Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after Jubilate

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. John 7:1-13 (NKJV)

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

Devotion

St. John says our Lord’s brothers did not believe in Him. They loved the world and spoke as the world would speak. Therefore, our Lord says, “The world cannot hate you.” They were good Jews, they listened to the scribes and Pharisees, did what they told them to do, and spoke as they told them to speak. Therefore, they would receive no persecution or hate from the scribes and Pharisees.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, however, called the Jews to repentance; He spoke the truth. And on account of this He was reviled and hated, and killed.

Nobody likes having their sins called out. We at first prepare for a fight, but then repentant, like King David, St. Peter, and others, hearing the admonishment we confess our sins. We humbly accept the call to repentance and acknowledge it as the love and admonishment of the Lord God. And therefore, grow in faith and love toward God. The impenitent, however, rail and harass those who would call them to repentance. They fight tooth and nail against the Law and those who speak it. They lash out with personal attacks, and refuse to listen to the admonishment. They attempt to strengthen their own defense by justification and appeals to what other people have similarly done.

The world and all the impenitent in it hate the Lord, for He only speaks the truth. The Jews of His day hated Him speaking the truth so much that they crucified Him in shame for it. But, thanks be to God, it is our redemption in this crucifixion that the repentant cling to in faith; it is this throne of grace to which all those who are harassed by their sin cling in faith for forgiveness, life, and salvation.

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