VS. April 26, 2025 Devotional
April 26, 2025
JOHN 7:45-52 | 45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” 46 The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” 47 Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived, too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of them, asked, 51 “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” 52 They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”
Perhaps Jesus’ Resurrection priorities should not surprise us, since humility was the tenor of His entire ministry. He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, but 33 years prior, He entered the world in a stable. He was comfortable conversing with scholars as a boy, but He held no advanced degrees. His teaching astounded His listeners and changed history, but He sought no stamp of official approval. John tells us “all things were created through Him,” yet as the Son of Man He depended on hospitality, for He “had nowhere to lay His head.” He came from Galilee not Jerusalem or Rome and spent most of His ministry time in obscure locations, helping and healing the broken, out of the limelight. He waited 30 years to begin His ministry, living in a small town, supporting His family as a carpenter.
What aspects of Jesus’ style or priorities surprises you?
Gracious God,
Give us the courage to follow a humble King, a modest Lord, who came not be served but to serve.
Amen.
