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Jesus, reading their intentions, responds in verse 6 … “Then
Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. [verse
7] The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that
the works thereof are evil.” Christ
points out, that the thinking His family shares regarding His ministry is the
same one the people and leaders cling to.
They look for a deliverer from Rome, from poverty, from oppression. Because their thinking is in line with
popular thinking, even with that of the religious leaders, they are not hated
by them. But Christ is, because instead
of aligning Himself with these goals and ideals, He points out that the source
of the problems of Israel is not found in Rome, but in the hearts of each
person there. It is the evil within us,
that is the root of our problems. It is
our slavery to self-service that is the core of the evil that enslaves us. We are powerless to defeat it, and equally
consumed by it, blinded by it, and do not enjoy having it called to our
attention. This is particularly true,
when we are unable to cast blame back on the person who brings it to our
attention. Often when confronted by
someone else about the evil behavior we are engaged in, our first thought, is
to defend ourselves, by pointing out the evil our accusers do as well. We feel successfully defended if we can point
out bigger sins in our accuser, than in ourselves. But when the perfection of love reveals to us
our error, we are unable to successfully “blame” it. In the mirror of Christ, our selfishness is
revealed, and we are unable to blame “the mirror”. In that instance, the evil of selfishness, we
embrace, we are stuck with. And for
some, hatred of this revelation follows.
Even here, Satan is offering Christ, “an easy way out”. To win the love and respect and belief of His
own family, all He needs to do, is give a little on the idea of reducing Rome’s
power over them. OK, so maybe we don’t
overthrow them completely, but at least you could send a little plague their
way, and cause them to reduce their presence in Judea. But love does not manipulate to gain its
objective, and love is not interested in control, but in choice. The love of Christ was ever based in truth, and
so He could not align with the near sighted goals, even of His family. He must instead stay true to the will of His
Father, who longed for an end to evil, the evil within us, not the evil around
us. As for the timing of going to the
feast, Christ continues in verse 8 … “Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet
unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. [verse 9] When he had said
these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. [verse 10] But when his
brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as
it were in secret.” Christ tells them to
ahead and go to the feast, that he will be staying put for a while as His time
is not yet fully there. I would guess,
His family interpreted this to mean, that His time to raise an army, or
confront the religious leaders, was not just yet. Though Christ may actually have been
referring to His death and sacrifice for us, as not quite being the time. In any case, He delayed His trip, and went
there secretly.
The salient question then, is “why?” Why on earth go back to Jerusalem, even in
secret, when you know the leaders there are intent on killing you for the deeds
you do, and the words you say? Why put
your own life at risk? Surely the
disciples, at least the original 12, did not need further “proof” you were the
Messiah, they already declared they believed it. Surely the people of Jerusalem had heard
about Christ, as verses 11 thru 13 reveal, He was quite the topic of
conversation at the feast this year. So
it was not as though Jesus needed a campaign of public awareness. One could argue that He went to save Mary
Magdalene from being stoned for adultery which would happen soon. But then, that entire scenario was
constructed to trap Christ, more than to punish Mary, had He not gone to
Jerusalem, she might have been safely unmolested in her sins. So “who” was Christ there to reach? Who was He so stubbornly intent to love? I submit, He was there to try again, to reach
those leaders who were intent on killing Him.
I believe He went back, again, to reach them, His most ardent
enemies. He did not return in a spirit
of confrontation. Nor did he return in
fame, carrying with Him a great crowd to protect Him, and display to the proud
leaders, their inability to do anything about Him. Instead He returns alone, anonymously, and
looks to teach His doctrine of love to any who might listen. Verse 14 states … “Now about the midst of the
feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. [verse 15] And the Jews
marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
Deja vu anyone? When
He was only twelve years old, He taught the leaders in Jerusalem for 3 days,
having never had a “formal” education.
Here He was again, teaching the people, and the leaders, doctrines and
scriptures, without the benefit of a long career of reading and study in the
formal religious training schools of His day.
Christ knew scriptures the leaders did not believe Him capable of
knowing. Perhaps He quoted scrolls only
few had had access to read. Perhaps He
cited little known prophets, or obscure references that only a man of deep
education could possible know. In any
case, it was the religious leaders who appreciated the miracle they were
witnessing. He was doing something,
saying something, teaching something, He should not have been able to teach.
Jesus knows what they murmur and responds in verse 16 … “Jesus
answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” Therein is found two key truths. The first, truth is not found within us, but
in Him that sends us into the world. In
the case of Christ, the doctrine of love He was teaching came from God His
Father. In our case, the doctrine of love
we bear witness to, the doctrine of love that transforms us into a new creation;
does not originate within us, but comes from the Christ who saves us from
ourselves. The second truth, is that
doctrine that is used to glorify the messenger instead of the message, is not
truth at all. Those conference leaders,
or pastors, or evangelists, or television spokesmen, or laymen, or just
ordinary Christians intent on witnessing – who look to present themselves as
models of achievement, or sources of truth and understanding, reveal they know
little of either. Even the precious
truth of salvation, is not intended as a vehicle for us to prop ourselves up,
and try to become “proud” in the victories He has bestowed upon us. The gospel at its core is not about pride,
but humility. It is not about our fame
as His messengers, but about our work done in anonymity. Christ, who was God of all, was the chief
servant of all. Who are we, to model
ourselves differently than our leader?
Jesus continues in verse 17 … “If any man will do his will,
he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of
myself. [verse 18] He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he
that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness
is in him.” Christ was not looking for
fame, as the greatest religious scholar of His day. He was not looking to replace the Rabbinical
schools with new leadership. He was not
even looking to replace the High Priest with Himself, or His own appointees. Instead, He was looking only to teach truth
and love, and reach those who would listen.
The fears and insecurities of the religious leaders should have been put
at ease, as Christ was no real threat to their organization or authority. But those fears could not rest, because the
message of truth and reform that comes from love placed within us, might truly
undo the financial empire they had built around the forms of religion. Instead of abandoning misconceptions and
misinterpretations of scripture that Christ revealed and embracing a new knowledge
of old truth that might have truly revolutionized the teaching in Israel, they
chose to meet truth with hate, and respond to love with intent to kill it. There would be no fundamental overhaul of
doctrine that might actually change the world.
Instead there would be a perpetuation of existing thinking, even if it
had to kill God to accomplish it.
And what has changed?
The original claimant of the Christian faith in Catholicism has amassed
wealth, art, as well as political power and influence such as the world has
ever seen; though Christ craved none of these things, shunning them all, instead
serving in humility until His death. He
needed no spectacle, no pomp, no gold, no flowing robes of brilliant color – He
only sought to teach love and truth.
Protestant Christian denominations have little more to say than their
Catholic counterparts. While not steeped
in the gold and art of spectacle, protestant churches strive equally for a
place in the halls of power and legislation.
They maintain elaborate organizational hierarchies, that are more intent
on maintaining “their” particular brand of Christianity, than about serving in
humility, poverty, and love. Today’s
American churches look to invest themselves in politics, in order to make
legal, the teachings of morality they believe.
In an effort to defend themselves against the unbelievers, they would
make themselves, the arbiters of morality and enforce it with controls of the
government and effect of law. In short,
our religious leaders seem very preoccupied with leadership and the preservation
of church influence, than with the simplicity of love and transformation it
offers. Were Christ to enter our pulpits
of today, and advocate abandoning our doctrinal uniqueness, our wealth, power,
influence, and spectacle – would we too reject Him, and look to kill Him to
preserve what we have built?
Jesus knows His teaching will be met with hatred, by those
who wish to preserve their influence and wealth over accepting the truth He
espouses. To them he says in verse 19 …
“Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye
about to kill me?” Here Jesus cites
their “go to guy” and questions the motives that would kill love rather than
accept it. Rather than have their
innermost motives reveal, they accuse Christ of being crazy saying in verse 20
… “The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill
thee?” Had Jesus not been trying to win
over those that hate Him, and attempt to undo their hatred, He could merely
have responded to them by name. He could
have said … well, Bob over there is thinking he should stone me, and George in
the red cap, is planning to knife me when nobody is looking. He did not.
He does not reveal the individuals who seek His death to the rest of the
crowd that might have decided to do something to prevent that from
happening. Again, Christ does not act in
a manner that would preserve His own life, or incite the people to take
“righteous” action in killing those who were intent on killing Him. Love does not meet evil with equal evil; it
meets evil only with more love.
Instead, Jesus will try again, to correct the
misinterpretation of teachings on keeping Sabbath holy, that the people
suffered from. This time, He will point
out an inconsistency that they allow for one kind of medical procedure to take
place “lawfully” on Sabbath while decrying another. He says in verse 21… “Jesus answered and said
unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. [verse 22] Moses therefore
gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;)
and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. [verse 23] If a man on the sabbath
day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye
angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? [verse
24] Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” If circumcision is allowed on Sabbath which
does not accomplish any kind of healing, why is restoration on Sabbath
something to be considered unlawful? The
‘work’ of recreation is not something that takes the Sabbath off. The ‘work’ God does to restore us unto
Himself, is actually enhanced by the Sabbath.
For one day, we make a choice to focus our time and attention on just
hanging out with our God. Instead of all
the things that vie for our self-centered vision of the world, we make a
conscious effort to focus on God, and in so doing, service to others that
mimics the behavior of God. And Sabbath
becomes something new entirely. When
love replaces our other motivations, obedience is truly possible. While love is superseded by other
motivations, obedience is not possible.
Unconverted, unchanged hearts, could not understand this. But there were others who were listening that
could.
There were some in that crowd that recognized the truth of
what Christ was saying. In verse 25 it
reads … “Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to
kill? [verse 26] But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do
the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?” These people knew, the religious leaders did
seek to kill Christ. They could see some
of these very men in the crowd on this day at the temple. Here was Christ in plain sight, teaching and
answering them, and none of the men bent on killing Him, were doing anything
about it. Perhaps then, the religious
leaders, KNEW, this was indeed the Christ.
Perhaps this is the reason they took no action. Perhaps the truth of what He said, was true
after all.
But almost as quickly as they had the thought that perhaps
this was truly the Christ, doubt entered in.
In verse 27 they stated … “Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but
when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.” This was a shot at the parentage of
Jesus. Jesus after all, from their perspective,
came from illegitimate parentage. Mary
was found pregnant, before Joseph married her.
People knew it. They might also
have known, that Joseph’s first reaction was to put her away privately and not
follow thru with the wedding. But knowing
that, they would have also known, that Joseph did follow through because of a
message from an angel. They would have
also known, that the angel visited Mary, and told her she was chosen among all
women from the house of David. They
would have known that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus escaped the carnage of Herod to
the new children in Bethlehem when they fled to Egypt on the word of an angel. They would have known Jesus was raised in
Nazareth when His family returned from Egypt.
They had heard many things. What
they chose to believe was at issue here.
Belief after all, is a choice.
Jesus declares in verse 28 … “Then cried Jesus in the temple
as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not
come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. [verse 29] But I
know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” Christ points out to them the truth they also
know. The truth of the 3 wise men who
bore gifts and followed a star from the east to the night of His birth. They knew of the angelic host, who tore the
night sky open with brilliant light of daylight and sang anthems to announce
His birth. They knew of the shepherds
tending flocks by night, who also bore witness to the miracle of His entry into
the world. And more importantly, these
same men bore witness to His miracles, His love, His healings, and His
truth. If they were to persist in
refusing to know, it would be God they were refusing to know. For God was the God of love, and Christ was
love revealed to the world. They had
lost sight of the idea that God was a God of love. Instead they had cast God the Father as a God
of vengeance, justice, and punishment.
Christ aligned with none of these ideas.
They missed all the elements of redemption from the Old Testament
witnesses, and focused only on the violence.
They missed all the tender mercy and love God had shown throughout all
the stories of the Old Testament, and instead glorified the violent acts of men
who thought to “help” God out in each of those situations. As such, they did not know God at all, nor
could they recognize Him in the form of His Son who bore witness of what it
means to love in this world.
The reaction of those men, who did know the truth, but
refused to accept it was swift and intense.
Verse 30 reads … “Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on
him, because his hour was not yet come.”
The only thing that prevented the death of Christ on that very day, in
that very minute, was the preordained timeline God had established. Angels literally had to restrain those who
would have put an end to Christ on the spot.
They did this, because love had not yet been fully revealed. We were to have yet a little more time with
Christ among us. We were to yet have a
little more chance to see what it means to love like God loves. When hatred is embraced however, and love is
rejected, the only response left is one of murder. Those who think the nature of evil is not so
bad, those who believe not all evil is the same, forget the lessons written
here of love rejected. Murder was their
response. Death is the ultimate path and
destination of every evil, no matter how small or innocent it looks. It is the reason there is only one result,
for there can be only one result, when one turns away from life and love, it is
misery and death. Thus the supernatural
prevented, what evil would have determined.
The bright spot in this otherwise dark storm however, was
that not all the listeners were so determined to reject the truth of the words
of Christ. Verse 31 reads … “And many of
the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more
miracles than these which this man hath done?”
Common sense won out, in those who were willing to use it. It was painfully obvious to those who were not
so consumed with hate as to ignore it.
Christ was teaching truth and love.
He was reciting texts and doctrines of love that He had never been
formally educated to present. He was
working miracles in the plain sight of the people. Who would ever come, that would do MORE, than
He was already doing? Healings,
feedings, teachings, and packaged in humility, truth, and love – what more was
there to wait for? This had to be the
Messiah. This had to be the one they had
so long waited for. The intent of Christ
to reach even His most ardent enemies had some limited success; for there were
among the people those who made a choice to believe.
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