“Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” John 7:40-41a NKJV
RELATIONSHIP:
Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.
Do you want to know truth? Be able to discern lies? Know how to figure it all out in these confusing times and have peace? The Bible says Jesus is the truth. I have experienced it and it has changed my life. I was once a hot mess of sin, promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and so much more. But I was lost and when I could not find my way, or find a truth, I numbed it with bad choses. When I found Jesus, and truth – I found peace and deliverance from those things.
If you want a relationship with God without truth you will get the counterfeit, hypocritical Christianity that has kept some of you away for too long. You need truth and relationship. You need to be honest with yourself and God (including honest repentance) and God will reveal truth to you. It becomes the two way, interaction that your relationship with God is built on. This is why Jesus is called the truth, because he is our only way to the Father.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen
BIBLE READING:
Dear Heavenly Father – Please give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who you are, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Open the eyes of our understanding, please, so we may know the hope of our calling and the vast sovereignty and power of the grace of the cross. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word and our sound mind. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! And we pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Today’s reading we will pick back up in the Gospel of John, chapter 7 verse 25 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).
Could This Be the Christ?
25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is [d]truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 [e]But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”
Jesus and the Religious Leaders
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33 Then Jesus said [f]to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”
35 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? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those [g]believing in Him would receive; for the [h]Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Who Is He?
40 Therefore [i]many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.Rejected by the Authorities
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him”
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus (he who came to [j]Jesus [k]by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet [l]has arisen out of Galilee.”An Adulteress Faces the Light of the World
53 [m]And everyone went to his own house
John 7:25-53 NKJV
MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21 KJV
BIBLE DISCUSSION:
Today’s reading is a bit longer, but I could not separate the section as they all beg for the answer – Is Jesus the Christ? As you walk into this reading, take a look at your life, and your walk with God – and go ahead and ask yourself if you really believe this. Is Jesus the Christ? Is He your savior in your situation? Is He faithful?
You see IS the savior, but on the day these events were happening, Jesus was not saving them from Rome with a violent military overthrow – which was the Christ or the Messiah they were looking for. I am in need of a miracle in my life and I too have an idea of what it will look like – until I didn’t. Because God stretched me and pushed me past that idea. Jesus will provide and save, but NOT in the way you and I think. Because of that it is normal to question this. Even more normal to test it. And in the end you come out ore strong in belief and more equipped for your assignment here on earth.
I can say, that He is my savior even if He doesn’t provide and intervene at this point, even if they rise against me and ask where is my God, Even if He does not save me like the Hebrew boys in Daniels book – I will still worship Him. Now, what can move me? What can place an argument that can stand in the face of my experience with my savior?
After we have read the many who questioned Jesus and left (in the last few chapters) – we now see those who question Jesus and belief becomes more powerful and unstoppable than the Hollywood counterfeit called belief in Santa magic. The outpouring of that belief has had lasting implications felt in the world today – because You and I both believe!
“25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
People knew that the Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus! Helps us understand a little more about if you go against them, not only can they kick you out – they can kill you and no one is going to stop them. In contrast to their own fear and cowering away – Jesus speaks boldly. In this they want to believe He is the Christ – because the Christ is expected to come in power and authority and might. Now they are hung up on knowing where Jesus came from. In Matthew we see that knowing that only fulfills the old prophecies and adds assurance to His Christhood. But these people do not have Matthews’s teachings, so Jesus himself calls out to them:
“28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”
And the unbelievers manifested death and murder – while the rest of them swelled in belief! So much belief that as the day went on, they continued speaking of it!
“32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.”
Rage, demonic rage, is a funny thing – because it is still subjected to submit to Jesus! Why do we forget our authority herein? And Jesus uses their weakness, their sin to trip them: pride.
“33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”
Come and get me while you can – Jesus speaks of belief and things eternal and Pharisees are cause up in their pride: ‘What does He mean I cannot do something? I can do anything I want!’ And before we read and laugh about how much their own pride tripped and ensnared them here, let us take a moment to discuss the fact that seeking Jesus is temporal and has a time restriction.
We do not know the day or hour of our death, and with many just dropping dead with Sudden Adult Death Syndrome – our window to seek Jesus is short and unknown to us. We should take advantage of EVERY moment we have and seek Him.
I’ll be honest my needs, my pains, and other things come in to distract me from seeking him – but my window is short and temporary. If I do not seek Him with all that is within me, I cannot fulfill His call and literally the souls of people hang in the balance. We must stay focused and seek Him.
“35 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? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
A little pride and holier than thou attitude; ‘Ewww, are you going to go out to the Dispersion?’ Ironically, that is where John publishes this book. That is where Paul devotes His entire ministry. Makes me wonder where these men dispersed to when Jerusalem fell in the year 70 – did they even survive the fall?
Remember this week of risking His life was worth it as many DID believe. But now we will begin to see reasoning fail and why the ones who did not believe, failed to come around. Some people just cannot stop believing some lies.
“37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
I have prayed and spoken Jesus into my situations BUT I need a river! I DO BLIEVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND I AM DELIVERED – but I need the river! So I glorify Jesus in my situation and speak forth the river to flow!!! I testify of what Jesus has done for me and yet I thirst and cry out for the flow, the over flow the river of life!!! Holy Spirit please break forth in a flood in my life, in my ministries, in my obedience, in my business, in my HOUSE, and in all areas of me!!! In the name of Jesus! Jesus who is glorified here in these same areas – now I ask and welcome flow! I ask for and welcome overflow! I need a river of living water to spring up like a well within my soul!! I need to power to speak to my needs to be met and stop disobeying the Father and I need to go forth in that overflow to meet the needs of others! In the name of Jesus!
“40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
Who do you say He is? Is He the Christ of your life? He fulfilled ALL the prophecies, yet some seek another and another has rose up in Israel and is deceiving God’s chosen people – pray for Israel! Pray for them!
Meanwhile I can understand why – where is the POWER of Christ in their lives. Many hardly believe and when they do they cry out “I believe, help my unbelief”! Well, when with they walk in the power without unbelief. If signs and wonders are not following you, then do you actually believe? If you do, isn’t it time we step out of fear and into His power?! Into the Holy Spirit? Into our calling?! Why are we letting false prophets steal our people? Steal any people? Aren’t all souls created by Christ and therefore let us go take them back for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Does anyone hear me?
“43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him”
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
And for a brief moment we see fear of the Lord which leads to knowledge and belief and wisdom and…..
Well, that is not today’s story – today we learn how to quench it! Peer pressure and threats are how you destroy a seedling which was beginning to sprout!
“47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” 53And everyone went to his own house.”
And just like that it is shut down. God’s move and power cut off by disobedient mortals – because of free will. They have the right to choose to not believe. So they made their choice. But keep in mind that there were those not in office, not in rank and file, not in any high standing – those who were just common lowly folks, who heard and believed. Therefore Jesus was preached from then until today and if the Lord tarries so will the preaching! And after the Lord Jesus pulls His church up to him, blogs like these will still cry out that Jesus is the ONLY way, He is the Truth, and the one who gives life! The church is asleep and the world is desperate! It is urgently time to stop focusing on anything other than Jesus and doing His will – which is to make disciples who also keep their eyes fixed on Jesus while doing His will.
Please join us tomorrow as we continue to study and meditate on the Book of John.
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I also wanted to remind and inform all of you, that instead of writing a book on fasting (since it is the topic I get asked the most about) I have created a Facebook group that is designed to be interactive and give you all the Bible verses on fasting, all the types of fast, and how to fast. In the group are specialist to help us along the way, like the creator of The Fasting Protocol (fasting for health and weight loss; which is part of fasting and important to know about – He can also speak to fasting in a healthy manner). The group is new and other experts are invited, I am hopeful they will join. So let’s join the group and see what we will learn about prayer and fasting. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862
Thank you for reading in 2023 – a Year of Grace and Provision
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace. Walk in wisdom.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
If Not For Grace 