What I Learned at Church

When all else fails: Remember God has a plan

Major Rhonda Lloyd

Scripture reference John 7:1-24

They were looking back at the things that Jesus has done before this passage: Healing the man at the pool and feeding the thousands. Tradition was that every male within twenty miles would travel to the celebration. God build celebration into the old testament. The feast of the tabernacle was a time for them to remember and celebrate when God brought them through the desert and provided for them. Jesus' brothers were taunting Him, trying to get Him to go to the celebration. In worldly terms they were telling him to go and rebuild his kingdom. Jesus responds to them that it isn't the time for him. This is different then the times where he tells them that "it isn't yet my time." It was more like he was waiting for the most suitable opportunity to come in.

After his brother's had gone left, he also went "in secret" which could have also meant in private. He was preparing for the opportunity in God's presence. He arrived in the center of the celebration, the climax, the most important part of their celebration. Jesus know that he needed to walk purposefully with God and listen to what he had to say. God is a gentleman and will wait for us to allow him the opportunity to show us the way he wants us to go.

Jesus' own brothers didn't "get him. The religious leaders were picking up the worldly system and Jesus didn't fit their mold. The prophet is the one who says the things no one wants to hear. They were caught up in the following of the law and not in the word (or the purpose) of it. He goes into the celebration (probably in what would be the foyer of a modern church) and starts just talking to the people, telling them that the leaders of the church were trying to kill him. Not knowing the inner-workings of the church, the people thought he was crazy or demon possessed. He then goes into the ways they are breaking the law by following it. For example, they were circumcising on the Sabbath if it landed on the eighth day. Following one part to disregard the other. If you want to live according to the law, you need to be perfect. They were condemning him for healing on the Sabbath and he was telling them that he was healing the whole person not just doing one part of the law.

Some people called Jesus a seducer because he was pulling the people away from the "tradition." Our responsibility is to let the holy spirit change us from the inside out. The reality is that Jesus wants to speak straight to our hearts. He doesn't clam to be self taught,  he says he is God taught. We need to rely on the hold spirit to guide us. If we wait until we "know it all" we will never go. We can't make things happen. All we can do is our part and let God do his, the "growing" of a person. An educated mind isn't a sign of a saved soul. Understanding God is more important then knowing where all the scriptures are found. The heart of the matter is what Jesus is trying to get to.

Are we following the tradition of going to church every Sunday, just because it's what you do? Or are we going to church to worship our mighty God. Are we walking into his house ready to take what he wants to teach us and use it in his world? Come prepared to hear from him and follow his will.

What is something you learned at church this week?