Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
Sometimes when I’m reading the Bible and no single verse immediately jumps out at me, I like to step back and look at the people in the passage—their personalities, motives, and responses. Today’s reading in John 7 is one of those moments for me, so let’s look at the scene by examining those involved.
Jesus’ Brothers
Jesus had siblings born to Mary and Joseph after His birth, and Scripture mentions them in more than one place. In this chapter, we see that His brothers did not yet believe that He was God with us. They were close to Him, familiar with Him—but still unsure of who He truly was.
The Crowd
A large crowd had gathered, many of them actively looking for Jesus. They had heard the rumors and wanted to see what all the commotion was about. Some believed He was the long-awaited Messiah, while others were skeptical and unconvinced.
The Religious Leaders
As a whole, the religious leaders did not like Jesus. They saw Him teaching with authority and knew that authority had not come from them. Their arrogance blinded them; they believed only they could possess truth. Anyone outside their circle, in their minds, had to be wrong simply because he wasn’t one of them.
Nicodemus
Nicodemus was one of those religious leaders, but he was different. He was intrigued by Jesus. He knew there was something unique about Him, and as verse 50 reminds us, Nicodemus had previously met with Jesus. In this moment, he speaks up, reminding the others of their own laws regarding how a man should be judged before being condemned.
So, where do you see yourself in this story?
Are you part of the “family,” claiming Christianity, yet still struggling to truly believe—like Jesus’ brothers?
Or maybe you’re part of the crowd, curious but undecided, just trying to figure out what all the fuss is about.
Perhaps you’ve been in church your entire life and are only now realizing that the ways of Jesus look different than what you learned in Sunday School.
In this part of the story, one option is to be like Nicodemus—to stand up for truth, even among peers who resist it, and to gently push others toward what is right.
The best option, though, is to be like Jesus.
Jesus knew His purpose. He moved wisely and in God’s timing. He was self-controlled, yet deeply passionate. He spoke truth despite His brothers’ disbelief, despite the doubts of the crowd, and despite open opposition.
Jesus’ ways are just as important as His words. How He navigated each moment perfectly is our example for how we are called to live. We will never walk in His ways perfectly—but when we follow the path He sets before us, we will experience the abundant life He promises.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for coming not only to pay for our sins but also to show us Your ways, to set an example for us. Your ways are indeed life-giving. Help us to look at Your ways closely and follow You. AMEN.