03/23/2023 – Gospel of John Fellowship – Chapter 7 / Are we willing to stand up for our faith, even if it means putting our safety and/or comfort in serious jeopardy?
Good morning!
Here is the link to Matthew Henry’s concise commentary on our chapter today:
https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary/matthew-henry-concise/john/7
And here is the link to John Gill’s commentary on the verse that grabbed me, 7:46:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/john-7-46.html
Quick FYI : We now have at least one post for: 1) Gospel of John readings in the Semikkah7 read through the Bible plan, and 2) this 21 chapters in 21 days plan, now into its 2nd cycle. Logged on uses can filter on the category: “Gospel of John – 21 chapters in 21 days category. Or all users can use the search tool on the text: “Day 232”, to show postings on chapter seven and eight, the assignment for that day. Since we have so much that we could discuss, even for a single chapter, I am avoiding repetition except by rare exception. If you have any questions or want a short tool course, contact me at Semikkah7@protonmail.com.
Small stuff:
As to verse 52: “They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee, to? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” Not sure, Jonah, from the tribe of Zebulen came out of Galilee (2 Kings 14:25 / Joshua verses: 19:10 / 19:13 / 9:16
Question for the group:
So, looking at Matthew Henry’s commentary in section, verses 37 – 39: Wasn’t the temple guards going back to the chief priests and Pharisees, asking them , “Why didn’t you let him in?” in verse 45, evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit , signified as it was in the pouring out of the water on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles? They declare in verse 46: “No man has spoke the way this man does”. What a risk they were taking on, knowing that they had little hope of being able to make their case!
Contrast the guards reaction to the crowd whispering crowd in verse 32. Why were they whispering? I submit that many sensed the amazing Truth as well, but they were afraid of recriminations or threats to their desire for “safe”. Speaking of, remember Nicodemus noted in verse 50 from our reading on his inquiring visit to Jesus in the middle of the night. No, he may not have been taking the risk that the guards were taking, but it could be that he was already a “secret’ believer at this point. We will see, that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask him for the body of Jesus so they could bury him in accordance with Jewish customs. Now that, was I suspect was more risk. We don’t know, Nicodemus could have even been martyrd for his “secret” faith before it was all over.
So, the key question for all of us is: “Is it a risk worth taking?” And are we not ever increasingly faced with that question in our day?
Soli Deo Gloria!