No one ever spoke like this

This morning I was reading the gospel of John, chapter 7.  Jesus was teaching in the Temple Court during a feast in Jerusalem.  He experienced interesting reactions from the crowd listening to Him:

 

¹⁵The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" 

    

²⁵At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?

  

³⁰At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

  

³¹Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"  

 

Perhaps the most interesting reaction was from the Temple guards who were sent to arrest Jesus but came back without him:

John 7:⁴⁵Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?"

 ⁴⁶"No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

 

I think Jesus is intent on getting a reaction, one way or the other, from us.  As long as the folks in the crowd looked to reinforce their skepticism and disbelief with each other, they remained bitter and hateful.  As individuals, however, when they blocked out the crowd and really listened to Jesus many allowed themselves to believe what their hearts told them to be true.  They were willing to risk rejection by the crowd in exchange for acceptance by Jesus.  In our days we are pulled by the crowd but we are also in range of the Lord's voice.  Will we be smothered by crowd-think or resuscitated by the breath of the Savior! 

 

blessings,

Rob Smith