JANUARY 19, 2015
You
Had To Act
Read: John 7:37-46
No man ever spoke like this Man! —John 7:46
A US congressman, John Lewis, was 23 years old when he
participated in the historic 1963 civil rights “March on Washington” led by Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Half a century later, journalist Bill Moyers asked Lewis
how he was affected by Dr. King’s I Have A Dream speech that day. Mr. Lewis
replied, “You couldn’t leave after hearing him speak and go back to business as
usual. You had to do something, you had to act. You had to move. You had to go
out and spread the good news.”
Many who encountered Jesus found it impossible to remain neutral
about Him. John 7:25-46 records two different reactions to Jesus. While “many
of the people believed in Him” (v.31), the religious leaders tried to silence
Him by sending temple guards to arrest Him (v.32). The guards were likely
present when Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He
who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water” (vv.37-38). The guards returned without Jesus and were
asked, “Why have you not brought Him?” (v.45). They answered, “No man ever
spoke like this Man!” (v.46).
The words of Jesus compel us to act, and to move, beyond
business as usual.
So let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all divine. —Watts
Jesus’ death forgave my past sins and inspires my present
obedience.
Insight
Jesus was in Jerusalem at the temple when He gave the teaching
of John 7. Observant Jews came to the temple to celebrate three annual harvest
festivals (Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:1-17): Passover (together with the Feast of
Unleavened Bread), Feast of Harvest (Weeks or Pentecost), and Feast of
Ingathering (Tabernacles or Booths). As a devout Jew, Jesus faithfully kept
these annual feasts (v.37; Luke 2:41-42; John 2:23).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012