He Sent Me • John 7:14-19
By Rick Henson
From where did Jesus come? The Jews knew from the Old Testament book of Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but Jesus was from Galilee. In John 7, we discover the Jews focused on where Jesus was born, yet Jesus is eternal.
Jesus told them that He is from the Father, which confused them. As he began to teach, they were more confused because they knew he was not trained by the Pharisees. John 7:15 reads, “And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (KJV).
Jesus confused the everyday people and confounded the Jewish leaders. He wasn’t formally trained, though obviously He knew more about the Scripture than they. Most Jewish leaders focused on their own genealogy and in what school of thought they had studied. From what tribe were they and who had taught them defined each teacher.
Jesus shared neither, even when the crowd inquired. Imagine if they saw a résumé of Jesus. The demons in Mark 5 and the devil in Luke 4 would affirm that He is the Son of God. Jesus did not need human names on his résumé.
Jesus confused the people even more when He announced that He taught doctrine given to Him by the Father. He seemed not concerned with their questioning His pedigree or training. A speaker can have more degrees than a thermometer but if he’s not teaching the word of God, his teaching must be ignored.
Jesus warned in John 7:18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him” (KJV).
Jesus taught that teachers who seek glory for themselves reveal they are not of God. James 4:6 teaches, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (KJV).
Jesus gave glory to the Father who sent Him. The Jews did not understand, though His miracles witnessed to His origin. Yet the religious leaders were more concerned that Jesus healed on the Sabbath than that He healed. Jesus pointed out that the rite of circumcision was routinely performed on the Sabbath, yet they did not object to it.
The people there said that Jesus had a devil, or was demon possessed. It’s interesting that if someone disagrees with another, human nature is to attack the person, especially when one cannot refute their words.
Jesus did not get involved in that game. In fact, He purposely did not condemn people. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37 KJV).
Next week we will study a personal example when He states, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11 KJV).
John 3:17reads, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (KJV). Jesus came to save, not to condemn. He corrected the religious leaders but never condemned them.
Those who believe on Jesus are not condemned. Oh, what a Savior!
Henson is minister of outreach and evangelism at Bethel Church, Brandon.
