John 7  In this chapter John records the questions, the controversies, the conflicts and the confusion that surrounded Jesus during His time on earth..

 Conflict... Jesus' brothers didn't believe and challenged Him to go to Jerusalem for the feast of Booths and show Himself.. yet Jesus would not go up with them to be put on display.  He did go later.. to teach. 

 Confusion... The Jews were looking for Jesus.. some because they thought He was "good".. some who thought He was leading people away from truth.

 Question... Some Jews questioned the fact that He taught without having been educated by their standards.  

Confusion and controversy... Some wanted to kill Him... others denied that anyone wanted to kill Him.,, some wondered why the rulers didn't kill Him...

Conflict... The Pharisees wanted to seize Him but didn't or couldn't.. 

Most did not understand His teaching.. they were confused about Who He was and where He came from and accused each other of being led astray if they believed in Him.

Yet, some believed. 

Stripping away all the questions and confusion.. Jesus had some important things to say.. 

Verse 7 "The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil."  People do not want to be told that they are wrong. They don't want their secret sins to be brought to light. They.. we.. don't want to confess our sins.  But.. Jesus brings us all to that point.. and we either confess.. and find forgiveness and salvation through Him.. or we deny it and stay in darkness. We don't need to be confused.. we need to allow ourselves to hear the Truth.

V16-19  Jesus tells us that He is teaching.. not what He learned from another human being.. but what has come from the Father in heaven.  "If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself."  Jesus is seeking the Father's glory and not His own. He was sent for that purpose.  He is righteous and true in all He says, because He is doing the Father' s will. We don't need to be questioning.. if we listen to His voice.. we can recognize the truth. 

V. 21-24  It was Moses who taught about circumcision, Jesus said, and the Jews were very adamant about obeying that command.. even if it had to be on a Sabbath.  Yet, Jesus accused them, they were ready to kill Him because He healed a man on the Sabbath. They had their priorities all wrong.. They weren't judging with "righteous judgement".   They were basing their judgement on personal opinions biased by their own desires.  It doesn't have to be a conflict.. God can do anything... whenever He wants!

V28-29  "You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me."  This is a defining statement.. crystal clear.. and we believe it or refuse it.. and our whole life depends on that decision. We do not need to be confused.. just willing to accept His Word. 

V33-39  Jesus talked about the fact that He would not be found after a period of time.  He would return to the Father.  The decision to believe cannot wait until later.. "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'"  The choice needs to be made. "Today" the writer of Hebrews emphasized, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Now is the time to choose to believe in Jesus.. to "hold fast" to Him.. to be "diligent to enter that rest".. that only He can provide. ( Hebrews 4) 

Our world is just as confused.. as full of questions.. and as conflicted as the people of Israel were in that day.  We are either persuaded and convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, who came from the Father so that He could be our Savior.. or we stay in the dark.. and refuse the gift of eternal life that  only He can give. May we be like the disciples who chose to stay with the One who has "the words of eternal life." May we believe and "come to know that [Jesus is] the Holy One of God."

Father in heaven.. You have drawn us to Jesus.. that we might believe in Him and not perish, but have eternal life. Thank You! Hallelujah!  May Your Truth fill our world so that You will rescue the perishing and bring them into Life eternal. Send Your laborers into the harvest that more will come to Jesus to the honor and glory of Your Name. Amen.