Scripture:
John 7: 40-43
40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him.
Observation:
Jesus has people discussing what they believe about the Christ from the prophecy. They have placed the expectations of the Christ on what they have read and interpreted and in some manner assumed. Yet, they have the Christ in front of them fulfilling the prophecy they claim and deny him. Wow, this is being shown to me clear.
Application:
People don’t believe and follow based on what other have said they follow because Jesus by his Spirit has met with them and by his grace saved them. The Gospel must be preached and things of God Spoken, but it is God who saves through his Son and spirit.There are many that claim Jesus but don’t know him. People won’t follow Jesus because of things they assume or have Heard about him that though may be true misinterpreted. The Christ was to be from Bethlehem, and Jesus is from Galilee? They don’t know him and his whole story so they reject him. Jesus loves us and was supposed to stop the pain some may say? Where did they get that? From a person who read something and misinterpreted or didn’t know they whole story??? We must share the Gospel, we must share our testimony, but we must let people speak to Jesus. We must lead them to the cross and let them be redeemed and radically changed by his love and his voice. Their is power is testimony, share it. Their is power in the Gospel and takes people from death to life, because Christ encounters them. We can’t let people go off everything that Others have said and lead people to him and his Word so HE CAN SPEAK TO THEM.
Prayer:
Father help me see that it’s you that changed hearts. Help me lead people to you not me. Help me point people to what you have said not me.