Tag: blogging

What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

In the bustling streets of ancient Jerusalem, amidst the miracles of Jesus, a prominent Jewish leader sought a private audience with him. His name was Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, a man of authority and intellect. Yet, despite his religious standing, he came to Jesus at night, perhaps out of a mix of caution and genuine curiosity. His opening statement, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him,” revealed a glimmer of faith, a recognition of Jesus’s divine authority. But Jesus, seeing beyond the man’s intellectual assent, immediately went to the heart of the matter, challenging Nicodemus with a profound and transformative truth: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This statement, seemingly a riddle to Nicodemus, is the core of Jesus’s message. It moves beyond external piety and ritual to the absolute necessity of a fundamental inner change. To be “born again” is to experience a new spiritual birth, a complete renewal of one’s nature, principles, and desires. It’s a transition from a life rooted in the “flesh”—our natural, corrupt human state—to a life animated by the “Spirit.” This is not a process a person can initiate on their own; it is a mysterious and powerful work of the Holy Spirit, much like the wind that blows where it wishes, with an unseen source but a clearly felt effect.

The Earthly Versus the Heavenly.

Nicodemus, struggling to grasp this spiritual concept, posed a logical but flawed question: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus’s response highlights the chasm between human understanding and divine truth. He explains that “that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Our physical birth, no matter how distinguished, produces only a corrupt, earthly nature. A genuine change requires a new origin—a birth “from above,” from God himself.
Jesus gently rebukes Nicodemus for his ignorance, despite his position as a “master in Israel.” This highlights a timeless truth: those who are deeply entrenched in the forms and rituals of religion can sometimes miss its spiritual essence. Jesus asserts that he speaks what he knows and has seen from heaven, and yet Nicodemus struggles to believe even when the truths are presented in simple, “earthly” analogies. What hope, then, is there for those who refuse to believe? Jesus makes it clear that he alone, as the Son of Man who came down from heaven and is in heaven, can truly reveal these divine, heavenly things to humanity.

The Brazen Serpent and the Lifted-Up Son.

To further explain the purpose of this new birth, Jesus turns to a powerful Old Testament image: the brazen serpent in the wilderness. During the Exodus, when the Israelites were bitten by venomous, “fiery” serpents as punishment for their complaining, Moses was instructed by God to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked at it in faith, no matter how severe their wound, was healed.
This seemingly strange act was a foreshadowing of Jesus’s purpose. The venomous serpent represents the destructive power of sin and the fiery wrath of God. The raised serpent, with its life-giving properties, points directly to Jesus. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” This was a prophecy of his crucifixion—a brutal, public act that would serve as the ultimate remedy for the spiritual sickness of humanity. Just as the bitten Israelites were saved by a simple act of faith (looking), so too are all who look upon Jesus with belief saved from eternal perishing.

A Tale of Two Destinies: Belief and Unbelief.

This conversation culminates in one of the most famous and concise summaries of the gospel: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Here we see two contrasting outcomes based on one’s response to Jesus.

• Those who believe: “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life.” The moment a person puts their faith in Jesus, they receive the gift of salvation. It is not a future reward but a present reality. They are not under condemnation because they are united with the very source of life.
• Those who do not believe: “He that does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Unbelief is not merely an intellectual disagreement; it is a rejection of God’s love and the very solution he provided for humanity’s deepest problem. Because they refuse the pardon offered in Christ, they remain under the original sentence of sin.

The tragedy of unbelief is that it is often a deliberate choice. People love darkness more than light “because their deeds are evil.” The light of the gospel exposes their sinfulness and demands a radical change that they are unwilling to make. In contrast, those who “do the truth” and live with integrity are drawn to the light. They are willing to have their lives and actions examined, because they have nothing to hide.

John the Baptist’s Testimony: The Friend of the Bridegroom

Following Jesus’s discourse with Nicodemus, another significant event unfolds. Jesus’s ministry and baptism begin to draw larger crowds, leading to a complaint from John the Baptist’s disciples. They voice their concern: “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are coming to him.” They saw Jesus as a rival, a threat to their master’s popularity.
John’s response, however, demonstrates profound humility and wisdom. He clarifies his role, stating that his purpose was to be a “friend of the bridegroom.” Christ is the bridegroom, the one to whom the people belong. John’s joy was to prepare the way for Jesus and to see him receive the honour and attention that was rightfully his. John’s mission was always temporary, a preparatory step. He summarizes his role with a beautiful and selfless statement: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The flourishing of Jesus’s ministry was not a sign of John’s failure, but the fulfilment of his purpose.
John’s final words on the matter reinforce Jesus’s ultimate authority: “He who comes from above is above all… For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” Jesus is not just another prophet; he is the beloved Son of God, to whom the Father has given all things.

Further Reading.

• Numbers 21:4-9: The story of the brazen serpent in the Old Testament, the type of which Christ is the anti-type.
• 1 Corinthians 15:47-49: An exploration of the “first man, who is of the earth” and the “second man, who is from heaven.”

https://bible.org/

https://biblehub.com/

From Weary Traveler to Living Water.

The Gospel of John, chapter 4, presents a remarkable and intimate portrait of Jesus Christ. It opens not with a grand sermon or a public miracle, but with a simple journey. As Jesus travels from Judea back to his home region of Galilee, he passes through Samaria, a land and a people often at odds with the Jews. This seemingly routine event sets the stage for a profound encounter that reveals the heart of Christ’s mission: to seek out and save the lost, regardless of their background or status.
In this chapter, we witness Jesus as a true man, weary from his travels and humble in his approach, yet he is also revealed as the divine Lord, possessing an intimate knowledge of the human heart and offering a gift far greater than anything the world can provide. From a water-well side conversation to a miraculous healing, we see the power of Christ’s word to transform individuals and entire communities.

The Compassionate Journey.

The chapter begins with Jesus leaving Judea and heading for Galilee. He did so not out of fear, but out of wisdom. The Pharisees, already vexed by the success of his ministry, were keeping a watchful eye on him. As the Lord of all, Jesus was not constrained by human limitations, yet he chose to act in a way that provides an example for his followers: to avoid unnecessary confrontation and to flee from persecution, when possible, without compromising his mission.
This journey led him directly through Samaria, a land the Jews typically avoided. The animosity between the two peoples ran deep, with a long history of division rooted in both blood and religion. The Samaritans were a “mongrel” people in Jewish eyes, mixing Israelite heritage with foreign customs and establishing their own temple on Mount Gerizim in opposition to the one in Jerusalem. This deeply ingrained prejudice meant that for a Jew to travel through Samaria was highly unusual.
However, Jesus “must needs go through Samaria.” This wasn’t just a geographical necessity; it was a spiritual one. His heart was fixed on the divine work he was to accomplish there—to find a single, lost soul and offer her salvation. This deliberate choice highlights the indiscriminate nature of God’s love. Christ does not bypass the “unclean” or the outcast; instead, he goes directly to them, seeking to save those whom others would scorn.

The Well of Living Water.

Arriving at the city of Sychar, Jesus, weary from his journey, sat by a well that tradition held was dug by Jacob. His disciples went into the city to buy food, leaving him alone. It was here that he met a Samaritan woman who came to draw water.
Jesus, a Jew, initiated the conversation by asking her for a drink. The woman’s surprise was immediate, as she knew that “the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” This simple request for a cup of water served as a bridge, breaking down the social and religious barriers that had separated them.
Jesus then shifts the conversation from physical water to spiritual truth. He tells her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman, thinking literally, objects that he has no bucket and the well is deep, questioning if he could be greater than their ancestor Jacob who gave them this well.
Jesus’s answer reveals a profound truth: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” He explains that this living water will become in a person “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The water of this world, whether from Jacob’s well or any other source, provides only temporary satisfaction. It must be continually sought. But the “living water” that Christ offers—the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Gospel—provides a permanent, internal spring of life that satisfies the soul forever.

Confronting Truth and Finding Faith.

The woman, perhaps out of a mix of ignorance and a weak desire for ease, asks for this water “that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus, recognizing that she is not yet truly ready to receive this spiritual gift, shifts the conversation again, this time to a painful, convicting topic: her personal life.
“Go, call your husband and come here,” he instructs. The woman’s response is a transparent evasion: “I have no husband.” Jesus, in a gentle but powerful rebuke, reveals his divine knowledge of her past and present: “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband.”
This moment serves as a powerful demonstration of Jesus’s prophetic authority. He did not need to perform a miracle to prove his identity; he simply spoke the truth of her life. Rather than becoming angry, the woman’s reaction is one of awe: “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.” Her conscience, now awakened, leads her to ask about a central point of contention between Jews and Samaritans—the correct place of worship.
Jesus answers this theological dispute by lifting the discussion above a mere geographical argument. He declares that a new era is at hand: “The hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.” He then explains what truly matters: “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The key to acceptable worship is not location, but sincere devotion from the heart. It is a worship that is genuine (“in truth”) and driven by the Spirit (“in spirit”), not by outward ritual alone. This was an entirely new and revolutionary concept for the woman. Her response shows the depth of her understanding and the faith that was blossoming in her heart: “I know that Messiah is coming… when He comes, He will tell us all things.”
With this, Jesus, in one of the most direct declarations in the entire Gospel, reveals his identity to her: “I who speak to you am He.”

From Individual Faith to Community Revival.

The encounter at the well had a dramatic ripple effect. The woman, so transformed by the conversation, immediately left her water pot and hurried back to the city. Her worldly task was forgotten; her mind was completely absorbed by the good news she had found. She became a messenger, proclaiming to her neighbours, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
Her testimony, though from a person of low repute, was compelling. The people of the city, driven by curiosity, went out to meet Jesus. This willingness to investigate for themselves shows their openness to the truth. When they met him, they were so moved that they begged him to stay longer. Jesus, who had initially planned to pass through, willingly stayed for two days, ministering to them and deepening their understanding.
As a result, “many more believed because of His own word.” The Samaritans who had initially believed on the testimony of the woman now had a deeper, more personal faith. They declared, “Now we believe, not because of your saying, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Their faith was no longer second-hand; it was a firm conviction rooted in a personal encounter with Jesus. They came to know him not just as a prophet but as the “Savior of the world,” a title that recognized his mission extended far beyond the boundaries of Judaism to encompass even them, the outcasts.

The Faith of a Nobleman.

The chapter concludes by recounting another miracle that further demonstrates the power of Christ’s word. Jesus, having left Samaria and returned to Galilee, was in Cana when a nobleman from Capernaum approached him. His son was at death’s door. The nobleman’s request was filled with urgency: “Sir, come down before my son dies.”
Jesus’s response challenges the nobleman’s limited faith. “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” The nobleman, however, persists, his heart fixed on his son’s survival.
Christ’s final words to him are simple and powerful: “Go your way; your son lives.” The nobleman did not question or hesitate; he believed Jesus’s word and began his journey home. The next day, he was met by his servants with the joyful news that his son was alive. He inquired about the exact time the fever left him and discovered it was the very hour Jesus had spoken the word.
This final miracle confirms the authority of Christ’s word, which operates without physical proximity. It also highlights the different ways people come to faith. The Samaritans, with no prior exposure to his miracles, believed on the basis of his teaching and personal revelation. The nobleman, on the other hand, required a visible sign and a direct experience of Christ’s power before his faith was fully confirmed. In both cases, the result was the same: personal and family salvation.

Further Reading.

• The Gospel of John, Chapter 4: The original source text is the best place to start for a deeper study of this passage.
• A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton: A resource for understanding the historical and cultural context of the Jewish-Samaritan relationship.

Introduction: A Healing at the Pool of Bethesda.

The fifth chapter of the Gospel of John opens with a powerful and controversial event: Jesus’s healing of a disabled man at the Pool of Bethesda. This miracle, performed on the Sabbath, ignites a fierce debate with Jewish authorities that goes far beyond a simple disagreement over religious law. It becomes a pivotal moment where Jesus not only defends his actions but also reveals his divine nature, asserting his equality with God and his ultimate authority over life, death, and judgment.

The Long Wait for a Miracle.

The story begins in Jerusalem at the Pool of Bethesda, a place of hope for many disabled people—the blind, lame, and paralysed. This pool was believed to have healing properties when its waters were “stirred,” and a multitude of sick people would gather there, waiting for a chance to be the first one in. Among them was a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years, a particularly pitiable case.
When Jesus saw him, he didn’t wait for a sign or a request. Instead, he asked a seemingly obvious question: “Do you want to be healed?” The man’s response revealed his despair and helplessness. He didn’t say, “Yes, I want to be healed,” but rather, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going to the steps others go down before me.” He was trapped in a cycle of near-misses and constant frustration.
Jesus, however, bypassed the entire process of the pool. With a simple command, he said, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” The effect was immediate and complete. The man, who had been disabled for nearly four decades, was instantly healed. This wasn’t a slow recovery but a supernatural, instantaneous cure, a clear sign of divine power. To prove the perfection of the healing, Jesus instructed him to carry his mat, an action that would soon become a point of contention.

The Controversy of the Sabbath.

The man’s healing occurred on the Sabbath, a day of rest strictly governed by religious law. When Jewish authorities saw the healed man carrying his bed, they immediately challenged him. Their focus wasn’t on the miraculous cure but on the perceived violation of the Sabbath law, which forbade carrying burdens.
The man, grateful and bewildered, simply pointed to his authority: “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” This response shifted their anger from the man to Jesus, whom they began to persecute. Jesus’s actions were intentional. He was deliberately challenging their rigid interpretation of the law to reveal a higher truth.
Later, Jesus found the man in the temple and gave him a solemn warning: “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” This statement hints at a connection between the man’s long illness and a past life of sin, revealing Jesus’s deep insight into human character and the consequences of sin. When the healed man went and told the authorities that it was Jesus who had healed him, their persecution intensified.

The Authority of the Son.

The conflict over the Sabbath led to a profound discourse where Jesus made some of his most significant claims about his identity. In response to their persecution, he declared, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This statement was a direct claim to divinity. He was equating his work with God the Father, suggesting that just as God’s creative and sustaining work never ceases, neither does his. The authorities understood the implication perfectly: Jesus was making himself equal with God.

Witnesses to Jesus.

Jesus then provided irrefutable testimony to his claims. He first referenced the witness of John the Baptist, whom the people had once revered as a “burning and shining lamp.” John had testified that Jesus was the Messiah, but their temporary admiration for John’s light had waned when he pointed them to the true Light.
However, Jesus says he has an even greater witness: his own works. The miracles he performs—like healing the invalid man—are not just displays of power but are living proof that the Father has sent him. These works bear a greater testimony than any human could.
Finally, Jesus points to the ultimate witness: the Scriptures themselves. He challenges the Jewish leaders, who diligently studied the Scriptures in the hope of finding eternal life, to see that those same Scriptures testify about him. Yet, in their pride and obsession with human praise, they refused to come to the one who could give them the life they sought.
Jesus warns them that Moses, on whom they pinned their hopes, would be their accuser. If they had genuinely believed Moses, they would have believed Jesus, for Moses wrote about him. Their rejection of Jesus was not a new problem but a deep-seated spiritual one rooted in their failure to believe the very writings they professed to follow.

Conclusion.

This chapter presents a stark and powerful revelation of Jesus’s identity. What begins as a miracle on the Sabbath quickly escalates into a profound theological confrontation. Jesus asserts his divine equality with God, his authority over life and death, and his role as the final judge of humanity. He backs these claims with the powerful witness of his works and the testimony of the Scriptures. The message is clear: true belief requires not just an admiration for religious texts or traditions, but a personal, transformative acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God, the one who holds the keys to eternal life.

Further Reading.

The Gospel of John Chapter 5

• “The Historical Reliability of the Gospels” by Craig L. Blomberg
• “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel
• “The Gospel of John: A Commentary” by D.A. Carson

Jesus feeds the five Thousand.

The Gospel of John, Chapter 6, is a powerful exploration of spiritual and physical needs. It takes us on a journey with Jesus from a simple act of compassion—feeding a massive crowd—to a profound and challenging discourse on what it means to be truly nourished. The chapter starts with a public spectacle of divine power and ends with a private and difficult moment of truth, revealing the very core of Jesus’s identity and mission.

Jesus’s Miracles.

Jesus, followed by a large crowd drawn to his healing miracles, finds himself on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. As the Passover feast approaches, the crowds are a reminder of both spiritual expectation and human need. When Jesus sees the thousands of people, He tests His disciple Philip, asking where they can buy enough food for everyone. Philip’s response highlights the impossibility of the situation; even a fortune’s worth of bread wouldn’t be enough.
It is at this moment that another disciple, Andrew, brings forward a boy with an insignificant offering: five barley loaves and two small fish. This is the catalyst for one of Jesus’s most famous miracles. Taking the meagre meal, Jesus gives thanks, and the loaves and fish are distributed to the five thousand men, plus women and children, who are all satisfied. When they have finished, the disciples gather twelve baskets full of leftovers, showing not only the abundance of the miracle but also a lesson in avoiding wasting gifts from God. The crowd, witnessing this incredible sign, immediately recognizes Jesus as the long-awaited Prophet and tries to make him their king by force.

Walking on Water and The Unseen Journey.

After the miracle, Jesus withdraws to the mountain alone to pray, sensing the crowd’s misplaced zeal for Him to be King immediately. Meanwhile, His disciples get into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. As a strong wind whips up the waves, they struggle against the storm. In the midst of their toil, they see Jesus’ walking on the water toward them. At first, they are terrified, mistaking Him for a spirit. Jesus reassures them with the words, “It is I; do not be afraid.” They welcome Him into the boat, and as soon as He boards, they miraculously find themselves at their destination. This second miracle not only demonstrates Jesus’s dominion over nature but also His ability to be present with His disciples in their time of struggle.

The Search for the Bread of Life.

The next day, the crowd that had been fed finds Jesus in Capernaum. They are astonished by His sudden appearance and ask Him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus, however, knows their true motivation. He bypasses their question and cuts straight to the heart of the matter: they are seeking Him not because of the spiritual sign of the miracle, but because they were physically fed.
Jesus challenges them to seek a different kind of food—one that doesn’t perish but endures to eternal life. He tells them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” He explains that while their ancestors ate manna in the desert and still died, He offers a true, life-giving bread from heaven. This profound claim confuses His listeners. How could He be the bread from heaven? They knew Him as Jesus, the son of Joseph. Next, we read Jesus’s words, John Chapter 6:32-51
” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

The Difficult Truth of Spiritual Nourishment.

Jesus does not soften His words. He explains that His body is the “living bread” given for the “life of the world” and that true life comes from “eating his flesh and drinking his blood.” The Jews and even many of His followers are scandalized by this. They argue among themselves, questioning how such a thing is possible.
Jesus clarifies that His words are not about literal consumption but about spiritual assimilation. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” This is a crucial distinction. The nourishment He offers is not a physical one but a spiritual one, received through faith in His words and His person. He knew from the beginning who would believe and who would betray Him.

Hard Sayings and Peter’s Profession of Faith.

Jesus says in john Chapter 6:
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
Because of this “hard saying,” many of Jesus’s disciples turn away and no longer follow Him. It is a moment of crisis and a test of faith. Jesus turns to the twelve disciples and asks, “Do you want to go away as well?”
Simon Peter’s response is one of the most poignant moments in the Gospel. He declares, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter recognizes that although Jesus’s teaching is difficult, there is no alternative for true spiritual fulfilment. He knows that Jesus is the way to eternal life, a promise far greater than a temporary meal.
The chapter ends with a sobering note as Jesus reveals that even among the twelve, one is a “devil”—referring to Judas Iscariot, who would eventually betray Him. This serves as a reminder that the choice to believe is a personal one, and not everyone who walks with Jesus is truly committed to His spiritual truth.

Further Reading.

• The Gospel of John: A Commentary by Craig S. Keener (A comprehensive and scholarly look at the Gospel of John).
• John Chapter 6. ESV
• Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony by Richard Bauckham (Explores the reliability of the Gospels from a historical perspective).

A Collision of Worlds: Jesus at the Feast of Booths.

During the vibrant and celebratory Feast of Booths in Jerusalem, a different kind of gathering was taking place. As crowds flocked to the city for this annual festival, Jesus arrived, not publicly as his brothers had urged, but in private, avoiding the attention of those who sought to harm him. This chapter of John’s Gospel captures a critical turning point where Jesus’s public ministry in Jerusalem intensifies, revealing the profound division he creates and the divine truth he embodies.

The Unbelieving Family and the Perfect Timing.

Jesus’s own brothers, who at this point did not believe in him, urged him to go to the feast in Judea to gain more public recognition. They challenged him to “show yourself to the world,” believing that his miraculous works should not be hidden. Jesus, however, operated on a different timetable. He explained that his “time” had not yet come, while their time was always ready. He knew the world hated him because he testified against its evil deeds, and a premature public appearance could lead to his death before the appointed moment. Instead of traveling with the pilgrim caravans, he went to the feast “in a manner secretly,” in his own time and on his own terms.
This passage underscores a fundamental contrast: humanity’s desire for immediate, visible glory versus the divine plan that unfolds with perfect timing and purpose. Jesus’s journey was not a pursuit of fame but a fulfilment of his mission.

The Debate in the Temple.

When Jesus finally appeared in the temple courts, his teaching captivated and perplexed the crowd. They were astonished by his deep understanding of scripture, asking, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” This observation was an important admission by the religious leaders that Jesus’s wisdom did not come from any rabbinical school, challenging any human explanation for his authority.
In response, Jesus revealed the source of his wisdom: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” He presented a powerful principle: anyone who truly desires to do God’s will can discern whether his teaching is divine or from his own authority. He who speaks for his own glory is false, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true. This principle acts as a filter for spiritual truth, highlighting that a pure heart is the key to true understanding.

Judging by Appearances.

Jesus then confronted his opponents with their own hypocrisy, referencing his earlier healing of a man on the Sabbath. He pointed out that they would perform a circumcision on the Sabbath to obey the law of Moses, a practice passed down from their ancestors. If this was acceptable, why were they so angered that he had made a man’s entire body well on the same day? His powerful message was simple and direct: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” He exposed their superficial, letter-of-the-law thinking, urging them to look past outward forms and see the true spirit of the law, which is rooted in compassion and healing.
This exchange reveals the tension between rigid religious tradition and the living; breathing will of God. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and seek a deeper, more righteous understanding.

Confusion and Division.

As Jesus continued to teach, the crowd became a mix of awe and bewilderment. Some of the citizens of Jerusalem, aware of the plot to kill him, marvelled that he was speaking openly and the authorities were doing nothing. This led some to wonder, “Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?” Others were sceptical, claiming they knew where he was from—Nazareth—while the Messiah’s origin was expected to be mysterious and from Bethlehem.
Jesus responded to their confusion by loudly proclaiming, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.” He wasn’t just a man from Nazareth; he was sent by God, whom they didn’t truly know. This statement left them so enraged that they sought to arrest him, but no one could, because his “hour had not yet come.” The people were deeply divided, with many believing in him and others wanting to arrest him.

The Rivers of Living Water.

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus made a monumental proclamation. He stood and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’“. This statement, according to the commentary, was in reference to the Holy Spirit, who had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified through his death and resurrection. The feast celebrated the drawing of water from the Pool of Siloam to be poured on the altar, a ritual of immense joy and a symbol of God’s provision.
By declaring himself the source of “living water,” Jesus positioned himself as the ultimate fulfilment of the feast’s symbolism and the true source of spiritual life. This was the ancient prophecy of God’s Spirit being poured out, now made a reality through him.

The Unflinching Truth and an Impotent Rage.

When the officers sent to arrest Jesus returned empty-handed, the chief priests and Pharisees were furious. Their agents explained their failure with a simple, profound statement: “No one ever spoke like this man!” This noble testimony from unsophisticated men speaks to the divine authority and power of Jesus’s words. The religious leaders dismissed this, calling the crowd “accursed” for not knowing the law.
Nicodemus, a member of the council who had previously met with Jesus, timidly spoke up, asking if their law judged a man without first giving him a hearing. He was met with scorn and taunts, a sign of their blind rage. This entire episode reveals the impotence of human hostility against divine purpose. They could not arrest him because his hour had not yet come. The ultimate control remained in the hands of God, not man.
This chapter is a powerful illustration of the inherent division that truth creates. Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem forced everyone to choose a side, revealing hearts and exposing motives. His words were not just a source of information but a divine force that separated belief from unbelief.

Further Reading:

• The Feast of Tabernacles: To understand the cultural and religious context of this chapter, research the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and its significance to the Jewish people.
• Old Testament Prophecies: Explore the Old Testament prophecies that Jesus references, such as those concerning the coming of the Messiah and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit (e.g., Ezekiel 47:1-12, Joel 3:18, Zechariah 14:8).