A ramble through John 7…
As I start this post/ramble I have to admit something.
This Blogged Bible study is the first time I have read and studied John. Two years ago I just read it, but did not study it.
In the past I have not been a big fan of the Gospel of John. I have always been more of a Mathew or Luke guy. John’s organization of his Gospel just never made allot of since to me. Don’t get me wrong I always understood what he was saying and the concept of him proving the divinity of Christ, but it never captivated me like Mathew or Luke. Mark I remain neutral on.
But here is what I realized….
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
I was relying on myself, not Christ to teach me. I was getting in the way again. Once God lead me to his will I started understanding Christ’s teaching. I can now read through John and see how God is speaking to me through his Son.
So here is what God has shown me as the verse with the most impact in John 7.
When I read no matter if it is fiction or non-fiction it look for foreshadowing, most authors or teachers will use this tool in some form or fashion to highlight a coming point in the story. Jesus was the master of foreshadowing. Well he did have all knowledge so it is no wonder he used it.
In Chapters 1-6 Jesus has taught and worked to reveal who he is. The Beginning, the teacher, giver of life, the light of the world, the bread of life. He has used scriptural references and miracles. Here though in on short verse he foreshadows his pending death….
19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
Jesus again is telling the Jews. You know the law, and God gave it to Moses to give to you. Everyone of you should also know the prophesies of me also.
If the Jews had been really listening, and known that Christ was God, and sent by God, the would have connected the dots in Verse 19. Law given… Law not keep… Therefor your disobedience, your idols, and your sin are going to kill me.
So I want to draw you back to the beginning of the chapter.
8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
Even though Jesus was foreshadowing his death in 19 he knew that it would not happen in man’s timing but in the timing of his father. Knowing this and that traveling with the large group that followed, he decided not to attract attention and travel alone.
10However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret
As followers of Christ we have to draw on Christs example to follow God’s timing, but he also tells us:
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.
Follow God’s will and what we do will be in the right time.
Now that God has me in his timing it all makes since now.
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Go here to read the rest of the entries for the Blogged Bible Study
thought provoking…I used to be a Luke reader myself…and overall I have fallen in love with John the last couple of years. John is known to be the dreamer, but he was so young when he started to follow, leaving his family to be along side Jesus…I do think his view is scattered at times, but as a young mind remembers. Does that make sense?
Love the verses you picked out..wonder what I will write about??? better get on top of that…stop this vacationing mind, and get to it! love ya brother
Thanks, Carl.
He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself.
Man! That is so true. It’s quite a challenge to be sure we are speaking truth and not just our own speculations. For us, not being Jesus, the study it takes to get to the root of the thought…wears me out sometimes…but…the Word does say we are to work hard in finding wisdom:
My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commands within you, by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding, indeed, if you call out for discernment – raise your voice for understanding – if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God. Proverbs 2:1-4 (I think)
The biggest thing here for me Carl was that I too was getting in the way. I didn’t even realize it. People who were willing to come along side and help give me the truth, and I fought..hard. But guess who won???? LOL
This got me: “Everyone of you should also know the prophesies of me also.”
Same holds true today. We are suppose to be so engrossed in His word that nothing else can get through….I can no longer ask the question “Why is other stuff getting through”. I need to know, read, dwell on, ponder, soak in and speak truth regardless of the cost.
Thank you Carl…sorry I haven’t been around more….Love you!
Great thoughts Carl…
I was the same way. Until I studied John it was just another book…since digging in, it has become my favorite!
Timing is everything, like you said. What gets me is that Christ (God) doesn’t know everything that the Father (God) knows. (i.e. the second coming).
Thanks for this Bro. Good stuff. I also have always loved Matthew and had a hard time “connecting” with John’s Gospel. I am also very thankfyul for this whole project because of how it is opening this wonderful book to me.
I find it so difficult to wait on God’s timing in my life. I have often asked myself the question; “How do I know the difference between waiting on God’s timing and just waiting because I am too lazy, too fearful, too disobedient…” fill in the blanks with whatever you like.
This past week has been all about God’s timing for me. Things were moving in and out so fast that I had to take time to listen, and make sure I was in God’s timing.
Sometimes we have to be patient, but you are correct Joe we can’t be lazy.
Ahh … good post. I just put up mine … and I didn’t read any of the others first. So I love that you touched on what I saw. Kind of went a bit further too. Thanks, Carl!