Testify

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

TESTIFY

John 7:1-13

7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles 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, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come."  9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" 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 Jews.

NIV

There is a lot more of this narrative in which Jesus has some conversations with the Jews at the feast of Tabernacles. This is a week-long feast, called Sukkot, it is a celebration of the forty years God protected them in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, with them living in tabernacles or booths, tents. It would be expected a lot of Jews would travel from far distances to attend such a feast. After seeing how they celebrate the Bar-mitzvah and Bat mitzvahs on the day we were in Jerusalem, we can only imagine the type of celebration this week-long feast would have looked like. Music, food, drink, dancing, and shouting, a celebration of who they are, the people of God. Jesus was up north around Galilee and his brothers, and this would have been the natural children born to Joseph and Mary, purposed that Jesus should go to the feast. From the narrative, we can see they were “Goating” him. Someone who wants to be a public figure should get out in the public and do their miracles so everyone can see. Jesus did not allow them to get to him, to goat him into going to the feast with everyone, making a public display of himself. He did, however, prophesy about the when the time for him would come. He makes it clear that the world did not hate them, his brothers, because at this time they were not believers, or identified themselves as his followers. However, he also makes it clear the world does hate him because he testifies that what the world does is evil. Here is where the rubber meets the road for us. Does the world love us or hate us? Are we accepted by the world, do they invite us into their celebration of evil, or do they shun us because they know we would not approve? Certainly, we have our standards, such as we would not go out with them to some strip club, or to a party where drugs were prevalent. We would not even go out for a night of drinking and partying, such as a worldly wedding celebration, or would we? If we just live in secret, like Jesus is being accused of by his brothers, then how are we going to share the message of the gospel? Where do we draw the line as to how close we get to the feast the world celebrates? Then again, do we testify to the evil which is in the world? It is quite likely if we do testify there will be people in the world who may not like us very much. This testifying is not just simply avoiding those activities, it is speaking out against them. It is living our faith out loud, so people know who we are, and who we are about, Jesus. It is true, we may not get as much opposition as Jesus did, but we still may not be the most favorite of people if we tell them they are doing want is wrong in the sight of God. Now that does not mean we condemn them by actually calling their behavior out, but we share the truth of God, the positive, and the truth will condemn them. So it comes down to, do we testify?