Breaking Down Barriers
Scripture – John 7:28-32: Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?” The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture) In the midst of all the dynamics of this scene, Jesus is still teaching. It seems His main goal here is to reach the people. So He cries out in response to their question, and He claims very clearly His place as God’s Son. The Jewish leaders tried to seize Him. They could tell where this was leading, but they were too late. “Many in the crowd put their faith in him.” And so a more specific plan to arrest Jesus was put in motion. People today are longing for spiritual truth. They’re longing for something solid in which they can believe. In Christ, we have some one who is more solid than a rock. He will draw people to Himself – sometimes in spite of the church. I cannot get away from the idea that the role of the Pharisees is what we have inherited today in the church. How are we handling that?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read) I will look for ways we, as the church, keep non-believers at a distance. Most of the time that’s unintentional, but not always. What bridges can we build? What keeps us from building them?
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer) Lord, please show me (and us) the difference between Biblical truth and traditions of the church. Help us break down the artificial barriers that exist and lift up your truth to the world around us.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture) In the midst of all the dynamics of this scene, Jesus is still teaching. It seems His main goal here is to reach the people. So He cries out in response to their question, and He claims very clearly His place as God’s Son. The Jewish leaders tried to seize Him. They could tell where this was leading, but they were too late. “Many in the crowd put their faith in him.” And so a more specific plan to arrest Jesus was put in motion. People today are longing for spiritual truth. They’re longing for something solid in which they can believe. In Christ, we have some one who is more solid than a rock. He will draw people to Himself – sometimes in spite of the church. I cannot get away from the idea that the role of the Pharisees is what we have inherited today in the church. How are we handling that?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read) I will look for ways we, as the church, keep non-believers at a distance. Most of the time that’s unintentional, but not always. What bridges can we build? What keeps us from building them?
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer) Lord, please show me (and us) the difference between Biblical truth and traditions of the church. Help us break down the artificial barriers that exist and lift up your truth to the world around us.
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