Family Disbelief and the Heavenly Scholar

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 7:1-24

 

John 7:23-24

“If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

(NKJV)

 

The holidays have passed, a time when some of us encountered family members who do not share our political beliefs or our faith, potentially leading to heated discussions at the dinner table. Jesus can relate to this for even his brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). Jesus did go to the Feast of Tabernacles but secretly, confronting Jewish scholars as the heavenly scholar sent from God (John 7:16). For revival to happen in our world, the Church must return to its calling from Jesus to spread the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), knowing family members and religious leaders may not understand.

 

Due to threats in Judea from the Jews who sought to kill Him, Jesus walked in Galilee (John 7:1). The time of the Feast of Tabernacles was approaching and Jesus’ brothers asked Jesus to go with them to the feast so the disciples there could see His works (John 7:2-3). They tried to convince Jesus by telling Him that no one does anything in secret when he seeks to be known openly, a plea for Jesus to perform His works openly to the world (John 7:4). The truth was that even Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5).

 

Jesus responded to His brothers, telling them that His time had not yet come but that their time was always ready (John 7:6). Jesus continues by letting his brothers know that the world cannot hate them but that it hates Him because he says the works of this world are evil (John 7:7). Jesus tells them to go to the feast but that He is not going because His time had not fully come, and Jesus remained in Galilee (John 7:8-9)

 

However, after His brothers left, Jesus did go to the feast in secret (John 7:10). Due to much complaining about Him, the Jews at the feast sought Jesus. Some of the Jews thought Jesus was good with others believing He was a deceiver (John 7:11-12). However, no one spoke openly about Jesus out of fear of the Jews (John 7:13)

 

In the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the Temple to teach with the Jews marveling at his knowledge without any formal training (John 7:14-15). Jesus explains, telling them that his doctrine is not His but comes from the one that sent Him, God the Father (John 7:16). Anyone seeking to do God’s will shall be able to discern if Jesus’ doctrine is from God or something of His authority (John 7:17). One speaking of his own will seeks to glorify himself, but one speaking God’s word seeks to glorify God who sent him (John 17:18). Jesus then reminds them that they do not keep the law given them by Moses and asks why they are seeking to kill Him (John 7:19).

 

The Jews accuse Jesus of having a demon asking who is seeking to kill Him (John 7:20). Jesus responds by telling them He did one work, and they marveled, and that Moses gave them circumcision and that they will circumcise a man on the Sabbath (John 7:21-22). Jesus then asks them why they are angry with Him for making a man completely whole on the Sabbath when they perform circumcision on the Sabbath to fulfill the law of Moses (John 7:23). Jesus concludes by telling them not to judge according to appearance, but to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Jesus as God knew the hearts of the Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles and that they sought to kill Him, and to protect his unbelieving brothers did not go to the feast with them. However, Jesus did not fear these Jews knowing it was not His time to die on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God because it was not the Feast of Passover (Exodus 12:21-28). The issue of contention with the Jews was the healing of a man on the Sabbath, perhaps the man healed at the pool of Bethesda which occurred on the Sabbath (John 5:1-15). Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the Jews at the feast for they condemn Jesus for making a man whole on the Sabbath while having no problem with circumcising a man on the Sabbath. Jesus points out that we are not to judge on appearance, appearing holy through circumcision, but to judge righteously, someone becoming whole on the Sabbath (John 7:24).

 

There is a time and place to confront unbelievers and those condemning the message of the Gospel. The calling of the Church is to spread the Gospel which transforms lives (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 12:2). Unfortunately, with some, the Church has a pharisaical reputation of striving to put on an appearance of holiness through good works without following Jesus’ example of helping people become whole. The Church should be a place where sinners go to receive healing for their sick souls dying in sin and not a social club of people trying to appear holy.

 

Many are praying for revival in our world. For revival to occur, it must begin in the Church returning to its mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples. The Gospel message is not one of works but of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, the appearance of holiness in the Church through good works, while not bad and something the Church should do, is not sufficient to bring revival. If the Church connects its good works to lifting up Jesus, people will be drawn unto Jesus and find salvation (John 12:32). The purpose of good works is not to bring glory to the Church but to bring glory to God by pointing people to Jesus.

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief in Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.