(REFLECTIONS ON John 7:25-53)

A consistent theme in the Gospel of John is about the timing of Jesus’ life, ministry, and death. We read repeatedly in the Gospel of John that His hour had not yet come (Ref. John 2:4, 7:30, 8:20). It is only until the time is right that we read that the hour has come (Ref. John 12:23, 13:1, 17:1). This reveals something that is emphasized in the Gospel of John, that is Jesus is in control.

The world, the Jews, the Roman Empire did not dictate Jesus’ timeline, but it is God that works according to His will and timing to bring about salvation to the world through Christ, that decides. In the Gospel of John, in addition to timing, Jesus seems to know and be in control of everything.

Examples:

  • He knew what was in man (2:25).
  • He knew who would betray Him (6:64).
  • He knew His hour had come (13:1).
  • He knew all things that were coming upon Him (18:4).

Even after Jesus was crucified in John 19, it is Jesus that declares “It is finished!” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Jesus is in control.

As we read today’s Scripture, we see that His hour had not yet come, and although there was tension amongst the Jews and the Jewish leaders about this man, Jesus, no one laid hands on Him. In the end, in the midst of this tension, we read, “Everyone went to his home.”

We often times want to be in control of our lives, our faith, our Jesus, and want to dictate God, rather than submit to Him. The Gospel of John and today’s Scripture reminds us that it isn’t our timeline, our convenience, or our will that God needs to bend to, but rather it is us that need to be in submission to Him.

Jesus is in control, and the sooner we realize that, stop trying to be in control, and stop trying to turn Jesus into our own personal servant, the sooner we can finally start moving forward in our relationship with Him.

Jesus is in control, should be a comfort, our hope and peace, but rather we are too stubborn, too proud, too desperate to be over Him, rather than Him over us.

Jesus is in control, and so no one could lay hands on Him until He allowed it, but isn’t that why He is worthy of all honor, praise, and all of our worship?

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: John 7