Day 7, John 7

Guest Blogger: Aaron Martin

Jesus’ teaching astounded the people of his day because he had not come through the traditional educational channels. “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” was their question (v. 15).

A worldly education would never have taught Jesus the remarkable wisdom that he preached to the multitudes. Like the Apostle Paul would later say, “[T]he foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (I Cor. 1:25). C.H. Spurgeon used to speak derisively of the “College men” of his day—those who had pursued higher education but still could not grasp the truth of the Bible. How worthless indeed was their learning when they were not smart enough to give up everything in the world to gain the glories of heaven!

The controversy surrounding Jesus arose from the power of his words. Indeed, it seemed that people could either bless him or curse him, but none could remain unmoved (v. 12). Is our witness to the world this clear? Or do we fall into mushy sentimentalism or vague moralisms when trying to maintain a Christian witness? Are we provoking a reaction in our hearers? If not, are we really speaking the word of God to them? Jesus himself made clear that the words that he spoke were not his own, but of him that sent him (v. 16).

Just as the Jewish leaders futilely tried to snuff out the heavenly witness that Jesus bore (v. 30), so too the powers of the earth today attempt to silence any true proclamation of God’s law and gospel. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed” (Ps. 2:2).

The call to repentance unto life that Jesus made in his day is the same that we must issue today. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (vv. 37-38). Jesus offered to mere mortals an indwelling of the very Holy Spirit of God (v. 39). In the days of the prophets, God had also freely offered spiritual sustenance to his people (Is. 55:1). Still, in both ages many refused this most gracious offer.

Today we will not always be met with open ears when we proclaim the truth of the Father through the words of the Son concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit. But we can be encouraged by the miraculous changes that can occur in even the most skeptical of hearers. Even a Nicodemus, a man of “letters” who first approached Jesus with incredulity, came to believe in the One who offered rivers of living water to the world (vv. 50-51).

to see the resot of the blog and see other postings and comments, go to http://21daysinjohn.blogspot.com/