The Gospel of John: John 7.1-24

Read and meditate on John 7.14-18.
Jesus confronts the question of authority, because He knows this is on the mind of His detractors, and therefore, of those who listen to them. But He won’t address this subject on their terms.

¹⁴About the middle of the feast, He went
into the temple and began to teach.
¹⁵Amazed, the Jews said, “How can this Man preach
like this? For He does not know letters, nor
has ever studied such deep things before.”
¹⁶But Jesus answered, “My instruction is
not Mine, but His Who sent Me. ¹⁷And if His
will anyone would do, then he shall know
My teaching, whether I have on My own
authority been speaking, or if I
am speaking words that come from God on high.
¹⁸He seeks to glorify himself who speaks
his own words only; but the One Who seeks
the glory of the One Who sent Him, He
is true, and no unrighteousness can be
in Him.

- John 7.14-18

Reflect
1.  Suddenly, in the middle of the feast, Jesus entered the temple and began to teach. By then, we may suppose that most folks had given up on His being present. Why do you suppose He waited until the middle of the feast to begin teaching?  Complete the following prayer: Lord, our world is becoming lulled to Your presence and deaf to Your Word. Today, let me…

2.  Note the response of the Jews. They raise doubts about Jesus’ credibility as a teacher by impugning His reputed lack of formal education. In effect, they were saying, “You can’t trust anything He says because He isn’t educated like we are.” Do we hear this objection today, if perhaps in a modified form? Explain. It’s possible that I might be accused of not knowing what I’m talking about when I urge others to believe in Jesus. Lord, I need You to…

3.  Jesus – like some spiritual sensei – takes their jab and pulls them off their intellectual platform onto His. Of course, He’s not His own authority! God sent Him, and He spoke with the authority of God, not of some human teacher or tradition. Are you confident, when you share the Gospel, that you speak with the authority of God? Explain. Lord, give me boldness in bearing witness, so that…

4.  Continuing this tact, Jesus attacks the putative authority of His detractors by saying they were seeking their own glory, and not God’s (v. 18). Is this true of those who oppose the Gospel in our day? Explain. Lord, we see all kinds of people seeking to draw attention to themselves, to gain honor or glory for their opinions, views, or beliefs. Jesus would have unsettled such people, and I…

5.  The Gospel comes down to a question of authority, whether that of respected human beings and their schools of thought, or that of God. We must be well aware of the one, but firmly positioned only on the other. Explain. Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“He tells them, You will fully know that ‘my doctrine’ comes from God the Father when you choose to follow his will rather than your own.… He justly accuses them because they unreasonably mock what he teaches, even though God the Father consents and agrees with what he is teaching, and (what is also true) even co-teaches and co-interprets [with Jesus] … No person of sound mind would ever think that Jesus here casts aspersions on his own words. Rather, he is saying that his words will never be anything other than in agreement with the will of God the Father. For the Father speaks by his own Word and Wisdom and offspring. But that [offspring] in no way speaks differently from the [Father]. How could it?” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Jesus does not fear to buck established traditions or scorn the education that supports it. He was from God. He is God. His Word is true, and the only Word in which we should hope. How does this instruct us in our calling as witnesses and disciples?

Closing Prayer
For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
You aremy trust from my youth.
By You I have been upheld from birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise shall becontinually of You.
I have become as a wonder to many,
But You are my strong refuge.
Let my mouth be filled withYour praise
And withYour glory all the day.

Psalm 71.5-8

Psalm 71.4-8, 3 (Solid Rock: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
From wicked hands redeem me, Lord, from all who wrest and break Your Word;
My hope, my confidence from youth, my praise forever reaches You.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

While many see in me a sign, I shelter in Your strength will find.
Lord, fill my mouth with endless praise and with Your glory all my days.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

T. M. Moore

Jesus is the Centerpiece of all Scripture, as He Himself explained (Jn. 5.39). But how can we learn to see Him there? How do the primary themes of Scripture revolve around Jesus? Our online course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, shows you how best to get at, get into, and get with the Word of God, so that you can grow more consistently in the Lord. It’s free, and you can study at your own pace. For more information or to register, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.