What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?
They were looking for Jesus (v.56), the crowds in Jerusalem, that is. Looking for Jesus. But really, he wouldn’t come here would he, not at this time, not when the tensions are high, not when the Romans are here, the Jewish leaders are plotting, and there’s a price on his head. Surely not. He won’t come. I don’t know, what do you think? The small addition of the words ‘will he?’ indicating a vain hope that he should, and it would be amazing if he did, but he probably won’t. It’s the remark of a people whose hopes have been dashed on too many occasions, whose lives are stuck rather than going somewhere – it’s the hope of a people who are struggling to believe that this Jesus really is who he says he is. Although there have been miracles, healing, joys, truth, sermons and compassion in the past – can we dare to believe that he can now complete what he has begun?
What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?
They were looking for Jesus, the Church in the UK, that is. Looking for Jesus. But really, he wouldn’t come here would he, not at this time, not when the bombs are going off and cars, vans and lorries are being used as machines of terror, not when this government is in charge, not when the Brexit plans are like this, not when there’s a price for naming Jesus as Lord. Surely not. He won’t come. I don’t know what do you think? The small addition of the words ‘will he?’ indicating the vain hope that he should, and it would be amazing if he did, but he probably won’t. It’s the remark of a people whose hopes have been dashed on too many occasions, whose lives are stuck rather than going somewhere, it’s the hope of a people who are struggling to believe this Jesus really is who he says he is. Although there have been miracles, healing, joys, truth, sermons and compassion in the past – can we dare to believe that he can now complete what he has begun?
What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?
I’m looking for Jesus; well I really mean you – yes you, sat reading this. Looking for Jesus. But really, he wouldn’t come here would he, not today and now, not when life is like this, not when these struggles are so real, sin so nagging, brokenness so broken, not when I’ve failed quite so often as I have, not when the price he must pay for me is so high. Surely not. He won’t come. I don’t know what do you think? The small addition of the words ‘will he?’ indicating the vain hope that he should, and it would be amazing if he did, but he probably won’t. It’s the remark of someone whose hopes have been dashed on too many occasions, whose life is stuck rather than going somewhere, it’s the hope of someone who is struggling to believe this Jesus really is who he says he is. Although there have been miracles, healing, joys, truth, sermons and compassion in the past – can I dare to believe that he can now complete what he has begun?