Where Are You Walking?

Lesson #120

With this lesson we will begin the first section of chapter 7 defined by John 7:1 – 9. Before we begin this chapter we need to go back to chapter 6 and pick up some info that will help in our understanding here. In John 6:41 the Jews grumbled about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” Their perspective of him was physical as the son of Joseph not the Son of God. Some translations replace the word “grumbled” with “who were hostile to Jesus began complaining.” Thus we can say that the crowds were becoming less friendly toward Jesus. When Jesus talks about eating the bread that came down from heaven, which he equates with his flesh, the hostility grew and the grumbling or complaining was replaced with arguing (John 6:52). Jesus continues with more difficult statements by connecting eternal life with eating this bread from haven and when he does the Jews said, “This is a hard saying: who can listen to it?” (John 6:60) and as a result “many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” (John 6:66). Because of this growing tension and hostility it was becoming less safe to be in Judea and so, “After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him” (John 7:1 NASB).

If Jesus has the power to turn water into wine (John 2:1 – 11), heal the sick (John 4:46 – 54; 5:2 – 4), feed the five thousand (John 6:1 – 14), and has the ability to walk on water (John 6:16 – 21) then why would he be afraid to walk among those who were seeking to kill him? There is no question that Jesus could protect himself, but we must remember the commission Jesus had received from the Father and confine himself within the limits which belong to him as a man. Paul brings this into focus in Philippians 2:6 – 8. Jesus, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (NASB). Jesus, the Son of God, took upon himself the form of a servant by humbling himself in obedience until his work was done and his Father exalted him. As Jesus lived as a man he was liable to danger and therefore walked with care and as he did he did he stayed focused on the commission his Father sent him on. As with Jesus that commission for us may also, at the proper time, require our life to be given. Think about our brothers and sisters in central Asia who are giving their lives as a witness by simply being a Christian or having a Bible. As with Jesus we may have things the Father has assigned to us to do. We must therefore live an intentional life of obedience until our time of departure, whether it be a natural death or one at the hands of a persecutor. At this time in the life of Jesus, Galilee was the place where he was to be.

Prayer

Father, I think of all the places you directed me to go in different parts of the world to complete assignments you gave to me. On these assignments I learned more about you, became more like Jesus, and hopefully was used to impact lives with the Gospel. As the world continues to draw me into compromise I pray for the power and guidance of the Spirit to keep me on course.