Welcome to the Word of God for October 11th 2009

We continue our reading of John from the Living Bible

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After this, Jesus went to Galilee, going from village to village, for he wanted to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the tabernacle ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus is brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration.

“Go where more people can see your miracles,” he scoffed. “You can’t be famous when you hide likeness area and if you’re so great, prove it to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

Jesus replied, “it is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference, for the world can’t hate you; but it does hate me, because I accuse it of sin and evil. You go on, and all come later when it is the right time.” So he remained in Galilee.

But after his brothers had left for the celebration, then he went to, though secretly, staying out of the public eye. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the celebration and Asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of discussion about him among the crowds. Some said, “he is a wonderful man, close quote while others said, “no, he is fooling the public.” No one had encouraged speak out for him in public for fear of reprisals from the Jewish leaders.

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and preached openly. The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard him. “How can he know so much please never been to our schools?” They asked.

So Jesus told them, “I’m not teaching you my own thoughts, but those of God who sent me. If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then he will certainly know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own area anyone presenting his own ideas is looking for prays for himself, but anyone seeking to honor the one who sent him as a good and true person. None of you obey the laws of Moses. So why attack me for breaking them? Why kill me for this?”

The crowd replied, “you’re out of your mind! Who’s trying to kill you?”

Jesus replied, “I worked on the Sabbath by healing a man, and you were surprised. But you work on the Sabbath, too, whenever you obey Moses laws of circumcision (actually, however, this tradition of circumcision is older than the Mosaic law); for if the correct time for circumcising your children Paul’s on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it, as you should. So why should I be condemned for making a man completely well on the Sabbath? Think this through and you will see that I am right.”

Some of the people who lived there in Jerusalem said among themselves, “isn’t this the man they are trying to kill Rushton Mark but here he is preaching in public, and they saying that nothing to him. Can it be that our leaders have learned, after all, that he really is the Messiah? How could he be? For we know where this man was born; when Christ comes, he will just appear and no one will know where he comes from.”

So Jesus, in a sermon in the Temple, called out, “yes, you know me and where I was born and brought up, but I am the be representative of the one you don’t know, and he is truth. I know him because I was with him, and he sent me to you.”

Then the Jewish leaders sought to arrest him; but no hand was laid on him, for God’s time had not yet come.

Many among the crowds at the Temple believed on him. “After all,” they said, “what miracles do you expect the Messiah to do that this man hasn’t done?”

When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were in this mood, they and the chief priest sent officers to arrest Jesus. But Jesus told them “[not yet!] I am to be here a little while longer. Then I shall return to the one who sent me. You will search for me but not find me. And you won’t be able to come were IM.”

The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” They asked. “Maybe he is thinking of leaving the country and going as a missionary him on the Jews and other lands, or maybe even to the Gentiles. What does he mean about are looking for him and not being able to find him, and, you won’t be able to come were IM?”

On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, “if anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the innermost being of anyone who believes in me.”

(He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him; but the spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet returned to his glory and heaven.)

When the crowds heard him say this some of them declared, “this man surely is the prophet who will come just before the Messiah.”

Others said, “he is the Messiah.” Still others, “but he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah would be born of the royal line of David, and Bethlehem, the village where David was born.” So the crowd was divided about him.

In some wanted him arrested, but no one touched them.

The Temple police who had been sent to arrest him return to the chief priests and Pharisees. “Why didn’t you bring him in?” They demanded area

“He says such wonderful things!” They mumbled. We’ve never heard anything like it.”

“So you also have been led stray?” The Pharisees mocked. “Is there a single one of us Jewish leaders or Pharisees who believes he is the Messiah? These stupid crowds do, yes; but what do they know about it? A curse upon them anyway!”

Then Nicodemus spoke up, (remember him? He was the Jewish leader who came secretly to interview Jesus.) “Is it legal to convict the man before he is even tried?” He asked.

They replied, “are you a wretched Galilee and to? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself — no profit will come from Galilee!”

Then the meeting broke up and everyone went home.