Sunday 8th October
Read John 7:33-36
“Jesus said, ‘I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’
35 The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me,” and “Where I am, you cannot come”?’” (NIVUK)
There is a strong streak of deliberate obtuseness in those who interact with Jesus. People simply refuse to hear what He says. By refusing to believe that Jesus came from God no one grasps where He will go when He goes. This descent then ascent is at the heart of God’s purposes for us and for creation. As CS Lewis observed: “God descends to re-ascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity … down to the very roots and sea-bed of the nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with Him.”
We see a hint of the ‘world’ He came down to save in their misunderstanding about going to teach the Greeks, to live among the proselytes. Ironically enough the arrival of the very people the Jews mistakenly believe He is going live amongst is the trigger for His hour, when He will go up on a cross to redeem a ruined world… “Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:20-23) (NIVUK)
