John 8:12-14 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

12 Muling nagsalita sa kanila si Jesus, “Ako ang ilaw ng sanlibutan. Ang sumusunod sa akin ay hindi kailanman lalakad sa kadiliman, kundi magkakaroon ng ilaw ng buhay.” 13 Sinabi sa kanya ng mga Fariseo, “Nagpapatotoo ka tungkol sa iyong sarili; ang patotoo mo ay hindi totoo.” 14 Sumagot si Jesus, “Kung ako ma'y nagpapatotoo tungkol sa aking sarili, ang aking patotoo ay totoo; sapagkat nalalaman ko kung saan ako nanggaling, at kung saan ako pupunta. Subalit hindi ninyo nalalaman kung saan ako nanggaling, o kung saan ako pupunta.

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

The Feastof the Tabernacles was about to end. As part of this major festival, lamps would be lit using wicks made from priestly garments. Then, Jesus turned t the crowdand said, “I am the light of the world.” This is His second “I am”statement in the book of John.

For the a Jew, ‘light’ was the ultimate ideal, a representation of salvation, knowledge, and goodness. For Jesus to claim as the "light of the world" was no small matter. In fact, it is a claim to equality with God. It is undestood as He is the only source of light. Nobody else.

No wonder, if sparked a strong opposition to the unbelieving Jews, saying “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” In this case, however, Jesus is speaking directly of things which no person on earth has first-hand knowledge of. For those statements, Jesus and Jesus alone has the authority to testify about Himself. Only one person has ever actually seen the truths being claimed. Thus, only that person can speak of them , who is Jesus, who came down from heaven.

This iclaim has a corresponding promise. Should anyone follow Him, he is ushered from walking in the darkness into walking in the light. The image isn’t one following a ray of light at a distance. But. He has in his life, in his possession, the light of life. No wonder, jesus calls us “you are the light of the world” because He who is the light of the world is in us. The psalmist had expressed this truth in Psa 12:46, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”

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John 8:1-11 ESV

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

GO AND SIN NO MORE.

What started as a nightmare for the adulterous woman became a blessing to her. Why? She met Jesus. She came in trembling. But, she came out rejoicing. Coincidental or incidental? Absolutely not.

It’s sad that we are all like this woman laden with sin.[Rom 3:23] yet, it’s nightmarish that there are ‘holier than thou art’ people like the Jews, who just embarrassed us. They hated so much Jesus so they used this woman and under the pretext of the law as a trap for Jesus.

It’s sad that we are all like this woman laden with sin.[Rom 3:23] yet, it’s nightmarish that there are ‘holier than thou art’ people like the Jews, who just embarrassed us. They hated so much Jesus so they used this woman and under the pretext of the law as a trap for Jesus. Have sin of their own. You could hear a pin drop as they left one by one, from the oldest to the youngest. Jesus stooped and wrote at the ground in order not to embarrass them.

It’s not wrong to judge. It is judgmentalism that is wrong and let us beware of it. Jesus judged the woman but not judgmental. He showed compassion. He did not condemn her but forgave her. He even trusted her by saying, “Go and sin no more.” Forgiveness is a sign of trust. Jesus believed that the woman will go and behave from this time onward as a new person.

But, Jesus outwitted them to melt these fuming lions so that they retreated as little puppies with tails curled down. He didn’t repute that the sinful woman is stoned according to the law. He affirmed it. His argument was on the moral ground – they can stone her if they don’t have the sin of their own. You could hear a pin drop as they left one by one, from the oldest to the youngest. Jesus stooped and wrote at the ground in order not to embarrass them.

Moreover, we observed that what evil these religious leaders had invented turned out to be a blessing. There is healing for anyone who would approach Jesus, even by sinister way at the beginning.

Moreover we observed that what evil these religious leaders had invented turned out to be a blessing. There is healing for anyone who would approach Jesus, even by sinister way at the beginning.

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John 7:40-52 ESV

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

THE MAN FROM GALILEE

When Jesus continued to speak, the crowd was relatively moved, even was divided. As Mark had accounted, “And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” [Mark 1:12] Thus, some had believed favorably and concluded that He was a prophet, even “the Messiah.” Even the officers who heard Him were touched so that they did not arrest Him.

Indeed, faith comes from hearing the word of God. [Rom 10:17] Let’s just continue to proclaim the gospel because it’s the power unto salvation to those who believed. [Rom 1:16]

However, some had second thoughts, asking, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” These guys are to be commended because they knew the scriptures that the Messiah is to come from Bethlehem and is a descendant of David. Jesus is but they did not know it. They capitalized on His upbringing, not on the merit of His works and words. It doesn’t mean that if I stay in Singapore that I am a Singaporean.

Indeed, Jesus is known by those who have had a child like faith. But, He is veiled to those who are hard hearted like them, except for Nicodemus. Nicodemus opposed a ‘kangaroo court’ judgment toward Jesus. But, he was overruled by the majority by their sarcasm, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” Unlike Nicodemus who went to Jesus, they did not dig deeper. They won’t.

Indeed, ignorance to the truth is deadly. And, it was caused by applying scriptures in the wrong way, was it not? They even slighted the believing crowd that they were accursed because they were not knowledgeable to the law. Simply said, they were just looking for reasons to reject him.

Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge.” [Hos 4:6] Unlike them, may we have a tender heart to receive His words although it will challenge our notions. Let’s not have selective listening like them.

Furthermore, where there is doubt, let’s dig deeper the Scriptures like the Bereans. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”[Acts 17:11]

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John 7:37-39 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

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37 Nang huling araw ng dakilang araw ng pista, si Jesus ay tumayo at sumigaw na nagsasabi, “Kung ang sinuman ay nauuhaw, lumapit siya sa akin at uminom. 38 Ang sumasampalataya sa akin, gaya ng sinasabi ng kasulatan, ‘Mula sa kanyang puso ay dadaloy ang mga ilog ng tubig na buháy.’” 39 Ngunit ito'y sinabi niya tungkol sa Espiritu, na tatanggapin ng mga sumasampalataya sa kanya, sapagkat hindi pa ipinagkakaloob ang Espiritu, sapagkat si Jesus ay hindi pa niluluwalhati.

RIVERS OF LIVING WATER

It was the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles. After He pronounced a sad state to the unbelieving Jews, He turned to the crowd and invited them, saying “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” This has an allusion to what Isaiah wrote, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” [Isa 55:1] Hunger and thirst are physiological phenomena that gave uneasiness to the person until the person eats and drinks to satisfy.

Jesus, as the bread of life, has offered Himself as the ultimate cure for spiritual hunger and thirst of man (John 6:35). Man’s responsibility is to respond, to believe Him. He won’t intrude but plead for us to believe Him. And, “whoever believes in Him, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Jesus has allusion to the incident of water from the rock during Moses time. The Rock was Jesus who satisfied them in the wilderness. Those events are intended as foreshadowing of Jesus' eventual ministry. This comment from Christ is also similar to His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar (John 4:10–13).

As termed by Jesus, this internal spring, or river, is indicative of the Holy Spirit, which comes to live inside all who come to faith in Christ. And where the Spirit is there is life, light and liberty. The change is from the inside-out. This indwelling, however, will not begin until after Jesus' ascension (Acts 2:1–4), as Jesus said.[see v.39]

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John 7:32-36 ESV

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

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32 Narinig ng mga Fariseo ang bulung-bulungan ng mga tao tungkol kay Jesus. Nagsugo ang mga punong pari at ang mga Fariseo ng mga kawal upang siya'y hulihin. 33 Sinabi ni Jesus, “Makakasama pa ninyo ako ng kaunting panahon, at ako'y paroroon sa nagsugo sa akin. 34 Hahanapin ninyo ako, ngunit hindi ninyo ako matatagpuan, at kung saan ako naroroon ay hindi kayo makakapunta roon.” 35 Kaya't sinabi ng mga Judio sa isa't isa, “Saan pupunta ang taong ito na hindi natin siya matatagpuan? Pupunta kaya siya sa mga lupain kung saan nagkalat ang ating mga kababayan sa lupain ng mga Griyego at magtuturo sa mga Griyego? 36 Ano ang salitang ito na kanyang sinabi, ‘Hahanapin ninyo ako, ngunit hindi ninyo ako matatagpuan, at kung saan ako naroroon, ay hindi kayo makakapunta roon’!”

YOU WILL SEEK ME AND YOU WILL NOT FIND ME

Jesus had given them the opportunity to know God. He came into His own but His own received Him not. [John 1:12]. Instead, they were furious and sought to kill Him as a predator to its prey. Although, they sent officers to arrest Him they just couldn’t arrest Him illegally. Besides, many among the crowd also believed Him.

Reading their minds, Jesus told them with certitude, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” In other words, He would be out of reach to them.

Jesus was apprehended by wicked men not because of His weakness and limitations. It was because He allowed them to. It was during his arrest later that Jesus said to Peter who tried to protect Him, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [Matt 26:53] He was crucified because He allowed them to – He yielded His right.

Jesus may appear in danger but He was always secured. Nobody can touch Him. Jesus doesn’t belong to the world in essence. Jesus’ physical presence was very short and He is going back to His Father. This happened during His ascension.

But, the Jews were oblivious, if not confused. His teachings on spiritual topics are often misinterpreted in a purely physical way. Most likely they interpreted these comments as a vow of suicide, or an intent to travel far away from Jerusalem. They thought Jesus will join those members of Israel who are still scattered around the world, in the land of the Geeks [Gentiles] due to conquest and persecution during the Dispersion in the past.

It was as explaining the sun to a blind. A sad fate that Jesus had pronounced the impossibility for them to see Him in eternity unless they would repent. No flesh could enter heaven. Thus, a person who remained adamant and unrepentant is sealing their own eternal coffin. May God help us and others to open their eyes to see their sinfulness and need of Jesus.

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John 7:25-31 ESV

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

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25 Sinabi ng ilang taga-Jerusalem, “Hindi ba ito ang taong kanilang pinagsisikapang patayin? 26 At narito, siya'y hayag na nagsasalita, at sila'y walang anumang sinasabi sa kanya. Tunay kayang nakikilala ng mga pinuno na ito ang Cristo? 27 Subalit nalalaman natin kung saan nagmula ang taong ito, subalit ang Cristo, pagdating niya ay walang makakaalam kung saan siya magmumula.” 28 Sumigaw si Jesus habang nagtuturo sa templo, “Ako'y inyong nakikilala at nalalaman din ninyo kung taga-saan ako. Hindi ako pumarito sa aking sariling awtoridad, subalit ang nagsugo sa akin ay siyang totoo, na hindi ninyo nakikilala. 29 Nakikilala ko siya sapagkat ako'y mula sa kanya, at siya ang nagsugo sa akin.” 30 Kaya't sinikap nilang siya'y hulihin, subalit walang taong sumunggab sa kanya, sapagkat hindi pa dumating ang kanyang oras. 31 Gayunma'y marami sa mga tao ang sumampalataya sa kanya at kanilang sinabi, “Pagdating ng Cristo, gagawa ba siya ng mas maraming tanda kaysa mga ginawa ng taong ito?”

KNOWING ABOUT JESUS.

This passage described the differing opinions about Jesus by people. They had all the information they needed but still they rejected Him. This includes the writings of Moses and the other prophets (John 5:45–47); the miracles He did (John 5:36), and the testimony of others (John 5:33). Yet, they did not believe Him.

Those who won't come to Christ do so because they have no intention of doing so (John 5:39–40). Their disobedience resulted to a lack of understanding the truth (John 7:17). As a result, even though Jesus has authenticated the message of God, and comes from God, and is God (John 1:1), He even was not accepted, even by members of His own family (John 7:1–9).

It was sad that they saw and witnessed what Jesus did yet they refused to believe. A reality that many could explain and articulate the truth but have not embraced Him heartily. They knew about Jesus, even very familiar with Him, but had not known Him in a personal way.

The question for us today is “Do we know Jesus personally?” That, we just don’t satisfy to know about the facts of Jesus life and deeds. Let us be certain that we have a living and authentic relationship with Him. Notably, it’s only biblical Christianity reveals that God can dwell in man. Thus, Paul has expressed, “ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”[Gal 2:20] O may Jesus will dwell in our hearts richly as believers.[Eph 3:17]

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John 7:19-24 ESV

19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

19 Hindi ba ibinigay sa inyo ni Moises ang kautusan? Subalit wala sa inyong tumutupad ng kautusan. Bakit ninyo pinagsisikapang ako'y patayin?”20 Sumagot ang maraming tao, “Mayroon kang demonyo! Sino ang nagsisikap na ikaw ay patayin?”21 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanila, “Isang bagay ang aking ginawa at pinagtatakhan ninyong lahat ito.22 Ibinigay sa inyo ni Moises ang pagtutuli (hindi sa ito'y kay Moises, kundi mula sa mga patriyarka); at tinutuli ninyo sa Sabbath ang isang lalaki.23 Kung ang isang lalaki ay tumatanggap ng pagtutuli sa Sabbath, upang huwag malabag ang kautusan ni Moises, nagagalit ba kayo sa akin dahil sa pinagaling ko ang buong katawan ng isang tao sa Sabbath?24 Huwag kayong humatol batay sa anyo, kundi humatol kayo nang matuwid na paghatol.”

JUDGE WITH RIGHT JUDGMENT

Despite having no formal education, Jesus is confounding his critics. Undeniably, Jesus did it through his work and words. He has exposed them of their hard-headedness (John 5:39–40), disobedience (John 7:17), and even violence (John 7:19). In other words, they were mad as nocturnal animals having been exposed to the light.

Having been controlled by their passion, they became very unreasonable and inconsistent. Why did Jesus say, “Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” Firstly, they claim that they follow Moses. But ,they sought to kill Him breaking the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” Yet, the crowd answered, “You have a demon!” they attacked Jesus without any basis. It was the equivalent of saying, "you're crazy." But, others among the crowd, probably who were visiting from other places, were wandering, “Who is seeking to kill you?”

Having heard their accusation, Jesus addressed their inconsistency about the Sabbath, too. Why they do circumcision during the Sabbath but protested that he healed the paralyzed man during the Sabbath. In their own eyes, they were the only ones knowledgeable enough about the law, given by Moses, to make spiritual judgments. They felt this knowledge made them spiritually obedient, though in reality, they were rejecting God (John 5:39–47). The next question Jesus’ asked to the hypocritical religious leaders left them tongue-tied, that is, “If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?”

What does this mean to us today. Truth heard can either be accepted or resisted. Rejecting the truth will make us appear silly or inconsistent like the Jews. This led them to become unreasonably violent. Thus, atheists who is spending efforts in disproving God, who they believed does not exist, makes them ridiculous. Let’s maintain a soft heart for resistance to the truth is plainly rebellion.

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John 7:14-18 ESV

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

14 Nang ang kapistahan ay nasa kalagitnaan na ay pumunta si Jesus sa templo at nagturo.15 Namangha ang mga Judio, na nagsasabi, “Paanong nagkaroon ang taong ito ng karunungan, gayong hindi naman nag-aral kailanman?”16 Sinagot sila ni Jesus, “Ang turo ko ay hindi akin, kundi sa kanya na nagsugo sa akin.17 Kung ang sinuman ay nagnanais gumawa ng kalooban ng Diyos ay makikilala niya kung ang turo ay mula sa Diyos, o kung ako'y nagsasalita mula sa aking sarili.18 Ang nagsasalita nang mula sa kanyang sarili ay humahanap ng kanyang sariling kaluwalhatian; subalit ang humahanap ng kaluwalhatian ng nagsugo sa kanya ay siyang totoo, at sa kanya'y walang kasinungalingan.

WISDOM FROM ABOVE

During the middle of the feast, Jesus began teaching. As the people heard the things Jesus taught, they were amazed. They wondered saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” Definitely, their mindset was that learning happens only to the formally educated individuals at the Rabbinic schools. And Jesus had no formal schooling. But, it does not mean that He isn’t learned.

Quickly, Jesus attributed His wisdom from the Father. Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”[Prov 1:7] He explained that a person's willingness to obey comes before their ability to understand truth (see v.17). And, those who "refuse" to believe (see John 5:39–40) will not come to the truth, no matter how much knowledge they have. In short, to believe Him is to know and be wise.

Jesus challenged their assumed concept to the relationship between knowledge and morality. Under their assumption, moral behavior and the ability to do "good" was based on whether or not a person understood moral and philosophical truths. Conversely, disobedience causes misunderstanding according to the Lord Jesus. Rather than knowledge of the truth leading to obedience, Jesus claims that whether or not a person is willing to obey God is what affects their ability to learn the truth! In short, a person's willingness to obey God is what determines his or her understanding—rather than the reverse, where understanding enables obedience.

Thus, are we disposed to obey the truth? For it is when we are obedient that we will know God experientially. May God will grant us a willing heart to obey Him today.

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John 7:11-13 ESV

11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

11 Hinahanap nga siya ng mga Judio sa pista, at kanilang sinasabi, “Saan siya naroroon?”12 Nagkaroon ng maraming bulung-bulungan tungkol sa kanya ang mga tao. Sinasabi ng ilan, “Siya'y mabuting tao.” Sinasabi naman ng iba, “Hindi, inililigaw niya ang mga tao.”13 Subalit walang taong nagsalita nang hayag tungkol sa kanya dahil sa takot sa mga Judio.

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Is Jesus a liar, lunatic or Lord? Undoubtedly, His life became enigmatic to the Jews, even until now to many. His claims and deeds had caused division in the opinions of people. The Jewish leaders had already marked Him as a heretic. Hence, he must be condemned to die. They asked where He was not because they want to know Him more but in order to kill Him.

You and I couldn’t be neutral in our opinion about Jesus, could we? Either we accept or reject Him as the truth. “In Him is light and there is no darkness at all.” [1 John 1:5] It is a fact that people see and perceived others based upon the lenses they use.

Some who are honest seekers of the truth like Nicodemus are curious to know Him more. To them, he was a good man and they gave the benefit of their doubts that His claims were true. This led them to discover later that Jesus is really Lord.

However, others like the religious leaders were hardened traditionalists so that they see Jesus as a trouble maker who had confused them. Thus they concluded that Jesus is a liar and lunatic.

Today, let’s not be ambivalent but be certain regarding to our belief in Jesus. “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”[Jas 1:8] Should Jesus is Lord, He is worth our whole trust, should He not? This is pleasing to God. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”[Heb 11:6]

The life of the Lord Jesus should continue to amaze us. As John has expresssed, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”[John 1:14,15] This was corroborated by Paul who wrote; “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”[1 Tim 3:16]

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John 7:1-10 ESV

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.

MY TIME HAS NOT YET COME

The feast of the Tabernacles was near so that the Jews, referring to the religious leaders, were expecting many people to go to Jerusalem. As a major festival, this 7-day event would have made Jerusalem a busy, densely-populated city. According to Leviticus 23:33–34, this is celebrating the journey of Israel through the wilderness. The rituals of this festival reminded the people of how God had provided for Israel during their journey out of Egypt.

Jesus, having been in Galillee was challenged by Hs brothers to go and show up. They said, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” A bit of sarcasm is implied here for they didn’t believe Jesus’ claims as yet.[see v.5]

Perhaps for practical reasons, Jesus’ brothers were right in saying “no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly.” But, they were wrong since Jesus wasn’t seeking for popularity. He was careful in doing the will of the Father. Are you at the crossroad between doing what is good for yourself and what is right before God?

Definitely, Jesus as a man is always obedient to God's timeline. His words and works done had created enough stir already so that they sought His life. Thus he said, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”[v.6-8]

His lion like enemies who are ready to devour Him did not determine His movements. Jesus has no fear towards any man. As Solomon has said, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” [Prov 29:25] He who fears God has nothing else to fear. Who determines our decisions , actions and choices in life? May by the grace of God, we may say, “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! [Psa 31:5] then and only then can we have the perfect peace [ shalom shalom] should ur minds are stayed on God. [see Isa 26:3]. Thus His dealings with us aren’t capricious. He is in perfect control so that we may say, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”[Ecc 3:11]

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