March 31, 2020

Glory, Timing, and Right Judgment

John 7:1–24

Cecelia Barriere
Tuesday's Devo

March 31, 2020

Tuesday's Devo

March 31, 2020

Central Truth

Jesus teaches us to glorify God by trusting in His timing, speaking His truth boldly and publicly, and judging not by outward appearances but with right judgment.

Key Verse | John 7:24

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

John 7:1–24

Jesus at the Feast of Booths

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews 1 7:1 Or Judeans; Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers 2 7:3 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10 said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not 3 7:8 Some manuscripts add yet going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, 4 7:15 Or this man knows his letters when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's 5 7:17 Greek his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Footnotes

[1] 7:1 Or Judeans; Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
[2] 7:3 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10
[3] 7:8 Some manuscripts add yet
[4] 7:15 Or this man knows his letters
[5] 7:17 Greek his

Dive Deeper | John 7:1–24

It's just before the Feast of Tabernacles in Judea. (For more about this feast, check out Todd Wagner's sermon on John 7.) While in Galilee, Jesus' brothers urged Him to preach publicly to increase his fame, but Jesus responded that it was not yet His time. Jesus didn't want to be killed before His appointed time, thereby glorifying the Father in the Father's timing. In contrast, I often want to rush God's timing, thinking I could miss something otherwise. However, the times that I do wait, I'm blessed by knowing God more fully. Waiting for God's plan to unfold is worth more than what I think I missed.

The Jewish people were divided in what they thought about Jesus, and the Jewish authorities wanted to kill Jesus because He spoke God's truth openly and boldly. As such, the people murmured quietly about Jesus for fear of punishment. God's truth then, as in our time, is very different from the world's views. Unlike Jesus, His brothers went with the popular beliefs of the day and didn't speak up about the sin in the world. Interestingly, even Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him at the time.

Lastly, Jesus denounced the criticism He received from the Jewish authorities for healing on the Sabbath (John 5:1-17), for the very people who were judging Him could not keep the law themselves. Jesus instructed His listeners to "not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (John 7:24). While the Jewish authorities gave the appearance of godliness according to their traditions and in keeping the law, the righteous judgment that Jesus speaks of is concerned with truth. 

Discussion Questions

1. How do you respond to God's teachings when other people strongly disagree? Will you ask God to help you stand firm in His truth?

2. How often does your timing align with God's timing? How are you tempted to supersede God's timing?

3. If you lived during Jesus' time and learned that He was speaking publicly in your town, how would you respond?

4. How is Jesus' judgment different from that of the Jewish leaders and authorities of His time?

5. What resources can you use to increase your ability and discernment to make "right judgment"?