Episode 51 - Judge with Right Judgement - John 7:14-24

John 7:14   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, 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 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.”

In the last episode John specifies that Jesus would not go to Judea because the Jews (Jewish leaders) were seeking to kill him. One might think that they’d kept that a private matter. But, they’re motivations certainly became known judging by the fear that existed among people to even speak about him. In verse 13, John wrote that “for fear of the Jews, no one spoke openly about him.” This reality needs to be kept in mind as we interpret the passage at hand for this episode. 

Verse 14 picks up the narrative when Jesus has finally arrived in Jerusalem at the Feast and they are about half-way through the seven day feast when Jesus goes to the temple and begins teaching. I’m assuming that the Jewish leaders did not attempt to take him at this point because it would have caused a scene and perhaps drawn the attention of Roman soldiers. Instead, they listen to him teach people and they are amazed at his teaching. They do not understand how he has such understanding having never studied under them. Jesus either hears them or knows what they’re thinking. Perhaps they say it loud enough in order to cast doubt into the minds of listeners that his teaching is truthful or substantive. Whatever, Jesus responds that his teaching is not his own. He has said this before back in chapter five. Jesus always points people to the Father and that he, Jesus, is not here to simply make a claim on his own behalf like others had before or like those do today. We see a point here that is important for us. Our objective should never be to impress people or to gain followers of ourself, but to point people to Jesus. 

Jesus transitions from saying that he is following the direction of his Father in heaven to Moses, the one whom the Jews claim to be following. He tells them that they are not obeying what Moses gave them because Moses gave them the ten commandments and they are disobeying the Law because they are wanting to kill Jesus. At this point they deny that anyone wants to kill him. But, John has already tipped us off that it was known among other Jews of their real motivations.

He continues with his line of reasoning from the Law by saying that Law requires people to honor the Sabbath Day to keep it holy AND the Law requires all male children to be circumcised on the eighth day. Since the eighth day after a child has been born may be the Sabbath, Jesus points out that they will circumcise a child on the Sabbath and they interpret it as acceptable to actually do something commanded in the Law because it’s the sign of the Mosaic Covenant even though it requires doing something. So, he continues, why should it be wrong for him (Jesus) to actually heal someone on the Sabbath Day when circumcision is a form of injury?

This is another learning moment for us. If we feel there are options in a decision of what we should do or not do, we should ask ourselves if there is a principle associated with one that informs us it is the better or greater option to honor the Lord. Our motivation MUST be based upon wanting to obey the Lord over to obey a list of rules. The rules may be good. But, there are truths in the Scriptures that inform us regarding the greater principles of our faith. 

NOTE: In verse 21, Jesus said, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it.” He is NOT saying that he has performed only one miracle. He’s saying that the miracle of healing the lame man on the Sabbath is the one in particular for which they were wanting to kill him.