John 7:16-19

John 7:16-19

Therefore Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not mine but the one who sent me.  If anyone should desire to do His will, he will know regarding the teaching – whether this teaching is out of God or whether I speak from myself.  The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory.  But the one who seeks the glory of the one who sent him, this one is true and unrighteousness is not in Him.  Did not Moses give to you the Law?  And not one out of you does the Law.  Why do you all seek to kill me?”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus gives us a simple teaching in this passage.  All authority comes from the Father.  Jesus isn’t speaking because He has had great human teaching.  Neither is He teaching because He has studied long and hard out of His own effort.  Jesus teaches because God has given Him the authority to teach.

Is it easy to overlook God’s equipping when we think about our own gifts and skills?  Why do human beings tend to put more emphasis on their own effort than the ability of God to work through them?  What will truly have more success: living out of the authority that comes from God or living out of your own authority?

Second Thought:

Speaking of authority, Jesus then turns us to the fruit of our authority.  If we are truly living out of the authority that comes from God, then God will get all the credit.  We’ll want to give God all of the credit!  It is when we live out of our own authority that we seek credit for ourselves.  This is often a good test against false prophets.  If they speak in such a way as to take credit for themselves, they are usually speaking out of their own authority.  We are called to be humble before God and let Him build us up.

Do you crave credit and recognition?  When can it be tough to not desire credit and recognition?  How does God affirm us?  Why is God’s affirmation more meaningful than the credit that comes from the world anyway?  How can you seek to give more credit to God?

Third Thought:

Jesus lowers the boom in this passage.  Remember, he’s talking to a bunch of Jews who are in Jerusalem celebrating one of the most holy feasts of the Jewish year.  To this gathering He says that they received the Law but not one of them does the Law.  I imagine this to have gone over as well as lighting a stick of dynamite in a room with no exits.  Jesus’ point isn’t that they are all evil people and not worth His time.  Jesus’ point is that everyone has sin within them in spite of the fact that they were all given the Law and they should know how to live.  Truth is not in thinking oneself to be perfect as the Jewish leaders taught.  Truth is in understanding our actual state of existence, confessing it, and giving God the glory for being able to move us beyond it.

Which is easier: to listen to someone who affirms how incredibly great you are or listening to someone who can help you honestly see who you really are?  Which is the more useful teaching?  Which would you rather hear?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 7:20-24