They Kept Looking For Jesus

August 23, 2016

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.

Sē’lah

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(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. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.