I can’t help but think about modern Americans when I read chapter seven in John’s gospel. It seems that the common people were becoming divided in their opinion of Jesus. Some believed He was the Christ (promised Messiah) or at least a great prophet, while others thought he was crazy. This division is clearly seen in verses 5, 12-13, 31, 40-41, and 43. Doesn’t that sound like people in our world today? Many believe in Jesus and His teachings, while many others do not.

There was a time in the Bible belt when a majority of people claimed belief in Jesus and being part of a church was considered good for business. It doesn’t mean everyone was a genuine follower of Jesus, but church and Christianity were dominant influences in culture. Times have changed – dramatically. Many of us who’ve lived in the Bible belt all our lives are struggling to adjust. Yet our modern circumstance is really not new. It may be new to us, but it is not new to God’s people in this world and it does not catch Jesus by surprise. He experienced it during His time on earth.

So what are we to do? Let me answer that by first saying what we are not supposed to do.

One, we are not to be like the people in verse 13. They apparently believed Jesus’ words but were afraid to say so in public because of the controversy surrounding Him. They were intimidated into silence. We cannot allow that to happen to us. As followers of Christ we cannot be silent.  We cannot allow the voices who deny Jesus to be the only voices that are heard.

Two, we cannot be like the “officers” (low level cops who serve the Jewish religious leaders) in verses 45-49. Apparently they had been impressed with Jesus’ teaching, but the religious leaders intimidated them and tried to make them think they were not educated enough to know what they were talking about. There will always be those who attempt to make you feel like your belief in Jesus’ words is ignorant or even illogical. Yet His words are the only words that are eternal and will never change.

I love what Jesus said in verse 17. In short, He told us that His teaching will make sense to anyone who has enough faith to actually obey it. Experience is usually the best teacher and once a person truly experiences the work of Jesus in his or her life, the world does not look so smart or intimidating.

What are we to do in this world that has a divided opinion about Jesus and His teachings? We are to obey Him and His words – that is what we do.

Pastor Steve Hogg