John 7:1-24

40 Days of John

Day 11: John 7:1-24

The book of John continues to show us how Jesus reveals who He is to the world.

Jesus doesn't meet peoples' expectations...Jesus exceeds them.

Jesus, both human and divine, is God's son, acting in the name of His Father, also our Father and our God.

It's time for the Festival of the Tabernacles in today's reading, and Jesus goes in secret to this very public event and teaches.

Jesus is changing the way people look at their faith.  Jesus goes beyond rules and traditional Jewish law to what true love really looks like in action.

People are amazed by Jesus because they know Jesus' education doesn't match His depth of knowledge about God and the world.  Jesus humbly points to God as the source of all that He is saying,

"My teaching is not my own.  It comes from the one who sent me....

Stop judging by mere appearances but instead judge correctly."

John 7:16, 24

I found it very interesting today that Jesus' own brothers do not believe in Him. That must have been rough, I think.  Jesus' brothers don't understand Jesus' ways of thinking and doing things.  Jesus doesn't act the way his brothers think He should...

And then I remember Jesus' words again,

"Stop judging by mere appearances but instead judge correctly."
John 7:24

And I think some more.  Jesus turns the world's view of thinking and doing upside down, sideways, backwards, and which ever way will put us in position to look to our Heavenly Father in all things.  

Jesus calls us to look at the world differently, and I am so thankful for that transformative shift in perspective.

What does that mean to you today?

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for Jesus and His amazing way of giving us Your perspective on Your people and the world.  

Forgive me for all the ways I judge on appearances and my own human logic instead of through the lens of faith built on Your mercy and grace.

Lord, I pray for a heart that longs to know You more and more each day.  I pray for a heart that knows my deep need to be with You always.  I pray for eyes to see You and ears that hear You even in the middle of the messiest days.  Help me to be still and know that You are with me, my God, my creator, my Savior, and my Sustainer.

I pray especially this day for those who are struggling to see You, Lord, in the middle of their circumstances.  Fill them with the fullness of Your love and reality in their lives.  Help them to feel You holding them, going before them, and guiding them.

I love you, Lord, and I praise You above all!

In the name of Jesus I pray,

Amen

Blessings,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.