FRIDAY, DAY 9 OF LENT 2025

We spent a few days in Chapter 6 of John. Today: Chapter 7.

We learn in this chapter that Jesus' brothers wanted him to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and make himself known so he could get public acknowledgement. Instead, he waited until halfway through the Festival - which lasted 8 days. The Feast of Tabernacles, AKA The Feast of Booths was an annual celebration honoring the time of their ancestors living in shelters in the desert for 40 years under Moses' leadership after they escaped from Egypt. It is still practiced today. Annually, each Fall on the prescribed days, the Jewish faithful build outside shelters and live in them as a memorial celebration. It is an annual event that is part of the outline for Christ's return, and God is all about timing!

Jesus was also all about timing. He knew that the Chief Priests and Pharisees wanted to kill him - and he knew it wasn't yet time. What stands out to me most saliently in their discussions and arguments about him was that they didn't even ask him where he was born. They knew that their Scriptures said the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem and they were caught up in believing he was from Galilee, so couldn't be the Messiah. All they had to do is ask! They could have asked him. They could have gone to Nazareth and interviewed his mother. They didn't do either! They jumped to a wrong conclusion and it deterred them from knowing the ONE who is, was, and always will be TRUTH. 

I don't have to look far to see that happening in our world. The news media proves it daily! I also recognize that I can too easily jump to conclusions! My line about that is: "Sometimes that is the only exercise I get!" 

This time reading through John I am seeing very clearly that many people who were intrigued by Jesus never came to know him as Savior. And those in authority who could have and should have done their due diligence in finding out more about him failed. They had such an amazing firsthand opportunity and they blew it. On the other hand, we are also given an amazing opportunity to know Jesus because of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not leave us alone. He walks with us through every circumstance if we let him. 

Lord, renew your Spirit in me!