John 7:30-31

John 7:30-31 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?”

Today's brief passage reveals deep spiritual truths concerning Christ's mission on Earth, God's eternal plan for his Son. The people in this story hated Christ and his teaching so much they tried to seize him. They wanted to silence his voice, for they feared his power to influence people, those who actually listened and said if the "real" Christ does appear, how could he possibly do more miraculous signs than this man? Not every person within the sound of Christ's voice that day was deaf to his words or blind to his possible mission. They were hungry and thirsty, and his ideas about the law lacking power and the need for grace were beginning to make an impact. When people stop and listen, God is able to penetrate hard hearts, to touch and to heal broken and wounded lives. Yet human beings so often operate in the flesh. As with Jesus' brothers: we seek a really big show, a world class miracle at the Feast to win friends and to influence people or to meet our needs.

We can see this stubborn resistance toward God throughout the history of mankind. In the Old Testament the prophet Elijah fell into a pit of despair immediately after some amazing miracles in his behalf. Where did he hear God's voice when he thought he was the only person of faith left on the earth? How did God answer him? And he [Elijah] said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:10-12) To hear a still small voice, one must stop talking so much: stop complaining, demanding, arguing, hollering, whining, crying, discussing, analyzing, fighting, rationalizing, and the like. We have to sit at Jesus' feet, meditate on his Word, abide in his presence, trust in the LORD with all our hearts, lean not on our own understanding, and use the same words Eli gave Samuel in answer to God's call: Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:9)

Christ fulfilled his ministry in three brief years, complete with signs and wonders, proving He was indeed the promised Messiah, fulfilling all prophecies such as:

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

(Isaiah 53:3-7)

Christ embraced a cruel cross that we might never face death but rise through the Holy Spirit to life eternal. He obeyed the Father's will without reservation. He also said, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (John 13:6) These are not views or opinions; they are the words of Jesus. Has He changed his mind? He wants us to live lives worth living, disciplined lives, committed lives. In the courtyard, the Spirit gave Jesus a little more time to fulfill his divine mission, and He pursued it with a passion. That pleased the heart of the Father. We are not shadow boxers: we are in a real fight. This world is not our home. God is rich in mercy and full of grace. He loves us, oh how He loves us, but He seeks a people who will know and follow hard after him--that's joy, real joy, glorious joy! Seek him whom to know is life everlasting!