Two programming notes:
Apologies for the delay in today’s entry.
Work is beginning on the next year of Jesus Daily, beginning with Advent on December 3. The focus will continue to be the life, ministry, and person of Jesus Christ. I would love your input and ideas as to how to approach the next year. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to respond directly to this post or email, depending on how you receive it. Thank you!
John 7:1-13 | 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
John’s gospel gives some different insight into Jesus in today’s passage than we might be used to. A few notes before you read today:
Jesus didn’t want to be killed. We’ll soon see that timing is a factor, but it is notable that Jesus didn’t want to die. We can stop short of thinking he was afraid of the Jewish authorities, but regardless, John tells us - either by assumption or a tradition that he spoke or said something to the disciples, we can’t be sure - that Jesus didn’t travel in a particular area “because the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him.”
There is some interaction here with Jesus’ brothers. Usually, the inner discussions we have between Jesus and his followers are with the disciples. But here, John tells us that a discussion of strategy was between Jesus and his brothers.
Jesus went back on what he said, appearing even to be dishonest. He told his brothers he wouldn’t go, then he did, secretly. There are a couple of times when Jesus’ movements in John are a bit of a mystery (perhaps most notably in John 11 when he is told Lazarus is sick).
In the end, Jesus is gonna Jesus. An attractive beauty of Jesus is his approachability as a human being, a loving individual, and a gentle person. Even so, there are mysteries about Jesus that are untouchable. These carry on from what we read about him in the gospels all the way to doctrines of the church related to his nature (the God-man, 100% human, 100% divine) or the Trinity.
Our modern desire to figure it all out will not be completely satisfied. This is not to say that God’s revelation leaves us empty. But it will have to come with a confession that I cannot know it all, cannot do it all, cannot be it all. Even so, if we stick around and participate with the invitations that God does give in and through Christ, we will find that our situation as human beings in need of purpose and love has all that it needs through the grace offered.
John 7:1-13
After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him. When it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Booths, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee. Go to Judea so that your disciples can see the amazing works that you do. Those who want to be known publicly don’t do things secretly. Since you can do these things, show yourself to the world.” His brothers said this because even they didn’t believe in him.
Jesus replied, “For you, anytime is fine. But my time hasn’t come yet. The world can’t hate you. It hates me, though, because I testify that its works are evil. You go up to the festival. I’m not going to this one because my time hasn’t yet come.” Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers left for the festival, he went too—not openly but in secret.
The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus at the festival. They kept asking, “Where is he?” The crowds were murmuring about him. “He’s a good man,” some said, but others were saying, “No, he tricks the people.” No one spoke about him publicly, though, for fear of the Jewish authorities.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
What we say is wisdom to people who are mature. It isn’t a wisdom that comes from the present day or from today’s leaders who are being reduced to nothing. We talk about God’s wisdom, which has been hidden as a secret. God determined this wisdom in advance, before time began, for our glory. It is a wisdom that none of the present-day rulers have understood, because if they did understand it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory! But this is precisely what is written: God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being. God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God. Who knows a person’s depths except their own spirit that lives in them? In the same way, no one has known the depths of God except God’s Spirit. We haven’t received the world’s spirit but God’s Spirit so that we can know the things given to us by God. These are the things we are talking about—not with words taught by human wisdom but with words taught by the Spirit—we are interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people. But people who are unspiritual don’t accept the things from God’s Spirit. They are foolishness to them and can’t be understood, because they can only be comprehended in a spiritual way. Spiritual people comprehend everything, but they themselves aren’t understood by anyone. Who has known the mind of the Lord, who will advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Prayer
God,
I admit that I’d like to know it all.
I pretend that I don’t want power and for the most part, that’s true. I have no desire to rule the world. But I would like to know about those that do. I want all the information. I want to know what’s going on and how it works and why and when and how. This is the power I want.
But deep down, I know I can’t do this. Help me know this all the more and to be comfortable with it in such a way as to live a pleasing, satisfying, efficaciously compassionate life. Help me understand the difference between bearing your image and grasping for your place.
Even today, make me comfortable in the responsibilities I do have.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.