Puzzled

Scripture: John 7:32-36  (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

32 When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33 But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.” 35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?” (John 7:32–36 NLT)

Jesus made such puzzling statements: “1) I will be with you only a little longer. 2) Then I will return to the one who sent me. 3) You will search for me but not find me. 4) You cannot go where I am going.” 1) It was only a little later that they arrested, tortured, and killed him. 2) He told the thief beside him at Calvary, “Today you will be with me in Paradise!” He must have made a quick visit to his Father in Heaven while his body was in the tomb. 3) They searched for him high and low! They claimed his followers had stolen his body. They never found him. 4) They couldn’t go where he went, because they rejected him and his message. And He is the way, the truth, and the life!

We know that Jesus was speaking of spiritual things. And it’s also clear that they were thinking only of natural things. It’s just so easy to miss the point when we are thinking on a completely different track than the one we’re listening to. I’m committed to making every effort to speak of spiritual things in simple and practical terms with illustrations and examples from our natural lives to help us make the connection. If you catch me doing otherwise, please call it to my attention so I can try to do better!

Here’s what I do when I present myself before the Scripture to read, to study, or to prepare to speak or write… I ask: 1) What does it say? 2) What does it mean? 3) What must I do? I want to be on the same frequency as Jesus when I read and study his words. So I must tune myself in by asking the Holy Spirit these three questions and opening my mind and heart to hear and see. Otherwise, it’s puzzling!

Prayer:

Father, Please give my friends and me eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to receive what you want to teach us from your Word, and even more from Jesus the Living Word. We want to hear Spirit words with Spirit-tuned ears. In Jesus’ Name.