Who Is This?

Again I’ve used a graphic for which I cannot site a source. I tried to track it down and ended up on a Pinterest with this .JPG. If I hear from the originator, I promise to share. However, this graphic is just right for a recent Sunday School lesson.

John’s chapter 7 begins with people going to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacle. Do you know it is being held this month? That a Christian organization offered excursions to this for October 16-21, 2016? Jesus’ brothers wanted Him to go and do a little “show and tell” for the people in Jerusalem:

His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. (John 7:3 KJV)

This Feast was set up in Deuteronomy:

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: (Deuteronomy 31:10-12 KJV)

Note that it was open to non-Jews, “thy stranger that is within thy gates”. And, note that it was specifically where “thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.” Judaism was for everyone, just as Jesus, Christ, came for everyone. Many choose not to believe that.

Many still don’t know what to make of Jesus – who is He and why do some people think He is worthy of worship while others see Him as a criminal leading people astray? During His lifetime, there was this same division

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. (John 7:12 KJV)

Eventually, without notice, He went to Jerusalem and taught - which surprised people who wondered how an uneducated man could.

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (John 7:16-18 KJV)

Once again, people were asking, just who is this?

Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? (John 7:25-26 KJV)

There was arguments then about who He was, and there are just as many today:

So there was a division among the people because of him. (John 7:43 KJV)

Eventually – in another chapter, a coming Sunday School lesson - Jesus asked the disciples the question each human has to answer and Peter gave the answer I believe is correct:

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16 KJV)

Do you know who He is?