John…on Love

The lynch mob is beginning to form. The Jewish leaders have had enough of “that man” who tells the Truth and says that God is His Father. The religious leaders rile the crowd to whom Jesus has encouraged, healed, given hope and explained the way to see God. They know we might show up at the next important Jewish celebration, the Feast of the Tabernacles, so they are looking for him.

Jesus own family, his brothers on earth, do not believe in Him and push Him to do things that would lead to revolution, but not to doing the will of the Father in heaven. Jesus knows the right time and place. Jesus knows His mission. His orders come from God, His Father. He will move about, behind the scenes, until His mission to save the world is accomplished.

Where IS that man? Everyone asks.

John 7, The Message
1-2 Later Jesus was going about his business in Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea because the Jews there were looking for a chance to kill him. It was near the time of Tabernacles, a feast observed annually by the Jews.

3-5 His brothers said, “Why don’t you leave here and go up to the Feast so your disciples can get a good look at the works you do? No one who intends to be publicly known does everything behind the scenes. If you’re serious about what you are doing, come out in the open and show the world.” His brothers were pushing him like this because they didn’t believe in him either.

6-8 Jesus came back at them, “Don’t crowd me. This isn’t my time. It’s your time—it’s always your time; you have nothing to lose. The world has nothing against you, but it’s up in arms against me. It’s against me because I expose the evil behind its pretensions. You go ahead, go up to the Feast. Don’t wait for me. I’m not ready. It’s not the right time for me.”

9-11 He said this and stayed on in Galilee. But later, after his family had gone up to the Feast, he also went. But he kept out of the way, careful not to draw attention to himself. The Jews were already out looking for him, asking around, “Where is that man?”

12-13 There was a lot of contentious talk about him circulating through the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” But others said, “Not so. He’s selling snake oil.” This kind of talk went on in guarded whispers because of the intimidating Jewish leaders.

I think of the world today as I read this passage. Many seem to miss Jesus when He is right in front of us. We miss Jesus when we focus on ourselves and the busy moments of every day life. “Where is that man, the King of kings and Lord of lords? Where is Jesus in all of this?”, we ask frantically.

He is probably behind the scenes of our lives, waiting for us to see, hear, accept, understand His unconditional love and lean on Him. It’s time we did. He is a gentleman and will not force Himself into our lives. He comes when He is asked, believing on His very Name. He comes into the middle of trouble and shows the way out. He is Emmanuel, “God with us”. He is here as I write this. He is the source of Life. He is Life.

Where is that man? A better question is WHO is that person of Truth? He is Jesus the Christ, our Redeemer. He is the Son of God, the Father. He is in our heart of hearts. He is no longer behind the scenes of our existence. He is out front, leading and guiding us, with His Holy Spirit living in us.

As Paul said, “Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ–that’s where the action is. See things from HIS perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your REAL life–even though invisible to spectators–is with Christ in God. HE is your life.” (Colossians 3, The Message)

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for coming into our lives, giving us focus and REAL life in You because of You. Continue to be with us this day. In Jesus Name, Amen