ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

John 7:14-16

About the middle of the festival, Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach.  The Jews were astonished at it, saying,”How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?”  Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me.”

Roman Daily News, 11/6/33, back page

Rogue Rabbi Triggers Temple Tempest

by Lucius Metellus Stylus

Jerusalem—A country rabbi wanted by Judean authorities showed up at the Temple here halfway through the weeklong Feast of Tabernacles, when crowds max out to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for an ancient rescue.  Claiming his credentials come from the Jewish God, the man defended healing on their day of rest.  He then stirred up the crowd with wild claims about where he came from and where he is going, then slipped away.

He returned the last day, shouting that he is “the source of living water” and citing Hebrew scripture.  This time the crowd cheered him as “Prophet” and “Messiah.”  Fearing a riot, the Temple Guard deployed but he escaped again.

A spokesman for our Roman governor said, “We're monitoring the situation.  Judea is a rebellious province and religious crowds can get hysterical.  We'll catch the agitator.”   An unnamed chief priest acknowledged, “We're worried. No prophet comes from Galilee.  None of us believes this man, but this is a low-information mob—they don't understand our Law.”

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We don't easily accept teachers without “proper” credentials.  Did Jesus study with a local rabbi?  Was he like the Music Man, making it up as he went along?  Or like the illiterate African-American slave preachers who testified that God wrote the Scriptures on their hearts?  Or the Son of God?  Who do YOU say he is?

Linda Foltz

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. TONIGHT - Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet Nicodemus in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.