Then the servants came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, 

"Why didn't you bring him?"

The servants answered, 

"No man ever spoke like this!"

Then the Pharisees responded to them, 

"Are you fooled too? Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him? 

But this crowd, which doesn't know the law, is accursed."

John 7:45-49 CSB

OK back to John's gospel...the Pharisees are apolectic now.

Half the people are believing in Jesus, their own staff are in revolt, and their arguments have gone to the level of name calling.

Labelling.

And as much as I detest the Pharisees, I carry those same things in my heart (not about Jesus tho)...when things don't go my way, when people don't seem to be listening to me, and I drift   into labelling.

Name calling.

Their hearts are exposed here (just as mine can be).

Jesus wants us to follow him. When the greatest heat possible was on him, on the cross, what do we hear? 

Acknowledgment of reality, and forgiveness.

He wants me to be more like him, and less and less like the Pharisees. 

This is tough work.

To give up power, pride, position, recognition, and take on servanthood, compassion, forgiveness, grace, and love.

Tough, redeeming, cleansing, sanctifying work.

Work that blesses, encourages, and speaks life into this world.

#gospelofjohn

#tuesday

#Godsgym

#speaklife