LENTEN REFLECTION

Message

The Gospels are testimony for us today, so that we may believe that Jesus is God the Son, and have life in His name, that fullness of life that only He gives (Jn 20:31).

Gospel Reading

John 7 40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? 42 Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The Unbelief of Those in Authority

45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” 46The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” 47 Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the

Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, which does not know the law— they are accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51 “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” 52 They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”

From chapter 5 to 12 in the Gospel of John, we see the intensification of the antagonism and sheer hatred of the chief priests, pharisees and those in authority against our Lord Jesus Christ, with each healing He performs. While our Lord does good, they do evil. He gives life and joy, they would rather the life was not given and the joy not had. We are to be bringers of life and joy, everywhere.

The Gospel passage is a summary of responses to our Lord Jesus Christ, and directly asks the question: What about you, who do you say Jesus is? Some of the crowd, the police and Nicodemus, on the one hand, accept Jesus to varying degrees. The Chief priests, pharisees and authorities, on the other hand, reject Jesus; for various reasons.

Some of the crowd considered Him a Prophet, others the Messiah (vv. 40-41). While others rejected Him because they expected the Messiah to come from Bethlehem (vv. 42-43). These did not have full knowledge, that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and was of David’s line; they had not fully informed themselves. We can see how they were in error to reject Jesus on that count. As for the chief priests, pharisees and authorities, they had shut their eyes and ears, and their hearts were sleepy (Isa 6:10 LXX).

As for us, as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we believe and receive new life in Him (Jn 20:31). He gives us the living water, the Holy Spirit, and we have fullness of life in Him (Jn 7:37-39, 10:10). We are to manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (Gal 5:22-23).

The attitude of the pharisees is astounding. They call the crowd “accursed” (v.49). They pride themselves in knowing the Law. This self-righteousness is spiritual blindness and their downfall. We are not far from them whenever we despise those we consider to be of lesser social standing, or less versed in technical matters, or simply sinners. The chief priests and pharisees send the police to arrest Jesus (v.45). This will be quite familiar in our times; raising issues of good governance, democracy and justice.

Jesus does not give up. He continues to do the work of the Father. On our part, we can give up easily. There can be blocks on our way, that prevent us from going on; that keep us from achieving our vision and goals. Jesus perseveres, living in prayer and continuous union with God the Father (Jn 14:10-11), and so should we (Lk 8:15). Jesus tells us to remain in Him, so that we may also do God’s work and our joy may be complete in Him (Jn 15:4-11). When down, we can pray Psalms 7 and 22, with our Lord. And we can pray Psalm 88, perhaps the most depressed of them all, which tradition says Jesus prayed in the dungeon in the night before His crucifixion.