Contemplative Bible Reading

John 7:25-26 (New Living Translation)

25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him.

Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Festival of Shelters. At first, Jesus was quiet and remaining “secret.” Later, Jesus stood in the temple and taught people. The people were amazed.

Some of the people knew that the religious leaders in Jerusalem didn’t like Jesus (putting it mildly). These leaders basically created an arrest warrant with a death sentence for Jesus—serious stuff. In these verses, the people are surprised because here is Jesus right in plain sight in front of everyone doing exactly what He was told NOT to do. Where were the leaders? Where was the arrest? Come on, let’s have some action here!

Nothing.

Why not? Fear? Fear of what? The political situation in Palestine and Jerusalem was complicated. No kidding. The Romans ruled—absolutely. The Romans could burn the city to the ground and kill everyone. The Romans were playing a complex set of circumstances to maximize profit. They allowed the Jews this and that so that the Jews would cooperate enough in just the right ways. The Jewish leaders understood all this. They pushed the Romans as hard as they could to obtain as much as they could without pushing too much and being squashed. This ebbed and flowed daily.

Here was this Jesus from up north. People followed Jesus and listened to Jesus much more than they listened to the official religious leaders. Killing Jesus would upset the crowds which would cause trouble with the Romans which might lead to … all sorts of bad stuff.

And the religious leaders were smart fellas’. They could see something in Jesus. Maybe Jesus was from God. They liked that idea and at the same time hated the idea.

These leaders feared the situation. These leaders felt inadequate in the face of Jesus. They plotted politics.

The answer was right in front of them. Turn to God. Trust in God. Let God take care of their fears.

Oh, wait, that is exactly what I should be doing today. Please God, help me in my unbelief.