They Kept Looking for Jesus

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

August 26, 2024

They Kept Looking for Jesus

So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.

John 11:53

Jesus had previously expressed concern that the growing tension between Israel and the Roman oppressors would lead to a violent outcome. He called the people to the ways of peace instead of insurrection. The religious leaders were also quite concerned about the political situation. They feared that through his miracles, Jesus was raising up a multitude to follow him, and that the Romans would see this as a threat and respond with great force. John interprets the High Priest’s political statement with a theological insight that affirmed Jesus’ death would be the means to unite the children of God in all nations.

It was now the time of Passover, and as the pilgrims began to gather in Jerusalem, there was much speculation about whether Jesus would be there. Back in Chapter 7, Jesus demurred about going to Jerusalem for the Festival of Shelters, then changed his mind and briefly visited Jerusalem. As we conclude the first half of the Gospel of John, it will be good to pause and try and put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. What was he thinking and what emotions was he feeling as he contemplated a final visit to Jerusalem, this time truly as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)? At least one person grasped what awaited Jesus in Jerusalem, and we will meet her tomorrow.

My Takeaway: As I try to imagine what Jesus was “feeling”, my thoughts immediately go to the Garden of Gethsemane. I am thinking about how he felt – he is fully human as well as fully divine. He knew the Lamb of God would be slain as he entered Jerusalem for the Passover. Does this mean God may not relieve my pain? Maybe so, but tomorrow Mary will help me keep everything in a Godly perspective.   

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.