Scripture: John 7

Key points to ponder:  Here we see a sharp division over who Jesus was (vs. 40-44). Was he the Messiah, or a false teacher? Jesus left no room to be “just a good teacher” so people either saw him as demon-possessed (vs. 20) or as the Messiah (vs. 41) as he taught at the festival. Those who believed allowed Jesus to challenge their previous perspectives and their cultural norms.  However, the religious leaders decided the former, even claiming that the people who agreed with him were cursed (v. 49) because it was easier to say that then to let Jesus to change their way of teaching and doing things. 

Challenging terms: Festival of Booths/Festival of Tabernacles (vs. 2) was a very important eight day celebration where the Jews gathered together and stayed in booths made of branches and such to celebrate God’s faithfulness to his people when they were living in the wilderness in the past. The argument about where Jesus was from (vv. 42, 52) stems from the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Galilee, hence the argument that some thought he wasn’t the Messiah.

Questions: How does Jesus challenge your cultural perspectives or views? What areas do you struggle/have you struggled with accepting from his teaching, and why? 

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us the chance to take steps of faith and be challenged in our beliefs so that we may not just trust ourselves and our previous beliefs. 

Consider praying that God would help you overcome any barriers you have in believing that Jesus is the Messiah, and that you would be able to recognize them and entrust them to God.