Glory
John7:1 -24
Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles
7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
Jesus Teaches at the Festival
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
One day, 5 years ago, I felt the desires of writing a book deep in my heart and I thought that it was very challenging and difficult to write a book, but it's not because writing is hard, but showing myself and speaking about my book was hard to me. I learned that almost all authors themselves should publicly tell people about their own books and should do try to sell as many books as possible. Therefore, I have hesitated to publish my book for a couple of years, which could be heard like an excuse, but it was really true. I must have been too timid and foolish to write in secret.
Today, Jesus seemed to have the similar problem or barrier like me, and of course, it is not the same as mine. He had to tell about Himself, which was not to gain His own glory, but to glorify God who had sent Him, which was the act of a man of truth, and He had nothing false in Himself as He had said. However, people were amazed at His speech and actions, at the same time, being doubtful of Him, based on His family members, hometown, and education career, as well as His appearance.
Most of all, His behaviors were totally different from the teachers of the Law of Moses. They looked righteous and perfectly good men, but they had no mercy on the weak, the sick, and the poor. Rather they were judging them and even letting them dead or intentionally kill Jesus as He was saying curses on them, even though He wanted them to confess and accept Him as a Messiah, seeing the Heaven, but they denied and did evil things: crucifying Him on the cross.
He was supposed to die on the cross for the sins of all human beings, according to the plan of God, so it was OKAY, as it was to do the will of God. Likewise, I'll have to do the will of God that was given to me, which is not to die, but rather make use of my time, energy, and money for the men whom God loves so much enough to give His only son as a ransom for all at once. Now I am again determined to show myself, shining the light to my neighborhood, though it is not that big, but little, like the light of a firefly, so that I may glorify Him.
