Pseudo Lies
Text: John 7:1-10
Theme: Jesus shrewdly shrouded the truth from less-than-truthful people.
Key verses: “After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!’ For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus replied, ‘Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime…You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come'” (v. 1-10).
What I believe God said to me: Dwayne, this is a very difficult passage to understand and discern. Obviously Jesus didn’t seek to deceive, and he certainly didn’t lie. He was the way, the truth and the life. It was and still is impossible for Jesus the Christ to lie. So, what happened in the exchange between him and his brothers in this story? That is the burning question. The “yet” is of doubtful authority, though it is found in some early manuscripts and versions. Including “yet” would remove the apparent difficulty of making Jesus look as though he willfully deceived his brothers. However, its meaning does not exclude a going up afterwards. He does not say, “I shall not go,” or “I shall not ever go.” He simply said, ‘I’m not going to this festival.” His exact words to his brothers, the inflection of those words, and the precise meaning may never be fully understood or agreed on among scholars. But here is what is obviously true: Jesus clearly let his brothers know he wasn’t going when they were going. Thus, they wouldn’t look for him or inform others of his attendance. It’s important to note that Jesus didn’t volunteer certain information. Much can be discerned from what he didn’t say to them. He didn’t tell them he was going in secret; he didn’t tell them he was going to the Temple; he didn’t try to explain his shrewd behavior to them. Why? Because he wisely knew they motives were evil, that they didn’t believe he was the Son of God. Therefore, they couldn’t be trusted with the full truth of his intentions. Therein lies the lesson for you today, Dwayne. This is an example of Jesus living out what he taught. Jesus taught his disciples to be “wise as servants and innocent as doves.” He directed them to combine shrewd, cautious discernment with pure, harmless integrity when facing a hostile, wolf-like world. His brothers were part of that hostile world, and Jesus responded accordingly.
What I believe God said to me: Thank You, my Father, for helping me to finally get through this passage and feel somewhat confident to journal about it. I know Jesus didn’t seek to deceive, but I am compelled to believe that this story illustrates a hard teaching. It demonstrates how being harmless as doves doesn’t exclude the equal need to be wise as serpents. Serpents are a symbol of evil in the Bible, and yet Jesus knowingly told us to be wise like serpents. I’m reminded of the stories I’ve heard about Christians in the Holocaust who were driven to lie to help their loved ones remain hidden from the Nazis. Will you hold them accountable for those wise lies, Lord? Somehow I don’t think so. Please help me always strive to be truthful but also be careful to share what is needed and expedient.