April 30, 2023
Challenging Leadership
“So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look. He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.’ Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, ‘You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.’” John 7:25-28 (NASB)
Have you ever been in a meeting where someone will say something, it shocks you, and then the person continues on without anyone responding? In a meeting years ago, a lady began an argument with a supervisor in a meeting. Halfway through the conversation she threatened to sue. This stemmed from supervisors not dealing with her past attitude and threats. This only emboldened her. During this meeting she threatened another suit. All in the room suddenly didn’t know what to say. Toward the end of the meeting, one supervisor met the challenge. He told her, “If you are going to do it, then do it.” “Stop talking about it.” He told me later he was not about to leave the challenge unchecked. The rest of the leaders in the room sat as if they didn’t know how to deal with the offense. She later resigned to the relief of the supervisors and us too. It was no fun walking on eggshells each day at work. She later suffered a nervous breakdown.
Jesus was the opposite here. He had the truth, and it was not what the religious leaders expected or knew how to respond. The crowd was even confused. Their leaders remained silent? “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look. He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” “The plural refers to the group of leaders already present (7:15) to whom the Jerusalem crowd probably pointed. They knew of their threats to kill Jesus (5:18).”[1] This is the “they” of verse 25. Calvin says, “Thus carnal men, whenever they behold any unusual work of God, do indeed wonder, but no consideration of the power of God ever enters into their mind…we ought to be fully persuaded that their efforts have been rendered fruitless, because God, by interposing his word, has defeated them.”[2] The teachings of Jesus seized those who opposed Him so violently. They were taken back, not knowing how to respond. They didn’t respond. Jesus responded though, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.” Their hearts had been revealed. The truth was undeniable. Jesus came from “He who sent Me,” God Almighty.
When a person is so ingulfed in their hatred, or anger like the leaders, they couldn’t think straight. In training years ago, the officer said, “Once your heart rate goes over 120 beats a minute, you can’t think straight in critical events.” So, they would train us under high stress events to learn to operate. The leaders of the Jews had apparently reached their target heart rate this time with Jesus presence too. They couldn’t think straight for their hatred of Him, but when Jesus spoke, they couldn’t argue. Truth speaks clearly. Let’s face it, when God’s speaks, if we are honest, it leaves no room for argument. Leave your emotions at the door and follow Him.
[1] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Jn 7:25.
[2] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 297.