#GeraldsDevotional The Awakening of the People soundcloud.com/gerald-prater/…

Today we will discuss some events in the life of Jesus where the people that He taught began to notice inconsistencies with the words and actions of the Jewish leaders. Jesus is in the middle of His ministry preaching the truth and showing many signs and wonders to large crowds

of people. The Scribes and Pharisees were loosing their minds and were desperate to stop Him. They had been constantly accusing Jesus of deceiving the people, being the devil and of breaking the law. Jesus consistently responded that He had been sent by His Father in heaven and

that He only did what He saw His Father doing. This response only infuriated the Jewish leaders even more and made them want to kill Him. But among the common people, there were many discussions about what they had seen and heard from Jesus. They had previously noted how smart He

was and able to teach considering He was not formally educated. Some believed the accusations of the leaders and others saw the evidence of the truth in what He said and the power in the things that He did. Many began to wake up and to understand that there was something very

special about this man even though they knew who He was and about His humble earthly beginnings. So as we read today’s scripture, Jesus was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. After quietly entering the city during the celebrations, He was

teaching in secret (hiding in plain sight where the people would gather) because He knew that the Jewish leaders sought to kill Him. Even while He taught during this particular gathering, they had accused Him of many things, including being lawless by doing good on the Sabbath

(healing a sick man). But we will read how many of the people began to think for themselves as they reflected on what was happening. Jesus reminded them that what they were seeing was true and that He was only doing the work of His Father who sent Him. He constantly pointed and

directed their focus to be on the source of His truth and power. This made the leaders want even more to arrest Him but they did not for fear of what the people would do.

Now let’s read about and ponder this developing confrontation as found in chapter 7 of John beginning at verse 25. Could This Be the Christ? 25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to

Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from;

and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in

Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” - John 7:25-31 @Thread Reader App unroll