Day 52, John 7
Yesterday we saw the radical kingdom in Matthew 18, and noted that Jesus is teaching more boldly and radically than ever, as He enters the final lap of His earthly ministry.
Here in John, we see further examples of this, when Jesus secretly goes up to the Feast of Tabernacles despite the (human) wisdom of His brothers that He should go publicly and display His power.
First, Jesus contrasts human methods for teaching and making followers with His approach, which is to simply cooperate with His Father and be humbly honest about His motives, goals, and authority. This approach is not just incomprehensible to the Pharisees, it is evidence that Jesus is evil and an enemy to be eliminated!
Jesus continues to expose their hypocrisy and powerlessness, and invite the ordinary people to receive the overflowing abundance of God’s love for them.
The religious leaders are powerless to arrest Jesus yet: it’s not time for their part in God’s plan of salvation, but their hearts are revealed when they dismiss the crowds (who they are appointed to lead to God) as a cursed, ignorant rabble. Evil clothed as good is just as insidious as overt evil. And before long we shall see what perverted religious power can do.
Until then, let’s heed Jesus’ invitation to be thirsty for God, come, drink, and overflow with the life of heaven.
Have a great day!
Mark.