There is a fascinating little story embedded within the larger narrative of John 7’s discussion among the crowds as to whether Jesus was the Messiah.
The Pharisees were disgusted with Jesus’ growing popularity and decided that He should be locked up so that He couldn’t keep winning disciples to His Way.
And so they chose to abuse the power of the temple guards who were assigned to protect the assets and ministering servants at the Jerusalem temple.
The religious leaders told the guards to find and arrest Jesus.
The charge? The Bible lists no reason for the ancient warrant other than that the Pharisees didn’t like Jesus.
When the guards found Jesus preaching, they were immediately enthralled by His message and didn’t arrest Him.
In fact, when they returned to the temple without Him, they explained to the irate Pharisees that, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” (John 7:46)
The explanation didn’t go over well with the Pharisees who said the guards were “deceived.”
We know now who was actually deceived.
My point in mentioning this mini-story today is this: there is amazing power in the simple words of Christ.
If simply shared, simply explained words of Christ can thaw the ice in the veins of “keep-my-job-at-all-costs” temple guards, then those words can reach some non-Christians in your life today.
Jesus told the John 7 crowd, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (vv. 37-38).
Those words not only touched the thirsty hearts of common Jews who were tired of rules-based religion, but also planted seeds in the hearts of temple guards who saw daily the hypocrisy of the legalistic Pharisees.
Listen, there are thirsty people all around you who are tired of drinking from worldly wells that run dry or run bitter, or both. One well might be the claim that good looks assures a good life. Another well might be that moral or ethical compromises are the keys to gaining advantage over others.
Both are lies and many people know it, whether they’ll admit it or not.
Start sharing more of Jesus’ words with the people in your life. If those words could turn the temple guards’ religious lives upside down, think of what they might do in the lives of everyday people in your corner of the world.
As always, I love you
Martin
