John 7

Hey Downpour!

My break has been pretty productive so far. I've wrestled pretty much every day, ate some good food, watched a couple movies, caught up with family and friends, worked on some internship prep stuff, rested, etc. I still want to make time for a personal retreat of some sort to reflect on last semester and look to this semester (may need some accountability on this one). Wrestling makes me especially tired these days since my body isn't used to getting this beat up anymore, so I've been taking power naps here and there. So far, things have been going somewhat well with my family. I think the hardest part for me is to just sit, listen, and pray when I see and hear things that just eat at me instead of trying to jump in and be the savior of my family. I've learned over and over again in the past that I'm simply not their savior, so just need to keep reminding myself of that and lifting them up to the real Savior. Aside from that, there a lot of good things too--my brother has been spending more time at home, we all sat in the same car together to go watch Seven Pounds last night, I told my old wrestling coach that I am a Christian now (funny how the conversation got to this point, but I'll have to tell you that story another time), I had lunch with a friend and his girlfriend and he actually brought the conversation to religion and he ended up buying an apologetics book to read in his family car ride to Florida, I drove another Jewish friend somewhere and I actually got to talk to him about the stuff we're reading right now (John), I went to Border's yesterday and ran into a person who I spoke with over the summer and he was just telling me how great God's timing has been in his life and about all the the crazy stuff that has been happening to him, etc. Soooo many things to praise God for, so I don't mean to just acknowledge or highlight the bad.

But ok, John 7...

v. 6: Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right."

This verse just reminded me of God's timing and how perfect it is. Maybe it's just American culture, but I know I have a tendency to want things now. This could relate to my family, my friends, my career, or even just my own selfish pleasure or gratification. But usually when I don't know what's on God's heart and don't pray about it, I find myself in a place I don't want to be. Jesus had God's heart and was patient with God's timing even though everyone around him was telling him something different.

vv. 12-15: Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews. Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

There was an undercurrent of bickering about Jesus (sounds like gossip to me), but the only reason people wouldn't say anything publicly was because the were afraid what the Jews might think of them or might do to them. Jesus, however, knowing that the Jews might kill him (v.1), got up and started teaching. He didn't care what people might think of him or what people might do to him, but he knew it was now God's timing for him to speak and he did. And what happened? "The Jews were amazed...." I have to constantly remind myself not to fear man, but to fear God. I think it's so easy to get caught up in what others might think of me to forget that the only thing that matters is what God thinks of me. Does God know that I fear Him more than man and will stand firm and speak boldly and courageously for Him when he opens the doors for me? Or will I fear man too much and just be another gossiper in the background where no one is able to be amazed by the glory of God?

v. 39: By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

I think I take the Holy Spirit for granted a lot of times. Back then, the Spirit was only with few people--Jesus, Moses, David, the prophets and perhaps few others. When people were prophesying in Moses' camp, people were freaking out and telling Moses to stop them. Numbers 11:29 says, "But Moses replied, 'Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!'" Looking at what Moses and so many other people filled with the Spirit did for God, I feel like I belittle what the Holy Spirit can do through me. It's the same Spirit in me that was in all these great men and women of God. If only I would completely trust and obey the things (big and little things) God has called me to do, there is no end to what God can do through me.

vv. 50-51: Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"

In John 3, Jesus taught Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a teacher of the law. Now, when his fellow Pharisees are deciding to kill Jesus, Nicodemus stands up for him. I doubt this would have occurred if Nicodemus did not first personally encounter Jesus. I'm just amazed at how God is always sovereign and how he intertwines different people's lives together. It was no accident that Jesus taught Nicodemus. It was no accident that Nicodemus was in a powerful position to defend Jesus. In the same way, it is no accident that we have come to know Christ. It is no accident that we attend the school that we do, we have the family and friends that we do, we are part of this church and life group, we are in the classes or clubs that we are in, we have the past that we do, we are going through what we're going through right now, etc. Whether it be to teach, rebuke, correct, train, test, refine, or send us, God is sovereign in what he is doing in our lives.

Sorry for the lengthy blog. Hope all of you are having an awesome break! Merry Christmas Eve!

Much Love,
Eric