Day 16: Teaching in Secret (John 7:1–31)
“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”
John 7:17 (NASB)
By chapter 7, the hostility of the Jewish religious establishment toward Jesus has become murderous — they are seeking to kill Him. His brothers urge Him to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and display himself publicly: ‘No one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly.’ Their challenge is ironic, even dismissive. They did not believe in Him (7:5). Jesus declines to go on their timetable: ‘My time has not yet come.’ Later, He goes privately — not because He fears the crowd, but because He is following the Father’s schedule.
When Jesus does appear in the Temple, He teaches publicly and the crowd marvels: ‘How is it that this man has learning when he has never studied?’ Jesus’s reply cuts to the heart of the matter: ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.’ The ability to discern the truth of Jesus’s teaching is not primarily an intellectual capacity — it is a moral one, rooted in a genuine desire to do God’s will, and led by the Holy Spirit.
The crowd is divided. Some say He is a good man; others say He is leading the people astray. When Jesus speaks of going where they cannot come, they are confused — does He mean the Diaspora? He is speaking of returning to the Father. The division in the crowd at verse 31 is telling: ‘Many of the people believed in him.’ The signs are working their intended effect, even as the authorities tighten their grip.
For Reflection
- Jesus said the ability to discern truth depends on whether one genuinely wants to do God’s will. How honest are you about your desire to do His will in every area of your life?
- His brothers urged Him to be public; Jesus moved quietly, on His own timetable. Where do you feel pressure to perform or display your faith publicly in ways that may not be authentic?
- The crowd was divided about Jesus. Are you willing to let your life create that kind of division — or do you tend to soften your witness to avoid controversy?
