Jesus Goes to the Feast of Tabernacles
1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?"
12Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man."
Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
Questions:
1. Although Jesus' brothers do not believe Him, this does not cause Jesus to falter in His mission. Jesus' brothers incorrectly assume that Jesus desires to become a popular 'public person', well liked and admired for His miraculous abilities. Yet Jesus knows that His message is both powerful and controversial.
a) What was Jesus' mission from the God the Father?
b) How does Jesus teach us about waiting for God's timing rather than our own?
2. Jesus' own brothers don't believe Him, members of the public want to kill Him and He knows that His message will cause others to hate Him. Yet Jesus remains faithful to God's mission for His earthly life. As a result of His obedience, multitudes upon multitudes of generations to come have the gift of salvation.
Has God called you to a particular ministry or put a dream in your heart that seems unattainable? What does Jesus teach us about following, trusting and obeying God's call for our lives?
3. When Jesus eventually went to the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews were looking for Him. Some believed that He was a good man while others thought He was a deceiver. Yet no one wanted to publicly say anything about Him for fear of the Jews. How do people today view Jesus? Is it controversial to talk about Him as the Messiah?
1 comment:
Q1: a)Jesus' mission from God the Father was to come to earth, demonstrate perfect obedience to the Father's will, live a sinless life, share the message of God's love and our need for salvation because of our sins, and then to lay down His life, giving Himself as a ransom for the sins of every human who has ever lived. His mission was to fulfill all that was prophesied about Him.
b)Jesus teaches us that what we can accomplish by waiting for God's timing will far exceed what we accomplish in our own wisdom and strength.
Q2: Jesus teaches us that when we obey Him, the results are eternal--the impact of our obedience goes far beyond anything we can imagine. Our lives have tremendous meaning and our true purpose will never be fulfilled if we don't obey and trust God's call.
Q3:People today also often view Jesus as a "good man." Others feel that He is one of "many" choices we can make to get access to God or to serve God. It is considered closed minded to view Jesus as the only way to a right relationship with God ... most people are hostile to this idea. Jesus warned us that that would be the case (John 15:18).
Post a Comment