Have you ever had a hard time believing God? The silence of God can be deafening!  Some of God's truth just seems impossible; I imagine Abraham and Sarah understood my frustration.  Wanting something to be true does not make it true and if seems too good to be true, chances are it is not.  Add to that confusion the total lack of empirical data of even a hint it is true.  This silence of God confounds people, even good people, opening the door for all kinds of evil to creep into their faith in God.  Adam and Eve; Abraham and Sarah; and even Jesus faced the silence of God.  The conversation between Eve and Satan did not go unnoticed by God, nothing does.  Abraham and Sarah must have prayed constantly about the promise of God to given them a son.  God did not interrupt Eve's conversation or stop her from doing what she wanted.  Abraham and Sarah's plan to obtain a son was not stopped by God.  Both of these attempts to make life better through the wisdom of man failed; sin entered the world by the former and the Nation of Israel birthed a Nation who will live in hostility toward all his brothers (Gen 16).  Contrast Jesus in the garden praying to His Father asking for a better way to accomplish His work and avoid carrying all the sins of the world; becoming sinful and separated from God for the sake of all who believe God can do everything (Mt 25:36-46; Lk 22:40-46).  Jesus did not replace or modify God's plan, He followed it and it worked just as the Father knew it would.

Mark 9:14-29 tells us God can help, will help and nothing is impossible for one who believes and does not falter in prayer (Mt 17:20; Lk 17:6; 1Cor 13:2; Jas 1:6).  Just like the caterpillar in chrysalis, we are experiencing God's plan for our transformation into the likeness of His only begotten Son.  The silence of God gives us the opportunity to prove we believe God is true to His word and will fulfill every promise given (1 Peter 1).

Wait on God, pray and know God is true to His word--it will happen just as He determined it would, when His time is right.

John 7:11-24

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.

14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?"

20 "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?"

21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

Observations for living today: 
A good emissary or diplomat speaks with the authority of the one sending him, he does not add to or subtract from the message given him; to do so would be disrespectful.  How you treat an emissary reveals two things you believe: 1) the legitimacy of the emissary; and 2) the nature and strength of the originating authority.  Everything Jesus said or did was for the honor of the one who sent Him—always the Son of Man—a servant of the truth with nothing false about him.  The “Jews” tenacious attempt to disprove Jesus as a legitimate emissary from God demonstrates their belief/understanding of God’s character and power.

People judge a person "good" when the person does what is expected. A good nurse is kind, knows what medicine you need and always responds when you ask for help.  It does not matter how much the nurse knows, it is what nurse does that is important to a patient.  The people saw Jesus showing God's love and they wanted more.  The "Jews" saw a threat, an inconvenience at the least and worse one who was usurping their authority.

Those who lie or modify truth to find an advantage, blind themselves to truth.  Liars tell others the truth is a deception, cannot be known in spite of evidence to the contrary and rely on the use of fear to control those who do not agree with them.   

All the questions were attempts to determine if Jesus was a legitimate emissary of God.  His advice - choose to love God, do what God wants (His will) and the answer to each question will become obvious.  “If anyone chooses to do God’s will” the God of Genesis who spoke and everything that exists was created from nothing, the living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the Father whose eternal Son who now speaks in human form will make it understandable so you can “make a right judgment.”

It is interesting to see the controversy generated by someone doing good things for helpless people: healing and addressing the needs of those over looked by the aristocracy of the day (the Jews: scribes, Pharisees, and rulers of the people).  Helpless meaning no one could change the conditions they faced regardless of how much money or societal status they had, i.e., beggar, lunatic or rich man could not be helped out of the trauma they faced.  Neither the temporal Roman might nor the spiritual elite of the Sanhedrin could effect change; only the one sent by God could make a difference.   

The one, who could do what could not be done, confused the educated aristocratic leaders so much they could not:
- decide if He was a good man; after 2 years of public ministry (28-30AD) accompanied by multiple miracles (raising the dead, healing and feeding the body, freeing the mind from sin)—what’s the question again?

- understand how He became so wise, where He learned so much without an education; obviously smarter than any of them avoiding all the intellectual traps they put before Him.

- acknowledge His wisdom came from God; if we are God’s leaders and we do not agree with you, you cannot be from God—what would that make us? 

The religious leaders' desire to kill Jesus was public knowledge, yet when confronted openly by Jesus they denied there was evil intent in their actions.  The truth was so obvious and known to the public no one would speak on Jesus' behalf for fear of their retaliation. 

One only needs to look at the political environment today to see such dynamics at work—PC (political correctness) exists not because of what is right and true, but how it affects popular opinion, i.e., serves the need to be liked or in the politician's case, voted for on Election Day.  This philosophy is personified today by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).  When asked if he lied during the 2012 presidential campaign when he stated from the Senate floor, the opposing Republican candidate paid no taxes for 10 years, answered, "They can call it whatever they want. Romney didn’t win did he?”  The POTUS, a former Senator (D-IL), in an interview by Steve Kroft during the election campaign (CBS 60 Minutes 23 Sep 2012), when told some of his ads were “misleading and in fact not true” and was asked if the country deserved the truth, did not answer the question, rather, commented, “Do we see sometimes us going overboard in our campaign, are there mistakes that are made, areas where there is no doubt somebody could dispute how we are presenting things? You know, that happens in politics.” In the context of the interview he was saying lying is okay as long as he wins, because he is the only one right for the country; the truth really does not matter, only winning does. 

The real danger is not when worldly leaders behave with such depravity, rather when spiritual leaders imitate the world and become politicians; those who should be able to see and understand God’s truth, become bold faced liars telling people the truth does not matter.

Jesus used the teaching moment to demonstrate how those who do not love God cannot understand God.  The most religious and pious were claiming to obey the law.  Their legitimacy was anchored in their obedience.  He used their rote knowledge of the Law of Moses to expose their folly, while they used their knowledge of God to assure their status instead of revealing the character of God:
- circumcision came from Abraham not from Moses; God was going to kill Moses for not following the commandment when he failed to circumcise one of his sons (his wife did it so God would not kill Moses Gen 17:9-14; Ex 4:24-26).

- they were trying to kill Jesus for ministering to the helpless on the Sabbath (not a violation of God’s law, but against their tradition), while none of them were living in faith (keeping the law, i.e., fulfilling the spirit of Abraham and Moses).

- they interpreted the law in ways to promote the appearance of holiness, failing to understand it was to reflect their belief/faith in God (Mt 23).

Jesus addressed the needs of people knowing how much God wanted them taken care of, while the law was interpreted by the Judean aristocracy as a way to show how a man could attain righteousness.  Jesus always points toward God.  He is the compassionate voice, showing the intent and the heart of the Father, the invisible God made visible. 

Reality in Christ:
 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.  

Want to know the truth?  Jesus does not try to prove it himself, rather, directs all the attention to God (compare Jn 6:44-45; Heb 8:8-13; Isa 54:13 Jer 31:31-34).  Listen to God if you want to know where Jesus was educated, where He came from.  The message He gave those people then is just as valid today!

The Law of Moses was a shadow of what was to come – the reality of God is found in Christ.  We need to get away from striving to appear smart and really be smart; in His words, "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."  

Jesus was telling us you cannot act holy you must be holy (1 Pe 1:16; Heb 12:14)!  Read the Faith Building Cycle lesson for detail on how to make holiness a reality. 

This experience is personal and nontransferable.  You cannot buy it or give to someone; you have to do it yourself, period (Jer 31:30).  Stop cheating--copying from the person next to you!  Education is about learning, growing and changing who you are.  It is not the grade you get from a course that counts in life; it is what you learn from the course, how that knowledge changes how you think and then what you are able to do with a new perspective.   

This is why copying from the person next to you during a test does not help you. Nor does it help to just repeat another person’s idea, i.e., be politically correct without thinking through the concept—saying you are a Christian without any understanding of what God said (doctrine).  The blind leading the blind will both fall into the pit.(Mt 15:14; Lk 6:39-49)  Listen closely to what Jesus said about Judgment Day: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord’ did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Mt 7:21-27) It is not about saying the politically correct phrase or doing something to show/prove you are righteous or holy; it is about loving God, believing what He said and having that knowledge of God transform you--change you, like from a caterpillar to a butterfly.  There will be no worms in heaven, no caterpillars; those who refuse to be changed will not be, not now and not then!  You need to put on what God has given you (Mt 22:11; Rv 19:8)!  Listen to God, do what He wants done and you will understand Jesus; you will be “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” “metamorphosed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,” have “the mind of Christ,” and know “the deep things of God" (Ro 12:2; 2 Co 3:18; 1 Co 2:10).  

But if you try to copy from your neighbor and don't do your own work, you will fail completely.  God rewards you for what you have done not what the person next to you did!  “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. (Mt 16:27)

What do you think will happen if God asks you a question on judgment day and you do not know the answer; if you lived your whole life looking at the answer to His question and never gave it a thought, because it just did not seem to matter at the time?  Oh, by the way, what has God said to man and what did the Son of Man tell us about God; was it a myth or a fairy tale or a methodology developed by politicians to control the ignorant masses?  What do you think about the knowledge of God--worth retaining or not (Ro 1:28)? 

God never told us to do something or not do something to gain something for Himself.  We were created in love and power.  It is weakness that lets fear open the door to sin.  When you believe Jesus, God is your Master, Father and Teacher; what is there to fear?   If there is anything to worry about, it is we have become comfortable living in “Laodicea,” deceiving ourselves that everything is okay the way it is (Rv 3:14-21; Isa 55:1-7). 

What can be done to ensure we are not stuck in such a dilemma?  Simple! Until you graduate from God’s University and He physically shakes your hand while giving you a certificate saying you are finished, i.e., you have become perfect; there is more you need to learn and much more to for you to do.   

12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. . . . 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Rv 22:10-17)

Prayer:

Father, out of nothing you created everything; you alone know what truth is and you made us in your image, to know truth and love truth. Help me now to know truth and live in your truth so I too can make right judgments.  I want to understand your will and to do it daily.  Help me sort out the truth from all the lies surrounding me today.  I know you sent your Son to speak to us today and make it possible to live in your truth—I believe, help my unbelief, guide me out of darkness and futile thinking into the light of your truth.  Fill my days with your Holy Spirit so I might know clearly what is right and true; give me the strength and courage to walk in the light of your love.  Thank you Lord for giving us the truth and leading us back to the Father