God’s Guiding Word: Love
Introduction
John 7:25–53: Jesus continues to speak openly in the Temple, and some of the religious leaders seek to have Jesus arrested. Division arises among the people listening to Jesus.
Scripture Reading
25Some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this the man the authorities are trying to kill?26Look! He is talking in public, and they say nothing against him! Can it be that they really know that he is the Messiah?27But when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from. And we all know where this man comes from.”
28As Jesus taught in the Temple, he said in a loud voice, “Do you really know me and know where I am from? I have not come on my own authority. He who sent me, however, is truthful. You do not know him,29but I know him, because I come from him and he sent me.”
30Then they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.31But many in the crowd believed in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?”
32The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, so they and the chief priests sent some guards to arrest him.33Jesus said, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I shall go away to him who sent me.34You will look for me, but you will not find me, because you cannot go where I will be.”
35The Jewish authorities said among themselves, “Where is he about to go so that we shall not find him? Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live, and teach the Greeks?36He says that we will look for him but will not find him, and that we cannot go where he will be. What does he mean?”
37On the last and most important day of the festival Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and38whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.’”39Jesus said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were going to receive. At that time the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not been raised to glory.
40Some of the people in the crowd heard him say this and said, “This man is really the Prophet!”
41Others said, “He is the Messiah!”
But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee!42The scripture says that the Messiah will be a descendant of King David and will be born in Bethlehem, the town where David lived.”43So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus.44Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45When the guards went back, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
46The guards answered, “Nobody has ever talked the way this man does!”
47“Did he fool you, too?” the Pharisees asked them.48“Have you ever known one of the authorities or one Pharisee to believe in him?49This crowd does not know the Law of Moses, so they are under God’s curse!”
50One of the Pharisees there was Nicodemus, the man who had gone to see Jesus before. He said to the others,51“According to our Law we cannot condemn people before hearing them and finding out what they have done.”
52“Well,” they answered, “are you also from Galilee? Study the Scriptures and you will learn that no prophet ever comes53from Galilee.”
Today’s Key Verse: John 7:37b, 38a
Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink.”
Reflect
What caused division among the people listening to Jesus’s teachings (verses 40–44)? Why did some believe that Jesus was the Messiah and others did not? What did Nicodemus say to the religious authorities (verses 50–51)? Within your community of faith, are there times when divisions occur? If so, what are the causes? How are such matters resolved?
Pray
Holy Jesus, I believe that you are the Messiah. Yes, Lord, I believe in you and thirst for your Word and the life-giving water you offer. Draw me close to you and teach me to do your will. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
And now, join us in thanking God that Bibles are healing broken hearts in India. Holy God, those who are part of India’s “untouchable” caste, a group that makes up a quarter of the country’s population, face extreme prejudice and often live in slums or on the streets. But thanks to support from Bible-A-Month Partners, these people are receiving Bibles from their local pastors that are changing their lives forever. Loving God, the people claim that your Word is better than food and shelter; receiving Bibles of their own is giving them life, and they are starting to feel better and blessed with newfound happiness and purpose. Your Word, Lord God, is bringing them encouragement and joy and helping them grow in faith. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
John 8:1–11: The religious leaders seek to test Jesus.
