Sometimes it feels like ramblings when I write these. I wonder at these times if I am leaning more on myself and less on Him for words or if my message it self is wondering from Him. Pray for me that God shows me His message and humbles me to His purpose and glory. And if that purpose is ramblings that you discern the glorious gospel of His grace I pray in ignorance I continue for His glory.
Extra Credit: After my commentary on what the church has become and the hypocrisy that is present it is refreshing to read this devotion by Don Fortner on What is a Church
Jhn 11:55 And the Jews passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
Jhn 11:56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
Jhn 11:57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
- What was meant by purify themselves?
I can almost picture this scene. The Jews come to Jerusalem in their ceremonial traditions. Traditions alone that have lost all meaning and have become social environments. Gathered together in the temple many gossiped about where they believed Jesus to be and who they believed He was. Some bragged about the experience they personally had the year previous when He feed the 5000. Others spoke of superstition and ignorance of what He did and what He would do. Still others murmured at the trouble He causes and rebelled against any praise. Then there were the ones that came out, possibly for the first time, for nothing more than curiosity and controversy and to see what He might do for them. Finally perhaps among them, though few in number, there were those seeking the Lord and came to glory in His words. Most noted hear in our text though was not those in attendance but the message given by the chief priest and leaders. The message from these Pharisees was not the gospel of grace but instead they preached and wanted to place this man under law and perverted the gospel of Christ.
Unfortunately it is too easy to picture this, for I have seen it before. Weekly we see Christians in ceremonial traditions gathering together in scenes that have lost all praise and have become social environments. They brag of personal experience and gossip among themselves about others. They speak of ignorance and murmur about what they do not understand. They create entertainment to entice those in out of curiosity and keep them with false promises. And leading these congregations, their chief priest continue to try to place man under law and pervert the gospel of Christ. But finally I pray perhaps among them there are those sheep whom He has not called. Those that will in time glory in His words.
