people wonder how he got so smart without a formal religious education.
The words of Jesus are meant to be obeyed, not debated. In the past few weeks have you read any of Jesus’ words and felt challenged or uncomfortable? What did you do about that? Take a moment to talk honestly to Jesus about this.
Read John 7:10-24 again focusing in on what Jesus says about the laws of Moses.
Circumcision was an outward sign of God’s iron-clad promise of continual love and faithfulness to God’s people. The practice of circumcision was prescribed by God and practiced by God’s people long before the law was given to Moses for the nation of Israel.
As we’ve seen earlier in John’s Gospel, God’s laws were meant to lead people to freedom, and Jesus is the embodiment of God’s laws. For Jesus, the highest law is love.
Jesus’ followers, past and present, are his disciples, and the goal of a disciple is to become like the Master sharing in the Master’s values and behaviors. Jesus values compassion for people over rules and practices. He didn’t come to make people better rule-followers, he came to make people whole – to restore them to the people God created them to be.
Contemplate this for a moment: Are you more concerned about being a good person, or are you more concerned about loving people well? Speak to Jesus about anything you are thinking as you consider this question.
Think back to the time before you consciously began to follow Jesus. Has there been a shift in your values since then?
For the last moments of this meditation, sit in the presence of Jesus and consider asking him to point out any areas of your life that need his restoring touch.
If you sense that there is something Jesus is calling you to do in response, take a step in that direction today.
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