Thoughts on the Gospel of John (44) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then Jesus said to them, I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to him who sent me. You will seek me and not find me, and where I am you cannot come. Then the Jews said among themselves, Where does he intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that he said: You will seek me and not find me, and where I am you cannot come?
John 7:32-36.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (44)
Many in the crowd were convinced by Jesus' signs and believed on Him, although it was dangerous to confess Jesus publicly. So they kept quiet on the subject of "believing".

The Jewish leaders feared losing their adherents and wished to be rid of Jesus. But their efforts were unnecessary: Jesus would soon return to heaven.

How calm the Lord remained! Any effort to capture Him would prove vain, until the moment appointed by God came. Indeed, days would come when the Jews would seek Jesus, but in vain. That was fulfilled later after His resurrection. His carefully guarded tomb was empty. Since the crucifixion no unbelieving Jews have seen Jesus.

What do people think about heaven? For some it seems more bleak than the earth. For others it is worth striving after and attainable by good works. Yet this is wrong: "Where I am you cannot come," Jesus told those who rejected Him. This demands our attention. Will nobody get to heaven? Yes, but only those who believe on the Son of God and have been born again (cf. John 3:5.16).

(to be continued on Sunday, 12th June)

Today's reading: Genesis 34:1-31 · Psalms 20:1-9