The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 7:25-30 the people who live in Jerusalem are doing something very smart. It’s something virtually every pastor today wishes the congregation would do. Jesus has made a claim. Based on that claim, the people from Jerusalem begin to discuss what they know about the Messiah. Do the leaders actually think he is the Messiah? Are we sure we can think he is the Messiah? What are the signs given in the Bible about the Messiah? Does he match up? These are wonderful questions. Rather than simply blowing this way and that in the wind based on feelings, the people are considering actual evidence.
In John’s accounts, Jesus often takes a discussion about something which is primarily temporal and turns it to something more eternal in nature. That is what he does here. Where does Jesus come from? It isn’t Bethlehem and it isn’t Nazareth. He came from the one who sent him, God the Father. If the people are honest with themselves, they know that Jesus is the one who came from the Father. This is his consistent message.
May the Lord of all grace confront us with all we can know about Jesus, but especially the fact that he is the one sent from above.
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