One Step Toward Jesus

January 9th, 2025

John 7:33-44

Jesus spoke in the temple courts and provoked strong reactions from His listeners. At the Festival of Tabernacles, Jesus’ brothers urged Him to go to the event publically in order to show His works and His identity. Jesus went to the festival in secret and taught about the rigidity of legalism and how He was able to perform miracles.

Pharisees inquired of Jesus, “How can this man be the Messiah if he heals on the Sabbath?” (see Luke 6:6-11). Some people wanted to seize Jesus because of this teaching, and others were left questioning.

We don’t know how frustrated Jesus was constantly defending His identity. The Pharisees couldn’t see beyond their own strict idea of who the Messiah was supposed to be. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (v. 38).

We have to believe in Jesus, not with our own strict ideas, but we must open ourselves to the beauty of living water. We must believe in Jesus in order to thrive in living water.

Author: Aimee Mulder