John 7:1-24 - Look Beneath the Surface
We’ve all been quick to judge. Some of the business leaders I’ve worked with over the years, true men of character, I initially thought were way off. Be patient and ensure you are getting all the facts before assessing. Better yet, grab people for coffee and get to know where they are coming from. Listen. Understand their point of view.
This is an amazing passage of Scripture and I’ll just make a brief comment on it. It’s quite something that Jesus brothers so boldly and dismissively tell Jesus that if he wants to be famous he ought to go to the Festival of Shelters in Judea to do his wonderful things and show himself to the world (7:1-5). Sad and tragic. And it reminds me of Joseph’s brothers who later would understand through Joseph's grace, but who treated Joseph so derisively. Our families can be our biggest supporters and our harshest critics.
God gives us the ability to grow as business leaders and more importantly as disciples of Christ. Let’s aim to heed God’s word in the exciting new year before us. Let’s open our hearts to be searched by God. God will pierce the inward depth of our beings and give us more and more ability to see His wisdom so that we can assess correctly (Proverbs 20:27). With God’s guidance we will grow in 2025 with greater faith in Jesus and we will add to that faith more godly character (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Jesus brothers did not believe in Jesus until after the Resurrection (John 7:5). After the Resurrection they called Him God and they then called themselves Jesus’s servants (James 1:1 and Jude 1). If we are on the wrong road, we turn around. If we need to get on the right path, now is the time to do so. God wants all people to come to the knowledge of the truth and to put their faith in the Son of God (1 Timothy 2:4).
Belief in Jesus comes from hearing the truth about Jesus, seeing the Son for who He is if you will (John 6:40). And then believing in Jesus. Believe in the One God the Father sent to save you. That is the Father’s desire. In fact, the Father will draw you to Jesus. Maybe you’ve heard the Gospel five times before, maybe fifty! But God will not force you to believe and He will not force you to assess things properly. That’s up to us to believe (6:29).
Jesus puts it like this, “Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own” (7:17). In other words, what is our motive? Do we even want to understand God’s will for our lives? God gives ample revelation as to whom the Father sent and what His Gospel message is. But what do we do with that message and the revelation of His Gospel? Do we seek a grand role for ourselves, a treasure beyond measure here on earth? Do we seek God for our own glory and for power and legalistic rights? Or do we want to honor God?
We can use our God-given faculties to grow, now and throughout the coming year. God tells us that we can assess things and understand His Gift. Jesus says, “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” (7:24). Let’s do that together this year and truly grow in faith and godly character.
Lord God we repent of trying to get ahead with selfish ambition and glorifying ourselves. Please give us the proper assessment of ourselves and help us to understand others better and be slow to judge. And when we do assess things help us to have the right motives in our assessment. Thank You for the Cross. Thank you for the gift of Salvation. Thank You for sending Your Son to save us. Amen.
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