January 29 Who is He?

John 7:12-13 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.
 
PEOPLE whispered about Jesus. They were afraid the Jews would punish them, possibly charge them with blasphemy as they had charged Jesus during his last visit to Jerusalem. The crowd had heard their leaders debate, dismiss, and accuse Jesus. Afraid, they whispered among themselves.
   Whispering usually is a sign of uncertainty and accusation. That’s a good way to describe the debate here. Jesus was not a good man as a man would be. A good man did not call the temple “my Father’s house” (John 2:16b) A good man didn’t lie: John 2:19 “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  Neither was Jesus a deceiver. His miracles were real. Lives changed.
   No, Jesus wasn’t a good man. He is the God-man whose every word was the spoken Word of God. It is the devil who deceives to confuse us and cause us to whisper, “Who is Jesus?” The crowd’s whispers equated Jesus with evil. The Jews were harsh and judgmental against the Lord. They all were very mistaken.
   As Jesus would soon enter Jerusalem, he would meet a very confused people. They had not grasped Jesus’ identity. The Teacher had much work to do in his city. This demonstrates why Jesus had to come to the Feast.
   Who would Jesus find as he entered his church today? Perhaps he would find people saying, “You’re a good man.” That’s how many “churches” define him. They’ve taken away his Lordship to equate him with a teacher one can chose to believe or not.
    Or would he hear the church say, “I’m not sure I trust all what you teach, Jesus.” Would he hear whispered disappointment and uncertainty? Would he find us afraid to acknowledge him as the true Lord of our lives and of his church?
   Who is Jesus to you? I hope we all are confident to stand and say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) All whispering becomes confident confession when you know who Jesus is.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for entering my life. I pray I know who you are - my Lord, my King, my Savior. Amen.