In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 7:10-17[HCSB])

10 After His brothers had gone up to the festival, then He also went up, not openly but secretly. 11 The Jews were looking for Him at the festival and saying, “Where is He? ” 12 And there was a lot of discussion about Him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” Others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He’s deceiving the people.” 13 Still, nobody was talking publicly about Him because they feared the Jews.

14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple complex and began to teach. 15 Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How does He know the Scriptures, since He hasn’t been trained? ”

16 Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t Mine but is from the One who sent Me. 17 If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own.

A secret journey

Why did Jesus do this “on the sly?” Was He trying to be deceptive and operating covertly? Would it surprise us if we knew that Jesus was not forthcoming in every detail? Would we be able to trust Him if He didn’t tell us everything He had planned?

What about being faithful?

Why, at times, do we intentionally leave others “out of the loop” when we plan? Isn’t it potentially to protect them, and ourselves, and to operate more freely to achieve an objective? Jesus was a real man operating in the day-to-day of a real culture inhabited by real human beings with questionable political agendas. And … He was contending with the natural and the supernatural as He did so. He was excruciatingly practical, and He did not deceive anyone, let alone Himself. He is the one who gave this sage advice: “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. There-fore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. (see Matthew 10:16) If we want to understand Jesus we have to take all of Him, not “cherry pick” His message and His acts. Accept all of Him.

So, in the end, Jesus never forces anyone to believe; He always leaves the question uncomfortably in the lap of the unbeliever. But He tells them (and us) that if they want to know the truth all they have to do is “knock and the door will be opened.” Jesus claims only to be the humble messenger, not taking the place of God, but delivering God’s message with His authority.

If we are willing to believe, then doors will be opened and questions answered. Knowing that Jesus is Messiah, and trusting Him, answers every question and fulfills every prophecy. Trust Him.

Note: The Festival of Tabernacles is also referred to as the Festival of Booths when Jewish believers lived temporarily in booths, or small remote dwellings, to observe the mem-