July 8
________________________________________
THE WORLD HATES IF YOU TESTIFY TO ITS EVIL
After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” 9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. – John 7:1-9
________________________________________
In this account, we saw Jesus avoid the Jews wanting to kill Him. How can the Son of Man be afraid of these leaders? When he avoided them, it doesn’t mean he was afraid. It just meant that he does not do impulsive things, but always consults His Father and ensuring that nothing He does will interfere with the fulfillment of the will of God. The Jews were telling Jesus to leave and go to Judea so that the other disciples may see the works He is doing. They think that Jesus thought like them, wanting all the attention and honor. They are actually suggesting to Jesus things that they themselves clamor for such as recognition by the public. Jesus humbly answers them in verse 6 that His time hasn’t come yet. How many of us think and act in line with God’s will and timing? Jesus was following the Spirit of God even though He himself had all the powers that God and the Holy Spirit have. He expounds on verse 7 that the world cannot reject them if they do what they want but He will confront evil, so the reactions of the people for Him will be very different from what it would be for those who actually propagates wickedness. The Lord replied to their suggestion very differently from how humans would respond. In verse 8, he says that he will abstain from being in these feasts as He won’t dishonor the timing of His Father. After telling them these truths, he remained in Galilee. What an amazing wise person Jesus was during the time He was here on earth. He never operated on His own, but ensured that He wasn’t messing up any of the plans of God. Do we even consult God’s Spirit in making small or big decisions? Do we always act in behalf of God the Father like Jesus did? These verses tell us how believers need to isolate themselves from evil ways of the world.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do unbelievers hate to be told about their wickedness?