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Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.
And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.
But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
[John 8:2-8 NKJV]
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.
And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.
But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
[John 8:2-8 NKJV]
This passage has a number of significant points shown, some of which we have touched on before ...
Now early in the morning ...
Many important events in the Bible — including the discovery of the ‘stone rolled away’ from Jesus tomb, occur ‘early in the morning’. The significance of this perhaps is that the event occurs at what we would term ‘first light’ and maybe is a spiritual marker of a moment of revelation, when we can ‘see the light’.
this woman was caught in adultery
This, of course, was a serious matter, and the Pharisees sought to trap Jesus in a doctrinal mistake to accumulate evidence against Him. They hoped perhaps that He would defy the law of Moses and show Himself to be a false prophet. However, Jesus would not be so easily baited.
But what do you say?
Jesus response was to turn the question back on His accusers, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Jesus is too wise for such a ruse. This is another way of saying ‘Judge not that ye be not judged.’
Jesus ... wrote upon the ground
Why did Jesus stoop down and write or draw on the ground with His finger? A lot of speculation and discussion has arisen on this point. For what it is worth, my feeling is that, as Jesus was in the temple, He was ‘taking a moment’ to be in connection with the Father by touching Holy Ground
go and sin no more
But whatever the reason, Jesus’ purpose was to bring sinners to repentance and salvation, not to heap on condemnation. ‘When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”’
Now early in the morning ...
Many important events in the Bible — including the discovery of the ‘stone rolled away’ from Jesus tomb, occur ‘early in the morning’. The significance of this perhaps is that the event occurs at what we would term ‘first light’ and maybe is a spiritual marker of a moment of revelation, when we can ‘see the light’.
this woman was caught in adultery
This, of course, was a serious matter, and the Pharisees sought to trap Jesus in a doctrinal mistake to accumulate evidence against Him. They hoped perhaps that He would defy the law of Moses and show Himself to be a false prophet. However, Jesus would not be so easily baited.
But what do you say?
Jesus response was to turn the question back on His accusers, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Jesus is too wise for such a ruse. This is another way of saying ‘Judge not that ye be not judged.’
Jesus ... wrote upon the ground
Why did Jesus stoop down and write or draw on the ground with His finger? A lot of speculation and discussion has arisen on this point. For what it is worth, my feeling is that, as Jesus was in the temple, He was ‘taking a moment’ to be in connection with the Father by touching Holy Ground
go and sin no more
But whatever the reason, Jesus’ purpose was to bring sinners to repentance and salvation, not to heap on condemnation. ‘When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”’
Don’t be disturbed today by thoughts about tomorrow; leave tomorrow alone, and bank in confidence on God’s organising of what you do not see.
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But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
[2 Corinthians 2:5-8 NKJV]
This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
[2 Corinthians 2:5-8 NKJV]
I am sure that I’ve mentioned this before — about offence — because it seems that offence is easily taken. We are often surprised by what offends others — and sometimes surprised at what offends us — and it seems that the degree of sensitivity needed to avoid offence is impossible to attain.
But if anyone has caused grief ...
Are we offended by others’ remarks ... ? Do we give offence to others ... ? The answer too often, if we are honest with ourselves, is ‘Yes!’ It needn’t be deliberate; but the unintentional gaffe can be every bit as hurtful. These things are unavoidable and knowing how to deal with this human interaction is where we can learn so much from the Holy Spirit, if we will but give Him power in our lives.
you ought rather to forgive and comfort ...
We know about forgiveness and comfort. These things are the cornerstone of our faith. Without those two interconnected elements we are tied to imperfect past human experience. Sometimes that works; but many times it lets us down.
I urge you to reaffirm your love to Him ...
The answer we also know. ‘Turn your eyes toward Jesus’. Reaffirming our love to Him needs to be a daily experience. A daily necessity. That re-commitment is essential. We know it in our hearts. To reaffirm means to ‘state again strongly’, to strengthen the assertion we have already made.
Don’t let your commitment slide in the face of present difficulties. Our Lord is always the answer to any difficulty. Hold fast to Him and ‘reaffirm your love to Him’.
Just say ‘Yes, Lord, Yes!’
But if anyone has caused grief ...
Are we offended by others’ remarks ... ? Do we give offence to others ... ? The answer too often, if we are honest with ourselves, is ‘Yes!’ It needn’t be deliberate; but the unintentional gaffe can be every bit as hurtful. These things are unavoidable and knowing how to deal with this human interaction is where we can learn so much from the Holy Spirit, if we will but give Him power in our lives.
you ought rather to forgive and comfort ...
We know about forgiveness and comfort. These things are the cornerstone of our faith. Without those two interconnected elements we are tied to imperfect past human experience. Sometimes that works; but many times it lets us down.
I urge you to reaffirm your love to Him ...
The answer we also know. ‘Turn your eyes toward Jesus’. Reaffirming our love to Him needs to be a daily experience. A daily necessity. That re-commitment is essential. We know it in our hearts. To reaffirm means to ‘state again strongly’, to strengthen the assertion we have already made.
Don’t let your commitment slide in the face of present difficulties. Our Lord is always the answer to any difficulty. Hold fast to Him and ‘reaffirm your love to Him’.
Just say ‘Yes, Lord, Yes!’
Never run away with the idea that it doesn’t matter much what we believe or think; it does. What we believe and think, we are; not what we say we believe and think, but what we really do believe and think, we are; there is no divorce at all.
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I am currently reading — or more accurately listening to — Barack Obama’s book ‘The Promised Land’. Early in this book he mentions the inspiration of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s talk entitled ’The Audacity To Hope’. Obama himself wrote a book ‘The Audacity To Hope’, and intrigued by this, it seemed worth looking into.
The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. describes George Frederic Watts's 1886 painting "Hope" in his sermon, "The Audacity to Hope." Here is a short extract ...
The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. describes George Frederic Watts's 1886 painting "Hope" in his sermon, "The Audacity to Hope." Here is a short extract ...
We think of being on top of the world as being in heaven. But when you look closely, all in fact is hell. The harpist is sitting there in rags. Her clothes are tattered as though she, herself, had been a victim of Hiroshima or Sharpeville. … Yet the artist dared to entitle this painting ‘Hope’.
When you look closer at what the artist did on the canvas – the illusion of power giving way to the reality of pain, you may ask, Isn’t that just the way it is with so many of us? We give the illusion of being in an enviable position, but when you look closer at our lives, what you begin to find is the reality of a pain sometimes too deep for the tongue to tell.
See, in spite of being on a world torn by war; in spite of being on a world destroyed by hate; in spite of being on a world devastated by distrust and decimated by disease; in spite of being on a world where famine and greed were uneasy bed partners; in spite of being on a world where apartheid and apathy fed the fires of racism … her harp all but destroyed except for that one string that was left – in spite of all these things, the woman had the audacity to hope. She had the audacity to hope and to make music and to praise God on the one string she had left.
We must realise the frontiers of death, that there is no more chance of our entering the life of God than a mineral has of entering the vegetable kingdom, we can only enter into the Kingdom of God if God will stoop down and lift us up. That is exactly what Jesus Christ promises to do.
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And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
[Revelation 4:3 NKJV]
[Revelation 4:3 NKJV]
Our meditation yesterday — based on Kelvin Moller’s word on Sunday — has made us consider his key verse in more detail. The thought was, simply put, if a rainbow is multi-coloured and spans the spectrum, then how could it be ‘in appearance like an emerald’, which is green?
In this instance, I feel that the colour is not intended to be the focus of our attention. These stones relate to three of the twelve stones on the breastplate of the priest, which in turn refer to each of the tribes of Israel and their spiritual meaning for us. The EMERALD of Reuben (behold a son) speaks of the first-born son nature (Reuben was Jacob’s first son) and would be his father’s inheritor.
The SARDIUS of the tribe of Judah is sometimes described as a ruby. Judah means ‘praise’, and is the tribe that Jesus was born into and the stone is given the ‘position of honour’ (top left) on the breastplate. It is the Hebrew word for ‘blushing’, which is what someone praising from the heart with joy would be doing – your face is glowing.
The JASPER of the tribe of Naphtali (wrestling). We have much to wrestle with in our lives, not least our own natures. We do tend to the nature of Jacob and like to wrestle with angels, but Genesis 30:8 says ‘I wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed’ about the birth of Naphtali the man. I believe it speaks of overcoming, of victory in the LORD, but I have also heard mention that the Jasper is a type of the true church – the true church and the man-made church being ‘sisters’. Still a type for the overcoming nature, I feel.
As Kelvin stressed, this verse is about the promise of the rainbow — and what a promise! Verse 2 says ‘Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.’
Being ‘in the spirit’ is essential here, and with that connection to our Heavenly Father (the One sat on the throne), we are delivered into His throne room as claiming our inheritance as overcomers and filled with praise for The Most High God.
In this instance, I feel that the colour is not intended to be the focus of our attention. These stones relate to three of the twelve stones on the breastplate of the priest, which in turn refer to each of the tribes of Israel and their spiritual meaning for us. The EMERALD of Reuben (behold a son) speaks of the first-born son nature (Reuben was Jacob’s first son) and would be his father’s inheritor.
The SARDIUS of the tribe of Judah is sometimes described as a ruby. Judah means ‘praise’, and is the tribe that Jesus was born into and the stone is given the ‘position of honour’ (top left) on the breastplate. It is the Hebrew word for ‘blushing’, which is what someone praising from the heart with joy would be doing – your face is glowing.
The JASPER of the tribe of Naphtali (wrestling). We have much to wrestle with in our lives, not least our own natures. We do tend to the nature of Jacob and like to wrestle with angels, but Genesis 30:8 says ‘I wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed’ about the birth of Naphtali the man. I believe it speaks of overcoming, of victory in the LORD, but I have also heard mention that the Jasper is a type of the true church – the true church and the man-made church being ‘sisters’. Still a type for the overcoming nature, I feel.
As Kelvin stressed, this verse is about the promise of the rainbow — and what a promise! Verse 2 says ‘Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.’
Being ‘in the spirit’ is essential here, and with that connection to our Heavenly Father (the One sat on the throne), we are delivered into His throne room as claiming our inheritance as overcomers and filled with praise for The Most High God.
There is never any fear for the life that is “hid with Christ in God,” but there is not only fear, but terrible danger, for the life unguarded by God. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High”—once there, and although God’s providence should take you to hell itself, you are as safe and secure as Almighty God can make you.
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The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.
You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever.
[Psalm 12:6-7 NKJV]
You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever.
[Psalm 12:6-7 NKJV]
On Sunday we listened to an excellent word delivered by Kelvin Moller at Springbank Church in Campbeltown. His text was from Revelation 4, verses 2-3.
‘At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!
And He Who sat there appeared like [the crystalline brightness of] jasper and [the fiery] sardius, and encircling the throne there was a halo that looked like [a rainbow of] emerald.’ [AMPC]
Kelvin made the point that the emerald rainbow ‘encircled’ the throne like a halo, and the encircling represents eternity; the mention of a rainbow speaking of God’s promises.
Psalm 12 reminds us that The Lord’s promises are ‘pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace’. Silver tells us of the redemptive work of Christ and silver, to become pure, must be refined to burn away the impurities. Just as gold. The metal ore comes from within the earth and must be purified before it achieves its perfect lustre. The psalm says it should be purified seven times; the number which tells us of perfection, completeness and wholeness.
What an amazing God we have, who not only promises, but demonstrably delivers on His promises.
PRAYER: Lord, I give thanks for Your promises, and choose to walk in expectation that those pure words will bring about the completion of Your purposes in my life again and again, as I have seen them do so often before.
‘At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!
And He Who sat there appeared like [the crystalline brightness of] jasper and [the fiery] sardius, and encircling the throne there was a halo that looked like [a rainbow of] emerald.’ [AMPC]
Kelvin made the point that the emerald rainbow ‘encircled’ the throne like a halo, and the encircling represents eternity; the mention of a rainbow speaking of God’s promises.
Psalm 12 reminds us that The Lord’s promises are ‘pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace’. Silver tells us of the redemptive work of Christ and silver, to become pure, must be refined to burn away the impurities. Just as gold. The metal ore comes from within the earth and must be purified before it achieves its perfect lustre. The psalm says it should be purified seven times; the number which tells us of perfection, completeness and wholeness.
What an amazing God we have, who not only promises, but demonstrably delivers on His promises.
PRAYER: Lord, I give thanks for Your promises, and choose to walk in expectation that those pure words will bring about the completion of Your purposes in my life again and again, as I have seen them do so often before.
I claim the fulfilment of God’s promises, and rightly, but that is only the human side; the Divine side is God’s claim on me, which I recognise through the promises.
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At HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on 17th April 2021, the Dean of Windsor read out these verses below. They were chosen by the Duke for his funeral as an expression of his life at sea as well as his faith in God.
The verses are taken from the book of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus) in 'The Apochrypha.'
The verses are taken from the book of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus) in 'The Apochrypha.'
Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it;
Exceeding beautiful in the brightness thereof.
It encircles the heaven round about with a circle of glory;
The hands of the Most High have stretched it.
By his commandment he makes the snow to fall apace,
And sends swiftly the lightnings of his judgement.
By reason thereof the treasure-houses are opened;
And clouds fly forth as fowls.
By his mighty power he makes strong the clouds,
And the hailstones are broken small:
And at his appearing the mountains will be shaken,
And at his will the south wind will blow.
The voice of his thunder makes the earth to travail;
So does the northern storm and the whirlwind:
As birds flying down he sprinkles the snow;
And as the lighting of the locust is the falling down thereof:
The eye will marvel at the beauty of its whiteness,
And the heart will be astonished at the raining of it.
The hoar frost also he pours on the earth as salt;
And when it is congealed, it is as points of thorns.
The cold north wind shall blow,
And the ice shall be congealed on the water:
It shall lodge upon every gathering together of water,
And the water shall put on as it were a breastplate.
It shall devour the mountains, and burn up the wilderness,
And consume the green herb as fire.
A mist coming speedily is the healing of all things;
A dew coming after heat shall bring cheerfulness.
By his counsel he has stilled the deep,
And planted islands therein.
They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof;
And when we hear it with our ears, we marvel.
Therein be also those strange and wondrous works,
Variety of all that has life, the race of sea-monsters.
By reason of him his end has success,
And by his word all things consist.
[Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 43:11-26 WEB]
Exceeding beautiful in the brightness thereof.
It encircles the heaven round about with a circle of glory;
The hands of the Most High have stretched it.
By his commandment he makes the snow to fall apace,
And sends swiftly the lightnings of his judgement.
By reason thereof the treasure-houses are opened;
And clouds fly forth as fowls.
By his mighty power he makes strong the clouds,
And the hailstones are broken small:
And at his appearing the mountains will be shaken,
And at his will the south wind will blow.
The voice of his thunder makes the earth to travail;
So does the northern storm and the whirlwind:
As birds flying down he sprinkles the snow;
And as the lighting of the locust is the falling down thereof:
The eye will marvel at the beauty of its whiteness,
And the heart will be astonished at the raining of it.
The hoar frost also he pours on the earth as salt;
And when it is congealed, it is as points of thorns.
The cold north wind shall blow,
And the ice shall be congealed on the water:
It shall lodge upon every gathering together of water,
And the water shall put on as it were a breastplate.
It shall devour the mountains, and burn up the wilderness,
And consume the green herb as fire.
A mist coming speedily is the healing of all things;
A dew coming after heat shall bring cheerfulness.
By his counsel he has stilled the deep,
And planted islands therein.
They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof;
And when we hear it with our ears, we marvel.
Therein be also those strange and wondrous works,
Variety of all that has life, the race of sea-monsters.
By reason of him his end has success,
And by his word all things consist.
[Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 43:11-26 WEB]
Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch “the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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The Shulamite
Draw me away!
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will run after you.
The Shulamite
The king has brought me into his chambers.
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will remember your love more than wine.
The Shulamite
Rightly do they love you.
[Song of Solomon 1:4 NKJV]
Draw me away!
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will run after you.
The Shulamite
The king has brought me into his chambers.
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will remember your love more than wine.
The Shulamite
Rightly do they love you.
[Song of Solomon 1:4 NKJV]
The Song of Solomon is one of the most poetic books in Scripture and filled with beautiful imagery; but it also speaks of so much more and can be seen as exceptionally and spiritually profound. Right from verse 1 (The song of songs, which is Solomon's.) we are told that this is ‘a song above all songs’, written by Solomon, whose name means ‘perfect peace’.
This is the beginning of the realisation of a deep relationship with The Lord, when our focus loosens its grip on myself and instead fastens on Him.
Verse 2, which begins with ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth--For your love is better than wine’, is an initial statement that we are to have an intimate and deeply personal relationship with our Saviour, which is realised when He has ‘brought me into His chambers’.
We can rejoice and be glad, of course, but we should see that this represents but the beginning of the relationship and much must be gone through before the ‘marriage’ can be consummated.
This is the beginning of the realisation of a deep relationship with The Lord, when our focus loosens its grip on myself and instead fastens on Him.
Verse 2, which begins with ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth--For your love is better than wine’, is an initial statement that we are to have an intimate and deeply personal relationship with our Saviour, which is realised when He has ‘brought me into His chambers’.
We can rejoice and be glad, of course, but we should see that this represents but the beginning of the relationship and much must be gone through before the ‘marriage’ can be consummated.
The quality of this recording — both audio and video — leaves a lot to be desired, but it does transmit heartfelt and worshipful praise.
We impoverish God’s ministry to us the moment we forget He is Almighty; the impoverishment is in us, not in Him. We will come to Jesus as Comforter or as Sympathiser, but we will not come to Him as Almighty.
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Today’s word is from David Wilkerson, and originally published on the World Challenge website. For more information go to https://worldchallenge.org/.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
[Psalm 46:1-7,9 NKJV]
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
[Psalm 46:1-7,9 NKJV]
What a marvelous word. I’ve read this passage over and over, dozens of times, and I’m still overwhelmed by it. God’s Word to us here is so powerful, so immovable, he tells us, “Never again do you need to fear. It doesn’t matter if the whole world is in turmoil. The earth may quake, the oceans may swell, the mountains may crumble into the sea. Things may be in complete chaos, a total uproar all around you.
Right now, the whole world is in a fearful time. Nations are trembling over terrorism, knowing no region is immune to the threats. Personal troubles and sufferings are mounting. Yet, in the midst of it all, Psalm 46 echoes to God’s people the world over: “I am in your midst. I am with you through it all. My people will not be destroyed or moved. I’m going to be an ever-present help to my church.”
God knows we all face deep needs; we all encounter turmoil, temptations, times of confusion that cause our souls to quake. His message for us in Psalm 46 is meant for just such times. He is saying that if we give in to fear, becoming downcast and full of despair, we’re living absolutely contrary to his reality in our lives.
It’s vital that you grasp what the Lord is telling us in this Psalm. Our God is available to us at any time, day or night. He’s continually at our right hand, willing to speak to us and to guide us. And he’s made this possible by giving us his Holy Spirit to abide in us. The Bible tells us that Christ himself is in us, and we are in him.
Right now, the whole world is in a fearful time. Nations are trembling over terrorism, knowing no region is immune to the threats. Personal troubles and sufferings are mounting. Yet, in the midst of it all, Psalm 46 echoes to God’s people the world over: “I am in your midst. I am with you through it all. My people will not be destroyed or moved. I’m going to be an ever-present help to my church.”
God knows we all face deep needs; we all encounter turmoil, temptations, times of confusion that cause our souls to quake. His message for us in Psalm 46 is meant for just such times. He is saying that if we give in to fear, becoming downcast and full of despair, we’re living absolutely contrary to his reality in our lives.
It’s vital that you grasp what the Lord is telling us in this Psalm. Our God is available to us at any time, day or night. He’s continually at our right hand, willing to speak to us and to guide us. And he’s made this possible by giving us his Holy Spirit to abide in us. The Bible tells us that Christ himself is in us, and we are in him.
David Wilkerson (1931-2011)
Devotion courtesy of World Challenge
Devotion courtesy of World Challenge
As long as there is a human being who does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor until he does. The mainspring of Paul’s service is not love for men but love for Jesus Christ.
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Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”
The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived?
Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,
“Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
[John 7:45-52 NKJV]
The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived?
Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,
“Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
[John 7:45-52 NKJV]
‘Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.’
This passage shows the ‘wall of unbelief’ that Jesus encountered among those who considered themselves to be the guardians of faith, (the name ‘Pharisee’ means ‘a separatist’, that is someone who is exclusively religious.) These men say to their ‘officers’ “Are you also deceived?” and to Nicodemus (one of their own, but who had listened and heard what Jesus said), “Are you also from Galilee?”
‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him ... ?’
Thus says Nicodemus, and the answer shows that this is indeed the case and that fear and prejudice is what guides the Pharisees. Fear that Jesus might foment insurrection and undermine their authority, and prejudice against those from Galilee.
Symbolically, in rejecting the idea of any prophet, let alone the Messiah, coming out of Galilee, shows a lack of trust, (‘Galilee’ can represent the idea of trust), and reveals that their adherence to preconceived notions will never see the truth that they purport to believe in.
‘And everyone went to his own house’
Verse 53 concludes chapter 7 with a picture of everyone ‘going their own way’. There is no agreement, no yielding of attitudes, only closed-in stubbornness. These men were stuck; each in ‘his own house’ with the door firmly shut.
PRAYER: Lord, keep us of open hearts to hear in each moment the guiding of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to turn away from hard attitudes which cause strife, persecution and hurt. Our confidence is in You, Lord, and not in our own judgement and attitudes.
This passage shows the ‘wall of unbelief’ that Jesus encountered among those who considered themselves to be the guardians of faith, (the name ‘Pharisee’ means ‘a separatist’, that is someone who is exclusively religious.) These men say to their ‘officers’ “Are you also deceived?” and to Nicodemus (one of their own, but who had listened and heard what Jesus said), “Are you also from Galilee?”
‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him ... ?’
Thus says Nicodemus, and the answer shows that this is indeed the case and that fear and prejudice is what guides the Pharisees. Fear that Jesus might foment insurrection and undermine their authority, and prejudice against those from Galilee.
Symbolically, in rejecting the idea of any prophet, let alone the Messiah, coming out of Galilee, shows a lack of trust, (‘Galilee’ can represent the idea of trust), and reveals that their adherence to preconceived notions will never see the truth that they purport to believe in.
‘And everyone went to his own house’
Verse 53 concludes chapter 7 with a picture of everyone ‘going their own way’. There is no agreement, no yielding of attitudes, only closed-in stubbornness. These men were stuck; each in ‘his own house’ with the door firmly shut.
PRAYER: Lord, keep us of open hearts to hear in each moment the guiding of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to turn away from hard attitudes which cause strife, persecution and hurt. Our confidence is in You, Lord, and not in our own judgement and attitudes.
Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Provoke yourself by recollection and your affection for God will increase tenfold, your imagination will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
- Published on
Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
So there was a division among the people because of Him.
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
[John 7:40-44 NKJV]
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
So there was a division among the people because of Him.
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
[John 7:40-44 NKJV]
There was division
Ironically enough, the idea that Jesus could cause division is divisive among God’s people. Many will say that Jesus was a unifying presence and others will demur. But as we see here there was division among the people because of Him. The plain fact is that Jesus brings division into the midst. He said he would do so.
Division
Why is this? One would assume that Jesus wanted to unify brothers and sisters into a one-ness in Him; and here we have to see that there are many forces at work; different facets of faith that come into play. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. [Luke 12:51 NKJV]
Unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! [Psalm 133:1 NKJV]. For unity in Jesus to prevail there must first be division. We must be divided, or separated from our own lusts, desires and worldly ambitions. There has to be a re-alignment of our inner selves with the person of Jesus; not just in part, but completely. This is impossible for us unless we accept the changing power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus must first divide in order to unify.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [Romans 12:2]
But rather division
We can see that the first step in this process is being transformed — divided and separated from our former way of behaving...
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. [Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV]
Ironically enough, the idea that Jesus could cause division is divisive among God’s people. Many will say that Jesus was a unifying presence and others will demur. But as we see here there was division among the people because of Him. The plain fact is that Jesus brings division into the midst. He said he would do so.
Division
Why is this? One would assume that Jesus wanted to unify brothers and sisters into a one-ness in Him; and here we have to see that there are many forces at work; different facets of faith that come into play. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. [Luke 12:51 NKJV]
Unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! [Psalm 133:1 NKJV]. For unity in Jesus to prevail there must first be division. We must be divided, or separated from our own lusts, desires and worldly ambitions. There has to be a re-alignment of our inner selves with the person of Jesus; not just in part, but completely. This is impossible for us unless we accept the changing power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus must first divide in order to unify.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [Romans 12:2]
But rather division
We can see that the first step in this process is being transformed — divided and separated from our former way of behaving...
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. [Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV]
One of the most amazing revelations of God comes when we learn that it is in the commonplace things that the Deity of Jesus Christ is realised.