Being Sent

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

BEING SENT

John 7:25-29

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me." 

NIV

This is a somewhat strange comment by the people of Jerusalem, at least on the surface. First, the question about Jesus being the one the rulers were trying to kill. This translation uses the term authorities, the Greek word can be used like that, but it is more directly a ruler, commander or chief, leader. This would imply the authorities would be the Sanhedrin who was in charge of religious matters for the people. The people thought the Sanhedrin must have concluded that Jesus was the Christ because he was speaking publicly in the temple courts without any interference from the rulers. However, the people were also making a judgment themselves regarding whether Jesus was the Christ based on their knowing where he is from and the common perception of the Jews was that no one would know where the Messiah comes from, or where he would show up. It was also commonly known that from various scriptures they had concluded or believed the Messiah would show up, then be hidden, then show up again, be hidden again, then finally be revealed. Because they know Jesus was from Nazareth, it was questionable that he was the one. But, in retrospect, Jesus did show up, as a babe in Bethlehem, then was hidden in Egypt, then was shown again as a youth teaching in the temple, then hidden again, then shows up at the Jordon and is testified as to being the Christ, by the Spirit and the voice of God. Then it seems he has hidden again, not showing himself, then here he is revealing himself to everyone as the one sent by God. It seems even today, Jesus appears hidden to some people because of their blindness caused by their living in the darkness. No one can see in total darkness, but how then can they be saved. There is a light shining. Jesus is shining his light onto them and we know some of them will put their faith in him. He has told us we are now the light of the world, that because we are in Him and He is in us, that His light is shining into the darkness where people are blind. We also know the light always overcomes the darkness, that the darkness cannot overpower the light. Then it would make sense that we are supposed to shine our light into the darkness so the blind can see, so we can give life to the dead. The question is, how far from the darkness can we shine our light and they will see it? How close to we have to get to the darkness so the blind can see? Will they see it from our church pews? Will they see from our towers of isolation? No, it seems we might just have to get a little closer in order for the blind to see. We might actually have to walk among them, just as Jesus did. He tells the people he is from the Father and he was sent to tell them what is true. We have been commissioned or sent out into the world, and that does not mean just paying for someone to be a missionary to a far off place, but that we have been sent out into the world, into every aspect of the world and shine our light into that dark place. Some of the people will see and believe, some will not, but that is not up to us, but it is up to the Spirit. We are simply to shine our light because he sent us. Jesus said he was sent. So why would we not also be sent if Christ is in us? The fact is we are sent. We are being sent, it is a present tense verb. We are always being sent. It is not a onetime thing, it is always in the active sense, we are being sent.