Heavenly Wisdom

In John 7, the Jews celebrated the festival of Booths and Jesus’s brothers encouraged him to go into Judea, so that his followers could see the works that he did. “For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world” (John 7:4). The next verse said that his own brothers did not believe in him. Jesus told them to go ahead as he did not plan to go into Judea, knowing that the Jews wanted to kill him and his time had not yet come. He went up to the feast privately, while the Jews watched out for him and wondered where he was. The people were divided about Jesus and some people said that he was a good man while others accused him of leading people astray. “About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching” (John 7:14).

The Jews were shocked that he was so knowledgeable of the scriptures, although they did not know of him being educated. Jesus told them that his teachings were not his own, but of him who sent him. He also said that if anyone was doing God’s will, then they would know whether or not his teachings were from God, or if he spoke of his own authority. He said that they did not keep the law of Moses, because they wanted to kill him. He asked how comes they could circumcise someone on the sabbath, yet they wanted him dead for healing a lame man on the sabbath. The people were again puzzled that the Jews wanted to kill Jesus, yet he was teaching publicly. They argued that they knew of Jesus’s birth and origin and felt that the Christ would not be known to them in this way.

“So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know” (John 7:28). After Jesus spoke, they tried to arrest him, but could not lay a hand on him because his time to be arrested had not come. Many of the people still believed that Jesus was the Christ, because of the signs that he did. The Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus when they heard the crowds talking about him. Jesus told them that he would be with them a little while longer and then he would return to him who sent him. “You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come” (John 7:34). The Jews were once again confused about where Jesus was going and wondered what he meant.

There are many times when Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables and would later explain to his disciples. “And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:11). Jesus said that the people often heard and did not understand to fulfil Isaiah’s prophecy. “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive” (Matthew 13:14). The god of this world has blinded the eyes of its people and so they do not understand the mysteries of God. They have an earthly wisdom which is satanic and diabolical at times. The wisdom of God is foolishness to the carnal man who cannot understand because they are of the flesh. God gives supernatural wisdom and insight to his children who seek him and listen to his voice.

A.P.-Y.