Jesus continues his ongoing conflict with the religious leaders. They are mad at Him, as always. Jesus tells them that they are always missing the point of the law and that there is an easy test to see if a teacher is of God. Whose glory do they seek? Their own? Or God’s glory? That’s an excellent test for us and leads to a great way for us to judge our actions. Do the actions we take help us love God and our neighbors more? Or do they not? That’s always a great way to test our thoughts and actions.

Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness.

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Good morning and happy Monday! I trust you’re doing well. It was a wonderful weekend for us, especially yesterday at church with a beautiful infant baptism—such a meaningful occasion! God is truly good, and we’re blessed. I’m excited for the week ahead, filled with important moments, including a funeral that celebrates a life well lived. Additionally, I’ve been planning for October and the months to come. God’s blessings continue to flow.

Today, let’s delve into John 7:10-24. In this passage, Jesus attends the festival secretly, and the religious leaders (referred to as “the Jews” in John) were searching for him. Among the crowd, there was division—some believed he was a good man, while others thought he deceived people. However, no one spoke openly about him out of fear.

Midway through the festival, Jesus begins teaching in the temple, astounding the listeners with his wisdom. When questioned about his authority, Jesus clarifies that his teachings come from God. He points out that the religious leaders are upset with him for healing on the Sabbath, yet they circumcise on the Sabbath to uphold the law. He challenges them, saying, “Are you angry because I healed a man’s entire body on the Sabbath?” Jesus calls them to move beyond appearances and judge with true discernment.

What’s clear is the ongoing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. They are deeply unsettled by Jesus, not just because of his message, but because he threatens their established traditions and authority. Jesus points out that these leaders have confused their man-made laws with God’s will, leading them to miss the true essence of the law.

This raises an important point about traditions. We all hold certain customs dear, but we must ask ourselves if they are truly aligned with God’s will. For example, the commandment to “keep the Sabbath holy” is straightforward in principle—rest and honor God. Yet, what that looks like in practice can vary, and in our effort to follow this command, we might impose unnecessary rules. Some may refrain from activities like yard work on Sunday, while for others, such tasks might even be a form of worship.

Jesus teaches us that it’s not about rigidly following human interpretations of God’s law, but about seeking God’s glory above all. He says in verse 17, “Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.” This is key for us. When discerning right from wrong, we should ask ourselves: Does this action help me love God and love my neighbor?

In everything we do—our actions, words, and decisions—we must test them against this measure. Are we seeking our own glory, or are we seeking to glorify God? This is how we discern what is truly in line with God’s will. Loving God and loving our neighbor should always be our guide.

Let’s continue to reflect on this as we move forward in our study. Tomorrow, we’ll pick up with verse 25. Thanks for joining me today. Have a great day!