Scripture: St. John 7:1-13 (NKJV)
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in
Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of
Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from
here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are
doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known
openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His
brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not
yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it
hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this
feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully
come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10 But
when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly,
but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said,
“Where is He?” 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning
Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives
the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Devotion
St. John says our Lord’s brothers did not believe in Him. They loved the world
and spoke as the world would speak. Therefore, our Lord says, “The world cannot
hate you.” They were good Jews, they listened to the scribes and Pharisees, did
what they told them to do, and spoke as they told them to speak. Therefore,
they would receive no persecution or hate from the scribes and Pharisees.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, however, called the Jews to repentance; He spoke the
truth. And on account of this He was reviled and hated, and killed.
Nobody likes having their sins called out. We at first prepare for a fight, but
then repentant, like King David, St. Peter, and others, hearing the
admonishment we confess our sins. We humbly accept the call to repentance and
acknowledge it as the love and admonishment of the Lord God. And therefore,
grow in faith and love toward God. The impenitent, however, rail and harass
those who would call them to repentance. They fight tooth and nail against the
Law and those who speak it. They lash out with personal attacks, and refuse to
listen to the admonishment. They attempt to strengthen their own defense by
justification and appeals to what other people have similarly done.
The world and all the impenitent in it hate the Lord, for He only speaks the
truth. The Jews of His day hated Him speaking the truth so much that they
crucified Him in shame for it. But, thanks be to God, it is our redemption in
this crucifixion that the repentant cling to in faith; it is this throne of
grace to which all those who are harassed by their sin cling in faith for
forgiveness, life, and salvation.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Direct inquiries to The Reverend Jeffrey A. Ahonen at
[email protected].
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