A Spiritual Re-Awakening? Day 13 Lenten Readings & Reflections through John’s Gospel

Day 13 – (March 20, 2019)

There’s an old proverb, ‘There’s none so blind as those who will not see.’ John tells us that there were many Jewish leaders who refused to think through the implications of Jesus’ works and words. They saw his mighty power through his miracles (signs, John called them), but they would not connect the dots and see they pointed to the power of God at work. Like new Atheists today who have an antipathy to the notions of God and organized religion, they completely rejected any idea that Jesus might be from God. Yet they hesitated: “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” They agreed Jesus had a profound theological learning, but he had not studied at one of the Jerusalem academies.

Read

John 7:14-18


14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” 16 Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

Reflect

Jesus’ response was challenging: “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me…” he said. But he then took his comments to another level: ‘If you really understood God and were resolved to do his will you would know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.’ Notice Jesus is not saying we need to be righteous before we see the truth of God. Rather, when we take even a small step of faith and endeavor to follow God’s Word, we will see the truth of what Jesus taught. He is totally committed to teach the truth about God for God’s glory. So we need to work with the conundrum: by taking the step of faith to live as Christ commands, we will increasingly see the truth of his words. To do this we need God’s help. As Jesus said elsewhere, we need to ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9,10).

Prayer

Lord God, without you we are not able to please you; mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, Trinity 19 – adapted)

Daily Reading Plan

Read John 7:1-36