Thoughts on the Gospel of John (39) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How does this man know letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone wills to do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority.
John 7:14-17.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (39)
The Feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days (Leviticus 23:34). Halfway through Jesus entered the temple area to teach the people. It was not to obtain public recognition, nor to catch attention politically. His intention was thus not to stand out in the world, as His brothers wished, but to carry out his spiritual mission. Therefore He taught the people.

The power behind His words was felt immediately, so that the Jews marvelled. Where did He get such learning from? He had not been taught in their schools. The Son of God naturally needed no instruction.

The Lord presented Himself as One sent like an envoy. He needed no admiration for His learning: it concerned the testimony of His Father, whose doctrine was to be made known. If the Jews had difficulty understanding things, the fault lay with their attitude, not with Jesus.

Verse 17 contains an extremely important principle that is still valid today: whoever wishes to make progress understanding biblical truth must be prepared to live accordingly. Nothing makes one so blind to truth as self-will. How simple the truth would be for us and how clear our pathway, if we had no other desire than to do the will of God!

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Genesis 14:1-12 · 2 Peter 2:9-16