It's All about Motive

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:14-24).

After Jesus pointed out the importance of timing to His brothers, The Spirit of Truth moved John to record that He arrived at the temple in the middle of the feast. There would have been a full house in the temple in the middle of the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). Our Teacher focuses our attention not on the content of Jesus’ sermon, but rather the response of the audience to His teaching. The point of this passage is that Jesus taught before both religious leaders and all the people. He was about to reveal some very important truth about the living water that He will offer to His true disciples… “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”’” (John 7:37-38). But before He revealed this impeccably timed declaration of truth, Jesus diligently prepared the hearts of His followers to understand and grasp it. We see here that once again He compelled the crowd to mature from followers into disciples by reflecting on the condition of their hearts because the primary difference between followers and disciples of Christ was a matter of the heart. For true disciples of Christ, it’s all about motive.

Are you a follower or a disciple of Christ? Both followers and disciples like to be where Christ is. They go to church, Bible studies, fellowships, conferences, and concerts. They sing the songs and hymns and they listen to the preaching and teaching. But followers remain unchanged by the truth that bounces off their hardened hearts… “Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed” (Matthew 13:14-15). Upon hearing the same teaching, true disciples are increasingly transformed into the image of their teacher… “Everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). What makes the difference? What is the secret to spiritual growth that moves us from the crowd of followers into the inner circle of disciples? Jesus’ response to this crowd reveals this precious secret.

The Jews who should have recognized Jesus as the Messiah acknowledged that His teaching was special… “The Jews therefore marveled”. They confirmed that Christ’s teaching did not come from their established, officially accredited academies or universities… “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” Most of the crowd judged His teaching to be false because it did not come through officially recognized authorities. But others in this great crowd of followers wanted to believe His words were true. They seized upon His declaration that the source of His teaching was God Himself… “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me”, they desired to know and do the will of God… “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God”, and they desired to see God glorified… “The one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true”. Today’s scripture teaches that true disciples are changed by the word of God because the motive of their hearts is to hear from God, to know and do His will, and to see Him glorified.

As we grow up into Christ our hungry hearts are changed by His word because for true disciples…

It’s All about Motive.