SCRIPTURE: John 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” [John 7:28-29]
Who is this guy who performs great miracles and teaches with amazing authority, yet is so different from the messiah that we are expecting, the one promised in the bible.
Love Him or hate Him, arrest Him or surrender to Him, what do we do with Him?
Can you sense the confusion and division in Jerusalem that Jesus elicits – the whole city is in an uproar!
At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?” The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. [John 7:30-32]

Jesus still provokes the same tension, struggle and division today.
Many people want to believe in Him, yet find His teaching too radical, too hard.
Many want to ignore Him, yet He keeps creeping back into their thoughts and lives.
Most religions acknowledge Him to some extent – a good man, an enlightened one, a prophet.
Time Magazine cannot ignore Him, and do at least one story on Him every year.
Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him. [John 7:43-44]

Jesus is not just from Galilee, He is not just the son of Joseph and Mary; He comes from God, and was sent into the world by God – and this is why there is such turmoil in response to Him.
This is why above all else, I need to keep talking about Jesus – I need to keep introducing Him to the “city” so that they can see Him, hear Him and respond to Him!
Sure, talking about Him will elicit positive and negative responses, but that shouldn’t surprise me.
When God shows up, people will either open up or shut down.
When God speaks truth into our lives, people will either embrace it or reject it.

Everything about Jesus provokes a response – His birth, His life, His suffering,. His death, His resurrection, His teaching, His example, His insight, His grace, His challenge, His truth.
Who is this guy… to me?
What is my response to Jesus?

PRAYER:
Lord, I want to experience the radical provocation of knowing You, and I want to open my heart to receive You. I cannot do this unless You draw me… so draw me to Jesus!