John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
The Gospel according to John stresses the divinity of Jesus more than the other three Gospels. John’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ origin, divine identity, human form and experience, and mission to save us from our sins. Verse 1 of chapter 1 introduces the theme of the Gospel as the Divine Savior who came into the world as divine life that gives eternal life to believers. Chapter 7 and verses of that chapter assigned for today’s scripture test the debate of Jesus’ divine identity and conjure vivid images of the divine son of God fully human. The description of Jesus’ life according to John make it easy to imagine walking and talking with Jesus on dusty paths, in the market, at the Festival of Booths, in the Temple. The scripture passage from John’s Gospel provides detail to express the unbelief of Jesus’ friends and the skepticism of some people in the crowd while others call him the Messiah. Added to this tension is the threat that Jewish authorities want to arrest and kill him. We are drawn to Jesus’ actions and words as he knows that his “hour” or “time” has not yet come (but will).
The rector of my church has encouraged us, as our spiritual practice this Lent, to strive to draw closer to God. I’m grateful for this chapter of John’s Gospel for the clarity of the God the Father and God the Son dynamic: “Then Jesus answered them, ’My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own’” (John 7:16-17). “Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him’” (John 7:28). It is a shame that these and other words anger the chief priests and the Pharisees.
I’m writing this while waiting for my family in a large shopping mall in northwestern Canada. As streams of people walk by, I seek the face of God in each individual. Canada’s solid tradition of embracing immigrants and other democratic policies that refresh our souls are in full view. Even in this consumeristic spot, God’s grace looms large when and where we detach from other troubles. I imagine scooping all the people up (including myself) and time-traveling to the dusty Judean town in Jesus’ time. As I people watch I wonder who will say “he is a good man” and who will say “no, he is deceiving the crowd” (John 7:12). That is, would I recognize Jesus as the Messiah? Do I have faith strong enough to touch his robe? If I successfully traveled back in time and witnessed Jesus healing the sick and blind, feeding crowds with a child’s lunch, changing water into wine, raising Lazarus, and calming a rough sea, would I count myself among believers? I do believe -- no need to touch his wounds. The accounts of Jesus’ life don’t just make a good story but point to God’s sovereignty in directing the events in Jesus’ life and divine identity therein.
I’m trying, but I need to go back to the rector of my church to ask how to intentionally try to get closer to God this Lenten season. I can guess what he might advise: practice prayer, read the Bible, give thanks, do justice, love nature, show mercy, more prayer. And following the lead of the Men’s Bible Study at my church, I plan to study John’s Gospel, just not at 7AM Saturdays!
Meditation by Canon Barbie Bach
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Westfield
Diocese of New Jersey